Designing of an Enhanced Fuzzy Logic Controller of an Interior Permanent Magnet Synchronous Generator under Variable Wind Speed.

On account of active governmental stimulation operations in many countries, the residential production of electricity from renewable resources has increased considerably. Due to high efficiency and reliability, a recommended solution for residential wind energy conservation systems (WECS) is permanent magnet synchronous generators (PMSG). A higher torque ripple (TR), engendered by the contact of the stator with the rotor's magnetomotive force harmonics, is one foremost issue in PMSGs. To control the synchronous generator, numerous control schemes have been proposed. However, it still faces a challenge in the diminishment of the TR. An enhanced fuzzy logic controller (EFLC) in interior PMSG (IPSMG) under variable wind speed (WS) has been proposed in this article to address this challenge. Initially, the wind turbine (WT) system was designed, and the IPMSG was proposed. A hysteresis controller (HC) and fuzzy logic controller (FLC) are the two controller types utilized in this model to control TR. This methodology used the EFLC to eliminate errors during the control. By using the proper membership function (MF) for boundary selection in the WDCSO algorithm, an enhancement was executed. Better performance in TR reduction was attained by the proposed model grounded in the analysis.

Development of Iron fortified potato fries through Vacuum assisted processing strategies.

Potato fries, a relatively an untapped food matrix for fortification, was fortified with iron using vacuum impregnation technique and impact of this fortification on quality attributes (structure, color, texture, flavor, acrylamide, sensory characteristics) of the product was assessed. Further, to reduce the dietary restraints of consumers for fried fries, fat reduction was achieved using vacuum frying. Ferrous ammonium sulphate hexahydrate was used as a fortificant to yield 3.15 mg iron from 30 g fries (RACC for snacks- Recommended Amount Customarily Consumed). Effect of iron fortificant level, blanching, vacuum and restoration time (independent variable) were evaluated on responses (iron impregnation level and firmness) of fries using box-behnken design of response surface methodology. Results showed that blanching time was the most significant variable affecting iron impregnation followed by iron concentration and vacuum time. Ferrous ammonium sulphate hexahydrate was found to be the most appropriate fortificant since reflecting the least colour and sensory changes in fries. A fortified raw potato fries when fried under vacuum, provided better retention of colour and reduced fat absorption (by 17.72%) with comparable crispiness (0.37 kg/sec vs 0.35 kg/sec), firmness (0.39 kg/sec vs 0.38 kg/sec), color (ΔE = 1.39) and sensory score (7.9 vs 8.1 on 9-point scale) with control fries.

Process standardization and storability of calcium fortified potato chips through vacuum impregnation.

Processed potato products such as potato chips are widely consumed among vulnerable (children and teenager), therefore can be used as an ideal carrier for targeted nutrient's delivery i.e. macronutrient calcium. The present study was carried out to standardize the process for development of calcium fortified potato chips through vacuum impregnation technique and to explore the acceptability of developed product through storage study of 3 months period at ambient storage conditions (~ 250 °C, 51% RH) in LDPE (low density polyethylene) packaging. Fortification of potato chips was done at 15 mm Hg vacuum pressure with GRAS fortificant of calcium (calcium chloride, E509) using different combinations of blanching time, vacuum time, and restoration time as per Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology. optimization was done on the basis of fortified calcium content as well as hardness of the end product. Results showed optimized process conditions (calcium chloride at 1.05% level, blanching for 1.69 min, vacuum exposure for 14.99 min, and rest time of 15.80 min) can fortify potato chips at 700 mg/100 g of calcium level with acceptable sensory attributes. The standardized product was also evaluated for its structural attributes through surface electron microscopy, flavor (umami) compounds along with shelf life. The developed fortified product has 4.5 and 7.1 times higher calcium content than its control and commercial counterparts respectively. Storage studies parameters (FFA value, PV value, sensory attributes and non enzymatic browning) showed that the fortified potato chips were acceptable up to 60 days of storage at ambient condition. Thus, calcium fortification through vacuum impregnation technique for a widely acceptable potato based snacks can be helpful in changing the perception of consumers for potato based snacks from the category of 'Junk food to Healthy food'.

Multivariate sequence analysis reveals additional function impacting residues in the SDR superfamily.

The "extended" type of short chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR), share a remarkable similarity in their tertiary structures inspite of being highly divergent in their functions and sequences. We have carried out principal component analysis (PCA) on structurally equivalent residue positions of 10 SDR families using information theoretic measures like Jensen-Shannon divergence and average shannon entropy as variables. The results classify residue positions in the SDR fold into six groups, one of which is characterized by low Shannon entropies but high Jensen-Shannon divergence against the reference family SDR1E, suggesting that these positions are responsible for the specific functional identities of individual SDR families, distinguishing them from the reference family SDR1E. Site directed mutagenesis of three residues from this group in the enzyme UDP-Galactose 4-epimerase belonging to SDR1E shows that the mutants promote the formation of NADH containing abortive complexes. Finally, molecular dynamics simulations have been used to suggest a mechanism by which the mutants interfere with the re-oxidation of NADH leading to the formation of abortive complexes.

Graphene oxide based electrochemical immunosensor for rapid detection of groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus in agricultural crops.

Groundnut bud necrosis orthotospovirus (GBNV) is one of the causative plant viruses responsible for the outbreak of many viral epidemics in food crops across India and other south-Asian countries. Its management is a major challenge due to fast vector transmission, and the non-availability of appropriate agrochemical treatment. The timely detection of GBNV becomes indispensable for the effective management of viral infection and the periodic monitoring of plant health. We report the fabrication of graphene oxide (GO) based electrochemical immunosensor for the rapid and sensitive detection of GBNV. The immunoelectrode is prepared by depositing GO onto indium-tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrates and functionalized by anti-GBNV antibodies using N-ethyl-N'-(3- dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride and N-hydroxysuccinimide (EDC-NHS) conjugation chemistry. The response measurements of the immunoelectrodes revealed a sensitivity of 221 ± 1 µA µg-1 mL-1(n = 3) and limit of detection (LOD) of 5.7 ± 0.7 ng mL-1(n = 3) for the standard concentrations of GBNV antigen. Further, the GBNV detection was carried out in infected leaf extracts of three different host plants i.e., Tomato, Cowpea, and N. benthamiana, and the results have been compared with the conventionally used direct antigen coated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAC-ELISA) technique. The comparable results obtained for the detection of GBNV in infected plants using electrochemical immunosensing and DAC-ELISA techniques advocated the immense potential of GO based immunosensor as a point-of-care sensing device that is poised to overcome the limitations of the traditional methods of virus detection in field conditions and may transform the diagnostics in agriculture.

Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-LTA locus with breast cancer risk in Indian population.

PURPOSE: Cytokine milieu of tumor microenvironment affects tumorigenesis in breast cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential association of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TNF-LTA locus with breast cancer. METHODS: The study included 127 individuals comprising 40 breast cancer cases (35 sporadic & 5 familial) and 87 individuals of high risk group (with family history of breast cancer) along with 150 healthy controls. PCR-RFLP was employed to analyze TNFA promoter polymorphisms at -238 G/A, -308 G/A, -857 C/T, -863 C/A and -1031 T/C along with +252 A/G SNP in LTA. The results were further confirmed by direct sequencing. RESULTS: Significant association was established for TNFA -308 G/A and LTA +252 A/G polymorphisms with breast cancer versus controls (P < 0.0001; OR, 9.53; 95% CI, 4.11-22.13; P (c) < 0.001) and high risk group versus controls (P < 0.0001; OR, 8.27; 95% CI, 4.28-16.0; P (c) < 0.001) respectively. GGACCT haplotype was found to be positively associated with breast cancer (P < 0.0001; OR, 12.17; 95% CI = 5.12-28.92; P (c) < 0.001) and high risk group (P, 0.03; OR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.20-7.26; P (c), 0.005) in relation to controls. While GGGCCT haplotype was significantly related with high risk group in comparison to cancer (P, 0.0002; OR, 5.71; 95% CI, 2.18-14.99; P (c), 0.003) and controls (P, 0.0002; OR, 2.48; 95% CI, 1.55-3.96; P (c), 0.003). CONCLUSION: TNF-LTA locus could serve as an important biomarker for breast cancer predisposition in Indian population.

Genetic variant of CCND1: association with HPV-mediated cervical cancer in Indian population.

The potential association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (G870A and G1722C) of CCND1 with susceptibility to cervical cancer was investigated. The study included 200 cervical cancer cases along with an equal number of healthy controls. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis and direct sequencing were employed for genotyping. We found that women carrying the 870AA genotype have a 2.49-fold increased risk for the development of cervical cancer (odds ratio (OR) 2.49; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.51-4.09; p = 0.0004) compared with GG+GA genotypes. For the 1722 locus, the frequency of the polymorphic 'C' allele was strongly associated with a reduced risk of cervical cancer (p = 0.019; OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.54-0.94). Our data suggest that CCND1 G870A polymorphism could act as a risk factor for the development of cervical cancer. And G1722C polymorphism may play a protective role against the development of human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer among Indian women.

Anti-Trichomonas activity of Sapindus saponins, a candidate for development as microbicidal contraceptive.

OBJECTIVES: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease and is caused by the protozoan Trichomonas vaginalis. In view of increased resistance of the parasite to classical drugs of the metronidazole family, the need for new unrelated agents is increasing. This study evaluates anti-Trichomonas activity of Sapindus saponins, a component of a herbal local contraceptive Consap recently marketed in India. METHODS: The parasites were treated with saponins for MIC determination. Anti-Trichomonas activity of the saponins was evaluated using a cytoadherence assay, the substrate gel electrophoresis method and RT-PCR analysis. The effect of saponins on the mitochondrial potential of the host was determined by florescence-activated cell sorter. Actin cytoskeletal staining was used to determine the effect on parasite cytoskeleton. RESULTS: Using in vitro susceptibility assay, the MIC of Sapindus saponins for T. vaginalis (0.005%) was found to be 10-fold lower than its effective spermicidal concentration (0.05%). Saponins concentration dependently inhibited the ability of parasites to adhere to HeLa cells and decreased proteolytic activity of the parasite's cysteine proteinases. This was associated with decreased expression of adhesin AP65 and membrane-expressed cysteine proteinase TvCP2 genes. Saponins produced no adverse effect on host cells in mitochondrial reduction potential measurement assay. Saponins also reversed the inhibitory mechanisms exerted by Trichomonas for evading host immunity. Early response of saponins to disrupt actin cytoskeleton in comparison with their effect on the nucleus suggests a membrane-mediated mode of action rather than via induction of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the potential of Sapindus saponins for development as a microbicidal contraceptive for human use. Further studies are required to evaluate its microbicidal activity against other sexually transmitted infections.

Association between human leukocyte antigen class II alleles and human papillomavirus-mediated cervical cancer in Indian women.

We investigated the association of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) II (DRB1 and DQB1) alleles with susceptibility to human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated cervical precancer and cancer cases in a hospital-based case-control study in a northern Indian population. A total of 202 subjects, including 100 patients comprising 31 cervical precancer (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] 2/3) and 69 invasive cervical cancer cases, and 102 healthy controls participated in the study. Both patients and controls were screened for HPV infection using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR-based approach. Low-resolution PCR-sequence specific priming (PCR-SSP) was used to genotype HLA II (DRB1 and DQB1). Our results demonstrate that the DRB1*15 allele/DRB1*15-DQB1*06 haplotype may have a predisposition for HPV infection (p(c) < 0.05) or cervical cancer/precancer (p(c) < 0.05) development, whereas the DRB1*04 allele/DRB1*04-DQB1*03 haplotype might exhibit susceptibility to cervical precancerous lesions (p(c) < 0.05). The DRB1*13 allele/DRB1*13-DQB1*06 haplotype was strongly protective against risk to HPV infection (p(c) < 0.002) as well as cervical cancer (p(c) 0.01). Therefore, we have demonstrated that HLA DR-DQ polymorphisms are involved in genetic susceptibility to cervical cancer or HPV infection in a northern Indian population.

The spermicidal and antitrichomonas activities of SSRI antidepressants.

The study investigated spermicidal and antitrichomonas activities of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants with a view to generate new lead for development of dual-function spermicidal microbicides, which is an urgent global need. Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Fluvoxamine exhibited both spermicidal and anti-STI (antitrichomonas) activities in vitro, whereas Paroxetine and Citalopram showed only the spermicidal activity. Fluoxetine exhibited better activity profile than the other antidepressant drugs with its spermicidal and antitrichomonas activities being comparable to that of the OTC contraceptive Nonoxynol-9. The non-detergent nature of Fluoxetine and a much lower spermicidal ED50 value (than N-9) may add considerably to its merit as a candidate for microbicidal contraceptive. Thus, the antidepressants exhibiting both spermicidal and antitrichomonas activities might provide useful lead for the development of novel, dual-function spermicidal contraceptives.

Synthesis of benzenepropanamine analogues as non-detergent spermicides with antitrichomonas and anticandida activities.

Fifteen analogues of benzenepropanamine were synthesized and evaluated for their spermicidal as well as microbicidal activities against Trichomonas vaginalis and Candida spp. Several compounds showed appreciable dual activities. Compound 12 exhibited good spermicidal (MEC=0.1%) along with substantial anticandidal (MIC=0.05%) activities, while compounds 3 and 6 showed significant microbicidal activities with moderate spermicidal effect. The SAR of these structures is being discussed here in this communication. It is concluded that suitable structural modifications in this class of compounds at 3-amino position may lead to a potent spermicide with associated microbicidal activity.