Trace elements (copper,zinc, selenium and molybdenum) as markers in oral sub mucous fibrosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma

Oral cancer is a major cause of cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide and is prevalent in most areas where tobacco related practices are observed. Essential elements play a role in many biochemical reactions as a micro-source and there is growing evidence that their concentrations are altered on the onset and progress of malignant disease. In this study the levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and molybdenum (Mo) in serum of patients with oral sub mucous fibrosis (OSMF) (n = 30) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) (n = 30); were determined and the alterations of these critical parameters were analyzed in comparison with controls (n = 30) to identify predictors amongst these parameters for disease occurrence and progression. The serum Cu and Zn were established using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Serum estimation of Se and Mo was done by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). Data analysis revealed a marked, progressive and significant increase in Cu levels in precancer (OSMF) and cancer (OSCC) groups as compared to the normal group. The level of Zn in serum was slightly elevated in OSMF and OSCC though not statistically significant. Cu/Zn ratio was slightly but not significantly elevated. Serum levels of Se and Mo were significantly decreased in the precancer and cancer groups as compared to the normals.     

In silico and bio assay of juvenile hormone analogs as an insect growth regulator against Galleria mellonella (wax moth) – Part I

Juvenile hormone (JH) analogs are nowadays in use to control harmful pests. In order to develop new bioactive molecules as potential pesticides, we have incorporated different active structural features like sulfonamide, aromatic rings, amide group, and amino acid moiety to the base structure. We have screened a series of designed novel JH analogs against JH receptor protein (jhbpGm-2RCK) of Galleria mellonella in comparison to commercial insect growth regulators (IGRs) – Pyriproxyfen (T₁) and Fenoxycarb (T₂). All analogs exhibit the binding energy profile comparable to commercial IGRs. Based upon these results, a series of sulfonamide-based JHAs (T₃–T₈) as IGRs have been synthesized and characterized. Further, the efficacy of synthesized analogs (T₃–T₈) and commercial IGRs (Pyriproxyfen and Fenoxycarb) has been assessed against fourth instars larvae of G. mellonella under the laboratory conditions. LC₅₀ values of all the analogs (T₁–T₈) against the fourth instars larvae were 9.99, 10.12, 24.76, 30.73, 38.45, 34.15, 34.14, 19.48 ppm and the LC₉₀ 153.27, 131.69, 112.15, 191.46, 427.02, 167.13, 217.10, 172.00 ppm, respectively. Among these analogs, N-(1-isopropyl-2-oxo-3-aza-3-N-ethyl-pentanyl)-p-toluene sulfonamide (T₈) and N-(1-isopropyl-2-oxo-3-aza-3-N-ethyl-pentanyl) benzene sulfonamide (T₇) exhibited the good pest larval mortality at different exposure periods (in hours) and different concentrations (in ppm) in comparison to in use IGRs- T₁ and T₂. Bio assay results are supported by docking at higher concentration. The present investigation clearly exhibits that analog T₈ could serve as a potential IGR in comparison to in use IGRs (T₁ and T₂). The results are promising and provide new array of synthetic chemicals that may be utilized as IGRs.     

Suitability of tomato leaves for larval development of Potato Tuber Moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is an important pest of the potato plant and its tuber. With the expansion of its geographic range, the PTM could be potential threat to the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), a congeneric species of the potato. To assess that risk, we tested larval feeding and development of PTM on leaves of five cultivated tomato varieties namely Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa Craig, LA3475, E6203 and one wild tomato variety S. pimpinellifolium. PTM larvae accepted all tested plant leaves and developed into adults. Larval development was fastest on the Ailsa Craig variety. Pupae developed fastest on the Moneymaker variety and slowest on LA3475. Host acceptance and survival were highest on Ailsa Craig and lowest on LA3475. The significantly highest male proportion occurred on LA3475 variety. The study showed that PTM could be a potential threat to tomato cultivation which is rapidly increasing in temperate regions owing to climate change.     

Dosimetric impact of statistical uncertainty on Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm in volumetric modulated arc therapy using Monaco TPS for three different clinical cases

AimTo study the dosimetric impact of statistical uncertainty (SU) per plan on Monte Carlo (MC) calculation in Monaco? treatment planning system (TPS) during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for three different clinical cases.BackgroundDuring MC calculation SU is an important factor to decide dose calculation accuracy and calculation time. It is necessary to evaluate optimal acceptance of SU for quality plan with reduced calculation time.Materials and methodsThree different clinical cases as the lung, larynx, and prostate treated using VMAT technique were chosen. Plans were generated with Monaco? V5.11 TPS with 2% statistical uncertainty. By keeping all other parameters constant, plans were recalculated by varying SU, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5%. For plan evaluation, conformity index (CI), homogeneity index (HI), dose coverage to PTV, organ at risk (OAR) dose, normal tissue receiving dose ≥5 Gy and ≥10 Gy, integral dose (NTID), calculation time, gamma pass rate, calculation reproducibility and energy dependency were analyzed.ResultsCI and HI improve as SU increases from 0.5% to 5%. No significant dose difference was observed in dose coverage to PTV, OAR doses, normal tissue receiving dose ≥5 Gy and ≥10 Gy and NTID. Increase of SU showed decrease in calculation time, gamma pass rate and increase in PTV max dose. No dose difference was seen in calculation reproducibility and dependent on energy.ConclusionFor VMAT plans, SU can be accepted from 1% to 3% per plan with reduced calculation time without compromising plan quality and deliverability by accepting variations in point dose within the target.     

Molecular diversity and genetic variability of kernel tocopherols among maize inbreds possessing favourable haplotypes of γ-tocopherol methyl transferase (ZmVTE4)

Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology - Vitamin E deficiency is a serious health concern in humans. Biofortification of maize kernel with high vitamin E (α-tocopherol) provides...     

Sucrose-inducible expression of hepatitis B surface antigen using potato granule-bound starch synthase promoter

NT-1 cells of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were transformed with pGBSSHBS and pGBSSHER expression cassettes wherein expression of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was driven by potato granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) promoter. The transformed nature of the cells was confirmed by PCR analysis. Expression of HBsAg was confirmed by RT-PCR and Western blotting and levels of expression were assayed by ELISA. Transformed cell lines exhibited a sucrose-inducible pattern of HBsAg expression. NT-1 medium supplemented with 175 mmol L⁻¹ sucrose gave the highest HBsAg expression of 198 ng g⁻¹ FW after 8 days of induction. Different sugars, for example glucose, fructose, and palatinose, were also tested to study the inducible nature of GBSS promoter. The results demonstrate that potato GBSS promoter can be used in heterologous host systems like tobacco NT-1 cell suspension cultures for sucrose-inducible expression of recombinant proteins.     

From honeybees to Internet servers: biomimicry for distributed management of Internet hosting centers

An Internet hosting center hosts services on its server ensemble. The center must allocate servers dynamically amongst services to maximize revenue earned from hosting fees. The finite server ensemble, unpredictable request arrival behavior and server reallocation cost make server allocation optimization difficult. Server allocation closely resembles honeybee forager allocation amongst flower patches to optimize nectar influx. The resemblance inspires a honeybee biomimetic algorithm. This paper describes details of the honeybee self-organizing model in terms of information flow and feedback, analyzes the homology between the two problems and derives the resulting biomimetic algorithm for hosting centers. The algorithm is assessed for effectiveness and adaptiveness by comparative testing against benchmark and conventional algorithms. Computational results indicate that the new algorithm is highly adaptive to widely varying external environments and quite competitive against benchmark assessment algorithms. Other swarm intelligence applications are briefly surveyed, and some general speculations are offered regarding their various degrees of success.