Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the Antioxidant Status and Selected Electrolytes Level in Some Nigerian Malarial Patients: A Mini Comparative Study

Malaria remains an endemic infection which results in nutritional deficiencies. This study was set up to assess the antioxidant capacity and the levels of some selected minerals in the plasma samples of malaria infected individuals. Blood specimens were obtained from ten P. falciparum infected patients and ten healthy individuals using standard clinical procedures. Plasma levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione were determined using standard spectrophotometry methods. Plasma levels of the following electrolytes; calcium, sodium, magnesium and potassium were determined using standard atomic absorption spectrometry methods: Results show that there was a significant (p 0.01) difference in the serum levels of potassium for both. The presence of malaria parasites ( P. falciparum) in blood affects the activities of antioxidant enzymes and micro nutrients in patients.
Increased As Adsorption on Maghemite-Containing Red Mud Prepared by the Alkali Fusion-Leaching Method

This study investigates the use of red muds as adsorbents for As (V) removal. Red mud is a waste that contains a large amount of iron oxides and hydroxides, which are excellent adsorbents of arsenic, especially those possessing magnetic properties and a large specific surface area. The purpose of the experiments was to study the possibility of obtaining an effective adsorbent by the direct extraction of alumina from bauxite using the caustic alkali fusion method and to compare the arsenic removal effectiveness and other properties of these red muds with industrial samples. Red muds were described using methods such as X-ray diffraction spectrometry (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), SEM, vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM), and the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method. The main iron-containing phase of the red muds obtained by fusing bauxite with caustic alkali is maghemite, which has a large specific surface area. The specific surface area of the obtained samples varied in the range of 6.1–54.9 m2/g. Arsenic adsorption experiments were carried out using five different types of red muds: industrial Bayer, industrial sintering, and red mud obtained through bauxite alkali fusion at 300, 500, and 700 °C. The red muds obtained by fusing bauxite with caustic alkali at 300 and 500 °C had the highest effectiveness removing arsenic; their As(V) uptake capacity was over 30 mg/g.
Cytotoxicity of 6-Mercaptopurine via Loading on PVA-Coated Magnetite Nanoparticles Delivery System: A New Era of Leukemia Therapy

Fe3O4 were synthesized via chemical co-precipitation method in which NH4OH acted as reducing agent to obtain water-dispersible, biocompatible, magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles. The latters were coated with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP) drug was then loaded into the surface of PVA-coating- Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The structural, morphological and magnetic characterization of the uncoated, coated and 6-MP loaded iron oxide nanoparticles are presented here. The particles were characterized by XRD, HR-TEM, TGA, FTIR and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Cytotoxicity of 6-Mercaptopurine loaded into PVA-coated magnetite nanoparticles as a new era of leukemia therapy was studied aiming to improve its therapeutic effects by decreasing its dose as well its side effects.
Influence of hydrothermal treatment on physicochemical characteristics of white beans seeds (Phaseolus vulgaris) produced in Côte d’Ivoire

Objective : Beans are eaten after cooking and the cooking methods significantly affect their biochemical composition. In this study, the effect of traditional cooking methods such as boiling and steaming on the nutritional composition and anti-nutritional factors in white beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) was investigated. Methodology and Results : In both cooked and uncooked white beans, proximate composition and antinutritional components were determined according to standard methods. The results showed that cooking treatments decreased the nutritional and anti-nutritional composition in white beans. Boiling decreased the dry matter, ash, lipid, total carbohydrate and protein, with an average loss of 65.98 %; 31.18 %, 39.37 %; 83.42 % and 37.50 % respectively. The losses due to steaming were smaller than boiling with the values of 39.20 %, 13.06 %, 10.31 %, 54.94 % and 13.17 % respectively for the dry matter, ash, protein, lipid and reducing sugars. Excepted for phytates where losses due to steaming are slightly higher (6.38 %) compared to those of boiling (5.42 %), boiling induced higher losses on anti-nutritional composition such us total oxalates (62.88 %) and phenols (81.95 %) compared to steaming, which caused only of the less significant losses of 38.18 % and 73.42 % respectively. Conclusion and application of results. As shown in this study steaming and boiling cooking affect the composition of white bean. They induce a loss in nutritional compounds and anti-nutritional factors in the bean. However, steaming of white bean caused slight losses in nutritional composition and antinutritional factors than boiling. Steaming could be recommended in infant feeding because it preserves nutrients necessary for their development Keywords : hydrothermal, steaming, boiling, white bean seed, losses, Cote d’Ivoire
Functional characterization of the cell polarity proteins Bazooka and LKB1

Cell polarity is a highly conserved characteristic of epithelia. Baz and LKB1 are two key players in the establishment of a cellular polarity and the role of their membrane localization and organization were the subjects of this study. The liver kinase B1 (LKB1) is an essential kinase that regulates various cellular processes by modulating the activity of several downstream kinases. Its loss or inactivation is closely linked to tumorigenesis. Understanding the regulation of this tumour suppressor will help to better understand the process of tumorigenesis itself. The C-terminus of LKB1 beard a polybasic motif (lysine and arginine residues), which mediates its membrane localization together with a farnesylation site. The polybasic motif acts as a lipid binding (LB) domain that directly binds to phosphoinsotides. Deletions of the LB domain and farnesylation site cause embryonic lethality and phenocopies a null allele. LKB1 preferentially binds to phosphatidic acid (PA), which in turn significantly enhances its catalytic activity. Furthermore, also human LKB1 (hLKB1) localizes at the plasmamembrane of epithelial cells, which requires its conserved LB domain. Lipid binding is important for hLKB1 to counteract mTORC1 in order to suppress cell proliferation in human cancer cell lines. Finally, in specimen of melanoma patients, an association of downregulated LKB1 with elevated levels of PLD2 (which produces PA that activates LKB1 and mTOR) and activated mTORC1 targets has been found. Taken together, membrane binding of LKB1 is essential to fully activate it in order to counteract cell proliferation and promote development. The oligomerization domain (OD) of Bazooka (Baz) has been reported to be important for viability of the Drosophila embryo and the cortical localization of the protein. This study found a functional redundancy of the OD and the lipid binding (LB) motif that is essential for the cortical localization of Baz. Thus, it has been confirmed that the OD contributes to the membrane localization of Baz. Nevertheless, in contrast to previous studies oligomerization was dispensable for viability of embryos, but a yet undescribed function of the OD to stabilize Baz has been observed. In the end, a novel basis for the interaction between Baz and Par6 has been determined. A so far unrecognized PDZ binding motif (PBM) at the C-terminus of Par6 directly binds to the first and the third PDZ domains of Baz. The previously assumed PDZ-PDZ domain interaction could not be confirmed in vitro. However, in vivo a functional redundancy of the PDZ domain and the PBM of Par6 promotes its apical localization in the epithelium of Drosophila embryos.
Reproducing Kernel Methods for Nonparametric and Semiparametric Treatment Effects

We propose a family of reproducing kernel ridge estimators for nonparametric and semiparametric policy evaluation. The framework includes (i) treatment effects of the population, of subpopulations, and of alternative populations; (ii) the decomposition of a total effect into a direct effect and an indirect effect (mediated by a particular mechanism); and (iii) effects of sequences of treatments. Treatment and covariates may be discrete or continuous, and low, high, or infinite dimensional. We consider estimation of means, increments, and distributions of counterfactual outcomes. Each estimator is an inner product in a reproducing kernel Hilbert space (RKHS), with a one line, closed form solution. For the nonparametric case, we prove uniform consistency and provide finite sample rates of convergence. For the semiparametric case, we prove root n consistency, Gaussian approximation, and semiparametric efficiency by finite sample arguments. We evaluate our estimators in simulations then estimate continuous, heterogeneous, incremental, and mediated treatment effects of the US Jobs Corps training program for disadvantaged youth.
Lentil (Lens culinaris) demonstrations for enhanced productivity at farmers' fields in India

The Department of Agriculture Cooperation and Farmers Welfare (DAC&FW) sponsored project on lentil entitled “Enhancing Lentil Production for Food, Nutritional Security and Improved Rural Livelihoods” was implemented by International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), South Asia & China Regional Program (SACRP) collaboration with National Agricultural institutes SAUs and NGOs. This study was implemented in nine districts of four zones i.e. Eastern Himalayan Region (Nagaon, Assam) (Zone-I), Lower Gangetic Plains Region (Malda and Murshidabad, West Bengal) (Zone-III), Middle Gangetic Plains Region (Patna, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur, in (Bihar) and Ballia and Chandauli (Uttar Pradesh) (Zone-IV) and Upper Gangetic Plains Region (Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh) (Zone-V). Demonstrations on lentil were conducted in these zones during 2010-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13. The increase in per cent of yield was ranging between 27.65 to 64.99 per cent. The technology gap and extension gap were ranging between 4.63 to 15.53 q/ha and 1.72 to 5.35 q/ha, respectively. The technology index was ranging in between 25.72 per cent to 64.80 per cent. By adopting improved production technologies, productivity can be increased which will further uplift in the socio-economic level of the farming communities.
The effect of potassium on yield, nutrient uptake and efficiency of teff (Eragrostis tef Zucc. Trotter) on vertisols of North Western Ethiopian Highlands

Abstract Vertisols are characterized by deficiency of nutrients and recently, potassium (K), a major plant nutrient in crops, is gaining attention because of crop removal, fixation by clay minerals and leaching. A field experiment was conducted during the 2015 and 2016 main cropping seasons to test the effect of potash fertilizer on Vertisols of East Gojjam at Gudalima and Dejen/Tik sites using teff crop. The K rates (applied as muriate of potash) were 0, 50,100, and 150 kg ha−1. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design in three replications. The results indicated that the plant height, panicle length, number of effective tillers, dry matter and grain yield of teff increased significantly (P < 0.05) with applied K. The highest dry matter and grain yield (6966.4 and 2418.2 kg ha−1, respectively) were obtained from the application of 100 kg ha−1 KCl. Total uptake of N, P, and K were enhanced significantly with K treated plots than those without and K efficiency was improved due to the rate of K. The present study demonstrated the importance of K application to supplement NPS for optimum dry matter and grain yield of teff on Vertisols of the study sites.
METHOD DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION FOR ESTIMATION OF CURCUMIN AND PIPERINE BY RP-HPLC

Objective: To develop a simple, sensitive, specific, accurate reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for the estimation of curcumin and piperine.Methods: The separation was done using a column Inertsil–ODS C18 (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5µ particle size) and mobile phase composed of methanol: water (45:55 v/v), flow rate at 1 ml/min and detection was carried out at 282 nm with photodiode array (PDA) detector.Results: The separation of curcumin and piperine were found to be at the retention time of 2.433 min and 3.095 min, respectively. The method was found to be linear at a concentration range 20-80 µg/ml for curcumin and piperine. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 0. 05µg/ml and 0. 17µg/ml for curcumin and 0. 18µg/ml and 0. 53µg/ml for piperine respectively. The average percentage recoveries of curcumin and piperine were in the range of 98-100.6%. Conclusion: A simple and sensitive reverse phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the estimation of curcumin and piperine.
Analytical progress and challenges for the detection of oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon transformation products in aqueous and soil environmental matrices: A review

Abstract Over the past 20 years, a growing body of research has raised concerns about the toxicity, fate, and transport of oxygenated transformation products of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Research targeting these diverse compounds in soil and water systems has been challenged by a lack of standard analytical techniques and suitable reference materials. However, recent efforts towards the consolidation of traditional analytical techniques as well as the development of novel approaches to improve sample preparation and hyphenated instrumental techniques show promise. This review discusses progress and challenges for both trends in analytical method development and makes recommendations for supporting oxygenated PAH research.
Moisture stress induced changes in metabolites and cellular functions in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes

The present investigation was aimed to study influence of moisture stress in in vitro identified tolerant (GL28151, RSG963, PDG3) and sensitive (GL22044, GNG1861, PBG1) chickpea genotypes under field conditions. Moisture stress treatments included crop sown with one pre-sowing irrigation (WSVFP), irrigation withheld at flower initiation stage (WSF), irrigation withheld at pod initiation stage (WSP) and control (irrigated as and when required). Osmolytes (in seeds) viz. total soluble sugars, starch, proline, cellular functions; relative water content, membrane permeability index and lipid peroxidation (in leaves), antioxidant enzymes (at pod filling stage) viz. peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase were estimated in chickpea seeds under control and stressed conditions. WSVFP was most severely affected by moisture stress followed by WSP and WSF and emphasized on pod intuition stage as critical stage attributable to hindered transport of assimilates towards formation of pods and development of seeds under stress imposed by lack of sufficient moisture. Highest accumulation of total soluble sugars (73.33), starch (73.12), proline (2.04) in mg/g fresh weight, least percentage reduction over control in relative water content (20.3), membrane permeability index (18.8) and minimal lipid peroxidation (31.3) accompanied by significantly enhanced activities of antioxidant enzymes under WSVFP rendered moisture stress tolerance in RSG963. The pronounced cellular damage, lesser alleviation in the content of osmolytes, antioxidant enzymes activity was observed in sensitive genotype GL22044 under stress treatments. High molecular weight protein bands were found either absent or of low intensity in sensitive genotypes (GL22044, GNG1861 and PBG1) under severe stress treatment (WSVFP).
Solid Waste Disposal and its Impact on Surrounding Environment of Matuail landfill Site, Dhaka, Bangladesh

An investigation was conducted to assess the impact of solid waste disposal on surrounding environment of Matuail landfill site of Dhaka city. Three different locations such as current dumping, abandoned and its surrounded agricultural areas of Matuail landfill were selected for soil and plant samples, leachate from active dumping and fish samples from treated leachate pond. The Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations were high in the dumping (360 µg g-1 Cu, 806 µg g-1 Zn and 382 µg g-1 Pb) and abandoned (199 µg g-1 Cu, 452 µg g-1 Zn and 519 µg g-1 Pb) areas that exceeded the permissible limits. The heavy metal concentrations in plant samples did not show any significant contamination except Cu, Zn and Pb that also exceeded the permissible limits. On the other side, the organic matter and nutrient concentrations such as N, P, K and S of both soil and plant samples are within desirable value in the studied area. The concentrations of DO, BOD, COD and TDS of the untreated leachate were found 1.34 mg L-1, 96 mg L-1, 1343 mg L-1 and 7120 mg L-1, respectively that exceeded inland surface water standard but after treatment the concentrations of DO, BOD and TDS in the treated leachate pond were found within the permissible limit. The presence of heavy metal in leachate is not contaminated as it is below the toxic limit. The bioaccumulation of fish from treated pond is extremely high of Fe, Mn, Pb and Ni that exceeded the WHOs permissible limit.
Alteration of Various Lymphocytes by Particulate and Fibrous Substances

Various occupational and environmental substances alter the cellular and molecular function of the human lymphoid system. For example, silicosis patients who have been chronically exposed to silica particles often complicate with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic sclerosis. From our investigations, silica particles affect CD4+ responder T cells and regulatory T cells (Tregs), which results in the disrup - tion of autoimmunity. Asbestos fibers are a type of mineral silicate, and patients exposed to asbestos fibers revealed cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. In these cases, asbestos fibers may reduce antitumor immunity. Our results investigating the effect of asbestos on cytotoxic T lymphocyte, natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ cells, and Tregs revealed a reduction in antitumor immunity. To date, the effects of silica and asbestos on Th17 cells and antigen-presenting cells such as dendritic cells and macrophages remain unclear. Based on these findings, it will be possible to generate earlier detection methods to identify the occurrence of immune alterations in silicosis as well as the appearance of a decreased antitumor immunity in asbestos-exposed populations. Additionally, research efforts should also be directed at discovering and identifying physiological substances from foods, plants, and other sources that can restore the immune status in people exposed to particulate and fibrous substances.
Synergistic Effects of Nano-Sized Clinoptilolite and Nigella Sativa on Inflammatory and Hematological Factors in Rats with Type 2 Diabetes

The inflammatory efficacy of supplementation of natural nano-sized clinoptilolite (NCLN) and Nigella sativa (NS) was evaluated At the end of 7th week in interleukin1β (IL1β), interleukin10 (IL-10), interleukin6 (IL-6) and platelet (PLT), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (HCT), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean corpuscular volume (MCV). 42 rats were divided into two groups as diabetic and non-diabetic. Diabetic group divided into 4 subgroups as normal control (NC), NS 1% food, NCLN 2%/food, NS 1%/food + NCLN 2%/food and fed high fat diet (HFD) for 1 month, then injected 35mg/kg BW STZ to induce type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our results showed IL-10 in NCLN and NCLN+NS groups were significantly higher NC group (p<0.05). IL-6 decreased in NS group in comparison with DC group. And PLT decreased significantly in NCLN group in comparison with other groups. Our data suggests NS and NCLN may have synergistic beneficial effects on increasing some of anti-inflammatory factors.
Exposure–Response of Wheat Cultivars to TiO2 Nanoparticles in Contrasted Soils

ABSTRACT Unprecedent usage of nanoparticles (NPs) over very large scale has raised concerns about their release into agro-environments. The effects of these emerging pollutants on staple food crops and contrasted soils are not very well documented. The main aim of present work was to investigate the exposure–response of 10 wheat cultivars to titanium dioxide (TiO2) NPs (0–1000 mg kg−1) in terms of early growth parameters followed by evaluation of the selected cultivar for complete growth cycle cultivated on contrasted soils in terms of various physicochemical characteristics. Among all the 10 tested wheat cultivars, only Galaxy cultivar sustained to the whole TiO2 NPs exposure range. TiO2 NPs exposure at 1000 mg kg−1 adversely affected the early growth response parameters in MH, Ujala, Uqab, Shafaq and FSD wheat cultivars which clearly indicated the toxic effects induced by NPs. Pot studies were performed using Galaxy cultivar cultivated in different textured soils (loam and sandy loam). At the highest tested concentration of TiO2 NPs, plant growth, biomass and phosphorus (P) concentration along with other tested parameters were not improved in both types of soils compared to their respective control groups. These results suggested the controlled use of NPs to avoid the NPs contamination in soil–plant ecosystems in the longer run.
Study of mixing and discharging of dry particles in a truck mixer

Abstract The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is used to simulate the mixing and discharging processes of binary particles in a laboratory truck mixer. The contact parameters in the DEM model are calibrated by experiments and then used to simulate the particle mixing and discharging processes in truck mixer under seven groups of operation parameters. Numerical results show good agreements with the experimental data in terms of the big particle content (BPC) of discharged samples and the discharging time (Td). It is found that the discharging speed of 8 rev/min produces the largest discharging rate (Dr) whereas the discharging homogeneity is the lowest. The highest discharging homogeneity is observed when the discharging speed is 5 rev/min. The effects of filling rate and mixing speed on the discharging rate are insignificant. The mixing homogeneity decreases with the increase of mixing time, mixing speed and filling rate, which result in the discharging homogeneity also decreasing with the increase of mixing speed and filling rate.