POSSIBLE PROTECTIVE ROLE OF SODIUM SALICYLATE NANOEMULSION AND GINGER ON CISPLATIN‑INDUCED HEPATOTOXICITY IN RATS (BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY)

Objective: To describe the preparation and characterization of nanoemulsion of sodium salicylate loaded butane tetracarboxylic acid (Bt-Sc-NPs). It also investigates the possible protective effects of Bt-Sc-NPs and\or medicinal plant ginger to evaluate the changes of liver functions, oxidative stress and histopathological investigations against cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity. Methods: Serum was used to determine alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), δ-glutamyl transferase (δGT), serum human laminin (LN) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase1 (TIMP1). Liver tissue samples collected from the rats were used for the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and paraoxonase 1 (PON1). Results: The beneficial effects of Bt-Sc-NPs with its anti-inflammatory effect and the medicinal ginger with its antioxidant effect were observed. Injection of rats with cisplatin significantly increased serum ALT, AST, ɤGT, TIMP1 and LN. It also increased cisplatin-induced oxidative stress by a significant elevation in liver MDA, NO content; however, a significant decrease of PON1 content. While protection with Bt-Sc-NPs or ginger significantly improved these parameters. In addition, combination of both Bt-Sc-NPs and ginger significantly induced a decrease in serum ALT, AST, ɤGT, TIMP1 and LN. It also reduced cisplatin-induced oxidative stress by the significant reduction in liver MDA, NO content and elevation of PON1 content much more than protection with Bt-Sc-NPs or ginger alone. Conclusion: Bt-Sc-NPs were synthesized using nanoemulsion with the help of homogenization and ultra-sonication waves. Combination with both of Bt-Sc-NPs and ginger showed a hepatoprotective role in ameliorating cisplatin‑induced hepatotoxicity due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

Evaluation of certain Nitrogen-Fixing Bacteria against Fusarium spp. infected peanut

In this study, the inhibition of soil borne pathogenic fungi Fusarium spp. that cause root and pod rot diseases in peanut (Arachis hypogaea) was investigated by using  soil-isolated Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR), (Azotobacter and Azospirillum) and root-nodule Brady- Rhizobium as biological agents. Twenty seven isolates of  Azotobacter  and  26 isolates of  Azospirillum obtained from rhizosphere of peanut plants, The efficiency of the nitrogenase activity was estimated and the best four  Azotobacter isolates including (A3, A7, A11, and A20) and three Azospirillum isolates including (AZ2, AZ14 and AZ18) were selected as the most efficient in  nitrogenase activity. These isolates were subjected to test their ability in solubilizing zinc and phosphate and their strength in direct antagonism. The isolates A7 and Az18 were more efficient in solubilizing Phosphate and zinc. Azospirillum sp. AZ18, Azotobacter sp. A7 and Brady-Rhizobium sp. B-Rh1 achieved the highest reduction percentage in mycelia linear growth of pathogenic fungi in vitro. Under greenhouse conditions, Azotobacter sp. A7 recorded the highest disease reduction percentage of peanut root rot (44.38 %). Furthermore, Brady-Rhizobium sp. B-Rh1 recorded the highest disease reduction of peanut pod rot (50.6%) followed by Azotobacter sp. A7 (47.62%). In addition, our results showed that inoculation with the tested nitrogen fixing bacteria gave remarkable increase in the yield parameters of peanut plants such as number and weight of pods and  increased the vegetative biomass overall

Photodegradation of microcystin-LR using visible light-activated C/N-co-modified mesoporous TiO 2 photocatalyst

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a potent hepatotoxin produced by the cyanobacteria, is of increasing concern worldwide because of severe and persistent impacts on humans and animals by inhalation and consumption of contaminated waters and food. In this work, MC-LR was removed completely from aqueous solution using visible-light-active C/N-co-modified mesoporous anatase/brookite TiO 2 photocatalyst. The co-modified TiO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal process, and then calcined at different temperatures (300, 400, and 500 °C). All the obtained TiO 2 powders were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscope (TEM), specific surface area (SSA) measurements, ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and photoluminescence (PL) analysis. It was found that all samples contained mixed-phase TiO 2 (anatase and brookite), and the content of brookite decreased with an increase in calcination temperature, as well as the specific surface area and the content of non-metal elements. The effects of initial pH value, the TiO 2 content, and MC-LR concentration on the photocatalytic activity were also studied. It was found that the photocatalytic activity of the obtained TiO 2 photocatalysts declined with increasing temperature. The complete degradation (100%) of MC-LR (10 mg L -1 ) was observed within 3 h, using as-synthesized co-modified TiO 2 (0.4 g L -1 ) at pH 4 under visible light. Based on the obtained results, the mechanism of MC-LR degradation has been proposed. © 2019 by the authors

Performing the Egyptian revolution : origins of collective restraint action in the Midan

This research was supported by a Carnegie Trust for the Universities of Scotland grant.In January/February 2011, the world watched with admiration the Egyptian revolution that toppled President Housni Mubarak. The demonstration in Midan al-Tahrir (Liberation Square in central Cairo), which was the nucleus of the revolution, highlighted a largely spontaneous, civil and peaceful political performance. However, this performance was temporary, contradicting subsequent bloody conflicts in post-revolutionary Egypt. This article examines the socio-political origins of the Midan performance. It argues that the demonstrators exercised collective restraint, which was temporary but necessary, in order to topple Mubarak. Building on Norbert Elias’ civilising process theory and social movements literature, it is argued that the origins of this performance are found in a collective knowledge of regime strategy and narrative, Egyptian socio-political values and existing repertoires of contention. Drawing on primary sources and semi-structured interviews, the article contends that the demonstrators exercised collective restraint to reframe regime narrative and draw public support for the revolution.PostprintPeer reviewe

Log-Beta Log-Logistic Regression Model

In this article, the log beta log-logistic regression model based on the beta log-logistic distribution is which has a wider range of applications. The estimates of the parameters of the model for censored data are derived. Finally, the proposed model is applied to a real data set. Model checks based on martingale residuals and the AIC and BIC statistics are used to suggest appropriate models

Efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration of Solanum lycopersicum and assessment genetic uniformity using flow cytometry and SPAR methods

24 p.-4 fig.-6 tab.In the present study, we develop an efficient and reproducible in vitro regeneration system for two cultivars viz., Jamila and Tomaland of Solanum lycopersicum L., an economically important vegetable crop throughout the world. Sterilization of seeds with 2.5 % (v/v) NaOCl was found to be most effective, about 97 % of seeds germinated on cotton in magenta box moistened with sterile half strength (½)Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Regeneration efficiency of cotyledonary leaf (CL) and cotyledonary node (CN) explants derived from 08 days old aseptic seedling were assessed on MS medium supplemented with different concentrations of auxins and cytokinin. CL explants were found more responsive in comparison to CN in both the cultivars. Types of basal media were also assessed and found to have a significant effect on shoot regeneration. Highest regeneration frequency and maximum number of shoots were standardized from CL explants on MS medium supplied with 6- benzyl adenine (BA; 5.0 µM), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA; 2.5 µM) and Kinetin (Kin; 10.0 µM). In vitro regenerated microshoots were rooted on ½MS medium containing 0.5 µM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). Regenerated plantlets with well-developed roots and shoot system were successfully acclimated to ex vitro condition. Genetic uniformity of tissue culture raised plantlets was first time evaluated using flow cytometry and single primer amplification reaction (SPAR) methods viz., DAMD and ISSR. No significant changes in ploidy level and nuclear DNA content profile were observed between in vitro propagated plants and normal plants of both the cultivars. Similarly, the SPAR analysis also revealed monomorphic banding patterns in regenerated plantlets of S. lycopersicum verifying their genetic uniformity and clonal fidelity. This efficient regeneration system can be used as a fast and reproducible method for genetic transformation of this important vegetable crop.This project was funded by the National Plan for Science, Technology and Innovation (MAARIFAH), King Abdul Aziz City for Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Award Number 12-BIO2919-02.Peer reviewe