Reaction of EDTA,DTPA, and EDDHA Complexes of Zinc,Copper, and Manganese with a Calcareous Soil

Solutions of Zn, Cu and Mn chelates of EDTA, DTPA and EDDHA were reacted separately with a calcareous soil for periods up to 28 days. DTPA was an effective chelate for Zn and Cu; more than 77 and 55% of the added Zn and Cu, respectively, remained soluble after 28 days of reaction with the soil. The stability of Zn-EDTA and Cu-EDTA was relatively less than those of the respective DTPA chelates, whereas Zn-EDDHA and Cu-EDDHA were highly unstable in the soil. The loss of soluble Mn from Mn-EDTA, Mn-DTPA and Mn-EDDHA additions to soil was very rapid and completed in about one week. It was found that adsorption of Zn-EDDHA, Cu-EDDHA and Mn-EDDHA molecules by the soil was the main process removing Zn, Cu and Mn from solution. Whereas, replacement of the metal in the metal-chelate molecule by Ca ion from the soil was a more serious factor affecting the stability of DTPA and EDTA chelates of Zn, Cu, and Mn.     

Chemical composition,insecticidal and biochemical effects of essential oils of different plant species from Northern Egypt on the rice weevil,Sitophilus oryzae L.

The extensive use of synthetic insecticides and fumigants for control stored-product insects has led to the development of resistance. Essential oils from aromatic plants may provide proper alternatives to currently used insect control agents. Essential oils from 20 Egyptian plants were obtained by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the oils was identified by gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer. Fumigant and contact toxicities of the essential oils were evaluated against Sitophilus oryzae. The inhibitory effects of the essential oils on acetylcholinesterase and adenosine triphosphatases activities were examined. The oils were composed of monoterpene hydrocarbons (i.e., limonene, sabinene, β-pinene and γ-terpinene) and oxygenated monoterpenes (i.e., terpinen-4-ol, β–thujone, 4-terpineol, α-citral and 1,8-cineole) with the exception of the oil of Schinus terebinthifolius which was contained sesquiterpenes, and the oil of Vitex agnus-castus which contained similar amounts of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. In the fumigation assay, the oils of Origanum vulgare (LC₅₀ = 1.64 mg/L air), Citrus lemon (LC₅₀ = 9.89 mg/L air), Callistemon viminals (LC₅₀ = 16.17 mg/L air), Cupressus sempervirens (LC₅₀ = 17.16 mg/L air), and Citrus sinensis (LC₅₀ = 19.65 mg/L air) showed high toxicity to S. oryzae. In the contact assay, the oils of Artemisia judaica, C. viminals, and O. vulgare caused the highest toxicity to S. oryzae with LC₅₀ values of 0.08, 0.09, and 0.11 mg/cm², respectively. The oil of A. judaica (I₅₀ = 16.1 mg/L) invoked the highest inhibitory effect on AChE activity, while the oils of C. viminals and O. vulgare were the most potent inhibitors to ATPases activity with I₅₀ values of 4.69 and 6.07 mg/L, respectively. The results indicate that the essential oils of A. Judaica, O. vulgare, C. limon, C. viminals, and C. sempervirens could be applicable to the management of populations of S. oryzae.     

A new pyrrole alkaloid from seeds of Castanea sativa

A new pyrrole alkaloid, methyl-(5-formyl-1H-pyrrole-2-yl)-4-hydroxybutyrate (1), was isolated from sweet chestnut seeds and its structure elucidated on the basis of data from NMR spectroscopy and by comparison with synthetic analogues.     

Incidence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in drinking water in Cairo

The presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria was found among standard plate count (SPC) populations of chlorinated drinking water from two districts in Cairo. SPC values obtained were low, ranging between 20 and 3 800 mL^?1. Most strains appeared to be ampicillin resistant (89.7%). Those were followed by sulfaguanidine (78.1%) and streptomycin (56.9%). The majority of the tested strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics (multiple antibiotic resistant, MAR) which represent 62.4 to 98 % of the total isolates of the mean obtained in a month. Identification of 363 MAR strains revealed that gram-positive rods were dominant in chlorinated drinking water. Gram-negative fermentative-rods, gram-positive cocci and gramnegative nonfermentative rods represent the second, third and fourth group of the identified MAR phenotypes. The impact of the antibiotic resistant bacteria in drinking water as a health hazard is discussed.     

Adventitious shoot regeneration in a bioreactor system and EST-PCR based clonal fidelity in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

Adventitious shoots were regenerated from leaf explants of three lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) clones: ‘QB1’, ‘QB2’ and ‘PB1’ by culturing on a gelled basal medium (BM) with 2.3–4.5 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) for four weeks followed by in a bioreactor system containing the same liquid medium but with 1.2–2.3 μM TDZ for another four weeks. Young expanding basal leaf segments with the adaxial side touching the culture medium and maintained for two weeks in darkness, produced the best results. Callus development and shoot regeneration were genotype dependent. Adventitious shoots were elongated in the liquid BM with 1 μM zeatin and rooted on a three peat: two perlite (v/v) medium. Acclimatized plantlets were grown actively in the greenhouse with an apparent normal leaf and shoot morphology. Ten random ‘QB1’ regenerated plants were screened using 14 expressed sequence tag-polymerase chain reaction (EST-PCR) markers and showed similar monomorphic amplification profiles confirming clonal fidelity of in vitro-derived ‘QB1’ plants. Results obtained suggested the possibility of adventitious shoot regeneration and true-to-type lowbush blueberry micropropagation using a bioreactor system combined with gelled medium.     

Mitigating the catastrophic impacts of torrential rivers in semi-arid environments: a case of the Gash River in eastern Sudan

The climatic, geomorphic, hydrologic and aquifer characteristics of the torrential Gash River across mountainous areas, in far eastern Sudan, were analyzed in order to mitigate its recurring catastrophic impacts. Hydrologic and climatic data and interpretation of Gash River satellite images were from relevant research works carried out in Gash Basin from 1985 to 2008. The results indicated that the total catchment area of Gash River is about 21,000 km2, and the basin area is 31,000 km2. The total length of Gash River is 450 km and the average slope is 200 cm/km. The width of the catchment varies from 30 m to 90 m and that of the basin is from 100 m to 800 m, and the course of the river is varied. During the period of 1980?2008, the mean annual rainfall was 250 mm and the mean annual discharge was 6.8 ×10~8 m~3, and the flooding is approximately one time per 5 years. Torrential floods measured at Kassala town since 1907 showed that an absolute maximum discharge was 876 m3/s and a mean maximum discharge was 365 m3/s. These characteristics differ widely between catchment and basin areas. The author proposes that, by analyzing the climatic, geomorphic, hydrologic and aquifer characteristics of the Gash River and considering the role of community, a concise database could be provided to formulate the aquifer, geomorphic, hydrologic and climatic (AQUIGEOHYCLIM) regional approach to mitigate Gash River recurring catastrophic impacts.     

Diversity of Secondary Metabolites from Marine Bacillus Species: Chemistry and Biological Activity

Marine Bacillus species produce versatile secondary metabolites including lipopeptides, polypeptides, macrolactones, fatty acids, polyketides, and isocoumarins. These structurally diverse compounds exhibit a wide range of biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, and antialgal activities. Some marine Bacillus strains can detoxify heavy metals through reduction processes and have the ability to produce carotenoids. The present article reviews the chemistry and biological activities of secondary metabolites from marine isolates. Side by side, the potential for application of these novel natural products from marine Bacillus strains as drugs, pesticides, carotenoids, and tools for the bioremediation of heavy metal toxicity are also discussed.     

Effect of Cadmium on Lipid Peroxidation and on Some Antioxidants in the Liver,Kidneys and Testes of Rats Given Diet Containing Cadmium-polluted Radish Bulbs

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of cadmium (Cd), incorporated in radish bulbs, on malondialdehyde and glutathione levels and on superoxide dismutase activity in the liver, kidneys and testes of male rats. The control animals were given diet containing ordinary radish bulbs for 4, 8 and 12 weeks, while contaminated animals were given diet containing Cd-polluted radish bulbs (1.1 mg Cd/g of diet) for the same periods as in the controls. At each time point, rats were euthanized and the liver, kidneys and testes were removed. The results indicated that the body weight gain of contaminated rats was identical to that of the control rats. Cd concentrations in the liver, kidneys and testes increased significantly and gradually from the 4th to 12th week of treatment. Malondialdehyde concentrations decreased significantly in the liver and increased significantly in the kidneys and testes after 12 weeks of treatment, while glutathione levels increased significantly in the liver, and decreased significantly in the kidneys and testes at the same time. No changes were observed in SOD activity in the liver, while in the kidneys and testes, this activity was increased after 12 weeks of treatment as compared with the control rats.     

Estimating direct healthcare costs attributable to laboratory‐confirmed Lyme disease in Ontario,Canada: A population‐based matched cohort study using health administrative data

The objective of this study was to determine healthcare costs attributable to laboratory‐confirmed Lyme disease (LD) from the healthcare payer perspective in Ontario, Canada. A cost‐of‐illness study was conducted for incident LD subjects from 1 January 2006 through 31 December 2013 ascertained from provincial laboratory and reportable disease databases, linked to health administrative data. All LD subjects included were laboratory‐confirmed, according to provincial case definitions. Incident LD subjects were propensity‐score matched to uninfected subjects on age, sex, comorbidities and urban/rural status. We used phase‐of‐care methods to calculate attributable costs for two phases of illness: initial care (≤30 days following “index date”) and continuing care (>30 days after index date to the end of the follow‐up period). A total of 663 incident, confirmed LD subjects were identified from 2006 through 2013. Mean age was 44.2 ± 20.1 years; 339 (51.1%) were female; and 31 (4.7%) were hospitalized ≤30 days after index date. Six hundred fifty‐eight (99.2%) LD subjects were matched to uninfected subjects; mean follow‐up time was 3.3 years. Mean attributable costs per case during the initial care phase and continuing care were $277 (95% CI: $197, $357) and ?$5 (?$27, $17), respectively. Attributable costs per LD subject aged 5–14 years were $440 ($132, $747), greater than the costs observed for other age strata. Expected 1‐year attributable costs were $832, given continuing care costs were negligible. Limitations to our study include estimating costs using a cohort of only laboratory‐confirmed LD cases, introducing selection bias for diagnosed and treated patients who may have a lower risk of developing sequelae. In conclusion, the initial care phase of LD is associated with increased healthcare costs, but without significant costs attributable to LD infection after 30 days. Estimates of costs attributable to LD are important for healthcare resource prioritization and the evaluation of novel interventions.     

Dietary supplementation for Santa Inês hair ewes on pasture at pre- and postpartum periods: dry matter intake,digestibility, milk production,and mineral metabolism

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of different levels of dietary supplementation and reproductive stages on dry matter intake, digestibility, milk production, and mineral metabolism in Santa Inês hair ewes. Two dietary supplement levels of 0.5 and 1.5%, based on body weight, were used. A total of 12 hair ewes (six subjected to 0.5 and six subjected to 1.5% of concentrate supplementation based on body weight—BW) of the Santa Inês breed were evaluated in a completely randomized design with fixed effects of supplementation level, period, and its interactions. Dry matter intake, digestibility, milk production, and mineral metabolism (calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), type I insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I), parathyroid hormone (PTH), and osteocalcin (OC)) were assessed. Dry matter digestibility was affected by the supplementation level (during both pregnancy and lactation), with higher values in ewes fed at a level of 1.5% of BW. A significant interaction between treatment × reproductive stages was found for the Mg concentration. A period effect (P?<?0.05) on serum concentrations of P, Ca/P, Mg, and IGF-I was observed. Serum P concentrations were influenced (P?<?0.05) by treatments and reproductive stages. There were significant differences in the Ca/P ratio among the reproductive stages. The enzymatic activity of ALP and serum IGFI differed among reproductive stages. Ewes supplemented at a level of 1.5% of BW produced 18.5% more milk than ewes supplemented at a level of 0.5% of BW. The use of 0.5% of body weight in concentrate supplementation is recommended for the reduction of production costs, without having an effect on the mineral metabolism of Santa Inês hair ewes.