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Biological agents for synthesis of nanoparticles and their applications against plant pathogens
No full textIn terms of cost-efficiency, biocompatibility, environmental friendliness, and scalability, green nanoparticle (NP) synthesis is a novel field of nanotechnology that outperforms both physical and chemical approaches. Plants, bacteria, fungi, and algae have lately been used to produce metals and metal oxide nanoparticles as an alternate method. The development of alternative strategies to restrict the growth of hazardous bacteria, as well as the building of resistance by germs to various antibiotics, led to the introduction of nanoparticles as novel antimicrobial agents. Metal oxides have been found to form oxide monolayer structures for drug delivery when they react with a transporter's surface. Metal oxide nanoparticles have emerged as biomedical materials in recent years, with applications in immunotherapy, tissue treatment, diagnostics, regenerative medicine, wound healing, dentistry, and biosensing platforms. Biotoxicology and its antimicrobial, antifungal, and antiviral characteristics were hotly contested. Metal oxide nanoparticles have tremendous applicability and commercial value, as evidenced by important discoveries in the realm of nanobiomedicine in terms of locations and amounts. This paper describes the production of nanometal oxides from various green materials, as well as their applications
How wind-based renewable energy contribute to CO2 emissions abatement? Evidence from Quantile-on-Quantile estimation
No full textRenewable energy initiatives are required to achieve carbon neutrality, which is a primary goal of mitigating climate change. Renewable energy is attaining attention as it is environmentally friendly and more effective than typical forms of energy. For a sustainable environment, the latest green energy techniques like wind energy, are predominantly employed in emerging countries. The present study considered the nonlinear wind energy-CO2 emissions nexus in the top ten wind energy-consumer nations (the USA, China, India, Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Brazil, Canada, and Italy). Most previous studies use panel data tools that provide typical outcomes on the wind energy-CO2 emissions nexus, regardless of the reality that few countries have no proof of such a connection individually. The present research, conversely applies a unique econometric methodology “Quantile-on-Quantile” that can analyze time-series dependence in every nation individually to attain global yet country-specific evidence for the nexus between the variables. We specifically investigate how the wind energy quantiles impact the CO2 emissions quantiles asymmetrically by providing a suitable foundation to apprehend the overall dependent framework. The outcomes reveal that the usage of wind energy is helpful in achieving carbon neutrality at distinct quantiles in selected nations. The degree of the asymmetric association between wind energy-CO2 nexus changes by nation, requiring individual attention and awareness on the governments’ part when forming the policies of wind energy to achieve carbon neutrality
Application of Aleppo pine extract for skin burn treatment
No full textObjective: To investigate the Pinus halepensis extracts and determine its healing and antibacterial effects, and to evaluate the treatment of skin burns.
Methods: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts and topical based on Aleppo pine plant extracts were prepared. Thirty male and female Wistar rats were used to study the cutaneous toxicity of extracts from the bark of P. halepensis. The extracts' healing potential for burn wounds were also assessed by evaluating the clinical and macroscopic aspects of the wounds. The antibacterial activity of crude extracts of P. halepensis as well as its wound healing abilities was verified in this investigation.
Results: In animals with acute dermal toxicity, there were no signs of treatment-related toxicity or death. The extracts of these plants could be transformed into phytomedicines for the treatment of infected wounds. The results demonstrated that formulated ointments are successful in treating second-degree burns in rats and may be suitable for the short-term therapeutic treatment of second-degree burns.
Conclusion: This study successfully answered our problem, regarding the efficacy of our extract for treating second-degree burns in rats. Further studies are needed to confirm these results by identifying the molecules responsible for these activities and examining their mechanism of action
Alphitobius diaperinus larvae (lesser mealworm) as human food – An approval of the European Commission – A critical review
No full textDue to the increasing threat of climate change and the need for sustainable food sources, human consumption of edible insects or entomophagy has gained considerable attention globally. The larvae of Alphitobius diaperinus Panzer (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), also known as the lesser mealworm, have been identified as a promising candidate for mass-rearing as a food source based the on evaluation on several aspects such as the production process, the microbiological and chemical composition, and the potential allergenicity to humans. As a consequence, the European Commission has recently approved the utilization of lesser mealworms as human foods. Lesser mealworms are considered a good source of protein, with a protein content ranging from 50-65% of their dry weight and containing various essential amino acids. Lesser mealworms are also rich in other essential nutrients such as iron, calcium, and vitamins B12 and B6. Furthermore, the hydrolysates of lesser mealworms are known to contain antioxidants, suggesting the therapeutic properties of the insects. To enable and ensure a continuous supply of lesser mealworms, various rearing procedures of the insects and information on optimal environmental rearing conditions have been reported. However, like other edible insects, lesser mealworms are still not commonly consumed in Western countries because of various consumer- and product-related factors. Ultimately, the European Commission’s approval of lesser mealworms as a novel food is a key milestone in the development of the insect food industry. Embracing the consumption of edible insects can help address the challenges of feeding a growing population, mitigate the environmental impact of food production, and promote a more sustainable and resilient food system for the future
On the prediction of systemic risk tolerance of cryptocurrencies
No full textThe role of big data in finance is pivotal, especially in forecasting stock prices, mitigating risk, and assessing market anomalies. With the financial system becoming more interconnected, analytical models using large data are gaining prominence in developing risk spillover models. This study estimates the systemic risk tolerance of twenty-five high-valued cryptocurrencies and finds that Fantom has the highest tolerance, while Bitcoin and Ethereum have a lower tolerance due to their large market share. It also shows that the common trend of cryptocurrencies enhances each other's tolerance and develops a predictive model for systemic risk tolerance. The study can help investors and market participants devise strategies for safe haven investment, hedging, and speculation during a market downturn
New risk factors and molecular landscapes of hepatic angiosarcoma in the Taiwanese population
No full textHepatic angiosarcoma is a rare, highly aggressive malignancy of the liver. The tumorigenesis of hepatic angiosarcoma has been relatively understudied in terms of aetiology and molecular properties. A recent study published in The Journal of Pathology revealed a strong association between hepatic angiosarcoma incidence and chronic kidney disease, particularly in end-stage renal disease using population-based data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan and an institutional cohort. The study also revealed enrichment in the mutational signature of aristolochic acid exposure and is the first reported observation of this mutational signature in human sarcomas. © 2023 The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland
Gut impact on mental well-being
No full textIf you've never heard of "Go With Your Gut Day" before, well, today is the day. Created in the United States in 2012, Go With Your Gut Day, which has been adopted by other countries, helps to remind people to take proactive steps in improving their gut health
Debunking The Myth: Malaysia’s Universities Thrive In Regional Rankings
No full textThe article “Malaysia Fails In Southeast Asia Best Universities Ranking; So, What Went Wrong?” paints a grim picture of Malaysian universities’ rankings, suggesting that they have completely “failed” compared to other Southeast Asian nations. However, this is utterly misleading. As per the QS World University Rankings 2025, 8 out of the top 15 universities in Southeast Asia are Malaysian universities
The governance of blockchain technology in real-time financial reporting
Get PDFThis research delves into the application of Blockchain Technology (BT) in enhancing governance and accountability within Real-time Financial Reporting. Recognised as a pivotal innovation, BT revolutionises diverse sectors by offering robust, transparent, and decentralised solutions, particularly in enhancing internal control systems. This study specifically investigates BT's role in bolstering emerging financial trends such as decentralised finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and its synergy with advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) in the realm of financial reporting. Central to this investigation is the exploration of how BT can be harnessed as a singular, adaptable information source in a multi-stakeholder environment, facilitating immediate data interpretation for decision-making processes. Additionally, the study examines the governance mechanisms within BT networks in the accounting and finance domains and the evolving roles of Stakeholders of Financial Reporting (SFR). The research objectives are twofold: firstly, to understand the accountability and governance complexities involved in employing BT for Real-time Financial Reporting and secondly, to understand how BT's consensus-based verification trait contributes to the flexibility and reliability of information in real-time financial reporting. These objectives are explored through the perspectives of various SFR regarding the use of BT in Real-time Financial Reporting. Employing a phenomenological approach, the study gathers insights through one-to-one interviews with stakeholders in the financial reporting process, selected using a snowballing technique, ensuring the data's relevance, reliability, and validity. The responses are transcribed verbatim and subjected to thematic analysis using NVivo Version 12 identifying and interpreting patterns within the data to address the research questions and summarise key insights. Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT) was used to interpret the responses of the interviewees, based on the key concepts of the theory. The key findings of this study interpret the stakeholders’ views and level of readiness (the evaluation stage) of utilising on the Blockchain Technology, which is crucial in ensuring decentralised decision-making processes and maintaining the security, stability, and integrity of the network, ultimately fostering trust in Real-time Financial Reporting among users and stakeholders. It also enables active participation in shaping the direction of Blockchain development, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements, and fostering innovation and governance and scalability in utilising the consensus-based verification trait is vital as it mitigates the risk of fraud, manipulation, and unauthorised changes to the ledger, ensuring the integrity and immutability of the data stored on the Blockchain. The practical implications of this research are significant, offering valuable insights for accounting and finance professionals on the potential transformative impact of BT on financial reporting processes and the challenges related to governance and accountability and achieving flexible and single source information (immediacy) involved in its widespread adoption. The conceptual framework analyses Blockchain Technology for Real-time Financial Reporting. It weighs the benefits (transparency, accountability, competitive edge) against challenges (verification, governance, cost) to inform industry decisions on Blockchain Technology adoption and implementation strategies. The study concludes that the governance and accountability issues in Real-time Financial Reporting with Blockchain Technology are lack of guidance, global standards, insufficient use cases in the accounting industry and lack of regulation on the use of the technology. The Blockchain trait consensus-based verification achieves real-time flexibility and single source information by providing authorised, verified, transparent and unalterable information in the process towards preparing and issuing a financial report
Holistic approach needed to address nursing shortage
No full textNurses, often considered the backbone of our healthcare system, have showcased their pivotal role in patient care, health promotion, and disease prevention even more prominently during the Covid-19 pandemic