In this study, the authors investigate the disinfectant potential of many household spices and minerals. More specifically, they test whether these compounds can be used to disinfect mobile phones after daily use with the hope of identifying environmentally-friendly cleaning options.
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The Effect of Different Concentrations of Iron on the Growth of Egeria (Elodea) Densa
Minerals such as iron are essential for life, but too much of a good thing can be poisonous. Here the authors investigate the effect of iron concentrations on the growth of an aquatic plant and find that supplementing small amounts of iron can help, but adding too much can be bad for the plant. These results should help inform decisions on allowable iron concentrations in the environment, aquatic farming, and even home aquariums.
Read More...A machine learning approach to detect renal calculi by studying the physical characteristics of urine
The authors trained a machine learning model to detect kidney stones based on characteristics of urine. This method would allow for detection of kidney stones prior to the onset of noticeable symptoms by the patient.
Read More...Effect of different cooking methods on the levels of iron and ascorbic acid in green vegetables
This study compares different methods for cooking vegetables to determine which retain iron and ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, levels the most.
Read More...The Development of a Superhydrophobic Surface Using Electrolytic Deposition & Polymer Chains Precipitation
In this study, the authors were interested in developing a hydrophobic surface that will extend the lifespan of metals by reducing water exposure and other damage. The used a zinc coating on steel to pursue this effort.
Read More...Biofortification of Raphanus sativus through irrigation with Ca2+ solutions does not increase calcium content
This study is centered around developing biofortification methods: the authors test whether the amount of calcium available to growing crops translates into more calcium present in the crops.
Read More...Socio-economic factor impact on malnutrition in South Indian government school children
The authors look at malnutrition in children and how socio-economic factors impact this.
Read More...Who is at Risk for a Spinal Fracture? – A Comparative Study of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Data
One common age-related health problem is the loss of bone mineral density (BMD), which can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, including increased risk of spinal fracture. In this study, the authors investigate risk factors that may be predictive of an individual's risk of spinal fracture. Their findings provide valuable information that clinicians can use in patient evaluations.
Read More...Survival of Escherichia coli K-12 in various types of drinking water
For public health, drinking water should be free of bacterial contamination. The objective of this research is to identify the fate of bacteria if drinking water becomes contaminated and inform consumers on which water type enables the least bacteria to survive. We hypothesized that bottled mineral water would provide the most sufficient conditions for E. coli to survive. We found that if water becomes contaminated, the conditions offered by the three water types at room temperature allow E. coli to survive up to three days. At 72 hours, the bottled spring water had the highest average colony forming units (CFUs), with tap and mineral water CFU values statistically lower than spring water but not significantly different from each other. The findings of this research highlight the need of implementing accessible quality drinking water for the underserved population and for the regulation of water sources.
Read More...A potentially underestimated source of CO2 and other greenhouse gases in agriculture
Here the authors investigated the role of agricultural fertilizers as potential contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast to the typical investigations that consider microbiological processes, the authors considered purely chemical processes. Based on their results they found that as much as 20.41% of all CO2 emission from land-based activities could be a result of mineral nitrogen fertilizers.
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