Quantum Information processing by NMR: Preparation of pseudopure states and implementation of unitary operations in a single-qutrit system

Theoretical Quantum Information Processing (QIP) has matured from the use of qubits to the use of qudits (systems having states> 2). Where as most of the experimental implementations have been performed using qubits, little experimental work has been carried out using qudits as yet. In this paper we demonstrate experimental realization of a qutrit system by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), utilizing deuterium (spin-1) nuclei partially oriented in liquid crystalline phase. Preparation of pseudopure states and implementation of unitary operations are demonstrated in this single-qutrit system, using transition selective pulses.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

A comparative study of efficacy of tadalafil and alfuzosin regimens in patients of benign prostate hyperplasia

Background: Aim of the study was to compare efficacy of Tadalafil and Alfuzosin regimens in patients of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia.Methods: It was a comparative, prospective, observational, non-invasive, parallel and randomised study conducted at the Outpatient Department of Urology, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. 60 patients diagnosed with Benign Prostate Hyperplasia along with Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms, out which, 30 patients, consuming Tadalafil and 30 patients consuming Alfuzosin were considered. History regarding the concerned disease and the compliance of treatment was taken. Symptom scores were assessed with the help of International Prostate Symptom Score, Quality of Lifestyle Score and Erectile Dysfunction Score. Physical examination consisting of Focused Neurological Examination along with Digital Rectal Examination were conducted. Parameters like Renal Function Test, Urine analysis, Ultrasound of Prostate and uroflowmetry were also considered.Results: The mean age selected for study was 64 years for Tadalafil and Alfuzosin group. The mean level of IPS Score, Qol Score and ED Score at the first day of inclusion of patients were 23.96±4.49, 4±0.78, and 25.33±4.02 respectively for Tadalafil group and regarding Alfuzosin group they were 25.23±4.84, 3.56±0.81, and 26.1±4.04 respectively. Follow ups were conducted at 15 days, 1 month and 3 months for both the groups which were found to be statistically significant after 3 months and Alfuzosin showed a favourable result.Conclusions: Alfuzosin 10mg given at daily dose was found to have higher efficacy than Tadalafil (5mg)

Planktonic Scenario of the River Ganga & Yamuna at Prayagraj in COVID-19 Lockdown: A Case Study

Ganga is the most prestigious river of India. The COVID-19 lockdown may have forced us to stay indoors, but it has been boon for pollution-ridden Ganga and Yamuna. Plankton is tiny organisms drifting with water current, influenced by river physical and chemical factors. During lockdown anthropogenic factors were reduced which affected water and plankton quality. Plankton samples were collected from the upstream of the river Ganga (Shankerghat, latitude 25030’28” N and longitude, 81052’10”E) and Yamuna (near boat club, latitude 25024’29”N and longitude 81054’50”E) at Prayagraj, during national lockdown. In the before lockdown period (2019), total 28 planktonic taxa were recorded from the river Ganga, among them 10 taxa from Bacillariophyceae, 15 from Chlorophyceae and 3 from Myxophyceae. While during LD period total 54 genera with 86 species was recorded (Bacillariophyceae 10 taxa, Chlorophyceae 23 taxa, Myxophyceae 9 taxa, Euglenophyceae 2 taxa, Dianophyceae, 1, Rotiferea 7 taxa, Protozoa 2 taxa). Various species of green algae were observed in this small period of lockdown, some species were not observed since a long, like Pediastrum tetras, Scenedesmus abundans, Ankistrodesmus fusiformis, and Brachionus angularis. Various species of phytoplankton and zooplankton were in reproductive phase because river was flowing silently, without any internal and external disturbance. Ganga was more affected by anthropogenic activity and factory discharge than Yamuna So lack of chemicals in the water and minimum human interference favoured auto rejuvenation of Ganga in terms of plankton quality, diversity and reproduction behaviour. Such type of environmental changes may stimulate for origin of new species and disappear or reappear of various aquatic species

A Framework for Scalable Cooperative Navigation of Autonomous Vehicles

We describe a general framework for controlling and coordinating a group of non-holonomic mobile robots equipped with range sensors, with applications ranging from scouting and reconnaissance, to search and rescue and manipulation tasks. We first describe a set of control laws that allows each robot to control its position and orientation with respect to neighboring robots or obstacles in the environment. We then develop a coordination protocol that allows the robots to automatically switch between the control laws to follow a specified trajectory. Finally, we describe two simple trajectory generators that are derived from potential field theory. The first allows each robot to plan its reference trajectory based on the information available to it. The second scheme requires sharing of information and results in a trajectory for the designated leader. Numerical simulations illustrate the application of these ideas and demonstrate the scalability of the proposed framework for a large group of robots

Grasspea: A Potential Fodder and Feed Resources

Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) is a an important legume crop grown in India, Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia, Nepal, and Pakistan for human food, animal feed and soil health improvement. In India, grasspea is grown in about 521,100 ha, mainly in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Orissa, Assam, West Bengal, and eastern Uttar Pradesh. Grasspea cultivation is low-cost and easy. Inherently grasspea possesses resistance to drought, excess moisture, salinity, diseases, and insect pests. As grasspea has an ambivalent reputation due to ODAP content in its plant parts, efforts are on to develop low or ODAP-free grasspea varieties with high biomass for dual purpose for human food and animal feed. A number of such varieties are now available in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Ethiopia. Grasspea is known as excellent feed and fodder crop for centuries as a main concentrate for horses (Anonymous, 1894). Livestock is a key component of farming systems in South Asia and in Africa, and most particularly with small and marginal farmers, estimated about 678 million, and indicates importance of livestock to their livelihoods (ILRI, 2000)

Two different zinc(II)-aqua complexes held up by a metal-oxide based support: synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity of [HMTAH]<SUB>2</SUB>[{Zn(H<SUB>2</SUB>O)<SUB>5</SUB>}{Zn(H<SUB>2</SUB>O)<SUB>4</SUB>}{Mo<SUB>7</SUB>O<SUB>24</SUB>}]&#183;2H<SUB>2</SUB>O (HMTAH = protonated hexamethylenetetramine)

An inorganic-organic hybrid material, [HMTAH]2[{Zn(H2O)5}{Zn(H2O)4}{Mo7O24}]&#183;2H2O (1) (where HMTAH = protonated hxamethylenetetramine) has been synthesized and structurally characterized. The compound 1 crystallizes in a monoclinic space group C2/c. The crystal data of 1: &#945; = 43&#183;12(3), b = 12&#183;399(10), c = 16&#183;285(13), &#946; = 111&#183;131(11), Z = 8. Its crystal structure shows that two different Zn(II)-aqua complexes, [Zn(H2O)5]2+ and [Zn(H2O)4]2+ are covalently coordinated to a heptamolybdate anion [Mo7O24]6- resulting in an anionic species of polyoxometalate supported zinc-aqua complexes, [{Zn(H2O)5}{Zn(H2O)4}{Mo7O24}]2-, that is stabilized with two protonated hexamethylenetetramine cations in the title compound 1. In the crystal structure, both lattice water molecules are found to interact with the heptamolybdate cluster anion and the protonated hexamethylenetetramine cation resulting in an intricate three-dimensional hydrogen bonding network. Interestingly, compound 1 exhibits catalytic activity towards oxidation of some primary alcohols

A comparative study of efficacy of febuxostat and allopurinol regimens in patients of hyperuricemia

Background: Gout, resulting from the precipitation of urate crystals in the tissues and the subsequent inflammatory response, causes an exquisitely painful distal monoarthritis alongwith joint destruction, subcutaneous deposits (tophi), renal calculi. The main culprit is uric Acid, which is a waste product formed due to purine metabolism. Gout Patients either produce excess Uric acid or are unable to excrete Uric acid produced in normal conditions. Uric acid lowering therapy (ULT) has become popular regarding management of gout. Nowadays. 2 drugs which are responsible for decreasing synthesis of Uric acid are Febuxostat and Allopurinol. The purpose of this study is to determine efficacy of Febuxostat and Allopurinol experienced by patients during course of therapy.Methods: It was an open, prospective, observational, non-invasive, parallel and randomised study, conducted at the Outpatient Department of Urology, Rajindra Hospital, Patiala. It had 60 patients of gout, out which, 30 patients were administered Febuxostat and 30 patients were administered Allopurinol. For each patient, history regarding drug intake was taken, along with analysis of Serum Uric acid profile before prescription and during follow up.Results: The mean age selected for study was 47 years for Febuxostat group and 43 years for Allopurinol group. Mean Urate (mg%) in pre-treatment stage of patients of Febuxostat group is about 8.28 whereas for Allopurinol group its about 8.61. Mean urate levels after 4 follow ups (10 days each) were conducted. The mean Urate level at 10, 20, 30, 40 days were conducted at each group which were found to be statistically significant and the results of Febuxostat group was found to be favourable.Conclusions: Febuxostat, (40mg) given at daily dose was found to have higher efficacy than allopurinol, at a dose of 100mg (zyloric) which is the most commonly prescribed dose in order to lower the serum urate level

Hybrid Control of Formations of Robots

We describe a framework for controlling a group of nonholonomic mobile robots equipped with range sensors. The vehicles are required to follow a prescribed trajectory while maintaining a desired formation. By using the leader-following approach, we formulate the formation control problem as a hybrid (mode switching) control system. We then develop a decision module that allows the robots to automatically switch between continuous-state control laws to achieve a desired formation shape. The stability properties of the closed-loop hybrid system are studied using Lyapunov theory. We do not use explicit communication between robots; instead we integrate optimal estimation techniques with nonlinear controllers. Simulation and experimental results verify the validity of our approach