A Multi-Phase Transport Model (AMPT) has been extensively used to understand the physics behind the experimental observation. Like other models, the outcome of the AMPT model depends on the initial parameters. Therefore, one needs to choose suitable initial parameters before using the model. Lund string fragmentation function has been used to create quark-antiquarks pairs in the AMPT model. The Lund string fragmentation parameters determine the yields and transverse momentum (p T ) spectra of particles produced in nucleus-nucleus collisions. The values of Lund string fragmentation parameters were determined by fitting the charged particle yield and p T spectra measured in the experiment. In this paper, we have shown the yield of strange quarks carrying hadrons, e.g. φ mesons, are more sensitive to Lund string fragmentation parameters compared to non-strange pions. Using φ meson spectra measured at RHIC, we have obtained new sets of Lund parameters for Au+Au collisions at √ s NN = 11.5, 39, and 200 GeV. We have found that using the same set of parameters, we can explain φ-meson yield at √ s NN = 39 and 200 GeV, however, we need a different set of parameters for √ s NN = 11.5 GeV. This suggests that at low energy, √ s NN = 11.5 GeV, the underlying mechanism for particle production is different compared to top RHIC energies. We have also predicted invariant yield of π and φ mesons as a function of p T in U+U collisions at √ s NN = 196 GeV to be measured by STAR experiment.

The present work aims to compare and contrast radiological, mineralogical, and morphological attributes of soil samples from a neutral and agricultural site in Rupnagar, Punjab, to study the influence of land use patterns. The mean activity concentration of 238U, 232Th, 40K, 235U, and 137Cs determined using a p-type HPGe detector in neutral land was observed as 38.45, 58.50, 305.37, 2.02, and 0.78 Bq kg-1, respectively, while in vegetation land, it was 26.57, 45.11, 409.54, 1.60 and 1.28 Bq kg-1 respectively. Radium equivalent (Raeq) for all investigated specimens was below the safe limit of 370Bq kg-1 prescribed by OECD. Further, dosimetric investigations revealed that for neutral land, the outdoor absorbed gamma dose rate (65.83nGy h-1) and resulting annual effective dose rate (0.08mSv y-1) slightly exceeded the world average. The surface morphology of neutral land favored more compactness, while agricultural land favored high porosity. Various heavy metals of health concern, namely As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, and Zn, were also evaluated in all soil specimens using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Pollution Load Index (PLI) and Ecological Risk Index (RI) revealed that vegetation land was more anthropogenically contaminated in comparison to neutral land, with maximum contamination from Hg and As.