Histomorphometrical study of gonads in the endemic cyprinid fish, Cyprinion tenuiradius Heckel, 1847 (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae)

To describe the morphological and histological changes during the annual reproductive cycle of the gonads of Cyprinion tenuiradius, a total of 341 specimens (102 female and 235 male specimens) were collected monthly from the Rudbal River (in the Qarah Aghaj sub-basin, the Persian Gulf basin), Firuzabad, Fars Province, southern Iran. The randomly sampling was adequate to collect males and females at the immature, mature, spawning-active, and non-active phases of reproduction. Five ovarian and five testicular maturation stages (I–V) were described using macroscopic and light and electron microscopic criteria. Also based on the histological examination, six types of ovarian follicles (A-F) and five types of testicular cells were designated. The largest ovarian follicles were found in the stage V of ovarian developmental stages in females with mean body weight and standard length of 22.27 g and 95.13 mm, respectively. The highest number of sperms was observed in the stage V of testicular developmental stages in males with mean body weight of 25.67 g and mean standard length of 97.83 mm. Based on the percentage of late ovary and testis maturation stages (IV, V) and high frequency of large oocytes and sperms it was concluded that the Qarah Aghaj botak spawns once a year during spring and the beginning of summer from April to July

Reproductive biology of an endemic fish, Alburnoides qanati Coad and Bogustkaya, 2009 (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) from Southern Iran

This study provides fundamental information on some key aspects of the reproductive traits of qanati tailor fish, Alburnoides qanati, an Iranian endemic, poorly studied cyprinid fish species. Sampling was performed on a monthly basis during one year (from March 2011 through February 2012) from a tributary of endorheic Kor River Basin, Southern Iran. The results of data analyzing showed that the sex ratio in the population of qanati tailor fish is 1:1 except for those in January and April. Based on the size, shape and weight of the gonads, degree of occupation of the body cavity, presence or absence of ripe oocytes, diameter of the oocytes in the ovary, and histological observations, five typical gonad maturation stages were described for females using macroscopic and microscopic criteria. Based on the percentage of the late gonad maturation stage (V) and high frequency of large oocytes it was concluded that A. qanati spawns during spring with its peak in April. These results were in accordance with those of three reproductive indices (gonado-somatic, modified gonado-somatic and dobriyal). Absolute fecundity was obtained between 732 and 2368. Study on its eggs by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the fish have adhesive eggs, which could explain its low fecundity compared to other cyprinids

The Mechanism of Antifungal Action of Essential Oil from Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) on Aspergillus flavus

The essential oil extracted from the seeds of dill (Anethum graveolens L.) was demonstrated in this study as a potential source of an eco-friendly antifungal agent. To elucidate the mechanism of the antifungal action further, the effect of the essential oil on the plasma membrane and mitochondria of Aspergillus flavus was investigated. The lesion in the plasma membrane was detected through flow cytometry and further verified through the inhibition of ergosterol synthesis. The essential oil caused morphological changes in the cells of A. flavus and a reduction in the ergosterol quantity. Moreover, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acidification of external medium, and mitochondrial ATPase and dehydrogenase activities were detected. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was also examined through fluorometric assay. Exposure to dill oil resulted in an elevation of MMP, and in the suppression of the glucose-induced decrease in external pH at 4 µl/ml. Decreased ATPase and dehydrogenase activities in A. flavus cells were also observed in a dose-dependent manner. The above dysfunctions of the mitochondria caused ROS accumulation in A. flavus. A reduction in cell viability was prevented through the addition of L-cysteine, which indicates that ROS is an important mediator of the antifungal action of dill oil. In summary, the antifungal activity of dill oil results from its ability to disrupt the permeability barrier of the plasma membrane and from the mitochondrial dysfunction-induced ROS accumulation in A. flavus

Pot, kettle: Nonliteral titles aren’t (natural) science

© 2020 The Author. Published by MIT Press. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence. The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1162/qss_a_00078Researchers may be tempted to attract attention through poetic titles for their publications, but would this be mistaken in some fields? Whilst poetic titles are known to be common in medicine, it is not clear whether the practice is widespread elsewhere. This article investigates the prevalence of poetic expressions in journal article titles 1996-2019 in 3.3 million articles from all 27 Scopus broad fields. Expressions were identified by manually checking all phrases with at least 5 words that occurred at least 25 times, finding 149 stock phrases, idioms, sayings, literary allusions, film names and song titles or lyrics. The expressions found are most common in the social sciences and the humanities. They are also relatively common in medicine, but almost absent from engineering and the natural and formal sciences. The differences may reflect the less hierarchical and more varied nature of the social sciences and humanities, where interesting titles may attract an audience. In engineering, natural science and formal science fields, authors should take extra care with poetic expressions, in case their choice is judged inappropriate. This includes interdisciplinary research overlapping these areas. Conversely, reviewers of interdisciplinary research involving the social sciences should be more tolerant of poetic licens

Effects Of Anethum graveolens L. Etheric Fraction Of Ethanol And Aqueous Seeds Extracts On Sex Hormones And Histomorphometrical Changes Of Female Rat Reproductive System

Abstract Background & aim: Previous research confirmed the effects of ethanol and aqueous seed extracts on female reproductive system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of alcohol extract of ether and aqueous fractions of dill seed histomorphometric changes in sex hormones and the reproductive system of female rats. Materials & Methods: The present experimental study was conducted on 35 female rats that were in estrus phase. Rats were divided into 5 groups, the control, low dose and high-ether fraction of aqueous extract 0.5 and 5 g/kg and fractions with high and low doses of alcohol0 .045 and 0.45 g/ kg respectively. The experimental group received 1 ml of mentioned dose and the control group received 1 ml distilled water daily for a period of 10 days. At the end of the experiment, the rats in the estrus phase were anesthetized and blood samples were taken from the dorsal aorta for more investigations. Ovaries and uterus tissue sections were prepared and stained with hematoxylin - eosin and Masson tri-chrome for morphometry by light microscopy. Levels of progesterone and estradiol levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and ELISA. Data were analyzed by one-way ANOVA. Results: Serum levels of progesterone and estradiol groups showed no significant difference between the experimental and the control group (P>0.05). In addition, the endometrial and myometrial thickness of uterus statistically decreased in high dose of etheric fraction of the aqueous extract (P<0.05). Conclusion: Oral administration of ether fraction of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of plant seeds will not be able to hormonal changes, as well as the other hormone-related variables. Key words: Dill seed, Estrogen, Progesterone, Etheric fraction, Reproductive syste

Frequency of Dysplastic and Cancerous Pap Smear and Genotyping of Human Papillomavirus by DNA Probetechniques in Kerman, Iran

Abstract: Background & Aims: Around the world, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women. Today, screening programs have reduced morbidity and mortality rates of this disease. Epidemiological and molecular studies have shown that certain types of the human papillomavirus are carcinogen types and the primary cause of cervical cancer. HPV type 16 and 18 are the most common high-risk types. In this study, frequency of different HPV genotypes in women who referred for a routine visit to an outpatient clinic of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran, has been obtained by DNA probe technique. Methods: Our study is a cross-sectional, analytic study on 20000 Pap smear samples over four consecutive years among women in reproductive ages (15-50 years) referred to University centers and private institutions in Kerman, Iran. All samples were collected in the laboratory of Afzalipour, and Bahonar Hospitals, and private institutions. The typical samples of dysplasia and cancer were reviewed by two pathologists and a pathology assistant according to the World Health Organization standards. The samples were examined after DNA extraction and molecular DNA probe technique. Results: 62 cases of 82 Pap smear samples were dysplastic and 20 samples were diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Moreover, 20 cases (32.2%) of dysplastic Pap smears and 12 cases (60%) of SCC samples were HPV positive. A total of 32 patients (39%) were positive for HPV. Of all samples only two were genotype 18 (25.6%), one was a mixture of 16 and 31 genotypes, and the remaining were all genotype 16 (93.75%). In the comparison between dysplasia severity (mild, moderate, and severe) and the HPV status (+ or -), and also the relation between age and status of HPV and the severity of dysplasia no relations were found. However, there was a significant relation between detection (dysplasia, SCC) and the HPV status, and also the relation between age and type of lesion diagnosis. Conclusion: Based on the findings of our study and the Iranian culture, prevalence of HPV infection among women with cervical cancer is less common than in other countries. HPV type 16, which is a carcinogenic genotype, was the predominant genotype. Keywords: Keywords: HPV genotyping, Pap smear, Dysplastic, DNA probe, Iran, Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), Cervical cance

Computational Analysis of AMPK-Mediated Neuroprotection Suggests Acute Excitotoxic Bioenergetics and Glucose Dynamics Are Regulated by a Minimal Set of Critical Reactions.

Loss of ionic homeostasis during excitotoxic stress depletes ATP levels and activates the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), re-establishing energy production by increased expression of glucose transporters on the plasma membrane. Here, we develop a computational model to test whether this AMPK-mediated glucose import can rapidly restore ATP levels following a transient excitotoxic insult. We demonstrate that a highly compact model, comprising a minimal set of critical reactions, can closely resemble the rapid dynamics and cell-to-cell heterogeneity of ATP levels and AMPK activity, as confirmed by single-cell fluorescence microscopy in rat primary cerebellar neurons exposed to glutamate excitotoxicity. The model further correctly predicted an excitotoxicity-induced elevation of intracellular glucose, and well resembled the delayed recovery and cell-to-cell heterogeneity of experimentally measured glucose dynamics. The model also predicted necrotic bioenergetic collapse and altered calcium dynamics following more severe excitotoxic insults. In conclusion, our data suggest that a minimal set of critical reactions may determine the acute bioenergetic response to transient excitotoxicity and that an AMPK-mediated increase in intracellular glucose may be sufficient to rapidly recover ATP levels following an excitotoxic insult

The computational model correctly predicted ATP, AMPK activity and glucose dynamics measured in neurons exposed to glutamate.

<p>(A) Model schematic. State variables are described in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.t001" target="_blank">Table 1</a>, and reaction numbers correspond to those listed in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.t002" target="_blank">Table 2</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.s002" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>. (B-E) Model input and simulations (solid black lines) overlaid on the median and inter-quartile regions (dotted black line, grey shaded area) of previously published fluorescence measurements in single cerebellar granule neurons exposed to glutamate for 10 min [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.ref015" target="_blank">15</a>]. The time of stimulus (model input or glutamate exposure) is marked with a light grey bar. Values were normalised to baseline. (B) A transient (10 min) increase in cytosolic calcium was applied as model input (see <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#sec008" target="_blank">Methods</a> and d[Cac]/dt equation in <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.s002" target="_blank">S1 Table</a>), and fitted to fluorescence measurements of cytosolic calcium (Fluo-4 AM) in CGNs exposed to glutamate. (C) The simulated ATP dynamics closely aligned with experimental measurements of intracellular ATP concentration [ATeam is a fluorescent reporter of intracellular ATP concentration; [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.ref016" target="_blank">16</a>]]. (D) The simulated transient activation of AMPK resembled experimental measurements of AMPK activity [AMPKAR is a fluorescent reporter of AMPK activity [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.ref017" target="_blank">17</a>]]. (E) The model also correctly predicted a prolonged elevation of intracellular glucose and its delayed recovery [Glucose-FRET is a fluorescent reporter of intracellular glucose concentration [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.ref018" target="_blank">18</a>]].</p

Sensitivity analysis indicated that glucose import dynamics are critical to the post-excitotoxic glucose recovery.

<p>(A-C) Parameters were varied by 0.5 (navy), 0.75 (light blue), 1 (green), 1.5 (orange) and 2 (red) times the steady-state values listed in Tables <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.t001" target="_blank">1</a> and <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.t002" target="_blank">2</a>, and the effect was calculated for the post-excitotoxic recovery duration of the (A) ATP, (B) AMPK activity and (C) Glucose signals. The varied parameter is written under each bar chart. The 5 parameters with the greatest effect on each metric are shown (left to right in order of effect), along with other parameters mentioned in the text. Data were omitted for parameter values at which the modelled state variables did not return to baseline within the simulation time (100 min). (D, E) Experimental traces (top panels) and multiple model simulations (bottom panels) of intracellular glucose concentration with either (D) glucose import or (E) AMPK inhibited prior to exposure to a transient excitotoxic stimulus. (D) Glucose import was inhibited by exposure to Cytochalasin B or by reduction of the modelled glucose import kinetics (Rx 9). (E) AMPK activity was inhibited by exposure to Compound C or by reduction of the modelled AMPK phosphorylation kinetics (Rx 6). Compound C experiments have been published previously [Fig 6A from [<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0148326#pone.0148326.ref015" target="_blank">15</a>]]. (F) Box- and scatter-plots of the glucose recovery duration with and without glucose import or AMPK inhibition (* ranksum p < 0.05).</p

Parameter constraints determined from steady-state (ss) analysis.

<p>Parameter constraints determined from steady-state (ss) analysis.</p