E2BNAR: Energy Efficient Backup Node Assisted Routing for Wireless Sensor Networks

In Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), each sensor node can only use so much power before recharging. If energy is depleted too quickly, nodes will fail one by one, bringing down the network as a whole. To this end, a design is needed to reduce the burden on the sensor nodes' power supplies while extending the network's useful life. This paper proposes a new approach, called Energy Efficient Backup Node Assisted Routing, to accomplish this (E2BNAR). Each primary node in the network has a group of backup nodes to ensure the network continues functioning. Assuming that the sensor nodes are capable of energy harvesting, E2BNAR finds the best backup node by analyzing the statistical relationship between energy harvesting and consumption rates. Periodically, residual energy is used to analyze the current energy consumption rate. When evaluating performance, several different indicators are taken into account. These include the Packet Delivery Ratio, Throughput, Average Energy Consumption, and Number of Awakened Sensor Nodes. Through analysis and experimentation in several settings, the proposed method's efficacy has been established

DEVELOPMENT OF pH-DEPENDENT CHRONOMODULATED DELIVERY SYSTEMS OF 5-FLUOROURACIL AND OXALIPLATIN TO TREAT COLON CANCER

Objective: To develop two different oral formulations such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) tablets and oxaliplatin (OX) microspheres which were further filled into capsules and coated with pH-sensitive polymer (eudragit S-100) for the chronotherapeutic treatment of colon cancer (Fluorouracil: Oxaliplatin regimen) to perform as a substitute for intravenous (IV) route based chronomodulated chemotherapy. Methods: The 5-FU tablet formulation was prepared with alginate and guar gum polymers in varied concentrations using wet granulation technique in two varieties such as granules coated and tablet coated formulations using eudragit RSPO as coating material to achieve controlled drug release. Alongside OX microspheres were formulated using the ionotropic gelation methodology in combination with alginate and chitosan polymers in varying concentrations to accomplish a time-controlled drug release. Prepared formulations were evaluated for pre-compression and post-compression parameters, percentage yield, percentage drug entrapment, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), In vitro and Ex vivo dissolution studies. Results: Pre-compression and post-compression parameters for 5-FU tablets were satisfied with Indian pharmacopeia specifications. The entrapment efficiency of OX microspheres were increased due to the elevated concentration of polymers up to a certain level as seen in A7M, further greater the concentration of polymer resulted in a decline of entrapment efficiency as seen in A4M and A8M. The optimized formulations A14T and A14M were shown in vitro drug release of 90.36 % by 24 h and 79.63 % by 9 h respectively. Conclusion: The two different oral formulations of 5-FU (Tablets) and OX (Microspheres) were found to be successful in controlled drug release. Therefore they can be efficiently used to control the rate of drug release to the colon in synchronization with the circadian timing system in the belief of improved therapeutic efficacy, tolerability and overall survival rate of cancer patients. Hence it is promised to be a better alternative for intravenous route based chronomodulated chemotherapy

Novel hybrids of 1,2,3-triazole-benzoxazole:design, synthesis, and assessment of DprE1 enzyme inhibitors using fluorometric assay and computational analysis

Decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose-oxidase (DprE1), a subunit of the essential decaprenylphosphoribose-2'-epimerase, plays a crucial role in the synthesis of cell wall arabinan components in mycobacteria, including the pathogen responsible for tuberculosis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In this study, we designed, synthesised, and evaluated 15 (BOK-1-BOK-10 and BOP-1-BOP-5) potential inhibitors of DprE1 from a series of 1,2,3-triazole ligands using a validated DprE1 inhibition assay. Two compounds, BOK-2 and BOK-3, demonstrated significant inhibition with IC 50 values of 2.2 ± 0.1 and 3.0 ± 0.6 μM, respectively, whereas the standard drug (TCA-1) showed inhibition at 3.0 ± 0.2 μM. Through molecular modelling and dynamic simulations, we explored the structural relationships between selected 1,2,3-triazole compounds and DprE1, revealing key features for effective drug-target interactions. This study introduces a novel approach for designing ligands against DprE1, offering a potential therapeutic strategy for tuberculosis treatment. </p

New microsatellite loci for annatto (Bixa orellana), a source of natural dyes from Brazilian Amazonia

Annatto (Bixa orellana) is a tropical crop native to the Americas with Amazonia as the likely center of origin of domestication. Annatto is important because it produces the dye bixin, which is widely used in the pharmaceutical, food, cosmetic and textile industries. A total of 32 microsatellite loci were isolated from a microsatellite-enriched genomic library, of which 12 polymorphic loci were used to characterize four populations of B. orellana and B. orellana var. urucurana, the wild relative. Higher genetic diversity estimates were detected for the wild populations when compared to the cultivated populations. Also, higher apparent outcrossing rates were found for the two wild than the cultivated populations. These results indicate a mixed mating system for the species. All markers described herein have potential to be used in further studies evaluating the genetic diversity, population dynamics, domestication, breeding, and conservation genetics of annatto. © 2018, Brazilian Society of Plant Breeding. All rights reserved

Catheter-associated urinary tract infections and prevention by bacterial interference: A review

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common nosocomial infections, accounting for 40% of all nosocomial infections. As much as 80% of these infections are associated with the use of urinary catheters. The risk of developing catheter-associated UTI increases with each day of catheterization. The pathogenesis of catheter-associated UTI is related to susceptibility of inert catheter material to microbial colonization. Once firmly attached on the catheter surface or the uroepithelium, bacteria begin to change phenotypically, moving into the sessile, biofilm mode of growth. Bacterial interference or using nonpathogenic bacteria to prevent symptomatic infection may offer a solution to the problem of recurrent UTI in chronically catheterized individuals

Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant activity in leaf gall of Ficus glomerata Roxb. (Moraceae)

Ficus glomerata Roxb., (Moraceae) is a large deciduous tree and plant parts such as root, bark, leaves, fruits and galls are used in therapeutics. The leaf gall of F. glomerata is induced by the insect Pauropsylla depressa. In the present study, the solvent extracts of leaves as well as the gall portion at various developmental stages were screened for the presence of phytochemicals in comparison to the normal leaves. The presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins were detected in normal and galled leaves, while most phytochemicals were present in the gall portion of the leaves. The gall stages as well as the gall leaves were tested for total phenolic content and DPPH radical scavenging assay. Results indicated 0.7-fold increase in the phenolic content of gall leaves (90μg/ml GAE) over the normal leaves (62.5μg/ml GAE). Comparison of phenolic contents among various stages of gall development namely, young, medium and mature indicated high phenolic content in young galls (123μg/ml GAE). Young galls depicted 0% radical scavenging activity. This is the first report on the antioxidant activity in the insect-induced galls of F. glomerata

Actinomycete endophytes from the ethno medicinal plants of Southern India: Antioxidant activity and characterization studies

Actinomycete endophytes (135) were isolated from Cajanus lineatus W. & A. (Maesen), Leucas ciliata Benth., Rauwolfia densiflora Benth. Ex. Hook. f. and Gomphostemma heyneanum Wall., four ethnomedicinal species of the southern region of the Western Ghats, a hot spot of biodiversity. The isolates were categorized into three supra generic groups on the basis of spore or aerial mycelial characters and confirmed by the partial 16S rRNA gene sequences. The actinomycete strains were subjected to fermentation and the ethyl acetate extracts were screened for the antioxidant assays. Streptomyces globosus (JQ926176) and Arthrobacter sp. (JQ926171) isolated from the stem fragments of R. densiflora and L. ciliata showed remarkable dose-dependent antioxidant activity in the in vitro assays. Among the screened extracts, S. globosus (IC50 88.2±1.03 μg/ml) and Arthrobacter sp. (IC50 = 97.6±1.97 μg/ml) exhibited high DPPH activity. S. globosus and Arthrobacter extracts contained a total antioxidant activity of 52.44±2.03 μM Fe (II)/g and 40.44±1.97 μM Fe (II)/g respectively. A significant correlation between the total phenolic content and total reducing power of S. globosus (R2=0.983) and Arthrobacter sp. (R2=0.987) extracts were noted. GC-MS characterization of the extracts revealed several compounds with antioxidant activity. S. globosus, S. hypolithicus, P. citrea and P. minatonensis are reported as endophytes for the first time in the ethnomedicinal plants

Antioxidative and a-amylase inhibitory potentials of medicinal plants from the western ghats of Southern India

Plants are important sources of chemical constituents with potential antioxidant activity and inhibitors of a-amylase and can be employed for therapeutic benefits. The leaves of medicinal plants viz., Cajanus lineata W. & A., Leucas ciliata Benth., Rauwolfia densiflora Benth. ex. Hook. and Gomphostemma heyneanum Wall., were collected from the Talacauvery subcluster of Western Ghats, India. The powdered leaves were extracted in various solvents and analyzed for the phytochemical constituents, antioxidative and a-amylase inhibitory potentials. All extracts indicated the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids and reducing sugars. Among the solvent extracts, the aqueous extract of L. ciliata leaves contained high total phenolics (105± 2.45 µg GAE/g). The solvent extracts of the leaves of this species also exhibited higher antioxidant activity. The standard ascorbic acid showed 50 inhibition at 67±1.23 µg/ml. The aqueous and methanol extracts of L. ciliata had FRAP activity of 110± 2.88 µM Fe (II)/g and 115± 3.46 µM Fe (II)/g followed by the aqueous extract of R. densiflora (82± 2.37 µM Fe (II)/g). The methanolic extract of L. ciliata showed positive results for the inhibition of a-amylase by starch-iodine color assay. Further quantification by DiNitroSalicylic Acid (DNSA) method revealed that the methanol extract of L. ciliata, showed 72.9 inhibition with IC50 values of 138.7± 3.47 µg/ml in comparison to the standard inhibitor Acarbose¢ (IC50 value of 96.29± 2.89 µg/ml). The leaf extracts of L. ciliata could be used in the treatment of glucose metabolic related disorders. The study also indicates the antioxidative and anti-diabetic potentials of the plant species

Streptomycete endophytes from anti-diabetic medicinal plants of the Western Ghats inhibit alpha-amylase and promote glucose uptake

α‐amylase inhibitor retards the liberation of glucose from dietary complex carbohydrates and delays the absorption of glucose. The purpose of the study was to isolate and select α‐amylase inhibitor‐producing endophytic actinomycetes from the leaves and stems of Leucas ciliata and Rauwolfia densiflora, two of the well‐known medicinal plants used in the treatment for diabetes. Sterilized plant samples were inoculated on the actinomycete isolation agar medium containing 50 ppm cycloheximide and incubated for 4–8 weeks at room temperature. The actinomycetes were isolated on agar medium and identified on the basis of 16S rRNA sequences, the isolates exhibiting >99% similarities were submitted to NCBI, and gene accession numbers were obtained. They were inoculated to International Streptomyces Project 1 medium (ISP 1) for fermentation. The extracts obtained were tested for the anti‐diabetic potential by the inhibition of alpha‐amylase by colorimetric assay and glucose uptake in the porcine hemidiaphragm. Streptomyces longisporoflavus (JX965948) isolated from the stem fragments of L. ciliata exhibited alpha‐amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 values = 162·3 ± 1·05 μg ml−1) in comparison with the standard Acarbose™ (IC50 value = 73·1 ± 1·12 μg ml−1). Extract of Streptomyces sp. (JQ926174) from R. densiflora indicated glucose uptake in the porcine hemidiaphragm. Results indicate for the first time the potential of endophytic streptomycete extracts with anti‐diabetic activity

In silico docking studies of α‑amylase inhibitors from the anti‑diabetic plant Leucas ciliata Benth. and an endophyte, Streptomyces longisporofavus

In this investigation, potential inhibitors of α-amylase, one of the key regulatory enzymes in diabetes were characterized from the methanolic extract of Leucas ciliata Benth. (Lamiaceae), a traditional medicinal plant of the Western Ghats, southern India and the ethyl acetate extract of Streptomyces longisporoflavus (JX965948), an endophytic actinomycete isolated from the stem fragments of L. ciliata, by Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy (GC–MS) technique followed by molecular docking studies. Forty-four compounds were detected in the solvent extracts of the host plant and the endophyte, respectively. These compounds were selected as ligands for the receptor α-amylase in the molecular docking studies using PyRx software (0.8 V) for the inhibition of α-amylase activity. The ligands were ranked based on the binding energies ranging between − 3.1 and − 10.1 kcal/mol. Three ligands from the host plant extract, viz., Topotecan (PNo_7), Cathine (PNo_17) and 2,5-dimethoxy-4-(methylsulfonyl)amphetamine (PNo_18), depicted good binding energies of − 5.2 to − 7.8, respectively, whereas seven compounds from the endophyte extract showed binding energies in the range of − 4.7 to − 10.1, respectively. The standard α-amylase inhibitor Acarbose™ depicted binding energy of − 9.2 kcal/mol. All ligands were subjected to lead-likeliness property using Lipinski’s rule of five. On the basis of the hydrogen bonding interactions with the receptor, and chemoinformatics analysis for drug-likeliness, one ligand, Topotecan (PNo_7) from the host plant was identified as the potential α-amylase inhibitor. This is the first attempt to identify alkaloid and flavonoid compounds as the α-amylase inhibitors from the host plant and its endophyte simultaneously. The molecular docking analyses presented in this study could lead to the development of potent α-amylase inhibitors helpful in the treatment of diabetes. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version of this article (10.1007/s13205-020-02547-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users