Study of genetic diversity in Sudanese sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers

The random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to assess genetic diversity in Sesame indicum (L.). RAPD technique was carried out in a set of 10 sesame germplasm collected from different regions of Sudan. A total of 64 polymorphisms (6.4 polymorphic markers per primer) out of 75 reproducible products (7.5 fragments per primer) were obtained from the 10 primers used. The number of bands per primer ranged from 4 to 13, whereas the number of polymorphic bands ranged from 3 to12, corresponding to 66.6% of the amplification products. Low level of genetic similarity was observed in the collected accessions. Unique bands were observed with the 10 primers. UPGMA clustering resulted in two major groups

Rotating biological contactors : a review on main factors affecting performance

Rotating biological contactors (RBCs) constitute a very unique and superior alternative for biodegradable matter and nitrogen removal on account of their feasibility, simplicity of design and operation, short start-up, low land area requirement, low energy consumption, low operating and maintenance cost and treatment efficiency. The present review of RBCs focus on parameters that affect performance like rotational speed, organic and hydraulic loading rates, retention time, biofilm support media, staging, temperature, influent wastewater characteristics, biofilm characteristics, dissolved oxygen levels, effluent and solids recirculation, stepfeeding and medium submergence. Some RBCs scale-up and design considerations, operational problems and comparison with other wastewater treatment systems are also reported.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Cytotoxic and HIV-1 enzyme inhibitory activities of Red Sea marine organisms

BACKGROUND: Cancer and HIV/AIDS are two of the greatest public health and humanitarian challenges facing the world today. Infection with HIV not only weakens the immune system leading to AIDS and increasing the risk of opportunistic infections, but also increases the risk of several types of cancer. The enormous biodiversity of marine habitats is mirrored by the molecular diversity of secondary metabolites found in marine animals, plants and microbes which is why this work was designed to assess the anti-HIV and cytotoxic activities of some marine organisms of the Red Sea. METHODS: The lipophilic fractions of methanolic extracts of thirteen marine organisms collected from the Red Sea (Egypt) were screened for cytotoxicity against two human cancer cell lines; leukaemia (U937) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. African green monkey kidney cells (Vero) were used as normal non-malignant control cells. The extracts were also tested for their inhibitory activity against HIV-1 enzymes, reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease (PR). RESULTS: Cytotoxicity results showed strong activity of the Cnidarian Litophyton arboreum against U-937 (IC50; 6.5 μg/ml ±2.3) with a selectivity index (SI) of 6.45, while the Cnidarian Sarcophyton trochliophorum showed strong activity against HeLa cells (IC50; 5.2 μg/ml ±1.2) with an SI of 2.09. Other species showed moderate to weak cytotoxicity against both cell lines. Two extracts showed potent inhibitory activity against HIV-1 protease; these were the Cnidarian jelly fish Cassiopia andromeda (IC50; 0.84 μg/ml ±0.05) and the red algae Galaxura filamentosa (2.6 μg/ml ±1.29). It is interesting to note that the most active extracts against HIV-1 PR, C. andromeda and G. filamentosa showed no cytotoxicity in the three cell lines at the highest concentration tested (100 μg/ml). CONCLUSION: The strong cytotoxicity of the soft corals L. arboreum and S. trochliophorum as well as the anti-PR activity of the jelly fish C. andromeda and the red algae G. filamentosa suggests the medicinal potential of crude extracts of these marine organisms.The Medical Research Council, the Technology Innovation Agency and the University of Pretoria, South Africa.http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmccomplementalternmedam201

Mortality from gastrointestinal congenital anomalies at 264 hospitals in 74 low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries: a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study

Background: Congenital anomalies are the fifth leading cause of mortality in children younger than 5 years globally. Many gastrointestinal congenital anomalies are fatal without timely access to neonatal surgical care, but few studies have been done on these conditions in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). We compared outcomes of the seven most common gastrointestinal congenital anomalies in low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries globally, and identified factors associated with mortality. // Methods: We did a multicentre, international prospective cohort study of patients younger than 16 years, presenting to hospital for the first time with oesophageal atresia, congenital diaphragmatic hernia, intestinal atresia, gastroschisis, exomphalos, anorectal malformation, and Hirschsprung's disease. Recruitment was of consecutive patients for a minimum of 1 month between October, 2018, and April, 2019. We collected data on patient demographics, clinical status, interventions, and outcomes using the REDCap platform. Patients were followed up for 30 days after primary intervention, or 30 days after admission if they did not receive an intervention. The primary outcome was all-cause, in-hospital mortality for all conditions combined and each condition individually, stratified by country income status. We did a complete case analysis. // Findings: We included 3849 patients with 3975 study conditions (560 with oesophageal atresia, 448 with congenital diaphragmatic hernia, 681 with intestinal atresia, 453 with gastroschisis, 325 with exomphalos, 991 with anorectal malformation, and 517 with Hirschsprung's disease) from 264 hospitals (89 in high-income countries, 166 in middle-income countries, and nine in low-income countries) in 74 countries. Of the 3849 patients, 2231 (58·0%) were male. Median gestational age at birth was 38 weeks (IQR 36–39) and median bodyweight at presentation was 2·8 kg (2·3–3·3). Mortality among all patients was 37 (39·8%) of 93 in low-income countries, 583 (20·4%) of 2860 in middle-income countries, and 50 (5·6%) of 896 in high-income countries (p<0·0001 between all country income groups). Gastroschisis had the greatest difference in mortality between country income strata (nine [90·0%] of ten in low-income countries, 97 [31·9%] of 304 in middle-income countries, and two [1·4%] of 139 in high-income countries; p≤0·0001 between all country income groups). Factors significantly associated with higher mortality for all patients combined included country income status (low-income vs high-income countries, risk ratio 2·78 [95% CI 1·88–4·11], p<0·0001; middle-income vs high-income countries, 2·11 [1·59–2·79], p<0·0001), sepsis at presentation (1·20 [1·04–1·40], p=0·016), higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score at primary intervention (ASA 4–5 vs ASA 1–2, 1·82 [1·40–2·35], p<0·0001; ASA 3 vs ASA 1–2, 1·58, [1·30–1·92], p<0·0001]), surgical safety checklist not used (1·39 [1·02–1·90], p=0·035), and ventilation or parenteral nutrition unavailable when needed (ventilation 1·96, [1·41–2·71], p=0·0001; parenteral nutrition 1·35, [1·05–1·74], p=0·018). Administration of parenteral nutrition (0·61, [0·47–0·79], p=0·0002) and use of a peripherally inserted central catheter (0·65 [0·50–0·86], p=0·0024) or percutaneous central line (0·69 [0·48–1·00], p=0·049) were associated with lower mortality. // Interpretation: Unacceptable differences in mortality exist for gastrointestinal congenital anomalies between low-income, middle-income, and high-income countries. Improving access to quality neonatal surgical care in LMICs will be vital to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3.2 of ending preventable deaths in neonates and children younger than 5 years by 2030

An integrated sedimentological, rock typing, image logs, and artificial neural networks analysis for reservoir quality assessment of the heterogeneous fluvial-deltaic Messinian Abu Madi reservoirs, Salma field, onshore East Nile Delta, Egypt

This study introduces an integrated evaluation of geological and geophysical data, including sedimentology, diagenetic alteration, image log analysis, core measurements, formation evaluation, and a neural analysis technique (K-mode algorithm) to characterize the upper Messinian heterogeneous reservoirs of the Salma Field, Nile Delta, Egypt. It links observed reservoir permeability and flow zone indicators (FZI) to predict reservoir quality and distribution within un-cored parts of the field. Core and image log analysis show that the Abu Madi sandstone reservoir is composed of seven clastic litho-facies deposited within fluvial to deltaic environments. The reservoir is controlled by four hydraulic flow units (HFU's) and five flow units (FU). Fluvial channel facies, tidally influenced fluvial channel facies, and uppermost parts of bayhead delta facies are dominated by clean sandstone with a low clay content (avg. 20%). These facies are characterized by the high pore-throat sizes (R35 and FZI values), indicating a pore system dominated by mega-to macro-pores. The estuarine facies is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and argillaceous sandstone, with 25% average clay content and moderate R35 and FZI values, indicating a pore system dominated by macro-to meso-pores. The heterolithic estuarine and bayhead delta facies contain abundant argillaceous-rich sandstones, with 29% average clay content and low R35 and FZI values, indicating a pore system dominated by micro-pores. A neural log technique was applied to predict FZIs and permeability in un-cored intervals. Paleocurrent analysis was conducted using image log data to guide sweet spot and reservoir quality tracking across the field. Reservoir quality is controlled by both diagenetic and depositional processes, chiefly an abundance of detrital clays, grain size, and sorting. In the Salama Field reservoirs, mineral dissolution, cement dissolution, and micro-fractures enhance the pore system, while pore-filling and grain-coating detrital clays reduce reservoir quality. These results are important as they improve the wider understanding of the Messinian Abu Madi reservoir in the wider Mediterranean region

Laboratory and Pilot-Plant Scale Photocatalytic Degradation of Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Seawater Using CM-n-TiO2 Nanoparticles

Photocatalytic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in seawater was successfully achieved at laboratory level with UV light and at pilot-plant scale under natural solar radiation using carbon-modified titanium oxide (CM-n-TiO2) nanoparticles. The photocatalytic performance of CM-n-TiO2 was comparatively evaluated with reference n-TiO2 under identical conditions. As a result of carbon incorporation, significant enhancement of photodegradation efficiency using CM-n-TiO2 was clearly observed. To optimize the operating parameters, the effects of catalyst loading and pH of the solution on the photodegradation rate of PCBs were investigated. The best degradation rate was obtained at pH 5 and CM-n-TiO2 loading of 0.5 g L−1. The photodegradation results fitted the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and obeyed pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics

Transcriptomic analysis of the interaction between <it>Helianthus annuus </it>and its obligate parasite <it>Plasmopara halstedii </it>shows single nucleotide polymorphisms in CRN sequences

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Downy mildew in sunflowers (<it>Helianthus annuus </it>L.) is caused by the oomycete <it>Plasmopara halstedii </it>(Farl.) Berlese et de Toni. Despite efforts by the international community to breed mildew-resistant varieties, downy mildew remains a major threat to the sunflower crop. Very few genomic, genetic and molecular resources are currently available to study this pathogen. Using a 454 sequencing method, expressed sequence tags (EST) during the interaction between <it>H. annuus </it>and <it>P. halstedii </it>have been generated and a search was performed for sites in putative effectors to show polymorphisms between the different races of <it>P. halstedii</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A 454 pyrosequencing run of two infected sunflower samples (inbred lines XRQ and PSC8 infected with race 710 of <it>P. halstedii</it>, which exhibit incompatible and compatible interactions, respectively) generated 113,720 and 172,107 useable reads. From these reads, 44,948 contigs and singletons have been produced. A bioinformatic portal, HP, was specifically created for in-depth analysis of these clusters. Using <it>in silico </it>filtering, 405 clusters were defined as being specific to oomycetes, and 172 were defined as non-specific oomycete clusters. A subset of these two categories was checked using PCR amplification, and 86% of the tested clusters were validated. Twenty putative RXLR and CRN effectors were detected using PSI-BLAST. Using corresponding sequences from four races (100, 304, 703 and 710), 22 SNPs were detected, providing new information on pathogen polymorphisms.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study identified a large number of genes that are expressed during <it>H. annuus/P. halstedii </it>compatible or incompatible interactions. It also reveals, for the first time, that an infection mechanism exists in <it>P. halstedii </it>similar to that in other oomycetes associated with the presence of putative RXLR and CRN effectors. SNPs discovered in CRN effector sequences were used to determine the genetic distances between the four races of <it>P. halstedii</it>. This work therefore provides valuable tools for further discoveries regarding the <it>H. annuus/P. halstedii </it>pathosystem.</p