Development of efficient micropropagation protocol for Withania coagulans (Stocks) Dunal

The present study describes the development of efficient micropropagation protocol for a commercially important medicinal plant Withania coagulans. Nodal segments were immersed in various concentrations of cefotaxime, viz 100, 250, 500 and 750 mgl-1 for 5 min and implanted on Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) medium fortified with 6-benzyladenine (BA) (2 to 4 mgl-1) or indolebutyric acid (IBA) (0.25 to 0.5 mgl-1) either alone or in combination with different concentrations. Of the four concentrations of cefotaxime tested, the 250 mgL-1 showed nonphytotoxic effect on cultures and completely eliminated bacterial infection. Direct multiple shoots differentiation occurred in cultured explants without intervening callus phase and the maximum number of shoots (7.2 ± 1.0 per explant) and elongation (7 ± 1.4 cm) were achieved on MS media containing 2 mgl-1 BA + 0.5 mgl-1 IBA. For induction of stout root system, the shoot buds were cultured on ½MS medium fortified with different concentrations of IBA (1 to 4 mgl-1), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) (0.25 to 1.0 mgl-1) and kinetin (Kin) (1 to 2 mgl-1). MS medium with 2 mgl-1 IBA was found most effective for the induction of stout root system. Well-rooted plantlets were transferred to outside pots containing sterile soil, and sand mixture (2:1) showed 75% survival.Key words: In vitro, medicinal plant, propagation, Withania coagulans

Comparison the effect of Sleep Positioning on Cardiorespiratory Rate in Noninvasive Ventilated Premature Infants

Background: Results of several studies suggest that prone position is beneficial in improving the preterm infants’ cardio-respiratory status. Previous studies showed opposite results, and also there is not any available clear study about the effect of this position on cardio-respiratory rates of Nasal Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (N-CPAP) treating premature infants. Objectives: This study aimed at comparing supine and prone positions on cardio-respiratory rates of premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) who were treated using N-CPAP. Patients and Methods: This was a cross over study which was performed in 2010 on 44 hospitalized 29-34 weeks gestation premature infants who were receiving N-CPAP in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Al-Zahra Hospital of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Infants were randomly assigned into two groups, and the first group was placed in prone at first and then in supine, and the position of second group was at first supine and then prone. Infants’ Heart Rate (HR) and Respiratory Rate (RR) were assessed three times in each position for 30 minutes. The data was recorded in a data-collection form, and demographic data was analyzed using t test, Chi square and Fisher exact test. Also, repeated measurement ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc tests were used. Results: There was a significant difference in HR and RR of premature infants who were similar in gestational age and clinical condition and placed in two positions. Premature infants’ HR and RR became lower at prone position than supine in both groups. So it can be concluded that prone position could decrease infants HR and RR, but supine position might increase them (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings support prone positioning for premature infants. Therefore, it is advisable to NICU staff that if there is no obstacle for changing the infant’s position, prone position in infants with respiratory complications during receiving N-CPAP in NICU can be useful. Regarding the fact that prone position is a risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome , prone position should be only used when the newborn is being supervised carefully

Enhanced response of the regular networks to local signals in presence of a fast impurity

We consider an array of inductively coupled Josephson junctions with a fast impurity (a junction with a smaller value of critical current), and study the consequences of imposing a small amplitude periodic signal at some point in the array. We find that when external signal is imposed at the impurity, the response of the array is boosted and a small amplitude signal can be detected throughout the array. When the signal is imposed elsewhere, minor effects is seen on the dynamics of the array. The same results have been also seen in presence of a single fast spiking neuron in a chain of diffusively coupled FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with arXiv:1108.460

Functional scale-free networks in the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model

Recently, the similarity of the functional network of the brain and the Ising model was investigated by Chialvo [Nat. Phys. 6, 744 (2010)]. This similarity supports the idea that the brain is a self-organized critical system. In this study we derive a functional network of the two-dimensional Bak-Tang-Wiesenfeld sandpile model as a self-organized critical model, and compare its characteristics with those of the functional network of the brain, obtained from functional magnetic resonance imaging.Fil: Zarepour Nasir Abadi, Mahdi. Institute For Advanced Studies In Basic Sciences; Irán. CONICET, Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola, Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Niry, M. D.. Institute For Advanced Studies In Basic Sciences; IránFil: Valizadeh, A.. Institute For Advanced Studies In Basic Sciences; Irá

The image of nursing, as perceived by Iranian male nurses

The stereotypical public image of nursing is a major concern for male nurses around the world. In this study, we explored how Iranian male nurses perceived the public view of nurses, and their perceptions of themselves. A qualitative descriptive design and content analysis were used to obtain data from 18 purposely-selected male hospital nurses with a baccalaureate nursing degree in Tabriz, Iran. Semistructured interviews were conducted and analyzed. Two main themes emerged: (i) the outsider's view of nursing, which referred to the participants' perceptions of their public image; and (ii) the insider's view, which related to the male nurses' perceptions of themselves. Results included personal transition into a positive professional self-image through the educational process, and continued public perception of nursing as a female profession ill-suited for a man. Strategies to improve the insider's and outsider's views of nursing are listed to help recruit and retain more Iranian male nurses

Potential nutritive value of some forage species used as ruminants feed in Iran

A study was conducted to determine rumen degradability (in sacco) of dry matter and in vitro gas production of the most important forage species grown in Iran, to compare forage species according to calculated degradation and in vitro gas production parameters, and to establish prediction equations for relative feed value (RFV) from gas production parameters. Thus, six forage species consisting of Lucerne, Eruca sativa, Crocus sativus, Cardaria draba, Setaria Spp., and Triticum aestivum forages were evaluated. Crude protein (CP) contents in the forages ranged from 139.60 to 246.30 g kg-1 DM. The neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and organic matter (OM) were 273.30 to 596.60, 210.00 to 310.00, and 820.00 to 946.70 g kg-1 DM, respectively. The highest DM degradation and in vitro gas producton parameters were found for E. sativa. Also the relative feed value (RFV), relative forage quality (RFQ), dry mater intake and effective dry matter digestibility calculated for E. sativa was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) higher than other forages. The variation of RFV explained by the gas production parameters ranged (R2) from 0.023 to 0.846. The gas production at 6, 24 and 48 h incubation times explained 0.836, 0.800 and 0.805 of variation of RFV, respectively. There was a negative correlation between in vitro gas production in different time incubation with NDF, ADF and a positive correlation between gas production parameters and CP content of forage species. The study shows that these forages relatively had a good nutritive value in comparison of Lucerne, and therefore, may serve as potential supplements for ruminants in Iran, and it seems that RFV index of six forage species such as used in this present study may be predicted from in vitro gas production parameters.Keywords: Forage species, in vitro gas production, in situ degradability, relative feed valu

Coping With Stress in Iranian School-Age Children

Background: Methods learnt by children to cope with stress will be used in their adolescence. Failure to learn adaptive coping strategies causes some mental, physical and behavioral problems which continue until adulthood. Objectives: The current study was conducted to investigate the methods of coping with stress among Iranian school-age children. Patients and Methods: A descriptive study was conducted in which a randomly selected sample of 839 students of third to fifth grade of primary school in Tabriz, Iran participated. The data were collected using the Schoolagers` Coping Strategies Inventory questionnaire. SPSS software was employed to analyze the data by percentage, absolute frequency, and linear regression test. Results: All coping methods inserted in the questionnaire were used by students. More than 70% of students mentioned “pray”, “say I’m sorry or tell the truth”, and “try to relax, stay calm” out of 26 cases of coping strategies. According to more than 60% of children, “pray”, “say I’m sorry or tell the truth”, and “draw, write, or read something” were the most useful coping methods and “pick on someone” and “yell or scream” were not mostly used by the children under study. Conclusions: Children use variable methods to cope with their stress. Therefore, parents, health trainers and school authorities should distinguish non-adaptive methods of children and teach them the adaptive coping strategies

Low secondary electron yield engineered surface for electron cloud mitigation

Secondary electron yield (SEY or δ) limits the performance of a number of devices. Particularly, in high-energy charged particle accelerators, the beam-induced electron multipacting is one of the main sources of electron cloud (e-cloud) build up on the beam path; in radio frequency wave guides, the electron multipacting limits their lifetime and causes power loss; and in detectors, the secondary electrons define the signal background and reduce the sensitivity. The best solution would be a material with a low SEY coating and for many applications δ < 1 would be sufficient. We report on an alternative surface preparation to the ones that are currently advocated. Three commonly used materials in accelerator vacuum chambers (stainless steel, copper, and aluminium) were laser processed to create a highly regular surface topography. It is shown that this treatment reduces the SEY of the copper, aluminium, and stainless steel from δmax of 1.90, 2.55, and 2.25 to 1.12, 1.45, and 1.12, respectively. The δmax further reduced to 0.76-0.78 for all three treated metals after bombardment with 500 eV electrons to a dose between 3.5 × 10-3 and 2.0 × 10-2 C·mm-2

Implication of complex vertebral malformation and deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase on molecular-based testing in the Iranian Holstein bulls population

The aim of this study was to identify the deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS) and the complex vertebral malformation (CVM) in Iranian Holstein bulls. A total of 144 blood samples were prepared of Holstein bulls in Abbas Abad Animal Breeding Center and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad's Dairy Farm in Khorasan state of Iran. Genomic PCR-RFLP protocol was performed to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine uridine monophosphate synthase UMPS gene. Also, genomic PCR-SSCP method was performed for CVM to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine solutecarrier family 35 member 3 (SLC35A3) genes. The results of this study demonstrated that there was no carrier of DUMPS and CVM in Iranian bulls in these centers

Alloys innovation through machine learning: a statistical literature review

Statement of novelty: Through statistical analysis of 200+ papers, this research identifies trends, patterns and gaps to highlight areas for further exploration in using machine learning for alloy development.This review systematically analyzes over 200 publications to explore the growing role of data-driven methods and their potential benefits in accelerating alloy development. The review presents a comprehensive overview of different aspects of alloy innovation by machine learning and other computational approaches used in recent years. These methods harness the power of advanced simulation techniques and data analytics to expedite materials’ discovery, predict properties, and optimize performance. Through analysis, significant trends and disparities within the data discerned, while highlighting previously overlooked research gaps, thus underscoring areas that require further exploration. Machine Learning techniques are widely applied across various alloys, with a pronounced emphasis on steel and High Entropy Alloys. Notably, researchers primarily investigate the physical, mechanical, and catalytic properties of materials. In terms of methodology, while 68% of the examined papers rely on a single machine learning model, the remainder employ a range of 2 to 12 models, with Neural Network being the most prevalent choice. However, a notable concern arises as 53% of these papers do not share their dataset, and a staggering 81% do not provide access to their code. Paramount importance of adopting a systematic approach when scrutinizing machine learning methodologies is underscored. Analysis shows lack of consistency and diversity in the methods employed by researchers in the field of alloy development, highlighting the potential for improvement through standardization. The critical analysis of the literature not only reveals prevailing trends and patterns but also shines a light on the inherent limitations within the traditional trial-and-error paradigm