Asian Journal of Research in Biosciences
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Forensic Toxicology; a Probe into the Future
Get PDFForensic toxicology is a field of science that deals with the detection, identification and isolation of drugs, chemicals and other xenobiotics in the biological specimens as well as interpreting the results for medical and other legal investigations. This field encompasses toxicologists and other experts in disciplines such as biochemistry, pharmacology, analytical and clinical chemistry and biology for the purpose of investigating death, drug abuse and poisoning medically and legally. Forensic toxicology has found application majorly in postmortem investigations, human performance, doping control and work place drug testing. Forensic analyses can be broadly divided into two categories: presumptive tests which do not specifically identify the compound present in the sample, but only indicate the type of substance present through signs such as colour change and; confirmatory tests that specifically identifies the substance. Confirmatory tests include chromatography techniques as well as combination of chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. This article reviews the various biological specimens and analytical techniques used for qualitative and quantitative detection and identification of drugs of abuse, poisons and other xenobiotics and also recommends improvement in the present state of art and evolution of new innovations that can foster global use of forensic toxicology in the nearest future
Remote Sensing in Studying Vegetation Cover, Sudan
Get PDFThis paper aimed at to view some of the studies about the application of remote sensing in Sudan with a focus on vegetation cover in different areas by many of scholars; the integration of remote sensing in the gum Arabic belt; southern Gadarif region; ahable and wad grabou area, white Nile state; east of the Nile Khartoum State, and in the centre during a half-century.
Recommendations stated from these studies are; the use of assessment indicators including NDVI, SAVI and PCA –manipulated in color composite and/or unsupervised classification can be used as an appropriate mean for rangeland monitoring and assessment was recommended from the study of North Kordofan state
Review of Gum Arabic Production Stability and Fluctuation, Sudan
Get PDFThe current paper reviewed the history of gum production in Sudan. Gum Arabic is an Acacia senegal exudate as defined by the FAO/WHO Joint Expert Committee for Food Additives. Sudan is the world's largest producer and exporter, contributing 80 to 90% of the world’s supply of this commodity. During the past 30 years production in Sudan shows alarming signs of overall decrease and also a substantial year-to-year variation in addition during the 1990’s world exports have started to pick momentum again, however, exports from Sudan almost remained the same, due to stagnating production in Sudan as well as the growing competition of other exporters
Infestation of the Longhorned Beetles Species (Cerambycidae) on Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth in the Gum Arabic Belt of Sudan
Get PDFThe Acacia mellifera (Vahl) Benth, (family Mimosaceae); namely kitr in Arabic, is a multipurpose tree in Sudan. The economic damage is often difficult to judge due to no enough research attention, moreover, the ecological knowledge is still scarce. Due to lack of forest entomology information of some Acacia species in Sudan, including the mellifera, the current objectives of this study are to characterize the infestation of Acacia mellifera by the insect's pest under study severely infesting other Acacia. Thus, a field study that was conducted in May-July 2007 in Kordofan region (Sudan) to assess infestation characteristics depending on the methods of sampling insects from trees and the insect damage and sign categories described by some investigators and tree measurements triggering infestation (e.g. crown size, and diameter, tree age, and height, and diameter at breast height). The results indicate the presence of holes of infestation in all directions of the tree trunk, with the exception of the north direction. Infestation rates ranged from zero to 26.68% on the study sites (n =2). It could be recommended that longhorned beetles need more ecological research
Multiple Insecticide Resistance and possible Mechanisms in the Green Peach Aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Greenhouse Culture
Get PDFThe peach-potato aphid Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is a series pest in Egypt plantations and control require some information to be effective. Toxicity and biochemical tests were completed on greenhouse, susceptible and resistant strains reared in laboratory. Results confirmed that the toxicity arrangement of insecticide was carbosulfan was the most effective, then imidacloprid, α-cypermethrin and profenophos was the least effective on the susceptible, greenhouse and in resistant strains. Resistance ratio values refer to slight resistance developed through short time of selection, RR for resistant strains ranged between 1.3 to 2.4 times for carbosulfan and α-cypermethrin respectively and does not exceed. The biochemical measurements of enzyme activities exhibited small decreases or increases in treated aphid body homogenate than untreated. Non-Linear regression analyses revealed strong relationship between enzyme activities and pesticide LC50s. There were negative correlations between most of enzyme activities and insecticide resistance. Determination of resistance mechanisms in M. persicae resistance according to the biochemical evaluation revealed higher acetylcholinesterase metabolism or esterase elevations found in the resistant strains. The LC50 values exceeding the registered field dose. Synergism experiments suggested that P450 monooxygenases and detoxification enzymes were involved in resistance to these insecticides. Therefore, the strong resistance phenotypes, with accumulation of multiple resistance mutations, over expression of P450s and other detoxification genes in the same field population presumably exist
Counteracting the Phytic Acid through Phytase Supplementation in Broiler Production: A Review
Get PDFPhosphorous is present as phytate (phytic acid) form in plant which is essential for germination of seed. Phytic acid interferes with the bioavailability of most of the nutrients required for broiler production mainly macro minerals. It chelates minerals (Ca, P, Zn, Mg, Mn, Cu) and complexes with fatty acid and reduce their availability for digestion. It deactivates energy and protein digesting enzymes and decreases digestibility of crude protein and fat. phytic acid-minerals complexed (phytate) reducing the availability minerals as well as that of the PP to the monogastric. Phytic Acid-Ca- Complex Resulted in to Phytate-Ca-Fatty Acid Complex A Metalic Soap Formation Which Ultimately reducing the fat digestibility. Monogastrics are lacking of gut phytase enzymes hence they are more prone to suffer due to phytate in the diets. Hence, Supplementation of phytase in broiler diets the degrade the various phytate complexes with nutrients and improved its bioavailability. Further, effort should be made to hunt newer sources of enzymes with improvement of its efficacy should be worked out
Effects of Wrapping Materials on the Microbial Population and Proximate Composition of Steamed Bambara Bean Pudding (OKPA)
Get PDFSteamed Bambara bean pudding (Okpa) is a processed food from bambara nut (voandzeia subterranean). The influence of wrapping materials on the microbial population and physicochemical composition of Okpa was determined using Standard Microbiological procedures. Total bacterial counts ranged from Log10 cfu/g 4.52 to 6.43, total coliform count ranged from 2.07 to 3.33 and the total fungal count ranged between 2.24 - 4.43. Samples in leaves had highest bacterial, fungal and coliform count. Organism isolated include Bacillus (28.57%), Klebsiella (14.28%), Staphylococcus spp (9.52%), E. coli (19.04%) and Enterobacter (19.04%) were identified. On all samples, Bacillus was the most prevalent while Staphylococcus spp was the least prevalent. Percentage occurrence of Fungi include Mucor spp (66.6%) and Aspergillus spp (33.3%). The proximate analysis of the samples carried out showed that ash, moisture and lipid content was high in leaf wrapped okpa while protein and carbohydrates was high in polyethylene bag wrapped Okpa. The results from this study indicate that packaging materials have significant effects on the proximate composition and microbial quality of RTE Okpa
Inoculation of Medicinal Plant Resident Staphylococcus hominis subsp. novobiosepticus Strain KE6 for Improved Plant Growth and Antagonism to Pithomyces atro-olivaceous in Groundnuts
Get PDFEndophytic bacterial consortia assist plant growth by various secretions in a mutualistic relationship. Studies deciphering such relationships may be meaningful as they explore novel alternatives for agricultural chemical inputs which would otherwise pollute the nature. Hence, an attempt was made to examine the plant-growth-promoting (PGP) potentials of leaf bacterial endophytes from selected medicinal herbs and also their potential to impede the growth of leaf spot disease pathogen Pithomyces atro-olivaceous isolated from Arachis hypogaea L. A total of 10 distinct bacterial morphotypes were isolated from medicinal herbs such as Catharanthus roseus, Phyllanthus amarus, and Ocimum tenuiflorum. All the endophytes were screened for plant-growth-promoting traits and observed to secrete Ammonia (NH3) (at 90%), Lipases (at 90%), Proteases (at 60%), Siderophores (at 40%), Amylases (at 20%), Chitinases (at 40%), Hydrogen Cyanide (HCN) (at 70%), Indole 3-Acetic Acid (IAA) (at 70%), Cellulases (at 40%), and Phosphate solubilisation (at 10%), followed by antifungal activity against Pithomyces atro-olivaceous (at 10%). We observed Rothia spp., Staphylococcus spp., Lactobacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Propionibacterium spp., and Actinobaculum sp. as leaf endophytes based on biochemistry and the potent isolate was identified as Staphylococcus hominis subsp. novobiosepticus strain KE6 based on 16S gene sequence homology. A marked increase in the total amount of chlorophyll, sugars and protein content, biomass yield and vegetative growth parameters were observed upon 30 days’ post inoculation through induced cuts in mature groundnut leaves and the outcomes were statistically analyzed and represented graphically. In addition, suppression of leaf spot disease symptoms was observed from second day post spraying the endophytic bacterial preparations in the form of foliar sprays. To the best of our literature survey, this study stands as the first report on the interplay of endophytic bacterium, Staphylococcus hominis subsp. novobiosepticus as a potent plant growth promoter and an antagonist to control fungal leaf spot disease in groundnuts caused by a unique strain of Pithomyces atro-olivaceous and has opted medicinal plants as its desirable ecological niche
A Numerical Review: Computational Approach of Heat and Mass Transfer Casson Nanofluid Flow through a Vertical Isothermal Cylinder
Get PDFThe present review matters the attributes of Casson Nanotludd flow demeanor with the outcomes of chemical retort, radiation, magnetohydrodynamics and Soret of wamness and gathering transfer. The flow is circulated via a perpendicular cylinder where the periphery coating approximation is executed to appoint the flow model. To get numerical measures of the flow model, the governing PDEs are transformed into nonlinear ODEs with the help of mathematical transformations. Then the dimensionless equations have been solved numerically by applying the EFDM where the CVF has been used. Then the obtained numerical values of the different parameter are taken after the stability and convergence analysis (SCA). Further, the given results are capitalized graphically for the various non-dimensionl parameters on velocity, temperature and concentration profiles along with the streamlines and isotherms with different time intervals. Furthermore, It is observed that by using initial boundary conditions and for and , exhibited the convergence criteria as and
Management of Tomato Fusarium Wilt and Septoria Leaf Spot through the Use of Plant Extracts and Tomato Cultivars, in Owerri, South East, Nigeria
Get PDFThe present study was carried out to ascertain how tomato fusarium wilt and Septoria leaf spot could be managed through the application of some plant extracts and tomato cultivars. The effect of selected plant extracts, and how some tomato cultivars could impact on tomato fusarium wilt and Septoria leaf spot diseases were observed. The study was conducted in the year, 2015, at the Experimental Farms of the Department of Crop Science and Technology, School of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The soil of the area is characterized by deep, porous, red soil, highly weathered and low in mineral reserves [1]. The study was designed as a 3 x4 factorial in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), replicated three (3) times as field and laboratory experiments. Data on disease incidence and severity were measured and statistically analyzed using Genstat version 2011 analytical software, while the means were separated for difference using Fisher’s least Significant Difference protocol. Percentage wilt disease incidence was not significantly (P>0.05.) influenced by cultivars and extracts in all the weeks of transplanting. Tomato leaf spot disease incidence was significantly (P<0.05) influenced by tomato cultivars in weeks 4 and 8. Interactions between cultivars and plant extracts significantly (P<0.05) affected wilt disease incidence in week 4. Recommendation can be given to Tropimech cultivars treated with basil plant parts extract and Rio Grande treated with ginger rhizome extract as wilt disease incidence and severity were drastically reduced to 8.10 % and 1.67 respectively. In the case of tomato leaf spot incidence, Roma VF, when treated with Basil plant extract and ginger rhizome extract can be recommended for the management of tomato Septoria leaf spot disease as incidence was lowest(0.00%) respectively. Furthermore, Tropimech tomato cultivar and Rio Grande should not be grown without plant extracts if management of tomato Septoria leaf spot is the target, as the incidence of the disease was the highest (10.89% and 8.17%) in the control plots, in weeks 4 and 8, respectively