Levy statistical fluctuations from a Random Amplifying Medium

We report the studies of emission from a novel random amplifying medium that we term a ``Levy Laser'' due to the non-Gaussian statistical nature of its emission over the ensemble of random realizations. It is observed that the amplification is dominated by certain improbable events that are ``larger than rare'', which give the intensity statistics a Levy like ``fat tail''. This, to the best of our knowledge, provides the first experimental realization of Levy flight in optics in a random amplifying medium.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures (postscript format

Development of An Spr Method To Monitor the Chemical Interaction of Dna With A Small Reactive Molecule: Peroxynitrite As An Example

Peroxynitrite is an anion with the formula ONOO-. It is an unstable structural isomer of nitrate, NO3-. Although its conjugate acid (ONOOH) is highly reactive, it is quite relatively stable in basic solutions. Generation of peroxynitrite in-vivo occurs through the diffusion-controlled reaction between superoxide anion and nitric oxide free radical. It is a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent, and its formation has been correlated with many pathological conditions. Because of its oxidizing properties, peroxynitrite can damage a wide array of molecules in cells, including DNA and proteins. Reactions of peroxynitrite with DNA, proteins, and lipids, trigger a wide array of cellular responses ranging from subtle modifications of cell signaling to oxidative injury committing cells to necrosis and apoptosis. Peroxynitrite-induced DNA modifications include formation of 8-nitroguanine and 8-oxoguanine as well as DNA single strand breakage and base modifications when exposed to different concentrations of peroxynitrite. However, the accurate measurement of peroxynitrite concentration has been a challenge since this analyte reacts with many cellular targets. Development of analytical techniques capable of rapid and sensitive detection ofthis fast reacting and damaging agent is an important research goal not only to monitor its dynamic concentration but also to correlate its amount with observed chemical damage that this oxidant generates. iii Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is an analytical platform that can detect interactions of immobilized ligand with running analytes. The change detected is related to a change in the refractive index as a result of analyte binding to immobilized ligands. Peroxynitrite reaction with DNA is expected to result in significant structural changes in the tethered DNA double helix of attached probes. We hypothesize that although peroxynitrite is a small molecule and is not expected to bind or cause significant changes in refractive index on SPR chips, the expected effect of its reactivity with DNA bases will result in collective structural configuration of immobilized DNA probes with can be monitored using SPR chips. To address this hypothesis, we propose the following 4 specific aims: Specific Aimi: Optimization of methods of immobilization of oligonucleotides on nanogold SPR interfaces. Specific Aim2: Characterization of the DNA-functionalized SPR gold chip. Specific Aim3: Study ofthe interaction ofPON with immobilized DNA structures on the SPR chips. Specific Aim 4: Compare and contrast SPR results with electrochemical methods using the same DNA sequences immobilized on electrode surfaces

Computational investigation of the photochemistry and spectroscopy of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in interstellar ice analogs

This thesis describes the photochemistry and ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and naphthalene, along with small water clusters and crystalline water ice clusters. Firstly, benzene and naphthalene interactions with small water hexamer (W6) clusters, and then benzene interactions with crystalline water ice clusters are investigated. This thesis primarily focuses on the applications of a range of computational chemistry techniques to investigate and characterize excited states of these complex systems, which are generated following one-photon absorption. Benzene and naphthalene, as prototypical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and water and crystalline ice clusters, taken as representative of interstellar ices, could also be considered as useful model systems to replicate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in interstellar ices, and to study their behaviour under UV processing. From coupled cluster (CC) benchmark studies on small water clusters up to water the pentamer, it is shown that that highly correlated linear-response coupled cluster methods such as CCSD and CC3 are important to consider while studying electronic excitations, as electron correlation effects play an important role in such systems, with double excitations playing a dominant role. However, triple excitations contributions calculated are negligible with CCSD and CC3 methods converging monotonically to similar results. The aggregation effect on water at CCSD level has shown a blue shift of ~ 0.7 eV in the central water molecule of water pentamer (C2v) relative to water monomer (C2v), and is in good agreement with the experimental blue shift of ~ 1 eV in condensed phase. For both benzene- and naphthalene-bound water W6 clusters, we have calculated interesting features of benzene- and naphthalene-mediated electronic excitations of the water W6 cluster at wavelengths where photon absorption cross section of water is negligible i.e., above 170 nm. These excitations were originally absent in the isolated water W6 cluster. Similar features are calculated for benzene-bound crystalline ice clusters, which also illustrate the effect of cyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on electronic excitations of ice clusters, and are also observed experimentally. The brightest → ∗ electronic transition of benzene and naphthalene is calculated to be red-shifted in wavelength and occurs with lower intensities after interacting with the water W6 and ice clusters. The degeneracy of this transition is also slightly broken in benzene. We have observed new electronic transition features such as charge transfer (CT), and locally diffuse Rydberg type excitation in these complexes. We have found a good performance of hybrid DFT functionals i.e. M06-2X and CAM-B3LYP in calculating vertical excitation energies of these complexes using time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT). Further, diffusion studies of the deuterium (D) atom have shown the importance of surface morphology in generating different potential sites and hopping characteristics of the D atom on crystalline and amorphous ice surfaces. D2 formation is found to be efficient on the amorphous ice surface, with longer residence times of the D atom indicating a possibility of the deuterium atom getting trapped in such sites. There is then a further possibility of the diffusing D atom to recombine with the trapped D atom to form a D2 molecule. However, such D atom trapping is a rare possibility on crystalline surface, as hopping is fast and thus the recombination process is not efficient on crystalline ice surface

A Study of ISA Engagement at an Autonomous Management Education and Research Institute, Madhya Pradesh

Employee engagement has remained a major concept in HRD studies, whether it is related to OCBs, task performance, or climate. Different measures have been developed to estimate employee engagement level. One of the recent scales developed is the ISA engagement scale by Soane, et.al.(2012), and it has three facets of employee engagement i.e. intellectual engagement, social engagement and affective engagement. This model was built on the theory of employee engagement by Kahn (1990).  The ISA engagement scale has been used in the present research to study the degree of employee engagement at various levels in an autonomous management education institute. Various levels were studied on the basis of job category, age and experience using simple statistical calculation. Among all the three facets of ISA engagement scale, social engagement was found to be low among less experienced and lower age groups in this institute. A slight difference was observed in the average degree of employee engagement on the basis of job tenure. This study contributes to further research done on the third facet i.e. social engagement

Building a Better Community: Public Service Jobs for Stray Dog Shelters

Stray dogs are a common sight in India, and their population is increasing at an alarming rate. India has an estimated 30 million stray dogs, which is one of the highest numbers in the world. These stray dogs pose a significant threat to public health and safety, with an estimated 20,000 people dying every year from rabies transmitted by stray dogs. In addition, stray dogs are often malnourished, injured, and exposed to harsh weather conditions. Building sheds for stray dogs can help address this problem, as it provides a safe and comfortable place for the dogs to sleep and helps prevent the spread of disease. However, the construction of such sheds requires funding, and the social costs associated with the problem need to be addressed

Geriatric Age – Boon or Bane – Role of Yoga for Geriatric Health and Healthy Ageing

Population ageing is a growing concern due to factors like life expectancy and declining reproduction rates, resulting in an increasing number of individuals aged 60 and above. These demographic faces healthcare issues, including decline in physiological reserve, chronic diseases, comorbidity, disability, frailty, and social challenges. Factors like education, socioeconomic status, gender, and residence also impact the elderly population. Geriatric assessment is crucial for developing an integrated care plan. Yoga, a popular approach, has shown positive outcomes in cellular ageing, physical mobility, psychological well-being, and cognitive deterioration. Yoga can contribute to treatment and prevention of geriatric disorders, improving management and overall health for the elderly population

Development of An Spr Method To Monitor the Chemical Interaction of Dna With A Small Reactive Molecule: Peroxynitrite As An Example

Peroxynitrite is an anion with the formula ONOO-. It is an unstable structural isomer of nitrate, NO3-. Although its conjugate acid (ONOOH) is highly reactive, it is quite relatively stable in basic solutions. Generation of peroxynitrite in-vivo occurs through the diffusion-controlled reaction between superoxide anion and nitric oxide free radical. It is a strong oxidizing and nitrating agent, and its formation has been correlated with many pathological conditions. Because of its oxidizing properties, peroxynitrite can damage a wide array of molecules in cells, including DNA and proteins. Reactions of peroxynitrite with DNA, proteins, and lipids, trigger a wide array of cellular responses ranging from subtle modifications of cell signaling to oxidative injury committing cells to necrosis and apoptosis. Peroxynitrite-induced DNA modifications include formation of 8-nitroguanine and 8-oxoguanine as well as DNA single strand breakage and base modifications when exposed to different concentrations of peroxynitrite. However, the accurate measurement of peroxynitrite concentration has been a challenge since this analyte reacts with many cellular targets. Development of analytical techniques capable of rapid and sensitive detection of this fast reacting and damaging agent is an important research goal not only to monitor its dynamic concentration but also to correlate its amount with observed chemical damage that this oxidant generates. iii Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) is an analytical platform that can detect interactions of immobilized ligand with running analytes. The change detected is related to a change in the refractive index as a result of analyte binding to immobilized ligands. Peroxynitrite reaction with DNA is expected to result in significant structural changes in the tethered DNA double helix of attached probes. We hypothesize that although peroxynitrite is a small molecule and is not expected to bind or cause significant changes in refractive index on SPR chips, the expected effect of its reactivity with DNA bases will result in collective structural configuration of immobilized DNA probes with can be monitored using SPR chips. To address this hypothesis, we propose the following 4 specific aims: Specific Aimi: Optimization of methods of immobilization of oligonucleotides on nanogold SPR interfaces. Specific Aim2: Characterization of the DNA-functionalized SPR gold chip. Specific Aim3: Study ofthe interaction ofPON with immobilized DNA structures on the SPR chips. Specific Aim 4: Compare and contrast SPR results with electrochemical methods using the same DNA sequences immobilized on electrode surfaces

Rearticulación en Sus ojos miraban a Dios de Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston’s most acclaimed novel, Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), juxtaposes the sensuous side of ecology with that of female sexuality and sensuousness, through the epiphany of the blossoming pear tree. The present research article explores this idea to establish Zora Neale Hurston as a womanist who anticipates ecofeminism and ecosexuality creating a female protagonist who finds a voice narrating her story.La novela más aclamada de Zora Neale Hurston, Sus ojos miraban a Dios (1937), yuxtapone el lado sensual de la ecología con el de la sexualidad y la sensualidad femeninas, a través de la epifanía del peral en flor. El presente artículo de investigación explora esta idea para establecer a Zora Neale Hurston como una mujerista que anticipa el ecofeminismo y la ecosexualidad creando una protagonista femenina que encuentra una voz narrando su historia

Case of acute abdomen due to acute pancreatitis: a uncommon presentation of leptospirosis

 Even though, Leptospiral infection is not rare, it can have different rare presentations. Acute pancreatitis is one such uncommon gastrointestinal manifestation of acute pancreatitis. Apart from the classic clinical features, elevated serum lipase, along with radiological proof and positive leptospiral serology confirms this infrequent association.