Overview of host miRNA properties and their association with epigenetics, long non-coding RNAs, and Xeno-infectious factors

MicroRNA-derived structures play impressive roles in various biological processes. So dysregulation of miRNAs can lead to different human diseases. Recent studies have extended our comprehension of the control of miRNA function and features. Here, we overview some remarkable miRNA properties that have potential implications for the miRNA functions, including different variants of a miRNA called isomiRs, miRNA arm selection/arm switching, and the effect of these factors on miRNA target selection. Besides, we review some aspects of miRNA interactions such as the interaction between epigenetics and miRNA (different miRNAs and their related processing enzymes are epigenetically regulated by multiple DNA methylation enzymes. moreover, DNA methylation could be controlled by diverse mechanisms related to miRNAs), direct and indirect crosstalk between miRNA and lnc (Long Non-Coding) RNAs as a further approach to conduct intercellular regulation called �competing endogenous RNA� (ceRNA) that is involved in the pathogenesis of different diseases, and the interaction of miRNA activities and some Xeno-infectious (virus/bacteria/parasite) factors, which result in modulation of the pathogenesis of infections. This review provides some related studies to a better understanding of miRNA involvement mechanisms and overcoming the complexity of related diseases that may be applicable and useful to prognostic, diagnostic, therapeutic purposes and personalized medicine in the future. © 2021, The Author(s)

Dietary intake and lifestyle behavior in different phenotypes of polycystic ovarian syndrome: a case-control study

Objective: To compare dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and healthy women. Methods: 160 healthy women (partner with male infertility) were recruited to a control group; 168 women with PCOS (diagnosed on ultrasound) were recruited to a case study group for this cross-sectional comparative study. The case group was classified into three phenotypes based on presence or absence of menstrual disorder (M), hyperandrogenism (HA), and polycystic ovary according to sonography (PCO): HA+PCO (n=53), PCO+M (n=57) and M+HA+PCO (n=66). Dietary intake and lifestyle behaviour were measured using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and a lifestyle questionnaire (LQ). Results: The mean energy (P<0.001) and fat intake (P<0.001) were greater in PCOS groups compared with the control group. The average energy and fat intake were greater in HA+M+PCO group after age and BMI adjustment compared with other phenotypes (P<0.001). In comparison with the control group, lifestyle scores were lower in the PCOS group in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control after age and BMI adjustment (P<0.001). The average score of lifestyle in the fields of physical activity, weight and nutrition control, and psychological health was lower in the phenotype HA+M+PCO compared with other phenotypes (P<0.001). Conclusions: Limited energy and fat intake is strongly recommended in Iranian women with PCOS especially in phenotype HA+M+PCO. Consultation on improvement of psychological health and the importance of weight and nutrition control, and appropriate physical activity in patients especially in HA+M+PCO is advocated. Keywords: Lifestyle, polycystic ovarian syndrome, die

Expanding clinical phenotype and novel insights into the pathogenesis of ICOS deficiency

Background: Inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) deficiency has been categorized as a combined immunodeficiency often complicated by enteropathies, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferation, and malignancy. We report seven new patients and four novel ICOS mutations resulting in a common variable immunodeficiency (CVID)–like phenotype and show that dysregulated IL-12 release, reduced cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated protein 4 (CTLA4) expression, and skewing towards a Th1-dominant phenotype are all associated with inflammatory complications in this condition. Methods: A combination of whole exome and Sanger sequencing was used to identify novel mutations. Standard clinical and immunological evaluation was performed. FACS and ELISA-based assays were used to study cytokine responses and ICOS/ICOSL/CTLA4 expression following stimulation of whole blood and PBMCs with multiple TLR ligands, anti-CD3, and PHA. Results: Four novel ICOS mutations included homozygous c.323_332del, homozygous c.451C>G, and compound heterozygous c.58+1G>A/c.356T>C. The predominant clinical phenotype was that of antibody deficiency associated with inflammatory complications in 4/7 patients. Six out of seven patients were treated with immunoglobulin replacement and one patient died from salmonella sepsis. All patients who were tested showed reduced IL-10 and IL-17 cytokine responses, normal IL-1β, IL6, and TNF release following LPS stimulation and highly elevated IL-12 production in response to combined LPS/IFNγ stimulation. This was associated with skewing of CD4+ T cells towards Th1 phenotype and increased expression of ICOSL on monocytes. Lastly, reduced CTLA4 expression was found in 2 patients. One patient treated with ustekinumab for pancytopenia due to granulomatous bone marrow infiltration failed to respond to this targeted therapy. Conclusions: ICOS deficiency is associated with defective T cell activation, with simultaneously enhanced stimulation of monocytes. The latter is likely to result from a lack of ICOS/ICOSL interaction which might be necessary to provide negative feedback which limits monocytes activation

Effect of high-pressure torsion on microstructure, mechanical properties and corrosion resistance of cast pure Mg

© 2018, The Author(s). High-pressure torsion (HPT) processing was applied to cast pure magnesium, and the effects of the deformation on the microstructure, hardness, tensile properties and corrosion resistance were evaluated. The microstructures of the processed samples were examined by electron backscatter diffraction, and the mechanical properties were determined by Vickers hardness and tensile testing. The corrosion resistance was studied using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in a 3.5% NaCl solution. The results show that HPT processing effectively refines the grain size of Mg from millimeters in the cast structure to a few micrometers after processing and also creates a basal texture on the surface. It was found that one or five turns of HPT produced no significant difference in the grain size of the processed Mg and the hardness was a maximum after one turn due to recovery in some grains. Measurements showed that the yield strength of the cast Mg increased by about seven times whereas the corrosion resistance was not significantly affected by the HPT processing

The Impact of Factors Affecting Environmental Pollution with Emphasis on Trade Openness in Different Countries (Case study CO2 emission)

Urbanization, population growth and moving from traditional manufacturing industry to accelerate the process of economic development and parallel, significant environmental impacts are left. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of different variables such as trade openness, comparative advantage, production levels and other important variables affecting the emission of carbon dioxide gas in various countries of the world. Stata11 software was used to estimate the panel data model of 77 countries over the years 2010-1980. The results indicate that propagation environment, and in particular CO2, in all four groups of countries are associated with prior emission, with a per capita income direct link but with the square of it correlates inversely and have direct link with the ratio of capital to labor and with the square of it correlates inversely and trade openness in high-income countries and moderate negative effect in low-income and middle-income countries is directly related to the bottom

An investigation on magnetic properties and electrical resistivity of nanocrystalline CoFeNi thick films synthesized through stabilized bath

In this research, CoFeNi thick films were prepared through the electrodeposition process from a natural pH bath containing the complex agent of sodium citrate. By increasing applied current density, there is a transition from BCC (Fe) phase to BCC (Fe) + FCC (Co) phases and then to FCC (Co) phase. The XRD pattern showed a nanocrystalline structure for the CoFeNi thick films which was further confirmed by the TEM images. The magnetic properties of the synthesized magnetic films exhibit a noticeable decrease in the coercivity by decreasing the crystallite size which is consistent with the “D6” law. The resistivity of the CoFeNi thick films increased by decreasing the grain size which is due to the scattering of the charge carriers. The increase in the applied current density results in the gradual substitution of the iron atoms in CoFeNi films by nickel atoms leading to a reduction in saturation magnetization

Correction to: Fodder value and physiological aspects of rainfed smooth vetch affected by biofertilizers and supplementary irrigation in an agri-silviculture system (Agroforestry Systems, (2021), 10.1007/s10457-021-00695-7)

In the original publication of the article, Table 3 was incorrectly published. This has been corrected with this Correction. The original article has been corrected

Fodder value and physiological aspects of rainfed smooth vetch affected by biofertilizers and supplementary irrigation in an agri-silviculture system

In an agri-silviculture of the plum (Prunus domestica L. Cv. Opal), the forage quality of smooth vetch (Vicia dasycarpa L.) was evaluated. For this purpose, a two-year (2016 and 2017) factorial experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications at Urmia University, Iran. The treatments included the combined and individual application of biofertilizers {Azotobacter chroococcum (Az), Thiobacillus spp. (Th)., Rhizophagus intraradices (AMF) and control} under rainfed and once supplementary irrigation. The results showed that irrigated plants contained higher P than rainfed plants. Dual inoculation with “AMF + Az” had higher Ash, K, CP and WSC than plants with fungal or bacterial inoculation alone. In comparison with control, biofertilizers improved the forage and protein yield by 32 and 45.50% under rainfed conditions and by 47 and 60.04% under supplementary irrigation, respectively. The amount of CAT, GR, APX, and SOD were reduced in rainfed plants, but the co-inoculation of mycorrhizal plants with Az and/or Th enhanced enzymatic antioxidants. In conclusion, the combined use of AMF and Az improved smooth vetch forage quantity and quality in irrigated plants as much as rainfed did, and hence it can be desirable for sustainable agriculture

Compensation of friction and force ripples in the estimation of cutting forces by neural networks

Estimated cutting forces are usually mixed up with disturbing forces such as friction and need to be compensated. In common compensation methods, such forces are firstly recorded along machining contours under air-cutting conditions. Then, recorded disturbing forces are recalled for the compensation during the main machining process. This method doubles the process time and needs a precise synchronization. This problem is addressed in this paper. A novel method based on neural networks is introduced to compensate of friction and force ripples during cutting force estimations when signals of permanent magnet linear motors (PMLMs) are used. To this end, a Kalman filter observer was designed and experimentally verified for measuring of friction and force ripples. It was then used to provide target series required for training a neural network. Time series of the translator position along some sinusoidal trajectories were selected as training inputs. Taguchi experimental design method was used to determine the structure of the network (number of layers, nodes, and delays). It can be seen that increasing the complexity of the network does not necessarily lead to a more precise network, and a neural network with a hidden layer,16 nodes in the hidden layer and two time-delays can well model such forces. Experiments showed that the results of both methods are very similar and therefore, the proposed method can be used as well as the recording method. Finally, the designed method was successfully applied to the precise estimation of micro milling forces in order to estimate tool deflections