Novel Bacillus ginsengihumi CMRO6 Inhibits Adipogenesis via p38MAPK/Erk44/42 and Stimulates Glucose Uptake in 3T3-L1 Pre-Adipocytes through Akt/AS160 Signaling

The health benefits of probiotics have been known for decades, but there has only been limited use of probiotics in the treatment of obesity. In this study, we describe, for the first time, the role of cell-free metabolites (CM) from Bacillus ginsengihumi-RO6 (CMRO6) in adipogenesis and lipogenesis in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. The experimental results show that CMRO6 treatment effectively reduced lipid droplet accumulation and the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α and β (C/EBPα and C/EBPβ), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ), serum regulatory binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FAS), acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), phosphorylated p38MAPK, and Erk44/42. Additionally, CMRO6 treatment significantly increased glucose uptake and phosphorylated Akt (S473), AS160, and TBC1D1 protein expressions. Considering the results of this study, B. ginsengihumi may be a novel probiotic used for the treatment of obesity and its associated metabolic disorders.     

Environmental efficiency of the Indian cement industry: An interstate analysis

Coal combustion, for the production of cement, generates considerable amount of environmentally detrimental carbon dioxide as an undesirable by-product. Thus, this paper aims at measuring environmental efficiency within a joint production framework of both desirable and undesirable output using Data Envelopment Analysis and Directional Distance Function. Carbon dioxide is considered as an input in one context and as an undesirable output in the other with the environmental efficiency being defined accordingly. Using 3 digit sate level data from the Annual Survey of Industries for the years 2000–2001 through 2004–2005, the proposed models are applied to estimate environmental efficiency of Indian cement industry. Empirical results show that there is enough potential for the industry to improve its environmental efficiency with efficiency being varied across states. Results also show that Indian cement industry, if faced with environmental regulation, has the potential to expand desirable output and contract undesirable output with the given inputs. However, regulation has a potential cost in terms of lower feasible expansion of desirable output as compared to unregulated scenario.     

Factors Affecting Quality of Dried Low-Rank Coals

The chemical and physical properties of coal are strongly affected by the upgrading process employed. For high-moisture coals, upgrading involves thermal dehydration to improve the calorific value of the coal on mass basis. This study evaluates the feasibility of upgrading a low-rank/grade coal using the oven drying method. The objective of this research work is to study the drying characteristics of low-rank coals and to understand the factors affecting the quality of dried low-rank coals. This article describes laboratory experiments conducted on the characterization of the low-rank coals before and after the drying process. The results on drying kinetics, re-absorption of coal samples, and proximate analysis of coal samples before and after drying are discussed. It was found that the upgrading process produced coal with better heating value and combustion characteristics than those of the raw coal samples.     

Enhanced lifetime of heterogeneous wireless sensor network using stable election protocol with region-based energy-conscious sink movement

The Journal of Supercomputing - A new region-based energy-conscious sink movement (RESM) is presented to enhance the lifetime of the heterogeneous wireless sensor network using stable election...     

Guest editorial: New trends in data pre-processing methods for signal and image classification

Neural Computing and Applications -     

pH Sensitive graft copolymers for zero order drug release: a mechanistic analysis

Aliphatic polyesters containing pendent unsaturation were synthesized by the polycondensation of a diol, dicarboxylic acid and glycidyl methacrylate. Grafting methacrylic acid (MAA) resulted in graft copolymers containing polyester backbone and MAA grafts. Depending on composition, the polymers swelled extensively and eroded or dissolved at near neutral pH but remained in collapsed state at acidic pH. Three representative drugs differing in solubility, viz., Diltiazem hydrochloride (DH), Indomethacin (IM) and Verapamil hydrochloride (VH) were released at constant rate from tablets made by compressing spray-dried microparticles. The release of DH at constant rate has been attributed to increase in diffusion coefficient of the drug from the swollen layer of matrix. The release of IM and VH at constant rate was governed by erosion and was enhanced in matrices which undergo dissolution. The release rate was enhanced with increasing MAA content and the frequency of grafts along the polyester backbone. Once a day dosage forms for drugs differing in solubility have been developed using a single polymer matrix which is easy to manufacture.     

Structural, optical, FTIR and photoluminescence studies of CdS1?xSex thin films by chemical bath deposition method

The ternary CdS_1?xSe_x alloy thin films with the nominal composition of x?=?0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 have been synthesized on glass substrate by chemical bath deposition (CBD) method at 80°C from aqueous solution. Crystalline phases and optical absorption of the films have been studied by X-ray diffraction and UV–visible spectrophotometer. Elemental composition of the CdS_1?xSe_x films was studied by the energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The optical absorption and transmission studies revealed that CdS_1?xSe_x films had direct allowed transition with band gap energy decreased from 2.28 to 1.92?eV as thickness varied from 762.4 to 621.2?nm. The average crystalline size was calculated from X-ray line broadening and it is increased from 12.71 to 14.67?nm for x?=?0.2–0.8 which was confirmed by SEM studies. The substitution of Se concentrations into the Cd–S and Cd–S–Se lattice is confirmed by the increase of lattice parameters, FTIR and photoluminescence studies. The broad variation in the band gap of CdS_1?xSe_x thin films have potential applications in the field of optoelectronic devices.     

Intelligent Decision Making System for Digital Modulation Scheme Classification in Software Radio Using Wavelet Transform and Higher Order Statistical Moments

This paper proposes a neural network (NN) based intelligent decision making system for digital modulation classification using wavelet transform, histogram peak and higher order statistical moments. The decision making system is developed to classify the modulation schemes buried in additive white Gaussian noise and channel interference utilizing NN classifier. The performance is verified and validated for M-ary PSK, M-ary FSK, M-ary QAM and GMSK modulation schemes by examining the receiver operating characteristics, confusion matrix and probability of correct identification for various signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) and also for various decision parameters. The performance of the proposed system also has been compared with existing methods and found that this method can be considered as reliable classification method for Digital Modulation Scheme with lower SNR upto  − 5 dB.

Scaring the Already Scared: Some Problems With HIV/AIDS Fear Appeals in Namibia

Fear appeals are often used in public health campaigns in Africa to prevent further spread of HIV/AIDS. Based on the extended parallel processing model framework (K. Witte, 1991), this research assessed the impact of such messages in a high-fear situation. A 2 (high threat, low threat) × 2 (high efficacy, no efficacy) experiment with a no-message offset control and efficacy-only conditions tested several predictions. Participants demonstrated high preexisting fear about HIV/AIDS. As a likely consequence, statistical equivalence tests indicated that messages' threat levels had little impact on perceptions of fear or on outcome measures such as attitudes, intentions, or behaviors. It is concluded that the use of fear appeals to persuade audience with high levels of preexisting fear is ill-advised and ineffective.