A functional style of programming with CSP-like communication mechanisms

This paper introduces CSP-like communication mechanisms into Backus’ Functional Programming (FP) systems extended by nondeterministic constructs. Several new functionals are used to describe nondeterminism and communication in programs. The functionals union and restriction are introduced into FP systems to develop a simple algebra of programs with nondeterminism. The behaviour of other functionals proposed in this paper are characterized by the properties of union and restriction. The axiomatic semantics of communication constructs are presented. Examples show that it is possible to reason about a communicating program by first transforming it into a non-communicating program by using the axioms of communication, and then reasoning about the resulting non-communicating version of the program. It is also shown that communicating programs can be developed from non-communicating programs given as specifications by using a transformational approach.     

An interactive graphics system for 2-D drawing and design

This paper is about a software system, GRASS-Graphic Software System for 2-D drawing and design—which has been implemented on a $\text{PDP}\text{-}\text{11}\text{35}$ system with RSX-11M operating system. It is a low cost interactive graphics system for the design of two dimensional drawings and uses a minimum of hardware. It provides comprehensive facilities for creating, editing, storing and retrieving pictures. It has been implemented in the language Pascal and has the potential to be used as a powerful data-imputting tool for a design-automation system. The important features of the system are its low cost, software character generation and a user-trainable character recognizer, which has been included.     

Three-dimensional optical tomographic imaging of supersonic jets through inversion of phase data obtained through the transport-of-intensity equation

We report experimental results of quantitative imaging in supersonic circular jets by using a monochromatic light probe. An expanding cone of light interrogates a three-dimensional volume of a supersonic steady-state flow from a circular jet. The distortion caused to the spherical wave by the presence of the jet is determined through our measuring normal intensity transport. A cone-beam tomographic algorithm is used to invert wave-front distortion to changes in refractive index introduced by the flow. The refractive index is converted into density whose cross sections reveal shock and other characteristics of the flow.     

Line coverage of path delay faults

We propose a new coverage metric for delay fault tests. The coverage is measured for each line with a rising and a falling transition, but the test criterion differs from that of the slow-to-rise and slow-to-fall transition faults. A line is tested by a line delay test, which is a robust path delay test for the longest sensitizable path producing a given transition on the target line. Thus, the test criterion resembles path delay test and not the gate or transition delay test. Yet, the maximum number of tests (or faults) is limited to twice the number of lines. In a two-pass test-generation procedure, we first attempt delay tests for a minimal set of longest paths for all lines. Fault simulation is used to determine the coverage metric. For uncovered lines, in the second pass, several paths of decreasing lengths are targeted. We give results for several benchmark circuits     

Identification of Candidate Genes for Root Traits Using Genotype–Phenotype Association Analysis of Near-Isogenic Lines in Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Global wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production is constrained by different biotic and abiotic stresses, which are increasing with climate change. An improved root system is essential for adaptability and sustainable wheat production. In this study, 10 pairs of near-isogenic lines (NILs)—targeting four genomic regions (GRs) on chromosome arms 4BS, 4BL, 4AS, and 7AL of hexaploid wheat—were used to phenotype root traits in a semi-hydroponic system. Seven of the 10 NIL pairs significantly differed between their isolines for 11 root traits. The NIL pairs targeting qDSI.4B.1 GR varied the most, followed by the NIL pair targeting qDT.4A.1 and QHtscc.ksu-7A GRs. For pairs 5–7 targeting qDT.4A.1 GR, pair 6 significantly differed in the most root traits. Of the 4 NIL pairs targeting qDSI.4B.1 GR, pairs 2 and 4 significantly differed in 3 and 4 root traits, respectively. Pairs 9 and 10 targeting QHtscc.ksu-7A GR significantly differed in 1 and 4 root traits, respectively. Using the wheat 90K Illumina iSelect array, we identified 15 putative candidate genes associated with different root traits in the contrasting isolines, in which two UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT)-encoding genes, TraesCS4A02G185300 and TraesCS4A02G442700, and a leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase (LRR-RLK)-encoding gene, TraesCS4A02G330900, also showed important functions for root trait control in other crops. This study characterized, for the first time, that these GRs control root traits in wheat, and identified candidate genes, although the candidate genes will need further confirmation and validation for marker-assisted wheat breeding.     

Controlled release of 5-aminosalicylic acid from a new pH responsive polymer derived from tamarind seed polysaccharide,acrylic acid,and polyamidoamine

A new pH-responsive polymer (TKP–AA–PAA) was synthesized from the combination of tamarind kernel powder (TKP), acrylic acid (AA), and polyamidoamine (PAA) which was utilized for controlled release of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) in buffer medium. The network structure of TKP–AA–PAA was obtained by irradiating the mixture of TKP, AA, and PAA in different proportion in presence of 2,2-dimethoxy-2-phenyl acetophenone as a photoinitiator. The dynamic and equilibrium swelling properties of the polymeric materials were studied as a function of pH and time in different buffer solutions similar to that of gastric and intestinal fluids. The controlled release kinetics of 5-ASA in simulated body fluid showed a Fickian diffusion behavior.     

Green synthesis and characterisation of antioxidant-tagged gold nanoparticle (X-GNP) and studies on its potent antimicrobial activity

Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.), a weed, mainly from tropical origin and easily available worldwide. People used to eat it as a food mainly in South Africa. In our previous report we have thoroughly characterise several important phenolics, monoterpene and phenylpropane from methanol soluble fraction of Alternenthera leaves (fraction X) and also reported their α-glucosidase inhibitory, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. All these isolated natural compounds are well characterised and widely studied. In our present study we try to use this beneficial fraction (named fraction X) in green synthesis of gold nanoparticles (X-GNP). We also try to explore the beneficial aspects of green synthesis in comparison with commonly used chemical synthesis method (GNP) in context with their antimicrobial activity. UV/Vis spectroscopy, DLS, Zeta potential, FT-IR, EDAX and other microscopic techniques namely: SEM, AFM were used to characterise the synthesised nanoparticles. Different important microbial strains were used to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of prepared nanoparticles. Overall the studies suggest successful synthesis of green nanoparticles (X-GNP) and also showed the improvement in antimicrobial activity of X-GNP nanoparticles.     

The Fatigue Behavior of Built-Up Welded Beams of Commercially Pure Titanium

In this article, the results of a recent study aimed at evaluating, understanding, and rationalizing the extrinsic influence of fatigue loading on the response characteristics of built-up welded beams made from commercially pure titanium (Grade 2) are presented and discussed. The beams were made from welding plates and sheets of titanium using the pulsed gas metal arc welding technique to form a structural beam having an I-shaped cross section. The welds made for the test beams of the chosen metal were fillet welds using a matching titanium filler metal wire. The maximum and minimum load values at which the built-up beams were cyclically deformed were chosen to be within the range of 22-45% of the maximum predicted flexural static load. The beams were deformed in fatigue at a stress ratio of 0.1 and constant frequency of 5 Hz. The influence of the ratio of maximum load with respect to the ultimate failure load on fatigue performance, quantified in terms of fatigue life, was examined. The percentage of maximum load to ultimate load that resulted in run-out of one million cycles was established. The overall fracture behavior of the failed beam sample was characterized by scanning electron microscopy observations to establish the conjoint influence of load severity, intrinsic microstructural effects, and intrinsic fracture surface features in governing failure by fracture.     

Isolation and Characterization of Chitinase‐Producing Bacillus and Paenibacillus Strains from Salted and Fermented Shrimp,Acetes japonicus

Chitinases catalyze the conversion of chitin and are produced by a wide range of bacteria. The biological applications of these enzymes have been exploited in food and pharmaceutical industries. We isolated 2 halophilic chitinase‐producing novel strains of bacteria—SCH‐1 and SCH‐2 from Saeu‐jeot, a traditional Korean salted and fermented food made with shrimp (Acetes japonicus). The isolated strains‐ SCH‐1 and SCH‐2 were Gram‐positive, rod‐shaped, endospore‐forming facultative anaerobes, with strain SCH‐2 showing peritrichous flagella. Molecular characterization of the 16S rRNA gene identified the strains SCH‐1 and SCH‐2 as Bacillus sp. and Paenibacillus sp. respectively. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool and subsequent phylogenetic analysis of strain SCH‐1 showed an identity of 97.83% with Bacillus cereus ATCC 14579 (NR_074540), whereas strain SCH‐2 showed an identity of 99.16% with Paenibacillus lautus JCM 9073 (NR_040882). Furthermore, the SCH‐1 strain could use glucose, N‐acetyl glucosamine, esculin, and maltose as carbon source substrates. Cellular fatty acid analysis showed that iso‐C_15:0 and anteiso‐C_15:0 are the major acids in strain SCH‐1 and SCH‐2, respectively. The SCH‐1 strain showed a higher chitinase activity at 15.71 unit/mg protein compared with SCH‐2 strain. Chitinase isozymes of Bacillus sp. SCH‐1was expressed as 2 bands having sizes of 41 and 50 kDa, and as 4 bands with sizes of 30, 37, 45.7, and 50 kDa in Paenibacillus sp. SCH‐2. The rich chitinase activity with the isozyme profiles of the isolated Bacillus and Paenibacillus strains provide advancement in the study of fermentation and may play putative functions in the chitin bioconversion of sea crustacean foods.