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Publications by authors named "Mohammad K Okla"
CuO loaded ZnS nanoflower entrapped on PVA-chitosan matrix for boosted visible light photocatalysis for tetracycline degradation and anti-bacterial application.
B Janani Mohammad K Okla Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud Hamada AbdElgawad Ajith M Thomas Lija L Raju Wahidah H Al-Qahtani S Sudheer Khan
Nanobiotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology, Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu, India. Electronic address:
Novel photocatalyst CuO loaded ZnS nanoflower supported on carbon frame work PVA/Chitosan was synthesized by co-precipitation and ultrasonic assisted method. The co-existence of ZnS and CuO and its crystallinity in nanohybrid was verified by XRD, SAED and HR-TEM analysis. The availability of defects in ZnS was identified by EPR. FTIR and TGA verified the presence of PVA and Chitosan. Defects mediated ZnS-CuO/PVA/chitosan heterojunction promote synergistic charge separation with type II interface. Zn-vacancy facilitates two-photon excitation that improves visible-light harvesting. The photocatalytic activity of ZnS-CuO/PVA/Chitosan was 94.7% which is higher when compared to ZnS (40%) and CuO (60%). The photocatalytic mechanism was elucidated using scavenger test and both ·O and ·OH were found to play key role in tetracycline degradation. In addition, ZnS-CuO/PVA/Chitosan demonstrated efficient anti-microbial effect against the both gram strains on comparing with individual ZnS and CuO. Thus, the multifunctional ZnS-CuO/PVA/Chitosan is promising for the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and as an antimicrobial agent.
HPLC-DAD Based Polyphenolic Profiling and Evaluation of Pharmacological Attributes of Wall.
Adila Nazli Muhammad Zafar Irshad Khan Madiha Ahmed Nosheen Akhtar Mohammad K Okla Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Hamada Abdelgawad Ihsan-Ul- Haq
Molecules 2021 Dec 23;27(1). Epub 2021 Dec 23.
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
The current study was intended to explore the phytochemical profiling and therapeutic activities of Wall. Crude extracts of different plant parts were subjected to the determination of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and protein kinase inhibitory potential by using solvents of varying polarity ranges. Maximum phenolic content was notified in distilled water extracts of the stem (DW-S) and leaf (DW-L) while the highest flavonoid content was obtained in ethyl acetate leaf (EA-L) extract. HPLC-DAD analysis confirmed the presence of various polyphenols, quantified in the range of 0.02 ± 0.36 to 2.05 ± 0.18 μg/mg extract. Maximum DPPH scavenging activity was expressed by methanolic extract of the stem (MeOH-S). The highest antioxidant capacity and reducing power was shown by MeOH-S and leaf methanolic extract (MeOH-L), respectively. Proficient antibacterial activity was shown by EA-L extract against and . Remarkable α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition potential was expressed by ethyl acetate fruit (EA-F) and n-Hexane leaf (nH-L) extracts, respectively. In case of brine shrimp lethality assay, 41.67% of the extracts (LC < 50 µg/mL) were considered as extremely cytotoxic. The test extracts also showed mild antifungal and protein kinase inhibition activities. The present study explores the therapeutic potential of . and calls for subsequent studies to isolate new bioactive leads through bioactivity-guided isolation.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules27010068 DOI Listing
Impact of Sprouting under Potassium Nitrate Priming on Nitrogen Assimilation and Bioactivity of Three Species.
Ahlem Zrig Ahmed Saleh Foued Hamouda Mohammad K Okla Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Yasmeen A Alwasel Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Momtaz Y Hegab Abdelrahim H A Hassan Hamada AbdElgawad
Plants (Basel) 2021 Dec 27;11(1). Epub 2021 Dec 27.
Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerp, Belgium.
Edible sprouts are rich in flavonoids and other polyphenols, as well as proteins, minerals, and vitamins. Increasing sprout consumption necessitates improving their quality, palatability, and bioactivity. The purpose of this study was to test how KNO priming affects the sprouting process species on three species (, , and ) and their nutritional values. Targeted species of were primed with KNO, and the levels of different primary and secondary metabolites were determined. KNO induced biomass accumulation in the sprouts of the three species, accompanied by an increased content of total mineral nutrients, pigments, vitamins, and essential amino acids. Besides, our results showed that KNO enhanced the activity of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and glutamine synthetase (GS) enzymes, which are involved in the nitrogen metabolism and GOGAT cycle, which, in turn, increase the nitrogen and protein production. KNO treatment improved the bioactive compound activities of sprouts by increasing total phenolic and flavonoid contents and enhancing the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities. Furthermore, species-specific responses toward KNO priming were noticeable, where showed the highest antioxidant and antidiabetic activities, followed by . Overall, this study sheds the light on the physiological and biochemical bases of growth, metabolism, and tissue quality improvement impact of KNO on sprouts.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants11010071 DOI Listing
Synthesis and application of CdS nanoparticles-decorated core-shell [email protected] nanohybrids for visible-light spectrophotometric assay of sulfide in aqueous sample.
Wahidah H Al-Qahtani S Balasurya Mohammad K Okla Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud Hamada AbdElgawad Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Ajith M Thomas Lija L Raju S Sudheer Khan
Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2021 Dec 22;270:120793. Epub 2021 Dec 22.
Novel [email protected] nanosphere decorated with CdS NPs ([email protected] NCs) was synthesized by one step chemical synthesis method. The fabricated NCs were characterized by transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM), fourier transfer infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zeta sizer and particle size analyzer. TEM and XRD confirmed the Ag in core and Ni in shell for the effective formation of [email protected] core shell nanosphere. EDAX and XPS spectra of NCs confirms the formation of [email protected] NCs. Zeta potential and particle size of the NCs was found to be 29.5 ± 1.5 mV and 24 ± 1 nm respectively. The complete loss in the peak intensity of [email protected] NCs (localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)) at ∼410 nm in presence of S ions was observed which indicates its selective detection towards S ions. The sulfide ion sensing by [email protected] NCs was due to the successive oxidation of Ag results in the formulation of Ag ions in the system, which causes the diminishing of LSPR band of NCs. The limit of detection (LOD) of S ions by [email protected] NCs was calculated to be of 2.66 nM. The combination of CdS NPs with core-shell [email protected] nanosphere guides a promising strategy for S ions detection from environmental polluted samples.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2021.120793 DOI Listing
Evaluation of the phycoremediation potential of microalgae for captan removal: Comprehensive analysis on toxicity, detoxification and antioxidants modulation.
Seham M Hamed Mohammad K Okla Luma Shihab Al-Saadi Wael N Hozzein Hussein S Mohamed Samy Selim Hamada AbdElgawad
J Hazard Mater 2021 Dec 30;427:128177. Epub 2021 Dec 30.
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt; Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.
Captan is one of the most widely used organochlorine fungicides, its frequent application contaminates both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and negatively affects their key ecological processes. This study demonstrated the toxicity and efficient removal of captan by two different taxonomic species; the green microalga Scenedesmus obliquus and cyanobacterium Nostoc muscorum. After a week of exposure to mild (15 mg/L) and severe (30 mg/L) captan doses, the intracellular captan uptake, degradation and metabolic regulation of captan detoxification were studied. Compared to N. muscorum, S. obliquus accumulated more captan, but efficiently degraded it into two safe eco-friendly by-products; phthalic acid and 1,2,3,6-tetrahydro phthalimide. S. obliquus showed less decrease in cell growth, photosynthesis activity and related parameters including Chla content and activity of PEPC and RuBisCo enzymes. Captan at the severe dose induced oxidative damage particularly in N. muscorum, as expressed by the high levels of HO, MDA, NADPH oxidase and protein peroxidation. Both species invested glutathione-s-transferase enzyme in captan detoxification however, induction of antioxidant defence system e.g. ascorbate and glutathione cycle was more pronounced in S. obliquus which could explain its tolerance ability. This study provided a better understanding of the environmental risks of captan and introduced S. obliquus as a promising captan phycoremediator.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128177 DOI Listing
Developmental Stages-Specific Response of Anise Plants to Laser-Induced Growth, Nutrients Accumulation, and Essential Oil Metabolism.
Mohammad K Okla Mohamed Abdel-Mawgoud Saud A Alamri Zahid Khorshid Abbas Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Salem Mesfir Al-Qahtani Nadi Awad Al-Harbi Abdelrahim H A Hassan Samy Selim Mohammed H Alruhaili Hamada AbdElgawad
Plants (Basel) 2021 Nov 26;10(12). Epub 2021 Nov 26.
Botany and Microbiology Department, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef 62521, Egypt.
Compared to seeds and mature tissues, sprouts are well known for their higher nutritive and biological values. Fruits of (anise) are extensively consumed as food additives; however, the sprouting-induced changes in their nutritious metabolites are hardly studied. Herein, we investigated the bioactive metabolites, phytochemicals, and antioxidant properties of fruits, sprouts (9-day-old), and mature tissue (5-week-old) of anise under laser irradiation treatment (He-Ne laser, 632 nm). Laser treatment increased biomass accumulation of both anise sprouts and mature plants. Bioactive primary (e.g., proteins and sugars) and secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolic compounds), as well as mineral levels, were significantly enhanced by sprouting and/or laser light treatment. Meanwhile, laser light has improved the levels of essential oils and their related precursors (e.g., phenylalanine), as well as enzyme activities [e.g., O-methyltransferase and 3-Deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate-7-phosphate synthase (DAHPS)] in mature tissues. Moreover, laser light induced higher levels of antioxidant and anti-lipidemic activities in sprouts as compared to fruits and mature tissues. Particularly at the sprouting stage, anise was more responsive to laser light treatment than mature plants.
Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Daturaolone from Mill.: In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Studies.
Muhammad Waleed Baig Humaira Fatima Nosheen Akhtar Hidayat Hussain Mohammad K Okla Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Hamada AbdElgawad Ihsan-Ul Haq
Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021 Nov 30;14(12). Epub 2021 Nov 30.
Department of Pharmacy, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
Exploration of leads with therapeutic potential in inflammatory disorders is worth pursuing. In line with this, the isolated natural compound daturaolone from Mill. was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory potential using in silico, in vitro and in vivo models. Daturaolone follows Lipinski's drug-likeliness rule with a score of 0.33. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity prediction show strong plasma protein binding; gastrointestinal absorption (Caco-2 cells permeability = 34.6 nm/s); no blood-brain barrier penetration; CYP1A2, CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 metabolism; a major metabolic reaction, being aliphatic hydroxylation; no hERG inhibition; and non-carcinogenicity. Predicted molecular targets were mainly inflammatory mediators. Molecular docking depicted H-bonding interaction with nuclear factor kappa beta subunit (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2, 5-lipoxygenase, phospholipase A2, serotonin transporter, dopamine receptor D1 and 5-hydroxy tryptamine. Its cytotoxicity (IC) value in normal lymphocytes was >20 µg/mL as compared to cancer cells (Huh7.5; 17.32 ± 1.43 µg/mL). Daturaolone significantly inhibited NF-κB and nitric oxide production with IC values of 1.2 ± 0.8 and 4.51 ± 0.92 µg/mL, respectively. It significantly reduced inflammatory paw edema (81.73 ± 3.16%), heat-induced pain (89.47 ± 9.01% antinociception) and stress-induced depression (68 ± 9.22 s immobility time in tail suspension test). This work suggests a possible anti-inflammatory role of daturaolone; however, detailed mechanistic studies are still necessary to corroborate and extrapolate the findings.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ph14121248 DOI Listing
Withaferin A: From Ancient Remedy to Potential Drug Candidate.
Tahira Sultana Mohammad K Okla Madiha Ahmed Nosheen Akhtar Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Hamada Abdelgawad Ihsan-Ul- Haq
Molecules 2021 Dec 20;26(24). Epub 2021 Dec 20.
Withaferin A (WA) is a pivotal withanolide that has conquered a conspicuous place in research, owning to its multidimensional biological properties. It is an abundant constituent in Dunal. (Ashwagandha, WS) that is one of the prehistoric pivotal remedies in Ayurveda. This article reviews the literature about the pharmacological profile of WA with special emphasis on its anticancer aspect. We reviewed research publications concerning WA through four databases and provided a descriptive analysis of literature without statistical or qualitative analysis. WA has been found as an effective remedy with multifaceted mechanisms and a broad spectrum of pharmacological profiles. It has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antiherpetic, antifibrotic, antiplatelet, profibrinolytic, immunosuppressive, antipigmentation, antileishmanial, and healing potentials. Evidence for wide pharmacological actions of WA has been established by both in vivo and in vitro studies. Further, the scientific literature accentuates the role of WA harboring a variable therapeutic spectrum for integrative cancer chemoprevention and cure. WA is a modern drug from traditional medicine that is necessary to be advanced to clinical trials for advocating its utility as a commercial drug.
N.E.Br Manifests Extraction Medium Reliant Disparity in Phytochemical and Pharmacological Analysis.
Muhammad Waleed Baig Madiha Ahmed Nosheen Akhtar Mohammad K Okla Bakht Nasir Ihsan-Ul Haq Jihan Al-Ghamdi Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Hamada AbdElgawad
Integrated Molecular Plant Physiology Research, Department of Biology, University of Antwerp, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
Solubility of phytoconstituents depends on the polarity of the extraction medium used, which might result in the different pharmacological responses of extracts. In line with this, ethnomedicinally important food plant (i.e., extracts) have been made in fourteen distinct solvent systems that were then analyzed phytochemically via total phenolic amount estimation, total flavonoid amount estimation, and HPLC detection and quantification of the selected polyphenols. Test extracts were then subjected to a battery of in vitro assays i.e., antioxidants (DDPH scavenging, antioxidant capacity, and reducing power estimation), antimicrobial (antibacterial, antifungal, and antileishmanial), cytotoxic (brine shrimps, THP-1 human leukemia cell lines and normal lymphocytes), and protein kinase inhibition assays. Maximum phenolic and flavonoid contents were computed in distilled water-acetone and acetone extracts (i.e., 16 ± 1 μg/mg extract and 8 ± 0.4/mg extract, respectively). HPLC-DAD quantified rutin (0.58 µg/mg extract) and gallic acid (0.4 µg/mg extract) in methanol-ethyl acetate and methanol extracts, respectively. Water-acetone extract exhibited the highest DPPH scavenging of 36 ± 1%. Total reducing potential of 76.0 ± 1 μg/mg extract was shown by ethanol chloroform while maximum total antioxidant capacity was depicted by the acetone extract (92.21 ± 0.70 μg/mg extract). Maximal antifungal effect against , antileishmanial, brine shrimp cytotoxicity, THP-1 cell line cytotoxicity, and protein kinase inhibitory activities were shown by ethyl acetate-methanol (MIC: 50 µg/disc), n-hexane (IC: 120.8 ± 3.7 µg/mL), ethyl acetate (LD: 29.94 ± 1.6 µg/mL), distilled water-acetone (IC: 118 ± 3.4 µg/mL) and methanol-chloroform (ZOI: 19 ± 1 mm) extracts, respectively. Our findings show the dependency of phytochemicals and bioactivities on the polarity of the extraction solvent and our preliminary screening suggests the extract formulations to be tested and used in different ailments, however, detailed studies remain necessary for corroboration with our results.
Profiling of Antifungal Activities and In Silico Studies of Natural Polyphenols from Some Plants.
Beenish Khanzada Nosheen Akhtar Mohammad K Okla Saud A Alamri Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Muhammad Waleed Baig Samina Rubnawaz Hamada AbdElgawad Abdurahman H Hirad Ihsan-Ul Haq Bushra Mirza
Molecules 2021 Nov 26;26(23). Epub 2021 Nov 26.
Department of Biochemistry, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
A worldwide increase in the incidence of fungal infections, emergence of new fungal strains, and antifungal resistance to commercially available antibiotics indicate the need to investigate new treatment options for fungal diseases. Therefore, the interest in exploring the antifungal activity of medicinal plants has now been increased to discover phyto-therapeutics in replacement to conventional antifungal drugs. The study was conducted to explore and identify the mechanism of action of antifungal agents of edible plants, including and . The antifungal potential was assessed via the disc diffusion method and, subsequently, the extracts were assessed for phytochemicals and total antioxidant activity. Potent polyphenols were detected using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antifungal mechanism of action was evaluated in silico. exhibited antifungal activity against all the tested strains while all plant extracts showed antifungal activity against . Rutin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified as common polyphenols. In silico studies showed that rutin displayed the greatest affinity with binding pocket of fungal 14-alpha demethylase and nucleoside diphosphokinase with the binding affinity (K, -9.4 and -8.9, respectively), as compared to terbinafine. Results indicated that and exert their antifungal effect possibly due to kaempferol and rutin, respectively, or possibly by inhibition of nucleoside diphosphokinase (NDK) and 14-alpha demethylase (CYP51), while and might exhibit antifungal potential due to quercetin. Overall, the study demonstrates that plant-derived products have a high potential to control fungal infections.
Effect of Elevated CO on Biomolecules' Accumulation in Caraway ( L.) Plants at Different Developmental Stages.
Hamada AbdElgawad Mohammad K Okla Saud S Al-Amri Abdulrahman Al-Hashimi Wahida H Al-Qahtani Salem Mesfir Al-Qahtani Zahid Khorshid Abbas Nadi Awad Al-Harbi Ayman Abd Algafar Mohammed S Almuhayawi Samy Selim Mohamed Abdel-Mawgoud
Department of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Desert Research Centre, Cairo 11753, Egypt.
Caraway plants have been known as a rich source of phytochemicals, such as flavonoids, monoterpenoid glucosides and alkaloids. In this regard, the application of elevated CO (eCO) as a bio-enhancer for increasing plant growth and phytochemical content has been the focus of many studies; however, the interaction between eCO and plants at different developmental stages has not been extensively explored. Thus, the present study aimed at investigating the changes in growth, photosynthesis and phytochemicals of caraway plants at two developmental stages (sprouts and mature tissues) under control and increased CO conditions (ambient CO (a CO, 400 ± 27 μmol CO mol air) and eCO, 620 ± 42 μmol CO mol air ppm). Moreover, we evaluated the impact of eCO-induced changes in plant metabolites on the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of caraway sprouts and mature plants. CO enrichment increased photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of both caraway stages. Regarding their phytochemical contents, caraway plants interacted differently with eCO, depending on their developmental stages. High levels of CO enhanced the production of total nutrients, i.e., carbohydrates, proteins, fats and crude fibers, as well as organic and amino acids, in an equal pattern in both caraway sprouts and mature plants. Interestingly, the eCO-induced effect on minerals, vitamins and phenolics was more pronounced in caraway sprouts than the mature tissues. Furthermore, the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of caraway plants were enhanced under eCO treatment, particularly at the mature stage. Overall, eCO provoked changes in the phytochemical contents of caraway plants, particularly at the sprouting stage and, hence, improved their nutritive and health-promoting properties.
Potential Importance of Molybdenum Priming to Metabolism and Nutritive Value of spp. Sprouts.
Mohammad K Okla Nosheen Akhtar Saud A Alamri Salem Mesfir Al-Qahtani Ahmed Ismail Zahid Khurshid Abbas Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Ahmad A Qahtan Walid H Soufan Ibrahim A Alaraidh Samy Selim Hamada AbdElgawad
Plants (Basel) 2021 Nov 5;10(11). Epub 2021 Nov 5.
Molybdenum ions (Mo) can improve plants' nutritional value primarily by enhancing nitrogenous metabolism. In this study, the comparative effects of seed priming using Mo were evaluated among sproutings of species/cultivars, including (CA1), (CA2), and (CA3). Mo impacts on growth, metabolism (e.g., nitrogen and phenolic metabolism, pigment and total nutrient profiles), and biological activities were assayed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to correlate Mo-mediated impacts. The results showed that Mo induced photosynthetic pigments that resulted in an improvement in growth and increased biomass. The N content was increased 0.3-fold in CA3 and 0.2-fold in CA1 and CA2. Enhanced nitrogen metabolism by Mo provided the precursors for amino acids, protein, and lipid biosynthesis. At the secondary metabolic level, phenolic metabolism-related precursors and enzyme activities were also differentially increased in species/cultivars. The observed increase in metabolism resulted in the enhancement of the antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) and antidiabetic potential (Glycemic index (GI) and inhibition activity of α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) of species. The antioxidant activity increased 20% in CA3, 14% in CA1, and 8% in CA2. Furthermore, PCA showed significant variations not only between Mo-treated and untreated samples but also among species. Overall, this study indicated that the sprouts of species have tremendous potential for commercial usage due to their high nutritive value, which can be enhanced further with Mo treatment to accomplish the demand for nutritious feed.
Chitosan capped Ag/NiS nanocomposites: A novel colorimetric probe for detection of L-cysteine at nanomolar level and its anti-microbial activity.
B Hari Kumar Mohammad K Okla Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud Wahidah H Al-Qahtani Hamada AbdElgawad Munirah Saud Altukhayfi Ajith M Thomas Lija L Raju S Sudheer Khan
Int J Biol Macromol 2021 Dec 10;193(Pt B):2054-2061. Epub 2021 Nov 10.
L-Cysteine (L-cys) plays very crucial role in biological systems. The study reports the colorimetric detection of L-cys at nanomolar level using chitosan capped Ag decorated NiS nanocomposite (chit-Ag/NiS NCs).The chemical reduction and co-precipitation methods were adopted to prepare chit-Ag/NiS NCs. The fabricated NCs was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), FT-Raman, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The chit-Ag/NiS NCs particularly detect L-cys even in other amino acids presence. The chit-Ag/NiS NCs showed the surface charge of -26 ± 39.9 mV. The detection of L-cys was indicated by disappearance of yellowish-brown color of Chit-Ag/NiS NCs to colorless. A good linear correlation was found between absorbance vs logarithmic concentration of L-cys (1 μM to 1 nM) with R value of 0.99. The chit-Ag/NiS NCs impregnated cotton swabs was prepared for real time detection of L-cys and the prepared probe was found to be highly selective and specific. The effect of pH, temperature and salinity influencing the L-cys detection was studied. Also, the antimicrobial activity of Chit-Ag/NiS NCs was investigated against gram negative (E. coli) and gram positive (B. subtilis) bacteria.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.037 DOI Listing
Antibacterial, Antihemolytic, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, and Antileishmanial Effects of Transgenic Plants.
Samina Rubnawaz Mohammad K Okla Nosheen Akhtar Imdad Ullah Khan Muhammad Zeeshan Bhatti Hong-Quan Duong Mohamed A El-Tayeb Yahaya B Elbadawi Khalid S Almaary Ihab M Moussa Zahid Khurshid Abbas Bushra Mirza
Plants (Basel) 2021 Sep 13;10(9). Epub 2021 Sep 13.
Department of Biochemistry, Quaid i Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
Herbal and traditional medicines can play a pivotal role in combating cancer and neglected tropical diseases. , family Lamiaceae, is an important medicinal plant. The genetic transformation of with genes of further enhances its metabolic content. This study aimed at undertaking the molecular, phytochemical, and in vitro biological analysis of extracts. We transformed the plant with genes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. Transgenic integration and expression of were confirmed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and qPCR analysis. The methanol: chloroform crude extracts of wild-type plants and transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antibacterial, antihemolytic, cytotoxic, anticancer, and leishmanial activity. Among all plants, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed the highest expression of the gene. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis confirmed the enhanced number of functional groups of active compounds in all transgenic lines. Moreover, ABRL3 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, minimum hemolytic activity (CC = 7293.05 ± 7 μg/mL) and maximum antileishmanial activity (IC of 56.16 ± 2 μg/mL). ABRL1 demonstrated the most prominent brine shrimp cytotoxicity (LD39.6 ± 4 μg/mL). ABRL3 was most effective against various human cancer cell lines with an IC of 57.1 ± 2.2 μg/mL, 46.2 ± 1.1 μg/mL, 72.4 ± 1.3 μg/mL, 73.3 ± 2.1 μg/mL, 98.7 ± 1.6 μg/mL, and 97.1 ± 2.5 μg/mL against HepG2, LM3, A549, HT29, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231, respectively. Overall, these transgenic extracts may offer a cheaper therapeutic source than the more expensive synthetic drugs.
Polyphenol Rich Transgenic Regenerants Display Better Pharmacological Potential.
Samina Rubnawaz Nosheen Akhtar Rashid Mahmood Asif Khan Mohammad K Okla Saud A Alamri Ibrahim A Alaraidh Yasmeen A Alwasel Bushra Mirza
Molecules 2021 Aug 11;26(16). Epub 2021 Aug 11.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad 45320, Pakistan.
Wall. ex Benth. is an endangered medicinal herb traditionally used against different ailments. The present study aimed to create new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of genetic transformation and the biological activities of this plant. We transformed the plant with genes of and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. These transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antioxidant activities, a range of in vivo assays, elemental analysis, polyphenol content, and different phytochemicals found through HPLC. Among 18 polyphenolic standards, kaempferol was most abundant in all transgenic lines. Furthermore, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed maximum phenolics and flavonoids content among all tested plant extracts. ABRL3 also demonstrated the highest total antioxidant capacity (8.16 ± 1 μg AAE/mg), total reducing power, (6.60 ± 1.17 μg AAE/mg), DPPH activity (IC50 = 59.5 ± 0.8 μg/mL), hydroxyl ion scavenging (IC50 = 122.5 ± 0.90 μg/mL), and iron-chelating power (IC50 = 154.8 ± 2 μg/mL). Moreover, transformed plant extracts produced significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and antidepressant activities in BALB/c mice models. In conclusion, transgenic regenerants of pose better antioxidant and pharmacological properties under the effect of genes as compared to wild-type plants.
Designing and Development of FRET-Based Nanosensor for Real Time Analysis of N-Acetyl-5-Neuraminic Acid in Living Cells.
Ruphi Naz Mohammad K Okla Urooj Fatima Mohd Mohsin Walid H Soufan Ibrahim A Alaraidh Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud Altaf Ahmad
Front Nutr 2021 31;8:621273. Epub 2021 May 31.
Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
-acetyl-5-neuraminic acid (NeuAc) plays crucial role in improving the growth, brain development, brain health maintenance, and immunity enhancement of infants. Commercially, it is used in the production of antiviral drugs, infant milk formulas, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and pharmaceutical products. Because of the rapidly increasing demand, metabolic engineering approach has attracted increasing attention for NeuAc biosynthesis. However, knowledge of metabolite flux in biosynthetic pathways is one of the major challenges in the practice of metabolic engineering. So, an understanding of the flux of NeuAc is needed to determine its cellular level at real time. The analysis of the flux can only be performed using a tool that has the capacity to measure metabolite level in cells without affecting other metabolic processes. A Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET)-based genetically-encoded nanosensor has been generated in this study to monitor the level of NeuAc in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Sialic acid periplasmic binding protein (SiaP) from was exploited as a sensory element for the generation of nanosensor. The enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP) and Venus were used as Fluroscence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) pair. The nanosensor, which was termed fluorescent indicator protein for sialic acid (FLIP-SA), was successfully transformed into, and expressed in BL21 (DE3) cells. The expressed protein of the nanosensor was isolated and purified. The purified nanosensor protein was characterized to assess the affinity, specificity, and stability in the pH range. The developed nanosensor exhibited FRET change after addition to NeuAc. The developed nanosensor was highly specific, exhibited pH stability, and detected NeuAc levels in the nanomolar to milimolar range. FLIP-SA was successfully introduced in bacterial and yeast cells and reported the real-time intracellular levels of NeuAc non-invasively. The FLIP-SA is an excellent tool for the metabolic flux analysis of the NeuAc biosynthetic pathway and, thus, may help unravel the regulatory mechanism of the metabolic pathway of NeuAc. Furthermore, FLIP-SA can be used for the high-throughput screening of mutant libraries for varied NeuAc production levels.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2021.621273 DOI Listing
A novel biogenic Allium cepa leaf mediated silver nanoparticles for antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer effects on MCF-7 cell line.
M Mani Mohammad K Okla S Selvaraj A Ram Kumar S Kumaresan Azhaguchamy Muthukumaran K Kaviyarasu Mohamed A El-Tayeb Yahya B Elbadawi Khalid S Almaary Bander Mohsen Ahmed Almunqedhi Mohamed Soliman Elshikh
Environ Res 2021 07 29;198:111199. Epub 2021 Apr 29.
Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.
In the present study, Allium cepa leaf extract was utilized to reduce the silver nitrate into the nanoscale range of silver ions (Ag NPs). The biosynthesized Ag NPs were extensively characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), Dynamic light scattering analysis (DLS), UV-Visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The antioxidant activity of synthesized Ag NPs was verified by DPPH assay. From the results obtained from XRD and DLS studies, the size of Ag NPs was determined to be around 54.3 nm. The measured zeta potential value of -19.1 mV confirms the excellent stability of biosynthesized Ag NPs. TEM analyses reveal that the biosynthesized Ag NPs have a spherical structure of 13 nm in size. The presence of various functional groups was confirmed through FTIR studies and EDAX verifies the weight percentage of silver content in biosynthesized nanoparticles to be 30.33%. In the present study, anti-cancer activity was carried out by using breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Further, silver nanoparticles exhibited antimicrobial effectiveness against gram-positive Bacillus cereus and gram-negative Escherichia coli. The MTT assay also showed better cytotoxic activity against the MCF- 7 cell line.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2021.111199 DOI Listing
FRET-Based Genetically Encoded Nanosensor for Real-Time Monitoring of the Flux of α-Tocopherol in Living Cells.
Habiba Kausar Ghazala Ambrin Mohammad K Okla Saud A Alamri Walid H Soufan Eid I Ibrahim Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud Altaf Ahmad
ACS Omega 2021 Apr 23;6(13):9020-9027. Epub 2021 Mar 23.
Department of Botany, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
Vitamin E plays an exemplary role in living organisms. α-Tocopherol is the most superior and active form of naturally occurring vitamin E that meets the requirements of human beings as it possesses the α-tocopherol transfer protein (α-TTP). α-Tocopherol deficiency can lead to severe anemia, certain cancers, several neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases, and most importantly male infertility. As a result of the depletion of its natural sources, researchers have tried to employ metabolic engineering to enhance α-tocopherol production to meet the human consumption demand. However, the metabolic engineering approach relies on the metabolic flux of a metabolite in its biosynthetic pathway. Analysis of the metabolic flux of a metabolite needs a method that can monitor the α-tocopherol level in living cells. This study was undertaken to construct a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer)-based nanosensor for monitoring the α-tocopherol flux in prokaryotic and eukaryotic living cells. The human α-TTP was sandwiched between a pair of FRET fluorophores to construct the nanosensor, which was denoted as FLIP-α (the fluorescence indicator for α-tocopherol). FLIP-α showed excellence in monitoring the α-tocopherol flux with high specificity. The sensor was examined for its pH stability for physiological applications, where it shows no pH hindrance to its activity. The calculated affinity of this nanosensor was 100 μM. It monitored the real-time flux of α-tocopherol in bacterial and yeast cells, proving its biocompatibility in monitoring the α-tocopherol dynamics in living cells. Being noninvasive, FLIP-α provides high temporal and spatial resolutions, which holds an indispensable significance in bioimaging metabolic pathways that are highly compartmentalized.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acsomega.1c00041 DOI Listing
Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of the Extracts of Different Parts of (Forssk.) Vierh.
Mohammad K Okla Abdulrahman A Alatar Saud S Al-Amri Walid H Soufan Altaf Ahmad Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud
Plants (Basel) 2021 Jan 28;10(2). Epub 2021 Jan 28.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
Increased problems associated with side effects and bacterial resistance of chemical drugs has prompted the research focus on herbal medicines in the past few decades. In the present investigation, the antimicrobial activity of the various parts of (AM), a mangrove plant, has been evaluated. The plants were collected from the Jazan area of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Primary extracts of roots, stem, leaves, fruits, and seeds were made in ethanol and fractioned in ethanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, chloroform, and water. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extracts were determined against , , , and . It has been observed that the chloroform extract of roots of the AM exhibited inhibitory effects against both (MIC = 1.5 ± 0.03 mg/mL) and (MIC = 1.7 ± 0.01 mg/mL). The ethanolic extract of the AM roots has shown antibacterial activity against (MIC = 10.8 ± 0.78 mg/mL) (MIC = 6.1 ± 0.27 mg/mL), (MIC = 2.3 ± 0.08 mg/mL), and (MIC = 6.3 ± 0.28 mg/mL). The leaf extract of the AM in ethyl acetate showed antibacterial activity against and . Antifungal activity of these extracts was also investigated against and Ethanolic extract of roots and seeds of the AM has shown antifungal activity against when applied individually. Ethanolic extract of the AM fruits has shown an inhibitory effect on the growth of and . It is suggested that the plant extracts of AM have tremendous antimicrobial activity against a group of microbes, and this effect depends on both the plant part and the solvent used for extraction. Therefore, this plant can be considered to treat various diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
A Non-Invasive Tool for Real-Time Measurement of Sulfate in Living Cells.
Urooj Fatima Mohammad K Okla Mohd Mohsin Ruphi Naz Walid Soufan Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Altaf Ahmad
Int J Mol Sci 2020 Apr 7;21(7). Epub 2020 Apr 7.
Department of Botany, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202001, India.
Sulfur (S) is an essential element for all forms of life. It is involved in numerous essential processes because S is considered as the primary source of one of the essential amino acids, methionine, which plays an important role in biological events. For the control and regulation of sulfate in a metabolic network through fluxomics, a non-invasive tool is highly desirable that opens the door to monitor the level of the sulfate in real time and space in living cells without fractionation of the cells or tissue. Here, we engineered a FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) based sensor for sulfate, which is genetically-encoded and named as FLIP-SP (Fluorescent indicator protein for sulfate). The FLIP-SP can measure the level of the sulfate in live cells. This sensor was constructed by the fusion of fluorescent proteins at the N- and C-terminus of sulfate binding protein (sbp). The FLIP-SP is highly specific to sulfate, and showed pH stability. Real-time monitoring of the level of sulfate in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells showed sensor bio-compatibility with living cells. We expect that this sulfate sensor offers a valuable strategy in the understanding of the regulation of the flux of sulfate in the metabolic network.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms21072572 DOI Listing
Metabolic Flux Analysis of Catechin Biosynthesis Pathways Using Nanosensor.
Habiba Kausar Ghazala Ambrin Mohammad K Okla Walid Soufan Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Altaf Ahmad
Antioxidants (Basel) 2020 Mar 31;9(4). Epub 2020 Mar 31.
(+)-Catechin is an important antioxidant of green tea ( (L.) O. Kuntze). Catechin is known for its positive role in anticancerous activity, extracellular matrix degradation, cell death regulation, diabetes, and other related disorders. As a result of enormous interest in and great demand for catechin, its biosynthesis using metabolic engineering has become the subject of concentrated research with the aim of enhancing (+)-catechin production. Metabolic flux is an essential concept in the practice of metabolic engineering as it helps in the identification of the regulatory element of a biosynthetic pathway. In the present study, an attempt was made to analyze the metabolic flux of the (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway in order to decipher the regulatory element of this pathway. Firstly, a genetically encoded fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET)-based nanosensor (FLIP-Cat, fluorescence indicator protein for (+)-catechin) was developed for real-time monitoring of (+)-catechin flux. characterization of the purified protein of the nanosensor showed that the nanosensor was pH stable and (+)-catechin specific. Its calculated was 139 µM. The nanosensor also performed real-time monitoring of (+)-catechin in bacterial cells. In the second step of this study, an entire (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway was constructed and expressed in in two sets of plasmid constructs: pET26b-PT7-rbs-PAL-PT7-rbs-4CL-PT7-rbs-CHS-PT7-rbs-CHI and pET26b-T7-rbs-F3H-PT7-rbs- DFR-PT7-rbs-LCR. The harboring the FLIP-Cat was transformed with these plasmid constructs. The metabolic flux analysis of (+)-catechin was carried out using the FLIP-Cat. The FLIP-Cat successfully monitored the flux of catechin after adding tyrosine, 4-coumaric acid, 4-coumaroyl CoA, naringenin chalcone, naringenin, dihydroquercetin, and leucocyanidin, individually, with the bacterial cells expressing the nanosensor as well as the genes of the (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway. Dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) was identified as the main regulatory element of the (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway. Information about this regulatory element of the (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway can be used for manipulating the (+)-catechin biosynthesis pathway using a metabolic engineering approach to enhance production of (+)-catechin.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/antiox9040288 DOI Listing
Development of an In Vitro Propagation Protocol and a Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) Marker of Wall. ex Ging.
Shipra Rani Jha Ruphi Naz Ambreen Asif Mohammad K Okla Walid Soufan Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Altaf Ahmad
Plants (Basel) 2020 Feb 14;9(2). Epub 2020 Feb 14.
An efficient protocol of plant regeneration through indirect organogenesis in was developed in the present study. Culture of leaf explants on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with 2.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine and 0.13 mg/L 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid. Adventitious shoot formation was observed when calli were transferred on to MS medium containing 0.5 mg/L α-naphthalene acetic acid and 2.25 mg/L kinetin, which showed the maximum 86% shoot regeneration frequency. The highest root frequency (80.92%) with the 5.6 roots per explant and 1.87 cm root length was observed on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid. The plantlets were transferred to the mixture of sand, coffee husk and soil in the ratio of 1:2:1 in a pot, and placed under 80% shade net for one month. It was then transferred to 30% shade net for another one month, prior to transplantation in the field. These plantlets successfully acclimatized under field conditions. A Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) marker was also developed using a 1135 bp amplicon that was obtained from RAPD (Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA) analysis of six accessions of Testing of several market samples of using the SCAR marker revealed successful identification of the genuine samples of This study, therefore, provides a proficient in vitro propagation protocol of using leaf explants and a SCAR marker for the authentic identification of . This study will be helpful for conservation of authentic .
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/plants9020246 DOI Listing
Novel halochromic cellulose nanowhiskers from rice straw: Visual detection of urea.
Tawfik A Khattab Moustafa M G Fouda Mohamed Rehan Mohammad K Okla Saudi A Alamri Ibrahim A Alaraidh Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Walid H Soufan Eslam M Abdelsalam Ahmed A Allam
Carbohydr Polym 2020 Mar 13;231:115740. Epub 2019 Dec 13.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 65211, Egypt.
Colorimetric nanocomposite film sensor was fabricated by incorporating TCFH spectroscopic probe into cellulose nanowhiskers (CNW)/Urease enzyme matrix. CNW-TCFH can be used as disposable molecular biosensor in which CNW is the probe carrier comprising high surface area-to-volume ratio, urease is the catalyst and TCFH is the molecular probe. Tricyanofuran-hydrazone (TCFH) spectroscopic probe was prepared. UV-vis absorption spectra demonstrated solvatochromic behavior and a reversible color change of the tricyanofuran-hydrazone probe solution in acetone under acid/base conditions. CNW were reinforced with sodium alginate biopolymer to introduce biocomposite film. This CNW-TCFH film biosensor responds through visible color shift from light yellow to pink when exposed to urea in aqueous media. The morphology properties of CNW and CNW-TCFH films were examined by different tools. The photophysical properties of the prepared TCFH probe, including solvatochromism and pH sensory, were also studied.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2019.115740 DOI Listing
Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic, and Neurobehavioral Effects of a Leaf Extract of on Autoimmune Diabetic Mice.
Mohammad K Okla Saud A Alamri Abdulrahman A Alatar Ahmed K Hegazy Abdullah A Al-Ghamdi Jamaan S Ajarem Mohammad Faisal Eslam M Abdel-Salam Hayssam M Ali Mohamed Z M Salem Mostafa A Abdel-Maksoud
Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2019 21;2019:1263260. Epub 2019 May 21.
Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disease that can affect the central nervous system and behavioral traits in animals. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes is considered an autoimmune disease. The aim of the current study was to determine whether supplementation with the alcoholic extract of leaves could improve diabetes-associated pathological changes. The animals were divided into four groups: a control group (A), an receiving nondiabetic group (B), a diabetic group (C), and a DM group orally supplemented with alcoholic leaf extract (D). The DM group of animals receiving the alcoholic extract of leaves had reduced blood glucose levels, improved blood picture, and organ functions. This group also showed improvement in locomotory behavior. The results of this study showed that supplementation with the alcoholic extract of leaves reduced oxidative stress and blood sugar levels, protected the liver, and improved the neurobehavioral changes associated with diabetes in mice. Introducing alcoholic leaf extract of to diabetic mice decreased inflammatory cells aggregation, vacuolation, and hemorrhage. Additionally, a positive effect of the alcoholic leaf extract on the histopathological changes was observed in the testicular tissue of treated mice.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/1263260 DOI Listing
Molecular and phytochemical analysis of wild type and olive cultivars grown under Saudi Arabian environment.
Abdullah A Abood Abdullah M Al-Ansari Hussein M Migdadi Mohammad K Okla Abdulaziz M Assaeed Ahmad K Hegazy Aref M Alshameri Mohamad Altaf Khan
3 Biotech 2017 Oct 24;7(5):289. Epub 2017 Aug 24.
Department of Plant Production College of Food and Agricultural Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This study aimed to assess genetic variability at molecular and phytochemical levels among the four most commonly grown olive cultivars and the wild-type olive of Saudi Arabia. Sixty-six and 80 amplicons were generated from 9 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers, each, producing an average of 95.9 and 86.44% polymorphism for the two markers, respectively. The PIC values were 82.2% for the RAPD and 85.4% for the ISSR markers and the discrimination power for both the markers was 11.1%. The UPGMA cluster analysis based on the RAPD and ISSR data resulted in the aggregation of cultivars and wild accession with a good bootstrapping value according to their origin. Furthermore, a total of 199 compounds were identified in the cultivars based on peak area, retention time, and molecular formula using GC-MS analyses of methanolic and ethanolic extracts. These compounds were classified according to their chemical class; most of them were fatty acids, alcoholic compounds, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, heterocyclic compounds, ketones, alkanes, and phenols. Genetic and phytochemical distances were significantly correlated, based on the Mantel test. The Saudi wild accession also had high numbers of fatty acids and their esters, and can be used in breeding programs for generating new genotypes with interesting characters.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s13205-017-0920-5 DOI Listing
Evaluation of Skin Surface as an Alternative Source of Reference DNA Samples: A Pilot Study.
Mohammed H Albujja Abdul Aziz Bin Dukhyil Abdul Rauf Chaudhary Ahmed Ch Kassab Ahmed M Refaat Saranya Ramesh Babu Mohammad K Okla Sachil Kumar
J Forensic Sci 2018 Jan 23;63(1):227-233. Epub 2017 Feb 23.
College of Forensic Sciences, Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, P.O. Box: 6830, Riyadh, 11452, Saudi Arabia.
An acceptable area for collecting DNA reference sample is a part of the forensic DNA analysis development. The aim of this study was to evaluate skin surface cells (SSC) as an alternate source of reference DNA sample. From each volunteer (n = 10), six samples from skin surface areas (forearm and fingertips) and two traditional samples (blood and buccal cells) were collected. Genomic DNA was extracted and quantified then genotyped using standard techniques. The highest DNA concentration of SSC samples was collected using the tape/forearm method of collection (2.1 ng/μL). Cotton swabs moistened with ethanol yielded higher quantities of DNA than swabs moistened with salicylic acid, and it gave the highest percentage of full STR profiles (97%). This study supports the use of SSC as a noninvasive sampling technique and as a extremely useful source of DNA reference samples among certain cultures where the use of buccal swabs can be considered socially unacceptable.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.13468 DOI Listing
Genotoxicity of ferric oxide nanoparticles in Raphanus sativus: Deciphering the role of signaling factors, oxidative stress and cell death.
Quaiser Saquib Mohammad Faisal Abdulrahman A Alatar Abdulaziz A Al-Khedhairy Mukhtar Ahmed Sabiha M Ansari Hend A Alwathnani Mohammad K Okla Sourabh Dwivedi Javed Musarrat Shelly Praveen Shams T Khan Rizwan Wahab Maqsood A Siddiqui Javed Ahmad
J Environ Sci (China) 2016 Sep 18;47:49-62. Epub 2016 Apr 18.
Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; A.R. Al-Jeraisy Chair for DNA Research, Zoology Department, College of Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.
We have studied the genotoxic and apoptotic potential of ferric oxide nanoparticles (Fe2O3-NPs) in Raphanus sativus (radish). Fe2O3-NPs retarded the root length and seed germination in radish. Ultrathin sections of treated roots showed subcellular localization of Fe2O3-NPs, along with the appearance of damaged mitochondria and excessive vacuolization. Flow cytometric analysis of Fe2O3-NPs (1.0mg/mL) treated groups exhibited 219.5%, 161%, 120.4% and 161.4% increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), nitric oxide (NO) and Ca(2+) influx in radish protoplasts. A concentration dependent increase in the antioxidative enzymes glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) has been recorded. Comet assay showed a concentration dependent increase in deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) strand breaks in Fe2O3-NPs treated groups. Cell cycle analysis revealed 88.4% of cells in sub-G1 apoptotic phase, suggesting cell death in Fe2O3-NPs (2.0mg/mL) treated group. Taking together, the genotoxicity induced by Fe2O3-NPs highlights the importance of environmental risk associated with improper disposal of nanoparticles (NPs) and radish can serve as a good indicator for measuring the phytotoxicity of NPs grown in NP-polluted environment.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2015.12.037 DOI Listing


Lori's Gift Shop at Atrium Health Cleveland offers a variety of gifts for all patients. We are located in the lobby next to the main entrance.
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The gift shop is closed for hospital-recognized holidays.


Alright, here it is the return of Superstar Spotlight! Just for a refresher, if you are curious about ANY superstar send me a message and I'll spotlight your request. This will include Revolution superstars as well. I will also allow for previously done superstars to be revisited as well. This game changes with every set, so I have no issue with repeated superstars. That being said here is our next superstar.
Please keep those requests coming. Today's is another 'request' in Summer Rae!!!!!
Diva Superstar Ability: When your maneuver with 'precision' in the title is unsuccessfully played, you may put it on the bottom of your Arsenal instead.
You can pack Summer of Slam and Superior Leg Work (it is F:0 and not Raw).
When your maneuver with 'precision' in the title is unsuccessfully played, choose one: your opponent puts 1 random card from his hand on the bottom of his Arsenal, or he discards 1 random Backlash card; when you have lower Fortitude and fewer cards in hand, choose both options, and when you have at least 5 lower Fortitude, you may put Superior Leg Work from your Backlash or Ringside into your Ring.
Cannot be blanked. This card does not take up a Pre-match slot in your Ring.
At the end of the Pre-match phase, draw 3 cards, discard 3 cards, and put up to 3 cards from Ringside on the bottom of your Arsenal.
When you are Summer Rae, your maneuvers are -1F for every different non-Backlash card in your Ring that is either Summer Rae-specific, or is a non-Run-in Action with 'diva' in the text or title.
Your Summer Rae-specific maneuvers and your maneuvers with 'kick', 'leg', 'snap', or 'spin' in the title are also considered to have 'precision' in the title, and your maneuvers with 'precision' in the title are -2F for each maneuver with 'precision' in the title in your Ring.
At the end of the Pre-match phase, if your Superstar opponent is not on this card, he must randomly discard 1 card from his Backlash deck to his Ringside pile.
Your opponent randomly discards 2 cards from his Backlash deck.
As a maneuver, this card is +6D.
As a reversal, reverse any non-Unique Submission or non-Superstar-specific Mid-match maneuver; when that maneuver has 'panic' in the title, your opponent discards 2 cards.
When this card is in your Ring area, when you successfully play a maneuver, draw 1 card or your opponent discards 1 card.
As a maneuver, this card is -6F, and when your opponent is a female Superstar or when played after a successfully played maneuver, cannot be reversed from hand or Backlash.
As a reversal, ignore any reversal restrictions from a card with 'clutch' or 'diva' in the title or text, and reverse any card with 'clutch' or 'diva' in the title or text.
As a maneuver, this card is +4D and cannot be reversed by A Revolution of the Mind; your opponent discards 1 card.
As a reversal, reverse any card with 'turnbuckle' in the text.
When played, you may overturn up to 5 cards, and this card is -2F for each card overturned.
Shuffle up to 3 cards from Ringside into your Arsenal and your opponent discard 1 random card.
When your opponent is a Female Superstar, or when played after a successfully played maneuver with 'precision' in the title, this card is Multi.
He reveals his hand, choose 1 card, and he discards the chosen card.
Ignore any Reversal restrictions from a card and reverse any non-Superstar-specific card.
During your turn when this card is in your hand, you may reveal it, shuffle it into your Arsenal, and your next maneuver played this turn with 'precision' in the title is +2D.
When you are Sasha Banks, this card is -4F and not a Run-in.
Completely reverse any non-Superstar-specific Unique card, and put the reversed card into your opponent's hand instead.
Search your Arsenal for 1 card, put it in your hand, and shuffle.
Shuffle up to 1 card from your Ringside and 1 card removed from the game into your Arsenal, and put up to 1 card from Ringside into your Backlash.
When this card is in your Ring, your Summer Rae-specific cards are -1F and +1 Stun Value.
When your opponent is a Diva, this card requires 3 reversals instead of 2 to reverse.
Put up to 3 cards from your Ringside into your hand, shuffle up to 3 cards from your Ringside into your Arsenal, and he overturns 3 cards; when you are Charlotte, add 1 to each of those numbers.
Put any number of cards from your hand and up to the same number of cards from your Ringside on the bottom of your Arsenal, and then draw up to the same number of cards; you may shuffle.
When your next card played is a non-Unique maneuver without 'reversed' in the text, it cannot be reversed by non-Unique reversals from hand or Backlash.
Cannot be reversed when you have a Bella Twins card in your Ring.
Shuffle up to # cards from your Ringside into your Arsenal, and your opponent overturns # cards, where # is equal to the number of cards in your Ring with 'diva' in the title or text and cannot be greater than 5. Draw up to 2 cards.
This is a tricky question, since her viability depends on the factor of "did you get Superior Leg Work on your ring or not".
Most of her superstar specific cards play around countering other divas or giving very small and conditional fortitude, but once Superior Leg Work hits the ring every maneuver you throw becomes a prisoner's dilemma.
3, since they are the core of her power.
Thanks to her backstage and It's Summer Time, your Quick Snap Body Slam becomes a nightmare to reverse, combined with Flawless Transition and your first maneuver either becomes free 4 fortitude or "kill 5 cards from your hand just to reverse plus reversals".
Heck, here's my decklist, have fun.
1 Here Comes the Cavalry!
2 Get the "F" Out!
I got to the final of the last Lackey tournament with it (and i swear to god i would have won if i had drawn at least 1 reversal on the finals). Like i said, every move you throw is a prisoner's dilemma, forcing them to discard from Superior Leg Work if successful or forcing them to bury a random card from hand if not.
Only built her in VC. She has potential, specially against other divas, but her maneuvers and actions are very lackluster against males.
She has a lot of potential, and i'm sure a better player would be able to break her.


COMPETITIVE FINANCE PACKAGES AVAILABLE - PLEASE ASK FOR FURTHER DETAIL. EXTENDABLE WARRANTY AVAILABLE.
This Ford Transit 2 door Tipper registration HY13ZVE has a 2.2 Diesel engine with a Manual gearbox and is finished in the colour White. The CO2 emissions are measured at 219 g/km.


Minutes of council meetings will be posted here after they are approved. Minutes will stay on-line for a period of one year. Copies of previous minutes can be accessed at the Town Office.
All meetings start at 6:30 pm and any delegation wishing to meet with the Town Council need to contact the town administration staff prior to the meeting so arrangements can be made. The deadline for the submission of articles for the Town Council to discuss is the Monday prior to the scheduled meeting. This gives the administration staff the opportunity to prepare packages for each councillor.


text:
Pedro Esteves Coelho, (? - f. 1361) fue un ricohombre portugués consejero del rey Alfonso IV.

Estuvo implicado en el asesinato de Inés de Castro, de la poderosa Casa de Castro. Fue ejecutado por órdenes del rey Pedro I de Portugal, amante de doña Inés.

Biografía
Los Coelho estaban establecidos en Portugal desde el siglo de hierro, más precisamente en la región de Entre Douro e Minho y Riba de Mouro. Según Manuel Abranches de Soveral, eran descendientes de Lourenço Viegas de Ribadouro "el espadeiro" (1110-1160), Egas Moniz "el Aio" (1080-1146) y de Monio Viegas I de Ribadouro "el Gasco" (950-1022), un caballero medieval que participó en las cruzadas cristianas contra los moros.
Sus padres eran Maria Mendes Petite y Estevao Coelho, un cortesano de Alfonso III. Llegó a ganarse la confianza de Alfonso IV de Portugal y se convirtió en un cercano colaborador. Participó en política durante los conflictos dinásticos entre Portugal y el Reino de Castilla (que culminaría en el interregno de 1383-1385). Fue tutor del infante Pedro, futuro rey Pedro I, quién había contraído matrimonio con Constanza Manuel de Villena, una hija del escritor Don Juan Manuel, pero a la vez tenía un amorío con Inés de Castro, cuya familia estaba emparentada directamente con la corona de Castilla. El vínculo con Inés empieza a ser visto como una amenaza para el reino por parte de los portugueses.

En 1345 el rey Alfonso traslada su corte a Montemor-o-Velho y organiza operaciones con el objetivo de impedir la unión del infante con los Castro.

Los consejeros Pedro Coelho, Álvaro Gonçalves y Diego López Pacheco son señalados como los más incisivos en presionar al rey para asesinar a Inés de Castro. Pese al rechazo de otros consejeros como João Domingues de Beja, no debió el rey oponerse, puesto que ese día de 1355 entraron los tres hombres a la Quinta das Lágrimas y degollaron a Inés de Castro. Los asesinos consiguen fugarse a España con la complicidad de Alfonso IV.

Al fallecer Alfonso en 1357, Coelho y Gonçalves son capturados y ajusticiados por el infante ya coronado rey Pedro I de Portugal. Diego López Pacheco logra escapar y más tarde se le perdonaría la vida.

A Coelho le fue arrancado el corazón desde el pecho y a Gonçalves desde la espalda. Una respuesta famosa que dio Coelho antes de ser torturado fue; «Achá-lo-ás mais forte que o de um touro e mais leal do que o de um cavalo», «Me encontrarás más fuerte que un toro y más leal que un caballo».

Escritores de tinte nacionalista como Manuel José da Costa Felgueiras Gaio, José Leite de Vasconcelos y Herberto Helder de Oliveira, presentan a Alfonso IV y a sus tres consejeros como heraldos de la soberanía lusitana, ante un inminente conflicto dinástico y la posible anexión de Portugal al antiguo Reino de Castilla..

La leyenda conocida aunque no constatada por la historia, cuenta que Inés fue coronada de manera póstuma en 1357. Relatan que el rey Pedro tomó su cadáver en descomposición avanzada y lo colocó en el trono, obligando a la corte y a todos los allí presentes a besarle la mano. Algunos historiadores atribuyen esta leyenda a la antigua costumbre portuguesa de besar la mano de los reyes difuntos.

Referencias

Bibliografía
 Manuel Abranches de Soveral , Visienses. Ensayo genealógico sobre la nobleza de Viseu. Siglos XIV al XVII , Porto 2004, ISBN 972-97430-6-1 .
De Oliveira Marques, A.H., Historia de Portugal

Nobles de Portugal del siglo XIV
Ejecutados de Portugal
Ejecutados por asesinato
Barcelenses

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


2 Put a knife to your throat, If you are a man given to appetite.
3 Don't be desirous of his dainties, Seeing they are deceitful food.
4 Don't weary yourself to be rich. In your wisdom, show restraint.
5 Why do you set your eyes on that which is not? For it certainly sprouts wings like an eagle and flies in the sky.
7 For as he thinks about the cost, so he is. 'Eat and drink!' he says to you, But his heart is not with you.
8 The morsel which you have eaten you shall vomit up, And lose your good words.
9 Don't speak in the ears of a fool, For he will despise the wisdom of your words.
11 For their Defender is strong. He will plead their case against you.
13 Don't withhold correction from a child. If you punish him with the rod, he will not die.
14 Punish him with the rod, And save his soul from Sheol.
16 Yes, my heart will rejoice, When your lips speak what is right.
17 Don't let your heart envy sinners; But rather fear Yahweh all the day long.
18 Indeed surely there is a future hope, And your hope will not be cut off.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise, And keep your heart on the right path!
21 For the drunkard and the glutton shall become poor; And drowsiness clothes them in rags.
22 Listen to your father who gave you life, And don't despise your mother when she is old.
23 Buy the truth, and don't sell it: Get wisdom, discipline, and understanding.
24 The father of the righteous has great joy. Whoever fathers a wise child delights in him.
25 Let your father and your mother be glad! Let her who bore you rejoice!
26 My son, give me your heart; And let your eyes keep in my ways.
27 For a prostitute is a deep pit; And a wayward wife is a narrow well.
28 Yes, she lies in wait like a robber, And increases the unfaithful among men.
29 Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes?
30 Those who stay long at the wine; Those who go to seek out mixed wine.
32 At the last it bites like a snake, And poisons like a viper.
33 Your eyes will see strange things, And your mind will imagine confusing things.


text:
Secondary Growth Vascular Cork Cambium
Secondary Growth: Vascular Cambium and Cork Cambium
Growth can be referred to a permanent increase in size, length, width and changes in the shape and mass of an organism. These changes may occur over a period of time.
Most of the plants continue to grow throughout their lifetimes, and they grow through the combinations of cell growth and cell divisions. In plants, the growth is connected with the regions of meristems. They are the specialized tissues, composed of undifferentiated cells, basically, stem cells. The primary meristems of the plants are called apical meristems and are responsible for the growth of the roots and stems.
When a plant arises from seed or its vegetative parts, it necessarily grows into a plant with leaves, stems, and roots. This is called primary growth, and it develops from the apical meristem. As time passes, besides elongation of the roots and stems, the circumference of the plants starts to increase, and it is called secondary growth.
Secondary growth is a characteristic feature of dicotyledons. Most of the monocotyledons lack secondary growth.
Also refer: Anatomy of Monocot And Dicot Plants
Let us go through the secondary growth notes to explore the types of secondary growth in plants such as vascular cambium and cork cambium.
Secondary Growth in Plants
As mentioned earlier, primary growth is the effort of the apical meristem. The lateral meristem tissues are responsible for the secondary growth of plants.
The secondary growth of plants increase in stem thickness and it is due to the activity of the lateral meristems, which are absent in herbs or herbaceous plants. There are two types of lateral tissues involved in secondary growth, namely, vascular cambium and cork cambium.
Explore more Growth and Development
Vascular Cambium
In the primary stage, a layer of meristematic plant tissues is sandwiched between vascular tissues- primary xylem and phloem. This layer is not continuous but appears as patches. On maturity, these patches develop and separate the vascular tissues. This tissue is called vascular cambium. They form the cambial ring in plants.
Formation of the cambial ring can be explained by recalling the anatomy of dicot stems. In a dicotyledonous stem, the primary xylem and primary phloem are separated by cambium cells called intrafascicular cambium. During secondary growth, the medullary rays adjacent to the intrafascicular cambium develop into meristematic tissue and are called interfascicular cambium. Both intrafascicular and interfascicular cambiums form a continuous ring called cambial ring.
An active cambial ring initiates differentiation of new cells; numerous cells are formed towards the centre and periphery regions. The cells in the centre, mature into secondary xylem while the periphery cells mature into the secondary phloem. Depending on the activity of the cambial ring, two types of woods are formed- spring or earlywood and winter or latewood. These two kinds of wood together constitute the annual ring in a tree.
Cork Cambium
In woody plants, cork cambium is the outermost lateral meristem. Cork cambium, also called phellogen, is another meristematic tissue developed in the cortex region. Due to the cambial ring activity, the outer layers such as cortex cells and epidermis get crushed. This is the time when the cork cambium develops as a new protective layer. Cork cambium starts to differentiate cells and form outer cork (phellem) and inner secondary cortex (phelloderm). Phellogen, phellem, and phelloderm, all together make up the periderm. Non-technically, the secondary phloem and periderm are collectively called the bark of a tree.
Learn more about types of secondary growth, vascular cambium and cork cambium by referring to the secondary growth notes at BYJU'S website. Download the BYJU'S app for further reference.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Sarah Shallbetter is an artist based in Somerville, MA who works with mediums including collage, gouache, and printmaking. She received her BA in Studio Arts from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities and pursues making art with omnivorous curiosity. Shallbetter has exhibited across the U.S. and internationally. Her works can be found in private and public collections including the Boston Public Library Print Collection.


Oksana Parsuto is our Russian/Eastern European sales executive. Oksana was born in Latvia and graduated from the Russian Baltic Institute with a degree in PR & business marketing.
With a good understanding of Eastern European culture and markets, Oksana combines her business and marketing to provide high-quality products to the customers.
Oksana joined Kahn Design to help with the development of the Kahn brand throughout Russia and CIS countries.
Please click here to email Oksana.


text:
Theater review: Central City Opera's "Man of La…
Theater review: Central City Opera's "Man of La Mancha" is darkly brilliant
Robert Orth, left, as Don Quixote, with Lucy Schaufer as Aldonza/Dulcinea in Central City Opera's "Man of La Mancha."
By Claire Martin | The Denver Post
PUBLISHED: July 23, 2015 at 11:32 am | UPDATED: April 24, 2016 at 3:37 am
Central City Opera's "Man of La Mancha" is as dark as it is sentimental, an argument for sustaining hope in a pitiless universe.
Inspired by Miguel de Cervantes' 1651 epic "Don Quixote," the play begins as Cervantes and his manservant are tossed into a Spanish Inquisition prison. They join a disparate crowd of rapists, thieves and vagabonds who immediately stage a mock trial.
* * * ½ Musical
In his own defense, Cervantes stages a play about a visionary, aging knight-errant whose goal is to fight injustice. (Was Don Quixote the world's first superhero?) The other inmates are incredulous, then amused, and eventually absorbed by the story.
The prisoners drop hints about the parts they'll play. Aldonza (Lucy Schaufer) pops one of the guards in the face, foreshadowing her resistance to Don Quixote's chaste affections. Pedro (Alexander James York) leads a swaggering group of thugs who will be the problematic muleteers. The prison governor, hefty and multiply tattooed (Adelmo Guidarelli), becomes Quixote's protector.
Robert Orth plays Don Quixote. In Orth's interpretation, Quixote is determined but alarmingly frail, his eyes as bright as his flesh is faded. And his hair! It's worse than Donald Trump's, and equally convincing.
He comes to life when he seeks a token from the tart Aldonza, whom he sees as Dulcinea, the lady he serves in chivalry, but founders when he's abused by the vicious men who rape Aldonza. (That scene accounts for the production's PG rating, and it's pretty brutal.)
Court Watson's set is deceptively simple, with a lot of chairs and a couple of trunks and garment racks for costumes and props. Quixote's horse and Sancho's donkey are played, mostly for comic effect, by two actresses wearing skeletal masks like those used in "Equus."
Director Paul Curran and conductor Adam Turner keep a brisk pace — sometimes too brisk. Quixote's famous fight with a windmill is nearly over before it begins. And the Moorish dance scene suggests Bollywood, but that's not bad, just novel.
When "Man of La Mancha" was released as a movie in 1972, making "The Impossible Dream" a popular hit that's a standard at piano lounges, it suggested the (perhaps quixotic) hopefulness of the growing social justice community.
In 2015, in the wake of publicized and suppressed evidence of police-civilian conflicts, it feels more like an anachronism. Orth rallies the audience to join in "The Impossible Dream," but today, do we put the emphasis on "impossible" or on "dream"?
Claire Martin: 303-954-1477, cmartin@denverpost.com or twitter.com/byclairemartin
"MAN OF LA MANCHA"
Written by Dale Wasserman, music by Mitch Leigh, lyrics by Joe Darion. Featuring Robert Orth, Keith Jameson, Lucy Schaufer, Adelmo Guidarelli and April Martin. Through Aug. 9 at Central City Opera House, 124 Eureka St., Central City. Tickets at 303-292-6700 or online at centralcityopera.org
Claire Martin
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Nostalgic millennials rejoice: The Power Rangers are coming to Denver in 2018
Do kids even watch this show anymore?
A sci-fi ballet? With "Celestial Navigation," Wonderbound marries the two
"Celestial Navigation" is the story of a young woman using her hot-air balloon to travel the universe to rescue her husband, a theoretical physicist, who has been kidnapped by space pirates.
Can they get an amen? Vintage Theatre goes to church with "Crowns: A Gospel Musical"
"Crowns: A Gospel Musical" at Vintage Theatre brings to the stage Craig Marberry's book "Crowns: Portraits of Black Women in Church Hats."


2018 Riso Workshop in Milano during Sprint – Milano Book Fair with eurostandard. 2018 Workshop in Mexico city at CENTRO during Swiss Design Mexico with Angelo Benedetto, ECAL. Since September 2017 working as a Teaching Assistant at ECAL for the Graphic Design department. 2017 Design Residency in Hong Kong. 2017 Workshop at the HKDI – Hong Kong Design Institute. 2016 Teaching at the HKDI – HongKong Design Institute. 2016 Graduated from ECAL with a Bachelor in Visual Communication in Graphic Design.


I have confusion that how to divide sentence into chunks so that I can use slight pause between each chunk while reading?
For example: The capacity of methodical exercise (short pause) to lower spending on medications (short pause) is unquestionable.Take diabetes victims as an illustration: The more time they spend on outdoor actions,(short pause) the less amount they pay out (short pause)on medications and other treatments.
Please see above example in which "short pause" is used where new chunk began within the sentence.I know that there should be "short pause" and "long pause" when there is comma and full stop respectively. But don't know how to divide sentence into chunks so that "short pause" I use.
As John Lawler says in his comment, you need to know about constituent structure, i.e., parsing. Put a long pause between the two major sub parts of an expression, then short pause between sub sub parts of each of those parts. This will often work pretty well, but it is only a rough guide, and I don't know the details of how it actually does work.
And, also as John says, what you refer to as pauses are not necessarily literally periods of silence. They may instead reflect length or emphasis on a preceding syllable.
Short pauses in writing are indicated by commas, but the use of commas is strictly regulated as far as correct punctuation is concerned. Find a simple book that explains punctuation. In your example, the only indicated pause (where you want one) is at the comma after "outdoor actions".
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged grammar phrases reading or ask your own question.
Can anyone break down this sentence into more modern terms?


text:
Blue Star Gold To Mobilize 2021 Exploration Drilling Program In Early June
Vancouver, British Columbia – May 26, 2021 – Blue Star Gold Corp. (TSXV: BAU) (FSE: 5WP) ("Blue Star" or the "Company") announces that it plans to mobilize its summer exploration program in early June 2021. The program will entail a minimum 5,000 metre diamond drilling program designed to test high priority targets on its Ulu and Hood River projects and further refinement of target areas throughout its highly prospective landholdings.
Blue Star is the largest title holder in the highly prospective and underexplored High Lake Greenstone Belt in Nunavut, controlling ~45 km of the Belt.
The Company holds a 100% interest in 3 projects including the Ulu Gold project, the contiguous Hood River project and the recently acquired Roma project.
The Ulu Project hosts the Flood Zone deposit, where a significant high-grade gold resource has been outlined.
Excellent resource expansion potential exists in a robust pipeline of prospects with drill ready targets.
The first ever GIS compilation of historic data followed by integration with 3D modelling of the extensive Ulu database has resulted in the definition of a refined mineralization model for the Flood Zone and led to the definition of numerous high-potential target areas.
Targets for the upcoming program are prioritized based on impact to existing resources and potential scale of new discoveries (closer to Flood Zone deposit is better):
Multiple 1st priority targets occur within ~1km radius of the Flood Zone including Axis, Central Corridor and East Limb,
Numerous 2nd priority targets exist along the 5 km long Ulu Fold which extends from the Flood Zone deposit onto the contiguous Hood River project up to the North Fold Nose,
Several prospective areas on the east side of the Hood River project and the Roma project will undergo further target refinement in preparation for drill testing in the future.
This will be the first program developed and operated by Blue Star's new team that has been involved with important gold discoveries in Nunavut.
Blue Star's CEO, Grant Ewing, commented, "The 2021 exploration program will be the first drilling conducted following an extensive review and compilation of the entire historic Ulu dataset, and the first program led by the Company's new technical team that has a long history of success in Nunavut. Numerous high-quality targets will be tested during the upcoming program with a focus on areas proximal to the existing high-grade Flood Zone gold resource. The extent of the high-grade gold showings and the presence of different styles of gold mineralization throughout our projects present the Company with multiple opportunities for new discovery and resource growth."
Exploration Program Summary
The Ulu lease and the contiguous Hood River property together encompass greater than 9,000 hectares of highly prospective exploration ground. The recent acquisition of the prospective and underexplored Roma property that lies approximately 30 km north increased the Company's landholdings by 7,683 hectares in the High Lake Greenstone Belt. An application to add additional contiguous land to further consolidate the greenstone belt is in process.
The Ulu lease hosts the advanced stage Flood Zone gold deposit, where a significant high-grade gold resource has been outlined. Several additional gold zones (including but not limited to Zebra, Contact, Central, Axis, and Gnu prospects) are spatially related to the axis of the 5 km long Ulu Fold which extends from the Ulu lease onto the northern part of the Hood River property and culminates at the North Fold Nose Zone. The eastern side of the Hood River property is contiguous to the Ulu lease, and hosts over twenty known gold showings. The promise of the Hood River prospects are anchored in the similar stratigraphic sequence and same deformation history (including tight folding) as the Flood Zone. One of the most prospective target areas on the eastern Hood River property is the 4 km long Crown-Pro trend which has seen only limited drilling.
The geologic setting and style of gold mineralization at the Roma project is similar to that found at the Ulu and Hood River projects. Based on historical data compilation, multiple significant gold showings are present on the property within a 6.5 km by 2.4 km area, including several drill ready targets. No follow up drilling is known to have been completed on this property after BHP's initial drill program in the 1990's which returned a best interval of 12.38 g/t Au over 2.31 m from a limited program (Roma Main). Approximately 4 km southwest of Roma Main is the Roma Fold which is defined by numerous high-grade gold showings within a 1.6 km x 0.55 km area on the east limb of an anticlinal fold structure adjacent to the Kennarctic Shear Zone; all these target areas in the anticline remain undrilled.
The results of the extensive GIS compilation and targeting work that has been completed has yielded numerous high priority, near surface targets on the Ulu property. Many of these targets occur within ~1km of the high-grade Flood Zone deposit. Several of these priority areas will be tested during the current program including the Axis, Central Corridor and East Limb targets. The majority of the high-priority target areas outside of the Flood Zone have only been tested with relatively shallow drilling, and the potential throughout the properties to host new discoveries at depth is considered high.
The secondary exploration focus will be testing targets along the 5 km long Ulu fold and regional targeting/testing over the extensive and highly prospective Hood River and Roma projects, where numerous high-grade gold showings exist.
History and Geology of the Ulu, Hood River and Roma Gold Properties
The Ulu and Hood River properties are located approximately 525 km NNE of Yellowknife, NT in the Kitikmeot region of western Nunavut. Kugluktuk is approximately 210 km to the NW. The Roma property lies approximately 30 km north of the Hood River property.
The Ulu property consists of a renewable 21-year mining lease and covers an area of approximately 947 ha. The lease hosts an advanced gold project (Flood Zone) that between 1989 and 2012 saw significant exploration and development by BHP Minerals and Echo Bay Mines, among others. The past work includes approximately 1.7 km of underground development and approximately 405 diamond drill holes that produced 88,330m of core on the Flood Zone. The Flood Zone contains the bulk of the Ulu gold resource and is open on-strike and at depth. Overall resources of 2.50 million tonnes grading 7.53 g/t Au for 605,000 gold ounces (measured & indicated category) and 1.26 million tonnes grading 5.57 g/t Au for 226,000 gold ounces (inferred category) have been estimated for the Flood and Gnu Zones (refer to "Technical Report on the Ulu Gold Property, Nunavut, Canada" dated July 10, 2015). The deepest intersection of potentially mineable width at the Flood Zone is 14.9 g/t Au over 7.7 m in BHP's drill hole 90VD-75 at 610 m below surface. Metallurgical testing on the Flood Zone gold mineralization has shown that gold is recoverable in amounts greater than 90% by gravity, flotation and cyanidation.
Supplementing the high-grade gold resources, the Ulu project includes a substantial inventory of capital equipment, a camp with shop and a 1,200 m long airstrip.
The Hood River property is contiguous to the Ulu lease to the north, east and south. The property is held through a renewable, 20-year Mineral Exploration Agreement with Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. The highly prospective property encompasses 8,015 ha. A large number of high-grade gold showings occur throughout the property which provide for excellent resource expansion potential at multiple targets. The main exploration target for the property is shear-hosted gold mineralization similar to the Flood Zone on the adjacent Ulu lease.
The series of the gold showings and prospects that occur on trend and north of the Flood Zone are thought to be related to the ~5 km long Ulu Fold which hosts the Flood Zone and extends to the North Fold Nose Zone. At least five gold prospects have been identified to date on this key structural feature.
The Roma project consists 7,683 ha in the northern section of the High Lake Greenstone Belt. These claims cover high grade gold showings discovered by previous explorers, notably BHP Minerals from 1988 to 1994. Multiple significant gold showings are present within a 6.5 km x 2.4 km area on the historic Roma claim block. The original showing is a 0.30 to 3.0 m wide quartz vein exposed in outcrop and boulders for 2.0 km. In 1991, BHP drilled 10 shallow holes totalling 465 metres to test 1.72 km of strike of the vein. All drill holes intersected quartz veins from 15 m to 37 m vertically below surface. Visible gold was noted in three of the drillholes and the best results were 12.38 g/t Au over 2.31 m (including 64.0 g/t Au over 0.37 m) from DDH MD-01 and 8.69 g/t Au over 1.87 m from MD-03. No drilling was conducted downdip of the high-grade intersection in DDH MD-01 and no step out drilling to the north from this intercept was conducted. No follow up drilling is known to have been completed on this property since BHP's initial drill program in the 1990's.
Additional discoveries on Roma were made in 1993 approximately 4 km southwest of the original quartz vein in a structurally complex area with polyphase deformation. Twelve showings were found in a 1.6 km x 0.55 km area on the east limb of an anticlinal fold structure adjacent to the Kennarctic Shear Zone. Gold values up to 5.6 g/t Au were reported from a 1.0 to 2.5 m wide, north trending quartz-ankerite vein traceable for 350 m. Several additional showings are present between the zones mentioned above and the highest-grade sample assayed 5.52 g/t Au. All these gold showings in the anticline remain undrilled. Other gold showings with gold grades up to 6.1 g/t Au are found between the anticline hosted mineralization and the original Roma vein.
The site of the future deep-water port at Grays Bay is 40 – 100 km to the north of the properties, and the proposed route corridor for the all-weather Grays Bay road passes in close proximity to the Roma, Ulu and Hood River projects.
The Company conducted its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on May 14, 2021. All resolutions put forward for approval by shareholders were approved, including the reappointment of the Company's Board of Directors for the ensuing year. In addition, the 2021 exploration program discussed above was approved by the Board of Directors.
Blue Star is focused on gold exploration and development within Nunavut, Canada. The Company owns the Ulu Gold Property lease, an advanced gold and silver project, and the highly prospective Hood River Property that is contiguous to the Ulu mining lease. With the recent acquisition of the Roma Project, Blue Star now controls 16,645 hectares of highly prospective and underexplored mineral properties in the High Lake Greenstone Belt, Nunavut. A significant high-grade gold resource exists at the Flood Zone deposit (Ulu lease), and numerous high-grade gold occurrences and priority targets occur throughout the Ulu, Hood River and Roma projects.
Blue Star is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol: BAU and on the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol: 5WP. For further information on the Company and its projects, please visit our website: www.bluestargold.ca.
Blue Star Gold Corp.


Staying positive, making smiles and being yourself are the traits that Ivan Rakitic uses to excel in his football career.
How do you turn losing the World Cup Final into a career highlight? Ask Ivan Rakitic, the Croatia and Barcelona midfielder who uses positivity, a smile and staying true to himself as ways to overcome on-field pressure, heartbreaking losses and fitting into a team.
Reflecting on the extraordinary year that was 2018, the 30-year-old still basks in the unforgettable memories from Russia, as well as the euphoria felt back in Croatia.
When we started out in the World Cup against Nigeria, we just thought about that game. Of course, we wanted to be world champions, but we were always focused on our next game. There was a really positive atmosphere within the team and this grew as the weeks went on. Time went so fast as we were enjoying every minute of it.
I focused on remembering a recent holiday we had or a call I did with them on FaceTime.
In the game against Russia the whole stadium was for them which is normal. But it was actually the coolest game for us. The atmosphere was unbelievable and that's the most important thing.
The ultimate present we gave to Croatia was a reason to smile. For a country of four and a half million people we gave them so many really special days. They enjoyed them all much more than we actually did in Russia.
"For our arrival in Zagreb it was planned we would take one and a half hours to get from the airport to the main square, but it took seven and a half hours because there were so many people on the road. It was just amazing.
"So many people came up to us to say, 'After these hard years, it's the best day of my life'. Grandfathers crying, saying 'thank you' 20 times over. For us the most important thing was the smiles we gave them.
I've played in three different leagues, with many clubs, under many coaches and I always prepare my work and prepare what's expected of me. The pressure can be different, the expectations can be different, but I have to be ready for that.
When I come into a new team I just want to show who I am. I would like to do things like Leo (Messi) but I can't. What I do is give my best for the whole team and just be me.
Ivan, thank you for the amazing summer, like you said, you and the whole team put smile to our faces. I will remember as long as I live.
And amazing play in Barça. It is beautiful to watch to play.


A police chase in Southern California had a weird ending on Tuesday night when a suspect broke into dance on Laurel Canyon Boulevard while police had their guns drawn.
During the arrest, three highway patrol officers had their guns pointed towards the driver as he backed away from the car on a shut-down road and barked orders at him.
The suspect suddenly breaks into a short dance routine, shuffling his feet and flailing his arms while doing several spins and bending at the waist to touch his toes.
The dance sequence lasts about 15 seconds and the man then begins to follow police orders by lifting up his shirt to show he is not armed.
Before the dancing incident, the suspect led California Highway Patrol cops on a pursuit from Sherman Oaks to Pacoima in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.
Police initiated a "PIT maneuver" where they intentionally hit the suspect's car, causing him to spin out and come to a stop near Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Van Nuys Boulevard.
Once the suspect stopped dancing, the officers took him into custody. Charges against him are pending.