A Grid-Enabled Infrastructure for Resource Sharing, E-Learning, Searching and Distributed Repository Among Universities

In the recent years, service-based approaches for sharing of data among repositories and online learning are rising to prominence because of their potential to meet the requirements in the area of high performance computing. Developing education based grid services and assuring high availability reliability and scalability are demanding in web service architectures. On the other hand, grid computing provides flexibility towards aggregating distributed CPU, memory, storage, data and supports large number of distributed resource sharing to provide the full potential for education like applications to share the knowledge that can be attainable on any single system. However, the literature shows that the potential of grid resources for educational purposes is not being utilized yet. In this paper, an education based grid framework architecture that provides promising platform to support sharing of geographically dispersed learning content among universities is developed. It allows students, faculty and researchers to share and gain knowledge in their area of interest by using e-learning, searching and distributed repository services among universities from anywhere, anytime. Globus toolkit 5.2.5 (GTK) software is used as grid middleware that provides resource access, discovery and management, data movement, security, and so forth. Furthermore, this work uses the OGSA-DAI that provides database access and operations. The resulting infrastructure enables users to discover education services and interact with them using the grid portal

A reliable cross layer routing scheme (CL-RS) for wireless sensor networks to prolong network lifetime

Design of conventional protocols for wireless sensor networks(WSN) are mainly based on energy management. The solutions for layered protocol of the WSN network are inefficient as sensors network mainly delivers real-time content thus, cross layer communication between layers of the protocol stack is highly required. In this paper, a reliable cross layer routing scheme (CL - RS) is proposed to balance energy to achieve prolonged lifetime through controlled utilization of limited energy. CL - RS considers 2 adjacent layers namely, MAC layer and network layer. Optimization issues are identified in these two layers and solutions are provided to reduce energy consumption thereby increasing network lifetime. To achieve higher energy efficiency MAC layer protocols compromise on packet latency. It is essential to attempt reduce the end-to-end delay and energy consumption using low duty cycle cross layer MAC (CL-MAC). The joint optimization design is formulated as a linear programming problem. The network is partitioned into four request zones to enable increase in network performance by using an appropriate duty cycle and routing scheme. We demonstrate by simulations that the strategy designed by combining (CL - RS) and (CL-MAC) algorithms at each layer significantly increases the network lifetime and a relation exists between the network lifetime maximization and the reliability constraint. We evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme under different scenarios using ns-2. Experimental results shows that proposed scheme outperforms the layered AODV in terms of packet loss ratio, end-to-end delay, control overhead and energy consumption

Effect of chemically modified Vulcan XC-72R on the performance of air-breathing cathode in a single-chamber microbial fuel cell

The catalytic activity of modified carbon powder (VulcanXC-72R) for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an air-breathingcathode of amicrobialfuelcell (MFC) has been investigated. Chemical modification was carried out by using various chemicals, namely 5% nitric acid, 0.2 N phosphoric acid, 0.2 N potassium hydroxide and 10% hydrogen peroxide. Electrochemical study was performed for ORR of these modified carbon materials in the buffer solution pH range of 6–7.5 in the anodic compartment. Although, these treatments influenced the surface properties of the carbon material, as evident from the SEM-EDX analysis, treatment with H2PO4, KOH, and H2O2 did not show significant activity during the electrochemical test. The HNO3 treated Vulcan demonstrated significant ORR activity and when used in the single-chamber MFC cathode, current densities (1115 mA/m2, at 5.6 mV) greater than those for a Pt-supported un-treated carbon cathode were achieved. However, the power density for the latter was higher. Such chemicallymodified carbon material can be a cheaper alternative for expensive platinum catalyst used in MFC cathode construction

A pre-emptive multiple queue based congestion control for different traffic classes in WSN

Traffic in wireless sensor networks (WSN) exhibits a many-to-one pattern in which multiple source nodes send sensing data to a single sink node. Since bandwidth, processor and memory are highly constrained in WSN, packet loss is common when a great deal of traffic rushes to sink. The system must provide differentiated service to individual traffic classes. In this paper, a pre-emptive multiple queue based congestion control mechanism is proposed. To detect congestion and to provide QoS for high priority traffic multiple buffers are used. Using this mechanism, high system utilization, reduced packet waiting time, and reduced packet drop probability are achieved. An analytical model is developed to predict the performance of the proposed mechanism by calculating the performance measures including system throughput, drop probability of packets, and mean queue length. By comparing analytical and simulation results the effectiveness and accuracy of the model is demonstrated. Markovian process is used to develop the analytical model and ns-2 for evaluating the performance of the mechanism

Phytochemistry and medicinal potential of the Terminalia bellirica Roxb. (Bahera)

Terminalia bellirica Roxb., known as Bahera or Beleric or bastard myrobalan, belonging to the family Combretaceae of order Rosales, is a large deciduous tree common on plains and lower hills in Southeast Asia where it is also grown as an avenue tree. Glucoside, tannins, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ethyl galate, gallyl glucose, chebulanic acid are the main active phytoconstituents of medicinal importance. These phytoconstituents are responsible for many of the pharmacological roles. Different parts of the tree have various medicinal activities viz., antisecretory, analgesic, antihypertensive, antidiarrhoeal activity, antimicrobial activity antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiulcer, antipyretic, hepatoprotective, anticancer, angiogenesis, antidepressant-like and anti-urolithiatic activity. This affects the LDL oxidation and macrophage inflammatory response and also nephrotoxic effects. Also having antipsychotic potential helpful in preventing delaying clot formation and have immunostimulant activity. Their traditional uses include relief in a cough, asthma, indigestion, dental problems, sore throat and wounds. The review also records some tissue culture investigations made for micropropagation and genetic diversity of T. bellirica

Management Disclosures on Internal Control in Annual Reports- A Study on Banking Sector: Bangladesh Perspective

Even though no regulations require, public limited companies include management reports regarding internal controls in annual reports. Accountants and auditors are in a good position to suggest what degree of reporting is appropriate as they are directly involved in auditing financial statements and reviewing internal controls. This is a unique opportunity for management to discuss issues and concerns not communicated elsewhere in the annual report. From the very beginning there is a growing consensus as to what the content should include: financial statement presentation; purpose, nature and components of internal controls; roles of internal audit, independent auditor and audit committee. A significant number of companies studied acknowledge that “the systems are designed to provide only a reasonable assurance of meeting stated objectives.” If independent auditor’s attestation of such management reports were required; such a mandate would have a significant impact on roles of both the independent auditor and management

Impact of WTO on Potato Export from India

Attempts are being made to export potatoes from India since 1970s but the quantities exported have been negligible and variable in spite of the fact that Indian potatoes are technically excellent and moderately export competitive. With the liberalization of Indian economy and establishment of WTO it was expected that the WTO regime would increase the price level in the international market due to implementation of proposed heavy cut in agricultural subsidies by the developed countries and hence the export of potatoes from India may get a boost. Under this backdrop, the study has ascertained the effect of establishment of WTO on export of potatoes from India. The study has indicated a declining export competitiveness of Indian potatoes in the post-WTO era, which requires immediate attention of policymakers as well as researchers in India to improve the export competitiveness by increasing the productivity and decreasing the cost of production. A need has been emphasized on giving some export incentives and easing some of the major infrastructural bottlenecks. Frozen-potatoes export from India had depicted competitiveness in the post-WTO era which can be encouraged to capture the fast expanding market of the product. The potato export from India can be made stable by either encouraging big export houses in the potato export or establishing a “Potato Board†to look into various aspects of potato export from the country.Agricultural and Food Policy,

EFFECTIVENESS OF MUSTA-TAKRA BASTI IN THE MANAGEMENT OF ULCERATIVE COLITIS (PITTAJA GRAHANI) – A CASE REPORT

Ulcerative colitis is an idiopathic inflammatory bowel disease causing inflammation and ulcers in the rectum and colon. Ulcerative colitis affects approximately 5,00,000 individuals in US with an incidence of 8-12 per 1,00,000 population per year. It is manifested as ano-rectal bleeding with increased frequency of bowel evacuation, general debility. In the contemporary science treatment is Corticosteroids, 5-Aminosalicylates, Anti-TNF therapy which results in other complications and the disease may even relapse after a period of time. A 62 years old female Patient attended OPD with diffuse abdominal pain, loose stools 10-15 times a day with blood, debility and weight loss. Patient was known case of ulcerative colitis since 6 years receiving treatment from contemporary science but she was not getting any satisfactory relief. Patient was treated with the concept of Pittaja Grahani in Ayurveda. Objective: To improve the signs and symptoms of the ulcerative colitis, to prevent from all possible intestinal and extra-intestinal complications related to ulcerative colitis finally to cure the disease. Method: Musta-Takra Basti was administered for 16 days along with other Ayurvedic drugs and signs and symptoms were evaluated daily. Result: Patient responded well with much improvement in her general condition. Frequency of defecation is decreased, no bleeding per rectum and other signs and symptoms were relieved. Conclusion: This study can be useful for reducing the need of steroids and surgical procedures in the patient of ulcerative colitis Hence Ayurveda treatment can be a promising alternative, safe and convenient treatment in the management of Ulcerative colitis

Nitric acid activation of graphite granules to increase the performance of the non-catalyzed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) for MFC applications

Nitric acid and thermal activation of graphite granules were explored to increase the electrocatalytic performance of dissolved oxygen reduction at neutral pH for microbial fuel cell (MFC) applications. Electrochemical experiments showed an improvement of +400 mV in open circuit potential for graphite granules when they were activated. The improvement of ORR performance observed with activated granules was correlated to the increase of Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) surface of the activated material and the emergence of nitrogen superficial groups revealed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis on its surface. The use of activated graphite granules in the cathodic compartment of a dual-chamber MFC led to a high open circuit voltage of 1050 mV, which is among one of the highest reported so far. The stable performance of this cathode material (current density of 96 A m−3 at +200 mV/Ag–AgCl) over a period of 10 days demonstrated its applicability as a cathode material without any costly noble metal