CURRENT APPLIED SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Immature Platelet Fraction to Unveil the Contribution of HMG-CoA: Mechanistic Insights into Clinical Benefits

Deevan Paul Amarnath, Krishnan Prabakaran, Divya Bharathi Kuppusamy — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The immature platelet fraction (IPF) has emerged as a critical marker in providing valuable insights into platelet production and turnover dynamics. HMG-CoA, an essential enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, plays a significant role in regulating platelet maturation and function. Changes in cholesterol metabolism can potentially lead to abnormalities in platelet activation, aggregation, and thrombotic processes. This underscores the broader implications of metabolic disorders, such as hypercholesterolemia, in cardiovascular diseases where platelet dysfunction is a critical factor. Understanding the mechanistic links between HMG-CoA and platelet biology offers insights into therapeutic strategies aimed at mitigating cardiovascular risks associated with dyslipidemia and related conditions. Moreover, recent advances in nanotechnology have shown promising strides in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular diseases. Integration of nanotechnological approaches with the understanding of HMG-CoA and IPF dynamics could potentially revolutionize personalized medicine strategies, offering novel avenues for improving patient outcomes and managing cardiovascular health effectively.

Photorefractive Effect in an Imperfect Cerium Doped Barium Titanate Crystal: Reflection Grating Case

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The photorefractive (PR) effect, a nonlinear optic phenomenon, occurs in materials that have electro-optic (EO) properties. When two coherent beams of light interfere with each other in a PR material, donor electrons between valence band and conduction band, caused by material impurity, absorb the photon and are excited into the conduction band and generate electron-hole pairs. This process induces a periodic electric field called a space charge field that alters the material’s refractive index due to the EO effect. In this research, we explored reflection grating (RG) in an imperfect Ce-doped BaTiO₃ crystal and then showed optical image correlation using the RG. Two beam coupling was investigated using two non-Gaussian incident beams on the opposite surface of an imperfect Ce-doped BaTiO₃ crystal. Light at green wavelengths from a semiconductor laser was used as the source of the incident beams and entered at certain angles relative to the crystal c-axis. Large beam coupling power was observed in both incident directions when the angle between both incident beams is at Bragg’s angle in the direction of the c-axis. The diffraction light was found to be in the same polarization as the incident beam. In addition, interesting results for the optical correlation using reflection grating were demonstrated. These results suggest that by doping BaTiO₃ with cerium, strong beam coupling or photorefractive grating can be observed with certain incident writing angles on the crystal, which could be utilized in future flexible holographic devices in the future.

Radon Contamination in Various Water Sources and Indoor Air in Buildings in the Coastal Region of Surat Thani Province, Southern Thailand

Kanokkan Titipornpun, Sumit Jirungnimitsakul, Pachirarat Sola — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The coastal region of Kanchanadit District, Surat Thani Province, is known for aquaculture and mining activities, and may be environmentally contaminated with radon. Therefore, this work was aimed at studying the physical properties and measuring the radon concentrations in water and indoor air within buildings. In addition, health risks from radon exposure were evaluated. One hundred and fifty six samples were collected from various water sources, including groundwater, tap water, shallow wells, canals, and coastal areas, using a RAD7 device for radon measurement. Additionally, 58 CR-39 detectors were installed in buildings to monitor radon levels in indoor air for 90 days. The average background radiation doses, total dissolved solids, electrical conductivity, and pH of water were found to be 0.94±0.29 mSv/y, 0.88±2.10 g/L, 0.17±0.39 S/m, and 6.84±0.47, respectively. The radon levels in water ranged from 0.18 to 50.03 Bq/L with a mean of 4.75±10.81 Bq/L. The average annual effective dose for radon contamination in water was 12.97±29.51 mSv/y. It was only in groundwater that the average values of radon level of 40.53±8.53 Bq/L and annual effective dose of 110.65±23.28 mSv/y were higher than the maximum contaminant level for drinking water (11.1 Bq/L) and the reference level (100 mSv/y), respectively. Additionally, the indoor radon concentration levels ranged from 17.86 to 266.74 Bq/m³ with an average of 84.75±45.68 Bq/m³, while the average annual effective dose for indoor radon exposure was 2.14±1.15 mSv/y, which did not exceed the reference levels of 100 Bq/m³ and 2.5 mSv/y, respectively.

Evaluating Water Quality and Health Risks from Heavy Metals Contamination in Dug Well Water in Ramkot Area of Nagarjun Municipality, Kathmandu, Nepal

Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Groundwater is an important drinking water source in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. With the increasing extraction and utilization of the groundwater source, the quality and impact on health of groundwater consumption remain significant issues. Hence, the study was aimed at evaluating the quality of water from dug-wells in the Ramkot area of the Nagarjun Municipality of the Valley, and the assessment was based on water quality index (WQI), heavy metal evaluation index (HEI), and health risks associated with heavy metals (HMs). Thirty-one water samples were collected during winter (December-January, 2023/2024) and analyzed for eleven physicochemical parameters. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to analyze Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, while pH, electrical conductivity (EC), and total dissolved solids (TDS) were recorded in situ. The results showed concentrations of heavy metals in the order of Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. The Fe and Mn concentrations exceeded the safe limits as per the USEPA, NDWQS, and WHO guidelines. Pearson's correlation analysis showed strong and significant positive correlations between EC and TDS, and Cr and Ni. The WQI of 59.74 classified the water quality as of good category and grade B, indicating that the water was suitable for agricultural, commercial, and domestic purposes but not for drinking. The HEI value of 8.479 implied low heavy metal contamination. The health risk assessment indicated that children had a higher non-carcinogenic risk (HI_total = 1.39) compared to adults. Moreover, both children and adults may experience a potential carcinogenic risk from Cr exposure, based on TLCR values. This study provides critical insights into the extent of heavy metal pollution in dug-well water, supplying essential information that can shape public health policies and assist in effective groundwater management strategies to mitigate health risks in the Ramkot area.

Assessments of Chemical Constituent and Antimicrobial Activity in In Vitro Cultures of Coleus forskohlii

Mona Ibrahim, Mohsen Asker, Hussein Taha — Thu, 29 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The aim of the current research was to explore the chemical composition and antimicrobial efficacy of several extracts derived from in vitro calli and plantlet cultures of C. forskohlii. According to the findings, C1 treatment (1.0 mg/L 2,4-D + 0.5 mg/L Kin) was the most suitable for inducing friable calli in both explants (leaf and root). Regarding the plantlet culture, it was discovered that using MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L Kin was preferable for the multiplication of shoots. It was also noted that 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L cytokinin treatments recorded the maximum rooting percentage (100%). HPLC identified 14 phenolic and flavonoid compounds in both the aqueous and methanol fractions. The major component was gallic acid, which had the highest concentrations (23.43 and 23.62 µg/g DW) in the calli of root and leaf, respectively, in 80% methanol extract and 37.0 µg/g DW in aqueous extract of plantlet culture. According to GC-MS analysis of inorganic extracts (chloroform and ethyl acetate), fatty acid compounds appeared to be the main components in the chloroform fractions of different extracts. The most prevalent was 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, at rates of 16.33%, 11.69%, and 25.11% in callus culture from root, and leaf, and in plantlet culture, respectively. For ethyl acetate extracts, 1-butanol-3-methyl acetate (isoamyl acetate) was the most abundant compound in the extracts, recorded at 48.29%, 44.90%, and 46.06% in callus culture from the roots and leaves, and from plantlet culture, respectively. The antimicrobial activity of the various extracts revealed that the methanol extract was the most effective, inhibiting the growth of all pathogenic microorganisms when tested at 300 µg/mL, and demonstrating broad visibility efficacy against bacteria and molds, with MIC ranging from 125 to 260 ppm.

Flesh Quality of Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Cultured in Biofloc System with Different Dietary Protein Levels

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

The effects of dietary protein levels on flesh quality of Nile tilapia cultured in a biofloc system were investigated after an 8-week feeding trial. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 treatments and 3 replicates. The fish (initial average weight of 30.70±0.70 g) were fed diets with 32% (32%CP-BFT), 30% (30%CP-BFT) and 28% (28%CP-BFT) crude protein and raised in a biofloc system. The results showed that biofloc particles in the 32%CP-BFT treatment had a higher protein content than those in other treatments, which corresponded with protein accumulation in the whole body of fish (p≤0.05). However, no differences were found in the protein accumulated in fillets (p>0.05). The fillet color analysis showed that the 32%CP-BFT treatment had the lowest yellowness values, but no significant differences were found between treatments for brightness, redness, and whiteness index (p>0.05). Water holding capacity showed no significant differences in drip loss, thawing loss, and grilling loss (p>0.05). However, the 32%CP-BFT treatment showed the highest boiling loss (p≤0.05). Texture analysis showed that the 32%CP-BFT treatment had the highest springiness and hardness (p≤0.05), while the pH values showed no significant differences (p>0.05). The analysis of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the fillets stored under chilling conditions showed increasing TBARS values with longer storage duration, with no significant differences among treatments (p>0.05).

Ceratocystis fimbriata Causing Wilt and Sudden Death on Acacia mangium in South Sumatera

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

A survey of the incidence of lethal wilt disease in Acacia mangium plantations was conducted in three locations in South Sumatra, Indonesia: Ogan Komering Ilir (OKI) Regency, Ogan Ilir (OI) Regency, and Palembang City. Wilt disease in Acacia plants is highly concerning, with a mortality rate reaching 100%. Isolates were obtained from sapwood that exhibited dark spots, and six isolates were identified: CAW30658 (OKI), CAW30820, CAW30819, CAW31211, CAW30656 (OI), and CAW80912 (Palembang City). The initial symptom of wilting in Acacia leaves is characterized by leaf wilting, with color changes from green to yellow, followed by leaf drying. In the final stage, the tree dries out and dies. Symptoms in the sapwood include the formation of brown lesions that gradually turn black with elongated streak patterns resembling claw marks. These lesions also spread extensively into the heartwood, obstructing the plant's vascular tissues. Typically, infected trees emit a sweet, fruity odor from the exudate of fermenting lesions. This study aimed to identify the pathogen causing wilt in infected A. mangium using morphological characteristics and comparing DNA sequences of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region and β-tubulin 1 (bt1) sequences, as well as its pathogenicity toward other host plants. The isolated fungus exhibited morphological characteristics similar to the wilt pathogen Ceratocystis sp., with isolates producing rounded ascomatal bases with long-necked ostiolar hyphae. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed C. fimbriata, differentiating it from all other Ceratocystis species. The six isolates showed a DNA similarity level of 98%. Koch's postulates test on four-month-old A. mangium confirmed that C. fimbriata was the causative agent of the wilt disease. The lowest pathogenicity test was on Artocarpus heterophyllus, with a rate of 6.11%, while the strongest attack was on Annona muricata, with a rate of 8.96% among other hosts.

Evaluating Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens (L.) Residues from Various Organic Feedstocks as Organic Fertilizers for Sweet Corn Cultivation in Thailand

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Black soldier fly (BSF, Hermetia illucens (L.)) cultivation produces residues that can serve as valuable sources of organic matter. In this study, we used five organic materials—chicken feed, tofu meal, pineapple peel, cassava meal, and dry chicken manure—as feed for BSF larvae. The nutrient content and properties of the resulting residues for sweet corn cultivation were analyzed. The highest decomposition rate was observed with tofu meal, at 46.46 mg day^-1. Residues from BSF larvae fed chicken feed were the richest in nitrogen at 3.75%. Residues from larvae fed dry chicken manure and pineapple peel contained the highest levels of phosphorus and potassium at 4.88% and 5.17%, respectively. All treatments, except for those with dry chicken manure, showed extremely high levels of organic matter in the range of 32.56–83.52%. Notably, residues from BSF larvae fed cassava meal exhibited the highest seed germination index at 94.87% as well as the highest unhusked ear weight, at 437.10 kg ha^-1and husked ear length, at 18.47 cm. These results showed that the use of BSF residues improved the growth and yield of sweet corn. Thus, these findings suggest the potential for using BSF-derived organic fertilizers in sweet corn cultivation in Thailand.

Mycorrhizal Influence on Irrigation Efficiency: A Study of Maize under Drought Conditions

Rohat Gültekin, Ceren GÖRGİŞEN, Tuğba ํYeter, Çağlar Sagun, Kadri Avağ — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Drought stress is one of the biggest threats to agriculture in different parts of the world, especially in countries in the Mediterranean climate zone. One of the most natural solutions for agricultural sustainability is to use fungi that can establish symbiotic relationships with agricultural products. In this study, the effectiveness of different arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that can help reduce drought stress in maize plants was tested. The findings revealed that arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi inoculation significantly improved both irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) and plant biomass under drought stress compared to non-inoculated controls. Notably, Rhizophagus intraradices and Glomus iranicum showed the highest enhancements in IWUE and yield. For example, R. intraradices achieved an irrigation water use efficiency of 16.2 kg/m³ under low drought stress (70% of field capacity) and a yield of 26.9 t ha^-¹. Under moderate drought stress (50% of field capacity), this species maintained a high IWUE of 16.1 kg m^-³ and a yield of 18.4 t ha^-¹. In severe drought conditions (30% of field capacity), R. intraradices still performed well with an IWUE of 13.5 kg m^-³ and a yield of 10.9 t ha^-¹. Overall, AMF-treated plants exhibited 30-50% higher WUE compared to controls, with G. iranicum and R. intraradices being the most effective in enhancing drought tolerance and plant productivity. These results suggest that integrating AMF into maize cultivation can contribute to sustainable agricultural practices, particularly in regions facing water scarcity.

Identification of Respiratory Patterns and Quality Assessment Between Melons Inodorus and Cantalupensis Groups

Nurul Habibah, Ririn Nurmala Sari, Via Nuravivah, Rena Komalasari, Nasrudin — Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Two econommically significant melon groups, inodorus and cantalupensis, exhibit distinct differences in their respiration activity, which can significantly affect their postharvest quality and storage behavior. Identifying the two groups of melons is essential for determining the most effective postharvest handling practices. The aims of this study were to reveal the respiratory patterns of inodorus and cantalupensis melon-groups and to investigate their relationship to fruit quality for informing optimal postharvest handling. The treatments used were two groups of melons, inodorus and cantalupensis, with five replications (each treatment used three melon fruit samples). The fruit was stored in a modified drum with lighting, CO₂ detector, temperature and humidity detector, and had been sterilized. The data were analyzed using F-test and mean comparisons with standard deviation. Subsequently, a post-hoc LSD was applied to identify significant differences and Pearson correlation was employed to examine the relationship among the parameters observed. The results indicated that CO₂ concentration influenced the respiration rate and affected the fruit’s physical and nutritional characteristics. Cantalupensis exhibited a higher respiration rate than inodorus, leading to a shorter shelf life and a more noticeable decline in fruit quality. There was a positive correlation between CO₂ and respiration rate (R= 0.28), causing reduced edible parts, total soluble solids (TSS), water content, and vitamin C in both melon groups. This study highlights that the respiratory patterns of the two melon groups differ, with cantalupensis being climacteric and inodorus non-climacteric. Therefore, tailoring of the postharvest handling practices for the two melon groups is required to prevent significant quality loss.

Effects of Air, Vacuum, and Nitrogen Annealing on Structure, Bone Regeneration, and Antimicrobial Activity of Zinc-Doped Ca-P-O Microfibers

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Calcium phosphate (CaP) is a family of materials closely resembling the mineral phase of natural bone and is widely used in bone tissue engineering for its biocompatibility and bioactivity. In this work, the starting material, Zn-doped calcium phosphate (Zn-CaP), was synthesized using the sol-gel method. Then, microfibers were fabricated using polyvinylpyrrolidone/Zn-CaP and the electrospinning technique. The samples were annealed under various conditions (air, vacuum, and nitrogen) at 800°C. The results indicated that the average fiber diameter ranged from 300 to 2000 microns, as observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis demonstrated that the main phase in air-annealed samples was calcium carbonate, with hydroxyapatite as the second phase. For vacuum annealing, the main phase was calcium carbonate, and the second phases were calcium oxide and hydroxyapatite, while nitrogen annealing resulted in an amorphous phase. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results were consistent with the XRD analysis. In addition, the local structure of Zn was investigated using X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS), which indicated the presence of a ZnO phase in air-annealed fibers and a ZnS phase in vacuum-annealed fibers. Nitrogen annealing resulted in an amorphous phase. Moreover, the simulated body fluid (SBF) immersion test results showed that the most significant formation of apatite layers occurred in nitrogen-annealed samples, enhancing the in vivo bone bioactivity of the microfibers. The antimicrobial activity results showed that the air and vacuum-annealed fibers demonstrated 100% effective against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Tailoring ZnO Nanostructures through Precursor Concentration and Hydrothermal Duration: A Pathway to Efficient Solar Water Splitting

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This work investigated the formation of ZnO nanostructures on ITO substrates prepared by self-seeding hydrothermal synthesis for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications. The hydrothermal parameters, precursor concentration and hydrothermal time, were varied to explore their influences on ZnO crystallinity, morphology, and PEC performance. The combinations of X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed highly oriented ZnO nanostructures with diverse morphologies, including small granules, nanorods, dense films, and hexagonal platelets. Topographic profiling of the morphological parameters revealed complex relationships between synthesis conditions and nanostructure characteristics, highlighting the importance of considering aggregation phenomena in substrate-based growth. This aggregation led to deviations from conventional crystal growth theory predictions, particularly for grain density and diameter evolution. PEC performance evaluation identified ZnO nanorods as the optimal morphology, exhibiting a photocurrent density of 0.182 mA/cm² at 0 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Further enhancement was achieved by decorating ZnO nanorods with CdS nanoparticles, resulting in a six-fold increase in photocurrent density (1.2 mA/cm²). This improvement is attributed to expanded light absorption and improved charge separation at the CdS/ZnO interface. Our findings demonstrate the potential of rationally designed ZnO-based nanostructures in the advancement of solar-driven water splitting technologies and provide valuable insights for optimizing PEC systems through precise control of hydrothermal synthesis parameters, consideration of substrate-induced aggregation, and strategies for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting applications.

Evaluation of Sulfur and Nitrogen Utilization on Agronomic Traits and Fatty Acid Profiles of Safflower Using a Tester Biplot Model

Naser Sabaghnia, Mohsen Janmohammadi — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigated the effects of different sulfur fertilizers and nitrogen levels on the agronomic performance and fatty acid profile of safflower. The experimental treatments included sulfur application at varying rates and sources: S0 (no sulfur application), S25 (25 kg ha^-1 sulfur from elemental sulfur, ES), S50 (50 kg ha^-1 sulfur from ES), ZS25 (25 kg ha^-1 sulfur from zinc sulfate, ZS), and ZS50 (50 kg ha^-1 sulfur from ZS). Nitrogen was applied at three levels: N0, N40, and N80 (0, 40, and 80 kg ha^-1 nitrogen from urea fertilizer). The experiment was conducted in Baneh, Iran, in 2021. The entry-by-tester (treatment-by-trait) biplot analysis, which accounted for 80% of the observed variability, identified the N80-ZS50 treatment as the most effective in enhancing key traits, including yield, oil content, and specific fatty acids such as linolenic acid. Additionally, other unsaturated fatty acids, including oleic, linoleic, and arachidic acids, exhibited higher concentrations under the N0-S50 treatment. A positive correlation was observed between fatty acid composition, oil content, and protein, as well as among various agronomic traits. Based on overall performance and trait differentiation, N80-ZS50 emerged as the optimal treatment, followed by N80-S25. Trait discriminative analysis highlighted stearic acid, oil content, and linolenic acid as key determinants in safflower evaluation. These findings underscore the significant influence of sulfur and nitrogen fertilization on safflower characteristics, demonstrating the benefits of their combined application. The N80-ZS50 treatment (80 kg ha^-1 nitrogen and 50 kg ha^-1 sulfur from zinc sulfate) is recommended to enhance safflower performance in upland semi-arid regions.

Investigating Transit Timing Variations of a Hot Jupiter HAT-P-43 b

Fri, 30 May 2025 00:00:00 +0700

HAT-P-43 b is a hot Jupiter exoplanet that orbits a late-F-type host star with a period of 3.332687 days. In this work, we present a detailed analysis of HAT-P-43 b using 47 light curves from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), 9 light curves from the Kepler space telescope, four light curves from the Thai Robotic Telescopes (TRTs), and 4 previously published light curves from Boisse et al. (2013). The light curves were analyzed to derive HAT-P-43 b’s physical parameters and mid-transit times for each transit using the TransitFit package. Using the newly derived mid-transit times, the transit timing variations (TTV) of HAT-P-43 b were analyzed. To detect the periodicity of the TTV signal, a Generalized Lomb-Scargle (GLS) periodogram was created using the mid-transit times. The analysis revealed a peak at 0.184146 cycles per period, corresponding to a period of 5.43046 periods per cycle, with a false alarm probability (FAP) of 0.54%. Although a low FAP was obtained, the sinusoidal fitting of the HAT-P-43 b TTV did not match well, making it difficult to draw a definitive conclusion about the presence of a third body. Therefore, future observational data will be valuable in confirming whether a third body exists in this system.

Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Fish Oil from Indian Mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta)

Pipin Agnesia, Elisa Herawati, Ummi Hani Puspaningrum, Danar Praseptiangga — Fri, 13 Jun 2025 00:00:00 +0700

Fish oil is widely known for its beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids content, such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). The Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) is an abundant marine fish living in Indonesian waters and offers excellent potential as a fish oil source. However, there have been limited studies on the specific profile of fish oil derived from this species. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of Indian mackerel fish oil. Fish oil was extracted using the wet rendering method, and oil characterization was done using proximate analysis, physicochemical analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was tested using the DPPH method. The Indian mackerel fish oil extracted had a lipid content of 95.93±0.042%, protein (1.285±0.177%), carbohydrate (1.986±0.143%), moisture (0.775±0.006%), and ash (0.016±0.003%). Physicochemically, this oil had FFA 1.4±0.02%, saponification value 227.46±0.71 mg KOH/g, PV 8.46±0.047 meq/kg, pAV 10.27±0.41, TOTOX 27.19±0.31. The heavy metals Cd and Pb were less than 0.01 ppm, and the Hg content was less than 0.025 ppm. FTIR spectra showed the presence of unsaturated functional groups (=C-H), alkane (-C-H), carbonyl (-C=O), and alkene (-C =C). The antioxidant activity fell into the "very strong" category, with an IC₅₀value of 36.52±1.27 ppm. The overall results demonstrated the fish oil's favorable physicochemical characteristics and bioactivity, providing a foundation for further purification and potential applications.