Comment on "Four-body charge transfer processes in proton--helium collisions"

We found, within the plane-wave first Born approximation (PWFBA), that the proton-helium fully differential cross section (FDCS) for transfer excitation agrees well with the experimental one at the proton energy Ep = 300 keV and small scattering angles both in shape and in magnitude. This result is in a contradiction with that obtained in [1].Comment: 4 pages, 2 figure

Highly charged ions in Penning traps, a new tool for resolving low lying isomeric states

The use of highly charged ions increases the precision and resolving power, in particular for short-lived species produced at on-line radio-isotope beam facilities, achievable with Penning trap mass spectrometers. This increase in resolving power provides a new and unique access to resolving low-lying long-lived ($T_{1/2} > 50$ ms) nuclear isomers. Recently, the $111.19(22)$ keV (determined from $\gamma$-ray spectroscopy) isomeric state in $^{78}$Rb has been resolved from the ground state, in a charge state of $q=8+$ with the TITAN Penning trap at the TRIUMF-ISAC facility. The excitation energy of the isomer was measured to be $108.7(6.4)$ keV above the ground state. The extracted masses for both the ground and isomeric states, and their difference, agree with the AME2003 and Nuclear Data Sheet values. This proof of principle measurement demonstrates the feasibility of using Penning trap mass spectrometers coupled to charge breeders to study nuclear isomers and opens a new route for isomer searches.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure

One-pot synthesis of multifunctional ZnO nanomaterials: study of superhydrophobicity and UV photosensing property

ZnO nanomaterials are synthesized using one-pot synthesis method. Equimolar solution of Zinc Nitrate hexahydrate (Zn(NO3)(2).6H(2)O) and Hexamethylenetetramine (C6H12N4) is used as a precursor for ZnO formation. Different nanostructures of ZnO are achieved by controlling the pH of the growth solution in the range 2-12 (acidic to alkali). ZnO nanostructures are evaluated for hydrophobic property using static contact angle measurement setup and UV photosensing activity. Surface morphology, structural properties and compositional analysis of ZnO nanostructures are examined by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscope (FEG-TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. Existence of ZnO wurtzite structure is confirmed from XRD study and is analyzed by Rietveld refinement method. Nanomaterials are characterized using Raman spectroscopy which confirms highest oxygen deficiency in ZnO nanorods. The material shows remarkable superhydrophobic and UV photosensing property and hence the name multifunctional. Among all morphologies grown at different pH values, ZnO nanorods show superhydrophobic nature with contact angle more than 170 degrees. Total surface energy value of ZnO nanostructures is calculated using Wendt two-component theory. Different ZnO nanostructures (with variation of pH value) are used to study UV photosensing property. Responsivity and photocurrent show a strong dependence on the morphology of ZnO

Hepatitis B virus total core antibody status in unvaccinated general population in a community of Bangladesh

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection poses a significant health challenge in Bangladesh, with the hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) being a crucial marker due to its lifelong presence in the bloodstream. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated adults in Northeastern Bangladesh. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in the Sobhanighat area of Sylhet, Bangladesh, in collaboration with the department of gastroenterology, Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College, from November 2022 to August 2023. A total of 216 participants were selected using consecutive sampling. HBsAg, anti-HBs, and anti-HBc (total) were tested for all subjects, and data were collected using a pre-formed questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 24. Results: Among the participants, 16 (7.4%) tested positive for anti-HBc (total), while HBsAg was positive in 6 (2.77%) individuals. Anti-HBs was detectable in 23 (10.6%) participants, with 3 (1.38%) showing isolated anti-HBc positivity. Notably, 20% of HBsAg-positive cases exhibited heterotypic anti-HBs. Moreover, 56.25% of respondents with anti-HBc (total) positivity had detectable anti-HBs (p<0.001). Gender did not show significant associations with HBsAg, anti-HBc (total), anti-HBs, or isolated anti-HBc (p>0.05). Conclusions: The study underscores a notable prevalence of anti-HBc (total) positivity among unvaccinated individuals in Bangladesh, indicative of past HBV exposure. It underscores the necessity for enhanced vaccination coverage and robust infection control measures to mitigate HBV transmission in this demographic

Interface pinning and slow ordering kinetics on infinitely ramified fractal structures

We investigate the time dependent Ginzburg-Landau (TDGL) equation for a non conserved order parameter on an infinitely ramified (deterministic) fractal lattice employing two alternative methods: the auxiliary field approach and a numerical method of integration of the equations of evolution. In the first case the domain size evolves with time as $L(t)\sim t^{1/d_w}$, where $d_w$ is the anomalous random walk exponent associated with the fractal and differs from the normal value 2, which characterizes all Euclidean lattices. Such a power law growth is identical to the one observed in the study of the spherical model on the same lattice, but fails to describe the asymptotic behavior of the numerical solutions of the TDGL equation for a scalar order parameter. In fact, the simulations performed on a two dimensional Sierpinski Carpet indicate that, after an initial stage dominated by a curvature reduction mechanism \`a la Allen-Cahn, the system enters in a regime where the domain walls between competing phases are pinned by lattice defects. The lack of translational invariance determines a rough free energy landscape, the existence of many metastable minima and the suppression of the marginally stable modes, which in translationally invariant systems lead to power law growth and self similar patterns. On fractal structures as the temperature vanishes the evolution is frozen, since only thermally activated processes can sustain the growth of pinned domains.Comment: 16 pages+14 figure