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Present study tried to explore the expression of TLR4 in different parts of pancreas in relation to obesity. Broiler chicken of slaughter age (42±2 days) were selected for the study (n=30). The birds were grouped into two categories based on their body weight. Group I included birds of ≤ 1.7 kg (n=15), and group II contained birds weighing > 1.7 kg (n=15). Abdominal fat content and distribution was taken in all groups. Representative samples from dorsal, ventral and splenic lobes of pancreas were subjected to histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Obese birds showed a higher proportion of fat deposits mainly at the caudal part of abdominal cavity. The pancreatic cells in normal as well as in obese birds were devoid of any signs of cellularity, hypo/hyperplasia, degeneration and inflammation. TLR4 was detected in all three lobes of pancreas and both exocrine and endocrine parts of pancreas in all obese birds. Our results indicated that there is a direct link between obesity or visceral fat deposition and expression of TLR4 in birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spectroscopy in vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and visible ranges plays an important role in the investigation and diagnosis of tokamak plasmas. However, under harsh environmental conditions of fusion grade devices, such as ITER, VUV–visible systems encounter many issues due to the degradation of optical components used in such systems. Here, near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy has become an effective tool in understanding the edge plasma dynamics. Considering its importance, a NIR spectroscopic diagnostic has been developed and installed on the ADITYA-U tokamak. The system consists of a 0.5 m spectrometer having three gratings with different groove densities, and it is coupled with a linear InGaAs photodiode array. Radiation from the ADITYA-U edge plasma has been collected using a collimating lens and optical fiber combination and transported to the spectrometer. The spectrum in the NIR range from the ADITYA-U plasma has been recorded using this system, in which Paβ and Paγ along with many spectral lines from neutral and singly ionized impurities have been observed. The influxes of H and C have been estimated from measurements. The H influx value is found to be 2.8 × 1016 and 1.9 × 1016 particles cm−2 s−1 from neutral hydrogen lines Hα and Paβ, respectively, and the C influx value is found to be 3.5 × 1015 and 2.9 × 1015 particles cm−2 s−1 from the neutral carbon and singly ionized carbon, respectively. A good agreement is seen between these results and the results obtained by using a routine photomultiplier tube based diagnostic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runaway electrons (REs) are passively studied by hard x-ray (HX) emissions generated by REs. A LaBr3(Ce) detector-based HX spectroscopic diagnostic (operational within ∼75 keV to 3.5 MeV) has been set up on the ADITYA-U. The diagnostic acquisition software utility is upgraded to obtain the temporal evolution of the HX spectrum to understand the RE energy distribution in plasma during its various phases. The peak position moves to lower energy for Ohmically heated discharges (200–80 keV), indicating a relative increase in the thermal particle content in the plasma. The peak position of RE energy shows a decreasing tendency with increasing ne with Ne gas puffing and termination of the electron cyclotron resonance pulse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, MgSrAl10O17:xDy³ nanophosphors were fabricated by combustion method for different concentrations (x = 0, 0.0005, 0.001, 0.005, 0.01 and 0.02) of Dysprosium (Dy). The synthesised nanophosphors were characterised by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, PL, and TL. The XRD (X-ray diffraction) showed crystalline hexagonal structure with preferred orientation of (107) plane. SEM (Scanning electron microscope) result shows the formation of nanosheets in an irregular shape. TEM (transmission electron microscope) study revealed the nanoparticles an average diameter of 30 nm. TL (Thermo-luminance) properties included TL glow curves and TL response for different concentrations of Dy after exposure to 700 Gy gamma rays. LiMgBO3 shows the major TL glow peak at 100oC. TL intensity was found to increase with an increase in the dopant Dy concentration and was found to show the best result for x = 0.02. Further, PL (Photoluminescence) characterisation of MgSrAl10O17:0.02 Dy3+ phosphor exhibits two main emission peaks at 484 and 575 nm due to Dy3+ ion, when excited with 350 nm wavelength. So, emission of the Dy3+ luminescence is close to the white region, and hence MgSrAl10O17:xDy3+ phosphor can be a good candidate in solid-state lighting for white light emission. In kinetic parameters: activation energy (E) and order of kinetics (b), are calculated using the Chen's Peak Shape method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this report, LiMgBO3:Dy3+ nanophosphors have been fabricated by conventional solid state reaction at different concentrations of Dysporsium (Dy). The synthesised nanophosphors are characterised by XRD, SEM, TEM, and TL. The XRD (X-ray diffraction) shows a crystalline monoclinic structure with a preferred orientation of (400) plane. SEM 7-2 (Scanning electron microscope) result shows the formation of nanosheets in an irregular shape. TEM (transmission electron microscope) study reveals the nanoparticles an average diameter of 30 nm. TL (thermo-luminance) properties include TL glow curves and TL response for different concentrations of Dy after exposure to 700 Gy gamma rays. LiMgBO3 shows the major TL glow peak at 170°C. In kinetic parameters: Activation energy (E) and order of kinetics (b) are calculated using the Chen's Peak Shape method, and theoretical curves are generated using GCD (glow curve deconvolution) glow fit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Second phase nanoinclusions of composition Y2Ba4CuWOy (Y-24W1) have been incorporated into the YBa2Cu3O7-δ (Y-123) superconducting matrix to form effective artificial flux pinning sites. A remarkable improvement in critical current density Jc has been observed at both self- and higher applied fields in these samples, in contrast to the effect that the presence of Y2BaCuO5 (Y-211) second phase inclusions has on Jc, particularly at low field. The field trapping ability of samples containing the Y-24W1 phase has been improved by adding silver to the nanocomposite precursor composition in an attempt to reduce the formation of c-axis microcracks in the sample microstructure. The combined effect of the Y-24W1 artificial defects and the addition of silver produce enhanced trapped fields in these samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]