Search

Self-fertile cultivars of sweet cherry (Prunus avium) produce heavy crop load that is often associated with small and poor-quality fruits. Therefore, a crop load-management strategy is required to improve the quality of the fruit. In this study, the effect of blossom thinners on fruit set, yield and quality of the fruits was evaluated. Three types of blossom thinners were used at three different concentrations viz., ammonium thiosulphate (ATS) (1, 1.5 and 2%), naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (20, 40 and 60 ppm) and corn oil emulsion (1, 2 and 3%). These were sprayed at 80% of the bloom stage. The vegetative, flowering, fruit set and yield parameters were observed and recorded. Fruit quality was evaluated by measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of the fruits at the harvest stage. Negative correlation was found between fruit set and quality of fruit. The reduction in the crop load was associated with enhanced vegetative growth, including higher leaf:fruit ratio, higher supply and availability of photosynthates to the remaining fruitlets and reduced fruit firmness and titratable acidity. Fruit size, weight, volume, hue value, chroma value, soluble solid content (SSC), total sugars, SSC/acid ratio, anthocyanin and ascorbic acid content were enhanced as a result of thinning. The foliar spray of ATS at 2% and NAA at 60 ppm, at 80% bloom proved to be the most effective in reducing crop load and enhancing the fruit quality.

This double-blind, randomized controlled trial, tested fatty acid (FA) supplementation in children (ages 2- < 6 years) recently diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Participants received daily oral FA supplement containing omega-3 and omega-6 FA, or a placebo for 90 days based on participant weight. Erythrocyte FAs and the cytokines, IL-1[beta], IL-2, IFN?, were measured in plasma obtained from serial blood collections. Treatment increased omega-3 and omega-6 FA levels (1.40 mol% for EPA and 1.62 mol% for DHA) and reduced IL-2 levels compared to placebo (- 0.17 pg/mL, 95% CI - 0.31, - 0.02, d = - 0.62). Omega 3-6 treatment was tolerable and adherence was greater than 70%. Future research will assess the effects of Omega 3-6 treatment on ASD symptoms. Registered on 06/08/2018 with ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03550209.

Myeloid cells are recruited to damaged tissues where they can resolve infections and tumor growth or stimulate wound healing and tumor progression. Recruitment of these cells is regulated by integrins, a family of adhesion receptors that includes integrin CD11b. Here we report that, unexpectedly, integrin CD11b does not regulate myeloid cell recruitment to tumors but instead controls myeloid cell polarization and tumor growth. CD11b activation promotes pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization by stimulating expression of microRNA Let7a. In contrast, inhibition of CD11b prevents Let7a expression and induces cMyc expression, leading to immune suppressive macrophage polarization, vascular maturation, and accelerated tumor growth. Pharmacological activation of CD11b with a small molecule agonist, Leukadherin 1 (LA1), promotes pro-inflammatory macrophage polarization and suppresses tumor growth in animal models of murine and human cancer. These studies identify CD11b as negative regulator of immune suppression and a target for cancer immune therapy.

Background: Nanocomposite resins have been widely used in modern denture manufacturing. However, their long-term color stability is a concern for both dental professionals and patients. Purpose: to evaluate the effect of different beverages on the color stability of 3D-printed denture base resins modified with zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs). Methods: A total of 440 specimens were fabricated and distributed into 11 groups (n = 40/group). The control group of heat polymerized (PMMA) and five groups of two different 3D-printed resins (NextDent and ASIGA) as experimental groups with various concentrations of ZrO2NPs added to the 3D-printed resins (0.5 wt%, 1 wt%, 3 wt%, 5 wt%) in addition to one unmodified group per resin. Specimens per group are sorted into four subgroups (n = 10) according to tested beverages, as follows: coffee, tea, cola, and mineral water. Before immersion, all the specimens were exposed to 5000 thermal cycles. Color changes (ΔE00) were assessed prior (T0) and following immersion for 6 days (T1) and 12 days (T2) using a spectrophotometer. Color difference values were calculated by using CIEDE2000 color difference. Data was analyzed by ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test with a significant level of less than 0.05. Results: Tea produced the highest color change for both NextDent and ASIGA materials, whereas water caused the least color change on PMMA at T2. Increasing the immersion time resulted in more color changes, with tea and coffee showing significant differences. PMMA had considerably less color change than 3D-printed resins. The color change of 3D-printed increased after adding ZrO2NPs. Conclusions: Beverage type and immersion time have an impact on the color stability of unmodified and ZrO2NP-modified denture base resins with significant change after immersion in tea and coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of different printing orientations and post‐polymerization time with thermal cycling on the translucency of 3D‐printed denture base resins. Methods: Heat‐polymerized (HP) acrylic resin specimens were fabricated and 3D‐printed denture base materials (NextDent, ASIGA, FormLabs) were printed with different printing orientations (0, 45, 90 degrees) and subjected to different post‐polymerization times (15‐, 30‐, 60‐, and 90‐min). All specimens were polished and immersed in distilled water for 1 day at 37°C. CIEDE2000 was used to measure the translucency parameters (TP00) before and after thermal cycling (5000 cycles) recording the color parameters (L*, a*, b*) against a black and white background using a spectrophotometer. k‐factors ANOVA followed by post hoc Tukey's test (α =.05) was performed for statistical analysis. Results: The k‐factors ANOVA test showed a significant effect of resin material, post‐polymerization time, and printing orientation on translucency (p < 0.001). In comparison to HP, all 3D‐printed resins showed lower translucency with all post‐polymerization times and printing orientation (p < 0.001) except FormLabs resin (p > 0.05). For all 3D‐printed resins, the translucency increased, with increasing the post‐polymerization time (p < 0.001) and 60‐ and 90‐min showed the highest translucency. For printing orientation, 90 and 45 degrees significantly showed high translucency in comparison to 0 degrees (p < 0.001). FormLabs showed significantly higher translucency when compared with NextDent and ASIGA per respective printing orientation and post‐polymerization time. The translucency significantly decreased after thermal cycling for all tested resins (p < 0.001). Conclusion: The findings of this study demonstrated that the translucency of 3D‐printed resins is influenced by the printing orientation, post‐polymerization time, and resin type. As a result, choosing a resin type, and printing orientation, with a longer post‐polymerization time should be considered since it may improve the esthetic appearance of the 3D‐printed resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTC) are a heterogeneous group of T‐cell lymphoproliferative malignancies of the skin with limited treatment options, increased resistance and remission. Metabolic reprogramming is vital in orchestrating the uncontrolled growth and proliferation of cancer cells. Importantly, deregulated signalling plays a significant role in metabolic reprogramming. Considering the crucial role of metabolic reprogramming in cancer‐cell growth and proliferation, target identification and the development of novel and multi‐targeting agents are imperative. The present study explores the underlying mechanisms and metabolic signalling pathways associated with Glabridin mediated anti‐cancer actions in CTCL. Our results show that Glabridin significantly inhibits the growth of CTCL cells through induction of programmed cell death (PCD) such as apoptosis, autophagy and necrosis. Interestingly, results further show that Glabridin induces PCD in CTCL cells by targeting MAPK signalling pathways, particularly the activation of ERK. Further, Glabridin also sensitized CTCL cells to the anti‐cancer drug, bortezomib. Importantly, LC–MS‐based metabolomics analyses further showed that Glabridin targeted multiple metabolites and metabolic pathways intricately involved in cancer cell growth and proliferation in an ERK‐dependent fashion. Overall, our findings revealed that Glabridin induces PCD and attenuates the expression of regulatory proteins and metabolites involved in orchestrating the uncontrolled proliferation of CTCL cells through ERK activation. Therefore, Glabridin possesses important features of an ideal anti‐cancer agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate the effect of zirconium dioxide nanoparticles (ZrO2NPs) on the shear bond strength (SBS) of hard denture lines bonded to different denture base resins. Methods: Five different denture bases were used in this study: conventional heat-cured resin, IvoCad, AvaDent, NextDent, and FormLabs, in acrylic specimens of 10 × 10 × 2.5 mm3 (N = 150, n = 10). Specimens were centered at the bottom of a silicon mold to create an auto-polymerized holder. Three major groups of reline material were used: no ZrO2NPs (control), 2 wt.%, and 4 wt.% ZrO2NPs. Reline was bonded to the resin surface using a customized jig. After polymerization, specimens were stored in distilled water, and 5000 thermal cycles were performed. Each specimen was fixed to an Instron machine, and SBS was tested using a blade loaded (1 mm/min) at the resin interface until failure. Data was collected and analyzed using two-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test (α = 0.05). Results: AvaDent showed the highest SBS when compared with other denture base materials (p < 0.001) except for IvoCad. The addition of ZrO2NPs significantly decreased the SBS of AvaDent (p = 0.003) and IvoCad (p = 0.001), while heat polymerized resin, Formlabs, and NextDent showed no significant change in SBS (p > 0.05). Conclusion: CAD-CAM milled denture base resin showed higher SBS with pure denture reline. The addition of ZrO2NPs decreased the SBS of reline with CAD-CAM milled denture base resins but did not change bond strength with 3D printed and conventional denture base resins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relatedness between viral variants sampled at different locations through time can provide information pertinent to public health that cannot readily be obtained through standard surveillance methods. Here, we use virus genetic data to identify the transmission dynamics that drive the hepatitis C virus subtypes 4a (HCV4a) and 4d (HCV4d) epidemics in Saudi Arabia. We use a comprehensive dataset of newly generated and publicly available sequence data to infer the HCV4a and HCV4d evolutionary histories in a Bayesian statistical framework. We also introduce a novel analytical method for an objective assessment of the migration intensity between locations. We find that international host mobility patterns dominate over within country spread in shaping the Saudi Arabia HCV4a epidemic, while this may be different for the HCV4d epidemic. This indicates that the subtypes 4a and 4d burden can be most effectively reduced by combining the prioritized screening and treatment of Egyptian immigrants with domestic prevention campaigns. Our results highlight that the joint investigation of evolutionary and epidemiological processes can provide valuable public health information, even in the absence of extensive metadata information.

Purpose: This in vitro study aimed to evaluate and compare the physical and antimicrobial properties of provisional resin modified with two different nanoparticles, namely, silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) and titanium dioxide (nano-TiO2). Methods: A commonly used commercially available polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) provisional resin (Unifast III; GC Corp) was modified with nano-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 at different concentrations (1% wt. and 2.5% wt. respectively), while one unmodified group was used as a control. Rectangular specimens (60 × 10 × 3.3 mm) for strength (MPa) and elastic modulus, and square specimens (10 × 10 × 3.4 mm) for surface roughness (Ra, µm), hardness (VHN), and Candida albicans adhesion (colony forming unit, CFU/mL) were prepared and grouped into five groups (n = 10) according to (nanoparticles) NPs type and concentration. After polymerization, the specimens were finished and polished and then subjected to thermal cycling (5000 cycles). Analysis of variance and post-hoc Tukey test were used for data analysis (α = 0.05). The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used for fracture surface analysis and C. albicans count. Results: The addition of 1% nano-SiO2 significantly increased the flexural strength, and 1% nano-SiO2 contributed to the highest flexural strength value, while 2.5% nano-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 showed non-significant increases (p > 0.05). The elastic modulus increased significantly for both NPs. Among the NP-modified groups, the nano-SiO2 groups showed an increased elastic modulus compared to the nano-TiO2 groups. The hardness significantly increased with NPs addition with no significant differences between NPs-modified groups. Surface roughness increased with 2.5% nano-TiO2 addition, while 1% nano-TiO2 and nano-SiO2 showed non-significant differences. Nano-SiO2 and nano-TiO2 significantly decreased C. albicans adhesion, and nano-TiO2 groups were significantly superior in their antimicrobial effect compared with nano-SiO2. Conclusions: Low nano-SiO2 addition increased the flexural strength of provisional resin. The addition of NPs increased elastic modulus and hardness and decreased the C. albicans adhesion to provisional resin. Nano-SiO2 did not alter the surface roughness, while 2.5% of nano-TiO2 increased the surface roughness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explores the zooplanktonic community in Nilje Lake near Dombivli, emphasizing its role as a vital indicator of aquatic ecosystem health (Nougueria, 2001; Sampaio et al., 2002). The study aims to uncover the dynamics of zooplankton populations across seasons, crucial for understanding the lake's response to environmental changes. Nilje Lake, a crucial natural asset in Dombivli, experiences fluctuating flora and fauna influenced by climatic shifts (Mahor, 2011; Koli and Muley, 2012). The research investigates how zooplankton composition, abundance, and diversity vary in response to seasonal changes, considering factors like water temperature and nutrient availability. Zooplankton, microorganisms vital to the aquatic food web, bridge lower trophic levels (phytoplankton) to higher trophic levels (fish) (Hutchinson, 1967). Recognizing the seasonal dynamics of this community is essential for comprehending the lake's overall stability. Meticulous field sampling and laboratory analyses unveil distinct seasonal trends. Warmer months exhibit increased abundance of specific zooplankton species, potentially linked to elevated temperatures and nutrient availability. Conversely, cooler months witness a shift in composition and decreased overall abundance. These findings offer insights into zooplankton responses to seasonal fluctuations in Nilje Lake, guiding targeted conservation efforts (Singh, 2000). Local authorities and environmentalists can leverage this knowledge for effective lake health preservation. The research contributes to sustainable ecosystem management, emphasizing the necessity of ongoing studies for informed conservation strategies. Microscopic examination reveals fourteen zooplankton genera, with Rotifera dominating (6 genera), followed by Copepoda (4), Cladocera (3), and Ostracoda (1) (Carbonel et al, 1988; Külköylüoðlu, 2003). Cladocerans consistently dominate in abundance. Rotifers exhibit higher species composition, while copepods show lower abundance and diversity. Ostracods, indicative of water quality, demonstrate lower diversity and abundance (Delorme, 1969; Benson, 1990). These findings provide critical ecological insights, essential for targeted conservation strategies in Nilje Lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]