Dark sector interaction: a remedy of the tensions between CMB and LSS data

The well-known tensions on the cosmological parameters $H_0$ and $\sigma_8$ within the $\Lambda$CDM cosmology shown by the Planck-CMB and LSS data are possibly due to the systematics in the data or our ignorance of some new physics beyond the $\Lambda$CDM model. In this letter, we focus on the second possibility, and investigate a minimal extension of the $\Lambda$CDM model by allowing a coupling between its dark sector components (dark energy and dark matter). We analyze this scenario with Planck-CMB, KiDS and HST data, and find that the $H_0$ and $\sigma_8$ tensions disappear at 68\% CL. In the joint analyzes with Planck, HST and KiDS data, we find non-zero coupling in the dark sector up to 99\% CL. Thus, we find a strong statistical support from the observational data for an interaction in the dark sector of the Universe while solving the $H_0$ and $\sigma_8$ tensions simultaneously.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Assessment of geotechnical properties of uncemented/cemented clayey soil incorporated with waste crumb rubber

Discarded waste tires are becoming a serious threat to health, environment, and ecological systems worldwide if it is not disposed of properly. Every year 1000 million of waste tires are discarded. This number may grow up to 1200 million by the year 2030. On the other hand, construction of civil engineering structures such as buildings, dams, highways, etc. are at high risk of differential settlement, especially in the case of weak or soft clay, which is due to its low shear strength and high compressibility. The paper aims to assess geotechnical properties of uncemented/cemented clayey soil incorporated with waste crumb rubber. Compaction parameters, unconfined compressive strength, split tensile strength, toughness index, CBR values and swelling pressure of rubberized uncemented/cemented clayey soil (3%, and 6% cement and different percentage of crumb rubber) have been obtained. After rigorous extensive study, it has been concluded that unconfined compressive strength and split tensile strength of rubberized cemented clayey soil decreases with the increase of the percentage of crumb rubber whereas the axial, and diametral strain are found to be increased with the addition of crumb rubber up to 5% after that it starts to decrease. The CBR values, swelling pressure, and toughness index of uncemented/cemented clayey soil was significantly affected by incorporation of crumb rubber. SEM studies have also been incorporated in this investigation

Intra-operative point-of-procedure delineation of oral cancer margins using optical coherence tomography.

ObjectivesSurgical margin status is a significant determinant of treatment outcome in oral cancer. Negative surgical margins can decrease the loco-regional recurrence by five-fold. The current standard of care of intraoperative clinical examination supplemented by histological frozen section, can result in a risk of positive margins from 5 to 17 percent. In this study, we attempted to assess the utility of intraoperative optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging with automated diagnostic algorithm to improve on the current method of clinical evaluation of surgical margin in oral cancer.Materials and methodsWe have used a modified handheld OCT device with automated algorithm based diagnostic platform for imaging. Intraoperatively, images of 125 sites were captured from multiple zones around the tumor of oral cancer patients (n = 14) and compared with the clinical and pathologic diagnosis.ResultsOCT showed sensitivity and specificity of 100%, equivalent to histological diagnosis (kappa, ĸ = 0.922), in detection of malignancy within tumor and tumor margin areas. In comparison, for dysplastic lesions, OCT-based detection showed a sensitivity of 92.5% and specificity of 68.8% and a moderate concordance with histopathology diagnosis (ĸ = 0.59). Additionally, the OCT scores could significantly differentiate squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) from dysplastic lesions (mild/moderate/severe; p ≤ 0.005) as well as the latter from the non-dysplastic lesions (p ≤ 0.05).ConclusionThe current challenges associated with clinical examination-based margin assessment could be improved with intra-operative OCT imaging. OCT is capable of identifying microscopic tumor at the surgical margins and demonstrated the feasibility of mapping of field cancerization around the tumor

Diagnostic reliability of Widal slide agglutination test for enteric fever- still a query

Background: Typhoid fever is a major public health problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality in many countries. The Widal slide agglutination test is a commonly used test for diagnosing enteric fever. Limited literature is available on its diagnostic ability in comparison to the tube agglutination test. Aim of this study was carried out to evaluate the efficacy of the Widal slide agglutination test for the diagnosis of enteric fever.Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in department of microbiology in Jawahar Lal Nehru medical college and hospital, Ajmer over a period of six months from September 2013 to March 2014. A total of 640 serum samples received in the microbiology department were processed for detecting the presence of anti O and anti H agglutinins against S. typhi, S. Paratyphi A and S. Paratyphi B by slide and tube Widal agglutination tests as per standard protocols. The significant titre for O and H agglutinin, 1:160 was taken as positive.Results: Of the 154 slide Widal positive samples, 115 (18%) samples tested negative by the tube agglutination test whereas only 39 (6%) samples were positive by both slide and tube agglutination.Conclusions: Slide Widal test has high sensitivity and NPV (100%) can be used as a screening tool but due to low specificity (83.93%) any positive sample should be confirmed by tube Widal test

Co-Authorship Networks among DRDO Life Science Scientists

The modern scientific ecosphere increasingly involves collaborative research, wherein diverse talent pools fuse to produce a research output, and ‘co-authorship’ can be treated a quantifiable measure of scientific collaboration. The present initiative of a Life Science Journal catering to the needs of life-science/bio-medical science researchers offers a suitable occasion to investigate the existing social structure of science in the defence life science research establishment in India. This short communication describes a meta-analysis of co-authorship networks of this community and we find very interesting inter-disciplinary connections that highlight the significance of this new journal for research impact in the long term

Impact and Usage of Social Media in Business Sector during Covid-19 Pandemic

The Impact of covid-19 faced by whole world. The economic growth of all the countries is going down because of covid-19. In India, the covid-19 affected all the sectors but it mostly affected business sector. Social media is used in business sector, but during covid-19 pandemic situation social media is widely used in business sector for work effectively. The purpose of study is to determine the impact of social media on startup and growing business. The researcher wish to investigate how social Media influence on the growth of business and also to analyze which social media tools and application are used for effective work of business. Experiment were done on research data collected from the internet, Journal, Articles and personal prior knowledge. The result showed business sector are work or run effectively during pandemic situation. Most of business are used social media platform for example- Facebook, twitter, Instagram LinkedIn etc. Business sector are use social media platform for improving business both in quality and quantity. So, we conclude that, Business sector widely used social Media platform for effective and continuous work. This study is significant for Business Entrepreneur, Society, stakeholders, Government people and competitors. &nbsp

REVIEW ON ARGYREIA SPECIOSA (L. f.) SWEET. (VRDHHADARU): PLANT OF INDIAN MEDICAL LEXICONS

Argyreia speciosa Sweet. is a popular Indian medicinal plant, which has long been used in traditional Ayurvedic Indian medicine for various diseases. It is commonly known as Vidhaara or Vrddhadaru. It is a large creeper and is covered with hair all over. Flowers are either pink or red or purple coloured. It is not mentioned in Samhitas, but described in the Nighantu granthas. Vrddhadaru is a controversial drug. It is mainly confused with Ipomaea petaloidea. In Nighantus it is described by name of Vrddhadaru. It is mainly described in Dhanvantri Nighnatu, Shodhal Nighantu, Abhidhan Ratnamala, Madanpal Nighantu, Raj Nighantu, Nighantu Adarsh and in Priya Nighantu. The Importance of Plant is well recognized by its presence in almost all Nighantus and by its therapeutic potential. Therapeutically prove action of Argyreia speciosa Sweet. Is in aphrodisiac, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antihyperglycemic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiulcer, anticonvulsant, analgesic and central nervous depressant activities. A wide range of phytochemical constituents have been isolated from this plant. Its seeds mainly contain eragine, isoeragine which has hallucinogenic properties. It is a comprehensive account of the Taxonomy, Synonyms, Vernacular names, Classical review, Properties, Controversy, Morphology, Microscopy of root, stem & leaf, Chemical constituents & their action, Indication, Part used, Dosage, Therapeutic usage, Formulations & Preparations and recent research findings which shows the importance of plant and help to gain knowledge about the plant