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G. Gururaj , P. Satishchandra , D. Banerjee , Maria Alphonsa , D. K. Subbakrishna

Abstract

Mortality records of one year was analysed to study the pattern of deaths among neurological disorders in a tertiary referral institution. Deaths among children (< 15 yrs) accounted for 21.7% of cases, predominantly contributed by infections of nervous system. The proportional mortality rates of head injuries and stroke was 37.6% and 17.2% respectively. Epilepsy being the commonness neurological condition accounted for 2.2% of total deaths. The study discusses the various aspects of mortality information along with its importance, highlighting existing lacunaes in this area. The need for developing reliable mortality statistics for initiating early intervention towards decreasing mortality is emphasized.

Keywords

Mortality Statistics, Neuroepidemiology, Head Injuries, Stroke, Infections of Nervous System, Proportional Mortality Rates, Health Information

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R. Sahoo ¹, D. Banerjee ¹, R. Debnath ¹

Affiliations
1 Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute, 196, Raja S. C. Mullick Road. Kolkata-700 032, IN

Abstract

Development of a series of lead phosphate heterostructures dispersed with C₆₀-nanoclusters which upon 230-400 nm UV irradiation show a phenomenon of electron transfer from the divalent lead centre (Pb⁺²) of the lead phosphate network to the incorporated fullerene, has been reported. Studies of the steady state photoinduced absorption and photoinduced ESR spectra showed formation of Pb⁺³ type of hole and C₆₀-nanocluster anions in the irradiated composite. The charge separated state thus formed has life time ranging from few hours to days, which is higher than those hitherto reported for various cased donor acceptor systems. An analysis of the carrier-dynamics suggests that the photoinduced migration of electrons from the hole-sites to the fullerene sites involves two steps : 1) Trapping of the electrons released from the Pb-sites by the UV, within the phosphate-network and 2) Detrapping and tunneling of these electrons from the trap sites to the fullerene sites by the electron-scavenging effect of the latter.

Keywords

Photoinduced Electron Dynamics, Phosphate Heterostructure, C₆₀-Nanoclusters.

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P. Ghosh ¹, S. Saha ¹, G. Mitra ¹, I. Gupta ¹, P. Nandi ², M. Kar ¹, D. Banerjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Microbiology, Burdwan Medical College, IN
2 Microbiology NRS Medical College, Kolkata, IN

Abstract

Background:Escherichia coli (E.coli) is most common organism responsible for UTI because of its various virulence factors to break the inertia of mucosal barrier. Objective: In this present study we aimed to access the different virulence factors and their correlation with multi-drug resistance.

Materials and Methods: This was a prospective study done at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital, West Bengal. A total 100 urine samples from clinically suspected UTI patients were processed by standard microbiological procedures. Fifty (50) E.coli were isolated on MacConkey agar showing significant bacteriuria from the 100 samples studied. The virulence factors studied were Haemolysis, Bio-flim formation, Mannose sensitive/resistant haemagglutination, serum resistance and antibiotic resistance pattern. For bio-film three methods - congored agar, tube method and tissue culture plate method were compared. Haemolysis was observed on sandwich blood agar. Mannose resistance and sensitive haemagglutination and serum resistance were determined by standard methods. ESBL and MBL were detected by double disc diffusion method along with conventional antibiogram.

Result: Fifty E.coli were isolated from 100 urine sample in this study. Among these 30% showing haemolytic properties, 48% showing HA and 16% showing serum resistance. Three different methods of bio-film formation were evaluated. Antibiogram was plotted with MDR.

Conclusion: There is a need of periodic survillence, antibiotic policy, careful use of empirical and target antibiotics, use of antibiotic coated catheter, standard guidelines on care of catheter. This will reduce incidence, chronicity and recurrence of Urinary Tract Infections.

Keywords

Urinary Tract Infection, Bio-Flim, Virulence Factors, Drug Resistance, Antibiotic Policy.

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S. Pal ¹, D. Banerjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Dept. of Life Science, Government Training College, Hooghly, IN

Abstract

Present work deals with the estimation of major factors that influence the career choice among the students of Higher Secondary level in Kolkata and suggests that the process of career choice among the students of H.S level involves the academic achievement, sex-bias, family imposition, self-interest, parent's educational level, etc.

Keywords

Career Choice, Academic Career, Sex-Bias, Professional Aim, Socio-Economic Status, Counsellor.

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D. K. Panda ¹, D. Banerjee ¹, S. K. Goyal ¹, A. R. Patel ¹, A. D. Shukla ¹

Affiliations
1 Planetary Sciences and Exploration Group, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

We present the development of a cerium-doped lanthanum bromide (LaBr₃ : Ce) gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) with the primary objective of determining the abundance and distribution of Th, U, K, and other major elements, including Fe on the entire planetary surface by measuring gamma-ray signals produced by radioactive decay, neutron inelastic scattering and neutron capture reactions in the energy region 0.03- 8 MeV. The energy resolution of the LaBr3 : Ce GRS developed in-house using front-end and processing electronics at 511 and 1274 keV is estimated to be 4.1% and 2.5% respectively. The intrinsic activity count rate for our 3ⁿ * 3ⁿ LaBr₃ : Ce GRS is ~61 counts s^-1 (i.e. ~0.18 counts s^-1 cm^-3) for the 40K energy window (1400-1520 keV) and ~3.4 counts s^-1 for the ²³²Th (2550-2700 keV) energy window. Although this large intrinsic activity of the LaBr₃ : Ce crystal inhibits estimation of the concentrations of Th and K, our attempts using a NaI(Tl) GRS (with electronics developed in-house) were more successful. The Th concentration of US-110 was estimated to be ~11.4 ppm and is within 14% of the 13.2 ppm value determined using a HPGe GRS. The K concentration of US-110 was estimated to be 0.87% and is within ~10% of the 0.78% value determined independently using a HPGe GRS.

Keywords

Cerium Radioactive Elements, Gamma Ray Spectroscopy, Lanthanum Bromide, Sodium Iodide.

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J. P. Pabari ¹, D. Banerjee ¹

Affiliations
1 Physical Research Laboratory, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

The surfaces of airless, non-magnetized bodies like the Moon are directly exposed to solar wind and ultraviolet radiation, causing surface dust grains to be electrically charged and levitated, whenever electric fields exceed the surface forces and gravity. For an improved understanding of the lunar dust environment, we study the surface charging processes using electrostatic modelling and present the results here. We apply Gauss's law to examine the dust levitation and compare the implications with those obtained using freespace capacitance of the particle. Calculating grain charge on surface by assuming its free-space capacitance is erroneous and is therefore inapplicable. The daytime surface potential during high solar activity is estimated to be ˜20 V, while the nighttime potential can be as high as -3.8 kV. The maximum radius of levitating particles is greatly affected by the method used to model the dust levitation. Using Gauss's approach, it comes out to be in the picometre range near the terminator, in contrast to existing calculations which estimate it to be in the nanometre to micrometer range. The LDEX provided no indication of 0.1 μm-sized particles near the terminator, as suggested previously from Apollo observations. This result is not inconsistent with our predictions based on Gauss's law. Hence, it still remains an open question whether dust levitation occurs on the Moon or not, and experiments are necessary on future lunar lander mission which provide direct measurement of surface potential and near-surface charged dust particles to confirm the same.

Keywords

Dust, Levitation, Lunar Environment, Photoemission, Plasma.

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S. S. Hasan ¹, D. Banerjee ¹, B. Ravindra ¹, K. Sankarasubramanian ¹, K. E. Rangarajan ¹

Affiliations
1 Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bengaluru 560 034, IN

Abstract

The National Large Solar Telescope (NLST) aims primarily to carry out observations of the solar atmosphere with high spatial, spectral and temporal resolution. A comprehensive site characterization programme, that commenced in 2007, has identified an excellent site in the Ladakh region at the Pangong lake, India. With an innovative optical design, NLST is an on-axis Gregorian telescope with a low number of optical elements to reduce the number of reflections and yield a high throughput with low polarization. In addition, it uses high-order adaptive optics to produce close to diffraction limited performance. To control atmospheric and thermal perturbations of the observations, the telescope will function with a fully open dome, to achieve its full potential atop a 25 m tower. The post-focus instruments include broadband and tuneable Fabry-Perot narrow band imaging instruments and a high-resolution spectropolarimeter.

Keywords

Adaptive Optics, High Angular Resolution, Magnetic Fields, Solar Telescope.

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S. Sathiyaseelan ¹, D. K. Panda ², D. Banerjee ², D. Ramesh ¹, A. D. Shukla ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Remote Sensing, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 620 023, IN
2 Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad 380 009, IN

Abstract

The Tamil Nadu coastline, India, has extensive dunes which can be used for inferring quaternary palaeoclimates. In the present study, we aim to determine the chronology of the dunes in the Vaigai prodelta region along the southeastern coastline of the country. Optically stimulated luminescence ages for the elevated beach ridge samples SANK-5, SANK-4, SANK-3, SANK-2 and SANK-1 were estimated to be 0.9 ± 0.1, 1.1 ± 0.1, 1.8 ± 0.2, 5.3 ± 0.4 and 27 ± 2.3 ka respectively, from top to bottom of the section. The first four phases of aeolian activation occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-1, whereas the ~27 ka age suggests that sediment deposition occurred in marine oxygen isotope stage-3. The luminescence ages were in stratigraphic order, and represent the first dates of aeolian activation in the Vaigai region.

Keywords

Aeolian Activation, Chronology, Coastline, Luminescence Ages, Palaeoclimate, Red Dunes.

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