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Oct 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2642-3146.jec-23-4568
Vyas SnehaCorresponding author
Commercial buildings consume a significant amount of energy, contributing to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. The adoption of energy-efficient technologies and practices can help reduce energy consumption and lower operating costs while improving occupant comfort and productivity. This research paper aims to explore the challenges, opportunities, and solutions related to energy efficiency in commercial buildings. The paper discusses the current state of energy efficiency in commercial buildings, identifies the key challenges, and highlights the opportunities for improving energy efficiency. The paper also presents the latest energy-efficient technologies and practices, including building automation systems, energy-efficient lighting, HVAC systems, and renewable energy sources. Finally, the paper concludes with recommendations for policymakers, building owners, and managers on how to promote energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
Sep 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-23-4660
Amel Jamehdar SaeidCorresponding author
SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription PCR (rRT-PCR) is the most effective testing system available to combat COVID-19, given the absence of any specific treatment or vaccine. Moreover, numerous SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR kits have been approved under emergency-use-authorization (EUA) worldwide. In this article, we present a comparison of important performance features among five commercial RT-PCR assays. A total of consecutive nasopharyngeal (NPS) samples and oropharyngeal (OP) swabs were collected from 50 COVID-19 patients to analyze sensitivity and specificity. The results showed variations in sensitivity among all the RT-PCR kits examined. The Pishtaz teb assays demonstrated the highest positive percent agreement (PPA) of 95.2% (40/42), followed by Covitech (90.5% - 38/42), DaAn Gene (83.3% - 35/42), Sansure (66.66% - 28/42), and Power check of SARS- CoV-2 panel (64.3% - 27/42). Conversely, all five molecular assays demonstrated a negative percent agreement (NPA) of 100% (8/8). These findings provide a technical baseline for assessing the performance of five distinct commercial PCR assays for detecting SARS-CoV-2. They could prove practical and useful for laboratories seeking to purchase any of these assays for further clinical validation. Highlights ·Compared five COVID-19 RT-PCR kits approved and available by Iran Ministry of Health. ·Pishtaz teb's kit identified the highest number of positive clinical samples.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-2780
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Italy
The inoculation of soil with a bio-fertilizer (BF), with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, characterizes a Symbiotic (S) agriculture mode, aimed at promoting the yield and health of crops through modifications in the rhizosphere as well as in the plant phenotype. The main objective of this study was to reduce the incidence of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS, involving Xylella fastidiosasubsp.pauca) that afflicts the olive groves in Apulia (Italy). Non-inoculated control (C) plants were compared with Symbiotic (S) plants inoculated with 20 kg ha-1 of Micosat F ®, through a 15 cm deep scarification, in the groves of seven farms covering an area of 27 ha. In addition to a visual observation of 484 plants, to obtain a gradation of the disease severity, some objective rapid type methods were utilized to survey the plants and soil , namely leaf pH, NIR tomoscopy of the leaves, hay-litter-bag probes coupled with NIR spectroscopy and the prediction of soil induced respiration. The fingerprinting of the S and C types of leaves and litter-bags was ascertained by means of the use of a random forest algorithm in the classification matrices. The results on the symptoms appeared variable: they were significantly mitigated in two groves out of six, but they were aggravated in one. All the rapid measurements became essentials in a “holistic” model which was able to explain over 95% of the average mitigation / null / aggravation response to BF inoculation. The holistic model gathers differential and compositional analyses of the leaf (pH, crude protein, water) and of the soil (respiration), but depends mainly on the fingerprinting of the C and S leaves and litter-bags. Two keys were identified for a successful inoculation: a high degree of variability of the soil conditions permitting hospitality for the BF with enhancement of the microbial activity in the S soil (lowering the fingerprint of the control litter-bags) and homogeneity of the leaves (with increases in the fingerprint of the S leaves treated with BF). In short, the inoculation of diseased plants with one BF consortium is far from being the ultimate remedy to mitigate OQDS in all situations. Further studies are needed, at a field level, to clarify the soil hosting capacity and to define the mycorrhizal and / or endophytic * plant * pathogen interactions, even using rapid methods.
Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-7669.ject-19-2753
C.N Angaye TariwariCorresponding author
Department of Biological Sciences, Niger Delta University, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
The problem associated inappropriate management of municipal waste to the ecosystem cannot be overemphasized. This study involved the physical characterization of municipal solid waste streams in 4 commercial dumpsites in Yenagoa Metropolis, using the quartile estimate method. Results showed that out of a total mass of 79.82kg; the individual mass composition was reported for garbage (food) waste 33.32 (39%), paper waste 14.90 kg (40.82%), plastic waste 5.12 kg (6%), nylon 11.01kg (13%), metal 4.31 kg (5%), wood 2.29 kg (3%), electronic 5.69 kg (7%), glass/ceramic 3.48 kg (4%) and unclassified waste whose mass was 4.62kg (5%). Disposal of untreated and unsegregated/uncharacterized waste adverse effect to the environment. It is hereby recommended that the populace to desist from illicit disposal of waste stream. In addition all stakeholders and Government in particular should formulate policies the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste stream.
Dec 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2430
P. Richie Jr JohnCorresponding author
Department of Public Health Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033
Introduction: Analysis of 8-oxodG is usually conducted by either chromatography-based methods or by immunochemical methods commonly used based upon their low cost and high-throughput. However, concern regarding the accuracy of ELISA methods has complicated their use. We directly compare the levels of urinary 8-oxodG obtained by HPLC-MS/MS with three commercially available ELISA kits in this report. Methods: In the current study, a total of 9 human urine samples were analyzed by LC-MS/MS and three commonly used commercial available ELISA kits. Results: We found that urinary 8-oxodG levels analyzed by HPLC-MS/MS [1.4 ± 0.3 nmol/mmol creatinine) were 7.6- to 23.5-fold lower than those detected by ELISA. Overall, the correlations between ELISA and HPLC-MS/MS were poor but were improved after SPE purification for kits from ENZO (P = 0.2817 without SPE; P = 0.0086 with SPE) and Abcam (P = 0.0596 without SPE; P = 0.0473 with SPE). Discussion and Conclusion: While we confirmed that SPE purification can improve the correlation between the selected ELISA kits and HPLC-MS/MS, HPLC-MS/MS is still the method of choice to accurately assess the levels of 8-oxodG in human urine.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2220
Najmul Hejaz Azmi SyedCorresponding author
Department of Applied Sciences, Chemistry Section, Higher College of Technology, P. O. Box 74, Al-Khuwair-133, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
Diphenhydramine HClis a weakly fluorescent drug having tertiary amine group forming ion pair complex with eosin Y in dichloromethane at pH 5 in disodium hydrogen phosphate-citric acid buffer solution. The complex formation was the basis for the development of new analytical method for determination of active diphenhydramine in pharmaceutical formulations. The stoichiometric ratio between diphenhydramine and eosin Y was studied by mole ratio method and found to be 2:1. The ion-pair complex showed maximum fluorescence emission intensity at 554 nm with excitation at 259 nm. The linear dynamic range was obtained in the concentration range of 2-22 µg mL-1 with a linear equation of FI = 0.361 + 13.675 C. The apparent Gibb’s free energy (ΔGº) was calculated and found to be -80.783 KJ mol-1, confirmed the feasibility of the reaction. The proposed method was successfully applied to the determination of diphenhydramine HCl in pharmaceutical formulations and in good agreement with the reference method.
Nov 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2575-1212.jvhc-17-1795
Luciana dos Santos AndreaCorresponding author
Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technologies, Federal University of Mato Grosso, Highway MT-270, no number, zip code: 78735-902, Rondonópolis, Mato Grosso, Brazil;
The aim of this study was to establish the digestible threonine (dig. Thr) requirements and the ideal proportion between Thr and Lys for Isa Brown laying hens on productive traits and egg quality characteristics from 55- to 58- and 59- to 61 weeks of age. Increased levels of L-Thr were added to a basal diet that contained 3.7 g/kg of dig. Thr. Therefore, diets containing 3.7, 4.0, 4.3, 4.6, 4.9 and 5.2 g/kg of dig. Thr and a relation between Thr and Lys of 0.58, 0.63, 0.67, 0.72, 0.77 and 0.81, respectively were provided to laying hens. A total of 216 hens were distributed in a randomized design among the 6 experimental diets. There were 9 replicates per treatment, and 4 birds per replicate. Data were analyzed by repeated measures analysis using the MIXED procedure of SAS. The main effects (dig. Thr level and experimental period) and their interaction were studied. Neither the dig. Thr level nor the experimental period had effect on performance traits and egg quality. Also, commercial egg grading was not influenced by period. However, there was a quadratic effect (P<0.001) of dig. Thr level within each scale egg weight. In conclusion, diets containing more than 3.7 g/kg of dig. Thr do not improve laying hens productivity at 55- to 61-week-old.
Sep 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2328-0182.japst-17-1714
Najmul Hejaz Azmi SyedCorresponding author
Department of Applied Sciences, Chemistry Section, Higher College of Technology, P. O. Box 74, Al-Khuwair-133, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman
A spectrofluorimetric method has been developed for the determination of imipramine HCl in bulk and commercial dosage forms. The method was based on measuring the fluorescence emission intensity of imipramine-eosin Y ion pair complex (λem = 558 and λex = 319) in dichloroethane at buffer solution (sodium acetate and acetic acid) of pH 4.8. The stoichiometric ratio between imipramine and eosin Y was studied by Job's method of continuous variations and found to be 2:1. Formation constant (Kf) and Gibb’s free energy change (ΔG) were calculated and pointed towards the spontaneous nature of the reaction. A series of variables were studied to optimize the reaction conditions. The proposed method was validated as per ICH guidelines and successfully applied for the determination of active imipramine HCl in commercial dosage forms with high degree of accuracy and precision.
Jun 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2835-2165.jfsh-17-1556
Demissew AyalewCorresponding author
Amhara Regional Agricultural Research Institute
Beer is typically brewed from four basic ingredients (water, a starch source, brewer’s yeast and flavoring agent such as hops). In Ethiopian case hops are coasty ingredient of beer which is imported with hard currency of the country. But this flavoring agent (hops) in beer production can also be substituted by locally available flavouring agent called gesho “Rhamuns Prinoide” leaf. In this study the effect of drying temperature and time on brewing components of gesho “Rhamuns Prinoide” leaf was examined using oven dryer. Brewing components of gesho “Rhamuns Prinoide” leaf were compared by taking the commercial hop brewing component as a standard. Drying temperature and time have a significant effect (P< 0.05) on major beer brewing components (Resin, Hop oil, Polyphenol, Mineral and Protein) of gesho leaf. Not only drying temperature and time but also the interaction effect has significant effect on these major brewing components of the leaf. The optimal drying temperature and time of gesho leaf was also determined to commercialize the gesho leaf powder or pellet as hop substitute in commercial beer brewers as flavouring
Dec 2015 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-2140.jaa-15-715
Kevers ClaireCorresponding author
Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology and CEDEVIT B22, University of Liège Chemin de la Vallée, 4, Sart Tilman, 4000 Liège Belgium
Since a few years, more and more attention has been specifically given to dietary antioxidants as agents promoting health and preventing the incidence of diseases. As part of these efforts, analytical methods and assays have been developed to measure the antioxidant content in food substances. In this paper, the antioxidant capacity of 17 orange juices is determined by various assays (DPPH, ORAC, heamolysis, xanthine/xanthine oxidase) as the content in ascorbic acid and total phenolics. The results evidence all the complexity to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant capacity of foods. In very general terms, in spite of the wide utilization in these tests (FRAP, TAC, ORAC TRAP and others), their significance remains obscure. The discrepancy of the results and the absence of good correlation between the assays clearly highlight all the importance of understanding the strengths and weakness of assays evaluating antioxidant potential of a food at the risk of giving erroneous information to the consumer. It is clear that the use of "total antioxidant capacity" assays for the in vitro assessment of antioxidant quality of food does not be employed by food industrials as a marketing argument or for the assessment of the "wholesomeness" of a food.
Dec 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2768-5209.ijen-24-5325
G.W MbauCorresponding author
Strawberry is a commercially important crop which has gained global significance in terms of production and consumption. The strawberry farmers have been faced with economic losses due to attack from arthropod and phytophagus pests. To overcome this challenge, management of pests is important with reduced impact on beneficial organisms and the environment. Use of non-chemical approaches as an alternative to insecticide driven management is highly gaining popularity. Identification of the non-chemical production for management of strawberry pest such as entomopathogenic fungi and botanicals is critical. The need for compatibility of entomopathogenic fungi in crop production techniques with other insecticides to enhance efficacy is required. The interaction between these control agents could be synergistic, additive or even antagonistic. Synergistic interactions usually lead to enhanced effectiveness of the microbial control agents while reducing the adverse effects of the pesticides in combination. In this review a description of the compatibility of entomopathogenic fungus Beauvaria bassiana and botanical neem in strawberry pest management is given. The experiment involved five treatments: Neemraj, Beauvitech, Neemraj and Beauvitech, Ampligo and control. These treatments were allocated in a completely Randomized design in two separate greenhouse setups one with soil and other with pumice. The treatments were replicated four times. The data was subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) using the general linear model (GLM) procedure of the statistical analysis system (SAS) program, version 9.1. Tukey’s (HSD) test at P≤ 0.05 was used to separate significant means. The combination of Neemraj and Beauvitech was most effective in the management of pests in both hydroponics and soil grown media. Pest populations were reduced significantly as follows; thrips, Frankliniella spp 2.1, red spider mites Tetranychus species 11.5, tarnished plant bug Lygus species 3.0, there was 0% cricket Gryllus species damage and 0 number strawberry weevil in hydroponics cultures while in soil culture pest mean populations were: thrips 5.6, spider mites Tetranychus species 18.2, strawberry weevil (Otiorhynchus species) 7.0, tarnished plant bug 3.0 and there was 13.8% cricket Gryllus species damage on strawberry plants.
Mar 2025 DOI 10.14302/issn.2637-6075.jpae-25-5464
R. Hodgson BruceCorresponding author
Antarctic krill is an important component of the zooplankton production in the Southern Ocean and is a major food source for baleen whales. The role of commercial fishing and predation by whales on Krill abundance has been investigated here using the innovative ecosystem-based fishery management, EBFM which maintains the krill to whale food web ecosystem stability. The literature indicates the Krill fishery may have been overfished, so it was reduced to the current annual upper limit of 0.62 million tonnes for support other predators of krill, such as seals, penguins and flying sea birds. However, recent literature suggests a moderate reduction in krill catch in the Antarctic Peninsula area due to its importance for whale migration to temperate areas. The Peninsula area catch was estimated to be reduced by about 10% due to additional concerns about climate change effects on krill abundance in the Southern Ocean, reducing overall catch to 0.556 million tonnes, moderately higher than the maximum taken in 2022. Hence, the krill biomass fishing was reduced to allow for predation by baleen whales and other predators, giving a full ecosystem-based fishing mortality similar to that previously estimated to maintain krill production in the Southern Ocean.
Apr 2024
Ma YongCorresponding author
A procedure has been developed for synthesizing peptides in an aqueous solution with a reusable solid phase. Specifically designed linker molecule is employed to attach peptides to hydrophilic solid phases, enabling Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis (SPPS) in aqueous solutions. The linker molecule is utilized to connect peptides to an anionic exchange resin during peptide synthesis in an aqueous solution. The general structure of the linker molecule is Fmoc-AA-CH2-Ph-Rx-SO3-, the Fmoc (9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl) group serves as a protecting group for amino acids. Amino acids (AA) are linked to the solid phase through a structure of Methoxyphenylcarbonyl group, which is cleavable under strong acidic conditions. The sulfate group is present for forming an ionic bond with the solid resin in an aqueous solution. In this procedure, Fmoc-AA are utilized as building blocks for sequentially adding amino acids in peptide synthesis. Due to Fmoc-AA poor solubility in aqueous solutions, a procedure was developed to enhance the solubility of hydrophobic compounds, with a specific emphasis on dissolving Fmoc-protected Amino Acids (Fmoc-AA) in an aqueous solution. This enhancement facilitates SPPS in aqueous conditions with Fmoc-AA as building blocks. Cationic exchange resin, which is reusable, serves as the solid phase. Our research objective is to shift from the use of organic solvents to an aqueous system while maintaining the existing SPPS practices in organic solvents as closely as possible. This transition involves minimal alterations, maintaining consistency with the organic solvent system, except for the utilization of novel peptide linker molecule to hydrophilic solid resins that are commercially available. This approach is designed to facilitate a more readily acceptable transition for the peptide synthesis industry from using organic solvents to aqueous solution, contributing to greener and more sustainable synthetic methodologies.
Jan 2024 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-23-4802
Fatema AkterCorresponding author
The host's health may benefit from the probiotic microorganisms found in many products available on the market. In addition to food, these products include dietary supplements, food for special medical purposes, medicines, cosmetics, and medical devices. These products have anywhere from one to a dozen strains of bacteria from the same or different species, and sometimes they also have strains of fungi. Since the health benefits of probiotics depend on the strain, the number of cells in a dose, and the absence of pathogenic microorganisms, it is crucial to regulate the quality of probiotics. Depending on how a product is classified, how it looks, and how many microorganisms it has, it is very important to count and identify the microorganisms correctly. We investigated nine probiotic products in this study: five commercially available probiotic supplements and four probiotic drinks. The majority of commercial products did not contain all of the labeled lactic acid bacteria, nor did they contain any possibly harmful microorganisms. To ensure that consumers in Bangladesh obtain good products, probiotic-containing product rules and regulations should be developed. Furthermore, it should be the duty of probiotics-containing product manufacturers to provide consumers with information that is accurate, reliable, and compliant with legal and scientific requirements
Oct 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-23-4463
Haroun M. Adam AbubakerCorresponding author
Genotype by environment (GE) interaction is considered to be among the major factors limiting the efficiency of breeding programs.Five chickpea genotypes were evaluated to study their adaptability and stability in eight environments of Sudan. The experiments were carried out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications in four locations in over two years (2017/2018 and 2018/2019).Stability was estimated using additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model.A Combined analysis of variance showed significant effects of genotypes, locations, years and their interactions on seed yield. Mean seed yield ranged between 1.88 and 1.45 t ha-1 for the genotypes FLIP 08-59 C and FLIP 09-187 C, respectively. The genotype FLIP 08-59 C gave the highest average seed yield and out-yielded the two checks, Shiekh Mohamed and Burgeig by 9.5% and 10.1%, respectively. The newly introduced (FLIP 08-59 C) showed non- significant differences in earliness as compared to the other two standard checks resistant to fusarium wilt disease and with good seed weight. The statistical analysis showed that genotype (G), environment (E) and their interaction (GEI) had highly significant (P ≤ 0.001) effect on seed yield. It also revealed that environmental differences accounted for 90.2% of the total variation. The results of data analysis displayed that the percentages of seed yield by environment, genotype and genotype environment interaction were 90.2%, 3.6% and 6.3%, respectively. The IPCA 1 and IPCA 2 axes (Principal Components) were highly significant P ≤ 0.001). The model for seed chickpea yield stability (the Additive Main Effect and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model) showed that the G1 (FLIP 08-59 C) was adapted, high yielding and considered as stable genotype for Gezira, River Nile and Northern States of Sudan. In addition, this genotype is early flowering with non-significant differences in earliness as compared to the two checks and with good seed weight. Therefore, the above mentioned genotype FLIP 08-59 C could be recommended as commercially stable and high yielding cultivar and/or incorporated as breeding stocks in any future breeding programs aiming to produce high yielding genotypes of chickpea.
Jul 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-23-4606
B. McCarty LambertCorresponding author
St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum (Walt.) Kuntze) generally has poor cold tolerance yet good to excellent shade tolerance. As mostly hot summers follow cold winters in USDA Hardiness Zone 7, severely damaging tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) and centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides (Munro) Hack.), a St. Augustinegrass cultivar cold tolerant enough to be grown for shady lawns would greatly benefit home owners, recreational sites, and sod growers in the “transition zone.” Eight St. Augustinegrass samples were selected, including industry standards ‘Raleigh’ and ‘Palmetto’, plus ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) for further testing from an established germplasm collection of material collected from lawns grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 7. Overall, based on 8-week greenhouse studies, the experimental lines had similar shade tolerance compared to commercial standards ‘Raleigh’ ‘Palmetto’ and ‘Palisades’ zoysiagrass. Field studies may be warranted to validate greenhouse studies to help further evaluate shade tolerance of experimental and commercial lines. Information generated supports the use of certain St. Augustinegrass selection in a wider environmental conditions such as reduced light environments (RLE).
Feb 2023 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-22-4403
E. A. Hamza FatihCorresponding author
The major a biotic stresses affecting chickpea production are high and low temperature, drought and salinity. Heat stress is a major a biotic stress factor, constraining chickpea production worldwide. This study was conducted to identifying chickpea genotypes combining heat tolerance and high yield potential and to study correlation among the heat tolerance indices. The genotypes were tested under different field-growing conditions, normal sown (non – heat stress) and late sown (heat stress) at two locations, Merowe and Gezira during winter season 2018/2019. The trials were laid out in alpha lattice design with three replications. Eight heat tolerance indices, which were most frequently used in plant breeding including, geometric mean productivity (GMP), yield index (YI), mean productivity (MP), stress susceptibility index (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI), tolerance index (TOL), sensitivity heat index (SHI) and relative heat index (RHI) were calculated based on seed yield under heat stress (Ys) and non – heat stress (Yp) conditions. Under both environments, the results from combined analysis of variance showed that there were highly significant differences among the genotypes for all traits studies. There were highly significant differences observed among the tested chickpea genotypes response to heat stress. Seed yield in stress (Ys) condition was positive and highly significant correlated with geometric mean productivity, yield index, stress tolerance index and relative heat index. The Ys was negative and highly significant correlated with stress susceptibility index and sensitivity heat index. Seed yield in non-stress (Yp) condition was positive and significant correlated with geometric mean productivity, yield index, stress tolerance index and tolerance index. The results of this research showed that the six indices, GMP, YI, SSI, STI, SHI and RHI can be used as optimal indicators for screening heat tolerant chickpea genotypes. Nine genotypes including four released improved varieties (Shiekh Mohamed, Wad Hamid, Salwa and Hwata) and five genotypes (no. 11, 4, 26, 30 and 34) are most stable chickpea genotypes for heat tolerance and can be further used in breeding program. These genotypes can be used in the chickpea national breeding program to develop varieties with improved heat tolerance in Sudan. Genotype no. 11 (FLIP 08-59 C) was release by Sudan national variety release committee for commercial production under the name Elbarkal in September 2022 to will be grown in Gezira, River Nile and Northern States of Sudan.
Aug 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2835-2165.jfsh-22-4263
Mazhar WaqarCorresponding author
Pakistan
In Pakistan, production of poultry has been evolved as a good alternate of beef and mutton. In this study multiplex PCR approaches were adopted to differentiate and detect avian mycoplasma in a single PCR reaction as a step forward in the economization of PCR detection. From the total of 25 samples, 25 (100%) had a positive Mycoplasma isolation result. The biochemical test yielded the highest number of isolations, with MG accounting for 10/25. Commercial DNA-based PCR kits have been developed as a result of recent advancements in diagnostic techniques for Mycoplasma infections. Tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, tilmicosin, tylosin, spiramycin Infections should be reduced as much as possible.
Dec 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-20-3406
Petchimuthu PriyaCorresponding author
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil
Calocybe indica, a tropical edible mushroom and it is popular because it has good nutritive value and it can be cultivated commercially on a large scale. Mushrooms are in the great demand everywhere and hold a unique place in the world today due to their typical taste and rich in protein, vitamins, minerals. Other than nutritional value, it is also playing a major role in medicinal field. Milky mushroom is known to have anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effect. Paddy in particular used as a substrate in Milky mushroom considered as inexpensive and it is a popular variety among people because of its distinct flavor, higher protein content and shorter cropping duration compared to other cultivated mushrooms. The present study designed to explain how the mushroom was cultivated using paddy straw in India.
Oct 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2576-6694.jbbs-20-3517
S.U. DOSSOU CamilleCorresponding author
Laboratoire de Recherche en Biologie Appliquée, Ecole Polytechnique d’Abomey-Calavi (EPAC), University of Abomey-Calavi, 01 BP 2009 Cotonou, Benin.
Background of the Study African countries are facing frequent blackout. Thus in sub Saharan region, due to frequent power cut, the laboratory professionals find sometimes difficulty to carry out earlier diverse diagnostic tests. Objective The aim of this work is to evaluate the feasibility of enzyme immunoassay tests in the absence of a conventional source of electricity. Methods We developed a battery-powered experimental device, which was then applied to diagnose measles. The samples included 45 sera randomly selected from non-haemolysed serum samples received and stored at the National Public Health Laboratory of Benin. The experimental device is composed of two devices (Devices 1 and 2). The Device 1 provided an average temperature of 34.47 °C, 20 min after starting. With Device 2 an average temperature of 20.32 °C is obtained 15 min after starting. Results With the experimental device the same rate of measles antibody-positive sera (44.68%) was obtained as recorded from the test using the standard equipment of laboratory. The experimental device detected 18 negative and 8 intermediate results against respectively 19 and 7 by the standard equipment. The analysis of the results of both equipments shows a concordance rate of 93.33% with a kappa reproducibility coefficient of 0.89. Conclusion The device conceived in our study is a simply equipment allowing the realization of the enzyme immunoassay tests, in this case the ELISA anti-measles test. The rate of concordance obtained shows that this device can be used with commercial kits and at temperatures close to those recommended by the manufacturer without altering the results.
Oct 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-20-3418
E. Ahmed FaridCorresponding author
GEM Tox Labs, Institute for Research in Biotechnology, 2905 South Memorial Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Isolation methods that employ readily-available inexpensive supplies on the open market, which are reliable, as well as economical, such as nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) based on microfluidic technology in low-resource research settings (LRRS) that meets the ASSURED guidelines are essential to develop a noninvasive diagnostic colon cancer screen in stool using micro(mi)RNA molecules. A combination of a microfluidic-based MiRNA stool test with a reliable rolling circle amplification/detection method applied to the quantification of miRNA molecules, result in an affordable sensitive and specific isothermal method for the noninvasive quantitative detection of miRNAs in LRRS. Scientists and engineers have become interested in miRNAs, and they have intensified their efforts to apply emerging simple detection tools to the important bioanalytical challenge of quantifying these small 18-26 nt long molecules. Some of the proposed approaches incorporate novel material, such as simple centrifuges and methods based on microfluidic technology, while others utilize the interesting biological properties of these molecules, such as forming branched RCA structures, allowing for the detection of these biomarker molecules at an attomolar "aM" concentration level, using low cost extraction and isothermal amplification methods in LRRS. We have been interested in studying colorectal cancer (CRC) because it is the 3rd most common malignancy worldwide, and stool can be obtained noninvasively from the patients. We have focused in this research on colon cancer (CC) because it is more common in the USA than rectal cancer (RC). The innovation of our approach lies in the exploratory use of an affordable, quantitative miRNA profiling in noninvasive stool samples in LRRS, whose extracted fragile total RNA is stabilized shortly after excretion from stool by commercially available kits, so it does not ever fragment, followed by quantitative standardized analytical tests that are neither labor intensive, nor require expensive instrumentation, in order to develop apanel of novel miRNA genes for the noninvasive diagnostic screening of early left and right sporadic colon cancers, more economically, and with higher sensitivity and specificity than any other colon cancer screening test currently available on the market. To show the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the proposed quantitative miRNA test using simple methodologies in LRRS,the miRNA results are to be correlated with FOBT, colonoscopy, and pathology data. Standardization establishes test’s performance criteria (sample selection, optimal sample running conditions, preservation and storage), in order to ensure that the assay will perform the same way in any laboratory, by any trained personnel, anywhere in low-resource laboratory settings worldwide.
Jun 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-3123
E. Ahmed FaridCorresponding author
GEM Tox Labs, Institute for Research in Biotechnology, 2905 South Memorial Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
Isolation methods that employ readily-available inexpensive supplies on the open market, which are reliable, as well as economical, such as nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAAT) based on microfluidic technology in low-resource research settings (LRRS) that meets the ASSURED guidelines are essential to develop a noninvasive diagnostic colon cancer screen in stool using micro(mi)RNA molecules. A combination of a microfluidic-based MiRNA stool test with a reliable rolling circle amplification/detection method applied to the quantification of miRNA molecules, result in an affordable sensitive and specific isothermal method for the noninvasive quantitative detection of miRNAs in LRRS. Scientists and engineers have become interested in miRNAs, and they have intensified their efforts to apply emerging simple detection tools to the important bioanalytical challenge of quantifying these small 18-26 nt long molecules. Some of the proposed approaches incorporate novel material, such as simple centrifuges and methods based on microfluidic technology, while others utilize the interesting biological properties of these molecules, such as forming branched RCA structures, allowing for the detection of these biomarker molecules at an attomolar "aM" concentration level, using low cost extraction and isothermal amplification methods in LRRS. We have been interested in studying colorectal cancer (CRC) because it is the 3rd most common malignancy worldwide, and stool can be obtained noninvasively from the patients. We have focused in this research on colon cancer (CC) because it is more common in the USA than rectal cancer (RC). The innovation of our approach lies in the exploratory use of an affordable, quantitative miRNA profiling in noninvasive stool samples in LRRS, whose extracted fragile total RNA is stabilized shortly after excretion from stool by commercially available kits, so it does not ever fragment, followed by quantitative standardized analytical tests that are neither labor intensive, nor require expensive instrumentation, in order to develop apanel of novel miRNA genes for the noninvasive diagnostic screening of early left and right sporadic colon cancers, more economically, and with higher sensitivity and specificity than any other colon cancer screening test currently available on the market. To show the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the proposed quantitative miRNA test using simple methodologies in LRRS,the miRNA results are to be correlated with FOBT, colonoscopy, and pathology data. Standardization establishes test’s performance criteria (sample selection, optimal sample running conditions, preservation and storage), in order to ensure that the assay will perform the same way in any laboratory, by any trained personnel, anywhere in low-resource laboratory settings worldwide.
May 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3363
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
Rapid analyses methods for the assessment of soil microbiota are lacking. In a commercial farm tomato plants were subjected to different fertilization strategies: 1. mineral Control (C); 2. Organic amendment (O); 3. Organic amendment + Micosat F © biofertilizer (OM). A first rapid method (Litterbag-NIRS) concerned hay litterbags coupled with a smart SCiOTM device. A second method (Foliar-NIRS) used the same device on the leaves. The plants showed positive responses to the amendment and biofertilization in the yield: C 60.5.1 t ha-1vs. 70.8 in O (+17%) and 74.2 in OM (+23% from C and + 5% (P 0.08) from O). The use of Litterbag-NIRS fingerprinting, completed with litterbags phenotyping and elaborated with a multivariate support vector machine classifier provided a similar knowledge to that obtained from microbial and chemical analyses of the soil. The reason for this response is that the analyses were embedded in the Litterbag-NIRS at medium-high precision. A polydromic function was hypothesized in order to disentangle the activities of different soil microbial populations from each other. The organic amendment delayed the functionality of the rapid r-strategist microbial populations, but at the same time activated slow k-strategists to intake the walls of the hay inside the litterbags. In this sense, the Litterbag-NIRS test can provide an effective “swamp” of the microbial fertility of the soil. Briefly, the Litterbag-NIRS coupled with Foliar-NIRS accounted for 95% of the average yield results, and both are therefore recommended for a rational assessment of microbial soil fertility.
Mar 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3260
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
The management of the inoculation of a plant’s roots, by means of biofertilizers (BF) containing arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, is aimed at inducing modifications of the quality of the seeds. It is here shown that a seed-soil treatment can be elicited in the fingerprints of a symbiotic treatment using Near Infra Red (NIR)-SCiO NIR-SCiO spectra collections of single kernels: overall, a sensitivity of 73% and a specificity of 73% have been achieved, thus suggesting that it may be possible to assign the symbiotic origin of corn from just twenty kernels, provided that the dataset is adequately representative of the cultivar and AM. A global correlation study has shown a positive general trend (R2 0.45) of quality vs. quantity, in the sense that an increase in yield corresponded to an increase in the spectral differences between the symbiotic spectra and the control ones, but the inverse was also true, as a result of the parasitic behaviour of the BF treatments. The efficacy of the symbiosis can be back predicted from the NIR spectra; in fact, around 90% of the positive yield outcome results were discriminated from the negative ones. A reduction in the foliar pH (R2 0.37) and an increase in the foliar protein (R2 0.43) were observed as immediate phenotypic signs of a productive symbiosis. The commercial raw composition of the kernels appeared to only be affected slightly by the BF treatments; thus, till now uncharted secondary compounds of the maize kernels are involved, as supported by animal performances.
Mar 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2470-5020.jnrt-20-3231
Patel NaiyaCorresponding author
University of Louisville, Department of Health management and Policy
Health services research is a multidisciplinary field which involves policy makers, health care providers, as well as quality outcomes professionals of the health services provided in an organizational setting to name some. Using qualitative research methodology to get insights of both the provider and patient experience down the pipeline can help strengthen what is lacking. Bridging the gap of translation research by not just surveys 1 might be an appropriate research methodology, however, inclusion of case studies, ethnographies might help stakeholders in the field, to visualize in depth phenomenon occurring in health services research field. Telly medicine, commercial digital health status trackr might be some of the inetrventions to improvise health care services, however, knowing what are the actual needs at individual level might efficiently help in redistribution of resources or policy laws. Recruiting for clinical trials through story telling communication technology2,3, might help in recruitment for novel drug therapies to explore possibilities, however, exploring the barriers to enroll for the clinical trials, or why the drug might work effectively in some cultural population and why not on others, can only be efficiently explored through qualitative research methodologies.
Mar 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2677
Grootveld MartinCorresponding author
Leicester School of Pharmacy, De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester LE1 9BH, United Kingdom
Objectives: Sunflower oil (SFO) is regularly employed for cosmetic, emollient and food frying purposes, the latter representing its foremost use globally. Therefore, full investigations of the molecular composition and quality of SFO products are a major requirement. In this study high-field 1H NMR analysis was employed to explore the molecular composition and authenticities of East African virgin (EAV) SFO products, particularly their acylglycerol fatty acid contents, together with those of selected minor constituents. Results acquired were statistically compared to those obtained on commercially-available, EU-approved refined SFO products via NMR-linked multivariate chemometrics strategies. Methodology: High-field 1H NMR spectra of EAV and refined SFOs (n = 55 and 4 respectively) were acquired at an operating frequency of 400 MHz. Their triacylglycerol fatty acid, triacylglycerol hydrolysis product, and sterol and stanol contents were determined via intelligent frequency bucketing and electronic integration of selected resonances. Univariate analysis-of-variance, and multivariate ROC curve evaluations were conducted to determine the magnitude and statistical significance of analyte concentration differences between these two sample classifications. Further multivariate NMR-linked chemometrics analyses such as principal component, random forest and support vector machine classification analyses were also utilised for this purpose. Key Results: Multicomponent 1H NMR analysis demonstrated that EAV SFOs had significantly higher and lower contents of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), respectively, than those of refined SFOs. Furthermore, significantly higher concentrations of ‘health-friendly’, cholesterol-blocking sterols and stanols were also found in these virgin SFO products. Major Conclusions: 1H NMR analysis provides much valuable molecular information regarding the composition and virginal status of SFOs.The high [MUFA]:[PUFA] content ratio of unrefined EAV SFO products renders them more suitable and safer for commercial or domestic deep-frying episodes than refined SFOs (MUFAs are much more resistant to thermally-induced peroxidation than PUFAs). These products also potentially offer valuable health benefits in view of their high natural sterol and stanol contents.
Mar 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2471-2140.jaa-19-2699
M.M. Masoud HassanCorresponding author
Molecular Biology Department, National Research Centre, El-Tahrir st., Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
Xanthine oxidase is a commercially important enzyme with wide area of medical applications to develop diagnostic kits. Xanthine oxidase was extracted, purified and characterized from sheep liver (SLXO). The purification procedure involved acetone precipitation and chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Sephacryl S-300 columns. The sheep liver xanthine oxidase was homogeneously purified 31.8 folds with 3.5 U/mg specific activity and 24.1% recovery. SLXO native molecular weight was 150 kDa and on SDS-PAGE appeared as single major band of 75 kDa representing a homodimer protein. Isoelectric focusing of the purified SLXO resolved into two closely related isoforms with pI values of 5.6 and 5.8. The apparent Km for xanthine oxidase at optimum pH 7.6 was found to be 0.9 mM xanthine. FeCl2 and NiCl2 increased the activity of SLXO, while CuCl2 and ZnCl2 were found to be potent inhibitors of the purified enzyme. Allopurinol inhibits SLXO competitively with one binding site on the purified molecule and Ki value of 0.06 mM.
Mar 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-19-2639
McCarthy OliviaCorresponding author
Diabetes Research Group, Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
Nine healthy individuals with a mean ± SD BMI of 22.0 ± 0.7 kg/m² and age of 20 ± 0.2 years, participated in this single-blind randomised, crossover trial investigating the impact of ingesting two different honeys (1) Tropical Forest Honey (TFH) and (2) Manuka Honey; strength 12+ (MAN) on circulating levels of plasma interferon gamma following ex-vivo lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Blood samples were prepared into duplicate aliquots of whole blood (800 μl) and 100 μg/l of LPS was added to samples to give a final volume of 1 ml. Levels of IFN-γ in plasma fractions were measured via commercially available sandwich ELISA and all comparisons were made with paired data using the Wilcoxon Signed Rank test taking a significance level of 5%. Whilst significant intra-and-interpersonal variation was observed, IFN-γ concentrations remained statistically unchanged 48 hours after the ingestion of either honey (p=0.15). Thus, in this instance the type of honey did not influence the IFN-γ response to plasma samples spiked with LPS.
Feb 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2569
Tabassum Khan NidaCorresponding author
Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Balochistan University of Information, Technology Engineering and Management Sciences, (BUITEMS), Quetta, Pakistan
Anthraquinones is a potent aromatic compound that besides being used commercially it offers numerous therapeutic benefits such as inhibits cancer growth by inducing apoptosis, relive constipation, ease bowl movement etc. Anthraquinones are found naturally in some plants such as senna, buckthorn, yellow dock etc while it can also be produced using chemical routes such as anthracene oxidation, naphthalene oxidation, condensation of 1, 4-naphthoquinone with butadiene etc. However its intake should strictly be regulated since it may cause some serious side effects.
Jan 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-18-2502
Campbell MichaelCorresponding author
Lake Erie Regional Grape Research and extension Center, 662 North Cemetery Road, North East, PA 16428
The compound 1,4-dimethylnaphthalene, originally isolated from dormant potatoes, is currently in use as a commercial sprout inhibitor. Growers and processors report a reduction in fungal infections in potatoes treated with DMN resulting in increased yields. To assess the effects of DMN on fungal growth a culture of Fusarium oxysporum was isolated from potato tubers and identified via DNA fingerprinting using the 18ITS ribosomal region. Growth of F. oxysporum was inhibited by 31% after four days of exposure to DMN but overall rate of spore germination was not affected by DMN treatment. The growth of additional fungi, including Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger, Epicoccum nigrum, Gnomoniopsis smithogilvyi, Phoma medicaginis, and Pythium ultimum was inhibited by DMN as was suppression of sporulation in A. niger. These results suggest that DMN is fungistatic at the application levels examined.
Sep 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2377-2549.jndc-18-2224
Ono KatsutoshiCorresponding author
Department of Energy Science and Technology, Kyoto University, Japan.
This paper describes the theoretical foundations for the electric power and hydrogen generator that functions with zero energy input without violating the laws of thermodynamics. This generation system is a combined energy cycle consisting of the H2O=H2+1/2O2 reduction reaction performed by the water electrolytic cell and the H2+1/2O2=H2O oxidation reaction performed by the fuel cell. This electrolytic method differs from the conventional electrolytic scheme in that if a quasi-static process is assumed, so that the theoretical power requirement is only 17% of the total energy required. This method performs electrostatic-to-chemical energy conversion by electrostatic-induction potential-superposed electrolytic scheme. If this electrolytic cell that delivers the pure stoichiometric H2-O2 mixture is combined with a fuel cell to form an energy cycle, then this may lead to the concepts of a hydrogen redox electric power generator and a hydrogen redox hydrogen generator that use alkaline water electrolyte or solid polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) for both electrolytic cell and fuel cell. In the power generator, part of power delivered by the fuel cell is returned to the electrolytic cell, and the remainder represents the net power output. According to calculations based on data from the operational conditions for commercially available electrolytic cell and fuel cell, more than 70% of the power delivered from the fuel cell can be extracted outside the cycle as net power output without the use of any external source of energy.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-18-2262
Mrudula PhadkeCorresponding author
Sr. Adv. NHM, Mumbai, India
Objective: To analyse safety, tolerability, efficacy and logistic issues related to administration of 3 types of therapeutic feeds to children with severe acute malnutrition (SAM) from tribal district of Nandurbar, Maharashtra. Design: A three arm open label, block randomized trial using 3 therapeutic feeds i.e. commercially available ready to use therapeutic feed (C-RUTF), locally prepared ready to use therapeutic feed ( L-RUTF) & amylase rich food(ARF) was given to 1092 tribal children of SAM in Nandurbar District, Maharashtra, India during 2014-2015. Setting: Tribal district of Nandurbar, Maharashtra. Participants: 1092 children of SAM, 766 on C-RUTF, 184 on L-RUTF & 143 on ARF followed on treatment for 8 weeks. Outcomes: The recovery rates in the three groups, any untoward effects during treatment and logistic aspects of procurement, delivery, storage & administration of therapeutic feeds. Results: Total number of children with SAM were 1092. Gr 1 – Out of 765 children of SAM, 404 (52.8%) recovered on C-RUTF. Gr 2 – 80 (43.5%) recovered out of 184 on L-RUTF. Gr 3 – 64 (44.8%) recovered on ARF at the end of 8 weeks of treatment, the difference being statistically significant between C-RUTF & others. Out of 38 children on C-RUTF, it was observed that 1 had diarrhoea, 1 had vomiting, 1 had fever, 4 children reported more activity in terms of playfulness, more speaking & smiling. 31 children had nothing specific to report. Out of 34 children on L-RUTF, 6 children reported diarrhoea, 1 had vomiting & 4 children reported fever. 3 children reported more activity. 23 children had nothing specific to report. Out of 19 children on ARF, 1 had diarrhoea, 1 had vomiting, 1 had fever, 3 reported more activity. 13 had nothing specific to report. Untoward effects were noted in 3 out of 38 (7.89%) in C-RUTF group, 11 out of 34 (32.35%) in L-RUTF group and 3 out of 19 (15.7%) in ARF group. Conclusion: C-RUTF was found to be more efficacious, with least untoward effects, easy to administer and was more palatable when compared to L-RUTF & ARF.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-9181.ijnr-18-2195
Benharroch DanielCorresponding author
Independent Physician, Department of Pathology, Soroka University Medical Centre and Faculty of health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Objectives: An association between the measles virus and Hodgkin lymphoma has been disclosed by our laboratory in Beer-Sheva, starting in 2003. We question the refutation of our study and the absence of interest among experts. Methodology: It was based on immunohistochemistry with commercial, as well as experimental anti-measles antibodies. It relied also on RT-PCR and in situ hybridization evidence of measles virus RNA. Key Results: At this stage (2004), the link between the virus and the lymphoma was essentially descriptive. The first and last response to our challenge appeared in 2007, in the form of doublet articles, in the same issue of a major cancer journal. The two European research groups responding, rejected categorically our findings by proposing different arguments. Major Conclusion: As reservations to these reactions became soon apparent, a series of papers from our laboratory were published. These articles concerned the evidence of a relationship between the measles virus and additional categories of cancers. Different malignancies in which this virus was not expressed at all, were also described. A further study suggested a mechanism by which the measles virus may activate lymphomagenesis in classic Hodgkin lymphoma. To our dismay, and in spite of repeated calls to verify the various results, no further response was obtained from international experts.
Aug 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-18-2264
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Torino, Italy
The management of symbiotic Microbial Biota (MB) in the soil as agents that promote the yield and health of crops, is aimed at inducing modifications of the phenotype of plants, both over and under the ground. It is here shown, in Sorghumsudanensis plants, that: i) a simple response to MB inoculation is the result of the fall out of the raw pH; ii) the simple NIR scans of leaves can be considered to rapidly classify the outcomes; iii) the raw pH can be considered a key-variable of leaf modifications. An experiment was carried out on Sorghumsudanensis. The plants were seeded in pots and grown for 66 d, and then a control non-inoculated group (C) was compared with thirteen Arbuscular Mycorrhizae (AM) Glomus inoculated groups and with two commercial MB products. A total of 374 raw pH measurements conducted on the leaves showed that the 5.18 pH units in the C group were scaled by -1.9% (P<0.0336) in the MB group and by -3.4% in the AM group (P<0.0001), with a relevant diversity between groups. Direct discrimination of these three groups, by means of smart NIR-SCIO, showed a % reclassification of the C, MB and AM groups of 74%, 59% and 96% in the fresh leaves and of 65%, 51% and 94% in the dried ground leaves, respectively. The composition of the dried leaves, based on a set of 14 variables predicted via NIRS models, plus the total foliar dry weight and percentage, showed a typical increase in protein, ash and hemicellulose, and a typical decrease in the cellulose, dry matter, crude fiber and crop maturity index. These variables were related to the foliar pH, as a key-variable, by means of a PLS standard model (R2 0.81) in which a low pH steadily favored the dry mass weight and, to a lesser extent, the hemicellulose and the digestible NDF contents; on the other hand, a high pH increased the dry matter percentage and the cellulose content of the leaves. As expected, the leaves of the inoculated plants showed a more juvenile ontogenic status. The epigean botanical modifications can be considered harmonic expressions of a luxuriant symbiosis, as testified by the homologous NIR categorization. The outlook for a symbiotic agriculture, with mycorrhizal plants, should consider the raw pH as a multifaceted variable.
May 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2769-2264.jw-18-2019
V. Zige DouyeCorresponding author
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Otuoke, P.M.B. 126, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.
The concern over exposure to drinking water contaminated and the resultant adverse effect on human health has prompted several studies evaluating the quality of drinking water sources. This study was carried out to determine the bacteriological and Physico-chemical qualities of commercial borehole water within Otuoke community in Bayelsa state Nigeria. Ten (10) water samples were collected from the various locations designated as (A-J). The Physico-chemical parameters were determined by using the photometric technique through the Colour Q photometer and the bacteriological analysis was determined by using aerobic plate method. The Physico-chemical parameters of the water samples analysed were within the acceptable limit of WHO standard of drinking water quality except for Bromine and cyanuric acid which ranged from 1.6±0.1 to 2.7±0.1 and 2±1 to 9±1 respectively. The Result of total bacteria count obtained from the borehole water samples ranged from 1.1 x 105cfu/ml to 6.9 x 105cfu/ml and there was no detected growth for the faecal coliform count of most of the samples except for BHW-I and BHW-J which had 1.3 x 104 to 7.9 x 104 respectively. Bacteria isolated and identified using conventional biochemical test include E. coli (17.9%), Klebsiella spp. (35.7%), Salmonella spp(25.0%), Enterobacter aerogenes (21.4%) The study therefore suggests that all the borehole water tested in Otuoke and environs are considered unsafe for consumption and therefore regular treatment before usage is recommended.
Sep 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2474-7785.jarh-17-1727
Akazawa ManabuCorresponding author
Public Health and Epidemiology, Meiji Pharmaceutical University
Background: Healthcare services provided to patients should vary depending on disease severity. However, disease severity bias, a type of selection bias, is a commonly encountered problem in administrative database studies. Herein, we selected chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which commonly affects elderly Japanese citizens, for the development and validation of a severity classification system based on a health insurance claims database. Methods: Patients who received COPD-related diagnostic codes in 2011 were selected from a commercially based health insurance claims database. COPD patients were randomly divided into two groups to develop and validate severity scores. A principal component analysis was used to estimate factor loadings used to weight calculations of COPD severity scores. Score validity was evaluated using a linear trend test to predict COPD treatment costs and acute exacerbation events. Results: Using records from 880 patients, ten variables were created: acute exacerbation events, emphysema diagnoses, laboratory test and oxygen therapy procedures, prescribed anticholinergic, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), short acting beta-agonist, and long acting bronchodilator (LABA) agents, asthma diagnosis and patient birth years. Factor loadings from LABA and ICS prescriptions had the strongest impacts on estimated severity scores (0.50 and 0.49, respectively). Among 300 validation group patients, scores were found to associate with increasing trends of median costs and exacerbation risks (p for trend < 0.05). Conclusions: Estimatedseverity scores would help to predict COPD-related medical costs and exacerbation events. For further clinical implementation, this classification system should be re-evaluated using clinical lung functions information indicative COPD severity and treatment choices.
Aug 2017 DOI 10.14302/issn.2638-4469.japb-17-1534
Sharma NiveditaCorresponding author
Microbiology research laboratory, Deptt. of Basic sciences, Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni (Solan) Himachal Pradesh 173230.
Algae are a class of photosynthetic organisms found in both marine and freshwaters habitats. As these organisms have a short doubling time, they are considered among fastest growing creatures. They have different pathways to fix atmospheric carbon dioxide and to efficiently utilize the nutrients to convert it into biomass. In few years, a focus has been shifted towards these organisms due to their food and fuel production capability. In fuel industry algae biofuels have been emerged as a clean, nature friendly, cost effective solution to other fuels. Algae fuels are categorized into bio-ethanol, biogas, bio-hydrogen, biodiesel and bio-oil. Algae as a food have been explored for different applications as in production of single cell proteins, pigments, bioactive substances, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The present review has been prepared to throw a light on enormous applications of algae as food and fuel and also to provide some information about different commercially available algae products.
Jun 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2374-9431.jbd-15-647
Nawaz AsmatCorresponding author
Dep of Micro and Nano Systems Technology, University South East Norway, 3184, Raveien Borre.
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that results in human body due to insulin deficiency, insulin resistance or both. In the management of diabetes, glucose monitoring technology has been used for the last three decades. The aim of this review article is to describe concise and organized information about different techniques of non-invasive continuous blood glucose monitoring. Many research groups have been working to develop wearable sensors for continuous blood glucose monitoring, but at present, there are to our knowledge no commercially successful non-invasive glucose monitors on the market. To achieve an acceptable sensor system, a glucose sensor should have accuracy better than 15mg/dl (0.8 mmol/l). In future development, continuous glucose sensor systems may become predictable, selective, reliable and acceptable for patient use.
Mar 2016 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-8572.joa-15-891
Osterbauer BethCorresponding author
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Background: Despite its expense, labor and intrusiveness, polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Recently, commercially available electronic activity monitors, such as Fitbit, have become widely accepted and can provide an estimate of sleep patterns for screening children with possible OSA. A previous study demonstrated Fitbit to be valid compared to PSG in adults. To date, these devices have not been extensively utilized for research in children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB). Objective: To evaluate the validity of the Fitbit activity monitor compared to PSG in children and adolescents with SDB. Methods: Data was collected from 14 children, ages 3 through 11, who were scheduled for a PSG during the study period. Fitbit was worn concurrently during the night of the PSG. Analyses were performed by comparing total sleep time, number of awakenings, sleep efficiency and wake after sleep onset (WASO) Fitbit parameters with the corresponding parameters measured by PSG using Spearman’s rho. Fitbit movement epochs were also compared to PSG epochs showing movement behavior. Results: Pilot data suggest that Fitbit demonstrates a high sensitivity for sleep, a low specificity for wake and a trend suggesting good association of movement measurements. Conclusion: Although Fitbit is not as accurate as PSG for determining wakefulness, it may be a useful screening device to assess gross sleep quality in children. Further studies are indicated to validate these findings.