October 2011
Phylogenetic networks: A tool to display character conflict and demographic history
Evolutionary trees have the assumption that evolution and phylogeny can be represented in a strictly bifurcating manner. Firmly speaking, from one ancestral taxon, two descendant taxa emerge. Nevertheless, hybridization, recombination and horizontal gene transfer is in conflict with this straightforward concept. In such cases, evolutionary lines do not only separate from each other, but have the possibility of melting...
October 2011
Microsatellite variability reveals significant genetic differentiation of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the Minshan A habitat
Although, Minshan A habitat is an area with one of the largest numbers of wild giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca); it may be threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. In this study, 10 microsatellite DNA markers were used to assess population genetic structure of giant pandas from two critical reserves (Tangjiahe and Wanglang) in the Minshan A habitat. The results revealed high...
October 2011
Effects of space flight factors on genetic diversity of Buchloe dactyloides seeds
The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of space flight factors on Buchloe dactyloides “Jingyin No.3” seeds. After the retrieval, basic turf characters of plants were tested. Among the 100 plants tested, 21 showed great change on phenotype characters, including leaf blade length and width, height, stem diameter, number of tillers, number and length of stolon,...
October 2011
The p53 codon 72 polymorphism and association to prostate cancer in Iranian patients
Tp53 is an important tumor suppressor gene, which induces cell growth arrest or apoptosis when subjected to cytotoxic stimuli. Association has been reported between various cancers and p53 codon 72 polymorphism. Our objective was to investigate the possible association between p53 at codon 72 for Arg/Arg, Arg/Proand Pro/Pro allele polymorphisms in blood samples from 187...
October 2011
Detection and quantification of Streptococcus pneumoniae from Iranian patients with pneumonia and individual carriers by real time PCR
The aim of this study was to develop a real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for quantitative detection of Streptococcus pneumoniae from clinical respiratory specimens. Initially, 184 respiratory specimens from patients with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) (n = 129) and 55 cases with hospital associated pneumonia (HAP) were bacteriologically investigated. To check the colonization status among the...
October 2011
Genetic differentiation in Japanese flounder in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and mitochondrial DNA markers
The population structure of Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) in the Yellow and East China Seas were analyzed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequencing. A total of 390 reproducible bands were generated by 10 AFLP primer combinations in two populations collected from the coasts of Qingdao (located at the Yellow Sea) and Zhoushan (located at the...
October 2011
Construction of a fusion gene containing hepatitis B virus L gene and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85B gene and its expression in Pichia pastoris
This study aimed at exploring the method of secretory expression of hepatitis B virus L gene and Mycobacterium tuberculosis Ag85B fusion gene in Pichia pastorisGS115, and preliminary tests of L-Ag85B fusion protein immunoreactivity. The hepatitis B Virus genome extracted from HBsAg positive serum and genome of M. tuberculosis H37Rv was used as template to...
October 2011
First observation of excision and integration in Class 1 integron in staphylococci
Class 1 integron had been well-known as a mobile genetic element involved in the antibiotic resistance of various bacteria. Up to date, most of the relevant publications concentrated on gram-negative bacteria, with limited exceptions. However, in recent studies, class 1 integron had been detected in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase...
October 2011
Cloning and bioinformatics analysis of an ubiquitin gene of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
Ubiquitin which has the function of selective protein degradation may play animportant role in the regulation of insect growth and development. The coding sequence of an ubiquitin gene from the larvae of the rice stem borer, Chilo suppressalis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) named CsUB (GenBank Accession No. GU238420) was cloned by RT-PCR and sequenced in this study, with primers according...
October 2011
Characterization of the psoRPM1 gene for resistance to root-knot nematodes in wild myrobalan plum (Prunus sogdiana)
Several root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) resistance genes have been discovered in different stone fruit crops. However, none of them has yet been cloned and they were only located on the chromosomes. In this study, a candidate root-knot nematode resistance gene (designated as psoRPM1) was isolated from the individual plant of Xinjiang wild myrobalan plum (Prunus sogdiana) by...
October 2011
Stability of head weight in cabbage accessions (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L.)
An understanding of the causes of genotype x environment interaction can help in identifying traits and environments for better cultivar evaluation. The fact that head formation depends on other factors besides the cabbage accessions involved, makes it necessary to investigate accessions responses to agroecological growing conditions. Studied in the present paper was the stability of 21...
October 2011
Screening of recombinant inbred lines for salinity tolerance in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Screening and increasing of salinity tolerance of crops is an important aim of many plant breeders. Screening a large number of plants for salinity tolerance is not easy, therefore this investigation was performed to evaluate and screen 186 F8recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Superhead#2 (Super Seri) and Roshan wheat varieties for salinity tolerance. All the individuals were evaluated under...
October 2011
Growth and nutrient uptake of maize plants as affected by elemental sulfur and nitrogen fertilizer in sandy calcareous soil
This study was carried out to investigate the effect of elemental sulfur (S0) combined with or without N fertilizer on the growth and nutrient uptake such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn) by maize plants grown in sandy calcareous soils. Elemental S at rates of 0, 1, 5 and 10 t ha-1 were tested combined with or without N fertilizer at rates of 0 and 0.34 t...
October 2011
Effect of zinc fertilizer applications on yield and element contents of some registered chickpeas varieties
In this study, the effect of zinc fertilizer applications on different chickpea varietiesand the most suitable zinc application dose were investigated under the field conditions in May to September of 2003 and 2004. Three types of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum cv.Canitez-87, cv. ILC-482 and cv. Gokce) were studied under irrigated conditions. Zinc was applied to the soil at four doses 0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 kg...
October 2011
Contribution of morpho-physiological attributes in determining the yield of mungbean
Field experiments were conducted in 2006 and 2007 under subtropical conditions to investigate the variations in growth and reproductive characters, and yield attributes for selection of important source and sinks characters using correlation and path coefficient analyses in 45 mungbean genotypes. Large genetic variability existed in source characters viz., leaf area index (LAI) (1.22 to 3.80) and sink characters viz.,...
October 2011
Investigation of antimicrobial activity of some Turkish pleurocarpic mosses
In this study, the antimicrobial activities of different extracts from the five pleurocarpic mosses (Platyhypnidium riparioides (Hedw.) Dixon, Leucodon sciuroides (Hedw.) Schwägr., Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., Homalothecium sericeum (Hedw.) Br.Eur., and Anomodon viticulosus (Hedw.) Hook & Taylor.) were tested aganist eight...
October 2011
Effects of salt stress levels on five maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars at germination stage
To investigation the effects of salt stress levels (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mM NaCl) on five maize (Zea mays L.) cultivars at germination stage, this study was performed at Ardabil, Iran in 2011. The results showed that in all cultivars, as the salt concentration increased, both germination percentage and germination index decreased significantly. Increasing salt concentration...
October 2011
The effects of different nitrogen doses on herbage and seed yields of annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum cv. caramba)
This study has been carried out during the growing seasons of 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 in Turkey, to determine the effects of different nitrogen doses on the herbage (150, 230, 310, 390, 470, 550, 630 and 710 kg ha-1) and seed yields (150, 170, 190, 210, 230, 250, 270 and 290 kg ha-1) of and some agricultural characteristics of annual ryegrass cv. “caramba”. Two different trials were...
October 2011
Nutritional characterization of Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) leaves
Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam. moringaceae) is a highly valued plant that is mostly cultivated in the tropics and subtropics. It is used for food, medication and industrial purposes. The objective of the study was to assess the nutritional value of Moringa leaves of the South African ecotype. Proximate and Van Soest methods were used to determine the nutritional value of Moringa leaves. The dried leaves had...
October 2011
A research on ceramsite obtained from blast furnace slag and sewage sludge
In order to solve disposal problem of solid waste, blast furnace slag (BFS) and sewage sludge (SS) were tested as components for producing ceramsite. This study investigated the feasibility of that at different preheating and sintering temperature and duration and different mass ratios (BFS: SS: clay). The results show that the optimal preheating temperature and duration were 400°C and 20 min and that of sintering...
October 2011
Toxicokinetic behaviors and modes of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA) on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctane acid (PFOA) are widely distributed environmentally persistent organic pollutants found at low levels in human and wildlife ecosystem. The objectives of the current study were to investigate toxicokinetic behaviors and modes of PFOS and PFOA on tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The toxicokinetic behaviors and modes of PFOS and PFOA are different in...
October 2011
Clinical effect of fuzzy numbers based on center of gravity
In this study, a model called “fuzzy reasoning model” was proposed for the case when the explanatory variables were crisp and the value of the binary response variable was reported as a number between zero and one. In this regard, the concept of possibilistic odds is also introduced. Then, the methodology and formulation of this model was used to explain the model parameters. Some goodness of fit criteria...
October 2011
Effect of different concentrations of olive oil and oleic acid on the mechanical properties of albumen (egg white) edible films
The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of olive oil and oleic acid addition to albumin (egg white) through emulsification to produce films on mechanical properties. Plasticizer was necessary to maintain film and coating integrity and to avoid pores cracks. Edible composite films were prepared from albumin and lipid material at (1 and 1.5%), respectively. The effect of...
October 2011
Withaferin-A displays enhanced anxiolytic efficacy without tolerance in rats following sub chronic administration
Withaferin-A dose-dependently (10 tob40 mg/kg) displayed anxiolytic activity, as measured by an increase in open arm exploration time in the elevated plus-maze (EPM), following intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration in rats. Acute administration of withaferin-A at 40.0 mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) increased open arm exploration time by 176% as compared to vehicle control, which is similar to the benzodiazepine...
October 2011
Identification of a single nucleotide polymorphism of the pituitary-specific transcriptional factor 1 (Pit 1) gene and its association with body composition trait in Iranian commercial broiler line
Pit-1 is a pituitary-specific transcriptional factor that has been shown to play a critical role both in cell differentiation during organogenesis of the anterior pituitary and as a transcriptional activator for pituitary gene transcription. This study was designed to investigate the associations of Pit-1 gene polymorphism on chicken body growth and body composition traits. Genomic DNA was extracted from 120...
October 2011
Transient post-exercise hyper-perspiration of forehead area
Information about sweating responses during exercise recovery is insufficient and mostly controversial. In the present study, particular attention is given to sweating behavior at forehead area immediately after exercise. Simultaneous changes of some underlying factors are also addressed. Eight healthy young males (27.4±0.8 years old) volunteered for the study. They performed a constant work rate exercise (60 rpm...
October 2011
Effects of various forms of lipopolysaccharide on the expression of inflammatory mediators and cardiac biomarkers in human cardiac fibroblasts and human coronary smooth muscle cells
Inflammation is an important event in the development of vascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis. The stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from bacteria induces the release of critical proinflammatory cytokines that activate potent immune responses which may cause injury of cells in vivo and in vitro. Upon cardiac cell death caused by inflammation,...
October 2011
Blueberries extract supplementation improves physical performance and decreases oxidative stress in mice
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of blueberry extracts (BBE) supplementation on physical performance and exercise-induced oxidative stress. 40 male Swiss mice were randomly divided into four groups (three BBE supplementation groups and one control group). The control group was gavaged with distilled water and BBE supplementation groups were gavaged with BBE (1, 2 and 4 ml...
October 2011
Proteomic analysis of human oral verrucous carcinoma
This study is about proteomic analysis of oral verrucous carcinoma (OVC). The total proteins obtained from tumour and adjacent normal oral mucosa of patients with OVC and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) were separated with two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) by using immobilized pH gradient strips and visualized by staining with silver nitrate. The gel images were acquired by scanner and 2-DE analysed by image...
October 2011
Attainment of hydrogel-thickened nanoemulsions with tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) and retinyl palmitate
We propose the development of hydrogel-thickned nanoemulsions (HTNs) with tea tree essential oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) and vitamin A palmitate (retinyl palmitate). Nanoemulsions and HTNs were produced by the use of phase inversion method, employing non-ionic surfactants. As surfactant phase were used sorbitan esters and hydrogenated/ethoxylated castor oil. HTNs with drops size ranging between 86 to 96 nm were...
October 2011
Studying arsenic trioxide-induced apoptosis of Colo-16 cells with two-photon and confocal laser scanning microscopy
With two-photon and confocal laser scanning microscopy in combination with fluorescent probes Hoechst 33342, 2¢,7¢-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) and Fluo 3-AM, we simultaneously observed arsenic trioxide (As2O3)-induced changes in nuclear morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and intracellular calcium concentration [Ca2+]i within human skin squamous carcinoma cells (Colo-16 cells). Our...
October 2011
Development and validation of a thin layer chromatographic method for the determination of artesunate and amodiaquine in tablet formulations
Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Artemisinin derivatives are potent, rapidly acting antimalarias that reduce gametocyte carriage and patient infectivity; the sustained use of artesunate – amodiaquine reduced falciparum malaria transmission and progression of drug resistance. High efficacy of artemisinin-based combinations...
October 2011
Intestinal DNA concentration and protein synthesis in response to low quality diets in two strains of Leghorn layers
Performance, protein synthesis and mucosal DNA in small intestine of Leghorn hens may be affected by low quality feedstuff. An experiment was conducted in completely randomized design (CRD) in 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Main factors included diets containing 20 and 40 % barley and black and blue strains of leghorn. Layer performance was recorded weekly up to eight weeks. Egg production (%), egg mass...
Advertisement
Advertisement
