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Shear thickening fluid (STF), a highly concentrated mixture of nanosized silica particles in polyethylene glycol (PEG) is characterized by its quick transition to a stiff, solid‐like form under high shear rates. In this study, the modified Stöber synthesis approach was used for synthesizing the monodispersed spherical 300 nm silica nanoparticles. The rheological properties of the STF formulated using different silica loading were characterized. The Takshak model was tested to assess the rheological properties. The effect of the STFs on the impact resistance and yarn pull‐out force of the Kevlar® 802 fabric was determined. The uniformity in size of the silica nanoparticles facilitated more efficient packing within the fluid matrix, resulting in the formation of networks or structures that enhance shear thickening behavior. The STF with 70% silica exhibited the best peak viscosity of 45.8 Pa.s. Upon impregnation of this STF onto the Kevlar, a significantly high energy absorption (478.4%) compared to neat Kevlar, was observed. Moreover, the yarn pull‐out force for this system was found to be very high (435.8%). The reasons for the enhancement of the properties are explained. The novelty of this work lies in the synthesis of silica particles, analysis of the rheological properties, and interrelating the rheological properties with the characteristic parameters to define the impact characteristics. The improved properties underscore the suitability of synthesized STF for impact resistance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric cryptosystem (BCS) is an emerging field which performs user authentication in a secured environment. User authentication is handled using Biometrics and security using Cryptography, thus together forms BCS. Furthermore, the use of biometrics eliminates the need to remember passwords. The features extracted from the user's biometric are used in place of a password for user authentication. BCS unleashes the key from the secured place upon successful user authentication. This paper proposes a novel method called binary robust independent elementary features based biometric cryptosystem (BRIEFBCS) for biometric key generation. The proposed method relies on a well known cryptographic construct, Fuzzy vault scheme, for data security. The motivation behind using BRIEF scheme for biometric cryptosystem is that the obtained descriptor are compact in size, faster to implement and suitable for low memory devices. BRIEFBCS comprises of three levels, i.e., Key generation, Enrollment and Authentication. The experiments have been carried on five ear databases viz. AMI, CP, IITD-v1, IITD-v2 and USTB-v2. The proposed method's performance is evaluated and compared to state-of-the-art methods in terms of accuracy, false reject rate, vault construction time, key recovery time and Receiver Operating Characteristics curve. The proposed method has been demonstrated to outperform numerous state-of-the-art methods in both qualitative and quantitative aspects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is concerned with a two-dimensional fractional optimal control problem whose governing equations are distributed order fractional differential equations in the Caputo sense. A generalized fractional-order Legendre wavelet method has been used to solve the two-dimensional distributed-order fractional optimal control problem. An exact formula for the Riemann–Liouville integration of generalized fractional-order Legendre wavelet has been derived by using regularized beta functions. This formula and the two-dimensional Gauss–Legendre integration formula have been used to solve the two-dimensional distributed order fractional optimal control problem. Moreover, an L 2-error estimate in the approximation of an unknown function with a generalized fractional-order Legendre wavelet has been derived and the estimated order has been verified for a given function. Furthermore, convergence analysis for the proposed method has been presented. In the last, two test problems have been considered to illustrate the efficiency of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Due to increased addiction of the social media. Facebook addiction became now more problematic among the college student. It would be difficult to find a college student who does not know what Facebook is, or to find one who does not have his or her own Facebook account. Facebook has become one of the biggest "procrastinating tools" for college students. Aim:- To find out the role of facebook addiction in medical student with respect to self-esteem, jealousy. MATERIALS AND Methods:- A total of 100 participant participated in my study. After providing informed consent, questionnaires on demographic information, General Information Schedule, Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, Rosenberg Self Esteem Scale, Facebook Jealousy Scale were administered via an online platform. The time required for the survey was approximately 25-30 minutes. Results:- The results indicate that there is a significant difference between facebook non-addict females and facebook addict females with respect to self-esteem (t-value= 3.21), jealousy (t-value=2.24). Facebook addict males (M=3.05) are found to have higher jealousy than facebook non-addict males (M=1.89). The mean and standard deviation of facebook non-addict females and facebook non-addict males with respect to self-esteem, and jealousy indicate no significant difference between these two groups with respect to these variables. Also The mean and standard deviation of facebook addict females and facebook addict males with respect to self-esteem and jealous indicate no significant difference between these two groups with respect to these variables. Conclusion:- Self-esteem tends to be higher in females who are addicted to facebook than those who are not addicted to facebook. Facebook addict females tend to have higher jealousy than facebook addict males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, electricity demand and pollution are the main concerns all over the world. With the help of this paper, a small contribution to energy production and pollution in the environment can be reduced. Exhaust Fan Cum Micro Wind Turbine (EFCMWT) is used for power generation. In this paper, I study a novel approach of EFCMWT for power generation. It has been installed at a height of 14.11 m at the windows near the toilet in a high rise building at Kosi Hostel NIT Patna. The EFCMWT generates power at a height of 14.11 m in the building. With respect to wind speed, various parameters are analyzed, such as how much DC voltage is generated, how much DC current is generated and also it is analyzed that how much EFCMWT power is generated and tip speed ratio variation with respect to wind speed. On windows where EFCMWT is installed, place anemometer near EFCMWT and analyzed wind power. The power coefficient with respect to wind speed is also analyzed for EFCMWT. Maximum DC voltage is 16 V, maximum DC current is 0.076 A, tip speed ratio is 0.45 and maximum EFCMWT power is 1.216 W which is achieved at wind speed of 7 m/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-state reaction route created the lead-free dielectric material CaBiLaNbVO9 at a high temperature. The polycrystalline compound belongs to a monoclinic crystal structure having dimensions a = 10.6738 Å, b = 10.4488 Å, c = 7.1793 Å, and V = 798.04 Å3. The grain size is calculated to be 1.1029 µm. The doping of La3+ at the Bi-site and divalent cation Ca2+ substituted at site-A and Nb5+, V5+ in the site-B of ABO3 has considerably modified the structural, dielectric, and electrical conduction mechanism. The study of ac conductivity (frequency-temperature characteristics) shows CBH (correlated barrier hopping) and NSPT (non-overlapping small polaron tunneling) conduction mechanisms. Non-Debye type relaxation has been observed using impedance analysis. The modulus and impedance study have been used to confirm the short-range order of charge carriers. The average transmittance of the compound is about 82–84%, and absorption is in the range of 0.1–1.0% in the visible area applicable for transparent conductive oxide. The energy band gap is 2.73 eV. The analysis of the resistive and capacitive properties indicates the material is an electronic component for the creation of devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study is the investigation of the microstructural and mechanical properties of in-situ (0-9wt%) ZrB2/Al7068 nanocomposites synthesized by ultrasonic-assisted stir casting technique. The optimized reaction time of 30 minutes resulted in ZrB2 with a mean size of 46 nm. The combined mixing by mechanical stirring for 25 minutes and ultrasonic vibration for 5 minutes indicated an even distribution at the lower ZrB2 fraction (≤ 2wt%), whereas interdendritic became prominent with a higher ZrB2 fraction. The addition of ZrB2 increased the tensile strength upto 2wt% nanocomposite (328 MPa), followed by gradual decrement with further addition of ZrB2. Interestingly, a continuous increment in total elongation is observed with increasing ZrB2 in the matrix. Grain refinement is observed in all the nanocomposites compared to the base alloy, but the least grain size (87 μm) obtained for the 2wt% ZrB2 nanocomposite. The lower weight fraction of ZrB2 (1wt% and 2wt%) indicated a uniform distribution of reinforcement particles in the matrix, and higher ZrB2 addition indicated particle agglomeration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diabetic neuropathy is a debilitating manifestation of long-term diabetes mellitus. The present study explored the effects of the roots of Rubia cordifolia L. (R. cordifolia L.) in the Wistar rat model for diabetic neuropathy and possible neuroprotective, antidiabetic, and analgesic mechanisms underlying this effect. Materials and Methods: Rats were divided into five experimental groups. An amount of 0.25% carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) in saline and streptozotocin (STZ) (60 mg/kg) was given to group 1 and group 2, respectively. Group 3 was treated with STZ and glibenclamide simultaneously while groups 4 and 5 were simultaneously treated with STZ and hydroalcoholic extract of the root of R. cordifolia, respectively. Hot plate and cold allodynias were used to evaluate the pain threshold. The antioxidant effects of R. cordifolia were assessed by measuring Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). At the end of the study, sciatic nerve and brain tissues were collected for histopathological study. Bcl-2 proteins, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax were assessed through the Western blot method. Results: R. cordifolia significantly attenuated paw withdrawal and tail flick latency in diabetic neuropathic rats. R. cordifolia significantly (p < 0.01) improved the levels of oxidative stress. It was found to decrease blood glucose levels and to increase animal weight in R. cordifolia-treated groups. Treatment with R. cordifolia suppressed the cleaved caspase-3 and reduced the Bax:Bcl2 ratio in sciatic nerve and brain tissue compared to the diabetic group. Histopathological analysis also revealed a marked improvement in architecture and loss of axons in brain and sciatic nerve tissues at a higher dose of R. cordifolia (400 mg/kg). Conclusion: R. cordifolia attenuated diabetic neuropathy through its antidiabetic and analgesic properties by ameliorating apoptosis and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is one of the oldest and most widely used methods for food preservation. It reduces the availability of moisture and inhibits microbial and enzymatic spoilage in food products. Foam mat drying is a mild drying technique used for semiliquid and liquid foodstuff. It is useful for heat-sensitive and sticky liquid food products. In this process, liquid food is converted into foam using surfactant additives, which can be a foaming agent or foam stabilizer. These additives are surface-active compounds of vegetative and animal origins. The foamed material is then convectively dried using hot air. The foam mat drying is an efficient and economical technique. With the emergence of different hybrid techniques such as foam mat freeze drying, foamed spray drying, foamed vacuum drying, and microwave assisted foam mat drying, the powders' physical, chemical, and functional properties have enhanced many folds. These strategies have shown very promising results in terms of cost and time efficiency in almost all the cases barring a few exceptions. This review article attempts to comprehensively summarize the mechanisms dictating the foam mat drying process, novel technological tools for modeling, mathematical and computational modeling, effects of various foaming additives, and various hybrid techniques employed to foam mat drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An efficient and eco‐friendly method has been developed for the preparation of functionalized 3‐(S)‐arylthioindoles in good to excellent yields from indoles and aryl thiols in water. The coupling reaction was prompted by K2S2O8 in the presence of glucose at room temperature. Broad substrate scope, functional group tolerance, room temperature reactions and metal‐free conditions are the salient features of the developed methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Stochastic population models with mild catastrophes have gained much attention in recent years due to their wide application in a variety of areas including computer-communications systems. This article considers a population model in which both the arrival process of individuals and catastrophes occur as per the Markovian arrival process (MAP) and are independent of each other. The killing mechanism takes place according to the binomial distribution. The steady-state analysis of the model is carried out using the vector generating function approach and the population size distributions at an arbitrary, post-catastrophe, and pre-arrival epochs are presented in terms of the roots of the characteristic equation. Several performance measures of the system are studied in detail, and the impact of critical parameters is duly investigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work aimed to encapsulate Hypericum perforatum extract (HPE) into nanophytosomes (NPs) and assess the therapeutic efficacy of this nanocarrier in neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Hydroalcoholic extract of Hypericum perforatum was prepared and encapsulated into NPs by thin layer hydration method. Particle size, zeta potential, TEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), entrapment efficiency (%EE), and loading capacity (LC) of NPs were reported. The biochemical and histopathological examinations were measured in the sciatic nerve. Particle size, zeta potential, %EE, and LC were 104.7 ± 1.529 nm, −8.93 ± 1.71 mV, 87.23 ± 1.3%, and 53.12 ± 1.7%, respectively. TEM revealed well-formed and distinct vesicles. NPHPE (NPs of HPE) was significantly more effective than HPE in reducing PSNL-inducing pain. Antioxidant levels and sciatic nerve histology were reversed to normal with NPHPE. This study demonstrates that encapsulating HPE with phytosomes is an effective therapeutic approach for neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Achalasia cardia is a neuromuscular disorder of unknown etiology characterized by aperistalsis of the body of the esophagus and failure of relaxation of the lower esophageal sphincter. The diagnosis of achalasia cardia is delayed due to the rarity and the ability to mimic other common conditions in children. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate the clinical presentation and the management of achalasia cardia in children. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in the department of pediatric surgery at a tertiary center. The children with achalasia cardia who presented between January 2014 and December 2021 were included. Results: A total of 12 patients were treated for achalasia cardia during the study period. All children presented with recurrent episodes of vomiting, whereas dysphagia was seen in six (50%) children. Eighty-three percent of the children presented with a history of weight loss, whereas failure to thrive was seen in nine (75%) children. Five (42%) children were managed as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) for more than a year before presenting to us. Three (25%) children underwent open cardiomyotomy with Thal fundoplication and the rest nine (75%) underwent laparoscopic cardiomyotomy. All are thriving well. Conclusion: Achalasia is an important differential diagnosis in children with suspected GERD. The most common symptom of achalasia cardia is vomiting followed by dysphagia. Weight loss and failure to thrive are important presenting features in children with achalasia which are uncommon in adults. Cardiomyotomy without fundoplication is safe and effective to treat achalasia cardia in children without having any extra complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This paper develops a Müntz–Legendre wavelet method for solving a fractional optimal control problem with dynamic constraint as a fractional Sturm–Liouville problem. We first derive the necessary optimality conditions as a two‐point boundary value problem by using the calculus of variation and integration by part formula. The operational matrices for Müntz–Legendre scaling functions have been obtained, and by utilizing it, the two‐point boundary value problem has been converted into a system of algebraic equations. The L2$$ {L}_2 $$‐error estimates in the approximation of operations matrices and in the approximation of unknown variable by the Müntz–Legendre wavelet has been derived. In the last, illustrative examples have been taken to show the applicability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biometric cryptosystem (BCS) is an emerging research area in which Biometric alleviates the need to remember passwords and cryptography provides a sense of security. The use of biometrics in cryptography alleviates the need to remember passwords. This paper proposes a novel method called Speeded Up Robust Features (SURF) based Biometric Cryptosystem (SURFBCS) for biometric key generation. This method makes use of a well-known Fuzzy vault scheme for data security. The motivation behind using SURF scheme for biometric cryptosystem is that the obtained features are invariant to rotation and scaling which is essential for improved authentication. SURFBCS is divided into three stages, i.e., Key generation, Enrollment and Authentication. In key generation stage, biometric features are extracted using Speeded Up Robust Features which are subsequently used to generate the biometric key. The enrollment stage uses these features and biometric key to create a fuzzy vault. The authentication stage uses this fuzzy vault to authenticate the query biometric. Extensive experiments have been conducted on five ear databases, viz., AMI, CP, IITD-v1, IITD-v2 and USTB-v2. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated in terms of accuracy, false reject rate (FRR), vault construction time, key recovery time and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve and compared with the state-of-art methods. The highest accuracy of 94.9% is obtained by SURFBCS method on CP database. Moreover, vault construction and key recovery time of 31.69 ms and 0.90 ms, respectively, is obtained by the proposed method on IITD-v1 database also supersedes the other methods. It has been observed that the proposed method is better than several state-of-the-art methods in both qualitative and quantitative terms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structural response of earth block masonry is characterized by cracking patterns and inelastic behavior distributed across masonry units, mortar joints, and unit-mortar interfaces. This behavior is different from that exhibited by masonry built with fired clay bricks, concrete blocks, or regularly shaped stones, which are commonly characterized by cracking patterns and inelastic behavior within the mortar joints and unit-mortar interfaces and are typically analyzed using finite element (FE) simplified micro-models (SMMs). This paper presents a new detailed micromodel (DMM) specifically tailored for earth block masonry systems. The proposed DMM enables the accurate simulation of the experimentally-measured mechanical response of earth block wallettes subject to combined shear-compression diagonal loads, whereas the SMMs produce inaccurate results. Through a series of FE simulations of representative masonry elements, this study shows that the proposed DMM and different types of SMMs provide consistent predictions of mechanical behavior only under specific conditions, depending on the relative strength of masonry units and mortar as well as the loading conditions. The outcomes of this research provide a new tool for accurate prediction and simulation in instances where the compressive strength of the masonry units is similar to or lower than that of the mortar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies an infinite-buffer single server queueing model with negative customers and disasters. The ordinary (positive) customers arrive in the system according to the batch Markovian arrival process and join the queue for service. The negative customer and disaster are characterized by two independent Markovian arrival processes. A negative customer removes the positive customer undergoing service, if any, and a disaster makes the system empty by simultaneously removing all the positive customers present in the system. We obtain the steady-state vector generating function (VGF) of the distribution of the number of positive customers in the system at arbitrary epoch. Further, the inversion of the VGF is carried out using the roots method to obtain the distribution. Moreover, the probability vectors at post-departure and pre-arrival epochs are also obtained. The results obtained throughout the analysis are computationally tractable, as illustrated by few numerical examples. Finally, we discuss the impact of the correlation of the arrival process of negative customers and disasters on the performance of the system through some graphical representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was aimed to encapsulate Hedyotis corymbosa extract (HCE) into phytosomes to improve its therapeutic efficacy in neuropathic pain by enhancing the bioavailability of chief chemical constituent Hedycoryside -A (HCA). For preparing phytosomes complexes (F1, F2, and F3), HCE and phospholipids were reacted in disparate ratio. F2 was chosen to assess its therapeutic efficacy in neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation. Nociceptive threshold and oral bioavailability were also estimated for F2. Particle size, zeta potential and entrapment efficiency for F2 were analysed as 298.1 ± 1.1 nm, −3.92 ± 0.41 mV and 72.12 ± 0.72% respectively. F2 gave enhanced relative bioavailability (158.92%) of HCA along with a greater neuroprotective potential showing a significant antioxidant effect and augmentation (p < 0.05) in nociceptive threshold with the diminution in damage to nerves. F2 is an optimistic formulation for enhancing the HCE delivery for the effective treatment of neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite all the advances, the mortality rate of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) ranges from 30% to 60% for isolated CDH and as high as 89% when they are associated with additional structural or chromosomal anomalies. Hence, a study was conducted to evaluate the factors contributing to the mortality of neonates treated for CDH or the eventration of diaphragm. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the department of paediatric surgery at a tertiary centre. The neonates admitted with a diagnosis of CDH or eventration requiring surgery, between March 2013 and March 2021, were included in the study. Results: A total of 123 neonates were included in the study. The variables, earlier median age at presentation (1 [1–23] vs. 3 [1–28]; P < 0.001; Mann–Whitney U-test), preterm birth (10/79 vs. 0/44; P = 0.01; Fischer's exact test), inborn (68/79 vs. 27/44; P = 0.002; Chi-square test), weight ≤2 kg (18/79 vs. 1/44; P = 0.003; Chi-square test), central cyanosis at presentation (21/79 vs. 1/44; P < 0.001; Chi-square test), antenatal detection (47/79 vs. 14/44; P = 0.003; Chi-square test) and earlier mean age at surgery (3.66 ± 1.47 vs. 7.66 ± 6.88; P < 0.001; Independent sample t-test) were associated with increased mortality. On multinominal logistic regression analysis, the factors preterm (odd's Ratio [OR] =4.735; P = 0.03), weight ≤2 kg (OR = 5.081; P = 0.02), central cyanosis at presentation (OR = 6.969; P = 0.008) and antenatal detection (OR = 7.471; P = 0.006) were found to be independently associated with increased mortality in CDH/eventration. Conclusion: The factors: prematurity, weight <2 kg, cyanosis at presentation and antenatal diagnosis were independently associated with increased mortality in neonates with CDH/eventration requiring surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study describes the single-step transesterification method of biodiesel production from high free fatty acid (FFA) waste cooking oil blended with algae oil using a homogeneous base catalyst. Due to high FFA contents, two step transesterification is needed to convert oil into biodiesel and therefore the high FFA content of waste cooking oil is decreased by blending it with low FFA content algae oil, which would further lead only to single step transesterification of low FFA oil. The design and optimization studies were conducted using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). The box-Behnken design technique is applied to optimize the three process parameters, i.e., catalyst concentration (0–2 wt%), methanol concentration (v/v) (20–60%) and reaction time (60–180 min) at a uniform reaction temperature of 50 °C. The result of the current study indicates that an effective biodiesel yield of 92% can be obtained at the optimized condition of catalyst concentration of 1.5% (w/w), methanol/oil ratio of 21:1 and reaction time of 110 min at a constant reaction temperature of 50 °C. This analysis clearly shows that this study can resolve the storage problem of high FFA oils from different feedstock and RSM can be successfully used to model the reaction to maximize the biodiesel yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Pitavastatin is a competitive HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor for lowering of cholesterol level and low density lipoprotein cholesterol. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of pitavastatin in neuropathic pain induced by partial sciatic nerve ligation along with neuronal changes in Wister rats. Methods: Pitavastatin was started three days prior to the surgery and continued for 14 days The pain was determined by thermal hyperalgesia and cold allodynia. The biochemical changes were estimated at the end of the study. The levels of cytokines were measured using an ELISA test. Western blot analysis was used to detect levels of expression of JNK, p-JNK, ERK, p-ERK, p38MAPK, p-p38MAPK. The sciatic nerve was investigated histopathologically. Key findings: Pitavastatin significantly ameliorated nerve pain induced by PSNL and also attenuated the biochemical changes in a dose-dependent manner. The levels of inflammatory mediators were inhibited by pitavastatin. There was significant improvement in sciatic nerve fibres histology. The levels of p-38, p-ERK, and p-JNK and their associated phosphorylated proteins were reduced after treatment with pitavastatin. Conclusion: The present study indicates that treatment with pitavastatin reversed the PSNL-induced neuropathy in Wister rats and may be an additional therapeutic strategy in the management of neuropathic pain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, the exergetic efficiency η e x g of a solar heat collector with air jet impingement on an internal conical ring-roughened absorber plate has been analytically determined. The motivation behind the present investigation is to determine the performance of the selected heat transfer enhancement technique in order to bring out the feasibility of the investigation. The geometric parameters of the absorber plate and the jet plate that have been examined are derived from the internal conical ring height ( H R ) , inlet flow diameter ( D I R ) , internal print diameter of ring ( D B R ) , streamwise pitch ( X S ) , and spanwise pitch ( Y S ). The optimum values of the roughness parameters have been determined. The optimal values of geometric parameters that fetch the highest η e x g for R e in the analyzed range between 4000 and 12,900 are a relative roughness height of H R / D H = 0.110 , a ratio of internal flow diameter to internal print diameter of ring of D I R / D B R = 1.7 , a ratio of ring diameter to ring height of D O / H R = 2.33 , a relative streamwise pitch of X S / D O = 5.28 , and a relative spanwise pitch of Y S / D O = 3.42. As compared with smooth duct, the η e x g value of the solar heat collector investigated was found to be enhanced 2.2 times higher under similar analytical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Functional yoghurt is a prominent fermented milk product. It is popular among all age groups and has considerable significance due to the presence of active nutrients to fulfill the human dietary needs. Tinospora cordifolia (giloy) is extensively discussed during the recent pandemic owing to its high antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and strong immunity boosting properties. This investigation has been aimed to optimize functional yoghurt impregnated with ultrasound assisted giloy stem extract. Central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was used for experimental design of process parameters (giloy stem extract, total soluble solid, and incubation temperature). Functional yoghurt formulation was optimized based on different (whiteness index, overall acceptability, pH, syneresis, firmness, DPPH scavenging activity, and complex viscosity) responses. The results revealed that giloy stem extract and total soluble solid exhibited maximum effects on all the responses. Numerical optimization revealed the optimum combination of giloy stem extract, total soluble solid, and incubation temperature as 0.08%, 9.1%, and 45°C, respectively. At this optimum condition, the whiteness index, overall acceptability (OA), pH, syneresis, firmness, DPPH scavenging activity, and complex viscosity values of optimized functional yoghurt were 84.513, 8.567, 4.193, 47.268%, 281.19 N, 56.78%, and 76.89 cP, respectively. This study established the effect of giloy extract addition, total soluble solids, and incubation temperature on yoghurt preparation and subsequent changes in its properties. Novelty impact statement: Giloy stem extract (GSE) enriched functional yoghurt was developed having high antioxidant activities.Ultrasound assisted GSE improved the texture and overall desirability of functional yoghurt.Derived the optimum conditions which might be replicated and scaled up for pilot scale production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the necessary optimality conditions and a new method for solving a class of two dimension fractional optimal control problem (FOCP‐2D) based on shifted Legendre polynomials. By using the Lagrange multiplier method and integration by part formula within the calculus of variations, the necessary optimality conditions are derived as two‐point fractional‐order boundary value problem. Fractional operators of shifted Legendre polynomial are computed and the necessary optimality conditions have been converted into a system of algebraic equations by utilizing these fractional operators. L2‐error estimates in the approximation of a function and its fractional derivative by shifted Legendre polynomial have been derived. Moreover, convergence analysis of the proposed method has also been discussed and in the last, illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The age-old definition of fever was derived using cross-sectional population surveying utilising old techniques without considering symptomatology. However, the diagnosis of fever must be made only in the presence of associated symptoms that can distinguish it from the mere asymptomatic physiologic rise of temperature. Aim: Analysis of symptoms to re-define the cut-off of fever based on symptomatology. Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study on the healthy population of Uttarakhand, India was conducted and the population was followed up from July 2019 to September 2020. Healthy staff and students of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and their family members between 4-100 years of age were chosen. Participants were advised to self-monitor oral temperature with a standard digital thermometer in either left or right sublingual pocket and record it in the thermometry diary. The study was considered complete if the participant had all the three phases of the study (i.e., prefebrile, febrile, and postfebrile phases) or completed the duration of the study. The febrile phase was defined when the participants subjectively 'felt feverish'. Associated symptoms like fatigue, warmth, headache, and feeling malaise were also recorded. Results: Mean age of the participants was 24.24±5.92 years, and 52.1% (75) were males. Per protocol analysis was done for febrile participants (n=144, temperature recordings=6544). The mean febrile phase temperature was 100.25±1.44°F. A temperature of 99.1°F had maximum diagnostic accuracy for feeling feverish (98.2%), along with one (98.3%) or two (99%) associated symptoms. Summer and spring months showed higher temperatures (100.38±1.44 v/s 99.80±1.49, p-value<0.001), whereas no significant temperature difference could be noted amongst the genders. Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, the revised temperature cut-off to define fever should be 99.1°F along with one or two associated symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The old definitions of fever are based on cross-sectional surveys of the population without analyzing the associated symptomatology as fever is a sign, not symptom. Therefore, a longitudinal follow-up study is the need of hour to analyze associated symptoms with fever. Methods: In a longitudinal study over one year, 196 participants recorded three temperature readings daily, one after waking up, one between 12 and 3 PM, one before sleeping, and filled the symptomatology questionnaire in a thermometry diary. Results: Per protocol analysis was done for febrile participants (n = 144). Fatigue (50.3%), warmth (47.3%), headache/head heaviness (47.0%), feeling malaise/general weakness (46.7%), loss of appetite (46.5%), muscle cramps/muscle aches (45.6%), chills/ shivering (44.6%), increased sweating (43.0%), nausea (42.5%), irritability (38.9%), increased breathing rate (37.1%), and restlessness/ anxiety/palpitations (36.5%) were the symptoms maximally seen during the febrile phase. A higher number of associated symptoms are associated with higher temperature readings. Dehydration suggested the numerically highest temperature values (100.86 ± 1.70°F) but seen in few febrile patients. Conclusions: Incorporation of symptom analysis in febrile patients is the need of the hour. Fatigue and warmth are found to be the most prevalent symptoms during febrile phase. Associated symptoms can help in predicting the intensity of fever also. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbal drug naringenin is well known for its anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory activities, as carbohydrate metabolism promoter, immunity system modulator, BCRP/ABCG2 inhibitor, hormone substitute and hormone antagonist since decades. However, use of naringenin as pharmaceutical aid is hindered due to its low aqueous solubility. In the present study, β-cyclodextrin and hydroxy propyl -β- cyclodextrin based biocompatible nanoforms were developed by the exploitation of self-assembly properties of cyclodextrins in aqueous media using sodium dodecyl sulphate and Pluronic F108 as co-surfactants. Prepared formulations were evaluated for various parameters such as particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, percent encapsulation efficiency, drug solubility and in vitro permeation studies. Particles present in all the formulations were not greater than the 161.2 nm with surface charge up to -24.8 mV and highest polydispersity index of 0.739. Aqueous solubility of drugs in prepared formulations was increased by 4 fold. Drug permeability was increased twice of free drug naringenin. It was concluded that the cyclodextrin based biocompatible nanosystems can be developed in the improvement of aqueous solubility and hence the bioavailability of herbal drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite strong genetic implications of NLRP3 inflammasome, its examination as genetic determinant of ischaemic stroke (IS) remains to be done in Punjab, which has been investigated in this study. In this case control study, 400 subjects (200 IS patients, 200 stroke free controls) were included. Contributions of 5 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) including a functional SNP within NLRP3 gene (rs10754558, rs4612666, rs2027432, rs3738488 and rs1539019) for the risk of IS were investigated through genetic models after correcting the effect of significant variables. Plasma levels of three pro‐inflammatory markers, that is, C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1β) and interleukin‐18 (IL‐18) were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Minor alleles of 3 out of 5 SNPs (rs10754558, rs4612666 and rs1539019) exhibited association with IS risk in additive, recessive and multiplicative models. Multivariable regression analysis confirmed that higher levels of systolic blood pressure (β ± SE: 1.42 ± 0.57, p =.013), CRP (β ± SE: 1.22 ± 0.41, p =.003), IL‐1β (β ± SE: 1.78 ± 0.88, p =.043) and IL‐18 (β ± SE: 1.13 ± 0.49, p =.021) were independent risk predictors for IS. Haplotype analysis revealed a susceptibility putative haplotype GTGTA, which approximately doubled the IS risk (OR: 1.98, 95% CI: 1.12–3.78, p =.04) in dominant mode after adjusting the effect with confounding variables. This susceptibility putative haplotype GTGTA was significantly associated with increased concentrations of CRP (β = 1.21, p =.014) and IL‐1β (β = 1.53, p =.034) in dose‐dependent manner (less in carriers of 1 copy than those who had 2 copies of GTGTA). The present study has revealed a susceptibility putative haplotype GTGTA within NLRP3 gene, carriers of which have double the risk of IS by having increased plasma levels of CRP and IL‐1β in a dose‐dependent manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: This study aims to determine the sequelae of corrosive ingestion in children. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Pediatric Surgery at a Tertiary Center. The children presenting between January 2015 and December 2020 with a history of ingestion of caustic agents were included in the study. Results: A total of 26 children were included in the study. The children with suicidal attempts were significantly older than those who ingested the corrosive agents accidentally (14.2 ± 1.9 years vs. 6 ± 3.3 years; P < 0.01; Student's t-test). Sixteen (62%) children had esophageal strictures, 8 (31%) had pyloric strictures, and a child (4%) had both esophageal and gastric strictures. Eight (31%) children required an initial feeding jejunostomy and 6 (23%) required a feeding gastrostomy as they had significant weight loss on presentation. Eleven (65%) esophageal strictures responded to the dilatation regimen and are symptom-free on follow-up. Three (18%) children with esophageal stricture underwent esophageal replacement. Eight (31%) children had a pyloric stricture and all of them were treated with a modified Billroth I gastro-duodenostomy. The children who presented after 2 months were found to have a significantly increased need for esophageal replacement (3/9 vs. 0/17; P = 0.03; Fischer's exact test). Conclusion: The corrosive ingestion in children is associated with higher morbidity. The sequelae include esophageal and antro-pyloric strictures. A feeding gastrostomy or jejunostomy was required in more than half of the patients. The children presenting after 2 months of ingestion were associated with an increased need for esophageal replacement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bariatric surgery is effective, but may be associated with adverse events. A multi-disciplinary approach including endoscopic interventions can be effective to manage these. Endoscopists should familiarize themselves with gastrointestinal pathology which can occur after bariatric surgery, including nutritional deficiencies, acid reflux, anastomotic stenosis, gallstone disease, leaks, fistulas, and weight regain. Endoscopic interventions including anastomotic stricture dilation, control of bleeding, endoscopic ultrasound-guided approach for endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, leak or fistula closure via endoscopic suturing or stent placement, and transoral outlet reduction (TORe) or revision obesity surgery endoluminal (ROSE) to address weight regain are among the endoscopic tools which have demonstrated safety and efficacy in the management of adverse events after bariatric surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An alternative and highly efficient ʟ‐rhamnosylation highlighting the dual‐catalysis of ruthenium reagent under a stereocontrolled process has been realized. The Ru‐mediated direct glycosylation‐dihydroxylation from ʟ‐rhamnal is amenable to a wide range of acceptors, including sugars, amino acids, natural products, and bioactive scaffolds. The one‐pot protocol tolerating diverse functional groups is attractive due to the valuable synthetic utility in assembling biologically significant α‐ʟ‐rhamnopyranosides in good yields. The mechanistic rationalization for the α‐anomeric selectivity and syn‐diastereoselective dihydroxylation employing Ru‐catalysis has been presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• 5059 and 5083 aluminium alloys are artificially sensitized and degree of sensitization and stress corrosion cracking responses are compared. • Reversion treatments are done to restore the microstructure and properties, however, sensitisation effects persisted in 5059 alloy vis a vis 5083 alloy. • Partial dissolution of β phase with reversion treatment reduced the sensitization and restored the resistance to stress corrosion cracking. Moderately higher than room temperature exposures can sensitize marine grade 5xxx series aluminum alloys, making them susceptible to intergranular corrosion and stress corrosion cracking in marine environments. Sensitization occurs due to precipitation of active, magnesium-rich β phase along the grain boundaries. Higher strength, high-magnesium 5059 and 5083 grade alloys were artificially sensitized by thermal exposures at 60 °C, 80 °C and 150 °C for various durations of 1, 4, 15, 41, and 100 days. Sensitization and stress corrosion cracking responses are compared. 5059 alloy exhibited a higher degree of sensitization of 86 ± 1 mg/cm2 as compared to 64 ± 2 mg/cm2 of 5083 alloy, for the similar sensitization condition of 150 °C–15 days. This is attributed to the higher content and therefore super-saturation of magnesium in the former. In order to restore the corrosion resistance, reversion treatments involving re-exposing the sensitized alloys to elevated temperatures for short durations of 10 to 30 min were performed. Degree of sensitization after reversion treatment is evaluated leading to identification of conditions for obtaining safe values (<15 mg/cm2) without compromising the mechanical properties much. Optimum reversion treatment employed 30 min of exposures at 230 °C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2,6-Dideoxy sugars constitute an important class of anticancer antibiotics natural products and serve as essential medicinal tools for carbohydrate-based drug discovery and vaccine development. In particular, 2-deoxy ʟ-fucose or ʟ-oliose is a rare sugar and vital structural motif of several potent antifungal and immunosuppressive bioactive molecules. Herein, we devised a reagent-controlled stereo and chemoselective activation of ʟ-fucal, enabling the distinctive glycosylation pathways to access the rare ʟ-oliose and 2,3-unsaturated ʟ-fucoside. The milder oxo-philic Bi(OTf) 3 catalyst induced the direct 1,2-addition predominantly, whereas B(C 6 F 5) 3 promoted the allylic Ferrier-rearrangement of the enol-ether moiety in ʟ-fucal glycal donor, distinguishing the competitive mechanisms. The reagent-tunable modular approach is highly advantageous, employing greener catalysts and atom-economical transformations, expensive ligand/additive-free, and probed for a diverse range of substrates comprising monosaccharides, amino-acids, bioactive natural products, and drug scaffolds embedded with susceptible or labile functionalities. Reagent-Controlled chemoselective activation of ʟ-fucal enabling direct 1,2-addition and allylic Ferrier-rearrangement enabling rare ʟ-oliose and 2,3-dideoxy ʟ-fucoside has been realized. The stereo-controlled atom-economical protocol is amply verified for broad substrate scope and highlighted in the late-stage functionalization of biologically relevant scaffolds and drug candidates. [Display omitted] • A reagent-tunable stereo-divergent 2-deoxyglycosylation and Ferrier-glycosylation of ʟ-fucal glycal donor was realized. • The chemoselective activation employing Bi(OTf) 3 promoted the direct 1,2-addtion to access 2-deoxy ʟ-fucose or ʟ-oliose rare sugar. • Using B(C 6 F 5) 3 as a Lewis acid catalyst resulted in the allylic Ferrier rearrangement to generate 2,3-dideoxy ʟ-fucosides. • The advanced protocol is highly advantageous and atom-economical, utilizing the greener catalysts under ligand/additive-free conditions. • The approach is amenable to a diverse substrates and Late-stage functionalization of biologically relevant molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The analysis of the multimode behavior of the interaction cavity for 42-GHz gyrotron is presented here. The in-house developed codes single-mode cold cavity solver (SMCCS) and GYCAD and commercial particle-in-cell (PIC) simulator MAGIC are used in the design and analysis of 42-GHz gyrotron cavity. SMCCS is used for the calculation of cold cavity parameters such as $Q$ factor, resonant frequency, and the axial electric field profile, which are further used in the beam–wave interaction computation. The PIC code is used here for the parametric optimization and time-dependent-multimode beam–wave interaction simulations of the interaction cavity. The mode purity in terms of the electromagnetic power in individual modes is also calculated using the data generated in the beam–wave interaction simulations. The single-mode analysis of the cavity is also performed using the analytical code GYCAD based on the generalized nonlinear theory. The results obtained by the PIC simulator and GYCAD are discussed and compared here. The analysis of the electron beam misalignment, which may occur due to the radial shifting or tilting of the different components during the fabrication of the device, is also performed and the effects on the efficiency, mode competition, and mode stability are discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thizolidine-2,4-dione (1), on reaction with p-fluorobenzaldehyde in the presence of piperidine and toluene, gives (Z)-5-(2-fluororobenzylidin)-thiazolidin-2,4-dione (2), which on reaction with indole and o-chlorobenzaldehyde in the presence of ethanol yielded final derivatives i.e (Z)-5-(4-fluororobenzylidene)-3-[(1H-indol-1-yl) (substituted phenyl) methyl] thiazolidine-2,4-dione (3a-3e). All the synthesized compounds were characterized by UV, FTIR, 1H NMR, MASS spectroscopy and elemental analysis. These compounds were screened for their anticancer activity against MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line by sulpho rhodamine B (SRB) assay method. Among the tested compounds, compound 3b with nitro group, which is a strong electron withdrawing group, was found to be most active for the inhibition of topoisomerase-I enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To assess the efficient storage and processing yields, simultaneously reducing the qualitative and quantitative losses from wheat grains, it is necessary to consider and study their engineering properties. The present study was conducted to determine the moisture-induced changes in the engineering properties and debranning characteristics of colored wheat varieties. Wheat was tempered to three moisture levels (12%, 14%, and 16%), and parameters were recorded using standard techniques and methods. Engineering properties such as bulk density, true density, porosity, and grain hardness decreased; the angle of repose, coefficient of external friction, arithmetic mean diameter, geometric mean diameter increased, while the coloring properties (chroma and hue angle) varied erratically with the increase in moisture content. Debranning characteristics also showed a positive correlation with moisture content. Practical applications The engineering properties and debranning characteristics of cereal grains are essential to design new equipment or to upgrade an existing one for their cleaning, grading, sorting, separation, material handling, storage, and milling. The present research provides a database needed for the design and development of purple wheat storage and processing equipment. It thoroughly discusses the impact of moisture levels on the engineering properties and debranning characteristics; the machinery that can be used by the farmers and processors to extract bran which can further be used to extract color rich in anthocyanins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research work focuses mainly on evolving a delivery system for ginseng extract (GE), which in turn will ameliorate the neuroprotective potential through enhancing the Ginsenoside Rb1(GRb1) bioavailability (BA). Phytosome complexes (F1, F2, and F3) were prepared by reacting GE with phospholipids in disparate ratios. F3 was chosen for preparing the phytosomes powder (PP) and phytosomes-loaded microspheres (PMs). Extract microspheres (EMs) were prepared by the addition of extract directly into the same polymer mixture. F3 gave enhanced entrapment efficiency (50.61%, w/w) along with spherical-shaped particle size (42.58 ± 1.4 nm) with the least polydispersity index (0.193 ± 0.01). PM showed an enhanced relative bioavailability (157.94%) of GRb1. It also showed a greater neuroprotective potential exhibiting significant (p < 0.05) augmentation in the nociceptive threshold. It was concluded that the PM system might be an optimistic and feasible strategy to enhance the delivery of GE for the effectual treatment of neuropathy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The consumers' demands have changed from energy providing diet to a diet with a balanced nutrient profile along with metabolic, physiological and functional health benefits. They are seeking colorants derived from natural sources to enhance the nutritional and antioxidant value of foods. Colored wheat (Triticum aestivum) contains many phytochemicals, responsible for numerous health benefits. Colored wheat (blue, black, purple and red) contains a good amount of anthocyanins and carotenoids that are primarily located in the outer aleurone layer. Food regulatory and safety authorities and food processing industries are trying to minimize the usage of synthetic food colorants and dyes. Colored wheat is imperative for food processing industries as high-value pigments present in the bran layer (milling industry co-product) can easily be extracted and utilized as functional foods and natural colorants. The extracted pigments such as anthocyanin can replace synthetic dyes currently used in food, drug and cosmetics. Additionally, natural additives improve the nutritional value, appearance, texture, flavor, and storage properties of food products. This review presents a brief knowledge of the nutritional composition of colored wheat including phytochemicals and bioactive compounds like flavonoids, phenolic compounds, their health benefits, methods and technologies used for processing and extraction as well as the effects of processing on these compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of Retinoic acid receptor-related orphan receptors in cancer progression has sparked interest in developing multifunctional therapeutics. In the search for potentially active novel compounds with anticancer characteristics, the Gewald reaction was employed to develop different thiophene derivatives (8a-8i). Physicochemical and spectroanalytical investigations verified the molecular structures of the synthesized derivatives. Using an in vitro primary anticancer assay, NCI chose all of the synthesized molecules as prototypes and assessed their anticancer efficacy against a panel of various cancer cell lines representing nine distinct neoplasms. The compounds were found to have a wide range of anticancer activity. Following significant anticancer efficacy against all cell lines in the initial screening, compound 8e was chosen for a five-dose test. Compound 8e inhibited growth at concentrations ranging from 0.411 to 2.8 µM. The antioxidant activity of the compounds was further evaluated using the radical scavenging action of the stable DPPH free radical. In comparison to Ascorbic Acid, compounds 8e and 8i showed outstanding antioxidant activity, while the remaining compounds in the series demonstrated acceptable antioxidant activity. In a molecular docking investigation, 8e demonstrated excellent docking scores inside the binding pocket of the specified pdb-id (6q7a), complementing the results of anticancer screening. Based on our results, novel ethyl 5-acetyl-2-amino-4-methylthiophene-3-carboxylate derivatives could be useful in the development of potential anticancer treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present studies have mainly been focused on the development (synthesis and characterization) of eco-friendly co-substituted (Ni, Ti) bismuth ferrite (referred as BFO) multiferroic of a composition Bi(Ni0.35Ti0.35Fe0.30)O3. The structural and morphological features of the ceramic technology prepared material were first examined by powder X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) techniques. It is found that the Fe-site co-substitution has created deformation in structure of BFO from rhombohedral to orthorhombic symmetry. Their crystallite size was estimated by the Scherrer's technique and found to be in the range of 20–49 nm. Detailed analysis of the FE-SEM micrograph and EDX (energy-dispersive X-rays) spectrum has shown the (i) uniform distribution of grains of varying size and (ii) elemental content and composition of the Bi(Ni0.35Ti0.35Fe0.30)O3 compound. Studies of the dielectric-impedance spectroscopy and transport parameters, obtained in a broad range of temperatures (298–773 K) and frequency (1 kHz–1 MHz), have provided many important data and mechanism, such as dielectric dispersion at high temperature, conduction mechanism, transport properties, non-Debye type of relaxation processes and negative temperature coefficient behavior of resistance (NTCR) of the studied material. The polarization vs. electric field (hysteresis loop) analysis exhibits that the magnitude of polarization increases with the increase of applied electric field. The magnetic measurement shows the change in ferromagnetic properties which may be due to the observed high remanent magnetization and coercive field. Thus, prepared material with modified multiferroic features may lead to numerous applications in the field of transducers, sensors and electronic industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diplopia or double vision has various aetiologies and often presents to the ophthalmologist. The purpose of our study was to study in detail the aetiology, progression, and outcome in patients of diplopia presenting to the ophthalmology department of a tertiary care centre. In a prospective observational study, all patients presenting to the emergency services and the outpatient department of a tertiary care centre over a period of 1 year were recruited. One hundred and sixty patients who presented with diplopia with a mean age of 40 (range 7–76) years were included. There were 112 (70%) males and 48 (30%) females. The most common cause for binocular diplopia was vasculopathy in 43 (28.66%) followed by trauma in 37 (24.66%). In those less than 20 years decompensating heterophorias were most common and had the best prognosis. Traumatic causes were common in the age group 20–40 years and vascular in the >40 years age group. For all other aetiologies, elderly patients had more resolution than young patients (p =.04). Larger deviation at presentation, younger age group, and a history of trauma were associated with late recovery (p =.03. p =.04 and p =.04, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This investigation involves the synthesis and study of dielectric, structural and impedance properties of polycrystalline Bi(Ni 2/5 Ti 2/5 Fe 1/5)O 3 (symbolized as BNTF) nano-ceramic. The BNTF polycrystalline sample was fabricated through the use of a conventional solid-state reaction route. X-ray structural examination reveals that the parent compound (i.e., BiFeO 3) crystallizes in the rhombohedral structure (space group-R3c) while that the BNTF compound crystallizes in orthorhombic symmetry. The substitution of NiTiO 3 into BiFeO 3 enhances various properties and reduces electrical leakage current. The average crystallite size is calculated to be 29 nm. The room temperature textures and surface morphologies of the specimen were verified by field-emission scanning electron microscope, and show uniform grains distribution on sample surfaces. Dielectric parameters (constant and tangent-loss) and impedance spectroscopy parameters of NiTiO 3 modified BiFeO 3 compound were investigated over a wide temperature range (25–500 °C) at different frequency (25 kHz-500 kHz), which offers several interesting features of BNTF material suitable for further device applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a population model in which individuals arrive as per the batch Markovian arrival process. The population is influenced by catastrophes which occur according to Markovian arrival process and it eliminates each individual of the population in a sequential order with probability p until the one individual survives or the entire population is annihilated. We first obtain the steady-state vector generating function of the population size distribution at arbitrary epoch and then the distribution is extracted in term of roots of the associated characteristic equation. Further, we obtain the population size distribution at post-catastrophe and pre-arrival epochs. Finally, a few numerical results are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a novel approach for prolonging the network lifetime and reducing the energy being consumed within the wireless sensor networks (WSN). The sensor nodes are distributed in the geographical area in a heterogeneous manner and spread in an advanced and normal mode with high and low energy, respectively. All sensor nodes are organized in groups or clusters. Every cluster has a cluster head (CH) node, and every CH gathers the information from all the sensor nodes, which will be communicated to the base station (BS). Sensor nodes are positioned with initial energy. The network's lifetime and consumed energy are both essential parameters in contrast with the existing routing protocols. It has been accomplished by choosing the proper cluster heads. The mathematical model and simulation results obtained on MATLAB 2015b show a significant fall of the total energy being consumed, now standing at 35%, with the lifetime of the network having been enhanced by 80% as compared to LEACH, Modified-LEACH, and SEP protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The security of biometric data in biometric‐based authentication systems is a significant concern. Cancellable biometrics aim to generate templates that can be replaced by new templates if compromised. We propose a new approach for generating cancellable biometric templates based on linear regression with random permutation. Our approach generates a virtual image for every biometric image by applying linear regression. In the next step, the cancellable biometric template is produced by randomly permuting each virtual image depending on a key assigned to each individual. If the template is compromised, it can be cancelled, and a new template can be generated by altering the key. Our method has shown superior performance compared to existing random permutation‐based methods in terms of authentication accuracy across six databases, encompassing face, iris, and ear, even when dealing with low‐resolution images. It performed well on challenging databases like UBIRIS and Georgia Tech, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper exhibits a numerical method for solving general fractional optimal control problems involving a dynamical system described by a nonlinear Caputo fractional differential equation, associated with a fractional Bolza cost composed as the aggregate of a standard Mayer cost and a fractional Lagrange cost given by a Riemann–Liouville fractional integral. By using the Lagrange multiplier within the calculus of variations and by applying integration by part formula, the necessary optimality conditions are derived in terms of a nonlinear two‐point fractional‐order boundary value problem. An operational matrix of fractional order right Riemann–Liouville integration is proposed and by utilizing it, the obtained two‐point fractional‐order boundary value problem is reduced into the solution of an algebraic system. An L2‐error estimate in the approximation of unknown variable by Legendre wavelet is derived and in the last, illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present work was to develop a sensitive, selective, accurate and precise stability-indicating HPLC method for quantification of degradation products and process-related impurities in fesoterodine fumarate extended-release tablets. The degradation profile was studied by conducting forced degradation studies and all the degradation products formed during degradation were separated. A chromatographic separation was achieved by using Waters Symmetry C18, 250 × 4.6 mm, 5 μm column, maintained at 30°C. Mobile phase A (0.05% trifluoroacetic acid in water) and mobile phase B (90% of 0.02% TFA in methanol and 10% of water) were used in gradient elution mode. A total of 75 μL of each solution was injected and peak responses were quantified at 220 nm. The method was found specific, precise, accurate, linear, rugged, robust and sensitive. During stability studies of fesoterodine fumarate extended-release tablets, one unknown impurity at relative retention time 1.37 was found increasing beyond the identification threshold. This impurity was isolated by using Preparative HPLC and structure was elucidated using mass and NMR spectroscopy. This method is a simple, inexpensive HPLC method that can be used as a routine quality control test for the estimation of impurities in fesoterodine fumarate extended-release tablets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet-C (UV-C) radiation has been identified as a promising method for enhancing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables by reducing microbial count and boosting their defence mechanisms. In this study, the impact of UV-C radiation on the physical, biochemical, and microbial properties of sapota fruits was investigated by subjecting them to different doses (2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 kJ m−2; 12 ± 1°C; 85–90% relative humidity) to enhance their shelf life. The results revealed that higher doses of UV-C radiation resulted in significantly lower weight loss and higher firmness compared to untreated samples and samples treated with lower doses. Furthermore, UV-C-treated fruits displayed a delayed increase in total soluble solids, total sugar, and reduced sugar content compared to the untreated fruit during storage. The UV-C-treated fruits also exhibited a delayed decline in ascorbic acid and titratable acidity during storage. The treated fruits exhibited significantly higher phenolic content than the untreated fruits. Additionally, significantly lower decay and microbial count were observed in fruits treated with higher doses than in those treated with lower doses. The samples treated with a dose of 7.5 and 10 kJ m−2 had a shelf life of 25 days compared to 14 days for the control fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]