In silico modeling and evaluation of Gordonia alkanivorans for biodesulfurization

10.1039/c3mb70132hMolecular BioSystems92530--254

Optimized Sequential model for Plant Recognition in Keras

Abstract: There are huge varieties of floras in the world. Lots of varieties of species are beneficial to the human’s life. Plant recognition is a very important task to segregate the huge amount of floras which belong to various categories. Various researchers have applied different approaches to recognize the plant family. Deep learning is a subset of machine learning. This is one of the accepted technologies that automatically extracts features, processes them and yields the best results. Keras is a widely used deep learning framework which is employed in this work. Five different plant species are chosen as samples among the Indian species, namely OcimumTenuiflorum, Sansevieriatrifasciata, Chlorophytumcomosum, Azadirachtaindica, Aloe Vera. These samples are rich in oxygen. From these samples the features like shape, color, texture, corners are extracted. One hot encoding is also applied onto the target values to optimize the results of recognition. The extracted features are fed into the sequential keras model which recognizes the plant species. The accuracy of the training set is 100 percent and the testing set is 96.7percent. Confusion matrix is drawn to show the correctly classified and misclassified samples

Characterizing Ultra-Processed Foods by Energy Density, Nutrient Density, and Cost

Background: The NOVA food classification scheme divides foods into ultra-processed, processed, unprocessed, and culinary ingredients. Ultra-processed foods contribute >60% of energy to diets in the US.Objective: To characterize ultra-processed foods by energy density, nutrient density, and monetary cost.Methods: The 384 component foods of Fred Hutch (FHCRC) food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), were assigned to 4 NOVA categories and to 7 USDA MyPyramid food groups. Energy density was kcal/g. Nutrient density was measured using the Nutrient Rich Food index NRF9.3. Food prices were collected in local supermarkets from 2004 to 2016. Analyses examined time trends in food prices by NOVA category and by USDA food group.Results: The ultra-processed classification captured mostly grains (91%), fats and sweets (73%), dairy (71%), and beans, nuts and seeds (70%), but only 36% of meat, poultry and fish, 26% of vegetables, and 20% of fruit. Compared to unprocessed foods, ultra-processed foods had lower nutrient density (NRF9.3 per 100 kcal: 21.2 vs. 108.5),higher energy density (mean (SD): 2.2 vs. 1.10 in kcal/g), and lower per calorie cost (0.55 vs. 1.45 in $/100 kcal). Ultra-processed foods did not increase in price as much as unprocessed foods over the 12 year period.Conclusion: Ultra-processed foods tend to be energy-dense, low-cost, and nutrient-poor. Low energy cost could be one mechanism linking ultra-processed foods with negative health outcomes. Food-based Dietary Guidelines may need to address food processing in relation to economic aspects of food choice

Whole genome expression and biochemical correlates of extreme constitutional types defined in Ayurveda

Background: Ayurveda is an ancient system of personalized medicine documented and practiced in India since 1500 B.C. According to this system an individual's basic constitution to a large extent determines predisposition and prognosis to diseases as well as therapy and life-style regime. Ayurveda describes seven broad constitution types (Prakritis) each with a varying degree of predisposition to different diseases. Amongst these, three most contrasting types, Vata, Pitta, Kapha, are the most vulnerable to diseases. In the realm of modern predictive medicine, efforts are being directed towards capturing disease phenotypes with greater precision for successful identification of markers for prospective disease conditions. In this study, we explore whether the different constitution types as described in Ayurveda has molecular correlates. Methods: Normal individuals of the three most contrasting constitutional types were identified following phenotyping criteria described in Ayurveda in Indian population of Indo-European origin. The peripheral blood samples of these individuals were analysed for genome wide expression levels, biochemical and hematological parameters. Gene Ontology (GO) and pathway based analysis was carried out on differentially expressed genes to explore if there were significant enrichments of functional categories among Prakriti types. Results: Individuals from the three most contrasting constitutional types exhibit striking differences with respect to biochemical and hematological parameters and at genome wide expression levels. Biochemical profiles like liver function tests, lipid profiles, and hematological parameters like haemoglobin exhibited differences between Prakriti types. Functional categories of genes showing differential expression among Prakriti types were significantly enriched in core biological processes like transport, regulation of cyclin dependent protein kinase activity, immune response and regulation of blood coagulation. A significant enrichment of housekeeping, disease related and hub genes were observed in these extreme constitution types. Conclusion: Ayurveda based method of phenotypic classification of extreme constitutional types allows us to uncover genes that may contribute to system level differences in normal individuals which could lead to differential disease predisposition. This is a first attempt towards unraveling the clinical phenotyping principle of a traditional system of medicine in terms of modern biology. An integration of Ayurveda with genomics holds potential and promise for future predictive medicine

Estrogen Induced Metastatic Modulators MMP-2 and MMP-9 Are Targets of 3,3′-Diindolylmethane in Thyroid Cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine related cancer with increasing incidences during the past five years. Current treatments for thyroid cancer, such as surgery or radioactive iodine therapy, often require patients to be on lifelong thyroid hormone replacement therapy and given the significant recurrence rates of thyroid cancer, new preventive modalities are needed. The present study investigates the property of a natural dietary compound found in cruciferous vegetables, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), to target the metastatic phenotype of thyroid cancer cells through a functional estrogen receptor.Thyroid cancer cell lines were treated with estrogen and/or DIM and subjected to in vitro adhesion, migration and invasion assays to investigate the anti-metastatic and anti-estrogenic effects of DIM. We observed that DIM inhibits estrogen mediated increase in thyroid cell migration, adhesion and invasion, which is also supported by ER-α downregulation (siRNA) studies. Western blot and zymography analyses provided direct evidence for this DIM mediated inhibition of E(2) enhanced metastasis associated events by virtue of targeting essential proteolytic enzymes, namely MMP-2 and MMP-9.Our data reports for the first time that DIM displays anti-estrogenic like activity by inhibiting estradiol enhanced thyroid cancer cell proliferation and in vitro metastasis associated events, namely adhesion, migration and invasion. Most significantly, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are known to promote and enhance metastasis, were determined to be targets of DIM. This anti-estrogen like property of DIM may lead to the development of a novel preventive and/or therapeutic dietary supplement for thyroid cancer patients by targeting progression of the disease

A framework for assessing the legitimacy of humanitarian intervention: the case of Kosovo.

The research propose a framework for assessing the legitimacy of a humanitarian intervention situation, and argues that an agreed framework of principles would be able to provide a better direction in assessing the humanitarian credentials of a particular case of intervention to the international community, and such an legitimating framework would also provide common reference points for analyses and debates.Master of Science (International Relations

Review of Spatial Transformations in Indian Cities Post Economic Reforms 1991

Spatial transformation of settlements is a continuous process. City planning governs land utilization, and policies adopted by government authorities result into changes happening in cities. Also, cities are drivers of economic growth and countries must invest in cities to attain higher economic growth. From 1991, post adoption of economic reforms, an emerging socio-economic and cultural structure has been observed which has driven changes into city fabric and evolved a new physical form of human habitation. Along with significant economic growth, phenomenon of disparity resulted in uneven geographic development. This research explores influence of economic reforms adopted in 1991 on evolving spatial changes in Indian cities. Research findings suggest that spatial transformations in Indian cities is a resultant of reform led investment, demanding new set of spatial requirements complimenting current pattern of growth. Cities contributed in achieving economic growth, but failed to cater holistic progress of all sections of society.</jats:p

Relationship between soil seed bank and standing vegetation: An effective approach to conclude plant invasion pattern in Indian dry tropical peri-urban region

Abstract The natural and semi-natural ecosystems of dry tropical regions are characterized by a high biodiversity with the new introduction of alien invasive species, especially at disturbed sites. The tropical regions due to favorable environmental conditions are considered rich reservoirs of much of the biodiversity of the earth. The Indian dry tropical urban region has also been reported to be highly diverse but fragile with abundant alien flora, of which American, Asian, and European and Asian species form the major contributions. By the allelopathic activity, these weeds alter the soil environment, cause low productive systems with weak soil microflora and accelerate their fast spread by fast colonization, fast reproduction, or highly competitive ability. These weedy species have a great potential to make persistent soil seed banks. The soil seed bank is a reservoir of viable but ungerminated seeds and acts as a genetic reservoir that could play an important role in determining the future vegetation of the community. The present study carried out four different land use patterns and focused on the seed bank dynamics of these sites. In this study, the abundance of alien invasive species in the floristic composition and density of the subterranean vegetation reflects the impact of disturbance and other anthropogenic factors.</jats:p

Psychotherapeutic management of hypochondriasis: A case study

Objectives: The present study aims to explore the course of hypochondriasis and to assess the efficacy of psychotherapeutic management in alleviating the symptoms associated with hypochondriasis and to improve the client’s overall functioning. Research design: Case study. Sample and method: This study was carried out in Delhi and 18 years old unmarried male was included. Treatment plan was formulated according to psychotherapeutic management wherein different management techniques were utilised to modify the client’s hypochondriacal beliefs and the associated behaviours. Result: Findings of the assessment showed significant distress and impairment in overall functioning. Stressor activates his dysfunctional belief which shifts his attention to minor bodily perturbations and results in misinterpretation of these trivial variations. Psychotherapeutic management techniques successfully restructured his dysfunctional beliefs and remarkably improved his functioning. Conclusion: On the basis of results, it can be ascertained that psychotherapeutic management is an effective approach to treat hypochondriasis