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Broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica) as an important vegetable has a high postharvest respiration rate, so, it loses its quality rapidly. The use of edible films and coatings as protective layers to create a covering on the surface of fruits and vegetables plays a key role in maintaining the quality of this product. The present research investigated the qualitative and biochemical traits of broccoli coated with tragacanth gum (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4%) and cellophane and uncoated ones (as control) weekly during three-weeks cold storage. Based on the results, coating influenced all measured traits (except flavonoid content, vitamin C and antioxidant activity) and storage time influenced all recorded traits significantly (P< 0.01). The results revealed that over the storage period, the physicochemical and biochemical parameters and visual quality of the broccoli decreased. Tragacanth gum 0.2% led to less weight loss, however, appropriate soluble solids content, and higher titratable acidity and organoleptic properties were recorded for 0.4% coated florets. Cellophane was effective in retaining some physicochemical characteristics, weight, and marketability, but it reduced phenolics. Tragacanth gum coating can be used as a biomaterial, as a substitute for synthetic cellophane film to preserve broccoli.

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Fruit cracking is a predominant physiological disorder of lemon that limits its productivity. The present study aimed to compare the physiological and biochemical traits of cracked and normal fruits of lemon, to understand the cause of fruit cracking and find a viable solution for this disorder. This study was conducted on five-year-old uniform healthy trees grown at fruit research farm, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana, during 2017-2018. Fruits of lemon cracked in different patterns and the cracking peaked due to sudden rainfall and high humidity after a dry spell during the two consecutive years of study. The peel thickness, peel percent and chlorophyll content of the cracked peel was significantly low as compared to the normal ones. Activity of peroxidase and two cell wall degrading enzymes, namely, cellulase and polygalacturonase were higher in cracked peels. Juice content and ascorbic content were low in cracked fruit juice as compared to normal ones. Meanwhile, calcium, potassium and boron content were higher in the normal peel and lower in the cracked peel. A significant positive correlation of fruit cracking incidence with proline, peroxidase, cellulase and polygalacturonase was established, whereas a negative significant correlation was established between fruit cracking percent and peel thickness, calcium, potassium, boron, juice percent and ascorbic acid content. Nutrient deficiency and higher activities of cellulase and polygalacturonase in peel of cracked fruits emerged as the cause of fruit cracking incidence in lemon. Hence, foliar application of calcium, potassium, and boron are recommendable as a remedial measure for prevention of fruit cracking in lemon.

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Recently, in many fuel cell applications, foam is being used as a flow distributor to increase efficiency and achieve a more uniform distribution of reactants on the active surface. However, despite the improvement in the efficiency and performance of the fuel cell, this method does not fully achieve the desired uniformity in reactant distribution. Therefore, in this study, non-uniform porosity metal foam has been utilized to improve the homogeneous flow distribution on the cathode side of the PEM fuel cell. At first, the foam is assumed to be uniform with the same porosity. After the numerical solution of the flow in homogeneous foam (first type), Two types of foam with variable porosity coefficient have been designed. These foams are divided into checkerboard shape, where the porosity coefficients in the concave corners (dead areas) with low molar fraction of oxygen are higher. This facilitates easier movement of the flow towards these corners, resulting in a more uniform flow distribution. the simulation results indicate that, for a constant current density, the distribution of the mole fraction of oxygen in both types of foam with a variable porosity coefficient has become more uniform. Additionally, the average molar fraction of oxygen has increased by 9.45% in the second type of foam and by 32.02% in the third type of foam compared to the uniform foam, which indicates an increase in generated power. Also, compared to the uniform foam, the pressure gradient in the foam with variable porosity of the second type increased by 75.80%, while it remained relatively unchanged for the third type foam.

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Since dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) have good efficiency in the visible region, they offer a promising way to generate sustainable energy, especially in indoor environments and building applications. Investigating the effect of dye specifications and photoanode thickness changes on cell performance is very important for improving DSSCs. This research focuses on the sensitivity analysis of the impact of important parameters to increase DSSC efficiency using a new numerical model considering factors such as radiation intensity and spectral composition, from conventional indoor light sources such as LED and fluorescent lights. These parameters include dye types, trapping parameters, diffusion coefficients, and photoanode thickness. This model examines steady and transient currents under internal radiation conditions, incorporates time/space-dependent relationships to increase accuracy, and examines electron, iodide, and triiodide interactions under different environmental conditions. The results showed that N749 and 20µm thickness of photoanode have the best effect on cell performance. This study presents a sensitivity analysis to find optimal parameters to improve DSSC performance in real indoor conditions opening avenues for further research in optimizing DSSC technology for indoor energy harvesting applications, thereby advancing the field of renewable energy and sustainable technology integration.

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Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFCs) are recognized as one of the promising technologies for clean energy production due to their high efficiency, low operating temperature, and environmental compatibility. In these cells, the Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA), as the core component, plays a crucial role in the system's performance. One of the main challenges in designing and operating this assembly is preventing the leakage of fuel and oxidant gases, which directly impacts the fuel cell's overall efficiency. This paper reviews various sealing methods for the MEA, categorizing them into four main types: direct membrane sealing (PEM), membrane sealing with a plastic frame, MEA sealing with a frame, and rigid protective frame sealing. Each method has its unique features and can effectively improve performance and extend the operational lifespan of fuel cells, depending on the design and operational requirements. The results indicate that integrated sealing structures produced through injection molding processes are suitable for mass production due to their cost-effectiveness and ease of assembly. Additionally, rigid protective frame structures, owing to their high resistance to pressure and ability to prevent membrane damage, are better suited for applications requiring higher stability. Finally, the paper provides recommendations to enhance sealing methods and improve the efficiency of membrane fuel cells

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The present study was conducted to design a model of lean human resource excellence with a mixed approach and using the qualitative method of data theory and the quantitative method of Shannon entropy. The statistical population of the qualitative part of the study was all senior and middle managers of the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, 19of whom were purposefully selected for interviews and interviews were conducted until the theoretical saturation of the data. To analyze the qualitative data, open, axial and selective coding was used, as a result of which 402 basic concepts in the form of 92 sub-categories and 17main categories and six dimensions of causal conditions (environmental and organizational), contextual conditions ( Organization strategy, culture, management insight, job content documentation, management stability and human resource system dynamics), interventionist conditions (personal characteristics of managers, quality of organizational inputs, efficiency of government management system), strategies (lean leadership, strengthening culture Lean and lean human resource management) and results (micro level, intermediate level and macro level) were included. Then, in order to turn the model designed into a basis for self-assessment of the lean degree of human resources, using the Shannon entrobial method, the weight and score of each dimension were identified, resulting in its application in the Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare. Ascore of 376 out of 1000 was assigned to the organization under study, which due to its position in the second level of excellence, ie an organization with public awareness oflean human resources

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Gluten is a structural protein for bakery products and its lack causes undesirable changes in the texture, color, and porosity of these products. Therefore, the use of gluten alternatives such as hydrocolloids, enzymes, and proteins, are essential in providing these products. The aim of this research was to evaluate the properties of gluten-free bread (physicochemical properties such as specific volume and porosity, stiffness, extensibility, and color parameter, as well as sensory properties) in the presence of 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5% concentrations of gums including Cress seed gum (C) and Basil gum (B) compared to Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) (H). The results indicated that adding gums to bread decreased stiffness and color parameters and increased specific volume, extensibility, and sensory properties. Based on the comparison between C, B and HPMC, basil gum could improve volume, porosity, and sensory score more than C and H. Also, the HPMC was more effective on the color parameter of gluten-free bread. Based on the results, addition of basil gum to the gluten-free bread recipe could improve the crumb texture, specific volume, sensory properties, as well as overall quality of the product. Basil gum as a novel gum increased water absorption, texture, and the best results were obtained in 1% basil gum. The results of bread quality parameters indicated C₀B₁H₀ had high specific volume and porosity. Therefore, basil seed gum can be a novel and useful gluten substitute for gluten-free bread baking purposes.

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Yield monitoring is one of the parts of the precision agriculture that is best documented in practice and allows varying inputs according to the expected field outputs depending on spatially variable yield goals. The present study introduced a batch type Weighing System (WS) for the garlic bulbs yield monitoring. This WS includes a four-sector cylindrical container, rotary blades, a digital transmitter and array of two load cells for mass measurements. Electronic boards were used to control the WS and transfer the mass and georeferenced data. A LabVIEW interface was also developed to do the real-time signal processing. This WS was tested under laboratory and field conditions. Three factors including blades Rotation Speed (RS), Stop Time (ST) of blades, and Fraction of Stop Time (FST) were defined to find optimum load cell output. The lab tests were done to find the optimum value for these factors and the optimized WS was tested in the field condition. On the basis of WS outputs and actual weight of bulbs, the relative mean standard errors were determined as 1.94% in the lab and 4.26%, in the field. To demonstrate the spatial variability of crop-yield in the field, a yield map was plotted in ArcGIS using the data that were acquired by the WS and a GPS. The data recorded by the use of garlic yield monitoring system can be used in experimental studies to provide the basis for developing efficient nutrient management protocols and improve the management of garlic fields.

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Introduction: Decellularizing testis tissue and recellularizing with spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) seems to be a promising approach to restore fertility in prepubertal boys who undergoes cytotoxic therapies.
Method: Testis tissue decellularization was performed by adding 1% SDS and confirmed by histological analysis and DNA quantification. The MTT assay was performed for biocompatibility analyses. SSCs were derived from male mice and cultured in αMEM medium for two weeks. Expanded SSCs were seeded onto the DTM scaffold. The recellularized DTM scaffold disc was cultured in a static cultivation system for one week, then transferred in a dynamic mini-perfusion bioreactor for two weeks. The expression of Id4, Plzf, Gfrα, Prm, Sycp3, ABP, Ki67, Bax, and Bcl2 genes were assessed in SSCs and recellularized DTM after static and dynamic cultivations.
Result: DNA qualification indicated that approximately 99% of the DNA components were removed from DTMs. Hematoxylin-eosin, Masson's trichrome, and DAPI staining confirmed the effective recellularization. Dynamic cultivation of recellularized DTMs at the flow rate of 10 ml/h provided optimum conditions. The expression of SSCs-specific genes of Id4, Plzf, and Gfrα-1 and post-meiosis genes of Scp3, prm1, and ABP was insignificantly higher in the DTMs group than in the control group. Ki67 expression was shown no difference between groups. An insignificant lower expression of the Bax and higher expression of Bcl2 genes was detected in the DTMs group compared to the control.
Conclusion: Our results indicated that SSCs could successfully be attached to the DTMs and effectively proliferate in the mini-perfusion bioreactor.

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Airline passengers in many cases do not sue against the carriers because of damages caused by delays, cancellations and bodily injury, which, of course, has led to the dissatisfaction of passengers with industry and is also in conflict with consumer rights. It is by the fact that Is is not worth taking claims to a national court due to the high cost of litigation, time consuming and insignificant amount of compensation. Therefore, a mechanism is needed to support passengers. In European countries, this support and mechanism has been achieved through arbitration chambers, However based on Article 34 of the Montreal Convention like the Warsaw Convention (Article 32), arbitration as a means of resolving litigation arising from the liability of the carriage of cargo was approved exclusively. The important question is arisen, then, is whether passenger claims can also be referred to arbitration. In this regard, based on the tendency to arbitration and according to the examination of preliminary talks, in addition to the carriage of cargo, to the carriage of passengers is developed and it is proved that there is no prohibition in Iranian law in this regard; In particular, it is not desirable to abandon litigation or refer to the Iranian judicial system, which is incapable of resolving such litigation. Therefore, by accepting the principle of arbitrability of this category of lawsuits, based on the progress of Europeans

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Maternal separation (MS) is a well-characterized model of early life stress, based on the postnatal disruption of the mother-infant interaction. Studies on rodents have demonstrated that MS, as an early adverse life event, leads to spatial memory deficits and lasting changes in brain plasticity. Here, we review data from animal studies regarding the impact of MS on long-term potentiation (LTP). Evidence shows that animal models are useful for evaluating the effects of MS on LTP. Overall, studies suggest that MS impairs LTP.

 

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Introduction: Multiple sclerosis (MS) stands out as the predominant demyelinating illness impacting various regions of the central nervous system (CNS). As MS advanced, the subventricular zone (SVZ), one of the main neural stem cell niches that produce neurons and glial cells throughout life, progressively becomes empty. To effectively use endogenous repair potential-based treatment techniques, it would be essential to have an understanding of the neuropathological features of SVZ. The current study aimed to explore the SVZ in terms of histopathological and molecular changes in the cuprizone animal model of MS. 
Materials and methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were divided into two categories including control and cuprizone groups. Control animals received a regular diet and the cuprizone group received a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone for 12 weeks. At the end of the study, the histopathology of the SVZ and the relative gene expression of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) in this area were evaluated.
Results: Histopathological assessment demonstrated an obvious prominent existence of cell population in the SVZ following 12 weeks of cuprizone intoxication. Furthermore, the relative gene expression data revealed a statistically significant increase in the expression of the Pdgf and Cspg4 genes in the SVZ in the cuprizone group compared to the control group (p˂0.001).
Conclusions: The prominent presence of cells as well as the increase of relative gene expression in the SVZ following the cuprizone diet might be attributed to the production of new progenitor cells for oligodendrocytes, which could potentially refill the SVZ area.
 

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Aging of can lead to significant cognitive and neurobehavioral deficits. In addition, aging leads to more susceptibility to neurological disorders, such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, and neurodegeneration. Accordingly, white matter (WM) changes associated with aging may be a factor in the functional impairment seen in the elderly. In this study, we initially determined whether the corpus callosum (CC) of old mice exhibited signs of cellular aging compared to young mice. To investigate cellular aging indices we examined SA-β-galactosidase and relative telomere length as markers of aging in the CC. Following this, we measured the myelination index through the g-ratio calculation. Our study demonstrated an increased g-ratio and axon diameter in aged mice. We also analyzed ultrastructural changes of myelinated axons and mitochondria in the CC of aged mice. The CC underwent substantial ultrastructural variation following the aging. These changes included myelination breakdown, the formation of myelin balloons, loss of the compact structure of myelin, and increased intramembrane density. we also investigated the impact of aging on mitochondria ultrastructure. We observed the presence of dark matrices and interconnected crista in a subgroup of the mitochondria in the CC. Such alterations are indicative of the deterioration in the integrity of WM with age. These findings are crucial as they provide insights into how aging affects the structural and functional aspects of WM, particularly in the CC. Understanding these changes is essential for developing strategies to mitigate age-related cognitive decline and to address the heightened susceptibility of aged WM to neurological disorders.
 

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Introduction: Liver diseases are a significant global health burden, causing roughly two million deaths annually. Liver Fibrosis, characterized by excessive extracellular matrix accumulation, is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality. Liver transplantation remains the gold standard for severe Fibrosis, but limitations exist. Cell therapy using Mesenchymal Stem Cells offers a promising alternative. Hepatocyte-like Cells derived from human adipose tissue Mesenchymal Stem Cells are particularly attractive due to their potential for liver regeneration. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of Mesenchymal stem cells and Hepatocyte-like cells in treating CCl4-induced Liver Fibrosis in immunosuppressed mice. Methods: Twenty C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: (1) control, (2) Fibrotic/untreated, (3 Mesenchymal stem cell-treated, (4) Hepatocyte-like cell-treated. Fibrosis was induced in groups 2-4 using intraperitoneal CCl4 injection in immunosuppressed (cyclosporine A) mice. Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hepatocyte-like Cells were transplanted via tail vein injection in groups 3 and 4, respectively. Liver function tests were measured in all groups. Results: Both Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Hepatocyte-like Cells treatment improved liver function as evidenced by histopathology and biochemical analyses. In the Fibrotic group, Alanine aminotransferase, Aspartate aminotransferase, Alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin levels were significantly elevated, while Albumin levels decreased compared to the control group. Following treatment, these parameters significantly improved (p < 0.05) in both treatment groups, suggesting partial regression of Fibrosis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that both Hepatocyte-like Cells and Mesenchymal Stem Cells have therapeutic potential for moderating Liver Fibrosis regression. However, Mesenchymal Stem Cells therapy may be more cost-effective and time-efficient.        

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Introduction:
Due to their role in regulating inflammation, monocytes and macrophages are important immune system cells incorporated and evaluated in various in vitro and in vivo disease modeling experiments. Accordingly, investigating appropriate culture conditions to maintain the viability, phenotype, and functionality of these cells is considered in different studies. In this study, we tried to evaluate whether the type of culture plate affects the adhesion, survival, and morphology of PMA-treated monocytes.
Methods:
 The THP-1 cell line was cultured in adherent or non-adherent culture plates and cells were treated with PMA small molecule to be induced into macrophages. The morphology of treated cells and the viability of detached cells were assessed three days post-induction.
Results and conclusion:
Our results showed that the morphology and viability of PMA-treated THP-1 cells were the same in both types of plates. In summary, we showed that the type of cell culture plate did not significantly affect PMA-treated THP-1 cells·

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Introduction: We aimed to compare the gene expression of parotid gland derived stem cell in a three (3D) alginate hydrogel culture with that of a two-dimensional one (2D).
Materials and methods: Five rats were sacrificed and the parotid glands were removed and cultured in DMEM/F12 medium supplemented with 15% FBS. The cells were characterized by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry for evaluating the expression of genes. The cells were encapsulated in alginate hydrogel, then the differentiation was compared with that of a 2D culture. qRT-PCR was performed in order to evaluate the expression of Amy1, Cldn3, Cidn4, Ki67, Cyclin D1, Dpt, Meox2, Aquaporin 5, Pparg, Bpifa2e and Tp63 genes.
Results: The harvested cells immunoreacted with CD90, CD44, and CD29, however, the immunophenotyping of CD45 and CD34 were negative. The immunocytochemistry results showed that they were strongly immunostained with K-7 and E-cadherin, but less with K-14. In the 3D culture, the cells differentiated into organoid bodies with round shape, there was duct-like structure extended from one pole. The qRT-PCR in the 3D culture showed increase in the expression of Amy1, Ki67, aquaporin5, Pparg, Bpifa2e and Tp63 genes compared to 2D culture. In contrast Cldn3, Cldn4, cyclin D1, Dpt and Meox2 genes were strongly expressed in the 2D culture.
Conclusion: The results of flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry confirmed the properties of the isolated cells were parotid gland-derived mesenchymal stem cells. They differentiated into organoid body in the 3D culture using alginate as scaffold which expressed parotid gland differentiation genes.

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Introduction: Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are inflammatory mediators involved in bacterial infection and other pathological conditions. Inflammation can damage all parts of the brain, particularly sensitive areas such as the hippocampus. Chronic stress can make the brain more susceptible to infection and inflammation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of stress on the activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in the hippocampus of male Wistar rats following the administration of Brucella Melitensis (BM) vaccine.
Methods: The non-stressed group received a Brucella Melitensis vaccine strain via intracebroventicular (i.c.v) and intraperitoneal (i.p) routes. The animals were subjected to heterogeneous sequential stress for nine days and/or received the same volume of Brucella Melitensis vaccine (BMV). The activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was measured by Gelatin Zymography.
Results: The results showed that stress increased the activity of MMP9 in both the control group and the BMV, i.p., injected animals. However, stress did not affect the activity of MMP2 in either the control or the BM, i.p., inoculated conditions. Stress also increased the activity of MMP9 following i.c.v. injection of BM, without a concomitant change in the activity of MMP2 in the hippocampus.
Conclusion: The study suggests that vaccination in stressed conditions could activate MMPs, which are essential players in inflammatory processes, in brain of immunized animals. Since the Brucella melitensis vaccine is used for the prophylaxis of brucellosis in small ruminants, these findings have important implications for understanding the effects of stress on the immune response to vaccination and inflammation in the brain.

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Cell culture is a vital method in biological and biomedical research. The global cell culture market, valued at around USD 26.54 billion in 2023, is projected to surpass USD 63.60 billion by 2032. While two-dimensional cell culture has led to significant advancements in biology, its simplicity does not accurately reflect the complex in vivo environment. This can result in misleading data with limited predictive value for in vivo applications, prompting increased interest in three-dimensional (3D) cultivation methods. The 3D cell culture mimics the behavior and organization of cells in vivo by emulating the extracellular matrix (ECM), providing better insights into 3D interactions among cells and between cells and the matrix, thus reconstructing their natural microenvironment. In this review we will outline the various types of 3D models (include spheroids, organoids, bio-printed structures, and tissue chips). Subsequently, we will examine the methodologies employed to develop 3D culture systems (include four category methods). Lastly, the practical applications and challenges of these 3D models will be addressed. The future research will likely concentrate on incorporating cutting-edge technologies to improve the reproducibility and applicability of 3D models in research.
 

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Background: Harmaline exhibits a diverse array of pharmacological properties, including antimicrobial, antidiabetic, osteogenic, immunomodulatory, emmenagogue, and antitumor activities. The current study aimed to investigating the effect of harmaline on oxidative stress factors in lung epithelial cells exposed to elastase. Material and method: oxidative stress markers of lung epithelial cells were investigated in all cell groups including, control, H2O2, elastase and elastase plus harmaline (50, 100, 200 μm). lung epithelial cells (A549) were exposed to elastase with concentrations of 60 U/ml for 24 hours. In other groups, cells exposed to elastase were co-treated with three different doses of harmaline (50, 100 and 200 µm) for 24 hours at 37°C. Results: the results show a significant effect of harmaline's protective effect on cell viability, free radical production (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). harmaline significantly increased the viability and TAC level in the cells exposed to elastase. Also, harmaline significantly decreased the percentage of free radicals and the MDA level in the cells exposed to elastase. Conclusion: The results obtained from this study showed a significant protective effect of harmaline on cell viability through increases in antioxidant defense system. Therefore, harmaline, can probably considered as a therapeutic strategy to prevent or treatment of lung diseases.
 

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