Microplastic contamination in processed and unprocessed sea salts from a developing country and potential risk assessment

In aquatic environments, microplastics (MPs) are pervasive which could have a considerable negative impact on the environment, organisms and pose a risk to human health. However, knowledge about the exposure and ecological risk of MPs in the coastal ecosystems of developing countries is limited. In this study, we analyzed salt samples from five commonly consumed processed and unprocessed sea salts of different commercial brands originated from 15 salt pans in Bangladesh to assess the abundance, characteristics and potential risks of MPs. The quantities of MPs in unprocessed salts (average 195 ± 56 item/kg) were higher than those in the processed salts (average 157 ± 34 item/kg). One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant (p < 0.05) differences among the average numbers of MPs in both processed and unprocessed salts. MP levels in this study were 2-3 times higher than those reported from some other countries. Fiber-shaped and transparent MPs were dominant in both cases. MPs less than 0.5 mm in size were the most abundant in both unprocessed (58.2%) and processed (62.2%) salts. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis confirmed five types of polymers, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET-35%), polypropylene (PP-27.5%), polyethylene (PE-25%), polystyrene (PS-10%), and Nylon (2.5%) in the studied salts. The sea salts were classified as potential hazard index (PHI) levels IV to V, indicating serious MP contamination, whereas potential ecological risk factor (E_i), potential ecological risk index (RI), and pollutant load index (PLI) indicated moderate levels of pollution of MPs. Domestic and municipal wastewater effluents to Bay of Bengal and fishing activities may attributed to presence of MPs in the sea salt. These findings can be used by consumers, salt industries and policy makers to reduce MPs levels during consumption, production and policymaking.

Baicalein prevents stress-induced anxiety behaviors in zebrafish model

Baicalein is a flavonoid mainly obtained from plants with wide range of biological activities, including neuroprotection. An acute and unexpected chronic stress (UCS) protocol has recently been adapted to zebrafish, a popular vertebrate model in brain research. The present study was aimed to evaluate baicalein's anti-anxiety potential in a zebrafish model by induction, which included neuropharmacological evaluation to determine behavioural parameters in the novel tank diving test (NTDT) and light-dark preference test (LDPT). The toxicity was also assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay, and the 50% lethal concentration (LC50) was determined. The animals were then stressed for 7 days before being treated with different doses of baicalein (1 and 2 mg/L) for another 7 days in UCS condition. Due to acute stress and UCS, the frequency of entries and time spent in the 1) top region and 2) light area of the novel tank reduced significantly, indicating the existence of elevated anxiety levels. The biological activity of baicalein was demonstrated by its high LC50 values (1,000 μg/ml). Additionally, baicalein administration increased the frequency of entries and duration spent in the light region, indicating a significant decrease in anxiety levels. Overall, the present results showed that baicalein has a therapeutic advantage in reversing the detrimental consequences of UCS and acute stress, making it is a promising lead molecule for new drug design, development, and therapy for stress.

Effective and efficient multi-crop pest detection based on deep learning object detection models

Traditional machine learning-based pest classification methods are a tedious and time-consuming process A method of multi-class pest detection based on deep learning and convolutional neural networks could be the solution. It automatically extracts the complex features of different pests from the crop pest images. In this paper, various significant deep learning-based object detection models like SSD, EfficientDet, Faster R-CNN, and CenterNet are implemented based on the Tensorflow Object Detection framework. Several significant networks like MobileNet_V2, ResNet101_V1, Inception_ResNet_V2, EfficientNet, and HourGlass104 are employed as backbone networks for these models to extract the different features of the pests. Object detection models are capable of identifying and locating pests in crops. Initially, these models are pre-trained with the COCO dataset and later be fine-tuned to the target pest dataset of 20 different pest classes. After conducting experiments on these models using the pest dataset, we demonstrate that Faster R-CNN_ResNet101_V1 outperformed every other model and achieved mAP of 74.77% . Additionally, it is developed as a lightweight model, whose size is ∼9 MB, and can detect pest objects in 130 milliseconds per image, allowing it to be used on resources-constrained devices commonly used by farmers.

Human Exposure to Lead, Mechanism of Toxicity and Treatment Strategy- A Review

Lead is one of the earliest metals discovered by humans. It has a number of unique properties such as softness, high malleability, ductility, low melting point, resistance to corrosion and low cost. This has made its widespread usage in different industrial sectors, which in turn has led to its manifold occurrence in free form in biological systems and the inert environment. Over the last few decades, with the adverse effects of lead coming to the forefront, nations across the world have started to recognise lead toxicity. This review covers the history behind the usage of lead, sources of lead exposure, absorption, distribution and excretion of lead, toxic signs and symptoms of lead toxicity and methods to evaluate the lead levels and the current treatment regimen. This also covers the details of current research work going on in the area of herbal remedies against lead induced liver damage.

Electrochemical and fluorescence properties of SnO2 thin films and its antibacterial activity

Nanocrystalline SnO2 thin films were deposited by a simple and inexpensive sol-gel spin coating technique and the films were annealed at two different temperatures (350°C and 450°C). Structural, vibrational, optical and electrochemical properties of the films were analyzed using XRD, FTIR, UV-Visible, fluorescence and cyclic voltammetry techniques respectively and their results are discussed in detail. The antimicrobial properties of SnO2 thin films were investigated by agar agar method and the results confirm the antibacterial activity of SnO2 against Escherichiacoli and Bacillus.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Selected Dihydroxyflavones

BACKGROUND

The mechanism of inflammation is attributed, to release of reactive oxygen species from activated neutrophils and macrophages. Over production of reactive oxygen species may result in tissue injury by damaging macromolecules. Flavones are the polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant property. This antioxidant property of flavones may have beneficial effect against inflammation.

AIM

To study the anti-inflammatory effect of selected dihydroxyflavones (DHF) in albino rats. The prime objective of the present study is to identify safe and effective agents to treat inflammation from among the selected DHF group of compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory action of four selected dihydroxyflavone derivatives; 2',3'- dihydroxyflavone and 2', 4' -dihydroxyflavones, 5, 3'- dihydroxyflavone and 7, 3' dihydroxyflavone. The anti-inflammatory activity of selected DHF was studied in rats by carrageenan induced hind paw oedema method.

RESULTS

All the selected dihydroxyflavone derivatives showed dose and time dependent inhibition of carrageenan induced paw oedema.

Prevalence of plasmid mediated pesticide resistant bacterial assemblages in crop fields

Three crop fields namely paddy sugarcane and tomato exposed to bavistin [Methyl (1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbomate], monocrotophos[Dimethyl(E)-1-methyl-2-(methyl-carbamoyl) vinyl phosphate] and kinado plus [(EZ)-2-chloro-3-dimethoxyphosphinoyloxy-X1, X1-diethylbut-2-enamide], respectively were chosen for the present investigation to know the bacterial population and degradation of pesticides. The chemical nature of the soil and water samples from the pesticide contaminated fields was analysed along with counting of the total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), Staphylococci and Enterococcci population. Mean calcium, phosphate and biological oxygen demand were maximum in tomato field water Field water recorded maximum phophate and silicate content, whereas, sugarcane field water elicited maximum dissolved oxygen content. On the other hand, available phosphate and exchangeable potassium were maximum is sugarcane field soil. Significant variations in the bacterial population were evident between the treatments in sugarcane field soil and tomato field water exposed to monocrotophos and kinado plus, respectively In addition, significant variations between THB, Staphlyococci and Enterococci population were also evinced in both the sugarcane andtomato fields. The dominant pesticide resistant bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa harboured plasmids and the resistant trait observed were found to be plasmid borne.

Development of samarium [32P] phosphate colloid for radiosynoviorthesis applications: Preparation, biological and preliminary clinical studies experience

A new therapeutic radio colloid for radiosynoviorthesis (RS) applications is reported. The method of preparation involves the reaction of SmCl3 carrier with carrier added [32P]H3PO4 in the presence of gelatin. The pure colloid was recovered by dialysis purification leading to radiochemical yield of around 90%. The radiochemical purity of the pure colloid formulated in isotonic saline was over 98%, for the usage period of 14 days, as assessed by paper chromatography. Ninety percent of colloid particles were in the size of 1-10 microm as evident from the laser diffraction particle size analysis, ideally suitable for the intended end use. Animal studies revealed complete retention of the radio colloid in the rabbit knee joint. The results of clinical trials in humans are satisfactory and encouraging, satisfactory retention of the colloid in the knee joint and negligible leakage into the systemic circulation.

Antioxidant activity of Arthritin--a polyherbal formulation

In complete freund's adjuvant induced arthritis in male albino rats, a significant increase in serum lipid peroxidase besides increase in paw swelling and a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total reduced glutathione levels were observed. Arthritin produced a marked reversal of these enzyme levels, besides a significant reduction in paw swelling. The results suggest that, the polyherbal formulation 'Arthritin' exerts its effects by modulating lipid peroxidation and enhancing anti-oxidant and detoxifying enzyme systems.

Preparation and evaluation of samarium (III) phosphate [(153)Sm] colloid (SMPC) for possible therapeutic use

A simple method of preparation of a new therapeutic colloid, samarium(III) phosphate-(153)Sm (SMPC), is reported involving the reaction of carrier-added (153)SmCl(3) with phosphoric acid. Recovery of the colloid was accomplished by dialysis leading to purification and a radiochemical (RC) yield of more than 90%. The RC purity of purified colloid formulated in isotonic phosphate buffer was more than 99% as assessed by paper chromatography. The product retained its RC purity throughout the period of stability study of 7 days. Complete retention of radioactivity instilled in the rabbit knee joint was observed over the study period of 6 days, with radioactivity in the blood being indistinguishable from the natural background activity. Ninety-six percent of colloidal particles were in the size range of 0.3-2 microm. The promising results demonstrated warrant further studies on SMPC for assessing the suitability for therapy.

Antibody reactivity with two strains of human herpesvirus-6 in Malaysians

A total of 234 sera from healthy Malaysians of diverse ethnic origins were tested for antibody to the Z29 and prototype GS strains of HHV-6. The prevalence in the races ranged from 58 to 80% for the GS strain and 49 to 76% for the Z29 strain. The highest prevalence was in Malays with semi-urban cultural lifestyles and lowest was in the indigenous rural tribes (Ibans, Kadazans, Bidayuhs, and Orang Asli). The antibody titres to GS and Z29 virus capsid antigens differed in 11 (4.7%) samples by more than 2 dilutions. In 9 of the 11 sera the titres to GS strain were higher than to the Z29 strain. The differences in the antibody titres between strains of HHV-6 may reflect subtle changes in antigen structure of the virus recognised by some individuals.

Low prevalence of antibody to human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) in Kadazans

The prevalence of antibody to human herpesvirus type 6 (HHV-6) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral capsid antigens (VCA) were analysed in sera from Kadazans of Sabah, North Borneo. At a serum dilution of 10, about 34% were positive for HHV-6 antibody but in contrast all 95 individuals studied were positive for EBV VCA antibody. The study shows that HHV-6 and EBV infection occur independently. The low frequency of seropositive individuals in this community suggests that other than socioeconomic factors are responsible for the spread of the virus.