Novel Pipelined Architecture for Efficient Evaluation of the Square Root Using a Modified Non-Restoring Algorithm

The square root is a basic arithmetic operation in image and signal processing. We present a novel pipelined architecture to implement N-bit fixed-point square root operation on an FPGA using a non-restoring pipelined algorithm that does not require floating-point hardware. Pipelining hazards in its hardware realization are avoided by modifying the classic non-restoring algorithm, thus resulting in a 13% improved latency. Furthermore, the proposed architecture is flexible allowing modification as per individual application needs. It is demonstrated that the proposed architecture is approximately four times faster than its popular counterparts and at the same time it consumes 50% less energy for envelope detection at 268 MHz sampling rate.     

Towards Secure Big Data Analysis via Fully Homomorphic Encryption Algorithms

Privacy-preserving techniques allow private information to be used without compromising privacy. Most encryption algorithms, such as the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm, cannot perform computational operations on encrypted data without first applying the decryption process. Homomorphic encryption algorithms provide innovative solutions to support computations on encrypted data while preserving the content of private information. However, these algorithms have some limitations, such as computational cost as well as the need for modifications for each case study. In this paper, we present a comprehensive overview of various homomorphic encryption tools for Big Data analysis and their applications. We also discuss a security framework for Big Data analysis while preserving privacy using homomorphic encryption algorithms. We highlight the fundamental features and tradeoffs that should be considered when choosing the right approach for Big Data applications in practice. We then present a comparison of popular current homomorphic encryption tools with respect to these identified characteristics. We examine the implementation results of various homomorphic encryption toolkits and compare their performances. Finally, we highlight some important issues and research opportunities. We aim to anticipate how homomorphic encryption technology will be useful for secure Big Data processing, especially to improve the utility and performance of privacy-preserving machine learning.     

Effect of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Rich Pomegranate Peel Based Edible Coatings on Quality and Functional Properties of Chicken Nuggets

The current study evaluated the effect of pomegranate peel-based edible coating on chicken nuggets in order to develop a functional and safe product, high in nutritional value. For this purpose, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and total phenolic content (TPC) assays were performed to check the potential antioxidant activity of chicken nuggets; microbial control, including total aerobic count and coliforms population, was performed for quality and safety purposes; and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and peroxide value (POV) were performed to determine the oxidative stability of chicken nuggets. Different treatments were applied at different storage periods (0th, 7th, 14th and 21st day). The higher value of total aerobic count (5.09 ± 0.05 log CFU/g) and coliforms (3.91 ± 0.06 log CFU/g) were obtained for the uncoated samples, while the lower population was enumerated in the combination of sodium alginate (SA) and pomegranate peel powder (PPP). However, DPPH (64.65 ± 2.15%) and TPC (135.66 ± 3.07 GAE/100 g) values were higher in the coated chicken nuggets (SA (1.5%) and PPP (1.5%)) and lowest in the control samples. The higher value of TBARS (1.62 ± 0.03 MDA/kg) and POV (0.92 ± 0.03 meq peroxide/kg) were observed in the uncoated chicken nuggets. In the Hunter color system, L*, a*, and b* peak values were determined in the coated chicken nuggets with SA (1.5%) + PPP (1.5%) at the 21st day of storage. The uncoated chicken nuggets had different sensory characteristics (appearance, color, taste, texture, and overall acceptability) compared to the coated samples. Conclusively, coating based on the combination of SA (1.5%) and PPP (1.5%) increased the quality, safety, and nutritional properties of chicken nuggets.     

Cold-Active Enzymes and Their Potential Industrial Applications—A Review

More than 70% of our planet is covered by extremely cold environments, nourishing a broad diversity of microbial life. Temperature is the most significant parameter that plays a key role in the distribution of microorganisms on our planet. Psychrophilic microorganisms are the most prominent inhabitants of the cold ecosystems, and they possess potential cold-active enzymes with diverse uses in the research and commercial sectors. Psychrophiles are modified to nurture, replicate, and retain their active metabolic activities in low temperatures. Their enzymes possess characteristics of maximal activity at low to adequate temperatures; this feature makes them more appealing and attractive in biotechnology. The high enzymatic activity of psychrozymes at low temperatures implies an important feature for energy saving. These enzymes have proven more advantageous than their mesophilic and thermophilic counterparts. Therefore, it is very important to explore the efficiency and utility of different psychrozymes in food processing, pharmaceuticals, brewing, bioremediation, and molecular biology. In this review, we focused on the properties of cold-active enzymes and their diverse uses in different industries and research areas. This review will provide insight into the areas and characteristics to be improved in cold-active enzymes so that potential and desired enzymes can be made available for commercial purposes.     

ON A COUPLED INTEGRO-DIFFERENTIAL SYSTEM INVOLVING MIXED FRACTIONAL DERIVATIVES AND INTEGRALS OF DIFFERENT ORDERS

By applying the standard fixed point theorems,we prove the existence and uniqueness results for a system of coupled differential equations involving both left C...     

Magnesium and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles from Datura alba Improve Cognitive Impairment and Blood Brain Barrier Leakage

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder involving persistent spontaneous seizures and uncontrolled neuronal excitability that leads to cognitive impairments and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Currently available antiepileptic drugs present side effects and researchers are trying to discover new agents with properties to overcome these drawbacks. The aim was to synthesize magnesium oxide (MgO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles from Datura alba fresh leaf extracts and evaluate their anti-epileptic potential in mice kindling or a repetitive seizures model. The phytoassisted synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using spectroscopy; FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and EDX. Analysis of the NPs confirmed the crystalline pleomorphic shape using the salts of both zinc and magnesium possibly stabilized, functionalized and reduced by bioactive molecules present in plant extract. By using several characterization techniques, NPs were confirmed. UV-Vis spectroscopy of biologically produced ZnO and MgO revealed distinctive peaks at 380 nm and 242 nm, respectively. Our findings categorically demonstrated the reductive role of biomolecules in the formation of ZnO and MgO NPs. The mice kindling model was induced using seven injections of Pentylenetetrazole (PTZ, 40 mg/kg, i.p) for 15 days alternatively. The results showed that mice post-treated with either ZnO or MgO nanoparticles (10 mg/kg, i.p) significantly improved in respect of behavior and memory as confirmed in the Morris water maze (MWM), open field (OF), novel object recognition (NOR) test compared with PTZ treated mice. Furthermore, the ZnO and MgO nanoparticle treatment also maintained the integrity of the BBB, reducing the leakage, as confirmed by Evans blue dye (EBD) compared with PTZ treated mice only. In summary, the current finding demonstrates that green synthesized ZnO and MgO nanoparticles have neuroprotective, ant-epileptic potential, molecular mechanisms, and clinical implications need to be further explored.     

Gas-phase basicities of the isomeric dihydroxybenzoic acids and gas-phase acidities of their radical cations

The thermochemical acid/base properties of the six dihydroxybenzoic acids (x,y-DHB) as prototypical matrices used in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) have been investigated. The ground-state gas-phase basicities (GB) of the six DHB isomers and the gas-phase acidities (deltaG acid) of the corresponding radical cations ([x,y-DHB]*+) have been determined by Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry employing the thermokinetic method. The gas-phase basicities vary from 814 kJ mol-1 for the least basic isomer, 3,5-DHB, to 831 kJ mol-1 for the most basic isomer, 2,4-DHB. The obtained gas-phase acidities of the corresponding radical cations vary from 815 kJ mol-1 for the most acidic species, 3,4-DHB, to 858 kJ mol-1 for the least acidic one, 2,5-DHB. The results indicate that ground-state proton transfer from the matrix radical cations to the analyte may play a role in the ionization process of MALDI, whereas proton transfer from protonated matrix molecules can be excluded.     

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A comparison of fragmentation patterns of linear dextran obtained by in-source decay, post-source decay and collision-induced dissociation and the stability of linear and cyclic glucans studied by in-source decay

In the first part of this study fragmentation patterns from a range of dextran oligomers (containing 4-20 anhydroglucose units) were compared in three different methods of analysis coupled with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Collision-induced-dissociation (CID), prompt in-source decay (ISD) and post-source decay (PSD) all caused cleavage of the glycosidic bonds. Both CID and to a lesser extent ISD caused further cleavage of pyranose rings of the individual sugar residues. There was very little cleavage of pyranose rings detected in the PSD spectrum. Derivatisation of the reducing end-groups of the oligodextrans with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) restricted cleavage in the MALDI mass spectrometer to the non-reducing end, and further it enabled the saccharides to be separated by HPLC so that a single chain length could be examined as a standard. Maltoheptaose was also used as a standard. In the second part of the study prompt ISD-MALDI mass spectrometry was used to compare the fragmentation of three oligoglucans, dextran, maltodextrin and gamma cyclodextrin, that have different linkages and different secondary structure. The results showed that the degree of fragmentation correlated with the degree of freedom in the saccharide chains in solution determined by NMR. Dextran the most random conformation was fragmented most whereas there was little evidence of any fragments, not even glycosidic bond breakage from cyclodextrin, even when the laser power was increased considerably. The fragmentation pattern of maltodextrin was intermediate. The patterns of fragmentation produced by MALDI mass spectrometry, particularly where standards are available to calibrate the spectrum and the energy of the laser is controlled, can be used to predict the type of linkage present.     

Synthesis of composite of ZnO spheres with polyaniline and their microwave absorption properties

Three-dimensional (3D) ZnO microspheres with the composite of polyaniline (PANI) have been successfully synthesized by one-pot solvothermal and in-suit polymerization method. The obtained microspheres were uniform having the diameter of 4 μm–7 μm. These microspheres, inside cushion of PANI polymer, exhibit excellent microwave absorption properties. Composite of ZnO microspheres with PANI increased the complex permeability and enhanced the dielectric loss. Thus, the microwave absorption properties of the composite have been intensified. Despite the fact that the composite of ZnO with PANI herein dissipate the microwaves by dielectric loss, their performance is admirable compared to most of PANI-based composites reported. The morphological, structural and spectral properties have been investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR). It is found that the maximum reflection loss value of [email protected] reaches ?41 dB at 14 GHz with a thickness of 3.5 mm that is superior to the previously reported composite of PANI with other materials.