Neutrino Mass Matrices with a Texture Zero and a Vanishing Minor

We study the implications of the simultaneous existence of a texture zero and a vanishing minor in the neutrino mass matrix. There are thirty six possible texture structures of this type, twenty one of which reduce to two texture zero cases which have, already, been extensively studied. Of the remaining fifteen textures only six are allowed by the current data. We examine the phenomenological implications of the allowed texture structures for Majorana type CP-violating phases, 1-3 mixing angle and Dirac type CP-violating phase. All these possible textures can be generated through the seesaw mechanism and realized in the framework of discrete abelian flavor symmetry. We present the symmetry realization of these texture structures.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev.

Phenomenological Implications of a Class of Lepton Mass Matrices

Phenomenological implications of a class of lepton mass matrices with parallel texture structure have been examined and phenomenologically interesting constraints on charged lepton and neutrino mass matrix parameters have been obtained.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, typographical errors corrected, final version to appear in Modern Physics Letters

ESBL, MBL AND AMP C-β LACTAMASES PRODUCED BY SUPERBUGS: AN EMERGING THREAT TO CLINICAL THERAPEUTICS

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of multi drug resistant (MDR) and multiple β-lactamase producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates in lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) patients at a tertiary care hospital in India.Methods: A total of 80 consecutive, non-duplicate isolates of P. aeruginosa were studied for the presence of class A or B β-lactamase. Antibiotic susceptibility tests and PCR amplification of genes encoding class A (PER-1 and CTX-M 1, 2, 9) and class B β-lactamases (blaVIM-2, blaIMP-1 and blaSIM-1) were performed.Results: Out of 80 P. aeruginosa isolates, 65% (52/80) of the isolates were MDR with 34 being Metallo-β-lactamase (MBL) producers, 23 were extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producers and 21 were positive for AmpC production. The cross-class resistance rates to other antibiotics was significantly higher in class A and B β-lactamase producers than in non-producers (P<0.05 for fluoroquinolone, aztreonam, ceftazidime and meropenem). Combined disk test (CDT) for MBL highest sensitivity and specificity compared to PCR. Combined disk method (CDM) for ESBL co-related well with PCR (sensitivity and specificity).Conclusion: This study reports the validation of a simple and accurate MBL and ESBL detection method which can be easily integrated into the daily routine of a clinical laboratory.Â

CP Violation in Two Zero Texture Neutrino Mass Matrices

It has been shown that the neutrino mass matrices with two texture zeros in the charged lepton basis predict non-zero 1-3 mixing and are necessarily CP violating with one possible exception in class C for maximal mixing.Comment: 6 pages, no figures, final version with minor changes, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Relation of Particle Size with Toxicity of Calcite Particles

The importance of certain types of nanomaterials and mineral nanoparticles, namely clays and the smallest mineral colloids, has been known for a long time. Mineral nanoparticles also behave differently than larger micro and macroscopic crystals of the same mineral. The variations in chemical properties are most likely due to differences in surface and near surface atomic structure, as well as crystal shape and surface topography as a function of size in this smallest of size regimes. Although most of the nanotoxicological studies were performed using unrealistic exposure conditions. Knowledge about potential human and environmental exposure combined with dose response, toxicity information will be necessary to determine real or perceived risks of nanomaterials following inhalation, oral or dermal routes of exposure. Because the respiratory tract is the major portal of entry for airborne nanoparticles, this exposure route can be used as an example to discuss some key concepts of nanotoxicology, including the significance of dose, dose rate, dose metric and biokinetics

Phenomenological Implications of a Class of Neutrino Mass Matrices

The generic predictions of two-texture zero neutrino mass matrices of class A in the flavor basis have been reexamined especially in relation to the degeneracy between mass matrices of types A_1 and A_2 and interesting constraints on the neutrino parameters have been obtained. It is shown that the octant of $\theta_{23}$ and the quadrant of the Dirac-type CP-violating phase $\delta$ can be used to lift this degeneracy.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, final version with minor changes to appear in Nucl. Phys.

Anti-Urolithiatic Activity of Cassia Auriculata Ethanolic Seed Extract in Wistar Rats

Background: Urolithiasis is a medical condition that, despite substantial research in the field of urology, has yet to find a cure within the allopathic medical approach. The process of stone development, known as nephrolithiasis, can occur within the kidney or any segment of the urinary tract, encompassing the ureters and bladder. Material and Methods: The seeds of Cassia auriculata (Linn.) were obtained in June 2021 from Mettukadai hamlet, located in the Erode District of Tamilnadu, India. The herbarium of the plant was meticulously assembled, verified, and afterwards deposited as a voucher specimen. The voucher specimen was retained within the college premises for future reference. Results: The current investigation involved conducting a preliminary phytochemical analysis on the ethanolic seed extract of Cassia auriculata Linn. The research revealed the existence of many phytochemical constituents, including Alkaloids, Flavanoids, Carbohydrate, Sterols, Phytosterols, Phenols, Terpenoids, Amino acids, and Anthraquinones. The acute toxicity experiments revealed that rats exhibited tolerance to a maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight, and no discernible alterations in behavior were detected across all experimental groups. Hence, fractions equivalent to one-fourth and one-eighth of the maximum tolerated dose of 200 mg/kg body weight were selected for subsequent investigations. Conclusion: In summary, the findings suggest that the application of an ethanolic seed extract derived from Cassia auriculata Linn effectively decreased the progression of urinary stone formation. Additionally, it appears that the efficacy of the treatment impact surpasses that of its preventative counterpart

Four Zero Texture Fermion Mass Matrices in SO(10) GUT

We attempt the integration of the phenomenologically successful four zero texture of fermion mass matrices with the renormalizable SO(10) GUT. The resulting scenario is found to be highly predictive. Firstly, we examine the phenomenological implications of a class of the lepton mass matrices with parallel texture structures and obtain interesting constraints on the parameters of the charged lepton and the neutrino mass matrices. We combine these phenomenological constraints with the constraints obtained from SO(10) GUT to reduce the number of the free parameters and to further constrain the allowed ranges of the free parameters. The solar/atmospheric mixing angles obtained in this analysis are in fairly good agreement with the data.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl

Phenomenological Analysis of Hybrid Textures of Neutrinos

We present a comprehensive phenomenological analysis of the allowed hybrid textures of neutrinos. Out of a total of sixty hybrid textures with one equality between the elements of neutrino mass matrix and one texture zero only twenty three are found to be viable at 99% C.L. whereas the earlier analysis found fifty four to be viable. We examine the phenomenological implications of the allowed hybrid textures including Majorana type CP-violating phases, 1-3 mixing angle and Dirac type CP-violating phase, $\delta$. We, also, obtain lower bound on effective Majorana mass for all the allowed hybrid textures.Comment: To appear in Phys. Letts. B. Two figures adde