Title : Accelerator Mass Spectrometry - Current Understanding, Recent advancements and the way forward

Abstract

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) has revolutionized ultra-sensitive radio isotopic analysis across scientific disciplines. PRL Houses state-of-the-art 1MV Accelerator Mass Spectrometer for analysis of radioisotopes like 14C, 10Be and 26Al. This seminar explores the current understanding of AMS principles, highlights current status and recent developments in PRL-AURiS (PRL-Accelerator Unit of Radioisotope Studies) and the session will conclude with perspectives on future directions, exploring the possibilities of new isotopic targets, and broader interdisciplinary impact. Attendees will gain a comprehensive overview of AMS, its functioning principles, its evolving capabilities, and critical developments shaping the field. The seminar shall be in most general language - and shall be able to cater to a wide audience working in any field.

Title : Linear and Nonlinear Excitations in Rotating Dusty Plasmas across Coupling Regimes

Abstract

Dusty plasmas consisting of dust particles, electrons and ions, can be found in various states of matter (solid, liquid, and gaseous) [1-3]. They, therefore, cover a broad range of parameter space relevant to both astrophysics as well as laboratory environments. Studies of the collective excitations in dusty plasmas provide valuable insights into their static and dynamic properties, as well as how these excitations can be controlled for practical applications [4-7]. For example, investigations of these excitations in the strongly coupled limit can be relevant to ion trap systems where the phonon mode spectrum is manipulated to enhance quantum gate performance efficiency [8]. From an astrophysical perspective, recent dusty plasma experiments have observed nonlinear excitations, such as pinned, precures solitons, generated by a moving charged obstacle [9]. These observations motivate the idea of indirect detection of space debris in the ionosphere through such structures[10]. In this talk, I first discuss magnetoplasmon excitations in rotating dusty plasma equilibria that can be generated in the absence of non-conservative fields [1-2]. These magnetoplasmon signatures have been observed in the absence of a real magnetic field across a wide range of dusty plasmas parameter [1]. Then, I address the nonlinear excitations such as Korteweg-De Vries (KdV) Soliton, pinned, precursor solitons in non-rotating dusty plasmas. The characterization of KdV Soliton structures is presented in details under the existing models to test their reliability, and new models are proposed to overcome their limitations [6-7]. Finally, I discuss the pinned and precursor solitons, which are induced in the medium by a moving charged source, appearing at and ahead the source, respectively, under specific Mach number values. The potential applications of these structures for detecting space debris in the lower Earth orbit (LEO) region of the ionosphere are also outlined.

Title : From Suppression to Reprogramming: Precision Nanomedicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis and Beyond

Abstract

Chronic inflammatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and certain cancers, remain among the most challenging conditions to treat. Conventional therapies often work broadly across the body, suppressing the immune system in ways that can cause serious side effects and fail to provide lasting benefit. My lab is pursuing an altered path: nanomedicine designed to bring treatment directly to the source of inflammation. My lab engineer long-circulating lipid nanoparticles, including immunoliposomes, that selectively accumulate in inflamed tissues. These carriers allow us to deliver RNA-therapeutics like siRNA and miRNA, along with anti-inflammatory drugs, precisely where they are needed, reducing systemic toxicity and expanding the therapeutic window. This targeted approach not only calms harmful immune activity but also reprograms immune cells toward reparative states, offering the possibility of rebuilding tissue function rather than merely suppressing disease. Our work addresses multiple levels of immune regulation, including silencing key cytokines, modulating the NF-κB and JAK–STAT pathways, and investigating PAD inhibition to prevent early autoimmune triggers. Beyond treatment, the lab is developing early detection strategies to identify disease before irreversible damage occurs. By tracking biomarkers such as protein modifications driven by PAD enzymes, we aim to capture the earliest molecular signals of autoimmunity. At the same time, we are making efforts to integrate laboratory findings with retrospective patient data to understand how inflammation, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors shape treatment responses. Together, these efforts outline a translational roadmap that links mechanistic insight with clinical application.

Title : Exploration of the Venus and Lunar Ionosphere Using Radio Science Experiments

Abstract

Venus and the Moon, our two neighbouring celestial bodies, exhibit extreme contrasts in atmospheric conditions. Venus has a neutral density nearly 90 times that of Earth, while the Moon has an almost negligible atmosphere. Despite these differences, both bodies possess significant ionized layers capable of affecting radio signal propagation. This seminar will focus on the characteristics of these ionospheric layers as revealed through radio occultation experiments, with comparisons to Earth’s ionosphere. We will also discuss the implications of these findings for future exploration.