All Articles

Retracted:

Abstract:

Sunspots are Correlated with Foliar pH in Grapevines

Abstract:

Foliar pH is a specific multifaceted parameter that is sensitive to a deficit in soil water and to temperature variations. It also represents a tool that can be used to rapidly phenotype the symbiosis induced in several crops by bio-fertilizers containing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Yearly decreases in foliar pH, which dropped from 3.73 in 2015 to 3.15 in 2017 and then stabilized at around 3.13, have been observed in an experimental vineyard near Torino (Italy) in six grapevine cultivars. In this paper, these curious, original results have been paired with the average sunspots of the 24^th sun cycle, proximal to its endpoint. The paired values were highly correlated (r 0.95 P< 0.01), with close parabolic patterns. A lowering in foliar pH has been correlated with a modification of the leaf composition, as characterized by the higher hydration and reinforced wall. An increase in the circulating acidity of the plants has been hypothesized to interfer...

Environmental and Health Risk of Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Levels Around some Dumpsites in the Niger Delta Region: A Case Study of Yenagoa Metropolis

Abstract:

Emission of Hydrogen Sulphide (H₂S) from dumpsites has become a global threat due to its impact on global climate change. This study assessed the spatial and seasonal levels of H₂S emissions from 6 dumpsites (LA - LF), with portable air quality meter (AEROQUAL-Series 300). Results showed that the spatial level of H₂S ranged from 1.40 ppm - 14.34 ppm. Based on seasonal variation level of H₂S ranged from 1.88 ppm – 3.86 ppm (p<0.05), with higher values in wet season. Meanwhile H₂S were not detected in the control station (LX). Based on model for Air Quality Index (AQI), H₂S emission was predominantly rated as safe and moderate, except for the two stations in the central dumpsite (LE and LF). These results confirmed the emission of H₂S from the dumpsite due to anthropogenic activities. We therefore recommend policies aimed at sequestration of H₂S, by the reduce, reuse and rec...

Using Prostatic Fluid Levels of Zinc to Bromine Concentration Ratio in Non-Invasive and Highly Accurate Screening for Prostate Cancer

Abstract:

Prostate specific antigen (PSA) does not provide the high reliability and precision that is required for an accurate screening for prostate cancer (PCa). The aim of our study was to search for a simple, rapid, direct, preferably non-invasive, and highly accurate biomarker and procedure for the screening for PCa. For this purpose the levels of bromine (Br) and zinc (Zn) were prospectively evaluated in expressed prostatic fluid (EPF). Also Zn/Br concentration ratio was calculated for EPF samples, obtained from 38 apparently healthy males and from 33, 51, and 24 patients with chronic prostatitis (CP), benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and PCa, respectively. Measurements were performed using an application of energy dispersive X-ray fluorescent (EDXRF) microanalysis developed by us. It was found that in the EPF of cancerous prostates the levels of Zn and Zn/Br were significantly lower in comparison with those in the EPF of normal, inflamed, and hyperplastic pro...

Relationship Between the Immunodetection of Alpha-Smooth Muscle Actin and the Aggressiveness of Mammary Papillar Tumors in Female Dog

Abstract:

Papillary carcinoma is a mammary neoplasia of women and female dogs characterized by papillary fibrovascular projections lined by epithelial cells. Evaluation on the biology of these tumors can be done by immunohistochemistry through detection of alpha-smooth muscle actin protein in the papillary myoepithelium, which lacks such a molecule during malignant proliferations. Thus, this study aimed at determining the malignancy degree of papillary mammary tumors of female dogs by immunohistochemistry. Twenty samples of mammary neoplastic tissues collected from female dogs treated in the Veterinary Hospital at FCAV were evaluated by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining (H&E) and tumor cells were immunolabelled with monoclonal antibody to alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Five out of 20 cases showed positive immunolabeling greater than 10% of the total immunolabeling. The remaining fourteen cases presented immunostaining lesser than 10% showing decrease or absence of α-...

Monitoring Mast Cell Populations in Waldenström’s Macroglobulinemia: A Xenotransplantation Study

Abstract:

Waldenström Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a B-cell lymphoproliferative disorder characterized mainly by uncontrolled accrual of M- immunoglobulin, secreted by malignant lymphoplasmatic cells. Mast cells interacting with malignant B-cells play an important role at the manifestation of the disease. Utilizing a previous xenotransplantation mouse model, this study evaluates long-term implant viability and quantifies distinct bone marrow mast cell populations along with their dynamics in non-WM and WM human bone implants.

Non-WM bone implants were obtained from the femoral head of adult humans undergoing hip arthroplasty or hemiarthroplasty, whereas WM human bone implants originated from bone biopsies obtained from the posterior iliac crest of patients with active WM. All bone particles were implanted intramuscularly in twenty-four NOD/SCID mice. Following 3, 4 or 8 months postoperatively, xenografts were removed and studied using special histological techn...

Trichoderma reesei (Hypocrea jecorina) Bgl1 is a Novel, Exo-Acting Glucanase and Xylanase

Abstract:

Trichoderma reeseiβ-glucosidase (Bgl1) is one of four enzymes demonstrated to act synergistically to degrade cellulose both in vitro and in vivo. Our work attempted to better understand the substrate specificity and potential biotechnological applications of Bgl1. T. reesei Bgl1H cleaves over 80% of the β-(1-4) and β-(1-3) linkages in β-glucan and 14% of the β-(1-4) linkages in amorphous cellulose, significantly more than any tested bacterial β-glucosidase. Bgl1H cleaves 50% of the β-(1-4) linkages in xyloglucan when supplemented with cellulase and α-xyloside. Approximately 20% conversion to glucose was obtained from insoluble β-(1,3)-linked curdlan using only Bgl1H; addition of a curdlanase resulted in conversion of approximately 70% of the curdlan to glucose. Bgl1H also produces xylose from xylooligosaccharides and...

Chondroplasty Efficacy of Bone Matrix

Abstract:

To study the chondroplasty efficacy of the bone matrix obtained using an original technology in restoring cartilage defect of the knee joint.

Nitrogen Leaching Loss Estimation from Paddy Soil in the Taihu Lake Region of China by a Newly Developed Simple Model

Abstract:

Nitrogen leaching as a direct pathway of N loss from agricultural land can negatively affect groundwater and surface water quality. However, a simple and efficient method for nitrogen leaching loss estimation is still inefficient. In this study, an exponential model was developed using the experimental data from a two-year field experiment conducted in the Taihu Lake region of China to simulate the N leaching from the paddy soil. The results showed the leached N was in the range of 5.66 to 8.45 kg N/ha during the whole rice season, which was accounted for 1.7%-2.1% of the applied N. A good agreement between the measured and model predicted results for N leaching loss was observed, suggesting the validity of the established model. The model was further validated with the data of other studies in other regions. The results demonstrated this model is able to simulate the N leaching loss accurately and can provide a beneficial tool for users to predict N leaching loss...

Amino Acids and their Derivatives in Pathogenesis and Treatment of Liver Diseases

Abstract:

A mini-review of literature data on the mechanisms of formation of the stock of free amino acids and their derivatives in liver pathology and methods for correcting metabolic imbalance