Showing papers by "Tata Institute of Fundamental Research published in 2004"

Tobacco and cancer: recent epidemiological evidence.

Abstract: During the 1950s, the evidence was clearly sufficient to establish the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoking (1). By the end of the 1950s, convincing evidence linking smoking with lung cancer and other cancers had been obtained from case–control and cohort studies, carcinogens had been identified in tobacco smoke, and cigarette smoke condensate had been shown to cause tumors when painted on the skin of mice. Since then, the numbers of deaths attributable to tobacco smoking have sharply increased, reflecting the heavy smoking patterns of previous decades. It has been estimated that tobacco smoking is currently responsible for approximately 30% of all cancer deaths in developed countries, and that if current smoking patterns persist, an epidemic of cancer attributable to tobacco smoking is expected to occur in developing countries (2). In addition, smoking causes even more deaths from vascular, respiratory, and other diseases than from cancer, so that, in total, tobacco smoking is estimated to account for approximately 4–5 million deaths a year worldwide. This number is projected to increase to approximately 10 million a year by 2030. Thus, if current smoking patterns continue, there will be more than 1 billion deaths attributable to tobacco smoking in the 21 century compared with approximately 100 million deaths in the 20 century (2). The only other causes of disease with such rapidly increasing impact are those associated with human immunodeficiency virus infection and, perhaps, obesity in Western countries (2). In this commentary, we review the evidence regarding the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke that has accumulated during the last 16 years since the publication of Monograph 38 of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in 1986 (3) to the updating of that monograph (Monograph 83) in 2002 (4). The evidence now available shows that tobacco smoke is a multipotent carcinogenic mixture that can cause cancer in many different organs. In addition, exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (i.e., involuntary or passive smoking by persons who do not smoke) is also carcinogenic for the human lung. This commentary, written by the epidemiologists who participated in the 2002 IARC Working Group for the preparation of the IARC Monograph 83 (4), is based on the substantial body of evidence reviewed for that purpose. It represents, however, solely the views of the authors.

High-energy particle acceleration in the shell of a supernova remnant.

Abstract: A significant fraction of the energy density of the interstellar medium is in the form of high-energy charged particles (cosmic rays)1. The origin of these particles remains uncertain. Although it is generally accepted that the only sources capable of supplying the energy required to accelerate the bulk of Galactic cosmic rays are supernova explosions, and even though the mechanism of particle acceleration in expanding supernova remnant (SNR) shocks is thought to be well understood theoretically2,3, unequivocal evidence for the production of high-energy particles in supernova shells has proven remarkably hard to find. Here we report on observations of the SNR RX J1713.7 - 3946 (G347.3 - 0.5), which was discovered by ROSAT4 in the X-ray spectrum and later claimed as a source of high-energy γ-rays5,6 of TeV energies (1 TeV = 1012 eV). We present a TeV γ-ray image of the SNR: the spatially resolved remnant has a shell morphology similar to that seen in X-rays, which demonstrates that very-high-energy particles are accelerated there. The energy spectrum indicates efficient acceleration of charged particles to energies beyond 100 TeV, consistent with current ideas of particle acceleration in young SNR shocks.

The physics behind high-temperature superconducting cuprates: the ‘plain vanilla’ version of RVB

Abstract: One of the first theoretical proposals for understanding high-temperature superconductivity in the cuprates was Anderson's RVB theory using a Gutzwiller projected BCS wavefunction as an approximate ground state. Recent work by Paramekanti et al has shown that this variational approach gives a semi-quantitative understanding of the doping dependences of a variety of experimental observables in the superconducting state of the cuprates. In this paper we revisit these issues using the 'renormalized mean field theory' of Zhang et al based on the Gutzwiller approximation in which the kinetic and superexchange energies are renormalized by different doping-dependent factors gt and gS respectively. We point out a number of consequences of this early mean field theory for experimental measurements which were not available when it was first explored, and observe that it is able to explain the existence of the pseudogap, properties of nodal quasiparticles and approximate spin–charge separation, the latter leading to large renormalizations of the Drude weight and superfluid density. We use the Lee–Wen theory of the phase transition as caused by thermal excitation of nodal quasiparticles, and also obtain a number of further experimental confirmations. Finally, we remark that superexchange, and not phonons, is responsible for d-wave superconductivity in the cuprates.

Observation and properties of the X(3872) decaying to J/ψπ+π- in pp̄ collisions at √s = 1.96 TeV

Abstract: We report the observation of the X(3872) in the J/psipi(+)pi(-) channel, with J/psi decaying to mu(+)mu(-), in p (p) over bar collisions at roots=1.96 TeV. Using approximately 230 pb(-1) of data collected with the Run II D0 detector, we observe 522+/-100 X(3872) candidates. The mass difference between the X(3872) state and the J/psi is measured to be 774.9+/-3.1(stat)+/-3.0(syst) MeV/c(2). We have investigated the production and decay characteristics of the X(3872) and find them to be similar to those of the psi(2S) state.

Rafts : scale-dependent, active lipid organization at the cell surface

Abstract: Rafts have been conceptualized as lateral heterogeneities in the organization of cholesterol and sphingolipids, endowed with sorting and signaling functions. In this review we critically examine evidence for the main tenet of the ‘raft hypothesis’, namely lipid-dependent segregation of specific membrane components in the plasma membrane. We suggest that conventional approaches to studying raft organization wherein membranes are treated as passive, thermally equilibrated systems are unlikely to provide an adequate framework to understand the mechanisms of raft-organization in vivo. An emerging view of raft organization is that it is spatio-temporally regulated at different scales by the cell. This argues that rafts must be defined by simultaneous observation of components involved in particular functions. Recent evidence from the study of glycosylphosphatidyl inositolanchored proteins, a common raft-marker, supports this picture in which larger scale, more stable rafts are induced from preexisting small-scale lipid-dependent structures actively maintained by cellular processes.

Magnetoelectricity at room temperature in the Bi 0.9 − x Tb x La 0.1 FeO 3 system

Abstract: Magnetoelectric compounds with the general formula, ${\mathrm{Bi}}_{09\ensuremath{-}x}{R}_{x}{\mathrm{La}}_{01}{\mathrm{FeO}}_{3}$ $(R=\mathrm{Gd},$ Tb, Dy, etc), have been synthesized These show the coexistence of ferroelectricity and magnetism, possess high dielectric constant and exhibit magnetoelectric coupling at room temperature Such materials may be of great significance in basic as well as applied research

Epidemiology of betel quid usage.

Abstract: Betel quid chewing is an ancient practice common in many countries of Asia and among migrated communities in Africa, Europe and North America. It enjoys complete social acceptance in many societies and is also popular among women. In its most basic form, betel quid consists of betel leaf (Piper betel), areca nut, the main psychoactive ingredient, and slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). Areca nut is said to be the fourth most commonly used psychoactive substance in the world, after caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. There are a great variety of ingredients and ways of preparing betel quid in different countries. In some, particularly in India, tobacco is added to the quid. In recent years, commercially-manufactured non-perishable forms of betel quid (pan masala or betel quid mixtures and gutka), not containing betel leaf, have been marketed. Within a short period of about 2 decades, this industry has risen in value to several hundred US million dollars. Use of areca nut in any form is not safe for oral health; the use of commercially manufactured forms seems even riskier.

On the Diophantine Equation n(n+d) ... (n+(k-1)d) = byl

Abstract: We show that the product of four or five consecutive positive terms in arithmetic progression can never be a perfect power whenever the initial term is coprime to the common difference of the arithmetic progression. This is a generalization of the results of Euler and Oblath for the case of squares, and an extension of a theorem of Gyory on three terms in arithmetic progressions. Several other results concerning the integral solutions of the equation of the title are also obtained. We extend results of Sander on the rational solutions of the equation in n,y when b=d=1. We show that there are only finitely many solutions in n,d,b,y when k \get 3, l \geq 2 are fixed and k+l > 6.

The cosmic coalescence rates for double neutron star binaries

Abstract: We report on the newly increased event rates due to the recent discovery of the highly relativistic binary pulsar J07373039. Using a rigorous statistical method, we present the calculations reported by Burgay et al., which produce a coalescence rate for Galactic double neutron star (DNS) systems that is higher by a factor of 6–7 compared to estimates made prior to the new discovery. Our method takes into account known pulsar survey selection effects and biases due to small-number statistics. This rate increase has dramatic implications for gravitational wave detectors. For the initial Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) detectors, the most probable detection rates for DNS in-spirals are one event per 5–250 yr; at 95% confidence, we obtain rates up to one per 1.5 yr. For the advanced LIGO detectors, the most probable rates are 20–1000 events per year. These predictions, for the first time, bring the expectations for DNS detections by the initial LIGO detectors to the astrophysically relevant regime. We also use our models to predict that the large-scale Parkes Multibeam pulsar survey with acceleration searches could detect an average of three to four binary pulsars similar to those known at present. Subject headings: binaries: close — gravitational waves — methods: statistical — stars: neutron

Constraining solar abundances using helioseismology

Abstract: Recent analyses of solar photospheric abundances suggest that the oxygen abundance in the solar atmosphere needs to be revised downward. In this study, we investigate the consequence of this revision on helioseismic analyses of the depth of the solar convection zone and the helium abundance in the solar envelope and find no significant effect. We also find that the revised abundances along with the current OPAL opacity tables are not consistent with seismic data. A significant upward revision of the opacity tables is required to make solar models with lower oxygen abundance consistent with seismic observations.

A stringy cloak for a classical singularity

Abstract: We consider a class of 4D supersymmetric black hole solutions, arising from string theory compactifications, which classically have vanishing horizon area and singular space-time geometry. String theory motivates the inclusion of higher derivative terms, which convert these singular classical solutions into regular black holes with finite horizon area. In particular, the supersymmetric attractor equations imply that the central charge, which determines the radius of the AdS2 × S2 near horizon geometry, acquires a non-vanishing value due to quantum effects. In this case quantum corrections to the Bekenstein-Hawking relation between entropy and area are large. This is the first explicit example where stringy quantum gravity effects replace a classical null singularity by a black hole with finite horizon area.

Inclusive measurement of the photon energy spectrum in b → sγ decays

Abstract: We report a fully inclusive measurement of the flavor changing neutral current decay $b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s\ensuremath{\gamma}$ in the energy range $1.8\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{*}\ensuremath{\le}2.8\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$, covering 95% of the total spectrum. Using $140\text{ }\mathrm{f}{\mathrm{b}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{1}}$, we obtain $\mathcal{B}(b\ensuremath{\rightarrow}s\ensuremath{\gamma})=(3.55\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}{0.32}_{\ensuremath{-}0.31\ensuremath{-}0.07}^{+0.30+0.11})\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$, where the errors are statistical, systematic, and from theory corrections. We also measure the first and second moments of the photon energy spectrum above $1.8\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ and obtain $\ensuremath{\langle}{E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}\ensuremath{\rangle}=2.292\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.026\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.034\text{ }\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}$ and $\ensuremath{\langle}{E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}^{2}\ensuremath{\rangle}\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\langle}{E}_{\ensuremath{\gamma}}{\ensuremath{\rangle}}^{2}=0.0305\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0074\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.0063\text{ }{\mathrm{G}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{V}}^{2}$, where the errors are statistical and systematic.

A large deviations perspective on ordinal optimization

Abstract: We consider the problem of optimal allocation of computing budget to maximize the probability of correct selection in the ordinal optimization setting. This problem has been studied in the literature in an approximate mathematical framework under the assumption that the underlying random variables have a Gaussian distribution. We use the large deviations theory to develop a mathematically rigorous framework for determining the optimal allocation of computing resources even when the underlying variables have general, non-Gaussian distributions. Further, in a simple setting we show that when there exists an indifference zone, quick stopping rules may be developed that exploit the exponential decay rates of the probability of false selection. In practice, the distributions of the underlying variables are estimated from generated samples leading to performance degradation due to estimation errors. On a positive note, we show that the corresponding estimates of optimal allocations converge to their true values as the number of samples used for estimation increases to infinity.

Study of B-→D**0π-(D**0→D(*)+π-) decays

Abstract: We report the results of a study of charged B decays to the D(+/-)pi(-/+)pi(-/+) and D(*+/-)pi(-/+)pi(-/+) final states using complete D-(*) reconstruction. The contributions of two-body B-->D**pi decays with narrow (j=3/2) and broad (j=1/2) D** states have been determined and the masses and widths of four D** states have been measured. This is the first observation of the broad P-wave D-0*(0) and D'(0)(1) mesons. The analysis is based on a data sample of 65 million B(B) over bar pairs collected in the Belle experiment.

Role of critical current on the point-contact Andreev reflection spectra between a normal metal and a superconductor

Abstract: The point-contact spectrum between a normal metal and a superconductor often shows unexpected sharp dips in the conductance at voltage values larger than the superconducting energy gap. These dips are not predicted in the Blonder-Tinkham-Klapwijk (BTK) theory, commonly used to analyze these contacts. We present here a systematic study of these dips in a variety of contacts between different combinations of a superconductor and a normal metal. From the correlation between the characteristics of these dips with the contact area, we conclude that such dips are caused by the contact not being in the ballistic limit. An analysis of the possible errors introduced while analyzing such a spectrum with the standard BTK model is also presented.

Properties of magnetite nanoparticles synthesized through a novel chemical route

Abstract: We have developed a simple precipitation route to synthesize magnetite (Fe3O4) nano-particles with controlled size without any requirement of calcination step at high temperatures. The study of these nano-particles indicates an enhancement in saturation magnetization with reduction in size down to ~10 nm beyond which the magnetization reduces. The latter is attributed to surface effects becoming predominant as surface to core volume ratio increases. From the view -point of applications, 10 nm size of magnetite particles seems to be the optimum.

High- T c superconductors: A variational theory of the superconducting state

Abstract: We use a variational approach to gain insight into the strongly correlated $d$-wave superconducting state of the high ${T}_{c}$ cuprates at $T=0$. We show that strong correlations lead to qualitatively different trends in pairing and phase coherence: the pairing scale decreases monotonically with hole doping while the superconducting order parameter shows a nonmonotonic dome. We obtain detailed results for the doping dependence of a large number of experimentally observable quantities, including the chemical potential, coherence length, momentum distribution, nodal quasiparticle weight and dispersion, incoherent features in photoemission spectra, optical spectral weight, and superfluid density. Most of our results are in remarkable quantitative agreement with existing data and some of our predictions, first reported in Phys. Rev. Lett. 87, 217002 (2001), have been recently verified.

Plasma devices to guide and collimate a high density of MeV electrons

Abstract: The development of ultra-intense lasers1 has facilitated new studies in laboratory astrophysics2 and high-density nuclear science3, including laser fusion4,5,6,7. Such research relies on the efficient generation of enormous numbers of high-energy charged particles. For example, laser–matter interactions at petawatt (1015 W) power levels can create pulses of MeV electrons8,9,10 with current densities as large as 1012 A cm-2. However, the divergence of these particle beams5 usually reduces the current density to a few times 106 A cm-2 at distances of the order of centimetres from the source. The invention of devices that can direct such intense, pulsed energetic beams will revolutionize their applications. Here we report high-conductivity devices consisting of transient plasmas that increase the energy density of MeV electrons generated in laser–matter interactions by more than one order of magnitude. A plasma fibre created on a hollow-cone target guides and collimates electrons in a manner akin to the control of light by an optical fibre and collimator. Such plasma devices hold promise for applications using high energy-density particles and should trigger growth in charged particle optics.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy intrusion detection systems

Abstract: The Intrusion Detection System architecture commonly used in commercial and research systems have a number of problems that limit their configurability, scalability or efficiency. In this paper, two machine-learning paradigms, Artificial Neural Networks and Fuzzy Inference System, are used to design an Intrusion Detection System. SNORT is used to perform real time traffic analysis and packet logging on IP network during the training phase of the system. Then a signature pattern database is constructed using protocol analysis and Neuro-Fuzzy learning method. Using 1998 DARPA Intrusion Detection Evaluation Data and TCP dump raw data, the experiments are deployed and discussed.

Modulation of different states of anxiety-like behavior by chronic stress.

Abstract: Recent studies have identified putative cellular correlates of stress-induced amygdalar plasticity underlying anxiety-like behavior. Chronic immobilization stress (CIS), but not chronic unpredictable stress (CUS), has been reported to induce dendritic remodeling in the basolateral amygdala (BLA). The BLA is also important for consolidation of anxiety in the elevated plus-maze, which is manifested as increased open-arm avoidance on reexposure to the maze. The authors found that CIS, unlike CUS, facilitated anxiety-like behavior in the plus-maze, and this occluded further increase in anxiety when CIS rats were reexposed to the maze 72 hr after the first trial. However, both CUS and control rats exhibited consolidation between trials. Thus, consolidation of anxiety may share common cellular mechanisms that also underlie chronic stress-induced structural plasticity in the amygdala.

High energy transient explorer 2 observations of the extremely soft x-ray flash xrf 020903

Abstract: We report High Energy Transient Explorer 2 (HETE-2) Wide Field X-Ray Monitor/French Gamma Telescope observations of the X-ray flash XRF 020903. This event was extremely soft: the ratio log(SX/Sγ) = 0.7, where SX and Sγ are the fluences in the 2-30 and 30-400 keV energy bands, is the most extreme value observed so far by HETE-2. In addition, the spectrum has an observed peak energy of E < 5.0 keV (99.7% probability upper limit), and no photons were detected above ~10 keV. The burst is shorter at higher energies, which is similar to the behavior of long gamma-ray bursts (GRBs). We consider the possibility that the burst lies at very high redshift and that the low value of E is due to the cosmological redshift, and show that this is very unlikely. We find that the properties of XRF 020903 are consistent with the relation between the fluences S(7-30 keV) and S(30-400 keV), found by Barraud et al. for GRBs and X-ray-rich GRBs, and are consistent with the extension by a decade of the hardness-intensity correlation found by the same authors. Assuming that XRF 020903 lies at a redshift z = 0.25, as implied by the host galaxy of the candidate optical and radio afterglows of this burst, we find that the properties of XRF 020903 are consistent with an extension by a factor ~300 of the relation between the isotropic-equivalent energy Eiso and the peak Epeak of the νFν spectrum (in the source frame of the burst) found by Amati et al. for GRBs. The results presented in this paper therefore provide evidence that X-ray flashes (XRFs), X-ray-rich GRBs, and GRBs form a continuum and are a single phenomenon. The results also impose strong constraints on models of XRFs and X-ray-rich GRBs.

Adaptive neuro-fuzzy intrusion detection systems

Abstract: The intrusion detection system architecture commonly used in commercial and research systems have a number of problems that limit their configurability, scalability or efficiency. In this paper, two machine-learning paradigms, artificial neural networks and fuzzy inference system, are used to design an intrusion detection system. SNORT is used to perform real time traffic analysis and packet logging on IP network during the training phase of the system. Then a signature pattern database is constructed using protocol analysis and neuro-fuzzy learning method. Using 1998 DARPA Intrusion Detection Evaluation Data and TCP dump raw data, the experiments are deployed and discussed.