Comunicación corta. Actividad insecticida de diferentes extractos de Rhamnus dispermus (Rhamnaceae) contra el pulgón negro de la madera, Pterochloroides persicae (Homoptera: Lachnidae)

Bark of Rhamnus dispermus Ehrenb (Rhamnaceae) was collected from Ash-Shoubak, Jordan, and extracted with hexane, chloroform, acetone and ethanol, respectively. The aim of this study was to test the insecticidal activity of these extracts against the peach trunk aphid (PTA), Pterochloroides persicae (Homoptera: Lachnidae), since it has been shown that Rhamnus spp. may contain compounds that can act as botanical pesticides. Three concentrations (100, 1000, and 10,000 ppm) of each dry extract were obtained by dissolving the dry extract in 0.01% solution of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Results showed that, at the highest concentration (10,000 ppm), all the extracts caused mortality in the PTA adults after 24 h of exposure. Both the acetone and ethanol extracts showed higher mortality (69 and 71%, respectively) than the hexane and chloroform extracts (40 and 56%, respectively) after 72 h of exposure at the highest concentration. In comparison, the synthetic control, Imidacloprid, killed 93% of the PTA adults. Nevertheless, extracts from R. dispermus provided valuable mortality rates for the PTA and can be used as botanical insecticides as part of the integrated pest management programs of this insect pest.Dado que Rhamnus spp. puede contener compuestos que actúen como pesticidas botánicos, se recolectó corteza de Rhamnus dispermus Ehrenb (Rhamnaceae) en Ash-Shoubak, Jordania, y se prepararon extractos de hexano, cloroformo, acetona y etanol, para analizar su actividad insecticida contra el pulgón negro de la madera (PTA), Pterochloroides persicae (Homoptera: Lachnidae). Se prepararon tres concentraciones de cada extracto seco (100, 1.000, y 10.000 ppm) disolviendo cada extracto seco en soluciones dimetilsulfóxido (DMSO) al 0,01%. En la concentración máxima (10.000 ppm), todos los extractos produjeron mortalidad a los adultos de PTA después de 24 h de exposición. A las 72 h de exposición, los extractos de acetona y etanol a 10.000 ppm produjeron una mayor mortalidad (69 y 71%, respectivamente) que los extractos de hexano y cloroformo (40 y 56%, respectivamente). En comparación, el control sintético Imidacloprid produjo la muerte del 93% de los adultos de PTA. Sin embargo, los extractos de R. dispermus producen una mortalidad apreciable en los PTA y pueden ser utilizados como insecticidas botánicos como parte de los programas de manejo integrado de esta plaga

Words on Screens: Women’s Names in Mobile Phone Contact Lists in Jordan

This study investigates how male Jordanians store the names of their female relatives in mobile phones contact lists. The source of the data is a small-scale survey of 90 male Jordanians from three equal age cohorts: young (18-35), middle-aged (36-49) and old (+50). The participants’ responses were coded in an excel sheet in which each token was coded for either [r] (real name) or [p] (pseudonym). Using Rbrul for quantitative analysis, the data were analysed within the framework of variationist sociolinguistics. The results show that male Jordanian city dwellers store the real names of their female relatives in mobile phone contact lists more than the village dwellers. With regard to age as a social factor, the findings demonstrate that the young and old groups are less sensitive about using the real names of their female relatives than the middle-aged group. The results were interpreted with reference to the changing roles of women in Jordan and social pressure

Interaction of Retinol with HSA using Spectroscopic Techniques

The interaction between retinol and HSA has been investigated using UV-absorption spectrophotometry, fluorescence spectroscopy and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy.UV-absorption spectrophotometry showed an increase in the absorption intensity with increasing the molecular ratios of retinol to HSA, it is found that the value of the binding constant is estimated to be1.7176×102 M-1. FTIR spectroscopy is used in the mid infrared region with Fourier self deconvolution, second derivative, difference spectra, peak picking and curve fitting were used to determine the effect of Retinol on the protein secondary structure in the amides I, II and Ill regions. Analysis of FTIR absorbance spectra is found that the intensity of the absorption bands increased with increasing the molecular ratios of retinol, however from the deconvoluted and curve fitted spectra found that the absorbance intensity for α-helix decreases relative to β-sheets, this decrease in intensity is related to the formation of H- bonding in the complex molecules

Interaction of the Testosterone with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA): UV-Visible Absorption Spectroscopy

The molecular interactions between BSA and Testosterone have been successfully investigated. The absorption, distribution and metabolism of many molecules can be altered based on their affinity to BSA. BSA is often increases the apparent solubility of hydrophobic ligands in plasma and modulate their delivery to cells. In this study, the interaction between Testosterone and BSA has been investigated using UV- absorption spectrophotometry and fluorescence spectroscopy to determine the binding constant. From UV- absorption spectrophotometry which showed a decreasing in the absorption intensity with increasing of the molecular ratios of testosterone to BSA, it is found that the value of the binding constant of testosterone to BSA, K equals 0.415*103 M-1 at 293 K. While from the Fluorescence spectroscopy there was a quenching in the intensity with increasing of the molecular ratios of testosterone to BSA and it gave the same value of the binding constant as uv-absorption spectroscopy.This work is supported by the German Research Foundation DFG grant no. DR228/24-

Comparative studies on the interactions between human serum albumin, bovine serum albumin and cholesterol: ftir and fluorescence spectroscopy

The interaction of the human serum albumin (HSA), bovine serum albumin (BSA) with cholesterol has been investigated. The basic binding interaction was studied by FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy. From spectral analysis cholesterol showed a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA and BSA through a static quenching mechanism. The binding constant (k) between HSA and cholesterol is estimated to be K=2.14 × 103 M-1 at 293 K while between BSA and cholesterol is estimated to be K=.1.12 × 103 M-1 at the same temperature. FTIR spectroscopy with Fourier self-deconvolution technique was used to determine the protein secondary structure and cholesterol binding mechanisms. The observed spectral changes indicate a higher percentage of H-bonding between cholesterol and -helix compared to the percentage of H-bonding to cholesterol and -sheets.This work is supported by the German Research Foundation DFG grant No. DR228/24-

Spectroscopic approach of the interaction study of Ceftriaxone and human serum albumin

Under physiological conditions, interaction between ceftriaxone and human serum albumin was investigated by using fluorescence spectroscopy and ultra violet (UV) absorption spectrum. From spectral analysis, ceftriaxone showed a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of human serum albumin (HSA) through a static quenching procedure. The binding constant (k) is estimated as K=1.02× 103 M-1 at 298 K. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) spectroscopy with Fourier self-deconvolution technique was used to determine the protein secondary structure and drug binding mechanisms. The observed spectral changes indicated the formation of H-bonding between ceftriaxone and HSA molecules at higher percentage for -helix than for the -sheets.This work was supported by the German Research Foundation DFG Grant No. DR228/24-2

Antibacterial effect of Jordanian propolis and isolated flavonoids against human pathogenic bacteria

Propolis is a natural product widely consumed in folk medicine. The present study was carried out to investigate the antibacterial activity of Jordanian propolis, collected from two locations with two different dominant floras (Type1; Pine trees and Type ll; Oak trees). Zones of inhibition and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug resistant Escherichia coli and standard strains of both bacteria. Propolis Type I and Type II showed antibacterial activity against MRSA (MIC 4.69 and 18.75 μg ml-1, respectively). Crude propolis from Type I showed higher antibacterial activity than Type II against the tested bacteria. Three pure phenolic compounds (three flavonoids) namely, pinobanksin-3-O-acetate, pinocemberin and chrysin, were isolated from fractions I-2 and I-4, and screened in vitro for antibacterial activity. Pinobanksin-3-O-acetate and pinocembrin exhibited antibacterial activity especially against MRSA, while chrysin was only active against standard S. aureus. This is the first report that shows in vitro antibacterial activity of isolated flavonoids from Jordanian propolis against standard and resistant strains of E. coli and MRSA. Overall, results of this study highlight the important role of propolis botanical source on the antibacterial activity of such natural material which might affect its medical applications.Keywords: Antibacterial activity, human pathogens, flavonoids, propolis, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coliAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 9(36), pp. 5966-5974, 6 September, 201

Spectroscopic investigations of pentobarbital interaction with human serum albumin

The interaction between pentobarbital and human serum albumin has been investigated. The basic binding interaction was studied by UV-absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. From spectral analysis pentobarbital showed a strong ability to quench the intrinsic fluorescence of HSA through a static quenching procedure. The binding constant (k) is estimated at 1.812 104 M 1 at 293 K. FT-IR spectroscopy with Fourier self-deconvolution technique was used to determine the protein secondary structure and drug binding mechanisms. The observed spectral changes of HSA–pentobarbital complex indicate a larger intensity decrease in the absorption band of a-helix relative to that of b-sheets. This variation in intensity is related indirectly to the formation of H-bonding in the complex molecules, which accounts for the different intrinsic propensities of a-helix and b-sheets.This work is supported by the German Research Foundation DFG Grant No. DR228/24-2

Eliot’s Approach to Ethical Poetry as a Case Study The Love Song by J. Alfred Prufrock

This study aims at showing the ethical approaches in T.S. Eliot’s poetry. I argue that Eliot’s poetry is loaded with ethical approaches that characterized the era in which he lived. Also, the significance of this study arises from the fact that ethics have become buried in modern life. I, among others, feel we need it urgently these days to survive in a nice manner.In The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock, readers are shocked to notice male man has become or is viewed as being less productive and lacking decision-making, exactly another copy of Hamlet. The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock reflects the feelings of emasculation, not feminism, experienced by many men as they returned home from World War I to find women empowered by their new role as wage earners. Prufrock (2009), unables to make a decision, watches women wander in and out of a room, “talking of Michelangelo” (p.14), and elsewhere admires their downy, bare arms.