Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional...Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.展开更多
Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Prev...Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Previous studies have shown that urinary arsenic(UAs)concentration can reflect As exposure and metabolism in individuals.However,little is known about how other factors,such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status,may affect UAs concentrations in children.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the influence of factors such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status on UAs concentrations in children,in addition to the impact of drinking water arsenic(WAs)levels.Methods:We conducted our study on elementary school-going children aged 8-11 years from rural Araihazar in Bangladesh.We measured UAs(available for a subset of 391 children)and WAs levels and collected information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.We employed regression analysis and t-tests to analyze the data.Results:Our findings revealed that younger children(β=197.95,95%confidence interval[CI]:111.97 to 283.94),female children(β=93.95,95%CI:8.49 to 179.40),and children with less educated fathers(β=138.03,95%CI:26.47 to 249.58)had higher UAs levels,particularly when they consumed water with high As content.Conclusion:The study concludes that children's As exposure and UAs concentration may vary depending on their age,sex,and socioeconomic status.Therefore,these factors should be considered when assessing the health risks associated with As.展开更多
The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. Th...The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc on differences in dry matter digestibility in vitro for white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer (n = 2) were ethically harvested, rumens were collected, and placed into a cooler containing warm water. Rumen contents were agitated, and fluid was filtered using cheese cloth while applying CO2. Fluid was placed into four separate incubator jars with filter bags containing a 1:1 alfalfa to coastal hay blend. Zinc doses of 0.073 mg/kg/d equivalents were added to two of the jars ( Zn), and the additional two jars received 0.00 mg/kg/d (CON). Following 48 h of incubation, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) showed no significant differences between the control and the treatment groups. Average dry matter digested in vitro was 91.87% and 95.13%, respectively. There were no differences detected in ADF, NDF, IVTD, or OM between the treatment groups. While no detectable differences were observed in this study, this methodology did prove to be viable and functional for microbial digestion in vitro. This study can be replicated with multiple experimental units to confirm the observations of increased digestibility. Formal nutritional guidelines can be created to allow for more efficient feeding of cervids thereby reducing feed costs and continuing the growth of the captive deer industry.展开更多
目的系统评价座椅辅助阻力带运动(chair-based resistance band exercise,CRBE)对长期护理机构老年人身体功能、睡眠质量和抑郁的影响。方法对AgeLine,CINAHL,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Scopus和Web of Science等数据库进行检索...目的系统评价座椅辅助阻力带运动(chair-based resistance band exercise,CRBE)对长期护理机构老年人身体功能、睡眠质量和抑郁的影响。方法对AgeLine,CINAHL,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Scopus和Web of Science等数据库进行检索。检索时间为建库至2022年3月,纳入对慢性疾病老年人进行CRBE的随机对照试验研究。采用物理治疗证据数据库量表(the Physiotherapy Evidence Database,PEDro)对纳入文献进行质量评价,随机效应模型和固定效应模型用于生成集合效应量。结果共9篇文章符合纳入标准。结果显示,CRBE可促进日常生活活动(6项研究;SMD=0.30,P=0.001),肺活量(3项研究;MD=40.35,P<0.001),握力(5项研究;MD=2.17,P<0.001),上肢肌肉耐力(5项研究;MD=2.23,P=0.012),下肢肌肉耐力(4项研究;MD=1.32,P<0.001),上肢柔韧性(4项研究;MD=3.06,P=0.022),下体柔韧性(4项研究;MD=5.34,P<0.001),动态平衡(3项研究;MD=-0.35,P=0.011)、睡眠质量(2项研究;MD=-1.71,P<0.001),并减轻抑郁状况(2项研究;SMD=-0.33,P=0.035)。结论证据表明CRBE改善了长期慢性疾病老年人的身体功能参数、睡眠质量,并减轻抑郁状况。这项研究可用以敦促长期护理机构让行动不便的老年人参与体育活动。展开更多
AIM:To investigate the aldose reductase(AR)inhibition capacity of astragalin(AST)against streptozoticin-induced diabetic cataracts(DCs)in rats.METHODS:Ex vivo investigations were conducted by treating the lens of a go...AIM:To investigate the aldose reductase(AR)inhibition capacity of astragalin(AST)against streptozoticin-induced diabetic cataracts(DCs)in rats.METHODS:Ex vivo investigations were conducted by treating the lens of a goat placed for 72h in artificial aqueous humor(AAH)of pH 7.8 at room temperature with cataract-causing substance(55 mmol/L of galactose)and in vivo studies were performed on rats via induction with streptozotocin.AST was administered at different dose levels and scrutinize for DC activity.RESULTS:In diabetic rats,AST improved the body weight,blood insulin,and glucose as well as the levels of galactitol in a dose-dependent way,other biochemical parameters i.e.inflammatory mediators and cytokines,and also suppress AR activity.The level of the antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione(GSH)activity were also altered on a diabetic lens after the administration of the AST.CONCLUSION:AST protects against lens opacification to avoid cataracts and polyols formation,indicating that it could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes.展开更多
Many ethnic plants are used as a source of traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses in both humans and animals. Developing secondary metabolites in plants with antifungal characteristics, offer alternative ...Many ethnic plants are used as a source of traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses in both humans and animals. Developing secondary metabolites in plants with antifungal characteristics, offer alternative medications for reasonably priced and safe treatments. In the present study, methanolic, ethanolic, hexane and ethyl acetate leaves extracts of fifteen Apiaceae family plants were taken on the premise of their ethno botanical uses. The antifungal activity was assessed against significant fungal strain;Aspergillus fumigates by measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Zone of inhibition compared with standard drug fluconazole. Ethanol and methanol extracts of the plants were more effective than the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts against A. fumigates. Extracts of Cuminum cyminum, Pastinca sativa, Carum carvi, Dacus carota, Centella asiatica, Anthriscus cerefolium, Trachyspermum ammi, Pimpenella anisum and Apium graveolens showed relatively low inhibition effects between 3.5 to 8.5 mm. The MIC value of extracts was determined ranging between 0.8 to 0.43 μg/ml. The extract of Petroselinum crispum, Foeniculum vulgare, Ferula assaefoetida, Bunium persicum, Anethum graveolens and Coriander sativum could be considered as potential source of antifungal compounds for treating diseases in humans. Conclude remarks that these six extracts show astonishing fungicidal properties that can be used to discover drugs of very high potential.展开更多
It is essential to minimize soil quality degradation in sloping agricultural fields through stabilization and improvement of soil hydraulic properties using sustainable soil management.This study aimed to analyze the ...It is essential to minimize soil quality degradation in sloping agricultural fields through stabilization and improvement of soil hydraulic properties using sustainable soil management.This study aimed to analyze the impact of different tillage practices,including conventional tillage(CT),minimum tillage(MT),and zero tillage(ZT),on soil hydraulic conductivity in a sloping agricultural field under maizeewheat rotation.The results showed that the highest runoff volume(257.40 m3),runoff coefficient(42.84%),and soil loss(11.3 t)were observed when the CT treatment was applied.In contrast,the lowest runoff volume(67.95 m3),runoff coefficient(11.35%),and soil loss(1.05 t)were observed when the ZT treatment was adopted.The soil organic carbon and aggregate mean weight diameter were found to be significantly greater(with mean values of 0.79%and 1.19 mm,respectively)with the ZT treatment than with the CT treatment.With the tilled treatments(CT and MT),substantial changes in the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(ks),near-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(k),and water-conducting porosity(ε)were observed between two crop seasons.These three soil parameters were significantly higher in the period after maize harvesting than in the wheat growing period.In contrast,no significant difference in these soil parameters was found when the untilled treatment(ZT)was carried out.With regard to the slope positions,ks,k,andεshowed different behaviors under different treatments.The toe slope position showed significantly lower ks andεvalues than the summit and middle slope positions.Of the evaluated tillage practices,ZT was found to be the most promising means to improve the soil hydro-physical properties and effectively reduce surface runoff and soil erosion.展开更多
The term “microgravity” is used to describe the “weightlessness” or “zero-g” circumstances that can only be found in space beyond earth’s atmosphere. Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a gram-negative purple phototroph...The term “microgravity” is used to describe the “weightlessness” or “zero-g” circumstances that can only be found in space beyond earth’s atmosphere. Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a gram-negative purple phototroph, used as a model organism for this study due to its genomic complexity and metabolic versatility. Its genome has been completely sequenced, and profiles of the differential gene expression under aerobic, semi-aerobic, and photosynthetic conditions were examined. In this study, we hypothesized that R. sphaeroides will show altered growth characteristics, morphological properties, and gene expression patterns when grown under simulated microgravity. To test that, we measured the optical density and colony-forming units of cell cultures grown under both microgravity and normal gravity conditions. Differences in the cell morphology were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images by measuring the length and the surface area of the cells under both conditions. Furthermore, we also identified homologous genes of R. spheroides using the differential gene expression study of Acidovorax under microgravity in our laboratory. Growth kinetics results showed that R. sphaeroides cells grown under microgravity experience a shorter log phase and early stationary phase compared to the cells growing under normal gravity conditions. The length and surface area of the cells under microgravity were significantly higher confirming that bacterial cells experience altered morphological features when grown under microgravity conditions. Differentially expressed homologous gene analysis indicated that genes coding for several COG and GO functions, such as metabolism, signal-transduction, transcription, translation, chemotaxis, and cell motility are differentially expressed to adapt and survive microgravity.展开更多
In this manuscript a comparative study on Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/polystyrene and Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/PVDF composites has been executed via analysis of struc...In this manuscript a comparative study on Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/polystyrene and Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/PVDF composites has been executed via analysis of structural, bonding, surface morphology and dielectric response of composites for energy storage. The composites have been synthesized using solution cast method by varying concentrations of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (BO = 1 - 5 mw%) into polystyrene (PS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers respectively. X-ray diffraction confirms the generation of crystallinity, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirms bonding behavior and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms uniform distribution of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (BO) in PS and PVDF polymers. Impedance spectroscopy has been employed for determination of dielectric response of the fabricated composites. The dielectric constant has been found to be increased as 1.4 times of pristine PS to BO<sub>5%</sub>PS<sub>95%</sub> composites and 1.8 times of pristine PVDF to BO<sub>5%</sub>PVDF<sub>95%</sub> composites respectively. These high dielectric composite electrodes are useful for flexible energy storage devices.展开更多
Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation is a promising technology for self-healing concrete due to its capability to seal microcracks.The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding hydroge...Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation is a promising technology for self-healing concrete due to its capability to seal microcracks.The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding hydrogelencapsulated bacteria on the compressive strength and the self-healing efficiency of concrete.To achieve this objective,12 sets of mortar samples were prepared,including three different mineral precursors(magnesium acetate,calcium lactate,and sodium lactate),at two concentrations(67.76 and 75.00 mM/L),and under two different biological conditions(with and without bacteria).In addition,a set of plain mortar samples was prepared to serve as a control.For each sample set,three mortar cubes and three beams were prepared and subjected to compression and flexural strength tests.From the compression tests,it was found that the sample containing calcium lactate along with yeast extract and bacteria displayed the best results.As for the flexural tests,once cracked,the beams were subjected to 28 d of wet/dry cycles(16 h of water immersion and 8 h of drying),where the bottom crack width was monitored(at 0,3,7,14,28 d of wet/dry cycles).Once the sample with the highest healing efficiency was identified(the one containing calcium lactate and hydrogel-encapsulated bacteria),the study was scaled up to concrete specimens.Two sets of concrete cylinders(consisting of three control samples and three samples with bacteria along with calcium lactate)were tested under compression in order to evaluate the effect of the bacteria-precursor combination on the concrete mechanical properties.The samples that yielded the greatest compressive strength were the ones containing calcium lactate and bacteria,displaying an improvement of 17%as compared to the control specimen.Furthermore,a flexural strength recovery analysis was performed on the concrete specimens revealing that the control showed better flexural strength recovery than the bacteriacontaining variant(41.5%vs.26.1%)after 28 d of wet/dry cycles.A healing efficiency analysis was also performed on the cracked samples,revealing that the control displayed the best results.These results are due to the fact that the control specimen showed a narrower crack width in comparison to the bacteria-containing samples.展开更多
Several important PDE systems,like magnetohydrodynamics and computational electrodynamics,are known to support involutions where the divergence of a vector field evolves in divergence-free or divergence constraint-pre...Several important PDE systems,like magnetohydrodynamics and computational electrodynamics,are known to support involutions where the divergence of a vector field evolves in divergence-free or divergence constraint-preserving fashion.Recently,new classes of PDE systems have emerged for hyperelasticity,compressible multiphase flows,so-called firstorder reductions of the Einstein field equations,or a novel first-order hyperbolic reformulation of Schrödinger’s equation,to name a few,where the involution in the PDE supports curl-free or curl constraint-preserving evolution of a vector field.We study the problem of curl constraint-preserving reconstruction as it pertains to the design of mimetic finite volume(FV)WENO-like schemes for PDEs that support a curl-preserving involution.(Some insights into discontinuous Galerkin(DG)schemes are also drawn,though that is not the prime focus of this paper.)This is done for two-and three-dimensional structured mesh problems where we deliver closed form expressions for the reconstruction.The importance of multidimensional Riemann solvers in facilitating the design of such schemes is also documented.In two dimensions,a von Neumann analysis of structure-preserving WENOlike schemes that mimetically satisfy the curl constraints,is also presented.It shows the tremendous value of higher order WENO-like schemes in minimizing dissipation and dispersion for this class of problems.Numerical results are also presented to show that the edge-centered curl-preserving(ECCP)schemes meet their design accuracy.This paper is the first paper that invents non-linearly hybridized curl-preserving reconstruction and integrates it with higher order Godunov philosophy.By its very design,this paper is,therefore,intended to be forward-looking and to set the stage for future work on curl involution-constrained PDEs.展开更多
The archipelagic country of Indonesia is populated by the densest marine biodiversity in the world which has created strong global interest and is valued by both Indigenous and European settlements for different purpo...The archipelagic country of Indonesia is populated by the densest marine biodiversity in the world which has created strong global interest and is valued by both Indigenous and European settlements for different purposes.Nearly 1000 chemicals have been extracted and identified.In this review,a systematic data curation was employed to collate bioprospecting related manuscripts providing a comprehensive directory based on publications from 1988 to 2022.Findings with significant pharmacological activities are further discussed through a scoping data collection.This review discusses macroorganisms(Sponges,Ascidian,Gorgonians,Algae,Mangrove)and microorganism(Bacteria and Fungi)and highlights significant discoveries,including a potent microtubule stabilizer laulimalide from Hyattella sp.,a prospective doxorubicin complement papuamine alkaloid from Neopetrosia cf exigua,potent antiplasmodial manzamine A from Acanthostrongylophora ingens,the highly potent anti trypanosomal manadoperoxide B from Plakortis cfr.Simplex,mRNA translation disrupter hippuristanol from Briareum sp,and the anti-HIV-1(+)-8-hydroxymanzamine A isolated from Acanthostrongylophora sp.Further,some potent antibacterial extracts were also found from a limited biomass of bacteria cultures.Although there are currently no examples of commercial drugs from the Indonesian marine environment,this review shows the molecular diversity present and with the known understudied biodiversity,reveals great promise for future studies and outcomes.展开更多
文摘Background: The use of social media platforms for health and nutrition information has become popular among college students. Although social media made information readily accessible in different formats, nutritional misinformation promoted by influencers and non-experts caused negative impact on diet behavior and perception of body image. Previous research indicated that extensive use of social media was positively linked to disordered eating behaviors. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram that allow users to follow celebrities intensified exposure to influencers’ messages and images and resulted in negative moods and body dissatisfaction. Objective: This paper aims to explore the impact of social media on college students’ dietary behaviors and body image. Participants: 18 undergraduate students from a public university in the Southern United States were recruited through a mass email. Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study of three focus groups was conducted. The focus groups were based on guiding open-ended questions. Atlas.ti was used to code and analyze the data using inductive and deductive codes. Results: Three main themes were identified. The conditions theme included elements that explain why and how social media influences the participants’ actions. The actions theme included eating behavior, physical activity, and dietary supplement intake. The consequences theme describes anticipated or actual outcomes of actions such as body image and ideal weight. Conclusions: Social media has had a negative influence on diet behaviors and a positive influence on physical activity. Evidence-based nutrition and weight management information is needed to thwart potential misinformation.
基金supported by National Institutes of Health(NIH)/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences grants P42 ES 10349,P30 ES 09089,R01ES032149by a training grant(5D43TW005724)from the NIH Fogarty International Center.
文摘Background:Arsenic(As)is a toxic element that can lead to various health issues in humans.The primary exposure to As is through the consumption of water contaminated with high As levels,particularly in Bangladesh.Previous studies have shown that urinary arsenic(UAs)concentration can reflect As exposure and metabolism in individuals.However,little is known about how other factors,such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status,may affect UAs concentrations in children.Objective:This study aimed to investigate the influence of factors such as age,sex,and socioeconomic status on UAs concentrations in children,in addition to the impact of drinking water arsenic(WAs)levels.Methods:We conducted our study on elementary school-going children aged 8-11 years from rural Araihazar in Bangladesh.We measured UAs(available for a subset of 391 children)and WAs levels and collected information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics.We employed regression analysis and t-tests to analyze the data.Results:Our findings revealed that younger children(β=197.95,95%confidence interval[CI]:111.97 to 283.94),female children(β=93.95,95%CI:8.49 to 179.40),and children with less educated fathers(β=138.03,95%CI:26.47 to 249.58)had higher UAs levels,particularly when they consumed water with high As content.Conclusion:The study concludes that children's As exposure and UAs concentration may vary depending on their age,sex,and socioeconomic status.Therefore,these factors should be considered when assessing the health risks associated with As.
文摘The captive white-tailed deer industry has an estimated impact of 1.6 billion USD in the state of Texas alone. However, nutritional requirements for cervids are determined through research based on sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of zinc on differences in dry matter digestibility in vitro for white-tailed does (Odocoileus virginianus). Deer (n = 2) were ethically harvested, rumens were collected, and placed into a cooler containing warm water. Rumen contents were agitated, and fluid was filtered using cheese cloth while applying CO2. Fluid was placed into four separate incubator jars with filter bags containing a 1:1 alfalfa to coastal hay blend. Zinc doses of 0.073 mg/kg/d equivalents were added to two of the jars ( Zn), and the additional two jars received 0.00 mg/kg/d (CON). Following 48 h of incubation, in vitro true digestibility (IVTD) showed no significant differences between the control and the treatment groups. Average dry matter digested in vitro was 91.87% and 95.13%, respectively. There were no differences detected in ADF, NDF, IVTD, or OM between the treatment groups. While no detectable differences were observed in this study, this methodology did prove to be viable and functional for microbial digestion in vitro. This study can be replicated with multiple experimental units to confirm the observations of increased digestibility. Formal nutritional guidelines can be created to allow for more efficient feeding of cervids thereby reducing feed costs and continuing the growth of the captive deer industry.
基金This study was funded by Universitas Airlangga,Indonesia through Article Review scheme number 200/UN3.15/PT/2022.
文摘目的系统评价座椅辅助阻力带运动(chair-based resistance band exercise,CRBE)对长期护理机构老年人身体功能、睡眠质量和抑郁的影响。方法对AgeLine,CINAHL,PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Scopus和Web of Science等数据库进行检索。检索时间为建库至2022年3月,纳入对慢性疾病老年人进行CRBE的随机对照试验研究。采用物理治疗证据数据库量表(the Physiotherapy Evidence Database,PEDro)对纳入文献进行质量评价,随机效应模型和固定效应模型用于生成集合效应量。结果共9篇文章符合纳入标准。结果显示,CRBE可促进日常生活活动(6项研究;SMD=0.30,P=0.001),肺活量(3项研究;MD=40.35,P<0.001),握力(5项研究;MD=2.17,P<0.001),上肢肌肉耐力(5项研究;MD=2.23,P=0.012),下肢肌肉耐力(4项研究;MD=1.32,P<0.001),上肢柔韧性(4项研究;MD=3.06,P=0.022),下体柔韧性(4项研究;MD=5.34,P<0.001),动态平衡(3项研究;MD=-0.35,P=0.011)、睡眠质量(2项研究;MD=-1.71,P<0.001),并减轻抑郁状况(2项研究;SMD=-0.33,P=0.035)。结论证据表明CRBE改善了长期慢性疾病老年人的身体功能参数、睡眠质量,并减轻抑郁状况。这项研究可用以敦促长期护理机构让行动不便的老年人参与体育活动。
文摘AIM:To investigate the aldose reductase(AR)inhibition capacity of astragalin(AST)against streptozoticin-induced diabetic cataracts(DCs)in rats.METHODS:Ex vivo investigations were conducted by treating the lens of a goat placed for 72h in artificial aqueous humor(AAH)of pH 7.8 at room temperature with cataract-causing substance(55 mmol/L of galactose)and in vivo studies were performed on rats via induction with streptozotocin.AST was administered at different dose levels and scrutinize for DC activity.RESULTS:In diabetic rats,AST improved the body weight,blood insulin,and glucose as well as the levels of galactitol in a dose-dependent way,other biochemical parameters i.e.inflammatory mediators and cytokines,and also suppress AR activity.The level of the antioxidant parameters such as superoxide dismutase(SOD),catalase(CAT),and glutathione(GSH)activity were also altered on a diabetic lens after the administration of the AST.CONCLUSION:AST protects against lens opacification to avoid cataracts and polyols formation,indicating that it could be used as a potential therapeutic agent for diabetes.
文摘Many ethnic plants are used as a source of traditional medicine to cure a variety of illnesses in both humans and animals. Developing secondary metabolites in plants with antifungal characteristics, offer alternative medications for reasonably priced and safe treatments. In the present study, methanolic, ethanolic, hexane and ethyl acetate leaves extracts of fifteen Apiaceae family plants were taken on the premise of their ethno botanical uses. The antifungal activity was assessed against significant fungal strain;Aspergillus fumigates by measuring minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Zone of inhibition compared with standard drug fluconazole. Ethanol and methanol extracts of the plants were more effective than the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts against A. fumigates. Extracts of Cuminum cyminum, Pastinca sativa, Carum carvi, Dacus carota, Centella asiatica, Anthriscus cerefolium, Trachyspermum ammi, Pimpenella anisum and Apium graveolens showed relatively low inhibition effects between 3.5 to 8.5 mm. The MIC value of extracts was determined ranging between 0.8 to 0.43 μg/ml. The extract of Petroselinum crispum, Foeniculum vulgare, Ferula assaefoetida, Bunium persicum, Anethum graveolens and Coriander sativum could be considered as potential source of antifungal compounds for treating diseases in humans. Conclude remarks that these six extracts show astonishing fungicidal properties that can be used to discover drugs of very high potential.
文摘It is essential to minimize soil quality degradation in sloping agricultural fields through stabilization and improvement of soil hydraulic properties using sustainable soil management.This study aimed to analyze the impact of different tillage practices,including conventional tillage(CT),minimum tillage(MT),and zero tillage(ZT),on soil hydraulic conductivity in a sloping agricultural field under maizeewheat rotation.The results showed that the highest runoff volume(257.40 m3),runoff coefficient(42.84%),and soil loss(11.3 t)were observed when the CT treatment was applied.In contrast,the lowest runoff volume(67.95 m3),runoff coefficient(11.35%),and soil loss(1.05 t)were observed when the ZT treatment was adopted.The soil organic carbon and aggregate mean weight diameter were found to be significantly greater(with mean values of 0.79%and 1.19 mm,respectively)with the ZT treatment than with the CT treatment.With the tilled treatments(CT and MT),substantial changes in the saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(ks),near-saturated soil hydraulic conductivity(k),and water-conducting porosity(ε)were observed between two crop seasons.These three soil parameters were significantly higher in the period after maize harvesting than in the wheat growing period.In contrast,no significant difference in these soil parameters was found when the untilled treatment(ZT)was carried out.With regard to the slope positions,ks,k,andεshowed different behaviors under different treatments.The toe slope position showed significantly lower ks andεvalues than the summit and middle slope positions.Of the evaluated tillage practices,ZT was found to be the most promising means to improve the soil hydro-physical properties and effectively reduce surface runoff and soil erosion.
文摘The term “microgravity” is used to describe the “weightlessness” or “zero-g” circumstances that can only be found in space beyond earth’s atmosphere. Rhodobacter sphaeroides is a gram-negative purple phototroph, used as a model organism for this study due to its genomic complexity and metabolic versatility. Its genome has been completely sequenced, and profiles of the differential gene expression under aerobic, semi-aerobic, and photosynthetic conditions were examined. In this study, we hypothesized that R. sphaeroides will show altered growth characteristics, morphological properties, and gene expression patterns when grown under simulated microgravity. To test that, we measured the optical density and colony-forming units of cell cultures grown under both microgravity and normal gravity conditions. Differences in the cell morphology were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images by measuring the length and the surface area of the cells under both conditions. Furthermore, we also identified homologous genes of R. spheroides using the differential gene expression study of Acidovorax under microgravity in our laboratory. Growth kinetics results showed that R. sphaeroides cells grown under microgravity experience a shorter log phase and early stationary phase compared to the cells growing under normal gravity conditions. The length and surface area of the cells under microgravity were significantly higher confirming that bacterial cells experience altered morphological features when grown under microgravity conditions. Differentially expressed homologous gene analysis indicated that genes coding for several COG and GO functions, such as metabolism, signal-transduction, transcription, translation, chemotaxis, and cell motility are differentially expressed to adapt and survive microgravity.
文摘In this manuscript a comparative study on Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/polystyrene and Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/PVDF composites has been executed via analysis of structural, bonding, surface morphology and dielectric response of composites for energy storage. The composites have been synthesized using solution cast method by varying concentrations of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (BO = 1 - 5 mw%) into polystyrene (PS) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) polymers respectively. X-ray diffraction confirms the generation of crystallinity, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy confirms bonding behavior and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirms uniform distribution of Bi<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> (BO) in PS and PVDF polymers. Impedance spectroscopy has been employed for determination of dielectric response of the fabricated composites. The dielectric constant has been found to be increased as 1.4 times of pristine PS to BO<sub>5%</sub>PS<sub>95%</sub> composites and 1.8 times of pristine PVDF to BO<sub>5%</sub>PVDF<sub>95%</sub> composites respectively. These high dielectric composite electrodes are useful for flexible energy storage devices.
基金The financial support of the Transportation Consortium of SouthCentral States(Tran-SET)is greatly appreciated(Tran-SET Project 20CLSU05 Grant Number 69A3551747106).
文摘Microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation is a promising technology for self-healing concrete due to its capability to seal microcracks.The main goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of adding hydrogelencapsulated bacteria on the compressive strength and the self-healing efficiency of concrete.To achieve this objective,12 sets of mortar samples were prepared,including three different mineral precursors(magnesium acetate,calcium lactate,and sodium lactate),at two concentrations(67.76 and 75.00 mM/L),and under two different biological conditions(with and without bacteria).In addition,a set of plain mortar samples was prepared to serve as a control.For each sample set,three mortar cubes and three beams were prepared and subjected to compression and flexural strength tests.From the compression tests,it was found that the sample containing calcium lactate along with yeast extract and bacteria displayed the best results.As for the flexural tests,once cracked,the beams were subjected to 28 d of wet/dry cycles(16 h of water immersion and 8 h of drying),where the bottom crack width was monitored(at 0,3,7,14,28 d of wet/dry cycles).Once the sample with the highest healing efficiency was identified(the one containing calcium lactate and hydrogel-encapsulated bacteria),the study was scaled up to concrete specimens.Two sets of concrete cylinders(consisting of three control samples and three samples with bacteria along with calcium lactate)were tested under compression in order to evaluate the effect of the bacteria-precursor combination on the concrete mechanical properties.The samples that yielded the greatest compressive strength were the ones containing calcium lactate and bacteria,displaying an improvement of 17%as compared to the control specimen.Furthermore,a flexural strength recovery analysis was performed on the concrete specimens revealing that the control showed better flexural strength recovery than the bacteriacontaining variant(41.5%vs.26.1%)after 28 d of wet/dry cycles.A healing efficiency analysis was also performed on the cracked samples,revealing that the control displayed the best results.These results are due to the fact that the control specimen showed a narrower crack width in comparison to the bacteria-containing samples.
基金Dinshaw S.Balsara acknowledges support via NSF grants NSF-19-04774,NSFAST-2009776 and NASA-2020-1241Michael Dumbser acknowledges the financial support received from the Italian Ministry of Education,University and Research(MIUR)in the frame of the Departments of Excellence Initiative 2018-2022 attributed to DICAM of the University of Trento(grant L.232/2016)and in the frame of the PRIN 2017 project Innovative numerical methods for evolutionary partial differential equations and applications.
文摘Several important PDE systems,like magnetohydrodynamics and computational electrodynamics,are known to support involutions where the divergence of a vector field evolves in divergence-free or divergence constraint-preserving fashion.Recently,new classes of PDE systems have emerged for hyperelasticity,compressible multiphase flows,so-called firstorder reductions of the Einstein field equations,or a novel first-order hyperbolic reformulation of Schrödinger’s equation,to name a few,where the involution in the PDE supports curl-free or curl constraint-preserving evolution of a vector field.We study the problem of curl constraint-preserving reconstruction as it pertains to the design of mimetic finite volume(FV)WENO-like schemes for PDEs that support a curl-preserving involution.(Some insights into discontinuous Galerkin(DG)schemes are also drawn,though that is not the prime focus of this paper.)This is done for two-and three-dimensional structured mesh problems where we deliver closed form expressions for the reconstruction.The importance of multidimensional Riemann solvers in facilitating the design of such schemes is also documented.In two dimensions,a von Neumann analysis of structure-preserving WENOlike schemes that mimetically satisfy the curl constraints,is also presented.It shows the tremendous value of higher order WENO-like schemes in minimizing dissipation and dispersion for this class of problems.Numerical results are also presented to show that the edge-centered curl-preserving(ECCP)schemes meet their design accuracy.This paper is the first paper that invents non-linearly hybridized curl-preserving reconstruction and integrates it with higher order Godunov philosophy.By its very design,this paper is,therefore,intended to be forward-looking and to set the stage for future work on curl involution-constrained PDEs.
文摘The archipelagic country of Indonesia is populated by the densest marine biodiversity in the world which has created strong global interest and is valued by both Indigenous and European settlements for different purposes.Nearly 1000 chemicals have been extracted and identified.In this review,a systematic data curation was employed to collate bioprospecting related manuscripts providing a comprehensive directory based on publications from 1988 to 2022.Findings with significant pharmacological activities are further discussed through a scoping data collection.This review discusses macroorganisms(Sponges,Ascidian,Gorgonians,Algae,Mangrove)and microorganism(Bacteria and Fungi)and highlights significant discoveries,including a potent microtubule stabilizer laulimalide from Hyattella sp.,a prospective doxorubicin complement papuamine alkaloid from Neopetrosia cf exigua,potent antiplasmodial manzamine A from Acanthostrongylophora ingens,the highly potent anti trypanosomal manadoperoxide B from Plakortis cfr.Simplex,mRNA translation disrupter hippuristanol from Briareum sp,and the anti-HIV-1(+)-8-hydroxymanzamine A isolated from Acanthostrongylophora sp.Further,some potent antibacterial extracts were also found from a limited biomass of bacteria cultures.Although there are currently no examples of commercial drugs from the Indonesian marine environment,this review shows the molecular diversity present and with the known understudied biodiversity,reveals great promise for future studies and outcomes.