Abstract Sharing digital images on social media has become very common these days. People must check for authenticity to share images on social media websites. The shared image may be forged intentionally or unintentionally and can defame someone's reputation, leading to severe events, such as public riots. Thus, authentication of digital images which are posted on social media websites is of paramount importance. Our social media should be intelligent enough to check on these forged images such that no false information spreads around society. Many image forgery detection algorithms have been used by big social groups based on JPEG compression artifacts, but these may not work well in the presence of anti-forensics. JPEG compression is the most widely used standard in social media these days. Two important artifacts, quantization and blocking artifacts, are being exploited by various experts for forensic analysis. JPEG anti-forensic techniques clear away these artifacts to fool forensic detectors. This work presents a novel technique derived from the inter-block interdependence of DCT coefficients for ferreting out JPEG-blocking artifacts in the presence of anti-forensics. In the case of JPEG images, the cropping operation shifts the blocking artifacts within the block, changing the inter-block interdependence. We propose to take advantage of this change to ferret out the blockiness in an image that will help the forensic analyst detect forgery. The proposed method can detect blocking artifacts even if anti-forensic operations are applied and take the intelligence of social media to a step up. A set of different and reproducible experiments have been conducted over a large set of images. It has been observed that the proposed detector outperformed the existing ones in ferreting out blocking artifacts in altered (anti-forensically) JPEG images.

Abstract Rice wine is an alcoholic beverage made by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation by using mould and yeast, respectively. In Nepal, traditional starter culture locally known as murcha has been used for fermenting locally available raw materials such as millet, rice, wheat, etc. The quality of alcoholic beverages always varies due to the lack of process standardization in terms of culture and process. Here, isolation and screening of mould and yeast were done from the murcha collected from different districts of Nepal and used in the production of rice wine. The performance of mould was tested for saccharifying capacity and yeast for sugar, alcohol, pH tolerances and alcohol production. Most potent yeast isolates were identified by the molecular tool using 18s universal primer. Seven mould isolates from murcha were tested for saccharification by halo zone on starch media, microscopic observation, liquefication and dinitro salicylic acid test for identification of yeast and mould. All yeast isolates were also compared with commercial yeast (Saccharomyces bayanus SN9). Yeasts isolates from Parbat and Dolakha district murcha showed 99% identity with Saccharomyces boulardii and Saccharomyces cerevisiae respectively during basic local alignment search tool. Among eight isolates, murcha from Parbat sample showed better performance in terms of alcohol production. Yeast and mould from Parbat district were used for the fermentation of rice wine. During fermentation change in acidity, ˚Brix and pH respectively 1.0-2.6 g/L, 1-5 and 4.1-3.4. After pasteurized rice wine showed 5% abv, 1.5 g/L succinic acid, 0.27 g/L amino acid, 5.8 ˚Brix, 4.7 pH, 0.56 g/100 mL glucose with no detected methanol (g/100 L) while non pasteurized rice wine showed 5% abv, 1.3 g/L succinic acid, 0.34 g/L amino acid, 6 ˚Brix, 4.65 pH, 0.60 g/100 mL glucose with no detected methanol (g/100 L). Murcha sample collected from Parbat has highest potentail to produce sake campare to other sample collected from different district of Nepal.

Abstract Radioactive trivalent chromium (51Cr3+) is a known radiopharmaceutical used to tag plasma proteins, platelets and also for estimation of blood volume. Nevertheless, there exist insufficient reports with limited sample sizes concerning its clearance from blood and its biodistribution after intravenous administration. This study focused to understand clearance rate of 51Cr3+ from blood and analyze its biodistribution. For biodistribution, six adult New Zealand white albino rabbits were injected with 51Cr3+ through their marginal vein. Percentage clearance of 51Cr3+ from blood was calculated by recording radioactive counts obtained at 1, 58, 61, 120, 180 and 240 minutes post-administration in thirty-three adult New Zealand white albino rabbits. For evaluating 51Cr3+ biodistribution, organs were surgically removed from the rabbits and weighed. Radioactivity of the organs and urine were counted in a nucleonix gamma-ray spectrometer with a NaI scintillation detector. Data were expressed as cps/g. Average clearance of 51Cr3+ was 34% from the first to the 58 minute. Subsequent measurements for hourly clearance at 120, 180 and 240 minutes showed percentage reduction of radioactivity of 33, 14 and 8, respectively. Minimal specific activities were found in the muscle and brain. Spleen, lungs, liver and kidneys exhibited moderate radioactivity. Urine tracer-concentrations were found to be ten times more than that of plasma. From this study, it has been observed that clearance of 51Cr3+ from blood was faster initially which slowed down progressively and there displayed moderate uptake of 51Cr3+ by certain organs. Understanding pharmacokinetics of 51Cr3+ is relevant for its potential use as a diagnostic tool.

Abstract CS58 is a newly developed, salt-tolerant, high-yielding Indian mustard variety from ICAR- CSSRI, Karnal, India, to harness the yield potential of salt-affected soils of India. It produced 24-25% higher seed yield than the national check varieties CS54 and Kranti and was well received and adopted by farmers in salt-affected areas of the country during on-farm demonstrations.

Abstract Graphene is a new carbon based nonmaterial that attracts the technology and constitutes one of the great promises for nanotechnology applications in a near feature. It’s having versatile intrinsic mechanical, thermal and electrical properties.By Incorporation of small amount of graphene fillers into polymer matrix can create attractive bio composites with different morphological and functional properties. The development of biomaterials with special properties is a requirement in biomedical research, particularly in biomedical application. The aim of this work was to develop biocompatible, usable bio composites for biomedical applications using graphene as filler. Recent research evidenced that grapheme-polymer bio composites are promising materials with applications ranging from transportation, biomedical systems, sensors, electrodes for solar panels and EMI.Chemically converted graphene (CCG) solution were prepared through reduction of GO, and Polycaprolactone (PCl), a synthetic biodegradable and biocompatible aliphatic polyester also a suitable for developing biocomposites.

ABSTRACT Strain RT1 was isolated from root nodules of Lens culinaris (a lentil) and characterized as Rhizobium etli (a Gram-negative soil-borne bacterium) by 16S rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. The signaling molecules produced by R. etli (RT1) were detected and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The most abundant and biologically active N-acyl homoserine lactone molecules (3-oxo-C8-HSL and 3-OH-C14-HSL) were detected in the ethyl acetate extract of RT1. The biological role of 3-oxo-C8-HSL was evaluated in RT1. Bacterial motility and biofilm formation were affected or modified on increasing concentrations of 3-oxo-C8-HSL. Results confirmed the existence of cell communication in RT1 mediated by 3-oxo-C8-HSL, and positive correlations were found among quorum sensing, motility and biofilm formation in RT1.

Abstract The present paper explores the stability and failure response of elastoplastic Ni/Al2O3 functionally graded plate under thermomechanical load using non-linear finite element formulation based on first-order shear deformation theory and von-Karman’s nonlinear kinematics. The temperature dependent thermoelastic material properties of FGM plate are varied in the thickness direction by controlling the volume fraction of the constituent materials (i.e., ceramic and metal) with a power law, and Mori-Tanaka homogenization scheme is applied to evaluate the properties at a particular thickness coordinate of FGM plate. The elastoplastic behavior of FGM plate is assumed to follow J2-plasticity with isotropic hardening, wherein the ceramic phase is considered to be elastic whereas the metal is assumed to be elastic-plastic in accordance with the Tamura-Tomota-Ozawa model. Numerical studies are conducted to examine the effects of material and geometrical parameters, viz. material in-homogeneity, slenderness and aspect ratios on the elastoplastic bucking and postbuckling behavior and the failure response of FGM plate. It is revealed that material gradation affects the stability and failure behavior of FGM plate considerably. Furthermore, it is also concluded that FGM plate with elastic material properties exhibits only stable equilibrium path, whereas the elastoplastic FGM plate shows destabilizing response after the ultimate failure point.

ABSTRACT Fusarium mangiferae (=F. subglutinans) isolates collect from malformed samples from major mango-growing area of North India. Molecular identification and characterization of eleven most virulent isolates of F. mangiferae, based on pathogenicity tests used for the present study. Species-specific, genus specific ITS-PCR and PCR-RFLP performed for the accurate and easy detection of F. mangiferae. The rDNA-ITS 28S region sequences used for phylogenetic analysis of Fusarium isolates from India and other countries for homology search between them. The phylogenetic tree divided the isolates into three clades (i.e., American, Asian and African) and showed the high level of sequence based similarity (69-99%) among all Fusarium sequences from Asia. Thus, claimed Fusarium mangiferae as dominant pathogen of mango malformation. Furthermore, we conclude that exploiting the nested PCR coupled with PCR-RFLP will help in rapid and accurate detection of F. mangiferae pathogen of mango malformation.

Fasciolosis is a food borne zoonosis, caused by the digenetic trematode Fasciola. Freshwater lymnaeid snails are the intermediate host of the trematodes. Chlorophyllin, a semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll and its formulations obtained from freeze dried cow urine (FCU) had their toxicity tested against redia and cercaria larvae of F. gigantica. The larvicidal activity of chlorophyllin and its formulations were found to depend on both, time and concentration used against the larvae. Toxicity of chlorophyllin + FCU (1:1 ratio) in sunlight against redia larva (8 h LC50: 0.03 mg/mL) was more pronounced than using just chlorophyllin (8 h LC50: 0.06 mg/mL). Toxicity of chlorophyllin + FCU in sunlight against redia (8 h LC50: 0.03 mg/mL) was higher than against cercaria (8 h LC50: 0.06 mg/mL). The larvicidal activity of chlorophyllin in sunlight (redia/cercaria larvae: 8 h LC50: 0.06 mg/mL) was more pronounced than under laboratory conditions (redia: 8 h LC50: 22.21 mg/mL/, cercaria 8 h LC50: 96.21 mg/mL). Toxicity of FCU against both larvae was lower than that of chlorophyllin and chlorophyllin + FCU. Chlorophyllin and its formulations + FCU were 357.4 to 1603.5 times more effective against redia/cercaria larvae in sunlight than under laboratory conditions. The present study has shown that chlorophyllin formulations may be used as potent larvicides against fasciolosis.

Aminomethylated polystyrene (PSCH2-NH2) reacts with 3-ethoxysalicylaldehyde in equimolar amounts to produce monobasic bidentate (ON donor) polystyrene-anchored Schiff base (PS-LH). The latter upon refluxing with metal the ions in 1:2 molar ratios gives polystyrene-anchored coordination compounds of types: [PSCH2-LM(OAc)(DMF)] (where M = Cd, Co, Cu, Zn, UO2), [PSCH2-LNi(OAc)(DMF)3], [PSCH2-LFeCl2(DMF)2], [PSCH2-LMCl(CH3OH)] (where M = Cd, Zn) and [PSCH2-LMoO2(acac)]. The polystyrene-anchored compounds have been characterized on the basis of elemental analyses, spectral (IR, reflectance, ESR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. The polystyrene-anchored Co(II), Cu(II), Ni(II) and Fe(III) compounds are paramagnetic, while others are diamagnetic. Co(II) and Cu(II) compounds are square-planar; Zn(II) and Cd(II) compounds are tetrahedral; Ni(II), Fe(III), MoO2(VI) and UO2(VI) compounds are octahedral.

The O+ ion density measured by the SROSS-C2 satellite during solar minima (year 1995, F10.7 = 77) and maxima (year 2000, F10.7 = 181) has been analyzed for studying diurnal, seasonal, latitudinal and geomagnetic variations. The study region covers an area encompassed between 5-35° N latitude and 65-95° E longitude over India at a ~500 km altitude (F2 region). The year 2000 shows significant enhancement in the annual average of O+ ion density and attainment of post sunset secondary enhancement compared to 1995. Attributed to photoionization, daytime shows a maximum ionization compared to nigttime. However, attainment of post sunset secondary maxima is attributed to the strong pre-reversal enhancement in the vertical E x B drift. The effect of geomagnetic activity Kp through the E x B drift dynamic movement on O+ ion density distribution studies indicates periodicities of seven and nine days in 1995 and 2000, respectively, and polynomial dependency of the O+ ion density on geomagnetic activity Kp. Further on, stratification of the O+ ion density according to latitude (5-35° N) indicates high density in mid-latitudes (12-24° N) compared to high and low latitudes, except in the winter of 1995, which shows a distinct trend (i.e., density decreases with increasing latitude).

Se analiza la densidad del ion O+ medida por el satélite SROSS-C2 durante el mínimo solar de 1995 (F10.7 = 77) y el máximo solar de 2000 (F10.7 = 181) para estudiar variaciones diurnas, estacionales, latitudinales y geomagnéticas. El área de estudio abarca una región comprendida entre los 5 y 35° de latitud norte, y los 65 y 95° de longitud oeste sobre la India a una altura de ~500 km (región F2). El año 2000 muestra un aumento significativo en cuanto al promedio anual de densidad del ion O+ y un aumento secundario posterior a la puesta del sol en comparación con 1995. Durante el día la ionización alcanza un máximo atribuido a la fotoionización. Sin embargo, la ocurrencia de un máximo posterior a la puesta del sol se atribuye a un fuerte aumento previo a la reversión en la desviación vertical E x B. El efecto geomagnético de la actividad Kp a través del movimiento dinámico de la derivación E x B en los estudios de distribución de densidad del ion O+ indica periodicidades de siete y nueve días en 1995 y 2000, respectivamente, así como dependencia polinómica de la densidad del ion O+ en la actividad geomagnética Kp. Más aún, la estratificación de la densidad del ion O+ de acuerdo con la latitud (5-35° N) indica alta densidad en latitudes medias (12-24° N) en comparación con laltitudes bajas y altas, excepto en el invierno de 1995, que muestra un tendencia diferente (i.e., la densidad decrece conforme se incrementa la latitud).

RESUMO A infecção alimentar pelo trematóide da fasciolíase é uma dentre os mais comuns problemas de saúde pública mundiais, causando grande prejuízo econômico para a humanidade. Controle da população de caramujos abaixo de determinado nível é um dos métodos no campo mais importantes para a redução da incidência da fasciolíase. O ciclo de vida do parasita pode ser interrompido pela morte do caramujo ou da larva redia e cercária da Fasciola dentro da Lymnaea acuminata. Foi testada a toxicidade in vitro das diferentes combinações binárias (relação 1:1) entre os vários componentes larvicidas ativos da planta tais como citral, ácido ferúlico, umbeliferone, azadiractina, e alicina contra a Fasciola redia e a cercária. A mortalidade das larvas foi observada após duas, quatro, seis e oito horas de tratamento. A condição in vitro azadiractina + alicina (relação 1:1) foi altamente tóxica contra redia e cercária (8h LC50 0,006 e 0,005 mg/L). Toxicidade do citral + ácido ferúlico foi a mais baixa contra redia e larvas de cercária.

SUMMARY A food-borne trematode infection fascioliasis is one among common public health problems worldwide. It caused a great economic loss for the human race. Control of snail population below a certain threshold level is one of the important methods in the campaign to reduce the incidence of fascioliasis. The life cycle of the parasite can be interrupted by killing the snail or Fasciola larva redia and cercaria inside of the snail Lymnaea acuminata. In vitro toxicity of different binary combinations (1:1 ratio) of plant-derived larvicidal active components such as citral, ferulic acid, umbelliferone, azadirachtin and allicin against Fasciola redia and cercaria were tested. The mortality of larvae was observed at 2h, 4h, 6h and 8h of treatment. In in vitro condition azadirachtin + allicin (1:1 ratio) was highly toxic against redia and cercaria (8h LC50 0.006 and 0.005 mg/L). Toxicity of citral + ferulic acid was lowest against redia and cercaria larvae.

Traditional drugs have become a subject of world importance, with both medicinal and economical implications. A regular and widespread use of herbs throughout the world has increased serious concerns over their quality, safety and efficacy. Thus, a proper scientific evidence or assessment has become the criteria for acceptance of traditional health claims. Plants of the genus Crataegus, Rosaceae, are widely distributed and have long been used in folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments such as heart (cardiovascular disorders), central nervous system, immune system, eyes, reproductive system, liver, kidney etc. It also exhibits wide range of cytotoxic, gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-HIV and antimicrobial activities. Phytochemicals like oligomeric procyanidins, flavonoids, triterpenes, polysaccharides, catecholamines have been identified in the genus and many of these have been evaluated for biological activities. This review presents comprehensive information on the chemistry and pharmacology of the genus together with the traditional uses of many of its plants. In addition, this review discusses the clinical trials and regulatory status of various Crataegus plants along with the scope for future research in this aspect.

The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the leaves of Basella alba L. var. alba Wight, Basellaceae, were investigated for antiulcer activity on rats employing the pylorus ligation and ethanol induced ulcer models. The various gastric secretion parameters such as total acidity, free acidity, gastric acid volume, pH and histopathological parameters such as ulcer index and percent protection were comparatively examined between control, test and standard groups. The antiulcer activity of aqueous extract of B. alba (AEBA) and ethanol extract of B. alba (EEBA) were studied in rats treated with the doses of 1 mL/kg of absolute ethanol, 200 and 400 mg of test extracts and 20 mg/kg of famotidine for control, test and standard groups respectively in both the models. The animals pretreated with AEBA and EEBA showed a dose-dependent protection against gross damaging action of ethanol and pylorus ligation on gastric mucosa of animals. Histopathological evaluation also revealed that Group I treated with absolute ethanol showed severe gastric mucosal damage. The AEBA and EEBA showed 68.25 and 58.11% protection in gastric mucosal damage as compared to control group. Both the extracts of B. alba var. alba were able to decrease the gastric acidity and increase the mucosal defense in the gastric mucosal area. This study indicate that B. alba var. alba possesses significant gastroprotective effect and the same is substantiated by the histopathological examination of the ulcerated stomachs of the animals.

The aim of study was antiasthmatic potential of methanolic extract of leaves of Ailanthus excelsa Roxb., Simaroubaceae. Traditionally or in Indian system of medicine, A. excelsa is used in the treatment of asthma, cough, colic pain, cancer, diabetes and also used as antispasmodic, antifertility, bronchodilator. Stem bark of A. excelsa already reported for its potential against asthma. The pollens of Ailanthus excelsa reported allergic in nature and the time of collection of leaves were important in this study, generally the flowering stage of plant was avoided for the collection due to maximum chance of pollens at that time. Methanolic extract of leaves of A. excelsa was evaluated using in vitro goat tracheal chain preparation model and in vivo- Milk induced leucocytosis, eosinophilia, Clonidine induced catalepsy in mice model while Passive paw anaphylaxis and Clonidine induced mast cell degranulation in rat model. The extract showed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, quassonoids and test was also positive for alkaloids and steroids. The extract also showed the presence of quercetin which is flavonoid and detected on the preparative TLC plate with the help of standard quercetin. Dose response studies of methanolic extract of leaves of A. excelsa Roxb. were conducted at 100 µg mL-1 in vitro and 100, 200, 400 mg kg-1 p.o. in vivo models. The treatment with methanolic extract of A. excelsa at different dose level showed the significant (*p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001) antiasthmatic activity. Inhibition or decrease the release of inflammatory mediators potentiates the antiasthmatic as well as antiallergic activity of methanolic extract of leaves of A. excelsa.