Fungi, Source of Biologically Active Substances with Important Application in Agricultural Fields

Eleven species (dried fruiting bodies) Fomitopsis pinicola, Cerrena unicolor, Piptoporus betulinus, Daedaleopsis tricolor, Stereum subtomentosum, Funalia trogii, Phellinus cinereus, Trametes versicolor, T. pubescens, T. gibbosa and Ganoderma applanatum were used to extract biologically active compounds (BACs) as crude fungal extracts (CFEs) in distilled water (diH2O) which was further studied to evaluate their impact on the rate of seeds germination, biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments, biomass formation and in tomato seedlings length (Solanum lycopersicum, cv. Dubrava). The results showed that xylotrophic mushrooms are a source of potential biologically active compounds useful for agriculture. © 2022 Author(s).The work was partly supported by RFBR, Russia (Project No. 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 02.A03.21.0006)

Fungi, source of biologically active substances with important application in agricultural fields

The work was partly support by RFBR, Russia (Project № 19-516-45006) and DST, India (INT/RUS/RFBR/363) and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement № 02.A03.21.0006)

Impact of Fungal Biologically Active Substances on Plant Growth

In this study, effects of Inonotus obliquus, Fomes fomentarius, Fomitopsis pinicola and Trichaptum pergamenum extracts on plant functions have been investigated. Barley, cucumber and tomato seeds were grown in Petri dishes containing filter paper, petri dishes have been moistened with the solutions of biologically active substances from the fungal extracts from the above-mentioned fungi species; the control petri dishes were moistened with distilled water. The impact of extracts on seeds germination seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments contents, biomass formation of shoots and roots have been determined. © 2019 Author(s).The research was supported by The Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation Agreement no. 02.A03.21.0006

Gravity compensation in complex plasmas by application of a temperature gradient

Micron sized particles are suspended or even lifted up in a gas by thermophoresis. This allows the study of many processes occurring in strongly coupled complex plasmas at the kinetic level in a relatively stress-free environment. First results are presented. The technique is also of interest for technological applications.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, final version to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

EU support for biofuels and bioenergy, environmental sustainability criteria, and trade policy

This paper presents physics-based surrogate modeling algorithms for systems governed by parameterized partial differential equations (PDEs) commonly encountered in design optimization and uncertainty analysis. We first outline unsupervised learning approaches that leverage advances in the machine learning literature for a meshfree solution of PDEs. Subsequently, we propose continuum and discrete formulations for systems governed by parameterized steady-state PDEs. We consider the case of both deterministically and randomly parameterized systems. The basic idea is to embody the design variables or uncertain parameters in additional dimensions of the governing PDEs along with the spatial coordinates. We show that the undetermined parameters of the surrogate model can be estimated by minimizing a physics-based objective function derived using a multidimensional least-squares collocation or the Bubnov-Galerkin scheme. This potentially allows us to construct surrogate models without using data from computer experiments on a deterministic analysis code. Finally, we also outline an extension of the present approach to directly approximate the density function of random algebraic equations

Population of isomers in decay of the giant dipole resonance

The value of an isomeric ratio (IR) in N=81 isotones ($^{137}$Ba, $^{139}$Ce, $^{141}$Nd and $^{143}$Sm) is studied by means of the ($\gamma, n)$ reaction. This quantity measures a probability to populate the isomeric state in respect to the ground state population. In ($\gamma, n)$ reactions, the giant dipole resonance (GDR) is excited and after its decay by a neutron emission, the nucleus has an excitation energy of a few MeV. The forthcoming $\gamma$ decay by direct or cascade transitions deexcites the nucleus into an isomeric or ground state. It has been observed experimentally that the IR for $^{137}$Ba and $^{139}$Ce equals about 0.13 while in two heavier isotones it is even less than half the size. To explain this effect, the structure of the excited states in the energy region up to 6.5 MeV has been calculated within the Quasiparticle Phonon Model. Many states are found connected to the ground and isomeric states by $E1$, $E2$ and $M1$ transitions. The single-particle component of the wave function is responsible for the large values of the transitions. The calculated value of the isomeric ratio is in very good agreement with the experimental data for all isotones. A slightly different value of maximum energy with which the nuclei rest after neutron decay of the GDR is responsible for the reported effect of the A-dependence of the IR.Comment: 16 pages, 4 Fig

Entanglement Measures for Single- and Multi-Reference Correlation Effects

Electron correlation effects are essential for an accurate ab initio description of molecules. A quantitative a priori knowledge of the single- or multi-reference nature of electronic structures as well as of the dominant contributions to the correlation energy can facilitate the decision regarding the optimum quantum chemical method of choice. We propose concepts from quantum information theory as orbital entanglement measures that allow us to evaluate the single- and multi-reference character of any molecular structure in a given orbital basis set. By studying these measures we can detect possible artifacts of small active spaces.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

Stereotypical Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia B-Cell Receptors Recognize Survival Promoting Antigens on Stromal Cells

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is the most common leukemia in the Western world. Survival of CLL cells depends on their close contact with stromal cells in lymphatic tissues, bone marrow and blood. This microenvironmental regulation of CLL cell survival involves the stromal secretion of chemo- and cytokines as well as the expression of adhesion molecules. Since CLL survival may also be driven by antigenic stimulation through the B-cell antigen receptor (BCR), we explored the hypothesis that these processes may be linked to each other. We tested if stromal cells could serve as an antigen reservoir for CLL cells, thus promoting CLL cell survival by stimulation through the BCR. As a proof of principle, we found that two CLL BCRs with a common stereotyped heavy chain complementarity-determining region 3 (previously characterized as “subset 1”) recognize antigens highly expressed in stromal cells – vimentin and calreticulin. Both antigens are well-documented targets of autoantibodies in autoimmune disorders. We demonstrated that vimentin is displayed on the surface of viable stromal cells and that it is present and bound by the stereotyped CLL BCR in CLL-stroma co-culture supernatant. Blocking the vimentin antigen by recombinant soluble CLL BCR under CLL-stromal cell co-culture conditions reduces stroma-mediated anti-apoptotic effects by 20–45%. We therefore conclude that CLL BCR stimulation by stroma-derived antigens can contribute to the protective effect that the stroma exerts on CLL cells. This finding sheds a new light on the understanding of the pathobiology of this so far mostly incurable disease

Logistic support provided to Australian disaster medical assistance teams: results of a national survey of team members

Background: It is likely that calls for disaster medical assistance teams (DMATs) continue in response to international disasters. As part of a national survey, the present study was designed to evaluate the Australian DMAT experience and the need for logistic support.\ud \ud Methods: Data were collected via an anonymous mailed survey distributed via State and Territory representatives on the Australian Health Protection Committee, who identified team members associated with Australian DMAT deployments from the 2004 Asian Tsunami disaster.\ud \ud Results: The response rate for this survey was 50% (59/118). Most of the personnel had deployed to the South East Asian Tsunami affected areas. The DMAT members had significant clinical and international experience. There was unanimous support for dedicated logistic support with 80% (47/59) strongly agreeing. Only one respondent (2%) disagreed with teams being self sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours. Most felt that transport around the site was not a problem (59%; 35/59), however, 34% (20/59) felt that transport to the site itself was problematic. Only 37% (22/59) felt that pre-deployment information was accurate. Communication with local health providers and other agencies was felt to be adequate by 53% (31/59) and 47% (28/59) respectively, while only 28% (17/59) felt that documentation methods were easy to use and reliable. Less than half (47%; 28/59) felt that equipment could be moved easily between areas by team members and 37% (22/59) that packaging enabled materials to be found easily. The maximum safe container weight was felt to be between 20 and 40 kg by 58% (34/59).\ud \ud Conclusions: This study emphasises the importance of dedicated logistic support for DMAT and the need for teams to be self sufficient for a minimum period of 72 hours. There is a need for accurate pre deployment information to guide resource prioritisation with clearly labelled pre packaging to assist access on site. Container weights should be restricted to between 20 and 40 kg, which would assist transport around the site, while transport to the site was seen as problematic. There was also support for training of all team members in use of basic equipment such as communications equipment, tents and shelters and water purification systems