Interactome analysis and docking sites prediction of (AtCHR8, AtCUL4 and AtERCC1/UVR7) proteins in Arabidopsis Thaliana

The UV irradiation is a major DNA damaging factor in plants. Arabidopsis thaliana uses various repair pathways for these kinds of DNA lesions. One of them is the nucleotide excision repair pathway. The AtCUL4, ERCC1/UVR7 and CHR8 are vital proteins for nucleotide excision pathway and mutations in these proteins cause flaws in the repair mechanism. Two of these proteins play crucial role during DNA damage recognition and the other is involved in the excision of damaged bases. During NER processes, Arabidopsis uses different sets of proteins during the DNA damage recognition for transcriptionally active and genomic DNA. In order to get better insight into these proteins, we used bioinformatics tools to predict, analyze, and validate 3D structures of ERCC1/UVR7, AtCUL4 and CHR8. We also predicted the subcellular and sub-nuclear localization of proteins. Subsequently, we predicted the docking sites for each individual proteins and searched for interacting residues which mediate the protein-protein interactions.&nbsp

Kinetics and physico-chemical properties of alkali activated blast-furnace slag/basalt pastes

AbstractGranulated blast-furnace slag (GBFS) is a by-product of the metallurgical industry and consists mainly of lime and calcium–magnesium aluminosilicates that defined as the glassy granular material formed by rapid cooling of molten slag with excess water resulting in an amorphous structure. Alkali-activated slag (AAS) binders have taken a great interest from researchers due to its manufacturing process which has important benefits from the point of view of the lower energy requirements and lower emission of greenhouse gases with respect to the manufacturing of Portland cement. In this study, GBFS was replaced by 20, 40 and 60wt.% of basalt activated by 6wt.% of alkali mixture composed of 1:1 sodium hydroxide (SH) and liquid sodium silicate (LSS) mixed with sea water and cured in 100% relative humidity up to 90days. The physic-chemical parameters were studied by determination of setting time, combined water content, bulk density and compressive strength. As the amount of basalt increases the setting time as well as compressive strength decreases while the bulk density increases. The compressive strength values of dried pastes are greater than those of saturated pastes. The hydrated products are identified by TGA/DTG analysis, IR spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

Application of microbial biocementation to improve the physico-mechanical properties of cement mortar

AbstractCalcite is one of the most common and wide spread mineral on Earth constituting 4wt% of the Earth’s crust. It is naturally found in extensive sedimentary rock masses, as lime stone marble and calcareous sandstone in marine, fresh water and terrestrial environments. Calcium carbonate is one of the most well known mineral that bacteria deposit by the phenomenon called biocementation or microbiologically induced calcite precipitation (MICP). Such deposits have recently emerged as promising binders for protecting and consolidating various building materials. Microbially enhanced calcite precipitation on concrete or mortar has become an important area of research regarding construction materials. This study describes a method of strength and water absorption improvement of cement–sand mortar by the microbiologically induced calcium carbonate precipitation. A moderately alkalophilic aerobic Sporosarcina pasteurii was incorporated at different cell concentrations with the mixing water. The study showed that a 33% increase in 28days compressive strength of cement mortar was achieved with the addition of about one optical density (1OD) of bacterial cells with mixing water. The strength and water absorption improvement are due to the growth of calcite crystals within the pores of the cement–sand matrix as indicated from the microstructure obtained from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination

FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES OF PROTEIN ISOLATE EXTRACTED FROM BEEF BONES

Bone protein isolate (BPI) extracted from beef bones with 2% added salt (i) and without salt (ii) has been analysed for functional properties as these properties are of importance when the protein isolate is used in different industries. Water absorption by the bone protein isolate (i) and (ii) was 0.35 and 0.46 H2O/g protein, respectively. The minimum solubility of protein isolate (i) was 65.85% at pH 3 while isolated protein (ii) had a minimum solubility of 52.30% at pH 5. An increase in solubility was observed below and above pH 3 for the protein isolate (i) (83.66% at pH 1 and 87.12% at pH 11) and below and above pH 5 for protein isolate (ii) (83.20% at pH 1 and 89.78% at pH 11). The emulsifying capacity of the BPI is great, being much better than that of many classical proteins (sodium caseinate, soy protein isolate). The emulsifying capacity (ml oil/g protein) progressively decreased with increasing protein concentration. On the other hand, alkaline pH improved the mentioned property more than acidic pH. The maximum emulsifying capacity was 1152.60 and 986.78 ml oil/g protein at pH 9 for protein isolate (i) and (ii) respectively. The best foaming capacity was observed at pH 4 for both protein isolates (i) and (ii) (96% and 89% volume increase, respectively). Foams had also high stability at pH 4, having 145 ml and 138 ml final volume for isolates (i) and (ii), respectively. The stability of foams decreased with increase in pH. Both protein isolates obtained had high solubility (NSI) and dispersibility (PDI); being 97.98%, 86.78% for NSI and 99.94%, 89.06% for PDI in case of isolates (i) and (ii). respectively. Such isolates had a satisfactory protein solubility in the pH range existing in many food products

Exogenous application of moringa leaf extract improves growth, biochemical attributes, and productivity of late-sown quinoa

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) has gained significant popularity among agricultural scientists and farmers throughout the world due to its high nutritive value. It is cultivated under a range of soil and climatic conditions; however, late sowing adversely affects its productivity and yield due to shorter growth period. Inorganic and organic phyto-stimulants are promising for improving growth, development, and yield of field crops under stressful environments. Field experiments were conducted during crop cultivation seasons of 2016–17 and 2017–18, to explore the role of inorganic (hydrogen peroxide and ascorbic acid) and organic [moringa leaf extract (MLE) and sorghum water extract (sorgaab)] phyto-stimulants in improving growth and productivity of quinoa (cultivar UAF-Q7). Hydrogen peroxide at 100 μM, ascorbic acid at 500 μM, MLE at 3% and sorgaab at 3% were exogenously applied at anthesis stage of quinoa cultivated under normal (November 21st and 19th during 2016 and 2017) and late-sown (December 26th and 25th during 2016 and 2017) conditions. Application of inorganic and organic phyto-stimulants significantly improved biochemical, physiological, growth and yield attributes of quinoa under late sown conditions. The highest improvement in these traits was recorded for MLE. Application of MLE resulted in higher chlorophyll a and b contents, stomatal conductance, and sub-stomatal concentration of CO2 under normal and late-sowing. The highest improvement in soluble phenolics, anthocyanins, free amino acids and proline, and mineral elements in roots, shoot and grains were observed for MLE application. Growth attributes, including plant height, plant fresh weight and panicle length were significantly improved with MLE application as compared to the rest of the treatments. The highest 1000-grain weight and grain yield per plant were noted for MLE application under normal and late-sowing. These findings depict that MLE has extensive crop growth promoting potential through improving physiological and biochemical activities. Hence, MLE can be applied to improve growth and productivity of quinoa under normal and late-sown conditions

Asthma education for school staff.

BACKGROUND: Teachers and school staff should be competent in managing asthma in schools. Demonstrated low levels of asthma knowledge mean that staff may not know how best to protect a child with asthma in their care, or may fail to take appropriate action in the event of a serious attack. Education about asthma could help to improve this knowledge and lead to better asthma outcomes for children. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness and safety of asthma education programmes for school staff, and to identify content and attributes underpinning them. SEARCH METHODS: We conducted the most recent searches on 29 November 2016. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included randomised controlled trials comparing an intervention to educate school staff about asthma versus a control group. We included studies reported as full text, those published as abstract only and unpublished data. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: At least two review authors screened the searches, extracted outcome data and intervention characteristics from included studies and assessed risk of bias. Primary outcomes for the quantitative synthesis were emergency department (ED) or hospital visits, mortality and asthma control; we graded the main results and presented evidence in a 'Summary of findings' table. We planned a qualitative synthesis of intervention characteristics, but study authors were unable to provide the necessary information.We analysed dichotomous data as odds ratios, and continuous data as mean differences or standardised mean differences, all with a random-effects model. We assessed clinical, methodological and statistical heterogeneity when performing meta-analyses, and we narratively described skewed data. MAIN RESULTS: Five cluster-RCTs of 111 schools met the review eligibility criteria. Investigators measured outcomes in participating staff and often in children or parents, most often at between 1 and 12 months.All interventions were educational programmes but duration, content and delivery varied; some involved elements of training for pupils or primary care providers. We noted risk of selection, performance, detection and attrition biases, although to a differing extent across studies and outcomes.Quanitative and qualitative analyses were limited. Only one study reported visits to the ED or hospital and provided data that were too skewed for analysis. No studies reported any deaths or adverse events. Studies did not report asthma control consistently, but results showed no difference between groups on the paediatric asthma quality of life questionnaire (mean difference (MD) 0.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.03 to 0.31; 1005 participants; we downgraded the quality of evidence to low for risk of bias and indirectness). Data for symptom days, night-time awakenings, restricted activities of daily living and school absences were skewed or could not be analysed; some mean scores were better in the trained group, but most differences between groups were small and did not persist to 24 months.Schools that received asthma education were more adherent to asthma policies, and staff were better prepared; more schools that had received staff asthma training had written asthma policies compared with control schools, more intervention schools showed improvement in measures taken to prevent or manage exercise-induced asthma attacks and more staff at intervention schools reported that they felt able to administer salbutamol via a spacer. However, the quality of the evidence was low; results show imbalances at baseline, and confidence in the evidence was limited by risk of bias and imprecision. Staff knowledge was higher in groups that had received asthma education, although results were inconsistent and difficult to interpret owing to differences between scales (low quality).Available information about the interventions was insufficient for review authors to conduct a meaningful qualitative synthesis of the content that led to a successful intervention, or of the resources required to replicate results accurately. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: Asthma education for school staff increases asthma knowledge and preparedness, but studies vary and all available evidence is of low quality. Studies have not yet captured whether this improvement in knowledge has led to appreciable benefits over the short term or the longer term for the safety and health of children with asthma in school. Randomised evidence does not contribute to our knowledge of content or attributes of interventions that lead to the best outcomes, or of resources required for successful implementation.Complete reporting of the content and resources of educational interventions is essential for assessment of their effectiveness and feasibility for implementation. This applies to both randomised and non-randomised studies, although the latter may be better placed to observe important clinical outcomes such as exacerbations and mortality in the longer term

Knowledge, Perceived Stress And Coping Among Mothers Of

A oross seotional descriptive study was conducted in Qatif City, Eastern Saudi Arabia. This study aimed at assessing disease related knowledge among mothers of children with sickle cell anemia [SCA], to explore different stressors that confront them and their coping strategies as well as to identify which groups of mothers are especially prone to experience much stress. The study population was mothers of children aged from 1 to 16 years who had seA and attending Qatit Central Hospital. A total of 146 mothers agreed to participate. The results showed that only 18.5% had good level of knowledge, and those having poor level of knowledge constituted 20.5%. The mean total stress was moderately high [1.81 +3.4]. The most stressful category perceived by the mothers in the management of their children was disease-related category [X::2.34], then child, psychological, hospital, and family ending by flnanolal stre&sors [X=1.2]. Those who have poor level of knowledge had the highest significant mean stress score [x=64.33j, the reverse among those having good knowledge level. Older, IIrlterate, not working mothers who had big family size, more than one child with SCA, younger Children, and low income had lower mean knowledge score. Higher stress score was also found among older, illiterates, working mothers, who had polygamical husband, bigger family size, Y9u11ger. child, with more children with SCA, and lower family income. Confrontation was the ooplng mechanism used most, followed by acceptance. Varied coping styles were adopted by a oonslderable proportion of mothers to handle psychological stressors. The special stress coming from SCA child needs and characters led nearly half of the mothers to either main mfilohanisms confrontation by giving more care to the child or acceptance and praying

Physical Properties Of Elastomeric Polymer Networks.

PhDChemistryUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/178974/2/8007836.pd