Temporal variation of soil moisture over the Wuding River basin assessed with an eco-hydrological model, in-situ observations and remote sensing

The change pattern and trend of soil moisture (SM) in the Wuding River basin, Loess Plateau, China is explored based on the simulated long-term SM data from 1956 to 2004 using an eco-hydrological process-based model, Vegetation Interface Processes model, VIP. In-situ SM observations together with a remotely sensed SM dataset retrieved by the Vienna University of Technology are used to validate the model. In the VIP model, climate-eco-hydrological (CEH) variables such as precipitation, air temperature and runoff observations and also simulated evapotranspiration (<I>E<sub>T</sub></I>), leaf area index (LAI), and vegetation production are used to analyze the soil moisture evolution mechanism. The results show that the model is able to capture seasonal SM variations. The seasonal pattern, multi-year variation, standard deviation and coefficient of variation (<I>C<sub>V</sub></I>) of SM at the daily, monthly and annual scale are well explained by CEH variables. The annual and inter-annual variability of SM is the lowest compared with that of other CEH variables. The trend analysis shows that SM is in decreasing tendency at α=0.01 level of significance, confirming the Northern Drying phenomenon. This trend can be well explained by the decreasing tendency of precipitation (α=0.1) and increasing tendency of temperature (α=0.01). The decreasing tendency of runoff has higher significance level (α=0.001). Because of SM's decreasing tendency, soil evaporation (<I>E<sub>S</sub></I>) is also decreasing (α=0.05). The tendency of net radiation (<I>R<sub>n</sub></I>), evapotranspiration (<I>E<sub>T</sub></I>), transpiration (<I>E<sub>C</sub></I>), canopy intercept (<I>E<sub>I</sub></I>) is not obvious. Net primary productivity (NPP), of which the significance level is lower than α=0.1, and gross primary productivity (GPP) at α=0.01 are in increasing tendency

Temperature and pH-responsive nano-hydrogel drug delivery system based on lysine-modified poly (vinylcaprolactam).

BACKGROUND: Smart materials capable of responding to external stimuli are noteworthy candidates in designing drug delivery systems. In many of the recent research, temperature and pH have been recognized as the main stimulating factors in designing systems for anti-cancer drugs delivery systems. PURPOSE: In this study, thermo and pH-responsive character of a nano-carrier drug delivery platform based on lysine modified poly (vinylcaprolactam) hydrogel conjugated with doxorubicin was assessed. METHODS: Poly (vinylcaprolactam) cross-linked with poly (ethyleneglycol) diacrylate was prepared via RAFT polymerization, and the prepared structure was linked with lysine through ring-opening. The anti-cancer drug doxorubicin, was linked to lysine moiety of the prepared structure via Schiff-base reaction. The prepared platform was characterized by 1HNMR and FT-IR, while molecular weight characterization was performed by size exclusion chromatography. The temperature-responsive activity was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic light scattering. In vitro release pattern in simulated physiologic pH at 37°C was compared with acidic pH attributed to tumor site and elevated temperature. The anticancer efficiency of the drug-conjugated structure was evaluated in breast cancer cell line MCF-7 in 24 and 48 h, and cell uptake assay was performed on the same cell line. CONCLUSION: According to the results, well-structure defined smart pH and temperature responsive nano-hydrogel was prepared. The enhanced release rates are observed at acidic pH and elevated temperature. We have concluded that the doxorubicin-conjugated nanoparticle results in higher cellular uptakes and more cytotoxicity

Uso da acupressão para minimizar desconfortos na gestação

Objetivo: Descrever respostas emitidas por gestantes, quanto à melhora dos desconfortos gravídicos após aplicação da técnica da acupressão.Método: Estudo qualitativo e descritivo desenvolvido com 15 gestantes entre novembro de 2013 e fevereiro de 2014 em uma Unidade Básica de Saúde de Natal-RN, Brasil. A coleta de dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista não estruturada, e os depoimentos, depois de transcritos e tratados de acordo com a proposta operativa de Minayo, foram lidos criteriosamente, comparados entre si e organizados em dois grupos.Resultados: As categorias suscitadas foram: Repercussões positivas da acupressão e Recomendações do uso da acupressão. Segundo as gestantes, os desconfortos da gravidez como câimbras, cansaço nos membros inferiores, lombalgia e cefaleia diminuíram com o uso da acupressão.Conclusões: Baseado nos resultados obtidos, a acupressão deve ser introduzida pela(o) enfermeira(o) em consultas pré-natais como recurso terapêutico em prol da obtenção do bem-estar da gestante.Palavras-chave: Enfermagem obstétrica. Cuidado pré-natal. Acupressão. Humanização da assistência

4E assessment of power generation systems for a mobile house in emergency condition using solar energy: a case study

In this study, a solar parabolic trough concentrator (PTC) was evaluated as a heat source of a power generation system based on energy (E1), exergy (E2), environmental (E3), and economic (E4) analyses. Various configurations of power generation systems were investigated, including the solar SRC (SRC) and solar ORC (ORC). Water and R113 were used as heat transfer fluids of SRC and ORC system, respectively. It should be mentioned that the proposed solar systems were evaluated for providing the required power of a mobile house in an emergency condition such as an earthquake that was happened in Kermanshah, Iran, in 2016 with many homeless people. The PTC system was optically and thermally investigated based on sensitivity analysis. The optimized PTC system was assumed as a heat source of the RC with two various configurations for power generation. Then, the solar RC systems were investigated based on 4E analyses for providing the power of the mobile house based on various numbers of solar RC units. It was concluded that the solar SRC system could be recommended for achieving the highest 4E performance. The highest value of its energy efficiency was found at 24.60% and of his exergy at 26.37%. On the other hand, the ORC system has energy and exergy efficiencies at 17.64% and 18.91%, respectively, which are significantly lower than the efficiencies of the SRC system. The optimum heat source temperature for the SRC system is found at 650 K, while for the ORC system at 499 K. Moreover, the best economic performance was found with the SRC system with a payback period of 7.47 years. Finally, the CO2 mitigated per annum (φCO2) was estimated at 5.29 (tones year−1), and the carbon credit (ZCO2) was calculated equal to 76.71 ($ year−1)

Species pattern and phylogenetic relationships of Trichoderma strains in rice fields of Southern Caspian Sea, Iran

As a first step of a project aimed at the identification of potential biocontrol agents of Rhizoctonia solani, the rice sheath blight fungus, we surveyed the biodiversity of the genus Trichoderma based on sequence of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and 2 of the ribosomal RNA gene cluster in paddy fields in Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. Amongst the six obtained species of Trichoderma, T. harzianum and T. virens proved to be the most frequent species in this habitat. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis revealed that the T. harzianum isolates can be divided into 14 different ITS genotypes clustering in four groups. Our results are in agreement with previous molecular studies, which also revealed that T. harzianum is a complex species comprising more or less different ITS genotypes. T. virens was not as diverse as T. harzianum and three different genotypes were distinguished which constituted only one cluster. All T. atroviride and T. hamatum strains had identical ITS sequences

Strain-specific SCAR markers for the detection of Trichoderma harzianum AS12-2, a biological control agent against Rhizocto nia solani, the causal agent of rice sheath blight

In order to identify a specific marker for T. harzianum AS12-2, a strain capable of controlling rice sheath blight caused by Rhizoctonia solani, UP-PCR was performed using five universal primers (UP) both separately and in pairwise combinations. The application of two UP primers resulted in the amplification of unique fragments from the genomic DNA of T. harzianum AS12-2, clearly distinguishing it from other Trichoderma strains. The unique fragments had no significant sequence homology with any other known sequence available in databases. Based on the sequences of the unique fragments, 14 oligonucleotide primers were designed. Two primer sets amplified a fragment of expected size from the DNA of strain T. harzianum AS12-2 but not from any other examined strains belonging to T. harzianum, to other Trichoderma species assayed, or to other common fungi present in paddy fields of Mazandaran province, Iran. In conclusion, SCAR (sequence characterized amplified regions) markers were successfully identified and rapid, reliable tools were provided for the detection of an effective biocontrol Trichoderma strain, which can facilitate studies of its population dynamics and establishment after release into the natural environment