GROWTH AND YIELD TRAITS OF GROUNDNUT(ARACHIS HYPOGAEA) LINES TREATED WITH HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

The response of some growth and yield traits of four  groundnut cultivars, Ms 54-76, ICGV-Sm-42, RmP 12 and Samnut 21 treated with hydrogen peroxide for 24 hours prior to planting was studied using seed treatmentof 0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2% and 3%of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The treated seeds were planted in a split plot experimental designing a completely randomised design (CRD) using three replications in University of Calabar, Nigeria. Results showed that more seedlings of Ms 54-76, ICGV-Sm-42 and RmP 12 were established than Samnut 21 at fourteen days after planting. There was a similar variation in the number of days to 50% flowering, number of pods per plant, plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, and weight of pods per plant, shelling percentage and seed weight. The H2O2 incited increase in the seed germination, plant height and in seeds weight from 8 weeks after planting upwards. Generally, ICGV-Sm-42 had the most luxuriant growth and superior yield of the four varieties, followed by Sm-54-76 and RmP 12.ICGV-Sm-42 had the highest response to seed treatment with hydrogen peroxid

Performance da Prótese adesiva anterior Uma revisão sistemática integrativa

No edentulismo anterior, várias opções são possíveis, incluindo próteses adesivas. Seus avanços permitiram que fossem cada vez mais consideradas como uma terapia promissora a longo prazo. O objetivo principal do trabalho foi realizar uma revisão sistemática integrativa sobre a Perfomance da prótese adesiva anterior. Foi realizada uma pesquisa eletrónica na base de dados PubMed, utilizando um limite temporal de 10 anos (2013-2023), usando os MeshTerms and Supplementary Concepts: “Anterior Cantilever resin-bonded bridge”, “Anterior single-retainer resin-bonded fixed prostheses”, “Prostheses fixed partial”, “Dental bonding”, “Dental abutments”. Utilizando diferentes combinações destes MeshTerms and Supplementary Concepts sob forma de Expressões de pesquisa, foram encontrados 66 resultados (depois da remoção dos duplicados) e segundo critérios de inclusão e exclusão foram selecionados 22 artigos para a redação do trabalho. Várias opções de tratamento são possíveis na ausência de dente(s) anterior(es), incluindo a prótese adesiva anterior fixa. A sua conceção pode ser conseguida através de diversos materiais, podendo ser concebida em diferentes formas. Os avanços tecnológicos permitem a sua constante melhoria e evolução. A prótese adesiva anterior é uma opção totalmente viável para o paciente, mesmo a médio e longo prazo, e oferece muitas vantagens em relação a outros possíveis tratamentos existentes.With an anterior tooth loss, several options are possible, including adhesive prostheses. Their advances have allowed them to be increasingly seen as a promising long-term therapy. The main objective of the work was to carry out an integrative systematic review about the Performance of anterior adhesive prosthese. An electronic search was performed in the PubMed database, using a time limit of 10 years (2013-2023), using the MeshTerms and Supplementary Concepts: “Anterior Cantilever resin-bonded bridge”, “Anterior single-retainer resin-bonded fixed prostheses ”, “Prostheses fixed partial”, “Dental bonding”, “Dental abutments”. Using different combinations of these MeshTerms and Supplementary Concepts in the form of Search Expressions, 66 results were found (after removing duplicates) and according to inclusion and exclusion criteria 22 articles were selected for the writing of the work. Several treatment options are possible in the absence of anterior tooth(s), including the fixed anterior adhesive prosthesis. Its design can be achieved through several materials, and can be designed in different forms. Technological advances allow its constant improvement and evolution. The anterior adhesive prosthesis is a completely viable option for the patient, even in the medium to long term, and offers many advantages over other possible existing treatments

Response of cowpea lines to inoculation with four seed transmitted viruses of cowpea.

This study evaluated the performance cowpea genotypes in the field in Ibadan, Nigeria for response to infection induced by four seed transmitted viruses of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in split plot design withthree replicates. Cowpea mottle virus genus Carmovirus (CMeV) produced infection in 14 of the 15 lines, Bean common mosaic virus genus Potyvirus - blackeye cowpea strain (BCMV – BlC) in 12, Cowpea aphid-borne mosaicvirus genus Potyvirus (CABMV) in 11 and Southern bean mosaic virus genus Sobemovirus (SBMV) in 6. BCMV – BlC significantly reduced (

Universal computing by DNA origami robots in a living animal

Biological systems are collections of discrete molecular objects that move around and collide with each other. Cells carry out elaborate processes by precisely controlling these collisions, but developing artificial machines that can interface with and control such interactions remains a significant challenge. DNA is a natural substrate for computing and has been used to implement a diverse set of mathematical problems1-3, logic circuits4-6 and robotics7-9. The molecule also naturally interfaces with living systems, and different forms of DNA-based biocomputing have previously been demonstrated10-13. Here we show that DNA origami14-16 can be used to fabricate nanoscale robots that are capable of dynamically interacting with each other17-18 in a living animal. The interactions generate logical outputs, which are relayed to switch molecular payloads on or off. As a proof-of-principle, we use the system to create architectures that emulate various logic gates (AND, OR, XOR, NAND, NOT, CNOT, and a half adder). Following an ex vivo prototyping phase, we successfully employed the DNA origami robots in living cockroaches (Blaberus discoidalis) to control a molecule that targets the cells of the animal

Variations in agromorphological characteristics of IPGRI Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) accessions

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) remains an important crop in the tropics. One of its challenges remains the selection and improvement of genotypes to meet location–specific needs. We studied ten cowpea accessions in Akamkpa and Ikom, Cross River State, Nigeria. Principal component and biplot analyses associated high yield with growth, flowering, pod and seed traits. Seed weight per plot and number of seeds per plot were phenotypically correlated (rp = 0.99, p ≤ 0.01). Number of seeds per plot and number of seeds per pod were genotypically correlated (rg = 1.00, p ≤ 0.01). TVu–980 did not flower at Akamkpa and TVu–1019 did not grow at Ikom. TVu–992, TVu–53, TVu11, TVu–3629 and TVu–980 (only at Ikom) cowpea accessions showed promising agromorphological attributes for possible crop improvement programmes in Ikom and Akamkpa

B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) is expressed under stimulation by interferon in salivary gland epithelial cells in primary Sjögren's syndrome

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) has a key role in promoting B-lymphocyte activation and survival in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The cellular origin of BAFF overexpression in salivary glands of patients with pSS is not fully known. We investigated whether salivary gland epithelial cells (SGECs), the main targets of autoimmunity in pSS, could produce and express BAFF. We used quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and immunocytochemistry in cultured SGECs from eight patients with pSS and eight controls on treatment with IL-10, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), IFN-α and IFN-γ. At baseline, BAFF expression in SGECs was low in pSS patients and in controls. Treatment with IFN-α, IFN-γ and TNF-α + IFN-γ increased the level of BAFF mRNA in pSS patients (the mean increases were 27-fold, 25-fold and 62-fold, respectively) and in controls (mean increases 19.1-fold, 26.7-fold and 17.7-fold, respectively), with no significant difference between patients and controls. However, in comparison with that at baseline, stimulation with IFN-α significantly increased the level of BAFF mRNA in SGECs of pSS patients (p = 0.03) but not in controls (p = 0.2), which suggests that SGECs of patients with pSS are particularly susceptible to expressing BAFF under IFN-α stimulation. Secretion of BAFF protein, undetectable at baseline, was significantly increased after IFN-α and IFN-γ stimulation both in pSS patients (40.8 ± 12.5 (± SEM) and 47.4 ± 18.7 pg/ml, respectively) and controls (24.9 ± 8.0 and 9.0 ± 3.9 pg/ml, respectively), with no significant difference between pSS and controls. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the induction of cytoplasmic BAFF expression after stimulation with IFN-α and IFN-γ. This study confirms the importance of resident cells of target organs in inducing or perpetuating autoimmunity. Demonstrating the capacity of SGECs to express and secrete BAFF after IFN stimulation adds further information to the pivotal role of these epithelial cells in the pathogenesis of pSS, possibly after stimulation by innate immunity. Our results suggest that an anti-BAFF therapeutic approach could be particularly interesting in pSS

Effect of methotrexate and anti-TNF on Epstein-Barr virus T-cell response and viral load in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or spondylarthropathies

INTRODUCTION: There is a suspicion of increased risk of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferations in patients with inflammatory arthritides receiving immunosuppressive drugs. We investigated the EBV load and EBV-specific T-cell response in patients treated with methotrexate (MTX) or anti-TNF therapy. METHODS: Data for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (n = 58) or spondylarthropathy (SpA) (n = 28) were analyzed at baseline in comparison with controls (n = 22) and after 3 months of MTX or anti-TNF therapy for EBV load and EBV-specific IFNγ-producing T cells in response to EBV latent-cycle and lytic-cycle peptides. RESULTS: The EBV load and the number of IFNγ-producing T-cells after peptide stimulation were not significantly different between groups at baseline (P = 0.61 and P = 0.89, respectively). The EBV load was not significantly modified by treatment, for RA with MTX (P = 0.74) or anti-TNF therapy (P = 0.94) or for SpA with anti-TNF therapy (P = 1.00). The number of EBV-specific T cells was not significantly modified by treatment, for RA with MTX (P = 0.58) or anti-TNF drugs (P = 0.19) or for SpA with anti-TNF therapy (P = 0.39). For all patients, the EBV load and EBV-specific T cells were significantly correlated (P = 0.017; R = 0.21). For most patients, short-term exposure (3 months) to MTX or anti-TNF did not alter the EBV load or EBV-specific T-cell response but two patients had discordant evolution. CONCLUSIONS: These data are reassuring and suggest there is no short-term defect in EBV-immune surveillance in patients receiving MTX or anti-TNF drugs. However, in these patients, long term follow-up of EBV-specific T-cell response is necessary and the role of non-EBV-related mechanisms of lymphomagenesis is not excluded

No evidence for an association between the -871 T/C promoter polymorphism in the B-cell-activating factor gene and primary Sjögren's syndrome

Polyclonal B cell activation might be related to pathogenic over-expression of B-cell-activating factor (BAFF) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and other autoimmune diseases. We therefore investigated whether BAFF over-expression in pSS could be a primary, genetically determined event that leads to the disease. The complete BAFF gene was sequenced in Caucasian pSS patients and control individuals. The only single nucleotide polymorphism frequently observed, namely -871 T/C in the promoter region, was then genotyped in 162 French patients with pSS and 90 French control individuals. No significant differences in allele (T allele frequency: 49.7% in patients with pSS versus 50% in controls; P = 0.94) and genotype frequencies of BAFF polymorphism were detected between pSS patients and control individuals. BAFF gene polymorphism was not associated with a specific pattern of antibody secretion either. T allele carriers had significantly increased BAFF protein serum levels (mean values of 8.6 and 5.7 ng/ml in patients with TT and TC genotypes, respectively, versus 3.3 ng/ml in patients with CC genotype; P = 0.01), although no correlation was observed between BAFF polymorphism and mRNA level. In conclusion, BAFF gene polymorphism is neither involved in genetic predisposition to pSS nor associated with a specific pattern of antibody production

Increased levels of circulating microparticles in primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis and relation with disease activity

INTRODUCTION: Cell stimulation leads to the shedding of phosphatidylserine (PS)-rich microparticles (MPs). Because autoimmune diseases (AIDs) are characterized by cell activation, we investigated level of circulating MPs as a possible biomarker in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: We measured plasma levels of total, platelet and leukocyte MPs by prothrombinase capture assay and flow cytometry in 43 patients with pSS, 20 with SLE and 24 with RA and in 44 healthy controls (HCs). Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity was assessed by fluorometry. Soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and soluble P-selectin (sCD62P), reflecting platelet activation, were measured by ELISA. RESULTS: Patients with pSS showed increased plasma level of total MPs (mean +/- SEM 8.49 +/- 1.14 nM PS equivalent (Eq), P < 0.0001), as did patients with RA (7.23 +/- 1.05 n PS Eq, P = 0.004) and SLE (7.3 +/- 1.25 nM PS Eq, P = 0.0004), as compared with HCs (4.13 +/- 0.2 nM PS Eq). Patients with AIDs all showed increased level of platelet MPs (P < 0.0001), but only those with pSS showed increased level of leukocyte MPs (P < 0.0001). Results by capture assay and flow cytometry were correlated. In patients with high disease activity according to extra-glandular complications (pSS), DAS28 (RA) or SLEDAI (SLE) compared with low-activity patients, the MP level was only slightly increased in comparison with those having a low disease activity. Platelet MP level was inversely correlated with anti-DNA antibody level in SLE (r = -0.65; P = 0.003) and serum beta2 microglobulin level in pSS (r = -0.37; P < 0.03). The levels of total and platelet MPs were inversely correlated with sPLA2 activity (r = -0.37, P = 0.0007; r = -0.36, P = 0.002, respectively). sCD40L and sCD62P concentrations were significantly higher in pSS than in HC (P </= 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Plasma MP level is elevated in pSS, as well as in SLE and RA, and could be used as a biomarker reflecting systemic cell activation. Level of leukocyte-derived MPs is increased in pSS only. The MP level is low in case of more severe AID, probably because of high secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) activity, which leads to consumption of MPs. Increase of platelet-derived MPs, sCD40L and sCD62P, highlights platelet activation in pSS

Enhancement of pure titanium localized corrosion resistance by anodic oxidation

The corrosion behavior of commercially pure titanium (UNS R50400) was investigated in presence of aggressive, bromides containing, species; reported to cause severer localized corrosion compared to chlorides. To enhance localized corrosion resistance of the metal, several surface treatments were performed. Samples anodized at potentials between 10 V and 200 V were characterized in term of oxide thickness and morphology and tested with potentiodynamic analyses in NH4Br. This treatment was found to greatly enhance corrosion resistance of titanium but it suffers localized removal of the oxide due to wrong handling of the part before their installation. For this reason, another treatment, suitable for in-situ surface recovering was developed through chemical oxidation in NaOH 10 M