Isolation and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis (Ernst Berliner) strains indigenous to agricultural soils of Mali.

The objective of this work was to isolate and characterize Bacillus thuringiensis from agricultural and other insect breeding sites in Mali. A hundred soil samples were collected from Bamako district, Segou, Sikasso and Timbuktu regions. B. thuringiensis (Bt) was isolated from the samples using a heat-acetate method and the isolates were identified and classified using morphological and biochemical tests. The frequency of B. thuringiensis in soils was noted. The results showed that, 15 out of the 3111 bacterial isolates were putative Bt. thuringiensis. Most isolates produced parasporal crystals. The average Bt index for all the areas sampled was 5.1%; the highest frequency was recorded for Niono in Segou region (11.7) and the lowest for Bozola in Bamako district (0.5). Contrary the known information on the high content and distribution of B. in soils, the agricultural soils of Mali contain few Bt strains, confirmed by the low Bt index obtained

Associations Between Workplace Stress and Caregiver Strain In Full-Time Employed Caregivers

According to the 2015 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving report, Caregiving in the U.S., 60% of family caregivers in the United States are involved in the dual roles of caregiving and working. It is important to determine whether workplace impacts, and factors such as workplace and other supports are predictors of overall emotional, physical, and financial caregiving strain. Guided by the caregiving stress process and role conflict theory, the current study used hierarchical regression analyses to determine whether caregiver reports of impacts of caregiving in the workplace were associated with caregiver physical, emotional, and financial strain after accounting for the primary stressors of ADL/IADL assistance and hours of care provided. We also examined both workplace and informal support as potential resources that might attenuate the effects of primary stressors and workplace impacts on emotional, physical, and financial caregiving strain. Participants included 436 employed caregivers of adults ages 50 and above from the 2015 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving population-based study, Caregiving in the United States. Regression analyses showed that caregiver reports of higher negative workplace impacts of caregiving were associated with greater emotional and financial strain, even after controlling for primary caregiving stressors. Among other findings, caregivers who reported disclosing their caregiving duties to supervisors reported higher levels of emotional strain. Results suggest the importance of workplace strain in the stress process and suggest that some workplaces may be unsympathetic to the challenges of impaired caregivers

Understanding the Roles of Patient Symptoms and Subjective Appraisals in Well-Being Among Breast Cancer Patients

We examined the roles of both patient symptoms, and subjective appraisals of stress (self-efficacy, symptom barriers, symptom distress) in understanding well-being (anxiety, depression, cancer specific quality of life, mental health quality of life, and physical health quality of life) in breast cancer patients. We examined data from 104 breast cancer patients. Using a stress process model, we hypothesized that while high levels of patient symptoms would be associated with poorer patient well-being, these effects would be mediated by subjective appraisals including patient self-efficacy, perceived symptom barriers, and symptom distress. As expected, higher levels of patient symptoms were associated with poorer well-being on all five indicators. Subjective appraisals of stress added significantly to predictors of well-being, and were mediators of this relationship across all five outcomes. While patient symptoms are important predictors of patient well-being, subjective appraisals of the stressfulness of symptoms, and of patients’ self-efficacy in managing symptoms, are also key factors. The findings suggest the utility of a stress process model in understanding well-being in breast cancer patients, and point to the potential value of targeting patient appraisals as well as symptoms to improve psychological well-being and quality of life

Design to Implementation of A Line Follower Robot Using 5 Sensors

Abstract: The main objective is to design a line follower robot is to carry products in the manufacturing process in industries. In this paper, we mainly focused on the design to work the line follower efficiently with lighter weight. The line follower robot designed with 5 sensors to make the robot move in even complex paths. This paper discussed the mechanical and technical issues with the line follower robot and applications in various fields. In the working model, we used black detector infrared sensors So that speed of response of the robot is high. This paper gives an brief idea about all the components used to prepare a line follower robot

C-glycosyl flavone from Urginea indica inhibits proliferation & angiogenesis & induces apoptosis via cyclin-dependent kinase 6 in human breast, hepatic & colon cancer cell lines

Background & objectives: Search for novel compounds beneficial to the treatment of cancer attracts a great deal of attention. We earlier demonstrated the isolation of 5,7-dihydroxy-2-[4'-hydroxy-3'-(methoxymethyl)phenyl]-6-C-β-glucopyranosyl flavone, a novel C-glycosyl flavone from Urginea indica bulb. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of this novel compound on human normal epithelial and breast, hepatic and colon cancer cell lines. Methods: The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) and cytotoxicity of C-glycosyl flavone were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry. Docking studies were performed to predict possible targets. Levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1) and CDK6, Bcl2 and BAX and cytochrome c were quantified by specific ELISA. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined using JC-1 dye. Apoptosis was quantified by Annexin V ELISA method. Results: Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated G0/G1 arrest. In silico docking studies predicted CDK1 and CDK6 as a possible target of C-glycosyl flavone. In vitro study confirmed CDK6 as the main target in C-glycosyl flavone-treated cancer cell lines. C-glycosyl flavone treatment also induced membrane blebbing, chromatin fragmentation and nucleosome formation. C-glycosyl flavone treatment caused marked loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, decrease in Bcl2/BAX ratio and activation of caspase-3 and release of caspase-9 and cytochrome c. In addition, C-glycosyl flavone inhibited the tumour-induced angiogenesis and reduced the vascular endothelial growth factor levels. Similarly, CDK6 inhibitor significantly inhibited proliferation and angiogenesis and induced apoptosis in tested cell lines. Interpretation & conclusions: The results indicate that C-glycosyl flavone may exert induction of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of angiogenesis via CDK6. Thus, targeting CDK6 using C-glycosyl flavone may serve as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of breast, hepatic and colon cancers

Additional file 2: Figure S1. of Protective effect of 3-O-methyl quercetin and kaempferol from Semecarpus anacardium against H2O2 induced cytotoxicity in lung and liver cells

UV-vis spectrophotometric analysis of isolated antioxidant compounds. (DOCX 66 kb

Isolation and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis (Ernst Berliner) strains indigenous to agricultural soils of Mali.

The objective of this work was to isolate and characterize Bacillus thuringiensis from agricultural and other insect breeding sites in Mali. A hundred soil samples were collected from Bamako district, Segou, Sikasso and Timbuktu regions. B. thuringiensis (Bt) was isolated from the samples using a heat-acetate method and the isolates were identified and classified using morphological and biochemical tests. The frequency of B. thuringiensis in soils was noted. The results showed that, 15 out of the 3111 bacterial isolates were putative Bt. thuringiensis. Most isolates produced parasporal crystals. The average Bt index for all the areas sampled was 5.1%; the highest frequency was recorded for Niono in Segou region (11.7) and the lowest for Bozola in Bamako district (0.5). Contrary the known information on the high content and distribution of B. in soils, the agricultural soils of Mali contain few Bt strains, confirmed by the low Bt index obtained.201

Additional file 3: Figure S2. of Protective effect of 3-O-methyl quercetin and kaempferol from Semecarpus anacardium against H2O2 induced cytotoxicity in lung and liver cells

Effect of 3-O-methyl quercetin (a) and kaempferol (b) on expression of Glutathione peroxidase. (JPG 218 kb

Examining the Rural Influence on Non Medical Prescription Drug Use (NMPDU) in a University Population: Pilot Phase 1

The prevalence of prescription drug misuse and abuse has increased dramatically, particularly in young adults age 18-25. Recent research now indicates that young adults living in rural communities are more likely than their urban counterparts to abuse prescription drugs. The purpose of this 2-phase, exploratory study is twofold: 1) to examine the prevalence rates and correlates of nonmedical prescription drug (NMPDU) use among college students on a rural southeastern college campus, and 2) to examine how environmental factors, specifically coming from a rural environment (vs. urban) and living in a rural college environment affect students’ current collegiate NMPDU. This study used mixed-methods study design with focus groups (Phase 1) to inform a campus-wide survey (Phase 2). For Phase 1, 40 students (32 from the general student population; 8 from the Center for Addiction Recovery) were recruited to participate in 5 focus groups of 8 students each. Focus groups were recorded and these audio files were transcribed into text files which were loaded into Atlas.ti, a qualitative data analysis software, for analysis. Classical three-pass coding was performed. Open-ended coding during the first pass-through to locate themes and assign initial codes, the second pass, combined themes to form cluster of concepts from open coding, The final coding was used to determine the types of comparisons, and select relevant themes to guide Phase 2. Higher prevalence of NMPDU in the rural environment is discussed as well as perceptions of NMPDU gleaned from these focus groups

Comparison of Subjective and Objective Measures of Hearing, Auditory Processing, and Cognition Among Older Adults With and Without Mild Cognitive Impairment

Purpose: The aims of the study were to compare the Cognitive Self-Report Questionnaire (CSRQ; Spina, Ruff, & Mahncke, 2006) Hearing and Cognitive subscale ratings among older adults with and without probable mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and to examine whether self-report, as measured by the CSRQ, is associated with objective measures of hearing, auditory processing, and cognition. Method: Data analyses included 97 older adults of ages 61–91 years. Participants completed the CSRQ self-report measure as well as a battery of objective measures, including pure-tone audiometry, degraded speech understanding, temporal processing, and memory. Results: Older adults with probable MCI rated their cognitive abilities more poorly than those without MCI (p = .002), but ratings of hearing and auditory abilities did not differ between the two groups (p = .912). Age and CSRQ Hearing subscale ratings explained a significant proportion of variance in objective measures of hearing and degraded speech understanding (R2 = .39, p \u3c .001). Age, sex, mental status, and CSRQ Cognition subscale ratings explained a significant proportion of variance in objective memory performance (R2 = .55, p \u3c .001). Conclusions: Taken together, these results suggest that the CSRQ is an appropriate self-report measure of hearing, cognition, and some aspects of auditory processing for older adults with and without probable MCI