Analysis of volume dependence of thermal expansivity for NaCl

In the present paper, a suitable model to evaluate the volume dependence of thermal expansivity α by using the reciprocal form of volume dependence of Anderson-Grüneisen parameter (δT) has been proposed. The newly developed relationship has satisfied the constraints of infinite pressure behavior, i.e., P → ∞ or V → 0. The results obtained through the present model show the consistency with the experimental data for NaCl

Distribution of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Surface Waters of Various Sources from National Capital Region Delhi India

This paper presents the concentration of twenty eight polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) including twelve dioxin-like PCBs (dl-PCBs) congeners in surface water of rivers canals lakes ponds and drains from National Capital Region (NCR) Delhi (India). The total concentrations of 28 PCBs were ranged between 14-1768 ng L-1 with a mean of 332±42 ng L-1. The concentration of dl-PCBs was ranged between <1-146 ng L-1 with the mean of 40±4 ng L-1 and accounted 12% for total 28 PCBs. The toxicity equivalent calculated using WHO toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) was presented and discussed.  In terms of the homolog distribution it was dominated by 3–5 chlorinated biphenyls. The tetra-PCBs (65%) dominate the PCB homolog followed by tri-PCB (47%) and penta-PCB (21%). The concentrations were lower than the guideline values; however levels at some locations were higher. Further in-depth study is proposed to determine PCBs its bioavailability and bioaccumulation through tissues of aquatic biota to assess the risk of these contaminants on the ecosystems and human health more thoroughly. Keywords: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) dioxin-like PCBs surface water Delhi Indi

Long-term effect of inorganic fertilizers and amendments on productivity and root dynamics under maize-wheat intensive cropping in an acid Alfisol

Study on the soil nutrient status and crop productivity under continuous use of inorganic fertilizers and amendments in an acid Alfisol after 36 years (1972-73 to 2008-09) was carried out at Palampur, HP. Results showed that application of Recommended Dose of Fertilizer (120:60:40 kg/ha to maize and 120:60:30 kg/ha to wheat) with 10 t farmyard manure/ha applied once a year for 36 years resulted in 786 and 515 per cent increase in maize and wheat yields, respectively over control. Soil acidity rose from 5.8 to 4.58 with the application of fertilizers over 36 years. Conjoint use of FYM with 100 per cent NPK substantially improved the Organic Carbon status by 4.95 g/kg as well as available P, K and S by 154.1, 14.5 and 12.5 kg/ha, respectively in soil over its initial values, thereby indicating significant contribution towards sustaining the soil health. On the other hand, there was a drastic decline in the available N status of soil in all the treatments as compared to the initial value. The various root parameters viz., root mass density (4.08 kg m-3), root volume density (10.84 m3 m-3x10-3), root length density (2.60 m m-3 x 10-4), root surface area (204.12 m2 x 10-4) and root cation exchange capacity (8.37 c mol (p+) kg-1) were found to be highest in the plots with the application of 100% NPK + FYM. Thus, balanced use of fertilizers continuously either alone or in combination with amendments is necessary for sustaining soil fertility and productivity of crops

Burden and Depression among Caregivers of Visually Impaired Patients in a Canadian Population

Purpose/Background. This study reports the degree of burden and the proportion at risk for depression among individuals who provide care to visually impaired patients. Study Design. This is clinic-based, cross-sectional survey in a tertiary care hospital. Methods. Caregivers were considered unpaid family members for patients whose sole impairment was visual. Patients were stratified by vision in their better seeing eye into two groups: Group 1 had visual acuity between 6/18 and 6/60 and Group 2 were those who had 6/60 or worse. Burden was evaluated by the Burden Index of Caregivers and the prevalence of being at risk for depression was determined by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Results. 236 caregivers of 236 patients were included. Total mean BIC scores were higher in Group 2. Female caregivers, caregivers providing greater hours of care, and caregivers of patients who have not completed vision rehabilitation programs are at higher risk for depression

Substrate Current Evaluation for Lightly and Heavily Doped MOSFETs at 45 Nm Process Using Physical Models

Substrate noise is a major integration issue in mixed signal circuits; particularly at radio frequency (RF) it becomes a key issue. In deep sub micron MOSFETs hot carrier effect induces device degradation. The impact ionization phenomenon is one of the main hot carrier effects. The paper covers the process and device level simulation of MOSFETs by TCAD and the substrate current comparison in lightly and heavily doped MOS. PMOS and NMOS devices are virtually fabricated with the help of ATHENA process simulator. The modeled devices include the hot carrier effects. The MOS devices are implemented on lightly and heavily doped substrates and substrate current is evaluated and compared with the help of ATLAS device simulator. Substrate current is better in lightly doped substrate than in heavily doped one. Drain current is also better in lightly doped than heavily doped substrates. Silvaco TCAD Tool is used for Virtual fabrication and simulation. ATHENA process simulator is used for virtual fabrication and ATLAS device simulator is used for device characterization

A low energy theory for superfluid and solid matter and its application to the neutron star crust

We formulate a low energy effective theory describing phases of matter that are both solid and superfluid. These systems simultaneously break translational symmetry and the phase symmetry associated with particle number. The symmetries restrict the combinations of terms that can appear in the effective action and the lowest order terms featuring equal number of derivatives and Goldstone fields are completely specified by the thermodynamic free energy, or equivalently by the long-wavelength limit of static correlation functions in the ground state. We show that the underlying interaction between particles that constitute the lattice and the superfluid gives rise to entrainment, and mixing between the Goldstone modes. As a concrete example we discuss the low energy theory for the inner crust of a neutron star, where a lattice of ionized nuclei coexists with a neutron superfluid.Comment: 21 pages, 1 figur

Ferricarboxy maltose to treat iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: is it a feasible option?

Background: Iron deficiency is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy which influences the health of mother and developing fetus. Intravenous (IV) iron preparations are considered, when oral iron therapy is ineffective or intolerant. Ferric carboxymaltose is an IV preparation that can be given with ease of administration and better tolerated. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of IV ferric carboxymaltose in pregnant mother with all grades of anemia in the second and third trimester.Methods: This is a prospective observational study where 44 pregnant women with iron deficiency anemia [IDA] received ferric carboxymaltose up to 15mg/kg in second and third trimester. The parameters that were taken into account, to assess the effectiveness of the treatment was repeat haemoglobin [Hb] measurements and the subjective sense of wellbeing in the patient. The safety of the drug was analysed by continuous fetal heart rate [FHR] monitoring during the infusion and observation of any adverse reactions.Results: Ferric carboxymaltose intravenous infusion significantly increased Hb levels above baseline values in all women. The Increase in Hb levels were observed at 3- and 6-weeks post infusion therapy. FHR monitoring did not show any drug related unfavourable effect on the fetus. Of the 44 women interviewed, 33 (75%) women reported sense of well-being, 7 (15.9%) women could not feel any difference after the infusion and 4 (9.1%) patients could not comment. No serious adverse effects were noticed but minor side effects occurred in 3 (6.8%) patients.Conclusions: This prospective study showed safety and efficacy of ferric carboxymaltose in pregnancy with IDA which is consistent with available observational data

Immunopharmacological activity of flavonoids from Lemna minor (Duckweed) and determined its immunological activity

The main objective of our study is to conduct its immunopharmacological activity using flavonoids extracted from whole plant of Lemna minor (duckweed), medicinal plant in virally infected human whole blood against ovalbumin (OVA), specific protein antigen. For these studies, isolated secondary metabolite i.e. flavonoid from whole plant of duckweed and evaluated its immunopharmacological activity of flavonoid using variable concentration (i.e. 1-30 mg/ml; 50 µl) on infected human whole blood samples and determine its proliferation assay containing OVA and estimation of free haemoglobin content in blood plasma. In addition, antibody production was also estimated against OVA using Elisa method. The results of these studies showed that these flavonoids at higher doses showed immunosuppressive effect because of decline in proliferation, free haemoglobin content in the blood plasma and antibody production. Overall, this study claimed that these flavonoids from duckweed showed immunosuppressive activity against OVA

Studies on Liver Marker Enzymes (SGOT and SGPT) of Fish Heteropneustes Fossilis (Bloch.) After Famfos Intoxication

Pesticide pollution is on increase through its increasing application in almost every field either it is household or agriculture where it is used widely. These pesticides reach to aquatic life by means of runoff water and other ways. The residual impact is increasing in aquatic fauna. Fishes are the best indicator of aquatic pollution and also used for human consumption. The residual effect adversely affects the liver marker enzymes (in serum) of fishes which are measured and discussed in the present study to assess the extent of damage caused by non-target effect of famfos to Heteropneustes fossilis (Bloch.)

Post-racial politics, pre-emption and in/security

Militarized policing strategies aiming to identify and nullify risks to national security in Western nations have become central to the biopolitical regulation of racialized populations. While the disproportionate impact of pre-emptive counter-terrorism policing on ‘Muslim’ populations has been highlighted, the post-racial techno-politics of predictive policing as a mode of securitization remain overlooked. This article argues that the ‘war on terror’ is governed by a state of crisis that conditions a pre-emptive biopolitics of containment against (unknown) future threats. We examine how predictive policing is progressively dependent on the computational production of risk to avert impending terror. As such, extant forms of counter-terrorism algorithmic profiling are shown to mobilize post-racial calculative logics that renew racial oppression while appearing race-neutral. These predictive systems and pre-emptive actions, while seeking to securitize the future by identifying and nullifying suspects, evasively remake race as risky, thus rendering security indistinguishable from insecurity. Hence, we assert that state securitization is haunted by a profound sense of racialized dread over terrorism, for it can only resort to containing, rather than resolving, the perceived threat of race