In the present study a new series of antibacterial agents (4a-f) was designed, synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity against different gram positive (Staphylococcusaureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus cereus) and gram negative (listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa) bacteria. New derivatives of oxadiazoles were prepared by one-pot reaction of N-isocyanoiminotriphenylphosphorane, carboxylic acid derivatives and 2-pyridinecarboxaldehyde, in the presence of acetonitrile solvent. The broth macro dilution and well agar diffusion methods were used for determination of inhibition zone (IZ) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) during preliminary evaluation of antimicrobial activity. The (MIC) values of tested compounds revealed that all compounds have displayed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcusaureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis (with MIC values in the range of 31 to 125µg/mL).
Background: Aflatoxin is one of the most problematic fungal-produced toxins as it is responsible for massive global agricultural losses and is deleterious to both human and animal health. Contamination of crops by certain strains of Aspergillus fungi accumulate aflatoxin in both post- and pre-harvest conditions. Methods: In this report, we tested the aflatoxin-degradation efficiency of an endogenously expressed enzyme in harvested maize kernels. In post-harvest conditions, equivalent loads of A. flavus were used to infect harvested maize kernels previously engineered to express an aflatoxin-degrading enzyme from the Honey mushroom fungus. Results: No measurable, or significantly reduced, levels of aflatoxin were detected in all the enzyme-expressing harvested kernels initially and then 3 days post –harvest the transgenic kernels amassed aflatoxin. Conclusions: This is the first report of an enzyme degradation of aflatoxin in a crop in harvested kernels. This demonstrates the potential of this strategy to aid in the mitigation of aflatoxin in post-harvest conditions.
Background: Aflatoxin is one of the most problematic fungal-produced toxins as it is responsible for massive global agricultural losses and is deleterious to both human and animal health. Contamination of crops by certain strains of Aspergillus fungi accumulate aflatoxin in both post- and pre-harvest conditions. Methods: In this report, we tested the aflatoxin-degradation efficiency of an endogenously expressed enzyme in harvested maize kernels. In post-harvest conditions, equivalent loads of A. flavus were used to infect harvested maize kernels previously engineered to express an aflatoxin-degrading enzyme from the Honey mushroom fungus. Results: No measurable, or significantly reduced, levels of aflatoxin were detected in all the enzyme-expressing harvested kernels initially and then 3 days post –harvest the transgenic kernels amassed aflatoxin. Conclusions: This is the first report of an enzyme degradation of aflatoxin in a crop in harvested kernels. This demonstrates the potential of this strategy to aid in the mitigation of aflatoxin in post-harvest conditions.
Refineries are among the industrial centers that supply the energy and raw materials to downstream industries. To achieve sustainable development goals, creating appropriate balance between economic and environmental goals has always been the focus of managers and policy makers in the societies. Bayesian Network model has become a robust tool in the field of risk assessment and uncertainty management in refineries. The focus of this research is to prioritizing different units from the point of view of social and ecological aspects for facilitating the decision-making process in the context of waste material treatment in Esfahan refinery in line with the sustainable development goals. The methodology of this research is based on risk assessment with the aid of Bayesian Networks. To this end, first material flow analysis of the processes procured risk identification, subsequently influence diagram and Bayesian Network structure were designed. After completing conditional probability tables, risk factors were prioritized. According to the risk assessment results, Fuel unit was classified as the most significant risk factor, whereas Pipelines and Plant air & instrument air system were identified as the most environmentally friendly units.
Plants are consecrated sources of pharmaceutical, aromatic and industrial compounds, civilization being inextricably linked to the world of plants, for millennia they have been the major source of bio-products essential for the survival of the entire animal kingdom. True biochemical organisms powered by solar energy, plants synthesize not only the basic compounds necessary for their survival, from the category of glucides, proteins and lipids, but also a wide range of organic substances that can be extracted in sufficient quantities to be of significant importance as raw materials with various scientific, technological and commercial applications. Even today, the botanical endowment of the planet stores numerous resources that are still insufficiently known, which can represent cost-effective alternatives for obtaining scarce raw materials in various economic fields. The vegetable kingdom continues to represent the main supplier of phytochemical compounds used in various industrial branches such as pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, agrochemicals, with commercial values expressed in billions of dollars. Plants are irreplaceable sources of industrial oils (volatile and fixed), flavors, perfumes, resins, hydrocolloidal gums, saponins and other surfactants, dyes, pesticides, natural rubber, medicinal substances and many other special compounds.
