Abstract
During the autumn season of 2018, a field experiment was carried out. The study’s goal was to evaluate phenotypic and genotypic correlation as well as path coefficient analysis under varied ...degrees of potassium fertilization. The study included nine different maize genotypes. Planted with three levels of potassium fertilization (75, 100, and 125 K2SO4 Kg Hectare-1). The split plot arrangement was done according to RCBD with three replications. The most important findings were summarized as follows: The genetic analysis revealed that genotypes differed significantly in all analyzed variables under the three levels of potassium fertilization. The grain yield genetically, phenotypically, and positively correlated with plant height, leaf area index, number of rows per ear, number of grain in a row and weight of 300 grain. The trait of a number of grains in a row showed genetic, phenotypic, and significant correlation with the three levels of potassium fertilization and the highest reached 0.95 and 0.89 respectively at the third level. Path analysis showed that the direct effects for a Leaf area index, number of rows per ear, Number of grains per row and weight of 300 grain were negative at the first level of potassium and highly positive at the other two levels. the direct selection for a number of rows per ear and Number of grains per row will incredibly effective in enhancing yield. However, the highest indirect effect for Number of grains per row was through plant height (1.76) at the first levels of potassium fertilization.
Abstract
A field experiment is carried out in private farm of Silty loam textured soil, in Al-Latifiya, district southern Baghdad, Iraq during the spring season of 2018. The objective is to study ...Maize’s adaptability (
Zea mays
L.) plants to drought using water stress and Salicylic acid foliar application by determining some growth traits. A split-split plots system is used within Randomized Completely Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The main plots include three irrigation treatments (IQ); 100% (full irrigation), 80% and 60% available water. The subplots involve four Salicylic acids (SA) concentrations; 0, 100, 200 and 300 mg.L
-1
. The results were as follows: The Salicylic acid (SA) has shown a clear significant effect in all characteristics. The (300 mg.L
-1
) concentration of SA gives the highest rates of growth traits. Similarly, the irrigation treatments have shown a clear significant effect on all traits. The full irrigation treatment gave highest rates on growth characteristics; leaf area (LA), leaf area index (LAI), plant’s height (PLH), number of leaves per plant (LN). Therefore, this study suggests the possibility of making Maise plants (
Zea mays
L.) more adaptable to drought tolerance using water stress and Salicylic acid foliar application. Such tolerance leads to reduce plant water requirement without significant effects on growth and yield characteristics as well.
This study aims to determine the concentrations of tramadol in earwax (μg/g) and urine (μg/ml) samples taken from postoperative patients, to evaluate the sensitivity of earwax (cerumen) as an ...alternative analyte and compare it with the findings in urine samples.
The results indicated that tramadol concentrations in earwax samples were averaged 45.08 μg/g (range: 13.5-107.7 μg/g), whereas tramadol concentrations in urine samples were averaged 4.97 μg/ml (range: 1.57-10.11 μg/ml). There were significant differences when comparing age groups, duration and sex between earwax and urine samples (p < 0.05).
Despite the significant differences between earwax and urine samples, earwax can be used as a bioindicator of tramadol detection.
Selenium (Se) is a mineral that is often used as a dietary supplement. Its deficiency has been associated with fertility disorders, as well as imbalances and inhibition of the immune system. This ...study aimed to estimate the role of organic selenium and
in improving kids' status, health, and physiological conditions. In total, 10 goat kids at seven days were used, with an average started life body weight (b.wt.) of 4±0.2 kg, and they were divided into two groups. Group 1 (G1) was treated with Se-fortified yeast (
+Se) with a dose (30 mg/kg) of body weight. On the other hand, group 2 (G2) was the control group and left untreated. The treatment was started from 7 days of age until three months of age. The kids were administered orally daily for three months of the experiment. The jugular vein was used to draw blood samples within 90 days of the experiment to measure RBC, Hb, PCV, and WBC. Blood serum was separated using a centrifuge to estimate ALT, AST, total protein, Albumin, and Globulin concentrations. The results revealed that Hb, PCV, and Globulin were increased significantly in the G1 (P≤0.05), compared to the control group. Moreover, AST was improved, compared to the control group. These results showed that using yeast fortified with organic Se has improved hematological and biochemical parameters' concentration.
The improvement of multi-resistance properties of the bacterial pathogen has recently been discussed as an emerging issue. In this regard, iron oxide nanoparticles have attracted the researchers' ...attention due to their wide application in the realm of medicine. Iron oxide nanoparticles have a high specific surface area that enables them to interact with the bacterial surface structure and has considerable antibacterial activity. The current study aimed to synthesize a novel antimicrobial agent from iron oxide nanoparticles and determine its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) on different gram-positive and negative variant bacterial strains isolated and characterized from the infected urinary tract of Iraqi elderly patients. This study was conducted from September 2020 to December 2020 on 75 urine samples collected from the infected urinary tract of elderly patients in the ages range of 60-75 years admitted to Al-Yarmouk Medical Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. Isolation of bacterial isolates was carried out using differential and selective media. Afterward, they were characterized and confirmed using different biochemical tests and VITEK 2 system, respectively. Magnetic nanoparticles were fabricated by co-precipitation of ferric ions (Fe
) and ferrous ions (Fe
) in presence of ammonium hydroxide solution (25%). The characterization of synthesized nanoparticles was performed subsequently using UV-VIS spectroscopy analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, X-ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectrum (EDX). The MIC of synthesized sonicated Fe
O
NP against different bacterial strains was determined using the broth culture dilution method through making serial dilutions of 50, 100, 200, 400, 500, 600, 800, 900 µg/ml from a 5mg/ml nanoparticle stock solution. Afterward, the lowest concentration of nanoparticles required to arrest the growth of bacteria was determined through the colony-forming unit of each treated bacteria on brain heart infusion agar. In total, 17bacterial isolates were identified from the infected urinary tract, five bacterial isolates (
,
,
,
,
). In addition, two
strains were identified separately and were tested against synthesized Fe
O
NP to determine the MIC. The novel synthesized antibacterial agent showed excellent bioactivity, compared with controls (consisting of bacterial suspension without ferrous oxide nanoparticles), and the synthesized antibacterial agent was considered significantly active against all the bacterial strains at a p-value less than 0.05. The Fe
O
NP were active against gram-negative more than gram-positive bacteria. The MIC of synthesized and characterized Fe
O
NP wasapplied on seven gram-positive and negative bacterial isolates using bacteria-Fe
O
NP complex. Significant effects were observed on all strains, compared with controls, and this complex could significantly inhibit gram-negative more than gram-positive bacteria.
2‐amino‐3, 4, 5, or 6‐nitrobenzoic acids were reacted with PPh3(SCN)2 and alkyl isothiocyanates to give 5, 6, 7, or 8‐nitro‐2‐thioxo‐3‐substituted quinazolin‐4‐ones, respectively. The position of the ...nitro group was found to have significant influence on the outcome of the reactions. Similarly, the nature of the substituent at position 8 (NO2, NH2, NH(C═O)CH3) in 8‐substituted‐2‐methylthio quinazolin‐4‐ones was also found to significantly influence their reactivity towards morpholine. A selection of the products were also tested for in vitro antibacterial activity but little activity was observed.
Desmoteplase is a novel plasminogen activator with favorable features in vitro compared with available agents. This study evaluated safety and efficacy of intravenous (IV) desmoteplase in patients ...with perfusion/diffusion mismatch on MRI 3 to 9 hours after onset of acute ischemic stroke.
DEDAS was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized, dose-escalation study investigating doses of 90 microg/kg and 125 microg/kg desmoteplase. Eligibility criteria included baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores of 4 to 20 and MRI evidence of perfusion/diffusion mismatch. The safety end point was the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Primary efficacy co-end points were MRI reperfusion 4 to 8 hours after treatment and good clinical outcome at 90 days. The primary analyses were intent-to-treat. Before unblinding, a target population, excluding patients violating specific MRI criteria, was defined.
Thirty-seven patients were randomized and received treatment (intent-to-treat; placebo: n=8; 90 microg/kg: n=14; 125 microg/kg: n=15). No symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred. Reperfusion was achieved in 37.5% (95% CI 8.5; 75.5) of placebo patients, 18.2% (2.3; 51.8) of patients treated with 90 microg/kg desmoteplase, and 53.3% (26.6; 78.7) of patients treated with 125 microg/kg desmoteplase. Good clinical outcome at 90 days occurred in 25.0% (3.2; 65.1) treated with placebo, 28.6% (8.4; 58.1) treated with 90 microg/kg desmoteplase and 60.0% (32.3; 83.7) treated with 125 microg/kg desmoteplase. In the target population (n=25), the difference compared with placebo increased and was statistically significant for good clinical outcome with 125 microg/kg desmoteplase (P=0.022).
Treatment with IV desmoteplase 3 to 9 hours after ischemic stroke onset appears safe. At a dose of 125 microg/kg desmoteplase appeared to improve clinical outcome, especially in patients fulfilling all MRI criteria. The results of DEDAS generally support the results of its predecessor study, Desmoteplase in Acute Ischemic Stroke (DIAS).
Atherosclerosis causes blockages to the main arteries such as the aorta preventing blood flow from delivering oxygen to the organs. Non-invasive diagnosis of these blockages is difficult, ...particularly in primary healthcare. In this paper, the effect of arterial blockage development and growth is investigated at the descending aorta on some possible non-invasive assessment parameters including the blood pressure waveform, wall shear stress (WSS), time-average WSS (TAWSS) and the oscillation shear index (OSI). Blockage severity growth is introduced in a simulation model as 25%, 35%, 50% and 65% stenosis at the descending aorta based on specific healthy control aorta data clinically obtained. A 3D aorta model with invasive pulsatile waveforms (blood flow and pressure) is used in the CFD simulation. Blockage severity is assessed by using blood pressure measurements at the left subclavian artery. An arterial blockage growth more than 35% of the lumen diameter significantly affects the pressure. A strong correlation is also observed between the ascending aorta pressure values, pressure at the left subclavian artery and the relative residence time (RRT). An increase of RRT downstream from the stenosis indicates a 35% stenosis at the descending aorta which results in high systolic and diastolic pressure readings. The findings of this study could be further extended by transferring the waveform reading from the left subclavian artery to the brachial artery.
Graphical abstract
The computerization of both fetal heart rate (FHR) and intelligent classification modeling of the cardiotocograph (CTG) is one of the approaches that are utilized in assisting obstetricians in ...conducting initial interpretation based on (CTG) analysis. CTG tracing interpretation is crucial for the monitoring of the fetal status during weeks into the pregnancy and childbirth. Most contemporary studies rely on computer-assisted fetal heart rate (FHR) feature extraction and CTG categorization to determine the best precise diagnosis for tracking fetal health during pregnancy. Furthermore, through the utilization of a computer-assisted fetal monitoring system, the FHR patterns can be precisely detected and categorized. The goal of this project is to create a reliable feature extraction algorithm for the FHR as well as a systematic and viable classifier for the CTG through the utilization of the MATLAB platform, all the while adhering to the recognized Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG) recommendations. The compiled CTG data from spiky artifacts were cleaned by a specifically created application and compensated for missing data using the guidelines provided by RCOG and the MATLAB toolbox after the implemented data has been processed and the FHR fundamental features have been extracted, for example, the baseline, acceleration, deceleration, and baseline variability. This is followed by the classification phase based on the MATLAB environment. Next, using the guideline provided by the RCOG, the signals patterns of CTG were classified into three categories specifically as normal, abnormal (suspicious), or pathological. Furthermore, to ensure the effectiveness of the created computerized procedure and confirm the robustness of the method, the visual interpretation performed by five obstetricians is compared with the results utilizing the computerized version for the 150 CTG signals. The attained CTG signal categorization results revealed that there is variability, particularly a trivial dissimilarity of approximately (+/-4 and 6) beats per minute (b.p.m.). It was demonstrated that obstetricians' observations coincide with algorithms based on deceleration type and number, except for acceleration values that differ by up to (+/-4). The results obtained based on CTG interpretation showed that the utilization of the computerized approach employed in infirmaries and home care services for pregnant women is indeed suitable. The classification based on CTG that was used for the interpretation of the FHR attribute as discussed in this study is based on the RCOG guidelines. The system is evaluated and validated by experts based on their expert opinions and was compared with the CTG feature extraction and classification algorithms developed using MATLAB.
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