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Background and Objectives: High electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) are designed so that they are able to work at higher frequencies than conventional transistors and this has made them an attractive topic of research.Methods: Two developed designs of InGaAs/InAlAs high electron mobility transistors have been studied. The proposed laterally contacted HEMTs satisfy the desired high frequency characteristics and are good candidates for high frequency applications. Two kinds of HEMTs have been designed and simulated: single-gate laterally contacted HEMT (SGLC-HEMT) and doublegate laterally contacted HEMT (DGLC-HEMT).Results: The proposed SGLC-HEMT exhibits 111 GHz current-gain cut-off frequency. By using double-gate design, the current-gain cut-off frequency has been increased to 256 GHz. The simulation results show that the maximum oscillation frequency for the proposed SGLC and DGLC HEMTs, are 410 GHz and 768 GHz, respectively. The maximum value of transconductance (gm) for SGLC-HEMT is obtained 620 mS/mm while it is 1130 mS/mm for DGLC-HEMT.Conclusion: In order to increase the fT and fmax, instead of decreasing the gate length which is a restricted solution because of short channel effects, a very efficient structure was proposed. The designed HEMT benefits from laterally source and drain contacts. The results showed superior performance of the laterally contacted HEMTs compared to top contacted ones. The best frequency response was obtained for DGLC-HEMT. The proposed DG-HEMT design could improve the current-gain cut-off frequency and maximum oscillation frequency to 256 GHz and 768 GHz, respectively. The comparison of the performance of the DGLC-HEMT with SGLC-HEMT and with previously reported double gate HEMTs, verified the significant improvements in DC and AC characteristics of the HEMTs caused by the proposed design.

Sixty one-day old chickens were divided into 6 equal groups and treated with 0, 2, 5, 10, 15 and 25 mg/kg levamisole from day 1 to 45. Then, all birds sacrificed and samples were taken from duode-num, jejunum and ileum. Cross-sections were made and H&E stained. Histomorphometric parameters including villus height, crypt depth, villus width, sub mucosal width, muscular layer width and the villus height/crypt depth ratio were determined. Duodenal villi became wider in all levamisole treated groups but only the highest dose resulted in taller villi. Jejunal villi became taller without significant change in their width. This was accompanied by a decrease in crypt depth and increased villus height/crypt depth ratio in all treated groups. In ileum, only birds treated with the highest dose had higher villus height, although levamisole at all doses resulted in wider villi. Sub mucosal width in-creased in birds treated with 15 and 25 mg/kg levamisole. In conclusion, levamisole can improve histomorphometric parameters of small intestinal wall of broiler chickens. This can partly explain the mechanism for previously described positive effects of levamisole on performance of broilers.

Use of immunomodulators has increased, particularly in poultry production around the world. The study evaluates effect of levamisole HCl (LMS) as an immunostimulatory agent on antibody titres and histomorphometric parameters of caecal tonsils, bursa and thymus of broilers. Sixty chickens were treated with 0 (control), 2, 5, 10, 15 and 25 mg/kg LMS in drinking water for 45 days. Antibody titre against ND, AI, IBD and IB was assayed periodically. At the end of the experiment, histological sec-tions were made from caecal tonsils, bursa and thymus. LMS had no effect on body, caecal tonsil and bursa weights. Treated birds, except those at 15 mg/kg, showed significantly higher antibody titres in some of the sampling occasions. In caecal tonsils, the highest dose had the most remarkable effect. In bursa, the most profound effect of this dose was on number of follicles per plica. Thymus was the least affected organ. In conclusion, LMS administration affected positively active antibody titres and histomorphometric parameters of caecal tonsils, bursa and less profoundly thymus in normal broilers.

Surveying and identifying objectives are the first step to be taken in engineering educational programming, so that if carried out properly, a more objective basis for correlating educations with organizational needs will be achievable. In this article it is aimed to that using comparative- surveying methods find out training needs of engineers in Iran electronic industries company regarding technical, human and perceptional skills. Statistic society in this research is comprised of all engineers under training course between 2005 to 2009. Since, it is not feasible to focus on all individuals, 150 people were adopted randomly and asked to fill out a questionnaire. One hundred and ten questionnaires were returned. The questionnaire includes 30 questions, which are at 92% level of validity based on Chronbach’s Alpha, that is the questionnaire has good stability. An information analysis was performed through comparative and deductive methods. Findings of the study illustrates that majority of engineers need more technical and perceptional training. In addition, our analyses showed that there is no meaningful relation between type degree, work experiences and authorities of engineers and required skills.

Background and Objectives: In recent years, social networking sites and software have become one of the most influential phenomena among new technologies. Student-teacher learning and their professional development also take place in this context, both formally and informally. In this regard, the purpose of the present study is to design a curriculum model for the use of informal learning based on Authorized social networks to develop the student-teacher profession.Methods: The method of this research was done with a multi-method approach. To design the above model, the grounded theory method was first used. Participants in this study were all primary school teachers in Farhan Gian University of South Khorasan in 2018-2019. Based on purposive sampling with semi-structured interviews, until the theoretical saturation of the data, 15 of these students were interviewed. To analyze the data, using the dimension analysis approach and during the open, pivotal and selective coding steps, the existing model of informal learning based on student-teacher social networks was extracted for their professional development. To obtain the validity and verifiability of the data, two methods of reviewing the participants and reviewing the non-participating experts in the research were used. In the end, with the theoretical research method and based on previous findings, at first, the nine elements of Klein were the basis of the work and based on it, the desired model was designed. In the next step, the basic concepts or the same characteristics of the curriculum elements and structural concepts, which are in fact the same as identifying the relationship between these elements, were identified. Finally, the model presented by the experts was validated.Findings: Findings showed that goals in unpredictable social networks are flexible and continuous, which have the property of snowballs and should be validated. Content on social media requires features such as; be in tune with the audience, pave the way for critical thinking, action and screening. Learning activities; They create self-sufficiency and belonging, satisfy desires, motivate and lay the groundwork for individual and group education. Materials and resources; Diverse, easy to access, fluid and interactive. Learner grouping; It is non-linear, optional and based on extensive collaboration and online responsiveness. Also, on social media; Enough time to reflect on the answer, the possibility of communicating with communication nodes at any time, the possibility of wasting useful time with attractive content and achieving a large amount of information in a short time. In addition, access to information and educational resources is available everywhere, and the place of learning is the creator of opportunities and is based on ecology and interactive communication. Teaching strategies; Problem-oriented, interactive, based on inclusive buoyancy and with flexible instructor guidance. Evaluation methods; It is quality-oriented, process-oriented, self-assessing, continuous and based on instant feedback. The findings also showed that most experts confirmed the validity of the model in the criteria of validity, coherence, perceptibility, innovation, usability, acceptability and comprehensiveness.Conclusion: Due to the characteristics of social network-based curriculum elements, curriculum planners are suggested to use the coordinates of these elements to design a curriculum based on social networks in order to achieve the development of student-teacher careers. It is also suggested that Farhangian University provides the necessary infrastructure for the purposeful use of social networks for the development of student-teacher professions.

Background and Objectives: To use social media effectively, we need to identify and apply the implications of supportive theories using social media. Different learning theories provide a variety of interpretations of learning. Different learning theories lead to diverse orientations and outcomes in curriculum planning. Therefore, learning theories serve as a framework for guiding decisions during the design and implementation of the curriculum. The aim of this study was to identify the types of learning theories that support the use of social networks and to analyze learning theories on social networks in order to provide a theoretical basis for designing curricula. Methods: For this study, qualitative content analysis method was used. The statistical population of this study consists of all valid documents related to the subject- supportive theories of learning in social networks- from 1995 to 2018 (n=30) selected based on purposeful sampling. The content of 30 documents were analyzed. The analysis unit is the theme. To analyze the findings, the main and sub-classes were extracted after open coding. To ensure the validity of the research, the methods of review by members, triangulation of data sources and review by colleagues were used, and to ensure reliability, the agreement method between the two coders was used. Findings: The findings showed a variety of context-based, community-based, and person-centered theories that support learning on social media. The findings also include four main categories: It showed the dimensions of social networks, network interactions, types of learning, and curriculum elements. It was shown that network communication in social networks includes social interaction, interpersonal communication and interactive communication with admin and teacher-student communication, which is broad and based on community sharing, central agreement and based on sharing ideas. Types of learning on social networks include; network learning, situational learning, problem-based learning, personal learning, and indirect learning. Elements of the curriculum include; network objectives, network content, network learning environment, network inclusiveness, and network evaluation. Network Objectives; features such as unpredictability, divergence, unpredictability, variability, nonlinearity, flexibility, value, reproductive and interactive. Network content has some features such as distributed knowledge, multiplicity of resources, reliable resources, accessibility, context-based knowledge, shared knowledge, inclusive knowledge, self-centered information, voluntary knowledge creation, interchangeable content. The network environment includes technical and educational features. Among the technical features of this environment, we can mention the diversity of language, the existence of communication tools, the possibility of customizing the message and simulating communication. The educational features of this environment also include; being rich is one of the tools of knowledge management, situational awareness, personalized information, open and flexible environment. The network learner is knowledgeable and up-to-date, independent and active, able to do several things together. The network learner is an actor, and social agent who processes, publishes, and manages knowledge on a regular basis. Evaluation on social media is a nonlinear process, formative, conscious, and continuous that is accompanied by the elimination of standard rankings and tests. Conclusion: Based on the research results, it is suggested that those in charge of education use the coordinates of social network-based curriculum elements to design a curriculum based on social networks. For further research it is suggested that researchers implement the findings in an experimental environment to take a positive step towards the optimal use of social networks to learners’ learning outcome. ===================================================================================== COPYRIGHTS ©2020 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, as long as the original authors and source are cited. No permission is required from the authors or the publishers. =====================================================================================

Phospholipid (PL) is an essential nutrient that has vital effects on growth, stress resistance, and early development in marine fish larvae. In this regard, a 30-day feeding experiment was conducted in order to examine the effects of live prey enrichment with graded levels of soy lecithin (SL) on some physiological responses of Acanthopagrus latus larvae. Four experimental emulsion levels of SL were used to enrich rotifer and Artemia including very low (2%, N-Nil), low (4%, L), medium (8%, M), and high (12%, H). Newly hatched larvae were distributed into 12,250-L cylindrical tanks with an initial density of 15,000 larvae in each tank that was supplied with natural seawater (23 ± 1°C; 40.0 ± 1.0 g L -1 ). Larvae fed live prey enriched with 4% SL significantly had higher wet weight gain than other treatments. Air exposure and osmotic activity tests were also performed to detect larval resistance to stress. Larvae fed live prey enriched with 8% and 12% SL had higher survival compared to the other two groups. The accumulation of arachidonic (ARA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) was increased in the whole body of larvae fed high SL-supplemented live prey. Alkaline phosphatase and aminopeptidase N activities in the guts brush border membrane of larvae in M and H groups were higher than other treatments. The trypsin and chymotrypsin activities in the N group were lower than in other groups. The highest and lowest amylase activities were in the H and N groups, respectively. The activity of catalase in the whole body of the M group was higher than the N group and the glutathione reductase activity was significantly increased in the M and L groups compared to the N and H groups. Total antioxidant capacity in the whole body of larvae in the N group was lower than in the other treatments. In summary, moderate levels of SL (4%-8%) are suggested for the enrichment of live prey in A. latus., (© 2024 AOCS.)

A 30-day research was carried out to examine the impacts of dietary taurine (Tau) on ovaries maturation and physiological responses of Penaeus vannamei female brooders (29.4 ± 0.2 g). A basal diet (497 g kg -1 protein and 140 g kg -1 lipid) was administered with graded levels of Tau ranging from 0 (control) to 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 g kg -1 . A total of 180 shrimp brooders were stocked into 18 250 L black circular polyethylene tanks. Female ( n  = 5) and male ( n  = 5) shrimps were stocked in each tank and supplied with seawater (35.2 ± 3.1 g L -1 salinity, 28.9 ± 1.4°C) and the experimental feeds were offered to shrimp twice a day at 5% of their biomass. Supplementing diet with 4-8 g Tau kg -1 reduced latency period after eye stalk ablation to spawning (5-6 days) that was associated with higher hepatopancreatic and gonadosomatic (except for 8 g Tau kg -1 diet) indices ( p < 0.05). With 10 g Tau kg -1 diet hepatopancreas glutathione peroxidase activity and total antioxidant capacity increased and catalase activity increased by 6 g Tau kg -1 diet. Supplementing diet with Tau-enhanced bile-salt dependent lipase activity in the gut. Docosahexaenoic acid and Tau levels were elevated in the ovaries with the increment of dietary Tau level ( p < 0.05). Plasma total protein, calcium, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein increased with inclusion of 6-10 g Tau kg -1 diet. The transcription levels of vitellogenin , insulin-like growth factor II , superoxide dismutase , prophenoloxidase , and lysozyme genes transcription levels were upregulated in the hepatopancreas of shrimp brooders fed 6-10 g Tau kg -1 diet ( p < 0.05). It seems that Tau at 4-8 g kg -1 diet by modulating lipid metabolism, antioxidant capacity, and immunocompetence can improve maturation and health status of P. vannamei brooders., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mansour Torfi Mozanzadeh et al.)

In the ever-evolving world of materials science, modifying natural polymers has garnered significant attention across diverse industries, driven by their inherent availability and cost-effectiveness. Among these, chitosan, a pseudo-natural cationic polymer, has emerged as a versatile player, finding applications in medical, pharmaceutical, filtration, and textile sectors, owing to its exceptional biodegradability, non-allergenicity, antimicrobial properties, and eco-friendly nature. However, the limitations of chitosan, such as low surface area, poor solubility at neutral to alkaline pH, and inadequate thermal-mechanical properties, have prompted researchers to explore innovative modification strategies, including graft copolymerization, quaternization, and cross-linking. This review delves into the remarkable potential of a specific chitosan derivative, N-[(2-hydroxy-3-trimethylammonium) propyl] chitosan salts (N-HTCS), a quaternized form of chitosan. This review uniquely examines the properties and multifaceted applications of N-HTCS, spanning biomedical, textile, food packaging, and environmental domains. The outstanding features of N-HTCS, including antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial bioactivity, as well as biocompatibility, biodegradability, hemostatic, piezoelectric, superparamagnetic, water solubility, and permeation-enhancing effects, offer novel solutions to the limitations of unmodified chitosan. Notably, while previous reviews have addressed the significance of chitosan, this work presents a groundbreaking focus on the N-HTCS derivative, providing a fresh perspective and paving the way for the design and engineering of cutting-edge N-HTCS-based devices and applications. The comprehensive coverage of this review aims to inspire researchers and industry professionals to explore the untapped potential of this remarkable chitosan derivative, unlocking new frontiers in material science and technology., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Acetaminophen is the most widely antipyretic analgesic medicine used in adults and children worldwide. Rectal acetaminophen is widely used in children who resist or cannot take oral medications. This study was designed to compare the efficacy of rectal and IV acetaminophen in children with fever and mild to moderate pain., Patients and Methods: Total 60 children aged six months to 6 years, with fever and pain, that were treated with rectal or intravenous acetaminophen were selected and assigned in two groups. The IV group received 10mg/kg paracetamol as an IV infusion, and the rectal group received a 15mg/kg dose immediately after admission. Pain score was calculated using the FLACC method, and the axillary temperature was recorded at baseline and then 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 6hours after drug administration. Blood samples were collected at baseline and then at 30min-intervals for the first 90minutes., Results: The trend of changes in mean pain score at different time intervals was significantly different between the two groups. Body temperature decrease was more prominent in the IV group. The plasma concentration increased in both groups significantly with time. This increase was sharper in the IV group, just in the first 60minutes after drug administration., Conclusions: IV acetaminophen has more rapid onset of action, while rectal dosage form control fever and pain for longer duration. Considering its favorable effects with ease of administration and lower cost, rectal acetaminophen can be a reasonable option in selected patients with pain or fever., (Copyright © 2024 Académie Nationale de Pharmacie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

There is increasing evidence that selenium (Se) and its major transport protein, selenoprotein-P (SePP), may be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). However, the association of serum Se and SePP levels with circulating adipokines in this population has not received sufficient attention. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the associations of serum Se and SePP with circulating adipokine levels in patients with PCOS. In this cross-sectional study, 115 patients aged 18-45 years with PCOS diagnosed according to the Rotterdam Consensus Criteria were recruited. The general characteristics of the participants were collected using a general questionnaire and anthropometric measurements were taken. Blood samples were obtained and serum levels of leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, resistin, and omentin-1, as well as markers of glucose metabolism, were measured. Serum levels of Se and SePP were inversely correlated with fasting blood glucose (FBS), serum insulin, and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In addition, serum levels of Se and SePP were positively correlated with serum levels of adiponectin and visfatin. Although there was no significant correlation between serum Se and serum omentin-1 levels, a significant positive correlation was found between serum SePP levels and this adipokine. The present study found that serum Se and SePP levels were positively correlated with serum adiponectin and visfatin levels. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Aim: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent chronic condition associated with significant pain, disability, and healthcare costs, particularly among the elderly population. Despite the considerable burden of KOA, effective treatment options for managing the condition's underlying causes remain limited. This case-control study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) and knee osteoarthritis., Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 105 patients with confirmed KOA and 210 controls. KOA was diagnosed based on the American College of Rheumatology criteria. Dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) was calculated based on the ferric-reducing antioxidant power method., Results: The mean age and BMI of the participants were 53.6 ± 8.8 years old and 27.3 ± 2.7 kg/m 2 , respectively. The study participant's DTAC score ranged from 3.56 to 25.32 with a mean and SD of 12.46 ± 5.12. In the crude model, individuals in the highest quartile of DTAC score had 71% lower odds of having knee osteoarthritis compared to those in the first quartile (OR: 0.29, 95%CI: 0.15 to 0.58, P-trend < 0.001). These associations remained significant after adjustment for potential confounders including age, sex, energy intake, family history of osteoarthritis, vitamin D and calcium use, physical activity level, cigarette smoking and BMI. Although the odds of having knee osteoarthritis decreased with increasing quartiles of DTAC in both sexes, this relationship was stronger among males than females., Conclusion: The results of this study showed that there was an inverse correlation between DTAC and KOA among the Iranian patients with KOA., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Trigonella foenum-graecum, known as fenugreek, belongs to the leguminous family of wild growth in Western Asia, Europe, the Mediterranean, and Asia; its ripe seeds contain a pool of bioactive substances with great potential in the food industry and medicine. In this study, fenugreek seed mucilage (FSM) was extracted and characterized in its structural properties by X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Then, the applicability of FSM as an antimicrobial agent was demonstrated via the development of novel, active, edible FSM-based biofilms containing carboxymethyl cellulose and rosemary essential oil (REO). Incorporating REO in the biofilms brought about specific changes in Fourier-transform infrared spectra, affecting thermal degradation behavior. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy morphography showed an even distribution of REO and smoother surfaces in the loaded films. Besides, the solubility tests evidenced a reduction in water solubility with increasing REO concentration from 1 to 3 wt%. The biological assay evidenced the antimicrobial activity of REO-loaded biofilms against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Finally, whole apples were dip-coated with FSM-based solutions to showcase future edible systems. The REO-loaded biofilms extended the shelf life of apples to 30 days, demonstrating their potential for sustainable and active coatings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Diet quality in childhood and adolescence can affect health outcomes such as physical and cognitive growth and preventing chronic diseases in adulthood. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between diet quality using the modified youth healthy eating index (MYHEI) with socioeconomic factors and nutrition status in 7-12-year-old children in Iran. This descriptive-cross-sectional study was performed on 580 students in Zabol, Iran, selected through multistage cluster sampling. The diet was assessed through the 168-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and eating behaviors. Then, the MYHEI scoring system was used to calculate the diet quality. In addition, we used the WHO growth indices, such as weight to age, height to age, and body mass index (BMI) to age ratios, to evaluate nutrition status. The mean total MYHEI score in children was 56.3 ± 11.2. Among children with the highest MYHEI score quartile, the number of girls was significantly higher than boys (p = 0.001). The prevalence of underweight, stunting, and wasting was 25.3%, 17.4%, and 21.7%, respectively. The prevalence of underweight (OR: 2.2; 95% CI  1.26, 3.90, p = 0.001) and stunting (OR: 3.2; 95% CI   1.65, 6.14, p = 0.006) were significantly lower in the higher MYHEI score quartile compared to the lower quartile. The overall diet quality of most children should be modified. Therefore, to improve the children's health and nutrition status, it is necessary to perform nutritional interventions such as training and promotional programs, especially in schools., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Objective: Exogenous hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) has a positive effect on respiratory diseases. Oleo-gum of Ferula assa-foetida contains this compound. This study assessed the effects of Ferula assa-foetida L. oleo gum resin and tragacanth (Phytopaj) on patients with COVID-19., Materials and Methods: A randomized, single-blinded, controlled trial (RCT) phase 2 was conducted in Mashhad on hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In this RCT, 122 patients were randomly assigned to either receive a 14-day oral phytopaj plus ordinary treatment or ordinary treatment only. Changes in peripheral blood lymphocyte count (LC) and blood oxygen saturation (PO 2 ) were the endpoints., Results: Mean±SD of PO 2 in Phytopaj comparison ordinary treatment before intervention was 91.86±4.62 and 91.41±9.18, after the intervention it was 93.22±4.26 and 91.91±5.92 mmHg; before intervention, mean±SD of peripheral blood lymphocyte count was 1015.90±500.55, and 1104.28±543.61, and after intervention, it was 1652.27±921.38 and 1326.12±719.28/μL respectively., Conclusion: Phyopaj is most useful in moderate stages of Covid19, and it is not recommended for elderly patients and patients with comorbidity until more insight is gained., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that there is no conflict of interest.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in women of reproductive age which is characterized by various reproductive and metabolic disorders. Oxidative stress (OS) is now recognized to be involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS which could be targeted in the management of PCOS-related complications. Selenium (Se), as an antioxidant trace element, has been shown to decrease in PCOS patients. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the Se and selenoprotein P (SELENOP) levels with OS markers in women with PCOS. In this cross-sectional study, 125 females aged 18-45 years diagnosed with PCOS were included. Demographic, clinical, and lifestyle information of participants were obtained using the relevant questionnaires. Fasting blood samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters. Serum levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase activities as well as anthropometric measurements were assessed across tertiles of serum concentrations of Se and SELENOP. Higher serum levels of Se were associated with higher serum TAC levels (β=0.42, P<0.001) and erythrocytes GPx activity (β=0.28, P=0.002) as well as with lower serum TBARS levels (β= -0.26, P=0.003). Similarly, higher serum levels of SELENOP were associated with higher TAC (β=0.32, P<0.001) and erythrocyte GPx activity (β=0.30, P=0.001). SELENOP also showed an inverse association with serum levels of TBARS (β= -0.40, P<0.001). Nevertheless, erythrocytes SOD and CAT activities showed no significant relationships with serum Se and SELENOP concentrations (all P>0.05). The present study found that serum Se and SELENOP levels were inversely associated with TBARS levels and positively associated with TAC levels and erythrocytes GPx activity., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, the potential of bagasse pith (the waste of sugar and paper industry) was investigated for bio-xylitol production for the first time. Xylose-rich hydrolysate was prepared using 8% dilute sulfuric acid, at 120 °C for 90 min. Then, the acid-hydrolyzed solution was detoxified by individual overliming (OL), active carbon (AC), and their combination (OL+AC). The amounts of reducing sugars and inhibitors (furfural and hydroxyl methyl furfural) were measured after acid pre-treatment and detoxification process. Thereafter, xylitol was produced from detoxified hydrolysate by Rhodotorula mucilaginosa yeast. Results showed that after acid hydrolysis, the sugar yield was 20%. Detoxification by overliming and active carbon methods increased the reducing sugar content up to 65% and 36% and decreased the concentration of inhibitors to >90% and 16%, respectively. Also, combined detoxification caused an increase in the reducing sugar content (>73%) and a complete removal of inhibitors. The highest productivity of xylitol (0.366 g/g) by yeast was attained after the addition of 100 g/l non-detoxified xylose-rich hydrolysate into fermentation broth after 96 h, while the xylitol productivity enhanced to 0.496 g/g after adding the similar amount of xylose-rich hydrolysate detoxified by combined method (OL+AC2.5%)., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In the present study, the effect of zein and different amounts of bacterial cellulose (BC; 1, 2 and 3 wt%) on the physical, mechanical and barrier properties of flaxseed mucilage/carboxymethyl cellulose (FM/CMC) composite was investigated. The appearance of the absorption band at 1320cm -1 in the ATR-FTIR spectra of nanocomposites indicated the successful introduction of zein into their structure. The characteristic peak at 2θ of 9° belonging to zein disappeared in XRD patterns of the prepared composites suggesting the successful coating of zein via hydrogen bonding interactions. SEM images proved the formation of semi-spherical zein microparticles in the FM/CMC matrix. TGA plots ascertained the addition of zein and nanocellulose caused a significant increase in the thermal stability of FM/CMC film, although zein showed a greater effect. The presence of zein and nanocellulose increased the mechanical strength of nanocomposites. The WVP of FM/CMC decreased after the incorporation of zein and nanocellulose, which created a tortuous path for the diffusion of water molecules. The zein particles exhibited a greater influence on improving the mechanical and barrier properties compared to nanocellulose. FM/CMC-Z film exhibited the highest mechanical strength (49.07 ± 5.89 MPa) and the lowest WVP (1.179 ± 0.076). The composites containing oregano essential oil (EO) showed higher than 60 % antibacterial properties. The bactericidal efficiency of FM/CMC/Z-EO and FM/CMC/Z-EO/BC1 nanocomposites decreased about 10% compared to FM/CMC/EO and FM/CMC-Z/BC1. This evidenced the successful encapsulation of EO molecules in zein particles. According to the in vitro release study, entrapment of EO into zein particles could delay the release and provide the extended antimicrobial effect., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study was designed to evaluate the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity and clinical and biochemical variables in patients with osteoarthritis., Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 160 patients with mild-to-moderate knee osteoarthritis. The Likert version of the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC Index) was used to assess the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The secondary outcomes included inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers. The participants' usual diets were assessed using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and the dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was calculated based on the ferric reducing antioxidant power method. Additionally, clinical and biochemical variables were evaluated using standard methods., Results: The mean age of the participants was 57.2 ± 8.1 years, and 55.6% of them were females. The dietary TAC scores in this study ranged from 3.67 to 24.72, with a mean of 12.05 ± 5.3. We found a significant inverse trend between the dietary TAC score and the total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis (WOMAC) score (P = 0.001), as well as the WOMAC stiffness (P = 0.008) and WOMAC physical function scores (P = 0.001). Furthermore, dietary TAC was inversely associated with serum concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (β = - 0.18, P = 0.020), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (β = - 0.67, P < 0.001), matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) (β = - 0.33, P < 0.001), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) (β = - 0.22, P = 0.005) levels., Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate an inverse association between dietary total antioxidant capacity and clinical and biochemical variables in patients with osteoarthritis., (© 2023. BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

This study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of hydro-alcoholic extract of apple (Malus domestica Borkh. Vs.golab, with and without ZnO nanoparticles) on Streptococcus Mutans bacterium compared to 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Persica and suspension of ZnO nanoparticles. Study samples were examined in the groups of apple hydro-alcoholic extract with and without addition of ZnO nanoparticles, a positive control group (Chlorhexidine 0.2%, Persica and suspension of ZnO nanoparticles), and a negative control group (distilled water). In this experiment, a concentration of 500 PPM of ZnO nanoparticles with a diameter of 0.4 nm was used. Agar diffusion method was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of apple hydro-alcoholic extract with and without adding ZnO nanoparticles. The concentrations used were 200, 100, 50 and 25 mg/ml. ANOVA statistical test was used to compare the average in the study groups. According to our results, hydro-alcoholic extract of apples alone had no effect on the target bacteria in any of the concentrations. In the group of apple hydro-alcoholic extract with ZnO nanoparticles, the mean inhibition zone was 13 mm at a concentration of 25 mg/ml. 0.2% Chlorhexidine, Persica and suspension of ZnO nanoparticles was observed with the mean inhibition zone of 20 mm, 16 mm and 15 mm, respectively. Hydro-alcoholic extract of apple with addition of ZnO nanoparticles in concentration of 25mg/ml, had growth inhibitory effect on Streptococcus Mutans, but it was not remarkably efficient in comparison with Chlorhexidine.

This study presents the development and characterization of a nanocomposite material, consisting of thermoplastic starch (TPS) reinforced with bentonite clay (BC) and encapsulated with vitamin B 2 (VB). The research is motivated by the potential of TPS as a renewable and biodegradable substitute for petroleum-based materials in the biopolymer industry. The effects of VB on the physicochemical properties of TPS/BC films, including mechanical and thermal properties, water uptake, and weight loss in water, were investigated. In addition, the surface morphology and chemical composition of the TPS samples were analyzed using high-resolution SEM microscopy and EDS, providing insight into the structure-property relationship of the nanocomposites. The results showed that the addition of VB significantly increased the tensile strength and Young's modulus of TPS/BC films, with the highest values observed for nanocomposites containing 5 php of VB and 3 php of BC. Furthermore, the release of VB was controlled by the BC content, with higher BC content leading to lower VB release. These findings demonstrate the potential of TPS/BC/VB nanocomposites as environmentally friendly materials with improved mechanical properties and controlled release of VB, which can have significant applications in the biopolymer industry., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Today, the importance of blood sugar monitoring in diabetic patients has created a global need to develop new glucometers. This article presents the fabrication of a portable smart glucometer for monitoring blood glucose with high sensitivity. The glucometer employs a bio-electronic test strip patch fabricated by the structure of Cu/Au/rGO/PEDOT: PSS on interdigitated electrodes. We demonstrate that this structure based on two-electrode can be superior to the three-electrode electrochemical test strips available in the market. It has good electro-catalytic properties that indicate high-performance sensing of blood glucose. The proposed bio-electronic glucometer can surpass the commercial electrochemical test strips in terms of response time, detection range, and limit of detection. Electronic modules used for the fabrication of smart glucometers, such as a power supply, analog to digital converter, OLED screen, and, wireless transmission module, are integrated onto a printed circuit board and packaged as a bio-electronics glucometer, enabling the comfortable handling of this blood glucose monitoring. The characteristics of active layers biosensors were investigated by SEM, and AFM. The glucometer can monitor glucose in the wide detection range of 0-100 mM, the limit of detection (1 µM) with a sensitivity of 5.65 mA mM -1 and excellent sensing performance such as high selectivity, high reproducibility, and good stability of fabricated test strips. With 11 human blood and serum samples, the glucometer demonstrated high clinical accuracy with the best value of RSD of 0.012., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Phytochemicals are bioactive compounds found in plant-based foods. Consumption of phytochemical-rich foods has been associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases prevention in various populations. To quantify the phytochemical content of the diet, dietary phytochemical index (DPI) was established which is defined as the proportion of daily energy intake derived from foods rich in phytochemicals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between the DPI and oxidative stress markers and cardiovascular risk factors in obese adults. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 140 adults aged 20-60 years and body mass index (BMI) of ≥ 30 kg/m 2 were included. A validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to collect information on dietary intakes. The DPI was calculated based on the following formula: DPI = [daily energy obtained from foods rich in phytochemicals (kcal)/total daily energy intake (kcal) × 100]. There was an inverse association between DPI and serum concentrations of Malondialdehyde (MDA) (P = 0.004), triglyceride (TG) (P-trend = 0.003), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (P = 0.017), and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (P = 0.024). Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was positively associated with DPI score (P = 0.045). No significant relationship was found between the DPI score and fasting blood sugar (FBS), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total oxidant status (TOS), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and anthropometric parameters as well as systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The current study found that there was a significant inverse association between DPI and oxidative stress, inflammation, and hypertriglyceridemia as cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in obese population. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Minocycline is a tetracycline with promising protective effects on different organs which are completely distinct from its antibacterial effects., Methods: To evaluate the effects of chronic administration of this agent on histological structure and sperm parameters of testes, forty adult male rats were randomly allocated into 2 equal groups I: control animals and II: treated animal that received 25mg/kg/day minocycline, orally. After 90 days of treatment, serum level of testosterone was assessed as well as sperm count, motility and morphology. Moreover, histological and histomorphometric evaluation of testes was performed including determination of height of the seminiferous germinal epithelium and perpendicular diameter of seminiferous tubules. Numbers of spermatogonia, primary spermatocytes, spermatids, Sertoli and Leydig cells were counted. Johnsen's scoring method was also performed., Results: Sperm parameters significantly improved in minocycline-treated animals. Moreover, number of germ cells in different stages of development significantly increased in treatment group as compared to control. This finding was associated with better Johnsen's score and thicker epithelium in seminiferous tubules. However, serum testosterone levels, Leydig and Sertoli cell count as well as tubular diameter did not show significant changes (p>0.05)., Discussion: Chronic administration of minocycline is associated with improved spermatogenesis and sperm characteristics without affecting steroidogenesis in rats., (Copyright © 2022. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U.)

Objective: The association of vitamin D status with osteoarthritis (OA) has been demonstrated previously. The current study was performed to examine the association of vitamin D status with oxidative stress markers and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in patients with knee OA., Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 124 subjects with mild to moderate knee OA and 65 healthy controls. Demographic data was collected from all participants at baseline. Serum levels of vitamin D as well as markers of oxidative stress including malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), oxidative stress index (OSI), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated for each participant. Furthermore, serum concentrations of MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) were measured., Results: The results of the present study indicated that individuals with vitamin D insufficiency had higher levels of MDA, TOS, SOD, and OSI as well as lower levels of PON-1 and TAC. Based on the linear regression analysis, serum vitamin D levels were inversely correlated with MDA, TOS, SOD, OSI, MMP-1, and MMP-13 and positively associated with TAC levels ( p < 0.0001). Patients with sufficient vitamin D levels had lower MMP-1 and MMP-13 levels compared to patients with vitamin D insufficiency ( p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: Findings from this study showed a strong association between vitamin D deficiency and increased oxidative stress and MMPs activity in patients with knee OA., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Amirkhizi, Ghoreishy, Baker, Hamedi-Shahraki and Asghari.)

Introduction: Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most common nutritional disorders in most countries of the world. The present study was designed and implemented with the aim of investigating the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the level of adipokines, atherogenesis indicators and factors related to metabolic syndrome., Methods: This case-control study was done on 195 patients with metabolic syndrome aged 20-50 y who attended the health centers in Zabol County, northeast Iran, between April 2021 and January 2022. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were measured for all subjects with standard methods. To determine serum 25(OH)D levels, we used enzymatic linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) was calculated as log (TG/HDL-c). The visceral adiposity index (VAI) and the lipid accumulation product (LAP) were estimated according to standard formulas., Results and Discussion: Participants in the case group had lower serum levels of 25(OH)D compared to controls (19.8 ± 6.2 ng/ml vs. 41.2 ± 9.7ng/ml, P<0.001). We found that the mean serum levels of fasting blood sugar (P=0.023) and TG (P=0.008) as well as HOMA-IR (P=0.023) were significantly higher in the cases compared to controls. Also, patients with MetS and vitamin D insufficiency (cases) had higher AIP (P=0.040) and LAP (P=0.012) than controls. Furthermore, serum 25(OH)D levels showed significant inverse correlations with serum RBP-4 and a positive correlation with serum omentin-1 concentrations. The results of the present study showed that vitamin D deficiency correlated with some of the cardiometabolic risk factors among the patients with MetS., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Amirkhizi, Khademi, Hamedi−Shahraki and Rahimlou.)