Novel FSHβ gene SNPs correlation to litter size in Baladi and Zaraibi goats.

The objective of the present study is to identify the genetic polymorphism at two loci (exon1 and int2, exon3) in the FSHβ gene in two different Egyptian goat breeds (Baladi and Zaraibi goats) and their correlation with litter size. Using PCR- SSCP technique; 4 genotypes (AA, BB, CC and EE) were detected with the predominance of AA and CC genotype among the two breeds. Several SNPs were reported after sequencing in different genotypes. AA genotype had greater litter size in the two goat breeds. PCR- RFLP for int2, exon3 demonstrated the presence of 2 genotypes (MM and MS) in Baladi goats and only one genotype (MS) in Zaraibi does, with the predominance of MS genotype among the two breeds. One SNP; C 2526 G within the restriction site of the Mnl1 enzyme with no significant effect on litter size. These results revealed that exon1 and int2, exon3 of FSHβ gene could be used for improving breeding programs of goat

Characterization of groundwater quality in Oran Sebkha basin

Growing populations and increasing industrialization causes increase in living standard, which result in decrease in the quality of water and may put stresses on natural waters by impairing both the quality of the water and the hydrological budget. This research aimed at determining the origin of the chemical elements of groundwater from the Oran Sebkha basin. It applied the inverse geochemical modeling to derive the sources of variation in the hydrochemistry. Fifty five (55) water samples were selected from different point in Oran Sebkha basin for sampling purpose in July 2011. Physico-chemical parameters such as pH and electric conductivity were measured in situ. Moreover, chloride, sulfate, alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, were measured in the laboratory. Inverse geochemical models of the statistical groups were developed using PHREEQC to elucidate the chemical reactions controlling water chemistry. The inverse geochemical modeling demonstrated that relatively few phases are required to derive water chemistry in the area. In a broad sense, the reactions responsible for the hydrochemical evolution in the area fall into three categories: (1) dissolution of evaporite minerals; (2) precipitation of carbonate minerals; and (3) weathering reactions of silicate minerals. The high values of the physico-chemical parameters of water obtained in the present study sites indicate a variation in the physico-chemical parameters and demonstrated that relatively few phases are required to derive water chemistry in the area. Range of values were found as pH (5.1-7.6), conductivity (720-15820 μS cm-1), chloride (994-7810 mg l-1), sulfate (6.1-112.4 mg l-1), alkalinity (421-19962 mg l-1), calcium (80-680 mg l-1), magnesium (212.4-4525 mg l-1), sodium (124.2-4687.4 mg l-1) and potassium (0.9-42.5 mg l-1).Key words: Physico-chemical parameters, water, Sebkha

Caractérisation physico-chimique du gypse de Tahoua

Le Gypse rencontré dans la région de Tahoua se présente sous trois formes : fibreux, nodulaire et en plaquette. Les gypses nodulaire et fibreux font l’objet de ce travail. La diffraction des rayons X (DRX) montre que l’échantillon fibreux est du gypse presque pur mais que le nodulaire contient une proportion importante d’impuretés. L’analyse chimique par ICP-AES a permis de déterminer le pourcentage de gypse (CaSO4, 2H2O) dans chaque échantillon: soit 98,44% dans le fibreux et 68,40% dans le nodulaire. L’analyse par ICP-MS avec une sensibilité de l’appareil de l’ordre du ppb, a montré que les éléments chimiques suivants: B, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Ga, As, Se, Br, Rb, Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, In, Sb, Te, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, Lu, Hf, Ta, W, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, Pb, Bi, Th et U sont à des concentrations inférieures à 1μg/Kg dans chaque échantillon. Les isothermes d’adsorption et de désorption de l’azote par le gypse fibreux montrent que la surface spécifique et le volume poreux de l'échantillon sont respectivement de 21 m²/g et de 0,03 cm3/g. Les analyses ATG-ATD des gypses fibreux et nodulaire révèlent une perte en masse respectivement de 20% et 17% à 138 °C.Mots clés: Gypse, analyse, minéralogie, ea

Oxidative stress and lung function profiles of male smokers free from COPD compared to those with COPD: A case-control study

Background: The mechanisms of smoking tobacco leading to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are beginning to be understood. However, conclusions about the role of blood or lung oxidative stressmarkers were disparate.Aims: To investigate the oxidative stress in blood or lung associated with tobacco smoke and to evaluate its effect on pulmonary function data and its relation with physical activity.Methods: It is a case-control study. Fifty-four male-smokers of more than five pack-years (PY) and aged 4060 years were included (29 Non-COPD, 16 COPD). Physical activity score was determined. Blood sample levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), protein-cys-SH (PSH), and Glutathione (GSH) were measured. Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and plethysmographic measurements were performed. Correlation coefficients (r) evaluated the association between oxidative stress markers and independent variables (plethysmographic data and physical activity score).Results: Non-COPD (4896 years) and COPD (4995 years) groups had  similar tobacco consumption patterns, that is, 27914 PY versus 30919 PY, respectively. Compared to the Non-COPD group, the COPD group had significantly lower levels of GSH and PSH, that is, mean9SE were 4096 versus 2595 mg/mL and 54910 versus 2695 mg/g of hemoglobin,  respectively. However, MDA level and FeNO values were similar. In the COPD group, none of the oxidative stress markers was significantly  correlated with plethysmographic data or physical activity score. In the Non-COPD group, GSH was significantly correlated with physical activity score (r0.47) and PSH was significantly correlated with total lung capacity (TLC) (r0.50), residual volume (r0.41), and physical activity score (r0.62). FeNO was significantly correlated with TLC of the COPD group (r0.48).Conclusion: Compared to the Non-COPD group, the COPD group had a marked decrease in blood antioxidant markers (GSH and PSH) but similar blood oxidant (MDA) or lung (FeNO) burden.Keywords: inflammation; lung disease; spirometry; tobacco; sedentarily; stress oxidan

A giant right atrial myxoma with pulmonary arterial hypertension

Here we report a case of a right atrial mass that morphology mimicking myxoma, in a young patient with no past medical history. The mass was pathologically confirmed to be symptomatic and surgical removal was successfully done

Selection of an efficient in vitro micropropagation and regeneration system for potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Desirée

Sprouts of about 40 to 80 mm length were excised, surface sterilized with 70% CloroxR and cultured on solid full-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Shoot nodal segments (1.0 cm) from in vitro plantlets (2 to 4 weeks old) were multiplied through periodic subculturing on full-strength MS medium with 30 g/L sucrose, 100 ml/L myo-inositol and 0.5 ml/L silver thiosulfate. The shoots were rooted on the same medium. Microtubers were stimulated on MS medium supplemented with 80 g/L sucrose, 100 ml/L myo-inositol and 5 ml/L benzyl adenine. They generally originate on aerial etiolated shoots producing . 1.0 } 0.5 microtuber/explant with diameter approx. 3 to 10 mm. Shoot regeneration was performed from  tuber discs, internodes and leaf explants using 6 different media. Different regeneration capacities were  observed by the explants along 60 days. The average number of shoots was highest from tuber discs (6.2)  than from leaf explants (2.6) which exceeds about three times; no shoot from internode explants cultured on the various media. Regenerated plantlets produced from both tuber discs and leaf explants exhibited random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using five selected primers to detect  somaclonal variation. All the morphological variants were excluded. One of the regenerated plantlet  derived from leaf-explants was true-to-type to the main in vitro plantlet, so it will be used as a source of explants for transformation experiments. The other regenerated plantlets derived from leaf explants and tuber discs show the presence and/or absence of polymorphic bands. Results also showed that  microtubers were initiated on the etiolated shoots of the regenerants at the first 10 days. The etiolated shoots induced about 2.6 } 0.6 and 2.2 } 0.5 microtuber/explants.Key words: Solanum tuberosum L., seed tuber, sprouting, micropropagation, microtubers, explants, regeneration, random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)

Isothermal section of the ternary phase diagram U–Fe–Ge at 900 °C and its new intermetallic phases

International audienc

Village Baseline Study: Site Analysis Report for Segou – Cinzana, Mali (MA0109)

The village baseline study of Tongo village in the CCAFS benchmark site of Cinzana, Mali took place from 12 to 14 July 2011. Focus group discussions were conducted separately for men and women. The village has an abundance of natural resources such as savannah, grassland, ponds, farmlands and several kinds of socio-economic infrastructure. Some of the natural resources, however, are in a state of progressive degradation due to increase in human population; indiscriminate felling of trees; clearing of forests and deforestation; lack of rainfall; drought; and animal pressure

Area spectra versus entropy spectra in black holes in topologically massive gravity

We consider the area and entropy spectra of black holes in topologically massive gravity with gravitational Chern-Simons term. The examples we consider are the BTZ black hole and the warped AdS black hole. For the non-rotating BTZ black hole, the area and entropy spectra are equally spaced and independent of the coupling constant \v of the Chern-Simons term. For the rotating BTZ black hole case, the spectra of the inner and outer horizon areas are not equally spaced in general and dependent of the coupling constant \v. However the entropy spectrum is equally spaced and independent of the coupling constant \v. For the warped AdS black holes for $\v >1$ by using the quasinormal modes obtained without imposing the boundary condition at radial infinity we find again that the entropy spectrum is equally spaced and independent of the coupling constant \v, while the spectra of the inner and outer horizon areas are not equally spaced and dependent of the coupling constant \v. Our result implies that the entropy spectrum has a universal behavior regardless of the presence of the gravitational Chern-Simons term, and therefore it implies that the entropy is more `fundamental' than the horizon area.Comment: 16 page