Influence of Ephestia kuehniella stage larvae on the potency of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Aa delta-endotoxin.

The economically important crop pest Ephestia kuehniella was tested at two stages of larval development for susceptibility to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Aa toxin. Bioassays showed that toxicity decreased during the development of larvae stage. In fact, Cry1Aa toxins from BNS3-Cry (pHT-cry1Aa) showed low toxicity against the first-instar larvae (L1) with a LC value of about 421.

Classical analysis of time behavior of radiation fields associated with biophoton signals.

Background: Propagation of photon signals in biological systems, such as neurons, accompanies the production of biophotons. The role of biophotons in a cell deserves special attention because it can be applied to diverse optical systems.

Objective: This work has been aimed to investigate the time behavior of biophoton signals emitted from living systems in detail, by introducing a Hamiltonian that describes the process.

Crystal structure of 4-bromo-2-(1H-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridin-2-yl)phenol.

In the title compound, C12H8BrN3O, the 4-bromo-phenol ring is coplanar with the planar imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine moiety (r.m.s deviation = 0.

Effect of lipid extracts of Nigella sativa L. seeds on the liver ATP reduction and alpha-glucosidase inhibition.

Various extracts from the seeds of Nigella sativa have been used in traditional folk medicine to treat inflammation, liver disorders and arthritis. These seeds have been experimentally shown to possess antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties. Beside the hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects, this study was carried out to evaluate, in vitro, toxicological effect of lipid extracts from the Nigella sativa seeds.

Immunomodulatory effects of Santolina chamaecyparissus leaf extracts on human neutrophil functions.

Context: Santolina chamaecyparissus L. (Asteraceae) is an aromatic plant wide spread in the Mediterranean region. It is used in folk medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Crystal structure of 1,1'-{(pentane-1,5-di-yl)bis[(aza-niumylyl-idene)methanylyl-idene]}bis(naphthalen-2-olate).

The whole mol-ecule of the title compound, C27H26N2O2, is generated by twofold rotational symmetry, with the central C atom of the pentyl chain located on the twofold rotation axis. The compound crystallizes as a bis-zwitterion, and there are two intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds generating S(6) ring motifs. In the crystal, mol-ecules are linked by pairs of C-H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming ribbons propagating along [001], and enclosing R 2 (2)(22) ring motifs.

Crystal structure of 1,1'-{(dodecane-1,12-di-yl)bis-[(aza-niumylyl-idene)methanylyl-idene]}bis-(naphthalen-2-olate).

The title compound, C34H40N2O2, exists in an extended conformation and has crystallographically imposed centrosymmetry. The crystal packing can be described as being composed of parallel layers stacked along [010]. The zwitterionic structure is stabilized by an intra-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter-action.

Comparative study of multimodal biometric recognition by fusion of iris and fingerprint.

This research investigates the comparative performance from three different approaches for multimodal recognition of combined iris and fingerprints: classical sum rule, weighted sum rule, and fuzzy logic method. The scores from the different biometric traits of iris and fingerprint are fused at the matching score and the decision levels. The scores combination approach is used after normalization of both scores using the min-max rule.

Effect of Azotobacter vinelandii and compatible solutes on germination wheat seeds and root concentrations of sodium and potassium under salt stress.

The effect of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) and exogenous application of compatible solutes on seed germination and root concentrations of sodium and potassium of two wheat varieties (Triticum durum L.) were evaluated under saline stress. In this experiment, Azotobacter vinelandii strain DSM85, glycine betaine and proline were used.

Isolation and characterization of plant growth promoting traits of a rhizobacteria: Pantoea agglomerans lma2.

The use of microbial technology in agriculture is expanding quickly with the identification of new bacterial strains which are more effective in promoting the growth of plants. The rhizobacteria that promote the growth of plants can have a positive effect on the productivity of crops especially when subjected to salt stress. A nitrogen-fixing bacterium was isolated from the wheat rhizosphere of an arid region.

Anti-inflammatory, free radical-scavenging, and metal-chelating activities of Malva parviflora.

Context: Malva parviflora L. (Malvaceae) is widely distributed throughout Africa. It has several uses in traditional medicinal practice.

Effect of Cleome arabica leaf extract treated by naringinase on human neutrophil chemotaxis.

The leaves of Cleome arabica L. (Capparaceae), which contain a number of glucosylated and rhamnosylated flavonols, possess anti-inflammatory activity and are used for the treatment of abdominal and rheumatic pains. In this study, we examine the effects of C.

Anti-xanthine oxidase antibodies in sera and synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and other joint inflammations.

Objective: To study anti-bovine milk xanthine oxidoreductase XOR antibody levels in synovial fluid as well as in serum of patients suffering from rheumatoid affections to assess a possible correlation between antibody titres and severity of disease.

Methods: Sera and synovial fluids were collected from volunteer donors at Setif University Hospital, Setif, Algeria from 2001--2007 with the consent of patients. Human IgG and IgM levels of free and bound anti-bovine milk XOR antibodies were determined using bovine XOR as antigen, with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay ELISA.

Differential effects of flavonols on inactivation of alpha1-antitrypsin induced by hypohalous acids and the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-halide system.

Alpha1-antitrypsin is well known for its ability to inhibit human neutrophil elastase. Pretreatment of alpha1-antitrypsin with hypohalous acids HOCl and HOBr as well as with the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-chloride (or bromide) system inactivated this proteinase. The flavonols rutin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol inhibited the inactivation of alpha1-antitrypsin by HOCl and HOBr with rutin having the most pronounced effect.

Effect of Cleome arabica leaf extract, rutin and quercetin on soybean lipoxygenase activity and on generation of inflammatory eicosanoids by human neutrophils.

The effects of Cleome arabica leaf extract, rutin and quercetin on soybean lipoxygenase (Lox) activity and on calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated generation of the leukotriene B4 and prostaglandin E2 by human neutrophils were examined. The extract (25 microg/ml), rutin (25 microM) and quercetin (25 microM) inhibited LTB4 synthesis at all concentrations of A23187 used. The extract at 1-100 microg/ml and rutin at 1-100 microM inhibited LTB4 generation by neutrophils stimulated with 1 microM A23187 by about 50%.

Scavenger effect of flavonols on HOCl-induced luminol chemiluminescence.

Hypochlorous acid (HOCl), the main product of the myeloperoxidase system, is a strong oxidant and a potent chlorinating agent, which can damage host tissues. In the present work, the scavenger effect of three aglycone flavonols (myricetin, quercetin and kaempferol) and of the natural glycoside flavonol, rutin, was studied towards HOCl using luminol-dependent chemiluminescence (CL). At 1 micro mol/L fi nal concentration, rutin was the most powerful scavenger of HOCl with an inhibitory luminol oxidation of 91.

Anti-inflammatory effect of rutin on rat paw oedema, and on neutrophils chemotaxis and degranulation.

Background: Rutin, a natural flavone derivative, is known for its pharmacological properties. We have previously reported that this flavonol exerted a potent inhibitory effect on respiratory burst of fMet-Leu-Phe-stimulated neutrophils, as well as on phosphoinositide 3-kinase gamma activity in a cell free system. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effect of rutin was investigated in vivo and in vitro.