Search

In the realm of nanotechnology, the synthesis of nanoparticles using environmentally benign methods, such as using plant extracts, has garnered significant attention. This work reports a simple and eco-friendly approach for the synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) utilizing microwave irradiation in the presence of lemon peel extract as a green reducing agent and Ni(CH3COO)2·2H2O as a precursor. Numerous analytical techniques were employed to determine the optical, morphological, and structural properties of the green-synthesized NiO NPs. The findings revealed that the resulting NiO NPs are pure, with an average size of 34 nm and a spherical geometry, possessing a face-centered-cubic crystalline structure. The antibacterial activities of the NiO NPs were preliminarily investigated against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella typhimurium). The morphological changes in B. subtilis and S. typhimurium were also evaluated by FE-SEM analysis, which showed that some cells were partially damaged and distorted in shape upon treatment with NiO NPs, thus demonstrating their promising antibacterial activities.

In the realm of public health, the rising threat caused by bacteria resistant to many drugs is a critical concern. In this work, we used the aqueous extract of mangosteen leaves to create zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) in an environmentally friendly manner. Through various analytical methods, we thoroughly characterized these biogenic ZnO NPs, including UV−visible, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, field emission-scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray and high resolution-transmission electron microscopy. ZnO NPs showed distinctive properties among different characterization techniques, including a small energy bandgap of 2.80 eV, a porous, a minimum crystalline size of 16.99 nm, an average particle size of 14.21 nm, and a spherical nanostructure. Additionally, we performed preliminary antibacterial experiments to assess ZnO NPs, copper oxide (CuO) NPs, and ZnO–CuO nanocomposites for antibacterial activity. Interestingly, ZnO NPs showed significant potential in suppressing the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA-1026, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, with decreasing order of minimum inhibitory concentrations: S. aureus = B. subtilis (15.63 μg·mL−1) > E. coli (62.50 μg·mL−1) > K. pneumoniae (125.00 μg·mL−1). These results highlight the potential of biogenic NPs, particularly ZnO NPs, as effective agents against multi-drug-resistant bacteria.

Several novel efforts have been put forth to make a readily available vaccine against the global pandemic of COVID-19. However, there seems to appear vaccine-taking hesitancy among the general people. Against this backdrop, this current study sets to assess the vaccine-taking intention, ways to overcome the vaccine-taking reluctance among Bangladeshi people and explore their knowledge, perceptions, and attitude toward the COVID-19 vaccine. To this end, this study leveraged on a cross-sectional survey, which was consisted of 1377 respondents covering the eight divisions of Bangladesh. The descriptive statistical method and ordinal logistics regression were employed to explore and rationalize our study outlined objectives. Empirical findings revealed that approximately 71% of the respondents had adequate knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine, whereas 46% of the respondents were willing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 while the rest of the respondents were hesitant to take the vaccine. However, concern about the potential side effects was one of the core reasons for vaccine-taking hesitancy. Assuring the common people about vaccine safety and efficacy, along with easing the registration procedure, can ameliorate people’s confidence to get vaccinated. Meanwhile, about 60% of the respondents believed that a vaccine could help Bangladesh win the battle against COVID-19 and will allow back to normal life. Although the government has taken some pragmatic action steps to promote the vaccination rate, it is recommended that the mass vaccination program should be extended to the grassroots level with proper extension community support and easing the registration process.

Abstract Background Betel leaf is the oldest and now highly paid farmer’s crop, but the most vulnerable to insect pests, leading to massive yield drops in Bangladesh. For this reason, the experiment was carried out at the Spices Research Centre, Bangladesh, during the period of January 2018 to December 2018 and to assess the effectiveness of the different bio-rational approach against the betel leaf sucking pests. In this study, BARI Paan-3 was used as a test crop. Studies were important that sucking insect pests to include red mite population (black fly, white fly, red mite and mealy bug) has been found actively around the year in Bangladesh. Results Studies have shown that sucking insect population (black fly, white fly, red mite and mealy bug) has been found actively year round, whereas the maximum (22.7, 17.2, 16.1, and 14 adult/vine) and minimum (3.2, 2.8, 2.6, and 1.5 adult/vine) were recorded during the month of October and January, respectively. The results explored that the significant variations and the R 2 value suggested that biotic factor contributes 57.9, 50.9, 51.3, and 53.7% variations in black fly, white fly, red spider mite, and mealy bug population. Among approaches, the highest mortality rate (80.56, 84.73, 82.44, and 90.96%) of black fly, white fly, red mite, and mealy bug over untreated control with maximum vine yield (18.61 t/ha) is recorded from sanitation + three alternate spraying of fizimite and antario. Conclusions It had concluded that sanitation of betel leaf garden along with three alternate spraying of fizimite (sodium lauryl ether) at 1 ml/l and antario WP (Bt + abamectin 0.1%) at 0.5 g/l recommended for an effective management of the betel vine sucking pest complex.

Introduction: Commissioning of the treatment-planning system includes the accuracy of dose calculations in the inhomogeneous absorber. Several results of measurements with regard to inhomogeneity correction factors (CFs) have been published. However, the dependence of CFs on photon-beam energy may preclude such results from being applied to the photon beams of general users. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the dependence of CFs on the photon-beam energy. Materials and methods: CFs were calculated by the Batho method for several slab geometries comprised of concentrations of lung tissue and water of 0.25 and 1.00 g/cm3, respectively. The CFs were calculated at 6 MV (TPR2010 = 0.67 ± k * 0.01) and 15 MV (TPR2010 = 0.76 ± k * 0.01) where k = -3, -2, -1, 0, 1, 2, 3. All calculations were performed in the region where a charged-particle equilibrium exists. Results: Changes in CFs of less than 2% were observed across the considered energy ranges. With a change in TPR20,10 of 0.01, both at 6 and 15 MV at a depth of 5 cm below the lung; and lung thicknesses of 3, 5 and 8 cm over a fi eld surface area of 10 × 10 cm2, the change in CF never exceeded 2.4%. The dependences of changes in CFs in terms of TPR20,10 were 1.74% and 1.20% for field surface areas of 5 × 5 cm2 and 20 × 20 cm2, respectively. A comparison of 42 linear accelerators (LINACs) exhibiting 6 MV and 15 MV of energy installed in Poland showed that the maximum differences in terms of TPR20,10 at 6 MV and 15 MV were 4.2% and 2.2%, respectively. Conclusion: A linear dependence of CFs on energy was observed. According to observations, the smaller the surface area of the field and deeper the point of interest below the lung, the more dependent CFs are on energy.

Abstract Background Betulinic acid (BA) is a natural triterpenoid compound and exhibits a wide range of biological and medicinal properties including anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, this theoretical investigation is performed to evaluate (a) physicochemical properties such as acid dissociation constant (pKa), distribution coefficient (logD), partition coefficient (logP), aqueous solubility (logS), solvation free energy, dipole moment, polarizability, hyperpolarizability and different reactivity descriptors, (b) pharmacokinetic properties like human intestinal absorption (HIA), cellular permeability, skin permeability (PSkin), plasma protein binding (PPB), penetration of the blood brain barrier (BBB), (c) toxicological properties including mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, risk of inhibition of hERG gene and (d) molecular mechanism of anti-inflammatory action which will aid the development of analytical method and the synthesis of BA derivatives. Methods The physicochemical properties were calculated using MarvinSketch 15.6.29 and Gaussian 09 software package. The pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties were calculated on online server PreADMET. Further, the molecular docking study was conducted on AutoDock vina in PyRx 0.8. Results The aqueous solubility increased with increasing pH due to the ionization of BA leading to decrease in distribution coefficient. The solvation energies in water, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), acetonitrile, n-octanol, chloroform and carbon tetrachloride were − 41.74 kJ/mol, − 53.80 kJ/mol, − 66.27 kJ/mol, − 69.64 kJ/mol, − 65.96 kJ/mol and − 60.13 kJ/mol, respectively. From the results of polarizability and softness, it was clear that BA is less stable and hence, kinetically more reactive in water. BA demonstrated good human intestinal absorption (HIA) and moderate cellular permeability. Further, BA also exhibited positive CNS activity due to high permeability through BBB. The toxicological study revealed that BA was a mutagenic compound but noncarcinogenic in mice model. Moreover, molecular docking study of BA with PLA2 revealed that BA interacts with GLY22 & GLY29 through hydrogen bond formation and LEU2, PHE5, HIS6, ALA17, ALA18, HIS47 and TYR51 through different types of hydrophobic interactions. The binding affinity of BA was − 41.00 kJ/mol which is comparable to the binding affinity of potent inhibitor 6-Phenyl-4(R)-(7-Phenyl-heptanoylamino)-hexanoic acid (BR4) (− 33.89 kJ/mol). Conclusions Our computed properties may assist the development of analytical method to assay BA or to develop BA derivatives with better pharmacokinetic and toxicological profile.