The Evolution of Compact Binary Star Systems

We review the formation and evolution of compact binary stars consisting of white dwarfs (WDs), neutron stars (NSs), and black holes (BHs). Binary NSs and BHs are thought to be the primary astrophysical sources of gravitational waves (GWs) within the frequency band of ground-based detectors, while compact binaries of WDs are important sources of GWs at lower frequencies to be covered by space interferometers (LISA). Major uncertainties in the current understanding of properties of NSs and BHs most relevant to the GW studies are discussed, including the treatment of the natal kicks which compact stellar remnants acquire during the core collapse of massive stars and the common envelope phase of binary evolution. We discuss the coalescence rates of binary NSs and BHs and prospects for their detections, the formation and evolution of binary WDs and their observational manifestations. Special attention is given to AM CVn-stars -- compact binaries in which the Roche lobe is filled by another WD or a low-mass partially degenerate helium-star, as these stars are thought to be the best LISA verification binary GW sources.Comment: 105 pages, 18 figure

Japanese Encephalitis—A Pathological and Clinical Perspective

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is the leading form of viral encephalitis in Asia. It is caused by the JE virus (JEV), which belongs to the family Flaviviridae. JEV is endemic to many parts of Asia, where periodic outbreaks take hundreds of lives. Despite the catastrophes it causes, JE has remained a tropical disease uncommon in the West. With rapid globalization and climatic shift, JEV has started to emerge in areas where the threat was previously unknown. Scientific evidence predicts that JEV will soon become a global pathogen and cause of worldwide pandemics. Although some research documents JEV pathogenesis and drug discovery, worldwide awareness of the need for extensive research to deal with JE is still lacking. This review focuses on the exigency of developing a worldwide effort to acknowledge the prime importance of performing an extensive study of this thus far neglected tropical viral disease. This review also outlines the pathogenesis, the scientific efforts channeled into develop a therapy, and the outlook for a possible future breakthrough addressing this killer disease

Search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons in proton-proton collisions at √s=13 TeV

A search for a new scalar resonance decaying to a pair of Z bosons is performed in the mass range from 130 GeV to 3 TeV, and for various width scenarios. The analysis is based on proton-proton collisions recorded by the CMS experiment at the LHC in 2016, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 35.9 fb−1at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV. The Z boson pair decays are reconstructed using the 4ℓ, 2ℓ2q, and 2ℓ2ν final states, where ℓ = e or μ. Both gluon fusion and electroweak production of the scalar resonance are considered, with a free parameter describing their relative cross sections. A dedicated categorization of events, based on the kinematic properties of associated jets, and matrix element techniques are employed for an optimal signal and background separation. A description of the interference between signal and background amplitudes for a resonance of an arbitrary width is included. No significant excess of events with respect to the standard model expectation is observed and limits are set on the product of the cross section for a new scalar boson and the branching fraction for its decay to ZZ for a large range of masses and widths.[Figure not available: see fulltext.]

Search for the standard model Higgs boson produced in association with W and Z bosons in pp collisions at root s=7 TeV

A search for the Higgs boson produced in association with a W or Z boson in proton-proton collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7 TeV is performed with the CMS detector at the LHC using the full 2011 data sample, from an integrated luminosity of 5 fb−1. Higgs boson decay modes to ττ and WW are explored by selecting events with three or four leptons in the final state. No excess above background expectations is observed, resulting in exclusion limits on the product of Higgs associated production cross section and decay branching fraction for Higgs boson masses between 110 and 200 GeV in these channels. Combining these results with other CMS associated production searches using the same dataset in the H→ γγ and H→ b b¯ decay modes, the cross section for associated Higgs boson production 3.3 times the standard model expectation or larger is ruled out at the 95% confidence level for a Higgs boson mass of 125 GeV

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Not AvailableABSTRACT India achieved food security and self sufficiency in 1970s through adoption of high yielding wheat and rice varieties on large area. The high yielding varieties were responsive to high inputs and were developed through genetic intervention. But in case of maize for the first time, the single cross hybrid technology revolution through genetic intervention happened in USA (1960-1990) and the productivity has increased from 3.5 t/ha to 7.5 t/ha. Whereas, in India maize production remained stagnant for the last five decades (1950-2000) mainly due to non-adoption of proven and established technology - single cross hybrid (SCH). However, in India with the introduction of SCH technology, the productivity has increased from 1.9 t/ha (2007-08) to 2.5 t/ha (2010-11) with average growth rate of more than 7 % in production, this is the highest growth rate among cereal crops. Further, it has registered more than 6 % in productivity @ 134 kg/ha/annum in India and transformed India as net maize exporter and stopped importing of maize. Even in USA the productivity remained around 7.5 to 8 t/ha for a decade (1990-1997) in spite of adoption of 100 % SCH technology with best practices and growing conditions. The further enhancement in yield was achieved by integration of SCH with novel tools and techniques in 1997. Since then the productivity of maize in USA has touched 8 to 10.1 (t/ha) during a span of 10-12 years (1997-2010). It is evident that it is not possible to increase the food by simple genetic manipulation and crop management practices alone under the scenario of shrinking land and other natural resources. Therefore genetic and biotechnological interventions in maize are one of the best solutions to ensure food security and national prosperity under changed climate scenarios.Not Availabl

Mapping QTLs for Salt Tolerance in Rice (<i>Oryza sativa</i> L.) by Bulked Segregant Analysis of Recombinant Inbred Lines Using 50K SNP Chip

<div><p>Soil salinity is a major constraint to rice production in large inland and coastal areas around the world. Modern high yielding rice varieties are particularly sensitive to high salt stress. There are salt tolerant landraces and traditional varieties of rice but with limited information on genomic regions (QTLs) and genes responsible for their tolerance. Here we describe a method for rapid identification of QTLs for reproductive stage salt tolerance in rice using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) of bi-parental recombinant inbred lines (RIL). The number of RILs required for the creation of two bulks with extreme phenotypes was optimized to be thirty each. The parents and bulks were genotyped using a 50K SNP chip to identify genomic regions showing homogeneity for contrasting alleles of polymorphic SNPs in the two bulks. The method was applied to ‘CSR11/MI48’ RILs segregating for reproductive stage salt tolerance. Genotyping of the parents and RIL bulks, made on the basis of salt sensitivity index for grain yield, revealed 6,068 polymorphic SNPs and 21 QTL regions showing homogeneity of contrasting alleles in the two bulks. The method was validated further with ‘CSR27/MI48’ RILs used earlier for mapping salt tolerance QTLs using low-density SSR markers. BSA with 50K SNP chip revealed 5,021 polymorphic loci and 34 QTL regions. This not only confirmed the location of previously mapped QTLs but also identified several new QTLs, and provided a rapid way to scan the whole genome for mapping QTLs for complex agronomic traits in rice.</p></div

QTL positions identified in CSR27/MI48 population by BSA using 50k SNP chip.

<p>Physical map position of QTLs with green color showing tolerant allele coming from tolerant parent CSR27 (11 loci), red color showing tolerant allele coming from sensitive parent MI48 (23 loci). Blue and violet bars represent earlier identified QTLs by Ammar <i>et al</i>. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0153610#pone.0153610.ref042" target="_blank">42</a>] and Pandit <i>et al</i>. [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0153610#pone.0153610.ref008" target="_blank">8</a>], respectively.</p