The Influence of Spermidine and Biofertilizer Application on the Growth, Yield and Some Active Constituents of Saffron Plant (Crocus sativus L.)

A Filed experiment was conducted during the growing season of 2012-2013 to study the effect   of spraying spermidine at concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg.L-1) and Biofertilizer applications at levels  (0, 125 and 250 kg.ha-1) and their interactions on (growth plant height, number of leaves , fresh and dry weight of herb, number of flowers and flowers fresh weight), yield (stigmas fresh and dry weight, stigmas yield, number of corms, corms weight and corms yield) and some active constituents (crocin, picrocrocin, and safranal) of saffron plant Crocus sativus L.. The treatments were distributed in a factorial experiment conducted in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replicates. The means were compared by Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (P?0.05).Both the spermidine and the biofertilizer improved plant growth and yield parameters. Biofertilizer was more effective than spermidine. The concentrations of spermidine at 100 mg.l-1 and biofertilizer level at 250 kg.h-1 strongly affect growth and yield properties. Consequently, the active constituents of stigmas were increased (P?0.05). Active constituent’s content of stigmas was significantly improved by spermidine at 100 mg.l-1×biofertilizer at 250 kg.h-1. Biofertilizer was more effective than spermidine in increasing safranal content compared with crocin and picrocrocin. Keywords: Saffron, Spermidine, Biofertilize

The non-perturbative corrections to the Bˉ→Xsγ\bar B \to X_s\gamma photon spectrum in a parton-like model

We derive a new parton-like formula, which establishes a simple connection between the electroweak decay rate $\Gamma (\bar B \to X_s\gamma$) and the rate of a free b-quark decay. The main features of our approach are the treatment of the b-quark as an on-mass-shell particle and the inclusion of the effects arising from the b-quark transverse motion in the $\bar B$-meson. Using various b-quark light-front (LF) distribution functions, both phenomenological one and the ones derived from current constituent quark models, and neglecting perturbative corrections we compute the photon energy spectra and the moments of the shape function. It is shown that the parton-like approach is fully consistent with the Heavy Quark Effective Theory (HQET) provided the b-quark constituent mass is redefined in the way similar to that used in HQET to define the pole mass of the b quark. In this way the correction to first order in $1/m_b$ can be eliminated from the total width in agreement with the general statement of HQET. We have also found that the photon energy spectra calculated in the LF approach agree well with the ones obtained in the ACM model, provided the same distribution function is used as input in both cases. In spite of the simplicity of the model our results show a fair good agreement both with the HQET predictions and available experimental data.Comment: 14 pages, LaTeX, 3 ps figure

Attitudes and practices of community pharmacists and barriers to their participation in public health activities in Yemen: Mind the gap

Background: Patients in Yemen commonly visit community pharmacies to obtain consultation or treatment for common ailments. Community pharmacists have an opportunity to optimize medication use and improve patient outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate the attitudes and practices of community pharmacists regarding their participation in public health activities and barriers to their participation in these activities. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among community pharmacists working in pharmacies located in urban areas of the Aden governorate of Yemen from March to June 2017 using a self-administered questionnaire. We selected pharmacies from a line list using proportional sampling according to the number of pharmacies in the urban areas of each district. The questionnaire contained four sections: demographic characteristics, attitudes, practices, and barriers encountered. Data were analyzed descriptively, and the Chi-square test was used for analyzing the association of variables (alpha = 0.05). Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 200 community pharmacists working in community pharmacies. Of the 200 respondents, 62% (n = 124) were male. Overall, the mean age (sd) was 30.0 years (8.6) with the number of years of work experience between 2 and 9.9 years (n = 158, 79%). On average, 62.3% of the pharmacists had a positive attitude toward participation in public health activities. Providing education to stop tobacco chewing, smoking, alcohol drinking and improve oral hygiene was an important activity of the community pharmacists. Blood pressure measurements (86%, n = 172) and glucose tests (45%, n = 90) were commonly conducted for clients. Lack of time (71%, n = 142) and lack of teamwork (70%, n = 140) were mentioned as common barriers to participation in public health activities. Conclusions: Community pharmacists had a positive attitude toward public health activities. Health education and routine health tests were important practices of the community pharmacists. Barriers need to be overcome to enable more active participation by community pharmacists in public health activities by consulting with all stakeholders, assessing the situation, considering alternatives and taking action.Scopu

The Dynamic of Pekarangan Selahuni 2 Homlet, Ciomas Rahayu Village, Bogor

Urbanization and fragmentation are the main factors causing dynamics in the pekarangan. The dynamics that occur are related to the structure and function of the pekarangan. This makes the pekarangan performance changes according to the interference of the pekarangan owner. Selahuni 2 Homlet, Ciomas Rahayu Village, Bogor has become the location for observing the dynamics of the past two decades. Pekarangan samples taken in 2019 are exactly the same as those taken in 1998 and 2007, totaling 10 houses. The aim is to determine the extent of changes that occur in the pekarangan, both structure and function. Measuring the area, ownership of the pekarangan, recording of species and function of the existing vegetation of the pekarangan. In 2019, data on ownership of houses and pekarangans by old owners dropped dramatically by only 40%. In 2019, the average pekarangan area will decrease by an average area of 110.81 m2. In 1998, 2007 and 2019, the percentage of the number of non-ornamental plant species was 4-10% higher than that of ornamental plants. Therefore, there was a change in both the extent and ownership, function and structure of the vegetation in the Selahuni 2 Homlet’s pekarangan which was caused by urbanization and fragmentation factors.Urbanisasi dan fragmentasi adalah faktor utama penyebab dinamika pada pekarangan. Dinamika yang terjadi terkait dengan struktur dan fungsi pada pekarangan. Hal tersebut membuat performa pekarangan berubah menurut interfensi pemilik pekarangan. Pekarangan Kampung Selahuni 2, Desa Ciomas Rahayu, Bogor menjadi lokasi pengamatan dinamika pekarangan dua dekade terakhir. Sampel Pekarangan yang diambil pada tahun 2019 adalah sama persis dengan yang diambil pada tahun 1998 dan 2007, sebanyak 10 rumah.Tujuannya adalah untuk mengetahui sejauh mana perubahan yang terjadi pada pekarangan, baik struktur maupun fungsinya. Dilakukan pengukuran terhadap luasan, kepemilikan pekarangan, pencatatan spesies dan fungsi vegetasi pekarangan yang ada. Pada tahun 2019, data kepemilikan rumah dan pekarangan oleh pemilik lama menurun drastis hingga 40% saja. Di tahun 2019, luas rata-rata pekarangan mengalami penurunan dengan luas rata-rata 110,81 m2. Pada tahun 1998, 2007, dan 2019, persentase jumlah spesies tanaman non hias jauh lebih tinggi 4-10% dari pada tanaman hias. Oleh karena itu, terjadi perubahan baik luasan dan kepemilikan, fungsi dan struktur vegetasi yang ada pada pekarangan kampung Selahuni 2 yang disebabkan oleh faktor urbanisasi dan fragmentasi

Camel Milk and the Prevention of Glucose Cataract, an Organ Culture Study

Purpose: To test if camel milk affects glucose-induced opacity in organ cultured rat and human lenses.Methods: Whole human and rat lenses were cultured in various media containing either 55 mM glucose, camel milk, or a combination of both glucose and milk. Some lenses were cultured in a media containing neither moiety to establish a control. Absorbance spectra of human and rat lenses were measured daily using a visible/ultraviolet light spectrometer. Lens opacities were graded by a blinded grader from photographs taken daily. Aldose reductase activity, catalase activity, glutathione and receptor for advanced glycation end products levels were assayed.Results: The optical density and light scattering intensity of human lenses cultured with glucose were higher after two to four days in organ culture compared with lenses cultured without glucose. Camel milk in the culture media attenuated the glucose-induced increase in optical density, light scattering intensity and opacity grade after two to four days for both human and rat lenses. Aldose reductase activity, catalase activity and glutathione levels were restored but the receptor for advanced glycation end products was similar in rat lenses cultured with glucose compared with those cultured with glucose and camel milk. There were no differences between the assayed moieties in human lenses cultured with glucose or glucose plus milk. Since camel milk restored rat lens glutathione levels, it is possible that camel milk may protect the lens from oxidation and significantly reduce the glucose-induced increase in light scattering of human lenses. Structurally and physiologically, rat lenses are distinct from human lenses, therefore, the rat lens data was highly variable when compared with the human lens data, highlighting the importance of using human lenses in future studies.Conclusions: Camel milk present in the organ culture medium inhibited the glucose-induced opacity in human lenses and restored the amount of glutathione to the same levels of lenses not cultured in glucose. The positive results of the current study leads to future studies to determine the moieties in camel milk that are responsible for cataract inhibition and in vivo studies involving camel milk

Germination, physio-anatomical behavior, and productivity of wheat plants irrigated with magnetically treated seawater

Salinity is an abiotic stress that reduces the seed germination and productivity of wheat. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of irrigation with magnetically treated seawater on the germination, growth, certain physiological and anatomical parameters, and production attributes of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cv. Sakha 93 plants. Experiments were conducted in the Experimental Farm of the Faculty of Agriculture, Menoufia University, Egypt, during two consecutive winter seasons. Pot experiments involved ten treatments with non-magnetized and magnetized water with various degrees of salinity. Plant samples were taken 95 days after sowing. Irrigation with magnetically treated seawater was found to have beneficial effects on plant growth, water relations, biochemical characteristics, and yield components compared with untreated plants. The germination of wheat seeds increased 13% when treated with magnetic seawater. On the yield scale, the spike length was increased by 40% in season one, and 82% in season two when compared to the control, while the weight of 100 grains increased by 148% and 171%, in each season, respectively, when treated with magnetic water. The anatomical leaf and stem parameters of the plants were markedly improved by watering with magnetically treated seawater at 10 dS m−1 compared to the control. However, the leaf water deficit, transpiration rate, and abscisic acid content in the plant shoots decreased significantly (p < 0.05). The use of magnetically treated seawater of up to 7.5 dS m−1, instead of tap water, is recommended due to benefits to germination and seedling parameters, growth, yield, and physiological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics. In conclusion, magnetic treatment of seawater improved germination performance, growth, and yield of wheat under saline conditions

Heavy-light mesons with staggered light quarks

We demonstrate the viability of improved staggered light quarks in studies of heavy-light systems. Our method for constructing heavy-light operators exploits the close relation between naive and staggered fermions. The new approach is tested on quenched configurations using several staggered actionsn combined with nonrelativistic heavy quarks. The B_s meson kinetic mass, the hyperfine and 1P-1S splittings in B_s, and the decay constant f_{B_s} are calculated and compared to previous quenched lattice studies. An important technical detail, Bayesian curve-fitting, is discussed at length.Comment: 38 pages, figures included. v2: Entry in Table IX corrected and other minor changes, version appearing in Phys. Rev.

SensiBlend: Sensing blended experiences in professional and social contexts

Unlike traditional workshops, SensiBlend is a living experiment about the future of remote, hybrid, and blended experiences within professional and other social contexts. The interplay of interpersonal relationships with tools and spaces-digital and physical-has been abruptly challenged and fundamentally altered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. With this meta-workshop, we seek to scrutinize and advance the role and impact of Ubiquitous Computing in the new "blended"social reality, and raise questions relating to the specific attributes of socio-Technical experiences in the future organization of interpersonal relationships. How do we better equip people to deal with blended experiences? What dimensions of socio-Technical experiences are at stake? To this end, we will utilize the occasion of a virtual UbiComp in combination with novel remote-working tools and participatory sensing with attendees to collectively examine, discuss, and elicit the potential routes of augmenting social practices in a discourse about the future of blended working, socializing, and living

A hierarchical key pre-distribution scheme for fog networks

Security in fog computing is multi-faceted, and one particular challenge is establishing a secure communication channel between fog nodes and end devices. This emphasizes the importance of designing efficient and secret key distribution scheme to facilitate fog nodes and end devices to establish secure communication channels. Existing secure key distribution schemes designed for hierarchical networks may be deployable in fog computing, but they incur high computational and communication overheads and thus consume significant memory. In this paper, we propose a novel hierarchical key pre-distribution scheme based on “Residual Design” for fog networks. The proposed key distribution scheme is designed to minimize storage overhead and memory consumption, while increasing network scalability. The scheme is also designed to be secure against node capture attacks. We demonstrate that in an equal-size network, our scheme achieves around 84% improvement in terms of node storage overhead, and around 96% improvement in terms of network scalability. Our research paves the way for building an efficient key management framework for secure communication within the hierarchical network of fog nodes and end devices. KEYWORDS: Fog Computing, Key distribution, Hierarchical Networks