Differential subordination and superordination of analytic functions defined by the Dziok-Srivastava linear operator

Differential subordination and superordination results are obtained for analytic functions in the open unit disk which are associated with the Dziok-Srivastava linear operator. These results are obtained by investigating appropriate classes of admissible functions. Sandwich-type results are also obtained.     

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) -1612 5A/6A promoter polymorphism in coronary artery disease in Indian population

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play important role in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). 5A allele of -1612 5A/6A polymorphism of MMP-3 is associated with two fold higher activity than 6A allele. Present study was designed to analyse the association of this polymorphism with CAD in Indian population. Subjects included in the study were patients with stable angina (n=35), unstable angina (n=53), patients with recent event of myocardial infarction (MI) (MI Group-1, n=56) and patients at presentation of the acute MI (MI Group-2, n=49). Controls were healthy individuals (n=99). Genotyping of MMP-3 5A/6A polymorphism was carried out by PCR-based restriction digestion method. The genotype distribution of patient groups did not deviate from controls. Serum MMP-3 levels were significantly elevated at presentation of the acute MI by 36.8% (P=0.031) as compared to controls and more associated with 6A genotype suggesting discrepancy between in vitro transfection experiment and peripheral MMP-3 levels.     

Antioxidant Activities of Hydroalcoholic Extract of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ocimum sanctum</Emphasis> Against Cadmium Induced Toxicity in Rats

The present study was undertaken to analyze the antioxidant (both enzymic and nonenzymic) activities of leaves of Ocimum sanctum hydroalcoholic extract against cadmium induced damage in albino rats. Oral administration of cadmium as CdCl₂ (6.0 mg/kg body weight) led to significant elevation of lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and significantly decreased Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Reduced Glutathione (GSH) and Vitamin C (Ascorbate) levels. Administration of Ocimum sanctum extract (100 mg/kg body weight, po) and (200 mg/kg body weight, po) before and after cadmium intoxication showed a significant decrease in LPO levels and significant increase in SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH and Ascorbate levels. The results suggest that oral administration of Ocimum sanctum extract provides significant protection against cadmium induced toxicity in Wistar albino rats.     

Protective Effect of Emblica officinalis Against Alcohol-Induced Hepatic Injury by Ameliorating Oxidative Stress in Rats

The effect of Emblica officinalis fruit extract (EFE) against alcohol-induced hepatic damage in rats was investigated in the present study. In vitro studies showed that EFE possesses antioxidant as well nitric oxide (NO) scavenging activity. In vivo administration of alcohol (5 g/kg b.wt/day) for 60 days resulted increased liver lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls, nitrite plus nitrate levels. Alcohol administration also significantly lowers the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase and reduced glutathione as compared with control rats. Administration of EFE (250 mg/kg body weight) to alcoholic rats significantly brought the plasma enzymes towards near normal level and also significantly reduced the levels of lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls and restored the enzymic and non-enzymatic antioxidants level. This observation was supplemented by histopathological examination in liver. Our data indicate that the tannoid, flavonoid and NO scavenging compounds present in EFE may offer protection against free radical mediated oxidative stress in rat hepatocytes of animals with alcohol-induced liver injury.     

Acoustic driven flow and lattice Boltzmann simulations to study cell adhesion in biofunctionalized ��-fluidic channels with complex geometry

Accurately mimicking the complexity of microvascular systems calls for a technology which can accommodate particularly small sample volumes while retaining a large degree of freedom in channel geometry and keeping the price considerably low to allow for high throughput experiments. Here, we demonstrate that the use of surface acoustic wave driven microfluidics systems successfully allows the study of the interrelation between melanoma cell adhesion, the matrix protein collagen type I, the blood clotting factor von Willebrand factor (vWF), and microfluidic channel geometry. The versatility of the tool presented enables us to examine cell adhesion under flow in straight and bifurcated microfluidic channels in the presence of different protein coatings. We show that the addition of vWF tremendously increases (up to tenfold) the adhesion of melanoma cells even under fairly low shear flow conditions. This effect is altered in the presence of bifurcated channels demonstrating the importance of an elaborate hydrodynamic analysis to differentiate between physical and biological effects. Therefore, computer simulations have been performed along with the experiments to reveal the entire flow profile in the channel. We conclude that a combination of theory and experiment will lead to a consistent explanation of cell adhesion, and will optimize the potential of microfluidic experiments to further unravel the relation between blood clotting factors, cell adhesion molecules, cancer cell spreading, and the hydrodynamic conditions in our microcirculatory system.     

Integrating educational institutions to produce intellectual capital for sustainability in Caguas,Puerto Rico

This research is part of a broader investigation to analyse the processes followed by the Caguas Municipality at the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in an effort to develop the characteristics of a ‘Smart City’ as an example of sustainable development. We describe the integration of the educational institutions’ initiatives and the municipal government strategic plan to contribute to the knowledge and intellectual capital that brings sustainability to the city. An actor's model was designed to represent this integration. The conceptual framework was based on the concepts of knowledge production and sharing as applied to the collaboration between critical representative actors. Field research consisting of in-depth interviews was performed to ascertain the integration processes and their relationship with such processes of knowledge production and sharing. The results showed that the governance paradigm implemented is already empowering the citizens to contribute with intellectual capital that brings sustainability to Caguas.     

Hoopfest: Using longitudinal economic impact data to assess the success of a strategic reorientation

The authors report the economic impact of a strategy change for a nonprofit sport association, Hoopfest, over an eight year period. Hoopfest organizes the largest annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. The study employs an economic impact methodology because the local community expressed a concern with related economic development issues. An initial assessment indicated the two-day tournament had an overall economic impact on the region of about seventeen million dollars. Twenty-two thousand people competed in the tournament and at least another one hundred thousand people watched the event. Hoopfest officials were challenged by a simple question: how could they enhance the economic benefits of this basketball tournament?