Effect of doxycycline-bioglass treatment on calvarial bone defect in rats: A histological study

Purpose: To evaluate the osteogenic properties of a bioglass-doxycycline complex for bone regeneration applications in calvarial bone defects in rats.Methods: Three critical-size bone defects were created in each of eight experimental rats using a trephine bur. The experimentally created defects were then filled with bioglass-doxycycline (BG-D group), bioglass alone (BG group), or left unfilled (control group). Four randomly selected rats weresacrificed after 4 weeks while the other four rats were sacrificed after 8 weeks. The amount of newly regenerated bone and the osteoblast and osteoclast counts were calculated using histological analysis.Results: Increase in the amount of regenerated bone was significant in the bioglass-doxycycline group at both 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Differences between the three groups in the mean number of osteoblasts were also significant at both 4 and 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Comparison of the three groupsrevealed significant increase in osteogenesis rate and considerable enhancement of the number of osteoblasts in both bioglass and bioglass-doxycycline groups (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The complex of doxycycline and bioglass increased the rate of osteogenesis and number of osteoblasts in rats but decreased the number of osteoclasts. Therefore, bioglass-doxycycline can be considered as a bone graft in bone regeneration for medical applications. Keywords: Bone, Regeneration, Osteoblasts, Osteoclasts, Osteogenesis, Bioglass, Doxycyclin

Analyzing the Fundamental Concepts of Epictetus' Educational philosophy according to Anthony Long

In contemporary philosophy, a lot of attention is paid to the philosophy of ethics and the history of philosophy. In this period, by referring to the previous philosophers, they are trying to add to the richness of philosophy. Stoic philosophy is one of the courses that is being discussed a lot now. Stoic philosophy deals more with moral issues and moral psychology with an educational approach. Due to the importance of the issue of ethics and the psychology of ethics with an educational approach in the contemporary period, there is now a lot of research on Stoic philosophy. There are many philosophers in the Stoic school, and one of the most important of them is Epictetus. Many books have been written about Epictetus' thought. One of the greatest exponents of Stoic philosophy is Anthony Long, who has written many books on the opinions and thoughts of Stoics, as well as the description and interpretation of Epictetus' thought. Long considers the unity and coherence of Epictetus' philosophy in four fundamental concepts, which have a strong connection with his educational approach. They are: freedom, volition, judgment and the integrity. In this article, the basic concepts of Epictetus' educational philosophy are analyzed according to Anthony Long

Revisiting efficiency of microfinance institutions (MFIs): an application of network data envelopment analysis

In order to achieve financial inclusion objectives of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and provide continuous financial support to the unbanked population, microfinance institutions (MFIs) must attain efficiency in their operations. Hence, the main purpose of this study is to examine various efficiencies of MFIs based on their goals and operational mechanisms. By utilizing a unique production process and network data envelopment analysis (NDEA) technique, we estimated three different types of efficiencies (operational, financial and outreach) of 90 MFIs from 2013 to 2018. It was discovered that the overall efficiency of the MFIs was not up to the required standard and it became even worse when the financial and social outreach efficiencies were considered. However, operational efficiency (ability to generate intermediaries) was relatively better and remained high among the regulated MFIs. On the contrary, the financial and social outreach efficiencies were found to be better among the unregulated MFIs. Moreover, our results also highlight the divergence in efficiency between regions, legal status and regulatory environment; with projection analysis suggesting a simultaneous reduction in input, and an increase in output of inefficient MFIs to facilitate their attainment of efficiency. Policy implications are subsequently discussed

Development of a new hybrid technique for estimating of relative uplift force in gravity dams based on whale optimization algorithm

A numerical model is developed in this study using the finite element method (FEM) to estimate relative total uplift force for different positions of holes of drainage gallery in the foundation of Guangzhao gravity dam, located in China. The data of the relative total uplift force generated for different input combinations using the FEM were used to develop machine learning (ML) models. A three-layer Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and a new hybrid model known as ANN-Whale Optimization Algorithm (ANN-WOA) were used for this purpose. The results showed that R2, RMSE, NSE, KGE and RE% for ANN-WOA model in estimation of the relative total uplift forces were 0.998, 0.021, 0.989, 0.964 and 3.3% respectively and those for ANN model were 0.980, 0.023, 0.982, 0.953 and 4.67% respectively, which indicate the higher accuracy of ANN-WOA model compared to ANN model. The new hybrid model, ANN-WOA with the less RMSE and RE% and high KGE and NSE is a more appropriate model for the estimation of the relative total uplift force. The extracted metrics of violin plots indicated that the probability distribution of the relative total uplift force estimated using ANN-WOA model was very similar to that obtained using the FEM

Improvement of post-thawed sperm quality in broiler breeder roosters by ellagic acid-loaded liposomes

P. 440–446Liposomes could improve the delivery of substances to sperm. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of the antioxidant ellagic acid and ellagic acid-loaded liposomes on post-thawed sperm quality in broiler breeder roosters. Semen was diluted in Beltsville extender containing ellagic acid or ellagic acid-loaded liposomes (ellagic acid at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 2 mM) and cryopreserved. Sperm quality was evaluated post-thawing: motility characteristics (Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis), membrane functionality (HOS test), abnormal morphology, mitochondrial activity (Rhodamine 123), apoptotic status (Annexin V/Propidium iodide), malondialdehyde, and antioxidant activities (glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)). The results showed that 1 mM ellagic acid-loaded liposomes improved total motility, membrane functionality, and viability comparing to 0.5 and 2 mM ellagic acid, 2 mM ellagic acid-loaded liposomes, and control group. Mitochondrial activity was significantly higher for 1 mM ellagic acid-loaded liposomes compared to the rest of the treatments, except 1 mM ellagic acid. Ellagic acid at 1 mM in both forms significantly increased GPx and TAC after freeze-thawing (no significant variation for SOD), and also yielded the lower proportion of apoptotic and dead cells. In conclusion, ellagic acid improved post-thawed sperm quality in broiler breeder roosters. The use of liposomes could further enhance the effects of ellagic acid.S

The Relationship of Gender Role Attitude and Division of Household labor with Couples' Perceived justice

Background & aim: Given the advancements in science, technology, and cultural globalization, Iranian families has changed in several aspects affecting individual’s perception of justice in division of household labor. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the correlation of gender role attitude and household labor division with perceived justice in couples. Methods: The present correlational study was conducted in 180 couples visiting healthcare centers of Mashhad, Iran, in 2014. The participants were selected through the three-stage cluster sampling method. Data collection tools included questionnaires of gender role attitude, participation in household labor, and perceived justice. Spearman rho and Pearson correlation coefficient were run in SPSS, version 16. Results: A significant correlation was seen between women’s gender role attitude with their involvement in household labor and perceived justice (P=0.04, P=0.03, respectively). But there was no correlation between their involvement in household labor and perceived justice (P=0.83). There was no correlation between men’s gender role attitude and their involvement in household labor (P=0.61), whereas their gender role attitude was correlated with perception of justice (P=0.01, r=-0.13). There was also a direct correlation between male involvement in household labor and perceived justice (P=0.00, r=0.19). Conclusion: Most employed women despite having modern gender role attitudes, had still more involvement in household labor. Almost half of men who had traditional gender role attitudes, reported appropriate involvement in household labor. Men with more involvement in household labor had a higher perception of justice

Lentiviral Mediated Overexpression of NGF in Adipose-derived Stem Cells

Introduction: Human adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can self-renew and differentiate into various types of cells such as adipocytes, osteocytes, and neural cells. These stem cells can be isolated by minimally invasive technique in large amounts. ADSCs are a useful resource for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is the first neurotrophin factor discovered and characterized for its anti-apoptotic role in neural development. NGF can promote neuronal survival and neurite outgrowth and it also promotes neuron differentiation and migration. Moreover, research showed that NGF could protect axons from inflammatory damage, improve cognitive function in damaged brain models, and function in the prevention and treatment of neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s disease. In this study we use Lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer technique to deliver NGF gene to ADSCs and overexpress this factor in ADSCs. Method and Materials: ADSCs extracted from human adipose tissue after lipoaspiration by digestion method. ADSCs characterized with Flowcytometry and differentiation assay in adipogenic and osteogenic differential media. The NGF gene was cloned in pCDH-513B-1 (System Bioscience, Mountain View, CA, United States) under a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Recombinant lentiviruses were produced according to the Prof. Trono lab protocol with some modifications in HEK 293T cells. The spinfection method was used to transduce ADSCs. NGF expression was assayed using fluorescent microscope to trace green fluorescent protein (GFP) marker, RT-PCR and western blotting. Results: Extracted ADSCs had mesenchymal morphology and differentiated into adipocytes and osteocytes in differentiating media. HEK293T easily transfected with pCDH-513B-1 and over 99% of them expressed GFP so we gathered pseudoviruses from the supernatant. ADSCs transduced with these pseudoviruses transferred NGF and after transduction expressed GFP, as seen under fluorescent microscope. RT-PCR and western blotting verified NGF overexpression in them