Display omitted
•MSR101 EPS from Lactobacillus kefiri is a heteropolymer of glucose and galactose.•The MSR101 EPS has a porous structure having plasticized film features.•The MSR101 EPS showed ...semi-crystalline nature with excellent thermal properties.•The MSR101 EPS induced apoptosis by up-regulating and down-regulating the apoptosis-related genes.
The exopolysaccharide (EPS) from Lactobacilli play a vital part in their probiotic action; on the other hand, up to date, there is little data exist about the effect of EPS on cancer. The aim of the current study is the EPS isolation produced by Lactobacillus kefiri MSR101 (MSR101 EPS) and examination of structural characteristics as well as their capability to prevent the colon cancer (HT-29) cells growth. For the first time, the structure of EPS from Lactobacillus kefiri MSR101 is identified, which is heteropolysaccharide with a repeating unit containing glucose and galactose. The FT-IR and NMR analysis of MSR101 EPS indicates the occurrence of carboxyl, hydroxyl groups, respectively. The XRD results indicated that the MSR101 EPS has partial crystalline nature. SEM and AFM micrographs revealed an extremely spongy structure which suggests that the MSR101 EPS has plasticized film features. Furthermore, the in-vitro anticancer activity results suggested that the newly isolated MSR101 EPS (400 µg/ml) had satisfactory anticancer action on HT-29 cancerous cells (44.1%) and up-regulate the expression of Cyto-c, BAX, BAD, caspase3, caspase8, and caspase9. In general, the present results suggested that the exopolysaccharide from Lactobacillus kefiri MSR101 not only used in the functional food product but also considered as a topical medication due to their effectiveness against colon cancer.
A salinity gradient solar pond (SGSP) is capable of storing a significant quantity of heat for an extended period of time. It is a great option for providing hot water at a reduced energy cost. ...Additionally, SGSP is used in low-temperature industrial applications such as saltwater desalination, space heating, and power generation. Solar pond thermal performance is dependent on a variety of operational variables, including the soil conditions, the climate of the particular site, the thickness of the solar pond layers, the depth of the water table, and the salt content of the pond. As such, this study examines the thermal performance of a solar pond under a variety of operational conditions. The solar pond model is used to test the thermal performance by simulating two-dimensional heat and mass transport equations. The equations are solved using the finite difference technique utilizing MATLAB® scripts. Salt distributions and temperature profiles are computed for a variety of factors influencing SGSP's thermal performance. The main distinguishing variables influencing the thermal performance of SGSP are soil conditions, such as soil texture, types, the moisture level in soil, and water table depth. The final findings indicated that the fine sand dry soil performed better than the other soil types owing to its poor heat conductivity. The economic results indicated that the period of return (POR) of the intended system is around 2 years. The solar pond construction costs such as excavation, transportation, salt and lining, were considered based on the local prices. This modeled study extracted the greatest possible energy is 110W/m2, with the fine sand dry at 62.48°C lowest temperature. This study suggested that the climatic conditions of Lahore is better than climatic conditions of Islamabad. Additionally, deeper water tables are suggested for improved thermal performance of the pond.
An interaction between tungsten-doped diamond-like-carbon (WDLC) coatings and ionic-liquid (IL) additives under boundary-lubrication conditions is investigated. Three phosphate-based IL additives ...were employed: two had dimethylphosphate anion however, third one hydrolytic trifluorophosphate anion. In tribological tests, low friction (0.024) was achieved at 10 N and 100 °C with both dimethylphosphate containing IL additives. In contrast, IL with the trifluorophosphate anion had the poorest performance of all the ILs. Surface analyses revealed the thermal dissociation of dimethylphosphate into phosphate radicals which interacted with the WDLC surface to form phosphate-based tribofilm, which provides an easy shear thus reduces the friction. However, trifluorophosphate anions are thermally stable in given conditions and don't form a tribofilm on the WDLC surface hence show poor tribological performance.
Tribofilm formation on the surface of the WDLC coatings with dimethylphosphate anions. Display omitted
•Ionic liquid additives interact with WDLC coatings.•Phosphate-based tribofilm form on the WDLC surface by dimethylphosphate anion dissociation and reaction with tungsten atoms.•Tribofilm provide an easy shear thus significantly reduce the friction.
HIV self-testing (HIVST) is an innovative HIV testing approach that effectively reaches those who do not otherwise test, including key populations (KPs). Despite potential benefits, HIVST is not ...currently implemented in Pakistan. The high risk of HIV among transgender (TGs) persons is among the highest risk group for HIV in Pakistan, yet knowledge of HIV status remains low in this key population group. We conducted a pilot project to assess the acceptability and feasibility of distributing HIVST to TGs in Larkana. Eligible participants were 18 years or above and self-identified as transgender ("hijra"). One oral fluid HIVST kit per person was distributed free of cost in the community by trained transgender peer outreach workers (ORW). Participants could request a demonstration of the HIVST procedure before performing self-testing which was provided by the trained ORW. Demographic characteristics of participants were collected. The ORW followed up with phone calls two days later to record if HIVST kits were used, the results, and whether assistance was required. Between November 2020 and February 2021, 150 HIVST kits were distributed to eligible TGs. The average age of participants was 25.5 years (standard deviation: 7.0). Over a third (52, 34.7%) had no formal education, while (16, 10.6%) had attended at least five years of schooling. Over one-third (58, 38.6%) of participants were first-time testers. One hundred and thirty-nine (92.7%) participants reported their results within two days. For the remaining 11 participants, ORWs had to contact them. All participants reported using HIVST kits within three days. A majority (141, 94%) used the kit in their homes, and the remaining nine (6%) used it at the community-based organization's office. Overall, a small proportion (11, 7.3%) of participants requested a demonstration of the test procedure before performing HIVST. Four (2.7%) participants who had performed unsupervised self-tests reported reactive HIVST results; all were linked to treatment within five working days once their HIV result was confirmed. The majority (136, 90.6%) of participants felt that self-testing was easy to perform independently, and 143 (95%) reported that they would recommend HIVST to their peers. HIVST is acceptable among TGs and identified by first-time testers as undiagnosed infections. Peer-led distribution appears to be a feasible approach for implementation in this setting. HIVST should be considered for routine implementation and scale up to reduce testing gaps among Pakistan's key population, particularly TGs.
Textile dyes and microbial contamination of surface water bodies have been recognized as emerging quality concerns around the globe. The simultaneous resolve of such impurities can pave the route for ...an amicable technological solution. This study reports the photocatalytic performance and the biocidal potential of nitrogen-doped TiO2 against reactive black 5 (RB5), a double azo dye and E. coli. Molecular docking was performed to identify and quantify the interactions of the TiO2 with β-lactamase enzyme and to predict the biocidal mechanism. The sol-gel technique was employed for the synthesis of different mol% nitrogen-doped TiO2. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). The effects of different synthesis and reaction parameters were studied. RB5 dye degradation was monitored by tracking shifts in the absorption spectrum and percent chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The best nanomaterial depicted 5.57 nm crystallite size, 49.54 m2 g−1 specific surface area, 11–40 nm particle size with spherical morphologies, and uniform distribution. The RB5 decolorization data fits well with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, and the maximum monolayer coverage capacity for the Langmuir adsorption model was found to be 40 mg g−1 with Kads of 0.113 mg−1. The LH model yielded a higher coefficient KC (1.15 mg L−1 h−1) compared to the adsorption constant KLH (0.3084 L mg−1). 90% COD removal was achieved in 60 min of irradiation, confirmed by the disappearance of spectral peaks. The best-optimized photocatalysts showed a noticeable biocidal potential against human pathogenic strain E. coli in 150 min. The biocidal mechanism of best-optimized photocatalyst was predicted by molecular docking simulation against E. coli β-lactamase enzyme. The docking score (−7.6 kcal mol−1) and the binding interaction with the active site residues (Lys315, Thr316, and Glu272) of β-lactamase further confirmed that inhibition of β-lactamase could be a most probable mechanism of biocidal activity.
•Hydrothermal synthesis of pristine ZnO, ZnO/rGO binary nanocomposites (BNCs) and ZnO/rGO/Au ternary nanocomposites (TNCs).•Small Au nanocubes and multifaceted pentagonal ZnO nanostructures wrinkled ...on the sheet of rGO in ternary nanocomposites.•Investigation of lattice parameters of pristine ZnO nanostructures, ZnO/rGO, and ZnO/rGO/Au nanocomposites.•Enhanced sunlight-driven photocatalysis by ZnO/rGO/Au TNCs as nanocatalysts.•Photoexcited electrons of Au NPs surface migrate to the conductive rGO layers through ZnO conduction band.
The combination of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) incorporated ZnO/rGO heterostructures is unique for sunlight-driven photocatalysis (SPC). Here, hydrothermally synthesized pristine ZnO nanostructures (NSs), ZnO/rGO binary nanocomposites (BNCs) and ZnO/rGO/Au ternary nanocomposites (TNCs) of bandgap (Eg) values 3.56 eV, 3.37 eV and 3.17 eV, respectively are reported. These NSs are analyzed optically, structurally and morphologically via UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and SEM techniques, respectively. The SPC of methylene blue (MB) organic dye was considered using all three samples. The slow charge transfer over grain boundaries of ZnO results in the prohibition of photogenerated electron-hole pairs, exhibiting low photodegradation efficiency (87%). However, in BNCs the creation of alternative pathway of the carriers due to low work function level of rGO as compared to ZnO enhances the charge separation with an increased photocatalytic efficiency (92%). In contrast, TNCs show rather fast photodegradation efficiency (96%) as the photoexcited electrons on Au NPs surface migrate to the CB of ZnO because of the SPR stimulation of Au. These electrons easily shift to the conductive rGO layers and react with oxygen species (O2) producing superoxide radicals (•O2–). Thus, TNCs sample has appeared to be auspicious candidate for the photodegradation of organic pollutants in untreated water.
The current study was aimed to extract and purify the cell walls of cereal industrial by‐products, that is, maize, wheat, and barley bran, followed by their nutritional and biochemical properties. ...For the purpose, three varieties of wheat and barley were procured from Ayub Agriculture Research Institute, Faisalabad, Pakistan. Cell walls from industrial by‐products were isolated and purified followed by the removal of starch and proteins from contaminating endosperm tissue. Moreover, their sugar and polysaccharide contents wall were determined through gas chromatography and alkaline treatment, respectively. Results revealed that cell wall content is more in barley (43.18 ± 0.58, 42.43 ± 1.07 and 42.08 ± 0.13 g/50 g than in wheat (39.30 ± 1.67, 38.72 ± 0.45, and 37.45 ± 0.23 g/50 g) and maize (34.00 ± 0.08, 34.56 ± 0.39, and 33.76 ± 1.21 g/50 g). Moreover, barley industry by‐product cell wall has higher total sugars and total phenolic acids contents whereas, wheat industry by‐product cell wall showed lower followed by maize cell wall. Conclusively, cell wall of barley industry by‐product is more nutritious than that of wheat and maize industry by‐product cell walls.
Practical applications
Cereals are the most abundant commodities widely used in the world as staple foods. Cereal bran cell wall has important bioactive components, which have the ability to combat different life‐threatening diseases. Utilization of cell wall in cereal‐based products can fulfill many objectives including improving product quality, shelf life, value addition, and maintaining good health of the consumers. Novel products with improved rheology can be introduced in market as functional foods against various diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cancer, and bacterial infections. Cereal bran cell wall can be probed in the baking industry to enhance the shelf life and stability of the baked goods.
The detection of toxic molecules has gained imperial attention to protect living organisms and their environment. The broadly explored sensor behaviour of triazine-based C
3
N
4
reveals their ...ultra-high sensitivity towards numerous toxic molecules
e.g
., chemical welfare agents. However, another potential analogue of C
3
N
4
composed of heptazine exhibits remarkable electrical and optical properties but has not been much explored in sensor technology, especially for toxic pollutants. Keeping this in mind, the sensing performance of heptazine-based g-C
3
N
4
is explored for the detection of toxic amides by using First Principles calculations. In this context, acryloyl amide (C
2
H
3
CONH
2
), acryloyl chloride (C
2
H
3
COCl), fluoroacetic acid (C
2
H
3
FCOOH), flouroaceta amide (C
2
H
2
FONH
2
), flouroacetyl chloride (C
2
H
2
FOCl) are selected as toxic pollutants; herein, for the ease of understanding, these molecules are represented as AAM, ACl, FAAc, FAA, & FACl, respectively. The electrochemical sensitivity of g-C
3
N
4
is determined via geometric, energetic, and electronic properties analysis, whereas the photochemical sensitivity is explored by UV–Vis absorption analysis based on TD-DFT calculations. The interaction energies of studied molecules on C
3
N
4
range between − 9.09 and - 23.39 kcal/mol depending upon the type of interactions e.g., hydrogen bonding or dispersion, which are explained on the basis of Symmetry Adopted Perturbation Theory, Non-Covalent Interaction Index, and Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules analyses. The density of State analysis, Frontier Molecular Orbitals and NBO charge transfer characterized that the electronic behaviour of g-C3N4 can be an effective sensor material with a semiconducting nature and significant charge transfer. Lastly, UV–Vis absorption analysis confirms the photosensitivity of g-C
3
N
4
upon interaction with toxic molecules.
The classification of medical images is crucial in the biomedical field, and despite attempts to address the issue, significant challenges persist. To effectively categorize medical images, ...collecting and integrating statistical information that accurately describes the image is essential. This study proposes a unique method for feature extraction that combines deep spatial characteristics with handmade statistical features. The approach involves extracting statistical radiomics features using advanced techniques, followed by a novel handcrafted feature fusion method inspired by the ResNet deep learning model. A new feature fusion framework (FusionNet) is then used to reduce image dimensionality and simplify computation. The proposed approach is tested on MRI images of brain tumors from the BraTS dataset, and the results show that it outperforms existing methods regarding classification accuracy. The study presents three models, including a handcrafted-based model and two CNN models, which completed the binary classification task. The recommended hybrid approach achieved a high F1 score of 96.12 ± 0.41, precision of 97.77 ± 0.32, and accuracy of 97.53 ± 0.24, indicating that it has the potential to serve as a valuable tool for pathologists.
Background
The armyworms,
Spodoptera exigua
(Hübner), and
S. litura
(Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) are polyphagous pests of many cash crops. Heavy crop losses have been reported for the fruit ...and vegetable crops each year owing to the diverse impact on global economies. The present study was aimed to sort out a novel method of pest control using the insect’s own nucleopolyhedrosis virus (NPV) alone and in combination with a new chemistry insecticide chlorantraniliprole.
Results
In the study, the effect of indigenous isolated nucleopolyhedrovirus (NPV) and the chemical insecticide (chlorantraniliprole) formulations against the 2nd and 4th larval instars of
S. litura
and
S. exigua
, collected from the different geographical region of Punjab (Pakistan) province, was evaluated. Three concentrations of the NPV isolate, sub-lethal (1 × 10
4
, 6 × 10
4
POB ml
−1
), lethal (3 × 10
5
POB ml
−1
), and chlorantraniliprole 0.01 μl l
−1
, were applied alone and in combination against the 2nd and 4th larval instars of both pest species
.
The lethal concentration of NPV + chlorantraniliprole exhibited synergistic interaction and caused high larval mortality against both instars, while in all other combinations, additive effect was observed. Moreover, NPV + chlorantraniliprole at lethal concentration exhibited decreased pupation, adult emergence, and egg eclosion.
Conclusion
The implications of using NPV alone and in combination with an insecticide are discussed briefly in this study.
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