Structural Characteristics and Content of Polyphenolic Compounds in Healthy Organs and Galls Induced by Allodiplosis crassa Kieff. and Jörg (Cecydomyiidae, Diptera) on Geoffroea decorticans (Hook. and Arn.) Burkart (Leguminosae)

2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-274
Author(s):  
I. J. Agudelo ◽  
H. Bach ◽  
R. A. Ricco ◽  
M. L. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Polyphenolic Compounds ◽  
Phytochemical Study ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Defensive Role ◽  
Sudan Iii ◽  
Histological Characteristics ◽  
Hydroxycinnamic Derivatives

Chañar (Geoffroea decorticans- Fabaceae) is a tree from South America that is normally infected with galls originated by insects. One of its parasites is Allodiplosis crassa (Cecidomyiidae, Diptera) which produces globular galls with sticky prolongations. Since this plant has medicinal uses in Argentina, its infestation could alter the quality of the plant drug. The surface of insect-induced galls usually contains defensive features such as trichomes, increased hardness and an increase in the content of polyphenolic compounds. The objective of this research is to assess the structural and histochemical features of the gall and to compare the content of polyphenolic metabolites in the gall, in the healthy leaf and in lignified stems of G. decorticans. The methanolic extract from the galls showed the highest amount of polyphenolic and proanthocyanidins and the lowest amount of hydroxycinnamic derivatives and flavonoids compared to the methanolic extract of the leaves. The photographs taken from the external surface of the gall showed that some prolongations have heads. The histochemical analysis showed that the prolongations have a high amount of proanthocyanidins and flavonoids; and that the heads are reactive to Sudan III. These phytochemical and histological characteristics may have a defensive role against harmful fungi and parasites that attack the larvae of the A. crassa. The results of this study show the presence of defensive features in an insect-induced gall of a medicinal plant with potential implications in the pharmacological activity of this species. This is the first report of a histochemical and phytochemical study in G. corticans galls.

Evaluation of forage quality of Lathyrus L. Species based on histological characteristics

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Zoric ◽  
L. Merkulov ◽  
J. Lukovic ◽  
P. Boza ◽  
B. Krstic
Keyword(s):  
Small Proportion ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Forage Quality ◽  
Epidermal Cells ◽  
Vascular Bundles ◽  
Vegetative Organs ◽  
Histological Characteristics ◽  
Cultivated Species ◽  
Parenchyma Tissue

One of the most important characteristics that determines the quality of forages is their digestibility. Certain structural characteristics of the vegetative organs, such as a high percentage of cells with lignified walls, might limit digestibility. Leaf and stem histological characteristics related to digestibility were examined for nine wild Lathyrus species closely related to cultivated species. The recommended characteristics for plants that could be used as forage on their own are: a small number of stem vascular bundles, a relatively small proportion of stem sclerenchyma and sclerenchymatous parenchyma tissue, thin leaflet cuticle, a small number of leaf vascular bundles, and large mesophyll and epidermal cells. According to the results of the analyses, species with favourable histological characteristics were L. palustris, L. sphaericus and L. aphaca, while the species with the highest proportion of thick-walled cells, unsuitable for use as forage, were L. pratensis, L. niger and L. tuberosus.

scholarly journals Being a Gambler during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Study with Italian Patients and the Effects of Reduced Exposition

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 424
Author(s):  
Maria Anna Donati ◽  
Silvia Cabrini ◽  
Daniela Capitanucci ◽  
Caterina Primi ◽  
Roberta Smaniotto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Gambling Behavior ◽  
Online Gambling ◽  
Problem Gamblers ◽  
Electronic Gambling Machines ◽  
Electronic Gambling ◽  
Gambling Market ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Gambling Activities

The COVID-19 pandemic, with the consequent lockdown of about 3 months, can be viewed as an experimental model to observe the impact of the depletion of environmental factors that stimulate gambling, particularly electronic gambling machines (EGMs) that were set to zero. The effects of some structural characteristics of gambling activities that increase gambling behavior were studied among disordered gamblers in treatment in this unique scenario. In fact, studies investigating the effects of the lockdown on problem gamblers (PGs) under treatment are missing. The aims of this study were to analyze patients’ gambling behavior and craving during the lockdown and to conduct a comparison between gambling disorder (GD) symptoms at the beginning of the treatment and during lockdown. The study was conducted in Italy, the European country with the largest gambling market and the first to be affected by the virus. Data were collected through a semi-structured telephone interview conducted by healthcare professionals. Participants were 135 PGs under treatment (109 males, mean age = 50.07). Results showed that most PGs achieved a significant improvement in their quality of life, with less gambling behavior, GD symptoms, and lower craving. No shift toward online gambling and very limited shift towards other potential addictive and excessive behaviors occurred. The longer the treatment, the more monitoring is present and the better the results in terms of symptoms reduction. Individual and environmental characteristics during the lockdown favored the reduction in symptoms. Consideration for prevention and treatment are discussed.

Properties comparison of GaN epilayers deposited under different growth temperatures

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Wang ◽  
H. Yan ◽  
B. Cao ◽  
W. Wei ◽  
Z. Gan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Temperature ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Chemical Vapour ◽  
Optimal Growth ◽  
Good Method ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Temperature Deposition ◽  
Metalorganic Chemical Vapour Deposition ◽  
Gan Film

AbstractUndoped GaN epilayers were grown on c-plane sapphire substrates under different growth temperatures by metalorganic chemical vapour deposition (MOCVD). The optical and structural characteristics of these grown samples were studied and compared. It was found that the crystalline quality of GaN film deposited at 1050°C was better that of other samples. Photoluminescence spectra showed that the intensities of yellow luminescence band of the samples decreased as the growth temperature increased. All above test results demonstrate that high temperature deposition can serve as a good method for high-quality GaN epilayer growth and there exists an optimal growth temperature.

Application of Sit-To-Stand Assistive Device Based on Hip Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huaiqiang Zhang ◽  
Qiang Xue ◽  
Shuo Yang ◽  
Tongtong Wang ◽  
Binwei Zhou
Keyword(s):  
Lower Limb ◽  
Independent Living ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Assistive Devices ◽  
Assistive Device ◽  
Technology Application ◽  
Assist Devices ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Sit To Stand

Background: Completing the transition from a sitting position to a standing position is a basic skill in people’s daily lives and is crucial for independent living. Lower limb dysfunction will bring many inconveniences into a person’s life and greatly affect their quality of life. Patients with lower limb dysfunction are a specialized group, and nursing problems for this group are becoming increasingly serious. Helping patients with lower limb dysfunction restore their lower limb mobility or assisting them to walk is a social problem necessary to be solved. Objective: : To review the recent sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support, classify them systematically and introduce their characteristics, including the mechanisms and the types of patients for which such mechanisms are applicable; to help patients with lower limb dysfunction or doctors (therapists) understand and choose a reasonable sit-to-stand assist device based on hip support. Methods: This paper summarizes literatures and patents about sit-to-stand assistive devices. From the aspects of structural characteristics, drive type and support modes based on the hip and applications situation, the advantages and disadvantages of the typical sit-to-stand assist devices are represented. Results: Current and future development trends on the structural characteristics, drive type and support modes based on the hip and applications situation of sit-to-stand assist devices are discussed to improve the humanization, modularization and applicability of sit-to-stand assist devices. Conclusion: Sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support can help patients improve the quality of their life, assist patients carrying out rehabilitation training, and delay the decline of lower limb function. However, the existing sit-to-stand assistive devices based on hip support need further improvement in the aspects of motion mechanism, new technology application and ergonomics design.

scholarly journals Farms as a resilience factors to land degradation in peri-urban areas

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2s) ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Zappavigna ◽  
Andrea Brugnoli
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Labour Force ◽  
Social Characteristics ◽  
The Family ◽  
External Conditions ◽  
Resilience Factors ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Economic Size

The purpose of this study was the analysis of the effects induced by urban pressures on the socio-economic and territorial characteristics of the rural peri-urban areas in order to identify planning and intervention strategies aimed at enhancing the quality of agriculture and landscape. A survey was conducted in the surroundings of Parma on farms located in the vicinity of urban areas. The structural, productive and social characteristics of the family-farm units were analyzed. The survey updated an identical survey, carried out in 1986, in which it was examined a sample of 208 farms. The units surveyed were evaluated in two aspects: the “vitality”, which takes into account the structural characteristics (size, production, labour force, etc.), and the “stability”, in which a crucial role is played by the age of the conductor and the presence of a successor. It was found that only 28% of the original farm sample is still alive, one third has disappeared, 30% was absorbed by existing farms, 8% has been abandoned. The factors most favourable to the survival resulted those referred to the vitality, especially the physical and economic size of the farm, the presence of cattle, the percentage of land in property, the presence of young labour. Among the factors that predispose to the abandonment, the urbanization processes were found to be determinants, in terms of expansion of both the built-up area and of that planned as urbanisable. The research has highlighted the importance of the vitality of the farms together with a context that has maintained its original rural features. These combined aspects can better define what we call the resiliency of the landfarms system i.e. the capability of positively reacting to the variable modifications of the internal and external conditions.

scholarly journals Production of sourdough and gluten-free bread with brown rice and carioca and cowpea beans flours: biochemical, nutritional and structural characteristics

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (16) ◽  
pp. e303101623992
Author(s):  
Juliana Dara Rabêlo Silva ◽  
Guilherme Caldeira Rosa ◽  
Nathália de Andrade Neves ◽  
Maria Gabriela Vernaza Leoro ◽  
Marcio Schmiele
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Fiber ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Brown Rice ◽  
Protein Digestibility ◽  
Gluten Free ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Bean Flour ◽  
Lower Volume ◽  
Instrumental Texture

The gluten-free alternative flours and the application of natural fermentation in the breads production are promising technologies to improving sensory, structural and nutritional properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the applicability and quality of gluten-free breads made with sour dough from wholegrain rice flours (BR and BRY), carioca beans (BP and BPY) and cowpea (BV and BVY). The sour doughs were prepared without and with the addition of biological yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) represented by the letter “Y”. The breads made from these doughs were subjected to the analysis of: pH, titratable total acidity, color, water activity, moisture, image analysis, specific volume, instrumental texture, proximate composition and energy value. The results indicated higher ash, protein and dietary fiber content in BP and BV flours. At the end of fermentation, the BR and BRY masses showed greater acidity. The doughs made with beans showed greater expansion volumes. Lower volume, firmness and hardness were verified for BBRY bread and the opposite was verified for BVB bread. The BBV, BBVY, BBP and BBPY breads had higher ash, protein and dietary fiber contents and lower digestible carbohydrate content. BPB and BVB breads showed higher protein digestibility and the opposite was observed for BBRY (70.60%), BPBY (81.09%) and BVBY (80.89%). The use of bean flour in the preparation of breads resulted in products rich in dietary fiber and proteins, especially carioca beans.

scholarly journals Histopathological Studies on the Effects of Chloroform and Methanolic Extracts of Ilex kudingcha in Trypanosoma brucei Infected Albino Wistar Rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 04 ◽  
pp. 50
Author(s):  
Olajoju. T. Soniran ◽  
Kalu. K. Ngele ◽  
Christopher. O. Alisa ◽  
Damilola. A. Omoboyowa ◽  
Nnabude. H. Agu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Phytochemical Analysis ◽  
Diminazene Aceturate ◽  
Leaf Extracts ◽  
Standard Drug ◽  
Phytochemical Study ◽  
Reference Drug ◽  
Histopathological Studies

Histopathological studies of the effects of chloroform and methanolic leaf extracts of Ilex kudingcha in Trypanosoma brucei infected albino wistar rats were investigated. The toxicity and phytochemical study were also carried out using standard protocol. T. brucei infected animals were administered orally with 200 and 400 mg/kg b.w. of the extracts and 3.5 mg/kg b.w. of the standard drug (diminazene aceturate). Results on acute toxicity studies (LD50) revealed no sign of lethality up to the dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight but the liver and kidney histology of infected animals treated with 5,000 mg/kg b.w. of I. kudingcha extracts were observed to be hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic. The methanol extracts showed appreciably high in vivo anti-trypanosomal activities compared to the reference drug. Histological examination of the organs revealed serious pathological lesions in the liver of the infected animals without treatment (negative control). In the positive control animals (infected animals administered standard drug), mild multifocal aggregate of inflammatory leucocytes was observed. In the other experimental animals, no pathological lesion was observed in the liver, kidney, brain, and heart of infected animals treated with the methanolic extract and combined methanol and chloroform extracts. The effectiveness of the methanolic extract at reducing the lesions caused by the parasite is the same compared with the standard drug. Phytochemical analysis of the plant extracts showed that methanol extract contained appreciable high levels of alkaloids, saponin, tannins, phenol, and glycoside while flavonoid was not detected. Hence, the curative properties of methanolic extract of I. kudingcha as observed in the organs indicate its anti-trypanosomal properties but it should be consumed at minimal doses.

scholarly journals Anti-arthritic Evaluation of Different Extracts of Boerhaavia diffusa Linn. in FCA Induced Arthritis In Rats

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (5-s) ◽  
pp. 388-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deepika Parmar ◽  
Neetesh Kumar Jain ◽  
Vivek Tomar
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Methanolic Extract ◽  
Hematological Parameters ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
The Body ◽  
Haematological Parameters ◽  
Phytochemical Study ◽  
Methanolic Extracts ◽  
Boerhaavia Diffusa

The main aim of study is to evaluate the anti-arthritic effect of different extracts of Boerhaavia diffusa in arthritic rats. Different extracts were prepared by successive solvent extraction methods by using the various polar and non polar solvents and their % yields were calculated. Arthritis was induced by FCA induced arthritis model in rats and paw volume was measured on different days. Body weights of all animals were also measured simultaneously and at the end of experiment some haematological parameters were measured. On preliminary phytochemical studies extracts showed the presence of alkaloids, fatty acids, terpenoids, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. Among all extracts, methanolic extract significantly decreased the paw volume in all treated groups. Methanolic extracts also restored the body weight significantly. The results of our study revealed that all the extracts treated group’s causes significant alterations in the hematological parameters and maximal effects were observed at 400 mg/kg. Since methanolic extract showed best activity in arthritic model and its phytochemical study showed presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds, so it may be possible that anti-arthritic activity of root extracts may be due to presence flavonoids.  Keywords: Arthritis, FCA induced arthritis, Boerhaavia diffusa, haematological parameters, and Body weight

scholarly journals Firm Structural Characteristics and Financial Reporting Quality of Listed Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olumide A. Olowokure ◽  
Muhammad Tanko ◽  
Terzungwe Nyor
Keyword(s):  
Financial Reporting ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Emerging Market ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Reporting Quality ◽  
Financial Reporting Quality ◽  
Loan Loss ◽  
Loan Loss Provisions ◽  
The Impact

<p>The quality of financial report is very crucial as published financial reports remains, for the most part, the only means by which outside shareholders and investors keep themselves informed about the performance of the firm. In the present economic scenario, this concern for financial reporting quality becomes more acute as emerging market economies and more importantly mono economies like Nigeria face greater uncertainties as they combat the challenges of unprecedented fall in oil prices. In addition to this, the suspension of the CEO, Chairman and two other directors of Stambic IBTC bank by the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria for filling a misleading financial statement for 2013 and 2014 has also shown that the issue of financial reporting quality cannot be overemphasized. Using secondary data from the published reports of thirteen listed deposit money banks in Nigeria for over a period of ten years between 2005 and 2014, this paper seeks to find the determinants of financial reporting quality and reports the findings of the impact of structural characteristics like age, size and level of leverage on financial reporting quality. Using prio studies as a guide, we developed a model for loan loss provisions and generated the residuals, using these residuals know as abnormal loan loss provisions as the dependent variable for the multiple regression analysis, the study did not find any evidence of significant relationship between firm age, size, leverage and financial reporting quality.</p>

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