Optimization of diosgenin extraction from Dioscorea deltoidea tubers using response surface methodology and artificial neural network modelling.

Introduction: Dioscorea deltoidea var. deltoidea (Dioscoreaceae) is a valuable endangered plant of great medicinal and economic importance due to the presence of the bioactive compound diosgenin. In the present study, response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) modelling have been implemented to evaluate the diosgenin content from D.

CT Scan and Clinical Outcomes of Novel Lateral-Oblique Percutaneous Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Fixation: Technique and Literature Review.

Purpose The sacroiliac joint (SIJ) is estimated to be a source of pain in 15%-30% of patients presenting for the evaluation of low back pain. The SIJ may develop symptoms in an estimated 43% of patients who have had previous lumbar fusion surgeries. With increased awareness of SIJ as a pain source and for those patients who have intractable pain and who fail nonoperative treatment, surgery to stabilize the SIJ is becoming more common.

Inhibition of HDAC6 Activity Protects Against Endothelial Dysfunction and Atherogenesis : A Role for HDAC6 Neddylation.

We previously reported that histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) has an important role in endothelial cell (EC) function . However, whether HDAC6 plays a role in atherogenesis and the mechanism(s) that control HDAC6 activity/expression in response to atherogenic stimuli are unclear. The goals of this study were to determine whether HDAC6 inhibitor tubacin attenuates atherogenesis and to elucidate specific molecular mechanism(s) that regulate endothelial HDAC6 expression/activity.

Corrigendum to "The prevalence of general anxiety disorder and its associated factors among women's attending at the perinatal service of Dilla University referral hospital, Dilla town, Ethiopia, April, 2020 in Covid pandemic" [Heliyon 6 (11) (November 2020) Article e05593].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Combined tumor-directed recruitment and protection from immune suppression enable CAR T cell efficacy in solid tumors.

CAR T cell therapy remains ineffective in solid tumors, due largely to poor infiltration and T cell suppression at the tumor site. T regulatory (T) cells suppress the immune response via inhibitory factors such as transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β). T cells expressing the C-C chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) have been associated with poor prognosis in solid tumors.

Biotechnological interventions and genetic diversity assessment in Swertia sp.: a myriad source of valuable secondary metabolites.

The genus Swertia (Family: Gentianaceae) has cosmopolitan distribution which is present in almost all the continents except South America and Australia. Swertia genus has been renowned as one of the potent herbal drugs in the British, American, and Chinese Pharmacopeias as well as well-documented in the Indian traditional medicinal systems, viz. Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani.

ZMPSTE24 Regulates SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-enhanced Expression of Endothelial PAI-1.

Endothelial dysfunction is implicated in the thrombotic events reported in patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but the underlying molecular mechanisms are unknown. Circulating levels of the coagulation cascade activator PAI-1 are substantially higher in patients with COVID-19 with severe respiratory dysfunction than in patients with bacterial sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Indeed, the elevation of PAI-1 is recognized as an early marker of endothelial dysfunction.

Defective Interfering Genomes and the Full-Length Viral Genome Trigger RIG-I After Infection With Vesicular Stomatitis Virus in a Replication Dependent Manner.

Replication competent vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is the basis of a vaccine against Ebola and VSV strains are developed as oncolytic viruses. Both functions depend on the ability of VSV to induce adequate amounts of interferon-α/β. It is therefore important to understand how VSV triggers interferon responses.

Evaluation of change in pterygium induced keratometric astigmatism in patients following pterygium excision with autologous graft surgery.

Unlabelled: Pterygium is a common surface disorder of the eye that may cause change in visual acuity of patients by inducing astigmatic refractive error. Surgical excision with grafting is considered the most effective recommended treatment for pterygium. The objective of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of pterygium excision with autologous graft surgery on keratometric astigmatism and visual acuity.

Robotics for enzyme technology: innovations and technological perspectives.

The use of robotics in the life science sector has created a considerable and significant impact on a wide range of research areas, including enzyme technology due to their immense applications in enzyme and microbial engineering as an indispensable tool in high-throughput screening applications. Scientists are experiencing the advanced applications of various biological robots (nanobots), fabricated based on bottom-up or top-down approaches for making nanotechnology scaffolds. Nanobots and enzyme-powered nanomotors are particularly attractive because they are self-propelled vehicles, which consume biocompatible fuels.

Sequential and cellular detection of copper and lactic acid by disaggregation and reaggregation of the fluorescent panchromatic fibres of an acylthiourea based sensor.

We report, for the first time, the self-assembly of an acyl-thiourea based sensor, N-{(6-methoxy-pyridine-2-yl) carbamothioyl}benzamide (NG1), with panchromatic fluorescent fibres and its dual-sensing properties for the sequential detection of Cu2+ ions and lactic acid. The panchromatic fibres formed by NG1 were disrupted in the presence of Cu2+ ions and this was accompanied by a visible colour change in the solution from colourless to yellow. The addition of lactic acid to the NG1 + Cu2+ solution, on the other hand, induced re-aggregation to fibrillar structures and the colour of the solution again changed to colourless.

An efficient route design for solid waste collection using graph theory and the algorithm of the traveling agent in dynamic programming.

In Santo Domingo de los Tsa'chilas province, Ecuador, the population grows proportionally to the territorial extension in urban and rural parishes; therefore, the conception of domestic solid waste has increased exponentially. In this context, in recent years, the distribution of routes for waste collection has not been dealt with or technically explored. The research objective is to apply the theory of graphs to the sector and use the exact method of the Travel Agent Problem (TSP) in dynamic programming to generate optimal routes by sectors.

Charge Selectivity of an Ionic Transistor.

The charge selective properties of a long planar nanochannel with an embedded finite uniformly charged section in the middle are studied. The probability flux of a single test ion initially confined to the inlet reservoir is determined by integrating the Smoluchowski equation using a previously published series solution for the Debye-Hückel potential in this geometry. The charge selective properties are characterized by a dimensionless quantity that we call the "fractional blockage".

Documentation of a proven Mountain Pitviper () envenomation in Kathmandu, Nepal, with its distribution ranges: implications for prevention and control of pitviper bites in Asia.

We document inadequately diagnosed coagulopathy (potential to be life threatening) due to bite. Although its bites are common in the hills of Nepal, associated envenomations have not been documented elaborately. Herein, we present the clinical and treatment details of a proven bite and areas where it may pose the risk of envenomations (suggesting huge populations in Asia to be vulnerable to its bites).

Post-operative tension adjustment-A simple technical modification in mid-urethral slings (MUS) for stress urinary incontinence (SUI).

Introduction: Mid-urethral sling (MUS) surgeries have revolutionized the management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, MUS is a delicate balance of tension on the mid urethral segment with a 12 % risk of failure to achieve complete continence; and up-to 20 % chance of post-operative voiding dysfunction. We propose a simple technical modification in which the long ends of the tape at suprapubic or groin area are not cut immediately and are covered with a sterile dressing.

Cervical cytology and associated factors among tribal women of Karnataka, India.

Background: Reproductive well-being is a crucial element of women's health. Due to the asymptomatic nature of gynaecological morbidities, women rarely seek medical advice in the initial period leading to delayed diagnosis and poor prognosis of subsequent disease. The present study aimed to explore the cervical cytology and its associated risk factors among women from tribal communities of the southern part of coastal Karnataka, India.

Hybrid Structure of Ionic Liquid and TiO Nanoclusters for Efficient Hydrogen Evolution Reaction.

Hydrogen energy has received significant attention in the renewable energy sector due to its high energy density and environmentally friendly nature. For the efficient hydrogen generation from water, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) has to be optimized, which requires a highly efficient electrocatalyst. In this work, a hybrid structure of the ionic liquid (IL) 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate (Cmim TfO) and (TiO) nanoclusters with = 2-12 has been investigated in the pursuit of new catalyst materials for effective HER.