Wideband Direct Detection Constraints on Hidden Photon Dark Matter with the QUALIPHIDE Experiment.

We report direction detection constraints on the presence of hidden photon dark matter with masses between 20-30 µeV c^{-2}, using a cryogenic emitter-receiver-amplifier spectroscopy setup designed as the first iteration of QUALIPHIDE (quantum limited photons in the dark experiment). A metallic dish sources conversion photons, from hidden photon kinetic mixing, onto a horn antenna which is coupled to a C band kinetic inductance traveling wave parametric amplifier, providing for near quantum-limited noise performance. We demonstrate a first probing of the kinetic mixing parameter χ to the 10^{-12} level for the majority of hidden photon masses in this region. These results not only represent stringent constraints on new dark matter parameter space, but are also the first demonstrated use of wideband quantum-limited amplification for astroparticle applications.

Improved Constraints on Primordial Gravitational Waves using Planck, WMAP, and BICEP/Keck Observations through the 2018 Observing Season.

We present results from an analysis of all data taken by the BICEP2, Keck Array, and BICEP3 CMB polarization experiments up to and including the 2018 observing season. We add additional Keck Array observations at 220 GHz and BICEP3 observations at 95 GHz to the previous 95/150/220 GHz dataset. The Q/U maps now reach depths of 2.8, 2.8, and 8.8 µK_{CMB} arcmin at 95, 150, and 220 GHz, respectively, over an effective area of ≈600 square degrees at 95 GHz and ≈400 square degrees at 150 and 220 GHz. The 220 GHz maps now achieve a signal-to-noise ratio on polarized dust emission exceeding that of Planck at 353 GHz. We take auto- and cross-spectra between these maps and publicly available WMAP and Planck maps at frequencies from 23 to 353 GHz and evaluate the joint likelihood of the spectra versus a multicomponent model of lensed ΛCDM+r+dust+synchrotron+noise. The foreground model has seven parameters, and no longer requires a prior on the frequency spectral index of the dust emission taken from measurements on other regions of the sky. This model is an adequate description of the data at the current noise levels. The likelihood analysis yields the constraint r_{0.05}<0.036 at 95% confidence. Running maximum likelihood search on simulations we obtain unbiased results and find that σ(r)=0.009. These are the strongest constraints to date on primordial gravitational waves.

Physiologic Specialization and Genetic Differentiation of Puccinia triticina Causing Leaf Rust of Wheat on the Indian Subcontinent During 2016 to 2019.

Wheat is the second most cultivated cereal crop in the world and is an important crop in India. Leaf (brown) rust, caused by Puccinia triticina, was the most prevalent among the three rusts found in all the wheat-growing areas of India, Bhutan, and Nepal during 2016 to 2019. Leaf rust samples from wheat crops in these countries were pathotyped using the wheat differential genotypes and binomial Indian system of nomenclature. To facilitate international communication, each pathotype identified was also tested using the North American differentials. A total of 33 pathotypes were identified from 1,086 samples, including three new pathotypes: 61R47 (162-5 = KHTPM) and 93R49 (49 = NHKTN) from India and 93R57 (20-1 = NHKTN) from Nepal. Two pathotypes, 121R60-1 (77-9/52 = MHTKL) and 121R63-1 (77-5 = THTTM), accounted for 79.46% of the population. Virulence on Lr19 was identified in 0.27% of the samples from Nepal only. The proportion of pathotype 121R60-1 (77-9 = MHTKL) increased to 57.55% during these years. Virulence was not observed on Lr9, Lr24, Lr25, Lr28, Lr32, Lr39, Lr45, and Lr47 in the population of the Indian subcontinent. Eighteen polymorphic simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs tested on the isolates amplified 48 alleles with an average of 2.66 alleles per primer pair. Based on SSR genotyping, these pathotypes could be grouped into two clades with another two subclades each. Many of the Lr genes present in Indian wheat germplasm (Lr1, Lr3a, Lr10, Lr11, Lr14a, Lr15, Lr16, Lr17, Lr20, Lr23, and Lr26) were ineffective for a majority of pathotypes. Most of these varieties possessed a high degree of leaf rust resistance. The field resistance of wheat varieties could be attributed to the interaction of genes, unknown resistance, or adult plant resistance.

Broadband, millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for large-format, cryogenic aluminum oxide optics.

We present two prescriptions for broadband ($ {\sim} 77 - 252\;{\rm GHz} $), millimeter-wave antireflection coatings for cryogenic, sintered polycrystalline aluminum oxide optics: one for large-format (700 mm diameter) planar and plano-convex elements, the other for densely packed arrays of quasi-optical elements-in our case, 5 mm diameter half-spheres (called "lenslets"). The coatings comprise three layers of commercially available, polytetrafluoroethylene-based, dielectric sheet material. The lenslet coating is molded to fit the 150 mm diameter arrays directly, while the large-diameter lenses are coated using a tiled approach. We review the fabrication processes for both prescriptions, then discuss laboratory measurements of their transmittance and reflectance. In addition, we present the inferred refractive indices and loss tangents for the coating materials and the aluminum oxide substrate. We find that at 150 GHz and 300 K the large-format coating sample achieves $ (97 \pm 2)\% $ transmittance, and the lenslet coating sample achieves $ (94 \pm 3)\% $ transmittance.

Results from the Super Cryogenic Dark Matter Search Experiment at Soudan.

We report the result of a blinded search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the majority of the SuperCDMS Soudan data set. With an exposure of 1690 kg d, a single candidate event is observed, consistent with expected backgrounds. This analysis (combined with previous Ge results) sets an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.4×10^{-44} (1.0×10^{-44}) cm^{2} at 46 GeV/c^{2}. These results set the strongest limits for WIMP-germanium-nucleus interactions for masses >12 GeV/c^{2}.

Quantifying the burden of out-of-pocket health expenditure in India.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims at analyzing the dimensions of the burden of out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure in rural and urban India between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012. STUDY DESIGN: Consumer Expenditure Survey data of the National Sample Survey for the period of 1999-2000 (55th round), 2004-2005 (61st round), and 2011-2012 (68th round) have been used in this study. METHODS: To analyze the dimension of OOP healthcare expenditure, this study has used headcount measure, which includes change in the percentage of population paying OOP health expenditure, concentration index of headcount, rank-weighted headcount, and gap measures, which includes average per capita gap (health expenditure), mean positive gap, concentration index, and rank-weighted gap for rural, urban, and all India level between 1999-2000 and 2011-2012. RESULTS: The authors have found that a large percentage of the population in rural and urban India is still not reporting health expenditure. There is a huge difference between per capita health expenditure in rural and urban areas during the study period. The percentage of the population that reported OOP health expenditure has increased at the bottom level, but the expenditure got more concentrated toward better-off people in both rural and urban areas of the country in this time period. It is also clear from the results that the concentration of average per capita gap (Co) in rural areas leans towards better-off people more than in urban areas. CONCLUSION: This study advocates for health sector reforms to protect households from the significant burden of expenditure on critical health care.

New Results from the Search for Low-Mass Weakly Interacting Massive Particles with the CDMS Low Ionization Threshold Experiment.

The CDMS low ionization threshold experiment (CDMSlite) uses cryogenic germanium detectors operated at a relatively high bias voltage to amplify the phonon signal in the search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs). Results are presented from the second CDMSlite run with an exposure of 70 kg day, which reached an energy threshold for electron recoils as low as 56 eV. A fiducialization cut reduces backgrounds below those previously reported by CDMSlite. New parameter space for the WIMP-nucleon spin-independent cross section is excluded for WIMP masses between 1.6 and 5.5 GeV/c^{2}.

Titanium elastic nailing in femoral diaphyseal fractures in children of 6-14 years age.

BACKGROUND: Traditionally conservative methods were used in managing paediatric femoral diaphyseal fractures. There has been a renewed interest for operative treatment with Titanium elastic nail system (TENS) in the age group of 6-14 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was done on 20 patients. Two titanium nails were used for stabilization. We followed them for maximum of two years. The results were evaluated using Flynn's scoring criteria. RESULTS: In our study we had fifteen males and five females with average age 10.35 years. Average time for fracture union was 9.0 weeks, full weight bearing 9.2 weeks, hospital stay 8.6 days and return to school at 10 weeks. The results were excellent in 14, good in 5 and poor in 1 patient. Most common complication was irritation at nail entry site. No delayed union or nonunion seen. CONCLUSION: Treatment of diaphyseal femoral fracture in selected pediatric patients by TENS is reasonably effective.

First direct limits on lightly ionizing particles with electric charge less than e/6.

While the standard model of particle physics does not include free particles with fractional charge, experimental searches have not ruled out their existence. We report results from the Cryogenic Dark Matter Search (CDMS II) experiment that give the first direct-detection limits for cosmogenically produced relativistic particles with electric charge lower than e/6. A search for tracks in the six stacked detectors of each of two of the CDMS II towers finds no candidates, thereby excluding new parameter space for particles with electric charges between e/6 and e/200.

Selection of Host Differentials for Elucidating Pathogenic Variation in Magnaporthe grisea Populations Adapted to Finger Millet (Eleusine coracana).

Blast, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), is the most devastating disease of finger millet affecting production, utilization, and trade in Africa and Southeast Asia. An attempt was made to select a set of putative host differentials that can be used to determine virulence diversity in finger-millet-infecting populations of M. grisea. Thus, a differential set comprising eight germplasm accessions selected from finger millet core collection (IE 2911, IE 2957, IE 3392, IE 4497, IE 5091, IE 6240, IE 6337, and IE 7079) and a resistant ('GPU 28') and a susceptible ('VR 708') variety was developed. This differential set was used to study pathogenic variation in 25 isolates of M. grisea collected from Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh states in India. Based on the reaction (virulent = score ≥4 and avirulent = score ≤3 on a 1-to-9 scale) on host differentials, nine pathotypes were identified among 25 M. grisea isolates. Pathotype 9, represented by isolate Pg23 from Vizianagaram, was the most virulent because it could infect all of the host differentials except GPU 28. This study will be helpful in devising strategies for monitoring virulence change in M. grisea populations, and for identification of blast resistance in finger millet for use in disease resistance breeding programs.

Design and development of a safer non-invasive transungual drug delivery system for topical treatment of onychomycosis.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study is to develop a safer non-invasive treatment for nail infections since the current treatment regimen has drawbacks like, incidence of systemic side-effects and higher cost. Proposed topical treatment on the other hand can drastically improve the situation, hence highly desirable. This work was undertaken with a hypothesis to develop a transungual microemulsion gel for topical treatment of onychomycosis. METHODS: Benzyl alcohol and isopropyl myristate were used as oil, Pluronic F68 as surfactant and ethanol as co surfactant, in double-distilled water and loading itraconazole as the model antifungal drug. Pseudo-ternary phase diagram was developed by titrating different ratios of total oil and water with total surfactant, and Km ratio was fixed at 1:1. Microemulsion formulations were prepared based on the phase diagram and incorporated in gels by adding Carbopol 934P. Nail permeation enhancers like urea and salicylic acid were used to increase drug permeation through the nail plate. Parameters like drug loading, clarity, particle size distribution, drug entrapment efficiency (DEE), drug release profile, release kinetics and nail uptake were checked for the evaluation of the formulations. RESULTS: Complete release of drug from the formulation varied from 60 to 120 min. The optimized formulation had DEE of 92.75%, complete drug release in 60 min and highest nail uptake of 0.386%/mm(2) (39 µg of drug) with 5% urea as nail permeation enhancer. CONCLUSION: The formulation may prove beneficial in safer treatment of onychomycosis.

Giving a second thought to brisement force - a case report.

Fractures of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) may be caused by indirect trauma where force of trauma is transmitted to the mandibular condyle from a blow elsewhere or in other situations may also result from direct trauma. TMJ trauma in children is usually accompanied with pain, swelling, limited jaw movement and other additional findings. This report highlights a case of post traumatic trismus successfully managed with Brisement force - gradual tractional forces applied to the temporomandibular joint.

Relation between Serum Intact Parathyroid Hormone Level and Hematocrit in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients.

Background Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease. There are various causes of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients on hemodialysis. Secondary hyperparathyroidism is one of the less recognized causes of anemia in chronic kidney disease patients. Objectives The main objective of the study is to find the correlation between intact parathyroid hormone and hematocrit level in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis. Method Verbal consent was taken from all the participants. Eighty participants between the age of 29 and 70 years with chronic kidney disease having indication of hemodialysis were included in this study. Hematocrit was measured by bioelectrical impedance method and serum intact parathyroid hormone was by using Chemi Luminescence Immuno Assay (CLIA) method. Result A weak reverse correlation was found between serum intact parathyroid level and hematocrit (r= -0.33). Conclusion In chronic kidney disease patient, there is reverse correlation between level of serum intact parathyroid and hematocrit level. This association may have clinical relevance in assessing the cause of unexplained low hemoglobin level in CKD patients.

Search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles with SuperCDMS.

We report a first search for weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) using the background rejection capabilities of SuperCDMS. An exposure of 577 kg days was analyzed for WIMPs with mass <30 GeV/c(2), with the signal region blinded. Eleven events were observed after unblinding. We set an upper limit on the spin-independent WIMP-nucleon cross section of 1.2×10(-42) cm(2) at 8 GeV/c(2). This result is in tension with WIMP interpretations of recent experiments and probes new parameter space for WIMP-nucleon scattering for WIMP masses <6 GeV/c(2).

Search for low-mass weakly interacting massive particles using voltage-assisted calorimetric ionization detection in the SuperCDMS experiment.

SuperCDMS is an experiment designed to directly detect weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs), a favored candidate for dark matter ubiquitous in the Universe. In this Letter, we present WIMP-search results using a calorimetric technique we call CDMSlite, which relies on voltage-assisted Luke-Neganov amplification of the ionization energy deposited by particle interactions. The data were collected with a single 0.6 kg germanium detector running for ten live days at the Soudan Underground Laboratory. A low energy threshold of 170 eVee (electron equivalent) was obtained, which allows us to constrain new WIMP-nucleon spin-independent parameter space for WIMP masses below 6 GeV/c2.

Identification of Blast Resistance in a Core Collection of Foxtail Millet Germplasm.

Blast, also known as leaf spot, caused by Pyricularia grisea (teleomorph: Magnaporthe grisea), is a serious disease affecting both forage and grain production in foxtail millet in India. For the identification of new and diverse sources of blast resistance, a foxtail millet core collection comprising 155 accessions was evaluated against the Patancheru isolate (Fx 57) of M. grisea. In a field screen during 2009 and 2010, 21 accessions were identified with neck and head blast resistance against Fx 57. In a greenhouse screen, 11 of the 155 accessions exhibited seedling leaf blast resistance to the same isolate. Further evaluation of the selected 28 accessions (found resistant to neck and head blast under field conditions during 2009 and 2010 or leaf blast in the greenhouse screen) against four M. grisea isolates (Fx 57, Fx 58, Fx 60, and Fx 62 from Patancheru, Nandyal, Vizianagaram, and Mandya, respectively) led to the identification of 16 accessions with leaf, sheath, neck, and head blast resistance to at least one isolate. Two accessions (ISe 1181 and ISe 1547) were free from head blast infection and showed resistance to leaf (score ≤3.0 on a 1-to-9 scale), neck, and sheath blast (score ≤2.0 on a 1-to-5 scale) against all four isolates. In addition, ISe 1067 and ISe 1575 also exhibited high levels of blast resistance. Blast-resistant accessions with superior agronomic and nutritional quality traits can be evaluated in multilocation yield trials before releasing them for cultivation to farmers.