Phytotoxicity of green synthesized silver nanoparticles on Camelina sativa L

Due to the increased production and release of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in the environment, the concerns about the possibility of toxicity and oxidative damage to plant ecosystems should be considered. In the present study, the effects of different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/L) synthesized using the extract of camelina (Camelina sativa) leaves on the growth and the biochemical traits of camelina seedlings were investigated. The results showed that AgNPs significantly increased Ag accumulation in the roots and shoots which decreased the growth and photosynthetic pigments of camelina seedlings. The highest decrease in the height and total dry weight was observed by 53.1 and 61.8% under 4 g/L AgNPs, respectively over control plants. AgNPs application over 2 g/L enhanced the accumulation of proline, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal, and up-regulated the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase and glutathione reductase) and glyoxalase (glyoxalase I and II) system which indicates oxidative stress induction in camelina seedlings. Moreover, AgNPs reduced ASA and GSH contents and increased DHA and GSSG contents, hence disrupting the redox balance. These results showed that AgNPs at 4 g/L had the most toxic effects on the camelina growth. Therefore, increasing oxidative stress markers and the activity of antioxidant enzymes and enzymes involved in glyoxalase system indicated the oxidative stress induced by AgNPs treatments over 2 g/L as well as the induction of antioxidant defense systems to combat AgNPs-induced oxidative stress.     

Localizing confined epileptic foci in patients with an unclear focus or presumed multifocality using a component-based EEG-fMRI method

Precise localization of epileptic foci is an unavoidable prerequisite in epilepsy surgery. Simultaneous EEG-fMRI recording has recently created new horizons to locate foci in patients with epilepsy and, in comparison with single-modality methods, has yielded more promising results although it is still subject to limitations such as lack of access to information between interictal events. This study assesses its potential added value in the presurgical evaluation of patients with complex source localization. Adult candidates considered ineligible for surgery on account of an unclear focus and/or presumed multifocality on the basis of EEG underwent EEG-fMRI. Adopting a component-based approach, this study attempts to identify the neural behavior of the epileptic generators and detect the components-of-interest which will later be used as input in the GLM model, substituting the classical linear regressor. Twenty-eight sets interictal epileptiform discharges (IED) from nine patients were analyzed. In eight patients, at least one BOLD response was significant, positive and topographically related to the IEDs. These patients were rejected for surgery because of an unclear focus in four, presumed multifocality in three, and a combination of the two conditions in two. Component-based EEG-fMRI improved localization in five out of six patients with unclear foci. In patients with presumed multifocality, component-based EEG-fMRI advocated one of the foci in five patients and confirmed multifocality in one of the patients. In seven patients, component-based EEG-fMRI opened new prospects for surgery and in two of these patients, intracranial EEG supported the EEG-fMRI results. In these complex cases, component-based EEG-fMRI either improved source localization or corroborated a negative decision regarding surgical candidacy. As supported by the statistical findings, the developed EEG-fMRI method leads to a more realistic estimation of localization compared to the conventional EEG-fMRI approach, making it a tool of high value in pre-surgical evaluation of patients with refractory epilepsy. To ensure proper implementation, we have included guidelines for the application of component-based EEG-fMRI in clinical practice.     

Isotope tracing in adult zebrafish reveals alanine cycling between melanoma and liver

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Morphological Properties of Catharanthus roseus L. Seedlings Affected by Priming Techniques Under Natural Salinity Stress

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Catharanthus roseus is a great medicinal plant used for treating diseases such as cancer, as it contains different biochemicals including terpenoids. Salinity...     

Inherited deletion of 9p22.3-p24.3 and duplication of 18p11.31-p11.32 associated with neurodevelopmental delay: Phenotypic matching of involved genes

We describe a 3.5-year-old Iranian female child and her affected 10-month-old brother with a maternally inherited derivative chromosome 9 [der(9)]. The postnatally detected rearrangement was finely characterized by aCGH analysis, which revealed a 15.056 Mb deletion of 9p22.3-p24.3p22.3 encompassing 14 OMIM morbid genes such as DOCK8, KANK1, DMRT1 and SMARCA2, and a gain of 3.309 Mb on 18p11.31-p11.32 encompassing USP14, THOC1, COLEC12, SMCHD1 and LPIN2. We aligned the genes affected by detected CNVs to clinical and functional phenotypic features using PhenogramViz. In this regard, the patient's phenotype and CNVs data were entered into PhenogramViz. For the 9p deletion CNV, 53 affected genes were identified and 17 of them were matched to 24 HPO terms describing the patient's phenotypes. Also, for CNV of 18p duplication, 22 affected genes were identified and six of them were matched to 13 phenotypes. Moreover, we used DECIPHER for in-depth characterization of involved genes in detected CNVs and also comparison of patient phenotypes with 9p and 18p genomic imbalances. Based on our filtration strategy, in the 9p22.3-p24.3 region, approximately 80 pathogenic/likely pathogenic/uncertain overlapping CNVs were in DECIPHER. The size of these CNVs ranged from 12.01 kb to 18.45 Mb and 52 CNVs were smaller than 1 Mb in size affecting 10 OMIM morbid genes. The 18p11.31-p11.32 region overlapped 19 CNVs in the DECIPHER database with the size ranging from 23.42 kb to 1.82 Mb. These CNVs affect eight haploinsufficient genes.     

Silicon and Plants: Current Knowledge and Future Prospects

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Silicon (Si) is the most copious element of existence in the lithosphere but still it has not been added into the essential element list. The imperative role of...     

Performance Enhancement of Surface Plasmon Resonance Biosensors Based on Noble Metals-Graphene-WS2 at Visible and Near-Infrared Wavelengths

Plasmonics - In this paper, some biological sensors based on surface plasmon resonance are proposed at visible and near-infrared wavelengths and their performance is improved. The structure of...     

Bioactive Peptides from Sesame Meal for Broiler Chickens: Its Influence on the Serum Biochemical Metabolites,Immunity Responses and Nutrient Digestibility

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - This study was conducted to evaluate and compare the effects of bioactive peptides derived from sesame meal (BPSM), avilamycin as an...