Application of the Extended G\u27/G-expansion Method to the Improved Eckhaus Equation

In this paper, the extended (G\u27/G)-expansion method is used to seek more general exact solutions of the improved Eckhaus equation and the (2+1)-dimensional improved Eckhaus equation. As a result, hyperbolic function solutions, trigonometric function solutions and rational function solutions with free parameters are obtained. When the parameters are taken as special values the solitary wave solutions are also derived from the traveling wave solutions. Moreover, it is shown that the proposed method is direct, effective and can be used for many other nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics

Intracellular ROS Protection Efficiency and Free Radical-Scavenging Activity of Curcumin

Curcumin has many pharmaceutical applications, many of which arise from its potent antioxidant properties. The present research examined the antioxidant activities of curcumin in polar solvents by a comparative study using ESR, reduction of ferric iron in aqueous medium and intracellular ROS/toxicity assays. ESR data indicated that the steric hindrance among adjacent big size groups within a galvinoxyl molecule limited the curcumin to scavenge galvinoxyl radicals effectively, while curcumin showed a powerful capacity for scavenging intracellular smaller oxidative molecules such as H2O2, HO•, ROO•. Cell viability and ROS assays demonstrated that curcumin was able to penetrate into the polar medium inside the cells and to protect them against the highly toxic and lethal effects of cumene hydroperoxide. Curcumin also showed good electron-transfer capability, with greater activity than trolox in aqueous solution. Curcumin can readily transfer electron or easily donate H-atom from two phenolic sites to scavenge free radicals. The excellent electron transfer capability of curcumin is because of its unique structure and different functional groups, including a β-diketone and several π electrons that have the capacity to conjugate between two phenyl rings. Therfore, since curcumin is inherently a lipophilic compound, because of its superb intracellular ROS scavenging activity, it can be used as an effective antioxidant for ROS protection within the polar cytoplasm

The algebraic hyperstructure of elementary particles in physical theory

Algebraic hyperstructures represent a natural extension of classical algebraic structures. In a classical algebraic structure, the composition of two elements is an element, while in an algebraic hyperstructure, the composition of two elements is a set. Algebraic hyperstructure theory has a multiplicity of applications to other disciplines. The main purpose of this paper is to provide examples of hyperstructures associated with elementary particles in physical theory.Comment: 13 page

Application and optimization in chromium-contaminated wastewater treatment of the reverse osmosis technology

Background: Chromium (Cr) is the most important element used to plate other metals and electroplating factories are still considered to be the most important industries which pollute the environment to this metal. This paper describes a study conducted to determine the efficiency of reverse-osmosis (RO) as a membrane technique for removal of Cr from wastewater samples synthetically prepared to be similar to electroplating effluents. Methods: The RO unit used in this study was a spiral wound module of 2521 TE made by a Korean CSM company. Synthetic wastewater samples containing Cr ions at various concentrations of 1 to 20 mg/L were prepared and subjected to treatment by RO, and quantitative analysis had been accomplished by a colorimetric method. Evaluation of optimized conditions of treatment had also been carried out by determining the effects of changing operating pressure, temperature and pHs of samples. Results: Optimum conditions of Cr-treatment by RO in 10 g/L initial Cr concentration were determined to be in the pH range of 6 to 7 and in temperature of about 25°C at an applied pressure of 200 psi. Conclusion: Considering the efficiency of Cr removal which was as high as 99 at the optimized conditions it could be concluded that RO membrane process may be selected and developed as an effective alternative for treatment of metal-contaminated effluents of electroplating and similar industries

Plant glutathione S-transferase classification, structure and evolution

Glutathione S-transferases are multifunctional proteins involved in diverse intracellular events such as primary and secondary metabolisms, stress metabolism, herbicide detoxification and plant protection against ozone damages, heavy metals and xenobiotics. The plant glutathione S-transferase superfamily have been subdivided into eight classes. Phi, tau, zeta, theta, lambda, dehydroascorbate reductase and tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase classes are soluble and one class is microsomal. Glutathione S-transferases are mostly soluble cytoplasmic enzymes. To date, the crystal structures of over 200 soluble glutathione S-transferases, present in plants, animals and bacteria have been resolved. The structures of glutathione S-transferase influence its function. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that all soluble glutathione S-transferases have arisen from an ancient progenitor gene, through both convergent and divergent pathways.Key words: Glutathione S-transferases (GST), classification, structure, evolution, phylogenetic analysis, xenobiotics

Hypoxia symptoms during altitude training in professional iranian fighter pilots

Susceptibility to hypoxia is influenced by a multitude of factors, including fatigue, physical activity, illnesses, ambient temperature, rate of ascent, destination altitude, medications, and alcohol. Anecdotally, several reports have been made regarding changes in the form of hypoxia presentation in Iranian fighter pilots in the absence of these factors. This study focused specifically on the effect of pilot age on susceptibility to hypoxia and its initial presentation. We assumed that a pilot's age may increase his susceptibility to hypoxia and consequently reduce the amount of time it takes for hypoxia to present. Because our literature review did not reveal any previous study addressing the possible relationship between age and susceptibility to hypoxia, the purpose of this study is to address and clarify this relationship. In this retrospective study, we collected information from Iranian fighter pilots (n 5) 03 through an anonymous questionnaire in 2000. The form of hypoxia presentation of each subject was evaluated during five altitude chamber training (ACT) sessions that were conducted routinely from 1972 to 1984. To enhance the accuracy of the study's results, confounding factors such as prior hypoxia experience in an ACT session have been taken into consideration. The results revealed a statistically significant relationship between age and a change in the form of hypoxia presentation in our subjects. Increased age reduced the amount of time before the first individual hypoxia symptom appeared (P<,.000002). Although having previous hypoxia experience may help pilots to recognize their symptoms earlier, its effect was not statistically significant (P<.18). A few changes in the nature of individual symptoms were observed; however, we did not find a meaningful statistical correlation between pilot age and change in the nature of symptoms. Susceptibility ot hypoxia increases with pilot age. © 2012 Air Medical Journal Associates

The frequency of osteoporosis in hip fracture following minor trauma and the resulting mortality rate and direct treatment costs in patients over 45 years old in Kashan Naghavi hospital during 2005-2007

Background & Aims: Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic bone disease. In the recent decades due to the increase of population age, the prevalence of osteoporosis has been increased. The most important complication of osteoporosis is bone fracture, especially in the hip. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of osteoporosis, its mortality rate and direct treatment costs in patients over 45 years old referred to Kashan Naghavi hospital following hip fracture during 2005-2007. Methods: This cross-sectional study was done on 119 patients with hip fracture following minor trauma admitted during one year to Naghavi hospital in Kashan Iran. Demographic findings, types of fracture, costs of hospitalization, treatment and prosthesis were recorded in a questionnaire. BMD of lumbar spine & neck of femur was done with Osteocore II instrument by DXA method. Data analysis was done by SPSS 14. Results: Mean age of patients was 71/6±9/35 years. From all, 72/3 were female and 27/7 was male and 67/8 had fracture of neck of femur and 23/2 had intertrocanter fracture. In whole, 65 had osteoporosis. In 51.3, it was in lumbar and in 23.5 it was in femur. Mean hospitalization period was 7.92±3.66 days. Mortality rate was 17/2. Mean cost of hospitalization and treatment was 277 and mean cost of prosthesis for each person was 1670. Conclusion: Osteoporosis is a predisposing factor for hip fracture in old patients after minor trauma. Since Hip fracture places a high cost burden on the healthcare system, wise programming for prevention of hip fracture seems to be highly necessary

Heterologous Gln/Asn-Rich Proteins Impede the Propagation of Yeast Prions by Altering Chaperone Availability

Prions are self-propagating conformations of proteins that can cause heritable phenotypic traits. Most yeast prions contain glutamine (Q)/asparagine (N)-rich domains that facilitate the accumulation of the protein into amyloid-like aggregates. Efficient transmission of these infectious aggregates to daughter cells requires that chaperones, including Hsp104 and Sis1, continually sever the aggregates into smaller “seeds.” We previously identified 11 proteins with Q/N-rich domains that, when overproduced, facilitate the de novo aggregation of the Sup35 protein into the [PSI +] prion state. Here, we show that overexpression of many of the same 11 Q/N-rich proteins can also destabilize pre-existing [PSI+] or [URE3] prions. We explore in detail the events leading to the loss (curing) of [PSI+] by the overexpression of one of these proteins, the Q/N-rich domain of Pin4, which causes Sup35 aggregates to increase in size and decrease in transmissibility to daughter cells. We show that the Pin4 Q/N-rich domain sequesters Hsp104 and Sis1 chaperones away from the diffuse cytoplasmic pool. Thus, a mechanism by which heterologous Q/N-rich proteins impair prion propagation appears to be the loss of cytoplasmic Hsp104 and Sis1 available to sever [PSI+]