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Some level of settlement is allowed in the design of oil tanks if uneven settlement is controlled within allowable values. Considering the critical condition of Piled Raft Foundation (PRF), that is, secure contact of raft base to the ground surface, PRF is considered as one of the rational foundations for the oil tanks. However, PRF has a complicated interaction with soil under horizontal seismic loading. Regarding this complexity, the main concern in use of PRF for oil tanks is proper design of this foundation system. In this study, a series of centrifuge tests were performed to investigate the mechanical behavior of oil tanks supported by PRF on non-liquefiable sand. Using the observed results, such as accelerations of the tank and ground and displacements of the foundation, some practical hints for reasonable design of piled raft foundation for oil tanks on non-liquefiable sand are discussed. According to the results of this study, the main concern in the rational design of the foundation is piles' design and their punching effect on the raft, in case of PRF of oil tank on non-liquefiable sand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an improved multiplicative image watermarking system is presented. Since human visual system is less sensitive to the image edges, watermarking is applied in the contourlet domain, which represents image edges sparsely. In the presented scheme, watermark data is embedded in directional subband with the highest energy. By modeling the contourlet coefficients with General Gaussian Distribution (GGD), the distribution of watermarked noisy coefficients is analytically calculated. The tradeoff between the transparency and robustness of the watermark data is solved in a novel fashion. At the receiver, based on the Maximum Likelihood (ML) decision rule, an optimal detector by the aid of channel side information is proposed. In the next step, a blind extension of the suggested algorithm is presented using the patchwork idea. Experimental results confirm the superiority of the proposed method against common attacks, such as Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN), JPEG compression, and rotation attacks, in comparison with the recently proposed techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Comparative network analysis aims to identify common subnetworks in biological networks. It can facilitate the prediction of conserved functional modules across different species and provide deep insights into their underlying regulatory mechanisms. Recently, it has been shown that hidden Markov models (HMMs) can provide a flexible and computationally efficient framework for modeling and comparing biological networks. Results In this work, we show that using global correspondence scores between molecules can improve the accuracy of the HMM-based network alignment results. The global correspondence scores are computed by performing a semi-Markov random walk on the networks to be compared. The resulting score naturally integrates the sequence similarity between molecules and the topological similarity between their molecular interactions, thereby providing a more effective measure for estimating the functional similarity between molecules. By incorporating the global correspondence scores, instead of relying on sequence similarity or functional annotation scores used by previous approaches, our HMM-based network alignment method can identify conserved subnetworks that are functionally more coherent. Conclusions Performance analysis based on synthetic and microbial networks demonstrates that the proposed network alignment strategy significantly improves the robustness and specificity of the predicted alignment results, in terms of conserved functional similarity measured based on KEGG ortholog (KO) groups. These results clearly show that the HMM-based network alignment framework using global correspondence scores can effectively find conserved biological pathways and has the potential to be used for automatic functional annotation of biomolecules.

Abstract Background Accurate and efficient structural alignment of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) has grasped more and more attentions as recent studies unveiled the significance of ncRNAs in living organisms. While the Sankoff style structural alignment algorithms cannot efficiently serve for multiple sequences, mostly progressive schemes are used to reduce the complexity. However, this idea tends to propagate the early stage errors throughout the entire process, thereby degrading the quality of the final alignment. For multiple protein sequence alignment, we have recently proposed PicXAA which constructs an accurate alignment in a non-progressive fashion. Results Here, we propose PicXAA-R as an extension to PicXAA for greedy structural alignment of ncRNAs. PicXAA-R efficiently grasps both folding information within each sequence and local similarities between sequences. It uses a set of probabilistic consistency transformations to improve the posterior base-pairing and base alignment probabilities using the information of all sequences in the alignment. Using a graph-based scheme, we greedily build up the structural alignment from sequence regions with high base-pairing and base alignment probabilities. Conclusions Several experiments on datasets with different characteristics confirm that PicXAA-R is one of the fastest algorithms for structural alignment of multiple RNAs and it consistently yields accurate alignment results, especially for datasets with locally similar sequences. PicXAA-R source code is freely available at: http://www.ece.tamu.edu/~bjyoon/picxaa/.

The development of natural active packaging materials and coatings presents a promising alternative to petroleum-based packaging solutions. These materials are engineered by incorporating functional ingredients with preservative capabilities. Concurrently, research has highlighted the diverse physicochemical, functional, and health-promoting properties of protein-polyphenol, polysaccharide-polyphenol, and protein-polysaccharide-polyphenol conjugates within various food formulations. However, a critical gap exists regarding the exploration of these biopolymers as active packaging materials. In contrast to conventional approaches for developing active packaging materials, this review presents a novel perspective by focusing on biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates. In this work, we delve into the realm of active packaging materials and coatings constructed from these conjugates, highlighting their potential as multifunctional active components in food packaging and preservation. This review comprehensively investigates the physicochemical properties, functionalities, and health-promoting activities associated with biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates. Their emulsification, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities, coupled with enhancements in mechanical strength and permeability properties, contribute to their multifunctional nature. Furthermore, we explore the potential advantages and limitations of utilizing these conjugates in active packaging applications. Finally, the review concludes by proposing crucial research avenues for further exploration of biopolymer-polyphenol conjugates within the domain of active food packaging., 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.)

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex condition that can have various symptoms and complications, one of which is infertility. Dysregulation of miRNA has been associated with the pathogenesis of numerous illnesses such as PCOS. In this study, we evaluated the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and exosome therapy (EXO) on the regulation of miRNA and nucleus acetylation in a PCOS oocyte. Methods: In this research, 36 oocytes divided into three groups: control, EXO, and PBM (Wavelength of 640 nm). Subsequently, in-vitro maturation (IVM) was evaluated. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate miRNA-21,16,19,24,30,106,155 and GAPDH . Afterward, oocyte glutathione (GSH) and nucleus acetylation were measured by H4K12. Results: The expression of the miR-16, miRNA-19, miRNA-24, miRNA-106 and miRNA-155 genes in the EXO and PBMT groups was significantly down-regulated in comparison to the control group, but the expression of miRNA-21 and miR-30 significantly increased in the EXO and PBMT groups in comparison to the control group. The EXO and PBMT significantly increased GSH and nucleus acetylation ( P <0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the use of EXO and PBMT can improve GSH and nucleus acetylation in the PCOS oocyte and also change the expression of miRNAs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 J Lasers Med Sci.)

This study aimed to investigate how the types and order of modifications influence the structure and physicochemical characteristics of modified porous starch. The work focuses on the encapsulation of essential oil in hydrophobic microcapsules embedded in sodium alginate hydrogels. FTIR spectra indicated successful esterification of starch with OSA. 1047:1022 cm -1 and 1022:995 cm -1 band ratios of FTIR spectra revealed increased crystallinity due to enzymatic modification, supported by XRD patterns. Porous-OSA (PO) starch had 1.5 times higher degree of substitution (DS) than OSA-porous (OP) starch, confirmed by the intense peak at 0.85 ppm in 1 H NMR spectra. SEM images displayed larger particles and smaller pore diameter in OP compared to PO and porous starch, indicating amylolytic enzyme inhibition by OSA. Loading efficiency (LE) showed no significant difference between OP and PO microcapsules (≈70 %), both significantly higher other starch microcapsules. OP and PO microcapsules exhibited sustained release, with enhanced antibacterial activity. Alginate hydrogels preserved about 60 % antioxidant and 90 % antibacterial activities of SEO against 2 h of UV radiation. These findings suggest that the order of modification could not affect the functional properties of final microcapsules. Additionally, the importance of alginate hydrogels as the protective and second wall material was disclosed., 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 Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Hydrocolloids are important ingredients in food formulations and their modification can lead to novel ingredients with unique functionalities beyond their nutritional value. Cold plasma is a promising technology for the modification of food biopolymers due to its non-toxic and eco-friendly nature. This review discusses the recent published studies on the effects of cold plasma treatment on non-starch hydrocolloids and their derivatives. It covers the common phenomena that occur during plasma treatment, including ionization, etching effect, surface modification, and ashing effect, and how they contribute to various changes in food biopolymers. The effects of plasma treatment on important properties such as color, crystallinity, chemical structure, rheological behavior, and thermal properties of non-starch hydrocolloids and their derivatives are also discussed. In addition, this review highlights the potential of cold plasma treatment to enhance the functionality of food biopolymers and improve the quality of food products. The mechanisms underlying the effects of plasma treatment on food biopolymers, which can be useful for future research in this area, are also discussed. Overall, this review paper presents a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge in the field of cold plasma treatment of non-starch hydrocolloids and their derivatives and highlights the areas that require further investigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the communal endocrine illness in women and the most common cause of infertility due to lack of ovulation. The exact cause of PCOS is still unknown. Affected women may have difficulty getting pregnant due to ovulation problems. Various methods have not been effective in the treatment of PCOS due to the positive role of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) and extracellular vesicles (ECV) obtained from cord blood plasma in the treatment of various diseases. The aim of this study was to study the role of ECV and PBMT in maturation and improvement of infertility in women with PCOS. Methods: In this research, a number of oocytes were obtained after ovarian stimulation from women who had been referred to the hospital for infertility treatment after obtaining personal consent, and they were divided into three groups: control, ECV and PBMT. Subsequently, in vitro maturation (IVM) was assessed, then some oocytes were cultured with a routine medium and others were treated with ECV and PBMT. Real-time PCR was used to evaluate BCL-2, BAX, caspase-3, and autophagy gene (ATG5, LC3, Beclin 1). Oocyte glutathione (GSH), oxidised gluathione (GSSG), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Results: The metaphase II (MII) oocyte ratio formation significantly increased in the ECV and PBMT groups ( P <0.05). The expression of the BCL-2 gene was significantly up-regulated in the ECV and PBMT groups, but the expression of BAX and caspase-3 significantly decreased ( P <0.05). The expression of the ATG5, LC3, BECLIN-2 genes significantly decreased in the ECV and PBMT groups ( P <0.05). ROS, GSSG decreased in ECV and PBMT groups but GSH increased ( P <0.05). Conclusion: The use of ECV and PBMT can increase the rate of fertilization and maturation of an oocyte and cause a decrease in apoptosis, autophagy, and ROS in a PCOS oocyte., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 J Lasers Med Sci.)

A near-homozygous genome (NHG) is especially seen in a subset of follicular thyroid cancer of the oncocytic type (FTC-OV). An NHG was also observed in the metabolically relatively quiescent cell lines XTC.UC1, a model for FTC-OV, and in FTC-133, -236 and -238, the latter three derived from one single patient with follicular thyroid cancer. FTC-236 subclones showed subtle whole-chromosome differences indicative of sustained reciprocal mitotic missegregations. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger experiments reduced the number of chromosomal missegregations in XTC.UC1 and FTC-236, while pCHK2 was downregulated in these cells. Treatment with antimycin A increased ROS indicated by enhanced MitoSOX Red and pCHK2 fluorescence in metaphase cells. In a selected set of oncocytic follicular thyroid tumors, increasing numbers of whole-chromosome losses were observed toward an aggressive phenotype, but with retention of chromosome 7. Together, ROS activates CHK2 and links to the stepwise loss of whole chromosomes during tumor progression in these lesions. We postulate that sequential loss of whole chromosomes is a dominant driver of the oncogenesis of a subset of follicular thyroid tumors., (© 2018 Society for Endocrinology.)