Development of an active biogenic silver nanoparticles composite film based on berry wax and chitosan for rabbit meat preservation.

This study aimed to develop an eco-friendly active biogenic nanocomposite film through the complexation of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), berry wax (BYW), and chitosan (CT) for maintiaing rabbit functional meat freshness. AgNPs were synthesized using Chinese medicinal paeoniaceae petal extract, and they were loaded at various concentrations (0.5 %, 0.75 %, 1.0 %, 1.25 %, and 1.5 % based on CT w/w) into the CT/BYW complex. The AgNPs exhibited an average size of 55 nm and a zeta potential of -26.3 mV with a spherical shape. The particle size and zeta potential of the film dispersions were 370.5-529.5 nm and 40.17-49.345 mV, respectively. FTIR, SEM, and XRD results showed compatibility among AgNPs and CT/BYW structure. The film water vapor permeability and light transparency decreased from 6.5 to 3.5 and 10 to 0.78 %, respectively, while opacity increased from 1.76 to 9.96 % with increasing concentrations of AgNPs. Among them, the film composite CT/BYW/AgNPs1.5% had better antioxidant and antibacterial properties, which was then applied for rabbit meat preservation at 4 °C for 16 days of storage. CT/BYW/AgNPs1.5%-packed sample had lower values of TVB-N, TBARS, TVC, and pH with greater retention of color properties compared to the control sample, which describes its ability to maintain meat freshness.

Molecular and microbial insights towards anaerobic biodegradation of anionic polyacrylamide in oil sands tailings.

Anionic polyacrylamide (A-PAM) is widely used as a flocculant in the management of oil sands tailings. Nevertheless, apprehensions arise regarding its potential biodegradation and environmental consequences within the context of oil sands tailings. Consequently, it is imperative to delve into the anaerobic biodegradation of A-PAM in oil sands tailings to gain a comprehensive understanding of its influence on tailings water quality. This work explored the dynamics of A-PAM biodegradation across concentrations: 50, 100, 250, 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg TS. The results showed a significant decrease in A-PAM concentration and molecular weight at lower concentrations (50 and 100 mg/kg TS) compared to higher ones, suggesting enhanced degradation efficiency. Likewise, the organic transformation and methane production exhibited dependency on A-PAM concentrations. The peak concentrations observed were 20.0 mg/L for volatile fatty acids (VFAs), 0.07 mg/L for acrylamide (AMD), and 8.9 mL for methane yield, with these maxima being recorded at 50 mg/kg TS. The biodegradation efficiency diminishes at higher concentrations of A-PAM, potentially due to the inhibitory effects of polyacrylic acid accumulation. A-PAM biodegradation under anaerobic condition did not contribute to acute toxicity or genotoxicity. SEM-EDS, FT-IR and XRD analyses further revealed that higher concentrations of A-PAM inhibited the biodegradation by altering floc structure and composition, thereby restricting the microbial activity. Major microorganisms, including Smithella, Candidatus_Cloacimonas, W5, XBB1006, and DMER64 were identified, highlighting A-PAM's dual role as a source of carbon and nitrogen under anaerobic conditions. The above findings from this research not only significantly advance understanding of A-PAM's environmental behavior but also contribute to the effective management practices in oil sands tailings.

Exploring the mechanism of transformation in Acacia nilotica (Linn.) triggered by colchicine seed treatment.

BACKGROUND: Acacia nilotica Linn. is a widely distributed tree known for its applications in post-harvest and medicinal horticulture. However, its seed-based growth is relatively slow. Seed is a vital component for the propagation of A. nilotica due to its cost-effectiveness, genetic diversity, and ease of handling. Colchicine, commonly used for polyploidy induction in plants, may act as a pollutant at elevated levels. Its optimal concentration for Acacia nilotica's improved growth and development has not yet been determined, and the precise mechanism underlying this phenomenon has not been established. Therefore, this study investigated the impact of optimized colchicine (0.07%) seed treatment on A. nilotica's morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical attributes under controlled conditions, comparing it with a control. RESULTS: Colchicine seed treatment significantly improved various plant attributes compared to control. This included increased shoot length (84.6%), root length (53.5%), shoot fresh weight (59.1%), root fresh weight (42.8%), shoot dry weight (51.5%), root dry weight (40%), fresh biomass (23.6%), stomatal size (35.9%), stomatal density (41.7%), stomatal index (51.2%), leaf thickness (11 times), leaf angle (2.4 times), photosynthetic rate (40%), water use efficiency (2.2 times), substomatal CO2 (36.6%), quantum yield of photosystem II (13.1%), proton flux (3.1 times), proton conductivity (2.3 times), linear electron flow (46.7%), enzymatic activities of catalase (25%), superoxide dismutase (33%), peroxidase (13.5%), and ascorbate peroxidase (28%), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl-radical scavenging activities(23%), total antioxidant capacity (59%), total phenolic (23%), and flavonoid content (37%) with less number of days to 80% germination (57.1%), transpiration rate (53.9%), stomatal conductance (67.1%), non-photochemical quenching (82.8%), non-regulatory energy dissipation (24.3%), and H2O2 (25%) and O-2 levels (30%). CONCLUSION: These findings elucidate the intricate mechanism behind the morphological, anatomical, physiological, fluorescent, and biochemical transformative effects of colchicine seed treatment on Acacia nilotica Linn. and offer valuable insights for quick production of A. nilotica's plants with modification and enhancement from seeds through an eco-friendly approach.

Assessment of heavy metals level in chicken with indeterminate analysis in localities of Lahore, Pakistan.

The poultry industry is a significant source of animal protein, vitamins, and minerals, particularly through the consumption of chicken meat. In order to conduct the study, 100 samples of liver, chicken feed, and drinking water were collected in nearby areas of Lahore. The investigation aims to detect the presence of specific heavy metals in the collected samples. For this purpose, atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) was used to detect heavy metals after proper preparation of the samples. The experimentally observed data were analyzed through a novel statistical approach known as neutrosophic statistics. It was observed that copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) were the most prominent metals detected with contamination above the safe limits (for chicken drinking water (Zn = 23.09±13.67 mg/L, Cu = 3.84±3.04 mg/L, Cd = 0.805±0.645 mg/L, Pb = 0.275±0.095 mg/L, As = 0.982±0.978 mg/L), for chicken feed (Zn = 2.705±0.715 mg/kg, Cu = 1.85±0.53 mg/kg, Cd = 3.065±1.185 mg/kg, Pb = 0.215±0.175 mg/kg, As = 0.68±0.22 mg/kg), and chicken's liver (Zn = 3.93±0.66 mg/kg, Cu = 1.2±0.52 mg/kg, Cd = 0.07±0.05 mg/kg, Pb = 0.805±0.775 mg/kg, As = 1.05±0.8 mg/kg)). Similarly, the statistical analysis leads that the findings emphasize the importance of monitoring and mitigating heavy metal contamination in the poultry industry to ensure the safety and quality of poultry products.

The potential effects of N-Acyl homoserine lactones on aerobic sludge granulation during phenolic wastewater treatment.

The formation of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is relatively difficult during the treatment of refractory wastewater, which generally shows small granular sizes and poor stability. The formation of AGS is regulated by N-Acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs)-mediated quorum sensing (QS). However, the potential role of AHLs in AGS formation under the toxic stress of refractory pollutants and the heterogeneity in the distribution and function of AHLs across different aggregates are not well understood. This study investigated the potential effects of AHLs on the formation of AGS during phenolic wastewater treatment. The distribution and succession of AHLs across varying granular sizes and development stages of AGS were investigated. Results showed that AGS was successfully formed in 13 days with an average granular size of 335 ± 39 µm and phenol removal efficiency of >99%. The levels of AHLs initially increased and then decreased. C4-HSL and 3-oxo-C10-HSL were enriched in large granules, suggesting they may play a pivotal role in regulating the concentration and composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The content of EPS constantly increased to 149.4 mg/gVSS, and protein (PN) was enriched in small and large granules. Luteococcus was the dominant genus constituting up to 62% after the granulation process, and exhibited a strong association with C4-HSL. AHLs might also regulate the bacterial community responsible for EPS production, and pollutant removal, and facilitate the proliferation of slow-growing microorganisms, thereby enhancing the formation of AGS. The synthesis and dynamics of AHLs were mainly governed by AHLs-producing bacterial strains of Rhodobacter and Pseudomonas, and AHLs-quenching strains of Flavobacterium and Comamonas. C4-HSL and 3-oxo-C10-HSL might be the major contributors to promoting sludge granulation under phenol stress and play critical roles in large granules. These findings enhance our understanding of the roles that AHLs play in sludge granulation under toxic conditions.

A nature-based closed-loop wastewater treatment system at vehicle-washing facilities: From linear to circular economy.

Pakistan, among the top five most water-stressed nations globally, grapples with water scarcity owing to inadequate treatment infrastructure and groundwater overextraction. We demonstrate a successful nature-based closed-loop system to treat wastewater from urban vehicle-washing facilities, previously reliant on groundwater. An eco-friendly integrated system containing floating treatment wetlands (FTWs), subsurface flow constructed wetlands (SSF-CWs), and sand filtration (SF) was designed and installed at three vehicle-washing facilities for wastewater treatment and reuse in a loop. While the system is still operational after years, a consistent and significant reduction in water quality indicators is recorded, successfully meeting the national environmental quality standards of Pakistan. By reducing per unit water treatment costs to as low as $0.0163/m³ and achieving payback periods under a year, the embrace of these closed-loop strategies vividly underscores the imperative of transitioning to a circular economy in the domains of wastewater treatment and resource conservation.

Exploring nature's filters: Peat-mineral mix for low and high-strength oilfield produced water reclamation.

Nature-based solutions are encouraged for treating oilfield produced water from oil and gas extraction, a crucial undertaking that aligns with the Canadian oil sands industry's ambitious goal of zero waste, and the globally recognized Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) pertaining to water conservation and ecosystem preservation. This study explored the use of peat-mineral mix (PMM), a leftover of inevitable oil sands mining, for treating low and high-strength wastewaters during biofiltration, which contained large molecular weight (44.3 kDa), which include alcohols, aliphatics, aromatics, and ketones, and can impart high toxicity to both fauna and flora (MicroTox: 99 %). The breakthrough curve indicated an effective initial adsorption phase driven by advection within the column dynamics. For complete organics removal and mechanistic insights, the wastewater was re-circulated in a continuous mode for up to 42 days. Here, we found that chemical oxygen demand was reduced from ∼85,000 mg/L to ∼965 mg/L). Kinetics investigations along with physicochemical characterization of PMM and wastewater suggested that chemisorption and anaerobic digestion contributed to the overall removal of contaminants. Chemisorption, led by hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions, was the dominant mechanism, with a limited contribution from physical adsorption (surface area: 2.85 m2/g). The microbial community within the PMM bed was rich/diverse (Shannon > 6.0; Chao1 > 600), with ∼ 50 % unclassified phylotypes representing 'microbial dark matter'. High electric conductivity (332.1 µS cm-1) of PMM and the presence of Geobacter, syntrophs, and Methanosaeta suggest that direct interspecies electron transfer was likely occurring during anaerobic digestion. Both low and high-strength wastewaters showed effective removal of dissolved organics (e.g., naphthenic acids, acid extractable fraction, oil and grease content), nutrients, and potentially toxic metals. The successful use of PMM in treating oilfield produced water offers promising avenues for embracing nature-based remediation solutions at oil refining sites.

Geographical distribution of radon and associated health risks in drinking water samples collected from the Mulazai area of Peshawar, Pakistan.

Geospatial methods, such as GIS and remote sensing, map radon levels, pinpoint high-risk areas and connect geological traits to radon presence. These findings direct health planning, focusing tests, mitigation, and policies where radon levels are high. Overall, geospatial analyses offer vital insights, shaping interventions and policies to reduce health risks from radon exposure. There is a formidable threat to human well-being posed by the naturally occurring carcinogenic radon (222Rn) gas due to high solubility in water. Under the current scenario, it is crucial to assess the extent of 222Rn pollution in our drinking water sources across various regions and thoroughly investigate the potential health hazards it poses. In this regard, the present study was conducted to investigate the concentration of 222Rn in groundwater samples collected from handpumps and wells and to estimate health risks associated with the consumption of 222Rn-contaminated water. For this purpose, groundwater samples (n = 30) were collected from handpumps, and wells located in the Mulazai area, District Peshawar. The RAD7 radon detector was used as per international standards to assess the concentration of 222Rn in the collected water samples. The results unveiled that the levels of 222Rn in the collected samples exceeded the acceptable thresholds set by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US-EPA) of 11.1 Bq L-1. Nevertheless, it was determined that the average annual dose was below the recommended limit of 0.1 mSv per year, as advised by both the European Union Council and the World Health Organization. In order to avoid the harmful effects of such excessive 222Rn concentrations on human health, proper ventilation and storage of water in storage reservoirs for a long time before use is recommended to lower the 222Rn concentration.

Integration of capacitive deionization and forward osmosis for high water recovery and ultrapure water production: concept, modelling and performance analysis.

Forward Osmosis (FO), a membrane desalination technology and Capacitive Deionization (CDI), an electrically operated desalination technology, are numerically integrated utilizing four different configurations for the high-water recovery rate and ultrapure water production from brackish water resource. To minimize the wastewater rejection, the CDI desorption stream is continuously fed to the FO unit, efficiently recovering the remaining freshwater. To produce ultrapure water, freshwater stream obtained from FO is provided to the CDI cell, which adsorbs the remaining dissolved solute particles. These two configurations serve the purpose of both industrial as well as domestic water supply requirements. Continuing this concept, the formation of the other two configurations allows us to obtain fresh water and ultrapure water simultaneously and up to a 90% freshwater recovery rate for the areas with inadequate supply. The performance parameters to assess the integration are the Water Recovery Rate (WRR) and Specific Energy Consumption (SEC). The first configuration (CDI-FO), proposed for a high freshwater recovery rate, resulted in 79.33% WRR with an SEC of 0.689kWh/m3. While, for the second configuration (FO-CDI), 34.25% water was recovered as 2.87 ppm ultrapure water along with 34.25% freshwater. The third proposed configuration (CDI-FO-CDI) had a WRR of 79.33%, 14.67% of which was recovered as ultrapure water of concentration 2.86 ppm. The fourth configuration (CDI-FO-FO) developed for high water recovery, removed the maximum of water from the feed stream with a WRR of 91.33% and remained energy-efficient, consuming an SEC of 0.908kWh/m3.

Organic seed priming with curtailed seed rate compensated wheat grains productivity by upgrading anti-oxidant status against terminal drought at flowering and milking.

Terminal irrigation drought stress is one of the most drastic abiotic stress to diminish the wheat crop development and grains yield in arid regions of the world. The use of moringa leaf extract (MLE30) via seed priming technique is investigated as an organic and sustainable approach for the mitigation of drought stress along with curtailed seed rate in wheat crop. The study investigated the interaction of organic seed priming: control (dry seeds), hydro-priming, MLE30-priming, seed rate: recommended @ 125 kg ha-1, curtailed @ 25 kg ha-1, and terminal irrigation drought (TID): normal irrigation, mild-TID, severe-TID in wheat crop at agronomic research station, Bahawalpur, Pakistan during the wheat winter season of 2021-2022 and 2022-2023. The application of organic MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity especially total soluble proteins by 15%, superoxide dismutase by 68%, peroxidase by 16%, catalase by 70%, ascorbic acid by 17% and total protein contents by 91% under severe-TID. Yield and yield-related morphological attributes performed better in MLE30-priming as compared to hydro-priming. An effective trend was observed in the plant's chlorophyll contents, K+, and water use efficiency after being treated with MLE30-priming followed by hydro-priming under curtailed seed rate. The higher benefit-cost ratio and net income return were observed with the application of MLE30-priming with curtailed seed rate under mild-TID and severe-TID. So, it is suggested to adopt the MLE30-priming technique along with a curtailed seed rate for improving the crop establishment, stress regulation, and economic return under limited availability of irrigation water. The project findings recommended that the application of exogenous application of organic MLE30-seed priming favored and compensated the maximum wheat grains production under curtailed seed rate @ 25 kg ha-1 and induced terminal drought stress at flowering and milking conditions.

Dual function of magnetic nanocomposites-based SERS lateral flow strip for simultaneous detection of aflatoxin B1 and zearalenone.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and zearalenone (ZEN) are two mycotoxins that often co-occur in corn. A surface-enhanced Raman scattering-based lateral flow immunoassay (SERS-LFIA) that can simultaneously detect AFB1 and ZEN in corn samples was developed employing the core-interlayer-satellite magnetic nanocomposites (Fe3O4@PEI/AuMBA@AgMBA) as dual-functional SERS tags. Under the optimal conditions, the detection ranges of AFB1 and ZEN in corn samples were 0.1-10 µg/kg and 4-400 µg/kg, respectively. Moreover, the test results for two mycotoxins in contaminated corn samples employing the suggested SERS-LFIA was in line with those of the HPLC technique. In view of its satisfactory sensitivity, accuracy, precision and short testing time (20 min), the developed system has a promising application prospect in the on-site simultaneous detection of AFB1 and ZEN.

Impact of climate change on potential distribution of Dickeya zeae causal agent of stalk rot of maize in Sialkot district Pakistan.

Maize (Zea mays) is an influential crop in its production across the world. However, the invasion of many phytopathogens greatly affects the maize crop yield at various hotspot areas. Of many diseases, bacterial stalk rot of maize caused by Dickeya zeae results in severe yield reduction, thus the need for efficient management is important. Further, to produce epidemiological information for control of disease outbreaks in the hot spot regions of Sialkot District, Punjab Pakistan, extensive field surveys during 2021 showed that out of 266 visited areas, the highest disease incidence ranging from 66.5 to 78.5% while the lowest incidence was ranging from 9 to 20%. The Maxent modeling revealed that among 19 environmental variables, four variables including temperature seasonality (bio-4), mean temperature of the wettest quarter (bio-8), annual precipitation (bio-12), and precipitation of driest month (bio-14) were significantly contributing to disease distribution in current and coming years. The study outcomes revealed that disease spread will likely increase across four tehsils of Sialkot over the years 2050 and 2070. Our findings will be helpful to policymakers and researchers in devising effective disease management strategies against bacterial stalk rot of maize outbreaks in Sialkot, Pakistan.

A comparative analysis of postoperative visual outcomes following cataract surgery with different brands of Monofocal Intraocular Lenses.

Objective: To compare visual outcomes after cataract surgery using three intraocular lenses (IOL) of different prices but similar properties. Methods: A comparative study with retrospective data of patients operated for phacoemulsification with monofocal IOL implants was carried out at Al-Ibrahim Eye Hospital (AIEH) from April 2021 to Feb 2022. Patients with diabetes, any preoperative ocular morbidity and unclear diagnosis were excluded from the study. Pre and post-operative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) on 1st day, 7th day and 4-6 weeks were analyzed. IOLs were categorized on the basis of price into economical, standard and premium lenses. To minimize surgical bias, data was further stratified on the basis of surgical expertise. Results: Data of 3237 patients was analyzed. Economical lens (A) was implanted in 2647, standard (B) in 254 and premium (C) in 336 patients. On average BCVA (6/6 to 6/12) was achieved in 88.2% of patients. No significant difference was found at third follow up among BCVA of three IOls operated by senior surgeon, χ2(2) = 3.216, p = 0.20, with median (IQR) is 0.2(0.2) logMAR for Group-A, 0.1(0.2) logMAR for Group-B and 0.2(0.1) logMAR for Group-C. When results of the rest of the surgeons was considered, significant difference was found among BCVA at 3rd follow-up, χ2(2) = 6.661, p = 0.036, with median (IQR) is 0.3(0.2) logMAR for Group-A, 0.2(0.1) logMAR for Group-B and 0.2(0.3) logMAR for Group-C. Conclusion: When surgical factors mainly, surgeon bias is removed, all three types of monofocal IOL had similar visual outcomes.

Recent trends and economic significance of modified/functionalized biochars for remediation of environmental pollutants.

The pollution of soil and aquatic systems by inorganic and organic chemicals has become a global concern. Economical, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions are direly required to alleviate the deleterious effects of these chemicals to ensure human well-being and environmental sustainability. In recent decades, biochar has emerged as an efficient material encompassing huge potential to decontaminate a wide range of pollutants from soil and aquatic systems. However, the application of raw biochars for pollutant remediation is confronting a major challenge of not getting the desired decontamination results due to its specific properties. Thus, multiple functionalizing/modification techniques have been introduced to alter the physicochemical and molecular attributes of biochars to increase their efficacy in environmental remediation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in developing multiple functionalized/modified biochars via biological and other physiochemical techniques. Related mechanisms and further applications of multiple modified biochar in soil and water systems remediation have been discussed and summarized. Furthermore, existing research gaps and challenges are discussed, as well as further study needs are suggested. This work epitomizes the scientific prospects for a complete understanding of employing modified biochar as an efficient candidate for the decontamination of polluted soil and water systems for regenerative development.

Berry wax improves the physico-mechanical, thermal, water barrier properties and biodegradable potential of chitosan food packaging film.

Chitosan (CT) is extensively applied in developing food packaging films due to its non-toxic, biodegradable, and good film-forming properties. But CT-based single polymer film has issues with poor physico-mechanical, thermal, and light barrier properties. Therefore, this study aimed to incorporate natural berry wax (BYW) at various concentrations (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 %, and 25 %, wt%) into CT to improve the quality characteristics of CT film. The microstructure of the film matrix was effectively proven to be compatible with BYW through the utilization of SEM, XRD, and FTIR spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the quality parameters of CT/BYW composite film were significantly affected by the increasing concentration of BYW. The integration of BYW with a concentration of 5 % to 20 % to CT substantially improved the film characteristics by reducing moisture content, swelling power, solubility, and water vapor permeability, increasing the film's opacity, thermal stability, and tensile strength as well as enhancing the biodegradable potential. Furthermore, CT/BYW films showed higher thermal stability and UV and visible light resistance compared to pure CT film. Taken together, the CT film with 20 % berry wax showed the best film characteristics and biodegradable potential, which could be promising for enhancing the shelf-life of various food products.

Improving the genetic potential of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) germplasm to tolerate salinity stress.

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L.) is the most consumed vegetable worldwide with the potential for diverse ecological adaptation. However, increasing salinization and changing climatic conditions are posing serious threats to the growth, yield, and quality of okra. Therefore, to mitigate increasing soil salinization and ensure sustainable okra production under rapidly changing climatic conditions, evaluation of new okra germplasm to develop salt tolerant cultivars is direly needed. The present study was designed to evaluate the genetic resources of okra genotypes for salt tolerance at growth and reproductive phases. Based on mophological and physio-biochemical responses of plants under stress condition, genotypes were divided into salt tolerant and succeptible groups. The experiment was comprised of 100 okra genotypes and each genotype was grown under control conditions and 6.5 dS m-1 NaCl concentration in a pot having 10 kg capacity. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and each treatment was replicated three times. The results showed vast genetic variability among the evaluated okra germplasm traits like days to emergence, pod length, pod diameter, plant height, stem girth, and other yield-related parameters. Correlation analysis showed a highly significant positive association among the number of leaves at first flower and plant height at first flower.Likewise, pod weight also revealed a highly significant positive relationship for pod weight plant-1, pod length, and K+: Na+. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed that out of 16 principal components (PCs), five components showed more than one eigenvalue and the first six PCs contributed 67.2% of the variation. Bi-plot analysis illustrated that genotypes 95, 111, 133, 99, and 128, under salt stress conditions, exhibited both high yield per plant and salt-tolerant behavior in other yield-related traits. On the basis of all studied traits, a salt susceptible group and a salt-tolerant group were formed. The salt tolerant group comprised of 97, 68, 95, 114, 64, 99, 111, 133, 128, and 109 genotypes, whereas, the salt susceptible group contained 137, 139, 130, 94, and 125 genotypes. Salt-tolerant okra genotypes were suggested to be used in further breeding programs aimed to develop salt tolerance in okra. These insights will empower precision breeding, underscore the importance of genetic diversity, and bear the potential to address the challenges of salt-affected soils while promoting broader agricultural resilience, economic prosperity, and food security.

Combined application of hot water treatment and eucalyptus leaf extract postpones senescence in harvested green chilies by conserving their antioxidants: a sustainable approach.

BACKGROUND: Green chili is the predominant vegetable in tropical and subtropical regions with high economic value. However, after harvest, it exhibits vigorous metabolic activities due to the high moisture level, leading to a reduction in bioactive compounds and hence reduced shelf life and nutritional quality. Low temperature storage results in the onset of chilling injury symptoms. Therefore, developing techniques to increase the shelf life of green chilies and safeguard their nutritional value has become a serious concern for researchers. In this regard, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of the alone or combined application of hot water treatment (HWT) (45 °C for 15 min) and eucalyptus leaf extract (ELE) (30%) on 'Golden Hot' chilies in comparison to the control. After treatment, chilies were stored at 20 ± 1.5 °C for 20 days. RESULTS: HWT + ELE-treated chilies had a significant reduction in fruit weight loss (14.6%), fungal decay index (35%), red chili percentage (41.2%), soluble solid content (42.9%), ripening index (48.9%), and reactive oxygen species production like H2O2 (55.1%) and O-2 (46.5%) during shelf in comparison to control, followed by the alone application of HWT and ELE. Furthermore, the combined use of HWT and ELE effectively improved the antioxidative properties of stored chilies including DPPH radical scavenging activities (54.6%), ascorbic acid content (28.4%), phenolic content (31.8%), as well as the enzyme activities of POD (103%), CAT (128%), SOD (26.5%), and APX (43.8%) in comparison to the control. Additionally, the green chilies underwent HWT + ELE treatment also exhibited higher chlorophyll levels (100%) and general appearance (79.6%) with reduced anthocyanin content (40.8%) and wrinkling (43%), leading to a higher marketable fruit (41.3%) than the control. CONCLUSION: The pre-storage application of HWT and ELE could be used as an antimicrobial, non-chemical, non-toxic, and eco-friendly treatment for preserving the postharvest quality of green chilies at ambient temperature (20 ± 1.5 °C).

From Pixels to Pathology: Employing Computer Vision to Decode Chest Diseases in Medical Images.

Radiology has been a pioneer in the healthcare industry's digital transformation, incorporating digital imaging systems like picture archiving and communication system (PACS) and teleradiology over the past thirty years. This shift has reshaped radiology services, positioning the field at a crucial junction for potential evolution into an integrated diagnostic service through artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies offer advanced tools for radiology's transformation. The radiology community has advanced computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) tools using machine learning techniques, notably deep learning convolutional neural networks (CNNs), for medical image pattern recognition. However, the integration of CAD tools into clinical practice has been hindered by challenges in workflow integration, unclear business models, and limited clinical benefits, despite development dating back to the 1990s. This comprehensive review focuses on detecting chest-related diseases through techniques like chest X-rays (CXRs), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), nuclear medicine, and computed tomography (CT) scans. It examines the utilization of computer-aided programs by researchers for disease detection, addressing key areas: the role of computer-aided programs in disease detection advancement, recent developments in MRI, CXR, radioactive tracers, and CT scans for chest disease identification, research gaps for more effective development, and the incorporation of machine learning programs into diagnostic tools.

Comparative efficacy of different salt tolerant rhizobial inoculants in improving growth and productivity of Vigna radiata L. under salt stress.

Worldwide, salinity severely affects agricultural production of crops such as mung bean in arid and semi-arid regions. In saline conditions, various species of Rhizobium can be used to enhance nodulation and induce salinity tolerance in maize. The present study conducted a pot experiment to determine the efficiency of three rhizobial isolates under different salinity conditions, such as 1.41, 4 and 6 dS m-1, on mung bean growth parameters, antioxidant status and yield. Results revealed that salt stress imparted adverse effects on the growth, antioxidants, yield and nodulation of mung bean. Under high salt stress conditions, fresh weights were reduced for roots (78.24%), shoots (64.52%), pods (58.26%) and height (32.33%) as compared to un-inoculated control plants. However, an increase in proline content (46.14%) was observed in high salt stressed plants. Three Rhizobium isolates (Mg1, Mg2, and Mg3), on the other hand, mitigated the negative effects of salt stress after inoculation. However, effects of Mg3 inoculation were prominent at 6 dS m-1 and it enhanced the plant height (45.10%), fresh weight of shoot (58.68%), root (63.64%), pods fresh weight (34.10%), pods number per plant (92.04%), and grain nitrogen concentration (21%) than un-inoculated control. Rhizobium strains Mg1, and Mg2 expressed splendid results at 1.41 and 4 dS m-1 salinity stress. The growth promotion effects might be due to improvement in mineral uptake and ionic balance that minimized the inhibitory effects caused by salinity stress. Thus, inoculating with these strains may boost mung bean growth and yield under salinity stress.