Quantum Fields from Causal Order

We study different aspects of observer independent formulation of quantum field theory (QFT) in curved spacetime background. This thesis is broadly divided into two parts, in the first part we study an observer independent scalar field vacuum, called as the Sorkin-Johnston (SJ) vacuum for a small mass scalar field in a 2d causal diamond, and conformally coupled scalar field in spacetimes which are conformally related to ultrastatic spacetime with time dependent conformal factor. We study several properties of the SJ vacuum in these spacetimes and compare with the known vacua. In the second part of the thesis we study a spacetime formulation of entanglement entropy, called as the Sorkin Spacetime Entanglement Entropy (SSEE), in curved spacetime, which makes use of the Wightman function restricted to the region of interest and the spacetime field commutator. We study SSEE in cylinder slab spacetimes and compare the result with the Calabrese-Cardy entanglement entropy. We also study SSEE of de Sitter and black hole horizons and compared with known results.Comment: PhD thesis 2023, Raman Research Institute, submitted to Jawaharlal Nehru Universit

Study of Prevalence Rate, Side Effect and Co-Morbidities Associated with Current Drug Therapy in Patients Suffering with Nephrotic Syndrome

Background: Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disease caused by damage to the cluster of small blood vessels in the kidney. Nephrotic syndrome causes misfunctioning of the kidney that affects metabolism of the body significantly. It causes complications of blood clots, high blood cholesterol and elevated blood triglycerides, poor nutrition, high blood pressure, acute kidney failure, chronic kidney disease and various infections. Objectives: The present investigation was objected to study prevalence rate, side effect of prescribed drugs and co-morbidity associated with current drug therapy in patient suffering with nephrotic syndrome. Methodologies: The present observational study was conducted on 43 nephrotic syndrome patients. These patients were evaluated for effects and side effects of prescribed drugs. Co-morbidity related to drug current prescribed was assessed and prescribed drugs for co-morbidity for also assessed. Prevalence rate of nephrotic syndrome was calculated among the all investigated patients. Patients were investigated who signed consent form. Patients above 18 years of age were excluded from study. Results: The involved 43 patients of nephrotic syndrome. These patients were prescribed with Corticosteroids (27%), Immunomodulator (8%), Immunosuppressant (5%), Diuretics (20%), ACE Inhibitors (5%), Angiotensin II receptor antagonist (5%). Co-morbidity were related to current drugs were observed and it was found that 9 (20%) patients were  suffering from asthma, 3 (7%) patients were suffering epilepsy, 1 (2%) patients were suffering from inflammatory bowel disease, 5 (11%) patients were suffering from other diseases along with nephrotic syndrome. Prevalence rate of nephrotic syndrome was found 2.38% in patients. Conclusion: The present study revealed that the current prescribed drugs for nephrotic syndrome causes side effects that are skin infection, behavioral changes, blood in urine and decreased neutrophils. And co-morbidity of asthma, epilepsy, inflammatory bowel disease and other disease were present in patients of nephrotic syndrome. 1 patient out of every 42 investigated patients was suffering from  nephrotic syndrome. Keywords: Nephrotic syndrome, corticosteroids, side effects, co-morbidity and prevalence rate

A RANDOMIZED CONTROLL TRIAL TO COMPARE THE EFFICACY OF SACCHAROMYCES BOULARDII, BACILLUS CLAUSII, AND LACTOBACILLUS RHAMNOSUS GG PREPARATION IN THE TREATMENT OF ACUTE DIARRHEA IN CHILDREN

Objective: Probiotics have been recommended as an adjunct to standard treatment of acute diarrhea but the choice of probiotics is unclear. The aim of study is to compare the efficacy of Saccharomyces boulardii, Bacillus clausii versus Lactobacillus rhamnosus in children with acute diarrhea and to expand the tolerability of S. boulardii, B. clausii versus L. rhamnosus GG in acute diarrhea. Methods: Hospital based Randomized Controlled Clinical trial (chit in box) carried out at the Department of Pediatrics, Mahatma Gandhi Hospital, Jaipur Rajasthan from January 2020 to June 2021. 120 Children were enrolled in the study and randomized to either Group A or Group B or Group C. Group A received S. boulardii, Group B received B. clausii and Group C received L. rhamnosus GG. Sample size was 40 samples for each group. Statistical analysis was done with the SPSS software. Results: There was statistically significant improvement in consistency observed in Group C as compared to Group A an Group B (p<0.001). Significant higher cases (87.5%) were improved in Group C compare to Group B (67.5%), followed by Group A (65%). While all patients were observed well tolerated and accepted during the study. Conclusions: In our study, L. rhamnosus GG significantly reduce the frequency, improve the consistency of stools in diarrhea as compared to B. clausii and S. boulardii while tolerability of S. boulardii, B. clausii and L. rhamnosus GG was good with no adverse effect

Evaluation of growth regulatory effect of chitin and chitin based derivatives extracted from fresh water crustaceans

The present investigation was carried out to investigate the natural growth supplement in fields as an alternative source instead of synthetic and traditional fertilizers. Since the traditional and synthetic fertilizers used in fields causes toxicity in the grains etc. and thus are lethal to the lives of flora and fauna that resides within the soil and also to humans. The study thus focused to explore some natural products/molecules which can be utilized as growth regulator and supplement in the fields which shows no toxicity. In the present investigation, natural polysaccharide viz. chitin was extracted from fresh water crustaceans and its derivatives (chitosan) was prepared by the process of deacetylation by the treatment of chitin with 40% (w/v) NaOH at 120oC for 3h. The growth regulating effect of crustacean waste, extracted chitin and chitin based derivatives viz. chitosan on mung bean seeds was observed by the treatment of sterilized mung bean seeds with these products for 12 h to 96 h. Non-treated seeds with these products was used as negative control while seeds treated with standard chitin (as procured from Hi-Media Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, India) was used as the reference positive control. The results were found to be very surprising as the seeds treated with chitin and chitin based derivatives showed significant germination. It was found that seeds treated with crustacean waste and standard chitin promotes prominent growth regulating activities with the passage of time. It was found that 50% germination in mung bean seeds (treated with crustacean waste and standard chitin) occurred after 96h in comparison to standard; extracted chitin and chitosan treated seeds (33%)

Null Geodesics from Ladder Molecules

We propose a discrete analogue of null geodesics in causal sets that are approximated by a region of 2d Minkowski spacetime, in the spirit of Kronheimer and Penrose's "grids" and "beams" for an abstract causal space. The causal set analogues are "ladder molecules", whose rungs are linked pairs of elements corresponding loosely to Barton et al's horizon bi-atoms. In 2d a ladder molecule traps a ribbon of null geodesics corresponding to a thickened or fuzzed out horizon. The existence of a ladder between linked pairs of elements in turn provides a generalisation of the horismotic relation to causal sets. Simulations of causal sets approximated by a region of 2d Minkowski spacetime show that ladder molecules are fairly dense in the causal set, and provide a light-cone like grid. Moreover, similar to the uniqueness of null geodesics between horismotically related events in the spacetime, in such causal sets there is a unique ladder molecule between any two linked pairs which are related by the generalised horismotic relation.Comment: Contribution to the collection "Singularity theorems, causality, and all that (SCRI21)" in the journal General Relativity and Gravitation, in honor of Roger Penros

Plug-in for visualizing 3D tool tracking from videos of Minimally Invasive Surgeries

This paper tackles instrument tracking and 3D visualization challenges in minimally invasive surgery (MIS), crucial for computer-assisted interventions. Conventional and robot-assisted MIS encounter issues with limited 2D camera projections and minimal hardware integration. The objective is to track and visualize the entire surgical instrument, including shaft and metallic clasper, enabling safe navigation within the surgical environment. The proposed method involves 2D tracking based on segmentation maps, facilitating creation of labeled dataset without extensive ground-truth knowledge. Geometric changes in 2D intervals express motion, and kinematics based algorithms process results into 3D tracking information. Synthesized and experimental results in 2D and 3D motion estimates demonstrate negligible errors, validating the method for labeling and motion tracking of instruments in MIS videos. The conclusion underscores the proposed 2D segmentation technique's simplicity and computational efficiency, emphasizing its potential as direct plug-in for 3D visualization in instrument tracking and MIS practices

Study on the preparation and evaluation of Insecticidal/pesticidal activity of Entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana) metabolites fused Silver Nanoparticles

The green revolution strategy, which promotes the use of synthetic agricultural chemicals like pesticides and fertilizers, the adoption of high-yielding, nutrient-responsive crop varieties, increased irrigation potential exploitation, etc., has, for the most part, increased production output. However, it will also cause a decline in the productivity and production of various crops as well as harm to the environments and soil health. Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have special functions in the soil that improve the health and productivity of plants. PGPR produce phytohormones, fix atmospheric nitrogen, colonize the rhizosphere, aid in the production of secondary metabolites, shield plants from pathogens, produce siderophores, and aid in the uptake of nutrients by solubilizing phosphate. They also produce biologically active substances that have an impact on the development and growth of plants. In the present investigation, the fungicidal activities of Streptomyces sp., the significant PGPRs were screened for antifungal activities while an Entomopathogenic fungi (Baeuveria bassiana) was utilized for production of crude metabolites which were utilized to prepare Silver fused nanoparticles, the nanoparticles were found to have significant insecticidal/pesticidal properties against larvae invading Cauliflower crops