Quality management of cut carnation 'Tempo' with 1- MCP

Water relation and chlorophyll content are two important factors on the postharvest quality of cut flowers. 1-MCP (1–methylcyclopropene), as a gaseous inhibitor of ethylene action, significantly delayed the wilting ofcut carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.). The effects of 1-MCP depends on concentration, time duration and temperature. In this study, the effect of different 1-MCP concentrations (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 nl l-1) andtime durations (3, 6 and 9 h) on the vaselife, water uptake, loss of fresh weight and chlorophyll index of cut carnation 'Tempo' which is an ethylene-sensitive flower, were evaluated. The effects of 1-MCP concentrations and interaction between 1-MCP concentration and time duration on the vaselife, water uptake, loss of chlorophyll index and loss of fresh weight, were significant at 1% levels of probability. Also the effect of time duration on the loss of chlorophyll index and loss of fresh weight was significant at 5%and on the water uptake was significant at 1% of probability. Treatment with 60 nl l-1 1-MCP for 3 h with 16.47 days vaselife, 2.57 ml g-1 fresh weight, 2.41 ml g-1 water uptake and 2.667 loss of chlorophyll index wasbetter than other treatments

Emission of Toxic HCN During NOx Removal by Ammonia SCR in the Exhaust of Lean-Burn Natural Gas Engines

Reducing greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions is one of the most stringent priorities of our society to minimize their dramatic effects on health and environment. Natural gas (NG) engines, in particular at lean conditions, emit less CO$_{2}$ in comparison to combustion engines operated with liquid fuels but NG engines still require emission control devices for NO$_{x}$ removal. Using state‐of‐the‐art technologies for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO$_{x}$ with NH$_{3}$, we evaluated the interplay of the reducing agent NH$_{3}$ and formaldehyde, which is always present in the exhaust of NG engines. Our results show that a significant amount of highly toxic hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is formed. All catalysts tested partially convert formaldehyde to HCOOH and CO. Additionally, they form secondary emissions of HCN due to catalytic reactions of formaldehyde and its oxidation intermediates with NH$_{3}$. With the present components of the exhaust gas aftertreatment system the HCN emissions are not efficiently converted to non‐polluting gases. The development of more advanced catalyst formulations with improved oxidation activity is mandatory to solve this novel critical issue

Municipal solid waste management during COVID-19 pandemic: effects and repercussions

The COVID-19 pandemic has an adverse effect on the environment. This epidemic�s effect on the waste composition and management and the impacts of municipal solid waste management (MSWM) on disease transmission or controlling are considered a compelling experience of living in the COVID-19 pandemic that can effectively control the process. This systematic review research was conducted to determine the effects of COVID-19 on the quantity of waste and MSWM. Searches were conducted in three databases (using keywords covid 19, coronaviruses, and waste), and among the published articles from 2019 to 2021, 56 ones were selected containing information on the quantity and waste management during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed that COVID-19 caused the quantity variation and composition change of MSW. COVID-19 also has significant effects on waste recycling, medical waste management, quantity, and littered waste composition. On the other hand, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed waste compounds� management activities and waste generation sources. Recognizing these issues can help plan MSWM more efficiently and reduce virus transmission risk through waste. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature

Assessing research misconduct in Iran: a perspective from Iranian medical faculty members

Background: Research misconduct is a global concern in biomedical science. There are no comprehensive data regarding the perception and situation of scientific misconduct among the Iranian medical faculty members. We conducted a nationwide survey to assess the research misconduct among the medical faculty members in Iran. Methods: We used the Persian version of the research misconduct questionnaire (PRMQ) on the Google Forms platform. We sent the survey link to a systematic random sample of medical faculty members in Iran (N = 4986). Descriptive analyses were performed on the individual items of the PRMQ, with frequencies and percentages for categorical and Likert-type response items, and means and standard deviation (S.D.) for continuous variables. Chi-square analysis was conducted to test hypotheses examining differences in the frequency of responses related to factors influencing misconduct. We also defined four tenure categories (TC) based on the working years of the participants as tenured faculty members. All the analyses were performed using R 3.6.0. Results: The response rate was 13.8 (692 responses). Nearly 70 of the respondents agreed that their publication output would be of higher quality if there were no publication pressure. Approximately three-quarters (N =499, 72.1) of the respondents had been aware of some instances of research misconduct during the previous year according to their understanding of misconduct. Among the participants, 18.5 perceived the effectiveness of their associated organisation�s rules for reducing research misconduct to be high or very high. Pressure for tenure was identified as the item most frequently perceived with a strong behavioural influence on engaging in research misconduct (80.2). Conclusions: This study confirms that research misconduct needs to be actively addressed among the medical faculty members. Making policies with a focus on boosting awareness regarding the occasions of scientific misconduct and its management seems to be indispensable in the future in Iran. © 2021, The Author(s)

Wzrost kamelii w podłożu z kompostu z łupin orzechów ziemnych o różnym stężeniu potasu

Agricultural wastes management is a step toward sustainable agriculture. Peanut shelles as remained wastes of cultivating peanut has considerable volume which its compost can be used as available sources of ornamental plants medium. A factorial experiment based on randomized completely blocks design was conducted to investigate the impact of peanut shelles compost as the growth medium of Camellia in different concentrations of potassium. Fifteen treatments, every treatment at three replicates and 45 plots were used for experiment. The rooted cuttings of Camellia were planted and periodic watering with Hoagland solution was performed two times per week. After five months, the plants growth indices and the concentration and uptake nutrients were measured. Results showed that peanut shelles compost increased growth indices than in the control. In the most growth indices, the plant indicated a better response to 40% (w/w) compost and finally 60%. The results are indicator of providing the needed potassium for plant by peanut shelles compost than in the control.Zarządzanie odpadami rolniczymi jest krokiem w kierunku zrównoważonego rolnictwa. Łuski orzechów ziemnych jako pozostałość po uprawie orzechów mają znaczną objętość i w formie kompostu mogą być używane jako dostępne źródła podłoża dla roślin ozdobnych. Doświadczenie czynnikowe na podstawie całkowicie rondomizowanych bloków przeprowadzono w celu zbadania wpływu kompostu z łusek orzechów ziemnych jako podłoża dla kamelii przy różnych stężeniach potasu. Doświadczenie objęło piętnaście zabiegów w trzech powtórzeniach oraz 45 poletek. Posadzone ukorzenione sadzonki kamelii podlewano dwa razy w tygodniu roztworem Hoaglanda. Po pięciu miesiącach dokonano pomiaru wskaźników wzrostu roślin, a także stężenia i poboru substancji odżywczych. Na podstawie wyników stwierdzono, że kompost z orzechów ziemnych zwiększa wskaźniki wzrostu w porównaniu z kontrolą. W odniesieniu do większości wskaźników wzrostu, rośliny wykazywały lepszą reakcję w przypadku 40% i ostatecznie 60% dodatku kompostu (% wag.). Wyniki wskazują na skuteczniejsze dostarczanie potasu potrzebnego do wzrostu roślin w przypadku kompostu z łusek orzechów ziemnych w porównaniu z kontrolą

New hybrid evolutionary algorithm for optimizing index-based groundwater vulnerability assessment method

Limited hydrogeological data accessibility leads scholars to improve the robustness of present qualitative groundwater vulnerability assessment methods using mathematical techniques. In the present study, we implemented three GIS-based groundwater vulnerability assessment indices, namely DRASTIC (Depth to water table, net Recharge, Aquifer media, Soil media, Topography, Impact of vadose zone, and hydraulic Conductivity), SINTACS (Soggicenza, Infiltrazione, Non saturo, Tipologia della copertura, Acquifero, Conducibilità, and Superficie topografica), and GODS (Groundwater confinement, Overlying strata, Depth to groundwater, and Soil media) to assess the groundwater vulnerability levels. Although DRASTIC results showed better performance with respect to the nitrate concentration data from 50 observation wells in the study site, the index is still unreliable due to its inherent drawbacks, including subjectivity. Hybrid PSO-GA method is a successful optimization algorithm gathering the advantages of Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Genetic Algorithm (GA) while avoiding their shortcomings. The DRASTIC weighting system is optimized using PSO-GA optimization algorithm. Also, Step-wise Weight Assessment Ratio Analysis (SWARA) as a Multi-Attribute Decision Making (MADM) method is applied for changing ranges of DRASTIC rates and weights. The vulnerability indices obtained from SWARA-SWARA, DRASTIC-PSO-GA, and SWARA-PSO-GA frameworks are evaluated and compared with generic DRASTIC regarding the nitrate concentration dataset by employing Area Under the ROC Curve (AUC) and Grey relational analysis methods. Results show a noticeable improvement of correlation between indices and observed nitrate concentration after modifications and optimizations. The new hybrid SWARA-PSO-GA framework is the most effective framework in assessing the vulnerability of the present study area

Cryopreservation of seeds of lily [Lilium Iedebourii (Baker) Bioss]: Use of sucrose and dehydration

Cryopreservation of germplasm at liquid nitrogen (-196°C) is a perfect method for the long-term conservation of plant genetic resources. A cryopreservation process using dehydration was performed for seeds of lily [ Lilium Iedebourii (Baker) Bioss]. Seeds were subjected to a rapid freezing protocol in liquid nitrogen following dehydration and treatment with 0.75 M sucrose for 1 h. Survival after freezing was nil for control seeds and 75% for seeds treated with sucrose and dehydration

Kwitnienie i mikropropagacja in vitro lisianthusa (Eustoma grandiflorum) w reakcji na regulatory wzrostu roslin (NAA i BA)

In vitro flowering and micropropagation are useful for plant breeding programs and commercial production of important ornamental plants. In vitro conditions including media components, kind, concentration and ratio of plant growth regulators and culture conditions significantly affect in vitro flowering and micropropagation. There is no any report dealing with the in vitro flowering of Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum). Here, a protocol was developed for flowering and high frequency in vitro micropropagation of E. grandiflorum, an ornamental plant. Micropropagation is an effective tools for propagation of ornamental plants in large scale. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of NAA and BA on micropropagation and flowering of Lisianthus, in vitro. Used culture medium was MS enriched with 0, 0.1, 0.2 and 2 mg L-1 of NAA and BA. In establishment process of explants, the most shoot length (2.07 cm per plant) was obtained on medium supplemented with 0.1 mg L-1 BA (without NAA). Maximum shoot number (5.80 per plant) was produced in medium containing 0.1 mg L-1 BA along with 0.2 mg L-1 NAA. Bud explants in culture media containing 0.2 mg L-1 NAA (without BA) and 0.1 mg L-1 NAA along with 2 mg L-1 BA produced maximum node number (3.20 per plant). The largest number of root (14.53 per plant) and root length (3.87 cm per plant) were produced on 0.2 mg L-1 NAA without BA, also 0.2 mg L-1 BA plus 0.2 mg L-1 NAA and 0.2 mg L-1 BA without NAA. Explants produced flower on medium containing 0.1 mg L-1 BA along with 0.1 mg L-1 NAA without transition of callus formation. Flower was produced from callus in medium containing 0.1 mg L-1 BA along with 2 mg L-1 NAA. Regenerated plants showed 98% survival in greenhouse during acclimatization. Acclimatized plants were morphologically similar to the mother plants.Kwitnienie i mikropropagacja in vitro są użyteczne w programach hodowli roślin oraz produkcji komercyjnej ważnych roślin ozdobnych. Warunki in vitro, łącznie ze składnikami pożywek, rodzajem, stężeniem oraz proporcją regulatorów wzrostu roślin, a także warunkami hodowli, w sposób istotny wpływają na kwitnienie i mikropropagację in vitro. Nie istnieje żadne badanie dotyczące kwitnienia in vitro lisanthiusa (Eustoma grandiflorum). W niniejszym badaniu opracowano kwitnienie i wysoką częstotliwość mikropropagacji in vitro dla E. grandiflorum, który jest rośliną ozdobną. Mikropropagacja jest skutecznym narzędziem rozmnażania roślin ozdobnych na dużą skalę. Celem niniejszego badania była ocena wpływu różnych stężeĔ NAA i BA na mikropropagację i kwitnienie lisianthiusa in vitro. Używana pożywka hodowlana została wzbogacona za pomocą 0; 0,1; 0,2 i 2 mg L-1 NAA i BA. Przy powstawaniu eksplantów największa długość łodygi (2,07 cm na roślinę) była uzyskana na pożywce uzupełnionej o 0,1 mg L-1 BA (bez NAA). Maksymalna liczba łodyg (5,80 na roślinę) została wytworzona na pożywce zawierającej 0,1 mg L-1 BA wraz z 0,2 mg L-1 NAA. Eksplanty pączków na pożywce hodowlanej zawierającej 0,2 mg L-1 NAA (bez BA) oraz 0,1 mg L-1 NAA wraz z 2 mg L-1 BA wytworzyły maksymalną liczbę węzłów (3,20 na roślinę). Największą liczbę korzeni (14,53 na roślinę) oraz największą długość korzenia (3,87 na roślinę) zaobserwowano na 0,2 mg L-1 NAA bez BA jak również 0,2 mg L-1 BA plus 0,2 mg L-1 NAA oraz 0,2 mg L-1 BA bez NAA. Eksplanty tworzyły kwiat na pożywce zawierającej 0,1 mg L-1 BA wraz z 0,1 mg L-1 NAA bez przeniesienia kalusa. Kwiat był tworzony z kalusa na pożywce zawierającej 0,1 mg L-1 BA wraz z 2 mg L-1 NAA. Zregenerowane rośliny wykazały 98% przeżycie w szklarni podczas aklimatyzacji. Zaaklimatyzowane rośliny były morfologicznie podobne to swych roślin macierzystych

Decreased expression of bioinformatically predicted piwil2-targetting microRNAs, miR-1267 and miR-2276 in breast cancer

Purpose: Human Piwil2, a member of Piwi subfamily of Argonaute proteins, is primarily expressed in testis, where it regulates self-renewal of germ cells. However, its ectopic expression has been reported with several tumors, including breast cancer. The upregulation of piwil2 in various stages of breast cancer suggested its suitability as a novel tumor biomarker. Considering the vital role of microRNAs (miR-NAs) in regulating the expression of most human genes, we hypothesized a concomitant downregulation of the bioinformatically-predicted piwil2-targetting microRNAs in breast cancer. Method: We employed different bioinformatic tools to predict piwil2-targeting miRNAs. Then, from the list of predicted miRNAs, we chose two less studied miRNAs (miR-1267 and miR-2276) for experimental validation. Using a real-time RT-PCR approach, we quantified the relative expression of the miRNAs in 31 pairs of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor/non-tumor tissue samples. Results: Our data revealed a noticeable but not statistically significant (P = 0.133) downregulation of miR-1267 in tumor samples, compared to non-tumor samples obtained from the same patients. Downregulation of miR-1267 was more significant in higher grades of malignancies (fold change = 2.39, P = 0.033) and also in lymph nodes containing high-grade tumor cells (fold change = 6.66, P = 0.02). Interestingly, a significant upregulation of miR-1267 was observed in tumors at high stages (stage 3a, 3b), compared to low stages (stage 2a, 2b) (fold change = 8.05, P = 0.048). Similar patterns of expression alteration were also observed for miR-2276. Conclusion: Altogether, our findings suggest a probable tumor suppressor role for miR-1267 and miR-2276 in breast tumor initiation and progression, but a probable promoting role for them in invasion and metastasis. � 2016, Academy of Medical Sciences of the I.R. Iran