Molecular Changes in Relation to Alcohol Consumption and Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Alcohol is the one of the major causes of liver diseases and promotes liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In hepatocytes, alcohol is converted to acetaldehyde, which causes hepatic steatosis, cellular apoptosis, endoplasmic reticulum stress, peroxidation, production of cytokines and reduces immune surveillance. Endotoxin and lipopolysaccharide produced from intestinal bacteria also enhance the production of cytokines. The development of hepatic fibrosis and the occurrence of HCC are induced by these alcohol metabolites. Several host genetic factors have recently been identified in this process. Here, we reviewed the molecular mechanism associated with HCC in alcoholic liver disease.     

Biophysical Evaluation of Water-Soluble Curcumin Encapsulated in β-Cyclodextrins on Colorectal Cancer Cells

Curcumin (CUR), a curcuminoid originating from turmeric root, possesses diverse pharmacological applications, including potent anticancer properties. However, the use of this efficacious agent in cancer therapy has been limited due to low water solubility and poor bioavailability. To overcome these problems, a drug delivery system was established as an excipient allowing improved dispersion in aqueous media coupled with enhanced in vitro anticancer effects. Different analyses such as UV–vis spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), solubility and dissolution assays were determined to monitor the successful encapsulation of CUR within the inner cavity of a β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) complex. The results indicated that water solubility was improved by 205.75-fold compared to pure CUR. Based on cytotoxicity data obtained from MTT assays, the inclusion complex exhibited a greater decrease in cancer cell viability compared to pure CUR. Moreover, cancer cell migration rates were decreased by 75.5% and 38.92%, invasion rates were decreased by 37.7% and 35.7%, while apoptosis rates were increased by 26.3% and 14.2%, and both caused caspase 3 activation toward colorectal cancer cells (SW480 and HCT116 cells). This efficacious formulation that enables improved aqueous dispersion is potentially useful and can be extended for various chemotherapeutic applications. Preliminary toxicity evaluation also indicated that its composition can be safely used in humans for cancer therapy.     

Ultrasound-Assisted Leaching and Kinetic Study of Blended Copper Slag

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - This article deals with the dissolution of blended copper slag (flash and converter furnace) in hydrogen peroxide and acetic acid in the presence of...     

Novel approach to optimize the dimensions of phase change material thermal storage heat exchanger in refrigeration systems

The present study aims to develop an approach to define the optimal dimensions of a phase change material (PCM) packed bed heat exchanger used as a cold thermal energy storage system in a conventional refrigerator. The heat exchanger is used to extend the daily refrigerator downtime and to ensure effective temperature control to contribute to the improved performance of the refrigerator. The mathematical model has been developed according to the technical characteristics and operating conditions of the refrigerator, the technical characteristics of the ventilator, and the thermo‐physical properties of the PCM. The model parameters that have been analyzed are the PCM melting time, air velocity range for tolerable efficient operating conditions, and the pressure drop through the PCM heat exchanger. As a case study, the approach was applied to a 600‐L conventional refrigerator equipped with a 63‐W ventilator. It has been found that over the tolerated velocity range of [2.5‐3.7 m/s], the optimal dimensions of the PCM heat exchanger are defined for an optimal velocity of 3.495 m/s. This is equivalent to an optimum sphere diameter of 0.071 m, a PCM heat exchanger length of 0.213 m, and a width of 0.148 m. The PCM heat exchanger ensures an extended compressor downtime of 12.6 hours for an ice‐PCM mass of 7.15 kg and occupies only 1.2% of the useful volume of the refrigerator.     

Wide-bandgap HfO2-V2O5 nanowires heterostructure for visible light-driven photocatalytic degradation

A novel HfO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite has been fabricated for use as photocatalyst. HfO₂ nanoparticles (NPs) were deposited on V₂O₅ using a precipitation method. Both commercial V₂O₅ particles and microwave-assisted hydrothermal (MAH)-synthesized V₂O₅ nanowires (NWs) were used. We demonstrate that the HfO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite exhibits better photodegradation efficiency than the V₂O₅. The photodegradation reaction constant of the HfO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite is more than 66% higher than that of the V₂O₅. The wide-bandgap, transparent HfO₂ effectively reduces the electron-hole recombination by proving defect levels to quench the recombination. A plausible band structure is proposed to support the existence of these defect levels.     

Artificial Neural Network and Fuzzy Inference System Models for Forecasting Suspended Sediment and Turbidity in Basins at Different Scales

Water Resources Management - The monitoring of hydro-sedimentological processes is important for environmental control but depends on resources that are not always available. The estimation of...     

Impact of Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Change on Surface Runoff in an Increasingly Urbanized Tropical Watershed

Water Resources Management - Upper-Brantas watershed in East Java, Indonesia, is a tropical watershed experiencing rapid landscape change, a phenomenon typical to developing countries. This study...     

Density functional and microkinetic study of CO2 hydrogenation to methanol on subnanometer Pd cluster doped by transition metal (M= Cu,Ni, Pt,Rh)

We study the CO₂ hydrogenation to methanol on subnanometer Pd₇ and transition metal doped Pd₆M (M = Cu, Ni, Pt, and Rh) clusters using a combination of density functional theory and microkinetic calculations. We find that, in general, the inclusion of transition metal dopants could decrease the activation energy of several important elementary reactions. This condition results in a significant improvement in the activity of the catalyst, especially for the Pd₆Ni cluster. We find that the Pd₆M clusters are more selective toward the formate pathway than the RWGS + CO hydrogenation pathway. We also compare the turnover frequency profiles of the clusters with that of the Cu(111) surface, representing the standard industrial catalyst. We find that the Pd₆Ni cluster can successfully overcome the TOF of Cu(111) surface, even at the low-pressure condition.     

Analytical and numerical solutions of heat and mass transfer of boundary layer flow in the presence of a transverse magnetic field

The present investigation aims to study the effect of a transverse magnetic field with the presence of an adverse pressure gradient on the two‐dimensional laminar incompressible boundary layer flow over a flat plate. Using appropriated similarity transformations, the partial differential equations governing the studied problems are transformed into the ordinary nonlinear differential equations. Thereafter, these equations are solved numerically and analytically using the fourth‐order Runge‐Kutta method featuring shooting technique and the Adomian decomposition method, respectively. Obtained results reveal an excellent agreement between analytical and numerical data for temperature and concentration profiles.     

A review on objective measurement of usage in technology acceptance studies

This paper reviews objective measurement of usage in user acceptance studies using the technology acceptance model (TAM). The use of objective measurement is quite uncommon in TAM. In addition to its low frequency, another striking phenomenon is the way objective measurement is used. Namely, only a minor potential of the information available is typically used, and, for example, the temporal aspect (changes in time) is almost always neglected. The paper describes the TAM studies where objective measurement of usage has been utilized and ponders the way objective measurements are taken. The ultimate goal of the paper is to improve objective measures used in TAM studies. To this end, several suggestions are given.