Floristic analysis and biogeography of Tubiflorae in Egypt

The species distribution and biogeography of the Egyptian Tubiflorae were exam-ined in detail. We found 284 species of vascular plants belonging to 96 genera and 12 families, making the Egyptian Tubiflorae richer in species than that of other arid region floras: Libya and Saudi Arabia. The most species rich families were Scrophulariaceae, Boraginaceae, Labiatae, Convolvulaceae and Solanaceae, constituting more than 85% of the totál species in the order. The generic spectrum dominated by a suite of species-rich genera (Convolvulus, Heliotropium, Veronica, Solanum, Salvia, Cuscuta, Echium, Ipomoea and Orobanche). Therophytes were the most dominant life forms among the families, followed by chamaephytes and hemicryptophytes. Boraginaceae and Scrophulariaceae had the highest share of annuals. Remarkable distribution patterns of the life forms in the seven studied biogeographic zones were noticed. Trees were dominant in the Mediterranean zone, while shrubs, perennial herbs and therophytes were dominant in the Sinai. Altogether 8 endemic species and 14 near-endemics were included in the Tubiflorae of Egypt; mostly from Southern Sinai. We found that Labiatae and Scrophulariaceae were the families with higher concentration of endemics. Notably, Teucrium was among the genera of the Mediterranean Africa with highest endemism. Gamma diversity varied from 171 in the Sinai Peninsula to 43 and 39 in the Oases of the western Desert and along the Red Sea, respectively. Interestingly, highest significant values of similarity and species turnover (béta diversity) were observed between the Oases and the Nile lands. It is worthy noting the com-bined effect of both temperature and precipitation on gamma diversity of Tubiflorae in the 7 biogeographic zones. Our results indicated that almost one-half of the species showed a certain degree of consistency, i.e., with narrow geographic expansion. On the basis of UPGMA clustering and PCoA analysis, 4 floristic groups were recognized, each include one or more biogeographic zone. The occurrence of the species of Tubiflorae in the adjacent régiónál arid floras and their phytochorological afflnities, were discussed

Consideraciones taxonómicas sobre algunos taxones egipcios de Capparis y géneros relacionados (Capparaceae) a partir de RAPDs

Taxonomic considerations among and within some Egyptian taxa of Capparis and related genera (Capparaceae) as revealed by RAPD fingerprinting.- This investigation was carried out to assess the taxonomic relationships among eight taxa of the Egyptian members of Capparaceae based on random amplified polymorphic DNA markers, and to compare the results with those obtained from morphological studies. A total of 46 bands were scored for three RAPD primers corresponding to an average of 15.3 bands per primer. The three primers (A03, A07 and A09) revealed eight polymorphic RAPD markers among the studied taxa ranging in size from 200 bp to 1000 bp. Jaccard’s coefficient of similarity varied from 0.28 to 0.84, indicative of high level of genetic variation among the genotypes studied. UPGMA cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters, one comprised Cleome amblyocarpa and Gynandropsis gynandra, while another included two clusters at 0.74 phenon line; one for Capparis decidua, and the other for Capparis sinaica and all varieties of Capparis spinosa. The four varieties of Capparis spinosa were segregated at 0.84 phenon line. However, one of these varieties was more closely related to Capparis sinaica than to the other three varieties of C. spinosa. The RAPD analysis reported here confirms previous studies based on morphological markers.Consideraciones taxonómicas sobre algunos taxones egipcios de Capparis y géneros relacionados (Capparaceae) a partir de RAPDs.- El objetivo de este trabajo es investigar las relaciones taxonómicas entre ocho taxones pertenecientes a las Capparaceae en base a marcadores de tipo RAPD, y comparar los resultados con los obtenidos previamente en estudios morfológicos. Se han contabilizado un total de 46 bandas para tres pares de cebadores, con una media de 15,3 bandas por cebador. Los tres pares de cebadores (A03, A07 y A09) revelan ocho marcadores polimórficos entre los taxones estudiados, de entre 200 y 1000 pares de bases. El coeficiente de similaridad de Jaccard varía entre 0,28 y 0,84, indicativo de un alto nivel de variación genética entre los genotipos estudiados. El análisis UPGMA muestra tres grupos distintos, el primero comprende Cleome amblyocarpa y Gynandropsis gynandra, mientras que el segundo incluye dos grupos a la altura del valor 0,74 del dendrograma: uno se corresponde con Capparis decidua, y el otro comprende Capparis sinaica y todas las variedades de Capparis spinosa. Las cuatro variedades de C. spinosa se segregan a la altura del valor 0,84 del dendrograma. Sin embargo, una de estas variedades está más relacionada con C. sinaica que con las otras variedades de C. spinosa. El análisis de RAPD confirma los resultados de estudios anteriores basados en caracteres morfológicos

Somatosensory evoked potentials in children with autism

Introduction: Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder in the category of pervasive developmental disorders (PDD), which is characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions, communication, and  severely restricted interests and highly repetitive behavior. Children with autism show sensory and perceptual abnormalities. They have either  hyposensitivity or hypersensitivity to sensory, auditory, and visual stimuli.Objectives: The aimof thisworkwas to study somatosensory evoked potential (SSEPs) changesamong children with autism, and their relation to somatosensory manifestations and severity of autism.Subjects: Thirty children with autism aged 2–12 years were included in the study, all of them fulfilling criteria of the Diagnostic and StatisticalManual ofMental Disorders (DSM–IV–TR).Methods: All cases were subjected to thorough history taking including autistic symptoms and sensory abnormalities, comprehensivemedical examination, psychiatric assessment according to DSM–IV–TR criteria for diagnosing autism, assessment of severity of autism using Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and measurement of somatosensory evoked potentials elicited by median nerve stimulation at wrist.Results: Themajorityof the casesweremales (86.7%), according toCARS 53.3%were classified as mild to moderate autism, while 46.7% were severe. Sensory abnormalities were present in 56.7% of cases.Somatosensory abnormalities were present in 36.76% of the cases. There was a statistically significant relationship between sensory symptoms with SSEP abnormalities (P=0.040). The presence of abnormal SSEPs was not statistically associated with higher score in CARS.Conclusions: Children with autism have abnormal SSEP changes and were significantly related to the presence of sensory abnormalities, indicating central cortical dysfunction of somatosensory area. On the other hand, these abnormal SSEP changes were not related to the severity of autism

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF THE BIOCTIVE FRACTIONS OF THE LEAVES OF SCAEVOLA TACCADA (GAERTN.) ROXB

Objective: Scaevola taccada. (Gaertn.) Roxb. is widely dispersed all along the coasts of Africa. It is used in folk medicine for diversity of ailments. This study aims to investigate the major phytoconstituents and biological activities of the leaves of S. taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. Methods: In vitro biological examination viz. antimicrobial, cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract of the leaves (EE) and its fractions; (petroleum ether (PE), methylene chloride (MC), ethyl acetate (EA) and n-butanol(BuOH)) were carried out. Estimation of the phytochemicals of biologically active fractions was done. Results: n-butanol fraction displayed remarkable antimycobacterium activity. Petroleum ether as well as n-butanol fractions evidenced a cytotoxic effect on breast carcinoma cell line (MCF7) and colon carcinoma cell line (HCT) with IC50 11.7 and 15.04 µg/ml respectively. Moreover, ethyl acetate fraction exhibits an antioxidant effect with EC50 476.7±0.57 µg/ml. n-tetradecane 1, α-amyrin palmitate 2, α-amyrin acetate 3, α-amyrin 4, stigmasterol 5, luteolin-7-O-β-glucoside 6, rutin 7 and alidyjosioside 8 were identified in S. taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. leaves. Conclusion: Petroleum ether fraction is a cytotoxic candidate, especially against (MCF-7). It exhibited a moderate antifungal and antibacterial against certain Gram-positive bacteria. Ethyl acetate showed an antioxidant effect along with moderate antifungal activity. n-butanol fraction exerted potential antimycobacterial, significant cytotoxic activity against (HCT), good antifungal and antibacterial against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Stigmasterol, luteolin-7-O-β-glucoside, rutin and alidyjosioside were isolated for the first time from S. taccada (Gaertn.) Roxb. Leaves

In vitro assessment of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory potential of endophytic fungal metabolites extracts

Endophytes are endosymbiotic microorganisms that act as reservoir of novel bioactive secondary metabolites with antimicrobial, cytotoxic and anti-cancer activities. In the present study, the extracts  of 26 different endophytic fungal strains were screened for their antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. The results showed a wide variety of antimicrobial activities against 12 target microorganisms including three Gram (+) bacteria, three Gram (-) bacteria, 3 yeasts, 2 dermatophytic fungi and one keratinophilic fungus. Four fungal extracts (Aspergillus versicolor, A. awamori, A. niger and Penicillium funiculosum) displayed a broader antibacterial spectrum and inhibited the growth of all Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacterial species. The extracts of 8 endophytic fungi inhibited the growth of the two tested dermatophytic strains (Trichophyton mentagrophytes and T. rubrum). Only eight fungal extracts have an inhibition activity against the keratinophilic fungal strain (Chrysosporium tropicum). The anti-inflammatory assay showed that the extracts of Emericella nidulans, Pleospora tarda and Penicillium funiculosum had good activities in inhibition of protein denaturation reached to 83%, 82.5% and 81.4%, respectively. Also, Emericella nidulans and Pleo-spora tarda recorded the maximum inhibition effect on bovine serum albumin denaturation reached to 95% and 90.7%, respectively. On the other side, Emericella nidulans showed the maximum inhibition activity (69.5%) out of all tested endophytic strains against humun red blood cells membrane stabilization assay. In conclusion some secondary metabolites of endophytic fungi have a promising potential as antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.83969

The leaf architecture and its taxonomic significance in Capparaceae from Egypt

The paper deals with the leaf architecture of 19 species belonging to 7 genera (Capparis, Cadaba, Boscia, Maerua, Dipterygium, Cleome and Gynandropsis) of the family Capparaceae sensu lato (including Cleomaceae) from Egypt. A comprehensive description of leaf architecture for the studied taxa was provided, including venation pattern, areolation, and marginal ultimate venation. The venation pattern showed mostly pinnate brochidodromous or craspidododromous. Aeroles may be well or poorly developed. Taxonomically significant leaf features of the examined taxa showed great diversity in leaf or leaflet form, leaf surface, leaf base, leaf persistence, main venation pattern, secondary vein angle, inter secondary veins, number of veins on either side of midrib, free ending ultimate veins and marginal ultimate venation. A new free ending ultimate venation (F.E.V.S) branched with swollen ends was reported. On the basis of leaf architecture, we advocate the recognition of two separate families Capparaceae sensu lato and Cleomaceae. Multivariate analysis was carried out with the aim of solving some of the taxonomic problems existing in the family using 21 characters including 74 character states. Based on the comparison of leaf architecture, we supported the taxonomic treatment of the family Capparaceae. We supported retaining Gynandropsis gynandra as Cleome gynandra of the family Capparaceae, as it clearly nested within Cleome. Leaf architecture helped to distinguish all the species investigated and accordingly a key was provided for this purpose

Tangible Interaction with In-Car Smart Intelligence

Interacting with a car was once a tactile experience, which is on the decline with the rise of car assistants, where the dominant form of interaction is through screen displays and voice recognition. These interaction modalities within a car are not the only options available. In this paper, we discuss reintroducing tactility into the automotive experience. This work presents a tactile embodiment of an intelligent car system, different from previous studies, to improve engagement and emotional connection between users and future intelligent cars. A prototype tool was designed to embody an intelligent car system. It was used to investigate how to interact with and control a smart-comfort system to improve user comfort. The tool invited users to interact through touch. Users could use their hands to physically agree or disagree with changes made by the system with the system moving in response, creating a bi-directional interaction symbiosis that re-prioritises tactility

Tin complexes of 4-(Benzylideneamino)benzenesulfonamide: synthesis, structure elucidation and their efficiency as PVC photostabilizers

Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) suffers from photo-oxidation and photodegradation when exposed to harsh conditions. Application of PVC thus relies on the development of ever more efficient photostabilizers. The current research reports the synthesis of new complexes of tin and their assessment as poly(vinyl chloride) photostabilizers. The three new complexes were obtained in high yields from reaction of 4-(benzylideneamino)benzenesulfonamide and tin chlorides. Their structures were elucidated using different tools. The complexes were mixed with poly(vinyl chloride) at a very low concentration and thin films were made from the blends. The effectiveness of the tin complexes as photostabilizers has been established using a variety of methods. The new tin complexes led to a decrease in weight loss, formation of small residues, molecular weight depression, and surface alteration of poly(vinyl chloride) after irradiation. The additives act by absorption of ultraviolet light, removal the active chlorine produced through a dehydrochlorination process, decomposition of peroxides, and coordination with the polymeric chains. The triphenyltin complex showed the greatest stabilizing effect against PVC photodegradation as a result of its high aromaticity

Breather patterns and other soliton dynamics in (2+1)-dimensional conformable Broer-Kaup-Kupershmit system

In this work, the Extended Direct Algebraic Method (EDAM) is utilized to analyze and solve the fractional (2+1)-dimensional Conformable Broer-Kaup-Kupershmit System (CBKKS) and investigate different types of traveling wave solutions and study the soliton like-solutions. Using the suggested method, the fractional nonlinear partial differential equation (FNPDE) is primarily reduced to an integer-order nonlinear ordinary differential equation (NODE) under the traveling wave transformation, yielding an algebraic system of nonlinear equations. The ensuing algebraic systems are then solved to construct some families of soliton-like solutions and many other physical solutions. Some derived solutions are numerically analyzed using suitable values for the related parameters. The discovered soliton solutions grasp vital importance in fluid mechanics as they offer significant insight into the nonlinear behavior of the targeted model, opening the way for a deeper comprehension of complex physical phenomena and offering valuable applications in the associated areas

Halal and kosher slaughter methods and meat quality: a review

There are many slaughter procedures that religions and cultures use around the world. The two that are commercially relevant are the halal and kosher methods practiced by Muslims and Jews respectively. The global trade in red meat and poultry produced using these two methods is substantial, thus the importance of the quality of the meat produced using the methods. Halal and kosher slaughter per se should not affect meat quality more than their industrial equivalents, however, some of their associated pre- and post-slaughter processes do. For instance, the slow decline in blood pressure following a halal pre-slaughter head-only stun and neck cut causes blood splash (ecchymosis) in a range of muscles and organs of slaughtered livestock. Other quality concerns include bruising, hemorrhages, skin discoloration and broken bones particularly in poultry. In addition to these conventional quality issues, the “spiritual quality” of the meat can also be affected when the halal and kosher religious requirements are not fully met during the slaughter process. The nature, causes, importance and mitigations of these and other quality issues related to halal and kosher slaughtering and meat production using these methods are the subjects of this review