• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.55-61
• /
• 2011

Forty yeast strains isolated from soils taken from different locations in Egypt were tested for their P-solubilizing activities on the basis of analyzing the clear zone around colonies growing on a tricalcium phosphate medium after incubation for 5 days at $25^{\circ}C$, denoted as the solubilization index (SI). Nine isolates that exhibited P-solubilization potential with an SI ranging from 1.19 to 2.76 were genetically characterized as five yeasts belonging to the genus Saccharomyces cerevisiae and four non-Saccharomyces, based on a PCR analysis of the ITS1-26S region amplied by SC1/SC2 species-specific primers. The highest P-solubilization efficiency was demonstrated by isolate PSY- 4, which was identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae by a sequence analysis of the variable D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA. The effects of single and mixed inoculations with yeast PSY-4 and Bacillus polymyxa on the P-uptake and growth of corn were tested in a greenhouse experiment using different levels of a phosphorus chemical fertilizer (50, 100, and 200 kg/ha super phosphate 15.5% $P_2O_5$). The results showed that inoculating the corn with yeast PSY-4 or B. polymyxa caused significant increases in the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots. The P-fertilization level also had a significant influence on the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots when increasing the P-level from 50 up to 200 kg/ha. Dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 200 kg/ha gave higher values for the shoot and root dry weights and P-uptake in the shoots and roots, yet these increases were nonsignificant when compared with dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha. The best increases were obtained from dual inoculation with yeast strain PSY-4 and B. polymyxa at a P-fertilization level of 100 kg/ha, which induced the following percentage increases in the shoot and root dry weights, and P-uptake in the shoots and roots; 16.22%, 46.92%, 10.09%, and 31.07%, respectively, when compared with the uninoculated control (fertilized with 100 kg/ha).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.33 no.7
• /
• pp.1068-1076
• /
• 2020

Objective: In the present study, we determined efficiency of incorporating caffeine, melatonin or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the diluent on mitigating consequences of (a) liquid chilled- and (b) cryo-storage of ram spermatozoa. Methods: In the first experiment, ejaculates (n = 30) were collected from 5 adult rams and were pooled, diluted (1:10) with Tris-citric acid (base diluent) and were split into 4 aliquots assigned for: control (untreated), caffeine (0.1 mM), melatonin (0.3 mM) or omega-3 fatty acids (0.3 mM) (T₀). The diluted specimens were stored at 4℃ for 48 h, during which sperm physical and cytological properties were evaluated along with oxidative stress indices (T₂₄, T₄₈). In the second experiment, 15 ejaculates (3 per male) were pooled, diluted with glycerolized base diluent (4% glycerol, v/v) and were split corresponding to the same previous treatment groups before being processed for cryopreservation. Post-thaw physical and kinematic sperm properties were assessed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Results: The results clarified superiority of both melatonin and omega-3 supplementation on maintaining (p<0.05) sperm properties, while reducing (p<0.05) lipid peroxidase reaction and enzymatic activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in preservation medium, compared to caffeine either during liquid-chilled storage or cryopreservation of spermatozoa. Conclusion: Melatonin and omega-3 are regarded efficient alternatives to caffeine when processing ram spermatozoa for application of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.11
• /
• pp.4929-4934
• /
• 2016

Cancer, a worldwide epidemic disease with diverse origins, involves abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade other parts of the body. Globally, it is the main cause of mortality and morbidity. To overcome the drawbacks of the commercially available chemotherapies, natural products-loaded nano-composites are recommended to improve cancer targetability and decrease the harmful impact on normal cells. This study aimed at exploring the anti-cancer impacts of Moringa oleifera seed oil in its free- (MO) and nano-formulations (MOn) through studying whether it mechanistically promotes mitochondrial apoptosis-mediating cell death. Mitochondrial-based cytotoxicity and flow cytometric-based apoptosis analyses were performed on cancer HepG2, MCF7, HCT 116, and Caco-2 cell lines against normal kidney BHK-21 cell line. The present study resulted that MOn triggered colorectal cancer Caco-2 and HCT 116 cytotoxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction more powerful than its free counterpart (MO). On the other side, MOn and MO remarkably induces HCT 116 mitochondrial apoptosis, while sparing normal BHK-21 cells with minimal cytotoxic effect. The present results concluded that nano-micelle of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOn) can provide a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal and breast cancers via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, while sparing normal and even liver cancer cells a bit healthy or with minimal harmful effect. Intriguingly, MOn induced breast cancer not hepatocellular carcinoma cell death.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.17
• /
• pp.7641-7651
• /
• 2015

It has been shown previously that nutritional supplements rich in polyphenolic compounds play a significant role in prostate cancer chemoprevention. Propolis is a natural, resinous hive product that has several pharmacological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumoral activities. The aim of this study was to compare the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antitumoral activities of an ethanolic extract of Egyptian propolis (EEP) in vitro with an established chemotherapeutic drug such as doxorubicin (DOX), and the effects of their combination against the PC3 human prostate cancer cell line. Cellular viability and $IC_{50}$ levels with EEP, DOX and their (v/v) combination were detected by sulphorhodamine-B (SRB) assay after incubation of PC3 cells for 72h with different doses (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and $100{\mu}g/ml$). Two selected doses of $IC_{50}$ and $IC_{25}$ were applied to cells for 24h for antitumor evaluation assay of treatment compounds. EEP and its (v/v) combination with DOX showed significant antitumor potential besides high antioxidant properties of superoxide dismutase (SOD), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels when compared with the control untreated cells. DNA fragmentation assay and semi quantitative RT-PCR analyses for p53 and Bax genes showed that EEP activated cellular apoptosis and increased the mRNA expression levels more than other treatment. In conclusion, EEP alone or in combination with DOX at both doses used here showed greater antioxidant, antiproliferative and apoptotic effects against the PC3 cell lines as compared to treatment with DOX alone. Therefore, EEP could be considered as a promising candidate for prostate cancer chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.8
• /
• pp.4075-4079
• /
• 2012

Benzimidazoles 1-4 were obtained using modified synthesis methods and studied for their ability to inhibit cell proliferation of colon cancer cell HCT-116 and breast cancer cell MCF-7 using MTT assays. In the HCT-116 cell line, benzimidazole 2 was found to have an $IC_{50}$ value of $16.2{\pm}3.85{\mu}g/mL$ and benzimidazole 1 a value of $28.5{\pm}2.91{\mu}g/mL$, while that for benzimidazole 4 was $24.08{\pm}0.31{\mu}g/mL$. In the MCF-7 cell line, benzimidazole 4 had an $IC_{50}$ value of $8.86{\pm}1.10{\mu}g/mL$, benzimidazole 2 a value of $30.29{\pm}6.39{\mu}g/mL$, and benzimidazole 1 a value of $31.2{\pm}4.49{\mu}g/mL$. Benzimidazole 3 exerted no cytotoxity in either of the cell lines, with $IC_{50}$ values $>50{\mu}g/mL$. The results suggest that benzimidazoles derivatives may have chemotherapeutic potential for treatment of both colon and breast cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.18
• /
• pp.7725-7730
• /
• 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause for cancer death in the world, now being especially linked to chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This case-control study consisting of 65 HCC patients and 82 patients with other malignant tumours as controls was conducted to determine the association of HCV markers with HCC. Serum of each participant was obtained for detection of HCV Ab and RNA by DNA enzyme immunoassay (DEIA). Twenty six per cent (26.0%) of HCC patients had positive anti-HCV which was significantly greater than the control group (p=0.001). HCC patients significantly have a risk of exposure to HCV infection almost 3 times than the control group (OR=2.87, 95% C.I=1.1-7). Anti-HCV seropositive rate was significantly (p=0.03) higher among old age HCC patients and increases with age. Males with HCC significantly showed to have more than 9 times risk of exposure to HCV infection (OR=9.375, 95 % CI=1.299-67.647) than females. HCV-RNA seropositive rate was (70.8%) significantly higher among HCC patients compared to (22.2%) the control group (p=0.019). The most prevalent genotype (as a single or mixed pattern of infection) was HCV-1b. This study detected a significantly higher HCV seropositive rate of antibodies and RNA in HCC patients.

• KSII Transactions on Internet and Information Systems (TIIS)
• /
• v.7 no.12
• /
• pp.2957-2986
• /
• 2013

The traditional approach of fixed spectrum allocation to licensed networks has resulted in spectrum underutilisation. Cognitive radio technology is envisioned as a promising solution that can be used to resolve the ineffectiveness of the fixed spectrum allocation policy by accessing the underutilised spectrum of existing technologies opportunistically. The implementation of cognitive radio networks (CRNs) faces distinct challenges due to the fact that two systems (i.e., cognitive radio (CR) and primary users (PUs)) with conflicting interests interact with each other. Specially, in self-organised systems such as ad-hoc CRNs (AHCRNs), the coordination of spectrum access introduces challenges to researchers due to rapid utilisation changes in the available spectrum, as well as the multi-hop nature of ad-hoc networks, which creates additional challenges in the analysis of resource allocation (e.g., power control, channel and rate allocation). Instead, game theory has been adopted as a powerful mathematical tool in analysing and modelling the interaction processes of AHCRNs. In this survey, we first review the most fundamental concepts and architectures of CRNs and AHCRNs. We then introduce the concepts of game theory, utility function, Nash equilibrium and pricing techniques. Finally, we survey the recent literature on the game theoretic analysis of AHCRNs, highlighting its applicability to the physical layer PHY, the MAC layer and the network layer.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.929-935
• /
• 2007

The objective of this study was to develop a rapid, simple, and qualitative acetylcholinesterase (AChE)- detection kit, based on a modification of the Ellman and ELISA methods, for the detection of organophosphorus (OP) and carbamate (CB) pesticide. The developed kits were used to screen a large number of agricultural samples (spiked and real) for OP and CB pesticide residues. AChE was extracted from the heads of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) using Triton X-100, and was purified through 3 steps: diethylaminoethylcellulose chromatography (DEAE), affinity chromatography and membrane filtering, and Mono-Q column chromatography. Epoxy-activated Sepharose 6B affinity chromatography was used for large-scale purification. The presence of OP and CB pesticide residues in agricultural samples was assayed on the basis of AchE inhibition value. The presence (6 bands) or absence of some colored bands on the test line indicated a negative or positive result, respectively. The limits of detection for measured organophosphorus (OP) and carbamates (CB) pesticide residues in standard pesticide solutions and fortified samples were ranged from 0.50 to 2.50 ppm and 0.50 to 4.75 ppm, respectively.

• Current Applied Physics
• /
• v.18 no.12
• /
• pp.1496-1506
• /
• 2018

Organic/inorganic ultraviolet photodetector was fabricated using thermal evaporation technique. Organic/inorganic heterojunction based on thermally evaporated copper (II) acetylacetonate thin film of thickness 200 nm deposited on an n-type silicon substrate is introduced. I-V characteristics of the fabricated heterojunction were investigated under UV illumination of intensity $65mW/cm^2$. The diode parameters such as ideality factor, n, barrier height, ${\Phi}_B$, and reverse saturation current, $I_s$, were determined using thermionic emission theory. The series resistance of the fabricated diode was determined using modified Nord's method. The estimated values of series resistance and barrier height of the diode were about $0.33K{\Omega}$ and 0.72 eV, respectively. The fabricated photodetector exhibited a responsivity and specific detectivity about 9 mA/W and $4.6{\times}10^9$ Jones, respectively. The response behavior of the fabricated photodetector was analyzed through ON-OFF switching behavior. The estimated values of rise and fall time of the present architecture under UV illumination were about 199 ms and 154 ms, respectively. Finally, enhancing the photoresponsivity of the fabricated photodetector, post-deposition plasma treatment process was employed. A remarkable modification of the device performance was noticed as a result of plasma treatment. These modifications are representative in a decrease of series resistance and an increase of photoresponsivity and specific detectivity. The process of plasma treatment achieved an increment of external quantum efficiency from 5.53% to 8.34% at -3.5 V under UV illumination.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
• /
• v.52 no.6
• /
• pp.399-411
• /
• 2022

Objective: The objective of this randomized clinical trial was to study the skeletal and dental effects of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) along with a miniscrew-assisted expander (Hyrax) after six months of retention. Methods: After sequence generation, concealed allocation, and implementation, 24 female patients were randomly divided (1:1) into two-groups: bone-borne rapid palatal expansion (BBE) without LLLT (n = 12) and BBE with LLLT (n = 12). Eligibility criteria included female patients aged 10-13 years old with bilateral posterior crossbites. Intraoral and extraoral photographs, cone-beam computed tomography images, and digital study models were obtained before expansion and six months after retention. The 7 mm Hyrax appliance was anchored to four palatal mini-screws, which were activated twice daily for 15 days, then locked and kept in place as a retainer. LLLT was performed in the laser group during expansion and retention, according to the guidelines provided. Results: The records of 24 patients were analyzed. According to the post-retention measurements, both groups showed a significant increase in nasal and maxillary widths and total facial height. In the laser group, the Sella-Nasion-Point A and Point A-Nasion-Point B angles and the interpremolar apical distance were significantly increased. Conclusions: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the parameters and protocol of LLLT do not clinically affect the efficiency of BBE in prepubertal and pubertal patients.