Impact on plant productivity under low-fertility sandy soil in arid environment by revitalization of lentil roots

Lentil is one of the essential legume crops, which provides protein for humans and animals. This legume can improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, which is imperative in low-fertility soils. The growth and productivity of lentil could be enhanced through improving nutrition and root revitalization. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the impact of root activator (RA) and phosphorus (P) application on morphological, physiological, agronomic, and quality traits of lentil under newly reclaimed low-fertility sandy soil in an arid environment. The RA was applied at four levels of 0 (RA0-untreated control), 1.25 (RA1), 2.5 (RA2), and 3.75 (RA3) l ha–1. RA contained 9% potassium humate, 1,600 ppm indole butyric acid, 200 ppm gibberellic acid, and 200 ppm naphthalene acetic acid. The recommended rate of phosphorus (P) fertilization in the newly reclaimed low-fertility sandy soil (75 kg P2O5 ha–1) was applied, and its amount was increased and decreased by 25 kg P2O5 ha–1 vs. non-added control. Thus, P rates were applied at four rates 0 (P0; control), 50 (P1), 75 (P2), and 100 (P3) kg phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5) ha–1. Our results revealed that treated lentil plants with the high levels of both treatments (RA3 and P3) exhibited superiority in root measurements (root length, total number of nodules plant−1, number of active nodules plant−1, dry weights of active nodules, and total root), nitrogenase activity, chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, yield traits, and seed proteins and carbohydrates. However, the recommended P level (75 kg P2O5 ha–1, P2) under the high level of RA (3.75 l ha–1, RA3) displayed non-significant differences in yield traits (plant height, 1,000-seed weight, seed yield ha–1) and quality traits (protein and carbohydrate) with the high P level (100 kg P2O5 ha–1, P3). Accordingly, its recommended economically and environmentally to use this coapplication of RA3 and P3 in low-fertility soil for better lentil growth, and seed yield and quality

PARP inhibition by olaparib or gene knockout blocks asthma-like manifestation in mice by modulating CD4+ T cell function

Background: An important portion of asthmatics do not respond to current therapies. Thus, the need for new therapeutic drugs is urgent. We have demonstrated a critical role for PARP in experimental asthma. Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, was recently introduced in clinical trials against cancer. The objective of the present study was to examine the efficacy of olaparib in blocking established allergic airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness similar to those observed in human asthma in animal models of the disease. Methods: We used ovalbumin (OVA)-based mouse models of asthma and primary CD4+ T cells. C57BL/6J WT or PARP-1-/- mice were subjected to OVA sensitization followed by a single or multiple challenges to aerosolized OVA or left unchallenged. WT mice were administered, i.p., 1 mg/kg, 5 or 10 mg/kg of olaparib or saline 30 min after each OVA challenge. Results: Administration of olaparib in mice 30 min post-challenge promoted a robust reduction in airway eosinophilia, mucus production and hyperresponsiveness even after repeated challenges with ovalbumin. The protective effects of olaparib were linked to a suppression of Th2 cytokines eotaxin, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13, and M-CSF, and ovalbumin-specific IgE with an increase in the Th1 cytokine IFN-\u3b3. These traits were associated with a decrease in splenic CD4+ T cells and concomitant increase in T-regulatory cells. The aforementioned traits conferred by olaparib administration were consistent with those observed in OVA-challenged PARP-1-/- mice. Adoptive transfer of Th2-skewed OT-II-WT CD4+ T cells reversed the Th2 cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-10, the chemokine GM-CSF, the Th1 cytokines IL-2 and IFN-\u3b3, and ovalbumin-specific IgE production in ovalbumin-challenged PARP-1-/-mice suggesting a role for PARP-1 in CD4+ T but not B cells. In ex vivo studies, PARP inhibition by olaparib or PARP-1 gene knockout markedly reduced CD3/CD28-stimulated gata-3 and il4 expression in Th2-skewed CD4+ T cells while causing a moderate elevation in t-bet and ifn-\u3b3 expression in Th1-skewed CD4+ T cells. Conclusions: Our findings show the potential of PARP inhibition as a viable therapeutic strategy and olaparib as a likely candidate to be tested in human asthma clinical trials

CFD investigations of data centers’ thermal performance for different configurations of CRACs units and aisles separation

The thermal performance of data centers is numerically studied for different configurations of computer room air conditioning (CRAC) units and physical separations of cold and hot aisles. Temperature distribution, air flow characteristics and thermal management of data centers racks array are predicted and evaluated for the different arrangements. Measureable performance indices: supply/return heat index (SHI/RHI), return temperature index (RTI) and return cooling index (RCI) are used to measure the thermal management effectiveness of data center racks. The results showed that: (i) hot air recirculation, cold air bypass and the measurable performance indices of the racks strongly depend on the racks location in the racks array, (ii) the CRACs units layout affects the thermal managements of the racks array especially the sides and middle racks in the array, and (iii) using cold aisle containments enhances the thermal performance of the data center

Molecular Typing of Rotaviruses in Diarrheic Neonatal Calves

Rotavirus ribonucleic acid was extracted from 16 fecal samples of the serologically positive diarrheic calves using Latex agglutination test (LAT) and Immunochrmatographic assay (ICA). The extracted RNA was submitted to Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detect VP7 and VP4 genes and the positive samples were 100% (16/16) and 81.25% (13/16), respectively. The amplified products were subjected to G and P-genotyping by semi-nested multiplex PCR using of G6, G8 and G10 genotyping and P1, P5 and P11 genotyping primers, respectively. G6 was detected in 10 (62.50%) of 16 samples and G10 was diagnosed in 5 (31.25%) of 16 samples and one (6.25%) sample did not react with any G primer used. P5 was detected in 9 (56.25%) of 16 samples, P11 was diagnosed in 3 (18.75%) of 16 samples, mixed infection with P5+P11 was observed in 1 (6.25%) of 16 samples and 3 (18.75%) samples did not react with any P primer used. G and P genotypes combination revealed that G6P5 was in 50% (8/16), G10P11 in 12.50% (2/16), G10P5 in 6.25% (1/16), G6P11 in 6.25% (1/16), G10 (P5+P11) in 6.25% (1/16), G6P? in 6.25% (1/16), G10P? in 6.25% (1/16), and G?P? in 6.25% (1/16). These results suggest that the detected genotypes can used as dominant strains for the formulation of an appropriate vaccine against BRV in Assiut Governorate. In conclusion, RT-PCR and Semi-nested multiplex PCR can used as rapid and confirmatory test for detection of nucleic acid and genotypes of Rotavirus, G and P genotypes combination in the present study revealed that G6P5, G6P11, G10P5 and G10P11 were circulating genotypes in bovine population in Assiut governorate. G6P5 strain was the most common of all strain diagnosed in other fecal samples. The presence of various combinations of G and P genotypes among field isolates of BRV suggests that genetic reassortment frequently occurred between viral strains with genes encoding different G and P genotypes. Finally, presence of different genotypes of Rotaviruses emphasizes their simultaneous monitoring in animals for the development and optimization of Rotavirus vaccines

Neuroprotection of the rat’s retinal ganglion cells against glutamate-induced toxicity

Purpose Glutamate is one of the contributors to retinal ganglion cells degeneration. The potential neuroprotective function of taurine, which is an endogenous amino acid molecule in the retina, was investigated. Materials and methods A prospective comparative nonrandomized controlled study was conducted from November 2012 to January 2015. A total of 24 adult male albino rats were divided into four groups. Balanced salt solution (BSS) (0.1 ml) was injected intravitreally in the control group, and 0.1 ml of glutamate (40 nmol) was injected once intravitreally in the glutamate group. Taurine of 25 mg/kg was injected once intraperitoneally in the taurine group. In the fourth group, 0.1 ml of glutamate was injected intravitreally, and at the same time, each rat received taurine intraperitoneally. Three days after the injection, animals were killed, and eyes were enucleated and processed for histopathological and immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, synaptophysin, vascular endothelial growth factor, and caspase-3. Results Extensive damage and disruption of the structure of the retina with significant decrease in the mean total, outer, and inner retinal thickness and ganglion cell counts was found following glutamate intravitreal injection, with significant improvement of this picture in the taurine and the combined groups (P<0.001). In addition to preservation of normal architecture of all retinal layers in the taurine group, multiple blood vessels were noticed in some retinal layers. Significant increase in glial fibrillary acidic protein and synaptophysin immunostaining was seen in most retinal layers in the glutamate group compared with no or weak staining in the other groups (P<0.001); however, negative or faint vascular endothelial growth factor and caspase-3 immunostaining was detected in all animal groups. Conclusion Taurine protects the retina against glutamate excitotoxicity and could have clinical implications in protecting the ganglion cells from several ophthalmic diseases such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy