A model finding a new Richardson potential with different scales for confinement and asymptotic freedom, by fitting the properties of {\D}^{++} and {\Om}^{-}

Phenomenological Richardson potential has built in asymptotic freedom (AF in short) and confinement, with only one parameter \La in the potential. But it is known that the scales of AF and confinement are not the same. In the present work a relativistic mean field calculation for baryons is tried out with two parameters \La and \La^\prime for AF and confinement respectively .To test the two parameter potential we calculate the energies and the magnetic moments, of the triple u - quark system ({\D}^{++}) and the triple s - quark system ({\Om}^{-}) and found good values for \La=100 MeV and \La^\prime ~= 350 MeV. So we believe that the modified Richardson potential should have AF scale \La ~= 100 MeV and the confinement scale \La^\prime ~= 350 MeV.Comment: Accepted for publication in Nuclear Physics

Status of subclinical mastitis in lactating cows of selected dairy farms in Bangladesh and farmers’ understanding of mastitis

Background: Subclinical mastitis, a disease that is economically important to dairy cows, affects milk production. Management of udder health is an essential element in the process of safe milk production. Consumption of milk with a high somatic cell count (SCC) may also pose a health risk to humans. Objectives. We aimed to evaluate the SCC method for the detection of SCM in dairy cows and to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards mastitis detection and control. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the current status of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in lactating dairy cows. The research work was also designed to assess farmers’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices about bovine mastitis. A total of 320 milk samples from 80 lactating cows were collected for physical examination and tested for subclinical mastitis using SCC. Results. Out of 80 lactating cows examined, 53 (66%, 95% CI: 55-76%) cows were diagnosed with subclinical mastitis. The average cow level SCC per ml of milk was 503101. According to the farmers’ self-report, 100% of farms practiced hand milking and 100% of milkmen washed their hands before milking. The majority of farms (90%) had brick floors. Most of the farmers (70%) knew about screening for subclinical mastitis. However, they never performed screening to detect subclinical mastitis. Conclusion. The high prevalence of SCM in dairy raised significant concerns about farm management, personal hygiene and biosecurity practices. Further study is needed to identify the etiologies of SCM and its associated risk factors

Both plume and arc : origin of Neoarchaean crust as recorded in Veligallu greenstone belt, Dharwar craton, India

Several profound changes, including those involving formation of the continental crust, occurred on Earth during the Neoarchaean Era. However, the tectonic settings associated with Neoarchaean crustal growth are not well understood and vigorously debated. The Neoarchaean Veligallu greenstone belt, eastern Dharwar craton hosts a variety of ultramafic, mafic and felsic volcanic rocks. Whole-rock elemental and Nd isotope data along with zircon U-Pb dating on these rocks provide significant insights into the origin and tectonic setting of Neoarchaean crust formation. The volcanism in the Veligallu belt started with similar to 2.67 Ga tholeiitic basalts derived from shallow melting of a slightly depleted mantle (epsilon(Ndt) = + 0.6 to + 1.1). Moderate negative Nb anomalies, slightly elevated Th/Yb and LREE, and an absence of evidence for crustal contamination are consistent with extraction of these basalts from a mantle source weakly metasomatized by subducted slab-derived fluids in an incipient oceanic arc setting. As the arc matured, clastic sediments started forming with concurrent emplacement of komatiites, komatiitic basalts and ferropicrites showing strong signatures of contamination with continental crust (negative Nb and Ti anomalies, LREE enrichment and negative epsilon(Ndt)). In the final stage (similar to 2.58 Ga), a variety of felsic volcanic rocks (sodic trachyandesite, high Mg# andesite, rhyolite, calc-alkaline andesite) formed. The rock association and distinct geochemical signatures (enrichment of LILE, negative Nb and Ti anomalies, Mesoarchaean Nd model ages and inherited older zircons) suggest a continental margin arc environment which contained older crust. The evolutionary history of the Veligallu belt implies that both the arcand plume-related processes, and their interplay contributed significantly to the growth of Neoarchaean crust.Peer reviewe

A study of management of trochanteric fracture of femur treated with dynamic sliding hip screw-plate device vs. proximal femoral nail

Background: The incidence of intertrochanteric fractures has been increasing significantly due to the rising age of modern human populations. Generally, intramedullary fixation [proximal femoral nail (PFN) and gamma nail] and extra-medullary fixation [dynamic hip screw (DHS)] are the 2 primary options for treatment of such fractures.  Objectives: The goal of this study is to compare the clinical and radiographical results of DHS and PFN for the treatment of trochanteric hip fractures. Methods: Patients with trochanteric fractures were treated either with DHS or  PFN in the Department of Orthopaedics, M.G.M. Medical College and L.S.K Hospital, Kishanganj, Bihar from October 2010 to October 2012 were included for this study.Results: Forty three patients (24 male and 19 female, ratio of M:F 1.26:1) surgically treated for trochanteric fractures were divided into two groups. Group 1: 25 hips treated with DHS and group 2: 18 hips treated with PFN. The outcome for each group was analyzed, and total operative time, time to union, complications (early and late), and mortality were recorded. The results were statistically compared. Out of 25 cases of DHS, majority cases (13) took between 1 hour 36 minutes to 2 hours. Whereas, out of 18 cases of PFN, majority (8) took 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes. The mean time to union for group 1 was 2.09 months and 1.69 months for group 2. Early and late complication rates between treatment groups revealed no statistically significant differences. Total duration of surgery was significantly lower for PFN than it was for DHS. A comparison of time to union and overall mortality demonstrated no statistically significant differences. Conclusions: We detected no differences between the two treatment groups in regard to early versus late complications, time to union, and overall mortality; however, with its shorter operative period, PFN is a good alternative to the DHS

A new cache of Eoarchaean detrital zircons from the Singhbhum craton, eastern India and constraints on early Earth geodynamics

The dominant geodynamic processes that underpin the formation and evolution of Earth's early crust remain enigmatic calling for new information from less studied ancient cratonic nuclei. Here, we present U–Pb ages and Hf isotopic compositions of detrital zircon grains from ∼2.9 Ga old quartzites and magmatic zircon from a 3.505 Ga old dacite from the Iron Ore Group of the Singhbhum craton, eastern India. The detrital zircon grains range in age between 3.95 Ga and 2.91 Ga. Together with the recently reported Hadean, Eoarchean xenocrystic (up to 4.24 Ga) and modern detritus zircon grains from the Singhbhum craton, our results suggest that the Eoarchean detrital zircons represent crust generated by recycling of Hadean felsic crust formed at ∼4.3–4.2 Ga and ∼3.95 Ga. We observe a prominent shift in Hf isotope compositions at ∼3.6–3.5 Ga towards super-chondritic values, which signify an increased role for depleted mantle and the relevance of plate tectonics. The Paleo-, Mesoarchean zircon Hf isotopic record in the craton indicates crust generation involving the role of both depleted and enriched mantle sources. We infer a short-lived suprasubduction setting around ∼3.6–3.5 Ga followed by mantle plume activity during the Paleo-, Mesoarchean crust formation in the Singhbhum craton. The Singhbhum craton provides an additional repository for Earth's oldest materials.Financial support from the Ministry of Earth Sciences, New Delhi for Excimer 193 nm LA system at CSIR-NGRI MoES/P.O.(Seismo)/1(245)/2014 and for the project on Singhbhum craton to S. D., E. V. S. S. K. B., B. S. and T. V. K (No. MoES/ P.O.(Geosci)45/2015; GAP-738-28EVB). This work forms part of the CSIR-NGRI projects INDEX (PSC0204) and GEOMET. Support from Australian Scientific Instruments and Geoscience Australia in providing access to the SHRIMP IIe, and The ANU for SEM imaging, is acknowledged. Y. J. B. thanks the DAE-Raja Ramanna Fellowship

Evaluating adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine among animal-bite victims: A hospital-based study in Bangladesh.

Rabies is a fatal but preventable zoonotic disease with an approximately 100% case fatality rate. The most common way to contract rabies is through the bite of a rabid animal. Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) by vaccination and/or immunoglobulin therapy is the most effective measure for rabies prevention. The effectiveness of vaccination depends on the level of completion of vaccination. In Bangladesh, no previous studies were conducted to evaluate adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine among animal-bite cases. We conducted a cross-sectional study to collect information about adherence to government recommendations for post-exposure rabies vaccine. A total of 457 animal bite victims were selected to collect data and follow up after one month of enrollment. The majority of participants (58%, n = 265, 95% CI: 53-63%) had a history of animal bites. Most of the participants (77%) were advised to receive three doses of vaccine and 100% of them completed 3-dose of vaccine. Among the 4-dose recommended group of participants (n = 105), 78% completed full vaccination. Of the 457 participants, 20% received post-exposure vaccine on the day of bite/scratch and the majority of the participants (66%, n = 303, 95% CI: 62-71%) received post-exposure vaccine on the day between the first and third day of bite or scratch. Increasing awareness of the importance of timely vaccination is the key to reducing the time gap between animal bites and intake of the first dose post-exposure vaccine

Secure Physical Design

An integrated circuit is subject to a number of attacks including information leakage, side-channel attacks, fault-injection, malicious change, reverse engineering, and piracy. Majority of these attacks take advantage of physical placement and routing of cells and interconnects. Several measures have already been proposed to deal with security issues of the high level functional design and logic synthesis. However, to ensure end-to-end trustworthy IC design flow, it is necessary to have security sign-off during physical design flow. This paper presents a secure physical design roadmap to enable end-to-end trustworthy IC design flow. The paper also discusses utilization of AI/ML to establish security at the layout level. Major research challenges in obtaining a secure physical design are also discussed