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BACKGROUND/AIMS: Recent studies have shown that thymoquinone (TQ) exerts protective effects against ionizing radiation-induced cataracts in lens after total cranium irradiation of rats. Nevertheless, there is no published work investigated the effects of TQ on T cell development and biology in animal models exposed to gamma radiation. Therefore, in the present study we focused on determining the effects of TQ on radiation damage in the thymus, radiation-induced T cell imbalance, and on immune dysfunction induced by gamma-rays. METHODS: Three groups of rats were used: a control group, a gamma-irradiated group, and a gamma-irradiated group that was orally supplemented with TQ. Serum lipid profiles, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels were measured to assess gamma irradiation-induced oxidative stress and inflammatory capacity. T cell apoptosis was evaluated by annexin V/propidium iodide staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. The expression of pro-apoptotic proteins such as Bax and caspase-3, the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and an exhaustion marker of T cells (PD-1) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cell populations was evaluated using flow cytometry analysis. The T cell architecture of the thymus gland was evaluated by histological analysis. RESULTS: Exposure to gamma radiation increased triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C, MDA, TNF-α and IL-6 levels and decreased HDL-C levels. The altered lipid profile and MDA and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) levels induced by exposure to gamma radiation were significantly restored in TQ-treated gamma-irradiated rats. Rats exposed to gamma radiation exhibited increased exhaustion of T lymphocytes via down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and upregulation of PD-1, Bax, and caspase-3 expression, which sensitized these cells to apoptosis. Interestingly, treatment of gamma-irradiated rats with TQ decreased T cell exhaustion and apoptosis by modulating the expression of Bcl-2, PD-1, Bax, and caspase-3. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence for the beneficial effects of TQ as an effective radioprotective candidate that enhances cellular immunity.

Abstract— Thermionic emission performance from single crystals of CeB6 and LaB6 was investigated at different operational loads using a test machine, in order to consider CeB6 as a cathode for thermionic RF guns in the future applications. To evaluate cathode quality and uniformity for long lifetime applications, Miram curves in conjunction with their associated practical work function distribution (PWFD) were applied to the thermionic emission results. The analysis of the PWFD plot revealed that the variation of the peak in the work function and full-width at half-maximum for CeB6 is very close to that of LaB6. This suggests that emission performance, uniformity, and expected operational lifetime of a CeB6 cathode are comparable with LaB6 cathodes. In addition, previous simulation results of the back bombardment (BB) effect on CeB6 and LaB6 emphasized that CeB6 presents less sensitivity to BB electrons compared with LaB6 at a 5.5-µs pulse duration and 8-MW RF power. This gives CeB6 the potential to replace LaB6 as a thermionic cathode for an RF gun. A complete analysis of the cathode emission performance and PWFD at different operational loads for CeB6 prior to a prospective real test is presented.

This paperpresentsaquantummechanicaltreatmenttostudythegrowthratecharacteristicsof Cherenkovfree-electronlaser.Forthispurpose,webasicallyusethesingle-particlemodelinwhichthe dynamics ofasingleelectroninthepresenceofthelaser field isanalyzed.Theinclusionsofthespace- charge (collective)effectsareconsideredbytakingintoaccountthestaticelectric field ofneighboring electrons inthedynamicsformulations.AnanalyticalexpressionforthegainperpassintheCherenkov laser isderived.Itisshownthatthespace-chargeeffectsdependmainlyontheoperatingwavelength, the electrondensity,andtheelectronbeamneutralizationduetothepossiblepresenceofpositiveions. Wediscussthevalidityboundariesoftheinteractionmodeevolvedfromthesingle-particleregimeto the collectiveregime.Usingquantummechanicalconcepts,we finally presentaformulaforcalculating the inclusionofthespontaneousemissionpower.

The paperpresentsaquantummechanicaltreatmentforanalyzingtheSmith–Purcell radiation generatedbychargedparticlespassingoveraperiodicconductingstructure.Inourtheoreticalmodel, the electronsinteractwithasurfaceharmonicwaveexcitednearthediffractiongratingwhenthe electron velocityisalmostequaltothephasevelocityofthesurfacewave.Then,thesurfaceharmonic waveiselectromagneticallycoupledtoaradiationmode.Thedynamicsofelectronsareanalyzed quantummechanicallywheretheelectronisrepresentedasatravelingelectronwavewitha finite spreading length.Theconversionofthesurfacewaveintoapropagatingmodeisanalyzedusingthe classical Maxwell'sequations.Inthesmall-signalgainregime,closed-formexpressionsforthe contributions ofthestimulatedandspontaneousemissionstotheevolutionofthesurfacewaveare derived.Theinclusionofthespreadinglengthoftheelectronwavetotheemissionspectrallineis investigated.Finally,wecompareourresultsbasedonthequantummechanicaldescriptionofelectron and thosebasedontheclassicalapproachwhereagoodagreementisconfirmed.

Lipase-catalyzed biotransformation of fungal lipids into biodiesel via bacterial enzymes or whole cell catalysts has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce applicable, renewable and environmentally friendly alternative liquid fuels. Four highly lipolytic bacterial isolates were isolated from seeds and grains of some plant species and screened for their potentiality to synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by lipase esterification process for the production of cost-competitive biodiesel. The four isolates were identified based on phenotypic and gene encoding 16S rRNA as Bacillus vallismortis ASU 3 (KP777551), Bacillus tequilensis ASU 11 (KP777550), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ASU 16 (KP777549) and Bacillus firmus ASU 32 (KP777552). Among the four tested bacterial lipases, extracellular lipase of B firmus ASU 32 (KP777552) showed the highest activity toward the transesterification of fungal lipids as 71.2% of total fatty acid methyl eseters (FAMEs). B. firmus ASU 32 lipases displayed a higher thermal stability and methanol tolerance ensuring their application as a promising biocatalyst for FAME synthesis. The results proved that, the most active acyl acceptors for biodiesel production from fungal lipids by B. firmus lipase were methanol and ethyl acetate. B. firmus has applicable future as a whole cell biocatalyst for FAME synthesis from fungal lipids. Alleviation the inhibitory effect of methanol in the transesterification process of fungal lipids by lipases might be performed through separation of hydrolysis step from esterification process by methanol for FAME synthesis. This paper is expected to provide a competitive economic outcome for industrial FAME synthesis

Lipase-catalyzed biotransformation of fungal lipids into biodiesel via bacterial enzymes or whole cell catalysts has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce applicable, renewable and environmentally friendly alternative liquid fuels. Four highly lipolytic bacterial isolates were isolated from seeds and grains of some plant species and screened for their potentiality to synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by lipase esterification process for the production of cost-competitive biodiesel. The four isolates were identified based on phenotypic and gene encoding 16S rRNA as Bacillus vallismortis ASU 3 (KP777551), Bacillus tequilensis ASU 11 (KP777550), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ASU 16 (KP777549) and Bacillus firmus ASU 32 (KP777552). Among the four tested bacterial lipases, extracellular lipase of B firmus ASU 32 (KP777552) showed the highest activity toward the transesterification of fungal lipids as 71.2% of total fatty acid methyl eseters (FAMEs). B. firmus ASU 32 lipases displayed a higher thermal stability and methanol tolerance ensuring their application as a promising biocatalyst for FAME synthesis. The results proved that, the most active acyl acceptors for biodiesel production from fungal lipids by B. firmus lipase were methanol and ethyl acetate. B. firmus has applicable future as a whole cell biocatalyst for FAME synthesis from fungal lipids. Alleviation the inhibitory effect of methanol in the transesterification process of fungal lipids by lipases might be performed through separation of hydrolysis step from esterification process by methanol for FAME synthesis. This paper is expected to provide a competitive economic outcome for industrial FAME synthesis

Lipase-catalyzed biotransformation of fungal lipids into biodiesel via bacterial enzymes or whole cell catalysts has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce applicable, renewable and environmentally friendly alternative liquid fuels. Four highly lipolytic bacterial isolates were isolated from seeds and grains of some plant species and screened for their potentiality to synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by lipase esterification process for the production of cost-competitive biodiesel. The four isolates were identified based on phenotypic and gene encoding 16S rRNA as Bacillus vallismortis ASU 3 (KP777551), Bacillus tequilensis ASU 11 (KP777550), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ASU 16 (KP777549) and Bacillus firmus ASU 32 (KP777552). Among the four tested bacterial lipases, extracellular lipase of B firmus ASU 32 (KP777552) showed the highest activity toward the transesterification of fungal lipids as 71.2% of total fatty acid methyl eseters (FAMEs). B. firmus ASU 32 lipases displayed a higher thermal stability and methanol tolerance ensuring their application as a promising biocatalyst for FAME synthesis. The results proved that, the most active acyl acceptors for biodiesel production from fungal lipids by B. firmus lipase were methanol and ethyl acetate. B. firmus has applicable future as a whole cell biocatalyst for FAME synthesis from fungal lipids. Alleviation the inhibitory effect of methanol in the transesterification process of fungal lipids by lipases might be performed through separation of hydrolysis step from esterification process by methanol for FAME synthesis. This paper is expected to provide a competitive economic outcome for industrial FAME synthesis

Lipase-catalyzed biotransformation of fungal lipids into biodiesel via bacterial enzymes or whole cell catalysts has been considered as one of the most promising methods to produce applicable, renewable and environmentally friendly alternative liquid fuels. Four highly lipolytic bacterial isolates were isolated from seeds and grains of some plant species and screened for their potentiality to synthesis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) by lipase esterification process for the production of cost-competitive biodiesel. The four isolates were identified based on phenotypic and gene encoding 16S rRNA as Bacillus vallismortis ASU 3 (KP777551), Bacillus tequilensis ASU 11 (KP777550), Bacillus amyloliquefaciens ASU 16 (KP777549) and Bacillus firmus ASU 32 (KP777552). Among the four tested bacterial lipases, extracellular lipase of B firmus ASU 32 (KP777552) showed the highest activity toward the transesterification of fungal lipids as 71.2% of total fatty acid methyl eseters (FAMEs). B. firmus ASU 32 lipases displayed a higher thermal stability and methanol tolerance ensuring their application as a promising biocatalyst for FAME synthesis. The results proved that, the most active acyl acceptors for biodiesel production from fungal lipids by B. firmus lipase were methanol and ethyl acetate. B. firmus has applicable future as a whole cell biocatalyst for FAME synthesis from fungal lipids. Alleviation the inhibitory effect of methanol in the transesterification process of fungal lipids by lipases might be performed through separation of hydrolysis step from esterification process by methanol for FAME synthesis. This paper is expected to provide a competitive economic outcome for industrial FAME synthesis

It is known that the algebraic notion of amalgamation in a class of algebras corresponds to the metalogical notion of interpolation and definability properties in the corresponding logic. In this article, we relate results on neat reducts, a notion particular to cylindric algebras, to results on the “more universal” strong amalgamation property. We prove that a system of varieties definable by schemes has a strong amalgamation property.