Transmission Electron Microscopy of Nanomaterials

Structural and analytical characterization, in the nanometer scale, has become very important for all types of materials in recent years. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) is a perfect instrument for this purpose, which is summarized in this chapter. Parameters such as particle size, grain size, lattice type, morphological information, crystallographic details, chemical composition, phase-type, and distribution can be obtained by transmission electron micrographs. Electron diffraction patterns of nanomaterials are also used to acquire quantitative information containing size, phase identification, orientation relationship and crystal defects in the lattice structure, etc. In this chapter, typical electron diffraction, high-resolution transmission and scanning transmission electron microscope imaging in materials research, especially in the study of nanoscience are presented

Personality Type A or Personality Type D, Which is a Strong Predictor of Coronary Heart Disease?

Considering the increasing incidence and prevalence of coronary heart disease and the increasing emphasis of health researchers on the association and relationship of psychosocial factors with the occurrence and persistence of cardiovascular disease, the need to identify the desired factors and determine each of the personality and psychological factors. The effect is felt more than ever in patients who are also the target of the present study. The main purpose of this study was to determine the predictors of coronary heart disease based on personality types. Among cardiovascular patients, men and women aged 25-60 years in Shahid Madani and 29 Bahman hospitals in Tabriz, who were admitted to surgical wards for coronary angiography in 2015, 50 people were selected who met the inclusion criteria. Also, 50 patients were selected from the patients' companions and answered the questionnaires of Denollet type D personality and Ratus personality pattern questionnaire. Findings showed that the variables of negative emotions, social inhibition of the personality type D subscale were predictors of coronary heart disease. But the role of personality type A in predicting coronary heart disease is not significant. Social inhibition was also the strongest predictor of coronary heart disease. The present study showed that personality factors are predictors of coronary heart disease

The Issues of Ethnicity in Financial Accounting Studies

This paper aims to provide a critical review of the empirical literature on the effect of ethnicity in financial accounting studies such as financial reporting quality, transparency, disclosure and corporate governance with particular reference to Malaysia. Traditional corporate governance system of the board of directors as well as alternative business governance system, culture and religious societies have been considered as having a significant impact on business governance systems used in a multi-ethnic country. Ethnicity can function as an appropriate representation to culture where each ethnic group keeps its distinctive cultural identification as well as ideals. This particular evaluation elucidates the association between ethnicity and financial reporting quality, transparency, disclosure and corporate governance in a multiracial context. Keywords: Ethnicity, transparency, financial accounting studies, Malaysia

Antihyperglycemic activity of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruit extract and its fractions in the rat model of diabetes

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease that has affected approximately 10% of population worldwide. Cydonia oblonga Mill. (C. oblonga), commonly called quince, contains diverse phytochemical constituents with a broad range of pharmacological activities. The current study is aimed to investigate the antihyperglycemic effect of aqueous extract of Cydonia oblonga Mill. fruit (ACO) in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and to identify the active fraction. Methods and Results: Diabetes was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of 60 mg/kg streptozotocin. The antihyperglycemic activity of different concentrations of ACO (80, 160 and 240 mg/kg body weight daily for a period of 28 days) was evaluated in the diabetic rats by measuring their fasting blood glucose (FBG). Furthermore, the antihyperglycemic effects of two major fractions of ACO were evaluated for the identification of active fraction. Finally, the chemical composition of the active fraction, methanolic fraction (MF), was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) assay. The oral administration of ACO on diabetic rats resulted in a significant collapse in FBG in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the MF was the active fraction and exhibited antihyperglycemic activity in diabetic rats during the experiment. The main component of MF was identified as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural or 5-HMF (a well-known natural compound) that may be responsible, at least partly, for the antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic effects of quince. Conclusion: Our results have demonstrated for the first time that quince possesses antihyperglycemic effect in diabetic rats and the MF of the aqueous extract is active fraction

The effectiveness of worry exposure in treating generalized anxiety disorder

Worry exposure (WE) is a core of cognitive-behavioral treatment for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). The present study was carried out to examine the efficacy of WE in treating patients with GAD. Three patients with GAD were selected using Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV (SCID) based on disorders axis I. Subjects were selected using purposeful sampling, and underwent the treatment after gaining treatment needs. Multiple baseline experimental single case study was used as the method of the present study. The treatment program was carried out for 8 weekly sessions, with a follow up period of 3 months later treatment ending. Subjects completed Pennsylvania State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ) and Cognitive Avoidance Questionnaire (CAQ). Research findings represented that WE decreased the intensity of GAD symptoms: Pathologic worry and cognitive avoidance. WE has suitable efficacy in treating Generalized Anxiety Disorder and it maintains suitable efficacy in treating GAD

Chemopreventive effect of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruit extract on hepatocellular carcinoma induced by diethylnitrosamine in rats

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or primary liver cancer is one of the most prevalent and deadliest cancers, which has been increasing greatly worldwide. Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a well-known environmental toxin and potent hepatocarcinogenic dialkylnitrosoamine present in air, water, and in a number of foodstuffs. In the present study, we evaluated preventive effect of aqueous extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) fruit (ACO) against DEN-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Methods and Results: The model of hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator that after two weeks followed by daily oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. Quince-treated rats were pretreated with ACO intragastrically at three different doses two weeks prior to DEN injection. The marked reduction of serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in ACO supplemented animals as compared with HCC rats at the end of the experiment. Moreover, the quince extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity by elevating glutathione (GSH) contents as well as preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues of DEN-treated rats. The relative weight of liver was also reduced in quince-treaded rats as a prognostic marker in HCC. Conclusions: Our results clearly demonstrated that quince has a chemopreventive effect against HCC in rats and can be proposed as a promising candidate for the prevention of DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. &nbsp

Prevention of liver cancer by standardized extract of Melissa officinalis L. in a rat model of hepatocellular carcinoma: Its potential role as a chemopreventive agent

Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary malignancy of the liver and the third most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Melissa officinalis L. (M. officinalis L.), known as lemon balm is a medicinal plant, which has a wide range of pharmacological properties. This study was aimed to assess the chemopreventive effect of aqueous extract of M. officinalis (AMO) against diethyl nitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rats. Methods and Results: The model of hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of DEN (200 mg/kg) as an initiator and after two weeks was followed by daily oral administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene (30 mg/kg) as a promoter for two weeks. Lemon balm-treated rats were pretreated with AMO intragastrically at three different doses two weeks prior to DEN injection. At the end of the experiment, the marked reduction of serum biomarkers of liver damage and cancer, including alfa-fetoprotein (AFP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) were observed in AMO complemented rats compared to DEN-treated animals. Furthermore, the extract exhibited in vivo antioxidant activity by elevating GSH concentration and preventing lipid peroxidation in the liver tissues of HCC rats. The relative weight of liver was also reduced in lemon balm-treated rats as a prognostic marker in HCC. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated that M. officinalis has a chemopreventive effect against HCC in rats and can be suggested as a potential agent for the prevention of primary liver cancer. &nbsp