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Salinity is one of the rising problems causing tremendous yield losses in many regions of the world especially in arid and semiarid regions. To maximize crop productivity, these areas should be brought under utilization where there are options for removing salinity or using the salt-tolerant crops. Use of salt-tolerant crops does not remove the salt and hence halophytes that have capacity to accumulate and exclude the salt can be an effective way. Methods for salt removal include agronomic practices or phytoremediation. The first is cost- and labor-intensive and needs some developmental strategies for implication; on the contrary, the phytoremediation by halophyte is more suitable as it can be executed very easily without those problems. Several halophyte species including grasses, shrubs, and trees can remove the salt from different kinds of salt-affected problematic soils through salt excluding, excreting, or accumulating by their morphological, anatomical, physiological adaptation in their organelle level and cellular level. Exploiting halophytes for reducing salinity can be good sources for meeting the basic needs of people in salt-affected areas as well. This review focuses on the special adaptive features of halophytic plants under saline condition and the possible ways to utilize these plants to remediate salinity.

Okinawa propolis (OP) and its major ingredients were reported to have anti-cancer effects and lifespan-extending effects on Caenorhabditis elegans through inactivation of the oncogenic kinase, p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1). Herein, five prenylated flavonoids from OP, nymphaeol-A (NA), nymphaeol-B (NB), nymphaeol-C (NC), isonymphaeol-B (INB), and 3′-geranyl-naringenin (GN), were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-Alzheimer’s effects using in vitro techniques. They showed significant anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of albumin denaturation (half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.26–1.02 µM), nitrite accumulation (IC50 values of 2.4–7.0 µM), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity (IC50 values of 11.74–24.03 µM). They also strongly suppressed in vitro α-glucosidase enzyme activity with IC50 values of 3.77–5.66 µM. However, only INB and NA inhibited acetylcholinesterase significantly compared to the standard drug donepezil, with IC50 values of 7.23 and 7.77 µM, respectively. Molecular docking results indicated that OP compounds have good binding affinity to the α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase proteins, making non-bonded interactions with their active residues and surrounding allosteric residues. In addition, none of the compounds violated Lipinski’s rule of five and showed notable toxicity parameters. Density functional theory (DFT)-based global reactivity descriptors demonstrated their high reactive nature along with the kinetic stability. In conclusion, this combined study suggests that OP components might be beneficial in the treatment of inflammation, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) contains prebiotic components, fructans, antibacterial compounds, and organosulfur compounds. The complex ingredients of garlic seem to impart a paradoxical result on the gut microbiome. In this study, we used a mouse model to clarify the effects of whole garlic on the gut microbiome. C57BL/6N male mice were fed with or without whole garlic in normal diet (ND) or in high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Supplementation with whole garlic attenuated HFD-enhanced ratio of serum GPT/GOT (glutamic-pyruvic transaminase/glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase), levels of T-Cho (total cholesterol) and LDLs (low-density lipoproteins), and index of homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), but had no significant effect in the levels of serum HDL-c (high density lipoprotein cholesterol), TG (total triacylglycerol), and glucose. Moreover, garlic supplementation meliorated the HFD-reduced ratio of villus height/crypt depth, cecum weight, and the concentration of cecal organic acids. Finally, gut microbiota characterization by high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that whole garlic supplementation increased the α-diversity of the gut microbiome, especially increasing the relative abundance of f_Lachnospiraceae and reducing the relative abundance of g_Prevotella. Taken together, our data demonstrated that whole garlic supplementation could meliorate the HFD-induced dyslipidemia and disturbance of gut microbiome.

We study the impact of an agricultural microcredit program on the livelihoods of small, marginal, and landless tenant farmers in Bangladesh based on a Randomized Control Trial (RCT). Twenty percent of eligible households acquire at least one loan from the program within two years of the start of the intervention. Results show that access to credit has positive but imprecisely estimated effects on adoption of modern varieties (MV) of rice as well as rice yield. The microcredit program increases crop farm income but has no significant effect on total income or expenditure. Although the program does not have a significant effect on most economic outcomes, it demonstrates an increase in farm activities among the targeted farmers. Our study suggests that facilitating access to credit without addressing other constraints may not be enough to increase investment and profits of tenant farmers.

Jute endophyte Staphylococcus hominis strain MBL_AB63 was reported to produce a novel antimicrobial peptide, ‘homicorcin’. This exhibits potential activity against a broad spectrum of Gram-positive bacteria. Eight genes were predicted to be involved in the sequential maturation of this peptide antibiotic, which includes structural ( homA ), dehydratase ( homB ), cyclase ( homC ), peptidase ( homP ), immunity ( homI ), oxidoreductase ( homO ), ATP-binding cassette transporter ( homT1 ), and permease ( homT2 ), respectively. Among the modification enzymes, HomB, HomC, and HomP exhibit sequence similarities with class I lantibiotic dehydratase, cyclase, and leader peptidase, respectively. The current study investigated the sequential modifications and secretion of homicorcin by constructing robust computational protein models and analyzing their interaction patterns using protein-protein docking techniques. To enhance comprehension of the protein arrangement, their subcellular localization was also extrapolated. The findings demonstrate a network of proteins that works in a synchronized manner, where HomC functions as an intermediary between HomB and the transporter (HomT). Following its dehydration by HomB and cyclization by HomC, the pro-homicorcin is taken out of the cell by the transporter and processed by HomP, resulting in the production of matured, processed homicorcin. This biosynthesis model for homicorcin will lay the groundwork for the sustainable and efficient production of this peptide antibiotic.

Fish seed are important for the growth of aquaculture in Bangladesh, but there are many challenges associated with supplying quality fish seed. This review evaluated the current level of production, issues and challenges that are affecting the production of fish seed in Bangladesh. The fish hatchery was found to be the major contributor in terms of fish seed production. Out of 671 metric tons of fish seed produced in 2020–2021, above 99% were from hatcheries. Freshwater finfish hatcheries have expanded over the last 30 yr, and are distributed throughout the country, but there is no commercial hatchery for coastal and marine water finfish species in the country. Shrimp and prawn hatcheries are concentrated in Cox's Bazar and the greater Jassore regions, respectively, while crab culture is entirely dependent on wild capture. Crablets are collected from nature, which has a devastating impact on biodiversity and wild stocks. The fish seed value chain is multidirectional and interlinked, and intermediaries dominate the supply chain. Disease outbreaks and indiscriminate use of chemicals are major concerns in fish seed production. Management strategies such as the introduction of certification, training programs, technology transfer, access to credit, and implementation of the law could improve the quality and productivity of fish seed in Bangladesh.

The need to refuel future missions to Mars and the Moon via in situ resource utilization (ISRU) requires the development of LOX/LCH4 engines, which are complex and expensive to develop and improve. This paper discusses how the use of digital engineering—specifically physics-based modeling (PBM)—can aid in developing, testing, and validating a LOX/LCH4 engine. The model, which focuses on propulsion performance and heat transfer through the engine walls, was created using Siemens’ STAR-CCM+ CFD tool. Key features of the model include Eulerian multiphase physics (EMP), complex chemistry (CC) using the eddy dissipation concept (EDC), and segregated solid energy (SSE) for heat transfer. A comparison between the complete GRI 3.0 and Lu’s reduced combustion mechanisms was performed, with Lu’s mechanism being chosen for its cost-effectiveness and similar output to the GRI mechanism. The model’s geometry represents 1/8th of the engine’s volume, with a symmetric rotational boundary. The performance of this engine was investigated using NASA’s chemical equilibrium analysis (CEA) and STAR-CCM+ simulations, focusing on thrust levels of 125 lbf and 500 lbf. Discrepancies between theoretical predictions and simulations ranged from 1.4% to 28.5%, largely due to differences in modeling assumptions. While NASA CEA has a zero-dimensional, steady-state approach based on idealized conditions, STAR-CCM+ accounts for real-world factors such as multiphase flow, turbulence, and heat loss. For the 125 lbf case, a 9.2% deviation in combustion chamber temperature and a 15.0% difference in thrust were noted, with simulations yielding 113.48 lbf compared to the CEA’s 133.52 lbf. In the 500 lbf case, thrust reached 488 lbf, showing a 2.4% deviation from the design target and an 8.6% increase over CEA predictions. Temperature and pressure deviations were also observed, with the highest engine wall temperature at the nozzle throat. Monte Carlo simulations revealed that substituting LNG for LCH4 affects combustion dynamics. The findings emphasize the need for advanced modeling approaches to enhance the prediction accuracy of rocket engine performance, aiding in the development of digital twins for the CROME.

This investigation presents the comprehensive thermo-structural analysis of the propellant tanks utilized in the CROME propulsion system, focused on examining the structural effects caused by the storage of liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane. These fluids operate at extremely low temperatures and generate large thermal stress gradients in the tanks, significantly influencing their structural properties. For this reason, it is of vital importance to inspect the generation of mechanical and thermal stresses in the tanks to assess the risk of structural failure. To accomplish this effort, this analysis evaluates the tanks containing liquid nitrogen, liquid oxygen, and liquid methane at pressures of 200.0 psi and 400.0 psi. A coupled finite element analysis was performed in Star-CCM+ to compute the resulting Von Mises stresses under steady-state conditions. These stress results were used to determine the factor of safety in each case, enabling a quantitative assessment of structural integrity in the tanks while operating with cryogenic fluids under different pressure loadings.

In higher plants, multiple copies of the cysteine synthase gene are present for cysteine biosynthesis. Some of these genes also have the potential to produce various kinds of β-substitute alanine. In the present study, we cloned a 1275-bp cDNA for cytosolic O-acetylserine(thiol)lyase (cysteine synthase) (Cy-OASTL) from Leucaena leucocephala. The purified protein product showed a dual function of cysteine and mimosine synthesis. Kinetics studies showed pH optima of 7.5 and 8.0, while temperature optima of 40 and 35 °C, respectively, for cysteine and mimosine synthesis. The kinetic parameters such as apparent Km, kcat were determined for both cysteine and mimosine synthesis with substrates O-acetylserine (OAS) and Na2S or 3-hydroxy-4-pyridone (3H4P). From the in vitro results with the common substrate OAS, the apparent kcat for Cys production is over sixfold higher than mimosine synthesis and the apparent Km is 3.7 times lower, suggesting Cys synthesis is the favored pathway.

An experiment was carried out to determine the effect of replacing dietary fish meal protein with earthworm meal protein on growth performance, whole-body composition, and hematology of butter catfish (Ompok pabda). This experiment was conducted in 15 glass aquaria (200 L) with five treatments, each having three replications. Each of the aquaria was stocked with 40 fishes (average weight 0.62 g). The fish were fed with iso-nitrogenous diets having 35% protein (21% protein from fish meal and/or earthworm meal) twice a day up to satiation with the experimental diets, where fish meal protein was replaced by earthworm meal protein at 0% (control), 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% in the treatments E0, E25, E50, E75, and E100, respectively. At the end of the 8-week rearing period, the best growth performances including weight gain (5.23 ± 0.14 g), percent weight gain (844.15 ± 6.38%), and specific growth rate (4.00 ± 0.11% day−1), and best feed utilization parameters, viz., feed conversion ratio (1.57 ± 0.03) and protein efficiency ratio (2.87±0.04), were found in treatment E75, where 75% of fish meal protein in the diet was replaced with earthworm meal protein. The hematological parameters showed no abnormality due to supplementation of earthworm meal in the diets. At the end of the experiment, whole-body carcass composition, viz., protein, lipid, and ash contents (15.93 ± 0.19%, 7.22 ± 0.60% and 2.14 ± 0.10%, respectively), of O. pabda was higher in treatment E75 compared to control (14.8 2± 0.34, 6.16 ± 0.27, 1.89 ± 0.10, respectively). The results imply that earthworm meal can be used as a protein-rich source to replace fish meal, the major protein source, in the diet of O. pabda up to 75% level without compromising growth, immunity, and body composition.