Exploring field scale salinity using simulation modeling, example for Rudasht area, Esfahan Province, Iran

Salinity / Simulation models / Soil-water-plant relationships / Soil properties / Climate / Irrigated farming / Water quality / Iran / Esfahan Province / Rudasht Area

Residues and dissipation kinetics of two imidacloprid nanoformulations on bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under field conditions

The current study investigates the dissipation kinetics of two imidacloprid (IMI) nanoformulations (entitled: Nano-IMI and Nano-IMI/TiO2) on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seeds under field conditions and compares them with 35% Suspension Concentrate (SC) commercial formulation. To do so, it sprays P. vulgaris plants at 30 and 60 g/ha within green bean stage, sampling them during the 14-day period after the treatment. Following extraction and quantification of IMI residues, dissipation data have been fitted to simple-first order kinetic model (SFOK) and to first-order double-exponential decay (FODED) models, with 50% and 90% dissipation times (DT50 and DT90, respectively) assessed along the pre-harvest interval (PHI). With the exception of Nano-IMI at 60 g/ha, other decline curves are best fitted to the FODED model. In general, dissipation is faster for Nano-IMI (at 30 g/ha: DT50 = 1.09 days, DT90 = 4.30 days, PHI = 1.23 days; at 60 g/ha: DT50 = 1.29 days, DT90 = 4.29 days, PHI = 2.95 days) and Nano-IMI/TiO2 (at 30 g/ha: DT50 = 1.15 days, DT90 = 4.40 days, PHI = 1.08 days; at 60 g/ha: DT50 = 0.86 days, DT90 = 4.92 days, PHI = 3.02 days), compared to 35% SC (at 30 g/ha: DT50 = 1.58, DT90 = 6.45, PHI = 1.93; at 60 g/ha: DT50 = 1.58 days, DT90 = 14.50 days, PHI = 5.37 days). These results suggest the suitability of Nano-IMI and Nano-IMI/TiO2 application at both rates in terms of their residues on P. vulgaris seeds

A global minimization algorithm for a class of one-dimensional functions

AbstractAn algorithm is developed for finding the global minimum of a continuously differentiable function on a compact interval in R1. The function is assumed to be the sum of a convex and a concave function, each of which belongs to C1[a, b]. Any one-dimensional function with a bounded second derivative can be so written and, therefore, such functions generally have many local minima. The algorithm utilizes the structure of the objective to produce an ϵ-optimal solution by a sequence of simple one-dimensional convex programs

An admissible estimator for the rth power of a bounded scale parameter in a subclass of the exponential family under entropy loss function

We consider an admissible estimator for the rth power of a scale parameter that is lower or upper bounded in a subclass of the scale-parameter exponential family under the entropy loss function. An admissible estimator for a bounded parameter in the family of transformed chi-square distributions is also given.Розглянуто допустиму оцiнку для r-го степеня параметра масштабу, обмеженого зверху або знизу у пiдкласi експоненцiальної сiм’ї параметрiв масштабу з ентропiйною функцiєю втрат. Наведено також допустиму оцiнку обмеженого параметра у сiм’ї трансформованих розподiлiв хi-квадрат

In vitro response of promising tomato genotypes for tolerance to osmotic stress

Drought is a major abiotic factor that limits plant growth and productivity. Tomato is an important vegetable crop and area under production is limited by irrigation water scarcity. Four cultivars of tomato were grown as callus cultures under conditions of water stress, which was induced by addition of polyethylene glycol (6000) in the medium. The presence of PEG in the medium decreased relative growth rate and increased dry matter content in all treatments compared with the control. In all cultivars, proline levels increased in response to water stress. Also, there was decreased shoot induction in all cultivars with increase PEG treatments. The number of shoot forming in PS-10 and Peto was higher then Roma and Nora cultivars. This result can be used for in vitro screening and manipulations of tomato cultivars for improvement of drought tolerance

An admissible estimator for the rth power of a bounded scale parameter in a subclass of the exponential family under entropy loss function

We consider an admissible estimator for the rth power of a scale parameter that is lower or upper bounded in a subclass of the scale-parameter exponential family under the entropy loss function. An admissible estimator for a bounded parameter in the family of transformed chi-square distributions is also given.Розглянуто допустиму оцiнку для r-го степеня параметра масштабу, обмеженого зверху або знизу у пiдкласi експоненцiальної сiм’ї параметрiв масштабу з ентропiйною функцiєю втрат. Наведено також допустиму оцiнку обмеженого параметра у сiм’ї трансформованих розподiлiв хi-квадрат

Service quality & marketing: a practical relation

In this paper we aim to study the application of Six Sigma methodology to enhance online brand equity. In this regard, we will review different online brand equity models, brand equity failure modes and ways that online marketers can estimate current and desired sigma level of business branding performance. Research methodology applies on of main Six Sigma models, known as DMAIC (Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, and Control). In this frame work, we benefit from main tools in each mentioned phase above to reach associated improvement actions to show how business managers can enhance corporate online brand equity by using Six Sigma methodology. In addition the paper can be considered as first researches that investigates the application of Six Sigma technique in the field of online brand equity.Keywords: Six Sigma, online brand equity, DMAI

Earthquake risk in urban street network : an example from region 6 of Tehran, Iran

Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.This publication is with permission of the rights owner freely accessible due to an Alliance licence and a national licence (funded by the DFG, German Research Foundation) respectively.Purpose – Zone 6 of Tehran, with a populations of 220,000 people (3.6 per cent of the city population) and 20 km2 area (3 per cent of the city area), is one of the main municipal zones of Tehran. Major land-uses, like ministries, embassies, universities, general hospitals and medical centers, big financial firms, and so on, manifest the high importance of this region on a local and national scale. Thus, it is necessary to pay close attention to issues concerning crisis management in this area. Design/methodology/approach – In this paper, by using indexes such as access to medical centers, street inclusion, building and population density, land-use, peak ground acceleration and building quality, vulnerability degree of street networks in zone 6 against the earthquake is calculated through overlaying maps and data in combination with inversion hierarchical weight process method and geographic information systems. Findings – This article concludes that buildings alongside the streets with high population and building density, low building quality, far to rescue centers and high level of inclusion represent high rate of vulnerability, compared with other buildings. Also, by moving from north to south of the zone, the vulnerability increases. Likewise, highways and streets with substantial width and low building and population density hold little values of vulnerability. Thus, streets with high level of inclusion, building and population density present further vulnerability. Originality/value – It is expected that the results of this paper be used by the urban decision-makers. Due to high vulnerability of most parts of the urban textures of Tehran, similar researches will have importance for preparation for the future possible earthquakes

Immunomodulatory interventions in myocardial infarction and heart failure: a systematic review of clinical trials and meta-analysis of IL-1 inhibition

Following a myocardial infarction (MI), the immune system helps to repair ischaemic damage and restore tissue integrity, but excessive inflammation has been implicated in adverse cardiac remodelling and development towards heart failure (HF). Pre-clinical studies suggest that timely resolution of inflammation may help prevent HF development and progression. Therapeutic attempts to prevent excessive post-MI inflammation in patients have included pharmacological interventions ranging from broad immunosuppression to immunomodulatory approaches targeting specific cell types or factors with the aim to maintain beneficial aspects of the early post-MI immune response. These include the blockade of early initiators of inflammation including reactive oxygen species and complement, inhibition of mast cell degranulation and leucocyte infiltration, blockade of inflammatory cytokines, and inhibition of adaptive B and T-lymphocytes. Herein, we provide a systematic review on post-MI immunomodulation trials and a meta-analysis of studies targeting the inflammatory cytokine Interleukin-1. Despite an enormous effort into a significant number of clinical trials on a variety of targets, a striking heterogeneity in study population, timing and type of treatment, and highly variable endpoints limits the possibility for meaningful meta-analyses. To conclude, we highlight critical considerations for future studies including (i) the therapeutic window of opportunity, (ii) immunological effects of routine post-MI medication, (iii) stratification of the highly diverse post-MI patient population, (iv) the potential benefits of combining immunomodulatory with regenerative therapies, and at last (v) the potential side effects of immunotherapies

Solid-state laser system for laser cooling of Sodium

We demonstrate a frequency-stabilized, all-solid laser source at 589 nm with up to 800 mW output power. The laser relies on sum-frequency generation from two laser sources at 1064 nm and 1319 nm through a PPKTP crystal in a doubly-resonant cavity. We obtain conversion efficiency as high as 2 W/W^2 after optimization of the cavity parameters. The output wavelength is tunable over 60 GHz, which is sufficient to lock on the Sodium D2 line. The robustness, beam quality, spectral narrowness and tunability of our source make it an alternative to dye lasers for atomic physics experiments with Sodium atoms