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Abstract The growing concern and limitations for existing lubricants have driven the need for biolubricants, extensively proposed as the most suitable and sustainable lubricating oils. Biolubricant refers to lubricants that quickly biodegrade and are non-toxic to humans and aquatic habitats. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the production of biolubricants due to the rising demand for replacing petroleum-based lubricants with those derived from renewable sources like vegetable oils and lipase that are used in various applications. In this study biodiesel (FAME) produced from blending animal fats and waste cooking was used as a raw material with ethylene glycol for biolubricant production using a transesterification reaction in the presence of calcium oxide which considers the newest and novel part as there is no production of biolubricant from animal fats and waste cooking oil in previous researches. The reaction parameters of biolubricant production were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) with the aid of Box Behnken Design (BBD) to study the effect of independent variables on the yield of biolubricant. These variables are temperature ranging from (100–150 °C), reaction time ranging from 1 to 4 h, and FAME (Fatty Acid Methyl Ester) to alcohol molar ratio ranging from (2:1) to (4:1). The highest biolubricant yield is 91.56% at a temperature of 141 °C, a FAME/alcohol molar ratio of 2:1, and 3.3 h. Various analyses were performed on the produced biolubricant at the optimum conditions. The results include a pour point of -9 °C, a flash point of 192 °C, a kinematic viscosity at 40 °C of 10.35 cSt, a viscosity index of 183.6, an ash content of 0.76 wt.%, and a carbon residue of 1.5 wt.%, comparing favorably with the ISO VG 10 standard. The production process of biolubricant was simulated with Aspen Plus version 11 using a Non-Random Two-Liquid (NRTL) fluid package. The simulation results indicated that the production process can be applied on an industrial scale. Economic analysis was performed on the biolubricants production plant. The total capital investment was $12.7 M with a payback period of 1.48 years and an internal rate of return (IRR) of 67.5% indicating the suitability and profitability of the biolubricant production.

Abstract Twelve spiro thiazolidinone compounds (A–L) were synthesized via either conventional thermal or ultrasonication techniques using Fe2O3 nanoparticles. The modification of the traditional procedure by using Fe2O3 nanoparticles led to enhancement of the yield of the desired candidates to 78–93% in approximately half reaction time compared with 58–79% without catalyst. The products were fully characterized using different analytical and spectroscopic techniques. The structure of the two derivatives 4-phenyl-1-thia-4-azaspirodecan-3-one (A) and 4-(p-tolyl)-1-thia-4-azaspirodecan-3-one (B) were also determined using single crystal X-ray diffraction and Hirshfeld surface analysis. The two compounds (A and B) were crystallized in the orthorhombic system with Pbca and P2 1 2 1 2 1 space groups, respectively. In addition, the crystal packing of compounds revealed the formation of supramolecular array with a net of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. The energy optimized geometries of some selected derivatives were performed by density functional theory (DFT/B3LYP). The reactivity descriptors were also calculated and correlated with their biological properties. All the reported compounds were screened for antimicrobial inhibitions. The two derivatives, F and J, exhibited the highest levels of bacterial inhibition with an inhibition zone of 10–17 mm. Also, the two derivatives, F and J, displayed the most potent fungal inhibition with an inhibition zone of 15–23 mm. Molecular docking investigations of some selected derivatives were performed using a B-DNA (PDB: 1BNA) as a macromolecular target. Structure and activity relationship of the reported compounds were correlated with the data of antimicrobial activities and the computed reactivity parameters.

Abstract A new series of substituted benzo[h]chromene, benzochromenopyrimidine, and benzochromenotriazolopyrimidine derivatives were synthesized via chemical transformations of iminonitrile, ethoxymethylene amino, and cyanomethylene functionalities. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were assured by spectroscopic data and elemental analysis. The larvicidal efficacy of these compounds against Culex pipiens L. larvae was investigated, revealing potent insecticidal activity, particularly for compounds 6, 10, and 16, exceeding that of the standard insecticide chlorpyrifos. The mode of action of these compounds was explored through molecular docking studies, indicating their potential as acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitors and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChR) blockers. The structure–activity relationship analysis highlighted the influence of substituents and fused heterocyclic rings on larvicidal potency. These findings suggest that the synthesized compounds hold promise as potential candidates for developing novel and effective mosquito control agents.

Abstract The exponential development of resistance to conventional chemical insecticides adds another important motive for the creation of novel insecticidal active agents. One of the keys to meeting this challenge is the exploration of novel classes of insecticidal molecules with different modes of action. Herein, a novel series of spiro pyrimidine derivatives was prepared using some green synthetic methodologies such as microwave irradiation, and sonication under ultrasound waves. Spiro pyrimidine aminonitrile 1 is a key starting material for the synthesis of targets 2–9 by reaction with different carbon electrophiles and nitrogen nucleophiles. The structures of all the newly synthesized compounds were approved using spectral data. The toxicological efficiency and biological impacts of the synthesized spiro pyrimidine derivatives were assessed against Culex pipiens L. larvae. The toxicity of synthesized compounds showed remarkable variations against the C. pipiens larvae. Where, 3, 4 and 2 were the most efficient compounds with LC50 values of 12.43, 16.29 and 21.73 µg/mL, respectively. While 1 was the least potent compound with an LC50 value of 95.18 µg/mL. As well, other compounds were arranged according to LC50 values as follows 5 > 7 > 6 > 9 > 8. In addition, 3 and 4 exhibited significant prolongation of the developmental duration and greatly inhibited adult emergence. Moreover, many morphological deformities were observed in all developmental stages. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of the most effective compounds was assessed against the normal human cells (WI-38) as non-target organisms, where compounds 2, 4 and 3 showed weak to non-toxic effects. The study of binding affinity and correlation between chemical structure and reactivity was carried out using molecular docking study and DFT calculations to investigate their mode of action. This study shed light on promising compounds with larvicidal activity and biological impacts on the C. pipiens life cycle.

Abstract Expert systems are computer programs that use knowledge and reasoning to solve problems typically solved by human experts. Expert systems have been used in medicine to diagnose diseases, recommend treatments, and plan surgeries. Interpretability of the results in medical applications is crucial since the decision that will be taken based on the system’s output has a direct effect on people’s health and lives which makes expert systems ideal choices when dealing with these applications in contrast to other machine learning approaches. An expert system has the ability to explain its own line of reasoning providing a robust way of diagnosis. This paper presents two types of expert systems for medical diagnosis. The first system is a case-based reasoning system using a database of previously diagnosed cases to diagnose a new case. The second system is a rule-based expert system that uses a set of if–then rules extracted from a decision tree classifier to make diagnoses. In this paper, machine learning-based similarity functions are proposed and compared with other traditional similarity functions. The results of this study suggest that expert systems can be a valuable tool for medical diagnosis. The two systems presented in this paper achieved competitive results, and they provide diagnoses similar to those made by human experts.

Abstract The Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis is a highly invasive insect pest that causes extensive damage to many of the primary food crops. Considering the recent challenges facing global food production including climate change, knowledge about the invasive potential of this pest is essential. In this study, the maximum entropy model (MaxEnt) was used to predict the current global spatial distribution of the pest and the future distribution using two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6 and 8.5 in 2050 and 2070. High AUC and TSS values indicated model accuracy and high performance. Response curves showed that the optimal temperature for the S. littoralis is between 10 and 28 °C. The pest is currently found in Africa and is widely distributed across the Middle East and throughout Southern Europe. MaxEnt results revealed that the insect will shift towards Northern Europe and the Americas. Further, China was seen to have a suitable climate. We also extrapolated the impact of these results on major producing countries and how this affects trade flow, which help decision makers to take the invasiveness of such destructive pest into their account.

Abstract Lower respiratory tract infections caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae (Spn) are a leading cause of death globally. Here we investigate the bronchial epithelial cellular response to Spn infection on a transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolic level. We found the NAD+ salvage pathway to be dysregulated upon infection in a cell line model, primary human lung tissue and in vivo in rodents, leading to a reduced production of NAD+. Knockdown of NAD+ salvage enzymes (NAMPT, NMNAT1) increased bacterial replication. NAD+ treatment of Spn inhibited its growth while growth of other respiratory pathogens improved. Boosting NAD+ production increased NAD+ levels in immortalized and primary cells and decreased bacterial replication upon infection. NAD+ treatment of Spn dysregulated the bacterial metabolism and reduced intrabacterial ATP. Enhancing the bacterial ATP metabolism abolished the antibacterial effect of NAD+. Thus, we identified the NAD+ salvage pathway as an antibacterial pathway in Spn infections, predicting an antibacterial mechanism of NAD+.

Patients with asthma experience elevated rates of mental illness. However, the molecular links underlying such lung–brain crosstalk remain ambiguous. Hypothalamic dysfunction is observed in many psychiatric disorders, particularly those with an inflammatory component due to many hypothalamic regions being unprotected by the blood–brain barrier. To gain a better insight into such neuropsychiatric sequelae, this study investigated gene expression differences in the hypothalamus following lung inflammation (asthma) induction in mice, using RNA transcriptome profiling. BALB/c mice were challenged with either bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS, E. coli) or ovalbumin (OVA) allergens or saline control (n = 7 per group), and lung inflammation was confirmed via histological examination of postmortem lung tissue. The majority of the hypothalamus was micro-dissected, and total RNA was extracted for sequencing. Differential expression analysis identified 31 statistically significant single genes (false discovery rate FDR5%) altered in expression following LPS exposure compared to controls; however, none were significantly changed following OVA treatment, suggesting a milder hypothalamic response. When gene sets were examined, 48 were upregulated and 8 were downregulated in both asthma groups relative to controls. REACTOME enrichment analysis suggests these gene sets are involved in signal transduction metabolism, immune response and neuroplasticity. Interestingly, we identified five altered gene sets directly associated with neurotransmitter signaling. Intriguingly, many of these altered gene sets can influence mental health and or/neuroinflammation in humans. These findings help characterize the links between asthma-induced lung inflammation and the brain and may assist in identifying relevant pathways and therapeutic targets for future intervention.

Under some suitable conditions, we study the existence and uniqueness of a solution to a new modification of a nonlinear fractional integro-differential equation (NFIDEq) in dual Banach space CE (E, [0, T]), which simulates several phenomena in mathematical physics, quantum mechanics, and other domains. The desired conclusions are demonstrated with the use of fixed-point theorems after applying the theory of fractional calculus. The validation of the provided strategy has been done by utilizing the Bernoulli matrix approach (BMA) method as a numerical method. The major motivation for selecting the BMA approach is that it combines Bernoulli polynomial approximation with Caputo fractional derivatives and numerical integral transformation to reduce the NFIDEq to an algebraic system and then derive the numerical solution; additionally, the convergence analysis indicated that the proposed strategy has more precision than other numerical methods. Finally, as a verification of the theoretical work, we apply two examples with numerical results by using [Matlab R2022b], illustrating the comparisons between the exact solutions and numerical solutions, as well as the absolute error in each case is computed.

Abstract Background Cadmium is an environmentally toxic metal that has deleterious effects on both animals and humans due to its accumulation in different body tissues. Physalis peruviana L. fruit and calyx contain many active constituents which are used traditionally for their different biological activities. Based on the traditional uses of P. peruviana L. calyx, we aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective effect of their 80% aqueous methanol extract (AME) and n-butanol fraction (Bu.F.) against cadmium chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and to correlate this activity with phytoconstituents isolated using molecular docking studies. Methods The n-butanol fraction of P. peruviana L. calyx was fractionated using various chromatographic techniques and the isolated compounds were identified based on their chemical and spectroscopic data. The nephroprotective activity was assessed using cadmium chloride-induced nephrotoxicity in the rat model, by measuring some important parameters such as body weight, kidney weight, serum urea, and creatinine levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, and histopathological examinations of kidney tissue. Molecular docking studies of the isolated compounds were performed. Results Three withanolides named 4 β-hydroxywithanolide E (1), Physalin B (2) and 3α, 14β-dihydroxywithaphysalin N (3) were isolated and identified from the n-butanol fraction of P. peruviana L calyx extract. The extract and its butanol fraction significantly improved the serum kidney function markers and tissue oxidative status including malondialdehyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT). Additionally, the extracts significantly decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κβ). Moreover, the histological changes were ameliorated by the extracts. The molecular docking study showed that the isolated compounds displayed a remarkable inhibitory activity against IκB kinase. Conclusion The AME and its butanol fraction of P. peruviana L calyx showed potential nephroprotective activity against cadmium chloride-induced nephrotoxicity which is correlated at least in part to its considerable withanolides content.

Legionella pneumophila (L.p.) is a bacterial pathogen which is a common causative agent of pneumonia. In humans, it infects alveolar macrophages and transfers hundreds of virulence factors that interfere with cellular signalling pathways and the transcriptomic landscape to sustain its own replication. By this interaction, it has acquired eukaryote-like protein motifs by gene transfer events that partake in the pathogenicity of Legionella. In a computational screening approach for eukaryotic motifs in the transcriptome of Legionella, we identified the L.p. strain Corby protein ABQ55614 as putative histone-deacetylase and named it “suppressing modifier of histones 1” (Smh1). During infection, Smh1 is translocated from the Legionella vacuole into the host cytosol. When expressed in human macrophage THP-1 cells, Smh1 was localized predominantly in the nucleus, leading to broad histone H3 and H4 deacetylation, blunted expression of a large number of genes (e.g. IL-1β and IL-8), and fostered intracellular bacterial replication. L.p. with a Smh1 knockdown grew normally in media but showed a slight growth defect inside the host cell. Furthermore, Smh1 showed a very potent histone deacetylation activity in vitro, e.g. at H3K14, that could be inhibited by targeted mutation of the putative catalytic center inferred by analogy with eukaryotic HDAC8, and with the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. In summary, Smh1 displays functional homology with class I/II type HDACs. We identified Smh1 as a new Legionella virulence factor with a eukaryote-like histone-deacetylase activity that moderates host gene expression and might pave the way for further histone modifications.IMPORTANCELegionella pneumophila (L.p.) is a prominent bacterial pathogen, which is a common causative agent of pneumonia. In order to survive inside the host cell, the human macrophage, it profoundly interacts with host cell processes to advance its own replication. In this study, we identify a bacterial factor, Smh1, with yet unknown function as a host histone deacetylase. The activity of this factor in the host cell leads to attenuated gene expression and increased intracellular bacterial replication.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and breast cancer (BC) are closely related and need more clarification. In clinical practice, the early diagnosis of BC is the most crucial issue. The current study aimed to investigate the incidence of metabolic syndrome among Egyptian women with breast cancer as independent risk factor, and the relationships between anthropometric indices (BMI, waist, hip, middle upper arm circumferences) and breast cancer risk. Results MetS rate was significantly higher among women with breast cancer (n = 89, 65%) women; compared to CG: 43.5%, (37) women therefore metabolic syndrome was strongly associated with breast cancer. More than half of BC cases (n = 85, 62%) were obese (BMI > 29.9), and 37 women (27%) were overweight (BMI 25–29.9). Additionally, the BC group had greater levels of fasting blood sugar than the control group (109.72 ± 51.31, 78.49 ± 22.79 mg/dL, respectively). Waist circumference, hip circumference, and WHtR values in BC women showed highly significant difference (p value = 0.000) compared to control group. Conclusion In our study, the metabolic syndrome and its elements were significantly correlated among Egyptian women with breast cancer. Anthropometric indices were linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

This work aims to explore the solution of a nonlinear fractional integro-differential equation in the complex domain through the utilization of both analytical and numerical approaches. The demonstration of the existence and uniqueness of a solution is established under certain appropriate conditions with the use of Banach fixed point theorems. To date, no research effort has been undertaken to look into the solution of this integro equation, particularly due to its fractional order specification within the complex plane. The validation of the proposed methodology was performed by utilizing a novel strategy that involves implementing the Rationalized Haar wavelet numerical method with the application of the Bernoulli polynomial technique. The primary reason for choosing the proposed technique lies in its ability to transform the solution of the given nonlinear fractional integro-differential equation into a representation that corresponds to a linear system of algebraic equations. Furthermore, we conduct a comparative analysis between the outcomes obtained from the suggested method and those derived from the rationalized Haar wavelet method without employing any shared mathematical methodologies. In order to evaluate the precision and effectiveness of the proposed method, a series of numerical examples have been developed.

In 2017, the Jordanian Ministry of Health reported that gastric cancer was one of Jordan's most diagnosed cancers. Gastric cancer is often linked to Helicobacter pylori, one of the foremost risk factors. Despite the high prevalence of H. pylori in Jordan, no information is available regarding the general population's awareness of the harmful effects of this pathogen. The study aims to assess the knowledge and the impact of the source of knowledge on H. pylori among the general population in Jordan. A cross-sectional study involving 933 participants was conducted between May and July of 2021. After meeting the inclusion criteria and consenting to participate in this study, participants completed the questionnaire. An interview-based questionnaire covered the following sections: sociodemographic data and knowledge related to H. pylori infection. 63% of the participants had a high level of education, 70.5% got their information about H. pylori infection from non-medical sources, and 68.7% had a low level of knowledge. Working in the medical field, attaining information from medical resources, and having a history of self-reported or family member of H. pylori infection showed a significant association with a high level of knowledge. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that the mean ranks of all knowledge items in the medical source group significantly exceed those of the non-medical source group (p-values < 0.05). In Jordan, the awareness of H. pylori was unsatisfying, like in other countries. Nevertheless, misconceptions in knowledge about H. pylori were identified and further awareness must be spread and advocated. Close observation of the non-medical sources of information is essential for delivering sufficient amount of knowledge to the general population.

We investigated the anticancer mechanism of a chloroform extract of marine sponge (Haliclona fascigera) (sample C) in human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. Viability analysis using MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays showed that sample C exposure decreased the proliferation of cells. Flow cytometric data exhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), dysfunction of mitochondrial potential, and apoptosis in sample C-treated MCF-7 cells. A qPCR array of sample C-treated MCF-7 cells showed crosstalk between different pathways of apoptosis, especially BIRC5, BCL2L2, and TNFRSF1A genes. Immunofluorescence analysis affirmed the localization of p53, bax, bcl2, MAPKPK2, PARP-1, and caspase-3 proteins in exposed cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation of sample C revealed Neviotin A as the most active compound triggering maximum cell death in MCF-7, indicating its pharmacological potency for the development of a drug for the treatment of human breast cancer.

In this research, we present a qualitative analysis for studying a new modification of a nonlinear hyperbolic fractional integro-differential equation (NHFIDEq) in dual Banach space CEE, J. Under some suitable conditions, the existence and uniqueness of a solution are demonstrated with the use of fixed-point theorems. The verification of the offered method has been conducted by applying the Lerch matrix collocation (LMC) method as a numerical treatment. The major motivation for selecting the LMC approach is that it reduces the solution of the given NHFIDEq to a matrix representation form corresponding to a linear system of algebraic equations; additionally, to demonstrate that the proposed strategy has better precision than alternative numerical methods, we study the error and the convergence analysis. Finally, we introduce numerical examples illustrating comparisons between the exact solutions and numerical solutions for different values of the Lerch parameters λ and time t as well as how the absolute error in each example is calculated.

Nutrigenomics is the study of the impact of diets or nutrients on gene expression and phenotypes using high-throughput technologies such as transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, etc. The bioactive components of diets and nutrients, as an environmental factor, transmit information through altered gene expression and hence the overall function and traits of the organism. Dietary components and nutrients not only serve as a source of energy but also, through their interactions with genes, regulate gut microbiome composition, the production of metabolites, various biological processes, and finally, health and disease. Antimicrobial resistance in pathogenic and probiotic microorganisms has emerged as a major public health concern due to the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes in various food products. Recent evidence suggests a correlation between the regulation of genes and two-component and other signaling systems that drive antibiotic resistance in response to diets and nutrients. Therefore, diets and nutrients may be alternatively used to overcome antibiotic resistance against novel antibiotics. However, little progress has been made in this direction. In this review, we discuss the possible implementations of nutrigenomics in antibiotic resistance against novel antibiotics.

Climate change has a direct impact on biodiversity, affecting ecosystems and altering their balance. Many taxa, including insects, are likely to be affected by climate change in terms of geographic distribution. Sarcophagid flies, such as Sarcophaga dux and Sarcophaga haemorrhoidalis, are important flies because of their apparent ecological, forensic, and medical significance. Global habitat suitability varies as a result of climate change. In wildlife management, models that predict species’ spatial distribution are being used more and more, which emphasizes the need for reliable methods to evaluate their accuracy. Consequently, the statistical robustness of maximum entropy was implemented in Maxent to model the current and future global distribution of both flies, involving occurrence data of 155 and 87 points for S. dux and S. haemorrhoidalis, respectively. Based on the Pearson correlation and Jackknife test, five bioclimatic variables were used for current and future predictive models. For future models, two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 2.6 and 8.5, for 2050 and 2070 were applied. Both statistical parameters, AUC and TSS, were used to assess the resulting models with values equal to 0.80 (±0.01) and 0.9, respectively, for S. dux and equal to 0.86 (±0.01) and 0.92 for S. haemorrhoidalis. The resulting models for S. dux showed high and very high suitability in Europe, Tropical Africa, India, Canada, the United States from Alaska to Florida, Brazil, and Australia. In the case of S. haemorrhoidalis Europe and North and South America displayed low to medium suitability, but North Africa, including Egypt; Tropical Africa; Asia, including Saudi Arabia, India, and China; and Australia showed increased suitability. Decision-makers are put in conflict with their duties to avert destruction in the economic, medical, and ecological sectors by such anticipated models, and use these predictive models as a cornerstone for building a control strategy for such forensically important flies at local spatial scales.

Chemoinformatics involves integrating the principles of physical chemistry with computer-based and information science methodologies, commonly referred to as “in silico techniques”, in order to address a wide range of descriptive and prescriptive chemistry issues, including applications to biology, drug discovery, and related molecular areas. On the other hand, the incorporation of machine learning has been considered of high importance in the field of drug design, enabling the extraction of chemical data from enormous compound databases to develop drugs endowed with significant biological features. The present review discusses the field of cheminformatics and proposes the use of virtual chemical libraries in virtual screening methods to increase the probability of discovering novel hit chemicals. The virtual libraries address the need to increase the quality of the compounds as well as discover promising ones. On the other hand, various applications of bioinformatics in disease classification, diagnosis, and identification of multidrug-resistant organisms were discussed. The use of ensemble models and brute-force feature selection methodology has resulted in high accuracy rates for heart disease and COVID-19 diagnosis, along with the role of special formulations for targeting meningitis and Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, the correlation between genomic variations and disease states such as obesity and chronic progressive external ophthalmoplegia, the investigation of the antibacterial activity of pyrazole and benzimidazole-based compounds against resistant microorganisms, and its applications in chemoinformatics for the prediction of drug properties and toxicity—all the previously mentioned—were presented in the current review.

The difficult propagation of shrub and tree species and their extensive exposure to grazing threaten their abundance and lead to the necessity to find alternative means of propagation for these species. In vitro micropropagation techniques, viz., tissue culture, offer a promising tool for the rapid, cost-effective, and efficient propagation of different plant species. In the current study, a rapid and efficient in vitro multiplication protocol was developed for the micropropagation of Maerua crassifolia Forssk. Our results revealed that Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 7.5 µM of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) and 1.0 µM of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) led to the highest shoot formation (13.9 shoots per explant in 85.7% of the cultivated hypocotyls) among all other treatments. The best in vitro root formation was obtained on half-strength MS medium with 1.0 µM of indole 3-butyric acid (IBA) as 94.1% of the cultivated shoots formed 6.8 roots per microshoot on average. Ninety percent of the rooted plantlets were successfully acclimatized and are currently growing in the botanical garden of the Botany and Microbiology Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The genetic fidelity of the micropropagated plants was authenticated via flow cytometry. The results of the current study explained a simple, cost-effective, and efficient protocol for the micropropagation of the endangered M. crassifolia trees.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in agricultural fields has risen to a level where people are considering NPs as an alternative to commercial fertilizers. The input of copper oxide NPs (CuO NPs) as seed primers was investigated in this study, and the growth indices of Brassica juncea such as phenotypic parameters, photosynthetic attributes, and biochemical parameters were measured during maximum vegetative growth stage, i.e., at 45 days after sowing. Surface sterilized seeds were soaked in varying concentrations (0, 2, 4, 8 and 16 mg/L) of CuO NPs for 15, 30, and/or 45 min. After those priming periods, the seeds were planted in pots and allowed to grow naturally. Among the different tested concentrations of CuO NPs, 4 mg/L of CuO NPs for 30 min seed priming proved to be best, and considerably increased the, shoot length (30%), root length (27%), net photosynthetic rate (30%), internal CO2 concentration (28%), and proline content (41%). Besides, the performance of the antioxidant enzymes, viz, superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and biochemical parameters such as nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase were also increased by several folds after the application of CuO NPs in B. juncea. The present study suggests that CuO NPs can be effectively used to increase the performance of B. juncea and may also be suitable for testing on other crop species.

The emerging concept of cancer stem cells (CSCs) as the key driver behind carcinogenesis, progression, and diversity has displaced the prior model of a tumor composed of cells with similar subsequently acquired mutations and an equivalent capacity for renewal, invasion, and metastasis. This significant change has shifted the research focus toward targeting CSCs to eradicate cancer. CSCs may be characterized using cell surface markers. They are defined by their capacity to self-renew and differentiate, resist conventional therapies, and generate new tumors following repeated transplantation in xenografted mice. CSCs’ functional capabilities are governed by various intracellular and extracellular variables such as pluripotency-related transcription factors, internal signaling pathways, and external stimuli. Numerous natural compounds and synthetic chemicals have been investigated for their ability to disrupt these regulatory components and inhibit stemness and terminal differentiation in CSCs, hence achieving clinical implications. However, no cancer treatment focuses on the biological consequences of these drugs on CSCs, and their functions have been established. This article provides a biomedical discussion of cancer at the time along with an overview of CSCs and their origin, features, characterization, isolation techniques, signaling pathways, and novel targeted therapeutic approaches. Additionally, we highlighted the factors endorsed as controlling or helping to promote stemness in CSCs. Our objective was to encourage future studies on these prospective treatments to develop a framework for their application as single or combined therapeutics to eradicate various forms of cancer.

Solenostemma argel (Delile) Hayne is a desert plant that survives harsh environmental conditions with several vital medicinal properties. Salt stress is a major constraint limiting agricultural production around the globe. However, response mechanisms behind the adaptation of S. argel plants to salt stress are still poorly understood. In the current study, we applied an omics approach to explore how this plant adapts to salt stress by integrating transcriptomic and metabolomic changes in the roots and leaves of S. argel plants under salt stress. De novo assembly of transcriptome produced 57,796 unigenes represented by 165,147 transcripts/isoforms. A total of 730 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in the roots (396 and 334 were up- and down-regulated, respectively). In the leaves, 927 DEGs were identified (601 and 326 were up- and down-regulated, respectively). Gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes And Genomes pathway enrichment analyses revealed that several defense-related biological processes, such as response to osmotic and oxidative stress, hormonal signal transduction, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways are the potential mechanisms involved in the tolerance of S. argel plants to salt stress. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the metabolic variations of the leaves and roots of S. argel under control and salt stress. 45 and 56 critical metabolites showed changes in their levels in the stressed roots and leaves, respectively; there were 20 metabolites in common between the roots and leaves. Differentially accumulated metabolites included amino acids, polyamines, hydroxycinnamic acids, monolignols, flavonoids, and saccharides that improve antioxidant ability and osmotic adjustment of S. argel plants under salt stress. The results present insights into potential salt response mechanisms in S. argel desert plants and increase the knowledge in order to generate more tolerant crops to salt stress.

Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is a serine/threonine protein kinase involved in diverse fundamental cellular processes such as apoptosis and autophagy. DAPK1 isoform plays an essential role as a tumor suppressor and inhibitor of metastasis. Consequently, DAPK1 became a promising target protein for developing new anti-cancer agents. In this work, we present the rational design and complete synthetic routes of a novel series of eighteen aryl carboxamide derivatives as potential DAPK1 inhibitors. Using a custom panel of forty-five kinases, a single dose of 10 µM of the picolinamide derivative 4a was able to selectively inhibit DAPK1 kinase by 44.19%. Further investigations revealed the isonicotinamide derivative 4q as a promising DAPK1 inhibitory lead compound with an IC50 value of 1.09 µM. In an in vitro anticancer activity assay using a library of 60 cancer cell lines including blood, lung, colon, CNS, skin, ovary, renal, prostate, and breast cancers, four compounds (4d, 4e, 4o, and 4p) demonstrated high anti-proliferative activity with mean % GI ~70%. Furthermore, the most potent DAPK1 inhibitor (4q) exhibited remarkable activity against leukemia (K-562) and breast cancer (MDA-MB-468) with % GI of 72% and 75%, respectively.

Bee pollen is a natural cocktail of floral nectar, flower pollen, enzymes, and salivary secretions produced by honeybees. Bee pollen is one of the bee products most enriched in proteins, polysaccharides, polyphenols, lipids, minerals, and vitamins. It has a significant health and medicinal impact and provides protection against many diseases, including diabetes, cancer, infectious, and cardiovascular. Bee pollen is commonly promoted as a cost-effective functional food. In particular, bee pollen has been applied in clinical trials for allergies and prostate illnesses, with a few investigations on cancer and skin problems. However, it is involved in several patents and health recipes to combat chronic health problems. This review aimed to highlight the clinical trials and patents involving bee pollen for different cases and to present the role of bee pollen as a supplementary food and a potential product in cosmetic applications.

Climate change is expected to influence the geographic distribution of many taxa, including insects. Chrysomya albiceps is one of the most pervasive calliphorid fly with apparent ecological, forensic, and medical importance. However, the global habitat suitability is varied due to climate change. Models that forecast species spatial distribution are increasingly being used in wildlife management, highlighting the need for trustworthy techniques to assess their accuracy. So, we used the maximum entropy implemented in Maxent to predict the current and future potential global geographic distribution of C. albiceps and algorithms of DIVA-GIS to confirm the predicted current model. The Maxent model was calibrated using 2177 occurrence records. Based on the Jackknife test, four bioclimatic variables along with altitude were used to develop the final models. For future models, two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 2.6 and 8.5, for 2050 and 2070 were used. The area under curve (AUC) and true skill statistics (TSS) were used to evaluate the resulted models with values equal to 0.92 (±0.001) and 0.7, respectively. Two-dimensional niche analysis illustrated that the insect can adapt to low and high temperatures (9 °C to 27 °C), and the precipitation range was 0 mm to 2500 mm. The resulted models illustrated the global distribution of C. albiceps with alteration to its distribution in the future, especially on the Mediterranean coasts of Europe and Africa, Florida in the USA, and the coasts of Australia. Such predicted shifts put decision makers against their responsibilities to prevent destruction in economic, medical, and ecological sectors.

Efficient methods for callus induction and the high-frequency plant regeneration of Ruta chalepensis L. were established, and the phytochemical potential and antioxidant activity of a donor plant, ex-vitro-established micropropagated plants, and callus were also studied. Yellowish-green callus was induced with a frequency of 97.8% from internode shoot segments of the donor plant growing in soil in the botanical garden cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing 10 μM 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 1 μM BA (6-benzyladenine). Adventitious shoots were regenerated from the yellowish-green callus on MS medium containing 5.0 μM (BA) and 1.0 μM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), with a regeneration frequency of 98.4% and a maximum of 54.6 shoots with an average length of 4.5 cm after 8 weeks. The regenerated shoots were rooted in a medium containing 1.0 μM IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) and successfully transferred to ex vitro conditions in pots containing normal garden soil, with a 95% survival rate. The amounts of alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, and antioxidant activity of the ex-vitro-established micropropagated plants were higher than in the donor plant and callus. The highest contents of hesperidin and rutin (93.3 and 55.9 µg/mg, respectively) were found in the ex-vitro-established micropropagated plants compared to those obtained from the donor plant (91.4 and 31.0 µg/mg, respectively) and callus (59.1 and 21.6 µg/mg, respectively). The genetic uniformity of the ex-vitro-established micropropagated plants was appraised by the ISSR markers and compared with the donor plant. This is the first report describing the callus-mediated plant regeneration, as well as the production of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in R. chalepensis, which might be a potential alternative technique for the mass propagation and synthesis of bioactive compounds such as hesperidin and rutin.

Beekeeping is essential for the global food supply, yet honeybee health and hive numbers are increasingly threatened by habitat alteration, climate change, agrochemical overuse, pathogens, diseases, and insect pests. However, pests and diseases that have unknown spatial distribution and influences are blamed for diminishing honeybee colonies over the world. The greater wax moth (GWM), Galleria mellonella, is a pervasive pest of the honeybee, Apis mellifera. It has an international distribution that causes severe loss to the beekeeping industry. The GWM larvae burrow into the edge of unsealed cells that have pollen, bee brood, and honey through to the midrib of the wax comb. Burrowing larvae leave behind masses of webs that cause honey to leak out and entangle emerging bees, resulting in death by starvation, a phenomenon called galleriasis. In this study, the maximum entropy algorithm implemented in (Maxent) model was used to predict the global spatial distribution of GWM throughout the world. Two representative concentration pathways (RCPs) 2.6 and 8.5 of three global climate models (GCMs), were used to forecast the global distribution of GWM in 2050 and 2070. The Maxent models for GWM provided a high value of the Area Under Curve equal to 0.8 ± 0.001, which was a satisfactory result. Furthermore, True Skilled Statistics assured the perfection of the resultant models with a value equal to 0.7. These values indicated a significant correlation between the models and the ecology of the pest species. The models also showed a very high habitat suitability for the GWM in hot-spot honey exporting and importing countries. Furthermore, we extrapolated the economic impact of such pests in both feral and wild honeybee populations and consequently the global market of the honeybee industry.

Utilization of plant allelopathic potential to control weed infestations provides an effective, cost-efficient, labor-free, and environmentally acceptable alternative to traditional chemical and mechanical methods. Conocarpus erectus, known as buttonwood, belongs to the Combretaceae family with high contents of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity. There have been no studies on the allelopathic potential of C. erectus. The present study (1) examined the allelopathic potential of C. erectus against selected weeds (Chenopodium murale and Amaranthus viridis) and crops (Solanum lycopersicum and Cucumis sativus) via investigating the growth inhibition ability of its aqueous extract, and (2) identified the potential allelochemicals found in this plant. Aqueous extracts were prepared from leaves, roots, and seeds of C. erectus by immersing the dried powder of the examined plant parts in sterile distilled water for 24 h on a shaker set to 180 rpm. The resulting filtrate was considered as 100% solution, and then dilutions were made to various concentrations (75%, 50%, and 25%). C. erectus leaves and seeds showed the highest rate of inhibition at all concentrations against Chenopodium murale and Amaranthus viridis grown in either Petri dishes or pots. Conversely, all the studied extracts did not show any toxic effects against tomato and cucumber plants grown in pots. In Petri dishes, a slight reduction in growth was observed. HPLC analysis of total phenolic contents in C. erectus methanolic extracts showed that leaves have the highest contents of gallic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid (153.963, 69.135, and 39.801 ppm, respectively). The finding of the current study demonstrated that the part of the plant and the concentration of extraction have a significant effect on phytotoxicity. The positive results of this study might be used to develop environmentally-friendly herbicides for agricultural purposes.

Trees are vital resources for economic, environmental, and industrial growth, supporting human life directly or indirectly through a wide variety of therapeutic compounds, commodities, and ecological services. Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb. (Fabaceae) is one of the most valuable multipurpose forest trees in India and Sri Lanka, as it is cultivated for quality wood as well as pharmaceutically bioactive compounds, especially from the stem bark and heartwood. However, propagation of the tree in natural conditions is difficult due to the low percentage of seed germination coupled with overexploitation of this species for its excellent multipurpose properties. This overexploitation has ultimately led to the inclusion of P. marsupium on the list of endangered plant species. However, recent developments in plant biotechnology may offer a solution to the overuse of such valuable species if such advances are accompanied by technology transfer in the developing world. Specifically, techniques in micropropagation, genetic manipulation, DNA barcoding, drug extraction, delivery, and targeting as well as standardization, are of substantial concern. To date, there are no comprehensive and detailed reviews of P. marsupium in terms of biotechnological research developments, specifically pharmacognosy, pharmacology, tissue culture, authentication of genuine species, and basic gene transfer studies. Thus, the present review attempts to present a comprehensive overview of the biotechnological studies centered on this species and some of the recent novel approaches for its genetic improvement.

Temperatures have fluctuated dramatically throughout our planet’s long history, and in recent decades, global warming has become a more visible indicator of climate change. Climate change has several effects on different economic sectors, especially the livestock industry. The Old-world screwworm (OWS), Chrysomya bezziana (Villeneuve, 1914), is one of the most destructive insect pests which is invading new regions as a result of climate change. The economic loss in livestock business due to invasion of OWS was previously assessed by FAO in Iraq to be USD 8,555,000. Other areas at risk of invasion with OWS in the future include Japan. Therefore, maximum entropy implemented in MaxEnt was used to model predictive risk maps of OWS invasion to Japan based on two representative concentration pathways (RCPs), 2.6 and 8.5, for 2050 and 2070. The Area Under Curve (AUC) indicates high model performance, with a value equal to 0.89 (±0.001). In addition, the True Skill Statistics (TSS) value was equal to 0.7. The resulting models indicate the unsuitability of the northern territory of Japan for invasion by OWS. The main island’s southern costs show high and very high invasion suitability, respectively, and both Kyushu and Okinawa are at high risk of invasion with OWS. The predicted risk maps can be considered a warning sign for the Japanese quarantine authority to hasten a control program in order to protect the livestock industry from this devastating pest.

Ruta chalepensis L., an evergreen shrub in the citrus family, is well-known around the world for its essential oils and variety of bioactivities, indicating its potential medicinal applications. In this study, we investigated the effect of different culture conditions, including plant growth regulators, media types, pH of the medium, and carbon sources, on in vitro regeneration from nodal explants of R. chalepensis. Following 8 weeks of culture, the highest percentage of regeneration (96.3%) and maximum number of shoots (40.3 shoot/explant) with a length of 4.8 cm were obtained with Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium at pH 5.8, supplemented with 3.0% sucrose and 5.0 µM 6-Benzyladenine (BA) in combination with 1.0 µM 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). For rooting, individually harvested shootlets were transferred on ½ MS (half-strength) supplemented with IAA (indole-3-acetic acid), IBA (indole 3-butyric acid), or NAA, and the best response in terms of root induction (91.6%), number of roots (5.3), and root mean length (4.9 cm) was achieved with 0.5 µM IBA after 6 weeks. An average of 95.2 percent of healthy, in vitro regenerated plantlets survived after being transplanted into potting soil, indicating that they were effectively hardened. DNA assays (PCR-based markers) such as random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and directed amplification of minisatellite-region (DAMD) were employed to assess in vitro cultivated R. chalepensis plantlets that produced a monomorphic banding pattern confirming the genetic stability. Additionally, no changes in the flow cytometric profile of ploidy between regenerated plantlets and donor plants were detected. Regeneration of this valuable medicinal plant in vitro will open up new avenues in pharmaceutical biotechnology by providing an unconventional steadfast system for mass multiplication and might be effectively used in genetic manipulation for enhanced bioactive constituents.