Application of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion to control foodborne bacteria such as listeria SP, and salmonella SP, on melon.

Listeria and Salmonella related recalls and outbreaks are of major concern to the melon industry. Cinnamon oil has shown its usefulness in food treatment due to strong antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial activities. However, its applications are limited due to poor solubility of cinnamon oil in water. Utilization of Cinnamon oil nanoemulsion may offer effective antimicrobial washing treatment to melon industry. The purpose of this study was to test the antimicrobial efficacy of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion on melons against major food borne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica. Different formulations of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion were made by ultrasonication using Tween 80 as an emulsifier. Nanoemulsion exhibiting the smallest oil droplets was applied. Oil droplets were characterized for particle size by dynamic light scattering. Microbroth dilution assay was performed on three strains each of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enterica to find out the antimicrobial efficacy of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion. Honeydew and cantaloupe were artificially inoculated with the strains mentioned above followed by treatment in nanoemulsion (control, 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5%) for one minute. Samples were dried and enumerated after one hour of treatment on selective media (PALCAM and XLD agar). The average diameter of nanoemulsion was 9.63??0.3nm. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of cinnamon oil nanoemulsion for both Listeria and Salmonella strains was 0.078% v/v and 0.039% v/v, respectively and the minimum bactericidal concentration was 0.078125% v/v for both. Compared to the water control, 0.5% nanoemulsion showed up to 7.7 and 5.5 log CFU/gm reductions in L. monocytogenes and S. enterica, respectively. The data suggests that cinnamon oil nanoemulsion can be used as an effective natural microbial control agent for melons

Socio-economic Factors Influencing Adoption of Fertilizer for Maize Production in Nepal: A Cast Study of Chitwan District

Soil fertility is considered as the most important constraint to increase maize production in Nepal. Although farmers generally apply farmyard manure available on their farms, there is increasing trend towards the use of fertilizers that is likely to augment maize production in Nepal. This study was carried out to identify the influence of socio-economic factors of the improved maize adopters on the decision to adopt fertilizers in the Chitwan district of Nepal, using the survey data collected from 117 farm households in May-June 2005. The impact of age, education, family size, farm size, extension service, credit use, manure application, off-farm income and timely irrigation availability on the adoption of fertilizers were analyzed using the Tobit regression model. The major factors having positive influence on use of fertilizer in maize production were found to be family size, farm size, credit use, off-farm income and irrigation availability. There is need of adequate irrigation facility and assured credit availability to the farmers in the study area. Further, creation of off-farm activities is crucial to obtain additional household income to fulfill cash requirements required for investment in improved technologies. The present study emphasize the provision of technical support via training, seminars, field demonstrations to increase the adoption of fertilizers to improve maize productivity and consequent food security in Nepal.Maize, Soil fertility, Food security, Tobit model, International Development,

Exploring the Impact of Micro-plastics on Soil Health and Ecosystem Dynamics: A Comprehensive Review

Microplastics, defined as particles measuring less than 5 mm, have emerged as widespread environmental pollutants, prompting concerns regarding their impact on soil ecosystems. This review investigates microplastics' presence, movement, and effects on soil health and ecosystem dynamics while highlighting their diverse sources, including industrial production and the breakdown of larger plastic materials. Despite their ubiquity, a significant gap exists in our understanding of the consequences of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems, particularly within soils. The findings of this review article revealed that microplastics exert notable influences on soil properties, altering bulk density, aggregation, and water-holding capacity, which may have significant implications for soil biota and plant vitality. Furthermore, microplastics also carry toxic substances, complicating their environmental impact. The effects on soil microorganisms and soil-dwelling fauna, such as earthworms, underscore the intricate relationships within soil ecosystems. Additionally, microplastics can interact with other soil pollutants, potentially amplifying their adverse effects. The long-term impacts of microplastics on soil health remain uncertain, underscoring the imperative for sustained research endeavours. Challenges persist, including the absence of standardized methodologies for microplastic extraction and identification in soils, which hampers our ability to understand their presence and effects comprehensively. Furthermore, the lack of regulatory frameworks complicates managing and mitigating microplastic pollution. Future research should adopt a holistic approach, considering diverse microplastic types and applications. Both field and laboratory experiments are essential for accurately capturing the varied influences of microplastics. Efforts should concentrate on understanding the occurrence of microplastics, developing reliable detection methods, and exploring their interactions with other pollutants, especially in terrestrial ecosystems. In conclusion, mitigating microplastic pollution requires multifaceted strategies informed by ongoing research efforts and public awareness campaigns. We can effectively address the challenges posed by microplastic contamination in soil ecosystems through concerted action and comprehensive understanding

Structures of Deoxyribonuclease I from Different Mammalian Sources

Biochemistr

Purification and Characterization of Ovine Pancreatic Deoxyribonuclease

Biochemistr

Predictive Factors for Post-Operative Bleeding in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy.

Introduction: Post-operative bleeding is a serious complication necessitating prompt attention inPercutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL). A number of factors dictate the severity of post-PCNL bleeding.Identification of these risk factors helps prevent bleeding complications. Methods: In this observationalcross-sectional study, a total of 126 patients with renal stones >10mm or stag-horn stones underwent PCNL.All the relevant pre- and intra-operative factors were noted and analyzed. Hemoglobin differences betweenpre- and post-operative levels were considered for the evaluation of blood loss. Univariate and multivariablelogistic regression analysis was done. The strength of association was examined using Odds Ratio and95% confidence intervals derived from the logistic regression. A p value <0.05 was considered statisticallysignificant. Results: The mean age of the patients was 31.9 ±4.47 years. The mean drop in hemoglobinwas 1.83 ±0.98 gm/dl. Age, stone size, number of tracts, size of Amplatz sheath and number of stonessignificantly affected the blood loss in univariate analysis. Among the variables mentioned above only, thenumber of stones could maintain the significance in multivariable analysis (p<0.05). The number of stonesincrease the risk of bleeding post PCNL by 4.4 times. Conclusion: Stone size, number of tracts, size ofAmplatz sheath and the number of stones significantly affect the blood loss post PCNL. Identification ofthese risk factors should be considered for minimizing bleeding in PCNL

Comparative evaluation of analgesic efficacy of tramadol and diclofenac-sodium in post-operative orthopedic patients

Background: Post-operative pain management is an important consideration in the orthopedic department. The purpose of this study was to compare the analgesic efficacy of tramadol with diclofenac sodium in patients with postoperative orthopedic pain.Methods: A hospital based, prospective, observational study was undertaken in Department of Orthopedics for a period of one year. A group of 60 patients having post-operative pain intensity assessed as 6cm or more on a 10cm visual analogue scale (VAS) were assigned to receive either tramadol thrice a day (n=30) or diclofenac sodium thrice a day (n=30). Both drugs were administered parenterally for initial 24hr, then orally for next 96 hr. The primary efficacy outcome measures were pain intensity difference assessed at 2hr, 4hr, 8hr, 16hr, 24hr, 32hr, 40hr, 48hr, 56hr, 64hr, 72hr, 80hr, 96hr, 104hr, 112hr and 120hr using a VAS and sum of pain intensity differences assessed at 8hr, 24hr, 48hr, 72hr, 96hr and 120hr whereas secondary efficacy measures included maximum fall in pain intensity, number of patients who required rescue medication and their quality of sleep in the night.Results: Mean pain intensity differences assessed on 10cm VAS were significantly better for tramadol group compared to diclofenac group at all the time points except 88 hr. Sum of pain intensity differences over 8hr, 24hr, 48hr, 72hr, 96hr and 120 hr for the tramadol group was significantly superior than diclofenac group. Maximum fall in pain intensity score was also significantly superior in the tramadol group as compared to the diclofenac group. However, no patients required rescue medication in either of the groups. Patient’s quality of sleep improved with both drugs but tramadol produced significantly better quality of sleep every night than did diclofenac. Both the study medications produced effective analgesia and were well tolerated with no incidence of serious adverse effects throughout the study.Conclusions: Tramadol has a more pronounced analgesic effect than diclofenac. Thus, tramadol can be considered as an effective alternative to traditional NSAIDs in the treatment of post-operative pain

Assessment of Surface Water Quality by Using Water Quality Index of Sanbarish Pond of Morang District, Nepal

A study of surface water of Sanbarish pond has been carried out to examine the quality for drinking and other domestic purpose as well as to evaluate the water pollution status of wetland on the basis of the presence of different physicochemical and microbiological parameters. For calculating the WQI, the following 11 parameters have been considered: Temperature (ambient and water), pH, turbidity, TDS (Total Dissolved Solid), Cl- (chloride), EC (Electric Conductivity), DO (Dissolved Oxygen), TH (Total Hardness), PO4–P (Phosphate – phosphorus), NO3-N (Nitrate – nitrogen), COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand).  The WQI for these samples has been found to be mainly from the higher values of turbidity, DO and PH of the wetland water. The result of WQI has indicated the calculated value (ΣSIi = 95.59) showed the good quality for drinking as per the classification given and needs some proper treatment before consumption, and it also needs to be protected from the risk of contamination. The mean value of fecal coli form recorded was 1166.67 MPN/l00 ml which was crossed the WHO guide line

A NOVEL APPROACH TO INCREASE THE BIOAVAILABILITY OF CANDESARTAN CILEXETIL BY PRONIOSOMAL GEL FORMULATION: IN-VITRO AND IN-VIVO EVALUATION

Objective: The oral bioavailability of Candesartan cilexetil is less (<15%), so in this study an approach has been made to increase its bioavailability by proniosomal gel formulation.Methods: The proniosomal formulation of Candesartan cilexetil was prepared by slurry method, using span 60 and Tween 60 as non-ionic surfactants, maltodextrin as carrier and cholesterol and soya lecithin as stabilizers. Prepared gel formulations were evaluated for compatibility study, entrapment efficiency, vesicle size, surface morphology, in-vitro diffusion studies, in-vitro skin permeation studies, in-vivo pharmacokinetics studies, various release kinetic studies and stability studies.Results: FT-IR study showed no interaction between drugs and other excipients, drugs and excipients are compatible. Mean vesicles size of proniosome derived niosome was found in the range of 16.34 µm-32.48 µm and 7.25-16.45 µm before and after shaking. An optimized formulation A3 containing a 2:1 ratio of span 60 and cholesterol showed maximum entrapment (86.17%) and in-vitro drug release (93.8%) compared to other formulations. In-vitro skin permeation studies were carried out using Albino rat skin and results showed that formulation A3 exhibited 88.65% drug permeation in a steady-state manner over a period of 24 h with a flux value of 1.94 µg/cm2/h and enhancement ratio of 3.73. In-vivo pharmacokinetics studies of proniosomal gel formulation A3 showed a significant increase in bioavailability (1.425 folds) compared with an oral formulation of Candesartan cilexetil. Stability studies showed that proniosomal gel formulation was stable throughout its study period.Conclusion: Physiochemically stable Candesartan cilexetil proniosomal gel was formulated, which could deliver significant amount of the drug across the skin in a steady-state manner for the prolong period of time in the treatment of hypertension.Â