Revisiting anomalous \u3cem\u3eB\u3c/em\u3e(\u3cem\u3eE\u3c/em\u3e2;4\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3e1\u3c/sub\u3e→2\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3e1\u3c/sub\u3e)/\u3cem\u3eB\u3c/em\u3e(\u3cem\u3eE\u3c/em\u3e2;2\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3e1\u3c/sub\u3e→0\u3csup\u3e+\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3e1\u3c/sub\u3e) values in \u3csup\u3e98\u3c/sup\u3eRu and \u3csup\u3e180\u3c/sup\u3ePt

Recently, a set of nine nonmagic nuclei with anomalous values of the B(E2) ratio B4/2 ≡ B(E2; 4+1 → 2+1)/B(E2; 2+1 → 0+1) were identified. Such values are outside the range allowed by current collective models. In the present work, the B(E2; 4+1 → 2+1) values for two of these nuclei, 98Ru and 180Pt, were re-measured to determine if the current literature values for these nuclei are correct. 98Ru was studied in a 27Al(98Ru,98Ru∗) Coulomb excitation experiment in inverse kinematics, while the lifetime of the 4+1 state in 180Pt was measured in a 122Sn(62Ni, 4n)180Pt recoil distance method (RDM) experiment. For both nuclei, the remeasured B4/2 values are well above 1, removing the deviations from collective models

Nitrogen doses and splitting in top dressing in the production and macronutrient content in fruits of zucchini

Nitrogen fertilization in cucurbits must be splitted, one part being supplied before planting and the rest applied in top dressing. However, there is a lack of research about this splitting throughout the cycle. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen doses and splitting of this fertilization in top dressing on production and macronutrient content in fruits of zucchini. Two experiments were carried out, with thirteen treatments, in the factorial scheme 4x3+1, with four nitrogen doses in top dressing (62.5, 125.0, 187.5, 250.0 kg ha-1 of N), three splitting forms (1/6+1/3+1/2; 1/4+1/2+1/4; 1/3+1/3+1/3 of total dose in each application) and one treatment without fertilization in top dressing (control = dose zero), with four replicates. Experiment 1 and 2 were conducted in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Total and commercial fruit production (g), total and commercial fruit number per plant, length, diameter and average commercial fruit weight were evaluated. Only in experiment 2 the macronutrient content in the fruits were evaluated. In experiment 1, the 1/4+1/2+1/4 splitting provided greater number of total and commercial fruits per plant. In experiment 2, the increasing of the doses in the 1/6+1/3+1/2 and 1/3+1/3+1/3 splitting resulted in a linear increase in total and commercial fruit production. The decreasing order of macronutrient content in fruits was K>N>P>Ca>Mg>S

Low-Z boundary of the N=88-90 shape phase transition: Ce-148 near the critical point

Excited states of the neutron-rich nucleus Ce-148 have been populated by neutron-induced fission of a U-235 target. Its electromagnetic decays were studied by means of gamma-ray coincidence spectroscopy with fast-timing capabilities. Lifetimes of the 2(1)(+) and 4(1)(+) states of Ce-148 were obtained and their E2 decay rates deduced. The B-4/2 = B(E2; 4(1)(+) -> 2(1)(+))/B(E2; 2(1)(+) -> 0(1)(+)) ratio indicates that Ce-148 is a transitional nucleus while the N = 88/90 shape phase transition evolves into a gradual change of nuclear deformation for proton numbers Z < 60

Monoolein as helper lipid for non-viral transfection in mammals

Lipoplexes composed of pDNA and DODAB/MO at different molar ratios (4:1, 2:1 and 1:1) and different cationic lipid/DNA charge ratios were investigated. The physicochemical properties of the lipoplexes (size and charge), the pDNA complexation, and the effect of heparin on pDNA release, were studied by Dynamic Light Scattering, Zeta Potential, and Ethidium Bromide exclusion assays. The cytotoxicity, transfection efficiency and the intracellular localization of DNA were evaluated on 293T cells.The Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the financial support to the Center of Physics and Center of Molecular & Environmental Biology and funding through projects PTDC/QUI/69795/2006 and SFRH/BD/46968/2009 are acknowledged

A mathematical model on genetic dihybrid and multihybrid

Human and, in fact, every animal or plant contains many gene oriented traits. This means that the traits depend on chromosomes and are mainly directed by DNA sequence. On the other hand, a particular trait of any species may have much discriminations. Generally, it is known that for dihybrid problem in generation F2, the phenotype ratio is 9:3:3:1 and the genotype ratio is 1:2:2:4:1:2:1:2:1. Here we consider a mathematical model on dihybrid as well as on multihybrid and analyise the probabilities of phenotype or genotype dissimilarities amongst them. Also the cause of it is shown graphically for dyhybrid.Publisher's Versio

Reconstructed spatial resolution and contrast recovery with Bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction (Q.Clear) for FDG-PET compared to time-of-flight (TOF) with point spread function (PSF)

BACKGROUND: Bayesian penalized likelihood reconstruction for PET (e.g., GE Q.Clear) aims at improving convergence of lesion activity while ensuring sufficient signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This study evaluated reconstructed spatial resolution, maximum/peak contrast recovery (CRmax/CRpeak) and SNR of Q.Clear compared to time-of-flight (TOF) OSEM with and without point spread function (PSF) modeling. METHODS: The NEMA IEC Body phantom was scanned five times (3 min scan duration, 30 min between scans, background, 1.5-3.9 kBq/ml F18) with a GE Discovery MI PET/CT (3-ring detector) with spheres filled with 8-, 4-, or 2-fold the background activity concentration (SBR 8:1, 4:1, 2:1). Reconstruction included Q.Clear (beta, 150/300/450), "PSF+TOF4/16" (iterations, 4; subsets, 16; in-plane filter, 2.0 mm), "OSEM+TOF4/16" (identical parameters), "PSF+TOF2/17" (2 it, 17 ss, 2.0 mm filter), "OSEM+TOF2/17" (identical), "PSF+TOF4/8" (4 it, 8 ss, 6.4 mm), and "OSEM+TOF2/8" (2 it, 8 ss, 6.4 mm). Spatial resolution was derived from 3D sphere activity profiles. RC as (sphere activity concentration [AC]/true AC). SNR as (background mean AC/background AC standard deviation). RESULTS: Spatial resolution of Q.Clear150 was significantly better than all conventional algorithms at SBR 8:1 and 4:1 (Wilcoxon, each p < 0.05). At SBR 4:1 and 2:1, the spatial resolution of Q.Clear300/450 was similar or inferior to PSF+TOF4/16 and OSEM+TOF4/16. Small sphere CRpeak generally underestimated true AC, and it was similar for Q.Clear150/300/450 as with PSF+TOF4/16 or PSF+TOF2/17 (i.e., relative differences < 10%). Q.Clear provided similar or higher CRpeak as OSEM+TOF4/16 and OSEM+TOF2/17 resulting in a consistently better tradeoff between CRpeak and SNR with Q.Clear. Compared to PSF+TOF4/8/OSEM+TOF2/8, Q.Clear150/300/450 showed lower SNR but higher CRpeak. CONCLUSIONS: Q.Clear consistently improved reconstructed spatial resolution at high and medium SBR compared to PSF+TOF and OSEM+TOF, but only with beta = 150. However, this is at the cost of inferior SNR with Q.Clear150 compared to Q.Clear300/450 and PSF+TOF4/16/PSF+TOF2/17 while CRpeak for the small spheres did not improve considerably. This suggests that Q.Clear300/450 may be advantageous for the 3-ring detector configuration because the tradeoff between CR and SNR with Q.Clear300/450 was superior to PSF+TOF4/16, OSEM+TOF4/16, and OSEM+TOF2/17. However, it requires validation by systematic evaluation in patients at different activity and acquisition protocols

PARAQUAT-RESISTANT ITALIAN RYEGRASS (Lolium multiflorum) CONFIRMED IN LOUISIANA

Paraquat is the only herbicide labeled for postemergence control of Italian ryegrass in sugarcane. In 2017, sugarcane farmers in Louisiana reported Italian ryegrass control failures with paraquat applications. Seeds were collected from sugarcane fields in White Castle, St. Gabriel, and Bunkie, Louisiana where control was not achieved (reduced susceptibility). Additionally, Italian ryegrass seeds were collected from a sugarcane field in Welcome, LA with a history of paraquat use and with no reported control issues (susceptible population). A dose-response study was conducted at the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center’s Sugar Research Station in February 2021 and was repeated in November 2021. Paraquat was applied to 8- to 12- cm tall Italian ryegrass plants at 0, 1/32 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16X rates, of the maximum field use rate of 840 g ha-1, for the reduced susceptibility populations. For the susceptible population, paraquat was applied at 0, 1/256, 1/128, 1/64, 1/32, 1/16, 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, and 2X rates. At 18 d after application, injury was recorded, then biomass was harvested and dried for 96 h. Dose-response curves were fitted using a four-parameter, log-logistic model in R software. The effective paraquat dose to cause 50% injury (ED50) was 77 g ha-1 for the Welcome population, whereas it required 200.4, 22.2, and 45.4 -fold more paraquat for the White Castle, St. Gabriel, and Bunkie populations, respectively. Likewise, the ED50 value required to reduce the dry weight by 50% was 44 g ha-1 for the Welcome population. To reduce dry weight biomass for 50% for the White Castle, St. Gabriel, and Bunkie populations, required rates of 13.3, 4.3, and 14.3 -fold more paraquat, respectively, when compared to the Welcome population. These results confirm the presence of paraquat-resistant Italian ryegrass in Louisiana

Synergistic Effect of Leaf Count for Flower Induction in Mango cv. \u27Himampasand\u27

The synergistic effect of leaf count for flower induction was investigated in mango cv. \u27Himampasand\u27 under Ultra High Density Plantation. The trees are grown in tropical conditions in Tamil Nadu, India, and the trial was conducted by adopting a Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD) with three replications and two factors: leaf pruning and month. The experiment was set up in a five-year old orchard with uniform-sized \u27Himampasand\u27 trees planted at 3 x 2 m spacing. The treatments were imposed during the middle of October, November and December. Treatments consisted of 0 (no leaves), 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and control (without leaf removal) leaves remaining on each stem of every treated branch. Under tropical, warm weather, the fractions of leaves / stem are able to induce minimal quantity of flowering without leaves in the shoot. Leaf pruning in different months from October to December had varied effects. However, in a tropical climate, six leaves per shoot and December pruning resulted in 100 per cent flowering in mango cv. \u27Himampasand\u27

Funkcionális élelmiszerek előállítása, forgalmazása és fogyasztása Magyarországon

A funkcionális élelmiszerek a különleges (speciális) élelmiszerek közé tartoznak, melyeknek a tápértéken és élvezeti értéken kívül még egészségvédő hatást is tulajdonítanak. Az utóbbi évtizedben új élelmiszerek készültek a krónikus szív- és érrendszeri, daganatos betegségek kockázatának csökkentése céljából. A funkcionális élelmiszerek olyan hagyományos, minden piacon megtalálható termékek, melyeket a jobb egészségvédő hatás érdekében módosítottak. Magyarországon az élelmiszereket vásárlók 16%-a választ egészségtudatosan, a táplálkozási útmutatókat követve. Legtöbben a tejtermékeket keresik, mert kalcium-tartalmuk révén csökkenthetik a csontritkulást, melynek előfordulása idősebb korban már egyre gyakoribb. Utóbbi években megnőtt az érdeklődés a gyümölcsök és zöldségek iránt, melyek jelentős antioxidáns-kapacitással rendelkeznek. A biológiailag aktív anyagok (vitaminok, ásványi anyagok, antioxidánsok) rendkívül eltérő mértékben halmozódhatnak fel az általunk ismert és termesztett növényekben, a tenyésztett állatokban, vagy a hasznos mikroorganizmusok sejttömegében. Intenzív gazdálkodásban a növény gyorsabban növekszik, több termést ad egységnyi területen, de kevesebb biológiailag aktív anyagot tartalmaz. Emiatt a belőlük előállított élelmiszereket mesterségesen kell kiegészíteni, dúsítani. Felmérések szerint az így készített élelmiszerek piaca nagyon jelentős és gyorsan növekvő, mert a rendszeresen sportolók, testépítők és nagyobb fizikai aktivitásra képes testedzők is érdeklődést mutatnak az egészséges táplálkozást biztosító élelmiszerek fogyasztására.L

Low-Lying Structure of ⁵⁰Ar and the N = 32 Subshell Closure

The low-lying structure of the neutron-rich nucleus 50Ar has been investigated at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory using in-beam γ-ray spectroscopy with 9Be (54Ca, 50Ar+γ) X,9Be(55Sc,50Ar+γ)X, and 9Be(56Ti, 50Ar + γ)X multinucleon removal reactions at ∼220 MeV/u. A γ-ray peak at 1178(18) keV is reported and assigned as the transition from the first 2+ state to the 0+ ground state. A weaker, tentative line at 1582(38) keV is suggested as the 4+1→2+1 transition. The experimental results are compared to large-scale shell-model calculations performed in the sdpf model space using the SDPF-MU effective interaction with modifications based on recent experimental data for exotic calcium and potassium isotopes. The modified Hamiltonian provides a satisfactory description of the new experimental results for 50Ar and, more generally, reproduces the energy systematics of low-lying states in neutron-rich Ar isotopes rather well. The shell-model calculations indicate that the N=32 subshell gap in 50Ar is similar in magnitude to those in 52Ca and 54Ti and, notably, predict an N=34 subshell closure in 52Ar that is larger than the one recently reported in 54Ca