Focused–type ultrasound extraction of phenolic acids from Q.Infectoria galls: process modelling and sequential optimization

Phenolic acids from Q.Infectoria (QI) galls were extracted using focused–type ultrasound extraction method and further optimized using sequential optimization by response surface methodology (RSM). Different independent variables of sonication time, A (6–10 h), solvent concentration, B (0.05–0.15 M), ratio, C (1:05–1:15), duty cycle, D (30–50 %) and temperature, E (60–80 °C) were first screened via full factorial design (FFD) and the obtained results indicated that sonication time, ratio and temperature were the most significant variables in attaining higher yields. The significant curvature from focused–type ultrasound performance provides insights to a subsequent optimization of the factorial model via face–centred central composite design (FCCCD). The later results revealed that temperature highly impacted the yield with highest contribution percentage of 56.76 %. Notably, maximum extraction yield of 4119.77 mg/g was achieved at optimum condition of 9 h sonication time, ratio of 1:6 and temperature of 75 °C. Besides, Fick’s model successfully promotes diffusivity and appropriately foreseen that temperature factor governed the extraction process from QI galls. Relevant activation energy of 83.39 J/mol, along with the thermodynamic factors which include activation enthalpy (ΔH*) and activation Gibbs free energy (ΔG*), affirmed the extraction process was endothermic and non-spontaneous in identity

Intensified DES mediated ultrasound extraction of tannic acid from onion peel

Ultrasound–assisted extraction using deep eutectic solvent (DES) was performed to extract tannic acid from onion peel. Notably, DES is an excellent extraction agent, which yielded 641.16 ± 0.01 μg/g of tannic acid compared to the extraction using a conventional solvent (368.99 ± 0.02 μg/g). Subsequently, the research was conducted based on several exploited parameters and achieved the highest extraction yield (1705.79 ± 0.01 μg/g) at the DES ratio of 1:1 (mass ratio of choline chloride to urea), solid to solvent ratio of 1:10 and duty cycle of 10%. The onion sample exhibited higher antioxidant capacity than standard ascorbic acid, which was expressed in the lower values of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) at 7.70 ± 1.12 and 10.14 ± 0.11 mg/ml, respectively. Moreover, the Fick's model successfully forecasted that diffusivity is the controlling factor in the extraction of tannic acid via the DES mediated ultrasound–assisted extraction method

International multicenter survey on screening and confirmatory testing in primary aldosteronism

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is one of the most frequent causes of secondary hypertension. Although clinical practice guidelines recommend a diagnostic process, details of the steps remain incompletely standardized. Design: In the present SCOT-PA survey, we have investigated the diversity of approaches utilized for each diagnostic step in different expert centers through a survey using Google questionnaires. A total of 33 centers from 3 continents participated. Results: We demonstrated a prominent diversity in the conditions of blood sampling, assay methods for aldosterone and renin, and the methods and diagnostic cutoff for screening and confirmatory tests. The most standard measures were modification of antihypertensive medication and sitting posture for blood sampling, measurement of plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) and active renin concentration by chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay, a combination of aldosterone-to-renin ratio with PAC as an index for screening, and saline infusion test in a seated position for confirmatory testing. The cutoff values for screening and confirmatory testing showed significant variation among centers. Conclusions: Diversity of the diagnostic steps may lead to an inconsistent diagnosis of PA among centers and limit comparison of evidence for PA between different centers. We expect the impact of this diversity to be most prominent in patients with mild PA. The survey raises 2 issues: the need for standardization of the diagnostic process and revisiting the concept of mild PA. Further standardization of the diagnostic process/criteria will improve the quality of evidence and management of patients with PA.Metabolic health: pathophysiological trajectories and therap

Socializing One Health: an innovative strategy to investigate social and behavioral risks of emerging viral threats

In an effort to strengthen global capacity to prevent, detect, and control infectious diseases in animals and people, the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Emerging Pandemic Threats (EPT) PREDICT project funded development of regional, national, and local One Health capacities for early disease detection, rapid response, disease control, and risk reduction. From the outset, the EPT approach was inclusive of social science research methods designed to understand the contexts and behaviors of communities living and working at human-animal-environment interfaces considered high-risk for virus emergence. Using qualitative and quantitative approaches, PREDICT behavioral research aimed to identify and assess a range of socio-cultural behaviors that could be influential in zoonotic disease emergence, amplification, and transmission. This broad approach to behavioral risk characterization enabled us to identify and characterize human activities that could be linked to the transmission dynamics of new and emerging viruses. This paper provides a discussion of implementation of a social science approach within a zoonotic surveillance framework. We conducted in-depth ethnographic interviews and focus groups to better understand the individual- and community-level knowledge, attitudes, and practices that potentially put participants at risk for zoonotic disease transmission from the animals they live and work with, across 6 interface domains. When we asked highly-exposed individuals (ie. bushmeat hunters, wildlife or guano farmers) about the risk they perceived in their occupational activities, most did not perceive it to be risky, whether because it was normalized by years (or generations) of doing such an activity, or due to lack of information about potential risks. Integrating the social sciences allows investigations of the specific human activities that are hypothesized to drive disease emergence, amplification, and transmission, in order to better substantiate behavioral disease drivers, along with the social dimensions of infection and transmission dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is critical to achieving health security--the protection from threats to health-- which requires investments in both collective and individual health security. Involving behavioral sciences into zoonotic disease surveillance allowed us to push toward fuller community integration and engagement and toward dialogue and implementation of recommendations for disease prevention and improved health security

Chitosan-functionalized Ag nanoparticles for degradation of methylene blue: effect of chitosan pre-treatment

Coloured wastewater discharge mainly from textile industries will affect the water source and became pollution. Methylene blue is one of common dyes exist in every textile industries. Silver is known as a photocatalyst for the removal of environmental contaminants. Due to high tendency to agglomeration happened, biomaterial was used to support the metal which is chitosan. In this research, chitosan will be treated with different condition by using different type of chemical followed by preparation of AgO/Chitosan. From FTIR study, found that existence of AgO bound with chitosan. Photocatalytic process of methylene blue clearly inllutrates that NaOH treated chitosan was very active for the photo degradation of methylene blue

A job demand-resource model of satisfaction with work-family balance among academic faculty: mediating roles of psychological capital, work-to-family conflict, and enrichment

Using data from 450 public sector faculty members, a job demand–resource model of antecedents of satisfaction with work–family balance (balance satisfaction) was tested using PLS SEM. To understand the factors and processes that shape up balance satisfaction, the mediating variables in the model were psychological capital, work-to-family conflict, and work-to-family enrichment. Hypothesized partial mediation model was a better fit when we added cross-over paths between job demands and work-to-family enrichment and between job resources and work-to-family conflict. Job demands had both direct effect as well as an indirect effect on balance satisfaction via work-to-family conflict and work-to-family enrichment but not via psychological capital as a single mediator or one of the two serial mediators. Job resources had a direct effect and an indirect effect on balance satisfaction via work-to-family enrichment and work-to-family conflict and psychological capital. However, cross-over indirect effect was lower than differential salient hypothesized relationships. Importance performance analysis revealed work-to-family enrichment, job demands, psychological capital, and job resources as the most important predictors of balance satisfaction, work-to-family conflict, work-to-family enrichment, and psychological capital, respectively. The study found the importance of psychological capital as a developable personality resource along with contextual factors in shaping work–family outcomes. Several implications for theory and practice are also discussed

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles in green binarysolvent for degradation of 2,4-d herbicide:optimization and kinetic studies

In this study, well-dispersed and diminutive Ag nanoparticles have been successfully synthesized in binary solvent of Orthosiphon stamineus (OS) leaves extract and ionic liquids (ILs) via electrochemical method. ILs namely [BMIM Tf2N], [BMIM BF4] and [EMIM EtSO4] were used as solvent in the synthesis process to produce AgTf2N, AgBF4, and AgEtSO4. The characterization of Ag nanoparticles revealed that the particle size of the silver nanoparticles can be easily altered depending on the size of IL alkyl chain and anion, to produce ultrafine particles ranging from 8 to 25 nm. Meanwhile, the photocatalytic activity of AgTf2N nanoparticles effectively degraded the highest amount of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) herbicide at 65.61%. The optimized model gave high removal percentage of 2,4-D at 97.80% (pH = 3.24; catalyst dosage = 0.009 g/L; 2,4-D concentration = 8.15 mg L−1) with validation experiments of 1.28% error. Investigation of kinetic reaction showed the applicability of pseudo-first order kinetic to the process of 2,4-D degradation (R2 > 0.98) which positively predicted the constant elimination amount of 2,4-D throughout the photocatalytic process. Overall, the studies construed the crucial role of binary solvent in synthesizing and controlling the size of Ag nanoparticles for pollutant degradation

Cymbopogon nardus Mediated Synthesis of Ag Nanoparticles for the Photocatalytic Degradation of 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic Acid

Advanced extraction method such as simultaneous ultrasonic–hydrodistillation (UAE–HD) extraction method has been proved to increased extraction yield of plant material yet the application of this method in the preparation of metal nanoparticles has not been studied. In this study, Cymbopogon nardus (C.N) extracted via UAE-HD extraction method was used to synthesis silver (Ag) nanoparticles. XRD and TEM analysis confirms the formation of spherical shape Ag nanoparticles with size ranging between 10-50 nm. FTIR spectra suggest the presence of bioactive compounds in the C.N leaves extract that may responsible to the stabilization and reduction of Ag ions (Ag+) to metallic Ag nanoparticles (Ag0). The TPC analysis successfully proved that huge number of phenolic compound greatly involved in the nanoparticles synthesis process. Next, the catalytic activity of the synthesized Ag nanoparticles was tested towards the degradation of 2,4-Dicholorophenoxyacetic acid herbicide with remarkable degradation performance up to 98%. Kinetic study confirms that surface reaction was the controlling step of the catalytic process

Facile Electro-Assisted Green Synthesis of Size-Tunable Silver Nanoparticles and Its Photodegradation Activity

An eco-benign procedure was developed to synthesize ultrafine and discrete spherical shape silver nanoparticles (5–20 nm) in the presence of ionic liquid. Different types of leaves extract, including Cymbopogon nardus, Polygonum minus, Allium Cepa, and Petroselinum crispum, were used as a green reducing and capping agents for the synthesis process. The Ag nanoparticles were denoted as AgCN, AgPM, AgAC, and AgPC, respectively. Notably, it was demonstrated that the Ag nanoparticles' size could simply be altered by varying the amount of total phenolic content (TPC) using different leaves. It was indicated from the characterization results that the AgPC nanoparticles’ size was nine-fold smaller compared to the conventional Ag nanoparticles due to the high amount of total phenolic compounds (TPC) in the Petroselinum crispum. The results also revealed that ionic liquid and phenolic compounds had a synergistic effect on reducing silver ions (Ag+) into silver nanoparticles (Ag) and the stabilization of the nanoparticles. The order obtained for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) was AgPC > AgPM > AgCN > AgAC > Ag was influenced by a large amount of TPC and led to a decrease in particle size and enhanced photocatalytic activity. The AgPC remained effective and stable even after five subsequent cycles