Regression modelling strategies for projected and sustainable kraft pulping of wheat straw.

The demand for paper and paper-based packaging has seen a massive increase in past years, resulting in accelerated deforestation to meet the rising demand, negatively impacting the environment, and there is a need to look towards different non-woody raw materials. Kraft pulping (KP) is widely used in paper making, for which the chemical dose, temperature, time, and energy required must be optimized, for which many insignificant experimental trials are performed. An effort is made to solve this problem by developing the regression equations with the help of Excel using One Factor at a Time Analysis (OFAT), followed by carrying out design of experiments (DoE) using orthogonal approach and regression analysis in Minitab software. Life cycle Assessment (LCA) using the Open-LCA software estimates the effect of chemicals and energy required during pulping on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Using regression analysis, the equations for predicting kappa number, yield (%), total energy consumed, and mechanical properties of the paper sheet showed a good fit with an R2 value in the range of 0.90-0.99. Apart from that, the mechanical properties, namely tensile index (41.43 Nm/g), tear index (6.96 mN m2/g), bending stiffness (0.5 mN m), and burst index (3.92 kPa m2/g) of the unbeaten sheet, were determined experimentally at optimized conditions. Based on the Open-LCA result, the optimized pulping conditions had less impact on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. Industries can use the model to predict the values of kappa number, yield, mechanical properties, and energy consumption without performing optimization experiments that may impact the industry's economy to a greater extent.

Assessment of bioremediation potential of Calotropis procera and Nerium oleander for sustainable management of vehicular released metals in roadside soils.

Land transportation is a major source of heavy metal contamination along the roadside, posing significant risks to human health through inhalation, oral ingestion, and dermal contact. Therefore, this study has been designed to determine the concentrations of vehicular released heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu) in roadside soil and leaves of two commonly growing native plant species (Calotropis procera and Nerium oleander).Two busy roads i.e., Lahore-Okara road (N-5) and Okara-Faisalabad roads (OFR) in Punjab, Pakistan, were selected for the study. The data were collected from five sites along each road during four seasons. Control samples were collected ~ 50 m away from road. The metal content i.e. lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd) nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) were determined in the plant leaves and soil by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Significantly high amount of all studied heavy metals were observed in soil and plant leaves along both roads in contrast to control ones. The mean concentration of metals in soil ranged as Cd (2.20-6.83 mg/kg), Pb (4.53-15.29 mg/kg), Ni (29.78-101.26 mg/kg), and Cu (61.68-138.46 mg/kg) and in plant leaves Cd (0.093-0.53 mg/kg), Pb (4.31-16.34 mg/kg), Ni (4.13-16.34 mg/kg) and Cu (2.98-32.74 mg/kg). Among roads, higher metal contamination was noted along N-5 road. Significant temporal variations were also noted in metal contamination along both roads. The order of metal contamination in soil and plant leaves in different seasons was summer > autumn > spring > winter. Furthermore, the metal accumulation potential of Calotropis procera was higher than that of Nerium oleander. Therefore, for sustainable management of metal contamination, the plantation of Calotropis procera is recommended along roadsides.

Structural, thermodynamic, and magnetic properties of SrFe12O19 hexaferrite modified by co-substitution of Cu and Gd.

A hard magnetic system of SrFe12O19 nanomaterial was modified according to the composition of Sr0.95Gd0.05Fe12-xCuxO19 with x = 0.0, 0.30, and 0.60 using the sol-gel technique. The structures of the samples were evaluated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) along with Rietveld refinement, and an M-type hexaferrite with a hexagonal structure was confirmed with a trace amount of the α-Fe2O3 phase. In addition, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed polycrystalline nanoplates in all samples. Furthermore, the bond structures of the octahedral and tetrahedral sites along with the thermodynamic properties of these ferrites were extracted from the FTIR spectra at room temperature. The Debye temperature (θD) decreased from 755.9 K to 749.3 K due to the co-substitution of Gd3+ at Sr2+ and Cu2+ at Fe3+. The magnetic hysteresis (M-H) measurements revealed that the coercivity decreased from 5.3 kOe to 1.5 kOe along with the highest magnetization saturation (Ms) of 65.2 emu g-1 for the composition Sr0.95Gd0.05Fe11.7Cu0.3O19, which is suitable for industrial application. The effect of local crystalline anisotropy in magnetization was explored using the law of approach to saturation (LAS). Finally, thermo-magnetization was recorded in the range from 400 K to 5 K for cooling under zero field and in the presence of a 100 Oe field, and magnetic transitions were tracked due to the introduction of the foreign atoms of Gd and Cu into SrFe12O19.

Older women's experience with COVID-19 pandemic: A study of risk perception and coping among culturally and linguistically diverse population in South Australia.

BACKGROUND: A global catastrophe-the COVID-19 pandemic-appears to have two-dimensional health consequences for older adults: high risk of being infected and psychological distress. There is limited evidence on how the pandemic has impacted the life and coping of older adults who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), women in particular. This study explored the COVID-19 risk perception and coping strategies of older CALD women in South Australia. METHODS: A mixed-methods research design was employed, involving a 31-items coping and emergency preparation scale for survey and semi-structured interviews with participants. The older CALD women were approached through 11 multicultural NGOs. One hundred and nine women participants from 28 CALD communities completed the online surveys; 25 of them agreed to a telephone interview and provided their contact details. 15 older CALD women ultimately participated in interviews. RESULTS: Mean sum-score of dread risk, unknown risk, and fear (M: 43.5; SD: 4.9) indicated that the participants were somewhat anxious and worried. Mean sum-score of coping (M: 79.8; SD: 9.3) reported their compliance with expert advice and disinfection practices but accessing health information (M: 2.8; SD 1.4) and tendency to minimize anxiety (M: 2.1; SD: 1.2) were below neutral. Significant variations were found in coping in terms of age, meaning that the women aged 75 years and older were less likely to cope with the pandemic (P = 0.01). Emergency preparation differed based on the participants' residence and occupation status. The deductive-inductive thematic analysis of interview data was framed around three priori themes: risks of being affected, emotional and behavioral coping, and emergency preparation and access to services. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence shows a fear among the older CALD women with an endeavor to cope and prepare for emergency situations. This suggests the requirements for interventions that improve coping and reduce the risk of stress among them.

Activation of the lysosomal damage response and selective autophagy: the coordinated actions of galectins, TRIM proteins, and CGAS-STING1 in providing immunity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Autophagy is a crucial immune defense mechanism that controls the survival and pathogenesis of M. tb by maintaining cell physiology during stress and pathogen attack. The E3-Ub ligases (PRKN, SMURF1, and NEDD4) and autophagy receptors (SQSTM1, TAX1BP1, CALCOCO2, OPTN, and NBR1) play key roles in this process. Galectins (LGALSs), which bind to sugars and are involved in identifying damaged cell membranes caused by intracellular pathogens such as M. tb, are essential. These include LGALS3, LGALS8, and LGALS9, which respond to endomembrane damage and regulate endomembrane damage caused by toxic chemicals, protein aggregates, and intracellular pathogens, including M. tb. They also activate selective autophagy and de novo endolysosome biogenesis. LGALS3, LGALS9, and LGALS8 interact with various components to activate autophagy and repair damage, while CGAS-STING1 plays a critical role in providing immunity against M. tb by activating selective autophagy and producing type I IFNs with antimycobacterial functions. STING1 activates cGAMP-dependent autophagy which provides immunity against various pathogens. Additionally, cytoplasmic surveillance pathways activated by ds-DNA, such as inflammasomes mediated by NLRP3 and AIM2 complexes, control M. tb. Modulation of E3-Ub ligases with small regulatory molecules of LGALSs and TRIM proteins could be a novel host-based therapeutic approach for controlling TB.

Electrospun Cu-Co ferrite nanofibers: synthesis, structure, optical and magnetic properties, and anti-cancer activity.

In this study, we investigated Cu-Co ferrite nanofibers (NFs) that were synthesized for the first time employing the electrospinning technique. The structure, phase purity and crystallite size of all the prepared NFs were revealed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis. The NFs crystallized in the Fd3̄m (no. 227) space group and the cation distribution arrangement over distinct sites in their structure was analyzed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) together with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy analysis showed the microstructure of the NFs and verified their expected chemical compositions. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images confirmed the fibrous nature and the construction of the NFs. The band gap energies derived from the UV-vis reflectance spectra showed a blue shift with an increase in the amount of Cu in the sample from 1.42 eV to 1.86 eV. Magnetization (M) as a function of magnetic field (H) measurements performed at ambient and low temperatures showed the ferrimagnetic behavior of all the NFs. The magnetic parameters including coercivity (Hc), saturation magnetization (Ms), remanent magnetization (Mr), and squareness ratio were determined from the recorded magnetization curves. At 300 K, Ms was reduced from 78.8 to 42.4 emu g-1, Mr reduced from 22.8 to 7.6 emu g-1 and the Bohr magneton reduced from 3.3 to 1.8µB with an increase in the content of Cu in the samples. The same trend was observed at 10 K, where Ms was reduced from 93.7 to 50.9 emu g-1, Mr reduced from 60.9 to 35.9 emu g-1 and the Bohr magneton reduced from 3.94 to 2.16µB. Alternatively, Hc has the highest values for x = 0 (850 Oe at 300 K and 5220 Oe at 10 K) and x = 0.6 (800 Oe at 300 K and 5400 Oe at 10 K). The anti-cancer activity of the NFs was evaluated using the MTT cell viability assay, showing a reduction in the viability of both HCT-116 and HeLa cancer cells compared to non-cancerous HEK-293 cells after treatment with the NFs. Apoptotic activity was examined by DAPI staining, where treatment with the NFs induced chromatin condensation and nuclear disintegration in HCT-116 cells.

Polysaccharide-fecal microbiota-based colon-targeted self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system of curcumin for treating polycystic ovarian syndrome.

The gut microbiome is involved in the pathogenesis of many diseases including polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Modulating the gut microbiome can lead to eubiosis and treatment of various metabolic conditions. However, there is no proper study assessing the delivery of microbial technology for the treatment of such conditions. The present study involves the development of guar gum-pectin-based solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (S-SNEDDS) containing curcumin (CCM) and fecal microbiota extract (FME) for the treatment of PCOS. The optimized S-SNEDDS containing FME and CCM was prepared by dissolving CCM (25 mg) in an isotropic mixture consisting of Labrafil M 1944 CS, Transcutol P, and Tween-80 and solidified using lactose monohydrate, aerosil-200, guar gum, and pectin (colon-targeted CCM solid self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system [CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS]). Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic evaluation was carried out on letrozole-induced female Wistar rats. The results of pharmacokinetic studies indicated about 13.11 and 23.48-fold increase in AUC of CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS without FME (CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (WFME)) and CCM-loaded colon-targeted S-SNEDDS with FME [(CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS (FME)) as compared to unprocessed CCM. The pharmacodynamic study indicated excellent recovery/reversal in the rats treated with CCM-CT-S-SNEDDS low and high dose containing FME (group 13 and group 14) in a dose-dependent manner. The developed formulation showcasing its improved bioavailability, targeted action, and therapeutic activity in ameliorating PCOS can be utilized as an adjuvant therapy for developing a dosage form, scale-up, and technology transfer.

Spatial distribution of heavy metal abundance at distance gradients of roadside agricultural soil from the busiest highway in Bangladesh: A multi-index integration approach.

Bangladesh is currently experiencing significant infrastructural development in road networking system through the construction or reconstruction of multiple roads and highways. Consequently, there is a rise in traffic intensity on roads and highways, along with a significant contamination of adjacent agricultural soils with heavy metals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ecological risk, health risk and the abundance of seven heavy metals (Cu, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cr, As, and Ni) in three distance gradients (0, 300, and 500 m) of agricultural soil along the Dhaka-Chattogram highway. The concentration of heavy metals was measured with an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) on a total of 36 soil samples that were taken from 12 different sampling sites. Based on the findings, Cd had a high contamination factor for all distance gradients, whereas Cr had a moderate contamination factor in 67% of the study areas. According to the Pollution Load Index (PLI), Cd, Cr, and Pb were the predominant pollutants. Principal component analysis (PCA) result shows these metals mainly came from anthropogenic sources. The considerable positive correlations between Cu-Pb, Cu-Cd, Pb-Cd, and Cr-Ni all pointed to shared anthropogenic origins. As per Potential Ecological Risk Assessment (PERI) analysis, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni each contribute significantly and pose a moderate threat. The Target Hazard Quotient (THQ) values for all pathways of exposure to Pb and Cr in soils were more than 1, which would pose a significant risk to human health in the following order: THQadult female > THQadult male > THQchildren. This study will help to evaluate the human health risk and develop a better understanding of the heavy metal abundance scenario in the agricultural fields adjacent to this highway.

A zwitterionic probe for ratiometric fluorescent detection of aluminium(III) ion in aqueous medium and its application in bioimaging.

In the present study, we have synthesized an aminobenzoic acid containing Schiff base (compound 1) and its structure was confirmed through single crystal X-ray study. Importantly, the compound 1 crystallizes in the zwitterionic form, with an anionic carboxylate group (-COO-) and a cationic iminium group (-C = NH+-). The compound 1 is highly soluble in water due to its zwitterionic feature in the solid state. Interestingly, compound 1 acts as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the selective detection of Al3+ ion in aqueous solution without organic cosolvent. It can also detect Al3+ ion by visual colour change to bluish-green fluorescence under 365 nm UV light. The association constant between compound 1 with Al3+ ion was estimated to be 1.67 × 104 M-1. The lowest detection limit for Al3+ ion was calculated to be 7.05 × 10-8 M in water. Compound 1 in combination with Al3+ ion demonstrated fluorescent imaging potential of the nucleus of in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. In addition, the sensing model is developed as paper based sensor ''Test Kit' 'for its practical applicability.

Impact of green space and built environment on metabolic syndrome: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Metabolic Syndrome presents a significant public health challenge associated with an increased risk of noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular conditions. Evidence shows that green spaces and the built environment may influence metabolic syndrome. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published through August 30, 2023, examining the association of green space and built environment with metabolic syndrome. A quality assessment of the included studies was conducted using the Office of Health Assessment and Translation (OHAT) tool. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) assessment was used to evaluate the overall quality of evidence. Our search retrieved 18 studies that met the inclusion criteria and were included in our review. Most were from China (n = 5) and the USA (n = 5), and most used a cross-sectional study design (n = 8). Nine studies (50 %) reported only green space exposures, seven (39 %) reported only built environment exposures, and two (11 %) reported both built environment and green space exposures. Studies reported diverse definitions of green space and the built environment, such as availability, accessibility, and quality, particularly around participants' homes. The outcomes focused on metabolic syndrome; however, studies applied different definitions of metabolic syndrome. Meta-analysis results showed that an increase in normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) within a 500-m buffer was associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome (odds ratio [OR] = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.87-0.93, I2 = 22.3 %, n = 4). A substantial number of studies detected bias for exposure classification and residual confounding. Overall, the extant literature shows a 'limited' strength of evidence for green space protecting against metabolic syndrome and an 'inadequate' strength of evidence for the built environment associated with metabolic syndrome. Studies with more robust study designs, better controlled confounding factors, and stronger exposure measures are needed to understand better what types of green spaces and built environment features influence metabolic syndrome.

Preparation and evaluation of antidiabetic activity of mangiferin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles.

This study aimed to develop and optimize mangiferin-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (MG-SLNs) using the microemulsion technique and ultrasonication. The MG-SLNs were composed of Labrafil M 2130 CS, MG, ethanol, Tween 80, and water. The optimized MG-SLNs exhibited a particle size of 138.37 ± 3.39 nm, polydispersity index of 0.247 ± 0.023, entrapment efficiency of 84.37 ± 2.43 %, and zeta potential of 18.87 ± 2.42 mV. Drug release studies showed a two-fold increase in the release of MG from SLNs compared to the solution. Confocal images indicated deeper permeation of MG-SLNs, highlighting their potential. Molecular docking confirmed mangiferin's inhibitory activity against α-amylase, consistent with previous findings. In vitro studies showed that MG-SLNs inhibited α-amylase activity by 55.43 ± 6.11 %, α-glucosidase activity by 68.76 ± 3.14 %, and exhibited promising antidiabetic activities. In a rat model, MG-SLNs significantly and sustainably reduced blood glucose levels for up to 12 h. Total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased. Both MG-SOL and MG-SLNs reduced SGOT and SGPT levels, with MG-SLNs showing a more significant reduction in SGOT compared to MG-SOL. Overall, the biochemical results indicated that both formulations improved diabetes-associated alterations. In conclusion, the study suggests that loading MG in SLNs using the newly developed approach could be an efficient oral treatment for diabetes, offering sustained blood glucose reduction and positive effects on lipid profiles and liver enzymes.

Effect of gamma (γ-) radiation on the opto-structural and morphological properties of green synthesized BaO nanoparticles using Moringa Oleifera leaves.

In this current assessment, BaO synthesized from Moringa Oleifera leaves were irradiated using 0-75 kGy gamma radiation and investigated its physical impacts. The x-ray diffraction (XRD) data demonstrated the synthesis of tetragonal BaO, and no phase deviation was observed after irradiation. As doses are increased, the overall crystallite size were decreased due to an increase in defects and disorders. The tetragonal BaO was evident in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra prior to and following irradiation, while peak intensities and wavenumbers varied considerably. The as-prepared BaO showed a spherical shape morphology, and Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) indicated no vital deviations in it after irradiation. As irradiation shifts from 0 to 75 kGy, optical bandgap was increased from 4.55 to 4.93 eV, evaluated using Kubelka-Munk (K-M) equation from UV-vis-NIR spectrophotometer. Opto-electronic and photonic devices have challenges in extreme radiation conditions, such as space and nuclear environments. So, these assessments suggested that BaO can withstand high levels of gamma photon and could be a good option for photonic and optoelectronic instruments in an extreme gamma-ray exposed conditions.

Electrochemical and DFT Studies of the Pistacia Integerrima Gall Extract: An Eco-friendly Approach towards the Corrosion of Steel in Acidic Medium.

A novel application of the Pistacia integerrima gall extract as an environmentally friendly corrosion inhibitor is reported in this study. The major phytochemicals present in the gall extract, namely pistagremic acid, ß-sitosterol, pistiphloroglucinyl ether, pistaciaphenyl ester, naringenin, and 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one, play key roles in its anticorrosive behavior on steel in aggressive media. Several approaches were used to study the corrosion prevention activity of steel in 1 M H2SO4, including weight loss analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), and density functional theory (DFT). At 2000 mg L-1, the highest efficiency of 92.19% was observed in 1 M H2SO4. An SEM study was conducted to validate the surface coverage of the metal surface. DFT studies revealed several nucleophilic regions present in the phytochemicals of the inhibitor, which supported the favorable nucleophilicity. Corrosion studies have not been performed on this sample. Phytochemicals make it an effective corrosion inhibitor, and its extraction process utilizes distilled water, making it better than other inhibitors. It has been proven that the obtained values of ΔEInhDFT for pistiphloroglucinyl, pistaciaphenyl ether, and naringenin organic compounds were very low, confirming the high reactivity of these corrosion inhibitors. The order of the values of ΔEInhDFT is as follows: pistaciaphenyl ether > pistiphloroglucinyl ether > naringenin organic compound; this suggests that pistaciaphenyl ether is more reactive than the other compounds. In this study, P. integerrima gall extract emerges as a novel and highly effective corrosion resistance agent in 1 M H2SO4, chosen for its relevance to acid pickling and cleaning processes.

Impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: It is imperative to analyze the forces and moments produced by various auxiliaries in order to select the optimal attachments and, eventually, to maximize the efficacy and efficiency of orthodontic therapy. Through this investigation, we aimed to highlight the impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment on a pre/post treatment protocol basis. Methods: After a thorough search of the online journals, a total of 482 documents were found using keywords such as "Orthodontic Treatment", "Aligner Auxiliaries", "Elastic Ligatures" and "Tooth Movement." The database research, elimination of duplicate studies, data extraction and risk of bias were performed by the authors independently. This systematic review and network meta-analysis included prospective studies and clinical trials to evaluate research that had looked at the impact of various aligner auxiliaries on orthodontic activity in patients undergoing orthodontic treatment. Results: Eight investigations of varying designs were selected for this review. The majority of investigations revealed that aligner auxiliaries significantly improve anterior root torque, rotation, and mesio-distal (M-D) movement, as well as posterior anchoring. They also significantly improved anterior root rotation. However, few studies have presented inconsistent or non-statistically significant findings. Conclusion: Auxiliaries for aligners also appear to improve extrusion and other orthodontic movements, but there is insufficient evidence to support these claims. No research has examined posterior bucco-lingual expansion or tilting. Clarification of the effect of attachments and their related variables requires additional clinical investigations.

Disrupted mitochondrial response to nutrients is a presymptomatic event in the cortex of the APP SAA knock-in mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Introduction: Reduced brain energy metabolism, mTOR dysregulation, and extracellular amyloid-ß oligomer (xcAßO) buildup characterize AD; how they collectively promote neurodegeneration is poorly understood. We previously reported that xcAßOs inhibit N utrient-induced M itochondrial A ctivity (NiMA) in cultured neurons. We now report NiMA disruption in vivo . Methods: Brain energy metabolism and oxygen consumption were recorded in APP SAA/+ mice using two-photon fluorescence lifetime imaging and multiparametric photoacoustic microscopy. Results: NiMA is inhibited in APP SAA/+ mice before other defects are detected in these amyloid-ß-producing animals that do not overexpress APP or contain foreign DNA inserts into genomic DNA. GSK3ß signals through mTORC1 to regulate NiMA independently of mitochondrial biogenesis. Inhibition of GSK3ß with lithium or TWS119 stimulates NiMA in cultured human neurons, and mitochondrial activity and oxygen consumption in APP SAA mice. Conclusion: NiMA disruption in vivo occurs before histopathological changes and cognitive decline in APP SAA mice, and may represent an early stage in human AD.

Are all VapC toxins of Mycobacterium tuberculosis endowed with enigmatic RNase activity?

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) employs an extensive network of more than 90 toxin-antitoxin systems, and among them, VapC toxins are the most abundant. While most VapCs function as classical RNases with toxic effects, a significant number of them do not exhibit toxicity. However, these non-toxic VapCs may retain specific RNA binding abilities as seen in case of VapC16, leading to ribosome stalling at specific codons and reprofiling M. tb's proteome to aid in the bacterium's survival under different stressful conditions within the host. Here, we challenge the conventional classification of all VapC toxins as RNases and highlight the complexity of M. tb's strategies for survival and adaptation during infection.

Immunological Cross-Reactivity and Preclinical Assessment of a Colombian Anticoral Antivenom against the Venoms of Three Micrurus Species.

Snakebite accident treatment requires the administration of antivenoms that provide efficacy and effectiveness against several snake venoms of the same genus or family. The low number of immunogenic components in venom mixtures that allow the production of antivenoms consequently gives them partial neutralization and a suboptimal pharmacological response. This study evaluates the immunorecognition and neutralizing efficacy of the polyvalent anticoral antivenom from the Instituto Nacional de Salud (INS) of Colombia against the heterologous endemic venoms of Micrurus medemi, and M. sangilensis, and M. helleri by assessing immunoreactivity through affinity chromatography, ELISA, Western blot, and neutralization capability. Immunorecognition towards the venoms of M. medemi and M. sangilensis showed values of 62% and 68% of the protein composition according to the immunoaffinity matrix, respectively. The analysis by Western blot depicted the highest recognition patterns for M. medemi, followed by M. sangilensis, and finally by M. helleri. These findings suggest that the venom compositions are closely related and exhibit similar recognition by the antivenom. According to enzyme immunoassays, M. helleri requires a higher amount of antivenom to achieve recognition than the others. Besides reinforcing the evaluation of INS antivenom capability, this work recommends the use of M. helleri in the production of Colombian antisera.

Predicting m-health acceptance from the perspective of unified theory of acceptance and use of technology.

Addressing the growing popularity of mobile health (m-Health) technology in the health industry, the current study examined consumers' intention and behaviour related to the usage of digital applications based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT). In particular, this study quantitatively assessed the moderating role of perceived product value and mediating role of intention to use m-Health application among Indonesians. This study adopted a cross-sectional design and collected quantitative data from conveniently selected respondents through an online survey, which involved 2068 Telegram users in Indonesia. All data were subjected to the analysis of partial least square- structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). The obtained results demonstrated the moderating effect of perceived product value on the relationship between intention to use m-Health application (m-health app) and actual usage of m-Health app and the mediating effects of intention to use m-Health app on the relationships of perceived critical mass, perceived usefulness, perceived convenience, perceived technology accuracy, and perceived privacy protection on actual usage of m-Health app. However, the intention to use m-Health app did not mediate the influence of health consciousness and health motivation on the actual usage of m-Health app. Overall, this study's findings on the significance of intention to use m-Health app and perceived product value based on the UTAUT framework serve as insightful guideline to expand the usage of m-Health app among consumers.

The fungal endophyte Metarhizium anisopliae (MetA1) coordinates salt tolerance mechanisms of rice to enhance growth and yield.

The implementation of salt stress mitigation strategies aided by microorganisms has the potential to improve crop growth and yield. The endophytic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae shows the ability to enhance plant growth and mitigate diverse forms of abiotic stress. We examined the functions of M. anisopliae isolate MetA1 (MA) in promoting salinity resistance by investigating several morphological, physiological, biochemical, and yield features in rice plants. In vitro evaluation demonstrated that rice seeds primed with MA enhanced the growth features of rice plants exposed to 4, 8, and 12 dS/m of salinity for 15 days in an agar medium. A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the growth and development of MA-primed rice seeds after exposing them to similar levels of salinity. Results indicated MA priming in rice improved shoot and root biomass, photosynthetic pigment contents, leaf succulence, and leaf relative water content. It also significantly decreased Na+/K+ ratios in both shoots and roots and the levels of electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide, while significantly increasing proline content in the leaves. The antioxidant enzymes catalase, glutathione S-transferase, ascorbate peroxidase, and peroxidase, as well as the non-enzymatic antioxidants phenol and flavonoids, were significantly enhanced in MA-colonized plants when compared with MA-unprimed plants under salt stress. The MA-mediated restriction of salt accumulation and improvement in physiological and biochemical mechanisms ultimately contributed to the yield improvement in salt-exposed rice plants. Our findings suggest the potential use of the MA seed priming strategy to improve salt tolerance in rice and perhaps in other crop plants.

Pressure-induced tuning of physical properties in high-throughput metal halide MSn2Br5 (M = K, Cs) perovskites for optoelectronic applications.

The physical properties of the ferromagnetic oxide perovskites MSn2Br5 (M = K, Cs) were thoroughly examined using the GGA + PBE formalism of density functional theory. The investigation includes a comprehensive characterization of these materials under hydrostatic pressures ranging up to 25 GPa. Our work represents the first theoretical framework for exploring the behavior of MSn2Br5 (M = K, Cs) under pressure, providing valuable insights into their properties. To ensure the thermodynamic and mechanical stability of the studied compounds, we justified their stability through the analysis of formation energy and Born stability criteria. Furthermore, we conducted a thorough examination of the mechanical features of MSn2Br5 (M = K, Cs) based on various parameters, such as elastic constants, elastic moduli, the Kleinman parameter, the machinability index, and the Vickers hardness. Pugh's ratio and Poisson's ratio data show a ductile behavior for both compounds under stress. Moreover, our analysis of the refractive index suggests that both materials hold significant potential as candidates for ultrahigh-density optical data storage devices, particularly when subjected to appropriate laser irradiation. This finding opens up exciting possibilities for utilizing MSn2Br5 (M = K, Cs) in advanced optical technologies.