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Background and Aim: Human exposure to aluminum is inevitable, and one of the most adverse health effects of aluminum is a decrease in male fertility rates. Therefore, this study investigated the ameliorative effects of an aqueous extract from Laurus nobilis-bay leaf (BL) on aluminum chloride (AlCl3)-induced testicular toxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: Twenty-four Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 6, each group): The control (group 1) received normal saline; Group 2 animals were intraperitoneally administered with 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) AlCl3; and Groups 3 and 4 were co-administered AlCl3 with 125 or 250 mg/kg BW of BL extract, respectively, for 21 days. Testes, epididymis, and blood samples were collected. Testicular plasma enzyme activity was measured using a spectrophotometric assay, while concentrations of inflammatory biomarkers were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: There was a significant increase (p < 0.05) in testicular enzyme activity in the group treated with AlCl3. However, there was no significant (p > 0.05) difference in testicular enzyme activity in groups co-administered AlCl3 and BL extract as compared with that in control. There was a significant (p < 0.05) increase in testicular nitrite concentration in the AlCl3-treated group, whereas the administration of BL extract significantly (p < 0.05) decreased nitrite concentration in Groups 3 and 4. Furthermore, the administration of BL extracts increased sperm count and improved the morphology of the testes in AlCl3-treated rats. Flavonoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, tannin, glycosides, saponin, anthraquinones, and steroids were identified in BL extract, with alkaloids and glycosides being the most abundant. Conclusion: Aqueous extract from BL ameliorated the toxic effect of AlCl3 and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting nitrite production while improving sperm count and morphology in AlCl3-treated rats. The bioactivity of the extract may be attributed to the presence of a wide range of phytochemicals. Therefore, BL aqueous extract could be a promising source of novel compounds with male fertility-promoting and anti-inflammatory properties.

Background: Flexible fibreoptic laryngoscopy (FFL) is a technique of laryngeal visualization. The instrument (flexible laryngoscope) is relatively scarce in resource challenged countries. Where available, it is a useful compliment to the armamentarium of clinical tools at the disposal of the otolaryngologist. We evaluated the diagnostic value of flexible fibreoptic laryngoscope in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. And we hypothesized that its diagnostic precision is comparable to direct laryngoscopy. Methods: This is a retrospective study of records of 360 patients referred for FFL at the ENT clinic. Sensitivity and specificity of FFL for laryngeal lesions were determined using direct laryngoscopy (DL) as the gold standard. Results: Of the 360 FFL reports studied, 336 additionally underwent DL. FFL findings in 311 (92.6%) cases were comparable with that of DL. FFL had a good detection rate for vocal cord palsy (sensitivity 100%, specificity 80.7%). Pick-up rate for vocal nodules, polyps, papillomatosis and palsy were statistically equal for FFL and DL (p value = 0.96). Diagnostic accuracy of FFL was good for supraglottic (sensitivity 100%, specificity 88.0%) and glottic (sensitivity 100%, specificity 92.3%) tumours; relatively lower for subglottic (sensitivity 83.3%; specificity 100%) and transglottic (sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 100%) tumours; and least for tumours involving more than on subsites (sensitivity 50%, specificity 100%). Conclusion: The sensitivity and specificity of FFL were not the same for all endo-laryngeal lesions; yet, the overall diagnostic accuracy of FFL is comparable with DL. Clinicians should be mindful of this variability to optimize its application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Described here is the production and characterization of a scalable method to produce 3D structured lithium ion battery anodes using free-standing papers of porous silicon nanowires (Si-NW) and graphene nanoribbons (GNRs). Using simple filtration methods, GNRs and Si-NWs can be entangled into a mat thereby forming Si-NW GNR papers. This produces anodes with high gravimetric capacity (up to 2500 mA h g−1) and high areal and volumetric capacities (up to 11 mA h cm−2 and 3960 mA h cm−3). The compact structure of the anode is possible since the GNR volume occupies a high proportion of empty space within the composite paper. These Si-NW/GNR papers have been cycled for over 300 cycles, exhibiting a stable life cycle. Combined with LiCoO2 nanowires, a full battery is produced with high energy density (386 Wh kg−1), meeting requirements for high performance devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A composite material made of graphene nanoribbons and iron oxide nanoparticles provides a remarkable route to lithium-ion battery anode with high specific capacity and cycle stability. At a rate of 100 mA/g, the material exhibits a high discharge capacity of ~910 mAh/g after 134 cycles, which is >90% of the theoretical li-ion storage capacity of iron oxide. Carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene flakes have been employed by researchers to achieve conductivity and stability in lithium-ion electrode materials. Herein, the use of graphene nanoribbons as a conductive platform on which iron oxide nanoparticles are formed combines the advantages of long carbon nanotubes and flat graphene surfaces. The high capacity over prolonged cycling achieved is due to the synergy between an electrically percolating networks of conductive graphene nanoribbons and the high lithium-ion storage capability of iron oxide nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver-graphene nanoribbons (Ag-GNRs) were prepared from the chemical unzipping of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by reaction with Na/K alloy, Ag(O2CCH3) and then CH3OH. Ag-GNRs exhibited improved electrocatalytic ability for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in 0.1 M KOH as compared to the underlying GNR substrate alone and displayed an earlier onset and higher currents than a commercial Ag/Carbon (Ag/C) catalyst. The Ag-GNR hybrid demonstrates an outstanding tolerance to CH3OH crossover which exceeds that of the commercial benchmark, 20 % Pt/C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LiFePO4 encapsulated in graphene nanoshells (LiFePO4@GNS) nanoparticles were synthesized by solid state reaction between graphene-coated Fe nanoparticles and LiH2PO4. The resulting nanocomposite was demonstrated to be a superior lithium-ion battery cathode with improved cycle and rate performances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at : 1. Revealing the effectiveness of using the style of slow and ordinary video displaying on learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball . 2. Making a comparison in the effectiveness of using the style of slow and ordinary video displaying on learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball in the post-test. The researchers have hypothesized the following : 1. There were significant differences in the results of the pre-test and post-test for both research groups in learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing stroke . 2. There were no moral significant differences in learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing stroke in volleyball between both research groups in the post-test. 3. The researchers have adopted the experimental methodology for its convenience to the nature of the research problem . The research community has been selected randomly from the second-year students of sport education / Mosul university . The research sample includes two groups (e،f) . The number of the students is (30) students as (60%) selected randomly . The equivalence between both groups has been achieved in variables ( age ، tallness and weight ) ، some physical and motor traits and some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball . The researcher used (personal interview and questionnaires ) as means of collecting data . The educational program has applied for (4) weeks as two educational units per week for each group . The time of the educational unit is (90) minutes for a period starting from 25/3/2013 till 18/4/2013 in the volleyball hall / branch of team games in the college of sport education / Mosul university . 4. The researcher used the following statistical means :Arithmetic mean، standard deviation، simple correlation coefficient (Pearson)، t-Test for the correlating and uncorelating samples equal in number، percentage ، index of reliabitiy . The researcher has concluded the following : 1. Using the styles of video displaying (slow ، ordinary ) has a positive effect on learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball. 2. The second experimental group that used the style of slow video displaying has the superiority compared with the first experimental group in leaning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball. The researcher has recommended the following : 1. Using the style of slow video displaying in learning the technique of performing some kinds of smashing strokes in volleyball. 2. The need to use the various video educational means in the lessons of college of sport education. 3. Making similar researches and studies on other skills in volleyball. 4. Making similar researches and studies on other sport skills. l

Gene silencing has been recognized as an important factor, which influence the expression of heterologous protein delivered via plant-viral based system. The application of suppressor genes that act against gene silencing mechanisms demonstrated improvement in the expression level of heterologous protein in plants. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of a silencing suppressor gene to enhance the expression of VP2 protein of highly virulent infectious bursal disease virus in Nicotiana benthamiana plants using a plant viral-based expression system derived from potato virus X. In the present study, a silencing suppressor gene of P19 encoded by tomato bushy stunt virus was employed as a suppressor for gene silencing mechanism by co-infecting N. benthamiana plants with the P19 gene via agroinfiltration strategy followed by mechanical inoculation of potato virus X viral transcripts containing the cloned VP2 gene. Western blot analyses revealed that the expressed VP2 protein can be detected by 7 days post-infection in the presence of P19 gene as compared with plants without P19 gene that can only be detected at 10 days post-infection. However, there was no significant enhancement in the yield of expressed VP2 protein in the presence of P19 gene. The present findings demonstrated the employment of P19 gene and improved the expression of hvIBDV VP2 protein in N. benthamiana plants.

Liver cancer has become one of the major types of cancer with high mortality and liver cancer is not responsive to the current cytotoxic agents used in chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to examine the in vitro cytotoxicity of goniothalamin on human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells and normal liver Chang cells. The cytotoxicity of goniothalamin against HepG2 and liver Chang cell was tested using MTT cell viability assay, LDH leakage assay, cell cycle flow cytometry PI analysis, BrdU proliferation ELISA assay and trypan blue dye exclusion assay. Goniothalamin selectively inhibited HepG2 cells [IC50 = 4.6 (±0.23) µM in the MTT assay; IC50 = 5.20 (±0.01) µM for LDH assay at 72 hours], with less sensitivity in Chang cells [IC50 = 35.0 (±0.09) µM for MTT assay; IC50 = 32.5 (±0.04) µM for LDH assay at 72 hours]. In the trypan blue dye exclusion assay, the Viability Indexes were 52 ± 1.73% for HepG2 cells and 62 ± 4.36% for Chang cells at IC50 after 72 hours. Cytotoxicity of goniothalamin was related to inhibition of DNA synthesis, as revealed by the reduction of BrdU incorporation. At 72 hours, the lowest concentration of goniothalamin (2.3 µL) retained 97.6% of normal liver Chang cells proliferation while it reduced HepG2 cell proliferation to 19.8% as compared to control. Besides, goniothalamin caused accumulation of hypodiploid apoptosis and different degree of G2/M arrested as shown in cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. Goniothalamin selectively killed liver cancer cell through suppression of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. These results suggest that goniothalamin shows potential cytotoxicity against hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells.

Abstract Background There has been an increasing body of epidemiologic and biochemical evidence implying the role of cerebral insulin resistance in Alzheimer-type dementia. For a better understanding of the insulin effect on the central nervous system, we performed microarray-based global gene expression profiling in the hippocampus, striatum and prefrontal cortex of streptozotocin-induced and spontaneously diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats as model animals for type 1 and type 2 diabetes, respectively. Results Following pathway analysis and validation of gene lists by real-time polymerase chain reaction, 30 genes from the hippocampus, such as the inhibitory neuropeptide galanin, synuclein gamma and uncoupling protein 2, and 22 genes from the prefrontal cortex, e.g. galanin receptor 2, protein kinase C gamma and epsilon, ABCA1 (ATP-Binding Cassette A1), CD47 (Cluster of Differentiation 47) and the RET (Rearranged During Transfection) protooncogene, were found to exhibit altered expression levels in type 2 diabetic model animals in comparison to non-diabetic control animals. These gene lists proved to be partly overlapping and encompassed genes related to neurotransmission, lipid metabolism, neuronal development, insulin secretion, oxidative damage and DNA repair. On the other hand, no significant alterations were found in the transcriptomes of the corpus striatum in the same animals. Changes in the cerebral gene expression profiles seemed to be specific for the type 2 diabetic model, as no such alterations were found in streptozotocin-treated animals. Conclusions According to our knowledge this is the first characterization of the whole-genome expression changes of specific brain regions in a diabetic model. Our findings shed light on the complex role of insulin signaling in fine-tuning brain functions, and provide further experimental evidence in support of the recently elaborated theory of type 3 diabetes.

The moisture-dependent physical properties are important in designing and fabricating equipment and structures for handling, transporting, processing and storage, and also for assessing quality. This study was carried out to determine the effect of moisture content on some physical and mechanical properties for two varieties of chickpea seeds (Giza 3, and Giza 195). Four levels of moisture content ranging from 11.6% d.b. (dry basis) to 25.4% d.b. were used. The average length, width, thickness, and geometric mean diameter ranged from (7.92±0.04) mm to (8.14±0.04) mm, (6.10±0.04) mm to (6.37± 0.04) mm, (6.43±0.04) mm to (6.84±0.04) mm and (6.77±0.07) mm to (7.08±0.07) mm, respectively. The average sphericity and roundness ranged from (85.53±0.19)% to (87.00±0.19)% and (93.70±0.35)% to (94.14±0.35)%, respectively. The average measured surface area, calculated surface area, and projected area ranged from (144.73±1.55) mm² to (158.78±1.55) mm², (146.89±1.58) mm² to (159.78±1.58) mm², and (46.53±0.50) mm² to (48.93±0.50) mm², respectively. The average bulk density, true density, porosity and angle of repose ranged from (730.05±11.84) kg/m³ to (694.17±11.84) kg/m³, (1,225.12± 19.51) kg/m³ to (1,308.02±19.51) kg/m³, (44.13±0.49)% to (43.29±0.49)%, and (25.20±0.41)° (degrees) to (29.10±0.41)° (degrees), respectively and also increased linearly with an increase in moisture content. The average seed weight and thousand seeds weight ranged from (0.142±0.002) gm to (0.184±0.002) gm, and (177.38±2.17) gm to (194.75±2.17) gm, respectively. The average static coefficient of friction against wood, stainless steel, galvanized iron and iron surfaces and internal with the same seeds ranged from (0.430±0.016) to (0.460±0.016), (0.321±0.007) to (0.366±0.007), (0.327±0.004) to (0.371±0.004), (0.412±0.011) to (0.496±0.011) and (0.638±0.022) to (0.741±0.022), respectively. The average terminal velocity ranged from (5.18±0.34) m/s to (9.14±0.34) m/s. The average penetration depth at load 6kg and tools diameter 1 mm was determined as mechanical property, and generally increased in magnitude with an increase in moisture content. The physical properties were linearly dependent upon moisture content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]