Application of an Efficient Genetic Algorithm for Solving n×m Flow Shop Scheduling Problem Comparing it with Branch and Bound Algorithm and Tabu Search Algorithm

Emergence of advance manufacturing systems such as CAD/CAM, FMS and CIM etc. has increased the importance of the flow shop scheduling. Flow shop scheduling problem is considered NP-hard for m machines and n jobs. In this paper, we develop an efficient genetic algorithm (EGA) for solving n flow shop scheduling problem with makespan as the criterion. The objective of this proposed EGA is to obtain a sequence of jobs and the minimization of the total completion time and waiting time. For finding optimal solution, this EGA is very effective. In large scale problems, the result of the proposed algorithm shows that the efficient genetic algorithm gives high performance comparing with Branch and Bound algorithm and Tabu search algorithm

Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Models to Identify Pathways that Mediate Influences of Welding Fumes on Cancer Progression

Abstract: Welding generates and releases fumes that are hazardous to human health. Welding fumes (WFs) are a complex mix of metallic oxides, fluorides and silicates that can cause or exacerbate health problems in exposed individuals. In particular, WF inhalation over an extended period carries an increased risk of cancer, but how WFs may influence cancer behaviour or growth is unclear. To address this issue we employed a quantitative analytical framework to identify the gene expression effects of WFs that may affect the subsequent behaviour of the cancers. We examined datasets of transcript analyses made using microarray studies of WF-exposed tissues and of cancers, including datasets from colorectal cancer (CC), prostate cancer (PC), lung cancer (LC) and gastric cancer (GC). We constructed gene-disease association networks, identified signaling and ontological pathways, clustered protein-protein interaction network using multilayer network topology, and analyzed survival function of the significant genes using Cox proportional hazards (Cox PH) model and product-limit (PL) estimator. We observed that WF exposure causes altered expression of many genes (36, 13, 25 and 17 respectively) whose expression are also altered in CC, PC, LC and GC. Gene-disease association networks, signaling and ontological pathways, protein-protein interaction network, and survival functions of the significant genes suggest ways that WFs may influence the progression of CC, PC, LC and GC. This quantitative analytical framework has identified potentially novel mechanisms by which tissue WF exposure may lead to gene expression changes in tissue gene expression that affect cancer behaviour and, thus, cancer progression, growth or establishment

Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Models to Identify Pathways that Mediate Influences of Welding Fumes on Cancer Progression

Abstract: Welding generates and releases fumes that are hazardous to human health. Welding fumes (WFs) are a complex mix of metallic oxides, fluorides and silicates that can cause or exacerbate health problems in exposed individuals. In particular, WF inhalation over an extended period carries an increased risk of cancer, but how WFs may influence cancer behaviour or growth is unclear. To address this issue we employed a quantitative analytical framework to identify the gene expression effects of WFs that may affect the subsequent behaviour of the cancers. We examined datasets of transcript analyses made using microarray studies of WF-exposed tissues and of cancers, including datasets from colorectal cancer (CC), prostate cancer (PC), lung cancer (LC) and gastric cancer (GC). We constructed gene-disease association networks, identified signaling and ontological pathways, clustered protein-protein interaction network using multilayer network topology, and analyzed survival function of the significant genes using Cox proportional hazards (Cox PH) model and product-limit (PL) estimator. We observed that WF exposure causes altered expression of many genes (36, 13, 25 and 17 respectively) whose expression are also altered in CC, PC, LC and GC. Gene-disease association networks, signaling and ontological pathways, protein-protein interaction network, and survival functions of the significant genes suggest ways that WFs may influence the progression of CC, PC, LC and GC. This quantitative analytical framework has identified potentially novel mechanisms by which tissue WF exposure may lead to gene expression changes in tissue gene expression that affect cancer behaviour and, thus, cancer progression, growth or establishment

Management of the retinal impact site after intraocular foreign body trauma

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Nano synthesis of ZnO–TiO2 composites by sol-gel method and evaluation of their antibacterial, optical and photocatalytic activities

85ZnO–15TiO2, 75ZnO–25TiO2, and 65ZnO–35TiO2 nanocomposites were prepared by the sol-gel method. The structural, morphological, antibacterial, optical and photocatalytic performances were analyzed. Three phases, i.e., hexagonal wurtzite, anatase, and hexagonal ZnTiO3 were detected for each of the specimens. The crystallite size reduced as the TiO2 content increased, whereas the corresponding values for 65ZnO–35TiO2 were 39.02 nm (ZnO), 20.40 nm (anatase) and 34.89 nm (ZnTiO3). A particle size reduction phenomenon was observed as approaching from 85ZnO–15TiO2 (66 nm) to 65ZnO–35TiO2 (47 nm). The antibacterial activity was measured through the inhibition of the growth of Escherichia coli bacteria by ZnO–TiO2. The maximum inhibition zone for bacterial growth was achieved for 65ZnO–35TiO2 (19.7 mm). Two types of absorption bands were obtained within the UV–Visible region. However, the blue shifting of these bands resulted in the enhanced band gap. Moreover, 65ZnO–35TiO2 demonstrated the highest photodegradation efficiency of methylene blue dye backing the reason for the lowest particle size (47 nm). The photodegradation efficiency values of 85ZnO–15TiO2, 75ZnO–25TiO2 and 65ZnO–35TiO2 at 100 min were 72.9%, 80.2%, 90.7% respectively

Physico-chemical Profile and Microbial Diversity During Bioconversion of Sugarcane Press Mud Using Bacterial Suspension

This study was aimed at investigating the physico-chemical and microbial diversity for rapid composting of sugarcane press mud (PM) leading to organic manure. Five bacterial strains (Cellulomonas sp., Klebsiella sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Salmonella sp.) were tested under in vivo conditions for bioconversion of PM using pile method. Results revealed that combined inoculation of bacterial consortia was found to be the best decomposer of PM resulting reduction of organic carbon content (26.75%), C:N ratio (12.44%). In parallel, it increased the nitrogen (2.34%), phosphorous (1.15%) and potassium (1.37%) content along with the population of microorganisms i.e. bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes. However, the population of tested bacteria was gradually depleted after completion of PM decomposition together with pathogenic bacteria and fungi due to full conversion of carbon component into other minerals, i.e. N, P, K etc. Taken together, these findings certainly pinpoints the effective role of bacterial suspension for composting sugarcane press mud which the eventually be used as organic manure

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi induce Zn uptake and antioxidant efficiency in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) exposed to Zn deficiency

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development, and its deficiency in soil can be a significant problem for broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.) production. While the genetic efforts to breed Zn-efficient broccoli are complex, harnessing microbiomes is an emerging way to induce mineral efficiency in crops. In this study, broccoli, a non-host mycorrhizal species, was cultivated with or without zinc deficiency in the presence or absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), confirmed by the colonization efficiency in roots. Zn deficiency caused a significant decrease in morphological parameters and photosynthetic attributes being consistent with the decreased Zn levels in root and shoot relative to Zn-sufficient plants. However, the broccoli plants inoculated with AMF showed a substantial improvement in morphological and photosynthetic parameters in Zn-deficient conditions due to the significant increase in tissue Zn levels. In addition, AMF-inoculated plants under Zn deficiency showed a significant decrease in cell death (%), electrolyte leakage, and H2O2 levels compared to Zn-deficient plants, which further suggests the improvements in cellular status due to the AMF colonization. The real-time PCR experiments showed a significant induction in the expression of BoZIP1 and BoNRAMP1 genes in the roots of Zn-deficient broccoli inoculated with AMF, suggesting that AMF may be associated with the induction of these genes responsible for Zn-uptake and transport. We further observed the induction of POD (peroxidase), APX (ascorbate peroxidase) and SOD (superoxide dismutase), and S-metabolites (cysteine and glutathione) predominantly in the roots of Zn-starved broccoli inoculated with AMF which may confer tolerance to Zn-deficiency induced oxidative damage. This is the first report on the role of AMF in mitigating Zn-deficiency in broccoli which may promote the microbiome-aided improvement in plant health suffering from Zn-deficiency in broccoli and other vegetable crops

Extended duration strategies for the pharmacologic treatment of diabetic retinopathy: current status and future prospects

Introduction: Intraocular pharmacotherapy (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] inhibitors and corticosteroids) has become first-line therapy for diabetic retinopathy (DR). A series of intraocular injections is usually required before disease modulation decreases the treatment burden in some patients, but others with chronic diabetic macular edema may require intensive longer-term therapy. Areas covered: Recent studies showing successful pharmacologic treatment of proliferative DR will probably lead to increased use of pharmacotherapy, thereby further emphasizing the need for longer duration drugs. Recently approved anti-VEGF drugs (aflibercept) and corticosteroids (dexamethasone and fluocinolone inserts) provide extended durations of action. Longer action anti-VEGF molecules, sustained release devices and pumps, and encapsulated cell technology, may further decrease treatment burden, though regulatory approval may not occur for at least 5 years. Oral medications (danazol and minocycline) and modified topical drugs (loteprednol) will require daily administration but may decrease the frequency of visits to physicians' offices. Intravitreally administered drugs that target different biochemical pathways are being developed as monotherapy and combination therapy, and their effects on durability remains to be seen. Expert opinion: The rich development pipeline promises to provide improved therapeutic options in addition to drugs and devices with longer duration of action

Silicon ameliorates chromium toxicity through phytochelatin-mediated vacuolar sequestration in the roots of <i>Oryza sativa</i> (L.)

<p>High chromium (Cr) in rice causes reduced yield and health hazards. This work investigates how Si alleviates Cr toxicity in rice. Addition of Si under Cr stress restored the growth parameters, total protein content, and membrane stability along with reduced Cr content in shoots, confirming that Si plays critical roles in Cr detoxification in rice. However, Si supplementation under Cr stress caused no significant changes in root Cr content but decreased shoot Cr concentrations compared with Cr-stressed plants, indicating that alleviation of Cr toxicity might be associated with Cr sequestration in roots. Further, concentration of Fe and expression of Fe transporter (OsIRT1) showed no significant changes due to Si supplementation under Cr stress, implying that Fe regulation is not involved with Si-mediated mitigation of Cr toxicity in rice. Further, phytochelatin accumulation and OsPCS1 (phytochelatin synthase) transcripts strongly induced due to the dual treatment of Si and Cr compared with Cr-stressed plants, suggesting that phytochelatin might bind to Cr, which leads to vacuolar sequestration in roots. Furthermore, increased glutathione reductase activity in roots implies that active involvement of ROS scavenging partially ameliorates Cr toxicity in rice plants. The study illustrates first evidences on the effect of Si alleviating Cr toxicity in rice plants.</p