Ameliorating the adverse effects of salinity on wheat plants using the bio-wastes (pomegranate peel extract and /or compost).

Climate changes and the related rise in the frequency of excessive weather proceedings have a strong influence on the physical, chemical, and hydrological processes in soils. Recently the investigators confirmed that the use of biological treatments and resources to overcome abiotic stress is fruitful. Thus, pomegranate peel extract (PPE) because of its high efficacy and/or compost application could improve soil characteristics, soil organic matter and nutrient status. This effect may be referred back to the enhancement in the plant antioxidative defense system against stress conditions. This experiment was done to study the influence of spraying wheat plants with pomegranate peel extract (PPE) with and/or without soil compost added under salt stress on some growth parameters and physiological aspects. Wheat plants were grown in the presence or absence of compost in the soil and foliar sprayed with PPE (600 and 1200 mg L-1) under salt irrigation (3000 and 6000 mg L-1). Growth and yield traits were decreased with salinity stress. High levels of PPE (1200 mg L-1) induced the highest values of osmoprotectants (Total soluble sugars, total soluble protein, proline and free amino acids) in both unstressed or salinity-stressed plants presence or absence compost. Using compost in soil for cultivating wheat plants and PPE spraying treatments increased growth traits photosynthetic pigments and yield components. Moreover, these treatments increased the accumulation of minerals content (N, P, K and Ca) in plants. In general, the results of correlation coefficients showed a significant strong positive relationship among measured yield traits and other tested parameters. The correlation between 1000-grain Wt. and grain Wt./spike (r = 0.94**) was the highest. Meanwhile, a strong negative correlation coefficient between Na% and all yield parameters was recorded. Compost adding to soil and spraying pomegranate peel extract is a successful method for increasing wheat growth, yield and improving the nutritional value of the produced grains under salt stress.

Quantum computational speed of a nanowires system with Rashba interaction in the presence of a magnetic field.

The present research is designed to examine the dynamic of the quantum computational speed in a nanowire system through the orthogonality speed when three distinct types of magnetic fields are applied: the strong magnetic field, the weak magnetic field, and no magnetic field. Moreover, we investigate the action of the magnetic fields, the spin-orbit coupling, and the system's initial states on the orthogonality speed. The observed results reveal that a substantial correlation between the intensity of the spin-orbit coupling and the dynamics of the orthogonality speed, where the orthogonality speed decreasing as the spin-orbit coupling increases. Furthermore, the initial states of the nanowire system are critical for regulating the speed of transmuting the information and computations.

5''-Benzyl-idene-5-chloro-1',1''-dimethyl-4'-phenyl-dispiro-[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine-3',3''-piperidine]-2,4''-dione.

The title compound, C30H28ClN3O2, features two spiro links, one connecting the piperidine and pyrrolidine rings, and the other connecting the pyrrolidine ring and indole residue. The configuration about the ethene bond is E. The piperidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation where the C atom connected to the spiro-C atom lies 0.713 (3) Šout of the plane of the remaining five atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.086 Å). The pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the flap atom being the methyl-ene C atom. Centrosymmetric eight-membered {⋯HNCO}2 amide synthons feature in the crystal packing. These are consolidated into a three-dimensional architecture by phen-yl-pyrrolidine C-H⋯N and chloro-benzene-pyrrolidine-bound phenyl C-H⋯π inter-actions.

5-Chloro-5''-(4-chloro-benzyl-idene)-4'-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-1''-ethyl-1'-methyl-dispiro-[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine-3',3''-piperidine]-2,4''-dione.

Two spiro links are found in the title compound, C31H28Cl3N3O2, one connecting the piperidine and pyrrolidine rings, and the other connecting the pyrrolidine ring and indole residue. The piperidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation, in which the C atom connected to the spiro-C atom lies 0.741 (3) Šout of the plane of the remaining five atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.053 Å). The pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the flap atom being the methyl-ene C atom. Centrosymmetric eight-membered {⋯HNCO}2 amide dimers are the most significant feature of the crystal packing. These are connected into layers parallel to (-120) by C-H⋯O and π-π inter-actions between pyrrolidine-bound benzene rings [inter-centroid distance = 3.8348 (15) Å]. Slipped face-to-face inter-actions between the edges of pyrrolidine-bound benzene [shortest C⋯C separation = 3.484 (4) Å] connect the layers into a three-dimensional architecture.

5-Chloro-5''-[4-(di-methyl-amino)-benzyl-idene]-4'-[4-(di-methyl-amino)-phen-yl]-1',1''-di-methyl-dispiro-[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine-3',3''-piperidine]-2,4''-dione.

The title compound, C34H38ClN5O2, has spiro links connecting the pyrrolidine ring and indole residue, as well as the piperidine and pyrrolidine rings. A half-chair conformation is found for the piperidine ring with the C atom connected to the spiro-C atom lying 0.738 (4) Šout of the plane of the remaining five atoms (r.m.s. deviation = 0.0407 Å). The methyl-ene C atom is the flap in the envelope conformation for the pyrrolidine ring. In the crystal, supra-molecular chains are sustained by alternating eight-membered {⋯HNCO}2 and 14-membered {⋯HC5O}2 synthons. Chains are connected into a three-dimensional network by (pyrrolidine-bound phenyl-meth-yl)C-H⋯π(pyrrolidine-bound phen-yl) edge-to-face inter-actions.

5-Chloro-5''-(4-chloro-benzyl-idene)-4'-(4-chloro-phen-yl)-1',1''-dimethyldi-spiro-[indoline-3,2'-pyrrolidine-3',3''-piperidine]-2,4''-dione.

The racemic title compound, C30H26Cl3N3O2, comprises two spiro links, the first connecting the piperidine and pyrrolidine rings and the other connecting the indole and pyrrolidine rings. The piperidine ring adopts a half-chair conformation, while the pyrrolidine ring has an envelope conformation with the unsubstituted C atom as the flap. The dihedral angles between the two p-Cl-substituted benzene rings and the indole ring are 33.13 (14) and 54.11 (14)°. In the crystal, mol-ecules form inversion dimers through pairs of N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds [graph set R 2 (2)(8)]. Aromatic C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds extend these dimers into a ribbon structure, enclosing R (2) 2(14) ring motifs, along the a-axis direction.

The complexation of a novel squaric bis(thiosemicarbazone); 3,4-bis{[(aminothioxomethyl)amino]azamethylene}cyclobut-ene-1,2-diol.

A novel chelating agent (Sqtsc; H(4)L) bearing both hard and soft donor atoms was synthesized by the condensation of squaric acid with thiosemicarbazide. The ligand has two symmetrical sets of donor atoms (SNO), therefore, it was allowed to react with the metal ions at the mole ratio 2:1 (M:L). Mono- and bi-nuclear chelates were obtained in which the ligand showed a variety of modes of bonding viz. (OO)(2-), (SNNS)(2-) and (SNO)(2-) per each metal ion supporting the ambidentate and flexidentate characters of the ligand. The mode of bonding and basicity of the ligand depend mainly on the type of the metal cation and its counter anion. All the obtained complexes have the preferable O(h)-geometry except the VO(II)-complex (7) which has also the preferable square pyramid geometry. Structural elucidation was achieved via elemental and spectral data.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci isolated from different infectious diseases

A total of 187 isolates from 470 clinical specimens were collected from three hospitals in El-Minia governorate and identified as 132 Staphylococcus aureus strains and 55 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) strains. Susceptibility of isolates to antimicrobial agents was tested by the agar dilution method. The isolated S. aureus strains showed low resistance to vancomycin (1.5 percent), amikacin (2.3 percent) and gatifloxacin (3.8 percent). Vancomycin was the most effective antibiotic against CoNS. The ampicillin-resistant isolates were tested for â-lactamase production where, 61.7 percent of S. aureus and 42.9 percent of CoNS were positive for â-lactamase enzyme. Beta-lactamase producing strains were screened for their plasmid profile using alkaline lysis method. Some of these strains carried at least one plasmid suggesting plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. When cells of these strains were exposed to curing agent ethidium bromide, the production of the â-lactamase was lost. Resistance by efflux was studied by a modified fluorometric assay. Addition of uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) increased norfloxacin accumulation in quinolone resistant S. aureus strains, suggesting endogenous energy-dependent efflux. Combinations of ciprofloxacin with four antimicrobial agents against methicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains were investigated using decimal assay for additivity (DAA) technique. Synergistic interaction was observed between ciprofloxacin and oxacillin. ciprofloxacin plus cefepime and gentamicin appeared to be additive, while ciprofloxacin plus erythromycin was antagonistic.

Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci isolated from different infectious diseases.

A total of 187 isolates from 470 clinical specimens were collected from three hospitals in El-Minia governorate and identified as 132 Staphylococcus aureus strains and 55 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) strains. Susceptibility of isolates to antimicrobial agents was tested by the agar dilution method. The isolated S. aureus strains showed low resistance to vancomycin (1.5%), amikacin (2.3%) and gatifloxacin (3.8%). Vancomycin was the most effective antibiotic against CoNS. The ampicillin-resistant isolates were tested for ß-lactamase production where, 61.7% of S. aureus and 42.9% of CoNS were positive for ß-lactamase enzyme. Beta-lactamase producing strains were screened for their plasmid profile using alkaline lysis method. Some of these strains carried at least one plasmid suggesting plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance. When cells of these strains were exposed to curing agent ethidium bromide, the production of the ß-lactamase was lost. Resistance by efflux was studied by a modified fluorometric assay. Addition of uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) increased norfloxacin accumulation in quinolone resistant S. aureus strains, suggesting endogenous energy-dependent efflux. Combinations of ciprofloxacin with four antimicrobial agents against methicillin resistant S.aureus (MRSA) strains were investigated using decimal assay for additivity (DAA) technique. Synergistic interaction was observed between ciprofloxacin and oxacillin. ciprofloxacin plus cefepime and gentamicin appeared to be additive, while ciprofloxacin plus erythromycin was antagonistic.

Air quality assessment in Southern Kuwait using diffusive passive samplers.

Measurements of fortnightly average concentrations of NO, NO2, SO2, H2S, NH3, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) (aromatics=benzene, toluene, o-xylene, m+p-xylene, ethyl benzene; non-aromatics=nonane and octane) were carried out in the period from 26/10/05 to 24/11/05 at 20 points in the southern part of Kuwait as part of a baseline environmental impact assessment study requested by Kuwait National Petroleum Company. Two waves of triplicate diffusive passive samplers were used. A high volume air sampler was used to measure PM10 too. During the sampling period, the wind was observed to be mainly from the west and northwest with an average of 4.28 m/s. The consistency of the results allowed the production of spatial distribution maps of the pollutants measured and consequently the comparison between levels of air pollution at different locations. A comparison between the measured concentrations and the applicable air quality standards promulgated by Kuwait Environment Public Authority (KEPA) showed that those compounds had low concentrations compared to both industrial and residential KEPA standards. For other compounds which are not covered by KEPA standards, the results were compared with relevant limits of US Environment Protect Agency (USEPA) and US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The comparison showed that the measured compounds had low concentrations compared to the existing standards and, accordingly, no violation of air quality standards is reported.

Spectrophotometric determination of carbinoxamine maleate in pharmaceutical formulations by ternary complex formation with Cu(II) and eosin.

A simple and sensitive spectrophotometric method was developed for the determination of carbinoxamine maleate in pharmaceutical formulations. The method is based on the formation of a ternary complex, extractable with chloroform, between copper(II), eosin, and carbinoxamine maleate. The absorption spectra of the ternary complexes shows, under optimum conditions, a maxima at 538 nm, with apparent molar absorptive 6.1690 x 10(4) mol(-1) cm(-1), Sandell's sensitives 6.75 x 10(-3) microg cm(-2), and linearity in the concentration range 0.75-10.0 microg ml(-1). The method can be achieved with high accuracy (recovery values, 100 +/- 2%) and precision (with standard deviation 0.029-0.155 and relative standard deviation 3.87-1.55%). The method was again successfully applied, with high accuracy and good precision, for the determination of carbinoxamine maleate in various pharmaceutical formulations (syrup, drops, and tablets).

Removing hepatitis C virus from polytetrafluoroethylene-coated orthodontic archwires and other dental instruments.

The efficacy of removing, rather than destroying, hepatitis C virus (HCV) from polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-coated orthodontic archwirs was tested. PTFE-coated archwires, pieces of PTFE and endodontic files (20 each) were immersed in HCV-infected blood for 24 hours. Half were washed under running water for 10 seconds while the remainder were thoroughly scrubbed with a toothbrush under running water for 10 seconds. Items were kept in separate dishes of distilled water for 24 hours. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction was used for viral replication. Viruses were detected by the gel method using a transilluminator. Only scrubbed PTFE pieces and coated archwires were negative for HCV. This suggests that PTFE coating of dental instruments inhibited HCV adhesion when thoroughly scrubbed.

Epoxidation of some natural furocoumarins and furochromones using gamma-ray.

Epoxidation of imperatorin (1a) with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (mcpba) under the irradiation of gamma-ray gave a mixture of epoxide 3a and dioxofuran 4a. Whereas, alloimperatorin (1b) under the same condition obtained the epoxide 3b as a sole product. On the other hand, it was successfully epoxidized xanthotoxin (1c) with mcpba under the same condition as above. In addition, visnagin (2a) was epoxidized to give a mixture of epoxides 5a, 6a. While, khellin (2b) gave the epoxide 5b, no other products were observed.

Photosynthesis of furocoumarin- and furochromone-types potential intercalative alkylating and oxidizing agents of DNA through photooxidations using gamma-ray.

The photooxygenation of imperatorin (1a) under gamma-ray irradiation afforded the hydroperoxides 2a and 3a. Similarly, the photooxygenation of alloimperatorin (1b) gave the hydroperoxide (2b). Visnagin (1c) was also photooxygenated to give the hydroperoxide (2c) as sole product. On the other hand, the photooxygenation of khellin (1d) gave the endoperoxide (2d) as a sole product. The epoxidation of imperatorin (1a) using hydrogen peroxide under gamma-ray irradiation afforded the epoxide 5a. Similarly visnagin (1c) and khellin (1d) were epoxidized to give the epoxides 5c and 5d.

Effects of beta-carotene, selenium and vitamin A on in vitro polymorphonuclear leukocytic activity in peripartal buffalo (Bubalus bubalus).

The effect of different concentrations of three antioxidans on phagocytic and kill activities of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) isolated from buffaloes during the peripartum period (4 weeks before to 7 weeks after parturition) was investigated in this study. Two concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin A (10(-6) and 10(-5) M) and one concentration of Se (10(-9) M) were used. Phagocytic activity of PMN treated with beta-carotene (10(-6)M) significantly enhanced (P < 0.05) after parturition (Week 0 until Week 3), whereas the kill activity of the same cells significantly (P < 0.05) increased before and after parturition (at Weeks -4, -3, -2, 0, 1, 2 and 3). The concentration of beta-carotene (10(-5) M) enhanced phagocytosis of PMN only at Weeks 0 and 1 and kill activity at Weeks -4, -3, -2, 0, and 1. Selenium (10(-9)M) significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced phagocytic activity of PMN starting from parturition (Week 0) until Week 3 postpartum. Kill activity increased significantly both before (Weeks -4, -3 and -2) and after (Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4) parturition. Vitamin A (10(-6) M) significantly enhanced phagocytic activity of PMN at Weeks 0, 1, and 2, whereas, the concentration of beta-carotene (10(-5) M) increased phagocytic activity only at Week 0. Kill activity of PMN increased significantly (P < 0.05) at Weeks -1 and 0 (10(-6)M). These results demonstrate that beta-carotene and selenium significantly enhanced phagocytic and kill activities of PMN isolated from buffaloes around parturition in vitro. Vitamin A enhanced phagocytosis and kill activities but not to the same extent as beta-carotene and selenium. Apparently, the in vitro killing activity of PMN is a distinctive function from phagocytosis and both activities may be enhanced by the use of essential nutrients, especially during the peripartum period. Moreover, beta-carotene is more effective as an antioxidant than vitamin A in enhancing the activities of phagocytic cells.

Immune regulation of ovarian function in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalus).

We studied the infiltration of different subsets of immune system cells in the ovarian parenchyma of Egyptian buffaloes during follicular and luteal phases of the estrous cycle. All subsets of leukocytes infiltrated significantly more into corpora lutea (CL) than into Graafian follicles (GF) (P < 0.01) except for plasma cells that were abundant in the GF but not observed in the CL. The number of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils were significantly greater in mature CL than in corpora hemorrhagica (CH) or regressing CL. Moreover, the regressing CL showed significantly more macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils than the CH. Large antral follicles were infiltrated with larger number of leukocytes than growing preantral atretic follicles. Macrophages and neutrophils observed in large antral follicles were significantly more abundant in the theca externa than the theca interna (P < 0.01). Only plasma cells were significantly greater in number in the theca intema (P < 0.01). Leukocytes infiltrated significantly more into large mature follicles than large, growing, preantral atretic follicles (P < 0.01). Results of this study reveal the calling of leukocytes in a significant numbers inside the ovarian tissue of buffaloes around the time of ovulation and at luteolysis. It is possible that leukocytes with their powerful bioactive cytokines (IL-1, TNFalpha, GM-CSF, and INF-gamma) may assist in ovarian functions such as ovulation and luteolysis.

Isolation of immunologically active uterine luminal proteins associated with follicular and luteal phases of the ovary in buffalo (Bubalus bubalus).

Uterine luminal proteins (ULP) collected from the genital tract of buffalo during the follicular (Group F) and luteal (Group L) phases of the estrous cycle were chromatographed using sephacryl S-200 gel. Five peaks were detected in each group. Different protein concentrations (10 to 200 microg) from Peaks I and V in each group were examined for immunological activity on polymorph nuclear leukocytic cells (PMNL) in vitro. All concentrations except 10 microg of ULP Peak I (< or = 250 kDa) in Group F enhanced phagocytic activity of PMNL. Peak V (56 kDa) in the same group enhanced phagocytic activity of PMNL only at low protein concentrations (10, 20 and 40 microg protein), while at greater concentrations (80, 150 and 200 microg protein) PMNL activity was suppressed. On the other hand, all protein concentrations from Peak 1 (> or = 250 kDa) in Group L suppressed PMNL activity in a dose-dependent manner. Proteins from Peak V (31 kDa) in Group L suppressed PMNL phagocytic activity at all concentrations but not to the same extent as in Peak I. Electrophoretic analysis of Peaks I and V in both groups revealed only 3 detectable protein bands (subunits) in Peak I and 1 detectable subunit in Peak V. Several additional proteins were probably not detected. The molecular weights of the detected subunits in Peaks I and V in Group F were greater than those in Group L as indicated by SDS-PAGE analysis. The results of this study show that ULP collected from buffalo possessed proteins that modulated phagocytic activity of PMNL in vitro. Proteins collected during the follicular phase, especially Peak I, enhanced phagocytic activity of the PMNL, whereas those collected during the luteal phase (Peaks I and V) suppressed activity. Changes in the molecular weights of ULP detected in this experiment may be related to the changes in phagocytic activity of PMNL tested in vitro.

Regulation of uterine immune function during the estrous cycle and in response to infectious bacteria in sheep.

Uterine infections are a major reproductive problem in livestock. We conducted two experiments to investigate factors that may modulate uterine responses to infectious bacteria. In Exp. 1, ewes received intrauterine inoculations of either saline or bacteria (75 x 10(7) cfu of Actinomyces pyogenes and 35 x 10(7) cfu of Escherichia coli) on either d 0 or 7 of the estrous cycle. Vena caval samples containing uteroovarian blood were collected twice daily from 12 h before until 6 d after inoculation. Only ewes inoculated with bacteria on d 7 developed infections. Basal (4.8 vs .4 pmol), lipopolysaccharide-stimulated (14.2 vs 6.1 pmol), and concanavalin A-stimulated (65.8 vs 21.6 pmol) blastogenesis (i.e., [3H]thymidine incorporation) of vena caval lymphocytes was greater (P < or = .002) for ewes inoculated with bacteria or saline on d 0 rather than on d 7. The number (per 100 white blood cells) of lymphocytes was greater (41.3 vs 30.8, P < .001) and that of neutrophils was less (42.5 vs 51.6, P < .001) in ewes inoculated on d 0 rather than d 7. Bacteria increased (P < .05) vena caval PGF(2 alpha) but not PGE2 concentrations. In Exp. 2, two protein fractions (molecular weights of > or = 100 kDa and approximately 12.7 kDa) from chromatography of uterine flushings collected on d 0 or 7, or 18 d after ovariectomy on d 0 or 7, modulated phytohemagglutinin-stimulated blastogenesis; the heavier fraction from d 0 had a stimulatory component, but the major effects of the fractions were inhibitory. The differences in immune function and regulation between d 0 and 7 probably explain how the uterus of follicular phase ewes was able to prevent the development of an infection.