Study of Nursery Business in Harbin Region

A project on study of nursery business in Harbin region, Heilongjiang (china) was initiated during the 2013. About 64 % of the nurseries deals with the plants of mix categories, 28 % of them recorded that flowering plants species were in high demand and ornamental plants, 80 % of them obtained seed from Beijing, Wuhan and Xian , 52 % of them used plastic tubes and pots for growing of seed, 48 % of them used garden soil, manures and silt as a major component of plant growing media, 64 % of them recorded no application of any fertilizer, 72 % of the respondents recorded that there is only insect attack in their nurseries, 92 % of them apply insecticide at their nurseries, 64 % of them reported that there is great demand for imported plants, 100 % of the respondents reported that there is no availability of green house facility in the majority of nurseries, 60 % of them recorded high sale in spring season, 68 % of them reported that they used green cloth and plant shed as a type of shed at their nurseries, 76 % of them recorded that they pay rent to the government, 76 % of them used both type of propagation methods, 84 % of the respondents reported that they have nursery grower association, Furthermore most of them demanded training about recent research/mythology, certified seed and stuff, easy water availability, low priced fertilizers, pesticides and Bank loans with easy installments and procedure from the Government

Effect of Potash Levels and Row Spacings on Onion Yield

The research study the effect of potassium and row spacing on yield of onion was conducted at Dargai Malakand during summer 2012. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design with split plot arrangement having three replications. Potassium levels (0, 40, 80 and 120 kg ha-1) were applied to main plot while row spacing (15, 20 and 25 cm) were kept in sub plot. Recommended doses of nitrogen were applied at two split doses and phosphorus and potassium were applied at time of planting. The studied perimeters were plant height, number of leaves plant-1, bulb diameter, average bulb weight, numbers of bulb kg-1 and yield (t ha-1). The maximum plant height (51.6 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (9.89), bulb diameter (5.93), average bulb weight (64.89 g), leaf width (1.33 cm) and yield (22.91 t ha-1) were observed with the application of 120 kg K2O ha-1. The maximum number of bulb kg-1 (15.78) was observed in control. On the other hand the maximum plant height (47.1 cm), number of leaves plant-1 (8.67), bulb diameter (5.64 cm) and average blub weight (54.92 g) were recorded at 25 cm row spacing. And maximum leaf width (1.26 cm) and yield (22.45 t ha-1) was observed at 20 cm row spacing. The maximum bulb kg-1 (16.92) was observed at 15 cm row spacing. The highest yield were observed with the application of 120 kg ha- 1potash application and at 20 cm row spacing. Based on the above result it is recommended that 20 cm row spacing with 120 kg K2O ha-1 should be used for best growth and maximum yield of onion under the agro climatic condition of Dargai at Malakand

Silicon Application Increases Drought Tolerance of Kentucky Bluegrass by Improving Plant Water Relations and Morphophysiological Functions

Drought stress encumbers the growth of turfgrass principally by disrupting the plant-water relations and physiological functions. The present study was carried out to appraise the role of silicon (Si) in improving the drought tolerance in Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Drought stress and four levels (0, 200, 400, and 800 mg L−1) of Si (Na2SiO3·9H2O) were imposed after 2 months old plants cultured under glasshouse conditions. Drought stress was found to decrease the photosynthesis, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, leaf water content, relative growth rate, water use efficiency, and turf quality, but to increase in the root/shoot and leaf carbon/nitrogen ratio. Such physiological interferences, disturbances in plant water relations, and visually noticeable growth reductions in Kentucky bluegrass were significantly alleviated by the addition of Si after drought stress. For example, Si application at 400 mg L−1 significantly increased the net photosynthesis by 44%, leaf water contents by 33%, leaf green color by 42%, and turf quality by 44% after 20 days of drought stress. Si application proved beneficial in improving the performance of Kentucky bluegrass in the present study suggesting that manipulation of endogenous Si through genetic or biotechnological means may result in the development of drought resistance in grasses

Humoral and cellular responses to repeated COVID-19 exposure in multiple sclerosis patients receiving B-cell depleting therapies: a single-center, one-year, prospective study

Multiple sclerosis patients treated with anti-CD20 therapy (aCD20-MS) are considered especially vulnerable to complications from SARS-CoV-2 infection due to severe B-cell depletion with limited viral antigen-specific immunoglobulin production. Therefore, multiple vaccine doses as part of the primary vaccination series and booster updates have been recommended for this group of immunocompromised individuals. Even though much less studied than antibody-mediated humoral responses, T-cell responses play an important role against CoV-2 infection and are induced efficiently in vaccinated aCD20-MS patients. For individuals with such decoupled adaptive immunity, an understanding of the contribution of T-cell mediated immunity is essential to better assess protection against CoV-2 infection. Here, we present results from a prospective, single-center study for the assessment of humoral and cellular immune responses induced in aCD20-MS patients (203 donors/350 samples) compared to a healthy control group (43/146) after initial exposure to CoV-2 spike antigen and subsequent re-challenges. Low rates of seroconversion and RBD-hACE2 blocking activity were observed in aCD20-MS patients, even after multiple exposures (responders after 1st exposure = 17.5%; 2nd exposure = 29.3%). Regarding cellular immunity, an increase in the number of spike-specific monofunctional IFNγ+-, IL-2+-, and polyfunctional IFNγ+/IL-2+-secreting T-cells after 2nd exposure was found most noticeably in healthy controls. Nevertheless, a persistently higher T-cell response was detected in aCD20-MS patients compared to control individuals before and after re-exposure (mean fold increase in spike-specific IFNγ+-, IL-2+-, and IFNγ+/IL-2+-T cells before re-exposure = 3.9X, 3.6X, 3.5X/P< 0.001; after = 3.2X, 1.4X, 2.2X/P = 0.002, P = 0.05, P = 0.004). Moreover, cellular responses against sublineage BA.2 of the currently circulating omicron variant were maintained, to a similar degree, in both groups (15-30% T-cell response drop compared to ancestral). Overall, these results highlight the potential for a severely impaired humoral response in aCD20-MS patients even after multiple exposures, while still generating a strong T-cell response. Evaluating both humoral and cellular responses in vaccinated or infected MS patients on B-cell depletion therapy is essential to better assess individual correlations of immune protection and has implications for the design of future vaccines and healthcare strategies

Inhibition of SLPI ameliorates disease activity in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) exerts wide ranging effects on inflammatory pathways and is upregulated in EAE but the biological role of SLPI in EAE, an animal model of multiple sclerosis is unknown</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the pathophysiological effects of SLPI within EAE, we induced SLPI-neutralizing antibodies in mice and rats to determine the clinical severity of the disease. In addition we studied the effects of SLPI on the anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The induction of SLPI neutralizing antibodies resulted in a milder disease course in mouse and rat EAE. SLPI neutralization was associated with increased serum levels of TGF-β and increased numbers of FoxP3+ CD4+ T cells in lymph nodes. <it>In vitro</it>, the addition of SLPI significantly decreased the number of functional FoxP3+ CD25^hiCD4+ regulatory T cells in cultures of naive human CD4+ T cells. Adding recombinant TGF-β to SLPI-treated human T cell cultures neutralized SLPI's inhibitory effect on regulatory T cell differentiation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In EAE, SLPI exerts potent pro-inflammatory actions by modulation of T-cell activity and its neutralization may be beneficial for the disease.</p

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Modelling ICT integration in teaching and learning of technical education

The use of ICT facilities in teaching and learning is promising as it continues to yield impressive result from the studies conducted around the developed world economies. Results of similar studies from developing economies revealed gap in the use of ICTs in teaching and learning, especially, in some higher institutions offering Technical and Vocational Education (TVE). Emerging developing economies like Nigeria, is now striving to integrate the use of ICTs in teaching and learning of its TVE programmes. In view of that, this research aimed at developing a functional model that consisted of areas considered important for integration of ICTs into teaching and learning process in TVE. Regression Model Analysis was used to analyse data collected from a Rasch analysed questionnaire distributed to a total of one hundred and forty (140) respondents drawn from five higher institutions offering TVE in north-eastern Nigeria. Being a mixed method adopted research; a qualitative data collected through interview was further subjected to qualitative analysis procedures. A functional model of five (5) important areas and 4 categories emerged

Coagulation activation in patients with sickle cell disease in Basra, Iraq

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is considered to be a hypercoagulable state that contributes to the morbidity associated with the disease. Numerous mechanisms can attribute to this hemostatic activation among these patients. Objectives: The study was designed to evaluate changes in hemostatic tests, coagulation inhibitors, fibrinolysis, and phosphatidylserine exposure on red blood cells (RBCs) among patients with SCD during both a vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) and a steady state. Materials and Methods: This observational study comprised 61 patients with SCD, 2 to 16 years old, and 65 healthy patients. Thrombophilia evaluation included prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), protein C and S, d-dimer and Annexin V expression. The independent t test and one-way analysis of variance test were used for comparison of the mean of different samples. Results: During steady state, patients with SCD had longer PT (14.36 ± 0.98 and 13.32 ± 0.79 s), longer aPTT (31.48 ± 2.52 and 30.11 ± 2.04 s), lower protein C (90.95 ± 20.11 and 98.18 ± 18.42 U/L), lower protein S (60.18 ± 12.96 and 80.8 ± 12.67 U/L), and higher d-dimer (1.19 ± 1.25 and 0.27 ± 0.23 μg/mL) levels than the control group, respectively, P < 0.05. Furthermore, a longer PT (15.02 ± 2.11 s), lower protein C (69.21 ± 16.32 U/L), lower protein S (46.56 ± 9.47 U/L), and higher d-dimer levels (3.44 ± 2.62 μg/mL) were reported during VOC compared to steady state. The mean percentage of RBCs expressing Annexin V was assessed in only 10 patients with SCD and eight in the control group. The mean percentage during a VOC (7.66 ± 3.63) was higher than that during steady state (1.57 ± 0.94) and in the control group (0.41 ± 0.15), P = 0.000. Pearson correlation revealed that d-dimer is significantly associated with hemoglobin, indirect bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase, P < 0.05. Conclusion: Patients with SCD, particularly during VOC, undergo significant hematologic alterations that increase their risk of developing coagulation activation-related complications