Seismic ground faulting is the greatest hazard for continuous buried pipelines.Over the years,researchers have attempted to understand pipeline behavior mostly via numerical modeling such as the finite element method....Seismic ground faulting is the greatest hazard for continuous buried pipelines.Over the years,researchers have attempted to understand pipeline behavior mostly via numerical modeling such as the finite element method.The lack of well-documented field case histories of pipeline failure from seismic ground faulting and the cost and complicated facilities needed for full-scale experimental simulation mean that a centrifuge-based method to determine the behavior of pipelines subjected to faulting is best to verify numerical approaches.This paper presents results from three centrifuge tests designed to investigate continuous buried steel pipeline behavior subjected to normal faulting.The experimental setup and procedure are described and the recorded axial and bending strains induced in a pipeline are presented and compared to those obtained via analytical methods.The influence of factors such as faulting offset,burial depth and pipe diameter on the axial and bending strains of pipes and on ground soil failure and pipeline deformation patterns are also investigated.Finally,the tensile rupture of a pipeline due to normal faulting is investigated.展开更多
In open-pit mines,pit slope as one of the important parameters affects the mine economy and total minable reserve,and it is also affected by different uncertainties which arising from many sources.One of the most crit...In open-pit mines,pit slope as one of the important parameters affects the mine economy and total minable reserve,and it is also affected by different uncertainties which arising from many sources.One of the most critical sources of uncertainty effects on the pit slope design is rock mass geomechanical properties.By comparing the probability of failure resulted from deterministic procedure and probabilistic one,this paper investigated the effects of aforesaid uncertainties on open-pit slope stability in metal mines.In this way,to reduce the effect of variance,it implemented Latin Hypercube Sampling(LHS)technique.Furthermore,a hypothesis test was exerted to compare the effects on two cases in Middle East.Subsequently,the investigation approved high influence of geomechanical uncertainties on overall pit steepness and stability in both iron and copper mines,though on the first case the effects were just over.展开更多
Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the most common cause of visual loss among working age individuals.Diabetic macular edema(DME)is an important complication of DR that affects around one third of the patients with DR.Several...Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the most common cause of visual loss among working age individuals.Diabetic macular edema(DME)is an important complication of DR that affects around one third of the patients with DR.Several treatments have been approved for DME ranging from blood pressure and glycemic control to photocoagulation and more recently the use of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)antagonists.The index review discusses aflibercept(EYLEA-Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,Inc.,Tarrytown,New York,NY,and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals,Berlin,Germany)in the context of other VEGF antagonists currently available for the treatment of DME.A systematic search of literature was conducted on PubMed,Scopus,and Google Scholar with no limitation on language or year of publication.Pre-clinical studies of aflibercept have shown a higher affinity of this molecule for vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)along with a longer duration of action as compared to other VEGF antagonists.Recent clinical trials have shown visual outcome results for aflibercept to be similarly favorable as compared to other available agents with the added benefit of fewer required injections and less frequent monitoring.Aflibercept presents a potential exciting new addition to the armamentarium of current VEGF antagonists available for the treatment of DME and other retinal vascular diseases.However,further studies are indicated to confirm the role,safety,and efficacy of aflibercept for DME.展开更多
BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties....BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanism underlying quercetin-mediated hepatoprotection is not fully understood. The current study was to evaluate mecha- nisms of hepatoprotective effect of quercetin in BDL rat model. METHODS： We divided male Wistar rats into 4 groups （n=8 for each）： sham, sham＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）, BDL, and BDL＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for liver enzyme mea- surements and liver for the measurement of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS： Quercetin significantly alleviated liver injury in BDL rats as evidenced by histology and reduced liver enzymes. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 were significantly increased in BDL rats compared with those in the sham group （P〈0.05）; quercetin treatment reversed these variables back toward normal （P〈0.05）. Another interesting finding was that the antioxidant markers e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase were elevated in quercetin-treated BDL rats compared to BDL rats （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Quercetin demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against BDL-induced liver injury through increasing antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue, while preventing the production of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 proteins.展开更多
Congenital disseminated pyogenic granuloma(CDPG)is characterized by eruptive disseminated or localized lesions,which may arise spontaneously or secondary to predisposing factors.Even rarer is the occurrence of CDPG wi...Congenital disseminated pyogenic granuloma(CDPG)is characterized by eruptive disseminated or localized lesions,which may arise spontaneously or secondary to predisposing factors.Even rarer is the occurrence of CDPG with numerous lesions affecting variable organs,which develop during the fetal period.This report describes the case of a 32-week-old fetus presenting with severe hydrocephalus and vascular intracranial and right lung masses on magnetic resonance imaging.Preterm labor occurred at the 32^(nd)week due to preterm premature rupture of membranes,and the newborn died due to cardiac dysfunction within 2 hours postpartum.The subsequent autopsy revealed multiple violaceous to dark red papules,nodules,pedunculated and un-pedunculated mucocutaneous masses,as well as two brain lesions,a lung lesion,a thoracic wall intramuscular mass,and a pyloric mass.Microscopic examination and immunohistochemical evaluation for glucose transporter 1(GLUT1)confirmed the diagnosis of CDPG.CDPG represents a rare condition with an elusive etiology and limited reports in the literature.Differential diagnosis from multifocal infantile hemangioma,based on GLUT1 negativity of CDPG,is imperative due to differing clinical course and treatment modalities.This report underscores a severe case of CDPG characterized by preterm labor and demise shortly after delivery,notable for its extensive involvement across multiple organs,including the brain,lung,intestine,musculoskeletal system,mucosal,and numerous cutaneous sites.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the frequency of exoU and exoY genes in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Methods:In this study,100 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from patients hospit...Objective:To investigate the frequency of exoU and exoY genes in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Methods:In this study,100 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from patients hospitalized in educational-therapeutic hospitals and were identified using standard microbiological tests.Then,the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by the disk agar diffusion method.The bacterial DNAs were extracted by the alkaline lysis method.Finally,the presence of exoU and exoY genes was evaluated by the PCR test.Results:In this study,47%,72%,29%,39%,40%,and 44%of the isolates were non-susceptible to piperacillin,aztreonam,ceftazidime,imipenem,tobramycin,and ciprofloxacin,respectively.In addition,95%and 93%of the clinical isolates carried the exoU and exoY genes.Blood and fecal isolates had both virulence genes,while only one wound isolate had neither genes.Meanwhile,all urinary isolates contained the exoY gene and only one isolate lacked the exoU gene.Also,88 isolates simultaneously had both exoU and exoY genes.Conclusions:High prevalence of exoU and exoY genes in this region indicates a significant role of typeⅢsecretion system in pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The typeⅢsecretion system may be a suitable target to reduce the pathogenicity of this bacterium.展开更多
Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed t...Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol in combination with the chemotherapy drug 5-FU on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines(AGS and EPG85-257).Materials and Methods:In this in vitro study,AGS and EPG85-257 cells were treated with different concentrations of celastrol,5-FU,and their combination.Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.The synergistic effect of 5-FU and celastrol was studied using Compusyn software.The DNA content at different phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis rate was measured usingflow cytometry.Results:Co-treatment with low concentrations(10%inhibitory concentration(IC10))of celastrol and 5-FU significantly reduced IC50(p<0.05)so that 48 h after treatment,IC50 was calculated at 3.77 and 6.9μM for celastrol,20.7 and 11.6μM for 5-FU,and 5.03 and 4.57μM for their combination for AGS and EPG85-257 cells,respectively.The mean percentage of apoptosis for AGS cells treated with celastrol,5-FU,and their combination was obtained 23.9,41.2,and 61.9,and for EPG85-257 cells 5.65,46.9,and 55.7,respectively.In addition,the 5-FU and celastrol-5-FU combination induced cell cycle arrest in the synthesis phase.Conclusions:Although celastrol could decrease the concentration of 5-fluorouracil that sufficed to suppress gastric cancer cells,additional studies are required to arrive at conclusive evidence on the anticancer effects of celastrol.展开更多
In the present work, the behavior of folic acid （FA） molecule adsorbed onto single-walled carbon nanotube （SWCNT） was examined using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G＊ level. In order to obtain information about the binding fe...In the present work, the behavior of folic acid （FA） molecule adsorbed onto single-walled carbon nanotube （SWCNT） was examined using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G＊ level. In order to obtain information about the binding features of SWCNT as adsorbent with FA molecule, several studies, including the structural and electronic parameters and also the Atoms in Molecules （AIM） analysis, were performed. It was observed that the FA molecule via hydrogen bond prefers to adsorb on SWCNT with adsorption energy of about -18.70 kcal/mol. The molecular orbitals （HOMO and LUMO）, natural bond orbital （NBO）,analysis, and density of states （DOS） plot indicated that a charge about 0.032 [ e [ is transferred from the FA molecule to the nanotube. After solvation energy calculations, it was found that the presence of a polar solvent causes an increase in FA adsorption on the single-walled carbon nanotube. Topological features such as electron energy density （Hc） and Laplacian of the electron density （V2p~） demonstrate partial covalent nature for H（ll6）...O（10） interaction in the FA/SWCNT complex. According to the calculated results, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are expected to be a potential efficient adsorbent for the adsorption of folic acid drug and also can be used as a suitable drug delivery vehicle within biological systems.展开更多
In order to reduce the sulfur compounds in diesel fuel,boron nitride(BN)has been used as a novel metal-free catalyst in the present research.This nanocatalyst was synthesized via template-free approach followed by hea...In order to reduce the sulfur compounds in diesel fuel,boron nitride(BN)has been used as a novel metal-free catalyst in the present research.This nanocatalyst was synthesized via template-free approach followed by heating treatment at 900℃ in nitrogen atmosphere that the characteristics of the sample were identified by the X-ray diffraction,Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,field emission scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,atomic force microscopy,and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms.The results of structural and morphological analysis represented that BN has been successfully synthesized.The efficacy of the main operating parameters on the process was studied by using response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design method.The prepared catalyst showed high efficiency in oxidative desulfurization of diesel fuel with initial sulfur content of 8040 mg·kg^(-1)S.From statistical analysis,a significant quadratic model was obtained to predict the sulfur removal as a function of efficient parameters.The maximum efficiency of 72.4%was achieved under optimized conditions at oxidant/sulfur molar ratio of 10.2,temperature of 71℃,reaction time of 113 min,and catalyst dosage of 0.36 g.Also,the reusability of the BN was studied,and the result showed little reduction in activity of the catalyst after 10 times regeneration.Moreover,a plausible mechanism was proposed for oxidation of sulfur compounds on the surface of the catalyst.The present study shows that BN materials can be selected as promising metal-free catalysts for desulfurization process.展开更多
12-Tungstophosphoric acid（PW） supported on KSF montmorillonite, PW/KSF, was used as catalyst for deep oxidative desulfurization（ODS） of mixed thiophenic compounds in model oil and crude oil under mild conditions u...12-Tungstophosphoric acid（PW） supported on KSF montmorillonite, PW/KSF, was used as catalyst for deep oxidative desulfurization（ODS） of mixed thiophenic compounds in model oil and crude oil under mild conditions using hydrogen peroxide（H2O2） as an oxidizing agent. A one-factor-at-a-time method was applied for optimizing the parameters such as temperature, reaction time, amount of catalyst, type of extractant and oxidant-tosulfur compounds（S-compounds） molar ratio. The corresponding products can be easily removed from the model oil by using ethanol as the best extractant. The results showed high catalytic activity of PW/KSF in the oxidative removal of dibenzothiophene（DBT） and mixed thiophenic model oil under atmospheric pressure at 75 ℃ in a biphasic system. To investigate the oxidation and adsorption effects of crude oil composition on ODS, the effects of cyclohexene, 1,7-octadiene and o-xylene with different concentrations were studied.展开更多
In today's world, various approaches and parameters exist for designing a plan and determining its spatial, placement. Hence, various modes for identifying crucial locations can be explored when an architectural p...In today's world, various approaches and parameters exist for designing a plan and determining its spatial, placement. Hence, various modes for identifying crucial locations can be explored when an architectural plan is designed in different dimensions. While designing all these modes takes considerable time, there are numerous potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain. This study aims to compute and use an adjacency matrix to generate architectural residential plans. Additionally, it develops a plan generation algorithm in Rhinoceros software, utilizing the Grasshopper plugin to create a dataset of architectural plans. In the following step, the data was entered into a neural network to identify the architectural plan's type, furniture, icons, and use of spaces, which was achieved using YOLOv4, EfficientDet, YOLOv5, DetectoRS, and RetinaNet. The algorithm's execution, testing, and training were conducted using Darknet and PyTorch. The research dataset comprises 12,000 plans, with 70% employed in the training phase and 30% in the testing phase. The network was appropriately trained practically and precisely in relation to an average precision (AP) resulting of 91.50%. After detecting the types of space use, the main research algorithm has been designed and coded, which includes determining the adjacency matrix of architectural plan spaces in seven stages. All research processes were conducted in Python, including dataset preparation, network object detection, and adjacency matrix algorithm design. Finally, the adjacency matrix is given to the input of the proposed plan generator network, which consequently, based on the resulting adjacency, obtains different placement modes for spaces and furniture.展开更多
Objective To determine the effectiveness and safety of essential oil from Citrus aurantium on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography.Methods A single-blind,randomized controlled trial was conducted in 80 ...Objective To determine the effectiveness and safety of essential oil from Citrus aurantium on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography.Methods A single-blind,randomized controlled trial was conducted in 80 patients experiencing coronary angiography in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah,Iran from April to November in 2016.All patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups by a random number table,40 cases in each group.The patients in the intervention group inhaled Citrus aurantium essential oil for 15–20 min about 60 min before angiography.Following the same procedure,distilled water was used instead of Citrus aurantium in the control group.Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI)was filled in and vital signs including systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),respiratory and pulse rate were recorded before and 20 min after the intervention.Adverse reactions after intervention were observed.Results In the intervention group,the mean scores of STAI,SBP,DBP,respiratory and pulse rate were 53.30±10.13,134.82±11.75 mm Hg,84.49±6.99 mm Hg,17.87±1.73 times/min,and 76.48±12.55 beats/min at baseline and significantly decreased to 42.37±10.15,124.49±10.48 mm Hg,79.23±6.62 mm Hg,14.54±1.43 times/min,and 70.03±13.66 beats/min respectively 20 min after intervention(all P<0.05);however,in the control group,neither anxiety scores nor vital signs changed significantly(P>0.05).All subjects reported no adverse reactions.Conclusion Inhalation of the essential oil from Citrus aurantium was effective in reducing anxiety and stress levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography.展开更多
Purpose： To identify and appraise the published studies assessing interventions accounting for reducing fatigue and sleepiness while driving. Methods： This systematic review searched the following electronic databa...Purpose： To identify and appraise the published studies assessing interventions accounting for reducing fatigue and sleepiness while driving. Methods： This systematic review searched the following electronic databases： Medline, Science direct, Scopus, EMBASE, PsyclNFO, Transport Database, Cochrane, BIOSIS, ISI Web of Knowledge, specialist road injuries journals and the Australian Transport and Road Index database. Additional searches included websites of relevant organizations, reference lists of included studies, and issues of major injury journals published within the past 15 years. Studies were included if they investigated interventions/exposures accounting for reducing fatigue and sleepiness as the outcome, measured any potential interventions for mitigation of sleepiness and were written in English. Meta-analysis was not attempted because of the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results： Of 63 studies identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Based on results of our review, many interventions in the world have been used to reduce drowsiness while driving such as behavioral （talking to passengers, face washing, listening to the radio, no alcohol use, limiting the driving behavior at the time of 12 p.m. - 6 a.m. etc）, educational interventions and also changes in the environment （such as rumble strips, chevrons, variable message signs, etc）. Meta-analysis on the effect of all these in- terventions was impossible due to the high heterogeneity in methodology, effect size and interventions reported in the assessed studies. Conclusion： Results of present review showed various interventions in different parts of the world have been used to decrease drowsy driving. Although these interventions can be used in countries with high incidence of road traffic accidents, precise effect of each intervention is still unknown. Further studies are required for comparison of the efficiency of each intervention and localization of each intervention ac- cording to the traffic pattems of each country.展开更多
5-flurouracil(5-FU)-based chemotherapy is the main pharmacological therapy for advanced colorectal cancer(CRC).Despite significant progress in the treatment of CRC during the last decades,5-FU drug resistance remains ...5-flurouracil(5-FU)-based chemotherapy is the main pharmacological therapy for advanced colorectal cancer(CRC).Despite significant progress in the treatment of CRC during the last decades,5-FU drug resistance remains the most important cause of failure in CRC therapy.Resistance to 5-FU is a complex and multistep process.Different mechanisms including microsatellite instability,increased expression level of key enzyme thymidylate synthase and its polymorphism,increased level of 5-FU-activating enzymes and mutation of TP53 are proposed as the main determinants of resistance to 5-FU in CRC cells.Recently,microribonucleic acids(miRNA)and their alterations were found to have a crucial role in 5-FU resistance.In this regard,the miRNA-mediated mechanisms of 5-FU drug resistance reside among the new fields of pharmacogenetics of CRC drug response that has not been completely discovered.Identification of the biological markers that are related to response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy is an emerging field of precision medicine.This approach will have an important role in defining those patients who are most likely to benefit from 5-FU-based chemotherapy in the future.Thereby,the identification of 5-FU drug resistance mechanisms is an essential step to predict and eventually overcome resistance.In the present comprehensive review,we will summarize the latest knowledge regarding the molecular determinants of response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in CRC by emphasizing the role of miRNAs.展开更多
An exopolysaccharide substances produced by Vibrio neocaledonicus sp. was introduced as a novel green inhibitor against the corrosion of carbon steel in artificial seawater and acidic media. The produced extracellular...An exopolysaccharide substances produced by Vibrio neocaledonicus sp. was introduced as a novel green inhibitor against the corrosion of carbon steel in artificial seawater and acidic media. The produced extracellular polymeric substance（EPS） is heterogeneous with composition of polysaccharides, nucleic acids and protein and average molecular weight of 29,572 Da. Adsorption of EPS on the metal surfaces and formation of Fe-EPS complexes acted as a barrier to prevent the oxygen penetration and hindered anodic and cathodic reactions. The inhibitory effect increases with increasing EPS concentration and exposure time. The highest corrosion inhibitory effect（95.1%） was observed for 10 g/L of EPS after 5 days of exposure in seawater. This is the highest inhibitory effect ever been reported by EPSs. While, the optimum concentration of EPS with the highest inhibition efficiency in 1 N H;SO;was 1000 ppm. The influence of different parameters, such as initial pH, growth phase, various nitrogen and carbon sources on the production of EPS and its corrosion inhibitory effect were also investigated. According to results,the optimum culture medium for EPS production is contained artificial seawater including 5% mannitol as carbon source and 0.1%（NH;）;SO;as nitrogen source at pH = 8. This medium could produce 22.24 g/L EPS during 3 days’ incubation at 30 ℃. The corrosion inhibitory efficiency of obtained EPS was 95.97%.展开更多
ype-1 fuzzy sets cannot fully handle the uncertainties. To overcome the problem, type2 fuzzy sets have been proposed. The novelty of this paper is using interval type-2 fuzzy logic controller （IT2FLC） to control a f...ype-1 fuzzy sets cannot fully handle the uncertainties. To overcome the problem, type2 fuzzy sets have been proposed. The novelty of this paper is using interval type-2 fuzzy logic controller （IT2FLC） to control a flexible-joint robot with voltage control strategy. In order to take into account the whole robotic system including the dynamics of actuators and the robot manipulator, the voltages of motors are used as inputs of the system. To highlight the capabilities of the control system, a flexible joint robot which is highly nonlinear, heavily coupled and uncertain is used. In addition, to improve the control performance, the parameters of the primary membership functions of IT2FLC are optimized using particle swarm optimization （PSO）. A comparative study between the proposed IT2FLC and type-1 fuzzy logic controller （T1FLC） is presented to better assess their respective performance in presence of external disturbance and unmodelled dynamics. Stability analysis is presented and the effectiveness of the proposed control approach is demonstrated by simulations using a two-link flexible-joint robot driven by permanent magnet direct current motors. Simulation results show the superiority of the IT2FLC over the T1FLC in terms of accuracy, robustness and interpretability.展开更多
基金This work was conducted at the Physical Modeling and Centrifuge Laboratory of the Soil Mechanics and Foundation Engineering Department in the School of Civil Engineering,University of Tehran
文摘Seismic ground faulting is the greatest hazard for continuous buried pipelines.Over the years,researchers have attempted to understand pipeline behavior mostly via numerical modeling such as the finite element method.The lack of well-documented field case histories of pipeline failure from seismic ground faulting and the cost and complicated facilities needed for full-scale experimental simulation mean that a centrifuge-based method to determine the behavior of pipelines subjected to faulting is best to verify numerical approaches.This paper presents results from three centrifuge tests designed to investigate continuous buried steel pipeline behavior subjected to normal faulting.The experimental setup and procedure are described and the recorded axial and bending strains induced in a pipeline are presented and compared to those obtained via analytical methods.The influence of factors such as faulting offset,burial depth and pipe diameter on the axial and bending strains of pipes and on ground soil failure and pipeline deformation patterns are also investigated.Finally,the tensile rupture of a pipeline due to normal faulting is investigated.
文摘In open-pit mines,pit slope as one of the important parameters affects the mine economy and total minable reserve,and it is also affected by different uncertainties which arising from many sources.One of the most critical sources of uncertainty effects on the pit slope design is rock mass geomechanical properties.By comparing the probability of failure resulted from deterministic procedure and probabilistic one,this paper investigated the effects of aforesaid uncertainties on open-pit slope stability in metal mines.In this way,to reduce the effect of variance,it implemented Latin Hypercube Sampling(LHS)technique.Furthermore,a hypothesis test was exerted to compare the effects on two cases in Middle East.Subsequently,the investigation approved high influence of geomechanical uncertainties on overall pit steepness and stability in both iron and copper mines,though on the first case the effects were just over.
文摘Diabetic retinopathy(DR)is the most common cause of visual loss among working age individuals.Diabetic macular edema(DME)is an important complication of DR that affects around one third of the patients with DR.Several treatments have been approved for DME ranging from blood pressure and glycemic control to photocoagulation and more recently the use of vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)antagonists.The index review discusses aflibercept(EYLEA-Regeneron Pharmaceuticals,Inc.,Tarrytown,New York,NY,and Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals,Berlin,Germany)in the context of other VEGF antagonists currently available for the treatment of DME.A systematic search of literature was conducted on PubMed,Scopus,and Google Scholar with no limitation on language or year of publication.Pre-clinical studies of aflibercept have shown a higher affinity of this molecule for vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGF-A)along with a longer duration of action as compared to other VEGF antagonists.Recent clinical trials have shown visual outcome results for aflibercept to be similarly favorable as compared to other available agents with the added benefit of fewer required injections and less frequent monitoring.Aflibercept presents a potential exciting new addition to the armamentarium of current VEGF antagonists available for the treatment of DME and other retinal vascular diseases.However,further studies are indicated to confirm the role,safety,and efficacy of aflibercept for DME.
文摘BACKGROUND： Bile duct ligation （BDL） and subsequent cholestasis are correlated with oxidative stress, hepatocellular injury and fibrosis. Quercetin is a flavonoid with antifibrotic, and hepatoprotective properties. However, the molecular mechanism underlying quercetin-mediated hepatoprotection is not fully understood. The current study was to evaluate mecha- nisms of hepatoprotective effect of quercetin in BDL rat model. METHODS： We divided male Wistar rats into 4 groups （n=8 for each）： sham, sham＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）, BDL, and BDL＋quercetin （30 mg/kg per day）. Four weeks later, the rats were sacrificed, the blood was collected for liver enzyme mea- surements and liver for the measurement of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 mRNA and protein levels by quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. RESULTS： Quercetin significantly alleviated liver injury in BDL rats as evidenced by histology and reduced liver enzymes. Furthermore, the mRNA and protein expression of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 were significantly increased in BDL rats compared with those in the sham group （P〈0.05）; quercetin treatment reversed these variables back toward normal （P〈0.05）. Another interesting finding was that the antioxidant markers e.g. superoxide dismutase and catalase were elevated in quercetin-treated BDL rats compared to BDL rats （P〈0.05）. CONCLUSION： Quercetin demonstrated hepatoprotective activity against BDL-induced liver injury through increasing antioxidant capacity of the liver tissue, while preventing the production of Racl, Racl-GTP and NOX1 proteins.
文摘Congenital disseminated pyogenic granuloma(CDPG)is characterized by eruptive disseminated or localized lesions,which may arise spontaneously or secondary to predisposing factors.Even rarer is the occurrence of CDPG with numerous lesions affecting variable organs,which develop during the fetal period.This report describes the case of a 32-week-old fetus presenting with severe hydrocephalus and vascular intracranial and right lung masses on magnetic resonance imaging.Preterm labor occurred at the 32^(nd)week due to preterm premature rupture of membranes,and the newborn died due to cardiac dysfunction within 2 hours postpartum.The subsequent autopsy revealed multiple violaceous to dark red papules,nodules,pedunculated and un-pedunculated mucocutaneous masses,as well as two brain lesions,a lung lesion,a thoracic wall intramuscular mass,and a pyloric mass.Microscopic examination and immunohistochemical evaluation for glucose transporter 1(GLUT1)confirmed the diagnosis of CDPG.CDPG represents a rare condition with an elusive etiology and limited reports in the literature.Differential diagnosis from multifocal infantile hemangioma,based on GLUT1 negativity of CDPG,is imperative due to differing clinical course and treatment modalities.This report underscores a severe case of CDPG characterized by preterm labor and demise shortly after delivery,notable for its extensive involvement across multiple organs,including the brain,lung,intestine,musculoskeletal system,mucosal,and numerous cutaneous sites.
文摘Objective:To investigate the frequency of exoU and exoY genes in patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.Methods:In this study,100 clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from patients hospitalized in educational-therapeutic hospitals and were identified using standard microbiological tests.Then,the antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by the disk agar diffusion method.The bacterial DNAs were extracted by the alkaline lysis method.Finally,the presence of exoU and exoY genes was evaluated by the PCR test.Results:In this study,47%,72%,29%,39%,40%,and 44%of the isolates were non-susceptible to piperacillin,aztreonam,ceftazidime,imipenem,tobramycin,and ciprofloxacin,respectively.In addition,95%and 93%of the clinical isolates carried the exoU and exoY genes.Blood and fecal isolates had both virulence genes,while only one wound isolate had neither genes.Meanwhile,all urinary isolates contained the exoY gene and only one isolate lacked the exoU gene.Also,88 isolates simultaneously had both exoU and exoY genes.Conclusions:High prevalence of exoU and exoY genes in this region indicates a significant role of typeⅢsecretion system in pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.The typeⅢsecretion system may be a suitable target to reduce the pathogenicity of this bacterium.
基金supported by Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences,Shahrekord,Iran(Ethics Code:IR.SKUMS.REC.1397.119,Grant No.3696 and Ethics Code:IR.SKUMS.REC.1401.197,Grant No.6651).
文摘Background:Despite the availability of chemotherapy drugs such as 5-fluorouracil(5-FU),the treatment of some cancers such as gastric cancer remains challenging due to drug resistance and side effects.This study aimed to investigate the effect of celastrol in combination with the chemotherapy drug 5-FU on proliferation and induction of apoptosis in human gastric cancer cell lines(AGS and EPG85-257).Materials and Methods:In this in vitro study,AGS and EPG85-257 cells were treated with different concentrations of celastrol,5-FU,and their combination.Cell proliferation was assessed using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)assay.The synergistic effect of 5-FU and celastrol was studied using Compusyn software.The DNA content at different phases of the cell cycle and apoptosis rate was measured usingflow cytometry.Results:Co-treatment with low concentrations(10%inhibitory concentration(IC10))of celastrol and 5-FU significantly reduced IC50(p<0.05)so that 48 h after treatment,IC50 was calculated at 3.77 and 6.9μM for celastrol,20.7 and 11.6μM for 5-FU,and 5.03 and 4.57μM for their combination for AGS and EPG85-257 cells,respectively.The mean percentage of apoptosis for AGS cells treated with celastrol,5-FU,and their combination was obtained 23.9,41.2,and 61.9,and for EPG85-257 cells 5.65,46.9,and 55.7,respectively.In addition,the 5-FU and celastrol-5-FU combination induced cell cycle arrest in the synthesis phase.Conclusions:Although celastrol could decrease the concentration of 5-fluorouracil that sufficed to suppress gastric cancer cells,additional studies are required to arrive at conclusive evidence on the anticancer effects of celastrol.
文摘In the present work, the behavior of folic acid （FA） molecule adsorbed onto single-walled carbon nanotube （SWCNT） was examined using the DFT-B3LYP/6-31G＊ level. In order to obtain information about the binding features of SWCNT as adsorbent with FA molecule, several studies, including the structural and electronic parameters and also the Atoms in Molecules （AIM） analysis, were performed. It was observed that the FA molecule via hydrogen bond prefers to adsorb on SWCNT with adsorption energy of about -18.70 kcal/mol. The molecular orbitals （HOMO and LUMO）, natural bond orbital （NBO）,analysis, and density of states （DOS） plot indicated that a charge about 0.032 [ e [ is transferred from the FA molecule to the nanotube. After solvation energy calculations, it was found that the presence of a polar solvent causes an increase in FA adsorption on the single-walled carbon nanotube. Topological features such as electron energy density （Hc） and Laplacian of the electron density （V2p~） demonstrate partial covalent nature for H（ll6）...O（10） interaction in the FA/SWCNT complex. According to the calculated results, the single-walled carbon nanotubes are expected to be a potential efficient adsorbent for the adsorption of folic acid drug and also can be used as a suitable drug delivery vehicle within biological systems.
文摘In order to reduce the sulfur compounds in diesel fuel,boron nitride(BN)has been used as a novel metal-free catalyst in the present research.This nanocatalyst was synthesized via template-free approach followed by heating treatment at 900℃ in nitrogen atmosphere that the characteristics of the sample were identified by the X-ray diffraction,Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy,Raman spectroscopy,field emission scanning electron microscopy,transmission electron microscopy,atomic force microscopy,and N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms.The results of structural and morphological analysis represented that BN has been successfully synthesized.The efficacy of the main operating parameters on the process was studied by using response surface methodology based on the Box-Behnken design method.The prepared catalyst showed high efficiency in oxidative desulfurization of diesel fuel with initial sulfur content of 8040 mg·kg^(-1)S.From statistical analysis,a significant quadratic model was obtained to predict the sulfur removal as a function of efficient parameters.The maximum efficiency of 72.4%was achieved under optimized conditions at oxidant/sulfur molar ratio of 10.2,temperature of 71℃,reaction time of 113 min,and catalyst dosage of 0.36 g.Also,the reusability of the BN was studied,and the result showed little reduction in activity of the catalyst after 10 times regeneration.Moreover,a plausible mechanism was proposed for oxidation of sulfur compounds on the surface of the catalyst.The present study shows that BN materials can be selected as promising metal-free catalysts for desulfurization process.
基金Razi University Research Council for support of this work
文摘12-Tungstophosphoric acid（PW） supported on KSF montmorillonite, PW/KSF, was used as catalyst for deep oxidative desulfurization（ODS） of mixed thiophenic compounds in model oil and crude oil under mild conditions using hydrogen peroxide（H2O2） as an oxidizing agent. A one-factor-at-a-time method was applied for optimizing the parameters such as temperature, reaction time, amount of catalyst, type of extractant and oxidant-tosulfur compounds（S-compounds） molar ratio. The corresponding products can be easily removed from the model oil by using ethanol as the best extractant. The results showed high catalytic activity of PW/KSF in the oxidative removal of dibenzothiophene（DBT） and mixed thiophenic model oil under atmospheric pressure at 75 ℃ in a biphasic system. To investigate the oxidation and adsorption effects of crude oil composition on ODS, the effects of cyclohexene, 1,7-octadiene and o-xylene with different concentrations were studied.
文摘In today's world, various approaches and parameters exist for designing a plan and determining its spatial, placement. Hence, various modes for identifying crucial locations can be explored when an architectural plan is designed in different dimensions. While designing all these modes takes considerable time, there are numerous potential applications for artificial intelligence (AI) in this domain. This study aims to compute and use an adjacency matrix to generate architectural residential plans. Additionally, it develops a plan generation algorithm in Rhinoceros software, utilizing the Grasshopper plugin to create a dataset of architectural plans. In the following step, the data was entered into a neural network to identify the architectural plan's type, furniture, icons, and use of spaces, which was achieved using YOLOv4, EfficientDet, YOLOv5, DetectoRS, and RetinaNet. The algorithm's execution, testing, and training were conducted using Darknet and PyTorch. The research dataset comprises 12,000 plans, with 70% employed in the training phase and 30% in the testing phase. The network was appropriately trained practically and precisely in relation to an average precision (AP) resulting of 91.50%. After detecting the types of space use, the main research algorithm has been designed and coded, which includes determining the adjacency matrix of architectural plan spaces in seven stages. All research processes were conducted in Python, including dataset preparation, network object detection, and adjacency matrix algorithm design. Finally, the adjacency matrix is given to the input of the proposed plan generator network, which consequently, based on the resulting adjacency, obtains different placement modes for spaces and furniture.
文摘Objective To determine the effectiveness and safety of essential oil from Citrus aurantium on anxiety in patients undergoing coronary angiography.Methods A single-blind,randomized controlled trial was conducted in 80 patients experiencing coronary angiography in Imam Ali Hospital in Kermanshah,Iran from April to November in 2016.All patients were randomly divided into intervention and control groups by a random number table,40 cases in each group.The patients in the intervention group inhaled Citrus aurantium essential oil for 15–20 min about 60 min before angiography.Following the same procedure,distilled water was used instead of Citrus aurantium in the control group.Spielbergers State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI)was filled in and vital signs including systolic blood pressure(SBP),diastolic blood pressure(DBP),respiratory and pulse rate were recorded before and 20 min after the intervention.Adverse reactions after intervention were observed.Results In the intervention group,the mean scores of STAI,SBP,DBP,respiratory and pulse rate were 53.30±10.13,134.82±11.75 mm Hg,84.49±6.99 mm Hg,17.87±1.73 times/min,and 76.48±12.55 beats/min at baseline and significantly decreased to 42.37±10.15,124.49±10.48 mm Hg,79.23±6.62 mm Hg,14.54±1.43 times/min,and 70.03±13.66 beats/min respectively 20 min after intervention(all P<0.05);however,in the control group,neither anxiety scores nor vital signs changed significantly(P>0.05).All subjects reported no adverse reactions.Conclusion Inhalation of the essential oil from Citrus aurantium was effective in reducing anxiety and stress levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography.
文摘Purpose： To identify and appraise the published studies assessing interventions accounting for reducing fatigue and sleepiness while driving. Methods： This systematic review searched the following electronic databases： Medline, Science direct, Scopus, EMBASE, PsyclNFO, Transport Database, Cochrane, BIOSIS, ISI Web of Knowledge, specialist road injuries journals and the Australian Transport and Road Index database. Additional searches included websites of relevant organizations, reference lists of included studies, and issues of major injury journals published within the past 15 years. Studies were included if they investigated interventions/exposures accounting for reducing fatigue and sleepiness as the outcome, measured any potential interventions for mitigation of sleepiness and were written in English. Meta-analysis was not attempted because of the heterogeneity of the included studies. Results： Of 63 studies identified, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Based on results of our review, many interventions in the world have been used to reduce drowsiness while driving such as behavioral （talking to passengers, face washing, listening to the radio, no alcohol use, limiting the driving behavior at the time of 12 p.m. - 6 a.m. etc）, educational interventions and also changes in the environment （such as rumble strips, chevrons, variable message signs, etc）. Meta-analysis on the effect of all these in- terventions was impossible due to the high heterogeneity in methodology, effect size and interventions reported in the assessed studies. Conclusion： Results of present review showed various interventions in different parts of the world have been used to decrease drowsy driving. Although these interventions can be used in countries with high incidence of road traffic accidents, precise effect of each intervention is still unknown. Further studies are required for comparison of the efficiency of each intervention and localization of each intervention ac- cording to the traffic pattems of each country.
文摘5-flurouracil(5-FU)-based chemotherapy is the main pharmacological therapy for advanced colorectal cancer(CRC).Despite significant progress in the treatment of CRC during the last decades,5-FU drug resistance remains the most important cause of failure in CRC therapy.Resistance to 5-FU is a complex and multistep process.Different mechanisms including microsatellite instability,increased expression level of key enzyme thymidylate synthase and its polymorphism,increased level of 5-FU-activating enzymes and mutation of TP53 are proposed as the main determinants of resistance to 5-FU in CRC cells.Recently,microribonucleic acids(miRNA)and their alterations were found to have a crucial role in 5-FU resistance.In this regard,the miRNA-mediated mechanisms of 5-FU drug resistance reside among the new fields of pharmacogenetics of CRC drug response that has not been completely discovered.Identification of the biological markers that are related to response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy is an emerging field of precision medicine.This approach will have an important role in defining those patients who are most likely to benefit from 5-FU-based chemotherapy in the future.Thereby,the identification of 5-FU drug resistance mechanisms is an essential step to predict and eventually overcome resistance.In the present comprehensive review,we will summarize the latest knowledge regarding the molecular determinants of response to 5-FU-based chemotherapy in CRC by emphasizing the role of miRNAs.
基金financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.5161101078)CAS President’s International Fellowship Initiative(PIFI)(No.Y60708WP08)+1 种基金the Public welfare project of Zhejiang Province(No.2015C31031)the Natural Science Foundation of Ningbo,China(No.2015A610070)
文摘An exopolysaccharide substances produced by Vibrio neocaledonicus sp. was introduced as a novel green inhibitor against the corrosion of carbon steel in artificial seawater and acidic media. The produced extracellular polymeric substance（EPS） is heterogeneous with composition of polysaccharides, nucleic acids and protein and average molecular weight of 29,572 Da. Adsorption of EPS on the metal surfaces and formation of Fe-EPS complexes acted as a barrier to prevent the oxygen penetration and hindered anodic and cathodic reactions. The inhibitory effect increases with increasing EPS concentration and exposure time. The highest corrosion inhibitory effect（95.1%） was observed for 10 g/L of EPS after 5 days of exposure in seawater. This is the highest inhibitory effect ever been reported by EPSs. While, the optimum concentration of EPS with the highest inhibition efficiency in 1 N H;SO;was 1000 ppm. The influence of different parameters, such as initial pH, growth phase, various nitrogen and carbon sources on the production of EPS and its corrosion inhibitory effect were also investigated. According to results,the optimum culture medium for EPS production is contained artificial seawater including 5% mannitol as carbon source and 0.1%（NH;）;SO;as nitrogen source at pH = 8. This medium could produce 22.24 g/L EPS during 3 days’ incubation at 30 ℃. The corrosion inhibitory efficiency of obtained EPS was 95.97%.
文摘ype-1 fuzzy sets cannot fully handle the uncertainties. To overcome the problem, type2 fuzzy sets have been proposed. The novelty of this paper is using interval type-2 fuzzy logic controller （IT2FLC） to control a flexible-joint robot with voltage control strategy. In order to take into account the whole robotic system including the dynamics of actuators and the robot manipulator, the voltages of motors are used as inputs of the system. To highlight the capabilities of the control system, a flexible joint robot which is highly nonlinear, heavily coupled and uncertain is used. In addition, to improve the control performance, the parameters of the primary membership functions of IT2FLC are optimized using particle swarm optimization （PSO）. A comparative study between the proposed IT2FLC and type-1 fuzzy logic controller （T1FLC） is presented to better assess their respective performance in presence of external disturbance and unmodelled dynamics. Stability analysis is presented and the effectiveness of the proposed control approach is demonstrated by simulations using a two-link flexible-joint robot driven by permanent magnet direct current motors. Simulation results show the superiority of the IT2FLC over the T1FLC in terms of accuracy, robustness and interpretability.
