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A limited experimental work was on multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)—water nanofluid with surfactant in the solar parabolic collector at low volume concentrations. At high-volume concentrated nanofluid, the pressure drop was more due to an increase in the viscosity of the working fluid and an increase in the nanoparticle cost; hence it is not economical. This report attempted to use Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant in the low-volume concentrated MWCNT-water nanofluid to establish effective heat transfer in solar parabolic collector applications. The stable MWCNT-water nanofluid was prepared at 0.0158, 0.0238, and 0.0317 volume concentrations. The experiments were conducted from 10:00 to 16:00 at 6, 6.5 and 7 L/min flow rates concerning ASHRAE Standards. At the 7 L/min flow rate of the working fluid, having a minimum temperature difference between the working fluid and absorber tube leads to better heat transfer. The increased volume concentration of MWCNT in the water enhances the surface area interaction between water and MWCNT nanoparticles. This results in maximum solar parabolic collector efficiency at 0.0317 vol% with a 7 L/min flow rate and 10–11% higher than the distilled water.

The COVID-19 is a crisis of unprecedented magnitude, which has resulted in countless casualties and security troubles. In view of recent events of corona virus people are required to wear face masks to protect themselves from getting infected. As a result, a good portion of face (nose and mouth) is hidden by the mask and hence the facial recognition becomes difficult. Many organizations use facial recognition as a means of authentication. Researchers focus on developing rapid and efficient solutions to deal with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic by coming up with suggestions for handling the facial recognition problem. This research paper aims to identify the person, while the face is covered with a facial mask with only eyes and forehead being exposed. The first step involves marking the facial region. Next, using the data set, we will implement an object detection model YOLOv3 to identify unmasked and masked faces. The YOLO v3 object detection model is the best performing model with a detection time of 0.012 s

Cognitive Radio Sensor Network (CRSN) is a distributed network of Cognitive Radio (CR) enabled wireless sensor nodes where there is no guarantee of the availability of vacant channels for data transfer. In CRSN nodes spend energy in radio spectrum sensing to sense the availability of vacant channels and hence energy preservation becomes a major concern. In this proposed work, a novel algorithm—energy preservation and network critics based channel scheduling (EPNCS) algorithm in CRSNs is designed which regulates the slot time for sensor nodes. Depending on environmental data traffic, the sleep time of sensor nodes is varied which reduces power consumption. Scalable dynamic slots are computed for each sensor node based on the average buffer occupancy which leads to optimal channel utilization. Simulation results show that EPNCS improves the network lifetime and throughput of CRSN significantly in comparison with existing protocols.

This work presents an open-source benchmark suite of synthesizable behavioral descriptions with different types of hardware Trojan. A repository of RT-level benchmarks with different types of Hardware Trojan is available at the Trust-hub ( https://www.trust-hub.org/resources/benchmarks ). Unfortunately, this benchmark suite misses completely the behavioral abstraction level. This work aims at bridging this gap by providing the first behavioral synthesis benchmark suite in a common language supported by all major HLS vendors (SystemC) which cover most of the hardware Trojan types. The designs have been created in such a way that the hardware Trojan cannot be found using standard software profiling techniques (i.e., 100% code coverage in most of the cases). This work also presents the obfuscated version of the benchmarks which makes it even hard to detect the hardware Trojans using the traditional verification approaches.

This work introduces a runtime system level method to detect hardware Trojan in third party behavioral intellectual properties (3PBIPs). Most of the HW Trojan detection techniques either rely on golden Trojan-free (trusted) models, which are compared to the suspected model, or source IPs with the same functionality from different vendors. In the case of BIPs, this is extremely hard, as it is a market still in its infancy. Moreover, it is very difficult to find HW Trojan at the system level as the trigger condition might be visible only when the system is fully functional. Thus, this work proposes the inclusion of a small HW Trojan detection circuit called trust filters to detect HW Trojan at runtime. With the help of cycle-accurate simulation model, it is possible to fine tune these filters so that the overall system has no performance degradation. This can be achieved by exploiting the slack time between the time that a slave returns the data to the master and the time that the master sends new data to the slave. The advantages of using C-based design are multi-fold: (i) It allows the generation of fast cycle-accurate models to measure the exact slack of each BIP mapped as a loosely coupled Hardware Accelerator (HWAcc) slave and (ii) its ability to build the complete SoC using synthesizable Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) and hence allowing the fine tuning of these trust filters. Experimental results show that our proposed architecture is very efficient leading to no performance penalties in many cases and has very small area overhead.

Present study aimed to obtain spectral ripple discrimination threshold in older listeners and to correlate it with their speech perception abilities. In experiment I, fifteen older adults and fifteen young adults with normal hearing sensitivity were tested for spectral ripple discrimination ability in quiet (SRDT) and speech recognition in noise (SNR50). In experiment II, twelve older adults with normal hearing sensitivity were tested for spectral ripple discrimination ability in noise (SNR-SRDT) and SNR50. SRDT and SNR50 of older adults were significantly poorer than young adults. There was a significant negative correlation between SRDT and SNR50 and significant positive correlation between SNR-SRDT and SNR50. Linear regression analysis revealed that SRDT accounted for 21 % of variance in SNR50. Quadratic regression analysis revealed that SNR-SRDT accounted for 63 % of the variance in SNR50. Despite having normal hearing sensitivity, older adults exhibited reduced spectral resolution and poor speech recognition in noise. Poor speech recognition in noise in older adults could be partly due to their spectral resolution abilities.

Flexible manufacturing system is the inception of an innovative manufacturing revolution that will credibly lead the manufacturing trade to levels of automation which is to be taken granted currently in the process-related industries. This paper speaks about multi-objective optimization related to flexible manufacturing systems (FMS) scheduling which act as a constraint in configuring the loop layout in optimum manner by various algorithms, i.e., meta-heuristics like genetic algorithm (GA), simulated annealing (SA), etc. The various loop layout problems are tested for enactment of objective function with respect to computational time and number of iterations involved in GA and SA. A simulation code is generated using programming language and executed using integrated development environment (IDE) tool. A comparative analysis of simulation results of different meta-heuristics with literature results has been done. The performance of this GA is proved to be the best among all the algorithms considered for this work.

To study the role of hematological parameters in predicting retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) in preterm neonates. Two hundred forty eight babies less than 34 wk and/or with a birth weight of less than 2,000 g were evaluated. Peripheral blood smear and complete blood count were done on day one of life. Ophthalmological examination was done as per guidelines and grades of ROP classified and followed up till 40 wk of gestation for complete vascularisation. Cases were matched with similar number of controls (n = 67) and the sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value of different parameters were assessed. The incidence of ROP on screening was found to be 27 %. Sixty seven cases were matched with 67 controls as per birth weight and gestational age. Significant risk factors for ROP included longer duration of ventilation, higher FiO2, culture proven sepsis and apnea requiring pharmacotherapy. The incidence of Stage I was 10.5 % (n = 7), Stage II 58.2 % (n = 39) and Stage III was 31.3 % (n = 21). The absolute nucleated RBC (ANRBC) count was found to be the only parameter which was significantly higher in babies with ROP (p

Logs of many species are imported into India either in dry or semi dry condition for uses ranging from structural material for construction to finished products including panel products and furniture. The common timber species imported are Tectona grandis (Teak), Intsia palembanica (Merbau), Dipterocarpus indicus (Gurjan), Shorea spp. (Sal) Nauclea diderrichii (Kussia) and Pinus radiata (Pine). 32 species of insects belonging to Coleoptera and Hymenoptera and 22 species of fungi reported on imported timbers were analysed for their family wise and timber-wise distribution and their status as to whether they are known in India or not. Among them one species of ant, Acanthomyrmex luciolae Emery is a new introduction to India as Acanthomyrmex as a genus itself is not known from India. Many of the identified insects and fungi are already known to have distribution in India. Some of them identified at genus level are also reported from India, but as the species were not identified, it could not be concluded whether those species are indigenous or exotic. All the fungi identified at least up to the generic level were found reported in India and none of them were found to be strictly exotic.

The bimetallic NiSn2 complex Ni(SnBu 3 t )2(CO)3, 1, was obtained from the reaction of Ni(COD)2 and Bu 3 t SnH and CO. The reaction of Co2(CO)8 and Bu 3 t SnH afforded the bimetallic Co–Sn complex Co(SnBu 3 t )(CO)4, 3. Compound 3 was also obtained from the reaction of Co4(CO)12 and Bu 3 t SnH but in a lower yield. Both compounds 1 and 3 were characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction, and possess trigonal bipyramidal geometries around the transition metal centre with two and one stannyl ligands, respectively.

The new bimetallic Fe–Ni carbide containing cluster complex, Fe4Ni(Cp)2(CO)10(μ5-C), 4 was afforded by metal–metal exchange and metal cluster rearrangement processes in the reaction of Fe5(μ5-C)(CO)15, 1, with NiCp2 at 80 °C. A minor product Fe5(Cp)2(CO)10(μ5-C), 5, was also obtained from this reaction which contains no nickel and is a di-Cp substituted derivative of 1. Both compounds were characterized by a combination of IR, 1H NMR, mass spectrometry, elemental and single crystal X-ray diffraction analyses. Compound 4 consists of an open Fe4Ni(μ5-C) cluster framework with a carbide ligand where one iron atom bridges a butterfly arrangement of one nickel and three iron atoms.

The silver ion conducting boro tellurite glasses have been prepared by melt quenching technique. The conductivity and dielectric measurements were carried out on these glasses as a function of frequency from 10 Hz to 10 MHz over a temperature range of 298–328 K. The analysis of conductivity measurement shows that the silver ions are the main charge carriers, which are considered to be the predominant factor playing the role of enhancing the conductivity. The power law exponent s and stretched exponent β are found to be insensitive to both temperature and compositions. AC conductivity and dielectric relaxation behaviour of these glasses were also studied and the results are discussed in view of the structure of borate and tellurite network.

Electrical conductivity and dielectric relaxation studies of silver ion-conducting glasses have been prepared using xAg(2)SO(4)-15Ag(2)O-(90-X)(90P(2)O(5)-10MoO(3)) glass system over a temperature range of 298-353 K and frequencies of 10 Hz to 10 MHz. DC conductivities exhibit Arrhenius behavior over the entire temperature range with a single activation barrier. The ac conductivity behavior of these glasses has been analyzed using single power law; conductivity increases linearly in logarithmic scale with Ag2SO4 concentration. The power law exponent (s) decreases, while stretched exponent (beta) is insensitive to increase of temperature. Scaling behavior has also been carried out using the reduced plots of conductivity and frequency, which suggest that ion transport mechanism remains unaffected at all temperatures and compositions.

Elastic properties,11B MAS-NMR and IR spectroscopic studies have been employed to study the structure of Na2O-ZnO-B2O3 glasses. Sound velocities and elastic moduli such as longitudinal, Young’s, bulk and shear modulus have been measured at a frequency of 10 MHz as a function of ZnO concentration. Both sound velocities and elastic moduli increase with increasing ZnO concentration. Poisson’s ratio and Debye temperature were also found to increase with ZnO concentration.11B MAS-NMR and IR spectra show characteristic features of borate network and compositional dependence trends as a function of Na2O/ZnO concentration. The results are discussed in view of borate network and dual structural role of Zn2+ ion into the network. The results indicate that the Zn2+ ions are likely to occupy network forming positions in this glass system.

Elastic properties of xLi2O — 20PbO — (80-x)B2O3 glasses have been measured at a frequency of 10 MHz using X-cut and Y-cut quartz transducers. The trends in the variation of elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratio and Debye temperature have been studied. The elastic moduli namely longitudinal and young’s modulus show strong linear dependence while bulk and shear modulus vary marginally as a function of Li2O concentration. The Poisson’s ratio is found to be almost constant and Debye temperature increases with the increase of Li2O concentration. IR, MAS-NMR and glass transition temperature studies have been also carried out. Glass transition temperature is found to increase with increase of Li2O concentration. IR and MAS-NMR spectra show characteristic features of borate network and systematic change as a function of Li2O concentration. The variation in the elastic properties and structural features of IR and MAS-NMR indicate that Pb2+ ions are likely to occupy network forming positions in this glass system.

The destruction of the World Trade Center and associated terrorist activities of September 11, 2001 have spurred interest in understanding the medical consequences of terrorist activity. Currently, there is a paucity of data regarding this subject. Potential effects, however, can be garnered by studying the medical effects of other acute stressors, such as earthquakes, missile attacks, and the like. None of these stressors have been studied extensively, but there is enough data available concerning earthquakes to indicate that in some instances, the effects of the earthquake may last at least a period of weeks, if not months, following the earthquake. Since the World Trade Center attack was associated with a rise in post-traumatic stress syndrome and affective disorders afterwards, there is accordingly interest in both the acute and more prolonged health effects that could be engendered following terrorist attacks. Known pathophysiological effects of acute stress, whether produced in a laboratory environment or by studying naturally occurring acute stressors, include: the induction or potentiation of cardiac arrhythmias; the induction of myocardial ischemia in susceptible patients with underlying coronary artery disease; acute increases in arterial blood pressure with its ability to cause shear stress; the precipitation of worsening endothelial function and/or endothelial injury; coagulation abnormalities; and hemoconcentration. These all represent important areas for study following the occurrence of future terrorist activity. Based on existing epidemiological and pathophysiological data concerning the cardiac effects of acute life stressors, it would behoove physicians to closely monitor high-risk cardiac patients following future terrorist events. In addition, physician-scientists should be well prepared to use new epidemiological markers which could provide rapid information following future events, such as the evaluation of patients using pre-versus post-event serum markers or tracing records available among patients fitted with implantable cardiovertor-defibrillators.

Neuronal cdk5 can phosphorylate certain lys-ser-pro (KSP) motifs of neurofilaments and tau protein in the nervous system. We have immunoprecipitated the cdk5 from rat brain using a polyclonal antibody raised against the C-terminus of cdk5. The immunoprecipitate has phosphorylated a KSPXK peptide analog of NF-H, as well as histone H1 and a bacterially expressed rat NF-H protein. The kinase activity was inhibited by staurosporine, isopentanyladenine and olomoucine in a dose dependent manner. Kinetic studies indicated Ki values of 39 nM, 38 microM and 8 microM, respectively for staurosporine, isopentanyladenine and olomoucine. The inhibition by staurosporine was non-competitive with respect to phosphoryl acceptor acceptor substrates. Western blot analysis of the immunoprecipitate showed both cdk5 and p67 (Munc-18), a putative regulator molecule of the kinase. Addition of p67 fusion protein enhanced the kinase activity of the immunoprecipitate by 60% above the basal activity. P67 elevated Ki values for both staurosporine and olomoucine. The degree of inhibition at high concentrations of these inhibitors was unaltered by exogenous p67 indicating a lack of competitive interactions with p67. The high affinity of staurosporine for cdk5 suggests that cdk5 may be one of the targets for the neurotropic effect of staurosporine.

Background Signal transduction events often involve transient, yet specific, interactions between structurally conserved protein domains and polypeptide sequences in target proteins. The identification and validation of these associating domains is crucial to understand signal transduction pathways that modulate different cellular or developmental processes. Bioinformatics strategies to extract and integrate information from diverse sources have been shown to facilitate the experimental design to understand complex biological events. These methods, primarily based on information from high-throughput experiments, have also led to the identification of new connections thus providing hypothetical models for cellular events. Such models, in turn, provide a framework for directing experimental efforts for validating the predicted molecular rationale for complex cellular processes. In this context, it is envisaged that the rational design of peptides for protein-peptide binding studies could substantially facilitate the experimental strategies to evaluate a predicted interaction. This rational design procedure involves the integration of protein-protein interaction data, gene ontology, physico-chemical calculations, domain-domain interaction data and information on functional sites or critical residues. Results Here we describe an integrated approach called "PeptideMine" for the identification of peptides based on specific functional patterns present in the sequence of an interacting protein. This approach based on sequence searches in the interacting sequence space has been developed into a webserver, which can be used for the identification and analysis of peptides, peptide homologues or functional patterns from the interacting sequence space of a protein. To further facilitate experimental validation, the PeptideMine webserver also provides a list of physico-chemical parameters corresponding to the peptide to determine the feasibility of using the peptide for in vitro biochemical or biophysical studies. Conclusions The strategy described here involves the integration of data and tools to identify potential interacting partners for a protein and design criteria for peptides based on desired biochemical properties. Alongside the search for interacting protein sequences using three different search programs, the server also provides the biochemical characteristics of candidate peptides to prune peptide sequences based on features that are most suited for a given experiment. The PeptideMine server is available at the URL: http://caps.ncbs.res.in/peptidemine

Six Cowpea genotypes namely TVX-7, V-154, DPLC-216, C-152, GC 82-7 and C-190 were selected for the study of the biochemical basis for insect-pest resistance. The total tannin, phenolic and protein contents for these genotypes were in the range 0.11–0.95, 0.01–0.05 and 17.41–19.60 per cent of defatted meal, respectively. The highest trypsin inhibitor and chymotrypsin inhibitor activities were found in GC 82-7, whereas highest protease inhibitor and α-amylase inhibitor activities were observed in TVX-7, α-amylase inhibitor activity was however, absent in V-154 and DPLC-216. Zymogram pattern for trypsin inhibitor activity showed considerable variations among the genotypes. The SDS-PAGE pattern indicated the major variations in the protein bands of molecular weights above 24 kD in all the six Cowpea varieties.