X-ray Diffraction Analysis of Cu2+ Doped Zn1-xCuxFe2O4 Spinel Nanoparticles using Williamson-Hall Plot Method

The nanoparticles (NPs) of Zn1-xCuxFe2O4 (ZCFO) spinels with x = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 were synthesized by a sol-gel combustion method using acetate precursor. The NPs of ZCFO were prepared by following calcination process at 600C for 8hrs. The synthesized NPs of ZCFO were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis using Rietveld refinement. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD patterns revealed that the ZCFO spinels crystallize into single diamond cubic structure with Fd-3m space group. The lattice constant and unit cell volume for ZCFO NPs shrink with enhancing doping concentration of Cu2+ ion. The crystalline growth in the NPs of ZCFO was examined by peak broadening present in the XRD pattern. The Williamson-Hall (W-H) plot method were used to study the individual involvements of crystallite sizes and lattice strain on the peak broadening of the NPs of ZCFO spinels. Whereas, particle size of the ZCFO sample with x = 0.40 was estimated by high-resolution scanning electron microscopy micrograph

Understanding the Relationship between Iron and Lipid Metabolism in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

This research shows that in the absence of steatosis short term iron exposure appears to improve mitochondrial function and decrease mitochondrial fatty acid breakdown. In contrast, in the presence of hepatic steatosis, iron increased peroxisomal fatty acid breakdown. Importantly, iron decreased the number of cholesterol crystals present in fatty liver. These results suggest iron loading in steatosis may act to reduce liver damage in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Multiple Triple-Point Fermions in Heusler Compounds

Using the density functional theoretical calculations, we report a new set of topological semimetals X$_{2}$YZ (X = \{Cu, Rh, Pd, Ag, Au, Hg\}, Y = \{Li, Na, Sc, Zn, Y, Zr, Hf, La, Pr, Pm, Sm, Tb, Dy, Ho, Tm\} and Z =\{Mg, Al, Zn, Ga, Y, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Ta, Sm\}), which show the existence of multiple topological triple point fermions along four independent $C_{3}$ axes. These fermionic quasiparticles have no analogues elementary particle in the standard model. The angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy is simulated to obtain the exotic topological surface states and the characteristic Fermi arcs. The inclusion of spin-orbit coupling splits the triple-point into two Dirac points. The triple-point fermions are exhibited on the easily cleavable (111) surface and are well separated from the surface $\bar{\Gamma}$ point, allowing them to be resolved in the surface spectroscopic techniques. This intermediate linearly dispersive degeneracy between Weyl and Dirac points may offer prospective candidates for quantum transport applications

Factors associated with seeking treatment for postpartum morbidities in rural India

OBJECTIVES: To understand the prevalence of postpartum morbidities and factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour among currently married women aged 15-49 residing in rural India. METHODS: We used data from the nationally representative District Level Household Survey from 2007-2008. Cross-tabulation was used to understand the differentials for the prevalence of postpartum morbidities and treatment-seeking behaviours across selected background characteristics. Two-level binary logistic regression was applied to understand the factors associated with treatment-seeking behaviour. RESULTS: Approximately 39.8% of rural women suffered from at least one of the six postpartum morbidities including high fever, lower abdominal pain, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, excessive bleeding, convulsions, and severe headache. Morbidities were more prevalent among poor, illiterate, Muslim, and high-parity women. About 55.1% of these rural women sought treatment/consultation for their problems. The odds of seeking treatment/consultation increased as economic status and years of schooling among both the woman and her husband increased. Poor, uneducated, unemployed, Hindu, and tribal women were less likely to seek treatment/consultation for postpartum morbidities than their counterparts were. The odds of seeking treatment/consultation decreased as the distance to the nearest private health facility increased. Most women visited a private hospital (46.3%) or a friend/family member’s home (20.8%) for treatment/consultation. Only a small percentage visited publicly funded health institutions such as a primary health centre (8.8%), community health centre (6.5%), health sub-centre (2.8%), or district hospital (13.1%). Rural women from the northeast region of India were 50% less likely to seek treatment/consultation than women from the central region were. CONCLUSIONS: Providing antenatal and delivery care, and ensuring nearby government healthcare facilities are available to serve rural women might increase the likelihood of care-seeking for postpartum morbidities. Targeted interventions for vulnerable groups should be considered in future policies to increase the likelihood women will seek treatment or advice postpartum

Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack is the disease of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscle (Myocardium) i.e. coronary heart disease. The area of heart muscle that has either zero flow or so little flow that it cannot sustain cardiac muscle function is said to be infracted and the overall process is called a myocardial infarction. MI are of two types; transmural and subendocardial. Mainly it is caused due to oxidative stress and atherosclerosis.Chest pain is the most common symptom of acute MI and is often described as a sensation of tightness, pressure, or squeezing. Other symptoms include diaphoresis (an excessive form of sweating), Shortness of breath (dyspnea), weakness, light-headedness, nausea, vomiting, and palpitations. The most common symptoms of MI in women include dyspnea, weakness, and fatigue, sleep disturbances. It can be treated by using  blockers, diuretics, ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and nitrates