The Potential Anti-Tumor Extract Of Ocimum Basilicum Lamiaceae Towards Colorectal Cancer Via The Angiogenesis Mechanistic Pathway

Angiogenesis is a process of new blood vessel development which can be triggered by inflammation. Both processes play crucial role in colorectal cancer. Natural products that have high level of antioxidants are known to have anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic activity and hence could be useful to treat colon cancer. In this work present here, methanolic extracts of 19 plant species of lamiaceae family found in Saudi Arabia were screened for their anti-angiogenic activity to ascertain their potency towards colon cancer. Only six extracts inhibited neovascularization formation by 50% or more, namely Thymbra capitate (Arial part) (97.93±2.63%), Premna resinosa (Stem) (85.03±16.84%), Phlomis viscosa Poir (Arial part) (81.47±22.95%), Salvia samuelssonii (Arial part) (55.69±12.72%), Ocimum basilicum (Leaves) (54.55 ± 4.27%) and Ocimum basilicum (Arial part) (53.99 ± 8.75%). However, methanolic extract of Ocimum basilicum (OB) leaves shown the highest inhibition towards endothelial cells proliferation and migration among other extracts. (OB) leaves were extracted with 70% ethanol (OBL70) at 55 ⁰C, causing a 43% increase in the anti-angiogenic properties compared to methanolic extract. OBL70 was studied in vitro against endothelial cells proliferation, cytotoxicity, migration, invasion and capillary-like structures using MTT, colony formation, scratch, invasion and tube formation assays, respectively

Neuroprotective effects of ferulic acid and thymoquinone against deltamethrin-induced neurotoxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

Background: Recent research indicates a link between exposure to pyrethroid pesticides and negative neurodevelopmental outcomes such as neurodegenerative disorders, low intelligence quotient (IQ), and attention disorders. Thus this study aims (1) to investigate the effect of exposing Drosophila melanogaster adult male flies to 0.59 µM deltamethrin (DLM) for 24 h on their survival, climbing behavior, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, as well as the gene expression levels of ple, ddc, dat, aanat1, dop1r1, dop2r, and dopecr genes, and (2) to assess the protective effect of 250 µM Ferulic acid (FA), 25 µM Thymoquinone (TQ), and their combinations on the survival, climbing behavior, and AChE activity of D. melanogaster adult male flies exposed to 0.59 µM DLM for 72 h.Methods: In the first experiment, adult male wild-type flies were exposed to DLM incorporated into a 10% sucrose solution for 24 h, whereas, in the second experiment, they were exposed to DLM and the individual neuroprotective agents, or their mixture for 72 h.Results: Flies exposed to DLM exhibited higher mortality rates and shorter climbing distances in the negative geotaxis assay compared to control flies. Additionally, exposure to DLM upregulated the genes ddc, dat, dop1r1, dop2r, and dopecr significantly. Moreover, exposure to DLM for 72 h resulted in higher mortality rates and severe locomotor defects. However, the neuroprotective agents were effective in mitigating these toxic effects. While DLM inhibited AChE activity, concurrent exposure to FA ameliorated the inhibition.Conclusion: This study demonstrates the efficacy of natural compounds in reducing DLM-induced toxicity in D. melanogaster and highlights the potential use of this model in studying and developing therapeutic strategies for movement disorders.Keywords: Drosophila melanogaster; Neurotoxicity; Ferulic acid; Thymoquinone; Deltamethrin; Negative geotaxis    

Dynamic Redundancy Forward Error Correction Mechanism for the Enhancement of Internet-Based Video Streaming

Video streaming applications over the Internet is suffering many challenges and packet loss is one of the main challenges. This is a result of best-effort services provided by existing IP networks, which does not guarantee packet delivery. Therefore, Forward Error Correction(FEC) is a mechanism used to alleviate the effect of packet losses in the Internet by adding fixed extra packets known as parity packets or redundant packets, which are used to reconstruct the original packets in the event of losses. The use of redundant packet resulted in more consumed bandwidth and increased end-to-end delay. This thesis is concerned with the design and evaluation of FEC error control mechanism. We aimed at addressing the problems faced by the existing FEC mechanism. Thus, a performance evaluation methodology via network simulation and a defined set of key evaluation criteria to test the existing FEC mechanisms under different network conditions and scenarios can be established. Having learnt from evaluation and analyses of existing FEC mechanisms, we found that using a fixed number of redundant packets worsens network performance and video quality. Therefore, an innovative FEC mechanism, called Dynamic Redundancy FEC (DRFEC) is proposed. The design goals of the mechanism are to enhance the video streaming quality over existing IP network by reconstructing loss packets and to enhance network performance by minimising delay and consumed bandwidth. The proposed mechanism was implemented in simulation environment using the NS2 network simulation package. After implementation and verification of these codes in NS2, the performance evaluation of the proposed mechanism was performed. The performance analysis and simulation experiments showed that our proposed mechanism of DRFEC performs better in comparison with the other FEC mechanisms. The DRFEC mechanism was tested with the most used queue polices in today's Internet router, which are the Drop Tail and Random Early Detection queue policies, and with different queue sizes. The results showed that, using the DRFEC mechanism can decrease the consumed bandwidth as compared with the other FEC mechanisms and using the DRFEC mechanism can also decrease the delay as compared with the other FEC mechanisms. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, using DRFEC is a potentially viable mechanism of improving the network performance and video quality

The Effectiveness of a Developed Unit based on the Educational Scaffolding Strategy in Improving Visual Thinking Skills and Solving Mathematical Problems among Fourth Grade Female Students in Palestine

ملخص: هدفت الدراسة التعرف على فاعلية وحدة مطورة وفقاً لإستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية في تحسين مهارات التفكير البصري وحل المسائل الرياضية لدى طالبات الصف الرابع الأساسي في فلسطين، وتم استخدام التصميم شبه التجريبي، وتمثلت أدوات الدراسة باختباري التفكير البصري وحل المسائل الرياضية في الهندسة، وتكونت عينة الدراسة من (82) طالبةمن طالبات الصف الرابع الأساسي، قسمت إلى مجموعتين: تجريبية وضابطة، قوام كلٍ منهما (41) طالبةً، حيث تعلمت طالبات المجموعة التجريبية مادة الهندسة باستخدام إستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية، أما طالبات المجموعة الضابطة فقد تعلمن بالطريقة العادية. وأبرزت نتائج الدراسة وجود فروق ذات دلالة إحصائية بين المجموعتين التجريبية والضابطة في القياس البعدي في اختبار مهارات التفكير البصري، وكذلك اختبار حل المسائل الرياضية لصالح طالبات المجموعة التجريبية، اللاتي استخدمن إستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية في مادة الهندسة،وأظهرت النتائج فاعليةِ إستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية في تنمية مهارتي التفكير البصري وحل المسائل الرياضية، ووجود تأثيرٍ كبيرٍ لإستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية في تنمية هاتيّن المهارتيّن لدى الطالبات في وحدة الهندسة والقياس. وأوصت الدراسة بضرورة تنفيذ ورش العمل والدورات لمعلمي الرياضيات وفقاً لإستراتيجية السقالات التعليمية، وتصميم دليل لبيان خطواتها، وتشجيع الطلبة على ممارسة التفكير البصري وحل المسائل الرياضية.Abstract: The current study aimed to identify the effectiveness of a developed unit based on the educational scaffolding strategy (EDS) in improving visual thinking skills (VTS) and solving the mathematical problem (SMP) for the fourth-grade female students in Palestine. A quasi-experimental design was used. The tools include a (VTS) test, and an (SMP) test in geometry and measurement. The sample consisted of (82) fourth grade female students divided into two equal groups. The experimental group was taught geometry using the (EDS), while the control group was taught via the normal method. The results of the study showed that there was a statistically significant difference, between control group and experimental group for the benefit of the experimental group in VTS and SMP.  Also, the findings indicated the effectiveness of the (EDS) in improving both (VTS) and (SMP). Additionally, the study recommended the necessity of implementing workshops and courses for mathematics teachers according to the (EDS), designing a guide to show its steps, and encouraging students to practice (VTS) and (SMP)

2-[(2-Meth­oxy­eth­yl)sulfan­yl]-4-(2-methyl­prop­yl)-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro­pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile

In the title compound, C12H17N3O2S, the 4-methyl-2-methyl­sulfanyl-6-oxo-1,6-dihydro­pyrimidine-5-carbonitrile part of the mol­ecule is almost planar (r.m.s deviation = 0.062 Å). In the crystal, mol­ecules form centrosymmetric dimers via pairs of N—H⋯O hydrogen bonds

Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Phyto-Mediated Catalyst, and Its Application for a Selective Oxidation of (VAL) into Vanillin under Visible Light

Here, we report an efficient and highly selective oxidation of lignin model substrate using phyto-mediated ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle using Boswellia carterii extract. The nanocatalyst with an average size of 8 nm showed excellent photocatalytic activity of the synthesized carbonyl containing products under visible light irradiation. The catalytic activity and selectivity towards oxidation of vanillyl alcohol to vanillin with selectivity up to 99% at conversion over 98% and turn-over frequency values up to 1600 h−1 were obtained in the presence of H2O2 and base. The cubic spinel nano-ZnFe2O4 catalyst was characterized by powder-XRD, FESEM, HR-TEM and Mössbauer analysis. The demonstrated catalyst was robust and stable under the reaction conditions. Furthermore, it was easy to be separated from the reaction mixture and be reused for subsequent reactions up to 5 times without significant reactivity or selectivity loss

Validated Capillary Zone Electrophoresis Method for Impurity Profiling and Determination of NiII(3-OMe-Salophene)

A capillary zone electrophoresis method was developed for the determination of NiII(3-OMe-salophene), a substance with anticancer activity in vitro. A fused silica capillary (56 cm × 100 µm) was used for this purpose. The method was optimized in terms of parameters affecting the electrophoretic conditions in order to optimize separation efficiency and total time of migration. The analysis was best performed using an operating buffer of 50 mM borate, adjusted to pH 9.3, mixed with acetonitrile (50%, v/v) as organic modifier. Injections were performed hydrodynamically by applying a pressure of 50 mbar for 8 s, and a 30 kV separation voltage was selected at 25 °C. Detection was carried out at 250 nm using diode array detector (DAD). The method allowed the separation of NiII(3-OMe-salophene) from four other structurally related impurities in a total migration time (tm) of 8 min. Peak identification was achieved using the standard reference of individual impurities. The purity of the migrated NiII(3-OMe-salophene) was confirmed by Ultra-violet (UV) scan overlay depending on DAD. The linear ranges for the determination of NiII(3-OMe-salophene) was 400–20,000 ng mL−1 with limit of detection (LOD) of 120 ng mL−1. Acceptable intra-day and inter-day precisions were achieved (%relative standard deviation (RSD) results were less than 0.76% and 0.30%, respectively). The proposed method was assessed for greenness and compared to reported methodologies to prove superiority