Evaluation of Anti-cancer and Anti-proliferative Activity of Medicinal Plant Extracts (Saffron, Green Tea, Clove, Fenugreek) on Toll Like Receptors Pathway

Ajmal, Sidra,Shafqat, Mahwish,Ajmal, Laiba,Younas, Hooria,Tasadduq, Raazia,Mahmood, Nasir The Korean Society of Pharmacognosy 2022 Natural Product Sciences Vol.28 No.3

Despite considerable efforts, cancer remains an aggressive killer worldwide. Chemotherapeutic drugs that are currently in use lead to destructive side effects and have not succeeded in fulfilling expectations. For centuries, medicinal plants are used for treating various diseases and are also known to have anticancer activity. The main aim of this research was to evaluate antiproliferative activity of saffron, clove, fenugreek, and green tea on Vero and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and to subsequently analyze the effect of these extracts on IRAK-4, TAK1, IKK-alpha, IKK-beta, NF-Kappa B, IRF3, IRF7 genes in Toll Like Receptors (TLRs) pathway. Antiproliferative assay was done by Neutral Red Dye uptake assay. Methanolic extract of green tea was found to be most effective against both cell lines as IC₅₀ was achieved at least concentration of the extract. For molecular studies, MDAMB-231 cells were sensitized with methanolic extract of green tea at same IC₅₀, and RT-PCR was performed to determine the relative expression of genes. Expression of IRAK-4, TAK1, IKK-beta, NF-Kappa B, IRF3 genes was down regulated and IRF7 and IKKalpha was upregulated. Green tea has a potential cytotoxic effect on both cell lines which was demonstrated by its effect on the expression of (TLRs) pathway genes.

Quantifying Excess Stormwater Using SCS-CN-Based Rainfall Runoff Models and Different Curve Number Determination Methods

Ajmal, Muhammad,Kim, Tae-Woong American Society of Civil Engineers 2015 Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering Vol.141 No.3

<P> Estimation of excess storm water is among the most basic hydrological challenges for hydrologists and engineers. The initial abstraction ratio λ (= 0.2) assumed in the original U.S. Soil Conservation Service curve number (SCS-CN) is ambiguous and must be calibrated from rainfall-runoff measurements for better runoff estimation. Eight different models including the original SCS-CN model, modified models inspired by it, and three newly proposed models were investigated to assess the accuracy of runoff estimation using rainfall-runoff measurements from 15 watersheds in South Korea. Different methods for CN determination were evaluated to see the effect of CN and λ on runoff estimation. The optimized λ and CN exhibited better results than fixed values as in the original SCS-CN model. Using three different goodness-of-fit statistics to assess the accuracy of the estimates, our proposed models outperformed in all watersheds in the study area when compared with the original SCS-CN model and some of its modified models. </P>

A Comparative Study of Foreground Detection using Gaussian Mixture Models- Novice to Novel

Ajmal Shahbaz,Laksono Kurnianggoro,Kang-Hyun Jo 제어로봇시스템학회 2016 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2016 No.10

Foreground detection is the classical computer vision task of segmenting out motion information from a particular scene. Foreground detection using Gaussian Mixture Models (GMM) is the famous choice. Since first time proposed, many researchers tried to improve GMM. This paper focuses on the comparative evaluation of three most famous improvements in the algorithm. The improved methods are compared both qualitatively and quantitatively using standard datasets available online.

Runoff Estimation Using the NRCS Slope-Adjusted Curve Number in Mountainous Watersheds

Ajmal, Muhammad,Waseem, Muhammad,Ahn, Jae-Hyun,Kim, Tae-Woong American Society of Civil Engineers 2016 Journal of irrigation and drainage engineering Vol.142 No.4

<P>In mountainous watersheds, rainfall generates runoff quickly because of the decreased depression storage, high downslope flow velocity, and smaller chance for rainwater infiltration. In order to obtain precise event-based runoff estimations in mountainous watersheds, a slope-adjusted curve number (CNII) with a smaller initial abstraction ratio () is indispensable in the standard natural resources conservation service (NRCS) curve number (CN) model. Using measured rainfall-runoff data from 39 mountainous watersheds in South Korea, this study investigated two existing CNII approaches and suggested a new approach that was accompanied by a lower value. The new CNII equation was calibrated with 1,402 measured rainfall-runoff events from 31 watersheds and validated with 377 rainfall-runoff events from the remaining eight watersheds. Most of the runoff events, used for both calibration and validation, were underestimated using a CN without a slope-adjusting factor. By considering the combined effect of the proposed CNII and setting equal to 0.01, the performance measures based on the root mean squares error (in mm), Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, and coefficient of determination were significantly improved from averages of 27.10, 0.64, and 0.75 to 18.69, 0.82, and 0.87, respectively, as compared to the standard NRCS model. The proposed modification exhibited superior results compared to the two existing CNII approaches. Findings from this study support the adjustment of both the CN and in the NRCS model to increase its runoff prediction capabilities.</P>

Experimental Investigation on FACA and FACACRETE – An Innovative Building Material

Ajmal Muhammed,Palanisamy Thangaraju 대한토목학회 2019 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.23 No.11

Recently, many studies are put forward by researchers to utilize waste materials like fly ash, GGBS, etc. in the construction industry due to the problems arise in the disposal of these materials. A novel study on incorporating the FACA (fly ash artificial coarse aggregate) in concrete is illustrated in this paper by comparing fly ash artificial coarse aggregate concrete (FACACRETE) with normal concrete. Different mixtures of geo-polymers were prepared using different molarities of NaOH solution and varying alkaline solution to fly ash ratio. These mixtures were cast to form a hard mass and cured. It is then pulverized in to fly ash artificial coarse aggregates (FACA). The properties of FACA were determined and are compared with conventional coarse aggregates. From the experiment, it is found that the FACA is a lightweight aggregate. It can be used for wearing as well as non–wearing surfaces as per IS: 383 – 2016. It is found that 8MA1 (8 Molar NaOH solution and 0.4 is the alkaline solution to fly ash ratio) is economical and can be used for further research as NaOH needed is less. This mix (8MA1) of FACA is used to prepare fly ash artificial coarse aggregate concrete (FACACRETE). The mechanical properties of both normal concrete and FACACRETE are compared and the results suggest that the compressive, splitting tensile, flexural strengths and the stress–strain relationship of FACACRETE is comparable with conventional concrete of same grade as per IS 456. The compressive toughness and compressive index of the FACACRETE is found to be more than the conventional concrete. The failure pattern of FACACRETE is associated with multiple cracking and that of normal concrete is localized failure. On considering the experimental investigations conducted here, it is found that the FACA can be used to replace conventional coarse aggregate in concrete.

A Review of Non-Isolated High Step-Down Dc-Dc Converters

Ajmal Farooq,Zeeshan Malik,Zhaohui Sun,Guozhu Chen 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Smart Home Vol.9 No.8

In this paper, a review of the common techniques used for high step-down dc-dc voltage conversion is presented. First, the limitations of conventional buck & synchronous rectifier buck converters used for high step down dc-dc voltage conversion which include narrow duty cycle, high voltage stress, large ripple and low efficiency are briefly discussed. Then various topologies of non-isolated step-down dc-dc converters are reviewed and discussed. The topologies/techniques used for high step down dc-dc conversion are divided into various groups which include interleaved, quadratic, tapped, switched capacitor, switched inductor, coupled inductor, multi level and buck converter with three state switching cells. Each group of converters is briefly discussed, main circuit structure of each topology is given and their features and limitations are given. Finally a comparison of all the discussed topologies is carried out based on some common features.

Improved Runoff Estimation Using Event-Based Rainfall-Runoff Models

Ajmal, Muhammad,Waseem, Muhammad,Ahn, Jae-Hyun,Kim, Tae-Woong D. Reidel 2015 Water resources management Vol.29 No.6

<P> Event-based rainfall-runoff models are effective tools in operational hydrological forecasting and preparedness for extreme events. In the current study, the popular Natural Resources Soil Conservation curve number (NRCS-CN) model and the proposed simple nonlinear models were employed for runoff estimation. The runoff prediction capability of the NRCS model for the CN values obtained from tables was very poor in comparison to those calculated from the measured rainfall-runoff (storm-events) data. The proposed models were calibrated based on the rank-order, measured rainfall-runoff data (1,005 events) from 25 watersheds and validated in six watersheds for runoff estimation (170 events). The quantitative models’ performances were evaluated and compared based on the <I>root mean square error</I> (<I>RMSE</I>), <I>Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency</I> (<I>NSE</I>), and <I>percent bias</I> (<I>PBIAS</I>). Using tabulated CNs, the NRCS model exhibited comparatively insignificant results in the maximum number of watersheds (high <I>RMSE</I>, low <I>NSE</I>, and statistically poor <I>PBIAS</I> values). Using storm-event based calibrated CNs, the NRCS model showed improvement for runoff estimation. Furthermore, the proposed models without the CN concept were superior (with comparatively low <I>RMSE</I>, high <I>NSE</I>, and statistically significant <I>PBIAS</I> values) for depicting improved performance in almost all of the watersheds. </P>

Finite element analysis based fatigue life evaluation approach for railway bridges: a study in Indian scenario

Ajmal, P.C. Hisham,Mohammed, Althaf Techno-Press 2018 Structural monitoring and maintenance Vol.5 No.4

Fatigue is a principal failure mode for steel structures, and it is still less understood than any other modes of failure. Fatigue life estimation of metal bridges is a major issue for making cost effective decisions on the rehabilitation or replacement of existing infrastructure. The fatigue design procedures given by the standard codes are either empirical or based on nominal stress approach. Since the fatigue life estimation through field measurements is difficult and costly, more researches are needed to develop promising techniques in the fatigue analysis of bridges through Finite Element Analysis (FEA). This paper aims to develop a methodology for the Fatigue life estimation of railway steel bridge using FEA. The guidelines of IIW-1823-07 were used in the development of the methodology. The Finite Element (FE) package ANSYS and the programming software MATLAB were used to implement this methodology on an Indian Railway Standard (IRS) welded plate girder bridge. The results obtained were compared with results from published literature and found satisfactory.

Extraordinarily high conductivity of flexible adhesive films by hybrids of silver nanoparticle–nanowires

Ajmal, C Muhammed,Menamparambath, Mini Mol,Choi, Hyouk Ryeol,Baik, Seunghyun IOP 2016 Nanotechnology Vol.27 No.22

<P>Highly conductive flexible adhesive (CFA) film was developed using micro-sized silver flakes (primary fillers), hybrids of silver nanoparticle–nanowires (secondary fillers) and nitrile butadiene rubber. The hybrids of silver nanoparticle–nanowires were synthesized by decorating silver nanowires with silver nanoparticle clusters using bifunctional cysteamine as a linker. The dispersion in ethanol was excellent for several months. Silver nanowires constructed electrical networks between the micro-scale silver flakes. The low-temperature surface sintering of silver nanoparticles enabled effective joining of silver nanowires to silver flakes. The hybrids of silver nanoparticle–nanowires provided a greater maximum conductivity (54 390 S cm<SUP>−1</SUP>) than pure silver nanowires, pure multiwalled carbon nanotubes, and multiwalled carbon nanotubes decorated with silver nanoparticles in nitrile butadiene rubber matrix. The resistance change was smallest upon bending when the hybrids of silver nanoparticle–nanowires were employed. The adhesion of the film on polyethylene terephthalate substrate was excellent. Light emitting diodes were successfully wired to the CFA circuit patterned by the screen printing method for application demonstration.</P>

Cell-free massive multiple-input multiple-output challenges and opportunities: A survey

Ajmal Mahnoor,Siddiqa Ayesha,Jeong Bomi,Seo Junho,Kim Dongkyun 한국통신학회 2024 ICT Express Vol.10 No.1

Cell-free (CF) massive multiple-input multiple-output (mMIMO) system is a state-of-the-art emerging technology targeted towards beyond fifth-generation (B5G) and sixth-generation (6G) communication networks. This network pertains to a dense deployment of access points (APs) dispersed over a large geographical area to serve a small number of users at the same frequency and time resources. The CF-mMIMO architecture offers resilient connectivity, interference management, power efficiency, high throughput, and macrodiversity. Moreover, this communication technique eliminates cell boundaries and facilitates the users by introducing overlapping regions, thus providing consistent quality of service (QoS) throughout the region. However, the complexity of CF-mMIMO systems increases considerably when numerous APs are dispersed over a large geographical area. Therefore, several studies have been carried out to determine the optimal solution with minimum complexity of the CF-mMIMO system. Herein, a thorough investigation of the literature on the CF-mMIMO system is presented, considering all aspects from architecture to applications. The study provides a detailed survey of CF-mMIMO architecture, fronthaul, and backhaul, as well as the challenges associated with them; deployment methodologies and challenges for practical implementation of CF-mMIMO systems are also discussed. Furthermore, we reviewed the impact of transmitter and receiver antennae on the capacity of CF-mMIMO enabled with millimeter wave (mmWave). The numerical findings indicate that the higher degree of freedom required for spatial multiplexing allows multiantenna users to surpass single-antenna users in terms of capacity. This study holds significance owing to the thorough examination of the CF-mMIMO system model, channel estimation, scalability problems, working algorithms, communication protocol, deep learning-based solutions, linkage to B5G and 6G, and key challenges. Moreover, this study presents a detailed discussion and research survey on the system model, deployment issues, deep learning, and potential applications of the CF-mMIMO system.