Potential of bacterial culture media in biofabrication of metal nanoparticles and the therapeutic potential of the as-synthesized nanoparticles in conjunction with artemisinin against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells

In the recent past, various groups have proposed diverse biocompatible methods for the synthesis of metal nanoparticles (NPs). Besides culture biomass, culture supernatants (CS) are increasingly being explored for the synthesis of NPs; however, with the ever-increasing exploration of various CS in the biofabrication of NPs, it is equally important to explore the potential of various culture media (CMs) in the synthesis of metal NPs. Considering these aspects, in the present investigation, we explore the possible applicability of various CMs in the biofabrication of metal NPs. The synthesis of NPs was primarily followed by UV/VIS spectroscopy, and, thereafter, the NPs were characterized by various physiochemical techniques, including EM, EDX, FT_IR, X-ray diffraction, and DLS measurements, and finally, their anticancer potentialities were investigated against breast cancer. In addition, the NPs were examined in conjunction with artemisinin for therapeutic benefits against aggressive and highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Cumulatively, the results of the present study collated the potentials of various bacterial CMs in the biofabrication of metal NPs and ascertained the efficacy of the as-synthesized silver nanoparticles, especially the combinatorial entity as intriguing breast cancer therapeutics. The data of the present study plausibly assist in advancing the therapeutic applicability of the combinatorial amalgam against aggressive and highly metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.     

Tracking the acetate threshold using DO-transient control during medium and high cell density cultivation of recombinant Escherichia coli in complex media

DO-transient nutrient controllers use the dissolved oxygen signal to attempt acetate threshold tracking during fed-batch cultivation of recombinant E. coli. Here we apply DO-transient control to the production of Jembrana disease virus protein in complex Super Luria medium and compare performance against a high-limit pH-stat controller. For induction at medium cell density (harvest between 31 and 32.5 g dcw L) a total productivity of 0.27 g L h was achieved as compared to 0.24 g L h with the high-limit pH-stat. For induction at high cell density (harvest at 60 g dcw L), decreased productivity (0.12 g L h) was attributed to the effect of acetate accumulation on recombinant protein formation and a concomitant lowering of the critical growth rate. Our results suggest that complex media provides a difficult environment for the application of acetate threshold tracking DO-transient control because of difficulties in re-oxidizing acetate, and apparent localized production of acetate below the production threshold (as detected by the DO-transient controller as SPOUR(crit)). Configuring the DO-transient controller to avoid aggressive threshold probing is suggested as a means to improve performance and reduce acetate accumulation in complex media.     

Indirect photometric ion chromatographic analysis of anions in Haematococcus pluvialis culture media

An indirect photometric ion chromatographic method for the simultaneous determination of chloride, nitrate and sulfate ions was developed and applied to the determination of anions, mainly nitrate, in the alga Haematococcus pluvialis culture media. Using phthalic acid/sodium tetraborate aqueous solution as the mobile phase, anions can be detected indirectly by a UV detector. The calibration curves for these anions gave good linearity from 1 to 1000 g ml^–1.     

The World According to Vogue: The Role of Culture(s) in International Fashion Magazines

Anthropologists are known to work in contexts wider than academic settings, actively engaging with people from other disciplines and professions. The lecturers in the Fashion Institute where we presently work are challenged to integrate the practical knowledge and skills originating from the fashion industry into lessons, lectures and␣projects that prepare the students for their future careers. Our own task as (anthro)pology lecturers in Intercultural Communication and Culture and Globalization courses is to engrain a broader knowledge to compliment the practical competencies required in the professional settings. An example of the practical assignments is integrating the students' knowledge of minority groups or other cultures in developing certain fashion brands that would appeal to different ethnic groups or social classes within society or be marketable abroad. The deeper knowledge of segmentation, niche markets and specific target groups helps students to orient themselves in professional situations within the fashion industry. This requires an act of translation as well as transformation in order to translate the general (such as cultural theories) into the concrete (such as examples from the fashion industry) and to transform concrete examples and cases into broader theories. This article reflects on such acts of translation and transformation as evidenced in fashion magazines such as Vogue.     

Evaluation of a new chromogenic agar for the detection of Listeria in food

AIM: Rapid identification of Listeria in food is important in protecting consumers from infection. The development of chromogenic media such as agar Listeria according to Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA) has allowed more rapid detection of Listeria monocytogenes, with presumptive identification of this pathogenic species after only 24 h of incubation. The aim of this study was to evaluate Oxoid chromogenic Listeria agar (OCLA) in comparison with ALOA and a traditional, nonchromogenic medium, Oxford agar. METHODS AND RESULTS: Media were compared using pure cultures, spiked food samples and naturally contaminated samples. Whilst development of typical colony morphology took 48 h on Oxford agar, Listeria spp. were frequently detected after 24 h of incubation on OCLA and ALOA. There was no significant difference in recovery between the two chromogenic media. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that OCLA gives equivalent recovery of Listeria spp. compared with ALOA. Whilst L. monocytogenes was frequently detected after 24 h of incubation, a 48-h incubation time was necessary to ensure detection of both L. monocytogenes and other Listeria spp. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study has shown that a commercially available chromogenic medium other than ALOA is appropriate for use in the international standard method. The commercial availability of more than one medium will facilitate the more widespread use of the method, thus increasing confidence in the ability to detect L. monocytogenes in food in the presence of other Listeria spp.     

New conservation opportunities: Using citizen science in monitoring non-native species in Neotropical region

The combination of highly equipped smartphones, with the increased use of social media, has offered a wide database. Given this, citizen science can be used to record and monitor non-native fish fauna, target new samples and collaborate with monitoring occurrences in new areas. We aimed to demonstrate the efficiency of social media in citizen science as a tool to cooperate with monitoring studies of non-native species. Consequently, we determined the occurrence points of S. brasiliensis in the Iguaçu River basin, indicating sites of greatest occurrence and analyzing the impact of the invasion on the native fauna of the basin. Files and information available on the YouTube^® and Facebook^® media platforms were used as data, was carried out from April 2019 to April 2020. The results were 40 records, 22 videos obtained from Youtube, and seven videos and 11 photos from Facebook, the oldest record was from April 2013, while the largest number of posts was in 2016. Fish records available from online platforms can reveal the occurrence and progressive dispersion of species, in the context of biological invasions, these tools can be of great value in studies that aim to follow the progress of introduced species, contributing by helping to direct new sampling programs and corroborating the occurrence of species in new areas in conjunction with standard monitoring programs. Based on citizen science records, it was possible to update the range of occurrence of the non-native S. brasiliensis in the Iguaçu River basin, cooperating with scientific knowledge. Innovative monitoring and control measures are necessary to deal with invasive species, with citizen science proving to be competent for determining the occurrence of species and showing promise in the entire field of ichthyology.     

Differential sensitivity of fungi to lithium chloride in culture media

Forty species of fungi, representing a range of ecological and taxonomic groups, were tested for their ability to grow on agar media amended with lithium chloride (LiCl) at 1.5, 3 and 6 g l⁻¹. Species of Trichoderma varied considerably in their sensitivity to LiCl; at one week on 6 g l⁻¹ LiCl medium, the growth of seven species of Trichoderma was considerably inhibited; however, by three weeks at this level, four of the species tested were able to attain ≥30 % of control growth. Of the seven species tested, an isolate of T. viride was the most sensitive to LiCl in agar. Eleven other imperfect fungi also showed a range of ability to grow on agar amended with LiCl, from total inhibition to complete lack of inhibition. Six ascomycete fungi were greatly inhibited by LiCl at all levels; however, an isolate of Chaetomium globosum was highly tolerant of LiCl. Seven basidiomycete wood-decay fungi were quite sensitive to LiCl in agar, showing total to nearly total inhibition even at the lowest level; however, after three weeks, an isolate of Postia placenta was nearly uninhibited except at 6 g l⁻¹. Five ectomycorrhizal basidiomycete fungi were totally inhibited by all levels of LiCl; however, one ectomycorrhizal imperfect fungus (Cenococcum graniforme) was able to grow at 3 g l⁻¹ and was uninhibited at 1.5 g l⁻¹. Four zygomycete fungus isolates were nearly unaffected in their growth by all levels of LiCl.     

Newspaper Portrayals,Local Policies,and Dog-Supportive Public Space: Who's Wagging Whom?

ABSTRACT

Dog-walking promotes physical activity and positive social interactions, and thus dog-walking has implications for people's physical and mental health. As a result, experts in public health have endorsed designing and managing public space to support dog-walking. Nevertheless, the presence of dogs in public space is subject to negotiation and can be controversial. Generally, municipal governments or local councils exercise political jurisdiction over both dogs and public space. As a case study, we systematically collected and analyzed a local newspaper's portrayals of issues relating to dog-walking in public space. Our purpose was to understand how public and policy agendas were being represented by local media, during a period of time when local policies on dog ownership and dog-supportive public space were being reviewed and revised. The analysis involved three phases: 1) thematic content analysis; 2) issue framing analysis; and 3) policy analysis. Thematically, we found that social conflict predominated. In terms of issue framing, local policy and individual dog owner behavior were both problematized. Over time, the policy agenda evolved to emphasize the design and management of public space, especially park land. Policy-makers presented this emphasis on public space as a proactive strategy to reduce social conflict and to promote compliance with existing rules on dog ownership. When it comes to promoting dog-walking to benefit animal welfare and human health, our findings underscore the importance of paying close attention to local policies and media coverage. In fact, we found that endogenous conflict and public controversies can actually represent significant opportunities to bring about positive changes in the lives of humans and nonhuman animals.     

生物组织光学特性的测量方法及医学应用

对生物组织光学特性参数的测量方法及其在医学上的应用进行了全面论述,分析了测量误差的来源,结果表明测量结果的客观性取决于模型假设（如散射的各向同性或异性、边界的匹配与否等）、测量技术、实验装置、定标方法和介质非均匀性等。测量方法可用于诊断生物组织的生理病理状态和测量组织结构     

Design of an efficient fermentation process for the production of Metarhizium acridum blastospores

Using a sequential approach, we described efficient blastospore production in a stirred tank bioreactor (3?L capacity). We used the response surface methodology to optimise the media ingredients and fermentation parameters to obtain the maximum production of blastospores by a locally collected isolate of Metarhizium acridum (Ascomycota: Hypocreales). The results showed that a liquid culture medium supplemented with monopotassium phosphate (15.17?g/L), corn steep liquor (69.25?g/L), and casamino acids (80.68?g/L) in a stirred tank bioreactor under operating conditions constant at 635?rpm, a temperature of 26°C, and pH 3.3 produced 1.25?×?10⁸?blastospores (bls)/ml, with 93% viability after 120?h of fermentation. This bioreactor yield compares favourably with the yields obtained by shake flask production and confirms the suitability of the media and production parameters for the potential scale-up fermentation production of M. acridum.