18 research outputs found
Antibacterial Activities of Rosmarinus officinalis Extract against Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium
No full textHospital-acquired infections are caused by multidrug-resistant Enterococcus (E.) species, especially E. faecalis and E. faecium, which are zoonotic bacteria and pose a significant public health challenge. This study aimed to identify multidrug-resistant Enterococcus isolates and evaluate the antibacterial activity of Rosmarinus officinalis (R. officinalis) extract against E. faecalis and E. faecium. Fifty urine and stool samples were collected from hospitalized patients. Four multidrug-resistant strains—E. faecalis 6E, 7B, 10D, and E. faecium 15E—were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with universal primers (8F and 1492R) targeting the 16S rDNA gene to confirm their identity as Enterococcus species. The antibacterial efficacy of R. officinalis extract was assessed using disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis was conducted to identify phenolic bioactive compounds in R. officinalis. The extract demonstrated significant antibacterial activity, with MICs of 25 mg/mL and 30 mg/mL for E. faecalis and E. faecium, respectively. HPLC revealed phenolic compounds such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid, likely contributing to the antimicrobial properties. The R. officinalis extract could be a promising natural antimicrobial agent against multidrug-resistant Enterococcus species. Compounds such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, apigenin-7-glucoside, syringic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid show potential as safer, environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional antibiotics, aiding in the fight against rising antibiotic resistance
Enhancing Salt Tolerance of Vicia faba L. by Electrostatic Fields: Insights from Physiological and Ultrastructural Analysis
No full textOne of the main abiotic factors affecting agricultural output worldwide is salinity stress, especially in light of climate change and growing freshwater constraints. The potential of electrostatic field (EF)- treated irrigation water as a novel strategy to mitigate the adverse consequences of salinity stress on Vicia faba L. is assessed in this study. The data revealed that application of EF-treated water significantly increased the photosynthetic pigment contents (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids), size of chloroplast, photosynthetic efficiency, total carbohydrate content, total soluble protein, and activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase) in salt-stressed V. faba (120 mM NaCl) as compared to the control (H2O). Furthermore, EF-treated water significantly decreased malondialdehyde, dichlorofluorescein, and caspase-3 activity in salt-stressed V. faba after three weeks of growth. The control plant possessed chloroplasts with well-developed granal and normal stromal thylakoids. NaCl application caused thylakoid swelling and severe damage. Conversely, the chloroplast of NaCl-stressed V. faba pretreated with EF-treated water effectively suppressed the distortion of the thylakoid membrane and the severe damage.
EF treatment can be used as an ecofriendly, cheap, and readily available natural source with no harmful effects in eliminating the damage effects caused by salinity and increasing the overall productivity of the V. faba plant by reducing peroxidation of lipids and inhibiting the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, while considerably increasing photosynthetic pigments, photosynthetic efficiency, and antioxidative enzyme activities
Impact of Exogenously Sprayed Antioxidants on Physio-Biochemical, Agronomic, and Quality Parameters of Potato in Salt-Affected Soil
No full textSalinity is one of the harsh environmental stresses that destructively impact potato growth and production, particularly in arid regions. Exogenously applied safe–efficient materials is a vital approach for ameliorating plant growth, productivity, and quality under salinity stress. This study aimed at investigating the impact of foliar spray using folic acid (FA), ascorbic acid (AA), and salicylic acid (SA) at different concentrations (100, 150, or 200 mg/L) on plant growth, physiochemical ingredients, antioxidant defense system, tuber yield, and quality of potato (Solanum tuberosum L cv. Spunta) grown in salt-affected soil (EC = 7.14 dS/m) during two growing seasons. The exogenously applied antioxidant materials (FA, AA, and SA) significantly enhanced growth attributes (plant height, shoot fresh and dry weight, and leaves area), photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and b and carotenoids), gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate, Pn; transpiration rate, Tr; and stomatal conductance, gs), nutrient content (N, P, and K), K+/ Na+ ratio, nonenzymatic antioxidant compounds (proline and soluble sugar content), enzymatic antioxidants (catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) tuber yield traits, and tuber quality (dry matter, protein, starch percentage, total carbohydrates, and sugars percentage) compared with untreated plants in both seasons. Otherwise, exogenous application significantly decreased Na+ and Cl− compared to the untreated control under salt stress conditions. Among the assessed treatments, the applied foliar of AA at a rate of 200 mg/L was more effective in promoting salt tolerance, which can be employed in reducing the losses caused by salinity stress in potato grown in salt-affected soils
Recepcija književnog opusa Jure Kaštelana (bibliografija)
No full textJure Kaštelan (Zakucao, 1919 - Zagreb, 1990), Croatian poet, writer, translator, academy member, tenured professor. He was author or co-author (including collected works) of 31 bibliographical items, mostly collections of verses, and of numerous articles published
in various magazines. His work has been translated into several languages and he received a number of acknowledgements and rewards, among others a Lifetime Achievement
Award.
Kaštelan made his debut on the literary scene in 1935, as a young man of 16, when he himself published his first book, which was then confiscated for political reasons. After
1945 his work was considered politically acceptable and he used this opinion in order
to realize the project of translating and editing the Bible together with the biblicist Bonaventura Duda for the publishing house Stvarnost. His »biblical involvement« was frowned upon in some bodies of the Communist party, yet he never experienced any difficulties as a result of that.
The literature presented shows the reception of Kaštelan’s work from 1936 to his death in 1990, as well as from 1990 till today. The numerous titles can be divided according
to content into informative and analytical works. Kaštelan’s opus was the focus of attention for many a literary scholar, such as Branka Brlenić-Vujić, Dalibor Cvitan, Branimir Donat, Ivo Frangeš, Dubravko Jelčić, Tonko Maroević, Nedjeljko Mihanović, Cvjetko Milanja, Nikola Milićević, Anđelko Novaković, Petar Selem, Ante Stamać, Nikola
Vončina, Sime Vučetić, Branko Vuletić and a number of researchers and literary experts.
Kaštelan was awarded many prizes and acknowledgements, he was member of the Yugoslav (now Croatian) Academy of Arts and Sciences and was member of many public
organizations. The social recognition of Kaštelan and his work is also confirmed by the edition and publication of his collected resp. selected works (Stamać, Donat), the establishment
of the award named after him, the organization of a scientific conference and round tables on his work, as well as memorials and poems dedicated to him
Correction: Pollen signal of modern vegetation registered in surface soil samples along an elevation gradient from Iztaccíhuatl volcano, central Mexico
No full textIn the original published article, the affiliation'Doctorat en Ecologia, Ciències Ambientals i Fisiologia Vegetal, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, c/ Diagonal 643,08028 Barcelona, Spain' for author "Erandi Rodríguez-Pérez" was missing.The original article has been corrected
Physiological, Biochemical, Anatomical, and Agronomic Responses of Sesame to Exogenously Applied Polyamines under Different Irrigation Regimes
No full textPolyamines (PAs) are plant growth regulators that attenuate the destructive impacts of water deficit on sesame plants, particularly in arid regions under abrupt climate change. Limited information is available on the physiological, biochemical, anatomical, and agronomic responses of sesame to exogenous application of PAs under water deficit under field conditions. Thus, a two-season field trial was carried out to assess the impact of exogenously sprayed spermine (Spm), spermidine (Spd), and putrescine (Put) on physio-biochemical and anatomical parameters and their influences on agronomic performance and crop water productivity of sesame plants. The sesame plants were assessed under three irrigation regimes; full irrigation (100% ETc), mild drought (75% ETc), and severe drought (50% ETc) conditions. Drought stress displayed negative impacts on all evaluated parameters. However, exogenously applied Pas, especially Put, restricted the destructive effects of water deficit. The application of PAs exhibited highly significant enhancement in photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids), gas exchange (net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and rate of transpiration), water relations (relative water content, membrane stability index, excised leaf water retention), and plant nutrient content (N, P, and K) compared to untreated plants, particularly under severe drought stress. Moreover, PA application displayed highly significant amelioration in osmoprotectants (free proline, soluble sugars, α-Tocopherol, ascorbate, and glutathione), and antioxidant enzyme activities (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, and glutathione reductase). In addition, foliar nourishing with PAs exhibited a highly significant reduction in oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage, superoxide, and hydrogen peroxide). These positive impacts of PA application under drought stress were reflected in highly significant improvement in anatomical characteristics (midrib length and width, vascular bundle length and width, thickness of phloem, xylem and collenchyma, vessel diameter, and number of xylem rows in midvein bundle), and yield-related traits (plant height, leaf area, number of capsules per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield, and oil content). Consequently, exogenous application of PAs (in particular, Put) could be exploited to enhance the crop water productivity and yield traits of sesame plants under low water availability in arid regions
Correction: Rady et al. Foliar Nourishment with Nano-Selenium Dioxide Promotes Physiology, Biochemistry, Antioxidant Defenses, and Salt Tolerance in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>. <i>Plants</i> 2021, <i>10</i>, 1189
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Associação entre o comportamento sedentário e o consumo de produtos ultraprocessados em adultos: estudo de base populacional
No full textDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Nutrição, Florianópolis, 2014Introdução: A melhoria das condições socioeconômicas e do aumento da escolaridade ocorrida nos últimos cinquenta anos no Brasil ocasionou mudanças nos padrões dietéticos e nutricionais da população principalmente em relação as fontes alimentícias, levando os indivíduos a um consumo elevado de alimentos e bebidas altamente processados. O consumo de produtos ultraprocessados (PUP) tem sido crescente, esses caracterizam-se por alimentos que passam por um intenso processamento industrial, com a finalidade de criar produtos "prontos para aquecer ou consumir". No Brasil, o consumo de PUP é responsável por quase um quarto do total do consumo de alimentos. Uma dieta com elevado consumo de PUP, que em sua maior parte constituem-se de quantidades bastante significativas de açúcar, sal e/ou gordura saturada e trans, pode aumentar a prevalência de obesidade e de DCNT. O consumo de PUP pode ser favorecido por comportamentos sedentários como assistir televisão ou utilizar o computador, seja porque nesses meios de comunicação existe um grande número de propagandas voltadas para esse tipo de produto, ou pela facilidade do consumo de PUP nessas situações. Objetivos: Estimar a prevalência de consumo elevado de PUP, caracterizar a distribuição do consumo segundo variáveis sociodemográficas e investigar a sua associação com variáveis indicadoras de comportamento sedentário. Metodologia: Estudo transversal de base populacional realizado com 450 adultos residentes na zona urbana da cidade de Florianópolis no estado de Santa Catarina, Sul do Brasil no ano de 2012. O consumo de PUP foi coletado através de dois R24h (o primeiro em entrevista face a face e o segundo via telefone), as informações sobre as variáveis de exposição tempo de tela (assistir televisão e utilizar o computador) durante os dias da semana e durante o final de semana e foram coletadas através de entrevista telefônica por meio de um questionário, as variáveis sociodemográficas também foram coletadas por questionário pré-testado em entrevista face a face. Os dados de alimentação foram tabulados no software NDSR e posteriormente transferidos para o software STATA 11 no qual também foram realizadas as análises estatísticas respeitando um nível de significância de 5%. As análises foram realizadas considerando o processo de amostragem por conglomerados e os respectivos pesos amostrais. Os resultados foram ajustados para variáveis sociodemográficas usando regressão logística. Resultados: Dos 450 avaliados, 41,3% deles eram sexo masculino. O consumo elevado de PUP esteve presente em 34% dos avaliados sendo este valor semelhante entre o sexo, cor da pele e renda. O consumo elevado foi significativamente maior entre os mais jovens (38,9%), solteiros (41,5%) e com maior escolaridade (38,5%) (valor-p 0,043, 0,021, 0,029 respectivamente). Na análise bruta as variáveis de comportamento sedentário que estiveram associadas ao consumo elevado de PUP foram às horas de utilização do computador tanto em dias de semana como em finais de semana (p- valor 0,021 e 0,003 respectivamente). As horas de televisão não estiveram associadas ao consumo em excesso de PUP. Foi analisada ainda uma variável que combinou o tempo total diário de televisão e computador. Para esta encontrou-se associação positiva com o consumo de PUP (valor-p=0,032). Após ajuste para variáveis sociodemográficas a única que permaneceu associada foi o tempo de utilização do computador no final de semana (odds 76% maior para =4 horas/dia do que entre aqueles com =1 hora/dia). Conclusão: Os resultados do estudo mostraram uma alta prevalência de consumo de PUP e uma associação positiva entre o comportamento sedentário e o consumo desses produtos indicando que quanto maior o tempo de tela maior o consumo de PUP. Considerando que este tipo de produto contém alto teor de sal, açúcar e gordura saturada pode contribuir para o aumento da obesidade e DCNT. Desta forma, o desafio para a saúde pública não é apenas investigar as prevalências de consumo desses produtos, mas também os motivos para o aumento do consumo de PUP, e assim definir políticas e programas de saúde abrangentes que favoreçam mudanças de comportamento na população.Abstract: Introduction: The improvement of socioeconomic conditions and increased schooling occurred in the last fifty years in Brazil caused changes in dietary and nutritional standards of the population especially regarding food sources, leading individuals to a high consumption of highly processed foods and beverages. These changes led to an increase in the prevalence of obesity as well as rise of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The consumption ultraprocessados products (PUP) has been increasing in Brazil PUP consumption accounts for almost a quarter of total food consumption. A diet with high consumption of PUP, which mostly are made up of large amounts of sugar, salt and / or saturated and trans fat may increase the prevalence of obesity and consequently several NCDs. The consumption of PUP may be favored by sedentary behaviors such as watching television or using the computer, it's because those media are a large number of advertisements aimed at this type of product, or the ease of use of PUP in these situations. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of high intake of PUP, characterizing the distribution of consumption by sociodemographic variables and investigate their association with variables indicative of sedentary behavior. Methodology: Cross-sectional population-based study conducted with 450 adults living in the urban area of the city of Florianópolis in the state of Santa Catarina, southern Brazil in the year 2012 consumption PUP was collected through two R24h (in the first face to face interview and the second via telephone), information on exposure variables screen time (watching television and using the computer) during the weekdays and during the weekend and were collected by telephone interview using a questionnaire, the variables sociodemographic characteristics were also collected by pre-tested questionnaire administered face to face. The data were tabulated in power NDSR software and then transferred to STATA 11 software which also respecting the statistical analyzes a significance level of 5% were performed. The analyzes were performed considering the process of cluster sampling and their sampling weights. Results were adjusted for sociodemographic variables using logistic regression. Results: Of the 450 evaluated, 41.3% were male. The high consumption of PUP was present in 34% of the assessed value this being similar between gender, race and income. High consumption was significantly higher among younger (38,9%), single (41.5%) and higher education (38.5%) (p-value 0,043, 0,021, 0,029 respectively). In the crude analysis, the variables of sedentary behavior were associated with high consumption of SSP were to hours of computer use both on weekdays and on weekends (p-value 0.021 and 0.003 respectively). The hours of television were not associated with excessive consumption of PUP. A variable that combined the daily time of television and computer with four categories was also analyzed. For this positive association was found with consumption of SSP (p-value = 0.032). After adjusting for sociodemographic variables that remained associated only was the time of computer use on weekends (76% higher odds for = 4 hours / day than among those with = 1 hour / day). Conclusion: The results of the study showed a high prevalence of PUP and a positive association between sedentary behavior and the consumption of these products as more longer exposure time consumption. Since this type of product with a high content of salt, sugar and saturated fat may contribute to the rise in obesity and NCD. Thus the challenge for public health is not only to investigate the prevalence of consumption of these products plus also the reasons for the increased consumption of PUP, and so set of comprehensive health policies and programs that promote behavior change in the population
Foliar Supplementation of Clove Fruit Extract and Salicylic Acid Maintains the Performance and Antioxidant Defense System of Solanum tuberosum L. under Deficient Irrigation Regimes
No full textA field trial was conducted twice (in 2020 and 2021) to evaluate the effect of clove fruit extract (CFE) and/or salicylic acid (SA), which were used as a foliar nourishment, on growth and yield traits, as well as physiological and biochemical indices utilizing potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants irrigated with deficient regimes in an arid environment. Three drip irrigation regimes [e.g., well watering (7400 m3 ha−1), moderate drought (6200 m3 ha−1), and severe drought (5000 m3 ha−1)] were designed for this study. The tested growth, yield, and photosynthetic traits, along with the relative water content, were negatively affected, whereas markers of oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide and superoxide), electrolyte leakage, and peroxidation of membrane lipids (assessed as malondialdehyde level) were augmented along with increased antioxidative defense activities under drought stress. These effects were gradually increased with the gradual reduction in the irrigation regime. However, under drought stress, CFE and/or SA significantly enhanced growth characteristics (fresh and dry weight of plant shoot and plant leaf area) and yield components (average tuber weight, number of plant tubers, and total tuber yield). In addition, photosynthetic attributes (chlorophylls and carotenoids contents, net photosynthetic and transpiration rates, and stomatal conductance) were also improved, and defensive antioxidant components (glutathione, free proline, ascorbate, soluble sugars, and α-tocopherol levels, and activities of glutathione reductase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and ascorbate peroxidase) were further enhanced. The study findings advocate the idea of using a CFE+SA combined treatment, which was largely efficient in ameliorating potato plant growth and productivity by attenuating the limiting influences of drought stress in dry environments
Foliar Nourishment with Nano-Selenium Dioxide Promotes Physiology, Biochemistry, Antioxidant Defenses, and Salt Tolerance in <i>Phaseolus vulgaris</i>
No full textNovel strategic green approaches are urgently needed to raise the performance of plants subjected to stress. Two field-level experimental attempts were implemented during two (2019 and 2020) growing seasons to study the possible effects of exogenous nourishment with selenium dioxide nanoparticles (Se-NPs) on growth, physio-biochemical ingredients, antioxidant defenses, and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris (L.) plant growing on a salt-affected soil (EC = 7.55–7.61 dS m−1). At 20, 30, and 40 days from seeding, three foliar sprays were applied to plants with Se-NPs at a rate of 0.5, 1.0, or 1.5 mM. The experimental design was accomplished in randomized complete plots. The data indicate noteworthy elevations in indicators related to growth and yield; pigments related to effective photosynthesis, osmoprotectant (free proline and soluble sugars), nutrient and Se contents, K+/Na+ ratio, cell integrity (water content and stability of membranes), all enzyme activities; and all features related to leaf anatomy induced by Se-NPs foliar spray. Conversely, marked lowering in markers of Na+ content-induced oxidative stress (superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide) and their outcomes in terms of ionic leakage and malondialdehyde were reported by foliar nourishment with Se-NPS compared to spraying leaves with water as an implemented control. The best results were recorded with Se-NPs applied at 1.0 mM, which mitigated the negative effects of soil salinity (control results). Therefore, the outcomes of this successful study recommend the use of Se-NPs at a rate of 1.0 mM as a foliar spray to grow common beans on saline soils with EC up to 7.55–7.61 dS m−1
