Highly effective water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) waste-based functionalized sustainable green adsorbents for antibiotic remediation from wastewater.

Azithromycin (AZIM) is considered as one of the most frequently prescribed antibiotics (ABs) in the world by medical professionals. This study explored, two novel, cheap and environmentally beneficial adsorbents i.e.

Risk assessment of heavy metals in marine fish and seafood from Kedah and Selangor coastal regions of Malaysia: a high-risk health concern for consumers.

The heavy metals namely Fe, As, Cu, Cd, and Pb were investigated in two marine fishes silver pomfret (Pampus argentus) and torpedo scad (Megalaspis cordyla), and three seafoods sibogae squid (Loligo sibogae), Indian white prawn (Fenneropenaeus indicus), and mud crab (Scylla serrata) by using inductively coupled plasma spectrophotometer (ICP-MS) from two renowned fish harvesting coastal area of Malaysia named as Kedah and Selangor. Among the target heavy metals, highest mean concentration of As and Fe were found in Scylla serrata (72.14±7.

Salinity-induced fluorescent dissolved organic matter influence co-contamination, quality and risk to human health of tube well water, southeast coastal Bangladesh.

Salinity in the drinking water of coastal Bangladesh results from a severe socio-economic, environmental and human health safety crisis. In this paper, we analyzed 120 tube well water samples from southeast coastal Bangladesh for eight trace metals (TMs). Contamination, quality and risk of TMs to human health of tube well water influenced by salinity-induced fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) were assessed using multiple pollution indices, GW quality index (GWQI), traditional health risk, and PARAFAC models.

Isolation and characterization of chromium(VI)-reducing bacteria from tannery effluents and solid wastes.

In the present investigation, five novel Cr(VI) reducing bacteria were isolated from tannery effluents and solid wastes and identified as Kosakonia cowanii MKPF2, Klebsiella pneumonia MKPF5, Acinetobacter gerneri MKPF7, Klebsiella variicola MKPF8 and Serratia marcescens MKPF12 by 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. The maximum tolerance concentration of Cr(VI) as KCrO of the bacterial isolates was varying up to 2000 mg/L. Among the investigated bacterial isolates, A.

Nonlinear Focal Modulation Microscopy.

We demonstrate nonlinear focal modulation microscopy (NFOMM) to achieve superresolution imaging. Traditional approaches to superresolution that utilize point scanning often rely on spatially reducing the size of the emission pattern by directly narrowing (e.g.

Application of a reflective microscope objective for multiphoton microscopy.

Reflective objectives (ROs) mitigate chromatic aberration across a broad wavelength range. Yet, a systematic performance characterisation of ROs has not been done. In this paper, we compare the performance of a 0.

Application of an advanced maximum likelihood estimation restoration method for enhanced-resolution and contrast in second-harmonic generation microscopy.

Second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy has gained popularity because of its ability to perform submicron, label-free imaging of noncentrosymmetric biological structures, such as fibrillar collagen in the extracellular matrix environment of various organs with high contrast and specificity. Because SHG is a two-photon coherent scattering process, it is difficult to define a point spread function (PSF) for this modality. Hence, compared to incoherent two-photon processes like two-photon fluorescence, it is challenging to apply the various PSF-engineering methods to improve the spatial resolution to be close to the diffraction limit.

Reduction in malaria prevalence and increase in malaria awareness in endemic districts of Bangladesh.

Background: Malaria is endemic in 13 districts of Bangladesh. A baseline malaria prevalence survey across the endemic districts of Bangladesh was conducted in 2007, when the prevalence was reported around 39.7 per 1000 population.

Third-harmonic generation imaging of breast tissue biopsies.

We demonstrate for the first time the imaging of unstained breast tissue biopsies using third-harmonic generation (THG) microscopy. As a label-free imaging technique, THG microscopy is compared to phase contrast and polarized light microscopy which are standard imaging methods for breast tissues. A simple feature detection algorithm is applied to detect tumour-associated lymphocyte rich regions in unstained breast biopsy tissue and compared with corresponding regions identified by a pathologist from bright-field images of hematoxylin and eosin stained breast tissue.

Graphics processing unit-based quantitative second-harmonic generation imaging.

We adapt a graphics processing unit (GPU) to dynamic quantitative second-harmonic generation imaging. We demonstrate the temporal advantage of the GPU-based approach by computing the number of frames analyzed per second from SHG image videos showing varying fiber orientations. In comparison to our previously reported CPU-based approach, our GPU-based image analysis results in ∼10× improvement in computational time.

Application of quantitative second-harmonic generation microscopy to dynamic conditions.

We present a quantitative second-harmonic generation (SHG) imaging technique that quantifies the 2D spatial organization of collagen fiber samples under dynamic conditions, as an image is acquired. The technique is demonstrated for both a well-aligned tendon sample and a randomly aligned, sparsely distributed collagen scaffold sample. For a fixed signal-to-noise ratio, we confirm the applicability of this method for various window sizes (pixel areas) as well as with using a gridded overlay map that allows for correlations of fiber orientations within a given image.

A 21-day Daniel fast with or without krill oil supplementation improves anthropometric parameters and the cardiometabolic profile in men and women.

Background: The Daniel Fast is a vegan diet that prohibits the consumption of animal products, refined foods, white flour, preservatives, additives, sweeteners, flavorings, caffeine, and alcohol. Following this dietary plan for 21 days has been demonstrated to improve blood pressure, LDL-C, and certain markers of oxidative stress, but it has also been shown to lower HDL-C. Krill oil supplementation has been shown to increase HDL-C.

Impact of short-term dietary modification on postprandial oxidative stress.

Background: We have recently reported that short-term (21-day) dietary modification in accordance with a stringent vegan diet (i.e., a Daniel Fast) lowers blood lipids as well as biomarkers of oxidative stress.

Free distribution of insecticidal bed nets improves possession and preferential use by households and is equitable: findings from two cross-sectional surveys in thirteen malaria endemic districts of Bangladesh.

Background: BRAC, an indigenous non-governmental development organization (NGO), has been implementing a programme to prevent and control malaria in the 13 malaria-endemic districts of Bangladesh since 2007. One of the critical preventive interventions is the distribution of insecticidal bed nets (long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, LLINs and insecticide-treated ordinary nets, ITNs) to the community free of cost. This study aimed to assess progress in the possession, preferential use, and knowledge on use of the LLIN/ITNs including the programme's avowed pro-poor inclination one and three and half years after intervention began.

Impact of caloric and dietary restriction regimens on markers of health and longevity in humans and animals: a summary of available findings.

Considerable interest has been shown in the ability of caloric restriction (CR) to improve multiple parameters of health and to extend lifespan. CR is the reduction of caloric intake - typically by 20 - 40% of ad libitum consumption - while maintaining adequate nutrient intake. Several alternatives to CR exist.

A 21 day Daniel Fast improves selected biomarkers of antioxidant status and oxidative stress in men and women.

Background: Dietary modification via both caloric and nutrient restriction is associated with multiple health benefits, some of which are related to an improvement in antioxidant status and a decrease in the production of reactive oxygen species. The Daniel Fast is based on the Biblical book of Daniel, is commonly partaken for 21 days, and involves food intake in accordance with a stringent vegan diet. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a 21 day Daniel Fast on biomarkers of antioxidant status and oxidative stress.

Acute effect of nitric oxide supplement on blood nitrate/nitrite and hemodynamic variables in resistance trained men.

Nitric oxide dietary supplements are extremely popular within the sport and bodybuilding community. Most products contain l-arginine, for which there is no direct evidence that oral L-arginine increases circulating nitric oxide or blood flow. A new molecule (2-[nitrooxy]thyl 2-amino-3-methylbutanoate) is being marketed as a sport supplement for purposes of delivering "real nitric oxide" to the circulation.

Postprandial oxidative stress in response to dextrose and lipid meals of differing size.

Unlabelled: We have recently noted that ingestion of dietary lipid (in the form of heavy whipping cream) leads to greater oxidative stress than dietary carbohydrate (in the form of dextrose), when consumed in isocaloric amounts.

Objective: In the present investigation we attempted to replicate our work and also to determine the oxidative stress response to dextrose and lipid meals of two different kilocalorie (kcal) amounts.

Design: Nine young (22 +/- 2 years), healthy men consumed in a random order, cross-over design one of four meals/drinks: dextrose at 75 g (300 kcals), dextrose at 150 g (600 kcals), lipid at 33 g (300 kcals), lipid at 66 g (600 kcals).