MicroRNA (miRNA) sponges are RNA transcripts containing multiple high-affinity binding sites that associate with and sequester specific miRNAs to prevent them from interacting with their target messenger (m)RNAs. Due to the high specificity of miRNA sponges and strong inhibition of target miRNAs, these molecules have become increasingly applied in miRNA loss-of-function studies. However, improp...

Chitin and sepia ink hybrid hemostatic sponge (CTSH sponge), a new biomedical material, was extensively studied for its beneficial biological properties of hemostasis and stimulation of healing. However, studies examining the safety of CTSH sponge in the blood system are lacking. This experiment aimed to examine whether CTSH sponge has negative effect on blood systems of mice, which were treated...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires beef abattoir operators to periodically analyze beef carcass sponge samples for levels of Escherichia coli. Additional beef carcass sponge sampling is commonly used by processors to evaluate the efficacy of beef abattoir antimicrobial intervention systems. The USDA sample preparation procedure requires that beef carcass sponge samples be mechan...

Erd˝ os conjectured that, given an infinite graph G and vertex sets A, B ⊆ V (G), there exist a set P of disjoint A–B paths in G and an A–B separator X 'on' P, in the sense that X consists of a choice of one vertex from each path in P. We prove, for countable graphs G, the extension of this conjecture in which A, B and X are allowed to contain ends as well as vertices, and where the closure of ...

UNLABELLED The "Candidatus Synechococcus spongiarum" group includes different clades of cyanobacteria with high 16S rRNA sequence identity (~99%) and is the most abundant and widespread cyanobacterial symbiont of marine sponges. The first draft genome of a "Ca. Synechococcus spongiarum" group member was recently published, providing evidence of genome reduction by loss of genes involved in seve...

the objective of this study was to evaluate three methods of estrous synchronization, viz. controlled internal drug releasing device (cidr), intravaginal sponges impregnated with fluogestone acetate (fga), and cloprostenol (estrumate; an analogue of prostaglandin f2α) in nadooshani goats of yazd province, iran.the estrous synchronized does (n = 30 to 33 per treatment), after heat detection, wer...

To date, only one marine sponge pathogen (Pseudoalteromonas sp. strain NW 4327) has fulfilled Koch's postulates. We report the 4.48-Mbp draft genome sequence of this strain, which is pathogenic to the Great Barrier Reef sponge Rhopaloeides odorabile. The sequence provides valuable information on sponge-pathogen interactions, including the mode of transmission and associated virulence factors.