Browse Articles

Lavandula dentata leaves as potential natural antibiofilm agents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract Biofilm formation is responsible for persistent diseases related to chronic infections. Mostly it is triggered by many bacteria, mainly Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). In this study, plants that have been used traditionally in skin infections Viz; Liquorice, Carrot, Red Cabbage, Beetroot, Turmeric, Neem, and French Lavender were selected to evaluate their antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa. The microtiter plate assay was used to evaluate their antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa as well as ability to reduce the activity of P. aeruginosa. To investigate the phytocompounds responsible for bioactivity of the superior extract and to explore potential interactions between its bioactive components and one of quorum-sensing (QS) regulatory proteins of P. aeruginosa involved in biofilm formation, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric (LC-MS) and molecular docking studies were done. The study showed that all tested plant extracts could significantly (p-value < 0.05) reduce the formation of P. aeruginosa biofilm. The methanol extract of Lavandula dentata (L. dentata) leaves is superior at 0.625 mg/mL. In conclusion, the study revealed the presence of phenolic acids, flavonoids, and their glycosides also, the anti-P. aeruginosa biofilm activity of L. dentata leaves was reported herein for the first time and could be a good source of leads for antibiofilm medicine.

Statistical optimization characterizations and Eco- friendly synthesis of silica from sugarcane bagasse

Abstract This research explores the synthesis and optimization of Silica have been effectively produced from sugarcane bagasse (SB) using the sol-gel methods. Due to its rich silica content, sugarcane bagasse can be utilized as a viable alternative source for silica synthesis. Employing Central Composite Design, the study systematically varied combustion temperature (500–800 °C), combustion time (2–4 h), and digestion time (1–3 h) to enhance silica yield. The optimal conditions identified were a combustion temperature of 583.48 °C, a combustion time of 3.482 h, and a digestion time of 2.283 h, resulting in a silica yield of 69.6%. Comprehensive characterization of the synthesized silica was conducted through Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Brunauer, Emmett, Teller model (BET) analysis and Thermo-gravimetric Analysis (TGA). XRD results indicated the amorphous nature of the silica, with a broad peak at 22.36°, akin to that of commercial silica. FTIR analysis revealed six characteristic peaks at wavenumbers corresponding to those found in commercial silica, confirming the presence of similar chemical groups. SEM imagery illustrated a disordered arrangement of silica with undefined morphology. The TGA analysis shows high thermal resistivity of silica with only 9% weigh loss at 800 °C. Overall, this study demonstrates that high-quality silica can be produced from sugarcane bagasse with minimal chemical input and energy consumption and highlighting its potential for diverse applications.

Automated detection of spreading depolarizations in electrocorticography

Abstract Spreading depolarizations (SD) in the cerebral cortex are a novel mechanism of lesion development and worse outcomes after acute brain injury, but accurate diagnosis by neurophysiology is a barrier to more widespread application in neurocritical care. Here we developed an automated method for SD detection by training machine-learning models on electrocorticography data from a 14-patient cohort that included 1,548 examples of SD direct-current waveforms as identified in expert manual scoring. As determined by leave-one-patient-out cross-validation, optimal performance was achieved with a gradient-boosting model using 30 features computed from 400-s electrocorticography segments sampled at 0.1 Hz. This model was applied to continuous electrocorticography data by generating a time series of SD probability [P SD (t)], and threshold P SD (t) values to trigger SD predictions were determined empirically. The developed algorithm was then tested on a novel dataset of 10 patients, resulting in 1,252 true positive detections (/1,953; 64% sensitivity) and 323 false positives (6.5/day). Secondary manual review of false positives showed that a majority (224, or 69%) were likely real SDs, highlighting the conservative nature of expert scoring and the utility of automation. SD detection using sparse sampling (0.1 Hz) is optimal for streaming and use in cloud computing applications for neurocritical care.

Association between TyG-BMI and early-onset hypertension: evidence from NHANES

The safety of direct transeptal puncture using a radiofrequency guidewire combined with a 17Fr pulsed field ablation sheath

Analysis of the influence of geometric accuracy on the preload and stress of engine connecting rod bolts

The role of unbalanced segmental duplication in sex chromosome evolution in Australian ridge-tailed goannas

Identification and verification of biomarkers associated with arachidonic acid metabolism in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Enhancement of transverse Kerr effect in a BiYIG based magneto optical device with metal nanopyramid arrays

Improved density peak clustering with a flexible manifold distance and natural nearest neighbors for network intrusion detection

Identification and biophysical characterization of Plasmodium peptide binding by common African HLAs

Schisandrin B targets CDK4/6 to suppress proliferation and enhance radiosensitivity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma by inducing cell cycle arrest

Impaired myocardial deformation and aortic distensibility by cardiac MRI in girls with Turner syndrome

Abstract Girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS) suffer from increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. We hypothesized that left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain and aortic elasticity will be impaired in girls with TS. Cardiac MRI of 45 girls with TS and 14 healthy control girls was performed. Tissue tracking was used to assess LV Global Longitudinal (GLS), circumferential (GCS), radial short and long axes (GRS SAX and GRS LAX) in patients compared to controls. Maximal and minimal aortic areas were measured in ascending aorta, proximal descending, and aorta at diaphragm. Regional strain and distensibility were calculated using previously validated formulas. Comparisons were made between patients with and without bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Inter-observer agreement was assessed for myocardial strain and aortic strain and distensibility. Results of the study showed GLS was significantly impaired in TS patients − 15.6 ± 1.8% compared to the control group − 17.2 ± 1%, p value = 0.013. No significant differences were observed in other strain parameters. Aortic diameter was similar in patients and control groups. Ascending aorta strain and distensibility were significantly lower in TS patients (33 ± 19% and 9.1 ± 5.5 mm Hg− 1) compared to control group (55 ± 17% and 13.9 ± 4.9 10− 3 mm Hg− 1), p values 0.004 and 0.013. No significant differences were found in aortic strain and distensibility in the other 2 regions. No significant differences were observed between TS patients with and without BAV in myocardial strain and aortic strain and distensibility. Substantial to perfect inter-observer agreement was found for myocardial strain and aortic strain and distensibility. Cardiac MRI measurements of LV deformation and aortic function carry potential value as markers for early detection of myocardial and aortic disease in TS patients. Validation of the clinical impact and prognostic role require further longitudinal studies.

Risk factors and transitional probability of clinical events in Korean CKD patients using the multistate model

A randomized controlled trial of environmental richness on gastrointestinal symptoms, salivary cortisol, and gut microbiota in early childhood

An acyl-homoserine lactone acylase found in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia exhibits both quorum quenching activity and the ability to degrade penicillin antibiotics

Characterization of post-inflammatory irritable bowel syndrome animal model following acute colitis recovery

Development of a rapid malaria LAMP-MS assay for diagnosis of malaria infections

Development and validation of machine learning models for predicting extubation failure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery: a retrospective study

An osteobiography of a celebrity chimpanzee reflects the changing roles of modern zoos

Abstract The role of zoos has shifted markedly from their origins in the nineteenth century to the present day. Long-lived and charismatic individual animals have been central to zoological collections, as priorities have changed from a primary focus on entertainment to a greater emphasis on education, conservation, research and welfare. Here, we construct the osteobiography of a celebrity chimpanzee to highlight the changing practices of modern zoos over a near half-century timescale. We applied archival, biogeochemical, pathological, and morphometric analyses to the skeleton and tissues of Choppers, a captive female western chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes verus), who featured in the PG Tips television advertisements in the United Kingdom in the 1970s. We show the efficacy of the osteobiographical method in revealing Choppers’ life events, including her capture from the wild, dietary transitions over decadal timescales, and her declining health in old age. These direct analytical techniques applied to her physical remains allow for a more in-depth understanding of her life history than from archival material alone. By using a mixed-method, in-depth assessment of a single captive chimpanzee, we provide a rich context for analysing the impact of the changing roles of zoos on captive animals during the late 20th and 21st centuries.