Sugarcane is an important source of white sugar in tropical and subtropical areas worldwide. Besides used for sugar extraction, sugarcane produces numerous valuable byproducts like, ethanol, alcohol, and bagasse etc. Considering the importance of crop present study was planned to examine sugarcane genotypes for cane yield through yield contributing traits in natural field conditions. Forty sugarcane genotypes were evaluated in field conditions. At the age of 12 months, data were documented for cane height, cane diameter, leaf area, tillers per stool, internodes per cane, intermodal length, single cane weight, brix percentage and sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) incidence and severity. Results revealed that sugarcane genotypes were significantly differed with respect to the studied plant parameters. The highest heritability (92%) was observed for weight per stool followed by weight per cane (87%) and emergence percentage (70%). Viral disease scoring suggested that genotypes SC-22, SC-38 and SC-4 were observed as resistance/tolerant against SCMV while SC-16, SC-31, SC-36 and SC-9 were highly susceptible. Sugarcane genotypes SC-11, SC-40, SC-24 and SC-20 were found excellent for sugar recovery. The highest incidence of SCMV was observed in genotype SC-31 with very low brix percentage Principle component analysis indicated that first five PCs had 78.59% of the total variation with eigenvalue more than 1. Scree plot displayed that first five PCs contained major portion of variability. Scatter plot of 40 genotypes SC-3, SC-4, SC-20, SC-32 and SC-8 were found maximum diverse being apart from others for studied characters. Biplot indicated that intermodal length and emergence percentage showed least variations and sugarcane genotypes SC-3, SC-4, SC-20 and SC-33 were found genetically diverse genotypes for different traits under study.
The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of a resistance training program for 8 weeks on IGF1, gene expression, and physical performance in male student-athletes. The population of this study was 20 male students divided to two equal groups. The parameters estimated were IGF1, gene expression, and muscle strength testing. Blood was drawn to verify the concentration of the variables, using kits and Elisa method in addition to the PCR technique. The results revealed that a significant increase in IGF1, gene expression was different between students. Furthermore, muscle strength testing revealed significant changes. In conclusion, the results suggested that resistance training program may impact fitness and muscle strength as well the anabolic activity through IGF1 increase accompanied by varied gene expressions.
This paper focuses on the development of an intelligent machine vision for detection of field-fungi affected wheat kernels, where more than half of the seed coat is discolored. Presence of surface-defected (discolored) kernels in wheat seeds affects their quality, which consequently leads to substantial reduction in crop-yield. In order to determine quality estimation of wheat seeds, amount of surface-defected kernels in the same is required to be ascertained accurately. The present paper describes the development of a machine vision system for detection of surface-defected kernels in wheat seeds. In manual visual inspection, presence of surface-defected wheat kernels in a given sample is decided on the basis of the surface colour and texture attributes of kernels. However, in computer environment, both these attributes are quite difficult to quantify. In the present work, solution to this problem is provided by making use of new type of regional surface descriptors of wheat kernels using colour and texture attributes. Based on the quantitative description of these attributes, a neural classifier is executed to estimate quality of wheat seeds. In an attempt to achieve faster convergence, proposed neural classifier is trained with Levenberg-Marquardt (LM) learning algorithm. The results of present investigations indicate an average accuracy of more than 98.8% for the proposed system. The results of these investigations are quite convincing.
Energy-saving has become a strategic target locally and internationally to conserve natural resources and reduce green gas emissions and pollution to the environment. University of Jeddah (UJ) is emerging as a dynamic promising institution welling to implement energy-saving strategies to its facilities. It is expected to have a significant impact on Saudi society, the surrounding environment, and future generations. The most reasons that cause an increase in electric energy consumption at UJ has been addressed. Some of these reasons are due to weather conditions such as high temperature and sandstorms, which would negatively affect the performance of air conditioning system, and some of which are related to the design of air conditioning systems, calculating thermal loads and choosing the appropriate type for the nature of the operation of the building. Choosing the appropriate type of maintenance and addressing common technical problems in air conditioning systems such as internal and external fouling of indoor and outdoor of ac units are other reasons that indirectly affect the rate of energy consumption. At the university, air conditioning systems consume about 80% of the total electric energy. So, redesign the current air condition systems and applying planned maintenance type such preventive and condition-based maintenance are the most direct and effective ways for realizing energy saving at university facilities\nKeywords: Energy saving; internal and external fouling, condition-based maintenance. VRF
Purpose: The purpose of the presented study is to evaluate the student’s knowledge on managing acute pain in endodontic infections.\nMaterials and methods: Last year dental students (n=76) from the Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria fulfilled an online questionnaire. Eight questions concerning acute pain management with non-opioid analgesics in dental medicine were included. In addition, information about respondents\' age and gender was collected. The data was analyzed using descriptive and graphical statistics.\nResults: Most of the students (49.33%) will recommend the patient to take Ibuprofen, in order to reduce the pain until the time for their scheduled visit comes. For acute periodontitis in the subperiostal phase 88.16% of the students preferred combination of NSAIDs (Ibuprofen or NImesulid) and antibiotics (Ampicillin), compared to only 11.84% who chose only NSAIDs. Twenty-eight (36.84%) of the students chose to not administer – Aceffein for patients with gastric and duodenal ulcers. 55.26% of the students decided not to prescribe COX-2 selective inhibitors in cases with diseases of the cardiovascular system. Most of the students (57.89%) marked the maximal daily dosage of Paracetamol to be 2g., compared to 30.26% - 4g. 52.63% of respondents chose to prescribe NSAIDs one hour before the appointment.\nConclusions Based on the presented study we may conclude that students have basic knowledge on managing acute dental pain from endodontic origin. They don’t have sufficient knowledge on the side effects of NSAIDs.
The development of imaging technology and advances in the research fields of structural, cell, and molecular biology have improved our understanding of the assembly, release, and maturation of human immunodeficiency virus-type 1 (HIV-1) in recent years. Assembly of HIV-1 requires the coordinated functioning of multiple biochemical activities of the viral group-specific antigen (Gag) protein. These activities include membrane targeting, lattice formation, packaging of the genome HIV-1 RNA, and recruitment of cellular co-factors that modulate assembly. This increase in retroviral basic knowledge has contributed to the development of new inhibitors designed to target different aspects of retroviral assembly and maturation. This review highlights the late stages of the HIV-1 replication cycle and recent advances in elucidating relevant interactions in virology, cell and molecular biology, and drug discovery.
Leptospirosis is an infection caused by corkscrew-shaped bacteria called Leptospira interrogans. The number of leptospirosis cases normally increased following massive floods via the ingestion of contaminated dirty floodwater as the primary source of the organism. Therefore, the current study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of Eclipta alba L. polyphenol against L. interrogans and to evaluate the application of this natural polyphenol in the cooked rice and tea for safe food preparation to prevent the L. interrogans infection. Various assays were conducted to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity namely antimicrobial disc diffusion assay, broth dilution methods, time kill study and ultrastructural observation through SEM. Subsequently, the evaluation of E. alba natural polyphenol in the cooked rice and tea for the survivability of L. interrogans was conducted for 24 h. The E. alba polyphenol showed a good anti-leptospiral activity with MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) value of 1250.0 µg/mL. The time-kill study performed using the polyphenol at 1/2, 1 or 2 times of the MIC significantly inhibited the bacterial growth with a noticeable drop in optical density (OD) of bacterial culture. The main abnormalities noted via SEM (Scanning Electron Microscopy) study were deformed wave-like shape and cellular break in L. interrogans. Incorporation of E. alba leaves polyphenol abandoned the survival of L. interrogans in cooked rice and tea. Therefore, the results of this study suggest that the E. alba polyphenol can be used against L. interrogans infection during and after a flood as a preventing strategies by safe food preparation to avoid pre and post-cooking contamination of this pathogen.