Selection of antagonistic actinomycete isolates as biocontrol agents against root-rot fungi

In this study, actinomycetes isolates, isolated from rhizosphere of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), were screened for antagonistic activities on certain root rot fungi (Fusarium culmorum, Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium verticilloides and Bipolaris sorokiniana). The  in vitro antagonistic effects of actinomycetes isolates were determined on solid media against fungal pathogens. The inhibition mechanism, effect of application time and pH on inhibition was investigated. The actinomycete isolate 129.01 exhibited a high inhibition ratio of more than 60 % against all fungi. The activity of the isolate 129.01 against root rot fungi was tested under greenhouse conditions. The root rot score (1-10), mean plant height (cm) and mean weight of green part of plant (g) were determined after an incubation period. The root rot score of the infected plants was decreased significantly by this isolate, even if the plants were inoculated with all of the pathogen fungi together (P<0.05). The results indicate that isolate 129.01 could be useful as a biocontrol agent. The assignment of the isolate 129.01 to the genus Streptomyces was supported by 16S rRNA analysis.Fil: Erginbas, Gul. Centro Internacional de Mejoramiento de Maíz y Trigo; TurquíaFil: Yamac, Mustafa. Eskisehir Osmangazi University; TurquíaFil: Amoroso, Maria Julia del R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentin

Gender differences in psychological adjustment among spinal cord injured patients

In the present study gender differences in psychological adjustment of Spinal Cord Injured (SCI) patients was studied. The sample of 70 SCI patients (35 male and 35 female) was selected from the National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) Islamabad, Bagh and Muzafrabad, (Azad &amp; Jammu Kashmir AJK). Purposive sampling technique was used for data collection. Psychological Adjustment Scale PAS was used. This questionnaire was found to be reliable (Cornbach's Alpha = .78). The findings indicated that there was significant gender difference in psychological adjustments as male SCI patients were more adjusted than female SCI patients.Keywords: Rehabilitation Medicine; Gender differences; Psychological adjustment; Spinal cord Injured patient

Ideological Mate-guarding:Sexual Jealousy and Mating Strategy Predict Support for Female Honor

Feminine honor dictates that women should cultivate a reputation for sexual purity via behaviors such as dressing modestly and maintaining virginity before marriage. The dominant explanation for people's support for feminine honor is that female infidelity threatens male partners' honor. Beyond this, the literature affords little understanding of the evolutionary and psychological origins of feminine honor. We propose that feminine honor functions as an ideological form of mate guarding that is shaped by sexual jealousy and mating strategy. Two correlational studies ( N   =  892) revealed support for predictions derived from this ideological mate-guarding account. In Study 1, dispositional jealousy and mating strategy (more monogamous orientation) predicted male participants' support for a mate's (especially a long-term mate's) feminine honor. Moving beyond mate preferences, in Study 2 male and female participants' dispositional jealousy and mating strategy predicted support for feminine honor of women in general. Results applied beyond masculine honor norms, religiosity, political conservativism, and age. These findings enhance the understanding of the origins and maintenance of feminine honor and related norms and ideologies that enable control over women's socio-sexual behavior. </p

The Design and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Some 1-Aryl-3- isopropylamino-1-propanone Hydrochlorides towards Human Huh-7 Hepatoma Cells

Cataloged from PDF version of article.A series of 1-aryl-3-isopropylamino-1-propanone hydrochlorides 1 and a related heterocyclic analog 2 as candidate antineoplastic agents were prepared and the rationale for designing these compounds is presented. A specific objective in this study is the discovery of novel compounds possessing growth-inhibiting properties of hepatoma cells. The compounds in series 1 and 2 were prepared and their structures established unequivocally. X-ray crystallography of two representative compounds 1d and 1g were achieved. Over half of the compounds are more potent than 5-fluorouracil which is an established drug used in treating liver cancers. QSAR evaluations and molecular modeling studies were undertaken with a view to detecting some physicochemical parameters which govern cytotoxic potencies. A number of guidelines for amplification of the project have been formulated. A number of Mannich bases displayed greater potency than the reference drug 5-fluorouracil against human Huh-7 hepatoma cells. In particular, 1i emerged as a lead compound possessing 2.8 fold higher activity than that of the reference drug. Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Smart wearable stress monitoring device for autistic children

Vital sign monitoring is the process of recording human physiological signals in order to determine the mental stress level. High stress levels can prove tobe dangerous especially for certain individuals such as autistic children who are not able to express mounting levels of stress before it leads to a full anxiety attack. This paper presents the prototype design of a real-time embedded device that accurately measures heart rate and galvanic skin response (GSR) in a non-invasive and non-intrusive way which is then used by the intelligent decision making module that uses fuzzy logic to determine the stress level of the user. Such a device could be used with autistic children in order to give early warning of an impending anxiety attack and help adults to prevent it from happening. The prototype was designed using Arduino mega platform and tested with 35 clinical patients in three experimental settings targeted to induce low stress, medium stress and high stress response. Initial results have shown that the device is capable of detecting and displaying the various stress levels efficiently

Cardiac Insulin Resistance and MicroRNA Modulators

Cardiac insulin resistance is a metabolic and functional disorder that is often associated with obesity and/or the cardiorenal metabolic syndrome (CRS), and this disorder may be accentuated by chronic alcohol consumption. In conditions of over-nutrition, increased insulin (INS) and angiotensin II (Ang II) activate mammalian target for rapamycin (mTOR)/p70 S6 kinase (S6K1) signaling, whereas chronic alcohol consumption inhibits mTOR/S6K1 activation in cardiac tissue. Although excessive activation of mTOR/S6K1 induces cardiac INS resistance via serine phosphorylation of INS receptor substrates (IRS-1/2), it also renders cardioprotection via increased Ang II receptor 2 (AT2R) upregulation and adaptive hypertrophy. In the INS-resistant and hyperinsulinemic Zucker obese (ZO) rat, a rodent model for CRS, activation of mTOR/S6K1signaling in cardiac tissue is regulated by protective feed-back mechanisms involving mTOR↔AT2R signaling loop and profile changes of microRNA that target S6K1. Such regulation may play a role in attenuating progressive heart failure. Conversely, alcohol-mediated inhibition of mTOR/S6K1, down-regulation of INS receptor and growth-inhibitory mir-200 family, and upregulation of mir-212 that promotes fetal gene program may exacerbate CRS-related cardiomyopathy

Cognitive Style as a Factor in Accounting Students\u27 Performance on Multiple Choice Examinations

Using 59 final year accounting students as subjects and multiple regression analysis, this paper tests the hypothesis that accounting students\u27 performance on multiple choice examinations is related to field dependence cognitive style. Results support the hypothesis and suggest that in evaluating student performances in multiple choice examinations, accounting academics should bear in mind that the scores on these examinations may be partly a function of students\u27 cognitive style. This finding has implications for the use of multiple choice examinations in classroom evaluations

Exploring experiences and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on young racially minoritised people in the United Kingdom: A Qualitative Study

Within high-income-countries, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted people from racially minoritised backgrounds. There has been significant research interrogating the disparate impact of the virus, and recently, interest in the long-term implications of the global crisis on young people’s mental health and wellbeing. However, less work explores the experiences of young people from racialised backgrounds as they navigate the pandemic, and the specific consequences this has for their mental health. Forty young people (age 16-25) from black, mixed and other minority backgrounds and living in London, participated in consecutive focus group discussions over a two-month period, to explore the impact of the pandemic on their lives and emotional wellbeing. Thematic analysis identified seven categories describing the impact of the pandemic, indicating: deepening of existing socioeconomic and emotional challenges; efforts to navigate racism and difference within the response; and survival strategies drawing on communal and individual resources. Young people also articulated visions for a future public health response which addressed gaps in current strategies. Findings point to the need to contextualise public health responses to the pandemic in line with the lived experiences of racialised young people. We specifically note the importance of long-term culturally and socio-politically relevant support interventions. Implications for policy and practice are discusse