This study reports the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using an aqueous extract of Mentha aquatica (water mint) leaves as a bio-reducing and capping agent. The synthesis was performed by the reduction of zinc acetate dihydrate [Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O] in the presence of the plant extract under alkaline conditions and thermal treatment at 60 °C for 1 h, followed by calcination at 400 °C for 2 h. The resulting nanoparticles were characterized using UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). UV-Vis analysis revealed a characteristic absorption band at ~380 nm, confirming the formation of ZnO NPs. FTIR analysis identified the functional groups responsible for the bioreduction of zinc ions. XRD patterns confirmed the hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure of the synthesized particles, consistent with JCPDS card No. 36-1451, with principal diffraction peaks at 2θ values of 32.25°, 34.98°, and 36.79°. SEM images revealed spherical to granular morphologies with particle sizes in the range of 16–22 nm. The synthesized ZnO NPs exhibited excellent photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under natural solar irradiation, achieving near-complete decolorization within 120 minutes. Disk diffusion assays demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria (E. coli: 35 mm inhibition zone; P. acip: 23 mm) and moderate activity against Gram-positive S. aureus (ATCC 43300: 15 mm). Antioxidant screening via the DPPH radical scavenging assay yielded an IC50 of 9.5 mg/mL for ZnO NPs, indicating moderate antioxidant potential. These results establish Mentha aquatica leaf extract as a promising, eco-friendly bio-template for ZnO NP synthesis with multifunctional applications.
In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) represent important enzymatic targets, with inhibition achieved using either natural products or synthetic compounds. Passiflora incarnata provides natural bioactive molecules, mainly flavonoids (apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, orientin, quercetin, kaempferol, vitexin, isovitexin, isoorientin) and alkaloids (harman, harmine, harmol, harmaline, harmalol, 8-hydroxyharmine, harmine N-oxide). Prominent examples of synthetic inhibitors employed in clinical practice include donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine, and tacrine. To advance the design of next-generation inhibitors, molecular docking simulations were employed to screen for ligands with optimal interaction energies and to elucidate their binding affinities for each target enzyme. The analysis of natural products highlighted flavonoids as the most promising class, with isovitexin and orientin revealing the most robust binding profiles for AChE and BuChE. In parallel, donepezil demonstrated the highest affinity among the synthetic comparators. These data illuminate the therapeutic viability of diverse chemical scaffolds in mitigating AD-associated enzyme activity, offering a valuable foundation for the development of optimized pharmacological treatments.
Inhibition of nucleophosmin enzyme is nowadays considered as a key in many type cancer treatments .Actually researchers investigate (developed) a significant number of synthetics inhibitors of nucleophosmin enzyme. NPM1 is over-expressed in a number of solid tumours from different histological origin, this makes it a high targeted protein. However, an efficient inhibitor still a scientific issue. putative small molecular inhibitor SMI (NSC348884) synthetic inhibitors and tripeptides were identified as the most efficient ones. Currently, molecular modeling presents a powerful procedure to rationalize experimental observations and to design new drugs with desirable activities. In this work, on the basis of the reported NSC348884, and tripeptides, we designed another nine compounds consisting of donor or acceptor moieties and the cyclic conjugation. We studied their interactions with NPM1 and their affinities to binding with the active site using molecular docking. Simulation and modification of theoretical affinities were done using Molecular Operating Environment software (MOE). Obtained results showed numbers of key residues and specific interactions at the binding site of nucleophosmin enzyme; we noted also particularly implication of the Tyrosine 29 amino acid and the presence of the aromatics interactions. As main observation we conclude that Tryptophan-argenine-Tryptophan tripeptide is the most important inhibitor candidate of nucleophosmin enzym among designed molecules.
The objective of this study is to evaluate the cytoptotective effects against hepatotoxicity of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Artemisia campestris L.(AEAPAC) after qualitative phytochemical assessment. Silymarin at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day and AEAPAC at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg/day were orally administrated to male Wistar rats during 14 days. On day 14, hepatotoxicity was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of CCl₄ (3 ml/kg, 12% in sunflower oil). Blood samples and liver tissues were collected for biochemical, oxidative stress and histopathological examination. A comparative analysis was conducted using a positive control group with hepatotoxicity and a negative control group without hepatotoxicity. The AEAPAC phytochemical screening, revealed the presence of various bioactive compounds. In rats pre-treated with graded oral doses of the AEAPAC, biochemical and oxidative stress parameters results showed a significant decrease (p < 0.01) in serum levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TB), and malondialdehyde (MDA), along with a significant increase (p < 0.01) in reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels. Histopathological examination revealed a significant reduction in lesions in the groups pre-treated daily with increasing oral doses of AEAPAC. These results are similar to those obtained in rats pre-treated with silymarin. It can be inferred that the AEAPAC exhibits an in vivo antioxidant activity and hepatoprotective effects against CCL₄-induced liver damage, which could be attributed to its rich composition of bioactive molecules. It would be interesting to conduct further tests in the use of AEAPAC as a pre-treatment for hepatotoxicity.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), remains a global health concern for which broadly effective oral antivirals are still limited. The viral main protease (Mpro, also called 3CLpro) is an essential, highly conserved enzyme that mediates the maturation of viral polyproteins, making it one of the most attractive druggable targets. In this study we used molecular docking to investigate the inhibitory potential of ten flavonoids characteristic of the genus Passiflora — the C-glycosyl flavones isoorientin, isovitexin, vitexin and orientin, the O-glycosides hyperoside and astragalin, and the aglycones quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol and chrysin against the crystal structure of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (PDB ID: 6LU7). The co-crystallised peptidomimetic inhibitor N3 (S = -9.7822 kcal/mol) and the repurposed drug chloroquine (S = -5.1753 kcal/mol) were used as references. All ten Passiflora compounds outperformed chloroquine. Hyperoside (-8.3874 kcal/mol) and astragalin (-8.2122 kcal/mol) showed the most favourable scores, followed by the C-glycosyl flavones isoorientin, vitexin, orientin and isovitexin (-7.4 to -7.9 kcal/mol). The top ligands engaged key substrate-binding residues of the active site, including the catalytic His41, the oxyanion-hole region around Asn142/Gly143/Cys145, and the anchoring residues Glu166, Gln189 and Thr190. ADME/drug-likeness analysis (SwissADME) indicated that aglycones such as quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol and chrysin fully satisfy Lipinski's rule of five, whereas the more potent glycosides violate one to two criteria owing to their high polarity. These computational results support the traditional and nutritional interest of Passiflora and identify its flavonoids particularly the glycosylated derivatives as promising natural scaffolds for the design of Mpro inhibitors, warranting further in-vitro and in-vivo validation.
polyaniline is one of the most attractive intrinsically conducting polymers due to its easy synthesis, environmental stability, and tunable electrical properties. In this work, PANI was chemically synthesized by oxidative polymerization in acidic medium by varying the oxidant type (Ferric chloride or Potassium permanganate), acid dopant (Hydrochloric acid or Sulfuric acid), and aniline/oxidant molar ratio (1:1 and 1:2). The obtained samples were characterized by FTIR, XRD, UV–Vis, TGA, and four-point probe conductivity measurements. FTIR confirmed the successful formation of PANI, while XRD revealed a semi-crystalline structure with crystallite sizes ranging from 4.733 to 6.514 nm. Electrical conductivity strongly depended on synthesis conditions, reaching a maximum value of 4.739 S·cm⁻¹. UV–Vis analysis confirmed the formation of polaronic charge carriers, and TGA demonstrated good thermal stability with degradation temperatures above 500 °C. These results highlight the key role of synthesis parameters in controlling the structural organization and electrical performance of PANI.
Solid transport has a big importance and can be a major problem in Algeria at the same time (degradation of agricultural soils, alluvial reservoir). The study of solid transport makes it possible to evaluate the quantities of sediment transported by the wadis and specify the erosive dynamics of the basin with understanding the functioning of the watersheds in the production of sediments. In this work we will highlight the solid transport of the Oued El-Hammam watershed, so we used make a series of precipitations (monthly and daily maximum) of the Oued El-Hammam watershed collected at the pluviometric station of Bouhanifia (1962 to 2019), as well as data on solid and liquid flows collected at the hydrometric station of Bouhenifia (1985-2004) and we sought an estimation curve by applying a power model (Qs = a Q b), the latter showed that the parameter (b) remains linear, which means that the dynamics of erosion is constant, on the other side, regarding to parameter (a) we notice a variation in the morphology and vegetation cover of the basin.
This study evaluated the technological properties of 10 lactic acid bacteria strains belonging to the speices of Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, Lactobacillus brevis, and Lb. plantarum previsiouly isolated from raw camel milk and relevant for dairy fermentations. Enterococcal strains were found to be slow acid producers, although E. faecalis exhibited better acidifying activity after 24h of incubation. E. faecalis showed significantly higher proteolytic activity than E. faecium, increasing between 6 and 24h. Growth kinetics revealed an initial lag phase followed by robust growth for most strains, with potential limitation for E. faecium due to its low proteolysis. Autolytic activity demonstrated inter-strain variability, with some E. faecium strains being as autolytic as Lb. plantarum. Diacetyl production was confirmed in Enterococcus and Lb. plantarum, but absent in Lb. brevis. Finally, peptidase activities, essential for protein degradation and bitterness reduction, were highlighted, with lactobacilli being recognized for their diverse enzymatic repertoire. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the technological potential of these strains for specific applications in the dairy industry, by identifying their strengths and limitations.
With the rise of EV adoption, significant changes occur in the transportation industry; however, it also generates additional pressure on natural resources and identifies gaps within current EV battery supply chains that should be addressed. The supply chains are currently linear, focusing on the extraction of raw resources, their processing, usage, and disposal and recycling, which creates sustainability issues. This paper presents a technological roadmap of 6 R (reduce, reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, recycle) that aims at developing an innovative model that will ensure a transition to a circular EV battery supply chain. Contrary to popular recycling-based solutions, the proposed approach is focused on retaining resources and prolonging their lifecycle through various measures such as reuse, repair, and remanufacturing. Furthermore, the paper provides information about other approaches and business models that may help in the transition to circular EVs. For example, this includes the application of various policies such as extended producer responsibility and requirements concerning recycled content. The findings indicate that the use of a more complex approach that incorporates all aspects of circular economy may lead to positive outcomes regarding reducing negative impacts on the environment, dependence on virgin resources, and promoting sustainable development.
Introduction: The vital organ that is essential for fetal development is placenta, its integrity is essential for a healthy pregnancy. Among the various causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity & mortality, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) affects 5-10% of pregnancies worldwide. These disorders are associated with abnormal placentation, leading to reduced uteroplacental perfusion and subsequent fetal complications. Materials and Methods: A total of sixty placentas was collected from 30 normotensive and 30 hypertensive pregnant mothers of age 18-35 years at MGMCRI, Puducherry. Patients with gestational diabetes, chronic renal disorders, or fetal anomalies were excluded. Morphological features (shape, umbilical cord insertion), morphometric parameters (weight, thickness, diameter, number of cotyledons), and histopathological changes (infarcted villi, fibrinoid necrosis, syncytial knots, etc.) of the placenta was examined and statistically analysed. Results: A significant difference between the two groups was observed. Placentas from hypertensive mothers were more likely to be irregular in shape with eccentric or marginal umbilical cord insertions (p<0.001). Morphometrically, placentas from the hypertensive group had significantly lower weight (360±75g vs. 485±60g), diameter, thickness, and number of cotyledons compared to the normotensive group (p<0.001). Histopathological examination of placentas from hypertensive mothers showed a higher incidence of infarcted villi, fibrinoid necrosis, and syncytial knots. Conclusion: A significant association of maternal hypertension and morphology, morphometry, and histopathology of the placenta was determined. It includes reduced placental size and compromised vascular structure, reflecting impaired placental function, contributing adverse perinatal outcomes. Examination of the placenta is a valuable tool for understanding the pathophysiology of HDP and its consequences for the foetus.
Invasive alien species and damming - the most serious reasons for alterations in aquatic ecosystems - and understanding their interaction is essential for both conceptual and practical applications. Invasive alien species are a key factor in global ecological disruption, being the second most significant cause of species extinction. Simultaneously, establishment of dams has a negative impact on freshwater ecosystems, causing severe repercussions for aquatic species e.g. habitat loss, population decline and competition with native species. Our study of Thippagondanahalli reservoirs highlights the critical link between hydrological factors and exotic fish populations. Our findings indicate that the first two axes (RDA1 and RDA2) account for 82.2% of the total explained variance regarding the variation of seven exotic fish species in relation to fifteen hydrological variables. The research suggests that current hydrology and morphology conditions of the Reservoir and influenced by anthropogenic activities, is associated with the dominance of exotic fish species. Efforts are necessary to restore the natural hydro-morphology affected by damming in order to resolve the challenges posed by invasive exotic species effectively.
E-Governance, the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in government operations, aims to enhance the efficiency, accessibility, and transparency of public services. Despite global advancements, Nepal continues to face significant challenges in implementing e-governance due to inadequate infrastructure, digital illiteracy, political instability, and institutional resistance. This paper evaluates Nepal's current status in e-governance through global benchmarks such as the UN E-Government Development Index (EGDI), analyzes existing implementation barriers, and presents a conceptual framework tailored for Nepal. The framework emphasizes ICT infrastructure, legal-political support, human capacity building, and stakeholder engagement. Special attention is given to the transformative potential of mobile governance in Nepal's rural areas. Recommendations are derived from comparative UN surveys and case studies to offer a strategic roadmap for inclusive digital governance in Nepal.
Indonesia faces significant challenges in managing its growing plastic waste, which harms ecosystems and degrades soil fertility. Annually, Indonesia generates 38.34 million tons of waste, with 38.37% unprocessed, while Bandung City alone contributes 503,627.36 tons. This study examines Olah Plastic, a Bandung-based UMKM established in 2020, which recycles LDPE, PP, and HDPE plastics into lifestyle products and furniture. Despite its sustainability-driven approach aligned with the SDGs, Olah Plastic struggles with unprocessed production residuals. Using a qualitative case study method, this research explores strategies to minimize residual waste and achieve zero waste by integrating Reduce, Reuse, Recycle (3R) principles, advancing waste management innovation and environmental sustainability.
With the growing necessity for personalized dish suggestions, recipe recommendation systems are increasingly popular nowadays. In this paper, a new recipe recommendation system is presented that integrates two state-of-the-art natural language processing (NLP) methodologies, TF-IDF (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency) and Doc2Vec, in order to come up with personalized recipe suggestions considering user preferences as well as dish descriptions. The system initially employs TF-IDF to retrieve significant ingredients steps, and categories from the recipe corpus, mentioning the significant terms in the recipe vocabulary. Later, Doc2Vec is used to transform the recipe text into vector representations, allowing the system to understand the semantic connections between recipes. By comparing user preferences against the recipe vectors, the system produces personalized and contextually relevant recommendations. Experimental outcomes emphasize that the suggested method vastly enhances recommendation correctness and user experience compared to classic keyword-based suggestion systems. The paper gives an important contribution by introducing a wiser, more scalable, and user-focused recipe suggestion system relying on state-of-the-art NLP methods.
The genotoxic effects of heavy metal pollution are rapidly increasing due to anthropogenic activities. Rivers near major cities are contaminated with heavy metals such as Pb, As, and Cd, posing a significant risk to crops in the surrounding areas. The rising level of heavy metals in Ganga water is leading to a rapid increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), which pose a serious threat to the protein, lipid, and DNA content in plants. Plants possess a natural defense system that protects them from reactive oxygen species (ROS). Catalase and peroxidase are among the most common antioxidant enzymes in plants and are responsible for converting reactive oxygen species (ROS) into water and oxygen. Triticum aestivum is a globally important cereal crop and primary source of bread. This study aimed to examine the cytological and physiological effects of lead (Pb) pollution in Ganga water. The impact of Pb toxicity on the growth and development of Triticum aestivum seedlings was assessed through seed germination, cytotoxicity analysis, enzymatic assays, and Pb bioaccumulation in the seedlings. A significant increase in APx and GPx enzyme activities was observed, along with chromosomal abnormalities such as reduced condensation of chromatin, chromosomal laggards, C-mitosis, anaphase bridges, micronuclei formation, and vagrant metaphase, as a result of high Pb accumulation in the mitotic cells of Triticum aestivum.
Sheep are highly social animals that love being in the comfort of their flock, and anything that separates or isolates them from their flock subjects them to stress.12 West African Dwarf weaned rams were allotted into 6 different pens each in isolation. The pens were enriched with coloured walls and mirror. T1- control with no enrichment; T2- enriched with mirror only; T3- enriched with mirror and red coloured wall; T4- enriched with mirror and green coloured wall; T5- enriched with mirror and red coloured wall; T6-enriched with mirror and yellow coloured wall.Each treatment got replicated twice with one ram. The experiment lasted 6 weeks during which data were collected on feeding pattern, water consumption, vocalization frequency, time spent on specific behaviors such as eating, drinking,walking, self image watching, resting and frequency of head-butt towards the self-image in the mirror. The behaviors were captured with the use of 6 television cameras installed in the experimental pens. Blood samples were also taken at the last day for haematological studies. Data generated were analyzed statistically. The enrichment had no effect on feed intake, final body weight and weight gained. However, the behavioral responses to the different enrichment varied. The results of this work suggest that mirror and colored background can be used to alleviate stress among isolated rams in the short run only.
Oral mucosal lesions, encompassing a diverse group of pathological conditions such as infections, Ulcers, inflammation, and neoplasia, present significant challenges in clinical management [1]. Traditional treatment approaches often involve systemic drug administration, which can lead to suboptimal drug concentrations at the target site and increase the risk of systemic side effects [2]. Consequently, there is a growing need for effective, localized drug delivery systems that can enhance therapeutic outcomes and minimize adverse effects [3]. Novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) offer promising avenues for the targeted treatment of oral mucosal lesions [4]. By utilizing innovative technologies and materials, these systems aim to improve drug bioavailability, prolong drug residence time at the lesion site, and enhance patient compliance [5]. This review explores the recent advancements in NDDS for oral mucosal lesions, highlighting their potential to revolutionize the management of these challenging conditions.
This research presents detection and isolation of magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) from two lakes habitats, utilizing the established methodologies to improve isolation rates, with on sampling, enrichment and purification methods. Environmental samples from two lakes in Algeria were collected and cultured. Microscopy observation identified movement of MTB and growth occurred consistently in purifying medium at the oxic-anoxic transition zone which indicated MTB activity. Obtained results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirm the presence of magnetotactic bacteria in the two lakes, which are being identified for biotechnological applications.
The scientific community is confronting a novel issue stemming from increasing concerns regarding the intake of detrimental trans fats and saturated fats in our diet. They must identify viable substitutes to replace these harmful fats without sacrificing the flavor and sensory qualities of the food product. Oleogels are a novel structural fat system employed in commercial applications to eliminate or substitute trans fats and saturated fats in food products. They provide nutritional and environmental advantages, rendering them a favored option among alternative strategies. Fats and oils in food augment its flavor and texture while promoting satiety. While it is recommended to predominantly consume unsaturated lipid sources, their liquid form at room temperature makes them inappropriate for several industrial applications. Oleogel is a novel technology capable of wholly or partially substituting conventional fats, which are significantly associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and inflammatory processes. A primary problem in formulating oleogels for the food sector is identifying structural agents that are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS), cost-effective, and do not alter the flavor of the oleogel. Consequently, multiple research have investigated the diverse possible applications of oleogels in food products. Previous studies suggest that oleogels may be utilized in the manufacturing of bread items, breakfast spreads, margarines, chocolates, chocolate-based products, and some meat products. A new study indicates that replacing shortening with oleogels may diminish the saturated fat level in gluten-free aerated products without compromising their physical properties. Consequently, the use of oleogels may provide more alternatives for those with celiac disease to vary their dietary options.
Human trafficking and enforced disappearance are global problems of alarming scale. Millions are exploited or go missing each year, yet relatively few cases of human trafficking are prosecuted, and most victims remain unidentified(Katsanis et al., 2015) Families of missing persons endure years of uncertainty and distress, unable to obtain death certificates or justice(I-Familia, n.d.) . DNA profiling has emerged as the most powerful tool for human identification, accepted worldwide in criminal justice. It can establish identity and familial relationships to support victim identification, family reunification and prosecution of traffickers(Palmbach et al., 2014) . For example, NGOs like DNA-ProKids have used DNA matching to reunite missing or illegally adopted children with their parents, striving to create a global victim database . Yet the use of DNA in trafficking cases raises complex legal, procedural and ethical issues. This paper critically examines the legal frameworks and investigative mechanisms for DNA profiling in trafficking and missing persons cases, from a victim-centric perspective. We analyse India’s emerging laws (the DNA Technology Regulation Bill and the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Act 2022) alongside international instruments (e.g. the UN Palermo Protocol) and practices in other jurisdictions (EU, USA, selected Global South), identifying gaps and proposing reforms. The aim is to ensure DNA technology is harnessed to help victims, with robust safeguards for their rights.
