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Biology is a study of living objects and their life processes. It examines all aspects of living organisms such as their occurrence, classification, internal and external structure, nutrition, reproduction, inheritance, etc. The term “biology” is commonly replaced by the terms “life sciences” and “biological sciences.” There are dozens of branches of biology. Some of the major ones include:
Biology and Life Sciences
Abstract
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are the most significant disinfectants utilised to control the contamination of Staphylococcus aureus in food establishments. S. aureus is a significant pathogen that carries genes responsible for resistance to QACs, which pose a risk to public health and food safety. The objective of the study was to investigate the prevalence of QAC genes (qacA/B, qacC, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr) and benzalkonium minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values in S. aureus strains isolated from food products and food production facilities (n = 200). The analysis results indicated that the qacC gene was the most frequently detected, with a prevalence of 12%. The qacA/B, qacG, qacH, qacJ, and smr genes were identified at frequencies of 2%, 3%, 1%, 4.5%, and 5%, respectively. The highest MIC level was identified in the surface sample, which carried the qacG gene, at a concentration of 6.25 μg mL−1. The study's results highlight the potential risks associated with disinfectant resistance in food establishments. To prevent the transfer of disinfectant resistance genes, which have become a global risk, it is imperative that the rules of disinfectant usage are observed rigorously and that scientific research in this field is diversified.
Abstract
Bifidobacteria can maintain the ecological balance of intestinal microorganisms and are closely linked to the onset and progression of acute enteritis. Present research aimed to investigate the alleviation of DSS-induced acute enteritis by bifidobacteria. In vivo colonoscopy was performed in mice to observe the colorectal mucosa and the pathological damage of colon tissue and the colonic expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, ZO-1) and inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). The colon mucosa tissue samples were collected for bacterial 16S DNA sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. The intervention of bifidobacteria could effectively alleviate the trend of weight loss and colonic trauma in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis. The bifidobacteria effectively restored expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-1, and ZO-1) and decreased expression of pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1b, IL-6). Bifidobacterium longum proved to be the most effective (P < 0.05). The altered composition of gut microbiota was reflected in the increase of the relative abundances of Dubosiella spp. in the B. longum treated group. The results suggested that bifidobacteria could repair intestinal barrier function, relieve the colon inflammation, and improve intestinal microbiota disorder; and B. longum demonstrated the best efficacy in mice with DSS-induced acute enteritis.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) levels directly affect the production and health of crops. Making use of a database of the usefulness of using the 350–2,500 nm Near Infra Red (NIR) spectroscopy data range on 200 soil samples from the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh was evaluated in this study. The more sophisticated Artificial Neural Network, to choose the spectral components that were used to forecast SOC, Random Forest (RF) and Ensemble Lasso-Ridge Regression (ELRR) were utilized. In the preprocessing, the inversion derivative, logarithmic(log) derivative, and logarithmic base to 10(log10x) derivatives were employed to duplicate the spectrum wavelength. The main characteristic of spectrum wavelength for SOC were found to be within the range of 350 and 450 nm, per the results. The best accurate estimation of SOC content was obtained by combining the suggested DSANN or Dropout Sequential ANN technique with the Log10x pre-processed data. The R-squared (R2), RMSE, and RPIQ (Ratio of Performance in Inter Quartile Distance) values for the testing dataset were 0.83, 0.08, and 4.32, respectively.
Abstract
Four new Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) species are described from South America and South-East Asia based on the collection of the Natural History Museum, London, UK. Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) salebrosa sp. nov. was collected in Malaysia, Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) bakerae sp. nov. was found in Sarawak (Malaysia), Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) microseta sp. nov. is described from Guyana and Rotundabaloghia (Circobaloghia) peritremata sp. nov. was reported from Borneo (Indonesia).
Abstract
Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) autoantibody syndrome is an emerging clinical entity that has been associated with disseminated non-tuberculous mycobacterial infection (dNTM) particularly in healthy young people, a population not previously thought to be at particular risk. A 29-year-old South-East Asian man presented with several weeks of fever, cough, lymphadenopathy, and constitutional symptoms while working on an international cargo ship, deteriorating rapidly with a sepsis-like syndrome. Eventually lymph node and sputum cultures revealed a diagnosis of dNTM infection with growth of both Mycobacterium persicum and Mycobacterium abscessus. He was commenced on rituximab as well as combination anti-mycobacterial therapy with good clinical response. This case highlights some of the difficulties faced by patients with dNTM in the context of IFN-γ autoantibodies, particularly delayed diagnosis, and lack of evidence base surrounding optimal management. Further research into long-term outcomes and treatment is required as well as increased awareness among clinicians.
Abstract
Sugar beet (Beta vulgaris) is a strategic agricultural product in Iran, meanwhile several pests cause damage to the crop and reduce its yield. Sowing dates and planting methods might have influence on the pest population and damages. Thus, current research was carried out for studying the planting methods and date of sugar beet sowing under field conditions. The treatments were 1) sowing direct seed (SDG1 = on time-planted in April 24th, SDG2 = delay time-planted sugar beets in June 12th), 2) planting seedling (SDG3 = June 11th).
The observations for record of data were carried out at weekly intervals from germination stage or establishment of seedling up to maturity in August 27th. Results revealed that the mean injuries of pest insects especially Agrotis segetum Schiff.; Chaetocnema tibialis Illiger; Conorhynchus brevirostris Gyllenhal; Spodoptera exigua Hübner and Scorbipalpa ocellatella Boyd. were significantly different in various sowing date and methods. The incidence of these pests was relatively low during the first season than the second one. The cultivation of transplanting seedling could significantly reduce the density of the pest insects and decrease crop injury rather than others. Overall, due to the annual increasing of the temperature as global warming and thus increasing insect pests and use of pesticides; transplanting seedling could use as a non-chemical method in management of sugar beet pest insects.
Abstract
The present work evaluates the effect of the incorporation of 6% carnauba wax (CW) and 7% monoglyceride (MG) oleogels for production of a healthy lipid mixture (linseed and sunflower oils) oleogels as a fat replacer at 30, 50, and 70% in hamburger formulation. Hamburgers' fatty acid composition, cooking loss, fat absorption, and texture and oxidative stabilities were evaluated. Incorporation of oleogels in hamburger formulation resulted in a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in amounts of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), as well as a decrease in the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acids and atherogenic indices, and an increase in linoleic and linolenic acids (PUFAs) content. Substitution of animal fat with CW and MG based oleogels improved the manufactured hamburgers' quality by reducing cooking loss and fat absorption. In addition, the use of oleogel improved the oxidative stability during the storage of burgers. The lower hardness of oleogels compared to animal fats, as well as their nutritional and technological properties, make them a desirable candidate for animal fat substitution.
Abstract
Ophelimus maskelli (Ashmead, 1900) (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is an invasive species that has spread to Eucalyptus in the recent years in several countries, particularly in the Mediterranean and Africa, causing significant damage to Eucalyptus plantations and nurseries. The present work consists of, firstly, a study focussing on the incidence of infestation and the population dynamics of Ophelimus maskelli on Eucalyptus camalduliensis (Myrtaceae) and secondly, a study evaluating the parasitism of this pest by Closterocerus chamaeleon (Girault, 1922) (Hymenoptera) during two years (2019 and 2020) in two different forests in the region of Oued Smar (Algiers). The study revealed that the incidence of infestations is very high and Closterocerus chamaeleon, the parasitoid of Ophelimus maskelli used in several countries successfully, is present with a considerable rate of parasitism in the two sites; these results are discussed. This invasive species, which has spread in the recent years, requires further investigation in order to develop effective pest management methods that could possibly limit its spread.
Abstract
Pathogenicity test was conducted of three beetroot (Beta vulgaris) cultivars using five different inocula of Meloidogyne incognita and Pseudomonas syringae pv. aptata. Plant growth parameters, chlorophyll and carotenoid contents were reduced significantly over control when 2000 or more second stage juveniles (J2) of M. incognita or 10.0 mL or more P. syringae pv. aptata per kg soil were inoculated in cultivar Rosy Red 555 and Ruby Queen while in Red Express 505, 4000 or more J2 of M. incognita or 20.0 mL or more P. syringae pv. aptata caused significant reductions. A significant increase in proline in Rosy Red 555 and Ruby Queen was observed when 2000 or more J2 of M. incognita or 10.0 mL or more P. syringae pv. aptata were inoculated while in Red Express 505, 4000 or more J2 of M. incognita or 20 mL or more P. syringae pv. aptata caused significant increase. Galling and nematode population was increased with the increase in inoculum level of M. incognita. Bacterial leaf spot indices caused by P. syringae pv. aptata was also increased with the increase in inoculum level of bacterial pathogen. Leaf spot indices were recorded 1–5 scale in different cultivars.
Abstract
This work aimed to investigate interactions between antibody-opsonized SARS-CoV-2 and monocytes enriched from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) to determine whether antibody dependent enhancement might contribute to the pathophysiology of COVID-19. Pre-incubation of SARS-CoV-2 with sera from hospitalized COVID-19 patients led to significantly increased virus uptake and viral replication in monocytes. Remarkably, SARS-CoV-2 pre-incubated with sera from patients with severe COVID-19 but not those with mild disease or post vaccination strongly increased IL-6 secretion by monocytes. Antibody dependent viral uptake was partially inhibited by monoclonal anti-FcγRIIa antibody whereas IL-6 secretion was completely abolished. FcγRIIa preferentially binds IgG2, and sera from patients with severe COVID-19 contained lower IgG2 levels as compared to mild COVID-19 cases whereas IgG1 levels were increased. These data suggests that FcγRIIa-mediated binding of antibody-opsonized SARS-CoV-2 critically impacts monocytic inflammatory cytokine release and COVID-19 pathophysiology.
