Browse Articles

Extraction efficiency and bioactive evaluation of Tamarix nilotica and Arthrocnemum macrostachyum extracts for anti-cancer potential

This study aimed to evaluate the potential of phytochemicals from two native UAE plant species, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum and Tamarix nilotica, as anti-cancer agents. The plant extracts were obtained using two methods, maceration, and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and were subsequently evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines: breast (MDA-MB-231), colon (HCT-116), and lung (A-549). Results suggest that: 1) MAE is more efficient than maceration in recovering metabolites from plant biomass based on measurements of total phenolic content, radical scavenging activity, and bioactivity of extracts based on in vitro cytotoxicity. 2) Only T. nilotica extracts were found to be bioactive based on cytotoxicity measurements. 3) Cancer cell lines displayed differential sensitivity to T. nilotica crude extracts, with breast cancer cells being the most sensitive and lung cancer cells being the least sensitive. 4) Solid-phase fractionation of T. nilotica crude extract using different percentages of methanol resulted in several fractions that were 100-fold more cytotoxic compared to the crude unfractionated extract. The 30% and 70% methanol fractions exhibited the highest cytotoxicity towards breast and colon cancer cell lines, respectively. 5) Untargeted metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-ToF-MS of T. nilotica crude extracts revealed 909 molecular features, of which only 327 were annotated using MS/MS fragmentation. The results suggest that T. nilotica extracts have potential as anti-cancer agents and that MAE is an efficient method for extracting phytochemicals from plant biomass. The study also revealed that cancer cell lines exhibited differential sensitivity to the extracts and that solid-phase fractionation of crude extract using different percentages of methanol can yield fractions that are more cytotoxic than the crude extract.

Elucidating the molecular basis of salt tolerance in potatoes through miRNA expression and phenotypic analysis

Inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 in EML4-ALK cell models as a second proposed therapeutic target for non-small cell lung cancer

The anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) oncoprotein plays a crucial role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) by activating signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation and survival through constitutive phosphorylation. While first-line crizotinib can regulate phosphorylation, mutations in the ALK gene can lead to resistance against ALK inhibitors (ALKi) such as ceritinib and alectinib. On the other hand, overexpression of BCL2, a protein involved in cell death regulation, has been observed in NSCLC and is considered a potential therapeutic target. In this study, we propose to inhibit BCL2 as a secondary therapeutic target in EML4-ALK cell models to overcome resistance caused by ALK mutations. Four Ba/F3 EML4-ALK cell models (WT, C1156Y, L1196M, and G1202R) generated by site-directed mutagenesis exhibited varying levels of BCL2 expression. Both the WT and G1202R models showed overexpression of BCL2, while C1156Y and L1196M models approached baseline levels. We treated these cells with ABT-199, a selective BCL2 inhibitor, and found that models with high BCL2 expression exhibited resistance, while those with lower expression showed sensitivity to BCL2 inhibition. In addition, our analysis using bioinformatics indicated that ABT-199 not only targets BCL2 but also binds to the active site of all ALK mutants, it was contrasted by in vitro ALK kinase activity inhibition by ABT-199 (5.5 μM). This interaction was further supported by a significant decrease of ALK phosphorylation in single and combination treatment with 300nM ABT-199. Finally, when ABT-199 was combined with ALKi, we observed a wide range of synergistic effects in the WT and G1202R cell models, while the C1156Y and L1196M models showed limited synergy. In conclusion, our findings indicate that BCL2 targeting with ABT-199, in combination with ALKi, can significantly reduce tumor cell survival in Ba/F3 EML4-ALK cell models.

Thrush nightingales adjust the peak frequency and structure of their songs in response to different types of experimental noise

Abstract Animals employ various strategies to minimize the overlap of their vocalizations with other sounds, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of their communication. However, little attention has been given to experimentally examining how the structure of the acoustic signal changes in response to various kinds of disturbances in the soundscape. In this study, I experimentally investigated whether male thrush nightingales (Luscinia luscinia) adjust their singing rate, song frequency, and song type in response to different types of artificial sounds. While males did not reduce the intensity of their singing in noise, they did adjust the peak frequency of their songs—raising it in the presence of low-frequency noise and lowering it in response to high-frequency noise. These bidirectional changes were associated with selective use of phrases from their repertoire. The proportion of low- to high-frequency phrases was significantly reduced under low-frequency noise and increased under high-frequency noise. The results suggest that disturbing sounds can modify the peak frequency and structure of songbird vocalizations, at least in the short term. Birds may enhance the signal-to-noise ratio by selecting phrases from their repertoire that are less affected by noise. For species with a large repertoire, new sounds transmitted within a species-specific frequency range may play an important role in the process of cultural song transmission.

Antimicrobial proteins from oyster hemolymph improve the efficacy of conventional antibiotics

Discovering new antibiotics and increasing the efficacy of existing antibiotics are priorities to address antimicrobial resistance. Antimicrobial proteins and peptides (AMPPs) are considered among the most promising antibiotic alternatives and complementary therapies. Here, we build upon previous work investigating the antibacterial activity of a semi-purified hemolymph protein extract (HPE) of the Australian oyster Saccostrea glomerata. HPE showed antimicrobial-biofilm inhibitory activity toward laboratory and clinical strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes at 4.4 and 24.1 μg/mL total protein, respectively. In combination assays, the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin, trimethoprim and ciprofloxacin) was improved between 2 to 32-fold in the presence of HPE (1–12 μg/mL) against a range of clinically important bacteria including Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Moraxella catarrhalis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus. Effective HPE concentrations are comparable to AMPPs currently approved for use or in clinical trials pipelines. Proteomics analysis of HPE identified a number of proteins including abundant known AMPPs. It was non-toxic to A549 human lung cells up to 205 μg/mL, demonstrating safety well above effective concentrations. Activity was retained with storage at -80°C and ambient laboratory temperature (~24°C), but declined after treatment at either 37°C or 60°C (1 h). This study is in agreement with growing evidence that AMPPs show specificity and a high capacity for synergism with antibiotics. The discovery of HPE provides great opportunities for both pharmaceutical and aquaculture industry development.

Robotic assisted TKA may allow for smaller polyethylene liner sizes compared to manual TKA with simultaneous removal of Hardware

Interferon (IFN)-gamma (γ) inducible protein 10 (IP-10) in the diagnosis of latent and active tuberculosis in Bacille Calmette Guerin (BCG)-vaccinated pediatric population

Background Accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children continues to be challenging, primarily due to the low bacterial load characteristic of the disease and the obstacles in collecting sputum samples. Furthermore, detecting cases of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection (LTBI) that have a high risk of progressing to active TB disease remains a significant diagnostic hurdle. Objective The study explored the utility of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) inducible protein 10 (IP-10) for diagnosing latent and active M.tb infections among children vaccinated with the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. The research specifically assessed IP-10 levels in serum, urine, and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QFT) cultures stimulated with M.tb antigens to determine if IP-10 could be a useful diagnostic marker for pediatric tuberculosis, either alongside or as an alternative to IFN-γ. Results Both urine and QFT cultures stimulated with M.tb antigens showed significantly higher IP-10 levels in individuals with active TB or latent TB infection (LTBI) when compared to those uninfected by M.tb but with nonmycobacterial pneumonia (NMP) and healthy controls (HC). Similarly, IFN-γ levels in M.tb-stimulated QFT cultures were significantly higher in the TB and LTBI groups compared to the NMP and HC groups. Notably, the study found a significant difference in IFN-γ levels between the TB and LTBI groups in the QFT cultures, a distinction not observed for IP-10 concentrations. Serum levels of IP-10 and IFN-γ did not significantly vary across the study cohorts. Conclusions IP-10 might be a viable alternative biomarker to IFN-γ for identifying M.tb infection in BCG-vaccinated children, although it cannot distinguish between latent and active TB cases. This highlights the potential of IP-10 in improving TB diagnosis among children, addressing the challenges posed by the paucibacillary nature of pediatric TB, but also underscores the need for further research to refine diagnostic approaches for distinguishing between latent and active TB infections.

Polymorphism and magnetism in a Kitaev honeycomb cobaltate KCoAsO4

The relationship between business competition and welfare in Indonesia

This research freshly investigates the effect of business competition on national welfare in Indonesia. This research uses business competition index data obtained from the Indonesia Competition Commission (KPPU) and welfare indicators data collected from the Indonesian Bureau of Central Statistics (BPS) at the economic sectoral and provincial levels for the period 2018–2020. The relationship between business competition and welfare is estimated using pooled regression model combining year, economic sector, and province. This research also uses business competition index applying both same weights for all dimensions of competition and the weights derived from principal component analysis. This research finds that business competition has a positive effect on welfare as represented by gross regional domestic product, regional productivity, productivity growth, wages, and human development index. Furthermore, the regions with high scores on the competition index mostly come from Java Island. Therefore, Indonesian government must encourage the mainstreaming of business competition in all provinces in Indonesia.

Effect of management system and pedoclimatic factors on Fusarium and Didymella communities associated with pea (Pisum sativum) roots in Germany

Abstract From 2016 to 2019, 128 organic and conventional spring and winter pea fields in Germany were surveyed to determine the effects of cropping history and pedo-climatic conditions on pea root health, the diversity of Fusarium and Didymella communities and their collective effect on pea yield. Roots generally appeared healthy or showed minor disease symptoms despite the frequent occurrence of 4 Didymella and 14 Fusarium species. Soil pH interacted with the occurrence of the Fusarium oxysporum species complex (FOSC) and F. tricinctum that correlated with reduced or increased soil pH values, respectively. While legumes in the cropping history or reduced time between legumes correlated with occurrence of D. pinodella and to a lesser degree with the members of the F. solani species complex (FSSC), the reverse was true at least in organic spring peas for F. redolens. Only in conventional systems increased root infections with F. redolens and the FSSC were linked to root rot incidence whereas yields negatively correlated with the FOSC and positively with F. tricinctum isolation frequencies. Overall, this study shows that pea root rot pathobiome is rather stable and that the damage caused is mostly due to the interaction with environmental conditions.

Deep neuromuscular blockade during radiofrequency catheter ablation under general anesthesia reduces the prevalence of atrial fibrillation recurrence when compared to moderate neuromuscular blockade: A randomized controlled trial

Background Proper anesthesia management is required to maintain immobilization and stable breathing of the patient to improve catheter contact and stability during catheter ablation for PVI. However, it remains unclear whether the depth of neuromuscular blockade affects the results of RFCA under general anesthesia. Methods The patients were randomly assigned to either the moderate neuromuscular blockade group (Group M, train-of-four 1 to 2) or the deep neuromuscular blockade group (Group D, posttetanic count 1–2). The primary outcome was the 12-month AF recurrence rate using confirmed electrocardiographic diagnosis after the ablation procedure at two different neuromuscular blockade depths. Results Total 94 patients (47 in each group) were included in the analysis. Recurrence of AF during the A 12-month follow-up was 12 (25%) in group D and 22 (46%) in group M. The AF recurrence rate was significantly higher in group M (p =  0.03). The relative risk (RR) for the risk of 12-month AF recurrence was 0.545 in group D. AF symptom recurrence was observed during the A 12-month follow-up in 12 (25%) and 26 (54%) patients in groups D and M, respectively. Conclusions Compared to moderate neuromuscular blockade, deep neuromuscular blockade while performing RFCA under general anesthesia reduced 12-month AF recurrence rate. Deep neuromuscular blockade under general anesthesia is thought to increase the success rate by providing a stable surgical environment during the RFCA procedure. Trial registration Clinical trials of Korea KCT 0003371

Spatiotemporal variation in biomass abundance of different algal species in Lake Hulun using machine learning and Sentinel-3 images

Antenatal depression among pregnant women in Ethiopia: An umbrella review

Introduction Antenatal depression, ranging from mild to severe, is influenced by hormonal changes during pregnancy and childbearing years, making it a significant public health issue. Antenatal depression, with its far-reaching effects on mothers, infants, and children, continues to be a significant public health issue in developing countries such as Ethiopia. Research on antenatal depression in Ethiopia has produced varied results. Although previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses studies have addressed this topic, a comprehensive summary of existing reviews has not been available. Therefore, this umbrella review aims to consolidate the findings on antenatal depression and associated factors among pregnant women in Ethiopia. Methods This review included five systematic reviews and meta-analyses from various databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, Research4life, CINHALE and Science Direct. Only reviews published between January 1, 2010, and July 30, 2024, were considered. The search, conducted from August 5 to 15, 2024, used CoCoPop questions and included only English-language reviews. Study quality was assessed with the AMSTAR tool, and data extraction and analysis were performed using Microsoft Excel 2016 and STATA 14.0. The I2 and Cochran’s Q tests were used to assess heterogeneity. Pooled effect sizes were calculated based on the pooled prevalence of antenatal depression and odds ratios for associated factors, with a 95% confidence interval indicating statistical significance. Results This umbrella review encompassed 50 primary studies from five systematic reviews and meta-analyses, involving a total of 25,233 pregnant women. The pooled prevalence of antenatal depression in Ethiopia was found to be 24.60% (95% CI: 22.46–26.73). Significant associations were identified between antenatal depression and several factors: unplanned pregnancy (POR = 2.29; 95% CI: 1.75, 2.82), poor social support (POR = 2.10; 95% CI: 1.37, 2.84), history of abortion (POR = 2.49; 95% CI: 1.64, 3.34), history of depression (POR = 3.57; 95% CI: 2.43, 4.71), and history of obstetric complications (POR = 2.94; 95% CI: 1.61, 4.28). Conclusions The significant prevalence of antenatal depression (24.60%) among pregnant women in Ethiopia is closely linked to factors such as unplanned pregnancy, poor social support, history of abortion, previous depression, and obstetric complications. To tackle this issue, it is recommended to enhance social support networks, increase access to family planning services to minimize unplanned pregnancies, conduct regular mental health screenings, and incorporate mental health services into antenatal care.

The strength of confidence is involved in controlling the intensity of attentional allocation

Can household energy efficiency dampen crude oil price volatility in the United States?

Even though the effect of oil price shocks on macroeconomics has been extensively investigated, the literature on how efficiency in household energy use affect crude oil price volatility is yet explored. This study unveils whether household energy efficiency lower crude oil price volatility asymmetrically in the United States using the historical and forecast dataset that spans from 1970:Q1-2040:Q1. Applying the multivariate case of Quantile-on-Quantile Regression, the empirical results show that household energy efficiency dampens crude oil price volatility with a stronger connection in quantiles before the median quantiles of crude oil price volatility. However, the effect of household energy efficiency decreases with an increase across quantiles of the crude oil price volatility. The results further show that energy-related CO2 emissions and retail electricity price intensify crude oil price volatility with varying effects across quantiles. These findings are similar to the sensitivity analysis and robustness checks. Overall, the policy implication of our findings is that government and policymakers need to demonstrate unequivocal commitments to improving not only energy-efficient practices at household level but also to mitigate energy-related environmental disasters.

Fabrication and mechanical properties of porous tantalum carbon composites by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract This study investigates the deposition of tantalum (Ta) coatings on carbon foams using the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method to enhance their compressive strength. Two types of open-cell carbon foams, CF-1 and CF-2, with different strut diameters, were examined. The morphology and uniformity of the coatings were characterized, and the effect of coating thickness on the compressive strength of the foams was systematically analyzed. An empirical model was proposed and successfully validated, showing that the compressive strength is proportional to the coating thickness and the square of the strut diameter. The experimental results demonstrate that considering mass transfer and reaction kinetics can significantly improve the uniformity of coatings on larger substrates. Furthermore, the Ta coatings significantly increased the compressive strength of the foams, with the relationship between compressive strength, coating thickness, and strut diameter being in good agreement with the predictions of the proposed model. The study highlights the potential of tailored metallic coatings to enhance the mechanical properties of porous materials while maintaining their lightweight characteristics, emphasizing the importance of optimizing coating parameters for large-scale applications.

Close to the border—Resilience in healthcare in a European border region: Findings of a needs analysis

Objectives Promoting resilience, the ability to withstand and overcome challenging situations, is crucial for maintaining the performance of healthcare systems. Unique challenges faced by healthcare facilities in border regions render them particularly vulnerable during crises, emphasizing the need to promote resilience in these areas. The current study evaluated the state and needs of resilience in healthcare professionals in a representative European border region. Methods All hospitals and emergency medical care services in the Euregio Meuse-Rhine (Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands) were approached to participate via an online-survey. Behavioral data on psychological distress (Patient Health Questionnaire-4), work-related stressors, individual resilience (Brief Resilience Scale, Resilience at Work scale), and organizational resilience (Benchmark Resilience Tool-short) were collected. Results 2233 participants initiated the survey with 500 responses included in the analysis. 46% of the participants indicated clinically significant psychological distress. Most challenging stressors were staff availability, available time, and workload. On average, individual resilience was in the normal range, yet 15.6% showed below average resilience. At the organizational level, healthcare institutions can particularly enhance resilience in the domains of Internal resources, Situation Awareness, and Unity of purpose. Compared to their neighbor countries, German healthcare professionals indicated higher levels of depressive symptoms, were more burdened by work-related stressors, and reported lower levels of organizational resilience. Conclusion Findings highlight that healthcare institutions not only need to promote the resilience of the individual employee particularly in border regions, healthcare institutions, must also act to be better prepared for potential threats and crises while considering each country’s unique needs.

New insights into structural, optical, electrical and thermoelectric behavior of Na0.5Bi0.5TiO3 single crystals

The association of origin and environmental conditions with performance in professional IRONMAN triathletes

Breed differences in olfactory performance of dogs

Abstract Most studies on dogs’ olfactory performance focused only on some individuals pre-trained for a task or on specially selected/trained detection dogs. Here, using the Natural Detection Task (NDT) that does not require training, we assessed the effect of several potential factors on the performance of a large sample of dogs (N = 527/tested, 484/analysed). Olfactory success was associated with breeds, but breed groups (selected for olfaction, cooperation, or both) were proven non-relevant, suggesting that breed-specific traits are more influential than functional breed group characteristics. Border collies, selected for herding, reached higher success levels than golden retrievers, Hungarian/German vizslas and basset/bloodhounds, selected for hunting/olfaction tasks. Beagles found the hidden food quicker than border collies, basset/bloodhounds, golden retrievers, Labradors, and cocker spaniels. Dogs with higher Responsiveness to training personality scores were more successful, while higher training level linked to slower successful search. Activity/Excitability scores, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder scores, and owners’ rewarding style were not associated with performance. Overall, large within-breed/breed-group variabilities reflect complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors influencing performance. Given the complex nature of life-like detection tasks, the NDT may provide more information about dogs’ olfactory ability than on their potential effectiveness in detection work.