Scale-free network topology and multifractality in weighted planar stochastic lattice

We propose a weighted planar stochastic lattice (WPSL) formed by the random sequential partition of a plane into contiguous and non-overlapping blocks and find that it evolves following several non-trivial conservation laws, namely $\sum_i^N x_i^{n-1} y_i^{4/n-1}$ is independent of time $\forall \ n$, where $x_i$ and $y_i$ are the length and width of the $i$th block. Its dual on the other hand, obtained by replacing each block with a node at its center and common border between blocks with an edge joining the two vertices, emerges as a network with a power-law degree distribution $P(k)\sim k^{-\gamma}$ where $\gamma=5.66$ revealing scale-free coordination number disorder since $P(k)$ also describes the fraction of blocks having $k$ neighbours. To quantify the size disorder, we show that if the $i$th block is populated with $p_i\sim x_i^3$ then its distribution in the WPSL exhibits multifractality.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, To appear in New Journal of Physics (NJP

Role of Gal and GalNAc containing glycans in various physiological processes

Glycoconjugates are involved in the vital physiological functions including blood group determination, cancer recognition, protein stabilization, sperm-egg adhesion and pathogenic interaction in body. These diverse biological functions of glycoconjugates are regulated by complex oligosaccharide structures linked with proteins and lipids in macromolecular assemblies. The diversity in oligosaccharide chains attached with lipids and proteins is specifically linked with the conformational behavior of sugar residues giving rise to unique carbohydrate structures with wide range of sequence and anomeric linkage. This is a challenging task to explore the relationship between biological processes and stereochemical behavior of sugar residues. Current review article focuses the specific stereochemical involvement (anomery and linkages) of Gal and its derivative GalNAc in wide range of cellular activities. These sugar residues exhibit different physiological functions at the terminal and subterminal position in glycans.Keywords: D-Galactose; N-Acetyl-D-Galactosamine; Oligosaccharides; Sequence and anomeric linkages; Physiological efficac

Human dendritic cell sequestration onto the Necator americanus larval sheath during ex-sheathing: a possible mechanism for immune privilege

Despite the profound health implications of Necator americanus (N. americanus) infection in humans, many aspects of its interaction with the host immune system are poorly understood. Here we investigated the early events at the interface of N. americanus larvae (L3) and human dendritic cells (DCs). Our data show that co-culturing DCs and the larvae triggers ex-sheathing of hookworms rapidly where a majority of DCs are sequestered onto the larval sheath allowing the ex-sheathed larvae to migrate away unchallenged. Intriguingly, DCs show negligible interaction with the ex-sheathed larvae, alluding to differences between the surface chemistry of the larva and its sheath. Furthermore, blocking of two key C-type lectin receptors on DC surface (i.e. DC-SIGN and mannose receptor) resulted in inhibition of ex-sheathing process and DC sequestration, highlighting the importance of C-type lectins on DCs in the induction of the ex-sheathing. Analyses of DC phenotype and cytokine profile after co-culture with the N. americanus larvae showed an immature phenotype as evidenced by the low expression of the maturation markers and cytokines. These data provide new insights into early events at the interface of human DCs and N. americanus larvae and could explain how L3 evade immune recognition upon initial interaction with DCs

Model Development of Children Under Mortality Rate with Group Method of Data Handling

In this research we examine aspects of the interdependence between economic development and the use of environmental and natural resources assets from global data published by united nations. for that purpose, we use data mining techniques.data mining techniques applied in this paper were: 1) group method of data handling (gmdh), originally from engineering, introducing principles of evolution - inheritance, mutation and selection - for generating a network structure systematically to develop the automatic model, synthesis, and its validation; 2) step wise regression were also applied for some cases.data sets for this research consist of one sets integration data of air quality data and macroeconomic data of the cross-country data of world development indicator 2003 (wdi 2003). the result shows that the mortality rate of children under five years old is dependent on sanitation and water facilities obtained from gmdh results. however, the results from step-wise regression shows that mortality rate was dependent on annual deforestation, particulate matter, nationally protected area, with the big contribution was from annual deforestation

Occurrence of Fluoride and some Heavy Metals in Groundwater from Shallow Aquifers Near Ogbomosho, North-central Nigeria

Groundwater is one of the most important natural resources that when contaminated by either natural or anthropogenic means is difficult and expensive to clean-up. Fluorosis is a disease affecting the bone and teeth of humans due to excessive intake of fluoride either through water or food. Heavy metal pollution is a burning environmental issue due their toxic, persistent and bio-accumulative nature. The present study evaluates the presence of fluoride and some heavy metals in groundwater from shallow aquifers around Ogbomosho, north-central Nigeria and the result of investigation confirmed their enrichment. The fluoride concentration ranged between 1.35mg/l to 2.75mg/l with a mean value of 2.18mg/l as against the recommended value of 1.50mg/l. This is an indication that continuous use of water from this area may result to colouration of the teeth and deformation of the bone among the people especially children since they are the most vulnerable. High fluoride content in groundwater can be attributed to the continuous water-rock interaction during the process of percolation with fluoride-bearing country rocks under arid, low precipitation, and high evapotranspiration conditions. The study has established that the fluoride-rich groundwater as well as heavy metal contamination in the area may have emanated from geochemical processes of dissolution and weathering of the granite aquifers in the area. The heavy metal enrichment is in the order of: Ni > Mn > Cr > Cd > Fe > Cu > Zn. These findings suggest that the enrichment of the groundwater system is geogenic and related to the local geology of the area. It is recommended that people living in the coarse grained porphyritic biotite granite dominated area should discontinue the use of groundwater for domestic and drinking purposes in order not to experience fluorosis in future. Environmentally friendly techniques such as phyto-remediation and bio-remediation should be employed to monitor and control fluoride and heavy metal content in the groundwater system. Keywords: Groundwater Quality, Fluorosis, Heavy metals contamination, Shallow Aquifers Ogbomosho and North-central Nigeri

Characterization of Artificial Magnetic Conductor, Electromagnetic Band Gap and Frequency Selective Surface

This paper investigates the characteristics of Artificial Magnetic Conductor (AMC), Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) and Frequency Selective Surface (FSS) at 5.8 GHz. Reflection magnitude and phase are characterized both AMC and EBG meanwhile, the band gap is specially characterized by the EBG structure. Besides that, transmission and reflection coefficients are used to characterize the FSS structure. Three different flexible substrates are considered which are Fast Film, Arlon AD350 and Rogers RO3010. Then, angular stability is analyzed for each structure. In order to design AMC, EBG and FSS by using thin substrate, the highest dielectric constant is needed to develop a compact structure with the highest bandwidth. Later, AMC, EBG and FSS structures can be used to improve the radiation pattern apart from enhancing the realized gain of a low profile antenna such as dipole antenna