Recent Advances in Anticancer Activity of Novel Plant Extracts and Compounds from Curcuma longa in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

PURPOSE: Among all forms of cancers, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide. There are several treatment options for HCC ranging from loco-regional therapy to surgical treatment. Yet, there is high morbidity and mortality. Recent research focus has shifted towards more effective and less toxic cancer treatment options. Curcumin, the active ingredient in the Curcuma longa plant, has gained widespread attention in recent years because of its multifunctional properties as an antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer agent. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar was performed for studies reporting incidence of HCC, risk factors associated with cirrhosis and experimental use of curcumin as an anti-cancer agent. RESULTS: This review exclusively encompasses the anti-cancer properties of curcumin in HCC globally and it’s postulated molecular targets of curcumin when used against liver cancers. CONCLUSIONS: This review is concluded by presenting the current challenges and future perspectives of novel plant extracts derived from C. longa and the treatment options against cancers

Fourth-generation glucose sensors composed of coppernanostructures for diabetes management: A critical review

More than five decades have been invested in understanding glucose biosensors. Yet, this immensely versatile field has continued to gain attention from the scientific world to better understand and diagnose diabetes. However, such extensive work done to improve glucose sensing devices has still not yielded desirable results. Drawbacks like the necessity of the invasive finger pricking step and the lack of optimization of diagnostic interventions still need to be considered to improve the testing process of diabetic patients. To upgrade the glucose-sensing devices and reduce the number of intermediary steps during glucose measurement, fourth-generation glucose sensors (FGGS) have been introduced. These sensors, made using robust electrocatalytic copper nanostructures, improve diagnostic efficiency and cost-effectiveness. This review aims to present the essential scientific progress in copper nanostructure-based FGGS in the past ten years (2010 – present). After a short introduction, we presented the working principles of these sensors. We then highlighted the importance of copper nanostructures as advanced electrode materials to develop reliable real-time FGGS. Finally, we cover the advantages, shortcomings, and prospects for developing highly sensitive, stable, and specific FGGS

Herkunft, Fazies und Ablagerungsmilieu des mittleren bis oberen Jura der Kerman- und Tabas-Regionen, östlicher Zentraliran

The present study concerned mainly on the source, facies, and sedimentary environments of the Middle to Upper Jurassic strata in the Kerman and Tabas areas, east-central Iran. The composition of sandstones, and heavy mineral analysis point to pre-existing sedimentary, low, middle to upper rank metamorphic, and plutonic rocks of the Kalmard, Posht-e-Badam, Bayazeh, and Zarand-Kerman areas as the source rocks. According to the diagram of WELTJE et al. (1998), most samples from the Middle-Upper Jurassic rocks suggest a moderate to high elevation of the source area, and indicate a semi-arid and mediterranean to sub-humid climate. In the Qt-F-L ternary diagrams of DICKINSON et al. (1983), most point counting data from the Lower Siliciclastic Member and the top of the Hojedk Formation plot in the recycled orogen (Quartzose recycled) area of the diagram. The sandstones in this area can be interpreted as being derived from the Mid-Cimmerian Movements. Sixteen different types of siliciclastic-carbonate, and evaporatic sedimentary environments have been recognized. Thirty-nine macroinvertebrate taxa have been identified. Ten ichnotaxa have been taxonomically described from the Middle to Upper Jurassic rocks. Quite likely, before rotation of CEIM which were associated with counterclockwise block-rotation, equivalent rocks of the Bidou Formation occurred along the tectonic zone between the Yazd and the Tabas blocks (probably during the Middle Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous). However, from the Cretaceous onwards, most of the Bidou Formation has been removed by a combination of strike-slip and reverse movements of the Kashmar-Kerman tectonic zone. Roughly, these block-rotation movements occurred after the Cretaceous. During the Middle to Upper Jurassic, the tectonic activities were vertical movements producing the sedimentary pattern in the CEIM.Die Arbeit behandelt die Herkunft, Fazies und das Ablagerungsmilieu des mittleren bis oberen Jura der Kerman- und Tabas-Regionen, östlicher Zentraliran

High-Level Fault Simulation Methodology for QDI Template-Based Asynchronous Circuits

Abstract Complexity of design and the lack of suitable test methodology are the major obstacles for widespread use of asynchronous circuit in digital circuit design. Template based synthesis of asynchronous circuits is accepted as an effective way to decrease the complexity of design. However, test frameworks such as fault simulator for synchronous circuits are not applicable for template based asynchronous circuits. In this paper we study transistor-level single stuck-at faults in traditional asynchronous templates and categorize their effects on the functionality of circuit. We prove by a mathematical specification that single stack-at fault in Pre-Charge Full Buffer templates has one of the three effects: deadlock, token generation and token dropping. This categorization is used to introducing a new high level fault simulation methodology for these circuits. Based on this strategy we develop a fault simulator and experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed fault simulation methodology

Determination of Hildebrand solubility parameter of pure 1-alkanols up to high pressures

An extended approach to determine Hildebrand solubility parameter (HISP) of pure 1-alkanols by precise calculation of the isothermal compressibility coefficient and heat capacities is proposed. The approach is introduced during its implementation for four pure polar 1-alkanols, namely 1-heptanol, 1-octanol, 1-nonanol, and 1-decanol. Having described the approach, the prediction ability of that is compared with the previous methods for calculation of the properties. Comparisons show that for all the three mentioned properties, the proposed approach provides significantly better predictions. The mean absolute error for prediction of the isothermal compressibility coefficient, isobaric heat capacity, and HISP by the proposed approach are 1.77, 1.32, and 0.17% (for 1-heptanol), 1.54, 1.11, and 0.18% (for 1-octanol), 2.90, 0.97, and 0.28% (for 1-nonanol), and 1.39, 1.61, and 0.39% (for 1-decanol), respectively. In addition to checking the accuracy of the proposed approach, to investigate the impacts of temperature and pressure as two key parameters on HISP of 1-alkanols, sensitivity analyses are conducted. The results of sensitivity analyses show that same as the non-polar substances, in the case of polar compounds, increase in pressure leads to an increase in HISP. Furthermore, when temperature does not change, HISP approaches a constant value at high pressures. Moreover, the relationship between temperature and HISP is linear.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/molliq2021-01-01hj2020Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineerin

Analysis of Dynamics Targeting CNT-Based Drug Delivery through Lung Cancer Cells: Design, Simulation, and Computational Approach

Nowadays, carbon nano (CN) structures and specifically carbon nanotubes (CNTs), because of the nanotube’s nanoscale shape, are widely used in carrier and separation applications. The conjugation of CNTs with polysaccharide, proteins, drugs, and magnetic nanoparticles provides a chance for smart targeting and trajectory manipulation, which are used in the crucial field of life science applications, including for cancer disease diagnostics and treatments. Providing an optimal procedure for delivering a drug to a specific area based on mathematical criteria is key in systemic delivery design. Trajectory guidance and applied force control are the main parameters affected by systemic delivery. Moreover, a better understanding of the tissue parameters and cell membrane molecular behaviour are other factors that can be indirectly affected by the targeted delivery. Both sides are an essential part of successful targeting. The lung is one of the challenging organs for drug delivery inside the human body. It has a large surface area with a thin epithelium layer. A few severe diseases directly involve human lung cells, and optimal and successful drug delivery to the lung for the treatment procedure is vital. In this paper, we studied functionalized CNTs’ targeted delivery via crossing through the lung cell membrane. Molecular dynamics (MD) software simulated all the interaction forces. Mathematical modelling of the cell membrane and proposed delivery system based on the relation of velocity and force has been considered. Dynamics equations for CNTs were defined in the time and frequency domain using control theory methods. The proposed delivery system consists of two main parts: crossing through the cell membrane and targeting inside the cell. For both steps, a mathematical model and a proper magnetic field profile have been proposed. The designed system provides criteria for crossing through the cell membrane within 30 s to 5 min and a translocation profile of 1 to 100 Å

An eco-friendly remote sensing assisted development procedure to install renewable energy infrastructure for highest techno-economic gain

By taking socio-economic, terrain, and meteorological impacts into account, an eco-friendly methodology to sort the potential locations for installation of renewable energy infrastructure has been proposed, which is also able to address the most important challenge in the field, i.e., determination of the best contribution of the renewable energy sources. For this purpose, three advanced approaches, namely, remote sensing by geographic information system (GIS), optimization, and weighted decision-making are employed. Moreover, a sensitivity analysis is conducted to evaluate the influence of land prices, nominal capacity, and relative importance of technical and economic indicators in decision-making. Iran is chosen as the case study because it has significant solar and wind energy potential and also has serious energy, economic, and environmental issues. The findings indicate an optimal land price of $200 per m2, a hub nominal capacity of 50 MW, and an equal weighting of objective functions for the case study. The average energy generation, levelized cost of energy (LCOE), PV ratio, and land utilization are projected to reach 288.5 GWh.year−1, 0.3260$.(kWh)-1, 4.15 %, and 2362334 m2, respectively when the optimal procedure is applied. The sensitivity study also shows that relative to PV, the contribution of wind turbines increases with plant size