Microwave-assisted functionalization of graphene oxide with amino acid behaviour on the chemical constituents and specific molecular pathways of pearl millet grains under saline conditions

abstract: Graphene-based nanomaterials received a lot of attention in agriculture. In this study, graphene oxide (GO) was modified with different amino acids (methionine and lysine) using a microwave approach, and yielded methionine on GO (Meth/GO), and lysine on GO (Lys/GO); The materials obtained had a significant impact on the colour, chemical components and molecular features of pearl millet grains grown under salt stress. Due to the effect of modified GO on the nutritious content of millet grains, its usage resulted in the homogeneity of the colour of the pearl millet grains to a great extent. Tannins and phytic acid contained in pearl millet grains, when ingested by humans or animals, can result as anti-nutritional factors, as they can form complexes with metal ions and vitamins, limiting the absorption of many molecules essential for nutrition. As a result, it is vital to reduce these substances. GO, Meth/GO, and Lys/GO all had a significant impact on the tannin content in the pearl millet, with reductions of 9.2 %, 32.76 %, and 26.54 %, respectively. Moreover, the phytic acid levels decreased by 16.4 %, 28.14 %, and 27.2 %, respectively. However, the total protein content increased by 28.7 %, 26.1 %, and 24.19%, when Meth/GO, Lys/GO, and GO were sprayed on plants respectively. The plant proteins that are ordinarily utilised to create cell components get a boost as a result of this behaviour. The total carbohydrate content increased by 40 %, 34 %, and 30 %, when Meth/GO, Lys/GO, and GO sprayed on vegetative part of plant, respectively. The findings above give a solid foundation for the development of nanomaterials and agricultural applications in the future. Furthermore, a genetic investigation revealed that the process of colour production is influenced by several genes

Caries experience of Egyptian adolescents: does the atraumatic restorative treatment approach offer a solution?

Contains fulltext : 95704.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence and severity of dental caries amongst Egyptian adolescents and the prevalence of carious lesions treatable through the atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) approach. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using a convenient sample procedure, two secondary schools with a dental clinic were selected (967 students, average age: 13.7 +/- 0.8 years, range: 12-15). Dental caries was diagnosed using the ART caries criteria, and plaque and calculus were assessed using the Green and Vermillion criteria amongst students grades 1-3 in the dental clinic by 3 calibrated examiners. The effect of the independent variables gender, age, tooth surface, jaw side (left or right) and type of jaw (mandible/maxilla) on dependent caries experience variables and D(2) and D(3) variables were tested using ANOVA. RESULTS: The prevalence of dental caries including enamel lesion (D(2)MFT) amongst the 967 students was 51.4% and that of dental caries excluding enamel lesions (D(3)MFT) was 38.1%. The mean D(2)MFT and D(3)MFT scores were 1.5 and 0.8, respectively. The percentage of teeth filled and extracted was low. Female students had statistically significantly higher mean D(3)MFT/S and D(2)MFT/S scores than males (p < 0.0001). The prevalence of cavitated carious lesions (D(3)) treatable through ART was 48% for score 2 and 28% for score 3. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the cavitated lesions were found untreated despite the presence of a dental clinic and a dentist on the school premises. The majority of cavitated lesions without pulp involvement could be treated using the preventive and restorative components of the ART approach

Patient-centred screening for primary immunodeficiency, a multi-stage diagnostic protocol designed for non-immunologists: 2011 update

Members of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) and other colleagues have updated the multi-stage expert-opinion-based diagnostic protocol for non-immunologists incorporating newly defined primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs). The protocol presented here aims to increase the awareness of PIDs among doctors working in different fields. Prompt identification of PID is important for prognosis, but this may not be an easy task. The protocol therefore starts from the clinical presentation of the patient. Because PIDs may present at all ages, this protocol is aimed at both adult and paediatric physicians. The multi-stage design allows cost-effective screening for PID of the large number of potential cases in the early phases, with more expensive tests reserved for definitive classification in collaboration with a specialist in the field of immunodeficiency at a later stage