Browse Items (11855 total)
Sort by:
-
The effect of dietary supplementation of proteases on growth, digestive enzymes, oxidative stress, and intestinal morphology in fishes A review
Optimizing utilization of nutrients and improving protein digestibility, particularly in the early stages of cultivable species, is a challenging task for the sustainable development of aquaculture. The use of protein-digesting enzymes as a feed supplement is an eco-friendly approach to improve protein digestibility. Exogenous enzymes, particularly proteases, have been shown to improve fish growth, nutrient digestibility, immunological parameters, intestinal topography, and most importantly, water quality. Although there is a clear understanding of the role of proteases and their mechanism of action, their role as a feed supplement in aquaculture remains controversial. In this review, we present updated information on the impact of proteases in improving various development indicators and fish health in general. Based on the information gathered from the current state of knowledge, it is clear that extensive research has to be made to broaden the application of proteases overcoming the drawbacks that could hinder its application in the field. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023. Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. -
A Systematic Review of Fish-Based Biomaterial on Wound Healing and Anti-Inflammatory Processes
Objective: To conduct a systematic literature review to study the effects of fish-based biomaterials on wound healing in both in vivo and in vitro animal models. Approach: This review covers the study reported in different articles between 2016 and August 2022 concentrating mainly on the cytotoxicity evaluation of different fish-based biomaterials on inflammation, reepithelialization and wound healing. Significance: This review shows considerable amount of research work carried out with fish-based biomaterials and collagen for treating burn wounds. Surprisingly there are only a few commercial products developed so far in this particular regard for surgical purpose and therefore, there is a way out and need for developing medical support product from fish-based biomaterials to treat and cure wounds. Recent Advances: Three-dimensional skin bioprinting technique is a large-scale solution for severe burn wounds that requires collagen as a raw material for printing, wherein fish collagen can be used in place of bovine and porcine, as it is biocompatible, promotes cell proliferation, adhesion, and migration, and degrades enzymatically. In the recent times, there are a few fish-based surgical products that have been formulated by Kerecis in United States. Critical Issues: The different fish-based biomaterial products are all mere supplements taken in orally as food or supplements till date and there is no proper proven medications that has been formulated so far in the field of wound healing and inflammation based on fish biomaterials except the surgical products that can be finger counted. Future Directions: Fish-based biomaterials are known for the medicinal properties that are used throughout the world and further investigations should be carried out to understand the actual physiochemical properties of its derivatives for the discovery of novel products and drugs. Copyright 2024 by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. -
Anticancer activity and other biomedical properties of ?-sitosterol: Bridging phytochemistry and current pharmacological evidence for future translational approaches
Sterols, including ?-sitosterol, are essential components of cellular membranes in both plant and animal cells. Despite being a major phytosterol in various plant materials, comprehensive scientific knowledge regarding the properties of ?-sitosterol and its potential applications is essential for scholarly pursuits and utilization purposes. ?-sitosterol shares similar chemical characteristics with cholesterol and exhibits several pharmacological activities without major toxicity. This study aims to bridge the gap between phytochemistry and current pharmacological evidence of ?-sitosterol, focusing on its anticancer activity and other biomedical properties. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of ?-sitosterol's potential for future translational approaches. A thorough examination of the literature was conducted to gather relevant information on the biological properties of ?-sitosterol, particularly its anticancer therapeutic potential. Various databases were searched, including PubMed/MedLine, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science using appropriate keywords. Studies investigating the effects of ?-sitosterol on different types of cancer were analyzed, focusing on mechanisms of action, pharmacological screening, and chemosensitizing properties. Modern pharmacological screening studies have revealed the potential anticancer therapeutic properties of ?-sitosterol against various types of cancer, including leukemia, lung, stomach, breast, colon, ovarian, and prostate cancer. ?-sitosterol has demonstrated chemosensitizing effects on cancer cells, interfering with multiple cell signaling pathways involved in proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, survival, metastasis invasion, angiogenesis, and inflammation. Structural derivatives of ?-sitosterol have also shown anti-cancer effects. However, research in the field of drug delivery and the detailed mode of action of ?-sitosterol-mediated anticancer activities remains limited. ?-sitosterol, as a non-toxic compound with significant pharmacological potential, exhibits promising anticancer effects against various cancer types. Despite being relatively less potent than conventional cancer chemotherapeutics, ?-sitosterol holds potential as a safe and effective nutraceutical against cancer. Further comprehensive studies are recommended to explore the biological properties of ?-sitosterol, including its mode of action, and develop novel formulations for its potential use in cancer treatment. This review provides a foundation for future investigations and highlights the need for further research on ?-sitosterol as a potent superfood in combating cancer. 2023 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
A review on ethanol tolerance mechanisms in yeast: Current knowledge in biotechnological applications and future directions
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is one of the prominent strains in the brewing and bioethanol industries and has been used for many industrial purposes for ages. Though the organism is an outstanding ethanol producer, the major limiting factor is the stress the organism undergoes during fermentation. One of the significant stresses is the ethanol stress, created by ethanol accumulation in the medium. The ethanol starts to interact with the yeast cell membrane; further, as ethanol concentration increases, it affects a lot of cell organelles. Thereby, cellular activities get disrupted, causing cell death and hence reducing ethanol production. The organism has developed many strategies to overcome this stress by activating the stress response pathway, which regulates many genes involved in modifying the cell membrane cell wall, renaturation of proteins, and altering the metabolism. However, with higher ethanol concentrations, the yeast cells will be unable to tolerate, leading to cell death. Hence, to minimize cell death at higher ethanol concentrations, there is a need to understand the effect of ethanol and its response by the organism; this helps improve the ethanol tolerance of the organism and, thereby, ethanol production. Although many research works are carried out to understand the vital aspect of the tolerance and are reported, very few review papers cover all these points. Hence, this review is designed to include information on all the elements of ethanol tolerance, i.e., ethanol tolerance of different strains of S. cerevisiae, the effect of ethanol on the yeast cells, the mechanism used to tolerate the ethanol, and various techniques developed to improve the ethanol tolerance of the yeast cells. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Biotechnological approaches for the production of hypericin and other important metabolites from the genus Hypericum
Hypericin, a polycyclic naphthodianthrone and active plant pigment with the molecular formula C30H16O8, is a crucial phytochemical extracted from the dark-colored glands present on the aerial parts of the genus Hypericum. It is biosynthesized through the polyketide pathway by plant-specific type III polyketide synthases (PKSs). In addition to hypericin, the genus Hypericum is rich in various classes of phytochemicals. Alongside other bioactive compounds like hyperforin and flavonoids, hypericin exhibits antidepressant activity. Recently, hypericin has gained increased importance in the research due to its unique properties. Its photodynamic nature makes it an effective natural photosensitizer, extending its use in investigating skin disorders. Moreover, hypericin demonstrates antiviral and antitumoral properties. Despite its effectiveness in treating cancers and neurological disorders, hypericin production faces challenges due to its site-specific nature. Conventional methods struggle to meet the growing demand for hypericin. Biotechnological approaches, including plant tissue culture and bioreactor-based large-scale production, offer promising solutions to address this demand. This review focuses on various plant tissue culture techniques, such as cell and organ culture, and elucidates their biosynthetic pathways. It also discusses hypericin production using elicitation strategies involving biotic and abiotic components, as well as genetic engineering approaches to enhance hypericin yields. Bioreactor-scale production presents significant potential for sustainable hypericin production. Further advancements in understanding and engineering biosynthetic pathways hold promise for unlocking new avenues in hypericin production. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024. -
First Aid Kit to Solve Mental Health Crisis in India: Mental Health First Aid to the Rescue
India has a large population with the prevalence of many mental health concerns but faces a shortage of mental health professionals. This paper deals with this mental health crisis in India and how Mental Health First Aid and developing a first aid kit for mental health would help to address the issue. Mental health and mental illness in India additionally face stigma and backlash from the society. Due to this, very few people with mental ailments come forward to seek professional help. While we are aware of and trained in first aid for physical health, the concept of first aid for mental health is in its infancy. Hence, a review of literature was done to find the benefits of Mental Health First Aid and how it could benefit in solving the crisis in India. Creating a Mental Health First Aid Kit on a similar basis to its physical counterpart can also come in handy while administering mental health first aid. Results show that an individual trained inmental health first aid might act as a bridge between people with mental ailments and mental health professionals and assist in providing timely help. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to National Academy of Psychology (NAOP) India 2023. -
State of the art MOF-composites and MXene-composites: Synthesis, fabrication and diverse applications
The composites of MXene and Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have gained considerable attention recently due to their synergic properties. MOFs are advantageous as it offers high surface area, good stability, and tunable chemical structure, MXenes, on the other hand, provide superior ion-transport characteristics, high conductivity, large surface-to-volume ratio, and facile modification strategies. Composite fabrication enables tuning the desired properties of the individual materials and propounds good stability and enhanced performance. This review assembles and describes the composites of MXene and MOF in various fields of application like energy storage devices, sensors, medicinal, separation membranes, medicinal, and photocatalysis in a comprehensible way. Here we first outline the characteristics of MOFs and MXenes along with a comparative study of different synthesis routes for the fabrication of the composites. The review also encompasses a detailed discussion on different industries and applications that the MXene and MOF composites are subjected to. Finally, the review provides future perspective for designing and development of newer composites as well as scope for further industrial approach. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Low-cost bio-waste carbon nanocomposites for sustainable electrochemical devices: A systematic review
Innovative brains have always drawn inspiration from nature while creating new designs. Animals and plants offer a variety of structures that are stronger, have higher energy sorption capacities, and have lower densities. These structures can inspire the creation of new, functional designs. Scientists have created structures by drawing inspiration from biological structures seen in nature. These structures have been demonstrated to significantly outperform conventional structures for use in the environmental and energy sectors. Due to their simple synthesis, adaptability, excellent performance, and variety of uses, including in light-harvesting systems, batteries, catalysis, bio-fuels, water, and air purification, and environmental monitoring, bio-fabricated materials have demonstrated several advantages. However, sensitive fabrication tools that can create bio-inspired structures and scale up manufacturing from laboratory-scale synthesis are urgently needed. A quick rundown of recent developments in bionanomaterials for different electrochemical systems, particularly the extensively researched rechargeable batteries, sensors, and supercapacitors, provided a discussion of the design principles for bionanomaterials, synthesis, and strategies for low-cost bio-inspired nanomaterial synthesis and device integration. A quick overview of the future research priorities is then suggested, followed by a critical analysis of the current problems. This review is anticipated to provide some understanding of biowaste-nanocomposites for electrochemical applications by taking cues from nature. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Graphs on groups in terms of the order of elements: A review
Two mathematical fields that concentrate on creating and analyzing structures are algebra and graph theory. There are numerous studies linking algebraic structures like groups, rings, fields and vector spaces with graph theory. Several algebraic graphs have been defined based on the properties of the order of the group and its elements. In this paper, we systematically review the literature on such graphs to understand the research dynamics in the field. 2024 World Scientific Publishing Company. -
An outlook on zero-dimensional nanocarbons as components of DSSC
Solar energy is an abundant source of energy, and harnessing the suns radiation with an efficient solar cell can be a promising technology for a limitless supply of sustainable energy. The amount of solar power that reaches the earth is beyond the worlds energy consumption. But, the main cause for minimal usage of the suns energy is the complicated technology, restricted band gap, high-temperature instability, and high cost of production. Likewise, the usage of space and infrastructure required for the installation of solar cells is yet another reason for limited usage. Upon comparing the emerging photovoltaics, DSSC (dye-sensitized solar cells) can be a solution for the drawbacks faced by the older generation solar cells which has greater future scope as an energy harvester. Rapid technological growth over the years, usage of affordable materials, and capability of working efficiently in low lighting conditions make DSSC a commercially viable and potent solar energy harvester. Furthermore, its efficiency can be improved with the inclusion of low-dimensional nanocarbons in various components of DSSC. Therefore, this review describes the mechanisms of improving the performance of zero-dimensional nanocarbons and their application in components of DSSC alternative to conventional materials. The significant impact of surface functionalization of low-dimensional nanocarbon on the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells is also discussed. Graphical abstract: (Figure presented.) The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022. Springer Nature or its licensor holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law. -
Triggers of Changes in Business Processes and Applications: A Systematic Review
Organizations must constantly adapt due to the rapid rate of technological development, market conditions, and customer expectations. The multidimensional world of catalysts that drive changes in corporate processes and applications is explored in this systematic review. Every business must adopt the changes if it wants to compete in the market and outlast its rivals. A wide range of factors, including internal and external forces, can cause applications and business processes to change. These changes are frequently necessary to stay current with the shifting demands of the market, technology advancements, organizational requirements, competitive pressures, legal compliance, environmental and sustainability programs, market trends, and consumer insights. Taking this into account, this chapter attempts to concentrate on the causes of changes in business processes and applications by analyzing the perspective. 2024, Iquz Galaxy Publisher. All rights reserved. -
Microplastic residues in clinical samples: A retrospection on sources, entry routes, detection methods and human toxicity
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging toxicants which have been detected in varying environments. Despite MPs adverse effects, reports on MPs detection from human clinical samples are only a few. This is due to several reasons such as inefficiency of current MPs detection techniques to detect them from human clinical samples, lack of understanding about the MPs toxicity to human organs and ethical regulations that restricts study with human placental exposure to MPs. This review gives a comprehensive outlook on the major sources MPs sources and routes into human system and their human toxicity mechanisms. Further an in-depth discussion on the significance and limitations of various MPs detection methods is elaborated in the review. Challenges in current research framework for detection of MPs from human clinical samples and the possible future directions in this imperative research domain are also focused in this review. 2024 Elsevier B.V. -
Experiences of Students with Learning Disabilities in Higher Education: A Scoping Review
Background: As the number of students with learning disabilities (SwLD) entering higher education (HE) increases, a need arises to improve the services provided to them by understanding their experiences. This scoping review explores the extent and type of evidence on the experiences of SwLD in HE. Method: The review followed the six stages outlined by Arksey and OMalley. PubMed, Science Direct, EBSCO, ProQuest, and APA PsycNet were searched for primary data, and studies published between January 2012 and July 2022 were included. The following information was extracted and collated from the included studies: author/s, year, location, objective/aim, study design, materials and methods, and major findings. Results: The search yielded 3729 titles and abstracts. Their screening resulted in 26 eligible articles. The review of these articles identified three major themes: (a) academic concerns, (b) psychosocial experiences, and (c) support systems and accommodations. The academic concerns included difficulties in areas such as reading, writing, and spelling. The studies on psychosocial experiences showed that SwLD experience stress, anxiety, and lower self-esteem. The studies on support systems and accommodations indicate that they get academic support, technological support, and extra time for examinations from educational institutions. Conclusion: The SwLD experiences academic and psychosocial challenges during higher studies. However, the existing support systems do not address these challenges, and there is a need for further research in this area. 2023 The Author(s). -
Consumption Behaviour of Poor Consumers: A Bibliometric and Content Analysis
The poor people segment has gained considerable scholarly attention, particularly after eight scholars established it as an untapped market. This study attempts to understand the nine consumption behaviours of a poor consumer. Therefore, we collate 384 scholarly papers indexed in the Scopus database, published during the period 19752020. Both evaluative and bibliometric relationship techniques, namely, Biblioshiny and VOSviewer, are utilized to understand the domains progress in the past 45 years. Besides this, content analysis is conducted via hand search to identify the most utilized research methods, popularly applied theories and most explored contexts. Results show that research in this field has grown exponentially, particularly after 2007, with research focusing on low-income consumers, bottom-of-pyramid consumers and mobile money users. The findings indicate this domain demonstrates skewed development, and there is a huge room for future studies. 2022 Fortune Institute of International Business. -
Food wastage and consumerism in circular economy: a review and research directions
Purpose: Considering food waste as a global problem resulting from the wastage of valuable resources that could fulfil the requirements of malnourished people, the current research focusses on understanding consumerisms impact on this phenomenon. Additionally, the circular economy (CE) approach can be critical in reducing food waste and promoting sustainability. Design/methodology/approach: A systematic literature review was conducted using bibliometrics and network analysis. The study reviewed 326 articles within 10 years, from 2013 to 2023. Findings: The findings reveal four prominent factors behavioural, environmental, socioeconomic and technological in managing food waste (FW). Reducing FW at a holistic level can benefit individuals and the environment in several ways. Research limitations/implications: Consumers are encouraged to be more responsible for their food consumption by reducing food waste, as it affects societies and businesses both economically and environmentally. This can help promote a responsible consumption culture that values quality over quantity and encourages people to make more informed choices about what they eat and how they dispose of it post-consumption. All stakeholders, including firms, the government and consumers, must examine the motives behind inculcating pro-environmental behaviour. Originality/value: Addressing consumerism and the ability to decrease FW behaviour are complex issues that require a multidimensional approach. This study seeks to fill the gap in understanding consumerism and the capacity to reduce FW using the CE approach and understand the research gaps and future research trends. 2024, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
Social media influencers: literature review, trends and research agenda
Purpose: This study aims to provide a holistic review of social media influencers (SMIs) research based on a unique approach of bibliometric analysis and content analysis between 2011 and 2020. The review examines the main influential aspects, themes and research streams to identify research directions for the future. Design/methodology/approach: The sample selection and data collection were done from the Scopus database. The sample dataset was refined based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria to determine the final dataset of 183 articles. The dataset was exported in the BibTeX format and then imported into the BiblioShiny app for bibliometric analysis. The content analysis was done following the theory-context-methodology framework. Findings: The several findings of this study include (1) Co-word analysis of most used keywords; (2) Longitudinal thematic evolution; (3) The focus of the research papers as per the theory-context-methodology review protocol are persuasion knowledge model, fashion and beauty industries, Instagram and content analysis, respectively; and (4) The network analysis of the research studies is known as the co-citation analysis and depicts the intellectual structure in the domain. This analysis resulted in four clusters of the research streams from the literature and two emergent themes (Chen etal., 2010) Originality/value: In general, the previous reviews in the area are either domain, method or theory-based. Thus, this study aims to complement and extend the existing literature by presenting the overall picture of the SMI research with the help of a unique combined approach and further highlighting the trends and future research directions based on the findings of this study. 2023, Emerald Publishing Limited. -
A Comprehensive Review on Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Properties of Noble Metal Nanoparticles
Their health industry is facing challenges due to a rise in mortality rates brought on by various multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains. As a result, new and improvedantibacterial drugs are urgently needed. Similarly, when some unwanted foreign pathogensenter the cellular premises to disturb its homeostasis, inflammation develops as an immune reaction. However, these immune responses also become a double-edged sword when the inflammatory reaction lasts for a long time, and pain is also linked to inflammatory responses. Inflammation and pain are both signs of tissue injury. Pain is,by definition, an unpleasant experience that ultimately interferes with their normalwell-being. Hence, bacterial infection, inflammation, and pain need medical assistance to maintain homeostasis. Conventional medicines possess so many repercussive effects, which then demand a replacement with a less toxic and more efficient modern drug. In their review article, for the first time, they present recent advancements in biomedical applications such as the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties of noble metal nanoparticles. Noble metals have limited availability in the earth's crust. Hence, their physicochemical characterizations and applications are greatly limited. Still, there are some interesting research findings that offer a significant ray of hope for the health sector all over the world. 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH. -
Advancements in thiol-yne click chemistry: Recent trends and applications in polymer synthesis and functionalization
The 2022 Nobel Prize in chemistry brought the world's attention to click chemistry, a field as fascinating as its name, characterized by attractive features like high yield, stereospecificity, and broad scope. Since its inception, click chemistry has been synonymous with copper-catalyzed azide-alkyne reactions, owing to their remarkable advantages. However, as the field advanced, there has been a proactive search to develop metal-free alternatives for more biocompatible applications. This led to the extensive adoption of thiol-ene click reactions in the past decade. Yet, due to the growing requirement for polymers with complex architecture and functionality, in recent years, thiol-yne click reactions have come to the forefront with additional advantages over its ene counterparts, allowing the addition of two thiols to an alkyne. This review provides a concise overview of some of the significant developments in polymer synthesis and functionalization utilizing thiol-yne click chemistry. The focus is primarily on radical-mediated thiol-yne reactions, considering the substantial body of work in this area. Moreover, the review provides adequate discussion on other mechanistic pathways like nucleophilic and metal-catalyzed thiol-yne reactions that have gained traction recently. 2024 Elsevier Ltd -
Recent advances in polyethylene glycol as a dual-functional agent in heterocycle synthesis: Solvent and catalyst
Reactant solubility, which dictates achievable concentrations, and the stability of reaction intermediates (excited states), solvents modulate the potential energy landscape and influence reaction rates. Consequently, solvent selection is pivotal in optimizing process productivity, economic feasibility, and environmental footprint. At present, organic synthesis pivots around the idea of sustainability. In particular, PEG-400, a popular solvent and phase transfer catalyst, is considered greener as it can be reused several times without significant loss in its catalytic activity, which checks the box regarding sustainability. This review highlights the emerging potential of Polyethylene Glycol 400 (PEG-400) as a dual-threat agent in sustainable organic synthesis. We explore its efficacy as a catalyst, promoting various reactions under mild conditions and often eliminating the need for traditional metal catalysts. Additionally, PEG-400's role as a green solvent is addressed, emphasizing its biodegradability, low toxicity, and ability to facilitate reactions without hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). The review examines recent research on PEG-400 mediated reactions, showcasing its effectiveness in diverse transformations, thus exploring the potential of PEG 400 as a facilitator for heterocycle synthesis in both multicomponent reactions and stepwise approaches. It identifies exciting research directions that promise to expand the boundaries of polymer-based solvents in heterocyclic chemistry. 2024 The Author(s). Polymers for Advanced Technologies published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. -
Synthesis, properties, and state-of-the-art advances in surface tuning of borophene for emerging applications
Being composed of boron atoms that can be maneuvered to orchestrate low planar hexagonal structures, this two-dimensional material carefully exhibits versatility and has conventional covalent bonds between each atom. Borophene has recently proliferated the scientific research community by storm, trailblazing industries from fine chemicals, electrical equipment manufacturing, and biomedical innovation up to sustainable energy. Here, we provide streamlined information and particulars about the recent advances in the evolution of borophene since its inception and the essence of its electrocatalytic applications. We first introduce the sophisticatedly cultivated progress in borophene's structural, mechanical, optical, and electrical properties and further discuss its variegated polymorphism. Subsequently, we also delve into several capable synthesis techniques and recently concocted surface tuning and doping methods. Finally, we analyze the advancing state-of-the-art applications of this two-dimensional nanomaterial under investigation, ranging from bioimaging, energy storage, electrode reduction, and electrochemical sensing. Further, we have broadly discussed the future insights and challenges that borophene brings. 2024