Modeling and experimental investigation of electromechanical properties of scleral tissue; a CEM model using an anisotropic hyperelastic constitutive relation

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - The sclera is a soft tissue primarily consisting of collagen fibers, elastin, and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans are composed of a core protein and...     

An open label,block randomized,community study of the safety and efficacy of co-administered ivermectin,diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole vs. diethylcarbamazine plus albendazole for lymphatic filariasis in India

BackgroundBetter drug regimens for mass drug administration (MDA) could accelerate the Global Programme to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis (LF). This community study was designed to compare the safety and efficacy of MDA with IDA (ivermectin, diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) or DA (diethylcarbamazine and albendazole) in India.Methodology/Principal findingsThis two-armed, open-labelled, block randomised, community study was conducted in LF endemic villages in Yadgir district, Karnataka, India. Consenting participants ≥5 years of age were tested for circulating filarial antigenemia (CFA) and microfilaremia (Mf) before treatment with a single oral dose of IDA or DA. Adverse events (AEs) were monitored actively for two days and passively for five more days. Persons with positive CFA or Mf tests at baseline were retested 12-months post-treatment to assess treatment efficacy.Baseline CFA and Mf-rates were 26.4% and 6.9% in IDA and 24.5% and 6.4% in DA villages respectively. 4758 and 4160 participants received IDA and DA. Most AEs were mild after both treatments; fewer than 0.1% of participants experienced AEs with severity > grade 1. No serious AEs were observed. Fever, headache and dizziness were the most common AEs. AE rates were slightly higher after IDA than DA (8.3% vs. 6.4%, P<0.01). AEs were more frequent in females and Mf-positives after either treatment, but significantly more frequent after IDA (40.5% vs 20.2%, P < 0.001).IDA was more effective for clearing Mf than DA (84% vs. 61.8%, P < 0.001). Geometric mean Mf counts per 60μl in retested Mf-positives decreased by 96.4% from 11.8 after IDA and by 90.0% from 9.5 after DA. Neither treatment was effective for clearing CFA.Conclusions/SignificanceIDA had an acceptable safety profile and was more effective for clearing Mf than DA. With adequate compliance and medical support to manage AEs, IDA has the potential to accelerate LF elimination in India.Trial registrationClinical Trial Registry of India (CTRI No/2016/10/007399)     

Frasnian bryozoans (Late Devonian) from the Khoshyeilagh Section,Alborz Mountains (northern Iran)

A bryozoan fauna containing seven species is described from the Upper Frasnian (Upper Devonian) rocks in the Khoshyeilagh Section, Alborz Mountains (northern Iran). The studied bryozoan assemblage includes one new trepostome species, Eridotrypella alborzensis sp. nov., an additional four species identified at species level: two trepostomes, Minussina akkayaensis Volkova, 1974 and Leptotrypella inaudita Morozova, 1961, and two rhabdomesine cryptostomes, Bigeyella mariae (Morozova, 1961) and Saffordotaxis multispinata (Morozova, 1955). Furthermore, two species are described in open nomenclature: the trepostome Schulgina sp. and the rhabdomesine cryptostome Nicklesopora sp. The studied fauna shows a close similarity at the species level between northern Iran and the Altai-Sayan Folded Belt (Russia), south China, and Transcaucasia.     

Experimental tracking and numerical mapping of novel coronavirus micro-droplet deposition through nasal inhalation in the human respiratory system

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - It is essential to study the viral droplet’s uptake in the human respiratory system to better control, prevent, and treat diseases....     

Environmental Factors Affecting the Compressive Strength of Microbiologically Induced Calcite Precipitation-Treated Soil

Some microorganisms such as Sporoscarcina pasteurii precipitate calcium carbonate and are suitable for biocementation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of several factors including concentration of bacteria, chemical reactants, temperature, and pH on precipitation of calcium carbonate. The results showed that after 7 and 14 days of curing, the compressive strength of silty clay soil samples increased steadily as pH increased from 5 to 9. It was observed that pH plays an important role in biocementation. The highest compressive strength (i.e. 92 kPa) was observed when the soil was treated with 50 ml of bacterial solution after 14 days of curing. In addition, it was observed that the highest compressive strength of samples was achieved when the temperature was 40°C.     

New Diclofenac Derivatives as Anti-Microbial,Anti-Inflammatory Agents: Design,Synthesis, Biological Screening,and Molecular Docking Study

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Diclofenac is considered one of the best drugs used as anti-inflammatory agent, so in the present work new diclofenac derivatives containing bioactive...