Performance Optimization of Froth Flotation Process using Response Surface Methodology

Owing to the high ash content, Indian coking coals are considered to be of sub-optimal quality. Thus, the coals need to undergo beneficiation prior to their utilization in the steel industry. The froth flotation process is a universally accepted physieo-chemical process for the beneficiation of coal fines

Free-carrier-driven Kerr frequency comb in optical microcavities: Steady state, bistability, self-pulsation, and modulation instability

Continuous-wave pumped optical microresonators have been vastly exploited to generate a frequency comb (FC) utilizing the Kerr nonlinearity. Most of the nonlinear materials used to build photonic platforms exhibit nonlinear losses such as multiphoton absorption, free-carrier absorption, and free-carrier dispersion which can strongly affect their nonlinear performances. In this work, we model the Kerr FC based on a modified Lugiato-Lefever equation (LLE) along with the rate equation and develop analytical formulations to make a quick estimation of the steady state, bistability, self-pulsation, and modulation instability (MI) gain and bandwidth in the presence of nonlinear losses. The analytical model is valid over a broad wavelength range as it includes the effects of all nonlinear losses. Higher-order (>3)characteristic polynomials of intracavity power describing the steady-state homogeneous solution of the modified LLE are discussed in detail. We derive the generalized analytical expressions for the threshold (normalized) pump detuning that initiates the optical bistability when nonlinear losses are present. Free-carrier dispersion-led nonlinear cavity detuning is observed through the reverse Kerr tilt of the resonant peaks. We further deduce the expressions of the threshold pump intensity and the range of possible cavity detuning for the initiation of the MI considering the presence of nonlinear losses. The proposed model will be helpful in explaining several numerical and experimental results which have been previously reported and thereby will be able to provide a better understanding of the comb dynamics

Endoplasmic Reticulum PI(3)P Lipid Binding Targets Malaria Proteins to the Host Cell

SummaryHundreds of effector proteins of the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum constitute a “secretome” carrying a host-targeting (HT) signal, which predicts their export from the intracellular pathogen into the surrounding erythrocyte. Cleavage of the HT signal by a parasite endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protease, plasmepsin V, is the proposed export mechanism. Here, we show that the HT signal facilitates export by recognition of the lipid phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PI(3)P) in the ER, prior to and independent of protease action. Secretome HT signals, including those of major virulence determinants, bind PI(3)P with nanomolar affinity and amino acid specificities displayed by HT-mediated export. PI(3)P-enriched regions are detected within the parasite's ER and colocalize with endogenous HT signal on ER precursors, which also display high-affinity binding to PI(3)P. A related pathogenic oomycete's HT signal export is dependent on PI(3)P binding, without cleavage by plasmepsin V. Thus, PI(3)P in the ER functions in mechanisms of secretion and pathogenesis

Energy level statistics of interacting trapped bosons

It is an well established fact that statistical properties of energy level spectra are the most efficient tool to characterize nonintegrable quantum systems. The study of statistical properties and spectral fluctuation in the interacting many boson systems have developed a new interest in this direction. Specially we are interested in the weakly interacting trapped bosons in the context of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) as the energy spectrum shows a transition from the collective to single particle nature with the increase in the number of levels. However this has received less attention as it is believed that the system may exhibit Poisson like fluctuations due to the existence of external harmonic trap. Here we compute numerically the energy levels of the zero-temperature many-boson systems which are weakly interacting through the van der Waals potential and are in the 3D confined harmonic potential. We study the nearest neighbour spacing distribution and the spectral rigidity by unfolding the spectrum. It is found that increase in number of energy levels for repulsive BEC induces a transition from a Wigner like form displaying level repulsion to Poisson distribution for P(s). It does not follow the GOE prediction. For repulsive interaction, the lower levels are correlated and manifest level repulsion. For intermediate levels P (s) shows mixed statistic which clearly signifies the existence of two energy scales: external trap and interatomic interaction. Whereas for very high levels the trapping potential dominates, genarating Poisson distribution. Comparison with mean-field results for lower levels are also presented. For attractive BEC near the critical point we observe the Shrielman like peak near s=0 which signifies the presence of large number of quasi-degenerate states.Comment: 12 page

Ultrasonic pulse induced mechanoluminescence of europium doped strontium aluminate micro-crystals

When rare earth doped strontium aluminate micro-crystals are exposed to ultrasonic pulse, then mechanumnescence (ML) is induced. The intensity of ML is proportional to the power of ultrasonic pulse used for ML excitation. The ML in europium doped strontium aluminate micro-crystals can be understood on the basis of the piezoelectrically induced electron detrapping model. On the basis of the piezoelectrically-induced electron detrapping model, expressions are derived for the general kinetics of ML intensity, rise of ML intensity, peak ML intensity and decay of ML intensity, in which good agreement is found between the theoretical and experimental results. A linear relation between the ML intensity and the ultrasonic power can also be understood on the basis of the proposed theory. The present investigation shows that the ML can be used to detecting the presence of ultrasonic waves and also for the measurement of ultrasonic power.&nbsp

Molecular typing reveals substantial Plasmodium vivax infection in asymptomatic adults in a rural area of Cameroon

BACKGROUND: Malaria in Cameroon is due to infections by Plasmodium falciparum and, to a lesser extent, Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium ovale, but rarely Plasmodium vivax. A recent report suggested “Plasmodium vivax–like” infections around the study area that remained unconfirmed. Therefore, molecular and antigenic typing was used to investigate the prevalence of P. vivax and Duffy in asymptomatic adults resident in Bolifamba. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2008 to October 2009. The status of all parasite species was determined by nested PCR in 269 blood samples collected. The P. falciparum and P. vivax anti-MSP/CSP antibody status of each subject was also determined qualitatively by a rapid card assay. Parasite DNA was extracted from a sample infected with three parasite species, purified and sequenced. The Duffy antigen status of 12 subjects infected with P. vivax was also determined by sequencing. In silico web-based tools were used to analyse sequence data for similarities and matches to reference sequences in public DNA databases. RESULTS: The overall malaria parasite prevalence in 269 individuals was 32.3% (87) as determined by PCR. Remarkably, 14.9% (13/87) of infections were caused either exclusively or concomitantly by P. vivax, established both by PCR and microscopic examination of blood smears, in individuals both positive (50%, 6/12) and negative (50%, 6/12) for the Duffy receptor. A triple infection by P. falciparum, P. vivax and P. malariae, was detected in one infected individual. Anti-MSP/CSP antibodies were detected in 72.1% (194/269) of samples, indicating high and continuous exposure to infection through mosquito bites. DISCUSSION: These data provide the first molecular evidence of P. vivax in Duffy positive and negative Cameroonians and suggest that there may be a significant prevalence of P. vivax infection than expected in the study area. Whether the P. vivax cases were imported or due to expansion of a founder effect was not investigated. Notwithstanding, the presence of P. vivax may complicate control efforts if these parasites become hypnozoitic or latent as the liver stage. CONCLUSIONS: These data strongly suggest that P. vivax is endemic to the south-west region of Cameroon and should be taken into account when designing malaria control strategies

A Case of Multiple Myeloma Presenting with Diabetes Insipidus

Multiple myeloma (MM) can present with involvement of the central nervous system in the form of nerve palsy, plasma cell masses or, rarely, with endocrinological effects due to involvement of the pituitary gland. Usually, in such cases, the disease has a rapid progression and poor prognosis. We report a 52-year-old man who was admitted to the Kolkata Medical College, Kolkata, India, in 2016 with a prolonged low-grade fever and hypernatremia. Shortly afterwards, the patient began to complain of increased urinary frequency and drowsiness. The hypernatremia was treated with intranasal desmopressin and free water replacement. Serum protein electrophoresis and an immunofixation study revealed an immunoglobulin G-κ monoclonal band. Magnetic resonance imaging of the pituitary gland revealed the absence of a posterior bright spot and spotty infiltration of the pituitary fossa. A bone marrow biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of cranial diabetes insipidus due to posterior pituitary MM infiltration