Application of sand and geotextile envelope in subsurface drip irrigation

Subsurface drip irrigation is a technology used for better management of irrigation water. This technique is more desirable in arid and semi-arid region, because of decreasing soil surface evaporation and more efficiency of irrigation system in comparison with the other irrigation systems. Inaddition, this system is a safer way for treated wastewater (TWW) reuse in irrigation lands. But roots and clay particles can clog drip emitters in systems buried below the soil surface. In this paper, sand and geotextile filtration methods have been suggested for solving root intrusion and biological plugging problems for subsurface drip applications. Sand envelope around the emitters has been recommended for deeper root zone and long term application of system, while geotextile envelope is suitable for seasonal crops with shallow root.Key words: Subsurface drip irrigation, sand and geotextile, emitters

The Long-Term Effects of Chemo Radiotherapy on Oral Health and Dental Development in Childhood Cancer

The improvement in survival and local control measures in children with neoplasm in the head and neck region may lead to increased iatrogenic adverse effects of treatment. The aim of this study was to report a new case of the long-term effects of chemoradiotherapy on oral health and dental development in a patient treated for Hodgkin’s disease at an early age. In this case report, a 26-year-old female is presented, who at the age of 5 years received chemotherapy and radiotherapy for Hodgkin’s disease in the neck region. The patient consulted the Department of Oral Medicine because of dental changes and tooth loss despite adequate dental care and oral hygiene. Clinical examination revealed loose teeth and inflamed gingiva of the mandible, x-ray showed premature root resorption, V-shaped and shortened roots and alveolar bone loss. After examination, the patient was referred for extracting the mandibular teeth and then wassent to the prosthetics department. Therefore, in order to decrease dental treatment sequelae in patients who have had cured malignant disease, these cases should have life-long dental care and follow-up

Management ofwater content of soil in cultivation of greenhouse cucumber (Cucumis sativus L, Nasim variety) in Isfahan- Iran

Measurement and control of water content of soil is an essential factor in irrigation management, to apply the best management practice for reducing water consumption and improving product quality. The water content of soil is an important factor in greenhouse where it is directly related to the total amount of water consumed for irrigation. Since cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L, Nasim variety) is considered as the main and much used summer crop in Iran, which are extremely sensitive to adverse conditions particularly water stress, determination and supply of water is vital for this plant. To this end, maximum allowable depletion (MAD) should be determined. This experiment was conducted in the research greenhouse (Plastic Covered) of Islamic Azad University in Khorasgan, Isfahan, during a period of five months. This project was implemented in the framework of three 40, 60, and 80 cm bar water suction treatments with three replications using tensiometer. Before treatment application, water content of soil was determined in weight. MAD in 40, 60, and 80 cm bar treatments was 22, 32 and 50%, respectively. Statistical results and mean comparison demonstrated that MAD of 22 and 32% led to a significant yield increase (P<0.001), while MAD of 50% had the least yield. The results reveal that there was a significant difference between MAD of 22 and 32% in increasing leaf area index (LAI) (P<0.001).Key words: Maximum allowable depletion, greenhouse cucumber, tensiometer, leaf area index

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Physalis alkekengi

ABSTRACT The present study investigates the anti-inflammatory activity of ethanolic extract of Physalisalkekengi. The medicinal values of the Physalisalkekengi have been mentioned in ancient literature as useful in disorders. The effect of ethanolic extracts of Physalisalkekengi were studied on carrageenan induced paw edema. The ethanolic extract decreased the edema induced in hind paw. The ethanolic extract of Physalisalkekengi (200 mg/kg b.w.) has showed significant anti-inflammatory. It has been concluded that ethanolic extract of Physalisalkekengi (200 mg/kg b.w.) augments that it is having good anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenan induced paw edema

Effect of Nitrohumic Acid Application on Some Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Savory Plant (Satureja hortensis L.)

Introduction Savory is considered one of the most important medicinal plants, which is used in various food and medical industries. Nitrogen (N) plays a major role on the growth and yield of medicinal plants. Therefore, an adequate supply of N is required for successful production of savory. However, the application of chemical N fertilizers is associated with many obstacles such as groundwater ‎pollution, N enrichment of surface waters, and drop in the quality of plants. ‎Accordingly, nowadays, great attention has been paid to organic fertilizers. In this regard, humic acid-based fertilizers have shown promising results. Humic acids (HAs) could be converted into nitrohumic acids (NHAs) through the nitration process, in which nitro groups (NO2) are located on the aromatic rings. This process increases the N content of the HA. Thus, ‎‎NHAs can be used as organic N fertilizers in the cultivation of medicinal plants whose organic production is a priority. However, the ‎effects of these types of fertilizers on plant growth and physiological characteristics have not been well ‎understood. Accordingly, the present study for the first time investigates the effectiveness of NHA on the ‎morphological and physiological characteristics of savory, as well as N loss through leaching.‎ Materials and Methods In the current study, HA was initially extracted from leonardite (purchased from Yazd Golsang Kavir Company) as a rich source of HA. Then, NHA was prepared through the nitration process using nitric acid (50% by volume). After that, using FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) and CHNS analysis the extracted HA and NHA were characterized, and their N content was determined. Afterward a ‎greenhouse experiment in a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was conducted ‎to determine the effects of 16 treatments, including control (without urea, HA and NHA), urea (U1, U2 and U3), humic acid ‎‎(HA1, HA2 and HA3), nitrohumic acid (NHA1, NHA2 and NHA3), urea-humic acid (U1HA1, U2HA2‎ and U3HA3), and urea-nitrohumic acid (U1NHA1, U2NHA2 and U3NHA3) on the morphological ‎and physiological characteristics of savory plant. The treatment levels were ‎determined as 40, 80, and 120 mg N kg-1 for the first, second and third level of the treatments, respectively. In the combined treatments of urea and HA or NHA, an equal fraction of the total nitrogen (N) was applied. At the end of the experiment, standard methods were used to assess various characteristics, including root length, leaf area, plant height, root volume, wet and dry weights of shoot and root, leaf chlorophyll index, concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, nitrogen, nitrate, and nitrate reductase in both the shoot and root. Additionally, leaching was conducted on specific days during the experiment, and the leachate was collected for nitrate measurement. Results and Discussion The results showed that using the nitration process, some characteristics of the NHA such as total acidity, the content of carboxylic and phenolic groups as well as N content improved as compared to the initial HA. Moreover, the results indicated that most of the morphological and physiological ‎traits of savory plants, including leaf area, plant height, root length, fresh and dry weights of root and shoot as well as chlorophyll index, and the concentration of nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, nitrate and nitrate reductase enzyme were significantly higher in the NHA treatments than those of HA. In addition, the highest shoot dry weight was obtained in the combined treatments of U3NHA3 and U3HA3 as well as in the U3 treatment alone. The average rate of nitrate concentration increase in the U treatments was 1.77 times higher than the UNHA treatments. According to the results, U3 treatment indicated the highest nitrate loss which by using the U3NHA3 treatment, the mean concentration of nitrate ‎in the leachate decreased by about 40.5% as compared to the U3 treatment.‎ Conclusion The findings of this research revealed that most of the morphological and physiological ‎traits of savory plant showed better responses to the combined treatments of U3NHA3 and U3HA3 as well as to the U3 treatment alone. However, with regard to the lower accumulation of nitrate in the shoot of savory as well as to the lower nitrate leaching, the combined treatments were preferred. Accordingly, NHA can be ‎a alternative nitrogen source in increasing the yield and growth indicators of savory. However, the reasons behind the fact of the better performance of combined nitrogen treatments than the individual ones require more research in the future

A review of wireless pavement system based on the inductive power transfer in electric vehicles

The proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) hinges upon the availability of robust and efficient charging infrastructure, notably encompassing swift and convenient solutions. Among these, dynamic wireless charging systems have garnered substantial attention for their potential to revolutionize EV charging experiences. Inductive power transfer (IPT) systems, in particular, exhibit a promising avenue, enabling seamless wireless charging through integrated pavements for EVs. This review engages in an in-depth exploration of pertinent parameters that influence the inductivity and conductivity performance of pavements, alongside the assessment of potential damage inflicted by IPT pads. Moreover, the study delves into the realm of additive materials as a strategic approach to augment conductivity and pavement performance. In essence, the review consolidates a diverse array of studies that scrutinize IPT pad materials, coil dimensions, pavement characteristics (both static and dynamic), and adhesive properties. These studies collectively illuminate the intricate dynamics of power transfer to EVs while considering potential repercussions on pavement integrity. Furthermore, the review sheds light on the efficacy of various additive materials, including metal and nanocomposite additives with an SBS base, in amplifying both conductivity and pavement performance. The culmination of these findings underscores the pivotal role of geometry optimization for IPT pads and the strategic adaptation of aggregate and bitumen characteristics to unlock enhanced performance within wireless pavements

Quality of life in patients with breast cancer before and after diagnosis: an eighteen months follow-up study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Measuring quality of life in breast cancer patients is of importance in assessing treatment outcomes. This study examined the impact of breast cancer diagnosis and its treatment on quality of life of women with breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This was a prospective study of quality of life in breast cancer patients. Quality of life was measured using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and its breast cancer supplementary measure (QLQ-BR23) at three points in time: baseline (pre diagnosis), three months after initial treatment and one year after completion of treatment (in all 18 months follow-up). At baseline the questionnaires were administered to all suspected identified patients while both patients and the interviewer were blind to the final diagnosis. Socio-demographic and clinical data included: age, education, marital status, disease stage and initial treatment. Repeated measure analysis was performed to compare quality of life differences over the time.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In all, 167 patients diagnosed with breast cancer. The mean age of breast cancer patients was 47.2 (SD = 13.5) years and the vast majority (82.6%) underwent mastectomy. At eighteen months follow-up data for 99 patients were available for analysis. The results showed there were significant differences in patients' functioning and global quality of life at three points in time (P < 0.001). Although there were deteriorations in patients' scores for body image and sexual functioning, there were significant improvements for breast symptoms, systematic therapy side effects and patients' future perspective (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The findings suggest that overall breast cancer patients perceived benefit from their cancer treatment in long-term. However, patients reported problems with global quality of life, pain, arm symptoms and body image even after 18 months following their treatments. In addition, most of the functional scores did not improve.</p

Identification and Functional Analysis of Epigenetically Silenced MicroRNAs in Colorectal Cancer Cells

Abnormal microRNA (miRNA) expression has been linked to the development and progression of several human cancers, and such dysregulation can result from aberrant DNA methylation. While a small number of miRNAs is known to be regulated by DNA methylation, we postulated that such epigenetic regulation is more prevalent. By combining MBD-isolated Genome Sequencing (MiGS) to evaluate genome-wide DNA methylation patterns and microarray analysis to determine miRNA expression levels, we systematically searched for candidate miRNAs regulated by DNA methylation in colorectal cancer cell lines. We found 64 miRNAs to be robustly methylated in HCT116 cells; eighteen of them were located in imprinting regions or already reported to be regulated by DNA methylation. For the remaining 46 miRNAs, expression levels of 18 were consistent with their DNA methylation status. Finally, 8 miRNAs were up-regulated by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine treatment and identified to be novel miRNAs regulated by DNA methylation. Moreover, we demonstrated the functional relevance of these epigenetically silenced miRNAs by ectopically expressing select candidates, which resulted in inhibition of growth and migration of cancer cells. In addition to reporting these findings, our study also provides a reliable, systematic strategy to identify DNA methylation-regulated miRNAs by combining DNA methylation profiles and expression data