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Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research / A 1048, 168007 (2023). doi:10.1016/j.nima.2022.168007, Published by North-Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam

Low-energy investigations on rare ion beams are often limited by the available intensity and purity of the ion species in focus. Here, we present the first application of a technique that combines in-flight production at relativistic energies with subsequent secondary beam storage, accumulation and finally deceleration to the energy of interest. Using the FRS and ESR facilities at GSI, this scheme was pioneered to provide a secondary beam of $^{118}$Te$^{52+}$ for the measurement of nuclear proton-capture at energies of 6 and 7 MeV/u. The technique provided stored beam intensities of about $10^6$ ions at high purity and brilliance, representing a major step towards low-energy nuclear physics studies using rare ion beams.

Neutron-induced reaction cross sections of unstable nuclei are essential for understanding the synthesis of heavy elements in stars and for applications in nuclear technology. However, their measurement is very complicated due to the radioactivity of the targets involved. We propose to circumvent this problem by using the surrogate reaction method in inverse kinematics, where the nucleus formed in the neutron- induced reaction of interest is produced by a reaction involving a radioactive heavy-ion beam and a stable, light target nucleus. The probabilities as a function of the compound-nucleus excitation energy for γ-ray emission, neutron emission and fission, which can be measured with the surrogate reaction, are particularly useful to constrain model parameters and to obtain more accurate predictions of the neutron-induced reaction cross sections of interest. Yet, the full development of the surrogate method is hampered by numerous long- standing target issues, which can be solved by combining surrogate reactions with the unique and largely unexplored possibilities at heavy-ion storage rings. In this contribution, we describe the developments we are carrying out to measure for the first time simultaneously γ-ray emission, neutron emission and fission probabilities at the storage rings of the GSI/FAIR facility. In particular, we will present the first results of the proof of principle experiment, which we performed in June 2022 at the Experimental Storage Ring (ESR) of GSI/FAIR.

The agriculture sector in Punjab has experienced tremendous growth since the era of the Green Revolution of the mid-1960s, which focused on wheat and rice crops. The rational use of fixed inputs in Punjab agriculture appears to be most important for sustaining long run profits of wheat and rice crops as well as for the agriculture sector as a whole. This chapter analyses the economic perspective of wheat and rice production in Punjab under stagnating productivity, increasing costs, changing domestic and global market conditions and the depletion soil–water resources regime. For increasing profitability, the focus would have to be on reducing the cost of production for paddy and wheat. The agricultural price policy since the 1960s has aimed at giving remunerative prices of wheat and paddy in the form of Minimum Support Prices, backed by their effective procurement. The international prices for wheat and rice have been falling since 1995–1996.

A process of uniquely identifying a human being includes the very prominent method of Iris Recognition. One of the approaches in this process is by using Bi-Spectral Imaging. However, in the course of the process the man challenge is the trade-off between inter and intra class variability in the search of performance improvement in such conditions. In the current methods of Biometric Security using pattern recognition feature, it made use of Iris Recognition with feature optimization. Henceforth, our aim in the following research manuscript is to evaluate the recapturing and equality of Iris images for both the noticeable as well as closer-infrared illumination to attain higher accuracy using feature selection and feature extraction method.

Introduction: Free radicals of oxygen causes an abnormal intravascular lipid peroxidase activity and start process of atherosclerosis within blood vessels. Atherosclerosis reversal has been studied in humans and animals. Flavonoids are of plant origin and these are special antioxidant molecules. Arthrosclerosis regression was studied with long term use of Flavonoids and other antioxidants. Material and Methods: This prospective controlled trial study was done on 80 ischemic heart disease patients with effort angina having ST segment depression or elevation of more than 1mm in their normal electrocardiogram. 46 subjects of Group A taken as STUDY group were given Flavonoids Antioxidant combination for a period of 9 months as an adjuvant therapy along with routine medical management. Results of baseline study were compared with follow up results of the same group and also with another 27 subjects of Group B taken as control. Results: The results showed improved myocardial functions, improved lipid profile picture and highly significant reduction of Intima-media thickness of Common carotid artery examined with High resolution B-mode ultrasonography. Mean values of Intima-media thickness (mm) in case of experimental group were 0.92±0.11 at baseline and 0.84±0.10 at follow up. These results in control group at baseline were 0.93±0.12 and at follow up were 0.96±0.15. Data is statistically highly significant (p 0.05) in case of control group. Conclusion: The results of study have clearly reflected that these compounds were able to reduce atherosclerotic plaque present in major and minor arteries.

This study was carried out to predict the durability of automotive car jounce bumper using Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Fatigue life correlations were taken from literatures and it was incorporated into FEA codes. The simulated results were validated with experimental work. The FEA results showed good agreement with the experiment conducted on the jounce bumper in term of load–displacement response. In term of the durability of the component, the fatigue life predicted shows agreement at lower fatigue strains. However, the error becomes larger as the fatigue strains become higher. The differences between the predicted fatigue life and the experimental fatigue life were discussed. Finally, the predicted crack initiation side was also validated in the experiment.

One of the most serious problems occurring during coal extraction in Upper Silesia in Poland is caused by waters with high salinity which also often contain high concentrations of natural radionuclides, mainly 226 Ra and 228 Ra. Similar phenomenon is also observed in oil and gas industry. On the Norwegian continental shelf, substantial amounts of produced waters containing elevated levels of 226 Ra and 228 Ra are discharged to the sea. All of these facts outlined elsewhere in the reports serious resulted in contamination of wide areas surrounding mines and other related industries. Research studies conducted so far have provided a lot of data concerning the scale of this phenomenon. But nowadays, all of them should be reconsidered in the light of newest recommendation of the state of-the-art radiation protection. Namely, such waste deposited directly into the environment creates significant risk to the non-human biota that currently must be assessed as well. On the other hand, such scenario of exposure to ionising radiation creates a good opportunity to observe potential effects of low and protracted doses to the living organisms occurring on contaminated areas, especially plants.

It is evident that most rubber components in the automotive industry are subjected to repetitive loading. Vigorous research is needed towards improving the safety and reliability of the components. The study is conducted on an automotive rubber jounce bumper with a rubber hardness of 60 IRHD. The test is conducted in displacement controlled environment under compressive load. The existing models by Kim, Harbour, Woo and Li are adopted to predict the fatigue life. The experimental results show strong similarities with the predicted models.

Advances in renal transplantation have allowed for improved survival and an increased age of recipients. This has resulted in more aortoiliac lesions requiring intervention. The optimal approach for renal protection during aortoiliac surgery remains unknown. A retrospective review of transplant patients admitted to Toronto General Hospital for aortoiliac reconstruction between 1990 and 2000 was performed. A total of 20 aortic reconstructions were carried out in 18 patients: 5 patients with ascending aortic repairs and 15 patients with aortoiliac reconstructions. Of the five ascending repairs, all had cardiopulmonary bypass and four were performed under hypothermic arrest. There was one allograft loss in the postoperative period and one mortality. Of the 15 aortoiliac reconstructions 12 had protection: 10 temporary axillofemoral artery bypasses and 2 renal cold perfusion. In the 10 patients with temporary bypass protection, there were no graft losses. There was no graft loss in the hypothermic perfusion group. Of the three patients without protection, there was one graft loss. The postoperative rise in serum creatinine was significantly higher (p0.05) in the no-protection group than in those receiving temporary bypass protection. Our algorithm of (1). temporary axillofemoral bypass, (2). cold perfusion if temporary bypass cannot be performed, and (3). clamp and sew if the patient is too unstable allows for surgery with excellent graft survival.

Most rubber components in the automotive industry are subjected to static and dynamic loading. Research on fatigue analysis and ways to enhance fatigue life is constantly done as it’s directly related to the safety and reliability of a product. Fatigue life determination carried out experimentally has the best accuracy however these methods are not feasible when the components are constantly being renewed. The study was done on an automotive rubber jounce bumper with a rubber hardness of 60 IRHD. The test was conducted in displacement controlled environment under compressive load. The compression test reveals that the jounce bumper is able to withstand a maximum force of 7 KN. The fatigue life of the rubber jounce bumper was successfully determined at three zones by separating the safe zone from the potential danger zone. The existing models by Kim, Harbour, Woo and Li were used to compare and validate the fatigue life. The SEM result shows the existence of decohesions in the control jounce bumper.

ObjectivesVascular surgery is traditionally considered a component of general surgery. There is growing evidence of improved patient outcome related to surgeon volume and vascular certification status. The American Board of Surgery in the United States, as well as until recently the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons in Canada, requires that vascular surgery be considered an essential content area of general surgery training. This requirement is controversial. The purpose of this study was to describe experience and perceived competence in common vascular surgery procedures during general surgery residency training in Canada.MethodsThis web-based survey was conducted between January and June 2002. General surgery program directors (GSPDs), vascular surgeons involved in general surgery training programs (VSs), and senior general surgery residents (SRs) from the 13 English-speaking general surgery programs in Canada were surveyed. Questions were asked regarding which vascular surgery procedures are appropriate for general surgeons to perform, which procedures SRs are trained to perform, and which procedures SR intend to perform.ResultsThe response rate was 62% for GSPDs, 57% for VSs, and 45% for SRs. Overall, 49% of SRs did not intend to perform any vascular procedures after training. GSPDs, VSs, and SRs indicated that most SRs should be and are trained to perform varicose vein surgery, leg amputation, and femoral embolectomy (P > .05). In addition, GSPDs, VSs, and SRs indicated that SRs should not be and are not trained to perform infrainguinal bypass grafting, carotid endarterectomy, or abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (P > .05). There were significant differences with respect to ruptured AAA repair: 49% of SRs, 25% of PDs, and only 12% of VSs believe that general surgeons should be trained to perform ruptured AAA repair (P < .05). Overall, 76% of VSs believe SRs receive too little vascular training.ConclusionThere is similarity between GSPDs, VSs, and SRs with respect to vascular surgery training in Canadian general surgery programs. Vascular surgery training cannot be considered a component of general surgery. More rotations or fellowship training is required to become competent in management of common vascular surgery procedures. Perhaps this level of competence should not be an objective of general surgery training.

It is evident that most rubber components in the automotive industry are subjected to repetitive loading. Vigorous research is needed towards improving the safety and reliability of the components. The study was done on an automotive rubber jounce bumper with a rubber hardness of 60 IRHD. The test was conducted in displacement-controlled environment under compressive load. The existing models by Kim, Harbour, Woo and Li were adopted to predict the fatigue life. The experimental results show strong similarities with the predicted models.

Propagation of plane harmonic waves in homogeneous anisotropic generalized thermoelastic materials was studied after deriving the secular equation. It was found that four dispersive wave modes are possible. Three modes called quasi-elastic (E) are the usual modes of coupled thermoelasticity. The fourth mode, called quasi-thermal (T), which is diffusive in coupled thermoelasticity, now becomes wave-like with finite velocity of propagation. High and low-frequency approximations have been obtained for all the modes.