Double Relaxation via AdS/CFT

We exploit the AdS/CFT correspondence to investigate thermalization in an N=2 strongly coupled gauge theory including massless fundamental matter (quark). More precisely, we consider the response of a zero temperature state of the gauge theory under variation of an external electric field leading to a time-dependent current. The holographic dual of the above set-up is given by introducing a time-dependent electric field on the probe D7-brane embedded in an AdS_5 X S^5 background. In the dual gravity theory, due to a time-dependent electric field an apparent horizon forms on the brane which, according to AdS/CFT dictionary, is the counterpart of the thermalization process in the gauge theory. We classify different functions for time-dependent electric field and study their effect on the apparent horizon formation. In the case of pulse functions where the electric field varies from zero to zero, apart from non-equilibrium phase, we observe that two apparent horizons form on the brane. On the gauge theory side, it means that the state of the gauge theory experiences two different temperatures during the time evolution.Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures, published versio

Aggregation Methods for Assesing The Sustainability of Forest Management

Kelestarian pengelolaan hutan merupakan konsep yang samar dan kompleks, oleh karena itu tidak ada satupun alat ukur yang dapat mengukurnya secara jelas. Sertifikasi hutan digunakan sebagai instrumen untuk mengukur kelestarian pengelolaan hutan yang didasarkan atas kelestarianproduksi, ekologi dan sosial. Kriteria dan Indikator (C & I) untuk kelestarian hutan alam produksi dalam sistem sertifikasi di Indonesia (Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia) menggunakan Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) sebagai alat dalam proses pengambilan keputusannya. AHP telah lama dikritisi, antara lain karena pendekatan kompensatori menggunakan modellinier additive utilitas untuk mengintegrasikan -nilai baku. Riset ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa beberapa metoda aggregasi nilai baku sebagai alternatif untuk menilai kelestarian pengelolaan hutan. Fuzzy AHP dan Rule Base (Fuzzy Reasoning Method) dipelajari sebagai metode untuk mengatasi kekurangmampuan AHP dalam menangani secara tepat peubah-peubah linguistik. Data hasil proses penilaian sertifikasi Unit Pengelolaan Hutan Labanan, Kalimantan Timur,Indonesia digunakan untuk menilai kelestarian pengelolaan hutan dengan tiga metode tersebut. Hasil Fuzzy AHP dibanding dengan Normal AHP menunjukkan hasil yeng lebih jelas dan sudah menampung ketidakpastian justifikasi ekspert yang tidak terdapat dalam Normal AHP. Metode Rule Base, yang sangat tergantung kepada pengetahuan dan pengalaman ekspertnya, memberikan hasil yang lebih berarti dan transparan dalam proses penilaian dibanding kedua metode lainnya, yaitu Normal AHP dan Fuzzy AHP.Keywords:  SFM assessment, forest certification, fuzzy decision making, AHP, Fuzzy AHP, Fuzzy Rule Bas

Region- and pixel-based image fusion for disaggregation of actual evapotranspiration

This paper compares a region-based and a pixel-based disaggregation method used to improve obtaining actual evapotranspiration (aET) data from MODIS images. Using these methods and the relationship between different vegetation indices form Landsat-5 and aET from MODIS, a 1 km resolution aET image was disaggregated to 250 and 30 m resolutions in two steps. Disaggregated aET images were compared with aET data obtained from a Landsat-5 TM image. A sensitivity analysis using synthetic data showed the impacts of land-cover homogeneity and registration error of the input images at the three scale levels. Accuracy assessment illustrated that the region-based disaggregation method using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) has a good agreement with the Landsat-5 aET, having a mean absolute error equal to 0.93 mm. This method can be powerful for improving irrigation management, as it allows to increase the spatial resolution of aET derived from remote sensing images. The study concluded that a region-based method with NDVI data performs best to disaggregate MODIS aET data

Aggregation Methods for Assesing The Sustainability of Forest Management

Kelestarian pengelolaan hutan merupakan konsep yang samar dan kompleks, oleh karena itu tidak ada satupun alat ukur yang dapat mengukurnya secara jelas. Sertifikasi hutan digunakan sebagai instrumen untuk mengukur kelestarian pengelolaan hutan yang didasarkan atas kelestarianproduksi, ekologi dan sosial. Kriteria dan Indikator (C & I) untuk kelestarian hutan alam produksi dalam sistem sertifikasi di Indonesia (Lembaga Ekolabel Indonesia) menggunakan Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) sebagai alat dalam proses pengambilan keputusannya. AHP telah lama dikritisi, antara lain karena pendekatan kompensatori menggunakan modellinier additive utilitas untuk mengintegrasikan -nilai baku. Riset ini bertujuan untuk menganalisa beberapa metoda aggregasi nilai baku sebagai alternatif untuk menilai kelestarian pengelolaan hutan. Fuzzy AHP dan Rule Base (Fuzzy Reasoning Method) dipelajari sebagai metode untuk mengatasi kekurangmampuan AHP dalam menangani secara tepat peubah-peubah linguistik. Data hasil proses penilaian sertifikasi Unit Pengelolaan Hutan Labanan, Kalimantan Timur,Indonesia digunakan untuk menilai kelestarian pengelolaan hutan dengan tiga metode tersebut. Hasil Fuzzy AHP dibanding dengan Normal AHP menunjukkan hasil yeng lebih jelas dan sudah menampung ketidakpastian justifikasi ekspert yang tidak terdapat dalam Normal AHP. Metode Rule Base, yang sangat tergantung kepada pengetahuan dan pengalaman ekspertnya, memberikan hasil yang lebih berarti dan transparan dalam proses penilaian dibanding kedua metode lainnya, yaitu Normal AHP dan Fuzzy AHP.Keywords:  SFM assessment, forest certification, fuzzy decision making, AHP, Fuzzy AHP, Fuzzy Rule Bas

Influence of slip velocity on convective boundary layer flow of jeffrey fluid under convective boundary conditions

The problem on influence of slip velocity on convective boundary layer flow of Jeffery fluid with convective boundary conditions together with the effects of magnetohydrodynamic is investigated. The governing equations correspond to the discussed problem are first transformed into ordinary differential equations using similarity transformations before the computation process is done by Keller box method. It is found that, the magnetic parameter enhanced the fluid temperature and lowers the velocity of the fluid flow while the growth of the values of Prandtl and Deborah number weaken the distribution of the fluid temperature

Combined chemo-magnetic field-photothermal breast cancer therapy based on porous magnetite nanospheres

The efficacy of different modalities of treating breast cancer is inhibited by several limitations such as off-targeted drug distribution, rapid drug clearance, and drug resistance. To overcome these limitations, we developed Lf-Doxo-PMNSs for combined chemo-MF-PTT. The PMNSs were synthesized by hydrothermal method and their physicochemical properties were examined by FE-SEM, TEM, DLS, TGA, XRD investigations. The cytotoxicity of as-synthesized NPs against 4T1 cells was carried out by MTT and flow cytometry assays. Afterwards, the anti-cancer activities of as-synthesized Lf-Doxo-PMNSs on the tumor status, drug distribution and apoptosis mechanism were evaluated. The anti-cancer assays showed that Lf-Doxo-PMNSs significantly suppressed the cancer cell proliferation and tumor weight by prolonging drug availability and potential drug loading in tumor cells; whereas they showed a minimum cytotoxicity against non-cancerous cells. Likewise, combined chemo-MF-PTT using Lf-Doxo-PMNSs displayed the highest anti-cancer activity followed by combined chemo-PTT and combined chemo-MF therapy based on altering the apoptosis mechanism. Therefore, these results showed that combined chemo-MF-PTT based on Lf-Doxo-PMNSs can be used as a promising therapeutic platform with potential targeted drug delivery and high loading capacity features as well as reducing cancer drug resistance

Kaempferol: a key emphasis to its anticancer potential

A marked decrease in human cancers, including breast cancer, bone cancer, and cervical cancer, has been linked to the consumption of vegetable and fruit, and the corresponding chemoprotective e ect has been associated with the presence of several active molecules, such as kaempferol. Kaempferol is a major flavonoid aglycone found in many natural products, such as beans, bee pollen, broccoli, cabbage, capers, cauliflower, chia seeds, chives, cumin, moringa leaves, endive, fennel, and garlic. Kaempferol displays several pharmacological properties, among them antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and antidiabetic activities, and is being applied in cancer chemotherapy. Specifically, kaempferol-rich food has been linked to a decrease in the risk of developing some types of cancers, including skin, liver, and colon. The mechanisms of action include apoptosis, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase, downregulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related markers, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling pathways. In this sense, this article reviews data from experimental studies that investigated the links between kaempferol and kaempferol-rich food intake and cancer prevention. Even though growing evidence supports the use of kaempferol for cancer prevention, further preclinical and clinical investigations using kaempferol or kaempferol-rich foods are of pivotal importance before any public health recommendation or formulation using kaempferol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A foreign body response-on-a-chip platform

Understanding the foreign body response (FBR) and desiging strategies to modulate such a response represent a grand challenge for implant devices and biomaterials. Here, the development of a microfluidic platform is reported, i.e., the FBR?on?a?chip (FBROC) for modeling the cascade of events during immune cell response to implants. The platform models the native implant microenvironment where the implants are interfaced directly with surrounding tissues, as well as vasculature with circulating immune cells. The study demonstrates that the release of cytokines such as monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP?1) from the extracellular matrix (ECM)?like hydrogels in the bottom tissue chamber induces trans?endothelial migration of circulating monocytes in the vascular channel toward the hydrogels, thus mimicking implant?induced inflammation. Data using patient?derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells further reveal inter?patient differences in FBR, highlighting the potential of this platform for monitoring FBR in a personalized manner. The prototype FBROC platform provides an enabling strategy to interrogate FBR on various implants, including biomaterials and engineered tissue constructs, in a physiologically relevant and individual?specific manner

Inhibition of MicroRNA miR-222 with LNA Inhibitor Can Reduce Cell Proliferation in B Chronic Lymphoblastic Leukemia

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small regulatory molecules that negatively regulate gene expression by base-pairing with their target mRNAs. miRNAs have contribute significantly to cancer biology and recent studies have demonstrated the oncogenic or tumor-suppressing role in cancer cells. In many tumors up-regulation miRNAs has been reported especially miR-222 has been shown to be up-regulated in B chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). In this study we assessed the effected inhibition of miR-222 in cell viability of B-CLL. We performed inhibition of mir-222 in B-CLL cell line (183-E95) using locked nucleic acid (LNA) antagomir. At different time points after LNA-anti-mir-222 transfection, miR-222 quantitation and cell viability were assessed by qRT-real time polymerase chain reaction and MTT assays. The data were analyzed by independent t test and one way ANOVA. Down-regulation of miR-222 in B-CLL cell line (183-E95) with LNA antagomir decreased cell viability in B-CLL. Cell viability gradually decreased over time as the viability of LNA-anti-mir transfected cells was <47 % of untreated cells at 72 h post-transfection. The difference in cell viability between LNA-anti-miR and control groups was statistically significant (p < 0.042). Based on our findings, the inhibition of miR-222 speculate represent a potential novel therapeutic approach for treatment of B-CLL