Escherichia coli is a major cause of diarrhea and is as well responsible for extraintestinal infections in humans and animals. Many pathotypes have been defined for this ubiquitous microorganism on the basis of the virulence attributes. For the last 70 years, antibiotics have been used to control infections caused by E. coli. However, with the resistance observed with many strains these drugs are less recommended. Plant extracts, in particular fruit, represent a source of bioactive compounds that could be beneficial in the control of infectious diseases caused by E. coli. These could have bacteriostatic or bactericidal potential or could be used as synergic agents to amplify the activity of antibiotics for which the germs present some level of resistance. Certain studies also revealed that fruit extracts could act directly on virulence characters to attenuate the pathogenic capacity of microorganisms. This review intent to expose the scant but rapidly growing information available that shows that fruit, used as crude extracts or purified molecules, should be considered to manage diverse types of infections caused by E. coli. © 2020 The Author(s).Background Alcohol consumption is prevalent and alcohol-related problems are a considerable social issue in China. Over 17% of Chinese consume alcohol regularly. Exposure to potentially traumatic events (PTE) is associated with increased alcohol-related problems. Social support often buffers this association. This study examined the relationship between exposure to PTE and alcohol misuse and explored the moderating effect of social support on this relationship in a Chinese context. Methods Data were collected through face-to-face computer assisted interviews in a stratified cluster sample of 753 Chinese adults living in Guangzhou, China. The Life Events Checklist-5 (LEC-5), World Health Organization Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (WHO-AUDIT), and Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS) were used to measure trauma exposure, problematic alcohol use, and social support. Results Univariable logistic regression analyses indicated that trauma exposure (OR = 3.18; compared to non-exposure), increased depression (OR = 1.06), and perceived friend support (OR = 1.21), were associated with higher odds of problematic drinking. Multivariable models adjusting for potential confounders demonstrated that PTE and depression were associated with problematic drinking, but this was not the case for perceived friend support. Perceived friend support modified the effect of trauma exposure and was associated with increased odds of problematic drinking among those who reported high levels of depressive symptoms. Conclusion Social support may not always be a beneficial resource among those who experienced PTEs in a Chinese context. Further research is needed to better understand the role and function of different types of support, and for whom these associations are beneficial. © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.There are growing concerns about the chronic and acute effects of synthetic additives such as antibacterial, fragrances, colourants and stabilizing agents used in the production of various household products. Many household products and materials including cosmetic products are reportedly suspected to be carcinogenic with some acting as endocrine disruptors among other effects. Thus, environmental-friendly alternatives such as products that are rich in bioactive phytochemicals are becoming consumers’ preferred choice especially in the beauty and cosmetic sector. 'Green’ preparation of medicinal soaps devoid of any synthetic additives was made from underutilized tropical seed of Citrus sinensis seed oil and some natural additives comprising of natural honey, Ocimum gratissimum leaves extract, Moringa oleifera seed oil and coconut oil. Precisely, the seed oil of the underexplored C. sinensis was obtained via soxhlet extraction and saponified with natural lye solution at different ratios to produce soaps of varyss while the prepared medicinal soaps exhibited remarkable antioxidant property. The utilization of these locally sourced resources will prevent the daily introduction of synthetic antimicrobial and antioxidant chemicals into the environment. The initiative avail a sustainable production of environmentally-benign cosmetic products besides conversion of waste to wealth agrees which aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). © 2020 The Authors.The purpose of this study was to find an alternative application for chrysotile asbestos, given that there is a complete structure of extraction and production of this class of serpentine minerals, but its use is banned for many applications. The idea was to obtain a compound that could immobilize phosphate by triggering a reaction between the magnesium oxide and hydroxide contained in the mineral, without causing phosphate leaching. To this end, chrysotile (Mg3SiO5(OH)4) was treated with phosphoric acid (H3PO4) in a molar ratio of 13 in an aqueous medium at 85 °C until the solvent evaporated, resulting in two different solid compounds, which were prepared in a similar manner. The first compound (cri/H3PO4 13)1, was obtained by rinsing and then heat-treating it at 150 °C for 6 h, while the second one, (cri/H3PO4 13)2, was rinsed after the heat treatment. Compound (cri/H3PO4 13)1 underwent partial leaching, while compound (cri/H3PO4 13)2 showed a mass increase of 48%, with the formation of crystalline magnesium pyrophosphate mixed with amorphous SiO2. The latter compound adsorbed N-NH3 at pH 10, following the pseudo-first-order model (activation energy = 8329 ± 1696 J mol-1). Equilibrium experiments, which were performed following Hill’s sigmoidal type S2 isotherm model, indicated that the adsorption phenomenon was governed by two processes, i.e., complexation up to the inflection point (KH between 10.0 mg L-1 at 40 °C and 13.6 mg L-1 at 25 °C) followed by adsorption. The qmax varied from 18.0 to 19.6 mgN g-1 and the adsorbent was reusable, maintaining its initial adsorbent capacity during its first reuse. This material, which was tested on real effluents, presented a N-NH3 removal rate similar to that shown by the test solutions. The treatment of chrysotile with H3PO4 conducts it to a composite that adsorbs ammoniacal nitrogen at pH 10 and it is reusable maintaining the adsorption capacity. © 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.The cement kiln, which is the basic control object of represented work, is the most power consumption unit of the cement production. The wet production method provides a better quality of output clinker in north placed countries because of raw sources, which are already wet, and characteristics of Portland cement. However, there is one big problem standing against efficiency and concurrence with dry or semi-dry methods, there are no modeling algorithms and automated control systems for such an object. So overall control is available only with operator handle support and some local control loops. There is proposed an original approach to dynamic processes modeling based on second rank fuzzy behavior charts, which is a basis of control system development for complex technological objects. The authors describe the application of control system development method based on fuzzy behavior charts during an advising control system construction for a wet method rotating cement kiln. During pilot tests of the developed automated system was revealed a positive effect from the advising system implementation expressed in the increasing output of finished product with equal quality. The obtained data basis supports the conclusion that the application of the proposed method of developing control systems based on fuzzy behavior charts also possible for other complex technological objects. © 2020 The Author(s).Long-lived natural radionuclides such as (238U) uranium-238, (232Th) thorium-232, (226Ra) radium-226 and (40K) potassium-40 and heavy metals are normally exposed to the surface during mining activities. They enter the human body when inhaled (as dust) or ingested (by drinking contaminated water). An intake of large concentrations of these radionuclides and heavy metals can lead to health effects such as development of cancers. The aim of this work was to assess the radiological health risk due to intake of radionuclides in dust and drinking water from the West Rand gold mining area and Modiri Molema Municipality (MMM) water treatment plant. The dust samples were analyzed for radionuclides of interest using the well-type high purity Germanium detector. Water samples were collected before and after purification from the Modiri Molema Municipality water treatment plant and analyzed using the ultra-low level Liquid Scintillation Counter (LSC), to evaluate the gross alpha and beta radioactivity dose levels of the r the members of the public. © 2020 The Author(s).Previous studies have reported higher biological activity of dehydrorosinamine derivatives. In order to further synthesize novel compounds with higher biological activity, a series of novel compounds containing benzo-azepine structures were synthesized from dehydroabietylamine in good yields in this study. The structures of synthesized compounds were identified by infra red (IR), 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectra (MS) analysis. The antitumor activities of the target compounds against L02 and HepG2 cells were studied. Furthermore, the dehydroabietylamine derivatives were studied on plasmid DNA cleavage activities. The results showed that the synthesized target compound exhibit antitumor and DNA cleavage activities against plasmid DNA (Escherichia coli). Our results further demonstrate the relationship between the chemical structure and biological function of the synthesized compounds. © 2020 The Authors.Background In mild to moderate gallstone pancreatitis, cholecystectomy is the most appropriate treatment for prevention of further biliary attacks. However, the timing of cholecystectomy is not precisely determined. The present study was conducted to compare outcomes of very early (within 48 h) versus delayed (more than 1 week) laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). Methods This randomized clinical trial study was conducted in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Kashan University of Medical Sciences from September 2016 to Mar 2019. Two hundred and eight cases with mild to moderate ABP were randomly assigned to 2 groups, with 104 patients in group 1 (operation within 48 h) and 104 in group 2 (operation after one week). Age, sex, biochemical parameters, clinical manifestation at the time of admission, operation time, recurrent biliary problems, relapse, peri-operative complications, conversion rate, and hospital length of stay in the two groups were recorded and compared. In addition, Ranson’s score and Revised Atlanta criteria, the American Society of Anaesthesiologists Physical Status ASA-PS, Charlson Co-Morbidity Index (CCI), complexity of surgery and Clavien-Dindo score were also determined. Results There were no differences in demographics, peri-operative complications 4 (4%) vs. 4 (4%), P = 1), conversion rate (10.6% vs. 11.5%; P = 0.825) and procedure time (83 vs. 81 minutes, P = 0.110) between the two groups. There were no deaths in either group; however, the length of hospital stay was shorter in the early group compared to the delayed one, (3.66 ± 1.12 vs. 10.35 ± 1.76, P less then 0.001). Conclusion Cholecystectomy within 48 h decreases significantly the length of hospital stay, without any difference in conversion rate, procedure time, or complication rate. © 2020 The Author(s).