ATLBS Extended Source Sample: The evolution in radio source morphology with flux density

Based on the ATLBS survey we present a sample of extended radio sources and derive morphological properties of faint radio sources. 119 radio galaxies form the ATLBS-Extended Source Sample (ATLBS-ESS) consisting of all sources exceeding 30" in extent and integrated flux densities exceeding 1 mJy. We give structural details along with information on galaxy identifications and source classifications. The ATLBS-ESS, unlike samples with higher flux-density limits, has almost equal fractions of FR-I and FR-II radio galaxies with a large fraction of the FR-I population exhibiting 3C31-type structures. Significant asymmetry in lobe extents appears to be a common occurrence in the ATLBS-ESS FR-I sources compared to FR-II sources. We present a sample of 22 FR-Is at z>0.5 with good structural information. The detection of several giant radio sources, with size exceeding 0.7 Mpc, at z>1 suggests that giant radio sources are not less common at high redshifts. The ESS also includes a sample of 28 restarted radio galaxies. The relative abundance of dying and restarting sources is indicative of a model where radio sources undergo episodic activity in which an active phase is followed by a brief dying phase that terminates with restarting of the central activity; in any massive elliptical a few such activity cycles wherein adjacent events blend may constitute the lifetime of a radio source and such bursts of blended activity cycles may be repeated over the age of the host. The ATLBS-ESS includes a 2-Mpc giant radio galaxy with the lowest surface brightness lobes known to date.Comment: 69 pages, 119 figures, 4 tables, to appear in ApJ

Defect chemistry and vacancy concentration of luminescent europium doped ceria nanoparticles by solvothermal method

Pure phase and europium-doped ceria nanocrystals have been synthesized by a single step simple solvothermal process. Different spectroscopic, diffractive, and microscopic techniques were used to determine the morphology, size, crystal structure, and phase of all the samples. Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) for elemental mapping confirmed that good solid solutions were formed and that the particles had a homogeneous distribution of europium. The defect chemistry was more complex than might be expected with the incorporation of each Eu3+ ion resulting in the production of an anion vacancy since the doping results in charge compensating (i.e., for Eu3+) anion vacancies as well as vacancies due to oxygen removal from the crystallite surface. Variations in nanoparticles dimension and lattice parameters were measured as a function of dopant concentrations and their variations explained. The band gap of the samples could be tailored by the doping. The doped samples were found to be luminescent due to the substitution of Ce4+ ions in the cubic symmetric lattice by the dopant ions. The thermal stability of the fluorescence properties was also investigated

Primary beam effects of radio astronomy antennas -- II. Modelling the MeerKAT L-band beam

After a decade of design and construction, South Africa's SKA-MID precursor MeerKAT has begun its science operations. To make full use of the widefield capability of the array, it is imperative that we have an accurate model of the primary beam of its antennas. We have taken available L-band full-polarization 'astro-holographic' observations of three antennas and a generic electromagnetic simulation and created sparse representations of the beams using principal components and Zernike polynomials. The spectral behaviour of the spatial coefficients has been modelled using discrete cosine transform. We have provided the Zernike-based model over a diameter of 10 deg averaged over the beams of three antennas in an associated software tool (EIDOS) that can be useful in direction-dependent calibration and imaging. The model is more accurate for the diagonal elements of the beam Jones matrix and at lower frequencies. As we get more accurate beam measurements and simulations in the future, especially for the cross-polarization patterns, our pipeline can be used to create more accurate sparse representations of MeerKAT beams.Comment: 16 pages, 18 figures. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in MNRAS following peer review. The version of record [K. M. B. Asad et al., 2021] is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/stab10

A positron annihilation spectroscopic investigation of europium-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles

Doping in ceria (CeO2) nanoparticles with europium (Eu) of varying concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, …, 50 atom%) is studied using complementary experimental techniques and novel observations were made during the investigation. The immediate observable effect was a distinct reduction in particle sizes with increasing Eu concentration attributed to the relaxation of strain introduced due to the replacement of Ce4+ ions by Eu3+ ions of larger radius. However, this general trend was reversed in the doping concentration range of 0.1–1 atom% due to the reduction of Ce4+ to Ce3+ and the formation of anion vacancies. Quantum confinement effects became evident with the increase of band gap energy when the particle sizes reduced below 7–8 nm. Positron annihilation studies indicated the presence of vacancy type defects in the form of vacancy clusters within the nanoparticles. Some positron annihilation was also seen on the surface of crystallites as a result of diffusion of thermalized positrons before annihilation. Coincidence Doppler broadening measurements indicated the annihilation of positrons with electrons of different species of atoms and the characteristic S–W plot showed a kink-like feature at the particle sizes where quantum confinement effects began

Effect of my fit trainer for balance rehabilitation in chronic stroke patient: a case study

Stroke is the third most common cause of death in the world and most common cause of adult disability of the survivors. Balance problems in stroke is very common, and they have been implicated in the poor recovery of activities of daily living (ADL) and mobility and an increased risk of falls. They also have altered in body weight distribution patterns, so that less body weight is taken through the weaker leg have smaller excursions when moving their weight toward the base of support, mostly in the direction of the weaker leg. My fitness trainer (MFT) balance board consists of a uniaxial unstable platform with an integrated sensor, which records all discrepancies in the plane. A 30-year-old female who has history of stroke 4 year ago has chief complain of weakness of upper limb and lower limb and unable to maintain dynamic balance. In this study we assessed the patient on berg balance scale and my fit trainer balance board with pre score and post score which shows significant improvement in results. The Berg balance scale measure score from 37/56 pre-treatment to 48/56 post treatment which shows significance increase in berg balance scale. The MFT balance board measure score from 4.2 disappointed stability in 30 seconds pre-treatment and 3.4 improve stability in 120 seconds post treatment which shows significance increase in MFT balance board. It concluded that there is effect of MFT to improve balance in chronic stroke patient

Short-Term Outcomes of Totally Extraperitoneal and Extended Totally Extraperitoneal Repair of Ventral Hernia

Since the beginning of surgical history, treatment of hernia has evolved through different stages. Belyansky et al. reported that this technique of e-TEP can also be applied for ventral hernia repair in 2017. The retro muscular e-TEP/e-RS approach combines the advantages of the sublay position of the mesh along with the benefits of the minimal invasiveness of the procedure. A prospective observational study was conducted among 60 patients with non-complicated ventral hernia who were randomised into two groups, equally, who were further subjected to either TEP or e-TEP laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Distribution of median duration of surgery for among the cases studied was significantly higher in Laparoscopic e-TEP repair group as compared to Laparoscopic TEP repair group. e-TEP has advantage over TEP owing to less steeper learning curve, with wide angle view, more degree of movements for instruments, and ergonomically better operative experience

A rare case of symptomatic bilateral pheochromocytoma

Pheochromocytoma with reported incidence of 2-8 per million, is a rare and special tumor with its own unique clinical and pathological features, originating from the amazingly intelligent neuroendocrine cells of chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. It may behave as ‘great masquerader’ and be sweet and predictable as a child, while at times act as a ‘treacherous murderer’ crashing and tearing everything in its path with fierce rage, the main cornerstone of the disease being surgical excision. Here, we report a rare case of middle aged female presenting with hypertensive crisis which necessitates intensive care unit (ICU) management where she responded well to anti-hypertensives and radiological investigations were suggestive of bilateral pheochromocytoma. The course of treatment consisted of array of investigations to ascertain the diagnosis before embarking on bilateral adrenalectomy keeping in mind the consequences of absence of adrenal and subsequent possibility of Nelsons syndrome, which we were able to treat successfully. Here we want to highlight the consideration of bilateral adrenal tumors as a differential diagnosis for suprarenal growths, subsequent surgical course and post-operative medical treatment highlighting the importance of mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids for day to day functioning

Effectiveness of respiratory proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation technique on pulmonary function in spinal cord injury patients: a randomized controlled trial

Background: Spinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to respiratory complications due to impaired neuromuscular control. Proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) techniques have shown promise in improving respiratory function in various populations, but their effectiveness in SCI patients remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of respiratory PNF techniques on pulmonary function in individuals with SCI. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted involving SCI patients with respiratory impairment. A total of 43 participants were included in this study. The study duration was 4 years with an intervention period of 4 weeks and the outcome measures were pulmonary functions and chest expansion using inch tape. Results: There was a significant improvement in pulmonary functions in the control group and a highly significant improvement in pulmonary functions in the experimental group after 4 weeks of interventions and chest expansion was significantly improved in the experimental group. Conclusions: The respiratory PNF techniques demonstrated a clinically meaningful enhancement in pulmonary function and chest mobility among SCI patients. Respiratory PNF techniques represent a valuable adjunct therapy for improving pulmonary function and chest mobility in individuals with SCI

Revival of the magnetar PSR J1622-4950: observations with MeerKAT, Parkes, XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR

New radio (MeerKAT and Parkes) and X-ray (XMM-Newton, Swift, Chandra, and NuSTAR) observations of PSR J1622-4950 indicate that the magnetar, in a quiescent state since at least early 2015, reactivated between 2017 March 19 and April 5. The radio flux density, while variable, is approximately 100x larger than during its dormant state. The X-ray flux one month after reactivation was at least 800x larger than during quiescence, and has been decaying exponentially on a 111+/-19 day timescale. This high-flux state, together with a radio-derived rotational ephemeris, enabled for the first time the detection of X-ray pulsations for this magnetar. At 5%, the 0.3-6 keV pulsed fraction is comparable to the smallest observed for magnetars. The overall pulsar geometry inferred from polarized radio emission appears to be broadly consistent with that determined 6-8 years earlier. However, rotating vector model fits suggest that we are now seeing radio emission from a different location in the magnetosphere than previously. This indicates a novel way in which radio emission from magnetars can differ from that of ordinary pulsars. The torque on the neutron star is varying rapidly and unsteadily, as is common for magnetars following outburst, having changed by a factor of 7 within six months of reactivation.Comment: Published in ApJ (2018 April 5); 13 pages, 4 figure

The extent, nature and distribution of child poverty in India

Despite a long history, research on poverty has only relatively recently examined the issue of child poverty as a distinct topic of concern. This article examines how child poverty and well-being are now conceptualized, defined and measured, and presents a portrait of child poverty in India by social and cultural groups, and by geographic area. In December 2006, the UN General Assembly adopted a definition of child poverty which noted that children living in poverty were deprived of (among other things) nutrition, water and sanitation facilities, access to basic health care services, shelter and education. The definition noted that while poverty hurts every human being ‘it is most threatening and harmful to children, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, to reach their full potential and to participate as full members of the society’. Researchers have developed age-specific and gender-sensitive indicators of deprivation which conform to the UN definition of child poverty and which can be used to examine the extent and nature of child poverty in low and middle-income countries. These new methods have ‘transformed the way UNICEF and many of its partners both understood and measured the poverty suffered by children’ (UNICEF, 2009). This article uses these methods and presents results of child poverty in India based on nationally representative household survey data for India