Biochemical and histochemical studies on the digestive gland of Eobania vermiculata snails treated with carbamate pesticides

In this study the land snail (Eobania vermiculata), one of the most abundant gastropod of Egyptian farms, was investigated to determine the lethal toxic action of methomyl and methiocarb and to identify the biochemical and histochemical changes as a function of sublethal dose or concentration on the digestive gland of this snail under laboratory conditions, using topical application and baiting techniques. The results showed that methomyl exhibited greater efficacy than did methiocarb against the snails in both techniques. However, higher mortality rates were obtained in the topical application technique than in the poison bait experiments. Biochemical and histochemical examinations revealed that treatment of the snails with methomyl and methiocarb either by topical application or toxic baits caused significant decrease in carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents. This decrease was also more obvious after topical application than after baiting technique, and methomyl was found to be more toxic than methiocarb.     

ZnO-mediated photocatalytic degradation of Benzopurpurine BP4B in aqueous solution

The photocatalytic degradation of a commercial azo dye Benzopurpurine 4B (BP4B) in aqueous solution was investigated under UV-A light at different operating conditions, including irradiation time, pH solution, initial dye concentration, amount of catalyst, light intensity as well as band gap of other semiconductor groups by UV-spectrophotometric monitoring. The highest decomposition efficiency was obtained at pH 8 as a result of 97.24 % degradation of BP4B for 80 min of irradiation time. Photodecomposition reaction of BP4B dye was correlated with pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The degradation data of BP4B dye were satisfactory described by Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanism.     

Multiple response optimization of rotor yarn for strength,unevenness, hairiness and imperfections

In this study, a multiple response optimization model based on response surface methodology was developed to determine the best rotor speed and yarn twist level for optimum rotor yarn strength and unevenness, and minimum yarn hairiness and imperfections. Cotton yarn of 30 tex, was produced on rotor spinning machine with different twist levels (i.e. 500, 550, 600 and 700 tpm) at different rotor speeds (i.e. 70000, 80000, 90000 and 100000 rpm). Yarn quality characteristics were determined for all the experiments. Based on the results, multiple response optimization model was developed using response surface regression on MINITAB® 16 statistical tool. Optimization results indicate that with the quality of raw material selected for this study, top 50 % quality level, according to USTER® yarn quality benchmarks, can be achieved with 100 % desirability satisfaction for all the selected yarn quality parameters at rotor speed of 77,800 rpm and yarn twist of 700 twists per meter.     

Color and Antioxidant Characteristics of Some Fresh Fig (Ficus carica L.) Genotypes from Northeastern Turkey

Fruit skin color, total phenolics, total anthocyanins, soluble solids content, titratable acidity and total antioxidant capacity in fresh fruits of a number of local and well-known fig (Ficus carica L.) genotypes and cultivars grown in northeastern Turkey were determined. TEAC (Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) assays were used to determine total antioxidant capacity. Fruit skin color of genotypes were found to be very diverse, i.e., light green, light purple, purple, dark purple and black. The content of total phenolics, soluble solids content (SSC) and titratable acidity greatly varied in the range from 24 to 237?mg of gallic acid equivalent per 100?g fresh weight, 18.60 to 26.30?% and 0.16 to 0.47?% in local genotypes and studied cultivars. In general, total antioxidant capacities determined by two methods expressed higher values in the local fig genotypes compared with the cultivars. The results suggested that genotype is the main factor that determines difference in the composition of bioactive compounds in figs and provide information on putative health benefits locally grown genotypes.     

Influence of Growth Stage and Season on the Antioxidant Constituents of Cosmos caudatus

The impact of tropical seasons (dry and wet) and growth stages (8, 10 and 12 weeks) of Cosmos caudatus on the antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic content (TPC) as well as the level of bioactive compounds were evaluated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The plant morphology (plant height) also showed variation between the two seasons. Samples planted from June to August (during the dry season) exhibited a remarkably higher bioactivity and height than those planted from October to December (during the wet season). The samples that were harvested at eight weeks of age during the dry season showed the highest bioactivity with values of 26.04 g GAE/100 g and 22.1 μg/ml for TPC and IC_50, respectively. Identification of phytochemical constituents in the C. caudatus extract was carried out by liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and electrospray tandem mass (LC-DAD-ESIMS/MS) technique and the confirmation of constituents was achieved by comparison with literature data and/or co-chromatography with authentic standards. Six compounds were indentified including quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, rutin, quercetin 3-O-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-O-galactoside and chlorogenic acid. Their concentrations showed significant variance among the 8, 10 and 12-week-old herbs during both seasons.     

Evaluations of shallot genotypes for resistance against fusarium basal rot (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae) disease

Fusarium basal rot (FBR) caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cepae (Foc) is one of the most significant production constraint to shallot. Field experiment was conducted in a naturally Foc infested soil at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center during 2006 and 2007 cropping seasons to evaluate the level of resistance of sixteen shallot genotypes against FBR disease. Treatments were arranged in randomized complete block design with four replications. The genotypes significantly varied in their susceptibility to FBR and yield. They were grouped into tolerant, moderately and highly susceptible types. Five genotypes (DZ-Sht-168-1A, DZ-Sht-157-1B, Huruta, Negelle and DZ-Sht-169-1b) were identified to be tolerant as they had reduced disease severity levels from 26.8 to 32.5% and increased mean yield by more than 5 t ha⁻¹ compared to highly susceptible genotypes (DZ-Sht-076-4, DZ-Sht-201-1C and DZ-Sht-054-3A). Among the tolerant genotypes, DZ-Sht-169-1b had greatly reduced bulb rot incidence by 48% in ground storage and 30% in wire mesh shelf as compared to highly susceptible genotype DZ-Sht-201-1C. The tolerant genotypes have high yielding characteristic, and farmers could adopt them for cultivation where FBR is a problem.     

Evaluation of Trichoderma harzianum for controlling root rot caused by Phytophthora capsici in pepper plants

The ability of Trichoderma harzianum to control the rotting of pepper ( Capsicum annuum ) plant roots caused by Phytophthora capsici was studied. Interactions between the fungi were assessed in vitro on three culture media (V8c, Czapek and 2% water agar) and in vivo in plants grown in a substrate inoculated with P. capsici and T. harzianum . Studies on mutual antagonism in vitro showed that P. capsici was inhibited by T. harzianum ; however, the intensity of inhibition differed according to the medium used, being greatest on Czapek. Analysis of the fungal populations in the plant growth substrate showed that T. harzianum consistently reduced that of P. capsici over time. This reduction in the pathogen population was associated with a reduction in root rot of between 24 and 76%, although plant growth (dry weight) was still reduced by 21.2–24.7%, compared with the uninoculated control. In the absence of T. harzianum with the same pathogen inoculum levels, the reduction in dry weight was 59.8–68.6%, suggesting that T. harzianum reduced the damage.     

Cross-bred Cattle Protected against Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum by Larval Antigens Purified by Immunoaffinity Chromatography

Antigens from larvae of Hyalomma anatolicum anatolicum were extracted and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography using immunoglobulin ligands from cross-bred animals immunized with soluble larval antigen. Affinity-purified antigen (Aff-TLE) and a total larval extract (TLE) were used to immunize cross-bred (Bos indicus×Bos taurus) cattle. The group immunized with Aff-TLE rejected 71.6% of larvae and 77.3% of nymphs. However, the rejection percentages were lower in the TLE-immunized group. No significant changes in the feeding period, moulting percentages or moulting period of engorged larvae and nymphs were recorded. There was, however, a significant decrease in the number of resultant nymphs p<0.01) and adults (p<0.01) in the ticks fed on the Aff-TLE-immunized group. The Aff-TLE antigen was 93.3% purified. SDS-PAGE analysis identified a 39 kDa protein, reported for the first time, as the antigen responsible for the induction of resistance in the host.     

Hydrochemical processes and metal composition of Ain Umm-Sabah natural spring in Al-Hassa Oasis Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia

This study was carried out to determine the hydro-chemical processes and the metal concentration of spring water to evaluate its suitability for irrigation and other purposes. A total of 10 water samples were collected from Ain Umm Sabah at different times and from different locations from the spring basin. EC (dS m(-1)), pH, temperature, total cations (Na, Ca, Mg, K) and anions [Cl, CO3, HCO3, SO4, NO3, Fluoride (F)] were determined. Some trace and heavy metals (Al, As, Ba, B, Br, Mo, Ni, Si, Cd, Cu, V, Fe, I, Pb, Mn, Zn, Sr, Se, Sb, La and Se were determined. The Spring water is classified as C4S2 (high salinity with medium sodicity problem water). Chloride (Cl) and nitrate (NO3) concentrations were higher than the permissible limits according to World Health Organization Standards. The Ain Umm Sabah water is Na-Cl dominant water and can create soil sodicity problems and cause Na and Cl ion toxicity to plants if used for irrigation of sensitive crops. The spring water is under-saturated (negative SI) with respect to calcite, dolomite, gypsum, anhydrite, halite, fluorite and aragonite and oversaturated (positive SI) with respect to goethite, siderite and hematite minerals. The concentration of all the estimated trace metals was within the permissible limits for its use as drinking water and other purposes according to WHO. Since the spring water contains high concentration of NO3, hence can not be used for drinking purposes without prior treatment. The study findings suggest careful use and pumping of water from the spring. Further studies are required on regular basis to monitor the depletion in the spring water level and the temporal change in water salinity.     

Methods in Microbial Biodiscovery

This review presents an account of the microbial biodiscovery methodology developed and applied in our laboratory at The University of Queensland, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, with examples drawn from our experiences studying natural products produced by Australian marine-derived (and terrestrial) fungi and bacteria.