Determination of thiamethoxam residues and dissipation kinetic in tomato plants and its efficacy against Bemisia tabaci under open field eco system.

Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci cause important losses for many crops especially tomato, therefore farmers often use many chemical insecticides which had dangerous side effects on human beings and environment, thus there are need to determine the residues of these chemicals in plant . The dissipation of thiamethoxam in tomato leaves and fruits followed the first order kinetics; Half-lives were 2.91 and 3.15 days for fruits and leaves, respectively. The residues of thiamethoxam were determined using a QuEChERS method with HPLC-DAD and it was 0.14 mg/ kg in fruits after 7 days of treatment and less than the maximum residue limit (MRL 0.2 mg/kg. The residue in leaves was more than in fruits. Seedlings produced from treated seeds were more resistant to different stages of the whitefly population and protect tomato plants from whitefly infestation for 6-10 weeks after transplanting. The three sprays of thiamethoxam increased the reduction percentage of B. tabaci stages and the highest increase was recorded after the third spray in egg, nymph, and adult stages. It could be recommend that Thiamethoxam is considered an unconventional insecticide appropriate for B. tabaci control and safe for humans and the environment.

Sedimentology, petrography, and reservoir quality of the Zarga and Ghazal formations in the Keyi oilfield, Muglad Basin, Sudan.

The Zarga and Ghazal formations constitute important reservoirs across the Muglad Basin, Sudan. Nevertheless, the sedimentology and diagenesis of these reservoir intervals have hitherto received insignificant research attention. Detailed understanding of sedimentary facies and diagenesis could enhance geological and geophysical data for better exploration and production and minimize risks. In this study, subsurface reservoir cores representing the Zarga formation (1114.70-1118.50 m and 1118.50-1125.30 m), and the Ghazal formation (91,403.30-1406.83 m) were subjected to sedimentological (lithofacies and grain size), petrographic/mineralogic (thin section, XRD, SEM), and petrophysical (porosity and permeability) analyses to describe their reservoir quality, provenance, and depositional environments. Eight (8) different lithofacies, texturally characterized as moderately to well-sorted, and medium to coarse-grained, sub-feldspathic to feldspathic arenite were distinguished in the cored intervals. Mono-crystalline quartz (19.3-26.2%) predominated over polycrystalline quartz (2.6-13.8%), feldspar (6.6-10.3%), and mica (1.4-7.6%) being the most prominent constituent of the reservoir rocks. Provenance plot indicated the sediments were from a transitional continental provenance setting. The overall vertical sequence, composition, and internal sedimentary structures of the lithofacies suggest a fluvial-to-deltaic depositional environment for the Ghazal formation, while the Zarga formation indicated a dominant deltaic setting. Kaolinite occurs mainly as authigenic mineral, while carbonates quantitatively fluctuate with an insignificant amount of quartz overgrowths in most of the analyzed cores. Integration of XRD, SEM, and thin section analysis highlights that kaolinite, chlorite, illite, and smectite are present as authigenic minerals. Pore-destroying diagenetic processes (e.g. precipitation, cementation, and compaction etc.) generally prevailed over pore-enhancing processes (e.g. dissolution). Point-counted datasets indicate a better reservoir quality for the Ghazal formation (ɸ = 27.7% to 30.7%; K = 9.65 mD to 1196.71 mD) than the Zarga formation (17.9% to 24.5%; K = 1051.09 mD to 1090.45 mD).

[Treatment of nevus of Ota and Ito and epidermal nevus syndrome]. / Behandlung des Naevus Ota und Ito und des Pigmentnävussyndroms.

Nevus of Ota, nevus of Ito and nevus of Hori are special melanocytic nevi that have a slate-brown or blue/grey coloring. They are pigmented disorders characterized by its heterotopic melanocytic dermal location and by blue/brown unilateral and sometimes bilateral facial patch in case of nevus of Ota, and in the supraclavicular, scapular, and deltoid region in case of nevus of Ito. It is more common in patients with Asian and dark-skinned ethnic backgrounds. Histologically, elongated, dendritic melanocytes are seen scattered mainly throughout the upper third of reticular dermis. An acquired variant is called Hori's nevus with more bilateral facial distribution, similar to melasma. Dermal melanocytosis can also occur elsewhere on the body, including inside the mouth. Despite its benign nature, patients frequently seek therapy because of its facial involvement. QS lasers are used effectively to treat these lesions. The number of treatment sessions correlates with clinical improvement. Post laser hypo- and hyperpigmentation are common side effects mainly affecting patients with darker skin.

Deliberate practice using validated metrics improves skill acquisition in performance of ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block in a simulated setting.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of deliberate vs. self-guided practices (both using validated metrics) on the acquisition of needling skills by novice learners. DESIGN: Randomized Controlled Study. SETTING: Simulation lab, Department of Anesthesia, St.Vincent's Hospital, Dublin. SUBJECTS: Eighteen medical students. INTERVENTIONS: Students were assigned to either (i) deliberate practice (n = 10) or (ii) self-guided practice (n = 8) groups. After completion of a 'learning phase', subjects attempted to perform a predefined task, which entailed advancing a needle towards a target on a phantom gel under ultrasound guidance. Subsequently, all subjects practiced this task using predefined metrics. Only subjects in the deliberate practice group had an expert anesthesiologist during practice. Immediately after completing 'practice phase', all subjects attempted to perform the same task, and, on the following day, made two further attempts in succession. Two trained consultant anesthesiologists assessed a video of each performance independently using the pre-defined metrics. MEASUREMENTS: Number of procedural steps completed and number of errors made. MAIN RESULTS: Compared with novices who self-guided their practice using metrics, those who undertook expert-supervised deliberate practice using metrics completed more steps (performance metrics) immediately after practice (median [range], 14.5 [12-15] vs. 3 [1-10], p < 0.0001) and 24 h later (15 [12-15] vs. 4.5 [1-11], p < 0.0001 and 15 [11-15] vs. 4 [2-14], p < 0.0001). They also made fewer errors immediately after practice (median [range], 0 [0-0] vs. 5 [3-8], p < 0.0001) and 24 h later, (0 [0-3] vs. 6.5 [3-8], p < 0.0001 and 0 [0-3] vs. 4 [2-7], p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Combining deliberate practice with metrics improved acquisition of needling skills.

Characterisation and in vitro stability of low-dose, lidocaine-loaded poly(vinyl alcohol)-tetrahydroxyborate hydrogels.

Poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogels cross-linked with the tetrahydroxyborate anion possess textural and rheological properties that can be used as novel drug-loaded vehicles for application to traumatic wounds. However, addition of soluble drug substances causes concentration-dependent phase separation and rheological changes. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of adding a local anaesthetic, but keeping the concentration low in an attempt to prevent these changes. Cross-linked hydrogels prepared from three grades of poly(vinyl alcohol) were characterised rheologically. Temperature sweep studies showed an elevated complex viscosity upon moving from 25°C to 80°C, which remained high for 48 h following completion of the cycle. Adhesion to model dermal surfaces achieved a maximum of 2.62 N cm(-2) and were greater than that observed to epidermal substrates, with a strong dependence on the rate of detachment used during testing. An optimised formulation (6% w/w PVA (31-50; 99) and 2% w/w THB) containing lidocaine hydrochloride loaded to an upper maximum concentration of 1.5% w/w was assessed for phase separation and drug crystallisation. After six months, crystallisation was present in formulations containing 0.7% and 1.5% lidocaine HCl. Changes in pH in response to increases in lidocaine loading were low. Drug release was shown to operate via a non-Fickian process for all three concentrations, with 60% occurring after approximately 24h. It can be concluded that using a low concentration of lidocaine hydrochloride in hydrogels based on poly(vinyl alcohol) will result in crystallisation. Furthermore, these hydrogels are unlikely to induce rapid anaesthesia due to the low loading and slow release kinetics.

Evaluation of protection in a mouse model after vaccination with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculois protein cocktails.

Whole-cell vaccines successfully reduce signs of clinical disease and fecal shedding of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), however, these vaccines have some limitations. The present study was conducted to identify MAP proteins that might be candidates for the development of an improved vaccine. MAP proteins were screened for immunogenicity in naturally infected cattle and selected based upon reactivity in the interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and Western blot assays. Proteins (MAP1087, MAP1204, MAP1272c, and MAP2077c) were arrayed into 4 overlapping cocktails containing 3 proteins each. The efficacy of the proteins within these cocktails as vaccine candidates was evaluated by subcutaneous immunization of mice, followed by challenge with live, virulent MAP. All MAP protein cocktails significantly reduced the recovery of live MAP from the ileum, while cocktails 1 and 3 reduced colonization in the liver. No significant differences were seen in the mesenteric lymph node or spleen, however, cocktail 1 reduced viable MAP in the mesenteric lymph node compared to other treatments. Stimulation of splenocytes upregulated antigen-specific IFN-γ and IL-23 secretion in all treatment groups, regardless of vaccination. Interestingly, IL-4 was moderately downregulated for vaccinates compared to control infected mice. An increase in total CD25 expression was noted for 3 of the 4 vaccinate groups upon stimulation of splenocytes with a whole cell sonicate of MAP, with this effect becoming more significant within CD4CD25+ and CD8CD25+ subpopulations. The present study demonstrated that MAP proteins are useful as vaccine candidates to reduce MAP tissue burden.

Antibacterial activity of different degree of hydrolysis of palm kernel expeller peptides against spore-forming and non-spore-forming bacteria.

AIMS: The goal of this study was to determine inhibitory effect of palm kernel expeller (PKE) peptides of different degree of hydrolysis (DH %) against spore-forming bacteria Bacillus cereus, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus stearothermophillus, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Clostridium perfringens; and non-spore-forming bacteria Escherichia coli, Lisinibacillus sphaericus, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus. METHODS AND RESULTS: A range of DH % (50-100) of PKE peptides was prepared using alcalase, and hydrolysis conditions were determined using response surface methodology (RSM). The influence of pH (6·5-10·5), temperature (35-65°C), enzyme/substrate ratio (1-5%) and substrate concentration (1-2%) were studied on the response of the DH. The antibacterial activity of different DH % of PKE peptides was tested by using disc diffusion assay and micro-broth dilution assay. According to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test on each of the PKE peptides of different DH %, the 70 DH % PKE peptide showed greater inhibitory effect compared to the 100 DH % PKE peptide against B. cereus, B. coagulans, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, B. stearothermophillus, B. subtilis, B. thuringiensis, Cl. perfringens, Lisinibacillus sphaericus and L. monocytogenes. CONCLUSIONS: The 70 DH % PKE peptides exhibited greatest overall antibacterial effect of the various peptides of PKE evaluated. Further research is needed to determine the mode of action of PKE peptides. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Palm kernel expeller peptides, a natural plant product, effectively inhibited the growth of spore-forming and non-spore-forming Gram-positive bacteria. Potentially, PKE peptides could be used in food preservation and developed as antibacterial agent in the pharmaceutical industry.

Chronic metabolic responses of postpartal dairy cows to subcutaneous glucagon injections, oral glycerol, or both.

We examined the long-term effects of daily subcutaneous injections of 15 mg of glucagon during the first 14 d postpartum with or without coadministration of 400 mL of pure glycerol orally on blood metabolites and hormones and liver composition of Holstein dairy cows during early lactation. Fourteen multiparous cows with body condition score of >or=3.5 points (1-5 point scale) were assigned randomly to one of 4 treatment groups-saline, glucagon, glycerol, or glucagon plus glycerol. Fatty liver syndrome was induced by feeding cows a dry-cow ration supplemented with 6 kg of cracked corn daily during the last 6 wk of the dry period. Compared with saline treatment (n=3), coadministration of glucagon and glycerol (n=4) increased plasma glucose and insulin and decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentrations in both treatment weeks, whereas glucagon alone (n=3) produced similar changes plus a decrease in plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate in the second week only. No significant changes were observed for the glycerol alone treatment (n=4). We conclude that a single daily dose of glycerol for the first 14 d postpartum may potentiate the action of glucagon in the first treatment days to alleviate some symptoms of fatty liver syndrome, such as the increase in plasma nonesterified fatty acids and the decrease in plasma glucose and insulin, in Holstein dairy cows after parturition.

Acute metabolic responses of postpartal dairy cows to subcutaneous glucagon injections, oral glycerol, or both.

This study examined the effects of multiple subcutaneous glucagon injections with or without co-administration of oral glycerol on energy status-related blood metabolites and hormones of Holstein dairy cows in the first 2 wk postpartum. Twenty multiparous cows were fed a dry cow ration supplemented with 6 kg of cracked corn during the dry period to increase the likelihood of developing postpartal fatty liver syndrome. Cows with a body condition score of >or=3.5 points (1- to 5-point scale) were assigned randomly to 1 of 4 treatment groups: saline, glucagon, glycerol, or glucagon plus glycerol. Following treatment, serial blood samples were collected over an 8-h period to determine the effects of glucagon and glycerol on blood metabolites and hormones. Treatment effects were determined by comparing the concentrations of metabolites and hormones during the first 4-h period and the entire 8-h period after treatment administration (time 0) with the concentration of the same compounds at time 0 on d 1, 7, and 13 postpartum. Administration of glucagon alone increased concentrations of plasma glucagon and insulin on d 1, 7, and 13 and increased plasma glucose and decreased plasma nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) on d 7 and 13 postpartum relative to the saline group. Administration of glycerol alone increased plasma glucose on d 7 and plasma triacylglycerols on d 1 postpartum. Glycerol administration also decreased plasma glucagon and NEFA on d 1, 7, and 13 and plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA) on d 1 postpartum relative to the saline group. Administration of glucagon plus glycerol increased and sustained concentrations of plasma glucagon, glucose, and insulin on d 1, 7, and 13 and decreased plasma NEFA on d 1, 7, and 13 and BHBA on d 1 and 7. Early postpartal treatment of dairy cows with glucagon plus glycerol increased plasma glucose and insulin, decreased plasma NEFA and BHBA, and increased secretion of liver NEFA as plasma triacylglycerols. This suggests that glucagon and glycerol, when co-administered, act to decrease the likelihood of metabolism-related syndrome development in dairy cows.

Effects of chitosan on oxidative stress and metallothioneins in aquatic worm Tubifex tubifex (Oligochaeta, Tubificidae).

Chitosan is a natural polymer which has the property to elicit the natural defenses mechanism in plant and which can be an interesting biopesticides. It is then necessary to investigate the potential toxicity of chitosan for aquatic animal health. Metallothioneins (MTs) are low molecular weight proteins, mainly implicated in metal ion detoxification. Increase in MTs contents had been considered as a specific biomarker of metal exposure. However recently it has been demonstrated that MTs participate in several cellular functions such as regulation of growth and anti-oxidative defenses. Therefore, the induction of MTs has been investigated in the aquatic worms Tubifex tubifex exposed to chitosan. MTs levels in exposed worm increased significantly (p > 0.05) after 2, 4, and 7 days of exposure to different concentrations of chitosan (maximum + 158.19 +/- 10.2% after 2 days of exposure to 125 mgl(-1) of chitosan). Several antioxidant parameters including glutathione (GSH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and catalase (CAT) were quantified in T. tubifex after 2, 4, and 7 days of exposure to chitosan. Exposure to chitosan had a negative effect on T. tubifex growth (maximum effect -6.11 +/- 1.6% after 7 days with 125 mgl(-1)) demonstrating the toxic effect of the pesticide. This growth rate decrease was accompanied by a reduction in protein contents. The activity of catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and glutathione reductase (GR) increased in response to the chitosan demonstrating an oxidative stress in the worms.

Iqg1p, a yeast homologue of the mammalian IQGAPs, mediates cdc42p effects on the actin cytoskeleton.

The Rho-type GTPase Cdc42p has been implicated in diverse cellular functions including cell shape, cell motility, and cytokinesis, all of which involve the reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Targets of Cdc42p that interface the actin cytoskeleton are likely candidates for mediating cellular activities. In this report, we identify and characterize a yeast homologue for the mammalian IQGAP, a cytoskeletal target for Cdc42p. The yeast IQGAP homologue, designated Iqg1p, displays a two-hybrid interaction with activated Cdc42p and coimmunoprecipitates with actin filaments. Deletion of IQG1 results in a temperature-sensitive lethality and causes aberrant morphologies including elongated and round multinucleated cells. This together with its localization at the mother-bud neck, suggest that Iqg1p promotes budding and cytokinesis. At restrictive temperatures, the vacuoles of the mutant cells enlarge and vesicles accumulate in the bud. Interestingly, Iqg1p shows two-hybrid interactions with the ankyrin repeat-containing protein, Akr1p (Kao, L.-R., J. Peterson, J. Ruiru, L. Bender, and A. Bender. 1996. Mol. Cell. Biol. 16:168-178), which inhibits pheromone signaling and appears to promote cytokinesis and/or trafficking. We also show two-hybrid interactions between Iqg1p and Afr1p, a septin-binding protein involved in projection formation (Konopka, J.B., C. DeMattei, and C. Davis. 1995. Mol. Cell. Biol. 15:723-730). We propose that Iqg1p acts as a scaffold to recruit and localize a protein complex involved in actin-based cellular functions and thus mediates the regulatory effects of Cdc42p on the actin cytoskeleton.

Bromfenac, a new nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug: relationship between the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity and plasma drug levels in rodents.

Bromfenac [2-amino-3-(4-bromobenzoyl)benzenacetic acid, sodium salt sesquihydrate] exhibited potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in mice and rats. In a mouse model of pain (acetylcholine abdominal constriction), bromfenac showed a rapid onset of activity (20 min) that persisted for at least 4 hr. In a rat model of inflammation (carrageenan foot edema), a single oral dose of bromfenac, 0.316 mg/kg, produced significant anti-inflammatory activity up to 24 hr after dosing. Bromfenac was readily absorbed after oral administration, peak plasma levels being achieved at the earliest time tested: 20 min in the mouse and 30 min in the rat. The plasma half-life of bromfenac in rats is less than 4 hr. Since the anti-inflammatory activity persisted for 20 to 24 hr in spite of its short plasma half-life, it appears that there is no direct correlation between duration of activity and plasma drug level.

Pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of AHR-11748, a new antiepileptic agent, in rodents.

AHR-11748, the desmethyl metabolite of fluzinamide (an effective antiepileptic), was active in preventing maximal seizures induced in mice or rats by electroshock and threshold seizures induced in mice by Metrazol, bicuculline, and picrotoxin. The compound showed a profile of anticonvulsant activity similar to those of phenobarbital and valproic acid and different from those of phenytoin and ethosuximide. ED50s were less than those of valproic acid, but greater than those of phenobarbital. Analysis of plasma and whole brain homogenates of mice indicated that AHR-11748 has an apparent terminal half-life (t1/2, beta) of 1.0 h. The brain:plasma ratio of AHR-11748 was 3.4:1 from 0.5 h to 6 h.

Peripheral neural involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis. A pathologic study of human and experimental animal lesions.

Peripheral neural involvement in cutaneous leishmaniasis has recently been recognized. A man presented with several tender hyperesthetic skin nodules. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Of most interest was the presence of a striking lymphohistocytic inflammatory infiltrate around and within cutaneous nerves in addition to demonstrable leishmania organisms in the perineural space. This observation led to a detailed histopathologic evaluation of leishmanial skin lesions that developed in 13 mice after subcutaneous injection with leishmania major promastigotes. Varying degrees of neural involvement was noted in skin lesions from nine animals. In some lesions, in addition to inflammatory cells in the nerves, organisms were demonstrable within probable schwann cells. Three pathologic stages of dermal neural involvement were identified, namely, an early, intermediate, and late stage, depending on the severity of damage; however no correlation was found between the pathologic stage and the duration of the leismanial skin lesion of a specific animal.

Liquid chromatographic quantitation of chicken and turkey in unheated chicken-turkey mixtures.

A simple and rapid liquid chromatographic (LC) method has been used to quantitate chicken and turkey in unheated chicken-turkey mixtures. The LC method is sensitive and detects as little as 1% chicken or turkey. It reliably quantitates 5-100% chicken or turkey in unheated poultry mixtures. The method applies also to chicken or turkey which has been frozen, but does not apply to heat-treated poultry meats.