Comparison of hypoxia- and hyperoxia-induced alteration of epigene expression pattern in lungs of Pleurodeles waltl and Mus musculus.

Epigenetics is an emerging field of research because of its involvement in susceptibility to diseases and aging. Hypoxia and hyperoxia are known to be involved widely in various pathophysiologies. Here, we compared the differential epigene expression pattern between Pleurodeles waltl and Mus musculus (commonly known as Iberian ribbed newt and mouse, respectively) exposed to hypoxia and hyperoxia. Adult healthy newts and mice were exposed to normobaric hypoxia (8% O2) and hyperoxia (80% O2) for 2 hours. We collected the lungs and analyzed the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (Hif1α) and several key epigenes from DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) family, histone deacetylase (HDAC) family, and methyl-CpG binding domain (MBD) family. The exposure to hypoxia significantly increased the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferase 3 alpha (Dnmt3α), methyl-CpG binding domain protein 2 (Mbd2), Mbd3, and histone deacetylase 2 (Hdac2) in lungs of newts, but decreased the mRNA levels of DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1) and Dnmt3α in lungs of mice. The exposure to hyperoxia did not significantly change the expression of any gene in either newts or mice. The differential epigene expression pattern in response to hypoxia between newts and mice may provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of disorders developed due to hypoxia exposure.

SalivaDirect: an alternative to a conventional RNA extraction protocol for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in a clinical setting.

IMPORTANCE: Affordable and accessible tests for COVID-19 allow for timely disease treatment and pandemic management. SalivaDirect is a faster and easier method to implement than NPS sampling. Patients can self-collect saliva samples at home or in other non-clinical settings without the help of a healthcare professional. Sample processing in SalivaDirect is less complex and more adaptable than in conventional nucleic acid extraction methods. We found that SalivaDirect has good diagnostic performance and is ideal for large-scale testing in settings where supplies may be limited or trained healthcare professionals are unavailable.

In Silico Functional and Structural Analysis of Non-synonymous Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (nsSNPs) in Human Paired Box 4 Gene.

In human genome, members of Paired box (PAX) transcription factor family are highly sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Among PAX gene family members, PAX4 gene has significant role in growth, proliferation, differentiation, and insulin secretion of pancreatic ß-cells. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in PAX4 gene progress in the pathogenesis of various human diseases. Hence, the molecular mechanism of how these SNPs in PAX4 gene significantly progress diseases pathogenesis needs to be elucidated. For the reason, a series of bioinformatic analyzes were done to identify the SNPs of PAX4 gene that contribute in diseases pathogenesis. From the analyzes, 4145 SNPs (rsIDs) in PAX4 gene were obtained, where, 362 missense (8.73%), 169 synonymous (4.08%), and 2323 intron variants (56.04%). The rest SNPs were unspecified. Among the 362 missense variants, 118 nsSNPs were found as deleterious in SIFT analysis. Among those, 25 nsSNPs were most probably damaging and 23 were deleterious as observed in PolyPhen-2 and PROVEAN analyzes, respectively. Following all analyzes, 14 nsSNPs (rs149708455, rs115887120, rs147279315, rs35155575, rs370095957, rs373939873, rs145468905, rs121917718, rs2233580, rs3824004, rs372751660, rs369459316, rs375472849, rs372497946) were common and observed as deleterious, probably damaging, affective and diseases associated. Following structural analyzes, 11 nsSNPs guided proteins were found as most unstable and highly conserved. Among these, R20W, R39Q, R45Q, R60H, G65D, and A223D mutated proteins were highly harmful. Hence, the results from above-mentioned integrated comprehensive bioinformatic analyzes guide how different nsSNPs in PAX4 gene alter structural and functional characteristics of the protein that might progress diseases pathogenesis in human including type 2 diabetes.

In silico identification and functional prediction of differentially expressed genes in South Asian populations associated with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is one of the major metabolic disorders in humans caused by hyperglycemia and insulin resistance syndrome. Although significant genetic effects on T2D pathogenesis are experimentally proved, the molecular mechanism of T2D in South Asian Populations (SAPs) is still limited. Hence, the current research analyzed two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and 17 Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) datasets associated with T2D in SAP to identify DEGs (differentially expressed genes). The identified DEGs were further analyzed to explore the molecular mechanism of T2D pathogenesis following a series of bioinformatics approaches. Following PPI (Protein-Protein Interaction), 867 potential DEGs and nine hub genes were identified that might play significant roles in T2D pathogenesis. Interestingly, CTNNB1 and RUNX2 hub genes were found to be unique for T2D pathogenesis in SAPs. Then, the GO (Gene Ontology) showed the potential biological, molecular, and cellular functions of the DEGs. The target genes also interacted with different pathways of T2D pathogenesis. In fact, 118 genes (including HNF1A and TCF7L2 hub genes) were directly associated with T2D pathogenesis. Indeed, eight key miRNAs among 2582 significantly interacted with the target genes. Even 64 genes were downregulated by 367 FDA-approved drugs. Interestingly, 11 genes showed a wide range (9-43) of drug specificity. Hence, the identified DEGs may guide to elucidate the molecular mechanism of T2D pathogenesis in SAPs. Therefore, integrating the research findings of the potential roles of DEGs and candidate drug-mediated downregulation of marker genes, future drugs or treatments could be developed to treat T2D in SAPs.

Fewer polymer chains but higher adhesion: How gradient-stiffness hydrogel layers mediate adhesion through network stretch.

The presence of gradient softer outer layers, commonly observed in biological systems (such as cartilage and ocular tissues), as well as synthetic crosslinked hydrogels, profoundly influences their interactions with opposing surfaces. Our prior research demonstrated that gradient-stiffness hydrogel layers, characterized by increasing elasticity with depth, control contact mechanics, particularly in proximity to the layer thickness. We postulate that the distribution of polymers within these gradient layers imparts extraordinary stretch and adhesion characteristics due to network adaptability and stress-induced reorganization. To investigate this phenomenon, we utilized Atomic Force Microscopy nanoindentation to assess the depth-dependent adhesion behavior of polyacrylamide hydrogels with varying gradient layer thicknesses. Two gradient layer thicknesses were achieved by employing different molding materials: glass and polyoxymethylene (POM). Glass-molded hydrogels exhibited a thinner gradient layer alongside a stiffer bulk layer compared to their POM-molded counterparts. In indentation experiments, the POM-molded hydrogel had larger adhesion compared to glass-molded hydrogel. We find that indenting within the gradient layer engenders increased load-unload hysteresis due to heightened fluid transport in the sparse outer polymer network. Consequently, this led to augmented adhesion and work of separation at shallow depths. We suggest that the prominent stretching capability of the sparse outer polymer network during probe retraction contributes to enhanced adhesion. The Maugis-Dugdale adhesive model only fits well to indentations on the thin layer or indentations which engage significantly with the bulk. These results facilitate a comprehensive characterization of adhesion mechanics in gradient-stiffness hydrogels, which could foster their application across emerging contexts in health science and environmental domains.

Modulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß signaling cascade through G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) activation: Prenatal lysophosphatidylinositol attenuates valproic acid-induced synaptic abnormalities and mitochondrial dysfunction.

AIMS: Dysregulation of PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß signaling has been implicated in various neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). G protein-coupled receptor 55 (GPR55) has recently emerged as a potential regulator of this signaling cascade. This study explores the intricate modulation of the PI3K/Akt/GSK3ß signaling cascade via GPR55 activation and its potential therapeutic implications in the context of autism-associated neuronal impairments. MAIN METHODS: Valproic acid (VPA) was administered on embryonic day 12 (E12) to induce ASD, and lysophosphatidylinositol (LPI), a GPR55 agonist, was used prenatally to modulate the receptor activity. Golgi-cox staining was performed to observe neuronal morphology, and Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) staining was carried out to quantify damaged neurons. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was implemented to identify molecular mediators involved in neuroprotection. KEY FINDINGS: Prenatal VPA exposure resulted in significant abnormalities in synaptic development, which were further evidenced by impairments in social interaction and cognitive function. When LPI was administered, most of the synaptic abnormalities were alleviated, as reflected by higher neuron and dendritic spine count. LPI treatment also reduced cytoplasmic cytochrome c concentration and related neuronal cell death. Mechanistically, GPR55 activation by LPI increases the expression of phospho-Akt and phospho-GSK3ß, leading to the activation of this signaling in the process of rescuing synaptic abnormalities and mitochondria-mediated neuronal apoptosis. SIGNIFICANCE: The observed therapeutic effects of GPR55 activation shed light on its significance as a prospective target for ameliorating mitochondrial dysfunction and dendritic spine loss, offering novel prospects for developing targeted interventions to alleviate the neuropathological causes of ASD.

Sentiment analysis in multilingual context: Comparative analysis of machine learning and hybrid deep learning models.

This research paper investigates the efficacy of various machine learning models, including deep learning and hybrid models, for text classification in the English and Bangla languages. The study focuses on sentiment analysis of comments from a popular Bengali e-commerce site, "DARAZ," which comprises both Bangla and translated English reviews. The primary objective of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of various models, evaluating their efficacy in the domain of sentiment analysis. The research methodology includes implementing seven machine learning models and deep learning models, such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), Bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM), Convolutional 1D (Conv1D), and a combined Conv1D-LSTM. Preprocessing techniques are applied to a modified text set to enhance model accuracy. The major conclusion of the study is that Support Vector Machine (SVM) models exhibit superior performance compared to other models, achieving an accuracy of 82.56% for English text sentiment analysis and 86.43% for Bangla text sentiment analysis using the porter stemming algorithm. Additionally, the Bi-LSTM Based Model demonstrates the best performance among the deep learning models, achieving an accuracy of 78.10% for English text and 83.72% for Bangla text using porter stemming. This study signifies significant progress in natural language processing research, particularly for Bangla, by enhancing improved text classification models and methodologies. The results of this research make a significant contribution to the field of sentiment analysis and offer valuable insights for future research and practical applications.

Artificial intelligence in the diagnosis of glaucoma and neurodegenerative diseases.

Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly expanding field within computer science that encompasses the emulation of human intelligence by machines. Machine learning and deep learning - two primary data-driven pattern analysis approaches under the umbrella of artificial intelligence - has created considerable interest in the last few decades. The evolution of technology has resulted in a substantial amount of artificial intelligence research on ophthalmic and neurodegenerative disease diagnosis using retinal images. Various artificial intelligence-based techniques have been used for diagnostic purposes, including traditional machine learning, deep learning, and their combinations. Presented here is a review of the literature covering the last 10 years on this topic, discussing the use of artificial intelligence in analysing data from different modalities and their combinations for the diagnosis of glaucoma and neurodegenerative diseases. The performance of published artificial intelligence methods varies due to several factors, yet the results suggest that such methods can potentially facilitate clinical diagnosis. Generally, the accuracy of artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis ranges from 67-98%, and the area under the sensitivity-specificity curve (AUC) ranges from 0.71-0.98, which outperforms typical human performance of 71.5% accuracy and 0.86 area under the curve. This indicates that artificial intelligence-based tools can provide clinicians with useful information that would assist in providing improved diagnosis. The review suggests that there is room for improvement of existing artificial intelligence-based models using retinal imaging modalities before they are incorporated into clinical practice.

Comparative evaluation of low-cost ceramic membrane and polymeric micro membrane in algal membrane photobioreactor for wastewater treatment.

Algal-bacterial membrane photobioreactor (AMPBR) is proven as a highly energy-efficient process for treating domestic wastewater. This study compared the application of polymeric micro-membrane (PMM) and a low-cost ceramic membrane (LCM) to the AMPBR process for treating domestic wastewater with low and high organic pollution levels. Experiments were conducted over 57 days using two PMM-AMPBRs and two LCM-AMPBRs, operating on a 12-h dark/light cycle in a continuous mode. Simulated wastewater containing varying levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was fed to reactors for a consistent hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 7 d and a flux rate of 100 L/m2/d. PMM and LCM-AMPBRs demonstrated efficient wastewater treatment capabilities, achieving COD removal rates exceeding 94% and 95% for high and low COD loadings, respectively. PMM-AMPBR achieved 54.1% TN removal at low COD loading, while LCM-AMPBR achieved 57.2%. These removal efficiencies decreased to 45.6% and 47.0% under high COD loading. Total Phosphorus (TP) removal reached 29-33% for PMM-AMPBRs and 21-24% for LCM-AMPBRs, irrespective of COD loading. LCM-AMPBRs showed significantly lower fouling frequency than PMM-AMPBRs. The biomass production rate decreased with increasing COD loading and achieved 40 mg/L/d at low COD loading for both AMPBRs. Net energy return (NER) values for both AMPBRs were close to 0.87, indicating them as energy-efficient processes. Considering the cost-effectiveness and comparable performance, LCM-AMPBR could be a viable alternative to PMM-AMPBR for wastewater treatment, particularly under low COD loading conditions.

Nutritional status and dietary diversity of pregnant and nonpregnant reproductive-age Rohingya women.

There are no data on the nutritional status and dietary diversity of the pregnant and nonpregnant reproductive-age Rohingya women who have recently shifted to the Bhasan Char Relocation Camp located on an island in the Bay of Bengal. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in November-December, 2021 to assess the nutritional status and evaluate the dietary diversity of two vulnerable groups of the forcibly displaced Rohingya population: nonpregnant reproductive-age women and pregnant mothers. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to identify the factors associated with nutritional impairments. Overall, 7.6% of the nonpregnant reproductive-age women were underweight (Body Mass Index [BMI] < 18.5 kg/m2), and nearly one-third of them had a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2. However, 26.7% of the pregnant mothers were undernourished (BMI < 20.0 kg/m2) and almost one-fourth of them were either overweight or obese (BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2). The prevalence of thinness (Mid Upper Arm Circumference [MUAC] < 23 cm) was 34.5% among pregnant mothers, and 10.1% of them were severely thin (MUAC < 21 cm). The mean (±SD) of the Women's Dietary Diversity Score (WDDS) was 3.3 (±1.1) for nonpregnant reproductive-age women and 3.7 (±1.3) for pregnant mothers enrolled in this study. Overall, 63.8% of the nonpregnant women of childbearing age and 46% of the pregnant mothers had a low WDDS (WDDS < 4). The WDDS was found to be protective against thinness among nonpregnant reproductive-age women (AOR = 0.61; 95% CI = 0.37, 0.93; p-value = .03) and low BMI in pregnant mothers (AOR = 0.71; 95% CI = 0.55, 0.91; p-value = .01). The results of this survey will assist in early recognition of the nutritional demands, and act as a guide to planning nutrition-based programs among Rohingya reproductive-age women relocated to the Bhasan Char Island.

Cardioprotective effects of arjunolic acid in LPS-stimulated H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes via the My88-dependent TLR4 signaling pathway.

CONTEXT: Arjunolic acid (AA) is a triterpenoid saponin found in Terminalia arjuna (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. (Combretaceae). It exerts cardiovascular protective effects as a phytomedicine. However, it is unclear how AA exerts the effects at the molecular level. OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of arjunolic acid (AA) via MyD88-dependant TLR4 downstream signaling marker expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MTT viability assay was used to assess the cytotoxicity of AA. LPS induced in vitro cardiovascular disease model was developed in H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes. The treatment groups were designed such as control (untreated), LPS control, positive control (LPS + pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC)-25 µM), and treatment groups were co-treated with LPS and three concentrations of AA (50, 75, and 100 µM) for 24 h. The changes in the expression of TLR4 downstream signaling markers were evaluated through High Content Screening (HCS) and Western Blot (WB) analysis. RESULTS: After 24 h of co-treatment, the expression of TLR4, MyD88, MAPK, JNK, and NF-κB markers were upregulated significantly (2-6 times) in the LPS-treated groups compared to the untreated control in both HCS and WB experiments. Evidently, the HCS analysis revealed that MyD88, NF-κB, p38, and JNK were significantly downregulated in the H9C2 myotube in the AA treated groups. In HCS, the expression of NF-κB was downregulated in C2C12. Additionally, TLR4 expression was downregulated in both H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes in the WB experiment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: TLR4 marker expression in H9C2 and C2C12 myotubes was subsequently decreased by AA treatment, suggesting possible cardioprotective effects of AA.

UBL3 Interacts with Alpha-Synuclein in Cells and the Interaction Is Downregulated by the EGFR Pathway Inhibitor Osimertinib.

Ubiquitin-like 3 (UBL3) acts as a post-translational modification (PTM) factor and regulates protein sorting into small extracellular vesicles (sEVs). sEVs have been reported as vectors for the pathology propagation of neurodegenerative diseases, such as α-synucleinopathies. Alpha-synuclein (α-syn) has been widely studied for its involvement in α-synucleinopathies. However, it is still unknown whether UBL3 interacts with α-syn, and is influenced by drugs or compounds. In this study, we investigated the interaction between UBL3 and α-syn, and any ensuing possible functional and pathological implications. We found that UBL3 can interact with α-syn by the Gaussia princeps based split luciferase complementation assay in cells and immunoprecipitation, while cysteine residues at its C-terminal, which are considered important as PTM factors for UBL3, were not essential for the interaction. The interaction was upregulated by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium exposure. In drug screen results, the interaction was significantly downregulated by the treatment of osimertinib. These results suggest that UBL3 interacts with α-syn in cells and is significantly downregulated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway inhibitor osimertinib. Therefore, the UBL3 pathway may be a new therapeutic target for α-synucleinopathies in the future.

Culture-Independent Workflow for Nanopore MinION-Based Sequencing of Influenza A Virus.

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of influenza A virus (IAV) is crucial for identifying diverse subtypes and newly evolved variants and for selecting vaccine strains. In developing countries, where facilities are often inadequate, WGS is challenging to perform using conventional next-generation sequencers. In this study, we established a culture-independent, high-throughput native barcode amplicon sequencing workflow that can sequence all influenza subtypes directly from a clinical specimen. All segments of IAV in 19 clinical specimens, irrespective of their subtypes, were amplified simultaneously using a two-step reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) system. First, the library was prepared using the ligation sequencing kit, barcoded individually using the native barcodes, and sequenced on the MinION MK 1C platform with real-time base-calling. Then, subsequent data analyses were performed with the appropriate tools. WGS of 19 IAV-positive clinical samples was carried out successfully with 100% coverage and 3,975-fold mean coverage for all segments. This easy-to-install and low-cost capacity-building protocol took only 24 h complete from extracting RNA to obtaining finished sequences. Overall, we developed a high-throughput portable sequencing workflow ideal for resource-limited clinical settings, aiding in real-time surveillance, outbreak investigation, and the detection of emerging viruses and genetic reassortment events. However, further evaluation is required to compare its accuracy with other high-throughput sequencing technologies to validate the widespread application of these findings, including WGS from environmental samples. IMPORTANCE The Nanopore MinION-based influenza sequencing approach we are proposing makes it possible to sequence the influenza A virus, irrespective of its diverse serotypes, directly from clinical and environmental swab samples, so that we are not limited to virus culture. This third-generation, portable, multiplexing, and real-time sequencing strategy is highly convenient for local sequencing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. Furthermore, the cost-efficient sequencing method could provide new opportunities to respond to the early phase of an influenza pandemic and enable the timely detection of the emerging subtypes in clinical samples. Here, we meticulously described the entire process that might help the researcher who will follow this methodology in the future. Our findings suggest that this proposed method is ideal for clinical and academic settings and will aid in real-time surveillance and in the detection of potential outbreak agents and newly evolved viruses.

Ex vivo expansion of primary cells from limb tissue of Pleurodeles waltl.

Pleurodeles waltl is coming to light as a model animal, especially in regeneration studies, but deep studies on the molecular mechanisms have been limited due to the absence of primary tissue cells for wide usage. Therefore, we aimed to grow primary cells from limb tissue of P. waltl for in vitro experiments. Limb tissues were cut into small pieces and seeded as "explants" on culture dishes coated with fibronectin and gelatin. Compared to the control without coating, both fibronectin and gelatin supported quicker outgrowth of cells from explants and faster cell adhesion, and fibronectin showed significantly better performance than gelatin. Interestingly, the doubling time of cells on fibronectin- and gelatin-coated surfaces was almost the same (42.39 ± 2.79 h vs. 42.91 ± 3.69 h) and was not significantly different from that on non-coated plates (49.64 ± 3.63 h). The cryopreserved cells were successfully recovered and showed a multiplication capacity that was similar to that of fresh cells. Senescent cells were barely detected even after long-term sub-culture (>15 passages). Moreover, enhanced fluorescence of MitoSOX™ Red in cells under H2 O2 exposure confirmed the respondence to chemical stimuli. Collectively, our results show that we are able to grow enough good-quality cells from P. waltl limb tissue for in vitro experiments, and fibronectin coating provides the best biocompatible environment for cell outgrowth and attachment.

Performance valuation of onion (Allium cepa L.) genotypes under different levels of salinity for the development of cultivars suitable for saline regions.

Abiotic stress, especially salt stress, is one of the major barriers to crop production worldwide. Crops like onion that belong to the glycophytic group are more sensitive to salinity stress. A huge study regarding the influence of salinity stress on the growth and development of crops has already been done and is still ongoing. One of the major targets of the research is to develop genotypes that have enhanced performance under stress environments. The world needs more of these types of genotypes to combat the ever-growing salt-stressed soils. Therefore, a number of germplasm were studied during the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons under different salt concentrations to identify tolerant genotypes as well as to study the plants' responses at different growth stages against elevated salinity levels. A 2-year study was conducted where germination potential was evaluated in the first year and carried out in petri dish culture of seeds, followed by plastic pot culture for plant establishment and bulb development evaluation during the second year. Four different saline water solutions having different salt concentrations (0, 8, 10, and 12 dS m-1) were applied to the petri dishes and pots as the source of water for plants in both seasons. Results indicated that a significant reduction in plants' performance occurs under higher salinity levels. Salt concentration had an adverse impact on germination, leaf development and growth, the height of plants, bulb size and shape, and the bulb weight of onion. All the growth phases of onion are sensitive to elevated concentrations. Variable performances were observed in the genotypes under stress conditions, and a few genotypes (Ac Bog 409, Ac Bog 414, Ac Bog 424, Ac Bog 430, Ac Bog 417, Ac Bog 419, Ac Bog 420, Ac Bog 422, and Ac Bog 425) having some sort of tolerance to salt stress were identified, which might be recommended for mass production. Tolerance indices could successfully be applied in selecting the salt-tolerant genotypes. Thus, the present findings and the identified genotypes could be further utilized in salt stress improvement research on onion.

Embryonic and Larval Development of Stinging Catfish, Heteropneustes fossilis, in Relation to Climatic and Water Quality Parameters.

In terms of hatchery-based seed production, one of the most important aquaculture species in Bangladesh is the stinging catfish (Heteropneustes fossilis). Scientific and evidence-based embryonic and larval development research on this fish species in the context of climate change is limited. This experimental study was conducted via induced breeding of stinging catfish using a conventional hatchery system, rearing the larvae in hapas placed in ponds. A series of microscopic observations using a trinocular digital microscope and an analysis of the relationship between larval growth and climate-driven water quality parameters such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, alkalinity, and ammonia were performed. During embryonic development, the first cleavage was observed between 30 and 35 min of post-fertilization. Embryonic development (ranging from the 2-cell to the pre-hatching stage) took 21:00 h. Hatching occurred at 22:30 to 23:00 h after fertilization, with an average larvae length of 2.78 ± 0.04 mm. In the post-hatching stage, four pairs of tiny barbels appeared at 36:00 h, and the larvae started feeding exogenously after 72:00 h. These larvae fully absorbed their yolk sacs on the 6th day and attained an average length of 6.44 ± 0.06 mm. Aerial respiration of the larvae was investigated through naked-eye observation on the 10th day of hatching. The average length of the larvae was 32.00 ± 2.0 mm at the end of the 30-day post-hatching observation period. Bivariate correlation analysis showed significant correlations between key climatic variables and water quality parameters under hapa-based larval-rearing conditions. According to canonical correlation analysis, the first canonical function revealed the highest significant correlation between the two sets of variables (r1 = 0.791). The response variable weight of larvae (6.607) was linked to two explanatory variables: pH (0.321) and dissolved oxygen (0.265). For the second canonical correlation function, a positive correlation (0.431) was observed between the two sets of variables. Larval weight (-18.304) was observed to be linked to climatic variables, including air temperature (-0.316) and surface pressure (0.338). Results of this study reveal the subtle correlation between larval growth and water quality driven by climatic variables.

Treatment Experiences for Patients Receiving Buprenorphine/Naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder: A Qualitative Study of Patients' Perceptions and Attitudes.

Background: Although buprenorphine/naloxone has been demonstrated to be an effective treatment for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), treatment retention has been a challenge. This study extends what is presently a limited literature regarding patients' experiences with this medication and the implications for treatment retention. Methods: The study was conducted as a qualitative investigation of patients in treatment for OUD at the time of the study. Forty-three patients (27 men, 15 women, mean age 34.7) were recruited from three clinical settings, a community health center, an academically-based treatment site, and an independent substance abuse treatment facility. Most patients had returned to use in the past after attempts to become abstinent. Results: Patients generally reported positive experiences with this medication noting it helped to reduce opioid cravings quickly. As important considerations for treatment retention, patients emphasized a firm commitment to achieving abstinence when beginning treatment and a prescriber who is informed about and attentive to their emotional state. Diverging attitudes did exist regarding treatment duration as some patients were accepting of long-term treatment while others desired a relatively brief option. Among patients who had returned to use, potentially important issues emerged pertaining to the absence of patient outreach for missed medication appointments and inadequate discharge planning following stays at rehabilitation facilities. Conclusions: While results regarding the importance of patient motivation and strong patient-prescriber relationships have been noted in previous studies, other findings regarding opportunities to improve patient outreach and coordination of care have received relatively less attention and warrant further consideration.

Photocatalytic degradation of chlorazol yellow dye under sunlight irradiation using Ce, Bi, and N co-doped TiO2 photocatalyst in neutral medium.

Chlorazol yellow (CY) is a commonly used anionic, toxic, mutagenic, and potentially carcinogenic azo dye, which is menacing to the environment, aquatic system, food chain, and human health as well. To remove CY dye molecules from an aqueous medium, a series of Ce, Bi, and N co-doped TiO2 photocatalysts were prepared by varying the composition of the dopants. Under sunlight irradiation, the resultant 5 wt% (Ce-Bi-N) co-doped TiO2 composite catalyst was found to show the best catalytic activity. Hence, the required characterization of this catalyst was performed systematically using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), scanning electron microscope (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. From the thorough investigation, it is revealed that the CY molecules reached adsorption-desorption equilibrium onto the surface of the catalyst within 30 min following second-order kinetics. Herein, the catalyst attained 97% degradation when exposed to sunlight at neutral (pH ~ 7, [CY] = 5 mg L-1) medium. The developed catalyst can destruct CY molecules with a maximum rate of 23.1 µg CY g-1 min-1 and the photodegradation kinetics follows first-order kinetics below 23.5 mg L-1, a fractional order between 23.5 and 35.0 mg L-1, and a zeroth order above 35.0 mg L-1 of CY concentration. Finding from scavenging effect implies that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] radicals have significant influence on the degradation. A suitable mechanism has been proposed with excellent stability and verified reusability of the proposed photocatalyst.

Nutritional, microbial and various quality aspects of common dried fish from commercial fish drying centers in Bangladesh.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional, microbial and sensory quality of five dried fish species from five fish drying centers in Bangladesh, and consumers' perception on quality and perceived health problems of consuming dried fish. Proximate composition and bacterial load were determined following AOAC and total plate count method, respectively. Data on peoples' perception regarding the quality aspects of dried fish were collected using a structured questionnaire. Sensory analysis showed samples from Cox's Bazar had higher acceptability than other regions. Moisture content ranged from 12.00 ± 1.12% to 22.99 ± 1.09%, the highest found in Bombay duck from Patuakhali. The highest values of protein were found in shrimp from Chittagong (64.33 ± 0.99%) and the lowest in Bombay duck from Bhola (51.80 ± 0.95%). The lipid content varied from 5.38 ± 0.37% (Bombay duck from Cox's Bazar) to 8.67 ± 0.96% (Bombay duck from Khulna). The ash content was ranged from 13.89 ± 0.94% to 20.07 ± 1.64% in Bombay duck from Patuakhali and Cox's Bazar. The mean total plate count of dried Bombay duck were 7.1 ± 0.2×107, 9.8 ± 0.1×107 and 7.8 ± 0.52 × 107 cfu/g, whereas, total Vibrio spp. count were estimated 1.1 ± 0.1×103, 3.7 ± 0.2×105 and 1.8 ± 0.1 × 105 cfu/g for Chittagong, Cox's Bazar and Bhola, respectively. The pathogenic bacterial species E. coli and Salmonella sp. were absent in dried Bombay duck from all locations. Of 500 respondents, the majority (94.8%) reported no complications after consuming dried fish. Significant quality variation among the dried fish samples suggested further improvement in dried fish quality through maintaining hygiene and sanitation to produce quality and safe dried fish for the consumers in home and abroad.

Phylogenetic analysis and characterization of arsenic (As) transforming bacterial marker proteins following isolation of As-tolerant indigenous bacteria.

Marker proteins play a significant role in bacterial arsenic (As) transformation. Phylogenetic analysis and three-dimensional (3D) characteristics of As transforming bacterial marker proteins guide the evolutionary origin and As transforming potential of the species. Indeed, As-tolerant bacteria also show a significant level of As transformation. Hence, characterization of As transforming bacterial marker proteins, isolation of As transforming bacteria, and proper integration of the findings may guide to elucidate how bacteria transform As. Therefore, phylogenetic analysis and 3D characterization of As transforming bacterial marker protein following isolation of potential indigenous As-tolerant indigenous bacteria were done to explore the mechanism of bacterial As transformation. Phylogenetic analysis of ten As transforming marker proteins (arsA, arsB, arsC, arsD, arsR, aioA, arrA, aioB, acr1, and acr3) in 20 potential bacterial genomes (except 19 for the acr3) were studied. Some bacterial genomes featured up to five marker proteins, and therefore, 3D characteristics of the marker proteins were analyzed in those genomes having three-to-five marker proteins. In phylogeny, species in close clades represent their phylogenetic resemblances and may have similar functions. P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and K. pneumonia were found to be more effective due to having the highest number (five) of marker proteins. In 3D protein modeling, most of the marker proteins were found to be active. Among 19 indigenous bacterial isolates, multiple isolates showed tolerance up to 50 mM As(III) and 250 mM As(V), which may potentially transform a significant quantities of As. Hence, integration of the results of phylogenetic analysis, 3D protein characteristics, and As tolerance in the bacterial isolates could guide to explore the mechanism of how bacteria transform As at cellular and molecular levels.