Natural radioactivity and heavy metal contamination in edible fish, shellfish and mollusks at the Bay of Bengal, Kuakata, Bangladesh.

In this study, gamma activity concentrations, gross alpha and gross beta activity of natural radionuclides, and heavy metal concentrations were measured in eleven edible marine fish, four shellfish, two mollusks, and a common seaweed sample collected from a local sea fish market and sea beach area of the northern part of the Bay of Bengal, Kuakata, Bangladesh. Using HPGe gamma spectrometry, the activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K were measured and found to be 19.7 ± 1.5 Bq/kg, 12.2 ± 0.9 Bq/kg, and 188 ± 15 Bq/kg, respectively, with the 232Th concentration surpassing that of 238U. The ZnS scintillation detector was used to assess the gross alpha and gross beta activity. The average gross alpha activity and gross beta activity were found to be 9.4 ± 1.4 Bq/kg and 26 ± 4 Bq/kg, respectively, with the latter attributed to beta emitting radionuclides's abundance. The activity concentrations of 238U, 232Th, and 40K in the analyzed samples varied in the order of Shellfish > Seaweed > Fish > Mollusks, Seaweed > Shellfish > Mollusks > Fish, and Seaweed > Shellfish > Fish > Mollusks. The annual effective dose due to consumption of analyzed seafood was found to be within the world limit of 2400 µSv/y recommended by UNSCEAR. The main contributor to the annual effective dose was 238U. The excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) results were below the permissible threshold of 10-3 for radiological risks. Furthermore, average concentrations of Zn and Mn were higher than WHO/FAO recommended values, and carcinogenic Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg concentrations were below detection limits, according to heavy metal analysis performed by AAS. The average concentration of heavy metals in all of the seafood samples under investigation was in the order of Zn > Fe > Mn. The calculated hazard index (HI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and estimated daily intake (EDI) were compared to the permissible safety limits.

Switch-like Gene Expression Modulates Disease Susceptibility.

A fundamental challenge in biomedicine is understanding the mechanisms predisposing individuals to disease. While previous research has suggested that switch-like gene expression is crucial in driving biological variation and disease susceptibility, a systematic analysis across multiple tissues is still lacking. By analyzing transcriptomes from 943 individuals across 27 tissues, we identified 1,013 switch-like genes. We found that only 31 (3.1%) of these genes exhibit switch-like behavior across all tissues. These universally switch-like genes appear to be genetically driven, with large exonic genomic structural variants explaining five (~18%) of them. The remaining switch-like genes exhibit tissue-specific expression patterns. Notably, tissue-specific switch-like genes tend to be switched on or off in unison within individuals, likely under the influence of tissue-specific master regulators, including hormonal signals. Among our most significant findings, we identified hundreds of concordantly switched-off genes in the stomach and vagina that are linked to gastric cancer (41-fold, p<10-4) and vaginal atrophy (44-fold, p<10-4), respectively. Experimental analysis of vaginal tissues revealed that low systemic levels of estrogen lead to a significant reduction in both the epithelial thickness and the expression of the switch-like gene ALOX12. We propose a model wherein the switching off of driver genes in basal and parabasal epithelium suppresses cell proliferation therein, leading to epithelial thinning and, therefore, vaginal atrophy. Our findings underscore the significant biomedical implications of switch-like gene expression and lay the groundwork for potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

CDK9 inhibition inhibits multiple oncogenic transcriptional and epigenetic pathways in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9) stimulates oncogenic transcriptional pathways in cancer and CDK9 inhibitors have emerged as promising therapeutic candidates. METHODS: The activity of an orally bioavailable CDK9 inhibitor, CDKI-73, was evaluated in prostate cancer cell lines, a xenograft mouse model, and patient-derived tumor explants and organoids. Expression of CDK9 was evaluated in clinical specimens by mining public datasets and immunohistochemistry. Effects of CDKI-73 on prostate cancer cells were determined by cell-based assays, molecular profiling and transcriptomic/epigenomic approaches. RESULTS: CDKI-73 inhibited proliferation and enhanced cell death in diverse in vitro and in vivo models of androgen receptor (AR)-driven and AR-independent models. Mechanistically, CDKI-73-mediated inhibition of RNA polymerase II serine 2 phosphorylation resulted in reduced expression of BCL-2 anti-apoptotic factors and transcriptional defects. Transcriptomic and epigenomic approaches revealed that CDKI-73 suppressed signaling pathways regulated by AR, MYC, and BRD4, key drivers of dysregulated transcription in prostate cancer, and reprogrammed cancer-associated super-enhancers. These latter findings prompted the evaluation of CDKI-73 with the BRD4 inhibitor AZD5153, a combination that was synergistic in patient-derived organoids and in vivo. CONCLUSION: Our work demonstrates that CDK9 inhibition disrupts multiple oncogenic pathways and positions CDKI-73 as a promising therapeutic agent for prostate cancer, particularly aggressive, therapy-resistant subtypes.

Human and ecological risk assessments of potentially toxic elements in sediments around a pharmaceutical industry.

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in sediment can be highly hazardous to the environment and public health. This study aimed to assess the human and ecological risks of PTEs in sediments around a pharmaceutical industry in Ilorin, Nigeria. Physicochemical parameters and the concentrations of lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), arsenic (As), and nickel (Ni) were analyzed in sediment samples collected from seven locations in the wet and dry seasons. Standard two-dimensional principal component analysis (PCA) and risk assessments were also conducted. The concentrations of Pb, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd, and As in the sediments ranged from 0.001 to 0.031 mg/kg, 0-0.005 mg/kg, 0.005-0.012 mg/kg, 0.001-0.014 mg/kg, 0.005-0.024 mg/kg, and 0.001-0.012 mg/kg, respectively. The mean concentrations of the total PTEs content were found in decreasing order of concentration: Pb > Cd > Ni > Cr > As > Co. PCA showed that some of the PTEs were highly concentrated in samples obtained at other locations as well as at the discharge point. The Hazard Index was mostly <1 across locations, indicating little to no probable non-cancerous effect. However, the incremental lifetime cancer risk for arsenic and nickel was high and required attention. The ecological risk assessment showed that lead and arsenic were the major PTEs pollutants in all locations. The study identifies PTEs profiles in sediments and emphasises the necessity of continual monitoring and action to stop long-term negative impacts on the local environment and public health.

Inclined Curved Crack Composite Beam: Experimental and Computational Analysis with Recycled Aluminum Composite Materials and Comparison with an Artificial Neural Network.

This research focuses on an inclined curved crack model for a recycled aluminum composite beam at various crack depths and locations. The inclined curved crack equation of the motion, by governing a free vibration curved beam with a different depth of crack, is solved computationally via the differential quadrature method (DQM) and experimentally; additionally, the result of the natural frequency has been compared with various depths of curvature. For the first four modes of cracked beams, the computational method's output is used to determine the natural frequencies associated with mode shapes. The outcomes of the computational results suggested a structural health monitoring system to detect deterioration in composite structures when modal parameters have changed. An experimental set of results was validated using MATLAB2019a, and the outcomes were compared with an artificial neural network.

Beneficiation of Low-Grade Hematite Iron Ore Fines by Magnetizing Roasting and Magnetic Separation.

Present investigation includes the magnetizing roasting of low-grade iron ore fines followed by grinding and beneficiation using magnetic separation. The hematite iron ore used in the investigation contains 53.17% T Fe, 10.7% SiO2, and 4.5% Al2O3. Powdered bituminous coal of 210 µm size with an ash content of 12.5% and fixed carbon of 54.25% was used as reductant during magnetizing roasting. Optical microstructures have shown where iron and silicate minerals are found and how they are interconnected. Hematite is the most abundant material in the specimen and is found in fine- and medium-sized grains. Hematite emerged as the predominant iron-bearing mineral, accompanied by magnetite and goethite phases in smaller proportions according to XRD analyses. The primary gangue mineral identified by scanning electron microscopy is quartz, with gibbsite, feldspar, and pyrolusite present in lesser levels. The effects of iron/coal ratio, roasting time, and roasting temperature were considered as variable parameters. Hematite ore's magnetic characteristics were significantly impacted by magnetizing roasting. By selectively magnetizing roasting, hematite is transformed into magnetite. With an Fe grade of 65.25% at a recovery value of 72.5% in the concentrate, magnetic separation produced the greatest result for Fe. The performance of magnetization and therefore the magnetic separation process were shown to be significantly impacted by temperature, reductant %, and roasting duration in this investigation.

Exploring risk factors and molecular targets in leukemia patients with COVID-19: a bioinformatics analysis of differential gene expression.

The molecular mechanism of COVID-19's pathogenic effects in leukemia patients is still poorly known. Our study investigated the possible disease mechanism of COVID-19 and its associated risk factors in patients with leukemia utilizing differential gene expression analysis. We also employed network-based approaches to identify molecular targets that could potentially diagnose and treat COVID-19-infected leukemia patients. Our study demonstrated a shared set of 60 genes that are expressed differentially among patients with leukemia and COVID-19. Most of these genes are expressed in blood and bone marrow tissues and are predominantly implicated in the pathogenesis of different hematologic malignancies, increasingly imperiling COVID-19 morbidity and mortality among the affected patients. Additionally, we also found that COVID-19 may influence the expression of several cancer-associated genes in leukemia patients, such as CCR7, LEF1, and 13 candidate cancer-driver genes. Furthermore, our findings reveal that COVID-19 may predispose leukemia patients to altered blood homeostasis, increase the risk of COVID-19-related liver injury, and deteriorate leukemia-associated injury and patient prognosis. Our findings imply that molecular signatures, like transcription factors, proteins such as TOP21, and 25 different microRNAs, may be potential targets for diagnosing and treating COVID-19-infected leukemia patients. Nevertheless, additional experimental studies will contribute to further validating the study's findings.

Mesenteric cystic lymphangioma in an adolescent male; a diagnostic dilemma: A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Hemolymphangioma, a rare type of lymphangioma, is a benign hamartoma of the blood vessels and lymphatic system. Considered to be extremely rare among adults with infrequent occurrence in abdominal regions, lymphangioma involving mesentery accounts for <1 % of cases and only 0.05 % involve the GI tract. Due to the absence of typical clinical presentation, making a confirmatory preoperative diagnosis is challenging. CASE PRESENTATION: An 18-year-old Bangladeshi man visited the hospital with the complaints of epigastric and umbilical pain for 15 days which was insidious in onset. Physical examination revealed an ill defined lump that was palpable on the right side of the abdomen. Ultrasonography showed multiloculated cystic mass having septation approximately 13 × 6 cm in size. An abdominal CT scan showed cystic lesion with septations measuring about 14.5 × 12.3 cm, compressing the bowel loops towards left, that was suggestive of mesenteric lymphangioma. The patient underwent partial surgical resection. The excised mass was sent for histopathology. Histopathology disclosed a benign tumor composed of proliferation of blood vessels of different sizes lined by endothelium in a fibromuscular stroma. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Mesenteric lymphangiomas are infrequent malformations and very few cases of mesenteric hemolymphangioma have been reported in adults. Histopathology is required for confirmatory diagnosis and immunohistochemistry is required to differentiate the tumor subtype. Surgical resection is deemed a standard treatment modality. CONCLUSION: We report an extremely rare case of mesenteric hemolymphangioma to bring it to concern that even with the vague clinical presentations and involvement of age groups beyond the status quo, surgeons must be vigilant about abdominal MCL/hemolymphangioma and proceed accordingly.

From Theory to Practice: A Sustainable Solution to Water Scarcity by Using a Hybrid Solar Distiller with a Heat Exchanger and Aluminum Oxide Nanoparticles.

The study presently conducted focused on analyzing a solar-powered desalination setup that had a double slope. It can recycle blackish water into drinking water with solar energy. Not only does this result in a significant decrease in carbon emissions but it also represents an environmentally beneficial alternative that is particularly suited for arid locations that are lacking of electrical infrastructure. This system was equipped with a PVT system which makes the system self-sustainable and a CPC collector and implemented the use of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles to enhance its energy efficiency. Energy matrices, economic analysis, and life cycle conversion efficiency were evaluated. The study was conducted annually in New Delhi, with input data provided by IMD in Pune, India. MATLAB was used for the analytical calculations. Energy and exergy were utilized to determine the average annual energy output, which was found to be 8.5%. Additionally, the average energy payback time was calculated to be 16.16%, the average energy payback factor was 13.91%, and the average life cycle cost conversion efficiency was 7.15% higher. The proposed system demonstrated superior performance compared to the previous system in terms of annual yield, energy payback time (EPBT), efficiency of life cycle cost (LCCE), and factor of energy payback (EPBF). The hybrid system has the potential to meet the future demand for potable water and become self-sustainable.

GO/CuO Nanohybrid-Based Carbon Dioxide Gas Sensors with an Arduino Detection Unit.

A gas sensor is a device that detects the presence of gases in a specific area. This research work demonstrates the effectiveness of gas sensors based on graphene oxide (GO) and copper oxide (CuO) semiconductor nanomaterials for the detection of carbon dioxide. GO and CuO were prepared by the modified Hummer's method and precipitation method using CuCl2 as a precursor, respectively. These materials are made into a hybrid using poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP) polymer solutions of low concentrations and are spin coated onto the pattern-etched copper-clad substrate. The sensor is tested using a source measurement unit (SMU) to obtain the change in the resistance of the sensor in open air and in a carbon dioxide environment. The fabricated sensor with an Arduino microcontroller detection unit showed a good sensing response of 60%.

Valorization of mustard and sesame oilseed cakes for food application through eco-innovative technologies.

Agricultural waste valorization is currently getting attention across the world owing to its environmental impact and rich phytochemistry. The mandate of the current investigation was the extraction and characterization of bioactive moieties from the mustard oilseed cake/meal MOC and sesame oilseed cake/meal SOC through ultrasound extraction (UE) techniques due to its higher yield and less burden on the environment as compared to conventional extraction (CE). Purposely, the MOC and SOC were initially subjected to compositional analysis. Thereafter, bioactive moieties were extracted by using different solvents, that is, ethanol and distilled water, and by applying conventional and ultrasonic extraction techniques. The outcomes indicated that among the techniques, ultrasound exhibited the highest results, and in solvents, ethanol performed better. The treatment extracted with ethanol with UE at 10 min showed the best result for total phenolic contents (TPC) as (6.07 ± 0.03 09 g GAE/100 g MOC) and (7.09 ± 0.04 g GAE/100 g SOC), DPPH radical scavenging activity (67.3 ± 1.9 TE/100 g MOC) & (72.68 ± 1.9 TE/100 g SOC), and FRAP was recorded as (2.83 ± 0.02 g TE/100 g MOC) & (3.56 ± 0.03 g TE/100 g SOC). The higher antioxidant potential showed that the mustard and sesame waste holds significant therapeutic potential owing to its rich antioxidant profile and thus should be utilized for the development of functional products against lifestyle-related disorders. In conclusion, ultrasound is a better technique for maximum as well as accurate extraction, with ethanol exhibiting as a better solvent for this process with more yields as compared to distilled water.

Evolutionary trend of bovine ß-defensin proteins toward functionality prediction: A domain-based bioinformatics study.

Defensins are small cationic cysteine-rich and amphipathic peptides that form of three-dimensional ß-strand structure connected by disulfide bonds. Defensins form key elements of the innate immune system of multicellular organisms. They not only possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but also have diverse roles, including cell signaling, ion channel agitation, toxic functions, and enzyme inhibitor activities in various animals. Although the role of ß-defensins in immune responses against infectious agents and reproduction could be significant, inadequate genomic information is available to explain the whole ß-defensin repertoire in cattle. No domain or motif-based functional analyses have been previously reported. In addition, how do defensins possess this magnitude of functions in the immune system is still not clear. Our present study, therefore, investigated the sequence divergence and evolutionary relations of bovine defensin proteins with those of humans. Our domain-based evolutionary analysis revealed four major clusters with significant domain variation while reserving a main antimicrobial activity. Our study revealed the ß-defensin domain as the ancestor domain, and it is preserved in the first group of defensin protein with no α-helix in its structure. Due to natural selection, some domains have evolved independently within clusters II and III, while some proteins have lost their domain characteristics. Cluster IV contains the most recently evolved domains. Some proteins of all but cluster I might have adopted the functional characteristics of α-defensins which is largely absent in cattle. The proteins show different patterns of disulfide bridges and multiple signature patterns which might render them specialized functions in different tissue to combat against various pathogens.

Recent Development of Halide Perovskite Materials and Devices for Ionizing Radiation Detection.

Ionizing radiation such as X-rays and γ-rays has been extensively studied and used in various fields such as medical imaging, radiographic nondestructive testing, nuclear defense, homeland security, and scientific research. Therefore, the detection of such high-energy radiation with high-sensitivity and low-cost-based materials and devices is highly important and desirable. Halide perovskites have emerged as promising candidates for radiation detection due to the large light absorption coefficient, large resistivity, low leakage current, high mobility, and simplicity in synthesis and processing as compared with commercial silicon (Si) and amorphous selenium (a-Se). In this review, we provide an extensive overview of current progress in terms of materials development and corresponding device architectures for radiation detection. We discuss the properties of a plethora of reported compounds involving organic-inorganic hybrid, all-inorganic, all-organic perovskite and antiperovskite structures, as well as the continuous breakthroughs in device architectures, performance, and environmental stability. We focus on the critical advancements of the field in the past few years and we provide valuable insight for the development of next-generation materials and devices for radiation detection and imaging applications.

Anti-Leukaemic Activity of Rilpivirine Is Mediated by Aurora A Kinase Inhibition.

Acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) affects predominantly elderly people and has an incidence of 1% of all cancers and 2% of all cancer deaths. Despite using intensive chemotherapy and allogeneic stem cell transplantation, the treatment options for AML remain open for innovation. Thus, there is a need to explore alternative therapies such as less toxic targeted therapies in AML. Aurora A kinase is a well-established target for the treatment of various cancers, including AML. This kinase plays a pivotal role in the cell-division cycle, particularly in different stages of mitosis, and is also involved in many other cellular regulatory processes. In a previous study, we demonstrated that the anti-viral drug rilpivirine is an Aurora A kinase inhibitor. In the current study, we have further explored the selectivity of rilpivirine for Aurora A kinase inhibition by testing this drug against a panel of 429 kinases. Concurrently, we demonstrated that rilpivirine significantly inhibited the proliferation of AML cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner that was preceded by G2/M cell-cycle arrest leading to the induction of apoptosis. Consistent with its kinase inhibitory role, rilpivirine modulated the expression of critical proteins in the Aurora A kinase-signalling pathway. Importantly, orally administered rilpivirine significantly inhibited tumour growth in an HL-60 xenograft model without showing body weight changes or other clinical signs of toxicity. Furthermore, rilpivirine enhanced the anti-proliferative efficacy of the conventional anti-leukaemic chemotherapeutic agent cytarabine. Collectively, these findings provide the stimulus to explore further the anti-leukaemic activity of the anti-viral drug rilpivirine.

Isolation of multidrug resistance bacteria from the patients with wound infection and their antibiotics susceptibility patterns: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Antimicrobial resistance has become one of the most severe public problems in both developed and developing countries like Bangladesh. In this study, several multi-drug resistant bacteria were isolated from the wound infections and demonstrated their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in Bangladeshi patients. Methods: A total of 699 bacterial isolates were collected from wound swabs and each isolate was identified using gram staining, biochemical assays, antibiotic susceptibility tests with the disk diffusion method, and colony morphology. Samples were taken from January 2018 to December 2019. The analysis was conducted using SPSS (Inc., Chicago, IL, USA), and descriptive statistics were employed to illustrate the findings. Results: We have found 14.4% gram-positive bacteria (n = 100) and 85.6% gram-negative bacteria (n = 595) among the 695 samples by gram staining methods. The most prevalent gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria present in wound infections were Staphylococcus spp. (81.5%) and Pseudomonas spp. (89%), respectively. Antimicrobials that were mostly resistant to gram-negative isolates were Amoxicillin (75.8%), Cefixime (75.5%), Cefuroxime (70.3%), and Ceftazidime (69.6%). On the other hand, cefixime and ceftazidime accounted for 73% of the resistance against gram-positive isolates, followed by amoxicillin (71%), and penicillin-G (69%). Meropenem was found to be the most sensitive antibiotic for gram-negative bacteria. Meropenem and Gentamycin were found to have a percentage of sensitivity for gram-positive bacteria. Based on the assessment of 13 different antimicrobial classes, the percentage of multi-drug resistant bacteria identified in gram-negative bacteria was 84% and in gram-positive bacteria was 79%. Among gram-negative bacterial isolates, 82% pseudomonas spp, 88.5% Klebsiella spp, and 91.6% Proteus spp were reported as multi-drug resistant. On the other hand, Pseudomonas spp, Klebsiella spp, and Proteus spp. were found to be multi-drug resistant in 82%, 88.5%, and 91.6% of gram-negative bacterial isolates, respectively. It was shown that staphylococcus aureus (81%) and staphylococcus spp (78.6%) became gram-positive among gram-positive isolates. Conclusion: According to this study, frequently isolated bacteria have a high frequency of MDR, which is the most pressing issue in public health. This study helps to manage the evidence-based treatment strategy and the urgency of early identification of drug-resistant bacteria that can reduce disease burden.

Therapeutic application of carvacrol: A comprehensive review.

Carvacrol is a major natural constituent and is significantly present as an essential oil in aromatic plants and is well known for its numerous biological activities. Therapeutic properties of carvacrol have been demonstrated as anti-oxidant, anticancer, diabetes prevention, cardioprotective, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective and reproductive role, antiaging, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. The carvacrol biosynthesis has been mediated through mevalonate pathway. Carvacrol has the anticancer ability against malignant cells via decreasing the expressions of matrix metalloprotease 2 and 9, inducing apoptosis, enhancing the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins, disrupting mitochondrial membrane, suppressing extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction, and also decreasing the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B. It also decreased the concentrations of alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as also restored liver function, insulin level, and plasma glucose level. Carvacrol also has been found to exert antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Coagulase-negative staphylococcus, Salmonella spp., Enterococcus sp. Shigella, and Escherichia coli. The current review article summarizes the health-promoting perspectives of carvacrol through various pathways.

Combined In Silico and In Vitro Evidence Supporting an Aurora A Kinase Inhibitory Role of the Anti-Viral Drug Rilpivirine and an Anti-Proliferative Influence on Cancer Cells.

The global burden of cancer necessitates rapid and ongoing development of effective cancer therapies. One promising approach in this context is the repurposing of existing non-cancer drugs for cancer indications. A key to this approach is selecting the cellular targets against which to identify novel repurposed drugs for pre-clinical analysis. Protein kinases are highly sought-after anticancer drug targets since dysregulation of kinases is the hallmark of cancer. To identify potential kinase-targeted drug candidates from the existing portfolio of non-cancer therapeutics, we used combined in silico and in vitro approaches, including ligand-based 3D screening followed by biochemical and cellular assessments. This strategy revealed that the anti-viral drug rilpivirine is an Aurora A kinase inhibitor. In view of previous findings implicating Aurora A kinase in abnormal cell cycle regulation, we also examined the influence of rilpivirine on the growth of T47D breast cancer cells. Herein, we detail the identification of rilpivirine as an Aurora A kinase inhibitor, its molecular basis of inhibitory activity towards this kinase, and its Aurora A-mediated anticancer mechanisms in T47D cells. Our results illustrate the value of integrated in silico and in vitro screening strategies in identifying repurposed drug candidates and provide a scientific basis for further exploring the potential anticancer properties of the anti-viral drug rilpivirine.

Streptomyces: The biofactory of secondary metabolites.

Natural products derived from microorganisms serve as a vital resource of valuable pharmaceuticals and therapeutic agents. Streptomyces is the most ubiquitous bacterial genus in the environments with prolific capability to produce diverse and valuable natural products with significant biological activities in medicine, environments, food industries, and agronomy sectors. However, many natural products remain unexplored among Streptomyces. It is exigent to develop novel antibiotics, agrochemicals, anticancer medicines, etc., due to the fast growth in resistance to antibiotics, cancer chemotherapeutics, and pesticides. This review article focused the natural products secreted by Streptomyces and their function and importance in curing diseases and agriculture. Moreover, it discussed genomic-driven drug discovery strategies and also gave a future perspective for drug development from the Streptomyces.

Effect of stevia leaves (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) on diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

Stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) is a natural herb with biological activities such as anticancer, antidiabetic, anticardiovascular disease, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial. The current systematic review and meta-analysis of previously published data were performed to assess the antidiabetic effect of stevia leaves. Three electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, and DOAJ) had been used for searching articles published before September 2020. Meta-analysis via random-effect model had been performed to assess the effects of different doses of stevia on blood glucose level (BGL) and studies were weighted according to an estimate of the standard mean difference (SMD). Overall, 16 eligible studies were selected for qualitative analysis and 9 were included for quantitative analysis. The results of the meta-analysis for BGL showed that at the doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg of stevia leaves there was a significant difference in means of BGL between the intervention and control group and the dose of 500 mg/kg showed no significance (Standard mean difference (SMD): -3.84 (-9.96, 2.27); p = .22). Based on the duration of intervention, subgroup analysis of articles showed a significant difference between the groups (p < .001). The results of the meta-analysis support the hypothesis that stevia leaf has an antihyperglycemic effect and reduces the blood glucose level at doses of 200, 300, and 400 mg/kg. Therefore, more clinical trials on animals and humans have to be done to investigate the antidiabetic and antihyperglycemic effects along with the efficacy and safety of these medicinal leaves.

Effect of Fuel Preheating on Engine Characteristics of Waste Animal Fat-Oil Biodiesel in Compression Ignition Engine.

The present study aims at understanding the effects of fuel preheating on engine characteristics of waste animal fat-oil (WAF-O) biodiesel in a single-cylinder CI engine, with the preheating technique proposed as an effective means for enhancing the fuel properties. To understand the effects of the preheated fuel, the WAF-O biodiesel was preheated at 60, 80, 100 and 120 °C and tested along with neat diesel and unheated WAF-O biodiesel. For this purpose, biodiesel was produced from different animal wastes by means of KOH-assisted ethanol-based transesterification, reporting its maximum yield as 96.37 ± 1.8%, with significant distribution of unsaturated oleic acid, saturated palmitic acid and stearic acid. Upon evaluating its fuel characteristics as per ASTM D6751 standards, a rise in preheating temperature by 1 °C reduced the density and kinematic viscosity of WAF-O biodiesel by 0.383 kg/m3 and 0.025 mm2/s, respectively, and was explained by the weakening of intermolecular forces between its fatty acid ester molecules. Preheated samples reported superior combustion characteristics by exhibiting increased in-cylinder pressure (2.24%, on average) and heat release rates in addition to their shortened ignition delay (1−4 °CA). Furthermore, preheating of WAF-O biodiesel reduced its specific fuel consumption and increased its brake thermal efficiency by 7.86% (on average) and 9.23% (on average), respectively. However, higher preheating temperatures (>120 °C) resulted in increased fuel consumption owing to its varied flow characteristics. In addition to the changes in combustion characteristics, preheating WAF-O bio-diesel also resulted in reduced carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide and hydrocarbon emission by 13.88%, 7.21% and 26.94%, respectively, and increased carbon dioxide emission by 7.58%. Summing up, the enhancements in overall engine characteristics of preheated samples were accounted for by their improvised fuel injection characteristics due to their reduced density and viscosity, which ensured for their effective combustion.