Functional Interactions of Alcohol-sensitive Sites in the \u3cem\u3eN\u3c/em\u3e-Methyl-d-aspartate Receptor M3 and M4 Domains

The N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor is an important mediator of the behavioral effects of ethanol in the central nervous system. Previous studies have demonstrated sites in the third and fourth membrane-associated (M) domains of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor NR2A subunit that influence alcohol sensitivity and ion channel gating. We investigated whether two of these sites, Phe-637 in M3 and Met-823 in M4, interactively regulate the ethanol sensitivity of the receptor by testing dual substitution mutants at these positions. A majority of the mutations decreased steady-state glutamate EC50 values and maximal steady-state to peak current ratios (Iss/Ip), whereas only two mutations altered peak glutamate EC50 values. Steady-state glutamate EC50 values were correlated with maximal glutamate Iss/Ip values, suggesting that changes in glutamate potency were attributable to changes in desensitization. In addition, there was a significant interaction between the substituents at positions 637 and 823 with respect to glutamate potency and desensitization. IC50 values for ethanol among the mutants varied over the approximate range 100–325 mm. The sites in M3 and M4 significantly interacted in regulating ethanol sensitivity, although this was apparently dependent upon the presence of methionine in position 823. Molecular dynamics simulations of the NR2A subunit revealed possible binding sites for ethanol near both positions in the M domains. Consistent with this finding, the sum of the molecular volumes of the substituents at the two positions was not correlated with ethanol IC50 values. Thus, there is a functional interaction between Phe-637 and Met-823 with respect to glutamate potency, desensitization, and ethanol sensitivity, but the two positions do not appear to form a unitary site of alcohol action

Advancement in Energy Storage by Paraffin

Paraffin uses in energy storage depends on preparation by encapsulation method become more effective nonconventional technique novel storge material. Many measurements as hydrophilicity, energy storage capacity, size distribution and encapsulation ratio can be evaluated. It was also found that a higher coating to paraffin ratio leads to a higher paraffin encapsulation ratio. The hydrophilicity value of microencapsulated paraffin depended mainly on the ratio of paraffin to coating the higher the ratio, the lower was its product hydrophilicity Surface response method used to design and based conditions to optimize it. Using paraffin in energy storage in the future is promising

Association between characteristics of previous cesarean delivery and pelvic adhesions: a case-controlled study

Objectives: To assess the correlation of previous cesarean delivery characteristics to pelvic adhesions in infertile patients. Materials and methods: This Case-controlled study was conducted in the period from January 2018 to December 2020 at Tanta University. All patients (222) presenting with post-cesarean infertility who underwent diagnostic laparoscopy were included in the study. According to presence of adhesions during laparoscopy, two groups were allocated. Characteristics of previous cesarean delivery were assessed in patients with or without adhesions. Results: There were significant differences between both groups regarding type of CS, shape of skin scar, parietal peritoneal closure, and postoperative complications of the prior CS between both groups. Independent predictors of adhesions were age [OR: 1.43 (1.15–1.77); p = 0.001], BMI [OR: 0.76 (0.61–0.95); p = 0.02], emergency CS [OR: 7.74 (1.61–37.19); p = 0.01], parietal peritoneal closure [OR: 0.06 (0.01–0.24); p = 0.001]. Conclusions: Post-cesarean adhesions were correlated to age, BMI, emergency CD, double layer closure, and closure of peritoneum and to postoperative complications. No correlation to duration of infertility or number of cesarean sections

Isolation and propagation of an Egyptian Theileria annulata infected cell line and evaluation of its use as a vaccine to protect cattle against field challenge

Tropical theileriosis is an important protozoan tick-borne disease in cattle. Vaccination using attenuated schizont-infected cell lines is one of the methods used for controlling the disease. This study describes the production of attenuated schizont-infected cell lines from Egypt and an evaluation of its use as a vaccine to protect calves against clinical disease upon field challenge. Two groups of exotic and crossbred male calves were divided into vaccinated and control groups. The vaccinated groups were inoculated with 4 ml (1 × 106 cells/ml) of the attenuated cell line. Three weeks after vaccination, calves of both groups were transported to the New Valley Governorate (Egyptian oasis) where they were kept under field conditions and exposed to the natural Theileria annulata challenge. All animals in the control group showed severe clinical signs and died despite treatment with buparvaquone, which was administered after two days of persistent fever due to a severe drop in packed cell volume (PCV). Animals in the vaccinated group became seropositive without developing severe clinical signs other than transient fever. Post-mortem examinations revealed enlarged and fragile lymph nodes, spleen, and liver with necrosis and hemorrhages. These findings indicate that the Egyptian attenuated cell line was successful in protecting both exotic and crossbred animals against tropical theileriosis under field conditions

Nucleophilic Addition of Reactive Dyes on Amidoximated Acrylic Fabrics

Seven reactive dyes judiciously selected based on chemical structures and fixation mechanisms were applied at 2% owf of shade on amidoximated acrylic fabrics. Amidoximated acrylic fabric has been obtained by a viable amidoximation process. The dyeability of these fabrics was evaluated with respect to the dye exhaustion, fixation, and colour strength under different conditions of temperature and dyeing time. Nucleophilic addition type reactive dyes show higher colour data compared to nucleophilic substitution ones. FTIR studies further implicate the binding of reactive dyes on these fabrics. A tentative mechanism is proposed to rationalize the high fixation yield obtained using nucleophilic addition type reactive dyes. Also, the levelling and fastness properties were evaluated for all dyes used. Excellent to good fastness and levelling properties were obtained for all samples irrespective of the dye used. The result of investigation offers a new method for a viable reactive dyeing of amidoximated acrylic fabrics

Plasma levels of sphingosine 1-phosphate are strongly correlated with haematocrit, but variably restored by red blood cell transfusions

Anaemia and RBC (red blood cell) transfusion may be associated with worse clinical outcomes, especially with longer blood storage duration prior to transfusion. The mechanisms underlying these harmful effects are unknown. RBCs have been proposed to buffer plasma S1P (sphingosine 1-phosphate), a lysophospholipid essential for the maintenance of endothelial integrity and important in the regulation of haematopoietic cell trafficking. The present study examined the effect of anaemia, RBC transfusion and RBC storage duration on plasma S1P levels. Plasma S1P from 30 individuals demonstrated a linear correlation with Hct (haematocrit; R2=0.51, P<0.001) with no evidence for a plateau at Hct values as low as 19%. RBC transfusion in 23 anaemic patients with baseline mean Hct of 22.2±0.34% (value is the mean±S.D.) increased Hct to 28.3±0.6% at 72 h. Despite an Hct increase, RBC transfusion failed to elevate plasma S1P consistently. A trend towards an inverse correlation was observed between RBC storage duration and the post-transfusion increase in plasma S1P. After 30 days of storage, RBC S1P decreased to 19% of that observed in fresh (3–7-day-old) RBC segments. RBC membranes contain low levels of both S1P phosphatase and S1P lyase activities that may account for the decline in S1P levels with storage. Our results support a role for RBCs in buffering plasma S1P and identify a disturbance in the capacity after transfusion. Changes in S1P content may contribute to an RBC storage lesion. Further studies should investigate the clinical significance of alterations in circulating S1P levels and the potential value of enriching stored RBCs with S1P

Statistical Properties and Estimation of Power-Transmuted Inverse Rayleigh Distribution

A three-parameter continuous distribution is constructed, using a power transformation related to the transmuted inverse Rayleigh (TIR) distribution. A comprehensive account of the statistical properties is provided, including the following: the quantile function, moments, incomplete moments, mean residual life function and Rényi entropy. Three classical procedures for estimating population parameters are analysed. A simulation study is provided to compare the performance of different estimates. Finally, a real data application is used to illustrate the usefulness of the recommended distribution in modelling real data

Synthesis of silica nanoparticles from blast furnace slag as cost-effective adsorbent for efficient azo-dye removal

Synthesis of silica nanoparticles (NSBFS) from commercial blast furnace slag (BFS) and its efficiency to remove methylene blue (MB) from water as well as the desilicated blast furnace slag (DBFS) were investigated in this study. The sorbent materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Analysis (EDAX). Different physiochemical parameters such as initial pH of the dye, sorbent dosage, contact time, and initial dye concentration were studied. The pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models were applied to evaluate the kinetic mechanism of the adsorption process. The results show that the process follows the pseudo-second-order kinetics using NSBFS or DBFS. The adsorption equilibrium values were obtained using Langmuir and Freundlich equations, Langmuir model showed the best correlation indicate that NSBFS and DBFS are homogeneous surface. The batch adsorption experiments showed that the maximum sorption was observed at pH = 10 and 8 and the maximum uptake capacities (qm) for MB were 80.8 and 109.8 mg/g using DBFS and NSBFS, respectively. Keywords: Blast furnace slag, Desilication, Methylene blue, Nanosilic