Viscoelastic properties of green wood across the grain measured by harmonic tests in the range of 0\degree C to 95\degree C. Hardwood vs. softwood and normal wood vs. reaction wood

The viscoelastic properties of wood have been investigated with a dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA) specifically conceived for wooden materials, the WAVET device (environmental vibration analyser for wood). Measurements were carried out on four wood species in the temperature range of 0\degree C to 100\degree C at frequencies varying between 5 mHz and 10 Hz. Wood samples were tested in water-saturated conditions, in radial and tangential directions. As expected, the radial direction always revealed a higher storage modulus than the tangential direction. Great differences were also observed in the loss factor. The tan\delta peak and the internal friction are higher in tangential direction than in radial direction. This behaviour is attributed to the fact that anatomical elements act depending on the direction. Viscoelastic behaviour of reaction wood differs from that of normal or opposite wood. Compression wood of spruce, which has higher lignin content, is denser and stiffer in transverse directions than normal wood, and has lower softening temperature (Tg). In tension wood, the G-layer is weakly attached to the rest of the wall layers. This may explain why the storage modulus and the softening temperature of tension wood are lower than those for the opposite wood. In this work, we also point out that the time-temperature equivalence fits only around the transition region, i.e. between Tg and Tg + 30\degree C. Apart from these regions, the wood response combines the effect of all constitutive polymers, so that the equivalence is not valid anymore

Cardiovascular patients� experiences of living with pacemaker: Qualitative study

BACKGROUND: A pacemaker implantation is considered major life event for cardiovascular patients, so they will probably have very interesting experiences of living with this device. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of cardiovascular patients living with the pacemaker. METHODS: In this qualitative study, 27 patients were chosen through purposive sampling to achieve data saturation, and their experiences were examined using semi-structured interviews. The patients� statements were recorded with their consent and analyzed using content analysis method. RESULTS: Participants� experiences included three main themes: �Problems and limitations,� �feeling and dealing with pacemaker�, and �sources of comfort� and 10 sub-themes including: physical problems, financial problems, social problems, the first encounter, the feeling of living with the pacemaker, how to cope with pacemaker, satisfaction with pacemaker, good family support, hospital and hospital staff performance, and role of religious beliefs. CONCLUSION: Planning to solve social problems, identifying and changing feelings of patients using pacemakers, reinforcing the resources of comfort especially family support seem to be necessary steps for improving quality of life and impact of using pacemaker. © 2015 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved

Prevalence of major foliar and panicle diseases of Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor [L.] Moench) in the Deccan plateau of India

Extensive on-farm disease surveys were conducted from August 1999 until March 2001 in four sorghum-growing states of the Indian Deccan plateau. A total of 965 fields were surveyed covering 228 fields in Andhra Pradesh (AP), 406 in Karnataka (KAR), 290 in Maharashtra (MH) and 41 in Tamil Nadu (TN). Among 14 foliar diseases observed, maize stripe virus (MStV), a tenuivirus transmitted by the delphacid plant hopper (Peregrinus maidis), and among five panicle diseases, ergot or sugary disease (Claviceps sorghi and C. africana) were the most destructive diseases. MStV was prevalent in 28.4% and ergot in 13.4% of the fields surveyed in two years across four states. Yet, the mean incidence of MStV in AP was 6% with 85% mean severity. The values in KAR were 12% incidence and 83% severity, in MH 5% and 67%, and in TN 12% and 76%, respectively. The mean incidence of ergot in AP was 34% with 67% mean severity. The values in KAR were 41% and 79%, in MH, 30% and 67%, and in TN 100% and 100%, respectively. Variation in frequency of occurrence of MStV was observed between 1999 and 2001. Variations in frequency could be due to weather factors, vector survival, cropping pattern, and host specificity. The frequency of ergot also was varying among years, locations, seasons and cultivars. An ergot epidemic was observed during the 1999 rainy season in Maachinenipalli village (16°35′N; 78°3′E), Andhra Pradesh. In September 2000, the disease had spread to 13 neighboring administrative zones damaging about 130 000 ha. This paper elucidates the distribution of diseases observed between 1999 and 2001 but does not imply that the diseases are restricted necessarily to a particular zone or location

Prevalence of ergot of sorghum in India

This paper reports the incidence and severity of ergot (Claviceps sorghi and Claviceps africana) on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) grown in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh from 1999 to 2002. Crops were surveyed at vegetative to physiological maturity stages and disease incidence (number of plants infected) and severity (percentage, based on the number of florets infected within panicles) recorded in 12 m2 areas. Percentage incidence of ergot infection varied with location, with Rajasthan and Gujarat recording only trace infections from 1999-2002 and Karnataka having 27-60% infection. Disease severity followed the same pattern

Bacterial leaf streak of sorghum - a new report from India

This paper reports the occurrence of bacterial leaf streak (Xanthomonas campestris pv. holcicola [Xanthomonas vasicola pv. holcicola]) on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) at the ICRISAT research farm, Andhra Pradesh, India and in several farmers fields in Karnataka in 1999-2001. Disease symptoms were small water-soaked reddish-brown necrotic streaks that later broadened and developed tan centres with a narrow red margin. The bacterium was isolated and confirmed as X. campestris pv. holcicola based on antiserum reactions; this may be the first record of this pathogen on sorghum in India. Attempts to prove pathogenicity of the bacterium by inoculating sorghum seedlings with cultured isolates using various inoculation techniques were unsuccessful

Gadolinium Enhancement in Intracranial Atherosclerotic Plaque and Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Gadolinium enhancement on high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a marker of inflammation and instability in intracranial atherosclerotic plaque. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize the association between intracranial atherosclerotic plaque enhancement and acute ischemic stroke. METHODS AND RESULTS: We searched the medical literature to identify studies of patients undergoing intracranial vessel wall MRI for evaluation of intracranial atherosclerotic plaque. We recorded study data and assessed study quality, with disagreements in data extraction resolved by a third reader. A random-effects odds ratio was used to assess whether, in any given patient, cerebral infarction was more likely in the vascular territory supplied by an artery with MRI-detected plaque enhancement as compared to territory supplied by an artery without enhancement. We calculated between-study heterogeneity using the Cochrane Q test and publication bias using the Begg-Mazumdar test. Eight articles published between 2011 and 2015 met inclusion criteria. These studies provided information about plaque enhancement characteristics from 295 arteries in 330 patients. We found a significant positive relationship between MRI enhancement and cerebral infarction in the same vascular territory, with a random effects odds ratio of 10.8 (95% CI 4.1-28.1, P<0.001). No significant heterogeneity (Q=11.08, P=0.14) or publication bias (P=0.80) was present. CONCLUSIONS: Intracranial plaque enhancement on high-resolution vessel wall MRI is strongly associated with ischemic stroke. Evaluation for plaque enhancement on MRI may be a useful test to improve diagnostic yield in patients with ischemic strokes of undetermined etiology.National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (Grant ID: K23NS082367), National Institutes of Health/ National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (Grant ID: KL2TR000458)This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from the American Heart Association via http://dx.doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.116.00381

New sources of resistance to grain mold in converted Zerazera sorghum

Zerazera sorghums have been extensively used in sorghum improvement programmes because of their agronomic desirability, superior grain quality and disease tolerance. Some 347 selections, derived from 12 accessions, were screened for resistance to the most predominantly occurring grain mould fungi, Fusarium moniliforme [Gibberella fujikuroi], F. pallidoroseum and Curvularia lunata [Cochliobolus lunatus]. Seeds were dipped in a spore suspension of the fungal isolates and evaluated for mould severity after 5 days in a humid chamber, on a scale of 1-9 (1 = no mould, 9 = greater than 75% surface area covered by mould). The 43 most resistant selections (mean mould rating of 2.2-3.5) were further evaluated in a field grain mould nursery in Andhra Pradesh during 1993 and 1994, and under natural conditions in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. For each selection, 10 panicles were tagged and evaluated for resistance at maturity, 14 days post maturity and after threshing. The mean mould rating of most of the 43 selections across all locations was less than or equal to 4 (less than or equal to 20% coverage). Eight accessions, (two each of IS 18758C-618, IS 1875C-710 and IS 30469C-140 and one selection each of IS 30469C-1187 and IS 30469C-1508T) were selected as promising, showing consistently high levels of mould resistance (<3) and also high levels of resistance to anthracnose (Colletotrichum graminicola) and leaf blight (Exserohilum turcicum [Setosphaeria turcica]) (data not reported) at all the locations

A Mathematical Model of Breast Tumor Progression Based on Immune Infiltration

Breast cancer is the most prominent type of cancer among women. Understanding the microenvironment of breast cancer and the interactions between cells and cytokines will lead to better treatment approaches for patients. In this study, we developed a data-driven mathematical model to investigate the dynamics of key cells and cytokines involved in breast cancer development. We used gene expression profiles of tumors to estimate the relative abundance of each immune cell and group patients based on their immune patterns. Dynamical results show the complex interplay between cells and molecules, and sensitivity analysis emphasizes the direct effects of macrophages and adipocytes on cancer cell growth. In addition, we observed the dual effect of IFN-γ role= presentation style= box-sizing: border-box; max-height: none; display: inline; line-height: normal; word-spacing: normal; overflow-wrap: normal; white-space: nowrap; float: none; direction: ltr; max-width: none; min-width: 0px; min-height: 0px; border: 0px; padding: 0px; margin: 0px; position: relative; \u3eγ on cancer proliferation, either through direct inhibition of cancer cells or by increasing the cytotoxicity of CD8+ T-cells

Effect of temperature and humidity regimes on grain mold sporulation and seed quality in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench)

Grain mold, induced by a number of non-specific fungi, causes substantial loss to seed/grain yield and quality in sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Fungal sporulation and grain mold severity are greatly influenced by temperature and relative humidity (RH) levels. We studied the effects of three incubation temperatures (25, 27 and 28°C) and two sets of RH levels (first set: 85, 90, 95, 98, and 100%, second set: 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 and 100%) on sporulation and grain mold severity in three major mold fungi (Curvularia lunata, Fusarium moniliforme, and Bipolaris australiensis) and on four each of resistant, moderately resistant and susceptible sorghum genotypes for sporulation and mold severity of major fungi. Results indicated that both fungal sporulation and grain mold severity increased on most sorghum genotypes with increasing incubation temperature from 25 - 28°C and RH levels from 95 - 98%. A linear relationship was observed among RH levels, grain mold severity and fungal sporulation. The highest sporulation of all the three fungi occurred at 28°C and 98% RH after 5 days of incubation. Among the three fungi, C. lunata grew and sporulated faster than B. australiensis and F. moniliforme, in that order. Among the sorghum genotypes, IS 25017 supported the least sporulation and had the lowest mold severity, followed by IS 8545 and PVK 801. Seed quality parameters, such as seed germination, seedling vigor index, field emergence potential, dehydrogenase and α-amylase activities declined significantly with increasing temperature and RH levels that supported heavy sporulation and grain colonization