Kharazmi University

New achievements in the realm of nanoscience and innovative techniques of nanomedicine have moved micro/nanoparticles (MNPs) to the point of becoming actually useful for practical applications in the near future. Various differences between the extracellular and intracellular environments of cancerous and normal cells and the particular characteristics of tumors such as physicochemical properties, neovasculature, elasticity, surface electrical charge, and pH have motivated the design and fabrication of inventive "smart" MNPs for stimulus-responsive controlled drug release. These novel MNPs can be tailored to be responsive to pH variations, redox potential, enzymatic activation, thermal gradients, magnetic fields, light, and ultrasound (US), or can even be responsive to dual or multi-combinations of different stimuli. This unparalleled capability has increased their importance as site-specific controlled drug delivery systems (DDSs) and has encouraged their rapid development in recent years. An in-depth understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these DDS approaches is expected to further contribute to this groundbreaking field of nanomedicine. Smart nanocarriers in the form of MNPs that can be triggered by internal or external stimulus are summarized and discussed in the present review, including pH-sensitive peptides and polymers, redox-responsive micelles and nanogels, thermo- or magnetic-responsive nanoparticles (NPs), mechanical- or electrical-responsive MNPs, light or ultrasound-sensitive particles, and multi-responsive MNPs including dual stimuli-sensitive nanosheets of graphene. This review highlights the recent advances of smart MNPs categorized according to their activation stimulus (physical, chemical, or biological) and looks forward to future pharmaceutical applications.

This study investigates the challenges and opportunities pertaining to transportation policies that may arise as a result of emerging autonomous vehicle (AV) technologies. AV technologies can decrease the transportation cost and increase accessibility to low-income households and persons with mobility issues. This emerging technology also has far-reaching applications and implications beyond all current expectations. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the relevant literature and explores a broad spectrum of issues from safety to machine ethics. An indispensable part of a prospective AV development is communication over cars and infrastructure (connected vehicles). A major knowledge gap exists in AV technology with respect to routing behaviors. Connected-vehicle technology provides a great opportunity to implement an efficient and intelligent routing system. To this end, we propose a conceptual navigation model based on a fleet of AVs that are centrally dispatched over a network seeking system optimization. This study contributes to the literature on two fronts: (i) it attempts to shed light on future opportunities as well as possible hurdles associated with AV technology; and (ii) it conceptualizes a navigation model for the AV which leads to highly efficient traffic circulations.

Abstract Horizon-scale images of black holes (BHs) and their shadows have opened an unprecedented window onto tests of gravity and fundamental physics in the strong-field regime. We consider a wide range of well-motivated deviations from classical general relativity (GR) BH solutions, and constrain them using the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) observations of Sagittarius A <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mo>∗</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> (Sgr A <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi> </mml:mi> <mml:mo>∗</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> ), connecting the size of the bright ring of emission to that of the underlying BH shadow and exploiting high-precision measurements of Sgr A <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi> </mml:mi> <mml:mo>∗</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> ’s mass-to-distance ratio. The scenarios we consider, and whose fundamental parameters we constrain, include various regular BHs, string-inspired space-times, violations of the no-hair theorem driven by additional fields, alternative theories of gravity, novel fundamental physics frameworks, and BH mimickers including well-motivated wormhole and naked singularity space-times. We demonstrate that the EHT image of Sgr A <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mo>∗</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> places particularly stringent constraints on models predicting a shadow size larger than that of a Schwarzschild BH of a given mass, with the resulting limits in some cases surpassing cosmological ones. Our results are among the first tests of fundamental physics from the shadow of Sgr A <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" overflow="scroll"> <mml:msup> <mml:mi/> <mml:mo>∗</mml:mo> </mml:msup> </mml:math> and, while the latter appears to be in excellent agreement with the predictions of GR, we have shown that a number of well-motivated alternative scenarios, including BH mimickers, are far from being ruled out at present.

Drones, also called Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), have witnessed a remarkable development in recent decades. In agriculture, they have changed farming practices by offering farmers substantial cost savings, increased operational efficiency, and better profitability. Over the past decades, the topic of agricultural drones has attracted remarkable academic attention. We therefore conduct a comprehensive review based on bibliometrics to summarize and structure existing academic literature and reveal current research trends and hotspots. We apply bibliometric techniques and analyze the literature surrounding agricultural drones to summarize and assess previous research. Our analysis indicates that remote sensing, precision agriculture, deep learning, machine learning, and the Internet of Things are critical topics related to agricultural drones. The co-citation analysis reveals six broad research clusters in the literature. This study is one of the first attempts to summarize drone research in agriculture and suggest future research directions.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has been an articulated practice for over 7 decades. Still, most corporations lack an integrated framework to develop a strategic, balanced, and effective approach to achieving excellence in CSR. Considering the world’s critical situation during the COVID-19 pandemic, such a framework is even more crucial now. We suggest subsuming CRS categories under Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) be used and that they subsume CSR categories since SDGs are a comprehensive agenda designed for the whole planet. This study presents a new CSR drivers model and a novel comprehensive CSR model. Then, it highlights the advantages of integrating CSR and SDGs in a new framework. The proposed framework benefits from both CSR and SDGs, addresses current and future needs, and offers a better roadmap with more measurable outcomes.

Smart drug delivery systems (DDSs) have attracted the attention of many scientists, as carriers that can be stimulated by changes in environmental parameters such as temperature, pH, light, electromagnetic fields, mechanical forces, etc. These smart nanocarriers can release their cargo on demand when their target is reached and the stimulus is applied. Using the techniques of nanotechnology, these nanocarriers can be tailored to be target-specific, and exhibit delayed or controlled release of drugs. Temperature-responsive nanocarriers are one of most important groups of smart nanoparticles (NPs) that have been investigated during the past decades. Temperature can either act as an external stimulus when heat is applied from the outside, or can be internal when pathological lesions have a naturally elevated termperature. A low critical solution temperature (LCST) is a special feature of some polymeric materials, and most of the temperature-responsive nanocarriers have been designed based on this feature. In this review, we attempt to summarize recent efforts to prepare innovative temperature-responsive nanocarriers and discuss their novel applications.

Plants are one of the best sources to obtain a variety of natural surfactants in the field of green synthesizing material. Sambucus ebulus, which has unique natural properties, has been considered a promising material in traditional Asian medicine. In this context, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were prepared using S. ebulus leaf extract, and their physicochemical properties were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results revealed that the prepared ZnO NPs are highly crystalline, having a wurtzite crystal structure. The average crystallite size of prepared NPs was around 17 nm. Green synthesized NPs showed excellent absorption in the UV region as well as strong yellow-orange emission at room temperature. Prepared nanoparticles exhibited good antibacterial activity against various organisms and a passable photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue dye pollutants. The obtained results demonstrated that the biosynthesized ZnO NPs reveal interesting characteristics for various potential applications in the future.

Abstract The aim of this review is to cover advances in noble metal nanoparticle (MNP)-based biosensors and to outline the principles and main functions of MNPs in different classes of biosensors according to the transduction methods employed. The important biorecognition elements are enzymes, antibodies, aptamers, DNA sequences, and whole cells. The main readouts are electrochemical (amperometric and voltametric), optical (surface plasmon resonance, colorimetric, chemiluminescence, photoelectrochemical, etc.) and piezoelectric. MNPs have received attention for applications in biosensing due to their fascinating properties. These properties include a large surface area that enhances biorecognizers and receptor immobilization, good ability for reaction catalysis and electron transfer, and good biocompatibility. MNPs can be used alone and in combination with other classes of nanostructures. MNP-based sensors can lead to significant signal amplification, higher sensitivity, and great improvements in the detection and quantification of biomolecules and different ions. Some recent examples of biomolecular sensors using MNPs are given, and the effects of structure, shape, and other physical properties of noble MNPs and nanohybrids in biosensor performance are discussed.

In recent years miscellaneous smart micro/nanosystems that respond to various exogenous/endogenous stimuli including temperature, magnetic/electric field, mechanical force, ultrasound/light irradiation, redox potentials, and biomolecule concentration have been developed for targeted delivery and release of encapsulated therapeutic agents such as drugs, genes, proteins, and metal ions specifically at their required site of action. Owing to physiological differences between malignant and normal cells, or between tumors and normal tissues, pH-sensitive nanosystems represent promising smart delivery vehicles for transport and delivery of anticancer agents. Furthermore, pH-sensitive systems possess applications in delivery of metal ions and biomolecules such as proteins, insulin, etc., as well as co-delivery of cargos, dual pH-sensitive nanocarriers, dual/multi stimuli-responsive nanosystems, and even in the search for new solutions for therapy of diseases such as Alzheimer's. In order to design an optimized system, it is necessary to understand the various pH-responsive micro/nanoparticles and the different mechanisms of pH-sensitive drug release. This should be accompanied by an assessment of the theoretical and practical challenges in the design and use of these carriers. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2016, 8:696-716. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1389 For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 MNPs) are among the most useful metal nanoparticles for multiple applications across a broad spectrum in the biomedical field, including the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. In previous work, we synthesized and characterized Fe3O4 MNPs using a simple, rapid, safe, efficient, one-step green method involving reduction of ferric chloride solution using brown seaweed (Sargassum muticum) aqueous extract containing hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino functional groups mainly relevant to polysaccharides, which acts as a potential stabilizer and metal reductant agent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic activity and cellular effects of these Fe3O4 MNPs. Their in vitro anticancer activity was demonstrated in human cell lines for leukemia (Jurkat cells), breast cancer (MCF-7 cells), cervical cancer (HeLa cells), and liver cancer (HepG2 cells). The cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of Fe3O4 MNPs, and an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to test for cytotoxicity, resulting in an inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50) value of 23.83±1.1 μg/mL (HepG2), 18.75±2.1 μg/mL (MCF-7), 12.5±1.7 μg/mL (HeLa), and 6.4±2.3 μg/mL (Jurkat) 72 hours after treatment. Therefore, Jurkat cells were selected for further investigation. The representative dot plots from flow cytometric analysis of apoptosis showed that the percentages of cells in early apoptosis and late apoptosis were increased. Cell cycle analysis showed a significant increase in accumulation of Fe3O4 MNP-treated cells at sub-G1 phase, confirming induction of apoptosis by Fe3O4 MNPs. The Fe3O4 MNPs also activated caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a time-response fashion. The nature of the biosynthesis and therapeutic potential of Fe3O4 MNPs could pave the way for further research on the green synthesis of therapeutic agents, particularly in nanomedicine, to assist in the treatment of cancer.

A novel polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) mixed matrix ultrafiltration membrane containing reduced graphene oxide/titanium dioxide (rGO/TiO2) nanocomposite was prepared by phase inversion method. The synthesized rGO/TiO2 was characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The prepared rGO/TiO2 blended PVDF membranes were characterized by atomic force microscopy, SEM, water contact angle, porosity, permeation measurements, and rejection tests. Due to the high hydrophilicity of the rGO/TiO2 nanocomposite, the rGO/TiO2/PVDF membranes were more hydrophilic and had higher pure water flux and flux recovery ratio than the bare PVDF. The blended membranes showed remarkably good properties and performance when the rGO/TiO2 content of 0.05 wt % was added to the casting solution. The pure water flux of the 0.05 wt % rGO/TiO2 blended membrane was increased by 54.9% compared with the bare PVDF membrane. The antifouling study of the membranes revealed that a 0.05 wt % rGO/TiO2 membrane had the best fouling resistance.

As a response to the challenge of rapid pace of urbanization and lack of reliable data for environmental and urban planning, especially in the developing countries, this paper evaluates land use/cover change (LCLU) and urban spatial expansion, from 1987 to 2013, in the Qom, Iran, using satellite images, field observations, and socio-economic data. The supervised classification technique by maximum likelihood classifier has been employed to create a classified image and has been assessed based on Kappa index. The urban sprawl was also measured using Shannon’s entropy based on its primary spatial forms. To our knowledge, measuring urban sprawl based on its spatial forms would contribute to prioritizing policies and specific regulations in dealing with its dominant form. Finally, LCLU change and urban growth were simulated for 2022, using CA-Markov model. The results revealed that dramatic growth of built-up areas has led to a significant decrease in the area of agriculture, gardens and wasteland, from 1987 to 2013. The obtained relative entropy values have indicated that the Qom city has experienced increasing urban sprawling over the last three decades. The continuous linear and non-continuous linear developments along the major roads and highways are the dominant forms of sprawl in Qom city. The CA-Markov model estimated that this unsustainable trend will continue in the future and built-up areas will be increased by 10% by 2022 resulting in potential loss of 438.03 ha agriculture land, 638.37 ha wasteland, and 17.01 ha gardens. Those results indicated the necessity of appropriate policies and regulations particularly for limiting linear sprawl along the main roads.

Recently, hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite (HOIP) solar cells with AMX3-perovskite-based photovoltaics have opened up a new paradigm in solar cell fabrication. Among numerous studies on these novel materials, there are limited researches that compare theoretical and experimental results simultaneously. Here, we have investigated the most feasible structures – MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 – utilized as efficient active layers in HOIP solar cells. To this end, the proposed structures were evaluated experimentally and theoretically through dark I-V characterization and quantum-transport approach, respectively; which have been rarely discussed in previous reports. While trap density and ideality factor are determined through dark I-V characterization, geometrical and electrical properties are studied via first-principle density-functional theory. Moreover, quantum transport and I-V characteristics have been calculated through non-equilibrium Green’s function and its results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Based on our experimental and theoretical studies of FAPbI3 and MAPbI3, FAPbI3 is an appropriate candidate to be used as an active layer in solar cell optoelectronic device fabrications. Keywords: HOIP solar cells, MAPbI3, FAbI3, Electrical and optical properties

Lack of physical activity is a global public health problem causing not only morbidity and premature mortality, but it is also a major economic burden worldwide. One of the cornerstones of a physically active lifestyle is Motor Competence (MC). MC is a complex biocultural attribute and therefore, its study requires a multi-sectoral, multi-, inter- and transdisciplinary approach. MC is a growing area of research, especially in children and adolescents due to its positive association with a plethora of health and developmental outcomes. Many questions, however, remain to be answered in this field of research, with regard to: (i) Health and Developmental-related Associations of MC; (ii) Assessment of MC; (iii) Prevalence and Trends of MC; (iv) Correlates and Determinants of MC; (v) MC Interventions, and (vi) Translating MC Research into Practice and Policy. This paper presents a narrative review of the literature, summarizing current knowledge, identifying key research gaps and presenting questions for future investigation on MC in children and adolescents. This is a collaborative effort from the International Motor Competence Network (IMCNetwork) a network of academics and researchers aiming to promote international collaborative research and knowledge translation in the expansive field of MC. The knowledge and deliverables generated by addressing and answering the aforementioned research questions on MC presented in this review have the potential to shape the ways in which researchers and practitioners promote MC and physical activity in children and adolescents across the world.

Macrophages are influential members of the innate immune system that can be reversibly polarized by different microenvironment signals. Cell polarization leads to a wide range of features, involving the migration, development, and organization of the cells. There is mounting evidence that macrophage polarization plays a key role in the initiation and development of a wide range of diseases. This study aims to give an overview of macrophage polarization, their different subtypes, and the importance of alternatively activated M2 macrophage and classically activated M1 macrophage in immune responses and pathological conditions. This review provides insight on the role of exosomes in M1/M2-like macrophage polarization and their potential as a promising therapeutic candidate.

In smart grid, customers have access to the electricity consumption and the price data via smart meters; thus, they are able to participate in the demand response (DR) programs. In this paper, we address the interaction among multiple utility companies and multiple customers in smart grid by modeling the DR problem as two noncooperative games: the supplier and customer side games. In the first game, supply function bidding mechanism is employed to model the utility companies' profit maximization problem. In the proposed mechanism, the utility companies submit their bids to the data center, where the electricity price is computed and is sent to the customers. In the second game, the price anticipating customers determine optimal shiftable load profile to maximize their daily payoff. The existence and uniqueness of the Nash equilibrium in the mentioned games are studied and a computationally tractable distributed algorithm is designed to determine the equilibrium. Simulation results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed DR method in increasing the utility companies' profit and customers' payoff, as well as in reducing the peak-to-average ratio in the aggregate load demand. Finally, the algorithm performance is compared with a DR method in the literature to demonstrate the similarities and differences.

Despite criticisms questioning its raison d'être (e.g., Giddings &amp; Grant, ), mixed methods research has been welcomed in social research as a methodology in its own right (Greene, ). Recently, it has also been acknowledged and advocated in applied linguistics (Dörnyei, ; Hashemi, ). In an attempt to investigate the status of this relatively new trend in applied linguistics, the current study examines the nature of the integration of qualitative and quantitative methods in terms of research designs, sampling designs, and quality of interpretations. Content analysis of 205 research articles published in seven comprehensive international peer reviewed applied linguistics journals between 1995 and 2008 reveals that concurrent designs are more prevalent than sequential designs and that studies make limited use of mixed designs that are detailed in the mixed methods literature. Moreover, although a considerable number of articles used both qualitative and quantitative methods, only a small number achieved high degrees of integration at various stages of the study as a quality standard for mixed research. The study concludes with several implications for making more effective use of mixed methods research in applied linguistics and calls for a more systematic treatment of this trend as a versatile research methodology.

The advent of nanotechnology has led to an increase in interest in nanocarriers as a delivery system for drugs that is efficient and safe. There have been many studies addressing nano-scale vesicular systems such as liposomes but niosome is a newer generation of vesicular nanocarriers. The niosomes provide a multilamellar carrier for lipophilic and hydrophilic bioactive substances in the self-assembled vesicle, which are composed of non-ionic surfactants in conjunction with cholesterol or other amphiphilic molecules. Non-ionic surfactant vesicles, simply known as niosomes, can be utilized in a wide variety of technological applications. In addition to accommodating both water-soluble and lipid-soluble drug molecules, niosomes may also serve as a versatile device for a variety of applications. As an alternative to liposomes, niosomes can be considered more economically, chemically, and physically stable. There are simple methods of preparing niosomes that can be used in pharmaceutical technology, and the methods can be based on widely used surfactants. Many reports have discussed niosomes in terms of their physicochemical properties and applications as drug delivery systems. As drug carriers, nano-sized niosomes expand the horizons of pharmacokinetics, decreasing toxicity, enhancing drug solvability and bioavailability, reducing fabrication costs, and increasing storage stability. In this review, we discuss the components and fabrication methods of niosomes, as well as their functionalization, characterization, administration routes, and applications in cancer, gene delivery, and natural product delivery, limitations and challenges in the development of niosomes, niosome and other nanocarriers, the future perspective of niosome.

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), the most popular nanoparticles, possess unique properties. Achillea biebersteinii is a plant of the Asteraceae family rich in active antitumor components. The aim of this research was the characterization and investigation of the cytotoxic properties of Ag-NPs synthesized using A. biebersteinii flower extract, on a human breast cancer cell line. The Ag-NPs were synthesized after approximately 180 min of reaction at 40 °C, then they were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The anti-apoptosis effect of Ag-NPs on the MCF-7 cell line was investigated by MTT assay, DAPI and acridine orange staining and caspase activity. The transcriptional expression of bax, bcl-2, caspase-3, -8 and -9 were also evaluated by RT-PCR. The TEM images revealed that the Ag-NPs morphology had a different shape. The DLS indicated that the average hydrodynamic diameter of the biosynthesized Ag-NPs was around 12 nm. By UV-visible spectroscopy the strongest absorbance peak was observed at 460 nm. The FTIR results also showed interaction between the plant extract and Ag-NPs due to the similarity in the peak patterns. The EDS results showed that Ag-NPs display an absorption peak at 3 keV, indicating the presence of the element silver. The Ag-NPs caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability, fragmentation in nucleic acid, inhibited the proliferation and induction of apoptosis on MCF-7 by suppressing specific cell cycle genes, and simulation programmed cell dead genes. Further investigation is required to establish the potential of this novel and promising approach in cancer therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Fibroblast activation protein (FAP) is a member of the serine protease family and has a high expression in the stroma of approximately 90% of epithelial malignancies. The present investigation aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and dosimetry data of 177Lu-FAPI-46 in diverse malignancies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced cancers with nonoperable tumors, or tumors refractory to conventional therapies, were enrolled. Treatment included escalating doses of 177Lu-FAPI-46 (1.85-4.44 GBq) per cycle using a combination of clinical and statistical expertise design, and intervals of 4 to 6 weeks were considered between the cycles. Biodistribution and dosimetry were examined by whole-body scans. We applied the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03 to measure peptide-targeted radionuclide therapy (PTRT)-associated toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 21 patients (11 females and 10 males) with a median age of 50 years (range, 6-79 years) were investigated. Of 21 participants, 18 cases were selected for PTRT. Overall, 36 PTRT cycles were performed. The median number of PTRT cycles and the median injected amount of activity in each cycle were 2 and 3.7 GBq, respectively. The dosimetric analysis revealed median absorbed doses of 0.026, 0.136, 0.886, and 0.02 with ranges of 0.023-0.034, 0.001-0.2, 0.076-1.39, and 0.002-0.2 mGy/MBq for the whole body, liver, kidneys, and spleen, respectively. The therapy was well tolerated in almost all patients. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this preliminary investigation might indicate the potential feasibility and safety of PTRT using 177Lu-FAPI-46 for different aggressive tumors. Moreover, the current study could be beneficial in determining the suitable amount of activity for a phase 2 study.