The economic losses of fruits due to the post-harvest diseases exceeded 50% of the total production. Although control of post-harvest pathogens still relies mainly on fungicides, but the emergence of fungicide-resistant strains and environmental problems stimulated the search for ecofriendly alternatives. In this study, three isolates of Alternaria alternata were isolated from pear fruits, naturally have symptoms of Alternaria rot disease. The pathogenicity test confirmed that A. alternata AUMC11410 was the most aggressive isolate causing the highest rotted area on the pear fruits. Herein, four tested essential oils of Ocimum basilicum, Eucalyptus globulus, Rosmarinus officinalis and Viola odorata exhibited antifungal impacts against A. alternata AUMC11410. Viola odorata had the highest fungicidal effect on the mycelia growth of the pathogen producing reduction up to 92.50%. By evaluation of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), V. odorata oil showed MIC value at 0.4 µl/ml. Subsequently, application of V. odorata oil (0.4 µl/ml) reduced the percentage of Alternaria rot disease by 75.0 and 62.5% both before and after the pathogen inoculation. The GC-MS analysis of the V. odorata oil revealed that, it was rich in bioactive ingredients such as benzyl benzoate (8.0% of total ingredients), β-ionone (5.04%), α-hexyl cinnamaldehyde (2.93%), 6-methyl γ-ionone (2.29%) and β-linalool (1.16%). Furthermore, it had some monoterpenoids and their derivatives, namely; p-cymene, dihydro-α-terpineol, p-menth-3-en-9-ol, 1,4-cineole, p-menth-6-en-2-one, citronellyl formate, β-citronellol, linalyl acetate and isobornyl acetate that collectively amounted 5.53% of the total ingredients. In conclusion, V. odorata oil included bioactive compounds that may be responsible for this fungicidal effect against the pathogen. Therefore, application of V. odorata oil may be considered as a promising ecofriendly precautionary measure for controlling the post-harvest diseases of pear fruits.

Multiple mechanisms contribute to impaired diabetic wound healing including impaired neovascularization and deficient endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) recruitment. Bee venom (BV) has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of several diseases. Nevertheless, the effect of BV on the healing of diabetic wounds has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of BV on diabetic wound closure in a type I diabetic mouse model. Three experimental groups were used: group 1, non-diabetic control mice; group 2, diabetic mice; and group 3, diabetic mice treated with BV. We found that the diabetic mice exhibited delayed wound closure characterized by a significant decrease in collagen production and prolonged elevation of inflammatory cytokines levels in wounded tissue compared to control non-diabetic mice. Additionally, wounded tissue in diabetic mice revealed aberrantly up-regulated expression of ATF-3 and iNOS followed by a marked elevation in free radical levels. Impaired diabetic wound healing was also characterized by a significant elevation in caspase-3, -8 and -9 activity and a marked reduction in the expression of TGF-β and VEGF, which led to decreased neovascularization and angiogenesis of the injured tissue by impairing EPC mobilization. Interestingly, BV treatment significantly enhanced wound closure in diabetic mice by increasing collagen production and restoring the levels of inflammatory cytokines, free radical, TGF-β and VEGF. Most importantly, BV-treated diabetic mice exhibited mobilized long-lived EPCs by inhibiting caspase activity in the wounded tissue. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying improved diabetic wound healing and closure following BV treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Multiple mechanisms contribute to impaired diabetic wound healing including impaired neovascularization and deficient endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) recruitment. Bee venom (BV) has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent for the treatment of several diseases. Nevertheless, the effect of BV on the healing of diabetic wounds has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the impact of BV on diabetic wound closure in a type I diabetic mouse model. Three experimental groups were used: group 1, non-diabetic control mice; group 2, diabetic mice; and group 3, diabetic mice treated with BV. We found that the diabetic mice exhibited delayed wound closure characterized by a significant decrease in collagen production and prolonged elevation of inflammatory cytokines levels in wounded tissue compared to control non-diabetic mice. Additionally, wounded tissue in diabetic mice revealed aberrantly up-regulated expression of ATF-3 and iNOS followed by a marked elevation in free radical levels. Impaired diabetic wound healing was also characterized by a significant elevation in caspase-3, -8 and -9 activity and a marked reduction in the expression of TGF-β and VEGF, which led to decreased neovascularization and angiogenesis of the injured tissue by impairing EPC mobilization. Interestingly, BV treatment significantly enhanced wound closure in diabetic mice by increasing collagen production and restoring the levels of inflammatory cytokines, free radical, TGF-β and VEGF. Most importantly, BV-treated diabetic mice exhibited mobilized long-lived EPCs by inhibiting caspase activity in the wounded tissue. Our findings reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying improved diabetic wound healing and closure following BV treatment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

In dry sliding surfaces, one of the central phenomena during mechanical contact is the material transfer and accumulation between the surfaces, calledgalling failure. For example, in sheet metal forming process, galling is the major cause of reducing life of both tool and formed sheet. Galling is an inherently multiscale processes. In laboratory scale experiments, a clear evidence of improved galling resistance of alloyed steels upon inclusion carbides and/or nitrides has been reported. However, the relevant mechanisms are still obscure as they occur at atomic scale. Hence, atomistic simulations become an indispensable tool for better understanding and explaining these mechanisms. Here we report our molecular dynamics results about the influence of nano-sized cementite particles on the wear mechanisms of bcc-iron sheet during dry sliding. We find that the average frictional force (decreases) whereas the normal force (increases) for iron-cementite/iron system. Adhesion force between self-mated iron/iron and cementite/iron surfaces has been determined and we found that iron/cementite surface exhibits lower adhesive force than that of iron/iron surface. The variation of adhesion force with temperature was investigated up to 700 K and we found that the adhesive force generally decreases with increasing temperature.

In sheet metal forming operations, adhesive wear is the main cause of tool damage as sheet material is transferred to the tool surface during the forming operation. Means of reducing adhesive wear are of high interest for the metal forming industry.In the present work, molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate influence of alloying iron with vanadium on adhesive properties in contact with iron. The results showed that adhesion, quantified by the work of adhesion, decreased as the vanadium content increased. Highest reduction was obtained for 10 at.% vanadium which corresponded to a decrease in adhesive work of approximately 10%.

Schistosomasis is one of the most tropical neglected diseases (NTDs), which have very complex antigenically different life stages. So that studying the effect of each antigen on cellular immune response is required. Three schistosomal antigens were used CAP, SEA and SWAP separately in vivo. Blood parameters and lymphocytes blastogenesis were evaluated. The most changes were reported in WBCs and differential cells with maximum immune response after 33 dpv in CAP and 47 dpv in SEA and SWAP. These changes reflected the defense and cellular immune response for each antigen.

Schistosomasis is one of the most tropical neglected diseases (NTDs), which have very complex antigenically different life stages. So that studying the effect of each antigen on cellular immune response is required. Three schistosomal antigens were used CAP, SEA and SWAP separately in vivo. Blood parameters and lymphocytes blastogenesis were evaluated. The most changes were reported in WBCs and differential cells with maximum immune response after 33 dpv in CAP and 47 dpv in SEA and SWAP. These changes reflected the defense and cellular immune response for each antigen.

Schistosomasis is one of the most tropical neglected diseases (NTDs), which have very complex antigenically different life stages. So that studying the effect of each antigen on cellular immune response is required. Three schistosomal antigens were used CAP, SEA and SWAP separately in vivo. Blood parameters and lymphocytes blastogenesis were evaluated. The most changes were reported in WBCs and differential cells with maximum immune response after 33 dpv in CAP and 47 dpv in SEA and SWAP. These changes reflected the defense and cellular immune response for each antigen.

Studying amyloid associated neurodegenerative diseases is an active area of research. Cure for these diseases are still to be discovered. In the present study we have performed comprehensive biophysical and computational experiments showing levodopa not only significantly inhibits heat induced fibrillization of human serum albumin but also disaggregates preformed fibrils. Thioflavin T (ThT) binding assay was used to monitor the fibrillation process of human serum albumin (HSA) at 65°C in the presence and absence of levodopa. Binding of levodopa was studied using isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), binding constant was found to be 3.6×103M-1. Thermal stabilization effect of levodopa on HSA was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Microscopic imaging techniques were employed to analyze the morphology of aggregates and effect of levodopa on aggregation. Further, molecular docking study was also utilized to decipher the amino acid residues involved in the binding interaction of levodopa with HSA. Levodopa interferes in the Fibrillogenesis of HSA by interacting with the amino acid residues near to drug binding site II on the HSA with the binding constant of the order of 103 and stabilizes the protein. The results are indicative of the potential use of levodopa as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of amyloid diseases.

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