Polynomial time algorithms for multicast network code construction

The famous max-flow min-cut theorem states that a source node s can send information through a network (V, E) to a sink node t at a rate determined by the min-cut separating s and t. Recently, it has been shown that this rate can also be achieved for multicasting to several sinks provided that the intermediate nodes are allowed to re-encode the information they receive. We demonstrate examples of networks where the achievable rates obtained by coding at intermediate nodes are arbitrarily larger than if coding is not allowed. We give deterministic polynomial time algorithms and even faster randomized algorithms for designing linear codes for directed acyclic graphs with edges of unit capacity. We extend these algorithms to integer capacities and to codes that are tolerant to edge failures

General Scheme for Perfect Quantum Network Coding with Free Classical Communication

This paper considers the problem of efficiently transmitting quantum states through a network. It has been known for some time that without additional assumptions it is impossible to achieve this task perfectly in general -- indeed, it is impossible even for the simple butterfly network. As additional resource we allow free classical communication between any pair of network nodes. It is shown that perfect quantum network coding is achievable in this model whenever classical network coding is possible over the same network when replacing all quantum capacities by classical capacities. More precisely, it is proved that perfect quantum network coding using free classical communication is possible over a network with $k$ source-target pairs if there exists a classical linear (or even vector linear) coding scheme over a finite ring. Our proof is constructive in that we give explicit quantum coding operations for each network node. This paper also gives an upper bound on the number of classical communication required in terms of $k$, the maximal fan-in of any network node, and the size of the network.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figures, generalizes some of the results in arXiv:0902.1299 to the k-pair problem and codes over rings. Appeared in the Proceedings of the 36th International Colloquium on Automata, Languages and Programming (ICALP'09), LNCS 5555, pp. 622-633, 200

Curcumin nanoformulations: a future nanomedicine for cancer

Curcumin, a natural diphenolic compound derived from turmeric Curcuma longa, has proven to be a modulator of intracellular signaling pathways that control cancer cell growth, inflammation, invasion, apoptosis and cell death, revealing its anticancer potential. In this review, we focus on the design and development of nanoparticles, self-assemblies, nanogels, liposomes and complex fabrication for sustained and efficient curcumin delivery. We also discuss the anticancer applications and clinical benefits of nanocurcumin formulations. Only a few novel multifunctional and composite nanosystem strategies offer simultaneous therapy as well as imaging characteristics. We also summarize the challenges to developing curcumin delivery platforms and up-to-date solutions for improving curcumin bioavailability and anticancer potential for therapy

Neuronal Activity in the Human Subthalamic Nucleus Encodes Decision Conflict during Action Selection

The subthalamic nucleus (STN), which receives excitatory inputs from the cortex and has direct connections with the inhibitory pathways\ud of the basal ganglia, is well positioned to efficiently mediate action selection. Here, we use microelectrode recordings captured during\ud deep brain stimulation surgery as participants engage in a decision task to examine the role of the human STN in action selection. We\ud demonstrate that spiking activity in the STN increases when participants engage in a decision and that the level of spiking activity\ud increases with the degree of decision conflict. These data implicate the STN as an important mediator of action selection during decision\ud processes.\u

Scope of nanotechnology in ovarian cancer therapeutics

This review describes the use of polymer micelle nanotechnology based chemotherapies for ovarian cancer. While various chemotherapeutic agents can be utilized to improve the survival rate of patients with ovarian cancer, their distribution throughout the entire body results in high normal organ toxicity. Polymer micelle nanotechnology aims to improve the therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer drugs while minimizing the side effects. Herein, different types of polymer micelle technology based nanotherapies such as PLGA, polymerosomes, acid cleavable, thermosensitive, pH sensitive, and cross-linked micelles are introduced and structural differences are explained. Additionally, production methods, stability, sustainability, drug incorporation and drug release profiles of various polymer micelle based nanoformulations are discussed. An important feature of polymer micelle nanotechnology is the small size (10-100 nm) of particles which improves circulation and enables superior accumulation of the therapeutic drugs at the tumor sites. This review provides a comprehensive evaluation of different types of polymer micelles and their implications in ovarian cancer therapeutics

Gambogic acid: A shining natural compound to nanomedicine for cancer therapeutics

The United State Food and Drug Administration has permitted number of therapeutic agents for cancer treatment. Most of them are expensive and have some degree of systemic toxicity which makes overbearing in clinical settings. Although advanced research continuously applied in cancer therapeutics, but drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence remain unanswerable These accounts to an urgent clinical need to discover natural compounds with precisely safe and highly efficient for the cancer prevention and cancer therapy. Gambogic acid (GA) is the principle bioactive and caged xanthone component, a brownish gamboge resin secreted from the of Garcinia hanburyi tree. This molecule showed a spectrum of biological and clinical benefits against various cancers. In this review, we document distinct biological characteristics of GA as a novel anti-cancer agent. This review also delineates specific molecular mechanism(s) of GA that are involved in anti-cancer, anti-metastasis, anti-angiogenesis, and chemo-/radiation sensitizer activities. Furthermore, recent evidence, development, and implementation of various nanoformulations of gambogic acid (nanomedicine) have been described

Collaborative care model versus usual care for people with musculoskeletal conditions and co-existing anxiety and depression: protocol for a feasibility mixed-methods randomised controlled trial.

In the UK 17.8 million people have musculoskeletal pathophysiology, which becomes universal with age. Levels of discomfort and incapability correlate with symptoms of anxiety and depression. People with sufficient symptoms who seek care can benefit from collaborative diagnosis and treatment of mental and physical health organised by a case manager. This paper presents the protocol for a feasibility trial of collaborative care in an orthopaedic setting. To determine the feasibility and acceptability of providing collaborative care for patients with musculoskeletal conditions and co-existing symptoms of anxiety and depression identified on a screening tool in a physical and occupational therapy out-patient setting. A two-arm parallel-group randomised controlled trial will recruit 40 adult out-patients with at least moderate anxiety and depression, who have been referred for physiotherapy and occupational therapy. Participants will be allocated on a 1:1 ratio to collaborative care or to usual care. Co-primary outcomes will be key feasibility indicators collected at baseline and at 6 months. A qualitative study will be conducted post-intervention to explore the acceptability and potential improvements to the collaborative care model. This study will investigate the use of the collaborative care model for patients with musculoskeletal and co-existing moderate or severe levels of anxiety or depression. The results will provide important evidence to determine a future trial

Engineered Exosomes for the Multimodal Imaging Directed Photo-Immunotherapy of Colorectal Cancer

Background: Rio Grande Valley experience severe cancer health disparity. A novel therapeutic modality may serve as better therapeutic option. Nanohybrids endowed with multifunctionality, longer circulation time, large surface area have emerged as an active preference for cancer research. However, rising concern of nanomaterials toxicity and scalability issues has slowed their translation to clinics. Exosomes (Exo) are endogenous endocytic origin 40-100 nm vesicles found in various body fluids, which in comparison to synthetic nanoparticles, are biodegradable, highly biocompatible as well as immunocompatible in nature. Although bulk isolation of exosomes from human body fluids is still a problem and engineering of exosomes to harness its potential is still in infancy. Methods: The Exo were isolated from dairy milk using EDTA precipitation method, and superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MNPs) were synthesized by ammonium hydroxide co-precipitation method. The Exo were sonicated (60 sec) with MNPs and near-infrared (NIR) light-absorbing dye indocyanine green (ICG) and then incubated overnight at 37 oC. The characterization of ICG@Exo-MNPs was done using several techniques. The targeting nature of ICG@Exo-MNPs was determined on colorectal cancer cells SW480 and SW680. The phototransduction and in-vitro photothermal therapy were performed using 1W, 808 nm NIR laser. Results: The ICG@Exo-MNPs nanohybrid found to have size around 100 nm with good dispersity. The coating of exosomes and magnetic field actuation increased the targeting efficacy of ICG@Exo-MNPs in colorectal cancer cells by 10% in SW40 and 30% in SW680. ICG@Exo-MNPs killed the SW480 cells to more than 80% within 2 min. of NIR light irradiation. Conclusions: This study shows enhanced photothermal therapeutic behavior of ICG@Exo-MNPs for near-infrared fluorescence imaging directing killing of colorectal cancer cells

Biomolecule-functionalized nanoformulations for prostate cancer theranostics

Background Even with the advancement in the areas of cancer nanotechnology, prostate cancer still poses a major threat to men’s health. Nanomaterials and nanomaterial-derived theranostic systems have been explored for diagnosis, imaging, and therapy for different types of cancer still, for prostate cancer they have not delivered at full potential because of the limitations like in vivo biocompatibility, immune responses, precise targetability, and therapeutic outcome associated with the nanostructured system. Aim of Review Functionalizing nanomaterials with different biomolecules and bioactive agents provides advantages specificity towards cancerous tumors, improved circulation time, and modulation of the immune response leading to early diagnosis and targeted delivery of cargo at the site of action. Key Scientific Concepts of Review In this review, we have emphasized the classification and comparison of various nanomaterials based on biofunctionalization strategy and source of biomolecules such that it can be used for possible translation in clinical settings and future developments. This review highlighted the opportunities for embedding highly specific biological targeting moieties (antibody, aptamer, oligonucleotides, biopolymer, peptides, etc.) on nanoparticles which can improve the detection of prostate cancer-associated biomarkers at a very low limit of detection, direct visualization of prostate tumors and lastly for its therapy. Lastly, special emphasis was given to biomimetic nanomaterials which include functionalization with extracellular vesicles, exosomes and viral particles and their application for prostate cancer early detection and drug delivery. The present review paves a new pathway for next-generation biofunctionalized nanomaterials for prostate cancer theranostic application and their possibility in clinical translation

miR-205: A Potential Biomedicine for Cancer Therapy

microRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of their target mRNAs post transcriptionally. miRNAs are known to regulate not just a gene but the whole gene network (signaling pathways). Accumulating evidence(s) suggests that miRNAs can work either as oncogenes or tumor suppressors, but some miRNAs have a dual nature since they can act as both. miRNA 205 (miR-205) is one such highly conserved miRNA that can act as both, oncomiRNA and tumor suppressor. However, most reports confirm its emerging role as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. This review focuses on the downregulated expression of miR-205 and discusses its dysregulation in breast, prostate, skin, liver, gliomas, pancreatic, colorectal and renal cancers. This review also confers its role in tumor initiation, progression, cell proliferation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and tumor metastasis. Restoration of miR-205 makes cells more sensitive to drug treatments and mitigates drug resistance. Additionally, the importance of miR-205 in chemosensitization and its utilization as potential biomedicine and nanotherapy is described. Together, this review research article sheds a light on its application as a diagnostic and therapeutic marker, and as a biomedicine in cancer