Determination of equation of state of quark matter from J/ψJ/\psi and Υ\Upsilon suppression at RHIC and LHC

The long life-time of the quark-gluon plasma likely to be created in the relativistic heavy ion collisions at RHIC and LHC energies renders it sensitive to the details of the equation of state of the quark-matter. We show that the $p_T$ dependence of the survival probability of the directly produced $J/\psi$ at RHIC energies and that of the directly produced $\Upsilon$ at LHC energies is quite sensitive to the speed of sound in the quark matter, which relates the pressure and the energy density of the plasma. The transverse expansion of the plasma is shown to strongly affect the $J/\psi$ suppression at LHC energies.Comment: 26 pages including 11 figures. (Submitted to Eur. Phys. Jour. C

Breaking Yield Ceiling in Wheat: Progress and Future Prospects

Wheat is one of the most important staple crops that contribute considerably to global food and nutritional security. The future projections of the demand for wheat show significant enhancement owing to the population growth and probable changes in diets. Further, historical yield trends show a reduction in the relative rate of gain for grain yield over time. To maintain future food security, there is a strong need to find ways to further increase the yield potential of wheat. Grain yield is a quantitative trait that is highly influenced by the environment. It is determined by various interlinked yield component traits. Molecular breeding approaches have already proven useful in improving the grain yield of wheat and recent advances in high-throughput genotyping platforms now have remodelled molecular breeding to genomics-assisted breeding. Hence, here in this chapter, we have discussed various advancements in understanding the genetics of grain yield, its major components, and summarised the various powerful strategies, such as gene cloning, mining superior alleles, transgenic technologies, advanced genome editing techniques, genomic selection, genome-wide association studies-assisted genomic selection, haplotype-based breeding (HBB), which may be/being used for grain yield improvement in wheat and as the new breeding strategies they could also be utilised to break the yield ceiling in wheat

Floristic diversity of Theog Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya

We provide a check list of the vascular plants of Theog Forest Division, Himachal Pradesh, Western Himalaya. Himachal Pradesh has been extensively surveyed in terms of flora by a large number of workers, albeit highly confined to prioritized areas. The floristic inventorization resulted in a total of 442 vascular plant species belonging to 311 genera and 117 families from an area of 512 km2. Out of these, 408 species belonged to Angiosperms, 7 to Gymnosperms and 27 to Pteridophytes. The predominant families among Dicotyledons were Asteraceae, Rosaceae and Lamiaceae. Among the Monocotyledons, the most represented family was Poaceae, followed by Liliaceae and Cyperaceae. Pinaceae and Pteridaceae were found to be the most represented families among the Gymnosperms and Pteridophytes, respectively. Species richness was highest in shrubberies, which formed an ideal habitat for many herbaceous species within different habitat types. Strategic eradication of weed species, especially obnoxious species such as Lantana camara and Parthenium hysterophorus is required for effective management in the area

EVALUATION OF THE EFFICACY OF PRANAYAMA ON THE LUNGS

Yoga is a science which has been practised in India from over thousands of years. Besides the spiritual achievements, the practice of yoga is accompanied by a number of beneficial physiological effects in the body. Yoga and health goes hand in hand. Yoga calms and relaxes the mind and it strengthens and tunes the body and brings them into harmony with each another. Pranayama is an art of controlling the life force of breath [1]. It produces many systemic psycho-physical effects in the body, besides its specific effects on the respiratory functions. This study is designed to study the effects of pranayama (12 weeks) on the pulmonary function parameters. It is one of the best lifestyle modifications which have ever been devised in the history of mankind. There are many classical paths which have been described to reach the ultimate goal of healthy life. It is an ancient yoga technique, a spiritual and physical practice which integrates the mind and body. Pranayama is a type of yogic practice which produces many systemic psycho-physical effects in the body, besides its specific effects on the respiratory functions. So, it has become a standard fare at health clubs and community recreation programmes.Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) are simple screening procedures which are performed by using a standardized equipment (spirometer) to measure the lung function. This test provides useful information about the minimum levels of the lung function. The breath holding time measures the level of the threshold of the respiratory center to the partial pressure of the carbon dioxide (Pco2) level.Pulmonary function tests have been studied in yoga and pranayama practitioners. They have shown that the regular practice of these pranayama techniques have proved to be beneficial for the human body. Pranayama has a favourable influence and it causes a marked improvement in the lung functions. This study is designed to study the effects of pranayama (12 weeks) on the pulmonary function parameters.In these clinical trial 60 patients of mild to moderate hypertensive patients were randomly selected and divided in to two groups. In each group 30 patients had taken. In Group A Pranayam had been given to the 30 patients of mild to moderate hypertensive patients and In Group B only placebo drug Prana had given to the 30 patients mild to moderate hypertensive patients. In all these two groups, group A was found as the most benefited because it showed significant changes in symptoms and Biochemistry investigations. Whereas in Group B (Placebo group) showed insignificant changes in symptoms as well as in Biochemistry investigations.    Key words-For Yoga- Pranayama, Yoga, Pulmonary Function Parameters FVC FEV1 FEF (25-75percent), and BHT For Hypertension-Vyan vikriti, vyan bala, Raktavritta vata, Raktagata vata, Dhamani Pratichaya, Siragata vata, Rasabhara, Dhamani Prapurnata, Vyanavrita vata etc. Â

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE SHIVA GUGGULU AND SIMHANADA GUGGULU IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AMAVATA (RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS)

Objective: Comparison of effectiveness of two drugs (Shiva Guggulu and Simhanada Guggulu in the same dose of both drug given separately in two different groupA and Group B) on patients of Amavata. Methods: Patients between 18-60 y of age with classical features of Amavata [9] from OPD and IPD of Government autonomous Ayurvedic College and Hospital were selected for the present work; irrespective of their sex, religion, education, etc. Detailed research Performa was prepared to incorporate all the signs and symptoms of the disease Amavata is the second most common joint disorders. Nowadays erroneous dietary habits, lifestyle and environment have led to various autoimmune disorders i.e. Amavisajanya Vikaara and Amavata is one among them. Rheumatoid arthritis can be correlated with Amavata in view of its clinical features. Many research studies have been done to solve this clinical enigma, but an effective, safe, less complicated treatment is still required for the management of Amavata. In the present study, 24 patients of Amavata were registered and randomly grouped into two. In group A, Shiva Guggulu 6 g/day in divided doses and in group B, Simhanada Guggulu 6 g/day in divided doses were given for 8 w. On analysis of the results, it was found that Simhanada Guggulu provided better results as compared to Shiva Guggulu in the management of Amavata. In group A, the mean score of grip strength was 1.14 before treatment, which was reduced to 0.57 after treatment, with 50% relief. It was statistically insignificant. The mean score of grip strength in group B was 2.4 before treatment, which was reduced to 1.5 after treatment, with 37.5% relief. It was statistically highly significant. Results: Before treatment the mean score of walking time in group A was 2, which was reduced to 1 after treatment, with 50% relief. It was statistically insignificant. The mean score of walking time in group B was 1.75 before treatment, which was reduced to 0.75 after treatment, with 45.71% relief. It was statistically significant. In group A, the mean score of foot pressure was 1 before treatment, which was decreased to 0.66 after treatment, with 33.33% relief. It was statistically insignificant. The mean score of foot pressure in group B was 2.3 before treatment, which was decreased to 1.4 after treatment with, 39.13% relief. It was statistically highly significant. In group A, the mean score of general functional capacity was 1.33 before treatment, which was reduced to 0.66 after treatment, with 50% relief. It was statistically highly significant. The mean score of general functional capacity in group B was 1.66 before treatment, which was reduced to 0.66 after treatment, with 60% relief and was statistically insignificant. In group A, the mean score of the degree of disease activity was 1.75 before treatment, which was reduced to 1 after treatment, with 42.85% relief. It was statistically highly significant. The mean score of the degree of disease activity in group B was 1.5 before treatment, which was reduced to 0.75 after treatment, with 50% relief. It was statistically significant. Regarding ESR value, the mean scores before treatment in A and B groups were 54.5 and 55.2, respectively, and they were reduced to 45.3 and 40.1, respectively, after treatment. Group A percentage relief was 16.88%, while in group B it was 27.35%. An apparent difference in improvement of all the cardinal symptoms was observed with the treatment. On comparing Group B proved to be better than Group A. Statistically highly significant difference was found in the improvement of Sandhigraha and statistically significant difference was found in the improvement of Sandhishoola and Sparshasahyata by Simhanada Guggulu than Shiva Guggulu, whereas insignificant difference was observed in the improvement of Sandhishotha. So, from the obtained data it may be inferred that group B is more effective than groupA. Conclusion: It was observed from the treatment that Simhanada Guggulu provided comparatively better relief in cardinal signs and symptoms of Amavata. Keywords: Agni, Ama, Amavata, Rheumatoid arthritis, Shiva Guggulu, Simhanada Guggul

The extent of strangeness in equilibration in quark-gluon plasma

The evolution and production of strangeness from chemically equilibrating and transversely expanding quark gluon plasma which may be formed in the wake of relativistic heavy ion collisions is studied with initial conditions obtained from the Self Screened Parton Cascade (SSPC) model. The extent of partonic equilibration increases almost linearly with the square of the initial energy density, which can then be scaled with number of participants.Comment: 4 pages including three figures, talk given at ICPAQGP'01, Jaipur, India, to appear in Pramana - Journal of Physics, Indian Academy of Scienc

Radiative Energy-Loss of Heavy Quarks in a Quark-Gluon Plasma

We estimate the radiative energy-loss of heavy quarks, produced from the initial fusion of partons, while propagating in a quark-gluon plasma which may be formed in the wake of relativistic heavy ion collisions. We find that the radiative energy-loss for heavy quarks is larger than the collisional energy-loss for all energies. We point out the consequences on possible signals of the quark-gluon plasma.Comment: 5 papes, REVTE

Large Mass Diphotons From Relativistic Heavy Ion Collisions

We evaluate the production of large mass diphotons from quark annihilation at BNL RHIC and CERN LHC energies from central collisions of gold nuclei. The collision is assumed to lead to either a thermally and chemically equilibrated quark gluon plasma, or a free-streaming quark gluon gas having an identical initial entropy, or a chemically equilibrating quark gluon system, with the same entropy at $T=T_c$. We also obtain an estimate of hard photon pairs from initial state quark annihilation and find that the thermal production dominates the yield up to $M \approx$ 4 GeV at RHIC, and up to 6 GeV at LHC. A simulation study of decay versus thermal diphotons is presented.Comment: Latex file; to appear in Physics Letters

The Role of MgO Modifier on Physical, Structural, Optical andThermoluminescence Properties of Lithium Borate Glass System

Synthesis of lithium borate glass system was carried using the melt quenching technique with varying concentrations ofmagnesium followed by analysing the different characteristics such as physical, structural, optical and thermoluminesceneusing various techniques eg. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Visspectroscopy, and Thermoluminescence (TL). The obtained XRD pattern confirmed the amorphous nature of the preparedsamples. Relevant physical parameters have been evaluated to study the response of these properties with respect tomagnesium content. The density and molar volume values showed that the network structure changed with increasingmagnesium content. It is evident from the FTIR spectra that the network of the prepared samples predominantly containsBO3 and BO4 units. The UV-vis spectra confirmed a decrease in the direct and indirect band gap values with increase inMgO content. Optical parameters namely refractive index, electronic polarizability, reflection loss and dielectric constantwere also calculated and found to be in good correlation with other studies. Following gamma rays irradiation with differentdoses, TL glow curves of prepared glasses were analysed. Deconvolution of TL glow curves was done using glow curveconvolution deconvolution (GCCD) function and trapping parameters of isolated peaks viz. activation energy and frequencyfactor have been determined

J/ψJ/\psi suppression: gluonic dissociation {\em vs.} colour screening

We evaluate the suppression of $J/\psi$ production in an equilibrating quark gluon plasma for two competing mechanisms: Debye screening of colour interaction and dissociation due to energetic gluons. Results are obtained for $S+S$ and $Au+Au$ collisions at RHIC and LHC energies. At RHIC energies the gluonic dissociation of the charmonium is found to be equally important for both the systems while the screening of the interaction plays a significant role only for the larger systems. At LHC energies the Debye mechanism is found to dominate for both the systems. While considering the suppression of directly produced $\Upsilon$ at LHC energies, we find that only the gluonic dissociation mechanism comes into play for the initial conditions taken from the self screened parton cascade model in these studies. Thus we find that a systematic study of quarkonium suppression for systems of varying dimensions can help identify the source and the extent of the suppression.Comment: (revised) 5 pages including 3 figures, discussion expande