Dissipative dynamics of nuclear fission is a well confirmed phenomenon described either by a Kramers-modified statistical model or by a dynamical model employing the Langevin equation. Though dynamical models as well as statistical models incorporating fission delay are found to explain the measured fission observables in many studies, it nonetheless shows conflicting results for shell closed nuclei in the mass region 200. Analysis of recent data for neutron shell closed nuclei in excitation energy range 40$-$80 MeV failed to arrive at a satisfactory description of the data and attributed the mismatch to shell effects and/or entrance channel effects, without reaching a definite conclusion. In the present work we show that a well established stochastic dynamical code simultaneously reproduces the available data of pre-scission neutron multiplicities, fission and evaporation residue excitation functions for neutron shell closed nuclei $^{210}$Po and $^{212}$Rn and their isotopes $^{206}$Po and $^{214,216}$Rn without the need for including any extra shell or entrance channel effects. The calculations are performed by using a phenomenological universal friction form factor with no ad-hoc adjustment of model parameters. However, we note significant deviation, beyond experimental errors, in some cases of Fr isotopes.

While an increasing number of studies indicate that the range, diversity and abundance of many wild pollinators has declined, the global area of pollinator-dependent crops has significantly increased over the last few decades. Crop pollination studies to date have mainly focused on either identifying different guilds pollinating various crops, or on factors driving spatial changes and turnover observed in these communities. The mechanisms driving temporal stability for ecosystem functioning and services, however, remain poorly understood. Our study quantifies temporal variability observed in crop pollinators in 21 different crops across multiple years at a global scale. Using data from 43 studies from six continents, we show that (i) higher pollinator diversity confers greater inter-annual stability in pollinator communities, (ii) temporal variation observed in pollinator abundance is primarily driven by the three-most dominant species, and (iii) crops in tropical regions demonstrate higher inter-annual variability in pollinator species richness than crops in temperate regions. We highlight the importance of recognizing wild pollinator diversity in agricultural landscapes to stabilize pollinator persistence across years to protect both biodiversity and crop pollination services. Short-term agricultural management practices aimed at dominant species for stabilizing pollination services need to be considered alongside longer term conservation goals focussed on maintaining and facilitating biodiversity to confer ecological stability.

The light output response and efficiency of 5 '' x 5 '' BC501A liquid scintillator neutron detectors composing the NAND detector array have been measured by time of flight technique using(252)Cf source. Energy dependent de-tection efficiency was calculated using FLUKA Monte Carlo code and validated by experimental measurement. FLUKA simulation incorporated fission neutron correlation and kinematics of neutron emission from fission source determining the energy distribution of neutrons in the laboratory frame. The intrinsic features of the scintillator were studied by including particle dependent quenching and light output resolution. Comparison of FLUKA simulation of scintillation light produced by neutrons and gamma rays with measurements provided realistic results. The calculated neutron detection efficiency at similar to 0.5 MeV threshold reproduces the experimental data reasonably well in the studied energy range, 0.5 < E-n < 12 MeV. Neutron scattering from target chamber material in NAND was investigated using FLUKA concluding that the loss in neutron flux due to scattering from the chamber wall is similar to 12%. The scattering amounts to background neutron counts in neighbouring detectors comparable to cross-talk events. The absolute efficiency of the NAND array was estimated to be similar to 1.40% after taking into consideration the intrinsic efficiency of liquid cells, geometrical efficiency and flux loss due to scattering.

Environmental change and anthropogenic pressure are primary drivers of biodiversity loss, particularly in wetland ecosystems that have been modified significantly. Among wetland specialists, mammals may be particularly vulnerable to extinction. We aimed to increase understanding of threats and knowledge gaps faced by 11 mammal species inhabiting wetlands throughout India. We adopted a systematic literature search protocol following an evidence-based conservation approach to obtain information on conservation threats and identify knowledge gaps for each species. Each species received threat scores based on the occurrence and magnitude of ecological and anthropogenic threats, a score based on its International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List category, and a knowledge gap score. A cumulative conservation threat score based on the four individual scores was calculated for each species to assess overall conservation threats. Only about 10% of the literature search results were relevant. Of the major research categories, ecology was the most well-studied, whereas the impact of anthropogenic pressure on wetland mammals was the least studied. Pressing ecological and anthropogenic threats, scientific knowledge gaps, and conservation needs contributed to a high cumulative threat score for the sangai Rucervus eldii eldii (cumulative threat score = 34), followed by the wild Asian buffalo Bubalus arnee (threat score = 33) and the Bengal marsh mongoose Herpestes palustris (threat score = 32). Poaching/hunting, habitat loss due to development, and changes in land-use practices were found to be the major anthropogenic threats resulting in decreasing population trends. We identified knowledge gaps concerning the ecology of wetland mammals (e.g. population abundance). It is essential that these knowledge gaps are filled for effective conservation planning. We identified important areas (population ecology, disease ecology, human-wildlife conflict, changes in land use) that should be considered as research priorities for wetland mammals in India, in order to make conservation efforts more effective and enable management planning, to ensure the long-term survival of these mammals.

The 100 element neutron detector array facility, National Array of Neutron Detectors (NAND) has been installed at Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), New Delhi for experiments in heavy-ion reaction studies. The detector array consists of 100 organic liquid scintillators, each of size 5"x5" coupled to 5 in. diameter photomultiplier. The liquid cells are mounted at 175 cm from the target with full array covering 3.3% of 4 pi solid angle. We present an overview of the design and implementation of various subsystems of the array. Description of the mechanical structure, development of detectors and nuclear electronics for signal processing, data acquisition, characterization of detectors and test results are presented. Results on the performance characteristics of the array are given based on the offline tests using radioactive sources and commissioning test by in-beam experiments. The system demonstrates good n - gamma discrimination and time-of-flight performance.

We report the first multi-differential measurements of strange hadrons of $K^{-}$, $\phi$ and $\Xi^{-}$ yields as well as the ratios of $\phi/K^-$ and $\phi/\Xi^-$ in Au+Au collisions at ${\sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = \rm{3\,GeV}}$ with the STAR experiment fixed target configuration at RHIC. The $\phi$ mesons and $\Xi^{-}$ hyperons are measured through hadronic decay channels, $\phi\rightarrow K^+K^-$ and $\Xi^-\rightarrow \Lambda\pi^-$. Collision centrality and rapidity dependence of the transverse spectra for these strange hadrons are presented. The $4\pi$ yields and ratios are compared to thermal model and hadronic transport model predictions. At the collision energy, thermal model with grand canonical ensemble (GCE) under-predicts the $\phi/K^-$ ratio while the result of canonical ensemble (CE) calculations reproduce well the ratios of $\phi/K^-$, with the correlation length $r_c \sim 2.7$\,fm, and $\phi/\Xi^-$, $r_c \sim 4.2$\,fm, for the 0-10\% central collisions. Hadronic transport models including high mass resonance decays could also describe the ratios. While thermal calculations with GCE work well for strangeness production in high energy collisions, the change to CE at $\rm{3\,GeV}$ implies a rather different medium property at high baryon density.

24 The conversion of natural vegetation into cultivated land can cause pollinator declines and 25 thereby degrade pollination services to crops and wildflowers. The effect of landscape 26 composition on pollinator abundance is well established, but its impact on pollination intensity 27 and crop yield is not fully resolved. We therefore studied pollination of two crops in India, 28 brinjal (Solanum melongena) and mustard (Brassica nigra), along a landscape-scale gradient 29 in habitat transformation from forest-dominated natural vegetation to intensive cultivation. 30 We quantified the pollination requirements (pollen receipt-seed set relationships) of the crops 31 and the levels of pollen delivery by their principal pollinators, bees. Combining these with 32 field surveys of pollinator abundance, we modelled the levels of pollination service to fields 33 along the landscape gradient. Projected pollination services declined as the area occupied by 34 natural vegetation decreased. We identified thresholds at which bee pollination no longer 35 supported maximum seed set, which were landscapes with approximately one quarter (27%) 36 of nearby natural vegetation for brinjal fields and one fifth (18%) for mustard. Our findings 37 indicate that preserving or restoring the cover of natural habitats above these minimum 38 thresholds could be a valuable strategy for maintaining pollinator abundance and safeguarding 39 yield in these bee-pollinated crops. 40

The conversion of natural vegetation into cultivated land can cause pollinator declines and thereby degrade pollination services to crops and wildflowers. The effect of landscape composition on pollinator abundance is well established, but its impact on pollination intensity and crop yield is not fully resolved. We therefore studied pollination of two crops in India, brinjal (Solanum melongena) and mustard (Brassica nigra), along a landscape-scale gradient in habitat transformation from forest-dominated natural vegetation to intensive cultivation. We quantified the pollination requirements (pollen receipt-seed set relationships) of the crops and the levels of pollen delivery by their principal pollinators, bees. Combining these with field surveys of pollinator abundance, we modelled the levels of pollination service to fields along the landscape gradient. Projected pollination services declined as the area occupied by natural vegetation decreased. We identified thresholds at which bee pollination no longer supported maximum seed set, which were landscapes with approximately one quarter (27 %) of nearby natural vegetation for brinjal fields and one fifth (18 %) for mustard. Our findings indicate that preserving or restoring the cover of natural habitats above these minimum thresholds could be a valuable strategy for maintaining pollinator abundance and safeguarding yield in these bee-pollinated crops.

Aims. The aim of this study is to search for evidence of a common emission engine between radio giant pulses (GPs) and very-high-energy (VHE, E& x2004;> & x2004;100 GeV) gamma-rays from the Crab pulsar. Methods. We performed 16 h of simultaneous observations of the Crab pulsar at 1.4 GHz with the Effelsberg radio telescope and the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT), and at energies above 60 GeV we used the Major Atmospheric Gamma-ray Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescopes. We searched for a statistical correlation between the radio and VHE gamma-ray emission with search windows of different lengths and different time lags to the arrival times of a radio GP. A dedicated search for an enhancement in the number of VHE gamma-rays correlated with the occurrence of radio GPs was carried out separately for the P1 and P2 phase ranges, respectively. Results. In the radio data sample, 99444 radio GPs were detected. We find no significant correlation between the GPs and VHE photons in any of the search windows. Depending on phase cuts and the chosen search windows, we find upper limits at a 95% confidence level on an increase in VHE gamma-ray events correlated with radio GPs between 7% and 61% of the average Crab pulsar VHE flux for the P1 and P2 phase ranges, respectively. This puts upper limits on the flux increase during a radio GP between 12% and 2900% of the pulsed VHE flux, depending on the search window duration and phase cuts. This is the most stringent upper limit on a correlation between gamma-ray emission and radio GPs reported so far.

Food fermentation, known to preserve and improve the nutrition value, has been used traditionally since long back as a portion of human nutrition/diet throughout the world. Further, fermented foods provide health promoting benefits owing to the presence of functional properties that have been produced during the fermentation process by using the functional microorganisms present in the functional foods. These functional properties include probiotics properties, antimicrobial, antioxidant, peptide production, etc. These fermented foods can be exploited as a probiotic carrier due to the presence of lactic acid bacteria in them. This chapter is aimed to provide the detailed insight on fermented probiotic foods along with their benefits (nutritional and health) to the customers.

Microbiota has an effective health promoting role which is ingested through fermented functional foods, specifically probiotic microorganisms. They are now being administered orally which in turn serves the purpose of potent alternative medication for intestinal disorders by replacing antibiotics. Most frequently used probiotics are Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. For much other therapeutic usage new probiotic strains are being modified to understand their mechanism of action and to strengthen them further through bioengineering. Metabolic engineering shows pathway for modulation of the organism’s metabolism so that the maximum amount of desired metabolites can be extracted through genetic manipulations. This chapter concentrates mainly on modifying the genes of probiotic bacteria and their importance in health and wellness.

Neutron multiplicity excitation function has been measured for the Si-30 + Au-197 reaction populating the Np-227 compound nucleus at excitation energies in the range 44.1-78.8 MeV using the National Array of Neutron Detector facility of Inter University Accelerator Centre, New Delhi. Measured pre-scission neutron multiplicity values are analyzed using a statistical model incorporating Krammer's fission width due to the dissipative drag in nuclear fission, shell corrections in fission barrier and level density, collective enhancement of level density, and K-orientation effect. The present work demonstrates that a strong fission hindrance is essential to reproduce the experimental pre-scission neutrons, whereas the temperature dependent dissipation coefficient as observed in a few recent measurements is not required to reproduce the experimental nu(pre) data. No substantial effect of collective enhancement of nuclear level density and tilting away effect of compound nucleus spin on neutron emission prior to the scission configuration was observed unlike fission of preactinides.

The effect of the shell structure of the target nuclei (Y-89 and Nb-93) on reaction mechanisms involving the weakly bound Li-7 projectile has been investigated via a comparative study of different processes. Measurements of direct breakup, nucleon transfer leading to the ejectile in bound as well as unbound states, and elastic scattering have been carried out for the Li-7 + Y-89 system at three different energies near the Coulomb barrier. An extensive analysis of this comprehensive data set was carried out using coupled channel calculations and compared with a previous similar study for the Li-7 + Nb-93 system. The observed cross sections at low target excitations for nucleon transfer reactions correlate with the vacancies in the valance orbitals.

Asymmetric low-energy fission of neutron-deficient nuclei around lead is addressed with the measurement of fragment mass and total kinetic energy properties for the fissioning system Po-198 produced in heavy-ion fusion. Interpretation of the measurement for such a transitional nucleus at finite excitation energy is challenging. The presence of asymmetric partitions is suggested by the observed weak dependence of the total kinetic energy on mass and by the nonmonotonic evolution of the fragment-mass distribution width with excitation energy. The interpretation is supported by microscopic model calculations as well as by the results of an advanced semiempirical code. Combined with previous experiments in the region, the present measurement contributes to establish the evolution of the fragment-mass distribution as a function of the fissioning system. The connection between the "new" and the "old" islands of asymmetric fission is discussed.

For the field of high energy physics to continue to have a bright future, priority within the field must be given to investments in the development of both evolutionary and transformational detector development that is coordinated across the national laboratories and with the university community, international partners and other disciplines. While the fundamental science questions addressed by high energy physics have never been more compelling, there is acute awareness of the challenging budgetary and technical constraints when scaling current technologies. Furthermore, many technologies are reaching their sensitivity limit and new approaches need to be developed to overcome the currently irreducible technological challenges. This situation is unfolding against a backdrop of declining funding for instrumentation, both at the national laboratories and in particular at the universities. This trend has to be reversed for the country to continue to play a leadership role in particle physics, especially in this most promising era of imminent new discoveries that could finally break the hugely successful, but limited, Standard Model of fundamental particle interactions. In this challenging environment it is essential that the community invest anew in instrumentation and optimize the use of the available resources to develop new innovative, cost-effective instrumentation, as this is our best hope to successfully accomplish the mission of high energy physics. This report summarizes the current status of instrumentation for high energy physics, the challenges and needs of future experiments and indicates high priority research areas.

Various factors associated with agricultural intensification e.g. loss of semi-natural habitats and excessive use of chemical pesticides have been implicated as major drivers of pollinators and pollination service decline. In the developing countries, where agricultural intensification is still an ongoing process, agricultural landscape exists as a gradient of agricultural fields at various degrees of intensification. The present study looks at how factors associated with agricultural intensification impacts bee visitation on brinjal, an economically important crop, along such an agricultural intensification gradient. Bee visitation varied significantly along the gradient and was highest in the areas of low agricultural intensity. Apis cerana was the dominant visitors in areas of high agricultural intensity while for the low agricultural intensity areas Xylocopa spp. and Amegilla spp. were the dominant visitors. The visiting bee communities were also distinctly different in the high, mid and low agricultural intensity areas. Area under agriculture, non crop density and pesticide use intensity together influenced bee visitation.