Effect of different sowing techniques and mulches on the growth and yield behavior of spring planted maize (Zea mays L.)

A field trail was carried out to evaluate the effect of different sowing techniques and mulches on the growth and yield attributes of maize. The experiment was conducted at the Agronomic Research Farm, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad during spring season, 2011. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with split plot arrangement having three replications with net plot size of 7.0 m × 4.5 m. Field experiment comprised of five sowing methods (S1: ridge sowing, S2: ridge sowing alternate double sided, S3: bed sowing, S4: furrow sowing and S5 flat sowing) and three mulches (M1: maize pith, M2: wheat straw, M3: rice straw) was conducted during 2011 spring season under the tropical condition. The results showed that cobs length, cob diameter, and number of grains per cob, 1000-grain weight, biological yield and grain yield were maximum under ridge sowing method (S1) following the ridge sowing alternate double sided (S2). Furrow sowing shows least response to the agronomic and yield related parameters of spring maize. Among the mulch treatments; wheat straw mulch (M2) perform better and gave higher grain yield (6.21 Mg ha-1) as compared to the rice straw mulch and maize pith. Sowing techniques and mulches showed statistically non significant results for quality parameters (starch contents, oil contents and protein contents). Interaction of all three quality parameters was also observed non significant

COMPARISON OF IRON STORES IN HEALTHY INDIVIDUALS AND PATIENTS WITH ISCHAEMIC HEART DISEASE

ABSTRACT Excess body iron has been linked to atherosclerosis owing to its pro-oxidative properties. However, inconsistent results have emerged from the epidemiological studies linking iron status and the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Objective of the present study is to compare iron stores of healthy individuals and patients with ischaemic heart disease (IHD). A total of 137 subjects were included in the study, 90 patients of IHD and 47 healthy subjects with no history of IHD as controls. We compared body iron stores of patients and controls. Serum ferritin, serum transferrin receptor (sTfR) and sTfR/ferritin ratio were used as measures of body iron stores. Our results revealed that mean serum ferritin concentration of cases was significantly higher than controls. Moreover, mean sTfR and sTfR/ferritin ratio of controls was significantly higher than the patients. We conclude from our results that IHD patients have higher iron stores than healthy subjects suggesting a possible association between high iron stores and the risk of IHD

Research Involving People of a Refugee Background:Considerations for Ethical Engagement

This paper is of relevance to both those considering carrying out research and those participating in it. It is based on discussions between three researchers of a non-refugee background and a small group of nine people of a refugee background living in Ireland and Scotland, all of whom have been involved in research in some way. The paper is divided into three sections outlining what should be considered before, during and after data has been collected from people of a refugee background.Irish Research CouncilUniversity College DublinFunded by the Irish Research Council and the Scottish Irish Migration Initiativ

Functional Modulation of Cardiac Form through Regionally Confined Cell Shape Changes

Developing organs acquire a specific three-dimensional form that ensures their normal function. Cardiac function, for example, depends upon properly shaped chambers that emerge from a primitive heart tube. The cellular mechanisms that control chamber shape are not yet understood. Here, we demonstrate that chamber morphology develops via changes in cell morphology, and we determine key regulatory influences on this process. Focusing on the development of the ventricular chamber in zebrafish, we show that cardiomyocyte cell shape changes underlie the formation of characteristic chamber curvatures. In particular, cardiomyocyte elongation occurs within a confined area that forms the ventricular outer curvature. Because cardiac contractility and blood flow begin before chambers emerge, cardiac function has the potential to influence chamber curvature formation. Employing zebrafish mutants with functional deficiencies, we find that blood flow and contractility independently regulate cell shape changes in the emerging ventricle. Reduction of circulation limits the extent of cardiomyocyte elongation; in contrast, disruption of sarcomere formation releases limitations on cardiomyocyte dimensions. Thus, the acquisition of normal cardiomyocyte morphology requires a balance between extrinsic and intrinsic physical forces. Together, these data establish regionally confined cell shape change as a cellular mechanism for chamber emergence and as a link in the relationship between form and function during organ morphogenesis

Dead on arrival in a low-income country: results from a multicenter study in Pakistan

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the characteristics of dead on arrival (DOA) patients in Pakistan. METHODS: Data about the DOA patients were extracted from Pakistan National Emergency Department Surveillance study (Pak-NEDS). This study recruited all ED patients presenting to seven tertiary care hospitals during a four-month period between November 2010 and March 2011. This study included patients who were declared dead-on-arrival by the ED physician. RESULTS: A total of 1,557 DOA patients (7 per 1,000 visits) were included in the Pak-NEDS. Men accounted for two-thirds (64%) of DOA patients. Those aged 20-49 years accounted for about 46% of DOA patients. Nine percent (n = 72) of patients were brought by ambulance, and most patients presented at a public hospital (80%). About 11% of DOA patients had an injury. Factors significantly associated (p \u3c 0.05) with ambulance use were men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.72), brought to a private hospital (OR = 2.74), and being injured (aOR = 1.89). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was performed on 6% (n = 42) of patients who received treatment. Those brought to a private hospital were more likely to receive CPR (aOR = 2.81). CONCLUSION: This study noted a higher burden of DOA patients in Pakistan compared to other resourceful settings (about 1 to 2 per 1,000 visits). A large proportion of patients belonging to productive age groups, and the low prevalence of ambulance and CPR use, indicate a need for improving the prehospital care and basic life support training in pakistan

Circadian oscillator proteins across the kingdoms of life : Structural aspects 06 Biological Sciences 0601 Biochemistry and Cell Biology

Circadian oscillators are networks of biochemical feedback loops that generate 24-hour rhythms and control numerous biological processes in a range of organisms. These periodic rhythms are the result of a complex interplay of interactions among clock components. These components are specific to the organism but share molecular mechanisms that are similar across kingdoms. The elucidation of clock mechanisms in different kingdoms has recently started to attain the level of structural interpretation. A full understanding of these molecular processes requires detailed knowledge, not only of the biochemical and biophysical properties of clock proteins and their interactions, but also the three-dimensional structure of clockwork components. Posttranslational modifications (such as phosphorylation) and protein-protein interactions, have become a central focus of recent research, in particular the complex interactions mediated by the phosphorylation of clock proteins and the formation of multimeric protein complexes that regulate clock genes at transcriptional and translational levels. The three-dimensional structures for the cyanobacterial clock components are well understood, and progress is underway to comprehend the mechanistic details. However, structural recognition of the eukaryotic clock has just begun. This review serves as a primer as the clock communities move towards the exciting realm of structural biology

Agro-economic evaluation of various maize hybrids under different planting patterns

An experiment was carried out at the Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad to assess the agro-economic performance of two maize hybrids (SIPRA-4444 and TS- 13) under five different sowing patterns viz. ridge sowing 60 cm apart rows, bed sowing 60 cm apart rows, 60 cm apart single row strips, 90 cm apart double row strips and 120 cm apart triple row strips. The results indicated that the hybrids and the sowing patterns had a significant influence on the grain yield of maize. SIPRA-4444 produced maximum grain yield (6.02 tha-1) as compared to TS-13 (5.80 tha-1). Among the planting methods, ridge sowing produced highest grain yield (7.13 t ha-1). The interactive effect of hybrids and sowing methods showed that the hybrid SIPRA - 4444 produced maximum yield when it was sown on 60 cm apart ridges. From economic point of view, maximum net income of Rs. 114172 and benefit to cost ratio of (2.37) was obtained when the hybrid SIPRA-4444 was sown on 60 cm spaced ridges

Plasmonic Effects of Au@Ag Nanoparticles in Buffer and Active Layers of Polymer Solar Cells for Efficiency Enhancement

Embedding nanoparticles (NPs) in the buffer layer of bulk heterojunction polymer solar cells (BHJ PSCs) excites the surface plasmonic polaritons and enhances the pathlength of the light in the solar cells. On the other hand, embedding NPs in the active layer significantly improves absorption and increases the production of electron-hole (e-h) pairs in BHJ PSCs. Increasing the volume ratio of NPs embedded in BHJ PSCs enables the direct interfacing of the NPs with the active layer, which then serves as a charge recombination center. Therefore, this study integrates the aforementioned phenomena by exploiting the effects of embedding plasmonic Au@Ag NPs in the buffer and active layers of PSC and then determining the optimum volume ratio of Au@Ag NPs. The results show the absorption is increased across the 350–750 nm wavelength region, and the PCE of the device with embedded Au@Ag in two locations is enhanced from 2.50 to 4.24%, which implies a 69.6% improvement in the PCE in comparison to the reference cell. This improvement is contributed by the combined localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effects of multi-positional Au@Ag NPs, spiky durian-shaped morphology of Au@Ag NPs, and optimized volume ratio of Au@Ag NPs embedded in the PEDOT: PSS and PTB7:PC71BM layers