Influence of light intensity and salinity on growth and antioxidant machinery of Thymus vulgaris L.

323-335Thymus vulgaris L. commonly known as Thyme or Garden Thyme, is important medicinal herb used for their wide-ranging therapeutic properties. Agriculture practices of thyme plants influence their growth and biochemical composition. Here, we have evaluated the effects of two production systems and irrigation with saline water on growth, physiological characteristics and antioxidant capacity of T. vulgaris. Two levels of salinity stress (50 and 150 mM) were applied for 2 and 4 weeks under shade enclosure or open field. The results showed that NaCl-treated plants grown in shade enclosure showed reduced total dry weight and relative water content, photosynthetic characteristics and leaf pigments when compared to full sunny conditions. However, the shade conditions enhanced glucose and fructose accumulation mainly after a short period of NaCl stress application. The reduction of Ca2+ and K+ was lower in NaCl-stressed plants grown under open-field conditions. Besides, under sunny conditions, plants showed significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2 contents. Our results demonstrated that these plants in open field have higher contents of reduced ascorbate (ASC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) than plants grown in shade enclosure, which could be related to enhanced activity of APX and GR. An increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity was also recorded. Moreover, activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) were mainly dependent on the intensity of NaCl stress

influence of light intensity and salinity on growth and antioxidant machinery of Thymus vulgaris L

Thymus vulgarisL. commonly known as Thyme or Garden Thyme, is important medicinal herb used for their wide-ranging therapeutic properties. Agriculture practices of thyme plants influence their growth and biochemical composition. Here, we have evaluated the effects of two production systems and irrigation with saline water on growth, physiological characteristics and antioxidant capacity of T. vulgaris. Two levels of salinity stress (50 and 150 mM) were applied for 2 and 4 weeks under shade enclosure or open field. The results showed that NaCl-treated plants grown in shade enclosure showed reduced total dry weight and relative water content, photosynthetic characteristics and leaf pigments when compared to full sunny conditions. However, the shade conditions enhanced glucose and fructose accumulation mainly after a short period of NaCl stress application. The reduction of Ca2+ and K+ was lower in NaCl-stressed plants grown under open-field conditions. Besides, under sunny conditions, plants showed significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) and H2O2contents. Our results demonstrated that these plantsin open fieldhave higher contents of reduced ascorbate (ASC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) than plants grown in shade enclosure, which could be related to enhanced activity of APX and GR. An increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity was also recorded. Moreover, activities of dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR) were mainly dependent on the intensity of NaCl stress

Stock repurchase and Arab Spring empirical evidence from the MENA region

This paper examines how repurchase programs are used in the MENA region in the context of the political instability associated with the Arab Spring. We extend the knowledge regarding the relationship between stock repurchases and firm performance. We find that repurchase programs are used differently across countries. In fact, repurchases are negatively related to prior stock price performance. However, the market reacts more favorably to repurchases made by low market capitalization firms and by firms with high book-to-market ratio

Retrospective analysis of complication in therapeutic interventional radiology

GesamtdissertationZielsetzung: Analyse der Komplikationen interventionell-radiologischen eingriffen in Abhängigkeit von allgemeinen Faktoren wie Alter, Diagnose, Indikationen. Material und Methodik: Retrospektive Studie unter Einschluss von 403 konsekutiv im Zeitraum Januar 1998 bis Dezember 1998behandelten Patientinnen. Sämtliche Eingriffe wurden von verschiedenen Radiologuendurchgeführt. Die Patienten-Daten wurde mit Hilfe des Hi-iQ erfasst. Komplikationen wurden in Abhängigkeit von Alter, Diagnose, Indikation und Art der Intervention entsprechend der SCVIR-Klassifikation aufgeschlüsselt. Ergebnisse: 92,6 % der Eingriffe waren technisch erfolgreich. Komplikationen traten in 17,1 % der Fälle auf. Es traten Majorkomplikationen (5,3 %) der SCVIR-Klassifikation auf. Schlussfolgerung: Die Auswertung unserer Ergebnisse bestätigt die häufig beobachtete steigende Inzidenz von Komplikationen nach interventionell-radiologischen Eingriffen mit zunehmendem Alter. (Abb. 7).Diese sind signifikant höher je älter die jeweilige Patientengruppe (p ist < 0.001).Purpose: To analyze the sharp of complications in therapeutic interventional radiology depending on patient age, diagnosis, indications. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study includes 403 patients consecutively treated from January 1998 through December 1998 with all interventions performed by different physicians. Complications were recorded and categorized depending on Age, diagnosis and Indication according to the definitions of the Society of cardiovascular Interventional Radiology (SCVIR) with the Hi-iQ system. Results: The Interventions was technically successful in 92.6 % of the cases. Peri- and post interventional complications occurred in 17.1 %. 5.3 % were classified as major class according to the SCVIR. Conclusion: The analysis of our Data shows the dependence of complication in interventional radiology depending on patient age. The significance is increasing the more the patients are older (p < 0.001)

The Determinants of the Value Created by Stock Repurchase Programs

This paper aims to extend the empirical literature on the determinants of the value created by stock repurchase programs by analyzing the characteristics of the repurchase decision-making groups. Based on a sample of 200 US-listed firms from 1998-2004, the paper examines empirically the relationship between value created by stock repurchase programs and board of directors’ characteristics. The analysis depends on panel data analysis to consider unobservable fixed-effects in this relationship.The results provide evidence of a significant relation between board of directors’ characteristics and value created by the stock repurchase programs. The two important determinants are directors’ independence and directors’ outside experience. However, we find that this relationship changed significantly for some measures after the adoption of the 2002 Sarbanes-Oxley Act.Cette étude examine les déterminants de la valeur créée aux actionnaires par les programmes de rachat d’actions. Pour un échantillon de 200 firmes américaines entre 1998-2004, l’étude analyse empiriquement la relation entre les caractéristiques du Conseil d’administration et la valeur créées par les programmes de rachat d’actions. L’étude utilise de la méthodologie de données de panel pour tenir compte des effets inobservables fixes dans cette relation.Les résultats montrent que l’indépendance et l’expérience des administrateurs sont les deux facteurs qui expliquent la valeur créée aux actionnaires. Toutefois, cette relation change significativement après l’introduction de la loi sur la sécurité financière la « Sarbanes-Oxley Act » de 2002

Impact of sprouting under potassium nitrate priming on nitrogen assimilation and bioactivity of three Medicago species

Edible sprouts are rich in flavonoids and other polyphenols, as well as proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Increasing sprout consumption necessitates improving their quality, palatability, and bioactivity. The purpose of this study was to test how KNO(3) priming affects the sprouting process species on three Medicago species (Medicago indicus, Medicago interexta, and Medicago polymorpha) and their nutritional values. Targeted species of Medicago were primed with KNO(3), and the levels of different primary and secondary metabolites were determined. KNO(3) induced biomass accumulation in the sprouts of the three species, accompanied by an increased content of total mineral nutrients, pigments, vitamins, and essential amino acids. Besides, our results showed that KNO(3) enhanced the activity of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and glutamine synthetase (GS) enzymes, which are involved in the nitrogen metabolism and GOGAT cycle, which, in turn, increase the nitrogen and protein production. KNO(3) treatment improved the bioactive compound activities of Medicago sprouts by increasing total phenolic and flavonoid contents and enhancing the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Furthermore, species-specific responses toward KNO(3) priming were noticeable, where Medicago interexta showed the highest antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, followed by Medicago polymorpha. Overall, this study sheds the light on the physiological and biochemical bases of growth, metabolism, and tissue quality improvement impact of KNO(3) on Medicago sprouts