A Hybrid Color Space for Skin Detection Using Genetic Algorithm Heuristic Search and Principal Component Analysis Technique

Color is one of the most prominent features of an image and used in many skin and face detection applications. Color space transformation is widely used by researchers to improve face and skin detection performance. Despite the substantial research efforts in this area, choosing a proper color space in terms of skin and face classification performance which can address issues like illumination variations, various camera characteristics and diversity in skin color tones has remained an open issue. This research proposes a new three-dimensional hybrid color space termed SKN by employing the Genetic Algorithm heuristic and Principal Component Analysis to find the optimal representation of human skin color in over seventeen existing color spaces. Genetic Algorithm heuristic is used to find the optimal color component combination setup in terms of skin detection accuracy while the Principal Component Analysis projects the optimal Genetic Algorithm solution to a less complex dimension. Pixel wise skin detection was used to evaluate the performance of the proposed color space. We have employed four classifiers including Random Forest, Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machine and Multilayer Perceptron in order to generate the human skin color predictive model. The proposed color space was compared to some existing color spaces and shows superior results in terms of pixel-wise skin detection accuracy. Experimental results show that by using Random Forest classifier, the proposed SKN color space obtained an average F-score and True Positive Rate of 0.953 and False Positive Rate of 0.0482 which outperformed the existing color spaces in terms of pixel wise skin detection accuracy. The results also indicate that among the classifiers used in this study, Random Forest is the most suitable classifier for pixel wise skin detection applications.     

Unsteady Boundary Layer Flow and Heat Transfer of a Casson Fluid past an Oscillating Vertical Plate with Newtonian Heating

In this paper, the heat transfer effect on the unsteady boundary layer flow of a Casson fluid past an infinite oscillating vertical plate with Newtonian heating is investigated. The governing equations are transformed to a systems of linear partial differential equations using appropriate non-dimensional variables. The resulting equations are solved analytically by using the Laplace transform method and the expressions for velocity and temperature are obtained. They satisfy all imposed initial and boundary conditions and reduce to some well-known solutions for Newtonian fluids. Numerical results for velocity, temperature, skin friction and Nusselt number are shown in various graphs and discussed for embedded flow parameters. It is found that velocity decreases as Casson parameters increases and thermal boundary layer thickness increases with increasing Newtonian heating parameter.     

Antioxidative responses to mercury in the cell cultures of Sesbania drummondii.

The effect of mercury (Hg) on the growth and the response of antioxidative systems have been investigated in Sesbania cell cultures to determine the tolerance limits and the mechanisms of metal (Hg) tolerance in plant cells. Cell cultures of Sesbania were developed in different concentrations (0-50 microM) of mercury. Cultures tolerated Hg up to a concentration of 40 microM and showed an increase in the fresh weight growth by 620% in 3 weeks. The levels of antioxidants: glutathione (GSH) and non-protein thiols (NPSH) and the activities of antioxidative enzymes: superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) were influenced by Hg treatments. The contents of GSH, NPSH and GSH/GSSG ratio increased up to a concentration of 40 muM Hg and then severely declined at 50 microM Hg. The activities of antioxidative enzymes, SOD, APX and GR followed the same trends as antioxidants, first increased up to a concentration of 40 muM Hg and then declined in the presence of 50 microM Hg.     

CD4+CD25hiCD127low Regulatory T Cells Are Increased in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients

Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subset of CD4⁺ T cells plays a pivotal role in regulating the immune system. An increase in Treg numbers enables cancer progression by dampening the immune system and allowing tumor cells to evade immune detection and destruction. An increase in Treg numbers and expression of inhibitory cytokines including TGF-β and IL-10 are mechanisms by which Tregs exert their immune suppressive function. However, the presence of Tregs and inhibitory cytokines in oral cancer patients is still unclear. In this study, the presence of circulating Tregs in 39 oral cancer patients and 24 healthy donors was examined by studying the presence of the CD4⁺CD25^hiCD127^low cell population in their peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry. Serum levels of TGF-β and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. T cell subsets of OSCC patients were found to differ significantly from healthy donors where a decrease in CD8⁺ cytotoxic T cells and an increase in Tregs (CD4⁺CD25^hiCD127^low) were observed. Further, the ratio of CD8⁺ T cells/Tregs was also decreased in patients compared to healthy donors. The presence of Tregs was accompanied by a decrease in IL-10 but not TGF-β secretion in OSCC patients when compared to donors; in addition, the analysis also revealed that an increased presence of Tregs was accompanied by better patient survival. Amongst OSCC patients, smokers had significantly higher levels of TGF-β. It is apparent that the immune system is compromised in OSCC patients and the characterization of the Treg subpopulation could form a basis for improving our understanding of the perturbations in the immune system that occur during OSCC tumorigenesis.     

Deciphering the binding of carbendazim (fungicide) with human serum albumin: A multi-spectroscopic and molecular modelling studies

Carbendazim is a benzimidazole fungicide used to control the fungal invasion. However, its exposure might lead to potential health problems. The present study evaluates the interaction of carbendazim (CAR) with human serum albumin (HSA) which is an important drug carrier protein and plays a very crucial role in the transportation of small molecules. A number of biophysical techniques were employed to investigate the binding of CAR with HSA. The increased UV-absorption of HSA on titrating with CAR suggests the formation of HSA–CAR complex and it could be due to the exposure of aromatic residues. The fluorescence study confirmed that CAR quenches the fluorescence of HSA and showed the static mode of quenching. CAR (50 µM) quenches around 56.14% of the HSA fluorescence. The quenching constant, binding constant, number of binding site and free energy change was calculated by fluorescence quenching experiment. Competitive displacement assay showed Sudlow’s site I as the primary binding site of CAR on HSA. The synchronous fluorescence study revealed the perturbation in the microenvironment around tyrosine and tryptophan residues upon binding of CAR to HSA. The circular dichroism results suggested that the binding of CAR to HSA altered its secondary structure. Molecular docking experiment demonstrated the binding of CAR to Sudlow’s site I of HSA. Docking studies suggested that the hydrogen bonding, van der Waals and pi-alkyl are playing role in the interaction of CAR with HSA. The study confirmed the conformational changes within HSA upon binding of CAR.     

Interactions of Ralstonia solanacearum and Pectobacterium carotovorum with Meloidogyne incognita on potato

Effect of interactions of Meloidogyne incognita with Ralstonia solanacearum and interaction of M. incognita with Pectobacterium carotovorum were studied in sequential and simultaneous inoculations on potato (Solanum tuberosum). Inoculation of M. incognita caused a lesser reduction in plant growth than caused by R. solanacearum. Inoculation of M. incognita plus R. solanacearum caused a greater reduction in plant growth than the damage caused by either pathogen. Inoculation of M. incognita prior to R. solanacearum resulted in a greater reduction in plant growth than R. solanacearum was inoculated prior to M. incognita. However, inoculation of M. incognita or P. carotovorum caused similar reduction in plant growth. Inoculation of P. carotovorum prior to M. incognita caused lesser reduction in plant growth than simultaneous inoculation of both pathogens. Inoculation of M. incognita caused galling in potato roots but the size of galls was small. Inoculation of P. carotovorum or R. solanacearum with M. incognita had adverse effect on galling and nematode multiplication. Wilting or soft rot index was 3 when R. solanacearum or P. carotovorum was inoculated alone. In other treatments, where R. solanacearum or P. carotovorum was inoculated with M. incognita, wilting or soft rot indices were 5.     

Elaeolenchus parthenonema n. g., n. sp. (Nematoda: Sphaerularioidea: Anandranematidae n. fam.) parasitic in the palm-pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust,with a phylogenetic synopsis of the Sphaerularioidea Lubbock, 1861

A new nematode, Elaeolenchus parthenonema n. g., n. sp., is described from the palm-pollinating weevil Elaeidobius kamerunicus Faust. The new genus is placed in the Anandranematidae n. fam., which, together with the genus Anandranema Poinar et al., 1993, is characterised by nematodes having only a single autotokous generation in the insect host. This is the first report of a member of this superfamily reproducing only parthenogenetically. The development of E. parthenonema and its effect on the weevil host is discussed, along with a phylogenetic synopsis of the families of the Sphaerularioidea Lubbock 1861. The Beddingiidae n. fam. is proposed for Beddingia Blinova & Korenchenko, 1986, comprising the original Deladenus parasites of Hymenoptera that possess both free-living and parasitic amphimictic generations in their life-cycles. This family is considered to have the most primitive type of development in the superfamily.     

Piperine suppresses cerebral ischemia–reperfusion-induced inflammation through the repression of COX-2, NOS-2, and NF-κB in middle cerebral artery occlusion rat model

The pathophysiological mechanisms leading to neuronal injury in middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of cerebral stroke are complex and multifactorial that form the bases of behavioral deficits and inflammation mediated damage. The present study demonstrates the effect of piperine pretreatment (10 mg/kg b wt, once daily p.o. for 15 days) on cerebral ischemia-induced inflammation in male Wistar rats. The right middle cerebral artery was occluded for 2 h followed by reperfusion for 22 h. A maximum infarct volume (57.80 %) was observed in ischemic MCAO group. However, piperine administration prior to ischemia showed a significant reduction in infarct volume (28.29 %; p < 0.05) and neuronal loss (12.72 %; p < 0.01). As a result of piperine pretreatment, a significant improvement in behavioral outputs of MCAO rats (p < 0.05-0.01) was observed. Piperine successfully reduced the level of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α, in ischemic group (p < 0.01). Ischemic group brain has shown edematous morphology with vacuolated architecture and pyknotic nuclei in H & E staining which was successfully ameliorated by piperine administration. Moreover, piperine also succeeded in lowering the expression of COX-2, NOS-2, and NF-κB (p < 0.01). Both cytosolic and nuclear NF-κB were down-regulated in ischemic group pre-administered with piperine (p < 0.01). The present study suggests that piperine is able to salvage the ischemic penumbral zone neurons by virtue of its anti-inflammatory property, thereby limiting ischemic cell death.     

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interaction of Rosuvastatin calcium with guggulipid extract in rats

Background & objectivesRosuvastatin calcium (RC) is a potent and competitive synthetic inhibitor of HMG-CoA reductase used for the treatment of dyslipidemia. Guggulipid obtained from Commiphora mukul is used in the treatment of a wide variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis, hypercholesterolemia, rheumatism, and obesity. The present study evaluates the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic interactions between RC and the standardized guggulipid extract in rats.Materials and methodsThe guggulipid extract was standardized for the presence of guggulsterones. The pharmacokinetic interaction was determined after a single dose administration of RC alone or in combination with the guggulipid extract or after multiple-dose administration of RC alone or RC along with the guggulipid extract for 14 days. To determine the pharmacodynamic interaction, RC and guggulipid extract were administered to hyperlipidemic rats for 14 days. The level of significance was determined using unpaired student’s t-test, one way ANOVA, the post-ANOVA Tukey test.ResultsStandardization of guggulipid extract showed it contains 7.5%w/w of guggulsterones. Guggulipid extract increased the bioavailability of RC in both single-dose and multiple-dose studies. Guggulipid extract reduced the rate of absorption (Ka) of RC but showed an increase in maximum serum concentration (Cmax). An in-vitro study using isolated rat intestine revealed that guggulipid extract decreased the rate of absorption of RC in the intestinal lumen. The hypolipidemic activity of RC was augmented by the guggulipid extract in hyperlipidemic rats.Interpretation & conclusionTherefore it is concluded that guggulipid extract increases the bioavailability of RC by delaying its Ka and augments its hypolipidemic action. However, it is recommended that a combination of RC with guggulipid extract should be used only after an adverse effect(s) of this combination are determined.