In present work, some biochemical characteristics of the catfish, Clarias gariepinus were studied under the effect of different sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol (0, 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 mgl-1). Liver enzymes ALT and AST increased insignificantly at P0.05 whereas the ALP decreased insignificantly. The activities of G6PDH showed significant increase with the increased sublethel doses of 4-nonylphenol while the activities of LDH decreased insignificantly with increase of such doses. The concentrations of serum glucose and total cholesterol significantly increased after exposure to 4-nonylphenol, although Hyperglycemia is evident. The kidney function parameters such as total serum protein and uric acid increased insignificantly after exposure to 4-nonylphenol in comparison with the control fish whereas creatinine exhibited significant increase (P0.05). Some serum ions decreased significantly (HCO3 - and Na+) or insignificantly (Cu+2, Cl- and Ca+2) and others increased significantly (Fe+2) or insignificantly (K+) under 4-nonylphenol stress on C. gariepinus. Increased serum anion gap was associated with increased hyperglycemia and insignificant hypocalcemia. Such increased gap referred to nonylphenolinduced metabolic acidosis. The adverse impact of the sublethal doses of 4-nonylphenol on the molecular structure of the protein was evident by electrophoresis. In conclusion, in addition to its tissue-specific estrogenic effects, 4-nonylphenol has non-estrogenic adverse effects on liver and kidney functions through activation of other metabolism-related genes distinct from estrogenresponsive genes.

Death of entanglement between light and the vibrational motion of a single trapped ion in the dispersive regime with a reservoir is investigated. It is found that with phase-damped cavity, the purity of the light-motional states is lost forever, unlike the purity of the ion's internal states which have regular patterns and they do not decay. The asymptotic behavior of the states of the light, the ion-motional and the total system fall into a mixed state. The entanglement and purity have strong sensitivity to the phase damping and the ionic distribution angle. The entanglement sudden death has been treated as it arises from the e®ect of phase damping on mixed as well as pure states.

The exact solution of the master equation for the case of a high-Q cavity with atomic decay is found. We use the negativity of the Wigner function (WF) as an indicator of non-classicality. It is found that the negative values of the field WF are very sensitive to any change in the damping parameter. The atomic spontaneous decay leads to the simultaneous disappearance of both entanglement and nonclassicality of quantum states. Moreover, the purity of the field states is lost completely.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have shown that the offspring of mothers who experience diabetes mellitus during pregnancy are seven times more likely to develop health complications than the offspring of mothers who do not suffer from diabetes during pregnancy. The present study was designed to investigate whether supplementation of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic pregnant mice with thymoquinone (TQ) during pregnancy and lactation improves the risk of developing diabetic complications acquired by their offspring. METHODS: Three groups of pregnant female mice were used: non-diabetic control dams (CD), diabetic dams (DD), and diabetic dams supplemented with TQ (DD + TQ) during pregnancy and lactation (n = 10 female mice in each group). RESULTS: Our data demonstrated a marked decrease in the number of neonates born to DD, and these neonates showed a marked increase in their mean body weight (macrosomic pups) compared to those born to CD and DD + TQ. The induction of diabetes during pregnancy and lactation resulted in macrosomic pups with several postpartum complications, such as a marked increase in their levels of blood glucose, free radicals, plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha), and lipids, and a tendency toward abnormal obesity compared to the offspring of CD. By contrast, macrosomic offspring born to DD exhibited a marked reduction in plasma cytokine levels (IL-2, -4 and -7), an obvious reduction in the number of circulating lymphocytes, decreased proliferation of superantigen (SEB)-stimulated lymphocytes and aberrant AKT phosphorylation. Interestingly, the supplementation of DD with TQ during pregnancy and lactation had an obvious and significant effect on the number and mean body weight of neonates. Furthermore, TQ significantly restored the levels of blood glucose, insulin, free radicals, plasma cytokines, and lipids as well as lymphocyte proliferation in the offspring. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the nutritional supplementation of DD with the natural antioxidant TQ during pregnancy and lactation protects their offspring from developing diabetic complications and preserves an efficient lymphocyte immune response later in life.

Angular distributions of differential cross sections for the 12C(π ±, π ±)12C and 12C(π ±, π ±)12C* reactions at pion kinetic energy ranging from 50 to 260 MeV have been analyzed with the 3α-particle model of 12C. The model provides good fits to a wide range of data. Differential cross sections for inelastic transitions to the (2 + ; 4.44 MeV) and (3 − ; 9.64 MeV) states in 12C are computed and the deformation lengths δ2 and δ3 are extracted. It is found that the extracted deformation lengths are sensitive to the nuclear model used and similar to the corresponding values found with other probes and nuclear models.

Antagonistic activity of five yeast strains (Pichia anomala Moh 93, P. anomala Moh 104, Pichia guilliermondii Moh 10, Lipomyces tetrasporus Y-115 and Metschnikowia lunata Y-1209) was evaluated against dipoldia rot of guava caused by Botryodiplodia theobromae. Results revealed that both strains of P. anomala were the most effective antagonists against the pathogen in vitro. Examination of the direct interaction of yeast–pathogen by SEM showed a tenacious adherence between hyphae of B. theobromae and P. anomala Moh 93. There was accumulation of extracellular matrices around the hyphae of the pathogen. Eventually the hyphae of B. theobromae were totally penetrated and destroyed by the cells of the antagonistic yeast. In vivo P. anomala Moh 93 and P. anomala Moh 104 were responsible for the reduction of the disease by 39.1 and 50.0%, respectively. The production of cellulase and pectinase enzymes was significantly inhibited in guava fruit infected with B. theobromae when yeast strains were applied. This study represents a first report dealing with the biocontrol of diopldia rot in guava fruit by the application of yeasts. It strongly recommends the use of specific strains of P. anomala as a safe and effective biocontrol agent against the diplodia postharvest rot of guava fruit.

Potato starch residue stream produced during chips manufacturing was used as an economical source for biomass and bioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results demonstrated that 1% H2SO4 at 100 C for 1 h was enough to hydrolyze all starch contained in the residue stream. Two strains of S. cerevisiae (y-1646 and commercial one) were able to utilize and ferment the acid-treated residue stream under both aerobic and semi-anaerobic conditions. The maximum yield of ethanol (5.52 g L1) was achieved at 35 C by S. cerevisiae y-1646 after 36 h when ZnCl2 (0.4 g L1) was added. Addition of NH4NO3 as a source of nitrogen did not significantly affect either growth or ethanol production by S. cerevisiae y-1646. Some secondary by-products including alcohol derivatives and medical active compound were found to be associated with the ethanol production process.

Potato starch residue stream produced during chips manufacturing was used as an economical source for biomass and bioethanol production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Results demonstrated that 1% H2SO4 at 100 C for 1 h was enough to hydrolyze all starch contained in the residue stream. Two strains of S. cerevisiae (y-1646 and commercial one) were able to utilize and ferment the acid-treated residue stream under both aerobic and semi-anaerobic conditions. The maximum yield of ethanol (5.52 g L1) was achieved at 35 C by S. cerevisiae y-1646 after 36 h when ZnCl2 (0.4 g L1) was added. Addition of NH4NO3 as a source of nitrogen did not significantly affect either growth or ethanol production by S. cerevisiae y-1646. Some secondary by-products including alcohol derivatives and medical active compound were found to be associated with the ethanol production process.

Antifungal properties of the crude extracts of five medicinal plants (Artemisia judaica, Ballota undulate, Cleome amblyocarpa, Peganum harmala, and Teucrium polium) were tested against dermatophytes and emerging fungi. Ethanol extract of Ballota undulate was the most effective against all tested fungi. Paecilomyces lilacinus, P. variotii, and Candida albicans were the most sensitive organisms. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Ballota undulate ethanol extract against C. albicans, P. lilacinus, and P. variotii was 25 mg/ml. GC-MS analysis revealed that Ballota undulate ethanol extract contains 35 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, sesquiterpene hydrocarbon along with some other essential oils, which could be involved in antifungal activity. Light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) have proved that Ballota undulate ethanol extract exhibits fungicidal effect on P. lilacinus through alterations in hyphal structures including budding of hyphal tip, anomalous structure, such as swelling, decrease in cytoplasmic content, with clear separation of cytoplasm from cell wall in hyphae. SEM clearly showed distorted mycelium, squashed and flattened conidiophores bearing damaged metullae. Eventually, the mycelia became papillated, flattened, and empty. Puncturing and squashing of hyphae as well as complete cell wall disruption were clear signs of complete death of hyphae.

Electrochemical reduction of the dacarbazine-Cu2+ complex was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and square wave voltammetry at a hanging mercury drop electrode. The reduction of the dacarbazine-Cu2+ complex is irreversible. A reduction mechanism is proposed comprising a one-electron reduction of the Cu2+ directly within the complex. The sharp peak of the adsorbed dacarbazine-Cu2+ complex associated with an effective interfacial accumulation facilitates the determination of the anticancer drug dacarbazine in pharmaceutical formulations and biological fluids. Detection limits for dacarbazine of 6.121010 M, 1.571010 M and 1.97109 M were achieved for the determination of the drug in vial, human urine and serum, respectively.