Essential oil constituents and secondary metabolites of Mentha viridis under tissue culture technique using violet visible light emitting diodes (LEDs)

This study aimed to propagate the valuable medicinal plant Mentha viridis through in vitro culture of nodal segments measuring approximately 1-1.5 cm. Two different types of light-emitting diode (LED) systems were used to apply three different concentrations of two different cytokinins: 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and thidiazuron (TDZ) at 0, 1, or 2 mg/L. The LED systems were white as a control and violet, which is a 1:1 ratio of red and blue light. After a 30-day incubation period, the results revealed significant improvements in the survival rate and the number of shoots per explant across the various treatment groups. With MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/L TDZ and illuminated by white and violet LEDs, the highest values were obtained, yielding survival rates of 93.3% and 13.3 shoots per explant, respectively. Moreover, the treatment involving 2 mg/L TDZ under violet LEDs illumination exhibited superior outcomes in terms of leaf count per explant, callus formation, and callus size. Notably, no callus formation was observed in response to BAP treatments. All treatments resulted in a significant increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and the accumulation of various compounds, such as anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, phenols, flavonoids, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase, when compared to the control in a broader context, the levels of IAA, kinetin, and zeatin increased, while GA3 and ABA decreased in response to the applied treatments, as compared to the control. Additionally, ten compounds were consistently found in all treatments by GC/MS analysis of the micro-propagated Mentha, with carvone accounting for the highest proportion (43.5%) and being the predominant component. Among all treatments, nodal segments that were exposed to violet LEDs and grown on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L TDZ had the highest carvone content

The Effect of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria on Soil Properties and the Physiological and Anatomical Characteristics of Wheat under Water-Deficit Stress Conditions

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of plant growth-promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) treatments, B1, Azosprillium lipoferum Sp2 and B2, A. lipoferum Sp2 + Pseudomonas sp. SARS12, as well as inorganic nitrogen doses (60, 100, 140 and 180 kg N ha–1) on some soil physical characters, physiological, anatomical and yield parameters as well as nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of wheat under water deficit stress. Results showed that water stress significantly decreased physiological characters such as chlorophyll content (6.7 and 9.8%) and relative water content (13.7 and 11.2%) in both seasons, respectively. Nevertheless, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly (26.9, 12.3% and 90.2, 96.4%) in both seasons, respectively, as signals for water stress. The anatomical characteristics of flag leaves were negatively affected. Inoculation of wheat grains with PGPR significantly increased field capacity and RWC, adjusted enzymes’ activity and thus improved the physiological and yield traits and NUE as well as improving the anatomical features of flag leaves. Moreover, the combination of integrated PGPR and 140 kg N ha−1 significantly improved grain yield and its components as well as grain N uptake in comparison to control treatments. In conclusion, PGPR improved wheat productivity and NUE; they are an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach for improving plant production, and reducing nutrient leaching hazards and the negative impact of water stress

Durability and mechanical properties of seashell partially-replaced cement

This research investigates the possibility of grinding and burning bivalve clam seashells to produce seashell ash powder. This ash is used to partially replace cement by 5, 10, 15 and 20% by weight. These mixes are tested and compared with a SC0 that has 0% seashell ash powder (SC0). The fresh and hardened properties of all mixes are studied through a variety of tests, including: slump, unit weight, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. The durability of seashell concrete cubic specimens is studied by immersion in 5% NaOH(aq) and MgSO4(aq) solutions. The addition of thermally treated seashells increased the calcium hydroxide content. The results also show that the compressive strength of the 5% replacement is slightly higher than the SC0 at 28 and 90 days of age, while the tensile strength is higher than the standard for the 5% and 10% of replacement at 7 and 28 days. Furthermore, the slump test value generally increases with increasing the percentage of replacement. The highest durability against sulfate and alkaline attacks is obtained with 5% replacement of cement with seashells which reported the lowest decrease in weight and the highest compressive strength after immersion in 5% NaOH(aq) and MgSO4(aq) solutions. The 5% replacement mix is the optimum percentage of replacement. Therefore, this study recommends replacing cement with 5% seashell cement.This research investigates the possibility of grinding and burning bivalve clam seashells to produce seashell ash powder. This ash is used to partially replace cement by 5, 10, 15 and 20% by weight. These mixes are tested and compared with a SC0 that has 0% seashell ash powder (SC0). The fresh and hardened properties of all mixes are studied through a variety of tests, including: slump, unit weight, compressive strength and splitting tensile strength. The durability of seashell concrete cubic specimens is studied by immersion in 5% NaOH(aq) and MgSO4(aq) solutions. The addition of thermally treated seashells increased the calcium hydroxide content. The results also show that the compressive strength of the 5% replacement is slightly higher than the SC0 at 28 and 90 days of age, while the tensile strength is higher than the standard for the 5% and 10% of replacement at 7 and 28 days. Furthermore, the slump test value generally increases with increasing the percentage of replacement. The highest durability against sulfate and alkaline attacks is obtained with 5% replacement of cement with seashells which reported the lowest decrease in weight and the highest compressive strength after immersion in 5% NaOH(aq) and MgSO4(aq) solutions. The 5% replacement mix is the optimum percentage of replacement. Therefore, this study recommends replacing cement with 5% seashell cement

Injuries Type and Its Relation with Glasgow Coma Scale, Injury Severity Score and Blood Transfusion in Road Traffic Accident Victims.

Motor Vehicular Accidents claim about 1.2 million lives and injure more than 10 million people annually worldwide. The injuries caused by MVAs can be analyzed based on the type of injury, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale and required blood transfusion. Methodology: A total number of 190 patients were included in this retrospective study from January 01, 2010 to December 31, 2015. The study aimed to determine the correlation between the type of injuries and GCS, ISS, and blood transfusions in the patients suffering from Motor Vehicle Accidents, who were presented to the Emergency Department at the King Khalid Hospital. All the data of the patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria were collected from the database at medical records department of the hospital. Results: Majority of the patients were adults Saudi male. 68.9% of the patients did not sustain shock, and 75.8% of patients did not require a blood transfusion. Patients with head, neck, chest, abdominal, internal organ, pelvic or spinal injuries conferred a statistically significant higher mean ISS. Patients with abdominal or internal organ injuries had a statistically significant higher mean units of blood transfused. GCS was seen to be lower in the head, neck, chest, abdominal, internal organ, spinal and other injuries. Conclusions: The study documents a significant correlation between the type of injury and GCS, ISS, and blood transfusion in victims of road traffic accident. Emergency physician and the caregivers should be more careful about the injuries associated with lower GCS. Patients sustaining injuries of certain parts related to high ISS (i.e., head, chest, abdominal, internal organ, pelvic) should be addressed on priority basis