Levers and mixtures: An integrated science and mathematics activity to solve problems

In recent years, the integration of science and mathematics has become popular among educators because of its potential benefits for student learning. The purpose of this study is to introduce a two-day interdisciplinary lesson that brings science and mathematics concepts together, actively engaging students in working with percentages of the ingredients in mixtures with the concept of torque. Participation in this Grade 7-9 lesson provides opportunities for students to learn from both content areas as they progress through a variety of science process skills.     

Tenoxicam Modulates Antioxidant Redox System and Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Brain

We investigated effects of two doses of Tenoxicam, a type 2 cyclooxygenase inhibitor, administration on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant redox system in cortex of the brain in rats. Twenty-two male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups. First group was used as control. 10 and 20 mg/kg body weight Tenoxicam were intramuscularly administrated to rats constituting the second and third groups for 10 days, respectively. Both dose of Tenoxicam administration resulted in significant increase in the glutathione peroxidase activity, reduced glutathione and vitamins C and E of cortex of the brain. The lipid peroxidation levels in the cortex of the brain were significantly decreased by the administration. Vitamin A and β-carotene concentration was not affected by the administration. There was no statistical difference in all values between 10 and 20 mg Tenoxicam administrated groups. In conclusion, treatment of brain with 10 and 20 mg Tenoxicam has protective effects on the oxidative stress by inhibiting free radical and supporting antioxidant redox system.     

Pretreatment with Proline or an Organic Bio-stimulant Induces Salt Tolerance in Wheat Plants by Improving Antioxidant Redox State and Enzymatic Activities and Reducing the Oxidative Stress

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - In this study, the effects of seed soaking in proline (12 mM) or Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE; 6%) on the biomass, yield, and the antioxidant...     

Comprehensive Analysis of Deafness Genes in Families with Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss

Comprehensive genetic testing has the potential to become the standard of care for individuals with hearing loss. In this study, we investigated the genetic etiology of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in a Turkish cohort including individuals with cochlear implant, who had a pedigree suggestive of an autosomal recessive inheritance. A workflow including prescreening of GJB2 and a targeted next generation sequencing panel (Illumına TruSight^TM Exome) covering 2761 genes that we briefly called as mendelian exome sequencing was used. This panel includes 102 deafness genes and a number of genes causing Mendelian disorders. Using this approach, we identified causative variants in 21 of 29 families. Three different GJB2 variants were present in seven families. Remaining 14 families had 15 different variants in other known NSHL genes (MYO7A, MYO15A, MARVELD2, TMIE, DFNB31, LOXHD1, GPSM2, TMC1, USH1G, CDH23). Of these variants, eight are novel. Mutation detection rate of our workflow is 72.4%, confirming the usefulness of targeted sequencing approach in NSHL.     

Synthesis,structural characterization and cell death-inducing effect of novel palladium(II) and platinum(II) saccharinate complexes with 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine and 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridine on cancer cells in vitro

Four palladium(II) and platinum(II) saccharinate (sac) complexes with 2-(hydroxymethyl)pyridine (2-hmpy) and 2-(2-hydroxyethyl)pyridine (2-hepy), namely trans-[Pd(2-hmpy)₂(sac)₂]·H₂O (1), trans-[Pt(2-hmpy)₂(sac)₂]·3H₂O (2), trans-[Pd(2-hepy)₂(sac)₂] (3) and trans-[Pt(2-hepy)₂(sac)₂] (4), have been synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis, UV–vis, IR and NMR. Single crystal X-ray analysis reveals that the metal(II) ions in each complex are coordinated by two sac and two 2-hmpy or 2-hepy ligands with a trans arrangement. Anticancer effects of 1–4 were tested against four different cancer cell lines (A549 and PC3 for lung cancer, C6 for glioblastoma, and Hep3B for liver cancer). Cytotoxicity was first screened by the MTT assay and the results were further confirmed by the ATP assay. The mode of cell death was determined by both histological and biochemical methods. Among the metal complexes, complex 2 resulted in relatively stronger anti-growth effect in a dose-dependent manner (3.13–200 μM), compared to the others, by inducing apoptosis.     

Molecular karyotyping of an isolated partial trisomy 11q patient with additional findings

Isolated partial duplication of the long arm of chromosome 11 is very rare. The main features are dysmorphic facial features, pre/postnatal growth retardation, speech delay, mental retardation, hypotonia, microcephaly, and cardiac, vertebral, limb and genital anomalies. In this case, we report a patient with partial trisomy of 11q13.5 → qter due to a de novo rearrangement consisting of the whole X chromosome and part of chromosome 11; 46,X,der(X)(Xqter → Xp22.33::11q13.5 → 11qter). Additional findings were a separated clavicle, lacrimal duct stenosis and prenatally detected renal hypoplasia. SNP array results revealed a duplication between 11q13.5 and 11qter, measuring 58 Mb, from nucleotide 76,601,607 to 134,926,021. As a result, molecular karyotyping could be performed in such cases in order to establish a definite phenotype–genotype correlation using conventional or molecular cytogenetics techniques.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">MEFV</Emphasis> mutations in patients with familial Mediterranean fever from the Aegean region of Turkey

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) which is frequently present in Mediterranean populations is caused by mutations in the MEFV gene. According to recent data, MEFV mutations are not the only cause of FMF, but these are major genetic determinants which cause FMF. It has also been suggested that there may be a number of other genes causing FMF. The MEFV gene is located at 16p13.3 and encodes a protein, pyrin/marenostrin. More than 70 disease associated mutations and totally 186 mutations and polymorphisms have been defined in affected individuals. We have retrospectively evaluated the molecular test results of 1,201 patients identified as having FMF clinical symptoms referred to the Molecular Genetics Laboratory of the Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Ege University, Izmir/Turkey over the last 4 years. Patients were tested for 12 common mutations in the MEFV gene using a strip assay method (Innogenetics, Belgium). Out of the 1,201 patients tested (2,402 chromosomes) in the Aegean region in Turkey, 654 (54.45%) did not carry any mutations, among the 547 (45.55%) patients with mutations 246 patients were either homozygous (101) or compound heterozygous (145), 296 carried only one detected mutation, and five patients had three mutations. Allelic frequencies for the four most common mutations in the mutation positive groups were 47.60% (M694V), 16.75% (E148Q), 12.95% (V726A), 11.94% (M680I G/C).The remaining alleles (10.76%) showed rare mutations which were R761H, P369S, A744S, K695R, F479L, M694I. When the frequencies of mutations detected in our group were compared to the frequencies reported in the other regions of Turkey, an increase in V726A mutation frequency was observed. No patient showed a I692del mutation which is sometimes evident in other Mediterranean populations.