Helical edge states in silicene and germanene nanorings in perpendicular magnetic field

Due to nonzero intrinsic spin-orbit interaction in buckled honeycomb crystal structures, silicene and germanene exhibit interesting topological properties, and are therefore candidates for the realization of the quantum spin Hall effect. We employ the Kane-Mele model to investigate the electron states in hexagonal silicene and germanene nanorings having either zigzag or armchair edges in the presence of a perpendicular magnetic field. We present results for the energy spectra as function of magnetic field, the electron density of the spin-up and spin-down states in the ring plane, and the calculation of the probability current density. The quantum spin Hall phase is found at the edges between the nontrivial topological phase in silicene and germanene and vacuum. We demonstrate that the helical edge states in zigzag silicene and germanene nanorings can be qualitatively well understood by means of classical magnetic moments. However, this is not the case for comparable-sized armchair nanorings, where the eigenfunctions spread throughout the ring. Finally, we note that the energy spectra of silicene and germanene nanorings are similar and that the differences between the two are mainly related to the difference in magnitude of the spin-orbit coupling.Comment: 17 pages, 10 figure

Impact of Flooding on Mine Action in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia

Devastating floods swept through Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia in May 2014. The destructiveness of the floods, landslides and sediment torrents on minefields resulted in significant environmental and security issues. These three countries’ mine action centers launched a joint project cofunded by the Republic of Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to develop effective and efficient methods and technologies that might improve the situation. Their research seeks to provide reliable assessments of the flood damage to minefields and generate accurate implications for potential hazardous areas

Highly potent antioxidant Olea europaea L. leaf extract affects carotid and renal haemodynamics in experimental hypertension

Haemodynamic alterations in carotid and renal arteries are associated with the severity of target organ damage in patients with hypertension. Dietary habits, such as the Mediterranean diet, regulate blood pressure and oxidative stress, thus reduce the mortality rate due to cardiovascular diseases. In this study, our aim was to evaluate the reducing activity, antioxidant capacity and metal chelating ability of standardized Olea europaea L. leaf extract (OLE), and to test its (5, 25, 50 mg/kg) acute in vivo effects, as well as oleuropein’s (OP, 10 mg/kg) on oxidative stress, carotid, renal and systemic haemodynamic parameters (blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, peripheral resistance) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). OLE has a higher antioxidative capacity than BHT, higher reducing ability than vitamin C, and 23 times lower capacity for metal ion chelation than EDTA. All three doses of OLE, and OP, improved oxidative stress in SHR. OLE5 improved carotid and renal haemodynamics, without significant effects on systemic haemodynamics. Two different mechanisms of antihypertensive responses to OLE were observed, OLE25 was most effective in reducing cardiovascular risks by improving systemic and regional (carotid and renal) haemodynamics, peripheral and regional vascular resistance. OLE50 causes the improvement of blood pressure and cardiac performances, but tends to retain elevated vascular resistance, therefore, reducing the inflow of blood into the brain and kidneys of the SHR. The OP did not alter systemic or regional haemodynamics, suggesting others constituents responsible for changes of cardiac function, as well as carotid and renal haemodynamics in response to OLE50

Identification of a rare p.G320R alpha-1-antitrypsin variant in emphysema and lung cancer patients

The alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) gene is highly polymorphic, with more than 100 genetic variants identified of which some can affect A1AT protein concentration and/or function and lead to pulmonary and/or liver disease. This study reports on the characterization of a p.G320R variant found in two patients, one with emphysema and the other with lung cancer. This variant results from a single base-pair substitution in exon 4 of the A1AT gene, and has been characterized as P by isoelectric focusing. Functional evaluation of the A1AT p.G320R variant was through comparing specific trypsin inhibitory activity in two patients with pulmonary disorders, carriers of the p.G320R variant, and 19 healthy individuals, carriers of normal A1AT M variants. Results showed that specific trypsin inhibitory activity was lower in both emphysema (2.45 mU/g) and lung cancer (2.07 mU/g) patients than in carriers of the normal variants (range 2.51-3.71 mU/g). This rare A1AT variant is associated with reduced functional activity of A1AT protein. Considering that it was found in patients with severe pulmonary disorders, this variant could be of clinical significance

Effects of losartan, tempol, and their combination on renal nitric oxide synthases in the animal model of chronic kidney disease

Down-regulation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NO defi ciency in the kidneys have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this study we examined the effects of losartan, tempol, and combined treatment on three NOS isoforms expressions, kidney NO content and NOS correlation with renal function and structure in the early stage of adriamycin (ADR)-induced CKD in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Rats were divided into control group, and four other groups which were treated with ADR and received vehicle, losartan (L, angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker), tempol (T, redox-cycling nitroxide) or T + L treatment (by gavage) in a six-week study. Reduction of all NOS isoforms expressions were signifi cantly improved by losartan or tempol, and correlated with proteinuria amelioration. Combined treatment induced down-regulation of constitutive NOS isoforms, whilst inducible NOS was up-regulated and followed by increased nitrite content and a signifi cant decline in the glomerular fi ltration rate. Losartan or tempol prevented ADR-induced neoexpression of vimentin in the glomeruli and tubulointerstital areas, whereas de novo vimentin expression was still observed in the atrophic tubules and in the interstitial fi broblasts and myofi broblasts in combined treatment. It can be concluded that single treatments, contrary to combined, were effective in improving NO bioavailability and slowing down the progression of CKD

Satureja horvatii essential oil: In vitro antimicrobial and antiradical properties and in situ control of Listeria monocytogenes in pork meat

The dominant compounds in Satureja horvatii oil were p-cymene (33.14\%), thymol (26.11\%) and thymol methyl ether (15.08\%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) varied from 0.03 to 0.57 mg/mL for bacteria, and from 0.56 to 2.23 mg/mL for yeast strains, while minimum bactericidal/yeast-cidal concentration (MBC/MYC) varied from 0.07 to 1.15 mg/mL and 1.11 to 5.57 mg/mL for bacteria and yeasts, respectively. The antiradical potential of the essential oil was evaluated using hydroxyl radical (center dot OH) generated in Fenton reaction. The meat preserving potential of essential oil from Satureja horvatii was investigated against L monocytogenes. Essential oil successfully inhibited development of L monocytogenes in pork meat. Sensorial evaluation on flavor and color of meat was performed. The color and flavor of meat treated with essential oil improved after 4 days of storage. S. horvatii essential oil can act as a potent inhibitor of food spoiling microorganisms, in meat products and also can be a useful source of natural antioxidants. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Ministry of Education and Science of Serbia {[}173029, 173032, 173040]; Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Italy; Erasmus Mundus fellowship under EMEC

Antioxidant enzymes activities in kidney among the experimental groups.

<p>SOD—superoxide dismutase, CAT—catalase, and GSH-Px—glutathione peroxidase. *<i>p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, **<i>p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, ***<i>p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHC; ^#<i>p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, ^###<i>p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHADR; ^$<i>p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, ^$ $<i>p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, ^$ $$<i>p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHADR+L; ^&&<i>p<0</i>.<i>01</i> vs. SHADR+T; n = 8 animals per group. Data represent mean ± SEM. SHC—control group, SHADR–SHR treated with adriamycin, L—losartan, T—tempol.</p

Systolic arterial pressure (SAP), urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (Up/cr), urine protein (Up), and plasma creatinine (Pcr) in experimental groups.

<p><i>*p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, <i>**p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, <i>***p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHC; <i>#p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, <i>###p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHADR; <i>$p<0</i>.<i>05</i>, <i>$ $p<0</i>.<i>01</i>, <i>$ $$p<0</i>.<i>001</i> vs. SHADR+L; n = 6–7 animals per group. Data represent mean ± SEM. SHC—control group, SHADR–SHR treated with adriamycin, L—losartan, T–tempol.</p