Observable Dirac-type singularities in Berry's phase and the monopole

The physical reality and observability of 2n\pi Berry phases, as opposed to the usually considered modulo 2\pi topological phases is demonstrated with the help of computer simulation of a model adiabatic evolution whose parameters are varied along a closed loop in the parameter space. Using the analogy of Berry's phase with the Dirac monopole, it is concluded that an interferometer loop taken around a magnetic monopole of strength n/2 yields an observable 2n\pi phase shift, where n is an integer. An experiment to observe the effect is proposed.Comment: 12 pages Latex, 3 postscript figures; submitted to Physical Review Letters 15 September 2000; revised 19 November 200

Marketing and Socioeconomics Aspects of Large Cardamom Production in Tehrathum, Nepal

A survey was conducted in November 2015 in one of the pocket area of large cardamom production in Teharthum District, eastern Nepal with aim to investigate the status of cardamom enterprises. The parameters used were cardamom production area, type of manure used, drying facilities, technical skills of farmers, market channels and variable cost etc. We purposively selected 30 cardamom producers and stakeholders for interview pre-designed questionnaires. The result showed that average area, production and productivity of large cardamom per household were 0.86 ha, 200 kg and 232 kg.ha-1, respectively, with the average farming experience of 22 years. It was revealed that 13% farmers used farmyard organic manure, the use of 1.5 kg/plant farmyard manure might produce 28.5% higher yield cardamom compared to without using any manure or fertilizers. It was also revealed among the responded only 7% had received improved drying machine from District Agriculture Development Office (DADO) at 50% subsidy, while only 23% of farmers received training and technical services from DADO. The study showed that per hectare average total cost of large cardamom production, selling price and gross revenue were NRs. 2,36,705 ($2255), NRs. 5,50,305 ($5240) and NRs. 3,13,600 ($2985), respectively, with benefit/cost (B/C) ratio of 2 after the completion of gestation period of 4 years. Our survey showed that predominant marketing approach was by direct sell to the traders located at district headquarter. The productivity of large cardamom was influenced by various factors, such as nearly 75.2% of the variation in productivity was explained by the number of active family members, farming period, area, intercultural operations, variable cost and depreciated fixed cost

Nuclear reactor power as applied to a space-based radar mission

The SP-100 Project was established to develop and demonstrate feasibility of a space reactor power system (SRPS) at power levels of 10's of kilowatts to a megawatt. To help determine systems requirements for the SRPS, a mission and spacecraft were examined which utilize this power system for a space-based radar to observe moving objects. Aspects of the mission and spacecraft bearing on the power system were the primary objectives of this study; performance of the radar itself was not within the scope. The study was carried out by the Systems Design Audit Team of the SP-100 Project

Is Our Model for Contention Resolution Wrong?

Randomized binary exponential backoff (BEB) is a popular algorithm for coordinating access to a shared channel. With an operational history exceeding four decades, BEB is currently an important component of several wireless standards. Despite this track record, prior theoretical results indicate that under bursty traffic (1) BEB yields poor makespan and (2) superior algorithms are possible. To date, the degree to which these findings manifest in practice has not been resolved. To address this issue, we examine one of the strongest cases against BEB: $n$ packets that simultaneously begin contending for the wireless channel. Using Network Simulator 3, we compare against more recent algorithms that are inspired by BEB, but whose makespan guarantees are superior. Surprisingly, we discover that these newer algorithms significantly underperform. Through further investigation, we identify as the culprit a flawed but common abstraction regarding the cost of collisions. Our experimental results are complemented by analytical arguments that the number of collisions -- and not solely makespan -- is an important metric to optimize. We believe that these findings have implications for the design of contention-resolution algorithms.Comment: Accepted to the 29th ACM Symposium on Parallelism in Algorithms and Architectures (SPAA 2017

Prevalence and comparison of depression rates in geriatric patients of old age home and community, and its association with chosen demographic factors

Background: Depression is an emerging mental health condition and elderly population of the world is often affected by it. In the elderly, it often goes unnoticed and often burdens them.Methods: Two groups of population one from an old age home and the other from a community were selected. Data was collected using a Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and a demographic form. The data was compiled and analyzed using Google Spreadsheets.Results: Depression rates were found in both, the old age home and the community. The rates were found higher in the old age home than the community. The demographic factors chronic illness, gender, educational status and marital status were found to be associated with depression.Conclusions: As depression in elderly is a fairly common phenomenon, it should be paid more attention. The elderly should receive intervention for the disease and be able to sustain it

Effect of Soil Washing on Petroleum-Hydrocarbon Distribution on Sand Surfaces

A soil washing study was performed to evaluate the treatability of New River sand contaminated in the laboratory with a petroleum distillate. Unaltered and base-extracted sands were mixed with petroleum hydrocarbons, equilibrated, and washed with water or a surfactant at two different pH values (7 and 12). The surfactant had no significant effect on contaminant removal efficiencies at neutral pH. Treatment efficiencies of baseextracted sand particles were 10 to 13% higher than for the unaltered sands. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with elemental X-ray microprobe was used to determine the distribution of iron and carbon on the New River sand surface. Qualitative interpretations of the SEM/X-ray photomicrographs disclosed that iron oxides were associated with organic carbon on the sand surfaces, with sulfur believed to be a constituent of the petroleum contamination. Low petroleum removal efficiencies for New River sand observed in previous studies were believed to be influenced by the high iron oxide content of the sand and the affinity of these metal oxides to bind natural and petroleum-derived organic carbon

Assessment of multiple factors affecting intelligence quotient of children of rural and urban areas of Rajasthan, India

Background: Children are the future of our country and hence their mental and physical wellbeing should be our upmost priority. Undernutrition is a major public health problem in our country and is one of the most common reasons for morbidity and mortality in children under 5yrs of age. The first few years of life are particularly important because vital development occurs in all domains. Therefore, this study has aimed to study the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of the children of the age group 3-5 in urban and rural areas and study the factors associated with it.Methods: A cross section study of the children group of population was performed. Two sections of the children group were taken for the study- children population residing in an urban area and children population residing in a rural community of Rajasthan, India. The data was compiled and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods.Results: In our study, we have found that The following chosen demographic factors were found associated with children Intelligence quotient (IQ) - nutritional status, socioeconomic status, and age, while gender was not found to be associated with IQ.Conclusions: As, cognitive development is fairly important to children and their future, it should be paid more acknowledgment, as well as early preventive methods of it’s associated factors.