Nosocomial infections acquired in hospitals pose a risk to patients, a risk compounded by resistant microorganisms. To combat this problem, researchers have turned to bioactive compounds from medicinal plants such as the widely used neem. In the present study, researchers sought to determine the effectiveness of different neem preparations against several hospital acquired human pathogens. Neem powder in water successfully inhibited microorganism growth making it a potential agent to combat these infections.
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Developing a wearable, skin-based triboelectric nanogenerator
The authors designed a system that runs off of body heat to track body temperature that could help prevent injuries that result from elevated body temperature.
Read More...How does light affect the distribution of Euglena sp. and Tetrahymena pyriformis
In this article, the authors explored the locomotory movement of Euglena sp. and Tetrahymena pyriformis in response to light. Such research bears relevance to the migration and distribution patterns of both T. pyriformis and Euglena as they differ in their method of finding sustenance in their native environments. With little previous research done on the exploration of a potential response to photostimulation enacted by T. pyriformis, the authors found that T. pyriformis do not bias in distribution towards areas of light - unlike Euglena, which displayed an increased prevalence in areas of light.
Read More...Environmentally-friendly graphene conductive ink using graphene powder, polystyrene, and waste oil
In this article, the authors propose an effective, environmentally-friendly method of producing conductive ink using expired waste oil, polystyrene, and graphene.
Read More...Enhancing the quantum efficiency of a silicon solar cell using one dimensional thin film interferometry
Here, recognizing the need to improve the efficiency of the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy, the authors used MATLAB to mathematically simulate a multi-layered thin film with an without an antireflective coating. They found that the use of alternating ZnO-SiO2 multilayers enhanced the transmission of light into the solar cell, increasing its efficiency and reducing the reflectivity of the Si-Air interface.
Read More...From Waste to Wealth: Making Millivolts from Microbes!
In this study, the authors report their successful efforts to increase voltage production in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), which is a system in which microorganisms produce electricity while performing their normal metabolism.
Read More...Comparison of total flavonoid content and DPPH● sequestration in Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica coffee beans
Here the authors used a free radical assay to characterize the antioxidant capacity of three types of coffee beans. They fond that Robusta coffee presented greater inhibition percentages than other species in their free radical assay, indicating higher antioxidant capacity.
Read More...The Cosmic Microwave Background: Galactic Foregrounds and Faraday Rotation
The cosmic microwave background (CMB) is faint electromagnetic radiation left over from early stages in the formation of the universe. In order to analyze the CMB, scientists need to remove from electromagnetic data foreground radiation that contaminates CMB datasets. In this study, students utilize extensive updated datasets to analyze the correlation between CMB maps and Faraday RM and WMAP sky maps.
Read More...Effect of Different Growth Media on Algae’s Ability for Carbon Dioxide Biofixation
In this study, the authors investigate the effects of different algal growth media on algae's ability to perform carbon dioxide biofixation, or utilize carbon dioxide by fixing it into fatty acids within the cells. More specifically, carbon dioxide biofixation of Chlorella vulgaris was cultured in one of four media options and carbon dioxide was measured and compared to controls. The study results demonstrated that the use of media can enhance algae's capacity for biofixation and this has important implications for developing methods to reduce carbon dioxide in the environment.
Read More...The Effect of Cooking Method on the Amount of Fat in an Egg
Fat can be chemically altered during cooking through a process called lipid oxidation, which can have a negative impact on health. In this study, the authors measured the extracted fat in raw, fried and hard-boiled eggs and found that cooking eggs to a higher temperature resulted in a lower amount of extracted fat, indicating a greater amount of oxidized fat.
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