A Micromegas-based gaseous detector for neutron-induced charged-particle reaction studies in nuclear astrophysics

The quasistellar neutron spectrum produced via $^{7}$Li($p$, $n$)$^{7}$Be reaction at a proton energy of 1.912 MeV has been extensively studied and employed reaction for neutron-induced reaction studies. We are working towards using this reaction at various proton energies from 1.9 MeV to 3.6 MeV to produce a neutron field at a temperature range of $\sim$1.5-3.5 GK to conduct measurements of neutron-induced charge particle reaction cross sections on various unstable nuclei at explosive stellar temperatures. In this paper, we are reporting our design and simulation study with regards to experimental set-up and a gaseous detector with a segmented Micromegas detector for conducting neutron-induced charge particle reactions studies for nuclei of astrophysics importance, for example, $^{26}$Al($n$, $p$)$^{26}$Mg, $^{26}$Al($n$, $\alpha$)$^{23}$Na and $^{40}$K($n$, $p$)$^{40}$Ar, $^{40}$K($n$, $\alpha$)$^{37}$Cl reactions. We plan to perform our experiments with a 10-$\mu$A proton beam at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt facility (PTB, Germany), with a Micromegas-based gaseous detector under construction as discussed in the paper

Novel experimental techniques for neutron induced charge particle reaction studies in nuclear astrophysics

Neutron induced reaction studies on various unstable and short-lived nuclei play a very important role in understanding the various nucleosynthesis processes occuring in astrophysics scenario. We discuss here our approach to study neutron induced charge particle cross-section for various unstable and short-lived nuclei at effective temperatures of ~1.5-3.5 GK using the 7Li(p, n) reaction as a neutron source with five orders of magnitude higher neutron intensities with respect to currently available neutron time-of-flight facilities, using SARAF accelarator and Liquid Lithium Target (LiLiT) facility

Fifty Years of Lucy, the Marvellous Ancestor

Excerpt: The Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University is celebrating this year as a ‘Year of Human Origins’ because 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of ‘Lucy’. The discussions on human origins and Lucy provokes one to seriously think about human life and where we come from.... The momentousness of the discovery of Lucy, a cardinal juncture that pegged firmly our existence in the scientific idea of evolution, cannot and must not be undermined

Neutron-induced charged-particle reaction studies in nuclear astrophysics with a Micromegas based gaseous detector

Neutron-induced charged-particle reaction studies on various unstable nuclei play an important role in understanding various nucleosynthesis processes occurring in explosive astrophysical scenarios. We are pursuing a novel experimental approach to study neutron-induced charge particle cross-sections for various unstable nuclei at effective temperatures of 1.5-3.5 GK using the 7Li(p, n)7Be reaction as a neutron source with three orders of magnitude higher neutron intensities with respect to currently available neutron time-of-flight facilities. We plan to perform our experiments with a 10-µA proton beam at the Physikalisch Technische Bundesanstalt facility (PTB, Germany), with a Micromegas based gaseous detector being developed

In-silico studies show potent inhibition of HIV-1 Reverse Transcriptase activity by a herbal drug

Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a life threatening disease of the human immune system caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Effective inhibition of reverse transcriptase activity is a prominent, clinically viable approach for the treatment of AIDS. Few non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) as drugs for AIDS. In order to enhance therapeutic options against AIDS we examined novel herbal compounds of 4-thiazolidinone and its derivatives that are known to have remarkable antiviral potency. Our molecular docking and simulation experiments have identified high binding affinity ligands to HIV-1RT receptor, and their consequent non-competitive inhibition binding. Results are also compared with other US FDA approved drugs. Long de novo simulations and docking study suggest that the ligand (5E)-3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-benzylidene-1, 3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione (CID: 1656714) has strong binding interactions with Asp113, Asp110, Asp185 and Asp186 amino acids, all of which belong to one or the other catalytic pockets of HIV-1RT. It is expected that these interactions could be critical in the inhibitory activity of the HIV-1RT. Therefore, this study provides an evidence for consideration of (5E)-3-(2-aminoethyl)-5-benzylidene-1, 3-thiazolidine-2,4-dione as a valuable natural molecule in the treatment and prevention of HIV- associated disorders with low toxicity to the normal cells

The Prevalence of Nasal Polyposis in Patients with Rhinitis and Asthma at aNorthern Indian Tertiary Care Hospital

Background: The etiology of Nasal polyps remains unclear, but they are known to have associations with allergy, asthma, infection, cystic fibrosis and aspirin sensitivity. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of nasal polyposis in Northern Indian patients in a tertiary care hospital with rhinitis and asthma.Materials and Methods: This prospective observational study was done in the OPD of ENT Department of tertiary care teaching hospital in northern India, for a total duration of 3 years from January 2013 to December 2016. Demographic data including age, sex and clinical presentation was taken on the predesigned patient proforma. All patients were examined for nasal polyps by anterior rhinoscopy and endoscopic investigation.Results: In the present study we enrolled 576 patients of rhinitis and asthma..Non-allergic respiratory diseases were found to have a much higher percentage of association with Nasal Polyps as compared to those suffering from Allergic respiratory diseases, 25 (9.71%)& 7 (2.12%).Most prevalent associated symptoms was Nasal Obstruction (84.8%) followed by Headache (74%) least prevalent was Facial pain (14%).Conclusion: Evidence of nasal polyp is estimated more in non-allergic diseases rather allergic diseases

Assessment of climate change impact on pulse, oilseed and vegetable crops at Varanasi, India

Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT v4.6.1) was used to study the impact of climate change and variability on productivity of different monsoon (pigeonpea and groundnut) and winter season crops (chickpea, mustard, tomato and potato) at Varanasi. Keeping in view the observed trends in climate variability, productivity of different cash crops were simulated under plausible synthetic climatic scenarios of changes in temperature and carbon dioxide. Productivity of pigeonpea and groundnut in monsoon season and mustard, tomato and potato in winter season decreased with an increase in temperature. Productivity of different pulse, oilseed and vegetable crops increased under expected enhanced CO2 concentrations. Highest productivity decreased in pigeonpea crop (96.0%) in monsoon season and minimum in tomato crop (4.0%) in winter season with an increase of 3.0 °C in temperature above normal. Highest productivity increase in mustard crop (164.0%) in winter season and lowest in pigeonpea crop (33.0%) in monsoon season were simulated under projected enhanced CO2 concentration of 760 ppm. Highest counter-balance in productivity of mustard crop (150%) followed by tomato crop (81%) during winter season and lowest in pigeonpea crop (99%) during monsoon season were simulated when an increase in temperature by 3.0 °C above normal under projected enhanced CO2 concentration of 760 ppm

Yield forecasting of rice and wheat crops for eastern Uttar Pradesh

Eighteen years (1991-2008) of weather data and yield data of rice and wheat for 9 districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh was used to develop yield prediction equations. Models were validated with 2 years (2009 and 2010) data. Results indicated that models explained 51 to 79 percent variations for rice yield and 65 to 92 percent variations for wheat yield in different districts. The percent Mean Bias Error (MBE) was between -1.05 (Mau) to 6.17 (Mirzapur) for rice and from -6.56 (Mau) to 0.01 (Varanasi) for wheat crop. The percent Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was between 6.87 (Jaunpur) to 11.60 (Sant Ravidas Nagar) for rice and from 5.52 (Mirzapur) to 11.11 (Mau) for wheat crop. This revealed that the models can be used to some extent for predicting the yield in different districts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh.

Evaluation of DSSAT-CERES model for irrigation scheduling of wheat crop in Varanasi region of Uttar Pradesh

The DSSAT-CERES-Wheat model (V-4.6) was calibrated and validated using field experiment data (2008-2014) collected on phenology, yield and yield attributes of four cultivars ( HUW 234, Kundan, HUW 510 and PBW 373) of wheat for Varanasi. The simulated yields were very close to observed grain yield as evident from R2 of 0.96 with nRMSE (4.92%) and D-index (0.99). The simulated phenological events and yield attributes of wheat cultivars were also in good agreement. Therefore, the model was used for evaluation of irrigation scheduling in wheat crop. The results revealed that the model performance was good under three, four and five irrigation scheduling while poor performance was observed under two and one irrigation treatments

Fusion-fission studies on 19F+206,208Pb and 11B,19F+238U reactions around barrier energies at IUAC facility

Fission process is strongly influenced by entrance channel dynamical variables. Among these, the nuclear charge product, mass asymmetry and deformation play important role in fission dynamics. Reaction characteristics are distinguished by investigating the properties of fission mass and angular distributions. Experiments using actinide targets are challenging due to many conflicting results making unambiguous identification of quasi-fission difficult. At IUAC accelerator facility many experiments have been performed to make a systematic study of fission mechanism and role of entrance channel parameters and deformation. Fragment mass distribution, angular distribution and neutron multiplicity measurements are performed to study reactions using spherical and deformed targets