Recently, due to the complex nature of cyber-physical distribution networks (DNs) and the severity of power outages caused by natural disasters, microgrid (MG) formation, distributed renewable energy ...resources (DRERs), and demand response programs (DRP) have been employed to enhance the resiliency of these networks. This paper proposes a novel multi-objective MGs formation method-based darts game theory optimization algorithm. The microgrid formation is obtained by controlling the sectionalizing and tie-line switches. The network graph theory is used to represent the constructed microgrid, and the non-linear equations of power flow and loss calculations are adopted in the microgrid formation model. To measure the system's resiliency under extreme disaster events, metrics are utilized to prove the system's flexibility and resiliency. The modified IEEE 33-bus test system is designed to validate the proposed approach's effectiveness. Three case studies are performed with and without considering the emergency demand response program (EDRP) and tie-lines.
A series of novel substituted 2-pyrimidylbenzothiazoles incorporating either sulfonamide moieties or the amino group at C2 of the pyrimidine ring were synthesized and evaluated for its antiviral ...potency. The novel synthesis of the ring system was carried out by reacting guanidine or N-arylsulfonated guanidine with different derivatives of ylidene benzothiazole based on Michael addition pathways. The antiviral activity of the newly synthesized compounds was examined by a plaque reduction assay against HSV-1, CBV4, HAV HM 175, HCVcc genotype 4 viruses, and HAdV7. In the case of HSV-1, it was determined that 5 out of the 21 synthesized compounds exhibited superior viral reduction in the range of 70–90% with significant IC50, CC50, and SI values as compared with acyclovir. In the case of CBV4, nine compounds have shown more than 50% reduction. Comparable results were obtained for seven of these synthesized compounds when evaluated against HAV with only a couple of them showing 50% reduction or more against HCVcc genotype 4. Remarkably, one compound, 9a, has shown broad action against all five examined viruses, rendering it as potentially an effective antiviral agent. The five potent compounds 9a, 9b, 14b, 14g, and 14h against HSV-1 have also presented inhibitory activity against the Hsp90α protein with IC50 in the range of 4.87–10.47 μg/mL. Interestingly, a combination of the potent synthesized compounds with acyclovir led to IC50 values lower than that of acyclovir alone. The potent compounds 9a, 9b, 14b, 14g, and 14h were also docked inside the active site of Hsp90α to assess the interaction pattern between the tested compounds and the active site of the protein.
The postharvest life of cut flowers is limited, which is a major challenge and varies greatly depending on plant varieties, cut flower stage, flower length of the harvested shoots, and storage ...conditions including postharvest treatments. As a result, improving the vase life and quality of cut flowers in regulating postharvest characteristics and overcoming these challenges is critical to the horticulture business. Novel engineered nanocomposites were created and tested for possible impacts on flower bud opening, postharvest life extension, longevity regulation, and preservation and enhancement of the strength and appearance of cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was two holding solutions (without or with sucrose at 20 gL
). The second factor was 12 pulsing treatments for 24 h; distilled water as a control, 75 ppm GA
, multi-walled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm, and MWCNTs (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm)/GA
(75 ppm) composites; each treatment had 3 replicates, for a total of 72 experimental units. In the present study, gibberellic acid (GA
) was synthesized in functionalized (MWCNT/GA
composites) as a novel antisenescence agent, and their effect on the vase life quality of cut rose flowers Rosa hybrida cv. 'Moonstone' was compared by assaying several parameters critical for vase life. The adsorption of GA
on MWCNTs was proven by performing FTIR spectroscopy which ensures that the formation of the MWCNTs/GA3 composite preserves the nanostructure and was examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The results revealed that sucrose in the holding solution showed a significant increase in fresh weight, flower diameter, and vase life by 10.5, 10.6, and 3.3% respectively. Applying sucrose with MWCNTs 20 ppm/GA
75 ppm composites or MWCNTs 20 ppm alone, was critical for the significant increase in flower opening by 39.7 and 28.7%, and longevity by 34.4 and 23.2%, respectively, and significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, anthocyanin, total phenolic content, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity as compared to the control.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The intestinal epithelium requires self-renewal and differentiation in order to function and adapt to pathological diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, short gut syndrome, and ulcers. The ...rodent Slfn3 protein and the human Slfn12 analog are known to regulate intestinal epithelial differentiation. Previous work utilizing a pan-Slfn3 knockout (KO) mouse model revealed sex-dependent gene expression disturbances in intestinal differentiation markers, metabolic pathways, Slfn family member mRNA expression, adaptive immune cell proliferation/functioning genes, and phenotypically less weight gain and sex-dependent changes in villus length and crypt depth. We have now created a Vil-Cre specific Slfn3KO (VC-Slfn3KO) mouse to further evaluate its role in intestinal differentiation. There were increases in Slfn1, Slfn2, Slfn4, and Slfn8 and decreases in Slfn5 and Slfn9 mRNA expression that were intestinal region and sex-specific. Differentiation markers, sucrase isomaltase (SI), villin 1, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and glucose transporters, glucose transporter 1 (Glut1), Glut2, and sodium glucose transporter 1 (SGLT1), were increased in expression in VC-Slfn3KO mice based on intestinal region and were also highly female sex-biased, except for SI in the ileum was also increased for male VC-Slfn3KO mice and SGLT1 was decreased for both sexes. Overall, the variations that we observed in these VC-Slfn3KO mice indicate a complex regulation of intestinal gene expression that is sex-dependent.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Insecticide imidacloprid and herbicide glyphosate have a broad spectrum of applicable use in the agricultural sector of Egypt. Their ability to induce in vitro cytotoxic and oxidative stress on ...normal human cells (prostate epithelial WPM-Y.1 cell line) was evaluated with the methyl tetrazolium test (MTT) and histopathological investigation. Cell viability was evaluated with an MTT test for 24 h. The median inhibition concentration (IC50) values were 0.023 and 0.025 mM for imidacloprid and glyphosate, respectively. Sublethal concentrations: 1/10 and 1/50 of IC50 and IC50 levels significantly induced an increase in the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level compared with the untreated cells. Rapid decrease in the glutathione (GSH) content and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was induced. Significant increases were recorded in activities of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione reductase (GR), respectively, compared with the control group. Transmission electron microscopic (TEM) investigation showed significant defects in the cells following pesticide treatments for 24 h. Therefore, it is concluded that imidacloprid and glyphosate are very toxic in vitro assays and able to induce apoptotic effects as well as oxidative stress. So, these findings provide a scenario of multibiomarkers to achieve the imposed risks of pesticides at low doses.
The Kyzyl-Kum Desert extends over an area of 300,000 Km
2
, in the region bordering Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan and is mainly covered by sand dunes. The Kyzyl-Kum desert is also known for ...its large deposits of minerals of economic interests, the exploitation of which is affecting the local ecosystem and increasing the desertification. We examined the bacterial biodiversity of surface sand samples from several sites from the Kyzyl-Kum desert using pyrosequencing of PCR amplified bacterial 16S rRNA genes from total extracted soil DNA. We also examined several physicochemical parameters of the sand samples to investigate any possible correlations between bacterial community structure and environmental drivers. The predominant bacterial phyla present in the samples were found to belong to members of the
Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria
and
Bacteroidetes.
The most abundant genera in our samples were found to belong to the
Arthrobacter, Adhaeribacter
and
Roseomonas
genera. We found that the relative abundance of members belonging to the
Actinobacteria
phylum, commonly found in desertic areas, increase in abundance in sites with higher content of organic matter and sulfur, whereas members of the
Proteobacteria
and
Bacteroidetes
phyla seems to diminish in abundance in coarse silt and fine-grained soils and those rich in magnesium, suggesting that those parameters might influence the bacterial community composition in this desertic area. This study is the first to provide new insights into the prokaryotic community composition from this unusual desert site.
BACKGROUND: Chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are considered a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, although data from Africa are limited. This study aimed to determine the ...prevalence and determinants of CRDs in Khartoum, Sudan.METHODS: Data were
collected from 516 participants aged ≥40 years, who had completed a questionnaire and undertook pre- and post-bronchodilator spirometry testing. Trained field workers administered the questionnaires and conducted spirometry. Survey-weighted prevalence of respiratory symptoms and spirometric
abnormalities were estimated. Regression analysis models were used to identify risk factors for chronic lung diseases.RESULTS: Using the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988-1994 (NHANES III) reference equations, the prevalence of chronic airflow obstruction
(CAO) was 10%. The main risk factor was older age, 60-69 years (OR 3.16, 95% CI 1.20-8.31). Lower education, high body mass index and a history of TB were also identified as significant risk factors. The prevalence of a low forced vital capacity (FVC) using NHANES III was 62.7%
(SE 2.2) and 11.3% (SE 1.4) using locally derived values.CONCLUSION: The prevalence of spirometric abnormality, mainly low FVC, was high, suggesting that CRD is of substantial public health importance in urban Sudan. Strategies for the prevention and control of these problems are
needed.
The use of mixtures of pesticides and consecutive pesticide applications challenge current regulations aimed at protecting ecosystem health due to unpredictable effects of complex and dynamic ...mixtures. In this study, we tested the ecotoxicological effects of mixtures of herbicides, applied following a real application scheme of soybean production on soil health in a mesocosm experiment. The experiment included two sequential applications; first, glyphosate + dicamba + clethodim, and 30 days later, flumioxazin + metolachlor. Commercial products were used at the recommended doses and at two other concentrations: half and double the recommended dose. Soybean plants were exposed to the herbicide-contaminated soil from the time of sowing to the beginning of pod formation. Half of the plants were harvested at the vegetative stage and the remaining plants at the reproductive stage to evaluate endpoints related to plant support and nutrient cycling. Plant biomass was significantly affected during the vegetative stage at the recommended and double the recommended dose, with the effects being mixture-dose dependent. Lower total and arbuscular colonization of mycorrhizas were also observed in double the recommended dose, and intermediate results were observed for the recommended dose. Nodule mass and phosphorous concentration in plants decreased with increasing herbicide doses. By the end of the experiment, nodule mass and total mycorrhizal colonization were low in the plants treated with double the recommended dose of herbicides. However, both endpoints reached similar values to the control at lower herbicide doses. Plant height and phenology were only lower at double the recommended dose during the experiment. The use of non-standard endpoints evidenced that important soil functions were transiently or permanently affected, while the realistic application scheme accounted for the impact of the management practice currently used. Pesticide risk assessment should therefore, incorporate both issues to effectively protect the ecosystems.
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•Effects of herbicide mixtures on soil health under field conditions.•Effect on non-standard endpoints related to nutrient cycling and plant support.•Herbicides affect plant growth and symbiotic processes at the vegetative stage.•Higher doses of mixtures permanently reduce nodulation and mycorrhization.•Both transient and permanent effects have negative consequences for agroecosystems.
Large volumes of pesticides are applied every year to support agricultural production. The intensive use of pesticides affects soil quality and health, but soil surveys on pesticide residues are ...scarce, especially for northern Europe. We investigated the occurrence of 198 pesticide residues, including both banned and currently used substances in 148 field sites in Finland. Results highlight that pesticide residues are common in the agricultural soils of Finland. A least one residue was found in 82% of the soils, and of those 32% contained five or more residues. Maximum total residue concentration among the conventionally farmed soils was 3043 μg/kg, of which AMPA and glyphosate contributed the most. Pesticide residues were also found from organically farmed soils, although at 75–90% lower concentrations than in the conventionally farmed fields. Thus, despite the application rates of pesticides in Finland being generally much lower than in most parts of central and southern Europe, the total residue concentrations in the soils occurred at similar or at higher levels. We also established that AMPA and glyphosate residues in soil are significantly higher in fields with cereal dominated rotations than in grass dominated or cereal–grass rotations. However, risk analyses for individual substances indicated low ecological risk for most of the fields. Furthermore, the total ecological risk associated with the mixtures of residues was mostly low except for 21% of cereal dominated fields with medium risk. The results showed that the presence of mixtures of pesticide residues in soils is a rule rather than an exception also in boreal soils. In highly chemicalized modern agriculture, the follow-up of the residues of currently used pesticides in national and international soil monitoring programs is imperative to maintain soil quality and support sustainable environment policies.
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•Pesticide residues were frequently found in Finnish agricultural soils.•Glyphosate and AMPA were the most prevalent residues observed.•The residue contents were high in relation to the pesticides applied in Finland.•The risk assessment factors showed low ecological risk for most fields.
Abstract Several studies have shown that there is information loss during interruptions, and that multitasking creates higher memory load, both of which contribute to medical error. Nowhere is this ...more critical than in the emergency department (ED), where the emphasis of clinical decision is on the timely evaluation and stabilization of patients. This paper reports on the nature of multitasking and shift change and its implications for patient safety in an adult ED, using the methods of ethnographic observation and interviews. Data were analyzed using grounded theory to study cognition in the context of the work environment. Analysis revealed that interruptions within the ED were prevalent and diverse in nature. On average, there was an interruption every 9 and 14 min for the attending physicians and the residents, respectively. In addition, the workflow analysis showed gaps in information flow due to multitasking and shift changes. Transfer of information began at the point of hand-offs/shift changes and continued through various other activities, such as documentation, consultation, teaching activities and utilization of computer resources. The results show that the nature of the communication process in the ED is complex and cognitively taxing for the clinicians, which can compromise patient safety. The need to tailor existing generic electronic tools to support adaptive processes like multitasking and handoffs in a time-constrained environment is discussed.
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