Analysis of elastic-plastic shells of revolution under axisymmetric loading by the finite element method

Analysis of elastic-plastic shells of revolution under axisymmetric loading by finite element metho

Molecular mechanism of methionine differentiation in high and low methionine maize lines

Since maize is a primary food stuff for humans and livestock, its amino acid balance is important for proper nutrition. Methionine, an essential amino acid and a primary source of sulfur, is lacking in maize endosperm. Several maize populations were developed through breeding with enhanced methionine content in comparison with normal maize populations. BS31HM (high methionine) and BS31LM (low methionine) maize were among such populations created by the selection from the highest or lowest methionine content population from original BS31 maize. Candidate gene approach was adopted to determine the difference between the two populations at transcript level of the selected genes in the endosperm. The genes selected were mostly expressed in the endosperm and could be involved in enhanced methionine biosynthesis. The selected genes, that is, 15-kDa β-zein, 16-kDa γ-zein, 19-kDa α- zeinB1, 27-kDa γ-zein, 22-kDa α-zein and 18-kDa δ-zein were responsible for coding of endosperm storage proteins when analyzed through RT-PCR. Similarly, expression level relative to the high population (2-ΔΔct) values were also calculated for BS31HM and BS31LM, respectively. These values were found as 1 and 0.25, 1 and 0.07, 1 and 0.10, 1 and 0.15, 1 and 0.33, 1 and 0.43 for 27-kDa γ-zein, 22- kDa α-zein, 18-kDa δ-zein, 15-kDa β-zein, 16-kDa γ-zein and 19-kDa α-zeinB1, respectively, in both populations. The p-values were determined by student’s t-test at confidence level of 95%. The expression of 18-kDa δ-gene, 15-kDa β-gene and 16-kDa γ-gene were found to be significant (p < 0.05) in high methionine maize population when compared with low methionine maize population. Non significant (p > 0.05) differences in the expression level of 27-kDa γ-gene, 22-kDa α-gene and 19-kDa α- gene were observed in both HM and LM maize populations. From these results it can be concluded that all zein genes did not show expression equally in high and low methionine  maize populations.Key words: Maize, methionine, zein, storage protein, amino acid, real time PCR

Analysis of HMWGS of historical set of Pakistani bread wheat varieties using SDS-PAGE

In the present study an attempt has been made to characterize thirty bread-wheat varieties of Pakistan for High Molecular Weight Glutenin Subunits (HMW- GS). Glutenin proteins form a continuous proteinaceous matrix in the cells and form a continuous viscoelastic network during the mixing process of dough development. Glutenin consists of High Molecular Weight (HMW) and Low Molecular Weight (LMW) subunits. The HMW Glutenin Subunits (HMW-GS) are chiefly vital for determining doughelasticity. The core objective of our research work was to inspect the glutenin subunits by sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and compare the banding pattern withChinese Spring High-Molecular-Weight Glutenin Subunits (HMW-GS). The bands were numbered according to Payne's numbering system and varieties were accordingly assigned theoretical quality scores. All the tested varieties indicated null allele for gluA1 locus, 17 + 18 for gluB1 locus and 2 + 12 for gluD1 locus. This result indicating that all varieties have similar bread making quality alleles at HMWGS loci. The varieties containing 5 + 10 HMWGS allele at gluD1 locus have better bread making quality. Better bread making wheat varieties may be produced by crossing the local varieties of gluA1 locus, 17 + 18 for gluB1 locus and 2 + 12 for gluD1 locus with 5 + 10 HMWGS allele at gluD1 locus

Antimicrobial potentials of Eclipta alba by disc diffusion method

This study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial potentials of methanol, petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water extracted samples from the aerial parts of Eclipta alba against nine microbial species. The antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) susceptibility was screened by disc diffusion assay. The tested microbial species were Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Candida albicans, Erwinia carotovora, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus. The extracts were applied in different concentrations of 1, 2 and 3 mg disc-1. Analysis of the data revealed that all the six extracts from E. alba showed different ranges of antimicrobial activities. Butanol fraction showed inhibitory activities against all the nine microbial species. Ethyl acetate fraction showed inhibitory effects against all the tested microbial species except B. cereus and S. typhi. Petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol and water extracted samples had varying levels of inhibitions against some of these microorganisms. The most resistant microbial strain was S. typhi and was not controlled by petroleum ether, dichloromethane, methanol and water extracted samples. The most susceptible Gram positive bacterium was B. subtilis and was inhibited by all the six extracts from E. alba while the most resistant Gram positive bacterium was B. cereus. E. carotovora was the most susceptible Gram negative bacterium while S. typhi and E. coli were highly resistant among the Gram negative bacteria.Key words: Antimicrobial, potential, Eclipta alba, disc diffusion

Effect of different solvent extracted sample of Allium sativum (Linn) on bacteria and fungi

This study was aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of garlic-extracted samples against bacteria and fungi at different concentration, in various polar solvents. For this purpose, six different extracts were prepared, using five different polar solvents (methanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, chloroforms and butanol) and water. Two different concentrations (1 and 2 mg disc-1) of each extract were subjected for preliminary antibacterial screening against seven pathogenic bacteria by Kirby- Bauer disk diffusion method. The result of in vitro antibacterial screening showed that 6 extracts from garlic had different ranges of antibacterial activities. When garlic extracts were studied for their antibacterial potential against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, the butanol extracted samples showed the highest inhibitory effect against B. cereus (76% ZI at 2 mg disc-1 concentration). Water extracted samples indicated a good range of inhibitory effect against Salmonella typhi (73% ZI at 2 mg disc-1) and butanol extracted sample showed highest activity against Erwinia carotovora (75% ZI). The data also showed that of petroleum ether, methanol and water did not show any  inhibitory effect against the tested microbes.Key words: Solvent, bacteria, fungi, Allium sativum

The first report of the genus and species of the scale insect, Exaeretopus tritici (Hem.: Cocciodea: Coccidae), from Iran

Scale insect specimens collected on Hordeum sp. (Poaceae), dated 24. V. 2003 in Khorram Abad, Lorestan province were identified as Exaeretopus tritici Williams. This species, which the genus and species is newly recorded from Iran, is related to E. harpazi Ben-Dov, differing mainly in the number of the stigmatic setae and extension of paraopercular pores

3D bioprinting of miniaturized tissues embedded in self-assembled nanoparticle-based fibrillar platforms

The creation of microphysiological systems like tissue and organ-on-chip for in vitro modeling of human physiology and diseases is gathering increasing interest. However, the platforms used to build these systems have limitations concerning implementation, automation, and cost-effectiveness. Moreover, their typical plastic-based housing materials are poor recreations of native tissue extracellular matrix (ECM) and barriers. Here, the controlled self-assembly of plant-derived cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) is combined with the concept of 3D bioprinting in suspension baths for the direct biofabrication of microphysiological systems embedded within an ECM mimetic fibrillar support material. The developed support CNC fluid gel allows exceptionally high-resolution bioprinting of 3D constructs with arbitrary geometries and low restrictions of bioink choice. The further induction of CNC self-assembly with biocompatible calcium ions results in a transparent biomimetic nanoscaled fibrillar matrix that allows hosting different compartmentalized cell types and perfusable channels, has tailored permeability for biomacromolecules diffusion and cellular crosstalk, and holds structural stability to support long-term in vitro cell maturation. In summary, this xeno-free nanoscale CNC fibrillar matrix allows the biofabrication of hierarchical living constructs, opening new opportunities not only for developing physiologically relevant 3D in vitro models but also for a wide range of applications in regenerative medicine.The authors thank Hospital da Prelada (Porto, Portugal) for providing adipose tissue samples and Hospital Sao Joao (Porto, Portugal) for providing platelet concentrates. The authors acknowledge the financial support from project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000021 supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Program (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF); the European Union Framework Program for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020, under the Twinning grant agreement no. 810850-Achilles, European Research Council grant agreement no. 772817, Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia for the PhD grant for S.M.B PD/BD/129403/2017 financed through doctoral program in Tissue Engineering, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells (TERM&SC), and project PTDC/NAN-MAT/30595/2017. Schematics in Figures 1, 2, and 6 were created with BioRender.com. The authors thank Milan Sixt and Barbara B. Mendes for preliminary tests with CNC fluid gel. The authors thank David Caballero, Catarina Abreu, and Mandana Mombeinipour for providing endothelial cells and Virginia Brancato for breast cancer cells

GOAT-A POTENTIAL DAIRY ANIMAL: PRESENT AND FUTURE PROSPECTS

1UAF Sub-Campus Toba Tek Singh, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad Goats are well-admired and documented worldwide for providing food in terms of milk and meat and their products. They are playing a key role in supporting millions of people who are poor, landless and living in the rural areas. Goats are not only well-embedded in the culture but socially acceptable too for reducing global poverty in particularly for the developing nations. A goat is universally called as "Poor man's cow" Globally about 90 % goats are found in the developing world. Asia alone produces about 80 % goat milk. Pakistan at present supports 56.7 millions head of goats consisting of about 25 well-recognized breeds found in different regions of the country. Goats annually contribute approximately 275 thousand tonnes of meat, 851 thousand tonnes of milk, 25 million skins and 21.4 thousand tonnes of hair to the national economy. They are also a source of foreign exchange and contribute 2.5 % of the annual milk production. Majority of goats, however, are meant for meat with the exception of some milch breeds. These typical indigenous milch breeds include Beetal, Dera Din Panah (DDP), Naachi, Damani, and Kamori. These dairy goats constitute about five million of the total goat population in the country. Usually small flocks of sheep and goats are raised together both in plains and subhilly areas. The goats are being kept under three main production systems viz: nomadic, transhumant, sedentary and household. Major feed resources available for goats are mainly ranges (60 %), while other feeding material available to these animals is along canal/river banks; pastures, roadside grazing, crop residues, tree leaves, pods etc. Goats are naturally bred under field conditions. Despite having their crucial role in rural lives throughout the world they have not been properly addressed the way they really deserve. The present paper will review the dairy potential of local dairy goat breeds along with their future scope as a dairy animal