The digestive tract of the little owl, Athene noctua (Strigiformes: Strigidae), is described in two different seasons. The digestive tract of this bird follows the basic model for that of a predatory bird. The cervical esophagus is not expanded to form a crop. The internal surface of the esophagus forms numerous longitudinal folds provided with numerous mucous glands. These longitudinal folds increase in number and vary in depth posteriorly. The folds of the proventriculus are composed of simple branched tubular glands. The ventriculus is lined by a thin layer of koilin. The number of goblet cells gradually increases from the duodenum to the rectum, and the lymphatic tissue diffuses within the lamina propria. The esophageal glands secrete acid mucopolysaccharides, while the gastric glands of the stomach, the goblet cells, and crypts of Lieberkühn secrete acid mucopolysaccharides. Proteins were observed in the different histological structures of the digestive tract. Morphometric and histometric studies showed differences between summer and winter in the esophagus and glandular stomach (especially in winter), but no seasonal differences were seen in the muscular stomach, or small and large intestines.

This study aimed to determine the efect of gallic acid (GA) on ameliorating bisphenol A (BPA) nephrotoxicity in male rat kidneys. Forty rats were assigned randomly into two groups: control (ten animals) and BPA (40 mg/kg bwt) (thirty animals), the second group was divided into three subgroups: BPA alone, BPA+G50 (50 mg/kg bwt), and BPA+G200 (200 mg/kg bwt). The biochemical analysis included measurements of the contents of nitric oxide, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, and cytokines (interleukin-1α and interleukin-6) in the kidney. The antioxidant enzymes catalase and superoxide dismutase were also measured in the kidney. Kidney function was assessed by determining uric acid, urea, and creatinine levels. The morphological investigations included hematoxylin and eosin staining for assessing the general histology and determining the glomerular and corpuscular areas, the tubular cell degeneration mean area, and the mean leukocyte infltration area. Also, collagen fber intensity and polysaccharide content were analyzed. Furthermore, immunohistochemical, morphometric, and ultrastructural studies were carried out. The results revealed morphological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical alterations in the kidney. Most of these changes showed a satisfactory improvement of kidney damage when BPA-administered rats were treated with GA at both doses. In conclusion, GA exhibited a strong protective efect against BPA-induced nephrotoxicity

This study used both anatomical and histological techniques to investigate the orbital gland's topographic relationship with the surrounding system, using the hoopoe and cattle egret as biological models. Hoopoe has a spindle-shaped lacrimal gland that is suspended on the lateral edge of the frontal bone, whereas cattle egret has a tiny lacrimal gland that is embedded posteriorly within the periorbital fascia. The hoopoe's lacrimal gland has a single duct that runs parallel to the nasolacrimal duct and opens into the posterior nostril hole. In the cattle egret, the tubule-alveolar secretory components comprise neutral and acid glycosaminoglycan. In addition, the Harderian gland is found in both these species, but their draining ducts differ; the Harderian gland of the hoopoe opens into the anterodorsal to the conjunctival fornix, whereas the Harderian gland of the egret opens anteriorly. In both hoopoe and egret, the secretions of Harderian gland include neutral and acid glycosaminoglycan. The Harderian gland is categorized as type II in hoopoe and type I in cattle egrets. The present results concluded that both orbital glands of two bird species studied play an essential role in eye health, where cleaning and lubrication of the cornea surface. Furthermore, the lacrimal gland's location and secretory features may strengthen the olfactory sensitivity of hoopoe, which relies heavily on scent to locate their food, whereas egret relies heavily on visual cues.

This study gives a comprehensive description of eyelids movement in little owl
and discusses the impact of some surrounding conditions in their kinetic performance.
The present study used the video's recording technique to record the
kinetic activity of eyelids, besides the anatomical and histological studies of the
eyelid's structure. The fundamental eyelid movements can be uniquely and reliably
characterized by their anatomical relationship that was confirmed via video
recording for their kinetic activity. The levator palpebrae muscle is considered a
main generating motor for the upper eyelid; in the little owl, this muscle splits
into multiple directions and is distinguished from the levator palpebrae superioris
(Lps) and the levator anguli oculi (Lao) muscle. That anatomical pattern of
insertion increases the movement of the upper lid. On the other side, the contraction
of depressor palpebrae inferioris (Dpi) muscle and the active upward forces
of levator palpebrae muscle help in increasing the opening of the eye's fissure.
However, the closure process is produced from the passive downward forces and
relaxation of the levator palpebrae superioris (Lps), levator anguli oculi (Lao),
and depressor palpebrae inferioris muscle, as well as the contraction of retractor
anguli oculi lateralis (Raol) and medialis (Raom) muscle. The present results also
recorded that nictitating membrane's (Nm) movement is reversely proportionate
to the level of kinetic of other eyelids. The mobility of Nm in little owl occurs
under the effect of artificial external stress. These anatomical data and sequence
video recordings have confirmed that the upper eyelid moves more compared
to other eyelids. The authors also suggest that the mobility of eyelids may get
stimulated through external pressure force of some surrounding structure like
the periorbital sheet. Also, the histological study exhibited that the structure of
two eyelids is very similar in the little owl and the variability is showing in the
number of cell layers that forms their epithelium of skin and palpebral surfaces,
the distribution of pigment granules, and degree of keratinization on their surface.
That variability in the histological characters of eyelids may counteract the
abrasive forces occurring during the opening and closing processes.

The present computational approach using the theory of diffuse field concept for earthquake (DFCe) is introduced to retrieve the subsurface velocity structures at the whole K-NET and KiK-net stations and to estimate the associated uncertainties. Remarkable agreement could be achieved between the identified velocities retrieved from DFCe and those obtained from in-situ PS loggings. The effective bedrock depth (����) is assumed to correlate with the fundamental peak frequency (�0) based on a proposed quarter wavelength approach. The ���� must be larger than its corresponding wavelength (�) and have the minimum difference (����−�). The newly established frequency-depth regression needs to be defined as a function of the average S-wave velocity overlying the ����. The �0 has correlation trends with the depths to the layers, where S-wave velocities ≥ 800 m/s and ≥ 3000 m/s. The outliers in these correlation trends exist because of unsatisfying the condition of the ����

Acrylamide (AC) is an environmental contaminant with cancer-promoting and cytotoxic properties, while curcumin (Cur.) is a phytochemical with documented anticancer and cytoprotective efcacy. Nanoparticle formulations can increase the efcacy of phytochemicals, so we examined the anticancer and hepatoprotective efcacies of nanocurcumin (N.Cur). Curcumin and nanocurcumin reduced HepG2 and Huh-7 cancer cell viability and increased apoptosis in the presence and absence of AC, while AC alone promoted proliferation. Furthermore, the anticancer efcacy of nanocurcumin was greater than that of curcumin. In mice, AC greatly increased hepatic expression of CYP2E1, P53, cleaved caspase-3, and COL1A1 as well as serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. These efects were reversed by nanocurcumin and curcumin. Nanocurcumin also reduced the histopathology and fbrosis caused by AC, and reversed AC-induced glycogen depletion. Nanoparticle formulation can increase the anticancer and hepatoprotective efciencies of curcumin

Aswan area in South Egypt experiences continuous seismic activity due to seismogenic active faults, particularly Kalabsha and Seiyal active EW faults. The seismic site characterization is not properly identified, although the presence of high-density distribution of earthquake stations. The present study investigates fourteen earthquake stations of the Egyptian National Seismic Network, as well as six microtremor measurement sites. We analyzed ground motions due to seismogenic active faults recorded at surface from these fourteen earthquake stations. We measured microtremors for up to 120 min with portable seismometers at six sites in the vicinity of the High Dam area. The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios of earthquakes (EHVSR) and microtremors (MHVSR), their plots as a function of frequency and direction of motion, and diffuse field inversion are used in the study. Therefore, we could provide an obvious understanding of the site characterization including resonance frequencies, directional amplifications, and back-calculated subsurface velocity structures at these stations and sites. We found three predominant amplification directions of NS, EW, and NE–SW due to the horizontal components of the seismic waves. These amplification directions are near-transversal ~ transversal to the NS and EW strikes of the active fault system in the study area. In time–frequency analyses of the records, this directionality is observed clearly for S-wave and surface wave time windows. We validated the diffuse field inversion process not only using fitting between observed and inverted EHVSRs and MHVSRs, but also using available geological 2D cross sections and hydrological information in Aswan area.

The potential influence of nanoparticles (NPs) on the liver and bone marrow has received attention. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of nanocurcumin on the oxidative stress, apoptosis, and toxicity induced by Al2O3 and its NPs. The experimental animals (n = 72 mice) were divided into the following groups: group I, as a control; groups II and III, as aluminum oxide and its NPs (6 mg/kg); group IV, as aluminum oxide + nanocurcumin (Al2O3 + N-Cur, 20 mg/ kg); and group V, as aluminum oxide NPs + nanocurcumin (Al2O3-NP + N.Cur., 20 mg/kg). Al2O3 and its NP groups significantly increased p53, Nrf2 levels, and the white blood cell count. They also decreased the Hsp70 level, antitrypsin, immunoglobulin G, and the red blood cell count. In addition, they significantly decreased the total and differential bone marrow cell counts and the maturation index ratio (MIR). Nanocurcumin (N.Cur.) reverted the previous proteins, blood parameters, total bone marrow cell count, and the MIR as M/E, I/Mg, MMI, I/Me, and EMI to normal. Furthermore, N.Cur. prevented apoptosis and reduced the histopathological score and collagen fiber percentage caused by Al2O3 and its NPs in the liver. Nanotechnology was used to increase the therapeutic efficiency of curcumin against the harmful effects of oxidative stress associated with Al2O3 NPs.

Collagen-induced arthritis is the most used experimental model for rheumatoid arthritis. Using this model, we have appraised the histopathological effects of ginger and curcuma alone and their combination. Arthritis was induced by immunization with an emulsion of Freund’s adjuvant mixed with alum-precipitated collagen. Half of the animals from each group were sacrificed on the 21st day of arthritis induction and the remaining on the 26th day. Body-weight gain and erythrocyte sedimentation rate showed marked improvement in the treated groups (P < 0.001). A spectrum of intra-articular histopathological changes was assessed in groups II to V. The untreated arthritic rats in group II exhibited inflammation and vascularity in the synovium compared to the control rats in group I. The treated rats in groups III (ginger alone), IV (curcuma alone), and V (ginger and curcuma) showed an improvement of the hyperplastic synovium. These findings show that the combined use of ginger and curcuma may be a good option for the treatment of collagen-induced arthritis. This makes a case for a human clinical trial of the use of ginger and curcuma for arthritis.

The reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer (RAFT) process has become a versatile tool for the preparation of defined polymers tolerating a large variety of functional groups. Several dithioesters, trithiocarbonates, xanthates, or dithiocarbamates have been developed as effective chain transfer agents (CTAs), but only a few examples have been reported, where the resulting end groups are directly considered for a secondary use besides controlling the polymerization. Herein, it is demonstrated that β‐hydroxy dithiocinnamic esters represent a hitherto overlooked class of materials, which are originally designed for the complexation of transition metals but may as well act as reversible CTAs. Modified with a suitable leaving group (R‐group), these vinyl conjugated dithioesters indeed provide reasonable control over the polymerization of acrylates, acrylamides, or styrene via the RAFT process. Kinetic studies …