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Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSCs), also known as 'Natural Suppressor Cells (NSCs)', 'Immature Myeloid Cells, (IMCs), or 'Myeloid Suppressor Cells' (MSCs), are renowned for suppressing the immune functioning of T lymphocytes. Depending on the structural similarity with neutrophils and monocytes, MDSCs can be classified as polymorphonuclear MDSCs (PMN-MDSCs) and monocytic MDSCs (M-MDSCs). On the other hand, T cells, generally subdivided into CD4+ and CD8+ groups based on the surface glycoprotein, are crucial for generating an adaptive immune response. During the event of an infection, MDSCs and T cells, along with other immune regulatory cells, interplay and generate a robust host immune response against the invading pathogens. In this review, we have highlighted the role of MDSCs and different subsets of CD4+ T cells, such as Th1, Th2, Th17, Th9, Th22, Treg, Tfh, and Tr1 with and various transcription factors associated with them, in different well known bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal diseases. Changes in the MDSC population were found to be associated with either promotion or suppression of T cell subsets in different infections. The relative frequency and absolute numbers of MDSCs in the peripheral blood, therefore, may serve as an important marker useful in future immunotherapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the thermal decoupling of weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) in a dilatonic Einstein Gauss–Bonnet (dEGB) cosmological scenario where standard gravity is modified by a Gauss–Bonnet term non-minimally coupled to a scalar field with vanishing potential. We put constraints on the parameters of the model that drive the WIMP annihilation cross section beyond the present bounds from DM indirect detection searches. The bounds from WIMP indirect detection are nicely complementary to late-time constraints from compact binary mergers. This suggests that it could be interesting to use other Early Cosmology processes to probe the dEGB scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: COVID-19 incidence became a pandemic immediately after its origin and spread. Apart from death because of coronavirus infection, the pandemic brought unbearable psychological pressure to all. We assessed the psychological pressure on college and university students in India through cluster sampling. Methods: The students responded (n = 209) to an online questionnaire following the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7) and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) with some other basic information. Results: According to GAD-7 scoring, we found the respondent students had severe anxiety (1.44%), moderately severe anxiety (14.35%), moderate anxiety (36.36%) and mild anxiety (47.85%). Following HAM-A scoring, anxiety level among the students could be scaled as severe (0.96%), high (4.31%), moderate (13.40%) and mild anxiety (34.93%) level. Age of the students was a confounding factor (p = 0.049, HAM-A) of experiencing anxiety, students <20 years of age were more anxious. We found female students to be more anxious than the males following the HAM-A scoring tool. Academic delays (R2 = 0.996, p = 0.036) and impact on daily life (R2 = 0.996, p = 0.117) were positively associated with anxiety symptoms, while social support was marginally correlated (R2 = 0.726, p = 0.069) with the anxiety level. Conclusions: As the study found almost all the students are experiencing anxiety because of the current pandemic situation, continuous observation of psychological health for all is recommended as well as establishing psychological intervention during the preparedness phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for new physics beyond the Standard Model is boosted by the recently observed deviation in the anomalous magnetic moments of muon and electron from their respective theoretical prediction. In the present work, we have proposed a suitable extension of the minimal Lμ − Lτ model to address these two experimental results as the minimal model is unable to provide any realistic solution. In our model, a new Yukawa interaction involving first generation of leptons, a singlet vector like fermion (χ±) and a scalar (either an SU(2)L doublet Φ 4 ′ or a complex singlet Φ 4 ′ ) provides the additional one loop contribution to ae only on top of the usual contribution coming from the Lμ− Lτ gauge boson (Zμτ) to both electron and muon. The judicious choice of Lμ − Lτ charges to these new fields results in a strongly interacting scalar dark matter in O (MeV) range after taking into account the bounds from relic density, unitarity and self interaction. The freeze-out dynamics of dark matter is greatly influenced by 3 → 2 scatterings while the kinetic equilibrium with the SM bath is ensured by 2 → 2 scatterings with neutrinos where Zμτ plays a pivotal role. The detection of dark matter is possible directly through scatterings with nuclei mediated by the SM Z bosons. Moreover, our proposed model can also be tested in the upcoming e+e− colliders by searching opposite sign di-electron and missing energy signal i.e. at the final state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exponential suppression or commonly known as the Boltzmann suppression in the number density of dark matter is the key ingredient for creating chemical imbalance prior to the usual thermal freeze-out. A degenerate/quasi-degenerate dark sector can experience a different exponential suppression in the number density analogous to the radioactive decay law leading to a delayed freeze-out mechanism of dark matter known as the co-decaying dark matter. In this work, we study the dynamics of a multicomponent dark matter from thermally decoupled degenerate dark sector in a hidden U(1)X extension of the Standard Model. We compute the relic density of dark matter frozen-out through the co-decaying mechanism by solving four coupled Boltzmann equations. We demonstrate how temperature T′ of the dark sector changes due to all types of 3 → 2 and 2 → 2 interactions along with the eternal expansion of the Universe. We find that 3 → 2 interactions enhance T′ by producing energetic particles in the dark sector while the excess heat is transferred by 2 → 2 interactions to the entire dark sector. As the direct detection is possible only through the feeble portal couplings, we investigate the neutrino and γ-ray signals from dark matter annihilation via one step cascade processes and compare our results with the measured fluxes of atmospheric neutrinos by Super-Kamiokande and diffuse γ-rays by Fermi-LAT, EGRET, INTEGRAL collaborations. We find that the present scenario easily evades all the existing bounds from atmospheric neutrino and diffuse γ-ray observations for degenerate dark sector. However, the constraints are significant for quasi degenerate scenario. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Allometric regression models are one of the common methods of carbon stock estimation based on growing stock data conversion to estimates of above ground biomass (AGB). Therefore, allometric model selection is important functional aspect that has considerable influence on accuracy of biomass estimation. As destructive sampling is restricted in our study area, the site specific biomass model is developed for the first time based upon the forest inventory data that includes measurements of diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height (H). To minimize the error in AGB estimation, intensive sampling was done where 78,201 individual tree were enumerated (6034 quadrats laid over 1207 plots). 20 locally abundant tree species were assessed. Tree volume and biomass were calculated and examined for best fit allometric model for the area. Species-specific models were established which best fits with the DBH as predictor variable. For multi-species models, inclusion of wood density (WD) enhanced the model fitness with increased adjusted R2 by 99.9%. Significant variations in predicted and observed values were noticed while considering the regional and pan-tropical models (model prediction error − 614.364 to 288.304%). Therefore, development of local models would provide more accurate AGB estimates. Best fit multi-species allometric model in our study is represented by ln (AGB) = a + b ln (DBH) + c ln (H) + d ln(WD). The equation developed for tropical forest of Eastern India applicable for Sal zone of Bihar is ln(AGB) = − 0.886 + 2ln(DBH) + ln(H) + ln(WD). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a B − L gauged extension of the Standard Model where light neutrino masses arise from type III seesaw mechanism. Unlike the minimal B − L model with three right handed neutrinos having unit lepton number each, the model with three fermion triplets is however not anomaly free. We show that the leftover triangle anomalies can be cancelled by two neutral Dirac fermions having fractional B − L charges, both of which are naturally stable by virtue of a remnant ℤ2× ℤ 2 ′ symmetry, naturally leading to a two component dark matter scenario without any ad-hoc symmetries. We constrain the model from all relevant phenomenological constraints including dark matter properties. Light neutrino mass and collider prospects are also discussed briefly. Due to additional neutral gauge bosons, the fermion triplets in type III seesaw can have enhanced production cross section in collider experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic exposure route for humans is through the drinking of contaminated water and intake of arsenic-contaminated foods, particularly in arsenic-exposed areas of Bengal delta. Transport of the arsenic-contaminated crops and vegetables grown using arsenic-contaminated groundwater and soil in arsenic-exposed areas to the uncontaminated sites and consequent dietary intakes leads to great threats for the population residing in non-endemic areas with respect to consumption of arsenic through drinking water. We have studied the food materials collected from 30 families and their dietary habits, apparently who consume arsenic-free drinking water as well as 9 well-known markets of Kolkata city. The total and inorganic arsenic intake has been estimated from the collected foodstuffs from the market basket survey (n = 93) and household survey (n = 139), respectively for human risk analysis. About 100% of the collected samples contained detectable amount of arsenic (range 24–324 μg/kg), since the origin of the food materials was somewhere from arsenic-endemic areas. The daily consumption of inorganic arsenic (iAs) from rice grain and vegetables for adult and children is 76 μg and 41.4 μg, respectively. Inorganic arsenic (mainly arsenite and arsenate) contributes approximately 88% of the total content of arsenic in vegetable. In most of the cases, insufficient nutrient intake by the studied population may lead to arsenic toxicity in the long run. An independent cancer risk assessment study on the same population indicates that the main risk of cancer might appear through the intake of arsenic-contaminated rice grain and cereals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin lesion is one of the important health hazards caused by high intake of arsenic through drinking water and diet, and the other hazards include several types of cancers (viz. skin, lung and urinary bladder), ischemic heart disease, hypertension, etc. Two most important biomarkers to measure arsenic intake in a human body are arsenic concentration in urine and hair. The primary interest of this paper is the association between skin lesion and arsenic concentration in hair for participants with chronic arsenic exposure from West Bengal, India, using bivariate regression model based on copula function. The result showed participants with high arsenic concentration in hair had higher incidence of developing skin lesion. Arsenic concentration in hair was significantly higher for the participants with an arsenic concentration in water > 10 mg/L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic is a carcinogen and consumption in low dose may lead to cancer. We estimated the cancer risk of the participants from arsenic endemic regions of West Bengal, India. The probable cancer risk was estimated following the assessment of daily inorganic arsenic intake through drinking water and diets of 20 participants for three consecutive years who had been using low arsenic water in the Indian context (median arsenic concentration in the study Years-I, II and III were 22, 16, 13 µg/l respectively). Probable cancer risk of the population was 2.80 × 10−4, 2.94 × 10−4, 3.12 × 10−4 in the three respective study years (Year-I, II and III); just higher than the US EPA risk level of concern. The arsenic species content of the paired raw, cooked rice and urine was estimated in the as is taken basis. The major diet component, rice contained 72-86% inorganic arsenic whereas urine contains 70% organic arsenic on an average. The cancer risk assessment has been proposed to be modified by inclusion of urine arsenic release, considering the fact of arsenic release through urine. The risk became 1.28 × 10−5, 1.13 × 10−5, 1.01 × 10−5 in the study Year-I, II and III respectively, considering urinary arsenic release, attributed the consideration of urine arsenic release into probable cancer risk estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Advancements in our understanding of vestibular physiology and how it is changes in different diseases have established that of the three therapeutic approaches to treat disorders of the vestibular system viz. pharmacotherapy, surgery and physical therapy, it is the later i.e., physical therapy which is the most efficacious modality in the management of balance disorders. The futility of vestibular sedatives in the correction of vestibular disorders and in the restoration of balance and the very limited role of surgery has now been recognised. Advancements in vestibulometry now enable us to localise any lesion in the vestibular system with utmost precision and also determine the exact cause of the balance disorder. The site of lesion and the specific organ that is defective can now be very precisely identified. Treatment modalities especially that for physical therapy hence have to be organ specific, and if possible, also disease specific. Aims and Objectives: The study aims at evaluating the efficacy of physiotherapy in the management of balance disorders and also assesses the efficacy of organ targeted physical therapy, a new concept in restoring balance after vestibulometry has identified the offending organ. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the specialised physical therapy unit for balance and gait disorder patients which is a part of Vertigo and Deafness Clinic in Kolkata, India. Special instruments for physical therapy devised by the first author were used for stimulation of specific sense organs in the vestibular labyrinth that were found to be defective in vestibulometry. Specially made Virtual reality programs were used in patients suffering from psychogenic balance disorders. The pre and post therapy status was evaluated by different standard scales to assess balance and dizziness. Results: Very promising results were obtained. Organ targeted physiotherapy where defective sense organs were specifically stimulated showed remarkable improvement in different measures. Virtual reality exercises too showed very promising results in patients of psychogenic vertigo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Standard Model (SM) is inadequate to explain the origin of tiny neutrino masses, the dark matter (DM) relic abundance and the baryon asymmetry of the Universe. In this work, to address all three puzzles, we extend the SM by a local U $$(1)_{B-L}$$ gauge symmetry, three right-handed (RH) neutrinos for the cancellation of gauge anomalies and two complex scalars having non-zero U $$(1)_{B-L}$$ charges. All the newly added particles become massive after the breaking of the U $$(1)_{B-L}$$ symmetry by the vacuum expectation value (VEV) of one of the scalar fields $$\phi _H$$ . The other scalar field, $$\phi _\mathrm{DM}$$ , which does not have any VEV, becomes automatically stable and can be a viable DM candidate. Neutrino masses are generated using the Type-I seesaw mechanism, while the required lepton asymmetry to reproduce the observed baryon asymmetry can be attained from the CP violating out of equilibrium decays of the RH neutrinos in TeV scale. More importantly within this framework, we study in detail the production of DM via the freeze-in mechanism considering all possible annihilation and decay processes. Finally, we find a situation when DM is dominantly produced from the annihilation of the RH neutrinos, which are at the same time also responsible for neutrino mass generation and leptogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore a two component dark matter model with a fermion and a scalar. In this scenario the Standard Model (SM) is extended by a fermion, a scalar and an additional pseudo scalar. The fermionic component is assumed to have a global $$\mathrm{U(1)}_\mathrm{DM}$$ and interacts with the pseudo scalar via Yukawa interaction while a $$\mathbb {Z}_2$$ symmetry is imposed on the other component - the scalar. These ensure the stability of both dark matter components. Although the Lagrangian of the present model is CP conserving, the CP symmetry breaks spontaneously when the pseudo scalar acquires a vacuum expectation value (VEV). The scalar component of the dark matter in the present model also develops a VEV on spontaneous breaking of the $$\mathbb {Z}_2$$ symmetry. Thus the various interactions of the dark sector and the SM sector occur through the mixing of the SM like Higgs boson, the pseudo scalar Higgs like boson and the singlet scalar boson. We show that the observed gamma ray excess from the Galactic Centre as well as the 3.55 keV X-ray line from Perseus, Andromeda etc. can be simultaneously explained in the present two component dark matter model and the dark matter self interaction is found to be an order of magnitude smaller than the upper limit estimated from the observational results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose the existence of a hidden or dark sector besides the standard model (SM) of particle physics, whose members (both fermionic and bosonic) obey a local SU(2) $$_\mathrm{H}$$ gauge symmetry, while behaving like a singlet under the SM gauge group. However, the fermiomic fields of the dark sector also possess another global U(1) $$_\mathrm{H}$$ symmetry, which remains unbroken. The local SU(2) $$_\mathrm{H}$$ invariance of the dark sector is broken spontaneously when a scalar field in this sector acquires a vacuum expectation value (VEV), thereby generating masses to the dark gauge bosons and dark fermions charged under the SU(2) $$_\mathrm{H}$$ . The lightest fermion in this dark SU(2) $$_\mathrm{H}$$ sector can be a potential dark matter candidate. We first examine the viability of the model and constrain the model parameter space by theoretical constraints such as vacuum stability and by the experimental constraints such as Planck limit on relic density, LHC data, limits on spin-independent scattering cross section from dark matter direct search experiments etc. We then investigate the gamma rays from the pair annihilation of the proposed dark matter candidate at the Galactic Centre region. We also extend our calculations of gamma rays flux for the case of dwarf galaxies and compare the signatures of gamma rays obtained from these astrophysical sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination of shallow groundwater and related health problems are threats for the millions in endemic regions of West Bengal. Contamination of rice grain creates the food chain pathway of mineral arsenic besides drinking water contamination. Present study concentrated on association of arsenic concentration in irrigated water, paddy field soil and rice with the cropping seasons. Irrigated ground water arsenic concentration decreased significantly ( p = 0.007) from summer (median 0.42 mg l) to winter (median 0.35 mg l). Carried over effect created significant decrease ( p = 0.03) of paddy field soil arsenic concentration from summer (median 8.35 mg kg) to winter (median 6.17 mg kg). Seasonal variation was observed in rice straw ( p = 0.03) but not in husk ( p = 0.91). Arsenic concentration decreased significantly ( p = 0.05) in the rice grains collected in winter season (median 0.23 mg kg) than the samples collected in the summer season (median 0.30 mg kg). In conclusion, seasonal effects need to be considered in case of human health risk assessment from arsenic consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice is prone to arsenic accumulation compared to other cereals as typically grown up under waterlogged situation favoring arsenic mobility. Arsenic in rice depends on arsenic availability to plants from irrigation water, even differs among cultivars and their plant parts. Present study was concentrated on arsenic accumulation in various plant parts of five common rice cultivars grown using irrigation water from different water sources in various fields in arsenic-endemic region. Additionally, dose response experiment under laboratory net house was conducted on the same cultivars excluding open environmental factors. The common cultivars were categorized according to high to low arsenic accumulator in rice grain, straw and root parts. The cultivar Shatabdi has shown highest arsenic accumulation in rice grain compared to other rice cultivars in fields and when grown at various soil arsenic doses. In field samples, a highest grain arsenic concentration ranged between 0.69 ± 0.04 and 0.78 ± 0.12 mg kg for Shatabdi, whereas lowest grain arsenic concentration ranged between 0.37 ± 0.07 and 0.41 ± 0.07 mg kg for the cultivars GB3 and Lalat. Speciation study detected more inorganic arsenic than organoarsenicals with a trend of arsenite > arsenate > DMA > MMA, which would be problem for consumers. The concluding remark is the characterization of common rice cultivars according to arsenic concentration to highlight an important remediation strand by changing to low arsenic cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to arsenic in arsenic endemic areas is most remarkable environmental health challenges. Although effects of arsenic contamination are well established, reports are unavailable on probable seasonal variation due to changes of food habit depending on winter and summer seasons, especially for endemic regions of Nadia district, West Bengal. Complete 24-h diets, drinking-cooking water, first morning voided urine samples, and diet history were analyzed on 25 volunteers in arsenic endemic Chakdah block of Nadia district, once in summer followed by once in winter from the same participants. Results depicted no seasonal variation of body weight and body mass index. Arsenic concentration of source drinking and cooking water decreased ( p = 0.04) from 26 μg L in summer to 6 μg L in winter season. We recorded a seasonal decrease of water intake in male (3.8 and 2.5 L day ) and female (2.6 and 1.2 L day) participants from summer to winter. Arsenic intake through drinking water decreased ( p = 0.04) in winter (29 μg day) than in summer (100 μg day), and urinary arsenic concentration decreased ( p = 0.018) in winter (41 μg L) than in summer (69 μg L). Dietary arsenic intake remained unchanged ( p = 0.24) over the seasons. Hence, we can infer that human health risk assessment from arsenic needs an insight over temporal scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tinnitus is a very common complain and affects 7% of population and has been associated with a range of physical and emotional disorders (Hallam et al. in Br J Clin Psychol 27:213-222, ). Hence to understand the distress caused by tinnitus and its relationship with the nature of tinnitus so as to suggest the appropriate treatment, there is the need to study the impact of tinnitus of a group of tinnitus sufferers. This study could be done on the basis of verbal description of tinnitus, Audiological measurement of tinnitus and psychological characteristics of tinnitus in terms of distress, anxiety, depression and disturbance of personality, to understand the impact of tinnitus on sufferers. Fifty adults in the age range of 18-60 years with subjective tinnitus with bilateral normal hearing or pure SNHL ranging from mild to moderately severe were selected. An audiological profile of each subject was prepared on the basis of brief case history of subject, otoscopic examination, pure tone audiometry, impedance audiometry, frequency (pitch) and intensity (loudness) of tinnitus. A psychometric profile was developed by using Tinnitus Reaction Questionnaire and Nature of Tinnitus Questionnaire. These questionnaires were translated and adopted in Hindi and Bengali language after appropriate standardization procedure. 60% reported that they do not have any idea regarding probable cause of their tinnitus. 74% subjects of this study reported that there is no fluctuation in the pitch of their tinnitus. However, 68% reported loudness of tinnitus is fluctuating. A weak co-relation has been seen between traditional audiological measures like pitch matching, loudness matching and subject's description of pitch and loudness of tinnitus. There was a significant correlation between the impact of tinnitus and disturbance of sleep caused by it with increase in depression and anger (0.483). However, no significant co-relation was seen between distressed caused by tinnitus and duration of tinnitus (−0.034). The multiple nature/sounds of tinnitus had far more devastating effects or serious impact on 'tinnitus sufferers' than the single sound/nature. Gender differences were also found among tinnitus sufferers while assessing the audiological and psychological measures of tinnitus. Female subjects also reported a higher level of emotional reaction with a mean of 35.9 to their tinnitus as compared to males with a mean of 31.7. Tinnitus has resulted in multifold effects/impacts on tinnitus sufferers where it has made them feel unhappy, tense, irritable, depressed, annoyed, distressed and frustrated. It has interfered with their enjoyment, their relaxation, their sleep, and forced them to avoid quiet environmental and social situations. These findings should further help in the overall management of the patient suffering from tinnitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed the association between arsenic intake through water and diet, and arsenic levels in first morning-void urine under variable conditions of water contamination. This was done in a 2-year consecutive study in an endemic population. Exposure of arsenic through water and diet was assessed for participants using arsenic-contaminated water (≥50 μg L) in a first year (group I) and for participants using water lower in arsenic (<50 μg L) in the next year (group II). Participants with and without arsenical skin lesions were considered in the statistical analysis. Median dose of arsenic intake through drinking water in groups I and II males was 7.44 and 0.85 μg kg body wt. day ( p <0.0001). In females, it was 5.3 and 0.63 μg kg body wt. day ( p <0.0001) for groups I and II, respectively. Arsenic dose through diet was 3.3 and 2.6 μg kg body wt. day ( p = 0.088) in males and 2.6 and 1.9 μg kg body wt. day ( p = 0.0081) in females. Median arsenic levels in urine of groups I and II males were 124 and 61 μg L ( p = 0.052) and in females 130 and 52 μg L ( p = 0.0001), respectively. When arsenic levels in the water were reduced to below 50 μg L (Indian permissible limit), total arsenic intake and arsenic intake through the water significantly decreased, but arsenic uptake through the diet was found to be not significantly affected. Moreover, it was found that drinking water mainly contributed to variations in urine arsenic concentrations. However, differences between male and female participants also indicate that not only arsenic uptake, but also many physiological factors affect arsenic behavior in the body and its excretion. As total median arsenic exposure still often exceeded 3.0 μg kg body wt. day (the permissible lower limit established by the Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives) after installation of the drinking water filters, it can be concluded that supplying the filtered water only may not be sufficient to minimize arsenic availability for an already endemic population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chronic exposure to arsenic through drinking water affects nearly 26 million individuals in West Bengal, India. Cytogenetic biomarkers like urothelial micronucleus (MN) are extensively used to monitor arsenic exposed population. In 2004-2005, 145 arsenic exposed individuals and 60 unexposed controls were surveyed of which 128 exposed individuals and 54 unexposed controls could be followed up in 2010-2011. In 2004-2005, the extent of arsenic content in the drinking water was 348.23 ± 102.67 μg/L, which was significantly lowered to 5.60 ± 10.83 μg/L in 2010-2011. Comparing the data obtained between 2004-2005 and 2010-2011, there was a significant decline in the MN frequency, when assayed in 2010-2011 compared to 2004-2005. Hence, we infer that urothelial MN can be utilized as a good biomarker in detecting remedial effects from toxicity of the low dose of arsenic through drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The simplest extension of Standard Model (SM) is considered in which a real SM gauge singlet scalar with an additional discrete symmetry Z is introduced to SM. This additional scalar can be a viable candidate of cold dark matter (CDM) since the stability of S is achieved by the application of Z symmetry on S. Considering S as a possible candidate of CDM, Boltzmann's equation is solved to find the freeze-out temperature and relic density of S for Higgs mass 120 GeV in the scalar mass range 5 GeV to 1 TeV. As HHSS coupling δ appearing in Lagrangian depends upon the value of scalar mass m and Higgs mass m, the m − δ parameter space has been constrained by using the Wilkinson microwave anisotropy probe (WMAP) limit on the relic density of DM in the Universe and the results of recent ongoing DM direct search experiments, namely CDMS-II, CoGeNT, DAMA, EDELWEISS-II, XENON-10 and XENON-100. From such analyses, two distinct mass regions are found (a lower and higher mass domain) for such a DM candidate that satisfy both the WMAP limit and the experimental results considered here. The possible differential direct detection rates and annual variation of total detection rates have been estimated for this scalar DM candidate S for two detector materials, namely Ge and Xe. Finally, the γ-ray flux has been calculated from the galactic centre due to annihilation of two 130 GeV scalar DM into two monoenergetic γ-rays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contaminated groundwater uses for irrigation potentially lead the incidence of arsenic into food chain. In present study we examined total arsenic concentrations in 32 types of vegetables and 7 types of pulses. Range of total arsenic concentration in edible parts of vegetables collected from grown fields was 0.114-0.910 mg/kg. Highest arsenic values were in spinach 0.910 mg/kg. Vegetable samples were grouped into leafy, non-leafy-fruity, root-tubers. 18 common types of vegetables and pulses were collected through market basket survey, total arsenic were approximately 100 mg lower than those observed for the vegetables collected from the fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor eustachian tube function is a major cause of both failure of tympanoplasty as well as the persistence of otorrhoea in chronic suppurative otiis media. In this study, Eustachian tube function tests were carried out on 631 ears of CSOM using an impedance audiometer and the results were analysed. The study showed that impaired tubal function is not only the major cause of persistent/recurrent otorrhoea in CSOM but is also an important contributory factor for failure of tympanoplasty: The results of tympanoplasty were found to be significantly poor when carried out in ears having poor tubal function as compared to ears with normal tubal function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characterization of the various rock types through petrophysical data analysis is essential for comprehending geological processes and enhancing the efficacy of geophysical approaches aimed at mineralization zones. In the present study, a Fuzzy C-Means (FCM) clustering algorithm was employed to automatically classify lithounits within the western sector of the North Singhbhum Mobile Belt based on the petrophysical properties. Laboratory measurements of 326 rock samples from the study area show a wide range of density (~2350–3150 kg/m3) and magnetic susceptibility (10−5 SI to 10−1 SI) values. Further FCM analysis reveals three distinct clusters: (i) cluster 1 displays high density and low magnetic susceptibility responses and comprises majorly metabasic, phyllite, and mica schist rocks, (ii) cluster 2 shows low density and low magnetic susceptibility characteristics and contains mainly metasedimentary rocks (phyllite, quartzite, and mica schist) and (iii) cluster 3 also primarily encompasses metasedimentary rocks, but it displays the low density and high magnetic susceptibility characteristics. Overlap of rock types in different clusters probably indicates the influence of secondary geological processes on the petrophysical measurements such as metamorphism, alteration, and weathering, which is also supported by the petrographical studies. Overall, the present study demonstrates the potential utility of the FCM algorithm for automatic lithology classification and inferring the associated geological processes from the petrophysical measurements. Furthermore, the correlation between the geophysical and petrophysical clusters highlights the role of petrophysical information in the automatic geological/mineral mapping. However, the complexity in cluster attributes on a detailed scale suggests that future studies in the NSMB should focus on comprehensive multi-parameter petrophysical and geochemical measurements. This approach will help in developing better strategies for 3D geophysical data inversion and resolve the complexities in petrophysical data interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]