Benford's distribution in extrasolar world: Do the exoplanets follow Benford's distribution?

In many real life situations, it is observed that the first digits (i.e., $1,2,\ldots,9$) of a numerical data-set, which is expressed using decimal system, do not follow a random distribution. Instead, smaller numbers are favoured by nature in accordance with a logarithmic distribution law, which is referred to as Benford's law. The existence and applicability of this empirical law have been extensively studied by physicists, accountants, computer scientists, mathematicians, statisticians, etc., and it has been observed that a large number of data-sets related to diverse problems follow this distribution. However, applicability of Benford's law has been hardly tested for extrasolar objects. Motivated by this fact, this paper investigates the existence of Benford's distribution in the extrasolar world using Kepler data for exoplanets. The investigation has revealed the presence of Benford's distribution in various physical properties of these exoplanets. Further, Benford goodness parameters are computed to provide a quantitative measure of coincidence of real data with the ideal values obtained from Benford's distribution. The quantitative analysis and the plots have revealed that several physical parameters associated with the exoplanets (e.g., mass, volume, density, orbital semi-major axis, orbital period, and radial velocity) nicely follow Benford's distribution, whereas some physical parameters (e.g., total proper motion, stellar age and stellar distance) moderately follow the distribution, and some others (e.g., longitude, radius, and effective temperature) do not follow Benford's distribution. Further, some specific comments have been made on the possible generalizations of the obtained result, its potential applications in analyzing data-set of candidate exoplanets, and how interested readers can perform similar investigations on other interesting data-sets.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures and one potrai

Multi-objective optimization of an industrial styrene reactor using Harmony Search Algorithm

Multi-objective optimization of industrial styrene reactor is done using Harmony Search algorithm. Harmony search algorithm is a recently developed meta-heuristic algorithm which is inspired by musical improvisation process aimed towards obtaining the best harmony. Three objective functions – productivity, selectivity and yield are optimized to get best combination of decision variables for styrene reactor. All possible cases of single and multi-objective optimization have been considered. Pareto optimal sets are obtained as a result of the optimization study. Results reveal that optimized solution using harmony search algorithm gives better operating conditions than industrial practice

CHARACTERIZATION OF MYCOBACTERIAL ESTRASES/LIPASES USING COMBINED BIOCHEMICAL AND COMPUTATIONAL ENZYMOLOGY

Master'sJOINT M.SC. IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES, VACCINOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVER

How long, how high, how wide

This article describes and reflects upon the classroom experience of helping a group of children understand the concept of length. The activities are inspired by the Measurement PullOut published with the July 2015 issue of At Right Angle

Using fun to learn

Learning in the classroom requires constant effort from both, the teacher and the students. It requires an environment which acts as stimuli, because of the nature of the given task, the expectations of the learners, the ways in which information is presented – all these impact learning. We can easily see the different dimensions of learning and the way it happens with the help of examples, learning activities and the different ways in which children process their learnings. I realised these truths after being with the Azim Premji Foundation for almost three years and having visited many schools in the district assigned to me

Order parameter dynamics in Mn3_3Sn driven by DC and pulsed spin-orbit torques

We numerically investigate and develop analytic models for both the DC and pulsed spin-orbit-torque (SOT)-driven response of order parameter in single-domain Mn$_3$Sn, which is a metallic antiferromagnet with an anti-chiral 120$^\circ$ spin structure. We show that DC currents above a critical threshold can excite oscillatory dynamics of the order parameter in the gigahertz to terahertz frequency spectrum. Detailed models of the oscillation frequency versus input current are developed and found to be in excellent agreement with the numerical simulations of the dynamics. In the case of pulsed excitation, the magnetization can be switched from one stable state to any of the other five stable states in the Kagome plane by tuning the duration or the amplitude of the current pulse. Precise functional forms of the final switched state versus the input current are derived, offering crucial insights into the switching dynamics of Mn$_3$Sn. The readout of the magnetic state can be carried out via either the anomalous Hall effect, or the recently demonstrated tunneling magnetoresistance in an all-Mn$_3$Sn junction. We also discuss possible disturbance of the magnetic order due to heating that may occur if the sample is subject to large currents. Operating the device in pulsed mode or using low DC currents reduces the peak temperature rise in the sample due to Joule heating. Our predictive modeling and simulation results can be used by both theorists and experimentalists to explore the interplay of SOT and the order dynamics in Mn$_3$Sn, and to further benchmark the device performance.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figure

Learning constitutional values through activities

In a democracy, the most exacting and challenging job of a citizen is citizenship. This is so because a citizen is responsible for selecting the government and to use this right, the individual must be capable of decision-making. Education plays a pivotal role to develop this competence by helping us develop our ability to think clearly and grasp new ideas. An ideal and rational public discourse requires the interest of all citizens, the availability of relevant information to all and well-developed critical thinking abilities among them. Education aims at developing these critical thinking abilities in the citizens, where each citizen can make his or her own decisions rationally and can understand intellectual integrity and sift truth from falsehood, facts from propaganda; reject partiality and radicalism. An educated mind has a scientific temperament and faith in outcomes based on data. It has the ability to receive and perceive new ideas