March 2015
Genetic diversity of endangered populations of Butia capitata: Implications for conservation
The flora and fauna of the Cerrado biome in central Brazil both show great diversity and high levels of endemism. Butia capitata is a palm native to this biome that has significant economic, social, and environmental value. We sought to identify and quantify the genetic diversity of four fragmented populations of B. capitata growing in northern Minas Gerais State, Brazil, as well as one located at the Institute of...
March 2015
Modulation of the transcriptional activity of the AP2/ERF family (DREB genes) in orange (Citrus sinensis) leaves subjected to drought stress
Ethylene response factor (ERF) play important role in the development and expression of genes that regulate plant response to biotic and abiotic stresses. In this study, six Citrus sinensis genes belonging to AP2/ERF family, dehydration-responsive element-binding protein (DREB) genes, (CitsERF01 to CitsERF06) were identified and five of them had their expression pattern evaluated in leaves of 18 month-seedling orange...
March 2015
The impact of aeration on potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) minituber production under soilless conditions
Aeroponic systems are more effective than hydroponics for minituber production, as provided by the optimal system for root oxygenation. The study was conducted to improve conventional hydroponic systems by applying aeration so as to enhance potato minituber production yield via providing adequate oxygen in the root zone. The responses of Agria and Sante cultivars to different levels of aeration [0 as control, 12.5, 25...
March 2015
Desiccation tolerance of embryos of Syagrus oleracea, a cerrado native bitter palm heart
There is great interest in seedling production of plant species with ornamental and food potential; however, there is great difficulty in propagating this species. A method of fruit drying was proposed with the goal of evaluating the desiccation tolerance of embryos of guariroba palm Syagrus oleracea. Tissue culture was used to test the effect of different fruit drying times (0, 4, 8 and 12 days) on embryo viability and...
March 2015
Biological treatment of drinking water by chitosan based nanocomposites
Nanotechnology is a promising interdisciplinary area that is likely to have wide ranging implications in all fields of science and technology. The rapid growth in nanotechnology has significant interest in the environmental application of nanomaterials. One of the latent applications of antimicrobial nanomaterials is their use in decentralized or point- of- use water treatment. The present study focuses on...
March 2015
A biocoagulant slow sand filtration for disinfection of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts from Mezam River in Bamenda, Cameroon
An integrated low-tech biocoagulant-sand filter drum for disinfection of oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii targeted for developing countries was evaluated. Dirty and turbid water (130.3 NTU) from Mezam River and leachates from dump sites and stagnant water in Bamenda, Cameroon, was analyzed microscopically after centrifugation for oocyst of T. gondii. Leachates from dump sites and stagnant water in Bamenda city had a very...
March 2015
Isolation and characterization of culturable bacteria from bulk soil samples and the rhizosphere of arid-adapted Tylosema esculentum (Burchell). A. Schreiber (Marama bean) in Namibia
Plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria are microorganisms living in association with plants. PGP bacteria have various physiological activities that they perform which are beneficial to plants. For example, phosphate solubilisation, nitrogen fixation, phytostimulation and formation of siderophores. The aim of this investigation was to determine the diversity of PGP bacteria and to characterise them for possible promotion...
March 2015
Synthesis of copolymer from lactic acid-polyethylene terephthalate (LA-PET) copolymerization
Bio-plastic has been a need of the hour for the past few decades and the usage of lactic acid (LA) in the production of bio plastic opens a new window to the field. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) thermoplastic polyester with excellent tensile and impact strength, chemical resistance, clarity, process ability, and transparency has become a bane to the society. The co polymerization increases the mechanical strength of...
March 2015
Effects of submerged and anaerobic fermentations on cassava flour (Lafun)
Cassava tubers for processing into cassava flour, Lafun a Nigerian locally fermented product was subjected to two different types of fermentations: submerged and anaerobic fermentation for 72 h. Physicochemical changes that occurred during fermentation and their influence on the functional, rheological and sensory properties of the resulting flour were investigated. There was no significant difference in rate of...
March 2015
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex identification by polymerase chain reaction from positive culture in patients from Jamot and Mbalmayo district hospitals
Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious and infectious disease of which the causative agents are mycobacteria. Up to one third of the world’s population is infected by these bacteria. Its control and follow up treatment are achieved by the use of antituberculosis drugs after tests and diagnosis. The last two decades have been marked by the development of new techniques for detection and characterization of Mycobacterium...
March 2015
Novel lipid-based dermal microgels of Neobacin®
This study investigates the potential of novel microgles based on solid lipid microparticles (SLMs) as a sustained delivery system for neobacin®, a topical antibiotic drug powder. Matrices generated from sunseed oil and goat fat (1:9, 2:8 and 3:7) was surface-modified with Phospholipon® 90G and employed to formulate SLM-based microgels. The microgels were characterized in terms of in vivo wound healing in rats,...
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