The G-group heuristic for single machine lot scheduling

This paper develops a heuristic procedure for generating feasible solutions for the single-machine, multi-product, infinite-horizon, lot scheduling problem. This problem occurs in several practical situations, for example, in metal stamping factories, on appliance assembly lines, in the beverage blending and bottling industries, in paint production and on motor car assembly lines. The proposed heuristic divides the N products into G groups and the products belonging to the same group are produced in the same cyclical pattern. Thus the problem of scheduling N independent products is reduced to that of scheduling G groups of products. Since G is much less than N, the problem is made simpler. The proposed heuristics has two main advantages: implementation facility and effectiveness. Computer codes are available for several mini and micro computers. The effectiveness is demonstrated by two tests. First, we solved the six problems originally solved by Elmaghraby (1978 a). Obviously, the results based on only six problems, cannot be generalized. Second, the G-group heuristic, as well as five other heuristics, was applied to 270 random computer-generated problems. The results show that it performed better.     

Evaluation of the hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of <i>Tegillarca granosa</i> flesh body extract against potassium bromide toxicity via targeting the histomorphometry,chromosomal and expressions of TGF-β1, VEGF and COX-2 genes in rats

The hepatotoxic effect of potassium bromide (KBr) on rat liver tissues were determined, as well as the potential protective effect of Tegillaraca granosa (T. granosa) flesh body extract. Twenty adult male albino rats were equally distributed into four groups; Group (I) treated with physiological saline (control group), Group (II) was orally gavaged by 200 mg/kg of T. granosa body extract day after day, Group (III) was intoxicated by KBr (150 mg/kg bwt day after day orally) and finally, Group (IV) was given a combination of T. granosa flesh body extract plus KBr with similar doses in the second and third groups. At the end of one month, blood, liver tissue and bone marrow samples were collected to be used for the required laboratory examinations. In response to KBr toxicity, there was a significant increase in serum antioxidant biomarkers, which was accompanied by a significant change in hepatocyte ultrastructure and a significant change in carbohydrate and protein levels within the liver organ. In addition, KBr intoxication resulted in a substantial increase in the incidence of chromosomal aberrations such as holes, splits, deletions, fragments, ploidy, and ring chromosomes, as well as significant upregulation of TGF-1, VEGF, and COX-2 gene expression. The hepatotoxic effect of KBr was counteracted by treatment with T. granosa flesh body extract. T. granosa flesh body extract has a curative antioxidant and numerous protective effects against KBr hepatotoxicity.     

Ameliorative effects of melatonin and zinc oxide nanoparticles treatment against adverse effects of busulfan induced infertility in male albino mice

Testicular damage is one of the most hazardous effects as it’s associated with azoospermia. Busulfan (Bu) is a highly toxic chemotherapeutic drug that affects testis. Thirty male Swiss albino mice divided into six groups of 5 animals each. Control (oral 0.9% saline daily for 75 days); Mel (20 mg/kg/day orally for 30 days); ZnO NPs (5 mg/kg/day i.p. for 30 days); BU (single i.p. injection of 40 mg/kg and then left for 45 days); BU + Mel (single 40 mg/kg dose of BU and left for 45 days followed by 20 mg/kg/day Mel for 30 days); BU + ZnO NPs (single dose of 40 mg/kg of BU and left for 45 days, then 5 mg/kg/day ZnO NPs for 30 days). Preparation and Characterization of ZnO NPs. Specimens from testis prepared for ultrastructural investigations using TEM after Masson’s trichrome and toluidine blue staining. BU induced histological and ultrastructural damage of the testis. Moreover, the present results could be concluded that Mel or ZnO NPs can protect the testicular tissue against ultrastructural alterations induced by BU by its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic effects.     

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential capacities of AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs in suppressing pancreatic β-cells auto-immunity and apoptosis in rats with T1DM induced model

Since Type 1 diabetes (T1DM) occurs when β-cells mass is reduced to less than 20% of the normal level due to autoimmune destruction of cells resulting in the inability to secrete insulin, preservation or replenishment of the functional β-cells mass has become a major therapeutic focus for this diabetic type treatment. Thus, this 4-week work plan was designed to determine which mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) type is more appropriate to alleviate pancreatic hazards resulting from diabetes induction; via tracking a comparative study between MSCs derived from adipose tissue (AD-MSCs) and from bone marrow (BM-MSCs) in management of T1DM considering their immunomodulatory, anti-apoptotic and antioxidative roles. Rats were divided randomly into 4 groups; control, STZ-diabetic (D), D+AD-MSCs, and D+BM-MSCs groups. Both stem cells types in this study were allogenic. Herein, both oxidative stress and antioxidant markers were evaluated using colorimetric analysis, while inflammatory, immune and apoptotic markers were assessed through flow cytometric analysis. Results showed that diabetic rats treated with either AD-MSCs or BM-MSCs exhibited marked pancreatic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities that were able to initiate pancreatic immunomodulation and reducing β-cells apoptotic death, thus, help to restore their normal insulin secretion and hypoglycemic abilities. However, AD-MSCs injection was shown to be superior as a pancreatic regenerative tool in overcoming diabetes; owing to their marked antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and anti-apoptotic characteristics over BM-MSCs treatment.     

LIPASE-CATALYZED ACIDOLYSIS OF ALGAL OILS WITH CAPRIC ACID: OPTIMIZATION OF REACTION CONDITIONS USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLGY

Lipase-assisted acidolysis of algal oils, arachidoinc acid single cell oil (ARASCO), docosahexaenoic acid single cell oil (DHASCO) and a single cell oil rich in both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and docosapentaenoic acid (DPA, n-6) known as OMEGA-GOLD, with a medium-chain fatty acid (capric acid) was studied. Response surface methodology was used to obtain a maximum incorporation of CA into algal oils. The process variables studied were the amount of enzyme (2–6%), reaction temperature (35–55C) and incubation time (12–36 h). The amount of water added and mole ratio of substrate (algal oil to CA) were kept at 2% and 1:3, respectively. All experiments were conducted according to a face-centered cube design. Under optimum conditions (12.3% of enzyme; 45C; 29.4 h), the incorporation of CA was 20.0% into ARASCO, 22.6% into DHASCO (4.2% enzyme; 43.3C; 27.I h) and 20.7% into the OMEGA-GOLD oil (2.5% enzyme, 46.6C; 25.2 h).     

Investigation of the antioxidant defensive role of both AD-MSCs and BM-MSCs in modulating the alteration in the oxidative stress status in various STZ-diabetic rats’ tissues

Diabetes mellitus (DM) could negatively affect patients’ health via inducing a lot of serious functional hazards in many tissues’ cells at molecular levels. Recently, many scientists had proposed stem cell therapy being an appropriate alternative treatment protocol for numerous health threatening issues including diabetes. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the antioxidant potentiality of two MSCs types in alleviating tissues’ oxidative stress dramatic elevation resulting as a consequence of Type 1 DM induction. In our 4 weeks study, animals were divided into four groups: control group, STZ-diabetic group (D), D+AD-MSCs group and D+BM-MSCs group. Data reported that diabetic rats treated with either AD-MSCs or BM-MSCs exhibited a marvelous body tissues (Pancreas, Liver and Kidney) enhancing capabilities in attenuating the oxidative stress status; as evidenced by XO, ROS, and MDA levels down-regulation; with a general concomitant elevation in the antioxidants’ content; evidenced by many enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants up-regulation; relative to the diabetic untreated group. Interestingly, comparing both treatments with each other and to control group, most of the measured parameters were reverted back to near normal levels after AD-MSCs injection; which clearly point out their stunning health benefits and superiority as anti-diabetic agent in overcoming different tissues’ complications; owing to their marked cytoprotective and regenerative potentialities.