Experimental search for super and hyper heavy nuclei at cyclotron Institute Texas A&M University

The question "How heavy can an atomic nucleus be?" is a fundamental problem in nuclear physics. The possible existence of island(s) of stable super-heavy nuclei has been an inspiring problem in heavy ion physics for almost four decades. This paper is focused on the experimental search of Super/Hyper Heavy Elements (SHE/HHE) conducted at the Cyclotron Institute, Texas A&M University. A novel experimental idea and experimental set up introduced for this research will be presented

Use Of The BigSol Time Of Flight Spectrometer In The Study Of Superheavy Element Production

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/98691/1/APC000594.pd

Translating evidence into policy for cardiovascular disease control in India

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are leading causes of premature mortality in India. Evidence from developed countries shows that mortality from these can be substantially prevented using population-wide and individual-based strategies. Policy initiatives for control of CVD in India have been suggested but evidence of efficacy has emerged only recently. These initiatives can have immediate impact in reducing morbidity and mortality. Of the prevention strategies, primordial involve improvement in socioeconomic status and literacy, adequate healthcare financing and public health insurance, effective national CVD control programme, smoking control policies, legislative control of saturated fats, trans fats, salt and alcohol, and development of facilities for increasing physical activity through better urban planning and school-based and worksite interventions. Primary prevention entails change in medical educational curriculum and improved healthcare delivery for control of CVD risk factors-smoking, hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes. Secondary prevention involves creation of facilities and human resources for optimum acute CVD care and secondary prevention. There is need to integrate various policy makers, develop effective policies and modify healthcare systems for effective delivery of CVD preventive care

Search for Heavy and Superheavy systems in 197Au + 232Th Collisions near the Coulomb Barrier

The reaction 197Au + 232Th at 7.5 AMeV was studied using the BigSol spectrometer at Texas A&M. Theoretical calculations suggest that this reaction could be used as an alternative method to produce heavy and superheavy elements. During the short interaction time, heavy systems of interacting nucleons are formed and, due to the strong energy dissipation, a large number nucleons can be transferred. The larger the lifetime of the decaying giant system, the larger the possible number of transferred nucleons. Moreover shell effects may help in the formation of heavy nuclei in the region of the island of stability. Reaction products emitted in an angular range from 6 to 16 degrees were collected at the entrance of the BigSol spectrometer and detected at the focal plane using a segmented ionization chamber. Four position sensitive PPAC detectors placed along the ion's flight path were used to track the product trajectories and measure the times of flight. The experimental results are presented and compared with theoretical calculations performed with the Constraint Molecular Dynamics code

Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis