Vacuum Stability of the wrong sign (−ϕ6)(-\phi^{6}) Scalar Field Theory

We apply the effective potential method to study the vacuum stability of the bounded from above $(-\phi^{6})$ (unstable) quantum field potential. The stability ($\partial E/\partial b=0)$ and the mass renormalization ($\partial^{2} E/\partial b^{2}=M^{2})$ conditions force the effective potential of this theory to be bounded from below (stable). Since bounded from below potentials are always associated with localized wave functions, the algorithm we use replaces the boundary condition applied to the wave functions in the complex contour method by two stability conditions on the effective potential obtained. To test the validity of our calculations, we show that our variational predictions can reproduce exactly the results in the literature for the $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric $\phi^{4}$ theory. We then extend the applications of the algorithm to the unstudied stability problem of the bounded from above $(-\phi^{6})$ scalar field theory where classical analysis prohibits the existence of a stable spectrum. Concerning this, we calculated the effective potential up to first order in the couplings in $d$ space-time dimensions. We find that a Hermitian effective theory is instable while a non-Hermitian but $\mathcal{PT}$-symmetric effective theory characterized by a pure imaginary vacuum condensate is stable (bounded from below) which is against the classical predictions of the instability of the theory. We assert that the work presented here represents the first calculations that advocates the stability of the $(-\phi^{6})$ scalar potential.Comment: 21pages, 12 figures. In this version, we updated the text and added some figure

Detection and identification of Apple stem pitting virus and Apple stem grooving virus affecting apple and pear trees in Egypt

Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV) and Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV) are economically important and infect either individually or in mixed infection commercial apple and pear cultivars causing yield loses. Young green bud and/or base of petiole were collected from naturally infected apple and pear trees from different locations in Egypt. Both viruses were detected frequently in apple and pear samples. A total of 420 trees from 9 different orchards were tested using one-step RT-PCR; 13% and 17% of these samples were infected with ASPV and ASGV, respectively. Mixed infection with both viruses occurred in 4% of the tested trees. ELISA was reliable for detection of ASGV but not ASPV. Total RNA for one-step RT-PCR was isolated from 100 mg fresh affected apple and pear leaf tissue using Qiagen RNeasy plant mini-kit (Qiagen, Crawley, UK), according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The one step-RTPCR method was performed using ASPV and ASGV-specific primers for each virus. A 316 bp fragment for ASPV and 524bp fragment for ASGV were amplified and detected by gel electrophoresis analysis which indicated the presence of ASPV and ASGV in affected apple and pear cultivars. Southern blot hybridization of the amplified products to digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled cDNA probe for ASPV or ASGV confirmed the results obtained by electrophoresis analysis. No product was detected in amplified extracts of uninfected apple and pear samples. The detection of ASPV and ASGV by one step-RT-PCR assay was successful and appears useful for testing pome fruit germplasm in quarantine and budwood in certification programs.Keywords: Apple and pear, ASPV, ASGV, virus detection, One step RT-PCR, Southern blot hybridizatio

Detection of olive tree viruses in Egypt by one-step RT-PCR

Olive (Olea Europaea L.) is a major and economically important crop for the new reclamation land in Egypt. The estimated acreage of cultivated olive trees in Egypt is above one hundred and thirty five thousand Feddens of which total production is five hundred thousand tons per year (Ministry of Agriculture statistics, 2007). Olive trees are affected by several viruses and virus-like diseases. To date, 15 viruses in eight genera have been isolated from olive trees. In a preliminary study for the assessment of the sanitary status of olive trees in five locations in Egypt, shoots from 300 trees of 9 cultivars were collected. Using virus-specific primers, a one-step RT-PCR assay was used to detect and identify each of the eight viruses most commonly found in olives. Namely, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Olive latent ringspot virus (OLRSV), Olive latent virus-1 (OLV-1), Olive latent virus-2 (OLV-2), Olive leaf yellowingassociated virus (OLYaV), Strawberry latent ringspot virus (SLRSV), Cherry leaf roll virus (CLRV), and Arabis mosaic virus (ArMV). Among the eight viruses assayed, OLRSV (6.7 %), OLV-1 (5.7 %), CLRV (4.7 %), OLV-2 (2.7 %), SLRSV (2.3 %), OLYaV (1.3 %) and ArMV (0.7%) were detected. The most common virus detected was CMV which prevailed with a high incidence of 24.7 % in olive orchards. The use of one step RT-PCR was efficient and reliable to detect the eight olive viruses found in Egypt. Surprisingly, the infection rate found is lower than expected, if we take into consideration previous surveys conducted in the Mediterranean area. This technique is useful for detection of olive viruses for production of certified plant propagative material in certification programs.Keywords: Olive cultivars, olive virus detection, olive viruses in Egypt, one step RT-PC

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Effects of Grapefruit Juice on Ulcerative Colitis induced by Acetic Acid in Rats

Grapefruit is commonly consumed around the world due to its nutritional and medicinal properties. Ulcerative colitis (UC) accounts for an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) accompanied by irritation, recurrent inflammation, and ulceration of the colon's mucosa. Our objective was to assess the antiinflammatory and antioxidant impacts of grapefruit juice (GFJ) in rat with UC induced by acetic acid (AA). There were five groups made up of 35 mature male rats. Group 2 served as a positive control with UC, whereas group 1 was preserved as a negative control. For 8 weeks, groups 3, 4, and 5 received UC while also given 2.5, 5 or 10% of GFJ orally. Feed efficiency ratio (FER), body weight growth (BWG), and feed intake (FI) were computed. From rat eye orbital plexuses blood samples were taken to separate the serum after centrifugation.  The aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity were assessed utilizing serum samples. The antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in serum were quantified. Serum inflammatory cytokines as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin 1 β (IL1 β), IL6 and IL8, as well as triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) were measured. In liver homogenate, glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were determined. Additionally, histopathology of the colon was accomplished. Our findings specified that GFJ at 10% significantly decreased FI, BWG and FER, cytokines TNFα, IL1 β, IL6 and IL8 and TC and TG. Relative to the positive controls, the rats treated with GFJ exhibited elevated serum concentrations of SOD, GPx, and CAT enzymes. Liver GSH was elevated and MDA was reduced. Histopathological examination of the colon showed that GFJ at 10% reduced ulcerative colitis. Because grapefruit juice has strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics and reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in rats, grapefruit juice, at a concentration of 10%, likely protects against ulcerative colitis. Patients with ulcerative colitis may find it helpful to consume grapefruit juice as a beverage.&nbsp

Modeling and Optimization of Phosphate Recovery from Industrial Wastewater and Precipitation of Solid Fertilizer using Experimental Design Methodology

In this work, the experimental design methodology is applied to optimize phosphate salts precipitation as struvite and others applied in soil fertilization from treated industrial wastewater stream. This is a process to maximize phosphate recovery percentage from inlet wastewater stream containing interfering foreign ions. Therefore, these optimized conditions could be used as input data for engineering design-software for successive equipment required in wastewater treatment plant. A four factors Box–Behnken experimental design was used to model and optimize the operating parameters. The optimum operating conditions were quite efficient in trapping 86.10 % recovered phosphates in industrial stream, and 92.6 % in synthetic solution at pH of 10.89, time of reaction of 34.76 min, temperature of 25.23 °C and R of 2.25 with an insignificance effect for molar ratio (R) between Mg and PO4 ions. If these optimal parameters were shifted, the reached recovery percentage would decrease with the precipitated struvite. The precipitated salts were subjected to characterization through different chemical techniques confirming the presence of struvite with schertelite as a mixed slow release fertilizer

RAPID AND VALIDATED HPLC-UV METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF GEMIFLOXACIN IN HUMAN URINE

Objective: To develop and validate a simple and rapid reversed phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method for the determination of Gemifloxacin (GFX) in human urine.Methods: GFX was isolated from urine samples after acidification using methylene chloride. Good chromatographic separation was achieved using C18 Ultrasphere (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm.) analytical column maintained at 25 °C. The mobile phase consisted of methanol and 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH 3 in the ratio of (48: 52, v/v), respectively. The analysis time was 10 min at a 1.0 ml/min flow rate. The UV detection was carried out at 272 nm.Results: GFX has been eluted at 7.5 min. Linearity was obtained over a concentration range of 20-200 ng/ml (r2>0.999). The extraction recovery of GFX from urine samples was 60%. The proposed method demonstrated excellent intra-and inter-day precision and accuracy within 1.19% and 100.65 %, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) was found to be 6.3 ng/ml.Conclusion: Simple and accurate RP-HPLC method for determination of GFX in human urine was developed and validated. The method was successfully applied for determination of GFX in human urine samples from healthy volunteers up to 24 hours after oral administration of 320 mg gemi floxacin tablets.Â

Weak mutually unbiased bases

Quantum systems with variables in ${\mathbb Z}(d)$ are considered. The properties of lines in the ${\mathbb Z}(d)\times {\mathbb Z}(d)$ phase space of these systems, are studied. Weak mutually unbiased bases in these systems are defined as bases for which the overlap of any two vectors in two different bases, is equal to $d^{-1/2}$ or alternatively to one of the $d_i^{-1/2},0$ (where $d_i$ is a divisor of $d$ apart from $d,1$). They are designed for the geometry of the ${\mathbb Z}(d)\times {\mathbb Z}(d)$ phase space, in the sense that there is a duality between the weak mutually unbiased bases and the maximal lines through the origin. In the special case of prime $d$, there are no divisors of $d$ apart from $1,d$ and the weak mutually unbiased bases are mutually unbiased bases