Generalized relation between the relative entropy and dissipation for nonequilibrium systems

Recently, Kawai, Parrondo, and Van den Broeck have related dissipation to time-reversal asymmetry. We generalized the result by considering a protocol where the physical system is driven away from an initial thermal equilibrium state with temperature $\beta_0$ to a final thermal equilibrium state at a different temperature. We illustrate the result using a model with an exact solution, i.e., a particle in a moving one-dimensional harmonic well.Comment: 4 page

An Introduction to Islamic Securities (Sukuk)

Islamic securities (Sukuk) are hybrid securities bearing features of stocks and bonds, altogether. Similar to stocks, they indicate a type of partner-ship and holders of Sukuk will be considered as the owners of underlying asset or project for finance of which, Sukuk have been issued. Theoreti-cally, these holders share any loss and profit resulted from underlying asset. However, these securities usually bear a maturity date like bonds and contrary to stocks. The holder has no voting right or control over the underlying asset. In case of bankruptcy and contrary to the share-holders, holder benefits from priority right over underlying asset, in comparison to other creditors. Practically and contrary to the initial theo-ry in consideration of Sukuk (sharing in loss and profit), nowadays some of these securities are usually of fixed revenue and any probable risk re-sulting from decrease being made in the value of underlying asset will be covered by the issuer or originator, through insurance companies. Now-adays, new forms of Sukuk such as convertible, preference, subordinated and perpetual Sukuk have been developed, features of which are very similar to hybrids. Considering special nature of Sukuk, indicating partial ownership of its holder over related underlying asset or project, some-how we may use these new hybrid tools to prevent prevailing risks relat-ed to other securities and hybrids, such as credit and bankruptcy risks; and, we may use them more in financing and attracting capital, globally

An Introduction to Islamic Securities (Sukuk)

Islamic securities (Sukuk) are hybrid securities bearing features of stocks and bonds, altogether. Similar to stocks, they indicate a type of partner-ship and holders of Sukuk will be considered as the owners of underlying asset or project for finance of which, Sukuk have been issued. Theoreti-cally, these holders share any loss and profit resulted from underlying asset. However, these securities usually bear a maturity date like bonds and contrary to stocks. The holder has no voting right or control over the underlying asset. In case of bankruptcy and contrary to the share-holders, holder benefits from priority right over underlying asset, in comparison to other creditors. Practically and contrary to the initial theo-ry in consideration of Sukuk (sharing in loss and profit), nowadays some of these securities are usually of fixed revenue and any probable risk re-sulting from decrease being made in the value of underlying asset will be covered by the issuer or originator, through insurance companies. Now-adays, new forms of Sukuk such as convertible, preference, subordinated and perpetual Sukuk have been developed, features of which are very similar to hybrids. Considering special nature of Sukuk, indicating partial ownership of its holder over related underlying asset or project, some-how we may use these new hybrid tools to prevent prevailing risks relat-ed to other securities and hybrids, such as credit and bankruptcy risks; and, we may use them more in financing and attracting capital, globally

Diterpenoids from Euphorbia gedrosiaca as Potential Anti-Proliferative Agents against Breast Cancer Cells

Isolated diterpenes from various species of Euphorbia are important compounds for drug discovery with a broad spectrum of structures and biological effects. In this study, Euphorbia gedrosiaca, one of the endemic species of Iran, was analyzed in terms of the presence and structural determination of diterpenoid compounds. They were extracted with dichloromethane/acetone (2:1) from aerial parts of this plant and purified by chromatographic methods such as MPLC and HPLC. Four premyrsinane compounds and one myrsinane diterpene were isolated from Euphorbia gedrosiaca. They were characterized by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS analyses. Additionally, their activities were evaluated against two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, by MTT proliferation assay. They exhibited cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent manner with promising results, which can help to find possible therapeutic application of diterpenoids in breast cancer treatment

Diterpenoids from Euphorbia gedrosiaca as Potential Anti-Proliferative Agents against Breast Cancer Cells

: Isolated diterpenes from various species of Euphorbia are important compounds for drug discovery with a broad spectrum of structures and biological effects. In this study, Euphorbia gedrosiaca, one of the endemic species of Iran, was analyzed in terms of the presence and structural determination of diterpenoid compounds. They were extracted with dichloromethane/acetone (2:1) from aerial parts of this plant and purified by chromatographic methods such as MPLC and HPLC. Four premyrsinane compounds and one myrsinane diterpene were isolated from Euphorbia gedrosiaca. They were characterized by extensive 1D and 2D NMR and HRMS analyses. Additionally, their activities were evaluated against two breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, by MTT proliferation assay. They exhibited cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent manner with promising results, which can help to find possible therapeutic application of diterpenoids in breast cancer treatment

Cell-Imprinted Substrates Modulate Differentiation, Redifferentiation, and Transdifferentiation

Differentiation of stem cells into mature cells through the use of physical approaches is of great interest. Here, we prepared smart nanoenvironments by cell-imprinted substrates based on chondrocytes, tenocytes, and semifibroblasts as templates and demonstrated their potential for differentiation, redifferentiation, and transdifferentiation. Analysis of shape and upregulation/downregulation of specific genes of stem cells, which were seeded on these cell-imprinted substrates, confirmed that imprinted substrates have the capability to induce specific shapes and molecular characteristics of the cell types that were used as templates for cell-imprinting. Interestingly, immunofluorescent staining of a specific protein in chondrocytes (i.e., collagen type II) confirmed that adipose-derived stem cells, semifibroblasts, and tenocytes can acquire the chondrocyte phenotype after a 14 day culture on chondrocyte-imprinted substrates. In summary, we propose that common polystyrene tissue culture plates can be replaced by this imprinting technique as an effective and promising way to regulate any cell phenotype in vitro with significant potential applications in regenerative medicine and cell-based therapies