Moringa oleifera seeds‑removed ripened pods as alternative for papersheet production: antimicrobial activity and their phytoconstituents profile using HPLC

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordIn the present study, and for the waste valorization, Moringa oleifera seeds-removed ripened pods (SRRP) were used for papersheet production and for the extraction of bioactive compounds. Fibers were characterized by SEM–EDX patterns, while the phytoconstituents in ethanol extract was analyzed by HPLC. The inhibition percentage of fungal mycelial growth (IFMG) of the treated Melia azedarach wood with M. oleifera SRRP extract at the concentrations of 10,000, 20,000, and 30,000 µg/mL against the growth of Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium culmorum was calculated and compared with fluconazole (25 µg). The produced papersheet was treated with the ethanol extract (4000, 2000, and 1000 µg/mL) and assayed for its antibacterial activity against Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Erwinia amylovora, and Pectobacterium atrosepticum by measuring the inhibition zones and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). According to chemical analysis of M. oleifera SRRP, benzene:alcohol extractives, holocellulose, lignin, and ash contents were 7.56, 64.94, 25.66 and 1.53%, respectively, while for the produced unbleached pulp, the screen pulp yield and the Kappa number were 39% and 25, respectively. The produced papersheet showed tensile index, tear index, burst index, and double fold number values of 58.8 N m/g, 3.38 mN m2/g, 3.86 kPa m2/g, and 10.66, respectively. SEM examination showed that the average fiber diameter was 16.39 µm, and the mass average of for elemental composition of C and O by EDX were, 44.21%, and 55.79%, respectively. The main phytoconstituents in the extract (mg/100 g extract) by HPLC were vanillic acid (5053.49), benzoic acid (262.98), naringenin (133.02), chlorogenic acid (66.16), and myricetin (56.27). After 14 days of incubation, M. oleifera SRRP extract-wood treated showed good IFMG against R. solani (36.88%) and F. culmorum (51.66%) compared to fluconazole, where it observed 42.96% and 53.70%, respectively. Moderate to significant antibacterial activity was found, where the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were 500, 650, and 250 µg/mL against the growth of A. tumefaciens, E. amylovora, and P. atrosepticum respectively, which were lower than the positive control used (Tobramycin 10 µg/disc). In conclusion, M. oleifera SRRP showed promising properties as a raw material for pulp and paper production as well as for the extraction of bioactive compounds.King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

Natural Plant Extracts and Microbial Antagonists to Control Fungal Pathogens and Improve the Productivity of Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo L.) In Vitro and in Greenhouse

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordBackground: Natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists have the potential for use in increasing the fungal resistance and productivity of horticulture plants. Methods: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of both natural plant extracts and microbial antagonists as a biotical control of some fungal pathogens, i.e., Fusarium ssp., Exserohilum ssp. and Nigrospora ssp., along with improving the growth and productivity performance of zucchini under greenhouse conditions. Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf extract (LE), Citrus sinensis LE, Ficus benghalensis fruit extract (FE), and two microbial antagonists Pseudomonas fluorescens (accession no. MW647093) and Trichoderma viride (accession no. MW647090) were tested under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Through morphological characteristics and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, Fusarium solani (accession no. MW947256), F. oxysporum (accession no. MW947254), Exserohilum rostratum (accession no. MW947255), and Nigrospora lacticolonia (accession no. MW947253) were identified. HPLC analysis was used for the identification of phenolic compounds (PCs) and flavonoid compounds (FCs) in the extracts. Results: The highest inhibition percentage of fungal growth (IPFG) against F. oxysporum was obtained with P. fluorescens, T. viride, and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L); F. solani with P. fluorescens, T. viride, and C. sinensis LE (4000 mg/L); Exserohilum rostratum with P. fluorescens, Ficus benghalensis FE (4000 mg/L) and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L), and N. lacticolonia with P. fluorescens. Using HPLC analysis, the abundant PCs in E. camaldulensis LE were pyrogallol, and caffeic acid, those in C. sinensis LE were syringic acid and ferulic acid, and those in F. benghalensis FE were gallic acid and syringic acid. In addition, the abundant FCs in E. camaldulensis LE were kaempferol, and naringin, those in C. sinensis LE were hesperidin and quercetin, and those in F. benghalensis FE were kaempferol and quercetin. Under greenhouse experiments, T. viride and E. camaldulensis LE (4000 mg/L) followed by P. fluorescens + T. viride treatments gave the best results of zucchini plants in terms of leaf area, fruits number per plant, yield per plant, and total yield (marketable and non-marketable). Conclusions: Plant extracts and bioagents can be used to control some zucchini fungal pathogens and increase the productivity performance of zucchini plantsKing Saud Universit

Insecticidal Activity of Lemongrass Essential Oil as an Eco-Friendly Agent against the Black Cutworm Agrotis ipsilon (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this recordBackground: The destructive insect pest Agrotis ipsilon (Hufnagel) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) is a polyphagous species targeting many economically important plants. The extensive and arbitrary use of insecticides has resulted in the build-up of insecticide resistance and pesticide residues accumulating in food. Therefore, it is becoming evident that alternative pest management tools are needed to reduce risks to humans, the environment, and non-target organisms, and at the same time, they should be used in field application at the lowest cost. Methods: In view of this objective, the present study demonstrates the toxicity of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf) essential oil (EO), against the black cutworm A. ipsilon under controlled laboratory conditions in terms of measuring the activity of peroxidase and detoxification enzymes. The chemical components of the EO were analyzed using GC–MS. Results: The results show that after 96 h post treatment, the LC15 and LC50 values were 427.67 and 2623.06 mg/L, respectively, of C. citratus EO on second-instar larvae of A. ipsilon. A slight significance in elongation of the larval duration with LC15 and LC50 value was found with control. By GC–MS analysis, the main compounds identified in the EO were α-citral and β-citral with percentages of 35.91%, and 35%, respectively. The oxidative stress indicates a significant increase in CAT and lipid peroxidase enzyme activity after 96 h post treatment at the LC15 and LC50. Conversely, the detoxification enzyme activity shows an inhibition of CarE and GST enzymes of larvae exposed to LC15 and LC50 values in response to C. citratus EO. Conclusions: The present data show that lemongrass EO has insecticidal activity against the black cutworm, A. ipsilon.King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

Post-Harvest Enhancing and Botrytis cinerea Control of Strawberry Fruits Using Low Cost and Eco-Friendly Natural Oils

This is the final version. Available from MDPI via the DOI in this record.This work investigates an experimental study for using low-cost and eco-friendly oils to increase the shelf life of strawberry fruit. Three natural oils were used: (i) Eucalyptus camaldulensis var obtuse, (ii) Mentha piperita green aerial parts essential oils (EOs), and (iii) Moringa oleifera seeds n-hexane fixed oil (FO). Furthermore, a mixture of EOs from E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) was used. The treated fruits were stored at 5 °C and 90% relative humidity (RH) for 18 days. HPLC was used to analyse the changes in phenolic compounds during the storage periods. The effects of biofumigation through a slow-release diffuser of EOs (E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita), or by coating with M. oleifera FO, were evaluated in terms of control of post-harvest visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruits. The post-harvest resistance of strawberry fruits to Botrytis cinerea fungal infection was also evaluated. As a result, the EO treatments significantly reduced the change in visual and chemical quality of strawberry fruit. Additionally, changes in the titratable acidity of moringa FO-coated strawberry fruits were delayed. EO treatments improved total soluble solids, total phenols, ascorbic acid, antioxidants and peroxidase. E. camaldulensis var obtusa and M. piperita (1/1 v/v) EO-vapour fruit exhibited a slower rate of deterioration, compared to other treatments in all tested, in two experiments. The lowest colour change (ΔE) was observed inthe fruit treated with E. camaldulensis var obtusa EO and M. oleifera FO. HPLC showed changes in phenolic compounds’ concentration, where p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid and ellagic acid were mostly identified in the fruits treated with the oils. SEM examination confirmed the potential decrease in fungal growth as the fruits were treated with EOs. In conclusion, the treatment of EOs during different storage periods showed promising characterisations for strawberry fruit quality.Deanship of Scientific Research, King Saud Universit

Characterization of Two Historical Postage Stamps Made from Cotton Fibers and Their Restoration Trials Based on the Experimental Studies

This is the final version. Available on open access from Hindawi via the DOI in this recordData Availability: The data used to support the findings of this study are included within the article.Ancient stamps are suffering from the destructive effects of different kinds of inks that were prepared from different ingredients. Two Egyptian historical postage stamps printed in blue and red printing inks were evaluated and examined for their composition using a light microscope, SEM-EDS, FTIR, and Raman spectroscopic analyses. Mechanical, chemical, and deacidification treatments were done for the two stamps. Model stamps were made from the cotton pulp in the book house to simulate historical stamp paper with an average thickness of 11 microns. The unprinted and printed paper samples with printing inks that aged and unaged were treated with 0.7% Klucel G, 0.2% TiO2 NP, or a mixture of 0.7% Klucel G + 0.2% TiO2 NP, and the color change was measured and compared with the blank samples. The two stamps are suffering from high pH, where the margin color of the stamps changed to yellow-brown with weakness of the stamp paper. By SEM examination, stamps have suffered from fibers’ weakness and dryness resulting from the self-oxidation reactions. EDS elemental composition of the red stamp showed the presence of C, O, Na, Al, Si, Mg, S, Ca, Ba, and Fe, while in the blue stamp, it was C, O, Na, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, and Ca. Raman spectrometer wavelengths turn out that the blueprinting ink of the stamp was characterized with spectra of ultramarine blue (lazurite), while hematite was characterized by the red stamp. FTIR analysis for the printing inks identified that gum Arabic sample and linseed oil were the binding and color medium, respectively. From the model trials, it was observed that the treatment of a mixture of Klucel G and TiO2 NP had the best properties for the consolidation of stamps. The two historical stamps were documented through different spectroscopic analyses, and from the restoration trials, it was observed that the mixture of 7% Klucel G + 0.2% TiO2 NP appeared to be a new and effective method for recovering the historical postage stamps.King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

Genotoxicity assessment of amino zinc nanoparticles in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as cytogenetical perspective

This is the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this record. Nanoparticles have a positive impact in several subjects especially in agriculture, while their safety is still being debated. Numerous commercial nano pesticide, insecticides, and fertilizers products are found in the local markets without any intensely studies on the side effect of these products on plant, human as well as environmental effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity of commercial amino zinc nanoparticles (AZ NPs) on Triticum aestivum L. during seeds germination and root elongation using concentration ranges (50, 100, and 150 ppm) at different exposure times (8, 16 and 24 hrs). Long term exposure to AZ NPs, exhibited only slight variation in germination rates and the elongation of roots was affected by AZ NPs treatment ranged from 97.66 to 100%. Significant reduction in the mitotic index was 35.33% after 24 hrs and 150 ppm of AZ NPs, was also observed comparing with control which was 88.0%. Genotoxicity was evaluated at a cytological level in root meristems that revealed sever variations in mitotic activity, chromosomal aberrations, and micronuclei release. Results exhibited that nano amino zinc could enter effortlessly into the cells and inhibit the normal cellular function. The decrease in the emergence of chromosomal aberrations resulting from AZ NPs exposure in a dose-dependent manner was clearly indicated that AZ NPs has induced genotoxic effect on wheat root tips.King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi

Emerging adults and Facebook use: the validation of the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS)

Based on the six key components of addiction, the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale (BFAS) is a widely used instrument to assess Facebook addiction. This study aimed to conduct a psychometric validation in a Portuguese sample of emerging adults (ages 18 to 29 years). The construct validity analyses confirmed the one-factor solution and a statistically significant association found between Facebook addiction and Preference for Online Social Interaction, measured by the Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2, warranted the scale criterion validity. Internal consistency was scrutinized using Cronbach's α (α = .87) and stability measured by test-retest (r = .94). Associations between BFAS scores and Brief Symptom Inventory dimensions scores (e.g., interpersonal sensitivity, depression, anxiety) and the GPIUS2 subscale, deficient self-regulation, scores were evaluated. A subsample with higher levels of addiction was analyzed. In summary, the results of the present study support the use of the Portuguese version of the BFAS in both research and clinical milieus. Further implications for research and practice were considered

Gene encoder: a feature selection technique through unsupervised deep learning-based clustering for large gene expression data

© 2020, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature. Cancer is a severe condition of uncontrolled cell division that results in a tumor formation that spreads to other tissues of the body. Therefore, the development of new medication and treatment methods for this is in demand. Classification of microarray data plays a vital role in handling such situations. The relevant gene selection is an important step for the classification of microarray data. This work presents gene encoder, an unsupervised two-stage feature selection technique for the cancer samples’ classification. The first stage aggregates three filter methods, namely principal component analysis, correlation, and spectral-based feature selection techniques. Next, the genetic algorithm is used, which evaluates the chromosome utilizing the autoencoder-based clustering. The resultant feature subset is used for the classification task. Three classifiers, namely support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, and random forest, are used in this work to avoid the dependency on any one classifier. Six benchmark gene expression datasets are used for the performance evaluation, and a comparison is made with four state-of-the-art related algorithms. Three sets of experiments are carried out to evaluate the proposed method. These experiments are for the evaluation of the selected features based on sample-based clustering, adjusting optimal parameters, and for selecting better performing classifier. The comparison is based on accuracy, recall, false positive rate, precision, F-measure, and entropy. The obtained results suggest better performance of the current proposal

Parenting Stress in CHARGE Syndrome and the Relationship with Child Characteristics

This study investigates the parental perception of stress related to the upbringing of children with CHARGE syndrome and its association with behavioral and physical child characteristics. Parents of 22 children completed the Nijmegen Parenting Stress Index-Short, Developmental Behavior Checklist, and Dutch Vineland Screener 0-12 and reported their child’s problems with hearing, vision and ability to speak. Parenting stress was high in 59% of the subjects. Behavioral problems on the depression, autism, self-absorbed and disruptive behavior scales correlated positively with parenting stress. A non-significant trend was found, namely higher stress among the parents of non-speaking children. No associations were found with other child characteristics, i.e. level of adaptive functioning and intellectual disability, auditory and visual problems, deafblindness, gender, and age. Raising a child with CHARGE syndrome is stressful; professional support is therefore essential for this population. More research into other possible influencing characteristics is needed to improve family-oriented interventions. Since CHARGE is a rare syndrome, closer international collaboration is needed, not only to expand the group of study subjects to increase statistical power, but also to harmonize research designs and measurement methods to improve the validity, the reliability, and the generalization of the findings

Combination immunotherapy and active-specific tumor cell vaccination augments anti-cancer immunity in a mouse model of gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Active-specific immunotherapy used as an adjuvant therapeutic strategy is rather unexplored for cancers with poorly characterized tumor antigens like gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to augment a therapeutic immune response to a low immunogenic tumor cell line derived from a spontaneous gastric tumor of a CEA424-SV40 large T antigen (CEA424-SV40 TAg) transgenic mouse.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Mice were treated with a lymphodepleting dose of cyclophosphamide prior to reconstitution with syngeneic spleen cells and vaccination with a whole tumor cell vaccine combined with GM-CSF (a treatment strategy abbreviated as LRAST). Anti-tumor activity to subcutaneous tumor challenge was examined in a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic setting and compared to corresponding controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>LRAST enhances tumor-specific T cell responses and efficiently inhibits growth of subsequent transplanted tumor cells. In addition, LRAST tended to slow down growth of established tumors. The improved anti-tumor immune response was accompanied by a transient decrease in the frequency and absolute number of CD4⁺CD25⁺FoxP3⁺T cells (Tregs).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data support the concept that whole tumor cell vaccination in a lymphodepleted and reconstituted host in combination with GM-CSF induces therapeutic tumor-specific T cells. However, the long-term efficacy of the treatment may be dampened by the recurrence of Tregs. Strategies to counteract suppressive immune mechanisms are required to further evaluate this therapeutic vaccination protocol.</p