The impact of COVID-19-induced distance learning on physical activity and dietary habits of female students in the Qassim Region.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected the physical activity (PA) levels and dietary habits of individuals, particularly children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia, owing to widespread closures and social distancing measures, including school closures.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the impact of distance learning (DL) on PA and dietary habits among public middle school girls during the pandemic. The Arab Teens Lifestyle Questionnaire (ATLS) was used to assess habitual PA, sedentary behavior, and dietary habits.

Prediction of the toughness of date palm fruit.

This study aimed to predict the toughness of date palm fruit (Barhi, Saqie, and Khodry varieties) at different ripening stages (Khalal, Rutab, and Tamar) using Hertz Theory by evaluating the physical and mechanical characteristics of the fruits. Physical measurements revealed that high moisture content in the Khalal stage led to larger dimensions and mass across all varieties, with Barhi dates showing a moisture content of 63.31%, which decreased to 32.

Assessing the impact of intermittent fasting and a low-carbohydrate-high-protein diet on metabolic health and pancreatic histopathology in type 2 diabetic rat model.

Objective: The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of intermittent fasting (IF) with a low-carbohydrate-high-protein (LCHP) diet on blood glucose control in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic rats (DR).

Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into six groups ( = 5) including a group of normal rats (NR) that received a control diet (CD) (50% carbohydrates, 17% protein, and 33% fat) with (AL) feeding. The remaining 5 groups were DR injected with STZ and fed on CD or LCHP diet (40% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 30% fat) for 6 weeks, either AL or IF (with a time-restricted feeding of 16 h followed by 8 h feeding period).

Comparing fresh root yield and quality of certified and farmer-saved cassava seed.

Formal systems supporting the delivery of high-quality cassava seed are being established in several key cassava producing countries in Africa. Questions remain, however, about the value of certified cassava seed when compared to seed which is recycled multiple times, which is standard farmer practice. A study was therefore conducted to compare fresh cassava root yields of high-quality seed (HQS) versus farmer-saved (recycled) seed (FSS) for three widely grown improved cassava varieties in Tanzania namely: , and .

The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Impacts of Purple and White Eggplants on Fertility and Expression of Fertility-Related Genes in Rats Treated With Aluminum Chloride.

The environmental xenobiotic aluminum chloride (AlCl) destroys reproduction via free radicals. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact of purple and white eggplant on rat fertility when exposed to AlCl. A total of 36 male albino rats were divided into six groups: a negative control, the second given AlCl (17 mg/kg b.

Protective Effects of a Sprout Hydroalcoholic Extract on Lipid Homeostasis, Hepatotoxicity, and Nephrotoxicity in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Toxicity in Rats.

possesses a significant concentration of bioactive compounds and has been demonstrated to have a variety of pharmacological properties, although its sprout has not been extensively studied. Thus, the protective effects of sprout hydroalcoholic extract (BNSE) on lipid homeostasis, hepatotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in cyclophosphamide (CYP)-induced toxicity in rats were examined in this study. Four experimental rat groups ( = 8 for each group) were examined as follows: NR, normal rats that received normal saline by oral gavage daily; CYP, injected with a single dose of CYP at 250 mg kg intraperitoneally (i.

Endophytic fungi: nature's solution for antimicrobial resistance and sustainable agriculture.

The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has underlined the need for a sustained supply of novel antimicrobial agents. Endophyte microorganism that reside within plant tissues as symbionts have been the source of potential antimicrobial substances. However, many novel and potent antimicrobials are yet to be discovered from these endophytes.

Optimizing Probiotic Low-Fat Yogurt: The Benefits of Incorporating Defatted Rice Bran for Enhanced Quality and Functionality.

This study investigated the effects of incorporating defatted rice bran (DRB) at different concentrations (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, and 2%) on the quality, microbiological, and sensory characteristics of probiotic low-fat yogurt (LFY) during a 21-day storage period at 4°C.

Impacts of long-term irrigation of municipally-treated wastewater to the soil microbial and nutrient properties.

Reusing treated wastewater (TWW) for crop irrigation has shown to provide environmental and economic benefits as well as drawbacks. This study was conducted using soils collected from a wastewater reuse facility in Tallahassee, FL, mainly to elucidate the long-term impact(s) of TWW irrigation on soil microbiome and nutrient status. Approximately 890 ha of land have been spray-irrigated with TWW since the 1980's to grow fodder crops.

Inhibitory effect on acute herpes and prevention of postherpetic neuralgia in herpes simplex virus-1-infected mice using a plant extract Ricinus communis.

The present study aimed to examine the impact of Ricinus communis and valacyclovir (VACV) on the progression of skin lesions and pain responses in mice infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Mice were infected with HSV-1 and treated with R. communis (8, 16, or 48 mg/kg) or VACV (8, 25, or 90 mg/kg) twice daily on days 2-8 post-infection.

The effect of Ramadan intermittent fasting on anthropometric, hormonal, metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative stress markers in pre-and post-menopausal women: a prospective cohort of Saudi women.

Background: The menopausal transition significantly affects cardiometabolic health, primarily due to changes in reproductive hormones, particularly decreased estrogen levels and relative androgen excess. Adult Muslim women, both pre-and post-menopausal, are mandated to observe Ramadan intermittent fasting (RIF) every year. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate RIF's effects on pre-menopausal (PRE-M) and post-menopausal (POST-M) healthy women's cardiometabolic health markers.

Innovative CO-NBs-assisted ultrasonication for the phytochemical extraction of peanut (Arachis hypoga) shells: Synthesis and characterization of CO-nanobubbles.

This study was designed to obtain the maximum extraction yield of peanut shell (PS) polyphenols using a novel carbon dioxide nanobubbles (CO-NBs) assisted ultrasonic extraction method. CO-NBs were generated in distilled water with a self-developed high-pressure nano-jet homogenization method and characterized by size, zeta potential and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The obtained nanobubble's mean size and zeta potential were 229.

A sensitive batch detection of using SYBR Green real-time PCR.

(BBTV) is the most destructive viral disease of banana crop in the Philippines. The disease causes heavy damage to important local varieties, 'Lakatan' and 'Cavendish'. Infected planting materials can cause long-term disease transmission causing geographical location to dictate genetic variation among viral strains.

Mapping proteomic response to salinity stress tolerance in oil crops: Towards enhanced plant resilience.

Exposure to saline environments significantly hampers the growth and productivity of oil crops, harmfully affecting their nutritional quality and suitability for biofuel production. This presents a critical challenge, as understanding salt tolerance mechanisms in crops is key to improving their performance in coastal and high-salinity regions. Our content might be read more properly: This review assembles current knowledge on protein-level changes related to salinity resistance in oil crops.

Alternative hosts of banana bunchy top virus in the Philippines and the first evidence of seed transmission of BBTV.

Banana bunchy top disease is caused by (BBTV). BBTV is transmitted locally by aphids ( spp.), but the long-distance spread is through the movement of infected planting materials.

A new Korean species of Pararhabdepyris Gorbatovsky (Hymenoptera, Bethylidae) with an updated world key.

Pararhabdepyris Gorbatovsky is a small genus within Bethylidae, currently comprising only six valid species worldwide. A new species, Pararhabdepyris directus Lim sp. nov.

Metabolic Effects of Loquat Juice ( Lindl Variety) on Lipid Homeostasis, Liver Steatosis, and Oxidative Stress in Hyperlipidemic Mice Fed a High-Fat-High-Fructose Diet.

Background: Loquat fruit is consumed for its flavorful taste and a rich array of health-promoting compounds like phenolics, flavonoids, and carotenoids. This study aimed at the biochemical characterization of fresh juice from the Moroccan variety of loquat and evaluating its effects on lipid homeostasis and liver steatosis in hyperlipidemic mice.

Methods: The biochemical characterization followed AOAC methods.

Glycemic impact of cereal and legume-based bakery products: Implications for chronic disease management.

This review examines the glycemic impact of cereal and legume-based bakery products and their potential role in chronic disease management, particularly in type II diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. The primary objective is to assess the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of bakery products made from cereals such as wheat and barley, and legumes like chickpeas, and to explore their effects on postprandial blood glucose response. Cereal-based products typically exhibit higher GIs (55-80), while legume-based bakery products demonstrate lower GIs (40-50), potentially contributing to better glycemic control.

Identification of common and specific cold resistance pathways from cold tolerant and non-cold tolerant mango varieties.

Mango has frequently encountered severe climate and environmental challenges such as low temperatures, seriously affecting the sustainable development of the industry. In the study, physiological measurements showed that the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) were found to be higher in Jinhuang (JH) mango plants than those of Tainong (TN) mango plants under cold stress, indicating cold tolerant (JH) and non-cold tolerant (TN) mango varieties were firstly determined. Subsequently, transcriptomics showed 8,337 and 7,996 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were respectively identified in JH and TN mango varieties treated at 4 °C for 36 h, while more DEGs (10,683 and 10,723) were screened when treated at 4 °C for 72 h.

Power requirements for olive mechanical harvesting using trunk shaker.

A mathematical analysis was conducted to predict the power requirements of the olive trunk shaker. The predicted required power of the olive trunk shaker is influenced by shaking displacement, fruit detachment force, fruit mass, stem length, damping ratio, unbalanced mass of the tree shaker, and exciting shaking frequency. The Olive trunk shaker was tested in the field at five attachment heights, 400, 500, 600, 700, and 800 mm, and six levels of olive trunk diameter: 78, 84, 101, 143, 158, and 186 mm.

Green-synthesis of silver nanoparticles AgNPs from Podocarpus macrophyllus for targeting GBM and LGG brain cancers via NOTCH2 gene interactions.

Brain tumors, particularly Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) and Low-Grade Gliomas (LGG), present significant clinical challenges due to their aggressive nature and resistance to conventional treatments. Traditional therapies such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are often limited in efficacy, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Nanotechnology, particularly the use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs), offers a targeted and potentially more effective approach.