Secure and Robust Image Watermarking Scheme Using Homomorphic Transform, SVD and Arnold Transform in RDWT Domain

The main objective for a watermarking technique is to attain imperceptibility, robustness and security against various malicious attacks applied by illicit users. To fulfil these basic requirements for a scheme is a big issue of concern. So, in this paper, a new image watermarking method is proposed which utilizes properties of homomorphic transform, Redundant Discrete Wavelet Transform (RDWT), Arnold Transform (AT) along with Singular Value Decomposition (SVD) to attain these required properties. RDWT is performed on host image to achieve LL subband. This LL subband image is further decomposed into illumination and reflectance components by homomorphic transform. In order to strengthen security of proposed scheme, AT is used to scramble watermark. This scrambled watermark is embedded with Singular Values (SVs) of reflectance component which are obtained by applying SVD to it. Since reflectance component contains important features of image, therefore, embedding of watermark in this part provides excellent imperceptibility. Proposed scheme is comprehensively examined against different attacks like scaling, shearing etc. for its robustness. Comparative study with other prevailing algorithms clearly reveals superiority of proposed scheme in terms of robustness and imperceptibility

A SVD based scheme for post processing of DCT coded images

In block discrete cosine transform (DCT) based image compression the blocking artifacts are the main cause of degradation, especially at higher compression ratio. In proposed scheme, monotone or edge blocks are identified by examining the DCT coefficients of the block itself. In the first algorithm of the proposed scheme, a signal adaptive filter is applied to sub-image constructed by the DC components of DCT coded image to exploit the residual inter-block correlation between adjacent blocks. To further reduce artificial discontinuities due to blocking artifacts, the blocky image is re-divided into blocks in such a way that the corner of the original blocks comes at the center of new blocks. These discontinuities cause the high frequency components in the new blocks. In this paper, these high frequency components due to blocking artifacts in monotone area are eliminated using singular value decomposition (SVD) based filtering algorithm. It is well known that random noise is hard to compress whereas it is easy to compress the ordered information. Thus, lossy compression of noisy signal provides the required filtering of the signal

Tinospora cordifolia (GILOY): A MAGICAL SHRUB

Medicinal plants have been used as natural medicines, since prehistoric times because of the presence of natural chemical constituents. Among them Tinospora cordifolia has a wide array of bioactive principles as well as it has been proven medicinally important plant, have not received considerable scientific attention. The plant is commonly used as traditional ayurvedic medicine and has several therapeutic properties such as jaundice, rheumatism, urinary disorder, skin diseases, diabetes, anemia, inflammation, allergic condition, anti-periodic, radio protective properties, etc. A special focus has been made on its health benefits in treating endocrine and metabolic disorders and its potential as an immune booster. The stem of this plant is generally used to cure diabetes by regulating level of blood glucose. T. cordifolia is well known for its immunomodulatory        response. This property has been well documented by scientists. A large variety of compounds which are responsible for immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effects are 11-hydroxymuskatone, N-methyle-2-pyrrolidone, Nformylannonain, cordifolioside A, magnoflorine, tinocordioside and syringin. Root extract of this plant has been shown a decrease in the regular resistance against HIV. The active principles from T. cordifolia enhance host immune system by increasing immunoglobulin and blood leukocyte levels and by the stimulation of stem cell proliferation. Tinospora cordifolia has been used in indigenous systems of medicine, as indicated in various classical texts of Ayurvedic System of Medicine, viz. Charak, Sushrut and Ashtang Hridaya and other ancient treaties

Biological action of Piper nigrum - the king of spices

Piper nigrum - the king of spices is originated in the Western Ghats of India. It has gained a global consideration because of its volume in the spice industry. It contains major pungent alkaloid piperine which is known to possess many interesting pharmacological actions. Medicinally black pepper can be used digestive disorder like large intestine toxins, different gastric problems, diarrohea and indigestion and also can be used against respiratory disorder including cold fever, asthama. Piperine exhibits diverse pharmacological activities like antihypertensive, antiplatelets, antioxidant, antitumor, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrheal, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-reproductive, insecticidal activities. Piper nigrum also found to decrease lipid peroxidation in vivo. It has reported to possess antioxidant activity that might be due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic contents

High altitude Provoked Thrombotic Complications

On rapid ascending to high-altitude particularly very high-altitude or extreme high-altitude, there is a risk of developing high-altitude illness and most people may experience acute mountain sickness which may further lead to potentially life-threatening pathologies like high-altitude pulmonary edema, high-altitude cerebral edema, high-altitude-induced thrombosis etc. if not treated on time. Hypercoagulability state associated with high-altitude which lead to the formation of a clot in the blood vessels, a condition called deep vein thrombosis, which may further complicate and lead to pulmonary embolism. Lack of epidemiological data poses a constraint in evaluating the actual incident rate of thromboembolic disorders at high-altitude. In the present scenario, the most commonly used diagnostic marker for thrombosis is the D-dimer test which has low specificity. Various anticoagulants are also available for anticoagulation therapy but they have their own limitation. Under this review, worldwide reported incidents and management strategies related to thrombotic complications are consolidated and presented. It also summarizes diagnostic and anticoagulation therapy regimes against thrombosis existing at present. Accurate diagnosis and therapeutics are a thrust area of further exploration and there is an urgent need to develop quick and advanced methods to reduce the mortality associated with this disorder especially with respect to high-altitude

Diversity of mosses in some selected regions of Nagaland (North-East India), India

During an investigation on mosses of some underexplored regions of Nagaland, 121 taxa of mosses belonging to 74 genera and 29 families have been identified. Atrichum crispulum Schimp. & Besch. and Plagiothecium neckeroideum var. niitakayamae (Toyama) Z. Iwats. are new records for India. Five taxa namely Fissidens crassinervis var. laxus (Sull & Lesq.) A. Eddy., Barbula inaequalifolia Taylor, Amblystegium saxatile Schimp., Dicranum orthophylloides Dixon and Fabronia madurensis Dixon & Vard. are reported for the first time from Eastern Himalaya, while 57 taxa are new additions to Nagaland

Monocrotophos Induced Apoptosis in PC12 Cells: Role of Xenobiotic Metabolizing Cytochrome P450s

Monocrotophos (MCP) is a widely used organophosphate (OP) pesticide. We studied apoptotic changes and their correlation with expression of selected cytochrome P450s (CYPs) in PC12 cells exposed to MCP. A significant induction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decrease in glutathione (GSH) levels were observed in cells exposed to MCP. Following the exposure of PC12 cells to MCP (10−5 M), the levels of protein and mRNA expressions of caspase-3/9, Bax, Bcl2, P53, P21, GSTP1-1 were significantly upregulated, whereas the levels of Bclw, Mcl1 were downregulated. A significant induction in the expression of CYP1A1/1A2, 2B1/2B2, 2E1 was also observed in PC12 cells exposed to MCP (10−5 M), whereas induction of CYPs was insignificant in cells exposed to 10−6 M concentration of MCP. We believe that this is the first report showing altered expressions of selected CYPs in MCP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells. These apoptotic changes were mitochondria mediated and regulated by caspase cascade. Our data confirm the involvement of specific CYPs in MCP-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells and also identifies possible cellular and molecular mechanisms of organophosphate pesticide-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells

Panel of Regulatory miRNAs for Blood Coagulation under Normoxic and Hypoxic Conditions

Abnormal blood coagulation may lead to venous thromboembolism (VTE), a complex multifactorial disease. Hypoxia (oxygen deprivation) is a major factor disturbing the blood hemostasis and predisposing the body towards coagulation and VTE. Pathophysiology of VTE can be attributed to post-transcriptional gene regulation by microRNAs (miRNAs). The present study identified regulatory miRNAs involved in causing blood coagulation under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Meta-analysis was performed, following PRISMA guidelines, for identifying miRNAs involved in blood coagulation pathway. Studies evaluating miRNAs from circulating blood as potential biomarkers of VTE were selected. A total of 16 studies met selection criteria and 8 having complete statistical information were selected for analysis. Study of blood coagulation mechanism under hypoxic conditions involved in-silico search within highly cited databases to identify miRNAs commonly regulating genes of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family and coagulation pathway. Further bio-informatics approaches were employed to identify potential biomarker candidates. Meta-analysis revealed a panel of 12 miRNAs; two members of miR-27 family, hsa-miR-27a and hsa-miR-27b; two members of miR-320 family, hsa-miR-320a and hsa-miR-320b, hsa-miR-1233, hsa-miR-134, hsa-miR-424-5p, hsa-miR-221, hsa-miR-28-3p, hsa-miR-136-5p, hsa-miR-374-5p and hsa-miR-338-5p involved in blood coagulation under normoxic conditions. Besides these, present in-silico analysis identified a set of 5 miRNAs including hsa-miR-4667-5p, hsa-miR-6815-3, hsa-miR-4433a-3p, hsa-miR-6735-5p and hsa-miR-6777-3p which predominantly regulate genes that facilitate both coagulation and response to hypoxic stress. The present study generated a panel of regulatory miRNAs potentially involved in the process of blood coagulation under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions, which may serve as putative epigenetic biomarkers for coagulation

Mobilization of Stem Cells Using G-CSF for Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Randomized Controlled, Pilot Study

Background. There is emerging evidence to support the use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Aims. To explore feasibility, safety, and preliminary efficacy of G-CSF therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Patients and Method. In randomized study, 10 patients with acute ischemic stroke were recruited in 1 : 1 ratio to receive 10 μg/kg G-CSF treatment subcutaneously daily for five days with conventional care or conventional treatment alone. Efficacy outcome measures were assessed at baseline, one month, and after six months of treatment included Barthel Index (BI), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, and modified Rankin Scale. Results. One patient in G-CSF therapy arm died due to raised intracranial pressure. No severe adverse effects were seen in rest of patients receiving G-CSF therapy arm or control arm. No statistically significant difference between intervention and control was observed in any of the scores though a trend of higher improvement of BI score is seen in the intervention group. Conclusion. Although this study did not have power to examine efficacy, it provides preliminary evidence of potential safety, feasibility, and tolerability of G-CSF therapy. Further studies need to be done on a large sample to confirm the results

Partitioning Apomixis Components to Understand and Utilize Gametophytic Apomixis

Apomixis is a method of reproduction to generate clonal seeds and offers tremendous potential to fix heterozygosity and hybrid vigor. The process of apomictic seed development is complex and comprises three distinct components, viz., apomeiosis (leading to formation of unreduced egg cell), parthenogenesis (development of embryo without fertilization) and functional endosperm development. Recently, in many crops, these three components are reported to be uncoupled leading to their partitioning. This review provides insight into the recent status of our understanding surrounding partitioning apomixis components in gametophytic apomictic plants and research avenues that it offers to help understand the biology of apomixis. Possible consequences leading to diversity in seed developmental pathways, resources to understand apomixis, inheritance and identification of candidate gene(s) for partitioned components, as well as contribution towards creation of variability are all discussed. The potential of Panicum maximum, an aposporous crop, is also discussed as a model crop to study partitioning principle and effects. Modifications in cytogenetic status, as well as endosperm imprinting effects arising due to partitioning effects, opens up new opportunities to understand and utilize apomixis components, especially towards synthesizing apomixis in crops