A new multi-criteria decision making method for the selection of construction contractors using interval valued fuzzy set.

OBJECTIVE: This article introduces a novel approach called Digital Weighted Multi Criteria Decision Making (DWMCDM) that employs interval valued fuzzy sets to select the best contractor for building projects. The contractor is chosen based on the pre-qualification and bid evaluation phases. In the first phase, the distance between the actual and required skills of the significant criteria is determined, and it is then converted into digital weighted distances to identify the maximum number of criteria related to the specific project of each contractor. The second step ranks the best contractor based on the bid price and digital weighted distances. RESULTS: The suggested technique integrates the pre-qualification and bid review phases to address project award delays and other restrictions. Finally, a real-world application is addressed to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed approach to any type of interval valued fuzzy inputs.

A derivative-free root-finding algorithm using exponential method and its implementation.

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, we develop a new root-finding algorithm to solve the given non-linear equations. The proposed root-finding algorithm is based on the exponential method. This algorithm is derivative-free and converges fast. RESULTS: Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate and validation of the proposed methods. Microsoft Excel and Maple implementation of the proposed algorithm is presented with sample computations.

On new sixth and seventh order iterative methods for solving non-linear equations using homotopy perturbation technique.

OBJECTIVES: This paper proposes three iterative methods of order three, six and seven respectively for solving non-linear equations using the modified homotopy perturbation technique coupled with system of equations. This paper also discusses the analysis of convergence of the proposed iterative methods. RESULTS: Several numerical examples are presented to illustrate and validation of the proposed methods. Implementation of the proposed methods in Maple is discussed with sample computations.

A validation study of questionnaire towards mobile based health applications in uncontrolled diabetic population of India (South).

BACKGROUND: Mobile applications have the potential to provide needed support for older adults with diabetes. The field of medical application is currently one of the most dynamic in application development and medicine. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitude and practice of uncontrolled diabetic patients towards mobile based health applications. METHODS: A Cross Sectional study was designed and enrolled 78 adult uncontrolled diabetic (≥18 years old DM type 2)patients and clinically validated questionnaire was examined for internal consistency, reproducibility, convergent and discriminant validity using Cronbach's alpha, intra class correlation and CITC scores respectively. RESULTS: Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.97 for Assessment of Knowledge, 0.93 for Assessment of Attitude, and 0.90 for Assessment of Practice in uncontrolled diabetic population. CONCLUSION: The final version of questionnaire was found to be statistically internally consistent, reproducible and reliable and could be used to assess the awareness and attitude of patients towards self-management of diabetes mellitus.

Development and validation of rapid ion-chromatographic method with conductivity detection for trace level determination of allylamine in sevelamer drug substances.

A sensitive and rapid ion chromatography (IC) method was developed for the low level determination of allylamine (AAM) in sevelamer (SVM) drug substances, i.e., sevelamer hydrochloride (SVH) and sevelamer carbonate (SVC). This method utilized a Dionex Ion Pack CS14 IC column, a mobile phase of 10mM methane sulfonic acid with conductivity detection. The total chromatographic run time was as short as 8 min. The various factors involved in the sample preparation such as, extraction solvent, extraction time and stirrer speed were evaluated. This method was validated as per United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) and International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines in terms of detection limit, quantitation limit, linearity, precision, accuracy, specificity and robustness. Linearity of the method was very good over the concentration range of 9-750 µg/mL with the coefficient of determination (r(2)) 0.999. The detection and quantitation limit of AAM were 2.7 and 9.0 µg/mL, respectively. The recovery data obtained for AAM were between 97% and 109%. Also, the specificity of the method was proved through IC coupled with mass spectrometer (IC-MS). The developed method was found to be robust and applied successfully to determine the content of AAM in Sevelamer bulk drugs.

Stability-indicating HPLC method for the determination of impurities in meprobamate with refractive index detection.

The purpose of this study is to develop and validate a simple, sensitive, and robust high-performance liquid chromagraphic (HPLC) method for the determination of impurities ca. 2-methyl-2-propyl-1,3-propane diol (MP0) and 2-hydroxymethyl-2-methyl pentyl carbamate (MP1) in meprobamate (MEP) drug substance with refractive index (RI) detection. This method utilizes a Zorbax Eclipse XDB C(18) HPLC column, a mobile phase of 80:20 (v/v) 10 mM KH(2)PO(4),-acetonitrile, respectively. The stability-indicating capability of the method has been established by performing stress studies under acidic, basic, oxidation, light, humidity, and thermal conditions. The major degradation products of acid and base hydrolysis are identified as MP0 and MP1. The recovery data obtained for impurities are between 96.0-109.8%. The detection and quantitation limits of this method ranges from 0.009 to 0.017 mg/mL and 0.029 to 0.055 mg/mL, respectively. The relative standard deviation (RSD) for the area at QL is less than 6.1%. Good linearity (r(2) > 0.99) and precision (RSD < 2.2%) have been obtained for MEP, MP0, and MP1. This method has been applied successfully to determine the content of impurities in MEP bulk drug.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine Acanthaceae root extract.

Hygrophila auriculata (K. Schum) Heine (syn. Asteracantha longifolia Nees, Acanthaceae) was widely used in the Indian systems of medicine for the treatment of various liver ailments. The hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the roots was studied on CCl(4)-induced liver toxicity in rats. The activity was assessed by monitoring the various liver function tests, viz. alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein and total bilirubin. Furthermore, hepatic tissues were subjected to histopathological studies. The root extract was also studied for its in vitro antioxidant activity using ferric thiocyanate (FTC) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA) methods. The extract exhibited significant hepatoprotective and antioxidant activities.

Anti-inflammatory activity of Justicia prostrata gamble in acute and sub-acute models of inflammation.

In this study, the aqueous (AQJP) and alcoholic (ALJP) extracts of the whole plant of Justicia prostrata Gamble (Acanthaceae) were screened for their acute and subacute anti-inflammatory activities using carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and cotton-pellet-induced granuloma (subacute inflammation), respectively, in rats. In the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model, both extracts were found to exhibit maximum reduction in paw volume at the first hour in a dose-dependent manner. At the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o., both extracts AQJP and ALJP showed maximum inhibition (51.39% and 62.5%, respectively) in rat paw oedema volume at the first hour of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation. In the cotton pellet granuloma assay, AQJP and ALJP at the dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. suppressed the transudative, exudative and proliferative phases of chronic inflammation. These extracts were able to (i) reduce the lipid peroxide content of exudates and liver and (ii) normalize the increased activity of acid and alkaline phosphatases in serum and liver of cotton pellet granulomatous rats. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of lignans, triterpenes and phenolic compounds in ALJP, whereas phenolic compounds and glycosides in AQJP. The anti-inflammatory properties of these extracts may possibly be due to the presence of phenolic compounds. The anti-inflammatory effects produced by the extracts at the dose of 500 mg/kg, p.o. was comparable with the reference drug diclofenac sodium (5 mg/kg p.o.).

Antiulcerogenic effect of Justicia prostrata Gamble.

Antiulcerogenic effect of the alcoholic (ALJP) and aqueous (AQJP) extracts of the whole plant of Justicia prostrata was studied in aspirin+pylorus ligated rat models and analysed for gastric volume, ulcer index, free and total acidity. Biochemical parameters like total proteins, total hexoses, hexosamine, fucose and sialic acid were also estimated. Both extracts (ALJP and AQJP) significantly reduced both the gastric volume and the acidity of gastric juice. It also significantly promoted gastric mucus secretion by increasing total carbohydrates and decreasing the protein concentration in aspirin+ pylorus ligated rats. The results suggest that both the extracts (ALJP and AQJP) possess antiulcer activity, whereas AQJP is more effective when compared with ALJP in aspirin+pylorus ligated rat models. The results were compared with the standard drug Rantidine, a H2 receptor antagonist.

Molecular and biochemical markers associated with leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis G.) resistance in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

Association of molecular markers namely isozymes and simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and various biochemical markers to leaffolder (Cnaphalocrocis medinalis G., a predominant insect pest of rice) resistance were studied in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of F8 generation obtained by crossing IR36 (susceptible parent) and TNAULFR831311 (moderately resistant parent) were used in this study. Soluble protein content, protein profile, and peroxidase and phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activities were the various biochemical markers studied. Decrease in soluble leaf protein content was observed in all lines, due to insect infestation. Protein profiling revealed an enhanced expression of a high molecular mass (> 97 kDa) protein in all the infested lines. Besides, there was an increased induction of a 38 kDa protein in infested resistant parent and resistant RILs. A significant increase in peroxidase and PAL activities was observed after infestation. In peroxidase isozyme analysis, carried out after infestation, "isoform 1" was found to be more prominent in the susceptible lines and "isoform 2" in the resistant lines. Bulk segregant analysis (BSA) with twenty-five rice microsatellites (RM) resulted in identification of three polymorphic markers between bulks RM11 and RM432 located on chromosome 7 and RM271 on chromosome 10 of rice. These markers may be associated with leaffolder resistance in rice and can be used in marker-assisted selection for leaffolder resistance in rice.

Fenretinide stimulates redox-sensitive ceramide production in breast cancer cells: potential role in drug-induced cytotoxicity.

The synthetic retinoid N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide (4HPR) has manifold actions, which may contribute to its chemopreventive effects on breast cancer cell growth and progression. A role for ceramide as a stress-response signal is investigated here during the cytotoxic action of 4HPR in MCF-7 cells. N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide induced a dose-dependent decline in cell growth and survival associated with a maximal 10-fold increase in ceramide production at 10 microM. N-(4-hydroxphenyl) retinamide exhibited a greater potency than all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) on growth inhibition and ceramide production. The synthetic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors agonist troglitazone (TGZ), but not the native ligand 15-deoxy-delta 12,14-prostaglandin J2, abrogated both these actions of 4HPR but not that of ATRA. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine mimicked the abrogative effect of TGZ on 4HPR action, while the exogenous oxidant H2O2 also stimulated ceramide production. The inhibitors of de novo ceramide synthesis, fumonisin B1 and myriocin, blocked the ceramide response to 4HPR and partially reversed the apoptotic response, but did not prevent the overall decline in cell survival. The pancaspase inhibitor Z-VAD fmk reduced the decrease in cell survival caused by 4HPR, but did not affect the ceramide response. These findings describe a novel redox-sensitive elevation of ceramide levels associated with the cytotoxic response of breast cancer cells to 4HPR. However, a major mediatory role for this sphingolipid in this context remains equivocal.

Generation and screening of recombinant inbred lines of rice for yellow stemborer resistance.

Based on the results of studies on varietal screening, antixenosis (egg laying preference) and antibiosis (larval survival and adult emergence), rice varieties W1263 and CO43 were selected as resistant and susceptible parents, respectively, for yellow stemborer (YSB) infestation. A mapping population was developed using above parents following single seed descent method. Screening for YSB reaction in F1 and F2, generations under field and glasshouse conditions for both dead hearts and white ears, established the polygenic nature of inheritance for YSB resistance. Field screening for YSB resistance at F9 generation revealed the difference in the reactions among recombinant inbred lines (RILs) between vegetative and reproductive stages. The experiments under field and glasshouse screening of RILs for dead hearts showed significant positive association. However, the reaction was more towards susceptibility in glasshouse screening due to no choice test. Scoring of 250 RILs (F8) for various morphological traits showed wide range of variation indicating the suitability for QTL mapping.