Glassy magnetic phase driven by short range charge and magnetic ordering in nanocrystalline La1/3_{1/3}Sr2/3_{2/3}FeO3−δ_{3-\delta}: Magnetization, Mossbauer, and polarised neutron studies

The charge ordered La$_{1/3}$Sr$_{2/3}$FeO$_{3-\delta}$ (LSFO) in bulk and nanocrystalline forms are investigated using ac and dc magnetization, M\"{o}ssbauer, and polarised neutron studies. A complex scenario of short range charge and magnetic ordering is realized from the polarised neutron studies in nanocrystalline specimen. This short range ordering does not involve any change in spin state and modification in the charge disproportion between Fe$^{3+}$ and Fe$^{5+}$ compared to bulk counterpart as evident in the M\"{o}ssbauer results. The refinement of magnetic diffraction peaks provides magnetic moments of Fe$^{3+}$ and Fe$^{5+}$ are about 3.15$\mu_B$ and 1.57$\mu_B$ for bulk, and 2.7$\mu_B$ and 0.53$\mu_B$ for nanocrystalline specimen, respectively. The destabilization of charge ordering leads to magnetic phase separation, giving rise to the robust exchange bias (EB) effect. Strikingly, EB field at 5 K attains a value as high as 4.4 kOe for average size $\sim$ 70 nm, which is zero for the bulk counterpart. A strong frequency dependence of ac susceptibility reveals cluster-glass like transition around $\sim$ 65 K, below which EB appears. Overall results propose that finite size effect directs the complex glassy magnetic behavior driven by unconventional short range charge and magnetic ordering, and magnetic phase separation appears in nanocrystalline LSFO.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Fig. 1 available upon request or in http://www.ffn.ub.es/oscar/Articles.html. Accepted in Phys. Rev.

Development of Ultraviolet Spectrophotometric Method for Analysis of Lornoxicam in Solid Dosage Forms

Purpose: An ultraviolet spectrophotometric system was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of lornoxicam in solid dosage forms.Methods: Lornoxicam was dissolved in 0.01M NaOH and analysed using ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometry. Various analytical parameters such as linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were determined according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines.Results: Absorbance maximum in 0.01M NaOH was 377 nm. Beer’s law was obeyed over the concentration range of 2 - 20 mg/ml with a correlation coefficient (r2) value of 0.999. Percent range of error was 0.344 and 0.261 at 0.05 and. 0.01 confidence limits, respectively. Intra- and inter-day precision (% RSD) at different concentration levels were < 2 %, indicating that the proposed derivative spectrophotometric method is highly reproducible during one run and between different runs; LOD and LOQ were 0.105 and 0.318 mg/ml, respectively signifying that it can be adopted for routine quality testing. Mean recovery was 100.82 % for tablets. Low values of % RSD indicate the reliability of the proposed methodConclusion: The proposed method is highly sensitive, precise, accurate, cost-effective, reliable and rapid for the estimation of lornoxicam in solid dosage forms.Keywords: Lornoxicam, UV Spectrophotometry, Quantitative determination, Solid dosage forms

Spin order dependent skyrmion stabilization in MnFeCoGe hexagonal magnets

Topological magnetic skyrmions in centrosymmetric systems exhibit a higher degrees of freedom in their helicity, hence possess a great potential in the advanced spintronics including skyrmion based quantum computation. However, the centrosymmetric magnets also display non-topological trivial bubbles along with the topological skyrmions. Hence it is utmost priority to investigate the impact of different magnetic ground states and their underlying interactions on the stabilization of magnetic skyrmions in cetrosymmetric magnets. Here, we present a combined theoretical and experimental study on the role of non-collinear magnetic ground state on the skyrmion stabilization in a series of exchange frustrated non-collinear ferromagnetic system MnFe1-xCoxGe. With the help of neutron diffraction (ND) and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) studies, we show that hexagonal skyrmions lattice emerges as a stable field driven state only when the underlying magnetic ground state is collinear with easy-axis anisotropy. In contrast, non-topological type-II bubbles are found to be stable state in the case of non-collinear magnetic ordering with partial in-plane anisotropy. Furthermore, we also find that the skyrmions transform to the non-topological bubbles when the system undergoes a spin reorientation transition from the easy-axis to easy-cone ferromagnetic phase. Our results categorically establish the significant role of in-plane magnetic moment/anisotropy that hinders the stability of skyrmion both in the case of collinear and non-collinear magnets. Thus, the present study offers a wide range of opportunities to manipulate the stability of dipolar skyrmions by changing the intrinsic characteristics of the materials.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figure

Antimicrobial resistance in neonates with suspected sepsis

SettingNobel Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Biratnagar, Nepal.ObjectiveTo determine the pattern of antimicrobial resistance and hospital exit outcomes in neonates with suspected sepsis in a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).DesignThis hospital-based cohort study was conducted to follow patients from January to December 2019. All identified cases of suspected sepsis were enlisted from hospital records.ResultsSepsis was suspected in 177 (88%) of the 200 cases admitted in the NICU; 52 (29%) were culture-positive. Pseudomonas was the predominant organism isolated (n = 40; 78%), followed by coagulase negative staphylococcus (n = 12, 23%). Nine (17%) of the 52 isolates were resistant to the Access and Watch group of antibiotics, including some resistance to Reserve group drugs such as imipenem and linezolid. Most treated cases (n = 170, 96%) improved, although 7 (4%) left against medical advice.ConclusionMost of the pathogens were resistant to WHO Access and Watch antibiotics and occasional resistance was observed to Reserve group drugs. Most sepsis was caused by Gram-negative bacilli. Improving turnaround times for antibiotic sensitivity testing using point-of-care testing, and a greater yield of culture-positive results are needed to enhance the management of neonatal sepsis

Generalized Flows around Neutron Stars

In this chapter, we present a brief and non-exhaustive review of the developments of theoretical models for accretion flows around neutron stars. A somewhat chronological summary of crucial observations and modelling of timing and spectral properties are given in sections 2 and 3. In section 4, we argue why and how the Two-Component Advective Flow (TCAF) solution can be applied to the cases of neutron stars when suitable modifications are made for the NSs. We showcase some of our findings from Monte Carlo and Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamic simulations which further strengthens the points raised in section 4. In summary, we remark on the possibility of future works using TCAF for both weakly magnetic and magnetic Neutron Stars.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1901.0084

Exchange bias effect in alloys and compounds

The phenomenology of exchange bias effects observed in structurally single-phase alloys and compounds but composed of a variety of coexisting magnetic phases such as ferromagnetic, antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, spin-glass, cluster-glass and disordered magnetic states are reviewed. The investigations on exchange bias effects are discussed in diverse types of alloys and compounds where qualitative and quantitative aspects of magnetism are focused based on macroscopic experimental tools such as magnetization and magnetoresistance measurements. Here, we focus on improvement of fundamental issues of the exchange bias effects rather than on their technological importance

Cellular Immune Responses to Nine Mycobacterium tuberculosis Vaccine Candidates following Intranasal Vaccination

BACKGROUND: The identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis vaccines that elicit a protective immune response in the lungs is important for the development of an effective vaccine against tuberculosis. METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, a comparison of intranasal (i.n.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) vaccination with the BCG vaccine demonstrated that a single moderate dose delivered intranasally induced a stronger and sustained M. tuberculosis-specific T-cell response in lung parenchyma and cervical lymph nodes of BALB/c mice than vaccine delivered subcutaneously. Both BCG and a multicomponent subunit vaccine composed of nine M. tuberculosis recombinant proteins induced strong antigen-specific T-cell responses in various local and peripheral immune compartments. Among the nine recombinant proteins evaluated, the alanine proline rich antigen (Apa, Rv1860) was highly antigenic following i.n. BCG and immunogenic after vaccination with a combination of the nine recombinant antigens. The Apa-induced responses included induction of both type 1 and type 2 cytokines in the lungs as evaluated by ELISPOT and a multiplexed microsphere-based cytokine immunoassay. Of importance, i.n. subunit vaccination with Apa imparted significant protection in the lungs and spleen of mice against M. tuberculosis challenge. Despite observed differences in the frequencies and location of specific cytokine secreting T cells both BCG vaccination routes afforded comparable levels of protection in our study. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Overall, our findings support consideration and further evaluation of an intranasally targeted Apa-based vaccine to prevent tuberculosis

Sustainable food security in India—Domestic production and macronutrient availability

<div><p>India has been perceived as a development enigma: Recent rates of economic growth have not been matched by similar rates in health and nutritional improvements. To meet the second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG2) of achieving zero hunger by 2030, India faces a substantial challenge in meeting basic nutritional needs in addition to addressing population, environmental and dietary pressures. Here we have mapped—for the first time—the Indian food system from crop production to household-level availability across three key macronutrients categories of ‘calories’, ‘digestible protein’ and ‘fat’. To better understand the potential of reduced food chain losses and improved crop yields to close future food deficits, scenario analysis was conducted to 2030 and 2050. Under India’s current self-sufficiency model, our analysis indicates severe shortfalls in availability of all macronutrients across a large proportion (>60%) of the Indian population. The extent of projected shortfalls continues to grow such that, even in ambitious waste reduction and yield scenarios, enhanced domestic production alone will be inadequate in closing the nutrition supply gap. We suggest that to meet SDG2 India will need to take a combined approach of optimising domestic production and increasing its participation in global trade.</p></div

Genetic Evidence for Inhibition of Bacterial Division Protein FtsZ by Berberine

Background: Berberine is a plant alkaloid that is widely used as an anti-infective in traditional medicine. Escherichia coli exposed to berberine form filaments, suggesting an antibacterial mechanism that involves inhibition of cell division. Berberine is a DNA ligand and may induce filamentation through induction of the SOS response. Also, there is biochemical evidence for berberine inhibition of the cell division protein FtsZ. Here we aimed to assess possible berberine mechanism(s) of action in growing bacteria using genetics tools. Methodology/Principal Findings: First, we tested whether berberine inhibits bacterial growth through DNA damage and induction of the SOS response. The SOS response induced by berberine was much lower compared to that induced by mitomycin C in an SOS response reporter strain. Also, cell filamentation was observed in an SOS-negative E. coli strain. To test whether berberine inhibits FtsZ, we assessed its effects on formation of the cell division Z-rings, and observed a dramatic reduction in Z-rings in the presence of berberine. We next used two different strategies for RNA silencing of ftsZ and both resulted in sensitisation of bacteria to berberine, visible as a drop in the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Furthermore, Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Indices (FICIs) showed a high level of synergy between ftsZ silencing and berberine treatment (FICI values of 0.23 and 0.25 for peptide nucleic acid- and expressed antisense RNA-based silencing of ftsZ, respectively). Finally, over-expression of ftsZ led to a mild rescue effect in berberine-treated cells

Physicochemical and textural quality attributes of gluten-free bread formulated with guar gum

The objective of this study was to assess the combined effect of guar gum (GG) and water content (WC) on the rheological properties of batter, and the physicochemical and textural properties of bread. Batches of gluten-free bread used a base formulation of rice (50%), maize (30%) and quinoa flour (20%), with different levels of GG (2.5, 3.0 or 3.5%) and water (90, 100 or 110%) in a full factorial design. Higher GG doses (p<0.001) tended to produce batters of lower stickiness, work of adhesion and cohesive strength; yet, of higher firmness, consistency, cohesiveness and viscosity index. These batters yielded loaves of lower (p<0.001) specific volume and baking loss; and crumbs of lower (p<0.001) aw, pH, mean cell area, void fraction, mean cell aspect ratio; and higher (p<0.001) hardness, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, chewiness, resilience, mean cell density, cell size uniformity and mean cell compactness. The sticker and less consistent batters produced with higher WC rendered larger bread loaves of softer and more cohesive and springy/resilient crumbs with greater mean cell size and void fraction. Gluten-free loaves of good appearance in terms of higher specific volume, lower crumb hardness, higher crumb springiness, and open grain visual texture were obtained in formulations with 110% WC and GG doses between 2.5 and 3.0%.Eng. Encina-Zelada acknowledges the financial aid provided by the Peruvian National Programme of Scholarships and Student Loans (PRONABEC) in the mode of PhD grants (Presidente de la República-183308). The authors are grateful to Eng. Andrea Oliveira from Prodipani, Portugal, for her kind advice and providing breadmaking ingredients.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio