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Employing the unified first law of thermodynamics and the field equations of the generalized Rastall theory, we get the generalized Misner-Sharp mass of space-times for which [g.sub.tt] = [-g.sup.rr] = --f(r). The obtained result differs from those of the Einstein and Rastall theories. Moreover, using the first law of thermodynamics, the obtained generalized Misner-Sharp mass, and the field equations, the entropy of static spherically symmetric horizons are also addressed in the framework of the generalized Rastall theory. In addition, by generalizing the study to a flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker (FRW) universe, the apparent horizon entropy is also calculated. Considering the effects of applying the Newtonian limit to the field equations on the coupling coefficients of the generalized Rastall theory, our study indicates (i) the obtained entropy-area relation is the same as that of the Rastall theory, and (ii) the Bekenstein entropy is recovered when the generalized Rastall theory reduces to the Einstein theory. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics is also investigated in the flat FRW universe. Key words: Misner-Sharp mass, FRW universe, static spherically symmetric, entropy, thermodynamic laws. Resume: En combinant l'utilisation de la premiere loi de la thermodynamique avec les equations de champ de la theorie de Rastall generalisee, nous obtenons la masse de Misner-Sharp generalisee d'espaces-temps pour lesquels [g.sub.tt] = [- g.sup.rr] = f(r). Ce resultat differe de ceux obtenus des theories d'Einstein et de Rastall. Par la suite, utilisant la premiere loi de la thermodynamique, la masse de Misner-Sharp generalisee et les equations de champ, nous evaluons l'entropie des horizons statiques et spheriquement symetriques dans le cadre de la theorie generalisee de Rastall. De plus, en generalisant l'etude a un univers << Friedmann-Robertson-Walker >> (FRW) plat, nous calculons l'entropie de l'horizon apparent. En considerant les effets de l'application de la limite newtonienne aux equations de champ sur les coefficients de couplage de la theorie generalisee de Rastall, notre etude montre que (i) la relation entropie-surface est la meme que celle de la theorie de Rastall generalisee et (ii) nous retrouvons l'entropie de Bekenstein lorsque la theorie generalisee de Rastall se reduit a la theorie d'Einstein. Nous etudions aussi la validite de la seconde loi de la thermodynamique dans un univers FRW plat. [Traduit par la Redaction] Mots-cles: masse de Misner-Sharp, univers FRW, statique et spheriquement symetrique, entropie, lois de la thermodynamique., 1. Introduction Based on curvature-matter non-minimal coupling theories, the ordinary energy-momentum conservation law is not valid [1-3], a hypothesis included in the Rastall theory [4]. In this framework, energy can [...]

A Wingsuit is a Skydiving Jumpsuit that generates more lift for longer flights. This study examined the effects of side slip angles on a beginner wingsuit at 106 Reynolds number. Experimental tests were determined by using the length of the model scale at angles of attack ranging from 0° to 40° and sideslip angles of up to 20°. Force and moment coefficients were analyzed using variations in angles of attack and sideslip. Despite the absence of significant effects of sideslip angles on the lift and drag coefficients, side force and rolling/yawing moments were highly nonlinear. Flow structure visualization and numerical simulation show that surface stalls only occur on the lower side when slip angles are lower. In individual aviation sports, wingsuits are more advantageous when they have less sideslip. With Tuft visualization on the wingsuit model, the best aerodynamic coefficient under different flight conditions was determined by comparing the Response Surface Methodology performance under different flight conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The ERBB4 gene, a member of the tyrosine kinase family, has been identified as both a tumor suppressor and an oncogene in breast cancer. In this study, the association between rs1972820G>A polymorphism of ERBB4 gene and the risk of breast cancer in northwestern Iran was investigated. METHODS: This case-control study was performed on 89 women with breast cancer and 98 healthy women with no family history of cancer. Clinical characteristics of patients included age (less than, greater than or equal to 49 years and unknown), involved side (right, left, both and unknown), type of tumor (ILC, IDC, other types and unknown), tumor grade (I, II or III), tumor size (T1, T2, T3 and unknown) and lymph node involvement (N0, N1, N2, N3 and unknown). Single nucleotide polymorphisms were examined by TETRA-ARMS-PCR technique. FINDINGS: The genotypic distribution of sick and healthy individuals was 66% and 56% for AA genotype, 9% and 6% for GG genotype and 25% and 38% for AG genotype, respectively. The frequency of Allele A was 147 and 140 and the frequency of G Allele was 49 and 38 in patients and controls, respectively (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that there is no significant relationship between genotypic and allelic distribution of rs1972820 polymorphism of ERBB4 gene with increased risk of breast cancer and clinical features of patients in northwestern Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents analysis and optimization of turbine bade cooling systems. Since the temperature of combustion gases is very high sometimes reaching 2400 K, the turbine blade cannot sustain the resulting thermal stress. Moreover, for higher efficiency for advanced gas turbines, increase of inlet temperature is needed. Common blade cooling methods are film cooling, convection cooling, impingement cooling and combined cooling. In this paper, a numerical solution of the thermal and flow fields in film cooling technique on the AGTB expand symmetrical turbine blade was obtained and the results were validated with experimental data. Then the turbine blade geometry was changed and two combined cooling (impingement/convection cooing and impingement/film cooling) techniques were evaluated. The low Reynolds number k-ε turbulence model (AKN) was used for the turbulent flow simulations at various blowing ratios for two blade thicknesses. Comparisons of the results between the available experimental and numerical data showed that the AKN model is capable of predicting the turbulent flow and heat transfer in turbine blade cooling. Combined techniques (impingement/convection cooling and impingement/film cooling) were also carried out and more cooling effectiveness and uniform temperature distribution were found than film cooling method only. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae, as an important human pathogen, is a leading cause of serious infections (e.g., sepsis, pneumonia and meningitis). Nasopharyngeal colonization is often the first step in the development of pneumococcal infections. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of S. pneumoniae serotypes in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan and its related risk factors. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 students in Kashan from November 2011 to December 2012. Demographic and clinical data were collected from patients using a questionnaire. Samples were cultured on a selective media. Moreover, S. pneumoniae strains were identified using gram staining, detecting alpha hemolysis, catalase, optochin susceptibility and bile solubility tests. Results: One-hundred eighty one out of 1289 (14%) students were carriers for nasopharyngeal S. pneumoniae. There was a significant correlation between sex, age, previous respiratory infections, asthma, runny nose and previous hospitalization with an increased rate of the pneumococcal carriers. Conclusion: According to the high prevalence of pneumococcal carriers and a significant correlation between increased rates of colonization and sex, age, previous respiratory infections, asthma, runny nose and previous hospitalization, applying preventive strategies such as student vaccination seems to be necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neisseria meningitidis (N. meningitidis) is a pathogen which colonizes in the nasopharynx without any clinical manifestations. Among the 13 different serological groups, only the serogroups A, B, C, W135, Y, X play a major role in disease development. This study aimed to determine N. meningitidis cases carrying these serological groups using the multiplex PCR method in the nasopharynx of students in Kashan schools. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 1289 students in Kashan during 2011-2012. Samples were collected from the students' nasopharynx using a sterile swab and cultured on a selective medium. Strains were identified through biochemical tests. Then the serological groups were determined using the multiplex PCR method. Results: One-hundred and fifteen (8.9%) out of 1289 students were N. meningitidis carriers; 75 (65.2%) male and 40 (34.8%) female. There was a significant difference between gender and the rate of carriers (P=0.032). The highest rate of carriers (12.3%) was in the 15 to 19 year age group. There was a significant relationship between the rate of carriers and increase in the number of family members (P<0.001). In this study, only the serological groups B (8 cases) and C (107 cases) were detected. Conclusion: Since the serological group C is involved in the outbreak and there is no vaccine currently available for the serological group B to prevent the infection, detection of these serological groups can be important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to assess global experience on agricultural water management under different scenarios. The results showed that trend of permanent crops to cultivated area, human development index (HDI), irrigation water requirement, and percent of total cultivated area drained is increasing and trend of rural population to total population, total economically active population in agriculture to total economically active population, value added to gross domestic production (GDP) by agriculture, and the difference between national rainfall index (NRI) and irrigation water requirement is decreasing. The estimating of area equipped for irrigation in 2035 and 2060 were studied acc. to the three scenarios: I - the values of the main indices would be changed by the same slope of the past half of century, II and III - the slopes would be decreased by 30% and 50% respectively. The minimum and maximum values of pressure on renewable water resources by irrigation, are related to the third and first scenarios by 2035 (6.1%) and 2060 (9.2%), respectively.

This study compares the impacts of different factors on agricultural water management in the Americas in the last 50 years. The number of 18 indexes (as the main and sub-main indexes) was selected to assess agricul- tural water management based on their importance and other indexes were not studied due to lack of adequate data. Changes in the main indexes in 2011 showed that concurrent values across regions varied according to the nature of the indexes and conditions of the countries. In the next step, the value of area equipped for irrigation/ cultivated area (10th index) was estimated using the other main indexes. As a result, a list of strengths and weakness for agricultural water management in the Americas in the last 50 years was created. However, The only way to meet sustainable development is to learn from past expe- riences for the improvement of agricultural water man- agement. The desirability of condition for agricultural water management is difficult for Central America (except Belize, which presents a fair status) and it is less than 40% for Greater Antilles (with the exception of Dominican Republic 55%). Guyana is the best country for agricultural water management because its desirability of condition (72%) is more than all the countries in Americas.

Chromium (Cr) toxicity hampers ornamental crops' growth and post-harvest quality, especially in cut flower plants. Nano-enabled approaches have been developing with phenomenal potential towards improving floricultural crop production under heavy metal-stressed conditions. The current pot experiment aims to explore the ameliorative impact of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs; 10 mM) and indole butyric acid (IBA; 20 mM) against Cr stress (0.8 mM) in Freesia refracta . The results showed that Cr stress significantly reduced morphological traits, decreased roots-stems biomass, abridged chlorophyll (14.7%) and carotenoid contents (27.2%), limited gas exchange attributes (intercellular CO 2 concentration ( Ci ) 24.8%, stomatal conductance ( gs ) 19.3% and photosynthetic rate ( A ) 28.8%), condensed proline (39.2%) and total protein (40%) contents and reduced vase life (15.3%) of freesia plants by increasing oxidative stress. Contrarily, antioxidant enzyme activities, MDA and H 2 O 2 levels, and Cr concentrations in plant parts were remarkably enhanced in Cr-stressed plants than in the control. However, foliar supplementation of Si-NPs + IBA (combined form) to Cr-stressed plants increased defense mechanism and tolerance as revealed by improved vegetative and reproductive traits, increased biomass, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll 30.3%, carotenoid 57.2%) and gaseous exchange attributes ( Ci 33.3%, gs 25.6%, A 31.1%), proline (54.5%), total protein (55.1%), and vase life (34.9%) of metal contaminated plants. Similarly, the improvement in the activities of peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase was recorded by 30.8%, 52.4%, and 60.8%, respectively, compared with Cr-stressed plants. Meanwhile, MDA (54.3%), H 2 O 2 (32.7%) contents, and Cr levels in roots (43.3), in stems (44%), in leaves (52.8%), and in flowers (78.5%), were remarkably reduced due to combine application of Si-NPs + IBA as compared with Cr-stressed nontreated freesia plants. Thus, the hypothesis that the synergistic application of Si-NPs + IBA will be an effective approach in ameliorating Cr stress is authenticated from the results of this experiment. Furthermore, the study will be significant since it will demonstrate how Si-NPs and IBA can work synergistically to combat Cr toxicity, and even when added separately, they can improve growth characteristics both under stressed and un-stressed conditions., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ahsan, Radicetti, Jamal, Ali, Sajid, Manan, Bakhsh, Naeem, Khan and Valipour.)

Drought stress (DS) is a significant abiotic stress that limits agricultural productivity worldwide. In semi-arid climates, one potential solution to alleviate the deleterious effects of drought is the use of soil amendments such as nanoparticles. The current research was conducted out to probe the sway of drought at critical growth stages (CGS) of wheat crop (D 0 : Control, D 1 : Drought at tillering stage, and D 2 : Drought at anthesis stage) and the application of Cu-nanoparticles (T 0 : 0 mg L -1 , T 1 : 300 mg L -1 , T 2 : 700 mg L -1 , and T 3 : 950 mg L -1 ) in order to improve drought resilience. Results of the study revealed that DS considerably decreased the wheat growth and yield during CGS. However, Cu-nanoparticles application alleviated the detrimental backlash of DS and led to improvements in various aspects of wheat growth and yield, including plant height, spike length, 1000 grain weight, stomatal conductance, leaf chlorophyll content, water use efficiency, leaf turgor potential, relative water content, and ultimately the grain yield. The use of principal component analysis allowed us to integrate and interpret the diverse findings of our study, elucidating the impact of Cu-nanoparticle treatment on wheat growth and yield under drought. Overall, the study concluded that DS during the anthesis stage had the most significant negative impact on crop yield. However, applying Cu-nanoparticles at the rate of 300 mg L -1 proved to be an effective strategy for improving crop productivity by reducing the harmful effects of drought., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Drought stress is a worldwide threat to the productivity of crops, especially in arid and semi-arid zones of the world. In the present study, the effect of selenium (Se) seed priming on the yield of quinoa under normal and drought conditions was investigated. A pot trial was executed to enhance the drought tolerance in quinoa by Se seed priming (0, 3, 6, and 9 mg Se L -1 ). The plants were exposed to water stress at three different growth stages of quinoa, viz. multiple leaf, flowering, and seed filling. It was noticed that drought significantly affected the yield components of quinoa, however, Se priming improved the drought tolerance potential and yield of quinoa by maintaining the plant water status. Se priming significantly increased main panicle length (20.29%), main panicle weight (26.43%), and thousand grain weight (15.41%) as well as the gas exchange parameters (transpiration rate (29.74%), stomatal conductance (35.29%), and photosynthetic rate (28.79%), total phenolics (29.36%), leaf chlorophyll contents (35.97%), water relations (leaf relative water contents (14.55%), osmotic potential (10.32%), water potential (38.35%), and turgor potential (31.37%), and economic yield (35.99%) under drought stress. Moreover, Se priming markedly improved grain quality parameters i.e., phosphorus, potassium, and protein contents by 21.28%, 18.92%, and 15.04%, respectively. The principal component analysis connected the various study scales and showed the ability of physio-biochemical factors to describe yield fluctuations in response to Se seed priming under drought conditions. In conclusion, a drought at the seed-filling stage has a far more deleterious impact among other critical growth stages and seed priming with Se (6 mg L -1 ) was found more effective in alleviating the detrimental effects of drought on the grain yield of quinoa., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The pollution of soil and aquatic systems by inorganic and organic chemicals has become a global concern. Economical, eco-friendly, and sustainable solutions are direly required to alleviate the deleterious effects of these chemicals to ensure human well-being and environmental sustainability. In recent decades, biochar has emerged as an efficient material encompassing huge potential to decontaminate a wide range of pollutants from soil and aquatic systems. However, the application of raw biochars for pollutant remediation is confronting a major challenge of not getting the desired decontamination results due to its specific properties. Thus, multiple functionalizing/modification techniques have been introduced to alter the physicochemical and molecular attributes of biochars to increase their efficacy in environmental remediation. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the latest advancements in developing multiple functionalized/modified biochars via biological and other physiochemical techniques. Related mechanisms and further applications of multiple modified biochar in soil and water systems remediation have been discussed and summarized. Furthermore, existing research gaps and challenges are discussed, as well as further study needs are suggested. This work epitomizes the scientific prospects for a complete understanding of employing modified biochar as an efficient candidate for the decontamination of polluted soil and water systems for regenerative development., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

The judicious use of crop input is of prime importance for achieving a considerable output with a low-cost input. A two-year field experimentation was executed to assess the effect of varying polymer-coated single super phosphate (SSP) regimes on the yield and quality of sugarcane under differential water regimes. A two-factor study was executed under a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement. The CPF-249 sugarcane variety was planted during the 2019-2020 period and the 2020-2021 period. The experiment consisted of four levels of polymer-coated SSP, i.e., control, 90, 110, and 130 kg ha -1 , and three water regimes, which consisted of a number of irrigations, i.e., 18 irrigations, 15 irrigations, and 12 irrigations. Moreover, the water regimes were kept in the main plot, whereas the polymer-coated supplement was allocated in a subplot and replicated thrice. The data on the yield components and sugar-related traits were recorded during both years of study, and the treatment means were differentiated using an LSD test at a 95% confidence interval. Summating the findings of this study, a significant variation was revealed under the subject levels of both factors. Statistically, a 110 kg ha -1 polymer-coated SSP dose, along with 18 irrigations, declared the highest millable canes, stripped cane yield, and unstripped cane yield, followed by the 130 kg ha -1 treatment. Additionally, the highest pol% and cane sugar recovery % were recorded under 12 irrigations along with 130 kg ha -1 during both years. Similarly, the °Brix value was also significantly affected by 12 irrigations when 110 kg ha -1 of polymer-coated SSP was used. The unstripped cane yield had a strong positive correlation with the stripped cane yield, millable canes, and the number of internodes. Moreover, the commercial cane sugar % resulted in a strong positive correlation with the pol%, whereas the cane sugar recovery % revealed a strong positive correlation with the pol% and commercial cane sugar %.

Ongoing viral research, essential for public health due to evolving viruses, gains significance owing to emerging viral infections such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Marine and plant alkaloids show promise as novel potential pharmacological strategies. In this narrative review, we elucidated the potential of tylophorine and lycorine, two naturally occurring plant-derived alkaloids with a shared benzoindolizidine scaffold, as antiviral agents to be potentially harnessed against respiratory viral infections. Possible structure-activity relationships have also been highlighted. The substances and their derivatives were found to be endowed with powerful and broad-spectrum antiviral properties; moreover, they were able to counteract inflammation, which often underpins the complications of viral diseases. At last, their anticancer properties hold promise not only for advancing cancer research but also for mitigating the oncogenic effects of viruses. This evidence suggests that tylophorine and lycorine could effectively counteract the pathogenesis of respiratory viral disease and its harmful effects. Although common issues about the pharmacologic development of natural substances remain to be addressed, the collected evidence highlights a possible interest in tylophorine and lycorine as antiviral and/or adjuvant strategies and encourages future more in-depth pre-clinical and clinical investigations to overcome their drawbacks and harness their power for therapeutic purposes.

The appearance of several coronavirus pandemics/epidemics during the last two decades (SARS-CoV-1 in 2002, MERS-CoV in 2012, and SARS-CoV-2 in 2019) indicates that humanity will face increasing challenges from coronaviruses in the future. The emergence of new strains with similar transmission characteristics as SARS-CoV-2 and mortality rates similar to SARS-CoV-1 (∼10% mortality) or MERS-CoV (∼35% mortality) in the future is a terrifying possibility. Therefore, getting enough preparations to face such risks is an inevitable necessity. The present study aims to review the drug achievements and challenges in the fight against SARS-CoV-2 with a combined perspective derived from pharmacology, pharmacotherapy, and medicinal chemistry insights. Appreciating all the efforts made during the past few years, there is strong evidence that the desired results have not yet been achieved and research in this area should still be pursued seriously. By expressing some pessimistic possibilities and concluding that the drug discovery and pharmacotherapy of COVID-19 have not been successful so far, this short essay tries to draw the attention of responsible authorities to be more prepared against future coronavirus epidemics/pandemics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 American Chemical Society.)

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the first leading cause of mortality in the world. Practical guidelines recommend an accurate estimation of the risk of these events for effective treatment and care. The UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) has a risk engine for predicting CHD risk in patients with type 2 diabetes, but in some countries, it has been shown that the risk of CHD is poorly estimated. Hence, we assessed the external validity of the UKPDS risk engine in patients with type 2 diabetes identified in the national diabetes program in Iran., Methods: The cohort included 853 patients with type 2diabetes identified between March 21, 2007, and March 20, 2018 in Lorestan province of Iran. Patients were followed for the incidence of CHD. The performance of the models was assessed in terms of discrimination and calibration. Discrimination was examined using the c-statistic and calibration was assessed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 statistic (HLχ2) test and a calibration plot was depicted to show the predicted risks versus observed ones., Results: During 7464.5 person-years of follow-up 170 first Coronary heart disease occurred. The median follow-up was 8.6 years. The UKPDS risk engine showed moderate discrimination for CHD (c-statistic was 0.72 for 10-year risk) and the calibration of the UKPDS risk engine was poor (HLχ2 = 69.9, p < 0.001) and the UKPDS risk engine78% overestimated the risk of heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes identified in the national diabetes program in Iran., Conclusion: This study shows that the ability of the UKPDS Risk Engine to discriminate patients who developed CHD events from those who did not; was moderate and the ability of the risk prediction model to accurately predict the absolute risk of CHD (calibration) was poor and it overestimated the CHD risk. To improve the prediction of CHD in patients with type 2 diabetes, this model should be updated in the Iranian diabetic population., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.)

Previous studies indicated that natural-based chalcones have significant inhibitory effects on the coronavirus enzymes 3CLpro and PLpro as well as modulation of some host-based antiviral targets (HBATs). In this study, a comprehensive computational and structural study was performed to investigate the affinity of our compound library consisting of 757 chalcone-based structures (CHA-1 to CHA-757) for inhibiting the 3CLpro and PLpro enzymes and against twelve selected host-based targets. Our results indicated that CHA-12 (VUF 4819) is the most potent and multi-target inhibitor in our chemical library over all viral and host-based targets. Correspondingly, CHA-384 and its congeners containing ureide moieties were found to be potent and selective 3CLpro inhibitors, and benzotriazole moiety in CHA-37 was found to be a main fragment for inhibiting the 3CLpro and PLpro. Surprisingly, our results indicate that the ureide and sulfonamide moieties are integral fragments for the optimum 3CLpro inhibition while occupying the S1 and S3 subsites, which is fully consistent with recent reports on the site-specific 3CLpro inhibitors. Finding the multi-target inhibitor CHA-12, previously reported as an LTD4 antagonist for the treatment of inflammatory pulmonary diseases, prompted us to suggest it as a concomitant agent for relieving respiratory symptoms and suppressing COVID-19 infection.

Food security will be a substantial issue in the near future due to the expeditiously growing global population. The current trend in the agriculture industry entails the extravagant use of synthesized pesticides and fertilizers, making sustainability a difficult challenge. Land degradation, lower production, and vulnerability to both abiotic and biotic stresses are problems caused by the usage of these pesticides and fertilizers. The major goal of sustainable agriculture is to ameliorate productivity and reduce pests and disease prevalence to such a degree that prevents large-scale damage to crops. Agriculture is a composite interrelation among plants, microbes, and soil. Plant microbes play a major role in growth promotion and improve soil fertility as well. Bacillus spp. produces an extensive range of bio-chemicals that assist in plant disease control, promote plant development, and make them suitable for agricultural uses. Bacillus spp. support plant growth by N fixation, P and K solubilization, and phytohormone synthesis, in addition to being the most propitious biocontrol agent. Moreover, Bacilli excrete extracellular metabolites, including antibiotics, lytic enzymes, and siderophores, and demonstrate antagonistic activity against phytopathogens. Bacillus spp. boosts plant resistance toward pathogens by inducing systemic resistance (ISR). The most effective microbial insecticide against insects and pests in agriculture is Bacillus thuringiensis ( Bt ). Additionally, the incorporation of toxin genes in genetically modified crops increases resistance to insects and pests. There is a constant increase in the identified Bacillus species as potential biocontrol agents. Moreover, they have been involved in the biosynthesis of metallic nanoparticles. The main objective of this review article is to display the uses and application of Bacillus specie as a promising biopesticide in sustainable agriculture. Bacillus spp. strains that are antagonistic and promote plant yield attributes could be valuable in developing novel formulations to lead the way toward sustainable agriculture.

Emetine is one of the most highly potent anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents ever identified. In addition to having strong anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities, emetine has other valuable therapeutic effects such as strong anti-inflammatory and anti-arterial pulmonary hypertension (APH) properties, which are suitable for the treatment of COVID-19. Its proper concomitant therapeutic effect has led researchers to test this compound in clinical trials to combat COVID-19. However, due to the risks of cardiac complications, very low doses of emetine have been used in different studies, which may not have significant therapeutic effects. The p38 MAPK signaling pathway is strongly highlighted as an important operator in cardiac cellular damages such as disruption of cardiac fibroblast function and myopathy/cardiomyopathy. Inhibition of this pathway by appropriate inhibitors has also been considered by scientists as a promising strategy for the treatment of fatal host-related hyper-inflammatory immune responses following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Although remarkable stimulatory effects of emetine on activation of the p38 MAPK pathway have been reported in recent studies and strong evidence suggests that this pathway plays an effective role in the emetine's toxicities, it has not been discussed yet that emetine induced cellular cardiac complications may be due to the activation of this critical pathway. Considering these points could lead to the finding of strategies for applying the valuable potential of emetine in the treatment of COVID-19 at low risks.

Vinyl chloride is a colorless gas with a pleasant odor capable of entering the body through oral or inhalation routes. Extensive studies on this compound indicated that it is a carcinogen, and Vinyl chloride exposure can result in a specific type of cancer in vinyl chloride workers. Whereas hemoglobin plays a vital role in oxygen transfer throughout the body, in a molecular aspect, the effect of vinyl chloride on human hemoglobin has not been studied. Furthermore, selenium as an antioxidant is a vital factor for the health of humans and animals. Then this research investigated the effect of the antioxidant capability of selenium at the same concentrations in blood on the interaction between vinyl chloride and hemoglobin. UV-visible, Fourier-transform infrared, chemiluminescence, and fluorescence spectroscopies were employed. The results indicated the destruction of hemoglobin structure in different concentrations of vinyl chloride. At the same time, the antioxidant effect of selenium inhibited the destructive impact of vinyl chloride on hemoglobin structure., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Korean Society of Toxicology 2022.)

The Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are ancient remnants of exogenous retroviral infections. Their abnormal activation is associated with several diseases, such as cancer and autoimmunity. Epigenetic and environmental factors are probably playing essential roles in the expression of these elements. This study aimed to examine the 96-hour effects of ELF-EMF on HERV-H, K, and W expression in human melanoma cells. SK-MEL-37 cells (the human skin malignant melanoma) were continuously exposed to ELF-EMF (50 Hz) at 1.5 and 3 mT intensity for 96 hours. Following mRNA extraction, the expression level of HERV-H, K, and W was assessed by qPCR. According to our results, exposure to ELF-EMF intensities for 96 hours could significantly downregulate HERV-H, K, and W env gene expression (P<0.001). Our obtained data suggest that low intensity and long-term exposure to ELF-EMF may pave using this type of radiation as a novel therapeutic approach by neutralizing the HERVs upregulated expression in melanoma cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

In the global movement to find the appropriate agents to fight the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), emetine is one of the strongest anti-SARS-CoV-2 compounds with sub-micromolar EC 50 values, identified in several studies and high-throughput screening efforts. The reported anti-SARS-CoV-2 mechanisms indicate the effect of this compound on both virus-based and host-based targets. In addition to having excellent antiviral effects, emetine can relieve COVID-19 patients by reducing inflammation through inhibitory activity against NF-κB by the mechanism of IκBα phosphorylation inhibition; it can also limit the lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα, IL-1β, and IL-6. Emetine also can well reduce pulmonary arterial hypertension as an important COVID-19 complication by modulating a variety of cellular processes such as the Rho-kinase/CyPA/Bsg signaling pathway. The therapeutic value of emetine for combating COVID-19 was highlighted when in vivo pharmacokinetic studies showed that the concentration of this compound in the lungs increases significantly higher than the EC 50 of the drug. Despite its valuable therapeutic effects, emetine has some cardiotoxic effects that limit its use in high doses. However, high therapeutic capabilities make emetine a valuable lead compound that can be used for the design and development of less toxic anti-COVID-19 agents in the future. This Review provides a collection of information on the capabilities of emetine and its potential for the treatment of COVID-19, along with structural analysis which could be used for further research in the future., Competing Interests: The author declares no competing financial interest., (© 2022 American Chemical Society.)

Multifunctional nature of phytochemicals and their chemical diversity has attracted attention to develop leads originated from nature to fight COVID-19. Pharmacological activities of chelerythrine and its congeners have been studied and reported in the literature. This compound simultaneously has two key therapeutic effects for the treatment of COVID-19, antiviral and anti-inflammatory activities. Chelerythrine can prevent hyper-inflammatory immune response through regulating critical signaling pathways involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as alteration in Nrf2, NF-κB, and p38 MAPK activities. In addition, chelerythrine has a strong protein kinase C-α/-β inhibitory activity suitable for cerebral vasospasm prevention and eryptosis reduction, as well as beneficial effects in suppressing pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. In terms of antiviral activity, chelerythrine can fight with SARS-CoV-2 through various mechanisms, such as direct-acting mechanism, viral RNA-intercalation, and regulation of host-based antiviral targets. Although chelerythrine is toxic in vitro, the in vivo toxicity is significantly reduced due to its structural conversion to alkanolamine. Its multifunctional action makes chelerythrine a prominent compound for the treatment of COVID-19. Considering precautions related to the toxicity at higher doses, it is expected that this compound is useful in combination with proper antivirals to reduce the severity of COVID-19 symptoms.

In this study, a series of new isatin aroylhydrazones (5a-e and 6a-e) was synthesized and evaluated for their anticonvulsant activities. The (Z)-configuration of compounds was confirmed by 1 H NMR. In vivo studies using maximal electroshock (MES) and pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) models of epilepsy in mice revealed that while most of compounds had no effect on chemically-induced seizures at the higher dose of 100 mg/kg but showed significant protection against electrically-induced seizures at the lower dose of 5 mg/kg. Certainly, N-methyl analogs 6a and 6e were found to be the most effective compounds, displaying 100% protection at the dose of 5 mg/kg. Protein binding and lipophilicity(logP) of the selected compounds (6a and 6e) were also determined experimentally. In silico evaluations of title compounds showed acceptable ADME parameters, and drug-likeness properties. Distance mapping and docking of the selected compounds with different targets proposed the possible action of them on VGSCs and GABA A receptors. The cytotoxicity evaluation of 6a and 6e against SH-SY5Y and Hep-G2 cell lines indicated safety profile of compounds on the neuronal and hepatic cells., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis study was to determine the pooled estimate of the effect of antenatal magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) on intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in premature infants., Methods: Two review authors independently searched all randomized clinical trials from international databases, including Medline (PubMed), Web of Sciences, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Research Registers of ongoing trials (ClinicalTrials.gov), from January 1989 to August 2017. Two independent review authors were responsible for data collection. After extracting the necessary information from the evaluated articles, metaanalysis of the data was performed using Stata version 14. Also, sources of heterogeneity among studies were determined by Meta regression., Results: In this study, among 126 articles that were extracted from primary studies, 7 papers that evaluated the effect of MgSO4 on IVH were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The results of the meta-analysis showed that pooled relative risk (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.63 to 1.03) for the effect of MgSO4 on IVH., Results: of this study showed that although MgSO4 had a protective effect on IVH in premature infants, this effect was not statistically significant. Further studies are needed to determine the best dosage, timing, and gestational age to achieve the optimum effect of MgSO4 on IVH., Systematic Review Registration: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) Identifier: CRD42019119610.

Objective: To determine the maternal risk factors associated with preterm delivery in Iran., Methods: A population-based case-control study was conducted including 48 women having preterm delivery (case group) and 100 women having term delivery (control group) between March 2007 and March 2012 in the maternity hospitals of the Selseleh County, Lorestan province, Iran. Information regarding maternal risk factors was collected by structured interview and reviewing the medical records. The maternal risk factors associated with preterm delivery were identified using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis after adjusting the sparse data bias. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves was estimated to evaluate the discrimination power of the statistical models., Results: Multivariable analysis demonstrated that multiparty (odds ratio [OR], 14.23; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60-127.05), history of gestational diabetes (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.01-0.99), thyroid dysfunction (OR, 97.32; 95% CI, 5.78-1,637.80), urinary tract infection (OR, 16.60; 95% CI, 3.20-85.92), and taking care during pregnancy (OR, 0.12; 95% CI, 0.03-0.50) had significant impact on preterm delivery after adjusting the potential confounders. The area under the ROC curve for the aforementioned maternal risk factors was 0.86 (95% CI, 0.80-0.92)., Conclusion: Our study provides evidence for the associations between multiparty, history of gestational diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, urinary tract infection, as well as taking care during pregnancy, and preterm delivery., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported., (Copyright © 2020 Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.)

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neuroinflammatory based pathologic state in which β-amyloid aggregates are major devastating agents. In this study, a series of 2-hydroxyiminoethanones were synthesized and evaluated as anti-inflammatory in carrageenan and formalin tests and inhibitors of β-amyloid aggregation. Compounds 1-10b were synthesized through a two-step reaction. Results: Compounds 1-5b showed more β-amyloid disaggregation ability than reference drugs rifampicin and donepezil and compound 2b was the best compound in this series and could reduce the extent of amyloid aggregation to 50.9%. Interestingly, compounds 1b and 3b showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced paw edema compared to control group and equivalent to the reference drug indomethacin. 2-Hydeoxyiminoethanones are privileged scaffold for further drug research and development as anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective agents.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Iranian women and fifth in men. The aims of this study were to investigate the relation of dietary factors and public health indicators to its development., Materials and Methods: The required information (2001-2006) about risk factors was obtained from the Non- Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (NCDSC) of Iran. Risk factor data (RFD) from 89,404 individuals (15-64 years old) were gathered by questionnaire and laboratory examinations through a cross sectional study in all provinces by systematic clustering sampling method. CRC incidence segregated by age and gender was obtained from Cancer Registry Ministry of Health (CRMH) of Iran. First, correlation coefficients were used for data analysis and then multiple regression analysis was performed to control for confounding factors., Results: Colorectal cancer incidence showed a positive relationship with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, lacking or low physical activity, high education, high intake of dairy products, and non-consumption of vegetables and fruits., Conclusions: We concluded that many dietary factors and public health indicators have positive relationships with CRC and might therefore be targets of preliminary prevention. However, since this is an ecological study limited by potential ecological fallacy the results must be interpreted with caution.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important problem worldwide and nasopharyngeal colonization plays significant role in pneumococcal infections. The aims of this study were to determine the nasopharyngeal colonization rate, serotyping, antibiotics susceptibility and study the risk factors for nasopharyngeal colonization with S. pneumoniae in students in Kashan, Iran., Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on children aged 7 to 19 years from December 2011 to November 2012. Nasopharyngeal swabs were plated onto brain heart infusion agar plates with 5% sheep blood and 4µg/ml of gentamycin. Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined on Mueller-Hinton agar in accordance with CLSI. S. pneumoniae strains were investigated for the presence of the most common pneumococcal serotypes using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction., Results: 13.9% were found to be carriers. The most prevalent serogroups were 19F (30%), 6A/B (18.9%), 15A (16.5%), 11 (11.3%), 23F (8.2%), 1 (6.2%), 19A (3.4%), and 35B (2.4%). Nine strains (3.1%) were non-typeable. The carrier rate was significantly higher in 12 to15 year old age group. Upper respiratory tract infections within the last month (OR=1.5, P<0.011), previous hospitalization (OR=1.6, P<0.001), previous antibiotic usage last two weeks (OR=1.89, P<0.001), rhinorea (OR=1.9 P<0.001), male sex (OR=3.5 P< 0.001) and passive smoking (OR=1.56, P< 0.001) have been determined to be risk factors for S. pneumoniae carriage. The highest pneumococcal resistance was to tetracycline (25.4%). All strains were susceptible to linezolid and levofloxacin., Conclusion: Our information leads to an important source to screen the future impact of pneumococcal vaccination on bacterial colonization.