Using the generalized method of moments technique (GMM), we examine whether extreme oil prices' movements affect banks' loans supply in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. We find that banks ...tend to be canny in their lending decision during extreme upward moves in oil prices. Moreover, we find that banks continue to extend their lending supply during the economic slowdown. The current paper sheds light on the bank lending behaviour in the GCC region where oil is the main source of revenue.
Possible mechanisms that lead to inactivation of feline calicivirus (FCV) by cold atmospheric-pressure plasma (CAP) generated in 99% argon-1% O2 admixture were studied. We evaluated the impact of CAP ...exposure on the FCV viral capsid protein and RNA employing several cultural, molecular, proteomic and morphologic characteristics techniques. In the case of long exposure (2 min) to CAP, the reactive species of CAP strongly oxidized the major domains of the viral capsid protein (VP1) leading to disintegration of a majority of viral capsids. In the case of short exposure (15 s), some of the virus particles retained their capsid structure undamaged but failed to infect the host cells in vitro. In the latter virus particles, CAP exposure led to the oxidation of specific amino acids located in functional peptide residues in the P2 subdomain of the protrusion (P) domain, the dimeric interface region of VP1 dimers, and the movable hinge region linking the S and P domains. These regions of the capsid are known to play an essential role in the attachment and entry of the virus to the host cell. These observations suggest that the oxidative effect of CAP species inactivates the virus by hindering virus attachment and entry into the host cell. Furthermore, we found that the oxidative impact of plasma species led to oxidation and damage of viral RNA once it becomes unpacked due to capsid destruction. The latter effect most likely plays a secondary role in virus inactivation since the intact FCV genome is infectious even after damage to the capsid.
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•Plasmalogens (Pls) can inhibit NO production in microglial cells.•Pls inhibit NF-kB, p38MAPK and JNK pathways.•PUFA-Pls is more effective than oleic acid (monounsaturated fatty ...acid)-Pls.
The special lipids plasmalogens (Pls) were reported to be reduced in the neurodegenerative brains such as Alzheimer’s disease where a marked increase of glial activation is often observed. We previously found that a reduction of brain Pls can enhance the glial activation in murine brains. However, the detailed role of Pls in the prevention of glial activation was mostly elusive. Here we report that the Pls, extracted from scallop (sPls), significantly inhibited the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) and the production of NO in LPS (lipopolysaccharide)-activated microglial cells. We also observed that the polyunsaturated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-containing Pls but not the monounsaturated oleic acid-containing Pls attenuated the NOS2 induction. In addition, sPls blocked the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) e.g., JNK and p38 MAPK, thereby attenuated the nuclear translocation of NF-kB subunit, p65, and activator protein-1 (AP-1) proteins (c-Fos and c-Jun). Interestingly, LPS treatments suppressed the expression of Pls synthesizing enzymes, glycerone phosphate O-acyltransferase (GNPAT) and alkylglycerone phosphate synthase (AGPS) in the microglial cells by the p38MAPK and JNK pathways. Furthermore, the knockdown of GNPAT and AGPS genes by sh-RNAs accelerated the LPS-induced activation of p38MAPK and JNK, resulting in the increased production of NO. These findings suggested that a decrease of brain Pls can activate the NF-kB, p38MAPK and JNK pathways to induce a prolonged microglial activation which may downplay the neuroprotective events in the brains of neurodegenerative diseases.
Synthetic dyes released from many industries cause pollution problems in aquatic environments affecting public health. The present study aimed to explore the potentiality of Aspergillus terreus YESM ...3 (accession number LM653117) for colour removal of three different dyes: methylene blue (MB), malachite green (MG) and safranin (S). Results showed that the tolerance index of the studied fungus against tested dyes decreased in the order: methylene blue, safranin and malachite green. Removal of methylene blue colour was improved by using Box-Behnken design. Optimum condition for methylene blue biodegradation in Czapek Dox broth was achieved at pH 6, of 31.41 mg/L dye concentration and an inoculum of 5.7778 × 10
(conidia/mL) with biodegradation of 89.41%. Thus, a novel and eco-friendly system for the biodegradation of dyes using Box-Behnken design has been efficiently developed. Accordingly, A. terreus YESM 3 can be professionally used for bioremediation of methylene blue dye in wastewater and removal of environmental pollution.
In this study, 18 plant growth-promoting bacterial (PGPB) strains were isolated from the rhizosphere of both Red silk-cotton tree (
Bombax malabaricum
) and Chinese banyan
(Ficus retusa)
. Culture ...morphology was observed and genotypic characterization was accomplished by sequencing partial 16S rRNA gene. Plant growth promotion traits and antagonistic activities of the strains against phytopathogenic fungi were evaluated. Among all strains,
Bacillus thuringiensis
(MN419208) exert the highest indole acetic acid (38 µg/ml), produced exopolysaccharides (587.2 µg/ml), and fixed nitrogen which in turn increased both fresh and dry weights of bean plants by 41.5% and 18.8%, respectively. In another greenhouse experiment studying the antifungal activities of seven strains and their co-culture against
Rhizoctonia solani
(LN735538),
B. sonorensis
MN419205,
B. wiedmannii
MN419207,
B. subtilis
MN419218, and the mixture of (MN419207) and (MN419208) reduced total damping off from 81.7% in control to 30%, 35%, 35%, and 38.3%, respectively, and reduced disease severity index from 33.3% to 20.5%, 22.5%, 14.2%, and 19.3% as well. Our data indicate that these strains are effective in promoting plant growth and in inhibiting
R. solani
infection nonetheless field experiments are needed to examine their effectiveness as a viable alternative to chemical fertilizers and conventional pesticides.
Minimal food-processing methods are not effective against foodborne viruses, such as human norovirus (NV). It is important, therefore, to explore novel nonthermal technologies for decontamination of ...foods eaten fresh, minimally processed and ready-to-eat foods, and food contact surfaces. We studied the in vitro virucidal activity of cold atmospheric gaseous plasma (CGP) against feline calicivirus (FCV), a surrogate of NV. Factors affecting the virucidal activity of CGP (a so-called radio frequency atmospheric pressure plasma jet) were the plasma generation power, the exposure time and distance, the plasma feed gas mixture, and the virus suspension medium. Exposure to 2.5-W argon (Ar) plasma caused a 5.55 log10 unit reduction in the FCV titer within 120 s. The reduction in the virus titer increased with increasing exposure time and decreasing exposure distance. Of the four plasma gas mixtures studied (Ar, Ar plus 1% O2, Ar plus 1% dry air, and Ar plus 0.27% water), Ar plus 1% O2 plasma treatment had the highest virucidal effect: more than 6.0 log10 units of the virus after 15 s of exposure. The lowest virus reduction was observed with Ar plus 0.27% water plasma treatment (5 log10 unit reduction after 120 s). The highest reduction in titer was observed when the virus was suspended in distilled water. Changes in temperature and pH and formation of H2O2 were not responsible for the virucidal effect of plasma. The oxidation of viral capsid proteins by plasma-produced reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the solution was thought to be responsible for the virucidal effect. In conclusion, CGP exhibits virucidal activity in vitro and has the potential to combat viral contamination in foods and on food preparation surfaces.
Foodborne viruses, particularly human norovirus, are a concern for public health, especially in fresh vegetables and other minimally processed foods that may not undergo sufficient decontamination. ...It is necessary to explore novel nonthermal techniques for preventing foodborne viral contamination. In this study, aqueous extracts of six raw food materials (flower buds of clove, fenugreek seeds, garlic and onion bulbs, ginger rhizomes, and jalapeño peppers) were tested for antiviral activity against feline calicivirus (FCV) as a surrogate for human norovirus. The antiviral assay was performed using dilutions of the extracts below the maximum nontoxic concentrations of the extracts to the host cells of FCV, Crandell-Reese feline kidney (CRFK) cells. No antiviral effect was seen when the host cells were pretreated with any of the extracts. However, pretreatment of FCV with nondiluted clove and ginger extracts inactivated 6.0 and 2.7 log of the initial titer of the virus, respectively. Also, significant dosedependent inactivation of FCV was seen when host cells were treated with clove and ginger extracts at the time of infection or postinfection at concentrations equal to or lower than the maximum nontoxic concentrations. By comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, eugenol (29.5%) and R-(-)-1,2-propanediol (10.7%) were identified as the major components of clove and ginger extracts, respectively. The antiviral effect of the pure eugenol itself was tested; it showed antiviral activity similar to that of clove extract, albeit at a lower level, which indicates that some other clove extract constituents, along with eugenol, are responsible for inactivation of FCV. These results showed that the aqueous extracts of clove and ginger hold promise for prevention of foodborne viral contamination.
With growing consumer awareness, exploitation of renewable resources is cost-effective and environment friendly. This work examines the potential of citrus peels as natural antioxidants and ...antimicrobials for food preservation. Extraction yield, total soluble phenols and flavonoids of various citrus peels (sweet orange, lemon, tangerine and grapefruit) were optimized by varying the solvent type. While the highest extract yield (~16 g/100g) was obtained from the sweet orange peels in methanol, extraction with ethanol maximized the concentration of total phenols and flavonoids (~80 mg catechol equivalents/100 g dry weight). In addition, sweet orange peel extract showed the highest DPPH, ABTS and hydroxyl radical scavenging values. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of sweet orange peels revealed more than 40 polyphenolic compounds including phenolic acids and flavonoids, some of which have not been previously reported. The predominant polyphenols were narirutin, naringin, hesperetin-7-O-rutinoside naringenin, quinic acid, hesperetin, datiscetin-3-O-rutinoside and sakuranetin. The incorporation of sweet orange peel extract into two vegetable oils enhanced their oxidative stability. In addition, all citrus peel extracts possessed high antimicrobial activity against several food-borne pathogens, and the activity was highest for the sweet orange peel extract. Overall results suggested the great potential of sweet orange peels as natural antioxidant and antimicrobials, which can be efficiently extracted using a simple and low-cost method, for enhancing the storage stability and safety of vegetable oils.
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•Citrus peels extracts exhibited high contents of polyphenols and flavonoids with high antioxidant and antimicrobial capacities.•Sweet orange peel extracts in ethanol and water showed high yield of polyphenols and flavonoids.•The polyphenolic compounds (~40) in sweet orange peel extracts were identified and quantified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS.•Supplementing orange peel extract into edible oils prevented rancidity.
Bioherbicides afford satisfactory approach to overcome weed problem. Selection of new bioherbicides from phytopathogenic microbiota is essential for modern agricultural management, especially ...mycoherbicides. Thus, in the present investigation, 4 phytopathogenic fungi including
Alternaria alternata
YMM1,
A
.
tenuissima
YMM3,
Chaetomium globosum
YMM2, and
Nigrospora oryzae
YMM4 were isolated from infected leaves with chlorotic rings of
Rumex dentatus
and
Sonchus oleraceus
as common weeds in Egypt. These fungi were identified based on morphology and sequence analysis of ITS1-5.8SrDNA-ITS2 of rRNA genes. Mycoherbicidal metabolites were produced using submerged cultures in potato dextrose broth. Their bioherbicidal activities were evaluated using seed germination and leaf disk puncture assays. It was found that the most promising fungal strain against major tested weeds was
N
.
oryzae
YMM4. Thus, phytopathogenic microbiota are considered a great resource for the construction of a new bioherbicide for managing weeds.
In current design practice, mostly architectural needs govern the shape of reinforced concrete columns. There is a need to study and compare the load-deflection behavior and failure pattern of high ...strength reinforced concrete columns of different shapes. This paper presents a correlation between the performance of equivalent area circular and square columns subjected to shear controlled cyclic loading. Square and circular columns with equal cross-sectional area were experimentally tested in this research. Experimental results show that the maximum load, number of loading cycles and maximum deflection in case of square and circular columns were found to be close however, the final failure pattern was different. In case of columns without shear stirrups, the square column resisted 6.7% more loading cycles as compared to the circular column. However, the square column showed 19% lesser deflection at ultimate stage. In case of columns with shear stirrups, square column resisted only 9% more loading cycles as compared to circular column and exhibited similar ultimate deflection. The fatigue performance of equivalent area circular and square columns was found to be comparable in shear controlled conditions. However, the final failure pattern of circular columns shifted from shear to flexure near final failure.
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