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To differentiate stem cells into endothelial cells, vascular endothelia growth factors (VEGF) serve as the major signal for stimulating the cells. However, there are other cytokines or growth factors associated with endothelial cell development and differentiation. Human platelet lysate (hPL) has been a promising reagent in cell-based therapy since it is considered as a source of bioactive molecules and growth factors. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro differentiation of human amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (hAF-MSCs) into endothelial-like cells under hPL together with VEGF or endothelial cell growth medium 2 (EGM-2), a commercially induced medium. In this study, hAF-MSCs were isolated from human amniotic fluid cells (hAFCs) using the direct adherence method. The cells expressed CD44, CD73, CD90, and HLA-ABC at high levels and expressed Oct-4 (octamer-binding transcription factor 4) at low levels. The cells were negative for CD31, CD34, CD45, CD105 and HLA-DR. This study found that hAF-MSCs induced with hPL and VEGF had the ability to differentiate into endothelial-like cells by presenting endothelial specific markers (vWF, VEGFR2 and eNOS), forming a network-like structure on Matrigel, and producing nitric oxide (NO). This outcome was similar to those of experiments involving EGM-2 induced cells. The present findings indicate that hPL + VEGF can induce hAF-MSCs to express endothelial cell characteristics. Our findings represent an important step forward in the development of a clinically compliant process for the production of endothelial cell-derived hAF-MSCs, and their subsequent testing in future clinical trials.A cerebral stroke is characterized by compromised brain function due to an interruption in cerebrovascular blood supply. Although stroke incurs focal damage determined by the vascular territory affected, clinical symptoms commonly involve multiple functions and cognitive faculties that are insufficiently explained by the focal damage alone. Functional connectivity (FC) refers to the synchronous activity between spatially remote brain regions organized in a network of interconnected brain regions. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has advanced this system-level understanding of brain function, elucidating the complexity of stroke outcomes, as well as providing information useful for prognostic and rehabilitation purposes. We tested for differences in brain network connectivity between a group of patients with minor ischemic strokes in sub-acute phase (n = 44) and matched controls (n = 100). As neural network configuration is dependent on cognitive effort, we obtained fMRI data during rest and two loces after clinically mild strokes.The effects of an epitaxial layer on the rectifying behavior of n-GaAs/Ti/Au/SiAl0.33Ga0.67 As diodes have been examined through the inhomogeneity model on n+-GaAs substrate with orientation. The electrical properties and conduction mechanism of these materials were understood through theoretical models. The inhomogeneity model was used to electrical behavior of these diodes was explained. The barrier height inhomogeneity model reveals a 13% and 15% barrier height inhomogeneity in N1 and N2 Schottky diodes, respectively. The ideal thermionic emission behavior increases the ideality factors and reduces barrier heights. Within the entire temperature range, the effective Schottky barrier for a thin epitaxial layer was higher. Such results depicted the presence of defects in the thick layer, which decreased the barrier height and ultimately degraded diode performance. The thermionic emission theory along with Gaussian distribution of barrier heights is explained by the temperature dependence of the forward bias current-voltage-temperature (I-V-T) features.

Depression is associated with insulin resistance (IR). However, the potential beneficial effect, on antidepressant treatment response, of adjunctive therapy with insulin sensitivity-enhancing lifestyle and dietary interventions (exercise; supplementation with vitamin D, magnesium, zinc, probiotics or omega-3 fatty acids) has not been systematically explored.

To determine the effect of the above stated adjuncts on antidepressant treatment response in clinically depressed patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis.

RCTs which assessed the effect, on antidepressant treatment response of adjunctive therapy with any of the interventions in comparison with treatment as usual were included.

The interventions had a significant antidepressant effect, with SMD for follow-up (end of study) scores and change (from baseline) scores being -0.88, [95% CI -1.19 to -0.57;

< 0.001] and -1.98 [95% CI -2.86 to -1.10;

< 0.001], respectively. The odds ratio (OR) for remission was 2.28 (95% CI 1.42 to 3.66;

< 0.001). The number-needed-to-treat (NNT) for remission was 6. Subgroup analysis of the follow-up scores revealed age effect SMD significant in those with mean age ≤50 (-1.02 SMD; 95% CI -1.40 to -0.64;

< 0.001) and insignificant in those with mean age >50 (-0.38 SMD (95% CI -0.82 to 0.05;

= 0.08)). Also, the interventions were more beneficial among outpatients- SMD -0.97 (95% CI -1.32 to -0.62;

< 0.001) compared to inpatients- SMD -0.34 (95% CI -0.88 to 0.20;

= 0.22). Gandotinib purchase Sensitivity analysis did not change the results.

The finding that antidepressant treatment response may be improved using insulin sensitivity-enhancing lifestyle and dietary adjuncts is worthy of further exploration.

The finding that antidepressant treatment response may be improved using insulin sensitivity-enhancing lifestyle and dietary adjuncts is worthy of further exploration.Human amniotic fluid mesenchymal stem cells (hAF-MSCs) have been shown to be effective in the treatment of many diseases. Platelet lysate (PL) contains multiple growth and differentiation factors; therefore, it can be used as a differentiation inducer. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the efficiency of human platelet lysate (hPL) on cell viability and the effects on cardiomyogenic differentiation of hAF-MSCs. When treating the cells with hPL, the result showed an increase in cell viability. Expressions of cardiomyogenic specific genes, including GATA4, cTnT, Cx43 and Nkx2.5, were higher in the combined treatment groups of 5-azacytidine (5-aza) and hPL than the expressions of cardiomyogenic specific genes in the control group and in the 5-aza treatment group. In terms of the results of immunofluorescence and immunoenzymatic staining, the highest expressions of cardiomyogenic specific proteins were revealed in combined treatment groups. It can be summarized that hPL may be an effective supporting cardiomyogenic supplementary factor for cardiomyogenic differentiation in hAF-MSCs.Investigating the antecedents of tourist behavioral intentions and its relations with the preceding factors has become an interest of researchers very recently. However, domestic tourism is one of the neglected forms of tourism among academics and policymakers in developing countries in general. This study, therefore, has tried to simultaneously analyze (i) the relationships among motivations (push and pull), satisfaction and behavioral intentions (intention to revisit and willingness to recommend), and (ii) the direct and indirect effects of motivations on the behavioural intentions of domestic tourists in the formation of domestic tourism behavioural model. The relationships were structurally analyzed with Maximum Likelihood Estimation (MLE) method of Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using data collected from 386 domestic tourists from four destination sites in Ethiopia. The results revealed that both pull and push travel motivations were found to be significant predictors of overall satisfaction. Moreover, the direct effects of pull travel motivation on revisit intention as well as willingness to recommend were observed. On the other hand, overall satisfaction influenced revisit intention more significantly than the willingness to recommend. Overall satisfaction also partially mediated the relationships between travel motivations and revisit intention. Furthermore, the direct and indirect effects of push travel motivation were assessed in this study. The results of this study hold important implications for destination managers and researchers to consider the influences of motivations factors on satisfaction and behavioral intentions in their attempt to develop domestic tourism.The dynamic and growing interdependent nature of equity markets across the world has elicited the interest of investors and researchers alike. This study examines the dynamic interactions between the Nigerian stock market and selected regional and global equity markets spanning eight years, from 2011 to 2018, using daily index data. The generalised impulse response function was used alongside the Toda and Yamamoto Granger causality test to investigate the short-run dynamic linkages, while the normalized Johansen vector error correction estimates served to assess the long-run linkages given the existence of cointegration. Findings from the study revealed that the UK and the Ghanaian stock markets exert significant long-run impact on the Nigerian stock market, while vagaries from the US tend to exert more influence on the Nigerian stock market in the short-run. The study recommends that more regional efforts are needed to enhance the integration of stock markets in West Africa. The findings have implications for national and regional policymakers as well as portfolio investors.Changes in seawater chemistry due to anthropogenic uptake of CO2 by seawater results in a phenomenon termed ocean acidification. Ocean acidification has been predicted to substantially affect the exposure, behaviour, mobility and fate of toxicants with significant impacts on marine organisms. This study assessed the interactive effects of acidification and metal concentrations of Cd and Pb in the exoskeleton of the crab Dotilla fenestrata. Crabs were acutely exposed to varying concentrations of Cd (0.5, 0.75 and 1.00 mg/l), Pb (6.50, 8.50, and 10.50 mg/l) and Cd/Pb (4.50, 5.75 and 7.00 mg/l) and near-future pH of 7.2, 7.4 and 7.6 for 96 h and concentrations in the exoskeleton were analyzed using ICP-OES. Cadmium concentrations in the exoskeleton due to pH effects were in the order of 7.4 > 7.6 > 7.2, while concentrations in the exoskeleton exposed to pH 7.4 were significantly higher (ANOVA HSD df 6; p less then 0.01) compared to those of pH 7.2 and 7.6. Crabs exposed to varying Pb concentrations showed no common trend in Pb concentrations with varying pH. Concentrations of Cd and Pb in the exoskeleton of crabs exposed to combined Cd and Pb were significantly higher (ANOVA HSD df 6; p less then 0.01) at pH of 7.2 and 4.50 and 7.00 mg/l exposures. Crabs exposed to mixed metal concentrations showed elevated levels of Cd and Pb compared to those exposed to single metal due to their regulatory capacity when exposed to mixed metals.In this work, methanol decomposition method has been discussed for the production of hydrogen gas with the application of plasma. A simple dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma reactor was designed for this purpose with two types of electrode. The DBD plasma reactor was experimented by substituting one of the metal electrodes with feebly conducting sea water which yielded better efficiency in producing hydrogen gas. Experimental parameters such as; discharge voltage and time were varied by maintaining a discharge gap of 1.5 mm and the plasma discharge characteristics were studied. Filamentary type micro-discharges were found to be formed which was observed as numerous streamer clusters in the current waveform. Gas chromatographic study confirmed the production of hydrogen gas with residence time around 3.6 min. Although, the concentration (%) of H2 was high (98.1 %) and consistent with copper electrode assembly, the rate of formation and concentration was found to be the highest (98.7 %) for water electrode for specific discharge voltage.