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Ilex paraguariensis, also known as ‘Yerba mate’, occurs naturally in Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay and is also grown in these countries with different intensities. Leaves and branches of this plant are used in the preparation of a stimulant beverage that beside social importance has notorious health impact. However, the cultivated herbs present low productivity, due to deficiencies in cultivation and harvesting techniques, as well as due to the abiotic stresses that this species is subject to. The discovery and characterization of cold response mechanisms in plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, began research in order to unravel the physiological and molecular mechanisms in response to cold in other plant species. In this work, we studied the physiological response observed in Ilex paraguariensis plants submitted to low temperatures (0°C), with or without a pre-moderate acclimatization treatment period of (8°C). Our results suggest the existence of an acclimation response in Ilex paraguariensis, similar to that described in other species of the same temperature.

Stable reference genes are indispensable for ensuring the fidelity of determined gene expression levels. However, the expression levels of reference genes are unable to remain constant under all possible experimental conditions. Therefore, the stability determination of reference genes is necessary in an experimental system set. In the preset study, the stability of nine cucumber candidate reference genes (CsACT, CsUBQ, CsEF1α, CsCYP, CsαTU, CsCACS, CsTIP41, CsYSL8 and CsHEL) subjected to stresses from Phytophthora melonis(P. melonis) were determined using four different analysis methods, including Delta Ct, BestKeeper, NormFinder and GeNorm. The study results revealed that CsUBQ and CsCYP were the most stable genes suitable as internal control in cucumber plants under attack by P. melonis condition.

Canine Distemper have become a major concern within the veterinary clinical work. Thus, the appearance of many cases of canine distemper in adult animals with their vaccination plan up to date has alarmed veterinarians. Many cases of canine distemper have become a major concern within the clinical veterinary task. The purpose of this work was to detect the gene of hemagglutinin of the virus canine distemper, by using the Polymerase Chain Reaction associated with Reverse transcription (RT-PCR), as confirmation of the clinical diagnosis of disease. For this, peripheral blood samples of animals were used clinically patients and were grouped according to their date of extraction and using vaccines commercial as control. The results allow to demonstrate a high sensitivity of the technique, besides allowing the use of samples up to seven days of storage at 4°C, despite the fragility of RNA viral. Detection of canine distemper virus haemagglutinin gene in field samples and its high sensitivity, suggests studying its use as a diagnostic tool complementary to the clinical diagnosis of canine distemper in our country.

Several methods were developed in lab work, including forensic analysis of polymers & organic GSR from 3D printed firearms using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS) for a wide variety of applications. Since its introduction, DART-MS has been studied for forensic use in areas including drug detection, gunshot residue, printer inks, and even insect identification. We used DART-MS to characterize the polymer evidence left behind by a 3D-printed firearm on cartridge cases, bullets, and the receiving surface. According to James Cizdziel, “There is concern with these 3D printed guns because they have no serial numbers. The fire gun barrels made with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS), Polylactic Acid, PETG, Chlorinated Polyethylene (CPE) & Nylon were examined by DART-MS. The resulting cartridge cases, bullets & GSR are examined by Direct Analysis of Real Time-Mass Spectrometry”. It successfully detects and identifies the traces of polymer and organic GSR compounds on the bullets, cartridge cases, and in GSR collected from clothing. While detecting polymer in the trace evidence was challenging, DART-MS obtained clear spectra that matched the plastic from the gun from clothing used as a backdrop for test fire. According to the study, DART-MS readily detected three chemicals commonly found in firearm propellants (ethyl centralite, methyl centralite, and diphenylamine) on the bullet and cartridge case, as well as in the solvent wash of the GSR stub. The resulting cartridge cases, bullets, and gunshot residue (GSR) were examined by direct analysis in real time – mass spectrometry (DART-MS). High-resolution mass spectra detected polymer from the gun barrel on bullets and cartridge casings for a 0.38 special Caliber gun and, to a lesser extent, for a 0.22 Caliber 3D-printed gun. This study states that analysis of firearm trace evidence using DART-MS needs more attention & that the technique may be particularly useful for investigating crimes involving 3D-printed guns. I'm writing my review paper on this topic because it's important for addressing challenges related to 3D-printed firearms. These weapons often don't have traditional serial numbers, making them difficult to trace. However, by analyzing polymer residues left on bullets, cartridge cases, or nearby surfaces, investigators can potentially identify the firearm used. The unique chemical makeup of polymers used in 3D printing can help ink the residue back to a specific gun or even a particular 3D printer model. This study states that analysis of firearm trace evidence using DART-MS needs more attention & that the technique may be particularly useful for investigating crimes involving 3D-printed guns.

Two experimental feeding trials were conducted concurrently to study the growth response of African catfish Clarias gariepinus fingerlings to graded levels (0, 5, 10, 15 or 20%) of clupeids in Danish fish meal (DFM) based diets. Chemical analysis of the DFM and clupeids fish meal (CFM) was carried out. Completely randomized design with triplicated groups of fingerlings were used for both trials in an indoor and out-door concrete tanks for six and twelve weeks respectively. The study aimed at achieving a cost effective fish meal from local aquatic resources (clupeids fish) highly prolific and abundant in Nigeria water bodies to replace foreign fish meal in West Africa Region. A project supported by West African Agricultural Productivity Project (WAAPP) in NIFFR, Nigeria. The results of proximate, amino acid profile, mineral and fatty acid composition analysis of CFM indicated values which are very close to those of the DFM. The proximate analysis revealed CFM to contain 70.6% crude protein while DFM contains 72%. There were no significant difference between the treatments with respect to final weight, feed consumed, feed conversion ratio, digestibility and survival (P>0.05) although there was significant difference in specific growth rate (P<0.05) with the highest value obtained in the diets with both fish meal at ratio 1:1. There were no significant difference in haematological parameters (P>0.05). However the lymphocytes were high in all the groups which might not be particularly due to the treatments. The high proliferation of the body defence cells by the fish could be a mechanism of survival in the aqua-medium which is likely to be high in microbial load due to waste materials. Feed Cost/Kg for DFM was N260.16 while for CFM was N227.16. The results of chemical analysis and feeding trials indicated positive replacement of the DFM with CFM in fish feeds without negative effect on growth performance

The analysis of dependence of the length projection of Li vectors of biparametrical inhibited and activated (La) enzymatic reactions from the length projection of vectors of monoparametrical inhibited and activated enzymatic reactions on the basic σ0 plane in three-dimensional coordinate system, allows to deduct the quadratic forms of equations for the correction of the constants of inhibition (ki) and activation (Ka) of enzymes. Examples of correction of constants are given.

In 2018, a survey of rust fungi and their associated hosts was attempted in the thandiani regions of Pakistan. In this paper, we provided descriptions and illustrations of six rust species viz. Melampsora euphorbiae, Phragmidium barclayi, Puccinia ambegua, Pucciniia calcitraipae, Pucciniia mentha and Puccinia ustalis. The Melampsora euphorbiae, Puccinia ambegua, and Puccinia ustalis were collected as a new host record from Abbottabad. Most of the rust fungi were collected from herbaceous wild plants. This study suggests further exploration of the area of rust disease in order to assess the diversity of these fungi. This research work is an addition to available data related to the Urediniales of Pakistan having special reference to Abbottabad District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

Background: Disabling hearing loss is a prevalent public health issue, with significant impact on patients’ communication. The disability associated with hearing loss depends on the severity of the hearing loss. There are limited rehabilitative measures in resource challenged environment. This study assesses the incidence, the factors for hearing impairment and the management outcome. Methods: A descriptive three-year chart review of patients managed for hearing loss in a tertiary health center in a developing country. The data collected include demographic data, clinical presentation and risk factors for hearing loss, audiometric reports, rehabilitative measures and management outcome. Results: The patients with ear symptoms managed within the study period were 1350, of whom 498 (36.8%) had hearing loss of varying degrees. These included 145 (29.1%) males and 353 (70.9%) females with male to female ratio of 1:2.4. The age ranged from 8 to 80 years (median age of 35.7). Disabling hearing loss in the better-hearing ear occurred in 216 (43.4%) of cases. Increasing age and chronic supportive otitis media were associated with disabling hearing loss. The hearing thresholds improved with hearing aids and ear surgical procedures; nonetheless the patients’ rehabilitation was impaired by limited resources. Conclusion: There is poor rehabilitation of people with hearing loss, though management outcome is commendable in a few of them. Health education will reduce the risk factors for disabling hearing loss and improved rehabilitative measures are needed for these individuals.

Background: Some studies have shown an association between spinal curvature and strabismus, but the genetic association has not been clarified. Therefore, the present study is proposed to be a Mendelian randomization study aiming to investigate the genetic causal association between spinal curvature and strabismus.Purpose: Genetic causal associations between strabismus, convergent concomitant strabismus (Ccs), Divergent concomitant strabismus (Dcs), Other specified and unspecified strabismus (Osus), Other strabismus (Os) and spinal curvature were investigated by a bidirectionalMendelian randomization study to provide a basis for the prevention and treatment of spinal curvature.Methods: Significant and independent Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in genome-wide association studies were selected as Instrumental Variables (IVs) for Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR-Egger regression, Weighted Median (WME), Simple Mode (SM), and weighted mode (WM) were used to analyze causal association; Heterogeneity and multiplicity tests were also performed and analyzed using the leave-one-out method to assess the stability of the results.Results: MR and reverse MR were utilized to assess the impact of scoliosis on strabismus, revealing that the 95% confidence intervals of all instrumental variables’ OR values spanned 1 and the p values were all above 0.05. These results indicate a lack of evidence supporting a causal relationship between scoliosis and strabismus. Conclusion: There is currently no conclusive evidence of a genetic causal relationship between scoliosis and strabismus, including their subtypes. Further laboratory studies are needed to confirm these findings, and future research with larger sample sizes is necessary to provide more robust support.

The bio-energy released by the hydrolysis of adenosine triphosphate, which relate to plenty of life activities and is transported in a solution, and its theory of transport are first stated and built in helix protein molecule. In order to confirm and verify the correctness of the transported theory we here systematically summarized and reviewed a great number of experimental investigation and evidences obtained by us and other researchers in past 30 years, involving the real existences of the solution and its features and lifetimes. In this survey we outlined and presented concretely the features of infrared spectra of absorption, Raman spectra and specific heat of the molecular crystal-acetanilide collagen, bivine serum albumin, myoglobin proteins and E.Coli. cell as well as the lifetimes of the solution in acetanilide and myoglobin measured by using pump-probe techniques and free-electron laser experiment, in which we give not only experimental data but also their comparisons with theoretical results. These experimental data and evidences provided here are enough to verify and affirm the true existences of the new solution, which can complete itself functions of bio-energy transport in the lifetime, and the correctness of the new theory of bio-energy transport in the acetanilide and protein molecule. Thus we can affirm the correctness of theory of the bio-energy transport in helix protein molecule, which can greatly promote the development of molecular biology.