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In this document, we report on the activities and outcomes in the 12 Nextfood cases. The cases have reported these outcomes using a revised template, that was developed to further streamline case development reporting (see Appendix 4.1). The template covers both the descriptive elements of each case, and the reporting of the case development process and case research. The filled templates, i.e. the individual case development reports from the cases, form the basis of this document. The third year of the Nextfood project started, like previous years, after the deliverables had been submitted at the end of June 2020. Unfortunately, the Ethiopia case has been put on hold in view of the situation in northern Ethiopia. The Chile case was started in the third year of the Nextfood project. In this third year, further case development was facilitated through workshops for all cases and peer-learning groups for the cases. Additionally, the WP2 leaders set up an individual meeting with each case in October 2020. The workshops covered challenges that several cases were facing, and guidance from the WP2 leaders on how to overcome those challenges. Through these workshops, the work across the cases became more streamlined. The four peer learning groups focused on the following topics, as selected by the cases themselves: Analysing competence development, qualitative data analysis, reflection, and the multi-actor approach. This last peer learning group gradually started focusing more on the topic of online action-oriented learning, due to the significance of that topic under the given Covid-19 pandemic. Several facilitators and researchers in the cases gave very positive feedback on their participation in the peer learning groups. They mentioned that they learned a lot from participating, specifically on issues that they had been struggling with for a while already. This document will start by presenting the amended template structure, before providing summaries from each of the case development reports. All the individual case development reports will follow thereafter.

The aim of the present work was to increase bacterial adhesion on anode via inducing membrane modifications to enhance textile wastewater treatment in Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). Real textile wastew...

With the huge amount of published research papers, retrieving relevant information is a difficult task for any researcher. Effective clustering algorithms can help improve and simplify the retrieval process. Here, we propose an approach for automatic clustering for text document using a Self-Organizing Map (SOM). It is one of unsupervised artificial neural network that widely used for data analysis, data compression, clustering, and data mining. The quality and accuracy of a SOM algorithm depends on the selection of values for some of its parameters which are its initial learning rate, SOM matrix dimensions, and the number of iterations. Best values are typically selected using trial and error; however, in the current paper we suggest a more systematic approach to parameters optimization using the genetic algorithm. The proposed method is applied to cluster 3 scientific papers datasets using their keywords. Similar research papers were mapped closer to each other. Clustering results were validated using the Dunn index.

Platelet rich plasma contains a collection of growth factors, and an optimal formulation, named O-rPRP, contains the highest possible concentration of growth factors. Purpose Challenging the healing power of O-rPRP in a high-galactose diet-induced premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) experimental rat model. Methods Rats were divided into four groups of ten rats each and treated for four week as follows; 1) the control group, fed with normal diet and received intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of PBS once/week; 2) the POI group, fed with galactose diet (50%) and received PBS (i.p.) once/week; 3) the POI/O-rPRP group, fed a 50% galactose diet and received O-rPRP (i.p.) once/week; 4) the O-rPRP group (negative control), fed with a normal diet and received O-rPRP (i.p.) once/week. The levels of galactose, follicle stimulating hormone, 17 β-estradiol, anti-mullerian hormone and inhibin B were measured in serum samples. Western blotting and quantitative real-time PCR assays were employed to investigate the levels of miR-223, β1 integrin, p70S6k and MCL-1 in ovarian tissues. Results After O-rPRP treatment, β1 integrin expression was enhanced, and miR-223 expression was decreased. Unlike the untreated galactose group, in the group treated with O-rPRP, p70S6k and MCL-1 expression levels were increased, indicating that the mTOR growth signaling pathway was active and that apoptosis was inactive. After the introduction of O-rPRP, the number of follicles and the follicular maturation improved, which was consistent with the improvement of inhibin B levels and subsequent inhibition of FSH. Conclusion O-rPRP inhibited galactose-induced excessive atresia and provided an overall protective effect on the ovarian follicles., Alternative medicine; Regenerative medicine; Reproductive hormone; Reproductive system; Toxicology; Cell biology; Apoptosis; Galactosemia; mTOR; Ovarian insufficiency; Platelet rich plasma.

Gum Arabic (GA), parsley, and corn silk have been traditionally used for renal failure patients worldwide. This study aimed at probing the mechanism of the combined extracts, namely, GA (3 g/kg/day), parsley (1 g/kg/day), and corn silk (200 mg/kg/day), as nephroprotective agents in mice after amikacin (1.2 g/kg) single dose through exploration of their action on G-protein coupled receptors (GPR) 41 and 43 and the ensuing lysosomal biogenesis. Western blotting was employed for renal levels of bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) and cytosolic cathepsin D; cell death markers, nuclear transcription factor EB (TFEB), and lysosomal associated membrane protein-1 (LAMP-1); and lysosomal biogenesis indicators. Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and docking were also employed. After amikacin treatment, BAX and cathepsin D levels were upregulated while LAMP-1 and nuclear TFEB levels were inhibited. The combined extracts inhibited BAX and cytosolic cathepsin D but upregulated LAMP-1 and nuclear TFEB levels. Docking confirmed GPR modulatory signaling. The combined extracts showed GPR signal modulatory properties that triggered lysosome synthesis and contributed to reversing the adverse effects of amikacin on renal tissues.

Background Recently, depression has been envisioned as more than an alteration in neurotransmitters centered around receptor signaling pathways. Consequently, the precise mechanisms of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressant drugs such as fluoxetine are being revisited. Zinc is a trace element that has been long implicated in the psychopathology and therapy of depression. Zinc has been found to be sequestered and dispensed during stress and inflammation through a family of proteins called metallothioneins (MTs). In addition, MTs are well known for their antioxidant and therefore cytoprotective action. Changes in MTs, their upstream regulators and downstream effectors in response to fluoxetine have not been yet studied. The aim of the present study is to examine whether depression-induced changes in protein levels and mRNA levels of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), MTs, antioxidant defensive enzyme heme oxygenase (HO-1), zinc-specific receptor GPR39 and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the hippocampus can be reversed by fluoxetine treatment, zinc supplementation or a combination of the two. Material and methods The present study investigated the effect of chronic (4 weeks) combined treatment with zinc hydroaspartate (15 mg/kg) and fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) on a chronic mild stress model (CMS) in male Sprague–Dawley rats. Results Hippocampal mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1, MTs, GPR39 (protein level only) and BDNF were significantly higher in response to a combined therapy of fluoxetine and zinc than to either monotherapy. Additionally, HO-1 and MTs gene expression was correlated with that of Nrf2 in the FLX-only group. Conclusion Fluoxetine therapy activated the expression of MTs and HO-1 through an Nrf2-dependent pathway. When FLX was escorted by zinc, activated MTs had a positive impact on BDNF through the zinc signaling receptor GPR39, resulting in general improvement in neuronal plasticity as well as reduction of neuronal atrophy and neuronal cell loss.

A Self-Organizing Map (SOM) is a powerful tool for data analysis, clustering, and dimensionality reduction. It is an unsupervised artificial neural network that maps a set of n-dimensional vectors to a two-dimensional topographic map. Being unsupervised, SOMs need little input to be successfully deployed. The only inputs needed by a SOM are its own parameters such as its size, number of iterations, and its initial learning rate. The quality and accuracy of the solution offered by a SOM depend on choosing the right values for such parameters. Different attempts have been made to use the genetic algorithm to optimize these parameters for random inputs or for specific applications such as the traveling salesman problem. To the best knowledge of the authors, no roadmaps for selecting these parameters were presented in the literature. In this paper, we present the first results of a proposed roadmap for optimizing these parameters using the genetic algorithm and we show its effectiveness by applying it on the classical color clustering problem as a case study.

The slow electron transfer between microbial outer membrane and electrode surface is considered one of the limitations of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) performance. The aim of the present work is to assess the role of palladium α-lipoic acid nanocomplex compound (PLAC) in promoting bacteria-anode interfacial electron transfer, by studying the dielectric properties of

A biosurfactant producing Gram positive bacterium isolated from anodic biofilm of textile wastewater fed MFC was identified as Bacillus sp. MFC (Accession number: MT322244). Scanning Electron Microscopy of the bacterium showed appendages, the bacterium forms biofilm on Congo red agar medium. The obtained results showed that the addition of 5 mg/l endogenous biosurfactant to the bacterial cells resulted in 19-fold increase in bacterial surface-bound exopolysaccharides (EPS) and 1.94-fold increase in biofilm. However, when the biosurfactant concentration increased to 20 and 40 mg/l, EPS and biofilm decreased and the cells lost their colony forming ability. The dielectric properties of the bacterial cells showed increase in conductivity and relative permittivity with increasing biosurfactant concentrations. The shape of the voltammogram currents peak, their location and Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) suggest the involvement of biofilm as direct electron transfer pathway. The average voltage obtained was 0.65 V as compared to 0.45 V for the control MFC. Decolourization was tested for Congo red in a double chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), the results showed 2-fold increase in decolourization when biosurfactant is added post biofilm formation. The results confirm that Bacillus sp. MFC possess electrogenic properties and that adding low concentrations of endogenous biosurfactant to 24 h biofilm accelerates electron transfer by inducing perforations in the cell wall and increasing EPS as an electron transfer transient medium. Therefore, MFC performance can be enhanced.

Introduction: Cancer cells may exhibit outsourcing of their high energy need in order to avoid the intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis. Reduced mitochondrial respiration and accumulation of mitochondrial genome mutations are among metabolic transformations in this regard. Mitochondrial humanin (MT-RNR2) is a small peptide with anti-apoptotic activities attributed to binding some pro-apoptotic proteins. Aim of the work: The current study aims at investigating the expression of mitochondrial humanin in bladder tumor cells and the possible casting of humanin anti-apoptotic action through orchestrating some of the mitochondrial metabolic enzymes. Material and methods: Here messenger RNA of humanin, succinate dehydrogenase, glutaminase, isocitrate dehydrogenase were compared in tissues from patients with T2 bladder carcinoma in comparison to tumor associated normal tissues from the same patients. Levels of lactate and mitochondrial pyruvate carrier (MPC1) mRNA were determined to scrutinize the prevalence of aerobic glycolysis. Results: The present study found that tumor cells had suppressed aerobic glycolysis, augmented mitochondrial respiration and interrupted tricarboxylic acid cycle, all of which were suggested to serve tumor aggressiveness. MT-RNR2 was found closely related to the alterations in mitochondrial activity. Conclusion: MT-RNR2 plays its anti-apoptotic role partly by avoiding deploying energy from complete oxidation of organic compounds to inorganic wastes. Thus MT-RNR2 can potentially serve as a new biomarker in the diagnosis of bladder carcinoma especially that it is present in blood circulation.

Background: Living organisms face various kinds of environmental stressors every day that affect the immune system. The spleen plays key role in the immune responses. There is increasing interest in the immunological role played by estrogen in females especially in cases of stress and senility. Aim of the work: To study the effect of estrogen administration on the white pulp of the spleen of senile female albino rats and its possible protective role in case of stress exposure on the immune cells, estrogen receptors distribution and cell apoptosis within the white pulp of the spleen. Materials and Methods: Twenty senile female albino rats were divided into four groups (5 rats/group): Group A, negative control that received daily subcutaneous injection (s.c. inj.) of sesame oil for one week, Group B, rats received s.c. estradiol inj. (40µg/kg BW) for one week, Group C, rats were subjected to immobilization stress for three successive days after s.c. sesame oil inj. for one week, Group D, rats received s.c. estradiol inj.one week before the same stress exposure. All rats were sacrificed at the end of the experiment. Spleen samples were processed for light and electron microscopic examination. Paraffin embedded tissues were sectioned and immune stained in the four groups for estrogen receptors detection, CD3 (T lymphocyte immune marker) and CD20 (B lymphocytes immune marker) distribution also immune-staining for apoptosis was performed in the groups subjected to stress. Results: Estrogen administration resulted in immune cell proliferation in lymphoid follicles of the spleen; an increase in both CD3 and CD20 positively stained cells and estrogen receptors. Stress exposure (Group C) resulted in depletion of the splenic lymphoid follicles, weak immune staining for Estrogen Receptors (ER), dense immune staining for apoptosis, weak immune staining for CD3 and CD20 in contrast to the group protected by estrogen (Group D) which showed preserved white pulp follicles, weak staining for apoptosis marker, preserved immune staining for CD3 and CD20 and positive staining for ER. Electron microscopic examination showed the ultrastructure of lymphocytes in Group A, increased plasma cell in Group B, destructed lymphocytes in Group C and preserved lymphocytes in Group D. Conclusion: Estrogen administration showed immune cell stimulation in senile rats. In addition, estrogen injection prior to stress exposure seemed to reduce the hazardous effect of stress on the immune cells of the spleen. Exogenous estrogen treatment may become clinically important to enhance the immune response in senile female patients especially in stress exposure.