Squeezing in Multivariate Spin Systems

In contrast to the canonically conjugate variates $q$,$p$ representing the position and momentum of a particle in the phase space distributions, the three Cartesian components, $J_{x}$,$J_{y}$, $J_{z}$ of a spin-$j$ system constitute the mutually non-commuting variates in the quasi-probabilistic spin distributions. It can be shown that a univariate spin distribution is never squeezed and one needs to look into either bivariate or trivariate distributions for signatures of squeezing. Several such distributions result if one considers different characteristic functions or moments based on various correspondence rules. As an example, discrete probability distribution for an arbitrary spin-1 assembly is constructed using Wigner-Weyl and Margenau-Hill correspondence rules. It is also shown that a trivariate spin-1 assembly resulting from the exposure of nucleus with non-zero quadrupole moment to combined electric quadrupole field and dipole magnetic field exhibits squeezing in cerain cases.Comment: 13 pages, 1 Table, Presented at ICSSUR-05, Franc

Effect of Annealing on Hardness and Elastic Modulus of Invar36 Thin Films Deposited by Direct Current Sputtering for Strain Gauge Applications

Invar36 thin film was deposited at room temperature on p-type silicon (100) substrates using DC magnetron sputtering technique. In order to investigate the post-annealing effect on the structural characteristics and mechanical properties of the prepared films, they were vacuum annealed for one hour at different temperatures viz. 200°C, 400°C and 500°C. Composition analysis, phase structure, microstructure and roughness of as-deposited and annealed Invar36 thin films were investigated by energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Mechanical properties of Invar36 thin films were studied by nano indentation method. EDX analysis revealed a variation in nickel content with annealing. The XRD measurements indicated the phase transformation of Invar36 thin film with annealing. AFM analysis implied uniform surface morphology of the films, increase of surface roughness and grain size with annealing. The hardness (H) of the film decreased with annealing. Hardness of as-deposited, annealed at 200oC, 400oC and 500oC were found as 8.5±0.96 GPa, 7.64±0.35 GPa, 6.34±0.14GPa and 3.95±1.05 GPa, respectively. The elastic modulus of Invar36 thin films was increased with annealing. Elastic modulus of as-deposited, annealed at 200oC, 400oC and 500oC were found as 157.00±25.49 GPa, 166.0±11.8 GPa, 172.00±9.93 GPa and 176.00 ±10.78 GPa, respectively. These results are explained on the basis of the change of microstructure after annealing and the effect of the same on the mechanical properties of Invar36 thin films for strain gauge applications

A cross-sectional study on incidence and indications for induction of labor and the factors associated with failure of induction

Background: Induction fails in about 20% of induced pregnancies and has no universally accepted definition. Failed induction is the failure to establish labor or inability to achieve the active stage of labor, considering the definition of induction of labor (IOL). It needs to be differentiated from the failure of progress of labor. There is no evidence to recommend treatment for failed induction, but usually, delivery by cesarean section will be required. Aims and Objectives: The study was designed to start induction for an indication that justifies operative delivery in cases of failure. Materials and Methods: A prospective observational study was done over a period of 1 year among antenatal women confirmed to be at term with cephalic presentation in the absence of active labor with unscarred uterus. Results: The incidence of IOL was found to be 25.97% and failure was observed in 50 (21.83%) of those included in the study. Among those with failure, failed pre-induction ripening was seen in 26 (11.3%) and failed induction in 24 (10.4%). Although many variables were found to be associated with the outcome of labor, a statistically significant association was observed with premature rupture of membranes, pre-induction Bishop score, and birth weight of the baby. Conclusion: The study helps in better clinical judgment of patients who will have a successful induction or a failed induction and the patients could be counseled accordingly. This judgment will also help to avoid unnecessary inductions in those who have the risk factors for failed induction unless the induction is absolutely necessary

Cooking practices, air quality, and the acceptability of advanced cookstoves in Haryana, India: an exploratory study to inform large-scale interventions.

BackgroundIn India, approximately 66% of households rely on dung or woody biomass as fuels for cooking. These fuels are burned under inefficient conditions, leading to household air pollution (HAP) and exposure to smoke containing toxic substances. Large-scale intervention efforts need to be informed by careful piloting to address multiple methodological and sociocultural issues. This exploratory study provides preliminary data for such an exercise from Palwal District, Haryana, India.MethodsTraditional cooking practices were assessed through semi-structured interviews in participating households. Philips and Oorja, two brands of commercially available advanced cookstoves with small blowers to improve combustion, were deployed in these households. Concentrations of particulate matter (PM) with a diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) related to traditional stove use were measured using real-time and integrated personal, microenvironmental samplers for optimizing protocols to evaluate exposure reduction. Qualitative data on acceptability of advanced stoves and objective measures of stove usage were also collected.ResultsTwenty-eight of the thirty-two participating households had outdoor primary cooking spaces. Twenty households had liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) but preferred traditional stoves as the cost of LPG was higher and because meals cooked on traditional stoves were perceived to taste better. Kitchen area concentrations and kitchen personal concentrations assessed during cooking events were very high, with respective mean PM2.5 concentrations of 468 and 718 µg/m3. Twenty-four hour outdoor concentrations averaged 400 µg/m3. Twenty-four hour personal CO concentrations ranged between 0.82 and 5.27 ppm. The Philips stove was used more often and for more hours than the Oorja.ConclusionsThe high PM and CO concentrations reinforce the need for interventions that reduce HAP exposure in the aforementioned community. Of the two stoves tested, participants expressed satisfaction with the Philips brand as it met the local criteria for usability. Further understanding of how the introduction of an advanced stove influences patterns of household energy use is needed. The preliminary data provided here would be useful for designing feasibility and/or pilot studies aimed at intervention efforts locally and nationally

A study on coating of Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose incorporated with a nano-emulsion of Piper betel leaf essential oil to enhance shelf-life and improve postharvest quality of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Edible coating films derived from essential oils effectively preserve farm produce, especially fruits and vegetables, and the technology is widely prevalent in improving their shelf life. The present study aimed to reduce the post-harvest loss and extend the shelf life of tomatoes using edible coatings based on Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC) containing Piper betel leaf essential oil nano-emulsion as an antibacterial and bioactive compound. It also aimed for optimal extraction of essential oils (EO) from Piper betel leaves which contain various medicinal, antimicrobial, and antioxidant compounds such as chavibetol, eugenol, and other compounds. The essential oils were extracted, and nano-emulsion was prepared by a low-energy emulsification method and incorporated into edible HPMC composite to determine whether the edible coatings of the nano-emulsion of Piper betel leaf could delay the changes that lead to deterioration of the fruit. Results showed that the coatings delayed 5 % changes in color, 8% weight loss, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid content, soluble solids concentration, lycopene, and decay percentage, compared to uncoated control fruits. It was inferred that tomatoes that were coated with 15% nano-emulsion containing dipping solution showed a significant increase in the shelf life of tomatoes up to 8 days. Therefore, it is suggested to use HPMC containing the Piper betel oil nano-emulsion as an edible coating, extending the shelf-life of tomato fruits post-harvest

NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS, AND POTASSIUM RANGE OF VERMICOMPOST USING EISENIA FETIDA AND PERIONYX EXCAVATUS

The aim of the presentation is to produce vermicomposting from organic kitchen solid wastes using two types of earthworms such as Eisenia fetida and Perionyx excavatus and check the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium level between E. fetida and P. excavatus. This study examines the potential of the E. fetida and P. excavatus in the vermicompost of kitchen waste. As kitchen waste is rich in organic material. Physical and biochemical parameters were analyzed during the period of 60 days. Pre-decomposition is 15 days and subsequent vermicomposting is 60 days indicates, the rule of these species of vermitechnology increase was found in all the parameters such as total nitrogen (%), available phosphorus (%), and exchangeable potassium (%) while a decrease was found in pH and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio in E. fetida as the timing of vermicomposting increased from 0 days to 60 days

A New Extensible Key Exchange Scheme For Wireless Sensor Networks

A sensor network is confident of a large number of sensor nodes Sensor nodes are small, low-cost, low-power devices that have following performance communicate on short distances sense environmental data perform limited data processing The network usually also contains “sink” node which connects it to the outside world. Advances in technology introduce new application areas for sensor networks. Foreseeable wide deployment of mission critical sensor networks creates concerns on security issues. Security of large scale slowly deployed and infrastructure-less wireless networks of resource limited sensor nodes requires efficient key distribution and management mechanisms. We consider distributed and hierarchical wireless sensor networks where unjust, multicast and broadcast type of communications can take place. We evaluate deterministic, probabilistic and hybrid type of key pre-distribution and dynamic key generation algorithms for distributing combination and network-wise keys