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We study the laser-driven acceleration of electrons from overdense hydrogen clusters to energies of up to 13 MeV in laser forward direction and several hundreds of keV in an outer ring-structure. The use of cryogenic hydrogen allows for high repetition-rate operation and examination of the influence of source parameters like temperature and gas flow. The outer ring-structure of accelerated electrons, originating from the interaction, that is robust against the change of laser and target parameters can be observed for low electron densities of ca 3 × 10 ^16 cm ^−3 . For higher electron densities, an additional central spot of electrons in the laser forward direction can be observed. Utilizing 3D particle-in-cell simulations, it is revealed that both electron populations mainly stem from ponderomotive scattering.

Fluorine is a double edged sword as its higher levels are linked with dental/skeletal fluorosis while its deficiency is associated with dental caries.1 Skeletal fluorosis may remain asymptomatic or may present with myeloradiculopathy secondary to cord compression and nerve root involvement. Neurological complication including quadriparesis is a rare complication of endemic fluorosis. Since the changes of dental and skeletal fluorosis are irreversible, prevention is the mainstay of controlling the disease.

The study was conducted to assess the effect of toxic heavy metals on seminal antioxidants, trace minerals and semen quality parameters in crossbred breeding bulls. Semen samples were collected from breeding bulls (82) maintained at bull rearing unit of the institute. Toxic heavy metals (Pb and Cd), trace minerals (Zn, Cu, Co and Fe) and oxidative stress markers (SOD, catalase and MDA) were determined in semen samples of breeding bulls. Sperm motility and concentration were measured in fresh ejaculates. Significant levels of Pb (0.23±0.006 μg/ml) and Cd (0.11±0.005 μg/ml) were detected in semen samples of breeding bulls. On analysis of the data between good and poor bull categories, significantly higher concentration of Pb and Cd was present in semen samples of poor bulls as compared to good bulls. There was significantly higher malondialdehyde (MDA) and low superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in seminal plasma of poor bulls compared to good bulls. A significant decrease in Zn and Cu was observed in poor bulls as compared to good bulls. Cobalt and iron values did not show any significant variation between good and poor quality bulls. On correlation analysis, lead and cadmium showed significant negative correlation with Zn, Cu, SOD, catalase, motility and sperm concentration while significant positive correlation was seen with MDA respectively. The study concludes that increased Pb and Cd in bull semen may increase the risk of seminal oxidative stress development and a subsequent reduction in male fertility.

We present a study on laser-driven proton acceleration from a hydrogen cluster target. Aiming for the optimisation of the proton source, we performed a detailed parametric scan of the interaction conditions by varying different laser and the target parameters. While the underlying process of a Coulomb-explosion delivers moderate energies, in the range of 100 s of keV, the use of hydrogen as target material comes with the benefit of a debris-free, single-species proton acceleration scheme, enabling high repetition-rate experiments, which are very robust against shot-to-shot fluctuations.

In present study on flower and bulb production of Asiatic hybrid lily (Lilium spp) cv. Brunello, the response of size of bulb, growing conditions and depth of planting were tested. Field experiment was conducted in CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur during 2008-2010. The bulbs were planted at spacing 15×15 cm row to row and bulb to bulb in November. The results have been explained on the basis of mean data of two years and indicated that among the different size of bulb, showed maximum length of flower shoot and number of flower buds/ shoot (69.90 cm and 7.34 respectively) in 5.30 cm diameter of bulb with the depth of 12.50 cm planting. The maximum yield of bulbs and bulblets were recorded in 5.30 cm diameter bulbs were planted at 17.50 cm depth under shade net conditions.

Multi-drug and extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (M/XDR-TB) has been an area of growing concern among clinicians, epidemiologists, and public health workers worldwide. Lack of controlled trials in M/XDR-TB patients hinders the optimal management of such patients, and guidelines that have been developed based largely on expert opinion are controversial. Lack of new effective drugs, improper regimens prescribed by poorly trained doctors and unreliable drug susceptibility testing add to the magnitude of the problem. M/XDR-TB is mostly a man made problem and its emergence can be checked by prompt diagnosis and effective use of first-line drugs in every new patient. DOTS-Plus proposed by World Health Organization (WHO) has highlighted the comprehensive management strategy to control multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Laboratory services must be strengthened for adequate and timely diagnosis of M/extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) and programmatic management of M/XDR-TB must be scaled up as per target set by global plan to stop TB 2011-2015. In MDR-TB patients with localized disease, surgery, as an adjunct to chemotherapy, can improve outcomes and should be considered when there is poor response to appropriate chemotherapy. Proper use of second-line drugs must be ensured to cure existing MDR-TB, to reduce its transmission and to prevent emergence of XDR-TB.

This paper presents a novel step in the extension of subspace identification toward the direct identification of harmonic decomposition linear time-invariant models from nonlinear time-periodic system responses. The proposed methodology is demonstrated through examples involving the nonlinear time-periodic dynamics of a flapping-wing micro aerial vehicle. These examples focus on the identification of the vertical dynamics from various types of input–output data, including linear time-invariant, linear time-periodic, and nonlinear time-periodic input–output data. A harmonic analyzer is used to decompose the linear time-periodic and nonlinear time-periodic responses into harmonic components and introduce spurious dynamics into the identification, which make the identified model order selection challenging. A similar effect is introduced by measurement noise. The use of model order reduction and model-matching methods in the identification process is studied to recover the harmonic decomposition structure of the known system. The identified models are validated in the frequency and time domains.

This research paper investigates the applicability and scalability of the Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Input models for multi-rotor vehicles. Initially, a Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Input model is developed for an isolated rotor using rotor RPM as the input and the rotor hub-load coefficient as the output. Subsequently, the model is applied to multi-rotor vehicle example to show that the effect of turbulence on vehicle response can be replicated using the Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Input models. This study further incorporates rotor collective deflections, which could be used in multi-rotor vehicles, to develop a collective input model. Additionally, the effect of altering rotor parameters on the Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Input model is studied and presented. The results demonstrate that the Rotor Control Equivalent Turbulence Input model effectively captures the turbulence-induced behaviors in multi-rotor vehicles, offering a generalizable and scalable framework for use to replicate the effect of turbulence in multi-rotor vehicles.

Spectrally-peaked proton beams of high charge ( ${E}_{{\rm{p}}}\approx 8\;{\rm{MeV}}$ , ${\rm{\Delta }}E\approx 4\;{\rm{MeV}}$ , $N\approx 50$ nC ) have been observed from the interaction of an intense laser ( $\gt {10}^{19}$ W cm ^−2 ) with ultrathin CH foils, as measured by spectrally-resolved full beam profiles. These beams are reproducibly generated for foil thicknesses 5–100 nm, and exhibit narrowing divergence with decreasing target thickness down to $\approx 8^\circ $ for 5 nm. Simulations demonstrate that the narrow energy spread feature is a result of buffered acceleration of protons. The radiation pressure at the front of the target results in asymmetric sheath fields which permeate throughout the target, causing preferential forward acceleration. Due to their higher charge-to-mass ratio, the protons outrun a carbon plasma driven in the relativistic transparency regime.

Two brothers (eight and ten years) presented at the same time with features of raised intracranial pressure and found to have glioblastoma multiforme at mirror image site in parieto-occipital lobe. Key Words: Familial glioma, Glioblastoma, Genetic predisposition, Siblings.

A retrospective, cross sectional, series of cases were currently studied in the department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital (TUTH) Kathmandu, Nepal to find out the distribution of different malignancies in head and neck regions and to identify their treatment modalities during the period of one year from January 2003 to December 2003. Altogether 159 new cases of histopathologically/cytopathologically confirmedmalignancies of head and neck regions and their treatment modalities were analyzed. Out of 159 cases, malignancies of larynx (41), pharynx (31) and oral cavity (30) were found to be the commonest head and neck malignancies where as malignancies of ear (1), and salivary glands (4) were found to be the least common. Likewise surgery with or without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy was found to be the commonest treatment modality. Of the 159 cases seven were occult primary. As the laryngo-pharyngo-oral malignancies are the commonest malignancies and surgery with or without radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy the commonest treatment modalities for these head and neckmalignancies. Awell equipped head and neck unit is needed at TUTH along with proposed radiotherapy and medical oncology support for better management of these malignancies. Key Words: Carcinoma, Head and Neck, Malignancy, Surgery, Radiotherapy.

Prune Belly Syndrome is a rare birth defect with only few cases reported in our part. A newborn baby with Prune belly syndrome is presented along with review of literature. Key Words: Prune belly, abdominal muscle, urinary tract anomaly

ABSTRACT

Abstract