Background Applying microbial biostimulants during crop cultivation allows for higher sustainability levels. It reduces the need for fertilizers and environmental contaminants while enhancing plant quality. This study assessed 13 endophytic bacteria, 4 newly isolated, and 9 donated, for plant growth-promoting capabilities. Quantitative assessments of indole acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), siderophores, ammonia, exopolysaccharides, volatile HCN, and phosphate solubilization, along with Bray–Curtis cluster analyses were performed. Results Upon the results  we selected RhizobiumMAP7, Brevibacillus DesertYSK, Pseudomonas MAP8, BacillusMAP3, Brevibacillus MAP, and Bacillus DeltaYSK to evaluate their effects on Lactuca sativa growth and pigmentation in a 30-day greenhouse pot experiment. Both Brevibacillus DesertYSK and Rhizobium MAP7surpassed other strains in growth promotional effects. They doubled shoot length (12 and 12.3 cm, respectively, when compared with 7 cm for control after 30 days), and fresh weight (0.079 and 0.084 g, respectively, when compared with 0.045 g for control after 30 days), and increased root length by at least 3-fold when compared with control (4.5 and 3.5 cm, respectively, when compared with 1.2 cm for control after 30 days). Chlorophyll content also exhibited at least a 2-fold significant increase in response to bacterization compared with control. Conclusions This strain superiority was consistent with the in vitro assays data that showed strains capability as IAA and GA3producers. Also, strains were highly capable ammonia and siderophore producers and phosphate solubilizers, providing considerable hormone and nutrient levels for L. sativa plantsleading to improved growth parameters and appearance. These data support the notion that nodule-based bacteria are potential plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) that may be used on a wider scale rather than just for legumes.

No abstract

Aim: To assess the position, shape and radiographic appearance of the mental foramen in terms of gender using digital panoramic radiography.Materials and methods: 100 digital panoramic images of dentulous Egyptian patients of known sex (50 males and 50 females) and of age older than 18 years old were included in the present study. The mental foramen was assessed on digital panoramic images regarding the mediolateral and superio-inferior positions, the shape and the radiographic appearance. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis in correlation with gender. Results:The most common medio-lateral position in males was at level of the second premolar (46%) while in females was between the first and second premolars (40%). Superioinferiorly, the most common position in males (86%) and females (90%) was below the level of the apices of the lower premolars. Regarding the shape of the mental foramen, the oval shape was the most common in both males (44%) and females (40%) and for the radiographic appearance, both the separated and diffuse types were the most common and of equal distribution in case of males (38%) while the continuous type was the most common in females (40%). The distributions of males and females showed statistically significant difference only regarding the medio-lateral position between the lower second premolar and the first molar. Conclusion:Statistically, there was significant difference between males and females only regarding the medio-lateral position between the lower second premolar and the first molar.

Introduction: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an imaging modality of great value in dental field thanks to its lower radiation and high spatial resolution compared to Computed Tomography (CT). However there is still some controversy of using CBCT in bone density assessment. That is why this study was conducted to assess the ability of the gray scale values driven from CBCT by different milliamperage (mA) settings to assess bone density. Methodology: Seventeen mandibles were included in this study. On each mandible, a gutta percha marker was glued on the buccal surface of bone and another one on the same site on the lingual surface then covered by a layer of pink wax of thickness 13-17mm to simulate soft tissue in patients imaging. The mandibles were fixed to their skulls and imaged by a CBCT machine Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid ® with three different mA settings (8, 10 and 12 mA). For the resultant images, both corrected coronal images marked with gutta percha marker and others away from gutta percha marker were assessed and the measured gray scale values were tested for agreement between 3 scans. Results: Changing of current intensity from 8 mA to 10 mA leads to a change of measured bone density by 24% in cuts away from radiopaque markers and 26% in cuts marked with radiopaque markers. Changing of current intensity from 8 mA to 12 mA leads to a change of measured bone density by at least 18 % in cuts away from radiopaque markers and at least 21% in cuts marked with radiopaque markers. Bland-Altman limits of agreement show clinically poor agreements between the measured densities. Conclusion: Changing of milliamprage (mA) setting from 8 mA to 10 or 12 mA will change the gray scale values denoting bone density in a statistically significant manner making bone density assessment from CBCT inaccurate.

Aim: to assess the mental foramen as a landmark for sex determination through morphometric analysis done on digital panoramic images.Materials and methods: 100 digital panoramic images of dentulous and partially edentulous Egyptian patients (50 males and 50 females) of age over 18 years old were included in the present study. Morphometric analysis of the mental foramen was conducted on all images concerning one side of the images. The measurements of the distances from the superior border of the mental foramen to the alveolar crest of the mandible (D1), from the superior border of the mental foramen to the inferior border of the mandible (D2), from the inferior border of the mental foramen to the inferior border of the mandible (D3), from the mesial border of the mental foramen to the distal border of the mental foramen (D4) and from the superior border of the mental foramen to the inferior border of the mental foramen (D5) were performed on each digital panoramic image. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis and discriminant function analysis was used to estimate the efficiency of each variable for sex determination.Results: Both (D2) and (D3) were significantly higher in males than in females and they showed the greatest contribution as predictors for sex determination. The cutting score was zero, therefore, discriminant scores greater than zero were classified as male and less than zero (negative scores) were classified as female. Accordingly, 70 % of the cases of the cross-validated group were classified correctly. Conclusion:Both (D2) and (D3) exhibit sexual dimorphism and can be used in sex determination.