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The water-soluble blue–green pigment marennine, produced and partly excreted by the diatom Haslea ostrearia, and known for a long time for its role in the greening of oysters, was isolated from the culture medium, purified, and analyzed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) in order to gain insight into its chemical structure. The spectra show mainly carbohydrates of a complex composition, apparently highly branched, and with a mass in the order of 10 kDa. There are, in addition, some signals of aliphatic and, much weaker, aromatic groups that present aglycons. The latter might be responsible for the color. These carbohydrates are always associated with the blue–green color and cannot be separated from it by most treatments; they are interpreted as constituting the frame of the pigment. NMR after hydrolysis identifies the most abundant monosaccharides in marennine as galactose, xylose, mannose, rhamnose, and fucose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous factors are implicated in the onset and progression of ageing and neurodegenerative disorders, with defects in cell energy supply and free radicals regulation designated as being the main functions of mitochondria and highly accentuated in plentiful studies. Hence, analysing the role of mitochondria as one of the main factors implicated in these disorders could undoubtedly come in handy with respect to disease prevention and treatment. In this review, first, we will explore how mitochondria account for neurodegenerative disorders and ageing and later will draw the various pathways contributing to mitochondrial dysfunction in their distinct way. Also, we will discuss the deviation-countering mechanisms, particularly mitophagy, a subset of autophagy known as a much larger cellular defence mechanism and regulatory system, along with its potential therapeutic effects. Last but not least, we will be highlighting the mitochondrial transfer experiments with animal models of neurodegenerative disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel characteristics of ionic liquids (ILs) led to an improved tribological and thermal performance. This article discusses current progress in developing ILs as neat lubricants or additives in lube oils, with a focus on ILs chemistry, synthesis, miscibility, and other relevant rheological, thermal, and tribological properties at macro to nanoscales. This article also introduces a review of lubrication mechanisms based on the tribofilm formed on the rubbing interfaces owing to tribochemical reactions among the ILs, base oil, and solid bodies, which shows key insights into anti-wear properties. ILs exhibited superior anti-wear properties compared to fully formulated oils. Notably, there was no symmetry between the friction results of ILs and their wear counterpart. Furthermore, the main challenges to further improve ILs performance for tribological applications are highlighted. Eventually, prospects for ILs tribology are suggested, which will guide the development and synthesis of ILs-based lubricants for tribological applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O125, the cause of infectious diarrheal disease, is comprised of two serogroups, viz. O125ab and O125ac, which display the aggregative adherence pattern with epithelial cells. Herein, the structure of the O-antigen polysaccharide from E. coli O125ac:H6 has been elucidated. Sugar analysis revealed the presence of fucose, mannose, galactose and N -acetyl-galactosamine as major components. Unassigned 1H and 13C NMR data from one- and two-dimensional NMR experiments of the O125ac O-antigen in conjunction with sugar components were used as input to the CASPER program, which can determine polysaccharide structure in a fully automated way, and resulted in the following branched pentasaccharide structure of the repeating unit: →4)[β- d -Gal p -(1 → 3)]-β- d -Gal p NAc-(1 → 2)-α- d -Man p -(1 → 3)-α- l -Fuc p -(1 → 3)-α- d -Gal p NAc-(1→, where the side chain is denoted by square brackets. The proposed O-antigen structure was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR chemical shift assignments and determination of interresidue connectivities. Based on this structure, that of the O125ab O-antigen, which consists of hexasaccharide repeating units with an additional glucosyl group, was possible to establish in a semi-automated fashion by CASPER. The putative existence of gnu and gne in the gene clusters of the O125 serogroups is manifested by N -acetyl- d -galactosamine residues as the initial sugar residue of the biological repeating unit as well as within the repeating unit. The close similarity between O-antigen structures is consistent with the presence of two subgroups in the E. coli O125 serogroup. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion of an annulus under swirl flow was studied by measuring the limiting current of the cathodic reduction of potassium ferricyanide depolarizer in the presence and absence of polyox WSR-301 drag-reducing polymer. It was found that the rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion of the inner cylinder of the annulus increases with increasing swirl flow solution velocity and decreases with increasing the active height of the cylinder. The data in the absence of polymer (blank solution) under swirl flow were fitted by a dimensionless equation. The importance of this equation in predicting the rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion and the corrosion allowance during the design of the swirl flow equipment was highlighted. For a given set of conditions, the rate of accelerated swirl flow corrosion was much higher than that of axial flow. Drag reducing polymer was found to inhibit the rate of diffusion-controlled corrosion by a maximum of 23%, if other benefits of the polymer are considered such as the decrease in the shear stress and the associated decrease in the erosion-corrosion tendency besides the decrease in pressure drop and pumping power requirement it may be concluded that the use of drag-reducing polymers in industry is worthwhile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of young girls and women who underwent or considered ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC) using a systematic review of qualitative studies with thematic synthesis framework. Major electronic databases: MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL and PsycINFO were searched from 1946 to May 2020 and reference lists of relevant articles were hand searched. Any studies that described a qualitative inquiry and highlighted the experiences of women with regards to OTC were included. Two independent reviewers screened the title and abstracts and made a selection against inclusion criteria. Main outcomes measures were experiences of women who have considered and/or undergone OTC, decision making in women who underwent or considered OTC and patient education. Nineteen studies were assessed for full text eligibility and four were included in analysis. 144 verbatim quotations from 85 participants in high income countries (UK, USA and Denmark) were included. Two studies adopted grounded theory approach, one phenomenology and one inductive content analysis. Four themes were generated; participants described their experiences as emotional, involving complex decision-making, helping them prepare for the long-term consequences of potentially losing their fertility and hormonal function, as well as their experience being educational. Additionally, the more practical aspects of the procedure such as OTC being invasive as well as costs implications were highlighted. Women and young girls are often involved in making time-sensitive decisions whether or not to undergo OTC. Healthcare professionals involved in the care of young girls and women undergoing this method need to also take into consideration the emotional wellbeing of the patients as well as the time and expertise it requires to help them make an informed decision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ethics in biomedical research is still a fairly new concept in Africa. This work aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and experiences of Beninese researchers with regard to the national ethical regulatory framework of biomedical research in Benin.Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study, involving all the researchers fulfilling the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using a questionnaire and analysed. Proportions and means were calculated with their confidence intervals and standard deviations, respectively.Results: Of the 110 participants included in the study, 40.9% were medical lecturers and 71.1% had been involved in more than 10 biomedical research as researcher. Less than three quarters (69.1%) were able to correctly quote the basic principles from Belmont report. The quarter (25.45%) of them knew the attributions of the National Ethics Committee for Health Research (CNERS in French) and 38.2%, the content of the legislation on health research ethics in Benin. The common ethical rules were known by 69.1% of the participants. A quarter (25.5%) of participants said they always present the study's briefing note to their study participants and 62.7% said they systematically request informed consent. For those who do not present the briefing note to participants, the main reasons provided were the researchers' difficulties in writing the note in plain language and the participants' limitation in understanding it.Conclusions: The foundations of a good ethical framework for health research exist in Benin. However, the deployment and use of the various legal texts deserve to be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Recently, the decellularization technique is introduced as one of the tissue engineering procedures for the treatment of various deficiencies. Here, we aimed to assess the dynamic activity of CCs and HUVECs within decellularized bovine ovarian tissue transplanted subcutaneously in rats. Ovarian tissue was decellularized using a cocktail consisting of different chemicals, and the efficiency of decellularization was assessed using hematoxylin-eosin and DAPI staining. The cell survival was evaluated using an LDH leakage assay. Thereafter, decellularized samples were recellularized using HUVECs and CCs, encapsulated inside alginate (1.2%)-gelatin, (1%) hydrogel, and transplanted subcutaneously to rats. The existence of CD31- and estrogen-positive cells was assessed using immunohistochemistry staining. Results: Bright-field imaging and DAPI staining revealed the lack of nuclei with naive matrix structure in ovarian tissue subjected to decellularization protocol. SEM imaging revealed a normal matrix in decellularized ovaries. LDH assay showed a lack of cytotoxicity for CCs after 7-days compared to the control group. Immunohistochemistry staining showed both CD31- and estrogen-positive cells in CCs + HUVECs compared to the CCs group. CD31 cells appeared with flattened morphology aligned with matrix fibers. The existence of estrogen and CD31 positive cells showed the efficiency of decellularized ovarian tissue to restore cellular function and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigating seasonal variation in health helps us understand interactions between population, environment, and disease. Using information on birth month and year, survival status within the first year of life, and age at death (if applicable) of more than 330,000 children observed in four rounds of India's Demographic and Health Surveys, I estimate period mortality rates between birth and age one (1m0) by calendar month. Relative to spring months, infant mortality is higher in the summer, monsoon, and winter months. If spring mortality conditions had been prevalent throughout the year, mortality below age one would have been lower by 11.4 deaths per 1,000 in the early 1990s and 3.7 deaths per 1,000 in the mid-2010s. Seasonal variation in infant mortality has declined overall but remains higher among disadvantaged children. The results highlight the multiple environmental health threats that Indian infants face and the short time of year when these threats are less salient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from parental cells could communicate with neighboring or distant recipient cells. The components in EVs, especially non-coding RNAs, including microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular RNAs, could regulate the functions of the recipient cells. Meanwhile, EVs could also be used as valuable biomarkers and drug delivery carriers. Moreover, environmental toxicants may alter EVs components and regulate EVs-mediated pathogenesis of various diseases. In this review, we mainly summarized the roles of EV-derived non-coding RNAs in the regulation of cell dysfunctions in various adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preeclampsia (PE), gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), and miscarriage. Moreover, the effects of environmental toxicants on the components and functions of EVs, as well as on their regulatory roles in these diseases, were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Age-related fertility decline (ARFD) is a prevalent concern amongst western cultures due to the increasing age of first-time motherhood. Elective oocyte and embryo cryopreservation remain the most established methods of fertility preservation, providing women the opportunity of reproductive autonomy to preserve their fertility and extend their childbearing years to prevent involuntary childlessness. Whilst ovarian cortex cryopreservation has been used to preserve reproductive potential in women for medical reasons, such as in pre- or peripubertal girls undergoing gonadotoxic chemotherapy, it has not yet been considered in the context of ARFD. As artificial reproductive technology (ART) and surgical methods of fertility preservation continue to evolve, it is a judicious time to review current evidence and consider alternative options for women wishing to delay their fertility. This article critically appraises elective oocyte cryopreservation as an option for women who use it to mitigate the risk of ARFD and introduces the prospect of elective ovarian cortex cryopreservation as an alternative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylene blue degradation by the UV/TiO2 and UV/TiO2/H2O2 photocatalysis in a suspended photocatalytic reactor coupled with a microfiltration (MF) module is described. The kinetics of methylene blue degradation, cake layer formation on the membrane surface, and the energy consumption of the system are evaluated and discussed. In addition, cost estimation of the treatment of methylene blue by different processes is implemented. The investment and operating costs of the photocatalytic membrane reactors are calculated and compared with the UV systems and UV/TiO2‐MF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of advanced materials has attracted interest for promising novel applications in biosensing and realm of nanophotonics. This interest in nanoelectronics, and high-performance sensors has created a demand for stable, easily fabrication process, and economy materials. However, the construction of advanced sensors, on which advanced optical sensors can be mounted through cost-effective processing, remains challenging. Nowadays, due to widespread new viruses such as Ebola, Hantavirus, Corona and so on, the need for biosensors to detect such diseases is required. To make such devices, some features such as high speed, low cost, high sensitivity, and ease of use must be considered. One of the martial which is used in biosensors is CNT, due to their high mechanical properties, high thermal and electrical conductivity, and their high aspect ratio, to immobilize the receptors in biosensors. This reviews on CNT-based biosensors and their applications on various field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A certain proportion of genes are regulated by multiple, distinct promoters, revealing a dynamic landscape of the cancer transcriptome. However, the contribution of alternative promoters (APs) in breast cancer (BRCA) remains largely unexplored. Here, we identified 3654 genes with multiple promoters in BRCA patients, and 53 of them could generate distinct AP transcripts that are dysregulated and prognosis-related in BRCA, namely prognosis-related dysregulated AP (prdeAP) transcripts. Interestingly, when we searched for the genomic signatures of these prdeAP genes, we found that the promoter regions of 92% of the prdeAP genes were enriched with abundant DNA methylation signals. Through further bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation, we showed that AP selections of TANK, UNKL, CCL28, and MAP1LC3A were regulated by DNA methylation upon their corresponding promoter regions. Functionally, by overexpressing AP variants of TANK, we found that TANK|55731 could dramatically suppress MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and migration. Meanwhile, pan-cancer survival analyses suggested that AP variants of TANK provided more accurate prognostic predictive ability than TANK gene in a variety of tumor types, including BRCA. Together, by uncovering the DNA methylation-regulated AP transcripts with tumor prognostic features, our work revealed a novel layer of regulators in BRCA progression and provided potential targets that served as effective biomarkers for anti-BRCA treatment., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Exosomes are the smallest subset of extracellular signaling vesicles secreted by most cells with the ability to communicate with other tissues and cell types over long distances. Their use in regenerative medicine has gained tremendous momentum recently due to their ability to be utilized as therapeutic options for a wide array of diseases/conditions. Over 5000 publications are currently being published yearly on this topic, and this number is only expected to dramatically increase as novel therapeutic strategies continue to be developed. Today exosomes have been applied in numerous contexts including neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's disease, central nervous system, depression, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, post-traumatic stress disorders, traumatic brain injury, peripheral nerve injury), damaged organs (heart, kidney, liver, stroke, myocardial infarctions, myocardial infarctions, ovaries), degenerative processes (atherosclerosis, diabetes, hematology disorders, musculoskeletal degeneration, osteoradionecrosis, respiratory disease), infectious diseases (COVID-19, hepatitis), regenerative procedures (antiaging, bone regeneration, cartilage/joint regeneration, osteoarthritis, cutaneous wounds, dental regeneration, dermatology/skin regeneration, erectile dysfunction, hair regrowth, intervertebral disc repair, spinal cord injury, vascular regeneration), and cancer therapy (breast, colorectal, gastric cancer and osteosarcomas), immune function (allergy, autoimmune disorders, immune regulation, inflammatory diseases, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis). This scoping review is a first of its kind aimed at summarizing the extensive regenerative potential of exosomes over a broad range of diseases and disorders., (© 2024 The Authors. Periodontology 2000 published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Resistance to antimicrobial drugs has been considered a public health problem. Likewise, the increasing resistance of cancer cells to drugs currently used in therapy has also become a problem. Therefore, the research and development of synthetic peptides bring a new perspective on the emergence of new drugs for treating this resistance since bioinformatics provides a means to optimize these molecules and save time and costs in research. Peptides have several mechanisms of action, such as forming pores on the cell membrane and inhibiting protein synthesis. Some studies report the use of antimicrobial peptides with the potential for action against cancer cells, suggesting a repositioning of antimicrobial peptides to fight back cancer resistance. There is an alteration in the microenvironment, making its net charge negative for the survival and growth of cancer cells. The changes in glycoproteins favor the membrane to have a more negative charge, favoring the interaction between the cells and the peptide, thus making possible the repositioning of these antimicrobial peptides against cancer. Here, we will discuss the mechanism of action, targets and effects of peptides, comparison between microbial and cancer cells, and proteomic changes caused by the interaction of peptides and cells., (© 2023 Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

A significant amount of research effort is currently focused on investigating the role of exosomes in various cancers. These tiny vesicles, apart from acting as biomarkers, also play a crucial role in tumor formation and development. Several studies have demonstrated that exosomes can be a drug delivery vehicle for cancer therapy. In this paper, we highlight the key advantages of exosomes as a drug delivery candidate, with a particular focus on their low immunogenicity, natural targeting ability and suitable mechanical properties. Furthermore, we propose that the selection of appropriate exosomes and drug loading methods based on therapeutic goals and product heterogeneity is essential for preparing engineered exosomes. We comprehensively analyzed the superiorities of current drug-loading methods to improve the creation of designed exosomes. Moreover, we systematically review the applications of engineered exosomes in various therapies such as immunotherapy, gene therapy, protein therapy, chemotherapy, indicating that engineered exosomes have the potential to be reliable and, safe drug carriers that can address the unmet needs in cancer clinical practice., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in the world, with a high mortality rate in both women and men. Conventional treatments, like chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, are facing some drawbacks like acquired drug resistance and various side effects, leading to cancer recurrence and increased morbidity; thus, development of novel approaches in targeted therapy would be very beneficial. Exosomes, extracellular vesicles with a size distribution of sub-150 nm, interplay in physiological and pathophysiological cell-cell communications and can pave the way for targeted cancer therapy. Accumulating pieces of evidence have indicated that exosomes derived from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC-EXs) can act as a double-edged sword in some cancers. The purpose of this review is to assess the differences between stem cell therapy and exosome therapy. Moreover, our aim is to demonstrate how naïve MSCs transform into GC-MSCs in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, the tumorigenic and anti-proliferation effects of MSC-EXs derived from different origins were investigated. Finally, we suggest potential modifications and combination options that involve utilizing MSC-EXs from the foreskin and umbilical cord as promising sources to enhance the efficacy of gastric cancer treatment. This approach is presented in contrast to bone marrow cells, which are more heterogeneous, age-related, and are also easily affected by the patient's circulation system., (© 2023. The Pharmaceutical Society of Korea.)

Lung cancer (LC) is the main cause of cancer-related mortality. Most LC patients are diagnosed in an advanced stage when the symptoms are obvious, and the prognosis is quite poor. Although low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) is a routine clinical examination for early detection of LC, the false-positive rate is over 90%. As one of the intensely studied epigenetic modifications, DNA methylation plays a key role in various diseases, including cancer and other diseases. Hypermethylation in tumor suppressor genes or hypomethylation in oncogenes is an important event in tumorigenesis. Remarkably, DNA methylation usually occurs in the very early stage of malignant tumors. Thus, DNA methylation analysis may provide some useful information about the early detection of LC. In recent years, liquid biopsy has developed rapidly. Liquid biopsy can detect and monitor both primary and metastatic malignant tumors and can reflect tumor heterogeneity. Moreover, it is a minimally invasive procedure, and it causes less pain for patients. This review summarized various liquid biopsies based on DNA methylation for LC. At first, we briefly discussed some emerging technologies for DNA methylation analysis. Subsequently, we outlined cell-free DNA (cfDNA), sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, bronchial aspirates, and bronchial washings DNA methylation-based liquid biopsy for the early detection of LC. Finally, the prognostic value of DNA methylation in cfDNA and sputum and the diagnostic value of other DNA methylation-based liquid biopsies for LC were also analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The therapeutic outcomes of exosome-based therapies have greatly exceeded initial expectations in many clinically intractable diseases due to the safety, low toxicity, and immunogenicity of exosomes, but the production of the exosomes is a bottleneck for wide use. To increase the yield of the exosomes, various solutions have been tried, such as hypoxia, extracellular acidic pH, etc. With a limited number of cells or exosomes, an alternative approach has been developed to improve the efficacy of exosomes through cell pretreatment recently. Melatonin is synthesized from tryptophan and secreted in the pineal gland, presenting a protective effect in pathological conditions. As a new pretreatment method, melatonin can effectively enhance the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic function of exosomes in chronic kidney disease, diabetic wound healing, and ischemia-reperfusion treatments. However, the current use of melatonin pretreatment varies widely. Here, we discuss the effects of melatonin pretreatment on the heterogeneity of exosomes based on the role of melatonin and further speculate on the possible mechanisms. Finally, the therapeutic use of exosomes and the usage of melatonin pretreatment are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a Bluetooth-based Android application interface is developed to perform a manual and automatic control of a four-wheel-driven mobile robot designed for education, research, health, military, and many other fields. The proposed application with MIT App Inventor consists of three components: the main screen, the manual control screen, and the automatic control screen. The main screen is where the actions of the control preference selection such as manual control and automatic control and the Bluetooth connection between the mobile robot and Android phone occur. When the robot is operated manually for calibration or manual positioning purposes, the manual control screen is employed to adjust the desired robot movement and speed by hand. In the case of the need for automatic motion control, the desired robot position and speed data are inserted into the mobile robot processor through the automatic control screen. At the first stage of the work, the proposed Android application is developed with the design and block editors of the MIT App Inventor. The compiled application is then installed on the Android phone. Next, the communication between the Arduino microcontroller used for the robot control with the Bluetooth protocol and the Android application is established. The accuracy of the data dispatched to the Arduino is tested on the serial connection screen. It is validated that the data from the Android application is transferred to Arduino smoothly. At the end of this study, the manual and automatic controls of the proposed mobile robot are performed experimentally and success of the coordination between the Android application and the mobile robot are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil demand has risen steadily due to the growing industrialization and modernization of the world. In addition to rising costs, the supply of fossil fuels is also declining. These and many other concerns couple with food shortages have drawn attention of scientists to a substitute fuel that is generated from feedstocks that can be renewed. Biodiesel as an alternative fuel with a lot of expectations is produced using edible grown conventional vegetable oils such as sunflower, rapeseed, palm, and soybean. The production of biodiesel from edible oils has, meanwhile, worsened the existing competitiveness of oil used for food and fuel. Emphasis on using nonedible feedstock is currently guided by research to discover more potential nonedible feedstock such as croton. Differences between perceptions and facts about these nonedible oils necessitate efforts to diversify feedstocks into sources that can warrant the production of energy without impacting on the security of food. Croton is a multipurpose evergreen plant that is nonedible and is commonly present and cultivated under environmental and socio-economic conditions, which are complex in nature. This plant, referred to as a golden tree, has various uses including fuels, medicinal, ornamentals, dyes, feed, enriching of soil, and afforestation. This research was therefore carried out to investigate the multipurpose use croton. Among the highlighted areas include croton (feedstock) used for biodiesel, the necessity for croton seed oil and its value chain, the process for the modifying croton oil to biodiesel, factors that influence the production of biodiesel, the application of croton biodiesel in engines for efficiency and emission characteristics, and prospects for croton biodiesel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Borondifluoride‐3,3‐dimethyl‐2‐[2‐(2‐pyrrolyl) ethenyl] indole (BOPYIN), a seven‐membered, nonplanar boron complex, features typical photophysical properties, such as relatively large Stokes shift. Herein, a series of BOPYINs are prepared by a two‐step, one‐flask synthesis. Based on the modification position, these derivatives could be divided into three sections, including withdrawing substituted dyes, dyes with donating substitution on the pyrrole unit, and dyes with further π‐enlarged substitution on indole unit. The relationship between diverse modified structures and photophysical properties are systematically discussed by experiments and DFT calculations. This work illustrates that donating‐group modifications on pyrrole and π‐enlargement on the indole unit may promote the red shift of the photophysical spectra synergistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) with biochar is apprised to be a promising bio-fertilizer for improving the soil fertility and plant growth and development. The current study aimed to identify a potential plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium alongside biochar to improve sesame seedling productivity. Our results revealed that among the nine isolates, SIR01, SIR03, and SIR07 significantly improved the growth and biomass of sesame andWaito-C rice seedlings. The increase in growth of Waito-C rice seedlings through isolate SIR01, SIR03, and SIR07, suggests their ability to produce phytohormones such as GA4, GA9, GA24, and GA34. Furthermore, the application of isolate SIR03 and biochar together revealed a synergistic increase in sesame seedling growth and biomass (fresh and dry weight) compared with their individual applications. This may be explained by enhancement of photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate by the combined SIR03 and biochar treatment. This suggests that co-inoculation with SIR03 alongside the application of biochar can be considered an eco-friendly, low-cost bio-fertilizer to potentially improve sesame seedling growth and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experimental work aims to study the effects of higher alcohol with diesel–Calophyllum inophyllum biodiesel on diesel engine characteristics. The higher alcohol used for the investigation was propyl alcohol. Three samples were prepared with a diesel–biodiesel blend (B20) at 6%, 12%, and 18% concentration by volume of propyl alcohol (B20P6, B20P12, and B20P18). Tests were carried out on a single‐cylinder, four‐stroke diesel engine with varying loads and compression ratio. At higher compression ratios, the modified blends of propyl alcohol reported better efficiencies compared to diesel. Blend B20P12 has a 1.6% higher average brake thermal efficiency than diesel. For all blends, the brake specific fuel consumptions (BSFCs) were found to be increased in comparison to diesel. The blends B20P6 and B20P12 reported 12.8% and 13.8% higher average BSFCs than those of diesel. The blends B20P6 and B20P12 reported 15.7% and 29.5% less carbon monoxide emissions than diesel, respectively. A decrease of up to 4.6% in hydrocarbon emissions was also reported with propyl alcohol blends. Along with a reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, propyl alcohol blends also reported lower peak cylinder pressure and a lower heat release rate compared to diesel. At a higher compression ratio, increased engine knock was observed with a higher amount of propyl alcohol. The experimental evaluation concluded that a 12% concentration by volume of propyl alcohol is the optimum value of the additive in the diesel–C. inophyllum biodiesel blend. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Riboflavin is an essential micronutrient and a precursor of flavin mononucleotide and flavin adenine dinucleotide for maintaining cell homeostasis. Riboflavin deficiency (RD) induces cell apoptosis. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is considered to induce apoptosis, and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is a key pathway involved in this process. However, whether RD-induced apoptosis is mediated by ER stress and the CHOP pathway remains unclear and needs further investigation. Therefore, the current study presents the effect of RD on ER stress and apoptosis in the human hepatoma cell line (HepG2). Firstly, cells were cultured in a RD medium (4.55 nM riboflavin) and a control (CON) medium (1005 nM riboflavin). We conducted an observation of cell microstructure characterization and determining apoptosis. Subsequently, 4-phenyl butyric acid (4-PBA), an ER stress inhibitor, was used in HepG2 cells to investigate the role of ER stress in RD-induced apoptosis. Finally, CHOP siRNA was transfected into HepG2 cells to validate whether RD triggered ER stress-mediated apoptosis by the CHOP pathway. The results show that RD inhibited cell proliferation and caused ER stress, as well as increased the expression of ER stress markers (CHOP, 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein, activating transcription factor 6) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, RD increased the cell apoptosis rate, enhanced the expression of proapoptotic markers (B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X, Caspase 3), and decreased the expression of the antiapoptotic marker (B-cell lymphoma 2) (p < 0.05). The 4-PBA treatment and CHOP knockdown markedly alleviated RD-induced cell apoptosis. These results demonstrate that RD induces cell apoptosis by triggering ER stress and the CHOP pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Cell-based therapies with certain cell types are touted as novel and hopeful therapeutic intervention in the clinical setting. Here, we aimed to assess the regenerative potential of c-Kit+ cells in the rejuvenation of ovarian tissue and fertility rate in rat model of premature ovarian failure (POF). Methods: Rats were treated with 160 mg/kg/BW of 4-vinylcyclohexene dioxide for 15 days. Freshly enriched rat bone marrow-derived c-Kit+ (MACS) and c-Kit- cells (4×105 cells/10 µL) were transplanted into the ovaries of treatment and control animals. Prior to transplantation as well as 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks post-transplantation, randomly-selected rats were euthanized and ovarian tissues were subjected to pathophysiological examinations and real-time PCR analyses. Results: POF status was confirmed by the presence of pathological features and a decreased number of immature and mature follicles compared with the control group (P < 0.05).>+ cells in comparison with POF rats that did not receive these cells (P < 0.05).> Angpt2 and KDR , showed increased and decreased expressions in POF ovaries, respectively (P < 0.05).>+ cells had potential to restore angiogenesis in the ovarian tissue within normal ranges. Systemic levels of FSH did not significantly change in pre- or post-transplantation time points for any group (P > 0.05). Notable reduction of collagen deposition was found in c-Kit-treated rats. Transplantation of c-Kit+ cells also restored the reduced fertility rate (P < 0.05).> Conclusion: The administration of c-Kit+ cells can modulate angiogenesis and pathological changes, leading to the rejuvenation of ovarian function of a rat model of premature menopause. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanosized membrane-enclosed compartments that serve as messengers in cell-to-cell communication, both in normal physiology and in pathological conditions. EVs can transfer functional proteins and genetic information to alter the phenotype and function of recipient cells, which undergo different changes that positively affect their structural and functional integrity. Biological fluids are enriched with several subpopulations of EVs, including exosomes, microvesicles (MVs), and apoptotic bodies carrying several cargoes, such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. EVs associated with the reproductive system are actively involved in the regulation of different physiological events, including gamete maturation, fertilization, and embryo and fetal development. EVs can influence follicle development, oocyte maturation, embryo production, and endometrial-conceptus communication. EVs loaded with cargoes are used to diagnose various diseases, including pregnancy disorders; however, these are dependent on the type of cell of origin and pathological characteristics. EV-derived microRNAs (miRNAs) and proteins in the placenta regulate inflammatory responses and trophoblast invasion through intercellular delivery in the placental microenvironment. This review presents evidence regarding the types of extracellular vesicles, and general aspects of isolation, purification, and characterization of EVs, particularly from various types of embryos. Further, we discuss EVs as mediators and messengers in reproductive biology, the effects of EVs on placentation and pregnancy disorders, the role of EVs in animal reproduction, in the male reproductive system, and mother and embryo cross-communication. In addition, we emphasize the role of microRNAs in embryo implantation and the role of EVs in reproductive and therapeutic medicine. Finally, we discuss the future perspectives of EVs in reproductive biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The output response of any intact oscillatory system subjected to a Gaussian excitation is also Gaussian in nature. On the contrary, when the system contains any type of underlying nonlinearity, the output signal is definitely non-Gaussian. In beam structures, the presence of fatigue-breathing cracks significantly influences the dynamic response characteristics under Gaussian excitation. The presence of such cracks alters the response to be nonlinear, and the non-Gaussianity of the system will arise. In order to examine the non-Gaussianity features and ability for the detection and localization of fatigue cracks, several breathing crack identification scenarios in beam-like structures are presented in this paper. The effects of single and multiple breathing cracks corresponding to different boundary conditions on the responses of beams are studied. The results are analyzed based on the higher-order time-domain transformations. Higher-order transformations, namely the skewness and kurtosis coefficients in addition to the Shannon entropy, are exploited to provide dynamic details about the response, which the conventional second-order statistics cannot show. The results exhibit that the proposed methods are robust and immune to noise and can detect and localize breathing cracks with different sensitivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitochondria play a pivotal role in energy generation and cellular physiological processes. These organelles are highly dynamic, constantly changing their morphology, cellular location, and distribution in response to cellular stress. In recent years, the phenomenon of mitochondrial transfer has attracted significant attention and interest from biologists and medical investigators. Intercellular mitochondrial transfer occurs in different ways, including tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs), extracellular vesicles (EVs), and gap junction channels (GJCs). According to research on intercellular mitochondrial transfer in physiological and pathological environments, mitochondrial transfer hold great potential for maintaining body homeostasis and regulating pathological processes. Multiple research groups have developed artificial mitochondrial transfer/transplantation (AMT/T) methods that transfer healthy mitochondria into damaged cells and recover cellular function. This paper reviews intercellular spontaneous mitochondrial transfer modes, mechanisms, and the latest methods of AMT/T. Furthermore, potential application value and mechanism of AMT/T in disease treatment are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prime objective of the present study was to develop enteric coated chitosan capsule containing capecitabine for targeting colorectal cancer cells. The study describes a new colonic drug delivery system utilizing capsule shells prepared from chitosan. Coating of drug filled chitosan capsule with pH dependent enteric polymer like HPMC K4M / Cellulose acetate phthalate provides it a special feature of releasing drug at colonic pH. The complex formation between HPMC K4M, cellulose acetate phthalate and chitosan capsule gives extended release of drug over longer period. The disintegration time of the developed enteric coated capsule (Batch F2) was found to be 78±0.86 min and drug release was observed to be 97 % at the end of 9 h in pH 8.5 buffer solution simulating the colon fluid. All the prepared batches exhibited no release of drug in the first 3 h in simulated gastric fluid pH 1.2 and intestinal fluid pH 6.8. Thus, the enteric coated chitosan capsule proved to be efficient to deliver the drug at colon in colorectal cancer disease, which minimizes the side effects, of anticancer drug in stomach and upper intestine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation involves freezing and storing of surgically retrieved ovarian tissue in liquid or vapour nitrogen below -190°C. The tissue can be thawed and transplanted back with the aim of restoring fertility or ovarian endocrine function. The techniques for human ovarian tissue freezing and transplantation have evolved over the last 20 years, particularly in the context of fertility preservation in pre-pubertal cancer patients. Fresh ovarian tissue transplantation, using an autograft or donor tissue, is a more recent development; it has the potential to preserve fertility and hormonal function in women who have their ovaries removed for benign gynaecological conditions. The techniques of ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation have progressed rapidly since inception; however, the evidence on the success of this intervention is largely based on case reports and case series.Objective and Rationale: The aim of this study was to systematically review the current evidence by incorporating study-level and individual patient-level meta-analyses of women who received ovarian transplants, including frozen-thawed transplant, fresh or donor graft.Search Methods: The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018115233). A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from database inception to October 2020. Authors were also contacted for individual patient data if relevant outcomes were not reported in the published manuscripts. Meta-analysis was performed using inverse-variance weighting to calculate summary estimates using a fixed-effects model.Outcomes: The review included 87 studies (735 women). Twenty studies reported on ≥5 cases of ovarian transplants and were included in the meta-analysis (568 women). Fertility outcomes included pregnancy, live birth and miscarriage rates, and endocrine outcomes included oestrogen, FSH and LH levels. The pooled rates were 37% (95% CI: 32-43%) for pregnancy, 28% (95% CI: 24-34%) for live birth and 37% (95% CI: 30-46%) for miscarriage following frozen ovarian tissue transplantation. Pooled mean for pre-transplant oestrogen was 101.6 pmol/l (95% CI: 47.9-155.3), which increased post-transplant to 522.4 pmol/l (95% CI: 315.4-729; mean difference: 228.24; 95% CI: 180.5-276). Pooled mean of pre-transplant FSH was 66.4 IU/l (95% CI: 52.8-84), which decreased post-transplant to 14.1 IU/l (95% CI: 10.9-17.3; mean difference 61.8; 95% CI: 57-66.6). The median time to return of FSH to a value <25 IU/l was 19 weeks (interquartile range: 15-26 weeks; range: 0.4-208 weeks). The median duration of graft function was 2.5 years (interquartile range: 1.4-3.4 years; range: 0.7-5 years). The analysis demonstrated that ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation could restore reproductive and hormonal functions in women. Further studies with larger samples of well-characterized populations are required to define the optimal retrieval, cryopreservation and transplantation processes.Wider Implications: Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation may not only be effective in restoring fertility but also the return of reproductive endocrine function. Although this technology was developed as a fertility preservation option, it may have the scope to be considered for endocrine function preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extracellular vehicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of cell and membranous particles originating from different cell compartments. EVs participate in many essential physiological functions and mediate fetal-maternal communications. Exosomes are the smallest unit of EVs, which are delivered to the extracellular space. Exosomes can be released by the umbilical cord, placenta, amniotic fluid, and amniotic membranes and are involved in angiogenesis, endothelial cell migration, and embryo implantation. Also, various diseases such as gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth, and fetal growth restriction can be related to the content of placental exosomes during pregnancy. Due to exosomes' ability to transport signaling molecules and their effect on sperm function, they can also play a role in male and female infertility. In the new insight, exosomal miRNA can diagnose and treat infertilities disorders. In this review, we focused on the functions of exosomes during pregnancy. F--7Z63PTFNUGcMoHRJPmr Video abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, the effects of Palm Oil Methyl Esters (POME) additives on fuel consumptions and exhaust emissions of a single-cylinder diesel engine fueled with algae-diesel fuel blends were studied. Five fuel blends were prepared based on volume percentages which are D100 (diesel fuel), 2.5AO97.5D (2.5% algae oil, 97.5% diesel fuel), 2.5POME2.5AO95D (2.5% POME, 2.5% algae oil, 97.5% diesel fuel), 3.5POME2.5AO94D and 4.5POME2.5AO93D. Next, fuel properties which are density, kinematic viscosity, and calorific value of all the blended fuels, were measured and analyzed. Engine tests were conducted on a single-cylinder diesel engine at a constant engine speed of 1500 rpm at various engine loads. The brake specific fuel consumption (BSFC), exhaust emissions of oxides of nitrogen (NOx), carbon moNOxide (CO), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were analyzed together during the experimental work. The obtained results for BSFC show that all fuel blends decreased with increasing engine load. The results obtained revealed that NOx and CO2 emissions increase, whereas CO emissions decrease with increasing engine load. The present work suggests 4.5POME2.5AO93D algae-diesel fuel blends with POME additive as a suitable eco-friendly alternative fuel as it gives better emission results compared to other fuel blends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility is one of the major problems faced in medicine. There are numerous factors that play a role in infertility. For example, numerous studies mention the impact of the quantity and quality of mitochondria in sexual gametes. This is a narrative review of the effects of the mitochondrial genome on fertility. We searched the PubMed, Science Direct, SID, Google Scholar, and Scopus databases for articles related to "Fertility, Infertility, Miscarriage, Mitochondria, Sperm, mtDNA, Oocytes" and other synonymous keywords from 2000 to 2020. The mitochondrial genome affects infertility in both male and female gametes; in sperm, it mainly releases free radicals. In the oocyte, a mutation in this genome can affect the amount of energy required after fertilisation, leading to gestation failure. In both cases, infertile cells have substantially less mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copies. The effects of mtDNA on gamete fertility occur via changes in oxidative phosphorylation and cellular energy production. Also, a reduction in the number of mtDNA copies is directly associated with sex cell infertility. Therefore, evaluation of the mitochondrial genome can be an excellent diagnostic option for couples who have children with neonatal disorders, infertile couples who seek assisted reproductive treatment, and those in whom assisted reproductive techniques have failed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging has been recognized to be a highly complex biological health problem with a high risk of chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, chronic bronchitis or emphysema, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Particularly, age-related turnover in adipose tissue is a major contributor to metabolic syndromes and shortened lifespan. Adipocytes undergo senescence in early stage, which results in adipose tissue metabolic dysfunction, redistribution, and inflammation. The well-established association between DNA methylation (DNAm) and aging has been observed in the past few decades. Indeed, age-related alteration in DNAm is highly tissue-specific. This review intends to summarize the advancements how DNAm changes coupled with aging process in adipose tissue, by which DNAm regulates cellular senescence, metabolic function, adipokine secretion and beiging process in adipocytes. Elucidation of the effect of DNAm on adipose aging would have great potential to the development of epigenetic therapeutic strategies against aging-related diseases in clinical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infertility has become one of the most common issues worldwide, which has negatively affected society and infertile couples. Meanwhile, male infertility is responsible for about 50% of infertility. Accordingly, a great number of researchers have focused on its treatment during the last few years; however, current therapies such as assisted reproductive technology (ART) are not effective enough in treating male infertility. Because of their self-renewal and differentiation capabilities and unlimited sources, stem cells have recently raised great hope in the treatment of reproductive system disorders. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can induce different numbers of specific cells, such as male and female gametes, demonstrating their potential application in the treatment of infertility. The present review aimed at identifying the causes and potential factors that influence male fertility. Besides, we highlighted the recent studies that investigated the efficiency of stem cells such as spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs), embryonic stem cells (ESCs), very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of various types of male infertility., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Mitochondria and the complex endomembrane system are hallmarks of eukaryotic cells. To date, it has been difficult to manipulate organelle structures within single live cells. We developed a FluidFM-based approach to extract, inject, and transplant organelles from and into living cells with subcellular spatial resolution. The technology combines atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and nanofluidics to achieve force and volume control with real-time inspection. We developed dedicated probes that allow minimally invasive entry into cells and optimized fluid flow to extract specific organelles. When extracting single or a defined number of mitochondria, their morphology transforms into a pearls-on-a-string phenotype due to locally applied fluidic forces. We show that the induced transition is calcium independent and results in isolated, intact mitochondria. Upon cell-to-cell transplantation, the transferred mitochondria fuse to the host cells mitochondrial network. Transplantation of healthy and drug-impaired mitochondria into primary keratinocytes allowed monitoring of mitochondrial subpopulation rescue. Fusion with the mitochondrial network of recipient cells occurred 20 minutes after transplantation and continued for over 16 hours. After transfer of mitochondria and cell propagation over generations, donor mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was replicated in recipient cells without the need for selection pressure. The approach opens new prospects for the study of organelle physiology and homeostasis, but also for therapy, mechanobiology, and synthetic biology. Mitochondria and the complex endomembrane system are hallmarks of eukaryotic cells, but it has proved difficult to manipulate organelle structures within single live cells. This study describes a novel microfluidic device that allows the extraction of organelles, including mitochondria, from viable cells and their reintroduction into recipient host cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present a novel extension of the well-known split-step Fourier transform (SSFT) approach for solving the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE), which incorporates the fiber loss term. While this essential equation governs the pulse propagation in a lossy optical fiber, it is not supported by an exact analytical solution. In this regard, extended versions of the Fourier pseudospectral method (FPSM) and Hopscotch method (HSM) are effectively established as well to cope with the fiber losses effects associated with the pulses' propagation through the fiber optics, and thus, numerous comparisons are exhaustively conducted among these three compelling numerical approaches to validate their reliability, stability, and accuracy. Based on this, the MATLAB numerical findings bolster that the extended version of the SSFT approach demonstrates superior performance over the other suggested schemes in simulating the solitons propagation in a lossy optical fiber. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this study was production, optimization, and fuel quality characterization of biodiesel from equal weight ratio blended acid oil of cottonseed and sunflower soapstock using silica sulfuric acid as a solid acid catalyst in laboratory scale. The physicochemical properties of soap stock samples and extracted acid oil from each soap stock were determined. The experiment was designed by design expert (version 11) software. The 5-level 4 factors (methanol to acid oil molar ratio, catalyst weight, stirring rate, and reaction time) were designed using the central composite design method. From the experimental results, the maximum biodiesel yield of 90.68% was obtained using methanol to acid oil molar ratio of 7:1 using catalyst 5.5 (%wt/wt) with a stirring rate of 300rpm at 3hr reaction time. The average value of triplicate experiment of biodiesel yield from the experimentation at optimized condition was 92.62%. The analysis of variance results indicated that satisfactory results were achieved. The carried out physiochemical properties of produced biodiesel were within a range and some were closest to American and European biodiesel standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the vital organelles for cell energy metabolism, mitochondria are essential for oocyte maturation, fertilization, and embryo development. Abnormalities in quantity, quality, and function of mitochondria are closely related to poor fertility and disorders, such as decreased ovarian reserve (DOR), premature ovarian aging (POA), and ovarian aging, as well as maternal mitochondrial genetic disease caused by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations or deletions. Mitochondria have begun to become a therapeutic target for infertility caused by factors such as poor oocyte quality, oocyte aging, and maternal mitochondrial genetic diseases. Mitochondrial replacement therapy (MRT) has attempted to use heterologous or autologous mitochondria to rebuild healthy state of oocyte by increasing the amount of mitochondria (e.g., partial ooplasm transfer, autologous mitochondrial transfer), or to stop the transmission of mtDNA diseases by replacing abnormal maternal mitochondria (e.g., pronuclei transfer, spindle transfer, polar body transfer). Among them, autologous mitochondrial transfer is the most promising therapeutic technology as of today which does not involve using a third party, but its clinical efficacy is controversial due to many factors such as the aging phenomenon of germ line cells, the authenticity of the existence of ovarian stem cells (OSC), and secondary damage caused by invasive surgery to patients with poor ovarian function. Therefore, the research of optimal autologous cell type that can be applied in autologous mitochondrial transfer is an area worthy of further exploration. Besides, the quality of germ cells can also be probably improved by the use of compounds that enhance mitochondrial activity (e.g., coenzyme Q10, resveratrol, melatonin), or by innovative gene editing technologies which have shown capability in reducing the risk of mtDNA diseases (e.g., CRISPR/Cas9, TALENTs). Though the current evidences from animal and clinical trials are not sufficient, and some solutions of technical problems are still needed, we believe this review will guide a new direction in the possible clinical applied mitochondrial-related therapeutic strategies in reproductive medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) play an important role in cell therapy and regenerative medicine. However, local nutritional deficiency often limits therapeutical effect of the transplanted cells. Acetyl l-carnitine (ALC) is a common energy metabolism regulator and free radical scavenger. This study investigated the effect of ALC on ADSCs exposed to severe serum-deprivation and explored the relative machanisms. Treating with 1 mM ALC improved proliferation and alleviated senescence of starved cells, accompanied with reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased protein expression of SOD1 and catalase. In addition, ALC inhibited apoptosis but increased starvation-induced autophagy, which might be related to the regulation of phases of dissociation of Bcl-2-Beclin1 and Bcl-2-Bax complexes. Evidence obtained by replacing ALC with N-acetylcysteine (N-AC) suggested that ROS might be the central inducer of autophagy, apoptosis and senescence. There was a difference between ALC and N-AC in the protection mechanism, that was, compared with N-AC, ALC maintained autophagy well at the same time as anti-oxidation. Inhibition of autophagy by 3-methyladenine (3-MA) partially offset the protective effect of ALC. However, despite low-level ROS and enhanced autophagy, ALC with high concentration (10 mM) markedly aggravated cell apoptosis and senescence, thus losing cytoprotection and even causing damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents civil engineering students' observations on the practical education they receive at public universities in Ethiopia. The teaching approach in Ethiopia heavily favours theory-based teaching over skills-based teaching and there has been a gap in studies addressing the issue. Final year civil engineering students from two major public universities in Ethiopia participated in the study. A standard questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistical analysis and statistical tests were carried out using SPSS to study distribution and relationship of items. Results indicated that there is a gap in the practical teaching approach at both universities, contrary to curriculum requirements and international guidelines. In addition, statistical tests indicated that theory-based teaching had decreased students' interest in civil engineering and their satisfaction in the education they received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To determine the clinical predictors of live birth in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) undergoing frozen-thawed embryo transfer (F-ET), and to determine whether these parameters can be used to develop a clinical nomogram model capable of predicting live birth outcomes for these women. Methods: In total, 1158 PCOS patients that were clinically pregnant following F-ET treatment were retrospectively enrolled in this study and randomly divided into the training cohort (n = 928) and the validation cohort (n = 230) at an 8:2 ratio. Relevant risk factors were selected via a logistic regression analysis approach based on the data from patients in the training cohort, and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. A nomogram was constructed based on relevant risk factors, and its performance was assessed based on its calibration and discriminative ability. Results: In total, 20 variables were analyzed in the present study, of which five were found to be independently associated with the odds of live birth in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, including advanced age, obesity, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and insulin resistance (IR). Having advanced age (OR:0.499, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.257 – 967), being obese (OR:0.506, 95% CI: 0.306 - 0.837), having higher TC levels (OR: 0.528, 95% CI: 0.423 - 0.660), having higher TG levels (OR: 0.585, 95% CI: 0.465 - 737), and exhibiting IR (OR:0.611, 95% CI: 0.416 - 0.896) were all independently associated with a reduced chance of achieving a live birth. A predictive nomogram incorporating these five variables was found to be well-calibrated and to exhibit good discriminatory capabilities, with an area under the curve (AUC) for the training group of 0.750 (95% CI, 0.709 - 0.788). In the independent validation cohort, this model also exhibited satisfactory goodness-of-fit and discriminative capabilities, with an AUC of 0.708 (95% CI, 0.615 - 0.781). Conclusions: The nomogram developed in this study may be of value as a tool for predicting the odds of live birth for PCOS patients undergoing F-ET, and has the potential to improve the efficiency of pre-transfer management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]