Production Of Substances Research Articles

Inspiratory Profiles Through Easyhaler Dry Powder Inhaler During Acute Bronchoconstriction.

Background: Dry powder inhalers (DPIs) are passive devices, which rely on a patient's inspiratory effort for drug dispersion and delivery. The aim of this study was to assess how acute bronchoconstriction affects the ability to use Easyhaler DPI in adults. Methods: This study was conducted as part of a parallel-group clinical trial assessing use of Salbutamol Easyhaler, Budesonide-formoterol Easyhaler and salbutamol pMDI with spacer during a methacholine challenge (MC) test. The inhalations through both Easyhaler variants, the inhaler for the single active substance product (EH-mono) and the inhaler for the combination product (EH-combi), were recorded at baseline and during bronchoconstriction. Peak inspiratory flow (PIF), flow rate acceleration and inhalation volume after PIF were compared to the criteria for successful inhalation. Results: The study population consisted of 120 adult subjects indicated for MC as a diagnostic test for asthma, with 60 subjects in both Easyhaler arms. With EH-combi 98.3% and 91.4% passed the criteria (PIF ≥30 L/min, inhalation acceleration ≥0.7 L/s2, and inhalation volume ≥500 mL after PIF) for successful inhalation at baseline and during bronchoconstriction, respectively. With EH-mono, success rates were 95.0% and 88.1% at baseline and during bronchoconstriction, respectively. The most common reason for not passing the criteria was slow inhalation acceleration. Aside from two subjects using EH-mono during bronchoconstriction, all subjects were able to generate PIF ≥ 30 L/min. Conclusions: During an acute obstructive event, the vast majority of patients have no difficulty in achieving sufficient PIF, inhalation acceleration, and volume after PIF when using an Easyhaler DPI.

Release Characteristics of Fenugreek Polysaccharide‐Lemon Essential Oil Inclusion Compound and Its Application in Cigarette Flavouring

ABSTRACTEmbedding is an effective method to overcome the poor thermal stability and release properties of lemon essential oil (LEO). This research focused on the fabrication of inclusion complexes through co‐precipitation and response surface optimization, employing Fenugreek polysaccharide (FP15) as the wall material. The complexes were assessed through thermal analysis and in vitro slow‐release investigations. XRD, FTIR and SEM analysis proved that LEO formed supramolecular structure with FP15 through hydrogen bonding and van der Waals force, and was successfully embedded with packaging efficiency of 57.33%. Thermal behaviour analysis showed that FP15 as a wall material significantly improved the thermal stability of LEO. The analysis based on the KAS and Coats‐Redfern methods showed that the apparent activation energy of inclusion compounds increased with the increase of conversion rate, and the secondary reaction model (F2) could better describe the pyrolysis reaction mechanism of inclusion compounds. In vitro release experiments showed that the release of LEO from the inclusion at 37°C (human body temperature) and 65°C (food processing temperature) followed a first‐order kinetic model, with LEO being released from the carrier by non‐Fickian diffusion. The analysis of pyrolysis products showed that the inclusion compound pyrolyzed at 300°C, 600°C and 900°C to produce a large number of aldehydes, esters and non‐/semi‐volatile organic acids. The production of these flavour substances improves the quality, concentration of aroma, rich‐ness and harmony of the cigarette during smoking. In summary, FP15 as a wall material slowed down the release of LEO, enhanced its stability and improved the sensory quality of cigarettes.

Amphora coffeiformis extracellular polymeric substances and their potential applications in lead removal.

Microorganisms producing extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are of great potential in numerous environmental applications. The present study explores the production and properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Amphora coffeiformis diatom strain and their potential applications in environmental remediation. EPS were composed of a complex mixture of polysaccharides, proteins, humic substances and nucleic acids, with polyanionic characteristics as revealed by FTIR, Raman and zeta potential analyses. EPS showed high flocculation efficiency against kaolin clay at low dosages (5mg/L) through a charge neutralization mechanism involving both polysaccharides and proteins. EPS also exhibited strong emulsification activity for various nonpolar substrates, mainly olive oil, corn oil, soybean oil, essence and diesel, with emulsification indexes above 80%. The emulsions were stable for 72h under different NaCl concentrations (1-10% w/v). Moreover, EPS demonstrated remarkable adsorption capacity for lead, reaching a maximum of 1699.33 ± 89.61mg/g under optimized conditions using Box-Behnken design. The adsorption mechanism involved multiple functional groups such as hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, phosphoric and sulfhydryl. Therefore, EPS from A. coffeiformis are a promising candidate for restoring environments contaminated by heavy metals.

Trace metals induce microbial risk and antimicrobial resistance in biofilm in drinking water

This study investigated the changes in water quality and microbial risks resulting from trace metal pollutants in stagnant drinking water conditions using a 168-h experimental simulation and a metagenomic approach. The results showed that Fe(III) increased the water turbidity. Stagnation also caused significant biofilm growth, which was increased by trace metal pollutants, resulting in a higher production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). Adaptive mechanisms of bacterial communities dominated by Pseudomonadota in response to trace metal pollutant stress were discovered. Pathogenic bacteria, particularly Salmonella enterica and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were found in stagnant drinking water, potentially exacerbated by Al(III). The overall exposure risk of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increased, whereas Fe(III) enhanced the co-occurrence of ARGs and pathogens, potentially leading to serious hidden microbial risks. This study reveals imperceptible microbial risks posed by trace metal pollutants in stagnant drinking water, providing scientific warning and advice for drinking water safety.

Analysis of the registration and manufacturing of heparin drugs in Russia

Objective. To analyze the circulation processes of heparin group drugs for 2004–2024 from the point of view of the rates of registration and localization of production of active pharmaceutical substances (APS), finished dosage forms, and prospects for implementing a full production cycle in Russia.Materials and methods. An analysis of information from 693 registry entries in the State Register of Medicines dedicated to heparin-based drugs was conducted, and a database was compiled in Microsoft Excel. Information on registered drugs was classified according to their belonging to the heparin group, the name of the APS, dosage form, date of registration, presence in the list of vital and essential drugs, country of manufacture of the APS, and finished dosage forms.Results. In accordance with the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical classification, more than 20 names of drugs were classified as heparin group drugs: unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, heparinoid, and antithrombin III. 95 current registration certificates (hereinafter referred to as RC) and 13 RC excluded from the State Register of Medicines were studied — a total of 108 RC. Graphs were constructed to reflect the rate of drug registration in each named group. The highest rates of registration are observed in the period from 2020 to 2024 — on average 5.25 drugs are approved per year. The years with the most active registration were 2011 (11 approved drugs), 2017 (8 approved drugs), and 2023 (9 approved drugs). The production localization of heparin drugs for 2024 is presented in the diagrams. The main country producing APS for heparin drugs is China. However, for every fifth heparin drug, the full production cycle can be performed in Russia, including the synthesis of APS.Conclusions. Information was received on the structure of the product range (95 drugs are presented in 10 dosage forms for 5 different routes of administration), rate of registration of drugs in the heparin group, and localization of production of the APS, finished dosage form. The production of APS for sodium heparin is concentrated in China. Information is known about the construction in the coming years in Russia of three production sites for the production of the APS of sodium heparin: by the Chinese company “Hebei Changshan Biochemical Pharmaceutical”, the Russian company’s “Pharmasyntez-Kama” and “Severnyj ocean”. At present, only Russian companies are declared to be suppliers of APS is 3 drugs. Heparin drugs are mainly produced in Russia (75.4 % for sodium heparin drugs and 65.1 % for low-molecular-weight heparin).

Investigating the Production and Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Bacteriocin-Like Substance from Brevibacillus laterosporus SA-14 (TISTR 2453) for Enhanced Wound Healing

Investigating the Production and Synergistic Antibacterial Activity of Bacteriocin-Like Substance from Brevibacillus laterosporus SA-14 (TISTR 2453) for Enhanced Wound Healing

Mitigating negative impacts of drought on oak seedlings performances through plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria.

Drought stress during the plant's growing season is a serious constraint to plant establishment in arid and semiarid Mediterranean ecosystems. Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) as environmentally friendly and innovative management approach can be used to produce seedlings better adapted to these environments. We tested native PGPR strains isolated from drought-tolerant tree and shrub species originating from two climatically contrasting regions: hot-dry (Dehloran) and milder Mediterranean climate (Ilam). These strains were used as a biological input to improve the morphological and physiological traits of Brant's oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.) seedlings in a greenhouse experiment. Seedlings were inoculated with various drought-tolerant strains or a combination of all bacteria (Bmix) and their morpho-physiological traits were measured under three levels of water stress (80% field capacity, FC80: no stress; 60% FC, FC60: moderate water stress and 40% FC, FC40: severe water stress). Strains from Dehloran were the most performant (Bacillus anthracis, B. licheniformis, B. cereus) except Stenotrophomonas maltophilia which originated from Ilam. They demonstrated the ability to solubilize insoluble phosphates (except for the B. licheniformis). They were also all able to produce auxin and the ACC-deaminase enzyme (except S. maltophilia). PGPR application, water stress treatments, and their interaction significantly influenced all the morphological and physiological seedling traits. Most traits significantly (p<0.01) decreased under FC40, in particular average leaf area, shoot fresh weight, and shoot dry weight. This decrease was particularly marked for the control (no inoculation), as the leaf area was reduced by 60% in FC40. In FC40, all bacterial treatments, especially B. cereus and Bmix efficiently improved seedling morphological traits and seedling quality index. The highest amount of chlorophyll a in FC40 was recorded for Bmix and B. licheniformis isolates. Total phenolic content and malondialdehyde levels, as well as proline, showed an increase under water stress conditions, particularly at FC40, irrespective of inoculation conditions. The amounts of malondialdehyde without inoculation increased significantly under water stress and the content were 1.3 and 2 times higher in FC60 and FC40, respectively, compared to FC80 with no inoculation. Under water stress, seedling performances and quality were impacted and the production of substances associated with physiological defense mechanisms, increased. However, the application of PGPR was able to mitigate these effects (in particular for B. cereus and Bmix). We concluded that application of drought tolerant PGPRs can be a cost effective and ecologically sustainable method for producing oak seedlings better adapted to water-scarce environments.

Effect of Application of Nitrogen Fertilizer, Microbial and Humic Substance-Based Biostimulants on Soil Microbiological Properties During Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) Cultivation

Plant biostimulants have been the subject of intense interest in recent years. The aim of this study was to assess, during the years 2021–2022, the effect of mineral nitrogen (N) fertilizer, experimental (PGPB) and commercial (G) microbial biostimulants, and humic substance product (A) on the soil microbial communities, and yield of strawberries, under field conditions. Dehydrogenase activity was significantly affected by nitrogen fertilization, but an increase occurred in the treatment N+G. The treatments N+G, N+G+A, and N+PGPB+A increased FDA hydrolysis, and phosphatase activity. All plant biostimulants increased basal as well as substrate-induced respiration. Culturable bacteria (total counts, dormant forms, actinomycetes) were not clearly affected by treatment. Based on 16S rRNA analysis, bacterial community composition was different in N+PGPB+A and N+G+A treatments. The number of cultivable fungi was significantly lower in N+PGPB and N+PGPB+A treatments. The genus of fungi Pilidium, a potential phytopathogen of strawberries, was present in the second year, but in these treatments, it was absent. In the second year, strawberry yield was shown to be 95% higher in the N+PGPB+A treatment than in the control. Microbial biostimulants in combination with humic substances represent a potential solution in increasing strawberry production.

Segmentation of tobacco shred point cloud and 3-D measurement based on improved PointNet++ network with DTC algorithm.

The three dimensions of the tobacco silk components (cut stem, tobacco silk, reconstituted tobacco shred, and expanded tobacco silk) of cigarettes directly affect cigarette combustibility; by accurately measuring the dimensions of different tobacco silks in cigarettes, it is possible to optimize combustibility and reduce the production of harmful substances. Identifying the components of tobacco shred in cigarettes is a prerequisite for three-dimensional measurement. The two-dimensional image method can identify the tobacco shred and measure its two-dimensional characteristics but cannot determine its thickness. This study therefore focuses on the identification of the tobacco shred and measuring it in three dimensions. The point cloud data of the upper and lower surfaces of tobacco shred are segmented using the improved three-dimensional point cloud segmentation model based on the PointNet++ network. This model combines the weighted cross-entropy loss function to enhance the classification effect, the cosine annealing algorithm to optimize the training process, and the improved k-nearest neighbors multi-scale grouping method to enhance the model's ability to segment the point cloud with complex morphology. Meanwhile, this study also proposes a dimension transformation calculation method for calculating the three dimensions of tobacco shred. The experimental results show that the precision and recall of the improved segmentation model increased from 84.27% and 83.63% to 95.13% and 97.68%, respectively; the relative errors of the length and width of tobacco shred were less than 5% and 7%, and the relative error of the standard gauge block thickness measurement reached 1.12%. This study also provides a new idea for implementing three-dimensional measurements of other flexible materials.

Biosafety characteristics and antibacterial activity of probiotic strains against Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis

BackgroundOral diseases with high prevalence worldwide are recognized as severe health problems. Probiotics are used to prevent oral diseases, including dental caries, oral malodor, periodontitis, and subgingival plaque. In this study, we aimed to confirm the antibacterial effect of probiotics on oral pathogens and to assess their characterization and safety as probiotics.MethodsThe antibacterial effects of Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus MG4706, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei MG4715, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri MG4722 on the growth biofilm formation of Streptococcus mutans, Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, and Porphyromonas gingivalis were evaluated. We also investigated the production of antibacterial substances (H2O2 and reuterin) by these strains and their ability to adhere to oral epithelial cells. The safety of L. reuteri MG4722 was verified through whole-genome sequencing analysis and antibiotic susceptibility, lactate dehydrogenase activity, hemolytic activity, and bile acid hydrolase activity. The reuterin biosynthesis genes of L. reuteri MG4722 were identified using genomic analysis.ResultsL. reuteri MG4722 significantly inhibited the growth of S. mutans, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and P. gingivalis and suppressed the biofilm formation by A. actinomycetemcomitans. In addition, it showed considerable adhesion ability to oral epithelial cells. L. reuteri MG4722 produced H2O2 and reuterin as antibacterial substances, as confirmed by the presence of genes encoding the antibacterial compounds reuterin, reuteran, and reutericyclin. L. reuteri MG4722 showed no hemolysis, bile salt hydrolase activity, antibiotic resistance or toxicity to HT-29 cells, and no antibiotic-resistance genes were identified.ConclusionL. reuteri MG4722 demonstrated antibacterial effects on oral pathogens by producing antibacterial substances and adhering to oral epithelial cells. These results suggest that L. reuteri MG4722 could be an effective probiotic for oral health.

Unlocking olive rhizobacteria: harnessing biocontrol power to combat olive root rot and promote plant growth.

Olive trees are susceptible to various diseases, notably root rot caused by Pythium spp., which presents significant challenges to cultivation. Conventional chemical control methods have limitations, necessitating exploration of eco-friendly alternatives like biological control strategies. This study aims to evaluate the potential of rhizobacteria in managing Pythium schmitthenneri-induced root rot in olive trees. We screened 140 bacteria isolated from olive tree rhizospheres for antifungal activity against the pathogen in vitro. Twelve isolates exhibited promising antifungal activity, identified through 16S rDNA gene sequencing as primarily Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas, and Alcaligenes species. Particularly, Pseudomonas koreensis (A28 and A29), Pseudomonas reinekei (A16), and Bacillus halotolerans (A10) were the highest effective strains. Mechanistic investigations revealed positive protease production in all twelve isolates, with eight producing amylase and cellulase. Chitinase activity was absent, while five solubilized tricalcium phosphate. Furthermore, eight secreted hydrocyanic acid (HCN), ten synthesized indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and nine produced siderophores. Variability existed in antimicrobial substance production, including bacillomycin (seven isolates), iturin (eleven isolates), fengycin (two isolates), and surfactin (three isolates). Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) capabilities were assessed using canola (Brassica napus) seedlings, showing enhanced growth in treated seedlings compared to controls. Greenhouse experiments confirmed the biocontrol efficacy of P. koreensis A28 and Bacillus subtilis C6 against root rot disease. These findings suggest these strains could serve as promising tools for managing olive tree root rot, offering a sustainable alternative to hazardous agrochemicals.

Use of chitosan of various origins in medicine

Chitosan is widely used in all areas of human activity. It is obtained from animals, insects, and plants containing chitin through chemical purification. Animal-derived raw materials are most in demand, while insect-derived sources are the most promising. Main Provisions. Chitosan is extensively used in medicine: in nutrition, surgery, hematology, dentistry, and oncology. It exhibits biocompatibility, bioresorbability, non-toxicity, hemostatic properties, plasticity, adhesive qualities, and has antibacterial properties. By altering the chemical formula of chitosan, its molecular weight and charge, and combining it with various substances, new application areas and more economical extraction methods can be found. Detoxifying, sorptive, and hypolipidemic properties are sought after in nutrition and gastroenterology. The effects of chitosan on various phases of regeneration, as well as its anticoagulant properties, are utilized in surgery. Chitosan’s osteoinductive efects are applied in dentistry and traumatology, while its hemostatic, antibacterial, antitumor, and radioprotective properties are key research directions in emergency surgery and oncology, respectively. Conclusion. The widespread application of chitosan in all areas of human activity, especially in medicine, makes it a sought-after and promising substance. To expand the production of various chitosan-based substances, it is essential to find new, cheaper methods for extracting chitosan from chitin, streamline the routes from raw materials to final products, and develop independent Russian equivalents of chitosan drug forms.

Novel insights into delayed bitterness control in traditional Huangjiu: Regulating bacterial community by inoculated with Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC-6

Under semi-open brewing conditions, traditional Huangjiu often suffers from unstable flavor quality, including occasional delayed bitterness. To address this issue, a yeast strain, Saccharomyces cerevisiae SC-6, was screened for its ability to reduce delayed bitterness. The effects of SC-6 on the flavor and microbial composition of Huangjiu exhibiting high levels of delayed bitterness were also investigated. GC–MS analysis indicated that S. cerevisiae SC-6 significantly lowered the levels of key delayed bitter compounds, including octanoic acid, ethyl caprylate, benzaldehyde, and phenol, by 54.80 %, 12.21 %, 31.38 %, and 43.23 %, respectively. PCoA analysis demonstrated that SC-6 altered the microbial community of traditional Huangjiu. Correlation analysis indicated that reduced bitter compounds correlated with changed abundances of Rhodopseudomonas, unclassified_f_Micromonosporaceae, Lachnoclostridium, Lactobacillus, Streptomyces, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, unclassified_o__Enterobacterales, and Candida. These results provide effective guidance for controlling off-flavors in traditional Huangjiu and clarify the role of microorganisms in the production of bitter substances.

Response and roles of algal organic matter under copper stress: Spectral and mass spectrometry analysis.

Eutrophication leads to various environmental issues, including pollution caused by the production of algal organic matter (AOM). Algae typically respond to environmental changes (e.g., light, temperature, copper [Cu(II)] concentration and pH) by regulating the production and release of different substances, thereby causing unpredictable effects on water quality. We explored the characteristics of AOM and the response mechanisms of algae under Cu(II) stress in the study, using fluorescence spectrum and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis. The growth of Microcystis aeruginosa was inhibited under Cu(II) stress which was irreversible at Cu(II) concentration≥2μmol/L. Tryptophan- and humic-like fluorophores were important constituents of extracellular organic matter (EOM), and their contents increased with the addition of Cu(II), indicating that Cu(II) stimulates the production of tryptophan- and humic-like compounds. In addition, fulvic acid-like compounds in EOM were the main components binding to Cu(II) and were overproduced by algae under Cu(II) stress. It was found by HRMS at the molecular level that the formula numbers of EOM generally increased over inhibition time. Under 1μmol/L Cu(II) stress, nitrogenous compounds (CHON formulae) were the primary AOM, accounting for 37.3-52.0%. In addition, algae release a large amount of condensed aromatic structures to balance Cu(II) stress. This study provides a molecular-level analysis to explain the variation trends and response mechanisms of algae under various Cu(II) concentrations. The research methods are helpful for utilizing multiple advanced analysis methods to study algae growth and AOM release.

A comparative study on monitoring of bioactive compound production/degradation, volatile substances, and oxidation indices during horn and bath high-power ultrasound-assisted oil bleaching

The aim of this research was to investigate and compare the effect of bath and horn ultrasound-assisted bleaching of sunflower oilon the degradation of tocopherols and sterols, production of volatile substances, and oxidation indices, including thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and peroxide value (PV) and with that of the industrial bleaching process. Ultrasonic baths and ultrasonic horn bleaching techniques reduced sunflower oil’s total tocopherol and total sterol contents to a greater extent than conventional bleaching techniques. While bath and horn sonication operated theoretically equivalent power settings, power meter measurements demonstrated that the bath sonicator delivered significantly less power than the horn sonicator. Among the ultrasonic bleaching techniques, the ultrasonic bath at 400 W showed the lowest reduction in total tocopherols,sterol and volatile compounds compared to the ultrasonic horn technique at the same power. Moreover, Despite the 800 W bath sonicator having significantly higher nominal power than the 400 W horn sonicator, the horn sonicator was considerably more effective at degrading bioactive compounds. Higher degradation of bioactive compounds coincided with increasing patterns in primary and secondary oxidation indices and volatile compounds in horn compared to bath and industrial bleaching due to the direct effect of ultrasonic horn and free radical formation.

Chronic Stress Mediates Inflammatory Cytokines Alterations and Its Role in Tumorigenesis.

Prolonged psychological stress is closely associated with cancer due to its role in promoting the release of stress hormones through the sustained activation of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary system. These hormones interact with receptors on inflammatory cells, leading to the activation of key signaling pathways, including the transcription factors signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT-3) and kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). These factors drive the production of pro-inflammatory substances, such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which can influence the initiation and progression of cancer. This article aims to summarize how the chronic inflammatory environment induced by chronic stress promotes the initiation, progression, and invasion of cancer. By enhancing our understanding of the complex mechanisms through which stress contributes to cancer, we hope to identify new targets for cancer prevention and treatment. Chronic stress establishes an inflammatory microenvironment by activating STAT-3 and NF-κB in inflammatory cells. This ongoing inflammation further enhances the activity of these transcription factors, which serve multiple roles: they act as pro-inflammatory agents in inflammatory cells, maintaining chronic inflammation; as oncogenic transcription factors in premalignant cells, promoting cancer initiation; and as pro-differentiation transcription factors in tumor-infiltrating immune cells, facilitating cancer progression. Additionally, the impact of chronic stress varies among different cancer types and individual responses to stress, highlighting the complexity of stress-related cancer mechanisms. Ultimately, this dynamic interplay creates a feedback loop involving IL-6, STAT-3, and TNF-α-NF-κB within the tumor microenvironment, mediating the intricate interactions between inflammation, immunity, and cancer.

Potentials of Soil Yeasts for Plant Growth and Soil Health in Agriculture: A Review

Yeasts are found in almost all ecosystems, and soil is the typical habitat for storing and developing yeasts, even though they are associated with plants and animals. Their population in soil ranges from a few to several thousand based on the soil ecosystem. Soil edaphic factors determine the abundance and diversity of yeasts. Sugar-rich plant residues, such as fruit debris, root exudates, forest soil, etc., support yeast growth. The literature showed that soil-dwelling yeasts have an array of plant growth-promoting activities and mechanisms for soil structure maintenance. Soil yeasts own several plant growth-promoting properties like nitrogen mineralization, solubilization of phosphate, potassium releasing potential, sulfur oxidation, plant growth-promoting hormones production, and siderophore production. Certain soil yeasts were proven to possess the biocontrol potential against plant pathogens. Soil properties have an essential influence on plant growth, cycling of nutrients, and water-holding capacity. Soil yeasts significantly influence the soil’s physical (macro and micro aggregates formation), soil chemical (pH, Soil Organic Carbon, Soil Labile Carbon, Soil Protein Index), and soil biological properties (Dehydrogenase activity, Microbial Biomass Carbon, Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) production). Application of yeasts resulted in a yield increase in the range of 20-30% in crops like wheat and sugarbeet. Soil incubation studies conducted with yeasts proved their potential to be used as bioinoculants for soil health enhancement. Studies conducted with yeasts recorded significant improvement in soil physical (macro and microaggregate formation), chemical (pH, increase in soil organic carbon, soil protein index, etc) and biological (dehydrogenase enzyme activity, microbial biomass carbon (MBC), soil colloidal polysaccharide) properties. Soil yeasts have a huge potential to be used as bio-inoculants for crop growth and soil health. The beneficial role of yeasts in agriculture remains unexplored, and finding suitable yeast candidates with plant growth promotion and soil health improvement traits will benefit the crops considerably.

Investigating the absorption and biodegradation of spilled oil on water using expanded perlite loaded with oil-eating bacteria

ABSTRACT Oil spills in aquatic environments subject to severe ecological consequences, including toxicity, mutagenicity, potential carcinogenicity and disruption of life cycles. The present research aimed to scrutinize the efficacy of expanded perlite as an oil absorbent and its potential for remediating oil spills by incorporating oil-degrading microorganisms. Three types of adsorbents were examined: a control group without microbes, perlite loaded with bacteria and expanded perlite laden with microbes. The expanded perlite, characterized by its large surface area and low density, provided an optimal environment for microbial growth and proliferation. The results indicated that the presence of microbes significantly enhanced both oil absorption and removal and achieved an increase of 58% and 80.45%, respectively, compared to the pre-expansion state. Furthermore, microbial activity played an important role in mitigating oil contamination by reducing the surface tension between water and oil. This effect was attributed to the production of surface-active substances by the oil-degrading bacteria. The reduced surface tension facilitated the separation of residual oil from the water phase. These findings highlight the potential of expanded perlite modified with oil-degrading bacteria as a promising strategy to improve the remediation of oil spills in aquatic ecosystems. The combination of the high surface area of the expanded perlite and the enhanced oil-degrading capabilities of the microorganisms is promising to mitigate the detrimental effects of oil spills on the environment.

The Sub-Acute Potential Risk of Oxamyl in Male Albino Rats.

The current study aimed to investigate the sub-acute effects of oxamyl on male Albino rats following oral administration of either 0.031 or 0.31 mg/kg/day for 14 consecutive days. The findings demonstrated that oxamyl produced a significant impact on most of the examined blood profile and biomarkers, along with a significant progressive and discernible alterations in the histology of organs. According to the results obtained, the potential mechanisms by which oxamyl causes its toxic effects on rats are identified as the inflammation indices, the inhibition of transaminases, alkaline phosphatase, and antioxidant enzymes, as well as the production of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) in organs following oxamyl treatment based on histopathological examinations. Due to the substantial genetic similarities between rats and humans, it is therefore anticipated that oxamyl will have comparable detrimental effects on humans.

Acyl-Homoserine Lactone Enhances the Resistance of Anammox Consortia under Heavy Metal Stress: Quorum Sensing Regulatory Mechanism.

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) represents an energy-efficient process for the removal of biological nitrogen from ammonium-rich wastewater. However, the susceptibility of anammox bacteria to coexisting heavy metals considerably restricts their use in engineering practices. Here, we report that acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL), a signaling molecule that mediates quorum sensing (QS), significantly enhances the nitrogen removal rate by 24% under Cu2+ stress. A suite of macro-/microanalytical and bioinformatic analyses was exploited to unravel the underlying mechanisms of AHL-induced Cu2+ resistance. Macro-/microanalytical evidence indicated that AHL regulations on the production, spatial distribution, and functional groups of extracellular polymeric substances were not significant, ruling out extracellular partitioning and complexation as a principal mechanism. Meanwhile, molecular biological evidence showed that AHL upregulated the transcriptional levels of resistance genes (sod, kat, cysQ, and czcC responsible for antioxidation defense, Cu2+ sequestration, and transport) to appreciable extents, indicating intracellular resistance as the primary mechanism. This study yielded a mechanistic understanding of the regulatory roles of AHL in extracellular and intracellular resistance of anammox consortia, providing a fundamental basis for utilizing QS regulation for efficient nitrogen removal in wastewaters with heavy metal stress.