GRAPHICAL TECHNIQUES IN DEBIASING: AN EXPLORATORY STUDY

Base rate and conjunction fallacies are consistent biases that influence decision making involving probability judgments. We develop simple graphical techniques and test their efficacy in correcting for these biases. Preliminary results suggest that graphical techniques help to overcome these biases and improve decision making. We examine the implications of incorporating these simple techniques in Executive Information Systems.Information Systems Working Papers Serie

Flux free growth of large FeSe1/2Te1/2 superconducting single crystals by an easy high temperature melt and slow cooling method

We report successful growth of flux free large single crystals of superconducting FeSe1/2Te1/2 with typical dimensions of up to few cm. The AC and DC magnetic measurements revealed the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) value of around 11.5K and the iso-thermal MH showed typical type-II superconducting behavior. The lower critical field being estimated by measuring the low field iso-thermal magnetization in superconducting regime is found to be above 200 Oe at 0K.Comment: 15 pages text + Figs. Novel large cm size FeSe1/2Te1/2 superconducting crystal

Bulk Superconductivity in Bismuth-oxy-sulfide Bi4O4S3

Very recent report [1] on observation of superconductivity in Bi4O4S3 could potentially reignite the search for superconductivity in a broad range of layered sulphides. We report here synthesis of Bi4O4S3 at 5000C by vacuum encapsulation technique and basic characterizations. Detailed structural, magnetization, and electrical transport results are reported. Bi4O4S3 is contaminated by small amounts of Bi2S3 and Bi impurities. The majority phase is tetragonal I4/mmm space group with lattice parameters a = 3.9697(2){\AA}, c = 41.3520(1){\AA}. Both AC and DC magnetization measurements confirmed that Bi4O4S3 is a bulk superconductor with superconducting transition temperature (Tc) of 4.4K. Isothermal magnetization (MH) measurements indicated closed loops with clear signatures of flux pinning and irreversible behavior. The lower critical field (Hc1) at 2K, of the new superconductor is found to be ~39 Oe. The magneto-transport R(T, H) measurements showed a resistive broadening and decrease in Tc (R=0) to lower temperatures with increasing magnetic field. The extrapolated upper critical field Hc2(0) is ~ 310kOe with a corresponding Ginzburg-Landau coherence length of ~100{\AA} . In the normal state the {\rho} ~ T2 is not indicated. Our magnetization and electrical transport measurements substantiate the appearance of bulk superconductivity in as synthesized Bi4O4S3. On the other hand same temperature heat treated Bi is not superconducting, thus excluding possibility of impurity driven superconductivity in the newly discovered Bi4O4S3 superconductor.Comment: 12 pages Text + Fig

Chiral Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

The paper reviews nanoscale science and technology of chiral molecules/macromolecules-under twosubtopics-chiral nanotechnology and nano-chiral technology. Chiral nanotechnology discusses thenanotechnology, where molecular chirality plays a role in the properties of materials, including molecularswitches, molecular motors, and other molecular devices; chiral supramolecules and self-assembled nanotubesand their functions are also highlighted. Nano-chiral technology  describes the nanoscale approaches to chiraltechnology such as asymmetric synthesis and catalysis, chiral separation and detection, and enantiomericanalysis. Chiral sensors have also been included. The state-of-the-art chiral research at DMSRDE,Kanpur isalso presented.Defence Science Journal, 2008, 58(5), pp.626-635, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.58.168

The modulatory effect of septilin on cytotoxicity of cisplatin in a human breast adenocarcinoma cell line

435-441Cisplatin (Csp) is a recurrently used chemotherapeutic drug but its use is inadequate due to undesirable adverse effects. In search of alternative medicine more attention has been given to phytochemicals. Septilin (Spt), a polyherbal drug and its therapeutic potential is huge but there is a scarcity of studies on its cytotoxic potential on cancer cells. The current study was designed to examine the effects of Spt in combination with Csp on human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and normal human breast epithelial (MCF-10A) cell lines. Cell viability for Spt treated cells was studied using MTT assay. IC50 value of Csp on MCF-7 cells was found to be 10 µg/mL at 24 h. This dose was further used to study the combined effects of Csp with Spt on MCF-7 and MCF-10A cell lines. Maximum cytotoxicity of Spt on MCF-7 cells was observed at Spt 5 µg/mL. The mechanism of Spt induced cytotoxicity was studied using apoptosis assay. Spt did not show any cytotoxic effects on MCF-10 A normal human breast epithelial cells, indicating Spt has no effect on normal cells. Our findings suggest that Spt can be used in combination with an anticancer drug Csp to increase its efficacy and/or to minimize its side effects on normal cells

Structural, and Magnetic properties of flux free large FeTe Single crystal

We report synthesis of non superconducting parent compound of iron chalcogenide, i.e., FeTe single crystal by self flux method. The FeTe single crystal is crystallized in tetragonal structure with the P4/nmm space group. The detailed SEM (scanning electron microscopy) results showed that the crystals are formed in slab like morphology and are near (slight deficiency of Te) stoichiometric with homogenous distribution of Fe and Te. The coupled structural and magnetic phase transition is seen at around 70K in both electrical resistivity and magnetization measurements, which is hysteric (deltaT = 5K) in nature with cooling and warming cycles. Magnetic susceptibility (chi-T) measurements showed the magnetic transition to be of antiferromagnetic nature, which is substantiated by isothermal magnetization (M-H) plots as well. The temperature dependent electrical resistivity measured in 10kOe field in both in plane and out of plane field directions showed that the hysteric width nearly becomes double to deltaT = 10K, and is maximum for the out of plane field direction for the studied FeTe single crystal. We also obtained a sharp spike like peak in heat capacity Cp(T) measurement due to the coupled structural and magnetic order phase transitions.Comment: 11 pages Text+Fig