A multi-objective mathematical model of a water management problem with environmental impacts: An application in an irrigation project.

The study proposes applying an efficient but straightforward multi-objective constrained optimization model for optimal water allocation among irrigation and environmental sectors. The model has been implemented in the Muhuri Irrigation Project (MIP), Bangladesh, where the irrigation systems lead to unjustifiable use of groundwater. This study explores how water can be optimised to increase agricultural production and sustain the local environment in the MIP. Hence, the paper has two objectives-to maximise the net return and minimise the deficit in environmental flow. The study uses a Non-Dominating Sorting Genetic Algorithm, NSGA-II, to solve the research problem. Results indicate that crops more profitable to trade should be cultivated. Furthermore, the rainfall has more impact on the net return and environmental flow deficit than water inflow. The findings of this study can help plan irrigation water and cropland resources and be a reference for further studies.

A Computational Approach for Predicting Role of Human MicroRNAs in MERS-CoV Genome.

The new epidemic Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is caused by a type of human coronavirus called MERS-CoV which has global fatality rate of about 30%. We are investigating potential antiviral therapeutics against MERS-CoV by using host microRNAs (miRNAs) which may downregulate viral gene expression to quell viral replication. We computationally predicted potential 13 cellular miRNAs from 11 potential hairpin sequences of MERS-CoV genome. Our study provided an interesting hypothesis that those miRNAs, that is, hsa-miR-628-5p, hsa-miR-6804-3p, hsa-miR-4289, hsa-miR-208a-3p, hsa-miR-510-3p, hsa-miR-18a-3p, hsa-miR-329-3p, hsa-miR-548ax, hsa-miR-3934-5p, hsa-miR-4474-5p, hsa-miR-7974, hsa-miR-6865-5p, and hsa-miR-342-3p, would be antiviral therapeutics against MERS-CoV infection.

2,2'-Anhydro-4'-thionucleosides: precursors for 2'-azido- and 2'-chloro-4'-thionucleosides and for a novel thiolane to thietane rearrangement.

2,2'-Anhydro-4'-thio-beta- and alpha-nucleosides 9 and 10 have been prepared by an in situ 4-thio-1,2-glycal addition route. They undergo ring-opening by azide or chloride ion to give, after deprotection, the 2'-substituted-4'-thionucleosides 13 and 14, whereas reactions with cyanide or fluoride sources lead to the unsaturated nucleosides 17 or 18, depending upon conditions. An unexpected and clean rearrangement to the thietane 23 occurs on treatment of uracil derivative 20 with DAST.