Journal of Applied and Natural Science
Not a member yet
2928 research outputs found
Sort by
Effect of probe ultrasonication and β-Cyclodextrin on bitterness reduction and enhancement of biochemical properties of Citrus limon Burm juice
Get PDFLemon is a globally cultivated citrus fruit crop that has gained a significant market share in recent years. Lemon tends to taste bitter on prolonged storage periods, leading to undesirable changes in juice quality. Therefore, the study aimed to enhance lemon juice quality by reducing bitterness through combined probe ultrasonication and β-cyclodextrin treatment. Ultrasonic treatment of 20 kHz, an incubation period ranging from 20 to 80 minutes, was applied to the juice and its effect on pH, total titratable acidity (TA), total soluble solids (TSS), ascorbic acid, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity was evaluated. Batch debittering of limonin was carried out by adding β-cyclodextrin at concentrations ranging from 0.25% to 2.50% for 20, 60 and 80 minutes of sonication treatment. The study also examined the influence of sonication treatments on microbial load, revealing significant reductions corresponding to 60 minutes of sonication. The sound waves generated at 20KHz from ultrasonication, including β-cyclodextrin, could help to break down the cyclodextrin molecules and improve the encapsulation efficiency of the target compound. Moreover, increased water-soluble polyphenolic compounds due to cyclodextrin addition can enhance the lemon juice processability at an industrial scale. The present study emphasized the development of cost-effective β-cyclodextrin debittered lemon juice in combination with ultrasonic treatment that improved juice quality at room temperature (25 °C±1 °C).
Applied fixed effect of Geographically Weighted Panel Regression (GWPR) with M- Estimator approach to estimate sugarcane yield data in East Java
Get PDFGeographically Weighted Panel Regression (GWPR), a combination of panel regression and geographically weighted regression (GWR), is used to analyze panel data and capture diverse relationship between locations. GWPR was developed on data with panel-fixed effects and applied to modeling data with spatial heterogeneity and time series. One method for estimating parameters in the GWPR is weighted least squares (WLS), which are sensitive to outliers. The present study aimed to use the M- method to estimate GWPR model parameters in data containing outliers using fixed-effect GWPR modeling for the sugar cane yield in East Java of Indonesia from 2019 to 2021. Sugarcane yield data in East Java contained outliers in several areas, including Malang, Blitar, and Ngawi Districts. Because the data contains outliers, a robust method with the M estimator was applied. The results showed that plantation areas significantly affected production in all districts.The R2 of the model was 0.87, showing that GWPR model with M estimation was appropriate in predicting sugarcane yield. Based on the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) value, the GWPR model with M estimation had better performance than GWPR model alone.
Taxonomic redescription of subfamily Scymninae (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) from Haryana, India
Get PDFThe ladybird beetles of Scymninae, a subfamily of Coccinellidae are efficient biocontrol agents. Many earlier studies document their protective role associated with many crops. This subfamily is represented by 5 tribes,15 genera and 138 species in the Indian subcontinent. However there is no scientific record of taxonomic description of the subfamily Scymninae within the Coccinellidae family of beetles (Coccinellidae: Coleoptera) in Haryana, India. In the present study, seven species from three genera and two tribes of sub-family Scymninae i.e. Nephus (Bipunctatus) bipunctatus (Kugelann,1794), Nephus regularis (Sicard), Scymnus (Pullus) coccivora Ramakrishna Ayyar, 1925, Scymnus (Pullus) latemaculatus Motschulsky, Scymnus (Scymnus) nubilus Mulsant, Scymnus (Pullus) posticalis Sicard and Stethorus aptus Kapur were identified. It included the generation of keys to the tribes, genera, subgenera and species found during the study. It provided detailed taxonomy of the identified species based on various morphological characteristics such as coxal lines, antennae, mandibles, and male and female genitalia. This study marks the first taxonomic exploration of species within the Scymninae subfamily in Haryana, India. It will significantly contribute to understanding the biodiversity of beetles in the region and will lay the groundwork for further research and conservation initiatives.
Land use/land cover dynamics using support vector machine in the area of Lambaréné, Gabon, from 1988 to 2022
Get PDFLand use dynamics depict territorial changes, which include conversions and adjustments to landscape units caused by natural and human-induced processes. Human pressures impact landscape changes and various degradation in Lambaréné, which was established as a fully-fledged commune in 1963. The present study aimed to assess several Land Satellite (LANDSAT) pictures from 1988, 2000, 2013, and 2022 was utilized to map land use. The study generated data on land use changes in Lambaréné by cross-referencing these multiple maps. The supervised technique was utilized, and the Support Vector Machine algorithm (SVM) was used to study land-use changes over the last three decades. The resulting transition matrices were used to study the spatial and temporal dynamics of built-up areas, vegetation, and water bodies. The findings showed that urban areas had grown significantly, from 204.73 hectares in 1988 to 736.54 hectares in 2022, a 14.22 % rise, while vegetation dropped from 4057.40 hectares to 3488.86 hectares, a 67.36 % loss during the same time. This trend emphasized the disturbing influence of development on the region\u27s already fragile ecosystems. Nonetheless, there was a slight recovery in the area\u27s vegetation cover between 2013 and 2022, which was most likely due to the area\u27s vulnerability to flooding disasters and thus low investment in infrastructural development during this time, particularly on the left bank of River Lambaréné compared to the right bank. Although these findings looked noteworthy, the use of higher-resolution images might be better for clearly understanding the complexity of land use change in Lambaréné.
Seed germination and seedling growth as pretentious by various growing media in Red Lady-786 papaya
Get PDFCarica papaya is a significant fruit crop solely grown from seeds for commercial purposes. Atmosphere, temperature, water, light, and substrate utilized are some of the variables that might affect a seed\u27s ability to germinate. Papaya seed germination is frequently described as unpredictable, sluggish and partial. For papaya growers, increasing the degree of germination to enhance the production of healthier seedlings is a challenge owing to the higher seed cost. The present experiment aimed to determine the effect of various growing media combinations in Red Lady-786 using a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment comprised nine treatment combinations. Four different growing media: soil, vermicompost, coco peat and perlite were used in different treatment combinations viz. T1: control; T2: soil + vermicompost (80% + 20%); T3: soil + vermicompost (60% + 40%); T4: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat (80%+10%+10%); T5: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat (60%+20%+20%); T6: soil + vermicompost + perlite (80%+10%+10%); T7: soil + vermicompost + perlite (60%+20%+20%); T8: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat + perlite (70%+10%+10%+10%+10%) and T9: soil + vermicompost + cocopeat + perlite (40%+20%+20%+20%). T9 was the most significant combination for early germination among all the treatment combinations. The application of T9 recorded maximum root length (7.70 cm), maximum shoot length (13.35 cm), maximum per cent initiation of germination (92.5%), high seed vigour (1947.75) and maximum height of the seedlings (21.05). The study revealed that for better germination and seedling growth, the application of treatment combination T9, which influenced the germination properties of papaya seedlings, can be exploited commercially.
Anticancer activity of pyoverdine (PVD) producing by antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from burn and wound infections
Get PDFPseudomonas aeruginosa can cause diseases and multidrug resistance. It can produce many pigments, such as pyoverdine, which has anticancer properties. Cancer is still a major issue in medical science. Therefore, this study aimed to use highly efficient alternative treatments, such as pyoverdine. One hundred fifty samples of burns and wounds were collected from patients hospitalized in BabylIt hospitals. All the isolates were cultivated on various media to identify all specimens, including blood agar, MacConkey agar, and cetrimid agar. The isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. P. aeruginosa was cultured in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium to stimulate its production of PDV. Congo red method and microtiter plate were used to determine biofilm production. The findings showed 50 isolates of P. aeruginosa were dispersed among patients, 35/50 (70%) burns and 15/50 (30%) wound infections and only four of the 50 isolates produced PVD. P. aeruginosa was examined against 17 common antibiotics(Aztreonam, Ceftazidime, Cefepime, Cefriaxone, Piperacillin_ tazobactam, Piperacillin, Gentamicin, Tobramycin, Netilmicin, Amikacin, Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Gatifloxacin, Levofloxacin, Imipenem, Doripenem, Meropenem)and the majority of isolates exhibited MDR. By using the Congo red method out of 50, 4(8%) isolates gave a positive ability to form biofilm as a qualitative method. Among 4 isolates, ps1 and ps4 were more productive, so it was tested to complete the study. PVD had anticancer activity against two types of cell lines: Lung cancer cells (A549) with inhibition range from 31.800in 400 µg/ml to 7.200 %in 25 µg/ml and skin cancer cells (A375) with cell vitality range from 55.600in 400 µg/ml to 8.533% in 25 µg/ml.
Targeting NSP-13 protein of SARS CoV-2 with selected natural compounds: An in-silico approach
Get PDFSARS-CoV-2 swiftly spread in Wuhan, China, leading to a pandemic crisis worldwide. Genome sequence analysis of this virus revealed a close analogy with its closely related strains, SARS-COV and MERS-COV. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, Nonstructural protein 13 (NSP13), also known as helicase, has been identified as a target for reducing the severity of infection due to its high sequence conservation and essential role in viral replication. NSP13 helicase structure in SARS-CoV-2 differs only by one amino acid from the SARS-CoV helicase structure. Targeting NSP13 with natural compounds holds significant potential for developing safe and effective antiviral therapies utilizing advanced computational approaches. The properties of 8 different natural compounds, i.e. Imidazole, Pyrrole, Tropolone, Benzotriazole, Imidazodiazepine, Phenothiazine, Acridone and Bananin were screened by applying Lipinski’s rule of five, ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) properties, and Radar plots to discover their drug efficacy at a target site, safety, and absorption. Docking studies confirmed Bananin with a binding affinity of -7 kcal/mol as a potential inhibitor of NSP13 of SARS-CoV-2 with better pharmacokinetics, drug likeliness, and oral bioavailability. Based on the in silico study, it is suggested that Bananin shows promising effects against NSP13 protein, forming a maximum number of hydrogen bonds exhibiting higher binding affinity. This stronger affinity indicates a stronger interaction between the compound and its target, potentially leading to enhanced biological activity and therapeutic efficacy. This novel study has unlocked the door for a prospective SARS-CoV-2 inhibition strategy and developing antiviral interventions targeting NSP13 based on molecular docking.
Gonadotoxicity due to cypermethrin in Wistar albino rats and its effect on the growth and development of their progeny
Get PDFCypermethrin (CYP) is a synthetic pyrethroid. It acts as an endocrine disruptor which negatively affects animal’s reproductive and developmental processes of progeny. So, The present study aimed to examine the toxicity of oral administration of CYP at three different doses (25mg, 50mg, and 75mg/kg) on the reproductive organs of albino rats and also on the growth and development of pups. For this study, animals were divided into four groups: Group I was the control group, and the remaining three were experimental groups that received CYP at a dose of 25mg (group II), 50mg (group III), and 75mg (group IV) per kg body weight (BW) of rat per day for 30 days. There are sixteen animals in each group- eight males and eight females. Histological studies of reproductive organs suggested that CYP exposure caused alteration in the structure of the ovary and testis tissue. In females, significant changes in the ovary, such as distorted follicles, loss of follicular stages, presence of antral follicles, damaged granulosa and theca cells, and blood vessel congestion, were observed, while in males, there were alterations in testes tissue damage in seminiferous tubules, reduced number of germinal cells, and reduction in the size of seminiferous tubules. A significant reduction was observed in the number, length, eyes opening, fur arrival time, and size of pups. Fertility was also recorded up to 80% in the 50 and 75mg CYP-treated female rats. The study suggested that CYP exposure caused gonadal toxicity in albino rats and affected the development of neonates.
Molecular diagnosis of human papilloma virus (HPV) genotypes in women with genital warts in Mosul / Iraq
Get PDFHuman Papillomavirus (HPV) belongs to the Papillomaviridae family and can contribute to Cervical Cancer (CC). The present study aimed to investigate the genotypic distribution and prevalence of HPV using Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) embedded tissue, a cervical swab and a cervical brush in Viral transport medium (VTM) from women with different genital warts with no other disease in Mosul City/ Iraq. A total of 150 samples collected from women with genital warts infections were analyzed. A sequencing analysis of the amplified HPV L1 gene was made and compared with that of the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). The existence of HPV nucleic acid DNA was examined in all samples by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) using MY09/MY11 and GP+5/GP+6 primers, and then HPV genotypes were identified in Macrogen (Macrogen Co., Seoul, Korea) BioEdit (version 7.2.5.0). From 150 (cervical swab, brush, and tissue) patients with genital warts, the distribution of HPV genotype frequency in females with vaginal warts was 127 patients (84.6%), 10 patients (8%) with High-Risk (HR-HPV) serotypes (4%) of each HPV (16 and 45), while the rest 117 patients (92%) with Low-Risk (LR-HPV) included 60.5% HPV11, 20.5% HPV6 and 11.% HPV10. For the first time in Mosul, Iraq, the study used PBS-embedded tissue from patients with various anogenital lesions to examine the prevalence and genotypic distribution of HPV.
Optimizing soybean (Glycine max (L.) (PS 1347) seed protein accumulation under lead stress through mycorrhizal fungi mediation
Get PDFLead is among the most toxic and harmful heavy metals to living things, including plants. It is absorbed through roots from soil and causes several detrimental impacts on plant functioning. The present study aimed to elucidate the ameliorative effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi on soybean (Glycine max (L.) variety PS 1347) under lead (Pb) stress by investigating growth parameters, yield attributes, and seed protein characteristics. Following established legume Pb tolerance thresholds and soil Pb limits, Pb (as Pb(NO3)2) was introduced into soil-filled polybags at three concentrations: 200, 500, and 700 mg/kg of soil. In addition to inoculating polybags with AM fungi Glomus mosseae and G. fasciculatum, both individually and in combination, the fungi were utilized for seed priming Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza (VAM) powder, 25g/kg of seeds. Without AM fungi, Pb stress negatively impacted all growth parameters, yield metrics, and seed protein characteristics. At 200 and 500 mg Pb concentrations, individual Glomus species exhibited greater effectiveness in enhancing plant growth and yield attributes and mitigating Pb effects, while dual Glomus species treatment was more effective in improving the soybean growth characteristics with higher Pb concentration (700 mg). The analysis also showed that Pb toxicity in soybean plants decreased seed protein content to 7 %, which was restored by applications of Glomus treatments. Thus, given their pivotal role in optimizing soybean seed protein quantity and quality, these two AM fungal species are recommended for application to enhance plant performance in Pb-affected soil.