Evaluation of gamma irradiation effect and Pseudomonas flourescens against Penicillium expansum

Antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens and influence of gamma irradiation on the development of Penicillium expansum, the causal agent of postharvest disease on apple fruit was studied. P. fluorescens was originally isolated from rhizosphere of the apple trees. Suspension of P. fluorescens and P. expansum were mixed in test tubes in proportions of 1:5, 2:5, 3:5 and 4:5 (V/V). The inhibitory effect depended on the proportion of the bacterium to the fungus in the mixture. The best inhibition was observed after 48 h at the ratio of 3:5. Gamma irradiation above 3 KGy completelyinhibited mycelial growth, while the highest dose around 600 Gy mostly killed P. expansum spores. Our experiment demonstrates that the combination of gamma irradiation and P. fluorescens was more effective in reducing P. expansum growth, than either treatment alone and that the integration of irradiation and antagonist treatments can be more effective. The results of this study show that improved control by irradiation at labeled dose in combination with antagonist could allow direct incorporation of the biocontrol agent. Thus, the combination of the P. fluorescens with gamma irradiation showed an impressive effect on increasing applied range of irradiation for postharvest control by decreasing of dose rate.Key words: Antagonist treatment, gamma irradiation, Penicillium expansum, Pseudomonas fluorescens, postharvest disease

SPATIOTEMPORAL EVALUATION OF NOCTURNAL COLD AIR DRAINAGE OVER A SIMPLE SLOPE USING THERMAL INFRARED IMAGERY

Measurements of climatic processes such as cold air drainage flows are problematic over mountainous areas. Observation of cold air drainage is not available in the existing observation network and it requires a special methodology. The main objective of this study was to characterize the cold air drainage over regions with a slope. A high resolution infrared camera, a meteorological station and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were used. The specific objective was to derive nocturnal cold air drainage velocity over the slope. To address these objectives, a number of infrared measurement campaigns were conducted during calm and clear sky conditions over an agricultural zone (blackcurrant farm) in Canada. Using thermal infrared images, the nocturnal surface temperature gradient were computed in hourly basis. The largest gradient magnitudes were found between 17h -20h. The cooling rates at basin area were two times higher in comparison to the magnitudes observed within slope area. The image analysis illustrated this considerable temperature gradient of the basin may be partly due to transport of cold air drainage into the basin from the slope. The results show that thermal imagery can be used to characterize and understand the microclimate related to the occurrence of radiation frost in the agricultural field. This study provided the opportunity to track the cold air drainage flow and pooling of cold air in low lying areas. The infrared analysis demonstrated that nocturnal drainage flow displayed continuous variation in terms of space and time in response to microscale slope heterogeneities. In addition, the analysis highlighted the periodic aspect for cold air drainage flow

Broad beam electron gun: an experimental approach

Electron curtain accelerator is a type of low-energy electron accelerator, which plays an important role in many different industries such as printing, coating and packing to promote product quality, while reducing volatile organic compounds for protecting global environment. Electron emitter is one of the main components of this type of accelerators. Multi-filament cathodes and grid structures within filament housing have been designed carefully to generate uniform broad beam distribution. Compared to single filament  cathode, multi-filament cathodes are more preferred in width expansion and beam uniformity. Distortion of linear filament due to thermal expansion is one of the major problems in this type of electron source. The aim of this study is to design and fabricate an appropriate mechanical system to maintain the filament in its initial shape and position when heating. In addition, dependence of emitted electrons on anode voltage (at constant cathode temperature), as well as dependence of emitted electrons on filament current (at constant anode voltage) have been experimentally investigated.   &nbsp

The h. Pylori-related virulence factor caga influences the expression of chemokines cxcl10, ccl17, ccl20, ccl22, and their receptors by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from peptic ulcer patients O fator de virulência relacionado ao h. Pylori influencia a ex-pressão de quimiocinas cxcl10, ccl17, ccl20, ccl22, e seus receptores por células mononucleares de sangue periféricos de pacientes com úlceras pépticas

� Background � During the Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection, the infiltration of the leukocytes into stomach mucosa is directed by locally produced chemokines that play a decisive role in infection outcome. The CagA is the most potent virulence factor of HP, so that the infection with CagA+ strains is associated with more severe complications than infection with CagA- HP. Objective � The aim was to determine the expression of chemokines CXCL10, CCL17, CCL20 and CCL22, and their receptors by CagA+ HP-and CagA- HP-derived crude extract (HP-CE)-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from peptic ulcer (PU) patients. Methods � The serum and the PBMCs were collected from 20 HP-infected PU patients, 20 HP-infected asymptomatic subjects (HIA) and 20 non-infected healthy subjects (NHS). The PBMCs were cultured in absence of stimulator or with 10 µg CagA+ HP crude extract (CagA+ CE), 10 µg CagA- HP crude extract (CagA- CE). Chemokines and receptors were measured by ELISA and real time-PCR respectively. Results � In PU patients, the production of chemokines CXCL10, CCL17, CCL20 and CCL22, and the expression of chemokine receptors CXCR3, CCR4 and CCR6 by CagA+ CE-induced PBMCs were significantly higher than non-stimulated and CagA- CE stimulated cultures. The CXCL10 production by CagA+ CE stimulated PBMCs from HIA subjects was significantly higher than the equal cultures from PU and NHS groups. The CCL17 and the CCL20 production by non-stimulated, CagA+ CE stimulated, and CagA- CE stimulated PBMCs from PU subjects were significantly higher than the equal cultures from NHS and HIA groups. The CCL22 production by non-stimulated, CagA+ CE stimulated and CagA- CE stimulated PBMCs from NHS group were significantly higher than the equal cultures from HIA and PU groups. The CagA+ CE stimulated PBMCs from HIA subjects expressed lower amounts of CCR6 in comparison with CagA+ CE stimulated PBMCs from NHS and PU groups. The serum levels CXCL10 and CCL20 in PU and HIA groups were significantly higher than NHS subjects. NHS and HIA groups displayed higher serum levels of CCL22 in comparison with PU patients. Conclusion � Results indicated that the CagA status of bacterium influence the expression of chemokines and receptors by HP-CE stimulated PBMCs from PU patients. © 2020, IBEPEGE - Inst. Bras. Estudos Pesquisas Gastroent.. All rights reserved

PIXE Analysis of Persian Miniature Used in 16th Century Poetry Manuscript

In Persian culture, precious poetry manuscripts used to be decorated by miniature paintings and illuminations to visualize the story of the poem to the reader. The Joseph and Zulaikha story written in Persian by Jami (1414-1492) is one of the poetry books which has attracted considerable attention and has been copied and decorated by calligraphers and painters several times. This paper will focus on characterization of Persian miniature of the Joseph and Zulaikha created in the 15th-16th century in the Bokhara school. To collect the required information for preservation, restoration, and authenticity of the masterpiece, the elemental composition of the applied pigments in the miniature paintings as well as the elemental composition of the employed ink and paper was analyzed by external PIXE

Investigation of toxic and non-toxic hair trace elements in patients with breast cancer and benign breast diseases

Background: Trace elements are essential for all life forms and play a vital role in human nutrition and biochemical functions. Epidemiologic studies suggest that trace element deficiency may be associated with increased risk of cancer. Materials and Methods: In this study, the levels of a number of the elements in scalp hair samples of 81 people (21 breast cancer patients‌‌, 50 people suffering from benign breast diseases and 10 healthy individuals) were measured by a PIXE analysis. Pellets of hair samples were prepared and bombarded by 2.2 MeV proton beam of a 3 MV Van de Graaff accelerator. Results: The concentrations of S, Cl, K, Ca, Fe and Cu in the hair of healthy individuals are in agreement with those observed in the hair of the benign breast disease and cancer patients within the standard deviations. There was a significant decrease in the mean total of Zn in scalp hair samples of the cancer patients compared to the control group. The average scalp hair concentrations of Pb, Br were higher in the benign breast disease and cancer patients than the healthy control. Conclusion: If the deficiency or excess of a particular trace element can be linked to the cancer of an organ, such studies can be initiated to see whether controlled administering of that elements would check the growth of cancer, which ultimately can pave the way for developing a new drug to be used in chemotherapy for cancer