Puzzle-Based Learning for Cyber Security Education

Puzzle-based learning has proven to result in a better STEM learning environment in mathematics, physics, and computer science. However, no significant work has been done in computer and cyber security, only the idea of using puzzles to teach cyber security has only been introduced very recently. We introduce two different puzzle designs, truth table based and decision tree based. In both cases participants have to make decisions according to their knowledge and scenario. We conducted some informal surveys and believe that such interactive learning will help students to understand complex cyber-attack paths and countermeasures for fraud detection, cybercrime, and advanced persistent threats (APTs). Participants will learn not only to protect a specific system but also an entire class of systems with different hardware/software components and architectures, providing similar service. The survey result shows that the puzzle-based learning method has been beneficial for the students towards their learning

Behavioural shift of estuarine mudcrab as biomarker of arsenic exposure in Sundarbans estuary of West Bengal

Mudcrab Scylla serrata (Crustacea: Decapoda) in an ecologically and economically important species of Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve was studied for its behaviour under the exposure of toxic arsenic - a common xenobiotic of this area. The behavioural profile of aquatic animals exposed to diverse toxicants are considered as an index to estimate the degree and nature of stress experienced by the animals both in nature and in experimental conditions. Present investigation involved study of selected behavioural shift of S. serrata under the sublethalconcentrations of 1, 2 and 3 ppm of sodium arsenite for 1, 2, 3 and 4 days in controlled laboratory condition. Exposure to arsenic resulted an appearance of selected abnormal behavioural manifestation including tendency of avoidance, hypersecretion of mucoid element and release of excess excretory products. Toxin induced alteration of studied behaviour is indicative to possible shift in the overall physiological functions and biological activities of this important species in its natural habitat. Chronic exposure to 3 ppm of sodium arsenite for 30 days may lead to decline this economically important species in Sundarbans Biosphere Reserve

Effect of solubilization technique on dissolution

More than 40 percent of newly discovered drugs have little or  no water solubility thus the present research aimed at the study of improvement of solublisation on dissolution by addition of different solublising agents and modification of methods. Irbesartan is the drug of choice. Effect of Solubility on dissolution was studied with some solubilizing agents like β-Cyclodextrins, PEG-6000, Polysorbate-80, Cremophore and Resins (Doshion). It was seen that Irbesartan give 90 percent release in 1hr with polysorbate-80 where cremophore containing tablets showed 97 % release in 1 hr in case of solid dispersion technique and in case of complexation technique respectively. Thus the present study concluded that, dissolution rate of poorly soluble drug can be increases by using solubilizing agent as well as using different technique

Algorithm based new Tone Reservation method for mitigating PAPR in OFDM systems

There are abundant methods to mitigate PAPR in OFDM signals among which algorithm based tone reservation is of great popularity owing to its low complexity as well as decent BER. Here we have put forward a new distinct algorithm based Tone Reservation technique which is not only less complex and calculates its own threshold as well as PRT signal (unlike other algorithms requiring predetermined threshold and PRT) but also aptly modifies the data by bit by bit comparison with a modified copy of itself (algorithm modified) thus scaling the peaks as and providing a decent BER and good PAPR reduction.

Mechanistic-empirical Design of Perpetual Road Pavement Using Strain-based Design Approach

Present paper deals with the development of a Mechanistic-Empirical model of the strain-based design of perpetual road pavement using Odemark's principle. The bituminous pavement which can withstand minimum design traffic of 300 msa has been classified as perpetual pavement in this paper. The pavement has been considered as a three-layered system with a top layer of bituminous mix followed by unbound granular materials which rest on soil subgrade. The constituent bituminous layer thickness in the pavement has been determined by limiting the radial tensile strain at the bottom of the bituminous layer against fatigue and the vertical compressive strain at the top of the subgrade against rutting. The allowable strain against rutting and fatigue has been used in the present analysis from mechanistic-empirical correlations recommended in IRC:37-2018. The pavement section has been transformed into a homogeneous system by Odemark's method for application of Boussinesq's theory. To validate the thickness of the perpetual pavement, the strain at different layer interfaces in the pavement was compared using IITPAVE software, which shows the pavement section using present method is safe against rutting but marginally fails under fatigue. Moreover, conventional pavement thickness obtained using IRC:37-2018 were compared with the present method, which shows reasonably good convergence. It has been found that the bituminous layer thickness in a layered system of pavement seems to be more sensitive to fatigue than rutting. In this backdrop, modified fatigue and rutting strain values have been recommended for the design of perpetual road pavement

Isolation, detection, and quantification of hydrolyzable tannins of the biosynthetic pathway by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry

RATIONALEHydrolyzable tannins (HTs) are widely distributed complex secondary metabolites with potential bioactivities and health‐promoting benefits. A highly sensitive compound‐specific UHPLC/MS/MS method is required for their successful detection and quantification in order to advance the study of HTs.METHODSIn this study, 36 HTs belonging to the HT biosynthetic pathway covering 13 major branches were extracted by cold extraction and fractioned by Sephadex LH‐20 size exclusion chromatography. Followed fractionation, the HTs were purified by semipreparative HPLC so that they could be used for the development of a UHPLC/QqQ‐MS/MS multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) method for their characterization. The cone voltage and collision energy for each HT were extensively optimized during the development of the MRM method.RESULTSThe developed method was very useful for the detection and quantification of marker tannins with a low limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ), depending on the size and complexity of the structures of HTs. Each isolated compound was successfully identified and characterized by UHPLC/ESI‐Orbitrap‐MS/MS analysis. In addition, a new methodology for cold extraction and fractionation by Sephadex LH‐20 chromatography has been developed for the targeted extraction of HTs.CONCLUSIONSThis study has provided a compound‐specific MRM method for the detection and quantification of representative HTs from the diverse phytochemical samples, with higher sensitivity than the existing group‐specific MRM method.</p

Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) Promoter Polymorphisms are Well Linked with Lower Stomach Tumor Formation in Eastern Indian Population

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), an interstitial collagenase, plays a major role in cellular invasion during development of gastric cancer, a leading cause of death worldwide. A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 21607 1G/2G site of the MMP-1 gene promoter has been reported to alter transcription level. While the importance’s of other SNPs in the MMP-1 promoter have not yet been studied in gastric cancer, our aim was to investigate MMP-1 gene promoter polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility in eastern Indian population. A total of 145 gastric cancer patients and 145 healthy controls were genotyped for MMP-1 21607 1G/2G (rs1799750) by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), while MMP-1 2519 A/G (rs1144393), MMP-1 2422 T/A (rs475007), MMP-1 2340 T/C (rs514921) and MMP-1 2320 T/C (rs494379) were genotyped by DNA sequencing. A positive association was found with MMP-1 2422 T/A SNP that showed significant risk for regional lymph node metastasis (P = 0.021, Odd’s ratio (OR) = 3.044, Confidence intervals (CI) = 1.187– 7.807). In addition, we found a significant association with lower stomach tumor formation among gastric cancer patients for three adjacent polymorphisms near the transcriptional start sites of [MMP-1 2422 T/A (P = 0.043, OR = 2.182, CI = 1.03– 4.643), MMP-1 2340 T/C (P = 0.075, OR = 1.97, CI = 0.94–4.158) and MMP-1 2320 T/C (P = 0.034, OR = 2.224, CI = 1.064– 40731)]. MMP-1 level in patients’ serum was correlated with MMP-1 promoter haplotypes conferring these three SNPs to evaluate the functional importance of these polymorphisms in lower stomach tumor formation and significant correlation was observed. Furthermore, MMP-1 2519 A/G polymorphism displayed poor cellular differentiation (P = 0.024, OR = 3.8, CI = 1.69–8.56) attributing a higher risk of cancer progression.In conclusion, MMP-1 proximal promoter SNPs are associated with the risk of lower stomach tumor formation and node metastasis in eastern Indian population

Formulation and evaluation of enteric coated microcapsules of diclofenac sodium for modified release by combination of wet granulation and thermal change method

The purpose of the present work was to develop optimized novel enteric microcapsules containing diclofenac sodium, a non steroidal anti inflammatory drug (NSAID) used for rheumatoid arthritis, for improved delivery and to diminish its adverse effect after oral administration. The microcapsule was prepared by using different polymers and the enteric coating was provided by using an innovative technique combining wet granulation method and thermal change method. This work also investigated different levels of enteric polymers like cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP) (X1) and ethyl cellulose (EC) (X2) and the stirring speed during coating ethyl cellulose (X3), by using 23 full factorial design. The dependent variables assessed were % yield (Y1), Q8 (% drug released after 8 hour) (Y2), n (Diffusion coefficient) (Y3), DEE (Drug entrapment efficiency) (Y4). The main effect and interaction terms were quantitatively evaluated using a mathematical model. The prepared microcapsules were evaluated for percentage drug dissolved, scanning electron microscopy, drug excipient interaction, angle of repose, particle size. Mean dissolution time (MDT) was used to compare dissolution patterns obtained. The results showed that X1 and X2 significantly affected the release properties