Microwave-assisted synthesis and antitumor evaluation of a new series of thiazolylcoumarin derivatives

A new series of thiazolylcoumarin derivatives was synthesized. The designed strategy embraced a molecular hybridization approach which involves the combination of the thiazole and coumarin pharmacophores together. The new hybrid compounds were tested for in vitro antitumor efficacy over cervical (Hela) and kidney fibroblast (COS-7) cancer cells. Compounds 5f, 5h, 5m and 5r displayed promising efficacy toward Hela cell line. In addition, 5h and 5r were found to be the most active candidates toward COS-7 cell line. The four active analogs, 5f, 5h, 5m and 5r were screened for in vivo antitumor activity over EAC cells in mice, as well as in vitro cytotoxicity toward W138 normal cells. Results illustrated that 5r has the highest in vivo activity, and that the four analogs are less cytotoxic than 5-FU toward W138 normal cells. In this study, 3D pharmacophore analysis was performed to investigate the matching pharmacophoric features of the synthesized compounds with trichostatin A. In silico studies showed that the investigated compounds meet the optimal needs for good oral absorption with no expected toxicity hazards

Optimization of mosquitocidal toxins production by Lysinibacillus sphaericus under solid state fermentation using statistical experimental design

Taguchi’s experimental design of surface response methodology was applied to optimize the culture medium conditions for Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls) mosquitocidal toxins production under solid state fermentation (SSF). The predicted results of this design revealed that the optimum culture medium conditions for the maximum mosquitocidal activity against second instar Culex pipiens larvae were: 3.08 ± 0.05% substrate concentration, 33 ± 1.5% moisture content, 7.8 ± 0.1 initial pH, 1.35 ± 0.15% (5.7 × 107 CFU) inoculum size and 5.9 ± 0.2 days incubation period. Sporulation titer of Lysinibacillus sphaericus (Ls 14N1) and mortality percentage of second instar Culex pipiens larvae of the fermented culture under these conditions were 2.8 × 1010 CFU/g fermented culture and 97.5 ± 1%, respectively. The results of practical validation of the design were incomparable with the mathematical results. Sporulation titer was 2.7 × 10 10 CFU/g fermented culture; LC50 was 2.8 × 10-5 final fermented culturedilution and toxin protein concentration was 2.24 mg/g fermented culture

Intelligent detection and control for environmental noise pollution

Noise pollution is a common environmental problem that directly or indirectly affects people health, productivity, behavior, and sometimes leading to death. Harmful noises are extensively found within specific environments such as airports, power stations, railway lines, road works, factories, construction, demolition sites, etc. Countries around the world initiated regulations in terms of monitoring as well as controlling and treating such pollution. These regulations raised the issue of finding a suitable, cost-effective, and reliable technology to encounter the noise pollution effects. Traditional manual noise detection and treatment solutions are not scalable to the high demand in time and space. So, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) can provide an effective, inexpensive, and flexible real-time acquisition platform to support the detection and control process of noise pollution sources. This paper brings the concept of noise pollution to the light. Also, a model is proposed for automatically monitoring, detecting, and controlling abnormal sound pressure levels representing noise pollution in the ambient environments. The proposed approach utilizes the integration of wireless sensing and Smartphone technologies for dealing with that type of pollution

Vitamin D receptor rs3782905 and vitamin D binding protein rs7041 polymorphisms are associated with hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility in cirrhotic HCV patients

Abstract Background The severity of chronic hepatitis C and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with genetic variations within vitamin D receptor (VDR) in several populations. This study aims to determine the significance of the VDRs (rs2228570, rs3782905, rs11568820) and DBP (rs7041) for the susceptibility to HCC in Egyptian patients with chronic HCV infection and their effect on the progression of liver cirrhosis to carcinogenesis. Methods Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) VDR (rs2228570, rs3782905), and DBP rs7041 were genotyped using restriction fragment length-PCR (RFLP-PCR) technique and VDR rs11568820 was genotyped using single strand polymorphism PCR (SSP PCR). These SNPs genotypes, haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium analyses were examined in 299 Egyptian individuals (100 HCV-cirrhotic patients, 99 HCC- HCV patients, and 100 healthy controls). Result The VDR rs2228570 CC genotype, VDR rs3782905 GC and CC genotypes, and DBP rs7041 GG genotype are significantly higher in HCC. It is noteworthy that, VDR rs3782905 CC and DBP rs7041 TG genotypes are higher in HCV induced liver cirrhosis than with HCC progression in HCV infected patients. Furthermore, among patients, the relationship between these SNPs and smoking status, gender, and HCC susceptibility was reported. Conclusion Among the four investigated SNPs, there are associations between VDR rs3782905 and DBP rs7041 and the HCC progression in Egyptian patients chronically infected with HCV. These SNPs are considered as risk factors in HCV induced liver cirrhosis and HCC. The combinations of these SNPs with smoking status and gender are statistically linked to a high risk of HCC. Future research with a larger sample size of subjects with HCV infection is advised, because chronic liver disease induced by HCV infection is the primary cause of HCC in Egypt. We recommend screening of these SNPs for prediction of LC and HCC development in HCV infected patients, which may improve the used therapeutic protocol. These results suggest that VDR polymorphisms may be potential determinants for HCC susceptibility in Egyptian HCV patients

Validity of a sponge trainer as a simple training model for percutaneous renal access

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of our simply designed trainer for junior urologists to acquire the initial skills for percutaneous renal access (PRA). Subjects and methods: Three sponge sheets (60 × 50 × 10 cm) were arranged horizontally over each other. A rectangular groove was made in the middle sheet to accommodate an inflated balloon of a Foley catheter, radio-opaque metal balls, metal rings, or a plastic tube that were sequentially placed for the four training tasks. In each session, 18 trainees were asked to pass a fluoroscopically guided puncture needle from a surface point to the placed object in middle sheet. Clinical impact of training was evaluated by an experience survey on a 5-piont Likert scale (for model usefulness, tactile and fluoroscopic-guidance feedback) and success rate in further mentored practice. Results: There was a gradual increase in tasks’ and sessions’ scores over the training sessions. According to the experience survey after first clinical practice, the mean (SD) score for overall model usefulness by trainees was 3.8 (0.9) with high fluoroscopic guidance reality [3.6 (1.1)] but poor tactile realism [2.3 (0.9)]. On mentored PRA, the success rate for trainees was 78.3%. Conclusion: Our early evaluation showed our novel, cost-effective and reproducible sponge trainer could be an effective training model for PRA with a beneficial impact on subsequent clinical practice

Day Lighting as a tool of Energy Saving in Buildings for Remote Regions

There is no doubt that daylight plays a major role in the saving of electrical energy, especially in new buildings. This paper presents a case study of a building in the new Farafra area of Egypt with the use of daylight as a means of energy saving. Environmental factors which include solar radiation and weather conditions, building factors such as building type, windows, surrounding buildings, etc., factors for planning the rooms in the building such as partitioning, furniture arrangement, occupancy rate, etc., all of the above factors have made deleting a very dynamic element. There is no need for any building materials as the proposed site contains building materials required. The analysis of Daylighting presented in all seasons of the year in the selected site. According to simulation results in a winter day as the worst case of an office room, the artificial lighting is not needed from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM, for a bedroom the artificial lighting is not needed from 8:30 AM to 4:15 PM, for living room the artificial lighting is not needed from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. For the kitchen, the artificial lighting is not needed from 8:45 AM to 4:00 PM. Results show that the monthly energy saving is about 83.1 kWh, the adaptive thermal comfort of indoor environment control is actually balanced in terms of occupancy, comfort, and energy efficiency, the window to wall ratio is taken into account during simulations and energy saving due to thermal comfort with no need for an air-conditioning system is about 1350 kWh

Efficient immobilization of highly stable Bacillus amyloliquefaciens spore laccase for biodecolorization of textile dyes in water

Abstract Globally, millions of cubic meters of dye-contaminated wastewater are generated annually from the textile industry. Discharging the dye-contaminated wastewater into natural water streams is detrimental to the ecosystem and human health. Wastewater bioremediation is considered a practical solution for converting wastewater into value-added water for safe reuse especially in irrigation. The present study investigated the immobilization of highly stable spore laccase enzyme of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens A1 by entrapment and adsorption techniques. Based on the results, agarose gel was the most efficient support with 94% immobilization yield. Optimum temperature of immobilized enzyme was at 60 ℃ with complete thermal stability for 120 min. The maximum activity of immobilized enzyme was at pH 6–7 and retained 91% of its activity after 24 h incubation. It showed 100% storage stability after 8 weeks which was higher than that of un-immobilized enzyme (4 weeks). The enzyme activity was nearly stable after 8 consecutive cycles of reuse. Decolorization of 8 textile dyes was studied using the immobilized enzyme. Crystal violet, direct red 81 and acid black 24 were efficiently decolorized (94.5, 77.4, and 68.8%, respectively) within 24 h in the first cycle. Reusability of immobilized enzyme showed 74.6, 53.5, and 51.8% decolorization of the same dyes in the same order after the second cycle. Immobilized spore laccase-treated dye water was used to irrigate lentil seeds and showed germination index about 73% compared to 10.8% for untreated one indicating very low toxicity of the treated dye water