Complex interfacial and wetting dynamics

Consider interface evolution in bounded and unbounded settings, namely in the spreading of droplets and stratified gas-liquid flows. A typical prototype consists of the surface-tension-dominated motion of a two-dimensional droplet on a substrate. The case of chemically heterogeneous substrates was examined here. Assuming small slopes, a single evolution equation for the droplet free surface was derived from the Navier-Stokes equations, with the singularity at the contact line being alleviated using the Navier slip condition. The chemical nature of the substrate is incorporated into the system by local variations in the microscopic contact angle. By using the method of matched asymptotic expansions, the flow in the vicinity of the contact lines is matched to that in the bulk of the droplet to obtain a set of coupled ordinary differential equations for the location of the two contact points. The solutions obtained by asymptotic matching are in excellent agreement with the solutions to the full governing evolution equation. The dynamics of the droplet is examined in detail via a phase-plane analysis. A number of interesting features that are not present in homogeneous substrates are observed: multiple droplet equilibria, pinning of contact points on localised heterogeneities, unidirectional motion of droplet and the possibility of stick-slip behaviour of contact points. Unbounded gas-liquid flows are also often encountered in natural phenomena and applications. The prototypical system considered here consists of a liquid film flowing down an inclined planar substrate in the presence of a co-flowing turbulent gas. The gas and liquid problems are solved independently by making certain reasonable assumptions. The influence of gas flow on the liquid problem is analysed by developing a weighted integral-boundary-layer (WIBL) model, which is valid up to moderate Reynolds numbers. We seek solitary-wave solutions of this model using a pseudo-arclength continuation approach. As a general trend, it is found that the wave speed increases with increasing gas shear and the liquid flow rate. Further insight into the problem is provided by time-dependent computations of the WIBL model. Finally, the absolute-convective instability of a falling film that is in contact with a counter-current turbulent gas is analysed. The Orr--Sommerfeld (O-S) problem is formulated from the full governing equations and boundary conditions. The O-S problem along with low-dimensional models, namely, a long-wave and WIBL models are used to explore the linear stability of the gas-liquid system. It is found that for a fixed liquid Reynolds number, at low and high gas flow rates, the system is convectively unstable, and for a range of intermediate gas flow rates we have absolute instability. We supplemented our analysis by doing time-dependent computations of the linearised WIBL model subject to a localised initial condition which showed good agreement. The upper limit of the absolute instability regime predicted by our linear analysis is close to the flooding point obtained from the fully non-linear computations of the WIBL model.Open Acces

Studies on physicochemical and nutritional properties of aerial parts of Cassia occidentalis L.

AbstractIn the present, work chemical composition and nutritional value of aerial parts of Cassia occidentalis L. was studied. The aerial parts of C. occidentalis possess favorable physicochemical properties with good nutritional value, such as high energy value, crude fibers, and vitamin levels. The X-ray fluorescence spectrophotometry data revealed that the sample is rich in minerals, especially in Fe, Ca, K, and Mn. Further, minerals such as Mg, Zn, Cu, Na, P, and S are present in good amount and depicted the nutritional value of the selected material. The plant sample is rich in phytochemicals such as flavonoids, alkaloids, lignin, tannins, and phenols. The presence of phytochemical constituents was confirmed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry profile and high-performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting techniques. The findings stimulate the on-farm cultivation of C. occidentalis on a large scale to relieve the iron deficiency in local community, and it can be used as a dietary supplement to treat anemia

A Survey on Web Usage Mining

Now a day World Wide Web become very popular and interactive for transferring of information. The web is huge, diverse and active and thus increases the scalability, multimedia data and temporal matters. The growth of the web has outcome in a huge amount of information that is now freely offered for user access. The several kinds of data have to be handled and organized in a manner that they can be accessed by several users effectively and efficiently. So the usage of data mining methods and knowledge discovery on the web is now on the spotlight of a boosting number of researchers. Web usage mining is a kind of data mining method that can be useful in recommending the web usage patterns with the help of users2019; session and behavior. Web usage mining includes three process, namely, preprocessing, pattern discovery and pattern analysis. There are different techniques already exists for web usage mining. Those existing techniques have their own advantages and disadvantages. This paper presents a survey on some of the existing web usage mining techniques

IMMUNOMODULATORY EFFECTS OF HEMAGGLUTINATING LECTINS FROM POTATO (SOLANUM TUBEROSUM) AND GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) ON HUMAN AND MURINE LYMPHOCYTES

Objective: Potato (Solanum tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) are an important ubiquitously consumed dietary components and known to contain lectins, with potent and diverse biological functions. Present study aims to evaluate the mitogenicity and immunomodulatory potential of these lectins on human and murine lymphocytes.Methods: The lectin activity of raw and heat processed extracts along with purified proteins were confirmed by heamagglutination and glycoprotein binding assays. MTT assay employed to evaluate the mitogenic and cytotoxic potential. Nitric oxide and NBT assays were performed for NO and ROS induction from lymphocytes and macrophages respectively.Results: Raw and heat processed extracts of potato and garlic induced heamagglutination and demonstrated binding affinity to glycoproteins. Potato lectin was identified as pan agglutinin whereas garlic lectins, were blood group specific with differential glycan recognition. Garlic extracts and lectins (ASAs) exhibited a strong mitogenicity towards human and murine lymphocytes. The proliferation index for ASA I (70-75%) and ASA II (35-40%) are comparable to those of the reference mitogens. However, Potato extracts and lectin (STA) was non-mitogenic and found cytotoxic for both human and murine lymphocytes. Raw garlic extract showed a significant increase in ROS generation. Both potato and garlic lectins failed to induce ROS from macrophages and nitric oxide (NO) from human PBLs.Conclusions: Both potato and garlic lectins were capable of interacting with cell surface glycoproteins and it is evident that the garlic lectins have stimulatory effect whereas the potato lectin has an inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation. There by, study indicates that garlic lectins are mitogenic and co-mitogenic, whereas potato lectin is non-mitogenic or anti-mitogenic in nature.Â

Fuzzy Logic Based DSR Trust Estimation Routing Protocol for MANET Using Evolutionary Algorithms

In MANET attaining consistent routing is a main problem due to several reasons such as lack of static infrastructure, exposed transmission medium, energetic network topology and restricted battery power. These features also create the scheme of direction-finding protocols in MANETs become even more interesting. In this work, a Trust centered routing protocol is suggested, since trust plays a vital role in computing path in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Estimating and computing trust encourages cooperation in mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Various present grade systems suddenly estimate the trust by considering any one of the parameters such as energy of node, number of hops and mobility. Estimating trust is an Energetic multi objective optimization problem (EMOPs) typically including many contradictory goals such as lifetime of node, lifetime of link and buffer occupancy proportion which change over time. To solve this multi objective problem, a hybrid Harmony Search Combined with Genetic algorithm and Cuckoo search is used along with reactive method Dynamic Source routing protocol to provide the mobile hosts to find out and sustain routes between the origin node (SN) to the target node (TN). In this work, the performance of the direction-finding practice is assessed using throughput, end to end delay, and load on the network and route detection period

Nutritional quality, phytochemical composition and health protective effects of an under-utilized prickly cactus fruit (Opuntia stricta Haw.) collected from Kenya

The cactus fruit belongs to the Cactaceae family and is native to the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, where the production of more succulent food plants is severely limited. Opuntia stricta Haw, fruits have recently invaded the harsh dry rangelands of the Laikipia Plateau of North-eastern Kenya. These cactus fruits contribute immensely to the nutrition and food security needs of humans living in Laikipia. Despite the health benefits of these fruits, the cactus plant faces the possibility of extinction due to adverse effects of the prickly fruit when ingested by the livestock belonging to the local communities in Laikipia. The present study, therefore, was designed to assess the chemical composition, bioactive compounds and their health promoting properties in Opuntia stricta cactus fruits. The results showed that the cactus pulp is a rich source of ascorbic acid (60 mg/100 g), minerals (622 mg/kg P, 12.8 mg/kg Ca, 38 mg/kg Fe and 91 mg/kg Na), and sugars (18.5 mg sucrose, 10.9 mg glucose and 6.9 mg fructose). The seeds contained significant amount of protein (4.13%), oil (11.5%), fibre (12.3%), βcarotene (56 µg/100 g) and total carotenoids (289 µg/100 g). The seed oil contained high levels of linoleic (70%), palmitic (12.5%) and stearic (12.3%) acids. The main fatty acids were linoleic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acids with high unsaturation level (83%). The principal amino acids in the fruits were arginine, tyrosine, glutamic acid, proline and aspartic acid. The cactus whole fruits exhibited remarkable levels of total phenols (1.6 g/100g), flavonoids (197 mg/100g), tannins (1.5 g/100g) and phytates (2.6 g/100g). The phytochemical extracts demonstrated high antioxidant activity in terms of FRAP assay (1.2-6.9 µg/mM Fe (II) reducing power) and DPPH assay (73-86%). The anti-diabetic effect of the extracts showed strong inhibition (> 50%) of α-glucosidase as compared to the α- amylase inhibition. Thus, consumption of O. stricta fruits could meet the key nutritional requirements and help to address the double burden of food insecurity and chronic diseases among communities living in the drylands of Kenya. The results of this study could help inform the public on the nutritional and health benefits of the Opuntia cactus fruit and address issues raised by the media on the possible eradication of cactus plants in Laikipia and other drylands regions of Kenya.Key words: Opuntia stricta, bioactive compounds, antioxidants, diabetes

De novo germ-line mutation of APC gene in periampullary carcinoma with familial adenomatous polyps – A novel familial case report in South India

AbstractPeriampullary carcinoma is a malignant tumour arising from the ampulla of vater. Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene has a key role in stabilizing β-catenin pathway, in which hypermethylation in APC gene could lead to proteasome degradation of β-catenin. The aim of this case report is to identify the APC gene mutation and its influence on β-catenin pathway in patient with periampullary carcinoma. A 51-year-old woman was diagnosed with yellow discolouration of sclera, passing deep yellow coloured urine and pruritus. A family history of ovarian cancer had been reported in her mother. Her radiological, pathological and laboratory examination confirmed periampullary carcinoma. She underwent whipple's pancreaticoduodenectomy, and the histopathology of the resected specimen showed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma involving the ampulla of vater. Further, the tumour region was subjected to genetic screening by polymerase chain reaction – restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), cytogenetic analyses such as karyotyping and immunohistochemical techniques. These results showed non-sense mutation in APC gene at codon 1309, chromosomal alterations at 5q21 and irregular accumulation of β-catenin in nuclear membrane. The family history revealed a strong association of ovarian cancer (maternal) with a similar APC gene mutation. We conclude that periampullary carcinoma patient exhibit FAP due to de novo germ-line mutation of APC gene that engenders an inactivation of β-catenine/TCF mediated transcription function, which is linked with a family history of ovarian cancer

Determination of In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Anti-Angiogenesis for a Bioactive Compound from Aspergillus terreus FC36AY1 Isolated from Aegle marmelos around Western Ghats, India

The biotechnological research mainly emphasis its investigation on searching new natural drugs at economical to human welfare. With this view in mind, this research has focused to develop a prospective bioactive compound isolating from an efficient endophytic fungus isolated from potential medicinal tree Aegle marmelos. The endophytic fungus was isolated from the medicinal tree and identified as Aspergillus terreus FC36AY1. This fungus produced maximum of crude metabolites and this was produced in Sabouraud’s Dextrose Broth. The produced metabolites were extracted using acetone as a sole solvent and it was taken for the assessment of antimicrobial and antioxidant analysis. The crude metabolites exhibited maximum activity at least concentration and further the crude extract were taken for purification processes through chromatographic techniques. Through purification, five different fractions were eluted and those five different fractions were also assessed for antimicrobial and antioxidant analysis. From these analysis results, TA4 was found to be efficient fraction and it was characterized through FT-IR, GC-MS and UV-VIS analysis. The compound was taken for cytotoxicity determination in HT-29 cancer cells and anti-angiogenesis analysis was assessed through HET-CAM testing. The bio-activities study revealed that the compound TA4 has the ability to target the cancer cells in an efficient manner

SPECTROPHOTOMETRIC, HPTLC AND GC-MS STUDIES ON SELECTED SPICE EXTRACTS

Objectives: The present work was carried out with a view to analyze the major phytochemical compounds of Indian spices, cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.), fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.). Methods: Hydro-alcoholic (30% ethanol in water, v/v) extracts were prepared from selected spices and analyzed for extract yield, loss on drying (LOD), pH and phytochemical compounds such as total alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids and tannins were quantified by spectrometric methods. High performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometer (GC-MS) techniques were employed to reveal the phytochemicals of selected spice extracts.Results: Hydro-alcoholic extracts from selected spices revealed the pH to be 5.36-5.62, loss on drying (12.54–15.41%) and extract yield (8.62–29.19%). Among the investigated samples, higher levels of alkaloids (2.032%) and tannins (0.809%) were found in fenugreek while fennel exhibited highest content of total phenolics (3.39%) and flavanoids (2.621%). The hydro-alcoholic extracts were subjected to HPTLC analysis and the results suggested the presence of three different major phytochemical compounds in cumin and fenugreek, whereas fennel extract displayed only one major peak. Cumin, fenugreek and fennel extracts showed relatively similar spots with Rf values of 0.51, 0.62, 0.90 and 0.97, which indicates the presence of four similar type of flavonoids in each extract. Presence of some volatile compounds in extracts was identified by GC-MS analysis.Conclusion: Due to the presence of various phytochemical constituents and favorable extract yield, LOD and pH, the presently investigated spice extracts could be used in drug formulations.Â