Graphene oxide-metal oxide nanocomposites: fabrication, characterization and removal of cationic rhodamine B dye.

The fabrication and characterization of graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets and their reaction with FeO and ZrO metal oxides to form two nanocomposites, namely graphene oxide-iron oxide (GO-FeO) and graphene oxide-iron oxide-zirconium oxide (GO-FeO@ZrO), have been examined. The fabricated nanocomposites were examined using different techniques, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, zeta potential measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Compared to GO, the newly fabricated GO-FeO and GO-FeO@ZrO nanocomposites have the advantage of smaller band gaps, which result in increased adsorption capacity and photocatalytic effects.

Neuroprotective effect of berberine against environmental heavy metals-induced neurotoxicity and Alzheimer's-like disease in rats.

Heavy metals are reported as neurodegenerative disorders progenitor. They play a role in the precipitation of abnormal β-amyloid protein and hyper-phosphorylated tau, the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aimed to validate the heavy metals-induced Alzheimer's-like disease in rats as an experimental model of AD and explore the therapeutic effect of berberine via tracking its effect on the oxidative stress-inflammatory pathway.

Integrating biogeography, threat and evolutionary data to explore extinction crisis in the taxonomic group of cycads.

Will the ongoing extinction crisis cause a severe loss of evolutionary information accumulated over millions of years on the tree of life? This question has been largely explored, particularly for vertebrates and angiosperms. However, no equivalent effort has been devoted to gymnosperms. Here, we address this question focusing on cycads, the gymnosperm group exhibiting the highest proportion of threatened species in the plant kingdom.

How Knowledge of Ancient Egyptian Women Can Influence Today's Gender Role: Does History Matter in Gender Psychology?

A gender role is a set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are considered desirable or appropriate for a person based on their sex. However, socially constructed gender roles can lead to equal rights between genders but also to severe disadvantages and discrimination with a remarkable variety between different countries. Based on social indicators and gender statistics, "women in the Arab region are on average more disadvantaged economically, politically, and socially than women in other regions.

Spinal Movement Disorders in Neuromyelitis Optica: An Under-recognized Phenomenon.

Background: Spinal cord demyelination can cause several movement disorders. Although these abnormal movements could be the presenting symptom of the disease and, at times, the major source of disability, they are often overlooked, mislabeled, or undertreated. The aims of this study were to clearly define and establish common terminology for spinal movement disorders (SMDs) and characterize their full spectrum in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO).

Functional Divergence of APETALA1 and FRUITFULL is due to Changes in both Regulation and Coding Sequence.

Gene duplications are prevalent in plants, and functional divergence subsequent to duplication may be linked with the occurrence of novel phenotypes in plant evolution. Here, we examine the functional divergence of Arabidopsis thaliana APETALA1 (AP1) and FRUITFULL (FUL), which arose via a duplication correlated with the origin of the core eudicots. Both AP1 and FUL play a role in floral meristem identity, but AP1 is required for the formation of sepals and petals whereas FUL is involved in cauline leaf and fruit development.

Acquired equivalence associative learning in GTC epileptic patients: experimental and computational study.

Previous cognitive behavioral studies based on Acquired Equivalence Associative learning Task (AEALT) showed a strong relation between hippocampus and basal ganglia in associative learning. However, experimental behavioral studies of patients with Generalized Tonic Clonic (GTC) epilepsy remained sparse. The aim of the present study is to integrate a classical behavioral cognitive analysis with a computational model approach to investigate cognitive associative learning impairments in patients with GTC epilepsy.

Digital resection and reconstruction of TMJ synovial chondrosarcoma involving the skull base: report of a case.

Synovial chondrosarcoma (SCS) is a very rare malignant cartilaginous tumor. To the best of our knowledge, only three reported studies presented the involvement of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Hereby, we present a case of surgical management of a SCS of the TMJ, arising from SC and involving the skull base.

Targeting cell cycle regulators in hematologic malignancies.

Hematologic malignancies represent the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer in economically developed countries. In hematologic malignancies normal hematopoiesis is interrupted by uncontrolled growth of a genetically altered stem or progenitor cell (HSPC) that maintains its ability of self-renewal. Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) not only regulate the mammalian cell cycle, but also influence other vital cellular processes, such as stem cell renewal, differentiation, transcription, epigenetic regulation, apoptosis, and DNA repair.

Effect of murine exposure to gamma rays on the interplay between Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes.

Gamma radiation radiotherapy is one of the widely used treatments for cancer. There is an accumulating evidence that adaptive immunity is significantly contributes to the efficacy of radiotherapy. This study is carried out to investigate the effect of gamma rays on the interplay between Th1/Th2 response, splenocyte lymphoproliferative response to polyclonal mitogenic activators and lymphocytic capacity to produce IL-12 and IL-10 in mice.

Effect of ultra violet irradiation on the interplay between Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes.

Unlabelled: Although ultraviolet (UV) radiation is used to treat several types of diseases, including rickets, psoriasis, eczema, and jaundice, the prolonged exposure to its radiation may result in acute and chronic health effects particularly on the skin, eyes, and the immune system.

Aim: This study was carried out to show the effect of UV on both of the lymphoproliferative response and their capacity to produce IL-12 and IL-10 in mice.

Methods: Mice were exposed to whole body UVB and tested for the effect of recovery times on lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production.

Passive smoking in the etiology of non-syndromic orofacial clefts: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Studies have found a consistent positive association between maternal smoking and non-syndromic orofacial clefts (NSOFC). However, no comprehensive assessment of the association between NSOFC and passive smoking has been undertaken. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores the relationship between maternal passive smoking and NSOFC, and compares the associations between passive and active smoking.

Neurogenesis and growth factors expression after complete spinal cord transection in Pleurodeles waltlii.

Following spinal lesion, connections between the supra-spinal centers and spinal neuronal networks can be disturbed, which causes the deterioration or even the complete absence of sublesional locomotor activity. In mammals, possibilities of locomotion restoration are much reduced since descending tracts either have very poor regenerative ability or do not regenerate at all. However, in lower vertebrates, there is spontaneous locomotion recuperation after complete spinal cord transection at the mid-trunk level.

In vitro antagonistic activity, plant growth promoting traits and phylogenetic affiliation of rhizobacteria associated with wild plants grown in arid soil.

The role of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) in adaptation of plants in extreme environments is not yet completely understood. For this study native bacteria were isolated from rhizospeheric arid soils and evaluated for both growth-promoting abilities and antagonistic potential against phytopathogenic fungi and nematodes. The phylogentic affiliation of these representative isolates was also characterized.

Valproic acid potentiates curcumin-mediated neuroprotection in lipopolysaccharide induced rats.

The etiology of neuroinflammation is complex and comprises multifactorial, involving both genetic and environmental factors during which diverse genetic and epigenetic modulations are implicated. Curcumin (Cur) and valproic acid (VPA), histone deacetylase 1 inhibitor, have neuroprotective effects. The present study was designed with an aim to investigate the ability of co-treatment of both compounds (Cur or VPA, 200 mg/kg) for 4 weeks to augment neuroprotection and enhance brain recovery from intra-peritoneal injection of (250 μg/kg) lipopolysaccharide-stimulated neuroinflammatory condition on rat brain cortex.

Distribution of nitric oxide-producing cells along spinal cord in urodeles.

Nitric oxide is a unique neurotransmitter, which participates in many physiological and pathological processes in the organism. There are little data about the neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in the spinal cord of amphibians. In this respect, the present study aims to investigate the distribution of nitric oxide producing cells in the spinal cord of urodele and to find out the possibility of a functional locomotory role to this neurotransmitter.

Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Deep Brain Stimulation Screening for Parkinson Patients: No Room for "Short Cuts".

Careful, often cumbersome, screening is a fundamental part of DBS evaluation in Parkinson's disease (PD). It often involves a brain MRI, neuropsychological testing, neurological, surgical, and psychiatric evaluation, and "ON/OFF" motor testing. Given that DBS has now been a standard treatment for advanced PD, with clinicians' improved comfort and confidence in screening and referring patients for DBS, we wondered whether we can now streamline our lengthy evaluation process.

STIM1-mediated bidirectional regulation of Ca(2+) entry through voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCC) and calcium-release activated channels (CRAC).

The spatial and temporal regulation of cellular calcium signals is modulated via two main Ca(2+) entry routes. Voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCC) and Ca(2+)-release activated channels (CRAC) enable Ca(2+) flow into electrically excitable and non-excitable cells, respectively. VGCC are well characterized transducers of electrical activity that allow Ca(2+) signaling into the cell in response to action potentials or subthreshold depolarizing stimuli.

A study of the early changes of the level of calcitonin gene-related Peptide and histopathology of penises of rats with experimentally induced type I diabetes mellitus by streptozocin.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multiorgan disease that leads to neurovascular complications that disturb the normal erectile function.

Aim: The aim of the current work was to study the early changes occurring in the level of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) and histopathological changes in penile tissues of uncontrolled diabetic rats.

Materials And Methods: This study was carried on 50 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into two main groups: group I (control, n = 10) and group II (diabetic, n = 40).

Proteomics: a biotechnology tool for crop improvement.

A sharp decline in the availability of arable land and sufficient supply of irrigation water along with a continuous steep increase in food demands have exerted a pressure on farmers to produce more with fewer resources. A viable solution to release this pressure is to speed up the plant breeding process by employing biotechnology in breeding programs. The majority of biotechnological applications rely on information generated from various -omic technologies.

Effect of physiological parameters of blood on magnetophoretic mobility of erythrocytes.

Magnetophoresis is the process of the particle motion under the influence of a magnetic field. The magnetic particle and medium are considered responsive to the imposed magnetic field, and the material property that describes the response to the external magnetic field is relative magnetic permeability, and the magnetic susceptibility. The present work aims to evaluate the effect of internal and external physiological parameters on the erythrocytes' magnetophoretic mobility (MM) using Cell Tracking Velocimetry (CTV).

Fgf-2 in astroglial cells during vertebrate spinal cord recovery.

Fibroblast growth factor-2 is a pleiotrophic cytokine with neurotrophic and gliogenic properties. It is known to regulate CNS injury responses, which include transformation of reactive astrocytes, neurogenesis, and promotion of neurotrophic activities. In the brain, it is localized in astrocytes and discrete neuronal populations.

Nitric oxide generation by peripheral blood cells in chronic renal failure.

Nitric oxide (NO), a labile free radical synthesised from L-arginine by the action of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), is said to be implicated in uraemic complications, such as infection and a tendency to bleed. In this study of NO production by peripheral blood cells, an increased level is seen in platelets from uraemic patients (both non-dialysed and haemodialysed) and a decreased level in leucocytes (neutrophils and monocytes). A negative correlation was noted between blood urea level and inducible NO in neutrophils and monocytes in uraemic patients not on dialysis.