Central and peripheral corneal thicknesses in cases with and without keratoconus

Keratoconus is pathological condition of eye characterized by paraxial stromal thinning leads to corneal surface distortion. It is well documented that the corneal thickness is abnormally altered in keratoconus; but it seems that racial differences are exist in the amount of changes. This study compared the central and peripheral corneal thicknesses (CCT and PCT, respectively) in eyes with and without keratoconus in a large Iranian population. CCT and PCT were measured by ultrasonographic pachometry in ten thousands eyes undergoing refractive surgery during a six-year period (2003-2010) in Tabriz Nikookari Teaching Eye Hospital. These two variables were compared between the eyes with and without keratoconus. Two hundred and two eyes out of ten thousand eyes were diagnosed with keratoconus. The mean CCT and PCT were significantly lower in the eyes with keratoconus comparing with the others (CCT: 479.90 +/- 28.07 microm vs. 534.12 +/- 39.35 microm; p < 0.001; PCT: 515.04 +/- 148.44 microm vs. 560.78 +/- 32.93 microm; p < 0.001). This study confirmed that both CCT and PCT are lower in the eyes with keratoconus. Likewise, due to large sample size, the results can be used for epidemiological purposes.     

Aerobic Spore-Forming Bacteria in the Ultra High Temperature Milk Produced in the North West of Algeria

The occurrence of the spore-forming bacteria in different segments of production lines of Ultra High Temperature （UHT） milk of a commercial plant and its transfer to the final product was studied. The samples were collected from different segments of production lines from reception to packaging sections, over a period of 75 days at a rate of one sampling a week, from plants in North West of Algeria. The total colony count of aerobic spore-forming bacteria was done using Plate Count Agar （PCA） method. The results showed that there was more than 1 ×10^3 CFU/mL at the level of 50%, 25%, 37.5%, 62.5% and 37.5% of the analyzed samples of milk powder, pasteurized milk, UHT milk （before storage）, UHT milk stored at 55℃ for 7 days and UHT milk stored at 30℃ for 14 days, respectively. The mean total colony count of aerobic spore-forming bacteria was considerably lower in the UHT milk than in the other samples, while the higher proportion of aerobic spore-forming bacteria was noticed to be 32.58% and 30.90% in the UHT milk stored at 55℃ and 30℃, respectively. The results obtained by the classic biochemical identification （Bacillus API 20E）, interpreted by software of calculation for microbial identification reflected the presence of especially Bacillus sphaericus. The other species found were： Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus stearothermophilus. The study reveals that the proportion of aerobic spore-forming bacteria in the final product depends on temperature and storage periods.     

Marker assisted backcrossing for introgression of Fusarium wilt resistance gene into melon

Fusarium wilt, caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis is a common vascular wilt fungal disease in melon across the world. The resistance gene to race 1 of this causal agent, Fom-2, has been previously cloned and its sequence is available. The objective of this research was the introgression of Fom-2 from one resistant (Isabelle) genotype into two susceptible cultivars (Garmak and Tile-torogh) via marker assisted backcrossing. First, the leucine-rich repeats (LRR) domain of Fom-2 from resistant and susceptible genotypes was sequenced to develop functional markers. A length of 1274 bp of the 3′ end of this gene was isolated, cloned and sequenced. The difference between resistant and susceptible genotypes in this region was 28 nucleotide substitutions. Two allele specific primer pairs, Fom2-R409 and Fom2-S253, were designed based on nucleotide substitutions to amplify resistant and susceptible alleles, respectively. For introgression of the gene, donor (Isabelle) and recurrent (Garmak and Tile-torogh) parents were crossed. Resistant plants in BC₁F₁ and BC₂F₁ generations were first detected using artificial pathogen inoculation and later the plants were genotyped by functional markers to validate their resistance. The resistant plants were also selected phenotypically in each generation for background genome recovery, which conduced to high similarity of BC₃ generation with the recurrent parents. It was proved the developed markers are more precise and efficient than inoculation trial and could be used as confident tools for screening of resistant melon genotypes to Fusarium wilt.     

Volume or Weight Soil Sampling for Extracting Mehlich III Elements with Routine Analyses?

The subsampling of soil for laboratory testing may be done by the volumetric or gravimetric methods. The specific method used may depend on regional or national regulations. Here, we present an analysis of the results, obtained by Mehlich III extraction, of 100 mineral soils and 24 organic soils in Quebec. Samples were selected by independent laboratories and were analyzed using the volumetric method (soil scoop), the volumetric–gravimetric method (using the soil scoop then weighing the scoop), and as a reference, the fully gravimetric method. The results showed that volumetric sampling was inadequate to accurately determine base cation content (K_M-III, Ca_M-III, and Mg_M-III). Also, the volumetric–gravimetric method was inaccurate in determining the content of P_M-III, Al_M-III, and Fe_M-III. Moreover, the results reported using ratio-based indexes showed none of these imprecise behaviors and showed accurate results regardless of the sampling method.     

Bioactive Compounds and Pharmacological Potential of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Seeds - A Review

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The use of complementary medicine has recently increased in an attempt to find effective alternative therapies that reduce the adverse effects of drugs....     

Preliminary report of NAD+-dependent amino acid dehydrogenase producing bacteria isolated from soil

BACKGROUND: Amino acid dehydrogenases (L-amino acid: oxidoreductase deaminating; EC 1.4.1.X) are members of the wider superfamily of oxidoreductases that catalyze the reversible oxidative deamination of an amino acid to its keto acid and ammonia with the concomitant reduction of either NAD+, NADP+ or FAD. These enzymes have been received much attention as biocatalysts for use in biosensors or diagnostic kits to screen amino acid metabolism disorders such as phenylketonuria (PKU), maple syrup urine disease (MSUD), homocystinuria (HCY) and hyperprolinemia. This study was aimed to isolation and screening of novel amino acid dehydrogenases from soil bacteria. METHODS: The enzyme producing bacteria were selected among L-methionine and L-phenylalanine utilizers isolated from soil by thin layer chromatography, activity staining and confirmed by enzyme assay. Bacterial strains were identified by phenotypic and biochemical characteristics. The steady-state kinetic studies of enzymes were also performed. RESULTS: In total of 230 tested strains, four of them were recognized as amino acid dehydrogenase producers that belong to species of Pseudomonas, Citrobacter and Proteus. They exhibited the desired NAD+-dependent dehydrogenase activities toward L-isoleucine, L-methionine, L-cysteine, L-serine and L-glutamine in oxidative deamination reaction. The specific activity of L-isoleucine dehydrogenase, L-methionine dehydrogenase and L-glutamine dehydrogenase for oxidative deamination of L-isoleucine, L-methionine and L-glutamine were 1.59, 1.2 and 0.73 U/mg, respectively. The Kcat/Km (s(-1).mM(-1)) values in these strains were as follows: L-isoleucine, 113.6, L-methionine, 62.05 and L-glutamine, 95.83. CONCLUSION: This is the first report of occurrence a specific isoleucine dehydrogenase, glutamine dehydrogenase and methionine dehydrogenase in bacteria.     

Plant selection method for urban landscapes of semi-arid cities (a case study of Tehran)

Choosing appropriate plants for urban landscapes is vital to avoid potential financial and environmental losses that may occur if all selection parameters are not taken into account. A methodology has been developed to assist landscape architects, planting designers, and urban horticulturists in the plant selection process. Tehran has been picked as a case study due to its arid and semi-arid climate which poses more challenges in front of an expert. After grouping plants, selection parameters have been defined for each plant group. Plant species were comparatively graded for each parameter by a group of eight specialists. Analytical hierarchy process (AHP) technique and hierarchical cluster analysis have been utilized to find the most adaptable plant species for the area according to the main selection parameters of zone tolerance, urban conditions, esthetics, maintenance, growth characteristics, and specific features. Several new plants were ranked high in the final tables suggesting that the urban landscape of Tehran has a great potential to become more attractive, less allergic, and less costly, as well as consuming less water. Before introducing new plants to the urban environment, they should be experimented on in small numbers for several years to confirm that they will not change the ecology of the whole region through invasion or posing a threat to any local plant species.     

Genetic variation in Tunisian melon (Cucumis melo L.) germplasm as assessed by morphological traits

The morphological variation and the systematical status of 28 traditional melon including two ancient varieties collected from different geographical and bioclimatic areas of Tunisia were assessed based on 34 qualitative and quantitative traits. Yellow Canary was used as a reference variety. Significant differences among accessions within and among sites of collection were revealed for the majority of traits. The accessions from the Sahel were more polymorphic than those from Tozeur’s oasis. However, the classification of the local accessions according to Munger and Robinson’s varietal groups did not allow clear segregation of several of them because of their high heterogeneity. The principal component analysis (PCA) performed on all measured traits, allowed a distinction among the introduced varieties clustered according to their varietal group, and the local accessions grouped separately according to their geographical origin and bioclimatic zone. Mahalanobis distances among PCA’s groups were significant. The correlation found between Mahalanobis distance matrix and geographical distance matrix among origins corroborated isolation per distance. Conservation strategies should be made appropriately according to origins. Accessions from the Sahel showing the highest polymorphism within and among sites of collection should be firstly preserved.