Antiapoptotic PON2 expression and its clinical implications in locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma

Locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma poses a significant challenge in oncology due to its rising incidence and mortality rates. Despite therapeutic progress, understanding molecular intricacies is essential. This study explored the role of PON2, a multifunctional enzyme implicated in antiapoptotic mechanisms. Aberrant PON2 expression in oral cancers raises questions regarding its involvement in evading programmed cell death and treatment resistance. Patients with locally advanced disease were enrolled, and molecular analyses were undertaken on the collected tumor and normal tissues. Utilizing computational datasets, this study used in silico gene expression analysis, differential gene expression analysis in our patient cohort, survival analysis, and gene set enrichment analysis to unravel role of PON2 in disease prognosis. The results showed elevated PON2 levels in advanced tumor stages, correlating with factors such as tobacco exposure, higher tumor grade, and nodal metastasis. Survival analysis revealed prognostic relevance of PON2, with lower expression linked to extended survival rates. Gene set enrichment analysis identified pathways aiding in cancer metastasis influenced by PON2. This study underscores the significance of PON2 expression as a prognostic marker for oral malignancies, with increased expression associated with advanced disease stages. Understanding the molecular profile of the PON2 gene suggests its potential as a valuable biomarker for the management of cancer.

A rapid supercritical water approach for one-pot synthesis of a branched BiVO4/RGO composite as a Li-ion battery anode

The application of novel one-dimensional (1D) architectures in the field of energy storage has fascinated researchers for a long time. The fast-paced technological advancements require reliable rapid synthesis techniques for the development of various Multi-metal oxide (MMO) nanostructures. For the first time, we report the synthesis of a single-phase hierarchical one-dimensional (1D) branched BiVO4-Reduced Graphene Oxide (BVONB/RGO) nanocomposite with different weight percent variations of RGO starting from 6, 12, 24, and 26 wt% using the supercritical water method (SCW). The affirmation of the sample characteristics is done through various nano-characterization tools that help in establishing the monoclinic crystal structure, and nano branch morphology along with its physical, and thermal characteristics. Further, the electrochemical behavior evaluations of the fabricated coin cells provide insights into the well-known superior initial cycle capacity of around 810 mA h g-1, showing the superior ability of BVONB structures in storing lithium-ions (Li-ions). Meanwhile, an improved cyclic performance of the pure BVONB/RGO with 260 mA h g-1 is evident after 50 cycles. Finally, the reported rapid single-pot SCW approach has delivered promising results in establishing a material process technique for multimetal oxides and their RGO nanocomposites successfully.

Fabrication of a Low Cost Superhydrophobic Substrate for Surface Enhanced Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy and Its Utility through Identification of Electrolyte Variation for Oral Cancer Detection

Ultratrace elemental detections from a limited volume of samples can offer significant benefits in biomedical fields. However, it can be challenging to concentrate the particles being analyzed in a small area to improve the accuracy of detection. Ring-like deposits on the edges of colloidal droplets are a vexing problem in many applications. Herein, we report ultratrace elemental detection using a superhydrophobic surface-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (SELIBS) substrate fabricated by laser ablation followed by a soft lithography technique. In this work, the SELIBS spectra on a superhydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate replicated from a laser-patterned master Teflon substrate are investigated. This work highlights the application of this newly created superhydrophobic substrate for detecting trace elements in body fluids using SELIBS. The developed PDMS substrate was successfully adopted to investigate the electrolyte variation in serum samples of oral cancer patients and normal volunteers. Principal component analysis (PCA) and match-no-match analysis were used to distinguish the elemental variation in cancer and control groups.

Expression of PTGS2 along with genes regulating VEGF signalling pathway and association with high-risk factors in locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

PTGS2 encodes cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), which catalyses the committed step in prostaglandin synthesis. Various in vivo and in vitro data suggest that COX-2 mediates the VEGF signalling pathway. In silico analysis performed in TCGA, PanCancer Atlas for head and neck cancers, demonstrated significant expression and co-expression of PTGS2 and genes that regulate VEGF signalling. This study was designed to elucidate the expression pattern of PTGS2 and genes regulating VEGF signalling in patients with locally advanced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

METHODOLOGY

Tumour and normal tissue samples were collected from patients with locally advanced OSCC. RNA was isolated from tissue samples, followed by cDNA synthesis. The cDNA was used for gene expression analysis (RT-PCR) using target-specific primers. The results obtained were compared with the in silico gene expression of the target genes in the TCGA datasets. Co-expression analysis was performed to establish an association between PTGS2 and VEGF signalling genes.

RESULTS

Tumour and normal tissue samples were collected from 24 OSCC patients. Significant upregulation of PTGS2 expression was observed. Furthermore, VEGFA, KDR, CXCR1 and CXCR2 were significantly upregulated in tumour samples compared with paired normal samples, except for VEGFB, whose expression was not statistically significant. A similar expression pattern was observed in silico, except for CXCR2 which was highly expressed in the normal samples. Co-expression analysis showed a significant positive correlation between PTGS2 and VEGF signalling genes, except for VEGFB which showed a negative correlation.

CONCLUSION

PTGS2 and VEGF signalling genes are upregulated in OSCC, which has a profound impact on clinical outcomes.

Neural Network-Based Hammerstein Model Identification of a Lab-Scale Batch Reactor

This paper focuses on two types of neural network-based Hammerstein model identification methods for the acrylamide polymerization reaction of a batch reactor process. The first neural-based identification type formulates the weights of the multilayer network directly as parameters of the nonlinear static and linear dynamic blocks of the Hammerstein model and trains the weights using a gradient-based backpropagation algorithm. In the second identification type, the nonlinear static block of the Hammerstein model is framed as a single hidden-layer feedforward network and both nonlinear and linear block parameters are trained using an extreme learning machine, where the training procedure is exempted from gradient calculation. The primary focus of the paper is neural-based model identification of a complex nonlinear system, which facilitates ease of linear/nonlinear controller design with good learning speed and less computations. A future work toward the machine learning-based nonlinear model predictive controller implementation using the Jetson Orin Nano board is also described.

An Investigation on the Acetone and Ethanol Vapor-Sensing Behavior of Sol-Gel Electrospun ZnO Nanofibers Using an Indigenous Setup

The calibration is essential for accuracy, repeatability, and continuous trouble-free operation of gas sensors with safety. Most gas sensors are fabricated using metal oxide nanomaterials in different structures such as films, coating, or nanofibers. Therefore, a device in the sensor manufacturing industry is necessary to test, calibrate, and optimize metal oxide structures. In this point of view, a simple device is developed to test and estimate the sensing response, response time, and recovery time of nanostructures. The sol-gel method was used to produce nanofibers through electrospinning. An average fiber diameter of 245 nm was obtained after pyrolysis at 600 °C. The structure and composition of ZnO nanofibers are confirmed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller. The trials were taken using ZnO nanofibers in the presence of acetone and ethanol vapor, and the results were reported. High response (31.74), rapid response (40 s), and recovery (30 s) times have been achieved for ethanol gas to 50 ppm concentration test gas at an optimal temperature of 260 °C. The results obtained from the trials are compared with the literature results, which are in line with the values presented by the various researchers. Due to the low cost, easy maintenance, and accuracy, this device is recommended in metal oxide sensor development industries and laboratories.

Elucidating the Role of Copper-Induced Mixed Phases on the Electrochemical Performance of Mn-Based Thin-Film Electrodes

Manganese oxide is a fascinating material for use as a thin-film electrode in supercapacitors. Herein, the consequences of copper incorporation on spray pyrolyzed manganese oxide thin films and their electrochemical performance were investigated. The Cu-incorporated manganese oxide thin films were deposited by spray pyrolysis, and their structural and electrochemical properties were thoroughly evaluated. The formation of the spinel Mn3O4 phase with effective Cu incorporation was confirmed by X-ray diffraction investigation. Through Raman studies, it was noticed that mixed phases of manganese oxide tend to form after Cu incorporation, and this result was also reflected in X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies. The surface morphology and roughness were also altered by the addition of copper. However, electrochemical measurements implied a reduction in the specific capacitance upon copper inclusion. The cyclic voltammetry test indicated a specific capacitance of 132 F/g for Mn3O4 electrodes, but a substantial drop for copper-incorporated samples due to the mixed manganese phase. The decremental tendency was further supported by galvanostatic charge-discharge studies and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements. These results provide valuable insights into the effects of copper addition in manganese oxide thin-film-based electrodes for energy storage applications.

Enhancing temozolomide antiglioma response by inhibiting O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase with selected phytochemicals: in silico and in vitro approach

The aim of our study was to investigate the potential of rutin, catechin, dehydrozingerone, naringenin, and quercetin, both alone and in combination with temozolomide, to inhibit the expression of O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in glioma cells. MGMT has been shown to be a major cause of temozolomide resistance in glioma. Our study used both in silico and in vitro methods to assess the inhibitory activity of these phytochemicals on MGMT, with the goal of identifying the most effective combination of compounds for reducing temozolomide resistance. After conducting an initial in silico screening of natural compounds against MGMT protein, five phytochemicals were chosen based on their high docking scores and favorable binding energies. From the molecular docking and simulation studies, we found that quercetin showed a good inhibitory effect of MGMT with its high binding affinity. C6 glioma cells showed increased cytotoxicity when treated with the temozolomide and quercetin combination. It was understood from the isobologram and combination index plot that the drug combination showed a synergistic effect at the lowest dose. Quercetin when combined with temozolomide significantly decreased the MGMT levels in C6 cells in comparison with the other drugs as estimated by ELISA. The percentage of apoptotic cells increased significantly in the temozolomide-quercetin group indicating the potency of quercetin in decreasing the resistance of temozolomide as confirmed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. Our experiment hence suggests that temozolomide resistance can be reduced by combining the drug with quercetin which will serve as an effective therapeutic target for glioblastoma treatment.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03821-7.

Multiwavelength Photoacoustic Breath Analysis Sensor for the Diagnosis of Lung Diseases: COPD and Asthma

Breath analysis is emerging as a universal diagnostic method for clinical applications. The possibility of breath analysis is being explored vigorously using different analytical techniques. We have designed and assembled a multiwavelength UV photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) sensor for the said application. To optimize laser wavelength for sample excitation, photoacoustic signals from disease and normal conditions are recorded with different laser excitations (213, 266, 355, and 532 nm) on exhaled breath samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the PA signals has shown that 213, 266, and 355 nm laser excitations are suitable for breath analysis, with reliable descriptive statistics obtained for 266 nm laser. The study has, therefore, been extended for breath samples collected from asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and normal subjects, using 266 nm laser excitation. PCA of the PA data shows good classification among asthma, COPD, and normal subjects. Match/No-match study performed with asthma, COPD, and normal calibration set has demonstrated the potential of using this method for diagnostic application. Sensitivity and specificity are observed as 88 and 89%, respectively. The area under the curve of the ROC curve is found to be 0.948, which justifies the diagnostic capability of the device for lung diseases. The same samples were studied using a commercial E-Nose, and the measurement outcome strongly supports the PAS results.

Deciphering the Effect of Microstructural Modification in Sodium Alginate-Based Solid Polymer Electrolyte by Unlike Anions

Microstructure modification in sodium alginate (NaAlg)-based solid polymer electrolytes by the perchlorate (ClO4-) and acetate (CH3COO-) anions of sodium salts has been reported. ClO4- participates in the structure-breaking effect via inter/intramolecular hydrogen bond breaking, while CH3COO- changes the amorphous phase, as evident from X-ray diffraction studies. The larger size and negative charge delocalization of ClO4- have a plasticizing effect, resulting in a lower glass transition temperature (Tg) compared to CH3COO-. Decomposition temperature is strongly dependent on the type of anion. Scanning electron microscopy images showed divergent modifications in the surface morphology in both electrolyte systems, with variations in salt content. The mechanical properties of the NaAlg-NaClO4 electrolyte systems are better than those of the NaAlg-CH3 COONa system, indicating weak interactions in the latter. Although most of the studies focus on the cation influence on conductivity, the interaction of the anion and its size certainly have an influence on the properties of solid polymer electrolytes, which will be of interest in the near future for sodium ion-based electrolytes in energy storage devices.

Can acid produced from probiotic bacteria alter the surface roughness, microhardness, and elemental composition of enamel? An in vitro study

Probiotics are live microorganisms that upon administration in adequate amounts provide various health benefits to the host. Probiotics are "lactic acid-producing bacteria" as they release large amounts of organic acids, particularly lactic acids, in their surrounding environment. Although the acids produced by probiotics are beneficial for gastrointestinal and vaginal health, the acidogenic nature of probiotics has raised concerns among dental professionals, especially concerning their effect on the enamel and dentin. Previous studies have found that probiotics can lower the pH of the saliva and cause essential elements like Calcium and Phosphorus to leach from the enamel. This can alter the surface topography of enamel and increase the risk of enamel defects. Studies have also noted that probiotic bacteria can replace cariogenic bacteria and lower the risk of tooth decay. However, the effect of acid produced by probiotics on the enamel surface remains unclear. Hence, the present study aims to evaluate the effect of probiotics on the surface roughness, microhardness, and elemental composition of enamel compared to 0.1 M Lactic acid (demineralizing agent). Twenty enamel sections were randomly divided into groups and subjected to a pH cycling model using a probiotic suspension and 0.1 M lactic acid. The changes in the surface roughness, microhardness, surface morphology, and elemental composition of the enamel with regard to Carbon, Oxygen, Sodium, Hydrogen, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Fluoride, Chlorine, and Calcium of the enamel were evaluated before and after the emersion in both the groups. The results showed a significant increase in the mean surface roughness in the probiotic group before and after the exposure. The microhardness of the enamel decreased along with altered arrangement of the enamel prisms, increased striations, scratch marks, and pitting after exposure to the probiotic group. A decrease in the atomic/weight% for Calcium, Phosphorous, Fluoride, Aluminium, and Oxygen and an increase in the weight/atomic% for Carbon, Nitrogen, and Sodium were noted compared to the baseline in the probiotic solution. The results in the probiotic group were comparable to the 0.1 M lactic acids. The pH changed from 5.78 to 3.06 at the end of 24 h in the probiotic group. Based on these findings, we conclude that exposure to probiotics can affect microhardness and surface roughness and cause leaching of essential elements like Calcium and Phosphorous from the enamel.

Haploid Parthenogenetic Embryos Exhibit Unique Stress Response to pH, Osmotic and Oxidative Stress

Preimplantation-stage embryos are susceptible to various types of stress when cultured in vitro. Parthenogenetic embryos that lack spermatozoa contribution exhibit aberrant developmental dynamics due to their uniparental origin. Herein, we assessed whether the absence of paternal genome affects the susceptibility of the embryos to pH, osmotic and oxidative stress. Haploid parthenogenetic embryos (HPE) (activated oocytes with 1 pronucleus and 2 polar bodies) were generated by incubating cumulus oocyte complexes of Swiss albino mice with 10 mM strontium chloride for 3 h. Normally fertilized embryos (NFE) (fertilized oocytes with 2 pronuclei and 2 polar bodies) were derived using in vitro fertilization. At 2-cell stage, both HPE and NFE were exposed to various stressors including pH (6.8 to 8.2), osmotic (isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic), and peroxidatic oxidative (H2O2, 25 µM) stress. Endoplasmic reticulum stress response, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the rate of blastocyst development were assessed. HPE were susceptible to alteration in the pH that was well tolerated by NFE. Similarly, HPE displayed remarkable difference in sensitivity to hypertonic stress and oxidative stress compared to NFE. The results clearly indicate that the oocytes that develop into embryos in the absence of paternal contribution are more vulnerable to environmental stressors, further highlighting the importance of spermatozoa contribution and/or the ploidy status in mitigating these stressors and towards healthy early embryo development.

Neutrophil sub-types in maintaining immune homeostasis during steady state, infections and sterile inflammation

INTRODUCTION

Neutrophils are component of innate immune system and a) eliminate pathogens b) maintain immune homeostasis by regulating other immune cells and c) contribute to the resolution of inflammation. Neutrophil mediated inflammation has been described in pathogenesis of various diseases. This indicates neutrophils do not represent homogeneous population but perform multiple functions through confined subsets. Hence, in the present review we summarize various studies describing the heterogeneous nature of neutrophils and associated functions during steady state and pathological conditions.

METHODOLOGY

We performed extensive literature review with key words 'Neutrophil subpopulations' 'Neutrophil subsets', Neutrophil and infections', 'Neutrophil and metabolic disorders', 'Neutrophil heterogeneity' in PUBMED.

RESULTS

Neutrophil subtypes are characterized based on buoyancy, cell surface markers, localization and maturity. Recent advances in high throughput technologies indicate the existence of functionally diverse subsets of neutrophils in bone marrow, blood and tissues in both steady state and pathological conditions. Further, we found proportions of these subsets significantly vary in pathological conditions. Interestingly, stimulus specific activation of signalling pathways in neutrophils have been demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

Neutrophil sub-populations differ among diseases and hence, mechanisms regulating formation, sustenance, proportions and functions of these sub-types vary between physiological and pathological conditions. Hence, mechanistic insights of neutrophil subsets in disease specific manner may facilitate development of neutrophil-targeted therapies.

Validated HPLC method for ceftriaxone from dried blood spots for pharmacokinetic studies and therapeutic drug monitoring in neonatal population

Background: Pharmacokinetic evaluation is essential for the precise dosing of ceftriaxone in neonates. There is a need for developing a sensitive, affordable and convenient analytical method that can estimate ceftriaxone from dried blood spot (DBS) samples of neonates. Method: An HPLC-UV method was developed and validated as per ICH M10 for ceftriaxone from DBS and plasma using an Inertsil-ODS-3V column with gradient elution. DBS samples were extracted with methanol. Clinical validation was performed using neonatal samples. Results: The developed plasma- and DBS-based-HPLC method were linear from 2-700 μg/ml and 2-500 μg/ml, respectively, for ceftriaxone. Bland-Altman analysis indicated a strong interconvertibility between the plasma and DBS assays. Conclusion: Observed concentrations in clinical samples were comparable to the predicted concentrations, proving the clinical validity of the method.

Evaluation of Zn: WO3 Thin Films as a Sensing Layer for Detection of NH3 Gas

Pristine WO₃ and Zn-doped WO₃ were synthesized using the spray pyrolysis technique to detect ammonia gas. The prominent orientation of the crystallites along the (200) plane was evident from X-ray diffraction (XRD) studies. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) morphology indicated well-defined grains upon Zn doping with a smaller grain size of 62 nm for Zn-doped WO₃ (Zn: WO₃) film. The photoluminescence (PL) emission at different wavelengths was assigned to defects such as oxygen vacancies, interstitial oxygens, localized defects, etc. X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) studies confirmed the formation of oxygen vacancies in the deposited films. The ammonia (NH₃) sensing analysis of the deposited films was carried out at an optimum working temperature of 250 °C. The sensor performance of Zn: WO₃ was enhanced compared to pristine WO₃ at 1 ppm NH₃ concentration, elucidating the possibility of the films in sensing applications.

Cu-BDC and Cu2O Derived from Cu-BDC for the Removal and Oxidation of Asphaltenes: A Comparative Study

Asphaltenes have been associated with a number of problems in the petroleum industry with regard to the storage, exploration, and transportation of petroleum crude. In the current work, Copper-BenzeneDiCarboxylic acid (Cu-BDC) and Cu-BDC derived metal oxide has been used in the removal and oxidation of the asphaltenes. The MOF derived metal oxide was confirmed to be Cu₂O. Though adsorption of asphaltenes followed a Langmuir adsorption isotherm in both cases, Cu-BDC was superior to Cu₂O with an adsorption capacity four times that of the adsorption capacity of Cu₂O. Also, the kinetic studies showed that the adsorption kinetics followed pseudo second order adsorption kinetics in both cases. From the oxidation studies, it was found that Cu-BDC was unstable beyond 350 °C and had no role in catalyzing the oxidation reaction. The Cu₂O, however, was successful at catalyzing the asphaltene oxidation reaction and a reduction of 50 °C in oxidation temperature was observed. Hence comparing Cu-BDC with Cu₂O, MOF was successful in the adsorption reaction but the MOF derived metal oxide had the upper hand in the oxidation reaction.

Membrane interaction to intercellular spread of pathology in Alzheimer’s disease

Progressive development of pathology is one of the major characteristic features of neurodegenerative diseases. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent among them. Extracellular amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and intracellular tau neurofibrillary tangles are the pathological phenotypes of AD. However, cellular and animal studies implicate tau as a secondary pathology in developing AD while Aβ aggregates is considered as a trigger point. Interaction of Aβ peptides with plasma membrane (PM) seems to be a promising site of involvement in the events that lead to AD. Aβ binding to the lipid membranes initiates formation of oligomers of Aβ species, and these oligomers are known as primary toxic agents for neuronal toxicities. Once initiated, neuropathological toxicities spread in a “prion-like” fashion probably through the mechanism of intercellular transfer of pathogenic aggregates. In the last two decades, several studies have demonstrated neuron-to-neuron transfer of neurodegenerative proteins including Aβ and tau via exosomes and tunneling nanotubes (TNTs), the two modes of long-range intercellular transfer. Emerging pieces of evidence indicate that molecular pathways related to the biogenesis of exosomes and TNTs interface with endo-lysosomal pathways and cellular signaling in connection to vesicle recycling-imposed PM and actin remodulation. In this review, we discuss interactions of Aβ aggregates at the membrane level and its implications in intercellular spread of pathogenic aggregates. Furthermore, we hypothesize how spread of pathogenic aggregates contributes to complex molecular events that could regulate pathological and synaptic changes related to AD.

Efficient Process for the Production of Alkyl Esters

This article reports a scalable process development for the production of alkyl esters through the esterification route by utilizing fly ash as a catalyst. The catalyst consisting of mixed oxides such as alumina, iron oxide, calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and silica was employed for the esterification reaction without modification. The catalyst was evaluated for the conversion of feedstock containing variable amounts of free fatty acids, mono/dibasic acid, and alcohol/polyols into the corresponding alkyl esters. Three types of fly ash catalysts, viz., FS-1, FP-1, and FC-1, were chosen from three different industrial sources. Synthesis of dimethyl adipate was studied as a model reaction. FS-1 fly ash gave the highest yield of dimethyl adipate, whereas FC-1 gave a low yield of dimethyl adipate. The recyclability of FS-1 was evaluated for three cycles, and no loss of yield was observed. Furthermore, the catalyst FS-I was found to be capable of producing good yields for various esterification reactions with different substrates.

Molecular docking and dynamics based approach for the identification of kinase inhibitors targeting PI3Kα against non-small cell lung cancer: a computational study

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an obscure disease whose incidence is increasing worldwide day by day, and PI3Kα is one of the major targets for cell proliferation due to the mutation. Since PI3K is a class of kinase enzyme, and no in silico research has been performed on the inhibition of PI3Kα mutation by small molecules, we have selected the protein kinase inhibitor database and performed the energy minimization process by ligand preparation. The key objective of this research is to identify the potential hits from the protein kinase inhibitor library and further to perform lead optimization by a molecular docking and dynamics approach. And so, the protein was selected (PDB ID: 4JPS), having a unique inhibitor and a specific binding pocket with amino acid residue for the inhibition of kinase activity. After the docking protocol validation, structure-based virtual screening by molecular docking and MMGBSA binding affinity calculations were performed and a total of ten hits were reported. Detailed analysis of the best scoring molecules was performed with ADMET analysis, induced fit docking (IFD) and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. Two molecules - 6943 and 34100 - were considered lead molecules and showed better results than the PI3K inhibitor Copanlisib in the docking assessment, ADMET analysis, and molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, the synthetic accessibility of the two compounds - 6943 and 34100 - was investigated using SwissADME, and the two lead molecules are easier to synthesize than the PI3K inhibitor Copanlisib. Computational drug discovery tools were used for identification of kinase inhibitors as anti-cancer agents for NSCLC in the present research.

Wiener-Neural-Network-Based Modeling and Validation of Generalized Predictive Control on a Laboratory-Scale Batch Reactor

Batch reactors are large vessels in which chemical reactions take place. They are mostly found to be used in process control industries for processes such as reactant mixing, waste treatment of leather byproducts, and liquid extraction. Modeling and controlling of these systems are complex due to their highly nonlinear nature. The Wiener neural network (WNN) is employed in this work to predict and track the temperature profile of a batch reactor successfully. WNN is different from artificial neural networks in various aspects, mainly its structure. The brief methodology that was deployed to complete this work consisted of two parts. The first part is modeling the WNN-based batch reactor using the provided input-output data set. The input is feed given to the reactor, and the reactor temperature needs to be maintained in line with the optimal profile. The objective in this part is to train the neural network to efficiently track the nonlinear temperature profile that is provided from the data set. The second part is designing a generalized predictive controller (GPC) using the data obtained from modeling the reactor to successfully track any arbitrary temperature profile. Therefore, this work presents the experimental modeling of a batch reactor and validation of a WNN-based GPC for temperature profile tracking.

Development and Validation of Advanced Nonlinear Predictive Control Algorithms for Trajectory Tracking in Batch Polymerization

In this work, a computationally efficient nonlinear model-based control (NMBC) strategy is developed for a trajectory-tracking problem in an acrylamide polymerization batch reactor. The performance of NMBC is compared with that of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC). To estimate the reaction states, a nonlinear state estimator, an unscented Kalman filter (UKF), is employed. Both algorithms are implemented experimentally to track a time-varying temperature profile for an acrylamide polymerization reaction in a lab-scale polymerization reactor. It is shown that in the presence of state estimators the NMBC performs significantly better than the NMPC algorithm in real time for the batch reactor control problem.

Data-Driven Modeling of a Pilot Plant Batch Reactor and Validation of a Nonlinear Model Predictive Controller for Dynamic Temperature Profile Tracking

Batch process plays a very crucial and important role in process industries. The increased operational flexibility and trend toward high-quality, low-volume chemical production has put more emphasis on batch processing. In this work, nonlinearities associated with the batch reactor process have been studied. ARX and NARX models have been identified using open-loop data obtained from the pilot plant batch reactor. The performance of the batch reactor with conventional linear controllers results in aggressive manipulated variable action and larger energy consumption due to its inherent nonlinearity. This issue has been addressed in the proposed work by identifying the nonlinear model and designing a nonlinear model predictive controller for a pilot plant batch reactor. The implementation of the proposed method has resulted in smooth response of the manipulated variable as well as reactor temperature on both simulation and real-time experimentation.

Recent trends in two-photon auto-fluorescence lifetime imaging (2P-FLIM) and its biomedical applications

Two photon fluorescence microscopy and the numerous technical advances to it have served as valuable tools in biomedical research. The fluorophores (exogenous or endogenous) absorb light and emit lower energy photons than the absorption energy and the emission (fluorescence) signal is measured using a fluorescence decay graph. Additionally, high spatial resolution images can be acquired in two photon fluorescence lifetime imaging (2P-FLIM) with improved penetration depth which helps in detection of fluorescence signal in vivo. 2P-FLIM is a non-invasive imaging technique in order to visualize cellular metabolic, by tracking intrinsic fluorophores present in it, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, flavin adenine dinucleotide and tryptophan etc. 2P-FLIM of these molecules enable the visualization of metabolic alterations, non-invasively. This comprehensive review discusses the numerous applications of 2P-FLIM towards cancer, neuro-degenerative, infectious diseases, and wound healing.

Human papilloma and other DNA virus infections of the cervix: A population based comparative study among tribal and general population in India

Background

Despite being preventable, cervical cancer remains a major health concern among women. Persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and other viral co-infections may influence cervical dysplasia. We determined and compared the prevalence and risk factors of cervical viral infections among the tribal and general population of southern coastal Karnataka, India.

Methods

A population-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1140 and 1100 women from tribal and general population, respectively. Cervical infections with HPV, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes-Simplex Virus (HSV) were examined using polymerase chain reactions (PCR) and DNA sequencing.

Results

HPV prevalence was higher among tribal women (40.6%) than general population (14.3%) while the prevalence of EBV (55.1%) and CMV (49.4%) were lower among tribal women than general population (74.3% and 77.5%, respectively). HSV infection was observed in tribal women only (1.8%). Among HR-HPV strains, HPV-18 was predominant among tribal population (28.3%) while, HPV-16 was predominant among the general population (9.1%). Infections were associated with age, educational status, unemployment and personal hygiene of tribal women. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that HPV-16 variants of tribal participants were closely related to non-European sublineages indicating greater risk of HPV persistence and carcinogenesis.

Conclusion

The study provides a comparative estimate for DNA virus infections of the cervix among women from general as well as tribal population in this region and also reveals a different type-specific pattern of viral infection. Further research is required to delineate the role of specific interactions between multiple virus infections and their role in carcinogenesis.

Remarkable colorimetric sensing behavior of pyrazole-based chemosensor towards Cu(ii) ion detection: synthesis, characterization and theoretical investigations

We report the synthesis of a new imine based ligand, 3-((3-methoxybenzylidene)amino)-1H-pyrazol-5-ol (HL) and its Cu(ii) complexes in 2 : 1 (HL : metal) and 1 : 1 : 1 (HL : metal : HQ) stoichiometric ratio using 8-hydroxyquinoline (HQ) as an additional bidentate ligand. The synthesized ligand (HL) and its Cu(ii) complexes (1 and 2) are structurally characterized using FT-IR, electronic absorption and emission, NMR and MS techniques. Furthermore, the complexation of Cu2+ with HL leads to the immediate formation of brown colour solution which indicates that HL can act as simple colorimetric sensor for Cu2+ ions. We further investigated that the sensor could selectively bind to the Cu2+ ions even in the presence of competitive ions such as Mn2+, Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+, Zn2+, Ag+ and Na+ ions in aqueous solutions which was studied by electronic absorption spectroscopy. The HL ligand has been investigated for its reactive properties by density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Quantum molecular descriptors describing local reactive properties have been calculated in order to identify the most reactive molecule sites of title compounds. DFT calculations encompassed molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), local average ionization energies (ALIE), Fukui functions and bond dissociation energies for hydrogen abstraction (H-BDE).