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The use of salt-tolerant plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (ST-PGPR) for reducing environmental stress and enhancing quality of crops has recently emerged as a perspective for sustainable development of agriculture, especially in the context of climate change. Within the mining of potential bacterial candidates serving for such purposes, bacterial strains from rhizosphere of mangrove plants in Vietnam were isolated and characterized. Results revealed two microbial isolates from Sonneratia caseolaris, symbolized as S13 and S15, exhibited 1-aminocyclopropane-l-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity and salt tolerance up to 7% sodium chloride. These bacteria performed phosphate solubilizing property with 57.04-61.16% of degradation after 9 days in NBRIP medium. Besides, S13 and S15 showed antimicrobial activity against plant pathogens, including F. oxysporum and A. niger. By analyzing the ribosomal 16S sequences, bacterial strains S13 and S15 were identified to be Bacillus spp. with phylogenetically close relation to B. velezensis and B. siamensis, respectively. Additionally, sprouts encoated with S13 and S15 bacterial suspensions (~4*108 CFU/L each) exhibited enhanced shoot and root elongation in both normal and saline conditions. The bacterial strains were in vitro evaluated to be nontoxic to tested cells and animals. Achieved results brought out mangrove derived ST-PGPR strains with highly applicable potential for development of saline agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010268.].

Next generation sequencing has revealed the presence of numerous RNA viruses in animal reservoir hosts, including many closely related to known human pathogens. Despite their zoonotic potential, most of these viruses remain understudied due to not yet being cultured. While reverse genetic systems can facilitate virus rescue, this is often hindered by missing viral genome ends. A prime example is Lloviu virus (LLOV), an uncultured filovirus that is closely related to the highly pathogenic Ebola virus. Using minigenome systems, we complemented the missing LLOV genomic ends and identified cis-acting elements required for LLOV replication that were lacking in the published sequence. We leveraged these data to generate recombinant full-length LLOV clones and rescue infectious virus. Similar to other filoviruses, recombinant LLOV (rLLOV) forms filamentous virions and induces the formation of characteristic inclusions in the cytoplasm of the infected cells, as shown by electron microscopy. Known target cells of Ebola virus, including macrophages and hepatocytes, are permissive to rLLOV infection, suggesting that humans could be potential hosts. However, inflammatory responses in human macrophages, a hallmark of Ebola virus disease, are not induced by rLLOV. Additional tropism testing identified pneumocytes as capable of robust rLLOV and Ebola virus infection. We also used rLLOV to test antivirals targeting multiple facets of the replication cycle. Rescue of uncultured viruses of pathogenic concern represents a valuable tool in our arsenal for pandemic preparedness.

The strengthening ability associated with adding a gellan gum as an additive to bentonite slurry for use in coating soil surfaces was studied. Bentonite powder was mixed with hot gellan gum hydrogel (i.e., at 200 °C) to different gellan gum concentrations (i.e., 0, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7% of the mass of distilled water). A series of unconfined compressive strength tests were conducted on gellan gum-bentonite mixtures subjected to various thermal curing conditions. The shrinkage behavior was observed during the thermal curing process. The research also studied the sand size particle effect on the strength and volume change of the dried gellan gum-modified bentonite. The test results showed the soil strengthening effect of adding gellan gum to bentonite slurry which was then added it to bentonite/silica sand mixtures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

R-phycoerythrin has been widely used in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and analytical reagent industries. The present work reports an effective procedure for the extraction of R-phycoerythrin from Gracilaria gracilis. Firstly, the algae pre-treatment is a significant stage, and the highly effective extraction of R-phycoerythrin from G. gracilis was carried out with freeze-dried seaweed and grinding with liquid nitrogen. Secondly, two different methods for the extraction of this pigment were tested: (i) by using the extraction solutions (tap water, pure water, phosphate buffer 100 mM with pH 6.5, and phosphate buffer 20 mM with pH 7.1); and (ii) by using polysaccharide-degrading enzymes (xylanase, cellulase, and β-glucanase). Cellulase enhanced the extraction yield of R-phycoerythrin from G. gracilis (12.76 mg g-1 dw). Finally, under the optimal hydrolysis conditions obtained with cellulase according to a response surface methodology study of temperature (32°C), hydrolysis time (286 min), and enzyme/dry seaweed ratio (47 mg g-1), maximum yield of R-phycoerythrin (15.75 mg g-1 dw) was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface soil samples were collected from different land use types of the agricultural land in Nam Dinh province, Vietnam to determine the level of heavy metal contamination and identifying potential sources. The farming areas of rice and cereal show similar heavy metal contents, however, the index shows that the content of heavy metals in the aquacultural area is lower compared to the other types. The mean enrichment factor (EF) values of Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn are less than 1.5, suggesting that these are not a major concern in the research area; whereas, the mean EF values for Cd is higher than 2 and As varies from 5-20 suggest that the pollution of these heavy metals is present in agricultural soil. The data analysis indicates that Cr mainly originates from a natural source; Cd and As have a significant anthropogenic input; Cd, Pb and Zn have a mixed source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) seed is a valuable food resource owning to its high amount of nutrition such as protein, edible oil and fiber. Hence, this study researched on the application of roselle seed in a cookie product. Roselle seed was pre-treated turning into roselle seed powder without shell (RSP). To enhance the yield and soluble capacity of RSP, maltodextrin was used as supplement in RSP. Study was estimated the content of RSP was replaced to wheat flour in cookie's recipe, the physical quality of dough and cookie was carried out. Nutrition value and sensory quality of cookie were also examined. Result was compared to control cookie (without RSP replaced), which was result of the supplement of maltodextrin value in RSP was 20% (RSP20) and 30% of RSP20 was replaced of wheat flour in cookie's recipe. Compared to the dough and the cookie control, the dough with 30% of RSP20 replaced was significantly stickier and low in the hardness, adhesiveness and springiness. In overall acceptance, the cookie with 30% RSP20 scored the highest (7.01) among other formulations. The quality of cookie also showed a higher content of protein (9.51g/ 100g), lipid (23.8g/ 100g), total dietary fiber (1.25g/ 100 g) and improved its antioxidant activity with a higher total phenolic content (1.91 mgGAE/g cookie) and stronger radical scavenging capacity (73.98%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photon self-absorption effect of uranium on the full-energy peak (FEP) efficiency calibration of high purity germanium (HPGe) detector was studied as a function of energy using an activated uranium sample has a thickness of 1 mm. The absolute efficiencies of the detector were obtained with the use of gamma standard sources and gamma rays of radionuclides created by irradiating the uranium sample with secondary neutrons. The measurements were carried out with the use of a Planar HPGe detector. MCNP simulation code was used to verify the experimental results. The comparison of the empirical results with the simulation results showed a good agreement. To interpret the efficiencies, the reaction rates were calculated using two methods: (1) - the use of the efficiency curve from the standard sources combined with the self-absorption correction of the uranium material and (2) - the use of the efficiency curve obtained from gamma rays in the sample., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

We performed a retrospective review in both comprehensive stroke units of a region affected early by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, between March 1 and April 26, 2020, including patients with COVID-19 who underwent mechanical thrombectomy for ischemic stroke. We identified 13 cases, representing 38.2% of 34 thrombectomies performed during this period. We observed increased mortality and a high incidence of thrombotic complications during hospitalization. Given the high rate of infected patients, systematic use of full personal protection measures seems justified., (© 2020 by American Journal of Neuroradiology.)

This study developed a unique system by combining the novel vertical flow (NVF) using expanded clay (ExC) and free flow surface constructed wetland (FWS) for dormitory sewage purification and reuse. The NVF tank consisted of filter layers of ExC, sandy soil, sand, and gravel. The FWS consisted of sandy soil substrate and was installed after the NVF. Colocasia esculenta and Dracaena sanderiana was planted in NVF and FWS, respectively. The treatment system was operated and tested for more than 21 weeks by increasing the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) from 0.02 m/d to 0.12 m/d. The results demonstrated that effluents in the system changed proportionally to the HLRs, except for nitrate nitrogen. Furthermore, the maximum removal efficiencies for TSS, BOD 5 , NH 4 -N, and Tcol were 76 ± 13%, 74 ± 11%, 90 ± 3%, and 59 ± 18% (0.37 ± 0.19 log 10 MPN/100 mL), respectively. At HLRs of 0.04-0.06 m/d, the treatment system satisfied the limits of agriculture irrigation., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Core decompression is the most common procedure for treatment of the early stages of osteonecrosis of the femoral head. The purpose of this study was to compare the biomechanical performance of four different bone graft substitutes combined with core decompression. Subject-specific finite element models generated from computed tomography (CT) scan data were used for a comprehensive analysis. Two different contact conditions were simulated representing states of osseointegration at the interface. Our results showed that the use of a low-stiffness bone substitute did not increase the risk of femoral fracture in the early postoperative phase, but resulted in less micromotion and interfacial stresses than high-stiffness bone substitutes., (Copyright © 2016 IPEM. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study investigated the accuracy of micro-scale finite element modeling for simulating broadband ultrasound propagation in water-saturated trabecular bone-mimicking phantoms. To this end, five commercially manufactured aluminum foam samples as trabecular bone-mimicking phantoms were utilized for ultrasonic immersion through-transmission experiments. Based on micro-computed tomography images of the same physical samples, three-dimensional high-resolution computational samples were generated to be implemented in the micro-scale finite element models. The finite element models employed the standard Galerkin finite element method (FEM) in time domain to simulate the ultrasonic experiments. The numerical simulations did not include energy dissipative mechanisms of ultrasonic attenuation; however, they expectedly simulated reflection, refraction, scattering, and wave mode conversion. The accuracy of the finite element simulations were evaluated by comparing the simulated ultrasonic attenuation and velocity with the experimental data. The maximum and the average relative errors between the experimental and simulated attenuation coefficients in the frequency range of 0.6-1.4 MHz were 17% and 6% respectively. Moreover, the simulations closely predicted the time-of-flight based velocities and the phase velocities of ultrasound with maximum relative errors of 20 m/s and 11 m/s respectively. The results of this study strongly suggest that micro-scale finite element modeling can effectively simulate broadband ultrasound propagation in water-saturated trabecular bone-mimicking structures., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)