Design of e-shaped dielectric resonator antenna for ultra wideband (UWB) applications

Past few decades have witnessed huge advancements in the field of Antennas in terms of size, cost, efficiency, bandwidth, losses, power handling capacity and gain. Dielectric Resonator Antenna (DRA) is very latest and very efficient technology in the field of Antennas. It is very small in size, larger bandwidth, low losses, lower cost and very easy to integrate with existing technology. Here an E-shape DRA for Ultra-Wide Band (UWB) application is presented. It is very small in size. Antenna size is 24x24 mm2. We have used a substrate of size 24x24x1.6 mm3 with a 4.4 dielectric constant. We have used a ground plane of size 24x10 mm2. E-shape dielectric that has been used dielectric constant 2.1 and its height is 3 mm. Microstrip line is used as feeding line with dimensions 3x15 mm2. This antenna works best in frequency range of 6.7995-10.933 GHz. Its resonant frequency is 7.6818 GHz. VSWR parameter should be less than 2 within operating frequency range. This can be used in short range tracking, missile guidance, marine radar etc. as it comes mostly in X-band for UWB

Nuclear structure study of 20−23^{20-23}Na isotopes with ab initio no-core shell-model

We have done a systematic no-core shell-model study of $^{20-23}$Na isotopes. The low-energy spectra of these sodium isotopes consisting of natural and un-natural parity states were reported, considering three realistic interactions: inside nonlocal outside Yukawa (INOY), charge-dependent Bonn 2000 (CDB2K), and the chiral next-to-next-to-next-to-leading order (N$^3$LO). We also present the mirror energy differences in the low-energy spectra of $|T_z|$ = 1/2 mirror pair ($^{21}$Na - $^{21}$Ne). Apart from the energy spectra, we have also reported the electromagnetic transition strengths and moments. Finally, considering all three realistic interactions, we report the point-proton radii and neutron skin thicknesses.Comment: 17 pages, 17 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:2208.0081

Biochemical Evaluation of Forage Sorghum for Stress Tolerance

Abiotic stresses are the major limiting factors in plant growth. With continuous increment in scarcity of water and increased salinization of soil and water, it is estimated that more than 50% of all arable lands will be affected by salinity and drought by 2050. Plants are often exposed to both, soil and atmospheric water deficit during their life cycle. The frequency and intensity of droughts is increasing as a result of global climate change. Understanding how plants respond to water stress is thus crucial for the estimation of impacts of climate change on crop productivity and ecosystem functioning. The knowledge about the mechanism adapted by plant to respond to drought, salt and co-occurring stresses can play an important role in stabilizing crop performance under drought and saline conditions. Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) is an important crop in many parts of the world. It is utilized as food, fodder and several industrial purposes. In general, sorghum is known to be more tolerant to any stresses including heat, drought, salinity and flooding

Increased Photosynthesis Contributes towards Improved Ovule-to-Seed Ratio in IAA Treated Range Grasses

Poor ovule-to-seed ratio is one of the major constraints in quality seed production in range grasses. Plant hormones per se or in the influence of external cues were known regulate the seed setting and their subsequent maturation in many crops. External application of hormones on the standing crops has shown very promising results but the physiological and biochemical phenomenon underlying such changes are not studied in detail. Exogenous application of different chemicals particularly during anthesis and post anthesis phases has increased the seed set in a number of species. Improved seed germination in Panicum maximum after foliar spray of indole acetic acid (IAA) has been reported by Malaviya et al., (2013). but the reason for improved seed germination was not very much clear. Auxin application has also been shown to induce fruit-set in many crops. Auxins with its prominent role in cell division have been implicated to play vital role in integument growth during early seed formation (Wu et al., 2006) and increased integuments has been correlated with increased seed size in Arabidopsis (Schruff et al., 2006) where they postulate that increased integument provides larger seed cavity which in turn provides a greater area of contact for endosperm with the seed coat, leading to increased nutrient uptake. Increase in photosynthesis rate due to foliar application of many phytohormones has also been reported in many crops and understanding source sink relationship as influenced by different growth regulators might lead to significant breakthrough in understanding the seed production as a whole and seed filling in particular. Though the role of plant growth regulators in seed production is well researched in many crops but not much work has been undertaken to improve the production and quality of seeds in range grasses. Panicum maximum and Cenchrus ciliaris are two most important range grasses of irrigated and non-irrigated conditions respectively and both produces seeds of very poor quality in terms of germination. Therefore, in present study we try to improve seed filling through foliar application of IAA in these crops and studied the photosynthesis behaviour post treatment

Factors Affecting the Productivity of Coffee in Gulmi and Arghakhanchi Districts of Nepal

Coffee is one of the major potential cash crops with lucrative export value grown in mid-hills of Nepal. Nepalese coffee production has suffered long by low productivity. Research was conducted from February to May, 2019 to analyze the factors affecting the productivity of coffee in Arghakhanchi and Gulmi districts of Nepal. These two districts were, purposively selected for this study taking account of comparative advantage and past studies recommendations for coffee sector. Altogether, 100 coffee growing households 50 from each, Arghakhanchi and Gulmi, were sampled by using multistage sampling technique. A pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect the primary information while secondary information was collected reviewing the relevant publications. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression model was used to determine the factors affecting the productivity of coffee. The study revealed that the number of active family members involved in coffee production (0.000), adoption of income diversification through intercropping (0.005), training (0.072) and technical assistance (0.021) had positive and significant effect on coffee productivity. Encouraging the household to have coffee production as their primary occupation, providing technical assistance on rational land utilization and intercropping and strengthening the skill and knowledge of farmers through trainings could significantly support in increasing the productivity of coffee

Comparative Assessment of E-cadherin’s Expression between the Metastatic and Non-metastatic Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma: An Immunohistochemical Study

Objective: To identify the clinicopathological correlation of E-cadherin expression in metastatic and non-metastatic oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Material and Methods: A total of 90 paraffin-embedded tissue sections of OSCC were retrieved from the registry. The total selected samples were 45 cases each from the primary lesions of metastatic and non-metastatic OSCC. One section was subjected to routine Hematoxylin and eosin stain and another to immunohistochemical analysis for E-cadherin expression. Results: A non-significant (p˃0.05) increased expression is seen in the non-metastatic group compared to the metastatic group, with predominantly membrane as the staining site in either group. However, the expression of E-cadherin did not reveal any statistically significant association with independent variables such as age, gender, and adverse habits of the patients (p>0.05). On the other hand, with respect to the histological differentiation of OSCC, a significant association (p<0.001) was observed with the well-differentiated type of metastatic OSCC. Conclusion: E-cadherin was useful to some extent in predicting regional metastasis. However, further studies using a panel of biomarkers with increased sample size may help us understand the process involved in metastasis

The dietary bioflavonoid quercetin synergizes with epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG) to inhibit prostate cancer stem cell characteristics, invasion, migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Abstract Background Much attention has been recently focused on the role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the initiation and progression of solid malignancies. Since CSCs are able to proliferate and self-renew extensively due to their ability to express anti-apoptotic and drug resistant proteins, thus sustaining tumor growth. Therefore, the strategy to eradicate CSCs might have significant clinical implications. The objectives of this study were to examine the molecular mechanisms by which epigallocathechin gallate (EGCG) inhibits stem cell characteristics of prostate CSCs, and synergizes with quercetin, a major polyphenol and flavonoid commonly detected in many fruits and vegetables. Results Our data indicate that human prostate cancer cell lines contain a small population of CD44+CD133+ cancer stem cells and their self-renewal capacity is inhibited by EGCG. Furthermore, EGCG inhibits the self-renewal capacity of CD44+α2β1+CD133+ CSCs isolated from human primary prostate tumors, as measured by spheroid formation in suspension. EGCG induces apoptosis by activating capase-3/7 and inhibiting the expression of Bcl-2, survivin and XIAP in CSCs. Furthermore, EGCG inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting the expression of vimentin, slug, snail and nuclear β-catenin, and the activity of LEF-1/TCF responsive reporter, and also retards CSC's migration and invasion, suggesting the blockade of signaling involved in early metastasis. Interestingly, quercetin synergizes with EGCG in inhibiting the self-renewal properties of prostate CSCs, inducing apoptosis, and blocking CSC's migration and invasion. These data suggest that EGCG either alone or in combination with quercetin can eliminate cancer stem cell-characteristics. Conclusion Since carcinogenesis is a complex process, combination of bioactive dietary agents with complementary activities will be beneficial for prostate cancer prevention and/ortreatment.Peer Reviewe

A clinical trial of treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever: efficacy of ceftriaxone-azithromycin combination

Background: Typhoid fever is a systemic infection caused by Gram-negative bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar typhi (S. typhi). It is a major health problem in India. It carries significant morbidity and mortality. Antimicrobial therapy is critical for the management of typhoid fever. Emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and nalidixic acid-resistant (NAR) strains of S. typhi has complicated therapy by limiting treatment options. Hence, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety profile of ceftriaxone and azithromycin combination therapy in uncomplicated typhoid fever.Methods: Adults patients of blood culture proven uncomplicated typhoid fever admitted in the medicine ward of Teerthanker Mahaveer Medical College and Research Centre were treated with ceftriaxone intravenously (2 g daily for 14 days) and azithromycin orally (500 mg daily for 7 days). Patients were clinically and bacteriologically evaluated during the study period and follow-up.Results: 96% cure rate was observed. No relapse was recorded.Conclusion: Ceftriaxone-azithromycin combination may be considered as an empirical therapy for treatment of uncomplicated typhoid fever in view of the emergence of MDR and NAR strains of S. typhi