PERFORMANCE AND STABILITY OF SOME BREAD WHEAT GENOTYPES FOR GRAIN YIELD, PROTEIN AND GLUTEN CONTENTS UNDER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Seventeen genotypes (G) of bread wheat (14 promising lines and 3 commercial cultivars) were evaluated for mean performance and stability of grain yield/plant, grain protein content and dry gluten percentage under 16 environments (two locations (L), two sowing dates(D) and four fertilization treatments (F)). The resultsconfirmed the existence of considerable genetic variation among genotypes and their performance was significantly affected by different environments for the studied traits. Kalubia locations recorded the highest mean values for grain yield/plant while; Fayoum location recorded the highest mean values for the two quality traits. Yield and quality traits were significantly increased on early (recommended) sowing dates at Kalubia and Fayoum locations than on late sowing dates. Applying biofertilizer only gave the lowest mean performance in all traits, but adding mineral N besides biofertilizer markedly increased grain yield/plant and the two quality traits. However, insignificant differences existed between the rate of nitrogen recommended (80kg N/fed.) and the rate of (biofertilizer + 60kgN/fed.), indicating that biofertilizer could be efficient in reducing costs of the expensive mineral N and reducing environmental pollution. On an average highest values of grain yield/plant were recorded by the promising wheat lines no. 10 (24.57 g), no. 9 (22.50 g), and no. 11 (21.64 g) as compared to the best check cultivar Giza 168. Meantime, this cultivar surpassed the other genotypes in protein and dry gluten percentages. Concerning phenotypic stability, the three superior lines no. 10, 9 and 11 gave the highest mean values (x¯) of grain/plant coupled with significant regression coefficient (bi) values higher than unity and significant deviation from regression (S2di), thus they considered specifically adapted to favourable environments

Transmural Ultrasound-based Visualization of Patterns of Action Potential Wave Propagation in Cardiac Tissue

The pattern of action potential propagation during various tachyarrhythmias is strongly suspected to be composed of multiple re-entrant waves, but has never been imaged in detail deep within myocardial tissue. An understanding of the nature and dynamics of these waves is important in the development of appropriate electrical or pharmacological treatments for these pathological conditions. We propose a new imaging modality that uses ultrasound to visualize the patterns of propagation of these waves through the mechanical deformations they induce. The new method would have the distinct advantage of being able to visualize these waves deep within cardiac tissue. In this article, we describe one step that would be necessary in this imaging process—the conversion of these deformations into the action potential induced active stresses that produced them. We demonstrate that, because the active stress induced by an action potential is, to a good approximation, only nonzero along the local fiber direction, the problem in our case is actually overdetermined, allowing us to obtain a complete solution. Use of two- rather than three-dimensional displacement data, noise in these displacements, and/or errors in the measurements of the fiber orientations all produce substantial but acceptable errors in the solution. We conclude that the reconstruction of action potential-induced active stress from the deformation it causes appears possible, and that, therefore, the path is open to the development of the new imaging modality

Elevated serum neutrophil elastase is related to prehypertension and airflow limitation in obese women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Neutrophil elastase level/activity is elevated in a variety of diseases such as atherosclerosis, systolic hypertension and obstructive pulmonary disease. It is unknown whether obese individuals with prehypertension also have elevated neutrophil elastase, and if so, whether it has a deleterious effect on pulmonary function. Objectives: To determine neutrophil elastase levels in obese prehypertensive women and investigate correlations with pulmonary function tests.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty obese prehypertensive women were compared with 30 obese normotensive subjects and 30 healthy controls. The study groups were matched for age. Measurements: The following were determined: body mass index, waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, serum neutrophil elastase, and pulmonary function tests including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁), forced vital capacity (FVC) and FEV₁/FVC ratio.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum neutrophil elastase concentration was significantly higher in both prehypertensive (405.8 ± 111.6 ng/ml) and normotensive (336.5 ± 81.5 ng/ml) obese women than in control non-obese women (243.9 ± 23.9 ng/ml); the level was significantly higher in the prehypertensive than the normotensive obese women. FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC ratio in both prehypertensive and normotensive obese women were significantly lower than in normal controls, but there was no statistically significant difference between the prehypertensive and normotensive obese women. In prehypertensive obese women, there were significant positive correlations between neutrophil elastase and body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and negative correlations with high density lipoprotein cholesterol, FEV1, FVC and FEV1/FVC.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Neutrophil elastase concentration is elevated in obese prehypertensive women along with an increase in high sensitivity C-reactive protein which may account for dyslipidemia and airflow dysfunction in the present study population.</p

WSES guidelines for management of Clostridium difficile infection in surgical patients

In the last two decades there have been dramatic changes in the epidemiology of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI), with increases in incidence and severity of disease in many countries worldwide. The incidence of CDI has also increased in surgical patients. Optimization of management of C difficile, has therefore become increasingly urgent. An international multidisciplinary panel of experts prepared evidenced-based World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES) guidelines for management of CDI in surgical patients.Peer reviewe

Optical image encryption based on chaotic baker map and double random phase encoding

This paper presents a new technique for optical image encryption based on chaotic Baker map and Double Random Phase Encoding (DRPE). This technique is implemented in two layers to enhance the security level of the classical DRPE. The first layer is a pre-processing layer, which is performed with the chaotic Baker map on the original image. In the second layer, the classical DRPE is utilized. Matlab simulation experiments show that the proposed technique enhances the security level of the DRPE, and at the same time has a better immunity to noise