Superconductivity coupling of harmonic resonant oscillators: Homogeneous and heterogeneous extreme multistability with multi-scrolls

Understanding and characterizing multistabilities, whether homogeneous or heterogeneous, is crucial in various fields as it helps to unveil complex system behaviors and provides insights into the resilience and adaptability of these systems when faced with perturbations or changes. Homogeneous and heterogeneous multistabilities refer, respectively, to situation in which various multiple stable states within a system are qualitatively similar or distinct. Generating such complex phenomena with multi-scrolls from inherent circuits is less reported. This paper aims to investigate extreme multistability dynamics with homogeneous and heterogeneous multi-scrolls in two coupled resonant oscillators through a shunted Josephson junction. Analysis of equilibrium points revealed that the system supports both hidden and self-excited attractors. Various dynamical tools, including bifurcation diagrams, spectrum of Lyapunov exponents, and phase portraits, are exploited to establish the connection between the system parameters and various complicated dynamical features of the system. By tuning both system parameters and initial conditions, some striking phenomena, such as homogeneous and heterogeneous extreme multistability, along with the emergence of multi-scrolls, are illustrated. Furthermore, it is observed that one can readily control the number of scrolls purely by varying the initial conditions of the investigated system. A multi-metastable phenomenon is also captured in the system and confirmed using the finite-time Lyapunov exponents. Finally, the microcontroller implementation of the system demonstrates strong alignment with the numerical investigations.

Boosting of stable synchronization in coupled non-identical counter-rotating chaotic systems

Achieving synchronization in coupled non-identical chaotic systems has been a difficult endeavor, and improving the stability of synchronization in such systems poses additional challenges. This research work addresses these challenges by identifying stable synchronization in coupled non-identical chaotic systems and enhancing its stability. The study explores chaotic attractors that arise from various system parameters to provide generalized results. Furthermore, the impact of the transient uncoupling factor on improving synchronization stability in coupled non-identical counter-rotating chaotic oscillators is discussed. By investigating these aspects, the research aims to contribute to the understanding and advancement of synchronization in coupled non-identical chaotic systems.

Machine learning aided near-field acoustic holography based on equivalent source method

In recent times, equivalent source method-based near-field acoustic holography methods have been extensively applied in sound source localization and characterization. The most commonly used equivalent sources are spherical harmonics. In a non-reverberant environment with no reflections, these equivalent sources could be the best choice since spherical harmonics are derived for the Sommerfeld boundary condition. However, these methods are not the best fit for reverberating environments. In such cases, a new relationship can be calculated between the field weights and the measured pressure with enough training examples. The proposed machine learning models include linear regression (LR) with adaptive moment estimation (Adam), LR with limited-memory Broyden-Fletcher-Goldfarb-Shanno (L-BFGS), and multi-layer perceptron with one and two hidden layers. These methods are tested for multiple monopoles and vibrating plate simulations in a room with different wall absorption coefficients. The data-driven methods are also studied on loudspeakers numerically and experimentally in a free field environment. The results from these methods are compared with the results of one norm convex optimization (L1CVX). LR with L-BFGS performed the best among all the methods studied and performed better than L1CVX for less absorption coefficient for geometrically separable sources. LR with L-BFGS also has much faster inference times.

Correction: C–H activation and subsequent C–C bond formation in rigid alkenes catalyzed by Ru(iii) metallates

Correction for ‘C–H activation and subsequent C–C bond formation in rigid alkenes catalyzed by Ru(iii) metallates’ by S. Dharani et al., React. Chem. Eng., 2023, 8, 164–174, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2RE00317A.

FBCNN-TSA: An optimal deep learning model for banana ripening stages classification

Ripeness of the fruit is significant in agriculture since it affects the fruit’s quality and sales. Manually determining the fruit’s ripeness has various drawbacks, including the fact that it consumes time, needs a lot of work, and occasionally results in errors. One of the crucial areas of the economies of nations is the agricultural sector. However, the manual approach is still occasionally used to assess the maturity of fruit. Fruit ripeness could be automatically categorized by the advancement of computer vision and machine learning technology. The Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) is used in this work is to classify the different ripeness stages of banana fruit. The four stages of banana ripeness are unripe, mid-ripe, ripe, and overripe. Proposed method uses a fuzzy-based convolutional neural network with tunicate swarm algorithm. The proposed model outperforms cutting-edge computer vision-based algorithms in both coarse and perfectly acceptable classification of maturation phases. The experimental results using images of bananas at various stages of ripening, achieves overall accuracy of 96.9%.

PbS/graphene hybrid nanostructures coated glassy carbon electrode for the electrochemical sensing of copper ions in aqueous solution

In this research, we have studied the electrochemical sensing of Cu(II) ions in aqueous solution using PbS/Graphene composite nanostructure coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The SEM-EDAX analysis revealed that the lead sulphide nanocrystals are homogeneously embedded on the graphene nanosheets with an uniform particle size of 100 nm, and the elements presents 92.32% and Lead content of 5.45% and Sulfur content of 0.91%. Raman spectra exhibits G with respect to the E2g sp² hybridized C-C and D band with respect to the A1g mode in the disordered edge region of the GNS. The composite nanostructure coated GCE (PbS/Graphene/GCE) was prepared and its performance in the existence of metal ions such us Cd(II),Pb(II), Mg(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) was studied using the current voltage curves in double distilled water within the scan rates of 25 to 300mVs-¹. The PbS/Graphene coated carbon electrode exhibited the higher anodic and cathodic peak current for copper solution than the other metal ions studied, which various linearly proportional to concentration. The electrochemical sensing characteristics PbS/GNS/GCE was found to be significant towards detecting Cu²⁺ ion within the concentration range of 1 × 10^-4 to 1 × 10^-8 M, with a lowest sensing detection limit of 1 × 10^-8 M.

C–H activation and subsequent C–C bond formation in rigid alkenes catalyzed by Ru(iii) metallates

Pyrazolone derived Ru(iii) complexes were synthesized and applied as catalysts in the C–H activation reaction of α,β-unsaturated carbonyl compounds. In addition to Heck type coupling, ethanol mediated ethoxylation was also witnessed.

Low Power Adiabetic Logic System for Biomedical Applications

There have been significant advances in sensors and device structures in the medical industry, particularly in implanted medical devices. Increasingly complex electronic circuitry may now be implanted in the human body thanks to compact, high-energy batteries and hermetic packaging. These gadgets must adhere to strict power consumption guidelines due to the battery recharging schedule. Designing energy-efficient circuits and systems becomes increasingly important as a result of this fact. Adiabatic circuits provide a hopeful alternative for traditional circuitry in case of low energy design. Because of power-clock phases synchronization complexity, designing and functionally verifying presenting 4-phase adiabatic circuitry takes longer. Accordingly, multiple clock generators are used typically and can reveal enhanced consumption of energy in the network of clock distribution. Furthermore, they are not suitable for designing in high-speed because of their clock skew management and high complexity issues. In this paper, TMEL (True multi-phase energy recovering logic), the first energyrecovering/adiabatic logic family is presented for biomedical applications, which functions using the scheme multiple-phase sinusoidal clocking. Moreover, a system of SCAL, a source-coupled variation with TMEL having enhanced energy efficiency and supply voltage scalability, is introduced. A novel true multi-phase Approach and Source-coupled adiabatic logic for energy effective communication system is proposed. The adiabatic logic is employed for both write and read side operation. The CMOS inverter is integrated with TMEL cascades, which in turn reduces leakage loss. In SCAL, the optimal performance at any operating circumstance is attained byan adjustable current source in each gate. SCAL, and TMEL, are capable of outperforming existing adiabatic logic families concerning operating speed and energy efficiency. The performance analysis was carried and simulated through 45 nm CMOS inverter in terms of leakage power, delay, and power consumption. In particular, for the clock rates that range from 10 MHz to 200 MHz, the proposed SCAL was more energy-efficient and less dissipative on comparing their pipelined or purely combinational CMOS counterparts. In biomedical equipment, the system may be included into the low-power design since it is energy efficient and very robust. Improvements in VLSI technology, such as increased dynamic range, low-voltage EEPROMs (electrically eraseable programmable ROMs), and specific sensor techniques, are also expected to contribute to advancements in implanted medical devices in the near future.

Development of Optimized Algorithm and Field Programmable Gate Array Implementation for Bio Medical Image Denoising for Health Informatics Applications

Denoising images is a most difficult task in applications for image processing. The image specifics are preserved and the additional sounds found in the images are removed. It is also a challenge to remove noise from medical and satellite images. It improves the diagnostic capacity of medical images and satellite images visual clarity. The noise in the images varies and its density varies depending on imaging techniques. The algorithms in the literature were suggested based on the noise density and the forms of noise. The aim of this paper is to eliminate the noise from ultrasound, magnetic resonance images and satellite images using an effective denoisation algorithm Hybrid Wiener Adaptive Weighted Median filter (HWAWMF) which is the combination of Wiener and Adaptive Centre Pixel Weighted Median Filter (ACPWMEF). In terms of performance parameters with an improved Peak to Signal Noise Ratio(PSNR), the hybrid filter shows better results than ACPWMEF. The Vienna filter takes out the additional noises in the images thus blurs the image’s optical perception. And also uses optimization approaches to enhance the image consistency. This paper proposes HWAWMF (PSO HWAWMF) based on particle swarm optimization and HWAWMF based on dragonfly optimization algorithms (DOAF HWAWMF). Visual vision and PSNR also have been improved by using the optimising algorithm at an average of 3.18 db, 4.83 db, and 3.14 db for lower noise (0.0% to 30%), medium noise (40% to 60%) as well as high noise density (70% to 90%). The efficacy of the algorithm using MATLAB R2013 is verified through both medical images, simulated and actual. In order to assess the computer complexity of the Altera algorithm for location, power and time using Cyclone II EP2C35F672C6, Cyclone II and Stratix III EP3SL150F1152C2, this algorithm is also implemented in the Altera Field Programable Gate Array (FPGA).

Cognitive function and behavioral problems in children born to mothers with preeclampsia: an Indian study

Studies from high-income countries report associations of preeclampsia (PE) with reduced cognitive function and adverse behavioural outcomes in children. We examined these associations in Indian children aged 5-7 years. Children of mothers with PE (n=74) and without PE (non-PE; n=234) were recruited at delivery at Bharati Hospital, Pune, India. The cognitive performance was assessed using 3 core tests from the Kaufman Assessment Battery and additional tests including Verbal fluency, Kohs block design, and Coding A (from Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). The parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to assess children's behavioral characteristics. Scores were compared between children from PE and non-PE groups, and associations analyzed further using regression models, adjusted for potential confounders. After adjusting for age, sex, socio-economic status and maternal education, children of PE mothers had lower Kohs block design scores (adjusted odds ratio per score category 0.57, [95% CI 0.34-0.96] p=0.034; 0.62 [95%CI (0.36, 1.07), p=0.09 on further adjustment for birth weight and gestation) compared to children of mothers without PE. In the SDQ, there was a lower prevalence of abnormal 'conduct problem' scores in PE group than non-PE group (OR=0.33, 95% CI 0.13-0.83, p=0.018, in the fully adjusted model); there were no differences for other behavioral domains. This preliminary study in Indian children suggests that fetal exposure to maternal PE may have an adverse impact on visuo-spatial performance but does not adversely affect behavior. Further studies with larger sample sizes are essential to understand effects of maternal PE on cognitive/behavioral outcomes in children.

Hydrogen Peroxide Poisoning-A Rare Cause of Portal Venous Gas

Hydrogen peroxide is a clear and odorless liquid at room temperature that can easily be mistaken for water. Its ingestion results in varied clinical and radiological squeals depending on the volume and concentration of the liquid. We present a case of a 22-year-old lady who accidentally ingested 30 to 40 mL of 3% hydrogen peroxide and presented with hematemesis and abdominal pain. On further radiological evaluation, she was found to have portal venous gas and pneumatosis of the bowel wall. She was conservatively managed with 100% oxygen and nil per os for 2 days following which the portal venous gas resolved. Hydrogen peroxide ingestion causes a massive release of oxygen and when its volume exceeds its solubility in blood, gas embolism occurs that is responsible for portal venous gas and pneumatosis. Close monitoring with conservative management will suffice in mild cases without the need for any therapeutic intervention.

Interdigitating Dendritic Cell Sarcoma of the Small Intestine Presenting as Spontaneous Hemoperitoneum - A Rare Case Report

Interdigitating dendritic cell sarcoma (IDCS) is an extremely rare neoplasm arising from the antigen-presenting cells of the immune system. It usually involves the lymph nodes, and extranodal sites are rarely affected. Here, we report a first known case of spontaneous hemoperitoneum caused by the rupture of IDCS of the small bowel. A 61-year-old male presented with complaints of abdominal pain and fever for 3 days and breathlessness for 1 day. Ultrasound abdomen revealed a 15 cm × 7 cm heterogeneous collection with thick septations in the periumbilical region. Diagnostic peritoneal lavage revealed hemoperitoneum and gangrenous bowel. Emergency laprotomy was done and it revealed a friable mass arising from the ileum. Resection of 2 ft of the ileum and double-barrel ileostomy was done. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed a positivity of S100 and leukocyte common antigen). A diagnosis of IDCS was made. The patient had an uneventful postoperative recovery and planned for postoperative chemotherapy.

Unusual Presentations of Abdominal Melioidosis

Melioidosis is an endemic bacterial infection caused by soil saprophyte, Burkholderia pseudomallei. It infects adults with risk factors or immunosuppressed and exposed to moist soil. Its significance lies in its varied clinical presentation and high mortality (40%). We present two cases of abdominal melioidosis with unusual clinical presentations. The first case presented with intractable hiccups and had isolated splenic melioidosis with contained rupture. The second case presented with fever and acute abdominal pain found to have pancreatic melioidosis and splenic vein thrombosis. Both the patients were treated with IV antibiotics and subsequently discharged after improvement in symptoms. The imaging findings of isolated type of melioidosis can mimic various other infections and granulomatous disease. Hence high index of clinical suspicion for patients presenting from endemic areas will narrow down the differential diagnosis.

Can Mobile Health Improve Depression Treatment Access and Adherence Among Rural Indian Women? A Qualitative Study

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is associated with low rates of treatment and medication non-adherence, more so in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Mobile mental health (mHealth) interventions offer promise as a tool to address these problems. However, the feasibility and acceptability of mHealth interventions among rural women in LMICs is unknown. We examined barriers to accessing mental health treatment, reasons for non-adherence, and attitudes towards mHealth solutions among women with MDD in rural south India. Six focus groups were conducted among women with MDD (n = 69) who had been in treatment at a rural community health center. The discussion was transcribed and analyzed using a modified grounded-theory approach. Women perceived limited autonomy within their family structure, and experienced financial and systemic barriers as contributing to poor treatment access and non-adherence. Illiteracy, limited personal access to mobile phones, and preference for in-person clinical consultation were identified as barriers to use of mHealth. This is the first qualitative study, to our knowledge, that examines attitude towards mHealth among women with MDD in a rural setting in India. The study identified contextual barriers that will be important to address before implementing mHealth interventions.

Covid-19 Demographics from a Tertiary Care Center: Does It Depreciate Quality-of-Life?

Novel Coronavirus-disease-2019 (Covid-19) caused by the severe-acute-respiratory-syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) shows a rapid spread all over the world. It’s still an ongoing pandemic with greater morbidity and mortality. In our study, we describe clinical features, and demographics of patients presenting to our tertiary care center with Covid–19 infection. Global burden was around 14 million Covid-19 positive cases with .5 million deaths and rising as per WHO update. A descriptive analytical cross-sectional study was carried out from June 1st to 30th, 2020 in a tertiary care center. Patients who tested positive by Reverse Transcriptase-Polymerase chain reaction were included in the study and clinical characteristics and outcome of the patients were analyzed along with impact on quality-of-life. Sample size was 250. Mean age was around 41 years, with age range from 15 to 75 years. Gender ratio was 1:2.4, with male preponderance. Most common presenting symptom was throat pain (60%). Rhinorrhea and sneezing complaints were not recorded. Clinical categorization was done and scored accordingly. Clinical outcomes of above patients showed complication rate 5.2%, mortality rate .8%, with discharge and recovery rate being rate 94.8% and 96% respectively. Fear of COVID-19 scale was used to assess quality-of-life impact. We found throat pain was the most common symptom in our study. No cases reported with rhinorrhea/sneezing. Good recovery rate noted. Quality-of-life impacted.

Wavelength transduction from a 3D microwave cavity to telecom using piezoelectric optomechanical crystals

Microwave-to-optical transduction has received a great deal of interest from the cavity optomechanics community as a landmark application for electro-optomechanical systems. In this Letter, we demonstrate a novel transducer that combines high-frequency mechanical motion and a microwave cavity for the first time. The system consists of a 3D microwave cavity and a gallium arsenide optomechanical crystal, which has been placed in the microwave electric field maximum. This allows the microwave cavity to actuate the gigahertz-frequency mechanical breathing mode in the optomechanical crystal through the piezoelectric effect, which is then read out using a telecom optical mode. The gallium arsenide optomechanical crystal is a good candidate for low-noise microwave-to-telecom transduction, as it has been previously cooled to the mechanical ground state in a dilution refrigerator. Moreover, the 3D microwave cavity architecture can naturally be extended to couple to superconducting qubits and to create hybrid quantum systems.

Elimination of Thermomechanical Noise in Piezoelectric Optomechanical Crystals

Mechanical modes are a potentially useful resource for quantum information applications, such as quantum-level wavelength transducers, due to their ability to interact with electromagnetic radiation across the spectrum. A significant challenge for wavelength transducers is thermomechanical noise in the mechanical mode, which pollutes the transduced signal with thermal states. In this Letter, we eliminate thermomechanical noise in the GHz-frequency mechanical breathing mode of a piezoelectric optomechanical crystal using cryogenic cooling in a dilution refrigerator. We optically measure an average thermal occupancy of the mechanical mode of only 0.7±0.4 phonons, providing a path towards low-noise microwave-to-optical conversion in the quantum regime.

Data set on prediction of friction stir welding parameters to achieve maximum strength of AA2014-T6 aluminium alloy joints

Statistical tools such as design of experiments (DoE), analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to develop the empirical relationship, to predict the ultimate tensile strength of the joint at the 95% percent confidence level. Response surface graph and contour plots were constructed using response surface methodology (RSM) concept. From this investigation, it is found that the joint fabricated with a tool rotational speed of 1500 rpm, welding speed of 40 mm/min, tool tilt angle of 1.5° and tool shoulder diameter of 6 mm, exhibited maximum tensile strength of 380 MPa.

Effect of Oxygen Vacancy on Structural, Optical and Magnetic Behavior of Tin Oxide Nanoparticles

Nanocrystalline SnO2powder has been successfully synthesized by using tin(II) chloride dihydrate (SnCl[Formula: see text]H2O), distilled water and liquid ammonia by the simple chemical co-precipitation method at room temperature using different SnCl[Formula: see text]H2O molar concentration of 0.3[Formula: see text]M, 0.4[Formula: see text]M and 0.5[Formula: see text]M. The structural properties of the prepared SnO2and transition metal doped SnO2nanoparticles has been studied using X-ray diffraction method and scanning electron microscope. The composition of the powders has been analyzed using energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The XRD pattern of the SnO2nanoparticles indicates the formation of single-phase rutile tetragonal structure. The grain size is found to be in the range of 3–7[Formula: see text]nm and is found to increase with increasing SnCl2molar concentration. The absorption spectra revealed that the bandgap decreased from 3.74[Formula: see text]eV to 3.59[Formula: see text]eV with increasing SnCl2molar concentration. The photoluminescence spectra of SnO2nanoparticles showed a visible broad luminescence band in the region of 385–430[Formula: see text]nm. The magnetic studies have been carried out using the hysteresis loop obtained from a vibrating sample magnetometer. The SnO2samples using 0.3 and 0.4 SnCl2molar concentration exhibited ferromagnetic behavior whereas the SnO2sample prepared using 0.5[Formula: see text]M SnCl[Formula: see text]H2O exhibited paramagnetic nature.

Insights into the role of bacteria in vitamin A biosynthesis: Future research opportunities

Significant efforts have been made to address the hidden hunger challenges due to iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A since the beginning of the 21st century. Prioritizing the vitamin A deficiency (VAD) disorders, many countries are looking for viable alternative strategies such as biofortification. One of the leading causes of VAD is the poor bioconversion of β-carotene into retinoids. This review is focused on the opportunities of bacterial biosynthesis of retinoids, in particular, through the gut microbiota. The proposed hypothesis starts with the premise that an animal can able to store and timely convert carotenoids into retinoids in the liver and intestinal tissues. This theory is experimental with many scientific insights. The syntrophic metabolism, potential crosstalk of bile acids, lipocalins and lipopolysaccharides of gut microbiota are reported to contribute significantly to the retinoid biosynthesis. The gut bacteria respond to these kinds of factors by genetic restructuring driven mainly by events like horizontal gene transfer. A phylogenetic analysis of β-carotene 15, 15'-mono (di) oxygenase enzymes among a selected group of prokaryotes and eukaryotes was carried out to validate the hypotheses. Shedding light on the probiotic strategies through non-genetically modified organism such as gut bacteria capable of synthesizing vitamin A would address the VAD disorders.

Sensitive fluorescence detection of mercury(ii) in aqueous solution by the fluorescence quenching effect of MoS2 with DNA functionalized carbon dots

A rapid and sensitive fluorescent sensor based on the MoS₂ nanosheet/DNA/carbon dot nanoassembly has been developed towards the detection of mercury(ii) present in environmental samples. Bio-carbon dots (CDs) having strong fluorescence maxima at 451 nm were synthesized via one-step treatment with honey under low temperature carbonization. These CDs were nearly spherical with good size distribution and excellent monodispersity, and the average sizes of CD were around 2-4 nm as evidenced from transmission electron microscopy. The conjugation of DNA strands on the surface of the carbon dots provided an efficient fluorescent probe. The fluorescence of the MoS₂ nanosheet/DNA/carbon dot nanoassembly enhanced gradually with the increase in the concentration of Hg²⁺ ions and the detection limit was found to be 1.02 nM. Furthermore, the fluorescence intensity was found to be linear with the concentration of Hg²⁺ ions in the range from 0 to 10 nM and their respective coefficient of determination was found to be 0.93676 and 0.98178. The present MoS₂ nanosheet/DNA/carbon dot nanoassembly is highly selective toward Hg²⁺ ions over a wide range of metal ions tested.

Development of mixed constrained RTDA controller for industrial applications

Most of the industrial processes are MIMO and constrained in nature. So the development of MIMO constrained controller is always preferable and makes challenges to the control community. This paper proposes the development of constrained next generation RTDA controller to handle various linear inequality constraints in a multi-variable control framework. The Lagrangian function is formulated, and the dual problem is solved using Hildreth's algorithm. The combined hard-soft constrained RTDA optimization problem with exact penalty functions is solved using KKT conditions. Performance of the developed constrained RTDA controller is demonstrated using simulation studies of typical industrial unit operations such as nonlinear CSTR process and Wood and Berry distillation column. The performance of the constrained RTDA controller is compared with constrained DMC and GPC.

Evaluation of Radiation Shielding Properties of the Polyvinyl Alcohol/Iron Oxide Polymer Composite

Context:

Lead is the conventional shielding material against gamma/X-rays. It has some limitations such as toxic, high density, nonflexibility, and also bremsstrahlung production during electron interaction. It may affect the accuracy of radiotherapy outcome.

Aims:

To theoretically analyze the radiation shielding properties of flexible polyvinyl alcohol/iron oxide polymer composite with five different concentrations of magnetite over the energy range of 15 KeV–20 MeV.

Subjects and Methods:

Radiological properties were calculated based on the published literature. Attenuation coefficients of pure elements are generated with the help of WinXCOM database.

Results:

Effective atomic numbers and electron density are increased with the concentration of magnetite. On the other hand, the number of electrons per gram decreased. Mass attenuation coefficient (μ/ϼ) and linear attenuation coefficients (μ) are higher in the lower energy <100 KeV, and their values decreased when the energy increased. Computed tomography numbers (CT) show the significant variation between the concentrations in <60 KeV. Half-value layer and tenth-value layers are directly proportional to the energy and indirectly proportional to the concentration of magnetite. Transmission curve, relaxation length (ƛ), kinetic energy released in the matter, and elemental weight fraction are also calculated and the results are discussed.

Conclusions:

0.5% of the magnetite gives superior shielding properties compared with other concentrations. It may be due to the presence of 0.3617% of Fe. Elemental weight fraction, atomic number, photon energy, and mass densities are the important parameters to understand the shielding behavior of any material.

Geometric Scaling of Plates Subjected to Mine Blast

<p>In the design of AFVs, study of structures subjected to land mine blast is important. Generally, blast related experimental studies are very time consuming and costly. A simple first cut alternative is finite element modelling and analysis. Here, modelling of mine and simulating the blast effect involves large number of mesh elements, which makes the model computationally intensive and time consuming. Hence, instead of using full scale model for analysis, a suitable scaled down model would reduce analysis time and leads to a faster DOE studies. A proper scaling mechanism is to be evolved in order to get accurate results. Discusses about the scaling of plate subjected to mine blast using dimensional analysis approach. The out-of-plane surface deformation, including velocity fields during the blast loading are compared between the scaled and unscaled plate.</p>

Vitamin B12 status in pregnant women and their infants in South India

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Vitamin B₁₂ deficiency during pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of adverse perinatal outcomes. However, few studies have investigated the burden and determinants of vitamin B₁₂ status in young infants. This study was conducted to determine the associations between maternal and infant vitamin B₁₂ status.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Pregnant women participating in a vitamin B₁₂ supplementation trial in Bangalore, India, were randomized to receive vitamin B₁₂ (50 μg) or placebo supplementation daily during pregnancy through 6 weeks postpartum. All women received 60 mg of iron and 500 μg of folic acid daily during pregnancy, as per standard of care. This prospective analysis was conducted to determine the associations between maternal vitamin B₁₂ biomarkers (that is, plasma vitamin B₁₂, methylmalonic acid (MMA) and tHcy) during each trimester with infant vitamin B₁₂ status (n=77) at 6 weeks of age.

RESULTS

At baseline (⩽14 weeks of gestation), 51% of mothers were vitamin B₁₂ deficient (vitamin B₁₂<150 pmol/l) and 43% had impaired vitamin B₁₂ status (vitamin B₁₂<150 pmol/l and MMA>0.26 μmol/l); 44% of infants were vitamin B₁₂ deficient at 6 weeks of age. After adjusting for vitamin B₁₂ supplementation, higher vitamin B₁₂ concentrations in each trimester were associated with increased infant vitamin B₁₂ concentrations and lower risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in infants (P<0.05). After adjusting for vitamin B₁₂ supplementation, infants born to women with vitamin B₁₂ deficiency had a twofold greater risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency (P<0.01). Higher maternal folate concentrations also predicted lower risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in infants (P<0.05). Impaired maternal vitamin B₁₂ status, which combined both circulating and functional biomarkers, was the single best predictor of infant vitamin B₁₂ status.

CONCLUSIONS

Impaired maternal vitamin B₁₂ status throughout pregnancy predicted higher risk of vitamin B₁₂ deficiency in infants, after adjusting for vitamin B₁₂ supplementation. Future interventions are needed to improve vitamin B₁₂ status periconceptionally, and to ensure optimal vitamin B₁₂ status and health outcomes in pregnant women and their children.

Non-Hermitian engineering of synthetic saturable absorbers for applications in photonics

We introduce a new type of synthetic saturable absorber based on quantum-inspired Jx photonic arrays. We demonstrate that the interplay between optical Kerr nonlinearity, interference effects and non-Hermiticity through radiation loss leads to a nonlinear optical filtering response with two distinct regimes of small and large optical transmissions. More interestingly, we show that the boundary between these two regimes can be very sharp. The threshold optical intensity that marks this abrupt "phase transition" and its steepness can be engineered by varying the number of the guiding elements. The practical feasibility of these structures as well as their potential applications in laser systems and optical signal processing are also discussed.

S-Allyl cysteine alleviates inflammation by modulating the expression of NF-κB during chromium (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

Hexavalent chromium (Cr (VI)) is a common environmental pollutant. Cr (VI) exposure can lead to severe damage to the liver, but the preventive measures to diminish Cr (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity need further study. S-allyl cysteine (SAC) is a constituent of garlic ( Allium sativum) and has many beneficial effects to humans and rodents. In this study, we intended to analyze the mechanistic role of SAC during Cr (VI)-induced hepatotoxicity. Male Wistar albino rats were induced with 17 mg/kg body weight to damage the liver. The Cr (VI)-induced rats were treated with 100 mg/kg body weight of SAC as an optimum dosage to treat hepatotoxicity. We observed that the levels of oxidants, lipid peroxidation and hydroxyl radical (OH^•) were increased, and enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase were found to be decreased in Cr (VI)-induced rats. While treated with SAC, the levels of oxidants were decreased and enzymatic antioxidants were significantly ( p < 0.05) increased. Lysosomal enzyme activities were increased in Cr (VI)-induced rats and on treatment with SAC, the activities were significantly decreased. The expressions of nuclear factor-kappa B (p65-NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased during induction with Cr (VI). Subsequent administration of SAC to animals showed a decrease in the expressions of NF-κB, TNF-α, and iNOS. Results obtained from this study clearly demonstrated that SAC protects the liver cells from the Cr (VI)-induced free radical damage.

Listening to the voices of the general public in India on biomedical research--an exploratory study

Medical research, from clinical trials to novel research on stored samples, is growing rapidly in India. Ethical regulations largely reflect standard international guidelines and the norms of "good clinical practice". Through in-depth interviews, this study aimed to explore the perceptions, motivations and concerns of the public with respect to participation in clinical trials and biobanking-related research. It was found that the expectation of therapeutic benefit reflects "therapeutic misconception" and this, along with a poor understanding of research, leads to favourable participation in clinical trials. A relatively low level of awareness and knowledge of health matters and research (health literacy), along with the differences in the power of the doctor and the participant, lead to an unquestioning trust in the physician or the institution conducting the research. "Informed consent" is thought to protect the interests of the researcher and the institution rather than the participants' rights. Biobanking research was very new to the participants and relatively unknown. Thus, it has not yet filtered into the public consciousness. As a result, the perceptions of the general public do not appear to be sufficiently evolved.