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Approximated and simplified real-atmospheric process impact in physical parameterization is a primary correspondent of biases in the model, particularly for extreme events. The present study discusses how event genesis in the small and large-scale quintessential environment is incongruously simulated within a set of multiple convection parameterizations. Despite a few inherent errors, most of the selected convective parameterization schemes could indicate 10-15 days in advance the Uttarakhand heavy rains resulted from large-scale background interaction. The runs without any convection scheme, followed by new-Tiedtke and BMJ schemes, outperform in this case. Further, almost all schemes except new-Tiedtke flunked for the case of Mount-Abu flood originated from relatively local-scale interaction even from 5-day advance initialization. Results are further extended for a few other cases using best performers of both extreme events and new-Tiedtke found to be more efficient. The better representation of convection (especially the shallow) and low clouds in this scheme makes it superior to other schemes for simulating extreme precipitation events.

The Scaps-1d simulator was used to simulate a lead-free perovskite CH3NH3SnI3 based solar cell devices fabricated from different hole transport materials (HTM). This research looks at two organic and two inorganic HTM layers. The cell structure used in this study is FTO/TiO2/ CH3NH3SnI3/HTM(variable)/Au(variable). Spiro-OMeTAD, PEDOT:PSS, CuO and Cu2O are the HTM materials used. The results show that utilizing CuO as an HTM produces better outcomes than other HTMs, with an efficiency of 28.45%. The thickness, acceptor concentration (NA), and defect density (Nt) of the perovskite layer on optoelectronic properties of the solar cell are focus of simulation studies. According to this study, an perovskite layer thickness of 1000 nm is suitable for a decent photovoltaic cell. Furthermore, by adjusting the HTM thickness and the defect density of HTM and absorber layer, promising findings of Jsc of 34.38 mAcm− 2, Voc of 1.011 V, FF of 80.85% and PCE of 28.10% were obtained for Spiro-OMeTAD based PSC. Finally, in order to improve the device's performance, an anode material with high work function is required. Our findings reveal that using a thin absorber layer results in low photo generated charge carriers due to less absorption, but high carrier extraction. Although more carriers are created in the cell due to increased absorption, decreased collection efficiency is related to recombination, which decreases Voc for thick perovskite layers. Device efficiency is improved by increasing the doping density up to 1018 cm− 3 in the perovskite layer due to built-in electric field across the solar cell. Again a very thin or thick HTL is not ideal for high PCE. For low recombination and a high fill factor, an HTM (Spiro-OMeTAD) of 1–100 nm is necessary. The great power conversion efficiency of organic HTM based lead-free PSC brings up the new possibilities for obtaining renewable energy.

Background With increasing age, the older population becomes more susceptible to mental disorders. It is important to recognize and develop an understanding of psychiatric morbidity particularly among the residents of geriatric homes in resource-poor settings. Objective To assess the prevalence and associated factors of dementia symptoms among Nepalese senior citizens living in geriatric homes of Kathmandu valley. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted among 304 senior citizens living in geriatric homes of Kathmandu valley. Cognitive Impairment Test (CIT), was used to assess dementia symptoms. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed. All the variables that were significant at p0.05 level in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariate regression model and statistical significance was declared at p0.05 with a 95.00% confidence interval (CI). Result This study showed 75.65%, of the participants, had dementia symptoms. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, female respondents (AOR=2.94, 95% CI=1.31-6.57), respondents never received geriatric allowances (AOR=2.46, 95% CI=1.22-4.98), respondent's history of alcohol consumption habits (AOR=2.04, 95% CI=1.01-4.11) and non-vegetarian diet habits (AOR= 2.31, 95% CI=1.12-4.76) were found more likely to had higher dementia symptoms whereas, literate participants (AOR=0.19, 95% CI=0.08-0.43) were less likely to had dementia symptoms. Conclusion The high prevalence of dementia symptoms among senior citizens living in geriatric homes in the Kathmandu valley indicates an urgent need for early diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders among senior citizens to improve their quality of life and well-being.

Lameness is a very important disorder of periparturient dairy cows with implications on milk production and composition as well as with consequences on reproductive performance. The aetiology of lameness is not clear although there have been various hypotheses suggested over the years. The objective of this study was to metabotype the urine of dairy cows prior to, during and after the onset of lameness by evaluating at weeks -8, -4 pre-calving, the week of lameness diagnosis, and +4 and +8 weeks post-calving. We used a metabolomics approach to analyse urine samples collected from dairy cows around calving (6 cows with lameness v. 20 healthy control cows). A total of 153 metabolites were identified and quantified using an in-house MS library and classified into 6 groups including: 11 amino acids (AAs), 39 acylcarnitines (ACs), 3 biogenic amines (BAs), 84 glycerophospholipids, 15 sphingolipids and hexose. A total of 23, 36, 40, 23 and 49 metabolites were observed to be significantly different between the lame and healthy cows at -8 and -4 weeks pre-calving, week of lameness diagnosis as well as at +4 and +8 weeks post-calving, respectively. It should be noted that most of the identified metabolites were elevated; however, a few of them were also lower in lame cows. Overall, ACs and glycerophospholipids, specifically phosphatidylcholines (PCs), were the metabolite groups displaying the strongest differences in the urine of pre-lame and lame cows. Lysophosphatidylcholines (LysoPCs), although to a lesser extent than PCs, were altered at all time points. Alterations in urinary AA concentrations were also observed during the current study for four time points. During the pre-calving period, there was an observed elevation of arginine (-8 week), tyrosine (-8 week) and aspartate (-4 week), as well as a depression of urinary glutamate (-4 weeks). In the current study, it was additionally observed that concentrations of several sphingomyelins and one BA were altered in pre-lame and lame cows. Symmetric dimethylarginine was elevated at both -8 weeks pre-calving and the week of lameness diagnosis. Data showed that urinary fingerprinting might be a reliable methodology to be used in the future to differentiate lame cows from healthy ones.

In this work, we report theoretical electron capture cross sections for single-electron removal from molecules of biological interest and noble gases by bare ion (H+ and He2+) impact at energies ranging from 25 to 10,000 keV/amu. We use a distorted wave (DW) method where the intermediate continuum state of the active electron with the target ion has been taken into account. This method is developed within the framework of the independent electron model taking particular care of the representation of the bound continuum target states. Two different approximations have been considered for molecular targets: molecular representation of the bound-state target wavefunction and Bragg’s additivity rule. The molecular orbital for targets are described within the framework of the complete neglect of differential overlap (CNDO) method based on the linear combination of atomic orbital (LCAO) approximation. Using the DW method, we have also calculated the K-, L- and M- shell electron capture in collisions of bare ions with three noble gases He, Ne, and Ar respectively. Contributions from different molecular orbitals and different shells to the total cross sections (TCS) are studied. The preference of electron capture occurs in accordance as the binding energy of the active electron in molecular orbital and atomic shell. The maximum contributions to TCS for SC comes from the less bound electrons in repetitive orbitals, whereas the tightly bound electrons dominate the TCS at higher projectile energy regime. Variation of TCS with impact energy are compared with the available experimental observation and other theoretical findings. We find that the present theoretical method is satisfactory in both intermediate and high-energy region for molecules as well as noble gas targets to give reliable outcomes compared to other theoretical methods.

We report magneto-dielectric properties of partially B-site ordered monoclinic ${\mathrm{Tb}}_{2}\mathrm{CoMn}{\mathrm{O}}_{6}$ double perovskite thin film epitaxially grown on $\mathrm{Nb}:\mathrm{SrTi}{\mathrm{O}}_{3}$(100) substrates by metalorganic aerosol deposition technique. Transmission electron microscopy and electron energy loss spectroscopy mapping shows the presence and distribution of both $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{o}}^{2+}$ and $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{o}}^{3+}$ ions in the film, evidencing a partial $B$-site disorder, which was further confirmed by the observation of reduced saturation magnetization at low temperatures. The ferromagnetic Curie temperature, ${T}_{C}=110\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, is slightly higher as compared to the bulk value (100 K) probably due to an in plane epitaxy tensile strain. Temperature dependent dielectric study reveals an unexpected high temperature dipolar relaxor-glass-like transition at a temperature ${T}^{*}\ensuremath{\sim}190\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}g{T}_{\mathrm{C}}$, which depends on the applied frequency and indicates a superparaelectric behavior. Two different dielectric relaxation peaks have been observed; they merge at ${T}^{*}$ where likely a coupling to the disorder-induced short range charge-spin correlations results in a 4% magneto-dielectric coupling.

Critical Regionalism as expounded by Kenneth Frampton has found its use in many parts of the world as a reaction to the international architecture practised in the Western world. India, which was deprived of exposure to the advanced developments in architecture in the US and Europe was at one stroke brought into world contact after gaining independence. This paper traces the exposure of the Indian architects to Western training and philosophy and how they developed their works to suit the regional context. Important aspects of the paper are mentioned below: ‒ International exposure of the Indian architects after independence. ‒ Their designs and their approaches to the creation of an Indian flavour on their return to homeland. ‒ Examined the works of a few prominent architects and inferred on their special regional contributions.

Heavy metal like Cadmium (Cd) is a common pollutant present in the soils of urban and industrial areas. Vegetables are preferably grown in these soils than other crops. Of the vegetables, Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris var. pekinensis) is gaining its popularity among farmers for its high market value. Therefore, an experiment was conducted where cabbage was grown on Cd treated soil. Bioaccumulation of Cd in Chinese cabbage was determined and Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) model was used to assess potential health risk of human. Results showed that with increasing concentration of added Cd (0.00 to 4.00 ppm) in soil, bio-concentration factors of Cd of Chinese cabbage also increased except at 4 ppm. The chinese cabbage grown in Cd contaminated soils up-to 1.00 ppm might be safe. However, cabbage grown in the soils contaminated with Cd above this level would probably be risky and may cause serious health hazard to human body.J. Biodivers. Conserv. Bioresour. Manag. 2017, 3(1): 1-8

A targeted quantitative metabolomics approach was used to study temporal changes of serum metabolites in cows that normally released their fetal membranes and those that retained the placenta. We identified and measured serum concentrations of 128 metabolites including amino acids, acylcarnitines, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids and hexose at -8 and -4 weeks before parturition, during the week of retained placenta (RP) diagnosis, and at +4 and +8 weeks after parturition. In addition, we aimed at identifying metabolite signatures of pre-RP in the serum that might be used as predictive biomarkers for risk of developing RP in dairy cows. Results revealed major alterations in the metabolite fingerprints of pre-RP cows starting as early as -8 weeks before parturition and continuing as far as +8 weeks after calving. Biomarker candidates found in this study are mainly biomarkers of inflammation which might not be specific to RP. Therefore, the relevance of serum Lys, Orn, acetylornithine, lysophophatidylcholine LysoPC a C28:0, Asp, Leu and Ile as potential serum biomarkers for prediction of risk of RP in dairy cows will have to be tested in the future. In addition, lower concentrations of LysoPCs, Trp, and higher kynurenine in the serum during prepartum and the week of occurrence of RP suggest involvement of inflammation in the pathobiology of RP.

This study was carried out with the aim of evaluating pathogenicity of Sclerotium rolfsii to different crops influenced by different crop rhizosphere microbes and their population dynamics. Napier was found to be non-preferred host against S. rolfsii pathogen. Among the seven tested crops in micro-plot study, highest level of induction of sclerotial population was observed in groundnut and cow peas (21.81 and 20.06 numbers of sclerotia /100 g of soil, respectively), whereas, reduction in sclerotial number was observed in napier, maize and sorghum plots. S. rolfsii induced damping off was found to be significantly positively correlated with average sclerotial population irrespective of plant cover even at 1% level of significance (r = 0.985) and among the microbiological parameters, FDA was found to be significantly negatively correlated with damping off disease percentage at 5% level of significance (r = - 0.830). Therefore, Napier may be the potential crop to be incorporated in the sequence of rice/vegetable based cropping system in West Bengal for management of this dreaded pathogen.

This paper reports the hydrothermal synthesis process duration influence on phase composition, crystallinity degree, morphology and dispersity of the hydroxyapatite powder. The calcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite were synthesized in precursor system Ca(NO3)2-(NH4)2HPO4-NH4OH. The obtained powders were characterized with X – Ray diffraction, Fourier Transform spectroscopy (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy. The results demonstrate: the increasing of the synthesis time duration has no influence on the phase composition. However, the synthesis duration time growth from 12 to 48 hours make possible increase the crystallinity degree from 0.68 to 0.98.

The production of W-+/- bosons is studied in proton-lead (pPb) collisions at a nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass energy of root s(NN) = 8.16 TeV. Measurements are performed in the W-+/- -> mu(+/-)nu(mu) channel using a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 173.4 +/- 6.1 nb(-1), collected by the CMS Collaboration at the LHC. The number of positively and negatively charged W bosons is determined separately in the muon pseudorapidity region in the laboratory frame vertical bar eta(mu)(lab)vertical bar < 2.4 and transverse momentum p(T)(mu) > 25 GeV/c. The W-+/- boson differential cross sections, muon charge asymmetry, and the ratios of W-+/- boson yields for the proton-going over the Pb-going beam directions are reported as a function of the muon pseudorapidity in the nucleon-nucleon centre-of-mass frame. The measurements are compared to the predictions from theoretical calculations based on parton distribution functions (PDFs) at next-to-leading-order. The results favour PDF calculations that include nuclear modifications and provide constraints on the nuclear PDF global fits. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Thin films and heterostructures of hexagonal manganites as promising multiferroic materials have attracted a considerable interest recently. We report structural transformations of high quality epitaxial h-TMO/YSZ(111) films, analyzed by means of various characterization techniques. A phase transition from P63mc to P63mcm structure at TC~800 K was observed by temperature dependent Raman spectroscopy and optical ellipsometry. The latter probing directly electronic system, indicates its modification at the structural phase transition likely due to charge transfer from oxygen to Mn. In situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the lamella samples displayed an irreversible P63mc-P63mcm transformation and vanishing of ferroelectric domains already at 410 K. After the temperature cycling (300K-1300K-300K) the room temperature TEM of h-TMO films revealed an inhomogeneous microstructure, containing ferroelectric and paraelectric nanodomains with P63mc and P63mcm structure, respectively. We point out a strong influence of stress relaxation, induced by temperature and by constrained sample geometry onto the structure and ferroelectricity in strain-stabilized h-TMO thin films., Comment: 24 pages, 10 figures

A large 4$\pi$ array of charged particle detectors has been developed at Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre to facilitate high resolution charged particle reaction and spectroscopy studies by detecting event-by-event the charged reaction products emitted in heavy ion reactions at energy $\sim$ 10-60 MeV/A. The forward part ($\theta \sim \pm $ $7^{0}$ - $\pm 45^{0}$) of the array consists of 24 highly granular, high resolution charged particle telescopes, each of which is made by three layers [single sided silicon strip($\Delta$E) + double sided silicon strip (E/$\Delta$E) + CsI(Tl)(E)]of detectors. The backward part of the array consists of 112 CsI(Tl) detectors which are capable of detecting primarily the light charged particles (Z $\le$ 2) emitted in the angular range of $\theta \sim \pm $ $45^{0}$ - $\pm 175^{0}$. The extreme forward part of the array ($\theta \sim \pm $ $3^{0}$ - $\pm 7^{0}$) is made up of 32 slow-fast plastic phoswich detectors that are capable of detecting light (Z $\le$2) and heavy charged particles (3 $\le$ Z $\lesssim$ 20) as well as handling high count rates. The design, construction and characterization of the array has been described., Comment: Paper has been submitted in NIMA

Herbal extracts are often used by the folk medicinal practitioners, rural peoples of Bangladesh for the treatments of various ailments for the primary health care. Now-a-days its uses are going more frequent with an established scientific literature. Low cost nutritive wafer biscuits made of ayurvedic or herbal extracts such as shatavari, ashwagandha and yastimadhu powder was developed and evaluated for its chemical composition for nutritive parameters. Brief microbiological studies were also planned to evaluate the shelf life and safety of the product. Finally a sensory evaluation was conducted to ascertain its overall acceptability amongst the population. It was shown that newly developed wafer biscuits were rich in carbohydrate (65%), energy and fat (24% fat). The results indicate that newly formulated biscuits were surprising high in protein (8.20%), dietary fiber (1.5%) and widely accepted by the consumers mainly due to its low cost and health benefits with respect to sensory qualities, high nutritive values . The results also indicated that the newly formulated biscuits were high in self-life ranking and it was agreed that this type of initiative could more effective for growing children as well as in certain therapeutic conditions when general malaise dominates the diseases and such type of fortified foods can be industrially launched as a social business.J. Environ. Sci. & Natural Resources, 9(1): 17-21 2016

Звичайний процес дифузії для формування емітера сонячного елементу c-Si – це складний процес з високими тепловими та матеріальними витратами. Альтернативою для уникнення цього процесу є створення структурованих сонячних елементів MIS/SIS, де для формування емітерної частини сонячного елементу використовується інший процес. У дослідженні розроблено структурований елемент SIS розміром 3 × 3 (ITO-Al2O3-n-Si), де n-Si є вихідним матеріалом, Al2O3 та шар ITO виконують відповідно ролі селективного шару дірок та емітерного шару. Розпилений шар ITO товщиною 150 нм виконує роль виродженого напівпровідника так само як і ARC. Для сонячного елементу, вкритого шаром ITO, середня відбивна здатність зменшується з 13,63 % до 4,54 % порівняно з лише текстурованим елементом. Металізація проводиться за допомогою Ag з обох боків на лицьовій стороні над шаром ITO і постійним контактом на тильній стороні блоком для нанесення вакуумного покриття. Окрім тунелювання дірок, дуже тонкий шар Al2O3 (1,5 нм), вирощений методом ALD, виступає в ролі пасиваційного шару і збільшує час життя неосновних носіїв заряду з 9,732 мкс до 17,548 мкс. Досягнуті напруга холостого ходу (Voc) і струм короткого замикання (Isc) становлять відповідно 684 мВ і 35 мА. Conventional diffusion process to form the emitter of a c-Si solar cell is a complicated process with high thermal as well as economic budget. An alternative to avoid this process is to form MIS/SIS structured solar cells, where different process is used to form the emitter portion of the cell. In this study, 3 × 3 (ITOAl2O3-n-Si) structured SIS cell is developed, where n-Si is the base material, Al2O3 and ITO layer act as hole selective layer and emitter layer, respectively. Sputtered ITO layer of thickness 150 nm acts as a degenerative semiconductor as well as ARC. For ITO coated cell, average reflectance reduced to 4.54 % from 13.63% compared with only textured cell. Metallization is done using Ag on both the sides on the front side above the ITO layer and a continuous contact on the back side by vacuum coating unit. Apart from hole tunnelling, ALD grown very thin 1.5 nm layer of Al2O3 acts as a passivation layer and increases minority carrier lifetime from 9.732 µS to 17.548 µS. Achieved open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current (Isc) are 684 mV and 35 mA, respectively.

В теперішній час зростає попит на гібридні системи відновлюваної енергії (HRES) для обслуговування різних типів навантажень. Джерела фотоелектричної енергії та енергії вітру доповнюють одне одного. HRES з використанням джерел фотоелектричної енергії та енергії вітру може підвищити надійність системи для обслуговування навантаження протягом року. У роботі аналізується вартість, доцільність використання та надійність двох типів HRES з використанням програмного забезпечення HOMER для місцевості Haldia (Індія), а саме гібридної системи фотоелектрична енергія/ енергія вітру/акумулятор та гібридної системи фотоелектрична енергія/енергія вітру/суперконденсатор. Ці системи оптимізовані за вартістю з використанням чистої приведеної вартості (NPC) системи і вартості енергії (COE) системи. Сонячне випромінювання, швидкість вітру, температура ділянки місцевості, погодинне навантаження та вартість одиниці компонентів HRES вводяться в програмне забезпечення HOMER. Доцільність використання системи вивчається за найменшої COE з різними співвідношеннями виробництва електроенергії від фотоелектричних та вітроенергетичних систем. Надійність системи вимірюється у відсотках незадоволеного навантаження. Встановлено, що частки виробництва фотоелектричної та вітрової енергії 80:20 та 73:27 є оптимальними відповідно для систем фотоелектрична енергія/енергія вітру/акумулятор та фотоелектрична енергія/енергія вітру/суперконденсатор для кліматичних умов місцевості Haldia. Аналіз чутливості до технічних параметрів і витрат, а також енергоменеджмент системи представлено в роботі. Дослідження показало, що HRES з суперконденсатором може забезпечити пікове навантаження вдень і вночі порівняно з HRES із акумулятором. Воно також виявило, що суперконденсатор може заряджатися дуже швидко з низькими значеннями доступної сонячної або вітрової енергії на відміну від акумулятора. The demand for hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) is growing nowadays for serving different types of loads. PV and Wind energy resources are complementary. HRES using PV and wind energy sources may increase system reliability for serving a load throughout a year. This paper analyses the cost, feasibility, and reliability of two types of HRES using HOMER software for Haldia, namely, PV/Wind/Battery and PV/Wind/Supercapacitor. These systems are cost-optimized using the net present cost (NPC) of the system and cost of the energy (COE) of the system. The solar radiation, wind speed, the temperature of the site, hourly load, and unit cost of the components of the HRES are given input to the HOMER software. The feasibility of the system is studied for the lowest cost of energy (COE) with different ratios of electricity production from PV and wind energy systems. The reliability of the system is measured in terms of the percentage of the unmet load. It is found that 80:20 and 73:27 share of PV and wind energy production is optimum for PV/Wind/Battery and PV/Wind/ Supercapacitor system respectively for the climatic conditions of Haldia, India. The technical parameter sensitivity and cost sensitivity analysis and the energy management of the system are also reported in this paper. The study revealed that the HRES using supercapacitor can deliver peak load, during the day and night, as compared to a battery. It also depicts that supercapacitor can charge very fast with low values of available solar or wind energy than that of the battery.

The cuprate high-temperature superconductors (HTSC) have been the subject of intense study for more than 30 years with no consensus yet on the underlying mechanism of the superconductivity. Conventional wisdom dictates that the mysterious and extraordinary properties of the cuprates arise from doping a strongly correlated antiferromagnetic (AFM) insulator (1,2). The highly overdoped cuprates$-$those beyond the dome of superconductivity (SC)--are considered to be conventional Fermi liquid metals (3). Here, we report the emergence of itinerant ferromagnetic order (FM) below 4K for doping beyond the SC dome in electron-doped La$_{2-x} $Ce$_x$CuO$_4$ (LCCO). The existence of this FM order is evidenced by negative, anisotopic and hysteretic magnetoresistance, hysteretic magnetization, and the polar Kerr effect, all of which are standard signatures of itinerant FM in metals (4,5). This surprising new result suggests that the overdoped cuprates are also influenced by electron correlations and the physics is much richer than that of a conventional Fermi liquid metal., Significantly updated version

An understanding of the high-temperature copper oxide (cuprate) superconductors has eluded the physics community for over thirty years, and represents one of the greatest unsolved problems in condensed matter physics. Particularly enigmatic is the normal state from which superconductivity emerges, so much so that this phase has been dubbed a "strange metal." In this article, we will review recent research into this strange metallic state as realized in the electron-doped cuprates with a focus on their transport properties. The electron-doped compounds differ in several ways from their more thoroughly studied hole-doped counterparts, and understanding these asymmetries of the phase diagram may prove crucial to developing a final theory of the cuprates. Most of the experimental results discussed in this review have yet to be explained and remain an outstanding challenge for theory., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures. submitted to Annual Rev. Cond. Mat. Phys., comments welcome

Metabolic and neuroactive metabolite production represents one of the mechanisms through which the gut microbiota can impact health. One such metabolite, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), can modulate glucose homeostasis and alter behavioural patterns in the host. We previously demonstrated that oral administration of GABA-producing Lactobacillus brevis DPC6108 has the potential to increase levels of circulating insulin in healthy rats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of endogenous microbial GABA production in improving metabolic and behavioural outcomes in a mouse model of metabolic dysfunction. Diet-induced obese and metabolically dysfunctional mice received one of two GABA-producing strains, L. brevis DPC6108 or L. brevis DSM32386, daily for 12 weeks. After 8 and 10 weeks of intervention, the behavioural and metabolic profiles of the mice were respectively assessed. Intervention with both L. brevis strains attenuated several abnormalities associated with metabolic dysfunction, causing a reduction in the accumulation of mesenteric adipose tissue, increased insulin secretion following glucose challenge, improved plasma cholesterol clearance and reduced despair-like behaviour and basal corticosterone production during the forced swim test. Taken together, this exploratory dataset indicates that intervention with GABA-producing lactobacilli has the potential to improve metabolic and depressive- like behavioural abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome in mice.

We have presented detailed dielectric and electrical studies of structurally characterized NiFe 2 O 4 , ZnFe 2 O 4 and Zn 0.5 Ni 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles, prepared through chemical ‘pyrophoric reaction’ technique. Dielectric constant study of those nanoparticles gives evidence of Maxwell–Wagner interfacial or space polarisation and dipolar polarisation in the samples. Dielectric constant is found to be the highest for ZnFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles and gradually decreases with Ni doping, which has been explained considering the order of ionic polarizability of metal ions. Large dielectric loss value of NiFe 2 O 4 compared to ZnFe 2 O 4 and Zn 0.5 Ni 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles imply more leakage current with increase in Ni content in the system. Furthermore, study of real part of complex impedance for ZnFe 2 O 4 and Zn 0.5 Ni 0.5 Fe 2 O 4 nanoparticles evidences low frequency sensitive interfacial polarisation of the system. Distinct signature of interfacial polarisation in both dielectric and complex impedance studies of those samples can be attributed to predominant interfacial effect due to their nanometric grain sizes. Complex impedance spectra have been fitted by parallel combination of grain boundaries resistance and capacitance circuit with varying temperatures. This also supports the dominating role of grain boundaries due to nanometric grain sizes of the samples. Activation energies have been estimated from both temperature dependent relaxation time and dc conductivity data, which indicates that same kinds of charge carriers are governing both the processes. Furthermore, from the analysis of ac conductivity as a function of temperature and frequency, the temperature activated electronic transport process has been attributed to large polaronic hopping in the system.

The present paper discusses the optimization of dissimilar friction stir welding of AA 2219 and AA 7039 alloys with respect to tool design issues including microstructural study of weld. The optimized ultimate tensile strength was ~280 MPa, and % elongation was ~11.5. It was observed that the extent of tool shoulder flat surface and tool rotational speed influenced the weld quality significantly. A mathematical model was also developed using response surface regression analysis to predict the effects of tool geometry and process variables on dissimilar AA 2219 and AA 7039 alloys welds. The microstructure evolution and mechanical properties were investigated by employing electron backscatter diffraction technique, Vickers microhardness, and tensile testing, respectively. The microstructural observations indicated that the grain size obtained at advancing side (AA 2219 alloy side) was much finer compared to the retreating side (AA 7039 alloy side). Hardness distribution in the stir zone was inhomogeneous, which might be due to inadequate mixing of weld zone material. The hardness values observed at the weld zone were lower than that in the base materials.

The temperature dependent dielectric relaxation and conduction mechanism of multiferroic Y1−xGdxFe0.6Mn0.4O3 (0 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.8) systems have been investigated by dielectric measurements and impedance spectroscopy study in the temperature range of 150–550 K. We have observed that the charge carrier hopping (with activation energy of 0.18–0.4 eV) and doubly ionized oxygen vacancy V O (activation energy of 0.4–0.6 eV) are mainly responsible for conduction mechanism in the systems. Conducting charge-relaxation-mode interaction may be the plausible reason for high dielectric constant in the samples. The XPS analysis reveals that the valence states of the Mn and Fe ions are tuned between Mn3+/Mn4+ and Fe3+/Fe2+ states depending upon the change in oxygen vacancy with different Gd concentrations. The activation energy increases with increase in Gd content revealing the increased oxygen vacancy concentration with increasing Gd content in high temperature region. The relaxation process is dominated by the short range hopping of charge carriers resulting in a departure from ideal Debye-like behavior. The samples possess two different conduction mechanisms that have different activation energies above and below their spin reorientation transition temperature.

We report a systematic study of the Nernst effect in films of the electron-doped cuprate superconductor $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{e}}_{x}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ as a function of temperature and magnetic field (up to 14 T) over a range of doping from underdoped ($x=0.08$) to overdoped ($x=0.16$). We have determined the characteristic field scale ${H}_{C2}^{*}$ of superconducting fluctuation which is found to track the domelike dependence of superconductivity (${T}_{C}$). The fall of ${H}_{C2}^{*}$ and ${T}_{C}$ with underdoping is most likely due to the onset of long-range antiferromagnetic order. We also report the temperature onset, ${T}_{\mathrm{onset}}$, of superconducting fluctuations above ${T}_{C}$. For optimally doped $x=0.11{T}_{\mathrm{onset}}$ ($\ensuremath{\cong}39\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$) is high compared to ${T}_{C}$ (26 K). For higher doping ${T}_{\mathrm{onset}}$ decreases and tends to zero along with the critical temperature at the end of the superconducting dome. The superconducting gap closely tracks ${H}_{C2}^{*}$ measured from the temperature- and field-dependent Nernst signal.

In the physics of condensed matter, quantum critical phenomena and unconventional superconductivity are two major themes. In electron doped cuprates, the low upper critical field allows one to study the putative QCP at low temperature and to understand its connection to the long standing problem of the origin of the high Tc superconductivity. Here we present measurements of the low temperature normal state thermopower (S) of the electron-doped cuprate superconductor La2-xCexCuO4 (LCCO) from x=0.11 to 0.19. We observe quantum critical S divided by T versus ln(1/T) behavior over an unexpectedly wide doping range x = 0.15 - 0.17 above the putative QCP (x=0.14) with a slope that scales monotonically with the superconducting transition temperature. The presence of quantum criticality over a wide doping range provides a new window on the criticality. The thermopower behavior also suggests that the critical fluctuations are linked with Tc. Above the superconductivity dome, at x=0.19, a conventional Fermi liquid S proportional to T behavior is found for T less than equal to 40 K., Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures

An understanding of the normal state in the high-temperature superconducting cuprates is crucial to the ultimate understanding of the long-standing problem of the origin of the superconductivity itself. This so-called strange metal state is thought to be associated with a quantum critical point (QCP) hidden beneath the superconductivity(1,2). In electron-doped cuprates in contrast to hole-doped cuprates it is possible to access the normal state at very low temperatures and low magnetic fields to study this putative QCP and to probe the T~0 K state of these materials(3,4). We report measurements of the low temperature normal state magnetoresistance (MR) of the n-type cuprate system La2-xCexCuO4 (LCCO) and find that it is characterized by a linear-in-field behavior, which follows a scaling relation with applied field and temperature, for doping (x) above the putative QCP (x= 0.14)(5). This unconventional behavior suggests that magnetic fields probe the same physics that gives rise to the anomalous low-temperature linear-in-T resistivity(4). The magnitude of the linear MR decreases as Tc decreases and goes to zero at the end of the superconducting dome (x ~0.175) above which a conventional quadratic MR is found. These results show that there is a strong correlation between the quantum critical excitations of the strange metal state and the high-Tc superconductivity., Comment: 21 pages, 13 figures, comments are welcome

We report $ab$-plane Hall-effect and magnetoresistivity measurements on $\mathrm{L}{\mathrm{a}}_{2\ensuremath{-}x}\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{e}}_{x}\mathrm{Cu}{\mathrm{O}}_{4}$ thin films as a function of doping for magnetic fields up to 14 T and temperatures down to 1.8 K. A dramatic change in the low-temperature (1.8 K) normal-state Hall coefficient is found near a doping $\mathrm{Ce}=0.14$. This, along with a nonlinear Hall resistance as a function of magnetic field, suggests that the Fermi surface reconstructs at a critical doping of $\mathrm{Ce}=0.14$. A competing antiferromagnetic phase is the likely cause of this Fermi surface reconstruction. Low-temperature linear-in-$T$ resistivity is found at $\mathrm{Ce}=0.14$, but anomalously, also at higher doping. We compare our data with similar behavior found in hole-doped cuprates at a doping where the pseudogap ends.

The seafloor and bottom simulating reflectors (BSRs) are interpreted from the 3D seismic data acquired in Krishna–Godavari (KG) offshore basin in the vicinity of sites drilled/cored during National Gas Hydrate Program (NGHP) Expedition-01. The shallow structures such as inner toe-thrust fault system, regional and local linear fault systems and mass transport deposits are inferred from attributes of seafloor time structure as well as from the seismic profiles. The geothermal gradient is estimated from the depths and temperatures of the seafloor and the BSR. The temperature at the BSR depth is estimated from the methane hydrate and seawater salinity phase boundary assuming that the BSR represents the base of the gas hydrate stability zone. The spatial variations in geothermal gradient (GTG) show a strong correlation with seafloor topography in the KG basin. The GTG decreases by ∼13–30% over the topographic mounds formed due to inner toe-thrust faults and recent mass transport deposits. The GTG decreases by only 5–10% over the mounds, likely due to defocusing of heat flux based on one-dimensional topographic modeling. Hence, the GTG perturbation due to topography alone cannot explain the observed GTG anomaly. The temperature profile beneath these mounds may not be in equilibrium with the surroundings either due to the recent upliftment of sediments along the inner toe-thrust faults or rapid deposition of sediments due to slumping/sliding. In contrast, an increase in GTG by 10–15% is observed in the vicinity of major fault systems. We presume that the likely mechanism for the increase in GTG is fluid advection from a deeper part of the basin. A detailed thermal modeling involving the effect of surface topography, high sedimentation rates, fluid advection and sediment thickening due to tectonics is required to understand the thermal profile in KG offshore basin.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of urinary metabolomics for noninvasive diagnosis of T cell–mediated rejection (TCMR) in pediatric kidney transplant recipients. Urine samples (n = 277) from 57 patients with surveillance or indication kidney biopsies were assayed for 134 unique metabolites by quantitative mass spectrometry. Samples without TCMR (n = 183) were compared to borderline tubulitis (n = 54) and TCMR (n = 30). Partial least squares discriminant analysis identified distinct classifiers for TCMR (area under receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.892; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.827–0.957) and borderline tubulitis (AUC = 0.836; 95% CI 0.781–0.892), respectively. Application of the TCMR classifier to borderline tubulitis samples yielded a discriminant score (−0.47 ± 0.33) mid-way between TCMR (−0.20 ± 0.34) and No TCMR (−0.80 ± 0.32) (p

A novel microwave-assisted sintering procedure has been developed to achieve high quality multiferroic composites of x Co 0.65 Zn 0.35 Fe 2 O 4 (CZFO)–(1- x ) PbZr 0.52 Ti 0.48 O 3 (PZT) (0.1 ⩽ x ⩽ 0.5) synthesized by sol–gel technique. Formation of two distinct pure phases of as prepared composites is confirmed from the recorded X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern and field emission scanning electron micrograph at room temperature. Room temperature M (H) hysteresis measurements show soft magnetic behavior of the composites. The increased saturation and spontaneous magnetization reveal the improved magnetic properties of the microwave assisted synthesized composites. The dielectric constant at room temperature is increased noticeably about three times and the dielectric loss of the microwave assisted composites is decreased about 1.2 times as compared to the conventional sintered composites. The degree of diffuseness is found to increase with increasing ferrite content in the composites. Maximum magnetocapacitance ( MC ) of 1.12% has been achieved for the x = 0.3 microwave assisted synthesized composite. Interestingly the observed MC value for microwave assisted synthesized composites is comparatively higher (for x = 0.2, MC ∼ 0.64%) than the conventionally sintered composites (for x = 0.2, MC ∼ 0.59%) due to greater electromechanical coupling factor of PZT in case of microwave sintering process.

Assessment of cyanobacterial population in saline soil amended with three rates of each of N (0, 50, 100 kg ha -1 ) and P (0, 25, 50 kg ha -1 ) fertilizers in a factorial combination showed a significant variation during growth of rice. Quantitatively the population of cyanobacteria ranged from 26.90 to 70.83 × 10 4 g-1, 32.07 to 82.03 × 10 4 g -1 and 31.03 to 74.47 × 10 4 g -1 soil at 30, 60 and 90 days of transplantation of rice seedlings respectively. The highest and lowest values were encountered in N 50 P 50 and N 100 P 0 treatments respectively irrespective of the sampling intervals. Addition of P accentuated the proliferation of cyanobacteria while that of N inhibited their abundance significantly with increasing level of the applied fertilizers. Joint contribution of P and N stimulated significantly better growth of cyanobacteria. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jasbs.v39i2.17852 J. Asiat. Soc. Bangladesh, Sci. 39(2): 167-171, December 2013

Single phase Bismuth ferrite (BiFeO3, BFO) nanoparticles (particle size ~ 50-100 nm) were synthesized by a novel chemical sol-gel technique. The detailed microstructural analysis has been performed through HRXRD, HRTEM and FESEM techniques. The nanoparticles are found to crystallize with distorted rhombohedral structure having R3c space group. The dielectric constant and tan δ loss are found to vary monotonically with temperature measured at different frequency ranging from 1 kHz to 1 MHz. The M (H) hysteresis behavior at 5 K reveals weak ferromagnetic nature of the BiFeO3 nanoparticles having coercivity (Hc) ~ 720 Oe and magnetization (Ms) ~ 1 emu/g at 5 T from SQUID measurements. The multiferroic character of BFO nanoparticles is confirmed through magnetoelectric response. The typical value of magnetodielectric response is observed to be 0.4% at 4300 Oe at room temperature at a frequency of 1 kHz. All the results suggest that the BFO nanoparticles are technologically very promising as far as magnetoelectric properties are concerned. Copyright © 2014 VBRI press.

BACKGROUND: A relationship between ulcerative colitis and diet has been shown in epidemiological and experimental studies. AIMS: To investigate the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory diet for maintenance of remission in UC patients. METHODS: In this 6-month randomized control trial, adult UC patients in clinical remission (partial Mayo score

The weld properties of friction stir welding remains as an area of interest with respect to the effect of tool geometry and process parameters. In the present investigation effort has been made to understand the effect of important welding parameters such as tool rotational speed, traverse speed and probe geometries on various mechanical properties of AA1100 aluminium alloys. Ultimate tensile strength, percentage of elongation and hardness were determined experimentally for this purpose. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to observe the main effect of above mentioned parameters on mechanical properties. A regression relationships were developed to predict each output. The experimental and predicted values from the mathematical model were in close agreement.