A cobalt oxide nanocubes interleaved reduced graphene oxide nanocomposite modified glassy carbon electrode for amperometric detection of serotonin.

Cobalt oxide nanocubes incorporated with reduced graphene oxide (rGO-CoO) was prepared by using simple one-step hydrothermal route. Crystallinity and structural characteristics of the nanocomposite were analyzed and confirmed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman analysis, respectively. The cubical shape of the CoO nanostructures and the distribution of CoO nanocubes on the surface of rGO sheets were identified through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) mapping analysis, respectively.

Enhancement of C-phycocyanin purity using negative chromatography with chitosan-modified nanofiber membrane.

In this work, a chitosan-modified nanofiber membrane was fabricated and used to examine the permeation characteristics of C-phycocyanin (CPC) obtained from Spirulina platensis. The effects of NaCl concentration (0.1-1.

Cardiac glycoside cerberin exerts anticancer activity through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signal transduction inhibition.

Natural products possess a significant role in anticancer therapy and many currently-used anticancer drugs are of natural origin. Cerberin (CR), a cardenolide isolated from the fruit kernel of Cerbera odollam, was found to potently inhibit cancer cell growth (GI values < 90 nM), colony formation and migration. Significant G2/M cell cycle arrest preceded time- and dose-dependent apoptosis-induction in human cancer cell lines corroborated by dose-and time-dependent PARP cleavage and caspase 3/7 activation, in addition to reduced Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 expression.

In vitro digestion and domestic cooking improved the total antioxidant activity and carbohydrate-digestive enzymes inhibitory potential of selected edible mushrooms.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of in vitro digestion on the antioxidant activity and carbohydrate-digestive enzymes inhibitory potential of five edible mushrooms after subjected to four domestic cooking; namely, boiling, microwaving, steaming and pressure-cooking. The water extracts of raw (uncooked), cooked and in vitro digested mushrooms were compared for their water-soluble phenolic content (WPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), radical scavenging activity (TEAC and DPPH), anti-α-amylase and anti-α-glucosidase activities. Among the raw samples, possessed the highest antioxidant activities (FRAP, TEAC, DPPH) and WPC while - displayed the highest TFC, anti-α-amylase and anti-α-glucosidase activities.

Novel, energy efficient and green cloud point extraction: technology and applications in food processing.

Recently, a novel technique for extraction of functional thermally sensitive bioactive components from food has been developed due to its green efficacy (no toxic chemicals) and cost effectiveness. Cloud point extraction (CPE) is one of the such best alternative techniques that can be used for extraction of wide range of organic and inorganic components using green surfactants. It is a simple, rapid and inexpensive extraction technique which involves clustering of non-ionic surfactant monomers to form a hydrophobic core (micelle), which then entraps the hydrophobic bioactive compounds within it.

Evaluation of dental arch dimensions in 12 year-old Vietnamese children - A cross-sectional study of 4565 subjects.

This study aimed to define the width and length of the dental arch in 12-year-old Vietnamese children, and to elucidate differences between genders and among ethnic groups. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 4565 12 years-old children from the 4 major ethnic groups in Vietnam (Kinh, Muong, Thai, and Tay), with a healthy and full set of 28 permanent teeth that had never had any orthodontic treatment and with no reconstructive materials at the measured points. The mean variables in all subjects were 36.

Zoonotic diseases from birds to humans in Vietnam: possible diseases and their associated risk factors.

In recent decades, exceeding 60% of infectious cases in human beings are originated from pathogenic agents related to feral or companion animals. This figure continues to swiftly increase due to excessive exposure between human and contaminated hosts by means of applying unhygienic farming practices throughout society. In Asia countries-renowned for lax regulation towards animal-trading markets-have experienced tremendous outbreaks of zoonotic diseases every year.

Environmental application of three-dimensional graphene materials as adsorbents for dyes and heavy metals: Review on ice-templating method and adsorption mechanisms.

The remediation of wastewater requires treatment technologies which are robust, efficient, simple to operate and affordable such as adsorption. Lately, three-dimensional (3D) graphene based materials have attracted significant attention as effective adsorbents for wastewater treatment. The intrinsic properties of 3D graphene structure such as large surface area and interconnected porous structure can facilitate the transport of pollutants into the 3D network and provide abundant active sites for trapping the pollutants.

The impact of four processing methods on trypsin-, chymotrypsin- and alpha-amylase inhibitors present in underutilised legumes.

The global trend in increasing plant-based protein diets due to health and ideological reasons, has created an increased demand for food legumes that exceeds current production. To meet this demand, it is timely to reduce relying solely on soybean, and explore the potential of the underutilised legumes that are cultivated regionally. Underutilised legumes are rich in protein, carbohydrates and other nutrients that are essential for consumer.

Cytotoxicity of eupatorin in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells via cell cycle arrest, anti-angiogenesis and induction of apoptosis.

Eupatorin has been reported with in vitro cytotoxic effect on several human cancer cells. However, reports on the mode of action and detail mechanism of eupatorin in vitro in breast cancer disease are limited. Hence, eupatorin's effect on the human breast carcinoma cell line MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 was investigated.

Lycopodium Alkaloids: Lycoplatyrine A, an Unusual Lycodine-Piperidine Adduct from Lycopodium platyrhizoma and the Absolute Configurations of Lycoplanine D and Lycogladine H.

Three new Lycopodium alkaloids comprising two lycodine-type alkaloids (1, 2) and one fawcettimine alkaloid (3), in addition to 16 known alkaloids, were isolated from Lycopodium platyrhizoma. The structures of these alkaloids were elucidated based on analysis of their NMR and MS data. Lycoplatyrine A (1) represents an unusual lycodine-piperidine adduct.

Applications of water blanching, surface contacting ultrasound-assisted air drying, and their combination for dehydration of white cabbage: Drying mechanism, bioactive profile, color and rehydration property.

This work studied the influences of water blanching pretreatment (30 s), surface contacting ultrasound (492.3 and 1131.1 W/m) assisted air drying, and their combination on drying kinetics and quality of white cabbage.

Date pits activated carbon for divalent lead ions removal.

Phosphoric acid impregnated activated carbon from date pits (DPAC) was prepared through single step activation. Prepared DPAC was studied for its structural, elemental, chemical, surface and crystal nature. Adsorption ability of the DPAC was assessed through divalent lead ions separation studies.

Quantifying rehabilitation risks for surface-strip coal mines using a soil compaction Bayesian network in South Africa and Australia: To demonstrate the R AIN Framework.

Environmental information is acquired and assessed during the environmental impact assessment process for surface-strip coal mine approval. However, integrating these data and quantifying rehabilitation risk using a holistic multidisciplinary approach is seldom undertaken. We present a rehabilitation risk assessment integrated network (R AIN™) framework that can be applied using Bayesian networks (BNs) to integrate and quantify such rehabilitation risks.

The effects of electrical and thermal boundary condition on the simulation of radiofrequency ablation of liver cancer for tumours located near to the liver boundary.

Effects of different boundary conditions prescribed across the boundaries of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) models of liver cancer are investigated for the case where the tumour is at the liver boundary. Ground and Robin-type conditions (electrical field) and body temperature and thermal insulation (thermal field) conditions are examined. 3D models of the human liver based on publicly-available CT images of the liver are developed.

Crypticity in Biological Invasions.

Ecological effects of alien species can be dramatic, but management and prevention of negative impacts are often hindered by crypticity of the species or their ecological functions. Ecological functions can change dramatically over time, or manifest after long periods of an innocuous presence. Such cryptic processes may lead to an underestimation of long-term impacts and constrain management effectiveness.

Tocotrienols Modulate a Life or Death Decision in Cancers.

Malignancy often arises from sophisticated defects in the intricate molecular mechanisms of cells, rendering a complicated molecular ground to effectively target cancers. Resistance toward cell death and enhancement of cell survival are the common adaptations in cancer due to its infinite proliferative capacity. Existing cancer treatment strategies that target a single molecular pathway or cancer hallmark fail to fully resolve the problem.

Optimization and modelling of enzymatic polymerization of ε-caprolactone to polycaprolactone using Candida Antartica Lipase B with response surface methodology and artificial neural network.

Recently enzymatic catalysts have replaced organic and organometallic catalysts in the synthesis of bio-resorbable polymers. Enzymatic polymerization is considered as an alternative to conventional polymerization as they are less toxic, environmental friendly and can operate under mild conditions. In this research, the enzymatic ring-opening polymerization (e-ROP) of e-caprolactone (e-CL) using Candida Antartica Lipase B (CALB) as catalyst to produce the Polycaprolactone.

Urban forest fragmentation impoverishes native mammalian biodiversity in the tropics.

Urban expansion has caused major deforestation and forest fragmentation in the tropics. The impacts of habitat fragmentation on biodiversity are understudied in urban forest patches, especially in the tropics and little is known on the conservation value of the patches for maintaining mammalian biodiversity. In this study, camera trapping was used to determine the species composition and species richness of medium- and large-sized mammals in three urban forest patches and a contiguous forest in Peninsular Malaysia.

Antibacterial activity of quaternized chitosan modified nanofiber membrane.

The electrospinning PAN nanofiber membrane (P-CN) was hydrolysed to convert carboxylic groups as reaction sites and covalently graft chitosan molecule. The chitosan derivatives with quaternary ammonium groups exerted greater efficiency against bacteria as compared to pure chitosan. Hence, the chitosan modified membrane (P-CS), can be functionalized with quaternary amine (i.

Mango leaf extract incorporated chitosan antioxidant film for active food packaging.

Health hazards associated with usage of plastic films for food preservation demands for development of active films from non-toxic and antioxidant rich bio-sources. The reported work highlights the development, characterization and application studies of chitosan films enhanced for their antioxidant activity by mango leaf extract (MLE) incorporation. Effect of MLE variation (1-5%) on the morphology, optical nature, water exposure and mechanical characteristics of the chitosan-MLE composite films was studied.

Ultrasound-assisted water-in-palm oil nano-emulsion: Influence of polyglycerol polyricinoleate and NaCl on its stability.

This study aimed to formulate a stable palm oil-based water-in-oil (W/O) nano-emulsion. Emphasis was placed on the effects of polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR), medium chain triglyceride (MCT), lecithin and sodium chloride (NaCl) addition towards the stability of nano-emulsion. Among the performed analyses were mean droplet diameter (MDD), dispersity index (DI), critical micelle concentration (CMC), lipid peroxidation, viscosity, sedimentation index (SI) and surface morphology.

The draft genomes of five agriculturally important African orphan crops.

Background: The expanding world population is expected to double the worldwide demand for food by 2050. Eighty-eight percent of countries currently face a serious burden of malnutrition, especially in Africa and south and southeast Asia. About 95% of the food energy needs of humans are fulfilled by just 30 species, of which wheat, maize, and rice provide the majority of calories.