Production of Choristoneura fumiferana Nucleopolyhedrovirus in C. fumiferana (CF-2C1 Cells) in a 3 Litre Bioreactor Using Serum-free Medium

The purpose of this study was to develop a cell culture process in a bioreactor for the production of a viral insecticide for the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana . Several cell lines were tested for their growth in serum-free medium suspension cultures. One cell line, CF-124T-2C1 (CF-2C1), was successfully adapted to grow in suspension cultures in SFM. Serum-free Ex-Cell 405 medium produced a much higher cell density (6.3 x 10 6 cells ml -1 ) than the Grace's medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (2.5 x 10 6 cells ml -1 ). Also, a higher yield of virus was obtained in the former medium. Ex-Cell 405, was used to study the growth of CF-2C1 cells and the production of C. fumiferana nucleopolyhedrovirus (CfMNPV) in a 3 l bioreactor. Under these conditions, a specific growth rate ( μ) of 0.027 h -1 was obtained during the exponential growth phase, and the specific carbon dioxide evolution rate, as determined by on-line measurement, was 0.9 x 10 -16 mol cell -1 s -1 and 1.78 x 10 -16 mol cell -1 s -1 during growth and infection phases, respectively. Virus production in bioreactor cultures infected at 1.3 x 10 6 cells ml -1 was consistently lower than that obtained in Erlenmeyer shake flasks. Only 26% of the cells were infected in the bioreactor compared to 44% in the shake flasks. However, a higher yield of occluded virus was obtained in the bioreactor cultures than in shake flasks. The production of occlusion bodies (OB) achieved in bioreactor cultures was 2 x 10 6 OB ml -1 .     

Use FMEA method for environmental risk assessment in ore complex on wildlife habitats

Human activities are the most effective cause of wildlife habitat destruction and loss of quality. Some of these activities are the construction, operation, and utilization of mines. The present study investigates factory activity in the GolGoharSirjanOre Complex (Kerman province) and environmental risk assessment of the activities done by this complex on wildlife habitat. In order to identify the significant aspects of the complex, the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) method is used. To determine the risk priority number, the significant aspects resulted from the multiplication of the criteria including probability of occurrence, the probability of detection, and severity of the effect. Based on the results of the current study, most of the activities of GolGoharSirjan Complex can have a significant adverse impact on the habitat of birds such as bustard Chlamydotisundulata (Vulnerable [VU]) and Podocespleskei, and mammals such as Striped Hyaena (Hyaenahyaena) (Near Threatened [NT]) and Capra aegagrus (Wild Goat) (VU). Some of the most important activities related to the activity include: Crusher (Risk Priority Number [RPN] = 720), the concentration of iron ore (RPN = 640), mining (RPN = 486), Stalker and Reclaiming (RPN = 504), and the transport of heavy machinery (RPN = 432). Significant aspects such as the emission of dust into the air; Nitrogen Oxide (NOX), Sulphur Oxide (SOX), and Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S) gas emissions to air; vibration; noise; and industrial waste discharges significantly influence the environment. The results of measurements of environmental pollutants that are carried out by reliable environmental laboratories have shown that the amount of pollutants mentioned are above the standard limit determined by the Iranian Department of Environment.     

Association between CASP3 polymorphisms and overall cancer risk: A meta-analysis of case-control studies

Several studies inspected the relationship between caspase-3 (CASP3) polymorphisms and the risk of several human cancers, but the findings remain controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis aiming to inspect the association between CASP3 rs1049216 T>C, rs12108497 C>T, rs4647603 G>A, rs4647602 C>A, rs6948 T>G, rs2705897 A>C, and rs113420705 G>A polymorphisms and cancer risk. Eligible studies were recognized by searching the Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to quantitatively evaluate the association between each polymorphism of CASP3 and cancer risk. The rs4647603 variant significantly increased the risk of cancer in an overdominant (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.03-2.01; P = 0.03; AG vs AA+GG) inheritance model. Regarding the rs4647602 variant, the findings revealed that this variant was associated with protection against cancer in homozygous codominant (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.56-0.80; P < 0.00001; AA vs CC), dominant (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.73-0.96; P = 0.009; AC+AA vs CC), recessive (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.61-0.79; P < 0.00001; AA vs AC+CC), and allele (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75-0.88; P = 0.00001; A vs C) models. The findings suggested that the rs2705897 variant significantly decreased the risk of cancer in heterozygous codominant (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67-0.94; P = 0.009; AC vs AA), dominant (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.69-0.95; P = 0.009; AC+CC vs AA), overdominant (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.68-0.95; P = 0.01; AC vs CC+AA), and allele (OR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.74-0.97; P = 0.02; C vs A) models. The results did not support an association between CASP3 rs1049216 and rs6948 polymorphisms and cancer risk. In summary, the findings of this meta-analysis support an association between CASP3 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Larger and well-designed studies are desired to evaluate these associations in detail.     

Association of caspase 8 promoter variants and haplotypes with the risk of breast cancer and its molecular profile in an Iranian population: A case-control study

Caspase 8 (CASP8) gene plays a key role in the regulation of apoptotic cell death. Expression variation in this gene has been associated with the risk of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of rs3834129 and rs3769821, as functional variants, and their haplotypes with molecular profile as well as the risk of breast cancer in an Iranian population. A case-control study was conducted on 812 participants including 293 breast cancer patients and 519 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction–based methods. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Ver16. The association between polymorphisms and haplotypes with the risk of breast cancer was estimated by calculating odds ratios (OR) and chi-square (χ²) tests. In comparison with ins allele (I) of rs3834129, carriers of del allele (D) showed a lower risk of breast cancer (OR, 0.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.49-0.87; P = 0.004). The multivariate logistic regression model indicated DD genotype as an independent factor for a decreased risk of breast cancer in our population (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.06-0.58; P = 0.004). Also, the C allele of rs3769821 was associated with a 43% increased risk of breast cancer (P = 0.005); however, after adjustment for confounding factors, no association with rs3769821 and breast cancer was observed. In addition, D-T haplotype and diplotype presented protective effects (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that genetic variations in the promoter region of CASP8 gene, especially rs3834129, may serve as a genetic risk factor for breast cancer in an Iranian population.     

Age,gender and slavery in and out of the Persian harem: a different story

Despite the ever-growing literature on slavery and that of oppression of women in the harem and the expanding material on memories and autobiographies, it is difficult to find room to valorize experiences of those women who do not use writing as a medium of communication. Recollected memories of life histories of women are still hard to contextualize within mainstream feminist epistemology. It is the contention of this article that academic universal categories, formulated by Anglophone Western theorists, do not help to explain the lived experiences of most women the world over. Drawing on subjective experiences of one woman and autobiographical memories of the author, this article will argue that well-known categories such as “black” and “slave girl” fail to explain the remembered life of one “black” “harem slave girl”, who felt empowered by her harem years.     

Global hypomethylation and promoter methylation in small intestinal neuroendocrine tumors: An in vivo and in vitro study

Aberrant DNA methylation is a feature of human cancer affecting gene expression and tumor phenotype. Here, we quantified promoter methylation of candidate genes and global methylation in 44 small intestinal-neuroendocrine tumors (SI-NETs) from 33 patients by pyrosequencing. Findings were compared with gene expression, patient outcome and known tumor copy number alterations. Promoter methylation was observed for WIF1, RASSF1A, CTNNB1, CXCL14, NKX2–3, P16, LAMA1, and CDH1. By contrast APC, CDH3, HIC1, P14, SMAD2, and SMAD4 only had low levels of methylation. WIF1 methylation was significantly increased (P = 0.001) and WIF1 expression was reduced in SI-NETs vs. normal references (P = 0.003). WIF1, NKX2–3, and CXCL14 expression was reduced in metastases vs. primary tumors (P < 0.02). Low expression of RASSF1A and P16 were associated with poor overall survival (P = 0.045 and P = 0.011, respectively). Global methylation determined by pyrosequencing of LINE1 repeats was reduced in tumors vs. normal references, and was associated with loss in chromosome 18. The tumors fell into three clusters with enrichment of WIF1 methylation and LINE1 hypomethylation in Cluster I and RASSF1A and CTNNB1 methylation and loss in 16q in Cluster II. In Cluster III, these alterations were low-abundant and NKX2-3 methylation was low. Similar analyses in the SI-NET cell lines HC45 and CNDT2 showed methylation for CDH1 and WIF1 and/or P16, CXCL14, NKX2-3, LAMA1, and CTNNB1. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine reduced DNA methylation and increased expression of these genes in vitro. In conclusion, promoter methylation of tumor suppressor genes is associated with suppressed gene expression and DNA copy number alterations in SI-NETs, and may be restored in vitro.     

Intra-session and inter-day reliability of forearm surface EMG during varying hand grip forces

Surface electromyography (EMG) is widely used to evaluate forearm muscle function and predict hand grip forces; however, there is a lack of literature on its intra-session and inter-day reliability. The aim of this study was to determine reliability of surface EMG of finger and wrist flexor muscles across varying grip forces. Surface EMG was measured from six forearm flexor muscles of 23 healthy adults. Eleven of these subjects undertook inter-day test–retest. Six repetitions of five randomized isometric grip forces between 0% and 80% of maximum force (MVC) were recorded and normalized to MVC. Intra- and inter-day reliability were calculated through the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and standard error of measurement (SEM).Normalized EMG produced excellent intra-session ICC of 0.90 when repeated measurements were averaged. Intra-session SEM was low at low grip forces, however, corresponding normalized SEM was high (23–45%) due to the small magnitude of EMG signals. This may limit the ability to evaluate finer forearm muscle function and hand grip forces in daily tasks. Combining EMG of functionally related muscles improved intra-session SEM, improving within-subject reliability without taking multiple measurements. Removing and replacing electrodes inter-day produced poor ICC (ICC < 0.50) but did not substantially affect SEM.     

Effects of flashing light–emitting diodes (LEDs) on membrane fouling in a reciprocal membrane photobioreactor (RMPBR) to assess nitrate and phosphate removal from whey wastewater

Journal of Applied Phycology - Light is one of the most critical factors for the growth of microalgae; therefore, optimization and accessibility of light improve productivity and wastewater...     

Sulphur nutrition and iron plaque formation on roots of rice seedlings and their consequences for immobilisation and uptake of chromium in solution culture

Plant and Soil - The contribution of sulphur (S)-induced responses to chromium (Cr) tolerance of rice plants is not yet fully elucidated. It is hypothesised that S nutrition mitigates the...