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Diabetes mellitus, a metabolic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia and insulin dysfunction, often leads to serious complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular disease. Incretins, gut peptide hormones released post-nutrient intake, have shown promising therapeutic effects on these complications due to their wide-ranging biological impacts on various body systems. This review focuses on the role of incretin-based therapies, particularly Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, in managing diabetes and its complications. We also discuss the potential of novel agents like semaglutide, a recently approved oral compound, and dual/triple agonists targeting GLP-1/GIP, GLP-1/glucagon, and GLP-1/GIP/glucagon receptors, which are currently under investigation. The review aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the beneficial impacts of natural incretins and the therapeutic potential of incretin-based therapies in diabetes management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the A3 coupling reactions of an aldehyde, an amine, and a terminal alkyne have been done on the surface of the biochar@Cu-Ni, in order to prepare propargylamines. Biochar was successfully prepared by using pomegranate shells as crude materials at 500 °C, and Cu-Ni NPs were subsequently placed on its surface. The catalytic activities of this nanocatalyst were investigated for the A3 coupling reaction to the synthesis of propargylamines. The results indicated that the highest efficiency of biochar@Cu-Ni nanocatalyst was at 80 °C in the presence of 20 mg of the nanocatalyst and 1 mL toluene as a solvent. Products were purified with thin-layer chromatography (TLC) plates (silica gel) using n-hexane/ethyl acetate (80:20). Moreover, the separation and recovery of the nanocatalysts were straightforward, efficient, and cost-effective. The novelty of catalyst is due to Cu-Ni Bimetallic in the structure of Pomegranate shell–biochar as a substrate. So, Cu-Ni can be strongly connected to the substrate. The propargylamine was synthesized using an inexpensive catalyst that was economically suitable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the synthesis of new nanocomposites based on Poly (L-lactic acid)/ poly (L-lactide- ɛ-caprolactone) PLLA/PLCL with a ratio of 90/10 and different amounts of graphene oxide (GO) (0.1-1%) was put on the agenda. The poly (ethylene glycol)-block-poly (propylene glycol), PEG-PPG, as a compatibilizer was used in each compound to increase the compatibility of the two phases. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were applied to study the structure of the obtained samples. Also, morphology, mechanical properties, rheological behavior, thermal stability, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), contact angle, and hydro-catalytic degradation were investigated. The results showed that using the GO, and PEG-PPG compatibilizer significantly decreased the average diameter of the dispersed phase of PLCL in the PLLA matrix. In addition, with the increase of GO contents, the mechanical properties, thermal stability contact angle, storage modulus increased, but hydro-catalytic degradation decreased. The results of scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) approved that the presence of PEG-PPG compatibilizer significantly affects the dispersion of GO in the PLLA/PLCL matrix. So, the synthesized nanocomposite is a good candidate for mechanical and biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mitochondria are known to be involved in mediating the calorigenic effects of thyroid hormones. With an abundance of these hormones, alterations in energy metabolism and cellular respiration take place, leading to the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Vitamin D has recently gained attention due to its involvement in the regulation of mitochondrial function, demonstrating promising potential in preserving the integrity and functionality of the mitochondrial network. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of Vitamin D on cardiac hypertrophy induced by hyperthyroidism, with a focus on the contributions of mitophagy and apoptosis as possible underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods and results: The rats were divided into three groups: control; hyperthyroid; hyperthyroid + Vitamin D. Hyperthyroidism was induced by Levothyroxine administration for four weeks. Serum thyroid hormones levels, myocardial damage markers, cardiac hypertrophy indices, and histological examination were assessed. The assessment of Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the expression of the related genes were conducted using heart tissue samples. Vitamin D pretreatment exhibited a significant improvement in the hyperthyroidism-induced decline in markers indicative of myocardial damage, oxidative stress, and indices of cardiac hypertrophy. Vitamin D pretreatment also improved the downregulation observed in myocardial expression levels of genes involved in the regulation of mitophagy and apoptosis, including PTEN putative kinase 1 (PINK1), Mitofusin-2 (MFN2), Dynamin-related Protein 1 (DRP1), and B cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), induced by hyperthyroidism. Conclusions: These results suggest that supplementation with Vitamin D could be advantageous in preventing the progression of cardiac hypertrophy and myocardial damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation temperature in high-energy materials is vital, and by predicting, it is possible to prevent the dangers of the degradation of high-energy materials and increase their safety. In this study, the degradation temperature of 63 energetic ionic liquids was investigated based on imidazole cation, and a mathematical model was presented to predict the degradation temperature of this class of materials. In this model, 20% of the data were randomly used as test data, and the rest were used as training sets. Correlation prediction (R2) in training and test data was 0.946 and 0.909, respectively. Also, in the internal leave-many-out cross-validation method, the average correlation is 0.953. The average absolute deviation and the root mean square deviation were calculated for both training and test groups. The results showed that the presented model for predicting the degradation temperature in energetic ionic liquids is highly accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prostaglandin D2 is the most abundant prostaglandin in the mammalian brain. Exposure to stressful stimuli is often accompanied by reduced pain sensitivity, termed "stress-induced analgesia" (SIA). In the present study, the possible modulatory role of prostaglandin-D2 (PGD2) in the acute or chronic type of SIA was examined in male and female rats. Acute and chronic (long-term) restraint stress (RS) in male and female rats was performed prior to intraplantar injections of formalin, a noxious inflammatory agent. The involvements of specific PGD2 receptors in the modulatory role of PGD2 on SIA also investigated by specific antagonists (DP1 or DP2). Corticosterone levels were assessed in groups of rats following exposure to stress. Acute or chronic restraint stress altered formalin-induced spontaneous behaviors in male and female rats. Furthermore, intrathecal microinjection of PGD2 (10 µg/mL) could reverse acute SIA in male but not in female rats. DP2 antagonist of PGD2 (CAY10471) attenuated pain score in the acute RS-induced analgesia in male rats. Administration of PGD2 increases the phospho-extracellular signal regulated kinase 2 (pERK2) levels in the spinal cord of male RS rats. Sex differences were also seen in plasma corticosterone concentrations post injection of PGD2 in acute SIA in male rats. The outcome suggests that not only central microinjection of PGD2 could attenuate acute SIA in male rats, but also its antagonist could turn over this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To report a case of Pediatric-onset MS associated uveitis managed with local and systemic medications. Case presentation: An 11-year-old boy who was diagnosed with Pediatric-onset MS (POMS) with the first presentation of left optic neuritis in another center, was referred to our clinic with the complaint of non-improved vision in the left eye despite receiving IV 5gr methylprednisolone. After the ophthalmologic examinations, the patient was diagnosed as bilateral POMS-associated intermediate uveitis, and local treatment with corticosteroid was administered to both eyes. He was continued on systemic therapy such as Rituximab and five sessions of plasmapheresis. After four months, the patient's vision improved from FC at 50cm to 9/10 in the left eye. The intensity of intraocular inflammation decreased in both eyes. In fluorescein angiography findings, the optic disc, as well as vascular leakage, subsided bilaterally. Conclusion: Despite its rarity, POMS-associated uveitis presents a considerable challenge that necessitates the collaborative efforts of neurologists and ophthalmologists to achieve the most effective treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat losses in solar stills are high, which has led to a decrease in their thermal efficiency. Also, the production of these devices is limited to the presence of the sun, and their production stops during cloudy hours or at night. To solve these problems, in this experimental study, two cascade solar stills are examined under relatively similar conditions for sustainable freshwater production. One of these solar stills is modified with the phase change material and copper fins, and another one is a conventional cascade solar still without using the phase change material and copper fins. Paraffin was selected as a heat storage material to increase the time of desalination of water by the solar still. In addition, the copper fins are used to increase the conduction heat transfer in phase change material and provide better melting and solidification processes. To prolong the water path along the steps, the serpentine water path was considered. The results showed that at sunset hours, desalination efficiency with phase changing material and fins was increased. At 5 pm, the efficiency of the modified device was increased by 29% (on average) as compared to the conventional solar still without using phase changing material and fins. The rate of water production in conventional solar still in midday was higher compared to the modified solar still. However, in the sunset and night hours, the modified solar still has a higher production rate due to heat released from the thermal storage system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperthyroidism is associated with the alteration in molecular pathways involved in the regulation of mitochondrial mass and apoptosis, which contribute to the development of cardiac hypertrophy. Diminazene (DIZE) is an animal anti-infection drug that has shown promising effects on improving cardiovascular disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of DIZE on cardiac hypertrophy and the signaling pathways involved in this process in the hyperthyroid rat model. Twenty male Wistar rats were equally divided into four groups: control, hyperthyroid, DIZE, and hyperthyroid + DIZE. After 28 days of treatment, serum thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level, cardiac hypertrophy indices, cardiac damage markers, cardiac malondialdehyde (MDA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level, the mRNA expression level of mitochondrial and apoptotic genes were evaluated. Hyperthyroidism significantly decreased the cardiac expression level of SIRT1/PGC1α and its downstream involved in the regulation of mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and antioxidant enzyme activities including TFAM, PINK1/MFN2, Drp1, and Nrf2, respectively, as well as stimulated mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis by reducing Bcl-2 expression and increasing Bax expression. Treatment with DIZE significantly reversed the downregulation of SIRT1, PGC1α, PINK1, MFN2, Drp1, and Nrf2 but did not significantly change the TFAM expression. Moreover, DIZE suppressed apoptosis by normalizing the cardiac expression levels of Bax and Bcl-2. DIZE is effective in attenuating hyperthyroidism-induced cardiac hypertrophy by modulating the mitophagy-related pathway, suppressing apoptosis and oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, pistachio shells were used as raw materials to prepare biochar at 500 °C. A novel biochar@Cu-Ni bimetallic heterojunction nanocatalyst was successfully prepared using a hydrothermal method. The catalytic performance of the synthesized nanocatalyst was investigated for the hydrogenation of 4‐nitrophenol (4-NP), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA), and aldehyde derivatives. The results indicated that in the presence of NaBH4 as the source of hydride anion, this nanocatalyst had good catalytic activity for the selective reduction of various aldehydes and the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds in a short time. The catalyst was recovered using an external magnet and reused several times without considerable loss of catalytic activity. The conversion percentage (α) of 4-NP, 4-NA, and 2-NA to 4-aminophenol, 4-phenylenediamine, and 2-phenylenediamine were individually calculated. The kinetic data acquired for the hydrogenation of nitroaromatic compounds were matched to first-order rate equations. Moreover, the apparent rate constants (Kapp) for the hydrogenation of 4-NP, 4-NA, and 2-NA were calculated to be 0.4086 min−1, 0.6369 min−1, and 0.4251 min−1, respectively. The structure and morphology of the prepared nanocatalyst were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous crystallization of lovastatin from a lovastatin-methanol solution and water as the anti-solvent in an impinging jet crystallizer is investigated using a computational fluid dynamics model. To capture the important phenomena, the model is coupled with micro-mixing, population balance, and related energy balance equations. It is implemented in OpenFOAM and validated against experimental data, where a fairly good agreement is found. The effects of key process parameters on the crystallization performance are also studied using the validated model. The results show that increasing the inlet jet velocity from 1 to 4 m/s yields a much narrower size distribution and 70% reduction in the mean crystal size. The four-fold increase in the inlet jet velocity also reduces the crystal production rate by one order of magnitude. Also, it is found that increasing the inlet supersaturation ratio from 6.8 to 8.8 nearly doubles the mean crystal size. Moreover, it results in a wider size distribution and a six-fold increase in the crystal production rate. The simulations also confirm that lower solution to anti-solvent mass flow ratios yield a wider size distribution, a larger mean crystal size and a higher crystal production rate. Increasing this ratio from 0.5 to 2 reduces the production rate by two orders of magnitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving an efficient catalyst in the ATRP system with a simple preparation method and high recyclability is an important challenging issue. In this study, a dip-catalyst based on functional graphene oxide-coated bacterial cellulose as a green support was prepared. Graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets were first conjugated with ethylated-branched-polyethyleneimine (E-bPEI), showing as an effective ATRP ligand. Then, the ligand-modified GO was coated on the surface of bacterial cellulose (BC/GO-E-bPEI). In the next step, copper (I) was incorporated into the BC/GO-E-bPEI through strong chelation by E-bPEI (Cu@BC/GO-E-bPEI). The synthesized dip-catalyst, in the form of the strips, was used for the first time in the ATRP reaction of methyl methacrylate to investigate catalytic activity. The prepared dip catalysts showed high catalytic activity, reasonable control over molecular weight, and narrow molecular weight distribution. Importantly, the reaction was simply turned on/off at any time by insertion/removal of the strips. The recyclability of the catalyst was studied for 7 runs. Also, the amount of residual copper in the polymer was very low (1.5 ppm). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the time-fractional oxygen diffusion has been simulated in a one-dimensional (1D) corneal-contact lens (CL) system. Different CLs have been employed as Balafilcon, thin- and thick-Polymacon. It is assumed that homogeneous and isotropic porous mediums of cornea and CL is saturated with compressible oxygen. The computations of the time-fractional derivations are done based on the Caputo method. The obtained results show that the fractional derivative order (FDO) severely affects pressure distribution in cornea and CL. Consequently, the magnitudes of post-lens-tear-film (PoLTF) pressure change due to diverse FDOs. Particularly, maximum changes have been observed in the results gained from the CLs with thicknesses more than 100 μm. The agreement of the results obtained from the time-fractional modeling with the experimental data compared to the standard diffusion modeling has been improved by more than 36%. Finally, it has been demonstrated that high-thickness CLs can cause exist anomalous diffusion process in cornea tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Aging is a main risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Gallic acid (GA) is a phenolic compound derived from a wide range of fruits. GA has a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective effects. This research was conducted to determine the cardioprotective effect of GA on cardiac hypertrophy in aged rats. Methods and results: Following histological evaluation and through observing the heart, we found that GA improved the cardiac hypertrophy induced by D-galactose (D-GAL) in cardiac cells. To clarify the causes for this anti-aging effect, we evaluated the malonic dialdehyde levels and antioxidant enzyme activity in rat cardiac tissue. The levels of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and creatine kinase (CK-MB) in serum were measured. The levels of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis, mitophagy, and apoptosis in cardiac tissue were surveyed. The findings represented that GA ameliorated antioxidant enzyme activity while significantly decreasing the malonic dialdehyde levels. Real-time PCR analysis proposed that GA effectively improved mitochondrial biogenesis in the heart via regulating the expression levels of Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), PPARγ coactivator 1α (PGC1-α), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM). GA also mitigated apoptosis in the heart by modulating the expression levels of B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-associated X (Bax). In addition, GA improved serum LDH and CK-MB levels. Conclusions: GA may alleviate aging-induced cardiac hypertrophy via anti-oxidative, mitoprotective, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a tissue damage during reperfusion after an ischemic condition. I/R injury is induced by pathological cases including stroke, myocardial infarction, circulatory arrest, sickle cell disease, acute kidney injury, trauma, and sleep apnea. It can lead to increased morbidity and mortality in the context of these processes. Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the hallmarks of I/R insult, which is induced via reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, and autophagy. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are non-coding RNAs that play a main regulatory role in gene expression. Recently, there are evidence, which miRNAs are the major modulators of cardiovascular diseases, especially myocardial I/R injury. Cardiovascular miRNAs, specifically miR-21, and probably miR-24 and miR-126 have protective effects on myocardial I/R injury. Trimetazidine (TMZ) is a new class of metabolic agents with an anti-ischemic activity. It has beneficial effects on chronic stable angina by suppressing mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. The present review study addressed the different mechanistic effects of TMZ on cardiac I/R injury. Online databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane library were assessed for published studies between 1986 and 2021. TMZ, an antioxidant and metabolic agent, prevents the cardiac reperfusion injury by regulating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), cystathionine-γ-lyase enzyme (CSE)/hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and miR-21. Therefore, TMZ protects the heart against I/R injury by inducing key regulators such as AMPK, CSE/H2S, and miR-21. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alzheimer's disease (AD) as the commonest type of dementia is associated with the cognitive function failure. Oxidative stress performs an essential role in the progression of AD. Royal jelly (RJ) is a natural product of bees with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present research aimed to investigate the possible protective effect of RJ on learning and memory in a rat model of Aβ-induced AD. Forty male adult Wistar rats were equally distributed into five groups: control, sham-operated, Aβ (receiving intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of amyloid beta (Aβ1–40)), Aβ + RJ 50 mg/kg, and Aβ + RJ 100 mg/kg. RJ was administered daily post-surgery by oral gavage for four weeks. Behavioral learning and memory were examined using the novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) tests. Also, oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), were assessed in the hippocampus. Aβ reduced step-through latency (STLr) and increased time spent in the dark compartment (TDC) in the PAL task and also decreased discrimination index in the NOR test. Administration of RJ ameliorated the Aβ-related memory impairment in both NOR and PAL tasks. Aβ decreased TAC and increased MDA and TOS levels in the hippocampus, whereas RJ administration reversed these Aβ-induced alterations. Our results indicated that RJ has the potential to ameliorate learning and memory impairment in the Aβ model of AD via attenuating oxidative stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Destruction of red blood cell is associated with anemia and other pathological status; hence, the hemolytic effects of all chemicals and particles which come into contact with blood components must be considered. Nanomaterials and nanoparticles are potential substitutes for common material and particles, and assessment of their effect on blood components is a necessary part of their safety evaluation. High surface-to-volume ratio of nanoparticles may cause their toxic effects differ from those observed for bulk material. The aim of this study was to compare the hemolytic effects of CuO nanoparticles and bulk CuO. Red blood cells were isolated from blood of healthy subjects and hemolytic effects assayed following treatment of cells with 0.005–0.25 mM of CuO (bulk and nanoparticles) for 6 h. For assessment of other parameters, cells were incubated with 0.01, 0.05, and 0.25 mM of CuO nanoparticles and bulk CuO for 1, 2, and 3 h. Our results demonstrate that CuO nanoparticles, in particular, caused toxic hemolytic effects in concentration-dependent manner, and this effect maybe through formation of ROS, glutathione depletion, and lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, CuO nanoparticles are shown to effectively destruct human red blood cells in comparison to bulk CuO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose- stem cells (ASCs) have received much attention in the recent years and several articles have investigated the role of these cells on burn wound healing. To understand the outcomes of the ASCs therapy on burn wound healing, a systematic review was performed. This study was conducted by searching in Pubmed, ISI, and Scopus until May 2021. Thirty-six animal studies were included in this study. The findings revealed that although treatment with ASCs somewhat enhanced the healing rate, cultured ASCs on scaffolds or its combination with hydrogels could significantly increase the viability of ASCs and promote rate of healing. However, clinical studies are necessary to gain a better understanding of the role of ASCs in burn wound healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the role of patient facial masks on the occurrence of post-intravitreal injection (IVI) endophthalmitis in a real-word setting. Methods: In this retrospective cohort, patients receiving IVIs between 20 February 2019 and 20 February 2021; a 12-month period before the official beginning of COVID-19 epidemic in Iran and a 12-month period thereafter were included. In the pre-COVID era, patients underwent IVI without a facial mask while in the COVID era patients wore an untaped facial mask. Physicians and staff had facial mask in both periods. IVIs were administered in a dedicated operating room without a strict no talk-policy. The main outcome measure was the rate of post-IVI endophthalmitis. Results: A total number of 53,927 injections was performed during the study period: 34,277 in pre-COVID and 19,650 in COVID periods; with a 42.7% decrease in the number of injections. Endophthalmitis occurred in 7 eyes (0.020%) in pre-COVID and 7 eyes (0.036%) in COVID era (p = 0.40). In multivariate analysis, after adjustment for intercorrelations between the eyes and multiple injections in one patient, there was no statistically significant association between wearing facial masks by the patients and risk of endophthalmitis (relative risk = 1.47, 95% confidence interval of 0.97–2.22; p = 0.071). Conclusion: Patients' facial masking is not associated with an increased risk of post-injection endophthalmitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the relationship between non-cystic thickening of the macula on optical coherence tomography (OCT) and retinal vascular leakage on fluorescein angiogram (FA) in patients with uveitis. A cross-sectional study of patients seen in the uveitis clinic. Patients with any degree of inflammatory cells in the anterior vitreous were included, provided that no macular cyst or subretinal fluid or macular atrophy was observed in OCT. The correlation between OCT features and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), the degree of inflammation, and FA findings were examined. The severity of vascular leakage in FA was graded for optic nerve, macula and posterior and peripheral leakage. We used generalized estimation equation to assess the associations between macular thickness and volume with angiographic scores. A total of 43 patients (100 exam data) met inclusion criteria. There was a significant relationship between OCT parameters (central macular thickness, 3 mm and 6 mm perifoveal macular thickness as well as total and central macular volume) with angiographic scores (macular, optic disc, posterior and peripheral vascular leakage score) (all P values < 0.0001). The correlation between the 6 mm perifoveal thickness and peripheral vascular leakage score (R = 0.76; P < 0.001) was stronger than the correlation of CMT with this angiographic score (R = 0.69; P < 0.001). Non-cystic thickening of the macula on OCT, especially in perifoveal area, is a reliable predictor of the presence of retinal vascular leakage in patients with uveitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural synchronization has been engaged in several brain mechanisms. Previous studies have shown that the interaction between the time of spiking activity and phase of local field potentials (LFPs) plays a key role in many cognitive functions. However, the potential role of this spike–LFP phase coupling (SPC) in neural coding is not fully understood. Here, we sought to investigate the role of this SPC for encoding the sensory properties of visual stimuli. To this end, we measured SPC strength in the preferred and anti-preferred motion directions of stimulus presented inside the receptive field of middle temporal (MT) neurons. We found a selective response in terms of SPC strength for different directions of motion. Remarkably, this selective function is inverted with respect to the spiking activity. In other words, the least SPC occurs for the preferred direction (based on the spike rate), and vice versa; the strongest SPC is induced in the anti-preferred direction. Altogether, these findings imply that the neural system may use spike–LFP phase coupling in the primate visual cortex to encode sensory information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, zero-dimensional (quantum dots) of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles were decorated on MoS2 nanosheets to prepare MoS2/Fe3O4/g-C3N4 quantum dots. Photocatalytic activities of newly synthesized nanocatalyst were investigated by the degradation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) under visible LED lamp light. In these degradation reactions, the parameters effective such as dyes concentration, pH, amount of catalyst, and irradiation time were also investigated. The systematic investigations revealed that 10 mg of MoS2/Fe3O4/g-C3N4QDs catalyst was optimum to degrade 10 mg/L of MB and 40 mg of nanocatalyst to degrade 10 mg/L of MO with 60 W of LED irradiation. Nanocomposite can act as an excellent photocatalyst for degradation of MB and MO at short time intervals and also can be easily separated by an external magnet and reused several times. The kinetic data acquired for the degradation of dyes were matched to first-order rate equations, and also the apparent rate constants for the degradation of MB and MO were calculated as follows: K = 0.285 min−1 and K = 0.263 min−1, respectively. The novelty of catalyst is due to metal (Mo) and non-metal (S) in the structure of substrate (MoS2), so Fe3O4 and g-C3N4 QDs can be strongly connected to the substrate. The structure and morphology of prepared nanocomposite were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and UV–Vis spectroscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily impacting women of childbearing age. While pregnancy and hormonal stress can trigger SLE flare-ups, the effects of assisted reproductive therapies (ARTs) on SLE patients are not well defined. We conducted a search of PubMed/Medline, Embase, and CENTRAL until March 20, 2024, to find observational studies assessing the prevalence of SLE flares and pregnancy outcomes following ARTs. Our analysis included random-effects meta-analysis and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach for evaluating evidence quality. Five studies involving 237 SLE women who underwent ARTs were eligible. The meta-analysis indicated a prevalence of SLE flares at 17% (95% CI: 10–25%) with moderate-quality evidence. The pooled prevalence of arthritis flares was 7% (95% CI: 0–25%) with low-quality evidence. Successful pregnancy rates were 58% (95% CI: 43–72%), and live birth rates were 96% (95% CI: 83–100%), both with low-quality evidence. Moderate-quality evidence showed pregnancy complications, including preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) at 8% (95% CI: 3–16%), miscarriages at 2% (95% CI: 0–9%), intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD) at 4% (95% CI: 0–11%), and preeclampsia at 7% (95% CI: 1–17%). Low-quality evidence showed preterm labor at 10% (95% CI: 0–32%) and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) at 2% (95% CI: 0–11%). SLE flares, as well as pregnancy complications such as IUFD, miscarriage, PPROM, and preeclampsia in ART recipients, are equivalent to those in spontaneous conception. This indicates that ART is relatively safe for SLE patients with meticulous pregnancy planning. Key Points • Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease primarily impacting women of childbearing age. • Pregnancy in women with SLE poses elevated maternal and fetal risks compared to healthy women. • SLE flares and pregnancy complications while receiving ART are equivalent to those in spontaneous conception and ART is relatively safe for SLE patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the correlation of OCT parameters including central subfield macular thickness (CSMT), peripapillary retinal thickness (PRT), and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (PNFLT) with fluorescein angiography (FA) in evaluation of inflammatory activity in Behcet's retinal vasculitis. In this case-series, concurrent FA and OCT were performed. A scoring system was devised for FA. PNFLT in 3.4-mm-diameter circle as well as PRT in doughnut shaped regions between the 1-mm- and 2.2-mm-diameter and between the 2.2-mm- and 3.45-mm-diameter circles was measured. The correlation of FA and OCT parameters was analyzed. A total of 105 sets of FA from 28 eyes (15 patients) were reviewed. Four (26.6%) were female and mean age was 31.6 ± 8.49 years. Each micron increase in CSMT, PRT2.2, PRT3.45, and PNFLT, caused a rise of 0.018 (95% CI 0.008–0.027, P < 0.001, r = 0.413), 0.053 (95% CI 0.035–0.070, P < 0.001, r = 0.443), 0.086 (95% CI 0.065–0.108, P < 0.001, r = 0.707), and 0.185 (95% CI 0.152–to 0.218, P < 0.001, r = 0.850) unit in FA score, respectively. Parameters having significant correlation with angiographic inflammatory activity, were CSMT, PRT2.2, PRT3.45 and RNFLT. Those with the strongest correlation, PRT3.45 and PNFLT, may be considered as quantitative non-invasive alternatives to FA for monitoring Behcet's retinal vasculitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuchs uveitis (FU) is a chronic and often unilateral ocular inflammation and characteristic iris atrophic changes, other than heterochromia, are common in FU and are key to the correct diagnosis in many cases. With the advent of anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT), some investigators attempted to quantitatively study these atrophic changes; mostly by introducing various methods to measure iris thickness in AS-OCT images. We aimed to present an automated method in an observational case series to measure the smoothness index (SI) of the iris surface in AS-OCT images. The ratio of the length of the straight line connecting the most peripheral and central points of the anterior iris border (in nasal and temporal sides) to the actual length of this border on AS-OCT images, was defined as SI. In a uveitis referral center, twenty-two eyes of 11 patients with unilateral Fuchs uveitis (FU) (7 female) and 22 eyes of 11 healthy control subjects underwent AS-OCT imaging. Image J and a newly developed MATLAB algorithm were used for manual and automated SI measurements, respectively. Agreement between manual and automated measurements was evaluated with Bland–Altman analysis and interclass correlation coefficient. The inter-eye difference of SI was compared between the FU group and the control group. Automated mean overall SI was 0.868 ± 0.037 and 0.840 ± 0.039 in FU and healthy fellow eyes, respectively (estimated mean difference = − 0.028, 95% CI [− 0.038, − 0.018], p < 0.001). Bland- Altman plots showed good agreement between two methods in both healthy and FU eyes. The interclass correlation coefficient between the manual and automated measurements in the FU and healthy fellow eyes was 0.958 and 0.964, respectively. The inter-eye difference of overall SI was 0.029 ± 0.015 and 0.012 ± 0.008 in FU group and control group, respectively (p = 0.01). We concluded that the automated algorithm can rapidly and conveniently measure SI with results comparable to the manual method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Storing information from incoming stimuli in working memory (WM) is essential for decision-making. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a key role to support this process. Previous studies have characterized different neuronal populations in the PFC for working memory judgements based on whether an originally presented stimulus matches a subsequently presented one (matching-rule decision-making). However, much remains to be understood about this mechanism at the population level of PFC neurons. Here, we hypothesized differences in processing of feature vs. spatial WM within the PFC during a matching-rule decision-making task. To test this hypothesis, the modulation of neural activity within the PFC during two types of decision-making tasks (spatial WM and feature WM) in comparison to a passive fixation task was determined. We discovered that neural population-level activity within the PFC is different for the match vs. non-match condition exclusively in the case of the feature-specific decision-making task. For this task, the non-match condition exhibited a greater firing rate and lower trial-to-trial variability in spike count compared to the feature-match condition. Furthermore, the feature-match condition exhibited lower variability compared to the spatial-match condition. This was accompanied by a faster behavioral response time for the feature-match compared to the spatial-match WM task. We attribute this lower across-trial spiking variability and behavioral response time to a higher task-relevant attentional level in the feature WM compared to the spatial WM task. The findings support our hypothesis for task-specific differences in the processing of feature vs. spatial WM within the PFC. This also confirms the general conclusion that PFC neurons play an important role during the process of matching-rule governed decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed is an underutilized protein-rich resource considered as a by-product of the kenaf fiber processing industry. Its high protein content (34%) makes it a promising candidate as a source of bioactive protein hydrolysates. In this study, the potential of enzymatically hydrolyzed kenaf seed protein to generate multifunctional bioactive peptides was evaluated. Kenaf seed protein concentrate was hydrolyzed using four different proteolytic enzymes (papain, alcalase, bromelain, and flavourzyme) at their respective optimum pH and temperature. The choice of enzyme affected the bioactivities to a certain degree as KSPH were shown to possess high ACE inhibitory activity and low-to-moderate DPP-IV and antioxidant activity. Papain KSPH showed the highest ACE inhibitory activity with 95% inhibition compared to other enzymatic hydrolysates, and therefore was chosen for further investigation of its antihypertensive activity. Papain KSPH was profiled for its hydrophobicity by RP-HPLC and revealed that the majority of late-eluting fractions exerted the highest ACE inhibitory activity. Spontaneously hypertensive rats showed a decrease of approximately 18–46 mmHg in their systolic blood pressure (BP) from 0 to 24 h after oral administration of papain KSPH at dosages of 100 mg/kg, 300 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg. However, the effect was not dose-dependent. As a novel protein source, future research should aim to demonstrate the safety of kenaf seed protein and its hydrolysates, and validate its bioactivity through human intervention trials. Overall, kenaf seed protein has the potential to generate antihypertensive hydrolysates with multifunctional bioactivities as part of a functional food ingredient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies show that the human energy-related behaviors have a significant impact on the return of Energy Efficiency Programs (EEPs). However, studies that aimed at increasing the energy savings from the EEPs are still limited. In this paper, a Genetic Agent-Based (GAB) framework has been proposed to enhance the return of a typical EEP by simulating social network and energy behavior attributes and finding the best participants among a target community. Several attributes are considered for creating the agent-based model of households and numerically representing their interactions with the EEP or within their social network. The improvement of the EEP using the GAB framework is tested on a social network consisting of 56 households. The simulation results show that by accurately selecting participants using the presented framework, the amount of energy saving could increase up to ten times. This ultimately indicates the considerable impact of the social network on the EEP performance. In other words, to have an efficient EEP in the long term, the social network attributes such as network degree and strength of connections should be also considered in decision-making along with the energy-related attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Irisin is a soluble and exercise-induced myokine and/or adipokine hormone; generated by FNDC5 (a gene precursor) and also, it can ameliorate both motor performance and hippocampal neurogenesis. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of intra-dentate gyrus (DG) microinjection of irisin on both spatial and passive avoidance (PA) learning and memory in male rats. In this study, male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a control group (saline), irisin—receiving group (0.5, 1, and 1.5 μg/rat), and dimethyl sulfoxide-receiving group (DMSO) Morris Water Maze (MWM) and Shuttle Box (SB) tests were used to evaluate spatial and PA learning and memory, respectively. The results of MWM test showed that treatment with irisin (1 and 1.5 μg/rat) in day 3 and 4 of the training (acquisition) period caused a significant reduction in escape latency of rats in experimental group compared to control group. Subsequently, the results of probe-trial experiment in day 5 showed that treatment with irisin (1.5 μg/rat) enhanced formation of short-term memory compared to control group. In the retention trial, the results of SB test revealed that, all rats treated by irisin (0.5, 1, and 1.5 μg/rat) showed an increase in step-through latency (STLr) compared to control group (p < 0.05, p < 0.001, and p < 0.01, respectively). Also, the administration of irisin caused a decrease in the time spent in the dark box by rats. The results of the present study suggested that microinjection of irisin has led to the enhancement of both spatial and passive avoidance learning and memory. Further studies are needed to investigate how exactly the treatment with irisin influences memory and learning at the molecular level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To describe a novel association of enhanced S-cone syndrome (ESCS) with macular retinal neovascularization and severe retinal vasculitis. Methods: Clinical examination, spectral domain optical coherence tomography, fluorescein angiography, fundus autofluorescence, infrared reflectance and electroretinography were used to study a 25-year-old male with a history of night blindness from early childhood and recent accelerated visual loss in right eye. Results: Pigmented lesions were observed along the arcades without peripheral retinal involvement. Intraretinal cystoid spaces, retinal neovascularization of posterior pole and severe peripheral and posterior retinal vasculitis were found on clinical examination and multimodal imaging. Based on characteristic clinical and electroretinographic findings, a diagnosis of ESCS was made. Conclusion: This case highlights novel associations of retinal neovascularization and vasculitis with ESCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current work suggests a mathematical model for the dynamic response of sandwich plates subjected to a blast load using a numerical method. The sandwich structure is made from an auxetic honeycomb core layer integrated by multiphase nanocomposite facesheets. The facesheets are composed of polymer–carbon nanotube (CNT)–fiber where the equivalent material properties of the multiphase nanocomposite layers are obtained using fiber micromechanics and Halpin–Tsai equations in hierarchy. The top and bottom layers are subjected to magnetic field and the material properties of them are assumed temperature and moisture dependent. The Kelvin–Voigt model is employed to consider the viscoelastic properties of the structure. The sandwich structure is rested on a viscoelastic foundation which is modeled by orthotropic visco-Pasternak medium. Based on refined zigzag theory (RZT), energy method and Hamilton's principle, the motion equations are derived. A new numerical method, namely differential cubature method (DCM) in conjunction with Newmark method is utilized for obtaining the dynamic deflection of the structure for different boundary conditions. The effects of various parameters such as blast load, viscoelastic foundation, structural damping, magnetic field, volume fraction of CNTs, temperature and moisture changes, geometrical parameters of honeycomb layer and sandwich plate are considered on the dynamic deflection of the structure. The results show that the magnetic field to the facesheets can be considered as effective parameters to control the dynamic deflection. In addition, hygrothermal condition leads to increase of 24% in the dynamic displacement of system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatty liver disease is one of the most usual metabolic diseases among people around the world. Appropriate strategies for treating this disease are prioritized by each country. The purpose of the new research was to survey the therapeutical property of aqueous extract of Tragopogon graminifolius on the high-fat diet-induced fatty liver disease in Wistar male rats. In this study, 60 rats were used. A total of ten rats were chosen as the negative control, and the rest of them were treated with a high-fat diet for 4 months. Then, the animals were randomly divided into six subgroups, including negative healthy control, untreated negative control, and four groups receiving the aqueous extract of T. graminifolius at 20, 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg concentrations. After 2 months, the rats were sacrificed, and the blood and liver samples of them were collected for biochemical and histopathological parameter analysis. All doses of T. graminifolius could significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decrease the raised levels of ALP, AST, ALT, GGT, cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride, total and conjugated bilirubin, and glucose and increased HDL, total protein, albumin, SOD, and CAT as compared to the untreated group. Also, aqueous extract of T. graminifolius decreased the degree of hepatic steatosis as compared to the untreated group. In conclusion, the obtained results demonstrated the hepatoprotective effect of T. graminifolius aqueous extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leachate is a very hazardous liquid, and it is considered as one of the major concerns regarding landfills. Landfill leachate is the result of water penetration from solid waste and oxidation of waste and parcels. The undeveloped landfills allow the leachate to cross easily through the soil. This can affect the soil engineering properties such as shear strength, soil compressibility and chemical properties (absorption and retention of heavy metals). This research has investigated the influence of the leachate resulted from municipal solid waste in Ardabil with different percentages and densities on the parameters of shear strength and compressibility of the soil around the site. Also, a test, which is called leachate column test, was carried out to study the environmental properties of the soil (the rate of pollutant absorption and pollutants transmission). The results indicate that with increasing leachate percentage, the internal friction angle decreases. Moreover, soil cohesion is significantly reduced and the compressibility results indicate that soil compressibility will also increase. Increasing the concentration of leachate reduces the cohesion and increases the internal friction angle as well as the compressibility, and changes the volumetric pressure of the soil. Also, the results of leachate test, which shows the rate of pollutants absorption and transmission in the sample placed in the chamber, indicate that the concentration of nickel and zing goes up by increasing the volume of the passing leachate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Several studies have investigated the role of gene therapy in the healing process. The aim of this review is to explain the gene delivery systems in wound area. Results: Ninety-two studies were included and comprehensively overviewed. We described the importance of viral vectors such as adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, and retroviruses, and conventional non-viral vectors such as naked DNA injections, liposomes, gene gun, electroporation, and nanoparticles in achieving high-level expression of genes. Application of viral transfection, liposomal vectors, and electroporation were the main gene delivery systems. Genes encoding for growth factors or cytokines have been shown to result in a better wound closure in comparison to application of the synthetic growth factors. In addition, a combination of stem cell and gene therapy has been found an effective approach in regeneration of cutaneous wounds. Conclusions: This article gives an overview of the methods and investigations applied on gene therapy in wound healing. However, clinical investigations need to be undertaken to gain a better understanding of gene delivery technologies and their roles in stimulating wound repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: To evaluate B1 and RE genes as targets to detect Toxoplasma gondii, nested PCR is used in blood samples of patients with ocular toxoplasmosis. Materials and Methods: Following the measurement of IgG and IgM antibodies using indirect ELISA, IgG avidity and assessment of blood samples by nested PCR, the agreement between various test results was studied. Results: From 117 patients, 77 (65.81%) were found to be positive for IgG anti-Toxoplasma antibody, 12 cases were positive for both IgG and IgM, and 1 patient was positive for IgM only. The detection limit for the RE-nested PCR assay was one T. gondii tachyzoite, whereas the limit for B1-nested PCR was five tachyzoites. Nested PCR results showed higher agreement with IgM test results than IgG test results. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that nested PCR of peripheral blood is a useful and non-invasive method for detection of T. gondii in patients with OT, especially in case of recently acquired infections, and RE targeted assay is more sensitive than B1 targeted assay for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The performance and the fundamental weaknesses of the asphalt mix have made the researchers think about modifying the technical properties of the asphalt mix by using the appropriate additives. The fiber spreads through the asphalt mix and prevents the development of the micro-cracks by producing a more coherent mix and increasing its durability. The present study, for the first time, has used two additives, lignin and glass fiber (6 and 12 mm in length), to improve the performance of asphalt mix. Mixing was done in a way that lignin and glass fiber were added to the bitumen and aggregates, respectively. According to the results, the length of the used glass fiber has a significant effect on the Marshall Resistance and asphalt mix performance so that glass fiber in 6 mm length has reduced the Marshall strength and glass fiber in 12 mm length has increased the Marshall strength. Moreover, the results of resilient modulus indicate that having a stable percentage of fiber and an increasing lignin percentage, it behaves differently at two temperatures of 15 and 25 ∘ C, confirming once again the fact that the length of fiber plays a decisive role on the result of resilient modulus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of nanomaterials in the chemical, biomedical, and biotechnological sciences is growing, increasing the possible release of these materials into the environment and contact with living organisms. Because of their large surface area, biomolecules can be adsorbed on the surface of nanomaterials. Proteins bind to the surface of nanoparticles (NPs), forming a biological layer around the NP, the "protein corona," which gives new characteristics to the NPs in biological milieu and may affect biomedical applications or induce nanotoxicological effects. Therefore, the development of analytical tools for identification of NP protein corona behavior is essential. Techniques such as spectroscopy, chromatography, calorimetry, and electrophoresis have been used to investigate the interaction of NPs with proteins. This review describes recent developments in the application of electrophoresis techniques for profiling of NP-protein interactions. Further, we provide an overview of directions and challenges in the application of electrophoresis methods for the investigation of NP-protein structures.ᅟ [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research illustrates the utilization of a new model based on artificial neural networks (ANNs) in prediction of compressibility factor (z-factor) of natural gases using experimental data based on Standing and Katz z-factor diagram. Although equations of state and empirical correlations have been applied for predicting compressibility factor, the demands for the modern, more reliable and easy-to-use models encouraged the researchers to recommend modern facilities such as intelligent systems. This investigation describes a new technique for computing z-factor of natural gases. The base of the approach is ANN in which a 2:5:5:1 structure is used as an optimum network to predict the z-factor. The statistical results show that the developed ANN is an excellent tool for estimating z-factor values; therefore, it can be confidently used for natural gases with various compositions at a specific temperature and pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The neurotransmitter γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is involved in the process of memory. It has been reported that the inhibition of GABAB receptors has beneficial effects on cognition. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of CGP35348 (a GABAB receptor antagonist) on dentate gyrus GABAB receptor inhibition and its effects on learning and memory impairments that had been induced in adult male rats by microinjection of β-amyloid (Aβ). Seventy Wistar male rats were randomly divided into seven groups: control, sham (receiving the Aβ vehicle only), Aβ, Aβ + CGP35348 (1, 10, and 100 μg/μL), and CGP35348 alone (10 μg/μL). Memory impairment was induced by unilateral interventricular microinjection of Aβ (6 μg/6 μL). Rats were cannulated bilaterally in the dentate gyrus, and then, they were treated for 20 consecutive days. Learning and memory were assessed using the novel object recognition and passive avoidance learning tests. The discrimination index and the step-through latency were significantly increased in the Aβ + CGP35348 group in comparison to the Aβ only group (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Data showed that the discrimination index was decreased in the Aβ + CGP35348 group in comparison with the control group (P < 0.05) and sham group (P < 0.01). Moreover, the step-through latency was significantly decreased in the Aβ + CGP35348 group in comparison to the control and sham groups (P < 0.01). Data from this study indicated that intra-hippocampal microinjection of the GABAB receptor antagonist counteracts the learning, memory, and cognitive impairments induced by Aβ. It can be concluded that the GABAB receptor antagonist is a possible therapeutic agent against the progression of acute Aβ toxicity-induced memory impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate optic nerve head involvement in patients with Fuchs uveitis syndrome (FUS).Methods: Optic nerve head of 43 FUS eyes without clinical optic disc edema and 37 unaffected fellow eyes were evaluated using optical coherence tomography (OCT) of peripapillary retina and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) and fundus fluorescein angiography.Results: Seventy-one percent of FUS eyes showed optic nerve head hyperfluorescence. The mean average RNFL thickness in FUS eyes was 115.0 ± 11.9 μm, which was thicker than unaffected eyes (103.0 ± 10.7 μm, p < 0.001). Mean average of peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes was also greater than unaffected eyes (p < 0.001). In addition, RNFL and peripapillary retinal thicknesses in FUS eyes without optic nerve hyperfluorescence were thicker than unaffected eyes (all p = < 0.001).Conclusions: OCT demonstrates peripapillary total retinal and nerve fiber layer thickening in FUS eyes without clinical swelling of optic disc that is not always associated with optic nerve head leakage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuO nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) serve several important functions in human life, particularly in the fields of medicine, engineering, and technology. These nanoparticles have been utilized as catalysts, semiconductors, sensors, gaseous and solid ceramic pigments, and magnet rotatable devices. Further use for CuO-NPs has been employed in the pharmaceutical industry especially in the production of anti-microbial fabric treatments or prevention of infections caused by Escherichia coli and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Two key potential routes of exposure to CuO-NPs exist through inhalation and skin exposure. Toxicity of these nanoparticles has been reported in various studies; however, no study as of yet has investigated the complete cellular mechanisms involved in CuO-NPs toxicity on human cells. The aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of CuO-NPs on human blood lymphocytes. Blood lymphocytes were obtained from healthy male subjects through the use of Ficoll polysaccharide subsequently by gradient centrifugation. The following parameters were assayed in blood lymphocytes after a 6-h incubation with different concentrations of CuO-NPs: cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, lipid peroxidation, cellular glutathione levels, and mitochondrial and lysosomal damage. Our results demonstrate that CuO-NPs, in particular, decreased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner and the IC50 determined was 382 μM. CuO-NP cytotoxicity was associated with significant increase at intracellular ROS level and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and lysosomal membrane leakiness. Hence, CuO-NPs are shown to effectively induce oxidative stress in addition to inflict damage on mitochondria and lysosomes in human blood lymphocytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study demonstrates how incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG-200) into poly (ether-block-amide) (Pebax-2533) can improve the prepared membrane performance in separating CO2from CH4. Additionally, the effect of various PEG-200 loadings on CH4and CO2permeability and CO2/CH4selectivity values was investigated. The prepared membranes were examined using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Permeation experiments of the gasses through the neat Pebax and the blended (Pebax-2533/PEG-200) membranes were carried out at a temperature of 25 ∘C and pressure range of 2 to 10 bar. The gas permeation experiments indicated that the performance of blended membranes is better than that of the neat membrane. As an example, CO2permeability and ideal CO2/CH4selectivity values for the blended membrane with 40 wt.% of PEG-200 loading are 351.65 and 9.17 Barrer, while those values for the neat membrane are 187.54 and 7.28 Barrer, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the relation between the chronic consumption of garlic powder in combination with high-fat diet (HFD) on long term potentiation (LTP) in the dentate gyrus (DG) of rat hippocampus. Male rats were divided to 4 groups, control with the standard diet, control with a standard diet plus garlic, high-fat diet (HFD) group and high-fat diet with garlic. Following 6 months of controlled dietary in each experimental group, the rats were anesthetized with i.p. injection of ketamine and xylazin (100 and 2.5 mg/kg, respectively), and placed into a stereotaxic apparatus for surgery, electrode implantation and field potential recording. The population spike (PS) amplitude and slope of excitatory post synaptic potentials (EPSP) were measured in the DG area of adult rats in response to stimulation applied to the perforant path (PP) (by 400 Hz tetanization). The results showed that garlic increased EPSP slope and PS amplitude respect to HFD group. It was suggested that the garlic powder administration could attenuate the deteriorating effect of HFD on in vivo hippocampal LTP in the granular cells of the DG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decade, graphene photodetectors have been introduced and investigated in many works. In any photodetector, the separation of the photo-excited electrons and holes is one of the most basic mechanisms. However, a few distinct methods have already been introduced for the separation and all of them are based on the usage of a longitudinal electric field. In this paper, a new method is proposed. Our method is based on applying a vertical electric field which induces an asymmetric potential barrier in front of one or both of the photo-excited carriers. First, a simple one-dimensional toy model consisting of a one-dimensional atomic chain is used to focus on the concept. Many aspects, including the effects of the potential barrier location, its height, and its width, are investigated by this model. Then, in order to extend to real applications, a new structure is introduced in this paper; it is based on graphene nanoribbons and an asymmetric metal gate. Our results show that this structure results in appropriate carrier separation. The nonequilibrium Green function method with a tight-binding model is employed for the simulation of the proposed devices, and the results are shown in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, ultrasound irradiation as a simple method was used to produce boron nanostructures. Reaction conditions such as boron concentration and sonication time show important roles in the size, morphology and growth process of the final products. The boron nanostructures (nanoparticles and nanorods) were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, small-angle X-ray scattering and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy techniques. Primary evaluation of results showed that nanoparticles and nanorods of boron successfully have been prepared with 25–40 and 50–100 nm average particle size, respectively. These nanostructures (nanoparticles and nanorods) were studied as an additive for promoting the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) particles. Thermochemical decomposition behaviors of treated samples were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry techniques. Also, the kinetic parameters of thermal decomposition processes of pure and treated samples were obtained by nonisothermal methods proposed by Kissinger and Ozawa. However, boron nanoparticles with the smallest average particle size (25–40 nm) have the most significant catalytic effect including the decrease in decomposition temperature of AP + B nanocomposite by 100 °C, increase in the heat of decomposition from 580 to 1354 J g−1 and decrease in activation energy from 207 to 110 kJ mol−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that the tendency toward the medicinal plants is increasing in recent years. They have low side-effects and high varieties of efficient components. This study was designed to investigate the analgesic effect of hydro alcoholic leaf extract of Rhus coriaria (HRCLE) in a rat model. For this purpose, 42 adult male rats were divided into 7 groups: control, HRCLE (80, 100 and 300 mg/kg, i.p.), morphine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), aspirin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), and HRCLE 300 mg/kg plus naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The analgesic effects of HRCLE were assessed with writhing, tail flick and formalin tests. The data were compared with control by one-way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc test. All dose levels of HRCLE inhibited the number of contractions induced by acetic acid in the writhing test signfiicantly. None of the dose levels of HRCE have been showed antinociceptive activity in the formalin test except the dose of 100 mg/kg (at chronic phase) and the dose of 300 mg/kg (at chronic- acute phase). In the tail flick model, the highest effect was at the dose of 300 mg/kg of HRCLE (P < 0.01). Utilization of naloxone plus extract inhibited the antinociceptive effect of HRCLE. In this study, our findings suggest that analgesic effect for the HRCLE may be mediated via both peripheral and central mechanisms. The presence of flavonoids might be responsible for the antinociceptive activity of this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]