Agent Based Evacuation Simulation Using Leader-Follower Model

Agent based simulation is a widely developing area in artificial intelligence.The simulation studies are extensively used in different areas of disaster management. This work deals with the study of an agent based evacuation simulation which is being done to handle the various evacuation behaviors.Various emergent behaviors of agents are addressed here. Dynamic grouping behaviors of agents are studied. Collision detection and obstacle avoidances are also incorporated in this approach.Evacuation is studied with single exits and multiple exits and efficiency is measured in terms of evacuation rate, collision rate etc.Net logo is the tool used which helps in the efficient modeling of scenarios in evacuation

Molecular cloning and homology modelling of a subtilisin-like serine protease from the marine fungus, Engyodontium album BTMFS10

An alkaline protease gene (Eap) was isolated for the first time from a marine fungus, Engyodontium album. Eap consists of an open reading frame of 1,161 bp encoding a prepropeptide consisting of 387 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 40.923 kDa. Homology comparison of the deduced amino acid sequence of Eap with other known proteins indicated that Eap encode an extracellular protease that belongs to the subtilase family of serine protease (Family S8). A comparative homology model of the Engyodontium album protease (EAP) was developed using the crystal structure of proteinase K. The model revealed that EAP has broad substrate specificity similar to Proteinase K with preference for bulky hydrophobic residues at P1 and P4. Also, EAP is suggested to have two disulfide bonds and more than two Ca2? binding sites in its 3D structure; both of which are assumed to contribute to the thermostable nature of the protein.

Integron study, molecular typing and characterization of Salmonella serotypes isolated from seafood and poultry

The primary habitat of Salmonella is the gastrointestinal tract of animals and they are discharged into the water bodies through the feces. Aquatic animals act as asymptomatic reservoirs of a wide range of Salmonella serotypes. The inevitable delay in the detection of Salmonella contamination and the low sensitivity of the conventional methods is a serious issue in the seafood industry. Due to the indiscriminate use, the antibiotics are finally accumulated in the aquatic environment which provides the required antibiotic stress for the emergence of more and more antibiotic resistant phenotypes ofSalmonella. Several genetic determinants like integrons, genomic islands etc. play their role in acquisition and reshuffling of antibiotic resistance genes. A large number of virulence determinants are required for Salmonella pathogenicity. The virulence potential of Salmonella is determined, to some extent, by the presence of phages or phage mediated genes in the bacterial genome. There is much intra-serotype polymorphism in Salmonella and epidemiological studies rely on genetic resemblance of the isolated strains. Proper identification of the strain employing the traditional and molecular techniques is a prerequisite for accurate epidemiological studies (Soto et al., 2000). In this context, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of different Salmonella serotypes in seafood and to characterize them