Organofluorine Hydrazone Derivatives as Multifunctional Anti-Alzheimer's Agents with CK2 Inhibitory and Antioxidant Features

A set of novel hydrazone derivatives were synthesized and analyzed for their biological activities. The compounds were tested for their inhibitory effect on the phosphorylating activity of the protein kinase CK2, and their antioxidant activity was also determined in three commonly used assays. The hydrazones were evaluated for their radical scavenging against the DPPH, ABTS and peroxyl radicals. Several compounds have been identified as good antioxidants as well as potent protein kinase CK2 inhibitors. Most hydrazones containing a 4-N(CH₃)₂ residue or perfluorinated phenyl rings showed high activity in the radical-scavenging assays and possess nanomolar IC₅₀ values in the kinase assays.     

Micro-computed tomography scanning approaches to quantify,parameterize and visualize bioturbation activity in clogged streambeds: A proof of concept

Fine particle clogging and faunal bioturbation are two key processes co-occurring in the hyporheic zone that potentially affect hyporheic exchange through modifications in the sediment structure of streambeds. Clogging results from excessive fine sediment infiltration and deposition in rivers, and it is known to decrease matrix porosity and potentially reduce permeability. Faunal bioturbation activity may compensate for the negative effect of clogging by reworking the sediment, increasing porosity, and preventing further infiltration of fines. Although both processes of clogging and bioturbation have received significant attention in the literature separately, their combined effects on streambed sediment structure are not well understood, mostly due to the lack of a standard methodology for their assessment. Here, we illustrate a novel methodology using X-ray computed tomography (CT), as proof of concept, to investigate how, together, clogging and bioturbation affect streambed porosity in a controlled flow-through flume. By visualising gallery formations of an upward conveyor macroinvertebrate; Lumbriculus variegatus as a model species, we quantified bioturbation activity in a clogged streambed, focusing on orientation, depth, and volume at downwelling and upwelling areas of the flume. Gallery creation increased the porosity of the streambed sediment, suggesting a potential improvement in permeability and a possible offset of clogging effects. We illustrate the promising use of X-ray CT as a tool to assess bioturbation in clogged streambeds, and the potential role of bioturbation activity supporting hyporheic exchange processes in streambeds, warranting further studies to understand the extent of bioturbation impacts in natural systems.     

Fuzzy Based Ant Colony Optimization Scheduling in Cloud Computing

Cloud computing is an Information Technology deployment model established on virtualization. Task scheduling states the set of rules for task allocations to an exact virtual machine in the cloud computing environment. However, task scheduling challenges such as optimal task scheduling performance solutions, are addressed in cloud computing. First, the cloud computing performance due to task scheduling is improved by proposing a Dynamic Weighted Round-Robin algorithm. This recommended DWRR algorithm improves the task scheduling performance by considering resource competencies, task priorities, and length. Second, a heuristic algorithm called Hybrid Particle Swarm Parallel Ant Colony Optimization is proposed to solve the task execution delay problem in DWRR based task scheduling. In the end, a fuzzy logic system is designed for HPSPACO that expands task scheduling in the cloud environment. A fuzzy method is proposed for the inertia weight update of the PSO and pheromone trails update of the PACO. Thus, the proposed Fuzzy Hybrid Particle Swarm Parallel Ant Colony Optimization on cloud computing achieves improved task scheduling by minimizing the execution and waiting time, system throughput, and maximizing resource utilization.     

An efficient video watermarking based security model

Microsystem Technologies - Watermarking is defined as about hiding any valuable information set in the particular digital media by itself through modifying the particular graphic contents. In our...     

Remediation of Cd(II) Metal Ion from Aqueous Systems by Using Calcium Alginate Modified (CAM) Acacia saligna and Delbergia sisso Pods Composite Beads

The present investigation reports the possibility of using Acacia saligna and Delbergia sisso pods to remove Cd(II) from aquatic systems in the form of calcium alginate modified immobilized composite beads (CAM-ASPCB and CAM-DSPCB). Batch and fixed bed column studies were carried out under various process affecting parameters. Maximum metal removal efficiency of 92% by CAM-ASPCB and 85% by CAM-DSPCB was observed under optimized conditions. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model, intra-particle diffusion, and Freundlich isotherm were found fitted well. The regeneration of the sorbents were found effectively high showing up to 10 cycles for simulated solution and up to 3 cycles for industrial effluent.     

Design and Comparative Analysis of Heterogeneous Gate Dielectric Nanosheet TFET with Temperature Variance

Silicon - In this article, a Heterogeneous Gate-Dielectric Nanosheet Tunnel Field Effect Transistor (HD-NSH-TFET) with three channels is investigated using the 3-D Visual TCAD simulator. The HD...     

Influence of altitudinal variation on the antioxidant potential of tartar buckwheat of Western Himalaya

In the present work, the effect of altitudinal variations on the total phenol, flavonoid, and antioxidant potential of seeds and hull of Tartar buckwheat collected from 15 different locations of Western Himalaya has been investigated. Methanolic and acetonic extracts of seed and hull powder showed significantly increasing amounts of total polyphenol content, and antioxidant potential with rising altitude. Methanolic extract of seed and hull powder were found to have significantly greater polyphenol, and antioxidant potential as compared to acetonic extract. The methanolic seed extract of Inderdhara (3,133 m) showed the maximum total phenolic content 1,651 μg gallic acid equivalent/50 mg of dry weight. The methanolic seed extract of Inderdhara showed the maximum antioxidant activity (77.29±1.2%) and antiradical activity (55.5±0.5%) also. The results of this study exhibited good correlation with total polyphenol and antioxidant potential in all the samples followed by the increasing tendency towards rising altitude.     

Long-Term Measurements of SO 2 Over Delhi,India

Long-term measurements (2011–2018) of ambient sulphur dioxide (SO2) and meteorology were carried out at an urban site of Delhi, India, to study the seasonal and inter-annual variations of SO2 over Delhi. The average mixing ratio of SO2 was estimated as 2.26 ± 0.48 ppb for the entire study period. Mixing ratio of ambient SO2 was estimated as 2.19 ± 0.64 ppb, 2.07 ± 0.89 ppb, 2.49 ± 1.05 ppb and 2.27 ± 0.71 ppb during winter, pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon seasons, respectively. SO2 mixing ratio was recorded maxima during monsoon (2.49 ± 1.05 ppb) season, whereas minima during pre-monsoon season (2.07 ± 0.89 ppb). The mixing ratio of SO2 showed slightly increase in the trend during observational period. Surface wind speed and wind directions analysis indicates the influence of local sources on the mixing ratio of SO2 at the study site. Backward trajectories and potential source contributing factor (PSCF) analysis also showed the local as well as the regional sources (industrial activities, coal burning and thermal power plants etc.,) influencing the mixing ratio of SO2 over Delhi.     

Compact 4 × 4 Proximity Coupled Microstrip Fed UWB Stepped Slot MIMO Antenna Having Triple Band Rejection

Wireless Personal Communications - The presented antenna is a novel highly isolated compact four-element Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antenna with common ground, which can reject three...