Structural, Optical, and Renewable Energy-Assisted Photocatalytic Dye Degradation Studies of ZnO, CuZnO, and CoZnO Nanostructures for Wastewater Treatment

Renewable energy can be harnessed from wastewater, whether from municipalities or industries, but this potential is often ignored. The world generates over 900 km3 of wastewater annually, which is typically treated through energy-consuming processes, despite its potential for energy production. Environmental pollution is a most important and serious issue for all and their adulterations to the aquatic system are very toxic in very low concentrations. Photocatalysis is a prominent approach to eliminating risky elements from the environment. The present study developed Zinc oxide (ZnO), Copper-doped Zinc oxide (CuZnO), and Cobalt-doped Zinc oxide (CoZnO) nanostructures (NSs) by facile hydrothermal route. The crystalline and structural stability of the synthesized nanostructures were evident from XRD and FESEM analysis. Metal, and oxygen bond and their interaction on the surfaces and their valency were explored from XPS spectra. Optical orientations and electron movements were revealed from UV-Visible analysis. After 100 min exposure time with 1 g of catalyst concentration 60%, 70%, and 89% of dye degraded, for dye concentration (5 mg/L to 50 mg/L), the huge variation observed (70% to 22%), (80% to 16%), (94% to 10%). The highest photodegradation rate (55%, 75%, 90%) was observed on pH~12 using ZnO, CoZnO, and CuZnO respectively. Photodegradation of methylene blue confirmed the largest surface area, rate of recombination, photo-excited charge carriers, photo-sensitivity range, and radical generations of ZnO, CuZnO, and CoZnO. The present study, therefore, suggested that CuZnO would be preferred to produce nanomaterials for industrial wastewater treatment like methylene

Mechanisms of Resistance to the Novel Antibiotic Combination Ceftazidme/Avibactam and to Avibavtam Alone in Salmonella Enterica Serovar Senftenberg

The use of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors combinations has been the most significant revolution to overcome β-lactamases resistance. In 2015, the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of ceftazidime/avibactam for infections caused by Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Only limited data are currently available for resistance to this combination. The study, for the first time, aims to examine mechanisms of resistance to avibactam and to ceftazidime/avibactam in Salmonella senftenberg. Bacteria were challenged with gradually increasing concentrations of either avibactam or ceftazidime/avibactam, and developed resistance to the drugs at 10-fold of the initial MIC after 43 serial transfers. Whole genome and RNA sequencing was applied to determine whether new genetic variations are associated with the resistance. No mutations or hyperproduction of β-lactamases were found. Acquisition of ceftazidime/avibactam resistance was associated with mutations in PBP 2 and 3, porin, and major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporter, whereas acquisition of avibactam resistance was associated with mutations in PBP2, S6 unit of 30S rRNA, MFS and ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Altogether, this study raises the concern regarding the ability of ceftazidime-susceptible bacteria to develop resistance to this novel combination, a resistance that is also correlated with cross-resistance to other antibiotics

The Effect of Sewak on Oral Microbiota Composition

Considerable data by many experimental studies have provided that the S. persica plant and its chewing sticks (sewak) display beneficial effects for oral hygiene. To find out more about the shadowy benefits of sewak, we hypothesized that sewak can be a natural therapeutic approach that controls the microbiota composition. Surveys and mouthwash samples with and without the use of sewak were obtained from six healthy randomly selected volunteers. Samples were processed and DNA isolated using QlAamp kit. 16S metagenomics sequencing library approach (Illumina) for sequencing the variable V3 and V4 domains of the 16S rRNA gene was used since purposes such as genus and species were needed in this study. Each samples were sequenced to a depth of 380,000 reads in the paired-end 2x300 read format. Taxonomic identification and statistical analysis revealed that after using the sewak treatment, some species decreased and other increased (P \u3c 0.05). However, when the p-value was adjusted using FDR, results indicated that no one of the bacteria species can be considered as statistically significant (FDR\u3e0.05). The comprehensive examination of the relationship of sewak and the oral microbiota demonstrates that there is no difference in the entire number of bacteria before and after treatment, based on analysis. It is possible that sewak use may reduce oral bacteria in a global, proportional manner, such that the microbiome approach could not detect such changes, since the method is designed to measure composition changes, not absolute changes

Viagra exposure effects on learning and memory, some neurotransmitters and oxidative indices in male mice

Background: Viagra is a white crystalline powder, with a molecular weight of 666.7, covered with a blue shell and takes the shape of a diamond or a rhombus. Male Swiss white mice were used to study the effect of Viagra on learning behavior, some neurotransmitters, and indicators of oxidative stress. In the Shuttle box, Water-maze, and T-Maze tests, Viagra -treated males showed decreased body weight and improved learning behavior. Aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of Viagra oral administration on learning behavior, neurotransmitters, and oxidative markers in male mice. Methods: In this study, Dopamine (DA), 5-hydroxyanisole (5-HA) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) were all downregulated. Biochemical assays such as glutathione (GSH) and enzyme activity of Glutathione S Transferase (GST), Catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Thiobarbituric acid relative substances (TBARS) was studied. Results: The results of this study show that the shuttle box test, Viagra exposure, water maize test, and t-maize test were all associated (p < 0.05). Exposure to Viagra decreased DA, 5-HT, AChE, GSH, GST, CAT, and SOD, although TBARS was significantly (p < 0.001) increased compared to their control groups. Conclusion: This study contained the necessary explanations that explain the causes of the effect of Viagra on learning and other data, depending on the results obtained and other previous studies in this field. In general, Viagra still needs more studies to detect its harmful effects on other aspects of human and animal health

Molecular dynamic and bioinformatic studies of metformin-induced ACE2 phosphorylation in the presence of different SARS-CoV-2 S protein mutations

The SARS-CoV-2 infection activates host kinases and causes high phosphorylation in both the host and the virus. There were around 70 phosphorylation sites found in SARS-CoV-2 viral proteins. Besides, almost 15,000 host phosphorylation sites were found in SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. COVID-19 is thought to enter cells via the well-known receptor Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the serine protease TMPRSS2. Substantially, the COVID-19 infection doesn’t induce phosphorylation of the ACE2 receptor at Serin-680(s680). Metformin's numerous pleiotropic properties and extensive use in medicine including COVID-19, have inspired experts to call it the “aspirin of the twenty-first century”. Metformin's impact on COVID-19 has been verified in clinical investigations via ACE2 receptor phosphorylation at s680. In the infection of COVID-19, sodium-dependent transporters including the major neutral amino acid (B0AT1) is regulated by ACE2. The structure of B0AT1 complexing with the COVID-19 receptor ACE2 enabled significant progress in the creation of mRNA vaccines. We aimed to study the impact of the interaction of the phosphorylation form of ACE2-s680 with wild-type (WT) and different mutations of SARS-CoV-2 infection such as delta, omicron, and gamma (γ) on their entrance of host cells as well as the regulation of B0AT1by the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2. Interestingly, compared to WT SARS-CoV-2, ACE2 receptor phosphorylation at s680 produces conformational alterations in all types of SARS-CoV-2. Furthermore, our results showed for the first time that this phosphorylation significantly influences ACE2 sites K625, K676, and R678, which are key mediators for ACE2-B0AT1 complex

Parrotfish: An overview of ecology, nutrition, and reproduction behaviour

The temporal and geographical variety of population dynamics in coral reef fish profoundly affects environmental resources.Parrotfishes are a group of about 90 fish species regarded as a family (Scaridae) or a subfamily (Scarinae) of the wrasses. The Indo-Pacific has the highest species richness in this category, with around 95 species. They are found in coral reefs, rocky coasts, and seagrass beds and can play a significant role in bioerosion. Most parrotfish species are herbivores, feeding mainly on epilithic algae. The development of parrotfishes is complex and accompanied by a series of changes in sex and color (polychromatism). In this review, the biological and ecological studies, the search for seasonal food, and finally, the breeding of parrotfish were shed light and clarified. Also modern tracking methods have been highlighted to monitor the migration of parrot fish. Finally, highlighting the sight of the annual seasonal stampede of parrotfish migration to Farasan Island

Antibiofilm Potential of Coelomic Fluid and Paste of Earthworm <i>Pheretima posthuma</i> (Clitellata, Megascolecidae) against Pathogenic Bacteria

Antibiotic drug resistance is a global public health issue that demands new and novel therapeutic molecules. To develop new agents, animal secretions or products are used as an alternative agent to overcome this problem. In this study, earthworm (Pheretima posthuma) coelomic fluid (PCF), and body paste (PBP) were used to analyze their effects as antibiofilm agents against four bacterial isolates MH1 (Pseudomonas aeruginosa MT448672), MH2 (Escherichia coli MT448673), MH3 (Staphylococcus aureus MT448675), and MH4 (Klebsiella pneumoniae MT448676). Coelomic fluid extraction and body paste formation were followed by minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), biofilm formation time kinetics, and an antibiofilm assay, using heat and cold shock, sunlight exposure auto-digestion, and test tube methods. The results showed that the MIC values of PCF and PBP against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, and E. coli bacterial isolates ranged from 50 to 100 μg/mL, while, the results related to biofilm formation for P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and K. pneumoniae strains were observed to be highly significantly increased (p E. coli produced a significant (p p > 0.05) antibiofilm activity against all the selected strains (MH1-MH4). At 50 μg/mL concentration, both PCF and PBP showed significant (p p p < 0.001) biofilm inhibition at 150 and 200 μg/mL concentrations. Moreover, more than 90% biofilm inhibition was observed at 200 μg/mL of PCF, while in the case of the PBP, <96% biofilm reduction (i.e., 100%) was also observed by all selected strains at 200 μg/mL. In conclusion, earthworm body fluid and paste have biologically active components that inhibit biofilm formation by various pathogenic bacterial strains. For future investigations, there is a need for further study to explore the potential bioactive components and investigate in depth their molecular mechanisms from a pharmaceutical perspective for effective clinical utilization

Biologically Reduced Zinc Oxide Nanosheets Using Phyllanthus emblica Plant Extract for Antibacterial and Dye Degradation Studies

The nanostructures synthesized using the green chemistry method have recently attracted the attention of scientists due to their significance in many scientific domains. This work provides an overview of the biosynthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanosheets (NSs) using Phyllanthus emblica plant (PEP) extract. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used to analyze the synthesized ZnO-NSs. Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of biosynthesized ZnO-NSs was performed. ZnO-NSs exhibit effective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (S. pyogenes and S. aureus) and Gram-negative (S. typhi and E. coli) bacterial strains. S. typhi is the most sensitive microbe towards ZnO-NSs and formed a 21 mm zone of inhibition (ZOI). ZnO-NSs are also tested as a photocatalyst in the degradation of methyl orange (MO) and rhodamine B (RB). The degradation rate of MO was 90%, and RB was 96% after being exposed to UV light for 120 min. The as-synthesized ZnO-NSs exhibited selective dye degradation and showed relatively better photocatalytic activity for positively charged (cationic) dyes. This work could lead to the fabrication of high-yield photocatalysts, which have the potential to degrade textile dyes from aqueous solution