An investigation into the mitochondrial toxicity of fusaric acid associated with aberrant energy metabolism and inflammatory responses.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.No abstract available

Fusaric acid induces mitochondrial stress in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells.

Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Biochemistry. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Medical School 2015.Abstract available in PDF file

Energy aware improved least and most significant bit arbitration algorithm for WORM tags

AbstractPassive Radio Frequency Identification systems have gained enormous attention and popularity especially after its adoption in time and data critical systems. Theoretically, these systems have the potential to read over 100 tags per second in applications which are well insulated from RF noise. Nevertheless, this may not be the case in practical systems, as tag collision is one of the major deterrents affecting the recognition rate. This paper exhaustively analyses the existing probabilistic, deterministic and hybrid algorithms on collision resolutions. In probabilistic algorithms, tags send their entire ID to the RFID reader in respective slots while tags in deterministic algorithms respond bit by bit based on the RFID reader’s query. To minimize identification delay, tag communication overhead and high energy consumption, a new energy efficient collision resolution strategy named Improved Least and Most Significant Bit Algorithm (LaMSBA) is introduced to effectively singulate a tag and increase the identification efficiency in changing tag population even when the bits in tag ID’s are randomly or uniformly distributed. Extensive simulation studies show that LaMSBA can be chosen as better alternatives for dense time and data critical RFID enabled systems. In addition, M/G/1 Queuing model is suitably identified and the the analytical results concluded that LaMSBA is able to maintain the steady state condition even when Class 1 tags arrive at the rate of 15 tags/second in the reader’s interrogation zone

Estimate the annual soil loss in Kummattipatti Nadi watershed using rusle model through geospatial technology

Soil erosion and soil loss is one of the common problems threatening the environment. This degrading phenomenon declines the soil fertility and significantly affects the agricultural activity. As a consequence, the productivity of soil is affected unquestionably. In this reason, there is a basic need to take up conservation and management measures which can be applied to check further soil erosion. Even though, soil erosion is a mass process spread cross the watershed, it is not economically viable to implement conservation techniques to the entire watershed. However, a method is a pre-requisite to identify the most vulnerable areas and quantify the soil erosion. In this study, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) has been accepted to estimate soil erosion in the Kummattipatti Nadi watershed part of the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu, India. This model has several parameters including runoff-rainfall erosivity factor (R), soil erodability Factor (K), topographic factor (LS), cropping management factor (C), and support practice factor (P). All these layers are prepared through geographical information system (GIS) by using various data sources and data preparation methods. The results of the study shows that the annual average soil loss within the watershed is about 6 t/ha/yr (metric ton per hectare per year). Higher soil erosion is observed in the land use classes of gullied wasteland, open scrub forest and degraded plantation. The soil erosion risk is extremely higher on the steep slopes and adjoining foothills. The proper conservation and management strategies has to be implement in this watershed for the development

The Role Of The Cell Surface Proteins Of Burkholderia Pseudomallei In The Serodiagnosis Of Melioidosis And Comparative Serological Proteomic Analysis Of The Humoral Immune Response In Melioidosis

Melioidosis adalah penyakit di kalangan manusia dan haiwan yang disebabkan oleh jangkitan bakteria, Burkholderia pseudomallei. Melioidosis refers to an infection by the bacterium, B. pseudomallei, affecting man and animals

Preliminary comparative analysis of antibacterial effects of activated and non-activated of expired platelet concentrate by disc diffusion method

Background: Platelets release more than 30 cytokines to provide primary hemostatic function. In addition, platelets are also known to release antimicrobial peptides upon activation by thrombin. Materials and Methods: In this study, comparative analysis of antibacterial activity of activated and non-activated expired platelet concentrate was determined against Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Thrombin was used to prepare activated platelet concentrate. Gram-positive bacteria tested in this study were S.aureus and S.pyogenes and Gram-negative bacteria were E.coli and K.oxytoca. All the bacteria used in this study were sensitive strains from clinical isolates. Activated and nonactivated platelet showed no zone of inhibition against S.pyogenes and E.coli. Results: Activated platelet showed antibacterial activity against S.aureus and K.oxytoca with the zone of inhibition of 8.3 ± 0.6 mm and 7.7 ± 0.2 mm, respectively. Zone of inhibition observed in non-activated platelet against S.aureus and K.oxytoca were 7.8 ± 0.4 mm and 7.5 ± 0.3 mm, respectively. Conclusions: These findings showed that no significant differences in antibacterial activity produced by activated and non-activated platelet. However, zone of inhibition observed in activated and non-activated platelet indicate the presence of antibacterial property in expired platelet

Design of feedback control strategies in a plant-wide wastewater treatment plant for simultaneous evaluation of economics, energy usage, and removal of nutrients

Simultaneous removal of nitrogen and phosphorous is a recommended practice while treating wastewater. In the present study, control strategies based on proportional-integral (PI), model predictive control (MPC), and fuzzy logic are developed and implemented on a plant-wide wastewater treatment plant. Four combinations of control frameworks are developed in order to reduce the operational cost and improve the effluent quality. As a working platform, a Benchmark simulation model (BSM2-P) is used. A default control framework with PI controllers is used to control nitrate and dissolved oxygen (DO) by manipulating the internal recycle and oxygen mass trans-fer coefficient (KLa). Hierarchical control topology is proposed in which a lower-level control framework with PI controllers is implemented to DO in the sixth reactor by regulating the KLa of the fifth, sixth, and seventh reactors, and fuzzy and MPC are used at the supervisory level. This supervisory level considers the ammonia in the last aerobic reactor as a feedback signal to alter the DO set-points. PI-fuzzy showed improved effluent quality by 21.1%, total phosphorus removal rate by 33.3% with an increase of operational cost, and a slight increase in the production rates of greenhouse gases. In all the control design frameworks, a trade-off is observed between operational cost and effluent quality

G2G interaction among local agencies in developing countries based on diffusion of innovations theory

Technological advancement has allowed governments to meet the demands of its citizens electronically. Electronic government (e-Government) facilitates accurate and fast transactions and delivery of services and information to businesses, citizens, and government agencies.Moreover, e-Government helps enhance democracy.Agencies interact with one another electronically through the e-Government, which enhances efficiency.e-Government utilizes information and communication technology to provide the public access to various services. Leaders and information technology executives in the public sector have recognized the importance of sharing inter-organizational information to improve the efficiency of government agencies. Therefore, this study takes the diffusion of innovations theory as context to identify the most important factor affecting the electronic interaction between local agencies in developing countries

Adoption of e-voting system in Nigeria: A conceptual framework

Evidences have shown that it is only the electronic voting system that can deliver credible, fraud free elections in Nigeria. The delay in the implementation of this platform in Nigeria has nothing to do with the electorates with previous studies revealing the readiness of Nigerians to use and accept the electronic voting system. The major bottleneck has to do with the body entrusted with the responsibility of conducting election in the country i. e. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).This motivates the researcher to examine what can be done at this level to achieve successful implementation of this technology.In this paper, a conceptual framework for the study is presented integrating Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) model, Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) framework and Iacovou et al. constructs.The presented framework serves as the basis of this study