Mendezpowers5617

Structural analysis of enzyme-treated pulp showed dissolution of hemicellulose as indicated by pores, cracks and increased roughness all over the surface. Cocktail of X + M produced economically in a single fermentation having all the requisite characteristics for pulp biobleaching is a highly suitable candidate for application in the pulp and paper industry.Enabling on-farm entrepreneurship is an important step to enhance the contribution of smallholder agriculture to rural employment and poverty reduction in South Africa. Using attributes derived from positive psychological capital as proxies for entrepreneurship and data collected from 458 smallholders in and around irrigation schemes in KwaZulu-Natal, the study empirically examines factors affecting smallholder engagement in entrepreneurship activities. Findings show that access to extension and information from scheme committees, being a male farmer, having more earned income, membership to a cooperative and access to markets have a positive effect on farmers' entrepreneurial behaviour. Factors inhibiting entrepreneurship in the context of smallholder farming include land tenure insecurity, access to land without the necessary complementary resources, consumption credit and staying far away from irrigation schemes. The study recommends addressing gender bias regarding access to resources and information. Promoting interactive learning through networking will also result in positive entrepreneurial behaviour. There is also a need for the provision of demand-driven extension services, facilitation of market linkages and enhancing access to finance for would-be entrepreneurs. Access to credit should be directly linked to agricultural production through input vouchers and value chain financing. Addressing land tenure issues along with access to other complementary resources, inputs and services will also enhance on-farm entrepreneurship in the smallholder agriculture sector.Clinical studies have identified a cytokine storm in the third stage of disease progression in critical ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hence, effectively suppressing the uncontrolled immune response of the host towards the invaded viruses in a cytokine storm is a critical step to prevent the deterioration of patient conditions and decrease the rate of mortality. Therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are found to be effective for the management of acute respiratory distress syndrome in patients with COVID-19. In this review, we compiled all therapeutic mAbs targeting cytokine storm, which are in clinical trials for its repurposing in the management of COVID-19. Compilation of clinical trial data indicated that therapeutic monoclonal antibodies targeting interleukins (IL-6, IL-1ra, IL-8, IL-1β, IL-17A, IL-33), interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, P-selectin, connective tissue growth factor, plasma kallikrein, tumor necrosis factor superfamily 14, granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor, colony stimulating factor 1 receptor, C-C chemokine receptor type 5, cluster of differentiation 14 and 147, vascular endothelial growth factor, programmed cell death protein-1, Angiopoietin - 2, human factor XIIa, complementary protein 5, natural killer cell receptor G2A, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, immunoglobulin-like transcript 7 receptor, complement component fragment 5a receptor and viral attachment to the human cell were under investigation for management of severely ill patients with COVID-19. Among these, about 65 clinical trials are targeting IL-6 inhibition as the most promising one and Tocilizumab, an IL-6 inhibitor is considered to be the potential candidate to treat cytokine storm associated with the COVID-19.Air pollution is linked to higher rates of human mortality especially those infected with COVID 19. Ozone is a harmful pollutant and is responsible for many health issues. However, some reports suggest that ozone is a strong disinfectant, and can kill the viruses. We hereby, report on the vulnerability of ozone due to COVID-19 lockdown whose levels flutter from surging to saturation in a highly polluted Indian capital, due to significant decline in anthropogenic emissions of ozone precursors. Average observed levels stabilized at 30 ppb, 12 ppb, 740 ppb, and 900 ppb for ozone (O3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) respectively during lockdown period from 27th March to 10th April 2020. The NO2, CO and VOC declined by 50 %, 37 %, 38 % respectively during the lockdown period of 2020 as compared to similar period in 2019. The anomalous response of ozone during the lockdown is explained by resolving the poorly known complex O3-NOx-VOCs mechanism with the help of data from air monitoring stations in Delhi, India. The data obtained from this study advances the fundamental understanding of ozone chemistry that may lead to improved ozone parameterization in chemical transport models and better planning of ozone risk management strategies for any global mega cities.Fungi are well known for production of antibiotics and other bioactive secondary metabolites, that can be served as pharmaceuticals, therapeutic agents and industrially useful compounds. However, compared with the characterization of prokaryotic biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), less attention has been paid to evaluate fungal BGCs. This is partially because heterologous expression of eukaryotic gene constructs often requires replacement of original promoters and terminators, as well as removal of intron sequences, and this substantially slow down the workflow in natural product discovery. It is therefore of interest to investigate the possibility and effectiveness of heterologous expression and library screening of intact BGCs without refactoring in industrial friendly microbial cell factories, such as the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we discuss the importance of developing new research directions on library screening of fungal BGCs in yeast without refactoring, followed by outlooking prominent opportunities and challenges for future advancement.Non-ribosomal peptides are a group of structurally diverse natural products with various important therapeutic and agrochemical applications. Bacterial pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), containing a scaffold of two fused five-membered ring system with a nitrogen atom at the bridgehead, have been found to originate from a multidomain non-ribosomal peptide synthetase to generate indolizidine intermediates, followed by multistep oxidation, catalysed by single Bayer-Villiger (BV) enzymes, to yield PA scaffolds. Although bacterial PAs are rare in natural product inventory, bioinformatics analysis suggested that the biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) that are likely to be responsible for the production of PA-like metabolites are widely distributed in bacterial genomes. However, most of the strains containing PA-like BGCs are not deposited in the public domain, therefore preventing further assessment of the chemical spaces of this group of bioactive metabolites. Here, we report a genomic scanning strategy to assess the potential of PA metabolites production in our culture collection without prior knowledge of genome information. Among the strains tested, we found fifteen contain the key BV enzymes that are likely to be involved in the last step of PA ring formation. Subsequently one-strain-many-compound (OSMAC) method, supported by a combination of HR-MS, NMR, SMART 2.0 technology, and GNPS analysis, allowed identification and characterization of a new [5 + 7] heterobicyclic carbamate, legoncarbamate, together with five known PAs, bohemamine derivatives, from Streptomyces sp. CT37, a Ghanaian soil isolate. The absolute stereochemistry of legoncarbamate was determined by comparison of measured and calculated ECD spectra. Legoncarbamate displays antibacterial activity against E. coli ATCC 25922 with an MIC value of 3.1 μg/mL. Finally, a biosynthetic model of legoncarbamate and other bohemamines was proposed based on the knowledge we have gained so far.Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by progressive onset motor deficits with heterogenous presentations ranging from dysarthria to foot drop. Approximately 20% of the patients present with focal bulbar symptoms, in which some may remain restricted to bulbar region (isolated bulbar palsy), and the remaining eventually spreads to involve other body regions (classical ALS). Without accompanying upper and lower motor neurons signs elsewhere, differential diagnoses for isolated bulbar symptoms are extensive, include ALS variants as well as potentially treatable mimics. Therefore, it is important to take heed on every possible aetiology that may disrupt the hypoglossal nucleus, nerve, or lingual muscle itself. Herein, we illustrated a rare presentation of Group A basilar invagination, which mimicked bulbar-onset ALS.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an auto-immune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) associated with the IgG-antibody against aquaporin-4 (AQP4-IgG). There is little published epidemiology of NMOSD from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

We retrospectively collated NMOSD cases admitted to our tertiary regional neurology centre.

We identified 11 cases (10 female, average age 30years). 64% (7/11) were seropositive for AQP4-IgG, measured using indirect immunofluorescence. The remaining cases could either not afford tests, or had pathognomonic radiological features. 57% (4/7) of seropositive cases had concurrent/recent CNS infection. All patients were treated with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP), and 36% (4/11) also had plasma exchange. Only 55% (6/11) of the patients were seen by a neurologist at presentation they had less relapses (1.3 vs 2.4), less diagnostic delay (2.3 vs 7.4months), and were less disabled at the end of our review period. 10 cases were immunosuppressed long-term 60% on mycophenolate, 30% azathioprine, and one on rituximab.

Our study is the largest case series of NMOSD from the East Africa region. Patients faced challenges of access to appropriate and affordable testing, and timely availability of a neurologist at onset, which had impacts on their functional outcomes. The majority of the seropositive cases had recent/concurrent CNS infections, suggesting triggered auto-immunity.

Our study is the largest case series of NMOSD from the East Africa region. Patients faced challenges of access to appropriate and affordable testing, and timely availability of a neurologist at onset, which had impacts on their functional outcomes. The majority of the seropositive cases had recent/concurrent CNS infections, suggesting triggered auto-immunity.

There is no consensus regarding the management and postoperative follow-up of non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFAs) in the setting of recurrent or residual disease. Subsequent treatment options include continued follow-up, re-resection or radiotherapy. MLN2480 cell line To address this gap and better understand current practice patterns, we surveyed neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists in Canada.

Neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists (ROs) across Canada were invited to complete a standardized online questionnaire. Summary statistics were computed, and Fisher's Exact tests were performed to assess significance. Qualitative analyses were performed through open and axial coding.

Thirty-three participants completed the questionnaires, with neurosurgeons representing a majority of respondents (

=20 vs

=13). When treating giant (>3cm) tumors, 90.9% of neurosurgeons in practice for less than 10years reported using an endoscopic approach, as compared to only 66.7% of neurosurgeons in practice for 10years of more. Additionally, neurosurgeons who were newer to practice had a greater tendency to advocate for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or re-resection (54.