The application of ultraviolet light (UV-C, 254 nm) hormesis on fruits and vegetables to stimulate beneficial responses is a new method for controlling storage rots and extending the shelf-life of fruits and vegetables. The present study was aimed at treating tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) with different UV-C dosages (1.3 to 40 KJ/m2) to induce resistance to black mold (Alternaria alternata), gray mold (Botrytis cinerea), and Rhizopus soft rot (Rhizopus stolonifer). These diseases were effectively reduced when tomatoes were inoculated following UV-C irradiation. UV-C treated tomatoes were firmer in texture and less red in color than the control tomatoes, indicating a delay in ripening. Slower ripening and resistance to storage rots of tomatoes are probably related. The positive effect of UV-C on tomatoes decreased as treatments were performed at stages of increased ripeness.

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Background The hematological abnormalities are assumed to be involved in the disease progression of COVID-19. However, the actual associations between specific blood parameters and COVID-19 are not well understood. Here we aimed to assess the correlations between hematological parameters and the severity of COVID-19. Methods We included COVID-19 patients who were admitted to Evercare Hospital Ltd, Dhaka, Bangladesh, between November 10, 2020, to April 12, 2021, with a confirmed case of RT-PCR test. We recorded demographic information, clinical data, and routine hematological examination results of all COVID-19 patients. We performed statistical analyses and interpretation of data to compare severe COVID-19 patients (SCP) and non-severe COVID-19 patients (NSCP). Results The age and BMI of the admitted COVID-19 patients were 48.79±8.53 years and 25.82±3.75 kg/m2. This study included a total of 306 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Among them, NSCP and SCP were 198 and 108, respectively. And we recorded 12 deaths from SCP. We observed the alterations of several hematological parameters between SCP and NSCP. Among them, we noticed the increased levels of C-reactive protein (CRP), d-dimer, and ferritin showed good indicative value to evaluate the severity of COVID-19. Also, there were positive correlations among these parameters. Moreover, we found correlations between the outcomes of COVID-19 patients with patient’s demographics and comorbid diseases. Conclusion Based on our results, CRP, d-dimer, and ferritin levels at admission to hospitals represent simple assessment factors for COVID-19 severity and the treatment decisions at the hospital setup. These blood parameters could serve as indicators for the prognosis and severity of COVID-19. Therefore, our study findings might help to develop a treatment protocol for COVID-19 patients at the hospital setup.

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The availability of different scoring schemes and filter settings of protein database search algorithms has greatly expanded the number of search methods for identifying candidate peptides from MS/MS spectra. We have previously shown that consensus-based methods that combine three search algorithms yield higher sensitivity and specificity compared to the use of a single search engine (individual method). We hypothesized that union of four search engines (Sequest, Mascot, X!Tandem and Phenyx) can further enhance sensitivity and specificity. ROC plots were generated to measure the sensitivity and specificity of 5460 consensus methods derived from the same dataset. We found that Mascot outperformed individual methods for sensitivity and specificity, while Phenyx performed the worst. The union consensus methods generally produced much higher sensitivity, while the intersection consensus methods gave much higher specificity. The union methods from four search algorithms modestly improved sensitivity, but not specificity, compared to union methods that used three search engines. This suggests that a strategy based on specific combination of search algorithms, instead of merely 'as many search engines as possible', may be key strategy for success with peptide identification. Lastly, we provide strategies for optimizing sensitivity or specificity of peptide identification in MS/MS spectra for different userspecific conditions.

Wasabi (Wasabia japonica (Miq) Matsum) is a developing crop in New Zealand and is valued for its spicy taste and pungent smell. It is popular as a condiment for traditional and modern Japanese foods. However, the limited area suitable for wasabi production in Japan has resulted in inability to meet increasing market demand. Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are sulphur compounds responsible for the unique flavour of wasabi, with allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) being the main compound responsible for the pungency. In this study, AITC tissue concentration and yield were measured in three above-ground tissues of the wasabi plant to investigate the effects of different fertiliser, manure and lime treatments. The highest tissue concentration of AITC was found in the rhizomes, ranging from 1564 to 3366 mg kg À1 (fresh weight basis), while the petioles and leaves contained 254-373 and 453-643 mg kg À1 respectively. Fertilisation with ammonium sulphate produced the highest-quality rhizomes (72% increase in AITC yield) and petioles (64% increase), but the best response in the leaves (51%) resulted from the manure treatment. Nitrogen fertiliser alone reduced the AITC yield by up to 15%. These results should help in formulating guidelines for production of high-quality wasabi tops containing high levels of AITC.

Recently, natural polymers are frequently comingled with synthetic polymers either by physical or chemical modification to prepare numerous tissue-engineered graft with promising biological function, strength, and stability. The aim of this study was to determine the efficiency for vascular tissue engineering of two distinctly different mats, one that comprised polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol methyl ether and other that comprised polycaprolactone-chitosan. Nano/microfibrous mats prepared from electro-spinning were characterized for fiber diameter, porosity, wettability, and mechanical strength. Biological efficacy on both biodegradable mats was assessed by rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells, and polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol methyl ether showed feasibility for use as an inner layer by inducing endothelial-specific gene expression and polycaprolactone-chitosan as an outer layer on dual layered without sacrificing tensile strength, small-diameter blood vessels. Therefore, scaffolds fabricated from this research could be potential sources for tissue-engineered vascular graft and could also overcome the well-known drawbacks, such as thrombogenicity and stenosis, in managing vascular disease.