A BeppoSAX observation of the supersoft source 1E 0035.4-7230

Results from a 37,000 s BeppoSAX Low-Energy Concentrator Spectrometer (LECS) observation of the supersoft source SMC 13 (=1E 0035.4-7230) in the Small Magellanic Cloud are reported. The BeppoSAX spectrum is fitted either with a blackbody spectrum with an effective temperature kT = 26-58 eV, an LTE white dwarf atmosphere spectrum with kT = 35-50 eV, or a non-LTE white dwarf atmosphere spectrum with kT = 25-32 eV. The bolometric luminosity is < 8 10^37 erg s-1 and < 3 10^37 erg s^-1 for the LTE and the non-LTE spectrum. We also applied a spectral fit to combined spectra obtained with BeppoSAX LECS and with ROSAT PSPC. The kT derived for the non-LTE spectrum is 27-29 eV, the bolometric luminosity is 1.1-1.2 10^37 erg s^-1. We can exclude any spectrally hard component with a luminosity > 2 10^35 erg s^-1 (for a bremmstrahlung with a temperature of 0.5 keV) at a distance of 60 kpc. The LTE temperature is therefore in the range 5.5+/-0.2 10^5 K and the non-LTE temperature in the range 3.25+/-0.16 10^5 K. Assuming the source is on the stability line for atmospheric nuclear burning, we constrain the white dwarf mass from the LTE and the non-LTE fit to ~1.1 M-solar and ~0.9 M-solar respectively. However, the temperature and luminosity derived with the non-LTE model for 1E 0035.4-7230 is consistent with a lower mass M~0.6-0.7 M-solar white dwarf as predicted by Sion and Starrfield (1994). At the moment, neither of these two alternatives for the white dwarf mass can be excluded.Comment: 6 pages, accepted by A&A March 30th 199

Luminous supersoft X-ray emission from the recurrent nova U Scorpii

BeppoSAX detected luminous 0.2-2.0 keV supersoft X-ray emission from the recurrent nova U Sco ~19-20 days after the peak of the optical outburst in February 1999. U Sco is the first recurrent nova to be observed during a luminous supersoft X-ray phase. Non-LTE white dwarf atmosphere spectral models (together with a ~0.5 keV optically thin thermal component) were fitted to the BeppoSAX spectrum. We find that the fit is acceptable assuming enriched He and an enhanced N/C ratio. This implies that the CNO cycle was active during the outburst, in agreement with a thermonuclear runaway scenario. The best-fit temperature is ~9 10^5 K and the bolometric luminosity those predicted for steady nuclear burning on a WD close to the Chandrasekhar mass. The fact that U~Sco was detected as a supersoft X-ray source is consistent with steady nuclear burning continuing for at least one month after the outburst. This means that only a fraction of the previously accreted H and He was ejected during the outburst and that the WD can grow in mass, ultimately reaching the Chandrasekhar limit. This makes U~Sco a candidate type Ia supernova progenitor.Comment: 4 pages, accepted by A&A Letters 15 June 199

DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF STABILITY INDICATING HPTLC METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF SWERTIAMARIN IN BULK AND DOSAGE FORM

Objective: In the present study a novel stability-indicating high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method for quantitative determination of Swertiamarin (SW) in bulk drug and formulation has been developed and validated as per ICH guideline Q2 (R1) for global acceptance of standardized herbal formulations. Methods: HPTLC method is developed and validated using solvent ethyl acetate: ethanol: chloroform (3:2.5:4.5 v/v/v) (Rf of SW 0.65±0.04) in the absorbance mode at 243 nm. Various forced degradation conditions were used to check degradation of drug. Results: The method showed a good linear relationship (r2 = 0.9990) in the concentration range 200-700 ng per spot. It was found to be linear, accurate, precise and specific. Conclusion: It can be applied for quality control as well as for stability testing of different dosage forms containing swertiamarin. The developed method is validated as per ICH guideline Q2(R1) for global acceptance of standardized herbal formulations

A BeppoSAX observation of the super-soft source CAL87

We report on a BeppoSAX Concentrator Spectrometer observation of the super-soft source (SSS) CAL87. The X-ray emission in SSS is believed to arise from nuclear burning of accreted material on the surface of a white dwarf (WD). An absorbed blackbody spectral model gives a chi^2_v of 1.18 and a temperature of 42 +/- ^13 _11 eV. However, the derived luminosity and radius are greater than the Eddington limit and radius of a WD. Including an O viii edge at 0.871 keV gives a significantly better fit (at > 95% confidence) and results in more realistic values of the source luminosity and radius. We also fit WD atmosphere models to the CAL87 spectrum. These also give reasonable bolometric luminosities and radii in the ranges 2.7-4.8 10^{36} erg/s and 8-20 10^7 cm, respectively. These results support the view that the X-ray emission from CAL87 results from nuclear burning in the atmosphere of a WD.Comment: 4 pages. Accepted for publication in A&A (Letters

Team performance indicators that predict match outcome and points difference in professional rugby league

Performance indicators allow for the objective quantification of performance, however, limited PI research for professional rugby league exists. Therefore, this paper assessed 24 relative PIs (home value minus away) from all 27 rounds of the 2012, 2013 and 2014 European Super League seasons, collected by Opta, amounting to 567 matches. Backwards logistic (match outcome) and linear (points difference) regression models were used alongside exhaustive Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection decision trees to identify performance indicators (PIs) and key performance indicators. Teams had a higher chance of winning and would gain more points when they scored first (OR = 1.6, β = 2.4) and increased completed sets (OR = 1.2, β = 1.2) by one unit. Conversely, teams had a lower chance of winning when they increased scoots (OR = 0.9, β = −0.2). However, some PIs which were thought to be important (as identified by previous literature) were removed from the analysis thus calling into question the appropriateness of stepwise methods. Future research may consider utilising dimension reduction techniques when analysing large data-sets that encompass multiple variables

Rheology of peroxide modified recycled high density polyethylene

Consumption of plastics has increased exponentially, in line with the world&#039;s population. Not surprisingly this is reflected in enormous growth of the plastic industry especially during the last five decades. Commensurate with this, waste produced from plastics consumption has created a major environmental problem. Many types of waste disposal methods have been used all over the world so far, but all of them have disadvantages. Furthermore, some methods are responsible for the generation of green house gases and further contribution to global warming. Recently, reduction of green house gas emission has become a target of most industries. Plastic recycling and reuse breaks the cycle of endless production of virgin polymer and thus contributes to a net reduction of green house gas emission. Recycling of plastics should produce materials with improved properties to replace virgin plastics for a variety of applications. Improvement in the properties of recycled plastics can be achieved by blending with other plastics, by filler addition and by modification using free radical initiators. Introduction of the free radical initiator (organic peroxide) during reprocessing of the recycled plastics has been found to offer significant property improvements to the recycled materials. Extremely small amounts of a free radical initiator (typically ranging between 0.01 wt% to 0.2 wt%) is capable of enhancing the properties of the recycled plastics to a great extent. This project investigates the use of free radical initiators in the recycling of post consumer recycled high density polyethylene using reactive extrusion. Both molecular and rheological characterisation of recycled and reprocessed materials was carried out and this was followed by tensile testing of the modified materials to satisfy end use applications such as packaging and drainage piping. Post consumer recycled high density polyethylene (R-HDPE) resin and virgin high density polyethylene (V-HDPE) were reactively extruded with low concentrations of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and 1, 3 1, 4 Bis (tert- butylperoxyisopropyl) Benzene (OP2) respectively in a twin screw extruder in order to produce modified materials with varying composition (0.0 wt%, 0.02 wt%, 0.05 wt%, 0.07 wt%, 0.10 wt% and 0.15 wt%) of both organic peroxides. Morphological characterisation using modulated differential scanning calorimetry (MDSC) demonstrated that there is a decrease in the crystallinity level for all the modified samples. Shear rheological tests were carried out to study the structure of the modified materials within the linear viscoelastic region. Viscoelastic parameters, such as storage modulus (G&#039;), loss modulus (G&amp;quot;) and complex viscosity (&amp;ccedil;*) showed improvement at all frequencies tested with increase in both peroxides compositions. Higher improvements were experienced with OP2 modified V-HDPE and R-HDPE. R-HDPE showed greatest improvement in viscoelastic properties due to the inclusion of low level of carbon black as stabilizer. However, increase in peroxide loading causes appearance of the divergence of complex viscosity profile from Newtonian plateau to non-Newtonian slope analogous to finite yield stress region. Formation of long chain branches or extended chain mechanism causes disappearance of terminal zone and shear thinning like characteristics. Extensional rheological study, using the melt strength tester, was carried out to evaluate the response of the modified material to extensional deformation. However, melt strength is not a well-defined rheological property because of non-uniform strain and temperature along a drawn filament. Melt strength of V-HDPE and R-HDPE was enhanced with peroxide modifications. Alignment of the long chain branched molecules in the uni-directional stretching requires more force to stretch the polymer strand leading to enhancement in the melt strength. On the other hand, these long chain branched molecules restrict motion of the chain due to the higher relaxation time, thus can not resist rupture of the strand at higher draw ratio. Thus, extensibility was found to decrease with increased melt strength. Instabilities like draw resonance and ductile fracture were experienced with peroxide loading leading to processing limitations. Extensional viscosity was found to increase with all modified samples. This enhancement was a lso experienced with recycled modified materials. Molecular characterisation was done to assess the molecular level changes during reactive extrusion and peroxide modification process for all the modified materials. Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) of all the peroxide modified materials showed increase in weight average (Mw) and number average (Mn) molecular weight with respect to the peroxide loading. In addition, increments in Mw than Mn indicated increased branch length. Branching index (g&#039;) also showed lower values as branching mechanisms developed. Environmental stress cracking resistance was also measured to evaluate the suitability of the modified material in terms of the targeted pipe application. Resistance to stress crack growth increased with peroxide modifications for both virgin and R-HDPE. However, elongation properties were found to decrease with peroxide loading

An observational case control study: study of preterm labour- risk factors and its outcome

Background: Preterm birth is considered as the most significant risk in infant morbidity and mortality. The number of preterm births can be reduced significantly if all of the risk factors for predicting preterm births were eliminated to maximum extent. The aim of this study was analysis of risk factors of preterm labour and its outcome through case control study.Methods: It was an observational case control study of 200 pregnant women divided into study group of 100 pregnant women who were admitted with signs and symptoms of preterm labour with gestational age between 28-36 weeks. Control group of 100 pregnant women having gestational age above 36 weeks and with spontaneous onset of active labour. Risk factors and other parameters of both the groups were analyzed along with their neonatal outcome.Results: It was found that premature rupture of membrane, previous abortion, previous preterm delivery, anemia and impaired body mass index (BMI) are significantly higher in cases with preterm labour (p value &lt;0.05). Hyperbilirubinemia, birth asphyxia and respiratory distress syndrome are significantly higher in cases with preterm labour (p value &lt;0.05).Conclusions: Preterm labour is a multifactorial problem. Preterm labour and delivery require early and prolonged hospitalization causing great financial and psychological burden on the society and the number of preterm births can be reduced significantly if all of the risk factors for predicting preterm births were eliminated to maximum extent

Knowledge and awareness about Iron deficiency and megaloblastic anaemia among blood donors: a study at rural based tertiary care hospital

Background: Voluntary blood donation is promoted in order to make the blood banking safe and successful. Research in the area of blood donation has found that, iron stores are influenced by regular blood donation if dietary intake of iron is inadequate. Awareness and knowledge among blood donors regarding iron and B12 deficiency and its prevention is very much required. Objective: To assess the knowledge and awareness about iron deficiency and megaloblastic anaemia among blood donors.  Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among the 500 voluntary blood donors during the span of 1 year at one of the blood bank of tertiary care hospital  using prestructured questionnaire on the various aspect of iron and B12 deficiency/folate deficiency anemia. The data was analysed with the help of Microsoft excel and SPSS.Results: Out of 500 blood donors, 15.6% donors were regular blood donor. It was observed 60% blood donors were having knowledge of anemia in general. Iron deficiency and vitamin B12 deficiency were known to 42% and 31.6% donors, respectively. Only 20% donors could able to answer the acceptable level of hemoglobin require for donating the blood. About 42% donors were aware about importance of iron, folate and vitamin B12 in maintaining normal hemoglobin level. Majority (82.7%) of regular blood donors were willing to get information regarding iron, folate and vitamin B12 deficiency.Conclusion: Significant lack of awareness regarding iron and vitamin B12 deficiency was observed in regular voluntary blood donors. The present study recommends the provision of health education on iron and vitamin B12 deficiency as well as Iron, folate and vitamin B12 rich foods to regular blood donor to prevent anaemia among them.

Discovery of complex narrow X-ray absorption features from the low-mass X-ray binary GX13+1 with XMM-Newton

We report the detection of a complex of narrow X-ray absorption features from the low-mass X-ray binary GX13+1 during 3 XMM-Newton observations in 2000 March and April. The features are consistent with being due to resonant scattering of the K_alpha and K_beta lines of He- and H-like iron (Fe xxv and Fe xxvi) and H-like calcium (Ca xx) K_alpha. Only the Fe xxvi K_alpha line has been previously observed from GX13+1. Due to the closeness in energy the Fe xxv and Fe xxvi K_beta features may also be ascribed to Nixxvii and Nixxviii K_alpha, respectively. We also find evidence for the presence of a deep (tau~0.2) Fe xxv absorption edge at 8.83 keV. The equivalent widths of the lines do not show any obvious variation on a timescale of a few days suggesting that the absorbing material is a stable feature of the system and present during a range of orbital phases