Reproductive medicine has been transformed by assisted reproductive technologies(ART),providing multiple options for infertile couples to conceive biological offspring.The medical and legal frameworks,governing the pr...Reproductive medicine has been transformed by assisted reproductive technologies(ART),providing multiple options for infertile couples to conceive biological offspring.The medical and legal frameworks,governing the practice of embryologists in ART,focus on the ethical and safe handling of gametes and embryos.Embryologists play a crucial role in the success of ART procedures,requiring technical expertise and a thorough understanding of legal and ethical considerations.The importance of quality control,safety protocols,and sterility in ART laboratories is essential to ensure optimal embryo development and patient well-being.The legal responsibilities of an embryologist under the Assisted Reproductive Technology(Regulation)Act,2021 in India are required.This review emphasizes the importance of record-keeping,patient confidentiality,informed consent,and adherence to legal and ethical standards to minimize the risk of malpractice claims.Overall,this narrative review provides a detailed overview of the medical,legal,and ethical frameworks governing embryologists'practice in ART,underscoring the significance of responsible and ethical conduct in this rapidly advancing field.展开更多
Guava(Psidium guajava L.),a plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family,holds significant medicinal and nutritional values.Leaves of the plant are described to be elliptical with a dark green color and are utilized in the...Guava(Psidium guajava L.),a plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family,holds significant medicinal and nutritional values.Leaves of the plant are described to be elliptical with a dark green color and are utilized in the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory issues along with increasing the platelet count in patients suffering from dengue.In this review paper,the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of guava leaves,including proteins,vitamins,minerals,and polysaccharides,have been reviewed.The methods of extraction of bioactive compounds from guava leaves and their bioactivities,including antioxidant,anti-diabetic,and anti-cancer potential,have been explored.Further,encapsulation techniques for improving the transport of bioactive compounds and living cells into foods have been studied.The application of guava leaves in different food systems such as herbal tea,pork sausage,chocolates,jelly,meals for chickens,functional beverages,and as antibacterial agents in food preservatives has also been investigated.The findings of this review illustrated that the phytochemicals present in guava leaves showed excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.Encapsulation appears to be a promising technique for improving the stability,bioavailability,and controlled release of bioactive chemicals extracted from guava leaves.Different methods for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds employed and applied in distinct food systems showed preservation of phytochemicals,improved bioactivities,and nutritional values.Overall,this review paper demonstrated how guava leaves,an abundant source of bioactive compounds,can be used as a multipurpose component to create functional foods,edible coatings,and active packaging to enhance the nutritional,antioxidant,and antimicrobial properties of various food systems that have qualities that promote health.展开更多
In thefield of material sciences,nano-based formulations have attracted the attention of researchers,as they are highly suit-able for applications in differentfields.Conventionally,physical and chemical techniques have...In thefield of material sciences,nano-based formulations have attracted the attention of researchers,as they are highly suit-able for applications in differentfields.Conventionally,physical and chemical techniques have been employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles(AgNPs).However,they use hazardous and poisonous ingredients,which are toxic to human health and the environment.Therefore,it necessitates the development of an eco-friendly and economical method for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles.Biogenic AgNPs have been synthesized using plants and microorganisms due to the presence of reducing agents such as metabolites and enzymes in their extracts.The size,shape,and other properties of the biogenic AgNPs have been characterized using various biophysical techniques.AgNPs are widely used to treat infections and diseases in humans and plants.They have demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activities and,therefore,have been applied in various therapeutic applications like the treatment of cancer,wound dressing,orthopedic and cardiovascular implants,and dental composites.Biogenic AgNPs have been applied for the remediation of environmental pollution,including that of water and air via the detoxification of synthetic dyes and other contaminants.They have improved seed germination and plant growth after application as nanofertilizers and nano-pesticides,as well as in masking the effects of stress.This review describes various biological routes used in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their potential applications in agricultural,environmental,and medicalfields.展开更多
Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> crystalline ceramic was successfully synthesized through a soft chemical route at lower sintering temperature for analysis of photocatalyti...Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> crystalline ceramic was successfully synthesized through a soft chemical route at lower sintering temperature for analysis of photocatalytic behavior with respect to adsorption of Congo Red (CR) in the presence of UV-VIS irradiation. The single-phase formation of Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> ceramic was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction studies and particle size observed by TEM analysis was found to be 148 ± 5 nm which reveals the crystalline nature of the materials. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity of Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> ceramic was evaluated by the degradation of Congo Red in presence of visible light. The optical band gap (Eg) of the synthesized materials was found to be 1.8 eV. It exhibited greater photocatalytic activity than other synthesized materials like BiFeO<sub>3</sub> as well as TiO<sub>2</sub> due to a smaller band gap (1.8 eV). Furthermore, process variables such as pH.展开更多
As one of the most important and essential macronutrients next to nitrogen,phosphorus(P)is important for plant development,but it is the least mobile nutrient element in plant and soil.Globally,P is mined from geologi...As one of the most important and essential macronutrients next to nitrogen,phosphorus(P)is important for plant development,but it is the least mobile nutrient element in plant and soil.Globally,P is mined from geological sediments and added to agricultural soils so as to meet the critical requirements of crop plants for agronomic productivity.Phosphorus exists in soil in both organic and inorganic forms.The various inorganic forms of the element in soil are salts with calcium,iron,and aluminum,whereas the organic forms come from decaying vegetation and microbial residue.There is a huge diversity of plant microbiomes(epiphytic,endophytic,and rhizospheric)and soil microbiomes that have the capability to solubilize the insoluble P and make it available to plant.The main mechanism for the solubilization of inorganic P is by the production of organic acids,which lowers soil pH,or by the production of acid and alkaline phosphatases,which causes the mineralization of organic P.The P-solubilizing and-mobilizing microorganisms belong to all three domains,comprising archaea,bacteria,and eukarya.The strains belonging to the genera Arthrobacter,Bacillus,Burkholderia,Natrinema,Pseudomonas,Rhizobium,and Serratia have been reported as efficient and potential P solubilizers.The use of P solubilizers,alone or in combination with other plant growth-promoting microbes as an eco-friendly microbial consortium,could increase the P uptake of crops,increasing their yields for agricultural and environmental sustainability.展开更多
Phytases belong to the class of phosphohydrolases that begin the step-wise hydrolysis of phosphates from phytates. Phytates are a derivative of myo-inositol, which is the primary storage form of organic phosphorus in ...Phytases belong to the class of phosphohydrolases that begin the step-wise hydrolysis of phosphates from phytates. Phytates are a derivative of myo-inositol, which is the primary storage form of organic phosphorus in plant cells. Phytase has been used globally to diminish phosphorus pollution and to enhance nutrition in monogastrics. In this review, the classification, sources, and diversity of microbial phytases, and their practical applications, as well as supplementation of the soil with transgenic and wild types of microbial strains, which can release phytase to enhance phosphorus availability for plant uptake and reduce the need for fertilizers, are discussed. The overexpressed microbial phytases in transgenic plants enhance the growth capacity of co-cultivated plants and can therefore be employed in agricultural and biotechnological practices, such as intercropping. The introduction of phytases into the soil for improved plant growth and enhanced crop yield can be accomplished without extra cost. A diverse group of photoautotrophic microalgae can synthesize phytase and will likely be useful in many human food and animal industries.展开更多
A good understanding of the levels and distribution patterns of soil properties and/or quality indicators is a prerequisite for developing sustainable agricultural land management programs. Traditional assessments of ...A good understanding of the levels and distribution patterns of soil properties and/or quality indicators is a prerequisite for developing sustainable agricultural land management programs. Traditional assessments of these parameters of soil fertility status are somewhat costly, in both economics and time aspects. Different modelling techniques have been proposed as a useful tool for determination of soil quality indicators and development of soil fertility maps, but to what extent these results are reliable remains under-quantified in many regions worldwide. To address this uncertainty, Fuzzy-Analytical Hierarchy Process(Fuzzy-AHP) and Parametric analyses were conducted to ascertain the soil fertility status of a semiarid region in the Northeast of Iran for some selected crops: alfalfa, corn silage, potato, sugar beet, tomato and wheat. The Fuzzy-AHP and Parametric techniques using soil suitability indices were estimated for each crop and each soil delineation was achieved by Ordinary Kriging. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS) was used as a compensatory method to allow tradeoffs among the selected criteria. Our results demonstrated that from the Fuzzy-AHP analysis, the soil fertility indices ranged from moderate to high for production of alfalfa;from low to high for production of corn silage and sugar beet;moderate to high for production of potato and tomato;and from low to moderate for production of wheat. However, the parametric analysis showed soil fertility classes ranging from very low to high for production of all the selected crops. High correlations were also observed between soil fertility indices predicted by both models. Similarly, the capacities of both models to predict soil fertility status for production of the selected crops were also highly correlated. The preference for the cultivation of the selected crops based on the Fuzzy-AHP analysis was sugar beet > corn silage > wheat > alfalfa > tomato > potato. On the other hand, using Parametric techniques, the crops preferences for cultivation ranked as corn silage > wheat > alfalfa > sugar beet > tomato > potato. We concluded that the findings would help to develop sustainable plans of cultivation based on patterns related to soil fertility classes depending on each crop’s requirement.展开更多
The paper has reported the structural,transport and optical properties of boron doped zinc oxide（ZnO：B） thin films grown on glass substrate by sol-gel spin coating process.It is observed from the analysis of the X-...The paper has reported the structural,transport and optical properties of boron doped zinc oxide（ZnO：B） thin films grown on glass substrate by sol-gel spin coating process.It is observed from the analysis of the X-ray diffraction（XRD） results that the crystalline quality of the films is improved with increasing B concentration.A crystallite size of ～17 nm is obtained for B doped films.A minimum resistivity of 7.9×10-4 Ω.cm is obtained at 0.6 at.% of B concentration in the ZnO：B films.Ionized and intragrain cluster scattering are found to dominate the scattering mechanism in ZnO：B films.Optical interference pattern in transmittance spectra shows good homogeneity with a transparency of ～88% in the visible region.The band gap of the films is increased from 3.24 to 3.35 eV with increasing B concentration.Band gap widening is analyzed in terms of Burstein-Moss shift.The origin of the broad band photoluminescence（PL） spectra is explained in terms of the intragrain cluster scattering.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the biochemical capacity,and in vitro inhibitory effects of hairy roots from two cultivars of Ficus carica L.(Sabz and Siah)on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes.Methods:In the hai...Objective:To investigate the biochemical capacity,and in vitro inhibitory effects of hairy roots from two cultivars of Ficus carica L.(Sabz and Siah)on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes.Methods:In the hairy roots,the activity of antioxidant enzymes compared to normal leaves and roots,and the presence of some phenolic compounds in comparison with fruits were investigated.The IC_(50) values of hairy roots in promastigotes was determined by tetrazolium-dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and trypan blue assays.By calculating the infectivity index of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs),the leishmanicidal activity(IC_(50) values)of hairy roots for amastigotes was estimated.The effects of hairy roots(IC_(50) values)treatment on the levels of IFN-γ and iNOS expression,intracellular reactive oxygen species,and iNOS protein expression in infected-PBMCs were determined.Results:Based on antioxidant enzyme assays and high performance liquid chromatography analysis,hairy roots exhibited high antioxidant capacity and contained high levels of phenolic compounds.According to the results of tetrazolium-dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and trypan blue assays,the hairy root extracts of both cultivars showed considerable dose-dependent inhibitory effects against Leishmania major promastigotes.Depending on the concentration and exposure time,treatment of infected-PBMCs with hairy root extracts caused the generation of a significant reactive oxygen species,up-regulation of IFN-γ and iNOS genes expression,and high value of iNOS protein compared to controls.Conclusions:The findings of this study suggest that the hairy roots of Ficus carica can be considered as a promising natural source of antileishmanial agents.展开更多
Phenol, a ubiquitous component of industrial effluents, is a common pollutant of water resources and a serious threat to fish.The present work demonstrates that a significant amount of phenol is retained by various ti...Phenol, a ubiquitous component of industrial effluents, is a common pollutant of water resources and a serious threat to fish.The present work demonstrates that a significant amount of phenol is retained by various tissues of the common carp.Cyprinus carpio.and the snake-headed murrel.Channa punclatus.The rate of [^(14)C] phenol accumulation was higher in the carp than in the murrel.It is suggested that retention of phenol in the brain and ovary may seriously afiect the reproductive potential of the fish. 1990 Academic Press.Inc.展开更多
Dear Editor,Premacular hemorrhage is a common cause of sudden profound visual loss in otherwise healthy eye.One of the commonest causes of premacular hemorrhage in clinical practice is Valsalva retinopathy,which was f...Dear Editor,Premacular hemorrhage is a common cause of sudden profound visual loss in otherwise healthy eye.One of the commonest causes of premacular hemorrhage in clinical practice is Valsalva retinopathy,which was first described by Thomas Duane in 1972[1].展开更多
AIM:To ascertain the pattern of investigations at first contact in uveitic patients and evaluate compliance to treatment.METHODS:An observational study comprised of 201 uveitic patients presenting for the first time t...AIM:To ascertain the pattern of investigations at first contact in uveitic patients and evaluate compliance to treatment.METHODS:An observational study comprised of 201 uveitic patients presenting for the first time to our centre from January 2019 to June 2020.Detailed information regarding systemic investigations undertaken by specialists at the time of first contact and the cost of these investigations were reviewed on the first visit to our centre.Compliance with the treatment was determined and reasons behind non-compliance were evaluated on the first follow-up in patients who had no improvement in clinical signs and symptoms.RESULTS:The mean age of the study group was 35.35±14.1y and gender composition was 59.7%males and 40.3%females.Anterior uveitis was observed in 45.3%of patients,intermediate uveitis in 31.8%of patients,posterior uveitis in 14.9%of patients and panuveitis in 8.0%of patients.Association with a systemic disease was evident in 17.9%of patients.When compared with standard guidelines and uveitis patterns,systemic investigations were identified to be relevant only in 38.3%of patients.Non-compliance to treatment was documented in 22.4%of patients.Common reasons for non-compliance were inadequate counselling by the treating physician about treatment in 26.7%of patients and a busy schedule at work/school in 22.2%of patients.CONCLUSION:Significant number of investigations performed at first contact is found to be contrary to standard guidelines and are not contributory to the care.About a quarter of patients in this study are found to be non-compliant with the treatment.Compliance is more challenging to achieve in school-going children and working adults.The availability of comprehensive,periodically updated,evidence-based guidelines on the role of investigations and the use of trained counsellors may help to channelize proper evaluation and improve compliance to treatment,respectively,in patients with uveitis.展开更多
The aim of the study was to investigate distribution, enrichment and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and Trigonella foenum-graecum (var. Pusa Early Bunching) after fertigation with paper mill effluent. Doses of p...The aim of the study was to investigate distribution, enrichment and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and Trigonella foenum-graecum (var. Pusa Early Bunching) after fertigation with paper mill effluent. Doses of paper mill effluent viz. 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% were used for fertigation of T. foenum-graecum along with bore well water (control). The results revealed that paper mill effluent had significant (P +, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, TKN, PO3-4, SO2-4, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn of the soil in both seasons. Insignificant (P > 0.05) changes in WHC and bulk density of the soil were observed after irrigation with paper mill effluent. The agronomical performance of T. foenum-graecum was increased from 5% to 25% concentration and decreased from 50% to 100% concentration of paper mill effluent as compared to control in both seasons. The heavy metals concentration was increased in T. foenum-graecum from 5% to 100% concentrations of paper mill effluent in both seasons. Biochemical components like crude proteins, crude fiber and crude carbohydrates were found maximum with 25% paper mill effluent in both seasons. The enrichment factor (Ef) of various heavy metals was in order of Cd > Mn > Cr > Cu > Zn > Fe for soil and Mn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Zn > Fe for T. foenum-graecum plants after fertigation with paper mill effluent. Therefore, paper mill effluent can be used as a biofertigant after appropriate dilution to improve yield of T. foenum-graecum.展开更多
Isolated ovarian tissues from the common carp, Cyprinus carpio were incubated in vitro to obtain a discrete effect of four common toxicants of industrial origin, namely phenol, sulfide, mercuric chloride and cadmium c...Isolated ovarian tissues from the common carp, Cyprinus carpio were incubated in vitro to obtain a discrete effect of four common toxicants of industrial origin, namely phenol, sulfide, mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride, on gonadotropin-induced alteration of nonesterified and esterified cholesterol and steroidogenic enzymes, △5-3β-HSD and 17β-HSD activity. Stage II ovarian tissue containing 30-40% mature oocytes were shown to be most responsive to gonadotropins in depleting only nonesterified cholesterol moiety and stimulating the activity of both. Safe doses of above mentioned toxicants when added separately to stage II ovarian tissue with oLH (1 μg/incubation) gonadotropin-induced depletion of nonesterified cholesterol and gonadotropin-induced stimulation of the activity of both enzymes was significantly inhibited. Esterified cholesterol remained almost unaltered. Findings clearly indicate the impairment of gonadotropin induced fish ovarian steroidogenesis by the four toxicants separately.展开更多
Patients with peripheral arterial disease(PAD)and critical limb ischemia are at risk for limb amputation and require urgent management to restore blood flow.Patients with PAD often have several comorbidities,including...Patients with peripheral arterial disease(PAD)and critical limb ischemia are at risk for limb amputation and require urgent management to restore blood flow.Patients with PAD often have several comorbidities,including chronic kidney disease,diabetes mellitus,and hypertension.Diagnostic and interventional angiography using iodinated contrast agents provides excellent image resolution but can be associated with contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN).The use of carbon dioxide(CO2)as a contrast agent reduces the volume of iodine contrast required for angiography and reduces the incidence of CIN.However,CO2 angiography has been underutilized due to concerns regarding safety and image quality.Modern CO2 delivery systems with advanced digital subtraction angiography techniques and hybrid angiography have improved imaging accuracy and reduced the incidence of CIN.Awareness of the need for optimal imaging conditions,contraindications,and potential complications have improved the safety of CO2 angiography.This review aims to highlight current technological advances in the delivery of CO2 in vascular angiography for patients with PAD and critical limb ischemia,which result in limb preservation while preventing kidney damage.展开更多
MC （Monte Carlo） simulation code, JA-IPU is used to study radiation damage of SiC irradiated to spallation neutron and AmBe neutron spectra. The code is based on the major physical processes of radiation damage on i...MC （Monte Carlo） simulation code, JA-IPU is used to study radiation damage of SiC irradiated to spallation neutron and AmBe neutron spectra. The code is based on the major physical processes of radiation damage on incorporation of atomic collision cascade and limited to 10 MeV neutron energy. A phenomenological relation for radiation swelling is also derived. Based on the calculation of swelling, DPA （displacement per atom）, defect production efficiency and effective threshold energy, Efff from the data of MC simulation, SiC is inferred to be a highly radiation resistant material when compared with Nb and Ni metals which are used in composition of several reactor steels. Experimental results of hill-hock density measured using AFM （atomic force microscopy）, also confirm radiation resistant behavior of SiC.展开更多
Genetic variation is a key factor influencing cytokine production capacity,but which genetic loci regulate cytokine production before and after vaccination,particularly in African population is unknown.Here,we aimed t...Genetic variation is a key factor influencing cytokine production capacity,but which genetic loci regulate cytokine production before and after vaccination,particularly in African population is unknown.Here,we aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)controlling cytokine responses after microbial stimulation in infants of West-African ancestry,comprising of low-birth-weight neonates randomized to bacillus Calmette-Gue rin(BCG)vaccine-at-birth or to the usual delayed BCG.Genome-wide cytokine cytokine quantitative trait loci(cQTL)mapping revealed 12 independent loci,of which the LINC01082-LINC00917 locus influenced more than half of the cytokine-stimulation pairs assessed.Furthermore,nine distinct cQTLs were found among infants randomized to BCG.Functional validation confirmed that several complement genes affect cytokine response after BCG vaccination.We observed a limited overlap of common cQTLs between the West-African infants and cohorts of Western European individuals.These data reveal strong population-specific genetic effects on cytokine production and may indicate new opportunities for therapeutic intervention and vaccine development in African populations.展开更多
Objective:To detect leishmanial antigens in pre and post treated urine of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients.Methods:Urine and serum sample from three VL patients were collected. Ammonium sulphate precipitation and ...Objective:To detect leishmanial antigens in pre and post treated urine of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients.Methods:Urine and serum sample from three VL patients were collected. Ammonium sulphate precipitation and purification of urine sample was done for proteins isolation.SDS PAGE of proteins was done followed by western blotting,with the patient’s pre and post treatment serum.Results:Eight proteins of molecular weights 17 kDa,25 kDa,28 kDa,42 kDa, 47 kDa,54 kDa,60 kDa and 85 kDa were detected in the urine of VL patients before treatment. After treatment with miltefosine,none of the above proteins was detected in urine samples.The western blot analysis with pre treatment serum confirmed the antigenicity of four urinary proteins of molecular weights 25 kDa,28 kDa,54 kDa and 60 kDa.The seropositivity with 25 kDa and 28 kDa antigens was negative with serum obtained after the completion of treatment.Conclusions:In the context to unavailability of a prognostic tool,urinary leishmanial antigens may offer a better choice and may also be useful as immunoprophylactic candidates.展开更多
文摘Reproductive medicine has been transformed by assisted reproductive technologies(ART),providing multiple options for infertile couples to conceive biological offspring.The medical and legal frameworks,governing the practice of embryologists in ART,focus on the ethical and safe handling of gametes and embryos.Embryologists play a crucial role in the success of ART procedures,requiring technical expertise and a thorough understanding of legal and ethical considerations.The importance of quality control,safety protocols,and sterility in ART laboratories is essential to ensure optimal embryo development and patient well-being.The legal responsibilities of an embryologist under the Assisted Reproductive Technology(Regulation)Act,2021 in India are required.This review emphasizes the importance of record-keeping,patient confidentiality,informed consent,and adherence to legal and ethical standards to minimize the risk of malpractice claims.Overall,this narrative review provides a detailed overview of the medical,legal,and ethical frameworks governing embryologists'practice in ART,underscoring the significance of responsible and ethical conduct in this rapidly advancing field.
文摘Guava(Psidium guajava L.),a plant belonging to the Myrtaceae family,holds significant medicinal and nutritional values.Leaves of the plant are described to be elliptical with a dark green color and are utilized in the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory issues along with increasing the platelet count in patients suffering from dengue.In this review paper,the nutritional composition and bioactive compounds of guava leaves,including proteins,vitamins,minerals,and polysaccharides,have been reviewed.The methods of extraction of bioactive compounds from guava leaves and their bioactivities,including antioxidant,anti-diabetic,and anti-cancer potential,have been explored.Further,encapsulation techniques for improving the transport of bioactive compounds and living cells into foods have been studied.The application of guava leaves in different food systems such as herbal tea,pork sausage,chocolates,jelly,meals for chickens,functional beverages,and as antibacterial agents in food preservatives has also been investigated.The findings of this review illustrated that the phytochemicals present in guava leaves showed excellent antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.Encapsulation appears to be a promising technique for improving the stability,bioavailability,and controlled release of bioactive chemicals extracted from guava leaves.Different methods for the encapsulation of bioactive compounds employed and applied in distinct food systems showed preservation of phytochemicals,improved bioactivities,and nutritional values.Overall,this review paper demonstrated how guava leaves,an abundant source of bioactive compounds,can be used as a multipurpose component to create functional foods,edible coatings,and active packaging to enhance the nutritional,antioxidant,and antimicrobial properties of various food systems that have qualities that promote health.
文摘In thefield of material sciences,nano-based formulations have attracted the attention of researchers,as they are highly suit-able for applications in differentfields.Conventionally,physical and chemical techniques have been employed to synthesize silver nanoparticles(AgNPs).However,they use hazardous and poisonous ingredients,which are toxic to human health and the environment.Therefore,it necessitates the development of an eco-friendly and economical method for the fabrication of silver nanoparticles.Biogenic AgNPs have been synthesized using plants and microorganisms due to the presence of reducing agents such as metabolites and enzymes in their extracts.The size,shape,and other properties of the biogenic AgNPs have been characterized using various biophysical techniques.AgNPs are widely used to treat infections and diseases in humans and plants.They have demonstrated antifungal and antibacterial activities and,therefore,have been applied in various therapeutic applications like the treatment of cancer,wound dressing,orthopedic and cardiovascular implants,and dental composites.Biogenic AgNPs have been applied for the remediation of environmental pollution,including that of water and air via the detoxification of synthetic dyes and other contaminants.They have improved seed germination and plant growth after application as nanofertilizers and nano-pesticides,as well as in masking the effects of stress.This review describes various biological routes used in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles and their potential applications in agricultural,environmental,and medicalfields.
基金This work was supported by the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning(KETEP)and the Ministry of Trade,Industry,and Energy(MOTIE)of the Republic of Korea(20194110300040,20173010092470).This work was supported partially by the Research Center for Precision Environmental Medicine,Kaohsiung Medical University,Kaohsiung,Taiwan,China,from The Featured Areas Research Center Program within the framework of the Higher Education Sprout Project by the Ministry of Education(MOE)in Taiwan,China and by Kaohsiung Medical University Research Center Grant(KMU-TC113A01),Taiwan,China.This research work was supported financially from the Science and Technology Council,Taiwan,China.This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea(NRF)grant funded by the Korea government(MSIT)(RS-2023-00219497).
文摘Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> crystalline ceramic was successfully synthesized through a soft chemical route at lower sintering temperature for analysis of photocatalytic behavior with respect to adsorption of Congo Red (CR) in the presence of UV-VIS irradiation. The single-phase formation of Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> ceramic was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction studies and particle size observed by TEM analysis was found to be 148 ± 5 nm which reveals the crystalline nature of the materials. Additionally, the photocatalytic activity of Bi<sub>2</sub>Fe<sub>4</sub>O<sub>9</sub> ceramic was evaluated by the degradation of Congo Red in presence of visible light. The optical band gap (Eg) of the synthesized materials was found to be 1.8 eV. It exhibited greater photocatalytic activity than other synthesized materials like BiFeO<sub>3</sub> as well as TiO<sub>2</sub> due to a smaller band gap (1.8 eV). Furthermore, process variables such as pH.
基金the Department of Biotechnology,Akal College of Agriculture,Eternal University and the Department of Environment,Science&Technology(DEST),India-funded project“Development of Microbial Consortium as Bio-inoculants for Drought and Low Temperature Growing Crops for Organic Farming in Himachal Pradesh”for providing the facilities and financial support to undertake the investigations。
文摘As one of the most important and essential macronutrients next to nitrogen,phosphorus(P)is important for plant development,but it is the least mobile nutrient element in plant and soil.Globally,P is mined from geological sediments and added to agricultural soils so as to meet the critical requirements of crop plants for agronomic productivity.Phosphorus exists in soil in both organic and inorganic forms.The various inorganic forms of the element in soil are salts with calcium,iron,and aluminum,whereas the organic forms come from decaying vegetation and microbial residue.There is a huge diversity of plant microbiomes(epiphytic,endophytic,and rhizospheric)and soil microbiomes that have the capability to solubilize the insoluble P and make it available to plant.The main mechanism for the solubilization of inorganic P is by the production of organic acids,which lowers soil pH,or by the production of acid and alkaline phosphatases,which causes the mineralization of organic P.The P-solubilizing and-mobilizing microorganisms belong to all three domains,comprising archaea,bacteria,and eukarya.The strains belonging to the genera Arthrobacter,Bacillus,Burkholderia,Natrinema,Pseudomonas,Rhizobium,and Serratia have been reported as efficient and potential P solubilizers.The use of P solubilizers,alone or in combination with other plant growth-promoting microbes as an eco-friendly microbial consortium,could increase the P uptake of crops,increasing their yields for agricultural and environmental sustainability.
文摘Phytases belong to the class of phosphohydrolases that begin the step-wise hydrolysis of phosphates from phytates. Phytates are a derivative of myo-inositol, which is the primary storage form of organic phosphorus in plant cells. Phytase has been used globally to diminish phosphorus pollution and to enhance nutrition in monogastrics. In this review, the classification, sources, and diversity of microbial phytases, and their practical applications, as well as supplementation of the soil with transgenic and wild types of microbial strains, which can release phytase to enhance phosphorus availability for plant uptake and reduce the need for fertilizers, are discussed. The overexpressed microbial phytases in transgenic plants enhance the growth capacity of co-cultivated plants and can therefore be employed in agricultural and biotechnological practices, such as intercropping. The introduction of phytases into the soil for improved plant growth and enhanced crop yield can be accomplished without extra cost. A diverse group of photoautotrophic microalgae can synthesize phytase and will likely be useful in many human food and animal industries.
基金partially supported by the Department of Soil Science,University of Tehran,Iran。
文摘A good understanding of the levels and distribution patterns of soil properties and/or quality indicators is a prerequisite for developing sustainable agricultural land management programs. Traditional assessments of these parameters of soil fertility status are somewhat costly, in both economics and time aspects. Different modelling techniques have been proposed as a useful tool for determination of soil quality indicators and development of soil fertility maps, but to what extent these results are reliable remains under-quantified in many regions worldwide. To address this uncertainty, Fuzzy-Analytical Hierarchy Process(Fuzzy-AHP) and Parametric analyses were conducted to ascertain the soil fertility status of a semiarid region in the Northeast of Iran for some selected crops: alfalfa, corn silage, potato, sugar beet, tomato and wheat. The Fuzzy-AHP and Parametric techniques using soil suitability indices were estimated for each crop and each soil delineation was achieved by Ordinary Kriging. The Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution(TOPSIS) was used as a compensatory method to allow tradeoffs among the selected criteria. Our results demonstrated that from the Fuzzy-AHP analysis, the soil fertility indices ranged from moderate to high for production of alfalfa;from low to high for production of corn silage and sugar beet;moderate to high for production of potato and tomato;and from low to moderate for production of wheat. However, the parametric analysis showed soil fertility classes ranging from very low to high for production of all the selected crops. High correlations were also observed between soil fertility indices predicted by both models. Similarly, the capacities of both models to predict soil fertility status for production of the selected crops were also highly correlated. The preference for the cultivation of the selected crops based on the Fuzzy-AHP analysis was sugar beet > corn silage > wheat > alfalfa > tomato > potato. On the other hand, using Parametric techniques, the crops preferences for cultivation ranked as corn silage > wheat > alfalfa > sugar beet > tomato > potato. We concluded that the findings would help to develop sustainable plans of cultivation based on patterns related to soil fertility classes depending on each crop’s requirement.
基金support from MNRE Project No. 31/7/2004-05/PV-R&D,Govt. of India
文摘The paper has reported the structural,transport and optical properties of boron doped zinc oxide（ZnO：B） thin films grown on glass substrate by sol-gel spin coating process.It is observed from the analysis of the X-ray diffraction（XRD） results that the crystalline quality of the films is improved with increasing B concentration.A crystallite size of ～17 nm is obtained for B doped films.A minimum resistivity of 7.9×10-4 Ω.cm is obtained at 0.6 at.% of B concentration in the ZnO：B films.Ionized and intragrain cluster scattering are found to dominate the scattering mechanism in ZnO：B films.Optical interference pattern in transmittance spectra shows good homogeneity with a transparency of ～88% in the visible region.The band gap of the films is increased from 3.24 to 3.35 eV with increasing B concentration.Band gap widening is analyzed in terms of Burstein-Moss shift.The origin of the broad band photoluminescence（PL） spectra is explained in terms of the intragrain cluster scattering.
文摘Objective:To investigate the biochemical capacity,and in vitro inhibitory effects of hairy roots from two cultivars of Ficus carica L.(Sabz and Siah)on Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes.Methods:In the hairy roots,the activity of antioxidant enzymes compared to normal leaves and roots,and the presence of some phenolic compounds in comparison with fruits were investigated.The IC_(50) values of hairy roots in promastigotes was determined by tetrazolium-dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and trypan blue assays.By calculating the infectivity index of peripheral blood mononuclear cells(PBMCs),the leishmanicidal activity(IC_(50) values)of hairy roots for amastigotes was estimated.The effects of hairy roots(IC_(50) values)treatment on the levels of IFN-γ and iNOS expression,intracellular reactive oxygen species,and iNOS protein expression in infected-PBMCs were determined.Results:Based on antioxidant enzyme assays and high performance liquid chromatography analysis,hairy roots exhibited high antioxidant capacity and contained high levels of phenolic compounds.According to the results of tetrazolium-dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and trypan blue assays,the hairy root extracts of both cultivars showed considerable dose-dependent inhibitory effects against Leishmania major promastigotes.Depending on the concentration and exposure time,treatment of infected-PBMCs with hairy root extracts caused the generation of a significant reactive oxygen species,up-regulation of IFN-γ and iNOS genes expression,and high value of iNOS protein compared to controls.Conclusions:The findings of this study suggest that the hairy roots of Ficus carica can be considered as a promising natural source of antileishmanial agents.
文摘Phenol, a ubiquitous component of industrial effluents, is a common pollutant of water resources and a serious threat to fish.The present work demonstrates that a significant amount of phenol is retained by various tissues of the common carp.Cyprinus carpio.and the snake-headed murrel.Channa punclatus.The rate of [^(14)C] phenol accumulation was higher in the carp than in the murrel.It is suggested that retention of phenol in the brain and ovary may seriously afiect the reproductive potential of the fish. 1990 Academic Press.Inc.
文摘Dear Editor,Premacular hemorrhage is a common cause of sudden profound visual loss in otherwise healthy eye.One of the commonest causes of premacular hemorrhage in clinical practice is Valsalva retinopathy,which was first described by Thomas Duane in 1972[1].
文摘AIM:To ascertain the pattern of investigations at first contact in uveitic patients and evaluate compliance to treatment.METHODS:An observational study comprised of 201 uveitic patients presenting for the first time to our centre from January 2019 to June 2020.Detailed information regarding systemic investigations undertaken by specialists at the time of first contact and the cost of these investigations were reviewed on the first visit to our centre.Compliance with the treatment was determined and reasons behind non-compliance were evaluated on the first follow-up in patients who had no improvement in clinical signs and symptoms.RESULTS:The mean age of the study group was 35.35±14.1y and gender composition was 59.7%males and 40.3%females.Anterior uveitis was observed in 45.3%of patients,intermediate uveitis in 31.8%of patients,posterior uveitis in 14.9%of patients and panuveitis in 8.0%of patients.Association with a systemic disease was evident in 17.9%of patients.When compared with standard guidelines and uveitis patterns,systemic investigations were identified to be relevant only in 38.3%of patients.Non-compliance to treatment was documented in 22.4%of patients.Common reasons for non-compliance were inadequate counselling by the treating physician about treatment in 26.7%of patients and a busy schedule at work/school in 22.2%of patients.CONCLUSION:Significant number of investigations performed at first contact is found to be contrary to standard guidelines and are not contributory to the care.About a quarter of patients in this study are found to be non-compliant with the treatment.Compliance is more challenging to achieve in school-going children and working adults.The availability of comprehensive,periodically updated,evidence-based guidelines on the role of investigations and the use of trained counsellors may help to channelize proper evaluation and improve compliance to treatment,respectively,in patients with uveitis.
文摘The aim of the study was to investigate distribution, enrichment and accumulation of heavy metals in soil and Trigonella foenum-graecum (var. Pusa Early Bunching) after fertigation with paper mill effluent. Doses of paper mill effluent viz. 5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% were used for fertigation of T. foenum-graecum along with bore well water (control). The results revealed that paper mill effluent had significant (P +, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, TKN, PO3-4, SO2-4, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn of the soil in both seasons. Insignificant (P > 0.05) changes in WHC and bulk density of the soil were observed after irrigation with paper mill effluent. The agronomical performance of T. foenum-graecum was increased from 5% to 25% concentration and decreased from 50% to 100% concentration of paper mill effluent as compared to control in both seasons. The heavy metals concentration was increased in T. foenum-graecum from 5% to 100% concentrations of paper mill effluent in both seasons. Biochemical components like crude proteins, crude fiber and crude carbohydrates were found maximum with 25% paper mill effluent in both seasons. The enrichment factor (Ef) of various heavy metals was in order of Cd > Mn > Cr > Cu > Zn > Fe for soil and Mn > Cu > Cr > Cd > Zn > Fe for T. foenum-graecum plants after fertigation with paper mill effluent. Therefore, paper mill effluent can be used as a biofertigant after appropriate dilution to improve yield of T. foenum-graecum.
文摘Isolated ovarian tissues from the common carp, Cyprinus carpio were incubated in vitro to obtain a discrete effect of four common toxicants of industrial origin, namely phenol, sulfide, mercuric chloride and cadmium chloride, on gonadotropin-induced alteration of nonesterified and esterified cholesterol and steroidogenic enzymes, △5-3β-HSD and 17β-HSD activity. Stage II ovarian tissue containing 30-40% mature oocytes were shown to be most responsive to gonadotropins in depleting only nonesterified cholesterol moiety and stimulating the activity of both. Safe doses of above mentioned toxicants when added separately to stage II ovarian tissue with oLH (1 μg/incubation) gonadotropin-induced depletion of nonesterified cholesterol and gonadotropin-induced stimulation of the activity of both enzymes was significantly inhibited. Esterified cholesterol remained almost unaltered. Findings clearly indicate the impairment of gonadotropin induced fish ovarian steroidogenesis by the four toxicants separately.
文摘Patients with peripheral arterial disease(PAD)and critical limb ischemia are at risk for limb amputation and require urgent management to restore blood flow.Patients with PAD often have several comorbidities,including chronic kidney disease,diabetes mellitus,and hypertension.Diagnostic and interventional angiography using iodinated contrast agents provides excellent image resolution but can be associated with contrast-induced nephropathy(CIN).The use of carbon dioxide(CO2)as a contrast agent reduces the volume of iodine contrast required for angiography and reduces the incidence of CIN.However,CO2 angiography has been underutilized due to concerns regarding safety and image quality.Modern CO2 delivery systems with advanced digital subtraction angiography techniques and hybrid angiography have improved imaging accuracy and reduced the incidence of CIN.Awareness of the need for optimal imaging conditions,contraindications,and potential complications have improved the safety of CO2 angiography.This review aims to highlight current technological advances in the delivery of CO2 in vascular angiography for patients with PAD and critical limb ischemia,which result in limb preservation while preventing kidney damage.
文摘MC （Monte Carlo） simulation code, JA-IPU is used to study radiation damage of SiC irradiated to spallation neutron and AmBe neutron spectra. The code is based on the major physical processes of radiation damage on incorporation of atomic collision cascade and limited to 10 MeV neutron energy. A phenomenological relation for radiation swelling is also derived. Based on the calculation of swelling, DPA （displacement per atom）, defect production efficiency and effective threshold energy, Efff from the data of MC simulation, SiC is inferred to be a highly radiation resistant material when compared with Nb and Ni metals which are used in composition of several reactor steels. Experimental results of hill-hock density measured using AFM （atomic force microscopy）, also confirm radiation resistant behavior of SiC.
基金supported by the Spinoza grant of the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research and an ERC Advanced Grant(grant number833247)supported by the European Research Council(starting grant ERC-2009-StG-243149)+3 种基金the Novo Nordisk Foundation(research professorship grant to P.A.)the Danish National Research Foundation(grant DNRF108)the DANIDA,European Union FP7,and OPTIMUNISE(grant Health-F3-2011-261375 to the Bandim Health Project)supported by the Hypathia tenure track grant Radboud UMC。
文摘Genetic variation is a key factor influencing cytokine production capacity,but which genetic loci regulate cytokine production before and after vaccination,particularly in African population is unknown.Here,we aimed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)controlling cytokine responses after microbial stimulation in infants of West-African ancestry,comprising of low-birth-weight neonates randomized to bacillus Calmette-Gue rin(BCG)vaccine-at-birth or to the usual delayed BCG.Genome-wide cytokine cytokine quantitative trait loci(cQTL)mapping revealed 12 independent loci,of which the LINC01082-LINC00917 locus influenced more than half of the cytokine-stimulation pairs assessed.Furthermore,nine distinct cQTLs were found among infants randomized to BCG.Functional validation confirmed that several complement genes affect cytokine response after BCG vaccination.We observed a limited overlap of common cQTLs between the West-African infants and cohorts of Western European individuals.These data reveal strong population-specific genetic effects on cytokine production and may indicate new opportunities for therapeutic intervention and vaccine development in African populations.
基金supported by a grant(No.27(0183)/08/EMR-II) from Council of Scientific and Industrial Research(CSIR), New Delhi,India
文摘Objective:To detect leishmanial antigens in pre and post treated urine of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients.Methods:Urine and serum sample from three VL patients were collected. Ammonium sulphate precipitation and purification of urine sample was done for proteins isolation.SDS PAGE of proteins was done followed by western blotting,with the patient’s pre and post treatment serum.Results:Eight proteins of molecular weights 17 kDa,25 kDa,28 kDa,42 kDa, 47 kDa,54 kDa,60 kDa and 85 kDa were detected in the urine of VL patients before treatment. After treatment with miltefosine,none of the above proteins was detected in urine samples.The western blot analysis with pre treatment serum confirmed the antigenicity of four urinary proteins of molecular weights 25 kDa,28 kDa,54 kDa and 60 kDa.The seropositivity with 25 kDa and 28 kDa antigens was negative with serum obtained after the completion of treatment.Conclusions:In the context to unavailability of a prognostic tool,urinary leishmanial antigens may offer a better choice and may also be useful as immunoprophylactic candidates.
