In Vitro Evaluation of Ethanolic Extracts of Ageratum conyzoides

In vitro efficacy of ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides and Artemisia absinthium was assessed on Rhipicephalus microplus using adult immersion test (AIT). Five concentrations of the extract (1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, 10%, and 20%) with three replications for each concentration were used in the bioassay. In AIT, the maximum mortality was recorded as 40% and 66.7% at 20% concentration for A. conyzoides and A. absinthium, respectively. Acaricidal activity was found to be higher in the extract of A. absinthium with LC50 and LC95 values of 11.2% and 61.7%, respectively. Egg mass weight of the live ticks treated with different concentrations of the extracts was significantly (P<0.05) lower than that of control ticks; consequently, the reproductive index and oviposition values of the treated ticks were reduced significantly (P<0.05). The A. conyzoides inhibited 90% hatching of eggs at the 20% concentration, whereas A. absinthium showed 100% inhibition at 5%, 10%, and 20% concentrations. The results show that A. absinthium has better acaricidal properties than A. conyzoides and could be useful in controlling R. microplus

Quantum complexity and bulk timelike singularities

Quantum complexity has already shed light on CFT states dual to bulk geometries containing spacelike singularities \cite{Barbon:2015ria, Bolognesi:2018ion, Caputa:2021pad}. In this work, we turn our attention to quantum complexity of CFT/quantum gravity states dual to bulk geometries with a naked timelike singularity. The appearance of naked timelike singularities in semiclassical gravity is allowed in string theory, particularly in the context of holography, so long as they satisfy the \emph{Gubser criterion} \cite{Gubser:2000nd, Gursoy:2008za}. In this work, we use holographic complexity as a probe on geometries containing naked timelike singularities and explore potential relation to the Gubser criterion for detecting allowable naked timelike singularities. We study three specific cases, namely the negative mass Schwarzschild-AdS spacetime, the timelike Kasner-AdS \cite{Ren:2016xhb} and Einstein-dilaton system \cite{Ren:2019lgw}. The first two cases are outright ruled out by the Gubser criterion while the third case is more subtle - according to the Gubser criterion the singularity switches from forbidden to admissible as the parameter $\alpha$ is dialed in the range $[0,1]$ across the transition point at $\alpha = 1/\sqrt{3}$. We probe all three geometries using two holographic complexity prescriptions, namely CA and CV. For the case of the negative mass SAdS and timelike Kasner-AdS$_4$ the complexities display no sign of pathology (both receive finite contribution from the naked singularity). For the Einstein-Dilaton case, action-complexity does display a sharp transition from physical positive values to patholgical negative divergent values (arising from the singularity) as one transcends the Gubser bound. Our study suggests that neither action-complexity (CA) nor volume-complexity (CV) can serve as a sensitive tool to investigate (naked) timelike singularities.Comment: 37 pages, 3 figures, Version accepted for publication in JHE

Holographic Complexity of LST and Single Trace TTˉT\bar{T}

In this work, we continue our study of string theory in the background that interpolates between $AdS_3$ in the IR to flat spacetime with a linear dilaton in the UV. The boundary dual theory interpolates between a CFT$_2$ in the IR to a certain two-dimensional Little String Theory (LST) in the UV. In particular, we study \emph{computational complexity} of such a theory through the lens of holography and investigate the signature of non-locality in the short distance behavior of complexity. When the cutoff UV scale is much smaller than the non-locality (Hagedorn) scale, we find exotic quadratic and logarithmic divergences (for both volume and action complexity) which are not expected in a local quantum field theory. We also generalize our computation to include the effects of finite temperature. Up to second order in finite temperature correction, we do not any find newer exotic UV-divergences compared to the zero temperature case.Comment: Appendix A and few references added. 28 pages+1 appendi

Cabibbo-suppressed non-leptonic B- and D-decays involving tensor mesons

The Cabibbo-suppressed non-leptonic decays of B (and D) mesons to final states involving tensor mesons are computed using the non-relativistic quark model of Isgur-Scora-Grinstein-Wise with the factorization hypothesis. We find that some of these B decay modes, as B --> (K^*, D^*)D^*_2, can have branching ratios as large as 6 x 10^{-5} which seems to be at the reach of future B factories.Comment: Latex, 11 pages, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Mutations in RpoB Gene and Their Association with Rifampicin-resistance Levels in Clinical Isolates of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Present study was aimed to identify most frequent mutations in rpoB gene region and to evaluate the association between mutations in rpoB gene and resistance levels to Rifampicin in clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis of different geographical regions of India. A total of 100 clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were included in this study. Drug susceptibility testing against first line anti-tuberculosis drugs was performed on LJ medium by conventional minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) method and the mutation(s) in rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis isolates were analyzed by sequencing method. Of the 100 M. tuberculosis isolates, 31 (31.0%) and 18 (18.0%) were found resistant and susceptible for all four first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. The genetic mutations were observed in 96% (72/75) rifampicin-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates, while 4% (3/75) of rifampicin-resistant isolates did not have any mutation in rpoB gene. The mutation TCG531TTG (Ser531Leu) was found as most common and frequent mutation in 69.3% (52/75) of rifampicin-resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis with MIC level (≥ 512mg/l). The mutation at codon 511 was associated with low degree (128mg/l) of rifampicin-resistance, deletions at codons 514-516 or substitution at codon 516 were found to be associated with moderate degree (256mg/l) of rifampicin-resistance and mutations at codon 526, 531 were associated with the high degree (512mg/l) of rifampicin-resistance in M. tuberculosis isolates of Indian origin. The findings of this study will be useful for the development of raid and more specific indigenous molecular tools for the early diagnosis of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in the country

Non-leptonic B decays involving tensor mesons

Two-body non-leptonic decays of B mesons into PT and VT modes are calculated using the non-relativistic quark model of Isgur et al.. The predictions obtained for $B \to \pi D^*_2, \rho D_2^*$ are a factor of $3\sim 5$ below present experimental upper limits. Interesting patterns are obtained for ratios of B decays involving mesons with different spin excitations and their relevance for additional tests of forms factor models are briefly discussed.Comment: 11 pages, Latex, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Profile of HIV Infection in Children and Its Correlation with their CD4 Counts

Objectives: (i) To study the clinical profile of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in children. (ii) To establish the pattern of correlation of these clinical features with the CD4 counts. (iii) To evaluate the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on CD4 count of children at 6 months of therapy. Material and methods: Sixty-eight children enrolled at our ART centre or admitted at our hospital were enrolled for the study. Their case papers were reviewed. Complete clinical profile was obtained and baseline investigations including CD4 counts done. Children were then followed up and repeat CD4 levels done 6 monthly. The children were managed as per current guidelines. Results: The mean age at presentation was 6.54 ± 2.69 years. Male-to-female ratio was 2.579:1. Vertical transmission accounted for 95.58% of cases. Prolonged fever and chronic diarrhea were the most common symptoms and hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were the most common signs. There was strong correlation between clinical and immunological staging (p &lt; 0.0001). Failure to thrive, recurrent skin infections and abscesses were signs and symptoms at lowest CD4 levels. Orphan-hood (p &lt; 0.0001) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.0003) significantly affected schooling among these children. Malnutrition, anemia and stunting were features of severe immunosuppression. HAART significantly raised the CD4 count at 6 months of therapy (paired ‘t’ = 6.830, p &lt; 0.0001) with best results at higher baseline CD4 levels. Gastritis was the most common (81.5%) adverse effect and the major cause of decreased compliance. Tuberculosis and candidiasis were the commonest opportunistic infections and pneumonia accounted for majority of hospitalizations (61.5%). Conclusions: Clinical and immunological staging have good correlation. The features of severe immunosuppression are failure to thrive, recurrent bacterial skin infections, abscesses, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, anemia and stunting. Orphan-hood and poor socioeconomic status affect schooling in these children. Early initiation of ART at higher baseline CD4 has best results. Gastritis is the major adverse effect causing decreased compliance.&nbsp