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Phytochemical and biological evaluation of methanolic extracts as a preventive measure for antioxidant and Anticoccidial Eimeria columbae Oocysts
Background Herbal products are rich in the source of bioactive ingredients, including phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and essential oil components such as cinnamaldehyde, eugenol, and 1,8-cineole, and have significant potential for therapeutic applications that are associated with antioxidant and anticoccidial activities. Aims This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical quantification and antioxidant anticoccidial assay in methanolic extracts of Cinnamomum verum and Laurus nobilis . Methods Total phenol, flavonoid, and tannin content was measured using standard spectrophotometric methods. Phytochemical properties were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Antioxidant activity was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (ABTS) free radical scavenging assays. In vitro anticoccidial activity was assessed using seven concentrations : 10, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/mL of C. verum and L. nobilis , in addition to K₂Cr₂O₇ as the control at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Results FTIR analysis revealed characteristic absorption bands in the C. verum and L. nobilis extracts, indicating the presence of diverse functional groups associated with phenolic and related phytochemical constituents, as evidenced by their characteristic absorption bands across the 400–4000 cm ⁻ ¹ range. All extracts contained measurable levels of phenols, flavonoids, and tannins. The highest total phenolic content was recorded in C. verum (63.56 ± 0.552 mg/g dry weight) and L. nobilis (57.40 ± 6.05 mg/g dry weight). All extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity, with IC₅₀ values for DPPH (12.59 ± 0.51 and 30.32 ± 3.22 μg/mL) and ABTS (13.95 ± 0.35, 19.56 ± 4.89 μg/mL) assays to C. verum and L. nobilis . The extracts exhibited dose- and time-dependent inhibition of E. columbae sporulated oocysts, at 200 mg/ml, 75.67% at C. verum and 72.57% at L. nobilis (p < 0.05) at higher concentrations at 96 h, alongside increased oocyst destruction of ~12%. Conclusion The findings demonstrated that the extracts of C. verum and L. nobilis leaves contain bioactive phytochemicals that inhibit coccidia oocysts in vitro, suggesting a potentially effective and safe natural option for managing coccidiosis in Domestic Pigeons.
Comparative genomics and transcriptomics of rough and smooth Mycobacterium marinum focusing on ESX-1, ESX-6 and LOS genes
Abstract Mycobacteria form rough and smooth colonies. The Mycobacterium marinum strain 1218S is a smooth colony forming variant isolated from the 1218R strain, which forms rough colonies and is more virulent than 1218S in infecting fish. Genes for the type VII secretion ESX-1 system, which includes mycobacterial virulence genes, have been partially duplicated in M. marinum and is refered to as ESX-6. We recently reported that several ESX-1 genes are missing in the 1218S strain. On the basis of the complete genomes of these two and three other M. marinum strains we provide insight into strain differences and similarities focusing on 1218R and 1218S, and ESX genes, selected virulence genes, and LOS genes, which are involved in l ipo o ligo s accharide synthesis and smooth colony formation. We provide RNA-Seq data for 1218R and 1218S and two other well-characterized M. marinum strains showing that the transcription levels of ESX-6 genes increase both in exponential and stationary cells in 1218S, which lacks several ESX-1 genes. Furthermore, while there is no difference in gene synteny and sequence of LOS genes comparing 1218R and 1218S, with the exception of duplication of lsr2 , a regulator of LOS genes, in 1218S. Our RNA-Seq data show increased transcript levels of LOS genes in stationary 1218S cells relative to 1218R indicating that transcription and/or RNA degradation of LOS genes influence smooth and rough colony formation. We finally provide data suggesting that Ms1 RNA affect the transcription of LOS genes (and ESX-1 genes), and that loss of ESX-1 genes influence biofilm formation.
Think preprints are unreliable? Analysis of 70,000 studies might change your mind
Editorial Note: Response of vegetation to submergence along Jingjiang Reach of the Yangtze River
Communication-aware predictive lane-change coordination for mixed autonomous traffic using SafeLane-VANET
Can dietary supplementation with highly purified fucoidan alter growth, digestive enzyme activity, serum biochemicals, immune-antioxidant responses, and related gene expressions in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)?
The present study investigates the impact of dietary fucoidan supplementation on growth performance, intestinal tract morphology, endogenous digestive enzymes, hematological parameters, serum biochemical indices of Nile tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus ), oxidative biomarkers, and related gene expressions. Fish weighing 2.54 ± 0.12 g had randomly assigned them into five groups of equal size (20 fish each aquarium), with three replicates per group. The fish were fed for 70 days with five experimental diets formulated: T1: Control (fucoidan 0 mg kg -1 ); T2: 0.5 mg kg -1 fucoidan; T3: fucoidan 1.0 mg kg -1 , T4: fucoidan 1.5 mg kg -1 and T5; fucoidan 2.0 mg kg -1 . At the end of the experiment, growth indices, feed utilization, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal histomorphometric, hematological indices, serum biochemical indices, and antioxidant enzyme activities were significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the groups fed diets supplemented by fucoidan, with the superiority of fish fed 2 mg kg -1 compared to the basal diet. Additionally, a control diet has the highest ALT and AST compared to other diets supplemented with different fucoidan levels. Fish fed either 1.5 mg kg -1 or 2.0 mg kg -1 fucoidan recorded the higher (P < 0.05) hematological parameters as WBCs, RBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and eosinophils. A diet supplemented with 2 mg kg -1 diet fucoidan displayed the highest gene expression of the inf-γ and il-1β , while the heat shock protein 70 ( hsp70 ) gene was down-regulated. Overall, our results highlight the efficacy of fucoidan in increasing growth performance, feed utilization, antioxidant enzyme activity, and gene expression. Therefore, it can be considered a promising feed additive for tilapia farming.
Post-synthetic modification of UiO-type metal–organic framework with Cu2+ ions toward fabrication of flexible supercapacitor electrode
NSF plans cuts to core science programmes to fund White House initiative
Uremic toxins promote renal fatty acid synthesis and fibrosis via activating aryl hydrocarbon receptor
Individual differences and motives for the acceptance of cognitive enhancement: A mixed-methods investigation
Despite a long history of human efforts to enhance cognitive abilities such as attention, memory, and intelligence, the proliferation of (new) technological and medical methods—including brain stimulation, pharmaceutical interventions, and gamified brain training—has renewed scientific and public interest in cognitive enhancement, even as evidence for their effectiveness in improving broader cognitive abilities remains inconsistent. Understanding who would be willing to enhance their cognitive abilities and why is crucial as these cognitive enhancement methods become more popular and accessible in society. Thus, in two preregistered lab studies, we investigated individuals’ acceptance (i.e., hypothetical willingness to make use) of various cognitive enhancement methods, tested predictors thereof, and explored individuals’ motives to utilize cognitive enhancement methods or be reluctant to do so. In Study 1 ( N = 203), we found considerably higher acceptance for more active (i.e., more involved) than passive cognitive enhancement methods. Lower age, greater interest in science fiction, and stronger investigative interests (partially) predicted participants’ acceptance of cognitive enhancement methods, while personality traits, self-assessed and measured intelligence did not. In Study 2 ( N = 197), we aimed to (conceptually) replicate key findings from Study 1, and in addition qualitatively assess the motives for the acceptance and rejection of cognitive enhancement methods. Our findings confirmed the higher acceptance of active than passive cognitive enhancement methods. Additionally, we found that greater interest in science fiction consistently predicted participants’ acceptance of cognitive enhancement, while personality traits and (self-assessed) intelligence did not show consistent associations. Critically, these quantitative effects were rather small. Qualitative analyses additionally provided exploratory insights into the motives for accepting or rejecting active and passive cognitive enhancement methods. Across these two studies, acceptance of cognitive enhancement seems to be more closely linked to specific interests than to personality traits or (self-assessed) abilities. We emphasize the importance of studying situational factors, such as person-environment fit, to better understand the willingness to make use of cognitive enhancement.
Development and validation of an AI-driven multimodal system for assessing aerobic gymnastics training using video analysis, motion capture, and physiological signals
Author Correction: Authigenic mineral phases as a driver of the upper-ocean iron cycle
Polyvinyl chloride promotes radioresistance in hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting radiotherapy-induced CD8⁺ T cell differentiation
ProbStab: A probabilistic ML-assisted pipeline for genotype performance, stability, and risk evaluation in multi-environment trials
In multi-environment trials (MET), ignoring genotype × environment interaction (GEI) can lead to suboptimal cultivar recommendations and increased risk in breeding decisions. To make informed decisions, it is important to select genotypes that combine high yield with a low chance of very poor performance. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and machine learning (ML) enable researchers to study complex patterns in MET data, improving the screening and selection of superior genotypes. In this study, we introduce the statistical package ProbStab, which was developed to evaluate the yield, stability, and risk of genotypes in MET. ProbStab is based on Quantile Regression Forests, a non-parametric algorithm that provides reliable prediction intervals and addresses the limitations of classical methods. The package includes several probabilistic modules (ml_tcp_pipe, prob_stab_pipe, ci_perf_pipe, risk_potential_pipe). Using bootstrapping and machine learning, these modules estimate key indicators, including the probability of superior yield, the probability of superior stability, the joint probability of yield and stability, and measures of risk and performance potential. This integrated design fills a crucial gap in conventional approaches, providing a practical tool for advanced probabilistic analysis. By combining MLwith probabilistic evaluation, ProbStab gives plant breeders and agronomists a novel framework to reduce uncertainty in decision-making. The main goal of ProbStab is to support breeding programs with a clear, data-driven, and efficient approach for selecting stable and high-yielding genotypes under complex GEI conditions and to improve the reliability of cultivar recommendations for farmers.
Active chin-to-floor distance is a predictive factor for the onset of chronic low back pain
Scalable fabrication of transparent sodium calcium silicate glass-ceramics by structural engineering overcoming anisotropy barriers
Abstract Transparent glass-ceramics with high crystallinity offer many attractive optical, mechanical, and biomedical properties. However, for glass-ceramics containing crystals with thermal expansion anisotropy, excessive crystallization induces severe microcracking and consequent loss of transparency. Here, we employ structural engineering in the sodium calcium silicate system to mitigate thermal expansion anisotropy through Zr 4+ substitution at Ca 2+ sites in Na 4 Ca 4 Si 6 O 18 crystal and stabilize the crystallized high-temperature polymorph. This strategy overcomes microcrack barriers, enabling large-sized glass-ceramics with high crystallinity ( ~ 93 wt%) and >84% visible transmittance. Validated for biomedical implants (100% cell viability and bioactivity) and fire-resistant windows, the work expands the application scope of the traditional alkali-silicate system towards highly crystalline transparent glass-ceramics for advanced functional uses.
The specificity of psychotherapeutic competence: A study protocol on the development of facilitative interpersonal skills across professional pathways
Introduction Facilitative interpersonal skills (FIS) are widely used as an operationalization of therapists’ interpersonal competence. However, the degree to which FIS are specific outcomes of formal psychotherapy training or instead reflect more general abilities developed across different professional pathways or outside of any formal training is unclear. Methods and analysis To test whether psychotherapy students show a stronger stage-related increase in FIS levels than students from other fields, this study protocol outlines a cross-sectional cohort design in which FIS levels are assessed at three training stages (entry university level, end of bachelor, end of master) across four professional pathways. The group comparisons include (1) psychotherapy students as the reference group, (2) nursing and (3) teacher education students as comparison groups with high interpersonal demands but without mental health training, and (4) students from the disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as a baseline group with low interpersonal demands and no mental health training. We will use linear mixed-effects models with professional pathway and training stage as fixed effects. The primary test will evaluate the fixed effects of the factors professional pathway and training stage, and their interaction. Ethics and dissemination Compared to previous studies, our non-clinical, non-interventionist design eliminates any risk of harm to patients and removes variance associated with patient and dyadic factors. Approval has been obtained from the Ethics Commission at Sigmund Freud Private University Vienna. Data and analysis scripts will be shared via open-access repositories. We intend to disseminate results through at least three peer-reviewed publications: primary analyses, secondary analyses, and a theoretical synthesis on implications for psychotherapy training and interprofessional competence.