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Alteration of redox status is one of the molecular pathways commonly associated with pesticide toxicity. Antioxidants, including those obtained from plant phenolics, have been shown to mitigate pesticide-induced cellular injury. The present study was aimed at evaluating the effect of daflon-500(®), a flavonoid compound on sub-chronic chlorpyriphos-evoked changes in antioxidant and biochemical parameters in the hypophysis and testes of adult male rats. Twenty-five male albino rats were randomly divided into 5 groups of 5 animals each. Group I (DW) received distilled water (2 ml/kg); group II (SO) was dosed with soya oil (2 ml/kg); Group III (DAF) received daflon-500(®) at 1000 mg/kg ~ 1/5th of LD50 (≥ 5000 mg/kg); group IV (CP) was administered chlorpyriphos at 7.74 mg/kg ~ 1/10th of LD(50) (77.4 mg/kg) while group V (DAF + CP) was previously treated with daflon-500(®) (1000 mg/kg) and then exposed to CP (7.74 mg/kg), 30 min later. Daily oral regimen administration was done for 60 days after which the animals were sacrificed by cervical venesection after light chloroform anesthesia. The hypophysis and testicular tissues were harvested, and their homogenates were analyzed for malondialdehyde, catalase and superoxide dismutase, and acetylcholinesterase levels. A significant increase in the hypophysis and testicular MDA concentrations, coupled with a decrease in the SOD, CAT, and AChE activities were observed in the CP group. The levels of these oxidative and biochemical parameters were alleviated in the group pretreated with Daflon-500(®). Results of this study demonstrated that pre-treatment with Daflon-500(®) mitigated CP-induced alterations in oxidative and biochemical parameters apparently due to the antioxidant effect of the flavonoid compound.

Helminthosis is one of the greatest causes of parasitic disease and loss in animal productivity. As such, the control of helminth parasites is of critical importance. This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of Dennettia tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae) fruits against Haemonchus contortus. Using in vitro techniques, the anthelmintic activity of extracts and fractions of D. tripetala G. Baker (Annonaceae) was evaluated for ovicidal (Egg hatch inhibition test) and larvicidal (larval mortality test) activity. Besides, the maximum tolerated dose was determined in adult albino rats administered, 300, 400, and 500 mg/kg body weight of the CME fraction, and observed over a period of 48 h for signs of toxicity and mortality. Phytochemical screening uncovered the occurrence of flavonoids, steroids/triterpenes, cardiac glycosides, saponins, tannins, carbohydrates, and alkaloids in the crude methanol extract (CME), the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), and butanol fraction. The maximum tolerated dose of the CME of D. tripetala did not produce observable signs of toxicity or death in all the rats given up to 500 mg/kg. The CME and EAF of D. tripetala fruits produced a significant ( $$p < 0.05$$ ) reduction in the hatchability of H. contortus eggs in a concentration-dependent manner, while the CME at concentrations between 12.5 and 100 mg/ml completely inhibited the hatching of H. contortus eggs. Similarly, EAF at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/ml completely inhibited the hatching of H. contortus eggs. The CME and EAF of D. tripetala fruits produced significant ( $$p < 0.05$$ ) larvicidal activity against L3 of H. contortus in a concentration-dependent manner while the CME at concentrations between 6.25 and 100 mg/ml caused larval mortality of H. contortus L3 larvae completely. This study suggests that methanol extract and fractions of D. tripetala fruits possess beneficial anthelmintic (ovicidal and larvicidal) activity against H. contortus, and may be a suitable alternative anthelmintic candidate for the control of nematodes.

Laboratory studies were conducted in order to assess the ability of Euphorbia balsamifera Aiton, Lawsonia inermis L., Mitracarpus hirtus (L.) DC and Senna obtusifolia (L.) Irwin and Bemeby in the protection of stored sorghum grains against damages caused by Sitophilus zeamais Motsch. Ten adult S. zeamais were introduced in 20 g of freshly harvested sorghum grains treated with 2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 × 104 ppm of powders and ethanolic extracts of the botanicals separately. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated four times. The weevils were removed after 14 days leaving the grains only. All emerged adults were sieved and grain damage was assessed 84 days after treatment (DAT) while seed viability was determined after 6 months post treatment. Highest (10.00 ± 2.04 %) grain perforations (GP) was recorded in 2.5 × 104 ppm S. obtusifolia powder while 2.50 ± 1.44 % was the least GP recorded in 10.0 × 104 ppm E. balsamifera ethanolic extracts. Weight loss (WL) caused by the weevils due to their internal feeding as well as exit holes among the botanical treatments was high (4.16 ± 1.10 %) in 2.5 × 104 ppm S. obtusifolia powder, while it was low (0.89 ± 0.52 %) in 10.0 × 104 ppm E. balsamifera ethanolic extracts. Germination of treated sorghum varied between 77.50 ± 4.79 and 92.50 ± 2.50 %. The selected botanicals have shown considerable protectant ability to sorghum grains against S. zeamais infestations and could therefore be used while storing sorghum grains for seeds

Carbamazepine is an effective chemotherapeutic agent used to manage individual with epilepsy and trigeminal neuralgia. Chronic use of carbamazepine has been incriminated to cause reproductive disorders. The present study investigates the protective property of Moringa oleifera leaves methanolic extract on chronic carbamazepine-evoked reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. Forty male Wistar rats (150–260 g) were randomly separated into four groups with 10 rats, given distilled water (2 ml/kg), M. oleifera (200 mg/kg), carbamazepine (20 mg/kg) and M. oleifera accompanied with carbamazepine, after 30 min. The treatments were administered once in a day for 15 weeks via gavage. The pituitary and testis were evaluated for parameters measuring oxidative challenge, sperm characteristics and histological changes. Sex hormone concentrations were also evaluated from sera samples. The result of the phytochemical analysis shows that M. oleifera leaves extract contain total phenolics (7.8%) and flavonoids (22.23%), which are considered higher in the plant. The results also revealed that exposure to M. oleifera leaves mitigates the disruption in oxidative stress parameters, sex hormone concentration, sperm characteristics and histological changes. This study revealed that chronic carbamazepine administration evokes oxidative stress, partly involved in the alterations of concentration of sex hormones, sperm characteristics and histoarchitecture of pituitary gland and testes. Treatment with leaf extract of M. oleifera protects against the adverse reproductive consequences of long-term exposure to CBZ, due to its antioxidant property.

OBJECTIVES: To present a new method to assess the cervical lymph nodes status in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: Twenty-five oral and maxillofacial cancer patients underwent preoperative CT imaging. The cervical lymph node features on CT scan were examined. Each parameter was given a score, and the total scores in each case was calculated and referred to as metastatic score (MS). Then, patients underwent neck dissection, and all dissected lymph nodes were sent for histopathology. RESULTS: All cases with MS ≥ 6 were histopathologically positive, and all cases with MS ≤ 3 were histopathologically negative. All cases of nodal sizes > 3 cm were histopathologically positive, 82% of cases of nodal sizes between 2.1 and 3 cm were histopathologically positive, 40% of cases of nodal sizes between 1 and 2 cm were histopathologically positive, and all cases of lymph nodes sizes

Introduction Sigmoid volvulus in pregnancy is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction with high maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality if not diagnosed and managed early. Case presentation A 29-year-old female (Chagga by tribe) presented with clinical features of intestinal obstruction 24 weeks into her second pregnancy. She had symptoms for one week. An emergency laparotomy was performed whereby gangrenous sigmoid volvulus was found; thus, it was resected and Hartmann’s colostomy was raised. Unfortunately, she experienced intrauterine fetal death post-operatively. She was discharged clinically stable. Conclusion Early diagnosis and management can prevent adverse effects such as bowel ischemia and preterm labor. Because classic clinical and radiological features may not be evident, high degree of suspicion is warranted.

Background: Mutations in GNAQ/11 genes are considered an early event in the development of uveal melanoma that may derive from a pre-existing nevus. The Hippo pathway, by way of YAP activation, rather than MAP kinase, has a role in the oncogenic capacity of GNAQ/11 mutations. Methods: We investigated 16 nevi from 13 human eyes for driver GNAQ/11 mutations using droplet digital PCR and determined whether nevi are clonal by quantifying mutant nevus cell fractions. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 15 nevi to analyse YAP activation. Results: For 15 out of 16 nevi, a GNAQ/11 mutation was detected in the nevus cells albeit at a low frequency with a median of 13%. Nuclear YAP, a transcriptional co-activator in the Hippo tumour-suppressor pathway, was detected in 14/15 nevi. Conclusions: Our analysis suggests that a mutation in GNAQ/11 occurs in a subset of choroidal nevus cells. We hypothesise that GNAQ/11 mutant-driven extracellular mitogenic signalling involving YAP activation leads to accumulation of wild-type nevus cells.

The Laboratoire National des Champs Magnetiques Intenses (LNCMI) develops different types of coils suited to specific experiments. We present some recent developments on magnet design. Several coils are dedicated to experiments in large scale facilities in France and Switzerland. A 30 T split-pair coil for X-rays diffraction and one 40 T coil for plasma physics at the LULI, two 30 T coils with axial access (one with an conical bore) for X-ray diffraction and absorption experiments. A 40 T wide angle conical access solenoid with a high duty-cycle for neutron scattering at the ILL is being constructed. For use at the installation in Toulouse we have developed, apart from our standard 60 and 70 T coils, several special coils: a coil with a long optical path with 30 T transverse magnetic field and a 90 T long pulse dual coil system.

The problem of determining the bounds and/or estimating the effective thermal conductivity (λeff) of a composite (multiphase) system given the volume fractions and the conductivities of the components has been investigated. A comparison between the measured data and the results predicted by theoretical models has been made for seven heterogeneous samples. The tested models include those of the effective medium theory (EMT), Hashin and Shtrikman (HS) bounds, and Wiener bounds. These models can be used to characterize macroscopic homogeneous and isotropic multiphase composite materials either by determining the bounds for the effective thermal conductivity and/or by estimating the overall conductivity of the random mixture. It turns out that the most suitable one of these models to estimate λeff is the EMT model. This model is a mathematical model based on the homogeneity condition which satisfies the existence of a statistically homogeneous medium that encloses inclusions of different phases. Numerical values of thermal conductivity for the samples that satisfy the homogeneity condition imposed by the effective medium theory are in best agreement with the experimentally measured ones.

We report the electrochemical growth of zinc oxide nanorods in a zinc nitrate/hexamethylenetetramine solution at 70 °C. High-density vertical nanorods were grown on Au films on silicon substrates with a texture coefficient better than 99.9%. By varying the reactant concentration the diameter can be varied between 100 and 250 nm, with corresponding lengths of 1 to 4 μm. Furthermore, this approach was used for the selective growth on Ti/Au strip conductors ordered in an interdigitated structure on an insulating substrate. We achieved the growth of ZnO nanorods between neighbouring strip conductors bridging the gap between them. In this configuration the nanorods are already contacted and electrical measurements can be directly performed. First I–V measurements show a good conductivity of the as-grown nanorods and the resistance could be estimated to be 0.1 Ω cm. Under UV illumination the ZnO nanorods demonstrate a photoconductivity, but only after annealing the sample at 300 °C in N2.

We have investigated experimentally the optical behaviour of a Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSEL) when it is used as a lateral waveguide. This provides a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in VCSEL optical power monitoring by integrated lateral detection. The lateral optical spectra as well as the waveguide transmission spectrum have been measured. Their analysis and comparison demonstrate that the lateral signal is mostly coming from the spontaneous emission escaping laterally from the VCSEL and that light is filtered during the propagation and detection processes. This allows us to explain previous results obtained in two different configurations of lateral detection. These results are useful to optimize the lateral detection performances for concrete applications in monitoring or telemetry systems.

Transient simultaneous measurements of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of Swedish wood have been performed with the plane source technique on oven-dry hardwood (birch) samples at room temperature and at 100 °C. The influences of temperature, density, porosity and anisotropy on thermal conduction were investigated. The measurements were done in longitudinal (parallel to the grain) and transverse (intermediate between radial and tangential) directions. As the temperature increased from 20 to 100 °C, the thermal conductivity of each sample increased slightly for both longitudinal and transverse directions. The effect of density and porosity on the thermal conductivity may be related to the presence of other scattering mechanisms such as voids and cell boundaries. It seems that the dominant mechanism of heat transfer across the cell lumina in these types of wood is the heat conduction through the voids. An attempt was made to explain the behaviour of the effective thermal conductivity by adopting a model based on the ratio between heat conduction in parallel and serial layers of gas, liquid, and solid phases.

The transient plane source technique (TPS) is used at low temperature to measure the thermal conductivity of two poly cry stalline granite samples. A brief description of the technique is included. Our measurements revealed that both samples exhibited weakly temperature dependent conductivity in the relevant temperature range. An attempt was made to examine the problem of determining the bounds and/or estimating the effective thermal conductivity of a multiphase system given the volume fractions and the conductivities of the components. The attempt was to compare the measured data at room temperature with theoretical results. These results are obtained using different models including those of the Effective Medium Theory (EMT), Hashin and Shtrikman (HS) bounds, Wiener bounds, and weighted geometric mean model. The models can be used to characterise macroscopic homogeneous and isotropic multiphase materials either by determining the bounds for the effective thermal conductivity and/or estimating the overall conductivity of the random mixture. According to our calculations for these kinds of crystalline rocks, the effective medium theory produced calculated results that agreed best with the measured conductivity values.

The thermal diffusivity κ(T) of the cobalt-substituted sintered YBCO system, YBa2Cu3−xCoxO7∮δ (x=0.0, 0.1), has been measured to, investigate, effects of atomic substitution and charge carrier concentration on the thermal diffusion processes. The thermal diffusivity was measured in the temperature range 35–300 K, using the transient-plane-source technique. The results show that, belowTc, the κ(T) values of the doped (x=0.1), samples are lower than the corresponding values for the undoped (x=0.0) samples. This may be due to the difference in the free-charge carrier concentrations of the two samples. A decoupling between the conducting Cu−O planes as a result, of Co-doping in the chain sites may contribute to additional decrease in the thermal diffusivity of the doped sample. An attempt was made to explain the rise in the thermal diffusivity belowTc by adopting a recent theoretical model based on the existence of weakly damped collective electron excitations of Bose type, with acoustic dispersion relation, (acoustic plasmons) inside the superconducting gap.

The electrical resistance and its temperature coefficient have been measured for a platinum foil as a function of uniaxial pressure over the pressure range 0 to 60 MPa. The measurements were performed at room temperature using the transient hot-strip method. The data are analyzed using the electrical resistivity formula within the Block-Gruneisen approximation. The pressure dependence of the Debye temperature was directly obtained from an expansion of this formula and using the basic definition of the temperature resistivity coefficient. The reliability of the experimental data was then verified using the basic definition of Gruneisen constant. Within the investigated pressure range, the analysis supports the interpretation that the change in resistance of platinum under pressure is mainly due to the change in the amplitude of the atomic vibrations that are directly related to the change in Debye temperature. The pressure dependence of resistance and the Debye temperature of the platinum were reasonably good in spite of the approximations involved.

Simultaneous measurements of thermal conductivity and diffusivity of ferroelectric polycrystalline samples of the KDP family type have been performed with the transient plane source (TPS) technique over the temperature range 88-300 K. The thermal conductivity behavior resembles that of the corresponding single crystals, but with values a factor of three lower. This decrease in thermal conductivity of the polycrystalline form is attributed to scattering mechanisms due to microstructural imperfections such as point defects, grain boundaries, etc. Values of porosity have been estimated using the dimensions of the unit cell deduced from the x-ray analysis and the apparent densities. The data indicate that the phase transition mechanisms (displacement type and order-disorder type) still dominate the conduction processes in spite of the presence of other scattering mechanisms due to the imperfection of the microstructure in the polycrystalline form of these materials.

Induction of inhibited growth halo, around filter paper discs or groundnut seeds dusted with aldrex T, diameter of which consistently increased with dressing application rate, was exhibited by the root nodule bacteriumRhizobium leguminosarum. Some cells sensitive to aldrex T gained recovery upon transference to fresh media denoting a bacteriostatic effect of the anti-fungal dressing.

Aldrex T enhanced the mean number of groundnut nodules due to in vitro application at a higher than field concentration (6 g/kg groundnut kernels). Dressing at lower and agricultural applications (1.5 and 3, respectively) not only depressed but also considerably delayed nodule formation. This feature was demonstrated by the great losses in nodule number and weight as well. The latter picked up after 11 weeks to equate that of the controls. Interference of the fungicide in nodulation was highly significant at the sixth week of sowing. An insignificant increase in the number of root nodules was recorded at the tenth week of plant growth thus signifying recovery ofRhizobium from aldrex sensitivity. Dressing at 6 g/kg seeds did not affect the number and weight of nodules particularly after the fourth week of groundnut growth. Subsequently a highly significant increase in nodule weight was noticed. Nitrate and nitrite yield of nodules was favourably affected when kernels received twice the agricultural dose when compared with the non-dressed controls.