Background and aims. Open reading frames (ORFs) are sections of a reading frame that do not include any stop codons. A reading frame is a sequence of nucleotide triplets read as codons indicating amino acids; a single strand of DNA has three potential reading frames. Long ORFs in a DNA sequence may represent possible protein-coding areas. In addition to extended ORFs, which assist in gene locus prediction, there is yet another type of ORFS known as small open reading frames (smORFs), which have 100 codons or fewer. Methods. We develop an offline, cross-platform, and dependable detection tool for regular ORFs and smORFs prevalent in biomedical studies. Results. In this work, the most ORFs were found in the Bos taurus (Cattle) Insulin gene, which had 17 consecutive ORFs, while the fewest ORFs were reported in the Cani's lupus (Dog) Insulin gene, which had only 4 ORFs. Conclusion. The software meets the expected demarcation restrictions. We strongly advise more research into the detection of nested ORFs.

The present study was conducted at the Poultry Research Center, Faculty of Agriculture; Sebha University, Libya. The feeding trial lasted 42 days in total. A local hatchery provided 240 unsexed one-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308). The birds were randomly distributed into four groups, and each group was then divided into four replicates, with 15 birds in each group. The objective of the current study was to examine the impact of ginger powder as a natural feed supplement on broiler chickens' growth performance, hematological parameters, and serum lipids. Four dietary treatments were formulated and supplemented with ginger powder at levels 0%, 0.2%, 0.4% and 0.6%. The findings exhibited substantial differences in body weight and weight gain across the experimental groups. Birds fed ginger-enriched diets had higher feed conversion and lower feed intake than control birds (P<0.05). Birds fed a 0.6% ginger powder diet compared to the control group had considerably superior productive performance (P<0.05), while feed consumption was lowered. Dietary ginger powder supplementation improved hematological parameters; white blood cells, lymphocytes, heterophils, and the lymphocyte to heterophil ratio were improved with dietary ginger powder supplementation (P<0.05). Additionally, as compared to the control group, ginger powder groups significantly (P<0.05) lowered serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein. While supplementation of dietary ginger powder significantly increased (P<0.05), the levels of high-density lipoprotein against the control group. In conclusion, ginger supplementation had a positive …

A total of 240 1-day-old broiler chicks (Cobb500) were purchased from a local hatchery and randomly distributed into four dietary treatments. Each treatment comprised 5 replicates with 12 chicks each. Garlic powder (Allium sativum) was supplemented as follows: 0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3%. The diets were formulated to be approximately isocaloric and cover all nutrient requirements for broilers throughout two stages of growth periods: starter diets (1–21 days) and finisher diets (22–42 days). At the end of the experiment, one bird was chosen from each replicate to measure the carcass characteristics and blood was collected.

Background: Medical students have been shown through multiple studies to be more susceptible to stress and depression than the rest of the population. Libyan students specifically have to undergo the challenges of becoming a doctor while living in the terrifying and stressful outcomes of the Libyan civil war. And the spread of COVID-19 has added to these stressors.

Objective: This study aimed to determine prevalence of depression and anxiety among Libyan medical students and analyze the causing factors.

Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted using an online survey. The survey used the K-10 Kessler psychological distress scale which is a self administered questionnaire used to measure the level of distress. 

Results: A total of 1348 students from 16 Libyan medical schools across the 5 years of study completed the survey. 992 (73.6%) were female students and 356 (26.4%) were male. The mean age (SD) was 22.09 (2.56).

Out of the 1348 participants, 638 (47.3%) scored for severe mental disorder. 213 (15.8%) scored for moderate mental disorder and 200 (14.8%) presented with mild mental disorder. 297 (22%) of the students are likely to be well according to the K-10 psychological distress scale. Out of the students who have had their houses displaced due to the war, 66.3% have presented with moderate to severe mental disorder.

 235 students (17.4%) have reported having suicidal thoughts throughout their time in medical school.

Conclusion: In comparison to similar studies done in other countries, Libyan students scored a higher prevalence of depression. The stress of the current political state of the country and the COVID-19 pandemic were shown to be contributing factors.

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus with hyperglycaemia is a major risk factor for malignant cardiac dysrhythmias. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear, especially during the embryonic developmental phase of the heart. This study investigated the effect of hyperglycaemia on the pulsatile activity of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes. Mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) were differentiated into cardiac-like cells through embryoid body (EB) formation, in either baseline glucose or high glucose conditions. Action potentials (APs) were recorded using a voltage-sensitive fluorescent dye and gap junction activity was evaluated using scrape-loading lucifer yellow dye transfer assay. Molecular components were detected using immunocytochemistry and immunoblot analyses. High glucose decreased the spontaneous beating rate of EBs and shortened the duration of onset of quinidine-induced asystole. Furthermore, it altered AP amplitude, but not AP duration, and had no impact on neither the expression of the hyperpolarisation-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated isoform 4 (HCN4) channel nor on the EB beating rate response to ivabradine nor isoprenaline. High glucose also decreased both the intercellular spread of lucifer yellow within an EB and the expression of the cardiac gap junction protein connexin 43 as well as upregulated the expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and phosphorylated Smad3. High glucose suppressed the autorhythmicity and gap junction conduction of mESC-derived cardiomyocytes, via mechanisms probably involving TGF-β1/ Smad3 signalling. The results allude to glucotoxicity related proarrhythmic effects, with potential clinical implications in foetal diabetic cardiac disease.