With the aim of introducing a new source of natural dye and developing a sustainable coloration process, the dyeing of wool with the leaves of Berberis thunbergii DC was optimized using response ...surface methodology. The results showed that increasing the dye concentration and dyebath temperature increased the color strength (K/S) and increasing the dyebath pH and mordant concentration decreased the K/S. The optimum pH, dye concentration, dyeing temperature, and mordant concentration for obtaining the highest K/S were 5, 146%owf, 76°C, and 3.8%owf, respectively. The sample dyed under the optimal conditions showed good color fastness properties.
Regarding to critical roles of oogenesis in formation of ova or unfertilized eggs from the oogonia by mitotic division and subsequent differentiation, the identification of oogenesis-related proteins ...is of great interest. However, the experimental determination of proteins involved in oogenesis is expensive, time consuming and labor-intensive. Therefore, a new powerful discriminating model is indispensable for classifying oogenesis/non-oogenesis-related proteins with high accuracy and precision. Hereby, for the first time we developed a support vector machine based oogenesis protein prediction method which differentiates oogenesis from non-oogenesis proteins. By means of informative protein physicochemical properties and in addition parameter optimization scheme, our method yields a robust and consistent performance. Our model achieved 87.68% and 84.82% prediction accuracy by five-fold cross validation test for datasets with 90% and 50% identity, respectively. The prediction model was also assessed using the independent dataset and yielded 91.62% and 85.38% prediction accuracy for datasets with 90% and 50% identity, respectively, which further demonstrates the effectiveness of our method. Moreover, by applying 10 different feature weighting methods, the more important protein features for oogenesis/non-oogenesis-related proteins discrimination, including serine and glycine frequency, quasi-sequence-order, pseudo-amino acid composition, distribution and conjoint triad, were determined. The success rates revealed that our model can be considered as a new encouraging and strong model for predicting proteins involved in oogenesis with appropriate performance. To enhance the value of the practical applications of the proposed method, we developed a standalone software for predicting oogenesis candidate proteins called OOgenesis_Pred. This software is the first predictor ever established for identifying oogenesis proteins. We also showed the capability of OOgenesis_Pred by making oogenesis-related proteins prediction for some of the oogenesis candidate proteins. It is anticipated that OOgenesis_Pred will become a powerful tool for future proteomic studies related to oogenesis.
•Computational model is developed for prediction of oogenesis-related proteins with quite promising results.•Ten different feature selection techniques are employed and more important protein features are reported.•OOgenesis_Pred a standalone software is developed for predicting oogenesis candidate proteins.
Abstract A major challenge in therapeutic approaches applying hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is the cell quantity. The primary objective of this study was to predict the miRNAs and anti-miRNAs using ...bioinformatics tools and investigate their effects on the expression levels of key genes predicted in the improvement of proliferation, and the inhibition of differentiation in HSCs isolated from Human umbilical cord blood (HUCB). A network including genes related to the differentiation and proliferation stages of HSCs was constructed by enriching data of text (PubMed) and StemChecker server with KEGG signaling pathways, and was improved using GEO datasets. Bioinformatics tools predicted a profile from miRNAs containing miR-20a-5p, miR-423-5p, and chimeric anti-miRNA constructed from 5′-miR-340/3′-miR-524 for the high-score genes (RB1, SMAD4, STAT1, CALML4, GNG13, and CDKN1A/CDKN1B genes) in the network. The miRNAs and anti-miRNA were transferred into HSCs using polyethylenimine (PEI). The gene expression levels were estimated using the RT-qPCR technique in the PEI + (miRNA/anti-miRNA)-contained cell groups (n = 6). Furthermore, CD markers (90, 16, and 45) were evaluated using flow cytometry. Strong relationships were found between the high-score genes, miRNAs, and chimeric anti-miRNA. The RB1, SMAD4, and STAT1 gene expression levels were decreased by miR-20a-5p ( P < 0.05). Additionally, the anti-miRNA increased the gene expression level of GNG13 ( P < 0.05), whereas the miR-423-5p decreased the CDKN1A gene expression level ( P < 0.01). The cellular count also increased significantly ( P < 0.05) but the CD45 differentiation marker did not change in the cell groups. The study revealed the predicted miRNA/anti-miRNA profile expands HSCs isolated from HUCB. While miR-20a-5p suppressed the RB1, SMAD4, and STAT1 genes involved in cellular differentiation, the anti-miRNA promoted the GNG13 gene related to the proliferation process. Notably, the mixed miRNA/anti-miRNA group exhibited the highest cellular expansion. This approach could hold promise for enhancing the cell quantity in HSC therapy.
This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to summarize the effect of ginger intake on weight loss, glycemic control and lipid profiles among ...overweight and obese subjects. We searched the following databases through November 2017: MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. The relevant data were extracted and assessed for quality of the studies according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Data were pooled using the inverse variance method and expressed as Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) with 95% Confidence Intervals (95% CI). Heterogeneity between studies was assessed by the Cochran Q statistic and I-squared tests (I
2
). Overall, 14 studies were included in the meta-analyses. Fourteen RCTs with 473 subjects were included in our meta-analysis. The results indicated that the supplementation with ginger significantly decreased body weight (BW) (SMD −0.66; 95% CI, −1.31, −0.01; P = 0.04), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) (SMD −0.49; 95% CI, −0.82, −0.17; P = 0.003), hip ratio (HR) (SMD −0.42; 95% CI, −0.77, −0.08; P = 0.01), fasting glucose (SMD −0.68; 95% CI, −1.23, −0.05; P = 0.03) and insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (SMD −1.67; 95% CI, −2.86, −0.48; P = 0.006), and significantly increased HDL-cholesterol levels (SMD 0.40; 95% CI, 0.10, 0.70; P = 0.009). We found no detrimental effect of ginger on body mass index (BMI) (SMD −0.65; 95% CI, −1.36, 0.06; P = 0.074), insulin (SMD −0.54; 95% CI, −1.43, 0.35; P = 0.23), triglycerides (SMD −0.27; 95% CI, −0.71, 0.18; P = 0.24), total- (SMD −0.20; 95% CI, −0.58, 0.18; P = 0.30) and LDL-cholesterol (SMD −0.13; 95% CI, −0.51, 0.24; P = 0.48). Overall, the current meta-analysis demonstrated that ginger intake reduced BW, WHR, HR, fasting glucose and HOMA-IR, and increased HDL-cholesterol, but did not affect insulin, BMI, triglycerides, total- and LDL-cholesterol levels.
Structure, stability, and other properties of six possible isomers of C
18
BN corannulene molecules have been investigated at the M06-2X/6-311G(d,p) level of theory. Molecular and B–N bond dipole ...moments have been explored in these molecules. Frontier molecular orbitals and global reactivity descriptors of these systems have been illustrated. Aromaticity of five- and six-membered studied molecules has been explored using ring critical point density values. In addition, electrostatic potential (ESP) analysis has been used for quantitative analysis of molecular surface. Electronic spectra of the C
20
corannulene has been analyzed and compared with C
18
BN corannulene.
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•The multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are expected to activate apoptosis-related signaling pathways to restrict cancer cell proliferation and division.•The inherent ...tumor-tropic and migratory properties of MSCs make them act as targeted drug-delivery vehicles for isolated tumors and metastatic diseases.•MSCs are utilized for cell-based and intracellular suicide gene therapy, as well as carrying anti-cancer drug loaded nanoparticles, pre-drugs, and nanovesicles.
Prostate cancer (PCa) arises from a cancer stem or progenitor cell with homogenous characteristics, especially among the aging men population. Over the past decade, the increasing PCa incidence has led to significant changes in both disease diagnosis and treatment. Recently, the therapeutic aspects of stem cells in many cancers, including PCa, have been debatable. The new generation of PCa studies seek to present definitive treatments with reduced therapeutic side effects. Since discovering unique properties of stem cells in modulating immunity, selective migration to inflammatory regions, and secretion of various growth factors, they have been a promising therapeutic target. The existing properties of stem cell therapy bring new opportunities for cancer inhibition: transferring chemotherapeutics, activating prodrugs, affecting the expression of genes involved in cancer, genetically modifying the production of anti-cancer compounds, proteins, and/or deriving extracellular vesicles (EVs) containing therapeutic agents from stem cells. However, their dual properties in carcinogenicity as well as their ability to inhibit cancer result in particular limitations studying them after administration. A clear understanding of the interaction between MSCs and the prostate cancer microenvironment will provide crucial information in revealing the precise applications and new practical protocols for clinical use of these cells..
Pd–Ag/Al
2
O
3
catalysts (Pd = 0.03 wt% with Ag = 0.18 wt% in bimetallic samples) were prepared by sequential impregnation using acidic and basic colloidal oxide solutions. The catalysts were ...evaluated for selective hydrogenation of acetylene to ethylene (
T
= 60 °C,
p
= 10 bar, H
2
/C
2
H
2
= 1.5 mol/mol, GHSV = 4000 h
−1
). The colloidal solutions were characterized by HR-TEM, the fresh catalysts by CO chemisorption, CO-TPD and FE-SEM and the spent catalysts by TGA and FTIR techniques. The HR-TEM images showed fairly narrow size distributions of PdO nanoparticles (1.9–3.4 and 1.3–4.4 nm in acidic and basic solutions, respectively). However, the Pd particles on unpromoted catalysts were much larger (19–51 nm) indicating considerable sintering during the preparation steps due to low melting point of PdO and its weak interaction with the support. The FE-SEM results illustrated that the colloidal method is capable of producing egg-shell distribution of Pd with penetration depths (7–15 μm) comparable to those achieved by conventional impregnation although due to a different mechanism. On the mono-metallic colloid-based samples, the acetylene conversions (96%) and ethylene selectivities (65–68%) were much larger than those of the sample prepared by conventional impregnation (90 and 24%, respectively). Upon Ag addition, the acetylene conversion was decreased to 40 and 56%, while ethylene selectivity was increased to 92 and 95% for acidic and basic samples, respectively. For the conventional bimetallic sample, the conversion and selectivity were increased to 95 and 86%, respectively. The results illustrated a better performance of the colloid-based catalysts with basic mode showing superior performance. The coke deposited on spent catalyst was found to be of soft type, that is, the one with high H/C ratio.
In kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) who are immunosuppressed, human BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infection can be reactivated, resulting in BKPyV-associated nephropathy (BKPyVN). Considering that BKPyV ...inhibits CD4+ T cell differentiation, we investigated the effect of BKPyV large T antigen (LT-Ag) on the maturation of CD4+ T cell subsets during active BKPyV infection.
In this cross-sectional study, we examined the following groups: 1) five KTRs with active viral infection (BKPyV+ KTRs), 2) five KTRs without active viral infection (BKPyV−KTRs), and 3) five healthy controls. We measured the frequency of CD4+ T cells and their different subsets, such as naive T cells, central memory T cells (Tcm), and effector memory T cells (Tem). All these subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) stimulated with the overlapping BKPyV LT-Ag peptide pool. In addition, CD4+ T cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry for the presence of CD4, CCR7, CD45RO, CD107a, and granzyme B (GB). In addition, mRNA expression of transcription factors (TFs) such as T-bet, GATA-3, STAT-3, and STAT-6 was examined. The probability of inflammation with perforin protein was examined by SYBR Green real-time PCR.
After stimulation of PBMCs, naive T cells (CD4+CCR7+CD45RO−) (p = 0.9) and CD4+ T cells which release CD107a+ (CD4+CD107a+Geranzyme B−) (p = 0.9) T cells were more abundant in BKPyV+ KTRs than in BKPyV− KTRs. In contrast, central memory T cells (CD4+CCR7+CD45RO+) (p = 0.1) and effector memory T cells (CD4+CCR7−CD45RO+) (p = 0.1) were more abundant in BKPyV− KTRs than in BKPyV+ KTRs.
The mRNA expression levels of T-bet, GATA-3, STAT-3, and STAT-6 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in BKPyV− KTRs than in BKPyV+ KTRs which may be due to a higher differentiation level of CD4+ T cells. Due to inflammation, the mRNA expression level of perforin was higher in BKPyV+ KTRs, than in BKPyV− KTRs, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.175).
The high number of naive T cells after PBMC stimulation with the LT-Ag peptide pool was observed in BKPyV+ KTRs due to the interaction of LT-Ag with T cells. This means that BKPyV by using its LT-Ag can inhibit the naive T cell differentiation to other T cell subsets like central and effector memory T cells. However, the frequency of CD4+ T cell subsets and the combination of the activities of these cells with the expression profile of the target genes in this study may be efficient in treating and diagnosing BKPyV infections in kidney recipients.
•Cellular immune response to BKPyV infection in kidney transplant patients.•BKPyV-specific T cells can be used for BKPyVN monitoring.•BKPyV-naive T cells reactivity significantly increase against BKPyV tumor antigens.
Timely estimation of silage maize protein provides an effective decision to adapt optimized strategies for nitrogen fertilizer management and also harvesting time for farmers. So, this research aimed ...to investigate whether using vegetative indices (VIs) derived from UAV remotely sensed multispectral (with 520–900 nm wavelengths) imagery and also Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) greenness index can be used to detect the leaf protein concentration (LPC) of silage maize, as a function of various nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100, and 150% of recommended dosage). Results of principal component analysis (PCA) suggested that LPC was highly correlated with leaf greenness index in all developmental stages. In addition, LPC was highly correlated with most of the VIs investigated. A PCA clustering showed the meaningful pattern of N rates. Higher LPC values, VIs, and greenness index were more concentrated in the higher nitrogen (N100% and N150%) sectors. Nitrogen Reflectance Index (NRI) was identified as the most important VIs to monitor and predict LPC in the silage maize field, showing a strong polynomial relationship with LPC in both eight-leaf collar (V8) (R
2 = 0.81, p ≤ 0.01) and tasseling (VT) (R
2 = 0.98, p ≤ 0.001) stages. In addition, among VIs, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) demonstrated a significant linear regression relationship with LPC (R
2 = 0.80, p ≤ 0.01) in the VT. Findings suggested the high potential of VIs extracted by UAV-taken multispectral imagery and also SPAD proximal sensing to help farmers rapidly diagnose LPC in silage maize, in line with the objectives of precision farming.
In this work, computational investigation of the stability, structural and electronic properties of irida-naphthalene and irida-azulene molecules were reported. Frontier orbitals energy values were ...used to computation of hardness, electrophilicity and electrophilicity values of the compounds. Variations of Ir–C and Ir–P bond distances of the studied molecules were illustrated with quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and intrinsic bond strength index (IBSI). Static isotropic and frequency-dependent polarizability values of these molecules were computed. The non-linear optical (NLO) behavior of these complexes studied by calculation of Static and frequency-dependent first hyperpolarizability values of the molecules. Electron density values at ring critical point (RCP) were used for studying of aromaticity in these complexes.
