Effects of different nutritional systems on seed germination and early seedling growth in medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.)

This study was carried out to determine the effect of different nutritional systems (chemical, biological and integrated) on germination and seedling growth in medicinal pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.). The statistical design was a randomized complete block design with four replications. Four levels of different fertilizing systems including chemical (T1), biological (a combination of nitrogen bacteria, Azospirillum brasilense and Glomus mosseae) (T2) and integrated fertilizing systems (biological fertilizer + 50% chemical fertilizer) (T3), and control (without fertilizer) (T0), were employed. The results indicated that the maximum seed germination was 95% and the highest seed germination rate with 30.4 per day was observed in the intergraded nutritional treatment. The experimental results showed that all nutritional treatments had positive effects on seed germination compared to control. The highest level of germination percentage with 95% and the highest rate of germination with 30.4 seeds per day were obtained in integrated nutritional treatment. However, the integrated nutritional system required more time to demonstrate its positive effect on the growth and yield of medicinal pumpkin compared to chemical system. The results of present experiment indicated that integrated nutritional treatment had the greatest positive impact on germination characteristics in medicinal pumpkin. Designing and developing such nutritional systems can guarantee and facilitate the achievement of long-term objectives of sustainable agriculture

Universal control of a bosonic mode via drive-activated native cubic interactions

Linear bosonic modes offer a hardware-efficient alternative for quantum information processing but require access to some nonlinearity for universal control. The lack of nonlinearity in photonics has led to encoded measurement-based quantum computing, which rely on linear operations but requires access to resourceful ('nonlinear') quantum states, such as cubic phase states. In contrast, superconducting microwave circuits offer engineerable nonlinearities but suffer from static Kerr nonlinearity. Here, we demonstrate universal control of a bosonic mode composed of a superconducting nonlinear asymmetric inductive element (SNAIL) resonator, enabled by native nonlinearities in the SNAIL element. We suppress static nonlinearities by operating the SNAIL in the vicinity of its Kerr-free point and dynamically activate nonlinearities up to third order by fast flux pulses. We experimentally realize a universal set of generalized squeezing operations, as well as the cubic phase gate, and exploit them to deterministically prepare a cubic phase state in 60 ns. Our results initiate the experimental field of universal continuous-variables quantum computing.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures and supplementary material

Damage Identification in Steel Plates Using a Detection Algorithm Based on 1D Continuous Wavelet Transform and 2D Vibration Mode Shapes

In order to examine and monitor the health of structures, it is essential to identify and pinpoint the site of damage in structural elements and connections. After timely detection of various damage situations, it is possible to prevent the spread of damage by repairing the damage or, if necessary, replacing damaged elements, thereby mitigating potential social and economic losses. The construction industry is increasingly employing thin steel wall plates, particularly as steel plate shear walls. Damage to plate members, particularly steel plate shear walls, can be transferred to other elements and cause overall structural damage. Consequently, this article discusses detecting and determining various damage positions in the steel plate element. ABAQUS finite element analysis software was employed to model both the damaged and undamaged states of the steel plate. Subsequently, dynamic modal information was extracted, including natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes. The study observed a difference in frequency values between the primary and secondary states and an asymmetry of the angle matrix between the primary and secondary forms of the vibration modes due to the presence of damage. After that, a detection algorithm based on the use of primary and secondary shapes of two-dimensional vibration modes and continuous wavelet transform with a one-dimensional theoretical background was proposed, and the detection indices DI-L (detection index of longitudinal extension) and DI-W (detection index of transverse extension) were posited and calculated using the MATLAB.R2021a program. The graphical results of the investigations pertaining to the two proposed indices demonstrated the effectiveness and capability of two-dimensional detection of various damage situations, as peaks resulting from the values of detection indicators appeared in the form of irregularities and disturbances in the damage situations. In addition, the identification values achieved using the detection index matrix for the longitudinal extension were more accurate than those obtained using the detection index matrix for the transverse extension

The effect of Descurainia sophia oil on methamphetamine-induced cell cytotoxicity and cell death in PC12

Methamphetamine causes cytotoxicity and apoptosis in different cell lines. It seems that Descurainia sophia oil, as an East Asian folk herbal drug, can suppress the methamphetamine-induced cell death. In this study, protective effects of Descurainia sophia oil were followed up in methamphetamine-induced cell cytotoxicity in a neuron-like PC12 cell line. The viability, proliferation, and cytotoxicity of the cells were assessed by Trypan blue, MTT test, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay, respectively. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test was performed to detect DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Nitric oxide (NO) level was detected by Griese method. Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, interferon gamma (INF-γ), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) pro-inflammatory cytokines were measured by Rat Kit V-Plex, and finally, caspase-3 activity was determined by spectrophotometry. Results showed that Descurainia sophia oil has cell death–suppressing effects on PC12 cells. It enhanced the cell viability and proliferation and also increased the cell cytotoxicity and cell death index in methamphetamine-treated PC12 cells. Also, it suppressed NO production, inflammatory cytokine production by flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. We concluded that Descurainia sophia oil suppresses the methamphetamine-induced cell death in PC12 cell due to reduction of NO production, inflammation, and inhibition of apoptosis cascade. © 2019, Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature

Debonding Damage Detection and Assessment in a CFST Composite Column Using Modal Dynamic Data

Structural damage detection is one of the primary goals of structural health monitoring. Minimum safety can be provided upon timely identification of the damaged elements and appropriate decisions (repairing or replacing the damaged elements). Today, the use of concrete-filled steel tube composite columns in the construction industry, especially high-rise buildings, is increasing. In these columns, the concrete core debonding from the steel tube is considered a prevalent type of damage. This study discusses the impact of such debonding on dynamic modal properties (natural frequencies and vibration mode shapes) and the detection of debonding damage area based on wavelet analysis. Debonding to a depth of 3 mm is defined as reduction of concrete stiffness in connection with the steel tube, and the column was subjected to frequency analysis. Modal information, including frequency values and vibration mode shapes, were extracted. Differences in frequency values and Modal Assurance Criterion (MAC) smaller than one were observed between primary and secondary shapes of vibrational modes due to the presence of debonded areas. The results showed that with the addition of a new debonding damaged area, the rate of reduction of frequency values increased. The damage index was proposed based on the detail coefficients obtained from discrete wavelet analysis of primary and secondary shapes of vibration modes to identify the area of detachment damage. The results demonstrated that the relative minimum and maximum values of the damage index for all modes occurred in debonding damaged areas. Moreover, the damage index values for different damaged areas were independent of each other. Indeed, the damage index values for other debonding damage situations did not change when a new debonding damaged area was added. This is a positive point in the damage detection process with multiple debonded areas because in this case, the inability to detect a debonding damaged area cannot affect the detection of other debonding damage situations

Study of Foeniculum vulgare Effect on Folliculogenesis in Female Mice

Background: Foeniculum vulgare (FVE) is used in traditional medicine for its antiseptic, palliative and anti-inflammatory effects. Traditionally, FVE is utilized for treating female infertility. The present study aims to investigate the effects of FVE extract on folliculogenesis in female albino mice.Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a total of 20 female albino mice were divided into four groups. Groups 1 and 2 (experimental) received FVE alcoholic extract at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day for five days. Group 3 (negative control) received ethanol and group 4 (positive control) was administered normal saline, in the same doses as the experimental groups. Animals in all groups were sacrificed on the sixth day of the study; their ovaries were dissected out and prepared for histological examinations. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stained microscopic slides were evaluated and the numbers of ovarian follicles were compared between groups. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA.Results: The total follicle numbers were 26.5 +/- 5.24 for group 1 (100 mg/kg :EVE), 27.2 +/- 4.1 for group 2 (200 mg/kg FVE), 10.1 +/- 2.53 for group 3 (ethanol control) and 17.2 +/- 3.9 for the saline control group (group 4). The numbers of graffian, antral and multilaminar follicles increased significantly in both experimental groups when compared with the control groups (p<0.05), however there were no significant differences in follicle numbers among the experimental groups. The number of unilaminar primary follicles did not significantly change between all groups. GC-MS analysis of FVE extract identified the presence of diosgenin, an estrogenic compound.Conclusion: FVE induced folliculogenesis in female mice ovary and increased the number of growing ovarian follicles. The estrogenic component of FVE, diosgenin, may exert this effect

Damage Detection and Identification in a Column under the Effect of Axial Load Using Modal Properties and Mode Shape-based Detection Index

From the past until now, monitoring the health of structures and identifying different locations of damage to their elements have always been one of the basic requirements of maintaining structures and ensuring the safety of residents. Damage is defined as any modification to the shape or material characteristics of a structure that could impair its overall performance. Irreversible damages to structures can be avoided by promptly identifying, repairing, and replacing any damaged components in early stages. Damage to columns, one of the most vital elements of building structures and bridges, can pose serious concerns about the overall health of the structures compared to damage to other elements. This study proposes a detection index based on the slope and curvature of the mode and explores its usefulness in identifying distinct sites of column damage under axial load. The preliminary findings of this research revealed that as the axial load increases, the value of the natural frequency of all modes drops in both healthy and damaged conditions. Considering that the given columns may buckle and become unstable under the impact of axial load less than the design axial load due to damage, this underlines the necessity of addressing the problem of damage detection in columns under this load. The results also demonstrate that the frequency values of healthy and damaged conditions are different due to damage. Damage detection using the suggested index indicates that it is sensitive to the position of the damage, and that by establishing relative maxima in the damaged area, it is possible to recognize the location of the damage with an error less than one percent. In addition, the findings demonstrated that while the amount of axial load affects frequency values, it does not have any effect on the values of the damage detection index

Microbial biosurfactants as key multifunctional ingredients for sustainable cosmetics

A polar head and an apolar tail chemically characterize surfactants, they show different properties and are categorized by different factors such as head charge and molecular weight. They work by reducing the surface tension between oil and water phases to facilitate the formation of one homogeneous mixture. In this respect, they represent unavoidable ingredients, their main application is in the production of detergents, one of if not the most important categories of cosmetics. Their role is very important, it should be remembered that it was precisely soaps and hygiene that defeated the main infectious diseases at the beginning of the last century. Due to their positive environmental impact, the potential uses of microbial sourced surfactants are actively investigated. These compounds are produced with different mechanisms by microorganisms in the aims to defend themselves from external threats, to improve the mobility in the environment, etc. In the cosmetic field, biosurfactants, restricted in the present work to those described above, can carry high advantages, in comparison to traditional surfactants, especially in the field of sustainable and safer approaches. Besiede this, costs still remain an obsatcle to their diffusion; in this regard, exploration of possible multifunctional actions could help to contain application costs. To highlight their features and possible multifunctional role, on the light of specific biological profiles yet underestimated, we have approached the present review work

Detecting early symptoms of mental health deterioration using handwriting duration parameters

Abstract Introduction Recent years have witnessed a rapid rise in the incidence of mental health deterioration, such as depression and depressive symptoms. Therefore, early detection and measures of prevention have become important. This study aimed to develop a predictive method for assessing the incident risk of mental health deterioration by examining the associations between mental health and handwriting duration. Methods A cohort study over four years was performed with 200 university students who volunteered to participate in this study. Participants received the Uchida‐Kraepelin test every April and completed the 30‐item general health questionnaire to evaluate their mental health. From the stroke data obtained from the digital pen in the Uchida‐Kraepelin test, two kinds of intervals were extracted. Based on these interval ratios, participants were divided into two groups. We then examined the scores of the questionnaire between the high‐risk group and the low‐risk group in the first year of the study. In addition, multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine whether those in the high‐risk group in the first year still belonged to the high‐risk group in the fourth year. Results In the “Anxiety and Dysphoria scale” in the first year, the high‐risk group had a significantly higher score than the low‐risk group. Additionally, it was found that those in the high‐risk group in the first year tended to still be in the high‐risk group in the fourth year. Conclusion These results suggested that the indicator that we developed can be used as a predictive factor for the incident risk of mental health deterioration