A Prototype-Based Modified DBSCAN for Gene Clustering

AbstractIn this paper, we propose, a novel DBSCAN method to cluster the gene expression data. The main problem of DBSCAN is its quadratic computational complexity. We resolve this drawback by using the prototypes produced from a squared error clustering method such as K-means. Then, the DBSCAN technique is applied efficiently using these prototypes. In our algorithm, during the iterations of DBSCAN, if a point from an uncovered prototype is assigned to a cluster, then all the other points of such prototype belongs to the same cluster. We have carried out excessive experiments on various two dimensional artificial and multi-dimensional biological data. The proposed technique is compared with few existing techniques. It is observed that proposed algorithm outperforms the existing methods

Moth Flame Optimization Method for Unified Power Quality Conditioner Allocation

This paper introduces a new optimization method to determine the optimal allocation of Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC) in the distribution systems. UPQC is a versatile Custom Power Device (CPD) to solve problems related to voltage and current by the series and shunt compensator in the distribution systems. The task of UPQC highlighted in this paper is the required load reactive power is provided by both the series and shunt compensators. The UPQC’s steady state compensation capability has given a solution for providing reactive power compensation in large distribution systems. The optimization method adopted is Moth Flame Optimization (MFO). The best location and series compensator voltage are determined using MFO. The voltage injected by the series compensator and reactive power injected by the shunt compensator is incorporated in the load flow method. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated with standard distribution systems

Physico-chemical Studies of Ternary Che1ates in Solution: Part II*- Stability Constants of Ternary Chelates of Cu(II), Ni(II), Zn (II), Cd (II), Co (II) & Mn (II) with 2,2'-Bipyridyl as Primary Ligand & 2- Phenylacetohydroxamic Acid as Secondary Lig and

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Genetic characterization of the silkworm Bombyx mori by simple sequence repeat (SSR)-anchored PCR

Thirteen diverse strains of the silkworm Bombyx mori were analysed using the simple sequence repeat anchored polymerase chain reaction (SSR-anchored PCR) or Inter-SSR-PCR (ISSR-PCR). A set of four 5'-anchored and two 3'-anchored repeat primers amplified a total of 239 bands out of which 184 (77%) were polymorphic. The 5'-anchored primers revealed more distinct polymorphic markers than the 3'-anchored primers and the ISSR-PCR method showed greater variability than RAPDs. The strain-specific pattern was shown to be inherited and segregated in a Mendelian fashion. A dendrogram constructed using the UPGMA method revealed two distinct groups, one comprising nondiapausing and one comprising diapausing strains. These results suggest that the ISSR-PCR method is potentially useful for genetic fingerprinting of silkworm genotypes and as a mapping tool in the silkworm

ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF BOSENTAN ATTENUATES THE BLEOMYCIN INDUCED PULMONARY FIBROSIS IN MICE

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by alveolitis with epithelial, endothelial damage leading to fibrosis. As signaling of endothelin-1 was involved in IPF, the effect of bosentan a non-specific endothelin receptor antagonist was determined in a mouse model of bleomycin induced pulmonary fibrosis. In the present study, mice were instilled with intra-tracheal instillation of bleomycin (0.05U) and were administered with bosentan at 100 mg/kg body weight. The treatment with bosentan significantly (p ≤ 0.05) prevented bleomycin induced mortality and loss of body weight. On day 7, bosentan significantly (p ≤ 0.05) attenuated bleomycin induced increase of total and differential inflammatory cell counts, total proteins, edema, MPO activity and inflammatory cell infiltration in lung tissue. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were restored by bosentan treatment which lowered in bleomycin administered mice. Bosentan treatment significantly attenuated bleomycin induced increase in fibrosis score, collagen deposition and hydroxyproline levels. On day 21, treatment with bosentan significantly attenuated α-smooth muscle actin and collagen-I gene expression levels and matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 activities. The results revealed that bosentan exerted enhanced protection against bleomycin induced inflammation and fibrosis

Inhibitory effect of gemcitabine and brucine on MDA MB-231human breast cancer cells

Combination of natural compounds and cytotoxic drugs represents a logical therapeutic approach for breast cancer. Brucine, a natural plant alkaloid is reported to possess cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. Gemcitabine is a nucleoside analog, commonly used in the treatment of several solid tumors, including breast cancer. In the present study we have examined the anticancer effect of brucine and gemcitabine on MDA MB-231 human breast cancer cells. Cell proliferation was assessed using MTT assay. Soft agar assay was used to evaluate the in-vitro clonogencity of MDA MB-231 cells. Cell migration was determined by in-vitro scratch assay and expression of p65 (NF-kB subunit) was evaluated by western blot analysis. Combination treatment with brucine and gemcitabine resulted in a significant inhibition of cell proliferation than either brucine or gemcitabine alone. Cells treated with combination of brucine and gemcitabine showed additive inhibition in colony formation and cell migration than treated with individual agents. The cells treated with brucine at 300 µM showed a significant decrease in p65-NF-kB expression but in combination treatment there was no additive inhibition of p65 expression compared to brucine treated cells. Overall, our results suggested that brucine in combination with gemcitabine showed supra-additive anticancer effects in MDA MB-231 cells and warrants further in-vivo studies in experimental animal models.

Spectroscopic studies on monomers and dimers of thiaporphyrins

Synthesis and spectroscopic properties of porphyrin macrocycles with sulphur as the heteroatom in the porphyrin core have been studied. Electronic absorption spectra of these macrocycles show porphyrin-like behaviour with a strong Soret band and weakQ-bands. Substitution of the -NH groups of tetraphenylporphyrin (TPPH2) by sulphur causes a red shift of all the absorption bands and the magnitude of the red shift depends on the number of sulphur atoms substituted. Both the mono and dications of dithiaporphyrins (S2TPP) show larger bathochromic shifts ofQ-bands relative to TPPH2 indicating a stronger resonance interaction with the phenyl groups. A positive shift for both oxidation and reduction potentials is observed upon substitution of sulphur atoms. 1H NMR spectra of symmetrically substituted dithiaporphyrins show two sharp singlets for pyrrole protons and thiophene protons confirming the presence of a two-fold axis of symmetry. Only monothia derivatives (STPPH) form metal complexes [Ni(II), Cu(II)] and these metal complexes are five-coordinate with an apical chloride ligand. The water-soluble S2TPPS, prepared from sulphonating the para positions of phenyl rings shows extensive aggregation at high concentrations (> 10-4M). At low concentrations (≈ 10-610-7M), dimerisation can be induced by the addition of cations (K+, NH4+ ) and cation-crown ether complex. The induced red shifts upon dimerisation parallel findings reported for a variety of cofacial covalently linked porphyrin dimers

Limonene and BEZ 235 induce apoptosis in COLO-320 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells

Deregulated apoptosis is the hall mark of many cancers, therefore every defect in apoptosis pathway could be a potential target for cancer treatment.The anticancer mechanism of limonene could be multifactorial. However, induction of apoptosis in cancer cells is proposed as the predominant mechanism in several of preclinical studies. Therefore, we determined to investigate the role of apoptosis in the anticancer activity of limonene and BEZ235 combination in COLO-320 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Cells after treatments were assessed for apoptosis by DAPI staining for fluorescent microscopic examination of apoptotic cells, estimation of caspases activities, Bcl-2 family proteins in addition to cell cycle analysis by flowcytometry. Results show that both drugs induced apoptosis as demonstrated by increased caspases activity, significant alterations in pro and anti-apoptotic proteins of Bcl-2 family in promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Over all, it is indicated that limonene and BEZ exerted anticancer activity is mediated through induction of apoptosis involving mitochondria mediated intrinsic death pathway in the selected CRC cells

Limonene and BEZ 235 inhibits growth of COLO-320 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells

D-Limonene is a dietary monoterpene with significant anticancer activity against many cancer types in preclinical and clinical studies. The study is designed to investigate synergistic anticancer effects of limonene and BEZ235 combination in COLO-320 and HCT-116 colon cancer cells. Cells were treated with both the drugs alone and in combination and the effects on cell viability; cell migration and clonogenic potential were examined. Results show that both drugs exhibited dose and time dependant cytotoxicity on the cell lines tested. CompuSyn analysis of the drug combination effects revealed the strong synergistic interaction of the combination. Our results also indicate that COLO-320 cells were more sensitive for anticancer effects of the drugs than HCT-116 cells. The presence of Ras and PI3K mutations in HCT-116 cells could possibly be one of the main reasons for the observed outcome as compared to the wild type expressions of them in COLO-320 cells