Quantum algorithms for event generation in high-energy collisions

The efficient simulation of accurate collider data at modern collider experiments will be crucial for the detection of Beyond the Standard Model signatures in the search for new physics. Simulation of collision processes at hadron colliders like the LHC are carried out by Monte Carlo event generators which simulate the evolution from an initial hard scattering event, downwards in energy scales, towards the formation of long lived particles. However, as we enter a new era of higher luminosity experiments, accurate simulations of these pseudo-event generated data will become further computationally intensive with the vast amounts of data to generate. With the rapid development of quantum computing hardware, quantum computation offers itself as an alternative computing paradigm that may be harnessed to provide a natural framework to model several physical processes in high-energy physics, where the inherent quantum features of the device may be exploited to provide speedups or enhance current simulations. In this thesis, we present general and extendable quantum algorithms for two crucial parts of event generation: the calculation of matrix elements for the hard interaction and the QCD parton shower stage. First, a novel algorithm is proposed for the calculation of helicity amplitudes by outlining a proposal of constructing helicity spinors directly on a quantum circuit and manipulating the spinors to compute helicity amplitudes. This was used to calculate multiple helicity amplitudes for simple tree level scattering processes simultaneously as a proof-of-principle demonstration. The second algorithm outlines a proposal for a Monte Carlo-inspired parton shower algorithm which was used to simulate two shower steps of a simplified QCD model. The final algorithm extends the quantum parton shower algorithm onto a quantum walk framework which demonstrates significant scaling improvements, simulating more realistic shower depths. These algorithms utilise the quantum computers’ ability to remain in a quantum state throughout the computation and represents a first step towards a quantum computing algorithm describing full collision events at the LHC

Determine the Performance Characteristics of Battery by Pulse charging Scheme

With technological developments and instantaneous nature of widely variable Renewable energy necessitates efficient storage systems to be employed. One of the storage systems is rechargeable batteries. Indeed there are different rechargeable batteries, which differ from each other by several characteristics, such as the chemical compositions, energy density and their charge and discharge characteristics. In situation wherein the generation will be high and demand low we need to charge the batteries in minimum time in order to prevent wastage of energy. Thus batteries require an accurate determination of its parameters during charging cycle to extend their operational lifetime. There are different methods to charge the batteries but to regulate the process of healthy pumping in operation in minimum time we require an accurate charge model to be developed. Hence we present here an equivalent charge model to determine the performance characteristics of battery by using Pulse charging scheme.The proposed study aims in charging the battery in minimum time. Simulation results are presented and verified by data sheets

Risk-Return Trade-off in Emerging Markets: Evidence from Dhaka Stock Exchange Bangladesh

This paper attempts to measure the risk and return relationship in Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE). The study reports a statistically significant positive relationship between risk and return both at the individual security level and at the portfolio level, confirming the theoretical predictions and empirical findings on this issue in developed markets. Although portfolio risk and returns are found to be significantly positively related in general, some inconsistencies were revealed in the context of relative risk for high risk portfolios, suggesting the existence of some anomalies or mispricing in high risk assets. These findings have important implications for investment decisions at the DSE in that the investors may be able to create profitable investment strategies using the mispricing information

Evaluation of anticonvulsant activity of volatile oil extract of Nigella sativa seeds by chemically induced seizure model in albino rats

Background: The current therapeutic treatment of epilepsy with modern antiepileptic drugs is associated with side effects, dose related chronic toxicity, teratogenic effects and approximately 30% of the patients have intractable seizures. Natural products from folk remedies have contributed significantly in the discovery of modern drugs with novel structures and better safety and efficacy profiles. In this regard, one such plant is Nigella sativa. Objectives of the study was to evaluate the anticonvulsant activity of volatile oil extract of Nigella sativa seeds by pentylenetetrazole induced seizure model of epilepsy in albino rats and to evaluate the influence of volatile oil extract of Nigella sativa seeds on the anticonvulsant activity of sodium valproate in albino rats.Methods: Male Albino rats (150-200 gms) were randomly selected, from central animal facility, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute, Mysore. The anticonvulsant activity was screened using pentylenetetrazole model. Albino rats were divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each. 6 groups were treated with gum acacia 0.5 ml (control group), sodium valproate 300mg/kg (standard group), groups 3, 4, 5 were administered the test drug, volatile oil extract of Nigella sativa seeds at doses of 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg and group 6 was treated with the combination of test drug, volatile oil extract of N. sativa seeds 200 mg/kg and sodium valproate 150 mg/kg. All the drugs were dissolved in gum acacia and administered intraperitoneally 30 min prior to induction of seizures.Results: The volatile oil of N. sativa seeds showed anticonvulsant activity at the dose of 400 mg/kg and 600mg/kg body weight and the potentiation of anticonvulsant activity of sodium valproate. The anticonvulsant activity of volatile oil of N. sativa seeds was less when compared to sodium valproate.Conclusions: The N. sativa seeds showed anticonvulsant activity in pentylenetetrazole induced seizure model of epilepsy. This study showed that volatile oil of N. sativa seeds potentiated the effect of sodium valproate

The Efficiency of Multi-Faceted Educational Intervention on Knowledge, Perceived Behavior, and Practice Skills towards Pharmacovigilance among Undergraduate Pharmacy Students of India

BACKGROUND: The primary reason for poor adverse drug reaction (ADR) signal detection worldwide is the under-reporting of ADRs by healthcare professionals. Multidisciplinary teams, including pharmacists, may play an essential role in targeting this issue. AIM: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the impact of a multi-faceted educational intervention (MEI) on the knowledge, perception, and practice skills of pharmacovigilance among undergraduate pharmacy students. METHODS: A longitudinal, prospective study using a single group before-and-after intervention design was conducted among 100 undergraduate pharmacy students at Togari Veeramallappa Memorial College of Pharmacy, Ballari, India (TVMCP), affiliated to Vijayanagara Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Ballari, India. The questionnaire was structured using previous studies and standardized. It had three groups of questions. Group 1 questions evaluated the knowledge (K1-K8), group 2 tested perceptions (A1-A6), and group 3 tested the practice skills of pharmacovigilance (P1-P5) of the participant. The participants were graded in 3 categories as poor, unsatisfactory, and satisfactory, depending upon the mean score. Matched pairs student t-test and The Wilcoxon Signed rank statistical test was used to assess the impact of the MEI on the participants' knowledge, perception, and practice skills score, along with recording different factors preventing them from being actively involved in the pharmacovigilance program. RESULTS: The educational intervention improved the pharmacovigilance knowledge, perception, and practice skills scores of our pharmacy students. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that knowledge, perception, and practice skills scores increased after MEI highlighting the need for regular educational campaigns to healthcare professions

Quantum walk approach to simulating parton showers

This paper presents a novel quantum walk approach to simulating parton showers on a quantum computer. We demonstrate that the quantum walk paradigm offers a natural and more efficient approach to simulating parton showers on quantum devices, with the emission probabilities implemented as the coin flip for the walker, and the particle emissions to either gluons or quark pairs corresponding to the movement of the walker in two dimensions. A quantum algorithm is proposed for a simplified, toy model of a 31-step, collinear parton shower, hence significantly increasing the number of steps of the parton shower that can be simulated compared to previous quantum algorithms. Furthermore, it scales efficiently: the number of possible shower steps increases exponentially with the number of qubits, and the circuit depth grows linearly with the number of steps. Reframing the parton shower in the context of a quantum walk therefore brings dramatic improvements, and is a step towards extending the current quantum algorithms to simulate more realistic parton showers

Variation of biogenic sulphur compounds in the estuarine and coastal waters of Goa, West coast of India

Dimethylsulphide (DMS) originates predominantly from dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSP), a metabolite produced by phytoplankton. Through its contribution to the production of new aerosols and cloud condensation nuclei, a high concentration of DMS has the potential to influence the radiation budget of the earth. Estuaries and coastal regions being dynamic may produce significantly high concentrations of DMS and DMSP. The present study aimed to investigate the spatial variation of DMS, its precursor total dimethylsulphoniopropionate (DMSPt), and its sink total dimethylsulphoxide (DMSOt) at 7 estuarine locations in 4 rivers and a coastal station in Goa during the North East Monsoon (NEM). Generally, higher concentrations of DMS and DMSPt were observed at the near mouth stations and the coastal station compared to upstream stations. Though a positive correlation was observed between salinity and DMSPt, it was not significant, indicating the involvement of other factors influencing DMSP and DMS concentrations. Diatoms were the most abundant group accounting for > 90 % of the phytoplankton. However, higher fractions of dinoflagellates, nano- and picoplankton probably contributed to the DMSPt, DMS and DMSOt production at the coastal and near mouth stations. As the wind speeds were low, DMS flux was governed by surface DMS concentrations and varied between 0.07 and 2.11 µmoles S m-2 D-1 with an average of 0.92±0.80 µmoles S m-2 D-1. In comparison to DMSPt and DMS, a relatively higher concentration of DMSOt was observed in the study area. While the high DMSOt concentration at the estuarine mouths may be attributed to the photo- or biological oxidation of DMS, those in the upper reaches point to an unknown source and warrants further investigation

The Assessment of Drug Utilization Study of Anticancer Drugs Using WHO Prescribing Indicators in a Government Tertiary Care Hospital of the Hyderabad - Karnataka Region of India

BACKGROUND: Cancer is a major burden and threat to global society. A wide range of chemotherapeutic agents is extensively used to treat cancer at different stages. Inappropriate drug use may also lead to the raised cost of medical care, adverse drug effects, and patient mortality. Hence, in recent years, drug utilisation studies have become a potential tool to be used in the evaluation of different health care systems including cancer. AIMS: The objectives of the study were to identify the various types of cancer, the commonly prescribed drugs, rational use of anticancer drugs, and analyse the prescribing indicators in a tertiary care government hospital of India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Newly diagnosed cancer and/or known case of carcinoma of either sex which required treatment/on treatment with chemotherapy aged > 18 yrs admitted in Radiotherapy Department from April 2016 to September 2016 were included in the study and analysed for prescribing indicators. RESULTS: The head & neck cancers were the prevalent cancers observed with more preponderance among males. Most of the patients were prescribed with a single anticancer drug. Cisplatin was the most commonly used cytotoxic drug followed by carboplatin, and antimetabolites. The most commonly used adjuvant drugs in our study were anti-emetics and anti-peptic ulcer drugs. Over 82% of anticancer agents were taken from the essential drug list and were prescribed in generic names, indicating rational use. CONCLUSION: Over 82% of anticancer agents were taken from the essential drug list and were prescribed in generic names, indicating rational use

Notch1 activity in the olfactory bulb is odour-dependent and contributes to olfactory behaviour

Notch signalling plays an important role in synaptic plasticity, learning and memory functions in both Drosophila and rodents. In this paper, we report that this feature is not restricted to hippocampal networks but also involves the olfactory bulb (OB). Odour discrimination and olfactory learning in rodents are essential for survival. Notch1 expression is enriched in mitral cells of the mouse OB. These principal neurons are responsive to specific input odorants and relay the signal to the olfactory cortex. Olfactory stimulation activates a subset of mitral cells, which show an increase in Notch activity. In Notch1cKOKln mice, the loss of Notch1 in mitral cells affects the magnitude of the neuronal response to olfactory stimuli. In addition, Notch1cKOKln mice display reduced olfactory aversion to propionic acid as compared to wildtype controls. This indicates, for the first time, that Notch1 is involved in olfactory processing and may contribute to olfactory behaviour