On the Description of the Larval Stages of Myrmica inezae Forel, 1902 (Hymenoptera: Formicidae: Myrmicinae), an Endemic Himalayan Species, with Notes on its Natural History

Of the known species groups in Myrmica, the M. inezae belong to the inezae-group which is restricted between an altitude range of 1900-3000m in Himalayas. The species in question is a relic of old fauna and closely resembles the primitive ritae-group species. Herein, a detailed description of larval instars of Myrmica inezae Forel, 1902 is provided. Three larval instars are reported in this species. The larvae exhibit pheidoloid body profile which otherwise is pogonomyrmecoid in the larval stages of genus Myrmica Latreille, 1804 reported hitherto. M. inezae differs from the earlier described larval stages of M. rugosa and M. rupestris (rugosa-group) based on number of occipital hairs (six in M. inezae while these are eight in M. hecate and M. rupestris); mandibular teeth (two in M. inezae as compared to one in M. hecate and M. rupestris) and shape of maxilla (conoidal in M. inezae whereas paraboloidal in M. hecate and M. rupestris)

Antimicrobial Resistance with Special Emphasis on Pathogens in Agriculture

Antibiotics have been used globally to manage the bacterial plant diseases irrespective of the expense involved. Although plant pathogenesis by bacteria is far lower than fungal counterparts, disrupted monitoring and surveillance for drug resistance with respect to human health raise serious concerns. The resistance derived by the plant as the host by the antibiotics used for many generations has now posed as a problem in phyto-systems. Although we currently lack the molecular understanding of the pathogens rendering antibiotic resistance to plants, robust resistance management strategies are critical to ensure management of critically important diseases that specifically target crops of high value and/or global agrarian importance. This chapter discusses evolution of plant-pathogenic bacteria, application of antibiotics and its repercussions on the microbiome of plant agricultural systems, and sustainable crop disease management by genetic engineering

A prospective study of cervical lesions diagnosed by liquid based cytology in Western Rajasthan, India population

Background: Carcinoma cervix is the second most common malignancy of women in India after breast cancer. The present study was conducted to determine the spectrum of cervical lesions by liquid-based cytology in Western Rajasthan population.Methods: It is a Prospective study on 1087 cervical samples carried over a period of 1 year. Cervical samples were taken and processed by SurePath™ LBC.Results: Of total 1087 cases 959 were negative for intraepithelial lesion or malignancy (88.22%). 88 cases (8.09%) were reported as unsatisfactory. Among the non- neoplastic cases- bacterial vaginosis was reported in 209 cases (21.8%), Candida in 77 cases (8.02%), both Candida and bacterial vaginosis in 12 cases (1.25%), reactive cellular changes in 193 cases (20.12%), and Trichomonas vaginalis in 01 case. Among pre-malignant and malignant lesions, 40 cases (4.17%) the distribution was as follows-atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance 16(1.67%), atypical squamous cell-cannot rule out high grade 08 cases (0.83%), Low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion 04 cases (0.42%), high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion 07 cases (0.73%), Atypical glandular cell favoring neoplastic 01 case (0.15%), and squamous cell carcinoma 04 cases (0.42%). Histopathological co-relation of premalignant and malignant lesions was further studied.Conclusions: Liquid based cytology is an effective screening and diagnostic procedure for cervical abnormalities. Among pre-malignant and malignant lesions, histo-pathological correlation increased with increased grade of severity of lesions. To the best of knowledge, this is the largest study of liquid based cytology in the Western Rajasthan

Measurement of the top quark forward-backward production asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric and chromomagnetic moments in pp collisions at √s = 13 TeV

Abstract The parton-level top quark (t) forward-backward asymmetry and the anomalous chromoelectric (d̂ t) and chromomagnetic (μ̂ t) moments have been measured using LHC pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, collected in the CMS detector in a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1. The linearized variable AFB(1) is used to approximate the asymmetry. Candidate t t ¯ events decaying to a muon or electron and jets in final states with low and high Lorentz boosts are selected and reconstructed using a fit of the kinematic distributions of the decay products to those expected for t t ¯ final states. The values found for the parameters are AFB(1)=0.048−0.087+0.095(stat)−0.029+0.020(syst),μ̂t=−0.024−0.009+0.013(stat)−0.011+0.016(syst), and a limit is placed on the magnitude of | d̂ t| < 0.03 at 95% confidence level. [Figure not available: see fulltext.

Measurement of t(t)over-bar normalised multi-differential cross sections in pp collisions at root s=13 TeV, and simultaneous determination of the strong coupling strength, top quark pole mass, and parton distribution functions

Peer reviewe

An embedding technique to determine ττ backgrounds in proton-proton collision data

An embedding technique is presented to estimate standard model tau tau backgrounds from data with minimal simulation input. In the data, the muons are removed from reconstructed mu mu events and replaced with simulated tau leptons with the same kinematic properties. In this way, a set of hybrid events is obtained that does not rely on simulation except for the decay of the tau leptons. The challenges in describing the underlying event or the production of associated jets in the simulation are avoided. The technique described in this paper was developed for CMS. Its validation and the inherent uncertainties are also discussed. The demonstration of the performance of the technique is based on a sample of proton-proton collisions collected by CMS in 2017 at root s = 13 TeV corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 41.5 fb(-1).Peer reviewe

MUSiC : a model-unspecific search for new physics in proton-proton collisions at root s=13TeV

Results of the Model Unspecific Search in CMS (MUSiC), using proton-proton collision data recorded at the LHC at a centre-of-mass energy of 13 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb(-1), are presented. The MUSiC analysis searches for anomalies that could be signatures of physics beyond the standard model. The analysis is based on the comparison of observed data with the standard model prediction, as determined from simulation, in several hundred final states and multiple kinematic distributions. Events containing at least one electron or muon are classified based on their final state topology, and an automated search algorithm surveys the observed data for deviations from the prediction. The sensitivity of the search is validated using multiple methods. No significant deviations from the predictions have been observed. For a wide range of final state topologies, agreement is found between the data and the standard model simulation. This analysis complements dedicated search analyses by significantly expanding the range of final states covered using a model independent approach with the largest data set to date to probe phase space regions beyond the reach of previous general searches.Peer reviewe

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe

Measurement of prompt open-charm production cross sections in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

The production cross sections for prompt open-charm mesons in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 13TeV are reported. The measurement is performed using a data sample collected by the CMS experiment corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 29 nb(-1). The differential production cross sections of the D*(+/-), D-+/-, and D-0 ((D) over bar (0)) mesons are presented in ranges of transverse momentum and pseudorapidity 4 < p(T) < 100 GeV and vertical bar eta vertical bar < 2.1, respectively. The results are compared to several theoretical calculations and to previous measurements.Peer reviewe

Combined searches for the production of supersymmetric top quark partners in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A combination of searches for top squark pair production using proton-proton collision data at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV at the CERN LHC, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137 fb(-1) collected by the CMS experiment, is presented. Signatures with at least 2 jets and large missing transverse momentum are categorized into events with 0, 1, or 2 leptons. New results for regions of parameter space where the kinematical properties of top squark pair production and top quark pair production are very similar are presented. Depending on themodel, the combined result excludes a top squarkmass up to 1325 GeV for amassless neutralino, and a neutralinomass up to 700 GeV for a top squarkmass of 1150 GeV. Top squarks with masses from 145 to 295 GeV, for neutralino masses from 0 to 100 GeV, with a mass difference between the top squark and the neutralino in a window of 30 GeV around the mass of the top quark, are excluded for the first time with CMS data. The results of theses searches are also interpreted in an alternative signal model of dark matter production via a spin-0 mediator in association with a top quark pair. Upper limits are set on the cross section for mediator particle masses of up to 420 GeV