Geometric critical exponents in classical and quantum phase transitions.

We define geometric critical exponents for systems that undergo continuous second-order classical and quantum phase transitions. These relate scalar quantities on the information theoretic parameter manifolds of such systems, near criticality. We calculate these exponents by approximating the metric and thereby solving geodesic equations analytically, near curvature singularities of two-dimensional parameter manifolds.

Strain heterogeneity and magnetoelastic behaviour of nanocrystalline half-doped La, Ca manganite, La0.5Ca0.5MnO3.

Elastic and anelastic properties of La0.5Ca0.5MnO3 determined by resonant ultrasound spectroscopy in the frequency range ∼100-1200 kHz have been used to evaluate the role of grain size in determining the competition between ferromagnetism and Jahn-Teller/charge order of manganites which show colossal magneto resistance.

Nitric oxide production by necrotrophic pathogen Macrophomina phaseolina and the host plant in charcoal rot disease of jute: complexity of the interplay between necrotroph-host plant interactions.

M. phaseolina, a global devastating necrotrophic fungal pathogen causes charcoal rot disease in more than 500 host plants. With the aim of understanding the plant-necrotrophic pathogen interaction associated with charcoal rot disease of jute, biochemical approach was attempted to study cellular nitric oxide production under diseased condition.

Whole genome sequencing reveals novel non-synonymous mutation in ectodysplasin A (EDA) associated with non-syndromic X-linked dominant congenital tooth agenesis.

Congenital tooth agenesis in human is characterized by failure of tooth development during tooth organogenesis. 300 genes in mouse and 30 genes in human so far have been known to regulate tooth development. However, candidature of only 5 genes viz.

Magnetic-structure-stabilized polarization in an above-room-temperature ferrimagnet.

Above-room-temperature polar magnets are of interest due to their practical applications in spintronics. Here we present a strategy to design high-temperature polar magnetic oxides in the corundum-derived A2BB'O6 family, exemplified by the non-centrosymmetric (R3) Ni3TeO6-type Mn(2+)2Fe(3+)Mo(5+)O6, which shows strong ferrimagnetic ordering with TC = 337 K and demonstrates structural polarization without any ions with (n-1)d(10)ns(0), d(0), or stereoactive lone-pair electrons. Density functional theory calculations confirm the experimental results and suggest that the energy of the magnetically ordered structure, based on the Ni3TeO6 prototype, is significantly lower than that of any related structure, and accounts for the spontaneous polarization (68 μC cm(-2)) and non-centrosymmetry confirmed directly by second harmonic generation.

GD3 synthase regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in breast cancer.

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) bestows cancer cells with increased stem cell properties and metastatic potential. To date, multiple extracellular stimuli and transcription factors have been shown to regulate EMT. Many of them are not druggable and therefore it is necessary to identify targets, which can be inhibited using small molecules to prevent metastasis.

Pathway-centric integrative analysis identifies RRM2 as a prognostic marker in breast cancer associated with poor survival and tamoxifen resistance.

Breast cancer (BCa) molecular subtypes include luminal A, luminal B, normal-like, HER-2-enriched, and basal-like tumors, among which luminal B and basal-like cancers are highly aggressive. Biochemical pathways associated with patient survival or treatment response in these more aggressive subtypes are not well understood. With the limited availability of pathologically verified clinical specimens, cell line models are routinely used for pathway-centric studies.

In silico study of potential autoimmune threats from rotavirus infection.

Rotavirus, the major cause of infantile nonbacterial diarrhea, was found to be associated with development of diabetes-associated auto-antibodies. In our study we tried to find out further potential autoimmune threats of this virus using bioinformatics approach. We took rotaviral proteins to study similarity with Homo sapiens proteome and found most conserved structural protein VP6 matches at two regions with ryanodine receptor, an autoimmune target associated with myasthenia gravis.

Designing polar and magnetic oxides: Zn2FeTaO6--in search of multiferroics.

Polar oxides are technically of great interest but difficult to prepare. Our recent discoveries predicted that polar oxides can be synthesized in the corundum-derivative A2BB'O6 family with unusually small cations at the A-site and a d(0) electron configuration ion at B'-site. When magnetic transition-metal ions are incorporated more interesting polar magnetic oxides can form.

Psoriasis and psychiatric morbidity: a profile from a tertiary care centre of eastern India.

Context: Psoriasis has an impact on psychology of the patients. There is a dearth of studies regarding this field in eastern India.

Aims And Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the psychiatric morbidity in psoriasis and secondary objective is to assess the morbidity in all eight dimensions of psychosocial and physical aspects, i.

Thermal properties of a particle confined to a parabolic quantum well in two-dimensional space with conical disclination.

The thermal properties of a system, comprising of a spinless noninteracting charged particle in the presence of a constant external magnetic field and confined in a parabolic quantum well are studied. The focus has been on the effects of a topological defect, of the form of conical disclination, with regard to the thermodynamic properties of the system. We have obtained the modifications to the traditional Landau-Fock-Darwin spectrum in the presence of conical disclination.

Emblica officinalis improves glycemic status and oxidative stress in STZ induced type 2 diabetic model rats.

Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of Emblica officinalis (E. officinalis) fruit on normal and type 2 diabetic rats.

Methods: Type 2 diabetes was induced into the male Long-Evans rats.

Iron and Folic Acid Consumption by the Ante-natal Mothers in a Rural Area of India in 2010.

Background: The average rural Indian women enter her reproductive life, particularly in pregnancy, suffer from nutritional anemia due to iron deficiency. National program of India had implemented a strategy for supplementation of iron folic acid by means of iron folic acid (IFA) tablets at least 3 months during antenatal period. The study had been conducted to assess the proportion of pregnant mothers consumes the IFA tablets and the factors determine compliance.

Osseous metaplasia in a juvenile polyp: a rare case report in India.

Osseous metaplasia is a phenomenon which is described in a variety of tissue types with respect to both neoplastic and non-neoplastic conditions. In the gastrointestinal tract, osseous metaplasia (heterotopic bone formation) is rarely detected. Most of the reported cases were associated with malignant lesions.

Novel xylanases from Simplicillium obclavatum MTCC 9604: comparative analysis of production, purification and characterization of enzyme from submerged and solid state fermentation.

The production of extracellular xylanase by a newly isolated fungus Simplicillium obclavatum MTCC 9604 was studied in solid-state and submerged fermentation. Multiple xylanases and endoglucanases were produced by the strain during growth on wheat bran in solid state fermentation (SSF). A single xylanase isoform was found to be produced by the same fungus under submerged fermentation (SF) using wheat bran as sole carbon source.

Carbon nanotubes-based label-free affinity sensors for environmental monitoring.

Nanostructures, such as nanowires, nanobelts, nanosprings, and nanotubes, are receiving growing interest as transducer elements of bio/chemical sensors as they provide high sensitivity, multiplexing, small size, and portability. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are one such class of nanostructure materials that exhibit superior sensing behavior due to its large-surface carbon atoms that are highly responsive to surface adsorption events. Further, their compatibility with modern microfabrication technologies and facile functionalization with molecular recognition elements make them promising candidates for bio/chemical sensors applications.

Blast injuries to the hand: Pathomechanics, patterns and treatment.

Purpose: To characterize the common patterns of injury in detail in cases of blast injuries to the hand and to outline the possible pathomechanics of these patterns of injury while describing the treatment modalities for the same as practiced in our center.

Materials And Methods: A review of admitted patients in our department from september 2009 through december 2010 of blast injuries to the hand was made. Each patient had a careful characterization of their injuries as mild, moderate or severe with the help of X-rays, clinical photographs and operative notes.

An Ecofriendly synthesis of silver nano-bioconjugates by Penicillium citrinum (MTCC9999) and its antimicrobial effect.

This report provides for the first time a novel environment friendly extracellular synthesis of stable silver nano-bioconjugates (SNBCs) at room temperature at pH 5.0 using Penicillium citrinum MTCC 9999 biomass. The UV-Visible spectral scan of dispersed SNBCs solution showed absorption in the region 340-450 nm due to surface plasma resonance (SPR).

Gold catalysis: regio- and stereoselective total synthesis of xyloketals D and G and the related natural product alboatrin.

A new and efficient one-pot desilylation-gold-catalyzed cycloisomerization of alkynes containing a silyl-protected phenolic -OH and a free alcoholic -OH unit leads selectively to the formation of tetrahydrofuranobenzopyran ring system. This approach has been used for the regio- and stereoselective synthesis of xyloketal D, xyloketal G, and the related natural product alboatrin.

Label-free chemiresistive biosensor for mercury (II) based on single-walled carbon nanotubes and structure-switching DNA.

Herein, we present a sensitive, selective, and facile label-free DNA functionalized single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT)-based chemiresistive biosensor for the detection of Hg(2+). SWNTs were functionalized with Hg(2+) binding 15-bases long polyT oligonucleotide through covalent attachment using a bilinker molecule. The polyT was further hybridized with polyA to form a polyT-polyA duplex.

FOXC2 expression links epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stem cell properties in breast cancer.

Resistance to chemotherapy and metastases are the major causes of breast cancer-related mortality. Moreover, cancer stem cells (CSC) play critical roles in cancer progression and treatment resistance. Previously, it was found that CSC-like cells can be generated by aberrant activation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby making anti-EMT strategies a novel therapeutic option for treatment of aggressive breast cancers.

Thermodynamic geometry, phase transitions, and the Widom line.

A microscopic characterization, based on the thermodynamic curvature R, is proposed for first-order liquid-gas phase transitions. Near the critical point, where R is proportional to the correlation volume ξ(3), we propose that R takes the same value in the coexisting phases. This proposal allows a determination of the liquid-gas coexistence curve with no use of the problematic Maxwell equal area construction.

Geodesics in information geometry: classical and quantum phase transitions.

We study geodesics on the parameter manifold for systems exhibiting second order classical and quantum phase transitions. The coupled nonlinear geodesic equations are solved numerically for a variety of models which show such phase transitions in the thermodynamic limit. It is established that both in the classical as well as in the quantum cases, geodesics are confined to a single phase and exhibit turning behavior near critical points.

Information geometry and quantum phase transitions in the Dicke model.

We study information geometry of the Dicke model, in the thermodynamic limit. The scalar curvature R of the Riemannian metric tensor induced on the parameter space of the model is calculated. We analyze this both with and without the rotating wave approximation, and show that the parameter manifold is smooth even at the phase transition, and that the scalar curvature is continuous across the phase boundary.