Editorial: Molecular and multi-omic approaches in understanding cancer biology and anticancer therapies: current perspectives and new challenges

Peer Reviewe

The geology and geochronology of Al Wahbah maar crater, Harrat Kishb, Saudi Arabia

Al Wahbah is a large (∼2.2 km diameter, ∼250 m deep) maar crater in the Harrat Kishb volcanic field in western Saudi Arabia. It cuts Proterozoic basement rocks and two Quaternary basanite lava flows, and is rimmed with an eroded tuff ring of debris from the phreatomagmatic explosion that generated the crater. A scoria cone on the northern wall of the crater was dissected by the explosion and exposes a dolerite plug that was intruded immediately prior to crater formation. The dolerite plug yields a <sup>40</sup>Ar/<sup>39</sup>Ar age of 1.147 ± 0.004 Ma. This is the best possible estimate of the time Al Wahbah crater formed. It is a few tens of thousand years younger than the age of the lower and upper basalt flows, 1.261 ± 0.021 Ma and 1.178 ± 0.007 Ma respectively. A dolerite dyke exposed within the basement in the wall of the crater is dated at 1.886 ± 0.008 Ma. This is the most precise age so far determined for the initiation of basaltic volcanism of Harrat Kishb, and confirms that it is significantly younger than the other post-rift volcanic provinces in the region. This study provides constrains the timing of humid climatic conditions in the region and suggests that the Quaternary basaltic volcanism that stretches the length of the western side of the Arabian peninsula may prove to be useful for establishing palaeoclimatic conditions

Acute effects of cigarette smoking in habitual smokers, a focus on endothelial function

AbstractBackgroundThe chronic effect of cigarette (cig.) smoking is well established. The acute effect of smoking abolishes the concept, argued by heavy smokers, to decrease the number of smoked cigarettes instead of quitting.AimTo detect the acute effects of cigarette smoking and the duration of these effects.Patients and methodsThirty four smokers (age 21–35years) were studied at 3 occasions; 9h after the last cig. smoking, 5min after one cig. smoking and 30min after 3 cig. smoking within 30min. They were subjected to measurement of both ventricular functions using standard and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), aortic distensibility, stiffness and endothelial function assessment by endothelium-dependent flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and maximum vasodilatation.ResultsAfter one cigarette smoking, we found a statistically significant effect on blood pressure, Heart Rate, FMD percent, Dilation Ratio, aortic distensibility (P=0.007), and aortic stiffness index (ASI) (P=0.01). Furthermore the LV diastolic function was significantly impaired after smoking. Despite disappearance of acute effect of 3 cig. smoking within 30min on blood pressure, Heart Rate and aortic distensibility, a significant difference was still found as regards FMD percent and dilation ratio denoting the extension of the endothelial dysfunction for more than 30min after the last cigarette.ConclusionMany acute changes occur following one cigarette smoking even in habitual smokers. Persistence of endothelial dysfunction parameters after smoking indicates the failure of circulation adaptation in response to such offense that might contribute to the precipitation of acute events in vulnerable patients

Mycobacterial CYP121 as a target for anti-TB drug discovery

Despite the introduction of the first line treatment regimen forty years ago and the continuous trials since that time to introduce new regimens, tuberculosis (TB) is considered to be the cause of considerable mortality worldwide. Recent research highlighted the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb)CYP450s as potential drug targets. This article reviews mycobacterial CYP121 as a target for anti-TB drug discovery

Isogeometric analysis for functionally graded microplates based on modified couple stress theory

Analysis of static bending, free vibration and buckling behaviours of functionally graded microplates is investigated in this study. The main idea is to use the isogeometric analysis in associated with novel four-variable refined plate theory and quasi-3D theory. More importantly, the modified couple stress theory with only one material length scale parameter is employed to effectively capture the size-dependent effects within the microplates. Meanwhile, the quasi-3D theory which is constructed from a novel seventh-order shear deformation refined plate theory with four unknowns is able to consider both shear deformations and thickness stretching effect without requiring shear correction factors. The NURBS-based isogeometric analysis is integrated to exactly describe the geometry and approximately calculate the unknown fields with higher-order derivative and continuity requirements. The convergence and verification show the validity and efficiency of this proposed computational approach in comparison with those existing in the literature. It is further applied to study the static bending, free vibration and buckling responses of rectangular and circular functionally graded microplates with various types of boundary conditions. A number of investigations are also conducted to illustrate the effects of the material length scale, material index, and length-to-thickness ratios on the responses of the microplates.Comment: 57 pages, 14 figures, 18 table

Damage localization and quantification of composite stratified beam structures using residual force method

10.1088/1742-6596/842/1/012028Journal of Physics: Conference Series84211202

Damage detection and quantification in composite beam structure using strain energy and vibration data

10.1088/1742-6596/842/1/012027Journal of Physics: Conference Series84211202