Showing papers by "Vignan University published in 2020"

Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) - An overview

Abstract: Internet of Things (IoT) plays a vital role in the field of healthcare. The development of smart sensors, smart devices, advanced lightweight communication protocols made the possibility of interconnecting medical things to monitor biomedical signals and diagnose the diseases of patients without human intervention and termed as Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). This paper portrays an overview of Internet of Medical Things based remote healthcare, tracking ingestible sensors, mobile health, smart hospitals, enhanced chronic disease treatment.

Engineering salinity tolerance in plants: progress and prospects.

Abstract: There is a need to integrate conceptual framework based on the current understanding of salt stress responses with different approaches for manipulating and improving salt tolerance in crop plants. Soil salinity exerts significant constraints on global crop production, posing a serious challenge for plant breeders and biotechnologists. The classical transgenic approach for enhancing salinity tolerance in plants revolves by boosting endogenous defence mechanisms, often via a single-gene approach, and usually involves the enhanced synthesis of compatible osmolytes, antioxidants, polyamines, maintenance of hormone homeostasis, modification of transporters and/or regulatory proteins, including transcription factors and alternative splicing events. Occasionally, genetic manipulation of regulatory proteins or phytohormone levels confers salinity tolerance, but all these may cause undesired reduction in plant growth and/or yields. In this review, we present and evaluate novel and cutting-edge approaches for engineering salt tolerance in crop plants. First, we cover recent findings regarding the importance of regulatory proteins and transporters, and how they can be used to enhance salt tolerance in crop plants. We also evaluate the importance of halobiomes as a reservoir of genes that can be used for engineering salt tolerance in glycophytic crops. Additionally, the role of microRNAs as critical post-transcriptional regulators in plant adaptive responses to salt stress is reviewed and their use for engineering salt-tolerant crop plants is critically assessed. The potentials of alternative splicing mechanisms and targeted gene-editing technologies in understanding plant salt stress responses and developing salt-tolerant crop plants are also discussed.

Internal heat generation on bioconvection of an MHD nanofluid flow due to gyrotactic microorganisms

Abstract: The principal aim of this paper is to analyse the two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic flow and heat and mass transfer phenomena of water-based nanofluid containing gyrotactic microorganisms over a vertical plate by means of heat generation or absorption. Set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations are derived from the governing partial differential equations of the two-dimensional flow of MHD nanofluid and nanoparticles by utilizing appropriate similarity transformations. The numerical results are obtained with the proposed novel spectral relaxation method. The results revealed that in the heat and mass transfer, the motile microorganism flux rates as well as the velocity profiles are decreased throughout the fluid medium with the impact of magnetic field strength. Moreover, the drag stress rate and motile microorganism profiles are increased with the enhancement of magnetic field. Even though the problem of nanofluid has been broadly investigated, limited discoveries can be found through a gyrotactic microorganisms. Indeed, this paper managed to obtain the numerical analysis is performed. Furthermore, the authors also considered the MHD phenomena, heat generation or absorption effects. Very few studies in the fluid with gyrotactic microorganisms embedded in this parameter in their problems.

Investigation on Performance Enhancement of Fly ash-GGBFS Based Graphene Geopolymer Concrete

Abstract: In this study, the properties of fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS) combination based geopolymer concrete containing graphene oxide are investigated. The effects of graphene oxide (GO) addition and GGBFS inclusion on the compressive strength, modulus of elasticity of geopolymer concrete were investigated in this paper. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was conducted to provide a thorough insight into the microstructure's characterization. Rapid chloride permeability test (RCPT) was also conducted to estimate the chloride ion resistance of graphene-modified geopolymer concrete. The experimental data revealed that the geopolymerization products were detected to be extra compact, and the inside porosity was decreased due to the inclusion of GO. However, enhanced compressive strength can be achieved in the geopolymer concrete after the incorporation of GGBFS, and this effect is more prominent for containing GO. The SEM images indicated that graphene oxide altered the morphology of geopolymer concrete from a porous nature to a significantly pore filled morphology with increased compressive strength. Besides, better relationships were established between the compressive strength, modulus of elasticity, and RCPT; these relationships fitted reasonably well with the other predictions. The experimental results depicted that 3% addition of graphene oxide with 30% GGBFS replacement produced an increase in compressive strength and modulus of elasticity values by 38.51% and 28%, while the chloride ion permeability by 65.44% respectively compared to mix without graphene oxide.

Biosorption of copper(II) onto spent biomass of Gelidiella acerosa (brown marine algae): optimization and kinetic studies

Abstract: This study exclusively focused on the potential application of an inexpensive and sustainable waste macro-algal biomass as an adsorbent for biosorption of copper ions from aqueous medium. After extraction of agar from brown macro-marine algae Gelidiella acerosa, the residual biomass without any further treatment was used as an adsorbent for the expulsion of copper from wastewater. Physicochemical parameters of biosorption like initial pH, initial concentration of Cu(II) solution and biosorbent dosage were optimized using response surface methodology. The maximum copper biosorption potential of 96.36% was observed at optimum conditions of pH of 5.31, initial concentration of 23.87 mg/l and biosorbent dosage of 0.41 g/l. Adopting FTIR and SEM techniques, the surface morphological features of biosorbent were studied. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model was found to be a proper approach to describe biosorption kinetics. All these results confirmed that spent G. acerosa could be considered as an efficient, eco-friendly and economic alternative for Cu(II) removal from aqueous solution.

Design of a multi-epitope-based vaccine targeting M-protein of SARS-CoV2: an immunoinformatics approach.

Abstract: In the present study, one of the targets present on the envelopes of coronaviruses, membrane glycoprotein (M) was chosen for the design of a multi-epitope vaccine by Immunoinformatics approach. The B-cell and T-cell epitopes used for the construction of vaccine were antigenic, nonallergic and nontoxic. An adjuvant, β-defensin and PADRE sequence were included at the N-terminal end of the vaccine. All the epitopes were joined by linkers for decreasing the junctional immunogenicity. Various physicochemical parameters of the vaccine were evaluated. Secondary and tertiary structures were predicted for the vaccine construct. The tertiary structure was further refined, and various parameters related to the refinement of the protein structure were validated by using different tools. Humoral immunity induced by B-cells relies upon the identification of antigenic determinants on the surface of the vaccine construct. In this regard, the vaccine construct was found to consist of several B-cell epitopes in its three-dimensional conformation. Molecular docking of the vaccine was carried out with TLR-3 receptor to study their binding and its strength. Further, protein-protein interactions in the docked complex were visualized using LigPlot+. Population coverage analysis had shown that the multi-epitope vaccine covers 94.06% of the global population. The vaccine construct was successfully cloned in silico into pET-28a (+). Immune simulation studies showed the induction of primary, secondary and tertiary immune responses marked by the increased levels of antibodies, INF-γ, IL-2, TGF-β, B- cells, CD4+ and CD8+ cells. Finally, the vaccine construct was able to elicit immune response as desired. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

TiO2 nanofibres decorated with green-synthesized PAu/Ag@CQDs for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and pharmaceutical drugs

Abstract: Organic pollutants such as dyes and pharmaceutical drugs have become an environmental menace, particularly in water bodies owing to their unregulated discharge. It is thus required to develop an economically viable and environment-friendly approach for their degradation in water bodies. In this study, for the first time, we report green route-synthesized plasmonic nanostructures (PM-CQDs (where M: Au and Ag)) decorated onto TiO2 nanofibers for the treatment of toxic dye- and pharmaceutical drug-based wastewater. PM-CQDs are efficaciously synthesized using carbon quantum dots (CQDs) as the sole reducing and capping agent, wherein CQDs are derived via a green synthesis approach from Citrus limetta waste. The characteristic electron-donating property of CQDs played a key role in the reduction of Au3+ to Au0 and Ag+ to Ag0 under visible light irradiation to obtain PAu-CQDs and PAg-CQDs, respectively. Thus, the obtained CQDs, PAu-CQDs, and PAg-CQDs are loaded onto TiO2 nanofibers to obtain a PM-CQD/TiO2 nanocomposite (NC), and are further probed via transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and UV-visible spectrophotometry. The degradation of organic pollutants and pharmaceutical drugs using methylene blue and erythromycin as model pollutants is mapped with UV-vis and NMR spectroscopy. The results demonstrate the complete MB dye degradation in 20 minutes with 1 mg mL−1 of PAu-CQD/TiO2 NC, which otherwise is 30 minutes for PAg@CQD/TiO2 dose under visible light irradiation. Similarly, the pharmaceutical drug was found to degrade in 150 minutes with PAu-CQD/TiO2 photocatalysts. These findings reveal the enhanced photocatalytic performance of the green-synthesized Au decorated with TiO2 nanofibers and are attributed to the boosted SPR effect and aqueous-phase stability of Au nanostructures. This study opens a new domain of utilizing waste-derived and green-synthesized plasmonic nanostructures for the degradation of toxic/hazardous dyes and pharmaceutical pollutants in water.

Dry sliding wear behavior of Al 6082 metal matrix composites reinforced with red mud particles

Abstract: The present study aims at investigating the dry sliding wear behavior of Al-based 6082 metal matrix composites (AMMCs) reinforced with red mud particles by pin-on-disc configuration. AMMCs were fabricated with three different weight fractions of red mud particles ranging from 2 to 6% by using the stir-casting method. The friction coefficients and volumetric wear rates were continuously evaluated under normal loads of 10–30 N and sliding speed of 1.5 m s−1 for the constant sliding distance of 1000 m. Microstructural analysis indicated that red mud particles are more or less uniformly dispersed throughout the Al matrix with minimal agglomeration. Experimental data shows that microhardness and tensile strengths of both the as-cast and heat-treated composites are steadily improved by increasing the amount of reinforced red mud particles but at the cost of ductility. Analysis of worn surfaces revealed that delamination and abrasion are dominant wear mechanisms for the case of the heat-treated composites are whereas the adhesion wear mechanism for the base alloy. The composite containing 4% red mud particles experienced the lowest wear rate at a normal load of 30 N and sliding speed of 1.5 m s−1 as compared to other composites including the base alloy. While the composite with 2% red mud particles shows the lowest friction coefficient, base alloy exhibited the highest friction coefficient.

IoT Technologies in Agricultural Environment: A Survey

Abstract: Agriculture functions as an indispensable act in the world by meeting one of the basic needs of an individual named food, in spite of the fact that the assets are being reduced day by day and also various other problems arise irrespective of biases. In this scenario, unlike many technologies, when every other way fails to sense the routine of a crop, automation takes place by connecting to the invincible storages like cloud and streamlining the process by figuring its hardware and implementing user-friendly internet platform. IoT has set a benchmark in the technologies and has become a backbone to agriculture. This advancement in technology helps in farming automation, which helps in shaping a farmer’s workspace, ensuring them with device management, connectivity management, and productivity as a result along with remote management. This paper gives an insight on introduction to IoT, agriculture IoT, emerging wireless technologies of IoT, architectures and applications of IoT.

Efficacy of biochar in removal of organic pesticide, Bentazone from watershed systems.

Abstract: Bentazone is one of the toxic insecticides used to control forest tent caterpillar moths, boll weevils, gypsy moths, and other types of moths in various field crops. We report the efficacy of biochar prepared from the Azardirachta Indica waste biomass as adsorbent for removal of Bentazone. Biochar material was prepared by pyrolysis process under limited oxygen conditions. Biochar material was characterized by proximate and ultimate analysis, SEM analysis, FTIR analysis and TG/DTA analyses. The Bentazone adsorption capacity by biochar from aqueous solutions was assessed. Effect of time, adsorbent dosage, insecticide concentration and pH on the adsorption characteristics of the biochar were evaluated. Adsorption parameters were obtained at equilibrium contact time of 150 min, with biochar dosage of 0.5 g at pH 8. From the optimization studies, desirability of 0.952 was obtained with response (adsorption uptake) of 79.40 mg/g, for initial concentration of insecticide (50 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.448 g), time 30.0 min and pH 2. The adsorption isotherm data for the removal of Bentazone fitted well with the Freundlich isotherm. This study indicates that the biochar produced from the bark of Azardirachta Indica biomass could be employed as a potential adsorbent for removal of synthetic organic pollutants from the water streams.

Optimal allocation of distributed generations using hybrid technique with fuzzy logic controller radial distribution system

Abstract: In this concept, an enhanced idea is proposed for solving the optimal load flow issues with uncertainties. In this article the Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) technique and Ant-Lion Optimization Algorithm’s (ALOA) with Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) based combination is proposed. The ALO imitates the hunting mechanism of ant lions in nature and the PSO improves the ALO performance by updating elitism phase of ALO. The FLC is trained based on training dataset and testing time which produces the optimal allocation parameters are based on the variation of radial distribution network parameters. In this projected hybrid algorithm, Photo-Voltaic and Wind Turbine generations (PV and WT) are considering as Distributed Generators (DGs). Initially, after defining the multi objective function, then about voltage deviation, minimization of power loss and improvement of voltage stability index is discussed. The minimization of cost of operation and deviation of voltage indexes are considered as multi objective functions and the projected technique is evaluate on IEEE 33 standard radial distribution systems. With new hybrid technique, allocation of multi-DGs like wind and PV at different sites, and the optimal load flow at various cases is analyzed.

Perspectives on Nickel Hydroxide Electrodes Suitable for Rechargeable Batteries: Electrolytic vs. Chemical Synthesis Routes.

Abstract: A significant amount of work on electrochemical energy storage focuses mainly on current lithium-ion systems with the key markets being portable and transportation applications. There is a great demand for storing higher capacity (mAh/g) and energy density (Wh/kg) of the electrode material for electronic and vehicle applications. However, for stationary applications, where weight is not as critical, nickel-metal hydride (Mi-MH) technologies can be considered with tolerance to deep discharge conditions. Nickel hydroxide has gained importance as it is used as the positive electrode in nickel-metal hydride and other rechargeable batteries such as Ni-Fe and Ni-Cd systems. Nickel hydroxide is manufactured industrially by chemical methods under controlled conditions. However, the electrochemical route is relatively better than the chemical counterpart. In the electrochemical route, a well-regulated OH− is generated at the cathode forming nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)2) through controlling and optimizing the current density. It produces nickel hydroxide of better purity with an appropriate particle size, well-oriented morphology, structure, et cetera, and this approach is found to be environmentally friendly. The structures of the nickel hydroxide and its production technologies are presented. The mechanisms of product formation in both chemical and electrochemical preparation of nickel hydroxide have been presented along with the feasibility of producing pure nickel hydroxide in this review. An advanced Ni(OH)2-polymer embedded electrode has been reported in the literature but may not be suitable for scalable electrochemical methods. To the best of our knowledge, no such insights on the Ni(OH)2 synthesis route for battery applications has been presented in the literature.

Acute toxicity of cyanide in aerobic respiration: Theoretical and experimental support for murburn explanation.

Abstract: The inefficiency of cyanide/HCN (CN) binding with heme proteins (under physiological regimes) is demonstrated with an assessment of thermodynamics, kinetics, and inhibition constants. The acute onset of toxicity and CN's mg/Kg LD50 (μM lethal concentration) suggests that the classical hemeFe binding-based inhibition rationale is untenable to account for the toxicity of CN. In vitro mechanistic probing of CN-mediated inhibition of hemeFe reductionist systems was explored as a murburn model for mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (mOxPhos). The effect of CN in haloperoxidase catalyzed chlorine moiety transfer to small organics was considered as an analogous probe for phosphate group transfer in mOxPhos. Similarly, inclusion of CN in peroxidase-catalase mediated one-electron oxidation of small organics was used to explore electron transfer outcomes in mOxPhos, leading to water formation. The free energy correlations from a Hammett study and IC50/Hill slopes analyses and comparison with ligands ( CO/ H 2 S/ N 3 - ) $\left( {\text{CO}}/{{{{\text{H}}_{2}}\text{S}}/{\text{N}_{3}^{\text{-}}}\;}\; \right)$ provide insights into the involvement of diffusible radicals and proton-equilibriums, explaining analogous outcomes in mOxPhos chemistry. Further, we demonstrate that superoxide (diffusible reactive oxygen species, DROS) enables in vitro ATP synthesis from ADP+phosphate, and show that this reaction is inhibited by CN. Therefore, practically instantaneous CN ion-radical interactions with DROS in matrix catalytically disrupt mOxPhos, explaining the acute lethal effect of CN.

Exploration of mechanical and durability characteristics of fly ash-GGBFS based green geopolymer concrete

Abstract: In this paper, the use and effect of Ground Granulated Blast Furnace Slag (GGBFS) addition to fly ash (FA) on the performance of Geopolymer Concrete was presented. A reference of Ordinary Portland cement concrete (OPC) mix was used to compare with geopolymer concrete. The effect of different proportions of GGBFS addition, ambient curing, and curing age on the properties of geopolymer concrete was reported. The concentration of sodium hydroxide solution with 8 M and solution to binder ratio as 0.4 were taken for all the mixes of geopolymer concrete. This paper reported an investigation data on the mechanical and durability characteristics of fly ash-GGBFS based geopolymer concrete and that data was compared with the control mix (OPC). SEM analysis was done on selected samples to estimate the microstructural characteristics. The results concluded that a geopolymer concrete mix containing 60% GGBFS and 40% fly ash at 28 days of ambient temperature achieved maximum compressive strength (55.63 MPa) and further performed durable under severe environmental conditions.

An update and perspectives on the use of promoters in plant genetic engineering.

Abstract: Genetically engineered plants have varied applications in agriculture for enhancing the values of food and feed. Genetic engineering aims to introduce selected genetic regions with desirable traits into target plants for both spatial and temporal expressions. Promoters are the key elements responsible for regulating gene expressions by modulating the transcription factors (TFs) through recognition of RNA polymerases. Based on their recognition and expression, RNA polymerases were categorized into RNA pol II and pol III promoters. Promoter activity and specificity are the two prime parameters in regulating the transgene expression. Since the use of constitutive promoters like Cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S may lead to adverse effects on non-target organisms or ecosystem, inducible/tissue specific promoters and/or the RNA pol III promoters provide myriad opportunities for gene expressions with controlled regulation and with minimum adverse effects. Besides their role in transgene expression, their influence in synthetic biology and genome editing are also discussed. This review provides an update on the importance, current prospects, and insight into the advantages and disadvantages of promoters reported thus far would help to utilize them in the endeavour to develop nutritionally and agronomically improved transgenic crops for commercialization.

Synthesis and electrochromic properties of nanocrystalline WO3 thin films

Abstract: In the present work, Electron beam evaporated tungsten trioxide (WO3) thin films were prepared under an oxygen partial pressure of 2 × 10−4 mbar by maintaining the well cleaned Corning 7059 glass, Silicon and Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates at 6–8 °C and room temperature (RT). As deposited films continued subsequently for annealing at 400 °C in air about 2 h and films were systematically characterised for their structural, morphological, vibrational, optical and electrochromic properties. XRD studies reveal that the prepared WO3 films are completely monoclinic structure with different orientations. The morphological images show that the surface is uniform, homogeneous and the grain sizes are comparable with the XRD data. The optical transmission and energy bandgap of the films increases with the lowering of temperatures to 6–8 °C. Lastly, it is commence that coloration efficiency at wavelength of 550 nm for annealed films deposited at 6–8 °C is maximum, 72.60 cm2C-1.

Immunotherapeutics for Covid-19 and post vaccination surveillance.

Abstract: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has emerged as a pandemic and named as novel coronavirus disease (nCOVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 is different from other known viruses due to multiple mutations on the sites of nonstructural proteins (NSP) 2 and 3, and the varying nature of virulence between different persons. Immunotherapies such as vaccines and monoclonal antibodies have a protective effect on the patients bringing them to the front of the line of potential treatments. The present review intends to cover the development of 20 different vaccine candidates categorized under live attenuated vaccines, inactivated vaccines, subunit vaccines, viral vector-based vaccines, and nucleic acid vaccines. Formulation of these vaccine candidates by various companies in collaboration with global organizations and their status of clinical trials were addressed. On the other hand, various approaches for post-vaccination surveillance using nucleic acid and protein biomarkers imbued on suitable platforms were also highlighted to sum up the immune therapeutics for Covid-19.

Environmentally sustainable rice husk ash reinforced cardanol based polybenzoxazine bio-composites for insulation applications

Abstract: Tri-substituted cardanol based benzoxazine with functionalized rice husk ash (CBz/FRHA) bio-composites were developed using renewable resource materials, and their thermal, electrical, and biological properties were studied by different analytical methods. The molecular structure of CBz was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) techniques. Data resulted from thermal studies indicated that the incorporation of bio-based silica reinforcement effectively improved the thermal properties including Tg, thermal stability and char yield. Dielectric studies indicate that the bio-based composites possess the lower value of dielectric constant (low k—2.15) than that of neat matrix (low k—4.04). Further, the antimicrobial studies were carried out against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus bacteria using disk diffusion method and the results obtained confirm that the CBz/FRHA bio-composites possess an improved antibacterial behavior. Data resulted from different studies, and it is suggested that CBz/FRHA based bio-composites can be used as cost competitive materials in the form of adhesives, sealants, encapsulants and matrices for low-k insulation application in the field of microelectronics for high-performance applications.

Workability, microstructure, strength properties and durability properties of graphene oxide reinforced cement paste

Abstract: Graphene oxide (GO) is one of the prominent nanomaterial, this has been utilised in the cement composite materials. Graphene oxide represents unprecedented range of properties with a potential to e...