Analysis of Automotive Cyber-Attacks on Highways using Partial Differential Equation Models

This is the author accepted manuscript.This paper considers scenarios wherein a group of malicious vehicles on a highway perform a cooperative attack with the motive of creating undesirable wave effects among other vehicles on the highway. The two species of vehicles - malicious vehicles and normal vehicles, and their associated interaction effects, are modeled using Partial Differential Equations (PDEs). The malicious vehicles, which may be arbitrarily distributed on the highway, perform a sequence of velocity changes with the objective of making the density/velocity profile on the highway, track a reference profile. This reference profile (chosen by the malicious vehicles) has the property that once generated, it spontaneously evolves into a shock wave that propagates along the highway. Analytical expressions governing the velocity inputs of the malicious vehicles with which they can generate such waves are determined, for perfect as well as imperfect information scenarios. Simulation results are presented to validate the theoryThe first two authors would like to acknowledge support from the National Science Foundation. This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant IIS-1351677

Effect of gallic acid on Alkaline phosphatase gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells

Background and purpose: Vascular calcification is an important factor in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Studies have shown that alkaline phosphatase increases vascular calcification. Here we investigated the effect of gallic acid on alkaline phosphatase gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Materials and methods: In this experimental study humans aorta VSMCs were incubated with beta glycerol phosphate as calcification-inducing media. Then these cells were treated with 160, 180 and 200 µMol concentration of gallic acid for 24h, 48h and 72h. The total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized and then alkaline phosphatase expression was measured by real time PCR. Alkaline phosphatase specific activity was measured by spectrophotometry. Results: Overall, 160, 180 and 200 µMol concentration of gallic acid decreased alkaline phosphatase gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cell by 1.98, 2.03, and 3.16 folds, respectively after 72h compared with the control group. The alkaline phosphatase specific activity also decreased compared to that of the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that gallic acid decreased the expression and activity of alkaline phosphatase suggesting that this antioxidant compound may attenuate vascular calcification

Carvedilol Compared With Metoprolol on Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft

A number of elective coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients have impaired underlying left ventricular function (poor ejection fraction). This study was performed to compare the effect of postoperative oral carvedilol versus metoprolol on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after CABG compared with metoprolol. In a double-blind clinical trial, 60 patients with coronary artery disease, aged 35 to 65 years, who had an ejection fraction of 15% to 35% were included. Either carvedilol or metoprolol was administered the day after CABG The patients were evaluated by the same cardiologist 14 days before and 2 and 6 months after elective CABG The results demonstrated better improvements in LVEF in the carvedilol group. No difference regarding postoperative arrhythmias or mortality was detected. The results suggest that carvedilol may exert more of an improved myocardial effect than metoprolol for the low ejection fraction patients undergoing CABG in the early postoperative months

The effects of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics on the reduction of IBD complications, a periodic review during 2009–2020

Aims: To perform a systematic review on randomized controlled trials to examine the efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics and synbiotics in the treatment of IBD. Methods and Results: PubMed, Web of science, Scopus and Google Scholar were systematically searched from January 2009 to January 2020 using the following keywords: ‘Inflammatory Bowel Disease’, ‘Probiotics’ and ‘Clinical trial’. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24.0. A total of 1832 articles were found during the initial search and 21 clinical trials were eligible. Studies comparing the effects of probiotics and placebo among patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC) showed a significant difference in clinical outcomes. Moreover, probiotics improved the overall induction of remission rates among patients with Crohn’s disease (CD). Probiotics significantly decreased the IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-8 levels. Also, the need for systemic steroids, hospitalization, surgery, as well as histological score and disease activity index significantly decreased in patients who used probiotic or pro-/synbiotics. Conclusions: The use of probiotics, as food supplements, can induce anti-inflammatory reactions, balance the intestinal homeostasis and induce remission in IBD. The efficacy of probiotics on remission induction is more reported in UC rather than CD. Larger well-designed clinical trials are needed to further determine whether probiotics are of clear benefits for remission in IBD. © 2020 The Society for Applied Microbiolog

Fractionation comparison of Persian Gulf jellyfish nematocyst venom by two methods of chromatography

In this paper, the nematocyst venom of the crambionella orsini jellyfish was fractionated by sizeexclusion and anion-exchange chromatography. Crambionella orsini is a jellyfish common to the Persian Gulf. The results of the mentioned methods have been investigated. The crambionella orsini’s venom has a hemolytic effect, which is similar to the other species. After the extraction of the nematocyst venom, the crude venom was partially purified using sephadex G-200 gel filtration and DEAE anion exchange chromatography. Protein elution was monitored by UV detection at 28 0nm. To determine the hemolytic fraction, every fraction was injected to 3 mice via their tail vein. Finally, all the data from both chromatography methods were compared. The gel filtrations second fraction and the first and second fractions of the anion exchange chromatography showed hemolytic activity. Determining an appropriate method for the purification of this venom can help find a comprehensive method for other marine venoms, especially jellyfish venoms, and may eventually help find specific antidotes for the stings of jellyfish of these species

Overuse and underuse of pulmonary CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utilization and diagnostic yields of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)using the Revised Geneva score and Wells' criteria, in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: One hundred and twelve adult patients underwent CTPA for suspected PE were participated in this study. The outcome was positive or negative CTPA for PE. Revised Geneva and Wells' scores were calculated. The relationship between the results obtained from these two scores and the available risk factors were compared. Descriptive analysis such as frequency and mean as well as analytical statistics including chi-square were done. The data analysis was performed using SPSS (v. 22). Results: In this study, according to the Wells' criteria calculated for the patients, 33.9 of the patients had low clinical, 56.3 intermediate and 9.8 high clinical probability. Among the 11 high clinical patients, 9(81.8) were CTPA positive. Based on the revised Geneva score, 65 patients (58) had low clinical, 36 (32.1) intermediate and 11(9.8) high clinical probability. Among the 11 high clinical patients, 8 were CTPA positive. Positive predictive value of the low clinical patients based on Wells' criteria and the revised Geneva score was 18.4 and 30.8, respectively. Also, positive predictive value for high clinical probability of Wells' criteria and the revised Geneva score was 81.8 and 72.8 respectively. Conclusion: Under/overuse of CTPA in diagnosing PTE is a common problem especially in university hospitals. It is possible to avoid unnecessary CTPA requests using scholarly investigations and more accurate clinical risk assessments. © Iran University of Medical Sciences

Overuse and underuse of pulmonary CT angiography in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism

Background: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the utilization and diagnostic yields of CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA)using the Revised Geneva score and Wells' criteria, in patients with suspected pulmonary embolism (PE). Methods: One hundred and twelve adult patients underwent CTPA for suspected PE were participated in this study. The outcome was positive or negative CTPA for PE. Revised Geneva and Wells' scores were calculated. The relationship between the results obtained from these two scores and the available risk factors were compared. Descriptive analysis such as frequency and mean as well as analytical statistics including chi-square were done. The data analysis was performed using SPSS (v. 22). Results: In this study, according to the Wells' criteria calculated for the patients, 33.9 of the patients had low clinical, 56.3 intermediate and 9.8 high clinical probability. Among the 11 high clinical patients, 9(81.8) were CTPA positive. Based on the revised Geneva score, 65 patients (58) had low clinical, 36 (32.1) intermediate and 11(9.8) high clinical probability. Among the 11 high clinical patients, 8 were CTPA positive. Positive predictive value of the low clinical patients based on Wells' criteria and the revised Geneva score was 18.4 and 30.8, respectively. Also, positive predictive value for high clinical probability of Wells' criteria and the revised Geneva score was 81.8 and 72.8 respectively. Conclusion: Under/overuse of CTPA in diagnosing PTE is a common problem especially in university hospitals. It is possible to avoid unnecessary CTPA requests using scholarly investigations and more accurate clinical risk assessments. © Iran University of Medical Sciences

The Royal College of Ophthalmologists' National Ophthalmology Database study of cataract surgery: Report 7, immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery in the UK: Current practice and patient selection.

BACKGROUND: Cataract extraction is the most frequently performed surgical intervention in the world and demand is rising due to an ageing demography. One option to address this challenge is to offer selected patients immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). This study aims to investigate patient and operative characteristics for ISBCS and delayed bilateral cataract surgery (DSCS) in the UK. METHODS: Data were analysed from the Royal College of Ophthalmologists' National Ophthalmology Database Audit (NOD) of cataract surgery. Eligible patients were those undergoing bilateral cataract extraction from centres with a record of at least one ISBCS operation between 01/04/2010 and 31/08/2018. Variable frequency comparison was undertaken with chi-square tests. RESULTS: During the study period, 1073 patients had ISBCS and 248,341 DSCS from 73 centres. A higher proportion of ISBCS patients were unable to lie flat (11.3% vs. 1.8%; p < 0.001), unable to cooperate (9.7% vs. 2.7%; p < 0.001); underwent general anaesthesia (58.7% vs. 6.6% (p < 0.001)); had brunescent/white/mature cataracts (odds ratio (OR) 5.118); no fundal view/vitreous opacities (OR 8.381); had worse pre-operative acuity 0.60 LogMAR ISBCS vs. 0.50 (first) and 0.40 (second eye) DSCS and were younger (mean ages, 71.5 vs. 75.6 years; p < 0.001). Posterior capsular rupture (PCR) rates adjusted for case complexity were comparable (0.98% ISBCS and 0.78% DSCS). CONCLUSIONS: ISBCS was performed on younger patients, with difficulty cooperating and lying flat, worse pre-operative vision, higher rates of known PCR risk factors and more frequent use of general anaesthesia than DSCS in centres recorded on NOD

The effect of probiotics on respiratory tract infection with special emphasis on COVID-19: Systemic review 2010�20

To evaluate the effects of probiotics on respiratory tract infection (RTI) a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) from January 2010 to January 2020 was conducted. The PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov, and International Clinical Trials Registry Platform databases were systematically searched for the following keywords: respiratory tract infection, probiotics, viral infection, COVID-19, and clinical trial. A total of 27 clinical trials conducted on 9433 patients with RTI plus 10 ongoing clinical studies of probiotics intervention in Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were reviewed. The review looked at the potency of probiotics for the hindrance and/or treatment of RTI diseases, this may also apply to COVID-19. The review found that probiotics could significantly increase the plasma levels of cytokines, the effect of influenza vaccine and quality of life, as well as reducing the titer of viruses and the incidence and duration of respiratory infections. These antiviral and immune-modulating activities and their ability to stimulate interferon production recommend the use of probiotics as an adjunctive therapy to prevent COVID-19. Based on this extensive review of RCTs we suggest that probiotics are a rational complementary treatment for RTI diseases and a viable option to support faster recovery. © 2021 The Author