Effects of rootstocks and irrigation levels on grape quality of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Shiraz

The influence of two rootstocks (SO4 and 1103P) on grape quality and berry chemical composition was studied in a factorial experiment, in field grown grapevines of cv. Shiraz (Vitis vinifera L.), subjected to five irrigation levels [0% (T1), 25% (T2), 50% (T3), 75% (T4) and 100% (T5) of irrigation depth (IW, mm): Class A pan evaporimeter (CPE)]. Spectrophotometric analyses of total anthocyanins (TA), total phenolics (TP) and total antioxidant activity (AA) in grape extracts were performed. Also, total soluble solids (TSS), total acidity, pH, total sugar content, ash, juice yield and color index of red grapes (CIRG) of berry samples were determined. TA, TP, AA, TSS, total sugar content, ash, and CIRG valuesdecreased together with increasing irrigation levels. On the contrary, T4 and T5 irrigation treatments increased total acidity, pH and juice yield of samples compared to the effects of T1, T2 and T3 irrigation treatments for both rootstocks. Moreover, T1 or T2 treatments caused an increase in TA, TP, AA, TSS, total sugar content, ash, and CIRG index values of grape samples in comparison to that of vines irrigated with T3, T4 and T5 levels. Grape quality response to irrigation levels was altered by rootstocksand quality of grapes harvested from vines grafted on SO4 was higher compared to those from 1103P under all irrigation treatments. Based on the findings, it was suggested that T2 irrigation level might be sufficient to guarantee Shiraz yield potential without significant loss in grape quality under the study conditions. Also, the results make it possible to recommend use of SO4 rootstock under non-limiting water conditions because of its positive on grape quality parameters, while 1103P might be better choice under water-limiting conditions

Análisis bioquímico, composicional y espectral del aceite de semilla de isot (pimiento Urfa) y evaluación de sus características funcionales

In this study, the physicochemical, functional, and antimicrobial properties of pepper seed oil (PSO) were determined. PSO was subjected to differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), fatty acid composition, carotenoid, capsaicin, and tocopherol analyses. LC-ESI-MS/MS and NMR were used to characterize and quantify phytochemicals. Resveratrol, luteolin, and 4-hydroxycinnamic acid were the principal phenolics in PSO. A high concentration of unsaturated fatty acids (85.3%), especially linoleic acid (73.7%) is present in PSO. Capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, α-tocopherol, δ-tocopherol, zeaxanthin, and capsanthin were determined in PSO at concentrations of 762.92, 725.73, 62.40, 643.23, 29.51, 16.83 ppm, respectively. PSO displayed inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase rather than α-amylase. The antimicrobial activity of PSO was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Aspergillus brasiliensis and Candida albicans. The antimicrobial potential of PSO was expressed as minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibition zone (IZ) diameter. Polyunsaturated fatty acid, capsaicin, carotenoid, tocopherol, resveratrol contents; the antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibitory and antimicrobial activities of PSO indicated its nutritional value and health promoting nature for the well-being of humans.En este estudio se determinaron las propiedades fisicoquímicas, funcionales y antimicrobianas del aceite de semilla de pimiento (ASP). El ASP se sometió a análisis de calorimetría diferencial de barrido (DSC), composición en ácidos grasos, carotenoides, capsaicina y tocoferoles. LC-ESI-MS / MS y RMN se usaron para caracterizar y cuantificar fitoquímicos. El resveratrol, la luteolina y el ácido 4-hidroxicinámico fueron los principales compuestos fenólicos en el ASP. Una alta concentración de ácidos grasos insaturados (85,3%), especialmente ácido linoleico (73,7%) están presentes en el ASP. Se determinaron capsaicina, dihidrocapsaicina, α-tocoferol, δ-tocoferol, zeaxantina y capsantina en el ASP en concentraciones de 762.92, 725.73, 62.40, 643.23, 29.51, 16.83 ppm, respectivamente. ASP mostró actividad inhibitoria contra la α-glucosidasa en lugar de la α-amilasa. La actividad antimicrobiana de ASP se probó contra Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus, Aspergillus brasiliensis y Candida albicans. El potencial antimicrobiano de ASP se expresó como concentración inhibitoria mínima (MIC), concentración bactericida mínima (MBC) y diámetro de la zona de inhibición (IZ). Los contenidos de ácidos grasos insaturados, capsaicina, carotenoide, tocoferol, resveratrol; las actividades antioxidantes, inhibidoras de la α-glucosidasa y antimicrobianas del ASP indicaron su valor nutritivo y la naturaleza promotora de la salud y el bienestar humano

Universality of the Ising and the S=1 model on Archimedean lattices: A Monte Carlo determination

The Ising model S=1/2 and the S=1 model are studied by efficient Monte Carlo schemes on the (3,4,6,4) and the (3,3,3,3,6) Archimedean lattices. The algorithms used, a hybrid Metropolis-Wolff algorithm and a parallel tempering protocol, are briefly described and compared with the simple Metropolis algorithm. Accurate Monte Carlo data are produced at the exact critical temperatures of the Ising model for these lattices. Their finite-size analysis provide, with high accuracy, all critical exponents which, as expected, are the same with the well known 2d Ising model exact values. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis of our Monte Carlo data for the S=1 model on the same lattices provides very clear evidence that this model obeys, also very well, the 2d Ising model critical exponents. As a result, we find that recent Monte Carlo simulations and attempts to define effective dimensionality for the S=1 model on these lattices are misleading. Accurate estimates are obtained for the critical amplitudes of the logarithmic expansions of the specific heat for both models on the two Archimedean lattices.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure

Microwave Imaging Approach for Breast Cancer Detection Using a Tapered Slot Antenna Loaded with Parasitic Components.

In this paper, a wideband antenna is proposed for ultra-wideband microwave imaging applications. The antenna is comprised of a tapered slot ground, a rectangular slotted patch and four star-shaped parasitic components. The added slotted patch is shown to be effective in improving the bandwidth and gain. The proposed antenna system provides a realized gain of 6 dBi, an efficiency of around 80% on the radiation bandwidth, and a wide impedance bandwidth (S11 < -10 dB) of 6.3 GHz (from 3.8 to 10.1 GHz). This supports a true wideband operation. Furthermore, the fidelity factor for face-to-face (FtF) direction is 91.6%, and for side by side (SbS) is 91.2%. This proves the excellent directionality and less signal distortion of the designed antenna. These high figures establish the potential use of the proposed antenna for imaging. A heterogeneous breast phantom with dielectric characteristics identical to actual breast tissue with the presence of tumors was constructed for experimental validation. An antenna array of the proposed antenna element was situated over an artificial breast to collect reflected and transmitted waves for tumor characterization. Finally, an imaging algorithm was used to process the retrieved data to recreate the image in order to detect the undesirable tumor object inside the breast phantom

54/07/28 Why Don\u27t Police Quiz Top Suspect: An Editorial

This editorial, published two days after the conclusion of the Coroner\u27s Inquest, describes Sam as a proven liar who is being shielded by his family and demands that he be taken to police headquarters for further questioning. It declares that if average people\u27 were involved in this murder it would have been cleaned up long ago.https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/sheppard_maxwell_articles/1004/thumbnail.jp

The effects of an insertion in the 5 ' UTR of the AMCase on gene expression and pulmonary functions

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Background: Studies regarding the physiological role of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) and the effects of its genetic variants on asthma have produced conflicting results. Objectives: We aimed to determine the genetic variants in the AMCase gene that could regulate the gene expression and thus influence disease severity. Methods: Genetic variants of the AMCase gene were determined by sequencing of asthmatics and healthy controls in up to -1 kb in the promoter region and exon 1 and 2. In an association study, a population of asthmatic (n = 504) and healthy Turkish children (n = 188) were genotyped for the observed SNPs. A replication study was performed in a North American adult population of patients with mild (n = 317) and severe (n = 145) asthma. The functional properties of the insertion were determined by promoter reporter assay, electromobility shift assay and transcription factor ELISA experiments. Results: Of the identified SNPs, only a ten base pair insertion (CAATCTAGGC) in the 5'UTR region of exon 2 was significantly associated with lower FEV(1) (beta = -14.63 SE = 6.241, P = 0.019) in Turkish children with asthma. However, in the adult population, the same insertion showed a trend toward higher FEV(1). The insertion was shown to have enhancer activity and the mutant probe possessing the insertion had higher binding affinity for the nuclear extracts. Conclusion: Our study shows that a ten base pair insertion in the 5'UTR region of AMCase gene may modify gene expression and thus may affect the severity of asthma. However, its effects appear to be different in different populations. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Vaccination with the Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus viral replicon vaccine induces NP-based T-cell activation and antibodies possessing Fc-mediated effector functions

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV; family Nairoviridae) is a tick-borne pathogen that frequently causes lethal disease in humans. CCHFV has a wide geographic distribution, and cases have been reported in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. Availability of a safe and efficacious vaccine is critical for restricting outbreaks and preventing disease in endemic countries. We previously developed a virus-like replicon particle (VRP) vaccine that provides complete protection against homologous and heterologous lethal CCHFV challenge in mice after a single dose. However, the immune responses induced by this vaccine are not well characterized, and correlates of protection remain unknown. Here we comprehensively characterized the kinetics of cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in VRP-vaccinated mice, and demonstrate that they predominantly target the nucleoprotein (NP). NP antibodies are not associated with protection through neutralizing activity, but VRP vaccination results in NP antibodies possessing Fc-mediated antibody effector functions, such as complement activation (ADCD) and antibody-mediated cellular phagocytosis (ADCP). This suggests that Fc-mediated effector functions may contribute to this vaccine’s efficacy