Ensuring Accurate Cosmology from the Era of High-precision Cosmic Shear Surveys

Two of the fundamental components of the Universe are still poorly understood: dark energy and dark matter. Collectively, these constitute around 95% of the Universe according to our current best measurements. This stresses the need to accurately model them. A particularly powerful probe of these quantities is the effect of weak gravitational lensing. This is the distortion of images of distant galaxies due to the gravitational effects of the large-scale structure of the Universe. Upcoming weak lensing surveys, known as Stage IV experiments, are poised for more than an order-of-magnitude improvement in cosmological parameter constraining ability. Accordingly, it is paramount that the accuracy of our theoretical models keeps in step. In this thesis, I examine four previously neglected systematic effects, and report on their importance for upcoming experiments, particularly focusing on the most imminent of the Stage IV surveys, the Euclid}space telescope. I also discuss a potential mitigation strategy for them. Within this work, I first examine the impact of the reduced shear approximation and magnification bias. Specifically, I evaluate the biases in cosmological inference from neglecting these effects. For these terms, assuming a w0waCDM cosmology, I find significant biases in Ωm, σ8, ns, ΩDE, w0, and wa. I then describe how these two corrections depend on another common approximation; the Limber approximation. I find that the Limber approximation can be safely used when evaluating the reduced shear and magnification bias corrections for Stage IV. Another neglected effect I study is the Doppler-shift of galaxies towards their local over-density. I again find this effect is not significant for a Euclid-like experiment. Finally, I report on how a scale-cutting technique, k-cut cosmic shear, can be used to bypass the need for these corrections, without significantly weakening cosmological constraints

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING DATA FLOW BETWEEN SOURCE SYSTEM AND TARGET SYSTEM

The present disclosure relates to a method and a system (103) for managing data flow between a source system (101) and a target system (105). Here, the system comprises a Metadata Definer (MD) 201 for defining metadata of the input dataset associated with the source system (101), output dataset associated with the target system (105), the data transfer pipeline between the input and output datasets and its internal transformation. The system further comprises a Data Flow Manager (DFM) (203) which extracts metadata input from the MD 201, and determines source type, target type, transfer type, data quality strategy, frequency of pipeline, and column mapping from source to target based on the metadata. Further, the DFM 203 generates query to be run on the source system (101) to obtain records (113,117) in target format (109) at target system (105), selects a template for instantiating pipeline. Thus, the present disclosure enables metadata driven data transfer capability between disparate systems which is cost effective and time efficient, by creating an automated pipeline without requiring manual intervention

Hydro-Geological Flow Analysis Using Hidden Markov Models

Hidden Markov Models a class of statistical models used in various disciplines for understanding speech, finding different types of genes responsible for cancer and much more. In this thesis, Hidden Markov Models are used to obtain hidden states that can correlate the flow changes in the Wakulla Spring Cave. Sensors installed in the tunnels of Wakulla Spring Cave have recorded huge correlated changes in the water flows at numerous tunnels. Assuming the correlated flow changes are a consequence of system being in a set of discrete states, a Hidden Markov Model is calculated. This model comprising all the sensors installed in these conduits can help understand the correlations among the flows at each sensor and estimate the hidden states. In this thesis, using the Baum - Welch algorithm and observations from the sensors, hidden states are calculated for the model. The observations are converted from second order to first order observations using base 3 values. The generated model can help identify the set of discrete states for the quantized flow rates at each sensor. The hidden states can predict the correlated flow changes. This document further validates the assumption of the system being in a set of discrete state

Purification, Characterization, and Effect of Thiol Compounds on Activity of the Erwinia carotovora L-Asparaginase

L-asparaginase was extracted from Erwinia carotovora and purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation (60–70%), Sephadex G-100, CM cellulose, and DEAE sephadex chromatography. The apparent Mr of enzyme under nondenaturing and denaturing conditions was 150 kDa and 37 ± 0.5 kDa, respectively. L-asparaginase activity was studied in presence of thiols, namely, L-cystine (Cys), L-methionine (Met), N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Kinetic parameters in presence of thiols (10–400 μM) showed an increase in Vmax values (2000, 2223, 2380, 2500, and control 1666.7 μmoles mg−1min−1) and a decrease in Km values (0.086, 0.076, 0.062, 0.055 and control 0.098 mM) indicating nonessential mode of activation. KA values displayed propensity to bind thiols. A decrease in Vmax/Km ratio in concentration plots showed inverse relationship between free thiol groups (NAC and GSH) and bound thiol group (Cys and Met). Enzyme activity was enhanced in presence of thiol protecting reagents like dithiothreitol (DTT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME), and GSH, but inhibited by p-chloromercurybenzoate (PCMB) and iodoacetamide (IA)

HIV, HBsAg and HCV prevalences among voluntary blood donors in Mumbai: trends over a decade

Background: With over 93 million donations made every year worldwide, blood transfusion continues to save millions of lives each year and improve the life expectancy and quality of life of patients suffering from life threatening conditions. At the same time, blood transfusion is an important mode of transmission of infection to the recipient. The present study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of HIV, HBV and HCV infections in voluntary blood donors at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Mumbai over a decade.Methods: All voluntary donors reporting to the blood bank were screened for HIV, HBsAg and HCV by using the appropriate enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. The study was designed for duration of ten years between January 2008 to December 2017. Medical reports of the donors were accessed from the blood bank records and analyzed.Results: A total of 8928 voluntary blood donors were screened. Amongst the blood donors, seropositivity of HBV (6% to 1.52 %) was highest followed by HIV (2.5% to 0.15%) then HCV (1.85% to 0.37%).Conclusions: Decreasing trends with low prevalence observed in the study is an encouraging sign supporting the growing awareness of these life-threatening diseases

Ferroelectric relaxor behaviour in Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3

The relaxor ferroelectric lead iron tantalate, Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3 (PFT) is synthesized by Coulombite precursor method. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the sample at room temperature shows a cubic phase. The field dependence of dielectric response is measured in a frequency range 0.1 kHz – 1 MHz and in a temperature range from 173–373 K. The temperature dependence of permittivity (ε ′) shows broad maxima at various frequencies. The frequency dependence of the permittivity maximum temperature (Tm) has been modelled using Vogel-Fulcher relation.Ferroelectric relaxor behaviour in Pb(Fe0.5Ta0.5)O3 Chandrahas Bharti*, S N Choudhary and T P Sinha1 University Department of Physics, T M Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur-812 007, Bihar, India 1Department of Physics, Bose Institute, 93/1, A P C Road, Kolkata-700 009, India E-mail : [email protected] Department of Physics, T M Bhagalpur University, Bhagalpur-812 007, Bihar, India 1Department of Physics, Bose Institute, 93/1, A P C Road, Kolkata-700 009, Indi

Cutaneous mastocytosis. Getting beneath the skin of the issue: a case report

An eleven month old girl presented with chronic urticaria since three months of age. There was a generalised hyperpigmented maculo-papular rash. Darier sign was positive. The skin biopsy showed plenty of spindle shaped mast cells with eosinophilic cytoplasm infiltrating the dermis and the appendiceal structures. The diagnosis of cutaneous mastocytosis (urticaria pigmentosa) was made. The child received symptomatic relief with chronic oral hydroxyzine and ranitidine therapy. Automated epinephrine self-injectors usually prescribed in this condition for self-management of anaphylactic episodes were not available. Intramuscular administration of (1:1000) diluted adrenaline via a disposable tuberculin syringe was taught to the mother. A medical bracelet containing her diagnosis and instructions in emergency was custom-made for her

An ovarian mucinous cystadenoma with adnexal tuberculosis: a case report

We report the occurrence of a case of a benign ovarian tumour- mucinous cystadenoma ovary with adnexal tuberculosis. Our case was a middle-aged Indian woman who presented with abdominal distension and discomfort at the gynaecology clinic of M.Y. hospital, Indore. The data were collected by history-taking, clinical examination, laboratory investigations, transabdominal ultrasonographic examination, and by histopathological study of the excised surgical specimen. It was reported as ovarian mucinous cystadenoma with adnexal TB. This case report emphasizes the significance of thorough evaluation of all women presenting with vague abdominal pains and thorough search of any other pathology in the specimen, like in our case it was tuberculosis. With the increasing awareness of such conditions, more and more cases could be detected and reported.