Alterations of the giant pyramidal neurons (Betz cells) in brain cortex of rat offspring born from gestational diabetic dams: A morphometric study [Alteraciones de las Neuronas Piramidales Gigantes de la Corteza Cerebral en Crías de Ratas Nacidas de Hembras con Diabetes Gestacional: Un Estudio Morfométrico]

A few studies reported the adverse effects of gestational diabetes on hippocampus and spinal cord of rat offspring. Giant pyramidal neurons are giant pyramidal neurons located in fifth layers of the gray matter in the primary motor cortex. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of gestational diabetes on the giant pyramidal neurons and the thickness of internal pyramidal layer in the brain cortex of rat offspring. On day 1 of gestation, 10 Wistar rat dams were randomly allocated into two control and diabetic groups. Five animals in diabetic group received 40 mg/kg/BW of Streptozotocin (intraperitoneally) and control animals received normal saline. We randomly selected six offspring of every subject in both groups at day 28, 56 and 84. Rat offspring were scarified and then coronal sections were taken from the right brain cortex and sections were stained with Cresyl violet. The density of giant pyramidal neurons in brain cortex and thickness of internal pyramidal layer of brain cortex were evaluated. In P28, P56, P84 the Betz cells density of brain cortex were significantly reduced from 107.6±6.2, 131.6±4.6 and 143.5±4.0 in controls to 84.96±2.1, 109.8±7.3 and 121.05±5.6 in cases (p<0.05), respectively. The thickness of the internal pyramidal layer of brain cortex in P28, 56 and P84 was significantly higher in gestational diabetic group in comparison with the control group (p<0.05). This study showed that uncontrolled gestational diabetes reduces the giant pyramidal neurons density and internal pyramidal layer thickness in brain cortex of rat offspring. © 2015, International Journal of Morphology. All rights reserved

Preventing effect of vitamin E on oocytes apoptosis in morphinetreated mice

Several studies have shown that Morphine Sulfate affects on fertility, embryogenesis and consequent pregnancy loss and ultrastructural alterations of oocytes in animal model. This study was done to determine the effect of morphine sulfate on oocytes apoptosis and preventive role of daily supplementation of Vitamin E on oocytes apoptosis in morphine sulfate -treated mice. Twenty-four NMARI female mice were randomly allocated into four experimental groups. For 15 days, control group received saline (0.2 ml/day by subcutaneous injection), group I Vitamin E (60 mg/kg/day orally), group II Morphine Sulfate (10 mg/kg/day by subcutaneous injection) and group III Morphine Sulfate with Vitamin E (60 mg/kg/day orally). Then, animals were superovulated with PSMG (10 Units) and 10 Unites of HCG. The next day the animals were sacrificed, oocytes were flushed from each fallopian tube. The collected oocytes were subjected to determine apoptosis by Tunnel assay with using Fluorescent Microscope. According to our results, the number of retrieved oocytes were 121, 132, 86 and 114 in control, experimental group I, II and III, respectively. Morphine Sulfate treatment increased apoptosis in oocytes to 17.44% whereas oocytes apoptosis was 4.13% in Controls. Supplementation with Vitamin E in Morphine Sulfate -treated mice reduced the oocytes apoptosis to 7.01%. This study showed that Morphine can increase apoptosis in oocytes and Vitamin E treatment significantly reduces oocytes apoptosis in the Morphine Sulfate -treated mice

Study of embryotoxicity of mentha piperita l. during organogenesis in balb/c mice

Mentha piperita (Labiatae), commonly known as peppermint is a native Iranian herb which is used in folk medicine for various purposes. This study was carried out to reveal the teratogenic effect of Mentha piperita on mice fetuses. In this experimental study, pregnant Balb/c mice divided to four groups. Case group received 600 (treatment I) and 1200 (treatment II) mg/kg/day the hydroalcoholic extract of Mentha piperita during 6-15 of gestational days and one control group received normal saline during GD6-GD15 by gavages and other control group did not receive any matter during 6-15 of gestational days. Mice sacrificed at GD18 and embryos were collected. Macroscopic observation was done by stereomicroscope. 20 fetuses of each group were stained by Alizarin red-S and Alcian blue staining method. The Mean weight of fetuses decreased in treatment groups rather than control (P<0.05) but CRL there was no significant difference between treatments and controls groups. In the treatment I (600 mg/kg/day) and treatment II (1200 mg/kg/day), normal saline and control group, no gross congenital malformations were observed in fetuses. Treated fetuses also had no delayed bone ossification as determined by Alizarin red-S and Alcian blue staining method. This study showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of Mentha piperita (600 and 1200 mg/ kg/day) has no teratogenic effect in mice fetuses if used continuously during embryonic period

Antiviral effects of Lactobacillus crispatus against HSV-2 in mammalian cell lines

Background: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infectious disease is one of the most common viral sexually transmitted diseases. As regards, vaginal lactobacilli play an important role in protecting host against the urogenital pathogens; here we assessed the potential antiviral activity of Lactobacillus crispatus against HSV-2 infection in vitro. Methods: Both Vero and HeLa cell lines were treated by L. crispatus before, during and after HSV-2 infection. The pre-incubation assay was also performed for the evaluating of virus adsorption by L. crispatus. Virus titer reduction in each stage was determined by a plaque reduction assay. Results: L. crispatus significantly decreased the infectivity of the HSV-2 in initial steps on both cell lines; however, no significant inhibition was ascertained during adsorption and multiplication process. The lactobacilli adhere on Vero cells two-fold stronger than HeLa and subsequently protect the Vero cells nearly 2.5 fold higher than HeLa cell against the virion. Co-incubation of HSV-2 with bacterial cells prior to virus inoculation significantly decreased the virus titer. Conclusion: L. crispatus appears to inhibit the entry of the virus into cells by trapping HSV-2 particles. In addition, formation of L. crispatus microcolonies in the cell surface could block HSV-2 receptors and prevent viral entry to cells in initial infection steps. © 201

Processing-structure-property relationships of electrospun PLA-PEO membranes reinforced with enzymatic cellulose nanofibers

Three different solvent mixtures were used to prepare electrospun membranes based on polylactic acid (PLA), polyethylene oxide (PEO) and enzymatic cellulose nanofibers (CNF). The materials were characterized from a morphological, spectroscopic, mechanical and rheological point of view. Furthermore, swelling test were performed in order to assess the water uptake of each sample. The results put into evidence that the choice of the solvents affects the structure and the properties of the membranes. Among the protocols tested, using chloroform/acetone/ethanol mixture was found to allow a high degree of CNF dispersion and a good electrospinnability of polymer solutions. These features led to membranes with impressive improvement of mechanical properties (+350% in stiffness, +350% in tensile strength and +500% in toughness) with respect to those of PLA/PEO and dramatically increased the water uptake of these materials (up to +350% within 120 min)

Exact Shock Profile for the ASEP with Sublattice-Parallel Update

We analytically study the one-dimensional Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process (ASEP) with open boundaries under sublattice-parallel updating scheme. We investigate the stationary state properties of this model conditioned on finding a given particle number in the system. Recent numerical investigations have shown that the model possesses three different phases in this case. Using a matrix product method we calculate both exact canonical partition function and also density profiles of the particles in each phase. Application of the Yang-Lee theory reveals that the model undergoes two second-order phase transitions at critical points. These results confirm the correctness of our previous numerical studies.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

Hippocampal neuronal apoptosis in rat offspring due to gestational diabetes Apoptosis neuronal del hipocampo en crías de ratas debido a la diabetes gestacional

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) defined as impaired glucose tolerance affects approximately 6 of all pregnant women who have never before had diabetes, but who do have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. This study was done to evaluate the apoptosis in the neuronal cells in the CA1, CA2 and CA3 subfields of hippocampus and dentate gyrus in offspring of gestational diabetes at the 7, 21 and 28 d in postnatal rats. Thirty Wistar rat dams were randomly allocated in control and diabetic group. Dams in diabetic group were received 40 mg/kg/BW of streptozotocin at the first day of gestation and control groups received an equivalent volume normal saline injection intraperitoneally (IP). Six offspring of GDM and control dams, at the 7, 21, 28 postnatal day were randomly were sacrificed quickly with anesthesia. The coronal sections of brain serially collected. The apoptosis neurons were evaluated with TUNELAssay. In the CA1, the number of apoptotic cells in 7, 21 and 28 d of postnatal life were significantly increased in GDM compared to controls (P<0.001). In the CA2, CA3 the number of apoptotic cells in 7, 21 and 28 d age-old offspring were significantly increased in GDM compared to controls (P<0.001). In the dentate gyrus, the number of apoptotic cells in 7, 21 and 28 d of postnatal life were significantly increased in GDM compared to controls (P<0.01). This study showed that the uncontrolled gestational diabetes significantly increases neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal and dentate gyrus in rat offspring. © 2016, Universidad de la Frontera. All rights reserved

Evaluation of Streamflow Hydrograph using ERA5 Precipitation Data in HEC-HMS Model

Introduction Precipitation is one of the most important input parameters of the hydrological models for rainfall-runoff simulation, which due to the lack of proper dispersion of rain gauge stations and the newly established some of these stations in most basins of the country, the use of these precipitation data faces serious challenges. Therefore, the use of remote-sensing methods is one of the ways that can be used for the streamflow simulation using hydrological models. Runoff is also one of the most important hydrological variables and rainfall-runoff modeling is one of the key items in hydrological sciences to estimate runoff characteristics such as volume, peak flow and arrival time to peak flow. In the present study, we used reanalyzed precipitation data and then evaluated the simulated streamflow using this precipitation data in the Zoshk subbasin. The precipitation data was validated with in situ data, of Kashafrood basin.Materials and Methods The reanalysis precipitation data was selected from the ERA5 precipitation data, and the HEC-HMS was used for the rainfall-runoff simulation. The basin parameters were calculated by the GIS menu. This menu is the newest option in the HEC-HMS software that needs only the DEM basin for calculating the basin parameters. In the present study, we should validate the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data with in situ data, so we did that in the Kashafrood basin. The number of the rain gauge stations were 34, but some of the stations didn't have complete data and omitted them from the list of the rain gauge stations. For the validation ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was used from the R, NSE, RMSE, Bias, FAR, POD and TS statistical indicators. These indicators were calculated by programming in EXCEL Visual Basic. The ERA5 precipitation data was evaluated for the Kashfarood basin at daily and monthly time steps. The DEM Zoshk was downloaded with the spatial resolution of 12.5 meters from ALOS-PALSAR satellite and then the basin parameters were calculated by the GIS menu. The SCS curve number was selected as a loss method. In this method, the calculations related to the percentage of impermeability and the average curve number of each sub-basin were obtained through land use and curve number layers, respectively. The SCS unit hydrograph was selected as a transform method. The recession method was selected as a base flow method. NSE and PBias were used for the calibration and validation events in HEC-HMS. In this way, at first the HEC-HMS model was calibrated by tow in situ rainfall-runoff events (91/1/11 and 91/2/6), and then validated by one in situ rainfall-runoff event (99/1/23). For validation streamflow of the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data, the event on 99/1/23 was used and their streamflow hydrographs were evaluated with each other in Zoshk station.Results and Discussion The results showed that the reanalysis precipitation data of ERA5 had underestimation in daily and monthly time steps. Also in monthly time step, the accuracy of these precipitation dataset in detecting precipitation events (in terms of FAR, TS, and POD indices) was higher than a daily one. In addition, in monthly time steps it had worse accuracy in summer months than the rest of the year in detecting precipitation events (in terms of FAR, TS, and POD indices). For streamflow evaluation, in the calibration phase both NSE was in very good and good ranges, and PBias was in very good, good and acceptable ranges. In addition, the model underestimated the observational one. Finally the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was compared by 99/1/23 hydrograph event. The streamflow hydrograph from the ERA5 reanalysis precipitation data was underestimated due to ERA5 underestimation of the precipitation at the Zoshk rain gauge on the days corresponding to the 23/6/99 incident. The ERA5 reanalyzed precipitation data with NSE and Bias percentage coefficients in unacceptable range (NSE≤0.5 and PBias≤±25), compared to flow hydrograph obtained from Zoshk station precipitation data, the efficiency of this precipitation dataset is low. The range of the streamflow hydrograph from the ERA5 precipitation data was unsatisfactory in compared to the observational hydrograph (NSE = -0.47 and PBias = -55.16).Conclusion In general, the accuracy of the flow hydrograph of this product compared to the flow hydrograph of the precipitation data of Zoshk station (NSE = 0.64 and PBias = -15.82), cannot be a relatively reliable source instead of in situ rainfall data in hydrological simulation. The suggestion for future studies is to evaluate other rainfall data based on remote sensing methods in hydrological modeling

Sequentializing Parameterized Programs

We exhibit assertion-preserving (reachability preserving) transformations from parameterized concurrent shared-memory programs, under a k-round scheduling of processes, to sequential programs. The salient feature of the sequential program is that it tracks the local variables of only one thread at any point, and uses only O(k) copies of shared variables (it does not use extra counters, not even one counter to keep track of the number of threads). Sequentialization is achieved using the concept of a linear interface that captures the effect an unbounded block of processes have on the shared state in a k-round schedule. Our transformation utilizes linear interfaces to sequentialize the program, and to ensure the sequential program explores only reachable states and preserves local invariants.Comment: In Proceedings FIT 2012, arXiv:1207.348

In vitro adherence of Lactobacillus strains isolated from the vaginas of healthy Iranian women

Background The lactobacilli are a part of the bacterial flora of the human vagina. Detection of normal Lactobacillus species in the vaginas of healthy women in different geographical locations, and evaluation of their specific properties, can aid in the selection of the best species for preventing sexually transmitted diseases in the future. This study was performed to isolate and identify the Lactobacillus species in the vaginas of healthy women and to evaluate the adherence of these lactobacilli to Vero and HeLa cell lines. Methods The study included 100 women. Bacteria were isolated from healthy women and purified. Phenotypic and biochemical tests were performed to identify the lactobacilli. The Lactobacillus species were detected by molecular methods using polymerase chain reaction amplification of the full length of the 16S rDNA of the isolated bacteria. Several isolates of each species were then selected to study their adherence to Vero and HeLa cell lines. Results Among the 50 samples taken from healthy women meeting the inclusion criteria, Lactobacillus species were identified in 33 (66) samples. Of these lactobacilli, 14 isolates were Lactobacillus crispatus, six (18.2) were Lactobacillus gasseri, nine (27) were Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and the rest were either Lactobacillus salivarius (6) or Lactobacillus plantarum (6). L. rhamnosus showed the greatest adhesion to the cells when compared to the other tested species. All the lactobacilli isolated in this study showed a smaller capacity for cell adherence when compared with control species. Conclusion L. crispatus, L. rhamnosus, and L. gasseri were the dominant Lactobacillus species in the vaginas of healthy women in Iran. L. rhamnosus attached more readily to the cells than did the other species; therefore, this isolate is a good candidate for further studies on the potential health benefits and application of lactobacilli as probiotics. © 201