Elliptical flow and isospin effects in heavy-ion collisions at intermediate energies

The elliptical flow of fragments is studied for different systems at incident energies between 50 and 1000 MeV/nucleon using the isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics (IQMD) model. Our findings reveal that elliptical flow shows a transition from positive (in-plane) to negative (out-of-plane) values in the midrapidity region at a certain incident energy known as the transition energy. This transition energy is found to depend on the model ingredients, size of the fragments, and composite mass of the reacting system as well as on the impact parameter of the reaction. A reasonable agreement is observed for the excitation function of elliptical flow between the data and our calculations. Interestingly, the transition energy is found to exhibit a power-law mass dependence.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Workplace based clinical procedural skills assessment using directly observed procedural skills in interns in Otorhinolaryngology rotation

Background: In view of changing requirements in healthcare systems and planned reforms of medical education curricula, effective teaching and assessment of clinical skills in the undergraduate setting has become more and more important. There is a need for implementation of newer methods of evaluation keeping in mind the principles of adult learning and self-directed learning. DOPS (directly observed procedural skills) is a highly structured assessment tool for assessment of the practical work performed by a trainee on a real patient under supervision of experienced faculty. This study aimed to make use of DOPS as a method of workplace based assessment for interns in otorhinolaryngology posting.Methods: 15 interns posted in department of otorhinolaryngology participated in the study. Three clinical procedural skills included were anterior rhinoscopy, otoscopy and indirect laryngoscopy. Three DOPS were undertaken for each skill. The performance was noted as DOPS ratings. The results were tabulated and statistically analysed.Results: A total of 135 DOPS were undertaken for 15 interns. Mean overall DOPS rating improved from DOPS 1 to DOPS 3. The difference in value between DOPS 1 and 3 for anterior rhinoscopy was statistically significant. For otoscopy and indirect laryngology, the difference between DOPS 1 and 2, DOPS 1 and 3 was statistically significant. Both faculty and interns found DOPS to be an efficient tool for assessment.Conclusions: DOPS  is a cost effective assessment tool. It has an effective role in facilitating students’ learning and skill development as it is based on the direct observation of trainees’ procedural skills in real clinical environment.

Effect of the symmetry energy on nuclear stopping and its relation to the production of light charged fragments

We present a complete systematics (excitation function, impact parameter, system size, isospin asymmetry, and equations of state dependences) of global stopping and fragment production for heavy-ion reactions in the energy range between 50 and 1000 MeV/nucleon in the presence of symmetry energy and an isospin-dependent cross section. It is observed that the degree of stopping depends weakly on the symmetry energy and strongly on the isospin-dependent cross section. However, the symmetry energy and isospin-dependent cross section has an effect of the order of more than 10% on the emission of light charged particles (LCP's). It means that nuclear stopping and LCP's can be used as a tool to get the information of an isospin-dependent cross section. Interestingly, the LCP's emission in the presence of symmetry energy is found to be highly correlated with the global stopping.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Awareness of glaucoma among non-medical students in South India

Background: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in the world. According to World health organization glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The objective was to study the level of awareness about glaucoma among students (non-medical).Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 430 students (non-medical) which tests the basic knowledge about glaucoma.Results: Out of 430 students 94.18% (405/430) did not know what glaucoma was. 3.95% (17/430) have heard about glaucoma and they knew that it was a disease of the eye. Only 8 students 1.86% (8/430) were aware of the fact that glaucoma can lead to blindness.Conclusions: The level of awareness of glaucoma is very low among students (non-medical). Efforts should be made to increase the awareness among them so that not only they will subject themselves for screening but also persuade their family members, friends and relatives for the same

Perception of refractive surgery among undergraduate medical students and their preferred method of refractive correction

Background: Refractive errors are a major cause of defective visual acuity in all age groups. Spectacles are the traditional and most widely used method of optical correction among all age groups. The main objective was to study the perception about refractive surgery among undergraduate medical students with refractive errors and their preferred method of refractive correction.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 227 undergraduate medical students with refractive errors.Results: Among 227 students, the prevalence of myopia was 89.42% and hypermetropia was 10.13%.There was one case of keratoconus (0.44%). None of them had undergone refractive surgery. 84.14 % were using only spectacles for correction of refractive error. 13.21% were using contact lenses. 0.88% was using both. Among spectacle users, 71.35% were satisfied with the use of spectacles, the reasons being ease of use and maintenance. 35.41% were not satisfied with spectacles and the main reason was dependency. Among the spectacle users, 23.56% wanted to switch over to contact lenses and the main reason was cosmetic. 92.51% were aware of refractive surgery, out of which 36.66% were willing to undergo refractive surgery. 65.92% were not willing to undergo refractive surgery, the main reason being risk of complications.Conclusions: The preference and willingness to undergo refractive surgery was less due to the fear of complications and the cost of the procedure. Spectacles remain the most preferred method the main reason being ease of use and it is maintenance free. Contact lenses are the next preferred method and the main reason was cosmetic.

A study of awareness of ocular complications of diabetes among students

Background: Diabetes mellitus has become a major public health problem throughout the world. The aim was to study the awareness of ocular complications due to diabetes mellitus among students.Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 430 students (non-medical). The questions tested their awareness about diabetes mellitus and also about the potential ocular complications of the disease.Results: Out of 430 students 73.02% (314/430) have heard about diabetes mellitus but they did not know that it can affect the eye and can lead to blindness. They were unaware that regular eye check-up is important in diabetes mellitus. 18.83% (81/430) were aware about the disease and its potential to cause vision threatening complications. 8.13% (35/430) were not aware about diabetes mellitus. Overall only 18.83% had some basic knowledge about diabetes and its complications.Conclusions: The level of awareness about ocular complications due to diabetes mellitus is low among students. Therefore steps should be taken to increase the awareness about diabetes and inculcate some basic knowledge about its potential complications especially vision threatening diabetic retinopathy. It should be strongly emphasized that periodic eye check-up is important to prevent needless blindness and visual dysfunction. Keywords: Glaucoma, Non-medical students, Awarenes

A study of awareness and knowledge about cataract among students

Background: Cataract can cause visual dysfunction ranging from mild to severe loss of vision. The rate of development of senile cataract is generally slow and the vision loss is usually gradual but can result in blindness if treatment is delayed. The main objective was to study the awareness about cataract among students (non-medical).Methods: A questionnaire based study was conducted among 430 students (non-medical). The questions tested their awareness about cataract and also about the potential ocular complications of the disease and the treatments available currently.Results: 65.81% (283/430) have heard about cataract. 50 students out of 283 students were aware about the basic facts about cataract. The rest 233 students have just heard of the term cataract. Overall only 11.62% (50/430) were aware about the basic facts about cataract. 34.10% (147/430) was not aware about cataract.Conclusions: The awareness of one of the leading cause of treatable blindness like cataract is low among students. Steps should be taken to increase the awareness about cataract and also about the various treatment options available for cataract. More focus should be on cataract in health education programmes

Medium mass fragments production due to momentum dependent interactions

The role of system size and momentum dependent effects are analyzed in multifragmenation by simulating symmetric reactions of Ca+Ca, Ni+Ni, Nb+Nb, Xe+Xe, Er+Er, Au+Au, and U+U at incident energies between 50 MeV/nucleon and 1000 MeV/nucleon and over full impact parameter zones. Our detailed study reveals that there exist a system size dependence when reaction is simulated with momentum dependent interactions. This dependence exhibits a mass power law behavior.Comment: 5 figure