Cumin Prevents 17β-Estradiol-Associated Breast Cancer in ACI Rats

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer deaths in women in less developed countries and the second leading cause of cancer death in women in the U.S. In this study, we report the inhibition of E2-mediated mammary tumorigenesis by Cuminum cyminum (cumin) administered via the diet as cumin powder, as well as dried ethanolic extract. Groups of female ACI rats were given either an AIN-93M diet or a diet supplemented with cumin powder (5% and 7.5%, w/w) or dried ethanolic cumin extract (1%, w/w), and then challenged with subcutaneous E2 silastic implants (1.2 cm; 9 mg). The first appearance of a palpable mammary tumor was significantly delayed by both the cumin powder and extract. At the end of the study, the tumor incidence was 96% in the control group, whereas only 55% and 45% animals had palpable tumors in the cumin powder and extract groups, respectively. Significant reductions in tumor volume (660 ± 122 vs. 138 ± 49 and 75 ± 46 mm³) and tumor multiplicity (4.21 ± 0.43 vs. 1.16 ± 0.26 and 0.9 ± 0.29 tumors/animal) were also observed by the cumin powder and cumin extract groups, respectively. The cumin powder diet intervention dose- and time-dependently offset E2-related pituitary growth, and reduced the levels of circulating prolactin and the levels of PCNA in the mammary tissues. Mechanistically, the cumin powder diet resulted in a significant reversal of E2-associated modulation in ERα, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1. Further, the cumin powder diet reversed the expression levels of miRNAs (miR-182, miR-375, miR-127 and miR-206) that were highly modulated by E2 treatment. We analyzed the composition of the extract by GC/MS and established cymene and cuminaldehyde as major components, and further detected no signs of gross or systemic toxicity. Thus, cumin bioactives can significantly delay and prevent E2-mediated mammary tumorigenesis in a safe and effective manner, and warrant continued efforts to develop these clinically translatable spice bioactives as chemopreventives and therapeutics against BC.     

Sintering behaviour of fluorapatite–silicate composites produced from natural fluorapatite and quartz

In this work, the sintering behaviour of fluorapatite (FAp)–silicate composites prepared by mixing variable amounts of natural quartz (2.5 wt% to 20 wt%) and FAp was studied. The composites were pressureless sintered in air at temperatures from 1000 °C to 1350 °C. The effects of temperatures on the densification, phase formation, chemical bonding and Vickers hardness of the composites were evaluated. All the samples exhibited mixed phase, comprising FAp and francolite as the major constituents along with some minor phases of cristobalite, wollastonite, dicalcium silicate and/or whitlockite dependent on the quartz content and sintering temperature. The composite containing 2.5 wt% quartz exhibited the best sintering properties. The highest bulk density of 3 g/cm³ and a Vickers hardness of >4.2 GPa were obtained for the 2.5 wt% quartz–FAp composite when sintered at 1100 °C. The addition of quartz was found to alter the microstructure of the composites, where it exhibited a rod-like morphology when sintered at 1000 °C and a regular rounded grain structure when sintered at 1350 °C. A wetted grain surface was observed for composites containing high quartz content and was believed to be associated with a transient liquid phase sintering.     

Study on the performance deterioration of mixed flow impeller due to change in tip clearance

Performance of mixed flow compressor with un-shrouded impeller strongly depends upon unsteady, asymmetrical flow fields in the axial directions. The flow through the mixed flow impeller is complex due to three-dimensional nature of geometry. In mixed flow impeller, there are clearances between the rotating impeller blades and the casing as the high pressure ratio compressors are usually open shrouded impellers. As a result, certain amount of reduction in the performance is unavoidable due to clearance flows. In the present investigations, numerical analysis is performed using a commercial code to investigate tip clearance effects on through flow. The perform- ance of mixed flow impeller with four different clearances between impeller and stationary shroud are evaluated and compared with experimental results. The impeller performance map was obtained for different operating speeds and mass flow rates with different tip clearances. The result shows that the tip leakage flow strongly inter- acts with mainstream and contributes to total pressure loss and performance reduction. The pressure and per- formance decrement are approximately linearly proportional to the gap between impeller and stationary shroud. The analysis showed scope for improvement in design of the compressor for better performance in terms of effi- ciency and operating range.     

Chitosan glucose complex – A novel food preservative

Chitosan glucose complex (CGC), a modified form of chitosan was prepared by heating chitosan with glucose. Fluorescence and the browning reaction of CGC indicated the presence of the Maillard reaction product (MRP). CGC showed excellent antioxidant activity while chitosan or glucose alone did not have any significant activity (p < 0.05). The IC₅₀ value of CGC for DPPH radical scavenging was 51.1 μg/ml. The efficacy of CGC in scavenging hydroxyl and superoxide anion radicals was also very high but it showed a low reducing power. The antimicrobial activity of CGC was similar to chitosan against E. coli, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, the common food spoilage and pathogenic bacteria. The minimum inhibitory concentration of CGC or chitosan was 0.05%. Addition of CGC to lamb meat increased its shelf life by more than 2 weeks during chilled storage. It also enhanced the shelf life of pork cocktail salami to 28 days. CGC is endowed with both antioxidant and antimicrobial activity and thus is a promising novel preservative for various food formulations.     

Preparation and characterization of a protein hydrolysate from an oilseed flour mixture

A novel protein hydrolysate was prepared from the mixture of oilseed flours (soybean, sesame and peanut) and determined physicochemical & functional properties along with comparison of individual oilseed flour hydrolysate of soybean. Mixed flour obtained from oilseed flours viz. soybean, sesame and peanut by using calculated amounts in the ratio of 1.1:1.7:0.7, respectively was used as a starting raw material having balanced amino acid profile. Protein hydrolysates were prepared from mixed flour and soybean flour by a double enzyme treatment method to a level of 40% degree of hydrolysis. The dried protein hydrolysate prepared from the mixed flour had 72% crude protein. This protein was characterized by gel filtration chromatography and SDS-PAGE. Comparison of the amino acid profile of the protein hydrolysate from mixed flours and soyabean flours showed a significant increase in the former one with respect to amino acid contents usually deficient of single oilseed flour hydrolysate. The product is creamish yellow in colour and had a solubility of >90% over a wide pH range of 2–10. The mixed flour protein hydrolysate showed better functional attributes such as foaming, as compared to that from soybean flour alone.     

Ionic conduction in poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethyl methacrylate)-based polymer blend electrolytes complexed with different lithium salts

Poly(vinyl chloride)/poly(ethyl methacrylate)-based polymer blend electrolytes comprising propylene carbonate as a plasticizer and a lithium salt LiX (X = BF₄⁻, ClO₄⁻, CF₃SO₃⁻) are prepared by a solvent casting technique. The electrolytes are subjected to characterization by ionic conductivity, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetic/differential thermal analysis. The electrolytes that contain LiBF₄ exhibit maximum conductivity and are thermally stable up to 254 °C.     

Electron spin resonance and AC susceptibility studies on La0.9Pb0.1MnO3 single crystals

Phase separation has been recognized as important properties of manganite to create colossal magnetoresistance (CMR). Frequency dependence of AC susceptibility and electron spin resonance (ESR) studies confirm the phase separated glassy magnetism in the La_0.9Pb_0.1MnO₃ crystals. ESR spectra exhibit a gradual narrowing of the asymmetric FMR signals upon increasing the temperature and approaching the Curie temperature (T_c). The temperature dependence of line width (ΔH_pp), g-factor, double integrated (I) intensity of the resonance signals and frequency dependence peak temperatures are discussed in this paper to explain inhomogeneity in the La_0.9Pb_0.1MnO₃ single crystals.     

RESRES: The story behind the paper “Research in software engineering: An analysis of the literature”

This article is a background report describing a comprehensive study of research in the three computing disciplines Computer Science, Software Engineering, and Information Systems. Findings relate to research topics, approaches, methods, reference disciplines, and levels of analysis. The article informally describes the process used and the research products produced.