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Two plant essential oils; camphor and castor were tested for insecticidal and antifeedant activity against the 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, a serious pest on cotton in Egypt. Also the impact of LC10 of both oils on some physiological parameters in larvae was studied by using leaf dipping technique. Analysis of both oils using GC–MS revealed several insecticidal and antifeedant compounds. Our results showed higher insecticidal activity and antifeedant index of camphor oil against S. littoralis. The LC50 and the antifeedant indices were 163.1, 246.8 mg/ml and 12.69, 6.62% for camphor and castor bean oil, respectively. The total hemocyte count (THC) and differential hemocyte count (DHC) were reduced significantly after 48 h of treatment compared to controls. Both oils reduced all types of hemocytes except plasmatocytes which were reduced only by castor oil. Camphor oil decreased total proteins and carbohydrates while castor oil targeted only carbohydrate content. Both oils didn't affect the amount of total lipids. Lipase, α-amylase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activities were increased significantly in larvae treated with camphor oil than other treatments. These results clearly indicate that castor and camphor oils can affect the nutritional status in S. littoralis larvae, thereby changing the internal metabolic processes in the larvae which make them as potential control agents in IPM programs against S. littoralis.

Two plant essential oils; camphor and castor were tested for insecticidal and antifeedant activity against the 4th instar larvae of Spodoptera littoralis, a serious pest on cotton in Egypt. Also the impact of LC10 of both oils on some physiological parameters in larvae was studied by using leaf dipping technique. Analysis of both oils using GC–MS revealed several insecticidal and antifeedant compounds. Our results showed higher insecticidal activity and antifeedant index of camphor oil against S. littoralis. The LC50 and the antifeedant indices were 163.1, 246.8 mg/ml and 12.69, 6.62% for camphor and castor bean oil, respectively. The total hemocyte count (THC) and differential hemocyte count (DHC) were reduced significantly after 48 h of treatment compared to controls. Both oils reduced all types of hemocytes except plasmatocytes which were reduced only by castor oil. Camphor oil decreased total proteins and carbohydrates while castor oil targeted only carbohydrate content. Both oils didn't affect the amount of total lipids. Lipase, α-amylase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) enzyme activities were increased significantly in larvae treated with camphor oil than other treatments. These results clearly indicate that castor and camphor oils can affect the nutritional status in S. littoralis larvae, thereby changing the internal metabolic processes in the larvae which make them as potential control agents in IPM programs against S. littoralis.

In this paper we introduce some types of generalized fuzzy soft separated sets and study some of their properties. Next, the notion of connectedness in fuzzy soft topological spaces due to Karata et al, Mahanta et al, and Kandil et al., extended to generalized fuzzy soft topological spaces. The relationship between these types of connectedness in generalized fuzzy soft topological spaces is investigated with the help of number of counter examples.

In this paper we introduce some types of generalized fuzzy soft separated sets and study some of their properties. Next, the notion of connectedness in fuzzy soft topological spaces due to Karata et al, Mahanta et al, and Kandil et al., extended to generalized fuzzy soft topological spaces. The relationship between these types of connectedness in generalized fuzzy soft topological spaces is investigated with the help of number of counter examples.

Cytosensing of biological transition metals is paramount important for cancer research. One-pot synthesis of the nanocomposite of carbon dots (CDs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is reported and has been applied for metal cytosensing. The nanocomposite (GCDs) is synthesized using citric acid (CA) and L-cysteine as precursors in the presence of chloroauric acid. The synthesis procedure exhibits many advantages including simple one step, green approach (solvent free method) and requires cheap chemical precursors. The current procedure produces uniform carbon dots (<3 nm) and assist the formation of AuNPs without using extra reducing agent. GCDs nanoparticles have UV absorbance matching with the wavelength of N2 laser (337 nm). The synergistic effect of the large surface area of GCDs and the maximum absorbance at 337 nm offers an effective and promising application for surface enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS) of biological metals (Fe2+, Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions) for cancer cells. SELDI-MS using GCDs offers a sensitive method, shows selective detection, and provides simultaneous cytosensing of biological metals (Fe2+, Fe3+ and Cu2+) of cancer cells. The metals are detected after complexation with mefenamic acid (MFA) which provides multi-functions (chelating agent, internal calibrant and co-matrix) for LDI-MS

Selective biosensing of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) using chitosan modified quantum dots (CTS@CdS QDs) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide is reported. The method is based on the intrinsic positive catalase activity of S. aureus. CTS@CdS quantum dots provide high dispersion in aqueous media with high fluorescence emission. Staphylococcus aureus causes a selective quenching of the fluorescence emission of CTS@CdS QDs in the presence of H2O2 compared to other pathogens such as Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The intrinsic enzymatic character of S. aureus (catalase positive) offers selective and fast biosensing. The present method is highly selective for positive catalase species and requires no expensive reagents such as antibodies, aptamers or microbeads. It could be extended for other species that are positive catalase.

Recent developments in the literature have demonstrated that curcumin exhibit antioxidant properties supporting its anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and antitumoral activities against aggressive and recurrent cancers. Despite the valuable findings of curcumin against different cancer cells, the clinical use of curcumin in cancer treatment is limited due to its extremely low aqueous solubility and instability,which lead to poor in vivo bioavailability and limited therapeutic effects. We therefore focused in the present study to evaluate the anti-tumor potential of curcumin analogues on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as their effects on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial
cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of curcumin analogue J1 in these cancer cell lines were determined to be 5 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml, in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells respectively. Interestingly, at these concentrations,the J1 did not affect the viability of non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells MCF-10. Furthermore,
we found that J1 strongly induced growth arrest of these cancer cells by modulating the mitochondrial membrane potentials without significant effect on normal MCF-10 cells using JC-1 staining and flow cytometry analysis. Using annexin-V/PI double staining assay followed by flow cytometry analysis, we found that J1 robustly enhanced the induction of apoptosis by increasing the activity of caspases in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells. In addition, treatment of breast cancer cells with J1 revealed that, in contrast to the expression of cyclin B1, this curcumin analogue vigorously decreased the expression of cyclin A, CDK2 and cyclin E and subsequently sensitized tumor cells to cell cycle arrest. Most importantly, the phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR and PKC-theta in J1-treated cancer cells was markedly decreased and hence affecting the survival of these cancer cells. Most interestingly, J1-treated cancer cells exhibited a significant inhibition in the activation of RhoA followed by reduction in actin polymerization and cytoskeletal rearrangement in response to CXCL12. Our data reveal the therapeutic potential of the curcumin analogue J1 and the underlying mechanisms to fight breast cancer cells.

Recent developments in the literature have demonstrated that curcumin exhibit antioxidant properties supporting its anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive and antitumoral activities against aggressive and recurrent cancers. Despite the valuable findings of curcumin against different cancer cells, the clinical use of curcumin in cancer treatment is limited due to its extremely low aqueous solubility and instability,which lead to poor in vivo bioavailability and limited therapeutic effects. We therefore focused in the present study to evaluate the anti-tumor potential of curcumin analogues on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as their effects on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial
cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of curcumin analogue J1 in these cancer cell lines were determined to be 5 ng/ml and 10 ng/ml, in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells respectively. Interestingly, at these concentrations,the J1 did not affect the viability of non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells MCF-10. Furthermore,
we found that J1 strongly induced growth arrest of these cancer cells by modulating the mitochondrial membrane potentials without significant effect on normal MCF-10 cells using JC-1 staining and flow cytometry analysis. Using annexin-V/PI double staining assay followed by flow cytometry analysis, we found that J1 robustly enhanced the induction of apoptosis by increasing the activity of caspases in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cancer cells. In addition, treatment of breast cancer cells with J1 revealed that, in contrast to the expression of cyclin B1, this curcumin analogue vigorously decreased the expression of cyclin A, CDK2 and cyclin E and subsequently sensitized tumor cells to cell cycle arrest. Most importantly, the phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR and PKC-theta in J1-treated cancer cells was markedly decreased and hence affecting the survival of these cancer cells. Most interestingly, J1-treated cancer cells exhibited a significant inhibition in the activation of RhoA followed by reduction in actin polymerization and cytoskeletal rearrangement in response to CXCL12. Our data reveal the therapeutic potential of the curcumin analogue J1 and the underlying mechanisms to fight breast cancer cells.

Applications of polymer-based nanocomposites continue to rise because of their special properties such as lightweight, low cost, and durability. Among the most important applications is the thermal management of high density electronics which requires effective dissipation of internally generated heat. This paper presents our experimental results on the influence of graphene, multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and chopped carbon fibers on wear resistance, hardness, impact strength and thermal conductivity of epoxy resin composites. We observed that, within the range of the experimental data
(epoxy resin + 1, 3, 5 wt% of graphene or 1, 3, 5 wt% MWCNT or 10, 30, 50 wt% carbon fibers), graphene-enhanced wear resistance of the nanocomposites by 75% compared to 50% and 38% obtained for MWCNT and carbon fiber composite, respectively. The impact resistance of graphene nanocomposite rose by 26% (from 7.3 to 9.2 J/m2) while that of MWCNT nanocomposite was improved by 14% (from 7.3 to 8.2 J/m2). The thermal conductivity increased 3.6-fold for the graphene nanocomposite compared to threefold for MWCNT nanocomposite and a meager 0.63-fold for carbon fiber composite. These
enhancements in mechanical and thermal properties are generally linear within the experimental limits. The huge increase in thermal conductivity, especially for the graphene and MWCNT nanocomposites makes the composites readily applicable as high conductive materials for use as heat spreaders and thermal pads.