Systematic Study Research Articles

Three new species of the genus Kockovaella (Cuniculitremaceae, Tremellales) from the phylloplane in China.

Kockovaella, in the family Cuniculitremaceae of the order Tremellales, is a globally distributed genus of blastoconidia-forming fungi. Currently, 23 species have been described and accepted as members of the genus. In this study, five yeast strains were isolated from plant leaf surfaces collected in the Fujian and Guizhou Provinces of China and identified through a combination of morphological and molecular methods. The related phenotypic features and molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS, LSU, and RPB1 sequences demonstrated that they were members of three novel Kockovaella species: K.iteae sp. nov., K.quanzhouensis sp. nov., and K.sambucuse sp. nov. These species were described in detail and discussed relative to other species. This study demonstrated the novel geographical distribution as well as the high species diversity of Kockovaella in China and offered more data for further studies in fungal systematics and evolution.

The First Three Mitochondrial Genomes for the Characterization of the Genus Egeirotrioza (Hemiptera: Triozidae) and Phylogenetic Implications.

(1) Background: Mitochondrial genomes are important markers for the study of phylogenetics and systematics. Triozidae includes some primary pests of Populus euphratica. The phylogenetic relationships of this group remain controversial due to the lack of molecular data. (2) Methods: Mitochondria of Egeirotrioza Boselli were sequenced and assembled. We analyzed the sequence length, nucleotide composition, and evolutionary rate of Triozidae, combined with the 13 published mitochondrial genomes. (3) Results: The evolutionary rate of protein-coding genes was as follows: ATP8 > ND6 > ND5 > ND2 > ND4 > ND4L > ND1 > ND3 > APT6 > CYTB > COX3 > COX2 > COX1. We reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of Triozidae based on 16 triozid mitochondrial genomes (thirteen ingroups and three outgroups) using the maximum likelihood (ML) and Bayesian inference (BI) approaches. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16 Triozidae mitochondrial genomes showed that Egeirotrioza was closely related to Leptynoptera. (4) Conclusions: We have identified 13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs, 2 rRNAs, and 1 control region (CR) of all newly sequenced mitochondrial genomes, which were the mitochondrial gene type in animals. The results of this study provide valuable genomic information for the study of psyllid species.

A Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Amino Acid Derivatives of Pterostilbene Analogues Toward Human Breast Cancer.

Pterostilbene is the dimethylated analogue of Resveratrol, a compound with well-known biological activities, such as antioxidant, chemopreventive, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and cardioprotective. Despite many studies on the general effect of such polyphenolic molecules and their derivatives, a deep comprehension of their action and systematic structure-activity relationship studies are still rare. Herein, three different analogues of functionalizable Pterostilbene were efficiently synthesized and derivatized with a selected library of antioxidant amino acids, allowing for a highly diversified exploration of the chemical space. The library was analyzed towards cancer cells. Collectively, our data demonstrated the enhanced anti-proliferative activity of Tryptophan-conjugated compounds. In breast cancer cells, the treatment with Tryptophan-conjugated analogues induced the activation of cellular stress pathways, including autophagy signaling.

A Systematic Study of Pyracantha crenulata Phytoconstituents for their Anti-Diabetic Activity Using Computational Techniques

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant medical condition with rising incidence and fatality rates. According to WHO, around 422 million individuals globally have diabetes, the majority of whom live in low and middle-income economies. Diabetes is entirely responsible for 1.5 million fatalities yearly. Researchers are concentrating on plant derivatives due to the higher toxicity of conventional allopathic medicines. Antidiabetic agents and other medications, including from plants, are significant. Pyracantha crenulata is a significant plant recognized for its various therapeutic applications. It contains many phytoconstituents that give antidiabetic efficiency. In order to investigate the antidiabetic efficacy of Pyracantha crenulata phytoconstituents, a study was conducted using PDB IDs IUOK. The research was focused on the analysis of molecular docking and ADME and toxicity studies. Objective: This study aimed to propose a mechanism for the antidiabetic activity of Pyracantha crenulata phytoconstituents based on molecular docking studies. Method: The phytoconstituents of Pyracantha crenulata were docked using the PyRx Virtual Screening software, and the ADME study was evaluated. Results: The results of molecular docking showed that many phytocosntituents of Pyracantha crenulata have higher dock scores against antidiabetic action than conventional drugs. Conclusion: Based on molecular docking study, different chemical constituents may act as potent inhibitors of diabetic proteins IUOK. By using the outcome of the research, new anti-diabetic medications could be designed.

Towards a species-level phylogeny for Neotropical Myrtaceae: Notes on topology and resources for future studies.

Increasingly complete phylogenies underpin studies in systematics, ecology, and evolution. Myrteae (Myrtaceae), with ~2700 species, is a key component of the exceptionally diverse Neotropical flora, but given its complicated taxonomy, automated assembling of molecular supermatrices from public databases often lead to unreliable topologies due to poor species identification. Here, we build a taxonomically verified molecular supermatrix of Neotropical Myrteae by assembling 3909 published and 1004 unpublished sequences from two nuclear and seven plastid molecular markers. We infer a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree that covers 712 species of Myrteae (~28% of the total diversity in the clade) and evaluate geographic and taxonomic gaps in sampling. The tree inferred from the fully concatenated matrix mostly reflects the topology of the plastid data set and there is a moderate to strong incongruence between trees inferred from nuclear and plastid partitions. Large, species-rich genera are still the poorest sampled within the group. Eastern South America is the best-represented area in proportion to its species diversity, while Western Amazon, Mesoamerica, and the Caribbean are the least represented. We provide a time-calibrated tree that can be more reliably used to address finer-scale eco-evolutionary questions that involve this group in the Neotropics. Gaps to be filled by future studies include improving representation of taxa and areas that remain poorly sampled, investigating causes of conflict between nuclear and plastid partitions, and the role of hybridization and incomplete lineage sorting in relationships that are poorly supported.

Retracted: "Death Anxiety in the Iranian Elderly:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study".

Retracted: "Death Anxiety in the Iranian Elderly:A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Study".

Nuevas generaciones, nuevos retos: innovando la educación en medicina de urgencias a través de la tecnología

IntroductionThis study examines the unique educational challenges encountered in emergency medicine, which arise from a wide variety of cases and the unpredictability of the emergency setting. We introduce a Digital Learning Resource (DLR) that uses virtual simulation to complement and enhance traditional educational methods. MethodsWe conducted a descriptive study of systematization of experiences, where the DLR design was evaluated on the basis of a questionnaire applied to a group of students and focus groups with students and teachers. ResultsOf the 59 students who participated, 72.8% completed the assessment, resulting in an overall rating for the DLR of 87.11%. The technology and educational content were highly rated (87.3% and 86.3%, respectively), and accessibility was also rated favorably at 85.8%. Feedback from the focus group indicated that students valued the integration of theory and clinical practice in the DLR, but they also suggested improvements in areas such as consistent access and better adaptation for mobile devices. ConclusionThe DLR has proven to be a valuable educational tool, with a satisfaction rate of 87%, and meets the validation requirements of the UNE standards set by the Spanish Standardization Association. The findings point to the necessity for ongoing development and adaptation of the resource to further its educational impact in emergency medicine and to determine its suitability for use in various educational contexts. Future studies should investigate the long-term educational effects and clinical applicability of the DLR.

Chloroplast genome structure analysis of Equisetum unveils phylogenetic relationships to ferns and mutational hotspot region.

Equisetum is one of the oldest extant group vascular plants and is considered to be the key to understanding vascular plant evolution. Equisetum is distributed almost all over the world and has a high degree of adaptability to different environments. Despite the fossil record of horsetails (Equisetum, Equisetaceae) dating back to the Carboniferous, the phylogenetic relationship of this genus is not well, and the chloroplast evolution in Equisetum remains poorly understood. In order to fill this gap, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the chloroplast genomes of 12 species of Equisetum, and compared them to 13 previously published vascular plants chloroplast genomes to deeply examine the plastome evolutionary dynamics of Equisetum. The chloroplast genomes have a highly conserved quadripartite structure across the genus, but these chloroplast genomes have a lower GC content than other ferns. The size of Equisetum plastomes ranges from 130,773 bp to 133,684 bp and they encode 130 genes. Contraction/expansion of IR regions and the number of simple sequences repeat regions underlie large genomic variations in size among them. Comparative analysis revealed we also identified 13 divergence hotspot regions. Additionally, the genes accD and ycf1 can be used as potential DNA barcodes for the identification and phylogeny of the genus Equisetum. Twelve photosynthesis-related genes were specifically selected in Equisetum. Comparative genomic analyses implied divergent evolutionary patterns between Equisetum and other ferns. Phylogenomic analyses and molecular dating revealed a relatively distant phylogenetic relationship between Equisetum and other ferns, supporting the division of pteridophyte into Lycophytes, Equisetaceae and ferns. The results show that the chloroplast genome can be used to solve phylogenetic problems within or between Equisetum species, and also provide genomic resources for the study of Equisetum systematics and evolution.

Study of systematics on the cosmological inference of the Hubble constant from gravitational wave standard sirens

Study of systematics on the cosmological inference of the Hubble constant from gravitational wave standard sirens

Effects of Active Compounds of Nigella sativa in COVID-19: A Narrative Review.

SARS-CoV-2 infection that led to the COVID-19 pandemic has changed human health and the economy globally. SARS CoV-2 is a type of Coronaviruses that has caused pneumonia and its complications with many deaths over the past two years. The use of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, accepted as generally safe for patients with autoimmune diseases or malaria, was attempted in many trials for COVID-19 treatment. Nigella sativa (NS) (black caraway, also known as black cumin, nigella or Kalonji) is an annual flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family, chemically composed of the main constituent natural Thymoquinone (TQ) (30%- 48%) in forms of thymohydroquinone, dithymoquinone (Nigellone) is a native to wider regions, including parts of eastern Europe, west Asia, North of Africa and east of Myanmar. In this review, we explored the Randomized Controlled Trial, Controlled Trial, and Systematic review studies that support Nigella sativa Thymoquinone-targeted SARS-CoV-2 targeting. Therefore, A literature search was performed for publications published on the electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, CNKI, and Google Scholar) for Nigella sativa, black seeds, Kalonji, coronavirus, SARS-CoV -2 and COVID-19. This review aimed to find relevant evidence of Nigella sativa preferences as a natural feasible remedy with no side effects in COVID-19. Studies reported the benefits of NS as beneficial, another appropriate remedy for patients with COVID-19. However, all studies have shown limitations, such as limiting clinical symptom outcomes due to regulations imposed by isolation policies and lack of adequate funding. Therefore, the evidence suggests that the chemical contents of NS are a safe and possible treatment for COVID-19 patients that helps to improve COVID-19 infection in patients with no side effects. Nigella sativa seeds were one of the well-documented herbal products. Three reviewed randomized controlled trials reported that NS reduced covid-19 risk and could improve immune function. It was also helpful in upper respiratory infections such as asthma and bronchitis, with one RCT showing that honey and NS significantly improved symptoms, viral clearance, and mortality of COVID-19 patients. This review concludes that NS has a positive barrier effect on people at risk of acquiring a COVID-19 infection.

Study of Structural Elucidation, Degradation Kinetics and Antimicrobial Analysis of Copper (II) Sesame-Soap Complexes with Urea and Thiourea Ligand in Non-aqueous Solvents

Abstract: Surfactants have great importance in biological and drug industries and the complexes of metallic soaps with various ligands are used in approximately every region of national economy. Therefore, our keen interest to study of degradation kinetics and biological importance of Cu (II) surfactants in non-aqueous and non-polar solvent benzene. Present research work has been initiated with synthesis, systematic study of structural elucidation, thermal degradation, kinetics and biocidal activities of copper (II) sesame-soap complexes with macrocyclic nitrogen and sulphur containing donar ligands like urea and thiourea. The thermal degradation of copper (II) sesame-soap complexes were carried out for analysis of degradation kinetics and estimation of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters using different methods at heating rate 10oC min-1. Copper (II) sesame-soap complexes of such ligands have also been analysed against Staphylococus aureus. This research work consolidates the synthesis of copper (II) sesame soap-urea and thiourea complexes by conventional methods and the structure of these complexes were assigned according to elemental analysis and molecular weight determinations. IR, NMR and ESR spectral studies have also been done to understand structural aspects. The anti-microbial activities of copper (II) sesame-soap urea and thiourea complexes have been evaluated by testing against Staphylococus aureus. The present research work includes information of thermal analysis using TGA technique to find out their kinetic and thermodynamic parameters by using diverse equations such as Coats-Redfern equation, Horowitz-Metzger equation, Broido equation, Piloyan–Novikova equation. Moreover, the results obtained from anti-microbial screening have been used to analyze the anti-microbial activities of copper (II) sesame-soap urea and thiourea complexes against gram-positive bacteria Staphylococus aureus. These results show that complexes of copper ion co-ordinated with different nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur containing ligands, are very important in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry due to its significant role in the inhibition activity. The study of these complexes concludes that the synthesized complexes were found to possess appreciable bactericidal properties at different concentrations because chelation increases the anti-microbial potency.

In English

Atmospheric air pollution is determined by the functioning of both technogenic and natural sources of pollution. The main anthropogenic sources of pollution are: transport, industrial enterprises, energy facilities and agriculture. In order to select a rational and effective method of atmospheric emissions purification from harmful components, systematic study was carried out to identify the potential of natural zeolites of Georgia. In particular, four samples of zeolite-containing rocks were investigated: analcime, clinoptilolite, phillipsite, mordenite and their modified forms. By means of the chromatographic method of researching the adsorption properties of natural zeolites, the best adsorption capability of mordenite and its modified hydrogen form obtained by two methods towards nitrogen oxides has been revealed. The perspective and profitability of using the hydrogen form of mordenite treated with ammonium in the processes of purification of nitrous gases from exhaust gases is shown, as well as the possibility of using the recovered products (aqueous solutions of ammonium salts) obtained from its regeneration as a nitrogen fertilizer in agriculture. The experimental adsorption purification of the sample (H-mordenite) was carried out in the process of research. The sample was taken from the outlet pipe of the contact apparatus in the ammonia oxidation shop of the nitric acid production enterprise of LLC “Rustavi Azoti”. It has been found that the modified mordenites can be proposed as an environmentally friendly, highly efficient sorbent in the processes of air purification from toxic impurities. Of the two forms of H-mordenite investigated, the adsorption data obtained for NH4+-ion-modified mordenite is approximately 20 % better than the acid-modified form. It should be noted that the use of granulated zeolites (mordenite) in adsorbers with dense packing is very effective. It is also important from the economic point of view that it is possible to reuse spent high-silica sorbents after their regeneration by oxidation method, since such zeolites are resistant to oxidants, such as hydroxyl radicals, ozone, etc., and it is possible to regenerate them without removing them from adsorber.

Side-channel and Fault-injection attacks over Lattice-based Post-quantum Schemes (Kyber, Dilithium): Survey and New Results

In this work, we present a systematic study of Side-Channel Attacks (SCA) and Fault Injection Attacks (FIA) on structured lattice-based schemes, with main focus on Kyber Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) and Dilithium signature scheme, which are leading candidates in the NIST standardization process for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC). Through our study, we attempt to understand the underlying similarities and differences between the existing attacks while classifying them into different categories. Given the wide variety of reported attacks, simultaneous protection against all the attacks requires to implement customized protections/countermeasures for both Kyber and Dilithium. We therefore present a range of customized countermeasures, capable of providing defenses/mitigations against existing SCA/FIA, and incorporate several SCA and FIA countermeasures within a single design of Kyber and Dilithium. Among the several countermeasures discussed in this work, we present novel countermeasures that offer simultaneous protection against several SCA- and FIA-based chosen-ciphertext attacks for Kyber KEM. We implement the presented countermeasures within two well-known public software libraries for PQC: (1) pqm4 library for the ARM Cortex-M4-based microcontroller and (2) liboqs library for the Raspberry Pi 3 Model B Plus based on the ARM Cortex-A53 processor. Our performance evaluation reveals that the presented custom countermeasures incur reasonable performance overheads on both the evaluated embedded platforms. We therefore believe our work argues for usage of custom countermeasures within real-world implementations of lattice-based schemes, either in a standalone manner or as reinforcements to generic countermeasures such as masking.

Curcumae Radix: A Review of Traditional Use, Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Toxicology and Quality Control.

Curcumae Radix (CuR) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used in China for more than 1,000 years. It has the traditional efficacy of activating blood and relieving pain, promoting qi and relieving depression, clearing heart and cooling blood, and promoting gallbladder and removing jaundice. Based on this, many domestic and foreign scholars have conducted systematic studies on its chemical composition, pharmacological effects, toxicity and quality control. Currently, 250 compounds, mainly including terpenoids and curcuminoids, have been isolated and identified from CuR, which has pharmacological activities, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory and analgesic, antidepressant, hepatoprotective, hemostatic, hematopoietic, and treatment of diabetes mellitus. In modern clinical practice, CuR is widely used in the treatment of tumors, breast hyperplasia, hepatitis, and stroke. However, the generation of toxicity and clinical application of CuR and Caryophylli Flos, the determination of the concoction process of artifacts, the determination of specific Quality Marker, and the establishment of the quality control system of CuR, are problems that need to be solved urgently at present.

Carbon nitride coupled with carbon nanohorns for improved photocatalytic hydrogen production and dyes degradation

In the present study we attempted to develop photoactive nanocomposites via the facile coupling of carbon nitride (CN) with single walled carbon nanohorns (CNHs). Photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) and the production of H2. The CNHs content noticeably affected the photoactivity of the nanocomposites and the best performing material exhibited a 3-fold increase in photocatalytic H2 production compared to pristine CN using 1 wt% Pt as co-catalyst. A systematic study was undertaken to explain the mechanistic aspects of the photo-reaction process. The active species responsible for the photodegradation of RhB were identified using reference reactions. Such species were further studied using in-situ spin-trap EPR experiments. Photoluminescence and time-resolved fluorescence decay kinetics suggested faster transfer of photogenerated electron/hole pairs resulting in reduced charge recombination phenomena in the nanocomposites. The combined photocatalytic application and characterization of the prepared materials revealed that the promotion of the redox reactions in based on improvements on the charge separation efficiency.

Electrochemical Capacitance Traces with Interlayer Spacing in Two-dimensional Conductive Metal-Organic Frameworks.

Electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for electrochemical capacitors (EC) for fast energy storage due to their high specific surface areas and potential for redox activity. To maximize energy density, traditional inorganic pseudocapacitors have utilized faradaic processes in addition to double-layer capacitance. Although conductive MOFs are usually comprised of redox active ligands which allow faradaic reactions upon electrochemical polarization, systematic studies providing deeper understanding of the charge storage processes and structure-function relationships have been scarce. Here, we investigate the charge storage mechanisms of a series of triazatruxene-based 2D layered conductive MOFs with variable alkyl functional groups, Ni3(HIR3-TAT)2 (TAT=triazatruxene; R=H, Et, n-Bu, n-Pent). Functionalization of the triazatruxene core allows for systematic variation of structural parameters while maintaining in-plane conjugation between ligands and metals. Specifically, R groups modulate interlayer spacing, which in turn shifts the charge storage mechanism from double-layer capacitance towards pseudocapacitance, leading to an increase in molar specific capacitance from Ni3(HIH3-TAT)2 to Ni3(HIBu3-TAT)2. Partial exfoliation of Ni3(HIBu3-TAT)2 renders redox active ligand moieties more accessible, and thus increases the dominance of faradaic processes. Our strategy of controlling charge storage mechanism through tuning the accessibility of redox-active sites may motivate further design and engineering of electrode materials for EC.

Exact Algorithms and Lowerbounds for Multiagent Path Finding: Power of Treelike Topology

In the Multiagent Path Finding (MAPF for short) problem, we focus on efficiently finding non-colliding paths for a set of k agents on a given graph G, where each agent seeks a path from its source vertex to a target. An important measure of the quality of the solution is the length of the proposed schedule l, that is, the length of a longest path (including the waiting time). In this work, we propose a systematic study under the parameterized complexity framework. The hardness results we provide align with many heuristics used for this problem, whose running time could potentially be improved based on our Fixed-Parameter Tractability (FPT) results. We show that MAPF is W[1]-hard with respect to k (even if k is combined with the maximum degree of the input graph). The problem remains NP-hard in planar graphs even if the maximum degree and the makespan l are fixed constants. On the positive side, we show an FPT algorithm for k+l. As we continue, the structure of G comes into play. We give an FPT algorithm for parameter k plus the diameter of the graph G. The MAPF problem is W[1]-hard for cliquewidth of G plus l while it is FPT for treewidth of G plus l.

Avifaunal Diversity in Managed Urban Ecosystem: A Case Study of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

University campuses are becoming important places for conducting a large number of studies on plant and animal taxa including avian diversity. However, a systematic study on the avian diversity in the Banaras Hindu University (BHU) campus (Asia’s largest residential university campus) of Varanasi is still lacking. The present study deals with the species abundance, diversity and species richness of avian communities in the BHU campus. We conducted a bird survey in the BHU campus between 2019 and 2020. Employing line-transect method, a total of 141 bird species under 62 families were recorded from the study area. A rich diversity of species recorded indicates the importance of the university campuses in urbanized region to serve as a critical habitat for birds. To conserve this rich bird diversity of the campus, we suggest sustainable management of habitats through restoration of degraded habitats, reduction in habitat destruction, conservation awareness programmes and increased research on assessment of diversity.

Soft scaffold aided plasmon-enhanced upconversion luminescence and its application in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) detection

The dimensioning of glutathione-coated gold nanoparticles (GSH-Au NPs) greatly enhanced the luminescence intensity of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) in close proximity and offered significant implications for biomedicine and materials science. According to systematic studies, the luminescence changes between UCNPs and AuNPs are enhanced by a well-tuned electric field-induced absorption, especially when the distance between the two is approximately 5 nm. At this distance, an upconversion enhancement factor of approximately 4.4 is achieved at a wavelength of 361 nm. This maximized plasmonic enhancement effect was subsequently employed for the quantification of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) with the well-fabricated plasmon-enhanced luminescence complex (PELC) by replacing the ssDNA with the corresponding aptamer. This complex provides a basis for the rational design of a hybrid metal-upconversion complex to enhance luminescence for bioimaging and sensing applications.

Analysis of Physico-Chemical Factors of Ramganga River Water in Bareilly District

The systematic study was carried out to determine the physico-chemical parameters of water samples of Ramganga River in Bareilly district. The rivers are an essential water resource and used for several purposes. The water quality of all fresh water ecosystems is assessed by the physico-chemical. Water samples were collected from 3 sites along the river and analyzed using standard methods in laboratory. The physico-chemical characteristics were studied and analyzed for a period of 6 months from April 2022 to September 2022. Various physico-chemical parameters such as Temperature, PH, transparency, total dissolved solids, total suspended solids, DO, FCO2, Carbonates, Bicarbonates, chlorides, Calcium, Magnesium, Total hardness of lake were estimated throughout the year.