Spectrophotometric analysis of binary mixtures of sulfonamides.

Different methods for analyzing binary mixtures by using 2 wavelengths are reviewed. The absorbance ratio calculated at 2 wavelengths, not including the isoabsorptive point, was a quadratic function of relative concentration. The curve-fitting process using orthogonal polynomials was applied to obtain the quadratic equation. An absorbance ratio can be used as a rapid purity index for sulfacetamide sodium in the presence of sulfanilamide. Sulfacetamide sodium has been determined in eye drop preparations.     

Liquid chromatographic determination of cinnamic and benzoic acids in benzoin preparations

A liquid chromatographic method for the individual determination of benzoic and cinnamic acids in 2 benzoin preparations is presented. The method specifies a reverse phase column and 0.01M KH2PO4-methanol (85 + 15) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.8 mL/min, with detection at 254 nm. The method has been applied to 2 benzoin preparations and the results were compared with those from the British Pharmacopoeia method.     

Response of European seabass (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dicentrarchus labrax</Emphasis>) to canola oil diets: effect on growth performance,fish health and liver and intestine histomorphology

This study was undertaken to assess the effects of feeding European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) canola oil-added diets on growth, health status and liver and intestine histomorphology. Seabass (56.18 ± 0.16 g initial body weight) were fed one of three fish meal-based diets with ~48 % crude protein and ~16.0 % lipid, combining fish oil (FO) and canola oil (CO) for 12 weeks. The diets contained: zero (control, CTRL), 45 (CO50) or 63 (CO70) g CO kg^?1 assigned in triplicates to three dietary groups. The results indicated that neither dietary oil type (FO or CO) nor CO level adversely affected (P > 0.05) the growth, feed utilization or major blood constituents’ composition as an indicator of the overall health status of fish. Despite the CO diets influence on head kidney macrophage activity being unappreciable (P > 0.05), there was a reducing trend with an increase in CO level incorporation. The CO70 diet induced a minor fat infiltration in hepatocytes and leucocytes infiltration, hyperplasia of the basal nuclei and supranuclear vacuolization of the enterocytes of the distal intestine. The present observations suggest that it is possible to incorporate up to 63 g CO Kg^?1 in the feed for European seabass juveniles without major negative effects on growth, health status or liver and intestinal histomorphology.     

Mycorrhizal autochthonous consortium induced defense-related mechanisms of olive trees against Verticillium dahliae

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - The present work aimed to investigate the effect of an autochthonous mycorrhizal consortium in enhancing olive tree tolerance against Verticillium...     

Effect of polluted water from the Egyptian Eastern Mediterranean coast on reproductive, toxicological and hematological characteristics of Siganus rivulatus

The impact of diluted levels of polluted seawater from the Egyptian Mediterranean coast on reproductive, toxicological and hematological characteristics of Siganus rivulatus were determined. Mature fish were exposed to diluted levels of 7.5, 10 and 15 ml L(-1) polluted seawater. Hematological changes after 4, 15 and 30 days of exposure were measured. Erythrocytes decreased (p<0.05) as well as Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Hemoglobin (Hb), indicating anemia developed to hypochromic macrocytic anemia at end of experiment. Leukocytes, increased (p<0.05), indicating susceptibility of fish to infection and stress. Granulocytic leukocytes, neutrophil and eosinophil increased. While lymphocytes decreased. Blood parameters of exposed fish revealed compensatory responses. The increase in developing hemocytoplast and myelocytes emphasize the compensatory and defensive reaction of fish to polluted water. Exposure to polluted water levels has a detrimental effect on gonads development, altered endocrine haemostasis, testosterone and progesterone levels decreased in females (p<0.05). While in male, progesterone level increased (p<0.01). Necrosis of spermatogenic cells and atresia of developing oocytes are pronounced at levels of 10 and 15 ml L(-1)polluted seawater. Also, has necrotic effect on fish organs. Vacuolation and necrosis occurs in liver and kidney. Melanomacrophage aggregates can be seen. Gills showed epithetial lifting and vascular widening. Results showed that, polluted water has serious consequences on Siganus rivulatus blood characteristics as well as organs cellular structure. It rendered fish anemiatic, altered reproductive hormones level, leading to necrosis of males spermatogenic cells and atresia of developing oocytes.     

Transpiration response of two bread wheat lines differing in drought resilience and their backcross parent under dry-down conditions

Improving wheat productivity in drylands largely depends on how plants manage limited water resources. Using fraction of transpirable soil water threshold (FTSW_Th) and drought stress response function, we characterized the water conservation traits of two wheat multiple synthetic derivative lines (MSD53 and MSD345) which both contain introgressed segments from Aegilops tauschii but differ in drought resilience. The lines and their backcross parent, ‘Norin 61’, were subjected to dry-down conditions. MSD53 had a higher FTSW_Th for transpiration decrease than ‘Norin 61’ and MSD345. In terms of drought stress response function, MSD53 had the lowest threshold suction, suggesting a lower drought resilience capacity compared with MSD345. However, MSD53 exhibited an effective-water-use trait whereas MSD345 exhibited a water-saving trait under dry-down conditions. These results are consistent with the reported higher yield of MSD53 in comparison with MSD345 under drought stress in Sudan, and demonstrate that high FTSW_Th supports effective water use for improved agricultural productivity in drylands. The differences in water conservation traits between the two MSD lines may be attributed to variation in introgressed segments, which can be further explored for drought resilience breeding.     

First derivative spectrophotometric determination of anhydrotetracyclines in tetracyclines

A rapid method is presented for detection and determination of anhydrotetracycline-HCl (ATC-HCl) and 4-epianhydrotetracycline-HCl (4-EATC-HCl) in tetracycline-HCl (TC-HCl). The method determines the 2 compounds as a sum, not individually. The first derivative absorption curve has a trough (D1) at 460 nm which is linearly related to concentration (1-10 mg/mL). ATC-HCl + 4-EATC-HCl content was determined in TC-HCl powder and capsules by the D1 and the compensation D1 spectrophotometric methods. The results were compared with those obtained using U.S. Pharmacopeia and British Pharmacopoeia methods.     

Genetic structure and differentiation among oregano [<Emphasis Type="Italic">Origanum vulgare</Emphasis> subsp. <Emphasis Type="Italic">glandulosum</Emphasis> (Desf.) Ietswaart] provenances from North Africa: bioinformatic approaches cause systematic bias

Thirteen simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers developed from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) of essential oil glands of Origanum vulgare were previously evaluated. These EST-SSR loci were analyzed to study the genetic diversity and differentiation of Origanum vulgare subsp. glandulosum, an endemic species of Tunisia. The study was performed on five natural populations from the Maghreb regions (North Africa) from northern Tunisia (Sejnane, Krib, Bargou, Zaghouan and Nefza). Two other subspecies of O. vulgare were used as out-group. These are O. vulgare subsp. hirtum (from USA) and O. vulgare subsp. vulgare (from Italy). A total of 60 alleles were detected in the seven populations studied. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9. This analysis revealed that the unbiased expected heterozygosity (0.327) is higher than the observed heterozygosity (0.242), reflecting a deficit in heterozygosity in the total population. Only the Sejnane population has an excess of heterozygosity. The differentiation between Tunisian populations is highly significant and indicates the presence of a structure between these populations. However, the indexes of genetic differentiation (FST) values are low and vary between 0.048 and 0.115 which indicate the presence of a weak structure. The value of the FST between Nefza and Krib is not significant, reflecting the absence of genetic structure between them. The value of gene flow between these two populations is the most important (27.34), showing a substantial exchange of genes or genomic regions between them. The migration of genes is less important among the other Tunisian populations. Genetic structuring according to the geographical origin of Tunisian populations is low but still exists, which allows concluding the presence of a single complex gene pool.     

Clinical zinc and copper deficiencies in cattle of western Sudan

Clinical cases of both Zn and Cu deficiencies are reported in a cattle farm in Kordofan Region of the Sudan after drought. The animals showed general weakness, stunted growth, infertility, parakeratosis and achromotrichia. There was macrocytic hypochromic anaemia and low Cu and Zn concentrations in sera. The condition was more prevalent in zebu-Friesian crosses than the local breeds. Drought and marginal or low Cu and Zn content in pasture may be the predisposing factors.     

Impact of Exogenous Application of Salicylic Acid on Growth,Water Status And Antioxidant Enzyme Activity of Strawberry Plants (Fragaria vesca L.) Under Salt Stress Conditions

Irrigation with saline water can act as an alternate water resource and thus plays an important role in saving freshwater resources as well as promoting agriculture. Furthermore, salinity stress is considered one of the major abiotic stress factors, which strongly reduces crop productivity. In this context, the present work was conducted to examine the effect of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) application on salt stress tolerance of strawberry plants. For this purpose, strawberry plants (Fragaria vesca L.), three months old, were treated with three SA concentrations (0?mM, 0.25?mM and 0.5?mM), then subjected to 80?mM NaCl or not. After five weeks of treatment, growth responses, water status, photochemical efficiency and oxidative stress indicators were measured. The obtained results showed that irrigation with saline water negatively affected the growth parameters, the leaf water potential (LWP), the relative water content (RWC), the stomatal conductance (gs) and photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm). While, the total protein content, the electrolyte leakage (EL), the malondialdehyde (MDA) and the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents were increased in stressed plants compared to unstressed ones. Salt stress also leads to the activation of the antioxidant enzymes. However, the exogenous application of SA under salt stress conditions reduced the H₂O₂ accumulation, the electrolyte leakage and the MDA content. It has also improved the growth parameters, the LWP, the RWC, the gs, the Fv/Fm, the protein content and the antioxidant enzyme activities (POD, CAT and SOD) in the treated plants compared to those without SA application. Therefore, the beneficial effect of 0.25?mM SA on Fragaria vesca L. salinity tolerance may provide some practical basis for strawberry cultivation under saline conditions.