Cultural Algorithm based on Decomposition to solve Optimization Problems

Decomposition is used to solve optimization problems by introducing many simple scalar optimization subproblems and optimizing them simultaneously. Dynamic Multi-Objective Optimization Problems (DMOP) have several objective functions and constraints that vary over time. As a consequence of such dynamic changes, the optimal solutions may vary over time, affecting the performance of convergence. In this thesis, we propose a new Cultural Algorithm (CA) based on decomposition (CA/D). The objective of the CA/D algorithm is to decompose DMOP into a number of subproblems that can be optimized using the information shared by neighboring problems. The proposed CA/D approach is evaluated using a number of CEC 2015 optimization benchmark functions. When compared to CA, Multi-population CA (MPCA), and MPCA incorporating game strategies (MPCA-GS), the results obtained showed that CA/D outperformed them in 7 out of the 15 benchmark functions

ANTIPROLIFERATIVE AND APOPTOTIC ACTIVITY OF SULFATED POLYSACCHARIDE ISOLATED FROM HYPNEA VALENTIAE RED SEAWEED IN HUMAN SKIN MALIGNANT MELANOMA CELLS

Objective: Malignant melanoma is a highly metastatic cutaneous cancer. Deregulated apoptosis has been identified as a major cause of cancer drug resistance. The objective of the study is to evaluate antiproliferative activity of Hypnea Valentiae extract in human skin malignant melanoma (SK-MEL) cells. Methods: In this study, sulfated polysaccharide fraction was precipitated from aqueous extract obtained from H. valentiae. MTT assay was used to determine the cell viability of the crude sulfated polysaccharide against SK-MEL cells and normal L6 cell line (Rat skeletal muscle). Acridine orange (AO) and Ethidium bromide (EB) staining method was applied to study induction of apoptosis in SK-MEL cells. Results: Dose-dependent reduction in cell viability was observed with an IC50 of 30 μg/ml in SK-MEL cancer cells. The sulfated polysaccharide treated SK-MEL cells followed by AO, EB staining, showed typical early apoptotic, and late apoptotic morphological changes. Conclusion: The isolated crude sulfated polysaccharide from H. valentiae produced potent growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis in SK-MEL cells but caused no cytotoxicity in normal L6 skeletal muscle cells

Screening of antimicrobial compound from the sea slug Armina babai

Different solvents such as acetone, butanol, ethanol, hexane and methanol of Sea slug Armina babai was evaluated for its biomedical properties. Most potent extracts were purified using silica gel column and the active fractions were characterized by TLC, SDS-PAGE and FTIR. Maximum zone of inhibition was recorded against Pseudomonas sp., and minimum zone of inhibition was recorded against Proteus mirabilis by butanol extracts. TLC profiling with Rf value 0.82 indicating the presence of amino acids and peptides. Total protein was estimated as 21.36% with molecular weight range between 13 and 72 kDa in SDS-PAGE. The FT-IR spectrum of fractions, obtained from sea slug, reveals characteristic functional groups range between 465.75 and 3423.82 cm-1. Thus the obtained results indicate the presence of potent antimicrobial compounds in sea slug A. babai may pave the way to explore the potential development of new compounds to be launched in the pharmaceutical filling

Biochemistry of TBT-Degrading Marine Pseudomonads Isolated from Indian Coastal Waters

Abstract Tributyltin (TBT) is a very effective biocide and an active ingredient in antifouling paints. Screening along the Indian coast yielded 49 bacterial isolates capable of TBT assimilation. The screening was done based on the ability of bacteria to grow in mineral salt medium (MSM) containing TBT as the sole source of carbon. All the isolates produced exopolysaccharides (biosurfactants) in the medium which aid in emulsification and thus ease bioavailability of TBT. Five isolates were identified as potent TBT degraders (namely, Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas putida, and Pseudomonas balearica) based on their biomass production in MSM containing TBT as the sole source of carbon. In addition to evaluating the potential of individual bacterial strains, the study also focused on using a consortium of bacteria to explore their synergistic effect when grown on TBT. Further tests like growth profile, rhamnolipid secretion profile, extracellular protein secretion profile, and detection of siderophores were performed on these isolates when grown in MSM supplemented with 2 mM TBT concentration. Emulsification activity of the crude extracellular polysaccharides against kerosene was evaluated. It can be therefore inferred that TBT degradation by these marine pseudomonads is a twostep process: (a) dispersion of TBT in the aqueous phase and (b) tin-carbon bond cleavage by siderophores affecting debutylation of TBT. The consortium of bacteria may be effective in the treatment of TBT-contaminated waste water in dry docks

TRIM17 and TRIM28 antagonistically regulate the ubiquitination and anti-apoptotic activity of BCL2A1

International audienceBCL2A1 is an anti-apoptotic member of the BCL-2 family that contributes to chemoresistance in a subset of tumors. BCL2A1 has a short half-life due to its constitutive processing by the ubiquitin-proteasome system. This constitutes a major tumor-suppressor mechanism regulating BCL2A1 function. However, the enzymes involved in the regulation of BCL2A1 protein stability are currently unknown. Here, we provide the first insight into the regulation of BCL2A1 ubiquitination. We present evidence that TRIM28 is an E3 ubiquitin-ligase for BCL2A1. Indeed, endogenous TRIM28 and BCL2A1 bind to each other at the mitochondria and TRIM28 knock-down decreases BCL2A1 ubiquitination. We also show that TRIM17 stabilizes BCL2A1 by blocking TRIM28 from binding and ubiquitinating BCL2A1, and that GSK3 is involved in the phosphorylation-mediated inhibition of BCL2A1 degradation. BCL2A1 and its close relative MCL1 are thus regulated by common factors but with opposite outcome. Finally, overexpression of TRIM28 or knock-out of TRIM17 reduced BCLA1 protein levels and restored sensitivity of melanoma cells to BRAF-targeted therapy. Therefore, our data describe a molecular rheostat in which two proteins of the TRIM family antagonistically regulate BCL2A1 stability and modulate cell death

First discovery of Armina babai (Gastropoda, Nudibranchia, Arminoidea) from southeast coast of India

In this study, Armina babai (Tchang-Si, 1934) belonging to the family Arminidae collected off the Southeast coast of India at depths of 180–250 m in the muddy bottom is reported for the first time in India. The number of notal ridges, the position of the genital papilla, the size and the shape of radular teeth, and the features of the masticatory process are the main differences to the congeneric species occurring in the South Indian coast

Trash to treasure Retcam

Digital fundus imaging is being used in diagnosis, documentation, and sharing of many retinal diseases and hence forms an essential part of ophthalmology. The use of smartphones for the same has been ever increasing. There is a need for simpler devices to couple the 20D lens and smartphone so as to take fundus photographs which can help in fundus documentation. This article describes a simple inexpensive technique of preparing a smartphone fundus photography device (Trash To Treasure (T3) Retcam) from the used materials in the clinics within minutes. This article will also review the optical principles of the T3 Retcam and describe the step–by–step method to record good-quality retinal image/videos. This inexpensive device is made by recycling and modifying the plastic hand sanitizer bottle in the clinics/hospitals which can be used for documenting, diagnosing, screening, and academic purposes

BBD optimized antioxidants of Crotalaria candicans and its nanoconjugates, exert potent in vivo anti-biofilm effects against MRSA

Abstract Crotalaria genus is extensively dispersed in tropical and subtropical provinces, and it is found to harbor antioxidant flavonoids. Response surface methodology-based optimization was carried out for the purpose of efficient extraction involving a suitable solvent which can maximize the yield along with higher total phenolic content and total flavonoid content (TFC). Optimization conditions for extraction of C.candicans flavonoids (CCF) based on variables such as solvent, solid-solvent ratio and extraction temperature were evaluated. The optimized conditions were found as Solvent i.e., Aqueous-ethanol (53.42%), Solid-solvent ratio (1:15.83 w/v) and temperature (44.42 °C) and resulted to obtain the TFC as 176.23 mg QRET/g C. candicans extract with the yield 27.42 mg CCF/g (C. candicans dry weight). LC–MS analysis of CCF, revealed the presence of seven major flavonoids. The antioxidant flavonoids were further used to functionalize the zero-valent silver (ZVAgF) and copper (ZVCuF) nanoparticles. The ZVAgF and ZVCuF were investigated using UV–Vis spectrophotometry, FT-IR spectroscopy and X-ray diffractometry to confirm the presence of the zero valent metals and possible functional groups which capped the elemental metal. Further transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering method and zeta-potential studies were done to understand their respective structural and morphological properties. The efficacy of the as-prepared ZVAgF/ZVCuF as antibiofilm agents on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with the mechanism studies have been explored. The MRSA-colony count from the infection zebrafish (in vivo) model, portrayed a reduction of > 1.9 fold for ZVCuF and > twofold for ZVAgF, with no alteration in liver morphology when treated with ZVAgF, implying that the nanoparticles were safe and biocompatible