Concentrations Of Constituents Research Articles

Effects of ensemble-forecasted key environmental factors on the distribution, active constituents, and transcription regulation in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort.

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., with over 2000 years of medicinal use and cultivation history, is extensively used in clinical settings for treating heart disease, headache, dysmenorrhea, and amenorrhea. Constructing the geographic distribution pattern of L. chuanxiong and identifying the environmental factors limiting its range, as well as clarifying the effects of key environmental factors on the content of major active constituents and transcription regulation, could provide a scientific foundation for the conservation and effective management of this valuable medicinal resource. The results reveal that the predominant environmental factors influencing the distribution were the minimum temperature of the coldest month (Bio6) and solar radiation (Srad), with cumulative account for 87.46% of the importance. Correlation analysis further reveals significant negative correlations between Bio6 and the content of major active constituents in L. chuanxiong, with Srad exhibiting a negative correlation with these constituents. The gene differential expression analysis indicated that the expression levels of some genes associated with growth and active constituent biosynthesis pathways, such as RPT2_13888, UVR8_16871, CLPB3_3155, and 4CLL5_116, varied significantly among locations influenced by differing key environmental factors. Consequently, alterations in the environment were found to influence the gene expression levels within these pathways, resulting in variations in the content of active constituents. These findings contribute to an enhanced understanding of how environmental factors impact the distribution and quality of medicinal plants and offer a theoretical reference for the introduction, cultivation, quality improvement, resource utilization and management of L. chuanxiong. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Shape Memory Polymer Foam Based on Nanofibrillar Composites of Polylactide/Polyamide

This paper presents the novel development of a shape memory polymer foam based on polymer–polymer nanocomposites. Herein, polylactide (PLA)/biosourced polyamide (PA) foams are fabricated by in situ fibrillation of polymer blends and a subsequent supercritical CO2 foaming technique. In this system, PLA serves as a shape memory polymer to endow this foam with a shape memory effect (SME), and in situ generated PA nanofibers are employed to reinforce the PLA cell walls and provide an additional permanent phase. A concentration of PA, 5 wt.%, was chosen to form an entangled nanofibrillar network. Foams of PLA/PA nanoblends with the same content of constituents were fabricated to reveal the effect of minor phase morphology on the cell structure and shape memory behavior of polymer foams. Profiting from the reinforcing effect of PA nanofibers, the PLA/PA nanocomposite foam exhibits smaller foam cells, a narrower cell size distribution and a comparable cell concentration than the PLA/PA nanoblend foam. In addition, PA nanofibers, unlike PA nanodroplets, favor the shape fixation ratio and recovery ratio and shorten the shape recovery time.

Proximate Constituent and Mineral Content of the Seeds of Africa Yam Bean (Sphenostylis Stenocarpa) Purchased in Ebonyi State, Eastern Nigeria

In sub-Saharan Africa there have been various calls for development of a crop which will be high yielding with increased protein content. One of such plants currently being speculated to be an important source of high protein, carbohydrates, as well as other nutritional substances is African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa Hochst ex A. Rich. Harms). This work is therefore designed to ascertain the proximate, mineral, vitamin and phytochemical composition of the seed of African yam bean. The seeds of African beans were analyzed for proximate mineral vectorment and phytochemical composition using standard methods. Data were subjected to statistical analysis using ANOVA. The results of the percentage proximate composition showed that the seeds contain 8.67% moisture, crude protein 22.22%, crude fiber 3.89%, ash 4.58%, fat 4.20%, and carbohydrate 56.44%. The mineral contents (mg/100g) were found to be 32.07 mg/100g (Sodium), 231.20 mg/100g (Potassium), 78.67 mg/100g (Magnesium), 159.66 mg/100g (Calcium), 133.53 mg/100g (Phosphorus), 2.32 mg/100g (Zinc), and 6.13 mg/100g (Iron). Africa yam bean is an important source of high-quality protein and carbohydrate, as well as other nutritious substances. The present constituent, especially their quantitative composition, may be an indication of the nutritional as well as medicinal importance of the seeds of Africa yam bean. Such interesting high content of certain bioactive compounds, such as phenol and flavonoid as well as elevated protein content, calls for improved cultivation of this crop for maximum yield and availability.

The Influence of Sodium Humate on the Biosynthesis and Contents of Flavonoid Constituents in Lemons

Sodium humate (SH) is the sodium salt of humic acid. Our previous research has demonstrated that SH has the ability to enhance the levels of total flavonoids in various parts of lemons, including the leaves, peels, pulps, and seeds, thereby improving the quality of lemons. In the current study, the regulation effect of SH on the biosynthesis and content of lemon flavonoid compounds was examined using transcriptome sequencing technology and flavonoid metabolomic analysis. Following SH treatment, the transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed 320 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between samples treated with SH and control (CK) samples, some of which were associated with the phenylalanine pathway by KEGG annotation analysis. The levels of seven flavonoid compounds identified in lemon peels were observed to increase, and eriocitrin and isoorientin were identified as differential metabolites (DMs, VIP > 1) using OPLS-DA analysis. The integrated analysis of transcriptomics and flavonoid metabolomics indicates that SH treatment induces alterations in gene expression and metabolite levels related to flavonoid synthesis. Specifically, SH influences flavonoid biosynthesis by modulating the activity of key enzymes in the phenylalanine pathway, including HCT (O-hydroxycinnamoyltransferase) and F5H (ferulate-5-hydroxylase).

Widely Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of the Roots, Stems, Leaves, Flowers, and Fruits of Camellia luteoflora, a Species with an Extremely Small Population

Camellia luteoflora is a rare and endangered plant endemic to China. It has high ornamental and potential economic and medicinal value, and is an important germplasm resource of Camellia. To understand the distributions and differences in metabolites from different parts of C. luteoflora, in this study, we used liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to examine the types and contents of chemical constituents in five organs of C. luteoflora: roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. The results showed that a total of 815 metabolites were identified in the five organs and were classified into 18 main categories, including terpenoids (17.1%), amino acids (10.4%), flavonoids (10.3%), sugars and alcohols (9.8%), organic acids (9.0%), lipids (7.1%), polyphenols (4.8%), alkaloids (4.8%), etc. A total of 684 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) in five organs were obtained and annotated into 217 KEGG metabolic pathways, among which metabolic pathways, ABC transporters, the biosynthesis of cofactors, and the biosynthesis of amino acids were significantly enriched. In DEMs, flowers are rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, organic acids, and steroids; fruits are rich in amino acids, alkaloids, vitamins, and xanthones; stems are rich in lignans; and leaves have the highest relative content of phenylpropanoids, ketoaldehydic acids, quinones, sugars and alcohols, terpenoids, coumarins, lipids, and others; meanwhile, the metabolite content is lower in roots. Among the dominant DEMs, 58 were in roots, including arachidonic acid, lucidone, isoliquiritigenin, etc.; 75 were in flowers, including mannose, shikimic acid, d-gluconic acid, kaempferol, etc.; 45 were in the fruit, including pterostilbene, l-ascorbic acid, riboflavin, etc.; 27 were in the stems, including salicylic acid, d-(-)-quinic acid, mannitol, (-)-catechin gallate, etc.; there was a maximum number of 119 dominant metabolites in the leaves, including oleanolic acid, l-glucose, d-arabitol, eugenol, etc. In sum, the rich chemical composition of C. luteoflora and the significant differences in the relative contents of metabolites in different organs will provide theoretical references for the study of tea, flower tea, edible oil, nutraceuticals, and the medicinal components of C. luteoflora.

Exogenous glutathione (GSH/GSSG) promoted the synthesis of patchoulol and pogostone, main active components of Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli)

Glutathione redox pair (GSH/GSSG) is the main characterizing substance that regulates the redox balance in cells and affects several physiological processes, such as plant metabolism, antioxidants, and detoxification. Pogostemon cablin was treated with different concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), and it was found that 2 mM GSH and 4 mM GSSG treatments promoted the synthesis of patchoulol and pogostone. A total of 6620 significant differentially expressed gene were identified by transcriptome analysis. KEGG analysis showed that DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic pathways, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, and phytohormone signaling pathways; 388 DEGs in the 2 mM GSH (11d) group, and 254 DEGs in the 4 mM GSSG (11d) group, were related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Further analysis by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed that there were 139 and 83 DEGs associated with terpene synthesis between the two treatment groups, respectively, and the expression of key genes in the synthesis pathway (11 HMGR, 4 DXR, 2 GPPS, and 8 PTS) was up-regulated, which may be the result of transcription factors regulating their expression. The present study preliminarily showed that glutathione redox pair induced the expression of genes related to the terpene biosynthesis pathway, thereby promoting the biosynthesis of patchoulol and pogostone, which provides a reference basis for the technique of regulating and controlling the content of medicinal constituents of patchouli.

Tissue-specific chemical expression and quantitative analysis of bioactive components of Moutan Cortex by laser-microdissection combined with UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS technique

Moutan Cortex, is the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews, which is classified into three specifications according to whether or not it is peeled and cored: Liandanpi, Guadanpi and whole root. In this study, the cork layer, cortex, phloem and xylem of P. suffruticosa fresh root were precisely separated by laser microdissection technique. UPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and UPLC-QQQ-MS techniques were used to analyse the differences in the chemical composition of different tissue parts of P. suffruticosa fresh root and Liandanpi, and to determine the optimal processing method of P. suffruticosa root. As a result, a total of 90 compounds were characterised, among which the cork layer had more types and higher contents of chemical constituents, and the xylem had fewer types and lower contents of chemical constituents. The proportion of xylem is larger, while the type and content of active ingredients is smaller. Therefore, the processing method of removing the wood core and retaining the cork bark can be used in the processing of Moutan Cortex. In this study, laser microdissection and ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry were used to provide a theoretical basis for optimising the processing method of Moutan Cortex to enhance its pharmacological effects.

Spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements across a PFAS-contaminated source zone

There is a need to develop field-scale, in situ screening technologies for assessing variations in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) concentrations in soils at former fire training and storage sites. Field-scale Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP) geophysical measurements were acquired on a transect crossing an AFFF source zone. Soil samples were acquired to determine variations in poly- and per-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in soils, characterize soil texture, and create triplicate soil columns for laboratory SIP measurements. Field and laboratory observations show that SIP measurements are sensitive to the concentration of AFFF constituents associated with soil pore surface area. The specific polarizability and the phase of the SIP measurements for the laboratory samples were linearly correlated with total soil-sorbed PFAS concentration. The phase from the field SIP measurements was highest over the location of maximum PFAS concentration measured on the laboratory samples. However, a significant correlation between field-measured phase and laboratory-measured total PFAS concentration still needs to be established. These observations, along with the demonstrated sensitivity of the SIP response to the removal of soil PFAS using a methanol wash procedure, support the case for SIP characterization of AFFF source zones.

Optimized medium conditions maximize colony regeneration from a single cell of Botryococcus braunii NIES836

Botryococcus braunii is a colonial alga recognized for its slow growth but high hydrocarbon accumulation. Although using genetic engineering to increase the growth rate and hydrocarbon yield of B. braunii is desirable, the presence of an extracellular matrix (ECM) significantly hinders the emergence of a homogeneous colony from a single DNA-transformed cell. Previously, we developed a method to isolate single cells without ECM from colonies. However, following the isolation of single cells, several months are required to regenerate colonies with a sufficient cell mass for subsequent analysis. To shorten the colony regeneration period, we investigated basal media and medium components, along with growth-promoting additives, in a series of single-factor experiments and optimized the concentrations of the medium constituents via response surface methodology (RSM). The results of the single-factor experiments revealed that the nitrogen source (a mixture of NaNO3 and NH4NO3), 1-naphthylacetic acid (NAA) and Fe(III)-citrate significantly increased the growth of B. braunii single cells into colonies. The optimal medium composition identified by RSM included 151.6 mg/L nitrogen source, 2.419 mg/L NAA and 15.3 mg/L Fe(III)-citrate. Verification experiments showed that the optimized medium resulted in a 1.75-fold increase in colony size compared with that of colonies grown in nonoptimized AF6 medium. This is the first report of the optimal medium composition for the regeneration of B. braunii colonies from single cells.

Enhancing salinity stress tolerance in corn salad (Valerianella locusta L.) through melatonin or salicylic acid-functionalized chitosan seed priming: A smart delivery approach

Soil salinity represents a significant environmental stressor that impairs crop production and yield. A wide range of treatments have been used to reduce the effects of salinity in plants. Among the treatments used, functionalized nanoparticles (NPs) have shown great results. In light of recently demonstrated beneficial effects of chitosan-melatonin nanoparticles (CTS-Mel NPs) and chitosan-salicylic acid nanoparticles (CTS-SA NPs) in mitigating the deleterious consequences of major stress factors and boosting secondary metabolite biosynthesis, the current study aimed to investigate their potential as seed priming coatings to enhance plant performance under both control and salinity stress conditions. For this purpose, CTS (0.1% w/v), Mel (50 µM), SA (0.5 mM), CTS-Mel NPs and CTS-SA NPs were applied as seed priming agents on corn salad (Valerianella locusta) seeds, and subsequently key morphophysiological and biochemical properties were assayed under salinity conditions (0, 30 and 60 mM NaCl). Accordingly, salinity stress caused significant reduction in fresh and dry weights (FW and DW) of leaves, chl a, total chl, SPAD and enhancement in content of proline, phenolics, MDA, as well as protein content, and activities of SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymes. Concerning the phenolic compounds analyzed, salinity stress did not affect the dominant phenolic constituents with the exception of naringine. Regarding the protective effects of the various priming treatments, the adverse effects of salinity stress were ameliorated with the application of most of the applied treatments, and with CTS-Mel NPs in particular, by enhancing biomass, pigments, total phenols, protein, SOD and CAT antioxidant enzymatic activities, as well as the content of some dominant constituents of phenolic profile. CTS-Mel NPs enhanced chlorogenic acid, naringine, o-coumaric acid and catechin hydrate under both control and salinity conditions. Overall, CTS-Mel NPs outperformed CTS-SA NPs as a seed priming coating and could potentially be widely introduced as an innovative, sustainable approach to mitigate the effects of salinity and other abiotic stress conditions in crop plants.

Lightweight cellulosic insulation panels made from oil palm trunk fibers

Biobased thermal insulation is of relevance as a sustainable substitute for current fossil-based materials. In this regard, oil palm trunk (OPT), which arises in substantial quantities as a by-product of the palm oil industry, is a suitable raw material due to its relatively high content in cellulosic fibers and low cost. The present study focuses on the inner part of OPT, which is light and low in mechanical performance and therefore lacks suitable applications other than fuel wood. OPT was grinded, chemically pre-treated to reduce the content of non-cellulosic constituents and fibrillated. With the partial aid of additives, the fiber suspensions where then mechanically foamed and dried. The light-weight panels produced by this method showed low densities of roughly 50 – 100 kg m−3 and thermal conductivity of 40 – 45 mW m−1 K−1. With these values, OPT foam panels are well within reach of current non-bio-based insulation materials and perform equally well or even better than other bio-based thermal insulation materials.

Effects of rootstocks and developmental time on the dynamic changes of main functional substances in 'Orah' (Citrus reticulata Blanco) by HPLC coupled with UV detection.

Citrus fruit is rich in important functional constituents such as flavonoids, phenolic acids terpenes and other functional substances that play an important role for treating clinical diseases or controlling major agricultural diseases and pests. Plant secondary metabolites have become one of the most important resources of novel lead compounds, especially young citrus fruits contain multiple functional substances. 'Orah', a type of citrus reticulata, is known for its fine appearance, productivity, delicious sweetness, late-maturing characteristics, and is widely cultivated in China. Fruit thinning and rootstock selection are commonly used agronomic measures in its production to ensure its quality and tree vigor. However, few studies have demonstrated the effects of these agronomic measures on the functional substances of 'Orah'. In this study, we used HPLC coupled with UV to detect the dynamic changes of fruit quality, 13 main flavonoids, 7 phenolic acids, 2 terpenes, synephrine and antioxidant capacity in both peel and pulp of citrus fruits grafted on four rootstocks (Red orange Citrus reticulata Blanco cv. red tangerine, Ziyang xiangcheng Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka, Trifoliate orange Poncirus trifoliata L. Raf, and Carrizo citrange Citrus sinensis Osb.×P.trifoliate Raf) at six different developmental stages (from 90 DAF to 240 DAF). The results indicated that rootstock can significantly affect the contents of functional constituents and antioxidant capacity in 'Orah'. Additionally, it was found that pruning at either 90 DAF (days after flowering) or 150 DAF produced the most favorable outcomes for extracting functional substances. We also identified rootstock 'Trifoliate orange' has the highest total soluble solids (TSS) and 'Ziyang xiangcheng' to be the optimal in terms of comprehensive sensory of fruit quality, while 'Red orange' and 'Ziyang xiangcheng' are optimal in terms of functional substance quality, and 'Red orange' excels in antioxidant capacity. Overall, the findings demonstrate the important role of rootstocks and developmental stage in shaping fruit sensory quality and functional substance synthesis, providing valuable insights for guiding rootstock selection, determining thinning time, and utilizing pruned fruits in a more informed manner.

In vivo optimization of the experimental conditions for the non-invasive optical assessment of breast density

In this study, time domain diffuse optical spectroscopy is performed in the range 600–1100 nm on 11 healthy volunteers with a portable system for the quantitative characterization of breast tissue in terms of optical properties and optically-derived blood parameters, tissue constituent concentrations, and scattering parameters. A measurement protocol involving different geometries (reflectance and transmittance), subject’s positions (sitting and lying down), probing locations (outer, lower, and inner breast quadrants), and source-detector distances (2 and 3 cm) allowed us to investigate the effect of tissue heterogeneity and different measurement configurations on the results with the aim of identifying the best experimental conditions for the estimate of breast density (i.e., amount of fibro-glandular tissue in the breast) as a strong independent risk factor for breast cancer. Transmittance results, that in previous studies correlated strongly with mammographic density, are used as a reference for the initial test of the simpler and more comfortable reflectance measurement configuration. The higher source-detector distance, which probes deeper tissue, retrieves optical outcomes in agreement with higher average density tissue. Similarly, results on the outer quadrants indicate higher density than internal quadrants. These findings are coherent with breast anatomy since the concentration of dense fibro-glandular stroma is higher in deep tissue and towards the external portion of the breast, where the mammary gland is located. The dataset generated with this laboratory campaign is used to device an optimal measurement protocol for a future clinical trial, where optical results will be correlated with conventional mammographic density, allowing us to identify a subset of wavelengths and measurement configurations for an effective estimate of breast density. The final objective is the design of a simplified, compact and cost-effective optical device for a non-invasive, routine assessment of density-associated breast cancer risk.

Optical Properties of Europium-Doped Silicon-Based Thin Films

The integration of a silicon-based light emitter into existing CMOS technology has long been intriguing due to its optoelectronic compatibility with microelectronics [1]. However, the indirect band gap nature of bulk silicon has hindered its effectiveness as a light emitter. In addressing this limitation, rare earth ions have emerged as significantly interesting candidates owing to their unique optical and electronic properties. Rare earth-doped silicon structures have earned special attention as they exhibit sharp light emission in different spectral regions [2] . This notable feature is attributed to the effective excitation of rare earth ions within the host matrix. Efficiently excited rare earth ions can produce visible emissions ranging from infrared to ultraviolet, presenting possibilities in diverse applications such as solid-state lighting, displays, lasers, photovoltaics, and optical communication. The incorporation of rare earth-doped silicon structures presents a promising solution to overcome the challenges posed by silicon's intrinsic properties, thereby paving the way for improved performance across a diverse range of optoelectronic applications. Europium is a attractive rare earth material with two optically active states, Eu2+ and Eu3+, enabling it to generate a diverse range of color emissions extending from blue to red depending on the surrounding matrix [3].In this study, we investigated the optical properties and compositions of europium (Eu)-doped thin films including silicon oxide, silicon oxynitride, and silicon carbonitride. For this purpose, thin films were fabricated by electron cyclotron resonance plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (ECR-PECVD) with in-situ magnetron sputtering on p-type 3" Si (100) substrates. In-situ Eu doping was performed by a radio frequency (RF) magnetron sputtering gun, using a 0.25 in. thick, 2 in. (diameter) 99.9% pure Eu sputtering target. Precursor gases, including silane (diluted in 90% argon), oxygen (diluted in 90% argon), nitrogen (diluted in 90% argon), and ethane were utilized. Annealing was performed on the as-deposited films over a broad temperature range, from 600° to 1100°C, in a nitrogen (N2) environment. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) was performed to determine the atomic concentration of the film constituents. Variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry (VASE) analysis was conducted to investigate the optical properties of the films. Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) experiments were performed using a laser diode excitation source operating at a wavelength of 375nm. Notably, bright visible emission was observed in some of the thin films. Finally, we discuss the influence of the atomic concentration of Eu and the annealing temperature on the emission properties observed in the photoluminescence experiments.[1] F. Azmi, Y. Gao, Z. Khatami, and P. Mascher, “ Tunable emission from Eu:SiOxNy thin films prepared by integrated magnetron sputtering and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition ,” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. A, vol. 40, no. 4, p. 043402, 2022, doi: 10.1116/6.0001761.[2] A. Brik et al., “Annealing Effects on Structural Characteristics of Europium Doped Silicon-Rich Silicon Nitride,” Silicon, vol. 14, no. 14, pp. 8417–8425, 2022, doi: 10.1007/s12633-021-01636-w.[3] D. Li, X. Zhang, L. Jin, and D. Yang, “Structure and luminescence evolution of annealed Europium-doped silicon oxides films,” Opt. Express, vol. 18, no. 26, p. 27191, 2010, doi: 10.1364/oe.18.027191.

An integrative pharmacology-based study on the efficacy and mechanism of essential oil of Chaihu Guizhi Decoction on influenza A virus induced pneumonia in mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceChaihu Guizhi Decoction (CGD) has a long history of use in China for the treatment of influenza, which involves the use of a variety of aromatic herbs. Our previous studies have found that the contents of aromatic constituents in CGD affected the efficacy of treatment of influenza-infected mice, suggesting a clue that essential oil from CGD may play a relatively important role in ameliorating influenza induced pneumonia. Aim of the studyTo evaluate the anti-influenza potential of essential oil derived from Chaihu Guizhi Decoction (CGD-EO), to characterize and predict the key active components in CGD-EO, and to explore the mechanism of action of CGD-EO. Materials and methodsCGD-EO was obtained by steam distillation, and the components of the essential oil were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) in conjunction with the retention index. The constituents absorbed into the blood of mice treated with CGD-EO were analyzed by headspace solid phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC/MS). The potential anti-influenza active constituents and their possible action pathway were predicted by simulation using a network pharmacology approach. The protective effect of CGD-EO and its major components on H1N1/PR8-infected cells was determined using the CCK8 assay kit. Mice infected with influenza A virus H1N1/PR8 were administered different doses of CGD-EO orally and the body weights and lung weights were recorded. Mice with varying degrees of H1N1/PR8 infection were administered CGD-EO orally, and their daily weight, water consumption, and clinical indicators were recorded. Necropsies were conducted on days 3 and 5, during which lung weights were measured and lung tissues were preserved. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of the H1N1/PR8 virus and inflammatory factors in lung tissue was analyzed using RT-qPCR. Results(E)-cinnamaldehyde was the most abundant compound in the CGD-EO. The results of serum medicinal chemistry combined with network pharmacological analysis indicated that (E)-cinnamaldehyde and 3-phenyl-2-propenal may be potential active components of the CGD-EO anti-influenza, and may be involved in the NF-κB signalling pathway. In vitro studies have demonstrated that both CGD-EO and cinnamaldehyde exert a protective effect on MDCK cells infected with H1N1/PR8. In a 0.5 TCID50 H1N1/PR8-induced influenza model, mice treated with CGD-EO at a dose of 63.50 μg/kg exhibited a reduction in lung index, pathological lung lesions, and H1N1/PR8 viral gene levels. In addition, CGD-EO treatment was found to regulate the levels of inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. Moreover, following three days of administration, an upregulation of NF-κB mRNA levels in mouse lung tissue was observed in response to CGD-EO treatment. ConclusionsThe findings of our study indicate CGD-EO exerts a protective effect against H1N1-induced cytopathic lesions in vitro and is capable of alleviating H1N1-induced pneumonitis in mice. Moreover, it appears to be more efficacious in the treatment of mild symptoms of H1N1 infection. Studies have demonstrated that CGD-EO has antiviral potential to attenuate influenza-induced lung injury by modulating inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB signalling pathways during the early stages of influenza infection. It is possible that (E)-cinnamaldehyde is a potential active ingredient in the anti-influenza efficacy of CGD-EO.

Fabrication of boron carbide ceramics reinforced with silicon carbide fibers

In the present study, the boron carbide ceramics reinforced with silicon carbide fibers (B4C-SiCf) were fabricated by incorporating various contents of SiCf ranging from 2.5 to 10 wt%. The B4C-SiCf powder mixtures were sintered using the Field Assisted Sintering Technique (FAST), also known as Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS), at temperatures of 1800 °C and 2000 °C for 5 min by applying a pressure of 70 MPa in argon atmosphere, while heating and cooling rates were maintained at 100 °C/min and 50 °C/min, respectively. The influence of the initial powder ratio on the sintering behavior, relative density, microstructural development, and mechanical properties of the obtained B4C-SiCf composites was investigated. The results indicated that the sintered ceramic materials contained only the initial compounds, i.e. B4C and SiC phases. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) showed that the sintered composites consisted of densely compacted B4C grains. The highest relative density (>99 %) was achieved for the sample with 95 wt%B4C and 5 wt%SiCf, sintered at 2000 °C. Depending on the constituent content and the densification temperature the obtained composites demonstrated hardness values ranging from 29 to 43 GPa. The maximal hardness was attained in the composite with 95 wt%B4C sintered at 2000 °C. To assess the performance of the composites under extreme conditions, the ablation resistance was evaluated using a flowing oxyacetylene torch test. The material containing 5 wt%SiCf exhibited superior ablation resistance when compared to the other compositions. The attained results of this study showed that the SPS technique is a highly effective method for the densification of additive-free B4C-SiCf ceramic composites, showcasing promising properties for applications in extreme environments.

Chemical composition of cloud and rainwater at a high-altitude mountain site in western India: source apportionment and potential factors.

This study focuses on the chemical composition of cloud water (CW) and rainwater (RW) collected at Sinhagad, a high-altitude station (1450m AMSL) located in the western region of India. The samples were collected during the monsoon over two years (2016-2017). The chemical analysis suggests that the concentration of total ionic constituents was three times higher in CW than in RW, except for NH4+ (1.0) and HCO3- (0.6). Compared to RW, high concentrations of SO42- and NO3- were observed in CW. The weighted average RW pH (6.5 ± 0.3) was slightly more alkaline than CW pH (6.1 ± 0.5). This can be attributed to the high concentrations of neutralizing ions such as nss-Ca2+, nss-Mg2+, K+, and NH4+, indicating the greater extent of wet scavenging during rainfall. These ions counteract the acidity generated by SO42- and NO3-. A high correlation between Ca2+, Na+, K+, NO3-, and SO42- makes it difficult to estimate the contribution of SO42- from different sources. Anthropogenic sulfur emissions and soil dust significantly influence the ionic composition of clouds and rain. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) was used to identify the contribution of different sources to the samples. In the CW, the extracted factors were cooking and vehicles, aging sea salt, agriculture, and dust. In RW, the factors were industries, cooking and vehicles, agriculture and dust, and aging sea salt. The findings of this study have significant implications for the monsoon build-up, ecosystems, agriculture, and climate change.

Physiological and biochemical responses of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) under salinity stress in Iran

Saline soil and water present significant agricultural challenges, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions like Iran. Around 15 % of Iran's land is categorized as saline. Salt stress disrupts various physiological processes in plants, leading to reduced crop yields. Considering the demand for food and the limitation of cultivated areas is rising, the cultivation of salt-resistant crops is gaining attention. This study was conducted to examine the morpho-physiological responses tolerance of a native cultivar of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. cv. White Ahvazi) under conditions of salinity stress. Understanding how this native cultivar responds to salinity stress is crucial for increasing its productivity. The okra seedlings were subjected to seven different levels of electrical conductivity (EC) (1.7 as control, 4.4, 6.2, 8.5, 10.6, 12.5, 14.4, and 15.8 mS/cm) after the appearance of their first true leaves by dissolving NaCl salt in Hoagland's nutrient solution. The results showed that morphological traits in the treated samples were not significantly different from the non-treated samples until EC reached a value of 10.6 mS/cm. The increases in EC from 1.7 to 10.6 mS/cm resulted in a significant rise in the antioxidant capacity and content of biochemical constituents. While salinity stress from EC 12.5 mS/cm onwards caused significant induction of hydrogen peroxide free radicals and peroxidation of membrane lipids. The yield was also significantly reduced at ECs of 12.5, 14.4, and 15.8 mS/cm, which were 31.1, 40.6, and 59.6 % less than control plants, respectively. Increasing salinity stress resulted in a remarkable reduction of photosynthetic pigments in plants as compared to the non-treated plants. Generally, it can be concluded that the White Ahvazi cultivar of okra commonly cultivated in Iran had a moderate tolerance to EC with a threshold of 10.6 mS/cm. Thus, this study can contribute towards enhancing food production in regions facing challenges related to salinity.

Developing a novel index for detection of optically shallow waters using multispectral satellite imagery and radiative transfer modelling

ABSTRACT Optical remote sensing of water quality has been problematic due to contamination of remote sensing observations by the sea-bottom effect over complex shallow or very clear waters. This has resulted in providing misleading information on the estimation of Water Constituent Concentrations (WCCs) retrieved from satellite images. In this research, we used Radiative Transfer (RT) Modelling to develop a simple and innovative index named the Sea-Bottom Effect Index (SEBEI) to readily determine water pixels contaminated by the sea-bottom effect, (hereafter named Optically Shallow Waters, (OSWs)) from remote sensing observations. To define the SEBEI, we initially assessed the influence of the sea-bottom on simulated water-leaving reflectance (R rs ) using RT Water-Sea-Bottom (WSB) modelling. This evaluation encompassed a range of water depths, seabed albedos, and WCCs (i.e. Chlorophyll-a (Chla) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM)). Next, we detected the most sensitive wavelengths (i.e. 750 nm, 810 nm, and 900 nm) to the seabed contribution on the simulated R rs spectra at the water surface level and developed the SEBEI. We validated the accuracy of the proposed SEBEI over a time series of MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) images captured during low and high tidal phases over shallow waters of the Dutch Wadden Sea, the Netherlands. The results indicate that the SEBEI effectively distinguishes between OSWs and Optically Deep Waters (ODWs) using satellite images (with an R2 value of ≥ 0.97 and a Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) of ≤ 0.65). The SEBEI can serve as an intermediate solution for detecting OSWs in multispectral and hyperspectral satellite images worldwide. It eliminates the need for ancillary datasets like bathymetry maps and significantly enhances the reliability of WCC maps produced over complex shallow coastal waters.

LaFeSi–LaFe13−xSix composites: Modulating magnetic and magnetocaloric properties through inherent stress manipulation

We examine structural and magnetic properties of a series of La–Fe–Si alloys in the region of concentrations where they naturally form two-phase LaFeSi–LaFe13−xSix composites with variable content and connectivity of LaFe13−xSix grains distributed within the LaFeSi matrix. Theoretical calculations confirm that the LaFeSi constituent is magnetically and structurally inert below room temperature and at pressures between −10 and 10 GPa. The LaFe13−xSix constituent, on the other hand, is magnetically and structurally active: it exhibits first-order magnetostructural transformations that, in addition to xSi, can be controlled with temperature, magnetic field, and pressure. In composites where the concentration of the inactive constituent is ∼70 wt. % or greater, the standard, single-step, LaFe13−xSix first-order phase transformation proceeds in two steps separated by over 30 K in a zero magnetic field. Increasing the magnetic field recouples the two steps and restores the single-step phase transformation pathway. We analyze the roles of stresses caused by both thermal expansion mismatch and the first-order magnetic phase transition in LaFe13−xSix to rationalize the observed physical behaviors that emerge as the temperature or/and magnetic field vary.