Evaluation of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae as a biological control agent of the whitefly,Bemisia tabaci

We evaluated the potential for using infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema feltiae to control the sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci B biotype on cucumber, hibiscus, and collard, under greenhouse conditions. The effects of four adjuvants (PVA, glycerol, Triton X-100, and horticultural spraying oil) on the efficiency of Steinernema feltiae in B. tabaci control were also assessed because they might increase nematode survival by reducing desiccation. The mortality of B. tabaci nymphs increased by 18, 18, and 20% on collard, hibiscus, and cucumber plants when S. feltiae concentration increased from 5000 to 15,000 infective juveniles/mL. When treated with S. feltiae (10000 infective juveniles/mL), second instar nymphs suffered greater mortality than the other instars of B. tabaci, regardless of host plant species. Mortality of B. tabaci nymphs was higher on hibiscus than on collard and cucumber plants. The use of adjuvants greatly increased infection of B. tabaci by S. feltiae. The combination of S. feltiae (10,000 infective juveniles/mL) and 1% horticultural spraying oil increased the mortality of second instar B. tabaci nymphs to 86% on collard and 90% on hibiscus, while the combination of S. feltiae and 0.1% Triton X-100 caused 83% mortality on collard and 89% on hibiscus. The potential for incorporating S. feltiae and the adjuvants in B. tabaci management is discussed.     

Responses of Lentil to Co-Inoculation with Phosphate-Solubilizing Rhizobial Strains and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the responses of lentil (Lens culinariscv. ‘Ziba’) to co-inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and some indigenous rhizobial strains varying in phosphorus (P)-solubilizing ability in a calcareous soil with high pH and low amounts of available P and nitrogen (N). A factorial experiment with completely randomized block design was conducted under controlled greenhouse conditions. The treatments consisted of (1) three inoculants of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae strains and a mixed rhizobial inoculant with an effective P-solubilizer strain of Mesorhizobium ciceri, (2) two AM fungal species, Glomus mosseae and Glomus intraradices, (3) two P sources, superphosphate and phosphate rock. Four replications were prepared for each treatment and a related control. After the growth period of three months, the dry matter of shoots plus seeds, their P and N contents, and percent of root colonized by AM fungus were measured. The results showed that the effects of AM fungi, rhizobial strains, and P fertilizers were highly significant (p < 0.01) for all the characteristics studied. The rhizobial strain with P-solubilizing ability showed a more beneficial effect on plant growth and nutrient uptake than the strain without this ability, although both strains had similar effectiveness for N₂-fixation in symbiosis with lentil. Synergistic relationships were observed between AM fungi and some rhizobial strains that related to the compatible pairing of these two microsymbionts. The P-uptake efficiency was increased when P fertilizers were applied along with AM fungi and/or P-solubilizer rhizobial strains.     

Formability analysis of worsted woven fabrics considering fabric direction

Over years predicting fabric behaviour during garment manufacturing process was considered by researchers in order to reduce manufacturing problems and achieve high quality products. Fabric formability which is affected by bending and tensile behaviour through the application of small loads is a property which can predict fabric performance precisely. However, this property changes regarding fabric direction and is not constant. In this study, fabric formability is examined for worsted woven fabrics in a more detailed way by evaluating this property in various fabric directions. It was concluded that fabric formability could be expressed as a sinusoidal function of sample orientation towards warp direction. Moreover, studying several weave structures with different weft densities reveals that the less the firmness of fabric construction the more the value of fabric formability which indicates the better adaption of fabric to the exerted deformation.     

Flowering and fruiting phenology,and physico-chemical characteristics of 2-year-old plants of six species of Opuntia from eight regions of Morocco

SUMMARY

We have described the flowering and fruiting phenology of 14 accessions of six Opuntia species grown in Morocco: O. ficus-indica, O. robusta, O. aequatorialis, O. dillenii, O. leucotricha, and O. stricta. We also determined the physicochemical characteristics of their cladodes. For each accession, we used four-to-20 plants. Two systems were used to measure phenology: the extended Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und Chemische Industrie (BBCH)-scale and the National Phenology Monitoring System. Five principal stages were described: the development of vegetatively-propagated organs (vegetative buds), the development of flower buds, flowering, fruit development, and fruit maturity. The number of vegetative buds varied significantly among the 14 accessions, while only four accessions produced flower buds. After reaching their final size, fruit lengths varied from 3.40–6.40 cm, while fruit diameters varied from 1.93–3.90 cm. The average cladode number differed significantly among genotypes and varied from 1.75–7.75. There were also significant differences in cladode length (13.75–30.63 cm), width (6.25–17.33 cm), thickness (0.65–1.38 cm), fresh weight (FW; 67.50–766.00 g), and dry weight (DW; 8.75–67.15 g) between species. Water content and ash content, as well as total protein and total sugar concentrations, showed significant differences and were within the ranges of 86.67–92.04% (w/w), 12.97–22.08g 100 g^?1 DW, 4.64–11.56g 100 g^?1 DW, and 3.22–12.51 g 100 g^?1 DW, respectively. Our results will help in the development of agronomic management practices and improve the characterisation, valorisation, and use of cactus pear species grown in Morocco.     

Rank ordering and image processing methods aided fabric wrinkle evaluation

In the conventional subjective method, wrinkled fabric specimens are visually compared with the standard replicas under a specific light source in order to be evaluated and classified. In the present work, the rank ordering method is incipiently applied for grading a wide range of wrinkled fabrics. The five standard replicas are orderly placed among the ranked specimens and their grades are extracted. Results show that the specimens ranked by the ordering method are reliable and can be used for grading of wrinkled fabric to overcome the problems associated with the standard method such as the limited grading range and high and non uniform intervals between each pair of replicas. Conventional image processing methods used for grading fabric wrinkle are also applied on images taken from the ranked specimens. Among the methods studied in the literature Radon transform, wrinkle paths length and fractal dimension show a good correlation with the wrinkle grades derived from the rank ordering method.     

Experimental and numerical analysis of fiber characteristics effects on fiber dispersion for wet-laid nonwoven

Dispersion and separation of fiber bundles into individual fibers, requires exposing them to a shear stress field to overcome inter-fiber frictional forces. To this end, fiber-mixing tanks are usually used to enhance shear and agitation in water and help the dispersion process. The required time and necessary agitation to separate and disperse fibers depend on fibers’ characteristics. It is well known that excessive agitation will give rise to the formation of rope defects in the output because of the high-energy vortices and optimizing the break up time is important in wet-lay process. In this work, experimental and numerical studies were done to investigate the effects of fiber characteristics on their dispersion in water for wet-laid nonwoven. The effective forces were analyzed using a one-way modeling of fiber behaviors in a stirred mixing tank. Results show that when the fiber diameter is increased, the required time for breaking up of fiber bundles and clumps is increased. The effects of fiber types on fibers break up and dispersing time, were also investigated. In the experimental work, an on-line vision system was designed to observe the dispersion behavior of polyester fibers. The effects of fiber length and fineness on the created defects (i.e. logs and ropes) in dispersion process, as well as on the dispersion speed, were studied. The results confirm that defects are increased by rising fiber length and fineness. It is also shown that increasing fiber length and fineness, decreases the required time for fiber clumps to be opened and reach a maximum number of individual fibers. On the other hand, when fiber length and fineness is increased, the dispersion speed increases.     

The Effect of Human Platelet-Rich Plasma on Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation

Background: The cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been used in many clinical trials; however, there are still some concerns about the cultural conditions. One concern is related to the use of FBS as a widely used xenogeneic supplement in the culture system. Human platelet-rich plasma (hPRP) is a candidate replacement for FBS. In this study, the effect of hPRP on MSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation has been evaluated. Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) were expanded. Cells from the third passage were characterized by flow cytometric analysis and used for in vitro experiments. Resazurin and alizarin red stains were used for cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation assays, respectively. Results: Treatment with hPRP resulted in a statistically significant increase in cell proliferation compare to the negative control group (P<0.001). Cell proliferation in the 15% hPRP group was also significantly higher than that in the 10% hPRP group (P<0.05). Additionally, it caused less osteogenic differentiation of the hADSC compared to the FBS (P<0.001), but in comparison to negative control, it caused acceptable mineralization (P<0.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that hPRP not only improves the proliferation but also it can be a suitable substitution in osteogenic differentiation for clinical purposes. However, the clinical application value of hPRP still needs more investigation. Key Words: Platelet-Rich Plasma, Adipose tissue, Stem Cells, Cell differentiation, Cell proliferation     

Sedative effects of midazolam and xylazine with or without ketamine and detomidine alone following intranasal administration in Ring-necked Parakeets

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of intranasal administration of midazolam and xylazine (with or without ketamine) and detomidine and their specific antagonists in parakeets. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 17 healthy adult Ring-necked Parakeets (Psittacula krameri) of both sexes (mean weight, 128.83+/-10.46 g [0.28+/-0.02 lb]). PROCEDURE: The dose of each drug or ketamine-drug combination administered intranasally that resulted in adequate sedation (ie, unrestrained dorsal recumbency maintained for >or=5 minutes) was determined; the onset of action, duration of dorsal recumbency, and duration of sedation associated with these treatments were evaluated. The efficacy of the reversal agents flumazenil, yohimbine, and atipamezole was also evaluated. RESULTS: In parakeets, intranasal administration of midazolam (7.3 mg/kg [3.32 mg/lb]) or detomidine (12 mg/kg [5.45 mg/lb]) caused adequate sedation within 2.7 and 3.5 minutes, respectively. Combinations of midazolam (3.65 mg/kg [1.66 mg/lb]) and xylazine (10 mg/kg [4.55 mg/lb]) with ketamine (40 to 50 mg/kg [18.2 to 22.7 mg/lb]) also achieved adequate sedation. Compared with detomidine, duration of dorsal recumbency was significantly longer with midazolam. Intranasal administration of flumazenil (0.13 mg/kg [0.06 mg/lb]) significantly decreased midazolam-associated recumbency time. Compared with the xylazineketamine combination, duration of dorsal recumbency was longer after midazolam-ketamine administration. Intranasal administration of flumazenil, yohimbine, or atipamezole significantly decreased the duration of sedation induced by midazolam, xylazine, or detomidine, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Intranasal administration of sedative drugs appears to be an acceptable method of drug delivery in Ring-necked Parakeets. Reversal agents are also effective when administered via this route.     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of two turfgrasses grown under greenhouse conditions

ABSTRACT

The need for salinity resistance in turfgrass is increasing because of the enhanced use of effluent and other low-quality water for turfgrass irrigation. Although most turfgrasses form an arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) symbiosis, there is little information on the mycorrhization of turfgrass species. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of three AMF species, Glomus intraradices Schenck & Smith, Glomus etunicatum Becker & Gerdemann, and Glomus deserticola Trappe & John, and a mixture thereof on the growth, productivity, and nutrient uptake of two species of cool-season turfgrasses, Challenger Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and Arid tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), and to relate the effects to colonization of the roots by mycorrhiza to assess the dependency of the plants (mycorrhizal dependency [MD]). Following the experimental period (4 months) and measurements, the mycorrhizal inoculated plants had significantly greater biomass production compared to that of non-inoculated plants. MD and shoot mineral contents (particularly P) differed among turfgrass hosting AMF, and the highest value (13%) occurred for P. pratensis and F. arundinacea seedlings colonized with G. intraradices and G. deserticola, respectively. The P content was highest for the F. arundinacea/mixed AMF combination compared to other treatments. We confirmed that mycorrhizal inoculation (P. pratensis/G. intraradices and F. arundinacea/mixed AMF combinations) enhanced plant productivity and nutrient uptake (especially P) even under non-optimum conditions.     

Enhancement of the transfection efficiency of DNA into Crocus sativus L. cells via PEI nanoparticles

Over the past decade, several natural and synthetic cationic polymers have been utilized for gene delivery into cells. Among them, polyethylenimine (PEI) was used for gene therapy successfully. The present study investigated the effect of PEI and ultrasound waves on ssDNA delivery into saffron cells. Gel retardation, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) assays were employed to determine the physicochemical properties of PEI/f-DNA polyplex (complex of PEI and fluorescently labeled DNA). Moreover, the cytotoxicity of PEI, PEI/f-DNA polyplex and ultrasound were investigated on saffron cells at different concentrations. The gel retardation results indicated that the formation and neutralization of the PEI/f-DNA polyplex were completed at N/P=5. The particle size distribution of the polyplexes was from 50 to 122 nm. The experimental results revealed that the cytotoxicity of the PEI/f-DNA polyplex was lower than that of PEI alone, hence the cells showed both dose- and exposure duration-dependent responses. Furthermore, the viability of saffron cells declined extremely after 5 and 10 min sonication but this reduction was not significant at 2 min exposure duration. The results also indicated that the combined utilization of ultrasound and PEI nanoparticles increased the transfection efficiency of saffron cells up to two times higher than those obtained by PEI or ultrasound separately.