Variations in certain biological aspects of the cotton aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) in relation to color of its forms

The stock populations of two groups of Aphis gossypii Glover (Homoptera: Aphididae) were collected from cucurbitaceous plant leaves cultivated in Assiut and the New Valley Governorates, Egypt. Both aphid groups were brought into the laboratory and used as base line of pirimicarb resistance. Pirimicarb LC50 base line was determined by the dipping technique in successive concentrations of the trade form of pirimicarb mixed in water. The LC25 was determined monthly throughout two years and used in the selection.. This procedure resulted four aphid forms at each location (i.e., base line, mixed, light color, and dark color).  It was found that the total nymphal duration of dark forms collected from both locations did not vary significantly from the base line forms. Data of the reproductive biology of aphids from both locations showed that the fecundity period, longevity and productivity of the dark morphs were significantly higher than those of the base line ones

Relationships between selectivity of Aphis gossypii Glover and Aphis craccivora Koch to sucrose and maltose and their resistance to pirimicarb

Pirimicarb LC50 base line was determined by the dipping technique in successive concentrations of the trade form of pirimicarb in water. The LC25 was used for the selection every month through a year. In case of 10 sucrose solutions versus water, 8 counts indicated that aphids did not prefer the sucrose solution. After 6 hours the cotton aphid could not discriminate between the sugar solution and water. The discrimination between sugars was enhanced by adding 10% maltose. It was observed that the dark forms of the cotton aphid, A. gossypii and light forms of the cowpea aphid, A. craccivora attracted to the higher sucrose solution than the other forms. The cotton aphid, A. gossypii has a light color as the basic color, transforming under reversible condition to dark green, whereas, the basic color of cowpea aphid, A. craccivora usually black in color, transforming under stress to light brownish. This reversed evidence explained the differences in response towards sugar of the two aphid species.It may be concluded that the dark morphs of A. gossypii, and light morphs of A. craccivora which are considered pirimicarb resistant preferred high sugar levels. In other meaning, the present study proved that dark morphs of the cotton aphid and light forms of the cowpea aphid were resistant to pirimicarb and this resistance was positively correlated with the levels of sugars in the plants. Therefore, plant breeders are requested to pay efforts in screening process of resistant plants to produce plants with low sugar contents to increase the effectiveness of pirimicarb against both species of aphids. 

ESTROGENS IMPROVE THE CARDIOVASCULAR ALTERATIONS IN FRUCTOSE-INDUCED INSULIN RESISTANT OVARIECTOMIZED RATS

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the possible improving effects of 17-β estradiol (EST) and genistein (GEN) on the cardiovascular changes associated with fructose (21% in drinking water for 8 weeks)-induced insulin resistance.Methods: Sham-operated and ovariectomized mature female rats were included in this study. Insulin-resistant ovariectomized animals were sc treated with EST (100 µg/kg) or GEN (1 mg/kg) on the daily basis for 21 consecutive days.Results: Induction of insulin resistance in both sham-operated and ovariectomized rats decreased the vascular responsiveness of isolated aortic rings towards the vasoconstrictor norepinephrine and the vasodilator acetylcholine (Ach) with no changes towards the vasodilator sodium nitroprusside. Fructose-induced insulin resistance was also associated with an elevation in the blood pressure (BP) with decreased serum level of nitric oxide (NO). Treatment of insulin-resistant ovariectomized rats with either EST or GEN improved the vascular responsiveness of isolated aortic rings towards Ach and succeeded to reduce the elevated BP. Moreover, both EST and GEN decreased the insulin resistance/compensatory hyper insulinaemia. Treatment with EST increased serum NO level.Conclusion: EST and GEN have the ability to improve the endothelium-dependent relaxation in insulin-resistant ovariectomized rats and modulate the elevated BP.Â

Valorization of bio-fertilizer from anaerobic digestate through ammonia stripping process: A practical and sustainable approach towards circular economy

Anaerobic digestion is a technology, which converts biological wastes into biogas and biogas digestates (DIG); the latter is considered the main challenge for biogas producers. Recently, nutrient recovery technology from these DIG for bio-fertilizers production as an alternative for traditional chemical fertilizers is receiving increasing attention. This study aims to use two different biofertilizers based on DIG using ammonia striping technique which are liquid bio-based ammonium sulfate (BAS-L) and solid bio-based ammonium sulfate (BAS-S) fertilizers, besides the raw DIG and the conventional urea compound fertilizer (UCF) is used as a chemical fertilizer for comparison to produce solanaceous plants (eggplant). The agronomic effectiveness and economics of using these fertilizers are listed, and the results indicated that the eggplant yields using UCF and BAS-L were 62.65 tons/ha and 63.42 tons/ha, respectively, representing 24.5 % and 27.9 % higher than BAS-S and DIG, respectively. The agronomic efficiency (AEN) and the apparent recovery efficiency (AREN) of BAS-L fertilizer were the highest, reaching 44.8 kg DM/kg N and 7.9 %, respectively, which were significantly higher than the corresponding values of BAS-S and DIG. Furthermore, the economic benefits of various fertilizer applications were estimated and compared. The results showed that the theoretical net revenue of BAS-L fertilizer was 86065.03 $/ha, while BAS-S fertilizer and UCF were lower than BAS-L (56.7$/ha. Therefore, BAS-L fertilizer has the best comprehensive fertilizer effect and economic benefits

Revitalize splenic functions. Following a splenectomy for trauma, a small amount of splenic autotransplantation was performed

Abstract Introduction The spleen is a responsible significant part of the immune system; after Splenectomy following trauma, the immune system changes; splenic autotransplantation can preserve the immune system after trauma and Splenectomy. Background Patients can be protected from immune dysfunction by autotransplanting splenic tissues after splenectomy following trauma because their immune systems and spleens are changed. Patients can gain their immune function after splenic autotransplantation. Methods Patient classification methods are into three categories, Group A, 6 cases with auto-translation; Group B, 6 cases without transplantation; Group C, seven regular people serving as the control. Aim of work The aim of the work is not to compare outcome methods or compare types of autotransplantation; This work aims to document postoperative radiological, immunological, clinical, and hematological investigations. We concentrated on the results of investigations more than the types of operation or approach or types of autotransplantation. Results We showed that, after comparing each group with normal individuals subjects, patients who did not undergo autotransplantation had significantly higher platelet counts, a more significant percentage of micronucleated reticulocytes, increased levels of naive B lymphocytes, changes in class-switched memory and class-unswitched memory B cells, and higher levels of PD1 on CD8 + T lymphocytes. Nevertheless, neither splenic autotransplant patients nor the average general population showed any appreciable variations in any of the parameters. Conclusions Spleen’s activities with adequate hemocatheter activity and recovery of the immunological deficit after splenic autotransplantation

Assessment of dental students′ psychomotor skills using oral surgery simulation models

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the validity of using oral surgery simulation models as a tool to assess the psychomotor skills of dental students. Materials and Methods: All students in the 4 th year of a 6 years dental program were enrolled in the study. 23 dental students were asked to display their competency in the injection of local anesthesia and dental extraction in two summative testing environments namely; in the simulation and in the outpatient clinic. A panel of four experts assessed the students′ performance during the injection of local anesthesia and tooth extraction on patients and simulation using a pre-validated checklist. Students′ scores were compared in both settings. Results: The results showed no significant correlation between the scores on patients and simulation in the two settings (P = 0.759). Conclusion: The study revealed that the real patient remains the gold standard in summative assessment of dental students′ psychomotor skills