Curcumin Inhibits TGF-β1-Induced MMP-9 and Invasion through ERK and Smad Signaling in Breast Cancer MDA-MB-231 Cells

Mo, Na,Li, Zheng-Qian,Li, Jing,Cao, You-De Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.11

Objective: To evaluate the effects of curcumin on matrixmetalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and invasion ability induced by transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ (TGF-${\beta}1$) in MDA-MB-231 cells and potential mechanisms. Methods: Human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells were used with the CCK-8 assay to measure the cytotoxicity of curcumin. After treatment with 10 ng/ml TGF-${\beta}1$, with or without curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$), cell invasion was checked by transwell chamber. The effects of curcumin on TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and phosphorylation of Smad2, extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), and p38 mitogen activated protein kinases (p38MAPK) were examined by Western blotting. Supernatant liquid were collected to analyze the activity of MMP-9 via zymography. Following treatment with PD98059, a specific inhibitor of ERK, and SB203580, a specific inhibitor of p38MAPK, Western blotting and zymography were employed to examine MMP-9 expression and activity, respectively. Results: Low dose curcumin (${\leq}10{\mu}M$) did not show any obvious toxicity to the cells, while $0{\sim}10{\mu}mol/L$ caused a concentration-dependent reduction in cell invasion provoked by TGF-${\beta}1$. Curcumin also markedly inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-regulated MMP-9 and activation of Smad2, ERK1/2 and p38 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Additionally, PD98059, but not SB203580, showed a similar pattern of inhibition of MMP-9 expression. Conclusion: Curcumin inhibited TGF-${\beta}1$-stimulated MMP-9 and the invasive phenotype in MDA-MB-231 cells, possibly associated with TGF-${\beta}$/Smad and TGF-${\beta}$/ERK signaling.

Tracking the Sufi presence in Jerusalem

Mona Farouk M. Ahmed(Mona Farouk M. Ahmed ) 한국이슬람학회 2022 한국이슬람학회논총 Vol.32 No.3

Tracing Sufism in the Islamic world, Jerusalem was one of the Sufis’ centers attracting many of them to settle in this holy city known for its significant spirituality for Muslims. This study traces the Sufi presence in Jerusalem from the past until the present to give an overview of the history of Sufism in this holy city. Through examining the remaining Sufi lodges in Jerusalem today, the study introduces the main Sufi orders and the development of their role and activities in the Jerusalemite society throughout history. The study showed that the golden era of the Sufi role ended with the end of Ottoman rule. Then, there was a decline in this role which faced many challenges including the economic difficulties worsened under the Israeli occupation. Being a part of the Palestinian society, the Sufis of Jerusalem had their contributions to the Arab-Israeli conflict struggling for defending their lands and properties till today. Introducing the development of the Sufi orders in Jerusalem, the study showed that despite the decline of the Sufi activities in the modern era, the Sufi presence continued, which was seen in their remaining buildings including zawiyas, ribats, and shrines covered by this study. Though many of them lost their Sufi function, there are still some Sufi families continuing to maintain Sufi traditions at present in Jerusalem.

The influence of nanoparticles on gas transport properties of mixed matrix membranes: An experimental investigation and modeling

Mona Jamshidi,Vahid Pirouzfar,Reza Abedini,Mona Zamani Pedram 한국화학공학회 2017 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.34 No.3

Mixed matrix membranes were made of polysulfone and Matrimid® polymers, and SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles in order to improve the efficiency of polymeric membrane in gas separation and review the efficiency of membrane separation process, laboratory. The modeling results of selectivity and permeability of gases O2, N2, CO2 and CH4 were discussed for different membranes. Another objective of this study was to submit a report on the importance of the statistical analysis and modeling in design and optimizing mixed matrix membranes to separate gas. The D-optimal method was applied to model and optimize the selectivity and permeability due to the main parameters. The obtained results indicated that the permeability of all gases demonstrated an ascending trend when the nanoparticles were increased. Under optimized conditions, the permeability of the gases O2, N2, CO2, CH4 in the membrane of PSF (12)/SiO2 (13.82) was 2.49, 1.113, 12.82 and 0.885 Barrer, respectively. A statistical method was practiced in the current research to design, optimize and separate gas membranes through effective efficiency for different applications.

Emission of VOCs from Mongolian Coal Combustion

Mona Loraine M. Barabad,박덕신,정원석,Michael Versoza 한국대기환경학회 2015 한국대기환경학회 학술대회논문집 Vol.2015 No.11

A Novel Authentication Scheme for Lossy Compressed Images

Mona A. M. Fouad,Ahmed Mokhtar A. Mansour 보안공학연구지원센터 2015 International Journal of Security and Its Applicat Vol.9 No.6

In this paper, a novel scheme is proposed for watermarking lossy compressed images just before transmission and authenticating them once they are received, away from the core of the compression and de-compression processes. The scheme is inserted into the Joint Photographic Expert Group (JPEG) structure that is encoded using the Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT) at specified locations. The watermark information is extracted from and embedded into specified DCT coefficients, following novel criteria. The scheme is robust to lossy compression; though it is fragile, exposing any slight changes of the probe images. The scheme is also blind, needs no prior information about the original image or the watermark information to authenticate the received image. Experimentally, if the received watermarked data is not manipulated, the proposed scheme verifies them as ‘authenticated’. On the other side, if geometrical or image processing attacks are applied to the watermarked images, they are then verified successfully as ‘not authenticated’. The proposed scheme is further evaluated and compared to similar authentication schemes. The noise added to the original image due to embedding the watermark information is 0.063 dB (decibel), overcoming all results in the reviewed literature.

Muslim and Jewish Minorities in the Medieval Iberian Peninsula After the Reconquista: The Right of Return to Spain for Moriscos and Sephardim

Mona Farouk M,Ahmed 명지대학교 중동문제연구소 2019 중동문제연구 Vol.18 No.3

The Reconquista was a series of wars Christian forces started in 718 to take back the Iberian Peninsula from Muslims. These wars lasted until the battle of Granada in 1492, which ended the Muslim rule in Spain and began a new chapter of Catholic rule. Almost nobody denies the intolerance the Jewish and Muslim minorities faced in the Iberian Peninsula after the Reconquista, which reached its height in the expulsion of both minorities starting with Jews and followed by Moriscos, who were originally Muslims but forced to convert to Christianity. In recent years, the Spanish government recognized the right of Sephardic Jews to return to Spain. This decision raised the debate about the same right for Moriscos. This paper will try to discuss the difference between the status of the two minorities to find out if they can be seen equals in regard to the right of return to Spain.

Mitigation of Voltage Dips and Swells in Grid-Connected Wind Energy Conversion Systems

Mona N. Eskander,Sanaa I. Amer 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

This paper investigates two methods for mitigation of voltage dips and voltage swells in a grid to which a wind energy conversion system (WECS) is connected. The two mitigation methods are the dynamic voltage regulator (DVR), and the static compensator (STATCOM). The wind energy system employs permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). It is well known that the voltage dips affect the PMSG adversely, leading to unlimited increase in its speed. Hence, quick voltage dip mitigation is required. The responses of both DVR and STATCOM to voltage dips as well as voltage swells are investigated and compared. Also the active and reactive power behaviors in each system during and after fault recovery are investigated. The simulation results compared for voltage dips and voltage swells show less harmonic contents for the system employing the DVR. However, the response of the two systems to faults are comparable.

Model Based Design of Inverter Power Supply

Mona Abo El Dahb,Shintaro Iino,Yoichi Shiraishi,MichioTatsuno 제어로봇시스템학회 2009 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2009 No.8

The embedded system software field becomes one of the most competitive areas due to the increase of the progress of embedded system technology. This paper concerns some of the challenges that face the embedded software developer. Hardware modeling (Virtual Device) of DC/AC power inverter using Unified Modeling Language (UML) and C++ language to verify the controlling software is proposed. Embedded software simulation on the hardware modeling compared to the actual prototype simulation has been investigated. A good agreement between the outputs of suggested method and data obtained using the actual prototype was observed.

Divorced Eutectic Solidification of Mg-Al Alloys

Monas, A.,Shchyglo, O.,Kim, S. J.,Yim, C. D.,Hö,che, D.,Steinbach, I. Springer Science + Business Media 2015 JOM Vol.67 No.8

NEURAL NETWORK CONTROLLER FOR A PERMANENT MAGNET GENERATOR APPLIED IN WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM

Mona N.Eskander 전력전자학회 2001 ICPE(ISPE)논문집 Vol.2001 No.10

In this paper a neural network controller for achieving maximum power tracking as well as output voltage regulation, for a wind energy conversion system(WECS) employing a permanent magnet synchronous generator, is proposed The permanent magnet generator (PMG) supplies a dc load via a bridge rectifier and two buck-boost converters Adjusting the switching frequency of the first buck-boost converter achieves maximum power tracking Adjusting the switching frequency of the second buck-boost converter allows output voltage regulation The on-timesof the switching devices ofthe two converters are supplied by thedeveloped neura! network(NN), The effect of sudden changes in wind speed ,and/or in reference voltage on the performance of the NN controller are explored Simulation results showed the possibility of achieving maximum power tracking and output voltage regulation simultaneously with the developed neural network controller The results proved also the fast response and robustness of the proposed control system.