Application of Artificial Neural Network for Analysis of Self-Excited Induction Generator

It is observed that conventional techniques to analyse the steady state analysis of Self-Excited Induction Generator (SEIG) involve cumbersome mathematical procedures. In this paper an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technique has been used to analyse the behaviour of Self-Excited Induction Generator, which does not require rigorous modelling as required in conventional techniques. Proposed Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been implemented to predict the effect of speed, capacitance and load on generated voltage and frequency of SEIG. Experimental data is used for the training of ANN. Results obtained from the trained ANN are found to be in close agreement with the experimental results.Facultad de Informátic

Method validation and monitoring of emamectin benzoate in mature banana fruit with peel and pulp through Liquid chromatography-Mass spectrometry/ Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)

Emamectin benzoate has been frequently used in the banana ecosystem to combat the damage of pseudostem weevil. Therefore, the present study was conducted to validate the method, to assess harvest time residues and monitor emamectin benzoate residues in mature banana peel and pulp samples through LC-MS/MS. The validated method was used to determine emamectin benzoate residue in market banana samples. The study used Waters Alliance LC and Acquity TQD with an electrospray ionization interface in the positive ion mode. An isocratic flow of 0.1% formic acid (HCOOH) in water and 0.1% HCOOH in acetonitrile (CH3CN) was utilised for separation. CH3CN was utilised to extract emamectin benzoate residue from the samples, and a dispersive solid-phase extraction technique was used for subsequent cleanup. Linearity tests were performed with standard solutions containing 0.01 to 0.1 g mL-1, with three replicates for each concentration. For mature banana peel & pulp and mature banana pulp matrices, satisfactory recoveries of 79.85 to 95.09% and 89.20 to 100.94%, respectively and high precision relative standard deviations of 0.56 to 2.34% and 2.33 to 6.88%, respectively were obtained. For mature banana (peel and pulp, pulp alone) fruits, the lower detection and quantification limits were (0.003, 0.008), and (0.002, 0.007). The validated approach was utilised to analyse mature banana fruit samples obtained from emamectin benzoate treated fields and banana samples purchased from the local market.  Results showed satisfactory validation of parameters like linearity, the limit of detection and quantification, and recovery for determining emamectin benzoate residues in banana fruit

V496 Scuti: An Fe II nova with dust shell accompanied by CO emission

We present near-infrared and optical observations of the nova V496 Scuti 2009 covering various phases - pre-maximum, early decline and nebular - during the first 10 months of its discovery followed by limited observations in early part of 2011 April. The spectra follow the evolution of the nova when the lines had strong P Cygni profiles to a phase dominated by prominent emission lines. The notable feature of the near-IR spectra in the early decline phase is the rare presence of first overtone bands of carbon monoxide in emission. Later about 150 days after the peak brightness the IR spectra show clear dust formation in the expanding ejecta. Dust formation in V496 Sct is consistent with the presence of lines of elements with low ionization potentials like Na and Mg in the early spectra and the detection of CO bands in emission. The light curve shows a slow rise to the maximum and a slow decline indicating a prolonged mass loss. This is corroborated by the strengthening of P Cygni profiles during the first 30 days. In the spectra taken close to the optical maximum brightness, the broad and single absorption component seen at the time of discovery is replaced by two sharper components. During the early decline phase two sharp dips that show increasing outflow velocities are seen in the P Cygni absorption components of Fe II and H I lines. The spectra in 2010 March showed the onset of the nebular phase. Several emission lines display saddle-like profiles during the nebular phase. In the nebular stage the observed fluxes of [O III] and H-beta lines are used to estimate the electron number densities and the mass of the ejecta. The optical spectra show that the nova evolved in the P_fe A_o spectral sequence. The physical conditions in the ejecta are estimated. The absolute magnitude and the distance to the nova are estimated to be M_V = -7.0 +/- 0.2 and d = 2.9 +/- 0.3 kpc respectively.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures and 6 Tables, Accepted for Publication in MNRA

Antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antiinvasive activities of biopolyphenolics

A large number of polyphenolic and heterocyclic compounds, i.e. 4-methylcoumarins, 4-methylthionocoumarins, xanthones, pyrazoles, pyrazolylacrylonitriles, flavones and isoflavones have been tested for their antioxidant activity towards NADPH-catalysed liver-microsomal lipid peroxidation with a view to establish their structure-activity relationship. Inhibition of microsomal lipid peroxidation by 7,8-dihydroxy-4-methylcoumarin (DHMC, 2) and 7,8-diacetoxy-4-methylcoumarin (DAMC, 3) was intriguing. We also found that dihydroxy and diacetoxy derivatives of 4-methylthionocoumarin were more potent in comparison to the corresponding coumarin derivatives in inhibiting TNF-α induced expression of ICAM-1. The effect of nine different xanthones has been examined on the modulation of cytokine-induced expression of ICAM-1 in human endothelial cells. 1,4-Dihydroxyxanthone (10) showed enhanced antioxidant activity as well as the inhibition of the expression of cell adhesion molecules, such as ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin on endothelial cells in a concentration and time dependent manner. Antioxidant activity of different pyrazoles and pyrazolylacrylonitriles and antiinvasive activity of flavones and isoflavones against solid tumors have also been studied

Application of Artificial Neural Network for Analysis of Self-Excited Induction Generator

It is observed that conventional techniques to analyse the steady state analysis of Self-Excited Induction Generator (SEIG) involve cumbersome mathematical procedures. In this paper an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technique has been used to analyse the behaviour of Self-Excited Induction Generator, which does not require rigorous modelling as required in conventional techniques. Proposed Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model has been implemented to predict the effect of speed, capacitance and load on generated voltage and frequency of SEIG. Experimental data is used for the training of ANN. Results obtained from the trained ANN are found to be in close agreement with the experimental results.Facultad de Informátic

Effect of natural ageing on biochemical changes in relation to seed viability in okra(Abelmoschus esculentus)

Effect of natural ageing on various storage enzymes, viz. peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) content and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) were studied during storage of seed in relation to seed viability and germination on three cultivars of okra, viz. ArkaAnamika, HisarUnnat and VarshaUphar. The present investigation revealed that the level of various enzymes have been studied so as to find the exact cause of seed deterioration. The activities of peroxidase, catalse, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and dehydrogenase activity (DHA) decreased whereas, malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased as the ageing period progressed in all the varieties. The cultivar VarshaUphar recorded higher activities of peroxidase, catalase, SOD and DHA and lower in MDA content among all the cultivars at the end of the storage period. In natural aged seed lot catalase and peroxidase activities decreased as the ageing progressed in all the three varieties, the rate of decreasing of both the enzymes activity was higher after 14 months of storage. Dehydrogenase activity was maximum up to 14 months of storage and after that it declined in terms of absorbance among all the varieties. It decreased at faster rate after 18 months of storage. During natural ageing no major changes in protein spectrum were recorded. No significant differences were observed in banding pattern of soluble proteins during ambient storage in all the three varieties. the germinability/viability of the seeds decreased as the ageing period progressed as a result of decreased in peroxidase, catalase, SOD and DHA activity and increased in MDA content in all the three varieties of okra

Advances in Developing Therapies to Combat Zika Virus: Current Knowledge and Future Perspectives

Zika virus (ZIKV) remained largely quiescent for nearly six decades after its first appearance in 1947. ZIKV reappeared after 2007, resulting in a declaration of an international “public health emergency” in 2016 by the World Health Organization (WHO). Until this time, ZIKV was considered to induce only mild illness, but it has now been established as the cause of severe clinical manifestations, including fetal anomalies, neurological problems, and autoimmune disorders. Infection during pregnancy can cause congenital brain abnormalities, including microcephaly and neurological degeneration, and in other cases, Guillain-Barré syndrome, making infections with ZIKV a substantial public health concern. Genomic and molecular investigations are underway to investigate ZIKV pathology and its recent enhanced pathogenicity, as well as to design safe and potent vaccines, drugs, and therapeutics. This review describes progress in the design and development of various anti-ZIKV therapeutics, including drugs targeting virus entry into cells and the helicase protein, nucleosides, inhibitors of NS3 protein, small molecules, methyltransferase inhibitors, interferons, repurposed drugs, drugs designed with the aid of computers, neutralizing antibodies, convalescent serum, antibodies that limit antibody-dependent enhancement, and herbal medicines. Additionally, covalent inhibitors of viral protein expression and anti-Toll-like receptor molecules are discussed. To counter ZIKV-associated disease, we need to make rapid progress in developing novel therapies that work effectually to inhibit ZIKV

Production of Pectinase from Bacillus sonorensis MPTD1

U radu je ispitanaproizvodnja pektinaze na podlozi s agarom s pomoću sedam sojeva bakterija izoliranih iz pokvarenog voća i povrća. Najučinkovitiji soj, MPTD1, identificiran je kao soj bakterije Bacillus sonorensis. Primjenom Plackett-Burman i Box-Behnken statističkih planova optimirani su različiti parametri, te je utvrđeno da udjeliekstrakta kvasca, K2HPO4,NaNO3i KCl te vrijeme inkubacije negativno utječu na proizvodnju pektinaze. Najveća postignuta aktivnost enzima bila je 2,43 (μM/mL)/min. U ovom je radu po prvi put opisana proizvodnja pektinaze s pomoću bakterije Bacillus sonorensis.Seven isolates from spoiled fruits and vegetables were screened for pectinase produc¬tion using pectin agar plates and the most efficient bacterial strain, MPTD1, was identified as Bacillus sonorensis. Optimisation of various process parameters was done using Plack¬ett-Burman and Box-Behnken designs and it was found that parameters like yeast extract, K2HPO4, incubation time, NaNO3 and KCl have a negative impact on pectinase production. Parameters like pH and MgSO4 and pectin mass fractions have a positive impact on pecti¬nase production. The maximum obtained enzyme activity was 2.43 (μM/mL)/min. This is the first report on pectinase production by Bacillus sonorensis

Plasmon-mediated, highly enhanced photocatalytic degradation of industrial textile dyes using hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods

Hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell heterojunction nanorods were synthesized using a novel, facile two-step process based on hydrothermal and seed mediated growth techniques. The material was characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), room temperature photoluminescence spectroscopy (RTPL), Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods were comprised of one-dimensional (1D) ZnO nanorods serving as a core material, over which surface-doped Ag nanoclusters (2.5 nm) were anchored as a heterogeneous shell. The presence of oxygen vacancies and Zn interstitials were confirmed by RTPL and Raman spectroscopic analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the hybrid ZnO@Ag core–shell nanorods was studied in comparison to bare ZnO nanorods using standard R6G dye and industrial textile dyes such as Congo red and Amido black 10B under UV and visible light (solar) irradiations. Moreover, the material was tested for real time industrial textile effluents under ambient conditions and was found to be highly efficient. The enhanced photocatalytic property observed for ZnO@Ag hybrid core–shell nanorods is attributed to a phenomenal increase in oxygen related defects in the core that generate photo-induced charge carriers and the presence of plasmonic Ag nanoclusters in the shell, which act as a sink for the photo-induced charge carriers