Functional role of lncRNAs in gastrointestinal malignancies: the peculiar case of small nucleolar RNA host gene family

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play crucial roles in normal physiology and are often de-regulated in disease states such as cancer. Recently, a class of lncRNAs referred to as the small nucleolar RNA host gene (SNHG) family have emerged as important players in tumourigenesis. Here, we discuss new findings describing the role of SNHGs in gastrointestinal tumours and summarize the three main functions by which these lncRNAs promote carcinogenesis, namely: competing with endogenous RNAs, modulating protein function, and regulating epigenetic marking. Furthermore, we discuss how SNHGs participate in different hallmarks of cancer, and how this class of lncRNAs may serve as potential biomarkers in cancer diagnosis and therapy.

The effect of hydatid cyst protoscolex somatic antigens on full-thickness skin wound healing in mouse

BACKGROUND

Wound healing has evolved in recent years, resulting in diverse therapeutic options.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the effects of the somatic antigen of the hydatid cyst protoscolex on wound healing in mice with full-thickness skin wounds.

METHODS

Fifty-four adult mice, weighing 25 ± 5 g and approximately 60 days old, were divided into three groups (A, B, and C), each further divided into three subgroups. Subgroups A1, A2, and A3 were assigned negative controls. B1, B2, and B3 received hydatid cyst somatic antigen tests at 10 µg/SC, whereas C1, C2, and C3 received somatic antigen tests at 20 µg/SC. Under general anesthesia, a wound biopsy puncture of 9.8 mm in diameter was performed on the mice's back and spine. In the experimental group, antigen and alum adjuvant were administered subcutaneously around the wound, while the control group received Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS). Using digital images, a geometric assessment was conducted on days 0, 1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21 post-wounding. The obtained images were analyzed by Image J software and after analyzing the data by SPSS software.

RESULTS

A significant difference in terms of epithelization was observed in the antigen treatment group with a dose of 20 µg on days 3 and 6 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the 20 µg antigen group was significantly higher than the 10 µg antigen group in terms of this factor on day 3 (P < 0.05). Skin samples were taken from all wounds on days 3, 10 and 21 for microscopic evaluation. Regarding epithelization, on day 10, a significant difference was observed in the treatment group with a concentration of 10 µg with the control group and the treatment group with a concentration of 20 µg (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of the present study, it can be concluded that somatic antigens of protoscolex hydatid cyst are dose-dependent and antigens with a dose of 20 µg by subcutaneous injection accelerate wound healing and epithelialization.

Antimicrobial resistance, β-lactamase genotypes, and plasmid replicon types of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from different animal hosts

AIMS

The primary objective of this study was to analyze antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with a particular focus on β-lactamase genotypes and plasmid replicon types of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains originating from various animal hosts.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 84 STEC strains were isolated from cattle (n = 32), sheep/goats (n = 26), pigeons (n = 20), and wild animals (n = 6) between 2010 and 2018 in various regions of Iran. The Kirby-Bauer susceptibility test and multiple polymerase chain reaction (PCR) panels were employed to elucidate the correlation between AMR and plasmid replicon types in STEC isolates. The predominant replicon types were IncFIC and IncFIB in cattle (46.8%), IncFIC in sheep/goats (46.1%), IncA/C in pigeons (90%), and IncP in wild animals (50%). STEC of serogroups O113, O26, and O111 harbored the IncFIB (100%), IncI1 (80%), and IncFIC + IncA/C (100%) plasmids, respectively. A remarkable AMR association was found between ciprofloxacin (100%), neomycin (68.7%), and tetracycline (61.7%) resistance with IncFIC; amoxicillin + clavulanic acid (88.8%) and tetracycline (61.7%) with IncA/C; ciprofloxacin (100%) with IncFIB; fosfomycin (85.7%) and sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim (80%) with IncI1. IncI1 appeared in 83.3%, 50%, and 100% of the isolates harboring blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaOXA β-lactamase genes, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The emergence of O26/IncI1/blaCTX-M STEC in cattle farms poses a potential risk to public health.

A new isolate cold-adapted Ankistrodesmus sp. OR119838: influence of light, temperature, and nitrogen concentration on growth characteristics and biochemical composition using the two-stage cultivation strategy

Natural-based chemicals from microalgae such as lipids and pigments are the interests in industries and the bioeconomy. Cold-adapted Ankistrodesmus sp. OR119838, an isolated strain from Cheshmeh-Sabz Lake in northeastern Iran, was cultivated using a two-stage culture strategy under different environmental conditions. With doubling the nitrate concentration at the vegetative stage (170 mg/L) and increasing the light intensity (180 µmol photons/m2/s) the highest specific growth rate (0.61 ± 0.02 per day) and biomass productivity (121.1 ± 7.2 mg/L/day) were observed at 25 °C. In the optimal growth condition Chl a and Chl b contents of Ankistrodesmus sp. OR119838 reached the highest amount (11.07 ± 0.14 and 11.23 ± 0.29 µg/mL, respectively) at 25 °C. While carotenoid content correlated negatively with optimum biomass productivity (- 0.708) and had the best value (12.23 ± 0.29 µg/mL) in nitrogen deficiency (42 mg/L) and intense light conditions (180 µmol photons/m2/s) at 15 °C. Lipid content was increased with declined nitrate concentration (42 mg/L), high light intensity, and 180 µmol photons/m2/s at 25 °C. The highest percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (71.94%) and α-linolenic acid (57.73 ± 6.63%) was observed in conditions with 170 mg/L nitrate concentration and low light intensity (40 µmol photons/m2/ s) at the low temperature (15 °C). While saturated fatty acids content (43.27%) and palmitic acid reached the highest amount under 40 µmol photons/m2/s, 42 mg/L nitrate at 25 °C (35.02 ± 5.33%). Biomass productivity of Ankistrodesmus sp. OR119838, as a cold-adapted strain, decreased by only 8.2% with a 10-degree decline in temperature. Therefore, this strain has good potential to grow in open ponds by tolerating the daily temperature fluctuations.

An investigation of the prevalence of equine filariosis in North and Northeast of Iran

Worldwide, equines are affected by equine filariosis, an endemic vector-borne disease caused by heterogenous parasitic nematodes. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of filarial infection among horses in the North and Northeast of Iran. Between October 2021 and July 2022, 145 equine blood samples were investigated, of which 49 cases were from the northeast and 96 were from the north of Iran. Blood samples were taken for microfilariae using Knott's method. Out of 145 blood samples, only 2 cases (1.37%) from northern Iran were positive for microfilaria of Setaria equina, and no positive samples were found from northeast Iran. The first positive sample was a 3-year-old male Iranian horse displaying clinical symptoms of weakness, while the second, an 8-month-old Arabian breed colt, exhibited no clinical signs. According to the results of the current study, the prevalence of equine filariosis is low, contrary to nearby countries. To prevent and control filarial infections among horses and improve their management system, it is therefore important to emphasize filarial infection prevention, control, and management.

Graphical abstract

A survey of parasitic infections in Psittaciformes and Passeriformes in Mashhad, Iran

The health, growth and fertility of avian species can be negatively affected by parasite infection. This survey assesses the presence, variety and distribution of internal and external parasites among parrots and perching birds in Mashhad, Iran. This study examined 751 caged pet birds from different species and regions in Mashhad for faecal samples and 132 oral swabs for digestive tract parasites. Furthermore, skin scrapings were conducted on 14 canaries displaying dishevelled feathers. During the study, mortalities and moribund birds that had been referred underwent necropsies to examine internal parasites. Following the formol ether faecal examination, only one Malango parrot tested positive for Heterakoidea eggs among 751 faecal samples (0.13%). Further, one cockatiel showed evidence of parasitic infection with Eimeria spp. (0.13%). However, neither Cryptosporidium nor Giardia protozoa were detected in the samples (0%). Oral swabs revealed no evidence of Trichomonas (0%). On the other hand, skin scraping revealed the presence of the mite Dermanyssus in 7 out of 14 canaries with dishevelled feathers (50%). Of 25 moribund and weak budgerigars, 2 were infected with Acuaria in their proventriculus (8%). In addition, 3 out of 14 deceased myna birds carried the nematode Diplotriana in their coelomic cavities (21.42%). In conclusion, the rate of internal parasites has been relatively low in ornamental birds of Mashhad, whereas the prevalence of external parasites has been higher.

Rumen-protected l-carnitine supplementation during mating period altered metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes

Current study hypothesized that dietary l-carnitine (LC) inclusion during the mating period ameliorates both metabolic status and reproductive performance of ewes. Seventy Baluchi ewes (52 ± 4.2 kg of bodyweight and 18 ± 6 months old of age) were enrolled in this study. Animals were randomly allocated into two dietary treatments, control (only basal diet) or basal diet plus supplementation with a rumen-protected LC (Carneon 20 Rumin-pro; 20% LC; Kaesler Nutrition GmbH) at the rate of 10 g/head/day from 21 days before until 35 days after introducing rams to the ewes (MP). Feed intake was monitored by subtracting the ort from feed offered. Blood sample collection was conducted on Days -10, +10 and +20 relative to MP. Pregnancy was confirmed on Day 30 post-MP. Feed intake of the ewes in the LC group was higher than the control (p < 0.05). LC supplementation increased the cholesterol concentration in the ewes (p < 0.05). Blood urea concentration of animals in the LC group was significantly lower than the control (p < 0.05). The mRNA expression of toll-like receptor 4 was evidently lower in animals supplemented with LC than the control (p < 0.05). Both lambing and fecundity rates in the LC group tended to be higher compared with the control. LC supplementation showed potential to alter certain metabolites in the ewes. A tendency for higher lambing rate may partly be driven by dams efficient energy partitioning to support foetal growth and maintaining pregnancy.

Some productive and reproductive performance, eggshell quality, serum metabolites and immune responses due to L-threonine supplementation in Japanese quail breeders' diet

A dose-response experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of graded levels of dietary digestible threonine (dThr) during the first laying cycle on productive and reproductive performance, egg quality and immune responses of Japanese quail breeders (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Also, dThr requirements were determined based on nutrient dose-response data. A total of 450 (360 females and 90 males) 11-week-old breeders were allocated to five increment (+0.03%) levels of dThr (0.49%, 0.52%, 0.55%, 0.58%, 0.61% and 0.64%) with five replicates per treatment and 15 (12 females and three males) birds each. The experiment lasted for 12 weeks. In response to increasing dietary dThr levels, egg production, egg mass, feed efficiency, egg specific gravity, eggshell relative weight, eggshell thickness, egg fertility (EF) and immune response against sheep red blood cell (SRBC) inoculation were improved with quadratic trends and egg hatchability as set eggs was improved with linear trends. Japanese quail breeders fed a diet with 0.58% dThr concentration (threonine/lysine ratio of 59%) showed the productive performance traits, EF, eggshell quality and immune response against SRBC inoculation in the highest values. However, feed intake, egg weight, egg albumen and yolk relative weight, egg shape index, haugh unit and egg composition were not affected by increasing dietary dThr level. Based on the broken-line regression model, the dThr requirements to optimize productive performance, eggshell quality, EF and immune response against SRBC inoculation were estimated at 159-188, 169-183, 175 and 178 mg/bird per day, respectively. It is concluded, in the Japanese quail breeders during the first laying phase a daily dThr intake of 188 mg/bird, dietary dThr concentration at 0.58% (threonine/lysine ratio of 59%) is adequate for optimized productive and reproductive performance, eggshell quality and immune responses. The estimated requirements depend on what production parameter is taken into considered for optimization.

Micropreparative Gel Electrophoresis for Purification of Nanoscale Bioconjugates

Conventional techniques for purifying macromolecular conjugates often require complex and costly installments that are inaccessible to most laboratories. In this work, we develop a one-step micropreparative method based on a trilayered polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (MP-PAGE) setup to purify biological samples, synthetic nanoparticles, as well as biohybrid complexes. We apply this method to recover DNA from a ladder mixture with yields of up to 90%, compared to the 58% yield obtained using the conventional crush-and-soak method. MP-PAGE was also able to isolate enhanced yellow fluorescence protein (EYFP) from crude cell extract with 90% purity, which is comparable to purities achieved through a more complex two-step purification procedure involving size exclusion and immobilized metal-ion affinity chromatography. This technique was further extended to demonstrate size-dependent separation of a commercial mixture of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) into three different fractions with distinct optical properties. Finally, MP-PAGE was used to isolate DNA-EYFP and DNA-GQD bioconjugates from their reaction mixture of DNA and EYFP and GQD precursors, samples that otherwise could not be effectively purified by conventional chromatography. MP-PAGE thus offers a rapid and versatile means of purifying biological and synthetic nanomaterials without the need for specialized equipment.

Graphite/carbon-doped TiO2 nanocomposite synthesized by ultrasound for the degradation of diclofenac

Graphite/C-doped TiO2 nanocomposite was synthesized at room temperature using a simple, impressive, and indirect sonication (20 kHz) by the cup horn system. Tetrabutyltitanate as the precursor of titanium and graphite (G) as the carbon source was used in the preparation of nanocomposite as a photocatalyst. The molar ratio of G/TiO2 as a key parameter was investigated in the synthesis of G/C-doped TiO2. The obtained materials were widely characterized using XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, XPS, and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance techniques. The UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy results showed that the edge of light absorption of nanocomposite was distinctly red-shifted to the visible area via carbon doping. The XPS outcomes acknowledged the existence of the C, Ti, and O in the photocatalyst. The composite showed an enhancement in the dissociation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers through the doping process. The photocatalytic activity of the synthesized nanocomposite was checked with diclofenac (DCF) as a pharmaceutical contaminant. The results displayed that G/C-doped TiO2 represented better photocatalytic performance for DCF than TiO2. This was due to the excellent crystallization, intense absorption of visible light, and the impressive separation of photoinduced charge carriers. Various active species such as •OH, •O2¯, h+, and H2O2 play a role in the degradation of DFC. Therefore, different scavengers were used and the role of each one in degradation was investigated. According to the obtained results, •O2¯ radical showed a major role in the photocatalytic process. This work not only proposes a deep insight into the photosensitization-like mechanism by using G-based materials but also develops new photocatalysts for the removal of emerging organic pollutants from waters using sunlight as available cheap energy.

Determination of lead(II) in food samples using a functionalized paper-based fluorescent sensor modified by carbon dots

This work discusses surface modification of cellulose paper specimens for compatibility with nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon dots (NSCDs) for lead ion sensing. The interaction of carbon dots (CDs) and cellulose fibers was investigated using silane or chitosan-modified cellulose papers. It was found that modified papers could reduce undesirable redistribution of CDs, during paper drying. Also, only chitosan-modified filter paper was suitable for the successful immobilization of NSCDs. The effect of paper type, chitosan amount, pH, and NSCDs concentration was also studied, and a Whatman No. 42 filter paper modified with chitosan (1% w/v), pH 8.0, and an NSCD concentration of 2.5 g L-1 being selected for further studies. The sensor exhibited high selectivity for lead(II) compared with other metal ions because lead(II) resulted in the most significant changes in the emitted light intensity. Variations in NSCDs fluorescence were measured using a fluorescence imaging system. The NSCDs-paper sensor showed a linear relationship between mean fluorescence intensity and lead(II) in the concentration range of 5.00-1.25 × 102  μmol L-1 with a correlation coefficient (R2 ) of 0.9988 and a detection limit of 4.50 μmol L-1 . The suggested method showed satisfying results for lead(II) determination in different samples as a fast and low-cost approach with on-site application.

Cognition-Emotion Interaction during L2 Sentence Comprehension: The Correlation of ERP and GSR Responses to Sense Combinations

This study mainly examined the role of the combination of three senses (i.e., auditory, visual, and tactile) and five senses (i.e., auditory, visual, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory) in the correlation between electrophysiological and electrodermal responses underlying second language (L2) sentence comprehension. Forty subjects did two acceptability judgment tasks, encompassing congruent and semantically/pragmatically incongruent sentences. The event-related potential (ERP) and galvanic skin response (GSR) data for both the target and final words of the sentences were collected and analyzed. The results revealed that there is an interaction between cognitive and emotional responses in both semantically and pragmatically incongruent sentences, yet the timing of the interaction is longer in sentences with pragmatic incongruity due to their complexity. Based on the ERP and GSR correlation results, it was further found that the five-sense combination approach improves L2 sentence comprehension and interest in learning materials yet reduces the level of excitement or arousal. While this approach might be beneficial for some learners, it might be detrimental for those in favor of stimulating learning environments.

Comparative Analysis of Soft Computing Models for Predicting Viscosity in Diesel Engine Lubricants: An Alternative Approach to Condition Monitoring

The viability of employing soft computing models for predicting the viscosity of engine lubricants is assessed in this paper. The dataset comprises 555 reports on engine oil analysis, involving two oil types (15W40 and 20W50). The methodology involves the development and evaluation of six distinct models (SVM, ANFIS, GPR, MLR, MLP, and RBF) to predict viscosity based on oil analysis results, incorporating metallic and nonmetallic elements and engine working hours. The primary findings indicate that the radial basis function (RBF) model excels in accuracy, consistency, and generalizability compared with other models. Specifically, a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.20 and an efficiency (EF) of 0.99 were achieved during training and a RMSE of 0.11 and an EF of 1 during testing, utilizing a 35-network topology and an 80/20 data split. The model demonstrated no significant differences between actual and predicted datasets for average and distribution indices (with P-values of 1.00). Additionally, robust generalizability was exhibited across various training sizes (ranging from 50 to 80%), attaining a RMSE between 0.09 and 0.20, a mean absolute percentage error between 0.23 and 0.43, and an EF of 0.99. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing and implementing machine learning models in predicting the viscosity of engine lubricants. Limitations include the dataset size, potentially affecting the generalizability of findings, and the omission of other factors impacting engine performance. Nevertheless, this study establishes groundwork for future research on the application of soft computing tools in engine oil analysis and condition monitoring.

Retraction: Novel biocompatible core/shell Fe3O4@NFC@Co(ii) as a new catalyst in a multicomponent reaction: an efficient and sustainable methodology and novel reusable material for one-pot synthesis of 4H-pyran and pyranopyrazole in aqueous media

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA04698A.].

Retraction: Design and synthesis of magnetic Fe3O4@NFC-ImSalophCu nanocatalyst based on cellulose nanofibers as a new and highly efficient, reusable, stable and green catalyst for the synthesis of 1,2,3-triazoles

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.1039/D0RA06251K.].

Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII: as an environmentally-friendly, recoverable, durable and noble-free nanostructured catalyst for C-C bond formation reaction in green media

In the present study, NiII immobilized on Fe3O4@WO3 functionalized by aminated epichlorohydrin using S-methylisothiourea (Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII) as a novel magnetically separable nanostructured catalyst was successfully synthesized and characterized using FT-IR, XRD, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, EDX mapping, VSM, TGA, H2-TPR, ICP-OES and CHNS techniques. Characterization results revealed the spherical morphology and superparamagnetic behaviour of the as-synthesized catalyst with mean diameters of 19-31 nm as well as uniform distributions of the desired elements (Fe, O, W, C, N, S and Ni). The antibacterial activity of Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII was evaluated against a set of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and the catalyst showed considerable activity against the Staphylococcus aureus strain. The aforementioned nanostructured catalyst exhibited perfect catalytic efficiency in the Heck-Mizoroki and Suzuki-Miyaura reactions under mild conditions without using toxic solvents (EtOH as a green solvent and WEB as a benign base). Desired coupled products were obtained from the reaction of different Ar-X (X = I, Br, Cl) with alkyl acrylates and arylboronic acids. A high nickel content with negligible metal leaching during the course of reactions led to the high catalytic performance and stability of Fe3O4@WO3-E-SMTU-NiII under optimized reaction conditions. The magnetically separation and ease of recovery and reusability of up to six cycles without a discernible decrease in catalytic activity or metal leaching are the most important features of the catalytic system from both industrial and environmental viewpoints.

Sugar-free aerated chocolate: Production, investigation of bubble features using X-ray computed tomography and image processing

In contrast to other imaging techniques, X-ray imaging does not destruct the internal structure of the sample being imaged. Furthermore, this technique is able to capture numerous images of the sample at a low slice thickness, which is almost impossible in other imaging techniques. In this study, sugar was replaced with inulin:maltodextrin mixtures at ratios of 25:75 (i25), 50:50 (i50), and 75:25 (i75). Then, nitrogen (N2 ) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ) were injected into the three mixtures as well as the sugar-containing sample (control) at pressures of 3, 4.5, and 6 bar to produce aerated chocolate. The images of the samples were captured using X-ray computed tomography (XCT). After processing, they were segmented using the Chan-Vese model. Image segmentation showed that the Chan-Vese method, compared with adaptive thresholding, was more able to segment the images and remove the noise. The bubble total volume (10440 ± 9206 mm3 ) and average diameter (1.30 ± 0.10 mm) of the control were larger than those of the other samples. The results also demonstrated that the sugar-free aerated samples had lower hardness than the corresponding unaerated ones. However, it was reversed in the case of the control. This research sheds light on the industrialization of the production of aerated chocolate and the application of XCT and image processing in the analysis of the microstructure of aerated products.

Effect of dietary lysophospholipid supplementation on growth performance, serum lipids, small intestine morphology and caeca microflora in broiler chickens

BACKGROUND

The digestibility of animal fats and oils is limited by a reduction in the production and secretion of lipase and bile salts in young chickens. The addition of a natural emulsifier (lysophospholipids [LPL]) in poultry diet may increase the emulsification of lipids and their digestibility.

OBJECTIVES

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of feed LPLs supplementation with different fat sources on performance, serum lipid composition, small intestine morphology and caeca microflora in broiler chickens.

METHODS

A completely randomized factorial design (2 × 3 × 2) was used to evaluate the effect of LPL supplementation (0 and 0.25 g/kg) and three different fat sources (soybean oil, tallow and a 50:50 mixture of the two) in corn and soybean meal diets containing two levels of fat (1.5 and 3%), providing 12 isocaloric and isonitrogenous grower diets. Each experimental diet was fed to six replications of 10 birds from 15 to 28 days of age. Average growth performance during this period and small intestine morphology, serum lipid composition and caeca microflora were evaluated on day 28.

RESULTS

The interaction effects of LPL supplementation, source and/or level of fats were not significant for the performance parameters measured during the 15 to 28 days. The treatment effects were significant for the villus width and crypt depth measured in the jejunum on day 28. The LPL supplementation significantly increased crypt depth. The interaction effect of fat source and level of fat were significant for villus width. The addition of a 3% blend of soybean oil/tallow (50/50) reduced the serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level. The Lactobacillus population was increased by the addition of LPL, or a 1.5% blend of soybean oil and tallow, to the diet.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study showed that LPL supplementation of diet containing a 1.5% blend of soybean oil and tallow can improve serum lipid indices and caeca Lactobacillus populations in broiler chickens.

Targeted co-delivery of FOXM1 aptamer and DOX by nucleolin aptamer-functionalized pH-responsive biocompatible nanodelivery system to enhance therapeutic efficacy against breast cancer: in vitro and in vivo

Targeted nanodelivery systems offer a promising approach to cancer treatment, including the most common cancer in women, breast cancer. In this study, a targeted, pH-responsive, and biocompatible nanodelivery system based on nucleolin aptamer-functionalized biogenic titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TNP) was developed for targeted co-delivery of FOXM1 aptamer and doxorubicin (DOX) to improve breast cancer therapy. The developed targeted nanodelivery system exhibited almost spherical morphology with 124.89 ± 12.97 nm in diameter and zeta potential value of - 23.78 ± 3.66 mV. FOXM1 aptamer and DOX were loaded into the nanodelivery system with an efficiency of 100% and 97%, respectively. Moreover, the targeted nanodelivery system demonstrated excellent stability in serum and a pH-responsive sustained drug release profile over a period of 240 h following Higuchi kinetic and Fickian diffusion mechanism. The in vitro cytotoxicity experiments demonstrated that the targeted nanodelivery system provided selective internalization and strong growth inhibition effects of about 45 and 51% against nucleolin-positive 4T1 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines. It is noteworthy that these phenomena were not observed in nucleolin-negative cells (CHO). The preclinical studies revealed that a single-dose intravenous injection of the targeted nanodelivery system into 4T1-bearing mice inhibited tumor growth by 1.7- and 1.4-fold more efficiently than the free drug and the non-targeted nanodelivery system, respectively. Our results suggested that the developed innovative targeted pH-responsive biocompatible nanodelivery system could serve as a prospectively potential platform to improve breast cancer treatment.

Determining Optimal Nonlinear Regression Models for Studying the Kinetics of Fatty Acid Ruminal Biohydrogenation In Vitro

The accurate estimation of in vitro ruminal biohydrogenation (BH) kinetics of fatty acids (FA) allows for a more accurate understanding of their dynamics and develop targeted strategies to enhance desirable FA bypass. This study comprises a comprehensive evaluation of 33 nonlinear regression models to determine the most suitable model for accurately estimating the in vitro BH kinetics of individual FA. The data set utilized in the present research originates from a recent investigation on the effects of micronization and vitamin E on the in vitro ruminal BH of rapeseed. For the nonlinear regression analysis, data comprising FA concentrations (expressed as g FA/100 g FA) at the conclusion of 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, and 48 h incubation periods were employed. The evaluation of nonlinear regression models focused on identifying the ideal model based on criteria including the highest R2 value, the lowest RMSE value, and statistically significant coefficients. The results pinpoint the Gompertz model as an effective choice for estimating the in vitro ruminal BH kinetics of upward-trending fatty acids, including intermediate unsaturated fatty acids and saturated end FA. Additionally, the first-order kinetic model of Ørskov and McDonald emerges as the preferred model for investigating the BH kinetics of downward-trending fatty acids, including oleic acid, linoleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid. In summary, this rigorous evaluation led to the identification of the most appropriate model, one that not only exhibited an exceptional fit to the data but also provided profound insights into the intricate relationships between predictors and the dynamic behavior of FA. The established nonlinear regression models will serve as invaluable tools for future research investigating FA biohydrogenation kinetics.

A label-free electrochemical biosensor based on PBA-Au-MXene QD for miR-122 detection in serum samples

A poly(n-butyl acrylate)-gold-MXene quantum dots (PBA-Au-MXene QD) nanocomposite-based biosensor is presented that is modified by unique antisense single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and uses the electrochemical detection methods of DPV, CV, and EIS to early detect miR-122 as a breast cancer biomarker in real clinical samples. This fabrication method is based on advanced nanotechnology, at which a poly(n-butyl acrylate) (PBA) as a non-conductive polymer transforms into a conductive composite by incorporating Au-MXene QD. This biosensor had a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.8 zM and a linear range from 0.001 aM to 1000 nM, making it capable of detecting the low concentrations of miR-122 in patient samples. Moreover, it allows approximately 100% sensitivity and 100% specificity for miR-122 without extraction. The synthesis and detection characteristics were evaluated by different complementary tests such as AFM, FTIR, TEM, and FESEM. This new biosensor can have a high potential in clinical applications to detect breast cancer early and hence improve patient outcomes.

The Effect of Plasma-Activated Water Combined with Rosemary Extract (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) on the Physicochemical Properties of Frankfurter Sausage during Storage

This study investigated the impact of plasma-activated water (PAW) and rosemary extract on the bacterial inactivation and quality attributes of Frankfurter sausages during a 6-day storage period. The antibacterial activity, total phenol content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) of the rosemary extract were evaluated. The TPC of the rosemary extract was 89.45 mg gallic acid/g dry weight, while the TFC was 102.3 mg QE/g dry weight. Even at low concentrations, the rosemary extract effectively inhibited the growth of all the tested pathogens using the Well Diffusion Agar method (WDA). The sausages were treated with different concentrations of PAW and rosemary extract and stored for 1 and 6 days. Sample B (100% rosemary extract + PAW treatment) showed the greatest reduction in microbial load and was selected for further analysis. Throughout the storage period, Sample B exhibited no significant changes in pH, moisture content, textural parameters, or sensory evaluation compared to the control group. However, the hardness and color parameters (L*, a*) of Sample B decreased, while the TBARS value increased after 6 days of storage. The combination of PAW and rosemary extract, particularly Sample B, effectively inhibited bacterial growth in the Frankfurter sausages without compromising most quality attributes. Some changes in hardness, color, and lipid oxidation were observed over the extended storage period.

Simultaneous removal of four aflatoxins using magnetic nanobentonite as a green and fast sorbent: kinetic, thermodynamic, and isotherm investigation

In the study, an adsorptive removal strategy as a straightforward and fast procedure was developed to remove four aflatoxins, including aflatoxin B1 (AF-B1), aflatoxin B2 (AF-B2), aflatoxin G1 (AF-G1), and aflatoxin G2 (AF-G2). A simple and green sorbent consisting of two components (activated nanobentonite and Fe3O4 nanoparticles) was synthesized based on three steps using acidic treatment, ultrasonic procedure, and chemical precipitation method. The sorbent was characterized by several techniques such as FTIR, FESEM, TEM, XRD, and VSM to determine the sorbent structure and morphology. An experimental design based on a central composite design was utilized to optimize factors in the removal of AFs. The optimum values of the factors (pH, sorbent amount, shaking rate) were 6.8, 0.076 g, and 160 rpm, respectively. Three models, including pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, and intra-particle diffusion models, were used to investigate the kinetics of the removal process. The removal of AFs using magnetic nanobentonite was fitted with the pseudo-second-order model better than other models with an equilibrium time lower than 30 min. The thermodynamic data show that the adsorption of AFs on the sorbent is a spontaneous and feasible process due to negative values of the Gibbs-free energy change (ΔG) at different temperatures. Two models (Langmuir and Freundlich models) were chosen to study the isotherm of the removal procedure, indicating that the Freundlich model describes the results better than the Langmuir model. The maximum adsorption capacity of the sorbent for removing AF-B1, AF-B2, AF-G1, and AF-G2 is 357.14, 400.0, 370.37, and 400.0 mg g-1, respectively. The sorbent reusability was also evaluated to study the sorbent's ability for the removal of AFs, indicating that the sorbent was used for 5 cycles without a significant reduction in the ability to remove AFs.

The potential of Bacillus and Enterococcus probiotic strains to combat helicobacter pylori attachment to the biotic and abiotic surfaces

The prevention of biofilm formation plays a pivotal role in managing Helicobacter pylori inside the body and the environment. This study showed in vitro potentials of two recently isolated probiotic strains, Bacillus sp. 1630F and Enterococcus sp. 7C37, to form biofilm and combat H. pylori attachment to the abiotic and biotic surfaces. Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum were used as the reference probiotics. The biofilm rates were the highest in the solid-liquid interface for Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and the air-liquid interface for Bacillus and Enterococcus. The highest tolerances to the environmental conditions were observed during the biofilm formations of Enterococcus and Bifidobacterium (pH), Enterococcus and Bacillus (bile), and Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus (NaCl) on the polystyrene and glass substratum, respectively. Biofilms occurred more quickly by Bacillus and Enterococcus strains than reference strains on the polystyrene and glass substratum, respectively. Enterococcus (competition) and Bacillus (exclusion) achieved the most inhibition of H. pylori biofilm formations on the polystyrene and AGS cells, respectively. Expression of luxS was promoted by Bacillus (exclusion, 3.2 fold) and Enterococcus (competition, 2.0 fold). Expression of ropD was decreased when H. pylori biofilm was excluded by Bacillus (0.4 fold) and Enterococcus (0.2 fold) cells. This study demonstrated the ability of Bacillus and Enterococcus probiotic bacteria to form biofilm and combat H. pylori biofilm formation.

Elesclomol, a copper-transporting therapeutic agent targeting mitochondria: from discovery to its novel applications

Copper (Cu) is an essential element that is involved in a variety of biochemical processes. Both deficiency and accumulation of Cu are associated with various diseases; and a high amount of accumulated Cu in cells can be fatal. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress, and cuproptosis are among the proposed mechanisms of copper toxicity at high concentrations. Elesclomol (ELC) is a mitochondrion-targeting agent discovered for the treatment of solid tumors. In this review, we summarize the synthesis of this drug, its mechanisms of action, and the current status of its applications in the treatment of various diseases such as cancer, tuberculosis, SARS-CoV-2 infection, and other copper-associated disorders. We also provide some detailed information about future directions to improve its clinical performance.

Effect of pre-rolling aging treatment on evolutions of the microstructure and the texture of aluminium alloy 7005 subjected to heavy cold rolling

Aluminium alloy 7005 is widely used for structural purposes because of its attractive properties such as good weldability and age-hardening capability. However, since the workability of this alloy falls after a short period of natural aging, the application of cold rolling for the production of strain-hardened sheets of this alloy is a challenge. Two solutions proposed to overcome this challenge are as follows: (a) immediate rolling of the alloy after solution treatment and (b) rolling of the alloy after artificial aging. However, there is no comprehensive study comparing the effect of pre-rolling aging treatments on the evolutions of microstructure and texture of the alloy through heavy cold rolling. This subject is the aim of the present study. For this purpose, different pieces of the alloy are subjected to three different heat treatments before rolling, and afterward, they are rolled to obtain a thickness reduction of 80%. Scanning electron microscopy with electron backscattered diffraction observations are applied to study the evolutions of the microstructure and the texture of the alloy. Results show that the progression of pre-rolling aging decreases the incidence of micro-scaled shear bands by rolling. In addition, the rolling texture intensity decreases with the advancement of pre-rolling aging. Mechanisms responsible for this effect are discussed.

Transforming tree topping waste into flooring: a study on the production and evaluation of oriented strand board finish using urban and garden residues

Oriented strand board (OSB) has become a popular building material for residential construction, but little research has been conducted on its use as a finish floor material. The study investigated the quality and performance of OSB as an alternative to traditional engineered wood products for finish floors. Four types of OSB finish floors using a mixture of garden and urban tree toppings were produced and evaluated, along with different types and levels of resin and mat moisture content. The finish floor panels were subjected to a battery of tests, including concentrated loading, indentation, falling ball impact resistance, abrasion resistance, and surface wettability. The findings showed that urea formaldehyde resin with garden tree toppings performed best in floor surface indentation, abrasion resistance, and falling ball indentation. The phenol formaldehyde resin with garden tree toppings, on the other hand, showed less moisture absorption and swelling during surface wetting tests and better resistance to force application in the concentrated loading test. Our qualitative comparison revealed that OSB finish floor production using 100% garden tree topping strands and 12% urea formaldehyde resin, along with 14% mat moisture content, produced the best results. The study provides valuable insights into the potential use of OSB as a sustainable and cost-effective finish floor material, using waste materials from urban and garden tree toppings.

Water desalination using stainless steel meshes coated with layered double hydroxide/graphene oxide nanocomposite

Coated stainless steel meshes with layered double hydroxides and graphene oxide nanocomposites (LDH/GO) were used as desalination membranes. The nature of stainless steel mesh allows a greater amount of sorbent to be coated on the surface using sol-gel technique and increases the adsorption capacity of ions and the efficiency of desalination. These substrates improve the contact surface area so that approximately 5 min is required for the desalination process. The LDH/GO stainless steel mesh exhibited excellent corrosion resistance and tensile strength of 99.9% and 112 MPa, respectively. To achieve the best desalination efficiency, different parameters were optimized, including the ratio of GO to LDH in the nanocomposites, the number of mesh layers, NaCl concentrations, and process cycles. The maximum adsorption capacity for the NaCl was 555.5 mg g-1 . The results revealed that LDH/GO nanocomposite was able to remove (94.3 ± 0.5) % of the NaCl under the optimum conditions. The proposed method was used to successfully remove Na+ , Mg+2 , Ca+2 , and K+ cations from seawater, with the yields of 92.3%, 92.5%, 91.2%, and 90.2%, respectively. PRACTITIONER POINTS: The salts are removed via interaction between salt ions and functional groups on the LDH/GO nanocomposite surface. A high amount of adsorbent loaded on the surface of steel mesh leads to an improvement in the adsorption capacity. The sol-gel technique strengthens the LDH/GO nanocomposites on the surface of steel mesh.

Sequential extraction of value-added bioproducts from three Chlorella strains using a drying-based combined disruption technique

In this study, the sequential extraction of the three types of biochemicals from microalgae is employed, which is a more realistic and practical solution for large-scale extraction of bioproducts. The drying, grinding, organic solvent treatment, and ultra-sonication were combined to disrupt cells and sequentially extract bioproducts from three microalgae strains, Chlorella sorokiniana IG-W-96, Chlorella sp. PG-96, and Chlorella vulgaris IG-R-96. As the drying is the most energy-intensive step in cell disruption and sequential extraction, the effect of this step on sequential extraction deeply explored. The results show that total ash-plus contents of biochemicals in freeze-dried samples (95.4 ± 2.8%, 89.3 ± 3.9%, and 77.5 ± 4.2 respectively) are higher than those in oven-dried samples (91.0 ± 2.8%, 89.5 ± 3.0%, 71.4 ± 4.8%, respectively) showing the superiority of freeze drying over oven drying merely for Chlorella vulgaris IG-R-96 (p-value = 0.003) and non-significant variation for Chlorella sorokiniana IG-W-96 (p-value = 0.085) and Chlorella sp. PG-96 (p-value = 0.466). Variation among biochemical contents of strains is due to the difference in cell wall strength confirmed by TEM imaging. The freeze-dried samples achieved higher lipid yields than oven-dried samples. The total carbohydrate yields followed the same pattern. The extraction yields of total protein were higher in freeze-dried samples than in oven-dried. Total mass balance revealed that drying-based sequential extraction of value-added bioproducts could better demonstrate the economic potential of sustainable and renewable algal feedstock than independent assays for each biochemical.

Design and synthesis of high performance magnetically separable exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell nanoparticles: a novel and eco-friendly photocatalyst toward removal of organic pollutants from water

Herein, a new visible-light active exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell nanoparticles (NPs) was synthesized as a magnetically separable photocatalyst. For an in-depth understanding of the magnetic photocatalyst's structural, morphological, and optical properties, the products were extensively characterized with FT-IR, XRD, TEM, HRTEM, FESEM, EDS, EDS-mapping, VSM, DRS, EIS, and photocurrent. The photocatalyst was then utilized to degrade Levofloxacin (LEVO) and Indigo Carmine (IC) by visible light at room temperature. The exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell NPs photocatalyst revealed 80% and 95.6% degradation efficiency for Levofloxacin and Indigo Carmine within 25 and 15 min, respectively. In addition, the optimal factors such as concentration, loading of photocatalyst, and pH were also assessed. Levofloxacin degradation mechanistic studies showed that electrons and holes significantly contribute to the photocatalytic process of photocatalyst degradation. In addition, after 5 times regeneration, exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell NPs remained as an excellent magnetic photocatalyst for the eco-friendly degradation of Levofloxacin and Indigo Carmine (76% and 90%), respectively. The superior photocatalytic performance of exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell nanoparticles (NPs) was mostly ascribed to the synergistic advantages of stronger visible light response, larger specific surface area, and the more effective separation and transfer of photogenerated charge carriers. Based on these results, the highly effective magnetic photocatalyst achieved better results than numerous studied catalysts in the literature. The degradation of Levofloxacin and Indigo Carmine under environmentally friendly conditions can be achieved using exfoliated g-C3N4/γ-Fe2O3/ZnO yolk-shell NPs (V) as an efficient and green photocatalyst. The magnetic photocatalyst was characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic methods, revealing a spherical shape and particle size of 23 nm. Additionally, the magnetic photocatalyst could be separated from the reaction mixture by a magnet without significantly reducing its catalytic activity.

Association of precalving serum NEFA concentrations with postpartum diseases and reproductive performance in multiparous Holstein cows: Cut-off values

BACKGROUND

High concentrations of NEFA relative to a defined reference or 'cut-point' values before calving can predict the risk of specific or collective periparturient disease events.

OBJECTIVES

A field-based cohort study was conducted to evaluate the value and critical points of serum nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) at the precalving time to predict the occurrence of postpartum diseases and reproductive performance in dairy cows.

METHODS

Blood samples were taken from 521 high-yielding dairy cows at 1 week (±3 days) before calving and NEFA levels were measured. Health and reproduction information of each cow includes dystocia, retained placenta, milk fever, metritis, mastitis, pregnancy in the first insemination and pregnancy in the first two inseminations, and culling in the first 60 days of lactation and milk production.

RESULTS

Our results show that there are significant relationships between precalving NEFA with the probability of pregnancy at the first and the first two inseminations after calving. The cows that had NEFA concentrations less than 0.5 mmol/L at the last week of pregnancy were 3.51 and 3.15 times more likely to be pregnant at first insemination and the first two inseminations, respectively. Also, our results showed that there are significant relationships between precalving NEFA concentration and the likelihood of dystocia and milk fever. The probability of dystocia and milk fever occurrence were 2.56 and 1.91 times greater in those cows that had NEFA concentrations more than 0.3 mmol/L, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present results indicated that Increasing NEFA during the prepartum period could adversely affect the reproductive efficiency of dairy cows.

Melatonin strongly enhances the Agrobacterium- mediated transformation of carnation in nitrogen-depleted media

With the rising demand for new cultivars of carnation, efficient transformation protocols are needed to enable the bioengineering of new traits. Here, we established a novel and efficient Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system using callus as the target explant for four commercial carnation cultivars. Leaf-derived calli of all cultivars were inoculated with Agrobacterium tumefaciens strain LBA4404 containing the plasmid pCAMBIA 2301 harboring genes for β-glucuronidase (uidA) and neomycin phosphotransferase (nptII). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histochemical assays confirmed the presence of uidA and β-glucuronidase (GUS), respectively in transgenic shoots. The effect on transformation efficiency of medium composition and the presence of antioxidants during inoculation and co-cultivation was investigated. The transformation efficiency was increased in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium lacking KNO₃ and NH₄NO_3, and also in MS medium lacking macro and micro elements and Fe to 5% and 3.1% respectively, compared to 0.6% in full-strength medium. Transformation efficiency was increased dramatically to 24.4% across all carnation cultivars by the addition of 2 mg/l melatonin to nitrogen-depleted MS medium. Shoot regeneration was also doubled in this treatment. The establishment of this efficient and reliable transformation protocol can advance the development of novel carnation cultivars through molecular breeding approaches.

A highly efficient and sustainable photoabsorber in solar-driven seawater desalination and wastewater purification

Producing freshwater from seawater and wastewater is of great importance through interfacial solar steam generation (ISSG). Herein, the three-dimensional (3D) carbonized pine cone, CPC1, was fabricated via a one-step carbonization process as a low-cost, robust, efficient, and scalable photoabsorber for the ISSG of seawater as well as a sorbent/photocatalyst for use in wastewater purification. Taking advantage of the large solar-light-harvesting ability of CPC1 due to the presence of carbon black layers on the 3D structure, its inherent porosity, rapid water transportation, large water/air interface, and low thermal conductivity, a conversion efficiency of 99.8% and evaporation flux of 1.65 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun (kW m-2) illumination were achieved. After carbonization of the pine cone, its surface becomes black and rough, which leads to an increase in its light absorption in the UV-Vis-NIR region. The photothermal conversion efficiency and evaporation flux of CPC1 did not change significantly during 10 evaporation-condensation cycles. CPC1 exhibited good stability under corrosive conditions without significant change in its evaporation flux. More importantly, CPC1 can be used to purify seawater or wastewater by the removal of organic dyes as well as by the reduction of polluting ions, like nitrate ions in sewage.

The mouse model of chronic asthma: Airway remodelling and disease exacerbation by somatic antigen of Echinococcus granulosus

There is now sufficient evidence to support an inverse association between helminth infection and secreted products with allergic/autoimmune disorders. Accordingly, several experimental studies have shown that Echinococcus granulosus infection and hydatid cyst compounds are able to suppress immune responses in allergic airway inflammation. This is the first study on effects of somatic antigens of E. granulosus on chronic allergic airway inflammation in BALB/c mice. Mice in OVA group were intraperitoneally (IP) sensitized with OVA/Alum. Subsequently, were challenged by nebulizing of OVA 1%. The treatment groups received somatic antigens of protoscoleces on the specified days. Mice in PBS group were received PBS in both sensitization and challenge. The effects of somatic products on development of chronic allergic airway inflammation were evaluated by examining histopathological changes, the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage, cytokines production in the homogenized lung tissue, and total antioxidant capacity in serum. Our findings show that the co-administration of somatic antigens of protoscoleces simultaneously with the development of asthma intensifies allergic airway inflammation. The identification of effective components involved in exacerbation of allergic airway inflammation manifestations will be a crucial approach to understanding the mechanism of these interactions.

Rheological and thermal properties of reinforced monoglyceride-carnauba wax oleogels

BACKGROUND

Oleogels can be used in the food industry to reduce the consumption of solid fat in the human diet and diminish some of the industrial-technological issues of using oil instead of fat. Regarding the structural weakness of neat monoglyceride oleogel and the waxy mouthfeel of pure carnauba wax oleogel, as a result of the high melting and crystallization points, the present study aimed to diminish these defects.

RESULTS

Carnauba wax (CBW) was used as a co-gelator with distilled monoglyceride (DMG) at different weight ratios (100:0, 85:15, 70:30, 55:45, 40:60, and 0:100) (DMG: CBW) and two total gelator concentrations (50 and 100 g kg^-1 ) to improve the DMG oleogel characteristics. The addition of CBW strengthened the DMG network and decreased the polymorphic transition. Thermal analysis showed just co-crystallization at the 85:15 ratio, whereas, in the other combinations, high melting components of CBW crystalized at first. As a result of the crystal homogeneity and long-time development, the oleogel properties improved at the 85:15 ratio. The low concentration of CBW and the formation of the eutectic system were efficient in the waxy mouthfeel reduction of oleogel at the 85:15 ratio in food applications.

CONCLUSION

The DMG/CBW oleogel at the 85:15 ratio, with better structural and sensorial properties than DMG and CBW oleogels, respectively, has the potential for use instead of fat in food formulations. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Tautomerism of pyridinylbutane-1,3-diones: An NMR and DFT study

The three possible 1-(n-pyridinyl)butane-1,3-diones (nPM) have been synthesized. Structures, tautomerism, and conformations are investigated by means of DFT calculations. ¹ H and ¹³ C NMR spectra are assigned, and deuterium isotope effects on ¹³ C chemical shifts have been measured. Analysis of the isotope effects leads to the equilibrium constants of the keto-enol tautomers. Some interesting differences are seen between the three compounds and the phenyl analogs. The isotope effects can also rank the hydrogen bonds of the compounds, with the one with nitrogen in the three positions of the pyridine ring as the weakest. Structures, conformers, energies, and NMR nuclear shieldings are calculated using DFT calculations at the B3LYP/6-311++G(d,p) level.

7-Geranyloxcycoumarin enhances radio sensitivity in human prostate cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer is the second most prevalent and the fifth deadliest cancer among men worldwide. To improve radiotherapy outcome, we investigated the effects of 7-geranyloxycoumarin, also known as auraptene (AUR), on radiation response of prostate cancer cells.

METHODS AND RESULTS

PC3 cells were pretreated with 20 and 40 µM AUR for 24, 48 and 72 h, followed by X-ray exposure (2, 4 and 6 Gy). After 72 h recovery, cell viability was determined by alamar Blue assay. Flow cytometric analysis was performed to assess apoptosis induction, clonogenic assay was carried out to investigate clonogenic survival, and the expression of P53, BAX, BCL2, CCND1 and GATA6 was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Cell viability assay indicated that toxic effects of radiation was enhanced by AUR, which was also confirmed by increased numbers of apoptotic cells and reduced amount of survival fraction. The qPCR results demonstrated significant induction of P53 and BAX, while the expression of BCL2, GATA6, and CCND1 was significantly downregulated.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the present study indicated, for the first time, that AUR improved radio sensitivity in prostate cancer cells, and thus, has the potential to be used in future clinical trials.

Synthesis of double-shelled periodic mesoporous organosilica nanospheres/MIL-88A-Fe composite and its elevated performance for Pb2+ removal in water

Herein, we report the synthesis of double-shelled periodic mesoporous organosilica nanospheres/MIL-88A-Fe (DSS/MIL-88A-Fe) composite through a hydrothermal method. To survey the structural and compositional features of the synthesized composite, a variety of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including FT-IR, XRD, BET, TEM, FE-SEM, EDX, and EDX-mapping, have been employed. A noteworthy point in this synthesis procedure is the integration of MOF with PMO to increase the adsorbent performance, such as higher specific surface area and more active sites. This combination leads to achieving a structure with an average size of 280 nm and 1.1 μm long attributed to DSS and MOF, respectively, microporous structure and relatively large specific surface area (312.87 m²/g). The as-prepared composite could be used as an effective adsorbent with a high adsorption capacity (250 mg/g) and quick adsorption time (30 min) for the removal of Pb²⁺ from water. Importantly, DSS/MIL-88A-Fe composite revealed acceptable recycling and stability, since the performance in Pb²⁺ removal from water remained above 70% even after 4 consecutive cycles.

Dynamic removal of Pb(II) by live Dunaliella salina: a competitive uptake and isotherm model study

The main aim of this study is modeling of a continuous biosorption system for the removal of Pb(II) ions in the aqueous conditions using live Dunaliella salina microalgae. The live microalgae can grow in saline water and opens new opportunities in varying the amount and properties of biosorbent. The effects of five parameters, including pH, optical density of algae as a factor indicating the adsorbent dosage, injection time, contact time, and initial concentration of Pb(II), were optimized by means of response surface methodology (RSM) based on the central composite design (CCD). Dunaliella salina algae showed maximum Pb(II) biosorption with 96% efficiency. For the selective Pb(II) uptake in the presence of Cd(II) and Ni(II), binary and ternary systems of ions were chosen. The mutual effect of each heavy metal ion in all systems on the total uptake percentage was also examined. The ion selectivity was investigated in the presence of diverse heavy metal ions, and the Pb(II) uptake percentage was determined to be 80%. Both Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were suitable for describing multicomponent binary and ternary systems depending on the presence of competitive ions in the mixture. Main functional groups and surface properties of the Dunaliella salina were identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectrometry. Hence, effective heavy metal ion uptake, simple design, and cost-effective cultivation confirmed live Dunaliella salina as suitable microalgae for purifying contaminated water in an economic and safe manner.

Regulatory networks of hormone-involved transcription factors and their downstream pathways during somatic embryogenesis of Arabidopsis thaliana

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) depends on a variety of developmental pathways that are influenced by several environmental factors. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationship between environmental and genetic factors by identifying the gene networks involved in SE through gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). For determination of SE effective transcription factors, upstream sequences of core-enriched genes were analyzed. The results indicated that response to hormones is one of the biological pathways activated by the enriched TFs at all stages of somatic embryogenesis and about half of the hormonal pathways were enriched. On the fifth day after 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) treatment, the activity of hormone-affecting genes reached its maximum. At this time, more transcription factors regulated the enriched genes compared to the other stages of somatic embryogenesis. MYBs, AT-HOOKs, and HSFs are the main families of transcription factors which affect core-enriched genes during SE. CCA1, PRR7, and TOC1 and their related genes at the center of protein-protein interaction of SE-key transcription factors, involved in the regulation of the circadian clock. Gene expression analysis of CCA1, PRR7, and TOC1 revealed that the genes involved in circadian clock reached their maximum activity when embryonic cells formed. Also, auxin response elements were identified at the upstream of SE-circadian clock transcription factors, indicating that they might mediate between auxin signaling and SE-related hormonal pathways as well as SE marker genes such as AGL15, BBM, and LECs. Based on these results, it is possible that the cellular circadian rhythm activates various developmental pathways under the influence of auxin signal transduction and their interactions determine the induction of somatic embryogenesis. According to the results of this study, modifying pathways affected by SE-related transcription factors such as circadian rhythm may result in cell reprogramming and increase somatic embryogenesis efficiency.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03546-7.

A methodological exploration to study 2D arm kinematics in Ophiuroidea (Echinodermata)

Brittle stars, unlike most other echinoderms, do not use their small tube feet for locomotion but instead use their flexible arms to produce a rowing or reverse rowing movement. They are among the fastest-moving echinoderms with the ability of complex locomotory behaviors. Considering the high species diversity and variability in morphotypes, a proper understanding of intra- and interspecies variation in arm flexibility and movement is lacking. This study focuses on the exploration of the methods to investigate the variability in brittle star locomotion and individual arm use. We performed a two-dimensional (2D) image processing on horizontal movement only. The result indicated that sinuosity, disc displacement and arm angle are important parameters to interpret ophiuroid locomotion. A dedicated Python script to calculate the studied movement parameters and visualize the results applicable to all 5-armed brittle stars was developed. These results can serve as the basis for further research in robotics inspired by brittle star locomotion.

Effects of adding poly-histidine tag on stability, antimicrobial activity and safety of recombinant buforin I expressed in periplasmic space of Escherichia coli

The lack of cost-effective methods for producing antimicrobial peptides has made it impossible to use their high potential as a new and powerful class of antimicrobial agents. In recent years, extensive research has been conducted to decrease the cost of recombinant proteins production through microorganisms, transgenic animals, and plants. Well-known genetic and physiological characteristics, short-term proliferation, and ease of manipulation make E. coli expression system a valuable host for recombinant proteins production. Expression in periplasmic space is recommended to reduce the inherently destructive behavior of antimicrobial peptides against the expressing microorganism and to decline susceptibility to proteolytic degradation. In this study, a pET-based expression system was used to express buforin I at E. coli periplasmic space, and its antimicrobial, hemolytic, and cell toxicity activities as well as structural stability were evaluated. The hemolysis activity and cytotoxicity of His-tagged buforin I were negligible and its antimicrobial activity did not show a significant difference compared to synthetic buforin I. In addition, in silico investigating of stability of native and His-tagged buforin I showed that RMSF, RMSD and Rg curves had followed a similar trend during 150 ns simulation. Furthermore, evaluating the modelled structures, FTIR and X-ray methods of both peptides indicated an insignificant structural difference. It was concluded that the recombinant buforin I could be a viable alternative to some currently used antibiotics by successfully expressing it in the pET-based expression system.

In silico designing and expression of novel recombinant construct containing the variable part of CD44 extracellular domain for prediagnostic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

CD44, as a tumor-associated marker, can be used to detect stem cells in breast cancer. While CD44 is expressed in normal epithelial cells, carcinoma cells overexpress CD44.

AIMS

In the current study, we designed a recombinant protein that included the variable component of the CD44 (CD44v) extracellular domain to apply in clinical diagnosis of breast cancer.

METHODS

A total of 100 CD44v amino-acid residues were determined, and the structure was examined using bioinformatics tools. The construct was inserted into the PET28a vector and transformed in E. coli BL21(DE3). A nearly 12 kDa fusion protein was obtained by Ni-NTA affinity metal chromatography. Recombinant CD44v was examined by Western blotting, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays.

RESULTS

The findings revealed that the structure of rCD44v was stable, and its antigenic domain was exposed. The recombinant CD44v was confirmed by western blotting, and the presence of antibodies against recombinant CD44v protein in the patient's serum was detected by the ELISA. Our data demonstrated a link between CD44v serum levels and the prevalence of breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

Assessments of antiCD44v antibodies with rCD44v could be a useful tool for identifying breast cancer in its early stages, which can lead to better outcomes.

Correlations of whole blood heavy metals with serum immunological and oxidative markers during the early dry period and transition period of dairy cattle

Immunological and oxidative alterations have been reported around calving in dairy cattle. In addition, the levels of heavy metals rise in the blood around parturition, which might affect body systems. Therefore, in this Research Communication we evaluate the changes in whole blood lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and cadmium (Cd) around calving, in comparison with the beginning of the dry period, and assess the correlations of these elements with immunological factors and oxidative markers. Samples were collected from 30 clinically healthy dairy cows in the early dry period (-6 w), one week before expected calving (-1 w), and one week postpartum (+1 w). The highest concentrations of Pb, As, and Cd were observed at -1 w and all the three elements decreased after parturition leading to significantly lower As and Cd, compared to -1 w (P < 0.05). The lowest levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, immunoglobulin G, interleukin 4, interleukin 10 and haptoglobin were found at -1 w simultaneous with the highest measures of the heavy metals, with tumor necrosis factor-alpha being significantly lower at this time (P < 0.05). At -6 w, As concentration was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated negatively (r = -0.366) and positively (r = 0.417) with total antioxidant capacity and malondialdehyde, respectively. Furthermore, at -1 w Pb and As had significant (P < 0.05) negative correlations with interferon gamma (r = -0.502) and interleukin 4 (r = -0.483), respectively. After parturition, Pb was observed to be negatively correlated with total antioxidant capacity (r = -0.538, P < 0.05). The observed results revealed that the alterations in immunological factors and antioxidant capacity around parturition were correlated with Pb and As levels.

The variability of phenolic constituents and antioxidant properties among wild populations of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam

In this study, phenolic derivatives and antioxidant activities of fourteen Ziziphora clinopodioides populations, as well as LC-MS/MS analysis of three specific flavonoids were evaluated. Generally, high contents of phenolic derivatives were found in shoot extracts compared to roots. LC-MS/MS, a powerful analytical technique, was employed for the identification and quantify the individual flavonoids in Z. clinopodioides populations' extracts, in a quantity order of quercetin > rutin > apigenin. Scavenging activity by DPPH and FRAP was performed, and accordingly, in the shoot, the highest values for the DDPH were 4.61 ± 0.4 and 7.59 ± 0.26 µg ml- 1 in populations 1 and 13, respectively, and for the FRAP were 328.61 ± 5.54 and 292.84 ± 2.85 mg g DW- 1, in populations 6 and 1 respectively. Multivariate analysis results of the principal component analysis indicated the amount of polyphenols to be useful indicators in differentiating the geographical localities which explain 92.7% of the total variance. According to the results of hierarchical cluster analysis, the studied populations could be separated into two groups in that the contents of phenolic derivatives and antioxidant activities of different plant parts. Both shoot and root samples were well discriminated with the orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (R2X: 0.861; Q2: 0.47) model. The validity of the model was confirmed by using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and permutation tests. Such data make an important addition to our current knowledge of Ziziphora chemistry and are decisive in the identification of germplasms with a homogeneous phytochemical profile, high chemical content and bioactivity. The present results could also be helpful for the potential application of Z. clinopodioides in different kinds of industries as natural antioxidants.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-023-01283-y.

Genome-wide analysis of annexin gene family in Schrenkiella parvula and Eutrema salsugineum suggests their roles in salt stress response

Annexins (Anns) play an important role in plant development, growth and responses to various stresses. Although Ann genes have been characterized in some plants, their role in adaptation mechanisms and tolerance to environmental stresses have not been studied in extremophile plants. In this study, Ann genes in Schrenkiella parvula and Eutrema salsugineum were identified using a genome-wide method and phylogenetic relationships, subcellular distribution, gene structures, conserved residues and motifs and also promoter prediction have been studied through bioinformatics analysis. We identified ten and eight encoding putative Ann genes in S. parvula and E. salsugineum genome respectively, which were divided into six subfamilies according to phylogenetic relationships. By observing conservation in gene structures and protein motifs we found that the majority of Ann members in two extremophile plants are similar. Furthermore, promoter analysis revealed a greater number of GATA, Dof, bHLH and NAC transcription factor binding sites, as well as ABRE, ABRE3a, ABRE4, MYB and Myc cis-acting elements in compare to Arabidopsis thaliana. To gain additional insight into the putative roles of candidate Ann genes, the expression of SpAnn1, SpAnn2 and SpAnn6 in S. parvula was studied in response to salt stress, which indicated that their expression level in shoot increased. Similarly, salt stress induced expression of EsAnn1, 5 and 7, in roots and EsAnn1, 2 and 5 in leaves of E. salsugineum. Our comparative analysis implies that both halophytes have different regulatory mechanisms compared to A. thaliana and suggest SpAnn2 gene play important roles in mediating salt stress.

Identification of selection signatures in Capra hircus and Capra aegagrus in Iran

Identification of selection signatures may provide a better understanding of domestication process and candidate genes contributing to this process. In this study, two populations of domestic and wild goats from Iran were analyzed to identify selection signatures. RSB, iHS, and XP-EHH statistics were used in order to identify robust selection signatures in the goat genome. Genotype data of domestic and wild goats from the NextGen project was used. The data was related to 18 Capra aegagrus (wild goat) and 20 Capra hircus (domestic goat) from Iran. The iHS method indicated 675 and 441 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. RSB and XP-EHH methods showed about 370 and 447 selection signatures in C. aegagrus and C. hircus, respectively. These selection signatures were mainly associated with milk production, fleece trait, mammary epithelial cells, reproduction, and immune system.

Biological Activity of Two Anticancer Pt Complexes with a Cyclohexylglycine Ligand against a Colon Cancer Cell Line: Theoretical and Experimental Study

Because of their extraordinary ability to disrupt the natural structure of nucleic acids, metal complexes could be used in cancer therapy. In this study, cyclohexylglycine (HL) as a ligand and two new Pt complexes, [Pt(NH₃)₂(L)]NO₃ (1) and [Pt(bipy)(L)]NO₃ (2), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, LC-MS, UV-vis spectrometry, FT-IR, ¹H NMR spectroscopy, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy, ¹⁹⁵Pt NMR spectroscopy, HPLC analysis, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Complex 2 crystallized in the orthorhombic Pbca space group, and density functional theory (DFT) was used to describe its structural parameters were described in detail. These complexes can be classified as oral medications and drug-like molecules based on a comparison of their absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion assessment. Quantum chemical descriptors (QCDs) were determined using DFT calculations to predict the tendency of DNA to approach these complexes. During the determination of the function of the metallodrug in DNA binding, the fluorescence data indicated that static quenching took place for all ligands and complexes with higher DNA binding affinity. CD and isothermal absorption studies indicate the presence of electrostatic and groove binding for the amine derivative and that DNA binds with the bipy moiety via groove binding. Furthermore, the interaction modes were determined using molecular docking to investigate the binding of these compounds with the target DNA molecule. According to docking investigations, binding energies of -5.7, -11.56, and -10.00 kcal/mol for HL and complexes 1 and 2, respectively, indicate partially electrostatic and groove binding. The anticancer activities of the Pt(II) complexes were tested against the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 35.51 and 51.33 μM for 1 and 2, respectively, after 72 h. These values show that the inhibitory effect of complex 1 was better than those of 2 and carboplatin (IC₅₀ = 51.94 μM).

Physicochemical, Pasting, and Thermal Properties of Native Corn Starch-Mung Bean Protein Isolate Composites

Starch is widely used in food and non-food industries because of its unique characteristics. However, native starch shows some weaknesses that restrict its applications. Recently, some studies have demonstrated the benefits of using protein to overcome these limitations. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of mung bean protein isolate (MBPI) (2%, 4%, 6%, and 8%) on the physicochemical, pasting, and thermal properties of native corn starch (NCS), as a novel starch-protein composite. Higher swelling power (SP), water absorbance capacity (WAC), and solubility values of NCS were observed with increasing MBPI concentration. Additionally, by the addition of MBPI, the rapid visco analyzer (RVA) showed a reduction in pasting temperature (77.98 to 76.53 °C), final viscosity (5762 to 4875 cP), and setback (3063 to 2400 cP), while the peak viscosity (4691 to 5648 cP) and breakdown (1992 to 3173 cP) increased. The thermal properties of NCS/MBPI gels investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed higher onset, peak, and conclusion temperatures (69.69 to 72.21 °C, 73.45 to 76.72 °C, and 77.75 to 82.26 °C, respectively), but lower gelatinization enthalpy (10.85 to 8.79 J/g) by increasing MBPI concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) indicated that the addition of MBPI decreased the amount of hydrogen bonds within starch. Furthermore, after three cycles of freeze-thaw shocks, the syneresis of NCS-MBPI composites decreased from 38.18 to 22.01%. These results indicated that the MBPI could improve the physicochemical properties of NCS, especially its syneresis and retrogradation characteristics.