Germination Characters as Affected by Salinity Stress and Soaking Grain Sorghum Genotypesin Humic acid

In order to investigate salinity stress on sorghum germination indices, an experiment conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University from June and July 2017 in Agronomy Department, Seed Science Laboratory. The goals of the investigation aimed to screening for five (Sorghum bicolor L.(Moench) cultivarsviz. Dorado, hybrid 306, Giza 15, Mecca hybrid and H-305 under salinity stress, sodium chloride (Na Cl) at the levels of 0 (as control), 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 dS/m-1 and soaking in humic acid. The results showed that soaking seed in humic acid exceeded percentage of germination, germination rate, germination index, energy of germination and chlorophyll content by 5.2, 7.7, 17.1, 65.8 and 17.8 %, respectively. The highest germination percentage (91.9 %), germination rate (3.08), germination energy (59.7), seedling vigor index (1483.7) and chlorophyll content (2.88) were obtained from sown Mecca hybrid. The maximum germination index (117.22) was obtainedfrom sown Giza 15 cultivar.The results point out that cumulative salinity level from 3 to 15 dSm-1condensedall studied germination characters. Accumulative salinity levels to 15 dSm-1condensedpercentage of germination, germination rate, index of germination, germination energy and seedling vigor index by 15.9, 15.0, 30.0, 35.9 and 37.6 %, respectively compared without salinity application. It could recommended that soaking sorghum seed of Meeca hybrid with humic acid for 12 h under salinity of concentration of 6 dSm-1 enhanced germination characters compared with other cultivars and salinity concentrations, it mean cultivated it under reclaimed saline soil in Egypt

Seedling Parameters as affected by Soaking in Humic Acid, Salinity Stress and Grain Sorghum Genotypes

To study the effect soaking in humic acid and salinity stress on sorghum seedling parameters, a laboratory experiment accompanied in Seed Science Laboratory Faculty of Agriculture Mansoura University from June 2017 to July 2017. This exploration intended to study performance of seedling parameters of five grain sorghum cultivars viz. Dorado, hybrid 306, Giza 15, Mecca hybrid and H-305 to soaking in humic acid under salinity concentrations of 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 dS/m-1beside the control, and humic acid soaking. The results showed that seed soaking in humic acid recorded the tallest shoot and root, weight of fresh shoot and root, weight of dry shoot and the lowest percentages of relative dry weight and highest salinity tolerance index. Seed soaking in humic acid exceeded shoot and root length (cm), weight of fresh shoot and root, weight of dry shoot and tolerance index by 14.3, 92.6, 8.7, 4.5, 4.7 and 40.8%, respectively compared without soakingin humic acid.The tallest shoot and the fresh shoot weight were produced from germinating Giza 15 cultivar. In addition, the tallest roots and highest values of stress tolerance index were recorded from sown Mecca hybrid and Giza 15 cultivars without significant differences. It could be stated that sown Mecca hybrid surpassed H-305 cultivar in root length by 36.3 %. Moreover, Giza 15 cultivar surpassed H-305 in shoot length, shoot fresh weight and stress tolerance index by 30.6, 10.1 and 29.1 %, respectively. The results clearly revealed that accumulative salinity concentrations from 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 dSm-1 significantly produced the shortest shoot, root, weight of fresh shoot, root, weight of dry shoot, and root, highest percentages of seedling height reduction, and stress tolerance index, except the percentage of relative dry weight increased with salinity levels increased. The shortest shoot and root (cm), were recorded from the highest salinity concentrations of 15 dSm-1. The gradually increases in salinity till of 15 dSm-1 significantly diminished the length of shoot and root, the fresh weight of shoot and root, the dry weight of shoot and root, seedling height reduction percentages, and stress tolerance index by 51.7, 17.7,4.7, 59.5, 38.7 and 57.4, respectively compared the control treatment. Accordingly, sown Mecca hybrid or Giza 15 cultivar with soaking in humic acid under salinity of 6 dSm-1maximized seedling parameters and could recommended to cultivated in saline new reclaimed soils

Reducción de las enfermedades cardiovasculares e hipercolesterolemia por mezclas de extractos de plantas comestibles: un estudio del perfil lipídico, estrés oxidativo y testosterona en ratas

The present study was postulated to prepare and evaluate the influence of two plant food extract mixtures on plasma lipid profile, oxidative stress and testosterone levels in rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. The safety of the studied extract mixtures was evaluated through the determination of liver and kidney functions. The total phenolic contents, tocopherols, fatty acids and unsaponifiable matter (UNSAP) in the extract mixtures were determined. Rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet were given a daily oral dose (300 mg/kg rat body weight) of either mixture I or II for a month and compared with a control hypercholesterolemic group and a normal control group. Results showed that α-tocopherol was 0.750 and 4.017 mg, γ-tocopherol was 0.564 mg and 0 and δ-tocopherol was 15.23mg and 0.634mg/100g for mixtures I and II, respectively. The phenolic contents in mixtures I and II were 36.74 and 23.72 g gallic acid equivalent/100g mixture, respectively. The GLC investigation of UNSAP revealed that stigmasterol and b-sitosterol were the major phytosterols in mixtures I and II, respectively followed by campesterol in both. The GLC analysis of the fatty acids showed that oleic acid was the major fatty acid in both extract mixtures. Results from the animal experiment showed that feeding a hypercholesterolemic diet produced a significant increase in total lipids, total cholesterol (T-Ch), triglycerides (TGs), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLCh), T-Ch/HDL-Ch, TGs/HDL-Ch and malondialdehyde (MDA) and a significant reduction in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-Ch), vitamin E, b-carotene and testosterone. Rats fed a hypercholesterolemic diet and given mixture I or II showed significant improvements in plasma lipid profile compared to the hypercholesterolemic control group. This improvement was associated with a significant reduction in oxidative stress reflected by an elevation in plasma levels of antioxidants (vitamin E and b-carotene) and a reduction in plasma MDA levels. The plasma level of testosterone increased significantly in the rats fed the hypercholesterolemic diet and given mixture I or II compared to the hypercholesterolemic control. Plasma testosterone showed a significant negative correlation with plasma TGs and TGs/HDL-Ch in the hypercholesterolemic control rats. The studied extract mixtures showed complete safety towards liver and kidney functions. In conclusion the tested extract mixtures showed an improvement in the plasma lipid profile, a significant increase in testosterone and a decrease in oxidative stress with promising prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. The antiatherogenic effect of the extract mixtures may be due to the presence of phenolic compounds, phytosterols, tocopherols and unsaturated fatty acids.El presente estudio fue dirigido a preparar y evaluar la influencia de dos mezclas de extractos de plantas comestibles sobre el perfil lipídico del plasma, estrés oxidativo y nivel de testosterona en ratas alimentadas con una dieta hipercolesterolemica. La salubridad de las mezclas de extractos estudiadas fue evaluada mediante la determinación de las funciones del hígado y del riñón. El contenido total de fenoles, tocoferoles, ácidos grasos, y materia insaponificable (UNSAP) fueron determinado en la mezclas de extractos. Las ratas fueron alimentadas con dietas hipercolesterolémica junto con una dosis oral diaria de (300 mg/kg de peso) cada mezcla I y II durante un mes y comparada con un control hipercolesterolémico y un control normal. Los resultados muestran que el contenido de α-tocopherol fue 0.750 y 4.017 mg, γ-tocopherol fue 0.564 mg y 0 y δ-tocopherol fue 15.23mg y 0.634mg/100g de mezcla I y II, respectivamente. El contenido de fenoles en las mezcla I and II fue 36.74 y 23.72 g equivalentes de ácido gálico/100g de mezcla, respectivamente. La investigación por GLC de UNSAP reveló que el estigmasterol y el b-sitosterol fueron los principales fitoesteroles de las mezclas I y II, respectivamente seguido por el campesterol en ambos casos. El análisis por GLC de los ácidos grasos mostró que el ácido oleico fue el ácido graso mayoritario en ambas mezclas de extractos. Los resultados con animales de experimentación mostraron que la alimentación con dietas hipercolesterolémicas produce un incremento significativo en los lípidos totales, colesterol total (T-Ch), triglicéridos (TGs), colesterol en lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL-Ch), en las relaciones T-Ch/ HDL-Ch y TGs/HDL-Ch y malondialdehido (MDA) y una significativa reducción en el colesterol de las lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL-Ch), vitamina E, b-caroteno and testosterona. Las ratas alimentadas con dietas hipercolesterolémicas junto con mezclas I y II mostraron una mejora significativa del perfil lipídico del plasma comparado con el grupo control hypercholesterolémico. Esta mejora estuvo asociada con una significativa reducción del estrés oxidativo reflejado por la elevación de los niveles de antioxidantes en el plasma (vitamin E y bcarotene) y reducción de los niveles de MDA en plasma. Los niveles de testosterona en plasma aumentaron significativamente en ratas alimentadas con dietas hipercolesterolémicas junto con mezclas I y II en comparación con el control hipercolesterolémico. La testosterona del plasma mostró una correlación negativa significativa con los TGs y TGs/HDL-Ch en ratas control hipercolesterolémicas. Las mezclas de los extractos estudiados mostraron una completa salubridad hacia las funciones del hígado y el riñón. En conclusión las mezclas mostraron una mejora del perfil lipídico del plasma, un significativo incremento en la testosterona, y un descenso del estrés oxidativo con una prometedora prevención de las enfermedades cardiovasculares y ateroesclerosis. El efecto anti-aterogénico de las mezclas de los extractos puede ser debida a la presencia de compuestos fenólicos, fitoesteroles, tocoferoles y ácidos grasos insaturados

Accurate spectral solutions of first and second-order initial value problems by the ultraspherical wavelets-Gauss collocation method

In this paper, we present an ultraspherical wavelets-Gauss collocation method for obtaining direct solutions of first- and second-order nonlinear differential equations subject to homogenous and nonhomogeneous initial conditions. The properties of ultraspherical wavelets are used to reduce the differential equations with their initial conditions to systems of algebraic equations, which then must be solved by using suitable numerical solvers. The function approximations are spectral and have been chosen in such a way that make them easy to calculate the expansion coefficients of the thought-for solutions. Uniqueness and convergence of the proposed function approximation is discussed. Four illustrative numerical examples are considered and these results are comparing favorably with the analytic solutions and proving more accurate than those discussed by some other existing techniques in the literature

A Pseudospectral Algorithm for Solving Multipantograph Delay Systems on a Semi-Infinite Interval Using Legendre Rational Functions

A new Legendre rational pseudospectral scheme is proposed and developed for solving numerically systems of linear and nonlinear multipantograph equations on a semi-infinite interval. A Legendre rational collocation method based on Legendre rational-Gauss quadrature points is utilized to reduce the solution of such systems to systems of linear and nonlinear algebraic equations. In addition, accurate approximations are achieved by selecting few Legendre rational-Gauss collocation points. The numerical results obtained by this method have been compared with various exact solutions in order to demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed method. Indeed, for relatively limited nodes used, the absolute error in our numerical solutions is sufficiently small

FLAVONOIDS FROM SUGAR BEET LEAVES AS HEPATOPROTECTIVE AGENT

Objective: This work was designed to investigate the activity of Beta vulgaris (B. vulgaris) extract against hepatotoxicity induced by (carbon tetrachloride) CC14 in male rats.Methods: Hepatoprotective study was performed on rats, divided into different groups; control healthy rats, the group received B. vulgaris extract, intoxicated rats by CC14, CCl4 group treated with alcoholic leaves extract, and CCl4 intoxicated rats treated with silymarin. The evaluation was done through measuring liver function indices and oxidative stress markers.Results: The activities of Alanine Transferase (ALT), Aspartate Transferase (AST), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) increased by 187.07, 52.37, 50.58, and 94.59% respectively in CCl4 group from control. Supplementation of beet extract decreased this elevation to 10.83, 26.43, 17.07 and 37.21% for the previous parameters respectively. The values obtained of the enzymes activity return nearly to that of control values, also a histopathological investigation of liver confirmed the results obtained.Conclusion: Beet showed a remarkable anti-hepatotoxic activity against CC14 induced hepatic damageKeywords: B. vulgaris, Hepatoprotective, Flavonoids, Liver function, Antioxidant enzyme, Histopatholog

Efficient Solutions of Multidimensional Sixth-Order Boundary Value Problems Using Symmetric Generalized Jacobi-Galerkin Method

This paper presents some efficient spectral algorithms for solving linear sixth-order two-point boundary value problems in one dimension based on the application of the Galerkin method. The proposed algorithms are extended to solve the two-dimensional sixth-order differential equations. A family of symmetric generalized Jacobi polynomials is introduced and used as basic functions. The algorithms lead to linear systems with specially structured matrices that can be efficiently inverted. The various matrix systems resulting from the proposed algorithms are carefully investigated, especially their condition numbers and their complexities. These algorithms are extensions to some of the algorithms proposed by Doha and Abd-Elhameed (2002) and Doha and Bhrawy (2008) for second- and fourth-order elliptic equations, respectively. Three numerical results are presented to demonstrate the efficiency and the applicability of the proposed algorithms

STUDY OF THE POSSIBLE ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF AN HERBAL MIXTURE ON L-NAME-INDUCED HYPERTENSIVE RATS

Objective: Hypertension is a chronic medical condition. Diet can improve blood pressure control and decrease the risk of health complication.Methods: In this study, four plants: Roselle, Marjoram, Chamomile, and Doum were extracted by water. Equal portions of them were mixed. Lethaldose 50% of the mixture was assayed; the dose which did not cause any mortality was 266.94 mg/100 g body weight. Animals were classified into fivegroups: Negative control group, positive control group where hypertension was induced by L-name, two groups treated with two doses of the mixture,and a group treated with prazosin as a standard treatment. Treatment of hypertensive rats continued for 4 successive weeks.Results: Treatment with the mixture showed a significant reduction in blood pressure of hypertensive rats, as well as serum cholesterol, low-densitylipoprotein-cholesterol, and urea levels when compared to positive control group.Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that the aqueous extract is efficient as an antihypertensive and hypolipidemic agent.Keywords: Rats, Aqueous extract, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, L-name

A Spectral Method for Elliptic Equations: The Neumann Problem

Let $\Omega$ be an open, simply connected, and bounded region in $\mathbb{R}^{d}$, $d\geq2$, and assume its boundary $\partial\Omega$ is smooth. Consider solving an elliptic partial differential equation $-\Delta u+\gamma u=f$ over $\Omega$ with a Neumann boundary condition. The problem is converted to an equivalent elliptic problem over the unit ball $B$, and then a spectral Galerkin method is used to create a convergent sequence of multivariate polynomials $u_{n}$ of degree $\leq n$ that is convergent to $u$. The transformation from $\Omega$ to $B$ requires a special analytical calculation for its implementation. With sufficiently smooth problem parameters, the method is shown to be rapidly convergent. For $u\in C^{\infty}(\overline{\Omega})$ and assuming $\partial\Omega$ is a $C^{\infty}$ boundary, the convergence of $\Vert u-u_{n}\Vert_{H^{1}}$ to zero is faster than any power of $1/n$. Numerical examples in $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ and $\mathbb{R}^{3}$ show experimentally an exponential rate of convergence.Comment: 23 pages, 11 figure