Evaluation of drought tolerance in different growth stages of maize (Zea mays L.) inbred lines using tolerance indices

In order to find the best drought tolerant inbred lines, experiment was performed at the Agricultural College of Islamic Azad University, Shoushtar Branch, Iran during 2010. Experiment treatments were compared in a split-plot design by a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. Main factors included non-stress, drought stress in 6 to 7 leaves (vegetative) stage, drought stress in pollination stage and drought stress in grain filling stage. Sub factors were 7 inbred lines. Five stress tolerance indices, including mean productivity (MP), stress tolerance (TOL), stress susceptibility (SSI), stress tolerance index (STI) and geometric mean productivity (GMP) were used in this study. Drought stress in grain filling stage had the minimum grain yield that showed severe effects of drought stress at this stage of growth. Data analysis revealed that the MP, GMP and STI indices were the more accurate criteria for selection of drought tolerant and high yielding inbred lines. The positive and significant correlation of STI and grain yield under all conditions revealed that this index is more applicable and efficient for selection of parental inbred lines in producing hybrids tolerant to drought in vegetative, pollination and grain filling stages and high yielding under non-stress and stress conditions. Based on the STI, GMP and MP indices, K166B proved to be the most drought tolerant line. Biplot analysis allowed us to distinguish groups of tolerant and sensitive inbred lines. Based on the results of this study, the inbred line K166B can be recommended in future breeding programs for production of drought tolerant hybrids.Key words: Biplot, drought stress, maize, tolerance indices

Orexin 1 receptors in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex regulate cost and benefit decision-making

Abstract Orexin neurons are discretely localized within the lateral hypothalamus and have widespread projections into all areas of the brain. In addition, several lines of evidence specify that orexins may also participate in the regulation of a variety of affective and cognitive processes. The Orexin-1 receptor (OX1r) is distributed extensively throughout the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Delay-based decision- making is mediated largely by the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) while effort- based decision-making is controlled by the anterior cingulated cortex (ACC). Hence, in the present study, a series of experiments were conducted to clarify the role of OX1r in the mPFC (ACC and/or OFC) in cost and benefit decision-making. The rats were trained in a delay and/or effort-based form of cost-benefit T-maze decision-making task. Two goal arms were different in the amount of accessible reward and cost. Before surgery, all animals were selecting the high reward arm and pay the cost on almost every trial. During the test days, the rats received local injections of either DMSO 20% /0.5 μl, as a vehicle, or SB334867 (3, 30 and 300 nM/0.5 μl), as a selective OX1r antagonist, within the ACC and/or OFC. The results of this study showed that the bilateral microinjection of SB334867 into ACC and/or OFC changed the preference to a low reward arm with no cost, indicating the role of OX1 receptors in cost and benefit decision- making. From these results, it can be implied that OX1 receptors in the mPFC play a crucial role for allowing the animal to evaluate and pay the cost to acquire greater rewards. Keywords Delay-based decision-making Effort-based decision-making Orexin Orbitofrontal cortex Anterior cingulate cortex Ra

Statistical Optimization of Xanthan Gum Production and Influence of Airflow Rates in Lab-scale Fermentor

The present study was undertaken to investigate and optimize the possibility of xanthan gum production by Xanthomonas campestris PTCC1473 in 500ml shake flasks on the second grade date palm. Using an experimental response surface methodology (RSM) coupled with a central composite design (CCD), three major independent variables (nitrogen source, phosphor source and agitation rate) were evaluated for their individual and interactive effects on biomass and xanthan gum production in submerged fermentation. The optimum conditions selected for gum production were 3.15 g.l-1 for nitrogen source, 5.03 g.l-1 for phosphor source, and 394.8 rpm for agitation rate. Reconfirmation test was conducted, and the experimental value obtained for xanthan production under optimum conditions was about 6.72±0.26 g.l-1, which was close to 6.51 g.l-1 as predicted by the model. A higher yield of biomass production was obtained at 13.74 g.l-1 for nitrogen source, 4.66 g.l-1 for phosphor source, and 387.42 rpm for agitation rate. In the next stage, scale-up from the shake flasks to the 1-L batch fermentors was carried. By using the optimum conditions for xanthan gum, the biomass and xanthan gum concentrations after 72h in three levels of air flow rate (0.5, 1 and 1.5 vvm) were obtained as 3.98, 5.31 and 6.04 g.l-1,and 11.32, 15.16 and 16.84 g.l-1, respectively. Overall, the second grade date palm seemed to exhibit promising properties that can open new pathways for the production of efficient and cost-effective xanthan gum

Dominant Media of a Community-Based Organization for Disseminating Sustainable Agriculture Knowledge and Information

Abstract Co mmun ication is the key to transforming Malaysia's conventional agricu ltural systems to sustainable agriculture systems. The objective of this paper is to identify the dominant and most effective med iu m for co mmunication as it is implemented by the Qadhijah Natural Farm -a co mmun ity-based organization located in Parit Buntar, Perak, Malaysia. Rapid Appraisal Agricultural Knowledge Systems analysis indicated that the "face-to-face" communicat ion is the dominant and most effect ive mediu m fo r transfer of knowledge/information by the Qadhijah Natural Farm among all co mmunication med ia types studied

Time Series Analysis of Variance of Sunspots in January till September 2010 and Correlation with Sunspots Areas

Abstract This paper analyzed theoretically the short period variability of the sunspot activity beginning from January 2010 till September 2010. Sunspot data are taken fro m Solar Influences Data Analysis Center (SIDC). We focused on the number of sunspots each month and correlate it with sunspot are aparameter. Fro m the analysis, it is found that there is a litt le correlation between the amplitude of a cycle. The pattern shown an almost linear relat ionship between both parameters. It also showed that the highest sunspot number per day that has been recorded is in May. The Sun was found to be most active in August and passive in April according to the nu mber o f sunspots. Uniquely, there is also no sunspot at all in a day. Th is study gives some interesting and potentially important clues especially in understanding the physical processes responsible for the solar activity and the solar cycle phenomena. Based on our analysis, we found that the average relation between sunspot number, R and sunspot area, A is A = 5.179R

Effect of family-based cognitive behavioral therapy in modification of self-image associated with obesity among children

Background and purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of family-based cognitive behavioral therapy in modification of self-image associated with obesity in children. Materials and methods: A randomized controlled trial was performed in children with obesity (BMI � 95th percentile(aged 8-15 years old. Using convenience sampling, the participants were recruited from Children Hospital and Morsali clinic in Arak, Iran. They were randomly assigned to either the experimental group (n= 15) or control group (n= 15). The children in experimental group received family-based cognitive behavioral therapy (6 group sessions) and their parents attended 5 group sessions. All participants completed Body Parts Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BPSS-R) and Standard Figural Stimuli Scale (SFSS) in pretest, posttest and follow-up. BMI was calculated in all three stages. Results: Family-based cognitive-behavioral therapy was found effective in improving the body parts satisfaction (P=0.023) and body image satisfaction (P=0.0001). The improvement maintained only in body image at follow-up (P=0.0001). Conclusion: According to these results, family-based cognitive behavioral therapy is effective in modification of self-image in children. © 2016, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Implementasi efek gitar elektrik sebagai sarana hiburan saat WFH Covid-19 menggunakan Arduino

Bekerja dari rumah atau WFH (Work From Home) yang sedang dilaksanakan saat ini merupakan imbauan Presiden Joko Widodo pada konferensi pers (15 Maret 2020) untuk meminimalisir penyebaran virus corona. Khusus untuk Aparatur Sipil Negara, ditindaklanjuti oleh Menteri Pendayagunaan Aparatur Negara dan Reformasi Birokrasi melalui Surat Edaran nomor 19 Tahun 2020 tentang Penyesuaian Sistem Kerja Aparatur Sipil Negara dalam Upaya Pencegahan Covid-19 di Lingkungan Instansi Pemerintah. Dalam melaksanakan WFH ini tentunya dengan ruang lingkup yang terbatas disamping melaksanakan pekerjaan juga diperlukan sarana hiburan yang asik agar dalam kondisi WFH tetap produktif dalam bekerja dan tidak jenuh salah satunya dengan memodifikasi efek gitar elektrik menggunakan arduino sehingga menghasilkan efek gitar yang baik dan memudahkan pemain gitar untuk memainkan efek ini karena dibuat terintegrasi secara langsung dengan gitar. Efek gitar ini berjenis distorsi yang dibuat menggunakan komponen-komponen elektronik dan mikroprosesor Arduino Uno. Arduino akan memproses sinyal audio (input) dan kemudian akan memfilter sinyal audio dengan tujuan untuk menghilangkan frekuensi yang tidak diinginkan. Perbandingan alat dengan efek gitar yang ada di pasaran Boss dan Zoom menunjukan kemiripan bentuk spektrum akan tetapi terjadi perbedaan panjang spektrum dengan selisih 2 detik dengan efek Boss. Selisih tersebut bisa diatur dengan setting amplifier pada speaker tabung

Effect of acute caffeine administration on hyperalgesia and allodynia in a rat neuropathic pain model

Introduction: Damage to the central and peripheral nervous system causes neuropathic pain. Caffeine is a plant alkaloid and non-selective antagonist of A1, A2a and A2b adenosine receptors. It is reported that caffeine increases the threshold of pain. In this study, the effect of acute caffeine on behavioral responses of neuropathic pain was investigated. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted on 56 adult male Wistar rats in the weight range of 220-250 g. Neuropathic pain was induced by chronic constriction injury (CCI(. Animals were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 8): Control, Sham, CCI, CCI + Saline, and CCI + Caffeine (10, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical and thermal allodynia has been done on days 4,7, 14, 21, 28 after CCI. Results: Neuropathic rats desmostrated increased pain thresholds. Notably, caffeine at a dose of 10 mg/kg significantly increased the thermal allodynia., but at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, it significantly decreased the thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that the effects of caffeine on pain responses are dose-dependent. Probably the inhibition of adenosine A1 receptors by caffeine increases pain responses, while the inhibition of A2a and A2b adenosine receptors is associated with protective effect of caffeine against pain responses. © 2020, Semnan University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Dientamoeba fragilis diagnosis by fecal screening: Relative effectiveness of traditional techniques and molecular methods

Introduction: Dientamoeba fragilis, an intestinal trichomonad, occurs in humans with and without gastrointestinal symptoms. Its presence was investigated in individuals referred to Milad Hospital, Tehran. Methodology: In a cross-sectional study, three time-separated fecal samples were collected from 200 participants from March through June 2011. Specimens were examined using traditional techniques for detecting D. fragilis and other gastrointestinal parasites: direct smear, culture, formalin-ether concentration, and iron-hematoxylin staining. The presence of D. fragilis was determined using PCR assays targeting 5.8S rRNA or small subunit ribosomal RNA. Results: Dientamoeba fragilis, Blastocystis sp., Giardia lamblia, Entamoeba coli, and Iodamoeba butschlii were detected by one or more traditional and molecular methods, with an overall prevalence of 56.5. Dientamoeba was not detected by direct smear or formalin-ether concentration but was identified in 1 and 5 of cases by culture and iron-hematoxylin staining, respectively. PCR amplification of SSU rRNA and 5.8S rRNA genes diagnosed D. fragilis in 6 and 13.5, respectively. Prevalence of D. fragilis was unrelated to participant gender, age, or gastrointestinal symptoms. Conclusions: This is the first report of molecular assays to screen for D. fragilis in Iran. The frequent finding of D. fragilis via fecal analysis indicated the need to include this parasite in routine stool examination in diagnostic laboratories. As the length of amplification target correlates to the sensitivity of PCR, this assay targeting the D. fragilis 5.8S rRNA gene seems optimal for parasite detection and is recommended in combination with conventional microscopy for diagnosing intestinal parasites. © 2018 Hamidi et al

Effects of coenzyme Q10 supplementation on gene expressions related to insulin, lipid, and inflammation pathways in patients with diabetic nephropathy

Introduction. Data on the effects of coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) on gene expression related to insulin, lipid, and inflammation in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN) are scarce. This study aimed to determine the effects of CQ10 supplementation on gene expression related to insulin, lipid, and inflammation pathways in patients with DN. Materials and Methods. Forty patients with DN, aged 40 to 85 years old, were randomly assigned into 2 groups to receive either 100 mg/d of CQ10 supplements (n = 20) or placebo (n = 20), for 12 weeks. Gene expression related to signaling pathway of insulin, lipid, and inflammation were determined in blood samples using a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction method. Results. Quantitative results of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that compared with the placebo, CQ10 administration upregulated gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (P = .02) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of the patients with DN. In addition, compared with the placebo, CQ10 supplementation downregulated gene expression of interleukin-1 (P = .003) and tumor necrosis factor-α (P = .02). No significant effects were observed on gene expression of oxidized low-density lipoprotein, lipoprotein(a), glucose transporter-1, transforming growth factor-β in the CQ10 group. Conclusions. Overall, CQ10 supplementation for 12 weeks in DN patients significantly improved gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, interleukin-1, and tumor necrosis factor-α. © 2018, Iranian Society of Nephrology. All rights reserved