Application of Numerical Newton-Raphson Method in Calculation of Emitter Water Discharge of Drip Irrigation System in “Mutis Cemerlang” Coffee Plantation

Based on the slope class, the shape of the area and the elevation of dry land in Nusa Tenggara, agricultural land in Noepesu Village is suitable for planting coffee plants with an agroforestry scheme. To overcome the problem of limited water, drip irrigation system technology can be applied. The use of drip irrigation as an agricultural technology in Noepesu village has been carried out by many farmer groups. Still, the installation process does not consider the pipe specifications (pipe length and pipe diameter) and the condition of agricultural land. This causes the service life of drip irrigation to be not long. If this continues, of course, it will increase system installation costs. To optimize service life, a hydraulics analysis method is needed for drip irrigation pipe network systems that take into account pipe specifications and agricultural land conditions.The hydraulics analysis of the drip irrigation network system determines the emitter’s water flow rate. The emitter flow rate forms a nonlinear equation known as the closed pipe equation. In the process of solving these equations, numerical methods can be used, specifically the Newton-Raphson method. This study focuses on applying the Newton-Raphson method to calculate the amount of water discharge from each emitter of the drip irrigation network system on the farmland of the Mutis Cemerlang Farmer Group in Noepesu Village. The drip irrigation system is designed with 250 nodes, 275 pipes, 26 loops, and 86 outlets divided into two sides, with the left side containing 84 outlets with one emitter and the right side containing 102 outlets with two emitters. The amount of water discharge for each emitter is 0,0008 ml/second≤Q≤2,6 ml/second for the left side and 0,001 ml/second≤Q≤1,1 ml/second for the right side, as determined by simulation calculations utilizing the Newton-Raphson method and Matlab software. The simulation results show that the amount of water discharge at each emitter is ideal in the first iteration because it has a discharge correction value (∆Q)≈0

Lamin A Rod Domain Mutants Target Heterochromatin Protein 1α and β for Proteasomal Degradation by Activation of F-Box Protein, FBXW10

Lamins are major structural proteins of the nucleus and contribute to the organization of various nuclear functions. Mutations in the human lamin A gene cause a number of highly degenerative diseases, collectively termed as laminopathies. Cells expressing lamin mutations exhibit abnormal nuclear morphology and altered heterochromatin organization; however, the mechanisms responsible for these defects are not well understood.The lamin A rod domain mutants G232E, Q294P and R386K are either diffusely distributed or form large aggregates in the nucleoplasm, resulting in aberrant nuclear morphology in various cell types. We examined the effects of these lamin mutants on the distribution of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) isoforms. HeLa cells expressing these mutants showed a heterogeneous pattern of HP1alpha and beta depletion but without altering HP1gamma levels. Changes in HP1alpha and beta were not observed in cells expressing wild-type lamin A or mutant R482L, which assembled normally at the nuclear rim. Treatment with proteasomal inhibitors led to restoration of levels of HP1 isoforms and also resulted in stable association of lamin mutants with the nuclear periphery, rim localization of the inner nuclear membrane lamin-binding protein emerin and partial improvement of nuclear morphology. A comparison of the stability of HP1 isoforms indicated that HP1alpha and beta displayed increased turnover and higher basal levels of ubiquitination than HP1gamma. Transcript analysis of components of the ubiquitination pathway showed that a specific F-box protein, FBXW10 was induced several-fold in cells expressing lamin mutants. Importantly, ectopic expression of FBXW10 in HeLa cells led to depletion of HP1alpha and beta without alteration of HP1gamma levels.Mislocalized lamins can induce ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal degradation of certain HP1 isoforms by activation of FBXW10, a member of the F-box family of proteins that is involved in E3 ubiquitin ligase activity

Polymer ultrapermeability from the inefficient packing of 2D chains

The promise of ultrapermeable polymers, such as poly(trimethylsilylpropyne) (PTMSP), for reducing the size and increasing the efficiency of membranes for gas separations remains unfulfilled due to their poor selectivity. We report an ultrapermeable polymer of intrinsic microporosity (PIM-TMN-Trip) that is substantially more selective than PTMSP. From molecular simulations and experimental measurement we find that the inefficient packing of the two-dimensional (2D) chains of PIM-TMN-Trip generates a high concentration of both small (<0.7 nm) and large (0.7–1.0 nm) micropores, the former enhancing selectivity and the latter permeability. Gas permeability data for PIM-TMN-Trip surpass the 2008 Robeson upper bounds for O2/N2, H2/N2, CO2/N2, H2/CH4 and CO2/CH4, with the potential for biogas purification and carbon capture demonstrated for relevant gas mixtures. Comparisons between PIM-TMN-Trip and structurally similar polymers with three-dimensional (3D) contorted chains confirm that its additional intrinsic microporosity is generated from the awkward packing of its 2D polymer chains in a 3D amorphous solid. This strategy of shape-directed packing of chains of microporous polymers may be applied to other rigid polymers for gas separations

The HLH-6 Transcription Factor Regulates C. elegans Pharyngeal Gland Development and Function

The Caenorhabditis elegans pharynx (or foregut) functions as a pump that draws in food (bacteria) from the environment. While the “organ identity factor” PHA-4 is critical for formation of the C. elegans pharynx as a whole, little is known about the specification of distinct cell types within the pharynx. Here, we use a combination of bioinformatics, molecular biology, and genetics to identify a helix-loop-helix transcription factor (HLH-6) as a critical regulator of pharyngeal gland development. HLH-6 is required for expression of a number of gland-specific genes, acting through a discrete cis-regulatory element named PGM1 (Pharyngeal Gland Motif 1). hlh-6 mutants exhibit a frequent loss of a subset of glands, while the remaining glands have impaired activity, indicating a role for hlh-6 in both gland development and function. Interestingly, hlh-6 mutants are also feeding defective, ascribing a biological function for the glands. Pharyngeal pumping in hlh-6 mutants is normal, but hlh-6 mutants lack expression of a class of mucin-related proteins that are normally secreted by pharyngeal glands and line the pharyngeal cuticle. An interesting possibility is that one function of pharyngeal glands is to secrete a pharyngeal lining that ensures efficient transport of food along the pharyngeal lumen

Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals a Major Role in Cell Fate Maintenance and an Unexpected Role in Endoreduplication for the Drosophila FoxA Gene Fork Head

Transcription factors drive organogenesis, from the initiation of cell fate decisions to the maintenance and implementation of these decisions. The Drosophila embryonic salivary gland provides an excellent platform for unraveling the underlying transcriptional networks of organ development because Drosophila is relatively unencumbered by significant genetic redundancy. The highly conserved FoxA family transcription factors are essential for various aspects of organogenesis in all animals that have been studied. Here, we explore the role of the single Drosophila FoxA protein Fork head (Fkh) in salivary gland organogenesis using two genome-wide strategies. A large-scale in situ hybridization analysis reveals a major role for Fkh in maintaining the salivary gland fate decision and controlling salivary gland physiological activity, in addition to its previously known roles in morphogenesis and survival. The majority of salivary gland genes (59%) are affected by fkh loss, mainly at later stages of salivary gland development. We show that global expression of Fkh cannot drive ectopic salivary gland formation. Thus, unlike the worm FoxA protein PHA-4, Fkh does not function to specify cell fate. In addition, Fkh only indirectly regulates many salivary gland genes, which is also distinct from the role of PHA-4 in organogenesis. Our microarray analyses reveal unexpected roles for Fkh in blocking terminal differentiation and in endoreduplication in the salivary gland and in other Fkh-expressing embryonic tissues. Overall, this study demonstrates an important role for Fkh in determining how an organ preserves its identity throughout development and provides an alternative paradigm for how FoxA proteins function in organogenesis

Dynamics of Lamin-A Processing Following Precursor Accumulation

Lamin A (LaA) is a component of the nuclear lamina, an intermediate filament meshwork that underlies the inner nuclear membrane (INM) of the nuclear envelope (NE). Newly synthesized prelamin A (PreA) undergoes extensive processing involving C-terminal farnesylation followed by proteolysis yielding non-farnesylated mature lamin A. Different inhibitors of these processing events are currently used therapeutically. Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) is most commonly caused by mutations leading to an accumulation of a farnesylated LaA isoform, prompting a clinical trial using farnesyltransferase inhibitors (FTI) to reduce this modification. At therapeutic levels, HIV protease inhibitors (PI) can unexpectedly inhibit the final processing step in PreA maturation. We have examined the dynamics of LaA processing and associated cellular effects during PI or FTI treatment and following inhibitor washout. While PI reversibility was rapid, with respect to both LaA maturation and associated cellular phenotype, recovery from FTI treatment was more gradual. FTI reversibility is influenced by both cell type and rate of proliferation. These results suggest a less static lamin network than has previously been observed

The rank reversal problem in multi-criteria decision making : a literature review

Despite the importance of multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques for constructing effective decision models, there are many criticisms due to the occurrence of a problem called rank reversal. Nevertheless, there is a lack of a systematic literature review on this important subject which involves different methods. This study reviews the pertinent literature on rank reversal, based on 130 related articles published from 1980 to 2015 in international journals, which were gathered and analyzed according to the following perspectives: multicriteria technique, year and journal in which the papers were published, co-authorship network, rank reversal types, and research goal. Thus our survey provides recommendations for future research, besides useful information and knowledge regarding rank reversal in the MCDM field

Effect of Dosage of Guano and Biochar on Growth and Yield of Red Bean (Phaseolus Vulgaris L.) at Middle Plain Dryland

Research carried out to know the effect of dosage of guano and biochar on growth and yield of red bean at middle plain dryland, in the experimental garden of the Faculty of Agriculture, Timor University from February to April 2017, using factorial Randomized Block Design 3&nbsp;&nbsp; x 3 with 3 replication. The first factor is guano dosage consisting of 3 levels ie without guano, guano 5 t / ha and guano 10 t / ha, while the second factor is biochar dosage consisting of 3 levels ie without biochar, biochar 5 t / ha and biochar 10 t / ha. The results showed no interaction between guano and biochar applications. Guano 10 t / ha significantly increased soil moisture content (17.62%), leaf area (8,595 cm2), number of root nodules (175.11), root dry weight (0.70 g), root-canopy ratio (16.24), number of plant pods (2.86), number of seeds every pod (2.86), dry weight of seed (7.24 g) and seed weight every plot (1.17 t / ha) with yield increase percentage 31.1%. Increased levels of Biochar application did not show significant differences between treatment levels but tended to increase plant growth and yield. ©2017 published by Savana Cendana

Aktivitas Antioksidan Ekstrak Aloe Vera sebagai Penangkal Radikal

Antiradical activity of Aloe vera extracts was studied in vitro systems. Cloudy and Clarified of Aloe vera extracts exhibited marked activity on inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation. At a concentration of 0,15 mg, Cloudy extracts exhibited higher antioxidant activity (60,16 %) than Cloudy extracts (53,30 %). Moreover, the antioxidant activity of Clarified extracts was increased affected by the concentation in the system. Increasing the concentration of Cloudy extracts up to 0,60 mg in the system did nor alter of antoxidant activity (P 50,05). Increasing' of the concentration of activated carbon (0,00 to 0,50 % and 1,00 to 2,00 %) used for clarification of Aloe vera was produced significanly decrease in scavenging 1,1-dipheny1-2- pictylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical activity. Scavenging of free radical activity of Cloudy extracts was not affected by the concentration of extract in the system. Increasing the concentration of Clarifed Aloe vera extracts from 2,50 mg to 5,0 mg. in liposome systems was produced significantly higher of inhibitory malondyaldehyde formation than the concentration of 0,50 mg and 1,25 mg (P :50,05). Base of these results, termination of free radical reactions in Cloudy and Clarified of Aloe vera extracts is responsible for the antioxidant activity of Aloe vera extracts