Can Feeding a Millet-Based Diet Improve the Growth of Children?—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Undernutrition, such as stunting and underweight, is a major public health concern, which requires multi-sectoral attention. Diet plays a key role in growth and should optimally supply all required nutrients to support the growth. While millets (defined broadly to include sorghum) are traditional foods, and climate smart nutritious crops, which are grown across Africa and Asia, they have not been mainstreamed like rice, wheat, and maize. Diversifying staples with millets can potentially provide more macro and micro nutrients, compared to the mainstream crops. However, there is little known scientific evidence to prove millets’ efficacy on growth. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to collate evidence of the benefits of millets in improving the growth of children. Eight eligible randomized feeding trials were included in the meta-analysis. Results from the randomized effect model showed a significant effect (p < 0.05) of millet-based diets on mean height (+28.2%) (n = 8), weight (n = 9) (+26%), mid upper arm circumference (n = 5) (+39%) and chest circumference (n = 5) (+37%) in comparison to regular rice-based diets over for the period of 3 months to 4.5 years, which was based on largely substituting rice with millets. When an enhanced and diverse diet was served, replacing rice with millet had only minimal growth improvement on chest circumference (p < 0.05). The quality assessment using GRADE shows that the evidence used for this systematic review and meta-analysis had moderate quality, based on eight scoring criteria. These results demonstrate the value of adding millet as the staple for undernourished communities. Further understanding of the efficacy of millets on growth in a wider range of diets is important to develop appropriate dietary programs and improve the nutritional status of various age groups across Africa and Asia.

Analysis of the optimum pH and salinity conditions for the cultivation and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris from cassava waste

Biofuel serves as an alternative energy to the common fossil fuels currently in use globally and are drawing increasing attention worldwide as substitutes for petroleum-derived transportation fuels to help address challenges associated with petroleum derived fuels. Third generation biofuels, also termed advanced biofuels, are produced from fast growing microalgae and are potential replacements for conventional fuels. The growth and biomass production of these microalgae is dependent on the conditions they are cultivated such as pH and Salinity. Cassava waste mixtures were cultivated on Chlorella vulgaris stock culture at different concentration ratio at ambient temperature, natural light and dark conditions at 670nm absorbance for 14 days. Optimum growth was obtained at 160:40 for cassava peel water to cassava waste water CP:CW. pH variations 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 8.5 and 9.0 were checked to determine the optimum pH for the growth and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris on the optimum cassava waste mixture concentration. It revealed that at pH 6.5, optimal growth and biomass production was achieved, minimal growth was observed at pH 8.0 while minimal biomass was produced at pH 9.0. Salinity variations of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 mg/l were used to determine the growth response and biomass production of Chlorella vulgaris. It revealed that salinity variation at 10ppm will be necessary for highest growth on the cassava waste as well as in biomass production. The use of optimal pH and salinity can significantly increase biomass production thus enhancing biofuel production.

Biostimulatory Potential of Microorganisms from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Rhizospheric Soil

Summary The objective of the present paper was to isolate microorganisms (Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus sp. and Azotobacter sp.) from the rhizospheric soil of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and investigate their biostimulatory (plant growth-promoting – PGP) and biocontrol potential. The bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of rosemary included 15 bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas, 20 of the genus Bacillus, and 11 of the genus Azotobacter. Based on the morphological characteristics of colonies and cells, representative isolates of each genus were chosen (marked as Pseudomonas sp. P42, P43, P44; for Bacillus isolates B83, B84, B85, B92, B93; and for Azotobacter isolates A15 and A16) for different physiological and biochemical examination. The study included in vitro screening of the bacterial isolates for their PGP and biocontrol properties. Pseudomonas isolates showed the ability to live at low temperature (10ºC) and high pH (9), and to use different sources of carbon. All Pseudomonas isolates produced lipase, siderophore, hydrogen cyanide, and utilized organic and inorganic phosphorus, while only isolate P42 produced amylase, pectinase and cellulase. Only Bacillus isolates could grow at 45 ºC (all Bacillus isolates), pH 5 (isolates B83), and on a medium containing NaCl 5 and 7% (all isolates). Isolates denoted as B83 and B93 produced lipase, amylase, and pectinase. All isolates had the ability to solubilize phosphate, produce siderophores (except B85) and hydrogen cyanide, while only two isolates (B84 and B85) produced IAA. Azotobacter isolates had the optimal growth at 37ºC and minimal growth on a medium with pH 6 and 9. All Azotobacter isolates used all carbohydrates as a source of carbon and produced lipase, amylase, and hydrogen cyanide. The best result in suppressing the growth of pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum was achieved by using isolate B92. Application of isolate B83 led to the greatest growth suppression of Sclerotinium sclerotiorum.

Algae as a part of microorganisms involved in biocorrosion of cement composites with total replacement of natural aggregates by photovoltaic glass

Algae of the Pleurococcus, Trentepohlia and Stichococcus genera were selected for the experiment on the cement composites with total replacement of natural aggregates by recycled photovoltaic glass. The growth of the algae was monitored on cement beams with dimension 40 x 40 x 8 mm (length x width x height) and on the cement crumbling in various proportion. In the case of cement composites with recycled glass from photovoltaic panels, intensive growth was observed in the Trentepohlia genus from the Chlorophyceae class, while in the case of cement crumbling with recycled photovoltaic glass, the most obvious growth in biomass was recorded in the Pleurococcus genus; the Stichococcus and Trentepohlia genera showed minimal or zero growth. This minimal growth is mainly influenced by the pH value and the fact that biocorrosion is accompanied by the effect of symbiotizing microbiota, which mutually support each other, not just one species.

Jacks of All Trades and Masters of One: Declining Search Frictions and Unequal Growth

Declining search frictions generate productivity growth by allowing workers to find jobs for which they are better suited. For “jacks of all trades”—workers whose productivity is similar across different jobs in their labor market—declining search frictions lead to minimal growth. For “masters of one trade”—workers whose productivity varies a great deal across different jobs in their labor market—declining search frictions lead to fast growth. A rudimentary calibration suggests that differential returns to declining search frictions may account for a non-negligible fraction of the wage growth differential between routine and nonroutine workers. (JEL J24, J31, J63, J64, O33)

Combating antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria through synergistic effect of silica nanoparticles and antibiotics.

Objective: Multidrug-resistant and pan-drug-resistant pathogens pose major challenges in the management of infections. Nanotechnology-based combination therapy is becoming more common, as it produces a synergistic antimicrobial effect. Study Design: Cross Sectional Study. Setting: Institute of Biogenetic Engineering (IBGE) Islamabad. Period: September 2015 to October 2017. Material & Methods: Silica nanoparticles were prepared by three different modifications using general Stober Method and the synthesized silica nanoparticles SiNPs were named as S1, S2 and S3. The synergism of Ciprofloxacin and Piperacillin-Tazobactam with a combination of silica nanoparticles was evaluated in LB grown culture to determine the sensitivity of Escherichia coli and pseudomonas aeruginosa. Results: The combined application of Ciprofloxacin and S1, S2 and S3 respectively retarded the growth of P. aeruginosa almost completely whereas E. coli showed minimal growth inhibition. Collective therapy of Piperacillin-Tazobactam with S1, S2 and S3 inhibits the normal growth pattern of both E. coli, P. aeruginosa as compared to the control. Conclusion: Combined application of silica nanoparticles and antibiotics inhibited the growth of MDR gram-negative bacteria in vitro.

Phytochemical components and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oils from native Tunisian Thymus capitatus and Rosmarinus officinalis

Introduction. Essential oils and their components are currently of great interest as a potential source of highly bioactive natural molecules. They are being studied for their possible use as safe alternative for food protection against oxidation and microbial spoilage. Objective. This study aimed on the phytochemical prospection of Thymus capitatus and Rosmainus officinalis essential oils and their oral toxicity evaluation. Material and methods. Chemical analysis of tested essential oils was carried out using gas chromatography combined to mass spectroscopic (GC-MS). Their safety limit was evaluated by acute toxicity. The antioxidant activity was estimated using in vitro methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against twelve pathogenic germs. Results. Results showed that carvacrol and 1,8-cineol were the major compounds of Thymus capitatus and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils. Acute toxicity results exhibited that both tested essential oils were inoffensive at 2000 mg/kg. Additionally, Thymus capitatus essential oil presented higher antioxidant activity than Rosmarinus officinalis: 2,2-diphényl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay results showed lower IC50 for Thymus capitatus essential oil than Rosmarinus officinalis. Concerning the antimicrobial results, Thymus capitatus essential oil presented greater efficacy than R. officinalis. Indeed, the minimal growth inhibition diameter generated by thyme essential oil exceeded 38 mm (except for Salmonella typhirium) and reached 60 mm (against C. tropicalis and C. albicans). However, the maximal growth inhibition diameter generated by R. officinalis essential oil was limited to 36 mm (against Shigella sonnei). Conclusion. Overall, Thymus capitatus and Rosmarinus officinalis essential oils have strong potential applicability for pharmaceutical industries.

Heme-dependent siderophore utilization promotes iron-restricted growth of the Staphylococcus aureus hemB small colony variant

The ability to acquire iron is essential for Staphylococcus aureus to cause infection. Respiration deficient S. aureus small colony variants (SCVs) frequently cause persistent infections, which necessitates they too acquire iron. How SCVs obtain iron remains unknown and so here we addressed this outstanding question by creating a stable hemB mutant in S. aureus USA300 strain LAC. The mutant, auxotrophic for hemin, was assessed for its ability to grow under iron-restriction and with various iron sources. The hemB SCV utilizes exogenously supplied heme but was attenuated for growth under conditions of iron starvation. RNA-seq analyses showed that both WT S. aureus and the hemB mutant sense and respond to iron starvation, however, growth assays show that the hemB mutant is defective for siderophore-mediated iron acquisition. Indeed, the hemB SCV demonstrates limited utilization of endogenous staphyloferrin B or exogenously provided staphyloferrin A, Desferal, and epinephrine, which enabled the SCV to sustain only minimal growth in iron deplete media. Direct measurement of intracellular ATP in hemB and WT S. aureus revealed that both strains can generate comparable levels of ATP during exponential growth suggesting defects in ATP production cannot account for the inability to efficiently utilize siderophores. Defective siderophore utilization by hemB bacteria was also evident in vivo. Indeed, the administration of Desferal failed to promote hemB bacterial growth in vivo, in contrast to WT, in every organ analyzed except for the murine kidney where growth was enhanced. In support of the hypothesis that S. aureus accesses heme in kidney abscesses, in vitro analyses revealed that increased heme availability enables hemB bacteria to utilize siderophores for growth when iron availability is restricted. Taken together, our data support the conclusion that heme is not only used as an iron source itself, but as a nutrient that promotes utilization of siderophore-iron complexes.