Scientifica最新文献

Ethiopian woodlands offer a variety of cultural, social, and economic advantages. However, human disturbances, climate change, and changes in land use may have influences on the benefits and services that woodlands currently provide. Furthermore, the distribution of plant ecosystems can be influenced by ecological characteristics. This study aimed to identify the types of plant communities, the relationships between plant communities and environmental conditions, the diversity, composition, and structure of woody plant species, and the regeneration status of woody species in the Basso Subwatershed. To gather information on vegetation and environmental conditions, systematic random sampling was employed. Fifty-two 20 m × 20 m sample quadrats were set up to assess trees and shrubs, and five 5 × 5 m subplots were created to assess seedlings and saplings. Woody species diversity was evaluated using the Shannon-Weiner diversity index, species richness, and Shannon evenness. Canonical correspondence analysis was used to examine links between vegetation and the environmental factors. In this study, a total of 28 plant species that belong to 17 families and five different plant community types were identified. The richness and diversity of species differed depending on the type of community. The overall Shannon-Wiener diversity index (2.65), species richness (25), and the Shannon evenness value (0.84) of the woodland were recorded in the subwatershed. Findings show that slope, disturbance, and grazing intensity reflected significant effects on woody vegetation patterns in the Basso Subwatershed (p < 0.01). However, altitude, aspect, and human impacts did not show significant effects on woody vegetation patterns in the Basso Subwatershed (p > 0.01). The most dominant woody species in the subwatershed were Acalypha fruticosa, Terminalia brownii, Combretum molle, and Balanites aegyptiaca. In the future, rehabilitation and sustainable vegetation management techniques will take into consideration significant environmental factors, particularly for species with low rates of regeneration like Dichrostachys cinerea, Grewia bicolor, and Maytenus senegalensis.

Background: It is essential to identify the factors that influence a student's choice of dental career, interest in postgraduate specialties, and preferred careers upon graduation when planning the dental workforce agenda in the country.

Objectives: We examined the factors that influenced undergraduate (UG) students of Jouf University, Saudi Arabia, to choose dentistry as a profession. We also assessed students' preferences for dental specialties following graduation and immediate career plans upon graduation and whether they differed by demographics.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional survey study that was conducted from November 15, 2021, to January 15, 2022. A twelve-item questionnaire was hand-delivered to the third-, fourth-, and fifth-year UG students and interns of the College of Dentistry, Jouf University. The research questions focused on demographic information, reasons for choosing dentistry as a profession, preferences for postgraduate studies, and preferred career upon graduation. Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests were performed.

Results: A total of 144 students responded to the survey. The samples consisted of 84 (58.3%) male and 60 (41.7%) female students. The reasons for choosing dentistry as a career were mostly related to personal and vocational factors. Significant differences were noticed between male and female respondents for most of the reasons for choosing dentistry as a career (p ≤ 0.05). The female respondents mostly preferred restorative and esthetic dentistry as a specialty of choice, whereas the male participants preferred oral and maxillofacial surgery. The most preferred career among male and female respondents was "civilian dentist in the public sector." There was no significant difference among genders with respect to the most preferred specialty and immediate career plans upon graduation (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: Personal and vocational factors influenced the career preferences, with esthetic dentistry as the most preferred specialty for the graduates to choose. These data might aid the policy makers of the university for student career guidance.

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in aquatic environments and pose significant threats to ecosystems, wildlife, and human health. While MP pollution in water has received considerable attention, there is still limited understanding of its regional distribution, shapes, and associated risks. The Jamuna River, one of the largest freshwater ecosystems in Bangladesh, is increasingly contaminated by hazardous MPs, likely originating from industrial, domestic, hospital waste, and municipal sewage. This study aimed to investigate the abundance, distribution, characteristics, and ecological risks of MPs in the surface water of a highly urbanized large river in Southeast Asia. Water samples were collected from 30 sites along a 44 km stretch of the river during two periods: March to April (premonsoon) and July to August (monsoon). A total of 386 MPs were identified in the collected samples. The mean abundance of MPs in the surface water of the Jamuna River ranged from 0.01 to 0.15 MPs/L during the premonsoon season and from 0.01 to 0.13 MPs/L during the monsoon season. Approximately 79.78%-87.98% of the particles fell within the 100-1500 μm size range. The presence of polyethylene (31.60%-37.24%), polystyrene (PS) (6.71%-10.81%), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) (5.64%-7.28%) contributed significantly to MP contamination, posing a high health hazard. Several risk assessment models were employed to evaluate the associated risks. The pollution load index (PLI) classified the contamination under risk Category I (minor pollution). Meanwhile, the polymer hazard index (PHI) values were 305.65 for the premonsoon season and 208.0 for the monsoon season, both indicating hazard Category IV ("danger" level). The potential ecological risk index (PERI) placed the Jamuna River surface water in the "extreme danger" risk category, with values of 2454.43 during the premonsoon and 1911.29 during the monsoon. The prevalence of high-hazard polymers such as PVC and PS suggests a potential risk of toxicological effects for aquatic organisms and humans through food web transfer. This baseline study provides valuable insights into the MP pollution of one of the country's major rivers. It may help improve our understanding of land-based MP inputs from inland water bodies severely impacted by anthropogenic activities.

The high demand for Pangasius fillets in Indonesia has resulted in substantial byproduct waste, contributing to environmental concerns. To overcome this problem, it is necessary to utilize waste to create economically viable products, such as Pangasius fish byproduct oil. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of crude Pangasius oil extracted from fillet processing byproducts (belly and trimming) using dry and wet rendering techniques and to assess its business potential with a value-added approach using the Hayami method. The oil extraction methods used include dry and wet rendering. The study examined two main treatment categories: extraction method (A), which included dry rendering (A1) and wet rendering (A2), and the types of Pangasius fillet industry byproducts (B), which comprised trimming (B1) and belly (B2). The best oil, extracted from the belly via dry rendering, showed favorable physicochemical properties: free fatty acids (0.88%), peroxide value (5.85 mEq/100 g), iodine value (65.55 g I₂/100 g), and saponification value (211.84 mg KOH/g). The oil was found to have considerable quantities of vitamins A (161.65 IU/g), D (192.40 IU/g), and K (3.20 IU/g), along with elevated levels of palmitic (40.70%), oleic (21.20%), and linoleic acid (10.60%). An economic assessment indicated that 1 kg of byproducts could produce 0.25 L of crude oil, which has a value-added of U.S.$ 1.62/L. These results emphasize the potential of Pangasius belly oil as a value-added product, offering promising functional and commercial opportunities in the food and nutraceutical sectors. by dry extraction has the potential to be developed into a future commercial food product.

Bipolaris leaf blight of wheat is a serious biological obstacle that can be seen at any growth stage. Fertilizer management and micronutrient application have crucial roles in plant disease management. In this study, boron, zinc, and silicon fertilizer were applied in soil and sprayed on the foliage of wheat plants at the seedling, tillering, and booting stage to investigate their effect on the incidence and severity of leaf blight disease caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana and also evaluated the defense responses against the pathogen. Nine treatment combinations were applied in a susceptible wheat cultivar Kanchan. Vegetative parameters like the number of plants/pots, number of leaves/pots, and plant height (cm) are significantly promoted by micronutrient application at all growth stages. All combinations of micronutrient treatments expressively influenced disease parameters at 45 and 60 days after sowing (DAS) and yield contributing characters at 100 DAS. Yield components were assessed at 100 DAS. The lowest incidence and severity of leaf blight were found in T ₇, where 50% of the total micronutrients were applied to the soil and 0.30 g Zn and 0.30 g Si were applied on the foliage of the wheat plants. Total phenol content (401.79 μg/g), MDA (68.90 nmol/g FW), and H₂O₂ (82.36 nmol/g FW) were gradually increased after micronutrient applied and recorded highest in T ₇ at 21 days after treatment (DAT). Antioxidant enzymes like catalase (CAT) (2.97 mM min^-1 g^-1 FW) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) (15.36 mM min^-1 g^-1 FW) were also found highest in T ₇. It is revealed that B, Zn, and Si can increase tolerance related to certain biochemical attributes, vegetative growth, and yield contributing characters of wheat.

Star fruit is commonly cultivated in tropical regions, particularly in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia. This tropical fruit is known for its numerous beneficial nutrients and medicinal properties. However, star fruit is prone to damage and can rot quickly during storage. While several studies have explored the use of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for storing star fruit. However, a comprehensive study determining the optimal temperature, packaging, and atmospheric composition for storing star fruit is still limited. This study aims to design MAP for the storage of star fruit. The investigation focuses on how MAP affects changes in fruit quality during storage and how it can extend the shelf life of star fruit over a period of 40 days. The findings indicate that the senescence of star fruit is delayed when the fruit is packaged in polypropylene (PP) with a modified atmosphere consisting of 3% oxygen and 5%-7% carbon dioxide, all stored at 10°C and relative humidity (RH) of 80 ± 5%. This MAP treatment effectively reduces respiration rates and weight loss while preserving the fruit's firmness. The ideal plastic film for MAP at 10°C is PP, with a thickness of 0.039 mm and an average packaging surface area of 259 cm². Each package contains one star fruit, averaging 281 g in weight. The combination of MAP and storage at 10°C significantly enhances the quality of star fruit and can extend its postharvest life by up to 40 days.

Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud and Lemna minor L. are non-native aquatic weeds. They disturb the habitat dynamics by competing with native flora for water and nutrition, deplete oxygen in water bodies, destroy water quality, and create habitat for mosquitoes and other parasites. Valorization of this huge biomass into biochar is a sustainable approach to address both environmental and agricultural challenges. It not only mitigates the climate issues by proper management but also sequesters carbon and improves soil quality. The current study manifests the utility of Phragmites australis and Lemna minor biomass as a feedstock for pyrolysis, at 400°C, 500°C, and 600°C, to design Lemna minor biochar (LMBC400, LMBC500, and LMBC600) and Phragmites australis biochar (PABC400, PABC500, and PABC600). These biochars were added as a soil conditioner to estimate the productivity of test crops. The results demonstrate that ash content, pH, electrical conductivity (ECe), and fixed carbon are directly proportional to pyrolysis temperature, whereas oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, volatile contents, and bulk density (BD) are inversely proportional to pyrolysis temperature. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses proved that high pyrolysis temperature increases the porosity and phenolic compounds in biochar, which improves the surface quality. The percentage of nutrients such as Mg, Fe, N, Ca, N, P, K, and Zn increases by elevating pyrolysis temperature due to unlocking and release under the influence of heat. Soil quality parameters (viz. pH, BD, ECe, water holding capacity [WHC], total dissolved solids [TDS], and soil organic matter [SOC]) improved in favor of plant growth conditions, so the yield of test crops increased. So, LMBC600 and PABC600 had great potential to improve soil and productivity. It is a promising approach to manage this colossal volume of P. australis and L. minor through green technology by recycling this biowaste into a worthy product biochar, which is an alternative to chemical fertilizer in agronomical practices, which leave eco-toxic footprints and play havoc to the environment.

Inflammation helps the immune system identify and eliminate disease-causing and foreign stimuli and initiate the healing process. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been often used in treating inflammation. Synthetic drugs have been associated with severe effects, necessitating the need for alternative medicinal agents. Herbal remedies have comparatively fewer side effects, are widely available, and are arguably affordable, which makes them more attractive therapeutic agents. Ficus sycomorus is utilized by Kenya's Mbeere community to treat inflammation. However, the science-based data to support their claim were lacking. The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether methanol (MeOH) and dichloromethane (DCM) leaf and stem bark extracts of F. sycomorus have anti-inflammatory qualities in mice. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) andliquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) were used in phytochemical analysis of the extracts. In anti-inflammatory assays, 6-7-week-old mice were randomly grouped into six clusters with five mice each. Group one mice were administered normal saline. Groups of two to four mice were injected with carrageenan to induce inflammation and then received various treatments. Group two mice received the vehicle (normal saline), while group three mice received diclofenac (15 mg/kg body weight [bw]). The extracts were administered to the remaining groups at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg bw. One-way analysis of variance was used to assess for statistically significant differences, followed by Tukey's post hoc tests in case of statistical significance. The significance threshold was inferred at p < 0.05. This study revealed significant anti-edema effects of the extracts on carrageenan-induced paw inflammation in mice. The GC-MS analysis identified fatty acids, terpenoids, and terpenes, which have been associated with anti-edema effects. In conclusion, the findings showed that the extracts have anti-edema effects and phytocompounds associated with the effects. F. sycomorus extract is hence a novel candidate for developing efficacious anti-inflammatory agents.

Microbial resistance is a global concern, potentially causing 10 million deaths by 2050 due to the ineffectiveness of conventional drugs. In this scenario, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) emerge as a promising alternative, as they combat several pathogens without inducing resistance. AMPs stand out as a potential natural additive to replace antibiotics in laying hens, such as gentamicin and tetracycline, aiming for greater animal health. Therefore, this review aims to provide a general overview of layer poultry farming worldwide, especially in Brazil. Furthermore, the study brings data on the interaction of parameters of egg quality and blood cells and how AMPs can be beneficial and improve the laying hens' health.

Five Flower Remedy (FFR), a Thai traditional medicine, has a history of use for various ailments. This study investigated its antidiabetic potential by examining its impact on key carbohydrate-metabolizing enzymes, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. We explored FFR's inhibitory effects, synergistic interactions with the standard antidiabetic drug acarbose, and the underlying mechanisms involved. In vitro analysis revealed that FFRA significantly inhibited both α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Importantly, a synergistic effect was observed when FFRA extract was combined with acarbose, particularly at low concentrations for α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition. This suggests a potential benefit in combination therapy. Furthermore, FFRE demonstrated greater inhibitory potency against both enzymes compared to acarbose. Mechanistically, FFRE inhibited α-amylase through competitive inhibition and α-glucosidase through noncompetitive inhibition, indicating distinct modes of action. These findings provide scientific validation for the traditional use of FFR in managing diabetes and offer valuable insights into its pharmacological properties. The observed synergistic effects and distinct inhibition mechanisms highlight FFR's potential as a therapeutic agent. This study serves as a foundation for future research, including identifying the specific bioactive components responsible for FFR's antidiabetic effects, in vivo studies to confirm these findings in living organisms, and ultimately, clinical trials to evaluate its efficacy and safety in human subjects. Further investigation could pave the way for developing FFR as a novel therapeutic approach for diabetes management.