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This study evaluates the antioxidative potential of crude and chemically modified polysaccharides derived from Lycium barbarum L. leaves to enhance the thermal stability of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) during extended storage and heating. Natural polysaccharides were modified using ascorbic acid and hydrogen peroxide to improve their antioxidative properties, providing a potential alternative to synthetic antioxidants. EVOO samples treated with these polysaccharides were subjected to accelerated oxidation at 60 °C for eight weeks to simulate extended storage conditions.Oxidative stability was assessed through multiple parameters, including peroxide value (PV), P-Anisidine value (p-AV), acidity value (AV, calculated as twice the free fatty acid content), iodine value (IV), and free fatty acids (FFA). Results showed that modified polysaccharides significantly improved the oxidative stability of EVOO. After eight weeks, the peroxide value of EVOO treated with modified polysaccharides decreased by 35 % compared to the untreated control, and the free fatty acid content remained at 0.46 %, well below the European Union limit of 0.8 %. Additionally, the modified polysaccharides demonstrated 95.2 % DPPH radical scavenging activity, significantly higher than the 88.7 % observed for crude polysaccharides (p

The sea cucumber intestine (SI), a secondary product from sea cucumber processing, contains polysaccharides as one of its active ingredients, and fermentation is an effective method for extracting bioactive substances from food by-products. In this study, to explore the effect of Enterococcus hirae GS22 fermentation on the extraction of SI polysaccharides, the polysaccharides were extracted through the SI with and without Enterococcus hirae GS22 fermentation, and the obtained polysaccharides were designated as SC-PF and SC-P. The extraction yield, the structural characteristics, and the biological functions of the polysaccharides were then evaluated. The results indicated that Enterococcus hirae GS22 could grow well using SI as the substrate and that fermentation could improve the extraction yield of the polysaccharide from 0.48% to 0.63%, decrease the molecular weight (Mw), and change the monosaccharide composition. The diameter of SC-PF was smaller than SC-P, and the absolute value of the zeta potential of SC-PF was found to be lower than SC-P. Fermentation does not change the functional group or the thermal ability of the polysaccharide. SC-PF had better antioxidant ability than SC-P; the DPPH and superoxide anion scavenging ability were 96.3% and 36.5%, respectively. SC-PF also showed nearly 1.3- and 1.1-fold higher inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase as compared to SC-P. The current results showed that E. hirae GS22 fermentation has the potential to extract SI polysaccharides with better prebiotic abilities.

Hygienic behavior (HB) emerges as a pivotal trait, impacting colony resistance to diseases. This study aimed to understand the behavioral traits of Apis cerana indica colonies, with a focus on HB and other key characteristics crucial for colony health, and to screen and identify colonies with superior hygienic behavior and better performance to combat prevailing diseases and pests. This research spans a comprehensive field analysis with different seasons and locations, encompassing the distinct environmental and management factors that influence honey bee behavior. The inclusion of A. cerana indica colonies from various locations provides a novel perspective, offering valuable insights regarding the hygienic behavior of A. cerana indica. Several statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and Aligned Rank Transformation-Analysis of Variance (ART-ANOVA) for repeated measures, shed light on the distribution of hive metrics, emphasizing the significance of considering seasonality and location-specific factors. PCA highlights unique characteristics in Tirupur and Coimbatore colonies, while correlation analyses uncover relationships among HB, honey, pollen, brood area, and adult population. Moreover, the study’s nuanced findings gave the status of hygienic behavior of A. cerana indica colonies and identified colonies with better colony performance, which will be useful for future breeding programs with A. cerana indica.

Present study identified metal accumulation potential, biochemical, growth, and human health risk attributes of wheat varieties (Zincol-16, NARC-09, NARC-11, Pakistan-13, Borlaug-16) cultivated in sewage sludge amended soils, that is, 80% soil + 20% sludge (C), 90% soil + 10% sludge (B) and 100% soil (control, A). Metal accumulation significantly varied (p < 0.05) among wheat varieties and the accretion pattern was roots > straw > grains. The Borlaug-16 was found most efficient for biochemical attributes, that is, proline (0.84), sugar (2.76) and total chlorophyll (2.35) in mg/g amongst selected varieties. Among treatments, maximum mean total chlorophyll (2.18), carotenoids (0.97), sugar (2.88) in mg/g, plant height (76.04 cm), weight per 1000 kernel (55 g) and spike length (4.17 cm) were recorded in B followed by A > C. However, mean membrane stability index%, that is, A (82.76)>B (75.26)>C (54.35) and mean proline contents, that is, C (0.49)>B (0.39)>A (0.29) in mg/g were recorded respectively. Mean hazard quotient and hazard index (HI) calculated on the basis of grain metal contents followed the trend, that is, C > B > A. The HI results revealed highest and lowest health risks associated with the consumption of Zincol-16 and Borlaug-16, respectively. The 'Borlaug-16' and 'sludge treatment B' are recommended for cultivation and as rate of application, respectively, for ensuring food safety and agro-ecological health. NOVELTY STATEMENT: Proline accumulation was a significant and reliable indicator of metal stress in wheat plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the influence of reading anxiety on the English speaking proficiency of intermediate-level English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners. By examining the correlation between reading anxieties and speaking skills, it provides valuable insights for educators and curriculum developers to design strategies and materials that mitigate anxiety and improve language learning outcomes. Conducted in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan, the study employed a quantitative approach using the Foreign Language Reading Anxiety Scale (FLRAS) to gather data from 300 randomly selected students. Correlation analysis and descriptive statistics revealed a significant impact of reading anxiety on learners' speaking proficiency, conversational participation, and overall language competence. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing reading anxiety in EFL instruction and suggest that teachers adopt targeted strategies to create a supportive learning environment. This research underscores the critical role of reducing reading anxiety to enhance EFL learners' speaking skills and overall language development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land cover change (LCC) and climate change (CC) impacts on streamflow in high elevated catchments are a great challenge to sustainable management and the development of water resources. This study evaluates the possible future impacts of both land cover and climate change on the streamflows in the Mohmand Dam catchment, Pakistan, by utilizing the semi-distributed hydrological model known as the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), along with the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 6 (CMIP6) dataset of different global climate models (GCMs). The downscaling of the precipitation and temperature data was performed by the CMhyd software. The downscaled precipitation and temperature projections from the best performing GCM, out of four GCMs, under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2 and SSP5) and future land cover conditions were forced in a calibrated hydrological model (SWAT model). Compared to the baseline period (1990–2015), the outputs from the selected GCM indicated an increase in the average monthly precipitation, and the maximum and minimum temperature in the study area under both the SSP2 and SSP5 scenarios, by the end of the 21st century. It is expected that the increase in precipitation for the period 2016–2100 is 10.5% and 11.4% under the SSP2 and SSP5 scenarios, respectively. Simulated results from the SWAT model showed significant impacts from the projected climate and land cover changes on Mohmand Dam flows that include: (a) an increase in the overall mean annual flow ranging from 13.7% to 34.8%, whereas the mean monthly flows of June, July and August decreased, and (b) a shift in the peak flows in the Mohmand catchment from July to June. It is concluded that the projected climate changes can substantially influence the seasonality of flows at the Mohmand Dam site. Climate and land cover change impacts are significant, so project planners and managers must include CC and LCC impacts in the proposed operational strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to examine the heavy metal phytofiltration potential of Hydrocotyle umbellata from Nullah Lai wastewater and its environmental risk. Wastewater was initially analyzed for heavy metals and physicochemical parameters and compared with irrigation water standards. The phytofiltration potential of H. umbellata was determined by periodically monitoring heavy metal concentrations at time points T1 (day 05), T2 (day10), T3 (day 15), and T4 (day 20). This study shows that some water parameters reached the permissible limits after treatment with H. umbellata. Results of the risk analysis reveal a significant discharge (kg d−y) of heavy metals to arable land. Phytofiltration efficiency of H. umbellata for water quality parameters was in order of Ni (98.75%), Cr (98.11%), Cd (95.84%), Pb (94.90%), Cu (94.10%), Zn (85.34%), BOD (53.67%), TDS (29.28%), EC (27.31%), Cl (6.65%), and SAR (6.34%). The growth of H. umbellata in wastewater resulted in heavy metal bioaccumulation in both roots and shoots of the plant. Less than 01 translocation factor (TF) values for cadmium, copper, lead, chromium, and zinc showed the metal tolerance ability of the tested plant. These results demonstrated that treated water could be used in water-deficient peri-urban areas as supplementary irrigation. This study evaluates the phytofiltration potential of Hydrocotyle umbellata for heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Zn) from Nullah Lai wastewater by greenhouse experiments. The environmental risk associated with using Nullah Lai wastewater for irrigation purposes was estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date palm is a useful traditional medicinal plant that is mainly popular for its fruit as the edible portion of the plant. Nowadays, date palm is considered a reliable source of herbal medicine for the management of several diseases. Date palm has been acknowledged for its beneficial properties, such as hepatoprotective, antihyperlipidemic, and antioxidant activities. However, there is a dearth of research exploring the advantages and in vivo mechanisms of date fruit and its by-products, particularly date vinegar. Regarding this, the aim of the current review study was to highlight the role of the phytochemical composition of date fruit and its vinegar in the treatment of various diseases in both acute and chronic conditions, as well as exploring their in vivo mechanisms and nutritional value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying proteins from living organisms helps us understand the biological functions of cells, discover new molecular mechanisms, and interrogate known mechanisms for improving our understanding. For a comprehensive understanding of cellular functions, identifying the whole protein content, or proteome, of a cell is desirable but challenging. Here, we describe in detail two methods of proteome fractionation at either the protein (SDS-PAGE) or peptide (high-pH reversed-phase fractionation) level, which can be used to maximize the identification of proteins from complex biological samples. We apply these methods to two different sample types commonly processed in our laboratory to demonstrate the versatility of these protocols. These methods produce many more peptide identifications when compared to conventional single-shot analysis and can also be used in combination to generate larger complementary datasets with greater depth of proteome coverage., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is one of the most common causes of infection from the herpes virus family which also possesses oncogenic potential. EBV-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMT) are often found in the CNS but here we present the case of a 50-year-old woman with EBV-SMT in the liver. This patient had a kidney transplant in 2009 and had been undergoing immunosuppressive therapy to support her transplant. Subsequent imaging found a liver mass which was not seen on previous imaging. The biopsy revealed an EBV-SMT. The exact pathophysiology of EBV-SMT is not clear though it is believed to involve the reactivation of latent infection through mTOR pathways. Treatment of such masses includes reducing immunomodulating pharmacotherapy though no established management guidelines exist., Competing Interests: Human subjects: Consent for treatment and open access publication was obtained or waived by all participants in this study. Conflicts of interest: In compliance with the ICMJE uniform disclosure form, all authors declare the following: Payment/services info: All authors have declared that no financial support was received from any organization for the submitted work. Financial relationships: All authors have declared that they have no financial relationships at present or within the previous three years with any organizations that might have an interest in the submitted work. Other relationships: All authors have declared that there are no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work., (Copyright © 2024, Ali et al.)

Nitrogen (N) losses from fertilized fields pose a major concern in modern agriculture due to environmental implications. Urease inhibitors, such as N -( n -butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (NBPT), nitrification inhibitors (NI), like dicyandiamide (DCD), and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (SOB) could have potential in reducing N losses. For evaluating their effectiveness, investigations were undertaken through incubation and greenhouse experiments by mixing a urea fertilizer with sole NBPT, DCD, and SOB, as well as combined, on ammonia volatilization losses from silt loam soil. An incubation experiment was conducted in 1 L airtight plastic jars with adequate aeration and constant temperature at 25 °C for 10 days. Three replications of each treatment were conducted using a completely randomized designed. The ammonia emission rate gradually increased until the highest (17.21 mg NH 3 m -2 h -1 ) value on the third day with sole urea and some other treatments except NBPT alone, which prolonged the hydrolysis peak until the fifth day with the lowest ammonia emission rate (12.1 mg NH 3 m -2 h -1 ). Although the DCD and SOB treatments reduced ammonia emission, their difference with urea was nonsignificant. Additionally, mixing NBPT with urea exhibited the highest population of nitrifying bacteria in soil, indicating its potential role in promoting the nitrification process. In a greenhouse experiment, 10 treatments, i.e., T 1 = control, T 2 = N 120 (urea fertilizer equivalent to 120 kg N ha -1 ), T 3 = N 90 (90 kg N ha -1 ), T 4 = N 90 + NBPT, T 5 = N 90 + DCD, T 6 = N 90 + SOB, T 7 = N 90 + NBPT + DCD, T 8 = N 90 + NBPT + SOB, T 9 = N 90 + DCD + SOB, and T 10 = N 90 + NBPT + DCD + SOB, were applied to investigate the wheat yield and N uptake efficiency. The highest N recovery efficiency (31.51%) was recorded in T 5 where DCD was combined with urea at 90 kg ha -1 ., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)