Cygnus A super-resolved via convex optimisation from VLA data

We leverage the Sparsity Averaging Reweighted Analysis (SARA) approach for interferometric imaging, that is based on convex optimisation, for the super-resolution of Cyg A from observations at the frequencies 8.422GHz and 6.678GHz with the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA). The associated average sparsity and positivity priors enable image reconstruction beyond instrumental resolution. An adaptive Preconditioned Primal-Dual algorithmic structure is developed for imaging in the presence of unknown noise levels and calibration errors. We demonstrate the superior performance of the algorithm with respect to the conventional CLEAN-based methods, reflected in super-resolved images with high fidelity. The high resolution features of the recovered images are validated by referring to maps of Cyg A at higher frequencies, more precisely 17.324GHz and 14.252GHz. We also confirm the recent discovery of a radio transient in Cyg A, revealed in the recovered images of the investigated data sets. Our matlab code is available online on GitHub.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures (3/7 animated figures), accepted for publication in MNRA

The gene expression of caspasses is up-regulated during the signaling response of Aedes caspius against larvicidal bacteria

Our current knowledge on the key molecular mechanisms and cognate signaling transduction, by the δ-endotoxin-mediated mosquitoticidal effects, associated with exposure to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Bacillus sphaericus (Bs), is limited. Moreover, this observed mosquitocidal activity that is related to program cell death is largely unknown. Therefore, in an attempt to answer this question, the current study was primarily sought to provide evidence as to the molecular mechanism of mortality in Bt/Bs infected Aedes caspius mosquito larvae. Thus, the impact of Bt and Bs treatment on the expression of some selected apoptosis related caspase genes in A. caspius mosquito larvae was investigated, via quantitative reverse-transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). Mosquito larvae were collected from natural water niches. Larvae were grown to adult stage and were subsequently identified as A. caspius at Natural History Museum, London, UK. Remarkably, light and transmission electron microscopy studies of the midgut epithelial tissues revealed that both Bt and Bs brought about significant histopathological effects. Moreover, this treatment resulted in severe destruction at the sub-cellular organelle level for the mitochondria. Interestingly, qRT-PCR studies revealed that the treatment of A. caspius mosquito larvae with both Bt and Bs caused a significant up-regulation in the transcription level of all caspase genes under study, namely: CASPS17, CASPS18, CASPS19, CASPS20 and CASPS21. The results are discussed in the light of our current understanding of the signaling transduction pathway of apoptosis in insects and mosquitoes and the putative role of caspases gene expression in response to the treatment of A. caspius mosquito larvae with larvicidal bacteria.Keywords: Aedes caspius, Bacillus thuringenesis, Bacillus sphaericus, apoptosis, caspase, larvicidal bacteri

Adenoviral delivery of angiotensin-(1-7) or angiotensin-(1-9) inhibits cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via the mas or angiotensin Type 2 receptor

The counter-regulatory axis of the renin angiotensin system peptide angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)] has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cardiac remodelling, acting via the mas receptor. Furthermore, we recently reported that an alternative peptide, Ang-(1-9) also counteracts cardiac remodelling via the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT(2)R). Here, we have engineered adenoviral vectors expressing fusion proteins which release Ang-(1-7) [RAdAng-(1-7)] or Ang-(1-9) [RAdAng-(1-9)] and compared their effects on cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes or primary adult rabbit cardiomyocytes, stimulated with angiotensin II, isoproterenol or arg-vasopressin. RAdAng-(1-7) and RAdAng-(1-9) efficiently transduced cardiomyocytes, expressed fusion proteins and secreted peptides, as demonstrated by western immunoblotting and conditioned media assays. Furthermore, secreted Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) inhibited cardiomyocyte hypertrophy (Control = 168.7±8.4 µm; AngII = 232.1±10.7 µm; AngII+RAdAng-(1-7) = 186±9.1 µm, RAdAng-(1-9) = 180.5±9 µm; P<0.05) and these effects were selectively reversed by inhibitors of their cognate receptors, the mas antagonist A779 for RAdAng-(1-7) and the AT(2)R antagonist PD123,319 for RAdAng-(1-9). Thus gene transfer of Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) produces receptor-specific effects equivalent to those observed with addition of exogenous peptides. These data highlight that Ang-(1-7) and Ang-(1-9) can be expressed via gene transfer and inhibit cardiomyocyte hypertrophy via their respective receptors. This supports applications for this approach for sustained peptide delivery to study molecular effects and potential gene therapeutic actions

Quantum Trajectory Analysis of the Two-Mode Three-Level Atom Microlaser

We consider a single atom laser (microlaser) operating on three-level atoms interacting with a two-mode cavity. The quantum statistical properties of the cavity field at steady state are investigated by the quantum trajectory method which is a Monte Carlo simulation applied to open quantum systems. It is found that a steady state solution exists even when the detailed balance condition is not guaranteed. The differences between a single mode microlaser and a two-mode microlaser are highlighted. The second-order correlation function g^2(T) of a single mode is studied and special attention is paid to the one-photon trapping state, for which a simple formula is derived for its correlation function. We show the effects of the velocity spread of the atoms used to pump the microlaser cavity on the second-order correlation function, trapping states, and phase transitions of the cavity field

Systemic Review and Clinical Management in Diagnosis and Treatment of the Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adults

This study aimed at exploring with a systematic review the clinical management in diagnosis and treatment of the iron deficiency anemia in adults, as the iron deficiency is the most frequent cause of anemia worldwide. And it impairs quality of life, increases asthenia and can lead to clinical worsening of patients. In addition, iron deficiency has a complex mechanism whose pathologic pathway is recently becoming better understood. This review summarizes the current knowledge regarding diagnostic algorithms for iron deficiency anemia. The majority of aetiologies occur in the digestive tract, and justify morphological examination of the gut. First line investigations are upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and colonoscopy, and when negative, the small bowel should be explored; newer tools such as video capsule endoscopy have also been developed. The treatment of iron deficiency is aetiological if possible and iron supplementation whether in oral or in parenteral form

Enhancement the Thermal Stability and the Mechanical Properties of Acrylonitrile-Butadiene Copolymer by Grafting Antioxidant

Monomeric antioxidants are widely used as effective antioxidants to protect polymers against thermal oxidation. Low molecular weight antioxidants are easily lost from polymer through migration, evaporation, and extraction. Physical loss of antioxidants is considered to be major concern in the environmental issues and safety regulation as well as long life time of polymers. The grafting copolymerization of natural rubber and o-aminophenol was carried out by using two-roll mill machine. The prepared natural rubber-graft-o-Aminophenol, NR-graft-o-AP, was analysed by using Infrared and 1H-NMR Spectroscopy techniques. The thermal stability, mechanical properties, and ultrasonic attenuation coefficient were evaluated for NBR vulcanizates containing the commercial antioxidant, N-phenyl--naphthylamine (PBN), the prepared grafted antioxidant, NR-graft-o-AP, and the control vulcanizate. Results of the thermal stability showed that the prepared NR-graft-o-AP can protect NBR vulcanizate against thermal treatment much better than the commercial antioxidant, PBN, and control mix, respectively. The prepared grafted antioxidant improves the mechanical properties of NBR vulcanizate

Performance of combined tillage equipment and it’s effect on soil properties

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of a locally manufactured combined tillage implement (moldboard plow + ripper) in one of the fields of the kufa university faculty of agriculture. The experiment was included two factors , the first factor is combing the ripper to mold board plow in five level these are fixing the combined ripper shanks while the shanks points oriented in two different levels with and opposite to the plowing direction , two levels of different ripper depths the same depth and 5 cm above the depth of mold board plow share and the fifth level is control treatment ( mold board plow alone ) .The second factor was the plowing operation speed at five levels (1.4, 2.0 , 3.6 and 4.7) Km.hr ̵ ¹ . the experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment with RCBD , the LSD test at 5 % was used to compare between means .The results of the research were showed that combining the locally manufactured ripper implement to mold board plow resulted in significant increase in the number of soil clods with the desired diameter (5-10 cm ) very low number of soil block with diameter larger than 10 cm , more even soil roughness and the actual productivity has not decreased to the extent that it affects the efficient performance of the tillage process compared to the use at the mold board plow alone

Thymoquinone attenuates diethylnitrosamine induction of hepatic carcinogenesis through antioxidant signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for about 80–90% of all liver cancer and is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality. Although there are many strategies for the treatment of liver cancer, chemoprevention seems to be the best strategy for lowering the incidence of this disease. Therefore, this study has been initiated to investigate whether thymoquinone (TQ), Nigella sativa derived-compound with strong antioxidant properties, supplementation could prevent initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis-induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA), a potent initiator and hepatocarcinogen, in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats of Group 1 received a single intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection of normal saline. Animals in Group 2 were given TQ (4 mg/kg/day) in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. Rats of Group 3 were injected with a single dose of DENA (200 mg/kg, I.P.). Animals in Group 4 were received TQ and DENA. DENA significantly increased alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total nitrate/nitrite (NOx) and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activity in liver tissues. Moreover, DENA decreased gene expression of GSHPx, GST and CAT and caused severe histopathological lesions in liver tissue. Interestingly, TQ supplementation completely reversed the biochemical and histopathological changes induced by DENA to the control values. In conclusion, data from this study suggest that: (1) decreased mRNA expression of GSHPx, CAT and GST during DENA-induced initiation of hepatic carcinogenesis, (2) TQ supplementation prevents the development of DENA-induced initiation of liver cancer by decreasing oxidative stress and preserving both the activity and mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes

Study of Power Quality Problems in Yemeni Educational Buildings

Power Quality (PQ) has become a big issue since the late 1980s. Equipments which are in use nowadays, require good power quality. However, the pure sinusoidal voltage or current waveform is distorted by the nonlinear properties of the equipments. The main purpose of this paper is to investigate the most common problems in power quality in educational buildings and propose a solution for the main dominate one. The Point of Common Coupling (PCC) was elected to be an incomer breaker. The study includes monitoring and measuring the power waveform for one week. The result are analyzed and compared with International Standards. Interruptions are the main problem while swells, dips and transients problems are caused as a result of the interruptions problems