Impact of virtual reality on learning perception

This thesis studies the perception of learners towards virtual reality as a learning tool to understand whether the learners hold any positive or negative perception towards VR and to build further knowledge on how VR should be adopted as an aid for teaching in academic and vocational institutes. Mixed research was conducted, which included an experiment where participants (n=31) were asked to wear a VR HMD and experience a pedagogical simulation, and then respond to a questionnaire. Subsequently, an online questionnaire (n=144) was dispersed amongst VR and non-VR users, to measure similar attributes based on their experience with VR technology. The questionnaire consisted of Likert, semantic differential scale, and open-ended questions. The results show that the perception of VR as a learning tool, although mostly positive, differs according to the experience of the participants with VR technology. The participants from the experiment and with prior academic VR experience have a dominant positive perception towards VR, whereas those with entertainment and no experience show marginally lower positive perception

Tetra­kis(μ2-2-methyl-3,5-dinitro­benzoato-κ2 O 1:O 1′)bis­[aqua­copper(II)] tetra­hydrate

The title compound, [Cu2(C8H5N2O6)4(H2O)2]·4H2O, forms a centrosymmetric paddle-wheel-type dimer with an intra­molecular Cu⋯Cu distance of 2.6540 (4) Å. The CuII atom is in a square-pyramidal coordination environment formed by four O atoms of four carboxyl­ate groups and one water mol­ecule, which is located in the apical position. The carboxyl­ate groups are twisted relative to the benzene rings by 11.09 (16) and 45.55 (19)°. The nitro groups are not coplanar with the parent aromatic rings [dihedral angles = 16.2 (3)–51.45 (14)°]. O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the coordinated water mol­ecules and one of the nitro groups, as well as π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distance = 3.5764 (12) Å] between the benzene rings, assemble the complex mol­ecules into a one-dimensional polymeric structure which is further extended into a three-dimensional polymeric network via O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds involving the water molecules of crystallization

Ascorbic Acid (Asa) improves Salinity Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum Aestivum L.) by Modulating Growth and Physiological Attributes

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is one of the most important staple foods. High concentration of sodium chloride severely affects plants in general and wheat in specific. In this study the ameliorative effects of ascorbic acid (AsA) against sodium chloride stress were investigated in two commercial wheat cultivars (Galaxy 2013 and Akbar 2019). Experiments were conducted in three replicates. Two levels of salt (0, 150 mM) along with exogenous application of ascorbic acid (0, 30 mM, 60 mM) were applied at three leaves seedling stage. At the establishment of treatments, data regarding physiological, biochemical and yield attributes were recorded and subjected to statistical analysis. The application of AsA significantly (p≤0.05) improved growth, yield and key physiological attributes in tested wheat varieties under salinity stress. Overall wheat genotype Akbar 2019 showed better growth under salt stress. It is concluded from this study that AsA may be used to mitigate salinity effects in wheat

Response surface optimization of gamma radiation-induced variation in functional quality of Nelumbo nucifera rhizome flour at various particle sizes

The cumulative effect of particle size (PS), gamma radiation dose (GRD), and suspension period (SP) on the functional quality of N. nucifera rhizome flour was optimized. A tri-factorial central composite design was constructed at five levels of each of PS, GRD, and SP. The N. nucifera rhizome flour at the selected particle sizes (50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 μm) was subjected to gamma irradiation at the selected levels of GRD (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 kGy) followed by the analysis of its functional properties at different levels of SP (6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 h). The response-surface analysis showed a statistically significant linear positive effect of PS on the water absorption capacity (WAC) and swelling capacity (SC) and a linear negative effect on protein solubility index (PSI) ( p=0.000-0.028). The GRD showed a significant linear positive effect on oil absorption capacity (OAC) and PSI while a linear negative effect on WAC and SC (p=0.000-0.008). The PS and GRD showed significant quadratic negative effects on WAC, OAC, and SC. However, the SP showed no significant linear effect on the studied functional properties of the flou

catena-Poly[bis­(μ3-2-methyl­benzoato)disilver(I)]

The crystal structure of the title compound, [Ag2(C8H7O2)2]n, features polymeric chains extending along the a axis, with the two Ag+ cations in a distorted trigonal coordination. The range of Ag—O bond lengths is 2.169 (2)–2.433 (2) Å, whereas the Ag⋯Ag separations are in the range 2.8674 (4)–3.6256 (5) Å. The 2-methyl­benzoate groups are oriented at a dihedral angle of 60.7 (1)° with respect to each other

catena-Poly[bis­(μ3-2-methyl-3,5-dinitro­benzoato)disilver(I)]

In the title coordination polymer, [Ag2(C8H5N2O6)2]n, the silver ion is coordinated to three O atoms from three different anions in an approximate T-shape with one bond much longer than the other two. The polyhedral connectivity leads to [100] chains containing alternating centrosymmetric four-rings and eight-rings, with a short d 10⋯d 10 Ag⋯Ag interaction [2.8846 (4) Å] across the latter. The nitro groups are oriented at dihedral angles of 21.2 (5) and 64.3 (3)° with respect to the aromatic ring of the ligand. A C—H⋯O inter­action occurs in the crystal

catena-Poly[(diaqua­strontium)-bis­(μ-2-methyl-3,5-dinitro­benzoato)]

The title compound, [Sr(C8H5N2O6)2(H2O)2]n, essentially consists of a one-dimensional polymeric network with Sr2O2 rings extending along the [100] direction. The range of Sr—O bond lengths is 2.4822 (13)–2.8113 (13) Å. C—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding inter­actions stabilize the mol­ecules in the form of a two-dimensional polymeric network parallel to (001). One of the nitro groups is disordered over three sets of sites with the occupancy ratio of 0.46:0.32:0.22

Response of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.) to nitric oxide application under cadmium stress

Soil contamination with cadmium (Cd) is a persistent threat to crop production worldwide. The present study examined the putative roles of nitric oxide (NO) in improving Cd-tolerance in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L.). The present study was conducted using four different genotypes of B. oleracea named as FD-3, FD-4, FD-2 and Ceilo Blanco which were subjected to the Cd stress at various concentrations i.e., 0, 5, 10 and 20 µM with or without the application of NO i.e., 0.10 mM in the sand containing nutrient Hoagland’s solution. Our results illustrated that the increasing levels of Cd in the sand, significantly (P < 0.05) decreased shoot length, root length, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time, time to 50% germination, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll and carotenoid contents in all genotypes of B. oleracea. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and Cd accumulation (roots and shoots) increased significantly (P < 0.05) under the increasing levels of Cd in all genotypes of B. oleracea while antioxidant (enzymatic or non-enzymatic) capacity and nutritional status of the plants was decreased with varying levels of Cd in the sand. From all studied genotypes of B. oleracea, Ceilo Blanco and FD-4 was found to be most sensitive species to the Cd stress under the same levels of the Cd in the medium while FD-2 and FD-3 showed more tolerance to the Cd stress compared to all other genotypes of B. oleracea. Although, toxic effect of Cd in the sand can overcome by the application of NO which not only increased plant growth and nutrients accumulation but also decreased the oxidative damage to the membranous bounded organelles and also Cd accumulation in various parts of the plants in all genotypes of B. oleracea. Hence, it was concluded that application of NO can overcome Cd toxicity in B. oleracea by maintaining the growth regulation and nutritional status of the plant and overcome oxidative damage induced by Cd toxicity in all genotypes of B. oleracea.The authors highly acknowledge the Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan for their financial support to complete this project. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51974313) and the Key Project of Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Coal-based Greenhouse Gas Control and Utilization (2020ZDZZ03). This work was supported by the Qatar University vegetable factory project QUEX-CASMJF-VF-18-19. Open Access funding provided by the Qatar National Library

Agrobacterium Mediated Transformation Optimizations for Sugarcane (Saccharum Officinarum L.) Cultivar SPF-234 with Direct Organogenesis

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is the most important food and energy crop worldwide. In the present study, an efficient Agrobacterium mediated transformation and regeneration system for sugarcane cultivar SPF-234 was established. Agrobacterium tumefaciens strains EHA101and LBA4404 using vector pIG121 Hm, having GUS, HPTII and NPTII genes were used. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and histochemical assays confirmed the GUS gene expression. A 620 bp fragment from GUS positive plants was amplified. The GUS expressing putative transformants were 35% of the total plants formed under 30 minute immersion time and 72 hr of incubation period. The co-cultivation media having 60 µM acetosyringone produced 66% GUS expressing plants for LBA4404 and 58% for EHA101. The maximum average number of directly produced shoot (59.5%) from leaf explant was in M6 media having 1.00 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 2.5 mg/l Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). A significant decrease (17%) was observed when auxin (NAA) concentration was increased to 4.0 mg/l. The best response of shoot elongation was observed in SE4 media having equal concentration (2.00 mg/l) of both kinetin and BAP. Increased concentrations of kinetin significantly decreased shoot elongation of the subject cultivar. Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 performed better for genetic transformation of the said sugarcane cultivar.This quick and less expensive transformation and direct regeneration system could be exploited for sugarcane on commercial scale in general, and for this elite cultivar in particular