Determination of the required force to pick cottonseed from four cotton varieties boll in three different harvesting time

The cotton plant contains fruits called capsules or bolls, in which the cotton fiber grows, and after the growth stages, the fibers appear through separating the carpels. This research investigated the required force to pick the cottonseed from four cotton variety   (Golestan, Khorshid, Sajedi, and Kashmar) in three levels of moisture (three harvesting times) and three revolutions (1500, 2500 and 3500 rpm). To measure this force, designed and manufactured a device similar to a spindle cotton picker and using the actual needle of John Deere machine 9920. The bolls were tested in different revolution and moisture levels with the device. The results of experiments showed that the cross-effects of variety on speed, harvesting time on variety and harvesting time on speed were significant in picking fibers. Considering the revolution of needle and variety, the most appropriate revolution for the Golestan, Khorshid and Kashmar varieties is 3500rpm, and the most appropriate revolution for Sajedi is 2500rpm. In addition, the results showed that there is a significant difference in the different harvesting times of the khorshid variety. But, there was no significant difference in Golestan and Sajedi varieties between different harvest times. Kashmar variety showed the strongest force in the first harvesting time and the weakest force in the third harvesting time. However, the minimum picking force was obtained for Golestan variety as 0.399N at 2500rpm; in different harvesting times, the khorshid variety had the minimum force (0.251N) and the Golestan variety had the maximum force (0.891N) during the first harvesting time.

Optimization of Monascus Pigment Production on Date Waste Substrates Using Solid State Fermentation

Background and Objective: Monascus purpureus can produce pigments with light yellow to dark red colors. It includes several health properties. In this study, a low-cost process has been developed for the production of natural pigments from filamentous fungi through solid-state fermentation using cheap substrates.  Material and Methods: In this study, cultivation conditions were optimized for the production of red Monascus pigment by Monascus purpureus ATCC16362 using response surface methodology. Incubation time (7-24 days), date waste syrup concentrations (1-69%) and NaCl contents (7-13.75 g.l-1) were analyzed base on central composite design. Results and Conclusion: The maximum production of red Monascus pigment (5.10 AU.g-1) by Monascus purpureus was achieved using 55% date waste syrup concentration, 7 g.l-1 NaCl and incubation time of 21 days. At optimum conditions, µmax of 6.2 × 10-3 (mg.g-1.h-1), pigment efficiency of 0.238 (AU.g-1.day-1), conversion factor of biomass in red pigments of 0.25 (AU.mg-1.g-1), glucose utilization of 93% were achieved. Results showed that use of date waste syrup and wheat straw as substrates were successful in solid state cultivation for the production of red pigments by Monascus purpureus. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

A Facile Regioselective Synthesis of Novel Spiroacenaphthene Pyrroloisoquinolines Through 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions

An efficient one-pot three-component procedure for the synthesis of novel spiroacenaphthene pyrroloisoquinolines with high regioselectivity is described. These compounds were prepared from 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of an azomethine ylide generated from acenaphthenequinone and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline via [1,5]-H shift, with chalcone and nitrostyrene derivatives as dipolarophiles. The structure and stereochemistry of the cycloadducts have been established by single crystal X-ray structure and spectroscopic techniques

Can scientific journals be classified based on their ‘citation profiles’?

Classification of scientific publications is of great importance in biomedical research evaluation. However, accurate classification of research publications is challenging and normally is performed in a rather subjective way. In the present paper, we propose to classify biomedical publications into superfamilies, by analysing their citation profiles, i.e. the location of citations in the structure of citing articles. Such a classification may help authors to find the appropriate biomedical journal for publication, may make journal comparisons more rational, and may even help planners to better track the consequences of their policies on biomedical research

Can scientific journals be classified based on their ‘citation profiles’?

Classification of scientific publications is of great importance in biomedical research evaluation. However, accurate classification of research publications is challenging and normally is performed in a rather subjective way. In the present paper, we propose to classify biomedical publications into superfamilies, by analysing their citation profiles, i.e. the location of citations in the structure of citing articles. Such a classification may help authors to find the appropriate biomedical journal for publication, may make journal comparisons more rational, and may even help planners to better track the consequences of their policies on biomedical research

The Iranian blood pressure measurement campaign, 2019: study protocol and preliminary results

Purpose Hypertension is one of the most important risk factors for premature mortality and morbidity in Iran. The objective of the Iranian blood pressure (BP) measurement campaign was to identify individuals with raised blood pressure and providing appropriate care and increase the awareness among the public and policymakers of the importance of tackling hypertension. Methods The campaign was conducted in two phases. The first (communication) phase started on May 17th (International Hypertension Day). The second phase started on June 8th, 2019, and lasted up to July 7th during which, blood pressures were measured. The target population was Iranians aged >= 30 years. Participants voluntarily referred to health houses in rural and health posts and comprehensive health centers in urban areas in the setting of the Primary Health Care network. Additionally, over 13,700 temporary stations were set up in highly visited places in urban areas. Volunteer healthcare staff interviewed the participants, measured their BP, and provided them with lifestyle advice and knowledge of the risks and consequences of high blood pressure. They referred participants to physicians in case their BP was high. Participants immediately received a text message containing the relevant advice based on their measured BP and their past history. Results Blood pressure was measured for a total of 26,678,394 participants in the campaign. A total of 13,722,148 participants (51.4%) were female. The mean age was 46 +/- 14.1 years. Among total participants, 15,012,693 adults (56.3%) with no past history of hypertension had normal BP, 7,959,288 participants had BP in the prehypertension range (29.8%), and finally, 3,706,413 participants (13.9%) had either past medical history of hypertension, used medications, or had high BP measured in the campaign. Conclusion The campaign was feasible with the objective to increase the awareness among the public and policymakers of the importance of tackling hypertension in Iran