Freely assembled palladium nanoparticles (Pd NPs) on titania (TiO2) nano photocatalysts were successfully synthesized through a photodeposition method using natural sunlight. This synthesized heterogeneous photocatalyst (Pd/TiO2) was characterized through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS), Raman and photoluminescence (PL) analyses. The simple and smart synthesis anchored well the deposition with controlled Pd NPs size ranging between 17 and 29 nm onto the surface of TiO2. Thus, it gives the characteristic for Pd NPs to absorb light in the visible region obtained through localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPRs). Apparently, the photocatalytic activity of the prepared photocatalysts was evaluated by degrading the endocrine disrupting compound (EDC) amoxicillin (AMX) excited under an artificial visible light source. In the preliminary run, almost complete degradation (97.5%) was achieved in 5 h with 0.5 wt % Pd loading and the degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The reusability trend proved the photostability of the prepared photocatalysts. Hence, the study provides a new insight about the modification of TiO2 with noble metals in order to enhance the absorption in the visible-light region for superior photocatalytic performance.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate radiologically the efficacy of guided bone regeneration using composite bone graft (autogenous bone graft and anorganic bovine bone graft [Bio-Oss]) along with resorbable collagen membrane (BioMend Extend) in the augmentation of Seibert's class I ridge defects in maxilla. Bone width was evaluated using computerized tomography at day 0 and at day 180 at 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm from the crest. There was a statistically significant increase in bone width between day 0 and day 180 at 2 mm, 4 mm, and 6 mm from the crest. The results of the study demonstrated an increase in bone width of Seibert's class I ridge defects in the maxilla of the study patients.
Duckweed, a floating macrophyte, has attracted interest in various fields such as animal feedstocks and bioenergy productions. Its enriched nutritional content and rapid growth rate make it particularly promising. However, common laboratory cultures of duckweed often experience fronds layering, diminishing the efficiency of sunlight capturing due to limited surface area on conventional cultivation platforms. In this work, we aimed to address the issue of fronds layering by introducing a novel cultivation platform - a superhydrophobic coated acrylic sheet. The sheet was prepared by spray-coating a suspension of beeswax and ethanol, and its effectiveness was evaluated by comparing the growth performance of giant duckweed, Spirodela polyrhiza, on this platform with that on a modified version. The superhydrophobic coated acrylic sheet (SHPA) and its variant with a metal mesh added (SHPAM) were employed as growing platforms, with a glass jar serving as the control. The plantlets were grown for 7 days with similar growth conditions under low light stress (25 μmol/m2/s). SHPAM demonstrated superior growth performance, achieving a mass gain of 102.12 ± 17.18 %, surpassing both SHPA (89.67 ± 14.97 %) and the control (39.26 ± 8.94 %). For biochemical compositions, SHPAM outperformed in chlorophyll content, protein content and lipid content. The values obtained were 1.021 ± 0.076 mg/g FW, 14.59 ± 0.58 % DW and 6.21 ± 0.75 % DW respectively. Therefore, this work proved that incorporation of superhydrophobic coatings on a novel cultivation platform significantly enhanced the biomass production of S. polyrhiza. Simultaneously, the biochemical compositions of the duckweeds were well-maintained, showcasing the potential of this approach for optimized duckweed cultivation.
Natural products from medicinal plants, either as pure compounds or as standardized extracts, provide unlimited opportunities for new drug leads because of the unmatched availability of chemical diversity. Due to an increasing demand for chemical diversity in screening programs, seeking therapeutic drugs from natural products, interest particularly in edible plants has grown throughout the world. Botanicals and herbal preparations for medicinal usage contain various types of bioactive compounds. The focus of this paper is on the analytical methodologies, which include the extraction, isolation and characterization of active ingredients in botanicals and herbal preparations. The common problems and key challenges in the extraction, isolation and characterization of active ingredients in botanicals and herbal preparations are discussed. As extraction is the most important step in the analysis of constituents present in botanicals and herbal preparations, the strengths and weaknesses of different extraction techniques are discussed. The analysis of bioactive compounds present in the plant extracts involving the applications of common phytochemical screening assays, chromatographic techniques such as HPLC and, TLC as well as non-chromatographic techniques such as immunoassay and Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR) are discussed.
Different diseases are observed in vegetables, fruits, cereals, and commercial crops by farmers and agricultural experts. Nonetheless, this evaluation process is time-consuming, and initial symptoms are primarily visible at microscopic levels, limiting the possibility of an accurate diagnosis. This paper proposes an innovative method for identifying and classifying infected brinjal leaves using Deep Convolutional Neural Networks (DCNN) and Radial Basis Feed Forward Neural Networks (RBFNN). We collected 1100 images of brinjal leaf disease that were caused by five different species (Pseudomonas solanacearum, Cercospora solani, Alternaria melongenea, Pythium aphanidermatum, and Tobacco Mosaic Virus) and 400 images of healthy leaves from India's agricultural form. First, the original plant leaf is preprocessed by a Gaussian filter to reduce the noise and improve the quality of the image through image enhancement. A segmentation method based on expectation and maximization (EM) is then utilized to segment the leaf's-diseased regions. Next, the discrete Shearlet transform is used to extract the main features of the images such as texture, color, and structure, which are then merged to produce vectors. Lastly, DCNN and RBFNN are used to classify brinjal leaves based on their disease types. The DCNN achieved a mean accuracy of 93.30% (with fusion) and 76.70% (without fusion) compared to the RBFNN (82%-without fusion, 87%-with fusion) in classifying leaf diseases.
PEDOT was synthesized by chemical polymerisation and characterised for its electrochemical insights. Three different anode configuration, namely graphite plate (GP), carbon cloth (CC) and graphite felt (GF) were then loaded with a fixed amount of PEDOT (2.5 mg/m(2)) denoted as GP-P, CC-P and GF-P respectively. The PEDOT coating improved the electrochemical characteristics and electron transfer capabilities of the anodes. They also contributed for enhanced MFC performances with maximum energy generation along with coulombic efficiency than the unmodified anodes. The morphological characteristics like higher surface area and open structure of felt material promoted both microbial formation and electrochemical active area. A maximum current density of 3.5A/m(2) was achieved for GF-P with CE and COD of 51% and 86% respectively. Thus, the GF-P anode excelled among the studied anodes with synergetic effect of PEDOT coating and structural configuration, making it as a potential optimum anode for MFC application.
OBJECTIVE: The aim is to find rate of return to work of surgically treated thoracolumbar fracture patients and to know if back pain, compensation issues or neurological status influence this rate.
METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study analysing the patients with thoracolumbar fractures treated surgically from January 2008 till December 2009.
RESULTS: Neurological status is the main factor deciding return to work in this group. Back pain and compensation related issues were not statistically significant in influencing return to work. 74% of patients in this group return to work.
CONCLUSION: Return to work among the patients with thoracolumbar fracture, treated surgically, is mainly dependent on neurological status and not the compensation related issues or back pain.
The world is facing a problem regarding the use of petroleum fuels that has led to a search for a suitable alternative fuel source. Researchers have come up with the idea of producing biofuel to overcome this problem. In this study, microalgae were explored as a high potential feedstock to produce biofuel. In order to produce a large quantity of biofuel with low cost at a short time, the manipulation of nutrients is a factor in microalgae cultivation. In this study, Iron (II) Chloride (FeCl2) was added to the nutrients to initiate a stressful condition during growth which contributes to the produce of lipid. Isolated microalgae species were identified as Scenedesmus sp. During mass cultivation, the microalgae cultures were scaled up to 2 L of culture. Three flasks of microalgae culture were labelled with S1, S2, and S3. Flask S1 acts as a control without the addition of FeCl2, while another two flasks acted as experimental flasks. Flask S2 was supplemented with 0.5 mg FeCl2 while Flask S3 was supplemented with 1.0 mg of FeCl2. With the addition of Iron (II) Chloride, microalgae entered a stationary phase at day 9 and day 10 as compared to the control flask which enters the stationary phase at day 7. This also affects the dry weight. Flask 3 produces 0.8658 g of microalgae powder compared to Flask 1 and 2 which produced 0.4649 g and 0.5357 g respectively. Lipid analysis was done by using GCMS and GCFID. Flask 3 produced various types of fatty acids which can be used for biodiesel production compared to other cultivates. In Flask 1, docosanoic acid which is a saturated fatty acid was detected. While in Flask 2 (S2), with the addition of 0.5 mg of FeCl2, docosapentaenoic acid was produced. In the last flask which involved the addition of 1.0 mg of FeCl2, more fatty acid was detected. In GC-FID data, 6 types of fatty acids were detected. Linolein acid, linolenic acid, stearidonic acid, docosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosanoic acid were produced at different retention times. Most of the fatty acids produced are polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). In transesterification, the fatty acid reacts with methanol and acid catalyst. The reaction produces fatty acid methyl ester. In Flask 1, the control flask, without the addition of FeCl2, no fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) was produced. However, in Flask 2 and 3 which were added 0.5 mg FeCl2 and 1.0 mg FeCl2, n-hexadecanoic acid methyl ester which is also known as palmitic acid was produced. Palmitic fatty acid can be used for biodiesel production.
This review intends to provide a highlight on the potential application of salivary proteomics in
periodontal diagnosis and attempts to throw light on the emerging salivary diagnostic tools for periodontal disease detection. Background: Clinical parameters for detection of periodontitis such as probing depth, attachment level, bleeding on probing, plaque index, and radiographic assessment of alveolar bone loss provide information on the severity of periodontitis, but they do not measure disease activity. Ideally, development and application of rapid and simple diagnostic tests based on host salivary or immune factors may facilitate early detection of patients at risk for periodontal diseases, allow appropriate intervention, decrease the need for more aggressive treatment and improve the response to periodontal therapy. Results: Studies have shown that saliva could be used as a diagnostic fluid as it is one of the inexpensive, noninvasive and easy-to-use diagnostic methods. Salivary constituents that have been studied as potential diagnostic biomarkers for periodontal disease includes locally produced proteins of host and bacterial origin, genetic/genomic biomarkers such as DNA and mRNA of host origin, bacteria and bacterial products, ions, steroid hormones and volatile compounds. Conclusion: Periodontal oral diagnostic devices will enable screening of large populations, more quickly and effectively. Use of salivary biomarkers to sample large populations will help to identify at-risk groups more effectively and increase access to treatment for those most at need, thereby, improving public health.
Workplace accident is a big challenges for a safety professional. Workplace accidents may lead from minor to serious
effects to both employees and employers alike. Accident is an unexpected and undesirable event, especially those
resulting in damage, harm or unforeseen incidents. This paper also discussed all available accident theories that are
commonly used in workplace as fundamental to mitigating accident. Throughout this paper, the author justified that a
new or updated accident theory is needed in Malaysia. The author stated that current accident theories are based on
different environments and are different in terms physical of the employee who involved in the accident. This author
also stated that technology changes is also another factor which can be supporting the new or updated accident
theory needed in Malaysia.
Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) exhibit abundant biomedical applications. Anisotropic ZnONPs with a defined shape and size were synthesized using Bacillus megaterium (NCIM 2326) cell free extract as a bio-reductant. The study investigated the multidimensional effect of ZnONPs on Helicobacter pylori strains and assessed its biosafety in normal human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSc). The highly stable ZnONPs were produced using B. megaterium and Zinc nitrate as a precursor. The phase of ZnONPs formation and structural characterization were performed by UV- visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Field Emission Scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis. Furthermore, the ZnONPs exhibited higher biocompatibility against human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC) and proved to be potentially safe in mammalian cells. Corroborating the current investigation, we described the anti-H. Pylori dosage of ZnONPs was safe to hMSC and could efficiently use as nano-antibiotic.
A Finite Element Method (FEM) simulation study is conducted, aiming to scrutinize the sensitivity of Sezawa wave mode in a multilayer AlN/SiO₂/Si Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) sensor to low concentrations of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), that is, trichloromethane, trichloroethylene, carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethene. A Complimentary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) compatible AlN/SiO₂/Si based multilayer SAW resonator structure is taken into account for this purpose. In this study, first, the influence of AlN and SiO₂ layers’ thicknesses over phase velocities and electromechanical coupling coefficients (k²) of two SAW modes (i.e., Rayleigh and Sezawa) is analyzed and the optimal thicknesses of AlN and SiO₂ layers are opted for best propagation characteristics. Next, the study is further extended to analyze the mass loading effect on resonance frequencies of SAW modes by coating a thin Polyisobutylene (PIB) polymer film over the AlN surface. Finally, the sensitivity of the two SAW modes is examined for VOCs. This study concluded that the sensitivity of Sezawa wave mode for 1 ppm of selected volatile organic gases is twice that of the Rayleigh wave mode.
Natural polysaccharides are renewable with a high degree of biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) microenvironment. Comprehensive investigations of polysaccharides are essential for our fundamental understanding of exploiting its potential as bio-composite, nano-conjugate and in pharmaceutical sectors. Polysaccharides are considered to be superior to other polymers, for its ease in tailoring, bio-compatibility, bio-activity, homogeneity and bio-adhesive properties. The main focus of this review is to spotlight the new advancements and challenges concerned with surface modification, binding domains, biological interaction with the conjugate including stability, polydispersity, and biodegradability. In this review, we have limited our survey to three essential polysaccharides including cellulose, starch, and glycogen that are sourced from plants, microbes, and animals respectively are reviewed. We also present the polysaccharides which have been extensively modified with the various types of conjugates for combating last-ditch pharmaceutical challenges.
Ellagitannins, found abundantly in berries, pomegranates, walnuts and almonds, have been increasingly investigated for their health benefits. Geraniin (GE), an ellagitannin, found predominantly in herbal plants, as well has been shown to exhibit a number of biological activities. Like many hydrolysable tannins, geraniin is water-soluble and readily undergoes hydrolysis in the presence of hot water, weak acids and weak bases to yield several metabolites including corilagin (CO), ellagic acid (EA) and gallic acid (GA). There are numerous studies on the pharmacological effectiveness of GE, CO and GA. However, the intestinal permeability of GE and CO has never been investigated before. Caco-2 cell transport assay was utilized to evaluate the in vitro permeability of GE and its metabolites. GE, CO and EA were found to have no apparent permeability (Papp) while GA displayed a Papp value of 31.3 ± 1.1 × 10-6 cm s-1. Mass balance studies showed a loss of geraniin and its metabolites during transport. Chemical stability studies in the transport buffers revealed that GE and CO were hydrolyzed in the HBSS buffers. Experiments using lysed cells revealed that GE and its metabolites were metabolized during transport. Absorption and desorption studies confirmed the accumulation of EA inside the cells. The above results indicate that the compounds have poor oral absorption. To consider these compounds or their natural extracts as oral nutraceutical candidates, formulation strategies are mandatory.
Fucoidan is a marine sulfated polysaccharide, which is extracted from brown seaweed that has a wide range of bioactivities including anti-cancer properties. However, the underlying mechanism of fucoidan on its anti-cancer and apoptotic activity against colon cancer cell line Caco-2 remains to be elucidated. Hence, the present study evaluated the cytotoxicity, apoptotic and anti-cancer activity of fucoidan extracted from brown seaweed Sargassum cinereum against Caco-2 cell line. Cytotoxicity, morphological examination of nuclei, mitochondrial membrane potential, flow cytometry, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and detection of apoptotic efficacy of fucoidan were assessed by different assay protocols. Fucoidan inhibited growth of Caco-2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. IC50 concentration of fucoidan was found to be 250 μg/ml. AO/EB, Hoechst and Annexin V/PI staining confirmed the apoptosis induced by fucoidan in Caco-2 cells. Fucoidan was also found to increase ROS production and augment mitochondrial membrane permeability. The findings of the study suggest that fucoidan exerts potent anti-cancer and apoptotic effect on Caco-2 cells by enhancing ROS production. Thus, fucoidan may be used as a promising therapeutic regimen against various cancer cell types.
There has been a number of studies looking into an alternative mode of therapy for the treament of breast cancer via 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) transdermal administration.This systematic review aims to compare the safety and efficacy of a transdermal 4-OHT local therapy and oral tamoxifen (oral-T) on the treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ breast cancer. Through a systematic search of health science databases, eligible trials were located and the end points assessed were Ki-67 labeling index, concentration of 4-OHT in breast adipose tissue (ng/g) and plasma (ng/ml). Revman 5.3 version was used to perfom the meta-analysis. Three trials were identified (n=103), while only two were included for meta analysis. The mean difference between the two studies included were 0.40 and -10.58. Overall the I2 value was 89.0%, (Tau2 =53.86) and the differences between the two trials were statistically significant p=0.002. The meta analysis of the randomized controlled trials showed that the use of local transdermal therapy of 4-OHT gel is more safer than oral-T. However, due to the limited number of studies, the potential use of 4-OHT topical transdermal therapy for the treatment of breast cancer could not be concluded for healthcare professionals.
Many microbial species causing infectious disease all over the world became a social burden and creating threat among community. These microbes possess long lifetime, enhancing mortality and morbidity rate in affected organisms. In this condition, the treatment was ineffective and more chances of spreading of infection into other organisms. Hence, it is necessary to initiate infection control efforts and prevention activities against multidrug resistant microbes, to reduce the death rate of people. Seriously concerning towards this problem progress was shown in developing significant drugs with least side effects. Emergence of nanoparticles and its novelty showed effective role in targeting and destructing microbes well. Further, many research works have shown nanocomposites developed from nanoparticles coupled with other nanoparticles, polymers, carbon material acted as an exotic substance against microbes causing severe loss. However, metal and metal oxide nanocomposites have gained interest due to its small size and enhancing the surface contact with bacteria, producing damage to it. The bactericidal mechanism of metal and metal oxide nanocomposites involve in the production of reactive oxygen species which includes superoxide radical anions, hydrogen peroxide anions and hydrogen peroxide which interact with the cell wall of bacteria causing damage to the cell membrane in turn inhibiting the further growth of cell with leakage of internal cellular components, leading to death of bacteria. This review provides the detailed view on antibacterial activity of metal and metal oxide nanocomposite which possessed novelty due to its physiochemical changes.
The anti-inflammatory property of ratite oils as well as its ability to act as a penetration enhancer makes it an ideal agent to be used in transdermal formulations. The present study aims to develop an effective transfersomal delivery of 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT), an anti-cancer drug, using ratite oil as a carrier agent for the treatment of breast cancer (BC). The 4-OHT transfersomes were prepared with and without ratite oils using soy phosphatidylcholine and three different edge activators (EAs) in five different molar ratios using the rotary evaporation-ultrasonication method. Optimal transfersome formulations were selected using physical-chemical characterization and ex vivo studies. Results from physical-chemical characterization of the developed formulations found sodium taurocholate to be the most suitable EA, which recorded highest entrapment efficiency of 95.1 ± 2.70% with 85:15, (w/w) and lowest vesicle size of 82.3 ± 0.02 nm with 75:25, (w/w) molar ratios. TEM and DSC studies showed that the vesicles were readily identified and present in a nearly perfect spherical shape. In addition, formulations with emu oil had better stability than formulations with ostrich oil. Physical stability studies at 4 °C showed that ratite oil transfersomes were stable up to 4 weeks, while transfersomes without ratite oils were stable for 8 weeks. Ex vivo permeability studies using porcine skin concluded that 4-OHT transfersomal formulations with (85:15, w/w) without emu oil have the potential to be used in transdermal delivery approach to enhance permeation of 4-OHT, which may be beneficial in the treatment of BC.
Oral tamoxifen used in the prevention and treatment of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (estrogen-positive) patients has limited acceptance, due to its adverse side effects. The efficacy of tamoxifen is related to its major metabolite, 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Local transdermal therapy of 4-hydroxytamoxifen to the breast might avert the toxicity of oral tamoxifen, while maintaining efficacy. We aim to study the skin irritancy, as well as to evaluate the efficacy of the developed transfersome formulations, with/without emu oil, using a syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer. We also quantified tamoxifen/4-hydroxytamoxifen concentrations in blood plasma and performed histopathology. The skin irritancy test showed that the pure emu oil and transfersome formulations with or without the emu oil did not cause skin irritancy in the animals studied. A sensitive and specific LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of tamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen was developed and validated. Studies on tumor volume and necrosis (histopathology) using the breast cancer mouse model showed that the 4-OHT transfersomal formulations, with and without emu oil, showed comparable efficacy with that of orally administered tamoxifen. However, the transfersomal formulations, with and without emu oil, resulted in significantly lower (10.24 ± 0.07 and 32.45 ± 0.48 ng/mL, respectively) plasma concentrations of 4-hydroxytamoxifen, compared to the oral tamoxifen (TAMX) group (634.42 ± 7.54 ng/mL). This study demonstrated the potential use of emu oil in a local transdermal formulation for the treatment of breast cancer and its reduced adverse effects.