Sulfur management strategies to improve partial sulfur balance with irrigated peanut production on deep sands

Sands have favourable physical properties for harvesting peanut, but improving S and water use efficiency on these soils remains a challenge. We studied partial S balance in irrigated peanut crops on sands of Central Vietnam to identify key factors of S fertiliser management affecting S inputs and outputs. Field trials were conducted in the spring seasons of 2015 and 2016 to determine the effects of S application rates (0, 15, 30, 45 kg ha−1) on peanut yield and partial S balance. Sulfur balances were negative (-28.3 to 5.6 kg S ha−1) at rates < 30 kg S ha−1, while at higher rates of S fertiliser application that produced maximum pod yield (30 - 45 kg S ha−1), three of four sites showed neutral to slightly positive S balance (1.5 - 5.6 kg S ha−1). The negative partial S balance decreased with increasing S rates but was mostly attributable to the large S removal in peanut shoots (9.7 - 22.3 kg S ha−1) which are used on farms for animal feed. The negative partial S balance results in depletion of soil S reserves and hence efficient recycling of S on farms is critical for sustainable crop production on sands of VN

Improving technological machining simulation by tailored workpiece models and kinematics

Geometric modelling is an established approach for gathering detailed knowledge about the chronological sequence of process conditions and for determining technological values of machining processes such as milling, turning, grinding or additive manufacturing. Performance and accuracy essentially depend on the chosen workpiece model and its parametrization. Furthermore, several influences on the investigated machine tool system lead to errors, which must be modeled separately. This paper shows approaches to increase performance and accuracy of the simulation by choosing an appropriate combination of different geometric representations of the workpiece and by considering possible errors within the kinematic model. Examples for different applications in metal cutting are given

Is vitrification involved in depression of the phase transition temperature in dry phospholipids?

AbstractRecent literature has suggested that the depression of the phase transition temperature (Tm) in dry phospholipids by sugars may be ascribed to vitrification of the stabilizing solute, rather than by the direct interaction between sugar and phospholipid we have proposed. Koster et al. ((1994) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1193, 14–150) claim that the only necessity is that the glass transition (Tg) for the sugar exceed Tm for the lipid. Evidence is presented in the present paper that this is not sufficient. Based on the vitrification hypothesis of Koster et al., the predicted order of effectiveness in depressing Tm in dry dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is dextran ≥ hydroxyethyl starch > stachyose > raffinose > trehalose > sucrose > glucose. In fact, the opposite order was seen. The effect of raffinose, sucrose, or trehalose on Tm in dry DPPC depends on the thermal history of the sample, as we have reported previously. When DPPC dried with trehalose is heated for the first time, Tm is about 55°C, but on the second and subsequent heating scans Tm falls to about 25°C. Koster et al. suggest that this effect is due to heating the sample above Tg rather than to melting the hydrocarbon chains. We present evidence here that all that is required is for the chains to be melted. Further, we show that retention of residual water by DPPC dried with trehalose depends on the drying temperature, but is independent of drying temperature with glucose, a finding that is consistent with direct interaction. We conclude that vitrification is not in itself sufficient to depress Tm in dry phospholipids

The effects of magnetic field on the d-density wave order in the cuprates

We consider the effects of a perpendicular magnetic field on the d-density wave order and conclude that if the pseudogap phase in the cuprates is due to this order, then it is highly insensitive to the magnetic field in the underdoped regime, while its sensitivity increases as the gap vanishes in the overdoped regime. This appears to be consistent with the available experiments and can be tested further in neutron scattering experiments. We also investigate the nature of the de Haas- van Alphen effect in the ordered state and discuss the possibility of observing it.Comment: 5 pages, 4 eps figures, RevTex4. Corrected a silly but important typo in the abstrac

Down Syndrome Patients with Congenital Portosystemic Shunts: A Case Report and Review

Introduction: Down syndrome is due to trisomy 21 and is characterized by intellectual disability, dysmorphic facial features, congenital malformations, and gastrointestinal abnormalities. There is an increased appreciation of congenital portosystemic shunts in Down syndrome patients. Congenital portosystemic shunts have been associated with many defects in body systems, including cardiac, metabolic, and neurological. Case Presentation: Herein, we describe a portosystemic shunt in a Down syndrome patient that resulted in hyperammonemia with altered mental status and choreiform movements. Computed tomography angiography of the abdomen and pelvis identified a connection between the right portal vein and inferior vena cava. An 18 mm Amplatzer PFO closure device was placed within the congenital shunt, significantly improving symptoms. The patient has no sequelae from the related shunt or the device at the 2-year follow-up. We extensively reviewed the literature and identified cases of portosystemic shunts in Down syndrome patients. Shunts can either be extrahepatic or intrahepatic and are classified by vasculature connections. Conclusion: From our literature review and case presentation, we identify other conditions in patients, including cardiac and gastrointestinal defects. We then review the available treatment options, whether observation or surgical, depending on the patient’s clinical picture

Mucosal versus muscle pain sensitivity in provoked vestibulodynia

An estimated 8.3%—16% of women experience vulvovaginal discomfort during their lifetime. Frequently these patients report provoked pain on contact or with attempted intercourse, commonly referred to as provoked vestibulodynia (PVD). Despite the burden of this condition, little is known about its potential etiologies including pelvic floor muscular dysfunction and mucosal components. This knowledge would be beneficial in developing targeted therapies including physical therapy

Оптимизация общего содержания флавоноидов в спиртовом экстракте Persicaria pulchra (Bl.) Soják для ингибирования фермента α-глюкозидазы

Objectives. There has been a rapid increase in the number of diabetic patients since the past few decades in developed and developing countries. This rapid increase is accompanied by alarming costs of treatment. α-Glucosidase inhibitors are one of the most effective drugs employed for the reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia to manage Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Additionally, flavonoids, a group of natural substances, which are widely distributed in plants and possess variable phenolic structures, exhibit outstanding hypoglycemic activity and are considered as potential α-glucosidase inhibitors. In Vietnam, Persicaria pulchra (Bl.) Soják (P. pulchra) is employed in traditional medications. It possesses high flavonoid contents and its anti-diabetes ability has been hypothesized, although it has attracted less attention for investigation. Hence, the aim of this study is to optimize the condition of the P. pulchra extract to obtain the highest total flavonoid content and measure the bioactivities of P. pulchra, such as the anti-α-glucosidase and antioxidant activities.Methods. The effects of the extracting conditions, including the temperature, extraction time, liquid-to-solid ratio (LSR), and ethanol (C2H5OH) concentration, on the total flavonoid content are investigated via experiments and analyzed by the response surface methodology (RSM). Concurrently, the optimal extraction also determines the anti-α-glucosidase and antioxidant activities.Results. The optimal extraction condition for the highest flavonoid content (530 mg quercetin/g) is determined in 60 min, at 53°C, with LSR of 9.46 g/g and C2H5OH concentration of 62%. Moreover, the optimal plant extract exhibits good α-glucosidase inhibition with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 22.67 mg/mL, compared to the positive control (acarbose −7.77 g/mL). Additionally, P. pulchra is proposed to be a potential antioxidant with an IC50 of ~12.68 µg/mL.Conclusions. The study confirmed the optimal extraction condition of P. pulchra that will obtain the highest total flavonoid content and revealed the potentials of P. pulchra in α-glucosidase inhibition and antioxidation.Цели. В последние десятилетия в развитых и развивающихся странах наблюдается быстрый рост числа больных диабетом, который сопровождается ростом стоимости лечения. Ингибиторы α-глюкозидазы являются одним из наиболее эффективных препаратов, применяемых для снижения постпрандиальной гипергликемии при лечении сахарного диабета 2 типа. Кроме того, флавоноиды, группа природных веществ, широко распространенных в растениях и содержащих различные производные фенола, проявляют значительную гипогликемическую активность и могут служить потенциальными ингибиторами α-глюкозидазы. Во Вьетнаме Persicaria pulchra (Bl.) Soják (P. pulchra) используется в народной медицине. Он обладает высоким содержанием флавоноидов и, предположительно, противодиабетическими свойствами, хотя исследован мало. Таким образом, целью настоящего исследования является оптимизация экстрагирования P. pulchra для получения наиболее высокого общего содержания флавоноидов, а также определение его биологической активности – анти-α-глюкозидазной и антиоксидантной. Методы. Экспериментально исследовано влияние условий экстрагирования, а именно температуры, времени экстракции, соотношения жидкость : твердое вещество и концентрации этанола, на общее содержание флавоноидов с помощью методологии анализа поверхности отклика. Показано, что оптимальные условия экстракции определяют анти-α-глюкозидазную и антиоксидантную активность.Результаты. Найдены оптимальные условия экстракции для получения максимального содержания флавоноидов (530 мг кверцетина/г): время экстракции 60 мин, температура 53 °С, отношение жидкость : твердое вещество 9.46 г/г и концентрация этанола 62%. Растительный экстракт, полученный в оптимальных условиях, проявляет хорошее ингибирование α-глюкозидазы с концентрацией полумаксимального ингибирования (IC50) 22.67 мг/мл по сравнению с положительным контролем (акарбоза – 7.77 г/мл). Выводы. Исследование выявило оптимальные условия экстракции P. pulchra, позволяющие получить наиболее высокое общее содержание флавоноидов, и подтвердило перспективы применения P. pulchra для ингибировании α-глюкозидазы и антиоксидантного окисления

The Landau Pole and Z′Z^{\prime} decays in the 331 bilepton model

We calculate the decay widths and branching ratios of the extra neutral boson $Z^{\prime}$ predicted by the 331 bilepton model in the framework of two different particle contents. These calculations are performed taken into account oblique radiative corrections, and Flavor Changing Neutral Currents (FCNC) under the ansatz of Matsuda as a texture for the quark mass matrices. Contributions of the order of $10^{-1}-10^{-2}$ are obtained in the branching ratios, and partial widths about one order of magnitude bigger in relation with other non- and bilepton models are also obtained. A Landau-like pole arise at 3.5 TeV considering the full particle content of the minimal model (MM), where the exotic sector is considered as a degenerated spectrum at 3 TeV scale. The Landau pole problem can be avoid at the TeV scales if a new leptonic content running below the threshold at $$ TeV is implemented as suggested by other authors.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures, LaTeX2

On the complexity of strongly connected components in directed hypergraphs

We study the complexity of some algorithmic problems on directed hypergraphs and their strongly connected components (SCCs). The main contribution is an almost linear time algorithm computing the terminal strongly connected components (i.e. SCCs which do not reach any components but themselves). "Almost linear" here means that the complexity of the algorithm is linear in the size of the hypergraph up to a factor alpha(n), where alpha is the inverse of Ackermann function, and n is the number of vertices. Our motivation to study this problem arises from a recent application of directed hypergraphs to computational tropical geometry. We also discuss the problem of computing all SCCs. We establish a superlinear lower bound on the size of the transitive reduction of the reachability relation in directed hypergraphs, showing that it is combinatorially more complex than in directed graphs. Besides, we prove a linear time reduction from the well-studied problem of finding all minimal sets among a given family to the problem of computing the SCCs. Only subquadratic time algorithms are known for the former problem. These results strongly suggest that the problem of computing the SCCs is harder in directed hypergraphs than in directed graphs.Comment: v1: 32 pages, 7 figures; v2: revised version, 34 pages, 7 figure