The Scientific World Journal最新文献

This study investigates the effects of physical and chemical soil degradation on crop productivity in the Korekore Watershed. The watershed was categorized into level, sloping, and steep slope gradients. Within each slope gradient, one cultivated land managed with soil and water conservation and one cultivated land without soil and water conservation were selected. Selected soil physicochemical analyses were performed on 18 disturbed and undisturbed soil samples and were taken from the top 0-20 cm depths from each cultivated land with three replications. The soil degradation index (SDI) was evaluated based on the percent changes in soil properties of cultivated land without soil and water conservation to that of the cultivated land managed with soil and water conservation. The crop productivity index was determined by analyzing the percentage growth rate and its standard deviation. Soil bulk density and moisture content improved undercultivated land managed with SWC practices. Significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) soil organic carbon (SOC) content (2.02%), total N (0.12%), available P (4.69 ppm), and exchangeable K (1.33 cmolc/kg) were observed in cultivated land managed with SWC as compared to cultivated land without SWC measures. The value of the SDI (+243.9%) for the watershed has demonstrated that soil degradation has improved and soil and water conservation measures had a significant impact on crop yields. The average crop yield rate (CYR) (30%) was found to be lower than the estimate provided by the central statistics agency in Ethiopia. A higher CYR was observed in cultivated land managed with soil and water conservation practices. It can be concluded that physical and chemical soil degradation significantly impacts crops unless counterbalanced by soil and water conservation measures. Therefore, it is recommended to implement well-integrated watershed management practices to improve soil quality and enhance crop productivity.

Background: Obesity is increasingly taking an important stage as a cause of death worldwide, and interventions with a good cost-effectiveness ratio are needed. Psychotria densinervia is one of these natural products with health benefits. Objective. The present study evaluated the cytotoxicity, antiadipogenic, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), oxidation inhibitory activities, and acute toxicity of Psychotria densinervia hydroethanolic leaf and bark extracts. Methods: The cytotoxicity evaluation of the extracts (62.5, 125, 250, and 500 μg/mL) using the MTT assay and the antiadipogenic activity (25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL) using oleic acid were carried out in SW-872 cells. Copper sulfate (CuSO₄)-induced oxidation was used in the evaluation of the effect of extracts (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/mL) against LDL oxidation. The oral acute toxicity evaluation of a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of the extracts was performed in Wistar albino rats weighing 127 ± 2 g. Results: The leaf and bark extracts did not show any sign of cytotoxicity at the tested concentrations. The best antiadipogenic activity was observed by the standard orlistat (38.45 ± 1.70 μg/mL), followed by the leaf extract (IC₅₀: 41.47 ± 0.50 μg/mL) and the least the bark extract (IC₅₀: 107.50 ± 0.90 μg/mL). At a concentration of 1 mg/mL, the leaf extract presented an oxidation lag time of 130 min, which was higher and better than that of the bark extract (120 min). Quercetin (standard) presented an oxidation lag time longer than 3 h. The oral acute toxicity evaluation did not show any signs of toxicity indicating that the LD₅₀ was greater than 2000 mg/kg. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, the P. densinervia hydroethanolic leaf extract possesses a better antioxidant and antiadipogenic activities than the bark extract.

Invertebrates form a vital component of agricultural ecosystems, and they are chief actors in sustaining the functions of the ecosystem and soil health. Scholarly publications that concentrated on visualizing the research outputs and trends on invertebrates and agriculture are scarce. In this paper, we adopted a bibliometric model to extract trends/research studies on invertebrates and agriculture between 1991 and 2022, using scholarly studies retrieved from the Web of Science (WoS) databank. Therefore, the aim of the study is to assess and analyse publications and findings on research studies/trends on invertebrates and agriculture. A total of 1201 articles were recovered from the WoS databank with average citations per doc and coauthors per document ratio of 31.22 and 4.79, respectively. Studies on invertebrates and agriculture research studies were positively correlated with the number of years (R ² = 0.7803; y = 3.4661x - 19.659) signifying an upsurge in the amount of publications on this topic in the near future. The United States maintained a top position in terms of published outputs (n = 312) and citations (n = 14,113), followed by Germany (n = 75; n = 3686) and the United Kingdom (n = 70; n = 3117), respectively. Articles from the United States (n = 67) and China (n = 32) had strong networks with other nations of the world. Top subject priorities in this research field in terms of author keywords are agriculture (n = 141), biodiversity (n = 66), arthropods (n = 66) and biological control/ecosystem services (n = 46). From our findings, economically stable nations such as the United States, Germany, China, the United Kingdom and Australia are carrying out more research on this subject matter compared to the developing countries. We also found out that from the thematic evolution and literature results, invertebrate research in the context of agriculture is tending towards biogeography, farmland biodiversity, insecticides and organic agriculture, which are of immense importance to scientists and researchers in this research domain, thus signifying the direction/path of future research.

Oral diseases are often caused by bacterial infections, making the inhibition of receptors like N-acetylglucosamine critical in preventing bacterial formation. The plant Myrmecodia pendans (M. pendans) is known for its diverse bioactivities and may serve as a promising source for developing new antibacterial agents. This study employs in silico methods to predict the inhibitory mechanisms, pharmacokinetics, and drug-likeness of compounds isolated from M. pendans. Three compounds were evaluated for their inhibitory effects on the MurA and MurB receptors using the AutoDock4 molecular docking software, with visualizations performed using the BIOVIA Discovery Studio Visualizer. The binding affinities obtained for compounds 1, 2, and 3 to the MurA receptor were -9.42, -9.57, and -6.84 kcal/mol, respectively, while their binding affinities to the MurB receptor were -11.25, -10.55, and -8.69 kcal/mol. These affinities were found to be stronger than those of fosfomycin (benchmark compound) but weaker than the native ligands of the respective receptors. Key amino acid residues involved in the binding to MurA were identified as Cys115 and Asp305, while Ser82 and Asn83 were noted for MurB. In the ADMET prediction and drug-likeness analysis, some compounds met the necessary criteria, whereas others did not. Although all the three compounds demonstrated strong predicted inhibitory activity against MurA and MurB receptors, the analysis suggests that Compound 2 may hold the most promise as a potential antibacterial agent, warranting further investigation.

The main aim of this work was to assess the potential formation of ternary chelate complexes, involving deferasirox (DFX), ciprofloxacin (CP), and ferric iron. The coadministration of CP along with DFX might modulate its efficacy, so it is important that it be investigated. A ternary complex involving DFX, CP, and iron (DFX-CP-Fe) was prepared and characterized. Theoretical chemistry calculations were performed to measure the equilibrium constants of complexes. Two groups of rats were exposed to DFX or DFX with CP. The level of DFX in plasma was measured, and histological assessments of relevant organs were made. Levels of iron in selected tissues were measured. The formation of ternary complexes was confirmed. Two ternary complexes are thermodynamically favored. The first one of ratio (DFX:CP:Fe) was shown to be favorable with an equilibrium constant of 2 × 10⁷. The second one with ratio (DFX:CP:2Fe) is more thermodynamically favored with an equilibrium constant of 2.0 × 10⁶⁰. Rats treated with a combination of DFX and CP exhibited lower levels of iron in dried red blood cells in comparison to those treated with DFX alone (p value = 0.012). They also exhibited lower levels of DFX in plasma. Histological assessments of the relevant tissues showed a clear difference in the level of deposited iron in the spleen. In conclusion, ternary complexes are formed, and some with exceptionally high constants. The obtained data indicate a potentially favorable role of CP because while it resulted in a decrease in the level of DFX, it pharmacodynamically produced more effect.

The future of groundwater is one of the key challenges for sustainable water management, hence the need to monitor its overall quality. The objective of this work is to assess the overall quality and determine the spatiotemporal evolution of the Angads aquifer in northeastern Morocco in 2014 and 2020, based on the parameters NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^-, EC, Cl^-, and FC, as well as the Geographic Information System (GIS). The results of the comparison of these five parameters between 2014 and 2020 show a general increase in NH₄ ⁺ and a decrease in NO₃ ^- and FC at most sampling points. These changes could be attributed to a shift in pollution sources or biological processes affecting water quality. On the other hand, the stability of EC and Cl^- levels suggests a consistency in the inputs of salts or minerals. The quality percentages show a decrease in good, poor, and very poor quality, following an increase in average quality, from 10.52% (in 2014) to 5.26% (in 2020), 31.57% (in 2014) to 21.05% (in 2020), 31.57% (in 2014) to 26.31% (in 2020), and 26.31% (in 2014) to 47.36% (in 2020), respectively. Spatial and temporal mapping of the quality over these 2 years shows that the deterioration continues toward the east, southeast, and southwest. This is justified by very high measurements of the parameters NO₃ ^-, EC, and Cl^- at sampling points 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 15 for 2014 and 2020, reaching 156 mg/L, 10,570 µS/cm, and 3790 mg/L in 2014 and 134 mg/L, 10,355 µS/cm, and 3597 mg/L in 2020, respectively, due to effluents from pollution points such as the Oujda public landfill, the wastewater treatment plant, and the former Sidi Yahya landfill to the west. On the other hand, in the north, northeast, and northwest, there has been an improvement in quality due to the remoteness of these pollution points. In order to protect this vital resource, recommendations need to be put in place, in particular by treating leachates so as to ensure that the quality of the water is not discharged directly into the aquifer or used for other purposes, and to avoid discharging effluent from the wastewater treatment plant into the natural environment.

Background and Objectives: Contemporary dentistry focuses on more conservative treatment options such as endocrown restorations and application of dental materials with higher resemblance to tooth structure. Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) polymer is a material used for the fabrication of endocrowns. This study aimed to compare the post-fatigue resistance (PFR) of mandibular first molars restored with PEEK and lithium disilicate (LS₂) endocrown restorations. Materials and Methods: This in vitro, experimental study was conducted on 20 human mandibular first molars with similar dimensions. The teeth were prepared for endocrown restoration and were assigned to two groups (n = 10) of PEEK and LS₂ endocrowns. After fabrication by the computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) technique, the restorations were cemented with resin cement. Next, the teeth underwent 15,000 thermal cycles followed by cyclic loading with 600,000 cycles of compressive force (100 N, 4 Hz) and were then subjected to compressive load application in a universal testing machine. The load causing endocrown failure was recorded as the PFR of the respective restoration. The failure mode was also inspected under a light microscope. Data were analyzed by the independent t-test and also chi-square, Mann-Whitney, and Fisher's exact tests (α < 0.05). Results: The teeth with PEEK endocrowns showed significantly higher PFR than those with LS₂ endocrowns. Irreparable fractures were dominant in both groups. Conclusion: PEEK may serve as a suitable alternative to LS₂ for the fabrication of endocrown restorations.

Background: Food chemical antioxidants have demonstrated protective effects against reactive oxygen species and free radicals, but present in excess, harmful consequences might occur on health. Therefore, replacing these synthetic additives with nontoxic natural antioxidants is crucial. Objective: The current study examined aroma profile, antioxidant activity, and multivariate analysis of Mentha piperita, Mentha pulegium, Thymus serpyllum, and Thymus zygis essential oils from Morocco. Methods: GC-MS analysis was carried out to determine the chemical composition of the four oils, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), cation radical (ABTS⁺), hydrogen peroxide scavenging capacity (H₂O₂), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) methods. Results: Isomintlactone (35.55%), pulegone (74.04%), borneol (37.87%), and borneol (30.99%) were the most abundant compounds of M. piperita, M. pulegium, T. serpyllum, and T. zygis EOs. The antioxidant activity of the four EOs was particularly notable, with an IC₅₀ varying between 3.51 ± 0.22 mg/mL and 0.49 ± 0.08 mg/mL by the DPPH method, 1.02 ± 0.21 mg/mL and 0.4 ± 0.7 mg/mL by the ABTS method, and 0.063 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.009 ± 0.008 mg/mL by the H₂O₂ method. For the FRAP technique, the EC₅₀ was between 0.42 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 0.09 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Finally, the equivalent concentration of ascorbic acid ranged between 10.42 ± 0.03 mg AAs/mL for M. piperita and 7.25 ± 0.19 mg AAs/mL for T. serpyllum. As determined by multivariate analysis, antioxidant activities through the DPPH, ABTS, TAC, and FRAP were mainly influenced the major compounds of M. pulegium and M. piperita EOs. However, the H₂O₂ method showed a stronger positive correlation with major compounds of T. zygis EO. Conclusion: The EOs derived from M. piperita, M. pulegium, T. serpyllum, and T. zygis species might be exploited as a natural source for antioxidant activity.

Hair is an intricate biological structure that originates from hair follicles (HFs), which are complex mini-organs embedded in the skin. Each HF undergoes continuous cycles of growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and rest (telogen), driven by intricate signaling pathways and interactions between epithelial and mesodermal cells. The development of HFs requires the interplay of several key signaling pathways, including Wnt, Shh, Notch, and BMP. The Wnt pathway is primarily involved in induction, Shh is essential for early organogenesis and later stages of cytodifferentiation, Notch signaling governs the fate of HF stem cells, and BMP plays a role in cytodifferentiation. Hair health is closely associated with psychological well-being and personal distress. While hair loss (alopecia) does not impact biological health, it significantly affects social well-being. Therefore, a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying HF development is crucial for developing treatments for hair-related problems and improving hair health. This knowledge has led to significant advancements in therapeutic applications, particularly in treating hair loss disorders, enhancing wound healing, and developing cosmetic treatments. This paper aims to review the molecular mechanisms involved in HF development, with an emphasis on their potential impact on human health and well-being.

Plants require essential macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K), but their availability in soil is often inefficient due to evaporation, leaching, and binding. Controlled-release fertilizers (CRFs) provide a solution by regulating nutrient release over time. This study evaluates the effects of two coating materials, polyethylene glycol (PEG) and humic acid, on the release patterns of N, P, and K during an 18-week incubation using Inceptisol from Bogor, Indonesia. Various CRF treatments were tested, including uncoated (A1, A2), PEG-coated (B1, B2), and humic acid-coated (C1, C2) formulations. Results showed that CRF with PEG (B2) demonstrated slower N release, with ammonium levels decreasing from 32.22% in week 1 to 9.36% by week 18. Nitrate release increased steadily from 26.37% to 37.36% between weeks 3 and 18. In contrast, CRF with humic acid (C2) showed slower nitrate release, reaching 36.26% by the end of incubation. P release patterns were similar across treatments, while K release was lowest in the humic acid-coated treatment (C2) at 24.48%. These findings underline the potential of coating materials like PEG and humic acid to optimize nutrient release, enhancing agricultural efficiency.