Effect of an Endomycorrhizal Inoculum on the Growth of Argan Tree

The aim of this work is to study the effect of a composite endomycorrhizal inoculum on the growth of argan tree plants under nursery conditions. Analysis of the obtained results after ten months of inoculation showed a significant effect on the growth of the inoculated plants as compared to the controls. Indeed, the mean values of arial fresh weight (27.54 g) and root (23.64 g). The length (59.87 cm), the collar diameter (3.93 cm) and the number of branches (7.37) of the inoculated plants are superior to those observed in the control plants, 13.36 g, 13.43 g, 35.83 cm, 2.83 cm and 4.66 cm, respectively. In addition, frequency (100%), intensity (63.66%) and arbuscule contents (51.79%) and vesicles (25.52%) are very important. The roots of the control plants are not mycorrhizal. The mean number of spores formed in the rhizosphere of the inoculated plants is 246 spores per 100 g of soil. These spores are those of 29 endomycorrhizal species belonging to six different genera: Acaulospora, Scutllospora, Pacispora, Glomus, Entrophospora and Gigaspora. Representatives of the Glomus genus are the most dominant

Assessment of Inflammation in 3D Reconstructed Human Skin Exposed to Combined Exposure to Ultraviolet and Wi-Fi Radiation

In the human environment, the increasing exposure to radiofrequency (RF) radiation, especially that emitted by wireless devices, could be absorbed in the body. Recently, mobile and emerging wireless technologies (UMTS, DECT, LTE, and Wi-Fi) have been using higher frequencies than 2G GSM systems (900/1800 MHz), which means that most of the circulating RF currents are absorbed into the skin and the superficial soft tissue. The harmful genotoxic, cytotoxic, and mutagenic effects of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin are well-known. This study aimed at investigating whether 2422 MHz (Wi-Fi) RF exposure combined with UV radiation in different sequences has any effect on the inflammation process in the skin. In vitro experiments examined the inflammation process by cytokines (IL-1α, IL-6, IL-8) and MMP-1 enzyme secretion in a 3D full-thickness human skin model. In the first study, UV exposure was immediately followed by RF exposure to measure the potential additive effects, while in the second study, the possible protective phenomenon (i.e., adaptive response) was investigated when adaptive RF exposure was challenged by UV radiation. Our results suggest that 2422 MHz Wi-Fi exposure slightly, not significantly increased cytokine concentrations of the prior UV exposure. We could not detect the adaptive response phenomenon

Estimating trace deposition time with circadian biomarkers: a prospective and versatile tool for crime scene reconstruction

Linking biological samples found at a crime scene with the actual crime event represents the most important aspect of forensic investigation, together with the identification of the sample donor. While DNA profiling is well established for donor identification, no reliable methods exist for timing forensic samples. Here, we provide for the first time a biochemical approach for determining deposition time of human traces. Using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays we showed that the characteristic 24-h profiles of two circadian hormones, melatonin (concentration peak at late night) and cortisol (peak in the morning) can be reproduced from small samples of whole blood and saliva. We further demonstrated by analyzing small stains dried and stored up to 4 weeks the in vitro stability of melatonin, whereas for cortisol a statistically significant decay with storage time was observed, although the hormone was still reliably detectable in 4-week-old samples. Finally, we showed that the total protein concentration, also assessed using a commercial assay, can be used for normalization of hormone signals in blood, but less so in saliva. Our data thus demonstrate that estimating normalized concentrations of melatonin and cortisol represents a prospective approach for determining deposition time of biological trace samples, at least from blood, with promising expectations for forensic applications. In the broader context, our study opens up a new field of circadian biomarkers for deposition timing of forensic traces; future studies using other circadian biomarkers may reveal if the time range offered by the two hormones studied here can be specified more exactly

Coconut fields classification using data mining on a large database of high-resolution Ikonos images

International audienc

Efficiency of Selected Fungicides on Blast and Blight of Rice Leaves

The effect of pathogens on grains is closely related to the severity of the disease on plants. Similarly, infection of leaves is very important in epidemic of blast and blight. The objective of this study was to develop a treatment program suitable for different fungicides to protect the leaves of rice plants throughout the vegetative phase against blast and leaf blight by determining the required dose and the duration of protection for each fungicide. The results showed that Pyricularia oryzae was drastically inhibited on the leaves of rice at         300 ppm combined dose of Carboxin + Thiram, whereas Helminthosporium oryzae                     was completely inhibited at a dose of 750 ppm with the same fungicide combination. However,             this product caused a total leaf yellowing and requires repeated applications So it is                           not recommended. Pyrazophos has no effect on Helminthosporium oryzae even at very                      high doses. However, this product completely inhibited Pyricularia oryzae at a dose of 750 ppm per an experimental unit. To protect against rice leaf blast throughout the vegetative phase, the product should be applied every two weeks. On the other hand, the 750 ppm Tricyclazole totally inhibited the severity of Pyricularia oryzae on rice leaves. Whereas, a dose of 1500 ppm of the product was required to achieve the same level of protection against Helminthosporium oryzae. When this product was combined with Mancozeb, the H. oryzae was completely inhibited at                 750 ppm. Furthermore, Mancozeb inhibited both pathogens at a dose of 1000 ppm. However, when Mancozeb was applied each week to protect rice leaves until the end of the vegetative phase, a single application of Tricyclazole or a combination Tricyclazole + Mancozeb continued to protect rice leaves against P. oryzae and H. oryzae until the emergence of panicles. A treatment program with the most effective fungicides is then established taking account into the duration of rice plants protection throughout the vegetative phase against blast and leaf blight. The appropriate time for application for effective results is shown as follows: Foliar treatment from the sixth week (from the day of planting) either by one treatment of Tricyclazole at 750 ppm against P.oryzae or Tricyclazole + Mancozeb at 750 ppm related to H. oryzae, one application of Pyrazophos  at 750 ppm every 15 days against P. oryzae, or  one application of Mancozeb at 1000 ppm every week against both pathogens