Analysis and comparison of machine learning classifiers and deep neural networks techniques for recognition of Farsi handwritten digits

The Journal of Supercomputing - Handwriting recognition remains a challenge in the machine vision field, especially in optical character recognition (OCR). The OCR has various applications such as...     

Sanguinarine Inhibition of TNF-α-Induced CCL2, IKBKE/NF-κB/ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway,and Cell Migration in Human Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells

Angiogenesis is a process that drives breast cancer (BC) progression and metastasis, which is linked to the altered inflammatory process, particularly in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In targeting inflammatory angiogenesis, natural compounds are a promising option for managing BC. Thus, this study was designed to determine the natural alkaloid sanguinarine (SANG) potential for its antiangiogenic and antimetastatic properties in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The cytotoxic effect of SANG was examined in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell models at a low molecular level. In this study, SANG remarkably inhibited the inflammatory mediator chemokine CCL2 in MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cells. Furthermore, qRT-PCR confirmed with Western analysis studies showed that mRNA CCL2 repression was concurrent with reducing its main regulator IKBKE and NF-κB signaling pathway proteins in both TNBC cell lines. The total ERK1/2 protein was inhibited in the more responsive MDA-MB-231 cells. SANG exhibited a higher potential to inhibit cell migration in MDA-MB-231 cells compared to MDA-MB-468 cells. Data obtained in this study suggest a unique antiangiogenic and antimetastatic effect of SANG in the MDA-MB-231 cell model. These effects are related to the compound’s ability to inhibit the angiogenic CCL2 and impact the ERK1/2 pathway. Therefore, SANG use may be recommended as a component of the therapeutic strategy for TNBC.     

Structural, morphological, and optical properties of TiO2 thin films synthesized by the electro phoretic deposition technique

In this work, we report the structural, morphological, and optical properties of TiO₂ thin films synthesized by the electro phoretic deposition technique. The TiO₂ film was formed on a doped fluorine tin oxide (SnO₂:F, i.e., FTO) layer and used as a photo electrode in a dye solar cell (DSC). Using spectroscopic ellipsometry measurements in the 200 to 800 nm wavelengths domain, we obtain a thickness of the TiO₂ film in the range of 70 to 80 nm. Characterizations by X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy (AFM) show a polycrystalline film. In addition, AFM investigation shows no cracks in the formed layer. Using an ultraviolet–visible near-infrared spectrophotometer, we found that the transmittance of the TiO₂ film in the visible domain reaches 75%. From the measured current–voltage or I-V characteristic under AM1.5 illumination of the formed DSC, we obtain an open circuit voltage V_oc = 628 mV and a short circuit current I_sc = 22.6 μA, where the surface of the formed cell is 3.14 cm².     

A randomized,double-blind trial on the bioavailability of two CoQ10 formulations

The bioavailability of a single, 100 mg, dose of reduced Coenzyme Q10 (CoQH-CF) and Coenzyme Q10 formulation was compared in individuals of >60 years. Significantly higher (P < 0.001) plasma concentrations were demonstrated for the CoQH-CF formulation at 5, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post-dose compared to the CoQ10 formulation. The area under the curve (AUC) of reduced and total Coenzyme Q10 was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in subjects administered CoQH-CF resulting in 4.3-fold higher plasma AUC_{0–72 h} (430% increase) in subjects receiving CoQH-CF compared to subjects receiving Coenzyme Q10. Oxidized Coenzyme Q10 in plasma was higher (P < 0.001) in subjects receiving CoQH-CF compared to subjects receiving Coenzyme Q10 resulting in a 3.3-fold higher plasma AUC_{0–72 h} (329% increase). Total CoQ10 reached maximum plasma concentrations 15.5 ± 19.6 h after supplementation with CoQH-CF and 26.5 ± 25.8 h after supplementation with Coenzyme Q10, respectively. Thus, reduced Coenzyme Q10 liquid soft gel formulation was found to be superior to the commercial formulation of Coenzyme Q10 for bioavailability.     

A practical approach for modelling and control of biomass pyrolysis pilot plant with heat recovery from combustion of pyrolysis products

A pilot plant of biomass pyrolysis using pyrolysis products as fuel has been tested and shown to improve energy balance of the process and to be environmentally friendly by avoiding rejection of pyrolysis pollutants fumes into the atmosphere. The high number of parameters involved in a pyrolysis process makes it difficult to specify an optimum procedure for charcoal yield and pyrolysis cycle durability. So the knowledge of the essential parameters which govern the kinetics mechanisms of the biomass thermal decomposition and the combustion of pyrolysis gases is very useful to understand the operating cycle of the plant. In the present study a thermochemical model is developed in order to simulate and control the operating cycle of the system. The effect of the inlet molar air flow rate on the temporal evolution of biomass mass loss rate and temperatures in the different active zones of the pilot plant as well as the determination of the critical inlet molar air flow rate for which accidental runaway of combustion reactions occurs are presented. To avoid this accidental phenomenon a Proportional-Integral-Derived (PID) anticipated regulation is used in order to control temperatures evolution in the different zones of the device and avoid the runaway of combustion reactions.     

Limitations of Preferential Enrichment: A Case Study on Tryptophan Ethyl Ester Hydrochloride

Since eutomer and distomer show different biological effects, access to pure enantiomers is essential. Preferential enrichment is a relatively new process of chiral resolution developed in the 90s. Extension of its scope was attempted with tryptophan ethyl ester hydrochloride. This salt meets one of the most important requirements for preferential enrichment, namely, a larger solubility for the pure enantiomers with reference to the racemic compound. But, due to the absence of a solid solution, this salt cannot perform preferential enrichment. This impossibility was endorsed by semi‐empirical molecular modeling.     

KSUTraffic: A Microscopic Traffic Simulator for Traffic Planning in Smart Cities

Simulation is a powerful tool for improving, evaluating and analyzing the performance of new and existing systems. Traffic simulators provide tools for studying transportation systems in smart cities as they describe the evolution of traffic to the highest level of detail. There are many types of traffic simulators that allow simulating traffic in modern cities. The most popular traffic simulation approach is the microscopic traffic simulation because of its ability to model traffic in a realistic manner. In many cities of Saudi Arabia, traffic management represents a major challenge as a result of expansion in traffic demands and increasing number of incidents. Unfortunately, employing simulation to provide effective traffic management for local scenarios in Saudi Arabia is limited to a number of commercial products in both public and private sectors. Commercial simulators are usually expensive, closed source and inflexible as they allow limited functionalities. In this project, we developed a local traffic simulator “KSUtraffic” for traffic modeling, planning and analysis with respect to different traffic control strategies and considerations. We modeled information specified by GIS and real traffic data. Furthermore, we designed experiments that manipulate simulation parameters and the underlying area. KSUTraffic visualizes traffic and provides statistical results on the simulated traffic which would help to improve traffic management and efficiency.     

60]fullerene is a powerful antioxidant in vivo with no acute or subacute toxicity

In the present work, we report the effects of C(60)-pretreatments on acute carbon tetrachloride intoxication in rats, a classical model for studying free-radical-mediated liver injury. Our results show that aqueous C(60) suspensions prepared without using any polar organic solvent not only have no acute or subacute toxicity in rodents but they also protect their livers in a dose-dependent manner against free-radical damage. To be sure, according to histopathological examinations and biological tests, pristine C(60) can be considered as a powerful liver-protective agent.     

Taxonomic study of subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) by polynomorphological approach

The present study is insight into pollen morphology for characterizing species and their utility in the taxonomic separation of certain taxa of subfamily Nepetoideae (Lamiaceae) from Pakistan. The pollen micromorphology of 11 species of the Nepetoideae was analyzed and documented using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for both qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Most species have hexazonocolpate pollen grains but trizonocolpate and tetrazonocolpate pollen with circular and oval amb were also rarely observed in Mentha spicata. The basic pollen shape in most of the studied species was subspheroidal but prolate grains were also observed in M. spicata, S. coccinea, and S. plebeia. The exine sculpturing of Nepetoideae pollen was taxonomically very informative particularly at subfamily level. Observations of exine sculpturing with SEM revealed various types of pollen grains: reticulate, bireticulate, microreticulate, perforate, aerolate, and gammate. The bireticulate type further subdivided into three subtypes based on the number of secondary lumina in each primary lumen and is characterized by varying characteristics of the secondary reticulum and primary muri. A significant variation was observed in colpus surface ornamentation. The maximum polar diameter was found in O. americanum (58 ± 5.8 μm) and the maximum equatorial diameter observed in O. basilicum (50.25 ± 1.37 μm). Pollen features of the studied species were discussed and compared based on the current taxonomical concepts. The results showed that pollen traits of the subfamily Nepetoideae was found significant to classify the taxa. Furthermore, pollen features provide additional evidence to distinguish macromorphologically similar taxa from each other.     

Development of Optical Code Division Multiple Access Based System Using Spectral Amplitude Coding via Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs)

Wireless Personal Communications - The multiple user’s based transmission systems are developed in the past using various multiple access techniques for fibre optic communications. Among...