Primal-Dual 2-Approximation Algorithm for the Monotonic Multiple Depot Heterogeneous Traveling Salesman Problem

We study a Multiple Depot Heterogeneous Traveling Salesman Problem (MDHTSP) where the cost of the traveling between any two targets depends on the type of the vehicle. The travel costs are assumed to be symmetric, satisfy the triangle inequality, and are monotonic, i.e., the travel costs between any two targets monotonically increases with the index of the vehicles. Exploiting the monotonic structure of the travel costs, we present a 2-approximation algorithm based on the primal-dual method

क्रस्टेशियाइयों में जैव प्रौद्योगिकी हस्तक्षेपों से प्रजनन

कृपया पूरा लेखा पढ

Dynamics, control, stability, diffusion and synchronization of modified chaotic colpitts oscillator with triangular wave non-linearity

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a new chaotic oscillator. Although different chaotic systems have been formulated by earlier researchers, only a few chaotic systems exhibit chaotic behaviour. In this work, a new chaotic system with chaotic attractor is introduced for triangular wave non-linearity. It is worth noting that this striking phenomenon rarely occurs in respect of chaotic systems. The system proposed in this paper has been realized with numerical simulation. The results emanating from the numerical simulation indicate the feasibility of the proposed chaotic system. More over, chaos control, stability, diffusion and synchronization of such a system have been dealt with.Publisher's Versio

महाचिंगट संपदा प्रबंधन में प्रारंभिक दशाओं का महत्व और चुनौत्तियाँ

कृपया पूरा लेखा पढ

Protein Engineering Of Bt Genes cry1Ab And cry1Ba For The Development Of Chimeric Genes cryAbabba, cryBabaab And cryAbbaab Via Domain Swapping

Bacillus thuringiensis is renowned for its production of insecticidal cry proteins, widely utilized in crop protection to combat insects. However, the risk of insect resistance emerges due to the relatively loose binding of toxins to target sites on larvae's midgut brush boundary membranes. This resistance primarily stems from modifications in binding sites within midgut cells. To address potential threats, the discovery of new Cry proteins is imperative as insects continually evolve resistance against existing ones. Combining Cry toxins with diverse binding sites in larval midguts is proposed as an effective strategy to delay the onset of resistance. In this study, three chimeric B. thuringiensis proteins—CryAbAbBa, CryBaBaAb, and CryAbBaAb—were engineered via domain swapping, utilizing crystal proteins CrylAb and CrylB. Structural validation was conducted, confirming their integrity through Ramachandran Plots. The chimeric proteins can be used as additional resources in crop improvement programmes

Phocomelia: is it time to retrospect, regulate and rescue? a case report

Phocomelia is an extremely rare congenital anomaly which presents as, the proximal part of the limb (humerus or femur, radius or tibia, ulna or fibula) being absent or markedly hypoplastic, with normal or near normal hand or foot. True phocomelia presents as the total absence of the intermediate segments of the limb, with the hand or foot directly attached to the trunk. Presented here is a case of phocomelia in an aborted foetus, with no maternal history of thalidomide exposure in her pregnancy and for whom evaluation of other family members/ siblings failed to reveal any substantial abnormality. The differential diagnosis and the significance of reporting of serious adverse drug reactions are discussed

Defective pro-IL-1beta responses in macrophages from aged mice

BACKGROUND: Cytokines regulated by the inflammasome pathway have been extensively implicated in various age-related immune pathologies. We set out to elucidate the contribution of the nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome pathway to the previously described deficiencies in IL-1beta production by macrophages from aged mice. We examined the production of pro-IL-1beta and its conversion into IL-1beta as two separate steps and compared these cytokine responses in bone marrow derived macrophages from young (6-8 weeks) and aged (18-24 months) C57BL/6 mice. FINDINGS: Relative to macrophages from young mice, macrophages from aged mice produced less pro-IL-1beta after TLR4 stimulation with LPS. However upon activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome with ATP, macrophages from young and aged mice were able to efficiently convert and secrete intracellular pro-cytokines as functional cytokines. CONCLUSIONS: Lower levels of IL-1beta production are a result of slower and lower overall production of pro-IL-1beta in macrophages from aged mice

Manipulation of fatty acids in the estuarine clam Meretrix casta (Gmelin, 1791) by supplementation with the microalgal diet, Isochrysis galbana

The present study evaluated the changes in fatty acid profile of the estuarine clam Meretrix casta, an important food organism used in the larval rearing of scyllarid lobsters, after supplementation with the microalgal species Isochrysis galbana. The uptake and assimilation of lipids from the microalgal feed were verified by gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acids in the clam tissues after eight days of feeding with I. galbana. Increase in concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n3) and C18:2n-6, was observed in clams supplemented with I. galbana. Changes in monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) composition were less marked and related to the increasing proportions of C18:1, after supplementation. Feeding with I. galbana also induced a decrease in the proportion of saturated fatty acids, which was related to decrease in proportions of both C16:0 and C18:0. Although the fatty acid composition showed significant differences, the gross lipid content of the clam tissues did not seem to be excessively influenced by the algal feeding. Tissues from clams supplemented with I. galbana are being evaluated as feed for sand lobster larval trials

Bacterial RNA:DNA hybrids are activators of the NLRP3 inflammasome

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is an extracellular pathogen that causes hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1beta, has been linked to hemolytic uremic syndrome. Here we identify the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine rich repeat containing family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome as an essential mediator of EHEC-induced IL-1beta. Whereas EHEC-specific virulence factors were dispensable for NLRP3 activation, bacterial nucleic acids such as RNA:DNA hybrids and RNA gained cytosolic access and mediated inflammasome-dependent responses. Consistent with a direct role for RNA:DNA hybrids in inflammasome activation, delivery of synthetic EHEC RNA:DNA hybrids into the cytosol triggered NLRP3-dependent responses, and introduction of RNase H, which degrades such hybrids, into infected cells specifically inhibited inflammasome activation. Notably, an E. coli rnhA mutant, which is incapable of producing RNase H and thus harbors increased levels of RNA:DNA hybrid, induced elevated levels of NLRP3-dependent caspase-1 activation and IL-1beta maturation. Collectively, these findings identify RNA:DNA hybrids of bacterial origin as a unique microbial trigger of the NLRP3 inflammasome

Chitosan but not chitin activates the inflammasome by a mechanism dependent upon phagocytosis

Chitin is an abundant polysaccharide found in fungal cell walls, crustacean shells, and insect exoskeletons. The immunological properties of both chitin and its deacetylated derivative chitosan are of relevance because of frequent natural exposure and their use in medical applications. Depending on the preparation studied and the end point measured, these compounds have been reported to induce allergic responses, inflammatory responses, or no response at all. We prepared highly purified chitosan and chitin and examined the capacity of these glycans to stimulate murine macrophages to release the inflammasome-associated cytokine IL-1beta. We found that although chitosan was a potent NLRP3 inflammasome activator, acetylation of the chitosan to chitin resulted in a near total loss of activity. The size of the chitosan particles played an important role, with small particles eliciting the greatest activity. An inverse relationship between size and stimulatory activity was demonstrated using chitosan passed through size exclusion filters as well as with chitosan-coated beads of defined size. Partial digestion of chitosan with pepsin resulted in a larger fraction of small phagocytosable particles and more potent inflammasome activity. Inhibition of phagocytosis with cytochalasin D abolished the IL-1beta stimulatory activity of chitosan, offering an explanation for why the largest particles were nearly devoid of activity. Thus, the deacetylated polysaccharide chitosan potently activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in a phagocytosis-dependent manner. In contrast, chitin is relatively inert