Evaluation of Biological Control Potential for Different Trichoderma Strains Against Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne Javanica

Twenty strains of four Trichoderma species (Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Trichoderma koningii and Trichoderma asperellum) were evaluated for its potential to control the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica. Culture filtrates from Trichoderma strains were tested in 24-well tissue culture plates for effects on Meloidogyne javanica. Chitwood egg hatch and mobility of hatched second-stage juveniles (J2) were evaluated, all the twenty Trichoderma strains showed the ability to colonize M. javanica separated eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) in sterile in vitro assays. T. asperellum possess the strongest egg-parasitic ability and very effective against 2nd stage larvae of M. javanica. In this investigation, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers was used to estimate the genetic variations between four strains of Trichoderma asperellum (KC898190, KC898191, KC898192 and KC898193) which were previously isolated from the rhizospheres of different plants growing in Fayoum Governorate, Egypt as a new strain of T. asperellum in Egypt. RAPD assay using 6 random primers identified T. asperellum strains with 5 specific unique markers

The role of transcranial grayscale and Doppler ultrasound examination in diagnosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Background: The role of transcranial grayscale ultrasound (TC-GSUS) and transcranial color Doppler (TCD) in the diagnosis and prognosis of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is still questionable.Objective: This study targeted to evaluate the role of TC-GSUS and TCD in diagnosis and prediction of the outcome of neonates with suspected HIE in comparison to Sarnat's clinical scoring.Patients and methods: 26 neonates with suspected HIE were clinically evaluated and the severity of HIE was categorized according to Sarnat's clinical staging. Then, all neonates underwent sonographic examinations. TC-GSUS was performed at levels of anterior, mastoid, and posterior fontanelles and the level of the temporal window.Results: Cranial biometry had negative and positive rates for HIE of 7.7% and 92.3%, respectively. Using TC-GSUS, periventricular leukomalacia, intraventricular hemorrhage, brain edema, and hydrocephalus were detected in 17, 19, 14, and 16 patients, respectively. According to the resistive index (RI) of intracranial vessels, TCD excluded HIE in 11 patients and assured diagnosis of HIE with varying severity in 15 patients. Five neonates died and four developed neurological affection during follow-up. The outcome was correlated with Sarnat’s scoring, ventricular-hemispheric ratio, and abnormalities of RI. Statistical analyses defined severity of HIE as judged by RI as the significant predictor for mortality and abnormal RI of anterior cerebral (ACA) and internal carotid arteries (ICA) are the most significant predictors of outcomes.Conclusion: TCD can diagnose HIE in neonates with high sensitivity and specificity and abnormal RI of ICA and ACA might be used as valuable diagnostic and prognostic tests

SIGNIFICAN ENHANCEMENT OF OPTICAL PROPERTIES THROUGH METHYLCELLULOSE (MC) / GADOLINIUM OXIDE COMPOSITES

In the present work, Methylcellulose (MC) with Gd2O3 composite films were prepared to study the optical properties. and investigate the effect of adding Gd2O3 nanoparticles with MC in linear optical investigation.W.I.A. and I.I.N. thank Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, for financial support

Characterization of Excessive Sm3+containing Barium Titanate Prepared by Tartrate Precursor Method

The [Formula presented](BST) samples, where (x = zero, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.3), have been successfully synthesized by tartrate precursor method at annealing temperature of 600°C under atmospheric pressure. The results revealed that the Sm content causes a decrease in both tetragonality and average grain size of BST samples. The electrical resistivity of BST samples is improved by low Sm content, reaching maximum value at x = 0.15 and then decreases with higher Sm content, suggesting that the conduction has two types of polaron hoping and semiconductor band conduction mechanisms at low and at high temperature ranges, respectively. It is demonstrated that the majority of charge carriers are p-type. The dielectric properties varies nonmonotonically with samarium content, showing strongly enhancement in dielectric constant for high Sm doping samples. It is recommended that BST samples are attractive for capacitor and energy storage applications. © 2020 The Author(s).This project was supported financially by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) Egypt, Grant No. 6550 . ASRT is the 2nd affiliation of this research

Mild Cognitive Impairment among Type II Diabetes Mellitus Patients Attending University Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND: Type II diabetes mellitus (TIIDM) has been associated with structural and functional changes in the brain. TIIDM is commonly associated with obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, all of which can have negative impact on brain. AIM: The aim of the study was to study the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) among both diabetics and non-diabetics and to identify risk factors to MCI among both groups. METHODS: Two comparative cross-sectional studies were carried out enrolling 100 diabetics and 100 age, sex, and education matching non-diabetics. Cognitive function was assessed using Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) test and risk factors for MCI were assessed. RESULTS: The subjective complaint of memory impairment among diabetics was significantly higher (34%) compared to non-diabetics (13.0%), p < 0.05. The mean of objective MoCA score was significantly lower among diabetics (25.9 ± 2.5) compared to non-diabetics (27.4 ± 2.4), p < 0.001. The rate of MCI was significantly higher among TIIDM patients (22%) compared to non-diabetics (9%), p < 0.01 and odds ratio (OR) 2.8 (95% confidence interval 1.2–6.5). Among the two studied groups, the rate of MCI was significantly higher among those aged over 50 years compared to younger age as well as among hypertensive compared to non-hypertensive persons, (p < 0.05). Among diabetics, the MCI was significantly higher among those with secondary education, having heart diseases, longer duration of DM, or repeated hypoglycemia attack, p < 0.05. A healthy diet, brain training, and social activities were found to be significantly associated with normal cognition. Logistic analysis revealed that diabetics aged above 50 was the only significant predicting factor for MCI with an OR 2.9 (95% CI: 3.8–123.3), p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: TIIDM is significantly associated with 3-times increasing risk of having MCI compared to non-diabetics. The age, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, duration of diabetes, and frequency of hypoglycemic episodes are risk factors for cognitive impairment. A healthy diet, brain training, and social activities were associated with better cognitive function

Modified Copper Zinc Ferrite Nanoparticles Doped with Zr Ions for Hyperthermia Applications

The problem of the present work is to synthesize a nanomagnetic material with low TC below 45 °C and its particle size below 30 nm to be appropriate material for convert magnetic loss into heat energy. A series of Cu0.4Zn0.6+yZryFe2–2yO4 nanoparticles compositions where y = (0.05, 0.1) were synthesized via citrate sol–gel method. The prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The grains were observed from SEM confirming the crystalline structure of the ferrite which was detected by X-ray diffraction. Magnetic hysteresis loop measurements illustrate that materials exhibit soft magnetic properties at low Zr content, while at higher Zr content all materials behave as superparamagnetically without any saturation magnetization Ms. The initial magnetic permeability (μi) at frequency 10 kHz as a function of temperature was measured. A sudden change in μi appears around Curie temperature, making our samples good candidates for magnetic temperature transducer (MTT) devices. The DC resistivity for sample at y = 0.05, 0.1 was studied. The resistivity decreases linearly with increasing temperature within the given range of temperature up to 666 K for all samples. The dielectric constant of all samples is nearly independent on temperature through the range of 450 to 600 K which is a common character of ferrites. The dielectric loss was found to increase by increasing temperature, which may be related to the increase in AC conductivity. Hyperthermia measurements show the maximum specific power loss and temperature increase were 26 w/gr and 43 °C, respectively, for sample containing Zr = 0.05, after 2 min of measurements. One of the real applications of the material is that it is used as an effective method in tumor treatment by exposing the patient to external magnetic field. © 2022, The Author(s).This project was supported finically by the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Egypt, Grant No. (6550), which is the 2nd affiliation of this research. Funding. Open access funding provided by The Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) in cooperation with The Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB)

The bidirectional tumor - mesenchymal stromal cell interaction promotes the progression of head and neck cancer

Introduction: Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are an integral cellular component of the tumor microenvironment. Nevertheless, very little is known about MSC originating from human malignant tissue and modulation of these cells by tumor-derived factors. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize MSC from head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to investigate their interaction with tumor cells. Methods: MSC were isolated from tumor tissues of HNSCC patients during routine oncological surgery. Immunophenotyping, immunofluorescence and in vitro differentiation were performed to determine whether the isolated cells met the consensus criteria for MSC. The cytokine profile of tumor-derived MSC was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Activation of MSC by tumor-conditioned media was assessed by measuring cytokine release and expression of CD54. The impact of MSC on tumor growth in vivo was analyzed in a HNSCC xenograft model. Results: Cells isolated from HNSCC tissue met the consensus criteria for MSC. Tumor-derived MSC constitutively produced high amounts of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8 and stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1α. HNSCC-derived factors activated MSC and enhanced secretion of IL-8 and expression of CD54. Furthermore, MSC provided stromal support for human HNSCC cell lines in vivo and enhanced their growth in a murine xenograft model. Conclusions: This is the first study to isolate and characterize MSC from malignant tissues of patients with HNSCC. We observed cross-talk of stromal cells and tumor cells resulting in enhanced growth of HNSCC in vivo

RADIATION SHIELDING PROPERTIES OF METHYLCELLULOSE (MC)/GADOLINIUM OXIDE COMPOSITES

In the present work, the influence of weight percentages of Gd2O3 content (10%-30%) of reinforced MC composites in their photon absorption capabilities for photon energies, ranging from 0.01 to 3 MeV, were investigated. MC with Gd2O3 composite films was prepared via a solution casting method

FERROELECTRIC AND DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF STRONTIUM TITANATE DOPED WITH BARIUM

The present work aimed to synthesized ferroelectric (perovskite) material. Structural, morphological, electrical and Polarization-Electric field hysteresis loops were investigated.W.I.A. and I.I.N. thank Minobrnauki research project FEUZ-2020-0059 for financial support