Mutualism in a Reduced Gravity Environment (MuRGE)

MuRGE (Mutualism in a Reduced Gravity Environment) is a NASA flight-research experiment to investigate the microgravity effects associated with cell-cell communication and beneficial microbe-host interactions using a plant-fungal model system. This investigation will use a clinostat, an instrument that slowly rotates the plants to negate the effects of gravitational pull on plant growth (gravitropism) and development, to simulate microgravity. I will be using the endophytic fungus Piriformospora indica (Pi) and the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana (At). P. indica has been shown to colonize roots of various plant species, including A. thaliana, and to increase plant growth and resistance to stress. The fungus has the ability to grow from spores or in axenic cultures without the presence of a host. P. indica spores and P. indica extract will be used to inoculate Arabidopsis seeds germinated on a clinostat in order to determine if simulated microgravity affects the interaction between the fungus and its plant host

GOOGLE MAPS AND RSS INTEGRATION IN ANDROID

This paper describes the process of integrating Google Maps API V2 as well as RSS feeds into an Android project. Authors have made an application. The basic purpose of this application is to use it as an introductory application to get our hands dirty on native Java coding and embark upon our research domains; un-burdened and with a smoother paradigm of thoughts. It is also useful for any Android developer to get a command on the basic algorithms which deal with Google Maps and other very important client - based and efficiency - enabling offline applications. Basically, it’s the textual modelling of our first Android based basic – level application

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Soil-crop Systems

The health concerns associated with heavy metal pollution (HMP) in agricultural soils have garnered attention on a global scale, and evaluations of the dangers to human health are based on research on the buildup of heavy metals in soil-plant systems. The pedosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere all suffer from environmental pollution. As a result of the industrialization of many nations, heavy metal pollution is one of the most important environmental problems today. Heavy metal pollutants in the environment have been removed using a variety of ways, however these procedures have drawbacks such high cost, lengthy process times, logistical issues, and mechanical complexity. To use phytoremediation, which uses plants to remove, transport, and stabilize heavy metals from soil and water, one must understand the accumulation of heavy metals in plants and the function of plants in eliminating contaminants. Physiological and metabolic processes that enable plants to phytoremediator heavy metal-contaminated locations are now being optimized via genetic engineering techniques. This review investigated the accumulation of seven common heavy metals in soil agriculture systems: Cd, Cr, As, Pb, Hg, Cu, and Zn. It is reported that wheat was generally more prone than corn to acquire heavy metals. The seven heavy metals were ranked as follows, in ascending order of accumulation in grains: Pb < Cr < Zn < As < Cu < Cd < Pb < Cr < Cu < As < Hg

The Influence of Handgrip and Pedal Cadence During Sustained Cycling Power Outputs

In cycling performance, there has been interest in contribution the upper body (i.e. handgrip) provides during cycling efforts as well as power output during varying cadences. Little has been done pertaining to cardiovascular responses with the aforementioned during sustained power. PURPOSE: To determine the cardiovascular reactions to isometric hand-grip and different pedal cadences during sustained cycling efforts. METHODS: Subjects were nine (n=9) experienced cyclists. Each signed a medical-health and physical readiness questionnaire, and IRB approved informed consent. Resting values of heart rate (b*min.-1), blood pressure (mmHg), height (cm), weight (kg) and age (years) were assessed. A MonarkTM bicycle ergometer was used for testing. Grip was substantiated through the use of a hand grip dynamometer at 20 kg of tension. An exercise test of 20 minutes at 150 Watts was performed four times with random assignment through a Latin Squares Design. Protocols were distinguished by grip/no grip; 50/100 RPM; 3kp/1.5kp resistance. During the 20 minute exercise test, heart rate, blood pressure and calculated Rate Pressure Product (HR * SBP)*100-1 were recorded every minute. Statistical measures included group means (SD) between protocols and use of a Repeated Measures ANOVA to examine variable differences between grip/ no-grip and cadence/resistance protocols. Significance was set at p \u3c 0.05. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were reported for the variables of heart rate, systolic blood pressure and work of the heart for the following protocols: high cadence/low resistance-grip HR=147.72 (3.24); SBP= 164.59 (6.42); WH=242.58 (23.99) and high cadence/low resistance-no grip HR=150.83 (6.49); SBP=166.05 (5.60); WH=245.57 (25.70). The following protocols showed no significant differences: low cadence/high resistance-grip HR=132.50 (3.24); SBP=160.29 (4.95); WH=211.54 (12.22) and low cadence/high resistance-no grip HR=130.51 (3.36); SBP=156.66 (5.17); WH=204.63 (11.45). Conclusion: This research demonstrated that grip appears to be a transient influence during sustained work. Cadence was a more influential factor on cardiovascular responses during sustained cycling performance

Quality of Service Enhancement of Network using AOMDV Protocol

ABSTRACT A Mobile Ad Hoc Network (MANET) is a dynamic wireless network that can be formed without the need fo

Reliability of Bell’s Test Conducted with Virtual Reality

Cancellation tasks are commonly used assessment tools to detect unilateral neglect. Bell’s Test, one of the most commonly administered cancellation tasks, requires individuals to quickly and accurately identify “bells” randomly placed in an array of symbols. The reliability of Bells Test conducted with a paper and pencil is well established. A newly developed, commercial software application, allows Bell’s Test to be administered in fully immersive virtual reality environment. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure the reliability of the Bell’s Test using a virtual reality (VR) system and to establish the level of agreement between the pen-paper and VR administration. METHODS: Fourteen apparently healthy individuals between the age of 24 – 73y volunteered (47.9±20.7y; 166.0±5.2cm; 77.5±16.3kg). Subjects were excluded if they had a history of concussion or had perceptual or visual deficits. Participants completed Bell’s Test a total of four times. The first time, it was completed with a pen-paper (PP). Then, participants completed an initial assessment in VR (VRbase); the same test was administered again in VR one-hour (PostVR1hr) and one-week (PostVR1wk) post baseline. Realization time, total time, and the number of errors committed in the right and left field of view were recorded. Cronbach’s alpha was computed on realization and total time in all VR conditions. Additionally, an ANOVA with repeated measures was used to determine differences in PP, VRbase, PostVR1HR, and PostVR1Wk. The Holms-Sidak method was used to identify pairwise differences. Alpha was set at pa priori. RESULTS: Reliability for realization time for the Bell’s test conducted in VR was acceptable (α=0.79). There was, however, a significant difference between trials (F=6.65; p=0.013). VRbase (29.25±8.11s) was significantly different than PostVR1HR (15.52±4.30; p=0.006). and VRpost1wk (21.24±5.89s; p=0.01). Additionally, PP realization time (15.31±4.25s) was significantly different than PostVR1HR (p=0.02) and PostVR1WK (p=0.03). Reliability for total time for the Bell’s test conducted in VR was good. (α=0.82). There was not a significant difference between the trials (F=4.34; p=0.06) for VRbase(24.1±6.7s), PostVR1HR (45.44±12.6) or VRpost1wk(p=0.06). However, there was a significant difference found in PPtotal time taken and VR1wk with the (p=0.03). The average number of left side omitted bells was 0.50±0.65; 0.07±0.26; 0.07±0.26; 0.14±0.36 for PP, VRbase, Post VR1HR, and PostVR1WK; respectively. The number of bells omitted on the right side was 0.50±0.85, 0.21±0.57, 0.14±0.36, for 0.14±0.36 for PP, VRbase, PostVR1HR, and PostVR1WK; respectively. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the reliability of the Bell’s Test for the realization time is acceptable, and the total time reliability was good in the virtual reality system. Healthy individuals performing the Bell’s Test in VR show slight improvements one hour after baseline, but there was no difference after one week. More data are needed within different age groups to determine reliability in young and older individuals. Additionally, future studies are required to determine the reliability of Bell’s Test in VR for individuals suffering from neurological injuries or diseases

A rat model against chemotherapy plus radiation-induced oral mucositis

AbstractObjectivesPresent study was aimed at developing an experimental model of oral mucositis in rats using a combination of chemotherapeutic agent and radiation.Study designFemale Wistar rats (150–200g) were divided into 3 groups (n=6). Rats in group 1 (normal control) and group 2 (mucositis control) were treated with vehicle. Rats in group 3 were treated with l-glutamine (1g/kg, p.o.; 15days) before and after mucositis induction. Oral mucositis was induced by busulfan (6mg/kg, p.o.; 4days) and the tongue exposed to infrared (IR) radiation of intensity 40mV/cm2 for 5 s on the 1st, 4th and 10th days of challenge using a tail flick apparatus. Parameters monitored were body weight, food intake, blood count and survival. Oral mucositis score (OMS) was recorded daily. Histological changes of the irradiated tongue were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.ResultsBusulfan and IR radiation significantly reduced body weight and food intake of the mucositis control group as compared to normal control. Clear ulceration of the tongue reflected in the OMS. Histopathology of the tongue revealed intense lymphocytic infiltration, decreased thickness of squamous epithelial cell layer, decrease in number of blood vessels, and necrosis of cells along with pseudo-membrane formation in the mucositis control group. These findings suggested that oral mucositis was successfully induced and treatment with l-glutamine partially reversed these conditions.ConclusionOral mucositis was established successfully in rats by the combination of chemotherapeutic agent and IR radiation. This may be a useful model for screening drugs in the treatment of oral mucositis

Impacts of composition and beta irradiation on phase separation in multiphase amorphous calcium borosilicates

Borosilicate glasses for nuclear waste applications are limited in waste loading by the precipitation of water-soluble molybdates. In order to increase storage efficiency, new compositions are sought out that trap molybdenum in a water-durable CaMoO4 crystalline phase. Factors affecting CaMoO4 combination and glass-in-glass phase separation in calcium borosilicate systems as a function of changing [MoO3] and [B2O3] are examined in this study in order to understand how competition for charge balancers affects phase separation. It further examines the influence of radiation damage on structural modifications using 0.77 to 1.34 GGy of 2.5 MeV electron radiation that replicates inelastic collisions predicted to occur over long-term storage. The resulting microstructure of separated phases and the defect structure were analyzed using electron microscopy, XRD, Raman and EPR spectroscopy prior to and post irradiation. Synthesized calcium borosilicates are observed to form an unusual heterogeneous microstructure composed of three embedded amorphous phases with a solubility limit ~ 2.5 mol% MoO3. Increasing [B2O3] increased the areas of immiscibility and order of (MoO4)2 − anions, while increasing [MoO3] increased both the phase separation and crystallization temperature resulting in phases closer to metastable equilibrium, and initiated clustered crystallization for [MoO3] > 2.5 mol%. β-irradiation was found to have favorable properties in amorphous systems by creating structural disorder and defect assisted ion migration that thus prevented crystallization. It also increased reticulation in the borosilicate network through 6-membered boroxyl ring and Si ring cleavage to form smaller rings and isolated units. This occurred alongside an increased reduction of Mo6 + with dose that can be correlated to molybdenum solubility. In compositions with existing CaMoO4 crystallites, radiation caused a scattering effect, though the crystal content remained unchanged. Therefore β-irradiation can preferentially prevent crystallization in calcium borosilicates for [MoO3] < 2.5 mol%, but has a smaller impact on systems with existing CaMoO4 crystallites

Perceptions and Knowledge towards COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy among a Subpopulation of Adults in Kenya: An English Survey at Six Healthcare Facilities

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, as defined by the WHO, is the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines and is one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy remains a complex matter influenced by multiple factors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and January 2022 among the general adult public seeking care at six different healthcare facilities in Kenya. The survey, in English, consisted of questions based on demographics, knowledge, and attitudes, including hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine. Results: Of the 3996 surveys collected, 55.1% were from private, 19.5% from faith-based and 25.3% from government facilities., Approximately 81.0% of all the participants reported it was important to get a vaccine to protect other people from COVID-19, 79.9% reported they would take a vaccine to protect against COVID-19, yet 40.5% reported being hesitant to take the vaccine primarily due to side effects. Most of the variables were associated with receiving a vaccine. Only 52.1% of those seeking care from the government facility and 54.5% of those seeking care from the faith-based facility were vaccinated, compared to 81.5% seeking care from the private facilities (p \u3c 0.001). More participants from private facilities felt that vaccines are safe as compared to those at the faith-based and government facilities (p \u3c 0.001). Conclusion: Vaccine hesitancy in Kenya, even though much lower than reported in other countries, remains a dynamic problem. Mitigating strategies specific to Africa need to be developed to help address vaccine hesitancy in this part of the continent

Characterization of immiscibility in calcium borosilicates used for the immobilization of Mo 6+ under Au‐irradiation

Funder: FfWGFunder: Cambridge Philosophical SocietyAbstract: The aim of this paper was to assess factors affecting primary and secondary phase separation in simplified calcium borosilicate glasses studied for nuclear waste applications. Several glasses with varying [MoO3] and [B2O3] were synthesized and exposed to Au‐irradiation to examine compositional effects on glass structure and domain size of separated phases induced by accumulated radiation damage resulting from α‐decay over a ~1000 year timeframe. The produced glasses fell within the immiscibility dome of CaO−SiO2−B2O3 and showed a unique microstructure of embedded immiscibility with three identifiable amorphous phases according to electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and diffraction. These glasses were then bombarded with 7 MeV Au3+ ions to a dose of 3 × 1014 ions/cm2 creating an estimated ~1 dpa of damage. Several changes to the morphology, spatial distribution, and size of secondary phases were observed, indicative of significant structural reorganization and changes to the chemical composition of each phase. A general mechanism of coalescence to form larger particles was observed for [MoO3] < 2.5 mol%, whereas segregation to form smaller more evenly distributed particles was seen for [B2O3] ≤ 15 mol% and [MoO3] ≥ 2.5 mol%. These microscopic changes were concurrent to surface‐bulk diffusion of Ca and/or Mo ions, where the direction of diffusion was dependent on [B2O3] with a barrier identified at ~20 mol%, as well as cross‐phase diffusion of said ions. These modifications occurred in part through the formation of distorted ring structures within the borosilicate network, which enabled the increased dissolution of isolated (MoO4)2− units. Au‐irradiation was therefore able to increase the solubility of molybdenum and alter the structure and composition of secondary phases with the extent of modification varying with [MoO3] and [B2O3]/[SiO2], though glasses notably remained heterogeneous. The collective results suggest that radiation and composition can both be used as design tools to modulate the domain size and distribution of separated phases in heterogeneous glasses