Dispersed Oil Research Articles

Sustainable incorporation of Plaster of Paris kiln dust for stabilization of dispersive soil: A potential solution for construction industry

The presence of dispersive soils in the region of Khushab, Pakistan, has been recognized as a significant element causative to numerous challenges in construction. This research intended to examine the efficacy of Plaster of Paris kiln dust (PKD) as a cost-effective and eco-friendly material in stabilizing the strength properties and dispersion potential (DP) of dispersive soil at optimal curing period. Different contents of PKD (from 0.5% to 3%) were added to the soil. A series of tests have been carried out over various curing times (0, 7, 14, 28, and 60 days) to evaluate the effectiveness of PKD as a stabilizing agent. The tests included a double hydrometer, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, compaction, unconfined compression strength (UCS), consolidation, physiochemical properties (pH, Electrical conductivity), and chemical analysis (percentage sodium, sodium adsorption ratio). The results illustrated that DP decreased from 74.12% to 8.57% while the increase in UCS value was observed from 124.3 kPa to 1212.5 kPa (an increase of 875%) by increasing PKD up to 3% after curing for 60 days. The X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy exhibited the development of cementitious products (Calcium silicate hydrate, Calcium aluminate hydrate) due to the pozzolanic reaction with 3% PKD after a curing time of 28 days, which is responsible for the increment in strength. PKD exhibits both favorable economic and environmentally friendly characteristics, as it has the lowest cost among several additives used previously and provides a significant portion of the treated area (92.6%) free from pollution and landfill. PKD improved the stability and strength of dispersive soil and provided a sustainable waste management solution, making it a highly viable option for soil improvement applications in the construction industry.

Construction of a soil clod recognition bench-scale experiment for discrete element method modeling of tilling phenomena

Rotary claws are used to break soil into small pieces and plow the soil flat. In this study, rotary claw development in tiller machines was evaluated using both equipment and the discrete element method (DEM). However, evaluation through equipment is imprecise and time consuming. Although DEM is an effective method for modeling the movement of granular materials, it requires numerous parameters to ensure accuracy, which must be determined through experimental evaluation and comparison. To resolve this concern, an image processing method was developed that leverages point cloud data obtained from a depth camera to capture changes in soil shape, distribution, and soil clod size before and after tilling. The effect of soil moisture content and claw rotation speed on soil clod formation and decomposition was evaluated. The experimental results show that the location, number, and soil clod size vary with soil moisture content and claw rotation speed. The results were compared with the DEM simulation to reconcile differences and confirm the feasibility of the proposed method. The model experiment system for soil clods and the image processing method facilitates a quantitative comparison between experimental and DEM simulated soil dispersal, which accelerates the search for DEM parameters to reproduce the tilling.

Connecting gut microbiome changes with fish health conditions in juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) exposed to dispersed crude oil

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons found in crude oil can impair fish health following sublethal exposure. However, the dysbiosis of microbial communities within the fish host and influence it has on the toxic response of fish following exposure has been less characterized, particularly in marine species. To better understand the effect of dispersed crude oil (DCO) on juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) microbiota composition and potential targets of exposure within the gut, fish were exposed to 0.05 ppm DCO for 1, 3, 7, or 28 days and 16 S metagenomic and metatranscriptomic sequencing on the gut and RNA sequencing on intestinal content were conducted. In addition to assessing species composition, richness, and diversity from microbial gut community analysis and transcriptomic profiling, the functional capacity of the microbiome was determined. Mycoplasma and Aliivibrio were the two most abundant genera after DCO exposure and Photobacterium the most abundant genus in controls, after 28 days. Metagenomic profiles were only significantly different between treatments after a 28-day exposure. The top identified pathways were involved in energy and the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, fatty acids, amino acids, and cellular structure. Biological processes following fish transcriptomic profiling shared common pathways with microbial functional annotations such as energy, translation, amide biosynthetic process, and proteolysis. There were 58 differently expressed genes determined from metatranscriptomic profiling after 7 days of exposure. Predicted pathways that were altered included those involved in translation, signal transduction, and Wnt signaling. EIF2 signaling was consistently dysregulated following exposure to DCO, regardless of exposure duration, with impairments in IL-22 signaling and spermine and spermidine biosynthesis in fish after 28 days. Data were consistent with predictions of a potentially reduced immune response related to gastrointestinal disease. Herein, transcriptomic-level responses helped explain the relevance of differences in gut microbial communities in fish following DCO exposure.

Experimental investigation of surface roughness changes of an underground structure's material during its driving into the ground

The mechanical interaction between dispersed soils and the surface of underground structures is fundamental in generating their load-bearing capacity. The technical and economic efficiency of piles and supporting structures depends on the friction forces that appear on the contact of their material with the soil. One of the main factors which has a significant influence on friction forces is the roughness of the material surface. Installation of underground structures, such as pile driving or vibro-driven sheet piling, is accompanied by long periods of material contact with dispersed soils: some structural segments can slip on the soil for tens of metres. As a result, it is likely that the surface properties of the underground structure material will change during this process. Although there is a considerable amount of tribological research, the methodology of such experiments does not fully represent the pile driving process in the soil mass. This means that it is not possible to accurately estimate the change in the surface properties of underground structure materials as they are driven into the soil using the results of these studies. The present paper describes a simulation of an underground structure made of three different materials: steel, fibreglass and fluoroplastic; in fine medium sand. The roughness of the materials was monitored while they were moving in the sand. It was found that with increasing diving depth the roughness of each material becomes less. And the value of this change is influenced by such material properties as material density, shear strength and hardness.

DETERMINATION OF BOUNDARIES PARAMETERS OF THE COMPUTATIONAL MODEL FOR ASSESSING THE IMPACT ON THE SURROUNDING FACILITIES FROM TUNNELING

As a result of active development of Moscow underground space, as well as due to the increased density of urban development, it is necessary to forecast additional displacements of surrounding buildings from new construction in order to prevent emergency situations. For this reason, one of the important directions is mathematical modeling of the additional displacements of the surrounding building after erection. Establishing the parameters of design boundaries of a geotechnical model is one of the factors that greatly influence the results of the simulation. This study deals with the assignment of the lower boundary of the scheme when estimating the impact from tunneling works in a two-dimensional formulation. A review of international experience in simulating the design scheme depth for various geotechnical problems and its comparison with Russian experience in modeling schemes has been made. The deformation marks located on the ground surface in the zone of influence of the Rublevo-Arkhangelskaya and Troitskaya (Kommunarskaya) lines of the Moscow Metro under construction were selected for the analysis. The authors carried out the selection of the lower boundary of the scheme by changing it in proportion to the outer diameter of the tunnels in dispersed and rocky soils. The obtained data were compared with geodetic monitoring one. Calculations were made for three different soil models such as Mohr-Coulomb, Mohr-Coulomb with increasing deformation modulus of the prism under the excavation and Hardening soil. In addition, calculations were made for two cases of assignment of the overburden coefficient - according to normative documentation and available research on the subject. As a result of this work, more than 600 calculated cases were obtained. Based on these cases, recommendations were developed for adjusting the scheme depth for the considered soil models.

Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Newly Synthesized Waxy Crude Oil Dispersants and Inhibitors Using Styrene Based Copolymers

Synthesis and Performance Evaluation of Newly Synthesized Waxy Crude Oil Dispersants and Inhibitors Using Styrene Based Copolymers

Enhanced Skin Deposition of Betamethasone Dipropionate from a Novel Formulation and Drug Delivery Technology.

Effective topical drug delivery is the essence of dermatologic treatment. The drug must be applied to the skin surface, be released from the vehicle, enter the stratum corneum, traverse the epidermis, and enter the dermis pharmacologically intact. New advances have improved emulsion-type formulation and drug delivery technology by encapsulating dispersed oil droplets in a robust multimolecular aqueous film of surfactants, oil, and water, enabling a multifold decrease in surfactant concentration compared to conventional creams. In the research reported here, we studied this new concept, termed polyaphron dispersion (PAD) technology, by comparing skin delivery of betamethasone dipropionate from a novel oil-in-water emulsion system of calcipotriene and betamethasone dipropionate (CAL/BDP) cream to that from a traditional topical suspension (CAL/BDP TS) utilizing in vitro and in vivo detection methods. The amount of BDP released from the CAL/BDP cream and CAL/BDP TS was evaluated using both in vitro Franz cell analysis and in vivo human tape stripping from ten female human volunteers after a single application of CAL/BDP cream or CAL/BDP TS. For the tape stripping analysis, 20 circular tape strips were taken from forearm application sites at 1, 2, 4, and 8h after application and analyzed for the amount of BDP in the tape strip using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The in vitro Franz cell analysis demonstrated that the cumulative amount of BDP that diffused through the epidermis was statistically significantly greater for the CAL/BDP cream compared to the CAL/BDP TS at all time points. In addition, consistently higher amounts of BDP were recovered following CAL/BDP cream application than following CAL/BDP TS application at 1, 2, 4, and 8h following application utilizing the in vivo tape stripping technique. The novel PAD technology-based cream formulation delivered more BDP into the upper stratum corneum and lower epidermis than a traditional topical suspension.

A Review of the Metallogenic Mechanisms of Sandstone-Type Uranium Deposits in Hydrocarbon-Bearing Basins in China

As a valuable mineral resource, uranium is extensively utilized in nuclear power generation, radiation therapy, isotope labeling, and tracing. In order to achieve energy structure diversification, reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels, and promote the sustainable development of energy production and consumption, research on the metallogenic mechanisms and related development technologies of uranium resources has been one of the focuses of China’s energy development. Sandstone-type uranium deposits make up approximately 43% of all deposits in China, making them the most prevalent form of uranium deposit there. Sandstone-type uranium deposits and hydrocarbon resources frequently coexist in the same basin in China. Therefore, this study summarizes the spatial and chronological distribution, as well as the geological characteristics, of typical sandstone-type uranium deposits in China’s hydrocarbon-bearing basins. From the perspectives of fluid action, geological structure, and sedimentary environment, the metallogenic mechanisms of sandstone-type uranium deposits in hydrocarbon-bearing basins are explored. According to the research, the rapid reduction effect of oil and gas in the same basin is a major factor in the generation of relatively large uranium deposits. Additionally, ions such as CO32− and HCO3− in hydrothermal fluids of hydrocarbon-bearing basins, which typically originate from dispersed oil and gas, are more conducive to uranium enrichment and sedimentation. This study provides guidance for efficient sandstone-type uranium deposit exploration and production in hydrocarbon-bearing basins and helps to achieve significant improvements in uranium resource exploitation efficiency.

The loss of crude oil droplets by filter feeders and the role of surfactants

Various methods of oil spill remediation exist, e.g., floating booms, controlled burning and the release of chemical surfactants. These surfactants facilitate the breakup of the slick into micron-sized droplets. Here, we studied the impact such a surfactant has on the size distribution of oil droplets in the water column and in the gut of the filter feeder Daphnia magna. We also studied the effect of surfactants on detachment conditions of chemically and mechanically dispersed oil (respectively MDO and CDO) droplets from capture fibers. Our results show that including solubilized dioctyl sulfosuccinate sodium salt in the mixing of the emulsion produces smaller droplets and a narrower size distribution in the water. In the gut, the size of ingested droplets does not change whether the oil is mixed mechanically or chemically. Also, surfactant coated droplets detach at a lower velocity than mechanically dispersed droplet because of their lower oil/water interfacial tension.

Accelerated dissipation, soil microbial toxicity and dispersal of antimicrobial resistance in soils repeatedly exposed to tiamulin, tilmicosin and sulfamethoxazole

The application of manures leads to the contamination of agricultural soils with veterinary antibiotics (VAs). These might exert toxicity on the soil microbiota and threaten environmental quality, and public health. We obtained mechanistic insights about the impact of three VAs, namely, sulfamethoxazole (SMX), tiamulin (TIA) and tilmicosin (TLM), on the abundance of key soil microbial groups, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and class I integron integrases (intl1). In a microcosm study, we repeatedly treated two soils (differing in pH and VA dissipation capacity) with the studied VAs, either directly or via fortified manure. This application scheme resulted in accelerated dissipation of TIA, but not of SMX, and accumulation of TLM. Potential nitrification rates (PNR), and the abundance of ammonia-oxidizing microorganism (AOM) were reduced by SMX and TIA, but not by TLM. VAs strongly impacted the total prokaryotic and AOM communities, whereas manure addition was the main determinant of the fungal and protist communities. SMX stimulated sulfonamide resistance, while manure stimulated ARGs and horizontal gene transfer. Correlations identified opportunistic pathogens like Clostridia, Burkholderia-Caballeronia-Paraburkholderia, and Nocardioides as potential ARG reservoirs in soil. Our results provide unprecedented evidence about the effects of understudied VAs on soil microbiota and highlight risks posed by VA-contaminated manures. Environmental implicationThe dispersal of veterinary antibiotics (VAs) through soil manuring enhances antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development and poses a threat to the environment and the public health. We provide insights about the impact of selected VAs on their: (i) microbially-mediated dissipation in soil; (ii) ecotoxicity on the soil microbial communities; (iii) capacity to stimulate AMR. Our results (i) demonstrate the effects of VAs and their application-mode on the bacterial, fungal, and protistan communities, and on the soil ammonia oxidizers; (ii) describe natural attenuation processes against VA dispersal, (iii) depict potential soil microbial AMR reservoirs, essential for the development of risk assessment strategies.

Recycling and conservation of calcium carbide slag in dispersive soil modification: An evaluation of early age performance

The disposal of calcium carbide slag (CCS) is still a serious problem for areas that rely on the polyvinyl chloride industry, especially in the northern part of China. To assess the early effectiveness of CCS in treating dispersive soil, mechanical, chemical, and microscopic tests were conducted. The pH and conductivity EC were also measured to evaluate the effect of active ions. Validation test was also conducted on a natural dispersive soil from northern Shaanxi to prove the improving effectiveness of CCS on the dispersivity of soil. Results showed that adding 2% CCS significantly limits the dispersivity of the soil and improves its resistance to water erosion and mechanical properties. Increases of 11 times and 4.8 times were observed when CCS content increased from 0% to 5% and curing time increased from 0 to 28 days for compressive and tensile strength, respectively. The correlation between dispersivity and mechanical properties with pH and EC during curing was found to be significant. This relationship is closely linked to the dissolution and consumption behavior of the active ions that are abundant and contributed by the functional oxides in the CCS. Microscopic tests indicated that the porous particle structure of CCS improves the mechanical properties and limits the dispersivity of soil, due to physical strengthening and carbonization reaction in the early stage of CCS application. The subsequent release of Ca2+ and the formation of C-S-H/C-A-H cementitious hydrates played a vital role in controlling chemical dispersivity and further improving the mechanical properties of the dispersive soil. This was accomplished through ion replacement and pozzolanic reactions that were supported by the abundant active ions. Validation test show that CCS could efficiently improve the engineering properties of dispersive soil and the recommended mixture ratio is 2–5%.

Field fluorometers for assessing oil dispersion at sea

Oil dispersion by the application of chemical dispersants is an important tool in oil spill response, but it is difficult to quantify in the field in a timely fashion that is useful for coordinators and decision-makers. One option is the use of rugged portable field fluorometers that can deliver essentially instantaneous results if access is attainable. The United States Coast Guard has suggested, in their Special Monitoring of Applied Response Technologies (SMART) protocols, that successful oil dispersion can be identified by a five-fold increase in oil fluorescence. Here we test three commercial fluorometers with different excitation/emission windows (SeaOWL, Cyclops 7FO, and Cyclops 7F-G) that might prove useful for such applications. Results show that they have significantly different dynamic ranges for detecting oil and that using them (or similar instruments) in combination is probably the best option for successfully assessing the effectiveness of oil dispersion operations. Nevertheless, the rapid dilution of dispersed oil means that measurements must be made within an hour or two of dispersion, suggesting that one feasible scenario would be monitoring ship-applied dispersants by vessels following close behind the dispersant application vessel. Alternatively, autonomous submersibles might be pre-deployed to monitor aerial dispersant application, although the logistical challenges in a real spill would be substantial.

Density and salinity effects on the water retention capacity of unsaturated clayey dispersive soil

Density and salinity effects on the water retention capacity of unsaturated clayey dispersive soil

Zn2+-induced construction for highly dispersed ball-on-flake nanostructured ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanoadditive towards improvement of tribological properties

Herein, the highly dispersed ball-on-flake nanostructured ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were successfully constructed by two-step approach, i.e. the electrostatic adsorption (the first step) and in-situ preparation(the second step). The composition and structure of ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were determined by a series of characterizations (such as XRD, FT-IR, TGA, Zeta potential, XPS, SEM, TEM, etc). The dispersibility and interface compatibility of ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites in base oil (150SN) were intensively probed by Uv-vis spectra and optical microscope, demonstrating that the ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites had a superior interface compatibility in oil. Furthermore, the tribological properties of ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites as additives in base oil were detailedly evaluated on a four-ball friction tester. The experimental results showed that the ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites at 0.05 wt% optimum adding content exerted the reduction by 46.85% of average friction coefficient and 48.74% of wear scar diameter, while exhibiting the improvement by 18.37% of bearing capacity in base oil. In terms of the characterizations of the worn surface (such as FESEM, 3D profile, elemental mapping, XPS, etc), the lubrication mechanism of ZIF-7/g-C3N4 nanocomposites were deeply discussed and proposed, are attributed to its good dispersibility in base oil, assuming the existence of synergistic lubrication.

Genomic approaches to enhance adaptive plasticity to cope with soil constraints amidst climate change in wheat.

Climate change is varying the availability of resources, soil physicochemical properties, and rainfall events, which collectively determines soil physical and chemical properties. Soil constraints-acidity (pH<6), salinity (pH≤8.5), sodicity, and dispersion (pH>8.5)-are major causes of wheat yield loss in arid and semiarid cropping systems. To cope with changing environments, plants employ adaptive strategies such as phenotypic plasticity, a key multifaceted trait, to promote shifts in phenotypes. Adaptive strategies for constrained soils are complex, determined by key functional traits and genotype×environment×management interactions. The understanding of the molecular basis of stress tolerance is particularly challenging for plasticity traits. Advances in sequencing and high-throughput genomics technologies have identified functional alleles in gene-rich regions, haplotypes, candidate genes, mechanisms, and in silico gene expression profiles at various growth developmental stages. Our review focuses on favorable alleles for enhanced gene expression, quantitative trait loci, and epigenetic regulation of plant responses to soil constraints, including heavy metal stress and nutrient limitations. A strategy is then described for quantitative traits in wheat by investigating significant alleles and functional characterization of variants, followed by gene validation using advanced genomic tools, and marker development for molecular breeding and genome editing. Moreover, the review highlights the progress of gene editing in wheat, multiplex gene editing, and novel alleles for smart control of gene expression. Application of these advanced genomic technologies to enhance plasticity traits along with soil management practices will be an effective tool to build yield, stability, and sustainability on constrained soils in the face of climate change.

Analysis of Dispersivity in Marine Clays of Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

This study assessed the dispersivity of soils extracted from the northern region of Cartagena de Indias (Colombia) using the pinhole test, crumb test, and chemical–microstructural analyses. Dispersive soils are susceptible to erosive phenomena upon contact with water, yet they have not been adequately characterized in the city. To evaluate the dispersivity degree of different deformed and undisturbed soil samples, soil characterization tests included particle size analysis, chemical composition, Atterberg limits, specific gravity, and compaction. The results showed that the soils are highly plastic clays (i.e., CH) with a slight to moderate dispersivity level (i.e., ND3) according to the pinhole test and a moderate degree of dispersivity confirmed by the crumb test. The extracted soil sample sodium levels ranged from 0.72% to 1.94%, and the soil had an optimal moisture content of 26% and a maximum apparent dry unit weight of 13.87 kN/m3. According to standards and results, Cartagena de Indias’s studied marine clays are unsuitable for civil construction due to the degree of uncertainty in their behavior.

Carbon Dots for Improving Water and Oil Absorption of Sponges

An oil spill is one of the hazardous problems in the ocean. Cleaning the oil spill requires expensive and specific technologies. Nowadays, advanced techniques such as skimmers, oil dispersion agents, in-situ burning and solar-heated oil-absorbent are frequently used to solve the problem. For oil-absorbent materials, further, development is still required to enhance oil dan water absorption. Carbon dots is one of the promising nanoparticles that can be used to improve oil absorption. In this work, we conjugated carbon dots made of pencil leads into several types of sponges. The purpose of this work was to improve oil and water absorption. Our experiment results showed that 2 to 5 nanometres size of ethanol soluble carbon dots were successfully synthesized using a simple electrochemical process. UV-Vis absorption and FTIR spectra showed clear energy transition and functional groups in carbon dots. We used six different sponges with various mass densities from 9 to 174 mg/cm3. Conjugation of carbon dots into the sponge was simply done by immersing the sponge in carbon dot solution and drying it. The conjugation made the mass of the sponge increase. We examined the water and oil absorption capacity of each sponge. Oil absorption capacities were different for each sponge. In general, the addition of carbon dots in sponges increased the mass density of sponge water twice. Furthermore, one type of sponge decreased oil absorption capacity after carbon dots conjugation. Other types of sponges showed an improvement of oil absorption capacity by 60% after carbon dot conjugation. We believe that this work can be further improved to get higher water and oil absorption.

Assessment of Dispersed Oil Sorption in Oily Wastewater onto Hydrophobized/Oleophilized Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (AAC) Grains

The discharge of untreated oily wastewater into the environment has serious impacts on human health, living nature, and ecosystems and leads to significant economic losses. Many engineering techniques have been proposed and applied to treat oily wastewater, but limited studies have investigated low-cost and effective techniques using by-products and waste/scrap materials from the construction industry. Materials to treat oily wastewater are needed not only to mitigate environmental pollution but also to promote the reuse and recycling of industrial by-products, especially in developing countries. This study, therefore, examined the sorption capacity of dispersed oil in wastewater (dispersed soybean oil in water; initial oil concentrations, Ci = 10–1000 mg/L; oil droplet size in water &lt;2 μm) onto the hydrophobized/oleophilized autoclaved porous aerated concrete (AAC) grains made from waste scrap in Vietnam by using batch sorption tests in the laboratory. The AAC grains (sizes 0.106–0.25, 0.25–0.85, and 0.85–2.00 mm) were hydrophobized/oleophilized using oleic and stearic acids (coating concentrations of 1.0, 5.0, and 10 g/kg), and two sands (0.18–2.00 and 0.30–2.00 mm) were used as control samples. The results showed that the hydrophobized/oleophilized AAC grains had high sorption capacity for dispersed oil (i.e., high oil removal efficiency) compared to the control sands. Especially, the removal of AAC grains coated with stearic acid was &gt;80% in high oil concentration solutions (Ci = 100 and 1000 mg/L), indicating that the hydrophobized/oleophilized AAC grains have high potential as useful adsorbents to trap dispersed oil in oily wastewater. Moreover, adsorption isotherms were drawn to examine the sorption characteristics of dispersed oil onto AAC grains. For all tested samples, the sorption of dispersed oil increased linearly with increasing equilibrium concentration. The commonly used Langmuir model, on the other hand, did not capture the measured isotherms.

Soil fertility and landscape surrounding former arable fields drive the ecological resilience of Mediterranean dry grassland plant communities

IntroductionSemi-natural dry grasslands are among the species-richest and most diverse habitats in Europe especially in the Mediterranean Basin. They evolved with long-term severe environmental constraints, either biotic (e.g., grazing or mowing) or abiotic (e.g., dryness or oligotrophy). Their recovery after sever anthropogenic disturbance, such as cultivation is often very slow and incomplete. A deeper understanding of the processes driving the recovery would be of great benefit to better restore or conserve these grasslands. We used the filter model as a framework to assess the relative importance of dispersion, abiotic and biotic filters as drivers of this recovery.MethodsWe studied the medium-term dynamics of 37 Mediterranean dry grassland plant communities after an episode of cultivation in the plain of La Crau (Southern France) by two census: after 25 years of abandonment, and revisited 10 years later (35 years of abandonment). Our aims were to characterize the temporal medium-term dynamics of these communities, to measure their taxonomic resilience and to identify the drivers. We performed structural equation modeling to measure the importance of the various drivers, with cover of remnant dry grasslands surrounding each studied community as a proxy for the dispersion filter, soil pH and phosphorus content as proxies for the abiotic filter and cover of the most dominant species as a proxy for the biotic filter.Results and DiscussionOur results show that former arable field vegetation do not recover after more than 40 years. The three filters drive the recovery of dry grassland vegetation: former arable fields that have lower phosphorus content (abiotic filter) have a lower cover of dominant species (biotic filter), a higher species richness and a higher similarity with remnant dry grassland plant communities, especially if the former arable fields are surrounded by remnant dry grasslands (dispersion filter).

Topical application of aerial portion of Acalypha indica Linn ameliorates psoriasis in rodents: Evidences from in vivo and in silico studies

Ethanopharmacological relevanceAcalypha indica Linn. is a weed, used traditionally for different skin diseases such as eczema and dermatitis in various parts of India. There are no previous in vivo studies reported on the antipsoriatic potential of this medicinal plant. AimThe aim of this study was to investigate antipsoriatic activity of coconut oil dispersion of aerial portion of Acalypha indica Linn. Few lipid-soluble phytoconstituents of this plant were subjected to molecular docking studies on different targets to determine phytoconstituent responsible for antipsoriatic activity. MethodsVirgin coconut oil dispersion of aerial portion of the plant was prepared by mixing three parts of coconut oil and one part of powdered aerial portion. The acute dermal toxicity was determined according to OECD guidelines. Mouse tail model was used to evaluate the antipsoriatic activity. Molecular docking of phytoconstituents was carried out using Biovia Discovery Studio. ResultsIn acute dermal toxicity study,the coconut oil dispersion was found to be safe up to the dose of 20000 mg/kg. The dispersion exhibited significant antipsoriatic activity (p < 0.01) at the dose of 250 mg/kg; at 500 mg/kg dose, the activity was similar that of 250 mg/kg dose. In the docking study of the phytoconstituents, 2-methyl anthraquinone was found to be responsible for antipsoriatic activity. ConclusionThis study provides new evidence of Acalypha indica Linn as antipsoriatic plant and justifies its traditional use. Computational studies also endorse the results obtained via acute dermal toxicity study and mouse tail model for evaluation of antipsoriatic potential.