Aims: Corn is grown primarily for human consumption. It is considered as the second most important cereal crop after rice in Asia. Many diseases affect this crop due to planting of susceptible hybrids. This research is aimed to characterize the causative agent of northern corn leaf blight disease in Malaysia, caused by Exserohilum turcicum. Methodology and results: Leaf samples were collected from infected farms of 2 corn growing areas of Peninsular Malaysia in 2015. A total of 5 fungal isolates were examined for cultural, morphological and molecular properties, and based on the results, the five isolates were identified as E. turcicum. The conidial shapes were observed to be elongated and spindle. Cultural characteristics showed that variation existed among the isolates in colony growth and colour. Mycelia growth rates of the isolates were significantly different on potato dextrose agar (PDA), corn meal agar (CMA) and potato sucrose agar (PSA) media, growth on CMA was faster than on PSA and PDA. The isolates were grouped into three groups based on colony colour i.e. light gray, gray and dark gray. The isolates were categorized into 2 groups based on growth namely, moderate growth and profused growth. The number of septa ranged from 5-7 to 7-10 representing isolates ET002 and ET003, respectively. Similarly, conidial length varied from 56.7 µm to 89.44 µm for isolates ET002 and ET003, respectively. The pathogenic variability tested on Thai Super Sweet (TSS) corn variety, showed that isolates ET001 and ET003 were more aggressive while isolate ET005 was less aggressive among the isolates tested. Conclusion, significance and impact of the study: Both morphology and molecular results showed that, the isolates were identified as E. turcicum. The findings of this study will serve as a baseline for future studies and will help to minimize losses in yield.
Zea mays

No abstract available.
Fibroma ; Hand ; Tendons ; Zea mays

We present a case of venous hemangioma which is seen beneath a clavus (corn) developed in the interdigital area of the foot. Clinically, a violaceous papule was located on the third and fourth interdigital spaces under an overlying corn. Histopathologic examination showed a non-encapsulated dermal mass composed of thick-walled and thin walled vessels lined by a single layer of endothelial cells. Some thick-walled vessels had protruding endothelial cells into the lumen and through Verhoeff-van Gieson and Masson-trichrome stain of the tissue section, we found that the vascular mass was composed of vein.
Endothelial Cells ; Foot ; Hemangioma* ; Veins ; Zea mays

The present study reports two cases of femoral component fracture using Whiteside Ortholoc prosthesis(Dow Corning Wright, Arlington, Tennessee) with cement. The causes of the fracture were investigated by radiological findings, prosthetic design and metallurgical study using scanning electron microscope(SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometer(EDS). Respectively, the findings from this study are summarized as follows. In X-ray study, one case had valgus 3 mechanical axis(normal: valgus 7 axis) while the other case had 10 tibial anterior slope(normal: 10 posterior slope). The medial side of femoral component fractured in both cases. The fracture site was in the junction between the posterior bevel and distal surface of the medial side of femoral component. The analysis of the prosthetic design showed that the Whiteside Ortholoc femoral stem was thinner, and shorter at the site of posterior bevel surface of the femoral stem than other TKA(Total Knee Arthroplasty) system. The metallurgical study by SEM showed that the crack was developed initially near the inner surface of fractured femoral component and was extended to the outer surface. Carbon particles were detected in the fractured femoral component by EDS. The findings imply that operating technique is very important especially during bone cutting and soft tissue balance in TKA. It is also proposed from this study that a minor design modification such as a thicker and longer Whiteside Ortholoc femoral component would be better and that the cast-iron ware of TKA system has to he produced by careful metallurgical process, that precludes the incorporation of any foreign material such as carbon particles.
Arthroplasty* ; Carbon ; Knee* ; Prostheses and Implants* ; Zea mays

Scientific evidence indicates that higher dietary fibre consumption protects against various chronic diseases and leads to recovery enhancement. Young corn ear is very rich in total dietary fibre (TDF). The study objective was to evaluate the effects of young corn ear addition on the nutritional composition, textural properties and sensory attributes of conventional cake. Methods: Wheat flour used in the preparation of conventional cake was substituted with different percentages (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%) of young corn ear powder (YCP). Moisture, total ash, fat, protein and TDF content of conventional cake samples were investigated. Textural properties including firmness, cohesiveness, springiness, gumminess and chewiness were examined. The aroma, colour, chewiness, tenderness, flavour and overall acceptance of conventional cake were evaluated via sensory evaluation. Results: The conventional cake with addition of 15% YCP recorded the highest moisture content. There was no predictable trend observed in the ash and fat content following the incorporation of YCP. Addition of 15% of YCP increased the protein content significantly while TDF content of conventional cake increased proportionally (1.42%-2.88%) with the level of YCP added. The incorporation of YCP did not produce any trend on all the textural properties of conventional cake. Conventional cake with 10% of YCP was the most preferred manifested by the highest scores in chewiness, tenderness and flavour attributes. Conclusion: In conclusion, 10% of YCP could be recommended as the ideal formulation in order to produce a healthier conventional cake without jeopardising acceptability.
Zea mays ; Dietary Fiber ; Nutritive Value

No abstract available.
Heel* ; Molluscum Contagiosum* ; Weight-Bearing* ; Zea mays

Growth responses of Zea mays and Glycine max to colonization by mixture of combination of three species of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, two species of Glomus and a species of Scutellospora were compared. In Zea mays, plants inoculated with single species of AM fungi showed significantly higher in dry weight than non-mycorrhizal plant for all three AM fungal species. Also, growth of plants inoculated with spores of two species of AM fungi was significantly higher than nonmycorrhizal control except for plants inoculated with two Glomus species. When three species of AM fungi were inoculated, the plants showed the highest growth. In Glycine max, plants with single AM fungal species inoculation were not significantly different in plant growth from nonmycorrhizal plants. When the plants were inoculated with combination of two or more AM fungal species, their growth significantly increased compared to nonmycorrhizal plants. In both plant species, mycorrhizal root colonization by Scutellospora species was significantly lower than by Glomus species.
Colon ; Fungi* ; Plants ; Soybeans* ; Spores ; Zea mays*

To optimally convert corn hull, a byproduct from corn processing, into bioethanol using Pachysolen tannophlius, we investigated the optimal conditions for hydrolysis and removal of toxic substances in the hydrolysate via activated carbon treatment as well as the effects of this detoxification process on the kinetic parameters of bioethanol production. Maximum monosaccharide concentrations were obtained in hydrolysates in which 20 g of corn hull was hydrolyzed in 4% (v/v) H2SO4. Activated carbon treatment removed 92.3% of phenolic compounds from the hydrolysate. When untreated hydrolysate was used, the monosaccharides were not completely consumed, even at 480 h of culture. When activated carbon-treated hydrolysate was used, the monosaccharides were mostly consumed at 192 h of culture. In particular, when activated carbon-treated hydrolysate was used, bioethanol productivity (P) and specific bioethanol production rate (Qp) were 2.4 times and 3.4 times greater, respectively, compared to untreated hydrolysate. This was due to sustained bioethanol production during the period of xylose/arabinose utilization, which occurred only when activated carbon-treated hydrolysate was used.
Carbon ; Efficiency ; Hydrolysis ; Monosaccharides ; Phenol ; Zea mays

A corn is a circumscribed hyperkeratotic lesion with a central conical core of keratin that causes pain and inflammation. Corns result from hyperkeratosis, which is caused by an increase in keratinocyte activity associated with stimulation of the epidermis from chronic pressure or friction on the skin. The conical core in a corn, which is a thickening of the stratum corneum, is a protective response to the mechanical trauma. We experienced a man who developed a corn on the buttock, which is an unusual site.
Buttocks ; Callosities ; Epidermis ; Friction ; Inflammation ; Keratinocytes ; Skin ; Zea mays*

The occurrence of a lipoma-like condition associated with trauma would tend to be regarded as a subset of or a separate entity from ordinary lipoma. We report herein a case of traumatic Lpoma occuring on the dorsum of the left hand. The patient was a 46-year-old male, who had struck his left hand against a window about two months previously and noted casually an asymptomatic, firm, dermal lesion at the site of injury. On gross examination, the enucleated nodule was a smooth-surfaced, yellow fatty mass measuring 0.3 × 0.5 × 0.3cm which looked like a kernel of corn. Microscopic examination revealed encapsulated mature fat consistent with lipoma.
Hand ; Humans ; Lipoma* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Zea mays