Integer Matrix Keys for Secure Data Aggregation in Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks

Providing Privacy and security for aggregated data in wireless sensor networks has drawn the attention of practicing engineers and researchers globally. Several cryptographic methods have been already proposed to solve security and data integrity problems for aggregated data. Matrix cryptography is a better option for creating secure encryption/decryption algorithms to counter quantum attack. However, these algorithms have higher computational cost and increased communication overhead. Hence, a new technique of loss-less secure data aggregation in Clustered Wireless Sensor Networks is presented. The proposed method uses integer matrices as keys for data security and data integrity. Matrix operations are carried out in finite field Zp. Loss-less secure data aggregation is extended for homomorphic summation while the cipher text expansion ratio is kept substantially low. The proposed algorithm has inbuilt fast and efficient signature verification facility. The execution time of our signature verification mechanism is found to be approximately 50 percent less compared to a couple of standard existing signature verification schemes

Lime Pretreatment Associated Compositional and Ultrastructural Changes in Selected Root and Vegetable Processing Residues

The study aimed at exploring the suitability of processing residues from selected root and vegetables for bioethanol production, which are otherwise environmental pollutants. The effect of lime pretreatment at high (HT), low (LT) or room (RT) temperatures on compositional and ultrastructural changes in peels of root crops (sweet potato, elephant foot yam and tannia) and vegetable processing residues (peels from ash gourd and mixed vegetable waste) was studied. Pretreatment resulted in the removal of very little polysaccharides, including starch from these biomasses. Hemicellulose was removed to a higher extent in 24 h RT pretreatment (11.6-12.3%) compared to 7.3-8.5% removal in HT pretreatment. Maximum lignin removal (ca. 33-38%) occurred in RT pretreated (24 h) samples. Approximately 22-25.7% lignin was removed during HT pretreatment (121 °C) for 30 min. which increased to 28-31% when prolonged to 60 min. Pretreatment Efficiency (PE) was low (4.2-14.7%) in HT pretreatment, while 5.7-13.5% and 5.2-14.2% PE was observed in LT and RT pretreatments respectively. Scanning electron micrographs of lime pretreated biomass indicated that starch being a major ingredient of the biomass under study, preferential saccharification of starch by amylases might be necessary to expose the cellulose and hemicellulose for their subsequent saccharification to release fermentable sugars

Comparative Alterations in the Compositional Profile of Selected Root and Vegetable Peels Subjected to Three Pretreatments for Enhanced Saccharification

Lignocellulosic feedstocks have gained worldwide interest as alternative biofuel source in the context of squeezing petroleum resources, enhanced environmental pollution from greenhouse gases and resulting climate change. The potential of agricultural processing residues such as root and vegetable peels (beet root, greater yam, pumpkin and vegetable banana) for bioethanol production was investigated through an understanding of their compositional profile and efficacy of three pretreatments in altering their composition and reducing biomass recalcitrance. Starch was the major polysaccharide in the residues (range: 25-37%), followed by cellulose (18-22%) and hemicellulose (15-20%). While dilute sulfuric acid (DSA; 121°C ; 0.102 MPa) hydrolyzed starch and hemicellulose to a high extent, steam pretreatment of moist residues (40 % and 50 % MC) at 100 °C also facilitated hemicellulose and starch solubilization. On the contrary, lime pretreatment retained most of the cellulose, hemicellulose and starch in the pretreated residues. Delignification was the highest (28- 37%) in steam pretreated residues, with minimal effect in DSA and lime pretreatments, necessitating lignin binding surfactants during saccharification in the latter. Reducing sugar content in pretreated liquors and Pretreatment Efficiency (%) were the highest (40-45 g L-1 and 57-64% respectively) in the DSA pretreatment. The study showed that as the pretreated liquor DSA and steam pretreatment was rich in fermentable sugars, whole slurry saccharification would be beneficial for maximizing the bioethanol yield

Microwave-Assisted Alkali Delignification Coupled with Non-Ionic Surfactant Effect on the Fermentable Sugar Yield from Agricultural Residues of Cassava

Cassava stem, leaves and peel are agricultural residues generated as waste biomass during the cultivation and processing of cassava. The potential of these biomasses as feedstock for ethanol production depends on the effective deconstruction via pretreatment and saccharification. The effect of alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) treatment on microwave (MW)-irradiated or steam-exposed aqueous slurry was compared with MW-irradiation (300 W) of alkali slurry in delignifying the biomass and degrading the polysaccharides. Cellulose was degraded to a higher extent than hemicellulose in the AHP treatments. The steam-exposed and AHP pretreated residues on saccharification with Cellic (Cellulase complex) alone or Cellic along with Tween 20 resulted in high conversion of carbohydrate to reducing sugars (RS) in leaves (64-70%) and peel (74- 78%), with slightly lower conversion in stem. MW-irradiation of alkali slurry (5 min.) followed by Tween 20 supplemented saccharification was a better strategy degrading cellulose and hemicellulose to very high extent. Tween 20 supplementation was beneficial in enhancing the RS release from the biomasses even when Cellic dosage was halved. Ultrastructural studies indicated the disappearance of starch granules from stem and peel samples after MW-irradiation and saccharification, while fragmented cellulose fibers were visible in leaf samples. The study showed that MW-assisted alkali pretreatment followed by saccharification with Cellic in presence of Tween 20 was very effective in releasing maximum sugars from these biomasses

Protein difference among the leaf explants determined for shoot regeneration and callus growth in Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

A comparison of protein profiles of leaves during different stages of shoot and callus induction showed similarities as well as differences in the expression of proteins.  A protein of 39 kDa was expressed in low levels in leaf explants and increased in intensity during induction of shoot organogenesis in both the cultivars. Analysis of protein patterns during organogenesis and callus proliferation from leaves by two dimensional gel analysis revealed the separation of 39 kDa protein into four spots during organogenesis with pI values ranging from 4.2-5.8.  However, the isoforms of 39 kDa protein with pI values of 4.2 and 5.8 were highly expressed in callus of M-5 cultivar in contrast to S-36 cultivar where only one isoform with pI value of 4.2 was detectable. The analysis of protein synthesis in different stages of development in the cultures may acts as markers to differentiate the group of specific isoforms

A comparative study on field performance of micropropagated plants and stem cutting derived plants of S-36 cultivar of Mulberry (Morus indica L.)

Micropropagated and stem cutting derived plants of Mulberry (Morus indica L. cv. S-36) were transferred to the similar field conditions. A comparative study was conducted based on morphological parameters and growth characteristics for three consecutive years.  The results demonstrated that micropropagation gave rise to superior clonal populations with respect to number of branches/plant and leaf yield/plant that will be suitable for the mass production of plants.  Thus in vitro grown plants did not exhibit any significant quantitative variation as compared to the conventionally grown plants, indicating the varietal multiplication to be of true-to-type

STABILITY INDICATING RP-HPLC METHOD FOR ESTIMATION OF RABEPRAZOLE SODIUM AND MOSAPRIDE CITRATE IN BULK AND FORMULATION

Objective: Development and validation of reversed phase liquid chromatographic method for the quantitative determination of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in bulk and combined dosage form. Methods: A thermo Inert sil, C18 (250 x 4.6 mm i. d., 5 µ) column with mobile phase containing methanol: buffer (ammonium acetate pH 6.5): acetonitrile in the ratio of (50:20:30 %) was used. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min, column temperature was 25 °C and effluents were monitored at 245 nm. Results: The retention times of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate were 2.951 min and 4.195 min, respectively. Correlation co-efficient for Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate was found to be 0.9999 and 0.9999, respectively. The proposed method was validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, specificity, and robustness. Recovery of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in formulations was found to be in the range of 97-103 % and 98-102 %, respectively confirms the non-interferences of the excipients in the formulation. Conclusion: The proposed HPLC method was found to be simple, precise, accurate and sensitive for the simultaneous estimation of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in pharmaceutical dosage forms. Due to its simplicity, rapidness and high precision, the method was successfully applied to the estimation of Rabeprazole sodium and Mosapride citrate in combined dosage form

Ultrasound Promoted Synthesis of Pyrazolyl / Isoxazolyl Oxadiazoles as Antimicrobials

Azoles are the principal core structures present in natural products and acquired significance due to a wide range of biological properties associated with them. Amongst different azoles, oxadiazole and their derivatives have gained importance as they constitute the structural features of many bioactive compounds. 1,3,4-Oxadiazoles exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anticancer and anticonvulsant properties. In fact, the combination of different heterocyclic units in a molecule may alter the biopotency which can accommodate multiple biological targets. In continuation of our interest in the synthesis of bioactive heterocyclic compounds, we focused our attention to develop some new oxadiazoles under ultrasonication. The work related to these aspects will be presented. © 2020 Author(s).The author G. Yamini is thankful to the University Grants Commission (UGC), New Delhi, for the sanction of UGC-BSR fellowship

Bronchodilator responsiveness in wheezy infants and toddlers is not associated with asthma risk factors

Background There are limited data assessing bronchodilator responsiveness (BDR) in infants and toddlers with recurrent wheezing, and factors associated with a positive response. Objectives In a multicenter study of children ≤ 36 months old, we assessed the prevalence of and factors associated with BDR among infants/toddlers with recurrent episodes of wheezing. Methods Forced expiratory flows and volumes using the raised‐volume rapid thoracic compression method were measured in 76 infants/toddlers [mean (SD) age 16.8 (7.6) months] with recurrent wheezing before and after administration of albuterol. Prior history of hospitalization or emergency department treatment for wheezing, use of inhaled or systemic corticosteroids, physician treatment of eczema, environmental tobacco smoke exposure, and family history of asthma or allergic rhinitis were ascertained. Results Using the published upper limit of normal for post bronchodilator change (FEV 0.5  ≥ 13% and/or FEF 25–75  ≥ 24%) in healthy infants, 24% (n = 18) of children in our study exhibited BDR. The BDR response was not associated with any clinical factor other than body size. Dichotomizing subjects into responders (defined by published limits of normal) or by quartile to identify children with the greatest change from baseline (4th quartile vs. other) did not identify any other factor associated with BDR. Conclusions Approximately one quarter of infants/toddlers with recurrent wheezing exhibited BDR at their clinical baseline. However, BDR in wheezy infants/toddlers was not associated with established clinical asthma risk factors. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2012; 47:421–428. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91214/1/21567_ftp.pd

Pathogen-induced expression of harpinPss increases resistance in tobacco against fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae

HarpinPss (encoded by the hrpZ gene), a proteinaceous elicitor produced by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae, induces cell death in plants through hypersensitive response (HR). With an aim to generate transgenic tobacco resistant to fungal diseases, hrpZ was expressed in a secretable form, tagged with the signal peptide (SP) of PR1a, under the constitutive 35S promoter (P35S) or pathogen-inducible promoters (PIPs) like phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), osmotin (OSM), and hypersensitive-related (HSR) promoters. The constitutive expression of the secretable form of hrpZ did not permit regeneration of transformed cells due to harpinPss-induced cell death. Transformants were recovered at a low frequency (2-6%) from leaf discs infected with Agrobacterium harbouring the SP-hrpZ driven by PIPs due to wound-induced leaky expression of harpinPss. The transgenic lines were confirmed by PCR using transgene-specific primers for SP-hrpZ. The expression of hrpZ under PIPs in transgenic lines was confirmed by Western blotting after challenging the leaves with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. RT-PCR analysis also confirmed the expression of SP-hrpZ driven by PIPs in transgenic tobacco upon infection with F. oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. The expression of harpinPss in these transgenic lines was accompanied by expression of defense-response genes such as PR1, PR2, PR3, HSR and HIN1. Transgenic tobacco plants showed enhanced resistance to F. oxysporum f. sp. nicotianae. Our findings suggest the potential use of an elicitor gene (hrpZ), driven by PIPs (PAL, OSM, and HSR) for the development of resistant plants