Biosciences

In order to understand the character of the brain functional network, we propose a new evolution model to simulate the mechanism of the brain network. With the reference of the memory mechanism, the network was set up by the compression path algorithm and displayed good effect of its characteristic on degree distribution, average path length and clustering coefficient, especially on community.

The initial step in an infectious disease is often adhered to and colonization of host tissue surfaces. Staphylococcus aureus, which is a major human and animal pathogenic organism, has been shown to bind to several host matrix proteins and plasma proteins, such as fibronectin, fibrinogen, collagen, elastin, laminin, prothrombin, thrombospondin, bone Sialoprotein and vitronectin . For each of these binding functions, a corresponding surface-associated protein has been identified. The existence of an S. aureus extracellular matrix binding protein with broad specificity that is capable of binding several extracellular glycoproteins has also been reported. The role of some of these proteins in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal infections has been shown in animal models. Most S. aureus strains bind to fibronectin and two highly homologous fibronectin binding proteins (FnBPs), and their corresponding genes (fnbA and fnbB) have been identified. Mutants defective in either of the two genes adhered equally well to fibronectin-coated surfaces in vitro, while a double mutant was completely unable to adhere, indicating that both genes are expressed and contribute to fibronectin binding. That’s why we have chosen fibronectin possible target for vaccine design against Staphylococcus aureus. This proposed target protein for vaccine contained four coils and three strands.

Since candida inhabits both diseased and normal healthy human population its carriage rate signifies while interpreting the microbiological results associated with candida. In this study oral swabs were collected from the type II diabetic and non-diabetic individuals and the collected specimens were subjected to direct microscopic examination and culture on sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). The microscopic and culture results had shown difference in these two different study subjects. Compared to non diabetic individuals the oral swab of type II diabetic individuals had shown increased carriage rate of candida. It revealed the facts of the candida colonization among type II diabetic individuals. From this study results it came to understand that the hyper glycemic condition of the type II diabetic patients could be the major reason for the colonization of candida. Candida is a yeast which can attack both immuno compromised and immuno competent humans. Further it needs health care professionals attention to take care of these population.

Azolla is very known biofertilizer for rice cultivation it can enrich soil N2 content and for the soil fertility. In view of this, an invitro study was carried out on morphometric studies on Anabaena azollae present in two species of Azolla fern (A.microphylla, and A. fulicolides). The selected Azolla species were grown in standard medium prepared with garden soil, cow dung, super phosphate and its combinations in separate containers. The matured Azolla cultures were observed for its growth profile viz. number of leaflets per plant and fresh & dry weight of whole plant on 15d and 21d. Followed by, the morphometric study on symbiotic cyanobacteria present in the leaf cavities of two species of Azolla was determined through observing average number of cyanobaterial filament in the leaf cavity of azolla, length of each cyanobacterial filament, number of vegetative cells and number & position of heterocyst in each cyanobacterial filament.

It is necessary to study the effect of different levels of utilization and Long-term exclusion grazing on the ecological structure in rangelands to better manage in the future. Therefore in this study, production, canopy cover, density, frequency and vitality of Artemisia sieberi, Stipa barbata and Eurotia ceratoides were considered (as important species in Irani Torani area) in grazing and grazing exclusion of Noudoshan rangelands in Yazd Province. Samples were 10 transfers and 40 1m2 quadrates randomly; and also 30 plants of each species were selected randomly and plant height, maximum and minimum diameter, canopy cover, vitality and weight of current year production by cut and weighted were measured. For determining distribution pattern, index of Dispersion (variance /mean ratio), Morisot’s index of Dispersion and Standardized were used. There is no significant difference between factors of production, diameter, height and canopy cover of Ar.si in grazing and exclosure grazing area but vitality was different significantly. St ba has significant difference between production, canopy cover, density and vitality (P<0.05) in the two grazing conditions, and canopy cover, density, production and vitality of Eu ce were increased in the grazing rangelands, but there was no significant difference (0.05< P). Grazing on Ar.si and Eu ce partly increased vitality and productivity; but St ba has high palatability in this rangeland, that is due to heavy grazing on it; therefore St ba’s power of life is reduced in the grazing area. Distribution pattern of Artemisia seiberi trends from random to uniform in long time grazing exclusion; but this trends from random to clump in the grazing. The distribution pattern of Eurotia ceratoides is clump based on the index of Dispersion and Morisita’s index and it is uniform based on Moristia’s Standardized Index and that doesn’t change in the exclosure grazing area. Distribution pattern of Stipa barbata is uniform. Artemisia Seiberi is increaser and Stipa barbata is decreaser. Importance value of Eurotia ceratoides has no significant difference between grazing and grazing exclosure areas; therefore this is resistant grazing and it can be used to improve steppe rangelands.

The study was conducted to determine the variations of age, hair type and body condition score with sperm morphology and cations concentration in 62 Yankasa rams. The results revealed that the average abnormal morphological characteristics of ram semen were; 0.68, 0.47, 0.68, 0.47 and 0.36, respectively for detached midpiece and tail (DMT), midpiece droplet (MPD), detached head (DH), coiled and bent tail (CBT) and acrosome (ACR). Age, hair type and body condition score had significant (P<0.01) effect on sperm morphology except the effect of age on ACR and effect of BCS on MPD and ACR (P>0.05). DMT and DH were more frequent in younger rams of between 12 and 24 months of age than rams of later ages. On the other hand, the problem of MPD was more frequent on rams of 25 to 36 months of age. The CBT was observed more in rams that were between 19-24 months of age. With respect to hair type, the long-smooth haired rams had the highest DMT and DH abnormalities (1.0 x 106), while the short-smooth haired rams had the highest MPD abnormalities (0.6 x 106) while long curly hair type had the highest CBT spermatozoa (0.7x106). However, the short-rough rams showed none of the sperm morphological abnormalities. Age, hair type and body condition score also had significant (P<0.01) effect on semen cation concentrations except the effect of BCS on Na and K ions. The result of this experiment showed that age, hair type and body condition score are important factors in selecting breeding rams for optimum performance.

This study was to compare the effect of maggot meal and coppens feed on the growth and survival rate of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings. The feeding trial lasted for 85 days with 135 specimens of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings of average initial weight of 1.33g, fed with 5% of their total body weight twice daily with maggot meal, coppens feed and a combination of maggot meal and coppens feed. The study was completely randomized and had three treatments and three replicates in the ratio (50:50). The result for growth showed mean final weight of 24.12g, 21.92g, 22.89g for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet respectively. Mean weight gains of 22.77g, 20.59g and 21.57g for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet, was not statistically significant at P<0.05. it also showed that there was an increase in length of fish from a mean initial length of 5.49cm, 5.32cm 5.37cm for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet to a final length of 17.5cm, 16.13cm and 16.21cm for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet, mean length gains of 12.01cm, 10.80cm and 10.84cm for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet respectively, was not statistically significant at P<0.05. The mean specific growth rate (SGR) was 3.39, 3.28 and 3.33 for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet respectively but not statistically significant at P<0.05. The feed intake was 46.57g, 43.91g and 44.96g for maggot meal, coppens feed and control diet respectively was not statistically significant at P<0.05. The feed conversion ratio 0.51, 0.52 and 0.52 for maggot meal, coppens feed and control respectively was not statistically significant at P<0.05. The result further showed that maggot meal performed better than coppens feed but not statistically different at P<0.05. This shows that maggot meal can replace coppens feed in the culture of the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fingerlings. Therefore, farmers are encouraged to grow maggots in large quantity so far it can be used to culture Clarias gariepinus.

The effect of maturity stages (premature, mature and over mature) on performance of four cultivars of Hibiscus sabdariffa (Roselle)- (namely : Rahad, Fashir, Kass and Abaid)- were studied by evaluating some of its chemical constituents, organic acids (citric, ascorbic and tartaric), anthocyanin's as (malvidin and pelargonidin), pH and essential amino acids under the semi – arid conditions of Sudan. HPLC and amino acid analyzer were used in this study. It was found that, there was a significant effect of maturity stages on pH, organic acids, essential amino acids and anthocyanin's. Mature stage of four Roselle cultivars gave significantly higher pH. Total percentages of identified organic acids (citric, ascorbic and tartaric acids) were the highest in all cultivars at mature stage, Fashir and Abiad cultivars gave significantly higher organic acid than other one. pre mature stage gave significantly higher amount of the essential amino acids, on the other hand Abiad and Kass cultivarss gave the highest amount of the essential amino acids among all cultivars. Mature and over mature stages in all cultivars gave higher percentage of anthocyanin's as ( malvidin and pelargonidin), within cultivars Rahad cultivar has the highest value of anthocyanin, and Abiad cultivar has lowest amount of these pigments.

Clay (soil) is a “biologic sink”. It contains nutrients, toxic elements, organic matter and microbes among other things. The clay can pose a health threat. It was postulated by Ellis and Schnoes in 2002 that people who eat clay risk psychological abnormalities and health consequences such as lead poisoning and bacterial or parasitic or worm infection. Most spore forming bacteria, such as bacillus and clostridium, like to live in soils [1]. A person can start feeling some abdominal pains when the soil or food contains about 105 colonies of bacillus or clostridium per gram of soil or food in the body [2]. Clostridium in the female genital tract may induce abortion and result in uterine gas gangrene [2].

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is an annual leguminous crop, which is native to the Indian subcontinent and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Historically fenugreek leaves and seeds were used for many therapeutic purposes. Fenugreek has been used for treatment of mouth ulcers and chapped lips, cure of baldness, in alleviation of abdominal and abscesses pain, in alleviation of cardiovascular and hepatic disorders, treating arthritis, dropsy, heart disease, spleen and liver enlargement, kidney ailments. Various parts of fenugreek are used in different food products due to its diverse and rich constituents. Recent studies on animal models showed that fenugreek has a toxicity on acute large doses and on chronic low doses, despite this; fenugreek still stated as safe by food and drug administration (FDA).