Isolation and identification of bacterial strains from apple flowers in Trentino and their evaluation as biocontrol agents of Erwinia amylovora

Fire blight caused by Erwinia amylovora (Ea) represents a great threat to apple and pear production worldwide. For instance, the outbreak of fire blight occurred in Trentino caused a relevant reduction of crop yield in 2020. Since Ea can spread rapidly in the environment, it is difficult to manage this devastating phytopathogenic bacterium. It is now widely accepted that apple flowers may harbor bacterial taxa that might hinder the ability of Ea to colonize apple flower. Based on this body of knowledge, we aimed at investigating the microbiota of apple flowers to select new potential biocontrol agents active against Ea. Flowers of Malus domestica cv. Golden Delicious from Trentino apple orchards were sampled at the ‘Baloon stage’ and surface sterilised to isolate only bacteria residing within the flowers. Bacterial isolates were initially selected on R2A dishes according to their colony morphology and subsequently identified through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The phylogenetic analysis showed the bacterial isolates mainly belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonadaceae, and Microbacteriaceae families. One member of each bacterial family was selected and tested against Ea both on newly open apple flowers and on pear slices. Preliminary results showed some of these strains might have a significant effect on the control of Ea. In particular, Pantoea agglomerans and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens strains showed the highest efficacy. In the future, we will carry out further experiments to investigate and understand the modes of action of these bacterial strains

The diagnostic and monitoring value of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Background: JRA is currently diagnosed using the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 1987 revised criteria that are primarily based on clinical parameters. The criteria may be insufficient for the diagnosis of early RA as they are based upon measurements of disease classification predominately featuring manifestations typical of later-stage disease. Measurement of serum anti-mutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (MCV) has been shown to be a better marker for early adult RA, and it correlates well with the disease activity score (DAS). Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the role of antimutated citrullinated vimentin antibodies (anti-MCV) in the diagnosis, and in monitoring disease activity in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: The study included 40 children with JRA fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology criteria for diagnosis of JRA: 4 children with oligoarticular JRA, 12 with polyarticular JRA and 24 children with systemic onset JRA. Fifty healthy children, matching the patients in age and sex served as a control group. The studied children with JRA were subjected to laboratory tests including CBC, ESR, CRP, ANA and rheumatoid factor (RF). Serum samples from both patients and controls were assayed for anti-MCV levels using an ELISA technique. Results: The study showed high mean serum anti-MCV antibodies level in JRA patients when compared to controls (P= 0.00). In addition, there were no significant correlations between anti-MCV antibody levels and parameters of disease activity, namely, number of swollen joints, number of tender joints, ESR and CRP. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and it showed that the area under the curve (AUC) was (0.896). At a cutoff level > 17 u/mL, anti-MCV antibodies had diagnostic specificity of 88%, diagnostic sensitivity of 87.5%, negative and positive predictive values of 89.8% and 85.4%, respectively and diagnostic efficacy of 87.8%. We also reported 3/40 of JRA patients to be positive for RF and 2/40 of JRA patients to be positive for ANA. Conclusion: Measurement of serum anti MCV antibody level holds promise as a diagnostic tool in JRA. However, they failed to show a significant efficacy in determining disease activity.Keywords: Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, MCVEgypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2012;10(2):75-8

Comparison between using longitudinal and shear waves in ultrasonic stress measurement to investigate the effect of post-weld heat-treatment on welding residual stresses

ABSTARCT: Fusion welding is a joining process widely used in the industry. However, undesired residual stresses are produced once the welding process is completed. Post-weld heat-treatment (PWHT) is extensively employed in order to relieve the welding residual stresses. In this study, effect of PWHT time and temperature on the residual stresses of a ferritic stainless steel is investigated. Residual stress distributions in eight welded specimens were measured by using an ultrasonic method. Ultrasonic stress measurement is a nondestructive method based on acoustoelasticity law, which correlates mechanical stresses with velocity of an ultrasonic wave propagating within the subject material. The ultrasonic wave employed could be longitudinal or shear wave produced by the longitudinal (normal) or transverse (shear) transducers, respectively. Ultrasonic stress measurements based on longitudinal waves use longitudinal critically refracted (LCR) waves in this direction, while shear wave methods use an ultrasonic birefringence phenomenon. The results show that the effect of PWHT can be successfully inferred by both longitudinal and shear wave methods, but the former is found to be more sensitive to stress variation. Furthermore, the distribution of subsurface residual stresses is found to be more distinguishable when the LCR method is employed

العلاقة بين سلبيات استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي على طلبة كلية التربية الرياضية في جامعة اليرموك ودور الأنشطة الرياضية في الحد منها

هدفت الدراسة الكشف عن العلاقة بين سلبيات استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي على طلبة كلية التربية الرياضية في جامعة اليرموك ودور الأنشطة الرياضية في الحد منها، تم استخدام المنهج الوصفي الارتباطي، من خلال تطبيق أداة الدراسة (الاستبانة) على عينة مكونة (323) طالباً وطالبة. أظهرت النتائج عن وجود علاقة ارتباطيه عكسية الاتجاه بين الاستخدام السلبي لوسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وبين ممارسة الأنشطة الرياضية، وأن استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي لها اثأر سلبية على النواحي الصحية والأخلاقية والثقافية والاجتماعية والنفسية، وكشفت كذلك النتائج عن دور مهم للأنشطة الرياضية وممارستها في الحد وحماية الإفراد من سلبيات استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي. وأوصت الدراسة بعقد الندوات والمحاضرات التي توضح سلبيات استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي وإيجابياتها، وتشجيع الشباب على ممارسة الأنشطة الرياضية يوميا، من خلال إقامة المسابقات والبطولات المختلفة The study aimed to reveal the relationship between the negatives of using social media among students of the Faculty of Physical Education at Yarmouk University and the role of sports activities in reducing them. The descriptive correlational approach was used, by applying the study tool (questionnaire) to a sample of (323) male and female students. The results showed the existence of an inverse correlation between the negative use of social media and the practice of sports activities, and that the use of social media has negative effects on health, moral, cultural, social and psychological aspects. The results also revealed an important role for sports activities and their practice in reducing and protecting individuals from the negatives of using social media. The study recommended holding seminars and lectures that clarify the negatives and positives of using social media, and encouraging young people to practice sports activities daily, by holding various competitions and tournament

Dental implant imaging: What do South African dentists and dental specialists prefer?

To document the types of imaging modalities that are commonly prescribed during dental implant therapy in South Africa. The radiographic preferences were obtained from practitioners via an electronic survey that was disseminated during local dental conferences, electronic channels (e.g., email lists) of multiple dental schools and local dental scientific societies, and personal interviews. The survey consisted of multiple-choice questions which were designed to investigate the most common radiographic prescriptions during various treatment phases of implant therapy. The responses of one hundred and forty-two participants (General practitioners and dental specialists) practising in different South African provinces were collected and assessed. Principally, panoramic radiographs combined with cone beam computed tomography (PAN + CBCT) followed by CBCT, as a single examination (ASE), were the most preferable modalities during the implant planning phase (39% and 29%, respectively). During and directly after the surgery, periapical radiographs (ASE) were the most preferred (87% and 65%, respectively). The most widely preferred radiographic examination during the planning of implants was panoramic radiographs combined with CBCT. Periapical radiographs (ASE) were favoured during, directly after the treatment, and during the follow-up of asymptomatic patients by the majority of participants. However, CBCT (ASE) was preferred in the follow up of symptomatic patients. Factors related to extra anatomical information and superior dimensional accuracy provided by three-dimensional volumes (e.g., CBCT volumes), were the most indicated influencing factors on the radiographic prescriptions during implant planning

Utilization of Some Fruits and Vegetables By-Products to Produce High Dietary Fiber Jam

The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, total phenolic compounds and ?-carotene of carrot peels, apple pomace, banana peels and mandarin peels and their quality in preparing jam. Mandarin and banana peels characterized by its higher crude fiber (12.16 and 5.25%) and vitamin C (68 and 16.6 mg/100g) compared to carrot peels (3.91%) and apple pomace (3.65%). Banana peels contained higher amount of magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron compared to other peels samples. Therefore, jam of banana peels characterized by its higher content in magnesium (758 mg/100g), potassium (779 mg/100g), calcium (191 mg/100g) and iron (59.15 mg/100g). Jam of apple pomace characterized by its higher phosphorus contents (220 mg/100g) followed by jam of banana peels (138 mg/100g), mandarin peels (128 mg/100g) and carrot peels (53 mg/100g). Jam of carrot peels characterized by its higher phenolics content as gallic acid equivalent (87.4 mg/100g) followed by jams of apple pomace (82.5 mg/100g), banana peels (42.7 mg/100g) and mandarin peels (34.6 mg/100g). The same trend was observed in total flavonoids as catechen equivalent (mg CAT/100g) in jams of carrot peels, apple pomace, banana peels and mandarin peels, where they were 35.9, 30.1, 23.5 and 21.7, respectively. Furthermore, jam of carrot peels had higher antioxidant activity, where its DPPH radical, had lower DPPH based IC50 (1.8 ?g/ml) while jam of apple pomace, banana peels and mandarin peels had higher DPPH based IC50 reached to 2.04, 2.21 and 3.34 µg/ml, respectively. The same trend was observed for the ?-carotene radical in tested jam samples. Hunter color parameter showed that jam of mandarin peels had highest lightness (L* = 39.8), followed by jam of carrot peels (29.46), apple pomace (18.27) and banana peels (15.19). Therefore, jam of banana peels was darker than other tested peels samples. Sensory evaluation showed that jam of apple pomace characterized by its higher taste and odor, followed by jam of mandarin peels, banana peels and carrot peels. Color of tested jam of carrot, banana or mandarin peels was darker than apple pomace jam. Also, jam of apple pomace gave higher scores in appearance and overall acceptability. Keywords: Jam – Peels – antioxidant activity – Total phenolics– Total Flavonoid

Synthesis and biological assessment of new benzothiazolopyridine and benzothiazolyl- triazole derivatives as antioxidant and antibacterial agents

ABSTRACT. A novel series of benzothiazolopyridine derivatives was synthesized via interaction of -2-(benzothiazol-2-yl)-3-(4-chlorophenyl)acrylonitrile (2) with a diverse of commercially available reagents (indandione, thiobarbituric acid, and malononitrile). Moreover, a novel group of benzothiazole linked substituted 1,2,3-triazole derivatives were synthesized by exploring the chemical behavior of 5-benzothiazolyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-triazol-4-amine through refluxing in glacial acetic acid, condensation with phthalic anhydride, and cyanoacetylation reactions. All newly synthetized compounds have been tested for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities compared with ascorbic acid and Ampicillin as reference drugs, respectively. The benzothiazolo- pyridopyrimidine compound 6 was found the most potent antioxidant agent with IC50 = 0.015 mg/mL compared to the results of ascorbic acid (IC50 = 0.022 mg/mL). The investigated compounds showed no antibacterial properties against Gram-negative bacterial species, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. Benzothiazolopyridine derivative 5 displayed the best growth inhibition against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus with inhibition zones 24 and 20 mm, respectively.   KEY WORDS: Benzothiazole, Pyridobenzothiazole, 1,2,3-Triazole, Naphtharidine, Antioxidant   Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(2), 451-463.                                                              DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i2.17                                                     &nbsp

TRANSETHOSOMES AS BREAKTHROUGH TOOL FOR CONTROLLED TRANSDERMAL DELIVERY OF DEXKETOPROFEN TROMETAMOL: DESIGN, FABRICATION, STATISTICAL OPTIMIZATION, IN VITRO, AND EX VIVO CHARACTERIZATION

Objective: Transethosomes (TEs) have introduced an emerging avenue of interest in vesicular research for transdermal delivery of drugs and can be a proper delivery system for painkillers like NSAIDS. This study aimed to formulate and characterize the potential of TE to enhance the transdermal transport of Dexketoprofen trometamol (DKT) to achieve controlled pain management compared to DKT solution. Methods: Factorial design (23) was adopted to appraise the influence of independent variables, namely, Lipoid S100 and surfactant concentrations and surfactant type (X3) on the % solubilization efficiency (% SE), vesicle size (VS), and % release efficiency (% RE). Thin film hydration was the preferred approach for preparing TEs where vesicle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, %SE and %RE were investigated. The optimized formula was nominated and subjected to several studies. For the permeation study, optimum TE was incorporated into carbapol gel base for comparison with DKT solution. Also, an accelerated stability study was assessed for optimized formula. Results: All the prepared DKT-loaded TEs revealed acceptable VS, PDI, and ZP. The highest %SE (86.08±1.05 %) and lowest %RE (44.62±1.36 %) were observed in case of F1. The optimized formula (F1) displayed VS of 133.2±1.62 nm, PDI of 0.342±0.03 and ZP of-21.6±2.45 mV. F1 revealed enhanced skin permeation of a 2.6-fold increase compared with DKT solution. Moreover, F1 was stable upon storage and a non-significant change (P>0.05) was observed. Conclusion: DKT was successfully incorporated into vesicle carrier and can signify an alternative option for providing this therapy, bypassing the poor bioavailability and considerable adverse consequences of using the oral route besides improved patient compliance

Degree of the Requirements for Improving Human Capital Management in Arab Universities as a Gateway to Achieving Sustainable Development

The paper identifies the degree of requirements for improving human capital management in Arab universities as a gateway to achieve sustainable development from the perspective of faculty members according to gender, faculty, supervising authority, academic rank, and number of years of experience. The descriptive approach is used to achieve the research objectives. The research sample consists of (526) faculty members randomly selected. The questionnaire is used as a research instrument. The results indicate that the research sample’s approval of the requirements for improving human capital management in Arab universities as a gateway to achieving sustainable development is high with a mean value of (3.99), where the career development domain is the highest with a mean value of (4.02) and a high degree, while rewards and incentives domain is the lowest with a mean value of (3.96) and a high degree. The findings also show statistically significant differences in the requirements for improving human capital management due to gender, supervisory authority, and academic rank in favor of the category of female, public university, associate professor, and professor, respectively. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate no statistically significant differences due to the variables of faculty and number of years of experience. Given the results, the research recommends developing a strategy and an advanced plan for the career and professional development of faculty members and attracting distinguished and talented scholars, academics, and researchers to achieve its vision as a distinguished, innovative, and internationally competitive organization

Mesenchymal and stemness transdifferentiation via in-vitro infection of T24 cell line with Klebsiella pneumoniae

أثبتت الدراسات الحديثة أن وجود البكتيريا داخل أنسجة الورم له أثرعلى بيئة الورم وبالتالي يؤثرفى سلوك السرطان وتطوره واستجابة الخلايا  للعلاج. فى هذا البحث تم دراسة التحول التمايزى لخلايا سرطان المثانة الظاهرية الى خلايا ميزنكيمية و خلايا جذعية نتيجة لاحداث العدوى البكتيرية. وذلك من خلال إحداث عدوى لسلالة خلايا سرطان المثانة البولية (T24) ببكتيريا الكلبسيلا الرئوية لمدة يومين وأربعة أيام. تم قياس التعبير الجينى باستخدام جهاز البلمرة المتسلسل.وأظهرت النتائج زيادة في صفات الخلايا الميزنكيمية ؛ فزاد التعبير الجينى لجين الفيمنتين ، ونقص التعبيرالجينى للسيتوكيراتين، وعزز تحليل كيمياء الهيستولوجية المناعية هذه النتيجة. علاوة على ذلك، زاد التعبيرالجينى للجينات الدالة على الخلايا الجذعية. العدوى البكتيرية للخلايا السرطانية قد تسبب التمايز الخلوى، مما قد يؤدى الى تحسن قدرة الخلايا السرطانية على الانتشار والتجدد الذاتي. وبالتالي، قد تساهم البكتيريا في تطور سرطان المثانة وإنتشاره.Klebsiella pneumoniae has been found in the urinary tract of some bladder cancer patients. Bacterial presence within tumor tissue may affect the tumor-microenvironment and consequently influence cancer behavior, development, and treatment response. This study investigated mesenchymal and stemness transdifferentiation of bladder cancer cell line due to environmental stress of K. pneumoniae. Cultures of urothelial bladder cancer cell line (T24) were infected with K. pneumoniae with different multiplicity of infection (MOI) for two and four days. Transdifferentiation-associated features were morphologically assessed. Moreover, transdifferentiation markers were estimated using Q-PCR and immunohistochemistry. Q-PCR data showed an increase in mesenchymal transdifferentiation traits; vimentin expression was upregulated, and cytokeratin19 expression downregulated significantly (P<0.001) compared with controls, which were emphasized by immunohistochemistry results. Moreover, stemness transdifferentiation markers expression increased significantly (P<0.001). The heterogeneous tumor cell population may be altered by bacterial infection, which improves cancer cells' migration and self-renewal ability. Thus, bacteria may be engaged in cancer progression and metastases.