Generalized second law of thermodynamics in modified FRW cosmology with corrected entropy-area relation

Using the corrected entropy-area relation motivated by the loop quantum gravity, we investigate the validity of the generalized second law of thermodynamics in the framework of modified FRW cosmology. We consider a non-flat universe filled with an interacting viscous dark energy with dark matter and radiation. The boundary of the universe is assumed to be the dynamical apparent horizon. We find out that the generalized second law is always satisfied throughout the history of the universe for any spatial curvature regardless of the dark energy model.Comment: 9 pages, accepted for publication in Europhysics Letter

Assessment of Pollution in the Central Soils of Khuzestan Province with Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) and their Origins

Introduction In recent years, soil contamination with potentially toxic elements (PTEs) has become a major problem in most parts of the world. PTEs are naturally generated from the pedogenesis in the soil and are formed mainly by rock weathering. Nevertheless, the natural content of metals, i.e., Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, used to be low in the soil, but due to anthropogenic activities such as industrial emissions, atmospheric transportation, sewage irrigation, and application of pesticides and fertilizers, there is an increase in the content of PTEs. PTEs in soil are one of the most important environmental pollutants due to their toxicity, durability, easy absorption by plants and long half-life. Therefore, the assessment of soil health is very important for the sustainable development of agriculture and the rehabilitation of soils contaminated with PTEs. The present study was conducted to quantify PTEs pollution for soil environmental assessment using a flexible approach based on multivariate analysis and using pollution indicators in a part of the central lands of Khuzestan province.   Materials and Methods For this purpose, in February 2021, 200 surface soil samples (0-10 cm) were taken using stratified random sampling. The collected soil samples were cleaned by removing plant materials and other pebbles, and air dried, powdered, and sieved by using a 2 mm sieve size. The interest in soil's physical and chemical properties i.e., pH was determined with a digital pH meter. Soil textural particles were measured by the hydrometer method, soil organic carbon (SOC) content was estimated by following Walkley and Black method, bulk density (BD) was measured by the Clod method, and total metal content was determined using the aqua-regia solution digestion method and analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission spectrometry (ICP-OEC). The level of Pb, Ni, Zn, Cr pollution was estimated based on environmental indicators including contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution index of individual metals (PI), and modified pollution index of individual metals (MPI). Multivariate statistical methods including correlation analysis, cluster analysis (CA), and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to find the source of metals in the soil. All statistical methods were performed using SPSS (26 version) software.   Results and Discussion Measurement of soil pH showed that the soil of the studied area tends to alkalinity. Also, the soil texture in this area is loam. The results showed that the SOC in these soil samples is 0.71%, and the range of EC (between 0.18 and 60.5 dS/m) indicates the distribution of saline and non-saline soils in the studied area. The total average concentration of Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb were 60.26, 50.96, 50.38, and 12.67 mg/kg, respectively. The order of average for heavy metals was Zn> Ni> Cr> Pb. The highest amount of standard deviation and concentration changes were observed in Zn and Pb elements. These two elements also showed a high degree of variation coefficient in the studied area, which can indicate the high impact of human activities on the content of these elements. The results obtained from the application of multivariate statistics showed that there is a positive correlation between the elements such as Zn, Ni, and Pb in the study area, indicating that these metals probably have the same source. Whereas the absence of correlation of Cr with these elements indicates a separate source for this element compared to Pb, Zn, and Ni. There was also a strong relationship among these elements based on the PCA and CA classification. Based on the multivariate statistical analysis the source of pollution for the metals studied was mainly from both anthropogenic and geogenic activities. The results showed that the soil samples taken from the study area are in the low pollution category based on the individual element indices of CF and Igeo, but in the moderate pollution class based on the EF index. In addition, the evaluation based on the cumulative and multi-element indices of PI and MPI showed that 100% of samples have high pollution.   Conclusion The present study concludes that the average values of Zn, Ni, Cr, and Pb were found to be below the guidelines set by the IEPA (Iran Environmental Protection Agency) as well as the Earth's crust values. The results indicate existing relationships among the studied variables, revealing that the heavy metals Zn, Ni, and Zn share the same source in the study area. Additionally, it was observed that the source of Cr is primarily geogenic in nature. These findings highlight the significance of utilizing multivariate statistical methods and pollution indicators in tandem, as they prove to be valuable tools for evaluating and quantitatively determining the potential pollution risk

On thermodynamics second law in the modified Gauss Bonnet gravity

The second law and the generalized second law of thermodynamics in cosmology in the framework of the modified Gauss-Bonnet theory of gravity are investigated. The conditions upon which these laws hold are derived and discussed.Comment: 9pages, typos corrected, references adde

The effect of Descurainia sophia oil on methamphetamine-induced cell cytotoxicity and cell death in PC12

Methamphetamine causes cytotoxicity and apoptosis in different cell lines. It seems that Descurainia sophia oil, as an East Asian folk herbal drug, can suppress the methamphetamine-induced cell death. In this study, protective effects of Descurainia sophia oil were followed up in methamphetamine-induced cell cytotoxicity in a neuron-like PC12 cell line. The viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of the cells were assessed by Trypan blue, MTT test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test was performed to detect DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Nitric oxide (NO) level was detected by Griese method. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, interferon gamma (INF-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by Rat Kit V-Plex, and finally, caspase-3 activity was determined by spectrophotometry. Results showed that Descurainia sophia oil has cell death–suppressing effects on PC12 cells. It enhanced the cell viability and proliferation and also increased the cell cytotoxicity and cell death index in methamphetamine-treated PC12 cells. Also, it suppressed NO production, inflammatory cytokine production by flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. We concluded that Descurainia sophia oil suppresses the methamphetamine-induced cell death in PC12 cell due to reduction of NO production, inflammation, and inhibition of apoptosis cascade. © 2019, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Role of NMDA glutamate receptors within the amygdale in inhibition of the metabolic effects of acute stress in male mice

Background: Amygdala is known as one of the most important regions of the brain in response to stressful stimuli. In the present study, the role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptors within the amygdala in inhibition of the metabolic effects of acute stress in male mice was investigated. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, bilateral or unilateral amygdala cannulation was performed stereotaxically. After a seven-day recovery period, the animals (11 groups of seven each) received different doses of memantine (1, 0.5, and 0.1 µg/mouse) five min before the stress induction. Food and water intake, delay to eating time, and fecal material as stress metabolic parameters were measured. Results: Stress had no effect on water intake, but reduced food intake and, increased delay to eating time and fecal materials. Moreover, injection of memantine to the right or left side of amygdala decreased water intake, and injection at a dose of 0.1 µg to the left amygdala inhibited the effect of stress and increased the food intake. Also, an injection of memantine in the left or right amygdala decreased delay to eating time and decreased fecal material at 1 and 0.5 µg/mouse doses that the right of the core had the greatest inhibitory effect in this regard. Conclusion: It seems that the amygdala glutamate system, in particular its NMDA receptors, may have a significant effect on regulating the stress responses, which this effect is a side-dependent phenomenon

Effect of chronic stress and intra-amygdal memantine administration on alterations of brain’s volume and weight to volume and weight ratio of the adrenal gland in male mice

Background and Objective: After chronic stress, brain volume and weight reduces and in turn, adrenal weight and volume increases. This study was performed to determine the effect of chronic stress and memantine administration within amygdala on the alterations of brain’s volume and weight ratio to volume and weight of the adrenal gland on male mice. Methods: In this experimental study, bi- or unilateral amygdala cannulation was preformed stereotaxically. A week after recovery, animals were received different doses of memantine (1, 0.5, and 0.1 µg/mouse), five min before stress induction. Electric foot shock induced to animals for seven consecutive days. At the end of the seventh day, animals were sacrificed and their brain and adrenal glands were fixed in formalin 4%. The volume and weight was determined by mercury immersion and accurate balance respectively. Results: Stress non- significantly reduced brain’s volume ratio to volume of the adrenal gland and brain’s weight ratio to weight of the adrenal gland. Memantine administration within amygdala inhibited stress effect. Memantine administration in low and medium doses within right and left amygdala significantly increased brain’s volume and weight ratio to volume and weight of the adrenal gland (P<0.05). Conclusion: Memantine dose and side dependently inhibits the effect of induced stress in male mice. Also, unilateral memantine administration within the left and right amygdala was more effective

Optical absorption enhancement in amorphous silicon films and solar cell precursors using the aluminum-induced glass texturing method

10.1155/2014/842891International Journal of Photoenergy2014