Annual Loss Research Articles

Study of Fake Medicine Detection using Blockchain

The healthcare industry has grappled with the challenge of monitoring genuine medicines while counterfeit drugs continue to proliferate, posing significant risks to patient safety. These fraudulent pharmaceuticals not only have detri-mental effects on health but also result in substantial financial losses, with reports indicating annual losses of approximately 200 billion dollars for US pharmaceutical companies. Particu-larly concerning is the World Health Organization’s revelation that in underdeveloped nations, one in every ten medicines consumed by patients is counterfeit and of low quality. To address this critical issue, we use blockchain technology to track the supply chain, from the manufacturing stage to the end-user. Leveraging blockchain technology, our system enhances reliability, transparency, and security in healthcare data. This paper focuses on bolstering transaction security, safeguarding medicine quality, and fortifying data protection through the utilization of blockchain technology.

Long-term riparian forest loss around streams, lakes, and wetlands in ecologically diverse managed and unmanaged landscapes

Riparian forests are at risk from the cumulative effects of human and natural disturbance. We assessed the magnitude and rate of forest loss adjacent to freshwater features in the province of British Columbia, Canada, from 2000 to 2021. We used Global Forest Change data to quantify percent tree cover lost annually across six ecologically and topographically diverse ecosections containing 361,370 streams, lakes, and wetlands. We stratified the aquatic features into large and small size classes within and outside parks. We hypothesized that cumulative forest loss would be greater outside of parks as a consequence of human-caused and natural disturbance. Also, we hypothesized greater rates of forest loss around small aquatic features that generally receive less protection outside of parks. Loss of riparian forest was consistently greater outside of parks (median losses of 3.20% versus 1.29%), and adjacent to small streams (median = 3.31%) and wetlands regardless of size (median = 3.10%). Rates of cumulative riparian forest loss were nonlinear, increasing substantially in 2013. Though the annual riparian forest losses were small, the cumulative losses from 2000 to 2021 were substantial. We anticipate the continued loss of riparian forest as climate changes and natural disturbances intensify. We recommend further investigation of the implications of these observed trends for ecosystem values that are found within or adjacent to riparian forest across managed and unmanaged landscapes.

Novel CRISPR-Cas-powered pen-side test for East Coast fever

Theileria parvacauses East Coast fever (ECF), one of the most important and lethal tick-borne diseases of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. ECF is a considerable burden to the livestock industry, causing annual losses exceeding US $300 million. Currently, diagnosis of T. parva infections relies mainly on clinical signs, serology, and microscopic identification of parasites in either blood or lymph fluid samples. However, some of these tests might not indicate ongoing infection and they all lack the sensitivity to detect low-level infections. Molecular tests such as nested and quantitative PCR assays offer high sensitivity for detection of T. parva. However, these tests remain highly complex technologies that are impractical to use in resource-limited settings where economic losses due to the disease have the most significant impact. A field-deployable, point-of-care test will be of significant value in the treatment and control of ECF in endemic areas. For this purpose, we have developed a CRISPR-Cas12a-based pen-side tool that can sensitively and specifically detect T. parva based on the p104 gene. We describe a streamlined, field-applicable diagnostic tool comprising a 20 min recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) reaction followed by a 60 min CRISPR-Cas12a reaction using a FAM/Biotin lateral flow strip readout. We tested two different RPA primer pairs and four different CRISPR-RNAs (crRNAs). The p104-based assay displayed high sensitivity, detecting as low as one infected lymphocyte per three microliters of blood and universally detecting eight different T. parva strains without detecting DNA from other Theileria spp. such as Theileria mutans and Theileria lestoquardi. This work opens the way for a field-applicable diagnostic tool for the sensitive point-of-care early diagnosis of T. parva infections in cattle.

Woody vegetation cover change and vulnerability to deforestation in Mugulat Area, Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

Deforestation is the main challenge that forests in Ethiopia are currently facing. Identifying the factors that have the most significant impact on woody vegetation coverage will help sustain the remaining forests and increase woody vegetation coverage in severely degraded landscapes. Therefore, this study was conducted in the Mugulat area of northern Ethiopia to determine the magnitude of woody vegetation cover change and quantify the vulnerability of woody vegetation to disturbances using GIS techniques. Landsat images from 1984, 2000, and 2017 were used for this study. Multi-criteria evaluation through the overlay weight analysis of ArcGIS 10.5 was used to evaluate the vulnerability of woody vegetation to disturbance risk. Cultivated land increased by 35.04 % from 28.51 km2 in 1984 to 38.51 km2 in 2017. Shrubland alarmingly almost reduced by half (47.49 % %) from 24.44 km2 in 1984 to 12.83 km2 in 2017. Over the last 30 years, forest land increased from 4.70 km2 in 2017 to 3.71 km2 in 1984. Along with a forest cover increase of 26.64 %, the results show that woody vegetation cover declined from 48.35 % in 1984 to 32.95 % in 2017, corresponding to an annual loss of 27.42 ha. The significant decline in shrublands is an indicator of the vulnerability of the woody vegetation cover in the study area. Over 50 % and 25 % of the vegetation cover range from very high to high vulnerability, respectively, and are susceptible to disturbance. Restoration measures must be implemented to reduce the vulnerability of the woody vegetation cover. Policymakers and decision-makers should focus on nature-based solutions and climate-smart agriculture, which can contribute to increasing woody vegetation cover.

Estimation of Soil Loss in the Nanoi River Basin using Geospatial Techniques

Objectives: The main purpose of this research is to identify severe soil loss areas in the Nanoi river basin of Assam, India to suggest appropriate soil management planning in the river basin. Methods: The Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) integrates geospatial technologies to assess overall soil loss in the Nanoi river basin which provides a faster and more accurate estimation. It is possible to understand soil erosion patterns more thoroughly using RUSLE which makes sustainable soil management easier. Findings: According to the RUSLE equation, the Nanoi river basin experiences an estimated total soil loss of 18,562.5 tons per year, with an average annual soil loss of 0.32 t/h/y. This suggests that approximately 0.64 km2 of the area falls into the Moderate, high and Extreme soil erosion sensitivity zones. Furthermore, a final map is generated to display different areas with varying levels of soil loss rates. Novelty: The geospatial approaches used produce precise findings at a reasonable price and demonstrate the severity of soil loss in the river basin. If soil loss continues at the current rate, there is a high likelihood that certain areas on both sides of the river, particularly in the downstream region of the basin, will experience fluvial hazards, such as drainage congestion and floods. Hence, the results generated will be helpful in the management practices of the river basin. Keywords: Soil loss, Soil erosion, Geospatial, Revised universal soil loss equation, River basin

Spatio‐Temporal Trends of the Relationships Between Surface PM2.5 and Its Chemical Constituents Across Three COALESCE Network Locations in India: A Mass Closure Investigation

AbstractCOALESCE, a collaborative network studying the impacts of carbonaceous aerosols, measured PM2.5 mass and its constituents at several regionally representative sites in India. This study reconciles the reconstructed mass (RCM) from PM2.5 chemical constituents with gravimetric PM2.5 mass measured during 2019 at three COALESCE sites (Bhopal, Mesra, and Mysuru). To evaluate the extent of mass closure, the spatiotemporal variability of organic matter/organic carbon (OM/OC), filter sampling artifacts of OC, nitrate, and aerosol liquid water (ALW) were assessed. The annual loss of total particulate OC from Teflon filters varied across Bhopal (0.46–1.35 μg m−3), Mesra (0.30–0.92 μg m−3), and Mysuru (0.16–0.68 μg m−3). Likewise, the range of nitrate volatilization was 0.7–2.7 μg m−3 at Bhopal, 0.5–2 μg m−3 at Mesra, and 1.3–2.2 μg m−3 at Mysuru. Also, the range of ALW mass was 2.6–6.8 μg m−3 at Bhopal, 3.2–9.5 μg m−3 at Mesra, and 0.8–3.8 μg m−3 at Mysuru. Seasonality was observed in the value of OM/OC with an increase during the pre‐monsoon season at all sites viz., Bhopal (2.20), Mesra (1.61), and Mysuru (2.02) compared to their annual averages, suggesting enhanced contribution of secondary organics to OC. The method developed for estimating RCM in this study resulted in better mass closure compared to using conventional RCM algorithms. Overall, this study provides a robust data validation strategy and India‐specific species coefficients for use in the RCM algorithm. The outcomes of this study can guide regional aerosol sampling, chemical analyses, and model–measurement reconciliation efforts.

Fungal Diversity in Wet and Dry Ripe Plantains: Isolation, Identification, and Implications for Public Health

The persistent inadequacy of storage facilities in in globally and more prevalent in developing nations leads to substantial annual losses of harvested agricultural produce, severely impacting the economic stability of local farmers. This investigation focuses on the critical public health implications arising from the fungal contamination of stored plantain chips, a delicacy snack in Nigeria, West Africa. Notably, the fungal species isolated, which are Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium chrysogenum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Aspergillus fumigatus, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus stolonifer, and Mucor spp. are critical from a public health perspective. Species such as Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus niger are particularly concerning due to their capacity to produce aflatoxins, which are among the most carcinogenic substances known and have been linked to liver cancer and immune system suppression. The prevalence of these mycotoxins not only compromises the nutritional integrity and safety of the plantain chips but poses severe risks to consumers, highlighting a broader issue of food security and safety. This study brings to the fore the pressing need for interventions that enhance the storage conditions and decrease fungal contamination, thereby reducing the exposure of the population to mycotoxins. The implications of this research extend beyond the economic damage to encompass significant public health concerns, emphasizing the critical need for regulatory, technical, and infrastructural developments to uphold the microbial quality of plantain both in wet and dry states, ensuring safe consumption.

Estimation of annual evaporation losses for the Makhoul Dam reservoir (under construction)

The Evaporation problem is considered one of the most important problems that dam reservoirs suffer from because of the economic losses and costs of treating. Makhoul Dam, which is a dam under construction in Iraq. In this research, a study was conducted to estimate the evaporation losses from the dam’s reservoir. The type A pan was used to measure daily evaporation for a full year, starting from July 2022 until June 2023. The GES program was used to estimate the shape of the reservoir based on Based on the information available for the dam and DEM satellite images of the area with a resolution of 30 meters. Two sites were chosen to measure evaporation, one in the city of Al-Zab, approximately in the center of the reservoir, and the other in the village of Tal Ali, about 30 km from the dam. The results showed that the cumulative total of annual evaporation from the Al-Zab measuring station reached 1547 mm/year, and the cumulative total of annual evaporation from Tal Ali station reached 1766 mm/year. The evaporation rate from the two stations was taken to calculate the annual rate of evaporation from the reservoir, which amounted to 1656 mm/year. Two hypotheses were imposed for the method of evaporation from the reservoir. The first assumed that the reservoir was full throughout the year. In this case, the evaporation losses from the reservoir would be 380,631,600 cubic meters/year, or the equivalent of 15% of the volume of the storage. As for the second hypothesis, it assumed that the reservoir is variable throughout the year, starting with the highest level in the spring and then decreasing. Gradually until the end of autumn, then it increases again in winter. In this hypothesis, the annual losses will be 288,175,555 cubic meters / year, or the equivalent of 11% of the volume of the storage

Forecasting nocturnal bird migration for dynamic aeroconservation: The value of short‐term datasets

Abstract Placing wind turbines within large migration flyways, such as the North Sea basin, can contribute to the decline of vulnerable migratory bird populations by increasing mortality through collisions. Curtailment of wind turbines limited to short periods with intense migration can minimize these negative impacts, and near‐term bird migration forecasts can inform such decisions. Although near‐term forecasts are usually created with long‐term datasets, the pace of environmental alteration due to wind energy calls for the urgent development of conservation measures that rely on existing data, even when it does not have long temporal coverage. Here, we use 5 years of tracking bird radar data collected off the western Dutch coast, weather and phenological variables to develop seasonal near‐term forecasts of low‐altitude nocturnal bird migration over the southern North Sea. Overall, the models explained 71% of the variance and correctly predicted migration intensity above or below a threshold for intense hourly migration in more than 80% of hours in both seasons. However, the percentage of correctly predicted intense migration hours (top 5% of hours with the most intense migration) was low, likely due to the short‐term dataset and their rare occurrence. We, therefore, advise careful consideration of a curtailment threshold to achieve optimal results. Synthesis and applications: Near‐term forecasts of migration fluxes evaluated against measurements can be used to define curtailment thresholds for offshore wind energy. We show that to minimize collision risk for 50% of migrants, if predicted correctly, curtailments should be applied during 18 h in spring and 26 in autumn in the focal year of model assessments, resulting in an estimated annual wind energy loss of 0.12%. Drawing from the Dutch curtailment framework, which pioneered the ‘international first’ offshore curtailment, we argue that using forecasts developed from limited temporal datasets alongside expert insight and data‐driven policies can expedite conservation efforts in a rapidly changing world. This approach is particularly valuable in light of increasing interannual variability in weather conditions.

Mapping Annual Tidal Flat Loss and Gain in the Micro-Tidal Area Integrating Dual Full-Time Series Spectral Indices

Tracking long-term tidal flat dynamics is crucial for coastal restoration decision making. Accurately capturing the loss and gain of tidal flats due to human-induced disturbances is challenging in the micro-tidal areas. In this study, we developed an automated method for mapping the annual tidal flat changes in the micro-tidal areas under intense human activities, by integrating spectral harmonization, time series segmentation from dual spectral indices, and the tide-independent hierarchical classification strategy. Our method has two key novelties. First, we adopt flexible temporal segments for each pixel based on the dual full-time series spectral indices, instead of solely using a fixed period window, to help obtain more reliable inundation frequency features. Second, a tide-independent hierarchical classification strategy based on the inundation features and the Otsu algorithm capture the tidal flat changes well. Our method performed well in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao (GHKM), a typical area with micro-tidal range and intense human activities, with overall accuracies of 89% and 92% for conversion types and turning years, respectively. The tidal flats in GHKM decreased by 24% from 1986 to 2021, resulting from the loss of 504.45 km2, partially offset by an accretion of 179.88 km2. Further, 70.9% of the total loss was in the Great Bay Area, concentrated in 1991–1998 and 2001–2016. The historical trajectories of tidal flat loss were driven by various policies implemented by the national, provincial, and local governments. Our method is promising for extension to other micro-tidal areas to provide more scientific support for coastal resource management and restoration.

Chance-Constrained Optimal Design of PV-Based Microgrids under Grid Blackout Uncertainties

A grid blackout is an intractable problem with serious economic consequences in many developing countries. Although it has been proven that microgrids (MGs) are capable of solving this problem, the uncertainties regarding when and for how long blackouts occur lead to extreme difficulties in the design and operation of the related MGs. This paper addresses the optimal design problem of the MGs considering the uncertainties of the blackout starting time and duration utilizing the kernel density estimator method. Additionally, uncertainties in solar irradiance and ambient temperature are also considered. For that, chance-constrained optimization is employed to design residential and industrial PV-based MGs. The proposed approach aims to minimize the expected value of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), where the restriction of the annual total loss of power supply (TLPS) is addressed as a chance constraint. The results show that blackout uncertainties have a considerable effect on calculating the size of the MG’s components, especially the battery bank size. Additionally, it is proven that considering the uncertainties of the input parameters leads to an accurate estimation for the LCOE and increases the MG reliability level.

Assessing soil erosion and farmers’ decision of reducing erosion for sustainable soil and water conservation in Burji woreda, southern Ethiopia

Inadequate conservation practice affects the sustainable production of agricultural watersheds due to erosion and fertility decline. Understanding soil erosion and implementing site-specific conservation practice could enhance agriculture-based rural development. The study was aimed to document soil erosion problem and soil and water conservation effort. The specific objectives of this study were to assess soil erosion severity, practices to reduce erosion, and determinants of the decision to reduce erosion. Data were collected by interviewing 198 farm household heads, undertaking four focus group discussions, and assessing rill erosion in 10 farm fields in Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds of southern Ethiopia. Descriptive statistics and binary logit model were applied to analyze the data. Results indicated that many of the farm households, 63% in Morayo and 83% in the Wacho sub-watershed, perceived moderate to severe soil erosion, which is characterized by big rills and small gullies on the farmlands. Rill densities of 231.4 m ha−1 and 84.1 m ha−1 in the Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds were observed, respectively. The estimated annual soil loss due to rills was 61.2 and 23.4 Mg ha−1 in the Morayo and Wacho sub-watersheds, respectively. The soil erosion from rills alone exceeds the expected tolerable soil erosion (11 tons ha−1 year−1). Due to erosion, about 90% of farmers perceived farmland degradation as described by a progressive decline in crop yield. Farmers used to practice traditional techniques to reduce erosion and government introduced conservation measures such as soil and stone bunds. However, many farmers did not use well-promoted conservation measures such as bunds, which could have negative impact on long-term erosion control effort and sustainable implementation of the conservation options. Among the assessed explanatory variables, educational level, farm distance from home, slope of the cultivated land, and frequency of extension contact were significantly affected (p < 0.05) farmers’ sustainable use of conservation measures. Development planners and policy makers are advised to consider site-specific and innovative approaches to implement conservation measures in sustainable approach in the smallholder crop-livestock mixed agriculture system.

Menthalactone from Mentha piperita L., a Monocot-Selective Bioherbicide

The challenge of managing invasive weed species continues to affect the agricultural industry, presenting ecological, economic, and agronomic hurdles that lead to over 100 billion USD in annual crop losses globally. One such concern is the management of Agrostis stolonifera L., commonly known as creeping bentgrass, particularly due to its ability to form hybrids. This scenario underscores the urgent need for innovative, effective, and environmentally sustainable herbicides, steering the focus toward natural substances as potential candidates. We report here a promising natural lactone, commonly known as menthalactone, which is derived from Mentha piperita L. Its phytotoxic activity was assessed against the monocot, bentgrass, and a dicot, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). Menthalactone displayed outstanding activity against bentgrass and was further evaluated for phytotoxic characteristics. The germination of A. stolonifera seeds was significantly inhibited with an IC50 value of 4.9 ± 1.2 µM. In contrast to bentgrass seeds, Lemna pausicostata L. plants were less responsive to menthalactone treatment, shown by an IC50 of 293.4 ± 70.6 µM. Both species are monocots, and the results suggest that menthalactone might have effects on seed germination but not on the metabolism of green tissues. The susceptibility of three common, obnoxious weed species, i.e., ryegrass (Lilium perenne), barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv.), and crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.), to menthalactone was assessed. Menthalactone at 1000 µM completely inhibited the germination of all three species of grasses, while 330 µM inhibited germination by less than 50%. The post-emergence application of menthalactone at 1% did not produce a significant inhibitory effect against ryegrass, barnyard grass, or crabgrass.

Health and economic burden of insufficient physical activity in Saudi Arabia.

Insufficient physical activity (PA) was estimated to cause 4.8% of deaths and 2.6% of disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) due to noncommunicable diseases in Saudi Arabia in 2019. While Saudi Arabia is already achieving great improvements, we predict the health and economic burden of insufficient PA up to 2040 to present a case for policy makers to invest more in the uptake of PA. Using a population health model to estimate avoidable health loss, we identified four causes of health loss related to low PA (cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer) and estimated the deaths and DALYs from these causes. We projected the expected disease burden until 2040 under alternative assumptions about future PA levels and trends by using three health scenarios: baseline (no change in 2019 PA levels), intervention (81% of the population achieving sufficient PA levels), and ideal (65% of population: moderate PA, 30%: high PA, and 5%: inactive). We applied an "intrinsic value" approach to estimate the economic impact of each scenario. Overall, we estimate that between 2023 and 2040, about 80,000 to 110,000 deaths from all causes and 2.0 million to 2.9 million DALYs could be avoided by increasing PA levels in Saudi Arabia. The average annual economic loss from insufficient PA is valued at 0.49% to 0.68% of the current gross domestic product, with an average of US$5.4 billion to US$7.6 billion annually till 2040. The most avoidable disease burden and economic losses are expected among males and because of ischemic heart disease. This study highlights that low PA levels will have considerable health and economic impacts in Saudi Arabia if people remain inactive and do not start following interventions. There is an urgent need to develop innovative programs and policies to encourage PA among all age and sex groups.

Evaluation of Counterfeit Antimalarial Drug Awareness and Knowledge Among Pharmacy Attendants in Nairobi County, Kenya

Malaria presents a significant health challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, leading to an increased demand for antimalarial drugs. However, the global prevalence of counterfeit drugs, estimated at 10%, jeopardizes treatment efficacy, resulting in an annual economic loss of $75 billion. In Kenya, the accessibility of antimalarials, particularly through pharmacies, exacerbates this issue. This study sought to address knowledge gaps on counterfeit antimalarials among pharmacy attendants in Nairobi County. Utilizing a cross-sectional descriptive survey, the research evaluated awareness levels of counterfeit antimalarial drugs among pharmacy attendants. The study involved five subsections, focusing on pharmacy professionals engaged in antimalarial sales, with a sample size of 251 determined using Cochran’s formula. Data collection methods included questionnaires and observation checklists. Instrument validity was ensured through a pre-test analysis, and reliability was assessed via training and a test-retest approach. Data analysis, performed using Microsoft Excel and SPSS, incorporates ANOVA at a 95% significance level. Surveying 251 pharmacy attendants in Nairobi revealed a slightly higher distribution of males (52.2%) than females (47.8%), primarily aged 18-24 (51%), holding TVET qualifications (60.2%), with an average work experience of four years (30.7%). Community pharmacies dominated (61.8%), and pharmaceutical technologists constituted the most prevalent professionals (29.5%). Artemether-Lumefantrine is the preferred antimalarial (36.7%). Concerning awareness of counterfeit drugs, 39.8% rely on the Pharmacy and Poisons Board, with 72.9% knowledgeable about counterfeit antimalarial effects. The study identifies correlations between knowledge levels and the color and odor of antimalarial drugs. The regression model (R²=0.093, F (3, 247) =8.422, p&lt;0.001) signifies the predictive efficacy of drug characteristics on knowledge, with color and odor emerging as robust predictors. Despite commendable knowledge, there exists a perception gap among pharmacy attendants regarding counterfeit antimalarial drug campaigns and awareness training. Addressing this gap is crucial to preventing an increased distribution of counterfeit drugs in the sector.

Optimizing catechin extraction from green tea waste: Comparative analysis of hot water, ultrasound-assisted, and ethanol methods for enhanced antioxidant recovery.

This study aimed to develop an efficient method for the extraction of bioactive compounds from green tea waste (GTW) toward its potential application in the food industry. GTW, which is generated during the harvesting and processing of green tea products, accounts for a global annual loss of nearly 1 million tonnes. Notably, this waste is rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly catechins, which are renowned for their significant health benefits. We assessed the optimization of catechin extraction from GTW employing hot water extraction (HWE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and ethanol extraction (EthE) techniques at different sample-to-solvent ratios (1:100, 1:50, and 1:20 w/v). The extraction temperature was set at 80°C for both HWE and UAE; however, for EthE, the temperature was slightly lower at 70°C, adhering to the boiling point of ethanol. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to determine the extraction efficiency by quantifying various catechins (i.e., catechin, epicatechin [EC], epicatechin gallate [ECG], epigallocatechin [EGC], and epigallocatechin gallate [EGCG]). In terms of the concentration for individual catechins, EC was found to be the highest concentration detected, ranging from 30.58 ± 1.17 to 37.95 ± 0.84 mg/L in all extraction techniques and ratios of solvents, followed by EGCG (9.71 ± 1.40-20.99 ± 1.11 mg/L), EGC + C (7.95 ± 0.66-12.58 ± 0.56 mg/L), and ECG (1.85 ± 0.71-6.05 ± 0.06 mg/L). The findings of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) free radical assay illustrated that HWE demonstrated the highest extraction efficiency at all ratios, ranging from 61.41 ± 1.00 to 70.36 ± 1.47 mg/L. The 1:50 ratio exhibited the highest extraction yield (25.98% ± 0.75%) compared to UAE (24.16% ± 0.95%) and EthE (22.59% ± 0.26%). Moreover, this method of extraction (i.e., HWE) produced the highest total catechins and %DPPH reduction. Consequently, HWE was the most efficient method for extracting catechins from GTW, underscoring its potential for valorizing waste within the food manufacturing industry.

Endophytes: a uniquely tailored source of potential antibiotic adjuvants.

Multidrug microbial resistance is risking an annual loss of more than 10 million people' lives by 2050. Solutions include the rational use of antibiotics and the use of drugs that reduce resistance or completely obliterate them. Here endophytes come to play due to their high-yield production and inherent nature to produce antimicrobial molecules. Around 40%, 45% and 17% of antibacterial agents were obtained from fungi, actinomycetes, and bacteria, respectively, whose secondary metabolites revealed effectiveness against resistant microbes such as MRSA, MRSE, and Shigella flexneri. Endophyte's role was not confined to bactericidal effect but extended to other mechanisms against MDR microbes, among which was the adjuvant role or the "magic bullets". Scarce focus was given to antibiotic adjuvants, and many laboratories today just screen for the antimicrobial activity without considering combinations with traditional antibiotics, which means real loss of promising resistance combating molecules. While some examples of synthetic adjuvants were introduced in the last decade, the number is still far from covering the disused antibiotics and restoring them back to clinical use. The data compiled in this article demonstrated the significance of quorum sensing as a foreseen mechanism for adjuvants from endophytes secondary metabolites, which call for urgent in-depth studies of their molecular mechanisms. This review, comprehensively and for the first time, sheds light on the significance of endophytes secondary metabolites in solving AMR problem as AB adjuvants.

Assessment of soil erosion and prioritization of conservation and restoration measures using RUSLE and Geospatial techniques: the case of upper Bilate watershed

Soil erosion is still a vector of environmental and economic concern affecting most parts of the world, especially in Sub-Saharan African countries. Nevertheless, recent human activities in the hills, coupled with poor conservation measures and practices, could have amplified the rate at which soil is lost in the southwestern highlands of Ethiopia. This study focuses on quantifying and prioritizing micro-watersheds that require conservation actions by piloting spatial modeling of soil loss in the upper Bilate watershed. Sentinel image, soil, DEM, rainfall, and support practice data were used. A Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) using GIS and satellite images was applied. The estimated average annual soil loss rate was demonstrated to be 24.1 t ha−1yr−1 and varied between 0.05 and 498.24 t ha−1yr−1. About 51.2% of the total revealed has a high soil truncation trait, of which 40% of the cropland has exceeded the soil loss tolerances of Ethiopia and tropical regions. The most affected micro-watersheds are MWS 16, 8, 6, and 3, which contributed 39.4% of the average annual loss rate, indicating the hotspots of soil loss problems in the region. This will have far-reaching off-site impacts on food security, soil productivity, human lives, infrastructures, and ecosystem service provisions.

New benzimidazole derivative compounds with in vitro fasciolicidal properties

BackgroundControl of the zoonotic food-borne parasite Fasciola hepatica remains a major challenge in humans and livestock. It is estimated that annual economic losses due to fasciolosis can reach US$3.2 billion in agriculture and livestock. Moreover, the wide distribution of drug-resistant parasite populations and the absence of a vaccine threaten sustainable control, reinforcing the need for novel flukicides.MethodsThe present work analyses the flukicidal activity of a total of 70 benzimidazole derivatives on different stages of F. hepatica. With the aim to select the most potent ones, and screenings were first performed on eggs at decreasing concentrations ranging from 50 to 5 µM and then on adult worms at 10 µM. Only the most effective compounds were also evaluated using a resistant isolate of the parasite.ResultsAfter the first screenings at 50 and 10 µM, four hit compounds (BZD31, BZD46, BZD56, and BZD59) were selected and progressed to the next assays. At 5 µM, all hit compounds showed ovicidal activities higher than 71% on the susceptible isolate, but only BZD31 remained considerably active (53%) when they were tested on an albendazol-resistant isolate, even with values superior to the reference drug, albendazole sulfoxide. On the other hand, BZD59 displayed a high motility inhibition when tested on adult worms from an albendazole-resistant isolate after 72 h of incubation.ConclusionsBZD31 and BZD59 compounds could be promising candidates for the development of fasciolicidal compounds or as starting point for the new synthesis of structure-related compounds.Graphical

Effects of sediment-storage dams on suspended sediment transport in the Sera Lake Watershed, northeast Turkey

In this study, the effects of cascade sediment-storage dams (SSDs) on the suspended sediment (SS) transport in the Sera Lake Watershed (northeast Turkey) were investigated. Ten SS monitoring stations from upstream (S01) to downstream (S10) were selected for the study considering the locations of the SSDs and Sera Lake. In a gauging station, where S05 was selected, the water stage monitoring studies were also conducted, and daily discharges and SS loads were computed. The Spearman correlation coefficient between SS and discharges data was computed as 0.592. The deterioration of the naturalness of the watershed with external interventions was effective on this value. While the Sera Lake trapped 33% of the SS transport, this value varied between –25.8 and 44% for SSDs. Although the SSDs have been proportionately succeed in trapping the SS, they have been insufficient in preventing sedimentation and problems caused by sediment transport in the watershed. In addition, the annual average soil erosion amount was determined by the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) method in the watershed. According to the RUSLE method, the annual average soil loss of the watershed is 1.65 tons/ha. The SDR value of the watershed was calculated as 0.104. Integrating different environmental management tools to achieve a balanced and sustainable decision, a strategic environmental management plan should be constituted.