Dynamic and Rapid Detection of Guanosine during Ischemia.

Guanosine acts in both neuroprotective and neurosignaling pathways in the central nervous system; in this paper, we present the first fast voltammetric measurements of endogenous guanosine release during pre- and post-ischemic conditions. We discuss the metric of our measurements via analysis of event concentration, duration, and interevent time of rapid guanosine release. We observe changes across all three metrics from our normoxic to ischemic conditions. Pharmacological studies were performed to confirm that guanosine release is a calcium-dependent process and that the signaling observed is purinergic. Finally, we show the validity of our ischemic model via staining and fluorescent imaging. Overall, this paper sets the tone for rapid monitoring of guanosine and provides a platform to investigate the extent to which guanosine accumulates at the site of brain injury, i.e., ischemia.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: phytochemical composition, cytotoxicity, proximate analysis and their biological activities.

The present research work has been performed to evaluate the phenolic content, flavonoids content, and cytotoxicity of a multidimensional medicinal plant; Tinospora cordifolia and as well as to determine nutritive value by proximate analysis. The total phenolic and flavonoids contents of Tinospora cordifolia were found to be significantly greater in methanol extract as compared to corresponding hexane extract. Brine shrimp bioassay indicated Tinospora cordifolia is pharmacologically active. The percentage composition of different nutrition parameters namely moisture, total ash, crude fat, protein, fibre, carbohydrate, and vitamin C were assessed. The nutritive values of fresh and dried stem samples were evaluated as 156.44 Kcal/100g and 232.61 Kcal/100g respectively. From Gas column mass spectrometry analysis, it can be reported that inositol, 1-deoxy-, trans-sinapyl alcohol, n-hexadecanoic acid were present in the major amount in methanol stem extract. The findings from this study reveal Tinospora cordifolia contains an adequate amount of phenolic and flavonoids content, vital bioactive antioxidant compounds, and a good source of carbohydrates and fibers which potentially adds to the overall value of the plant.

Current Trends of Food Analysis, Safety, and Packaging.

Food is a basic necessity for life, growth, survival, and maintaining a proper body function. Rising food demand leads both producers and consumers to search for alternative food sources with high nutritional value. However, food products may never be completely safe. The oxidation reaction may alter both the physicochemical and immunological properties of food products. Maillard and caramelization nonenzymatic browning reactions can play a pivotal role in food acceptance through the ways they influence quality factors such as flavor, color, texture, nutritional value, protein functionality, and digestibility. There is a multitude of adulterated foods that portray adverse risks to the human condition. To maintain food safety, the packaging material is used to preserve the quality and freshness of food products. Food safety is jeopardized by plenty of pathogens by the consumption of adulterated food resulting in multiple foodborne illnesses. Though different analytical tools are used in the analysis of food products, yet, adulterated food has repercussions for the community and is a growing issue that adversely impairs human health and well-being. Thus, pathogenic agents' rapid and effective identification is vital for food safety and security to avoid foodborne illness. This review highlights the various analytical techniques used in the analysis of food products, food structure, and quality of food along with chemical reactions in food processing. Moreover, we have also discussed the effect on health due to the consumption of adulterated food and focused on the importance of food safety, including the biodegradable packaging material.

The impact of COVID-19 outbreak and perceptions of people towards household waste management chain in Nepal.

The spread of COVID-19 is posing significant challenges to the household (HH) waste management sectors putting waste personnel and concerned bodies under massive pressure. The chain of collection, segregation, recycling, and disposal of household generated wastes is interrupted. This study aimed to assess how the household waste management chain was disrupted by novel coronavirus in Nepal and find the perception of the people towards the existing household waste management system (HHWMS). A descriptive online survey was carried out among 512 people using a cross-sectional research design and data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire method. Both descriptive, as well as inferential tests, were conducted using SPSS software. The finding of this study showed that 62.3% of respondents were not satisfied with the present HHWMS. Furthermore, there was a significant association of the satisfaction level of household waste management during coronavirus outbreak with gender, waste volume change in lockdown, PPE for waste collectors, and education on waste handling techniques provided by the government sector at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05). Proper HH waste management has become a challenge, and to address this some innovative works such as awareness programs for people, health and hygiene related support to waste workers, and effective policy formulation and implementation should be done by the Government of Nepal.