April 2009
Taxol: A complex diterpenoid natural product with an evolutionarily obscure origin
Taxol, a diterpenoid natural product first isolated from Taxus brevifolia, is one of today’s better known anticancer drugs. Despite its clinical efficacy, the difficulty of establishing a secure and cost-effective supply of taxol has limited its use. However, its unique mode of action and efficacy against multiple forms of cancer has ensured continual efforts to achieve total and...
April 2009
Insecticide resistance and glutathione S-transferases in mosquitoes: A review
Mosquito glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have received considerable attention in the last 20 years because of their role in insecticide metabolism producing resistance. Many different compounds, including toxic xenobiotics and reactive products of intracellular processes such as lipid peroxidation, act as GST substrates. Elevated levels of GST activity have been reported in organophosphate, organochlorine...
April 2009
Recent advances in pretreatment of lignocellulosic wastes and production of value added products
This study highlights the recent advances in the treatment and value addition of lignocellulosic wastes (LCW) with main focus on domestic and agro-industrial residues. Mechanical, physical and biological treatment systems are brought into perspective. The main value-added products from lignocellulosic wastes are summarized in a manner that pinpoints the most recent trends and the future directions....
April 2009
Application of response surface methodology optimization for the production of caffeic acid from tobacco waste
Caffeic acid (CA) was widely applied in food and pharmaceutical industries as an important natural antioxidant. In the present study, the main caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) in tobacco waste were analyzed by HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS/MS, and used as raw material for producing CA which preparation process was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The research results indicated the main ingredients of CQAs...
April 2009
Effects of aqueous extract from the leaves of Chrysocoma ciliata L. on some biochemical parameters of Wistar rats
The effect of oral administration of aqueous extract of Chrysocoma ciliata leaves at 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight for 14 days on some biochemical parameters of male rats was investigated. The extract did not have any significant effect (p > 0.05) on the serum concentrations of sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, calcium, albumin, magnesium, inorganic phosphorus, uric acid, globulin and...
April 2009
Antibacterial activity of soaps against daily encountered bacteria
This study aims to check the antibacterial activity of various branded soaps against bacteria that are normally present in the environment. The proposed study includes selection of most common bacterial strains from the environment. Identification of bacterial strains was done by standard microbiological techniques, which include gram staining, biochemical testing and advanced identification by analytical...
April 2009
In vitro and in vivo animal model antitrypanosomal evaluation of ten medicinal plant extracts from south west Nigeria
The relative antitrypanosomal and haemolytic activities of the methanol extracts of 10 Nigerian medicinal plants extracts comprising of the leaf, stem bark and root bark of Afzelia africana, Khaya senegalensis and Terminalia superba as well as the leaf extract of Lannea welwistchii were investigated. All the extracts showed varying degrees of trypanocidal...
April 2009
Cloning and analysis of the HMG domains of ten Sox genes from Bombina maxima (Amphibia: Anura)
Sox is a large gene family which encodes Sry-related transcription factors and contains a HMG box that is responsible for the sequence-specific DNA binding. In this paper, we obtained ten clones representing HMG box-containing Sox genes (BmSox1a, BmSox1b, BmSox3a, BmSox3b, BmSox3c, BmSox11a, BmSox11b,BmSox11c, BmSox14, BmSox33) from male and...
April 2009
Effects of salmon calcitonin and calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) on gastric mucosal barrier in stress induced rats
The aim of this investigation was to examine and compare the effects of calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) and salmon calcitonin (sCT) on gastric lesions and mucosal barrier components such as mucus and phospholipids in rats exposed to cold + restraint stress (CRS). Twenty-eight Wistar albino rats (150 – 200 g) used for this study were provided by the Animal Health and Research Center of Dicle...
April 2009
RAPD analysis of colchicine induced variation of the Dendrobium Serdang beauty
Variation was detected in Dendrobium Serdang Beauty V (DSB V) plantlets regenerated from protocorm like bodies (plbs) induced by various concentration levels of colchicines in the Murashige and Skoog media (MS) supplemented with 1.5 mg/L IBA. RAPD analysis detected 6 - 26% variation in the regenerants from the mother plant. The highest variation was obtained in regenerates treated with 25 mg/L...
April 2009
In vitro plantlets regeneration in Bambara groundnut [Vigna subterranea (L.) Verdc. (Fabaceae)] through direct shoot bud differentiation on hypocotyl and epicotyl cuttings
In vitro regeneration system via direct organogenesis in Bambara groundnut (Vigna subterranea L.) using hypocotyl and epicotyl cuttings was studied. Basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), 6-furfurylaminopurine (kinetin) or Thidiazuron (TDZ) with or without α-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) were attempted. Multiple shoots were induced from both explants but...
April 2009
Influence of salicylic acid on in vitro propagation and salt tolerance in Hibiscus acetosella and Hibiscus moscheutos (cv ‘Luna Red’)
Salicylic acid (SA) has been reported to improve in vitro regeneration as well as induce abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The effects of varying SA concentrations (0, 0.5, and 1 mM) on in vitro shoot apices of two Hibiscus species, Hibiscus moscheutos (cv ‘Luna Red’) and Hibiscus acetosella, grown under various salt (NaCl) concentrations (0, 175, and...
April 2009
The effect of seed size on yield and yield components of chickpea and lentil
This study was carried out in order to determine the effect of seed size on the yield and yield components of chickpea and lentil. Two field experiments, composed of three chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) varieties, four lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) and two seed sizes, were conducted in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey in 2005 and 2006 in randomized complete block designs. The seeds of the three grading...
April 2009
Chemical effects on controlling of Rhododendron ponticum L. in western black sea forest region of Turkey
Rhododendrons impair the natural and artificial regeneration and seedling growth in the pure and mixed forest stands in Turkey. To control the rhododendrons by employing the sprout-less herbicide applicator (SLHA) is the main goal of this study. Two studies were conducted in the western black sea region of Turkey. Each study area was selected from natural mixed stands of beech (Fagus orientalis L.)...
April 2009
Efficacy of highland production of strawberry transplants
This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of propagation environment (high and low elevation) on runner productivity and quality of ‘Maehyang’ and ‘Red Pearl’ strawberry cultivars. Two propagation methods (bare root plants and plug plants) were used for both environments. Regardless of cultivar or propagation method, runners produced at high-elevation had significantly greater...
April 2009
Silicon alleviates salt stress, decreases malondialdehyde content and affects petal color of salt-stressed cut rose (Rosa xhybrida L.) ‘Hot Lady’
A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of silicon (Si) application on cut rose (Rosa xhybrida L.) ‘Hot Lady’ under two levels of salt stress. Four Si concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm) as Si were combined with a 25 mM NaCl (EC ≈ 3.8) level in the nutrient solution supplied to the plants. Addition of Si partially...
April 2009
Morphological and chemical composition of the essential oil of the leaf of Schistostephium heptalobium
The morphology of Schistostephium heptalobium was investigated by using electron microscopical examination. The scanning electron microscope revealed that the leaves of this plant are characterized by short, multicellular glandular trichomes and long hairy-fibrous tubular non-glandular trichomes. These trichomes are associated with crystal-like deposits. The Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy...
April 2009
Comparison of several plant nutrient elements in conventionally and organically grown citrus orchards
Organic citrus production has been increasing recently in Turkey. In this study, we compared several nutri-elements concentrations of organically (ORG) and conventionally (CON) grown citrus orchards in the Mediterranean region of Turkey. The samples included Satsuma mandarins (Citrus unshiu L.) and Washington navel and Valencia oranges (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck), which were grafted on sour orange...
April 2009
Evaluation of the toxicity of Actara 25 WG for the control of the cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis Hagl. (Hemiptera: Miridae) in Nigeria
In Nigeria, the brown cocoa mirid Sahlbergella singularis is responsible for over 30% yield loss in cocoa. Insecticides still remain a very important component among the strategies for effective control of major insect pests of cocoa in Nigeria. The Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN) has the “National Mandate” to evaluate and recommend new insecticides for use on cocoa in...
April 2009
Effect of different irrigation water level on cotton yield and yield components
Effects of different water level on yield and yield components of the drip irrigated cotton were evaluated in Amik Plain in the East Mediterranean Region of Turkey. Four levels of irrigation water were tested in 2003 and 2004. Treatments were 25 (I25), 50 (I50), 75% (I75) of the full irrigation treatment (I100) which received 100% class-A pan evaporation. Numbers of irrigation events were 5 and 8 in 2003 and...
April 2009
Status of greenhouses in Eastern Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey
The study was carried out in greenhouses at Eastern Mediterranean coastal areas of Turkey in Samandag area of Hatay province where greenhouse production is wide spread. The work undertaken in 2007 aimed at determining general management problems, structural features and weaknesses and climate control of greenhouses owned by villagers, having only small holdings barely adequate for supporting their families. 97...
April 2009
Fruiting efficiency in Dacryodes edulis (G.Don): A case study in Ekpoma, south-south, Nigeria
Fruiting efficiency in 2 varieties of Dacryodes edulis were investigated between 2004 to 2007 in Ekpoma. The influence of variety on fruiting efficiency and abortion rate of gynoecium per inflorescence was determined. D. edulis had a regular fruiting pattern with no interannual variability. The mean fruiting efficiency per inflorescence for D. edulis var. edulis and...
April 2009
Equilibrium uptake and sorption dynamics for the removal of a basic dye using bamboo
The bisorption of basic dye from aqueous solution on bamboo based activated carbon was studied in a batch system. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature and initial dye concentration was investigated. The results showed that these parameters influenced the adsorption capacity. Higher solution pH favoured the adsorption of basic dye. Dye removal increased with increase in...
April 2009
Poultry faeces management with a simple low cost plastic digester
Poultry faeces collected from the research farm of the school of Agriculture, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Nigeria, was anaerobically digested for five weeks retention time using a plastic type digester constructed at the FMEnv/ZERI Research Centre and a follow up system set up in Cameroon at the compound of the National Polytechnic Bambui, Bamenda in the North West part of the country with 200 L poultry...
April 2009
Utilization of maize (Zea mays) cob as an adsorbent for lead (II) removal from aqueous solutions and industrial effluents
Maize cob was used as an adsorbent in order to evaluate its potential for the removal of lead from aqueous solutions and effluents from battery and paint industries with Dowex (synthetic resin) as control. Experimental data were analyzed in terms of Freundlich isotherm model. Equilibrium was attained at 2 h and adsorption rate constants for maize cob and dowex were 7.26 x 10-2 and 7.58 x 10-2 min-1,...
April 2009
Decolorization and degradation of malachite green by Aspergillus flavus and Alternaria solani
Bioremediation using a variety of microbes for the degradation of xenobiotics seems a green solution to the problem of environmental pollution. Microbes have been gifted by nature with the ability of degrading a wide spectrum of environmental pollutants. Different fungi have the potentials to degrade complex and recalcitrant organic compounds into simpler fragments; sometimes achieving complete mineralization. In this...
April 2009
Effect of different culture conditions for dextransucrase production in Escherichia coli using lactose as inducer
This study presented the effect of different culture conditions, including lactose concentration, temperature, cell density (OD600), and media ingredients, on dextransucrase expression by lactose induction in the engineering strainEscherichia coli BL21(DE3)/pETdex. The results showed that induced medium (IM) was much more suitable for dextransucrase expression than LB medium. Optimal conditions were as follows:...
April 2009
Optimization of biomass-producing conditions of Micrococcus sp. S-11 for L-cysteine production
Micrococcus S-11 isolated from sediments could transform racemic 2-Amino-D2-thiazoline-4-carboxylic acid (ATC) into L-cysteine. The optimal carbon and nitrogen source for its biomass production were glucose and urea. The optimal culture conditions for biomass production were investigated through statistical experiment design and data analysis. A screening test was first conducted on ten process variables using a...
April 2009
Optimization of mycelial biomass and protease production by Laccocephalum mylittae in submerged fermentation
April 2009
Determination of bacterial and fungal numbers in floats of pre-tanning operations
This study was aimed at determining the numbers of bacteria and fungi in the floats of main soaking, liming, deliming-bating, degreasing and pickling stages. To this end, the numbers of total aerobic mesophilic, proteolytic, lipolytic and aerobic spore-forming bacteria and, the numbers of total aerobic fungi (yeast and mould), proteolytic and lipolytic fungi were determined on the media containing different...
April 2009
A comparative study of Thermomyces lanuginosus strains on thermostable xylanase production
Strains of Thermomyces lanuginosus could be differentiated into two groups based on their ability to produce xylanase using xylan or xylose as sole of carbon source. One group of these strains produced high xylanase activity either in the medium using xylan or xylose as a sole of carbon source. The xylanase production by T. lanuginosus ATCC 44008, THKU-11, and THKU-25, which were the...
April 2009
Heat adaptation towards improve survival of Bifidobacterium longum BB536 during the spray drying of Sudanese fermented Medida
This study examined the survival of Bifidobacterium longum BB 536 following the spray drying and during the storage of Medida, a fermented Sudanese cereal porridge. Medida was produced using 225 g flour of two days malted brown rice; blended in 0.405 L distilled water and cooked in 1 L boiling water. 150 g skim milk was added followed by sterilization; and the mixture was inoculated...
April 2009
Effect of cooking on the proximate composition of the leaves of some accessions of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa
The effect of cooking on the proximate composition of the leaves of seven accessions (UFCe1 - UFCe7) of Colocasia esculenta (L.) Schott growing in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa was investigated. Cooking significantly (P <0.05) reduced the ash, carbohydrate and caloric contents of all the accessions tested in the study. In contrast, there was significant increase in the levels of...
April 2009
Chemical composition of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) fruit
Chemical composition of pulp, skin and seeds of fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica was investigated. Results showed high amount of water in the pulp (84.14%) and skin (90.33%). Glucose and fructose (29 and 24%, respectively) in the pulp were greater than in the skin (14 and 2.29%, respectively), whereas saccharose was very low in the pulp (019%) than in the skin (2.25%). The seed does not contain any...
April 2009
Biochemical characterization of sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. spp. turkestanica) seed
Sea buckthorn is a valuable medicinal plant, cultivated and naturally grown in northern Pakistan. The plant produces berry with small hard seed in the centre. The seed is the source of all nutrients and phytochemcials. However, there is lack of literature regarding the biochemical and physico-chemical quality of the seed. Thisstudy consists of evaluation of the physiochemical parameters; elemental...
April 2009
Antioxidant studies on the ethanolic extract of Commiphora spp.
This investigation elucidated the presence of phytochemical constituents and in vitro free radicals scavenging activity for nitric oxide, total reducing power, superoxide, lipid peroxidation and DPPH in the ethanolic leaves extract ofCommiphora species; Commiphora caudata (CC) and Commiphora var pubescens (CP). The IC50 values of both the species were comparable to...
April 2009
Glucose tolerance test and some biochemical effect of Phyllanthus amarus aquoeus extacts on normaglycemic albino rats
Aqueous extract of the whole plant of Phyllanthus amarus was assessed for some biochemical effect in albino rats. Oral administration of aqueous extract at doses of 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight shows that the extract promote glucose uptake. Daily administration of the extracts (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bodyweight) for 14 days showed that the extract significantly (p < 0.05) reduced aspartate...
April 2009
Medicinal plants used for the treatment of jaundice and hepatitis based on socio-economic documentation
The present study deals with socio-economic documentation of medicinal plant species against jaundice and hepatitis. A total of 30 plant species belonging to 24 families were reported by local practitioners for the treatment of jaundice and hepatitis. The most important plant species are Adiantum capillus, Boerhaavia procumbens, Equisetum debile, Carissa opaca,Cucumis sativus, Hordeum vulgare, Justacia...
April 2009
Physicochemical characterization and dissolution properties of binary systems of pyrimethamine and 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin
Pyrimethamine (PYR), a drug effective against protozoan parasites, such asToxoplasma gondii and Plasmodium falciparum, is poorly water soluble and exhibits marked variation in oral bioavailability. This study was aimed at investigating the possibility and extent of enhancement of the dissolution properties of PYR via complexation with 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD)...
April 2009
The bioactive potentials of two medicinal plants commonly used as folklore remedies among some tribes in West Africa
Jatropha curcas and Newboulda laevis are medicinal plants used for the treatment of ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, sexually transmitted diseases, jaundice and several other diseases caused by micro-organisms. The antibacterial activities of the leaves of the plants were assessed against a panel of selected bacterial pathogens. Methanolic leaf extracts of J. curcas and N....
April 2009
Application of preventive maintenance planning in a parquet enterprise
In this study, the process of a parquet enterprise’s transition to preventive maintenance which has been implementing maintenance technique in case of breakdown was investigated. During that transition process, follow up forms for maintenance–repair, breakdown and spare parts were prepared and the implementation processes were followed. At the end of the implementation, it was identified that breakdowns have...
April 2009
The effect of sea water on laminated wooden material
In the present study, black pine samples laminated with epoxy and polyurethane glues were treated with various wood preservative chemicals and made subject to seawater for one year. The samples were examined from the point of view of physical features such as changes in odor and color as well as their mechanical values in 3-month periods. For this purpose, the samples were made subject to bending tests perpendicular to...
April 2009
The effect of open air conditions on the properties of wooden material
In this study, the impregnation materials of Tanalith-C (CCA) and Protim 230 WR were used as preservative and water repellant. Wooden materials were taken from beech and black pine. The samples were made subject to weathering conditions for one year. At the end of this period, changes occurred in the samples’ bending strength, compression strength and physical properties were examined. As a result of this study,...
April 2009
The effect of air dried conditions on mechanical and physical properties of laminated and impregnated wood
In this study, laminated Scotch pine samples bonded with polyurethane adhesive were impregnated with water repellent (protim WR230) and preservative (tanalith-C). Non-impregnated and impregnated Scotch pine samples were air-dried by placing them uncovered in a concrete above ground for one year. Bending strength, compression strength, bonding strength and physical properties were determined.Bending strength was reduced...
April 2009
Drying schedules calculation of Camiyani Black Pine (Pinus nigra Arn. subsp. pallasiana var. pallasiana) by computer programming
In this study, computer aided drying schedules were developed for Camiyani Black Pine (Pinus nigra var. pallasiana) lumber for less than 30 mm thick, between 30-60 mm thick and larger than 60 mm. Schedules were calculated on drying gradient basis. In this software (named KILNBRAIN), users can find more then one hundred other species’ data (density, fiber saturation point, temperatures for warming up and...
April 2009
Physiological stress response of Macrobrachium vollenhoevenii (Herklots 1857) to interacting effects of binary mixtures of industrial effluents
The toxicities of effluents from paint and textile industrial establishments in Lagos State, Nigeria and their binary mixtures based on predetermined (1:1) and equitoxic (4:3) ratios were evaluated against the juvenile stage of prawn, Macrobrachium vollenhoevenii in laboratory bioassays. On the basis of derived toxicity indices, the paint effluent with 96 h LC50= 54.73 ml/L was found to be 1.33 times less...
April 2009
5S activities and its application at a sample company
Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) targets enabling the machine operators to undertake the maintenance activities and therefore to increase the efficiency of the equipments. It struggles with six great losses decreasing the efficiency of the equipment. 5S, which is the pre-step of TPM, is a systematic approach providing the contribution of all personnel in the cleaning regime of the company. The clean and steady...
April 2009
Thyroidal angiogenesis in zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to high perchlorate concentration
As a well known environmental contaminant, perchlorate inhibits thyroidal iodide uptake and reduces thyroid hormone levels. In zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to high concentrations of sodium perchlorate (200, 350 and 500 mg/L) for 10 days, remarkable angiogenesis was identified, not only histopathologically but also statistically by counting of the small, medium and large sized (grades 1 to 3) vessels per...
April 2009
Genomics approaches in the understanding of Entamoeba histolytica virulence and gene expression regulation
Entamoeba histolytica is the intestinal protozoan parasite responsible for amebic colitis and liver abscesses, which cause mortality in many developing countries. The sequencing of the parasite genome provides new insights into the cellular workings and genome evolution of this major human pathogen. Here, we reviewed recent advances in the efforts to understand virulence and gene expression regulation in E. histolytica...
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