Browse Articles

Astragalus membranaceus Root Concentration and Exposure Time: Role in Heat Stress Diminution in C. elegans

Chen et al. | Oct 17, 2018

Astragalus membranaceus Root Concentration and Exposure Time: Role in Heat Stress Diminution in <em>C. elegans</em>

In this study, the authors investigated the biological mechanism underlying the actions of a traditional medicinal plant, Astragalus membranaceus. Using C. elegans as an experimental model, they tested the effects of AM root on heat stress responses. Their results suggest that AM root extract may enhance the activity of endogenous pathways that mediate cellular responses to heat stress.

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Cell cytotoxicity and pro-apoptosis on MCF-7 cells using polyherbal formulation, MAT20

Tarigopula et al. | Feb 17, 2023

Cell cytotoxicity and pro-apoptosis on MCF-7  cells using polyherbal formulation, MAT20

The purpose of this study was to test the anti-cancer properties and pro-apoptotic effects of the polyherbal formulation MAT20 as a complementary treatment. Moringa oleifera (Moringa), Phyllanthus emblica (Amla) and Ocimum sanctum (Tulsi), these 3 herbs were used to formulate MAT20, which contain phytochemicals that are known to display anti-cancer properties. In this study, we hypothesized that MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with MAT20 would show increased cytotoxicity compared to its individual plant extracts.

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The Effect of Neem on Common Nosocomial Infection-Causing Organisms

Shah et al. | Jan 27, 2020

The Effect of Neem on Common Nosocomial Infection-Causing Organisms

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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The use of computer vision to differentiate valley fever from lung cancer via CT scans of nodules

El Kereamy et al. | Nov 12, 2024

The use of computer vision to differentiate valley fever from lung cancer via CT scans of nodules

Pulmonary diseases like lung cancer and valley fever pose serious health challenges, making accurate and rapid diagnostics essential. This study developed a MATLAB-based software tool that uses computer vision techniques to differentiate between these diseases by analyzing features of lung nodules in CT scans, achieving higher precision than traditional methods.

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Reactivity-informed design, synthesis, and Michael addition kinetics of C-ring andrographolide analogs

Zhou et al. | Nov 17, 2022

Reactivity-informed design, synthesis, and Michael addition kinetics of C-ring andrographolide analogs

Here, based on the identification of androgapholide as a potential therapeutic treatment against cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis, due to its ability to inhibit a signaling pathway in immune system function, the authors sought ways to optimize the natural product human systems by manipulating its chemical structure. Through the semisynthesis of a natural product along with computational studies, the authors developed an understanding of the kinetic mechanisms of andrographolide and semisynthetic analogs in the context of Michael additions.

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Optimizing AI-generated image detection using a Convolutional Neural Network model with Fast Fourier Transform

Gupta et al. | Oct 24, 2025

Optimizing AI-generated image detection using a Convolutional Neural Network model with Fast Fourier Transform

Recent advances in generative AI have made it increasingly hard to distinguish real images from AI-generated ones. Traditional detection models using CNNs or U-net architectures lack precision because they overlook key spatial and frequency domain details. This study introduced a hybrid model combining Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) with Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) to better capture subtle edge and texture patterns.

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Comparative screening of dose-dependent and strain-specific antimicrobial efficacy of berberine against a representative library of broad-spectrum antibiotics

Sun et al. | May 10, 2021

Comparative screening of dose-dependent and strain-specific antimicrobial efficacy of berberine against a representative library of broad-spectrum antibiotics

We hypothesize that berberine has broad-spectrum antibacterial properties, along with potency that is comparable to current broad-spectrum antibiotics that are commercially available. Here, we screened berberine against four strains of bacteria and evaluated its antimicrobial activity against five broad-spectrum antibiotics from different classes to better quantify berberine’s antibacterial activity and compare its efficacy as an antibacterial agent to the broad-spectrum antibiotics. Our results indicated that berberine had strain-selective cytotoxic effects and was significantly less potent than most of the broad-spectrum antibiotics

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Comparative study on three machine learning models in novel autonomous drone-based detection of invasive plant Brassica nigra

Ho et al. | Jul 05, 2026

Comparative study on three machine learning models in novel autonomous drone-based detection of invasive plant <em>Brassica nigra</em>

Autonomous drone imaging combined with machine learning offers a promising approach for early detection of invasive species. In this study, students built an autonomous drone and compared three models: CNN, SGDC, and XGBoost, to identify Brassica nigra from aerial footage. Their results show that CNNs most effectively recognize key visual features, demonstrating strong potential for supporting conservation and invasive plant management.

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Effects of plant-derived smoke water on germination and growth in stressed plants

Ge et al. | Apr 08, 2026

Effects of plant-derived smoke water on germination and growth in stressed plants

Here the authors investigated the potential of plant-derived smoke water to mitigate the negative impacts of abiotic stressors, such as heat, salinity, and water fluctuations, on the germination and growth of various agricultural crops. Their findings suggest that smoke water, specifically from buckwheat, pea, and radish, significantly improves plant resilience against drought and excessive water stress, offering a viable strategy to bolster food security in the face of climate change.

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