Tunicamycin induced inhibition of calpain 1 and 2 enzyme activity in ovarian cancer cells

Background: Tunicamycin (TN) is an antitumor agent and induced intracellular calcium levels in many cells, however its molecular mechanism is still needed to be explored. Calpeptin (Calp) is an inhibitor of both calpain 1 and 2 (CAPN-1/2) enzymes, and plays a fundamental role in tumor mechanism. In this study, the effects of TN and Calp were investigated on CAPN-1/2 enzyme activity in normal and ovarian cancer cells adhered to fibronectin. Methods: 24uM TN, 50uM Calp, and combined TN and Calp (TN+Calp) were applied for 1 and 12 hours to FN-bound (FN+) and non-FN-bound (FN-) normal human ovarian epithelial (IHOSE) and ovarian cancer (SKOV-3) cells. The activation of CAPN-1/2 was measured by the luminescent method and the significance of the results was analyzed with the t-test. Results: CAPN-1/2 enzyme activity (at 12 hour) was present in both cell lines, but the level of enzyme is higher in IHOSE cells compared to SKOV-3 cells. The results showed that 1 hour TN and TN+Calp applications stimulated CAPN-1/2 enzyme activity in IHOSE cells but did not show any stimulating effect in SKOV-3 cells. After 12-hour of treatment, the cells with TN, Calp or TN+Calp showed an inhibitory effect on CAPN-1/2 enzyme in both FN+IHOSE and SKOV-3 cells. At 12-hour TN+Calp administration was determined to be the most effective inhibitor in FN+ SKOV-3 since it inhibited CAPN1/2 activity statistically significantly more than both Calp and TN administrations. Conclusions: The effects of TN, Calp and TN+Calp applications on the CAPN-1/2 enzyme varied according to the cell type, normal or cancer cells, and whether the cell was bound to FN and the incubation period. 12 h administrations of TN, Calp or TN+Calp inhibited the CAPN-1/2 enzyme in both FN+ IHOSE and SKOV-3 cells

A new approach for the black-scholes model with linear and nonlinear volatilities

Since financial engineering problems are of great importance in the academic community, effective methods are still needed to analyze these models. Therefore, this article focuses mainly on capturing the discrete behavior of linear and nonlinear Black-Scholes European option pricing models. To achieve this, this article presents a combined method; a sixth order finite difference (FD6) scheme in space and a third-order strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta (SSPRK3) over time. The computed results are compared with available literature and the exact solution. The computed results revealed that the current method seems to be quite strong both quantitatively and qualitatively with minimal computational effort. Therefore, this method appears to be a very reliable alternative and flexible to implement in solving the problem while preserving the physical properties of such realistic processes. © 2019 by the authors

Assessing Diversity across Cultures: A U.S.-Hispanic Perspective

The purpose of this study was to compare workplace diversity perceptions between a US and Hispanic population. This study used the diversity perceptions of a sample of US business students and compared them with a sample of Hispanics using the Reaction to Diversity Inventory (RDI). The means of both samples were tested for significant differences at the p<.05 level using SPSS. A statistically significant difference was noted between the US sample and the Hispanic sample. The data analysis showed a between groups sum of squares=5892.35 and significance at p<.000 level. This study suggests that Hispanic perceptions of diversity are quite different than may be intuitively perceived or portrayed in the literature. The study also reinforces what is already stated in the literature, that collecting and analyzing perceptions can help determine if an organization’s workplace is viable to support diversity initiatives. This study is one among a limited collection of research on Hispanic perceptions of diversity behaviors in the US workforce and illustrates how cultural values of majority-minority populations can potentially impact the design and implementation of diversity initiatives, especially within a global workforce environment

Arc magmatism as a window to plate kinematics and subduction polarity: Example from the eastern Pontides belt, NE Turkey

AbstractThe Eastern Pontides orogenic belt in the Black Sea region of Turkey offers a critical window to plate kinematics and subduction polarity during the closure of the Paleotethys. Here we provide a brief synthesis on recent information from this belt. We infer a southward subduction for the origin of the Eastern Pontides orogenic belt and its associated late Mesozoic–Cenozoic magmatism based on clear spatial and temporal variations in Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic arc magmatism, together with the existence of a prominent south-dipping reverse fault system along the entire southern coast of the Black Sea. Our model is at variance with some recent proposals favoring a northward subduction polarity, and illustrates the importance of arc magmatism in evaluating the geodynamic milieu associated with convergent margin processes