INVESTIGATION OF QUASI BI-SLANT RIEMANNIAN MAPS

Riemannian maps are generalization of well-known notions of isometric immersions and Riemannian submersions. In this paper, we defne and study a natural generalization of previously defned quasi bi-slant submersions [18] in the case of Riemannian maps. We mainly investigate fundamental results on quasi bi-slant Riemannian maps from almost Hermitian manifolds to Riemannian manifolds: the integrability of distributions, geometry of foliations, the condition for such maps to be totally geodesic, etc. At the end of the article, we give proper non-trivial examples for this notion

Investigating the Hubble Tension: Effect of Cepheid Calibration

Recent observations of Type Ia supernovae (SNe) by SH0ES collaboration (R11 and R16) diverge from the value reported by recent CMBR observations utilising the Planck satellite and application of the $\Lambda CDM$ cosmological model by at least $3 \sigma$. It is among the most challenging problems in contemporary cosmology and is known as the Hubble tension. The SNe Ia in R11 and R16 were calibrated through cepheid variables in three distinct galaxies: Milky Way, LMC, and NGC4258. Carnegie Hubble Program (CHP) observations of type Ia SNe calibrated using the tip of the red giant approach yielded a somewhat different estimate for the Hubble constant. This decreased the Hubble tension from over 3$\sigma$ to below 2$\sigma$. It is a legitimate question to answer whether there are any issues with SNe Ia calibration and to investigate whether the Hubble tension is real or not. We use statistical techniques namely, ANOVA, K-S test, and t-test to examine whether the cepheid calibration is host-dependent. Our analysis shows that (i) both R11 and R16 data suffer from non-Gaussian systematic effects, (ii) $H_0$ values in the sub-samples (different anchor-based) in both R11 and R16 groups are significantly different at a 99\% confidence level, and (iii) neglecting the metal-rich MW sample does not reduce the $H_0$ value significantly, and thus Hubble tension persists. A small reduction in the Hubble constant could be linked to the differences in the host environment. Hence instead of using a single universal relation environment based slope and zero point should be preferred.Comment: 15 pages (single column), 7 figure

A comparative evaluation of placebo effect on pain perception parameters in open-label versus double-blind groups: a prospective randomized pilot study in healthy volunteers

Background: Considerable placebo response rate is commonly observed in placebo-controlled trials involving analgesics. However, there is paucity of evidence with regard to comparison of effect of open-label placebo versus double-blind placebo on pain perception. Methods: In this study, cold water maintained at 4±1°C was used to induce experimental pain. Enrolled subjects were randomized to receive either 2% lignocaine gel as active drug or K-Y jelly as placebo as per the groups in open-label (two groups) and double-blind (two groups) study. Pain perception was evaluated using pain threshold time and pain tolerance time after immersion of subject’s hand in the cold water. Pain intensity was assessed using visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: Sixty-nine subjects were randomized into 4 study groups namely open-label lignocaine (OLL; N=17), open-label placebo (OLP; N=18), double-blind lignocaine (DBL; N=17) and double-blind placebo (DBP; N=17). OLP application increased pain intensity on VAS from 67 (47, 84) to 72 (39, 88) mm (p=0.018). OLL application reduced pain perception pain threshold time from 20.4 (4.0, 45.1) to 24.1 (6.3, 124.2) seconds (p=0.049) and pain tolerance time from 32.7 (6.8, 110.2) to 40.0 (7.7, 156.7) seconds (p=0.019). The change in pain parameters (before and after application of study intervention) was comparable without any significant difference among the four study groups (p=0.257 for pain threshold time, p=0.165 for pain tolerance time and p=0.563 for pain intensity score). Conclusions: Lignocaine and placebo gel application showed comparable change in pain perception irrespective of blinding

Version 2.0.0 -- M-SPARC: Matlab-Simulation Package for Ab-initio Real-space Calculations

M-SPARC is a Matlab code for performing ab initio Kohn-Sham Density Functional Theory simulations. Version 2.0.0 of the software further extends its capability to include relativistic effects, dispersion interactions, and advanced semilocal/nonlocal exchange-correlation functionals. These features significantly increase the fidelity of first principles calculations that can be performed using M-SPARC.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Transcriptional regulation of human MAP2 gene in melanoma: role of neuronal bHLH factors and Notch1 signaling

Microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), a neuron-specific protein, stabilizes microtubules and is critical for neurite outgrowth and dendrite development. Although MAP2 is widely used as a marker of neuronal differentiation, regulation of its transcription has not been investigated. We showed that MAP2 is frequently activated in human cutaneous melanoma. Here, we identified a 2.2 kb region that is sufficient for neuronal-specific expression in vitro and in vivo. Comparative analysis of the mouse, rat and human MAP2 promoter sequences showed the presence of a conserved bHLH factor binding sites. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis, promoter mutagenesis and co-transfection experiments showed that NeuroD, a pro-neuronal differentiation factor, and Hairy and Enhancer of Split (HES1), a transcription repressor, are involved in the regulation of MAP2 promoter activity. Melanoma cells express both NeuroD and HES1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that in metastatic melanoma cells N-box region of the MAP2 promoter is occupied by endogenous HES1. We show that the inhibition of Notch signaling, a regulator of HES1 gene expression, and/or shRNA knockdown of HES1 results in the upregulation of MAP2 promoter activity. Thus, our data suggest that Notch signaling, which is implicated in melanoma progression, and HES1 play a role in MAP2 gene regulation during melanoma progression

Evaluation of the haematinic activity of Opuntia elatior Mill. fruit

Opuntia elatior, known as Nagaphani or Hathalo-thore belongs to the family Cactaceae. It is one of the Opuntia species used as medicine for various ailments due to its beneficial health-promoting properties. Fruits of Opuntia elatior have been advocated in anaemia, asthma, cough, inflammation, and gonorrhoea in Gujarat. The present study was planned to evaluate the hematinic effect of Opuntia elatior Mill. fruit on mercuric chloride (HgCl2) induced anaemia in rats. Opuntia elatior fruit Swarasa was administered to Charle’s foster albino rats for 30 consecutive days at the doses of 1.8 mL/kg and 3.6 mL/kg. The effects of both drugs were assessed on ponderal changes, haematological, serum biochemical, and histopathology of various organs. The fruit Swarasa showed significant increase in the haemoglobin content, serum ferritin level and serum TIBC level. The test drug at both dose levels produced adverse changes of mild intensity in liver, kidney and heart and reverted the disturbance in the cytoarchitecture of the spleen, thymus and lymph node. Test drug Opuntia elatior fruit Swarasa reversed anaemia induced by HgCl2 in a dose-dependent manner. The results support the traditional use of fruits in the treatment of anaemia