Covering assisted intuitionistic fuzzy bi-selection technique for data reduction and its applications.

The dimension and size of data is growing rapidly with the extensive applications of computer science and lab based engineering in daily life. Due to availability of vagueness, later uncertainty, redundancy, irrelevancy, and noise, which imposes concerns in building effective learning models. Fuzzy rough set and its extensions have been applied to deal with these issues by various data reduction approaches. However, construction of a model that can cope with all these issues simultaneously is always a challenging task. None of the studies till date has addressed all these issues simultaneously. This paper investigates a method based on the notions of intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) and rough sets to avoid these obstacles simultaneously by putting forward an interesting data reduction technique. To accomplish this task, firstly, a novel IF similarity relation is addressed. Secondly, we establish an IF rough set model on the basis of this similarity relation. Thirdly, an IF granular structure is presented by using the established similarity relation and the lower approximation. Next, the mathematical theorems are used to validate the proposed notions. Then, the importance-degree of the IF granules is employed for redundant size elimination. Further, significance-degree-preserved dimensionality reduction is discussed. Hence, simultaneous instance and feature selection for large volume of high-dimensional datasets can be performed to eliminate redundancy and irrelevancy in both dimension and size, where vagueness and later uncertainty are handled with rough and IF sets respectively, whilst noise is tackled with IF granular structure. Thereafter, a comprehensive experiment is carried out over the benchmark datasets to demonstrate the effectiveness of simultaneous feature and data point selection methods. Finally, our proposed methodology aided framework is discussed to enhance the regression performance for IC50 of Antiviral Peptides.

Hybrid similarity relation based mutual information for feature selection in intuitionistic fuzzy rough framework and its applications.

Fuzzy rough entropy established in the notion of fuzzy rough set theory, which has been effectively and efficiently applied for feature selection to handle the uncertainty in real-valued datasets. Further, Fuzzy rough mutual information has been presented by integrating information entropy with fuzzy rough set to measure the importance of features. However, none of the methods till date can handle noise, uncertainty and vagueness simultaneously due to both judgement and identification, which lead to degrade the overall performances of the learning algorithms with the increment in the number of mixed valued conditional features. In the current study, these issues are tackled by presenting a novel intuitionistic fuzzy (IF) assisted mutual information concept along with IF granular structure. Initially, a hybrid IF similarity relation is introduced. Based on this relation, an IF granular structure is introduced. Then, IF rough conditional and joint entropies are established. Further, mutual information based on these concepts are discussed. Next, mathematical theorems are proved to demonstrate the validity of the given notions. Thereafter, significance of the features subset is computed by using this mutual information, and corresponding feature selection is suggested to delete the irrelevant and redundant features. The current approach effectively handles noise and subsequent uncertainty in both nominal and mixed data (including both nominal and category variables). Moreover, comprehensive experimental performances are evaluated on real-valued benchmark datasets to demonstrate the practical validation and effectiveness of the addressed technique. Finally, an application of the proposed method is exhibited to improve the prediction of phospholipidosis positive molecules. RF(h2o) produces the most effective results till date based on our proposed methodology with sensitivity, accuracy, specificity, MCC, and AUC of 86.7%, 90.1%, 93.0% , 0.808, and 0.922 respectively.

Distribution of organochlorine pesticides in surface and deep waters of the Southern Indian Ocean and coastal Antarctic waters.

Antarctica is a remote and pristine region. Yet it plays a vital role in biogeochemical cycles of global anthropogenic contaminants, such as persistent organic pollution (POPs). This work reports the distribution of legacy and new POPs in surface and depth profiles/deeper water of the Southern Indian Ocean (SIO) and the coast of Antarctica (COA). Samples were collected during the 10th Indian Southern Ocean expedition (SOE-10) in the year 2017. Concentrations of ∑HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane), ∑DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane), and ∑ENDO (endosulfan) in surface seawater from the SIO region ranged between not detected (ND) to 1.21 pg/Liter (pg L-1) (average. ± s.d.: 0.35 ± 0.42 pg L-1), ND to 1.83 pg L-1 (0.69 ± 84 pg L-1), and ND - to 2.06 pg L-1 (0.56 ± 0., 88 pg L-1), respectively. The concentrations of ∑HCH, ∑DDT, and ∑ENDO in COA ranged from ND to 0.98 pg L-1 (0.25 ± 0.27 pg L-1), ND to 3.61 pg L-1(0.50 ± 1.08 pg L-1), and ND to 2.09 pg L-1 (0.45 ± 0.84 pg L-1), respectively. Concentrations of isomers of endosulfan, and largely of HCHs, suggested an aged source. Some concentration ratios of α-to γ-HCH were close to 1, indicating a contribution from ongoing sources. Results indicate the important role of ocean currents in mediating the transport and detection of OCPs. As such, OCPs dynamics in deeper oceans may play an important role in OCPs cycling in the marine environment.

Therapeutic approaches for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma-An update on clinical trials.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common non-skin cancer with a tobacco consumption and infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) being major risk factors. Despite advances in numerous therapy modalities, survival rates for HNSCC have not improved considerably; a vast number of clinical outcomes have demonstrated that a combination strategy (the most well-known docetaxel, cisplatin, and 5-fluorouracil) is the most effective treatment choice. Immunotherapy that targets immunological checkpoints is being tested in a number of clinical trials, either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapeutic or targeted therapeutic drugs. Various monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab and bevacizumab, which target the EGFR and VEGFR, respectively, as well as other signaling pathway inhibitors, such as temsirolimus and rapamycin, are also being studied for the treatment of HNSCC. We have reviewed the primary targets in active clinical studies in this study, with a particular focus on the medications and drug targets used.

Structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulation and in vitro evaluation to identify inhibitors against NAMPT.

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) is a bottleneck enzyme that plays a key role in recycling nicotinamide to maintain the adequate NAD + level inside the cell. It involves maintaining the cellular bioenergetics and providing a necessary substrate for functions essential to rapidly proliferating the cancer cells. Therefore, inhibition of NAMPT appears as a therapeutic potential for cancer treatment. Here, the vast virtual screening followed by focused docking and in-vitro analysis was carried out to identify the promising hits of NAMPT. We have identified two potential hits from the filtered molecules, which are chemically diverse and have shown comparable quantitative values with reported co-crystal '1QS' as their binding pattern matched nicely. These two compounds are further explored through molecular dynamics simulations (MD) combined with pharmacokinetics profiling and thermodynamic analysis demonstrating their suitability as novel NAMPT inhibitors that can be used as starting points for a hit-to-lead campaign.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Spring-neap tides influence on bioavailability of metals and bioaccumulation in edible biota of the Zuari (tropical) Estuary.

Role of spring and neap tides on metal bioavailability and bioaccumulation in edible biota was studied in the Zuari Estuary. Moderate to very high range of contamination factor for Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb at one or more stations and tides suggesting their anthropogenic origin. The anthropogenic input of metals was supported by pollution load index. Relatively high bioavailable concentration of Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, and Pb indicated their toxicity to biota. Total metal concentration, viz., Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu and Cd, and bioavailable content Mn, Cd, and Pb were higher during spring tide than neap tide at one or more stations which revealed their low mobility under flooded conditions. The above observation was well supported by higher concentration of Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb in Polymesoda erosa at the middle estuary during neap tide than subsequent spring tide. Further, an increase in concentration of metals bound to certain bioavailable fractions toward the surface of the cores revealed their possible bioavailability to the biota with changes in the physicochemical properties of the Zuari estuary. Biota sediment accumulation factor revealed macro level accumulation of Cd and suggested its toxicity to marine biota.

Synthesis and evaluation of thiophene based small molecules as potent inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Herein, we report the synthesis and anti-tubercular studies of novel molecules based on thiophene scaffold. We identified two novel small molecules 4a and 4b, which demonstrated 2-fold higher in vitro activity (MIC99: 0.195 µM) compared to first line TB drug, isoniazid (0.39 µM). The identified leads demonstrated additive effect with front line TB drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin and levofloxacin) and synergistic effect with a recently FDA-approved drug, bedaquiline. Mechanistic studies (i) negated the role of Pks13 and (ii) suggested the involvement of KatG in the anti-tubercular activity of these identified leads.

Assessment of metal pollution and bioaccumulation of metals by edible bivalve Polymesoda erosa in the Zuari Estuary, west coast of India.

The mangrove sediment cores from middle and upper Zuari Estuary were studied for grain size, organic carbon, total and bioavailable metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb) to evaluate the metal enrichment and pollution, along with the bioaccumulation of metals by edible bivalve Polymesoda erosa to understand the toxicity of metals. The distribution of metals varied between middle and upper estuary and was attributed to difference in metal source, hydrodynamics and/or post-depositional behavior. The pollution indices viz., contamination factor and pollution load index revealed metal pollution at both middle and upper estuary. Speciation of Mn, Zn and Pb indicated their bioavailability in sediments, and the application of screening quick reference table and risk assessment code suggested possible harmful effects of Mn on biota. The concentration of metals in Polymesoda erosa was more than the standard permissible limit, at both middle and upper estuary indicating metal toxicity to Polymesoda erosa and human health.

Psychrotolerant Antarctic bacteria biosynthesize gold nanoparticles active against sulphate reducing bacteria.

This study evaluates the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticle (GNP) using Antarctic bacteria and assesses its potential antibacterial activity on sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). The GNPs were biosynthesized at distinct temperatures (4°, 10°, 25°, 30° and 37° C) using bacterial isolate GL1.3, obtained from Antarctic lake water. Biochemical and phylogenetic analysis concluded that the isolate GL1.3 belongs to Bacillus sp. The GNP biosynthesis was achieved at all the incubation temperatures (4°, 10°, 25°, 30° and 37° C) only during the log phase of growth. These formed nanoparticles were identified by UV-Visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) to be of size 30-50 nm. These GNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against SRB (Desulfovibrio sp.) evaluated by broth micro-dilution method. At 200 µg mL-1 GNP concentrations, being the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), the growth rate and sulfate reducing activity of Desulfovibrio sp. were reduced by 12% and 7% respectively. Comet assay revealed that the genotoxic effect of GNP on SRB is responsible for the inhibition of its growth and sulfide production. This showed that the Antarctic microbes could be useful for GNP synthesis even under psychrophilic conditions for various biomedical applications.

Microbes Producing L-Asparaginase free of Glutaminase and Urease isolated from Extreme Locations of Antarctic Soil and Moss.

L-Asparaginase (L-asparagine aminohydrolase, E.C. 3.5.1.1) has been proven to be competent in treating Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL), which is widely observed in paediatric and adult groups. Currently, clinical L-Asparaginase formulations are derived from bacterial sources such as Escherichia coli and Erwinia chrysanthemi. These formulations when administered to ALL patients lead to several immunological and hypersensitive reactions. Hence, additional purification steps are required to remove toxicity induced by the amalgamation of other enzymes like glutaminase and urease. Production of L-Asparaginase that is free of glutaminase and urease is a major area of research. In this paper, we report the screening and isolation of fungal species collected from the soil and mosses in the Schirmacher Hills, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, that produce L-Asparaginase free of glutaminase and urease. A total of 55 isolates were obtained from 33 environmental samples that were tested by conventional plate techniques using Phenol red and Bromothymol blue as indicators. Among the isolated fungi, 30 isolates showed L-Asparaginase free of glutaminase and urease. The L-Asparaginase producing strain Trichosporon asahii IBBLA1, which showed the highest zone index, was then optimized with a Taguchi design. Optimum enzyme activity of 20.57 U mL-1 was obtained at a temperature of 30 °C and pH of 7.0 after 60 hours. Our work suggests that isolation of fungi from extreme environments such as Antarctica may lead to an important advancement in therapeutic applications with fewer side effects.

Environment quality at Maitri station in Antarctica.

A comprehensive study of air, water and soil quality was undertaken during the austral summer of 1999-2000 at the Indian Polar Research Station "Maitri" in compliance with the statutory requirements of the article 3 of Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty. The main objective of the study was to assess the impacts of various scientific programs and their associated logistic support facilities on the fragile ecosystem of Antarctica. Identification of major sources of pollution and quantification of pollutants in different environmental components were carried out through an extensive environmental monitoring program spread over a period of 5-7 weeks. Preliminary studies reveal that the levels of pollution are not alarming but there is scope for concern looking into the critical aspects of Antarctic environment and the carrying capacity of the environment surrounding Maitri station.