Showing for: Good Health and Well-being
View All ResearchErgonomic Practices in Africa: Date Palm Agriculture in Algeria as an Example
For more than fifty years, early ergonomists such as [1–4] called for the application of ergonomics in developing countries to expand its application rather than its confinement to developed countries. Indeed, ergonomists from developing countries applied ergonomics to many traditional workplaces, machines, and jobs in the field of what was [...]
Development of a highly sensitive electrochemical sensing platform for the trace level detection of lead ions
Herein we report for the first time a highly sensitive electrochemical platform for the trace level detection of Pb (ӏӏ) using glassy carbon electrode modified with 1-dodecanoyl-3-phenylthiourea (DPT). The performance of the designed sensor was tested by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, chronocoulometry, cyclic voltammetry and Square Wave Anodic Stripping Voltammetry (SWASV). [...]
Metal nanoparticles fabricated by green chemistry using natural extracts: Biosynthesis, mechanisms, and applications
Nanoparticles (NPs) are new inspiring clinical targets that have emerged from persistent efforts with unique properties and diverse applications. However, the main methods currently utilized in their production are not environmentally friendly. With the aim of promoting a green approach for the synthesis of NPs, this review describes eco-friendly methods [...]
2-methylpyridinium based surfactants: Synthesis, characterization and potential application as drug carrier systems
New cationic surfactants i.e., n-hexyl-2-methylpyridium bromide (a6), n-heptyl-2-methylpyridium bromide (a7) and n-octyl-2-methylpyridium bromide (a8) have been synthesized and characterized by multinuclear (1H,13C) Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectroscopy. Critical micelle concentration (CMC) values of these compounds were studied in ethanol using conductometric and UV-Visible spectroscopic methods. [...]
Knowledge of health professional students on waterpipe tobacco smoking: Curricula implications
Background: Tobacco prevention research traditionally focuses upon cigarette smoking, but there is also a need to implement and evaluate the usefulness of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) interventions since it is considered less harmful than cigarettes. This study aimed to assess the impact of an educational intervention on WTS knowledge of [...]
Leishmania treatment and prevention: Natural and synthesized drugs
Leishmaniasis affects over 150 million people all over the world, especially in subtropical regions. Currently used antileishmanial synthesized drugs are associated with some drawbacks such as resistance and cytotoxicity, which hamper the chances of treatment. Furthermore, effective leishmanial vaccines are not well developed. Promising chemotherapy, either from natural or synthetic [...]
In silico identification of immunodominant B-cell and T-cell epitopes of non-structural proteins of Usutu Virus
Usutu Virus (USUV; flavivirus) is a re-emerging pathogen invading the territories of European countries, Asia, and Africa. It is a mosquito-borne zoonotic virus with a bi-directional transmission route from animal to human and vice versa, and causes neurological disorders such as meningoencephalitis in bats, Homo sapiens, birds and horses. Due [...]
Viscoelasticity, mechanical properties, and in vitro biodegradation of injectable chitosan-poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/nanohydroxyapatite composite hydrogel
A novel injectable composite hydrogel based on chitosan and poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) reinforced with nanohydroxyapatite particles was synthesized. The chemical structure and morphology of the composite hydrogel were characterized. The composite hydrogel porosity, swelling, mechanical properties, viscoelasticity and in vitro biodegradation were also examined. Compared with the non-reinforced hydrogel, the composite hydrogel [...]
Stimuli-responsive peptide-based biomaterials as drug delivery systems
Stimuli-responsive proteins have gained a wide spread interest as functional biomaterials in drug delivery area. However, particular attention has been diverted to peptide-based materials due to their adaptability and reliable practical utility in biomedical applications under a range of physiological situations. Peptides exhibit a high degree of chemical and biophysical [...]
Nanostructures of gelatin for encapsulation of food ingredients
One of the most commonly used biopolymers for drug and food delivery applications is gelatin. It is characterized by unique properties which makes it a good candidate for fabrication of food nanoparticles. These properties include biodegradability, biocompatibility, easy modification, and low cost. Therefore this chapter mentions the recent applications of [...]