Urena lobata is medicinal plant used to cure Diabetes mellitus traditionally. However, the phytoconstituent regulating blood glucose levels and their mechanism remain unexlpored. The study aim to evaluate antidiabetic potency of U.lobata leaf fractions. Ethanol solvent is used to extract U. lobata leaf by kinetic maceration methods therefore the concentrated extract was fractionated using n-hexane (Fraction A), n-butanol (Fraction B) and aqueous solvent (Fraction C) respectively. The anti-diabetic potency U.lobata was examined by oral glucose tolerance test. Blood glucose level of rat were measured after loading of glucose at the certain time and Area Under Curve (AUC) integrated were calculated using trape zoidal methods. Data was analyzed using one way ANOVA and continued with LSD test (p<0.05). Molecular docking was conducted by the PyRx 0.8 program after phytoconstituent identification of U.lobata extract using LC-HRMS. Ethanolic extract, fraction A, B and C decreased glucose AUC about 16 %, 8 %, 11% and 23% respectively compared to control group (p<0.05). Meanwhile, glibenclamid as reference drugs decreased glucosa AUC about 30 % and stronger than extract of U. lobata and its fractions. (+)-ar-Turmerone is predicted as potential compound in U.lobata leaf extract as anti-diabetic by binding on SUR1 based on in silico approach.
A 10-week feeding study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary tryptophan (Trp) levels on the growth performance and protein metabolism of hybrid grouper (<i>Epinephelus fuscoguttatus</i>♀ × <i>E. lanceolatus</i>♂) with the aim of determining the optimal Trp requirement. Six isonitrogenous and isolipidic experimental diets were formulated, containing varying levels of Trp (0.26%, 0.32%, 0.42%, 0.46%, 0.58%, and 0.62% of diet). Each diet was administered to 90 hybrid groupers with an initial average weight of 10.52 ± 0.02 g. Dietary levels of 0.32–0.62% Trp generally promoted growth performance and feed utilization in hybrid grouper, with the 0.46% Trp level demonstrating the highest weight gain and protein efficiency ratio. Furthermore, fish fed with 0.46% Trp exhibited higher activities of intestinal lipase and amylase compared to other groups. Furthermore, the activities of Trp metabolism-related enzymes in the liver were markedly elevated by this Trp level, including indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, 5-hydroxytryptophan decarboxylase, and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase. Additionally, a dietary level of 0.46% Trp resulted in a substantial increase in the activities of protein metabolism-related enzymes such as adenosine monophosphate deaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase in the liver. Dietary levels of 0.32–0.46% Trp activated the hepatic mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, while a dietary 0.46% Trp level inhibited the hepatic amino acid response signaling pathway. In summary, suitable dietary Trp levels enhanced intestinal digestive enzyme activities, facilitated both protein synthesis and catabolism, and ultimately improved growth performance in hybrid grouper. Analysis using a second-order regression curve of weight gain and protein efficiency ratio indicated that the optimal dietary Trp requirement for hybrid grouper ranged from 0.41–0.46% of diet (0.82–0.92% of dietary protein).
Burkhonova M. M., Matyakubov B. Sh., Zakirova S. Kh.
et al.
This article provides an overview of ProPlanta software, which is specifically designed to provide recommendations for the rational use of agricultural land. The software is based on more than 50 years of research, including data from more than 80 long-term field trials. Designed for use in the agricultural sector of Uzbekistan, ProPlanta provides farmers with recommendations on the optimal use of key nutrients and fertilizers, including nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, lime, magnesium, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and manganese (Mn). In addition, the software offers recommendations for the cultivation of environmentally beneficial plants, thereby promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
To assess the Siberian crane (<i>Grus leucogeranus</i>)’s response to changing water levels and habitat quality at Poyang Lake, we analyzed the lake’s hydrological trends over the past two decades with the Mann-Kendall and Sen slope methods. Additionally, we explored the link between the crane population size and hydrological conditions at the lake from 2011 to 2019. Meanwhile, five environmental factors, including habitat type, distance from shallow lakes, human footprint index, elevation and normalized vegetation index were selected, and the distribution patterns of suitable habitats for the Siberian crane under 10 water level gradients with intervals of about 1 m (5.3–14.2 m) were simulated by using an improved habitat suitability index model that determines the weights of evaluating factors based on the MaxEnt model. The results showed that the overall trend of the inundated area in Poyang Lake was shrinking in the last 20 years, with a significant increase in the area of exposed floodland during the early wintering period (Z = −2.26). The prolonged drought resulting from this will force vegetation succession, thereby diminishing the food resources for cranes in their natural habitat. The mean inundated area in June demonstrated a significant negative correlation with the population of Siberian cranes in natural habitats (<i>r</i> = −0.75, <i>p</i> = 0.02). Shortage of the Siberian crane-preferred <i>Vallisneria</i> tuber due to June flooding was the primary driver of the crane’s altered foraging strategy and habitat shift. In years with relatively normal June inundation, indicating abundant <i>Vallisneria</i> resources, the relationship between the inundated area during the dry season and the crane population fit well, with a quadratic curve (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.92, <i>p</i> = 0.02). The dry season’s inundated area primarily affected the crane population and distribution pattern by influencing the availability of food resources, and both excessive and insufficient inundation areas were unfavorable for crane survival. The modeling results for habitat suitability indicated that as the water level decreased, the trend of the area of good habitat for the Siberian crane showed an inverted bell shape, peaking at a water level of 8.8 m, with optimal conditions occurring between 8 and 10 m. The combined effects of climate and human activities have made the shortage of food resources in Poyang Lake the new normal. The degradation of natural habitats has led to a decline in the quality of Siberian crane habitats, and artificial habitats can only be used as refuges to a certain extent. Thus, formulating strategies to restore natural habitats and enhance the management of artificial habitats is crucial for the conservation efforts of Siberian cranes.
El buco de collar (Notharchus hyperrhynchus) se alimenta principalmente de insectos grandes, y puede consumir pequeños vertebrados, pero esto ha sido escasamente documentado. Aquí documentamos la depredación por un buco sobre una lagartija en la selva tropical húmeda del Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica. El 05 de diciembre de 2022 a las 17:25 h, observamos un buco de collar perchado a 7 m altura, que voló a una rama a 6 m de altura en un árbol adyacente y capturó a una mabuya centroamericana (Marisora unimarginata). El buco regresó a su percha y lo observamos durante 4 mins mientras golpeaba la lagartija contra la superficie, hasta matarla y consumirla entera. Nuestra observación proporciona la primera evidencia documentada de depredación de una lagartija por el buco de collar en la selva tropical. Esto es importante dado que las poblaciones del buco de collar están disminuyendo, y la mabuya centroamericana tiene una distribución restringida. Por lo tanto, nuestra observación proporciona información a nivel de especies sobre las interacciones depredador-presa que pueden llenar vacíos de conocimiento para decisiones de gestión.
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Surimi is a minced fish commonly used as a raw material for fish jelly production. A strong gel formation in surimi can support fish jelly products to be compact, elastic, and durable. Gelatin is known to function as a gelling agent in food products. This study aimed to determine the characteristics of tilapia scale gelatin and the effect of adding tilapia scale gelatin to threadfin bream surimi on the characteristics of kamaboko. The gelatin analysis included yield, moisture content, ash content, pH, viscosity, setting point, and molecular weight. Surimi analysis included pH, texture profile (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness), water holding capacity, and whiteness. The yield and temperature points of tilapia scale gelatin gel were 13.01±0.59% and 18.17±0.28 oC. The gelatin characteristics of tilapia scales in this study met SNI 8622:2018 and GMIA 2019. The treatment of variations in the gelatin concentration of tilapia scales on surimi had a significant effect on the pH characteristics of surimi, whiteness, hardness, and chewiness of kamaboko.
P. Mangala C.S. De Silva, E.M.D.V. Ekanayake, T.D.K.S.C. Gunasekara
et al.
Aim: Chronic kidney disease of uncertain aetiology (CKDu) is an emerging health concern in tropical farming communities. The role of occupational heat exposure as a potential driver of CKDu remains debated. Our study examines occupational heat exposure and kidney health in three occupational groups in Sri Lanka. Methodology: We recruited participants from three occupational groups from three climatic zones; fisherfolk from the dry and intermediate zones (N = 225), paddy farmers from the intermediate zone (N = 180) and tea plantation workers from the wet zone (N = 70). Serum creatinine, cystatin-C, urea and uric acid, estimated glomerular filtration rate and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio were used as diagnostic criteria of impaired renal function. Results: CKDu susceptibility was at the highest among farmers (13.33 %), with a significant difference compared to the fisherfolk (5.36 %; p = 0.0003). Among the plantation workers, CKDu susceptibility was 5.71 %, and it was not significantly different compared to the farmers (p = 0.087) and the fisherfolk (p = 0.427). Despite higher exposure to heat stress and dehydration, as indicated by the highest simplified wet bulb globe temperature (sWBGT) in the work environments, fisherfolk reported the lowest CKDu susceptibility, while farmers and workers with low to moderate heat exposure showed an increased incidence of abnormal renal function. Further, a multivariable regression analysis identified a significant effect of occupation (p = 0.005), agrochemical exposure (p = 0.001) and age (p = 0.001) on the likelihood of CKDu susceptibility while the sWBGT in the working environments showed no significant effect (p = 0.227). Conclusion: With the evidence from our findings, heat exposure alone does not appear to be the leading driver of CKDu in Sri Lanka, suggesting that the nephropathy is more likely to be associated with occupational risks such as agrochemical exposures.
Public aspects of medicine, Meteorology. Climatology
Muhammad Aslam, Nirosiya Kandasamy, Anwar Ullah
et al.
Abstract Rare variants in the beta-glucocerebrosidase gene (GBA1) are common genetic risk factors for alpha synucleinopathy, which often manifests clinically as GBA-associated Parkinson’s disease (GBA-PD). Clinically, GBA-PD closely mimics idiopathic PD, but it may present at a younger age and often aggregates in families. Most carriers of GBA variants are, however, asymptomatic. Moreover, symptomatic PD patients without GBA variant have been reported in families with seemingly GBA-PD. These observations obscure the link between GBA variants and PD pathogenesis and point towards a role for unidentified additional genetic and/or environmental risk factors or second hits in GBA-PD. In this study, we explored whether rare genetic variants may be additional risk factors for PD in two families segregating the PD-associated GBA1 variants c.115+1G>A (ClinVar ID: 93445) and p.L444P (ClinVar ID: 4288). Our analysis identified rare genetic variants of the HSP70 co-chaperone DnaJ homolog subfamily B member 6 (DNAJB6) and lysosomal protein prosaposin (PSAP) as additional factors possibly influencing PD risk in the two families. In comparison to the wild-type proteins, variant DNAJB6 and PSAP proteins show altered functions in the context of cellular alpha-synuclein homeostasis when expressed in reporter cells. Furthermore, the segregation pattern of the rare variants in the genes encoding DNAJB6 and PSAP indicated a possible association with PD in the respective families. The occurrence of second hits or additional PD cosegregating rare variants has important implications for genetic counseling in PD families with GBA1 variant carriers and for the selection of PD patients for GBA targeted treatments.
Ignacio Rubén Ortolani, Zahia Amanzougarene, Manuel Fondevila
The fermentation patterns of six fiber sources, soybean hulls (SH), sugarbeet pulp (BP), palm kernel cake (PK), oat hulls (OH), dehydrated alfalfa meal (DA), and barley straw (BS) were evaluated for this study on the effect of their presentation form (non-processed, NP and ground, GR). Substrates were tested in a conventional in vitro batch system, using rumen fluid obtained from ewes fed 0.5 alfalfa hay and 0.5 barley straw. All substrates rendered a higher gas production in GR form (<i>p</i> < 0.05) except for BS but ranked similarly irrespective of the presentation form. Among the substrates, when incubated NP, the highest volume of gas was recorded with BP from 8 h onwards (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas OH and BS resulted in the lowest gas volume (<i>p</i> < 0.05). During the first half of the incubation period, methane production was higher in GR than NP (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Among substrates, despite NP or GR, methane production with BP was the highest (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Similarly, the presentation form did not qualitatively affect fermentation, as no differences were observed in volatile fatty acids proportions. The effect of particle size of fibrous substrates does not have a major impact on the rate and extent of the rumen microbial fermentation.
Zakharova Evgenia, Zemtsova Elena, Davydov Denis
et al.
The article presents the results of research and analysis of specialization of agricultural organizations of the Chelyabinsk region for the period from 2006 to 2017, which according to the population ecology of organizations has advantages in stable or specific environments. To study the specialization of the organizations of the agro-industrial complex of the Chelyabinsk region, a three-part coefficient of specialization was used, which characterizes the total share of the three values of the studied trait in the total population. Empirical research of agro-industrial complex of Chelyabinsk region allowed performing the analysis of 294...194 organizations for the period 2006...2017. It was found that the arithmetic value of a share of the first three types of products, ordered descending, in the structure of realization of products of agricultural organizations of territories of the region made up 78.09...85.08 % and in the structure of sales organizations of the region amounted to 89.71...96.86 %. It was shown that the analysis of the shares of the first three types of products, ordered in descending order, in the structure of sales of agricultural products can be reduced to the analysis of the shares of the first of the three types of products in this ordered structure. It was found that during the study period, the share of organizations of the agro-industrial complex of the region with the share of proceeds from the sale of grain and leguminous crops in the total revenue of organizations 20 ... 80 % amounted to 45.92...29.61 %.
Se presenta el registro de la especie de “chinche de encaje” Gargaphia nigrinervis Stål, capturada sobre plantas de calabaza (Cucurbita maxima D., Cucurbitaceae), en un área peridomiciliaria
de viviendas en la ciudad de Quíbor, región semiárida del Estado Lara, en el nor-occidente de Venezuela.
R. A. Pertiwi, R. I. Pujaningsih, S. Mukodiningsih
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk untuk mengkaji pengaruh lama penyimpanan tarhadap kualitas fisik organoleptik ampas kelapa yang diberi ekstrak daun kersen. Ekstrak daun kersen diekstraksi menggunakan metode sokletasi. Konsentrasi ekstrak daun kersen yang digunakan adalah 50%. Ampas kelapa diberi perlakuan yaitu A0 (tanpa pemberian ekstrak daun kersen), A1 (dengan pemberian ekstrak daun kersen) pemberian ekstrak daun kersen dengan perbandingan 1 : 10 (v/w) dan diberi perlakuan lama penyimpanan yang berbeda, masing-masing T0 (lama penyimpanan minggu ke -0), T1 (lama penyimpanan minggu ke-2) dan T2 (lama penyimpanan minggu ke – 4). Rancangan yang digunakan adalah rancangan acak lengkap (RAL) pola faktorial 2 × 3 dengan 5 ulangan. Parameter yang diamati yaitu uji organoleptik yang terdiri dari tekstur, warna, aroma dan ada tidaknya jamur. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa lama penyimpanan dan pemberian ekstrak daun kersen pada ampas kelapa berpengaruh nyata (p<0,05) terhadap uji organoleptik yang terdiri dari tekstur, warna, aroma dan ada tidaknya jamur. Ekstrak daun kersen yang ditambahkan pada ampas kelapa mampu menekan terjadinya penurunan kualitas organoleptik yang meliputi tekstur, warna, aroma dan ada tidaknya jamur selama penyimpanan.
Maqsood A. Siddiqui, Maqsood A. Siddiqui, Zulfiqar Ali
et al.
Dioscorea villosa, commonly known as “Wild Yam” and native to North America, is well documented for its pharmacological properties due to the presence of steroidal glycosides. However, the hepatoprotective potential of these compounds has not been studied so far. The present investigation was aimed to study the hepatoprotective effect of the steroidal glycosides from D. villosa against H2O2, a known hepatotoxin, in human liver cell line (HepG2). Cytotoxicity assessment was carried out in cells exposed to various concentrations (10–50 μM) of compounds for 24 h using MTT assay and morphological changes. All tested compounds were known and among them, spirostans (zingiberensis saponin I, dioscin, deltonin and progenin III) were found to be cytotoxic whereas, furostans (huangjiangsu A, pseudoprotodioscin, methyl protobioside, protodioscin, and protodeltonin) were non-cytotoxic. Further, HepG2 cells were pretreated with biologically safe concentrations (10, 30, and 50 μM) of non-cytotoxic compounds and then cytotoxic (0.25 mM) concentration of H2O2. After 24 h, cell viability was assessed by MTT and NRU assays, while morphological changes were observed under the microscope. The results showed that treatment of HepG2 cells with compounds prior to H2O2 exposure effectively increased cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, huangjiangsu A, pseudoprotodioscin, methyl protobioside, protodioscin, and protodeltonin at 50 μM increased GSH level and decreased intracellular ROS generation against H2O2-induced damages. The results from this study revealed that compounds isolated from D. villosa have hepatoprotective potential against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity and ROS generation and could be promising as potential therapeutic agents for liver diseases.
The use of trap-neuter-return (TNR) as a method of managing free-roaming cat populations has increased in the United States in recent decades. Historically, TNR has been conducted most often at a grassroots level, which has led to inconsistent data collection and assessment practices. Consequently, a paucity of analyzable data exists. An initiative is underway to standardize TNR program data collection and assessment. However, it could be some time before scientifically sound protocols are implemented on a broad scale. In the interim, sets of data collected by nascent citizen scientists offer valid opportunities to evaluate grassroots TNR programs. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effectiveness of a TNR program conducted by a citizen scientist located in Chicago, Illinois, where a county law permitting TNR was enacted in 2007. Colony populations, when grouped by the number of years enrolled in the program, declined by a mean of 54% from entry and 82% from peak levels. Results from coexistent TNR programs in the Chicago area are consistent with these findings.
Cicera Silvilene Matias, Cristiana Silva, José Guilherme Sousa
et al.
Knowledge about endoparasites of snakes is essential to understand the ecology of both parasites and hosts. Herein, we present information on helminths parasitizing the black false boa Pseudoboa nigra in northeastern Brazil. We examined 32 specimens from five Brazilian states (Ceará, Piauí, Pernambuco, Maranhão and Rio Grande do Norte). We found six helminths taxa: two acanthocephalans (Acanthocephalus sp. and Oligacanthorhychus sp.), three nematodes (Hexametra boddaertii, Physaloptera sp. and Physalopteroides venancioi), and one cestode (Ophiotaenia sp.). All parasites are reported for the first time infecting P. nigra, providing relevant information on infection patterns in this snake.
This paper continues descriptions of new deep-water Antarctic barbeled plunderfishes of the poorly known and the most speciose notothenioid genus Pogonophryne. It is based on a comprehensive collection obtained by the authors in 2009–2010 during an Antarctic toothfish (Dissostichus mawsoni) fishing trip. A new species, the hopbeard plunderfish P. neyelovi, the twenty-second species of the genus, is described. The new species belongs to dorsally-spotted short-barbeled species forming the “P. mentella” group. Pogonophryne neyelovi sp.n. is characterized by the following combination of characters: a very short and small mental barbel with an ovaloid and short terminal expansion covered by flattened scale-like processes that are mostly bluntly palmate; a moderately protruding lower jaw; a high second dorsal fin almost uniformly black and lacking a sharply elevated anterior lobe; pectoral fins striped anteriorly and uniformly light posteriorly; the anal and pelvic fins light; the dorsal surface of the head and the area anterior to the first dorsal fin covered with large, irregular dark brown blotches and spots; the ventral surface of the head, breast and belly without sharp dark markings. The new species is compared to the closest species P. brevibarbata, P. tronio, and P. ventrimaculata. English vernacular names are proposed for all species of the genus.