Dose-Dependent Effects of a Corn Starch-Based Bioplastic on Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.): Implications for Growth, Biochemical Parameters, and Nutrient Content.

Plastic pollution is a pressing global issue, prompting the exploration of sustainable alternatives such as bioplastics (BPs). In agriculture, BPs have gained relevance as mulching films. This study investigated the effect of the presence in the soil of different concentrations (0-3%, w/w) of a corn starch-based bioplastic on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.). The results showed that increasing bioplastic concentration reduced shoot fresh biomass production. Biochemical analyses revealed changes in the shoot in soluble protein content, biomarkers of oxidative and osmotic stress (malondialdehyde and proline, respectively), anti-radical activity, and antioxidant compounds (phenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid), which are indicative of plant adaptive mechanisms in response to stress caused by the presence of the different concentrations of bioplastic in the soil. Macro- and micronutrient analysis showed imbalances in nutrient uptake, with a decreased content of potassium, phosphorus, and manganese, and an increased content of magnesium, iron, and copper in the shoot at high BP concentrations.

Exploring sustainable alternatives: Wood distillate alleviates the impact of bioplastic in basil plants.

The growing interest in bioplastics and bio-based crop management products in agriculture is driven by the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. However, recent research has raised concerns about the sustainability of bioplastics due to their potential negative impact on crop growth and yield, with implications for the environment and human health. In this study, wood distillate (WD) was evaluated as a natural enhancer of plant growth and defence system to mitigate the negative impact of a starch-based bioplastic on basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) plants. The study analyzed physiological and biochemical changes in basil plants subjected for 35 days to single or combined treatments of WD and bioplastic by measuring biomarkers of healthy growth, such as soluble proteins, sugars, vitamin C, and malondialdehyde (MDA). The results showed that WD promoted basil development, whereas the presence of bioplastic hindered it. Interestingly, WD did not affect sugars but increased vitamin C by 12 %, which is considered a positive effect as changes in sugar levels could indicate plant stress. In contrast, bioplastic resulted in reduced sugars (-41 %) and increased (+17 %) MDA level, while vitamin C content remained unchanged. However, when WD was added to plants grown with bioplastic, it elevated the levels of all examined parameters, except for sugars and vitamin C, which experienced reductions (-66 % and 33 %, respectively). Intriguingly, despite this reduction, the observed direct correlation between sugar and vitamin C contents was maintained, indicating that the decrease in sugar content may have reached a critical threshold. This study suggests that the use of WD has the potential to alleviate the adverse effects of bioplastic on basil growth and development and highlights the importance of adopting sustainable practices in agriculture, as well as the need for a critical assessment of the environmental impact of new technologies and products.

Auraptene-induced cytotoxic effects in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines.

Acute myeloid leukemia is one of the most commonly identified hematological malignancies with poor prognosis. This research was planned to identify the cytotoxic effects of Auraptene on HL60 and U937 cell lines. The cytotoxic effects of Auraptene were measured by AlamarBlue assay (Resazurin) after 24- and 48-h treatments with different doses of Auraptene. The inductive effects of Auraptene on cellular oxidative stress were investigated by determining cellular ROS levels. The cell cycle progression and cell apoptosis were also evaluated by flow cytometry method. Our findings revealed that Auraptene decreased HL60 and U937 cellular proliferation by downregulation of Cyclin D1. Auraptene also induces cellular oxidative stress by upregulation of cellular ROS levels. Auraptene induces cell cycle arrest the early and late phases of apoptosis by upregulation of Bax and p53 proteins. Our data suggest that the anti-tumor function of Auraptene can be mediated by promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest and inducing cellular oxidative stress in HL60 and U937 cell lines. These results support that Auraptene may be used as a potent anti-tumor agent against hematologic malignancies in the further studies.

Effect of Biochar Type, Concentration and Washing Conditions on the Germination Parameters of Three Model Crops.

Biochar has been recognized as a promising and efficient material for soil amendment. However, its effects on seed germination are variable due to its alkaline pH and/or the presence of phytotoxic substances. In this study, two types of biochar (B1 and B2) were mixed with soil at different concentrations (0%, 5%, 10%, 25%, 50% and 100%, w:w), and both the solid and liquid fractions of these mixtures were tested on the germination of basil, lettuce and tomato seeds. Furthermore, solid fractions subjected to a pre-washing treatment (B1W and B2W) were also investigated for their effects on seed germination. Three germination parameters were then measured: seed germination number (GN), radicle length (RL) and germination index (GI). Biochar B2W at 10% increased both RL and GI in basil by 50% and 70%, respectively, while B1 at 25% increased these parameters in tomato by 25%. No effects or negative effects were recorded for lettuce. Liquid fractions (L1 and L2) generally hampered seed germination, suggesting the presence of potentially water-soluble phytotoxic compounds in biochar. These results point to biochar as a suitable component for germination substrates and highlight that germination tests are critical to select the best performing biochar according to the target crop.

Impact of starch-based bioplastic on growth and biochemical parameters of basil plants.

The recent use of bioplastics in agriculture is considered an ecological choice, aimed at limiting the environmental impact of plastics, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. However, the impact of bioplastic residues on the environment is unclear as knowledge is lacking. This is the first study investigating the effect of a starch-based bioplastic on the growth and biochemical parameters of basil. Bioplastic was experimentally prepared and added to the soil at 2.5 % (w/w), corresponding to twice the concentration of plastic mulch film residues currently found in cultivated soils, in view of the increasing agricultural use of bioplastics. Basil plants were grown without (controls) and with bioplastic addition for 35 days, under controlled experimental conditions. Compared to the control, plants exposed to bioplastic showed stunted growth (in terms of shoot fresh weight, height, and number of leaves). Significant reductions in the content of chlorophyll, protein, ascorbic acid, and glucose were also observed. Finally, the treatment caused oxidative stress, as evidenced by the increased content of malondialdehyde in the shoots. The addition of bioplastic increased the electrical conductivity and reduced the cation exchange capacity of the cultivation soil. These results suggest that bioplastic in soil may promote the onset of stressful conditions for plant growth in a similar manner to plastic. They will be complemented by further investigations to unravel the mechanisms underlying these responses, involving different doses and types of bioplastics and other crop species.

Keeping Employees Safe During Health Crises: The Effects of Media Exposure, HR Practices, and Age.

Occupational health and safety are critical in promoting the wellness of organizations and employees. The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most life-threatening viruses encountered in recent history, providing a unique opportunity for research to examine factors that drive employee safety behavior. Drawing from terror management theory, we propose and test a moderated mediation model using data collected from employees working during a peak of the pandemic. We identify two sources of influence - one external (i.e., media exposure), and one internal (i.e., HR practices) to the organization - that shape employees' mortality salience and safety behaviors. We find that COVID-19 HR practices significantly moderate the relationship between daily COVID-19 media exposure and mortality salience, with media exposure positively associated with mortality salience at lower levels of HR practices but its effects substituted by higher levels of HR practices. Moreover, our results also show that mortality salience spurs safety behaviors, with age moderating this relationship such that younger - but not older - employees are more likely to engage in safety behaviors due to mortality salience. Taken together, we offer theoretical implications for the safety behavior literature and practical implications for organizations faced with health crises or having employees who commonly work in hazardous conditions.

Robust stabilization criteria of a general form of fractional-order controllers for interval fractional-order plants with complex uncertain parameters.

This paper studies the problem of robust stabilization of interval fractional-order plants with complex uncertain parameters by using fractional-order controllers. An interval fractional-order plant with complex uncertain parameters means that the coefficients of the numerator and denominator of the plant are all uncertain and may be complex numbers and lie in specified intervals. At first, by using a graphical approach, necessary and sufficient conditions are presented for the stabilization of the fractional-order plant containing complex coefficients. Then, by using some interesting geometric features of convex polygons, a robust stability checking function is presented for the stabilization. Also, an upper frequency bound is introduced to reduce the computational burden. Finally, six examples are provided to illustrate the results.

Review of Pharmaceutical and Therapeutic Approaches for Type 2 Diabetes and Related Disorders.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D), which affects many people around the world, is one of the diseases that is on the rise. Various studies have revealed that insulin resistance and lessened insulin production have been associated with T2D, and they also show that this disease can have a genetic origin and is associated with different genes, such as KCNQ1, PPAR-γ, calpain-10, ADIPOR2, TCF7L2, which can be utilized as therapeutic targets. Different therapeutic approaches and strategies such as exercise and diet, pharmacological approaches, and utilization of nanoparticles in drug delivery and gene therapy can be effective in the treatment and control of T2D. Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) and sodiumglucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) have both been considered as drug classes in the treatment of T2D and T2D-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease and renal disease, and have considerable influences such as diminished cardiovascular mortality in individuals with T2D, ameliorated postprandial glycaemia, ameliorated fasting glycaemia, and diminished bodyweight on disease treatment and improvement process. In the present review article, we have attempted to explore the risk factors, genes, and diseases associated with T2D, therapeutic approaches in T2D, the influences of drugs such as dapagliflozin, metformin, acarbose, Januvia (sitagliptin), and ertugliflozin on T2D in clinical trials and animal model studies. Research in clinical trials has promising results that support the role of these drug approaches in T2D prophylaxis and ameliorate safety even though additional clinical research is still obligatory.