Formation rates of Dark Matter Haloes

We derive an estimate of the rate of formation of dark matter halos per unit volume as a function of the halo mass and redshift of formation. Analytical estimates of the number density of dark matter halos are useful in modeling several cosmological phenomena. We use the excursion set formalism for computing the formation rate of dark matter halos. We use an approach that allows us to differentiate between major and minor mergers, as this is a pertinent issue for semi-analytic models of galaxy formation. We compute the formation rate for the Press-Schechter and the Sheth-Tormen mass function. We show that the formation rate computed in this manner is positive at all scales. We comment on the Sasaki formalism where negative halo formation rates are obtained. Our estimates compare very well with N-Body simulations for a variety of models. We also discuss the halo survival probability and the formation redshift distributions using our method.Comment: 30 pages, 9 figure

Non-extraction Orthodontic Treatment with Molar Distalization

A case report of 16 years female who reported to department with chief complaint of irregularly placed front teeth and an unpleasant smile. Patient was diagnosed with class II div 2malocclusion with arch length discrepancy of 8.5 mm in maxilla with buccally placed maxillary canines. Molar distalization technique was planned using pendulum appliance. Molars weredistalized by 5 mm in the right, 6 mm in left maxillary arch. Crowding was relieved effectively utilizing space created by molar distalization. Class I molar and canine relation wasachieved and maxillary arch was aligned in 7 months.&nbsp

Last-Mile Embodied Visual Navigation

Realistic long-horizon tasks like image-goal navigation involve exploratory and exploitative phases. Assigned with an image of the goal, an embodied agent must explore to discover the goal, i.e., search efficiently using learned priors. Once the goal is discovered, the agent must accurately calibrate the last-mile of navigation to the goal. As with any robust system, switches between exploratory goal discovery and exploitative last-mile navigation enable better recovery from errors. Following these intuitive guide rails, we propose SLING to improve the performance of existing image-goal navigation systems. Entirely complementing prior methods, we focus on last-mile navigation and leverage the underlying geometric structure of the problem with neural descriptors. With simple but effective switches, we can easily connect SLING with heuristic, reinforcement learning, and neural modular policies. On a standardized image-goal navigation benchmark (Hahn et al. 2021), we improve performance across policies, scenes, and episode complexity, raising the state-of-the-art from 45% to 55% success rate. Beyond photorealistic simulation, we conduct real-robot experiments in three physical scenes and find these improvements to transfer well to real environments.Comment: Accepted at CoRL 2022. Code and results available at https://jbwasse2.github.io/portfolio/SLIN

Accelerating Training and Enhancing Security Through Message Size Optimization in Symmetric Cryptography

This research extends Abadi and Andersen\u27s exploration of neural networks using secret keys for information protection in multiagent systems. Focusing on enhancing confidentiality properties, we employ end-to-end adversarial training with neural networks Alice, Bob, and Eve. Unlike prior work limited to 64-bit messages, our study spans message sizes from 4 to 1024 bits, varying batch sizes and training steps. An innovative aspect involves training model Bob to approach a minimal error value close to zero and examining its effect on the feasibility of the model. This research unveils the neural networks\u27 adaptability and scalability in encryption and decryption across diverse scenarios, offering valuable insights into their optimization potential for secure communication

Attributes of Seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) to Meet Nutritional Requirements in High Altitude.

The diet of humans living in different geographical and climatic regions of the earth varies greatly in both quantity and composition of foods. Evidence is accumulating that indicates that there is a high risk of malnutrition at high altitude because of the usual lack of fresh food and environmental factors. Lack of nutritious diet in the difficult terrain is a potential stressor that elicits oxidative stress. The excretion of minerals from the body is higher in high altitude condition. The altered nutritional requirement can be met to a large extend by regular consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables. Results of analysis of Seabuckthorn growing in Leh valley of Trans-Himalaya showed the presence of high content of multivitamins including vitamin C (275 mg/100g), vitamin A (432.4 IU/100g), vitamin E (3.54 mg/100g), Riboflavin (1.45 mg/100g), Niacin (68.4 mg/100g), Pantothenic acid (0.85 mcg/100g), vitamin B-6 (1.12 mg/100g), and vitamin B-2 (5.4 mcg/100g). Similarly, mineral elements composition revealed high amount of minerals including potassium (647.2 mg/l), calcium (176.6 mg/l), iron (30.9 mg/l), magnesium (22.5 mg/l), phosphorous (84.2 mg/l), sodium (414.2 mg/l), zinc (1.4 mg/l), copper (0.7 mg/l), manganese (1.06 mg/l) and selenium (0.53 mg/l).Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(2), pp.226-230, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.34

Fresnel zone plate telescopes for X-ray imaging II: numerical simulations with parallel and diverging beams

We present the results of simulations of shadows cast by a zone plate telescope which may have one to four pairs of zone plates. From the shadows we reconstruct the images under various circumstances. We discuss physical basis of the resolution of the telescope and demonstrate this by our simulations. We allow the source to be at a finite distance (diverging beam) as well as at an infinite distance (parallel beam) and show that the resolution is worsened when the source is nearby. By reconstructing the zone plates in a way that both the zone plates subtend the same solid angles at the source, we obtain back high resolution even for sources at a finite distance. We present simulated results for the observation of the galactic center and show that the sources of varying intensities may be reconstructed with accuracy. Results of these simulations would be of immense use in interpreting the X-ray images from recently launched CORONAS-PHOTON satellite.Comment: 17 pages, 36 figures, Published in Experimental Astronom

Function of the central domain of streptokinase in substrate plasminogen docking and processing revealed by site-directed mutagenesis

The possible role of the central β -domain (residues 151-287) of streptokinase (SK) was probed by site-specifically altering two charged residues at a time to alanines in a region (residues 230-290) previously identified by Peptide Walking to play a key role in plasminogen (PG) activation. These mutants were then screened for altered ability to activate equimolar "partner" human PG, or altered interaction with substrate PG resulting in an overall compromised capability for substrate PG processing. Of the eight initial alanine-linker mutants of SK, one mutant, viz. SKKK256, 257aa (SK-D1), showed a roughly 20-fold reduction in PG activator activity in comparison to wild-type SK expressed in Escherichia coli (nSK). Five other mutants were as active as nSK, with two [SKRE248.249AA and SKEK281.282AA, referred to as SK(C) and SK(H), respectively] showing specific activities approximately one-half and two-thirds, respectively, that of nSK. Unlike SK(C) and SK(H), however, SK(D1) showed an extended initial delay in the kinetics of PG activation. These features were drastically accentuated when the charges on the two Lys residues at positions 256 and 257 of nSK were reversed, to obtain SKKK256.257EE [SK(D2)]. This mutant showed a PG activator activity approximately 10-fold less than that of SK(D1). Remarkably, inclusion of small amounts of human plasmin (PN) in the PG activation reactions of SK(D2) resulted in a dramatic, PN dose-dependent rejuvenation of its PG activation capability, indicating that it required pre-existing PN to form a functional activator since it could not effect active site exposure in partner PG on its own, a conclusion further confirmed by its inability to show a "burst" of p-nitrophenol release in the presence of equimolar human PG and p-nitrophenyl guanidino benzoate. The steady-state kinetic parameters for HPG activation of its 1:1 complex with human PN revealed that although it could form a highly functional activator once "supplied" with a mature active site, the Km for PG was increased nearly eightfold in comparison to that of nSK-PN. SK mutants carrying simultaneous two- and three-site charge-cluster alterations, viz., SKRE248.249AA;EK281.282AA [SK(CH)], SKEK272.273AA;EK281.282AA [SK(FH)], and SKRE248.249AA;EK272.273AA;EK281.282AA [SK(CFH)], showed additive/synergistic influence of multiple charge-cluster mutations on HPG activation when compared to the respective "single-site" mutants, with the "triple-site" mutant [SK(CFH)] showing absolutely no detectable HPG activation ability. Nevertheless, like the other constructs, the double- and triple-charge cluster mutants retained a native like affinity for complexation with partner PG. Their overall structure also, as judged by far-ultraviolet circular dichroism, was closely similar to that of nSK. These results provide the first experimental evidence for a direct assistance by the SK β-domain in the docking and processing of substrate PG by the activator complex, a facet not readily evident probably because of the flexibility of this domain in the recent X-ray crystal structure of the SK-plasmin light chain complex

Synthesis and X-ray diffraction structure of a novel steroid-pyrrolidinoisoquinoline alkaloid hybrid

1575-1578A novel steroid – pyrrolidinoisoquinoline alkaloid hybrid has been successfully synthesized by Diels-Alder reaction N-acyliminium ion cyclization sequence

PRONIOSOMES: A KEY TO IMPROVED DRUG DELIVERY

In the recent years nanotechnology has brought revolutionary changes in the field of life sciences which includes novel drug delivery systems, diagnostics, nutraceuticals and biomedicals for implants and prosthesis. Sustained and Controlled release drug products are often formulated to permit the establishment and maintenance of drug concentration at site of action for longer interval of time such as liposomes, niosomes, ethosomes, transferosomes, etc. ‘Proniosomal technique’ is the one among them. Proniosomes are dry products derived from niosomes. They are water soluble carrier particles that are coated with surfactant and can be hydrated to form niosomal dispersion immediately before use on brief agitation in hot aqueous media. They are being used in order to minimize the problems associated with niosome’s physical stability such as aggregation, fusion, leaking and to provide additional convenience in transportation, distribution, storage and dosing etc. In all comparisons, proniosomes are more promising than conventional niosomes. Keywords: Proniosomes, Niosomes, Liposomes, Stability, Drug releas