Utilization of Water Hyacinth and Banana Wastes Compost in Reclamation of Sandy Soils for Increasing Growth, Yield of Cowpea

Pot experiments were carried out in the greenhouse of the Faculty of Agriculture, Fayoum University, to study the effect of water hyacinth and banana wastes compost (0, 10, 15 and 20 ton/fed) combined with inorganic nitrogenous fertilizers namely ammonium sulphate, ammonium nitrate and urea (in the rate of 60 kg N/Fed and this rate was 50% of the recommended dose), on the growth, yield and nutrient content of cowpea plants. All pots received P and K as recommended. The addition of various rates of water hyacinth and banana wastes composts (H.B.C.) under study significantly increased all plant growth parameters under the study, i.e., plant height, plant fresh weight and dry weight of both shoots and roots, the number of root nodules as well as the nutrient content of the different plant organs compared with the control and the chemical fertilizer application of the recommended dose (100%). There was a marked increase in pod characters, yield and its components, i.e., number of pods per plant, length, diameter and weight of pods per plant. The highest values of growth characters of yield and its components and the contents of nutrient elements were noticed when applying compost at the higher rates (20 ton/fed.) followed by 15 and 10 ton/fed., in a descending order as compared with the control. The best combination of nitrogen forms and the compost is considered to be one of the primary factors for high yield production and quality as well as yield components of cowpea. The highest significant increase in growth characters, yield and yield components, as well as the total carbohydrates and crude protein content of the seeds, were obtained via the application of compost in combination with ammonium sulphate at the rate of 20 ton/fed

Fingolimod Alters Tissue Distribution and Cytokine Production of Human and Murine Innate Lymphoid Cells

Sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is expressed by lymphocytes and regulates their egress from secondary lymphoid organs. Innate lymphoid cell (ILC) family has been expanded with the discovery of group 1, 2 and 3 ILCs, namely ILC1, ILC2 and ILC3. ILC3 and ILC1 have remarkable similarity to CD4+ helper T cell lineage members Th17 and Th1, respectively, which are important in the pathology of multiple sclerosis (MS). Whether human ILC subsets express S1PR1 or respond to its ligands have not been studied. In this study, we used peripheral blood/cord blood and tonsil lymphocytes as a source of human ILCs. We show that human ILCs express S1PR1 mRNA and protein and migrate toward S1P receptor ligands. Comparison of peripheral blood ILC numbers between fingolimod-receiving and treatment-free MS patients revealed that, in vivo, ILCs respond to fingolimod, an S1PR1 agonist, resulting in ILC-penia in circulation. Similarly, murine ILCs responded to fingolimod by exiting blood and accumulating in the secondary lymph nodes. Importantly, ex vivo exposure of ILC3 and ILC1 to fingolimod or SEW2871, another S1PR1 antagonist, reduced production of ILC3- and ILC1- associated cytokines GM-CSF, IL-22, IL-17, and IFN-γ, respectively. Surprisingly, despite reduced number of lamina propria-resident ILC3s in the long-term fingolimod-treated mice, ILC3-associated IL-22, IL-17A, GM-CSF and antimicrobial peptides were high in the gut compared to controls, suggesting that its long term use may not compromise mucosal barrier function. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the impact of fingolimod on human ILC subsets in vivo and ex vivo, and provides insight into the impact of long term fingolimod use on ILC populations

The genus <em>Alvania</em> (Gastropoda: Rissoidae) along the Turkish Aegean coast with the description of a new species

This study deals with the distribution of the species of the genus Alvania along the Turkish Aegean coast. The investigated material was collected from different habitats (soft and hard bottoms, and macrophyte beds) at a depth range of 0-875 m, at 39 stations along the Aegean coast of Turkey between 1995 and 2014. Among the analysed benthic material, 537 living specimens and 249 empty shells belonging to 20 species of the genus Alvania were obtained. Alvania marmarisensis is described as a new species. Alvania hispidula was recorded for the first time from the Turkish Aegean coast. Alvania mamillata was found to be the most widely distributed species in the study area, while Alvania colossophilus was the rarest one. Alvania cimicoides and Alvania testae were found in the deepest samples (between 93 and 875 m). Certain taxonomic and ecological characteristics of the identified species, along with photographs, are also provided

A review on the Bloom Dynamics of a Harmful Dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum in the Golden Horn Estuary

The potentially harmful and bloom-forming dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum (Pavillard, 1916) Schiller, 1933 was followed monthly during four years in the Golden Horn Estuary (GHE). Simultaneously measured some environmental variables including salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, inorganic nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations were evaluated together with P minimum data. The density of this species increased mostly in late spring and summer during three years and caused two significant blooms in July 2000 and July 2001. Environmental conditions which triggered these bloom events were considered during whole study period. Blooms have mostly occurred in middle and upper estuary where water movements are insufficient (salinity 15.2-18.5 psu, temperature 19.0-24.2 degrees C). The cell density of P. minimum reached to 5.5 x 10(6) cells L-1 at the early stage of the first bloom, and after two weeks, it reached to highest level of 70.0 x 10(6) cells L-1. Cell density was calculated as 36.0 x 10(6) cells L-1 at the second bloom in July 2001. Dissolved oxygen value reached to super saturation (29.0 mg L-1) and chlorophyll a concentration was measured as 200 mu g L-1 in July 2000. Inorganic nutrient concentrations were lower than before bloom periods. The results appeared that P. minimum could well develop at the high temperature and moderate salinity under the calm weather in nutrient-rich estuarine environment

Zenker's Diverticulum: A Case Report

Zenker's diverticulum is a rare pulsion diverticulum, the juntion of esophageal -hypopharynx. All patients need to be treated with symptomatic and large diverticulum. In recent years, successful results have been reported with endoscopic treatment. However, myotomi and diverticulectomy seems to be the best method of treatment. In this study, a case of right-sided a Zenker diverticulum and treatment were examined with data from the literature. [Cukurova Med J 2013; 38(3.000): 475-478

Biossorção de íons de cobre (II) de solução aquosa em aglomerados de Pantoea isolados de água contendo alta quantidade de elemento boro Biossorção de Íons de Cobre (II) em P. agglomerans

Heavy metal pollution is an serious environmental problem because they have toxic effects on living organisms. In recent years, the use of microbial biosorbents to remove heavy metal pollution have studied. &nbsp;Many biological materials are used to remove copper ions. In this study, the biosorption capacity of lyophilized Pantoea agglomerans for Cu (II) ions were investigated under various conditions (initial pH, contact time, initial heavy metals ion concentration). The monocomponent biosorption data have been analyzed using isotherm (Freundlich and Langmuir) and kinetic models. The highest copper uptake capacity of the biomass was obtained at the initial copper concentration of 250 mgL-1 at pH 5.0 and contact time 90th minute. The equilibrium data correlated well with the Langmuir and Freundlich model. It was found that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted the experimentally obtained data. Liyofilized P. agglomerans biomass appears to be an inexpensive and efficient biosorbent for the removal of Cu (II) from aqueous solutions.A poluição por metais pesados ​​é um grave problema ambiental devido aos efeitos tóxicos dos metais pesados ​​sobre os organismos vivos. Estudos recentes têm focado no uso de biossorventes potenciais de base microbiana para remoção de metais pesados. Muitos materiais biológicos para a remoção de íons de cobre já foram empregados. Neste estudo, a capacidade de biossorção e capacidade de Pantoea aglomerans liofilizados para íons Cu (II) foram investigados sob várias condições. Sua capacidade de absorção de íons cobre foi determinada em função do pH inicial, tempo de contato, concentração inicial de íons íons Cu (II). Os dados de biossorção de monocomponentes foram analisados ​​usando os modelos isotérmicos de Freundlich e Langmuir. Foram estudados os modelos cinéticos de biossorção de íons de metais pesados ​​nos P. aglomerados liofilizados. O pH do cobre mais favorável para remoção foi determinado como 5,0. A maior capacidade de absorção de&nbsp; Cu(II) da biomassa foi obtida na concentração inicial de cobre de 250 mgL-1. Os dados de equilíbrio se correlacionaram bem com o modelo de Langmuir e Freundlich. Verificou-se que o modelo cinético de pseudo-segunda ordem se ajustava aos dados obtidos experimentalmente. A biomassa liofilizada de P. agglomerans é um biossorvente barato e os resultados indicaram que ele é eficiente… eficiente para a remoção de Cu(II) de soluções aquosas

Rehabilitation studies and recovery of a once lifeless estuary: the Golden Horn

Within this study fluctuations in biodiversity of the Golden Horn from past to present are evaluated. Limited studies and observations dating back to 60 years ago pointed out the importance of the Golden Horn as a fishery. Unfortunately, in accordance with increase in unplanned settlements and industry around the Golden Horn in the 1960s, pollution stress became a demanding factor for this unique environment, affecting biodiversity adversely. Preliminary studies in the 1990s indicated survival of only a couple of pollution-resistant species, at the relatively cleaner outer estuary. Following intensification of "Still ongoing" rehabilitation studies in 1998, a remarkable day-by-day recovery in marine life has began, in regard to improvements in water quality. Surveys conducted in 2002 using SCUBA, documented the level of diversification of life at the Golden Horn. Extended till Halic, Bridge, all appropriate substratums were intensely covered by macrobenthic forms and particularly filter feeders dominated the plankton-rich ecosystem. Detection of seahorses at the inner-middle parts of the estuary, in addition to numerous fish, invertebrate and macroalgae species, clearly depicted the level of recovery and change in the ecosystem. All results support the existence of a dynamic biological life at the Golden Horn, improving considerably with rehabilitation studies. Achieving the diversity of the 1940s is not possible, since the Black and Marmara seas, highly influencing water quality in the Golden Horn are also suffering from anthropogenic impacts and are far beyond their rich diversity in the 1940s. However, it is obvious that ecosystems should recover when mankind gave a chance to them. Recovery of the recently lifeless Golden Horn in such a short period of time is a very good example

Reconsidering Stanislavski and Barba in the Light of Neuroscience: a Comparative Study of Organic Acting

This study, in consideration of contemporary scientific studies, re-examines the acting methods of Konstantin Stanislavski and Eugenio Barba, two directors who are generally considered to represent contrasting perspectives in terms of performers' physical appearance on stage. The meeting point of these two theatre practitioners' techniques is based on impulse and they both aim to realize an organic process in acting. The findings in contemporary studies in neuroscience which present to a large extent how the human organism functions, help us to reconsider the constitutive elements in the acting process. This article analyses the technical processes of creating impulse in both Barba and Stanislavski's works with reference to several neuroscientific studies. Antonio Damasio's Feeling of What Happens helps explain how motor functions in human organisms work when the senses are stimulated. Bessel Van Der Kolk's The Body Keeps the Score highlights the function of scored sense impressions when an organism encounters stimuli that may re-activate them. Christian Keyser's The Emphatic Brain mentions connections between intention and action. Furthermore, works by Damasio, Van Der Kolk and Keysers help us reconsider the crucial function of images in both Stanislavski's and Barba's techniques. The main goal of this article is to re-examine Stanislavski and Barba's critical concepts in acting methods in the light of contemporary neuroscience and to highlight to what extent these impulse-based and organic techniques differ from each other in the training process and what remains common ground

Acetone soluble mutagenicity assessment tested by a salmonella/microsome system (AMES) in the strait of marmara (Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara)

Many researches have been conducted on various parameters related to the pollution in the Black Sea, the Sea of Marmara and the Strait of Istanbul. However, there is no report on the mutagenicity tested by evaluating the mutagenic effects of the total pollution, dissolving water samples in acetone, and using a salmonella/microsome test system

Bacteriological indicators of anthropogenic impact prior to and during the recovery of water quality in an extremely polluted estuary, Golden Horn, Turkey

Five years of monthly data of indicator bacteria from 1998 to 2002 were evaluated to find out the changes in water quality during the rehabilitation of the Golden Horn, an estuary severely polluted from industrial and domestic discharges since the 1950s. Surface fecal coliform was above 10(6) CFU/100 ml at the inner part in 1998. Following the achievement of healthy water circulation and control of most surface discharges, fecal coliform and fecal streptococci counts decreased below 10(3) CFU/100 ml in the summer of 2002. However, the decrease was interrupted by sudden shifts in rainy periods. Runoff, enhanced by domestic inputs during rainfall, has become the main factor influencing water quality in the estuary today. Increasing values of fecal coliform were observed during periods of low salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen and high ortho-phosphate, whilst decreasing values were detected during high salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen and low ortho-phosphate periods. Striking changes were observed within five years, promising that even an anoxic water body can turn into a recreational area with appropriate treatment. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved