Thermodynamics of Vortices in the Plane

The thermodynamics of vortices in the critically coupled abelian Higgs model, defined on the plane, are investigated by placing $N$ vortices in a region of the plane with periodic boundary conditions: a torus. It is noted that the moduli space for $N$ vortices, which is the same as that of $N$ indistinguishable points on a torus, fibrates into a $CP_{N-1}$ bundle over the Jacobi manifold of the torus. The volume of the moduli space is a product of the area of the base of this bundle and the volume of the fibre. These two values are determined by considering two 2-surfaces in the bundle corresponding to a rigid motion of a vortex configuration, and a motion around a fixed centre of mass. The partition function for the vortices is proportional to the volume of the moduli space, and the equation of state for the vortices is $P(A-4\pi N)=NT$ in the thermodynamic limit, where $P$ is the pressure, $A$ the area of the region of the plane occupied by the vortices, and $T$ the temperature. There is no phase transition.Comment: 17 pages, DAMTP 93-3

QQˉQ\bar Q (Q∈{b,c}Q\in \{b, c\}) spectroscopy using Cornell potential

The mass spectra and decay properties of heavy quarkonia are computed in nonrelativistic quark-antiquark Cornell potential model. We have employed the numerical solution of Schr\"odinger equation to obtain their mass spectra using only four parameters namely quark mass ($m_c$, $m_b$) and confinement strength ($A_{c\bar c}$, $A_{b\bar b}$). The spin hyperfine, spin-orbit and tensor components of the one gluon exchange interaction are computed perturbatively to determine the mass spectra of excited $S$, $P$, $D$ and $F$ states. Digamma, digluon and dilepton decays of these mesons are computed using the model parameters and numerical wave functions. The predicted spectroscopy and decay properties for quarkonia are found to be consistent with available experimental observations and results from other theoretical models. We also compute mass spectra and life time of the $B_c$ meson without additional parameters. The computed electromagnetic transition widths of heavy quarkonia and $B_c$ mesons are in tune with available experimental data and other theoretical approaches

Participatory Ranking of Fodders in the Western Hills of Nepal

Fodder is an important source of feed of the ruminants in Nepal. In the mid hills of Nepal, farmers generally practice integrated farming system that combines crop cultivation with livestock husbandry and agroforestry. Tree fodders are good sources of protein during the forage and green grass scarcity periods especially in dry season. Local communities possess indigenous knowledge for the selection of grasses and tree fodders at different seasons in mid hills of western Nepal. A study was conducted on the perception of farmers with respect to selection of fodder species in eight clusters in Kaski and Lumjung districts that range 900-2000 meter above sea level and receive average precipitation of 2000- 4500mm per annum. During the fodder preference ranking, farmers prepared the inventory of fodders found around the villages and nearby forests and selected top ten most important fodders in terms of their availability, palatability, fodder yield, milk yield and milk fat yield. In total, 23 top ranking fodders species were selected from the eight clusters. These fodder species were also ranked using pairwise ranking and weighted scoring methods and ranking was done on the basis of merit numbers obtained from weighted scores. The analysis revealed Artocarpus lakoocha as best tree fodder followed by Ficus semicordata, Thysanolena maxima and Ficus calvata. Similarly, the calendar of fodders trees for lopping season and the best feeding time was prepared on the basis of farmers\u27 local knowledge. This study suggests strategies for promotion of locally preferred tree fodder species and supplementing tree fodder with feed in different seasons depending on their availability and local preferences

Explaining Snapshots of Network Diffusions: Structural and Hardness Results

Much research has been done on studying the diffusion of ideas or technologies on social networks including the \textit{Influence Maximization} problem and many of its variations. Here, we investigate a type of inverse problem. Given a snapshot of the diffusion process, we seek to understand if the snapshot is feasible for a given dynamic, i.e., whether there is a limited number of nodes whose initial adoption can result in the snapshot in finite time. While similar questions have been considered for epidemic dynamics, here, we consider this problem for variations of the deterministic Linear Threshold Model, which is more appropriate for modeling strategic agents. Specifically, we consider both sequential and simultaneous dynamics when deactivations are allowed and when they are not. Even though we show hardness results for all variations we consider, we show that the case of sequential dynamics with deactivations allowed is significantly harder than all others. In contrast, sequential dynamics make the problem trivial on cliques even though it's complexity for simultaneous dynamics is unknown. We complement our hardness results with structural insights that can help better understand diffusions of social networks under various dynamics.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figure

Curvature dependence of the effect of ionic functionalization on the attraction among nanoparticles in dispersion

Solubilization of nanoparticles facilitates nanomaterial processing and enables new applications. An effective method to improve dispersibility in water is provided by ionic functionalization.We explore how the necessary extent of functionalization depends on the particle geometry. Using molecular dynamics/umbrella sampling simulations, we determine the effect of the solute curvature on solventaveraged interactions among ionizing graphitic nanoparticles in aqueous dispersion. We tune the hydrophilicity of molecular-brush coated fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and graphane platelets by gradually replacing a fraction of the methyl end groups of the alkyl coating by the ionizing –COOK or –NH3Cl groups. To assess the change in nanoparticles’ dispersibility in water, we determine the potential-of-mean-force profiles at varied degrees of ionization. When the coating comprises only propyl groups, the attraction between the hydrophobic particles intensifies from spherical to cylindrical to planar geometry. This is explained by the increasing fraction of surface groups that can be brought into contact and the reduced access to water molecules, both following the above sequence. When ionic groups are added, however, the dispersibility increases in the opposite order, with the biggest effect in the planar geometry and the smallest in the spherical geometry. These results highlight the important role of geometry in nanoparticle solubilization by ionic functionalities, with about twice higher threshold surface charge necessary to stabilize a dispersion of spherical than planar particles. At 25%–50% ionization, the potential of mean force reaches a plateau because of the counterion condensation and saturated brush hydration. Moreover, the increase in the fraction of ionic groups can weaken the repulsion through counterion correlations between adjacent nanoparticles. High degrees of ionization and concomitant ionic screening gradually reduce the differences among surface interactions in distinct geometries until an essentially curvature-independent dispersion environment is created. Insights into tuning nanoparticle interactions can guide the synthesis of a broad class of nonpolar nanoparticles, where solubility is achieved by ionic functionalization

Study of the technique of stellar occultation

The results are reported of a study of the stellar occultation technique for measuring the composition of the atmosphere. The intensity of starlight was monitored during the occultation using the Wisconsin stellar ultraviolet photometers aboard the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory (OAO-A2). A schematic diagram of an occultation is shown where the change in intensity at a given wavelength is illustrated. The vertical projection of the attenuation region is typically 60 km deep for molecular oxygen and 30 km deep for ozone. Intensity profiles obtained during various occultations were analyzed by first determining the tangential columm density of the absorbing gases, and then Abel inverting the column densities to obtain the number density profile. Errors are associated with each step in the inversion scheme and have been considered as an integral part of this study

Computer Mapping of Water Quality in Saginaw Bay with LANDSAT Digital Data

The author has identified the following significant results. LANDSAT digital data and ground truth measurements for Saginaw Bay (Lake Huron), Michigan, for 31 July 1975 were correlated by stepwise linear regression and the resulting equations used to estimate invisible water quality parameters in nonsampled areas. Chloride, conductivity, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a were best correlated with the ratio of LANDSAT Band 4 to Band 5. Temperature and Secchi depth correlate best with Band 5

Recent research on liquisolid technology for solubility enhancement- A review

Liquisolid system is a novel and promising approach to enhance aqueous solubility, dissolution rate as well as bioavailability of water insoluble solid drugs or liquid lipophilic drugs by conversion of liquid drugs, drug suspensions or drug solution in non-volatile solvents, into dry, non-adherent, free flowing and compressible powder mixtures by simple blending with selected carriers and coating materials. This technology is based on a new mathematical model proposed by Spireas et al . The three main proposed mechanisms by which bioavailability of drug is increased that are increased surface area of drug, increase aqueous solubility of drug and improved wettability of the drug

FORMULATION AND IN-VITRO CHARACTERIZATION OF LORNOXICAM TRANSDERMAL MATRIX PATCH

Transdermal therapeutic systems are defined as self-contained, discrete dosage forms which, when applied to intact skin, deliver drug(s), through skin, at a controlled rate to systemic circulation. In the present study transdermal patches of Lornoxicam were prepared using hydrophilic polymer and hydrophobic polymer. Transdermal drug delivery system has the potential advantages of avoiding hepatic first pass metabolism, maintaining constant blood levels for a longer period of time, resulting in a reduction of dosing frequency, improved bioavailability, and decreased gastrointestinal irritation that occur due to local contact with gastric mucosa and improved patient compliance. Lornoxicam is a newer NSAID of the oxicam class for the treatment of anti-inflammatory properties in a range of painful and inflammatory conditions, including Rheumatoid arthritis and postoperative pain. Lornoxicam Patch was prepared by the solvent casting method using HPMC various grade and Eudragit RS 100 as a polymer, PEG-400 and Tween 80 uses as plasticizer, Methanol and Dichloromethane used as solvent. LXTMP1 showed desired % Drug Content, Thickness, Folding Endurance, Flatness, Diffusion Study, Sensitivity Study on animal and Kinetic Model Study and better than other seven batches so, it is selected optimized batch