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Effects of bio-flocculated algae on the growth, digestive enzyme activity and microflora of freshwater fish Catla catla (Hamilton 1922)
In numerous ways, diets incorporating probiotics are beneficial to host animals. This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of bio-flocculated freshwater algae Chlorella vulgaris on the freshwater fish Catla catla. For the process of flocculating algae, probiotics Lactobacillus acidophilus (10307 MTCC) and Bacillus subtilis (MTCC 441) were used. The experimental fish were fed with Artemia franciscana enriched with flocculated algae for 60days. A control group was fed with unenriched A. franciscana. After the experimental period, there was a significant decrease in anaerobic bacteria and a significant colonization of candidate probiotics in guts of fish fed with flocculated algae-enriched Artemia. This treatment group also had a better growth performance with a higher average body length and weight (8.70.3cm, 5.830.9g) and survival % (981.02). High protease (7.8mg/protein?1) and lipase (2.56 mg/protein?1) activity were also found in the enriched A. franciscana-fed fish group. Comparatively, higher protein, lipid and PUFA/HUFA contents were also reported in this treatment group. The study found that flocculated algae-enriched A. franciscana has a positive impact on gut microflora, growth parameters and survival as compared to the unenriched group, and hence, the flocculated algae serve a dual purpose in rearing of C. catla. This study supports the inference that a bio-flocculated algae-incorporated diet is a preferable method for larval rearing aquaculture. 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd -
From the homestead to centerstage: A journey of empowerment; [De la granja al centro de escena: Un viaje de empoderamiento]
The Kerala Model of Development has been widely acclaimed for its contribution in generating favourable social indices at par with Scandinavia. The central issue to the development in almost all underdeveloped and developing countries is the empowerment of women constituents. In Kerala, the story of empowerment of women is not just economic, but psychological too. Under Article 243(D) of the Constitution of India, there is a mandate to provide 50% reservation for women in Local Self-Government Institutions (LSGIs). This constitutional amendment is regarded as a path-breaking move to empower women at the grassroots level. This article portrays the impact of government interventions for ensuring the participation of women in decision-making as well as in the power structure in LSGIs. The researcher(s) used multiple case study design and adopted purposive sampling. The data was collected through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were used for triangulation. The finding of the study shows that how the women are empowered though various government interventions such as Kudumbashree (the name of Keralas Poverty Eradication Mission), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (the job guarantee scheme in India), Accredited Social Health Activist Scheme (a scheme of National Rural Health Mission) and Local Self-Government Institutions. 2020, Hipatia Editorial. All rights reserved. -
Magnetohydrodynamic flow of Carreau liquid over a stretchable sheet with a variable thickness: The biomedical applications
Purpose: The magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow problems are important in the field of biomedical applications such as magnetic resonance imaging, inductive heat treatment of tumours, MHD-derived biomedical sensors, micropumps for drug delivery, MHD micromixers, magnetorelaxometry and actuators. Therefore, there is the impact of the magnetic field on the transport of non-Newtonian Carreau fluid in the presence of binary chemical reaction and activation energy over an extendable surface having a variable thickness. The significance of irregular heat source/sink and cross-diffusion effects is also explored. Design/methodology/approach: The leading governing equations are constructed by retaining the effects of binary chemical reaction and activation energy. Suitable similarity transformations are used to transform the governing partial differential equations into ordinary differential equations. Subsequent nonlinear two-point boundary value problem is treated numerically by using the shooting method based on RungeKuttaFehlberg. Graphical results are presented to analyze the behaviour of effective parameters involved in the problem. The numerical values of the mass transfer rate (Sherwood number) and heat transfer rate (Nusselt number) are also calculated. Furthermore, the slope of the linear regression line through the data points is determined in order to quantify the outcome. Findings: It is established that the external magnetic field restricts the flow strongly and serves as a potential control mechanism. It can be concluded that an applied magnetic field will play a major role in applications like micropumps, actuators and biomedical sensors. The heat transfer rate is enhanced due to Arrhenius activation energy mechanism. The boundary layer thickness is suppressed by strengthening the thickness of the sheet, resulting in higher values of Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. Originality/value: The effects of magnetic field, binary chemical reaction and activation energy on heat and mass transfer of non-Newtonian Carreau liquid over an extendable surface with variable thickness are investigated for the first time. 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Energy efficient data collection in sparse sensor networks using multiple Mobile Data Patrons
Wireless sensor networks consist of sensor nodes that can sense the environment and forward the sensed data to the destination. It takes multiple hops for the data to get transmitted from the source to the destination node. Mobile Data Patron is a high energy mobile data collector that collects data from the sensors within sparse networks. In sparse networks, the sensors detect the physical phenomenon, and the MDP is used to collect data generated by the sensors. In existing models, a single MDP is used to collect data from sensors within sparse networks. It requires high amounts of energy for long-range data transmission to the base station. The proposed work uses multiple MDPs to solve the energy depletion problem. The research also focuses on improving the data transfer rate so that the MDPs lose minimal amounts of energy. 2020 -
Synthesis and characterization of CeO2/Bi2O3/gC3N4 ternary Z-scheme nanocomposite
An effective and facile phytogenic method was used to prepare CeO2/Bi2O3 and CeO2/Bi2O3/gC3N4 composites using Eichhornia crassipes phytoextract. The synthesized catalysts were characterized using techniques such as XRD, FTIR, UV-DRS, PL, SEM-EDAX, XPS, zeta potential, and TGA. These catalysts showed diverse photocatalytic and optical properties due to the alteration in the bandgap. The synthesized composites exhibited good photocatalytic activity by degrading Malachite green (MG) dye. The increase in the photocatalytic activity could be attributed to the p-n heterojunction of the catalysts with efficient charge separation and strong oxidative ability. The modified photocatalysts showed excellent catalytic activity and reusability under visible light. The superior efficiency and its applications in environmental remediation make these catalysts a potential candidate for photocatalysis. 2020 The American Ceramic Society -
Exploring the inhibition performance of tetrachloroferrate ionic liquid in acid environment using scanning electrochemical microscope and theoretical approaches
The corrosion inhibition performance of carbon steel by Benzyltributylammonium tetrachloroferrate ([BTBA]+[FeCl4]?)was investigated in 1 N HCl solution and compared with theoretical results. The electrochemical impedance results showed that [BTBA]+[FeCl4]?ionic liquid act as an effective inhibitor for carbon steel corrosion in acidic medium and maximum inhibition efficiency was found to be 99.5% at 400 ppm. The SECM results also confirmed the adsorption of [BTBA]+[FeCl4]?on carbon steel and thereby forming a relatively insulated surface at the interface. The adsorption of ferrate ionic liquid on carbon steel was found to obey Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Ionic liquid effectively inhibits anodic and cathodic reaction site thereby showed its mixed type inhibition behaviour. In presence of the inhibitor higher resistance values were obtained for impedance and polarization studies. The presence of ionic liquid and its surface protection tendency at the metal/solution interface was confirmed by SEM surface studies. UVVis and ATR-FTIR characterization also contributed in corroborating the complex formation between Fe2+ and ionic liquid. Monte Carlo simulation and quantum chemical parameters substantiated the experimental findings and gave further insights about the inhibition mechanism. 2020 Elsevier B.V. -
Theoretical and analytical analysis of convective heat transport of radiated micropolar fluid over a vertical plate under nonlinear Boussinesq approximation
Purpose: In heat transfer problems, if the temperature difference is not sufficiently so small then the linear Boussinesq approximation is not adequate to describe thermal analysis. Also, nonlinear density variation with respect to temperature/concentration has a significant impact on heat and fluid flow characteristics. Because of this reason, the impact of nonlinear density variation in the buoyancy force term cannot be neglected. Therefore in this paper, the unsteady flow and heat transfer of radiating magneto-micropolar fluid by considering nonlinear Boussinesq approximation is investigated analytically. Design/methodology/approach: The flow is fully developed and time-dependent. Heat and mass flux boundary conditions are also accounted in the analysis. The governing equations of transport phenomena are treated analytically using regular perturbation method. To analyze the tendency of the obtained solutions, a parametric study is performed. Findings: It is established that the velocity field is directly proportional to the nonlinear convection parameter and the same trend is observed with the increase of the value of Grashof number. The micro-rotational velocity profile decreases with increase in the nonlinear convection parameter. Further, the temperature profile increases due to the presence of radiative heat aspect. Originality/value: The effectiveness of nonlinear Boussinesq approximation in the flow of micropolar fluid past a vertical plate in the presence of thermal radiation and magnetic dipole is investigated for the first time. 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Physical fitness recommender framework for thyroid patients using restricted boltzmann machines
These days, people can easily acquire the information from online sources. Individuals are generally using recommendation services before buying products considering the availability of online. Recommendation systems propose the relevant services or products to users. But sometimes people face issues while retrieving health related information from the recommender systems. A focus on keeping people healthy is one way to address the serious societal concern of healthcare domain. A health-based physical recommender system suggests workout plans for users using their activity level and health condition. A personalized approach is the most effective solution for the fitnessbased recommender framework based on user's desired characteristics. This article presents a personalized fitness recommender system for thyroid patients. The proposed fitness recommender model integrates the user's data like personal and health profile, preferences, calorie intake, and activity level. The proposed hybrid model is built using Restricted Boltzmann Machines (RBM) integrating content based and matrix factorization techniques. The results of experiments prove that the proposed hybrid model outperforms than content based, pure RBM and matrix factorization recommendation techniques. The current proposal achieves the personalization approach by incorporating user's thyroid health condition and exercise preferences in recommendation process. The recommended result of hybrid RBM method is revised based on user's new preferences. 2020, Intelligent Network and Systems Society. -
Augmented intelligent water drops optimisation model for virtual machine placement in cloud environment
Virtual machine placement in cloud computing is to allocate the virtual machines (VMs) (user request) to suitable physical machines (PMs) so that the wastage of resources is reduced. Allocation of appropriate VMs to suitable and effective PMs will lead the service provider to be a better competitor with more available resources for affording a greater number of VMs simultaneously which in turn reflects with the growth in the economy. In this research work, an augmented intelligent water drop (IWD) algorithm is used for effectively placing VMs. The preliminary goal of this proposed work is to reduce the overall resource utilisation by packing the VMs to appropriate PMs effectively. The proposed IWD model is tested under the standard simulation process as it is given in the literature. Performance of IWD is compared with the existing techniques first fit decreasing, least loaded and ant colony optimisation algorithm. Performance analysis shows the significance of the proposed method over existing techniques. The Institution of Engineering and Technology 2020. -
Revisiting cognitive assessment in the Indian prison setting
Purpose: Individuals with cognitive impairment are more likely to come into contact with the criminal justice system (Kimbell, 2016). Yet, only a handful of studies describe the nature of cognitive impairment experienced by inmates and the different types of challenges faced by researchers and clinicians while conducting cognitive assessments in correctional settings specifically in low-and middle-income countries. Design/methodology/approach: In the present paper, the authors describe different types of ethical and logistical challenges they faced while conducting cognitive assessments with inmates in India and suggest ways in which future researchers and clinicians could overcome them. Findings: Authors raise a discussion on the purpose, advantages, and limitations of psychological testing, highlighting alternative ways of cognitive assessment that may be more effective, resource-efficient, and sustainable. Originality/value: Implications for education and training in psychological assessment, forensic and clinical practice and policymaking are discussed. 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Estimation of the black hole spin in LMC X-1 using AstroSat
LMC X-1, a persistent, rapidly rotating, extra-galactic, black hole X-ray binary (BHXB) discovered in 1969, has always been observed in its high soft state. Unlike many other BHXBs, the black hole mass, source distance, and binary orbital inclination are well established. In this work, we report the results of simultaneous broad-band spectral studies of LMC X-1 carried out using the data from Soft X-ray Telescope and Large Area X-ray Proportional Counter aboard AstroSat as observed on 2016 November 26 and 2017 August 28. The combined spectrum was modelled with a multicolour blackbody emission (diskbb), a Gaussian along with a Comptonization component (simpl) in the energy range 0.7-30.0 keV. The spectral analysis revealed that the source was in its high soft state (? = 2.67+0.24-0.24 and ? = 2.12+0.19-0.20) with a hot disc (kTin = 0.86+0.01-0.01 and kTin = 0.87+0.02-0.02). Thermal disc emission was fitted with a relativistic model (kerrbb) and spin of the black hole was estimated to be 0.93+0.01-0.01 and 0.93+0.04-0.03 (statistical errors) for the two Epochs through X-ray continuum-fitting, which agrees with the previous results. 2020 The Author(s) Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society. -
Biomarker study of the biological parameter and neurotransmitter levels in autistics
Autism is a prevalent developmental disorder that combines repetitive behaviours, social deficits and language abnormalities. The present study aims to assess the autistic subjects using DSM IV-TR criteria followed with the analysis of neurotransmitters, biochemical parameters, oxidative stress and its ions in two groups of autistic subjects (group I < 12years; group II ? 12years). Antioxidants show a variation of 10% increase in controls compared to autistic age < 12years. The concentration of pyruvate kinase and hexokinase is elevated in controls approximately 60% and 45%, respectively, with the significance of 95 and 99%. Autistic subjects showed marked variation in levels of neurotransmitters, oxidative stress and its related ions. Cumulative assessment of parameters related to biochemical markers and neurotransmitters paves the way for autism-based research, although these observations draw interest in an integrated approach for autism. 2020, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Colonoscopy contrast-enhanced by intuitionistic fuzzy soft sets for polyp cancer localization
Medical images often suffer from low contrast, irregular gray-level spacing and contain a lot of uncertainties due to constraints of imaging devices and environment (various lighting conditions) when capturing images. In order to achieve any clinical-diagnosis method for medical imaging with better comprehensibility, image contrast enhancement algorithms would be appropriate to improve the visual quality of medical images. In this paper, an automated image enhancement method is presented for colonoscopy images based on the intuitionistic fuzzy soft set. The fuzzy soft set is used to model the intuitionistic fuzzy soft image matrix based on a set of soft features of the colonoscopy images. The technique decomposes the fuzzy image into multiple blocks and estimates a soft-score based on an adaptive soft parametric hesitancy map by using the hesitant entropy for each block to quantify the uncertainties. In the processing stage, an adaptive intensity modification process is done for each block according to its soft-score. These scores are accurately addressed the gray-level ambiguities in colonoscopy images that lead to better results. Finally, the enhanced image achieved by performing a defuzzification together with all unprocessed blocks. Qualitative and quantitative assessments demonstrate that the proposed method improves image contrast and region-of-interest of polyps in colonogram. Experimental results on enhancing a large CVC-Clinic-DB and ASU-Mayo clinic colonoscopy benchmark datasets show that the proposed method outperforms the state-of-the-art medical image enhancement methods. 2020 Elsevier B.V. -
The influence of social environment on children of a commercial sex worker
The case study aims to understand the influence of social environment on the course of life of children of a commercial sex worker. The participants of the study were two sons of a commercial sex worker who grew up in different environments. The older sibling who is 19 years of age (case 1) lives with his mother, whereas the younger sibling who is 17 years of age (case 2) lives in a hostel distant from everyday influence of a brothel. The study adopts multiple case study design and in-depth interviews were conducted to gather data. The obtained data were subjected to thematic analysis. Each case was analyzed individually, and then cross comparison of the themes derived was carried out. The themes derived on analyzing case 1 were social categorization, mercenary activity, substance aficionado, complacency in life, and compliance with life while the themes derived on analyzing case 2 were disgust toward commercial sex work, feeling of precariousness, antipathy toward home environment, irrational thoughts and anticipation of a better future. The only overlapping issue that emerged in both cases was being protective about their mother. It was concluded that environmental variance contributes to the difference in experience and perception of the situation and society. Indian Journal of Social Psychiatry. All Rights Reserved. -
Galerkin finite element analysis of magneto-hydrodynamic natural convection of Cu-water nanoliquid in a baffled U-shaped enclosure
In this paper, single-phase homogeneous nanofluid model is proposed to investigate the natural convection of magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) flow of Newtonian CuH2O nanoliquid in a baffled U-shaped enclosure. The Brinkman model and Wasp model are considered to measure the effective dynamic viscosity and effective thermal conductivity of the nanoliquid correspondingly. Nanoliquid's effective properties such as specific heat, density and thermal expansion coefficient are modeled using mixture theory. The complicated PDS (partial differential system) is treated for numeric solutions via the Galerkin ?nite element method. The pertinent parameters Hartmann number (1 ? Ha ? 60), Rayleigh number (103 ? Ra ? 106) and nanoparticles volume fraction (0% ? ? ? 4%) are taken for the parametric analysis, and it is conducted via streamlines and isotherms. Excellent agreement between numerical results and open literature. It is ascertained that heat transfer rate enhances with Rayleigh number Ra and volume fraction ?, however it is diminished for larger Hartmann number Ha. 2020 Beihang University -
On certain chromatic topological indices of some Mycielski graphs
As a coloring analogue of different Zagreb indices, in the recent literature, the notion of chromatic Zagreb indices has been introduced and studied for some basic graph classes in trees. In this paper, we study the chromatic Zagreb indices and chromatic irregularity indices of some special classes of graphs called Mycielski graphs of paths and cycles. 2020 Yarmouk University. All rights reserved. -
Chloroform fraction of Chaetomorpha brachygona, a marine green alga from Indian Sundarbans inducing autophagy in cervical cancer cells in vitro
Sundarbans Mangrove Ecosystem (SME) is a rich repository of bioactive natural compounds, with immense nutraceutical and therapeutic potential. Till date, the algal population of SME was not explored fully for their anticancer activities. Our aim is to explore the potential of these algal phytochemicals against the proliferation of cervical cancer cells (in vitro) and identify the mode of cell death induced in them. In the present work, the chloroform fraction of marine green alga, Chaetomorpha brachygona was used on SiHa cell line. The algal phytochemicals were identified by GCMS, LCMS and column chromatography and some of the identified compounds, known for significant anticancer activities, have shown strong Bcl-2 binding capacity, as analyzed through molecular docking study. The extract showed cytostatic and cytotoxic activity on SiHa cells. Absence of fragmented DNA, and presence of increased number of acidic vacuoles in the treated cells indicate nonapoptotic cell death. The mode of cell death was likely to be autophagic, as indicated by the enhanced expression of Beclin 1 and LC3BII (considered as autophagic markers) observed by Western blotting. The study indicates that, C. brachygona can successfully inhibit the proliferation of cervical cancer cells in vitro. 2020, The Author(s). -
Blockchain enabled energy efficient red deer algorithm based clustering protocol for pervasive wireless sensor networks
Energy efficiency and security are considered as important issues in the design of pervasive wireless networks. Since the nodes in pervasive wireless networks are battery-operated, it becomes essential to develop an energy-efficient method to minimize energy consumption and prolong the network lifetime. This paper presents new energy-efficient and secure clustering based data transmission in pervasive wireless networks using red deer algorithm (RDA) based clustering technique with blockchain enabled secured data transmission, named as RDAC-BC. The proposed RDAC-BC technique undergoes node initialization and performs the clustering process using the RDAC technique. The clustering technique performs cluster head (CH) selection and cluster construction process is carried out. Once the CHs are chosen, blockchain enabled secure data transmission takes place among cluster members (CMs) as well as CHs. The application of RDAC and blockchain technology helps to achieve energy efficiency and security. The experimental validation of the RDAC-BC technique is assessed under several aspects and the results are compared with existing methods. The obtained results ensured that the RDAC-BC technique has shown superior results interms of energy, network lifetime, packet delivery ratio (PDR), and throughput. 2020 Elsevier Inc. -
Rhetorics in/of English language education in India: A case of digital natives in higher education programs
The study briefly analyzes the ELT situation in India which is replete with challenges emerging from the lack of engagement with the phenomenon of digitality that further shapes the existing nature of learning and the needs of the learner. After locating the position of English Language in the new education policy of India, the paper discusses the General English (GE) courses offered at undergraduate level at the city of Bangalore in India, thereby shedding light on the existing gaps between policy and practice. It is based on this conjecture that the paper suggests the possibility of introducing rhetorical practices in GE courses at undergraduate levels in various institutions in urban India. In order to substantiate this suggestion, the results of a survey conducted with the learners (N=359) of a GE course based on rhetorics at a Southern Indian university is provided. Empirical data along with a brief reflection on the learners' voices are used in the study to examine the efficacy of the structure, administration and evaluation practices of this new course. The study thus opens up possibilities of initiating a discourse around the mode in which English language education and teaching is envisioned, formulated and implemented in undergraduate programs across urban India. 2020 ELE Publishing. All rights reserved. -
The effect of boundary conditions on the onset of chaos in RayleighBard convection using energy-conserving Lorenz models
The influence of 16 boundary conditions on linear and nonlinear stability analyses of RayleighBard system is reported. A StuartLandau amplitude equation for the RayleighBard system between stress-free, isothermal boundary conditions is derived and the procedure used in this derivation serves as guidance for constructing an appropriate FourierGalerkin expansion for the other 15 boundary conditions to derive a generalized Lorenz model. The influence of the boundary conditions comes within the coefficients of the generalized Lorenz model. It is shown that the obtained generalized Lorenz model is energy conserving and for certain boundary conditions it retains features of the classical Lorenz model. Further, the principle of exchange of stabilities is shown to be valid for the present problem and hence it is the steady-state, linearized version of the generalized Lorenz model which yields an analytical expression for the Rayleigh number. On minimizing this expression with respect to wave number the critical Rayleigh number at which the onset of regular convective motion occurs in the form of rolls is determined for all 16 boundary conditions. It is found that these values are in good agreement with those of previous investigations leading to the conclusion that the chosen minimal FourierGalerkin expansion is a valid one. Exhibition of chaotic motion in the generalized Lorenz system at the Hopf Rayleigh number is studied. The phase-space plots which indicate a clear-cut visualization of the transition from regular convective motion to chaotic motion in the generalized Lorenz system are presented. Further, existence of a developing region for chaos (mildly chaotic motion) and windows of periodicity are captured using the bifurcation diagrams. It is concluded from the phase-space plots and the bifurcation diagrams that the generalized Lorenz model for certain sets of boundary conditions retains all the features of the classical Lorenz model. Such a conclusion cannot be made by a linear stability analysis and the need thus for a nonlinear analysis is highlighted in the paper. 2020 Elsevier Inc.