Multivariate statistical analysis of some traits of bread wheat for breeding under rainfed conditions

In order to evaluate several agro-morphological traits in 56 wheat genotypes, an experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications was carried out. Principal component analysis (PCA) and factor analysis were used for understanding the data structure and trait relations. The PCA showed that five components explained 69% of the total variation among traits. The first PCA was assigned 28% and the second PCA was assigned 13% of total variation among traits. The first PCA was more related to grain number, floret number, tiller number, stem diameter, leaf width and spikelet number. Therefore, the selection may be done according to the first component and it was helpful for a good breeding program for development of high yielding cultivars. The correlation coefficient between any two traits is approximated by the cosine of the angle between their vectors in the plot of the first two PCAs and the most prominent relations were between grain diameter and grain yield; and between grain length and 1,000 seed weight. The factor analysis divided the eighteen traits into five factors and the first factor included stem diameter, leaf width, tiller number, spike length, floret number, spikelet number, grain number and grain yield. The second factor was composed of some morphological traits and indicated the importance of the grain diameter, grain length, 1,000 seed weight and grain yield. The two PCA and factor analysis methods were found to give complementary information, and therefore such knowledge would assist the plant breeders in making their selection. In other words, this data reduction would let the plant breeder reduce field costs required to obtain the genetic parameter estimates necessary to construct selection indices

A New Approach for Realistic 3D Reconstruction of Planar Surfaces from Laser Scanning Data and Imagery Collected Onboard Modern Low-Cost Aerial Mapping Systems

Over the past few years, accurate 3D surface reconstruction using remotely-sensed data has been recognized as a prerequisite for different mapping, modelling, and monitoring applications. To fulfill the needs of these applications, necessary data are generally collected using various digital imaging systems. Among them, laser scanners have been acknowledged as a fast, accurate, and flexible technology for the acquisition of high density 3D spatial data. Despite their quick accessibility, the acquired 3D data using these systems does not provide semantic information about the nature of scanned surfaces. Hence, reliable processing techniques are employed to extract the required information for 3D surface reconstruction. Moreover, the extracted information from laser scanning data cannot be effectively utilized due to the lack of descriptive details. In order to provide a more realistic and accurate perception of the scanned scenes using laser scanning systems, a new approach for 3D reconstruction of planar surfaces is introduced in this paper. This approach aims to improve the interpretability of the extracted planar surfaces from laser scanning data using spectral information from overlapping imagery collected onboard modern low-cost aerial mapping systems, which are widely adopted nowadays. In this approach, the scanned planar surfaces using laser scanning systems are initially extracted through a novel segmentation procedure, and then textured using the acquired overlapping imagery. The implemented texturing technique, which intends to overcome the computational inefficiency of the previously-developed 3D reconstruction techniques, is performed in three steps. In the first step, the visibility of the extracted planar surfaces from laser scanning data within the collected images is investigated and a list of appropriate images for texturing each surface is established. Successively, an occlusion detection procedure is carried out to identify the occluded parts of these surfaces in the field of view of captured images. In the second step, visible/non-occluded parts of the planar surfaces are decomposed into segments that will be textured using individual images. Finally, a rendering procedure is accomplished to texture these parts using available images. Experimental results from overlapping laser scanning data and imagery collected onboard aerial mapping systems verify the feasibility of the proposed approach for efficient realistic 3D surface reconstruction

Reaction of melon (Cucumis melo L.) cultivars to soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi in Iran

The fungi Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi), Monosporascus cannonballus (Pollack and Uecker) and Rhizoctonia solani (Kuhn) are responsible for significant destruction and melon crop losses in the Sistan region of Iran. In this study, eighteen melon cultivars were screened for resistance to these pathogens under greenhouse conditions twice. The melon cultivars were grown in pots and inoculated with each pathogen individually in three different experiments. None of the tested melon cultivars was immune to all the soil-borne plant pathogenic fungi. However, two cultivars, namely ‘Sfidak khatdar’ and ‘Sfidak bekhat’ were moderately resistant to all the three fungi. These melon cultivars are promising sources of resistance to M. phaseolina, M. cannonballus and R. solani, and should be the preferred choice for melon grown in infested areas. This study is the first report on screening of melon cultivars in Iran for resistance to M. phaseolina, M. cannonballus and R. solani and it reports the resistance of melon cultivars to three important soil-borne plant pathogens found worldwide.Key words: Melon, fungal resistance, Macrophomina phaseolina, Monosporascus cannonballus, Rhizoctonia solani

Herpes simplex encephalitis after receiving Covid-19 vaccine; A case report

Shortly after the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, different vaccines were developed to combat it. The vaccines had different mechanisms and triggered cellular and humoral immune responses against the virus. In addition to their positive effects, various side effects have been reported for them. They rarely cause severe complications. They can also rarely trigger latent infections. The present case report presents a patient who developed herpes simplex encephalitis after receiving the second dose of the Covaxin (BBV152)

Antinociceptive activity of Ricinus communis seed's hydroethanolic extract on male Balb/C mice

Pain is a normal protective response to tissue injury caused by physical trauma, noxious chemicals and microbiological agents. Use of chemical drugs and medicinal plants is a conventional method to manage pain; however, their side effects have caused increased tendency to the use of herbal medicines among patients. This study was conducted to investigate antinociceptive action of Ricinus communis seed's extract (RCE) in male Balb/C mice. In this experimental study, 72 male mice weighing 25-35gr were used. Animals were randomly divided into six groups of 12 mice each, including: Control group, three groups separately treated respectively with 100, 200, and 400mg/kg hydroethanolic R. communis seed extract, morphine (1mg/kg)-treated group, and naloxone (0.1mg/kg) + R. communis seed extract (200mg/kg)-treated group. All animals received extract and drugs intraperitoneally. To evaluate the analgesic effect of the extract, writhing and tail flick tests were used. The 200 and 400mg/kg of the extract significantly increased pain threshold compared to the control group in writhing and tail flick tests (P < 0.01). Moreover, 400mg/kg of the extract showed a stronger antinociceptive effect especially in writhing test compared to the control and other treated groups (P < 0.001). Analgesic effects of hydroethanolic R. communis seed extract observed in the tail flick and writhing tests are probably related to activation of opioid system. Results may suggest that this plant extract might be beneficial in relieving human pain

Evaluation of Cannabis sativa leaves aquatic extract effect on triple regions of hippocampus neuronal density in male rats

زمینه و هدف: در گیاه شاهدانه (sativa Cannabis ) بیش از 61 ماده شیمیایی یافت شده که کانابینوئید نامیده می شود. کانابینوئیدها در تمام مراحل حافظه نقش دارند. هدف از انجام این تحقیق بررسی اثر عصاره آبی برگ گیاه شاهدانه بردانسیته نورونی نواحی CA1,CA2,CA3 (CA Ammonis, Cornu) هیپوکامپ می باشد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی 24 سر موش صحرایی نر نژاد ویستار با وزن تقریبی 350-300 گرمی، به سه گروه تجربی 1 و تجربی 2 و گروه شاهد تقسیم شدند. عصاره آبی برگ گیاه شاهدانه با روش سوکسله تهیه شد و در دو گروه تجربی به ترتیب با دوزهای 25 و 50 میلی گرم به کیلوگرم به روش داخل صفاقی برای مدت 3 هفته (هر هفته یکبار) و به گروه شاهد نرمال سالین تزریق شد. پس از یک ماه حیوانات با رامپون و کتامین بیهوش و مغز به آرامی از جمجمه خارج و در فرمالین نمکی 10 قرار گرفت. پس از طی مراحل پاساژ بافتی از مغز برش های سریال 7 میکرونی تهیه شد و با هماتوکسیلین، ائوزین رنگ آمیزی شد. از نواحی CA1,CA2,CA3 عکسبرداری و به طریقه دایسکتور دانسیته نورونی محاسبه و نتایج گروه ها با استفاده آزمون های آماری t، ANOVA و توکی با هم مقایسه شدند. یافته ها: میانگین دانسیته نورونی ناحیه CAlدر گروه کنترل و تجربی 1 و 2 به ترتیب 553±37396، 233±10081 و 382±10986، ناحیه CA2 449±33045، 284±14648 و 378±17147 و در ناحیه CA3 437±26324، 215±10469 و 359±13829 بود. آنالیز های آماری کاهش معنی داری را در دانسیته نورونی نواحی CA1,CA2,CA3 گروه تجربی (دوز 25 و 50 mg/kg عصاره آبی) نسبت به گروه کنترل نشان داد (001/0>P). نتیجه گیری: احتمال می رود عصاره آبی برگ گیاه شاهدانه با داشتن ترکیبات کانابینوییدی آزادسازی دوپامین را افزایش داده و تولید ایمپالس های مهاری می کند و از این طریق باعث تخریب نورونی شده بنحوی که دانسیته نورونی این ناحیه کاهش یافته است

The Relationship between Stress Coping Styles and Pain Perception in MS Patients during the Coronavirus Outbreak: The Mediation Role of Resilience

Background and Aim:The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between stress coping styles and pain perception of MS patients during the coronavirus outbreak with the mediating role of resilience. The coronavirus outbreak and its rapid global spread have created unprecedented challenges for health care systems, and patients with MS were no exception to these problems. Materials and Methods:The research method was correlational using the path analysis method. The statistical population included all patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) referred to the MS Research Center of SINA Hospital in Tehran in 2020-2021. A total of 300 people were selected as the research sample through the purposive sampling method. The results were analyzed using path analysis with Amos software. Results:The results showed a negative and significant relationship between stress coping styles and pain perception of MS patients during the coronavirus outbreak. The results showed that resilience had a moderating role in the relationship between stress coping styles and pain perception of patients with MS during the coronavirus outbreak (P&lt;0.01). Conclusion:Resilience regulates pain management and perception in MS patients by moderating and reducing tension. Therefore, it seems that it can reduce the pain perception during the coronavirus outbreak by reducing and adjusting coping styles against stress related to COVID-19. Instead of directly confronting the source of stress and dealing with its various aspects by ignoring and considering the issue unimportant, patients can significantly reduce their anxiety

Can galvanic skin conductance be used as an objective indicator of children?s anxiety in the dental setting?

Assessment of procedural distress is essential at assisting children during invasive dental treatments. This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of galvanic skin response as a measure for assessment of dental anxiety in children. 151 children, aged 5-7 years, participated in this study. Similar dental treatments were rendered to all subjects. At the beginning and end of the session, modified child dental anxiety scale (MCDAS), clinical anxiety rating scale (CARS) and galvanic skin response (GSR) were used to determine children?s anxiety. GSR was significantly correlated with both MCDAS (rs=0.62, p=0.02) and CARS (rs=0.44, p=0.032). The correlation between MCDAS and CARS was also significant (rs = 0.9, P<0.001). Anxiety decreased during the session in both GSR (rs=0.52, p=0.001) and MCDAS scales (rs=0.77, p=0.001). CARS also showed a reduction between the initial and second assessment, but it was not statistically significant (rs=0.12, P=0.36). The findings suggest that GSR is a reliable and valid measure for assessment of children?s dental anxiety in the clinical context. GSR may help to identify clinically anxious children before dental treatment to provide appropriate interventions

Mental health status of healthcare professionals and students of health sciences faculties in Kuwait during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health status of healthcare professionals (HCPs) and undergraduate students in the health sciences center (HSCUs). In addition, it explored the factors associated with the increased levels of mental health burden among the study population. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed using two online-administered questionnaires: the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7), which were distributed in parallel to HCPs and HSCUs in Kuwait. These instruments are validated assessment scales to assess mental health status: depression (PHQ-9) and anxiety (GAD-7). Statistical analyses were carried out using SPSS- version 25. Results: A total of 857 individuals (559 HCPs and 298 HSCUs) participated in this study. The prevalence of moderately severe depression or severe depression (PHQ-9 total score of ≥15) among respondents was 66.6%. The median (interquartile range, IQR) PHQ-9 score was significantly higher among HSCUs (20 {11.5}) compared to HCPs (17 {8}). The prevalence of severe anxiety (GAD-7 total score of ≥15) among respondents was 36.7%. There were no significant differences between the median (IQR) GAD-7 scores among the HCPs (14 {7}) and HSCUs (13 {8}). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that three variables were significantly and independently associated with severe depression among HCPs. The prevalence of severe depression was found to be greater among females compared to males. In addition, it was significantly lower among those who were aged ≥50 years, and those who reported that they were not in direct contact with COVID-19 patients. Among HSCUs, females showed greater depression than males. In contrast, those aged &gt;29 years and who had no history of chronic disease showed lower depression compared to their counterparts in the 18–29 years age group and who had a chronic disease history. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on the mental health of HCPs and HSCUs in Kuwait. This highlights the need for proactive efforts to support their mental health and well-being through educational campaigns and psychological support programs

Root Morphology and Canal Configuration of First and Second Maxillary Molars in a Selected Iranian Population: A Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Evaluation

Introduction: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate root canal morphology of maxillary first and second molars and also to assess the prevalence and morphology of the second mesiobuccal canal (MB2) in these teeth, using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods and Materials: In this cross-sectional study, the total of 470 CBCT images from the archive of Radiology Department of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Iran, was evaluated and 295 images were selected. The number of roots, and canal configuration were determined based on Vertucci’s classification system. The data was analyzed using SPSS 20, and P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: A total of 295 images from 295 patients (165 females and 130 males), including 389 maxillary first (197 right and 192 left) and 460 maxillary second (235 right and 225 left) molars were evaluated. The prevalence of MB2 canals were 70.2% and 43.4% in the maxillary first and second molars, respectively. The most common type of Vertucci’s classification was type II (53.1%), followed by type I. Conclusion: The second mesiobuccal canal was present in almost two thirds of first and less than half of second molars. The morphology and canal configuration of a maxillary molar can almost predict the morphology of contralateral molar. However, it does not relate to the ipsilateral molar.Keywords: Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Maxillary Molar; Mesiobuccal Canal; Root Canal Configuratio