An extensive characterization study of different Bacillus thuringiensis strains collected from the Nashville Tennessee area

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a delta-endotoxins producing bacterium that inhibits the digestive process of many insect orders such as; lepidopteran, dipteran and coleopteran. A comparative study between sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and DNA hybridization was performed on 25 chosen different strains of B. thuringiensis. Based on patterns from these molecular tools, the 25 isolates where grouped based on insect killing capability. Soil samples from Tennessee were collected and analyzed for the presence of B. thuringiensis. Fifty six (56) of more than one hundred isolates collected were initially processed using the sodium acetate and a crystal protein staining procedure. Proteinaceous and genomic profiles were gathered for 25 isolates which were named Bt1 thru Bt25. DNA was extracted, quantified, amplified, cloned and sequenced. Alignment studies were performed on the sequenced products. This sequencing data helped decipher which of the Bt isolates belonged to the resembling parent category. The spore/crystal mixtures produced during sporulation were harvested by centrifugation at 10,000 g at 4°C. The spores and crystals were then separated using a discontinuous sucrose gradient with ultracentrifugation. The separation was confirmed by polarized microscopy. The crystal proteins were quantified and then separated using sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophresis (SDS-PAGE). A correlation was achieved between genomic and proteomic profiles which directly helped in grouping the 25 isolates. The compilation of data suggest that 14 of the 25 isolates resembled Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki, four of the 25 isolates resembled B. thuringiensis subspecies israelensis while just one of the 25 isolates resembled B. thuringiensis subspecies tenebrionis. The overwhelming majority of the Bt isolates collected in our study resembled B. thuringiensis subspecies kurstaki. This can be due to the over use of genetically modified Bt corn in the late 1980’s which was subsequently dispersed into the environment.Keywords: Bacillus thuringiensis, Nashville Tennessee area, bacterium, SDS-PAGE.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(30), pp. 4827-483

Social Media, Depressive Symptoms and Well-Being in Early Adolescence. The Moderating Role of Emotional Self-Efficacy and Gender

The study of the psychological effects of social media use on adolescents’ adjustment has long been the focus of psychological research, but results are still inconclusive. In particular, there is a lack of research on the positive and negative developmental outcomes and on possible moderating variables, especially concerning early adolescence. To fill these gaps in literature, the present study longitudinally investigated the relationships between social media use, depressive symptoms, affective well-being and life satisfaction, as well as the moderating role of emotional self-efficacy and gender. The study involved 336 Italian early adolescents (mean age = 13, sd = 0.3; 48% girls) who completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire twice within a year. Main results showed that higher social media use was related to higher depressive symptoms, lower affective well-being and lower life satisfaction among girls with lower emotional self-efficacy. Conversely, high social media use was related to higher affective well-being and higher life satisfaction for girls with higher emotional self-efficacy. Results are discussed in relation to their implications for risk prevention and health promotion among early adolescents. In particular, our results suggest that promoting emotional self-efficacy can be very helpful in making the use of social media an opportunity for well-being and life satisfaction rather than a developmental risk

Determination of the plasmid size and location of d-endotoxin genes of Bacillus thuringiensis by pulse field gel electrophoresis

The genes encoding the d-endotoxins of Bacillus thuringiensis are located on plasmids ranging in size from 45 to 1000 kb. Plasmid size and variety are diagnostic features for characterizing subspecies of this aerobic spore-forming crystalliferous entomopathogen. Two of 25 B. thuringiensis isolates obtained from Middle Tennessee were characterized into subspecies on the basis of size, number, and varieties of plasmids they host using pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). By using specific pulse angle (120°), field strength (5 V/cm), pulse time (26 h), and agarose concentration (1.2%) these DNA molecules were separated from other genomic DNA. The purified DNA product the agarose gel was tested for homology to 49 d-endotoxin gene using PCR.. The PFGE data for 5 of the 25 isolates collected in Tennessee showed distinct banding patterns. Two of the isolates had only 1 band whereas the others had more than 4 ranging from 45 to 1000 kb in size. Isolate 6 and 10 both yielded one 49 kb fragment that contained the cry1A gene.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (7), pp. 580-585, 200

First-Time Mothers’ and Fathers’ Developmental Changes in the Perception of Their Daughters’ and Sons’ Temperament: Its Association With Parents’ Mental Health

Objective: Most studies investigating the role of parenting behaviors on a child’s development are directed to mothers. However, recent analyses show that mothers and fathers have a different influence on a child’s functioning, specifically her/his temperament. The present study explored the developmental change of parents’ perception of their daughters’ and sons’ temperament and its association with parental mental health problems. Methods: The sample included 188 parents (94 couples) and their at-term 94 babies (55.3% boys, 44.7% girls). Assessments by self-reports were conducted at 3 (Time 1) and 12 (Time 2) months after the children’s birth; at Time 1, mothers and fathers independently answered: the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Infant Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ-R). At Time 2, EPDS, STAI, and IBQ-R were again administered to mothers and fathers. Results: In general, mothers and fathers would give similar descriptions of their child’s temperament throughout the first year of life; however, infant temperament showed developmental changes as well as gender differences. Mother and father anxiety and depression symptoms are associated with the infants’ negative affectivity. Also, mothers with high anxiety and depression levels perceive their infants with a minor tendency to approach novelty, to seek environmental stimulation, and to express/experience positive emotions. Conclusion: The results highlight the need to screen for infants’ temperament vulnerabilities in the context of maternal and paternal depression in order to protect the child from behavioral, cognitive, and emotional difficulties and to create specific programs aimed at preventing dysfunctional parent–infant relationships

Modifications in Chemical, Physical and Mechanical Properties of Nebbiolo (Vitis vinifera L.) Grape Berries Induced by Mixed Virus Infection

Modifications in grape quality parameters induced by mixed infection with GFLV and GFkV, GLRaV-1and GVA, and GLRaV-3 and GVA in three Nebbiolo clones were compared against healthy plants of thesame clones in two experimental vineyards in Piemonte, northwest Italy. The aim of the study was toevaluate the effect of virus infection on the mechanical properties of the berry skin and the whole berry asassessed by texture analysis tests, and on the amount and quality of berry skin phenols. Differences wereobserved in grapevine vigour, yield and juice composition, depending on the viral status of the plants. Theanthocyanin profile of the vines infected with GFV and GFkV and those infected with GLRaV-1 and GVAshowed a lower percentage of the more stable tri-substituted malvidin-3-glucoside and a higher percentageof cyanidin and peonidin-3-glucosides. Texture analysis showed that the viruses may increase berry-skinthickness and reduce phenol extractability. These effects carry practical implications for wine quality

Assessment of Natural Resources Use for Sustainable Development - DPSIR Framework for Case Studies in Portsmouth and Thames Gateway, U.K.

This chapter reports on the uses of the DPSIR framework to assess the sustainability of the intertidal environments within the two UK case study areas, Portsmouth and Thames Gateway. It focuses on statutory conservation areas dominated by intertidal habitats. Two are located in Portsmouth (Portsmouth and Langstone Harbours) and four in the Thames Gateway (Benfleet Marshes, South Thames Estuary, Medway Estuary and the Swale in the Thames Gateway). Based on the reduction of a number of pressures and impacts observed in recent decades and the improvement of overall environmental quality, all six SSSIs are considered to be sustainable in the short and medium term. In the future, it is possible that the impacts of climate change, especially sea-level rise, might result in further reduction in the area and/or quality of intertidal habitats. Further integration between conservation and planning objectives (both for urban development and management of flood risk) at local level is needed to support the long-term sustainability of intertidal habitats