The paper proposes a linguistic based multi-view fuzzy ontology information retrieval model. It deals with multi-view linguistic based queries in multi domains. Such linguistics are user defined, reflecting his subjective view. The model also proposes a ranking algorithm that ranks the set of relevant documents according to some criteria such as their relevance degree, confidence degree, and updating degree.

A spelling error detection and correction application is based on three main components: a dictionary (or reference word list), an error model and a language model. While most of the attention in the literature has been directed to the language model, we show how improvements in any of the three components can lead to significant cumulative improvements in the overall performance of the system. We semi-automatically develop a dictionary of 9.3 million fully inflected Arabic words using a morphological transducer and a large corpus. We improve the error model by analysing error types and creating an edit distance based re-ranker. We also improve the language model by analysing the level of noise in different sources of data and selecting the optimal subset to train the system on. Testing and evaluation experiments show that our system significantly outperforms Microsoft Word 2010, OpenOffice Ayaspell and Google Docs.

BACKGROUND: Although tamoxifen is the mainstay endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer patients, the emergence of tamoxifen resistance is still the major challenge that results in treatment failure. Tamoxifen is very effective in halting breast cancer cell proliferation; nonetheless, the ability of tamoxifen to target cancer stem and progenitor cell populations (CSCs), a major key player for the emergence of tamoxifen resistance, has not been adequately investigated yet. Thus, we explored whether targeting CDK7 modulates CSCs subpopulation and tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer cells.

METHODS: Mammosphere-formation assay, stem cell biomarkers and tamoxifen sensitivity were analyzed in MCF7 tamoxifen-sensitive cell line and its resistant counterpart, LCC2, following CDK7 targeting by THZ1 or siRNA.

RESULTS: Analysis of clinically relevant data indicated that expression of stemness factor, SOX2, was positively correlated with CDK7 expression in tamoxifen-treated patients. Moreover, overexpression of the stemness gene, SOX2, was associated with shorter overall survival in those patients. Importantly, the number of CSC populations and the expression of CDK7, P-Ser118-ER-α and c-MYC were significantly higher in LCC2 cells compared with parental MCF-7 cells. Moreover, targeting CDK7 inhibited mammosphere formation, CSC-regulating genes, and CSC biomarkers expression in MCF-7 and LCC2 cells.

CONCLUSION: Our data indicate, for the first time, that CDK7-targeted therapy in ER+ breast cancer ameliorates tamoxifen resistance, at least in part, by inhibiting cancer stemness. Thus, targeting CDK7 might represent a potential approach for relieving tamoxifen resistance in ER+ breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Tamoxifen is the standard endocrine therapy for ER+ breast cancer; however, many women still relapse after long-term therapy. 3-Bromopyruvate, a glycolytic inhibitor, has shown high selective anti-tumor activity in vitro, and in vivo. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible augmentation of the effect of tamoxifen via reprograming cancer cell metabolism using 3-bromopyruvate.

METHODS: An in vitro screening of antitumor activity as well as the apoptotic, anti-metastatic, and anti-angiogenic potentials of the combination therapy were carried out using different techniques on breast cancer cell lines MCF7and T47D. In addition the antitumor effect of the combined therapy was done on mice bearing tumor.

RESULTS: Our results showed modulation in apoptosis, angiogenesis and metastatic potential by either drug alone; however, their combination has surpassed that of the individual one. Combination regimen enhanced activated caspases-3, 7 and 9, as well as oxidative stress, signified by increased malondialdehyde and decreased glutathione level. Additionally, the angiogenesis and metastasis markers, including hypoxia inducing factor-1α, vascular endothelia growth factor, and metaloproteinases-2 and 9 were decreased after using the combination regimen. These results were further confirmed by the in vivo study, which depicted a decrease in the tumor volume and angiogenesis and an increase in oxidative stress as well.

CONCLUSION: 3-bromopyruvate could be a valuable compound when added with tamoxifen in breast cancer treatment.

This study evaluates the use of chitosan–silver nanocomposites (CSN) as an insecticide against the bed bug ( Cimex lectularius). Adult bed bugs were collected from infested residential areas and identified using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. CSN were prepared and photographed for characterization using transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, and zeta potential. The insecticidal effect of different concentrations of CSN (400–1000 ppm) was compared to that of 0.1% cypermethrin as a positive control and normal saline as a negative control. The bugs ( n = 25) were immersed for 20 min in the corresponding medium, dried with filter papers, and then incubated at 27–28°C and 70% RH with a 12:12 h light–dark photoperiod. The mortality rates were recorded at different time intervals (2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 h post-incubation (hPI)), and the entire experiment was repeated five times. Image analysis showed round- to spherical-shaped CSN ranging in size from 34 to 72 nm. The mortality rates were positively associated with increasing concentrations of CSN. The mortality rate first reached 100% for concentrations of 800 ppm at 24 hPI and 1000 ppm at 12 hPI. The calculated LC 50 was found at a concentration of 1165 ppm at 2 hPI, and the LC 99 was found at a concentration of 1914 ppm at 2 hPI. The positive control, cypermethrin, induced 100% mortality among the bugs at 2 hPI, while the negative control caused no mortality. These results clearly show the potential of CSN as an insecticide against C. lectularius. Future studies on best practices for implementing these particles in clinical settings are recommended.

يتناول البحث دراسة تابوت خشبي ملون تم العثور عليه بالمقبرة رقم 35 بمنطقة الواقفة بواحة باريس بمحافظة الوادي الجديد - مصر، وذلك بناءا على ما ورد في سجل وارد الآثار الخاص بمتحف آثار الوادي الجديد و المحفوظ الآن به التابوت و مسجل تحت رقم 2610/39. تركز الدراسة على استخدام منهج متعدد الفحوص و التحاليل للتعرف على المواد التي استخدمت في صناعة هذا التابوت من نوع الخشب و كذلك أرضية التصوير المستخدمة و طبقة اللون المطبقة على أرضية التصوير سابقة الذكر و أخيراً الوسيط المستخدم، حيث تم استخدام التصوير الفوتوغرافي، المجهر الرقمي USB digital microscopy، المجهر الضوئي Optical microscopy، التصوير بالأشعة تحت الحمراء (IR)، التحليل الطيقي بالأشعة تحت الحمراء (FTIR )، التحليل بطربقة حيود الأشعة السينية (XRD)، حيث أن أهم ما تم التوصل إليه البحث أن اللون الأصفر المستخدم في التابوت عبارة عن مادتان مختلفتان التركيب الأولى هي أصفر الأربمنت (كبريتيد الزرنيخ As2S3)، والثانية هي أصفر الجوثيت (أكسيد الحديد المائي Fe2O3.nH2O)، كما تم تحديد التوزيع المكاني لمادة اللون الأزرق وهي الأزرق المصري في التابوت بالكامل دون أخذ عينات باستخدام تقنية التصوير بالأشعة تحت الحمراء (IR) ، بالإضافة إلى التعرف على جميع المواد المستخدمة في صناعة التابوت (موضوع البحث).