PLANT BASED COMPOUNDS INHIBIT PROLIFERATION, ALTER CYTOMORPHOLOGY AND DECREASE MIGRATION OF HUMAN ADENOCARCINOMA CELLS

Adenocarcinoma is an aggressive form of lung cancer that has a high risk of recurrence with a survival rate of 33%. In recent years, there has been much interest in the ability of naturally occurring plant derived phenols to inhibit specific type of cancers. Compounds like curcumin derived from turmeric, rutin derived from citrus fruits and resveratrol derived from blueberries have been of particular interest. In this thesis I studied the anti-cancer effects of the above-mentioned compounds on a human a549 adenocarcinoma cell line. Inverted phase contrast microscopy was used to observe alterations to the cytomorphology of cells. An MTT assay was used to measure cell viability. Dose and time dependent A549 cell viability were observed following treatment with curcumin, rutin and resveratrol. The effects on cell migration after treatment with compounds was determined by wound-healing assay and MTT assay. I found that the survival rates of curcumin treated cells reduced at higher concentrations after 24 hours treatment when compared to rutin and resveratrol treated cells, although resveratrol showed lower viability than rutin. After 48 hours of treatment the viability of curcumin treated cells dropped to 10% with somewhat higher survival with rutin (18% viability) and resveratrol (12% viability). Morphological analysis showed that compound treated cells became round and the normal spindle shape disappeared. Over a period of 6h to 24h, the number of bright circular dead floating cells increased. Treatment with curcumin and resveratrol strongly reduced wound repair and significantly inhibited the migration of A549 cells in a concentration dependent manner. Rutin treatment reduced wound repair but had a very minimal effect on cell migration. These findings provide support to the potential utility of curcumin, resveratrol and rutin as natural molecules with anticancer activity against adenocarcinoma

Optimal Fleet Size of an Integrated Production and Distribution Scheduling Problem for a Single Perishable Product

This dissertation focuses on a practical production problem in which a perishable product must be produced and distributed at minimum cost. The problem has some features of the integrated production and distribution scheduling problem in that we seek to determine the fleet size and their routes subject to a planning horizon constraint but there are significant differences as well. In particular, this research differs because the product has a limited lifetime, the total demand must be satisfied within a planning horizon, multiple trucks can be used, and the production schedule and the distribution sequence are considered. Two mixed integer programming models are formulated to solve the single plant and two-plant problems and, then, heuristics based on evolutionary algorithms are provided to resolve the models in a reasonable tim

Apocalyptic desires and possessing the world through the gaze

Whilst cinema certainly propagates social change as a signpost of dominant ideologies and prevalent values in society, it may also be a means to establish resisting positions, and here I examine the dynamics of ‘looking’ versus ‘to be looked-at-ness’, as it were. I attempt this through a reading of Satyajit Ray’s Charulata and problematise Laura Mulvey’s notion of the 'male gaze'. Ray’s film, in fact, seem to pre-empt this with the ‘female gaze’. This, I argue, differs because it is discerning and critical, and it is through this that the woman at last comes into her own

Overview of Innovations in Geotechnical Engineering

This paper outlines some historical and current innovative concepts that underpin the developments in geotechnical engineering. The far reaching aim is to inspirationally encourage further innovation in that innovation need not necessarily be entirely new and unique ways of doing things. Accordingly, the lessons from the historical development, bio mimicry and emerging concepts are illustratively presented. The importance of creating added value to projects through innovation is endorsed. A number of examples based on the author’s research and experience, ranging widely across the themes of the conference are presented.. In many ways geotechnology has reached maturity over the last century, but some scenarios continue to remain as challenging engineering problems. In the recent times, geotechnical engineering finds benefit in being at the crossroads with the advancements in high-tech solutions and the expanding geo technology applications, and in multi disciplinary collaborations with nanotechnology, biotechnology and information technology. The goal of innovative geo engineering research must provide effective solutions in both short and long term, with knowledge and understanding to solve problems with more sustainable certaint

Demand and Supply Trends and Construction Industry Development: A Case Study in the Sri Lankan Construction Industry

The construction sectors in the developing countries (DCs) have recently demonstratednumerous trends towards globalisation, raising considerable concern in the field.However, the nature of the effect of demand on supply characteristics of the domesticindustry has not been sufficiently discussed with respect to what development measuresare needed in the context of constraints that originate locally to accommodate the globaltrends in DCs. This paper therefore analyses reasons for these trends and attempts toidentify the necessary industry developments to benefit from them locally. For thispurpose, the Sri Lankan construction industry has been taken as a case study and ademand and supply framework is being used to analyse the case. The analysis revealsthat while government policies contribute intrusively in stimulating demand side trends,the role of the contracting firms together with project delivery process and projectprocurement process are also subject to change as a result of these demanddeterminants. In this context, the main focus is concentrated on corporatedevelopments, while wider industry development is also necessary to support them. Asa consequence, both institutional reforms and capacity building are required to enhancefirms’ technological and managerial capacity. The necessity for these developmentmeasures reflects in partly the underdeveloped framework of the construction industry inDCs. Nevertheless, they could still foster indigenous construction capacity within thecontext of global trends.9

Some Built Environment Research Contributing to Sustainability

Engineering in all forms must address global challenges of sustainability including its dimensions such as poverty, urbanisation, and climate change. The built environment is the dynamic interface between human society as it interacts and influences the ecosystem.  An understanding of this inextricably linked interdependence underpins the sustainability issues relevant to Civil Engineering. Geotechnical engineering outstand the rest of the disciplines in being the most resource intensive and having an early stance in the construction process. Philosophies and definitions of sustainability, as appropriate to geotechnical engineering is punctuated with illustrations through such research studies that contribute to sustainable development. This paper is thus a technical narrative of such innovative geotechnical research focusing on the author’s research career to include the modeling and assessment of the performance of a rectangular hyperbolic paraboloid shell foundation to mimic the “duck’s foot” on very soft mud; innovative research on the development of rocker pipes to arrest the often unnoticed failure of utility services arising from differential settlement; industrial design and sustainable installation of thick compacted London clay surround to protect the Heathrow Express Rail link Tunnel from noxious gases entering the tunnel as it traversed through an old landfill site;  Urban Heat Island studies; Hemp in rammed earth construction,; Quality control and enhancement of geo synthetic clay liners; adoption of lightweight manufactured aggregates; used vegetable oil in asphalt pavements and soil stabilization and sustainable construction through use of enzymes and light geo composites on challenging soils are presented

Entrepreneurial Potential of Apipreneurs in South Kerala

The paper assessed the apipreneurs of Kerala based on their entrepreneurial potential. Ex post facto research design was followed for the study conducted during 2019-2020. The location of the study was South Kerala focusing on three districts viz., Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Kottayam. Seventy-five apipreneurs were randomly selected for the study. Based on the study it was found that about 69 per cent of the apipreneurs had medium level of entrepreneurial potential. The results obtained from principal component analysis on the dimensions of entrepreneurial potential, based on Eigen vectors revealed that the three dimensions viz., entrepreneurial motivation, management competencies and social competencies had influenced the entrepreneurial potential of the apipreneur

Predation in Molluscs: A Multi-Taxon Approach using Neontological and Paleontological Data.

Predation is considered an important agent of natural selection, and studying predator-prey interactions in the fossil record allows evaluation of its evolutionary impact. Predator-prey systems involving drilling predators are especially relevant because fossil evidence of predation can be analyzed quantitatively. Frequencies of complete and incomplete drill holes in molluscs have been used extensively to evaluate success of predators relative to prey. Conventionally, drilling predation has been studied from a two-taxon perspective, the driller and its prey. I investigated the dynamics of such a system by experimentally measuring drilling and consumption rates that are essential for cost-benefit analysis. I have also investigated the effect of other, secondary, predators on drilling predation. In the presence of its own predator, (a shell-crushing crab), the success rate of the drilling predator (snail) decreased (frequencies of incomplete holes increased; drilling frequencies decreased). Extrapolating from the experimental results, I hypothesized that the presence of secondary predators should have the same effect in fossil assemblages. Using the frequency of repair marks as a proxy for secondary predators, I tested the hypothesis using Plio-Pleistocene molluscan assemblages. The results confirmed my predictions: frequency of complete drillholes varied inversely with frequency of crab predation marks and frequency of incomplete drillholes varied directly with crab predation frequency. Extending this approach further, I used a large synoptic database for the entire Cenozoic. As before, I found an inverse relationship between drilling and repair scar frequencies, consistent with my prediction. Drilling frequency could not be explained by the diversity change of drilling predatory gastropods, providing further support for a causal connection between activities of secondary, durophagous predators and drilling frequencies. Finally, I explored experimentally the hydrodynamic behavior of drilled and undrilled shells, assessed its potential impact on drill holes frequencies of shell assemblages, and provided guidelines for identifying such a bias.Ph.D.GeologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62206/1/devpriya_1.pd

The influences of basic physical properties of clayey silt and silty sand on its laboratory electrical resistivity value in loose and dense conditions

Non-destructive test which refers to electrical resistivity method is recently popular in engineering, environmental, archaeological and mining studies. Based on the previous studies, the results on electrical resistivity interpretation were often debated due to lack of clarification and evidences in quantitative perspective. Traditionally, most of the previous result interpretations were depending on qualitative point of view which is risky to produce unreliable outcomes. In order to minimise those problems, this study has performed a laboratory experiment on soil box electrical resistivity test which was supported by an additional basic physical properties of soil test like particle size distribution test (d), moisture content test (w), density test (ρbulk) and Atterberg limit test (LL, PL and PI). The test was performed to establish a series of electrical resistivity value (ERV) with different quantity of water content for clayey silt and silty sand in loose and dense condition. Apparently, the soil resistivity value was different under loose (L) and dense (C) conditions with moisture content and density variations (silty SAND = ERVLoose: 600 - 7300 Ωm & ERVDense: 490 - 7900 Ωm while Clayey SILT = ERVLoose: 13 - 7700 Ωm & ERVDense: 14 - 8400 Ωm) due to several factors. Moreover, correlation of moisture content (w) and density (ρbulk) due to the ERV was established as follows; Silty SAND: w(L) = 638.8ρ-0.418, w(D) = 1397.1ρ-0.574, ρBulk(L) = 2.6188e-6E-05ρ, ρBulk(D) = 4.099ρ-0.07 while Clayey SILT: w(L) = 109.98ρ-0.268, w(D) = 121.88ρ-0.363, ρBulk(L) = -0.111ln(ρ) + 1.7605, ρBulk(D) = 2.5991ρ-0.037 with determination coefficients, R2 that varied from 0.5643 – 0.8927. This study was successfully demonstrated that the consistency of ERV was greatly influenced by the variation of soil basic physical properties (d, w, ρBulk, LL, PL and PI). Finally, the reliability of the ERV result interpretation can be enhanced due to its ability to produce a meaningful outcome based on supported data from basic geotechnical properties