Biological Control of Brown Leaf Spot Disease Caused by Curvularia Lunata and Field Application Method on Rice Variety IR66 in Cambodia

Curvularia lunata was found to cause a serious rice brown leaf spot in Cambodia. This is the first report of brown leaf spot on rice in Cambodia. All isolates were tested for pathogenicity. Dual culture antagonistic tests showed that Chaetomium cupreum inhibited sporulation of C. lunata when compared to the control. In a pot experiment, C. cupreum significantly reduced the incidence of brown leaf spot caused by C. lunata. After application of a spore suspension of C. cupreum, Chaetomium-biofungicide and chemical fungicide (tebuconazole) to rice seedlings inoculated with C. lunata, the disease was reduced by 68.79 %, 75.80 % and 72.41 %, respectively. In a field trial, the chemical method gave the best results in all plant parameters, followed by the good agricultural practice (GAP) and organic methods. The chemical method gave the highest panicle/plant, panicle length, panicle weight, grain weight/plant which were different from the GAP and organic methods. The chemical method also gave the best results in filled grain panicle-1, unfilled grain panicle-1, grain weight plot-1, dry hay weight plot-1, biomass weight plot-1 and harvest index, and was significantly better than the GAP and organic methods

Analysis of Two Generalized Exponential Populations Under Joint Type-I Progressive Hybrid Censoring Scheme

This paper discussed inference for two generalized exponential using the joint type-I progressively hybrid censoring (JPHC-I) scheme. It assumed that the lifetime distribution of the items from the two populations follow generalized exponential distribution. Based on the JPHC-I scheme, we first consider the maximum likelihood estimators of the unknown parameters along with thier asymptotic confidence intervals. Next, we provide the Bayesian inferences of the unknown parameters under the assumptions of independent gamma priors on the scale parameters using squared error (SE) and linear-exponential (LINEX) loss functions. Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) techniques is applied to carry out the Bayesian estimation procedure and in turn calculate the credible intervals. To evaluate the performance of the estimators, numerical example is carried out

Tribological behavior of shape-specific microplate-enriched synovial fluids on a linear two-axis tribometer

Nano- and micro-particles are being increasingly used to tune interfacial frictional properties in diverse applications, from friction modifiers in industrial lubrication to enhanced biological fluids in human osteoarthritic joints. Here, we assessed the tribological properties of a simulated synovial fluid enriched with non-spherical, poly lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microparticles (μPL) that have been previously demonstrated for the pharmacological management of osteoarthritis (OA). Three different μPL configurations were fabricated presenting a 20 μm 20 μm square base and a thickness of 5 μm (thin, 5H μPL), 10 μm (10H μPL), and 20 μm (cubical, 20H μPL). After extensive morphological and physicochemical characterizations, the apparent Young’s modulus of the μPL was quantified under compressive loading returning an average value of 6 kPa, independently of the particle morphology. Then, using a linear two-axis tribometer, the static (μs) and dynamic (μd) friction coefficients of the μPL-enriched simulated synovial fluid were determined in terms of particle configuration and concentration, varying from 0 (fluid only) to 6105 μPL/mL. The particle morphology had a modest influence on friction, possibly because the μPL were fully squeezed between two mating surfaces by a 5.8 N normal load realizing boundary-like lubrication conditions. Differently, friction was observed to depend on the dimensionless parameter , defined as the ratio between the total volume of the μPL enriching the simulated synovial fluid and the volume of the fluid itself. Both coefficients of friction were documented to grow with reaching a plateau of μs 0.4 and μd 0.15, already at  210-3. Future investigations will have to systematically analyze the effect of sliding velocity, normal load, and rigidity of the mating surfaces to elucidate in full the tribological behavior of μPL in the context of osteoarthritis

The influence of technology readiness on information technology competencies and civil conflict environment

This study investigates the relationship between electricity consumption and real gross domestic product in Botswana (the world’s largest producer of diamonds). The study includes capital formation in a trivariate system for the period covering 1980-2008. Zivot and Andrews (1992) unit roots test; bound test for cointegration, and Granger causality test are employed.Unidirectional causality is found from electricity consumption to real gross domestic product is in line with study of Altinay and Karagol (2005) among others. The long run estimate reinforce the Granger causality tests by indicating that electricity consumption is positively associated with real gross domestic product in the long run. Further findings suggest unidirectional causality from capital formation to real gross domestic product. The implication is that Botswana- being a highly energy dependent country- will have the performance of its capital formation on the economy partly determined by adequate electricity

Predicting Impulse Control Disorders in Parkinson Disease through Incentive Biomarkers

Altres ajuts: Fundació la Marató de TV3 (2014/U/477, 20142910); Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER); Pla Estratègic de Recerca i Innovació (SLT008/18); CERCA (CEntres de Recerca de Catalunya); CIBERNED (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de enfermedades NEuroDegenerativas).Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate whether the feedback-related negativity (FRN)-a neurophysiological marker of incentive processing-can be used to predict the development of impulse control disorders (ICDs) in Parkinson disease (PD). Methods: The longitudinal cohort consisted of consecutive nondemented PD patients with no ICD history. We recorded FRN signals while they performed a gambling task. We calculated the mean amplitude difference between losses and gains (FRNdiff) to be used as a predictor of future ICD development. We performed prospective biannual follow-up assessments for 30 months to detect incident ICDs. Finally, we evaluated how basal FRNdiff was associated with posterior development of ICDs using survival models. Results: Between October 7, 2015 and December 16, 2016, we screened 120 patients. Among them, 94 patients performed the gambling and 92 completed the follow-up. Eighteen patients developed ICDs during follow-up, whereas 74 remained free of ICDs. Baseline FRNdiff was greater in patients who developed ICDs than in those who did not (−2.33μV vs −0.84μV, p = 0.001). No other significant baseline differences were found. The FRNdiff was significantly associated with ICD development in the survival models both when not adjusted (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.58-0.91, p = 0.006) and when controlling for dopamine replacement therapy, sex, and age (HR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.55-0.97, p = 0.035). None of the impulsivity measures evaluated was related to ICD development. Interpretation: Reward-processing differences measured by FRN signals precede ICD development in PD. This neurophysiological marker permits identification of patients with high risk of ICD development. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:974-984

Development of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Analogs with in Vivo Anti-Hypertensive Actions

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) contribute importantly to the regulation of vascular tone and blood pressure control. The purpose of this study was to develop stable EET analogs and test their in vivo blood pressure lowering effects in hypertensive rats. Using the pharmacophoric moiety of EETs, ether EET analogs were designed with improved solubility and resistance to auto-oxidation and metabolism by soluble epoxide hydrolase. Ether EET analogs were chosen based on their ability to dilate afferent arterioles and subsequently tested for blood pressure lowering effects in rodent models of hypertension. Initially, 11,12-ether-EET-8-ZE failed to lower blood pressure in angiotensin hypertension or spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Esterification of the carboxylic group of 11,12-ether-EET-8-ZE prevented blood pressure increase in SHR when injected at 2 mg/day for 12 days (MAP Δ change at day 8 of injection was −0.3 ± 2 for treated and 12 ± 1 mmHg for control SHR). Amidation of the carboxylic group with aspartic acid produced another EET analog (NUDSA) with a blood pressure lowering effect when injected at 3 mg/day in SHR for 5 days. Amidation of the carboxylic group with lysine amino acid produced another analog with minimal blood pressure lowering effect. These data suggest that esterification of the carboxylic group of 11,12-ether-EET-8-ZE produced the most effective ether-EET analog in lowering blood pressure in SHR and provide the first evidence to support the use of EET analogs in treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Parental awareness regarding pediatric antibiotic use in Madinah, Saudi Arabia

Purpose: To determine the level of awareness of antibiotic use in children in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, and to identify factors associated with parental decisions regarding it. Methods: Using a multiple-choice-question-based questionnaire survey, 1256 forms were distributed to visitors of major shopping malls in Madinah City to obtain socio-demographic and antibiotics knowledgebased data from October 2017 to January 2018. Differences in scores between and within groups on knowledge of parents about antibiotics were determined. Results: Most participants (67 %) had good basic knowledge of antibiotics: 69 and 40 % of respondents were aware of their side effects and antibacterial resistance, respectively. Participants in high age groups (> 46 years old) have a significantly higher mean knowledge score (55.4 ± 20.1, p < 0.05) than those in younger groups. Educational status increased the mean knowledge score by approximately 60 %, with the most educated group having a mean score of 61.2 ± 16.4 (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results reveal the importance of awareness campaigns on antibiotic use and the role of healthcare professionals in the education of patients and parents on correct use of antibiotics, as well as the significance of antibacterial resistance. Keywords: Antibiotics misuse, Pediatrics, Patient education, Antibacterial resistanc

Modeling Swash Zone Hydrodynamics Using Discontinuous Galerkin Finite-Element Method

A 2D numerical model for the solution of the Nonlinear Shallow Water Equations (NSWEs) using the Discontinuous Galerkin Finite Element Method (DGFEM) is presented. A new adaptation of the thin film approach is developed for the wetting/drying treatment. The model is applied to a number of test cases that can be characterized as swash flows, or as cases that are particularly useful for swash flow modelling. The DGFEM model shows robustness and provides accurate predictions of water depth, velocities, and shoreline movement. For the case of bore collapse on a plane beach the model performs well against a state-of-the-art finite volume swash code. The new wetting/drying algorithm is tested against a previous algorithm within the same framework for simulating a solitary wave propagating on a beach with bottom friction, showing a noticeable improvement in the shoreline prediction. The model is also tested against a more subtle test case, including generation of subharmonic edge waves, in order to test the effectiveness of DGFEM in reproducing second order effects. The model simulates the excitation and development of the sub-harmonic edge waves when compared to the analytical solutions in the literature. Overall, it is shown here for the first time that the DGFEM technique can be used to simulate accurately a wide range of swash zone flows and therefore swash zone processes