Ultrasensitive interplay between ferromagnetism and superconductivity in NbGd composite thin films

A model binary hybrid system composed of a randomly distributed rare-earth ferromagnetic (Gd) part embedded in an s-wave superconducting (Nb) matrix is being manufactured to study the interplay between competing superconducting and ferromagnetic order parameters. The normal metallic to superconducting phase transition appears to be very sensitive to the magnetic counterpart and the modulation of the superconducing properties follow closely to the Abrikosov-Gorkov (AG) theory of magnetic impurity induced pair breaking mechanism. A critical concentration of Gd is obtained for the studied NbGd based composite films (CFs) above which superconductivity disappears. Besides, a magnetic ordering resembling the paramagnetic Meissner effect (PME) appears in DC magnetization measurements at temperatures close to the superconducting transition temperature. The positive magnetization related to the PME emerges upon doping Nb with Gd. The temperature dependent resistance measurements evolve in a similar fashion with the concentration of Gd as that with an external magnetic field and in both the cases, the transition curves accompany several intermediate features indicating the traces of magnetism originated either from Gd or from the external field. Finally, the signatures of magnetism appear evidently in the magnetization and transport measurements for the CFs with very low (less than 1 at. %) doping of Gd

ANALYSIS OF TOTAL FLAVONOID LEVELS OF ETHANOL EXTRACT (Cinnamon (Cinnamomum burmanii Blume) LEAVES WITH UV-VIS SPECTROPHOTOMETRY METHOD

Cinnamon plants (Cinnamomum burmani Blume), including plants that have medicinal properties for diabetes mellitus because they contain flavonoid compounds. This study aimed to determine the total flavonoids content of the ethanol extract of cinnamon leaf ethanol extract using UV-Vis spectrophotometry method. The ethanol extract of Cinnamon leaf was obtained by maceration using ethanol as a solvent.The qualitative analysis used FeCl3by forming yellowish green complex. The determination of total flavonoids content is conducted basedon AlCl3method with total flavonoidse xpressed in QE (Quercetin equivalent) at the maximum wavelength of 435 nm. The result showed that the average content of flavonoid total is 19.544 mg QE/g extract

Abruptio placentae: impact of early treatment on maternal and fetal outcomes

Background: Haemorrhage is the leading cause for maternal mortality in India as well as the world. Abruptio placenta is the second most common cause of antepartum haemorrhage and it is associated with sudden, severe and devastating maternal and fetal complications. The main objective of this study is to study the impact of early treatment on maternal and fetal outcomes.Methods: This single center retrospective study includes all patients admitted at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital, a tertiary referral hospital, diagnosed to have abruptio placenta (grade II and grade III) from 01 July 2019 to 31 December 2019. In this study a total of 48 cases were included and data regarding time duration between onset of symptoms and initiation of treatment, clinical course and maternal and fetal outcomes was noted.Results: A total of 5059 deliveries occurred over six months. The incidence of placental abruption was found to be 0.94%. Patients receiving early care (30 cases, 62.5%) were found to have significantly better maternal outcomes (p=0.006, Chi square test) as well as fetal outcomes (p=0.007, Fischer’s exact test) than patients who received delayed care (18 cases, 37.5%).Conclusions: Abruptio placentae is an obstetric emergency and early diagnosis as well as initiation of treatment plays an important role in curbing complications. Strengthening of peripheral centers, availability of multi-disciplinary approach and educating health care staff as well as patients form the cornerstones of improved maternal and fetal outcomes

Spéciation du cadmium, du chrome, du cuivre et du plomb dans les sédiments des déchets de phosphate de Kpémé (Sud-Togo)

L’exploitation du minerai de phosphate au sud-est du Togo engendre des déchets miniers qui sont déversés dans la mer sans traitement. Cette étude a pour but l’estimation de la biodisponibilité du cadmium, du chrome, du cuivre et du plomb par leur spéciation. La caractérisation physicochimique des sédiments des déchets de phosphates a été réalisée suivie d’une extraction séquentielle des éléments traces métalliques et enfin, par une évaluation de la mobilité du cadmium. Les teneurs des éléments traces métalliques (Cd, Cr, Cu et Pb) ont été déterminées dans les différentes fractions des sédiments des déchets de phosphates de Kpémé. Le traitement des données a été fait avec le logiciel XLStat. Ainsi, les concentrations totales moyennes en éléments traces métalliques des sites de prélèvement par rapport au poids sec des déchets étaient de 17,46 μgCd/g ; 19,61 μgPb/g ; 36,04 μgCr/g et 32,00 μgCu/g pour le Site S1 ; de 21,44 μgCd/g ; 12,47 μgPb/g ; 96,04 μgCr/g et 73,35 μgCu/g pour le Site S2 et enfin de 14,26 μgCd/g ; 7,71 μgPb/g ; 36,04 μgCr/g et 25,27 μgCu/g pour le Site S3. Les résultats ont montré un risque environnemental de l’ordre de 50,63% pour le cadmium et de 29,64% pour le plomb dans les fractions potentiellement remobilisables.Mots clés: Eléments traces métalliques, Extraction séquentielle, déchets de phosphate, mobilité, biodisponibilit&#233

Optimisation du procédé de préparation des Charbons Actifs par voie chimique (H3PO4) à partir des tourteaux de Karité et des tourteaux de Coton

Le présent travail a eu pour but la préparation de meilleurs charbons actifs à partir des tourteaux de karité et des tourteaux de coton par un procédé simple de pyrolyse précédée d’une imprégnation chimique à l’acide phosphorique. Le procédé a été optimisé sur la base de l’analyse du rendement massique et de l’indice d’iode des charbons actifs préparés en fonction des paramètres de la préparation. Cette analyse révèle que dans les conditions de préparation, les bons charbons actifs sont obtenus pour une concentration en acide égale à 40% pour un temps d’imprégnation de 6 h, un taux d’imprégnation égal à 1.5, une taille de particules inferieure ou égale à 0,8 mm et une carbonisation à 450 °C pendant 2 h. La condition d’optimisation est ensuite utilisée pour préparer deux charbons actifs: le premier (CA-K) et le second (CA-C) respectivement issus des tourteaux de karité et des tourteaux de coton. Les charbons préparés présentent les caractéristiques suivantes : les pH de charge nulle (pHPZC) sont de 6,7 pour CA-K et 5,4 pour CA-C. Le dosage des fonctions de surfaces révèle que les charbons préparés possèdent un très fort caractère acide : 6,2 meq/g pour CA-K et 7,5 meq/g pour CA-C. Ce fort caractère acide est dû principalement aux fonctions Lactone (40% environ) et phénol (45% environ).Mots-clés: charbons actifs, caractéristiques physico-chimiques, tourteaux de karité, tourteaux de coton, H3PO4, activation chimiqu

Distinguishing apathy from depression: A review differentiating the behavioral, neuroanatomic, and treatment-related aspects of apathy from depression in neurocognitive disorders

Objectives: This narrative review describes the clinical features of apathy and depression in individuals with neurocognitive disorders (NCDs), with the goal of differentiating the two syndromes on the basis of clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, neuropathological features, and contrasting responses to treatments. Methods: Literature was identified using PubMed, with search terms to capture medical conditions of interest; additional references were also included based on our collective experience and knowledge of the literature. Results: Evidence from current literature supports the distinction between the two disorders; apathy and depression occur with varying prevalence in individuals with NCDs, pose different risks of progression to dementia, and have distinct, if overlapping, neurobiological underpinnings. Although apathy is a distinct neuropsychiatric syndrome, distinguishing apathy from depression can be challenging, as both conditions may occur concurrently and share several overlapping features. Apathy is associated with unfavorable outcomes, especially those with neurodegenerative etiologies (e.g., Alzheimer's disease) and is associated with an increased burden for both patients and caregivers. Diagnosing apathy is important not only to serve as the basis for appropriate treatment, but also for the development of novel targeted interventions for this condition. Although there are currently no approved pharmacologic treatments for apathy, the research described in this review supports apathy as a distinct neuropsychiatric condition that warrants specific treatments aimed at alleviating patient disability. Conclusions: Despite differences between these disorders, both apathy and depression pose significant challenges to patients, their families, and caregivers; better diagnostics are needed to develop more tailored treatment and support

Fertility Parameters in Crossbred Sows Treated with Cloprostenol Sodium (Synchromate®) in Zaria, Nigeria

This study was carried out to evaluate fertility parameters in crossbred sows in Zaria, following treatment with Cloprostenol sodium (Synchromate®). Ten (n = 10) apparently healthy crossbred sows were randomly assigned to two equal treatment groups based on number of injections of 500μg Synchromate®. Group 1 received two injections on days 0 and 13, while Group 2 received three injections on days 0, 7 and 13. Oestrus was monitored visually for signs of oestrus twice daily from 0700 – 1000h and 1500 – 1800h. The fertility parameters evaluated were: oestrus response rate (ORR), time to onset of oestrus (TOO), duration of oestrus (DOO), conception rate (CR), pregnancy rate (PR), farrowing rate (FR) and litter size (LS). Data on ORR, CR, PR and FR were expressed in percentages while TOO, DOO and LS were expressed as mean ± SEM. Student t-test and Tukey’s post-hoc test were used to compare the percentages and mean values between the groups. The Graphpad Prism® data package was used for statistical analysis and values of P<0.05 were considered significant. Fertility parameters TOO, DOO, LS, ORR, CR, PR, FR for Group 1 (187.20 ± 8.98h, 87.60 ± 4.49h, 7.25 ± 1.44, 100 %, 60 %, 80 % and 100 % respectively) and Group 2 (176.00 ± 40.00h, 86.60 ± 13.36h, 7.50 ± 1.50, 60 %, 100 %, 80 % and 66.67 % respectively). The differences in fertility parameters between the groups were not statistically significant. It is recommended therefore that double injections of cloprostenol sodium (Synchromate®) should be used for oestrus synchronization as it increases fertility parameters in cross bred sows at 13 days apart.Key words: Fertility parameters, crossbred sows, cloprostenol sodium, Zaria

Constraints on the Charged Higgs Sector from the Tevatron Collider Data on Top Quark Decay

The top quark data in the lepton plus $\tau$ channel offers a viable probe for the charged Higgs boson signal. We analyse the recent Tevatron collider data in this channel to obtain a significant limit on the $H^\pm$ mass in the large $\tan\beta$ region.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX file; 2 figures included (PS files