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The granary weevil, Sitophilus granarius (L.), is one of the most important internal feeders of stored grain. Nanotechnology has become one of the most promising new approaches for pest control in recent years. In our screening program, laboratory trials were conducted to determine the effectiveness of silica nanoparticles (SNPs) and zinc nanoparticles (ZNPs) against the larval stage and adults of S. granarius on stored wheat. Nanoparticles of silica and zinc were synthesized through a solvothermal method. They were then used to prepare insecticidal solutions of different concentrations and tested on S. granarius. Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) were found to be highly effective against S. granarius causing 100% mortality after 2 weeks. ZNPs were moderately effective against this pest.

Background Carbon dioxide is a versatile, non-toxic, and renewable C1 building block source to produce valuable chemicals such as cyclic carbonates. The purpose of this research is development of efficient, metal-free and affordable catalysts for cycloaddition reaction of CO2 with epoxides at mild conditions. Methods In the present work, a group of novel bifunctional organocatalysts consisting of different hydrogen-bond donors (HBDs) and halogen ion is simply synthesized. Under the optimized conditions, the reaction is kinetically and thermodynamically studied. Additionally, the catalytic active species are determined, and a mechanism is proposed with the help of electrospray‐ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS). Significant findings The most active catalytic system is obtained by chemically interaction of 3-bromopropionic acid (BPA) with DMF at 80 °C (BPA-DMF). An excellent product yield of 98% and a high TOF value are obtained with 0.99 mol% of BPA-DMF, which is attributed to the synergistic effects of carboxyl functional groups and halide ions. The activation energy was found to be 50.75 kJ/mol. The positive value of Gibbs free activation energy (ΔG‡) and negative value of activation entropy (ΔS‡) confirm a non-spontaneous, endergonic and kinetically controlled reaction.

The hydro-assisted tube pressing (HATP) process is a new severe plastic deformation method that is proposed in this paper to improve the mechanical properties of long tubes. The pressured fluid between the tube and die eliminates the friction force between the tube and die and, thereby, decreases the required forming force. This facilitates the production of high-strength relatively long tubes. In the current study, this process was applied to a commercial pure copper tube during six passes at room temperature. Then, the hardness, tensile and electrical properties, and also microstructure of the samples were investigated. With increasing the number of passes, the grain size of the copper tube decreased. After two passes of the HATP process, the values of yield strength and ultimate tensile strength increased from 150 and 223 MPa to 347 and 366 MPa, respectively, and the total elongation decreased from 32 to 10%. After four passes, the tube hardness significantly increased from 81 to 132 HV, and a homogeneous distribution of hardness was obtained along with the tube thickness. The electrical conductivity of the copper tube decreased by 3% after two passes. Also, the effective plastic strain and the required processing force were investigated using the Abaqus commercial finite element software. It is concluded that the required force and the strain distribution are independent of the tube length. The hydro-assisted tube pressing method potentially can be used in the industrial production of long tubes with high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.

Background Oils in traditional medicine are important products and used routinely for therapeutic purposes. Rose oil (Rosa damascene Mill), a product of Persian medicine, is advised for the treatment of Infectious diseases related to the female genitourinary tract. In the present study, R. damascena petal oil, aqueous, and hydroalcoholic extracts were evaluated for their in vitro antibacterial and anti-Trichomonas vaginalis effects. Methods Anti-trichomonas activity evaluation of extracts and oil were assayed by the Homocytometery method. Their antibacterial effects against Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and clinically isolated Group B Streptococcus were assayed by broth microdilution in 96-well plates. Results The MIC of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extracts ranged from 25-50 and 25-100 mg/ml, respectively. Rose oil at all administered doses failed to show any antibacterial activity. Conclusion All extracts and oil concentrations showed some degree of growth inhibition activity on T. vaginalis; however, hydroalcoholic extract was more efficient.

This paper critically reviewed the current knowledge and challenges of rice husk biochar (RHB) production and its effects on soil properties, plant growth, immobilization of heavy metals, reduction of nutrient leaching and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions. The characteristics of RHBs produced at various pyrolysis temperatures were discussed and compared to biochars derived from other agro- industrial wastes. RHBs produced at higher pyrolysis temperatures show lower hydrogen/carbon ratio, which suggests the presence of higher aromatic carbon compounds. The increase of pyrolysis temperature also results in production of RHBs with higher ash content, lower yield and higher surface area. RHB usually has higher silicon and ash contents and lower carbon content compared to biochars derived from other feedstocks at the same pyrolysis conditions. Although it depends on soil type, RHB application can improve soil organic carbon content, cation exchange capacity, available K concentration, bulk density and microbial activity. The effect of RHB on soil aggregation mainly depends on soil texture. The growth of different crops is also enhanced by application of RHB. RHB addition to soil can immobilize heavy metals and herbicides and reduce their bioavailability. RHB application shows a significant capacity in reduction of nitrate leaching, although its magnitude depends on the biochar application rate and soil biogeochemical characteristics. Use of RHB, especially in paddy fields, shows a promising mitigation effect on greenhouse gas (CH4, CO2 and N2O) emissions. Although RHB characteristics are also related to other factors such as pyrolysis heating rate and residence time, its performance for specific applications (e.g. carbon sequestration, pH amendment) can be manipulated by adjusting the pyrolysis temperature. More research is needed on long-term field applications of RHB to fully understand the advantages and disadvantages of RHB as a soil amendment.

Endothelial Cells (ECs) form cohesive cellular lining of the vasculature and play essential roles in both developmental processes and pathological conditions. Collective migration and proliferation of endothelial cells (ECs) are key processes underlying endothelialization of vessels as well as vascular graft, but the complex interplay of mechanical and biochemical signals regulating these processes are still not fully elucidated. While surface topography and biochemical modifications have been used to enhance endothelialization in vitro, thus far such single-modality modifications have met with limited success. As combination therapy that utilizes multiple modalities has shown improvement in addressing various intractable and complex biomedical conditions, here, we explore a combined strategy that utilizes topographical features in conjunction with pharmacological perturbations. We characterized EC behaviors in response to micrometer-scale grating topography in concert with pharmacological perturbations of endothelial adherens junctions (EAJ) regulators. We found that the protein tyrosine phosphatase, PTP1B, serves as a potent regulator of EAJ stability, with PTP1B inhibition synergizing with grating topographies to modulate EAJ rearrangement, thereby augmenting global EC monolayer sheet orientation, proliferation, connectivity, and collective cell migration. Our data delineates the crosstalk between cell-ECM topography sensing and cell-cell junction integrity maintenance and suggests that the combined use of grating topography and PTP1B inhibitor could be a promising strategy for promoting collective EC migration and proliferation.

Severe plastic deformation processes (SPDs) have been developed over the past decades to produce bulky parts with proper mechanical and microstructural properties. Equal-channel angular pressing (ECAP) is a method in which a metal is subjected to severe plastic straining through simple shear. The combined extrusion-equal channel angular pressing (C-Ex-ECAP) is proposed in this paper as a new method of SPD. This process is a combination of extrusion and ECAP processes. The new process contains two shear zones which can lead to UFG structure in fewer passes compared with ECAP. In the proposed method, there is the capability of fabricating longer specimens because of the presence of the extrusion process. This investigation has been performed up to six passes, and the microstructural, mechanical, and electrical properties have been studied in the deformed workpieces. The samples produced in six passes of this process showed a 480% increase in yield strength compared to the annealed sample, and a decrease in grain size from 18 μm to 820 nm, as well as an increase in hardness from 41.8 to 125 HV. The electrical conductivity study also showed that the six-pass specimens had a 5% reduction in electrical conductivity compared to the annealed specimens.

By release of nanoparticles with toxic potentials into environment, there is an urgent need for development of keen procedures for their removal. In this research, unmodified iron oxide nanoparticles were applied for the separation of the Ag/AgCl nanoparticles, Ag nanoparticles, Ag–Cu nanoparticles and Cu nanoparticles from the aqueous environment. The samples were subjected to different characterization and spectroscopic analyses before and after being exposed to magnetic separation. Scanning electron microscopy/energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy analysis showed the attachment of the biogenic nanoparticles onto the magnetic nanoparticles which were observed by the obvious shift in the color and the turbidity between the sample and its control. The Ag and Cu contents of the separated nanoparticles were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, presenting the highest recovery efficiency for Ag–Cu nanoparticles (96%). However, the other rest of the nanoparticles were trapped by a removal efficiency of more than 80%. When compared to the previous studies, the efficiency of this method was among the highest ones. The ability of this type of the magnetic nanoparticles for the adsorption of the biogenic nanoparticles enunciates them as a fast, green, convenient and keen tool for trapping and the removal of the biogenic nanoparticles from an aqueous media.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of p-coumaric acid against adriamycin-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Methods: The rats were divided into 4 groups. The control group received solvent; the p-coumaric acid group was treated with 100 mg/kg of p-coumaric acid orally for five consecutive days; the adriamycin group was administered with a single dose of adriamycin (15 mg/kg, i.p.), and the p-coumaric acid + adriamycin group was given p-coumaric acid five days before adriamycin administration. Twenty-four hours after the last administration, blood samples were collected for biochemical analysis, and liver tissues were removed for histopathological and immunohistochemistrical studies. Moreover, the levels of tissue lipid peroxidation and enzyme activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase in liver tissue were measured. Results: Treatment with p-coumaric acid protected the liver from the toxicity of adriamycin by attenuating the increase in alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, total bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lessening the decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and albumin. p-Coumaric acid also raised the levels of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase, as well as decreased lipid peroxidation in liver tissue and hepatic IL- 1β expression. Additionally, histopathological study confirmed the protective effect of p-coumaric acid against liver damage. Conclusions: p-Coumaric acid can alleviate adriamycin-induced hepatotoxicity.

The effect of poly(lactic‑co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA) on structure, degradation, drug release and mechanical properties of fibrin/pomegranate(F/POM)-based drug‑eluting scaffolds have been studied comprehensively. METHODS AND MATERIAL Nanoparticle-fibrin is prepared from thrombin and fibrinogen dissolved in NaOH and HCl. Then pomegranate powder is added to it. Nanoparticles/pom are provided by freeze drying and freeze milling. The 3-D scaffold of poly(lactide-co‑glycolic acid) (PLGA) was prepared via salt‑leaching solvent/casting leaching method and impregnated with nanofibrin-pom. Structural and chemical component of the scaffolds were evaluated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy and furrier transmission infrared spectroscopy, respectively. Moreover, the scaffolds were characterized from the degradation rate and drug releasing rate points of view of human Adipose Derive Stem Cells (hADSCs). Cytotoxicity effects of the scaffold were evaluated on hADSCs via MTT assay. RESULTS The results showed that the size of nanoparticles was about 100 nm. The scaffold had a slow degradation rate and it caused a sustained release pattern of pom. MTT assay indicated that nanoparticles had no cytotoxicity and fibrin-pom nanoparticles increased compressive strength of PLGA/scaffolds dramatically and also caused a proper compressive modulus. CONCLUSIONS By adding F/POM nanoparticle to PLGA and fabricating a three‑dimensional nanocomposite scaffold (PLGA/F/POM nanoparticle), special physical and mechanical properties also suitable for drug release and cell behavior were achieved, which makes it suitable for cartilage tissue engineering applications (Tab. 1, Fig. 7, Ref. 53) Keywords: hybrid composites, drug delivery, carrier, nanoparticles, scaffold.

The permeation of polar molecules (water and ammonia), non-polar dichloromethane and a mixture of ammonia and dichloromethane through graphene oxide (GO)/polymer matrix composite membranes was investigated. Results indicated that a hydrophilic poly(2-acrylamido -2 -methyl propane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) based membrane had the highest permeability for water and ammonia due to the high hydrophilicity of the polymer matrix while a hydrophobic polyurethane (PU)-based membrane had the best permeation performance for dichloromethane and the worst performance for water and ammonia. Adding the GO to PU or PAMPS polymers increases the negative charge due to the negatively charged nature of GO caused by its oxygen-containing functional groups, which increases the amounts of absorbed water and ammonia due to the positive charge of the hydrogen atoms in these two molecules.

The transition of neuronal burst firing from the interictal to ictal state contributes to seizure initiation in human temporal lobe epilepsy. The low-Mg2+ model of seizure is characterized by initial spontaneous interictal bursting events, which later developed into ictaform discharges. Both experimental and clinical studies point to a complex link between spreading depolarization (SD) and epileptiform field potentials (EFP), including SD-induced epileptic seizures. To investigate the mechanism of SD and EFP interactions, the effect of SD on the transition of interictal to ictal state in low-Mg2+ model of seizure was studied in the rat hippocampus in vitro. After the appearance of interictal activities, SD was elicited by local application of KCl. SD significantly increased the amplitude and duration of action potentials and after-hyperpolarization, and hyperpolarized the membrane potential. Furthermore, SD significantly increased the duration of interictal activities and the threshold potentials of interictal activities. In addition, SD significantly accelerated the transition from interictal to ictal state compared to the control tissues. Ictal activities after induction of SD exhibited a significantly longer duration. This study revealed that SD accelerates interictal-to-ictal transitions and facilitates development of ictaform discharges, possibly via the enhancement of neural synchronization, and points to the potential role of SD in seizure initiation.

A novel additive-assisted reaction for the synthesis of dihydropyridines using copper salts as catalyst has been described. The (imino)pyridine skeletons were obtained in acceptable yields through a domino reaction involving terminal alkynes, carbodiimides, and acetylenic esters. Control experiments were conducted to explore the reaction path and to prove the mechanism proposed for the reaction.

In this study, a π-conjugated organic compound based on distyrylbenzenes contains an amino substituent (as an electron-donor group) and a sulfone moiety (as an electron-withdrawing group) was investigated in the viewpoint of solvatochromism effects and the possibility of pH-sensitivity. This fluorescence dye (2-(ethyl(4-((E)-4-((E)-4-(methylsulfonyl)styryl)styryl)phenyl)amino)ethan-1-ol, ASDSB) showed Uv-Vis absorption in the range of 377-407 nm with high molar extinction coefficients (e = 0.05 × 105-1.05 × 105 M−1.cm−1) in tested solvents with different polarities. This fluorescent compound emits in the region of visible spectrum (513-631 nm) with Stokes shifts of 5077.02-8912.66 cm−1. The combination of ASDSB with poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA) polymers exhibits different photophysical properties which related to the polarity of polymers. By change of pH of dissolved ASDSB in methanol, a hypsochromic shift was observed. This phenomena is correspond to the change of chromophore upon protonation of amino group and its conversion to ammonium salt. In the case of solid samples, the bathochromic shifts (426-535 nm) were observed at the maximum emission wavelength for PMMA polymer. While no significant change in the maximum emission wavelength of ASDSB in PVA polymer were detected.

Using a novel curcumin-loaded niosome nanoparticle (CM-NP), the present study was designed to evaluate the effect of curcumin on human glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs). CM-NP has a diameter of ~ 60 nm and a zeta potential of ~ − 35 mV with a constant physicochemical stability. The cytotoxic effects of free curcumin (CM) and CM-NP were investigated on GSCs obtained during the removal of a brain tumor. Both CM and CM-NP caused a dose-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and viability of GSCs. The IC50 values of CM and CM-NP on GSCs were 50 and 137 μg/ml after 24 h, respectively. CM-NP exerted significantly higher effects on GSC viability, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and the expression of Bax, a pro-apoptotic marker, compared with CM. In addition, the migration of GSCs was significantly impaired following the administration of CM-NP compared with CM. Furthermore, CM-NP significantly increased the values of reactive oxygen species and decreased the mRNA expressions of NF-κB and IL-6 of GSCs compared with CM. Our data also revealed that CM-NP could significantly reduce the invasiveness of GSCs compared with CM, possibly via MCP-1-mediated pathways. In addition, CM-NP exhibited a significantly greater inhibitory effect on colony formation of GSCs compared with CM. These data indicate that CM-NP exhibited stronger anti-tumor effects on GSCs than CM. Although further in vivo investigations are warranted, our results suggest that CM-NP could be an ideal carrier to deliver curcumin for potential therapeutic approaches into glioblastoma.

Background and aims: Renal ischemia-reperfusion occurs in some clinical conditions such as kidney surgery that can leads to acute renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of p-coumaric acid (CA) on ischemia reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods: Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups; control, CA (100 mg/kg), I/R, propylene glycol (10%) + I/R and CA + I/R, (n = 6 each). CA and propylene glycol were administered orally for 2 weeks. Then, the rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia for 45 min and followed by reperfusion for 24 h. All rats were killed and kidney function tests, tissue malondialdehyde and activity of antioxidant enzymes were determined. Histopathological evaluations were also performed. In addition, renal expression of the tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunohistochemistry. Results: CA significantly improved the Cr and BUN levels in CA + I/R group compared to I/R group (p

Electrospinning polyurethane has been utilized as skin wound dressing for protecting skin wounds from infection and thus facilitating their healings, but also limited by its imperfect biocompatibility, mechanical and antibacterial properties. This paper presents our study on the addition of graphene oxide to electrospinning polyurethane for improved properties, as well as its in vitro characterization. Polyurethane/graphene oxide wound dressing was electrospun with varying amount of graphene oxide (from 0.0% to 2.0%); and in vitro tests was carried out to characterize the wound dressing properties and performance from the structural, mechanical, and biological perspectives. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy were used to confirm the interaction between graphene oxide particles and polyurethane fibers, while the scanning electron microscopy images further illustrated that the wound dressing was of a porous structure with fibre diameters depending on the amount of graphene oxide added; specifically, 20 to 180 nm were for composite polyurethane/graphene oxide fibers and 600 to 900 nm for pure polyurethane. Our results also revealed that the hydrophilicity and swelling properties of the wound dressing could be regulated by the amount of graphene oxide added to the polyurethane/graphene oxide composites. Mechanical, antibacterial, and cytotoxicity properties of the composite polyurethane/graphene oxide wound dressing were examined with the results illustrating that the addition of graphene oxide could improve the properties of the electrospun wound dressing. Combined together, our study illustrates that electrospinning polyurethane/graphene oxide composite is promising as skin wound dressing.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, microtubules (MTs) play a pivotal role through their highly dynamic structure and instability. They mediate axonal transport that is crucial to synaptic viability. MT assembly, dynamic instability and stabilization are modulated by tau proteins, whose detachment initiates MT disintegration. Albeit extensive research, the role of GTPase activity in molecular mechanism of stability remains controversial. We hypothesized that GTPase activity is altered in AD leading to microtubule dynamic dysfunction and ultimately to neuronal death. In this paper, fresh tubulin was purified by chromatography from normal young adult, normal aged, and Alzheimer's brain tissues. Polymerization pattern, assembly kinetics and dynamics, critical concentration, GTPase activity, interaction with tau, intermolecular geometry, and conformational changes were explored via Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) and various spectroscopy methods. Results showed slower MT assembly process in samples from the brains of people with AD compared with normal young and aged brains. This observation was characterized by prolonged lag phase and increased critical and inactive concentration of tubulin. In addition, the GTPase activity in samples from AD brains was significantly higher than in both normal young and normal aged samples, concurrent with profound conformational changes and contracted intermolecular MT-tau distances as revealed by FRET. These alterations were partially restored in the presence of a microtubule stabilizer, paclitaxel. We proposed that alterations of both tubulin function and GTPase activity may be involved in the molecular neuropathogenesis of AD, thus providing new avenues for therapeutic approaches.

This study investigated the effect of two lipid sources on reproduction performance and growth in pearl gourami. For this purpose, 180 fish (3.32 ± 0.25 g) were fed with three isoenergetic (19.80) and isonitrogenous diets (480 g/kg protein) including FO (80 g/kg fish oil), FS (40 g/kg fish oil and 40 g/kg soybean oil) and SO (80 g/kg soybean oil) for 10 weeks before maturation. At the end of the trial, there was no significant difference in weight gain, feed conversation ratio and body composition between fish fed FO and FS diets. Individuals fed dietary FO had significantly higher levels of n‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in the muscle (130.5 g/kg lipid) and ovary (140.4 g/kg lipid) as compared with those fed SO diet (64.5, 103.6 g/kg, respectively) (p

Currently, the stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) is a critical challenge for the commercialization of such devices. A challenge in the structure of these devices is the ordinarily used hole transporting layer (HTL) which suffers from long-term instability. Considering the promised features of graphene derivatives (including their chemical resistance), we applied the graphene oxide (GO) and its reduced form (rGO) as the HTL. Also, the perovskite layer was deposited through two different routes named single-step and double-step methods. rGO was synthesized using GO through a facile procedure and deposited on the base support of the perovskite layer. Then the effect of the perovskite layer coating method and the application of GO or rGO as HTL on the stability and efficiency of the solar cell were investigated. Endurance assessments were done by running the cell for a long time at more than 1 month (720 h) in a dark environment. We achieved a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 3.28% for perovskite solar cells which were made by a single-step perovskite deposition method with rGO as HTL. After 1 month running in an ambient atmosphere without any encapsulation, 50% of PCE was retained. The results prove that the as-prepared rGO can be an effective replacement for the common hole transporting materials for PSCs and these structures show higher performance stability compared to commonly used PEDOT: PSS as HTL.

Background and Aims P-Coumaric acid (PCA) is one the compound that has free radical scavenging effects. This study investigates the protective effect of PCA on tissue damage in DOX-induced nephrotoxicity. Methods Thirty two Wistar rats were divided into control, PCA, DOX (15 mg/kg, i.p.) and DOX plus PCA (100 mg/kg, orally) groups. DOX-induced nephrotoxicity was indicated by marked increase in blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Cr) compared to controls. DOX group also showed elevations in lipid peroxidation and reductions in enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT). Expression of renal inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and apoptosis were also elevated in the DOX group. Results PCA significantly reversed, nephrotoxicity induced by DOX via lowering BUN, serum Cr and improving histopathological scores as compared to the DOX group. PCA also decreased lipid peroxidation, increased activities of GPx, SOD and CAT, to levels relatively comparable to control. Significant reductions in expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and apoptosis were also observed following Co-administration of PCA relative to the DOX group. Conclusions Results describe a protective effect of PCA against DOX-induced nephrotoxicity. This effect is likely facilitated through inhibition of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Diazinon (DZN) is an organophosphate pesticide that is commonly used in agriculture worldwide, including in Iran, and unfortunately, it leads to a variety of negative effects on the environment, animals, and humans. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is an antioxidant agent that acts via scavenging of oxygen-free radicals. Collagen IV is a component of the main base membrane structure and DZN may also affect the expression of this key protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate antioxidant properties of ALA on the expression of collagen IV, renal function, and oxidative stress induced by DZN in renal tissue. In this experimental study, 30 adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6) including: the control group, DZN (40 mg/kg) group, ALA (100 mg/kg) group, ALA (100 mg/kg) + DZN (40 mg/kg) group, and sham group. On day 0 and after 6 weeks, the urine and blood samples were collected to measure glomerular filtration rate (GFR). After 6 weeks, the rats were anesthetized and the left kidney was used for immunohistochemistry study and the right kidney was used to evaluate the oxidative stress parameters. The results have shown that ALA significantly improved the biochemical parameters including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione reductase, and GFR. In addition, ALA significantly prevented the expression of collagen IV that was changed by DZN administration in rats. We concluded that when exposed to DZN, depletion of antioxidant enzymes is accompanied by the induction of oxidative stress that might be beneficial in monitoring DZN toxicity and alpha-lipoic acid, as an antioxidant can overcome the toxicity induced by DZN in the kidney.

ObjectiveBisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that widely used in plastics production. It can influence on the brain tissue. Curcumin has a strong protective activity against brain disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of nanomicelle curcumin (NmCur) on BPA-induced learning and memory disorders in rats.Material and methodsIn this study, after determining the dose of BPA, rats were randomly divided into 8 groups (8 rats in each group); sesame oil, dextrose 5%, sesame oil + dextrose 5%, NmCur (50 mg/kg), BPA (50 mg/kg), and 50 mg/kg BPA plus 10, 25, or 50 mg/kg NmCur, respectively. All materials administered via gavage. Behavioral tests were estimated by shuttle-box, open-field, and Morris water maze devices. Then, stress oxidative, pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress-scavenging enzymes levels, as well as expression of MAPK proteins, glutamate receptors, and memory-related proteins were determined in the hippocampus and cortex tissues. ResultsBPA significantly increased expression of ROS, MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, SOD, GST, p-P38, and p-JNK; however, considerably decreased GSH, GPx, GR, CAT, p-AKT, p-ERK1/2 levels. In addition, it down regulated expression of p-NR1, p-NR2A, p-NR2B, p-GluA1, BDNF, and p-CREB in rat cortex and hippocampus tissues. BPA significantly also changed behavioral activity. Conversely, BPA (50 mg/kg) plus NmCur (25 and 50 mg/kg) significantly reversed all BPA-induced adverse effects. ConclusionThe results of this study support that nanomicelle curcumin exhibited preventive effects against neurotoxicity and learning and memory impairment induced by subacute exposure to bisphenol A.

Some novel 5,8-diaryl-5,7,8,9-tetrahydropyrimido[5,4-e]tetrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidin-6(4H)-one derivatives are prepared via one-pot reaction of aromatic aldehydes, 2-aminotetrazole and cyanoacetamide u...

Creating scaffolds for skin tissue engineering remain challenging in terms of their mechanical and biological properties. In this paper, we present a study on the nanocomposite polyurethane (PU)/polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds with graphene oxide (GO), which were fabricated by using electrospinning method, for potential skin tissue engineering. For this, homogenous and soft PU nanofibers containing varying percent of polycaprolactone (12% and 15%) and nano GO (0.5-4%) were electrospun, respectively, and then characterized by different techniques/assays in vitro. For the scaffold characterization, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used. The SEM results show the spun scaffolds have 3D porous structure (90%) with the fiber diameter increased with the GO concentration, while the FTIR results confirmed the presence of PU, PCL, and Go in the scaffolds. Also, the biocompatibility, via the cytotoxicity, of the scaffolds was examined by MTT assay with the human skin fibroblast cells, along with their wettability in terms of contact angle. Our results show that the scaffolds are biocompatible to the skin fibroblast cell, illustrating their potential use in skin tissue engineering. Also, our results illustrate that the addition of GO to the PU/PCL composite can increase the wettability (or hydrophilicity) and biocompatibility of scaffolds. Combined together, the nanocomposite PU/PCL scaffolds with GO are promising as biocompatible constructs for skin tissue engineering.

A wear-resistant EPD layer of TiCsub (i.e. sub micrometer titanium carbide) was synthesized by pressureless infiltration sintering. EPD is an ideal technique to form a porous layer that could be thickness modulated by easily change of applied voltage/current. Full melt spreading of NiCrBSiFe on TiCsub EPD layer and suppression of TiCsub grain growth can be achieved by substituting TiCsub with core-shell structure of NiP electroless plated on TiCsub. In an infiltrated layer, lowering of TiCsub pushing by solidification front hence homogeneous distribution of TiCsub along with eliminating porous TiCsub solid skeletons are essential factors to improve the wear properties. Wear measurement results showed decrement in friction coefficient of NiCrBSiFe (0.29–0.17), amplitude of acoustic emission signals and wear coefficient (variation between 10−5 and10−6) by embedding TiCsub into the NiCrBSiFe layer. It is postulated that melt infiltration of an EPD layer is a practical way to clad wear-resisting layers on the surface.

In this study, the effects of different anion structures have been investigated on the thiophene distribution between ionic liquid (IL) and hydrocarbon phases in the ternary systems using quantitat...

This study aims to investigate the performance and mechanism of raw (R-ND) and saponin-modified nano diatomite (M-ND) in the removal of azithromycin from aqueous solutions. Adsorbent characterization was performed using X-ray fluorescence, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), scanning electron spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering and energy-dispersive X-ray analyses. It was shown that the specific surface area of R-ND was 119.5 m2/g, 14-fold higher than that for raw diatomite, and for M-ND it was 90.1 m2/g. Various adsorption conditions, i.e. adsorbent dosage, pH, initial concentration and contact time were investigated. According to the results, despite reducing the specific surface area by 25%, modification of nano diatomite by saponin markedly enhanced its performance in the removal of azithromycin. The maximum adsorption capacity of R-ND and M-ND in the removal of azithromycin was 68 and 91.7 mg/g, respectively. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results revealed that azithromycin was adsorbed by O-H groups on the diatomite surface. Weber–Morris intra-particle diffusion (IPD) model suggested that while IPD is not the rate-controlling step in high concentrations of azithromycin, it is the only step that controls the rate of adsorption in low concentrations. In comparison to R-ND, M-ND showed a higher efficiency in the removal of azithromycin and, therefore, it can be used as a promising low-cost adsorbent to remove azithromycin from aqueous solutions.

The current study describes a simple method to determine four organophosphate insecticides (i.e., ethion, phosalone, diazinon, chlorpyrifos) and an isothiazolidine acaricide (i.e., hexyhiazox), as examples of pesticides in environmental water samples by stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). For this purpose, a self-magnetic nanocomposite monolithic (SMNM) kit coupled with high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet (HPLC-UV) spectroscopy was used. The size, morphology, and elemental distribution of synthesized SMNM kit were analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy system, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and elemental mapping, respectively. An experimental design based on the central composite design (CCD) was used to optimize factors affecting SBSE. Under optimal experimental conditions, the limits of detection (LODs) were found to be in the range of 0.07 μg L−1 to 0.89 μg L−1. Linear ranges were 5-800 μg L−1 for ethion, hexythiazox, and chlorpyrifos, 1–1000 μg L−1 for phosalone, and 5–1000 μg L−1 for diazinon. The relative standard deviation (RSD%) did not exceed 5.48% and 6.45% for intraday and interday precisions, respectively. The enrichment factors (EFs) ranged from 15 to 39-fold (theoretical enrichment factor was 40-fold). The results showed that SMNM kit could enrich the above-mentioned pesticides effectively. The SMNMSBSE-HPLC-UV methodology was applied for the determination of pesticides in real water samples.

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers are major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide and include malignancies of the GI tract such as the stomach, liver, pancreas, small intestine, colon, and rectum. Promising and selective anticancer effects of pharmacologically active components of saffron (Crocus sativus L.) have been shown in preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies. Saffron and its active components including crocin, crocetin, and safranal exert their anticancer effects through different mechanisms, including induction of apoptosis, influence on the cell cycle, and regulation of host immune response and anti-inflammatory activities. This review summarizes the recent literature on the chemopreventive properties of saffron in GI cancers to have a better understanding of the potential underlying mechanisms and hence the appropriate management of these malignancies.

Lipid oxidation is a primary cause of quality deterioration in mayonnaise that leads to a decrease in the nutritional and sensorial value. The evolution of volatile oxidation compounds in sunflower oil mayonnaise stored at varying temperatures for 92 days and the antioxidative effect of butylated hydroxyanisole were investigated by static headspace extraction and separation by two dimensional gas chromatography/time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Considerable differences in the headspace composition of samples stored at 4, 25 and 38 °C were found due to the different oxidation levels reached. The content of hexanal in mayonnaise at 1–5 days of storage at 38 °C could be used to predict the corresponding compound in mayonnaise at 1–62 days of storage at 25 °C. The 10 most important discriminating volatile compounds during lipid oxidation of mayonnaise (at 38 °C for 92 days) are 3-hexenal, pentanal, 2-heptenal, 2-ethylfuran, hexanal, benzeneacetaldehyde, 2-pentylfuran, 3-methylhexane, 1-pentanol and 2,4-heptadienal. More than half of these compounds have a close relationship with the initial content of linoleic acid that agrees with the fatty acid profile of sunflower oil (~ 70% linoleic acid). These volatiles could be used as additional markers of oxidation in sunflower oil mayonnaise.

This work investigates how the orientation of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) affect the moisture and heat transfer of poly acryl amide membranes. In so doing, iron oxi...

This work aims to evaluate the renoprotective effect of luteolin on expression of Nrf2 and miR320 in ischemia–reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. Thirty rats were randomly divided into five groups; control, Luteolin (50 mg/kg), ischemia–reperfusion (I/R), DMSO (0/1%) + I/R and Luteolin+I/R, (n = 6 each). Administration of luteolin and DMSO was carried out by gavage for 3 days before renal I/R. Then, the rats were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia for 45 min and followed by reperfusion for 2 h. All rats were killed and the renal function, histological changes, oxidative stress degree, in all of groups were evaluated. In addition, the effects of luteolin on renal expression of Nrf2 and miR320 were examined by immunohistochemistry and real time- PCR. Luteolin significantly improved the creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels in Luteolin + I/R group compared to I/R group (p

The use of neurotrophic factors is considered to be a novel therapeutic approach for restoring and/or maintaining neurological function in neurodegenerative disorders, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Various studies have shown that conditioned medium produced by oligodendrocyte (OL-CM) contain a variety of neurotrophic factors. Here, we investigated the restorative effects of OL-CM, collected from oligodendrocytes cultured in a self-assembling peptide hydrogels scaffold (PuraMatrix), in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mouse model. Neural stem/progenitor cells, isolated from the embryonic mouse brain, were cultured and differentiated into oligodendrocyte. Cell viability and proliferation of oligodendrocytes were assessed by live/dead and MTT assays. Motor functions, myelination, cell infiltration, gliosis, and inflammatory process were assessed in EAE mice after intracranial injection of OL-CM at different concentrations. Application of OL-CM improved clinical score and neurological function in EAE mice and reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration and demyelination. Furthermore, administration of OL-CM reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and suppressed the activation of NLRP3-inflammasome complex in EAE mice. These data suggest the potential therapeutic effect of OL-CM for MS treatment.

Single point incremental forming (SPIF) is an emerging forming process for rapid prototyping and manufacturing of complex components from sheet metals. Recently, the use of electric current for the local resistance heating of the deformation area has attracted much attention in SPIF. In order to further study the electric hot incremental sheet forming (EHISF), in the present research, the effect of utilizing various lubricants on the formability of Ti-6Al-4V, AA6061, and DC01 sheet metals is experimentally investigated by forming a truncated cone under different feed rates, vertical pitches, and electric currents. To this end, the Taguchi design of experiment (DOE) and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) are employed. The results showed that the formability of Ti-6Al-4V and AA6061 sheets can be improved using the EHISF. For both the sheets, the lubricant and the electric current have significant effects on the maximum achievable forming depth. In addition, the formability of the DC01 sheet is highly affected by the lubricant and the feed rate. The results of the DC01 sheet showed that at the considered wall angle, the maximum forming depth in the EHISF does not change, compared to the cold SPIF, but the thickness distribution of the formed part at a higher temperature is more uniform.

Coatings containing aluminum flakes are attractive in terms of appearance in both industry and scientific researches. In the present study, attempts were made to investigate the effect of aluminum flakes presence on the appearance properties of metallic coatings. Therefore, metallic coatings containing three grades of aluminum flakes with different size distributions and solid samples were prepared in nine color centers. In addition to the spectral reflectance and colorimetric values, the derivative of the spectral data with respect to the wavelength and the main components from a Principal Component Analysis on reflectance data of each spectral set were investigated for the prepared solid and metallic samples. The results showed that aluminum flakes in the metallic samples provide more negative values of b* because of higher light scattering of blue wavelengths from the edges and probably rough parts on the surface of the flakes. Depending on the used absorption pigments, aluminum flake size could affect colorimetric variations. The main peak of the spectral derivative, with respect to the wavelength, showed that the intensity and sometimes the wavelength at which the main peak occurred changed for the metallic samples in comparison to the solid ones. Furthermore, more valleys and peaks in the derivative spectrum appeared for the metallic samples, which seem to be a result of interaction between the solid base-coat and the aluminum flakes. Principal Component (PC) analysis showed that although the mean of the spectral curves of the metallic sets have higher values at shorter wavelengths because of the presence of aluminum flakes, the first PC vectors keep the characteristics of the solid set. The main peaks of the other basis vectors shift towards the shorter wavelengths. Moreover, in comparison to the solid set, the significance of the first PC vector decreased and the second one increased which was also influenced by the flake size.