Carbon footprints of active and non-active transport modes: hierarchy and intergenerational narrative analyses

This paper aimed to (1) develop a hierarchy for understanding the impacts of active and non-active transport modes on the environment and (2) analyse the adoption of active transportation between older and younger people. A narrative review with two parts was adopted to develop the hierarchy. In the first part, a framework was adopted to map active and non-active transport modes onto three operational boundaries of greenhouse gas emission to develop the hierarchy. In the second part, an intergenerational theoretical framework was developed to analyse the adoption of active transportation between older and younger people. The review suggests that the only active transport modes with no or negligible carbon footprint are walking, running, and swimming without a product that adds to atmospheric greenhouse gases. The evidence that younger people perform higher active transportation behaviour is inconsistent and is, therefore, inconclusive. This review suggests a need for manufacturers to prioritise the production of active vehicles (e.g., wheelchairs and scooters) that are biodegradable, recyclable, and small

Electrochemical Response of Cells Using Bioactive Plant Isolates

Traditional herbal medical practices continue to be part of the healthcare needs of the world especially residents of sub-Sahara Africa (sSA). However, the mechanism of action of the plant metabolites to elicit their potency continue to be a mystery due to the lack of standardized methods. The mechanism of plant bioactive compounds to cause cell death is gradually being linked to membrane polarization and depolarization behaviour. The current work seeks to probe the electrochemical response of model cells using bioactive compounds captured in bio-zeolites or membrane mimetics. The voltage and current fluctuations emanating from such studies will establish a correlation between cell death and membrane depolarization. It will be a useful biological interface sensing material with the potential to identify plant metabolites that can selectively detect and destroy diseased cells. Several model membranes have already been developed for biomedical applications and this new paradigm will elevate the usefulness of these model systems. The concept was investigated using extracts from Dioclea reflexa (DR) hook which belongs to the leguminous family. There are certain class of compounds in Dioclea reflexa (DR) that have clinical usefulness in both temperate and tropical regions, however the identity of the bioactive compounds responsible for inducing cell death continue to be a major challenge

Cyclized NDGA modifies dynamic α-synuclein monomers preventing aggregation and toxicity.

Growing evidence implicates α-synuclein aggregation as a key driver of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease (PD) and other neurodegenerative disorders. Herein, the molecular and structural mechanisms of inhibiting α-synuclein aggregation by novel analogs of nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), a phenolic dibenzenediol lignan, were explored using an array of biochemical and biophysical methodologies. NDGA analogs induced modest, progressive compaction of monomeric α-synuclein, preventing aggregation into amyloid-like fibrils. This conformational remodeling preserved the dynamic adoption of α-helical conformations, which are essential for physiological membrane interactions. Oxidation-dependent NDGA cyclization was required for the interaction with monomeric α-synuclein. NDGA analog-pretreated α-synuclein did not aggregate even without NDGA-analogs in the aggregation mixture. Strikingly, NDGA-pretreated α-synuclein suppressed aggregation of naïve untreated aggregation-competent monomeric α-synuclein. Further, cyclized NDGA reduced α-synuclein-driven neurodegeneration in Caenorhabditis elegans. The cyclized NDGA analogs may serve as a platform for the development of small molecules that stabilize aggregation-resistant α-synuclein monomers without interfering with functional conformations yielding potential therapies for PD and related disorders

Effects of ripening stages and thermal treatment on quality characteristics of the overripe plantain puree

This study sought to determine the influence of ripening stages and thermal treatment on the quality characteristics of the overripe plantain puree. The plantain was stored during ripening stages (7, 8, 9, and 10) to obtain the overripe plantain; steam without peel and steamed with the peel to develop puree. Microbial count, physicochemical properties, and sensory evaluation of developed purees were evaluated. The results showed that puree from overripe plantain at ripening stage 8 had good physicochemical properties coupled with a low microbial growth count. The pH; 4.75 ± 0.03; Aw: 0.85 ± 0.00; TTA:0.44 ± 0.02; Total ash: 0.65 ± 0.03; Total sugars 19.93 ± 0.00; Non Reducing Sugars: 15.29 ± 0.00; Reducing sugars 4.64 ± 0.00: Total Starch 4.12 ± 1.07. The sensorial evaluation also demonstrated that puree prepared from overripe plantain at ripening stage 8 steamed with peel had a superior overall attribute with a mean score of 7.5. The results showed that using ripening stage 8 combined with steaming with peels recorded the least microbial count 2.4 log10 CFU/g). The instrumental colour evaluation revealed the puree from stage 8 had chroma intensity, and hue angle of 32.43 ± 0.53; 35.97 ± 0.36, and 81.90 ± 0.20 respectively.The results showed that using ripening stage 8 combined with steaming with peel could be an acceptable procedure for the preparation of underutilized overripe plantain puree

Availability of resources for emergency care at a second-level hospital in Ghana: A mixed methods assessment

Emergency care is an essential component of health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. We sought to assess the availability of resources to provide emergency care at a second-level hospital in Ghana. By doing so, deficits that could guide development of targeted intervention strategies to improve emergency care could be identified. Methods: A qualitative and quantitative assessment of capacity for care of emergency patients was performed at the Emergency Centre of the Police Hospital, a second-level hospital in Accra, Ghana. Direct inspection and job-specific survey of clinical, orderly, administrative and ambulance staff was performed. Responses to quantitative questions were described. Qualitative responses were examined by content analysis. Results: Assessment revealed marked deficiencies in many essential items and services. However, several successes were identified, such as laboratory capacity. Among the unavailable essential items, some were of low-cost, such as basic airway supplies, chest tubes and several emergency medications. Themes from staff responses when asked how to improve emergency care included: provide periodic training, increase bed numbers in the emergency unit, ensure availability of essential items and make personal protective equipment available for all staff caring for patients. Conclusion: This study identified opportunities to improve the care of patients with emergency conditions at the Police Hospital in Ghana. Low-cost improvements in training, organization and planning could improve item and service availability, such as: developing a continuing education curriculum for staff in all areas of the emergency centre; holding in-service training on existing protocols for triage and emergency care; adding checklists to guide appropriate triage and safe transfer of patients; and perform a root cause analysis of item non-availability to develop targeted interventions