The Scientific World Journal最新文献

The outbreak of COVID-19 took the world by surprise and dealt a serious blow to the global economy. Even today, few drugs against SARS-CoV-2 infection have been proven useful, and repurposing existing antiviral therapies remains a major research area in the treatment of the disease. During previous viral outbreaks, therapies using convalescent plasma and related products have repeatedly been used as empirical approaches. Rapid preparation of convalescent plasma and hyperimmune globulins (hIVIGs) makes these two treatment options useful in dealing with outbreaks of emerging diseases. The current study presents a systematic roadmap concerning the guidelines, criteria, and regulations involved in plasma transfusion and the preparation of hIVIGs applicable to possible future viral outbreaks.

Crop yield prediction is a critical aspect of agricultural planning and resource allocation, with outlier detection algorithms playing a vital role in refining the accuracy of predictive models. This research focuses on optimizing crop yield prediction in the Davangere region through a thorough analysis of outlier detection algorithms applied to the local agricultural dataset. Six prominent algorithms, including isolation forest, elliptic envelope, one-class SVM, iterative R, spatial singular value decomposition (SSVD), and spatial multiview outlier detection (SMVOD), are systematically evaluated. The study emphasizes the significance of accurate crop yield predictions in local agriculture and assesses each algorithm's performance using precision, recall, accuracy, and F1 score metrics. Elliptic envelope demonstrates its efficacy in handling the unique characteristics of the Davangere dataset. This method demonstrated improved performance in refining the crop yield prediction model by identifying and removing outliers, thereby contributing to more accurate predictions and optimized planning in the dynamic landscape of the Davangere region.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) established a waste segregation system that provided plastic waste to feed a plastic recycling facility to improve solid waste management in 2017. However, since the establishment of the segregation system, there has not been any assessment to ascertain its efficiency. Hence, this research seeks to assess the efficiency of KNUST's waste segregation system. The study utilized a quantitative research approach method to assess the efficiency of the segregation system. A total of 500 randomly selected participants, including students, lecturers, administrators, cleaners, and other staff, participated in the survey. Also, to ascertain the efficiency of the segregation system, through stratified random sampling, 67 bins were selected for the segregation of plastic waste. The results indicated poor attitudes towards segregation, low adherence, and ineffectiveness. Analysis of the waste components generated on campus revealed that 64.7% of the participants generated paper as part of the total waste produced, a substantial 83.5% generated plastics, 82.5% generated food waste, and 28.2% generated tins/cans. A corresponding 9.4%, 11.24%, and 4.4% generated fiber bags, glass, and other waste types, respectively. The plastic waste stream consists of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE), and polystyrene (PS). Of the participants, 43.9% knew about waste segregation on campus, and 75.5% had seen the bins. Of the participants, 56.5% knew what the color codes of the bins meant. Barriers to effective segregation included low publicity, insufficient bins, and low monitoring. Management should intensify publicity, introduce more bins, and diversify the system.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2021/8868479.].

The inhabitants of the village of Mampa have developed a rich corpus of knowledge and practices for treating pathologies using plants that are worthy of preservation, perpetuation, and promotion. They draw on the region's rich biodiversity, particularly in the Miombo clear forest. However, to date, no documentation of their ethnomedicinal knowledge exists. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2022 and October 2023. It employed a direct, face-to-face interview with the Mampa village population and a guide questionnaire. A total of 400 respondents were included in the study (sex ratio M/F = 0.9; mean age: 48.0 ± 4.0 years; experience: 14.5 ± 2.0 years), and the majority (93.8%) reported that they learned about plants from their families. These individuals mainly use plants as a first-line treatment (100%) and provided information on 38 plants. The most commonly cited species were Anisophyllea pomifera and Brachystegia boehmii with 46 citations, while the most commonly used plant was Landolphia kirkii with six recorded uses. This is the first report of Entandrophragma delevoyi and Pterocarpus brenanii as medicinal plants. Most of these plants are trees, comprising 29 from 23 genera belonging to 24 families, with a notable prevalence of Fabaceae (10 plants). Thirty-two diseases are indicated for treatment, with a predominance of gastrointestinal disorders (8 recipes, 7 plants, 152 citations). The root is the most used organ, with 21 recipes and 14 plants, while decoction is the most common preparation method, with 41 recipes and 19 plants. This study's findings indicate that a significant number of medicinal plants are used in traditional Mampa medicine to treat various diseases. Some of these species are endemic to the Miombo biodiversity, while others are shared with other cultures and regions. A series of pharmacological studies are currently underway to validate some of the reported plant indications.

Nigerian soils are generally light-textured and have a low cation exchange capacity, crucial for retaining exchangeable cations like calcium, which enhances tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) shelf life. Therefore, screenhouse studies were conducted to assess the effects of calcium fertilizers on soil chemical properties and tomato growth, yield, quality, and shelf life. Five Ca fertilizer sources were tested: no fertilizer, calcium sulfate, calcium nitrate, poultry manure, and cow bone biochar. Each was applied at 160 kg Ca ha^-1 in a completely randomized design replicated three times. The soil used was classified as Alfisol. Results showed that applying different Ca sources improved soil chemical properties (organic matter, N, P, K, Ca, and Mg), plant growth (height and stem diameter), yield (fruit number and weight), and the mineral content of tomatoes. Results showed that calcium sulfate increased the Ca content of the soil by 1.25%, 9.82%, 20.11%, and 704% compared to calcium nitrate, poultry manure, biochar, and the control, respectively. Poultry manure enhances growth and yields the most due to its balanced nutrient supply. Poultry manure increased plant height by 10.1%, 11.2%, 20.3%, and 45.2% compared to calcium nitrate, calcium sulfate, biochar, and the control, respectively. Similarly, tomato fruit yield increased by 22.5%, 20.16%, 83.4%, and 382.5% relative to calcium nitrate, calcium sulfate, biochar, and the control, respectively. Relative to calcium nitrate, poultry manure, biochar, and control, calcium sulfate treatment reduced weight loss of tomato by 24.81%, 55.59%, 61.19%, and 104.99% and increased shelf life by 14.78%, 29.79%, 36.42%, and 69.44%, respectively. This effectiveness was attributed to its high Ca content. While poultry manure was effective in enhancing tomato yield and quality, it was not as effective as calcium sulfate in extending shelf life and reducing weight loss. Thus, future research should focus on the potential integration of poultry manure with calcium sulfate to develop an amendment that could improve yield, quality, and shelf life of tomatoes.

Solanum baumii Chatan and Promprom, a new species from Mukdahan Province, Phu Pha Yol National Park, northeastern Thailand, is morphologically described and illustrated. It is similar to Solanum barbisetum Nees and Solanum praetermissum Kerr ex Barnett, but it clearly differs from two latter species in several ways. Its young stems are armed with very few and thin prickles, which become unarmed as they age, with brownish-green prickles in live plants. The flowers are 4-5-merous, and the calyx tube is 5.0-5.5 mm long with brownish-green prickles, while the corolla is always white. The androecium consists of 4-5 stamens. The ovaries are glabrous except for sparsely glandular hairs near the apex, and the fruits are 1.0-1.2 cm in diameter, green at maturity. A key to these closely related species is presented. The preliminary conservation status was assessed, and the distinct morphological characters between the new and similar species were discussed.

In countries that have food security problems like Ethiopia, anchote (Coccinia abyssinica (Lam.) Cogn) holds promising potentials for food, feed, and industrial uses. Efficient utilization of such crops through in vitro propagation is limited due to constraints associated with growth medium components. The present study was therefore conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Ensete flour (bulla) as a substitute of agar for micropropagation of anchote using nodal explants. The experiment was conducted using different combinations of bulla and agar as a solidifying agent under completely randomized design (CRD) with factorial arrangement. The earliest and highest shoot initiation was observed when a combination of 75 g/L bulla and 2 g/L agar and 65 g/L bulla and 2.8 g/L agar was used as a solidifying agent, respectively. The highest average shoot number, 8.4 and 6.2, was recorded when 75 g/L bulla and 2 g/L agar and 65 g/L bulla and 2.8 g/L agar were used for micropropagation of red and white accessions, respectively. The maximum leaf counts were registered when the MS medium was supplemented with 75 g/L bulla and 2 g/L agar for red (7.6) and 65 g/L bulla and 2.8 g/L agar for white (7.0) accessions. The number of roots was the highest (12.6 and 12.4) on a growth medium supplemented with 65 g/L bulla and 2.8 g/L agar and 75 g/L bulla and 2 g/L agar for white and red accessions, respectively. The present finding showed that bulla has promising potential to substitute agar in plant tissue growth medium; however, characterization of its starch and identifying the primary active components are required.

Placing an intracanal medicament helps in the disinfection of primary root canals, and nanoparticles enhance the material properties by increasing the physical and chemical reactivity. The study was aimed at assessing the efficacy of calcium hydroxide+calcium hydroxide nanoparticles and zinc oxide+zinc oxide nanoparticles as an intracanal medicament when compared with calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide eugenol in terms of antibacterial efficacy and penetration depth. Forty extracted human primary teeth were included in the study. Of these, 40 teeth were divided into two subgroups-Group A (to assess antibacterial efficacy) and Group B (to assess penetration depth). The teeth in Group A were contaminated with an Enterococcus faecalis biofilm for 7 days, and CFU count was determined. Calcium hydroxide (A1), calcium hydroxide with calcium hydroxide nanoparticles (A2), zinc oxide with zinc oxide nanoparticles (A3), and zinc oxide eugenol (A4) were placed in the canals. CFU count was determined on Day 7 and Day 14. The teeth in Group B were also divided into calcium hydroxide (B1), calcium hydroxide with calcium hydroxide nanoparticles (B2), zinc oxide with zinc oxide nanoparticles (B3), and zinc oxide eugenol (B4) groups. Two teeth from each group were subjected to SEM analysis. A statistically significant difference was noted in the CFU count reduction on Day 7 in Group A2, Group A3, and Group A4. The highest penetration depth was noted in Group B2. The authors concluded that the antibacterial efficacy and penetration depth into dentin improved on incorporating calcium hydroxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Based on this conclusion, the authors recommend further in vivo studies with nanoparticles incorporated intracanal medicaments in primary teeth to determine their safety of use and feasibility in a clinical scenario.

Substance abuse among healthcare students is a growing issue across various regions, including the Middle East. Here, we investigate its prevalence and correlates in Jordan. The study utilized an online questionnaire consisting of demographics, attitudes toward substance abuse, the Drug Abuse Screening Test (DAST-10), and the prevalence and types of substances of abuse reported by the participants. A total of 465 students participated, including males (41.3%) and females (58.7%). The results revealed a high prevalence of substance abuse (13.76%), which correlated with DAST-10 scores (ρ = 0.442, p < 0.01) and was associated with experiencing suicidal thoughts (p < 0.01). Higher odds (p < 0.05) for substance abuse were observed with smoking (OR = 1.81), working (OR = 2.02), attending private universities (OR = 2.03), studying pharmacy compared to medicine, dentistry, and nursing (OR = 4.85) and being a second year student (OR = 3.23). However, it was not associated with gender, age, marital status, living arrangement, attended high school, GPA, and attending a course covering CNS drugs. In terms of attitudes, substance abuse was associated (p < 0.05) with the following: not believing that substance abusers should be punished or that childhood or friends contribute to substance abuse, believing that abusers cannot fully recover, and still wanting to interact with a healthcare provider who has a history of substance abuse. Lastly, seven drugs of abuse classes were identified, and the main reported class was benzodiazepines (22.6%). In conclusion, substance abuse is prevalent among healthcare students in Jordan and is associated with various demographic and attitude factors, which should be taken into consideration for developing interventional and preventative strategies to mitigate this issue.