November 2011
Liposomal preparation by supercritical fluids technology
Liposomes have been proved to be useful drug carriers in preclinical and clinical trials. Many methods of liposomal preparation have been developed, but there are still few methods that can completely remove the solvent when liposomes are used as drug carriers. Furthermore, most of the methods are not suitable for mass production. From 1970s, supercritical fluids technology (SCF) has been utilized in liposomal...
November 2011
Identification of informative simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for drought tolerance in maize
Maize is moderately sensitive to drought. Drought affects virtually all aspects of maize growth in varying degrees at all stages, from germination to maturity. Tolerance to drought is genetically and physiologically complicated and inherited quantitatively. Application of molecular-marker aided selection technique for improvement of drought tolerance would accelerate breeding progress by increasing selection efficiency....
November 2011
Morphological diversity of wild medicinal Paris L. from China and Vietnam
Paris L. (Trilliaceae) is a temperate genus of about 24 perennial herbaceous species distributed from Europe to Eastern Asia. Paris is notable in China for its medicinal value. An investigation was conducted to determine the variations of 27 morphological characters of 196 accessions from 8 populations of medicinal Parisfrom China and Vietnam. Variations of qualitative and quantitative characters...
November 2011
Determination of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), chromogenic in situ hybridization (CISH) and automated silver in situ hybridization (SISH)
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification is an important biomarker in breast carcinoma and its determination has been validated in the past using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). However, HER2 FISH method requires specialized fluorescence microscope, high cost and impermanent signals causing it to be impractical for routine laboratories. The aim of the present...
November 2011
Development of specific simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for non-pollen type thermo-sensitive genic male sterile gene in rice (Oryza sativa L.)
A key factor of two-line hybrid rice production is the development of thermo-sensitive genic male sterility (TGMS) lines. In this study, a TGMS line showing non-pollen type thermo-sensitive genic male sterility was used. Crossing between TGMS line (female parent) and normal pollen varieties; CNT1 and PTT1 (male parent) were performed and F1 and F2 populations were develop for each crosses. The phenotypic...
November 2011
A screening method for detecting simple sequence repeat (SSR) polymorphism of Zea mays using high-resolution melting-curve analysis
As a very important molecular marker technique, simple sequence repeat (SSR) is widely used in marker assistant selection and maize DNA fingerprint. High-resolution melting-curve (HRM) analysis is a new technique to detect the sequence differences in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons, which is quicker, more accurate and effective than electrophoresis analysis. In this study, we developed a...
November 2011
Effects of cracking and sowing time on germination of Styrax officinalis L. seeds
This study was conducted to explore the effects of cracking and sowing time on seed germination of a popular medicinal plant, Styrax officinalis L. in the forest nursery of EÄŸirdir, Turkey. Seeds were subjected to ten treatments with and without cracking in five sowing intervals 15 days apart. Seed germination started on the 3rd of April 2007 and continued for up to 21 days. The fastest germination (18...
November 2011
Over-expressing Salicornia europaea (SeNHX1) gene in tobacco improves tolerance to salt
Vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporters provide an efficient mechanism to avert the deleterious effects of Na+ by its compartmentalization into vacuoles. In this study, SeNHX1, a vacuolar Na+/H+ antiporter from Salicornia europaea.L, was introduced into tobacco to investigate its response to salt tolerance, and to study how over-expression of this gene can affect other physiological responses. An increase...
November 2011
Molecular traceability of the species origin of meats using multiplex PCR
The objective of this study was the designing of a fast and reliable multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification system for testing the pure and mixed species origin of meat samples. For conducting this research, different primers were designed for each species according to the conserved region of mitochondrial cytochrome b (Cytb) gene. The results revealed different specific amplified fragments of pure...
November 2011
Culturing of immature inflorescences and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of foxtail millet (Setaria italica)
In previous reports, we developed an Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for foxtail millet. Here, we report optimization of the system through improvement of the regeneration system efficiency and optimization of conditions for gene delivery. Immature inflorescences explants of foxtail millet cv. Jigu 11 varying in length (0.5 to 1.0, 1.1 to 1.5, 1.6 to 2.0 and >2.0 cm) were cultured on modified MS...
November 2011
Species of the genus Uromyces (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales) from Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K), Pakistan
During a survey of rust fungi from Leepa Valley, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ and K), Pakistan, four species of Uromyces were found parasitizing four plant species. These include Uromyces appendiculatus on Vigna mungo, Uromyces capitatus onDesmodium elegans, Uromyces penniseti on Pennisetum lanatum and Uromycesvossiae on Phaselurus speciosus. Among...
November 2011
Inheritance of okra leaf type in different genetic backgrounds and its effects on fibre and agronomic traits in cotton
Okra leaf (L0L0) cottons confer resistance/non-preference against insect pests. The inheritance of this trait was studied in three cross combinations involving a common okra leaf parent (HRVO-1) with three normal leaf (l0l0) parents (FH-1000, CIM-446 and Acala 63-74). The non-significant c2 in...
November 2011
Determination of ploidy level by flow cytometry and autopolyploid induction in cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium)
A procedure for chromosome doubling of the white cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) type was established by using colchicine and oryzalin treatments to in vitro plantlets. Flow cytometry was successfully used for analyzing ploidy levels within three cocoyam types and regenerated plants. Treating in vitro white cocoyam with 0.05% colchicine for 7 days produced tetraploids. The oryzalin...
November 2011
Enhancing rooting consistency in Rosa damascena scions
This study was undertaken to determine the rooting efficiency of Damask rose shoot explants on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with 4 different concentrations of 3-indole butyric acid (IBA) in quarter, half and full mineral nutrient strengths. It was revealed that full strength MS medium even without IBA resulted in a high percentage of root formation after two months of culture despite the fact that the...
November 2011
The root anchorage ability of Salix alba var. tristis using a pull-out test
The vegetation materials may reduce soil erosion and runoff, create space for breeding and habitat and they are commonly used in river ecological engineering. Therefore, it is important to select the soil-bioengineering plant by taking its growth characteristics and the soil solidity of its root system as the major considerations. Because Salix alba var. tristis has a strong capability of keeping...
November 2011
Effect of sewage sludge and synthetic fertilizer on pH, available N and P in pasture soils in semi-arid area, Turkey
Activated sewage sludge from the aerobically-digested treatment and synthetic fertilizer were used to determine total N, available P and pH in different soil depth of pasture in semi arid ecological condition, in Van, Turkey. The study was carried out in a completely randomized block. Four treatment of sewage sludge, one treatment of synthetic fertilizer and no treatment as a control were used in two consecutive years....
November 2011
In vitro pollen quantity, viability and germination tests in quince
Quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) cvs. Ekmek, EÅŸme, Limon, Ege 2, Ege 22, Ege 25 and Quince-A rootstock pollens were collected in April from the unopened pink balloon-stage flowers on mature trees. The pollen amount was between 20063 pollen/flower (‘Ege 25’) and 11906 pollen/flower (‘Limon’) with hemacytometer. The lowest and highest pollen viability were determined from...
November 2011
Plants profile of Malakand Pass Hills, District Malakand, Pakistan
An ethnobotanical survey was conducted in Malakand Pass Hills, District Malakand, Pakistan, during 2010, in order to document vegetation information and indigenous knowledge about plant use. The area has rich vegetation and a high potential for ethnobotanical utilization. Information was collected through semi structured questionnaire. A total of 169 species of 140 genera from 76 families were recorded. These consisted...
November 2011
A simulation test of the impact on soil moisture by agricultural machinery
To study the impact by agricultural machinery on changes in soil moisture, we used a simulated test method employing round iron plate based on the ground pressure ratio between the front and rear wheels of wheeled tractors and crawler tractors. We conducted soil compactions with five pressure loads (35, 98, 118, 196 and 345 kg), and measured soil moistures at different depths and under different compaction times, as...
November 2011
Response of spring type wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to different chilling treatments
Late sowing of wheat in autumn due to environmental conditions or late harvesting of cotton crop results in substantial yield loss. It may be attributed to non-fulfillment of chilling requirements. The present study was conducted to identify the chilling requirement of autumn sown cultivars of wheat. Effect of chilling treatment (measured in vernalization days (VDs)) on seven wheat cultivars (five Pakistani and two...
November 2011
Effect of different concentrations of potassium and magnesium on mycorrhizal colonization of maize in pot culture
The rate of root colonization by mycorrhizal fungi largely depends on the concentration of nutrient elements in roots and soil. In this study, the effects of different concentrations of potassium and magnesium on mycorrhizal colonization of maize grown in pot cultures were studied. This experiment was performed using natural soil containing spores of Glomus spp. Mycorrhizal spores were...
November 2011
Evaluation of extractive content in Albanian white oak (Quercus petraea Liebl)
Wood extractives are organic components that even not being part of the cell wall, have an important impact on wood properties and its utilization. The study was carried on extractives content of white oak (Quercus petraea Liebl). Eighteen sawdust samples were taken from cuts in six different heights of three trees. The extraction is done with Soxhlet 250 ml capacity, for about 6 h. The content of extractives...
November 2011
Soil microbial community response to land use and various soil elements in a city landscape of north China
A field experiment in north China was conducted to study the effects of land use and soil elements at a moderate concentration on the amounts of various microbial populations, microbial community structure and catabolic activity which were analyzed by cultural method, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and biolog techniques, respectively. The results showed that, land use type might be the primary control on soil microbial...
November 2011
Soil microbial community response to land use and various soil elements in a city landscape of north China
A field experiment in north China was conducted to study the effects of land use and soil elements at a moderate concentration on the amounts of various microbial populations, microbial community structure and catabolic activity which were analyzed by cultural method, phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) and biolog techniques, respectively. The results showed that, land use type might be the primary control on soil microbial...
November 2011
Electrochemical removal of nitrite in simulated aquaculture wastewater
Electrochemical removal of nitrite at a concentration of 10 mg l-1 from synthetic aquaculture wastewater was investigated in this study using a batch reactor. The effects of important operating parameters such as electrode material and applied current density were studied. The highest nitrite removal is achieved with nickel as compared to stainless steel and other electrode...
November 2011
Multivariate analysis of germination ability and tolerance to salinity in Agropyron desertorum genotypes in greenhouse condition
Salinity stress is one of the major problems for crop production in arid and semiarid regions of the world. Hence, germination ability and salt stress tolerance ofAgropyron desertorum were evaluated using ten genotypes originally collected from different areas of Iran in greenhouse condition. Five different concentrations of NaCl solution were used in this experiment. Analysis of variance showed considerable...
November 2011
Fish (Arius heudelotii Valenciennes, 1840) as bio-indicator of heavy metals in Douala Estuary of Cameroon
This study assessed and monitored accumulation levels of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn) in a prominent benthic mangrove fish species (Arius heudelotiiValenciennes, 1840) from the Douala Estuary, Cameroon. Fish species selection was based on signs of deterioration in taste and texture. Sampled estuarine water and tissue parts (liver, gut, flesh, gills and bones) of the captured fish were...
November 2011
Fish (Arius heudelotii Valenciennes, 1840) as bio-indicator of heavy metals in Douala Estuary of Cameroon
This study assessed and monitored accumulation levels of heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Cu, Zn and Mn) in a prominent benthic mangrove fish species (Arius heudelotiiValenciennes, 1840) from the Douala Estuary, Cameroon. Fish species selection was based on signs of deterioration in taste and texture. Sampled estuarine water and tissue parts (liver, gut, flesh, gills and bones) of the captured fish were...
November 2011
Effect of extrusion parameters on some properties of dietary fiber from lemon (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle) residues
Approximately 50% of the original whole fruit mass, after citrus processing for juice, consist of the peel, membranes and seeds. Citrus residues consist mainly of insoluble fiber (celluloses) and a small proportion of soluble fiber (hemicelluloses and pectin). For this reason, citrus residues could be considered as a potential high fiber ingredient that is used for food industry. In this study, lemon residues were...
November 2011
Timeless is a critical gene in the diapause of silkworm, Bombyx mori
The diapause is a specific physiological phenomenon induced by circadian zeitgebers of temperature and photoperiod at the stage of maternal embryonic development. In this research, the authors investigated the linkage of diapause and the regulation of circadian rhythm by inspecting the expression profiles of a circadian clock gene timeless (tim) under diapause-inducing temperature and photoperiod inBombyx...
November 2011
C@Fe3O4/NTA-Ni magnetic nanospheres purify histidine-tagged fetidin: A technical note
This study reports synthesis of Ni-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) modified carbon nanospheres containing magnetic Fe3O4 particles (C@Fe3O4), which can act as a general tool to separate and purify histidine-tagged fetidin. In this experiment, C nanospheres are prepared from glucose using the hydrothermal process, magnetic Fe3O4 are packed in the porous C nanospheres and Ni-NTA are conjugated to C@Fe3O4....
November 2011
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Tat downregulates the phosphorylation of recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) receptor tyrosine kinase induced by macrophage-stimulating protein
The aim of this study is to examine the effects of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 Tat protein on the expression and phosphorylation of recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) receptor tyrosine kinase and the mechanisms involved. We first determined the expression levels of RON and macrophage-stimulating protein (MSP) were determined in the peripheral blood of HIV-positive patients and control subjects. The...
November 2011
Kinetic behavior of Candida tropicalis during xylitol production using semi-synthetic and hydrolysate based media
The effects of the xylose concentration and the air supply on the production of xylitol from D-xylose by the yeast Candida tropicalis (AY 2007) using semi-synthetic and hydrolysate based media were investigated in four fermentation batch runs. The xylitol formation was favored under oxygen-limited conditions (2nd experiment, air flow rate 0.3 vvm) with a maximum xylitol production...
November 2011
Effective biosorption of reactive blue 5 by pH-independent lyophilized biomass of Bacillus megaterium
To find pH-independent biosorbent, the biosorption characteristic of lyophilized biomass of Bacillus megaterium was tested in this study. Biosorption equilibrium and kinetics of an azo dye (reactive blue 5) were investigated using the aforementioned biosorbent. The optimal adsorbent dosage for maximal dye uptake was 2.5 gL-1 and the dye uptake values varied little in the pH range of 2 to 11, as well...
November 2011
Effect of five medicinal plants used in Indian system of medicines on immune function in Wistar rats
Today, the use (which we can say ‘return to nature’) of traditional herbal medicines, herbal health products, pharmaceuticals food supplement, cosmetics, etc. is increasing due to the growing recognition that natural products are safe; have either no or negotiable side effects. The objective of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of five different medicinal plants used in Indian...
November 2011
Antiproliferation and apoptosis induction of phytic acid in hepatocellular carcinoma (HEPG2) cell lines
Phytic acid is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate, present ubiquitous in plants and animals. It is not only a natural antioxidant, but may also be the precursor/storage of intracellular inositol phosphates, important for various cellular functions and potential as anticancer compound. A prominent anticancer action of phytic acid has been demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro in a...
November 2011
Absorption optical density as a diagnostic tool for indicating the toxicity of gold nanoparticles
Nanotechnology has recently emerged as a promising approach for treatment and diagnosis of a variety of diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the blood absorption spectra to assess bioaccumulation and toxic effects of 100 µl of 10 and 50 nm gold nanoparticles (GNPs) upon intraperitoneal administration in rats for periods of three and seven days. Healthy 30 male Wistar-Kyoto rats were individually caged...
November 2011
Urinary tract infections caused by extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae
Emerging antibiotic resistance due to extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production limited the use of β-lactam antibiotics against Escherichia coli andKlebsiella pneumoniae. This observational study was conducted at the Microbiologydepartment of the Children’s Hospital, Lahore Pakistan, from June, 2009 to November, 2010 to determine the frequency and antimicrobial...
November 2011
Efficacy of botanical extracts and entomopathogens on control of Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera litura
Interest in biological control of insect-pests of economically important plants has been stimulated in recent years by trends in agriculture towards greater sustainability and public concern about the use of hazardous pesticides. Botanicals and microorganisms have the capability to synthesize biologically...
November 2011
Alien fish species in upper Sakarya River and their distribution
Sakarya River is one of the most important fishing areas in Turkey. The river provides reproduction and survival areas which are suitable for many fish species by means of both the warm water sources and the wide flood plains. However, the fact that the flood plains have been reclaimed, excessive hunting, destruction of the ecologic balance and invasion of the area by the alien fish species threatens the fish stocks in...
November 2011
Anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-oxidant activities of organic extracts from the Mediterranean seaweed, Cystoseira crinita
This study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, the anti-proliferative, total phenolic content (TPC) and the anti-oxidant activity of the chloroformic (CHCl3), the ethyl acetate (AcOEt) and the methanolic (MeOH) extracts of Cystoseira crinita. These extracts were assayed on carrageenan induced rat paw oedema assay. They exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity in a dose dependent manner. The...
November 2011
Weaver gene 3'UTR novel mutations: Associations with production traits and milk composition in dairy goat
Our recent report on a parallel increase in the milk yield of weaver gene mutation suggests that weaver gene is a candidate marker for quantitative traits in farm animals with respect to milk production traits. To further understand the effects ofweaver gene variant on fat, protein, solids-not-fat, lactose and total solids percentage, two novel single nucleotide...
November 2011
Analysis of genetic polymorphism and genetic distance among four sheep populations
The genomes of 4 sheep populations {Yuanqu white Tan sheep (YWT), Baozhongchang white Tan sheep (BWT), black Tan sheep (BT) and small-tailed Han sheep (Han)} were screened using 10 microsatellite DNA markers to estimate the genetic diversities and genetic distances among these populations. Small-tailed Han sheep was the reference group. About 167 alleles were detected at 10 loci in 4 populations. The average observed...
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