Advanced modeling and optimizing for surface sterilization process of grape vine (Vitis vinifera) root stock 3309C through response surface, artificial neural network, and genetic algorithm techniques

In vitro, sterilization is one of the key components for proceeding with plant tissue cultures. Since the effectiveness of sterilization has a direct impact on the culture's final outcomes, there is a crucial need for optimization of the sterilization process. However, compared with traditional optimizing methods, the use of computational approaches through artificial intelligence-based process modeling and optimization algorithms provides a precise optimal condition for in vitro culturing. This study aimed to optimise in vitro sterilization of grape rootstock 3309C using RSM, ANN, and genetic algorithm (GA) techniques. In this context, two output responses, namely, Clean Culture and Explant Viability, were optimised using the models developed by RSM and ANN, followed by a GA, to obtain a globally optimal solution. The most influential independent factors, such as HgCl2, NaOCl, AgNO3, and immersion time, were considered input variables. The significance of the developed models was investigated with statistical and non-statistical techniques and was optimised to determine the significance of selected inputs. The optimal clean culture of 91%, and the explant viability of 89% can be obtained from 1.62% NaOCl at a 13.96 min immersion time, according to MLP-NSGAII. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the clean culture and explant viability were less sensitive to AgNO3 and more sensitive to immersion time. Results showed that the differences between the GA predicted and validation data were significant after the performance validation of predicted and optimised sterilising agents with immersion time combinations were tested. In general, GA, a potent methodology, may open the door to the development of new computational methods in plant tissue culture

Curcuminoid extraction from turmeric (curcuma longal.): efficacy of bromine-modified curcuminoids against food spoilage flora

Curcuminoids are nutraceutical compounds used worldwide for medicine as well as in food preparations. In the present study, curcuminoid extraction was optimized using response surface methodology. The antimicrobial properties of curcuminoids and bromine-modified curcuminoids (BMCs) were determined against food spoilage flora and foodborne pathogens. The maximum curcuminoid yield was obtained when turmeric, methanol and time were 5.77g, 22.52mL and 12.53h, respectively. The high-performance liquid chromatogram of the extracted curcuminoids indicated three peaks at 9.5, 10.1 and 10.7min, which correspond to bisdemethoxycurcumin, demethoxycurcumin and curcumin in the ratio of 28:24:48, respectively. Curcuminoids had a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. The minimum inhibitory concentration value of BMCs was significantly decreased to 34.5, 14.7 and 30.2% for the tested gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria and fungi, respectively. Practical Applications: This finding suggests that bromine-modified curcuminoids would be a good candidate for food manufacturing industries to control food spoilage flora and foodborne pathogens

Effect of phytofabricated silver oxide nanoparticles on wound pathogens

Infection control is a challenging task in the treatment of wounds and a rise in antimicrobial resistance wound pathogens which is a barrier for the wound regeneration rapidly. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement of novel antimicrobial agents to target the wound pathogens and their biofilms. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are the predominant antimicrobial agent for wound treatment due to their broad spectrum antimicrobial potential against various wound pathogens. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were prepared from aqueous Adenanthera pavonina seed extract. This extract plays as a reducing agent for reduction of silver nitrate to silver oxide nanoparticles. An absorption peak at 428 nm with characteristic feature of surface plasmon resonance was observed. The average size of AgNPs was found to be ~200 nm and cube in shape of AgNPs. FTIR data revealed the presence of phenolic groups that were responsible for reduction and stabilization of silver nanoparticles. Face centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structure was revealed from XRD relating to silver oxide (AgO) with good antibacterial potential. The antioxidant activity of extract increases when the concentration increases, and it can be used in the inhibition of free radicals at wound site. Antibacterial activities showed effective inhibition against various pathogens such as E.coli, Salmonella typhi, Sphingomonas, and Bacillus. Given this correspondence, the green synthesized AgNPs would be a potential antimicrobial agent for various wound treatments

Tobacco use, exposure to second-hand smoke among pregnant women and their association with birth weight: A retrospective cohort study

Background: There is paucity of studies on prevalence of SHS among pregnant women and its association with low birth weight (LBW). Objectives: The study was designed to determine the proportion of tobacco use, exposure to second hand smoke among pregnant women and their association with LBW. Materials and Methods: A Retrospective cohort study was conducted from March–June 2017 among 1043 pregnant women admitted for delivery in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, JIPMER. Socio-demographic and obstetric characteristics, tobacco use and exposure to SHS during pregnancy were assessed by interviews. Birth weight of the baby was also extracted. Data was analysed using STATA v12. Univariate analysis was used to assess the association of socio-demographic, obstetric characteristics and exposure to SHS with LBW. Results: Out of 1043 pregnant women, the mean age was 25 (±3.9) years. More than half (57.4%) of women were primigravida. The proportion of women exposed to SHS during pregnancy was 69.9% (95% CI: 67.0-72.6) among which 24% of the women belonged to family, where family members were smokers. Only four had ever used tobacco in the past. However, none used any form of tobacco during pregnancy. LBW was present in 21.4% of the babies. There was no association between exposure to SHS and LBW [PR:0.98 (95% CI:0.71-1.35)]. Conclusion: The study shows that there was no significant association between the SHS exposure of pregnant women and low birth weight

Exploring the Nutritional Potential of Wild Grass Fodder for Mega Herbivore (Elephas maximus) in the Foothills of Western Ghats

An elephant, being a mega herbivore, consumes large amounts of food. Due to the lack of availability of fodder inside the forest, the elephants move out of their habitat areas and also find agricultural crops attractive, which further results in man–animal conflict. To improve the elephant habitat area, the current study was conducted to assess the availability of native fodder grasses inside the Coimbatore Elephant Reserve, Western Ghats, from April 2021–April 2022. The area falls between 10°37′and 11°31′ North latitudes and 76°39′and 77°5′ East longitudes. It was approached in a systematic random sampling method. A total of 128 sample plots of 1 sq.m size were randomly placed, and the density of grass species was recorded in percentage (%). The collected samples were shade dried for one week, ground to pass through a 1 mm sieve, and stored in polythene bags. Furthermore, the samples were chemically analyzed to determine their nutritional values. The dry matter (DM) content of various grass fodder varied from 28.18% to 59.75%. The crude protein (CP) content differed between 5.94% and 11.94%. The highest CP was recorded in Cynodon dactylon (11.94%) and the least in Aristida setacea (5.94%). Ether extract content was found in the ranges of 1.00% to 5.00%. The acid detergent fibre (ADF) content of Aristida setacea (45.74%) was observed as the highest, whereas the lowest was observed in Oplismenus burmannii (26.78%), followed by Themeda triandra (26.85%), Heteropogon contortus (30.12%) and Enteropogon monostachyos (30.31%). The average neutral detergent fibre content of grass fodder was 52.27%, with a range of 37.89% (Oplismenus burmannii) to 67.87% (Cymbopogon martinii). The average total digestible nutrient (TDN) content of grass was 77.45%; relative forage quality (RFQ) exhibited wider variations among the grasses and ranged between 107.51 and 198.83. This study is a pioneer in evaluating the nutritional values of native grass fodder species for elephants in the Western Ghats. The study gives strategies for the selection of high nutritive fodder grass for the habitat improvement of elephants, and it also provides scientific and baseline information for the conservation of native grass fodder species in the Western Ghats