Simulating the Cranfield geological carbon sequestration project with high-resolution static models and an accurate equation of state

Bureau of Economic Geolog

A study on methanol herbal plant extract of Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) on immunity level of Mugil cephalus

Medicinal plants have been used in oriental medicine for centuries. Echinacea purpurea (Asteraceae), also known as the purple coneflower, is an herbal medicine with positive effects on various immune parameters that has been used customarily as a treatment for the common cold, coughs, bronchitis, upper respiratory infections, and some inflammatory conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Echinacea purpurea (EP) extract on a non-specific immunity of Mugil cephalus. Three hundred and sixty Gray mullet larvae with average weight of 0.75 ± 0.02 g and an average length of 4.40 ±0.81cm collected from Ramin port where is located at 5 km far from the Chabahar and finally transferred to lab of trial in Offshore Research Center. This research was designed based on 4 treatment, Each with 3 replicates. The major factors examined containing growth factors mainly consists of average weight, average daily gain, protein efficiency rate, protein productive rate, hematological and biochemical factors including globin, albumin, total protein, lysozyme, ultimately, immunological factors, and respiratory burst and phagocytosis percent. In general, the results of this study showed that the addition of 100 and 200 mg of EP extract per kg of diet led to a significant increase in growth parameters (final weight, food intake, daily growth rate and efficiency of protein), hematology (RBC, WBC, Hb, Hct) and biochemical factors (total protein, albumin, globulin) in gray mullet were compared to control. The highest lysozyme activity, immunoglobulin, phagocytosis and respiratory burst was observed in treatment containing 200 mg EP extract per kg food. Treatment containing 200 mg EP extract per kg food showed a minimal mortality after challenge with bacteria photobacterium damselae compared to the control treatment. Finally, the present results suggest that diet containing 200 200 mg EP extract per kg food could improve growth, hematology, immunity and resistance against photobacteriosis of grey mullet

Characterization and biological activities of synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles using the extract of Acantholimon serotinum

The present study reports the synthesis of ZnO-NPs using Acantholimon serotinum extracts followed by characterization and evaluation of biological activities. Field emission scanning electron microscope revealed irregular spherical morphology with a size in the range of 20-80 nm. The X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the synthesis of highly pure ZnO NPs with a hexagonal shape and a crystalline size of 16.3 nm. The UV-Vis spectroscopy indicates the synthesis of ZnO-NPs. FT-IR confirmed the presence of phytocomponents in the plant extract, which was responsible for nanoparticle synthesis. According to MTT results, the biosynthesized ZnO-NPs showed cytotoxic effects on human colon cancer Caco-2 (IC50: 61 μg/mL), neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y (IC50: 42 μg/mL), breast cancer MDA-MB-231 (IC50: 24 μg/mL), and embryonic kidney HEK-293 (IC50: 60 μg/mL) cell lines. Significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was measured by the DCFH-DA assay after 24 h incubation with ZnO-NPs (200 μg/mL). ZnO-NPs caused apoptotic and necrotic effects on cells, which was confirmed by Annexin V-PE/7-AAD staining and 6.8-fold increase in pro-apoptosis gene Bax and 178-fold decrease in anti-apoptosis gene Bcl-2. The well diffusion method did not show effective growth inhibition activities of the ZnO-NPs against bacteria. In conclusion, the ZnO-NPs induce cytotoxicity in cell lines through ROS generation and oxidative stress. © 2020 Mohammad Reza Karimzadeh et al., published by De Gruyter 2020

Robust identification of Parkinson's disease subtypes using radiomics and hybrid machine learning

Objectives: It is important to subdivide Parkinson's disease (PD) into subtypes, enabling potentially earlier disease recognition and tailored treatment strategies. We aimed to identify reproducible PD subtypes robust to variations in the number of patients and features. Methods: We applied multiple feature-reduction and cluster-analysis methods to cross-sectional and timeless data, extracted from longitudinal datasets (years 0, 1, 2 & 4; Parkinson's Progressive Marker Initiative; 885 PD/163 healthy-control visits; 35 datasets with combinations of non-imaging, conventional-imaging, and radiomics features from DAT-SPECT images). Hybrid machine-learning systems were constructed invoking 16 feature-reduction algorithms, 8 clustering algorithms, and 16 classifiers (C-index clustering evaluation used on each trajectory). We subsequently performed: i) identification of optimal subtypes, ii) multiple independent tests to assess reproducibility, iii) further confirmation by a statistical approach, iv) test of reproducibility to the size of the samples. Results: When using no radiomics features, the clusters were not robust to variations in features, whereas, utilizing radiomics information enabled consistent generation of clusters through ensemble analysis of trajectories. We arrived at 3 distinct subtypes, confirmed using the training and testing process of k-means, as well as Hotelling's T2 test. The 3 identified PD subtypes were 1) mild; 2) intermediate; and 3) severe, especially in terms of dopaminergic deficit (imaging), with some escalating motor and non-motor manifestations. Conclusion: Appropriate hybrid systems and independent statistical tests enable robust identification of 3 distinct PD subtypes. This was assisted by utilizing radiomics features from SPECT images (segmented using MRI). The PD subtypes provided were robust to the number of the subjects, and features. © 2020 Elsevier Lt

Multicomponent reactive transport of carbon dioxide in fluvial heterogeneous aquifers

Bureau of Economic Geolog

Global injury morbidity and mortality from 1990 to 2017: Results from the global burden of disease study 2017

Background Past research in population health trends has shown that injuries form a substantial burden of population health loss. Regular updates to injury burden assessments are critical. We report Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2017 Study estimates on morbidity and mortality for all injuries. methods We reviewed results for injuries from the GBD 2017 study. GBD 2017 measured injury-specific mortality and years of life lost (YLLs) using the Cause of Death Ensemble model. To measure non-fatal injuries, GBD 2017 modelled injury-specific incidence and converted this to prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs). YLLs and YLDs were summed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Findings In 1990, there were 4 260 493 (4 085 700 to 4 396 138) injury deaths, which increased to 4 484 722 (4 332 010 to 4 585 554) deaths in 2017, while age-standardised mortality decreased from 1079 (1073 to 1086) to 738 (730 to 745) per 100 000. In 1990, there were 354 064 302 (95% uncertainty interval: 338 174 876 to 371 610 802) new cases of injury globally, which increased to 520 710 288 (493 430 247 to 547 988 635) new cases in 2017. During this time, age-standardised incidence decreased non-significantly from 6824 (6534 to 7147) to 6763 (6412 to 7118) per 100 000. Between 1990 and 2017, age-standardised DALYs decreased from 4947 (4655 to 5233) per 100 000 to 3267 (3058 to 3505). Interpretation Injuries are an important cause of health loss globally, though mortality has declined between 1990 and 2017. Future research in injury burden should focus on prevention in high-burden populations, improving data collection and ensuring access to medical care. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020. Re-use permitted under CC BY. Published by BMJ