Influence of ellagic acid on prostate cancer cell proliferation:A caspase-dependent pathway

Objective:To evaluate the effect of allagic acid treatment on the cell viability of human prostate cancer cells.Methods:Ellagic acid(10-100 mol/L) treatment(48 h) of human prostate carcinoma PC3 cells was found to result in a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth and apoptosis of PC3 cells as assessed by MTT assay,western blotting.flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.Results:We observed that ellagic acid treatment of PC3 cells resulted in a dose dependent inhibition of cell growth/cell viability.This ellagic acid caused cell growth inhibition was found to be accompanied by induction of apoptosis,as assessed by the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) and morphological changes.Further,induction of apoptosis accompanied a decrease in the levels of antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 and increase in proapoptotic protein Bax.thus shifting the Bax:Bcl-2 ratio in favor of apoptosis.Ellagic acid treatment of PC3 cells was also found to result in significant activation of caspases,as shown by the dose dependent decrease in the protein expression of procaspase-3,-6.-8 and -9.This ellagic acid-mediated induction of apoptosis was significantly(80%-90%) inhibited by the caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethylketone(Z-VAD-FMK).Thus these data suggested an essential role of caspases in ellagic acid-mediated apoptosis of PC3 cells.Conclusions:It is tempting to suggest that consumption of tropical pigmented fruits and vegetables could be an effective strategy to combat prostate cancer.

Effects of 42-year long-term fertilizer management on soil phosphorus availability, fractionation,adsorption–desorption isotherm and plant uptake in flooded tropical rice

Soil phosphorus(P) fractionation, adsorption, and desorption isotherm, and rice yield and P uptake were investigated in flooded tropical rice(Oryza sativa L.) following 42-year fertilizer and manure application. The treatments included low-input [unfertilized control without N, P, or K(C0N0)], farmyard manure(FYM)(C1N0), NP(C0NP), NPK(C0NPK), FYM + NP(C1NP), and high-input treatment, FYM + NPK(C1NPK). Grain yield was increased significantly by 74%over the control under the combined application of FYM + NPK. However, under low- and high-input treatments, yield as well as P uptake was maintained at constant levels for 35 years.During the same period, high yield levels and P uptake were maintained under the C0 NP, C0 NPK,and C1 NPK treatments. These are unique characteristics of a tropical flooded ecosystem, which is a self-sustaining system for rice production. The Fe–P fraction was highest compared to the Ca–P and Al–P fractions after 42 years of fertilizer application and was significantly higher under FYM + NPK treatment. The P adsorption capacity of soil was highest under the low-input treatment and lowest under long-term balanced fertilization(FYM + NPK). In contrast, P desorption capacity was highest under NPK and lowest in the control treatment. Long-term balanced fertilization in the form of FYM + NPK for 42 years lowered the bonding energy and adsorption capacity for P in soil but increased its desorption potential, increasing P availability to the plant and leading to higher P uptake and yield maintenance.

In vivo immunomodulatory profile of histamine receptors(H1,H2,H3 and H4):a comparative antagonists study

Objective:To delineate the comparative immunomodulatory roles of H1R-H4R in antibody generation profile in rabbit model.Methods:The cohort comprised of eight groups containing 18(9 male and 9 female) rabbits in each group.GroupⅠremained non-immunized and received only vehicle(sterile distilled water,1 mL/kg×b.i.d.) intramuscularly.GroupⅡreceived vehicle (1 mL/kg×b.i.d.) while GroupsⅢ-Ⅶ(drugs-treated) received subcutaneous histamine (100μg/kg×b.i.d.),and intramuscular H1R-antagonist(pheniramine,10 mg/kg×b.i.d.), H2R-antagonist(ranitidine,10 mg/kg×b.i.d.),H3R-antagonist(iodophenpropit,1μg/kg×b.i.d.) and H4R-antagonist(JNJ 7777120,10μg/kg×b.i.d.),and GroupⅧDMSO(1 mL/kg×b.i.d.),respectively for 10 days(starting from day 1).They were subsequendy immunized with intravenous injection of sheep red blood cells(SRBC) at day 3.The estimation of serum Igs,IgM and IgG were done by ELISA,and observed at day 0(pre-immunization),and 7,14,21,28 and 58(post-immunization).Results:It was shown that histamine and HRs-antagonists could influence a detectable antibody response to SRBC as early as day 7-post-immunization(post-Ⅰ), which lasted until day 58 post-Ⅰ.The results were found statistically significant(P【0.05,). Conclusions:This study suggests that histamine receptors play important roles in modulation of antibody generation in which H1R,H2R and H4R have immunosuppressive roles and conversely, H3R playes an immune enhancing role.The findings of this study may have clinical significance and provide the baseline information for future study.

Carbon and water footprints of major crop production in India

Scarcity of water and emission of greenhouse gases(GHGs)are the two key environmental issues affecting crop production in India.Reducing the carbon footprint(CF)and water footprint(WF)of crop production can help to mitigate the environmental hazards that stem from GHG emissions and water scarcity.The CFs and WFs of three major cereal crops,rice,wheat,and maize,were estimated for the year 2014 under the environmental conditions in India,based on national statistics and other data sources.Total CFs(TCFs)of rice,wheat,and maize in India were estimated to be 2.44,1.27,and 0.80 t CO_(2)equivalent ha-1,respectively,and product WFs for rice,wheat,and maize in India were 3.52,1.59,and 2.06 m3 kg^(-1),respectively.Blue WF was found to be the highest in West India for rice and in South India for both wheat and maize,with the highest irrigation water use in these regions.There was a positive correlation between TCF and total WF,and hence mitigation of both was possibly simultaneous in various regions in India.Potential measures for mitigating GHG emissions and optimizing water use for rice,wheat,and maize production in India are recommended in this paper.

Solving constrained portfolio optimization model using stochastic fractal search approach

Purpose-Optimum utilization of investments has always been considered one of the most crucial aspects of capital markets.Investment into various securities is the subject of portfolio optimization intent to maximize return at minimum risk.In this series,a population-based evolutionary approach,stochastic fractal search(SFS),is derived from the natural growth phenomenon.This study aims to develop portfolio selection model using SFS approach to construct an efficient portfolio by optimizing the Sharpe ratio with risk budgeting constraints.Design/methodology/approach-This paper proposes a constrained portfolio optimization model using the SFS approach with risk-budgeting constraints.SFS is an evolutionary method inspired by the natural growth process which has been modeled using the fractal theory.Experimental analysis has been conducted to determine the effectiveness of the proposed model by making comparisons with state-of-the-art from domain such as genetic algorithm,particle swarm optimization,simulated annealing and differential evolution.The real datasets of the Indian stock exchanges and datasets of global stock exchanges such as Nikkei 225,DAX 100,FTSE 100,Hang Seng31 and S&P 100 have been taken in the study.Findings-The study confirms the better performance of the SFS model among its peers.Also,statistical analysis has been done using SPSS 20 to confirm the hypothesis developed in the experimental analysis.Originality/value-In the recent past,researchers have already proposed a significant number of models to solve portfolio selection problems using the meta-heuristic approach.However,this is the first attempt to apply the SFS optimization approach to the problem.

Fungicide tolerant Bradyrhizobium japonicum mitigate toxicity and enhance greengram production under hexaconazole stress

Bacterial strain RV9 recovered from greengram nodules tolerated 2400 μg/mL of hexaconazole and was identified by 16 S rDNA sequence analysis as Bradyrhizobium japonicum(KY940048). Strain RV9 produced IAA(61.6 μg/mL), ACC deaminase(51.7 mg/(protein·hr)), solubilized TCP(105 μg/mL), secreted 337.6 μg/mL EPS, and produced SA(52.2 μg/mL) and 2,3-DHBA(28.3 μg/mL). Exopolysaccharides produced by strain RV9 was quantified and characterized by SEM, AFM, EDX and FTIR. Beyond tolerance limit,hexaconazole caused cellular impairment and reduced the viability of strain RV9 revealed by SEM and CLSM. Hexaconazole distorted the root tips and altered nodule structure leading thereby to reduction in the performance of greengram. Also, the level of antioxidant enzymes, proline, TBARS, ROS and cell death was increased in hexaconazole treated plants.CLSM images revealed a concentration dependent increase in the characteristic green and blue fluorescence of hexaconazole treated roots. The application of B. japonicum strain RV9 alleviated the fungicide toxicity and improved the measured plant characteristics. Also,rhizobial cells were localized inside tissues as revealed by CLSM. Colonization of B.japonicum strain RV9 decreased the levels of CAT, POD, APX, GPX and TBARS by 80%, 5%,13%, 13% and 19%, respectively over plants grown at 80 μg/(hexaconazole·kg) soil. The ability to detoxify hexaconazole, colonize plant tissues, secrete PGP bioactive molecules even under fungicide pressure and its unique ability to diminish oxidative stress make B.japonicum an attractive choice for remediation of fungicide polluted soils and to concurrently enhance greengram production under stressed environment.

Multi-objective vendor managed inventory system with interval type-2 fuzzy demand and order quantities

Purpose-The proposed IT2FMOVMI model intends to concurrently minimize total cost and warehouse space for the single vendor-retailer,multi-item and a consolidated vendor store.Regarding demand and order quantities with the deterministic and type-1 fuzzy numbers,we have also formulated the classic/crisp MOVMI model and type-1 fuzzy MOVMI(T1FMOVMI)model.The suggested solution technique can solve both crisp MOVMIand T1FMOVMIproblems.By finding the optimal ordered quantities and backorder levels,the Paretofronts are constructed to form the solution sets for the three models.Design/methodology/approach-A multi-objective vendor managed inventory(MOVMI)is the most recognized marketing and delivery technique for the service provider and the retail in the supply chain in Industry 4.0.Due to the evolving market conditions,the characteristics of the individual product,the delivery period and the manufacturing costs,the demand rate and order quantity of the MOVMI device are highly unpredictable.In such a scenario,a MOVMI system with a deterministic demand rate and order quantity cannot be designed to estimate the highly unforeseen cost of the problem.This paper introduces a novel interval type-2 fuzzy multi-objective vendor managed inventory(IT2FMOVMI)system,which uses interval type-2 fuzzy numbers(IT2FNs)to represent demand rate and order quantities.As the model is an NP-hard,the well-known meta-heuristic algorithm named NSGA-II(Non-dominated sorted genetic algorithm-II)with EKM(Enhanced Karnink-Mendel)algorithm based solution method has been established.Findings-The experimental simulations for the five test problems that demonstrated distinct conditions are considered from the real-datasets of SAPCO company.Experimental study concludes that T1FMOVMI and crisp MOVMI schemes are outclassed by IT2FMOVMI model,offering more accurate Pareto-Fronts and efficiency measurement values.Originality/value-Using fuzzy sets theory,a significant amount of work has been already done in past decades from various points of views to model the MOVMI.However,this is the very first attempt to introduce type-2 fuzzy modelling for the problem to address the realistic implementation of the imprecise parameters.

Synthesis and characterisation of potassium polytitanate for photocatalytic degradation of crystal violet

Potassium titanate nanostructures were synthesised by hydrothermal treatment of TiO2 （P25） in KOH and H2O2. As-produced powders were characterised by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption-desorption methods. Longitudinally-oriented-wire-like structures with a length up to several micrometres and diameters ranging from 10 to 30 nm were obtained. Larger size fibrous nanowires resulting from the hydrotherrnal treatment showed high affinity in adsorbing crystal violet （CV）, which was mainly due to their high surface area. The photocatalytic bleaching of CV solution revealed that the wires are photoactive under ultraviolet light irradiation. Macroporous nanowires are considered as effective adsorbents of CV, capable of photocatalvtic degradation, and they can be easily separated from the solution by settling.