Frankincense improves memory retrieval in rats treated with Lipopolysaccharide

Introduction: Frankincense has been shown to possess anti-inf lammatory activity. In this studythe effect of pretreatment with the hydro-alcoholic extract of frankincense on memory retrievalwas assessed in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treated rats.Methods: Forty-two adult male Wistar rats were distributed into 7 groups of 6 each. One groupreceived LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p) pre-test. The control group received saline (1 ml/kg; i.p). 2 groups ofanimals received frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) or DMSO 5 (1 ml/kg; P.O) and 30 minutes laterLPS (1 mg/kg; i.p). Two other groups of animals received frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) or DMSO5 (1 ml/kg; P.O) and 30 minutes later saline (1 ml/kg; i.p). Another group of rats received LPS(1 mg/kg; i.p) and 30 minutes later Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg; P.O). In all the experimental groups,memory retrieval was assessed 4 hours following the last injection, using a passive avoidancetask (PAT). Hippocampal TNF-&alpha; levels were measured by ELISA as an index of LPS-inducedneuroinf lammation.Results: LPS impaired memory retrieval by decreasing step-through latency (STL), significantly.LPS also increased levels of TNF-&alpha; in the hippocampus as compared to the control group.Administration of frankincense (50 mg/kg; P.O) before LPS (1 mg/kg; i.p) improved memoryretrieval as compared to the control group. Frankincense reduced hippocampal TNF-&alpha; level in theLPS treated rats, significantly, compared to the control group.Conclusion: The results indicate that the hydro-alcoholic extract of frankincense has the potentialto improve memory retrieval in LPS treated rats, possibly via an anti-neuroinf lammatory activity.</p

Averaging of Nonlinearity Management with Dissipation

Motivated by recent experiments in optics and atomic physics, we derive an averaged nonlinear partial differential equation describing the dynamics of the complex field in a nonlinear Schroedinger model in the presence of a periodic nonlinearity and a periodically-varying dissipation coefficient. The incorporation of dissipation is motivated by experimental considerations. We test the numerical behavior of the derived averaged equation by comparing it to the original nonautonomous model in a prototypical case scenario and observe good agreement between the two

Effects of Moisture Content on Some Physical Properties of Apricot Kernel (CV. Sonnati Salmas)

Investigation of physical properties of apricot kernel is necessary for the design of equipment for processing, transportation, sorting and separating. In this research the physical properties of apricot kernels have been evaluated as a function of moisture content vary from 2.86 to 13.03% (w.b.). With increasing in moisture content, kernel length, width, thickness, geometric mean diameter and surface area increased; the sphericity varyied from 62.2% to 62.9%; mass, thousand grain mass, volume and true density increased from 0.437 to 0.484 (gr), 437.4 to 484 (gr), 0.431 to 0.473 (cm3) and 1015.7 to 1023.5 (kg/m3), respectively; The porosity and bulk density decreased from 47.21 to 42.71% and 580.02 to 540.11 (kg/m3) respectively. The angle of static friction on all surfaces increased as the moisture content increased

Extracellular Vesicles from Mesenchymal Stromal Cells for the Treatment of Inflammation-Related Conditions

Over the past two decades, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have demonstrated great potential in the treatment of inflammation-related conditions. Numerous early stage clinical trials have suggested that this treatment strategy has potential to lead to significant improvements in clinical outcomes. While promising, there remain substantial regulatory hurdles, safety concerns, and logistical issues that need to be addressed before cell-based treatments can have widespread clinical impact. These drawbacks, along with research aimed at elucidating the mechanisms by which MSCs exert their therapeutic effects, have inspired the development of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents. The use of MSC-derived EVs for treating inflammation-related conditions has shown therapeutic potential in both in vitro and small animal studies. This review will explore the current research landscape pertaining to the use of MSC-derived EVs as anti-inflammatory and pro-regenerative agents in a range of inflammation-related conditions: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease, cardiovascular disease, and preeclampsia. Along with this, the mechanisms by which MSC-derived EVs exert their beneficial effects on the damaged or degenerative tissues will be reviewed, giving insight into their therapeutic potential. Challenges and future perspectives on the use of MSC-derived EVs for the treatment of inflammation-related conditions will be discussed

Marginally stable circular orbits in stationary axisymmetric spacetimes

16 pages, 1 figure. Published in Phys. Rev. D 94, 024015 (2016)E. G. gratefully acknowledges support from Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnonología (CONACyT Scholarship No. 494039/218141). S. B. also thanks the London Mathematical Society for their support (Grace Chisholm Young Fellowship No. GCY 13-14 02)

A novel MRE adaptive seismic isolator using curvelet transform identification

Magnetorheological elastomeric (MRE) material is a novel type of material that can adap-tively change the rheological property rapidly, continuously, and reversibly when subjected to real-time external magnetic field. These new type of MRE materials can be developed by employing various schemes, for instance by mixing carbon nanotubes or acetone contents during the curing process which produces functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). In order to study the mechanical and magnetic effects of this material, for potential application in seismic isolation, in this paper, different mathematical models of magnetorheological elastomers are analyzed and modified based on the reported studies on traditional magnetorheological elastomer. In this regard, a new feature identification method, via utilizing curvelet analysis, is proposed to make a multi-scale constituent analysis and subsequently a comparison between magnetorheological elastomer nanocomposite and traditional magnetorheological elastomers in a microscopic level. Furthermore, by using this “smart” material as the laminated core structure of an adaptive base isolation system, magnetic circuit analysis is numerically conducted for both complete and incomplete designs. Magnetic distribution of different laminated magnetorheological layers is discussed when the isolator is under compressive preloading and lateral shear loading. For a proof of concept study, a scaled building structure is established with the proposed isolation device. The dynamic performance of this isolated structure is analyzed by using a newly developed reaching law sliding mode control and Radial Basis Function (RBF) adaptive sliding mode control schemes. Transmissibility of the structural system is evaluated to assess its adaptability, controllability and nonlinearity. As the findings in this study show, it is promising that the structure can achieve its optimal and adaptive performance by designing an isolator with this adaptive material whose magnetic and mechanical properties are functionally enhanced as compared with traditional isolation devices. The adaptive control algorithm presented in this research can transiently suppress and protect the structure against non-stationary disturbances in the real time