The novel coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has become a major health problem worldwide. The impact of COVID-19 has also been associated with psychological and social problems. The main objective ...of the present study was to examine the associations between fear of COVID-19 and mental wellbeing, through a serial mediation analysis that included loneliness and smartphone addiction. Utilising convenience sampling from 73 of 81 cities in Turkey via the web-based survey the present study comprised 773 participants (556 females and 217 males; aged between 18 and 66 years) were collected. Self-report data were collected including psychometric measures assessing fear of COVID-19, loneliness, smartphone addiction, and mental wellbeing. Fear of COVID-19 was found to have both a direct and indirect effect on mental wellbeing. In addition, results supported a serial mediation model where fear of COVID-19 was found to influence mental wellbeing via loneliness and smartphone addiction in a sequential manner. The findings suggest that higher fear of COVID-19 is associated with lower mental wellbeing by negatively affecting individuals' emotion and behaviour.
In recent years, the production of composite films has been gained importance and composites consist of organic and nonorganic parts has been attracted particular interest. In this study, will be ...changed to pristine zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc oxide/polyvinyl alcohol (ZnO/PVA) with different ZnO concentrations were prepared by hydrothermal method and solution casting methods, respectively. X-ray diffraction measurements were utilized to investigate the structural properties of ZnO powders and the results support that the formation of a hexagonal structure. The crystalline size of prepared powder was calculated using the Williamson-Hall equation and found as 83 nm. Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis revealed that the ZnO doped PVA film was successfully prepared. The morphology and optical properties of the produced films were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Uv-vis spectrometer. The optical band gap of PVA, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of ZnO/PVA samples were found as 5.42, 5.37, 5.36, 5.31 and 5.21 eV, respectively. Mechanical properties of the samples were examined. It was that in 20% ZnO/PVA samples the maximum tensile strength was detected. Additionally, the thermal properties and surface chemistry of the films was investigated.
Early and efficient detection of embryonic death (ED) has a valuable impact as important as early pregnancy diagnosis in ruminants. Among early pregnancy diagnosis methods, detection of the ...expression of interferon tau–stimulated genes (ISGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) is well documented in cows and ewes. Therefore, we hypothesized that the expression profile of ISGs in PBLs might also be useful for detecting ED in these animals. For this purpose, pregnant ewes were used as an experimental model. Pregnancy was detected on Day 18 after mating by transrectal ultrasonography. Pregnant ewes were divided into a control group (sham injection on Day 18, n = 10) and ED group (treated with 75 μg synthetic PGF2α on Day 18, n = 12). PBLs and plasma were collected on Days 0 (mating day), 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, and 25 by jugular venipuncture. Total RNA was isolated from PBLs. ISGs expression levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction in triplicate. Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure progesterone (P4) levels in plasma. In the ED group, the P4 level declined to less than 1 ng/mL on Day 19 and remained at a low level until the end of the study. Compared with that on Day 0, receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4) and ISG15 expression was upregulated on Day 15 and remained high until Day 21 in both groups, and RTP4 and ISG15 mRNA levels were attenuated on Days 23 and 25 only in the ED group (P < 0.001). Myxovirus resistance 1 expression was upregulated on Day 15 and remained high until Day 23 in both groups, but was attenuated on Day 25 in the ED group (P < 0.05). The B2-microglobulin mRNA level did not change significantly during the study in either group. These results indicate that the decline in P4 concentration was an immediate response to PGF2α and that the embryo may have survived longer than the CL on the basis of the extended period of ISGs expression. This suggests that the absence of P4 could be the reason for ED rather than a direct effect of PGF2α. In conclusion, the expression of ISGs, including ISG15, RTP4, and myxovirus resistance 1, but not B2-microglobulin, in PBLs may serve as a marker of ED.
The effect of Al
2
O
3
content on microstructure, hardness, fracture toughness and electrical conductivity behaviours of c-ZrO
2
ceramics was investigated using high-purity commercial powder of ...8 mol% yttria-stabilised c-ZrO
2
doped with up to 10 wt.% Al
2
O
3
. XRD results showed that the c-ZrO
2
specimens doped up to 0.3 wt.% Al
2
O
3
revealed no Al
2
O
3
peaks, indicating that Al
2
O
3
was completely solubilised in the c-ZrO
2
matrix. However, when >0.3 wt.% Al
2
O
3
was added, Al
2
O
3
peaks started to appear, showing that overdoped Al
2
O
3
was not solubilised in the c-ZrO
2
matrix. The introduction of Al
2
O
3
significantly enhanced the hardness and fracture toughness of c-ZrO
2
. The hardness and fracture toughness increased with increasing Al
2
O
3
content. The maximum hardness and fracture toughness values reached 1,459 ± 8 kg/mm
2
and 2.41 ± 0.02 MPa/m
1/2
, respectively, with the addition of 10 wt.% Al
2
O
3
, while these values were 1,314 ± 11 kg/mm
2
and 1.5 ± 0.03 MPa/m
1/2
for undoped c-ZrO
2
. The increase of hardness and fracture toughness can be attributed to smaller grain size, the increment of Young’s modulus of Al
2
O
3
-doped c-ZrO
2
and different expansion coefficients of c-ZrO
2
and Al
2
O
3
grains. The electrical conductivity of the specimens was measured using a frequency response analyzer in the frequency range of 5–13 MHz and in the temperature range of 300–800 °C. It was seen that electrical conductivity slightly increased with increasing Al
2
O
3
content up to 1 wt.%, and further increase in Al
2
O
3
led to a decreased in the conductivity.
The aim was to evaluate expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of prostaglandins (PTG), Prostaglandin H Synthase-1 (PTGS1) and PTGS2, PGF synthase (PTGFS), and PGE synthase (PTGES), PGF ...receptor (PTGFR), PGE receptors (PTGER2 and PTGER4), prostaglandin transporter (SLCO2A1) and hydroxyprostaglandin dehydrogenase-15 (HPGD). Endometrial biopsies were obtained from mares on day of ovulation (d0,
n
=
4), late diestrus (LD,
n
=
4), early luteolysis (EL,
n
=
4) and after luteolysis (AL,
n
=
4) during the cycle. Stages of the cycle were confirmed by plasma progesterone concentrations measured daily and ultrasound examinations. Biopsies were also taken on days 14 (P14;
n
=
4), 15 (P15,
n
=
4), 18 (P18,
n
=
4) and 22 (P22;
n
=
4) of pregnancy. Relative mRNA expressions were quantified using real-time RT-PCR. A mixed model was fitted on the normalized data and least significant difference test (
α
=
0.05) was employed. Expression of
PTGS1 mRNA was low throughout the estrous cycle and early days of pregnancy, but upregulated on P18 and P22.
PTGS2 expression was increased on EL, but it was suppressed by pregnancy on P15, P18, and P22.
PTGFS expression was upregulated in both cyclic and pregnant mares compared to d0 and its level was the highest on LD.
PTGFR expression was transiently increased on LD and EL and was suppressed during early pregnancy. Both
PTGES and
PTGER2 expressions were increased on LD, EL, and early pregnancy, but were decreased after the luteolysis in cyclic mares as they remained high on P18 and P22.
PTGER4 expression did not change throughout the cycle and early pregnancy. Levels of
HPGD and
SLCO2A1 were significantly increased only on P22. In conclusion,
PTGS2 expression increases around the time of luteolysis and concurrent upregulation of
PTGFS and
PTGES indicates that equine endometrium has increased capability of PTG production around the time of luteolysis. However, pregnancy reduces
PTGS2 expression, but maintains the high levels of
PTGES during early pregnancy along with
PTGER2 while
PTGFR expression was suppressed. These findings suggest that possible luteotrophic action of PGE
2 is required in early equine pregnancy.
PTGS1 is only upregulated later in the early pregnancy suggesting that it is not involved in luteolysis, but could be the main PTGS enzyme at this time during early pregnancy. An increase in
HPGD and
SLCO2A1 levels on P22 indicates a tight regulation of PTG action by pregnancy.
Summary
The aim was to investigate the effects of long‐term heat stress and dietary restriction on the expression of certain genes involving in steroidogenic pathway and small heat‐shock proteins ...(sHSPs) in rat testis. Sprague Dawley rats (n = 24) were equally divided into four groups. Group I and II were kept at an ambient temperature of 22°C, while Groups III and IV were reared at 38°C for 9 weeks. Feed was freely available for Group I and Group III, while Group II and Group IV were fed 60% of the diet consumed by their ad libitum counterparts. At the end of 9 weeks, testicles were collected under euthanasia. Total RNA was isolated from testis tissue samples. Expression profiles of the genes encoding androgen‐binding protein, follicle‐stimulating hormone receptor, androgen receptor, luteinising hormone receptor, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cyclooxygenase‐2 and sHSP genes were assessed at mRNA levels using qPCR. Long‐term heat stress decreased the expression of StAR and HspB10 genes while dietary restriction upregulated StAR gene expression. The results suggested that long‐term heat stress negatively affected the expression of StAR and HspB10 genes and the dietary restriction was able to reverse negative effect of heat stress on the expression of StAR gene in rat testis.
Cannabis sativa L. is a multiple-use plant that provides raw material for the production of seed oil, natural fiber for textiles, automotive and pulp industries. It has also been used in insulating ...boards, ropes, varnishes, animal feed, and as medicinal agents. Cannabis has potential to be used for phytoremediation: however, its cultivation is strictly controlled due to its psychoactive nature and usage in producing drugs such as marijuana, and hashish. In this study, psychoactive type Cannabis samples, which were seized from 23 different locations of Turkey, and nine hemp type Cannabis accessions, as well as an unknown accession were used. Our interest was to identify the genetic relatedness of the seized samples and to separate drug and hemp type plants. Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSRs) were employed for analysis based on single plant material (SET1) and bulked samples of them (SET2). Data was analysed via cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). PCoA analyses, by using SET1 and SET2, were able to efficiently discriminate the seized samples from the fiber type accessions. However, separation of the plants was not clear via unweighted pair-group method using arithmetic average (UPGMA) dendogram in SET1, while they were clearly separated in SET2. Hemp type accessions showed high levels of variation compared to drug type Cannabis both in SET1 and SET2.
The aims of the present study were to elucidate the expression profiles of leukotriene (LT) pathway mRNA transcription and to determine the possible interaction of LT and prostaglandin (PTG) pathways ...genes in equine endometrium during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy. Endometrial biopsies were obtained from mares on the day of ovulation (d0), at late diestrous (LD, n = 4), and after luteolysis in the estrus phase (AL, n = 4) of the cycle. Biopsies were also taken on Days 14 (P14; n = 4), 18 (P18, n = 4), and 22 (P22, n = 4) during early pregnancy that were comparable days to cyclic sampling days. A mixed model was fitted on the normalized relative mRNA levels, quantified by qPCR in duplicate, and least significant difference test was employed to detect significantly different group(s). In addition, to determine the degree of contribution of each gene to separation of treatment groups, the multivariate projection method partial least square regression discriminant analysis was used. The expression of 5-lipoxygenase mRNA was greater on d0 and LD, declined at AL, and was suppressed by early pregnancy. Leukotriene A4 hydrolase mRNA expression increased at LD and during early pregnancy, but was significantly greater at LD compared with P14. The expression of LT C4 synthase mRNA was only induced at LD. Cysteinyl leukotriene receptors (CysLT1 and CysLT2) mRNA expressions were decreased by both cyclic changes and early pregnancy, whereas 5-lipoxygenase-activating protein and B leukotriene receptor mRNA expressions were not affected by early pregnancy or stages of the estrous cycle. Partial least square discriminant analysis suggests that LT and PTG pathway enzymes and receptors appear to behave similarly in terms of mRNA expression. In conclusion, the expression profiles of LT pathway genes are demonstrated in equine endometrium for the first time by the present study, and the present data suggest that LT pathway mRNA transcriptions are tightly regulated during early pregnancy in mares.
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