New C-C Chemokine Receptor Type 7 Antagonists

Chemokines are chemotactic cytokines which play an important role in the migration of immune cells to distant tissues or compartments within tissues. These proteins have also been demonstrated to play a major role in cancer metastasis. The C-C chemokine receptor type 7 (CCR7) is a member of the chemokine receptor family. CCR7 along with its ligands CCL19 and CCL21 plays an important role in innate immune response by trafficking of lymphocytes. In cancer, tumour cells expressing CCR7 migrate to lymphoid organs and thus disseminate to other organs. Neutralizing the interactions between CCL21/CCR7 would therefore be expected to inhibit the progression and metastasis of many different types of cancer to regional lymph nodes or distant organs. Our objective was to identify a potent small molecule antagonist of CCR7 as a prelude to the investigation of the role of this axis in cancer metastasis. In this study, we provided a brief description of chemokines and their role in health and disease with an emphasis on the CCR7/CCL19/CCL21 axis, as well as identification of a CCR7 antagonist “hit”. The potency of the CCR7 antagonist “hit” was optimised by synthesizing different CCR7 antagonist analogues. The “hit” optimization process has led to discover the most active compound amongst a series of different analogues which have the ability to bind and block CCR7 receptor. The efficacy of the most active compound and other analogues were evaluated in vitro using a calcium flux assay which is based on detecting fluorescent light emitted upon release of calcium ions. To identify a suitable cell line, which expresses CCR7 and capably respond to it, amongst a panel of cell lines for in vitro assessment of potency of synthesised compounds, we used Western blot assay and later by flow cytometry assay. The activity and selectivity of the most effective compound against CCR7 receptor was evaluated in vitro by other functional assays such as “configured agarose spot assay” and scratch assay. We first configured the existing under agarose assay to fulfil our requirements and then used it to assess activity and selectivity of compounds. The configured agarose spot assay also describes the application of the agarose spot for evaluation of cells chemotactic response to multiple chemokines under identical experiment conditions

Effects of organic manuring (chicken droppings) on growth of Labeo rohita Ham. spawn

An experiment was conducted in six nursery ponds to determine the effect of different doses of organic fertilizer (chicken droppings) on growth and survival of Labeo rohita spawn. Ponds were stocked with four-days old L. rohita spawn at a density of 25 g/decimal and reared for 25 days. Three doses of organic fertilizer viz. 20kg, 10 kg and 5kg per decimal were tried in treatments Tp T2 and T3 respectively with two replication each. Fry were fed twice a day with a mixture of fine mustard oil cake and rice bran at the ratio of 1:1. The highest growth (6.33 em and 3.33 g) and survival rate (72.30%) were observed for the treatment T2. Physico-chemical and biological parameters were found within the productive range for all the treatments

Comprehensive collection for Arabic characters and numbers written by hand

An Optical Character Recognition system for Arabic language should recognize Arabic handwritten words. However, it is difficult to find a freely accessible and comprehensive database of all Arabic words that can be employed for this purpose. Therefore, it is more efficient to divide the Arabic words into sub-words or characters. As there is no comprehensive Arabic handwritten character database that is accessible free of charge, interested researchers can utilize the database developed as a part of this work in recognition system training and output testing.In the present paper, a database is presented containing scanned images of 700 Arabic handwritten characters, Hindi numbers used in Arabic countries, and some special characters utilized in Arabic alphabet, along with their different positions (e.g., standalone, initial, medial and terminal), different sizes, styles and font colors. The aim is to provide sufficient samples for all character shapes for software training, resulting in greater accuracy in the recognition phase.These forms were filled by students of the Applied Sciences College, University of Technology, Baghdad, Iraq and were scanned at the 200, 300, and 600 dpi resolution. A graphical user interface (GUI) software environment is employed to make the manipulation of the created database easier, and provide many image processing functions that are allowed to be built the database easie

Abdominal Tuberculosis in Surgical Practice in Northern Nigeria

Background: Abdominal tuberculosis is a common complication of pulmonary tuberculosis. With the rising incidence of HIV, tuberculosis has become a major public health problem particularly in developing countries. Methods: This is a retrospective study involving patients whose surgical specimens were processed at the central histopathology laboratory of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH) Zaria - Nigeria, between January1975 to December 2006.Results: There were 68 males and 49 females, aged 12-70 years (mean 28.6yrs 11yrs). While paroxysmal dry cough was present in about 20 patients, abdominal pain and distension were very common. Concomitant pulmonary tuberculosis was confirmed in 15 patients (14%). The findings at Surgery in 66 patients are presented in fig.2. Multiple deposits on the peritoneum and omentum were the commonest findings (48.7% and 26.2%) respectively. Conclusion: Abdominal tuberculosis is not uncommon and there is need to establish an early less invasive diagnostic protocol.Keywords: Abdominal Tuberculosis, Nigeria

Effect of groundnut shell powder on the viscoelastic properties of recycled high density polyethylene composites

In the quest to clean up the environment and produce economically viable materials from plastic wastes and readily available natural fibres, groundnut shell powder reinforced recycled high density polyethylene composite was prepared via two roll melt mixing and compression moulding technique. The dynamic mechanical properties of the composites such as storage modulus (E'), loss modulus (E''), and damping parameter (Tan ∂) were investigated using 242E dynamic mechanical analyzer in a temperature range from 30oC 100oC at a frequency of 1 Hz. It was found that the storage modulus of all the composites decrease with increase in temperature with composite containing 25%wt fibre having maximum E' value of 1158.47MPa compared to 1033.58MPa of the unreinforced recycled high density polyethylene. These results indicated that the thermal stability and load bearing capacity of the recycled high density polyethylene have been improved with the incorporation of groundnut shell powder. Scanning Electron micrographs showed better interfacial adhesion between treated groundnut shell powder in the polymer matrix; this explained the observed improvement in the viscoelastic properties of the composites.Keywords: Mechanical Properties, Groundnut Shell Powder, Recycled polyethylene, Viscolastic, Composites

Mechanical and dynamic mechanical characterization of groundnut shell powder filled recycled high density polyethylene composites

Groundnut shell powder (GSP) reinforced recycled high density polyethylene composites were developed via melt mixing and compression moulding techniques. GSP was alkaline treated to increase its compatibility with the polymer matrix. The developed composites were subjected to mechanical properties test and thermal characterization using 242E dynamic mechanical analyzer. Results obtained indicated an enhancement in mechanical properties of the recycled high density polyethylene composites compared to the unreinforced (control sample). Similarly, dynamic mechanical properties results showed that the storage modulus of all the composites increase with increase in weight percentage of GSP incorporated. The energy dissipation in form of heat (loss modulus) and damping peaks (Tan ∂) values were found to be reduced with the incorporation of alkaline treated GSP which implies an improvement in thermal stability and load bearing capacity of the composites

Effect of benzoyl chloride treatment on the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of plantain peel powder - reinforced polyethylene composites

Mechanical and dynamic mechanical analysis of plantain peel powder (PPP) reinforced polyethylene composites has been investigated. The PPP was treated with benzoyl chloride to reduce potential surface hindrances and bring about adhesion. The percentage fibre loading was varied from 0-25 % (0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25) respectively. Ultimate tensile strength, elastic modulus and hardness test data showed an improvement in mechanical properties of the treated fibre composites. Water absorption results indicated that benzoyl chloride treated PPP-recycled polyethylene composites have lower rate of water absorption than the untreated samples. Dynamic mechanical properties results showed that the storage modulus (E') of all the composites increase with increase in fibre loading and decrease with increase in temperature; composite containing 25 % (A25) PPP having the maximum E' value of 678 MPa compared to 576 MPa of the control sample. The results indicated that incorporation of plantain peel powder actually improved the thermal stability and the load bearing capacity of the recycled polyethylene composites.Keywords: Dynamic mechanical analysis, plantain peel powder, polyethylene composites, recycled low density polyethylen

Forensic dissection of lip print as an investigative tool in a mixed Egyptian population

Background: Identification is a major problem facing forensic practitioners, DNA and finger prints are highly useful but sometimes aren’t easily collected from the crime scene. Lip print could be useful in this field being unique to each individual.Aim: The current study aimed at detecting the frequency and gender relation of lip print pattern in an Egyptian sample.Methodology: Samples were collected on white copy paper, divided into four quadrants then examined with magnifying lens for pattern distribution.Results: The study showed that pattern IV was the most frequently represented pattern in the study sample, pattern I & II were more prevalent in males and females respectively. Prevalent pattern in Cairo and Lower Egypt was I while it was IV in Upper Egypt.Conclusion: The lip print pattern can differ due to gender and geographical origin in Egyptian subjects.Keywords: Lip print, Egypt, Gender, Geographical distribution, Identification, Anthropology. Gender differenc

Studies in liquid phase adsorption at organic and inorganic surfaces

The first section of the thesis is concerned with adsorption by chitin. Lobster-shell chitin, prepared from the carapace of Nephrops norvegicus, has been used in quantitative adsorption studies with mineral and organic acids and sulphonated azo-dyes in aqueous solutions. In the case of acids the hydrogen ions are adsorbed initially on the acetylamino-groups in the substrate with a consequent swelling and breakage of inter-chain bonds owing to the pressure of solvated water around the resultant cationic centres. The actual amount of acid adsorbed is determined however by the ability of the anion to penetrate the structure. The hydrogen ion can penetrate it readily, but to preserve neutrality each adsorbed hydrogen ion must be accompanied by an anion, and owing to the high crystallinity of chitin the entry of anions is restricted, and in fact the amount adsorbed decreases linearly with the volume of the anion in any given series of acids with similar basic structure. Superimposed on this volume effect, however, is the effect of increased van der Waals attraction of the anion for chitin, with increase in the number of aromatic nuclei in the anion. Generally the affinity rises with increase in length of the conjugated system of the dye molecule. The ion-exchange adsorption process between the chitin and sulph-onate groups of the dye has a negligible apparent heat change, but the non-polar attraction of the remainder of the dye molecule does produce a heat change which increases with the non-polar affinity. Affinity measurements show that one sulphonate group in an adsorbed dye becomes associated with one of the cationic centres in chitin and that additional groups after the first are not so combined and remain dissolved in water, hence decreasing the affinity of the anion for the substrate. Hydrogen-bonding is also operative where there are potential hydrogen-bonding groups in the substrate, but seems to decrease with increasing acidity of the bath. The results of full elementary analyses suggest that chitin does not consist entirely of poly-N-acetylglucosamine, but that about one eighth of the amino-groups are unacetyl-ated. The next section of the thesis describes an investigation made to study and compare the adsorption mechanism of a variety of aromatic compounds, with and without hydrogenbonding groups, by cellulose and by chitin from water and from non-aqueous solvents. In absence of water polar nonionic compounds are adsorbed by both cellulose and chitin principally by hydrogen-bonding. In aqueous solution chitin adsorbs anionic solutes with potential hydrogen-bonding groups principally by ion-exchange and hydrogen-bond formation. Non-polar attraction is also operative in the case of large molecules. Cellulose seems to adsorb these compounds by non-polar attraction only, the affinity increasing with the size of the solute molecule and being independent of the presence therein of hydrogen-bonding- groups. Planar non-hydrogen-bonding anionic compounds are not adsorbed on chitin from alkaline solutions. Cellulose however does adsorb such compounds from either neutral or alkaline solution, because its attraction is non-polar and dependent not on hydrogen-bonding forces, but only on the presence of a highly conjugated system in the solute molecule This work was followed by a study of the adsorptive properties of graphite for organic solutes, mainly dyes, from aqueous and non-aqueous solvents. Rate measurements demonstrate a rapid adsorption and the short period required to reach equilibrium suggests that adsorption is entirely superficial. Basic dyes are quickly adsorbed, by electrostatic attraction. Anionic dyes appear to be adsorbed by physical attraction and the rate of adsorption is higher in the case of dyes which dissociate easily into single molecules. The surface area of graphite was determined by electron microscopy and the orientation of adsorbed molecules studied. At low concentration it seems that most of the compounds used form condensed monolayers. Sulphonated compounds appear to be so oriented that the sulphonate groups are as far away as possible from the graphite surface and non-ionic compounds lie flat so that they present a maximum surface area to the graphite

Forecasting project schedule performance using probabilistic and deterministic models

AbstractEarned value management (EVM) was originally developed for cost management and has not widely been used for forecasting project duration. In addition, EVM based formulas for cost or schedule forecasting are still deterministic and do not provide any information about the range of possible outcomes and the probability of meeting the project objectives. The objective of this paper is to develop three models to forecast the estimated duration at completion. Two of these models are deterministic; earned value (EV) and earned schedule (ES) models. The third model is a probabilistic model and developed based on Kalman filter algorithm and earned schedule management. Hence, the accuracies of the EV, ES and Kalman Filter Forecasting Model (KFFM) through the different project periods will be assessed and compared with the other forecasting methods such as the Critical Path Method (CPM), which makes the time forecast at activity level by revising the actual reporting data for each activity at a certain data date. A case study project is used to validate the results of the three models. Hence, the best model is selected based on the lowest average percentage of error. The results showed that the KFFM developed in this study provides probabilistic prediction bounds of project duration at completion and can be applied through the different project periods with smaller errors than those observed in EV and ES forecasting models