Biology Group (44) at IgMin Research

The article criticizes studies on modern warming that do not take into account the warming of the last interglacial period—the Holocene. According to data from numerous meteorological stations, no anthropogenic contribution to climate warming is detected before 1950. This contribution becomes noticeable in the meteorological station data after 1950.

Gaussian-transform formula is derived for the Dirac wave function. Using it, one can derive the multicenter molecular integral over Dirac wave functions for any physical quantity. As the first application of it, multicenter molecular integrals over Dirac wave functions are derived for the homogeneous charge density distribution model and the Gauss-type charge density distribution model. Such integrals are necessary for solving the gauge-invariant molecular matrix Dirac equation with using the restricted magnetic balance.

Many applications in science, engineering, and modern technology require the solution of boundary value problems for genuine three-dimensional objects. These objects often are of or can be approximated by, an ellipsoidal shape, where the three ellipsoidal semiaxes correspond to three independent degrees of freedom. The triaxial ellipsoid represents the sphere of any anisotropic space and for this reason, it appears naturally in many scientific disciplines. Consequently, despite the complications of the ellipsoidal geometry and mainly its analys...is, based on the theory of ellipsoidal harmonics, a lot of progress has been made in the solution of ellipsoidal boundary value problems, due to its general applicability. In this mini-review, we aim to present to the scientific community the main achievements towards the investigation of three such physical problems of medical, engineering and technological significance, those comprising intense research in (a) electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), (b) creeping hydrodynamics (Stokes flow) and (c) identification of metallic impenetrable bodies, either embedded within the Earth’s conductive subsurface or located into a lossless air environment. In this context, special expertise and particular skills are needed in solving open boundary value problems that incorporate the ellipsoidal geometry and the related harmonic analysis, revealing the fact that there still exists the necessity of involving with these issues.Read more

The widespread explanations of the greenhouse effect taught to millions of schoolchildren are misleading. The objective of this work is to clarify how increasing CO2 produces warming in current times. It is found that there are two contexts for the greenhouse gas effect. In one context, the fundamental greenhouse gas effect, one imagines a dry Earth starting with no water or CO2 and adding water and CO2. This leads to the familiar “thermal blanket” that strongly inhibits IR transmission from the Earth to the atmosphere. The Earth is... much warmer with H2O and CO2. In the other context, the current greenhouse gas effect, CO2 is added to the current atmosphere. The thermal blanket on IR radiation hardly changes. But the surface loses energy primarily by evaporation and thermals. Increased CO2 in the upper atmosphere carries IR radiation to higher altitudes. The Earth radiates to space at higher altitudes where it is cooler, and the Earth is less able to shed energy. The Earth warms to restore the energy balance. The “thermal blanket” is mainly irrelevant to the current greenhouse gas effect. It is concluded that almost all discussions of the greenhouse effect are based on the fundamental greenhouse gas effect, which is a hypothetical construct, while the current greenhouse gas effect is what is happening now in the real world. Adding CO2 does not add much to a “thermal blanket” but instead, drives emission from the Earth to higher, cooler altitudes.Read more

This research used the improved export coefficient model to estimate non-point source load in sub-watersheds and a self-organizing map model to identify the correlation relationship of factors, that can be affected by non-point source load in Yangtze River Basin. Research results indicate that total nitrogen load is 4.87 - 15.53 kg/ha; total phosphorus load is 0.18 - 0.51 kg/ha; Dong Ting Lake sub-basin has the lowest contribution value of total nitrogen and phosphorus; Tai Lake sub-basin has the highest contribution load of total nitrogen and ...total phosphorus; Jinsha River sub-basin reveals the highest value of total nitrogen and phosphorus contribution on grassy land and desert land; Tai Lake sub-basin has the highest total nitrogen and total phosphorus load on forest, agricultural land, and urban construction land. The correlation relationship of factors reveals a very close correlation with each other as precipitation, total nitrogen load, and total phosphorus load factors have correlation in the highest value, in which total nitrogen load and total phosphorus load factors have a close correlation with each other from the lowest value to highest value; wetland and barren land factors correlate with the lowest value and the highest value; agricultural land, forestland, and grassy land factors correlate with one another in the high value and the highest value. The forest cover rate factor, as well as the population factor, does not correlate with other factors.Read more

Two contrasting opinions about virus taxonomy or, more precisely, about virus nomenclature, appeared in the first 2004 issue of Emerging Infectious Diseases [1,2]. These differring ideas about scientific (vs. common) names of viruses are part of a long disagreement among virologists that can be tracked to the early 1950s [3,4].

The study evaluates the efficacy of leufenuron, emamectin benzoate, and thiamethoxam against the Dusky Cotton Bug (Oxycarenus laetus Kirby) using residue-based bioassay methods. Key findings indicate that emamectin benzoate showed the highest efficacy with the lowest LC50 value, making it the most potent insecticide among those tested. Leufenuron and thiamethoxam followed, displaying moderate effectiveness. The results highlight the comparative advantages of emamectin benzoate in controlling Dusky Cotton Bug populations, suggesting its potentia...l role in integrated pest management strategies. This study underscores the need for environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional insecticides in mitigating yield losses in cotton production.Read more

Cloud seeding is a technique used to enhance precipitation in drought-prone areas, support agricultural productivity, ensure water supply for human consumption, improve hydropower generation from dams, lessen hurricanes, cool urban heat, and disperse fog in airports. Growing global population size and climate change are the biggest impetus for weather modification and cloud seeding operations. Currently, salt powders like silver iodide, potassium iodide, sodium chloride, calcium chloride, dry ice (solid carbon dioxide), and liquid propane are w...idely used as ice nucleating particles for cloud seeding purposes while in natural cloud formation, and precipitation particles from dust storms, mineral dust and biological aerosols (like spores, pollen, bacteria) are the dominant ice nucleators. Having this knowledge on hand and the ubiquitous nature of fungi on the other hand; it is feasible to exploit the ice nucleating ability of fungal spores and use it as potential candidates for cloud seeding and weather modification operations.Read more

The Schreiner Collection is a skeletal collection at the Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo. It includes material from the Stone Age up to the 19th century and has been built up over more than 150 years. However, the Institute’s present management does not think that the approximately 8.500 skeletons are of such interest that the collection should continue and remain as a valuable research potential. Instead, it is now in the process of being divided and spread to various museums. Despite the fact that the collection has been intern...ationally known and visited by researchers from all over the world, the board of the institute does not want to maintain bioanthropological activity as a research field at the University of Oslo anymore.Read more

The conventional method to send payloads to Mars is by direct trans-Mars injection (TMI) from LEO. NASA is considering an alternative of fueling large Mars-bound cargo transfer vehicles in cis-lunar space with propellants derived from the Moon by in situ propellant production (ISPP) prior to trans-Mars injection from cis-lunar space. A large team of investigators developed an Evolvable Lunar Campaign (ELC) that defined its strategic objective as follows:"The ELC strategic objective is commercial mining of propellant from lunar poles where ...it will be transported to lunar orbit to be used by NASA to send humans to Mars."Unfortunately, sending Mars-bound vehicles to cis-lunar space prior to trans-Mars injection saves little mass in LEO, unnecessarily includes lunar ISPP, which is costly, complex, and risky, and at the bottom line, has no benefits. The problem is that the amount of propellant needed to go from LEO to cis-lunar space is roughly comparable to the amount of propellant used for direct TMI from LEO, so the lunar-derived propellants only offset a small amount of propellant used to augment Mars Orbit Insertion and Entry, Descent, and Landing, and the amount of propellant required in LEO is almost the same in both cases. The initial mass in low Earth orbit (IMLEO) is not reduced much by utilizing lunar ISPP.At the bottom line, sending Mars-bound MCTV to cis-lunar space adds complexity, cost, and risk and provides essentially no benefits.Read more

This research used the calculating method of dry deposition to estimate SO2 dry deposition value and evaluate its trend in 5 recent years. The results indicate that SO2 emission at Northern sites is more changing than Southern ones in months by affecting meteorology and weather. Summer and autumn seasons have SO2 emitted concentrations higher than other seasons in 2019, 2020, and 2022 year at Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, and Ha Noi stations. The 2021 year has the highest SO2 dry deposition and the 2019 year has the lowest SO2 dry deposition in 5 recent y...ears. The Hanoi site has the highest SO2 dry deposition value from 2019 to 2022 year. Hoa Binh site has the highest SO2 dry deposition at 2.45 kg/ha/year in 2023. High SO2 dry deposition occurs normally in the summer and autumn (from April to August). Southern sites have lower SO2 dry deposition amounts with not much change than the Northern sites of Vietnam. The increasing trend of SO2 dry deposition happened from 1999 to 2023 year and it increases sharply from 1999 to 2021. Therefore, SO2 dry deposition will have a light-increasing trend in the future.Read more

The astronomical theory of ice ages is widely accepted. Yet, it is not abundantly clear just exactly what the astronomical theory of ice ages is, other than the vague statement that variations in the Earth's orbit produce changes in solar irradiance at northern latitudes which is somehow related to the formation and termination of ice ages. Periodic variations in the Earth’s orbit produce variations in the insolation at high latitudes and ice ages begin on down lobes of insolation and terminate on up lobes of insolation. However, not all ...down lobes create ice ages and not all up lobes produce terminations. The ice ages changed character at the so-called mid-Pleistocene transition, about a million years ago. There is no current physical explanation for these difficulties with the astronomical theory. A reasonable explanation has been developed, that solidifies the astronomical theory by explaining the rise and fall of ice ages in both eras. The solar power absorbed at high northern latitudes depends on the insolation and absorptivity of the surface. The absorptivity is particularly affected by the obliquity in the pre-MPT era, and by dust deposits late in the post-MPT era. When these are included, it can be explained why some down lobes produce ice ages, and some up lobes produce terminations in both eras. In the pre-MPT era, ice ages originate when the insolation enters a down lobe and the obliquity is minimal (higher reflectivity) and ice ages terminate at a coincidence of high insolation and high obliquity (lower reflectivity). These links between SIHL and obliquity tend to be repetitive with approximately 41,000-year spacing. In the post-MPT era, ice ages also originate at a down lobe of SIHL. However, once an ice age is started, each successive up lobe in SIHL might cause a slight decrease in ice volume but doesn’t bring about a termination. After several precession cycles, high dust levels increase absorptivity, and the next-up lobe produces a termination.Read more

Since the initial identification of TBCK (formerly MGC16169) in 2010, significant advances have been made in understanding the role of TBCK mutations in neurodevelopmental disorders such as TBCK encephalopathy. However, the precise function and detailed mechanisms of TBCK remain largely unexplored. Previous studies, including our own, suggest that aberrant expression or mutations in TBCK can impact cell growth, division, and cytoskeleton assembly, contributing to both cancer and neurogenetic diseases. Despite this, the specific domains within T...BCK responsible for these functions are still unclear. Notably, mutations in the TBC domain have been implicated in disrupting mTOR pathways, linking TBCK dysfunction to neurogenetic disorders and cancers. Given TBCK’s diverse roles, we have focused on its putative kinase domain. Through comprehensive analysis using tools such as Kinase Tree, AlphaFold2, Clustal Omega, and SMART, we discovered that TBCK lacks the key “D” residue in the conserved “HRD” and “DFG” motifs typical of protein kinases like PKA and SRC, suggesting TBCK functions as a pseudokinase. Intriguingly, gene ontology analysis from recent RNA-seq data indicates TBCK’s involvement in regulating protein phosphorylation. This suggests that TBCK may influence protein phosphorylation either directly through its potential kinase domain or indirectly via interactions with other proteins. To uncover the full spectrum of TBCK’s roles in neurogenetic disorders and cancer, urgent high-throughput analyses are necessary to identify its interacting partners.Read more

High-grade gliomas are known for their aggressive nature and resistance to therapy. One characteristic feature of these tumors is the lack of a clear border between the tumor and normal brain tissue. Previous studies have shown that as gliomas dedifferentiate, the extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes changes in its composition and architecture. This is due to increased production and overexpression of ECM components such as hyaluronic acid, fibulin-3, and collagen. However, it is not yet known what specific changes occur in the stroma of high-g...rade gliomas depending on the v in the IDH1 gene. In our study, we examined tumor tissue samples from 31 patients, 10 of whom had verified IDH-mutant astrocytoma (grade 4) and 21 had IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (grade 4). The presence or absence of mutations in the IDH1/2 genes was determined in all patients using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). To assess stromal changes, we used histochemical staining with Alcian blue and Mallory trichrome. Our results showed significant differences between the two groups according to Student’s t-test (p < 0.05) for all stainings. The presence of mucus formation, collagen formation, and expression of vimentin by tumor cells in the stroma of IDH-wildtype grade 4 glioblastoma indicates an active epithelial-mesenchymal transition and changes in the extracellular matrix. These findings may explain the more unfavorable prognosis in patients with glioblastomas and could potentially serve as a therapeutic target in the complex treatment of malignant gliomas.Read more

Surrealism is a means of artistic expression that places automatism at the root of creation, and it has pursued thought that is entirely free of any preconceived notions or restraints. Art and science are seemingly incompatible with each other—one is emotional, the other rational—but here the author would like to consider the sort of thinking that could emerge if science met surrealism halfway. The author would also like to present the Yoshida effect, a physical phenomenon that was chanced upon serendipitously in which microbiology ...approaches surrealism. The Yoshida effect is the formation of a fusion body called a penetron when bacterial cells collide with a nano-sized acicular (needle-shaped) material in a hydrogel friction field. The penetron as an intermediate was applied to the finely detection method of asbestos, and gene transformation method by plasmid DNA.Read more

Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) is an important variable for monitoring daily agricultural activity as well as meteorological drought. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the influence of different options of the physical dynamical downscaling and boundary layer schemes on the simulated PET. Using the RegCM4 regional climate model, four simulations were conducted (two for each case) in the period 1997 to 2017. In all simulations, the RegCM4 was configured with 25 km resolution and downscaled by the ERA-Interim reanalysis dataset. To en...sure a reliable estimation of the PET, a calibrated version of the Hargreaves-Samani equation was adopted. A high-resolution product of the ERA5 was used as the observational dataset. Results showed that the simulated PET is insensitive either to the dynamical downscaling or the boundary layer options. Concerning the annual climatological cycle, the RegCM4’s performance varies with month and location. Quantitatively, a root mean square error lies between 1 mm and 1.6 mm day-1, the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency between 0.2 and 0.6, and the coefficient of determination between 0.5 and 0.75. Additionally, the Linear Scaling (LS) method showed its added value in the evaluation/validation periods. In conclusion, the RegCM4 can be used to develop a regional PET map of Egypt using the LS either in the present climate or under different future scenarios.Read more

Thermodynamic and experimental modeling of calcium carbonate crystallization in a model solution of human bile has been carried out. The process of calcium carbonate (calcite and vaterite) crystallization from solutions containing bile has been studied. It is shown that differences in the phase and group composition of the samples arise depending on the synthesis parameters. It has been established that in the presence of 1 wt. % bile, calcite is formed, and an increase in the concentration of bile in the initial solution from 5 to 100 wt. % co...ntributes to the crystallization of vaterite. It is shown that the mass of the solid phase increases with an increase in the concentration of bile in the initial solution. The dissolution of the synthesized samples was performed in 0.9 wt. % NaCl solution and 0.05 M EDTA solution. It was found that the presence of bile components in the composition of solid samples reduces the rate of their dissolutions.Read more

The article describes the characteristics of the resulting effector auxological morpho-functional status of primary school students, differentiated by gender and administrative-territorial characteristics.The objectives of the study included studying the auxological status of children adolescents, and primary school students in the Nizhny Novgorod region in the context of the peculiarities of the exoenvironment of residence in urban and rural areas.Materials and methods: Own data served as a source of anthropometry and physiometry indicators of... the objective population of the region. The analysis of anthropological indicators was carried out by discretizing data sets that state an objective picture of auxological indicators at the regional level, taking into account the peculiarities of anthropogenic loads characteristic of the place of residence of the observed population groups.To quantify the values ​​and statistical differences in indicators by age, gender, and administrative characteristics, the median, standard deviation, and criteria were used: Fisher, Wilks, and Mahalanobis, with an error of differences at p < 0.05.Results: The stability of the age-sex evolution of auxological indicators is shown; the age-sex and territorial dimorphism of total body sizes is shown at 7-10 years of age, with residents of rural areas lagging in the observed indicators.Hemodynamic indicators in both boys and girls significantly prevail among students living in the metropolis relative to their rural counterparts, except diastolic blood pressure.Variance analytics shows differences in the distributions of anthropometry and hemodynamics, both by age and by the urbanization factor at p < 0.001.In the observed age period, at the initial stage, hemodynamic indicators act primarily as modifiers of the metropolis and rural groups. From the age of ten, according to the standardized coefficients of discriminant functions, according to the first canonical variable, the division of series also occurs according to anthropometric characteristics, among which the greatest contribution to the division of groups is made by body weight and body length, and the hemodynamic characteristic - diastolic blood pressure - has also proven to be decisive.Conclusion: Primary school students living in rural areas and in the metropolis of the Nizhny Novgorod region determine the observed indicators ambiguously; if residents of the metropolis state greater results for all observed auxological indicators, then rural peers demonstrate, while lagging in all observed indicators, greater indicators of diastolic blood pressure, which suggests a strain on adaptation mechanisms central character.Read more

The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) published a lengthy report on climate change in early 2023. This report hypothesizes five potential scenarios of greenhouse gas emissions from 2015 to the end of the century (2100) and estimates the global average temperature gain in the year 2100 from the mid-1800s for each scenario. The method of calculation in the IPCC report is obscure. The results are merely stated.The present paper provides a clear method for estimating the temperature gain each year from 2015 until 2100, along with yearly ...estimates of ppm of CO2. To facilitate the calculations, a set of scenarios of future emissions was chosen that is analogous to the scenarios used by the IPCC but is more amenable to computation.The basic assumption in this paper is that most of the temperature gain from the mid-1800s to 2015 (1.15 C – as reported by the IPCC) was due to rising CO2 concentration in the atmosphere and a relationship is thereby derived between warming and gigatons of CO2 emitted for the period: 1800s to 2015. If it is assumed that the amount of warming per gigaton CO2 from the past persists into the 21st century, then future warming in the 21st century can be estimated for any assumed future scenario of CO2 emissions.This paper provides a simple and clear estimate of yearly CO2 ppm and temperature rise from 2015 to 2100 since the 1800s for a set of scenarios that cover the likely range of future emissions.Read more

The medicinal herb Asparagus racemosus has been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as cough, diarrhoea, diabetes, gastric issues, gonorrhoea, headaches, piles, rheumatism, and even lactation enhancement. This study explores the genetic information and phytochemicals of the species native to Gia Lai province, Vietnam before its conservation and cultivation. Five species of A. racemosus were analyzed using the trnL-e/trnL-f regions sequence. A. racemosus roots were extracted by water then Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chr...omatography coupled with Quadrupole/Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS) spectroscopy was used to screen for their phytochemicals. We have confirmed the DNA genetics of A. racemosus species collected in Gia Lai, Vietnam. In water extract of A. racemosus roots, UHPLC-Q-TOF-MS tentatively identified two flavonoids (Quercetin-3-glucuronide, Rutin), five steroidal saponins (Shatavarin I, Shatavarin IV, Shatavarin IX, Asparacoside, Asparanin A), and two steroids (β-sitosterol, Daucosterol). The experimental findings confirm the A. racemosus species for conservation and cultivation in Vietnam and contribute the benefits to the chemical literature of Vietnamese natural flora. A. racemosus should be further studied for pharmaceutical activities.Read more

Microorganisms reside in and around humans and are sometimes pathogenic. However, most of the microbes in the air or in our body, which exist as commensals or symbionts, benefit us in some form or other. We depend heavily on these beneficial microbes for our optimum health. The purpose of this review was to delineate and summarize the various applications of microbes for the benefit of mankind. In many areas, the biochemical properties and metabolic end products of microbes are now being channelized for improving human health and quality of lif...e. The author collated data from various published articles and tried to present a holistic viewpoint of this aspect of the application of microbes for the betterment of human health and public health as well.Read more

When a Maxwellian distribution is assumed for the distribution function in the BGK-type modelled BE, it will give rise to the Euler equations if it is the first-order approximation in the Chapman-Enskog method. Then the second-order equations will yield the N-S equations. Most LBM developed to date are formulated based on the second-order equations. Consequently, the assumption of a flow Mach number M << 1 is inherent in this formulation. This approach creates an unnecessary restriction on the LBM that should be avoided if possible. An al...ternative approach is to formulate a new LBM by considering an equilibrium distribution function where the first-order approximations give rise to the N-S equations. Adopting this approach, a new LBM has been formulated. This new LBM gives reliable results when applied to simulate aeroacoustics, incompressible flows, and compressible flows with and without shocks. Good agreement with measurements and numerical data derived from DAS/DNA calculations is obtained.Read more

Throughout this document, the opportunity is provided to show the relationship between sustainable development and economic growth, focusing on their definitions, their disparity, and their consequences, at the same time it gives us a vision of the evolution of the importance of economic development and of their inability to solve the problem of poverty.The satisfaction of the needs of the human being, would go through seeking a balance between economic growth, care for the environment, and social welfare, a breakdown of this balance has put in...to question the traditional model of economic development, in which they raise fundamental questions where the very accumulation of wealth creates poverty.The bibliographic search carried out has led us to obtain a series of conclusions on the proposed terms, in which a robust social solidarity economy would lead us to the eradication of poverty.This work takes us to a reflection on the sustainability of natural resources, the viability of the economic development model, and its rate of growth in a context of globalization in which localities are left behind, but without being forgotten, although they have no involvement in models that meet their development needs.Read more

The plant-pollinator relationship is one of the most investigated biological processes, not only because of its ecological importance (natural and farming ecosystems) but also its economic profitability (farming and biological products). Current losses of bee populations urge the need to assess the state of wild bee biodiversity in environments such as the Sierra de Guadarrama. Two characteristic sites with different plant diversities were compared by collecting bees using net trapping, a thicket, and a grassland. In this way, not only the poss...ible influence of floral wealth on bee abundance was studied, but also the preference of these Hymenoptera towards any type of flower. Phenological patterns and predominant sex were also studied. 331 bee individuals, belonging to 6 families, 19 genera, and 46 species, were recorded in this study. Our results showed that bee diversity depends not only on environmental factors (temperature or plant composition and abundance) but biological as well (plant-pollinators matches or co-occurring species). Moreover, our study sets a starting point for debating the influence of managed bees (Apis mellifera) on wild bee communities. A preference for a small number of plant species (Cistus ladanifer, Echium vulgare, and Lavandula stoechas) was observed. In addition, there was a relationship between the type of corolla and the tongue length. Our study highlights the importance of this area of the Sierra de Guadarrama for wild bee biodiversity. All things considered, it falls on preserving those ecosystems with high floral wealth to favor the wild bee´s presence and its habitat in the foresight of climate change future scenarios.Read more

Using the superposition model, the crystal field and zero-field splitting parameters of Cr3+ doped cassiterite (tin oxide), SnO2 single crystals are computed. For calculations, the appropriate locations for Cr3+ ions in SnO2 with distortion are taken into account. The experimental values and the zero-field splitting parameters in theory with local distortion agree fairly well. Using the Crystal Field Analysis Program and crystal field parameters, the optical energy bands for Cr3+ in SnO2 are calculated. The findings indicate that in SnO2 single... crystals, one of the Sn4+ ions is replaced by Cr3+ ions.Read more

The proper geometry of belt splices influences their subsequent performance and durability during operation. Despite being such a critical aspect, evaluating the geometry of splices can be challenging, especially after their fabrication and vulcanization. This article presents an approach to diagnosing the geometry of belt splices based on the examination of belts using the DiagBelt+ magnetic system. Through the analysis of practical applications and the benefits derived from monitoring splice geometry, the article emphasizes the importance of ...diagnosing the geometry of belt splices to improve their quality and performance.Read more

Microplastic pollution in oceans poses a complex global threat to marine ecosystems and human health. These ubiquitous plastic particles originate from diverse sources and become widely dispersed by ocean currents, contaminating remote regions worldwide. In the aquatic environment, microplastics cause physical harm to aquatic species through ingestion. They disrupt habitats and act as vectors for toxic chemicals through bioaccumulation in aquatic species, enter food webs, and impair marine ecosystem functions. For humans, microplastic exposure ...via seafood consumption, drinking water, and inhalation raises concerns about potential inflammatory, cytotoxic, and endocrine-disrupting diseases that are linked to cancer, reproductive problems, and metabolic disorders. Mitigating this pervasive pollution requires a multi-pronged approach, including policy interventions that minimize plastic use, improve waste management, encourage technological innovations for biodegradable alternatives, provide public awareness campaigns, and improve coordinated efforts across plastic stakeholders. Comprehensive strategies combining research, regulations, and public engagement are crucial to protect marine life and human health from the detrimental impacts of microplastic contamination. This paper provides an overview of the origins and pathways of microplastics and assesses the impacts of microplastic pollution on human health and the environment. This study also highlights the methodology, knowledge gaps, and future directions to facilitate research on microplastic removal and risk assessment in the oceans.Read more

The purposes of this study were to assess the concentrations of Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in the cucumber Cucumis sativus from four farming areas of Peninsular Malaysia, to assess the HHRA of the five heavy metals in the collected samples. The cucumber was collected between May and December 2016 from Kg Ara Kuda (Penang), Kg. Sitiawan (Perak), Kuala Ketil (Kedah) and Jerantut (Pahang) of Peninsular Malaysia. For the edible fruity cucumber, the ranges of metal concentrations (mg/kg dry weight) from the four sites were 9.56-13.6 for Cu, 39.5-109 for... Fe, 0.18-2.19 for Ni, 0.74-2.78 for Pb and 17.5-62.0 for Zn. All the target hazard quotient values for Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn in adults and children were found below 1.00 for the health risk assessment. The present investigation found no evidence of non-carcinogenic hazards associated with the intake of cucumber in relation to Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. However, it is important to regularly evaluate the levels of heavy metals in vegetables cultivated in these soils and adopt appropriate remediation procedures to reduce harmful effects on human health. Read more

Abrus precatorius, sometimes referred to as jequirity bean or rosary pea, is a tropical and subtropical plant species that is extensively scattered all over. It is highly dangerous because of the presence of abrin, an exceptionally toxic protein. A. precatorius is a poisonous plant with great traditional and pharmaceutical value; therefore, to safely utilize its potential benefits, detoxification techniques are required. This review methodically examines the numerous detoxification strategies used in various media to lessen A. precatorius&rsquo...;s toxicity. There are various methods employed to detoxify the seeds which include cow’s milk, cow’s urine, fermented rice water, lemon juice, etc. The possible applications of detoxified A. precatorius in conventional medicine, pharmaceuticals, and agro-industrial sectors are also reviewed in this paper. Additionally, the paper also emphasizes new developments and potential paths for detoxification research, highlighting the necessity of creative solutions to maximize detoxification effectiveness while protecting bioactive componentsRead more

Several national and international frameworks have been developed to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030 and help address the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises. These frameworks provide the targets against which locally applicable action plans can be created. The Royal Commission for AlUla and the IUCN have developed Comprehensive Regeneration as the framework of nature-positive initiatives and as a model for the responsible development of AlUla County in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Many snakes live close to water, with several groups displaying morphological, physiological, or behavioral adaptions to aquatic environments. Although marine snakes have been found at depths beyond 200 m, freshwater snakes are rarely reported at depths larger than a few meters. Here we report freshwater depth records for the dice snake Natrix tessellata, an aquatic snake belonging to the family Natricidae. Dice snake was observed at depths down to 17 m, including in habitats below the thermocline, in Lake Orta (Northern Italy). These observati...ons open new perspectives related to the biology and physiology of Palearctic freshwater snakes belonging to the family Natricidae.Read more

Six alkaloid compounds were isolated (the discovery of a natural drug, which is a combination of the six alkaloid compounds). Alkaloids viz., 1,3,5-Triazine-2-carboxylic acid, 4-amino-6-methyl; 1,2,4-Triazino[5,6-E][1,2,4]-triazine-3,6-dione, hexahydro; 2-(4,5-Dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-1-phenyl-4-pyrazole)-5-nitrobenzoic acid; 4-metyl-3,4-dihydro-[1,2,3] trizolo [4,5-d] pyrimidine-5,7-dione; Propanoic acid-3-(perhydro-2,5-dioxo-imidazol [4,5-d] imidazole-1-yl) and 1,2,3-Triazolo[4,5-f] benzotriazole- 4,8(4H,8H)-dione, were isolated from Cinnamomum... verum cortexes by using ethanolic acetic acid, sulphuric acid, and ammonia solvents, and they were characterized by using preliminary qualitative tests, gas chromatography-mass spectrumGC-MASS.The medicinal efficacy was studied for these six alkaloidic compounds theoretically by using the Autodock program and the results showed the presence of high efficacy of the compounds. Then the medicinal efficacy was measured biologically for the six compounds mixture in vitro depending on the synergistic interaction principle by using various concentrations (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 mg/ml) by using of agar diffusion technique. The results showed that the six alkaloidic compounds’ mixture is biologically active against Alternaria alternate fungus, where the inhibition zone diameters were recorded equal to 27, 33, 41, 45, and 49 mm respectively towards the pathogenic fungus. Also, cytotoxicity tests for the different concentrations of six active alkaloid compounds mixture proved there is no toxic effect belonging to them towards red blood cells, and no hemolysis effect appeared in blood cells. Therefore, six alkaloid compounds isolated from Cinnamomum verum cortexes can be used as active drugs for the treatment of various diseases especially those caused by pathogenic fungi represented by Alternaria alternate, without any side effects.Read more

Uremic toxins (UTs) are compounds derived from the metabolism of dietary molecules such as tryptophan (Indossyl Sulphate, IS) and phenil-alanine (P-Cresyl Sulphate, PCS), that are normally eliminated by the kidneys of healthy patients. The accumulation of such toxins is an indicator of kidney disease at different degrees of severity, and the toxins can be found as free or protein bound in human biological samples. The toxicity of such compounds causes the loss of several biological functions, and the subjects suffering from such complications w...ill need, more often than not, hemodialysis to properly excrete these toxins. Despite this not being a resolutive, but rather a symptom managing clinical approach, this is the most common course of treatment. Two analytical methods are proposed to quantify both the protein-bound and free forms of IS and PCS (HPLC-UV for the former; LC-MS/MS with ESI negative ionization for the latter), with lower variability and higher robustness than what is currently proposed, allowing for a precise simultaneous determination of the aforementioned UTs.Read more

The present study is based on the examination of specimens housed in different museums and collections, including those of Lianghong Bin (China), Bernd Jaeger (Germany), Saeed Azadbakhsh (Iran), Alexander Anichtchenko (Latvia), Martin Hackel (Czech Republic), Ron Felix (Germany), and the first author (ZACP). A preliminary survey was randomly conducted in various areas of Pakistan from 2016 to 2023. A precise investigation revealed 17 subspecies and 36 species within 31 genera, distributed across 12 subfamilies in the family Carabidae. This surv...ey also documented twenty-three new records for the country, expanding our understanding of their distribution. All determinations presented here are confirmed and validated by Löbl & Löbl (2017). Subfamily Harpalinae tribe Anthiini with 02 species Anthia (Anthia) sexguttata mannerheimii, A. (A.) sexguttata sexguttata Brachininae with 03 species Brachinus (Aploa) nobilis Pheropsophus (Stenaptinus) catoirei, P. (S.) lissoderus, P. stenoderus. Subfamily Broscinae with 01 species Broscus punctatus. Subfamily Carabinae with 07 species Carabus (Imaibius) caschmirensis fortetuberculatus, C. (I.) wittmerorum, Calosoma (Caminara) imbricatum andrewesi, C. (C.) maderae indicum, C. (C.) imbricatum imbricatum, C. Calosoma (Compalita) Olivieri, C. (Calosoma) scabrosum roeschkei. Subfamily Dryptinae, Dryptini with 01 species Drypta (Drypta) lineola virgata, tribe Galeritini with 04 species records Planetes bimaculatus, Zuphium (Zuphium) olens olens, Galerita indica, Ophionea (Ophionea) indica. Subfamily Harpalinae with 03 species Idiomelas fulvipes indus, Metacolopodes buchanani, Microlestes discoidalis, tribe Chlaeniini with 12 species Chlaenius (Amblygenius) atripes, C. (A.) bengalensis, C. (A.) cookie, C. (A.) Chlaenius (Amblygenius) quadricolor orientalis, C. (Pachydinodes) hamifer, C. (P.) pictus, C. (P.) posticus, C. pretiosus, C. (Chlaenites) spoliatus spoliatus, Harpaglossus opacus, H. (Cryptophonus) tenebrosus, H. (Pseudophanus) meridianus, tribe Cyclosomini with 03 species records, Masoreus (Masoreus) orientalis orientalis, Caphora afghani, Tetragonoderus (Tetragonoderus) lindemannae, tribe Licinini with 06 species record, Diplochiela (Diplocheila) laevigata, Glycia spencei, Eucolliuris fuscipennis, Platytarus faminii faminii, Syntomus lateralis lateralis,     Trichis maculata. Subfamily Melaeninae with 03 spies, Cymbionotum (Cymbionotum) striatum, C. Cymbionotum candidum, C. semelederi, tribe Panagaeini with 03 species Microschemus flavopilosus, M. arabicus, Craspedophorus elegans. Subfamily Harpalinae with 01 species Sphodrus leucopthalmus. Subfamily Scaritinae, Scaritini with 02 species Scarites (Scallophorites) guineensis, S. (Scarites) procerus eurytus, subfamily Siagoninae with 01 species Siagona dilutipes and subfamily Trechinae, Bembidiini with 01 species Bembidion (Notaphocampa) niloticum niloticum.Read more

There is constructed a qualitative model of the electrical conductivity of semiconductors irradiated with sufficiently high-energy particles. At certain conditions (irradiation temperature and dose, and subsequent thermal treatment), high-energy particles fluence, in addition to primary and secondary point radiation defects, forms a number of nano-sized disordered regions, highly conductive (“metallic”) compared to the semiconductor matrix. Their high total volume fraction can lead to the charge major carriers’ effective Hall ...mobility significantly exceeding that of the matrix. Due to elastic stresses created by these disordered inclusions, a high concentration of point radiation defects tends to form defective shells. In certain temperature ranges, such nanosized core-shell structures act as capacitors storing the electric charge sufficient for the Coulomb blockade of the major current carriers. Transformation of high-conductive inclusions into low-conductive (“dielectric”) ones manifests in a noticeable decrease in effective Hall mobility. The proposed model qualitatively explains all the experimental data available on single-crystalline n- and p-type silicon irradiated with high-energy electrons and protons and isochronously annealed.Read more

Fungi, and especially mold fungi, play a very important role in natural environments, as well as in the food industry for the production of many specialized products. However, many of them, under favorable conditions, are capable of producing toxic compounds called mycotoxins. Many of them have an adverse effect on the growth and development of all groups of organisms, including humans. Mycotoxins can appear in all food products and animal feed. Mycotoxins accumulated in food of plant and animal origin and consumed by humans can accumulate in v...arious tissues and organs, which results in disorders in their functioning and may cause cancer. Plants have the ability to defend themselves against mycotoxins by neutralizing them as a result of the glycosidation process. Mycotoxins neutralized in this way are called “masked mycotoxins”, which are not toxic to plants, but after entering the body of animals or humans in the digestive tract, they return back to their original toxic form. Let’s appeal and spread knowledge about mycotoxins because they pose a constant threat to the health of people and farm animals.Read more

The objective of this research paper is to examine and assess the correlation between the economic expansion of European Union member states and the escalating rate of motorization, which subsequently leads to road accidents resulting in significant loss of life and injury. A statistical analysis of economic growth, the rate of motorization, and road incidents in EU member states from 2010 to 2020 constitutes the research methodology. The research paper employs a quantitative approach to analysis and comparison. The research paper demonstrates ...how an increase in the number of motor vehicles in EU member states contributes to road accidents and human mortality. Varying degrees of economic development are associated with disparities between the rate of motorization expansion and the decline in fatalities. Because the rate of increase in motor vehicle usage surpasses the decline in fatalities per motor vehicle at low-income levels. At increased levels of income, the opposite occurs. Practical Implications: This research paper illustrates the importance for road traffic safety authorities to be aware of safety performance indicators and to incorporate them into legislative deliberations in order to bolster the European Union’s “zero victims” objective and provide enhanced protection for motor vehicle accident victims. Originality – This paper examines the correlation between motorization rates and fatalities in various EU member states with varying degrees of economic development over the past few decades.Read more

This study evaluates the impact of precipitation on water quality in Heidelberg, Germany’s recreational lakes during sporadic rainfall events from August to September 2023. Data were collected from five stations, monitoring physicochemical properties and nutrient levels before and after rainfall. Measurements of dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, and redox potential were conducted in situ, while turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, sulphates, zinc, and copper levels were analyzed in the SRH Heidelberg water laboratory. Findings indicate pH l...evels increased due to dilution effects, while conductivity rose due to runoff, enhancing ion concentration in the lakes. Dissolved oxygen levels also increased, attributed to aeration from rainfall-induced surface turbulence. Redox potential decreased, reflecting atmospheric oxygen dissolution. Nutrient concentrations, including nitrates and phosphates, along with sulphates, declined post-rainfall, suggesting a dilution effect without significant impact from surface runoff. This outcome implies the absence of major nutrient and sulphate sources upstream. Heavy metals like zinc and copper also decreased in concentration, indicating no introduction through runoff or sediment transport. The study underscores the variability of water quality parameters across different lakes, influenced by factors such as water sources, surrounding land use, geological conditions, and lake characteristics. Overall, water quality improved post-rainfall, making the lakes suitable for recreational activities, with the study establishing a non-linear correlation among the water quality parameters and deducing the P ratio for each parameter.Read more

The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of laboratory aspirin resistance; and to study the associations of genetic markers and clinical and laboratory parameters (including parameters of the platelet hemostasis) in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke using machine learning methods to assess the prognosis of recurrent ischemic strokes. Clinical and laboratory data (including induced platelet aggregation) were analyzed from 296 patients with ischemic stroke who were treated in the stroke center of City Clinical Hospital No.... 1 named after. N.I. Pirogov. The frequencies of polymorphic variants of the ITGB3, GPIba, TBXA2R, ITGA2, PLA2G7, HMOX1, PTGS1, PTGS2, ADRA2A, ABCB1, PEAR1 genes and intergenic region 9p21.3) in patients with non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke, which were identified using hydrogel biochip technology, were determined. Using the developed machine learning model, additional clinical and genetic factors influencing the development of laboratory aspirin resistance and recurrent ischemic stroke were studied. In the future, the identified factors can be used for differentiated prevention of recurrent ischemic strokes.Read more

Upon dysfunction of the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER), eukaryotic cells provoke a gene expression program, namely, the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR), leading to an increase in the size and function of the ER. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the UPR is modulated by the Hac1i protein, which is a transcription factor produced by ER stress. When the UPR is artificially triggered under non-stress conditions by artificial expression of the Hac1i protein, S. cerevisiae cells carry an enforced and enlarged ER, which allows us to obtain commercial...ly valuable materials such as secretory proteins and functional lipids abundantly.Read more

The finite Markov chain to which there correspond the qualities of the conformational dynamics of the K-Ras4B proteins in the catalytic reaction is written. The corresponding Markov-Sates models are studied. The properties of the K-Ras4B processes Markov chain allow one to define a new two-state MSM for the analytical description of the final-state transition. The time evolution of the eigenvalue corresponding to the final-state transition in the Galerkin description is written. The tools for the analytical calculations of the relative error ...are therefore prepared. New analytical formulations of the time evolution of the eigenvalue corresponding to the final-state transition are newly written from the experimental data and form the properties of the lag time in shaping the discretization error. The features of the discretization error are newly studied. A comparison with the experimental data is proposed.Read more

The paper reports on the life and works of Fred Vlès (1885-1944) and Paul Reiss (1901-1944), and Charles Laville (1877-1959) who worked in a similar field. Vlès was the founder of the first institute of biophysics in France at the University of Strasbourg, and Reiss was his pupil and associate. They worked in the time of 1910 to 1944 on the acid-alkaline balance and the reduction-oxidation (redox) potentials of the body fluids and tissues and their influence on the proteins and colloids of the “terrain”, along the line...s given by the “milieu interne” (internal environment) or homeostasis concept by Claude Bernard. Vlès and Reiss were also electrobiologists and were some of the first scientists to investigate the physiological effects of electrical grounding where also the work of Charles Laville is relevant. In the conclusion we link this historical narrative to contemporary research.Read more

The mango, known as the {king of fruits}, is commercially significant in many parts of the world. In addition to offering a delicious tropical flavor, mangoes are a great source of nourishment and can make eating a satisfying and healthy sensory experience. Even though mango farming is known to exist in more than 120 nations, just 15 of them are responsible for more than 1% of the world’s supply. More than 60% of the mangoes produced worldwide are grown in India, China, Thailand, Indonesia and Mexico. The effects of climate change on agr...iculture must take into account the increasing CO2 concentration, a significant contributor to climate change, as CO2 is essential to critical plant functions, including photosynthesis. The fluctuation of temperature represents another climatic factor that affects mango productivity. The primary challenge facing the mango industry is irregular cultivation. The mango flowering was negatively impacted by the erratic distribution of cold nights and relatively warm winters. Mango output is already being impacted by rising average maximum temperatures. Therefore, regardless of mango growers, geniuses, or consumers, rapid climate change should be a top priority. A benefit of selection and breeding operations to adapt to climatic change is the high genetic variety of mangoes.Read more

Synthetic approaches to the construction of the heterocyclic benzo[4’,5’]imidazo[2’,1’:6,1]pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine system based on heterocyclizations of substituted benzimidazoles and a new alternative strategy based on 2,4,6-trisubstituted pyrimidinyl-5-propanoic acids are considered. The latter method has been shown to be a successful addition to previously described methods, since it allows one to bypass the significant limitations associated with the use of substituted benzimidazoles and allows the introduction of fu...nctional substituents at different positions of the heterocycle that are inaccessible by other methods. The available information on derivatives of this heterocyclic system and their biological properties is summarized.Read more