Some effects of sodium 2, 4- dichlorophenoxy ethyl sulfate (Crag herbicide 1) on Blakemore strawberry plants

Call number: LD2668 .T4 1953 A4Master of ScienceHorticulture, Forestry, and Recreation Resource

Improving the Heavy Oil Recovery by Surfactants from Wastes

The amount of crude oil available must be sufficient to meet global demand. As a result, the oil industry has been obliged to recover oil from more difficult places and develop methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). This chapter focuses on the phase behavior properties inside the reservoir in connection with surfactant flooding and oil/brine systems in relation to enhanced oil recovery. To achieve this purpose, three groups of nonionic and anionic surfactants were prepared from waste and local materials. The surface activity and thermodynamic properties for three surfactant groups have been investigated at reservoir conditions. The solubilization parameters and relative phase volume were also studied to determine the optimal solubilization parameters and optimal salinity. The dynamic IFT and contact angle were measured at the optimal salinity. The sand pack flooding by using surfactant system predicted the performance of microemulsion in oil recovery by surfactant individually and its blends on chemical flooding system in semipilot EOR unit

Diversity of Meq gene from clinical Marek’s disease virus infection in Saudi Arabia

Aim: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the genomic features of Meq gene of Marek’s disease virus (MDV) recently circulating in Saudi Arabia (SA). Materials and Methods: Two poultry flocks suffering from mortalities and visceral tumors were presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, King Faisal University, SA. Subjected to different diagnostic procedures: Case history, clinical signs, and necropsy as well as polymerase chain reaction followed by Meq gene sequence analysis. Results: Case history, clinical signs, and necropsy were suggestive of MDV infection. The Meq gene was successfully detected in liver and spleen of infected chickens. A 1062 bp band including the native Meq ORF in addition to a 939 bp of S-Meq (short isoform of Meq) were amplified from Saudi 01-13 and Saudi 02-13, respectively. The nucleotide and deduced amino acids sequences of the amplified Meq genes of both Saudi isolates showed distinct polymorphism when compared with the standard USA virulent isolates Md5 and GA. The sequence analysis of the S-Meq gene showed a 123 bp deletion representing 41 amino acids between two proline-rich areas without any frameshift. The Meq gene encoded four repeats of proline-rich repeats (PRRs sequences), whereas the S-Meq contains only two PRRs. Interestingly, the phylogenetic analysis revealed that both of SA MDV isolates are closely related to the MDV strains from Poland. Conclusion: The two MDV isolates contain several nucleotide polymorphisms resulting in distinct amino acid substitutions. It is suggested that migratory and wild birds, as well as world trading of poultry and its by-products, have a great contribution in the transmission of MDVs overseas

Dietary non-esterified oleic Acid decreases the jejunal levels of anorectic N-acylethanolamines

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oleoylethanolamide and several other N-acylethanolamines (NAEs), e.g. linoleoylethanolamide and palmitoylethanolamide, have anorectic properties in rats, and prolonged intake of a high-fat diet decreases the levels of the anorectic NAEs in jejunum. Jejunal anorectic NAEs are thought to add to the control of food intake via activation of PPARalpha and the vagus nerve. The fat-induced decrease may explain part of the hyperphagic effect of high-fat diets. In the present study, we investigated 1) whether the reduced levels of anorectic NAEs were reversible in rats, 2) whether mice respond to dietary fat (olive oil) by reducing levels of anorectic NAEs, and 3) whether dietary non-esterified oleic acid also can decrease levels of anorectic NAEs in mice. We are searching for the fat sensor in the intestine, which mediates the decreased levels of anorectic NAEs. METHODS: Male rats and mice were fed diets high (45 energy% fat) in either triacylglycerol or free fatty acids for 7-14 days, and jejunal NAE and N-acylphosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) levels were determined by liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry. RESULTS: In rats, reduced levels of anorectic NAEs could be reversed after 3 days from changing the diet from high-fat to chow. Corresponding NAPE levels tended to show the same changes. In mice, jejunal levels of anorectic NAEs were also reduced when fed a high-fat diet. In addition, we found that non-esterified oleic acid were also able to reduce levels of anorectic NAEs in mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the down-regulation of the jejunal level of anorectic NAEs by dietary fat is not restricted to rats, and that the fatty acid component oleic acid, in dietary olive oil may be sufficient to mediate this regulation. Thus, a fatty acid sensor may mediate this effect of dietary fat

Antimicrobial Activity and Quantum Chemical Calculations of Pyrazol-2,3-Dihydrothiazole Sugar Derivatives

A number of new [(pyrazol-4-yl) methylene] hydrazono-2,3-dihydrothiazoles, sugar hydrazones, and their N-glycoside derivatives were synthesized. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR technique. The newly synthesized compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activities and showed moderate to high inhibition activities. Quantum chemistry calculations were used to study the molecular geometry and electronic structure of the selected derivatives. The energy gap between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO)and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) has been calculated using the theoretical computations to reflect the chemical reactivity and kinetic stability of compounds. Keywords: 1H-pyrazole, aminothiazole, ethylchloroacetate, quantum chemical calculations, antimicrobial activity

The Impact of Sex, Circadian Disruption, and the Clock\u3csup\u3e∆19/∆19\u3c/sup\u3e Genotype on Alcohol Drinking in Mice

Shift work is associated with increased alcohol drinking, more so in males than females, and is thought to be a coping mechanism for disrupted sleep cycles. However, little is presently known about the causal influence of circadian rhythm disruptions on sex differences in alcohol consumption. In this study, we disrupted circadian rhythms in female and male mice using both environmental (i.e., shifting diurnal cycles) and genetic (i.e., Clock∆19/∆19 mutation) manipulations, and measured changes in alcohol consumption and preference using a two-bottle choice paradigm. Alcohol consumption and preference, as well as food and water consumption, total caloric intake, and weight were assessed in adult female and male Clock∆19/∆19 mutant mice or wild-type (WT) litter-mates, housed under a 12-hour:12-hour light:dark (L:D) cycle or a shortened 10-hour:10-hour L:D cycle. Female WT mice (under both light cycles) increased their alcohol consumption and preference over time, a pattern not observed in male WT mice. Compared to WT mice, Clock∆19/∆19 mice displayed increased alcohol consumption and preference. Sex differences were not apparent in Clock∆19/∆19 mice, with or without shifting diurnal cycles. In conclusion, sex differences in alcohol consumption patterns are evident and increase with prolonged access to alcohol. Disrupting circadian rhythms by mutating the Clock gene greatly increases alcohol consumption and abolishes sex differences present in WT animals

Iron oxychloride as an efficient catalyst for selective hydroxylation of benzene to phenol

Selective hydroxylation of benzene is a felicitous strategy for the production of phenol that is deemed to be an alternative to conventional processes. Thus, the development of a durable and highly efficient catalyst for the selective hydroxylation of benzene should be a key topic. In this work, FeOCl was prepared by a chemical vapor transition method and characterized using various techniques including XRD, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption, DLS, and TGA. The prepared FeOCl was applied as a heterogeneous catalyst in benzene hydroxylation, and the reaction conditions were optimized. The acquired data manifested that FeOCl has shown superiority over the other reported catalysts utilized in benzene hydroxylation. The superiority of FeOCl is attributed to the facile self-redox potential of FeOCl and its remarkable ability for the production of an overwhelming amount of hydroxyl radicals in a short period of time. The catalyst recovery and reuse test showed that FeOCl is able to endure the harsh conditions of benzene hydroxylation for four runs. The mechanism of benzene hydroxylation using FeOCl as a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant was also illustrated

Rev-erbα Knockout Reduces Ethanol Consumption and Preference in Male and Female Mice

Alcohol use is a contributor in the premature deaths of approximately 3 million people annually. Among the risk factors for alcohol misuse is circadian rhythm disruption; however, this connection remains poorly understood. Inhibition of the circadian nuclear receptor REV-ERBα is known to disrupt molecular feedback loops integral to daily oscillations, and impact diurnal fluctuations in the expression of proteins required for reward-related neurotransmission. However, the role of REV-ERBα in alcohol and substance use-related phenotypes is unknown. Herein, we used a Rev-erbα knockout mouse line and ethanol two-bottle choice preference testing to show that disruption of Rev-erbα reduces ethanol preference in male and female mice. Rev-erbα null mice showed the lowest ethanol preference in a two-bottle choice test across all genotypes, whereas there were no ethanol preference differences between heterozygotes and wildtypes. In a separate experiment, alcohol-consuming wildtype C57Bl/6N mice were administered the REV-ERBα/β inhibitor SR8278 (25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg) for 7 days and alcohol preference was evaluated daily. No differences in alcohol preference were observed between the treatment and vehicle groups. Our data provides evidence that genetic variation in REV-ERBα may contribute to differences in alcohol drinking

Exogenous selenium application enhances the photosynthetic pigment and antioxidant defense of mash bean (Vigna mungo) to confer tolerance to salt stress

Mash bean is an important crop enriched with proteins and highly praised in Pakistan due to its nutritional values. However, due to abiotic stresses like salinity, its production is decreased. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of selenium on mash bean to produce salt tolerance. Mash bean seeds were sown in plastic pots filled with sand. Three levels of NaCl (0 mM, 100 mM, 200 mM) and five levels of selenium (0 ppm, 20 ppm, 40 ppm, 80 ppm, 120 ppm) were applied with Hoagland solution. Salinity reduced plant height (28%), leaf area (33%), chlorophyll a (14%), chlorophyll b (9%), carotenoids (20%), potassium ions, calcium ions, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index and increased sodium ions (21%), H2O2 content as well as secondary metabolites. However, selenium application in low concentration enhanced plant height (31%), leaf area, chlorophyll a (17%), chlorophyll b (12%), carotenoids (40%), potassium, calcium, superoxide dismutase, peroxidases, catalase, salt tolerance index, proline, flavonoids, total phenol, while decreased sodium ions (25%) and hydrogen peroxide content under salt stress. Findings showed important function of selenium in improving physical characteristics, absorption of ions, photosynthetic pigments, and antioxidant defense in plants under salinity. Applying selenium at 40 ppm concentrations showed greatest efficacy in alleviating negative impacts of salt stress (100 mM) on plant growth and biochemical attributes. Maximum positive results of selenium application (40 ppm) were obtained at 0 mM of salinity

Characterization of Barley Genotypes and Their Biochemical Responses against Leaf Rust (Puccinia hordei) Disease under Cold Arid Environment

Cereal rust is one of the most damaging diseases of small-grain cereals. The fungus Puccinia hordei causes leaf rust in barley and other small grain crops. Puccinia hordei causes serious yield losses in the cultivating areas where susceptible and late-maturing barley varieties are cultivated. Therefore, rust-resistant barley cultivar is highly demandable for sustainable small-grain crop production. Improving barley yields and quality is one of the major objectives of barley breeding programs in our country. Exotic and indigenous germplasm is one of the best sources of resistance to biotic stresses in barley particularly leaf rust caused by Puccinia hordei. Hence, the present investigation was carried out to identify the resistance sources to P. hordei and incorporate them into the breeding programs for higher barley yields under changing climatic scenarios. The study aimed to identify new resistant cultivars in barley and other small grain crops. In this study, 100 barley genotypes (Hordeum vulgare L.) were considered for screening susceptibility to P. hordei causing rust disease. Several biochemical responses were analyzed in P. hordei infected barley genotypes. However, the variable response was observed among the 100 barley genotypes while those were screened against leaf rust disease under high altitude cold arid conditions of Ladakh, India. The efficiency of the 100 barley genotypes were categorized into different classes including high resistance (4 genotypes)>resistance (14 genotypes)> moderately resistance (20 genotypes)> moderately susceptible (33 genotypes)>moderately susceptible to susceptible (19 genotypes)> and susceptible (10 genotypes) based on plant response to P. hordei. Among the total genotypes, SHEIKH/KP-706, SHEIKH-B1, SHEIKH-636, and IC-062190 showed high resistance (8.07-8.63) as per the international leaf rust scale, while EC-667381, EC-667390, EC-667392, EC667396, EC-667417, Jyoti, EC-667434, EC-667442, EC-667445, and EC-667446 were found as susceptible (3.13-3.97) to P. hordei. The highly resistant genotypes accumulated a high level of phenols and flavonoids and cooperated with susceptible and other rest of the genotypes in response to P. hordei rust. The efficiency of plant immune response and or fitness to P. hordei was correlated to the disease susceptibility index of particular genotypes. This provides a new insight and the mechanistic basis of genotype-specific rust disease susceptibility against P. hordei. A large number of genotype-based studies at the field level could be useful to plant breeders and farmers for improving rust resistance in barley and other small-grain cereals