A mixed integer linear programming model for the optimal operation of a network of gas oil separation plants

Inspired from a real case study of a Saudi oil company, this work addresses the optimal operation of a regional network of gas oil separation plants (GOSPs) in Arabian Gulf Coast Area to ultimately achieve higher savings in operating expenditures (OPEX) than those achieved by adopting single-surface facility optimisation. An originally tailored and integrated mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model is proposed to optimise the crude transfer through swing pipelines and equipment utilisation in each GOSP, to minimise the operating costs of a network of GOSPs. The developed model is applied to an existing network of GOSPs in the Ghawar field, Saudi Arabia, by considering 12 different monthly production scenarios developed from real production rates. Compared to rule-based current practice, an average 12.8% cost saving is realised by the developed model

Electrochemically Induced Mesomorphism Switching in a Chlorpromazine Hydrochloride Lyotropic Liquid Crystal

The discovery of electrochemical switching of the Lα phase of chlorpromazine hydrochloride in water is reported. The phase is characterized using polarizing microscopy, X-ray scattering, rheological measurements, and microelectrode voltammetry. Fast, heterogeneous oxidation of the lyotropic liquid crystal is shown to cause a phase change resulting from the disordering of the structural order in a stepwise process. The underlying molecular dynamics is considered to be a cooperative effect of both increasing electrostatic interactions and an unfolding of the monomers from "butterfly"-shaped in the reduced form to planar in the oxidized form

Responsiveness of sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome to vitamin B6 cofactor supplementation

Sphingosine- 1- phosphate (S1P) lyase is a vitamin B6- dependent enzyme that degrades sphingosine- 1- phosphate in the final step of sphingolipid metabolism. In 2017, a new inherited disorder was described caused by mutations in SGPL1, which encodes sphingosine phosphate lyase (SPL). This condition is referred to as SPL insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS) or alternatively as nephrotic syndrome type 14 (NPHS14). Patients with SPLIS exhibit lymphopenia, nephrosis, adrenal insufficiency, and/or neurological defects. No targeted therapy for SPLIS has been reported. Vitamin B6 supplementation has therapeutic activity in some genetic diseases involving B6- dependent enzymes, a finding ascribed largely to the vitamin’s chaperone function. We investigated whether B6 supplementation might have activity in SPLIS patients. We retrospectively monitored responses of disease biomarkers in patients supplemented with B6 and measured SPL activity and sphingolipids in B6- treated patient- derived fibroblasts. In two patients, disease biomarkers responded to B6 supplementation. S1P abundance and activity levels increased and sphingolipids decreased in response to B6. One responsive patient is homozygous for an SPL R222Q variant present in almost 30% of SPLIS patients. Molecular modeling suggests the variant distorts the dimer interface which could be overcome by cofactor supplementation. We demonstrate the first potential targeted therapy for SPLIS and suggest that 30% of SPLIS patients might respond to cofactor supplementation.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162713/2/jimd12238.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162713/1/jimd12238_am.pd

COVID-19 Delta Variant: Perceptions, Worries, and Vaccine-Booster Acceptability among Healthcare Workers

Background: As the COVID-19 Delta variant has spread across the globe, healthcare workers’ (HCWs) knowledge, worries, and vaccine booster acceptance should be assessed. Methods: Online questionnaires aimed at HCWs in Saudi Arabia were distributed between 9 and 12 August 2021, aiming to evaluate HCWs’ perceptions and worries about the Delta variant as well as their feelings about receiving a booster-vaccine. Results: A total of 1279 HCWs participated, with 51.1% being physicians and 41.7% nurses. 92.5% were aware of the emergence of the Delta variant. Still, only 28.7% were found to have sufficient knowledge of the variant, and their level of worry about it was higher than their level of worry about the Alpha variant (2.32/5 versus 1.79/5). The main information sources cited by the participants were social media (50.5%), while 30.5% used scientific journals. Overall, 55.3% were willing to receive a vaccine booster, while one third would have preferred to receive a new mRNA vaccine specifically developed for the Delta variant. Factors associated with vaccine booster acceptance were receiving both vaccination doses (p = 0.008), believing that the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine is effective against variants (p < 0.001), and agreement that mixing/matching vaccines is effective against variants (p < 0.001). Conclusions: A high percentage of HCWs were aware of the Delta variant, but only a small fraction had decent quality of knowledge about it. The participants exhibited high worry levels and showed a modest acceptance of receiving a vaccine booster dose. These results should encourage public health officials to scale up educational efforts to disseminate reliable information about the different variants and provide recommendations about receiving a vaccine booster. Further research on methods to alleviate HCWs’ worries about emerging variants is warranted

Inhibition of cancer cell invasion and metastasis by genistein

Genistein is a small, biologically active flavonoid that is found in high amounts in soy. This important compound possesses a wide variety of biological activities, but it is best known for its ability to inhibit cancer progression. In particular, genistein has emerged as an important inhibitor of cancer metastasis. Consumption of genistein in the diet has been linked to decreased rates of metastatic cancer in a number of population-based studies. Extensive investigations have been performed to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying genistein’s antimetastatic activity, with results indicating that this small molecule has significant inhibitory activity at nearly every step of the metastatic cascade. Reports have demonstrated that, at high concentrations, genistein can inhibit several proteins involved with primary tumor growth and apoptosis, including the cyclin class of cell cycle regulators and the Akt family of proteins. At lower concentrations that are similar to those achieved through dietary consumption, genistein can inhibit the prometastatic processes of cancer cell detachment, migration, and invasion through a variety of mechanisms, including the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β signaling pathway. Several in vitro findings have been corroborated in both in vivo animal studies and in early-phase human clinical trials, demonstrating that genistein can both inhibit human cancer metastasis and also modulate markers of metastatic potential in humans, respectively. Herein, we discuss the variety of mechanisms by which genistein regulates individual steps of the metastatic cascade and highlight the potential of this natural product as a promising therapeutic inhibitor of metastasis

Phytochemical Analysis, Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Studies on the n-Hexane Soluble Fraction of Vernonia glaberrima

Vernonia species have been used in the management of pain and other ailments in traditional medicine. This study was aimed at investigating the phytochemical constituents, toxicity, analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the n-hexane soluble fraction of Vernonia glaberrima. Preliminary phytochemical screening of the n-hexane fraction revealed the presence of steroids and triterpenes while the intraperitoneal LD50 of the fraction using Lorke’s method was 2154 mg/kg indicating the fraction to be slightly toxic. The analgesic property of the fraction was assessed using acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice and formalin-induced pain in rats while the anti-inflammatory effect was evaluated using formalin test in rats. The results of the study showed that the n-hexane fraction at the highest dose (500 mg/kg) decreased writhing response with 89.55 % inhibition. The fraction also exhibited significant (P&lt;0.05) analgesic effect at both phases in the formalin test; the n-hexane fraction (250 and 500 mg/kg) and the standard drug, pentazocine (10 mg/kg) were able to significantly inhibit both phase while the extract 150 mg/kg diminished the pain induced by formalin in the first phase only. There was significant inhibition of oedema induced by carrageenan at the 1st hour (150 mg/kg) and the 4th hour at the graded doses of the fraction and the standard drug, piroxicam (10 mg/kg). The findings of this research suggests that the n-hexane soluble fraction of V. glaberrima contains bioactive constituents with analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect and thus, validates the use of the plant in the management of pain and inflammation in traditional medicine