Constraints on the Neutrino Parameters from the `Rise-up' in the Boron Neutrino Spectrum at Low Energies

The rise-up in boron neutrino spectrum at low energies has been studied within the framework of `pure LMA' scenario. Indirect bounds on the spectral `upturn' have been obtained from the available solar neutrino data. These bounds have been used to demonstrate the efficacy of the precision measurements of the `upturn' for further constraining the neutrino parameter space allowed by SNO salt phase data. The sterile neutrino flux has been constrained in the light of the recent 766.3 Ty KamLAND spectral data.Comment: Latex 10pages including 3 postscript figure

Dynamics On and Of Complex Networks: Functional Communities and Epidemic Spreading

The work presented in this thesis focusses on two topics: functional communities and epidemic spreading on dynamic networks. The first part of the thesis focuses on a functionally-based definition of community structure for complex networks. In particular, we consider networks whose function is enhanced by the ability to synchronize and/or by resilience to node failures. For networks whose functional performance is dependent on these processes, we propose a method that divides a given network into communities based on maximizing a function of the largest eigenvalues of the adjacency matrices of the resulting communities. We also explore the differences between the partitions obtained by our function-based method and the structure-based modularity approach. A major finding is that, in many cases, modularity-based partitions do almost as well as the function-based method in finding functional communities, even though modularity does not specifically incorporate consideration of function. We also discuss the spectral properties of the networks with community structure, relevant for the case of functional communities studied in this thesis. In the second part of the thesis, we study a discrete time SIR model on dynamic networks. In our dynamic network model, we consider the case where the nodes in the network change their links both in response to the disease and also due to social dynamics. We assume that the individuals trying to make new connections mix randomly, and, with a certain probability, we also allow for the formation of new susceptible-infected links. We find that increasing the social mixing dynamics inhibits the disease's ability to spread in certain cases. This occurs because susceptibles who randomly disconnect from infected individuals preferentially reconnect to other susceptibles, inhibiting the disease spread. Finally, we also extend our dynamic network model to take into account the case of hidden infection. Here we find that, as expected, the disease spreads more readily if there is an initial time period during which an individual is infectious but unaware of the infection

EFFECT OF IMIDACLOPRID INSECTICIDE RESIDUE ON BIOCHEMICAL PARAMETERS IN POTATOES AND ITS ESTIMATION BY HPLC

Pesticides are known to interfere with the biochemical processes of plants, lowering their food quality. The effects of imidacloprid insecticide (a very commonly used pesticide on vegetables) on some biochemical quality control parameters and some enzyme systems (CAT, PPO and POD) were studied. Estimation of imidacloprid residues in potatoes was done by HPLC. It was observed that insecticide treated potatoes have considerable amount of imidacloprid 0.35 mg/kg at the time of harvesting. Washing potatoes with tap water and boiling for 20min. decreased residue up to 33% and 80% respectively. It was also found that the imidacloprid insecticide treatment decreased the reducing sugar, total phenols, ortho-dihydroxy phenols and ascorbic acid contents of potatoes but increased the total protein content and enzyme (catalase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase) activity. Keywords: Imidacloprid, potato, HPLC, biochemical parameters, enzyme activit

CP Violation in Two Zero Texture Neutrino Mass Matrices

It has been shown that the neutrino mass matrices with two texture zeros in the charged lepton basis predict non-zero 1-3 mixing and are necessarily CP violating with one possible exception in class C for maximal mixing.Comment: 6 pages, no figures, final version with minor changes, to appear in Phys. Lett.

RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS AND ASSOCIATION OF MTHFR, PAI-1 AND ACE GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN WOMEN

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a significant clinical problem that may occur before the 20th week of gestation. There is no general consensus on how many consecutive abortions are considered as RPL. The goal of this study is to investigate the correlation between recurrent miscarriage (RM) and common polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) genes among women experiencing RM. The literature existing in different population was searched and based on these finding we conclude that polymorphism in either one of these genes may increase chances of miscarriage. KEYWORDS: Polymorphism; Recurrent pregnancy; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1

RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS AND ASSOCIATION OF MTHFR, PAI-1 AND ACE GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN WOMEN

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a significant clinical problem that may occur before the 20th week of gestation. There is no general consensus on how many consecutive abortions are considered as RPL. The goal of this study is to investigate the correlation between recurrent miscarriage (RM) and common polymorphisms in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) genes among women experiencing RM. The literature existing in different population was searched and based on these finding we conclude that polymorphism in either one of these genes may increase chances of miscarriage. KEYWORDS: Polymorphism; Recurrent pregnancy; Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1

Phenomenological Implications of a Class of Neutrino Mass Matrices

The generic predictions of two-texture zero neutrino mass matrices of class A in the flavor basis have been reexamined especially in relation to the degeneracy between mass matrices of types A_1 and A_2 and interesting constraints on the neutrino parameters have been obtained. It is shown that the octant of $\theta_{23}$ and the quadrant of the Dirac-type CP-violating phase $\delta$ can be used to lift this degeneracy.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, final version with minor changes to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Advances in Electromagnetic Therapy for Wound Healing

Understanding the molecular basis of wound healing and tissue regeneration continues to remain as one of the major challenges in modern medicine. There is absolute necessity to unveil the rather elusive mechanism with a special emphasis on the approaches to accelerate wound healing. Low frequency low intensity Pulsed electromagnetic therapy is evidenced to have a significant impact on wound repair and regeneration. It provides a non-invasive reparative technique to treat an injury. In vitro studies reported a significant effect of electromagnetic field on neovascularisation and angiogenesis. There are also many pieces of evidence which support its efficiency in reducing the duration of wound healing and improving the tensile strength of scars. Here, we compared the traditional stigma associated with pulsed electromagnetic fields and weighed them with its potential therapeutic effect on wound healing. Furthermore, we emphasized the need for more focused research to determine the therapeutic strategies and optimised parameters of pulsed electromagnetic field that can assure efficient wound healing and regeneration.