7,148 research outputs found
Modulus stabilization of generalized Randall Sundrum model with bulk scalar field
We study the stabilization of inter-brane spacing modulus of generalized
warped brane models with a nonzero brane cosmological constant. Employing
Goldberger-Wise stabilization prescription of brane world models with a bulk
scalar field, we show that the stabilized value of the modulus generally
depends on the value of the brane cosmological constant. Our result further
reveals that the stabilized modulus value corresponding to a vanishingly small
cosmological constant can only resolve the gauge hierarchy problem
simultaneously. This in turn vindicates the original Randall-Sundrum model
where the 3-brane cosmological constant was chosen to be zero.Comment: 12 Pages, 1 figure, Revtex, Version to appear in Euro. Phys. Let
In vitro antimicrobial activity of cefsulodin and kanamycin in combinations
Background:Infectious diseases are the greatest challenge of the world. The main failure in the treatment of infectious diseases is development of antibiotic resistance by the infective agents. Combination drug therapy is proposed to be more successful to contain diseases. But before the selection of combination of antibiotics, it is important to determine interaction of such antibiotics. Two antibiotics may have either synergistic or antagonistic action. In this study it was designed to find out the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC), which is usually used for the quantitative assessment of bacterial sensitivity to antibiotics.Methods:Checkerboard titration in microtitre trays used for this assay, and Fractional Inhibitory Concentration (FIC) and Fractional Bactericidal Concentration (FBC) measured to identify the type of interaction between the two antibiotics. Cefsulodin (Cef) and Kanamycin (Kan) were used against Escherechia coli (Esch. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (Staph. aureus) to determine the efficacy of these antibiotics in combination.Results:MIC of cefsulodin and kanamycin against Staph. aureus was 3.125 and 3.125 respectively. MIC of Cef for Esch. coli was 6.25 and for Kan 50. FIC for Staph. aureus was 1. FIC for Esch. coli was different in different antibiotic concentrations and the least value was 0.37. There was no bactericidal effect of these antibiotics in combination against these organisms.Conclusion:Combination of two drugs cefsulodin and kanamycin showed synergistic action against Esch. coli and additive against Staph. aureus. So combined drug therapy can be used for better treatment with low toxicity, broad spectrum activity, and prevent emergence of drug resistance organism.
Galactic `Snake' IRDC G11.110.12: a site of multiple hub-filament systems and colliding filamentary clouds
To probe star formation processes, we present a multi-scale and
multi-wavelength investigation of the `Snake' nebula/infrared dark cloud
G11.110.12 (hereafter, G11; length 27 pc). Spitzer images hint at the
presence of sub-filaments (in absorption), and reveal four infrared-dark
hub-filament system (HFS) candidates (extent 6 pc) toward G11, where
massive clumps ( 500 ) and protostars are identified. The
CO(2-1), CO(2-1), and NH(1,1) line data reveal a noticeable
velocity oscillation toward G11, as well as its left part (or part-A) around
V of 31.5 km s, and its right part (or part-B) around V
of 29.5 km s. The common zone of these cloud components is investigated
toward the center's G11 housing one HFS. Each cloud component hosts two
sub-filaments. In comparison to part-A, more ATLASGAL clumps are observed
toward part-B. The JWST near-infrared images discover one infrared-dark HFS
candidate (extent 0.55 pc) around the massive protostar G11P1 (i.e.,
G11P1-HFS). Hence, the infrared observations reveal multiple infrared-dark HFS
candidates at multi-scale in G11. The ALMA 1.16 mm continuum map shows multiple
finger-like features (extent 3500-10000 AU) surrounding a dusty
envelope-like feature (extent 18000 AU) toward the central hub of
G11P1-HFS. Signatures of forming massive stars are found toward the center of
the envelope-like feature. The ALMA HCO line data show two cloud
components with a velocity separation of 2 km s toward G11P1.
Overall, the collision process, the ``fray and fragment'' mechanism, and the
``global non-isotropic collapse'' scenario seem to be operational in G11.Comment: 20 pages, 13 figures, 3 Tables, Accepted for publication in Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (MNRAS) Journa
Evaluation of hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Ichnocarpus frutescens (Linn.) R.Br. on paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in rats
Purpose: The entire plant including the flowers, of Ichnocarpus frutescens R.Br. (Apocynaceae) has been used for the treatment of cancer, skin infections, diabetes and liver disorder. The present study is aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective effect of chloroform and methanol extract (CEIF and MEIF) of whole plant of I. frutescens (Linns) by paracetamol-induced liver damage in rats.
Methods: The chloroform and methanolic extracts of I. frutescens (CEIF and MEIF) were studied for their hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects on paracetamol (750mg/kg) induced acute liver damage on Wistar albino rats. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum glutamate oxalate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin and total protein. Further, the effects of both extracts on lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were estimated.
Results: CEIF and MEIF at a dose level of 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg produce significant (
`Standard' Cosmological model & beyond with CMB
Observational Cosmology has indeed made very rapid progress in the past
decade. The ability to quantify the universe has largely improved due to
observational constraints coming from structure formation Measurements of CMB
anisotropy and, more recently, polarization have played a very important role.
Besides precise determination of various parameters of the `standard'
cosmological model, observations have also established some important basic
tenets that underlie models of cosmology and structure formation in the
universe -- `acausally' correlated initial perturbations in a flat,
statistically isotropic universe, adiabatic nature of primordial density
perturbations. These are consistent with the expectation of the paradigm of
inflation and the generic prediction of the simplest realization of
inflationary scenario in the early universe. Further, gravitational instability
is the established mechanism for structure formation from these initial
perturbations. The signature of primordial perturbations observed as the CMB
anisotropy and polarization is the most compelling evidence for new, possibly
fundamental, physics in the early universe. The community is now looking beyond
the estimation of parameters of a working `standard' model of cosmology for
subtle, characteristic signatures from early universe physics.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, Plenary talk, Proc. of GR-19, Mexico City,
Mexico (Jul 5-9, 2010). To appear in a special issue in Class. Q. Gra
IC 5146 dark Streamer: is a first reliable candidate of edge collapse, hub-filament systems, and intertwined sub-filaments?
The paper presents an analysis of multi-wavelength data of a nearby
star-forming site IC 5146 dark Streamer (d 600 pc), which has been
treated as a single and long filament, fl. Two hub-filament systems (HFSs) are
known toward the eastern and the western ends of fl. Earlier published results
favor the simultaneous evidence of HFSs and the end-dominated collapse (EDC) in
fl. Herschel column density map (resolution 13.5) reveals two
intertwined sub-filaments (i.e., fl-A and fl-B) toward fl, displaying a nearly
double helix-like structure. This picture is also supported by the
CO(3-2) emission. The scenario "fray and fragment" may explain the
origin of intertwined sub-filaments. In the direction of fl, two cloud
components around 2 and 4 km s are depicted using the CO(1-0) and
CO(1-0) emission, and are connected in velocity space. The HFSs are
spatially found at the overlapping areas of these cloud components and can be
explained by the cloud-cloud collision scenario. Non-thermal gas motion in fl
with larger Mach number is found. The magnetic field position angle measured
from the filament's long axis shows a linear trend along the filament. This
signature is confirmed in the other nearby EDC filaments, presenting a more
quantitative confirmation of the EDC scenario. Based on our observational
outcomes, we witness multiple processes operational in IC 5146 Streamer.
Overall, the Streamer can be recognized as the first reliable candidate of edge
collapse, HFSs, and intertwined sub-filaments together.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Detecting metrologically useful asymmetry and entanglement by a few local measurements
Important properties of a quantum system are not directly measurable, but they can be disclosed by how fast the system changes under controlled perturbations. In particular, asymmetry and entanglement can be verified by reconstructing the state of a quantum system. Yet, this usually requires experimental and computational resources which increase exponentially with the system size. Here we show how to detect metrologically useful asymmetry and entanglement by a limited number of measurements. This is achieved by studying how they affect the speed of evolution of a system under a unitary transformation. We show that the speed of multiqubit systems can be evaluated by measuring a set of local observables, providing exponential advantage with respect to state tomography. Indeed, the presented method requires neither the knowledge of the state and the parameter-encoding Hamiltonian nor global measurements performed on all the constituent subsystems. We implement the detection scheme in an all-optical experiment
Polyaniline-Based Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation
With growth in civilisation and industrialisation, there is an increase in the release of toxic heavy metal ions and dyes into water system, which is of public concern. As a result, appropriate treatment methods have to be implemented in order to mitigate and prevent water pollution. The discovery of nanotechnology has led to the development and utilisation of various nanoadsorbent for the removal of pollutants from water. PANI nanostructures and nanocomposites are noble adsorbents that have gained popularity in addressing water pollution issues and have been reported in literature. In this chapter, the main focus is on the synthesis of PANI nanocomposites and nanostructures and their application as efficient adsorbents for water treatment. Detailed discussions on different synthetic routes and characterisation have been dedicated to applications of these materials and are compared for the adsorptive removal of heavy metal ions and dyes from water
Cosmology with CMB anisotropy
Measurements of CMB anisotropy and, more recently, polarization have played a
very important role allowing precise determination of various parameters of the
`standard' cosmological model. The expectation of the paradigm of inflation and
the generic prediction of the simplest realization of inflationary scenario in
the early universe have also been established -- `acausally' correlated initial
perturbations in a flat, statistically isotropic universe, adiabatic nature of
primordial density perturbations. Direct evidence for gravitational instability
mechanism for structure formation from primordial perturbations has been
established. In the next decade, future experiments promise to strengthen these
deductions and uncover the remaining crucial signature of inflation -- the
primordial gravitational wave background.Comment: Plenary talk at the IXth. International Workshop on High Energy
Physics Phenomenology (WHEPP-9), Institute of Physics, Bhubaneshwar, India.
Jan 3-14, 2006; To appear in the Proceedings to be published in Pramana; 12
pages, 2 figure
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