Modeling the relationship between the main emulsion components and stability, viscosity, fluid behavior, zeta-potential, and electrophoretic mobility of orange beverage emulsion using response surface methodology

The possible relationships between the main emulsion components (namely, Arabic gum, xanthan gum, and orange oil) and the physicochemical properties of orange beverage emulsion were evaluated by using response surface methodology. The physicochemical emulsion property variables considered as response variables were emulsion stability, viscosity, fluid behavior, zeta-potential, and electrophoretic mobility. The independent variables had the most and least significant ( p < 0.05) effect on viscosity and zeta-potential, respectively. The quadratic effect of orange oil and Arabic gum, the interaction effect of Arabic gum and xanthan gum, and the main effect of Arabic gum were the most significant ( p < 0.05) effects on turbidity loss rate, viscosity, viscosity ratio, and mobility, respectively. The main effect of Arabic gum was found to be significant ( p < 0.05) in all response variables except for turbidity loss rate. The nonlinear regression equations were significantly ( p < 0.05) fitted for all response variables with high R (2) values (>0.86), which had no indication of lack of fit. The results indicated that a combined level of 10.78% (w/w) Arabic gum, 0.56% (w/w) xanthan gum, and 15.27% (w/w) orange oil was predicted to provide the overall optimum region in terms of physicochemical properties studied. No significant ( p > 0.05) difference between the experimental and the predicted values confirmed the adequacy of response surface equations.     

Selective genotyping to identify late blight resistance genes in an accession of the tomato wild species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solanum pimpinellifolium</Emphasis>

Late blight (LB), caused by the oomycete Phytophtohra infestans, is one of the most destructive diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and other Solanaceae species. Current disease control and prevention strategies are not sufficient to control the disease in tomato. Recent germplasm screening experiments led to the identification of a new source of resistance (PI 270443) in the tomato wild species S. pimpinellifolium. This study was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with LB resistance in this accession. A large F₂ population (n = 986) derived from a cross between PI 270443 and a LB-susceptible tomato breeding line (NCEBR-2) was screened for LB resistance using a highly aggressive isolate of P. infestans. Twenty-five of the most resistant and 29 of the most susceptible, but surviving F₂ individuals were identified based on disease evaluations conducted in the F₂ and F₃ progeny populations. The selected individuals were genotyped with 153 DNA markers located across the 12 tomato chromosomes. A selective genotyping approach led to the identification of two genomic regions on tomato chromosomes 1 and 10 associated with LB resistance in PI 270443. Identification of two genomic regions associated with resistance was consistent with a previous estimate of the number of LB resistance genes in this accession. Research is currently underway to fine map the two resistance genes and incorporate them into new tomato breeding lines and hybrid cultivars.     

Development and evaluation of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay for detection of Erwinia amylovora based on chromosomal DNA

A reliable and rapid pathogen detection protocol that utilizes loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) was developed for detection of Erwinia amylovora, the casual agent of fire blight. The six LAMP primers applied were derived from the highly conserved fragment of the chromosomally amsH gene. Despite the proposed LAMP as well as nested PCR presenting equal values of sensitivity (2?×?10¹?CFU/ml or more) for pure cultures, as compared with conventional PCR (2?×?10³?CFU/ml), both methods were together superior. The specificity assay also showed that the LAMP protocol is species-specific for detection of E. amylovora even in inter-species analysis. Meanwhile, when all 208 naturally infected samples were examined, the specificity value of LAMP was 84%, while conventional and nested PCR could detect only 59% and 73% of the whole collection. Significantly, an independent behaviour versus host plant as well as each strain origin was also observed regarding the current LAMP method as well as other two PCR-based methods. All the results, overall, indicated that the LAMP offers an interesting novel and convenient assay format for the quick and specific chromosomal detection and diagnostic tool of recognition of E. amylovora and therefore presents an alternative to PCR-based assays.     

Dysregulated Expression of Long Non-Coding RNA MINCR and EZH2 in Colorectal Cancer

Background:As critical regulators, lncRNAs have attracted attention from researchers for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic purposes in human carcinogenesis via interfering with mRNAs such as EZH2. Nevertheless, the potent roles and molecular mechanisms of these RNAs in CRC are not clearly known. Methods:In this study, the tissue expressions of lncRNA MINCR and EZH2 mRNA between colorectal tumors and polyps were compared with the adjacent normal tissues collected from 114 Iranian patients, using real-time PCR method. Furthermore, the correlation of the expression levels of MINCR and EZH2 with other clinical parameters was evaluated. Results:The significant overexpression of MINCR and EZH2 were observed in the CRC tissues compared to control tissues (p < 0.0001). This observation confirmed the association of these expression enhancements with the pathological stage of CRC patients. Conclusion:Our findings revealed that the expression of MINCR significantly alters during CRC development, and it can be identified as a potential biomarker for the detection of CRC.Key Words: Colorectal cancer, EZH2, Long non-coding RNA     

Enhanced haematological and immune responses in common carp Cyprinus carpio fed with olive leaf extract‐supplemented diets and subjected to ambient ammonia

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of olive leaf (Olea europea L.) extract (OLE) on common carp (Cyprinus carpio) health in response to ambient ammonia toxicity. Fish were fed with experimental diets containing OLE (0, 1, 5 and 10 g/kg) for 60 days followed by a 3‐hr challenge with ammonia (0.5 mg/L unionized ammonia‐N). Results showed that haemoglobin levels, differential leucocyte counts and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration were not affected by dietary OLE levels and ammonia challenge. Ammonia challenge significantly increased red blood cells and decreased blood mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma lysozyme, complement and bactericidal activities. Plasma lysozyme, complement and total immunoglobulin values improved by 5 and/or 10 g OLE/kg supplementation. Before the ammonia exposure, the 5 and 10 g OLE/kg treatment significantly increased blood white blood cell, but there was no significant difference among the treatments after the ammonia exposure. Ammonia exposure significantly increased plasma malondialdehyde levels; however, 1 and 5 g OLE/kg treatments had significantly lower values compared to the other treatments. The present results suggest that 1 g OLE/kg diet may improve fish health and reduce the adverse effects of ammonia toxicity on common carp.     

Physiological responses to feed restriction and starvation in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii (Brandt, 1869): Effects on growth,body composition and blood plasma metabolites

An 8‐week study was applied to evaluate the effects of feed restriction and starvation on growth, proximate composition, haematological and biochemical factors in juvenile Siberian sturgeon Acipenser baerii with an average weight of 54 ± 0.6 g. Fish were randomly divided into nine indoor tanks (1,050 L volume) with 30 fish per tank in a flow‐through system at 18 ± 0.4°C. Three feeding strategies were considered: I) fed at satiation (F), II) restricted feeding at the rate of 1% body weight per day (R) and III) starvation (S) each with 3 replicates. Fish were fed with commercial pellets 4 times daily, but no feed was considered for S group throughout the trial. Basal level at the start, 4 and 8 weeks after initiation of the experiment, blood samples were taken from 5 fish/tank to measure the haematological and biochemical parameters. Moreover, growth performance was recorded every 2‐week interval. At the end of the experiment, the growth parameters and proximate composition were significantly different among the treatments. As expected, the highest weight (164.7 ± 2.1 g) was observed in F group compared to R (101 ± 1.7 g), or S (42.4 ± 0.8 g) groups. The highest (12.07 ± 0.14%) and lowest (5.37 ± 0.42%) fat contents were observed in F and S groups, respectively, while the protein was not affected in R group compared with F group. In addition, most haematological and biochemical indices of Siberian sturgeon were affected by starvation at week 4 and 8, while few changes were observed in restricted feeding. The highest mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, plasma total protein, cholesterol and triglyceride was found in S group, while the lowest value of plasma glucose was observed in this group. It can be concluded that Siberian sturgeon adjusts the physiological condition in short‐term (4 weeks) feed restriction using stored metabolites to have basal metabolism and due to this, a short period of feed restriction strategy recommends to the optimum nutritional management of Siberian sturgeon to cost‐saving during unsuitable conditions.     

Biological effects of indigenous medicinal plants Curcuma longa and Alpinia galanga

The ethanolic extracts of Curcuma longa and Alpinia galanga exhibited excellent (100%) phytotoxic activity against Lemma minor. These extracts were also found to possess good antifungal activities against Trichophyton longifusus (65% and 60%, respectively), while in the brine shrimp lethality bioassay were found to be toxic with LD50 of 33 and 109 mincrog/ml, respectively. These extracts were found quite inert in antibacterial bioassay, while the extract from C. longa, tested for insecticidal activity, was also found to be devoid of any activity.     

IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma mRNA expression in pulmonary lymphocytes in equine heaves

Heaves is a common condition of horses of cold climate that is characterized by small airway inflammation and obstruction following exposure of susceptible horses to moldy hay and straw. It has been shown that helper T lymphocytes (Th) orchestrate the inflammatory response in asthma and in various animal models of allergic lung diseases by the release of Th2-type cytokines. Results of previous studies indicate that a predominant expression of Th2-type response by airway cells may also be present in heaves. To evaluate the temporal mRNA expression of Th1 (IFN-gamma) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5) type cytokines in heaves and their relationship to clinical disease, we studied the pulmonary mechanics and cytokine mRNA expression (IL-4, IL-5 and IFN-gamma) in bronchoalveolar lavage lymphocytes of horses with heaves (n=6) and control (n=6) before and after 24h and 9 days of continuous natural inhalation challenge. Starting 24h after challenge horses with heaves, but not control horses, had a significant increase in pulmonary elastance and the number of lymphocytes expressing mRNA for IL-4 and IL-5. These changes were further increased at 9 days, at which time the number of cells positive for IFN-gamma mRNA was decreased. In this study we have shown that BAL lymphocytes of horses with heaves during clinical exacerbation have a predominant Th2-type cytokine response and that this response coincides in time with the presence of airway obstruction.     

Nocardia farcinica--a significant cause of mastitis in goats in Sudan

Fifteen of 100 mastitic milk samples from goats suffering from mastitis were tentatively identified as members of the genus Nocardia on the basis of selected phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. Six of the 155 strains were confirmed as Nocardia farcinica by 16S rDNA gene sequencing and subsequent aligning with relevant actinomycetes found in electronic databases and 2 by other identification criteria. N. farcinica is a serious cause of mastitis with a significant prevalence (15%) among the examined goats. Efforts are needed to optimise and simplify isolation and identification methods.