Non-canonical Wnt signaling triggered by WNT2B drives adrenal aldosterone production.

The steroid hormone aldosterone, produced by the zona glomerulosa (zG) of the adrenal gland, is a master regulator of plasma electrolytes and blood pressure. While aldosterone control by the renin-angiotensin system is well understood, other key regulatory factors have remained elusive. Here, we replicated a prior association between a non-coding variant in and an increased risk of primary aldosteronism, a prevalent and debilitating disease caused by excessive aldosterone production.

YOLO-V5 based deep learning approach for tooth detection and segmentation on pediatric panoramic radiographs in mixed dentition.

Objectives: In the interpretation of panoramic radiographs (PRs), the identification and numbering of teeth is an important part of the correct diagnosis. This study evaluates the effectiveness of YOLO-v5 in the automatic detection, segmentation, and numbering of deciduous and permanent teeth in mixed dentition pediatric patients based on PRs.

Methods: A total of 3854 mixed pediatric patients PRs were labelled for deciduous and permanent teeth using the CranioCatch labeling program.

Unusual neonatal case of superior mesenteric artery syndrome with Meckel's diverticulum and literature review.

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome (SMAS) is a rare cause of duodenal obstruction which is characterized by compression of the duodenum due to narrowing of the space between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta. Incomplete duodenal obstruction due to SMAS in neonates is rarely reported in the literature. In this case, it is a full-term 2-day-old male with the complaint of recurrent vomiting starting soon after birth.

Comparison of semen parameters in the same patients before and after diagnosis of COVID-19.

Clinical and histopathological evidence suggest that the male reproductive system may be negatively impacted in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on semen parameters by comparing semen analyses before and after COVID-19 diagnosis in the same patient. We retrospectively analyzed 342 semen analyses by reviewing medical records.

Calcineurin regulates aldosterone production via dephosphorylation of NFATC4.

The mineralocorticoid aldosterone, secreted by the adrenal zona glomerulosa (ZG), is critical for life, maintaining ion homeostasis and blood pressure. Therapeutic inhibition of protein phosphatase 3 (calcineurin, Cn) results in inappropriately low plasma aldosterone levels despite concomitant hyperkalemia and hyperreninemia. We tested the hypothesis that Cn participates in the signal transduction pathway regulating aldosterone synthesis.

Study of physical properties of a ferrimagnetic spinel CuMnO: spin dynamics, magnetocaloric effect and critical behavior.

The present work reports a detailed study of the spin dynamics, magnetocaloric effect and critical behaviour near the magnetic phase transition temperature, of a ferrimagnetic spinel CuMnO. The dynamic magnetic properties investigated using frequency-dependent ac magnetic susceptibility fitted using different phenomenological models such as Neel-Arrhenius, Vogel-Fulcher and power law, strongly indicate the presence of a cluster-glass-like behavior of CuMnO at 40 K. The magnetization data have revealed that our compound displays an occurrence of second-order paramagnetic (PM) to ferrimagnetic (FIM) phase transition at the Curie temperature = 80 K as the temperature decrease.

Facile Fabrication of a Highly Crystalline and Well-Interconnected Hematite Nanoparticle Photoanode for Efficient Visible-Light-Driven Water Oxidation.

Facile and scalable fabrication of α-FeO photoanodes using a precursor solution containing Fe ions and 1-ethylimidazole (EIm) in methanol was demonstrated to afford a rigidly adhered α-FeO film with a controllable thickness on a fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) substrate. EIm ligation to Fe ions in the precursor solution brought about high crystallinity of three-dimensionally well-interconnected nanoparticles of α-FeO upon sintering. This is responsible for the 13.

Flexible Methyl Cellulose/Polyaniline/Silver Composite Films with Enhanced Linear and Nonlinear Optical Properties.

In order to potentiate implementations in optical energy applications, flexible polymer composite films comprising methyl cellulose (MC), polyaniline (PANI) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully fabricated through a cast preparation method. The composite structure of the fabricated film was confirmed by X-ray diffraction and infrared spectroscopy, indicating a successful incorporation of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) images have indicated a homogenous loading and dispersion of AgNPs into the MC/PANI blend.

Poly[2,2'-(4,4'-bipyridine)-5,5'-bibenzimidazole] functionalization of carbon black for improving the oxidation stability and oxygen reduction reaction of fuel cells.

The rapid oxidation of carbon black (CB) is a major drawback for its use as a catalyst support in polymer electrolyte fuel cells. Here, we synthesize poly[2,2'-(4,4'-bipyridine)-5,5'-bibenzimidazole] (BiPyPBI) as a conducting polymer and use it to functionalize the surface of CB and homogenously anchor platinum metal nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) on a CB surface. The as-prepared materials were confirmed by different spectroscopic techniques, including nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, thermal gravimetric analysis, and scanning-transmittance microscopy.

Characteristics of Low Back Pain in Pregnancy, Risk Factors, and Its Effects on Quality of Life.

Background: Low back pain is a common problem experienced during pregnancy, negatively affecting quality of life.

Aims: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of low back pain during pregnancy and its effects on the quality of life.

Design: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study.

Efficient tailoring of platinum nanoparticles supported on multiwalled carbon nanotubes for cancer therapy.

Therapeutically targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs), which play a role in tumor initiation and relapse, remains challenging. Novel-formulated platinum nanoparticles (Pt-NPs) supported on polybenzimidazole (PBI)-functionalized polymers and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) were prepared and their effect on CSCs was evaluated. Pt-NPs showed homogenous distribution on the surface of MWCNT/PBI composites, with very narrow particle size.

Tailoring Different Molecular Weight Phenylene-Polybenzimidazole Membranes with Remarkable Oxidative Stability and Conductive Properties for High-Temperature Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

Polybenzimidazole (ph-PBI) polymer was synthesized with different molecular weights (MWs) and casted into conductive films for use in high-temperature fuel cells (FCs). A comprehensive study on the influence of polymer MW on membrane cast efficiency, chemical stability, thermal behavior, tensile strength, conductivity, FC performance, and durability was reported. The synthesized materials were characterized by different techniques, including, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, impedance microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy.

Synthesis of a New Nitrate-Fertilizer Form with a Controlled Release Behavior via an Incorporation Technique into a Clay Material.

The current study shows an advanced synesthetic technique of a nitrate-fertilizer with a controlled release behavior into different soils (normal and acidic agriculture soils solutions) at different climate temperatures. The environmentally friendly and the biocompatible layered double hydroxide (LDH) clay material was used as a host to accommodate the nitrate anion into its interlayer gallery by applying a reconstruction-incorporation technique (the memory effect property of LDH that allows calcined LDH to memorize its original structure). The prepared materials were characterized by different spectroscopic techniques including; X-ray powder spectroscopy, IR, SEM, TEM, and TGA analyses.

Tailoring of a Potential Nanoformulated Form of Gibberellic Acid: Synthesis, Characterization, and Field Applications on Vegetation and Flowering.

Nanoformulation of agrochemicals has become a potential choice to improve the physicochemical properties, enhance the utilization efficiency, and reduce the side effects and ecotoxicity of many hazardous chemicals. Here, we tailored a new formulation platform for gibberellic acid (GA) using the layered double hydroxides (LDH) as a potential carrier. Typically, we synthesized, characterized, and potentially applied the newly nanoformulated form of GA on the quantity and quality properties of Dendranthema grandiflorum cultivar.

The Efficiency and Toxicity of Mifamurtide in Childhood Osteosarcoma.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficiency and side effects of mifamurtide in childhood osteosarcoma (OS). In total, 477 doses of 2 mg/m intravenous (IV) mifamurtide, along with paracetamol as a premedication, were given to 15 patients with primary nonmetastatic OS after complete surgical resection and to 3 patients with progressive OS. The most common side effects encountered in the patients were chills and fever (17/18).

NLRC3 protein inhibits inflammation by disrupting NALP3 inflammasome assembly via competition with the adaptor protein ASC for pro-caspase-1 binding.

Inflammasomes are multiprotein complexes that sense pathogen-associated and danger-associated molecular patterns and induce inflammation in cells. The NALP3 inflammasome is tightly regulated by recently discovered control mechanisms, but other modulators still remain to be characterized. NLR family CARD-containing 3 (NLRC3) protein, a caspase recruitment domain (CARD)-containing member of the nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR) family, was found to down-regulate the NF-κB pathway and stimulator of interferon genes (STING)-dependent cytokine secretion.

Improved Durability of Electrocatalyst Based on Coating of Carbon Black with Polybenzimidazole and their Application in Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells.

Improvement of durability of the electrocatalyst has been the key issue to be solved for the practical application of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. One of the promising strategies to improve the durability is to enhance the oxidation stability of the carbon-supporting materials. In this report, we describe in detail the mechanism of the stability improvement of carbon blacks (CBs; Vulcan and Ketjen) by coating with polybenzimidazole (PBI).

A highly durable fuel cell electrocatalyst based on double-polymer-coated carbon nanotubes.

Driven by the demand for the commercialization of fuel cell (FC) technology, we describe the design and fabrication of a highly durable FC electrocatalyst based on double-polymer-coated carbon nanotubes for use in polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells. The fabricated electrocatalyst is composed of Pt-deposited polybenzimidazole-coated carbon nanotubes, which are further coated with Nafion. By using this electrocatalyst, a high FC performance with a power density of 375 mW/cm(2) (at 70 ˚C, 50% relative humidity using air (cathode)/H2(anode)) was obtained, and a remarkable durability of 500,000 accelerated potential cycles was recorded with only a 5% loss of the initial FC potential and 20% loss of the maximum power density, which were far superior properties compared to those of the membrane electrode assembly prepared using carbon black in place of the carbon nanotubes.

Enhancement of platinum mass activity on the surface of polymer-wrapped carbon nanotube-based fuel cell electrocatalysts.

Cost reduction and improved durability are the two major targets for accelerating the commercialization of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEFCs). To achieve these goals, the development of a novel method to fabricate platinum (Pt)-based electrocatalysts with a high mass activity, deposited on durable conductive support materials, is necessary. In this study, we describe a facile approach to grow homogeneously dispersed Pt nanoparticles (Pt) with a narrow diameter distribution in a highly controllable fashion on polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes (CNTs).

The effect of vascular endothelial growth factor overexpression in experimental necrotizing enterocolitis.

Purpose: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a serious condition, predominantly observed in premature infants. We used an experimental NEC model to investigate the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) cloned into a plasmid.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four newborn Wistar albino rats were randomized equally into three groups as follows: control, NEC and NEC+VEGF.