Cross-Layer Design of Dynamic Link Prediction Power Control Algorithm in Wireless Ad hoc Networks

In wireless communication era, Dynamic Link Prediction based Cross-Layer Power Control Algorithm (DLP-CLPCA) in wireless ad hoc networks provides a joint solution for the power consumption protocol as well as nodes link availability.  The Conventional design of ad-hoc network protocols is built on the standard OSI model which has failed to relate with RSS problems, whereas the physical, datalink, network and transport layer has been influenced.  Due to this, the early unavailability of nodes occurs and frequent route break during the transmission. To overcome the constraint, developed the Dynamic Link Prediction based Cross-Layer Power Control Protocol to forecast the route earlier maximizes the link availability and create the optimum routing path during the transmission. The proposed link prediction algorithm is implemented in NS-2 simulator with the performance metrics as throughput, delay and energy consumption as a parameter values

Spectroscopic, thermal, second order and third order NLO studies of N, N’ -dimethyl urea crystal

Nonlinear optical (NLO) crystals are classified into organic, inorganic and semi organic crystals and these crystals are used in the fields of optical communication, optical computing, frequency doubling, optical data processing and opto electronics. In this work an organic NLO crystal namely DMU crystal was prepared. Slow evaporation technique was adopted to grow the single crystals of DMU after the growth period of 35 days. The harvested crystals have been subjected to various characterization techniques like XRD, FTIR, FT-Raman, TG/DTA, SHG, EDAX, impedance, optical and Z-scan studies. From the studies, is observed that DMU crystal has orthorhombic structure and it has the melting point at 105 oC and has the decomposition point at 275 oC. The relative SHG efficiency of DMU crystal was found to be more than one and third order NLO parameters were evaluated. The optical band gap of DMU crystal was found to be 5.008 eV.The results from various studies were analyzed.

Responses of metabolic enzymes (GOT, GPT and LDH) in an Indian major carp Cirrhinus mrigala exposed to titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods under short-term exposure

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles are extensively manufactured due to their potential properties and applications in various fields such as biomedical, electrical and environmental. These particles are likely to reach the aquatic environment and may cause adverse effects on aquatic organisms. In this study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations (1, 50 and 100 mg L-l) of TiO2 nanorods (NRs). The enzymatic activity of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was measured in the liver and muscle of an Indian major carp, Cirrhinus mrigala, under short-term exposure (96 h). The synthesised particles were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and photoluminescence (PL) techniques before conducting the toxicity assay. The GOT and GPT activities were significantly elevated in both liver and muscle of fish treated with TiO2 nanorods (except 50 mg L-l in muscle for GPT). Similarly, the activity of LDH was also found to be elevated. The findings of the present investigation suggest that TiO2:NRs might have be absorbed, circulated, accumulated in liver and muscles of C. mrigala resulting in alterations in the enzyme activities. The results revealed that TiO2 nanorods induced alterations in GOT, GPT and LDH activities of fish at tested concentrations. The alterations of these enzymatic parameters can be useful for monitoring the environmental contamination of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in freshwater ecosystem

Cytotoxic Effect and Antioxidant Activity of Bioassay-guided Fractions from Solanum nigrum Extracts

Purpose: To evaluate the cytotoxic effect and antioxidant activity of bioassay-guided fractions from Malaysian species of Solanum nigrum.Methods: Methanol leaf and ethanol fruit extracts of Solanum nigrum were subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation using column chromatography. The semi-purified fractions were investigated for their in vitro cytotoxic effect against various cancer cell lines using 3-(4, 5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and for antioxidant activity using 2, 2-diphenyl-1- picryhydrazyl (DPPH) assay.Results: From bioassay-guided fractionation, 13 and 17 fractions were obtained from the methanol leaf and ethanol fruit extracts, respectively. In MTT assay, fractions 1, 2 and 4 from methanol extract showed the highest cytotoxic effect against the cancer cells with IC50 of 13.0 μg/mL at 48 h incubation. For the ethanol extract, fractions 14 and 15 showed the highest cytotoxic effect with IC50 of 12.0 μg/mL against K-562 cells, while fractions 13, 14 and 17 showed IC50 of 13.0 μg/mL against HeLa cells. Doxorubicin hydrochloride and vinblastine sulfate inhibited the cancer cells with IC50 range of 1.3 to 17.0 μg/mL. The highest radical scavenging activity was exhibited by fraction 2 from methanol extract with ED50 value of 0.10 mg/ml, while fraction 15 from ethanol extract showed ED50 of 0.79 mg/mL. Ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol exhibited radical scavenging activity of 95.0 ± 0.01 % (ED50 = 0.05 mg/mL) and 93.0 ± 0.01 % (ED50 = 0.10 mg/mL), respectively.Conclusion: Solanum nigrum leaves and fruits are potential sources of cytotoxic and antioxidant agents.Keywords: Solanum nigrum, Cytotoxic Activity, Anti-oxidant Activity, Bioassay-guided Fractionation, Doxorubicin, Vinblastin

Radiobiological Evaluation of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy Treatments of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Dual-Institutional Study

In clinical practice, evaluation of clinical efficacy of treatment planning stems from the radiation oncologist\u27s experience in accurately targeting tumors, while keeping minimal toxicity to various organs at risk (OAR) involved. A more objective, quantitative method may be raised by using radiobiological models. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the potential correlation of OAR-related toxicities to its radiobiologically estimated parameters in simultaneously integrated boost (SIB) intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) plans of patients with head and neck tumors at two institutions. Lyman model for normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) and the Poisson model for tumor control probability (TCP) models were used in the Histogram Analysis in Radiation Therapy (HART) analysis. In this study, 33 patients with oropharyngeal primaries in the head and neck region were used to establish the correlation between NTCP values of (a) bilateral parotids with clinically observed rates of xerostomia, (b) esophagus with dysphagia, and (c) larynx with dysphagia. The results of the study indicated a strong correlation between the severity of xerostomia and dysphagia with Lyman NTCP of bilateral parotids and esophagus, respectively, but not with the larynx. In patients without complications, NTCP values of these organs were negligible. Using appropriate radiobiological models, the presence of a moderate to strong correlation between the severities of complications with NTCP of selected OARs suggested that the clinical outcome could be estimated prior to treatment

A model for interacting instabilities and texture dynamics of patterns

A simple model to study interacting instabilities and textures of resulting patterns for thermal convection is presented. The model consisting of twelve-mode dynamical system derived for periodic square lattice describes convective patterns in the form of stripes and patchwork quilt. The interaction between stationary zig-zag stripes and standing patchwork quilt pattern leads to spatiotemporal patterns of twisted patchwork quilt. Textures of these patterns, which depend strongly on Prandtl number, are investigated numerically using the model. The model also shows an interesting possibility of a multicritical point, where stability boundaries of four different structures meet.Comment: 4 pages including 4 figures, page width revise

Visual demands in primary school classrooms

Purpose To quantify the visual function requirements to perform in a primary school classroom setting. Methods 33 classrooms of Years 5 and 6 (children aged 10-12 years) from 8 schools were included. The classroom activities undertaken for a full day (9am-3pm) were observed and a range of measurements recorded; text size and contrast of learning materials, habitual working distances (distance and near) and time spent performing various classroom tasks. These measures were used to calculate demands for distance and near visual acuity, contrast and sustained use of accommodation and vergence. Results The minimum resolution requirements for distance and near were 0.3±0.1 and 0.7±0.1 logMAR (using maximum viewing distances and smallest target sizes). Mean contrast levels of learning materials at distance and near were >70% (an average contrast reserve of 25:1). Near tasks (47%) dominated the academic tasks performed in the classroom followed by distance (29%), distance to near (15%) and computer-based (9%). On average, children maintained continuous near fixation for 23.2±4.7 minutes at a time and during distance-near tasks performed fixation changes 10±0.9 times per minute. The mean habitual near working distance was 22.9±1.3 cm, which corresponds to a 4.4±0.2 D accommodative demand and the vergence demand was 0.9±0.1Δ at distance and 21.9±1.1 Δ at near assuming an average pupillary distance of 56 mm. Conclusions The visual demands placed on children in modern classrooms were greater than those reported for traditional classrooms, likely due to inclusion of modern technologies. Relatively high levels of visual acuity, contrast processing and sustained accommodative-convergence are required to perform optimally in the classroom environment. These findings are important for determining evidence-based prescribing guidelines and developing paediatric vision screening protocols and referral criterion

Research to develop Spiritual Pedagogy, Awareness and Change

This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in British Journal of Guidance and Counselling on 21-4-16, available online: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1174976A co-operative inquiry group consisting of 8 counsellors met for 11 months to explore their experience of spirituality in their counselling training and in their work with clients (Swinton, 2010; 2015). The aim was to explore whether spirituality was absent from the process of counselling training, specifically to discover (1) how counsellors perceived and described their experience of spirituality in their training and (2) with a view to developing spiritual pedagogy; how spirituality could be incorporated into the training process of practitioner

Congenital Middle Mesocolic Hernia: A Case Report

Internal hernia is herniation of a viscus, usually in the small bowel, through a normal or abnormal aperture within the peritoneal cavity. Its incidence has been reported to be 1–2 per cent. Internal hernias are classified based on location, and the hernial orifice can be either congenital or acquired. Paraduodenal hernias are the most common type (53 per cent). Paraduodenal hernia is often a misnomer and is referred to as a mesocolic hernia. Left and right mesocolic hernias are common, while middle and transverse types are rare. We are reporting a rare congenital middle mesocolic hernia presenting as a complete transection of the small intestine due to blunt injury to the abdomen