Vegetable Tanning of Sole Fish Skin by Using Tannins Extracted from Plants

Tanning of skins and hides using natural tannins from plant sources is termed as vegetable tanning or green tanning due to its biodegradability and environment friendly features. Fish skin is the new alternative raw material for leather industry. In the present study, bark tannin powder of four plants i.e., Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Cassia fistula and Pinus roxburghii were used for the tanning of Sole fish skin and the physical properties of leather produced were evaluated and compared with standard. A. nilotica and P. roxburghii tannin powder had best tanning results on fish skin. Highest tensile strength was observed for the A. nilotica tanned leather (21.32 N/mm2) with 33% elongation followed by P. roxburghii tanned leather with a tensile strength of 19.75 N/mm2and elongation of 36%. Tear strength was highest in samples tanned with P. roxburghii tannin powder (74 N/mm) followed by leather tanned with A. indica tannins (70 N/mm). Tara tanned leather had a tensile strength of 15.66 N/mm2, elongation of 32% and tear strength of 55 N/mm. Shrinkage temperature of tanned fish leathers were determined and were compared with standard tara tannin powder (89°C) and showed best results; A. nilotica, A. indica, P. roxburghii, C. fistula had shrinkage temperatures 88°C,83°C,87°C,89°C respectively. Results indicated that fish skin can be used as a new source for leather industry and tannins from barks of A. nilotica and P. roxburghii can be used as a good vegetable tanning material

Solution of an SEIR Epidemic Model in Fractional Order

In this paper, we consider the SEIR (Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered) epidemic model (with out of bilinear incidence rates) in fractional order. First the non-negative solution of the SEIR model in fractional order is discussed. Then calculate an approximate solution of the proposed model. The obtained results are compaired with those obtained by forth order Runge-Kutta method and nonstandard numerical method in the integer case. Finally, we present some numerical results

Control of COVID-19 dynamics through a fractional-order model

We investigate, through a fractional mathematical model, the effects of physical distance on the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmission. Two controls are considered in our model for eradication of the spread of COVID-19: media education, through campaigns explaining the importance of social distancing, use of face masks, etc., towards all population, while the second one is quarantine social isolation of the exposed individuals. A general fractional order optimal control problem, and associated optimality conditions of Pontryagin type, are discussed, with the goal to minimize the number of susceptible and infected while maximizing the number of recovered. The extremals are then numerically obtained.publishe

Identification and Analysis of Factors Affecting Machinery in the Construction Industry of Pakistan

This research has been carried out to explore the current practices of machinery used in the construction industry of building projects of Pakistan. Management of construction equipment varies from project to project and organization. Small to medium contractors normally purchase used equipment required for their projects, because smaller equipment can be purchased and managed more easily. On the other hand, larger contractors often subcontract equipment/ machines to perform the specific tasks of the project. This research work revealed different factors of machinery management. Factors causing cost overrun in the construction projects were ranked on the basis of Relative Importance Index (RII). Top five significant factors identified were frequent equipment breakdowns, maintenance of equipment, insufficient number of equipment, performance / efficiency of equipment and inadequate modern equipment

THE IMPACT OF BETTER GOVERNANCE ON FOREIGN PORTFOLIO INVESTMENT (FPI) IN AGRICULTURE

Field experiments were conducted in 2017 and 2018 second planting seasons, at the Research and Teaching Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Abia State University,Uturu Umuahia Campus to investigate the effect of weeding on the population of Spodoptera frugiperda and yield of maize. Two Maize varieties, OBA SUPER 2 (yellow seeded) and OBA SUPER 98 (white seeded) were planted as the main plot treatment while four weeding schedules (no weeding, 1, 2, or 3 weedings) were included as the sub-plot treatments. Seeds were sown on ridges 1.0 m apart and 50.0 cm between stands in 5.0 m2 plots on 5th day of August each year. Data were collected on the number of larvae of fall Armyworm S. frugiperda larvae, damaged plants and grain yield of maize. All data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and separation of means done using Least Significant Difference (LSD). During both years, it was found that the weeded plots had significantly (P<0.05) lower S. frugiperda population than the non-weeded plots. S.frugiperda population decreased significantly with increase in the number of times sub-plots were weeded. Thus, S.frugiperda population of 7.6 were recorded in the plots weeded thrice in 2017 and 8.3 in the year 2018; with twice weeding it was 10.3 and 10.5 in 2017 and 2018; and for once weeding it was 12.5 and 13.3 in the two years respectively. The non-weeded plot had 13.0 and 16.5 S. frugiperda in the two years respectively. The frequency of weeding was inversely correlated with S. frugiperda population. Grain yields were significantly higher when weeding was done three times compared with weeding twice, once and no weeding respectively. In the two years, the percentage leaf damaged were decreased as the number of weeding increased. There was no significant correlation between S. frugiperda and the grain yields in the two years suggesting that any of the weeding regimes, especially 2-weeding and 3-weeding can be adopted to reduce S.frugiperda infestation in maize with no significant effect on grain yield. In addition , any of the two varieties can be cultivated in the area to achieve good grain yield

Machine learning for Markov modeling of COVID-19 dynamics concerning air quality index, PM_-2.5, NO₂, PM_-10, and O₃

In this research machine learning technique is adopted for Markov modelling of the COVID-19 dynamics with variations in Air Quality Index AQI, PM-2.5, NO2, PM-10, and O3, respectively. Thus the long-run disease dynamics of the COVID-19 are studied concerning the Air Quality Index (AQI), PM-2.5, NO2, PM-10, and O3, respectively, by using eigen space decomposition. Data of the Chhattisgarh state of India is taken into consideration and the study analyzed in two phases. In Phase-1 the time duration is from March 15, 2020, to May 01, 2020, and for Phase-2 the time duration was from Jun 01, 2020, to Jul 15, 2020. Change in COVID-19 related to AQI showed that initially when the AQI changed from 103 to 84.83 the disease dynamics also changed, and the first cases of COVID-19 were reported. In the next two fortnights from March 15, 2020, and April 01, 2020, the dynamics were the same, latter the AQI changed from 84.83 to 63.83, but this change does not affect the disease dynamics in long run from April 15, 2020, to Jul 15, 2020. In phase 1 the solution obtained shows a cyclic trend with initially decreasing, then increasing, and again a decreasing trend for changes concerning PM-2.5. The disease dynamics concerning PM-2.5, NO2, PM-10, and O3, respectively, based on initial transition showed the same trend for PM-2.5, NO2, and PM-10. Moreover, for O3 the disease dynamics were found different than the other three parameters. COVID-19 showed a negative correlation with AQI, PM-2.5, NO2, PM-10. Moreover a positive correlation with O3. This proved that the lockdown and ban on transport activities improved AQI, PM-2.5, NO2, PM-10, but not O3. The research exploits the learning capability of renowned Python machine learning module sklearn to solve the Markov model. The findings prove that Markov modeling is promising method for planning control measures for disease with compatibility to air quality alterations

Fuzzy Analysis of Artificial Drug Transmission Model with Optimal Control

This article presents an artificial drug abusers system consolidating the impact of treatment with psychological and physiological addicts under fuzzy parameters. In the fuzzy model, all of the parameters are considered to be triangular fuzzy numbers to represent the uncertainty that pervaded the dynamics. To handle the arrangements while avoiding problems, the fuzzy model is turned into a defuzzified model using the utility function method. The fuzzy model’s positivity and boundedness are carefully explored, and an equilibrium analysis is also completed. Both the drug-addict equilibrium and the drug-free equilibrium have established stability analyses. This article explains fuzzy optimum control using Pontryagin’s maximum principle. Finally, it is shown that the treatment alongside counselling and conducting awareness programs is more fruitful and drug-related controlling is more viable in the fuzzy nature. Likewise, we plot the 3D associations with fuzzy parameters which show the inventiveness and appropriateness of the results.2022-2

A general chemostat model with second-order Poisson jumps: asymptotic properties and application to industrial waste-water treatment

A chemostat is a laboratory device (of the bioreactor type) in which organisms (bacteria, phytoplankton) develop in a controlled manner. This paper studies the asymptotic properties of a chemostat model with generalized interference function and Poisson noise. Due to the complexity of abrupt and erratic fluctuations, we consider the effect of the second order Itô-Lévy processes. The dynamics of our perturbed system are determined by the value of the threshold parameter $\mathfrak{C}^{\star}_0$. If $\mathfrak {C}^{\star}_0$ is strictly positive, the stationarity and ergodicity properties of our model are verified (practical scenario). If $\mathfrak {C}^{\star}_0$ is strictly negative, the considered and modeled microorganism will disappear in an exponential manner. This research provides a comprehensive overview of the chemostat interaction under general assumptions that can be applied to various models in biology and ecology. In order to verify the reliability of our results, we probe the case of industrial waste-water treatment. It is concluded that higher order jumps possess a negative influence on the long-term behavior of microorganisms in the sense that they lead to complete extinction

Investigation of anti-nociceptive, anti-inflammatory potential and ADMET studies of pure compounds isolated from Isodon rugosus Wall. ex Benth

The strong ethnopharmacological utilization of Isodon rugosus Wall. Ex. Benth is evident in the treatment of several types of pain and inflammation, including toothache, earache, abdominal pain, gastric pain, and generalized body pain and inflammation. Based on this background, the antinociceptive effects of the crude extract, various fractions, and essential oil have been reported previously. In this research work, we isolate and characterize pure bioactive compounds from I. rugosus and evaluate possible mechanisms using various in vivo and in vitro models. The pure compounds were analyzed for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities through various assays. The column chromatography of the chloroform fraction of I. rugosus led to the identification of two pure compounds, i.e., 1 and 2. Compound 1 demonstrated notable inhibition (62% writhing inhibition, 72.77% COX-2 inhibition, and 76.97% 5-LOX inhibition) and anti-inflammatory potential (&gt;50% paw edema inhibition at various intervals). The possible mechanism involved in antinociception was considered primarily, a concept that has already been elucidated through the application of naloxone (an antagonist of opioid receptors). The involvement of adrenergic receptors was investigated using a hot plate model (an adrenergic receptor antagonist). The strong ethnomedicinal analgesic background of I. rugosus, supported by previous reports and current observations, leads to the conclusion that I. rugosus is a potential source of antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds. It may be concluded from the results that the isolated analgesic compounds of I. rugosus may be a possible alternative remedy for pain and inflammation management with admirable efficacy and safety profiles