Phenological characteristics of the invasive weed Cucumis melo

Phenology is the study of periodic biological events. The time of weed appearance, growth and reproduction are very important for decisions on invasive weed management. Cucumis melo is an annual invasive weed of soybean fields in the north of Iran that reproduces and spreads predominately through seed production. In order to study the phenology of wild melon was conducted an experiment in CRD at Research Farm of Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Iran, during 2012. Seeds first germinated after 10 days of planting, as soon as optimal soil temperatures were achieved. The weed exhibited monoecious tendencies, with production of male flowers rapidly followed by production of both male and female flowers on the same vine. Cucumis melo exhibited prolific fruit production, until senescence occurred at 75 and 92 days after establishment. First fruit formation was observed between 40 and 49 days after emergence, depending on temperature. To complete growth cycle, of Cucumis melo required about 448 and 733 degree days, respectively for late of May and 8 of June. The weed produced a maximum of 100 fruits/plant, but an average plant typically produced 48 fruits/plant. The seed number and seed weight was on average about 190 seeds/fruit and 0.55 g per 100 seeds, respectively. The results indicated that wild melon could produce a lot of fruits and seeds within a growth period of about 75 and 92 days.Keywords: Growth, monoecious plants, reproduction, wild melonPhänologische Eigenschaften der invasiven Unkrautart Cucumis meloZusammenfassungDie Phänologie befasst sich mit wiederkehrenden biologischen Abläufen. Auflauf, Wachstum und Samenproduktion invasiver Arten sind wichtig für Bekämpfungsentscheidungen. Cucumis melo ist eine einjährige, invasive Unkrautart, die im Norden Irans im Sojabohnenanbau vorkommt und sich vorwiegend durch Samenproduktion vermehrt und ausbreitet. Untersuchungen zur Phänologie dieser Unkrautart wurden 2012 auf der Versuchsstation der Gorgan Universität im Iran durchgeführt. Das Auflaufen erfolgte von Anfang bis Mitte Mai nach Erreichen optimaler Bodentemperaturen. Die Unkrautart zeigte monözische Tendenzen indem sowohl männliche als auch weibliche Blüten an einer Pflanze ausgebildet wurden. Cucumis melo zeigt eine starke Fruchtentwicklung bis zum Beginn der Seneszens nach etwa 75 Tagen nach der Keimung. In Abhängigkeit von der Temperatur wurde die erste Fruchtbildung 40 bis 49 Tage nach der Keimung beobachtet. Wachstumszyklus für Ende Mai und 8. Juni abzuschließen, Cucumis melo der erforderlichen etwa 448 und 733 Grad-Tagen. Die Unkrautart produzierte maximal 100 Früchte pro Pflanze und im Mittel produzierte eine Pflanze 48 Früchte. Die Samenanzahl und das Samengewicht lagen bei 190 Samen pro Frucht und 0,55 g pro 100 Samen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass wilde Melonenarten innerhalb von 75 Tagen eine hohe Anzahl von Früchten und Samen produzieren können.Stichwörter: Monoecious Pflanzen, Reproduktion, Wachstum, wilde Melon

Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BackgroundDisorders affecting the nervous system are diverse and include neurodevelopmental disorders, late-life neurodegeneration, and newly emergent conditions, such as cognitive impairment following COVID-19. Previous publications from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries, and Risk Factor Study estimated the burden of 15 neurological conditions in 2015 and 2016, but these analyses did not include neurodevelopmental disorders, as defined by the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-11, or a subset of cases of congenital, neonatal, and infectious conditions that cause neurological damage. Here, we estimate nervous system health loss caused by 37 unique conditions and their associated risk factors globally, regionally, and nationally from 1990 to 2021.MethodsWe estimated mortality, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), years of life lost (YLLs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), with corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs), by age and sex in 204 countries and territories, from 1990 to 2021. We included morbidity and deaths due to neurological conditions, for which health loss is directly due to damage to the CNS or peripheral nervous system. We also isolated neurological health loss from conditions for which nervous system morbidity is a consequence, but not the primary feature, including a subset of congenital conditions (ie, chromosomal anomalies and congenital birth defects), neonatal conditions (ie, jaundice, preterm birth, and sepsis), infectious diseases (ie, COVID-19, cystic echinococcosis, malaria, syphilis, and Zika virus disease), and diabetic neuropathy. By conducting a sequela-level analysis of the health outcomes for these conditions, only cases where nervous system damage occurred were included, and YLDs were recalculated to isolate the non-fatal burden directly attributable to nervous system health loss. A comorbidity correction was used to calculate total prevalence of all conditions that affect the nervous system combined.FindingsGlobally, the 37 conditions affecting the nervous system were collectively ranked as the leading group cause of DALYs in 2021 (443 million, 95% UI 378–521), affecting 3·40 billion (3·20–3·62) individuals (43·1%, 40·5–45·9 of the global population); global DALY counts attributed to these conditions increased by 18·2% (8·7–26·7) between 1990 and 2021. Age-standardised rates of deaths per 100 000 people attributed to these conditions decreased from 1990 to 2021 by 33·6% (27·6–38·8), and age-standardised rates of DALYs attributed to these conditions decreased by 27·0% (21·5–32·4). Age-standardised prevalence was almost stable, with a change of 1·5% (0·7–2·4). The ten conditions with the highest age-standardised DALYs in 2021 were stroke, neonatal encephalopathy, migraine, Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, diabetic neuropathy, meningitis, epilepsy, neurological complications due to preterm birth, autism spectrum disorder, and nervous system cancer.InterpretationAs the leading cause of overall disease burden in the world, with increasing global DALY counts, effective prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation strategies for disorders affecting the nervous system are needed

An Investigation into Architectural Creolization of West African Vernacular Mosques

In investigating the influence of religious thoughts on architecture, much attention has been given to divine world-wide religions by the researchers, while indigenous religions have to a great extent been neglected. Ancient tribes in different parts of the world, have, on the basis of their cosmology, shaped beliefs which reflect on their architecture, especially on their sacred buildings. Regarding the Dogons-a well-known and a dominant tribe in West Africa- their Gods, cosmology and beliefs have led to the formation of settlements comprising houses, temples and other types of buildings in accordance with their religious thoughts while also being in harmony with nature. Up on the expansion of Islam throughout Africa, especially West Africa, vernacular mosques are shaped gradually beside shrines making a typology of Islamic architecture which has traces of both Dogon and Islamic architecture within it; While the influence of natural materials and indigenous building techniques should not be neglected. Taking a descriptive-deductive analysis approach, this paper will search for the architectural creolization process and will eventually conclude that West African vernacular mosques inherit their formal and spatial features mostly from Dogon house and pioneer mosques in Medina and their physical features, elements and exterior decorations from Dogon temples

Investigating Resistance of Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) ‎Populations to Tribenuron-Methyl Herbicide

Tribenuron-methyl is commonly used for post emergence control of broad leaf weeds in wheat fields. In order to survey suspicious resistant weeds in wheat fields to this herbicide thirty-eight fields of Kermanshah province were investigated during 2012- 2013. Seeds of suspected resistance of wild mustard were gathered and tested in a randomized complete blocks design experiment with three replications. First, for early detection of herbicide resistance, the suspected population was screened using discriminating dose of tribenuron-methyl. Determining of the resistance degree was conducted by whole plant bioassay tests using dose-response curves. The resistance mechanisms were assayed by molecular methods, especially using the ALS gene cloning by PJET1.2/blunt Vector. For susceptible populations, the concentration required for complete control was 10.4 g ai ha-1 tribenuron-methyl. Also, in screening tests 50% of populations as resistant populations were identified. According to the Beckie and Tardif, it was found that 57.8% of these population did have a very high degree of resistance, 31.5% with high resistance and 10/5% with low resistance degree. GR50 of the resistant weeds was also increased as compared to sensitive weed, which indicates resistance in this province, Thus to control the resistant populations Z15, this amount increased to 1309 g ai ha-1.The results of DNA sequencing showed that mutation by replacing proline amino acid at position Ala122 causes resistance based on target-site mutation

Greenhouse assay to investigate resistance of littleseed canary grass (Phalaris minor) to aryloxyphenoxy propionate herbicides

In order to evaluate resistance of Phalaris minor biotypes, sampled from wheat fields of Fars and Golestan provinces, to ACCase inhibiting herbicides, a dose-response study was conducted under controlled conditions in greenhouse of Ferdwosi University of Mashhad. The results indicated that AR, SR3, MR4, FR2, FR4, and FR8 populations of Fars and GR2-1 biotype from Golestan have been resistant to diclofop-methlyl. Different levels of resistance maybe are because of involving different mechanisms in studied populations. AR, SR3, and MR4 showed a cross-resistance to the applied herbicides. These biotypes indicated a 5- to 11-fold and a 7- to 8-fold increase in resistance to diclofop-methlyl and clodinafop-propargyl, respectively compared with the susceptible biotype. Among these biotypes, SR3 showed the highest resistance to both herbicides. Key words: Phalaris minor, herbicide resistance and ACCase inhibitor

Seed Bioassay and ACCase Enzyme Assay to Study the Resistance of Phalaris minor to Aryloxyphenoxy-propionate (APP) Inhibitors

Abstract During 2005 and 2006, fourteen and seven Phalaris minor populations were found in the wheat fields of Fars and Golestan Provinces, respectively, that exhibited resistance to fenoxaprop-P ethyl and diclofop methyl belonging to the aryloxyphenoxy propionate herbicides. Seed bioassay was conducted at the weed science laboratory of Ferdwosi University of Mashhad to study the resistance of the populations to the APP herbicides. Petri dish assay showed that the populations are resistant to applied herbicides with different level of resistance. Using the estimated parameters of concentration-response curves, discriminating concentration was determined for diclofop methyl at 8.04 ppm and for fenoxaprop-P-ethyl at 1.05 ppm. A study was also conducted at the agricultural biochemistry laboratory of Cordoba University to investigate the biochemical basis of resistance to ACCase-inhibiting herbicides in the resistant populations. In vitro enzyme assays revealed a herbicide-resistant ACCase enzyme in the AR, MR4 and SR3 populations. Extracted ACCase enzyme from the shoots of these populations was highly resistant to both applied herbicides compared with the susceptible population. The results suggest that the mechanism of resistance to APP herbicides in the three most resistant populations (AR, MR4 and SR3) relates to an altered ACCase. In the case of the rest of the resistant populations, other mechanisms including enhanced metabolism, lack of absorption and translocation, and other unknown mechanisms may be involved. These results also confirmed seven populations are cross-resistant to both the herbicides studied. Keyword

Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Effects, Biocompatibility and Cytotoxicity of Co-Loaded Meropenem and Vancomycin in Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) have been reported as an effective system to co-deliver a variety of different agents to enhance efficiency and improve biocompatibility. This study was aimed at the preparation, physicochemical characterization, antimicrobial effects, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity of vancomycin and meropenem co-loaded in the mesoporous silica nanoparticles (Van/Mrp-MSNPs). The prepared nanoparticles were explored for their physicochemical features, antibacterial and antibiofilm effects, biocompatibility, and cytotoxicity. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the Van/Mrp-MSNPs (0.12–1 µg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus isolates were observed to be lower than those of the same concentrations of vancomycin and meropenem. The minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) range of the Van/Mrp-MSNPs was 8–64 μg/mL, which was lower than the meropenem and vancomycin MBICs. The bacterial adherence was not significantly decreased upon exposure to levels lower than the MICs of the MSNPs and Van/Mrp-MSNPs. The viability of NIH/3T3 cells treated with serial concentrations of the MSNPs and Van/Mrp-MSNPs were 73–88% and 74–90%, respectively. The Van/Mrp-MSNPs displayed considerable inhibitory effects against MRSA, favorable biocompatibility, and low cytotoxicity. The Van/Mrp-MSNPs could be a potential system for the treatment of infections