Most data-hiding techniques have already been investigated in detail as regards image files in both

the spatial and frequency domains. However, they are currently the subject of several investigations in

the video domain. In recent years, among many proposed steganographic methods in the spatial

domain, pixel-value differencing (PVD) provides both high embedding capacity and viable

imperceptibility for images compared with other techniques, such as least significant bit (LSB) method.

It utilizes the remainder of two consecutive pixels in embedding secret data, and the number of

embedded bits is based on the amount of difference. The large amount of difference indicates that more

secret bits can be embedded. However, based on extensive experiments, using such technique to embed

secret data in the frequency domain creates a massive negative effect on hosted data, even resulting in

low embedding capacity, which will lead to undesired distortion in the host file. In this paper, some

modifications to the PVD method are proposed that make it capable of embedding secret information

in macro-blocks of both I-frames and P-frames for MPEG-2 video during compression. The

modifications applied to PVD reduce the distortion drift caused by reversible data hiding within

selected macro-block coefficients. Furthermore, this research devises an adaptive method that can

achieve a more secure scheme for embedding data based on encrypting the host macro-block

coefficients before the hiding process using a secret encrypted key. Based on the simulation results

obtained in this proposed approach, the proposed scheme successfully improves the perceived quality

and achieves much better security compared with PVD-based method while still retaining the

advantage of hiding a large amount of information.

In this paper, the definition of intuitionistic fuzzy parameterised fuzzy soft set (ifpfs-sets) is introduced with their properties. Two operations on intersection are introduced. Also, some examples for these operations are given. The ifpfs-set, namely union and definition of ifpfs-aggregation operator which forms ifpfs-decision making method is Introduced.

 Candida glabrata cells suspended in water are under hypo-osmotic stress and undergo cell death in 1–2 days, unless they are at a density of more than 105 CFU mL 1. The dying cells exhibit FITC-annexin V staining, indicative of programmed cell death (apoptosis). In a higher cell density, cells are protected and survive at least for 4 days. Filtrates from cells at high density can protect those at lower density, indicating that cells release substances, amounting to c. 5mgL 1 of cell suspension, that protect each other against hypo-osmotic stress. In a concentrated form, the released materials can support growth, indi cating that the protective material includes carbon and nitrogen sources, as well as vitamins that are required by C. glabrata for growth. We conclude that cell death from hypo-osmotic stress can be alleviated by small amounts of nutrients.

Brominated butyl rubber (BIIR) was crosslinked through an esterification reaction using the sodium salt of dicyclopentadiene dicarboxylic acid (DCPDCA) as crosslinking agent. The crosslinked BIIR could de-crosslink upon heating and re-crosslink upon cooling due to Diels-Alder type reversible de-dimerization/re-dimerization of dicyclopentadiene moieties in the rubber networks. Torque measurement of the crosslinked rubber was conducted at various temperatures using a typical curemeter to investigate the thermo-reversibility. It was revealed that proper temperature for thermal processing of the crosslinked BIIR would be around 174 °C, at which the crosslinked polymer exhibits good flowability and is not too high to induce unexpected side reactions. The torque measurement was also carried out to investigate the efficiency of antioxidant on retarding the loss of the thermo-reversibility of the crosslinked polymer during heating-cooling cycles. It was found that addition of antioxidant 2246 [2,2′-methylenebis(6-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol)] into BIIR could significantly improve the thermo-reversibility of DCPDCA crosslinked BIIR. Torque measurement provides a convenient and sensitive method to understand the thermal behavior of reversible covalent crosslinked polymer.

Background: African trypanosomes are capable of both pyrimidine biosynthesis and salvage of preformed pyrimidines from the host, but it is unknown whether either process is essential to the parasite. Methodology/Principal Findings: Pyrimidine requirements for growth were investigated using strictly pyrimidine-free media, with or without single added pyrimidine sources. Growth rates of wild-type bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei brucei were unchanged in pyrimidine-free medium. The essentiality of the de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis pathway was studied by knocking out the PYR6-5 locus that produces a fusion product of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRT) and Orotidine Monophosphate Decarboxylase (OMPDCase). The pyrimidine auxotroph was dependent on a suitable extracellular pyrimidine source. Pyrimidine starvation was rapidly lethal and non-reversible, causing incomplete DNA content in new cells. The phenotype could be rescued by addition of uracil; supplementation with uridine, 29deoxyuridine, and cytidine allowed a diminished growth rate and density. PYR6-52/ 2 trypanosomes were more sensitive to pyrimidine antimetabolites and displayed increased uracil transport rates and uridine phosphorylase activity. Pyrimidine auxotrophs were able to infect mice although the infection developed much more slowly than infection with the parental, prototrophic trypanosome line. Conclusions/Significance: Pyrimidine salvage was not an essential function for bloodstream T. b. brucei. However, trypanosomes lacking de novo pyrimidine biosynthesis are completely dependent on an extracellular pyrimidine source, strongly preferring uracil, and display reduced infectivity. As T. brucei are able to salvage sufficient pyrimidines from the host environment, the py

African trypanosomes are capable of both pyrimidine biosynthesis and salvage of preformed pyrimidines from the host. However, uptake of pyrimidines in bloodstream form trypanosomes has not been investigated, making it difficult to judge the relative importance of salvage and synthesis or to design a pyrimidine-based chemotherapy. Detailed characterization of pyrimidine transport activities in bloodstream form Trypanosoma brucei brucei found that these cells express a high-affinity uracil transporter (designated TbU3) that is clearly distinct from the procyclic pyrimidine transporters. This transporter had low affinity for uridine and 2′deoxyuridine and was the sole pyrimidine transporter expressed in these cells. In addition, thymidine was taken up inefficiently through a P1-type nucleoside transporter. Of importance, the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil was an excellent substrate for TbU3, and several 5-fluoropyrimidine analogs were investigated for uptake and trypanocidal activity; 5F-orotic acid, 5F-2′deoxyuridine displayed activity in the low micromolar range. The metabolism and mode of action of these analogs was determined using metabolomic assessments of T. brucei clonal lines adapted to high levels of these pyrimidine analogs, and of the sensitive parental strains. The analysis showed that 5-fluorouracil is incorporated into a large number of metabolites but likely exerts toxicity through incorporation into RNA. 5F-2′dUrd and 5F-2′dCtd are not incorporated into nucleic acids but act as prodrugs by inhibiting thymidylate synthase as 5F-dUMP. We present the most complete model of pyrimidine salvage in T. brucei to date, supported by genome-wide profiling of the predicted pyrimidine biosynthesis and conversion enzymes.

The aim was to build an educational website to teach preschoolers aged 2-5 years old some skills; related to reading, writing and pronouncing alphabet, numbers, animal names, shapes and other common words. Also, assist parents and teachers by providing digital game-based learning environment to “edutainment” the children. The study illustrated the usability and usefulness of this educational game-based website and provided future insights for researchers and developers to take into account in future work.

one of the challenges recently occurred in the concept of hiding data is the

robustness of hiding data in the way that is difficult to access or detect. Most of the steganography

schemes are based commonly on embed data within images or video frames on their original form

(uncompressed domain).

This paper presents a new methodology for data hiding in MPEG-2 video standard. Data will be

embedding during the compression stage of the AVI-MPEG2 encoding. The BPCS algorithm has

been modified and used in all our experiments for embed data, and the DES (Data Encryption

Standard) algorithm has been used to encrypt data before hiding. It only embeds encrypted data

bits in the quantized AC coefficients (low-frequency AC coefficients) of Y components (Luminance)

for the I-Frame. The obtained results demonstrate that the proposed method has the considerable

advantage over previous steganography schemes with a good PSNR values for the embedded

ABSTRACT

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of Diabetes in elderly females.

Oxidative stress is regarded as a main causal factor for natural ageing. This study tested

the hypothesis that healthy elderly people show higher oxidative DNA damage levels and

lower antioxidative enzymatic defense capacities. In type II diabetic patients, persistence

of hyperglycemia is one of the causes of increased in oxygen free radicals. This increase

oxidative stress and makes the life threatening cardiovascular complications. Blood

samples were drawn from selective 100 elderly females (with and without diabetes). In

elderly females having menopause, there occur hypercholesterolemia,

hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperlipoproteinemia, these on the body, escort an increase in

free radicals, with mounting oxidative stress. In diabetes the body suffers with a poor or

negligible glycemic control. All diabetic post menopausal females with CVD have been

reported a significant high levels of Fasting Blood Sugar, Total Cholesterol, Triglycerides,

LDL-C, VLDL-C, CAT, NT-proBNP and MDA and significantly lower levels of HDL-C, GPx,

SOD as compared to control subjects. In type-II diabetes mellitus elderly female patients

during the postmenopause, the probability of secondary complications of cardiovascular

diseases increases.