pi+ + d --> p + p reaction between 18 and 44 MeV

A study of the reaction pi+ + d --> p + p has been performed in the energy range of 18 - 44 MeV. Total cross sections and differential cross sections at six angles have been measured at 15 energies with an energy increment of 1 - 2 MeV. This is the most systematic data set in this energy range. No structure in the energy dependence of the cross section has been observed within the accuracy of this experiment.Comment: 20 pages, 7 Postscript figure

Mesonic cloud contribution to the nucleon and delta masses

Pion-nucleon elastic scattering in the dominant $P_{33}$ channel is examined in the model in which the interaction is of the form $\pi + N\leftrightarrow N, \Delta(1232)$. New expressions are found for the elastic pion-nucleon scattering amplitude which differ from existing formula both in the kinematics and in the treatment of the renormalization of the nucleon mass and coupling constant. Fitting the model to the phase shifts in the $P_{33}$ channel does not uniquely fix the parameters of the model. The cutoff for the pion-nucleon form factor is found to lie in the range $\beta = 750\pm350$ MeV/c. The masses of the nucleon and the $\Delta$ which would arise if there were no coupling to mesons are found to be $m_{_N}^{(0)}= 1200\pm 200$ MeV and $m_\Delta^{(0)} = 1500\pm 200$ MeV. The difference in these bare masses, a quantity which would be accounted for by a residual gluon interaction, is found to be $\delta m^{(0)}=350\pm 100$ MeV.Comment: 26 pages, 9 figures, significant rewrit

Dynamic model of Escherichia coli tryptophan operon shows an optimal structural design

A mathematical model has been developed to study the effect of external tryptophan on the trp operon. The model accounts for the effect of feedback repression by tryptophan through the Hill equation. We demonstrate that the trp operon maintains an intracellular steady-state concentration in a fivefold range irrespective of extracellular conditions. Dynamic behavior of the trp operon corresponding to varying levels of extracellular tryptophan illustrates the adaptive nature of regulation. Depending on the external tryptophan level in the medium, the transient response ranges from a rapid and underdamped to a sluggish and highly overdamped response. To test model fidelity, simulation results are compared with experimental data available in the literature. We further demonstrate the significance of the biological structure of the operon on the overall performance. Our analysis suggests that the tryptophan operon has evolved to a truly optimal design

Improved near infrared energy harvesting through heterogeneously coupled SK on SML quantum dot heterostructure

Near Infra Red (NIR) energy harvesting is one of the advanced strategies to improve the overall performance of new generation solar photovoltaics. We introduce here a new heterogeneously coupled Stranski Krastanov (SK) on Submonolayer (SML) quantum dot (QD) heterostructure, which is capable of enhanced energy conversion efficiency in that typical spectral range. The coupling in the proposed structure has been optimized by varying the growth rate and the barrier thickness between seed SML and top SK QDs. The optimal configuration has been incorporated into a quantum dot solar cell (QDSC). The carrier transitions in this hybrid QD assembly have been investigated through luminescence spectroscopy. An existence of carrier tunnelling between SML and SK QDs has been revealed from the photoluminescence and the photoluminescence excitation spectroscopy. The unique configuration of such coupled QDs shows the presence of resonating energy states. These phenomena ameliorate the absorption efficiency in the NIR regime with increased photoexcited carrier lifetime, which has been reflected in the external quantum efficiency

Isolation and identification of Salmonella from diarrheagenic infants and young animals, sewage waste and fresh vegetables

Abstract Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, distribution, and identification of Salmonella serotypes in diarrheagenic infants and young animals, including sewage waste and fresh vegetables. Materials and Methods

Isolation and identification of Salmonella from diarrheagenic infants and young animals, sewage waste and fresh vegetables

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, distribution, and identification of Salmonella serotypes in diarrheagenic infants and young animals, including sewage waste and fresh vegetables. Materials and Methods: A total of 550 samples were processed for the isolation of Salmonella spp., using standard microbiological and biochemical tests. Further polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of Salmonella genus was carried out using self-designed primers targeting invA gene and thereafter identification of important serotypes namely Salmonella Enterica serovar Typhimurium, Salmonella Enterica serovar Enteritidis, Salmonella Enterica serovar Typhi was performed using published standardized multiplex PCR. Results: An overall low prevalence of 2.5% (14/550) was observed. The observed prevalence of Salmonella spp. in diarrheagenic infants was 1.2% (05/400), diarrheagenic young animals 4% (02/50), sewage waste 10% (05/50), and fresh vegetables 4% (02/50), respectively. In diarrheagenic infants, of the five Salmonella isolates identified, two were Salmonella Typhimurium, two Salmonella Enteritidis, and one was unidentified and hence designated as other Salmonella serovar. All the Salmonella isolates identified from diarrheagenic young animals and sewage waste belonged to other Salmonella serovar, whereas, of the two isolates recovered from fresh vegetables, one was identified as other Salmonella serovar, and one as Salmonella Typhimurium, respectively. Conclusion: Isolation of Salmonella spp. especially from sewage waste and fresh vegetable is a matter of great concern from public health point of view because these sources can accidentally serve as a potential vehicle for transmission of Salmonella spp. to animals and human beings