31 research outputs found

    A historical view on the maximum entropy

    Full text link
    How to find unknown distributions is questioned in many pieces of research. There are several ways to figure them out, but the main question is which acts more reasonably than others. In this paper, we focus on the maximum entropy principle as a suitable method of discovering the unknown distribution, which recommends some prior information based on the available data set. We explain its features by reviewing some papers. Furthermore, we recommend some articles to study around the generalized maximum entropy issue, which is more suitable when autocorrelation data exists. Then, we list the beneficial features of the maximum entropy as a result. Finally, some disadvantages of entropy are expressed to have a complete look at the maximum entropy principle, and we list its drawbacks as the final step

    Natural vs. synthetic phosphate as efficient heterogeneous compounds for synthesis of quinoxalines

    Get PDF
    Natural phosphate (NP) and synthetic fluorapatite phosphate (SFAP) were proposed as stable, inexpensive, readily available and recyclable catalysts for the condensation of 1,2-diamines with 1,2-dicarbonyls in methanol to afford quinoxaline at room temperature. NP provided as high as 92–99% yield for quinoxalines in short reaction times (i.e., 1–45 min), while SFAP created quinoxalines with 87–97% yield in 60–120 min. From the chemical analyses, X-ray fluoresecency, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy methods, two main phases (CaO, P2O5) appeared in NP together with other low content phases (SiO2, Fe2O3). Compared to other phases, apatite (CaO and P2O5 as Ca10(PO4 )6) played a major role in the catalytic activity of NP. SFAP with similar Ca/P atomic ratio showed a relatively lower catalytic activity than NP for the condensation of 1,2-diamine with 1,2-dicarbonyl in methanol at ambient temperature. To investigate the recyclability of catalysts, the surface properties of NP and 6-recycled NP were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller and Barrett– Joyner–Halenda methods. Some differences were observed in NP and 6-recycled NP’s particle size, surface area, the volume and size of pores, and the content of elements; nevertheless, the use–reuse process did not noticeably change the catalytic property of NP

    Silymarin Administration Attenuates Cirrhotic-induced Cardiac Abnormality in the Rats: A Possible Role of ÎČ1-adrenergic Receptors and L-type Voltage-Dependent Calcium Channels

    Get PDF
    Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is a well-recognized cardiac dysfunction in cirrhotic patients. Studies have confirmed the protective effects of silymarin in different types of cardiac injury. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness and molecular mechanism of silymarin against myocardial dysfunction and hypertrophy in a rat model of cirrhosis. Methods: The experiment was performed at Alborz University of Medical Sciences (Karaj, Iran) during 2020-2021. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups of Sham-operated (control group for surgical procedures), Bile Duct Ligated (BDL), and two Silymarin extract (SE)-treated groups of 300 and 600 mg/Kg/day. After 28 days, serum levels of AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP, liver histopathological status, as well as cardiac mechanical function, were assessed. Cardiac ÎČ1-adrenergic receptors (ÎČ1-AR), L-type voltage-dependent calcium channels (L-VDCC), and GATA4 mRNA expression were also determined using real-time RT-PCR. Data analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVA followed by Duncan’s multiple range test. Histological data has been analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric test. The analysis was performed at P≀0.05. Results: BDL was associated with a significant elevation in serum AST, ALT, GGT, and ALP, development of necrosis and fibrosis of the liver texture, increased Heart Weight and Heart Weight to Body Weight ratio, enhanced cardiac mechanical function as well as a significant up-regulation of ventricular ÎČ1-AR and L-VDCC. Administration of SE600, but not SE300, significantly reduced the serum levels of the enzymes and alleviated signs of liver necrosis and fibrosis. Cirrhotic-induced cardiac dysfunction was also restored by SE600, but not by the lower dose. In addition, cardiac expression of the ÎČ1-AR and L-VDCC was down-regulated toward normal values by either higher or lower doses of the SE. Conclusion: Silymarin treatment in higher dose attenuated cirrhosis-associated cardiac remodeling and reduced cardiac mechanical dysfunctions

    New mechanistic insights into hepatoprotective activity of milk thistle and chicory quantified extract: The role of hepatic Farnesoid-X activated receptors

    Get PDF
    Objective: Farnesoid-X-activated receptors (FXR) are key modulators of liver regeneration. Milk thistle and Chicory are known as potent protective remedies in several liver disorders. The objective of this work was to examine the role of FXR in the hepato-healing properties of milk thistle (MTE) and chicory extracts (CE) in a rat model of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into seven groups including control, vehicle, acetaminophen (500 mg/kg/day, oral), acetaminophen plus oral MTE 200 and 400 mg/kg/day, and acetaminophen plus oral CE 500 and 1000 /kg/day for 28 days. Liver function and histology as well as the pattern of hepatic FXR expression were assessed after 4 weeks. Results: Administration of acetaminophen was associated with a significant elevation of liver transaminase along with the architectural injuries. In contrast, chronic concomitant administration of both MTE and CE significantly restored the liver function and structural abnormality. The main molecular findings of the study revealed that the lower doses of both MTE and CE led to a marked upregulation of hepatic FXR expression. Conclusion: Discovery of the involvement of the nuclear modulating pathways in hepatoprotective activity of the extracts, providesa new mechanistic insight which needs further investigations

    CO2 Emission Inventory of on road vehicles in Selangor State Inpeninsular Malaysia

    Get PDF
    The transportation sector has greatly contributed to the socio-economic development with inherent environmental impacts. This study estimated the emission of CO2 from transportation sector, particularly from the use of passenger cars in Selangor Malaysia. The total CO2 emission from the region was calculated based on total fuel consumption (Kg) and Emission Factor of CO2 (gr/kg fuel). Lorries and cars were responsible for the highest CO2 emission and the emissions rate were directly related to the type and amount of fuel used and emission factor of fuel. High amount of CO2 emission was due to increase in vehicles on the road thereby increasing pollution on the environment. GIS is one of the most suitable methods to estimate the total CO2 emission and the split between different vehicle types as it determined by the kilometre covered for each vehicle category

    Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017.

    Get PDF
    The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries and Risk Factors 2017 includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data. METHODS: We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting

    Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 354 diseases and injuries for 195 countries and territories, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

    Get PDF
    The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017) includes a comprehensive assessment of incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 354 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2017. Previous GBD studies have shown how the decline of mortality rates from 1990 to 2016 has led to an increase in life expectancy, an ageing global population, and an expansion of the non-fatal burden of disease and injury. These studies have also shown how a substantial portion of the world's population experiences non-fatal health loss with considerable heterogeneity among different causes, locations, ages, and sexes. Ongoing objectives of the GBD study include increasing the level of estimation detail, improving analytical strategies, and increasing the amount of high-quality data.; We estimated incidence and prevalence for 354 diseases and injuries and 3484 sequelae. We used an updated and extensive body of literature studies, survey data, surveillance data, inpatient admission records, outpatient visit records, and health insurance claims, and additionally used results from cause of death models to inform estimates using a total of 68 781 data sources. Newly available clinical data from India, Iran, Japan, Jordan, Nepal, China, Brazil, Norway, and Italy were incorporated, as well as updated claims data from the USA and new claims data from Taiwan (province of China) and Singapore. We used DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, as the main method of estimation, ensuring consistency between rates of incidence, prevalence, remission, and cause of death for each condition. YLDs were estimated as the product of a prevalence estimate and a disability weight for health states of each mutually exclusive sequela, adjusted for comorbidity. We updated the Socio-demographic Index (SDI), a summary development indicator of income per capita, years of schooling, and total fertility rate. Additionally, we calculated differences between male and female YLDs to identify divergent trends across sexes. GBD 2017 complies with the Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting. Globally, for females, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and haemoglobinopathies and haemolytic anaemias in both 1990 and 2017. For males, the causes with the greatest age-standardised prevalence were oral disorders, headache disorders, and tuberculosis including latent tuberculosis infection in both 1990 and 2017. In terms of YLDs, low back pain, headache disorders, and dietary iron deficiency were the leading Level 3 causes of YLD counts in 1990, whereas low back pain, headache disorders, and depressive disorders were the leading causes in 2017 for both sexes combined. All-cause age-standardised YLD rates decreased by 3·9% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 3·1-4·6) from 1990 to 2017; however, the all-age YLD rate increased by 7·2% (6·0-8·4) while the total sum of global YLDs increased from 562 million (421-723) to 853 million (642-1100). The increases for males and females were similar, with increases in all-age YLD rates of 7·9% (6·6-9·2) for males and 6·5% (5·4-7·7) for females. We found significant differences between males and females in terms of age-standardised prevalence estimates for multiple causes. The causes with the greatest relative differences between sexes in 2017 included substance use disorders (3018 cases [95% UI 2782-3252] per 100 000 in males vs s1400 [1279-1524] per 100 000 in females), transport injuries (3322 [3082-3583] vs 2336 [2154-2535]), and self-harm and interpersonal violence (3265 [2943-3630] vs 5643 [5057-6302]). Global all-cause age-standardised YLD rates have improved only slightly over a period spanning nearly three decades. However, the magnitude of the non-fatal disease burden has expanded globally, with increasing numbers of people who have a wide spectrum of conditions. A subset of conditions has remained globally pervasive since 1990, whereas other conditions have displayed more dynamic trends, with different ages, sexes, and geographies across the globe experiencing varying burdens and trends of health loss. This study emphasises how global improvements in premature mortality for select conditions have led to older populations with complex and potentially expensive diseases, yet also highlights global achievements in certain domains of disease and injury

    PULMONIC VALVE ENDOCARDITIS WITH PULMONARY ARTERY ENDARTERITIS IN A YOUNG MAN WITH CONGENITAL VENTRAL SEPTAL DEFECT

    No full text
    BACKGROUND: Isolated pulmonic valve endocarditis is a rare condition. The clinical and laboratory finding are not specific and experiences about that are limited. Most cases of that occur in children with congenital heart disease or in intravenous drug abusers and the main predisposing factor in adults is intravenous drug abuse. The most common pathogens are staphylococcus aurous and coagulase negative staphylococcus.    CASE REPORT: In this case report we present a 27 years old man with chronic fever (4 months) and a history of congenital ventral septal defect (VSD). Echocardiography revealed the pulmonic valve and pulmonary artery vegetations. He referred for surgery after 3 weeks of intravenous antibiotic therapy.    CONCLUSION: Careful evaluation of pulmonic valve in echocardiography should be done, when ever vegetation is not detected in other valves, and clinical suspicion for infective endocarditis is high.      Keywords: Infective endocarditis, Pulmonic valve, Vegetation, Endartritis
    corecore