Formulation and characterisation of nanosuspension of herbal extracts for enhanced antiradical potential

Nanotechnology is a promising technique to increase the bioavailability of herbal medicines. This paper presents the nanosuspension approach for increasing the aqueous solubility and thereby bioactivity of important herbal extracts. Nanosuspensions of the seeds of three plants extract (Silybum marianum, Elettaria cardamomum and Coriandrum sativum) were prepared by using polyvinyl alcohol (1.5% w/v) as a stabiliser. Prepared nanoparticles were characterised by scanning electron microscope. Activity of nanosuspension formulation was assessed by using four in vitro antioxidant assays. S. marianum, E. cardamomum and C. sativum particle size was observed to fall in range of 446.1 ± 112.6, 456.63 ± 339.2 and 432.1 ± 172.8 nm, respectively, most of the particles were having spherical shape and smooth topology. These synthesised nanoparticles were found to be more effective against quenching free radical than their crude extracts and standards [butylated hydroxyl toluene and ascorbic acid]. C. sativum nanosuspension showed most free radical scavenging potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhdrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide free radical scavenging assays (IC₅₀ 0.59 ± 0.01 and 0.81 ± 0.11 mg/ml). S. marianum nanosuspension was found to be most effective against DPPH radicals scavenging (IC₅₀ 0.34 ± 0.02 mg/ml). It was concluded that nanosuspension of herbal medicines potentiates the antioxidant potential.     

WiMA: Towards a Multi-Criterion Association in Software Defined Wi-Fi Networks

Despite the planned installation and operations of the traditional IEEE 802.11 networks, they still experience degraded performance due to the number of inefficiencies. One of the main reasons is the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) association problem, in which the user remains connected to the access point (AP) unless the RSSI becomes too weak. In this paper, we propose a multi-criterion association (WiMA) scheme based on software defined networking (SDN) in Wi-Fi networks. An association solution based on multi-criterion such as AP load, RSSI, and channel occupancy is proposed to satisfy the quality of service (QoS). SDN having an overall view of the network takes the association and reassociation decisions making the handoffs smooth in throughput performance. To implement WiMA extensive simulations runs are carried out on Mininet-NS3-Wi-Fi network simulator. The performance evaluation shows that the WiMA significantly reduces the average number of retransmissions by 5%–30% and enhances the throughput by 20%–50%, hence maintaining user fairness and accommodating more wireless devices and traffic load in the network, when compared to traditional client-driven (CD) approach and state of the art Wi-Balance approach.     

BSLPSDN: Base station location privacy via software-defined networking (SDN) in wireless sensor networks

Base station's location privacy in a wireless sensor network (WSN) is critical for information security and operational availability of the network. A key part of securing the base station from potential compromise is to secure the information about its physical location. This paper proposes a technique called base station location privacy via software-defined networking (SDN) in wireless sensor networks (BSLPSDN). The inspiration comes from the architecture of SDN, where the control plane is separated from the data plane, and where control plane decides the policy for the data plane. BSLPSDN uses three categories of nodes, namely, a main controller to instruct the overall operations, a dedicated node to buffer and forward data, and lastly, a common node to sense and forward the packet. We employ three kinds of nodes to collaborate and achieve stealth for the base station and thus protecting it against the traffic-analysis attacks. Different traits of the WSN including energy status and traffic density can actively be monitored by BSLPSDN, which positively affects the energy goals, expected life of the network, load on common nodes, and the possibility of creating diversion in the wake of an attack on the base station. We incorporated multiple experiments to analyze and evaluate the performance of our proposed algorithm. We use single controller with multiple sensor nodes and multiple controllers with multiple sensor nodes to show the level of anonymity of BS. Experiments show that providing BS anonymity via multiple controllers is the best method both in terms of energy and privacy.     

Hemodynamic Response Detection Using Integrated EEG-fNIRS-VPA for BCI

For BCI systems, it is important to have an accurate and less complex architecture to control a device with enhanced accuracy. In this paper, a novel methodology for more accurate detection of the hemodynamic response has been developed using a multimodal brain-computer interface (BCI). An integrated classifier has been developed for achieving better classification accuracy using two modalities. An integrated EEG-fNIRS-based vector-phase analysis (VPA) has been conducted. An open-source dataset collected at the Technische Universität Berlin, including simultaneous electroencephalography (EEG) and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signals of 26 healthy participants during n-back tests, has been used for this research. Instrumental and physiological noise removal has been done using preprocessing techniques followed by individually detecting activity in both modalities. With resting state threshold circle, VPA has been used to detect a hemodynamic response in fNIRS signals, whereas phase plots for EEG signals have been constructed using Hilbert Transform to detect the activity in each trial. Multiple threshold circles are drawn in the vector plane, where each circle is drawn after task completion in each trial of EEG signal. Finally, both processes are integrated into one vector-phase plot to get combined detection of hemodynamic response for activity. Results of this study illustrate that the combined EEG-fNIRS VPA yields considerably higher average classification accuracy, that is 91.35%, as compared to other classifiers such as support vector machine (SVM), convolutional neural networks (CNN), deep neural networks (DNN) and VPA (with dual-threshold circles) with classification accuracies 82%, 89%, 87% and 86% respectively. Outcomes of this research demonstrate that improved classification performance can be feasibly achieved using multimodal VPA for EEG-fNIRS hybrid data.     

Taxonomic study of one generic and two new species record to the flora of Pakistan using multiple microscopic techniques

Recent field exploration and collections has led to the findings of several new species in Pakistan. Here we reported two new species Ajuga reptance L and Sphagneticola trilobata (L.) Prusk for the first time in Pakistan flora as these species were neither listed in any other literature nor identified before in Pakistan. These species were found as a result of taxonomic studies performed in the year 2019 in District Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. Microscopic techniques were used for the confirmation of foliar epidermal and pollen micromorphological features. Detailed study (morphological, palynological, and foliar epidermal) was provided for the correct identification and delimitation of the species using both light and scanning electron microscopy. Morphological results were compared with the flora of Taiwan and China.     

Curcumin and Its Derivatives as Theranostic Agents in Alzheimer’s Disease: The Implication of Nanotechnology

Curcumin is a polyphenolic natural compound with diverse and attractive biological properties, which may prevent or ameliorate pathological processes underlying age-related cognitive decline, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), dementia, or mode disorders. AD is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is known as one of the rapidly growing diseases, especially in the elderly population. Moreover, being the eminent cause of dementia, posing problems for families, societies as well a severe burden on the economy. There are no effective drugs to cure AD. Although curcumin and its derivatives have shown properties that can be considered useful in inhibiting the hallmarks of AD, however, they have low bioavailability. Furthermore, to combat diagnostic and therapeutic limitations, various nanoformulations have also been recognized as theranostic agents that can also enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin and other bioactive compounds. Nanocarriers have shown beneficial properties to deliver curcumin and other nutritional compounds against the blood-brain barrier to efficiently distribute them in the brain. This review spotlights the role and effectiveness of curcumin and its derivatives in AD. Besides, the gut metabolism of curcumin and the effects of nanoparticles and their possible activity as diagnostic and therapeutic agents in AD also discussed.     

Financial feasibility analysis of box-type solar cookers in India

A framework for financial evaluation of a box-type solar cooker, using cost functions for its capital cost, has been developed. The annual benefits accrued to the user are quantified in terms of number of meals cooked per year and monetary worth of the fuel saved per meal. Expressions for some financial performance indicators have been derived and results of typical numerical calculations are briefly presented.     

Financial evaluation of SPV lanterns for rural lighting in India

Financial evaluation of solar photovoltaic (SPV) lanterns has been undertaken. The factors influencing the capital as well as the maintenance cost of SPV lantern have been analyzed. Cost per hour of illumination and cost per unit useful energy have been used for comparison of SPV lanterns with other options of rural domestic lighting. The benefits accrued to the user of an SPV lantern have been quantified in terms of the monetary worth of the conventional fuels being saved.     

Hydroisomerization of n-heptane on Pt promoted phosphomolybdate catalysts

Phospbomolybdate （PMo） with varying Mo loadings ranging from 5-30 wt% on alumina were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method. 0.5 wt% of Pt was further loaded in order to prepare the bifunctional （metal-acid） Pt-PMo/Al2O3 catalysts. Thus prepared catalysts showed very high catalytic activities for n-heptane hydroisomerization compared with Pt impregnated MoO3 catalysts supported either on Al2O3 or on AIPO4. The conversion of n-heptane increased with Mo loading up to 20 wt% and slightly decreased with further Mo loading. However, the selectivity towards isomers showed an increasing trend up to 30 wt% of Mo in the catalyst. A relationship between catalytic activity and acidic strength was established in the present study.     

Ocular delivery systems for topical application of anti-infective agents

For the treatment of anterior eye segment infections using anti-infective agents, topical ocular application is the most convenient route of administration. However, topical delivery of anti-infective agents is associated with a number of problems and challenges owing to the unique structure of the eye and the physicochemical properties of these compounds. Topical ocular drug delivery systems can be classified into two forms: conventional and non-conventional. The efficacy of conventional ocular formulations is limited by poor corneal retention and permeation resulting in low ocular bioavailability. Recently, attention has been focused on improving topical ocular delivery of anti-infective agents using advanced drug delivery systems. This review will focus on the challenges of efficient topical ocular delivery of anti-infective agents and will discuss the various types of delivery systems used to improve the treatment anterior segment infections.