Ultrastructural and Molecular Changes in the Developing Small Intestine of the Toad Bufo regularis

The ontogenetic development of the small intestine of the toad Bufo regularis was investigated using twofold approaches, namely, ultrastructural and molecular. The former has been done using transmission electron microscope and utilizing the developmental stages 42, 50, 55, 60, 63, and 66. The most prominent ultrastructural changes were recorded at stage 60 and were more evident at stage 63. These included the appearance of apoptotic bodies/nuclei within the larval epithelium, the presence of macrophages, swollen mitochondria, distorted rough endoplasmic reticulum, chromatin condensation, and irregular nuclear envelop, and the presence of large vacuoles and lysosomes. The molecular investigation involved examining DNA content and fragmentation. The results showed that the DNA content decreased significantly during the metamorphic stages 60 and 63 compared with both larval (50 and 55) and postmetamorphic (66) stages. The metamorphic stages (60 and 63) displayed extensive DNA laddering compared with stages 50, 55, and 66. The percentage of DNA damage was 0.00%, 12.91%, 57.26%, 45.48%, and 4.43% for the developmental stages 50, 55, 60, 63, and 66, respectively. In conclusion, the recorded remodeling of the small intestine represents a model for clarifying the mechanism whereby cell death and proliferation are controlled

Multichannel blind deconvolution using a generalized Gaussian source model

In this paper, we present an algorithm for the problem of multi-channel blind deconvolution which can adapt to un-known sources with both sub-Gaussian and super-Gaussian probability density distributions using a generalized gaussian source model. We use a state space representation to model the mixer and demixer respectively, and show how the parameters of the demixer can be adapted using a gradient descent algorithm incorporating the natural gradient extension. We also present a learning method for the unknown parameters of the generalized Gaussian source model. The performance of the proposed generalized Gaussian source model on a typical example is compared with those of other algorithm, viz the switching nonlinearity algorithm proposed by Lee et al. [8]. © Association for Scientific Research

RANKL EXPRESSION AND METABOLIC CHANGES IN OVARIECTOMIZED RATS AND THE POSSIBLE PROTECTION BY VEGETABLE FORMULA.

 Objective: This study was to evaluate complications of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats and the possibility to ameliorate these changes by consumption of vegetable formula. Furthermore, transcription of mRNA of RANKL gene was matched with bone mass density (BMD) and bone formation marker (human procollagen 1 N terminal peptide [PINP]).Methods: Thirty rats were divided into three groups. The first is non ovariectomized control group (NOVXC), the second is ovariectomized control group (OVXC), and the third is ovariectomized rats supplemented with the vegetable formula (OVXT). Animals were fed for 8 successive weeks. Animals were treated and sacrificed under the recommended ethics of laboratory animal's treatment. The vegetable mixture was formulated with the purpose to correct the bone compromise and supply all the presumed deficient elements and hormone.Results: Chemical analysis showed that the formulated vegetable mixture had a high amount of flavonoids as catechin (100 mg/100 g of dry weight) and polyphenols as tannic acid (1000 mg/100 g dry weight. Furthermore, it had high reducing power (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical showed inhibition percentage of 91.81%.). Several phytochemicals necessary for bone health were demonstrated in the vegetable mixture using high-performance liquid chromatography. RANKL/GAPDH mRNA transcription ratio showed marked an increase in OVXC versus the control NOVXC rats (1.00 vs. 0.199, respectively) accompanied with a drop in BMD (0.157 vs. 0.25 mg/cm2, respectively) and PINP values (27.9±2.8 compared to NOVXC 34±2.4 μ/L, respectively). The vegetable mixture supplementation showed better values of BMD and PINP in OVXT group directed back toward normal (0.183 mg/cm2 and 29.35±3.4 μ/L, respectively). Furthermore, analysis of blood plasma of supplemented group showed lower blood glucose, lipid profile, and oxidative markers if compared to that in OVXC group.Conclusion: It may be concluded that the plant formula was effective to minimize health hazards in ovariectomized rats and maybe for postmenopause women. Perhaps longer time may be needed for more significant and clear effect

Serum Zinc Level and Its Correlation with Vesikari System Scoring in Acute Pediatric Diarrhea

BACKGROUND: Diarrhea remains the most common infectious disease worldwide. Zinc has been studied extensively recently for its potential effect on prevention, control and treatment of acute diarrhoea.AIM: This study was designed to correlate the level of zinc with the severity of pediatric diarrhoea estimated by Vesikari Scoring System.PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present study included 80 children aged two months to 30 months from those suffering from the acute diarrheal episode and admitted to Pediatric Hospital "Abo El Rish" Cairo University. Serum Zinc level was assessed by a colorimetric method with a spectrophotometer.RESULTS: Zinc deficiency was detected in 45 (56.2%) patient of the studied group Significant negative correlations were found between serum zinc level and severity of dehydration and duration of hospitalization (p < 0.05).CONCLUSION: Zinc level has an essential role in acute pediatric diarrhoea. Zinc therapy should be considered beside Oral rehydration salts (ORS) to achieve maximum impact on diarrheal diseases; clinical trials are recommended to support the zinc supplementation in developing countries

Lysozyme as an alternative to antibiotics improves growth, antioxidants status, immunity, and intestinal bacteria in broiler chickens during the fattening period

The present study aimed to evaluate the impact of dietary lysozyme levels on the growth performance, hematological and blood biochemical parameters, immunity, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbial count in broiler chickens. Three-hundred 1 d old birds (Cobb-avian500) were used and divided into five groups (five replicates per group, 60 birds per replicate). Birds in the first group were fed a control diet, while birds in the second, third, fourth, and fifth groups were fed the control diet with 0.2 g lincomycin, 1 g commercial lysozyme, 25 mg chicken egg lysozyme, and 50 mg egg lysozyme per kg of diet, respectively. Results confirmed that, in comparison with the control diet, all supplements had greater impacts on final body weight and body weight gain, and only the egg lysozyme diet (50 mg kg−1 diet) increased feed intake. Lincomycin, commercial lysozyme, and egg lysozyme (25 mg) improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR). Birds fed commercial lysozyme and egg lysozymes showed significantly increased hemoglobin and red blood cell counts. All supplements reduced white blood cells, heterophils, and heterophils / lymphocytes ratio and increased lymphocytes. All supplements significantly increased serum total protein, albumin, globulin, and glucose. The diet of egg lysozyme (50 mg kg−1) significantly decreased alpha-globulin, alanine aminotransferase, triglycerides, cholesterol, and urea levels and increased high-density lipoproteins. Diets with lincomycin, commercial lysozyme, and egg lysozyme significantly increased antioxidant capacity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA). The interferon-gamma (IFNγ) and interlukin-2 (IL-2) were significantly improved by lincomycin, commercial lysozyme and egg lysozyme diets, but interlukin-10 (IL-10) was significantly increased only by the egg lysozyme (50 mg kg−1) diet. The total bacterial count, Salmonella, Escherichia coli, and Proteus counts were significantly decreased. Dressing rate and breast weight percentage were significantly increased by the egg lysozyme (50 mg kg−1) diet. Thigh weight percentage was increased only by the commercial lysozyme diet. In conclusion, chicken egg lysozyme (50 mg kg−1), a promising alternative for antibiotics in broiler chickens' diet, can enhance growth performance, antioxidant status, immunity, and intestinal bacteria.</p

Proučavanje relativističke tvorbe hadrona prema naprijed i unatrag u sudarima 3he i 4he s jezgrama u emulziji na energiji ubrzivača u dubni

The experimental results on 3He- and 4He-emulsion interactions accompanied by relativistic (shower) hadrons flying into the backward (θlab ≤ 90◦ ) hemisphere at 4.5 AGeV/c are presented and analyzed. The dependence of the probabilities of these interactions on the different target sizes, impact parameter and projectile spectator charges is studied. An investigation of average values and multiplicity distributions of these hadrons for the interactions with light and heavy emulsion nuclei has been carried out. In addition, the correlations between the multiplicities of different types of the emitted particles are studied. The data show that backward shower particles are a sensitive target parameter. The values of impact parameters can be used as good indicators for selecting events which occured with light or heavy emulsion nuclei. A comparison with the modified cascade model shows a good performance in describing the data produced in the region having less cascading (i.e. interactions with light nuclei). As for the interactions with heavy nuclei, the model overestimates the experimental data.Predstavljamo eksperimentalne rezultate i analize mjerenja međudjelovanja 3He i 4He u emulziji na 4.5 AGeV/c, u kojima se opažaju relativistički pljuskovi hadrona koji lete unatrag (θlab ≤ 90◦ ). Proučavamo ovisnost vjerojatnosti tih međudjelovanja o veličini jezgre mete, sudarnom parametru i naboju projektila-promatrača. Istražili smo prosječne vrijednosti i raspodjele višestrukosti hadrona za lake i teške jezgre u emulziji. Nadalje, proučavali smo korelacije višestrukosti različitih izlaznih čestica. Podaci pokazuju da su pljuskovi čestica unatrag osjetljiv parametar jezgri mete. Vrijednosti parametara mogu poslužiti kao dobar pokazatelj sudara s lakim odnosno teškim jezgrama. Usporedba s promijenjenim kaskadnim modelom pokazuje dobro slaganje s podacima u kojima je manje kaskada (tj. Manje sudara s lakim jezgrama). Rezultati tog modela za teške jezgre veći su od eksperimentalnih podataka

An environmentally benign antimicrobial nanoparticle based on a silver-infused lignin core

Silver nanoparticles have antibacterial properties, but their use has been a cause for concern because they persist in the environment. Here, we show that lignin nanoparticles infused with silver ions and coated with a cationic polyelectrolyte layer form a biodegradable and green alternative to silver nanoparticles. The polyelectrolyte layer promotes the adhesion of the particles to bacterial cell membranes and, together with silver ions, can kill a broad spectrum of bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and quaternary-amine-resistant Ralstonia sp. Ion depletion studies have shown that the bioactivity of these nanoparticles is time-limited because of the desorption of silver ions. High-throughput bioactivity screening did not reveal increased toxicity of the particles when compared to an equivalent mass of metallic silver nanoparticles or silver nitrate solution. Our results demonstrate that the application of green chemistry principles may allow the synthesis of nanoparticles with biodegradable cores that have higher antimicrobial activity and smaller environmental impact than metallic silver nanoparticles