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The risk of arsenic contamination is rising globally, and it has negative impacts on the physiological processes and growth of plants. Metal removal from contaminated soils can be accomplished affordably and effectively with plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)-based microbial management. From this angle, this research evaluated the mitigation of arsenic toxicity using the bacteria isolated from contaminated site, Mettur, Salem district, South India. The newly isolated bacterial strain was screened for plant growth promotion potential and arsenic tolerance such as (100 ppm, 250 ppm, 500 ppm, 800 ppm and 1200 ppm). The metal tolerant rhizobacteria was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as Pseudomonas alcaliphila strain PAS1 (GenBank accession number: OQ804624). Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) plants were used in pot culture experiments with varying concentrations of arsenic, (5 ppm, 10 ppm and 25 ppm) both with and without bacterial culture, for a period of 45 days. At the concentration of 25 ppm after the application of PAS1 enhanced the plant growth, protein and carbohydrate by 35.69%, 18.31% respectively. Interestingly, P. alcaliphila strain PAS1 significantly reduced the stress-induced elevated levels of proline, flavonoid, phenol and antioxidant enzyme in pigeon pea plants was 40%, 31.11%, 27.80% and 20.12%, respectively. Consequently, PAS1 may significantly reduce the adverse effects that arsenic causes to plant development in acidic soils, improve plant uptake of nutrients, and increase plant production. The findings of this study reveal that P. alcaliphila PAS1 is intrinsic for phytoremediation by reducing arsenic accumulation in the root and shoot., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Introduction: Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that are extremely selective for sugar groups in the other molecules. As a result, they perform a variety of roles in biological processes involving cell, carbohydrate, and protein recognition at the cellular and molecular levels. Because lectins can bind to carbohydrates, they may play a role in determining the rate of carbohydrate digestion. They also bind to some proteins involved in diabetes mellitus (DM) pathophysiology. The present review aims to summarize the efficiency of lectins from different sources as potential antihyperglycemic agents. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were employed for the drafting. In this regard, published scientific articles on the effects of different lectins on blood glucose (BG), glucose tolerance, hormonal effects, carbohydrate-digesting enzymes, oxidative stress, and insulin production process were collected from reputed journals using electronic databases. Furthermore, the toxicity effects of lectins from different sources were collected. A specific keyword search was completed to collect numerous articles with unique experimental designs and significant results. This was followed by the selection of the requisite articles based on the criteria designed by the authors. Data extraction was based on the common research elements included in the articles. Results and Discussion: Of 13 identified studies, 11 studies were considered after double screening based on the inclusion criteria. All 11 pharmacological investigations were considered for review. Subsequent studies reflected on the pharmacological properties of lectins on the levels of BG, oxidative stress, ß-cell proliferation, insulin resistance, inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzymes, body weight, food and water intake, lipid profile, and other parameters. This review highlights lectins as potential anti-diabetic agents. Conclusion: However, due to limited research, systematic evaluation is recommended for their development and promotion as effective potential antihyperglycemic agents. The clinical efficacy and safety of lectins against diabetes mellitus must also be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

The pollution of heavy metals (HMs) is a major environmental concern for agricultural farming communities due to water scarcity, which forces farmers to use wastewater for irrigation purposes in Pakistan. Vegetables grown around the cities are irrigated with domestic and industrial wastewater from areas near mining, paint, and ceramic industries that pollute edible parts of crops with various HMs. Cadmium (Cd) is an extremely toxic metal in arable soil that enters the food chain and damages the native biota, ultimately causing a reduction in plant growth and development. However, the use of microbes and growth regulators enhances plant growth and development as well as HM immobilization into the cell wall and hinders their entry into the food chain. Thus, the integrated use of bacterial consortium along with exogenously applied jasmonic acid (JA) mitigates the adverse effect of metal stress, ultimately reducing the metal mobility into roots by soil. Therefore, the current study was conducted to check the impact of Cd-tolerant bacteria and JA on the growth, nutrient status, and uptake of Cd in the cauliflower (Brassica oleracea). Our results demonstrated that increasing concentrations of Cd negatively affect growth, physiological, and biochemical attributes, while the use of a bacterial consortium (SS7 + SS8) with JA (40 μmol L-1) significantly improved chlorophyll contents, stem fresh and dry biomass (19.7, 12.7, and 17.3%), root length and root fresh and dry weights (28.8, 15.2, and 23.0%), and curd fresh and dry weights and curd diameter (18.7, 12.6, and 15.1%). However, the maximum reduction in soil Cd, roots, and curd uptake was observed by 8, 11, and 9.3%, respectively, under integrated treatment as compared to the control. Moreover, integrating bacterial consortium and JA improves superoxide dismutase (SOD) (16.79%), peroxidase dismutase (POD) (26.96%), peroxidase (POX) (26.13%), and catalase (CAT) (26.86%). The plant nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents were significantly increased in soil, roots, and curd up to 8, 11, and 9.3%, respectively. Hence, a consortium of Klebsiella strains in combination with JA is a potential phytostabilizer and it reduces the uptake of Cd from soil to roots to alleviate the adverse impact on cauliflower's growth and productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cadmium (Cd) contamination in agricultural soils and its accumulation in plant organs have become a global issue due to its harmful effects on human health. The in-situ stabilizing technique, which involves using organic amendments, is commonly employed for removing Cd from agricultural soils. Thus, the current study investigated the effect of vermicompost (VC) on soil properties and plant physio-biochemical attributes, leaf ultrastructure analysis, antioxidant defense mechanisms, and grain yields of two different fragrant rice cultivars, Xiangyaxiangzhan (XGZ) and Meixiangzhan-2 (MXZ-2), under Cdstress conditions. The results showed that Cd toxicity deteriorates soil quality, the plant's photosynthetic apparatus, and the plant's antioxidant defense mechanism. Moreover, under Cd stress, both cultivars produced significantly lower (p < 0.05) rice grain yields compared to non-Cd stress conditions. However, the VC application alleviated the Cd toxicity and improved soil qualitative traits, such as soil organic carbon, available nitrogen, total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Similarly, VC amendments improved leaf physiological activity, photosynthetic apparatus function, antioxidant enzyme activities and its related gene expression under Cd stress These enhancements led to increased grain yields of both fragrant under Cd toxicity. The addition of VC mitigated the adverse effects of Cd on the leaf chloroplast structure by reducing Cd uptake and accumulation in tissues. This helped prevent Cd-induced peroxidation damage to leaf membrane lipids by increasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). On average across the growth stages, the Pos-Cd + VC3 treatment increased SOD, APX, CAT, and POD activities by122.2 and 112.5%, 118.6, and 120.6%, 44.6 and 40.6%, and 38.6 and 33.2% in MXZ-2 and XGZ, respectively, compared to the plants treated with Pos-Cd treated alone. Enhancements in leaf physiological activity and plant antioxidant enzyme activity strengthen the plant's antioxidant defense mechanism against Cd toxicity. In addition, correlation analysis showed a strong relationship between the leaf net photosynthetic rate and soil chemical attributes, suggesting that improved soil fertility enhances leaf physiological activity and boosts rice grain yields. Of the treatments, Pos-Cd + VC3 proved to be the most effective treatment in terms of enhancing soil health and achieving high fragrant rice yields. Thus, the outcomes of this study show that the addition of VC in Cd-contaminated soils could be useful for sustainable rice production and safe utilization of Cdpolluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of technologies for the generation and transplantation of living skin equivalents (LSEs) is a significant area of translational medicine. Such functional equivalents can be used to model and study the morphogenesis of the skin and its derivatives, to test drugs, and to improve the healing of chronic wounds, burns, and other skin injuries. The evolution of LSEs over the past 50 years has demonstrated the leap in technology and quality and the shift from classical full‐thickness LSEs to principled new models, including modification of classical models and skin organoids with skin derived from human‐induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) (hiPSCs). Modern methods and approaches make it possible to create LSEs that successfully mimic native skin, including derivatives such as hair follicles (HFs), sebaceous and sweat glands, blood vessels, melanocytes, and nerve cells. New technologies such as 3D and 4D bioprinting, microfluidic systems, and genetic modification enable achievement of new goals, cost reductions, and the scaled‐up production of LSEs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the variety of nano-based tools offers new possibilities to approach the therapy of poorly treatable tumors, which includes glioblastoma multiforme (GBM; a primary brain tumor). The available nanocomplexes exhibit great potential as vehicles for the targeted delivery of anti-GBM compounds, including chemotherapeutics, nucleic acids, and inhibitors. The main advantages of nanoparticles (NPs) include improved drug stability, increased penetration of the blood–brain barrier, and better precision of tumor targeting. Importantly, alongside their drug-delivery ability, NPs may also present theranostic properties, including applications for targeted imaging or photothermal therapy of malignant brain cells. The available NPs can be classified into two categories according to their core, which can be metal or non-metal based. Among non-metal NPs, the most studied in regard to GBM treatment are exosomes, liposomes, cubosomes, polymeric NPs, micelles, dendrimers, nanogels, carbon nanotubes, and silica- and selenium-based NPs. They are characterized by satisfactory stability and biocompatibility, limited toxicity, and high accumulation in the targeted tumor tissue. Moreover, they can be easily functionalized for the improved delivery of their cargo to GBM cells. Therefore, the non-metal NPs discussed here, offer a promising approach to improving the treatment outcomes of aggressive GBM tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Science & Technology of Food Industry is the property of Science & Technology of Food Industry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Introduction: Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a particularly aggressive malignancy with limited therapeutic options. The search for innovative treatments has focused on traditional Chinese medicine, specifically epimedium. This research investigates epimedium's active ingredients, potential targets, and underlying mechanisms in treating PC. Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to quantify the active components of epimedium and HPLC-Q-TOF-MS was employed for qualitative identification. Potential targets of epimedium's active ingredients were identified using the TCMSP, ETCM, CTD, and Swiss Target Prediction databases. Potential PC-related targets were sourced from DisGeNET, GeneCards, and OMIM databases. A Venn diagram was utilized to identify overlapping PCrelated and epimedium targets. Core targets and pathways were elucidated through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) assessments, and Reactome pathway enrichment analyses. Molecular docking techniques investigated interactions between active compounds and these targets. The expression and prognostic implications of target genes were evaluated using GEPIA2 and the Human Protein Atlas (HPA) databases. In vitro studies assessed the impact of epimedium extract (EPE) on Panc-1 cell viability, and Western blot analysis examined the expression levels of key targets. Results: Network pharmacological indicate that epimedium econtains active components such as baohuoside I, icariin, hyperoside, and epimedin B, which have potential therapeutic effects against PC. In vitro assays confirmed that EPE significantly reduced the viability of Panc-1 cells. Western blot analysis revealed a considerable decrease in the expression of key targets in EPE-treated cells, including AKT1, EGFR, p-EGFR, JUN, BCL2, IL6, and SRC. The R-HSA-1280215: Interleukin-4 and Interleukin-13 signaling pathways involving these genes were identified as potential therapeutic targets. Discussion: Epimedium holds promise as a candidate for treating PC. The modulation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-13 signaling pathways could be a pivotal mechanism by which epimedium impedes tumor development. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the clinical applicability of epimedium in PC treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study which isolated and identified rhizobial strains associated with soybean root nodules and assessed their plant-growth promoting (PGP) properties. Topics discussed include isolation of rhizobia from soybean root nodules, determination of PGP characteristics of isolated Rhizobia, and determination of cultural, morphological and biochemical traits of isolates.

The Chinese alligator (Alligator sinensis) is currently an endangered species due to a combination of factors, including climate change, anthropogenic activities, and habitat fragmentation. Captivity plays a crucial role in mitigating the decline of the Chinese alligator population. Currently, there is a lack of clarity regarding the influence of host development and captive conditions on the gut microbiota of Chinese alligators. The aim of the study was to investigate the gut bacterial communities of Chinese alligators and their surrounding environmental bacterial communities using 16S rRNA sequencing. The primary gut flora of Chinese alligators consists of Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Proteobacteria is the most abundant and efficient settler in the gut, water, and sediment. PCoA and Adonis test revealed significant differences in bacterial communities across these habitats. Venn analysis revealed overlap in OTUs among the gut, water, and sediment, varying with growth stage and density stress. Different growth stages of Chinese alligator guts harbor distinct pathogenic bacteria, requiring attention. Density stress leads to an increase in pathogenic bacteria, a decrease in gut absorption efficiency. PICRUst2 predicts more abundant metabolic pathways related to gut function during high‐density stress, possibly linked to Roseburia. SourceTracker Analysis indicated that water bacteria have a greater impact on Chinese alligator gut bacteria than sediment, and density stress significantly affects the contribution of environmental microorganisms to the gut microbes of Chinese alligator. BugBase analysis identified water body microbes as the main source of "potentially pathogenic" phenotypes in the gut microbiota. RDA analysis found dissolved oxygen (DO) in water to be the most significant factor influencing water microorganisms, positively correlated with certain pathogenic strains. These findings enhance our understanding of the significance of microbial communities in the gut and surrounding aquatic environment of the Chinese alligator. Furthermore, they provide theoretical support for environmental regulation, disease control, and healthy breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the recognition of the importance of the gut–brain axis in Parkinson’s disease (PD) etiology, there is increased interest in developing therapeutic strategies that target α-synuclein, the hallmark abhorrent protein of PD pathogenesis, which may originate in the gut. Research has demonstrated that inhibiting the aggregation, oligomerization, and fibrillation of α-synuclein are key strategies for disease modification. Polyphenols, which are rich in fruits and vegetables, are drawing attention for their potential role in this context. In this paper, we reviewed how polyphenols influence the composition and functional capabilities of the gut microbiota and how the resulting microbial metabolites of polyphenols may potentially enhance the modulation of α-synuclein aggregation. Understanding the interaction between polyphenols and gut microbiota and identifying which specific microbes may enhance the efficacy of polyphenols is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies and precision nutrition based on the microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to isolate cellulase producing bacteria and study the amount of Macronutrient components in 5 samples of coconut weevil feed. 22 of 108 bacterial isolates produced cellulase. Enzymatic production efficiency was high in 15 bacterial isolates (13.89%) with HC value of 2.01-3.00. The isolate SA05, a gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, produced the highest cellulase activity (HC value of 3.00). In addition, the macronutrient components nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in samples were measured.The highest amounts of nitrogen and potassium components were found in the SA sample, 2.20 ± 0.00 mg/kg and 30.59 ± 2.70 mg/kg, respectively while the highest phosphorus component in the SB sample was 319.48 ± 0.00 mg/kg.This study found that coconut weevil feed contained cellulase producing bacteria and could be a source of plant nutrients especially phosphorus. However, there should be further study in development of organic fertilizer production from waste materials from coconut beetle farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Half of the world's population depends on rice for their calories. Protecting rice in the growth period from damage caused by phytopathogens is faced with a great challenge under the frequent extreme climate. To find novel fungicides to control rice diseases, 35 novel phenylthiazole‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐thioether (sulfone) derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their efficacy against destructive fungal and bacterial diseases of rice. Bioassay results demonstrated that most of G‐series compounds possessed excellent antifungal and antibacterial activities. In particular, compounds G1 (EC50 = 2.22 μg/mL, R.s) and G7 (EC50 = 2.76 μg/mL, R.s) showed the most promising antifungal activities in vitro and exhibited superior protective and curative activities against rice sheath blight in vivo compared with commercial carbendazim. Surprisingly, compound G2 exhibited the remarkable antibacterial activity against Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) with an EC50 value of 1.98 μg/mL, and demonstrated superior protective activity (88.08%) than thiodiazole copper (79.39%) against rice bacterial leaf blight at 200 μg/mL. The abovementioned results fully manifested that the phenylthiazole‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole‐sulfone structure, especially compounds G1 and G2, had the potential to develop as commercial agents for controlling rice fungal and bacterial diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mutualistic plant rhizobacteria which improve plant development and productivity are known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). It is more significant due to their ability to help the plants in different ways. The main physiological responses, such as malondialdehyde, membrane stability index, relative leaf water content, photosynthetic leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence efficiency of photosystem-II, and photosynthetic pigments are observed in plants during unfavorable environmental conditions. Plant rhizobacteria are one of the more crucial chemical messengers that mediate plant development in response to stressed conditions. The interaction of plant rhizobacteria with essential plant nutrition can enhance the agricultural sustainability of various plant genotypes or cultivars. Rhizobacterial inoculated plants induce biochemical variations resulting in increased stress resistance efficiency, defined as induced systemic resistance. Omic strategies revealed plant rhizobacteria inoculation caused the upregulation of stress-responsive genes--numerous recent approaches have been developed to protect plants from unfavorable environmental threats. The plant microbes and compounds they secrete constitute valuable biostimulants and play significant roles in regulating plant stress mechanisms. The present review summarized the recent developments in the functional characteristics and action mechanisms of plant rhizobacteria in sustaining the development and production of plants under unfavorable environmental conditions, with special attention on plant rhizobacteria-mediated physiological and molecular responses associated with stress-induced responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) support plant growth through direct and indirect mechanisms. To investigate PGPR strains that support plant growth, 21 bacterial isolates, mostly Bacillus ssp. and Pseudomonas ssp., were isolated from different rhizospheric soils of sunflowers in Kırşehir districts in 2020. All isolates were characterized morphologically, biochemically by screening under in vitro conditions for plant growth-promoting properties such as nitrogen fixation, IAA (indoleacetic acid) production, siderophore production, HCN (hydrogen cyanide) production, inorganic phosphate solubility. It was also screened for extracellular enzyme production and antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum. Among the 21 isolates, 3 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-49-4, MH-64-3) fixed nitrogen, 2 isolates (MH-59-6, MH-64-3), produced siderophores, 8 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-35-6, MH-54-3, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8) produced HCN, 6 isolates (MH-35-6, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH- 59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8) produced IAA, and 7 isolates (MH-35-4, MH-35-6, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-8, MH-64-3) solubilized inorganic phosphate. Additionally, only 2 isolates (MH-54-3, MH-54-4) were positive amylase tests, 8 isolates (MH-35-6, MH-54-4, MH-59-1, MH-59-2, MH-59-4, MH-59-6, MH-59-7, MH-59-8) were positive citrate tests, 8 isolates (MH-35-1, MH-35-4, MH-35-7, MH-49-4, MH-54-4, MH-59-6, MH-59-7, MH-64-3) were positive protease tests, and 6 isolates (MH-35-1, MH-35-3, MH-35-7, MH-54-3, MH-54-4, MH-59-7) were positive gelatin hydrolysis tests. Among 21 isolates, 38% were determined as hydrogen cyanide producers, 10% as siderophore producers, 29% IAA producers, 33% as phosphate solubilizers and 14% as nitrogen fixers. Isolate MH-35-6 showed the highest antifungal activity against Fusarium oxysporum with an inhibition rate of 53.57%. This was followed by isolates MH-54-1 (51.19%), MH-54-3 (47.61%) and MH-59-2 (38.09%), respectively. Therefore, our study reveals that bacteria that promote plant growth in sunflowers can be used to increase crop yield and as a biocontrol agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proximal or A1 segment anterior cerebral artery (ACA) aneurysms are rare aneurysms. They have certain unique properties when compared to all other intracranial aneurysms. They are smaller and prone to an early rupture. Thus, they need an aggressive intervention even when they are less than 7 mm in size. The technical difficulties that arise in their management are based on their location along the length and circumference of the ACA. Accordingly, they have been variously classified in literature. Their intimate relationship to the medial lenticulostriate perforators and the recurrent artery of Heubner is the prime factor in determining the surgical or endovascular strategy and outcome. These aneurysms are commonly associated with vascular anomalies, needing a thorough interpretation of preoperative angiograms. Though there are many series reporting the clinical features and management outcome of proximal ACA aneurysms, all are limited by a small sample size due to the rarity of the pathology. In this article, the pertinent literature related to the surgical nuances associated with dealing with A1 segment aneurysms is reviewed. The clinical presentation, associated anatomical characteristics, microsurgical management, role of endovascular therapy, and outcome are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The helium cryo-plant is an indispensable subsystem for the application of low temperature superconductors in large-scale scientific facilities. However, it is important to note that the cryo-plant requires stable operation and consumes a substantial amount of electrical power for its operation. Additionally, the construction of the cryo-plant incurs significant economic costs. To achieve the necessary cooling capacity while reducing power consumption and ensuring stability and economic feasibility, constrained multi-objective optimization is performed using the interior point method in this work. The Collins cycle, which uses liquid nitrogen precooling, is selected as the representative helium liquefaction cycle for optimization. The discharge pressure of the compressor, flow ratio of turbines, and effectiveness of heat exchangers are taken as decision parameters. Two objective parameters, cycle exergy efficiency, ηex,cycle, and liquefaction rate, ṁL, are chosen, and the wheel tip speed of turbines and UA of heat exchangers are selected as stability and economic cost constraints, respectively. The technique for order of preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) is utilized to select the final optimal solution from the Pareto frontier of constrained multi-objective optimization. Compared to the constrained optimization of ηex,cycle, the TOPSIS result increases the ṁL by 23.674%, but there is an 8.162% reduction in ηex,cycle. Similarly, compared to the constrained optimization of ṁL, the TOPSIS result increases the ηex,cycle by 57.333%, but a 10.821% reduction in ṁL is observed. This approach enables the design of helium cryo-plants with considerations for cooling capacity, exergy efficiency, economic cost, and stability. Furthermore, the wheel tip speed and UA of heat exchangers of the solutions in the Pareto frontier are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable food security and safety are major concerns on a global scale, especially in developed nations. Adverse agroclimatic conditions affect the largest agricultural-producing areas, which reduces the production of crops. Achieving sustainable food safety is challenging because of several factors, such as soil flooding/waterlogging, ultraviolet (UV) rays, acidic/sodic soil, hazardous ions, low and high temperatures, and nutritional imbalances. Plant growth- promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are widely employed in in-vitro conditions because they are widely recognized as a more environmentally and sustainably friendly approach to increasing crop yield in contaminated and fertile soil. Conversely, the use of nanoparticles (NPs) as an amendment in the soil has recently been proposed as an economical way to enhance the texture of the soil and improving agricultural yields. Nowadays, various research experiments have combined or individually applied with the PGPR and NPs for balancing soil elements and crop yield in response to control and adverse situations, with the expectation that both additives might perform well together. According to several research findings, interactive applications significantly increase sustainable crop yields more than PGPR or NPs alone. The present review summarized the functional and mechanistic basis of the interactive role of PGPR and NPs. However, this article focused on the potential of the research direction to realize the possible interaction of PGPR and NPs at a large scale in the upcoming years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is an infection of three closely related filarial worms such as Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, and Brugia timori. These worms can cause a devastating disease that involves acute and chronic lymphoedema of the extremities, which can cause elephantiasis in both sexes and hydroceles in males. These important public health nematodes were found to have a mutualistic relationship with intracellular bacteria of the genus Wolbachia, which is essential for the development and survival of the nematode. The host's inflammatory response to parasites and possibly also to the Wolbachia endosymbiont is the cause of lymphatic damage and disease pathogenesis. This review tried to describe and highlight the mutualistic associations between Wolbachia and lymphatic filarial nematodes and the role of bacteria in the pathogenesis of lymphatic filariasis. Articles for this review were searched from PubMed, Google Scholar, and other databases. Article searching was not restricted by publication year; however, only English version full-text articles were included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage water contamination is a significant health risk factor that affects plant development, aquatic environment, and human life quality. Among different mitigation strategies, bioremediation is thought to be the most sustainable and cost-effective. Thus, the current study aimed at finding new bacteria with a high potential for reducing sewage water contaminants, as well as heavy metal sorption capabilities. Only one bacterium (Strain DDN) was selected from a large number of isolated bacteria due to its high proteolysis and antibacterial activity. This bacterium was identified using biochemical and 16S rDNA-based molecular analysis. The phylogenetic tree revealed the strongest resemblance to Bacillus aryabhattai strain QH 16-25 (here called as Bacillus aryabhattai DDN). Furthermore, the biodegradation capability of bacteria was assessed, and it was discovered that there was a significant reduction in certain pollution indicating parameters including BOD (65.81%), COD (58.02%), alkalinity (53.65%), hardness (56.91%), calcium (71.56%) ammonia (43.34%) and orthophosphate (40.37%) content within 14 days. Moreover, the concentration of heavy metals, such as Hg, Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn decreased up to 61.69, 60.77, 88.67, 24.69, and 81.95%, respectively, when compared to the initial concentration. Thus, this novel bacterium proved to be a multi metal tolerant and a potent bioremediatory tool for environment safeguard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, it was first proposed to combine hydrated salt phase change materials (PCMs) with humidity control materials to prepare the temperature and humidity control material. The composite PCM was prepared by absorbing Na2HPO4·12H2O with colloidal silicon dioxide, and diatomite was selected as the humidity control material. The humidity performance tests found that diatomite had good moisture absorption/desorption capacity and excellent moisture buffering capacity. The supercooling degree tests showed that Na2SiO3·9H2O as nucleating agent effectively reduced the supercooling degree, and the addition of deionized water improved the water loss problem of composite PCMs. The DSC tests showed that the enthalpy and melting temperature of composite PCMs were 153.1 J/g and 28.9°C, respectively. By placing the temperature and humidity control material in different humidity, it was found that the moisture content of diatomite affected the thermal properties of composite PCMs. Diatomite could not only transfer moisture to hydrated salts but also absorb moisture from hydrated salt. The application performance tests of the temperature and humidity control material in the room model showed that it could simultaneously regulate indoor temperature and humidity. Overall, this temperature and humidity control material was more suitable for environments with high relative humidity such as greenhouses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Central South University is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Simpson grading scale for the classification of the extent of meningioma resection provided a tremendous movement forward in 1957 suggesting increasing the extent of resection improves recurrence rates. However, equal, if not greater, movements forward have been made in the neurosurgical community over the last half a century owing to improvements in neuroimaging capabilities, microsurgical techniques, and radiotherapeutic strategies. Sughrue et al proposed the idea that these advancements have altered what a "recurrence" and "subtotal resection" truly means in modern neurosurgery compared with Simpson's era, and that a mandated use of the Simpson Scale is likely less clinically relevant today. A subsequent period of debate ensued in the literature which sought to re-examine the clinical value of using the Simpson Scale in modern neurosurgery. While a large body of evidence has recently been provided, these data generally continue to support the clinical importance of gross tumor resection as well as the value of adjuvant radiation therapy and the importance of recently updated World Health Organization classifications. However, there remains a negligible interval benefit in performing overly aggressive surgery and heroic maneuvers to remove the last bit of tumor, dura, and/or bone just for the simple act of achieving a lower Simpson score. Ultimately, meningioma surgery may be better contextualized as a continuous set of weighted risk–benefit decisions throughout the entire operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to prepare Ficus benjamina leaves scaffolds for tissue engineering applications. Fresh leaves were decutinized with mixed solution of n-hexanes and diethyl ether in ratio of 9:1 and decellularized using 2.5% SDS (P1 and P2) and 5% SDS (P3 and P4) followed by incubation in 0.5% (P1, P3) and 1% (P2, P4) TnBP solution and finaly soaking in 4% NaOCl for 12 to 36h. The control and decellularized leaves scaffolds samples were characterized on the basis of macroscopic observations, histological/microscopic observations, DAPI staining, DNA quantification, density and porosity, swelling property, water vapor transmission rate, FTIR spectroscopic examination, and biocompatibility assessment. Cuticular wax was completely removed by nhexane and diethyl ether treatment and the treatment leaves were completely decellularized at 12 and 24h interval after bleaching as revealed by H&E, DAPI stained micrographs and SEM ultrastructure. DNA (ng/µl) quantity, density and of the decellularized Ficus benjamina leaves tissue also reduced significantly (P<0.05). However, porosity, swelling percent and water vapor transmission rate of decellularized leaf scaffolds increased significantly (P<0.05). Decellularized leaf scaffolds were found hemocompatible. FTIR analysis of both control and decellularized Ficus benjamina leaf samples showed well defined similar peaks in spectra. The subcutaneously implanted decellularized leaf scaffolds were infiltrated with host cells and found biocompatible as showed by histopathological, DAPI and SEM images. The results demonstrated that the use of SDS and TnBP by immersion technique is a suitable procedure for decellularization of Ficus benjamina plants leaves to produce biocompatible cellulose scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Endophytes play a significant role in regulating plant root development and facilitating nutrient solubilization and transportation. This association could improve plant growth. The present study has uncovered a distinct phenotype, which we refer to as "white root", arising from the intricate interactions between endophytic fungi and bacteria with the roots in a sugarcane and bamboo fungus (Dictyophora indusiata) intercropping system. Methods: We investigated the mechanisms underlying the formation of this “white root” phenotype and its impact on sugarcane yield and metabolism by metabarcoding and metabolome analysis. Results and Discussion: Initial analysis revealed that intercropping with D. indusiata increased sugarcane yield by enhancing the number of viable tillers compared with bagasse and no input control. Metabarcoding based on second-generation and third-generation sequencing indicated that D. indusiate and Bacillus aryabhattai dominates the fungal and bacterial composition in the “white root” phenotype of sugarcane root. The coexistence of D. indusiata and B. aryabhattai as endophytes induced plant growth-promoting metabolites in the sugarcane root system, such as lysoPC 18:1 and dihydrobenzofuran, probably contributing to increased sugarcane yield. Furthermore, the association also enhanced the metabolism of compounds, such as naringenin-7-O-glucoside (Prunin), naringenin-7-Oneohesperidoside (Naringin)*, hesperetin-7-O-neohesperidoside (Neohesperidin), epicatechin, and aromadendrin (Dihydrokaempferol), involved in flavonoid metabolism during the formation of the endophytic phenotype in the sugarcane root system. These observations suggest that the “white root” phenotype promotes sugarcane growth by activating flavonoid metabolism. This study reports an interesting phenomenon where D. indusiata, coordinate with the specific bacteria invade, forms a “white root” phenotype with sugarcane root. The study also provides new insights into using D. indusiata as a soil inoculant for promoting sugarcane growth and proposes a new approach for improve sugarcane cultivation. coordinate with the specific bacteria invade, forms a “white root” phenotype with sugarcane root. The study also provides new insights into using D. indusiata as a soil inoculant for promoting sugarcane growth and proposes a new approach for improve sugarcane cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbohydrates, also known glycans, are ubiquitous in nature and exhibit a wide array of biological functions essential to life. Glycans often exist as conjugates of proteins or lipids and reside predominantly at the surface of cells, where their structure and composition are known to vary in a disease-dependent fashion. This observation has encouraged the development of tools for monitoring glycan patterns on individual molecules, cells, and tissues, to elucidate the links between glycosylation and disease for therapeutic and diagnostic applications. Over the past 2 decades, microfluidic technology has emerged as an advantageous tool for profiling the glycan content of biological systems. Miniaturizing carbohydrate analysis can circumvent several challenges commonly encountered with conventional-scale analytical techniques such as low throughput and poor detection sensitivity. The latter is often complicated by the low abundance of glycans in biological specimens and the complexity of carbohydrate structures, which often necessitates extensive concentration and purification of glycans to discern their structural features. We previously examined the application of microfluidics in the synthesis of carbohydrates in a recent paper (Pinnock et al., Anal. Bioanal. Chem., 2022, 414 (18), 5139-63). This review builds upon that discussion by delving into the application of microfluidics in the complementary field of carbohydrate analysis. Special attention is given to applications related to glycomics and the ways that microfluidics have enhanced the sensitivity, reproducibility, and throughput of carbohydrate identification and structural characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) membrane doped with two-dimensional conductive filler Ti3C2Tx is a fuel cell proton exchange membrane with high application potential. Experimental studies showed that the proton conductivity of Nafion/Ti3C2Tx composite membrane is improved significantly compared with that in pure Nafion. However, the microscopic mechanism of doping on the enhancement of membrane performance is remain unclear now. In this work, molecular dynamics simulation was used to investigate the microscopic morphology and proton transport behaviors of Nafion/Ti3C2Tx composite membrane at the molecular level. The results shown that there were significant differences about the diffusion kinetics of water molecules and hydroxium ions in Nafion/Ti3C2Tx at low and high hydration levels in the nanoscale region. With the increase of water content, Ti3C2Tx in membrane was gradually surrounded by ambient water molecules to form a hydration layer, and forming a relatively continuous proton transport channel between Nafion polymer and Ti3C2Tx monomer. The continuous proton transport channel could increase the number of binding sites of proton and thus achieving high proton conductivity and high mobility of water molecules at higher hydration level. The current work can provide a theoretical guidance for designing new type of Nafion composite membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogels represent three-dimensional, interconnected networks known to absorb substantial amounts of H2O but at the same time, being insoluble in the aforementioned solvent. Their exceptional hydrophilic nature, biocompatibility and diverse therapeutic potential position them as highly promising biomaterials within biological and biomedical fields. These materials, on account of their innoxious innate characteristics and safe utilization, have garnered widespread acceptance across tremendous and diverse biomedical applications ranging from traditional therapies to state-of-the-art advancements. This extensive review incorporates a spectrum of varied types of hydrogels, elaborating on both their chemical, physical aspects and also throws light on the rheological, analytical and spectroscopic tools employed for their characterization. It also continues to elaborate on the various mechanisms of gelation for facilitating a better understanding of the topic under discussion. The review also discusses the different strategies which are substantiated in recent times to expand the utilisation of hydrogels. The primary intent of this review is to render a comprehensive understanding of hydrogels as an ideal drug delivery system to undergraduates, graduates, biomedical students and researchers across the globe. It also targets to unravel the fundamental, applied and general aspects of hydrogels, offering valuable insights to help individuals associated with multidisciplinary research and application spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Ce-doped yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and pure YSZ phases were subjected to irradiation with 14 MeV Au ions. Irradiation studies were performed to simulate long-term structural and microstructural damage due to self-irradiation in YSZ phases hosting alpha-active radioactive species. It was found that both the Ce-doped YSZ and the YSZ phases had a reasonable tolerance to irradiation at high ion fluences and the bulk crystallinity was well preserved. Nevertheless, local microstrain increased in all compounds under study after irradiation, with the Ce-doped phases being less affected than pure YSZ. Doping with cerium ions increased the microstructural stability of YSZ phases through a possible reduction in the mobility of oxygen atoms, which limits the formation of structural defects. Doping of YSZ with tetravalent actinide elements is expected to have a similar effect. Thus, YSZ phases are promising for the safe long-term storage of radioactive elements. Using synchrotron radiation diffraction, measurements of the thin irradiated layers of the Ce-YSZ and YSZ samples were performed in grazing incidence (GI) mode. A corresponding module for measurements in GI mode was developed at the Rossendorf Beamline and relevant technical details for sample alignment and data collection are also presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Natural polymers have many uses, and Tragacanth gum is just one of them. Many people are interested in natural gums because of their many attractive characteristics, such as being 'green' bio-based renewable materials, being easily accessible, inexpensive, and structurally diverse. One class of naturally occurring polysaccharides is called gum because of its tendency to create a gel or a thick solution. Among the many plant-based raw materials, these polysaccharide gums are abundant. Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional polymeric webs that can imitate live tissues, have demonstrated remarkable potential as adjustable biomaterials in numerous regenerative techniques due to their high water or biological exudate absorption capacities. Natural polysaccharides, often known as gums, are present in many different types of trees and possess many desirable properties, such as being renewable, biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic, and amenable to chemical modification. Many people are curious about certain parts of the food, water, energy, biotech, environmental, and healthcare sectors as of now. Gum, a type of very important and unique food ingredient, has many vital uses in the food business. Cosmetics, coating, photosensitive resin, fertilizer, casting, pharmaceuticals, and tobacco are just a few of the non-food businesses that make use of their strong water-affinity and structural plasticity. There are a lot of benefits to hydrogels made from natural gums as opposed to those made from synthetic sources. Synthesis hydrogel polymers have been the center of interest among these non-food applications because of their extensive use in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. The Tragacanth gum hydrogels used for medication delivery and tissue engineering have been the focus of this study. We also paid close attention to drug delivery, physical-chemical properties, and the extraction of Tragacanth gum. Our research has a wide range of biomedical applications, including tissue engineering for bone, skin, fixation of bone, periodontal, and cartilage. Possible likewise our primary focus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meningiomas are the most frequent nonmalignant tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Despite their benign nature and slow-growing pattern, if not diagnosed early, these tumors may reach relatively large sizes causing significant morbidity and mortality. Some variants are located in hard-to-access locations, compressing critical neurovascular structures, and making the surgical management even more challenging. Although most meningiomas have a good long-term prognosis after treatment, there are still controversies over their management in a subset of cases. While surgery is the first-line treatment, the use of fractionated radiotherapy or stereotactic radiosurgery is indicated for residual or recurrent tumors, small lesions, and tumors in challenging locations. Advances in molecular genetics and ongoing clinical trial results have recently helped both to refine the diagnosis and provide hope for effective biomolecular target-based medications for treatment. This article reviews the natural history and current therapeutic options for CNS meningiomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intensive mining activities, industrial sewage discharges and agricultural sewage irrigations lead to large amounts of arsenic (As) entering into soils, inducing increased soil As pollution. Arsenic and phosphorus (P), belonging to the same group, exhibit similar chemical properties and behaviors. Arsenic is taken up by plants via root P transporters. After entering into plants, As competes and replace P in compounds, and binds with sulfhydryl groups causing protein inactivation, affecting plant growth and normal physiological metabolism. However, studies showed that As at specific levels affected plant physiological processes and plant growth. Therefore, this paper reviews the differences of As content and distribution in plants, illustrates the effects and mechanisms of As on plant biomass, nutrient uptake, growth or metabolism-related physiological and biochemical indexes (endogenous hormones, photosynthesis parameter, malondialdehyde, antioxidant enzymes, and osmotic substances), and rhizosphere properties and microbial community of plant growth promotion bacteria. The information helps to better understand the mechanisms for As-promoted plant growth in hyperaccumulators, and provides theoretical supports to develop strategies to improve plants As detoxicity and resistant ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infectious diseases have long posed a significant threat to global health and require constant innovation in treatment approaches. However, recent groundbreaking research has shed light on a previously overlooked player in the pathogenesis of disease—the human microbiome. This review article addresses the intricate relationship between the microbiome and infectious diseases and unravels its role as a crucial mediator of host–pathogen interactions. We explore the remarkable potential of harnessing this dynamic ecosystem to develop innovative treatment strategies that could revolutionize the management of infectious diseases. By exploring the latest advances and emerging trends, this review aims to provide a new perspective on combating infectious diseases by targeting the microbiome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals such as zinc, lead and cadmium, at high concentrations, are toxic to microorganisms. A chromosomally encoded znt operon plays an important role in multi-metal resistance in some members of Enterobacteriaceae. However, its role has not yet been explored in K. pneumoniae. This study focused on molecular characterization of ZntR, a transcriptional regulator of znt operon. The minimum inhibitory concentration of zinc, lead and cadmium were 10, 10 and 4 mM, respectively against K. pneumoniae KW. The strain also exhibited metal uptake and storage ability. Having amplified and cloned zntR gene, expressed and purified ZntR protein showed binding with zntA promoter. Increased transcripts of zntR in the presence of metal ions revealed its metal inducible nature. The molecular dynamics simulation and protein-metal ion docking studies of the K. pneumoniae ZntR protein are being reported for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 2-year experiment was undertaken to assess the impact of irrigation water quality, nitrogen doses, and microbial inoculants on soil nutrient availability, plant growth parameters, and green pod yield of cowpea in the semi-arid region of Punjab, India. Irrespective of other factors, nitrogen levels significantly influenced available N, P, and Fe in both years and across years when pooled, while Mn content was notably affected only when data were combined across years. Elevated soil pH, EC, K, and micronutrients (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Mn) were observed in saline water irrigated plots in both years and across pooled data, whereas available N and P were high in canal water irrigated plots. Microbial inoculants reduced soil pH and EC while enhancing soil nutrient availability. Canal water irrigation, regardless of other variables, increased plant height by 13.9%, 16.4%, and 15.1%, pods per plant by 6.0%, 5.9%, and 2.7%, pod length by 6.1%, 4.3%, and 5.2%, and green pod yield by 114.4%, 118.0%, and 116.3% in 2019, 2020, and pooled years. Decreasing nitrogen levels also reduced pods per plant by 6.9%, 6.8%, and 6.7%, pod length by 10.6%, 11.8%, and 11.2%, and green pod yield by 8.6%, 7.2%, and 7.8% in 2019, 2020, and pooled years, regardless of other factors. Likewise, liquid bio-fertilizers, either alone or in combination, significantly affected pods per plant by 16.6%, 18.6%, and 17.5%, pod length by 26.4%, 28.1%, and 27.3%, and green pod yield by 12%, 32.82%, and 14.2% in 2019, 2020, and pooled years, irrespective of other factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficacy of dietary β‐glucan supplementation in golden trevally (Gnathanodon speciosus) was evaluated. The fish were fed five different diets supplemented with 0%, 0.05%, 0.10%, 0.20%, and 0.40% β‐glucan for 56 days. After 56 days of culture, survival was the highest when the fish were fed a 0.10% β‐glucan diet. Growth rates were higher in fish fed diets supplemented with all β‐glucan levels. Lymphocytes increased when the fish were fed a diet supplemented with 0.05% β‐glucan, and thrombocytes increased when the fish were fed 0.2% and 0.4% β‐glucan‐supplemented diets. The total aerobic bacteria count in the gut of golden trevally was higher (p < 0.05) and the total Vibrio counts in the gut of golden trevally were lower (p < 0.05) when the fish were fed any level of β‐glucan. Flesh protein content was higher and flesh lipid content was lower when fish were fed β‐glucan‐supplemented diets at levels greater than 0.1%. When challenged with Streptococcus iniae, fish fed diets containing 0.10% or 0.20% β‐glucan exhibited the highest survival rates. The current results suggest that supplementation with 0.05 to 0.2% β‐glucan in the diet would be beneficial for the culture of the golden trevally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]