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Research background. The presence of Yersinia enterocolitica on raw food products raises the concern of yersiniosis as most of the berries are consumed raw. This is a challenging issue from the food safety aspect since it could increase the occurrence of foodborne diseases among humans. Thus, it is crucial to implement an effective sanitation before the packaging. Experimental approach. This study aims to synthesize and characterize thymol-loaded polyvinyl alcohol (Thy/PVA) nanoparticles as a sanitizer for postharvest treatment of blueberries. Thy/PVA nanoparticles were characterized by spectroscopic and microscopic approaches, prior to the analyses of antimicrobial properties. Results and conclusions. The diameter size of the nanoparticles was on average 84.7 nm, with a surface charge of −11.73 mV. Based on Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurement, the Thy/PVA nanoparticles notably shifted to the frequency of 3275.70, 2869.66, 1651.02 and 1090.52 cm-1. A rapid burst was observed in the first hour of release study, and 74.9 % thymol was released from the PVA nanoparticles. The largest inhibition zone was displayed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), followed by Y. enterocolitica and Salmonella typhi. However, amongst these bacteria, the inhibition and killing of Y. enterocolitica required a lower concentration of Thy/PVA nanoparticles. The treatment successfully reduced the bacterial load of Y. enterocolitica on blueberries by 100 %. Novelty and scientific contribution. Thymol is a plant-based chemical without reported adverse effects to humans. In this study, by using the nanotechnology method of encapsulation with PVA, we improved the stability and physicochemical properties of thymol. This nanoparticle-based sanitizer could potentially promote the postharvest microbiological safety of raw berries, which may become an alternative practice of food safety., Pozadina istraživanja. Prisutnost bakterije Yersinia enterocolitica u sirovim prehrambenim proizvodima izaziva zabrinutost zbog moguće pojave jersinioze, s obzirom na to da se bobičasto voće najčešće konzumira sirovo. S aspekta sigurnosti hrane ova bakterija predstavlja problem, jer može povećati učestalost pojave bolesti koje se prenose hranom. Stoga je neophodno provesti učinkovitu sanitaciju voća prije pakiranja. Eksperimentalni pristup. Svrha je ovoga rada bila sintetizirati i okarakterizirati nanočestice poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom kao dezinficijensom za obradu borovnica prije pakiranja. Nanočestice su okarakterizirane pomoću spektroskopije i mikroskopije, a zatim su ispitana njihova antimikrobna svojstva. Rezultati i zaključci. Prosječni promjer nanočestica bio je 84,7 nm, s površinskim nabojem od −11,73 mV. Rezultati Fourier transformirane infracrvene spektroskopije (FTIR) pokazuju značajan pomak pika nanočestica poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom prema frekvencijama od 3275,70; 2869,66; 1651,02 i 1090,52 cm-1. Iznenadni porast količine timola oslobođenog iz nanočestica opažen je u prvih sat vremena ispitivanja njegovog kontroliranog otpuštanja, a ukupno je otpušteno 74,9 % timola. Opažena je najveća zona inihbicije rasta bakterije Staphylococcus aureus otporne na meticilin (MRSA), a zatim bakterija Y. enterocolitica i Salmonella typhi. Međutim, za inhibiciju i ubijanje bakterija Y. enterocolitica bile su potrebne manje koncentracije nanočestica poli(vinil-alkohola) s timolom. Ovim je postupkom broj bakterija Y. enterocolitica uspješno smanjen za 100 %. Novina i znanstveni doprinos. Timol je spoj biljnog porijekla, koji ne narušava zdravlje čovjeka. U ovome smo radu inkapsulacijom u omotaču s poli(vinil-alkoholom) povećali stabilnost i poboljšali fizikalno-kemijska svojstva timola. Primjenom nanočestica tog dezinficijensa može se poboljšati mikrobiološka ispravnost sirovog bobičastog voća, što se u praksi može primijeniti za očuvanje sigurnosti hrane.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) previously synthesised using leaf (AgNP-L) and stem (AgNP-S) extracts of Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) were tested to evaluate antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxicity activities. The AgNPs showed good inhibition against bacteria, but not fungi. The inhibition results showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) with 11.35 mm (AgNP-L) and 11.52 mm (AgNP-S), while the lowest inhibition was against Escherichia coli (E. coli) with 9.22 mm (AgNP-L) and 9.25 mm (AgNP-S) in the disc diffusion method. The same trend of results was noted in the well diffusion method. The IC50 of AgNP-L and AgNP-S in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays was 417.05 μg/mL and 434.60 μg/mL, as well as 304.31 μg/mL and 326.83 μg/mL, respectively. Ferric reducing power (FRAP) assay showed that AgNP-L [872.389 μmol/L Fe(II)] and AgNP-S [612.770 μmol/L Fe(II)] exhibited significantly ( p p

This study aimed at purification of phycocyanin (PC) from Phormidium tergestinum using an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) comprised of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and salts. The partitioning efficien...

PURPOSE To determine the amount of waste produced from phacoemulsification surgeries and ways to curtail the problem. SETTING Miri Hospital, Sarawak, Malaysia. DESIGN Prospective study. METHODS Phacoemulsification surgery cases were included in this study; nonphacoemulsification surgeries were excluded. The waste was subdivided into 3 main categories, general waste, clinical waste, and sharps. The waste produced by ophthalmologists and trainees was accounted for separately. The mean weight of waste per case was obtained by dividing the total weight of waste produced with the total number of cases. RESULTS The total waste produced from a total of 203 cases of phacoemulsification surgeries was 167.965 kg, of which, 95.063 kg (56.6%) were clinical waste, 63.197 kg (37.6%) were general waste, and 9.705 kg (5.8%) were sharps; 32.193 kg (50.9%) out of the general waste pool were recyclable waste products. The mean waste production per case of phacoemulsification surgery for an ophthalmologist was 0.814 kg, 1.086 kg per case for a trainee. A case of phacoemulsification surgery would produce 0.282 kg of carbon dioxide equivalents in the setup based on the recyclable general waste. CONCLUSIONS The average waste produced per case of phacoemulsification surgery in Miri Hospital was 0.827 kg. After excluding the recyclable material, the average waste produced per case was 0.669 kg. Following the 3 R's principles (reduce, reuse, and recycle) in the handling of waste production might reduce environmental impact.

Patients with schizophrenia tend to report having 'affectionless-controlling' mothers when the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI) is used. However, there is limited research on the parenting styles received by individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis. Furthermore, previous PBI studies have suggested that a three-factor solution is more suitable than the original two-factors. This study aims to i) use a more sensitive measure of parental bonding by conducting an exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and (ii) to explore the association between parental bonding, symptom severity and functioning among the UHR. Data from 164 individuals at UHR and 510 healthy controls were collected. Symptoms were assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) and the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Functioning was measured using the Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) and Social and Occupational Functioning Assessment Scale (SOFAS). Confirmatory factor analyses of existing factor structures and EFA of the PBI was conducted. Pearson's correlations and regressions were used to elucidate the associations between parenting factors and assessment scales. EFAs revealed a three-factor solution: 'care', 'authoritarianism', and 'overprotection'. UHR were 1.61 times more likely to report having affectionless-controlling mothers. UHR reported significantly lower maternal and paternal care, and higher maternal and paternal overprotection. Higher paternal overprotection was significantly associated with worse symptoms and functioning. Our findings replicate previous findings among individuals at UHR in an Asian setting, and suggest that affectionless-controlling or affectionless-authoritative-overprotective styles may be a poor fit for individuals at UHR. National Medical Research Council (NMRC) This research was supported by the National Medical Research Council Translational and Clinical Research Flagship Programme (Project No.: NMRC/TCR/003/2008) and the Clinician-Scientist Individual Research Grant New Investigator Grant (Project No.: NMRC/CNIG/1150/2016).

Purpose To report the predisposing factors, microorganisms, antibiotic sensitivity associated with bacterial keratitis, and treatment outcomes in Miri, Borneo which has a tropical climate. Methods This is a retrospective study on patients presenting with microbial keratitis in Miri, Sarawak, Borneo over a 7-year period from January 1, 2010 until December 31, 2016. Demographic data, predisposing factors, culture and sensitivity results together with treatment outcomes were studied. Results There were a total of 221 cases treated as microbial keratitis with a peak age group of 21 to 30 years. The predisposing factors were trauma (49.3%), improper contact lens usage (29.1%), ocular surface diseases (5.9%), ocular surgeries (0.9%), drugs (1.8%), and other factors (19.0%). Occupational injuries among oil palm plantation workers was the leading cause within the trauma cohort (28.8%). Corneal scraping was performed in 189 cases, 61.4% of them yielded positive cultures. The cultures demonstrated that 49.1% were of bacterial origin, 46.6% were fungal, and 4.3% showed mixed growth. The most common bacteria isolated was Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which was sensitive toward ceftazidime and gentamicin antibiotics. One hundred ninety-two cases (86.9%) were treated with purely topical medication, whereas 29 cases (13.1%) required further interventions. Conclusion The commonest predisposing factor for microbial keratitis was trauma. With the nearby oil palm industries, we report a corresponding increase of incidence in fungal keratitis at our center. Culture and sensitivity reports from corneal scrapings are essential in treatment guidance; however, more than a third of the microbial keratitis cases studied were culture-negative. The organisms cultured reflect the profile expected in tropical climates. Fortunately, there was no increase in resistance rates observed for the commonly used antibiotics.

Introduction Modifiable lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA) have ameliorative effects on commonly reported health conditions in schizophrenia like cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Similarly, reduction in sedentary behaviour (SB) promotes better physical health. However, engaging individuals with schizophrenia in PA and less SB can be challenging because of symptoms of schizophrenia. The aims of the present study are (i) to examine the profiles of PA and SB in individuals with schizophrenia; and (ii) to identify their respective clinical determinants. Method 157 individuals with schizophrenia were recruited. PA and SB were examined via the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ). Psychopathology was assessed using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Potential clinical predictors of PA and SB were identified via univariate regression analyses and subsequently included in the final multiple regression models for PA and SB respectively. Results 63.7% met the WHO PA guidelines. Work-related activity was the largest domain specific contribution towards PA. Mean duration of SB was approximately 9 hours and about 57.3% reported at least 8 hours or more of SB daily. Positive symptom was associated with engagement in PA and reduced duration of SB. Negative symptom was associated with greater SB. Conclusion With emerging evidence of deleterious health effects of SB independent of PA, it is important to monitor SB in individuals with schizophrenia, particularly those presenting with negative symptoms. While the lack of treatment response for negative symptoms remains a challenge, effort should be made to reduce duration of SB.

IMPORTANCE The ENIGMA clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis initiative, the largest pooled neuroimaging sample of individuals at CHR to date, aims to discover robust neurobiological markers of psychosis risk.OBJECTIVE To investigate baseline structural neuroimaging differences between individuals at CHR and healthy controls as well as between participants at CHR who later developed a psychotic disorder (CHR-PS+) and those who did not (CHR-PS-).DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this case-control study, baseline T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were pooled from 31 international sites participating in the ENIGMA Clinical High Risk for Psychosis Working Group. CHR status was assessed using the Comprehensive Assessment of At-Risk Mental States or Structured Interview for Prodromal Syndromes. MRI scans were processed using harmonized protocols and analyzed within a mega-analysis and meta-analysis framework from January to October 2020.MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Measures of regional cortical thickness (CT), surface area, and subcortical volumes were extracted from T1-weighted MRI scans. Independent variables were group (CHR group vs control group) and conversion status (CHR-PS+ group vs CHR-PS- group vs control group).RESULTS Of the 3169 included participants, 1428 (45.1%) were female, and the mean (SD; range) age was 21.1 (4.9; 9.5-39.9) years. This study included 1792 individuals at CHR and 1377 healthy controls. Using longitudinal clinical information, 253 in the CHR-PS+ group, 1234 in the CHR-PS- group, and 305 at CHR without follow-up data were identified. Compared with healthy controls, individuals at CHR exhibited widespread lower CT measures (mean [range] Cohen d = -0.13 [-0.17 to -0.09]), but not surface area or subcortical volume. Lower CT measures in the fusiform, superior temporal, and paracentral regions were associated with psychosis conversion (mean Cohen d = -0.22; 95% CI, -0.35 to 0.10). Among healthy controls, compared with those in the CHR-PS+ group, age showed a stronger negative association with left fusiform CT measures (F = 9.8; P < .001; q < .001) and left paracentral CT measures (F = 5.9; P = .005; q = .02). Effect sizes representing lower CT associated with psychosis conversion resembled patterns of CT differences observed in ENIGMA studies of schizophrenia (rho = 0.35; 95% CI, 0.12 to 0.55; P = .004) and individuals with 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome and a psychotic disorder diagnosis (rho = 0.43; 95% CI, 0.20 to 0.61; P = .001).CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study provides evidence for widespread subtle, lower CT measures in individuals at CHR. The pattern of CT measure differences in those in the CHR-PS+ group was similar to those reported in other large-scale investigations of psychosis. Additionally, a subset of these regions displayed abnormal age associations. Widespread disruptions in CT coupled with abnormal age associations in those at CHR may point to disruptions in postnatal brain developmental processes.Question How are brain morphometric features associated with later psychosis conversion in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for developing psychosis?Findings In this case-control study including 3169 participants, lower cortical thickness, but not cortical surface area or subcortical volume, was more pronounced in individuals at CHR in a manner highly consistent with thinner cortex in individuals with established psychosis. Regions that displayed lower cortical thickness in individuals at CHR who later developed a psychotic disorder additionally displayed abnormal associations with age.Meaning In this study, CHR status and later transition to psychosis was robustly associated with lower cortical thickness; abnormal age associations and specificity to cortical thickness may point to aberrant postnatal brain development in individuals at CHR, including pruning and myelination.This case-control study investigates baseline structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) differences between individuals at clinical high risk and healthy controls as well as between participants at clinical high risk who later developed a psychotic disorder and those who did not.

Plant essential oils have been widely used as fragrance in perfumes or flavouring agents in food products due to their unique characteristic scent of the active constituents. The objective of this ...

Growing concern and awareness towards environmental issues, such as plastic pollution, have encouraged scientific focus on microalgae as a potential feedstock for thermoplastic starch production. Given their unique ability to utilize wastewater nutrients, microalgae are suitable to be used in wastewater treatment. In first-stage cultivation, Chlorella salina was grown in a Conway medium at 30 °C and exposed to red light under a photoperiod of 24:0 h light–dark cycle to maximize biomass production. The microalgal biomass harvested from the first stage was used as the inoculum for second-stage cultivation. The effects of photoperiod, CO2 concentration, and nutrient limitation were investigated. Cultivation using wastewater was compared with the synthetic medium for starch and carbohydrate accumulation. C. salina cultivated under 12:12 h light–dark cycle significantly accumulated the highest starch and carbohydrate with respective concentrations of 16.769 and 70.850 mg L−1. Under 5% (v/v) CO2, C. salina significantly accumulated starch and carbohydrate with respective concentrations of 13.699 and 58.910 mg L−1. The combination of nitrogen and sulfur limitation significantly triggered the highest starch (30.505 mg L−1) and carbohydrate (145.994 mg L−1) accumulation. Under optimized 5% v/v CO2 supply, the concentrations of starch and carbohydrate accumulated by C. salina using wastewater were 24.971 and 110.756 mg L−1, respectively, which were approximately twice higher compared with the synthetic medium. The usage of wastewater aerated with 5% v/v CO2 would be a more sustainable and economical strategy for high starch and carbohydrate accumulation in C. salina compared with the combination of nitrogen with sulfur limitation.

The issues of plastic waste arise owing to the global increase in plastic demand, which has surpassed the plastic recycling rate. Microalgae have become a sustainable feedstock to produce biodegradable thermoplastic starch because of their high yield, high photosynthetic efficiency, ease of cultivation and eco-friendliness. This research was conducted to determine the efficiency of different methods for starch extraction and recovery. Starch was extracted through ultrasonication, bead-beating and physicochemical methods and then separated, dried and analysed with a Megazyme total starch analysis kit. Of these tested methods, the physicochemical method (90 °C, 30 min) was the most efficient method for starch extraction, where the starch increment was 323.05% ± 32.03% relative to the control. However, the bead-beating method was the most efficient method when starch recovery was conducted on Chlorella salina cells, exhibiting the highest increment (96.60% ± 2.73%). Therefore, the physicochemical and bead-beating methods were the viable methods for enhancing the efficiency of starch extraction and recovery, respectively.

The study aimed to examine the association between levels of self-reported happiness and different domains and subdomains of negative symptoms (NS), as well as symptomatic remission in schizophrenia.274 individuals with schizophrenia were assessed on the Subjective Happiness Scale (SHS), Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale and Clinical Assessment Interview for Negative Symptoms (CAINS). Multiple linear regressions were used to examine the association between levels of happiness and increasingly specific CAINS NS domains and subdomains, as well as symptomatic remission.177 (64.6%) participants rated themselves as happy. NS, specifically motivation and pleasure related to social activities (MAP Social) (B=-0.402, t=-4.805, p0.001), and depressive symptoms (B=-0.760, t=-7.102, p0.001) were significantly associated with levels of happiness. Individuals in symptomatic remission rated themselves happier than those who were not in remission (mean composite SHS: 5.10 [SD=1.18] versus 4.61 [SD=1.16], p=0.002).In this largest study on happiness in schizophrenia, we found that the MAP domain of NS, MAP social subdomain and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with levels of happiness. Additionally, individuals in symptomatic remission rated themselves happier than those who were not in remission. Symptom management remains important in the holistic care plan for individuals with schizophrenia.

IMPORTANCE: Schizophrenia is associated with cognitive dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors, including metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its constituent criteria. Cognitive dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors can worsen cognition in the general population and may contribute to cognitive impairment in schizophrenia. OBJECTIVE: To study the association between cognitive dysfunction and cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive impairment in individuals with schizophrenia. DATA SOURCES: A search was conducted of Embase, Scopus, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cochrane databases from inception to February 25, 2020, using terms that included synonyms of schizophrenia AND metabolic adversities AND cognitive function. Conference proceedings, clinical trial registries, and reference lists of relevant publications were also searched. STUDY SELECTION: Studies were included that (1) examined cognitive functioning in patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder; (2) investigated the association of cardiovascular disease risk factors, including MetS, diabetes, obesity, overweight, obesity or overweight, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance with outcomes; and (3) compared cognitive performance of patients with schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder between those with vs without cardiovascular disease risk factors. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Extraction of data was conducted by 2 to 3 independent reviewers per article. Data were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcome was global cognition, defined as a test score using clinically validated measures of overall cognitive functioning. RESULTS: Twenty-seven studies involving 10 174 individuals with schizophrenia were included. Significantly greater global cognitive deficits were present in patients with schizophrenia who had MetS (13 studies; n = 2800; effect size [ES] = 0.31; 95% CI, 0.13-0.50; P = .001), diabetes (8 studies; n = 2976; ES = 0.32; 95% CI, 0.23-0.42; P

The unpredictability and uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic; the associated lockdowns, physical distancing, and other containment strategies; and the resulting economic breakdown could increase the risk of mental health problems and exacerbate health inequalities. Preliminary findings suggest adverse mental health effects in previously healthy people and especially in people with pre-existing mental health disorders. Despite the heterogeneity of worldwide health systems, efforts have been made to adapt the delivery of mental health care to the demands of COVID-19. Mental health concerns have been addressed via the public mental health response and by adapting mental health services, mostly focusing on infection control, modifying access to diagnosis and treatment, ensuring continuity of care for mental health service users, and paying attention to new cases of mental ill health and populations at high risk of mental health problems. Sustainable adaptations of delivery systems for mental health care should be developed by experts, clinicians, and service users, and should be specifically designed to mitigate disparities in health-care provision. Thorough and continuous assessment of health and service-use outcomes in mental health clinical practice will be crucial for defining which practices should be further developed and which discontinued. For this Position Paper, an international group of clinicians, mental health experts, and users of mental health services has come together to reflect on the challenges for mental health that COVID-19 poses. The interconnectedness of the world made society vulnerable to this infection, but it also provides the infrastructure to address previous system failings by disseminating good practices that can result in sustained, efficient, and equitable delivery of mental health-care delivery. Thus, the COVID-19 pandemic could be an opportunity to improve mental health services. CM and CA are co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund; have received support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (SAM16PE07CP1, PI16/02012, PI17/02227, and PI19/024), the European Commission; CIBERSAM, the Madrid Regional Government (B2017/BMD-3740 AGES-CM-2), Fundación Familia Alonso, Fundación Alicia Koplowitz, and Fundación Mutua Madrileña; and have received European Union Structural Funds via the European Union Seventh Framework (FP7-4-HEALTH-2009-2.2.1-2-241909, FP7-HEALTH-2013-2.2.1-2-603196, and FP7-HEALTH-2013-2.2.1-2-602478) and the European Union H2020 programme under the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (115916 and 777394). TW acknowledges support from the National Institute for Health Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre at the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and King’s College London (IS-BRC-1215-20018) and the National Institute for Health Research Senior Investigator Award (NF-SI-0514-10028). MRP acknowledges support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81371502 and 81761128031). EV acknowledges the support of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PI15/00283 and PI18/00805), funding that was integrated into the Plan Nacional de I+D+I and co-financed by the ISCIII—Subdirección General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional; the Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBERSAM; the Secretaria d’Universitats i Recerca del Departament d’Economia i Coneixement (2017 SGR 1365); the CERCA Programme; and the Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya (PERIS grant SLT006/17/00357). MC is supported by a European Research Council Consolidator Award (iHear 724809). We acknowledge Giulia Maria Giordano (University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy) and Pasquale Pezzella (University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy).

Infectious diseases caused by bacteria that can be transmitted via food, livestock and humans are always a concern to the public, as majority of them may cause severe illnesses and death. Antibacterial agents have been investigated for the treatment of bacterial infections. Antibiotics are the most successful antibacterial agents that have been used widely for decades to ease human pain caused by bacterial infections. Nevertheless, the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has raised awareness amongst public about the downside of using antibiotics. The threat of antibiotic resistance to global health, food security and development has been emphasized by the World Health Organization (WHO), and research studies have been focused on alternative antimicrobial agents. Bacteriocin, a natural antimicrobial peptide, has been chosen to replace antibiotics for its application in food preservation and infectious disease treatment for livestock and humans, as it is less toxic.

Background : Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are widely used in food industries, biomedical, dentistry, catalysis, diagnostic biological probes and sensors. The use of plant extract for AgNPs synthesis eliminates the process of maintaining cell culture and the process could be scaled up under a non-aseptic environment. The purpose of this study is to determine the classes of phytochemicals, to biosynthesize and characterize the AgNPs using Clinacanthus nutans leaf and stem extracts. In this study, AgNPs were synthesized from the aqueous extracts of C. nutans leaves and stems through a non-toxic, cost-effective and eco-friendly method. Results : The formation of AgNPs was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, and the size of AgNP-L (leaf) and AgNP-S (stem) were 114.7 and 129.9 nm, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis showed spherical nanoparticles with AgNP-L and AgNP-S ranging from 10 to 300 nm and 10 to 180 nm, with average of 101.18 and 75.38 nm, respectively. The zeta potentials of AgNP-L and AgNP-S were recorded at −42.8 and −43.9 mV. X-ray diffraction analysis matched the face-centred cubic structure of silver and was capped with bioactive compounds. Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer analysis revealed the presence of few functional groups of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. These functional groups act as reducing agents in AgNPs synthesis. Conclusion : These results showed that the biogenically synthesized nanoparticles reduced silver ions to silver nanoparticles in aqueous condition and the AgNPs formed were stable and less toxic.

The feasibility of using waste glycerol from the biodiesel industry for biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) by Burkholderia cepacia BPT1213 was evaluated. Culture conditions were optimized by growing B. cepacia BPT1213 in mineral salt medium supplemented with 2% waste glycerol in a 2.5 L bioreactor. Response surface methodology was used to determine the influence of aeration rate (0.6-1.8 vvm), agitation speed (100-300 rpm), and cultivation period (48-72 hr) on PHA production. The optimum conditions for the growth and PHA accumulation were 1.5 vvm, 300 rpm, and 72 hr, with predicted values of 5.08 g/L cell dry weight (CDW), 66.07% PHA content, and 3.35 g/L total PHA concentration. Using these conditions, the experimental system produced 5.63 g/L of CDW with 64.00% wt/wt PHA content, which is threefold higher PHA concentration (3.60 g/L) compared to the non-optimized conditions. The melting temperature (Tm ) of purified PHA was 173.45 ± 1.05°C. In conclusion, the statistical approach was significantly increased the PHA production using waste glycerol as the sole carbon source.

The recovery movement has revealed that outcomes which focuses on just symptoms and functioning may not be holistic and that consumer-rated outcomes may contribute to a more holistic and person-centric care model. However, a brief and effective measure is required in clinical settings; hence, the aim of the current study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the briefest personal recovery measure- Mental Health Recovery Measure-10 items, using the CHIME (Connectedness, Hope and optimism about the future, Identity, Meaning in life, Empowerment) personal recovery framework. 64 outpatients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder were assessed at two time points, 2 weeks apart. Data collected included sociodemographic information, MHRM-10, Psychological factors related to the CHIME framework, in respective order: RYFF subscale positive relations with others; Herth Hope Index (HHI); Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) and RYFF subscale self-acceptance; World Health Organization Quality of Life- BRIEF (WHOQOL-BREF); Empowerment, and Clinical factors- symptoms as measured by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale, functioning (PSP) and depressive symptoms (CDSS). MHRM-10 demonstrated convergent validity with CHIME personal recovery psychological factors (all ρ > 0.5). MHRM-10 had excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.904) and adequate test-retest reliability (ρ = 0.742, p

Importance: The Occupational Self Assessment (OSA) measures two constructs from the Model of Human Occupation: occupational competence and occupational identity. In the field of mental health, the recovery movement has sparked discussions about what constitutes personal, clinical, and functional recovery. However, how occupation-based terminologies are related to the recovery framework is unclear. Objective: To elucidate how domains of recovery and psychological constructs are related to the OSA’s constructs of occupational competence and occupational identity in order to inform occupational therapy practice in the recovery arena. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Outpatient mental health unit. Participants: Sixty-six community-dwelling adults with schizophrenia recruited through convenience sampling. Outcomes and Measures: Participants completed the OSA and clinical, functional, and personal recovery assessments. They also completed five scales that measured psychological constructs of recovery such as hope, resilience, empowerment, internalized stigma, and subjective well-being. Participants also identified up to four OSA items that were priorities for change. Tests of association and multiple regression analyses were conducted to identify predictors of occupational competence and occupational identity. Results: Personal recovery predicted occupational competence, whereas depressive symptoms and hope predicted occupational identity. Functional and clinical recovery did not predict occupational competence. The top three OSA priorities for change were performance items: “managing my finances,” “concentrating on my tasks,” and “taking care of myself.” Conclusions and Relevance: Occupational therapy interventions should not be limited to functional improvement. Instead, they should account for clients’ affective states and seek to instill recovery-oriented psychological states such as hope and efficacy. What This Article Adds: Occupational competence is achieved by enhancing personal states of self-efficacy in fulfilling valued occupations rather than through functional improvement. The top three occupations prioritized for change were performance tasks that were observable by service users and immediate caregivers. Empowering clients to partake in these everyday performance tasks such as finance management, concentrating on tasks, and self-care may pave the way to enhancing occupational competence and identity.

The bulk availability of banana waste in the world has made a move towards the development of alternative novel renewable sugars in present study as the pressed juice from banana frond and pseudostem was found to contain high level of renewable sugars such as glucose, sucrose and fructose. By using a simple sugarcane press, the glucose content in the banana frond juice was 16.6 g/L, which accounts for 55% of the total fermentable sugars. From the results, the lipase production reached ∼200 U/mL in medium comprising banana frond juice and banana pseudostem juice, comparable to basal medium with glucose (206.3 U/mL) as carbon source in basal media. As banana pseudostem possesses high content of starch, microwave heating pretreatment showed 36% enhancement of glucose content (10.4 g/L) in juice as compared to direct pressed juice (7.78 g/L). This result indicates that banana waste juice can be used as an alternative fermentable carbon source for lipase production and has potential as a fermentable carbon source.

Xylanase is an enzyme that degrades hemicelluloses. The goal of the present study was to investigate the production of xylanase by fungi via the solid substrate fermentation (SSF) process using sugarcane bagasse and palm kernel cake as substrate. During preliminary screening, 15 potential xylanase producer strains were isolated from 9 different environmental sources. Eight out of the 15 isolates produced positive results in the submerged fermentation process and clear-zone formation analysis. The decayed wood isolate had the highest xylanase activity, at 154.2 U/g in the secondary screening process. This isolate, identified as Aspergillus niger, was selected for further study. The maximum xylanase activity of 456.4 U/g was obtained under optimized conditions of 6 g of substrate, 75% (w/w) moisture content, temperature of 34 °C, and initial medium of pH 6 supplemented with 2% (w/v) glucose and 0.25 mM manganese ions. This activity was 1.5-fold higher than that reported in previous studies. These results illustrate that an increased xylanase yield can be obtained via SSF using agro-industry residual products such as palm kernel cake and sugarcane bagasse as substrates, which would reduce the overall cost of producing xylanase.

FERMSOSTAT is a developed laboratory scale solid state fermenter. It is a horizontal stirrer drum bioreactor with about 70 L capacities. The fermenter is made of stainless steel which is anti-corrosive and non-toxic to the process organism. The fermenter is equipped with sets of control systems for temperature, agitation, aeration and also outlets for substrate sampling as well as inlets for inoculation and substrate additions. The uniqueness of this FERMSOSTAT system is its ability to carry out in situ substrate sterilization and extraction of enzymes at the end of SSF process. Moreover, the mixing system provided by FERMSOSTAT can be performed either full or half mixing as well as forward or reverse mixing. Furthermore, the mixing can be programmed to run at certain agitation rate and time interval during the fermentation process to prevent or reduce damage to the fungus mycelia. FERMSOSTAT is a developed SSF bioreactor and not an improvement of any existing one. The performances of FERMSOSTAT have been evaluated. Under optimum solid state fermentation conditions, about 63.4, 397 and 3.21 U/g of CMCase, xylanase and FPase activities were detected, which were higher compared to the tray system.

Present study aims to use oil palm frond (OPF) hydrolysate obtained from enzymatic hydrolysis as feedstock for ethanol production. Pretreated OPF was used in this study. Optimization of ethanol production was performed using central composite design of response surface methodology. TAPPI Standard Methods were used to analyze the chemical composition of the pretreated OPF. The results obtained indicated that the biomass contains 63.68% of cellulose, 21.92% of hemicellulose and 14.4% of lignin content. Enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated OPF showed that the highest reducing sugar of 2444.6 µg/g was obtained when the biomass was hydrolysed using cellulase (40 U/g) and hemicellulase (10 U/g) for 150 min at 50 °C. The kinetic study indicated that the specific growth rate of S. cerevisiae HC10 during ethanol production was 0.034 h−1 with about 20.39 h of doubling time. The biomass yield coefficient and ethanol yield coefficient obtained were 0.1623 g cell/g sugar and 0.1191 g ethanol/g sugar, respectively. The highest ethanol yield was 79.4%. Fermentation profile for ethanol production demonstrated that the highest ethanol (7.23 g/L) was detected at 24 h of fermentation process. Under optimized conditions of inoculum, 30 mL; hydrolysate, 78.85 mL; pH, 4.50; and incubation time, 94.01 h, the highest ethanol yield was 13.79 g/L. The results obtained from this study proved that OPF hydrolysate obtained from enzymes hydrolysis has high potential to be used as feedstock for ethanol production.

Response surface (RSM) optimization of selected cultural parameters and the effect of various nitrogen sources on xylanase production by novel strain of Aspergillus niger via solid state fermentation of oil-palm-empty-bunches (OPEFB) were assessed. The newly isolated oil-palm-field-domiciled strain of Aspergillus niger was identified based on rRNA analysis as Aspergillus niger USM SD2 (GenBank accession no. 2 ) value of 0.95. Xylanase activity was optimum at 25 °C, initial moisture-substrate ratio 4:1; pH 6.3 and total inoculums size, 2 × 10 6 spores/ml. At optimum production period, xylanase production was enhanced by more than 100% of its value prior optimization. Moreover, the use of yeast extract (Y/E) enhanced xylanase production better than any other nitrogen sources evaluated. Consequently, at its optimum concentration (15 g/l), the addition of Y/E enhanced xylanase production such that final activity (3246 IU/gds) was 160% and 29% higher than activities (1250 IU/gds) prior to and after (2512 IU/gds) parametric optimization respectively. Further analyses also showed that xylanase production by A. niger USM SD2 was independent of period of incubation and, hence, its growth rate.

Poor or non-utilisation of the xylose fractions of lignocellulosic biomass is a serious impediment to the achievement of energy security through lignocellulosic ethanol. In this work, the potential of sustainable ethanol production from oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) by co-fermentation of its glucose and xylose components was assessed. Simultaneous co-saccharification and co-fermentation (SScF) was compared with three other fermentation techniques to evaluate bioconversion of mild-alkaline-treated OPEFB for efficient bioethanol production. Hydrolysis was done by the synergistic actions of commercial cellulase (50 FPU/gds) supplemented with on-site crude hemicellulase at unit ratio of 1 FPU: 5 U. After pre-treatment, 79.0% and 79.3% respectively of total glucan and xylan were recovered while 91.9% and 90.6% of the respective polymers were hydrolyzed to fermentable sugars. At 3.4% (w/v) substrate loading, 89.5% theoretical ethanol yield, equivalent of 0.33 g/g raw OPEFB (418.9 L/tonne) was achieved by using SScF. This was higher than 84.9% (0.31 g/g = 397.6 L/tonne raw OPEFB) achieved by separate co-hydrolysis and co-fermentation (SHcF) which is the closest among other fermentation techniques compared. By our knowledge, the yield achieved by the co-fermentation techniques used in this study has not been reported in any previous research which produced ethanol from OPEFB.

Crude hemicellulase by novel mycoparasitic Trichoderma asperellum (GenBank accession nos. T. asperellum could withstand up to 50% selected hydrolytic and fermentation inhibitors. Supplement of hemicellulase crude to Celluclast 1.5 L at 1FPU:5U enhanced the hydrolysis of alkaline-treated OPEFB biomass achieving a 91.7% saccharification yield, higher than 77.9% yield or 12.2% yield when no hemicellulase was used or used without addition of cellulase respectively. The high saccharification yield, which has not been attained in any previous report on OPEFB, demonstrates the potential of T. asperellum for the development of efficient enzyme system for lignocellulosic bio-conversion. As far as we know, this is the first report on enhancement of lignocellulosic co-hydrolysis through synergism of hemicellulase crude by T. asperellum and commercial cellulase.

Background Biomarkers identified for psychosis might allow for early diagnosis, more accurate prognosis, and tailored individualized interventions. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is suggested to be a likely candidate biomarker for the diagnosis and treatment evaluation in psychosis. The aims of present study were to examine the levels of serum BDNF in both patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) and in healthy controls for a year, and to investigate the association between BDNF with symptom severity and remission status. Methods A sample of 31 healthy controls and 29 patients with FEP were included in this study. Diagnoses were ascertained on the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR. Symptom severity was assessed on the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Serum levels of BDNF were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method at recruitment and at 3-, 6-, and 12-month time points. Results Serum BDNF levels in both groups did not differ significantly over time. Baseline BDNF levels in patients with FEP did not correlate with symptom severity and neither baseline BDNF level nor its relative change at 3-month predicted remission status at 6- and 12-month follow-up visits. Of note, we observe similar fluctuations in serum BDNF levels in both patients and healthy controls over the 12-month period. Conclusions Findings from our study did not support a role for serum BDNF as a biomarker for patients with FEP. Because of the polygenic nature of psychosis, we recommend a comprehensive multimarker profile consisting of markers from representative components of mediated neuronal nutrition, neuroimmunology, and neurologic functional deficit to allow for better predictive power.

In this study, the combination of parameters required for optimal extraction of anti-oxidative components from the Chinese lotus (CLR) and Malaysian lotus (MLR) roots were carefully investigated. Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the pH (X1: 2–3), extraction time (X2: 0.5–1.5 h) and solvent-to-sample ratio (X3: 20–40 mL/g) to obtain a high flavonoid yield with high % DPPHsc free radical scavenging and Ferric-reducing power assay (FRAP). The analysis of variance clearly showed the significant contribution of quadratic model for all responses. The optimal conditions for both Chinese lotus (CLR) and Malaysian lotus (MLR) roots were obtained as: CLR: X1 = 2.5, X2 = 0.5 h, X3 = 40 mL/g, MLR: X1 = 2.4, X3 = 40 mL/g. These optimum conditions gave (a) Total flavonoid content (TFC) of 0.599 mg PCE/g sample and 0.549 mg PCE/g sample, respectively, (b) % DPPHsc of 48.36% and 29.11%, respectively, (c) FRAP value of 2.07 mM FeSO4 and 1.89 mM FeSO4, respectively. A close agreement between predicted and experimental values was found. The result obtained succinctly revealed that the Chinese lotus exhibited higher antioxidant and total flavonoid content when compared with the Malaysia lotus root at optimum extraction condition.

Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans are the main oral pathogens which contribute to dental caries that affects all ages of human being. Objectives This study focuses on the potential of crude cell free supernatant (CCFS) from lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to inhibit of the growth of S. mutans UKMCC 1019. Design A total of 61 CCFS from LAB strains were screened for their inhibitory ability against S. mutans UKMCC 1019 by broth microdilution method. The selected LAB with highest antimicrobial activity was identified and its CCFS was characterized for pH stability, temperature tolerance, enzyme sensitivity, metabolism of carbohydrates, enzymatic activities and antimicrobial activity against S. mutans UKMCC 1019 and C. albicans UKMCC 3001 by well diffusion assay. The effect of CCFS on cell structure of S. mutans UKMCC 1019 was observed under transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Results The CCFS from isolate CC2 from Kimchi showed the highest inhibition against S. mutans UKMCC 1019, which was 76.46 % or 4406.08 mm2/mL and it was identified to be most closely related to Enterococcus faecium DSM 20477 based on 16 s rRNA sequencing. The CCFS of E. faecium DSM 20477 had high tolerance to acidic and alkaline environment as well as high temperature. It also shows high antifungal activities against C. albicans UKMCC 3001 with 2362.56 mm2/mL. Under TEM, the cell walls and the cytoplasm membrane of S. mutans UKMCC 1019 were disrupted by the antimicrobial substance, causing cell lysis. Conclusions Hence, the CCFS from E. faecium DSM 20477 is a potential bacteriocin in future for the treatment of dental caries.

Bioflocculant is an extracellular biopolymer substance secreted naturally by microorganisms during their growth. It has piqued the interest of many researchers due to its biodegradability, nontoxic properties, and potential as a substitute for conventional flocculant where its usage may lead to environmental and health issues. In the present study, Aspergillus niger DWB was used to investigate the production and characterization of bioflocculant. The bioflocculant was produced by utilizing agricultural residue from the oil palm industry, oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) fiber as the carbon source. The effect of pH of the medium, as well as the inoculum size on the bioflocculant production, was examined. The maximum bioflocculant yield obtained after 48 h of fermentation was 9.48%/g substrate under tested condition. In addition, the bioflocculant produced showed a good flocculating rate in kaolin suspension at pH 6, within 15 min of retention time and using 4 ml of bioflocculant dosage. The functional group of the extracted bioflocculant was determined using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, which revealed the presence of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups. These functional groups attributed to their flocculating abilities. The results obtained from this study suggested that the agricultural waste, OPEFB fiber can serve as a suitable solid substrate in the production of bioflocculant.

The high cost of cellulases remains the most significant barrier to the economical production of bio-ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass. The goal of this study was to optimize cellulases and xylanase production by a local indigenous fungus strain (Aspergillus niger DWA8) using agricultural waste (oil palm frond [OPF]) as substrate. The enzyme production profile before optimization indicated that the highest carboxymethyl cellulose (CMCase), filter paper (FPase), and xylanase activities of 1.06 U/g, 2.55 U/g, and 2.93 U/g were obtained on day 5, day 4, and day 5 of fermentation, respectively. Response surface methodology was used to study the effects of several key process parameters in order to optimize cellulase production. Of the five physical and two chemical factors tested, only moisture content of 75% (w/w) and substrate amount of 2.5 g had statistically significant effect on enzymes production. Under optimized conditions of 2.5 g of substrate, 75% (w/w) moisture content, initial medium of pH 4.5, 1 × 106 spores/mL of inoculum, and incubation at ambient temperature (±30°C) without additional carbon and nitrogen, the highest CMCase, FPase, and xylanase activities obtained were 2.38 U/g, 2.47 U/g, and 5.23 U/g, respectively. Thus, the optimization process increased CMCase and xylanase production by 124.5 and 78.5%, respectively. Moreover, A. niger DWA8 produced reasonably good cellulase and xylanase titers using OPF as the substrate when compared with previous researcher finding. The enzymes produced by this process could be further use to hydrolyze biomass to generate reducing sugars, which are the feedstock for bioethanol production.