bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multidrug Resistant Vibrio Species Isolated From Abattoir and Aquaculture Environment in Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Authors: Onuoha Stanley , Oko Felicia , Okafor Collins , Ovia Kenneth
Published: October 2024

Vibrio species in abattoir and aquaculture environment are of human health significance and may be increasing in pathogenicity and abundance. This study was aimed at determining the multidrug resistance of Vibrio species isolated from abattoir and aquaculture environment in Ebonyi state. Effluent samples were obtained from different abattoir sites within Ebonyi State from the butchers’ table, drainage, and wash water, while aquaculture sample were collected from different pond sites within the study area. Vibrio isolates were detected using Thiosulphate Citrate Bile Salt (TCBS) agar and identified based on the morphology and biochemical characterization. The results revealed a total of 50 isolates from 20 waste water samples. Waste water samples from different points of drainage water from abattoir had the highest microbial load of 3.85±0.35x106 CFU/mL. While, samples from butcher’s table and wash water from abattoir had high microbial load of 3.30±0.14x106and 3.25±0.14 x106 CFU/mL. respectively when compared to aquaculture samples which had the least microbial load of 0.6±3.9 x106 CFU/mL. Percentage antibiotic susceptibility profile showed Vibrio isolates were highly resistant to Tobramycin 40(80%), Cefoxitin 40(80%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid 40(80%), Meropenem 30(52%), Cefepime28(56). Abattoir effluents and aquaculture are important reservoirs of multidrug resistant Vibrio pathogens. This implies that abattoir effluents could be important contributors to the episodes of epidemic cholera, non-Vibrio cholera and Vibrio causing illnesses in the study area.
Effect of weed control treatments and planting method on the yield and yield parameters of rice in Sudan savannah of Nigeria.
Authors: Danmaigoro Olanrewaju , Bilyaminu shittu Abdullahi , Abduljalil Tukur , Muhammad umar Musa
Published: October 2024

The experimentswerecarried out in 2020 and 2021 rainy seasons to determine the performance ofrice as influenced by planting method and weed control treatments. The treatments consists of three planting methods (dibbling broadcasting and transplanting and weed control methods  (hoe weeding, pre emergence application of gramazone (200g/L of paraquat/ha), pre and post emergence of gramazone (200g/L of paraquat/ha) and propanil (360g/L of propanil + 200g/L 2-4D) and weedy check). The treatments were laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and were replicated three times.The results revealed the plots weeded twice and those treated with pre and post emergence application of gramazone and propanil respectively resulted in more number of spikelet per panicle, longer panicle, increase in number of effective tillers per hill, more grains per panicle and grain yield. The effect of planting methods on the rice growth revealed that rice sown under transplanting methods gave more number of effective tiler per hill, longer  panicle, more grain per panicle and increases in grain yield compared to the others methods while broadcasting resulted in the least value of the parameters than others methods.Therefore,it can be concluded that rice farmers in the sudan savanna zone of Nigeria can adoptpre and post emergence application of gramazone and propanil with transplanting method since the combination of these treatments gave better weed control, growth and yield of paddy rice.
Key words: Herbicide, length of panicle, number of grain per panicle andgrain yield
Indicator Film of Natural Coloring of Butterfly Pea (Clitoria ternatea L.) as Detection of Beef Damage
Authors: Sumiasih Inanpi Hidayati
Published: October 2024

Beef is a food source with a high protein content that would be ideal for microbes to flourish. Microbes would reduce the quality of a product. Therefore, an indicator on smart packaging would be needed to detect the quality of a product. The indicator film in this study used butterfly pea flower extract which contains a natural coloring agent, anthocyanin. The objective of this study was to obtain the indicator film with the best concentration of PVA, chitosan, and butterfly pea flower extract as the natural dye, to study the response of indicator film color, pH, and thickness, to the beef pH and TVBN, and to calculate the total microbes as the determinant of the beef quality. The study consisted of three steps, namely, the extraction of butterfly pea flower, the making of indicator film, and the application of indicator film on beef packaging. The best indicator film was obtained with the formulation of PVA and chitosan of 20:80 with the addition of 5 ml of butterfly pea extract. The color change was from blue to yellowish-green with °hue of 137.81±19.31o. The thickness of indicator film in 48 hours of storage decreased from 0.171±0.042 to 0.136±0.043. The pH of beef increased after 8 hours of storage from 5.726±0.011 to 7.540±0.351. The TVBN of beef after 8 hours of storage had exceeded the threshold of 30.815±5,602 which indicates that it was not safe for consumption. The TPC of beef from the 8 hours of storage had exceeded the maximum number of 7.338±0.035 log CFU/g.
Keyword: anthocyanin, butterfly pea extract, thickness, volatile bases
Biodiversity of Tunicate (Ascidiacea) in the waters of Badi Island, Pangkajene Regency of South Sulawesi
Authors: Litaay Magdalena
Published: October 2024

Tunicates belongs to Urochordate that inhibit coral reefs ecosystem. The uniqueness of the tunic can be seen from the body shape like a tube with 2 siphons and the body is covered by a protective layer known as the tunic. The present study aims to observe marine tunicate at waters of Badi Island, Pangkajene Regency, South Sulawesi. This research using the Belt Transect method with a length of 20 m and a width of 4 m at a depth of 5 m with 4 station points according to the wind directions. All tunicate inside transect was noted and identified. Identification was based on morphological characteristics. The result shows that there were 18 species of tunicates present in the coral reefs ecosystem of Badi Island.
The Utilization Potential of Tasikamdu Star Fruit Composted Waste for Mustard Cultivation (Brassica rapa L.) In Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Sumiasih Inanpi Hidayati , Puspitawati Mutiara Dewi , Maulana Fayyadh Yusuf , Yadarabullah
Published: October 2024

Attaqie Farm Agroedutourism produced 1.5 tons/ha of star fruit waste in 2018, which was wasted because it was not utilized by starfruit farmers. Attaqie farm strives to implement the Sustainable Agriculture System (SPT) to support sustainable agriculture. The waste originating from one cultivation can be used as a resource in other forms. The application of integrated and sustainable agriculture is beneficial for farmers to preserve the ecology while maintaining the culture adopted in an area. Farmers' objectives for agricultural cultivation are good, healthy, and maximum yields, therefore the availability of compost is needed. The technology that has developed makes it easier for farmers or researchers to make compost in a short time. The study began with making compost with star fruit waste, namely residual leaves and fruit from thinning. This research was carried out using a Randomized Block Design (RBD). The treatment was replicated 4 times, with 3 experimental units, and 5 dose levels. Nutrients in the star fruit waste compost showed good results for compost criteria according to SNI 19-7030-2004 standard. The effective dosage for star fruit compost in mustard cultivation was 20 tons/ha (equivalent to 40 g/polybag).
The Potential of Bacillus spp. in Suppressing Colletotrichum capsici that Causes Antracnose in Red Chili
Authors: Rani Sasiska , Endang Triwahyu Prasetyawati  , Herry Nirwanto  , Sri Wiyatiningsih
Published: October 2024

Red Chili (Capsicum annum L.) is a horticultural plants that is classified as an important commodity and has high economic value. One of the main problems in the production of red chili is anthracnose disease caused by the Colletotrichum capsici pathogen. Bacillus spp. expected to have the potential to inhibit the growth of C. capsici and stimulate the growth of plant. This study aims to determine the potential of Bacillus spp., in suppressing the growth of the C. capsici fungus and stimulating the growth of red chili. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with the treatment without Bacillus spp., chemical fungicides, Bacillus sp. (Ba-6), Bacillus sp. (Ba-9), Bacillus sp. (Ba-12), Bacillus sp. (Ba-15), and Bacillus sp. (Ba-17). The treatment was repeated 4 times and the treatment unit contained 5 red chili/polybag. The results showed that the highest suppression of C. capsici in the treatment of Bacillus sp. Ba-15 was 6.25% compared to the negative control. The best bacteria that can stimulate the growth of red chili is Bacillus sp. Ba-9 with an average plant height 20.10 cm and an average number of leaves 10.49
The Potential of Seaweed Gracilaria sp. as An Organic Waste Bioremediation Agent.
Authors: Khatimah Khusnul , Sompa Andi , Haerunnisa Haerunnisa , Zaenab St
Published: October 2024

Increased fishing and agricultural activities trigger eutrophication events in marine waters. Excessive availability of nutrients can cause changes in the composition of community structures in marine ecosystems. Therefore an effort is needed to mitigate the eutrophication process in coastal and marine areas by increasing the nutrient partition coefficient in compartments that can absorb or consume these nutrients such as macroalgae or seaweed. The aim of this study was to determine the absorption capacity of nutrients (N and P) from Gracilaria sp. Seaweed as a mitigating agent for eutrophication in waters. This research was conducted in October–November 2018 in a controlled manner at the PUI-P2RL Wet Laboratory, Hasanuddin University. Seaweed maintenance media is intensive pond wastewater that has gone through a filtering and sterilization process. The results showed that Gracilaria sp. able to absorb nutrients in the form of NH3, NO2 , NO3 and PO4. Gracilaria sp. able to reduce NO3 by 0.840 ± 0.065 μg/l/day, NO2 by 2.100 ± 0.609 μg/l/day, NH3 by 1.506 ± 0.204 μg/l/day and PO4 by 8.756 ± 2.785 μg/l/day.
Influence of Some Growth Conditions on The Antibacterial Activities of Lactobacillus fermentum Against Human Fecal Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Nguyén Anh Dũng
Published: October 2024

One of the best-known and widespread bacterial pathogens that cause invasive infections as well as skin infections is recognized as Staphylococcus aureus strains to contribute to certain pneumonia and other respiratory tract infections, cardiovascular infections, infections at surgical sites, infections of prosthetic joints, and nosocomial bacteremia. Meanwhile, Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have an effective antibacterial potential that may be used to safeguard both human and animal health, according to several research. Numerous LAB strains are side effect free and incapable of harming both people and lab animals. Hence, this study was performed to investigate the optimal conditions including MipH, InTe, and InTi for Lactobacillus fermentum (LAF) isolated from traditional fermented foods against human fecal Staphylococcus aureus (hf-SA).
Taxonomic Identification of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch Based on Chemical composition
Authors: Mahmoud Dogara Abdulrahman , Abdullahi Mahmud Aisha , Sani Halliru Bawale , Labaran Isah , Danlami Hussaini
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The family Burseraceae comprises a total of 18 genera and 540 species. Boswellia dalzielii is a botanical species commonly employed in tropical and subtropical regions for its therapeutic properties, serving as a remedy for a diverse range of health conditions. The taxonomic identification and chemical composition of B. dalzielii in northern Nigeria have not been extensively documented in scientific literature, despite the recognized medicinal efficacy of this plant species. The soxhlet extraction method was employed to extract ethanol, methanol, and aqueous crude from the leaves. Subsequently, the extracted samples were subjected to analysis using gas chromatography combined with mass spectrometry. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was employed for the purpose of functional group identification in the crude extract. There was clear and noticeable distinction between the species under consideration on the X axis of principal component (PC) 1. The methanol and aqueous chemicals that were extracted from B. dalzielii showed a higher degree of similarity and were found to cluster together on the left side of the PC1 axis. PC2 did not indicate a clear distinction of the extract. The ethanol extract included 15 different chemicals, the methanol extract contained 12 different chemicals, and the aqueous extract contained 11 different chemicals.
Cytotoxic Activity of Bioactve Compounds from Hydroid Aglophenia cupressina Lamoureoux against Hela Tumor Cells
Authors: Sjafaraenan Sjafaraenan , Johannes Eva , Herwin Herwin
Published: October 2024

Hydroids are marine invertebrates living on sponges, which belong to the phylum Coelenterata. They also contain several chemical compounds, including alkaloids, steroids, terpenoids, and histamine, which can be used as medicinal raw materials, such as antimicrobials and anticancer. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the working mechanism of active compounds obtained from the extract and the fraction of Hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina Lamoureoux against Hela ttumor cell line, as a solvent used n-hexane.  The cytotoxic activity was carried out by using MTT method.  The results showed both extract and fraction activities against Hela tumor cells. They were also categorized as moderate cytotoxic activity based on the IC50 values of the extract and fraction, namely 0.31726 µg/mL and 0.32712 µg/mL, respectively.
Isolation and Identification of Carbonoclastic Fungi Causing Damage to Prehistoric Paintings in the Maros-Pangkep Karst Area
Authors: Khotimah Nur Husnul , Haedar Nur , Abdullah As'adi , Gani Fuad , Heriadi
Published: October 2024

The carbonoclastic fungi known as a fungi that can produce calcium carbonate crystals (CaCO3) through the urease enzyme produced to hydrolysis of urea contained in the substrate or growth medium. The presence of carbonoclastic fungi is frequently observed in the karst areas cave wall painting, which are a type of ancient artifact. The destruction to the ancient cave artwork is brought on by the fungus. The purpose of this study was to obtain and determine the types of carbonoclastic fungi that cause damage to cave wall paintings in the Maros-Pangkep karst area. Isolation and selection of carbonoclastic fungi were carried out using Christensen Urea Agar medium. The CaCO3 precipitate potential test was carried out by calculating the mass CaCO3 precipitates formed and analysis of ammonia levels and cell biomass produced during the growth period. Fungi identification was performed using the 18S rRNA gene molecular markers. Twenty four fungi isolates obtained from swab samples in Parewe and Bulu Sipong caves, 7 positive isolated belonged to carbonoclastic fungi. The results of CaCO3 precipitates, namely isolate Ps3 producing precipitates of 80,30 mg with ammonia content value of 701,7064 ppm and cell biomass of 333,80 mg. The identification results showed that Ps3 isolate belongs to Aspergillus sp. strain BW1.
Diversity and Community Structure of Butterflies (Lepidoptera: Papilionoidea) in The Sigolo-Golo Tourism Area, Jombang, East Java
Authors: WIbisana Oki Rahmatirta , Zumar Muhammad Rifqi , Ahmad Alfin Romzalis , Muhamad Azmi Dwi Susanto
Published: October 2024

The Sigolo-golo natural tourism area is located in the Wonosalam district, Jombang. The environment in this area is still relatively well preserved because it has a variety of vegetation and habitats. There is very little information on the community structure of butterflies (Papilionoidea) in this area, so this research is needed to find the community structure of butterflies in Sigolo-golo tourism. The method used in this research is a visual encounter survey combined with the transect method, which is to carry out direct counts of species and individuals of butterflies that are often found. The research locations were divided based on different habitat types, namely plantations, forests, and riverbanks. This study found 43 species with 358 individuals from five families. The results of the data analysis show that the diversity index value at each location is in the high category. The diversity and revealing butterflies at each location explain why the community structure in Sigolo-golo tourism is still stable and well maintained.
Ethnomedicinal Uses of Plant Species in Panchase Protected Forests (A Case Study including the Kaski, Parbat & Syangja Districts of Nepal)
Authors: Neupane Asmit , Dhakal Anisha , Lamsal Urusha , Sharma Barsha , Thapa Roshna
Published: October 2024

Ethnomedicinal plants, which have been utilized by indigenous communities in Nepal for centuries, hold promise for treating various ailments. Globally, medicinal plants are integral to healthcare systems, with Nepal renowned for its rich biodiversity and indigenous knowledge. This manuscript explores the ethno-medicinal practices within Nepal's Panchase protected forest, aiming to validate traditional remedies and contribute to healthcare improvement. Through a comprehensive study involving reconnaissance surveys, interviews, and data analysis, 103 ethno-medicinal plants from 58 families were documented, with Asteraceae being dominant. Various plant parts were utilized for treating 57 ailments, with leaves being most common. Gastrointestinal issues were prevalent, with plants such as Gheu kumari and Harro being frequently employed. Additionally, plants such as Dhursul and Ghodtapre were used for fever and migraine, while Khole Saag and Pani Amala addressed blood pressure and diabetes concerns. This study focuses on the importance of traditional medicine in rural healthcare and underscores the need for its preservation. Conservation efforts and intergenerational knowledge transfer initiatives are vital to safeguarding indigenous wisdom. Phytochemical and pharmacological studies are recommended to validate traditional knowledge scientifically. The commercial cultivation of medicinal plants could alleviate pressure on natural habitats and promote sustainable healthcare practices. This research contributes to the documentation of valuable ethno-medicinal knowledge, emphasizing its potential for socioeconomic development and healthcare enhancement in Nepal's rural communities.
Compatibility study of Trichoderma sp. with Chemical Fungicides Commonly Used by Nepalese Farmers, Under In-Vitro Condition
Authors: Poudel Sudeep , Pun Lok Bahadur , Paudel Rajan , Pokharel Sadikshya , Khanal Pratit
Published: October 2024

The excessive use of synthetic fungicides has led to the emergence offungicide-resistant strains of pathogens, raising concerns about human health andenvironmental impact. Trichoderma spp., an endophytic and versatileopportunistic plant symbiont, has recently gained popularity as a biocontrolagent. Integrated use of Trichoderma with compatible fungicides gives betterdisease management and causes less harm to the environment in the long run.This study aimed to evaluate the compatibility of six fungicides commonly used byNepalese farmers at concentrations of 250, 500, and 1000 ppm with Trichodermasp. using the poisoned food technique in-vitro. The experiment was conducted ina completely randomized design with four replications for each treatment, anddata were taken at 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours after incubation. Among thefungicides tested, Mancozeb was compatible at all concentrations from the startand exhibited the highest compatibility at 72 hours, with a growth inhibitionpercent of 0.39%. Metalaxyl+Mancozeb at 250 and 500 ppm, and Copperoxychloride at 250 ppm showed good compatibility. However, Carbendazim,Hexaconazole, and Carbendazim+Mancozeb resulted in 100% growth inhibition ofTrichoderma sp. throughout the experiment. While all treatments significantlyreduced mycelial diameter, Mancozeb and Metalaxyl+Mancozeb showed agradual decrease in growth inhibition percent over time, indicating increasedcompatibility. In contrast, Copper oxychloride demonstrated variable growthinhibition percent over time. So, the fungicides Mancozeb, Metalaxyl+Mancozeband Copper oxychloride at compatible concentrations can be used withTrichoderma sp. in integrated disease management to control soil and seed-bornepathogens.
Utilization of Tasikmadu Starfruit Waste Compost for The Growth and Yield of Purple Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) In Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Sumiasih Inanpi Hidayati , Fauzi Ahmad Rifqi , Sumarno Indra
Published: October 2024

Based on the literature study, the demand for eggplant in East Java is increasing, encouraging farmers to increase productivity by using chemical fertilizer. In the long term, this practice could harm the environment. This study was conducted to obtain the right method and dosage of compost made from starfruit waste for the growth and yield of eggplant. The study was designed using a Factorial Randomized Block Design. The first factor was organic fertilizer with 5 levels, namely: Soil + goat manure 1:1, Soil + compost from composter 1:1; Soil + compost from bio-pore1:1; Soil + goat manure + compost from composter 1:1:1, and Soil + goat manure + compost from bio-pore 1:1:1. The second factor was NPK fertilizer with 4 levels, namely: 0 gram/liter, 1 gram/liter; 2 gram/ liter; dan 3 gram/liter. There were three replications for each treatment. The results showed that the best organic fertilizer was a combination of manure and compost, from composter and bio-pore, which had the highest result for plant height, number of leaves, biomass increase, and the number of eggplant fruits. The best concentration of NPK fertilizer for eggplant growth and physiology was 3 grams per liter.
Presentación: Cultura
Authors: Salazar Mendoza Margarita
Published: October 2024

La reflexión sobre la cultura no sólo es una preocupación académica, también es una necesidad en la vida cotidiana. El momento histórico actual conlleva sus propios problemas, que exigen una actuación particular. Todo apunta a la cultura, tanto la interpretación de la realidad y la visión de mundo como los conflictos originados dentro de la convivencia social. La perspectiva metafísica no es ya suficiente para explicar la realidad, esa perspectiva resulta ya un enfoque abstracto y muy general sobre los tan diferentes aspectos culturales de los diversos grupos del planeta. Así pues, el estudio de la cultura es una forma de acercarse al dilatado y complejo mundo de la existencia concreta de los seres humanos.
El huipil como discurso político
Authors: Castillero Vela Bianca Monserrat
Published: October 2024

Existe una estrecha relación entre texto y textil. Uno de los aspectos más evidentes de esta relación es su similitud fonológica y morfológica. Esto no es casualidad, Ferdinand de Saussure en su Curso de Lingüística General explica que existe una correspondencia entre sonido y pensamiento, es decir, que hay ideas que se fijan en ciertos sonidos.
Quisiera ser (de nuevo) un niño
Authors: Flores Palacios Moisés
Published: October 2024

El espectáculo mudo es una de las maneras más cautelosas del arte escénico y urbano, que se distingue por la participación del público. En esta reseña, se da un vistazo a la obra Quiero ser payaso de la compañía Escena Cuerda Floja, donde la monotonía de los Godínez se verá afectada por diversos juegos de interacción y una búsqueda de un pequeño ser luminoso. Una obra que es apta para todos aquellos que necesitan dejar de lado las rutinas molestas para divertirse junto con José y Cristina.
Entre selvas y desiertos. Evocaciones de frontera en Chihuahua y Campeche
Authors: Sarricolea Torres Juan Miguel
Published: October 2024

El presente artículo es una reflexión sobre las evocaciones de la frontera en dos estados fronterizos de México: Chihuahua y Campeche. A partir de apuntes etnográficos se muestra cómo las fronteras son representadas y experimentadas de formas distintas por su ubicación geopolítica, por sus dinámicas culturales y por su relación con la migración interna y transnacional. Lo anterior evidencia que, para el estudioso de las fronteras, éstas deben de situarse como objetos atravesados por nociones de frontera que, para el caso de Chihuahua resultan obvias y evidentes, y para Campeche invisibles y poco claras.
Presentación: Franz Kafka
Authors: Martínez Vela Marlon
Published: October 2024

Este 2024 se cumplen cien años del fallecimiento de Franz Kafka, uno de los escritores más influyentes en los siglos XX y XXI. Los ecos de su obra han permeado tanto en la sociedad que incluso quienes ni siquiera han leído alguna de sus novelas o relatos, identifican lo kafkiano en otros textos, obras, películas o incluso en situaciones cotidianas.
El castillo, de Kafka: la arquitectura de la burocracia y la exclusión
Authors: Gómez Martínez Dalia
Published: October 2024

Franz Kafka perdía la vida un martes 3 de junio de 1924 en Austria, a tan solo un mes de su cumpleaños número 41. Irónicamente, ese mismo año se descubriría una dosis de vacuna más efectiva para la tuberculosis, enfermedad que terminaría con la vida del autor. Kafka, siendo abogado de profesión, había publicado en vida un par de relatos, sin embargo, gracias a la intervención del crítico de arte Max Brod, amigo y albacea, quien lo publicaría de manera póstuma y en contra de su última voluntad, se conocería gran parte de su producción inédita, convirtiéndolo en una de las figuras literarias más emblemáticas y representativas del siglo XX.
Cost-effective phytohormone extraction of Sargassum swartzii from the Persian Gulf using Magnetic Ionic Liquid
Authors: Rajabiyan Ali , Ahmady Amanollah Zarei , Izadi Mohammad , Kardani Fatemeh
Published: October 2024

Introduction
Algae extracts are applicable as biofertilizers instead of chemical fertilizers in agriculture. Algae have a high content of plant hormones such as Gibberellin, Salicylic acid, Abscisic Acid, and Brassinosteroids are available in algae.
Objective
The main objective of this study is to increase the extraction yield and simultaneously extraction of hormones required for plant growth from Sargassum swartzii using Magnetic recoverable ionic liquid (IL).
Methods
Extraction is done by acidic digestion with acetic acid and then alkaline digestion with potassium hydroxide.
Results
The results showed the ionic liquid effect in extraction yield by 266 percent. The extracted phytohormones were analyzed by HPLC methods. High level of Gibberellin, Salicylic acid, Abscisic Acid and Brassinosteroids in improved algae extraction shows seaweed extract could be used as environmentally friendly liquid bio fertilizers to replace chemical fertilizers and could play a crucial role in organic farming on the way to sustainable agriculture. Recoverability of ionic liquid for eight times with negligible leaching make introduced procedure cost effective.
Conclusion
The reported procedure for algae extraction improved by using an acidic/primary ionic liquid environment. This procedure is economic because of the simply reusability of ionic liquid due to its magnetic features.
Eco-friendly larvicidal agent from combined plant extracts encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles to combat dengue mosquitoes
Authors: Jayasinghe susanthi , Nawarathne Madhawa P , De Silva Priyanka
Published: October 2024

Considering reduced environmental impact and high specificity in targeting vector organisms, the use of plant-based insecticides for dengue mosquito control is crucial in dengue disease management. We investigated the larvicidal efficacy of hot water, cold water, and water-acetone extracts of combined plant extracts of Capsicum frutescens (Naimiris) and Allium sativum (Garlic) against Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus larvae. The plant extract encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles were also assessed for larvicidal potential. Chitosan nanoparticles were synthesized via the ionic gelation method, employing an optimized formulation comprising 2.5% chitosan and 1.5% sodium tripolyphosphate, with stirring at 1500 rpm. The most effective plant extract was encapsulated into chitosan nanoparticles, subsequently packaged into commercially viable sachets. The water-acetone extract showed the highest larval mortality, resulting the lowest LD50 values (2051.01 and 1097.69 mg L-1 after 24 and 48 hours of exposure, respectively), while showing the significant synergistic activity (CI < 1). Nanoparticle characterization was conducted using Scanning Electron Microscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, revealing a nanoparticle diameter ranging from 350 to 450 nm. Approximately 96.10 ± 2.77% of combined plant mixture's water-acetone extract was successfully encapsulated within nanoparticles, with 90% of encapsulated plant extract released into the medium over a 14-day period. Semi-permeable sachet packets containing 6 g of encapsulated chitosan nanoparticles showed strong larvicidal activity for 10 days, with shelf life up to six months. These findings suggest that chitosan nanoparticles encapsulating a combination of Capsicum frutescens and Allium sativum extracts hold promise as eco-friendly larvicides against dengue vectors.
Elucidating the impacts of municipal and industrial organic waste components on the kinetics and potentials of biomethane production via anaerobic digestion
Authors: Qiu Yaojing , Lower Lillian , Berrio Vanessa Rondon , Cunniffe Julia , Kolar Praveen , Cheng Jay , Sagues William Joe
Published: October 2024

Extensive biomass characterization, biomethane potential reactions, and kinetic modeling was performed on a variety of municipal and industrial organic wastes to elucidate the effects of individual biomass components on the kinetics and total production of biomethane via mesophilic anaerobic digestion. Municipal solid waste with high cellulose, lipid, and starch contents achieved the highest cumulative methane production of 526 mL/g-VS, but had the longest lag phase due to the high lignin content. Vinassse residue from industrial ethanol production exhibited the lowest cumulative methane production of 302 mL/g-VS, likely due to the low cellulose and lipid contents as well as the high percentage of impurities including potassium. Despite having the 3rd highest volatile solids, Vinasse had the lowest total methane production. The two feedstocks with the lowest ash contents had the highest cumulative methane productions, highlighting the potential importance of ash in methane productivity. Kinetic modeling revealed that the Modified Logistic model best fit methane production from the municipal solid waste materials, which exhibited lag phases. The First-order and Modified Gompertz models best fit the industrial waste materials, which exhibited minimal lag phases. Overall, the Modified Gompertz was found to be the most powerful kinetic model for a variety of feedstock compositions.
Engineered Oxygen Vacancies in NiCo2O4/BiOI Heterostructures for Enhanced Photocatalytic Pollutant Degradation
Authors: Thirugnanam Bavani , Mani Preeyanghaa , Almutairi Bader O. , Sathishkumar Kuppusamy , Settu Munusamy
Published: October 2024

To address the bottleneck issue of poor carrier separation and transfer efficiency in NiCo2O4 photocatalyst, a novel 1D/2D-rod on rose like NiCO2O4/BiOI nanohybrid with abundant OV’s was successfully synthesized using a single step hydrothermal method and employed to the photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The study revealed that the optimized NiCo2O4-OV/BiOI hybrid could possess superior photocatalytic degradation efficiency towards RhB degradation under visible light with rate constant that was 3.8 and 3.03 times greater than that of BiOI and NiCo2O4-OV. Experimental findings indicated that the formation NiCo2CO4-OV/BiOI heterojunction significantly improved the charge separation efficiency and facilitated the formation of surface OV’s. These OV’s enhanced photogenerated e--h+ separation and increased catalytic efficiency. Quenching experiments results confirmed that both holes and superoxide radicals are playing crucial roles in the degradation process. Thus, an oxygen vacancy and engineering NiCo2CO4-OV/BiOI heterojunction enhanced degradation mechanism was proposed, offering insights for the integration of advanced oxidation technologies and the development of catalytic materials to enhance pollutant degradation efficiency.
Zonation of aquatic plant communities along the flooding gradient in subtropical wetlands
Authors: Silveira Francieli Peter da , Silveira Filipe Ferreira da , Porto Ana Boeira , Saraiva Daniel Dutra , Overbeck Gerhard Ernst , Moço Maria Cecília de Chiara
Published: October 2024

Aquatic plants play a crucial role in wetlands, and understanding distribution patterns and species composition can be valuable for several purposes. Here, we assessed aquatic plant distribution along a flooding gradient in the transition region between terrestrial and aquatic environments within a wetland complex. We investigated the presence of distinct zones in terms of species richness, composition (beta diversity), and life forms. We established transects along the shoreline, and defined three zones along each transect: floodable zone (zone 1), water-land interface zone (zone 2), and water body zone (zone 3). Clear zonation patterns were identified, due to occurrences restricted to portions of the gradient and significant variations in the coverage of species and life forms. The gradient displayed high beta diversity, with zones 1 and 3 differing significantly in species composition. Turnover explained the observed variation, associated with environmental filtering and interspecific interactions. There was no significant decrease in richness with increasing water depth. Amphibious plants dominated along the gradient. Our study highlights that the life forms inhabiting wetlands represent an adaptive continuum, ranging from plants that tolerate transitory submergence to those entirely limited to the aquatic environment. Understanding species distribution patterns is crucial for delineating wetland boundaries and gaining valuable insights into wetland conservation and restoration, particularly in light of escalating threats and the impacts of climate change.
An approach for studying the direct effect of shock waves on neuronal cell structure and function.
Authors: Hanna Michael , Pfister Bryan
Published: October 2024

Recent U.S. military conflicts have underscored the knowledge-gap regarding blast-induced traumatic brain injury (bTBI). In vitro models of TBI, have the advantage of following the neuronal response to biomechanical perturbations in real-time that can be exceedingly difficult in animal models. Here we sought to develop an in vitro approach with controlled blast biomechanics to study the direct effects of the primary shock wave at the neuronal level. An in-vitro blast injury apparatus that simulates human anatomy was developed. Primary neuronal cells from Sprague-Dawley rat embryos were cultured inside the apparatus. On day 10 in vitro the neuronal cultures were exposed to 70 kPa peak blast overpressure using helium gas in a blast tube. Incident pressure as well as apparatus pressure were measured. 24hrs post injury cell viability was measured. We were able to successfully blast injured cells without detaching them and caused a significant change in viability from a single blast. The Model also allowed adjustable level of bTBI based on the cover thickness which is an added value not present in other bTBI models. Results also stress the importance of pressure wave frequency as a significant factor for cell viability in bTBI. For the same peak pressure cell can survive low frequency wave even if they have higher amplitude.
Influence of Traditionality and Modernity on Public Breastfeeding Behaviors: A Theory of Planned Behavior Approach
Authors: Cheng Lin , Wu Wen-Chi , Hu Yihjin Jin , Cheng Chih Chien
Published: October 2024

Background
Interview-based research shows that mothers with conservative personalities are less likely to breastfeed in public. Few studies considered the effect of traditionality and modernity on public breastfeeding simultaneously. This study used quantitative data to explore the relationship between mothers' traditional and modern personalities and their public breastfeeding behaviors. The research examines how traditionality and modernity impact public breastfeeding among Taiwanese mothers, adopting the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the framework.
Method
Data collected via an online survey system included 358 Taiwanese mothers with breastfeeding experience. Path analysis was employed to investigate traditionality and modernity's direct and indirect effects on public breastfeeding behaviors and TPB constructs.
Results
The results indicated that traditionality negatively affects attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intentions regarding public breastfeeding, leading to lower public breastfeeding frequency. Conversely, modernity positively influences these factors, enhancing public breastfeeding behaviors.
Conclusions
The study underscores the need for culturally tailored public health interventions to promote breastfeeding. The findings highlight the importance of considering psychological and cultural factors in breastfeeding promotion policies.
Combined action of salicylic acid and silicon regulates osmoregulatory substances and antioxidant enzymes to improve drought tolerance and yield in dry-cultivated rice
Authors: Wang Guan , Wang Yi , Liu Qianqian , Shen Xinru , Sun Anran , Jiang Hao , Ma Xintong , Wei Xiaoshuang , Yang Meiying , Wu Zhihai
Published: October 2024

Salicylic acid (SA) and silicon (Si) protect against a variety of stresses. Our group found that Si improved the drought tolerance of dry-cultivated rice. No studies are available regarding the synergistic effect of aboveground SA spraying and belowground Si application on the drought tolerance and yield of dry-cultivated rice, necessitating further research. Two rice types with different levels of drought resistance (Suijing18 and Hongke88) were selected for this study. The optimal SA concentration (1 mM/L) was determined via five different SA spraying treatments at various concentrations. Then SA and Si were combined, which included a Control, 45 kg/hm2 Si, 1 mM SA, and 1 mM SA + 45 kg/hm2 Si to examine their synergistic effect on the morphological characteristics, yield, osmotic regulatory substances, chlorophyll fluorescence, and antioxidant enzymes of two different drought-resistant rice cultivars. The results showed that combined SA + Si application increased the plant height, root length, aboveground dry weight, and belowground dry weight of these two drought-resistant rice types. The yield of which increased by 80.70% and 77.26%, respectively. Compared with the control, while the photosynthetic capacity improved significantly, the minimum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm) values increased by 30.97% and 19.17%, while the photochemical quantum yield (ΦPSII) values were 29.01% and 29.64% higher, the NPQ values decreased by 67.55% and 39.98%, respectively. Moreover, treatment increased the soluble sugar and soluble protein levels, osmoregulatory capacity, antioxidant enzyme activity, and increased endogenous SA + Si content in the two dry-cultivated rice species. Hence, the combined application of SA and Si improves the drought resistance of dry-cultivated rice by increasing the content of osmoregulatory substances, enhancing the levels of endogenous SA and Si, upregulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and strengthening the photosynthetic capacity of the PSII system. This results in improved drought-resistant capability and increase of the accumulation of dry matter and yield of dry-cultivated rice, which produces a more significant alleviation of the adverse effects of drought stress compared to the application of either substance alone.
Identifying Discriminative Codons in Brain Data using Class-Discernment Maps: Pearls in Hand without
Exploring the Sea
Authors: Shaeri MohammadAli , Shoaran Mahsa
Published: October 2024

Conventional neural correlates are useful in brain studies but often fall short in capturing discriminative information related to stimuli or action classes, particularly in multi-class scenarios. Here, we introduce truly ‘discriminative codons’ as features that markedly differentiate neural activity classes. This definition allows us to create an efficient framework for visualizing discriminative information through ‘class-discernment maps’. Our framework generates deterministic codons with straightforward interpretations provided by closed-form class saliency expressions, thereby eliminating the need for laborious hyperparameter tuning and iterative model optimization typically required by deep learning models. Class saliency effectively captures both unilateral and bilateral discrimination while being insensitive to distant confounders, outperforming Pearson correlation, mutual information, and Fisher’s discriminant ratio in extracting various discriminative data structures. By effectively analyzing these codons, we quantitatively investigated temporal resolution, sparsity, and similarities in neural encoding. We further employed the proposed model to decode movement intentions from intracortical and electrocortical activities in distinct tasks, achieving state-of-the-art decoding accuracies of 94% and 82% on the handwriting and finger movement tasks, respectively. Our approach offers in-depth data analysis and accurate predictions, bridging the gap between interpretability and decodability in modern neuroscience research.
Soil Microbial Community Shifts in Rhizosphere and Original Soils during Two and Three Years of Ginseng Cultivation
Authors: Yang Deqiang , Xu Zhipeng , Yuan Wenhui , Liu Yunwei , Li Xiangquan , Wang Yanyan , Wang Zhibin
Published: October 2024

Soil microbial communities play a key role in maintaining ecosystem functions; however, little is known about the specific changes in microbial communities in the Rhizosphere soil and Original soil of ginseng under different years of cultivation. We utilized Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology to investigate the differential effects of years of ginseng cultivation on the microbial communities in Rhizosphere Soil and Original soil. The physicochemical properties of the soil were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the alpha-diversity of soil microorganisms showed a significant trend in both in Rhizosphere Soil and Original soil with the years of ginseng cultivation. Through NMDS analysis, we further found significant differences in soil microbial community composition between Rhizosphere Soil and Original soil. In order to visualize these differences, the top-ranked soil bacterial and fungal genera in Rhizosphere Soil and Original soil at different cropping years were depicted with the help of stacking diagrams. Soil bacteria and fungi in Rhizosphere Soil and Original soil were differentially analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test. The complex relationship between soil physicochemical properties and different bacterial and fungal genera was deeply explored by correlation heatmap, RDA redundancy analysis and Mantel analysis. Therefore, this study not only sheds light on the specific effects of ginseng planting years on soil microbial communities in rhizosphere soils and primary soils, but also provides new scientific perspectives for further understanding the role of soil microbial communities in ecosystems.
Extracorporeal shock waves effectively suppressed the proliferation and growth of colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Xiaoli , Ran Chun , Song Qingzhi , Lv Guoqing
Published: October 2024

Shock waves are widely used to treat various diseases and are garnering further attention for medical applications. Growing evidence suggests that the application of extracorporeal shock waves (ESV) could substantially inhibit tumor growth. However, the therapeutic efficacy of ESV in colorectal cancer and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Using colorectal cancer cell lines HT29 and SW620, we generated xenograft mouse models, and examined the therapeutic effect of a stepwise increase in ESV energy on tumor growth. In vivo, the application of 60 mJ ESV significantly delayed xenograft growth compared with 120 and 240 mJ ESV, with no impact on body weight or hepatic and renal function. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 60 mJ ESV suppressed colorectal cancer cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis and ferroptosis; these findings were further confirmed by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Mechanistically, ESV suppressed cell proliferation and induced cell apoptosis and ferroptosis by activating the p53 signaling pathway, as evidenced in vitro study. In conclusion, we revealed that 60 mJ ESV could substantially inhibit colorectal cancer growth by activating p53 pathway-related proliferation inhibition and cell death. These findings suggest that ESV therapy could be a promising therapeutic strategy for colorectal cancer.
Exploring the distribution patterns of thermal springsin the Jiaodong Peninsula
Authors: YUAN Xingfang , YANG Mingshuang , Li Hengmeng , LIU Luyong , ZHONG Zhennan , Shen Aodi , Xu Hailong , Zhan Rongrong
Published: October 2024

Jiaodong Peninsula possesses abundant medium and low temperature geothermal resources. Extensive exploration and comprehensive research conducted by previous researchers on Jiaodong thermal springs have yielded numerous significant insights. Improved upon previous research findings, this study examines the geological conditions and hydrochemical characteristics of four thermal springs located near the Yanggezhuang Fault, revealing that these springs share a common genetic mechanism controlled by the same fault. Furthermore, it introduces an innovative concept that Jiaodong thermal springs are predominantly distributed in a " bead-like " pattern near the NE fault structure. This discovery is expected to provide a theoretical foundation for future exploration and development of middle and low temperature geothermal resources.