akanksha singh - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by akanksha singh

Research paper thumbnail of Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving through ad hoc agent coalitions

Abstract Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving refers to a loosely coupled network of problem s... more Abstract Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving refers to a loosely coupled network of problem solvers working together to solve problems that may be beyond the capabilities of individual agents. Individual nodes may not have sufficient expertise, resources or ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Self-Organizing Agent Coalitions in Distributed Multi-agent Systems

Self-Organization refers to the process through which a system changes its internal organization ... more Self-Organization refers to the process through which a system changes its internal organization to adapt to changes in its goals & the environment, without explicit external control. The self-organizing capability seen in many natural and artificial systems is closely congruent to the emergent collective intelligence in distributed multi-agent systems. A group of agents interacting locally may form beneficial coalitions, which are by and large distributed and sometimes self-organizing. The coalition structures often depend on factors like agent types, their motivation to cooperate, the perceived coalition gains and the payoff distribution strategies. This paper presents a short analytical summary of the concept of self-organization, and tries to correlate the key ideas involved in it with our experimental work on agent coalitions in a distributed environment. The agents are heterogeneous and form coalition structures through relatively local interactions without any external central entity governing the process.

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Research paper thumbnail of The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique

Smart Materials & Structures, 2008

Soft lithography provides remarkable surface patterning techniques to organize colloidal particle... more Soft lithography provides remarkable surface patterning techniques to organize colloidal particles for a wide variety of applications. In particular, micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) has emerged as a patterning method in the nanometer to micrometer scale in a single step by using templating and directing nanoparticles via capillary forces in the channel. The present work reports the results of the micropatterning of monodispersed silica particles of ~338 ± 2 nm size in ethanol medium, using MIMIC on silicon substrates. The effect of the concentration of silica particles on the patterning has been investigated. The patterns are well aligned and completely filled at 2 wt% concentration of silica particles.

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Research paper thumbnail of The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique

Smart Materials & Structures, 2008

Page 1. The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographi... more Page 1. The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique This article has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text article. 2008 Smart Mater. Struct. 17 065031 ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Studies on improvement of hydrogen storage capacity of AB 5 type:MmNi 4.6Fe 0.4 alloy

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004

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Research paper thumbnail of Room temperature, water-based, microreactor synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Room temperature, water-based, microreactor synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Patterning of SiO 2 nanoparticle–PMMA polymer composite microstructures based on soft lithographic techniques

Microelectronic Engineering, 2011

Soft lithography and self-assembly provide powerful means of organizing colloidal solution of syn... more Soft lithography and self-assembly provide powerful means of organizing colloidal solution of synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) for a wide variety of application. Pattern transfer of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles–polymethylmethacylate (PMMA) nanocomposite was investigated ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Differential effects of formononetin and cladrin on osteoblast function, peak bone mass achievement and bioavailability in rats

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2011

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Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of antifertility potential of Brahmi in male mouse

Contraception, 2009

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on fertil... more The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on fertility of male laboratory mouse. Mice of the Parkes (P) strain were orally administered Brahmi (250 mg/kg body weight/day, for 28 and 56 days), and effect of the treatment on reproductive organs and fertility was investigated. Recovery and toxicological studies were also carried out. The treatment caused reduction in motility, viability, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis. Histologically, testes in mice treated with the plant extract showed alterations in the seminiferous tubules, and the alterations included intraepithelial vacuolation, loosening of germinal epithelium, exfoliation of germ cells and occurrence of giant cells. In severe cases, the tubules were lined by only Sertoli cells or Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Significant reductions were also noted in height of the germinal epithelium and diameter of the seminiferous tubules in Brahmi-treated mice compared to controls. Epididymis in treated males showed slight alterations in histological appearance. The treatment had no effect on levels of testosterone, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine in blood serum, hematological parameters and on liver and kidney histoarchitecture. In Brahmi-treated males, libido remained unaffected, but fertility was notably suppressed. The alterations caused in the above reproductive endpoints by the plant extract were reversible, and by 56 days of treatment withdrawal, the parameters recovered to control levels. The results in P mice thus suggest that Brahmi treatment causes reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, without producing apparent toxic effects.

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Research paper thumbnail of Trichoderma harzianum - mediated reprogramming of oxidative stress response in root apoplast of sunflower enhances defence against Rhizoctonia solani

European Journal of Plant Pathology

Trichoderma harzianum is an effective biocontrol agent against the devastating plant pathogen Rhi... more Trichoderma harzianum is an effective biocontrol agent against the devastating plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Despite its wide application in agriculture, the mechanisms of biocontrol are not yet fully understood. Mycoparasitism and antibiosis are suggested, but may not be sole cause of disease reduction. In the present study, we investigated the role of oxidant-antioxidant metabolites in the root apoplast of sunflower challenged by R. solani in the presence/absence of T. harzianum NBRI-1055. Analysis of oxidative stress response revealed a reduction in hydroxyl radical concentration (•OH; 3.6 times) at 9 days after pathogen inoculation (dapi), superoxide anion radical concentration (O 2•−; 4.1 times) at 8 dapi and hydrogen peroxide concentration (H2O2; 2.7 times) levels at 7 dapi in plants treated with spent maize-cob formulation of T. harzianum NBRI-1055 (MCFT), as compared to pathogen-inoculated plants. The protection afforded by the biocontrol agent was associated with the accumulation of the ROS gene network: the catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and ascorbate peroxidase (APx), maximum activity of CAT (11.0 times) was observed at 8 dapi, SOD (7.0 times) at 7 dapi, GPx (5.4 times) and APx (8.1 times) at 7 dapi in MCFT-treated plants challenged with the pathogen. This was further supported by the inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in Trichoderma-inoculated plants. MCFT stimulated the accumulation of secondary metabolites of phenolic nature that increased up to five-fold and also exhibited strong antioxidant activity at 8 dapi, eventually leading to the systemic accumulation of phytoalexins. These results suggest that T. harzianum–mediated biocontrol may be related to alleviating R. solani-induced oxidative stress.

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Research paper thumbnail of DEVELOPMENT IN MICROREACTOR TECHNOLOGY FOR NANOPARTICLE SYNTHESIS

International Journal of Nanoscience, 2010

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Research paper thumbnail of Development in Microreactor Technology for Nanoparticle Synthesis

International Journal of Nanoscience, 2010

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Research paper thumbnail of Rapidly switched wettability of titania films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering

Journal of Physics D-applied Physics, 2008

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Research paper thumbnail of A facile and fast approach for the synthesis of doped nanoparticles using a microfluidic device

Nanotechnology, 2008

The microfluidic approach emerges as a new and promising technology for the synthesis of nanomate... more The microfluidic approach emerges as a new and promising technology for the synthesis of nanomaterials. A microreactor allows a variety of reaction conditions to be quickly scanned without consuming large amounts of raw material. In this study, we investigated the synthesis of water soluble 1-thioglycerol-capped Mn-doped ZnS nanocrystalline semiconductor nanoparticles (TG-capped ZnS:Mn) via a microfluidic approach. This is the first report for the successful doping of Mn in a ZnS semiconductor at room temperature as well as at 80 °C using a microreactor. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis show that the average particle size of Mn-doped ZnS nanoparticles is ~3.0 nm with a zinc-blende structure. Photoluminescence, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance studies were carried out to confirm that the Mn2+ dopants are present in the ZnS nanoparticles.

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Research paper thumbnail of Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving through ad hoc agent coalitions

Abstract Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving refers to a loosely coupled network of problem s... more Abstract Cooperative Distributed Problem Solving refers to a loosely coupled network of problem solvers working together to solve problems that may be beyond the capabilities of individual agents. Individual nodes may not have sufficient expertise, resources or ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Self-Organizing Agent Coalitions in Distributed Multi-agent Systems

Self-Organization refers to the process through which a system changes its internal organization ... more Self-Organization refers to the process through which a system changes its internal organization to adapt to changes in its goals & the environment, without explicit external control. The self-organizing capability seen in many natural and artificial systems is closely congruent to the emergent collective intelligence in distributed multi-agent systems. A group of agents interacting locally may form beneficial coalitions, which are by and large distributed and sometimes self-organizing. The coalition structures often depend on factors like agent types, their motivation to cooperate, the perceived coalition gains and the payoff distribution strategies. This paper presents a short analytical summary of the concept of self-organization, and tries to correlate the key ideas involved in it with our experimental work on agent coalitions in a distributed environment. The agents are heterogeneous and form coalition structures through relatively local interactions without any external central entity governing the process.

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Research paper thumbnail of The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique

Smart Materials & Structures, 2008

Soft lithography provides remarkable surface patterning techniques to organize colloidal particle... more Soft lithography provides remarkable surface patterning techniques to organize colloidal particles for a wide variety of applications. In particular, micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) has emerged as a patterning method in the nanometer to micrometer scale in a single step by using templating and directing nanoparticles via capillary forces in the channel. The present work reports the results of the micropatterning of monodispersed silica particles of ~338 ± 2 nm size in ethanol medium, using MIMIC on silicon substrates. The effect of the concentration of silica particles on the patterning has been investigated. The patterns are well aligned and completely filled at 2 wt% concentration of silica particles.

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Research paper thumbnail of The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique

Smart Materials & Structures, 2008

Page 1. The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographi... more Page 1. The effect of concentration in the patterning of silica particles by the soft lithographic technique This article has been downloaded from IOPscience. Please scroll down to see the full text article. 2008 Smart Mater. Struct. 17 065031 ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Studies on improvement of hydrogen storage capacity of AB 5 type:MmNi 4.6Fe 0.4 alloy

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2004

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Research paper thumbnail of Room temperature, water-based, microreactor synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Room temperature, water-based, microreactor synthesis of gold and silver nanoparticles

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2009

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Patterning of SiO 2 nanoparticle–PMMA polymer composite microstructures based on soft lithographic techniques

Microelectronic Engineering, 2011

Soft lithography and self-assembly provide powerful means of organizing colloidal solution of syn... more Soft lithography and self-assembly provide powerful means of organizing colloidal solution of synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) for a wide variety of application. Pattern transfer of silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) nanoparticles–polymethylmethacylate (PMMA) nanocomposite was investigated ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Differential effects of formononetin and cladrin on osteoblast function, peak bone mass achievement and bioavailability in rats

Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 2011

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of antifertility potential of Brahmi in male mouse

Contraception, 2009

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on fertil... more The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Bacopa monnieri (Brahmi) on fertility of male laboratory mouse. Mice of the Parkes (P) strain were orally administered Brahmi (250 mg/kg body weight/day, for 28 and 56 days), and effect of the treatment on reproductive organs and fertility was investigated. Recovery and toxicological studies were also carried out. The treatment caused reduction in motility, viability, morphology, and number of spermatozoa in cauda epididymidis. Histologically, testes in mice treated with the plant extract showed alterations in the seminiferous tubules, and the alterations included intraepithelial vacuolation, loosening of germinal epithelium, exfoliation of germ cells and occurrence of giant cells. In severe cases, the tubules were lined by only Sertoli cells or Sertoli cells, spermatogonia and spermatocytes. Significant reductions were also noted in height of the germinal epithelium and diameter of the seminiferous tubules in Brahmi-treated mice compared to controls. Epididymis in treated males showed slight alterations in histological appearance. The treatment had no effect on levels of testosterone, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and creatinine in blood serum, hematological parameters and on liver and kidney histoarchitecture. In Brahmi-treated males, libido remained unaffected, but fertility was notably suppressed. The alterations caused in the above reproductive endpoints by the plant extract were reversible, and by 56 days of treatment withdrawal, the parameters recovered to control levels. The results in P mice thus suggest that Brahmi treatment causes reversible suppression of spermatogenesis and fertility, without producing apparent toxic effects.

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Research paper thumbnail of Trichoderma harzianum - mediated reprogramming of oxidative stress response in root apoplast of sunflower enhances defence against Rhizoctonia solani

European Journal of Plant Pathology

Trichoderma harzianum is an effective biocontrol agent against the devastating plant pathogen Rhi... more Trichoderma harzianum is an effective biocontrol agent against the devastating plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. Despite its wide application in agriculture, the mechanisms of biocontrol are not yet fully understood. Mycoparasitism and antibiosis are suggested, but may not be sole cause of disease reduction. In the present study, we investigated the role of oxidant-antioxidant metabolites in the root apoplast of sunflower challenged by R. solani in the presence/absence of T. harzianum NBRI-1055. Analysis of oxidative stress response revealed a reduction in hydroxyl radical concentration (•OH; 3.6 times) at 9 days after pathogen inoculation (dapi), superoxide anion radical concentration (O 2•−; 4.1 times) at 8 dapi and hydrogen peroxide concentration (H2O2; 2.7 times) levels at 7 dapi in plants treated with spent maize-cob formulation of T. harzianum NBRI-1055 (MCFT), as compared to pathogen-inoculated plants. The protection afforded by the biocontrol agent was associated with the accumulation of the ROS gene network: the catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and ascorbate peroxidase (APx), maximum activity of CAT (11.0 times) was observed at 8 dapi, SOD (7.0 times) at 7 dapi, GPx (5.4 times) and APx (8.1 times) at 7 dapi in MCFT-treated plants challenged with the pathogen. This was further supported by the inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in Trichoderma-inoculated plants. MCFT stimulated the accumulation of secondary metabolites of phenolic nature that increased up to five-fold and also exhibited strong antioxidant activity at 8 dapi, eventually leading to the systemic accumulation of phytoalexins. These results suggest that T. harzianum–mediated biocontrol may be related to alleviating R. solani-induced oxidative stress.

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Research paper thumbnail of DEVELOPMENT IN MICROREACTOR TECHNOLOGY FOR NANOPARTICLE SYNTHESIS

International Journal of Nanoscience, 2010

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Development in Microreactor Technology for Nanoparticle Synthesis

International Journal of Nanoscience, 2010

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Rapidly switched wettability of titania films deposited by dc magnetron sputtering

Journal of Physics D-applied Physics, 2008

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of A facile and fast approach for the synthesis of doped nanoparticles using a microfluidic device

Nanotechnology, 2008

The microfluidic approach emerges as a new and promising technology for the synthesis of nanomate... more The microfluidic approach emerges as a new and promising technology for the synthesis of nanomaterials. A microreactor allows a variety of reaction conditions to be quickly scanned without consuming large amounts of raw material. In this study, we investigated the synthesis of water soluble 1-thioglycerol-capped Mn-doped ZnS nanocrystalline semiconductor nanoparticles (TG-capped ZnS:Mn) via a microfluidic approach. This is the first report for the successful doping of Mn in a ZnS semiconductor at room temperature as well as at 80 °C using a microreactor. Transmission electron microscopy and x-ray diffraction analysis show that the average particle size of Mn-doped ZnS nanoparticles is ~3.0 nm with a zinc-blende structure. Photoluminescence, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance studies were carried out to confirm that the Mn2+ dopants are present in the ZnS nanoparticles.

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