Quest for consistent modelling of statistical decay of the compound nucleus

A statistical model description of heavy ion induced fusion-fission reactions is presented where shell effects, collective enhancement of level density, tilting away effect of compound nuclear spin and dissipation are included. It is shown that the inclusion of all these effects provides a consistent picture of fission where fission hindrance is required to explain the experimental values of both pre-scission neutron multiplicities and evaporation residue cross-sections in contrast to some of the earlier works where a fission hindrance is required for pre-scission neutrons but a fission enhancement for evaporation residue cross-sections.Comment: 14 pages, 2 figure

Alleviating the inconsistencies in modelling decay of fissile compound nuclei

This work attempts to overcome the existing inconsistencies in modelling decay of fissile nucleus by inclusion of important physical effects in the model and through a systematic analysis of a large set of data over a wide range of CN mass (ACN). The model includes shell effect in the level density (LD) parameter, shell correction in the fission barrier, effect of the orientation degree of freedom of the CN spin (Kor), collective enhancement of level density (CELD) and dissipation in fission. Input parameters are not tuned to reproduce observables from specific reaction(s) and the reduced dissipation coefficient is treated as the only adjustable parameter. Calculated evaporation residue (ER) cross sections, fission cross sections and particle, i.e. neutron, proton and alpha-particle, multiplicities are compared with data covering ACN = 156-248. The model produces reasonable fits to ER and fission excitation functions for all the reactions considered in this work. Pre-scission neutron multiplicities are underestimated by the calculation beyond ACN~200. An increasingly higher value of pre-saddle dissipation strength is required to reproduce the data with increasing ACN. Proton and alpha-particle multiplicities, measured in coincidence with both ERs and fission fragments, are in qualitative agreement with model predictions. The present work mitigates the existing inconsistencies in modelling statistical decay of the fissile CN to a large extent.Comment: 15 pages, 9 figure

Kinetic Arrest of Field-Temperature Induced First Order Phase Transition in Quasi- One Dimensional Spin System Ca3Co2O6

We have found that the geometrically frustrated spin chain compound Ca3Co2O6 belonging to Ising like universality class with uniaxial anisotropy shows kinetic arrest of first order intermediate phase (IP) to ferrimagnetic (FIM) transition. In this system, dc magnetization measurements followed by different protocols suggest the coexistence of high temperature IP with equilibrium FIM phase in low temperature. Formation of metastable state due to hindered first order transition has also been probed through cooling and heating in unequal field (CHUF) protocol. Kinetically arrested high temperature IP appears to persist down to almost the spin freezing temperature in this system.Comment: Kinetic arrest of first order magnetic transition in spin chain compound Ca3Co2O

A note on a new unique range set with truncated multiplicity

We introduce a new polynomial whose zero set forms a unique range set for meromorphic function with 11 elements under relaxed sharing hypothesis

Altered levels of Gq activity modulate axonal pathfinding in Drosophila

A majority of neurons that form the ventral nerve cord send out long axons that cross the midline through anterior or posterior commissures. A smaller fraction extend longitudinally and never cross the midline. The decision to cross the midline is governed by a balance of attractive and repulsive signals. We have explored the role of a G-protein, Gαq, in altering this balance in Drosophila. A splice variant of Gαq, dgqα3, is expressed in early axonal growth cones, which go to form the commissures in the Drosophila embryonic CNS. Misexpression of a gain-of-function transgene of dgqα3 (AcGq3) leads to ectopic midline crossing. Analysis of the AcGq3 phenotype in roundabout and frazzled mutants shows that AcGq3 function is antagonistic to Robo signaling and requires Frazzled to promote ectopic midline crossing. Our results show for the first time that a heterotrimeric G-protein can affect the balance of attractive versus repulsive cues in the growth cone and that it can function as a component of signaling pathways that regulate axonal pathfinding

Petrography of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sandstones in the Kutch Basin, western India: Implications on provenance and basin evolution

Abstract This paper investigates the provenance of Middle Jurassic to Early Cretaceous sediments in the Kutch Basin, western India, on the basis of mineralogical investigations of sandstones composition (Quartz–Feldspar–Lithic (QFL) fragment), Zircon–Tourmaline–Rutile (ZTR) index, and mineral chemistry of heavy detrital minerals of the framework. The study also examines the compositional variation of the sandstone in relation to the evolution of the Kutch Basin, which originated as a rift basin during the Late Triassic and evolved into a passive margin basin by the end Cretaceous. This study analyzes sandstone samples of Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations of Middle Jurassic, Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous, respectively, in the Kutch Mainland. Sandstones record a compositional evolution from arkosic to subarkosic as the feldspar content decreases from 68% in the Jhumara Formation to 27% in the Bhuj Formation with intermediate values in the Jhuran Formation. The QFL modal composition indicates basement uplifted and transitional continental settings at source. Heavy mineral content of these sandstones reveals the occurrence of zircon, tourmaline, rutile, garnet, apatite, monazite and opaque minerals. Sub-rounded to well-rounded zircon grains indicate a polycyclic origin. ZTR indices for samples in Jhumara, Jhuran and Bhuj Formations are 25%, 30% and 50% respectively. Chemistry of opaque minerals reveals the occurrence of detrital varieties such as ilmenite, rutile, hematite/magnetite and pyrite, in a decreasing order of abundances. Chemistry of ilmenites in the Jhumara Formation reveals its derivation from dual felsic igneous and metabasic source, while those in Jhuran and Bhuj Formations indicate a metabasic derivation. Chemistry of garnet reveals predominantly Fe-rich (almandine) variety of metabasic origin. X-ray microscopic study provides the percentage of heavy minerals ranging from 3% to 5.26%. QFL detrital modes reflect the evolution of the basin from an active rift to a passive margin basin during the Mesozoic. Integration of results from QFL modal composition of the sandstones, heavy mineral analysis and mineral chemistry, suggests sediment supply from both northern and eastern highlands during the Middle Jurassic. The uplift along the Kutch Mainland Fault in the Early Cretaceous results in curtailment of sediment input from north

Distribution of illness of orthopaedic outpatient department in a tertiary care teaching hospital in West Bengal: a cross sectional study

Background: Orthopaedic Outpatient Department (OPD) is an important part of health care system. Patients coming with different illness for treatment. Distribution pattern of illness represents the area from where patients come for treatment.Methods: Cross sectional, Observation Study. The patients who had willingly participated were enrolled on the basis of subject selection criteria. Prescriptions were collected from newly patients attending the Orthopaedics OPD. No follow up visit was done.Results: Male patients attended more than female gender (62% vs 38%). 18-30 years age group attended OPD much than another group (32.5%). Trauma is an important contributing factor (38.5%). History of trauma was seen more in male gender group and among 18-30 years age group. Low back pain is common problem. (29.5%).Conclusions: Low back pain is the common problem among patients attended Orthopaedic OPD. Trauma is an important contributing factor among 18-30 years age group

Identification of scaffold/Matrix Attachment (S/MAR) like DNA element from the gastrointestinal protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Chromatin in the nucleus of all eukaryotes is organized into a system of loops and domains. These loops remain fastened at their bases to the fundamental framework of the nucleus, the matrix or the scaffold. The DNA sequences which anchor the bases of the chromatin loops to the matrix are known as Scaffold/Matrix Attachment Regions or S/MARs. Though S/MARs have been studied in yeast and higher eukaryotes and they have been found to be associated with gene organization and regulation of gene expression, they have not been reported in protists like <it>Giardia</it>. Several tools have been discovered and formulated to predict S/MARs from a genome of a higher eukaryote which take into account a number of features. However, the lack of a definitive consensus sequence in S/MARs and the randomness of the protozoan genome in general, make it a challenge to predict and identify such sequences from protists.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have analysed the <it>Giardia </it>genome for the probable S/MARs predicted by the available computational tools; and then shown these sequences to be physically associated with the nuclear matrix. Our study also reflects that while no single computational tool is competent to predict such complex elements from protist genomes, a combination of tools followed by experimental verification is the only way to confirm the presence of these elements from these organisms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This is the first report of S/MAR elements from the protozoan parasite <it>Giardia lamblia</it>. This initial work is expected to lay a framework for future studies relating to genome organization as well as gene regulatory elements in this parasite.</p

Assessment of drug use practices among dermatology out-patients using WHO core drug use indicators

Background: Considering the economic burden the skin diseases cause owing to its high prevalence, it is of interest to periodically monitor the drug use pattern so as to increase the therapeutic efficacy, decrease adverse effects and provide feedback to prescribers. The present study thus assessed the drug use practices among dermatology outpatients in a tertiary care teaching unit in Eastern India.Methods: The study assessed drug use practices for all prescriptions of patients attending the concerned OPD using WHO core drug use indicators which consist of mainly three domains, prescribing indicators, patient care indicators and healthcare indicators.Results: Total number of drugs in 471 prescriptions was found to be 1050. Number of drugs per prescription varied from 1 to 6 with average of 2.22. The most commonly prescribed drugs were antibiotics, followed by steroids and steroidal combinations. Prescribing indicators revealed that 2.09% drugs were generic prescribing, with about 18.78% of the drugs being prescribed from the WHO essential drug list. The proportion of encounters with at least one antibiotic prescribed was 34.82%. 13.9% drugs actually dispensed from hospital supply, of which all were adequately labelled.Conclusions: Increasing dermatological prescribing has necessitated assessment of their rational usage. Promoting rational drug use policy is recommended for effective healthcare management