Functional characterization of the RNA guided DRM2 DNA methyltransferase. Research done in the Faculty of Biology UW and IBB PAS. M.Sc. Thesis Supervisor: prof. dr hab. Ewa Bartnik.

DNA methylation in plants is in part controlled by small RNAs. A key player in RNA directed DNA methylation (RdDM) is Domain Rearranged Methyltransferase 2 (DRM2). In addition to its catalytic domain, which resembles the catalytic domain of animal DNA methyltransferases, the protein has several UBA domains of unknown biochemical significance. Genetic experiments on Arabidopsis thaliana indicate that a DRM2 variant lacking all UBA domains is similarly incapacitated as a catalytic mutant. The aim of this work was to elucidate the role of the UBA domains in DRM2. Towards this end, expression plasmids were generated, which should direct expression of DRM2 variants lacking individual UBA domains only after Agrobacterium mediated transformation. Unfortunately, protein expression of the deletion constructs was not observed, even though a reporter control protein was expressed in parallel experiments

Arid Climate Conditions Vs Water Resources Management in Africa Based on the Sustainable supply chain operations

Abstract-The purpose of this paper is to explore the impact of sustainable supply chain operations on economic, environmental and social performance, which are the three dimensions of corporate sustainability. Africa has been subjected to water stress due to its large part in arid and semi-arid geographical areas and its topographical features and uneven temporal and spatial distribution of rainfall. In this research, an attempt was carried out for water resources management in an arid climate area, the area is the central part of Darb El Arbeain. The study area occupies the central area of Darb EL-Arbeain and bounded by long. 30o 15/ and 30o 25/ E and lat. 23o 55/ and 24o 05/ N, it has an area of about 120 Km2. In this study four suggested exploitation rates of groundwater have been explored using the three-dimensional finite difference flow model (MODFLOW 2005) to simulate the flow system. These scenarios include running the model with abstraction from the aquifers equal 110 %, 180 %, 280 %, and 370 % of calculated initial recharge. The results indicated that the equilibrium could be reached while pumping out from the aquifer in that arid climate area, and the drawdown could be stable after some time depending on the potentiality and heterogeneity of the aquifer

Bio-equivalence study of two tilmicosin phosphate formulations (Micotil 300® and Cozina 300®) in broiler chickens

Background: The present study was designed to assess the comparative bio-equivalence of Micotil 300® and Cozina 300® in healthy broiler chickens after oral administration of both products in a dose of 15 mg tilmicosin base/kg body wt.Methods: Twenty four broiler chickens were divided equally into two groups (12 chickens for each group). The first group was designed to study the pharmacokinetics of Micotil 300®, while the 2nd group was designed to study the pharmacokinetics of Cozina 300®. Each broiler chicken in both groups was orally administered with 15 mg tilmicosin/kg body wt. Blood samples were obtained from the wing vein and collected immediately before and at 0.08, 0.16, 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 hours after a single oral administration.Results: The disposition kinetics of Micotil 300® and Cozina 300® following oral administration of 15 mg tilmicosin/kg body wt revealed that the maximum blood concentration [Cmax] were 1.73 and 1.67 μg/ml and attained at [tmax] of 2.01 and 2.04 hours, respectively.Conclusions: Cozina 300® is bioequivalent to Micotil 300® since the ratios of Cmax, AUC0-24 andAUC0-∞ (T/R) were 0.96, 0.93 and 0.91 respectively. These are within the bio-equivalence acceptance range. Micotil 300® and Cozina 300® are therefore bioequivalent and interchangeable

Economic, Institutional & Political Determinants of FDI Growth Effects in Emerging & Developing Countries

This study investigates the role of income levels, using the World Bank income classification, and political development, using EIU Democracy Index scores, in determining the magnitude of FDI growth effects for a panel of 61 emerging and developing countries for the period 1989 to 2013. It tests a baseline growth model incorporating these variables which is then extended to include FDI interaction effects with human capital, measured using secondary school enrolment data, and political development. The separate growth effects of FDI are then tested separately for each of the three lower World Bank income classifications (Upper-Middle, Lower-Middle and Low Income) followed by three categories of political regime type derived from Democracy Index. The effects of FDI are found to vary significantly between income classifications with the strongest growth effects in Low Income countries and weaker negative effects in Upper-Middle Income countries. The growth interaction effects between FDI and human capital are found to be strongly positive regardless of regime type. Political development in conjunction with FDI appears to suppress the growth effects of FDI in authoritarian countries while enhancing them in ‘hybrid’ democracies. For more democratic countries, human capital is a more important driver of growth than FDI but this is the outcome of strongly positive interaction effects between FDI and human capital outweighing negative effects for human capital on its own. The paper also provides some support for the view that a critical threshold of human capital is required to generate beneficial spillover growth effects from inflows of FDI. This paper provides new and more detailed insights into the growth effects of FDI with particular respect to income classification and political regime type in emerging and developing countries

The Impact of Foreign Technology & Embodied R&D On Productivity in Internationally-Oriented & High-Technology Industries in Egypt, 2006-2009

This paper investigates the domestic productivity and spillover effects of foreign technology and embodied R&D on Egyptian manufacturing industries, 2003 to 2009. It also analyses the heterogeneous sectoral effects of technology transfer by focusing specifically on the productivity effects on highly internationalised and technology intensive industries. These are expected to have greater absorptive capacity with respect to foreign technology and therefore greater productivity effects because of their greater exposure to foreign competition and greater technological capacity respectively. The study is the first to analyse the efficiency effects of foreign technology by classifying industries in this manner. The study finds that foreign technology and embodied R&D have positive and significant industry-specific effects on domestic productivity and TFP in technology intensive industries but these are weaker in internationally-oriented industries. The findings suggest that only the technological intensive industries in Egypt have sufficient absorptive capacity to assimilate foreign technology effectively. The paper’s findings highlight the key role of foreign technology in domestic productivity growth, subject to the absorptive capacity of the domestic labour force, and the need for improved policies to promote the domestic benefits of technology transfer through the accumulation of local technological competences

Numerical Assessment of Reinforced Concrete Beams Strengthened with CFRP Sheets under Impact Loading

This paper investigates numerically the behavior of Reinforced Concrete (RC) beams, strengthened using Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers (CFRP) sheets, subjected to impact loading. Three-dimensional finite element analysis was performed and its results were verified against experimental ones available in the literature showing good agreement. Then, a comprehensive parametric study was performed to investigate the effect of studied parameters on the strengthened RC beams. The main studied parameters were type and size of reinforcing bars, geometric characteristics of externally bonded CFRP sheets (width, length, and thickness), impact velocity, and the position of the impactor with respect to the beam. Results showed that the use of externally bonded CFRP sheets enhanced the beam capacity and failure mode, and reduced the mid-span deflection. Moreover, a reduction in the mid-span deflection was observed due to the use of CFRP bars as internal reinforcement. On the other hand, the deflection was increased due to the increase of the impact velocity, and the change of the impact load position

Tissue Residues, Hematological and Biochemical Effects of Tilmicosin in Broiler Chicken

The aim of this study was to determine the blood and tissue concentrations profile and effect of tilmicosin on some hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chicken. Fifty clinically healthy Hubbard chickens were orally administered 25 mg/kg BW of tilmicosin once daily for 5 consecutive days. Tissue residues of tilmicosin in slaughtered healthy chicken could not be detected by microbiological assay in all tested tissues except in lung (at 96 hours) and liver and kidneys (at 72 hours) after last administration. Tilmicosin caused temporary decrease in the RBCs and WBCs counts and has no effect on hemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume concentration (PCV). Also, the effect of tilmicosin on some biochemical parameters was as follows: the concentrations of creatinine, uric acid, electrolytes (sodium, potassium, and calcium), glucose, AST, ALT, ALP, and HDL-cholesterol in the serum of treated chicken did not change in response to the repeated oral administration of tilmicosin. There were only a temporary significant decrease in total protein and albumin concentrations and a significant increase in cholesterol and triglycerides concentrations. Chicken must not be slaughtered before 4 days from the stopping of tilmicosin administration. Tilmicosin makes temporary changes on hematological and biochemical parameters in broiler chicken

Comparative studies on the efficacy of lincomycin and bacitracin for the control of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

Background: The present study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lincomycin and/or bacitracin for control of experimentally-induced Clostridium perfringens (CP) infection in broiler chickens.Methods: A total of 100 one-day-old Cobb-mixed chicks were divided into five groups (A, B, C, D and E, each of 20 bird). At the 15th day of age, all birds (except group A) were inoculated orally with CP broth culture (109 CFU/mL). Two days later, drugs were orally administered once daily for five consecutive days as follow; Group A and B were left untreated. Group C, D, and E were treated with lincomycin (0.5 g/l), bacitracin (100 mg/l), lincomycin and bacitracin, respectively. The efficacy of used drugs was estimated based on clinical symptoms, body weight, weight gain, feed conversion rate. Hematobiochemical changes were also determined.Results: Necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens induced a significant decrease in body weight, weight gain, erythrocytic count, hemoglobin content, PCV %, serum proteins, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. Additionally, a marked decrease in serum lipids was obtained. Furthermore, a significant increase in feed conversion rate, leukocytic count, phagocytic activity, phagocytic index, serum total globulin, γ globulin and malondialdehyde coupled with a marked increase in β and α globulins were determined. Medication of infected broilers with lincomycin and/or bacitracin improved clinical signs and reduced mortality rate to 8, 6 and 2%, respectively, as well as restored the performance and hematobiochemical alterations.Conclusions: a combination of lincomycin and bacitracin was of considerable value for the control of necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens

Energy and Productivity - a review of the literature

YesESRC funded project Powering Productivity (ES/S015124/1