1,837 research outputs found
International peace activist Supriya Vani talks about her book "Battling injustice"
No full textSupriya Vani, international peace activist and author of "Battling injustice: the stories of 16 women Nobel Peace Laureates," delivers a talk about her book. Vani describes each of the women's accomplishments that made them worthy of winning a Nobel Peace Prize and specifically how they each furthered gender equality and women's rights. Vani also discusses her experiences interviewing the living award recipients and the overall research that went into her book. Vani answers questions from the audience
Maximizing the health benefits of lycopene isomers
No full textLycopene is an acyclic C40 non polar carotenoid found in tomatoes. In nature, the predominant form is the all-trans isomeric form which represents 80-97% of lycopene in tomato and tomato related products. However on consumption of tomato products, >50% of the lycopene is found in the cis isomeric form in the body, thereby implying that the cis isomeric form is the more bioavailable /bioactive form in the human body.
The major objective of our study was to validate the bioactivity of lycopene isomers. Three approaches were used to achieve this goal. 1). An ab initio computational model to study the structure of isomers. 2). Develop a method to isolate isomers. 3). Study antioxidant activity and cellular proliferation activity of isomers in in- vitro condition.
Computational modeling studies showed that lycopene isomers differ in their electronic distribution on the molecules. Cellular Antioxidant Activity (CAA) method showed that cis isomers have higher CAA compared to all-trans isomers.
The cellular proliferation assay known as the MTT assay indicated larger decrease in proliferation of cis isomer treated prostate cancer cells. The anti-inflammatory assay (measures the amount of nitric oxide (NO) produced by mouse macrophages (RAW 264.7)) showed marginal difference in activity between control and isomer treated cells.
Non-thermal processing techniques like High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) processing and Pulse Electric Field (PEF) were used to increase the yield of beneficial cis lycopene isomer in the processed product. The results showed an qualitative increase in cis isomer after non-thermal processing.
This study helps us get deeper insights on the activity of cis and all-trans lycopene isomers at a basic molecular level, which correlates to the activity at a chemical and biological level. Non-thermal processing methods like High Hydrostatic Pressure processing and Pulse Electric Field processing methods can cause lycopene isomerization. These can be used as alternative means of processing to get tomato products that can yield health benefits to the consumers.Ph.D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Supriya Varm
FIGURES 20–26 in Two new species of Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from shallow wetlands of Peninsular India
No full textFIGURES 20–26. SEM micrographs of Nitzschia taylorii sp. nov. Figs 20, 21. SEM of external girdle view showing valve bands. Fig. 22. SEM external view of areolae structure. Fig. 23. SEM internal view of entire valve. Fig 24. SEM internal view of valve apices. Fig. 25. SEM internal view showing round to rectangular shape fibulae. Fig 26. SEM external valve view showing basal margin scattered with small papillae (note arrow mark). Scale bars in Figs 20, 21, 26 = 2 µm; Figs 22, 24, 25 = 1 µm; Fig. 23 = 10 µm. (Specimens from sample CANA 85055)Published as part of Alakananda, B., Mahesh, M. K., Hamilton, Paul B., Supriya, G., Karthick, B. & Ramachandra, T. V., 2012, Two new species of Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from shallow wetlands of Peninsular India, pp. 13-25 in Phytotaxa 54 (1) on page 17, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.54.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/506099
FIGURES 13–19 in Two new species of Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from shallow wetlands of Peninsular India
No full textFIGURES 13–19. SEM micrographs of Nitzschia taylorii sp. nov. Fig. 13. SEM of external view of the entire valve. Fig. 14. SEM of girdle view showing valve bands. Fig. 15. SEM view of valve apex with deflected raphe terminal. Figs 16–17. SEM external view of raphe, valve mantle and areolae structure. Fig. 18. SEM of external view of central area of N. taylorii showing uninterrupted raphe. Fig.19. SEM of external view of central area of N. frustulum showing interrupted raphe. Scale bar in Figs 13, 14 = 10 µm; Figs 15–19 = 2 µm. (Specimens from sample CANA 85055)Published as part of Alakananda, B., Mahesh, M. K., Hamilton, Paul B., Supriya, G., Karthick, B. & Ramachandra, T. V., 2012, Two new species of Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from shallow wetlands of Peninsular India, pp. 13-25 in Phytotaxa 54 (1) on page 16, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.54.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/506099
Secure TPMS Data Transmission in Real-Time IoV Environments: A Study on 5G and LoRa Networks
No full textThe advancement of Automotive Industry 4.0 has promoted the development of Vehicle to Vehicle (V2V) and Internet of Vehicles (IoV) communication, which marks the new era for intelligent, connected and automated transportation. Despite the benefits of this metamorphosis in terms of effectiveness and convenience, new obstacles to safety, inter-connectivity, and cybersecurity emerge. The tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) is one prominent feature that senses tire pressure, which is closely related to vehicle stability, braking performance and fuel efficiency. However, the majority of TPMSs currently in use are based on the use of insecure and proprietary wireless communication links that can be breached by attackers so as to interfere with not only tire pressure readings but also sensor data manipulation. For this purpose, we design a secure TPMS architecture suitable for real-time IoV sensing. The framework is experimentally implemented using a Raspberry Pi 3B+ (Raspberry Pi Ltd., Cambridge, UK) as an independent autonomous control unit (ACU), interfaced with vehicular pressure sensors and a LoRa SX1278 (Semtech Corporation, Camarillo, CA, USA) module to support low-power, long-range communication. The gathered sensor data are encrypted, their integrity checked, source authenticated by lightweight cryptographic algorithms and sent to a secure server locally. To validate this approach, we show a three-node exhibition where Node A (raw data and tampered copy), B (unprotected copy) and C (secure auditor equipped with alerting of tampering and weekly rotation of the ID) realize detection of physical level threats at top speeds. The validated datasets are further enriched in a MATLAB R2024a simulator by replicating the data of one vehicle by 100 virtual vehicles communicating using over 5G, LoRaWAN and LoRa P2P as communication protocols under urban, rural and hill-station scenarios. The presented statistics show that, despite 5G ultra-low latency, LoRa P2P consistently provides better reliability and energy efficiency and is more resistant to attacks in the presence of various terrains. Considering the lack of private vehicular 5G infrastructure and the regulatory restrictions, this work simulated and evaluated the performance of 5G communication, while LoRa-based communication was experimentally validated with a hardware prototype. The results underline the trade-offs among LoRa P2P and an infrastructure-based uplink 5G mode, when under some specific simulation conditions, as opposed to claiming superiority over all 5G modes. In conclusion, the presented Raspberry Pi–MATLAB hybrid solution proves to be an effective and scalable approach to secure TPMS in IoV settings, intersecting real-world sensing with large-scale network simulation, thus enabling safer and smarter next-generation vehicular systems
Nitzschia taylorii Alakananda, P. B. Hamilton & Karthick 2012, sp. nov.
No full textNitzschia taylorii Alakananda, P.B.Hamilton & Karthick, sp. nov. (Figs 1–25) Valves lanceolate to linear lanceolate with protracted round to capitate apices. Valve mantle wider on keel side with siliceous nodules present immediately below keel. Length 22–42 µm, width 5–7.5 µm with 21–25 striae in 10 µm and 10–14 fibulae in 10 µm. Keel marginal, rounded, elevated from valve face and mantle (Figs 13, 14). Raphe continuous from apex to apex without central area (Fig. 18) and with terminal apices deflected towards valve face as a continuous loop across apex mantle (Figs 15, 17). Striae uniseriate across valve face, extending onto keel (Fig. 16). Mantle on opposite side of keel, with 2–3 elongated areolae and a broad hyaline basal margin (Fig. 18). On keel side, mantle with 2–4 elongated areolae comprising each stria (Figs 20, 21) with a solid surface at basal margin scattered with small papillae (Fig. 26). Areolae on valve face round to elongated depressions, not occluded (Fig. 22). Internally, each stria covered by hymen, and fibulae round to rectangular in shape throughout valve (Figs 23, 25). Cingulum composed of numerous open copulae. Epicingulum of four bands, all with different surface structure. Valvocopula with single row of large elliptical pores on pars exterior and a row of small fine papillae along bottom of band (Figs. 20, 26). Second and third bands with narrow external exposure, with no visible pores, but with fine papillae along bottom of band (Fig. 26). Fourth band broad with a series of narrow elongated pores along pars exterior and a wide area devoid of structure at base of band (Fig. 21). Type:— INDIA. Bangalore: Begur wetland situated at Bangalore, 12° 52' 20" N, 77° 37' 58" E, elevation 900 m, March 2009. B. Alakananda & G. Supriya, s.n. (holotype CESH-5-1881! (circled specimen on slide); isotype CANA 85055! (circled specimen on slide)). Ecology:— Nitzschia taylorii was found in three wetlands viz., Begur, Hulimavu and Vaderahalli, characterized by basic pH (8.6 ± 0.6), alkalinity of 293.3 ± 80.8 mgL -1 and conductivity of 735.7 ± 322.5 µScm -1. Nitrate and phosphate values of these wetlands were 0.56 ± 0.95 mgL -1 and 0.33 ± 0.39 mgL -1 respectively. BOD and COD of these wetlands were recorded as 13.5 ± 7.9 mgL -1 and 37.3 ± 11.7 mgL -1 respectively. Etymology:— The species epithet is named for our colleague and friend Dr. Jonathan Charles Taylor (North West University, South Africa) whose support for diatom studies in India is hereby acknowledged and who has been an inspiration to both Karthick and Alakananda. Observations:— Nitzschia taylorii is distinguished by the separation of the keel from the valve face, the continuous raphe, large uniseriate areolae on the keel, row of nodules on the mantle below the keel, and the distinct morphology of the epicingulum bands. This taxon can be compared to N. solita Hustedt (1953: 152) in its general outline, although N. taylorii is more lanceolate (not constricted linear-lanceolate) and with distinct capitate apices. Both N. taylorii and N. solita have the same areolate morphology on the valve face and keel. Nitzschia taylorii is distinguished from N. steynii Cholnoky (1966: 207) by its lanceolate shape, the broader fibulae and finer striae. Nitzschia taylorii is less similar to N. frustulum (Kützing 1844: 63) Grunow (in Cleve & Grunow1880: 98) and distinguished by its lanceolate shape with protracted capitate apices, uniseriate striae (not biseriate) on the keel. Further N. frustulum is presented with an interrupted raphe (Fig. 19), where as N. taylorii is characterized by an uninterrupted raphe (Fig. 18). Specimens of N. frustulum sensu lato, identified from brackish-like waters, have also been identified from the type locality of N. taylorii. Four other taxa, N. costei Tudesque, Rimet & Ector (2008: 485), N. macedonica Hustedt (1945: 946), N. tropica Hustedt (1949: 147) and N. liebethruthii Rabenhorst (1864: 157) have similar valve outlines, approximate stria densities and fibula structure. In LM observations these taxa could be confused. In SEM, the differences between taxa were distinguished by valve outline (N. tropica), areolae formation on the keel (N. macedonica, N. tropica, N. costei), valve surface relief (N. macedonica), silica nodules on the mantle side of the keel (N. taylorii) and cingulum structure (N. tropica, N. costei) (compare Table 1).Published as part of Alakananda, B., Mahesh, M. K., Hamilton, Paul B., Supriya, G., Karthick, B. & Ramachandra, T. V., 2012, Two new species of Nitzschia (Bacillariophyta) from shallow wetlands of Peninsular India, pp. 13-25 in Phytotaxa 54 (1) on pages 15-19, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.54.1.2, http://zenodo.org/record/506099
Morphological modulation of polypyrrole thin films through oxidizing agents and their concurrent effect on supercapacitor performance
No full textAbstract not availableSujata S. Shinde, Girish S. Gund, Deepak P. Dubal, Supriya B. Jambure, Chandrakant D. Lokhand
After socialism and dirigisme : which way?
No full textThe author identifies fundamental economic changes in the last 20 years that have influenced the emergence of a new paradigm on economic reform. The new orthodoxy on economic reform emphasizes smaller government, trade liberalization, business deregulation and privatization, macroeconomic austerity, and the role of free markets for resource allocation and growth. After describing diverse country experiences in economic reform, the author summarizes his findings on key aspects of the design of economic reform programs. Shock treatment (as opposed to the gradual approach) requires a strong government with broad social support, as the costs of the policies are paid upfront and the benefits may take time to accrue. If the program involves protracted social hardship, political support will begin to evaporate and pressure will build for a reversal of reform. Important choices must be made about the sequence of macroeconomic adjustment and consolidation and structural reform. Implementing tax reform and converting quotas to tariffs improve the fiscal budget, so they contribute to macroeconomic stabilization. But premature financial liberalization, before the budget is balanced and real interest rates are at a reasonable level, may lead to financial crisis, as happened in Chile in 1982-83. Massive privatization of large-scale firms can have both stabilizing and destabilizing macroeconomic effects, for example. If it means getting rid of loss-making public enterprises, it could save scarce government resources. But if the resulting output and unemployment costs are socially unsustainable, pressure may mount for the government to come to the enterprises'rescue. The shift from an economy with controlled prices to one in which most prices are market-determined generally involves a big hike in price levels. Chile and Mexico illustrate the stubbornness of the inflation that may follow. China, Korea, and Chile represent countries that carried out economic reform under authoritarian governments that postponed political reform to gain political legitimacy from the fruits of consolidated economic reform. In countries where economic and political reform are pursued simultaneously (as in Eastern Europe and Russia), fragile democracies with a fragmented party system and weak social institutions and governments do not provide the most favorable political environment for implementing and consolidating complex and painful economic reforms. Under these conditions, governments are bound to face the dilemma of either postponing economic reform to avert a political crisis or to backslide in democratization to apply painful economic policies - both unsavory choices.Environmental Economics&Policies,Economic Theory&Research,Banks&Banking Reform,Inequality,Achieving Shared Growth
Semantic Modelling of Smart Healthcare Data
No full textNowadays, healthcare is becoming increasingly connected
and increasingly complex. These changes provide opportunities
and challenges to the research community. For instance,
the enormous volume of data gathered from IoT wearable fitness
devices and wellness appliances, if effectively analysed and understood,
can be exploited to improve people’s well-being and identify
predictive markers of future diseases. However, due to the lack of
devices interoperability and heterogeneity of data representation
formats, the IoT healthcare landscape is characterised by a
pervasive presence of ”data silos” which prevents users and health
practitioners from obtaining an overall view of whole knowledge.
Semantic web technologies, such as ontologies and inference rules,
have been shown as a promising way for the integration and
exploitation of data from heterogeneous sources. In this paper, we
present a semantic data model useful to: (a) analyse information
from unstructured data sources along with generic or domain
specific datasets; (b) unify them in an interlinked data processing
area. The proposed semantic eHealth system enables automatic
inferences and logical reasoning, and can significantly facilitate
reuse, exploitation and possible extension of IoT health data
sources.. Nowadays, healthcare is becoming increasingly connected and increasingly complex. These changes provide opportunities and challenges to the research community. For instance, the enormous volume of data gathered from IoT wearable fitness devices and wellness appliances, if effectively analysed and understood, can be exploited to improve peo-ple’s well-being and identify predictive markers of future diseases. However, due to the lack of devices interoperability and heterogeneity of data representation formats, the IoT healthcare landscape is characterised by a pervasive presence of “data silos” which prevents users and health practitioners from obtaining an overall view of whole knowledge. Semantic web technologies, such as ontologies and inference rules have been shown as a promising way for the integration and exploitation of data from heterogeneous sources. In this paper, we present a semantic data model useful to: (a) analyse information from unstructured data sources along with generic or domain specific datasets; (b) unify them in an interlinked data processing area. The proposed semantic eHealth system enables automatic inferences and logical reasoning, and can significantly facilitate reuse, exploitation and possible extension of IoT health data sources
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