Near room-temperature colossal magnetodielectricity and multiglass properties in partially-disordered La2NiMnO6

We report magnetic, dielectric and magnetodielectric responses of pure monoclinic bulk phase of partially-disordered La2NiMnO6, exhibiting a spectrum of unusual properties and establish that this system intrinsically is a true multiglass with a large magnetodielectric coupling (8-20%) over a wide range of temperatures (150 - 300 K). Specifically, our results establish a unique way to obtain colossal magnetodielectricity, independent of any striction effects, by engineering the asymmetric hopping contribution to the dielectric constant via the tuning of the relative spin orientations between neighboring magnetic ions in a transition metal oxide system. We discuss the role of anti-site (Ni-Mn) disorder in emergence of these unusual properties.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Slightly revised version of previous article in condmat: arXiv:1202.4319v

Essential oil of leaves of Cinnamomum tamala Nees. & Eberm. from North East India

An essential oil (0.7%) having nD 28 = 1.4791 obtained by hyclrodistillation of fresh leaves of Cinnamomum tamala cultivated in North Cacher Hills of North East India was examined by gas chromatography. Fourteen oil components were identified which constituted 93.44% of the oil. Linalool was the main component (60.73%), whereas eugenol and cinnamic aldehyde were detected in trace amounts (<1%). Other components of significant occurrence (3%) in the oil were a-pinene (10.54%), b-pinene (10.42%), limonene (3.21%) and camphene (3.06%). &nbsp

Electric and magnetic polarizabilities of hexagonal Ln2CuTiO6 (Ln=Y, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb)

We investigated the rare-earth transition metal oxide series, Ln2CuTiO6 (Ln=Y, Dy, Ho, Er and Yb), crystallizing in the hexagonal structure with non-centrosymmetric P63cm space group for possible occurrences of multiferroic properties. Our results show that while these compounds, except Ln=Y, exhibit a low temperature antiferromagnetic transition due to the ordering of the rare-earth moments, the expected ferroelectric transition is frustrated by the large size difference between Cu and Ti at the B-site. Interestingly, this leads these compounds to attain a rare and unique combination of desirable paraelectric properties with high dielectric constants, low losses and weak temperature and frequency dependencies. First-principles calculations establish these exceptional properties result from a combination of two effects. A significant difference in the MO5 polyhedral sizes for M = Cu and M = Ti suppress the expected co-operative tilt pattern of these polyhedra, required for the ferroelectric transition, leading to relatively large values of the dielectric constant for every compound investigated in this series. Additionally, it is shown that the majority contribution to the dielectric constant arises from intermediate-frequency polar vibrational modes, making it relatively stable against any temperature variation. Changes in the temperature stability of the dielectric constant amongst different members of this series are shown to arise from changes in relative contributions from soft polar modes.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. B (21 pages, 2 Table, 8 Figures

Sero-prevalence of West Nile virus in urban and peri-urban poultry farms of Guwahati, India

West Nile virus (WNV) is a zoonotic, emerging mosquito-borne virus which can cause severe disease in the form of encephalitis and acute flaccid paralysis in humans. In Assam, northeast India, arboviruses seem to be re-emerging, however, WNV has been little studied. The present investigation was carried out from April, 2018 to March, 2019 to study sero-positivity of WNV in chicken in urban and peri-urban areas of Guwahati, the capital city of Assam. Four urban and four peri-urban areas of Guwahati were selected. A total of 864 chicken serum samples (72 samples per month) were screened by ELISA and further confirmed by haemagglutination inhibition (HI), which revealed that 3.13% of the chickens had been exposed to WNV, with 0.69% sero-positivity in urban areas compared to 5.56% in peri-urban. Peak sero-prevalence of WNV were reported during the month of July and August with 8.33% each with lowest sero-prevalence being recorded in November (1.39%) and no sero-positive birds from December to April. These results indicate that WNV is one of the actively circulating flaviviruses in Assam, and human febrile and encephalitic cases should be screened for the disease

Isgur-Wise Function for Heavy Light Mesons in D dimensional Potential Model

We report results of a potential model for mesons in D space-time dimension developed by considering the quark-antiquark potential of Nambu-Goto strings. With this wave function, we have studied Isgur-Wise function for heavy-light mesons and its derivatives like slope and curvature. The dimensional dependence of our results and a comparative study with the results of 3+1 dimensional QCD are also reported.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Transnational strategy on the sustainable management and responsible use of non-native trees in the Alpine Space

Abstract Non-native tree species – defined as those species intentionally or unintentionally introduced by humans – have long been a part of the Alpine Space, providing numerous benefits, but also posing a potential threat to native biodiversity and related ecosystem services. Compared to the urban space where non-native trees comprise most tree species, the number of non-native trees in forests and plantations is relatively low. To evaluate potential risks and benefits of non-native trees in the Alpine Space, a transnational strategy for the responsible use and management of non-native trees is needed. The goals of the strategy are to tailor management practices for a sustainable and responsible use or admixture of non-native trees, to reduce the risks connected with the invasive potential of some non-native tree species, to help forests and urban areas to adapt to climate change, and to improve coordination and cooperation regarding best practices between different regions of the Alpine Space. A proposal was developed in a four-step process including expert-based assessment, stakeholder mapping, an extensive data review, and a public consultation. For implementing the strategy fully, strong collaboration among diverse stakeholders is anticipated and robust governance and an adequate long-term and fair funding scheme is needed

People and plant: Learning with Adi community on ethnomedicinal practices and conservation in Arunachal Pradesh, India

74-82Local plant species have been in use in variety of ethnomedicinal practices from the time immemorial among the people of various communities for treating various human diseases. This paper reports about the plant species used by Adi community in curing various human diseases and ailments. A study was conducted during 2008-2009 and further refined in succeeding years with the 12 purposively selected traditional knowledge holders (TKHs) of Adi tribe of East Siang district, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Data were collected using combined approaches of personal interview, participant observations and transect walks. It was observed that with Shannon-Weaver diversity index 2.73, there were 39 local plant species belonging to 25 plant families and used as ethnomedicinal practices by the TKHs. Most of the species (17) were used by Adi TKHs with their green leaf parts followed by root and fruits (5 each) to develop ethnomedicinal formulations. Out of these, several species namely Leucas aspera (Willd.) Link.; Plumeria rubra L.; Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don; Solanum torvum Swartz; Solanum khasianum C.B. Clarke; Oroxylum indicum (L.) Benth.ex Kurze; and Tinospora cordifolia (Thunb.) Miers) were found in use by Adis against asthma, bronchitis, cough, sinusitis, diabetes, malaria, typhoid and jaundice. The Adi TKHs maintain a rich cultural ethics, govern by their own world-view in continuing ethnomedicinal practices, and harvesting the species from various land use systems with the aim to sustain biodiversity and associated practices. The key findings indicated that, plant species used as ethnomedicines for some of the diseases and ailments by the Adi TKHs, can be undertaken for the long-term trial to find some natural remedies against few human diseases, including search of immune enhancer against COVID-19, provided TKHs of Adi community are partnered in ethically and culturally appropriate manner.&nbsp

Isolation and characterization of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli of animal and bird origin by multiplex polymerase chain reaction

Abstract Aim: The purpose of this study was to determine the virulence genes and serotype of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from animals and birds. Materials and Methods: A total of 226 different samples viz., fecal, intestinal content, rectal swab and heart blood were collected from different clinically affected/healthy animals and birds and were streaked on McConkeys' lactose agar and eosin methylene blue agar for isolation of E. coli, confirmed by staining characteristics and biochemical tests. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR) all the E. coli isolates were screened for certain virulence genes, viz., Shiga toxin 1 (stx1), stx2 and eae and enterohemolytic (Ehly) phenotype was observed in washed sheep blood agar plate. All the isolated E. coli strains were forwarded to the National Salmonella and Escherichia Centre, Central Research Institute, Kasauli (Himachal Pradesh) for serotyping. Results: Out of 226 samples 138 yielded E. coli. All the isolates were screened for molecular detection of different virulent genes, viz. stx1, stx2 and eae, based on which 36 (26.08%) were identified as STEC. Among those STEC isolates, 15 (41.67%), 14 (38.89%), 1 (2.78%) exhibited eae, stx2, stx1 alone, respectively, whereas 4 (11.11%) and 2 (5.56%) carried both stx1 and stx2, stx2 and eae, respectively. Among the STEC isolates 22 were belonged to 15 different sero-groups, viz., O2, O20, O22, O25, O43, O60, O69, O90, O91, O95, O106, O118, O130, O162 and O170 and others were untypable. Ehly phenotype was observed in 10 (27.78%) the STEC isolates. Conclusion: The present study concluded that STEC could be isolated from both clinically affected as well as healthy animals and birds. Regular monitoring of more samples from animal and bird origin is important to identify natural reservoir of STEC to prevent zoonotic infection

Deposition fluxes of chemical components of fog water at a rural site in North East India

The north-eastern part of India has not been investigated for atmospheric deposition studies so far. In this study, deposition fluxes on an artificial surface of chemical components due to fog have been calculated during winter from December 2002 to January 2003 at Jorhat, a rural site in north-east India. As the land in this area is covered with vegetation, the site is representative of rural characteristics in this region. The average pH of fog water is 5.6. Among chemical components, NH+ 4 was observed to be dominating ion. Soil pH in this region is acidic (4.9). Unlike other parts of the country, chemical analysis of soil in this region revealed that influence of suspended soil dust on fog deposition was insignificant. A comparison of fluxes of fog with rain water during December–January months showed that deposition fluxes due to rain water were higher by almost one order of magnitude on an artificial surface but on natural surfaces, the fluxes may be comparabl