Low-lying states in 8B

Excitation functions of elastic and inelastic 7Be+p scattering were measured in the energy range between 1.6 and 2.8 MeV in the c.m. An R-matrix analysis of the excitation functions provides strong evidence for new positive parity states in 8B. A new 2+ state at an excitation energy of 2.55 MeV was observed and a new 0+ state at 1.9 MeV is tentatively suggested. The R-matrix and Time Dependent Continuum Shell Model were used in the analysis of the excitation functions. The new results are compared to the calculations of contemporary theoretical models.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted as Rapid Communication in Phys. Rev.

Effect of Life-Style Modification Intervention Programme on Bone Mineral Density among Postmenopausal Women with Osteoporosis

Objectives: Osteoporosis is one of the major public health problems worldwide among postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Lifestyle modification interventions along with pharmacotherapy helps to revert the bone loss and prevent the complications. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Kasturba Hospital, Manipal from January 2019 to December 2021 among postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The postmenopausal women who attended the osteoporosis clinic and were within the age group of 45-65 years, could speak and understand English or Kannada, and whose Bone Mineral Density (BMD) score was between -1 and -3 were included for the study. The total sample size of the study was 120 with 60 in each of the experimental and control group. After obtaining the informed consent, stratified block randomization method was used to allocate the participants to intervention and control group. The BMD was monitored by the portable ultrasound densitometer by a technician at the outpatient departments. The baseline information was collected by a structured demographic questionnaire. Intervention group participants received Lifestyle Modification Intervention Program (LMIP) whereas control group received the standard regular care by the physician.  Follow up was done at three and six months. Results: The results revealed that the increase in the BMD median score among the experimental group was from -2.2 [(-2.5, -1.8)] to -1.5 [(-1.8, -0.65)] where as in the control group it was from -2.3 [(-2.6, -1.9)] to -2.0 [(-2.4, -1.5)].  The increase in the median score of the experimental group (0.7) was higher than in the control group (0.3). The results of Mann Whitey U test showed a statistical significance between the intervention and control groups in the post test after 6 months (U =.505.5, p<0.05). Wilcoxon signed rank test showed the significant change in both the intervention and control groups from pre-test to post-test I (3 months) and Post-test II (6 months) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The lifestyle modification intervention was found to be effective in improving the bone health status of postmenopausal women. Hence it is very important to integrate in regular therapy. Keywords: LMIP, postmenopausal women, bone health status, bone mineral density

Reproduction in the deep-sea penaeoid shrimp Aristeus alcocki Ramadan, 1938 (Decapoda: Penaeoidea: Aristeidae) from southwestern India

The Arabian red shrimp, Aristeus alcocki Ramadan, 1938, is one of the targets of commercial trawlers operating since 2000 along the Indian coasts at depths of 200–850 m. We report for the first time on the reproductive biology, insemination frequency, ovarian maturation, gonadosomatic index (GSI), size at maturity, and fecundity of A. alcocki investigated macroscopically and validated histologically using monthly trawl samples from the southwestern coast of India. Females have an open thelycum with five gonad developmental stages (I to V) and two stages (I and II) in males. A total of 4,170 specimens were examined and 68.6% of the females had been inseminated (carapace length (CL) 22.0–53.0 mm), predominantly during January to May. Females in stage I (immature) measured on average CL 25.5 ± 0.87 mm, those in stages IV and V (mature) CL 41.5 ± 0.62 mm. Immature males were smaller, mean CL 20.5 ± 0.5 mm. Size at first sexual maturity for females was estimated as CL 35.07 mm (total length (TL) 120–170 mm) and the inseminated specimens (CL50is) were mature at CL 31.45 mm using a non-linear method. The smallest mature female was CL 35 mm, whereas the size at maturity (CL50ms) of males was estimated as CL 19.6 mm (TL 75–96 mm). We also report synchronous oocyte development and continuous spawning activity with a peak during January to April. Information on the reproduction of this deep-water shrimp will help fishery managers estimate the stock sustainability and develop resource management measures

Dyslipidemia and electrolyte metabolism in essential hypertensive North Indians

Background: In the present study we are going to evaluate lipid profile and Electrolytes levels (Sodium, Potassium in Serum & Urine) in Essential Hypertensive and in healthy controls in North Indian Population.Methods: A total of 210 age and sex matched E. hypertensive & healthy controls were included in our study from outpatient department (OPD) of Medicine in King George Medical University, Lucknow, India. First group consist of 110 subjects were known E. hypertensive patients (B.P ≤ 139/89mm of Hg). Another group is control group consist of 100 subjects who were healthy controls (B.P ≤ 120/80mm of Hg) with no history of hypertension. Fasting venous blood sample was collected from all the subjects in plane vacationer and the sample was centrifuged for the estimation of lipid profile & electrolyte i.e. Sodium (N+) & Potassium (K+). Lipid profile was measured with an automated analyzer (Biochem) & Electrolytes was measured using ion-selective electrolyte auto-analyzer in the Clinical lab of biochemistry in KGMU.Results: After analyzing results almost control subjects had normal lipid profile level. In patients of E. hypertension there was a highly significant increase in serum Total Cholesterol (p˂0.0001), LDL-Cholesterol (p˂0.0001) & Triglycerides (p˂0.001). HDL-Cholesterol (p˂0.03) is also significant as compare to controls. Not significant difference was found in serum sodium & potassium level. The Urinary Na+ levels were significantly lower in E. hypertensive patients when compared to controls while Urinary K+ levels were not significant.Conclusion: So we conclude that dyslipidemia is associated with essential hypertension this may due to the genetic predisposition, secondary lifestyles, fatty food consumption, saturated fat, cholesterol in the food increase the blood cholesterol and saturated fat is the main culprit. Essential hypertensive is linked with increased Na+, K+ - ATPase activity and increased renal tubular sodium reabsorption.

Impact of Covid-19 on Mental Health among Healthcare Workers in India: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review

Healthcare workers (HCWs) experienced significant mental health challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. This review aimed comprehensively assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of HCWs in India. A mixed-methods review adopted a results-based convergent approach incorporating quantitative and qualitative data. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in relevant databases: PubMed-MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, and ProQuest. All available full-text studies in the English language that assessed the mental health outcomes (anxiety, stress, depression) of HCWs during the pandemic and published till February 28, 2022, were included. A total of 31 studies were included in this review (27 quantitative studies, three qualitative studies, and one mixed-method study). The pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress was 32.96%, 29.49%, and 33.47 %, respectively among the HCWs in India. The qualitative analysis resulted in the themes: challenges faced, and coping strategies used during the COVID-19 pandemic. Integration of quantitative and qualitative findings using social determinants of health framework resulted in various contributing factors and coping strategies. There is a need for a supportive work environment, mental health support, and mental health policies for HCWs in India

α\alpha-cluster ANCs for nuclear astrophysics

Background. Many important $\alpha$-particle induced reactions for nuclear astrophysics may only be measured using indirect techniques due to small cross sections at the energy of interest. One of such indirect technique, is to determine the Asymptotic Normalization Coefficients (ANC) for near threshold resonances extracted from sub-Coulomb $\alpha$-transfer reactions. This approach provides a very valuable tool for studies of astrophysically important reaction rates since the results are practically model independent. However, the validity of the method has not been directly verified. Purpose. The aim of this letter is to verify the technique using the $^{16}$O($^6$Li,$d$)$^{20}$Ne reaction as a benchmark. The $^{20}$Ne nucleus has a well known $1^-$ state at excitation energy of 5.79 MeV with a width of 28 eV. Reproducing the known value with this technique is an ideal opportunity to verify the method. Method. The 1$^-$ state at 5.79 MeV is studied using the $\alpha$-transfer reaction $^{16}$O($^6$Li,$d$)$^{20}$Ne at sub-Coulomb energies. Results. The partial $\alpha$ width for the $1^-$ state at excitation energy of 5.79 MeV is extracted and compared with the known value, allowing the accuracy of the method to be evaluated. Conclusions. This study demonstrates that extracting the Asymptotic Normalization Coefficients using sub-Coulomb $\alpha$-transfer reactions is a powerful tool that can be used to determine the partial $\alpha$ width of near threshold states that may dominate astrophysically important nuclear reaction rates. \end{description