Determination of the antioxidant properties of ethanol and water extracts from different parts of Teucrium parviflorum Schreber

This study was designed to examine in vitro antioxidant of extracts of Teucrium parviflorum Schreber. The plants were extracted successively in ethanol and water using soxhlet-apparatus. They were screened for possible antioxidant activity using the ABTS• (2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6- sulphonic acid)) radical scavenging capacity, DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity, superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity, hydrogen peroxide scavenging capacity, reducing power and metal chelating activities. These various antioxidant activities were compared with standard antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and α- tocopherol. The extracts of T. parviflorum showed strong antioxidant activity and effective antioxidant assay. This antioxidant property depends on concentration and increase with increased amount of sample. In addition, total phenolic compounds in the extracts of T. parviflorum were determined as pyrocatecol equivalents. The results obtained in the present study indicated that T. parviflorum is a potential source of natural antioxidant.Keywords: Teucrium parviflorum, antioxidant activity, medicinal plants, extract, flower, leaves

Results on light dark matter particles with a low-threshold CRESST-II detector

The CRESST-II experiment uses cryogenic detectors to search for nuclear recoil events induced by the elastic scattering of dark matter particles in CaWO$_4$ crystals. Given the low energy threshold of our detectors in combination with light target nuclei, low mass dark matter particles can be probed with high sensitivity. In this letter we present the results from data of a single detector module corresponding to 52 kg live days. A blind analysis is carried out. With an energy threshold for nuclear recoils of 307 eV we substantially enhance the sensitivity for light dark matter. Thereby, we extend the reach of direct dark matter experiments to the sub-region and demonstrate that the energy threshold is the key parameter in the search for low mass dark matter particles.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii: a descriptive study in a city hospital

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multidrug resistant <it>Acinetobacter baumannii</it>, (MRAB) is an important cause of hospital acquired infection. The purpose of this study is to determine the risk factors for MRAB in a city hospital patient population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study is a retrospective review of a city hospital epidemiology data base and includes 247 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii (AB) from 164 patients. Multidrug resistant <it>Acinetobacter baumannii </it>was defined as resistance to more than three classes of antibiotics. Using the non-MRAB isolates as the control group, the risk factors for the acquisition of MRAB were determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 247 AB isolates 72% (177) were multidrug resistant. Fifty-eight percent (143/247) of isolates were highly resistant (resistant to imipenem, amikacin, and ampicillin-sulbactam). Of the 37 patients who died with Acinetobacter colonization/infection, 32 (86%) patients had the organism recovered from the respiratory tract. The factors which were found to be significantly associated (p ≤ 0.05) with multidrug resistance include the recovery of AB from multiple sites, mechanical ventilation, previous antibiotic exposure, and the presence of neurologic impairment. Multidrug resistant Acinetobacter was associated with significant mortality when compared with sensitive strains (p ≤ 0.01). When surgical patients (N = 75) were considered separately, mechanical ventilation and multiple isolates remained the factors significantly associated with the development of multidrug resistant Acinetobacter. Among surgical patients 46/75 (61%) grew a multidrug resistant strain of AB and 37/75 (40%) were resistant to all commonly used antibiotics including aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, carbepenems, extended spectrum penicillins, and quinolones. Thirty-five percent of the surgical patients had AB cultured from multiple sites and 57% of the Acinetobacter isolates were associated with a co-infecting organism, usually a Staphylococcus or Pseudomonas. As in medical patients, the isolation of Acinetobacter from multiple sites and the need for mechanical ventilation were significantly associated with the development of MRAB.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The factors significantly associated with MRAB in both the general patient population and surgical patients were mechanical ventilation and the recovery of Acinetobacter from multiple anatomic sites. Previous antibiotic use and neurologic impairment were significant factors in medical patients. Colonization or infection with MRAB is associated with increased mortality.</p

TES-Based Light Detectors for the CRESST Direct Dark Matter Search

The CRESST experiment uses cryogenic detectors based on transition-edge sensors to search for dark matter interactions. Each detector module consists of a scintillating CaWO₄ crystal and a silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) light detector which operate in coincidence (phonon-light technique). The 40-mm-diameter SOS disks (2 g mass) used in the data taking campaign of CRESST-II Phase 2 (2014–2016) reached absolute baseline resolutions of σ = 4–7 eV. This is the best performance reported for cryogenic light detectors of this size. Newly developed silicon beaker light detectors (4 cm height, 4 cm diameter, 6 g mass), which cover a large fraction of the target crystal surface, have achieved a baseline resolution of σ = 5.8 eV. First results of further improved light detectors developed for the ongoing low-threshold CRESST-III experiment are presented. Keywords: Transition-edge sensor; Cryogenic light detector; Direct dark matter searc

Space technology capacity building in support of SDG 2030 through CubeSat SharjahSat-l

The SHARJAH-SAT-1 would be the first CubeSat mission to be developed by the Sharjah Academy for Astronomy, Space Sciences, and Technology (SAASST)students and researchers, with the aim of not only designing, fabricating, testing & launching the CubeSat itself, but also building the capacities and expertise for future SAASST CubeSat missions as well. For the project, SAASST is working in close collaboration with an experienced international partner, the Istanbul Technical University, Space Systems Design and Test Laboratory which has already developed and launched 5 CubeSats into low earth orbit. Overall, the project, puts the human capacity development in its center, in support of UN SDG 2030 for an equal world

Precision Measurement of the Boron to Carbon Flux Ratio in Cosmic Rays from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

Knowledge of the rigidity dependence of the boron to carbon flux ratio (B/C) is important in understanding the propagation of cosmic rays. The precise measurement of the B/C ratio from 1.9 GV to 2.6 TV, based on 2.3 million boron and 8.3 million carbon nuclei collected by AMS during the first 5 years of operation, is presented. The detailed variation with rigidity of the B/C spectral index is reported for the first time. The B/C ratio does not show any significant structures in contrast to many cosmic ray models that require such structures at high rigidities. Remarkably, above 65 GV, the B/C ratio is well described by a single power law R[superscript Δ] with index Δ=-0.333±0.014(fit)±0.005(syst), in good agreement with the Kolmogorov theory of turbulence which predicts Δ=-1/3 asymptotically.National Science Foundation (U.S.) (Grants 1455202 and 1551980)Wyle Research (Firm) (Grant 2014/T72497)United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA Earth and Space Science Fellowship Grant HELIO15F-0005