Black Holes in Born-Infeld Extended New Massive Gravity

In this paper we find different types of black holes for the Born-Infeld extended new massive gravity. Our solutions include (un)charged warped (A)dS black holes for four and six derivative expanded action. We also look at the black holes in unexpanded BI action. In each case we calculate the entropy, angular momentum and mass of the black holes. We also find the central charges for the CFT duals.Comment: 23 pages, 5 figure

Heavy Metals and Safety of Fresh Fruits in Bangalore City, India - A Case Study

Urban food security in India is a matter of growing concern. It is estimated that by 2005, 60% of India's population will be living in urban areas. The presence of heavy metals in human body always draws scientific concern as these are considered responsible for affecting health, especially in these days where the release of toxic wastes in the environment has been increased. The increasing trends in food contamination in urban areas are largely attributed to the polluted environment in urban agriculture, contaminated food transport and supply chains; poor market sanitary conditions, and the use of contaminated or waste water for irrigation purposes. The objectives of this paper to measure the levels of heavy metal contamination of fruits in Bangalore markets and assess how the heavy metal contamination might have impacted food safety standards vis a vis heavy metals on urban consumers. The results show that urban consumers are at greater risk of purchasing fresh fruits with high levels of heavy metals beyond the legally permissible limits as defined by the Indian Prevention of Food Adulteration Act, 1954. It must be noted here that these norms are less strict than international food safety norms like Codex Alimentarius or European Union standards. It is therefore suggested here that care should be taken in the following: reduce pollution at water source points; improve post harvest handling; enhance better coordination in fresh crops trading system to improve food safety standards; improve sanitary conditions for the city food markets; and increase awareness in consumers and policy makers on the dangers of heavy metal contamination in the food intake. Keywords: Heavy metals; Prevention of Food Adulteration Act; Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) DOI: 10.3126/kuset.v4i1.2880 Kathmandu University Journal of Science, Engineering and Technology Vol.4, No.1, September 2008, pp 17-2

Orgnochlorine and synthetic pyrethroid pesticides in agricultural soil and water from Chamaranagar district, Karnataka, India

Eight Organochlorine (OC) and two synthetic pyrethroids (SP) were measured in soil, rice field, and sub canal and river water in samples collected from around Chamranagar District, Karnataka State, India. The soil and water samples were extd. by Multiresidue Method and analyzed during Gas Chromatograph equipped with ECD (Electron Capture Detector)​. The av. contamination with OC and SP in soil (0.00 to46.60 μg​/kg) which was higher than sub canal water (0.25 to34.12 μg​/l) and the av. residue of both was more than the rice field water (0.15 to 4.65 μg​/l)​. The Endosulfan residues were generally the highest in the soil samples in comparison with water and the av. values were in the order of: soil (68.20 μg​/kg)​> sub canal water (32.26 μg​/l) > rice field water (2.57 μg​/l)​. The av. residue of Cypermetrin in soil (8.60 μg​/kg) was highest followed by field water (0.92 μg​/l) and sub canal (0.247 μg​/l) whereas contamination with Fenvalerate was: sub canal (20.57) >soil (19.20 μg​/kg)​> field water (0.47)​

Thermodynamic study of PCB-153 passing into single walled carbon nanotube (8,8)

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) are high resistant pollutants which cause adverse health effects in recent years. The accumulation of these toxic compounds in the food chain lead to oxidative stress in various ecosystems. Detection, absorption, and elimination of them are an environmental priority. Passing of PCB-153 through the armchair single walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) (8,8) were investigated by MNDO in semi-empirical quantum method. Calculated electrical and thermodynamic properties show a sudden change in the middle of the tube which may act as a trap for the studied pollutant. The results indicated the nanotube has considerable ability to interact with PCB-153 and cause its degradation. According to calculated thermodynamic parameters through the molecular modeling, it is expected that single wall carbon nanotube is a candidate in remediation of PCBs as well as in gas sensor devices for detection of them. The median tube is a place for trapping pollutants

Pathways to Addiction: A Gender-Based Study on Drug Use in a Triangular Clinic and Drop-in Center, Kerman, Iran

Background: Addiction is characterized differently among women and men, and they begin using drugs for different reasons and motives. Objectives: The aim of the study was to explore the gendered experiences and patterns of illicit drug use initiation in an Iranian context. Patients and Methods: A total of 29 participants (15 men and 14 women) took part in in-depth interviews conducted at a HIV triangulation clinic (for men and women) and drop-in-center for women in Kerman in 2011. Results: The results of the study suggest that patterns of drug use are different among among Iranian men and women. Men often transit to drug use from cigarette smoking, whereas women’s drug use practices often begins with opium. Unlike women, men who used drugs were often single at their drug use debut. Conclusions: Different patterns of first exposure to drug use among men and women highlight the role of gendered expectations and socio-cultural norms in shaping drug use experiences of people who use drugs and call for gender-specific harm reduction interventions