Paroxetine is Pro-inflammatory in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

BACKGROUND: Paroxetine is an antidepressant that is widely used. However, Paroxetine possesses anticholinergic properties which may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults. Surprisingly, the mechanisms of the cognitive decline of anticholinergic drugs in older adults remains elusive. A hypothesis is that a loss of cholinergic signaling is pro-inflammatory in the brain. We designed experiments to determine if Paroxetine is pro-inflammatory in Normal Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (NHBMECs). METHOD: NHBMECs were grown at 5% CO2, 37C and 95% relative humidity until 90% confluent. NHBMECs were treated with the RNA free water as control, Paroxetine as 1.67x 10 4 mM/mol, IL1B 2ng/ml for 24 hours. RNA was isolated, converted into CDNA, and gene expression determined via RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s with a significant p-value \u3c 0.05. Experiments were completed on 10-04-19. The mRNA expression studies were performed on 11-01-19. RESULTS: NHBMECs exposed to Paroxetine for 24 hours demonstrated elevated expression of CCL2 and CXCL5. NHBMECs exposed to Paroxetine + IL1B demonstrated synergistic elevations in CCL2 and CXCL5. CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that Paroxetine may have pro-inflammatory properties within this subset of human brain cells. Therefore, our preliminary data suggests the possibility of pathological pro- inflammatory mechanisms associated with Paroxetine. Further evaluation of different populations of normal human brain cells are warranted.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/gradposters/1096/thumbnail.jp

Rutile TiO2 films as electron transport layer in inverted organic solar cell

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films were prepared by sol–gel spin coating method and deposited on ITO-coated glass substrates. The effects of different heat treatment annealing temperatures on the phase composition of TiO2 films and its effect on the optical band gap, morphological, structural as well as using these layers in P3HT:PCBM-based organic solar cell were examined. The results show the presence of rutile phases in the TiO2 films which were heat-treated for 2 h at different temperatures (200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C). The optical properties of the TiO2 films have altered by temperature with a slight decrease in the transmittance intensity in the visible region with increasing the temperature. The optical band gap values were found to be in the range of 3.28–3.59 eV for the forbidden direct electronic transition and 3.40–3.79 eV for the allowed direct transition. TiO2 layers were used as electron transport layer in inverted organic solar cells and resulted in a power conversion efficiency of 1.59% with short circuit current density of 6.64 mA cm−2 for TiO2 layer heat-treated at 600 °C

Dynamics of Urban Growth: Modeling the Fractal Dimension of the City of Irbid , Jordan

The emergence of fractal geometry engendered a shift from the common view that sees cities as simple, ordered and structured, expressed by smooth lines and shapes, towards a view that cities are complex organisms evolving according to local rules and conditions. The main objectives of this study are first to prove the fractality of the geometry of Irbid, Jordan as a case study and second to provide mathematical procedure and tool (fractal geometry) for urban analysis. The research simulates the growth of Irbid across many scales and times. The main hypothesis asserted here is that Irbid is growing systematically and factually, even though its growth demographically and geometrically hasn’t been strictly regular .This supports the argument that cities globally or locally would produce fractal growth at every level of their hierarchy

The effects of solvent treated PEDOT:PSS buffer layer in organic solar cells

Various treatments on the PEDOT:PSS films were carried out to investigate it’s influence on the conductivity, morphology, transmittance and the corresponding impact of the performance of the organic photovoltaic devices based on the PCPDTBT:PCBM and P3HT:PCBM blends. These processing including doping PEDOT:PSS with DMF and ME solvents and exposing these films to the vapor of DMF and ME solvents, separately. A considerable enhancement of the conductivity and transmittance of PEDOT:PSS was observed after doping solvent into the PEDOT;PSS solution followed by solvent treatment through exposing these films to solvents environment. The best organic PV doped devices based on either PCPDTBT:PCBM or based on P3HT:PCBM with power conversion efficiency were 2.93% compared to 1.87% for the pristine PV devices or 2.79% compared to 1.77% for the pristine devices, respectively. The conductivity improvement was highly influenced by solvent treatment

The Impact of Creative Accounting on the Qualitative Characteristics of Accounting Information according to the Joint Project – Exploratory Study

يهدف الباحث إلى معرفة مفهوم المحاسبة الابداعية والممارسات التي تستخدمها الادارة عند القياس والافصاح عن المعلومات المحاسبية في القوائم المالية لتحقيق غايتها، والكشف عن مدى تأثير هذه الممارسات على الخصائص النوعية للمعلومات المحاسبية التي حددها المشروع المشترك للـ FASB & IASB  واي من هذه الخصائص  تتأثر اكثر من غيرها من خلال ايجاد العلاقات البينية التي تربط ممارسات المحاسبة الابداعية بالخصائص النوعية والتأثير المشترك بين متغيراتها وتفرعاتها. اعتمد الباحث في الاطار النظري وصياغة تساؤلات مشكلة البحث وفرضياته على المنهج الاستنباطي من خلال الاستعانة  بما هو متاح من مصادر عربية واجنبية من الكتب والدراسات السابقة التي لها علاقة بموضوع البحث. وفي الدراسة الاستطلاعية بهدف اختبار فرضيات البحث اجرى الباحث استبياناً لعينة من الاكاديميين والمهنيين لتحديد تأثير وجود هذه الممارسات على الخصائص النوعية للمعلومات المحاسبية واذا كانت هذه الخصائص وفق المشروع المشترك تساهم بشكل او آخر في الحد من ممارسات المحاسبة الابداعية.        واهم ما توصل اليه الباحث هو ان مفاهيم الخصائص النوعية للمعلومات المحاسبية التي وضعها المشروع المشترك بين ال (FASB, IASB) جاءت من خلال التوافق في الخصائص القديمة لكل من المجلسين نحو تحسين جودة المعلومات المحاسبية ولتكون اكثر ارتباطاً بجوهر المعلومات وقيمتها بالنسبة لمتخذ القرار (جوهرية او مساندة) وليس بطبيعتها (اساسية او ثانوية). ومع ذلك فمن وجهة نظر المستجيبين عينة البحث من الاكاديميين والمهنيين ان الجهود التي بذلها المشروع المشترك لتطوير مفاهيم الخصائص النوعية للمعلومات المحاسبية لم تحد من تأثير ممارسات المحاسبة الابداعية، فقد اظهرت نتائج التحليل الاحصائي وجود تاثير ذي دلالة احصائية معنوية للمتغير المستقل ممارسات المحاسبة الابداعية في كل من الخصائص الجوهرية الملائمة والتمثيل الصادق بوصفه متغيراً معتمداً.The research aims to know the concept of creative accounting and the practices used by the management in measuring and disclosing accounting information in the financial statements to achieve its objective. Also, aim to explore the extent to which these practices affect the qualitative characteristics of accounting information identified by the joint venture of FASB & IASB, by establishing the interrelationship between creative accounting practices with the qualitative characteristics and the combined effect of their variables and their branches. The researcher adopted in the theoretical framework and formulating the questions of the research problem and its hypotheses on the deductive approach by using the available resources from Arab and foreign sources of books and previous studies related to the subject of research. In the exploratory study, in order to test hypotheses, the researcher conducted a questionnaire for a sample of academics and professionals to determine the impact of these practices on the qualitative characteristics of the accounting information, and if these characteristics according to the joint venture contribute in one way or another to the reduction of creative accounting practices. The most important conclusion of this study is that the concepts of the qualitative characteristics of the accounting information developed by the FASB and the IASB have been achieved by reconciling the old characteristics of both chambers to improve the quality of accounting information, and to be more relevant to the substance of the information and its value to the decision-maker (Fundamental and Enhancing) not by its nature (primary and secondary). However, from the point of view of research sample respondents from academics and professionals, that the efforts of the joint venture to develop the concepts of qualitative characteristics of the accounting information did not limit the impact of creative accounting practices, where the results of the statistical analysis showed a statistically significant effect of the independent variable; the creative accounting practices in each of Fundamental characteristics; relevance and faithful representation as an dependent variables

Synthesis of recyclable tire additives via equilibrium ring-opening metathesis polymerization

Linear <i>trans</i>-polypentenamers are highly desired materials among synthetic tire additives due to their comparable physical properties to natural rubber. <i>trans</i>-Polypentenamer can be prepared by equilibrium ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) using well-defined ruthenium catalyst systems. This unique feature of the equilibrium polymerization reaction opens a way for the synthesis of durable, environmentally benign elastomers where polymers including synthetic tire additives can be synthesized and readily recycled using the same transition metal catalyst system. The addition of silica fillers significantly improves the physical properties of the composite materials in comparison to the use of polymeric material. It is also known that the structural effects and the polymer–filler surface interaction are of prime importance. Herein, we report on the synthesis of silica filler compatible recyclable polypentenamer copolymers via equilibrium ROMP of cyclopentene <b>1</b> and 4-(triethoxy)­siloxy cyclopentene <b>11</b>. It has been demonstrated that polypentenamer tire additives can be synthesized via equilibrium ROMP affording polymers with high yields (>80%) at 0 °C and can be readily depolymerized at 40 °C and/or under diluted conditions using the same metathesis catalyst systems. Furthermore, the polypentenamer can also be synthesized in neat at room temperature and at very low (10⁵) monomer/catalyst ratio. This methodology is based on the synthesis of polyolefins utilizing a ruthenium-based metathesis catalyst via equilibrium ROMP of cyclopentenes and their silylated derivatives

Architecture of the trypanosome RNA editing accessory complex, MRB1

Trypanosoma brucei undergoes an essential process of mitochondrial uridine insertion and deletion RNA editing catalyzed by a 20S editosome. The multiprotein mitochondrial RNA-binding complex 1 (MRB1) is emerging as an equally essential component of the trypanosome RNA editing machinery, with additional functions in gRNA and mRNA stabilization. The distinct and overlapping protein compositions of reported MRB1 complexes and diverse MRB1 functions suggest that the complex is composed of subcomplexes with RNA-dependent and independent interactions. To determine the architecture of the MRB1 complex, we performed a comprehensive yeast two-hybrid analysis of 31 reported MRB1 proteins. We also used in vivo analyses of tagged MRB1 components to confirm direct and RNA-mediated interactions. Here, we show that MRB1 contains a core complex comprised of six proteins and maintained by numerous direct interactions. The MRB1 core associates with multiple subcomplexes and proteins through RNA-enhanced or RNA-dependent interactions. These findings provide a framework for interpretation of previous functional studies and suggest that MRB1 is a dynamic complex that coordinates various aspects of mitochondrial gene regulation

Fluorescence Turns on-off-on Sensing of Ferric Ion and L-Ascorbic Acid by Carbon Quantum Dots

This study used a hydrothermal approach to create a sensitive and focused nanoprobe. Using an “on-off-on” sensing mechanism, the nanoprobe was employed to detect and quantify ferric ions and L-ascorbic acid. Synthesis of the carbon quantum dots was achieved with a single hydrothermal step at 180°C for 24 hours using hot pepper as the starting material. The prepared CQDs showed high fluorescence with a quantum yield of 30% when excited at 350 nm, exhibiting excitation-dependent fluorescence. The emission of the CQDs can be quenched by adding ferric ions, which can be attributed to complex formation leading to nonradiative photoinduced electron transfer (PET). Adding L-ascorbic acid, which can convert ferric ions into ferrous ions, break the complex, and restore the fluorescence of CQD. The linear range and LOD were (10–90) μM and 1 μM for ferric ions, respectively, and L-ascorbic acid’s linear range was (5–100) μM while LOD was 0.1 μM quantification of both substances was accomplished. In addition, orange fruit was used as an actual sample source for ascorbic acid analysis, yielding up to 99% recovery