Aims: This study aimed to examine the developmental changes in external morphology characters for some embryonic larval period of Bufo regularis from River Nile, Assuit, Egypt. Methods: Our experiment started when tadpoles began to feed. The adapted embryos were divided into three large tanks, each with 200 embryos. Collecting of samples started from feeding age every three days until end of metamorphosis (the absorption of tail). External measurements of the early developmental stages including body height (BH), body width (BW), eye diameter (ED), forelimb length (FLL), head-body length (H-BL), hind limb length (HLL), internarial distance (IND), interorbital distance (IOD), nostril diameter (ND), distance between nariel and orbital (NOD), tail length (TAL), tail height (TH), total length (TL), tail muscle height (TMH) and body weight (BWE) were recorded. Results: The morphological description reported for each stage indicated many differences between the different developmental stages. Conclusion: This study may be considered as morphological key for the different developmental stages of the Egyptian toad tadpoles (Bufo regularis).

Herein, we synthesized some ultra small silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) and palladium nanoclusters (PdNCs) protected by L-glutathione (L-GSH) reduced ligand to study their antimicrobial properties in the visible and dark conditions. These clusters can be dissolved, dried, and redissolved in water without suffering from any agglomeration or degradation. The particles sizes of the synthesized nanoclusters were around 1 nm, which investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The optical properties of the synthesized nanoclusters were studied by UV–vis spectroscopy. Agn(SG)m clusters exhibited two plasmon peaks in the visible region at 478 and 641 nm. However, Pdn(SG)m clusters showed a steep rise absorption in the short wavelength range of the spectrum and featureless in the visible region. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was measured for the free ligand and protected clusters Agn(SG)m and Pdn(SG)m. Compared with palladium nanoclusters (in vitro), silver nanoclusters exhibited higher biocidal activity (MIC). The influence of silver and palladium nanoclusters (0.0, 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 8.0 mg/l) on soil fungal community density was investigated under dark and light condition. Interestingly, silver NPs were more effective than palladium nanoclusters. Moreover, silver NPs were more effective in light than in the dark. However, palladium nanoclusters showed more or less similar effect under both contrasting conditions. This might be attributed to the disappearance of the plasmonic effect of palladium clusters in the UV–vis region. The novelty of our method is due to using ligand (L-GSH) as a capping agent with palladium. Besides, L-glutathione is considered as a part of the microbial system to detoxify metals. This guarantees the safety of the synthesized nanoparticles to be applied commercially than the naked isotopes. These nanoclusters could be considered a basic unit for medicine industry such as drug delivery tools or applied in paints industry (antimicrobial agents).

Herein, we synthesized some ultra small silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) and palladium nanoclusters (PdNCs) protected by L-glutathione (L-GSH) reduced ligand to study their antimicrobial properties in the visible and dark conditions. These clusters can be dissolved, dried, and redissolved in water without suffering from any agglomeration or degradation. The particles sizes of the synthesized nanoclusters were around 1 nm, which investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The optical properties of the synthesized nanoclusters were studied by UV–vis spectroscopy. Agn(SG)m clusters exhibited two plasmon peaks in the visible region at 478 and 641 nm. However, Pdn(SG)m clusters showed a steep rise absorption in the short wavelength range of the spectrum and featureless in the visible region. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was measured for the free ligand and protected clusters Agn(SG)m and Pdn(SG)m. Compared with palladium nanoclusters (in vitro), silver nanoclusters exhibited higher biocidal activity (MIC). The influence of silver and palladium nanoclusters (0.0, 2.5, 3.5, 5.0, 8.0 mg/l) on soil fungal community density was investigated under dark and light condition. Interestingly, silver NPs were more effective than palladium nanoclusters. Moreover, silver NPs were more effective in light than in the dark. However, palladium nanoclusters showed more or less similar effect under both contrasting conditions. This might be attributed to the disappearance of the plasmonic effect of palladium clusters in the UV–vis region. The novelty of our method is due to using ligand (L-GSH) as a capping agent with palladium. Besides, L-glutathione is considered as a part of the microbial system to detoxify metals. This guarantees the safety of the synthesized nanoparticles to be applied commercially than the naked isotopes. These nanoclusters could be considered a basic unit for medicine industry such as drug delivery tools or applied in paints industry (antimicrobial agents).

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Our ageing society is confronted with a dramatic increase in incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases; biomedical research leading to novel therapeutic strategies is crucial to address this problem. Animal models of neurodegenerative conditions are invaluable in improving our understanding of the molecular basis of pathology, potentially revealing novel targets for intervention. Here, we review transgenic animal models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease reported in mice, zebrafish, Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. This information will enable researchers to compare different animal models targeting disease-associated molecules by genomic engineering and to facilitate the development of novel animal models for any particular study, depending on the ultimate research goals.

Liver X receptors, LXRs, are ligand-activated transcription factors that belong to the group H nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily. In this study, an LXR (HrLXR) cDNA was cloned from the ascidian Halocynthia roretzi hepatopancreas and characterized to examine the functional conservation of ancestral LXRs in chordates. A phylogenetic analysis of HrLXR showed that it belongs to the tunicate (urochordate) LXR subgroup, which is distinct from vertebrate LXRs. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that HrLXR mRNA was expressed predominantly in the gills, and highly expressed in unfertilized eggs followed by decrease at later embryonic and larval stages. Unexpectedly, HrLXR was not activated by GW3965, whereas a synthetic ligand for a farnesoid X receptor, GW4064, activated HrLXR. This activation was abolished by the deletion of 51 amino acids from the N-terminus. In a mammalian two-hybrid system, HrLXR interacted with HrRXR in the presence of GW4064 or 9-cis retinoic acid. The injection of GW3965 and GW4064 in vivo increased the ATPbinding cassette sub-family G member 4 and HrLXR mRNA levels in the hepatopancreas and gills. These results suggest that the mRNA expression and transcriptional properties of HrLXR are different from those of vertebrate LXRs, although HrLXR is likely responsive to the related NR ligand, GW4064.