Gloriosa superba is a well-known Ayurvedic and African medicinal plant traditionally used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The chemical investigation of the aerial parts of G. superba led to the isolation and identification of thirteen compounds (1–13) classified as two benzoic acids (1–2), three cinnamic acids (3–5), four triterpenoids grouped as two oleananes (6–7) and two lupanes (8–9), and four phytosteroids (10–13). The chemophenetic significance of these compounds was examined, and cinnamic and benzoic acids were proposed as specific chemomarkers in addition to colchicine-like alkaloids. The in silico studies were performed on compounds (1–13) along with colchicine (14) and gloriosine (15), using murine cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) (PDB ID: 4M11) and ovine cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) (PDB ID: 4O1Z) to predict the anti-inflammatory potential of G. superba. Compounds 1–3 and 5 demonstrated moderate binding affinities (− 6.571 to − 5.374 kcal/mol) to 4M11, with 2 (− 6.571 kcal/mol) being the most active. Compounds 1–5, 14, and 15 showed notable binding affinities (− 10.176 to − 5.237 kcal/mol) to 4O1Z, with compounds 4 (− 10.176 kcal/mol), 5 (− 7.840 kcal/mol), 14 (− 8.906 kcal/mol), and 15 (− 8.877 kcal/mol) being more active than the reference (Meloxicam, − 7.172 kcal/mol). For drug-likeness evaluation (ADME), compounds 1–5 and 14–15 were assessed. Compounds 1–3 emerged as more viable leads due to their superior pharmacokinetic, physicochemical, and medicinal chemistry attributes. These results are consistent with the traditional use of G. superba as a poultice for inflamed skin.
Variation in orchid seed size and shape can be linked to phylogenetic relationships, habitat preferences, germination behaviour or dispersal strategies. To investigate this, we compared 45 orchid species from 29 genera collected across different localities in Cameroon using optical microscopy. We categorized each species according to lifeform (38 epiphytic vs. 7 terrestrial), altitudinal range (11 mountain vs. 34 lowland) and geographic distribution (28 widespread vs. 17 range-restricted). We analysed seed morphology using phylogenetic signal tests, analysis of variance and principal component analysis. Our results confirm a clear distinction between epiphytic and terrestrial species, with intermediate morphologies observed in genera encompassing species with both lifeforms (Cynorkis, Graphorkis, Habenaria and Liparis). Certain traits, such as seed length and seed air space, show a strong phylogenetic signal, suggesting that these traits are more linked to ancient evolutionary history than to recent ecological adaptation. Among the 38 epiphytic species, no consistent relations were found between seed traits and either geographic range or altitudinal distribution. Our findings suggest that the variation observed in seed morphology among African orchids is influenced more by phylogenetic relationships than by present-day distribution.
This paper presents a theoretical investigation of the combined effect of the nonlinear thermal absorption coefficient and artificial roughness of an absorbent tube on the dynamics of a conventional photovoltaic thermal (PVT) water panel. The roughness and the nonlinear absorption coefficient are localized inside the tubes of the absorbent plate and in the photovoltaic (PV) module, respectively. The analytical expressions for the temperature on each layer of our system are determined from the energy balance equation. The simulations of the analytical expressions obtained are performed in the MATLAB software environment by considering the contributions of roughness, nonlinearity, and their combined effects. The results of our numerical investigations under standard test conditions reveal that the combined effect leads to a greater temperature reduction in the PV module than when roughness and nonlinearity are considered separately. Furthermore, the combined effect induces a reduction in the maximum temperature of the PV module by about 9°C, leading to an improvement of about 0.39
This work presents a comprehensive computational framework for studying bifurcation phenomena in nonlinear eigenvalue problems involving the p-Laplacian with nonlinear boundary conditions. We extend the theoretical analysis of Cuesta et al. (Electron J Differ Equ 2019(32):1–29, 2019) by developing a rigorous finite element method (FEM) formulation. The paper provides detailed derivations of the weak form, the discrete nonlinear problem, and the associated Newton iteration scheme. We establish a priori error estimates linking the discretization error to the regularity of the solution and implement path-following (continuation) techniques to trace the bifurcating branches. Extensive numerical experiments on two-dimensional domains confirm the theoretical predictions: bifurcation from both zero and infinity at the first eigenvalue λ _1 and the splitting of the solution continuum into strictly positive and strictly negative branches.
Currently, there is no effective, reliable, and independent natural method for complete sanitization of sludge. Hence, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of alkaline treatments on the sanitization of biosolids. The principle was based on increasing pH using quicklime, wood ash, and urea. To achieve this, the relationship between the quantities of adjuvant and the pH of the biosolids was first defined. Several concentrations of adjuvant were tested to achieve a pH ≥ 12 on 1 kg of 40
