Investigation of the Impact of Mycogenic Titanium and Selenium Nanoparticles on Fusarium Wilt Infection of Tomato Plant

We applied biosynthesized titanium and selenium nanoparticles, prepared using a fungal water extract of Trichoderma harzianum (T. harzianum), to eradicate tomota wilt infection. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-Ray analysis, and Transmission electron microscopy/X-ray diffraction (TEM/XRD) techniques were used to characterize the spherical metal nanoparticles, whose diameters were 16.0 nm for selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and 50.0 nm for titanium nanoparticles (TiNPs). This confirmed the efficient biosynthesis of the nanoparticles. Under greenhouse conditions, the effectiveness of TiNPs and SeNPs produced by nonpathogenic fungi (T. harzianum) against the pathogen responsible for the tomato wilt disease, Fusarium oxysporum (F. oxysporum), was studied. Based on the results, the most efficient method for combating the pathogen that causes tomato wilt was used in open fields, whereas pot studies were conducted in greenhouse conditions. All tested treatments considerably lowered tomato plant wilt disease in both the greenhouse and the open field. The disease severity was reduced by 20.4% using TiNPs at high concentrations of 150 ppm and by 41.5% using SeNPs. Compared to conventional antibiotics, the antibacterial activity assessment of the biosynthesized TiNPs and SeNPs revealed a significant effect versus pathogenic bacteria and fungi, with a negligible influence on the examined human and animal microflora. The findings showed that biosynthesized TiNPs and SeNPs can be applied to suppress the plant pathogen F. oxysporum in a way that is safe for the microflora of humans and animals. This is the first instance where the nanocidal activity of biological TiNPs and SeNPs has been used against the pathogen that causes tomato wilt

ESolvent-free, enzyme-catalyzed biodiesel production from mango, neem, and shea oils via response surface methodology

Mango, neem and shea kernels produce non-conventional oils whose potentials are not fully exploited. To give an added value to these oils, they were transesterified into biodiesel in a solvent-free system using immobilized enzyme lipozyme from Mucor miehei. The Doehlert experimental design was used to evaluate the methyl ester (ME) yields as influenced by enzyme concentration—EC, temperature—T, added water content—AWC, and reaction time—RT. Biodiesel yields were quantified by (1)H NMR spectroscopy and subsequently modeled by a second order polynomial equation with interactions. Lipozyme enzymes were more tolerant to high temperatures in neem and shea oils reaction media compared to that of mango oil. The optimum reaction conditions EC, T, AWC, and RT assuring near complete conversion were as follows: mango oil 7.25 %, 36.6 °C, 10.9 %, 36.4 h; neem oil EC = 7.19 %, T = 45.7 °C, AWC = 8.43 %, RT = 25.08 h; and shea oil EC = 4.43 %, T = 45.65 °C, AWC = 6.21 % and RT = 25.08 h. Validation experiments of these optimum conditions gave ME yields of 98.1 ± 1.0, 98.5 ± 1.6 and 99.3 ± 0.4 % for mango, neem and shea oils, respectively, which all met ASTM biodiesel standards

Knowledge levels on applications of radiation in medicine among medical practitioners in Ghana

The evaluation of medical practitioners’ knowledge levels of radiation and safety is essential for planning diagnostic procedures and treatment in radiation medicine. This study sought to identify levels of knowledge and the predictor variables influencing knowledge of medical practitioners on applications of radiation in medicine in Ghana. Online survey was conducted with Google Form consisting of 37-point questionnaire highlighting on physicians’ background information, professional experience, knowledge on radiation usage in medicine, radiation protection and safety. Evaluation of the data was performed by descriptive analysis using frequency distributions and percentages. Among 152 respondents who participated in the study, specialists and consultants made up a higher representation of 46.7%. Two-thirds (64.0%) of the respondents who had received refresher training in the application of radiation in medicine exhibited full knowledge in the field. Medical practitioners who had practiced between 21–25 years were also found to demonstrate full knowledge of the application of radiation in medicine, while 36.6% of those who had practiced for < 6 years demonstrated extensive knowledge. Majority of the medical practitioners, constituting 39.5%, exhibited full knowledge in medical radiation protection and safety. This level of knowledge was found higher than what was demonstrated for general and occupational radiation protection. With medical imaging forming a key component in the diagnosis of several medical conditions, education in the field of radiation usage and radiological protection and safety should be a subject of periodic training for medical practitioners regardless of their level of training or duration of practic

Combining Maternal and Post-Hatch Dietary 25-Hydroxycholecalciferol Supplementation on Broiler Chicken Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics

Dietary inclusion of the vitamin D3 (D3) metabolite, 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25OHD3), was demonstrated to improve broiler growth performance and breast meat yield. To assess the effect of combined maternal (MDIET) and post-hatch (PDIET) dietary 25OHD3 inclusion on broiler growth performance and carcass characteristics, a randomized complete block design experiment with a 2 &times; 2 factorial treatment structure was conducted. From 25 to 38 weeks of age, broiler breeder hens were provided with 1 of 2 MDIET formulated to contain: 5000 IU D3 (MCTL), or 2240 IU of D3 + 2760 IU of 25OHD3 per kg of feed (M25OHD3). Their chick offspring (n = 448; 224 per MDIET) hatched from eggs collected from 37 to 38 weeks of age were reared in 16 replicate pens with 7 birds per pen and fed 1 of 2 PDIET in 3 phases up to day 40 formulated to contain: 5000 IU of D3 per kg of feed (PCTL), or 2240 IU of D3 + 2760 IU of 25OHD3 per kg of feed (P25OHD3). No additive or synergistic effects of combining 25OHD3 inclusion in MDIET and PDIET were observed. Broilers from 25OHD3-fed hens (M25OHD3) were heavier on day 40 than those from hens fed only D3 (MCTL; 2.911 vs. 2.834 kg; p = 0.040). Tender weight (123 vs. 117 g) and yield (5.63 vs. 5.44%) were greater in the M25OHD3 broilers than the MCTL broilers (p = 0.006). Broilers fed 25OHD3 (P25OHD3) tended to have heavier breasts (637 vs. 615 g; p = 0.050), bone-in wings (215 vs. 210 g; p = 0.070), and boneless thighs (279 vs. 270 g; p = 0.078) compared with those fed only D3 (PCTL). Neither MDIET nor PDIET altered the severity of Wooden Breast and White Striping (p &ge; 0.106). Overall, including 25OHD3 in either the maternal or broiler diet increased broiler meat yield