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In an all-optical communication system, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier performs a very significant role. The effectiveness of the operation of this kind of amplifier depends on different parameters of the amplifier. Variation of the intensities of pump and signal with distance along the radius of the fiber from the core axis is one such significant parameter. In our present case, we have studied the distribution of the intensities of both the pump and signal along the radius of the fiber in an erbium-doped dual-mode fiber amplifier for the LP 11 mode. In the present case, some step-index fibers of different normalized frequencies have opted. Our study is an application of the Chebyshev technique expressing the LP 11 modal field in the form of a power series. A little computation is required for the prediction of the concerned results by this technique. Results obtained from this study show an excellent match with those found by the rigorous finite element method establishing its accuracy. This study using such a user-friendly and accurate technique will be helpful to the optical engineers involved in this domain.

In an all-optical communication system, an erbium-doped fiber amplifier performs a very significant role. The effectiveness of the operation of this kind of amplifier depends on different parameters of the amplifier. Variation of the intensities of pump and signal with distance along the radius of the fiber from the core axis is one such significant parameter. In our present case, we have studied the distribution of the intensities of both the pump and signal along the radius of the fiber in an erbium-doped dual-mode fiber amplifier for the LP mode. In the present case, some step-index fibers of different normalized frequencies have opted. Our study is an application of the Chebyshev technique expressing the LP modal field in the form of a power series. A little computation is required for the prediction of the concerned results by this technique. Results obtained from this study show an excellent match with those found by the rigorous finite element method establishing its accuracy. This study using such a user-friendly and accurate technique will be helpful to the optical engineers involved in this domain.

We report here the first theoretical prediction of coupling efficiency of the laser diode to single-mode graded-index fiber coupling via cylindrical microlens on the tip of the fiber in presence of possible transverse and angular mismatches. Moderately efficient cylindrical microlens on the fiber is easily fabricable and graded-index fiber has less sensitivity to macro as well as micro bending. Thus this coupling device emerges as a potential candidate in the field of coupling optics. The analysis takes into consideration the allowable aperture provided by cylindrical microlens. Further, we shall consider here the coupling in the vertical plane only since the coupling in the horizontal plane has poor performance. Using the relevant ABCD matrix of refraction for a cylindrical lens in the vertical plane, we prescribe analytical expressions of the coupling efficiencies in presence of said kinds of misalignments. In our analysis, we use Gaussian field distribution for both the laser and fiber fields. We carry on our investigation for two commonly used wavelengths namely 1.3 and 1.5 µm. As an example of graded-index fiber, we use some typical step, parabolic, and triangular index fibers in our study. The execution of the prescribed formulations involves little computation. Thus the evaluation of the concerned coupling efficiencies is very much user friendly. The present analysis surfaces the tolerance factors of the coupling devices. Accordingly, the results will prove beneficial to designers and packagers in respect of the design of such coupler involving cylindrical microlens in the field of optimum launch optics.

This paper presents the groundwater quality assessment of the upper Brahmaputra floodplains of Assam on a seasonal basis. A total of 88 samples were analyzed for the presence of potentially toxic elements in two seasons. In addition, an attempt is made to identify any possible associated health risks to the residents via the drinking water pathway. The study reveals the presence of various potentially toxic elements, in particular, manganese, iron, nickel, and fluoride concentration exceeding the drinking water specifications set by BIS and WHO drinking water standards. The degree of groundwater contamination was assessed using the Water Quality Index, Heavy metal Pollution Index, Heavy metal Evaluation Index, and Degree of Contamination. The spatial distribution maps of groundwater quality were prepared using geographical information system. The non-carcinogenic health risk was evaluated using hazard quotients and hazard index as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency methodology. The hazard quotient of fluoride and manganese have values > 1, which exceeds USEPA recommended benchmark. The health risk assessment identified that the risk was highest during the pre-monsoon season, and the child population is more vulnerable to non-carcinogenic risk than the adults. Findings of cancer risk identified that pre-monsoon groundwater samples from the Golaghat District pose the highest health risks in the upper Brahmaputra floodplains. The risk is highest in the southwest of the study area, followed by the south and then by the north.

In this study, we investigated the effect of long-term integrated nutrient management (INM) involving chemical fertilizers and organic amendments viz. farmyard manure (FYM), green manure (GM), and paddy straw (PS) on the availability of micronutrients in soil, their uptake by plants, and crop yield for rice–wheat system. Soil availability of micronutrients and their plant tissue concentrations was estimated in grain and straw of both the crops. Soil recovery coefficient (SRC) and transfer coefficient (TC) were calculated to find out micronutrients availability in relation to their plant uptake and transfer of micronutrients from shoot to grain, respectively. Results revealed that integration of FYM proved significantly superior to GM and PS in improving organic carbon, micronutrients availability, and shoot to grain transfer (TC) of Fe (both the crops) and Mn (wheat). Low SRC values of Zn, Cu, Fe, and Mn indicated that long-term INM can meet their plant nutritional requirement in rice–wheat system. However, higher SRC values for B (0.49) in 100% NPK treatment as well as in the integrated ones (0.22–0.27 for rice, 0.23–0.28 for wheat) suggest that quantity of this element in soil was too low to meet plants nutritional needs which was also confirmed by its very low content in the soil (below critical levels, i.e., 0.5 mg kg −1 ). This study concludes that long-term integration of FYM (with NPK fertilizers) has an edge over GM and PS in regulating the supply of micronutrients in soil–plant system and correcting the micronutrient deficiencies (except B) in rice–wheat cropping system.

Etodolac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and approved by USFDA as a COX2 inhibitor. Although etodolac therapy provides clinical benefits, it is associated with upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract complications also. Etodolac loaded gum Katira microsphere (ELGKM) was prepared by W1/O/W2 emulsion solvent evaporation technique. The gastric irritation properties of orally administered pure etodolac, ELGKM and blank microspheres (without etodolac) were evaluated in experimental rats treated for 6 days. The stomach examination and biochemical investigation of stomach tissue of treated rats indicated that ELGKM formulation remarkably reduced ulcerogenecity as compared to pure etodolac. The anti-inflammatory activities of pure etodolac and ELGKMs were ascertained by the implantation of cotton pellets in rats for 6 days. Based on the results, ELGKMs showed significant anti-inflammatory activities (P<0.01) as compared to control group. The cotton pellets test suggested that ELGKM formulation retained more anti-inflammatory properties among the groups. The hematological changes, biochemical analysis and histopathological studies of subacute toxicity in rats revealed that ELGKM were the effective sustained release formulation in the treatment of chronic pain and inflammation. In conclusion, the physicochemical characterization, pharmacological and toxicological studies suggest that ELGKMs may represent as a potential candidate for sustained drug delivery (10-12 hours) in chronic joint pain related diseases with remarkably diminished gastrointestinal side effects.

\"Various agricultural and industrial activities produce natural fibre waste that can harm the environment if not disposed properly. These wastes contain valuable plant nutrients that need to be recycled to sustain soil quality and health, and reduce environmental pollution. Composting is an efficient, sustainable, and inexpensive way to treat solid wastes. This study focused on the preparation of composts from jute leaf waste, pineapple leaf wastes, banana pseudo stem waste along with retting liquors as bio-enhancers and to evaluate their quality. The quality of compost determines its ability to perform its projected function. The feedstocks are the main factor that affects the compost qualities, but the composting process also counts. The compost and retting liquors were tested in the laboratory for different parameters such as electrical conductivity, pH, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus and potassium, micronutrients, heavy metals and C/N ratio. The results showed that compost made from natural fibre and bio-enhancer i.e. retting liquor can be a good source of plant nutrition and microbial activity. Pineapple leaf waste had a higher C: N ratio than jute leaf waste which resulted faster decomposition of jute leaves. Retting liquor had more bacteria than fungi. No actinomycetes were seen in the liquor. Waste wool had the highest nitrogen content among other fibre residues, so it can be a sustainable alternative to nitrogen source for crop nutrition. The quality evaluation will give us an insight on influence of compost produced from natural fibre waste in crop production.\"

Background:The incidence of breast cancer has surpassed cervical cancer in India and it has now become the most common cancer in women. Multiple randomised studies have reported low α/β value in the range of 3–4 for breast cancer, which predict a potential radiobiological advantage for hypofractionated radiotherapy resulting in such schedules becoming standard in many centers with reduction in overall treatment time. Volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) is a novel technique of delivering radiotherapy that reduces treatment delivery time, requires less monitor units (MU) and offers good conformity. The mean dose to normal tissue may be minimised using this technique although there will be inferior sparing if we consider the low-dose volume such as V5, the effect of which is not quantifiable yet.Aim:Reporting acute toxicity, cosmetic effects, and quality of life in patients of early breast cancer treated with adjuvant hypofractionated VMAT with SIB.Material and Methods:The records of 44 patients registered at the hospital between August 2014 and December 2015 were included in this analysis. Acute toxicities were analysed using CTCAE v4.03. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed using Harvard scale, while quality of life outcomes were assessed using EORTC scales and Health Related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaires (QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23).Results:No grade ≥2 skin toxicities were recorded. Breast pain was recorded as Grade 1 in 13·8% patients and Grade 1 fatigue in 18·2%. The maximum haematological abnormality grade recorded was Grade 1. Cosmesis was assessed at the baseline, 6 months, 1 year and 2 years. A total of 88·6% of the patients had an Excellent or good cosmesis at the baseline, which was similar even at 6 months, at 88·7%, improved further at 1 year to 90·9%. At 6 months post radiotherapy, high functional scale QOL scores were noted.Conclusion:The technique is associated with minimum acute toxicity, good to excellent cosmesis and acceptable quality of life.

Purpose:Radiation therapy (RT), in combination with chemotherapy, is the mainstay in the treatment for locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer. We analysed the tumour response and the toxicity profiles in patients having locally advanced oropharyngeal cancers receiving hypofractionated intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and concurrent chemotherapy with Cisplatin investigating the feasibility and radiobiological efficacy of the regimen, along with its use as a resource-sparing alternative for a high-volume centre.Material and Methods:The records of 41 eligible patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of oropharynx, registered from September 2015 to April 2017, treated with hypofractionated IMRT with concurrent Cisplatin, were analysed from the hospital database. Patients received concurrent chemo-radiation with 2 cycles of 3-weekly cisplatin on day 1 and day 22 along with hypofractionated IMRT, 55 Gy delivered in 20 fractions over 4 weeks. Patients were observed for any radiation reaction or chemotherapy toxicity at least once a week during the course of radiation therapy.Results:Twenty-nine patients (70·7%) achieved complete response and remaining 12 showed partial response. Acute grade 3 toxicity was observed mostly in the form of oral mucositis and radiation dermatitis. Both grade 3 oral mucositis and radiation dermatitis were seen in 15 patients (36·6%) and 7 patients (17%), respectively. The most common late toxicities were dysphagia and dry mouth. Twenty-five patients (61%) completed the overall treatment within 4 weeks’ duration.Conclusion:This hypofractionated regimen is feasible and was associated with tolerable acute and late morbidity and satisfactory locoregional response. Larger prospective, multi- institutional studies examining similar schedules may be undertaken to establish this as a standard practice, particularly for a high-volume centre.

CaxCoO2 thin films can be promising for widespread flexible thermoelectric applications in a wide temperature range from room-temperature self-powered wearable applications (by harvesting power from body heat) to energy harvesting from hot surfaces (e.g., hot pipes) if a cost-effective and facile growth technique is developed. Here, we demonstrate a time resolved, facile and ligand-free soft chemical method for the growth of nanoporous Ca0.35CoO2 thin films on sapphire and mica substrates from a water-based precursor ink, composed of in-situ prepared Ca2+-DMF and Co2+-DMF complexes. Mica serves as flexible substrate as well as sacrificial layer for film transfer. The grown films are oriented and can sustain bending stress until a bending radius of 15 mm. Despite the presence of nanopores, the power factor of Ca0.35CoO2 film is found to be as high as 0.50 x 10-4 Wm-1K-2 near room temperature. The present technique, being simple and fast to be potentially suitable for cost-effective industrial upscaling.