Utilization of Water Hyacinth and Banana Wastes Compost in Reclamation of Sandy Soils for Increasing Growth, Yield of Cowpea

Pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, to study the effect of water hyacinth and banana wastes compost (0, 10, 15 and 20 ton/fed) combined with inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers namely ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and urea (in the rate of 60 kg N/Fed and this rate was 50% of the recommended dose), on the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea plants. All pots received P and K as recommended. The addition of various rates of water hyacinth and banana wastes composts (H.B.C.) under study significantly increased all plant growth parameters under the study, i.e., plant height, plant fresh weight and dry weight of both shoots and roots, the number of root nodules as well as the nutrient content of the different plant organs compared with the control and the chemical fertilizer application of the recommended dose (100%). There was a marked increase in pod characters, yield and its components, i.e., number of pods per plant, length, diameter and weight of pods per plant. The highest values of growth characters of yield and its components and the contents of nutrient elements were noticed when applying compost at the higher rates (20 ton/fed.) followed by 15 and 10 ton/fed., in a descending order as compared with the control. The best combination of nitrogen forms and the compost is considered to be one of the primary factors for high yield production and quality as well as yield components of cowpea. The highest significant increase in growth characters, yield and yield components, as well as the total carbohydrates and crude protein content of the seeds, were obtained via the application of compost in combination with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 20 ton/fed

Fingolimod Alters Tissue Distribution and Cytokine Production of Human and Murine Innate Lymphoid Cells

Sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is expressed by lymphocytes and regulates their egress from secondary lymphoid organs. Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family has been expanded with the discovery of group 1, 2 and 3 ILCs, namely ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3. ILC3 and ILC1 have remarkable similarity to CD4+ helper T cell lineage members Th17 and Th1, respectively, which are important in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether human ILC subsets express S1PR1 or respond to its ligands have not been studied. In this study, we used peripheral blood/cord blood and tonsil lymphocytes as a source of human ILCs. We show that human ILCs express S1PR1 mRNA and protein and migrate toward S1P receptor ligands. Comparison of peripheral blood ILC numbers between fingolimod-receiving and treatment-free MS patients revealed that, in vivo, ILCs respond to fingolimod, an S1PR1 agonist, resulting in ILC-penia in circulation. Similarly, murine ILCs responded to fingolimod by exiting blood and accumulating in the secondary lymph nodes. Importantly, ex vivo exposure of ILC3 and ILC1 to fingolimod or SEW2871, another S1PR1 antagonist, reduced production of ILC3- and ILC1- associated cytokines GM-CSF, IL-22, IL-17, and IFN-γ, respectively. Surprisingly, despite reduced number of lamina propria-resident ILC3s in the long-term fingolimod-treated mice, ILC3-associated IL-22, IL-17A, GM-CSF and antimicrobial peptides were high in the gut compared to controls, suggesting that its long term use may not compromise mucosal barrier function. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of fingolimod on human ILC subsets in vivo and ex vivo, and provides insight into the impact of long term fingolimod use on ILC populations

A review on the Bloom Dynamics of a Harmful Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum in the Golden Horn Estuary

The potentially harmful and bloom-forming dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard, 1916) Schiller, 1933 was followed monthly during four years in the Golden Horn Estuary (GHE). Simultaneously measured some environmental variables including salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations were evaluated together with P minimum data. The density of this species increased mostly in late spring and summer during three years and caused two significant blooms in July 2000 and July 2001. Environmental conditions which triggered these bloom events were considered during whole study period. Blooms have mostly occurred in middle and upper estuary where water movements are insufficient (salinity 15.2-18.5 psu, temperature 19.0-24.2 degrees C). The cell density of P. minimum reached to 5.5 x 10(6) cells L-1 at the early stage of the first bloom, and after two weeks, it reached to highest level of 70.0 x 10(6) cells L-1. Cell density was calculated as 36.0 x 10(6) cells L-1 at the second bloom in July 2001. Dissolved oxygen value reached to super saturation (29.0 mg L-1) and chlorophyll a concentration was measured as 200 mu g L-1 in July 2000. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were lower than before bloom periods. The results appeared that P. minimum could well develop at the high temperature and moderate salinity under the calm weather in nutrient-rich estuarine environment

Zenker's Diverticulum: A Case Report

Zenker's diverticulum is a rare pulsion diverticulum, the juntion of esophageal -hypopharynx. All patients need to be treated with symptomatic and large diverticulum. In recent years, successful results have been reported with endoscopic treatment. However, myotomi and diverticulectomy seems to be the best method of treatment. In this study, a case of right-sided a Zenker diverticulum and treatment were examined with data from the literature. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(3.000): 475-478

Biossorção de íons de cobre (II) de solução aquosa em aglomerados de Pantoea isolados de água contendo alta quantidade de elemento boro Biossorção de Íons de Cobre (II) em P. agglomerans

Heavy metal pollution is an serious environmental problem because they have toxic effects on living organisms. In recent years, the use of microbial biosorbents to remove heavy metal pollution have studied.  Many biological materials are used to remove copper ions. In this study, the biosorption capacity of lyophilized Pantoea agglomerans for Cu (II) ions were investigated under various conditions (initial pH, contact time, initial heavy metals ion concentration). The monocomponent biosorption data have been analyzed using isotherm (Freundlich and Langmuir) and kinetic models. The highest copper uptake capacity of the biomass was obtained at the initial copper concentration of 250 mgL-1 at pH 5.0 and contact time 90th minute. The equilibrium data correlated well with the Langmuir and Freundlich model. It was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted the experimentally obtained data. Liyofilized P. agglomerans biomass appears to be an inexpensive and efficient biosorbent for the removal of Cu (II) from aqueous solutions.A poluição por metais pesados ​​é um grave problema ambiental devido aos efeitos tóxicos dos metais pesados ​​sobre os organismos vivos. Estudos recentes têm focado no uso de biossorventes potenciais de base microbiana para remoção de metais pesados. Muitos materiais biológicos para a remoção de íons de cobre já foram empregados. Neste estudo, a capacidade de biossorção e capacidade de Pantoea aglomerans liofilizados para íons Cu (II) foram investigados sob várias condições. Sua capacidade de absorção de íons cobre foi determinada em função do pH inicial, tempo de contato, concentração inicial de íons íons Cu (II). Os dados de biossorção de monocomponentes foram analisados ​​usando os modelos isotérmicos de Freundlich e Langmuir. Foram estudados os modelos cinéticos de biossorção de íons de metais pesados ​​nos P. aglomerados liofilizados. O pH do cobre mais favorável para remoção foi determinado como 5,0. A maior capacidade de absorção de  Cu(II) da biomassa foi obtida na concentração inicial de cobre de 250 mgL-1. Os dados de equilíbrio se correlacionaram bem com o modelo de Langmuir e Freundlich. Verificou-se que o modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda ordem se ajustava aos dados obtidos experimentalmente. A biomassa liofilizada de P. agglomerans é um biossorvente barato e os resultados indicaram que ele é eficiente… eficiente para a remoção de Cu(II) de soluções aquosas

Bacteriological indicators of anthropogenic impact prior to and during the recovery of water quality in an extremely polluted estuary, Golden Horn, Turkey

Five years of monthly data of indicator bacteria from 1998 to 2002 were evaluated to find out the changes in water quality during the rehabilitation of the Golden Horn, an estuary severely polluted from industrial and domestic discharges since the 1950s. Surface fecal coliform was above 10(6) CFU/100 ml at the inner part in 1998. Following the achievement of healthy water circulation and control of most surface discharges, fecal coliform and fecal streptococci counts decreased below 10(3) CFU/100 ml in the summer of 2002. However, the decrease was interrupted by sudden shifts in rainy periods. Runoff, enhanced by domestic inputs during rainfall, has become the main factor influencing water quality in the estuary today. Increasing values of fecal coliform were observed during periods of low salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and high ortho-phosphate, whilst decreasing values were detected during high salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen and low ortho-phosphate periods. Striking changes were observed within five years, promising that even an anoxic water body can turn into a recreational area with appropriate treatment. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The blooms of a cyanobacterium, Microcystis cf. aeruginosa in a severely polluted estuary, the Golden Horn, Turkey

The distribution of toxic cyanobacterium Microcystis cf. aeruginosa in the severely polluted Golden Horn Estuary was studied from 1998 to 2000. Microcystis persisted at the upper estuary where the water circulation was poor and values ranged between 2.9 x 10(4) and 2.7 x 10(6) cells ml(-1) throughout the study. Simultaneously measured physical (salinity, temperature, rainfall and secchi disc) and chemical parameters (nutrients and dissolved oxygen) were evaluated together with Microcystis data. Although the Microcystis blooms generally occur in summer due to the increase in temperature, the blooms were recorded in winter in the present study. The abundance of Microcystis depended on the variations in salinity and both blooms were recorded below S = 2. A moderate partial correlation between Microcystis abundance and salinity was detected in the presence of temperature, dissolved oxygen and precipitation data (r = -0.561, p = 0.002). The M. cf. aeruginosa abundance was low in the summer when the salinity was higher than winter. A remarkable increase in the eukaryotic phytoplankton abundance following the improvements in the water quality of the estuary occurred, whilst the Microcystis abundance remained below bloom level. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Phytoplankton as an Indicator of Improving Water Quality in the Golden Horn Estuary

The variation in phytoplankton community as a response to improving water quality has been studied in the severely polluted Golden Horn Estuary (GHE). Phytoplankton data collected monthly for 4 years and a detailed set of environmental parameters clearly showed the remarkable change in the GHE. The GHE ecosystem did not respond to numerous rehabilitation efforts to improve water quality, unless strict measures were taken to enhance water circulation. The opening of a bridge operating on large buoys and release of high amounts of fresh water from a dam acted as the turning point for the whole system. The weakening of light limitation and anoxia at upper regions is followed by consecutive blooms of different species/groups and resulted in super-saturated dissolved oxygen concentrations and a significant decrease in nutrient concentrations. When compared to the pre-remediation period, average total eukaryotic phytoplankton abundance increased 11-fold in the lower estuary, while the increase in the upper estuary was over 3 x 10(4) in the post-remediation period. In addition, species richness continuously increased through the study period and community structure showed very strong variability. Since the estuarine ecosystem is controlled by precipitation in the last decade, the increase in anthropogenic/terrestrial inputs following heavy rainfall had adversely affected water quality and phytoplankton

Heavy metal concentrations in water, suspended matter, and sediment from Gokova Bay, Turkey

The contents of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, and Hg) dissolved in water and suspended solids of Gokova Bay-partly and fully sampled in 2005 and 2006, respectively-are quite higher than the average values encountered in uncontaminated sea water. The high concentrations are associated with terrestrial inputs from the mining zones and anthropogenic (domestic + industrial) sources. Moreover, the distribution of Fe and Cu is affected by primary production because these elements function as nutrients in biological activities. The Cr, Ni, and Fe concentrations of surface sediments are above the shale average. The Cr and Ni contents of surface sediments representative of river mouths strongly correlate with total phosphorus contents. In a sulfide-poor environment, Pb and Cu were concentrated at a higher ratio in surface sediments than Cd, probably due to higher stabilities of their surface complexes with amorphous iron oxides and clay minerals existing as major components in the sediments. The exceptional enrichment of Zn may be attributed to double oxide formation with amorphous iron oxides in sediments. The high metal values are most probably caused by terrestrial inputs from anthropogenic sources and the mining zones at the southeast part of the bay. The Al, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn, and Hg contents are below the shale average. The low values have possibly originated from the coarse-grained sandy sediments having a low affinity for metals. There are no distinct differences in the metal distributions in water and suspended matter between the years 2005 and 2006 in the bay, probably due to low sedimentation rates