Quantum dynamics of molecules in 4He nano-droplets: Microscopic Superfluidity

High resolution spectroscopy of doped molecules in 4He nano-droplets and clusters gives a signature of superfluidity in microscopic system, termed as microscopic superfluidity. Ro-vibrational spectrum of 4HeN-M clusters is studied with the help of some important observations, revealed from experiments (viz., localised and orderly arrangement of 4He atoms, although, being free to move in the order of their locations; individual 4He atoms can not be tagged as normal/ superfluid, etc.) and other factors (e.g., consideration that the 4He atoms which happen to fall in the plane of rotation of a molecule, render a equipotential ring and thus, do not take part in rotation; etc.) which effect the rotational and vibrational spectrum of the system. This helps us in successfully explaining the experimental findings which state that the rotational spectrum of clusters have sharp peaks (indicating that the molecule rotates like a free rotor) and moment of inertia and vibrational frequency shift have a non-trivial dependence on N

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Modelling chaotic Hamiltonian systems as a Markov Chain

The behaviour of chaotic Hamiltonian system has been characterised qualitatively in recent times by its appearance on the Poincaré section and quantitatively by the Lyapunov exponent. Studying the dynamics of the two chaotic Hamiltonian systems: the Henon-Heiles system and non-linearly coupled oscillators as their trajectories intersect Poincaré section q1 = 0, p1>0 , these intersections are random. To determine how random they are we shall model the intersections as a Markov chain and show that these intersections describe a closed ergodic Markov chain with a doubly stochastic matrix &#8721&#960=&#8721&#960=1. This is true for these systems with an error of +-2%. Journal of the Nigerian Association of Mathematical Physics Vol. 8 2004: pp. 199-20

Determinants of Vulnerability to Food Insecurity among Rural Households in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Assessing vulnerability to food insecurity is instrumental to addressing food security challenges in developing countries. Food production rate in Nigeria is not keeping pace with its population growth rate and this is a serious case for concern with respect to food availability to feed the teeming population. Against this backdrop, this study examined the determinants of vulnerability to food insecurity in Ekiti Sate, Nigeria by applying statistical and econometric tools. Three-stage random sampling procedure was used to elicit cross-sectional data from a total of 150 rural households across 5 local government areas (LGAs) of Ekiti State using semi-structured questionnaire. The Coping Strategy Index (CSI) was used to assess vulnerability to food insecurity status of the households and ordered logit regression was used to identify the factors affecting vulnerability. Findings revealed that 35.33% of the households were moderately vulnerable, while 33.33% and 31.33% were mildly and severely vulnerable, respectively in the study area. Borrowing food, eating seed stock, begging for food and reducing meals were the major coping strategies adopted by the households. Regression results show that out of the 10 significant variables, age of household head, number of dependents, non-food expenditure and number of coping strategies positively influenced vulnerability while being married, educational level, farm income and off-farm occupation negatively influenced vulnerability to food insecurity among the households. The study concluded that policies that address capacity building, increased rural income and its source diversification are likely to enhance resilience of rural farming households in the study area