Compact Broadband Rectangular Microstrip Patch Antenna

In this paper, using two or more U-slots which are mutually coupled, we are further able to extend the bandwidth achievable by single U-slot. Our Proposed design on 1.6 mm high FR4 substrate is 69 mm X 62 mm (L X W) in size which is vary compact, low profile and conformable. We have chosen licence free band from 7.6 GHz to 9.2 GHz which has not yet been targeted by any commercial product till now. We expect major wave of wireless product for Biomedical, Industrial, Defence and IOT applications in this frequency band in years to come. Our design achieves 1.6 GHz (20%) bandwidth around 8.3 GHz with fairly good gain achievable in low profile substrate. In our design we have introduce Microstrip ring to improve directivity of a antenna. The measured and simulated response shows close agreement thus validating our design

PHENOTYPIC AND GENETIC CORRELATIONS BETWEEN FIRST LACTATION MILK YIELD AND SOME PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN SAHIWAL CATTLE

Data on 8948 pedigree, breeding and performance records of a purebred herd of Sahiwal cattle maintained at the Livestock Experiment Station Jahangirabad district Khanewal (Pakistan) during the period 1939-98 were analysed. The phenotypic, genetic and residual correlations between first lactation milk yield and some first lactation and lifetime traits were estimated, using Bivariate REML analysis. Phenotypic, genetic and residual correlations between first lactation milk yield and age at first calving were 0.67, 0.61 ± 0.30 and 0.73; between first lactation milk yield and first lactation length were 0.35, 0.48 ± 0.38 and 0.31; between first lactation milk yield and first calving interval were 0.39, 0.46 ± 0.46 and 0.39; between first lactation milk yield and first dry period were 0.35, 0.49 ± 0.46 and 0.30; between first lactation milk yield and lifetime milk yield were 0.02, 0.01 ± 0.77 and 0.05. Positive and high genetic correlation between first lactation milk yield and age at first calving indicated that the selection for higher first lactation milk yield would increase the age at first calving, which is not advantageous

Effect of foliar spray of elicitors on status of defense proteins in relation to mustard aphid infestation in crop Brassica cultivars

Mustard aphid, Lipaphis erysimi Kalt., is the key insect pest of crop Brassicas causing significant reduction in crop yield. In the present study, widely grown Brassica cultivars RLC-1 (Brassica juncea) and GSC-6 (Brassica napus) were treated with elicitors salicylic acid (SA) and jasmonic acid (JA) at 0.5mM and 1mM concentration via foliar spray (given at 40 and 60 days after planting (DAP). Their effect was evaluated in terms of total soluble protein content and activities of defense proteins (peroxidase, protease inhibitor, polyphenol oxidase, amylase inhibitor and lectins) in relation to aphid infestation in leaf tissue. SA and JA application caused significant increase in activities of defense proteins as well as total soluble proteins. JA at 1mM concentration was most effective in both Brassica cultivars. The 2nd foliar spray gave a booster response. The aphid population/plant reduced significantly in both the cultivars with JA as well as SA. POD and PPO registered negative correlation with aphid population count. SA and JA foliar applications seemed effective against mustard aphid through positive modulation in activities of defense proteins

TAEO-A thermal aware & energy optimized routing protocol for wireless body area networks

Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs) are in the spotlight of researchers and engineering industries due to many applications. Remote health monitoring for general as well as military purposes where tiny sensors are attached or implanted inside the skin of the body to sense the required attribute is particularly prominent. To seamlessly accomplish this procedure, there are various challenges, out of which temperature control to reduce thermal effects and optimum power consumption to reduce energy wastage are placed at the highest priority. Regular and consistent operation of a sensor node for a long-time result in a rising of the temperature of respective tissues, where it is attached or implanted. This temperature rise has harmful effects on human tissues, which may lead to the tissue damage. In this paper, a Temperate Aware and Energy Optimized (TAEO) routing protocol is proposed that not only deals with the thermal aspects and hot spot problem, but also extends the stability and lifetime of a network. Analytical simulations are conducted, and the results depict better performance in terms of the network lifetime, throughput, energy preservation, and temperature control with respect to state of the art WBAN protocols

Cannabinoid Type 2 (CB2) Receptors Activation Protects against Oxidative Stress and Neuroinflammation Associated Dopaminergic Neurodegeneration in Rotenone Model of Parkinson's Disease

The cannabinoid type two receptors (CB2), an important component of the endocannabinoid system, have recently emerged as neuromodulators and therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD). The downregulation of CB2 receptors has been reported in the brains of PD patients. Therefore, both the activation and the upregulation of the CB2 receptors are believed to protect against the neurodegenerative changes in PD. In the present study, we investigated the CB2 receptor-mediated neuroprotective effect of β-caryophyllene (BCP), a naturally occurring CB2 receptor agonist, in, a clinically relevant, rotenone (ROT)-induced animal model of PD. ROT (2.5 mg/kg BW) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) once daily for four weeks to induce PD in male Wistar rats. ROT injections induced a significant loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and DA striatal fibers, following activation of glial cells (astrocytes and microglia). ROT also caused oxidative injury evidenced by the loss of antioxidant enzymes and increased nitrite levels, and induction of proinflammatory cytokines: IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, as well as inflammatory mediators: NF-κB, COX-2, and iNOS. However, treatment with BCP attenuated induction of proinflammatory cytokines and inflammatory mediators in ROT-challenged rats. BCP supplementation also prevented depletion of glutathione concomitant to reduced lipid peroxidation and augmentation of antioxidant enzymes: SOD and catalase. The results were further supported by tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry, which illustrated the rescue of the DA neurons and fibers subsequent to reduced activation of glial cells. Interestingly, BCP supplementation demonstrated the potent therapeutic effects against ROT-induced neurodegeneration, which was evidenced by BCP-mediated CB2 receptor activation and the fact that, prior administration of the CB2 receptor antagonist AM630 diminished the beneficial effects of BCP. The present study suggests that BCP has the potential therapeutic efficacy to elicit significant neuroprotection by its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities mediated by activation of the CB2 receptors

Clear Experimental Signature of Charge-Orbital density wave in Nd1−x_{1-x}Ca1+x_{1+x}MnO4_{4}

Single Crystals of Nd$_{1-x}$Ca$_{1+x}$MnO$_{4}$ have been prepared by the travelling floating-zone method, and possible evidence of a charge -orbital density wave in this material presented earlier [PRB68,092405 (2003)] using High Resolution Electron Microscopy [HRTEM] and Electron Diffraction [ED]. In the current note we present direct evidence of charge-orbital ordering in this material using heat capacity measurements. Our heat capacity measurements indicate a clear transition consistent with prior observation. We find two main transitions, one at temperature $T_{_H}=310-314$ K, and other at $T_{_A}=143$ K. In addition, we may also conclude that there is a strong electron-phonon coupling in this material.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figure

PCR-RFLP-based identification of polymorphisms in BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 genes associated with litter size in Beetal and Teddy goats

The genes BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 are oocyte-derived members of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, which is essential for follicular growth and ovulation. The aim of the current study was to determine the incidence of reported mutations in exon 3 of BMPR1B gene, exon 1 of GDF9 gene, and exon 2 of BMP15 gene and their association with litter size in three parities of Beetal and Teddy goats. Based on the known mutations in these genes, PCR primers were designed to find out the polymorphism through the PCR-RFLP technique in 120 randomly selected animals of the two breeds, which vary in their prolificacy. The current results show that there were significant differences in litter size [1.708 ± 0.060 in Beetal (B) and 2.167 ± 0.056 in Teddy (T) goats] in both breeds. The results of breed x parity interaction showed significant differences in litter size in first [1.158 ± 0.061 (B); 1.861 ± 0.057 (T)], third [2.062 ± 0.078 (B); 2.583 ± 0.073 (T)] and average parity [708 ± 0.060 (B); 2.167 ± 0.056 (T)] in both breeds. All three loci in both breeds were found to be polymorphic and the results of breed x parity x genotype analysis showed that genotypes of all the three genes were significantly associated with litter size in all parities in both breeds. For the BMPR1B gene, heterozygous (CT) animals of Beetal and Teddy goats had the largest litter size in all three parities and the average (parity) litter size, showing the overdominance of the heterozygotes. Similarly, for GDF9 gene, heterozygous animals (AG) had the largest litter size in both breeds. For BMP15 gene homozygous carrier animals (CC) of both breeds had the highest number of kids, followed by the heterozygous (AC) genotypes. The current results show the importance of BMPR1B, GDF9 and BMP15 as the major genes that influence prolificacy in both Beetal and Teddy goats. It is suggested that these polymorphisms can be used as molecular markers to select the prolific animals in these breeds.Keywords: Beetal goats, Teddy goats, molecular markers, prolificacy, polymorphis

Thermodynamics of a Bardeen black hole in noncommutative space

In this paper, we examine the effects of space noncommutativity on the thermodynamics of a Bardeen charged regular black hole. For a suitable choice of sets of parameters, the behavior of the singularity, horizon, mass function, black hole mass, temperature, entropy and its differential, area and energy distribution of the Bardeen solution have been discussed graphically for both noncommutative and commutative spaces. Graphs show that the commutative coordinates extrapolate all such quantities (except temperature) for a given set of parameters. It is interesting to mention here that these sets of parameters provide the singularity (essential for $r_h>0$) and horizon ($f(r_h)=0$ for $r_h>0$) for the black hole solution in noncommutative space, while for commutative space no such quantity exists.Comment: 17 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Canadian J. Physic

The Experience of International Students and Institutional Recommendations: A Comparison Between the Students From the Developing and Developed Regions

Prior studies on the experiences of international students in China have mostly focused on their academic, sociocultural, and accommodation experiences. Hence, student health and safety, discrimination, and the services by the International Student Office (ISO) have remained unexplored. Moreover, due to the motivational differences between the students from developing and developed regions, a study that samples students from both regions may depict an exact picture of the experience of international students. Therefore, the objective of this study is to examine the influence of the dimensions (including those dimensions that have been ignored) of the experience of international students on their satisfaction. In addition, we make recommendations regarding Chinese institutes for future students based on a comparison between the students from developing and developed regions. Using hierarchical regression analysis, this study reveals that educational and non-educational experiences vary among students from different regions. Therefore, based on developing (e.g., Asia and Africa) and developed (e.g., America, Europe, and Australia) regions, important recommendations are discussed regarding how educational institutions and the Chinese government could best allocate resources and introduce policies to improve the experience of international students

Free vibration of symmetric angly-plane layered truncated conical shells under classical theory

Truncated conical shell finds wide ranging of engineering applications. They are used in space crafts, robots, shelters, domes, tanks, nozzles and in machinery devices. Thus, the study of their vibrational characteristics has long been of interest for the designers. The use of the lamination for the structures leads to design with the maximum reliability and minimum weight. Moreover, the study of free vibration of laminated conical shells has been treated by a number of researchers. Irie et al. (1982) studied free vibration of conical shells with variable thickness using Rayleigh-Ritz method of solution. Wu and Wu (2000) provided 3D elasticity solutions for the free vibration analysis of laminated conical shells by an asymptotic approach. Wu and Lee (2001) studied the natural frequencies of laminated conical shells with variable stiffness using the differential quadrature method under first-order shear deformation theory (FSDT). Tripathi et al. (2007) studied the free vibration of composite conical shells with random material properties of the finite element method. Civalek (2007) used the Discrete Singular Convolution (DSC) to investigate the frequency response of orthotropic conical and cylindrical shells. Sofiyez et al. (2009) studied the vibrations of orthotropic non-homogeneous conical shells with free boundary conditions. Ghasemi et al. (2012) presented their study of free vibration of composite conical shells which was investigated under various boundary conditions using the solution of beam function and Galerkin method. Viswanathan et al. (2007, 2011) studied free vibration of laminated cross-ply plates, including shear deformation, symmetric angle-ply laminated cylindrical shells of variable thickness with shear deformation theory using the spline collocation method. In the present work, free vibration of symmetric angle-ply laminated truncated conical shells is analyzed and displacement functions are approximated using cubic and quantic spline and collocation procedure is applied to obtain a set of field equations. The field equations along with the equations of boundary conditions yield a system of homogeneous simultaneous algebraic equations on the assumed spline coefficients which resulting to the generalized eigenvalue problem. This eigenvalue problem is solved using eigensolution technique to get as many eigenfrequencies as required. The effect of circumferential mode number, length ratio, cone angle, ply angles and number of layers under two boundary conditions on the frequency parameter is studied for three- and five- layered conical shells consisting of two types of layered materials