Stability Analysis of Uncertain Temperature control system with two additive delays and nonlinear perturbation

In this paper, the problem of robust delay-dependent stability criterion is considered for a class of linear continuous time heat exchanger system with constant additive state-delays and bounded nonlinear perturbations using Lyapunov-Krasovskii (LK) functional approach.  In the proposed delay-dependent stability analysis, the time-delays are considered to be time-invariant.  In the proposed delay-dependent stability analysis, a candidate LK functional is considered, and take the time-derivative of the functional is bounded using the Jenson integral inequality.  The proposed stability analysis finally culminates into a stability criterion in LMI framework.  The effectiveness of the proposed stability criterion is illustrated using a network controlled temperature control of heat exchanger syste

Draft proposal for establishment of CNC centre at NAL

This is a proposal for setting up Computer Numerically Controlled machining facilities at N.A.L. to cater to the increasing requirements for fabrication of complex shaped and intricate/precision components for the aerospace R & D projects of the laboratory for the next 10 - year period. This fairly comprehensive document has been prepared by an internal technical committee constituted by the Director, after detailed study and discussions and covers the technical and financial aspects for setting up such facilities

Levan Production in Shake Flask and Fermenter Influence of Feeding Strategy on Levan Yield and Molecular Weight Distribution

Effect of feeding strategy on levan production was studied in a shake flask and a 5 L lab scale fermenter. In a shake flask, levan specific substrate yield (YP/S) increased from 0.35 g levan/g sucrose to 0.48 g levan/g sucrose with repeated batch feeding. In a 3 L reactor, levan productivity of 7.18 g/L h was obtained with the fed-batch mode of fermentation. The gel permeation chromatography results indicate that higher initial sucrose concentration under the fed-batch mode operation resulted in the formation of low molecular weight fractions (4 and 10 kDa). Thus, fed-batch fermentation favors levan production resulting in higher yield and productivity and also affects the molecular weight distribution of the biopolymer

Griseofulvin stabilizes microtubule dynamics, activates p53 and inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 cells synergistically with vinblastine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Griseofulvin, an antifungal drug, has recently been shown to inhibit proliferation of various types of cancer cells and to inhibit tumor growth in athymic mice. Due to its low toxicity, griseofulvin has drawn considerable attention for its potential use in cancer chemotherapy. This work aims to understand how griseofulvin suppresses microtubule dynamics in living cells and sought to elucidate the antimitotic and antiproliferative action of the drug.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of griseofulvin on the dynamics of individual microtubules in live MCF-7 cells were measured by confocal microscopy. Immunofluorescence microscopy, western blotting and flow cytometry were used to analyze the effects of griseofulvin on spindle microtubule organization, cell cycle progression and apoptosis. Further, interactions of purified tubulin with griseofulvin were studied <it>in vitro </it>by spectrophotometry and spectrofluorimetry. Docking analysis was performed using autodock4 and LigandFit module of Discovery Studio 2.1.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Griseofulvin strongly suppressed the dynamic instability of individual microtubules in live MCF-7 cells by reducing the rate and extent of the growing and shortening phases. At or near half-maximal proliferation inhibitory concentration, griseofulvin dampened the dynamicity of microtubules in MCF-7 cells without significantly disrupting the microtubule network. Griseofulvin-induced mitotic arrest was associated with several mitotic abnormalities like misaligned chromosomes, multipolar spindles, misegregated chromosomes resulting in cells containing fragmented nuclei. These fragmented nuclei were found to contain increased concentration of p53. Using both computational and experimental approaches, we provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin binds to tubulin in two different sites; one site overlaps with the paclitaxel binding site while the second site is located at the αβ intra-dimer interface. In combination studies, griseofulvin and vinblastine were found to exert synergistic effects against MCF-7 cell proliferation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The study provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin shares its binding site in tubulin with paclitaxel and kinetically suppresses microtubule dynamics in a similar manner. The results revealed the antimitotic mechanism of action of griseofulvin and provided evidence suggesting that griseofulvin alone and/or in combination with vinblastine may have promising role in breast cancer chemotherapy.</p

Earth Virtualization Engines (EVE)

To manage Earth in the Anthropocene, new tools, new institutions, and new forms of international cooperation will be required. Earth Virtualization Engines is proposed as an international federation of centers of excellence to empower all people to respond to the immense and urgent challenges posed by climate change

Preliminary phytochemical screenings of marine alga ulva fasciata and its growth performance, biochemical composition on indian major carp cirrhinus mrigala fingerlings

To screening the preliminary phytochemical compounds of&nbsp;Ulva fasciata&nbsp;collected from Mandapam, south east coast, Tamil Nadu, India.&nbsp;U. fasciata, it was subjected to petroleum ether, chloroform, acetone and ethanol extractions. Totally 10 compounds were present in it, such as alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, cardiac glycosides, sterols, quinones and reducing sugar were present in the extract of&nbsp;U. fasciata. Among these, alkaloids, phenolics, quinones, and flavonoids were reducing sugar were luxuriant presence of&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;extract.&nbsp;Basal diet prepared by replacing the fish meal with the&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;at 1, 3 and 5% along with groundnut oilcake and soy bean meal (as protein source), wheat bran and sun flavor oil (as carbohydrate and lipid sources respectively), and tapioca flour and egg albumin as binding agents, and fed to&nbsp;Cirrhinus mrigala&nbsp;fingerlings for 60 days.&nbsp;The artificial feed formulated without incorporation of&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;was served as control.&nbsp; Among the three ratio of&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;incorporated diets, 5% of feed fed&nbsp;C. mrigala&nbsp;fingerlings showed the best (P&lt;0.05) survival and growth performance including weight gain (WG), muscle basic biochemical constituents (total protein, carbohydrate, lipid and ash). Moreover, 5% of&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;incorporated diet can also be considered as a good nutritional supplement. Therefore, the present work recommends incorporation of&nbsp;U. fasciata&nbsp;as feed additive to achieve sustainable production of&nbsp;C. mrigala&nbsp;culture

Design and development of illuminated clothing with PMMA for versatile applications

577-579Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a polymeric optical fibre, has been woven with cotton and polyester in a specific weave pattern to assess the light for light emitting textile application. The illumination of clothing system is primarily influenced by the weave geometry. The sateen weave shows better illumination as compared to twill weave, as the weft bending angle of sateen weave is less due to more weft float in the weave. The opportunities of integration of PMMA material into the clothing system have been investigated comprehensively

Bioadhesive Gauze Embedded with Chitosan-Butein Bioconjugate: A Redox-Active pH Sensor Platform

With the ever-growing global wound care market, demand for robust redox-active healthcare material is obvious for the construction of wearable sensor platforms. Surface reactive functional group-rich material like chitosan holds huge potential for electrochemical biosensor application. Herein, a metal-free redox-active chitosan–butein (CSB) bioconjugate is processed into epidermal bioadhesive electrode material useful for pH sensors promising toward wound site analysis. A two-electrode system devised for conducting carbon-reinforced silver chloride paste and CSB-modified carbon/silver chloride matrix was used as a reference and working electrodes, respectively. Dimensions of working and reference electrodes (4 mm) were designed by 2D cutter plotter-assisted stenciling. The cross-sectional topology of the constructed adhesive CSB-sensor platform exhibits an average surface thickness of 183 ± 2 μm. Cyclic voltammetric analysis revealed the inherent 2e−/2H+ transfer attributed to the catechol OH groups of graft polymerized CSB modified on adhesive gauze. As-fabricated modified electrode substrates exhibit distinguishable potential differences with respect to electrolytes of varied pH (between 5 to 9), promising for wound site analysis