Effect of organic tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) extract on the genotoxicity of doxorubicin in the Drosophila wing spot test

The consumption of organic tomatoes (ORTs) reduces the risk of harmful effects to humans and the environment caused by exposure to toxic agrochemicals. In this study, we used the somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) of wing spots in Drosophila melanogaster to evaluate the genotoxicity of ORT and the effect of cotreatment with ORT on the genotoxicity of Doxorubicin® (DXR, a cancer chemotherapeutic agent) that is mediated by free radical formation. Standard (ST) cross larvae were treated chronically with solutions containing 25%, 50% or 100% of an aqueous extract of ORT, in the absence and presence of DXR (0.125 mg/mL), and the number of mutant spots on the wings of emergent flies was counted. ORT alone was not genotoxic but enhanced the toxicity of DXR when administered concomitantly with DXR. The ORT-enhanced frequency of spots induced by DXR may have resulted from the interaction of ORT with the enzymatic systems that catalyze the metabolic detoxification of this drug

Measurement of CP asymmetries and branching fraction ratios of B− decays to two charm mesons

The $CP$ asymmetries of seven $B^-$ decays to two charm mesons are measured using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\text{fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment. Decays involving a $D^{*0}$ or $D^{*-}_s$ meson are analysed by reconstructing only the $D^0$ or $D^-_s$ decay products. This paper presents the first measurement of $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{*-}_s D^0)$ and $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{-}_s D^{*0})$, and the most precise measurement of the other five $CP$ asymmetries. There is no evidence of $CP$ violation in any of the analysed decays. Additionally, two ratios between branching fractions of selected decays are measured.The CP asymmetries of seven B$^{−}$ decays to two charm mesons are measured using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 9 fb$^{−1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment. Decays involving a D$^{*0}$ or ${D}_s^{\ast -}$ meson are analysed by reconstructing only the D$^{0}$ or ${D}_s^{-}$ decay products. This paper presents the first measurement of $\mathcal{A} ^{CP}$(B$^{−}$→${D}_s^{\ast -}$D$^{0}$) and $\mathcal{A} ^{CP}$(B$^{−}$→${D}_s^{-}$D$^{∗0}$), and the most precise measurement of the other five CP asymmetries. There is no evidence of CP violation in any of the analysed decays. Additionally, two ratios between branching fractions of selected decays are measured.[graphic not available: see fulltext]The $CP$ asymmetries of seven $B^-$ decays to two charm mesons are measured using data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $9\text{ fb}^{-1}$ of proton-proton collisions collected by the LHCb experiment. Decays involving a $D^{*0}$ or $D^{*-}_s$ meson are analysed by reconstructing only the $D^0$ or $D^-_s$ decay products. This paper presents the first measurement of $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{*-}_s D^0)$ and $\mathcal{A}^{CP}(B^- \rightarrow D^{-}_s D^{*0})$, and the most precise measurement of the other five $CP$ asymmetries. There is no evidence of $CP$ violation in any of the analysed decays. Additionally, two ratios between branching fractions of selected decays are measured

Immunohistochemical detection of P‐glycoprotein in human tumor cells with a low degree of drug resistance

We report the immunohistochemical detection of the 170–180 kDa multi‐drug‐resistance‐related P‐glycoprotein in human tumor cells with a low level of resistance. A series of human squamous lung cancer cell lines with increasing levels of resistance to doxorubicin (DOX) was developed and stained for P‐glycoprotein, using the JSB‐lMAb. Subline SW1573/50A with a 4‐ to 6‐fold cross‐resistance to daunorubicin (DNR) and vincristine (VCR) showed rather uniform positive staining for P‐glycoprotein apparently at cytoplasmic sites. Only in cells with higher degrees of resistance (> 10‐fold) could plasmamembrane‐associated P‐glycoprotein be made visible. DNR efflux was increased in SW1573I50A as compared to the parent line SWl573 (52 and 70% DNR were retained during 3 min efflux respectively). Verapamil partially reversed DNR and VCR resistance in SWl573/50A. Cells obtained from a metastasized renal cell carcinoma and cultured in vitro stained in a similar way to SWl573/50A and showed some sensitivity to verapamil modulation of VCR cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that weakly resistant cancer cells obtained from patients can be routinely detected with JSB‐l on cytospins, and Implicate that in such weakly resistant cells P‐glycoprotein may be present, while plasma membrane expression is not yet readily detectable. Copyright © 1989 Wiley‐Liss, Inc., A Wiley Compan

Intercomparison of Different Energy Prediction Methods Within the European Project "Performance" - Results of the 1st Round Robin

Eight separate energy prediction methods, developed independently across European Universities and Research Centres, have been compared with respect to their estimated DC energy generation for five different photovoltaic (PV) module technologies and 7 different sites distributed over whole Europe. The analysis of this work is the basis for further improvements of each of the modelling approaches and thus enables a reduction of the prediction error in PV yield estimations. The recently completed first of three planned round-robin inter-comparisons found that the agreement for all methods and all technologies is within ±5% on an annual basis, provided that the environmental parameters incident irradiance and the module temperature are well described. This good accuracy was also found when translating the energy yield measured at one location in Europe to another for an identical module utilising shorter time periods (months). Significantly higher errors were found when using different PV modules of the same manufacturer and technology to predict the energy yield at other sites. Here the variation in module power rating dominated the results of the energy prediction methods and a correction for these differences had to be applie