Search Results (3)

Parkinson’s disease (PD), a movement disorder, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) region of the brain. The etiopathogenesis of PD involves increased oxidative stress, augmented inflammation, impaired autophagy, accumulation of α-synuclein, and α-Glutamate neurotoxicity. The treatment of PD is limited and there is a lack of agents to prevent the disease/delay its progression and inhibit the onset of pathogenic events. Many agents of natural and synthetic origin have been investigated employing experimental models of PD, mimicking human PD. In the present study, we assessed the effect of tannic acid (TA) in a rodent model of PD induced by rotenone (ROT), a pesticide and an environmental toxin of natural origin reported to cause PD in agricultural workers and farmers. Rotenone (2.5 mg/kg/day, i.p.) was administered for 28 days, and TA (50 mg/kg, orally) was administered 30 min before ROT injections. The study results showed an increase in oxidative stress, as evidenced by the depletion of endogenous antioxidants and enhanced formation of lipid peroxidation products, along with the onset of inflammation following a rise in inflammatory mediators and proinflammatory cytokines. ROT injections have also augmented apoptosis, impaired autophagy, promoted synaptic loss, and perturbed α-Glutamate hyperpolarization in rats. ROT injections also induced the loss of dopaminergic neurons subsequent to the activation of microglia and astrocytes. However, TA treatment was observed to reduce lipid peroxidation, prevent loss of endogenous antioxidants, and inhibit the release and synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, in addition to the favorable modulation of apoptosis and autophagic pathways. Treatment with TA also attenuated the activation of microglia and astrocytes along with preservation of dopaminergic neurons following reduced loss of dopaminergic neurodegeneration and inhibition of synaptic loss and α-Glutamate cytotoxicity. The effects of TA in ROT-induced PD were attributed to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and neurogenesis properties. Based on the present study findings, it can be concluded that TA may be a promising novel therapeutic candidate for pharmaceutical as well as nutraceutical development owing to its neuroprotective properties in PD. Further regulatory toxicology and translational studies are suggested for future clinical usage in PD. Full article

With the increase in orchard areas and the transfer of rural labor, various air-assisted sprayers have been widely used in China. However, the problem of off-target drift still exists, which has caused pesticide waste and environmental pollution. In order to improve the droplet deposition in the canopy of fruit trees, a V-shaped anti-drift spray device with multi-airflow synergy was designed in this paper. A droplet spatial motion model was constructed, and the anti-drift mechanism of multi-airflow synergy was clarified based on particle dynamics analysis. The influences of spray pressure and V-shaped wind speed on droplet movement were investigated by Matlab, and the experimental results showed that the machine’s anti-drift effect was better when the V-shaped wind speed ranged from 15 m/s to 25 m/s. According to modern orchards with low root stock in a high-density planting, a simulation model of the flow field between the spray device and the fruit trees canopy was established by the method of computational fluid mechanics (CFD). By considering crosswind speed, V-shaped wind speed, and spray pressure, three-level simulation experiments of droplet deposition were designed for each factor using a partial multivariate orthogonal regression method. The influence of V-shaped wind speed on the droplets’ spatial distribution was analyzed, and the prediction model of the drift distance of the droplets’ deposition center was established. The simulation results showed that the three factors had a significant influence on the droplets’ deposition characteristics, and the degree from big to small was V-shaped wind speed, crosswind speed, and spray pressure. The fitting degree of the prediction model was high, and the correlation coefficient was 0.998. The anti-drift experiments of the machine were carried out, and the results showed that when the crosswind speed, the spray pressure, and V-shaped wind speed were 2.2 m/s, 0.52 MPa, and 20.8 m/s, respectively, the droplet drift rate was 29.2% lower than that of single-airflow. The drift distance of the droplets deposition center was 5.0 cm, which was consistent with the prediction model. The research can provide a basis for the design and parameters optimization of the similar sprayers used in modern orchards with low root stock in a high-density planting. Full article

Transition scholars have argued that the analysis of the agency of local civil society actors in their political struggle to transform the food system is necessary. In response, we complement the multi-level perspective on socio-technical transitions with the mechanism-process approach of contentious politics. This framework guides our qualitative analysis of a local movement called “The Way of Mals” in South Tyrol, Italy. This movement aimed to ban pesticides by developing a niche of food democratisation. We investigate how the local movement strategically mobilised citizens to get actively engaged in the local governance of food. We argue that the creation of political opportunities by the movement was crucial for their claim making. Amongst others, they introduced a legally binding local referendum on the ban on chemical–synthetic pesticides. We call this mechanism “paving”. In combination with meaning-making and networking, paving has led to the democratisation of local food governance. We conclude that the agency of local movements is especially reflected in their capacity to readjust in response to suppression efforts of their opponents in the well-established conventional regime. We suggest comparisons with similar cases for future research. Full article