Heliyon最新文献

Context: Tef [Eragrostis tef ((Zucc.) Trotter)] is a remarkable indigenous crop, highly adaptive and resilient to erratic and extreme climatic and soil conditions. It is a major staple food in Ethiopia and is usually cultivated for household consumption and the generation of income. However, nowadays, the crop particularly, the landraces are exposed to genetic erosion owing to biotic and abiotic factors. Thus, detecting the current status and production bottlenecks of the crop is key to enhance its production and conservation.

Objective: The main objectives of this study were to assess the extent of on-farm diversity, genetic erosion and current production challenges of Tef landraces in Arsi Zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.

Methods: The study was conducted in the Arsi zone, Southeast Ethiopia using 400 selected farmers. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using Minitab version 19. The respondent farmers included the different sex groups, age groups, educational status, marital status, and religious outlooks.

Results and conclusion: S: A total of 26 Tef landraces have been identified to be cultivated over the last 2 to 3 decades and/or still in production in the study areas. The respondents indicated differences in the landraces with regard to morphological features which along with the naming's could suggest their genetic distinctiveness. Patterns of on-farm diversity in the landraces showed a varied abundance in the area where eleven landraces showed a relatively higher estimate (D = 0.75 in Sergegna to D = 0.58 in Bulga). With the exception of Aruso Tef (D = 0.47), all the remaining landraces showed minimal or no (D = 0.00) genetic abundance. The extent of the Sorenson similarity index revealed a higher similarity (0.69 in Enkelo Wabe vs Arsi Robe to 0.77 in Shirka vs Arsi Robe) and the areas revealed a higher landrace richness (R) and evenness index (E). However, patterns of temporal genetic diversity and extent of genetic erosion revealed that only 10 are grown currently (combined genetic erosion of 61.54 %). In general, biotic and abiotic factors are challenging the current production of the crop in the area. Hence, researchers and all stakeholders should pay attention to conserving and breeding this important food crop.

Significance: Understanding the extents of on-farm diversity and possible production challenges of the crop could facilitate and enhance its breeding, conservation and utilizations and hence, contribute to the food security of the country.

Introduction: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death and morbidity worldwide, with a significantly higher burden in low- and middle-income countries. Hypertension, a major risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, remains under-diagnosed and poorly controlled, especially in regions such as Latin America. The HOPE-4 study demonstrated that the involvement of non-physician health workers (NPHWs), the use of standardized treatment algorithms, the provision of free antihypertensive drugs and home follow-up can significantly improve hypertension control and reduce cardiovascular risk, as demonstrated in Colombia and Malaysia. On this basis, the COTRACO study aims to address the barriers to hypertension treatment in low- and middle-income countries by implementing a similar standardized treatment approach delivered by non-specialist health workers.

Methodology: The COTRACO study is a quasi-experimental, parallel-group, non-randomized, before-and-after study. A community-based model will be implemented in 600 patients in Colombia and the Dominican Republic, involving NPHWs to: 1) apply standardized treatment algorithms, 2) promote adherence to healthy lifestyles, and 3) provide standardized pharmacological treatment. Propensity Score Matching will be used to select 300 patients in Chile and 1200 in Spain for comparison with standard care in these populations.

Expected outcomes: The primary outcome at 12 months of follow-up is the percentage of patients achieving controlled hypertension (defined as systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg, or < 130 mmHg, and diastolic BP < 80 mmHg for diabetic patients), ensuring it is not inferior to that achieved in the control countries. Secondary outcomes include changes in BP levels, cholesterol levels, BMI, handgrip strength, waist-to-hip ratio, smoking status, Interheart risk score, diet, and physical activity at 6 and 12 months.

Recommendations: If this model demonstrates superior outcomes compared to usual care, it is recommended that health authorities in low- and middle-income regions adopt and implement this approach. Using non-medical health professionals, standardized treatment algorithms and free access to antihypertensive medications, these regions can significantly improve awareness, diagnosis and management of hypertension. This strategy has the potential to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, thereby improving overall public health outcomes.

In this study, gold and silver were recovered through a bioleaching process conducted at room temperature over 11 days. Native bacteria and varying ratios of mineral pulp to culture medium (20/80, 37.5/62.5, and 50/50 %) from a mining operation in Zacatecas, Mexico, were evaluated. The mineral was crushed to a particle size of 0.125 inches or smaller, containing gold and silver concentrations of 0.609 g/ton and 138.89 g/ton, respectively. Four native microorganisms were identified using molecular biology techniques and a 16S rRNA gene fragment: Acidovorax citrulli, Brevundimonas albigilva, Sphingomonas korenensis, and Methylobacterium organophilum. The bioleaching system achieved metal extractions of 84.12 % and 63.93 % for gold and silver, respectively. Different microorganisms were identified at various processing times: Sphingomonas korenensis (days 1, 2, 5, 8, and 11), Methylobacterium organophilum (days 1 and 2), Paenibacillus dongdonensis (days 1 and 2), Brevundimonas albigilva (day 5), Ureibacillus manganicus (day 5), Peribacillus simplex (day 8), Niallia circulans (day 8), Massilia atriviolacea (day 11), and Bacillus licheniformis (day 11). The dominant bacterium throughout the process was Sphingomonas korenensis, which appeared at all stages of the experiment.

Inflammation and angiogenesis have been defined as potential mechanisms associated with clinical progression from a cognitively normal state to Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this observational case-control study, we aimed to determine plasma levels of cytokines as indicators of inflammation involved in cognitive decline. We measured 30 plasma proteins in 49 controls (CTL), 36 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and 52 patients diagnosed with probable AD. After applying strict filters for quantification limits, only 13 analytes were included in the analysis. Kruskal-Wallis tests showed significant differences between diagnostic groups for nine cytokines (IL-16, IL-7, VEGF, IL-8, eotaxin, MCP-1, MCP-4, MDC and TARC). Non-parametric MANCOVA showed that sex and diagnosis affected cytokine levels in the blood. To determine the sensitivity and specificity of the markers, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Only those analytes that showed an area under the curve (AUC) ≥ 0.70 were included in the multivariate logistic regression models to better understand the contribution of cytokines to clinical status. Three models: 1) CTL vs. AD; 2) CTL vs. MCI, and 3) MCI vs. AD were developed, with sex and age as covariates. In each model, two cytokines remained significantly different (model 1: IL-16 and MDC; model 2: eotaxin and MDC and model 3: IL-7 and VEGF). Taken together, this report identifies a set of plasma markers of inflammation and strengthens the role of glial biology in different clinical stages of AD.

Background: Rapid, reproducible, and noninvasive diagnostic methods like Ultrasonography (US) and plethysmographic measurements such as the perfusion index (PI) and pleth variablity index (PVI) have great potential value for emergency trauma cases in which blood loss needs to be recognized quickly and accurately.

Objectives: We planned this study to evaluate the utility of US, PI, and PVI in detecting early-stage hemorrhage and mimicking volume replacement using a platelet apheresis model.

Methods: This prospective, observational study included 46 healthy platelet apheresis volunteers who met inclusion criteria. Both of US measurements of Vena Cava Inferior (VCI_min, VCI_max, and VCIcı) and plethysmographic measurements were performed in three time period (before apheresis, after whole blood was collected, and after blood components except platelets were returned to donors).

Results: Among the total 308 platelet apheresis, 46 male volunteers met inclusion criteria and consented to participate in the study. Of these 46 male volunteers, nine declined to have US measurements. After a mean blood loss of 440 ml in the first phase of apheresis, IVC_max decreased significantly, while pulse increased (p = 0.021 and p < 0.001, respectively). After the third phase of apheresis, which simulated volume replacement, IVC_min and IVC_max increased significantly, while pulse decreased (p = 0.003, p < 0.001, and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion: Per this platelet apheresis model, IVC_max is a diagnostic marker for both early-stage blood loss of less than 500 ml and volume replacement.

The aim of this study was to examine the drying kinetics of Spondias purpurea L. fruits at various maturation stages (I to V) using a range of mathematical models (Henderson and Pabis, Lewis, Logarithmic, Midilli, and Page). Additionally, an assessment of the resulting flours' quality was conducted. The stabilization phase of S. purpurea fruit drying kinetics commenced at 420 min for maturation stages I and III, and at 480 min for the remaining stages. All employed mathematical models effectively characterized the drying process, exhibiting R ² values exceeding 0.99, MSD below 0.03, and X ² below 0.0009. Flours demonstrated increased color intensity with higher levels of flavonoids and anthocyanins, showing a positive correlation. Immature fruits yielded flours with elevated titratable acidity, total chlorophylls, phenolic compounds, and density. In contrast, fruits in the final maturation stages produced flours with higher yield, levels of reducing sugars, total carotenoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins. The results indicate that flours derived from ripe fruits exhibited higher yield, moisture content, pH, soluble solids, and reducing sugars, while titratable acidity was higher in green fruits. Bioactive compounds such as total chlorophyll, ascorbic acid, and phenolic compounds decreased with ripening, whereas total carotenoids increased due to chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis. Anthocyanin and total flavonoid levels increased in the final stages of ripening. Thus, the developmental stage directly influences the physicochemical and functional characteristics of S. purpurea fruit flours. This comprehensive analysis offers valuable insights into the drying kinetics of S. purpurea fruits and underscores the influence of maturation stages on the quality attributes of the resultant flours.

Carbon emissions have increasingly been the focus of all governments as countries throughout the world choose carbon neutrality as a national development strategy. The analysis of the spatiotemporal dynamics of CO₂ emission has emerged as a significant research topic considering the dual-carbon goal. In this research, we explore the spatiotemporal changes of CO₂ emission at different scales based on nighttime light data. The Chinese Academy of Science's Earth Luminous Dataset, CO₂ emission data from Carbon Emission Accounts and Datasets, and basic national geographical data are used for analysis. A linear regression model between nighttime light data and CO₂ emission is constructed. Thereafter, the global Moran's I index of exploratory spatial data analysis is used to verify the spatial parameters of all provinces. The trend value method is utilized to analyze the changing trend of CO₂ emission at multiscale levels, covering the Chinese mainland, three major economic regions, and six largest agglomerations from 2012 to 2019. Experimental results show a significant positive correlation between the CO₂ emission and nighttime light data from 2012 to 2019. The nighttime light data could be used to effectively estimate the total CO₂ emission at the provincial and municipal levels in China. The growth rate of CO₂ emissions in China is stable and has decreased in 2015. Furthermore, the spatiotemporal dynamics of CO₂ emission in different agglomerations vary. Our work provides a scientific basis for the different provinces and cities to develop feasible emission reduction policies.

Determining coefficient estimates of inverse complex valued function is often more challenging than determining the function itself, leading to a lack of articles on inverse functions by examining sharp estimates of the third-order Hankel determinant. This article uses Carathéodory functions to estimate the initial coefficients related to problems for inverse of functions that are bounded turning and subordinated with the cosine function. It covers some inverse coefficients problems together with the second and third-order Hankel determinants. All the estimations that were found are sharp and all the extremal functions and their inverses are also provided.

Bacterial leaf blight (BLB) in rice, caused by the pathogen Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, is a significant agricultural problem managed through chemical control and cultivating rice varieties with inherent resistance to the bacterial pathogen. Research has highlighted the potential of using antagonistic microbes which can suppress the BLB pathogen through the production of secondary metabolites like siderophores, rhamnolipids, and hydroxy-alkylquinolines offering a sustainable alternative for BLB management. Additionally, the induction of plant immunity and defense-related enzymes in rice further enhances the resistance against the disease. Therefore, implementation of biological controls can complement chemical treatments in contributing towards the sustainability of rice production systems by aiming at host immunity improvement and killing of pathogen. It is crucial to continue exploring and understanding the complex interactions between various beneficial microbes, the rice plants, and the BLB pathogen to optimize and implement effective biocontrol strategies in future.