Charge-ordering breakdown dynamics and ferromagnetic resonance studies ofB-site Cu diluted Pr1‒xSrxMnO3

Here, we report the influence of Jahn-Teller active Cu substitution on the charge-ordering (CO) characteristics of one of the well-known manganite Pr0.45Sr0.55MnO3(S55) with a distorted tetragonal structure. Magnetization studies unveil a complex magnetic phase diagram for S55, showing distinct temperature ranges corresponding to various magnetic phases: a ferromagnetic phase dominated by the Double Exchange interaction withTC∼ 220.5 K, an antiferromagnetic phase belowTN∼ 207.6 K induced by CO with a transition temperature ofTCO∼ 210 K consistent with the specific heatCP(T) data, and a mixed phase in the rangeTNTN(T Collapse

Key Words

• Jahn-Teller effect
• antiferromagnetism
• charge-ordering
• ferromagnetic resonance
• manganites
• perovskites

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Affiliation(s)

A Bordoloi Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
S K Jena Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
P Tiwari Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
A Datta Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India
B Weise Leibniz-IFW Dresden, Institute for Complex Materials, D-01069 Dresden, Germany
R Medwal Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
R S Rawat Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
S Thota Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Guwahati 781039, Assam, India

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Demographic and socio-economic correlates of knowledge of the ovulatory cycle among tribal women in India: Evidence from the nationally representative survey (NFHS-5)

BACKGROUND

The knowledge of ovulatory cycle (KOC) is the basis for natural family planning methods. The absence of knowledge is a notable issue since the ovulatory cycle plays a crucial role in reproductive health and empowers women to make informed decisions that influence their lives. This study examines the knowledge of the ovulatory cycle among reproductive tribal women in India and its demographic and socio-economic determinants.

METHODS

The data were derived from the National Family Health Survey conducted in 2019-2021. The effective sample size for the present study was 1,01,914 tribal women aged 15-49 years in India. Descriptive statistics along with bivariate analysis were conducted to find the preliminary results. Additionally, multivariable binary logistic regressions were conducted to determine the likelihood of KOC among tribal women across different characteristics. We conducted statistical analysis in STATA 17.0 (StataCorp) and used ArcGIS 10.8.2 for spatial mapping.

RESULTS

Out of 1,01,914 tribal women, 78.8 per cent lack correct knowledge of the ovulatory cycle. Notably, Education level significantly influences KOC, with secondary education showing higher odds of KOC (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI:1.006-1.528) compared to no education. Christian women exhibit lower odds of having KOC (AOR: 0.749, 95% CI:0.564-0.996) compared to Hindu women. Husband/partner's education level shows a strong association, with higher-educated partners correlating with higher odds of KOC (AOR: 2.501, 95% CI: 1.807-3.461) for higher education. Knowledge of any contraceptive method and current contraceptive use type are strongly associated with KOC. Additionally, rural residence negatively influences KOC (AOR: 1.545, 95% CI: 1.236-1.932), while exposure to mass media has a positive effect (AOR: 1.152, 95% CI: 0.975-1.362) albeit modest.

CONCLUSION

The study highlights the need for targeted educational and awareness programs to improve KOC among tribal women in India. By addressing factors such as education, religious influences, and place of residence, we can empower these women to make informed decisions about their reproductive health, ultimately enhancing their overall well-being and quality of life. This knowledge is not only a foundation for natural family planning but also a key driver of women's agency and autonomy in shaping their lives.

Reentrant canonical spin-glass dynamics and tunable field-induced transitions in (GeMn)Co2O4Kagomé lattice

We report on the reentrant canonical semi spin-glass characteristics and controllable field-induced transitions in distorted Kagomé symmetry of (GeMn)Co2O4. ThisB-site spinel exhibits complicated, yet interesting magnetic behaviour in which the longitudinal ferrimagnetic (FiM) order sets in below the Néel temperatureTFN∼ 77 K due to uneven moments of divalent Co (↑ 5.33μB) and tetravalent Mn (↓ 3.87μB) which coexists with transverse spin-glass state below 72.85 K. Such complicated magnetic behaviour is suggested to result from the competing anisotropic superexchange interactions (JAB/kB∼ 4.3 K,JAA/kB∼ -6.2 K andJBB/kB∼ -3.3 K) between the cations, which is extracted following the Néel's expression for the two-sublattice model of FiM. Dynamical susceptibility (χac(f, T)) and relaxation of thermoremanent magnetization,MTRM(t) data have been analysed by means of the empirical scaling-laws such as Vogel-Fulcher law and Power law of critical slowing down. Both of which reveal the reentrant spin-glass like character which evolves through a number of intermediate metastable states. The magnitude of Mydosh parameter (Ω ∼ 0.002), critical exponentzυ= (6.7 ± 0.07), spin relaxation timeτ0= (2.33 ± 0.1) × 10-18s, activation energyEa/kB= (69.8 ± 0.95) K and interparticle interaction strength (T0= 71.6 K) provide the experimental evidences for canonical spin-glass state below the spin freezing temperatureTF= 72.85 K. The field dependence ofTFobtained fromχac(T) follows the irreversibility in terms of de Almeida-Thouless mean-field instability in which the magnitude of crossover scaling exponent Φ turns out to be ∼2.9 for the (Ge0.8Mn0.2)Co2O4. Isothermal magnetization plots reveal two field-induced transitions across 9.52 kOe (HSF1) and 45.6 kOe (HSF2) associated with the FiM domains and spin-flip transition, respectively. Analysis of the inverse paramagnetic susceptibilityχp-1χp=χ-χ0after subtracting the temperature independent diamagnetic termχ0(=-3 × 10-3emu mol-1Oe-1) results in the effective magnetic momentμeff= 7.654μB/f.u. This agrees well with the theoretically obtainedμeff= 7.58μB/f.u. resulting the cation distributionMn0.24+↓A[Co22+↑]BO4in support of the Hund's ground state spin configurationS=3/2andS= 1/2of Mn4+and Co2+, respectively. TheH-Tphase diagram has been established by analysing all the parameters (TF(H),TFN(H),HSF1(T) andHSF2(T)) extracted from various magnetization measurements. This diagram enables clear differentiation among the different phases of the (GeMn)Co2O4and also illustrates the demarcation between short-range and long-range ordered regions.

Glucometrics in the first week of critical illness and its association with mortality

OBJECTIVE

Evaluation of glucometrics in the first week of ICU stay and its association with outcomes.

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Mixed ICU of teaching hospital.

PATIENTS

Adults initiated on insulin infusion for 2 consecutive blood glucose (BG) readings ≥180mg/dL.

MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST

Glucometrics calculated from the BG of first week of admission: hyperglycemia (BG>180mg/dL) and hypoglycemia (BG<70mg/dL) episodes; median, standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of BG, glycemic lability index (GLI), time in target BG range (TIR). Factors influencing glucometrics and the association of glucometrics to patient outcomes analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 5762 BG measurements in 100 patients of median age 55 years included. Glucometrics: hyperglycemia: 2253 (39%), hypoglycemia: 28 (0.48%), median BG: 169mg/dL (162-178.75), SD 31mg/dL (26-38.75), CV 18.6% (17.1-22.5), GLI: 718.5 [(mg/dL)²/h]/week (540.5-1131.5) and TIR 57% (50-67). Diabetes and higher APACHE II score were associated with higher SD and CV, and lower TIR. On multivariate regression, diabetes (p=0.009) and APACHE II score (p=0.016) were independently associated with higher SD. Higher SD and CV were associated with less vasopressor-free days; lower TIR with more blood-stream infections (BSI). Patients with higher SD, CV and GLI had a higher 28-day mortality. On multivariate analysis, GLI alone was associated with a higher mortality (OR 2.99, p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Glycemic lability in the first week in ICU patients receiving insulin infusion is associated with higher mortality. Lower TIR is associated with more blood stream infections.

Revisiting extra hepatic portal vein obstruction in children from the north Indian gangetic plain

OBJECTIVES

To study the demographic features, etiology, clinical, radiology and laboratory findings in children with Extra hepatic portal vein obstruction (EHPVO) from the North Indian Gangetic Plain.

METHODS

A prospective analysis of 53 patients of EHPVO (<14 y of age) was done. Data for clinical presentation, laboratory workup, endoscopic procedures, growth and development, management and outcome were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 53 patients (32 male, 21 female) with mean age of 8.66 ± 3.32 y at presentation were included. Growth retardation was present in 30 (56.60 %) patients at time of diagnosis. The most common presenting symptoms were upper gastrointestinal bleeding (86.80 %) and an incidental finding of splenomegaly (13.2 %). Hematological parameters of hypersplenism were present in 9 (17 %) patients. Protein C (PC), Protein S (PS), antithrombin III (AT) deficiency were found in 8 (20 %), 4 (10 %) and 6 (15 %) of the patients respectively in 40 patients tested. On first endoscopy, esophageal varices were present in all patients. Endoscopic sclerotherapy (EST)/band ligation (EBL) was performed in 46 bleeder patients and success rate was 83.3 % for sclerotherapy and 90 % for band ligation.

CONCLUSIONS

The etiology of EHPVO in the majority of patients remains elusive. It results in impaired somatic growth. Sclerotherapy and endoscopic banding are effective means for treatment for bleeding varices. It is still not clear whether deficiency of anticoagulant proteins is a primary event or secondary to disease process.

A Training Aid for IV Access

Starting intravenous drip is one of the first steps in the treatment of a patient. Training is the key to attain proficiency to get intravenous access.

Surgical treatment of plantar ulcers in leprosy

Plantar ulcers present a serious problem in the management of leprosy. After studying the mechanism of ulceration and the causes of their indolence, it appears that the treatment of the disease by antileprotic drugs is not sufficient. The underlying causes, such as anaesthesia, bony deformities and paralysis, should usually be treated by surgical means. Anaesthesia can be reversed by decompression of the posterior tibial nerve if this is done early. Deformities should be corrected by procedures on the soft tissues or bones, and chronic infection eradicated to prevent recurrence of the ulceration. A combination of procedures may sometimes be needed.