Imprints of Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion gravity in the observed shadows of Sgr A* and M87*

Einstein-Maxwell dilaton-axion (EMDA) gravity provides a simple framework to investigate the signatures of string theory. The axion and the dilaton fields arising in EMDA gravity have important implications in inflationary cosmology and in addressing the late time acceleration of the universe. It is therefore instructive to explore the implications of such a model in explaining the astrophysical observations. In this work we explore the role of EMDA gravity in explaining the observed shadows of black holes (M87* and Sgr A*) released by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration. The Kerr-Sen metric represents the exact, stationary and axisymmetric black hole solution of EMDA gravity. Such a black hole is characterized by the angular momentum $a$ acquired from the axionic field and the dilatonic charge $r_2$ arising from string compactifications. We study the role of spin and the dilaton charge in modifying the shape and size of the black hole shadow. We note that black holes with larger dilaton charge cast a smaller shadow. We investigate the consequences of such a result in addressing the EHT observations of M87* and Sgr A*. Our analysis reveals that the shadow of M87* exhibits a preference towards the Kerr scenario. However, when 10% offset in the shadow diameter is considered, $0.1\lesssim r_2\lesssim 0.3$ is observationally favored within 1-$\sigma$. The shadow of Sgr A* on the other hand shows a preference towards the Kerr-Sen scenario since the central value of its shadow can be better explained by a non-zero dilaton charge $0.1 \lesssim r_2 \lesssim 0.4$. However, when the 1-$\sigma$ interval is considered the Kerr scenario is included. We discuss the implications of our results.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figure

Cyberpunk’s not dead: the enduring relevance of technological and spiritual motifs in William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy

In ‘Cyberpunk’s not dead: The Enduring Relevance of Technological and Spiritual Motifs in William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy’, I argue for the contemporary relevance of the cyberpunk genre using William Gibson’s Sprawl trilogy, which consists of Neuromancer (1984), Count Zero (1986), and Mona Lisa Overdrive (1988). The trilogy, particularly Neuromancer, has been heralded as a corner-stone of the genre by scholars like Veronica Hollinger and Fredric Jameson. However, since the 1990s, the Sprawl trilogy has occupied an awkward position in science fiction studies given that it is a foundational text of a supposedly obsolete genre. In 1991, science fiction author Lewis Shiner declared cyberpunk dead in a New York Times article and stated that cyberpunk motifs had become clichéd. Twenty five years later, in The Cambridge History of Postmodern Literature, literary scholar Elana Gomel repeated that sentiment. Gomel’s statement was followed by an analysis of the technological metaphors presented in the Sprawl trilogy to conclude that cyberpunk is no longer a thematically distinctive genre. I disagree with these assessments because, as this thesis will show, currently developing technologies like Mark Zuckerberg’s Metaverse project and the Neuralink brain-computer interface being developed under Elon Musk signal a convergence between cyberpunk and the techno-cultural zeitgeist in the West. Furthermore, popular cultural products like the video game Cyberpunk 2077 (2020), the animated series Cyberpunk: Edgerunners (2022), and the live-action adaptation of Gibson’s Neuromancer for Apple TV+ announced in November 2022 (currently in the casting stage of development) clearly demonstrate the enduring distinctiveness of cyberpunk narratives and aesthetics. I address the claim of cyberpunk motifs being clichéd and outdated by exploring the oft-overlooked spiritual subtext of the Sprawl stories that brought cyberpunk motifs to the cultural mainstream in the 1980s. This allows me to contextualise the trilogy by establishing its continuity with the technological and spiritual discourses taking place in the West from the early twentieth century till the 1980s. It also highlights cyberpunk’s relevance by providing a unique perspective to analyse the current cultural fascination with technologies like virtual reality, artificial intelligence, gene editing technology, and synthetic biology. The thesis is arranged thematically, tracing technological metaphors across three chapters which will shift from the birth of cybernetics to genetic engineering to transhumanist notions of technologically mediated transcendence. Particular attention will be given to the linkages between Gibson’s fiction, the quasi-spiritual principles of the transhumanism as highlighted in the writings of figures like Ray Kurzweil and Max More, and the spiritual framework presented by the French Jesuit and palaeontologist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955), the first scientist to use the term ‘transhuman’. I use Chardin’s work to highlight the spiritual foundation of the Sprawl trilogy and argue that the aforementioned technologies and metaphors are deeply spiritual, which raises crucial questions regarding their real-life applications. Analysing the spiritual nature of cyberpunk motifs in one of the genre’s foundational texts provides a unique entry point to evaluate ongoing discourses about dualisms like nature/culture, sacred/secular, and human/non-human. Doing so establishes cyberpunk metaphors as not only relevant, but necessary for understanding the increasingly symbiotic relationship between humans and technology in the twenty-first century and onwards

Management of Psoriasis through Ayurvedic principles - A Case Study

Now a day’s society is more conscious about external beauty compare to internal beauty and also some professional fields they require good looking and charming beauty. Usually 10-15% cases present before general practitioners are pertaining to skin diseases. Due to altered life style, lack of physical exercise, unhygienic, mental stress, over eating, skin diseases are commonly observed. Psoriasis is chronic disorder which is commonly encountered in day today’s clinical practices. It is one of the burning issues having social importance. Increased stress and life style are main predisposing factor which is accounting for wide spared prevalence of this disease. All the skin diseases in Ayurveda have been discussed under the broad heading of Kushtha. Which are further divided in Mahakushtha and Kshudra Kushtha. This paper highlights a case study of Kitibha Kushta (Psoriasis) treated withthe Ayurvedic principles Shodhana Chikitsa

Clino-radiological and functional outcome of intra-articular distal radius fractures treated with volar locking plate system

Background: No uniform consensus exists to decide type of fixation for unstable distal radius fractures. The objective of the study is to evaluate the patients on regular follow up for radiological & functional status. We evaluated the effectiveness and outcomes of unstable distal radius fractures treated with locking plates.Methods: The study design was prospective observational study. 36 patients with distal radius fractures deemed unsuitable for conservative management underwent ORIF with a volar locking plate. The evaluation methods were clinical examination, DASH score and PRWE score. Patients were followed up from minimum of 2 weeks to 6 months. This data was analysed in MS excel and SPSS software version 19.0 for testing the association between different variables by using the chi-square tests.Results: The mean age of patients was 45 years with male preponderance. As per DASH score 17 patients had zero score implying no disability. In the remaining 19 patients score ranged from 4 to 24 with a mean of 11 indicating good outcome. PRWE score was best in 17 patients and worst in zero patients.Conclusions: The fixation of unstable distal radius fractures with volarly applied locking plates without bone grafting and prolonged immobilisation is an effective method & hence has gained worldwide acceptance and is highly recommended

Report of Platythomisus octomaculatus (C. L. Koch, 1845) and Platythomisus sudeepi Biswas, 1977 from India (Araneae, Thomisidae)

The genus Platythomisus Doleschall, 1859 presently comprises 13 valid species, nine known from Africa and four from Asia. All Platythomisus species are known from females only, except P. jucundus Thorell, 1894 and P. sudeepi Biswas, 1977 from both sexes and P. quadrimaculatus from juvenile. Only, P. sudeepi was reported from India. Platythomisus octomaculatus (C. L. Koch, 1845) is recorded after 120 years of its last report; newly recorded from Assam, India which extends its distribution from the previously known localities, Java and Sumatra. Platythomisus sudeepi is newly recorded from the Maharashtra State. The variation in the number of abdominal spots on juvenile, sub-adult and adult of P. octomaculatus observed during rearing is reported. Although, the species name 'octomaculatus' suggests eight spots, we observed that the anterior pair of abdominal spots is fused in adults

Thermal and acoustic performance of cement fibreboard and bamboo buildings

462-471The present study evaluates the thermal and acoustic performance of building constructed from aerated concrete-cement fibreboards and bamboo composite. The thermal, humidity, ambient, and indoor temperature parameters are analyzed for a 24-hours cycle from April to May and December to January. The average temperature plot shows the maximum indoor temperature does not exceed 28-32 ºC for April to May and 12-16 ºC for December to January for both the buildings. Thermal admittance is observed as 7.3 W/m2K and 12 W/m2K for cement fibreboard and bamboo composite buildings respectively. Outdoor to indoor noise reduction (OINR) values at frequencies ranging from 80 Hz to 4000 Hz are noted and analysed. The maximum noise isolation provided by cement fibreboard and bamboo composite walls are found to be ~40 dBA and 35 dBA at 500 Hz. With proper ventilation and avoidance of direct sunlight in the room, a comfortable atmosphere can be achieved for these building

Microfluidic system for screening disease based on physical properties of blood

Introduction: A key feature of the 'One Health' concept pertains to the design of novel point of care systems for largescale screening of health of the population residing in resource-limited areas of low- and middle-income countries with a view to obtaining data at a community level as a rationale to achieve better public health outcomes. The physical properties of blood are different for different samples. Our study involved the development of an innovative system architecture based upon the physical properties of blood using automated classifiers to enable large-scale screening of the health of the population living in resource-limited settings. Methods: The proposed system consisted of a simple, robust and low-cost sensor with capabilities to sense and measure even the minute changes in the physical properties of blood samples. In this system, the viscosity of blood was derived from a power-law model coupled with the Rabinowitsch-Mooney correction for non-Newtonian shear rates developed in a steady laminar Poiseuille flow. Surface tension was measured by solving the Young-Laplace equation for pendant drop shape hanging on a vertical needle. An anticipated outcome of this study would be the development of a novel automated classifier based upon the rheological attributes of blood. This automated classifier would have potential application in evaluating the health status of a population at regional and global levels. Results: The proposed system was used to measure the physical properties of various samples like normal, tuberculous and anemic blood samples. The results showed that the physical properties of these samples were different as compared to normal blood samples. The major advantage of this system was low-cost, as well as its simplicity and portability. Conclusion: In this work, we proposed making a case for the validation of a low-cost version of a microfluidic system capable of scanning large populations for a variety of diseases as per the WHO mandate of "One Health"