GREEN SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES FROM WITHANIA SOMNIFERA (L.) DUNAL

The metal nanoparticle synthesis is highly explored the field of nanotechnology. The biological methods seem to be more effective because of slowreduction rate and polydispersity of the final products. The main aim of this study is too the rapid and simplistic synthesis of silver nanoparticlesby Withania somnifera Linn. at room temperature. The exposure of reaction mixtures containing silver nitrate and dried leaf powder of W. somniferaresulted in reduction of metal ions within 5 minutes. The extracellular synthesized silver nanoparticles were characterized by ultraviolet-visible,infrared (IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction studies, zeta potential, Fourier transform IR, and scanning electron microscopy. The antibacterial andantifungal studies showed significant activity as compared to their respective standards. From the results, W. somnifera sliver nanoparticle has attainedthe maximum antimicrobial against clinical pathogens and also seen very good stability of nanoparticle throughput processing. As we concluded, thistype of naturally synthesized sliver nanoparticle could be a better green revolution in medicinal chemistry.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Silver nanoparticles, Withania somnifera

Design and Implementation of Triple DES Encryption Scheme

The speed of exhaustive key searches against DES after 1990 began to cause discomfort amongst users of DES. However, users did not want to replace DES as it takes an enormous amount of time and money to change encryption algorithms that are widely adopted and embedded in large security architectures. The DES algorithm was replaced by the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). The pragmatic approach was not to abandon the DES completely, but to change the manner in which DES is used. DES is often used in conjunction with Triple DES. It derives from single DES but the technique is used in triplicate and involves three sub keys and key padding when necessary, such as instances where the keys must be increased to 64 bits in length. Known for its compatibility and flexibility, software can easily be converted for Triple DES inclusion. Therefore, it may not be nearly as obsolete as deemed by NIST. This led to the modified schemes of Triple DES (sometimes known as 3DES).3DES is a way to reuse DES implementations, by chaining three instances of DES with different keys. 3DES is believed to still be secure because it requires 2^112 brute-force operations which is not achievable with foreseeable technology. While AES is a totally new encryption that uses the substitution-permutation network, 3DES is just an adaptation to the older DES encryption that relied on the balanced Feistel network. But since it is applied three times, the implementer can choose to have 3 discrete 56 bit keys, or 2identical and 1 discrete, or even three identical keys. This means that 3DES can have encryption key lengths of 168, 112, or 56 bit encryption key lengths respectively. But due to certain vulnerabilities when reapplying the same encryption thrice, it leads to slower performance. In this paper we present a pipelined implementation in VHDL, in Electronic Code Book (EBC) mode, of this commonly used Cryptography scheme with aim to improve performance. We achieve a 48-stage pipeline depth by implementing a TDES key buffer and right rotations in the DES decryption key scheduler. We design and verify our implementation using ModelSim SE 6.3f and Xilinx ISE 8.1i. We gather cost and throughput information from the synthesis and Timing results and compare the performance of our design to common implementations presented in other literatures

Motivational factors towards fast-food joint selection in under-developed country setting: A Partial Least Square and Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach

The abrupt rise in the fast food business the world over calls for research attention to the phenomenon, especially, in underdeveloped and developing economies. Research is scanty regarding the phenomenon; especially what motivates patrons to select fast food joints in under developed economies such as Ghana. The study sought to ascertain the motivational factors that actuate (or stimulate) consumers' intent to select a fast-food joint in an under-developed country setting, particularly, in Ghana, a sub-Sahara African region. Additionally, the partial goal of this survey is to examine the mediating role of convenience (CONV), and taste and preference (TASPRE) given the indirect effect of traditional advertising communication medium (ACM); Radio/Tv and word-of-mouth. Using a quantitative research approach, a structured survey questionnaire was used to intercept buyers of fast-food at vantage points in the Cape Coast metropolis in the Central region of Ghana. A non-randomized sampling technique, precisely, the convenience sampling, was adopted to consider popular fast-food joints that aided the researchers to intercept customers/buyers for the study. Results from the application of partial least square and structural equation modelling (PL-SEM) of 305 valid responses revealed that the mediation (indirect) analysis supported all the mediate-hypotheses. The research implications and future study directions are discussed in the concluding part of the paper.Internal Grant Agency of FaME through Tomas Bata University in Zlin, Czech Republic [IGA/FaME/2019/008

Molybdenum status and critical limit in the soil for green gram (Vigna radiata) growing in Madurai and Sivagangai districts of Tamil Nadu, India

A survey was undertaken during 2008 to determine molybdenum (Mo) status of soils and to establish critical limits in soils of Madurai and Sivagangai districts of Tamil Nadu. A total of 202 surface soil samples were collected from 16 soil series of the study areas based on their percent coverage. The samples were analyzed for extractable or available Mo. Extractable Mo varied from 0.028 to 0.661 mg kg−1 and 0.035 to 0.961 mg kg−1 at Madurai and Sivagangai districts, respectively. Based on the results of a pot culture experiment, the critical limit of available Mo was determined to be 0.043 mg kg−1 for green gram [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] (Var; CO 6) in both the districts. Based on this critical limit, we classified the soils into three categories: (1) low: 0.082 mg kg−1. Green gram responded highly to Mo application in soils below the critical limit whereas soils with Mo greater than 0.082 mg kg−1 did not respond. Among rates of Mo application, 0.075 mg kg−1 showed better yield than others. Overall, 3–41% and 7–46% of total area in Madurai and Sivagangai districts were in the low to medium Mo status, respectively. The application of 0.075 mg of Mo kg−1 or 0.4 kg ha−1 as sodium molybdate was sufficient to optimize green gram yield in the major soil series of the districts. These results will be useful in decision-making to apply Mo for improving green gram yields in the two districts studied

Nitric oxide sensing in plants is mediated by proteolytic control of group VII ERF transcription factors

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important signaling compound in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. In plants, NO regulates critical developmental transitions and stress responses. Here, we identify a mechanism for NO sensing that coordinates responses throughout development based on targeted degradation of plant-specific transcriptional regulators, the group VII ethylene response factors (ERFs). We show that the N-end rule pathway of targeted proteolysis targets these proteins for destruction in the presence of NO, and we establish them as critical regulators of diverse NO-regulated processes, including seed germination, stomatal closure, and hypocotyl elongation. Furthermore, we define the molecular mechanism for NO control of germination and crosstalk with abscisic acid (ABA) signaling through ERF-regulated expression of ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE5 (ABI5). Our work demonstrates how NO sensing is integrated across multiple physiological processes by direct modulation of transcription factor stability and identifies group VII ERFs as central hubs for the perception of gaseous signals in plants

Effect of yoghurt containing Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12® on faecal excretion of secretory immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin 2 in healthy adult volunteers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Probiotics are used to provide health benefits. The present study tested the effect of a probiotic yoghurt on faecal output of beta-defensin and immunoglobulin A in a group of young healthy women eating a defined diet.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>26 women aged 18-21 (median 19) years residing in a hostel were given 200 ml normal yoghurt every day for a week, followed by probiotic yoghurt containing <it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®(10⁹in 200 ml) for three weeks, followed again by normal yoghurt for four weeks. Stool samples were collected at 0, 4 and 8 weeks and assayed for immunoglobulin A and human beta-defensin-2 by ELISA. All participants tolerated both normal and probiotic yoghurt well. Human beta-defensin-2 levels in faeces were not altered during the course of the study. On the other hand, compared to the basal sample, faecal IgA increased during probiotic feeding (P = 0.0184) and returned to normal after cessation of probiotic yoghurt intake.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p><it>Bifidobacterium lactis </it>Bb12^®increased secretory IgA output in faeces. This property may explain the ability of probiotics to prevent gastrointestinal and lower respiratory tract infections.</p

Yoga-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation After Acute Myocardial Infarction: A Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Given the shortage of cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs in India and poor uptake worldwide, there is an urgent need to find alternative models of CR that are inexpensive and may offer choice to subgroups with poor uptake (e.g., women and elderly). OBJECTIVES: This study sought to evaluate the effects of yoga-based CR (Yoga-CaRe) on major cardiovascular events and self-rated health in a multicenter randomized controlled trial. METHODS: The trial was conducted in 24 medical centers across India. This study recruited 3,959 patients with acute myocardial infarction with a median and minimum follow-up of 22 and 6 months. Patients were individually randomized to receive either a Yoga-CaRe program (n = 1,970) or enhanced standard care involving educational advice (n = 1,989). The co-primary outcomes were: 1) first occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (composite of all-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, or emergency cardiovascular hospitalization); and 2) self-rated health on the European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions-5 Level visual analogue scale at 12 weeks. RESULTS: MACE occurred in 131 (6.7%) patients in the Yoga-CaRe group and 146 (7.4%) patients in the enhanced standard care group (hazard ratio with Yoga-CaRe: 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71 to 1.15; p = 0.41). Self-rated health was 77 in Yoga-CaRe and 75.7 in the enhanced standard care group (baseline-adjusted mean difference in favor of Yoga-CaRe: 1.5; 95% CI: 0.5 to 2.5; p = 0.002). The Yoga-CaRe group had greater return to pre-infarct activities, but there was no difference in tobacco cessation or medication adherence between the treatment groups (secondary outcomes). CONCLUSIONS: Yoga-CaRe improved self-rated health and return to pre-infarct activities after acute myocardial infarction, but the trial lacked statistical power to show a difference in MACE. Yoga-CaRe may be an option when conventional CR is unavailable or unacceptable to individuals. (A study on effectiveness of YOGA based cardiac rehabilitation programme in India and United Kingdom; CTRI/2012/02/002408)

Removal of phosphate and nitrate from aqueous solution using seagrass Cymodocea rotundata beads

The aim of the present study was the removal of phosphate and nitrate by sodium alginate seagrass (Cymodocea rotundata) beads from aqueous solutions. The adsorption characteristics of phosphate and nitrate on the seagrass beads were optimized under different operational parameters like adsorbent dosage, initial concentration of phosphate and nitrate, retention time and pH. The results showed that 71% of phosphate and 62% of nitrate removal was obtained using this seagrass beads. It is concluded that seagrass beads is a relatively efficient, low cost and easily available adsorbent for the treatment of nutrients rich wastewater.Keywords: Biosorption, seagrass, Cymodocea rotundata, nutrients, beads.