February 2011
Animal welfare in multipurpose cattle production Systems and its implications on beef quality
Animal welfare and its influence on beef production are major considerations in many developed countries. In the developing world, where food insecurity and poverty are prevalent, the welfare of animals receives low priority due to factors such as traditional customs and beliefs, lack of knowledge in animal handling and sub standard handling facilities. This is worsened by the fact that cattle are used...
February 2011
Genetic diversity and historical demography of kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) species complex off China based on mitochondrial DNA analysis
Two varieties (I and II) of kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus) were found in the north of South China Sea (SCS) and Taiwan Strait (TS). To estimate the demographic history and genetic diversity of this species complex off China, 141 individuals were collected from the East China Sea (ECS), TS and SCS and 27 variety 2 specimens from SCS were also sampled for comparison. Sequence analyses on fragments of...
February 2011
Silencing effect of shRNA expression vectors with stem length of 21, 27 or 29 bp
In this study, shRNA vectors having different stem length were constructed and their silencing effect was tested in mouse embryonic fibroblast and in vivo. Interfering RNAs were designed with stems of 21, 27, and 29 bp. The enhanced green fluorescent protein gene was used as target gene. The synthesized single strands were annealed and cloned into psiSTRIKE. Then, the recombinant plasmids were...
February 2011
Effects of deoxycycline induced lentivirus encoding FasL gene on apoptosis of Th1 cells
Fas/Fas ligand (FasL)-mediated apoptosis plays a critical role in deletion of activated T cells. This study aimed to construct the lentivirus encoding FasL gene induced by deoxycycline and evaluate its effects on apoptosis of Th1 cells. A plasmid expression system encoding FasL was constructed through utilizing the controlling gene and target gene of the Tet-on system controlled by the PBI plasmid containing...
February 2011
Quantitative detection of fusion protein rIFN-β-HSA by a sandwich ELISA
A method that allowed detection and quantification of recombinant fusion protein rIFN-β-HSA in complex mixtures and fermentation media was described. The method was based on a double antibody sandwich ELISA, which was developed by using an anti-IFN-β monoclonal antibody as capture antibody and an HRP-labeled anti- human serum albumin (HSA) monoclonal antibody as detection antibody. The...
February 2011
An approximate confidence interval for recombination fraction in genetic linkage analysis using a two stage Monte Carlo method Gibbs sampling
One of the important parameters in genetic linkage analysis is recombination fraction. In this paper, we proposed a two stage Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method to calculate an approximate confidence interval (ACI) for the recombination fraction. We also presented a formula for calculation of simulation size namely: outer and inner Gibbs sample sizes. Key words: Markov Chain Monte...
February 2011
Genetic basis of variation for seedling traits in Gossypium hirsutum L.
A 6 × 6 complete diallel analysis was performed to study the inheritance of seedling traits in cotton. Significant differences among genotypes showed the genetic variation and formal analysis predicted the presence of both additive and non-additive genetic variation for inheritance of seedling traits. Further, the estimates of genetic components D, H1 and H2 confirmed the presence of both...
February 2011
Seed storage protein polymorphism in ten elite rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes of Sindh
Seed protein profiling is the most promising tool in determining the molecular polymorphism and genetic homology. Seed storage proteins help in cultivar identification by avoiding the external environmental influences. Electrophoretically detectable proteins in rice grains possess the potential of characterizing the germplasms by their taxonomic and evolutionary aspects. This study was aimed at exploiting the...
February 2011
Histopathological study on the effect of rice herbicides on grass carp (Ctenopharyngodan idella)
A pot culture experiment followed by field experiments were conducted at Annamalai University Experimental Farm, to optimize the age of fingerlings to be released along with rice herbicides and to study the effect of rice herbicides on fish histopathology. Fingerlings of size 4 - 5 cm, when released 12 days after herbicide application was observed to be safe with 100% survival. Grass...
February 2011
Metabolic responses of alfalfa (Medicago Sativa L.) leaves to low and high temperature induced stresses
To explore adaptation mechanism of alfalfa to cold and heat stresses, status of sucrose metabolism and relative water content (RWC) in leaves under low and high temperature treatments were studied. Seedlings (35 day old) were transferred to chambers for treatments. First group was subjected to 5°C as low temperature(LT) stress, second group at 33°C as high temperature (HT)...
February 2011
Potential use of cyanobacterial species in bioremediation of industrial effluents
This study investigated the potential degradation of industrial effluents by environmental species of cyanobacteria. Cyanobacterial species isolated from the Pharmaceutical and Textile industries Mandideep, Bhopal were exposed. Isolation and utilization of the locally generated cyanobacterial biomass for remediation of private industrial activities will generate a source of revenue in Bhopal localities....
February 2011
Community succession analysis and environmental biological processes of naturally colonized vegetation on abandoned hilly lands and implications for vegetation restoration strategy in Shanxi, China
Data were collected simultaneously at different succession stages using a space-for-time substitution, and were analyzed using the quantitative classification method (TWINSPAN) and the ordination technique (DCA). The community succession of natural colonized plants on abandoned hilly lands in Shanxi are below: Assoc. Potentilla chinensis + Setaria viridis →...
February 2011
Remediation of soil contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from crude oil
The aim of this study was to determine ways of remediating soils contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with crude oil. The study involves the use of planted cowpeas, mushrooms, algae, dead vegetable and live earthworm, and fire-heating of the contaminated garden soil collected from the Niger Delta area of Nigeria. The types and levels of the PAH in the soil before and after...
February 2011
Regeneration of base-oil from waste-oil under different conditions and variables
The demand for lubricants is continuously increasing with the increase in the establishment of factories and the tremendous increase in the number of vehicles and other means of transportation. The oil consumed can be a great source of contamination if it is thrown as a waste or can be considered as a new source of energy if properly used, and all depends on methods of how oil can be reused. This study shows...
February 2011
Seasonal distribution and ecology of some Dactylogyrus species infecting Alburnus alburnus and Carassius carassius (Osteichthyes: Cyprinidae) from Porsuk River, Turkey
In this research, gill parasites of two Cyprinid fish (Alburnus alburnus andCarassius carassius) from the upper basin of Porsuk river were studied. Fish samples were obtained monthly at intervals during 2003 to 2004. The intensity of infection was investigated depending on the parasite species, the years and seasons, and host fish species. Four Dactylogyrus species were identified in the gills...
February 2011
Different cell disruption methods for astaxanthin recovery by Phaffia rhodozyma
Astaxanthin (3,3'-dihydroxy-b,b'-carotene-4,4'-dione) is carotenoid of high market value whose demand has increased in such fields as aquaculture, pharmaceutical supplements and natural coloring. Cell disruption is the first step for isolating intracellular materials and it depends on the cell wall permeability. In order to maximize the recovery of astaxanthin from Phaffia...
February 2011
The effect of the interaction of varying chicken manure supplement levels with three different solid sisal wastes substrates on sporocarp cap lengths and diameters, stipe lengths and diameters and dry weights of Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat
Coprinus cinereus (Schaeff) S. Gray s.lat is an indigenous Tanzanian edible and medicinal mushroom, which grows in the wild on decomposed sisal wastes heaps. In the laboratory, it was cultivated on three types of sisal wastes substrates each supplemented with varying chicken manure concentrations 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% using solid-state fermentation bioreactors. The results showed that...
February 2011
Similarities in functional attributes and nutritional effects of magadi soda and bean debris-ash used in cooking African traditional dishes
Magadi soda and bean debris-ash have been used as condiments for a long time by various ethnic groups in East and Central Africa in cooking traditional dishes. The aim of the study was to investigate whether magadi soda and bean debris-ash had similar effects and functional attributes when added to traditional dishes during cooking. Reason for the addition of the two condiments has not been...
February 2011
Preparation and properties of resistant starch from corn starch with enzymes
Corn starch was subjected to enzymatic biotechnology with thermostableα-amylase and pullulanase and followed by retrogradation, to prepare resistant starch. The properties of selected resistant starch (RS) samples were also investigated. The result showed that, appropriate amount (0.5 U/g) of thermostable α-amylase was good for resistant starch formation. The optimal condition for pullulanase...
February 2011
Rapid micropropagation of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. Kulturpfl. (a valuable medicinal plant) from shoot bud explants
A successful protocol was developed for mass propagation of Boesenbergia rotunda (L.) Mansf. Kulturpfl., an important medicinal plant. Numerous shoots were induced from young shoot bud of B. rotunda mature rhizome on Murashige and Skoog (1962) medium supplemented with 30.0 g/l sucrose, 2.0 g/l gelrite, different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and α-naphtaleneacetic acid...
February 2011
Fumigant activity of plant essential oil from Armoracia rusticana (L.) on Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)
The fumigant toxicity of essential oil from horseradish plant, Armoracia rusticana(L.), was assessed against Plodia interpunctella (Hübner) and Sitophilus zeamaisMotschulsky. A. rusticana oil was active against different life stages of P. interpunctella and adults of S. zeamais. The LC50 value for adults was the lowest and that of pupa was the highest....
February 2011
Exploring cucumber extract for skin rejuvenation
This study was designed to develop a topical skin-care cream water in oil (w/o) emulsion of 3% cucumber extracts versus its vehicle (Base) as control and evaluates its effects on skin-melanin, skin erythema, skin moisture, skin sebum and transepidermal water loss (TEWL). Hydroalcoholıc cucumber (Cucumis sativus) fruit extract was entrapped in the inner aqueous phase of w/o emulsion. Base...
February 2011
Monitoring cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) activity with Kinase-Glo, a luminescence-based ATP quantitative reagent
Protocols assessing kinase activity generally include radioactive methods, fluorescent polarization and the use of anti-phosphorylation antibodies. The present study described the application of a luminescence-based ATP quantitative reagent, Kinase-Glo, in evaluating the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2). Different amounts of immunoprecipitated CDK2 retrieved from HeLa extracts and different...
February 2011
Effect of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles on pregnancy and testicular development of mice
In this study, considering the high sensitivity of developing fetal organs, different doses of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) were injected intraperitoneally to pregnant mice. The magnetic and structural properties of DMSA-coated nanoparticles were examined by Alternating Gradient-Force Magnetometry, X-Ray Diffraction and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy....
February 2011
The effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherole on leukocyte count of sodium nitrate-treated Wistar rats
The experiments were performed with the aim of investigating the possible ameliorative effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherole supplements administered to sodium nitrate-treated rats on total and differential leukocyte counts. Seventy (70) adult Wistar rats, divided into seven groups of 10 rats each were used for the study. They were administered drugs or distilled water orally using a...
February 2011
Cloning and heterologous expression of the plasmid-encoded shsp gene of Streptococcus thermophilus isolated from Chinese dairy
We first tested 12 strains of Streptococcus thermophilus isolated from China yogurt or its starter culture for their plasmid content. Two strains were found to harbor two plasmids, identified as pQC1 and pQC2, from the S. thermophilus ST-QC, as well as pHS1 and pHS2 from the S. thermophilus ST-HS. Agarose gel electrophoresisprofiles indicated that the molecular size...
February 2011
High-level expression, purification, polyclonal antibody preparation against recombinant OprD from Pseudomonas aeruginosa
OprD is a specific porin which can binds imipenem and carbapenems inPseudomonas aeruginosa. OprD loss plays a central role in mediating carbapenem resistance. Therefore, purification of oprD protein lays a pavement for the study in vivo and in vitro. In our study, the oprD gene was cloned into pQE30 expression vector, in frame with a sequence coding an N-terminal...
February 2011
Trace elements in the kidney tissue of Bluefin Tuna (Thunnus thynnus L. 1758) in Turkish seas
Trace elements, namely lead (Pb), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe), found in kidney tissues were analyzed and compared between wild/fattened and female/male bluefin tuna (BFT) in the Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. One hundred (that is, 50 female and 50 male) individual specimens of wild and fattened tuna were investigated. The mean trace elements of the wild...
February 2011
Effect of feeding different levels of corn snack waste on broiler performance
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of using corn snack waste on growth performance, carcass traits and economical efficiency of broiler chicks. Five hundred Ross 308 day-old broiler chicks were divided randomly into 20 pens. There were 25 chicks in each pen which consists of 4 treatments (4 levels of waste corn snack) with five replicates. Corn snack waste had been considered in grower...
February 2011
Isolation of protease producing novel Bacillus cereus and detection of optimal conditions
Fifteen bacterium strains were isolated from soil samples and the one that had the highest proteolytic activity, from SusanoÄŸlu village at Silifke-Mersin, was selected. The strain was identified and determined as Bacillus cereus. The bacterium, that had R type colony morphology, subterminal spores, motile and facultative anaerobe microorganism, was a gram positive with 10 m length and...
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