Masses and decay modes of charmonia using a confinement model

The masses of charmonium s and p-states, pseudoscalar and vector decay constants, leptonic, hadronic as well as radiative decay widths for charmonia have been computed in the framework of extended harmonic confinement model without any additional parameters. The outcome in comparison with other contemporary theoretical and experimental results is presented.Comment: Submitted to AIP for proceedings of International Workshop on Theoretical High Energy Physics held at IIT Roorkee, INDIA during 15-20 March, 200

Low-lying di-hadronic states in relativistic harmonic model

Di-hadronic molecules such as di-meson, meson-baryon and di-baryon states are studied in the relativistic confinement model. We have computed the binding energy of the di-hadronic systems like $K-N$, $\Pi-N$, $\rho-N$ etc., as penta-quark states, 2$\pi$, $\rho-\rho$, $K-K^*$, $K^*-K^*$, $D-D^*$ etc. as tetra-quark states and $N-N$, $N-\Delta$, $\Delta-\Delta$ etc. as di-baryonic states using a molecular interaction provided by asymptotic expression of the confined gluon exchange potential. We find the lowest penta-quark state lies in the energy range of 1.180 - 2.247 GeV as predicted by other theoretical models. The exotic states such as $f0 (0.982)$, $h1 (1.170)$, $f0 (1.70)$, $f2 (1.565)$, $f2 (1.95)$, $\psi(4.040)$ etc. are identified as the di-mesonic hadron molecules. The low-lying di-baryon molecular states found to be in the range of 1.990-2.907 GeV with their binding energies lying between 112-120 MeV.Comment: 6 pages, accepted to publish in Indian Journal of Physic

Decay rates of quarkonia with NRQCD formalism using spectroscopic parameters of potential models

Decay rates of quarkonia are studied within the framework of NRQCD formalism. The basic parameters of the formalism have been obtained from different potential schemes studied for the spectra of quarkonia. We estimate the heavy quarkonia mass spectra, radiative and leptonic widths and compare them with other contemporary theoretical approaches and experimental results.Comment: 15 page

Screening of diverse phytochemicals with Aurora Kinase C protein: An In Silico approach

Aurora Kinase C, a vital serine-threonine protein Kinase, is an important member of the Aurora Kinase protein family which plays an important role in mitosis is a part of Chromosomal Passenger Complex (CPC).  Aurora Kinase C over expression is found to be linked with several cancer cell lines which demonstrate its oncogenic involvement and activity. Aurora C over expression in certain cancer types makes it an important target to be considered for cancer therapeutics. The present research work focuses on the Aurora Kinase C as an important target for computational studies. The protein model of  Aurora Kinase C, as a proten target on docking with 1500 natural compounds (phytochemicals) reveals  the binding of the natural  ligand 3-beta,23,28-trihydroxy-12-oleanene 23-caffeate belonging to the terpenoid class with highest docking score. This best bound ligand with the protein Aurora Kinase C was chosen for further understanding their protein-ligand interactions at the the molecular level using the molecular dynamic simulation approach. Stability of the protein-ligand complex and its conformation helps in disclosing the potentiality of the best bound ligand to be further chosen as an important small molecule inhibitor that would help playing a lead role in further drug discovery process Keywords: Aurora Kinase C, Cancer, Phytochemicals, Docking, Molecular Dynamic

a-Si:H/CuInS<SUB>2</SUB> heterojunctions for photovoltaic conversion

Heterojunctions of hydrogenated a-Si films prepared by r.f. sputtering with spraypyrolyzed CuInS2 films have been studied. Capacitance-voltage measurements establish the formation of abrupt heterojunction. The barrier height varies from 0.26 to 0.55 V as the resistivity of CuInS2 film decrease from 1.5×103 to 65 Ωm. These junctions exhibit photovoltaic behaviour with Voc=220 mV and Isc=0.20 mA/cm2

BRG1 and BRM SWI/SNF ATPases redundantly maintain cardiomyocyte homeostasis by regulating cardiomyocyte mitophagy and mitochondrial dynamics in vivo

There has been an increasing recognition that mitochondrial perturbations play a central role in human heart failure. Discovery of mitochondrial networks, whose function is to maintain the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy (‘mitophagy’) and mitochondrial fusion/fission, are new potential therapeutic targets. Yet our understanding of how the molecular underpinning of these processes is just emerging. We recently identified a role of the SWI/SNF ATP-dependent chromatin remodeling complexes in the metabolic homeostasis of the adult cardiomyocyte using cardiomyocyte-specific and inducible deletion of the SWI/SNF ATPases BRG1 and BRM in adult mice (Brg1/Brm double mutant mice). To build upon these observations in early alterated metabolism, the present study looks at the subsequent alterations in mitochondrial quality control mechanisms in the impaired adult cardiomyocyte. We identified that Brg1/Brm double-mutant mice exhibited an increased mitochondrial biogenesis, increases in ‘mitophagy’, and alterations in mitochondrial fission and fusion that led to small, fragmented mitochondria. Mechanistically, increases in the autophagy and mitophagy-regulated proteins Beclin1 and Bnip3 were identified, paralleling changes seen in human heart failure. Cardiac mitochondrial dynamics were perturbed including decreased mitochondria size, reduced number, and altered expression of genes regulating fusion (Mfn1, Opa1) and fission (Drp1). We also identified cardiac protein amyloid accumulation (aggregated fibrils) during disease progression along with an increase in pre-amyloid oligomers and an upregulated unfolded protein response including increased GRP78, CHOP, and IRE-1 signaling. Together, these findings described a role for BRG1 and BRM in mitochondrial quality control, by regulating mitochondrial number, mitophagy, and mitochondrial dynamics not previously recognized in the adult cardiomyocyte. As epigenetic mechanisms are critical to the pathogenesis of heart failure, these novel pathways identified indicate that SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling functions are closely linked to mitochondrial quality control mechanisms

Polymorphic Signature of the Anti-inflammatory Activity of 2,2′- {[1,2-Phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(sulfanediyl)}bis(4,6- dimethylnicotinonitrile)

Weak noncovalent interactions are the basic forces in crystal engineering. Polymorphism in flexible molecules is very common, leading to the development of the crystals of same organic compounds with different medicinal and material properties. Crystallization of 2,2′- {[1,2-phenylenebis(methylene)]bis(sulfanediyl)}bis(4,6-dimethylnicotinonitrile) by evaporation at room temperature from ethyl acetate and hexane and from methanol and ethyl acetate gave stable polymorphs 4a and 4b, respectively, while in acetic acid, it gave metastable polymorph 4c. The polymorphic behavior of the compound has been visualized through singlecrystal X-ray and Hirshfeld analysis. These polymorphs are tested for anti-inflammatory activity via the complete Freund’s adjuvant-induced rat paw model, and compounds have exhibited moderate activities. Studies of docking in the catalytic site of cyclooxygenase-2 were used to identify potential anti-inflammatory lead compounds. These results suggest that the supramolecular aggregate structure, which is formed in solution, influences the solid state structure and the biological activity obtained upon crystallization