Browse Items (11855 total)
Sort by:
-
Antioxidant Phenolics of Justicia adhatoda L. and Cordia dichotoma Frost. Promote Thrombolytic Activity through Binding to a Serine Protease, Tissue Plasminogen Activator Protein
Background: The tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) protein dissolutes fibrin clots and prevents the disease like thrombosis. The current study aimed to study the tPA-promoting activity of bioactive molecules of Justicia adhatoda L (JA) and Cordia dichotoma Frost (CD). Methods: The phytochemical characterization of methanolic and aqueous extracts of JA and CD stems was performed through qualitative analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and biochemical tests (total phenolic and total flavonoid content [TPC and TFC]). The bioactivity of the extracts was studied through total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and ferric-reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assays. Finally, forty phytocompounds from JA and CD were identified from the literature, and in silico molecular docking study was performed to target tPA protein (PDB id 1A5H, Chain A, X-ray diffraction, resolution 2.90 . Results: Various phytochemical classes were identified from extracts, through qualitative and FTIR analysis. TPC and TFC were estimated from the JA and CD extracts within the range of 9.3428.67 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g of extract weight (EW) and 2.4816.17 mg quercetin equivalent/100 g of EW, respectively. The aqueous extract of CD showed the highest TAC of 14.90 ascorbic acid equivalent (AAE)/100 g of EW, and the methanolic extract of JA had the highest FRAP activity of 27.77 mg AAE/100 g EW. The molecular docking study showed that apigenin 6,8-di-glucopyranoside had the highest binding potential toward the tPA (?9.380 kcal/mol). Conclusion: It can be concluded that antioxidant phytochemicals of JA and CD could promote the tPA activity, thereby promoting thrombolytic activity. Copyright: 2023 Biomedical and Biotechnology Research Journal (BBRJ) -
Travails of New Mothers Returning to Work in Corporate India: A Phenomenological Study
A womans life is a myriad of experiences and none, perhaps, leaves a more lasting impression on her than motherhood. The child-birth event along with all its highs and lows not only has a deep psychological impact on her as a person but also impacts her career in many ways. Using interpretive phenomenological analysis, we have studied the lived experience of women who returned to work in corporate settings after maternity leave. Our study found that not only do they go through an emotional upheaval during this phase, but they also see a marked shift in the way they approach their careers. A womans natural instinct to mother her child comes in conflict with another natural (and equally important) desire to succeed in the workplace. Most women in our study experienced a stalling/break in their careers after childbirth and wished they had a mentor to assist them in transitioning back to office life. Besides trying to evaluate if childbirth was perceived as a threat or potential impediment to a high-flying career, we also explored how women were treated in their work environments, and whether their coworkers helped the women to cope during this phase. While the women in our study wanted to achieve success and satisfaction both within their families and careers, they found it most challenging to do so. 2022 Journal of International Womens Studies. -
A HYBRID APPROACH FOR LANDMARK DETECTION OF 3D FACES FOR FORENSIC INVESTIGATION
Facial landmark detection is a key technology in many forensic applications, such as facial identification and facial reconstruction. However, the accuracy of facial landmark detection is often limited in 3D face images due to the challenges of occlusion, illumination, and pose variations. This paper proposes a hybrid approach for landmark detection of 3D faces for forensic investigation. A hybrid method of edge contour detection and Harris corner detection is proposed for feature extraction in face images for forensic investigation. Edge contour detection is used to detect the boundaries of the face, while Harris corner detection is used to detect the corners. The advantage of using a hybrid method of edge contour detection and Harris corner detection for feature extraction in face images is that it can capture both global and local features of the face. Edge contour detection can capture global features, such as the overall shape and outline of the face, while Harris corner detection can capture local features, such as the corners of the mouth, nose and eyes which are vital for facial reconstruction. Experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms existing landmark detection algorithms in terms of time complexity and minimum loss. 2023 Little Lion Scientific. -
Impacts of Pore Scale Gas Diffusion Layer Deformation on PEMFC Performance at Sub Zero Operation
Highlights Impact of assembly pressure on species and charge transport during cold start operation. Inhomogeneous GDL compression and intrusion is considered in the study. The intrusion effect leads to intense ice accumulation under the channels at 2 MPa. The importance of applying appropriate clamping pressure is highlighted in the study. 2023 The Electrochemical Society (ECS). Published on behalf of ECS by IOP Publishing Limited -
Perceptual span in reading Aksharic Kannada
Perceptual span, the effective visual field in reading covered in a single fixation, varies across orthographies. The perceptual span for reading English covers 34-character spaces to the left of fixation and around 1415-character spaces to the right of the fixation while for Chinese it is one character space to the left and 3-character spaces to the right of the fixation. In the present study, we estimated the perceptual span for Kannada, a major South Indian language written in akshara (abugida type) using the gaze-contingent moving window paradigm. We recorded eye movements from skilled Kannada readers when they read sentences in different window sizes and compared the eye movement measures with that of full-length sentence reading. Results showed that the perceptual span for Kannada covers one akshara to the left and 6-akshara to the right of the fixation. Future studies need to establish whether all Akshara orthographies show a similar percentual span. 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. -
On the secure vertex cover pebbling number
A new graph invariant called the secure vertex cover pebbling number, which is a combination of two graph invariants, namely, secure vertex cover and cover pebbling number, is introduced in this paper. The secure vertex cover pebbling number of a graph, G, is the minimum number m so that every distribution of m pebbles can reach some secure vertex cover of G by a sequence of pebbling moves. In this paper, the complexity of the secure vertex cover problem and secure vertex cover pebbling problem are discussed. Also, we obtain some basic results and the secure vertex cover pebbling number for complete r-partite graphs, paths, Friendship graphs, and wheel graphs. 2023 World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte Ltd. All rights reserved. -
One Pot Hydrothermal Synthesis and Application of Bright-yellow-emissive Carbon Quantum Dots in Hg2+ Detection
Carbon quantum dots (CQD) have drawn great interest worldwide for their extensive application as sensors due to their extraordinary physical and chemical characteristics, good biocompatibility, and high fluorescence in nature. Here, we demonstrate a technique for detecting mercury (Hg2+) ion using a fluorescent CQD probe. Ecology is concerned about the accumulation of heavy metal ions in water samples due to their harmful effects on human health. Sensitive identification and removal of metal ions from water samples are required to reduce heavy metals risk. To find out Mercury in the water sample, carbon quantum dots were used and synthesized by 5-dimethyl amino methyl furfuryl alcohol and o-phenylene diamine through the hydrothermal technique. The synthesized CQD shows yellow emission when exposed to UV irradiation. Mercury ion was used to quench carbon quantum dots, and it was found that the detection limit was 5.2 nM with a linear range of 15100 M. The synthesized carbon quantum dots were demonstrated to efficiently detect Mercury ions in real water samples. 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature. -
Azopyridine as a Linker Molecule in Polyaniline-Grafted Graphene Oxide Nanocomposite Electrodes for Asymmetric Supercapacitors
Electronically conducting polymers (ECPs)/carbon nanomaterial-based polyaniline electrodes have received great interest in the field of supercapacitors due to their high specific capacitance, good electronic conductivity, good mechanical strength, good chemical and electrochemical stabilities, etc. Among the various available ECPs, they have received much importance due to their excellent electrochemical performances. Herein, we report a facile synthesis of a PANI-grafted graphene oxide (GO)-azopyridine (Azo) (PANI/GO-Azo) nanocomposite and use it as electrodes for fabricating supercapacitors. The azo units present in the nanocomposite act as a spacer between PANI and GO. The interfacial polymerization method is adopted for the synthesis of PANI/GO-Azo nanocomposites. The PANI/GO-Azo nanocomposite electrode exhibits a gravimetric capacitance of 426 F g-1 at a current density of 0.25 A g-1 in 1 M H2SO4 (aqueous) electrolyte. The electrode possesses good cycling stability of more than 5000 cycles with a Coulombic efficiency of 98.5%. An asymmetric supercapacitor fabricated with PANI/GO-Azo as the positive electrode and activated carbon as the negative electrode delivers an energy density of 12.45 W h kg-1 with a power density of 274.9 W kg-1. This study proclaims that the PANI/GO-Azo nanocomposite electrode is highly promising for next-generation supercapacitors. 2023 American Chemical Society -
Tadpole domination number of graphs
The graph obtained by joining cycle Cm to a path Pn with a bridge is called Tadpole graph denoted by Tm,n. A subset D of V (G) is said to be a tadpole dominating set of G if D is a dominating set and the set of vertices of D spans a tadpole graph Tm,n where m ? 3, n ? 1. In this paper, we find the tadpole domination number of cartesian product of certain graphs, namely, paths, cycles and complete graphs. Also the tadpole domination number for the Mycielskian of cycles and paths is obtained. 2023 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
Algorithms for better decision-making: a qualitative study exploring the landscape of robo-advisors in India
Purpose: This paper explores the current state of Robo-advisory services in India. This paper further highlights the problems experienced by the service providers in disseminating the innovative business model among the Indians. Design/methodology/approach: The study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the industry experts by conducting semi-structured interviews. The data collected were transcripted and further analyzed using the content analysis technique. Finally, the authors utilized categorization and coding techniques to frame broad study themes. Findings: The study findings reveal that the three pillars of Robo-advisory are ease and convenience, the time factor and transparency in operations. Robo-advisory services are still at a nascent stage in India. Furthermore, keeping the sentiments of Indians in mind, FinTech companies could combine automated Robo-advisory with a human touch of a wealth manager for optimal advisory services. Research limitations/implications: Since the present study is qualitative, the authors cannot generalize the study results. Future research can focus on empirically proving the constructs of the study using quantitative methods. Practical implications: Robo-advisors have a well-established market in developed nations but are still nascent in developing countries like India. The current focus of service providers and regulatory authorities must be to increase awareness among investors by educating the investors and building trust. Originality/value: The present study is the first to qualitatively synthesize the challenges faced by the FinTech service providers in the Indian market. 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
The effect of climate change on the dynamics of a modified surface energy balance-mass balance model of Cryosphere under the frame of a non-local operator
One of the major causes of the intermittent nature of long-term climate changes is the interaction between the surface energy balance and the mass balance of the Cryosphere. In this paper, the pre-existing surface energy balance-mass balance model of the Cryosphere is modified by incorporating the radiative forcing of CO2 to observe the effect of global warming on the nature of the previous model. The modified model is generalized using Caputo's non-local operator. The stability of the new model is analyzed at all the equilibrium points and also it is shown that there exists a unique and bounded solution for the modified system. Using bifurcation analysis and calculating the values of Lyapunov exponents for different fractional orders of the modified system, it is found that the system exhibits chaos for certain values of the radiating forcing of CO2 To observe and visualize the changes in the nature of the new model, the system is solved using the highly efficient 7th-order RungeKutta method. It is observed that with the inclusion of the radiative forcing of CO2, the nature of the system changes from asymptotically stable to chaotic as we decrease the order of the system. The Poincare map shows that the modified model even has characteristics of a strange attractor which is highly chaotic. The system becomes unstable when the value of the radiative forcing of CO2 is increased. As a result, the predictive power of the surface energy balance-mass balance model of the Cryosphere decreases. In addition to providing insights into the transition from stability to chaos in the Cryosphere model due to CO2 radiative forcing, this research offers a deeper understanding of the intricate interplay between climate dynamics and complex systems behavior. 2023 The Authors -
Protoplanetary disks around young stellar and substellar objects in the ? Orionis cluster
Understanding the evolution and dissipation of protoplanetary disks are crucial in star and planet formation studies. We report the protoplanetary disk population in the nearby young ? Orionis cluster (d? 408 pc; age ? 1.8 Myr) and analyse the disk properties, such as dependence on stellar mass and disk evolution. We utilize the comprehensive census of 170 spectroscopic members of the region refined using astrometry from Gaia DR3 for a wide mass range of ? 190.004 M? . Using the near-infrared (2MASS) and mid-infrared (WISE) photometries, we classify the sources based on the spectral index, into class I, class II, flat spectrum and class III young stellar objects. The frequency of sources hosting a disk with stellar mass <2 M? in this region is 41 7 %, which is consistent with the disk fraction estimated in previous studies. We see that there is no significant dependence of disk fraction on stellar mass among T Tauri stars (<2 M?), but we propose rapid disk depletion around higher mass stars (>2 M?). Furthermore, we found the lowest mass of a disk-bearing object to be ? 20 MJup and the pronounced disk-fraction among the brown dwarf population hints at the formation scenario that brown dwarfs form similar to low-mass stars. 2023, Indian Academy of Sciences. -
Excitation dependent emissive multi stimuli responsive ESIPT organic luminogen for monitoring sea food freshness
Excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) organic luminophores with excitation wavelength-dependent color tunability have drawn significant attention due to their exceptional photoluminescent properties in solution and solid state. A novel salicylaldehyde-based Schiff's base molecule, (E)-N'-(3,5-dibromo-2-hydroxybenzylidene)benzohydrazide (BHN) exhibited stimuli (excitation wavelength and pH) induced changes in fluorescence properties which was utilised for applications like trace level water sensing in organic solvents (THF, acetone and DMF), detection and quantification of biogenic amines and anticounterfeiting. In the solution state, BHN rendered a ratiometric detection and quantification of ammonia, diethylamine and trimethylamine, which is further supported by DFT studies. The photoluminescent response of BHN towards various biogenic amines was later utilised to monitor shrimp freshness. The investigation carried out highlights the potential versatility of ESIPT hydrazones, which renders multi stimuli responsive behaviour that can be utilised for water sensing, anticounterfeiting and the detection and quantification of biogenic amines. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Power quality disturbance mitigation in grid connected photovoltaic distributed generation with plug-in hybrid electric vehicle
In the last twenty years, electric vehicles have gained significant popularity in domestic transportation. The introduction of fast charging technology forecasts increased the use of plug-in hybrid electric vehicle and electric vehicles (PHEVs). Reduced total harmonic distortion (THD) is essential for a distributed power generation system during the electric vehicle (EV) power penetration. This paper develops a combined controller for synchronizing photovoltaic (PV) to the grid and bidirectional power transfer between EVs and the grid. With grid synchronization of PV power generation, this paper uses two control loops. One controls EV battery charging and the other mitigates power quality disturbances. On the grid connected converter, a multicarrier space vector pulse width modulation approach (12-switch, three-phase inverter) is used to mitigate power quality disturbances. A Simulink model for the PV-EV-grid setup has been developed, for evaluating voltage and current THD percentages under linear and non-linear and PHEV load conditions and finding that the THD values are well within the IEEE 519 standards. 2023 Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science. All rights reserved. -
Roxburgh was right: Aponogeton microphyllus and Aponogeton undulatus are distinct species
Aponogeton microphyllus, previously placed under the synonymy of A. undulatus, is recognized here as a distinct species based on morphology, chromosome number, and molecular phylogenetics (nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed (ITS) spacer region). Observations on the type and live specimens revealed morphological differences between the two species. Aponogeton microphyllus flowered regularly and set seeds. Aponogeton undulatus flowered rarely, did not set seeds, but showed formation of young plantlets on the inflorescence axis. Similarly, different chromosome numbers were recorded in Aponogeton microphyllus and the two forms of A. undulatus, viz., AF1 and AF2, whichoccurin distinct populations. Aponogeton microphyllus exhibited polysomaty with root-tip cells showing 2n=40, 42, and 44 chromosomes. The two forms of A. undulatus, AF1 and AF2, showed 2n=84 and 86 chromosomes, respectively. Based on the ITS data, both speciesoccupiedtwo separate clades. Plastid trnK intron region indicated a close relationship between both species. Our study suggests the need for comprehensive phylogenetic analyses of A. undulatus across its distribution range based on more advanced techniques such as high-throughput sequencing data to understand the A. undulatus species complex and to detect natural hybrids of this species. 2023, Indian Academy of Sciences. -
Fuel coke derived nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped porous graphene structures for high-performance supercapacitors: The trail towards a brown-to-green transition
As the looming crisis of global energy market exponentially intensifies, the scientific community prompts the use of supercapacitors as a sustainable energy production/storage model and emission reduction strategy. Therefore, in this work, we present a cutting-edge approach for the high-value utilization of fossil fuel-derived materials in supercapacitor applications, promoting an integrated brown-to-green transition for energy, ecology, and the environment. Herein, nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped porous graphene sheets (a-NPGO) have been prepared from fuel coke, which exhibits outstanding electrochemical performance as a supercapacitor electrode material. The a-NPGO shows a high specific capacitance (322 F/g at 1 A/g) almost 11 times greater than the undoped coke-based graphene derivative. Furthermore, the symmetric supercapacitor assembled with a-NPGO-modified electrodes delivered an exceptional power density of 812 W/kg at energy density of 14 Wh/kg and an excellent capacitance retention of 90 % after 5000 charge-discharge cycles. This impression of coke-derived material in high-performance supercapacitors may broaden the horizon of the current electrochemical energy storage paradigm and afford the eco-conscious implementation of fossil fuel resources. 2023 Elsevier Ltd -
Numerical simulation and mathematical modeling for heat and mass transfer in MHD stagnation point flow of nanofluid consisting of entropy generation
The primary goal of this article is to explore the radiative stagnation point flow of nanofluid with cross-diffusion and entropy generation across a permeable curved surface. Moreover, the activation energy, Joule heating, slip condition, and viscous dissipation effects have been considered in order to achieve realistic results. The governing equations associated with the modeling of this research have been transformed into ordinary differential equations by utilizing appropriate transformation variable. The resulting system of equations was solved numerically by using Bvp4c built-in package in MATLAB. The impact of involved parameters have been graphically examined for the diverse features of velocity, temperature, and concentration profiles. Throughout the analysis, the volume fraction is assumed to be less than 5 % while the Prandtl number is set to be 6. In addition, the entropy generation, friction drag, Nusselt, and Sherwood numbers have been plotted for describing the diverse physical aspects of the underlying phenomena. The major outcomes reveal that the curvature parameter reduces the velocity profile and skin friction coefficient whereas the magnetic parameter, temperature difference parameter, and radiation parameter intensify the entropy generation. 2023, The Author(s). -
FinTech and Financial Capability, What Do We Know and What We Do Not Know: A Scoping Review
Purpose: The scoping review of this study was to investigate the existing literature on FinTech's impact on financial competence and draw conclusions from it. We applied Danielle Levac's recommendations and used the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study involved identifying and analyzing 246 papers from major databases, followed by a rigorous screening process to select 54 relevant studies. Data coding, inclusion, and exclusion screening were conducted by us independently. Findings: According to the findings, studies on FinTech and financial capacity started in 2012, and since 2020, the number of studies has sharply increased. The analysis showed that financial inclusion was the primary focus of the major FinTech studies, suggesting possible research gaps in other aspects of financial competence. We suggested recommendations and prospective directions for further research in this developing subject based on these findings. Managerial Implications: This knowledge will help managers find opportunities for collaboration, offer fresh perspectives, and make wise choices, which will improve the sector. Theoretical Implications: Important concepts and relationships were found, new trends were highlighted, and theoretical advancements were suggested as a result of the inquiry. Through the filling of knowledge gaps, the study would guide future theoretical development, facilitate diverse perspectives, and support the construction of robust frameworks in the FinTech and financial capabilities sector. Originality/Value: This study offered a comprehensive review of the body of literature, pointing out areas in need of more research and knowledge gaps. The review's unique perspective for future study and innovation in understanding the relationship between FinTech and financial capacity is derived from its thorough synthesis of many studies. 2023, Associated Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved. -
Sandwich structured pedot-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 electrodes for supercapacitor
In this study, we fabricated a divergent strategy to enhance the electrochemical capacitive properties of electrodes via the cost-effective multistep green and facile electrodeposition and brush coating technique of PEDOT-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 composite. The synthesised composite showed both EDLCs and pseudocapacitive behaviour with a good specific capacitance of 501 Fg?1 for sandwiched structure at 1 Ag?1. From the results, synthesized composite has a better ion transportation mechanism which leads to a fast chargedischarge cycle as well as a very high value of power density (500 kW/ kg) suitable for supercapacitor applications. The substance demonstrated excellent electrochemical stability, retaining 94 % of capacitance after 2000 cycles. The obtained nanocomposites were examined by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM-EDX and electrochemical analyses such as CV, GCD and EIS analyses. We consider that the highly stable PEDOT-TiO2/GO/PEDOT-TiO2 nanocomposite with super-capacitive behaviours is a very promising material for high-performance electrochemical storage. 2023 The Authors -
Study of nanofluid flow and heat transfer in a stationary cone-disk system
Rheometric, viscosimetric, bio-medical, and several other pharmaceutical machineries utilize the structural advantages provided by the geometry of a stationary conical diffuser. The problem of the Buongiorno nanofluid flow in the conical gap of a stationary cone-disk system for isothermal boundaries is studied. The governing system, comprising the incompressibility condition, NavierStokes equation, energy conservation equation, and conservation of Nanoparticle Volume Fraction (NVF) equation, is analyzed. The Lie-group theory has been used to derive a self-similar model. Solutions of the self-similar equations were computed numerically, and the expressions for the Nusselt number and Sherwood number are obtained. The parametric investigation reveals that the heat and mass transfer rate subside significantly when pre-swirl is introduced to the flow. Furthermore, the nanofluid slip mechanisms enhance the effective temperature of the system. 2023 Elsevier Ltd