Characteristic Wino Signals in a Linear Collider from Anomaly Mediated Supersymmetry Breaking

Though the minimal model of anomaly mediated supersymmetry breaking has been significantly constrained by recent experimental and theoretical work, there are still allowed regions of the parameter space for moderate to large values of $\tan\beta$. We show that these regions will be comprehensively probed in a ${\sqrt s} =1$ TeV $e^+e^-$ linear collider. Diagnostic signals to this end are studied by zeroing in on a unique and distinct feature of a large class of models in this genre: a neutral winolike Lightest Supersymmetric Particle closely degenerate in mass with a winolike chargino. The pair production processes $e^+e^- \to {\tilde e}_L^\pm {\tilde e}_L^\mp$, ${\tilde e}_R^\pm {\tilde e}_R^\mp$, ${\tilde e}_L^\pm {\tilde e}_R^\mp$, ${\tilde \nu} {\bar {\tilde \nu}}$, $\widetilde \chi^0_1 \widetilde \chi^0_2$, $\widetilde \chi^0_2 \widetilde \chi^0_2$ are all considered at $\sqrt s = 1$ TeV corresponding to the proposed TESLA linear collider in two natural categories of mass ordering in the sparticle spectra. The signals analysed comprise multiple combinations of fast charged leptons (any of which can act as the trigger) plus displaced vertices $X_D$ (any of which can be identified by a heavy ionizing track terminating in the detector) and/or associated soft pions with characteristic momentum distributions.Comment: 25 pages, LaTeX, three PS figures and one EPS figur

Physicochemical and Phytochemical Analyses of Copra and Oil of Cocos nucifera

Coconut copra from West coast tall variety, cultivated in Kerala, India, was subjected to aqueous and solvent extractions (using n-hexane). Additionally, oil was extracted from the copra in Soxhlet assembly using petroleum ether (b.p. 60–80°C). Physicochemical and phytochemical analyses were conducted for the extracts and the oil, with commercial coconut oil as the experimental control. The physicochemical analyses showed that the aqueous extract of copra was milky-white in color with a sweet odor, while the solvent extract was pale yellow and odorless. The commercial oil had 0.08±0.02% oleic acid and a TOTOX value of 7.73±0.78, lower than the Soxhlet extracted oil. Among all the extracts and oils, best phytochemical properties, antioxidant activity (DPPH activity, IC50 value 0.04±0.01 mg/mL), total phenol (0.96±0.04 mg gallic acid eq./g dry copra), reducing power (40.49±1.84 mg BHT eq./g dry copra), and anti-inflammatory activity (NO activity, IC50  value 0.77±0.06 mg/mL) were obtained in the commercial coconut oil, followed by the Soxhlet extracted oil, aqueous extract, and solvent extract. Fatty acid composition analyses showed mainly medium chain fatty acids in the copra oil with lauric acid as the predominant fatty acid (51.88% and 44.84% in Soxhlet extracted and commercial oils, resp.)

Survival, morphological variability, and performance of Opuntia ficus-indica in a semi-arid region of India

Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) can survive extreme environmental condition and is known for its fodder potential in many parts of the world. The morphological diversity of 15 introduced accessions was evaluated at Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, India. The plants were established in 2013. Survival and nutrient status were evaluated after two years. Above-ground plant height, biomass, primary and secondary cladode numbers, primary and secondary cladode lengths and below-ground root length, weight, and surface area measurements were done six years after cladode planting. Yellow San Cono, White Roccapalumba, and Seedless Roccapalumba survived 100%. The discriminant traits according to principal component analysis were: primary cladodes plant−1 (component loading, 0.87), primary cladodes biomass (0.95), secondary cladodes plant−1 (0.83), canopy width (0.84), and plant biomass (0.92). Hierarchical cluster analysis grouped 15 accessions into two main clusters based on 17 morphological traits. Cluster I showed favorable values for many above- and below-ground morphological traits while Cluster II showed higher performance for root system width, height, and biomass, and primary and secondary cladode numbers. The results indicate that cactus pear accessions have considerable morphological variability and genetic diversity suitable for promotion as alternative fodder resources in semi-arid regions of India

Cost of illness for severe and non-severe diarrhea borne by households in a low-income urban community of Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study

The illness cost borne by households, known as out-of-pocket expenditure, was 74% of the total health expenditure in Bangladesh in 2017. Calculating economic burden of diarrhea of low-income urban community is important to identify potential cost savings strategies and prioritize policy decision to improve the quality of life of this population. This study aimed to estimate cost of illness and monthly percent expenditure borne by households due diarrhea in a low-income urban settlement of Dhaka, Bangladesh. We conducted this study in East Arichpur area of Tongi township in Dhaka, Bangladesh from September 17, 2015 to July 26, 2016. We used the World Health Organization (WHO) definition of three or more loose stool in 24 hours to enroll patients and enrolled 106 severe patients and 158 non-severe patients from Tongi General Hospital, local pharmacy and study community. The team enrolled patients between the first to third day of the illness (≤ 72 hours) and continued daily follow-up by phone until recovery. We considered direct and indirect costs to calculate cost-per-episode. We applied the published incidence rate to estimate the annual cost of diarrhea. The estimated average cost of illness for patient with severe diarrhea was US$27.39 [95$ 6.36 [95% CI: 5.19, 7.55] (499 BDT), 4% of the average monthly income of households. A single diarrheal episode substantially affects financial condition of low-income urban community residents: a severe episode can cost almost equivalent to 4.35 days (17%) and a non-severe episode can cost almost equivalent to 1 day (4%) of household’s income. Preventing diarrhea preserves health and supports financial livelihoods

Leveraging the influenza sentinel surveillance platform for SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in Bangladesh (2020-2024): a prospective sentinel surveillance study

BackgroundThere is limited global evidence on whether influenza sentinel surveillance platforms can be effectively adapted for long-term SARS-CoV-2 monitoring in low-resource contexts. We explored the utility of the hospital-based influenza sentinel surveillance (HBIS) platform for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 in Bangladesh by comparing SARS-CoV-2 detection in HBIS platform with national COVID-19 platform and assessing how its integration into influenza surveillance aligns with national trends.MethodsFrom March 2020 to December 2024, we analysed data from patients with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) and influenza-like illness (ILI) enrolled in HBIS. Socio-demographic and clinical data were recorded, and nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs were tested for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 using rRT-PCR. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on a subset of SARS-CoV-2-positive samples. Data from national COVID-19 platform were obtained from the Directorate General of Health Services, Bangladesh, and were compared with HBIS platform data using epidemic curves and Pearson correlation analysis.FindingsAmong 25,366 (SARI: 20,226; ILI: 5140) patients, 13.0% (3310) tested positive for influenza, 6.6% (1680) for SARS-CoV-2, and 0.2% (43) were co-infected. SARS-CoV-2 positivity in HBIS (6.8%), including 0.2% co-infections, was lower than the national average (13.1%), but showed a strong correlation with national trends (Pearson r = 0.86, P < 0.001). Sequencing of 234 SARS-CoV-2 strains detected the beta and delta variants in April and May 2021, respectively, and omicron subvariants circulating from 2022 to 2024, aligning with the national COVID-19 platform.InterpretationSARS-CoV-2 positivity trends in HBIS platform closely aligned with the national COVID-19 platform, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable platform for COVID-19 monitoring. Our findings underscore the feasibility of influenza sentinel surveillance as an early warning system for future COVID-19 outbreaks or other respiratory viruses of pandemic concern in Bangladesh and similar settings.FundingCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA (U01GH002259)

The direct and indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections on neonates: a series of 26 cases in Bangladesh

Background: The impact of SARS-CoV-2 on neonates remains largely unknown in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We provide an epidemiologic and clinical report of SARS-CoV-2 infections in neonates hospitalized in Bangladesh. Methods: Outborn neonates admitted to Dhaka Shishu Hospital, a tertiary-care referral hospital, between 29 March and 1 July were screened for SARS-CoV-2. We reviewed clinical data, including chest radiograph and laboratory reports, and conducted SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing. Patients were followed-up for 27–75 days. A subset of caregivers was also tested. Results: Of 83 neonates tested, 26 were positive (median age 8 days). Most neonates were admitted with diagnosis unrelated to SARS-CoV-2: 11 presented with serious non-communicable diseases, 7 with early-onset sepsis, 5 with late-onset sepsis and 2 with pneumonia. In 3 of 5 chest radiograph, infiltrates and ground-glass or patchy opacities were noted. Two neonates developed metabolic acidosis, one developed disseminated intravascular coagulation. Most SARS-CoV-2 positive neonates were referred to government-designated COVID-19 hospitals, leading to gaps in treatment. Twenty-three neonates could be followed-up: 12 were healthy, 8 died and 3 were still seeking medical care. Of 9 caregivers tested, 8 were positive. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 may have serious adverse effects on children born in LMICs. The virus likely contributed directly to two deaths, but the remaining 6 neonates who died had serious comorbidities. Positive SARS-CoV-2 test results led to gaps in immediate clinical care for other morbidities, which likely contributed to adverse outcomes. This case series emphasizes the need to understand COVID-19 in neonates in LMICs and its indirect impacts

Intelligent Consensus Predictions of Biodegradation Half-Life of Petroleum Hydrocarbons (PHCs)

The present study explores the important chemical features of diverse petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) responsible for their biodegradation by developing partial least squares (PLS) regression-based quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR) models. The biodegradability is estimated in terms of biodegradation half-life (Logt1/2). All the PLS models were extensively validated by different internationally acceptable internal (R2= 0.849–0.861; Q2 = 0.833–0.849; R2adj = 0.845–0.858) and external (Q2F1= 0.825-0.848; Q2F2 = 0.822–0.845) validation parameters. The consensus predictions were also performed by using the “intelligent consensus predictor” (ICP) tool, which improves the predictive ability of individual models based on mean absolute error (MAE)-based criteria. The models suggested that the biodegradation of PHCs is dependent on the presence of substituents on the aromatic ring, 12 atom containing ring system, thiophene moiety, electron rich chemicals, large molecular size, degree of unsaturation, degree of branching, cyclization, and hydrophobicity.</p