On Spatial Consensus Formation: Is the Sznajd Model Different from a Voter Model?

In this paper, we investigate the so-called ``Sznajd Model'' (SM) in one dimension, which is a simple cellular automata approach to consensus formation among two opposite opinions (described by spin up or down). To elucidate the SM dynamics, we first provide results of computer simulations for the spatio-temporal evolution of the opinion distribution $L(t)$, the evolution of magnetization $m(t)$, the distribution of decision times $P(\tau)$ and relaxation times $P(\mu)$. In the main part of the paper, it is shown that the SM can be completely reformulated in terms of a linear VM, where the transition rates towards a given opinion are directly proportional to frequency of the respective opinion of the second-nearest neighbors (no matter what the nearest neighbors are). So, the SM dynamics can be reduced to one rule, ``Just follow your second-nearest neighbor''. The equivalence is demonstrated by extensive computer simulations that show the same behavior between SM and VM in terms of $L(t)$, $m(t)$, $P(\tau)$, $P(\mu)$, and the final attractor statistics. The reformulation of the SM in terms of a VM involves a new parameter $\sigma$, to bias between anti- and ferromagnetic decisions in the case of frustration. We show that $\sigma$ plays a crucial role in explaining the phase transition observed in SM. We further explore the role of synchronous versus asynchronous update rules on the intermediate dynamics and the final attractors. Compared to the original SM, we find three additional attractors, two of them related to an asymmetric coexistence between the opposite opinions.Comment: 22 pages, 20 figures. For related publications see http://www.ais.fraunhofer.de/~fran

An observational study of clinicoetiological profile of stroke patients in a new tertiary care hospital in North Odisha, India

Background: Stroke is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in India. The objective was to study the clinical profile, risk factors, neurological characters, pattern of brain stroke, areas of brain affected as per CT scan findings in patients with stroke.Methods: This observational study was carried out from June 2018 to Jan 2019 of all new patients admitted with stroke in Pandit Raghunath Murmu Medical College and Hospital, Baripada, Mayurbhanj, Odisha, India.Results: The incidence of stroke is maximum in 46-60 years of age group. The average age+SD was 59.3+13.5 in our study. 274 (46.52%) patients had ischemic stroke and 315 (53.48%) patients had hemorrhagic stroke. The male to female ratio was 1.46:1. Anterior circulation (86.42%) was the most common territory involved in the brain. The most common risk factor was hypertension with 77.76% followed by dyslipidemia (53.99%). The most common clinical presentation was hemiplegia (85.23%).Conclusions: The incidence of stroke is maximum in 46-60 years of age group. The average age+SD was 59.3+13.5 in our study. 274 (46.52%) patients had ischemic stroke and 315 (53.48%) patients had hemorrhagic stroke. The male to female ratio was 1.46:1. Anterior circulation (86.42%) was the most common territory involved in the brain. The most common risk factor was hypertension with 77.76% followed by dyslipidemia (53.99%). The most common clinical presentation was hemiplegia (85.23%).

First simulation study of trackless events in the INO-ICAL detector to probe the sensitivity to atmospheric neutrinos oscillation parameters

The proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory will host a 50 kton magnetized iron calorimeter (ICAL) with resistive plate chambers as its active detector element. Its primary focus is to study charged-current interactions of atmospheric muon neutrinos via the reconstruction of muons in the detector. We present the first study of the energy and direction reconstruction of the final state lepton and hadrons produced in charged current interactions of atmospheric electron neutrinos at ICAL and the sensitivity of these events to neutrino oscillation parameters $\theta_{23}$ and $\Delta m_{32}^2$. However, the signatures of these events are similar to those from neutral-current interactions and charged-current muon neutrino events in which the muon track is not reconstructed. On including the entire set of events that do not produce a muon track, we find that reasonably good sensitivity to $\theta_{23}$ is obtained, with a relative $1\sigma$ precision of 15% on the mixing parameter $\sin^2\theta_{23}$, which decreases to 21%, when systematic uncertainties are considered

VHE Gamma-ray Afterglow Emission from Nearby GRBs

Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs) are among the potential extragalactic sources of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-rays. We discuss the prospects of detecting VHE gamma-rays with current ground-based Cherenkov instruments during the afterglow phase. Using the fireball model, we calculate the synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) emission from forward-shock electrons. The modeled results are compared with the observational afterglow data taken with and/or the sensitivity level of ground-based VHE instruments (e.g. STACEE, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, VERITAS, and Whipple). We find that modeled SSC emission from bright and nearby bursts such as GRB 030329 are detectable by these instruments even with a delayed observation time of ~10 hours.Comment: Proceeding of "Heidelberg International Symposium on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy", held in Heidelberg, 7-11 July 2008, submitted to AIP Conference Proceedings. 4 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Clonal evaluation for early growth performance of Eucalyptus in South Gujarat, India

This study was carried out in College of Forestry, Navsari Agricultural University, Navsari, Gujarat. Total 20 clones having age of 5 ½ years were selected for early growth evaluation at field condition. There was a significant variation (P < 0.05) among 20 clones of Eucalyptus for growth parameters viz., tree height, DBH, mid-diameter, form quotient and volume of standing tree. Tree height varied from 18.5 to 23.6 m with DBH range of 11.47 to 16.07 cm. Mid-diameter indirectly helps to assess the tapering of tree and it ranged from 6.99 to 10.57 cm among 20 clones. The form quotient was used while calculation of volume of Eucalyptus clones. The form quotient varied between 0.58 and 0.71 with overall mean of 0.63 at studied site. Volume of standing tree ranged from 0.12 to 0.28 m3. The overall results showed that clones such as C12 (P2045), C17 (B2253), C4 (P413), C8 (P526), C7 (P498), C16 (SRO16) and C11 (P3020) performed superior for early growth attribute and stem form and these clones suggested for large scale plantation in South Gujarat region