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Abstract Background Natural and synthetic plant growth regulators are essential for plant health, likewise these regulators also play a role in increasing organic production productivity and improving quality and yield stability. In the present study, we have evaluated the effects of foliar applied plant growth regulators, i.e., moringa leaf extract (MLE) and mepiquat chloride (MC) alone and in combination MC and MLE on the conventional cotton cultivar (CIM 573) and transgenic one (CIM 598). The growth regulators were applied at the start of bloom, 45 and 90 days after blooming. Results The application of MC and MLE at 90 days after blooming significantly improved the relative growth rate, net assimilation rate, the number of bolls per plant, and seed cotton yield. Likewise, the combined application of MLE and MC at 90 days after blooming significantly boosted the nitrogen uptake in locules, as well as the phosphorus and potassium uptake in the leaves of both cotton cultivars. The application of MLE alone has considerably improved the nitrogen uptake in leaves, and phosphorus and potassium contents in locules of Bt and conventional cotton cultivars. Similarly, Bt cotton treated with MLE at 90 days after blooming produced significantly higher ginning out turn and oil contents. Treatment in combination (MLE + MC) at 90 days after blooming produced considerably higher micronaire value, fiber strength, and staple length in conventional cultivar. Conclusion The natural growth enhancer, MLE is a rich source of minerals and zeatin, improving the nutrient absorption and quality of cotton fiber in both conventional and Bt cotton cultivars.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Acute testicular pain requires emergency exploration for suspected testicular torsion (TT). It has been suggested that temperature variation is associated with TT. However, it was not possible to conclude whether the higher occurrence of TT was related to TT itself or the effect of the overall higher presentation of acute scrotum. We studied the impact of seasonal and daily temperature variations on acute testicular pain and outcomes. METHODOLOGY: Retrospective data collection on patients required testicular exploration between January 2006 and December 2017 for TT. The Kruskal Wallis test & chi-square tests were used to assess the group difference between continuous and categorical variables, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 502 patients required testicular exploration. The median age and duration of symptoms were 16.4 yrs. (1.3 – 77) and 4 hrs. (1 – 336). Respectively, TT was found in 231 (46%), torsion of the testicular appendix (TTA) in 126 (25%), epididymal inflammation (EI) in 46 (9.2%), and no identifiable cause (NIC) was found in 99 (19.7%). Scrotal explorations were more common in groups with mean daily temperature >6.20C, 60.2% Vs 39.8% while there was no difference in TT 46% Vs 46% in these groups. CONCLUSION: There was no seasonal variation for testicular torsion or operative findings. Cold weather and average low daily temperatures were not related to testicular torsion.

Abstract Genetic diversity plays a critical role in crop improvement. Radish is one of the important vegetable crops of Rabi season, however, there is a lack of information about radish germplasm resources available in Pakistan. The present research was carried out to characterize radish gene pool on the basis of qualitative and quantitative traits. Twelve genotypes of radish comprised of local and exotic sources were evaluated for genetic variability through morphological, quality, and quantitative traits. Analysis of variance depicted maximum variation among genotypes for all studied straits. High genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) value (>20%) in all traits indicates that these traits can be improved through selection. The estimate of genotypic co-efficient of variance (GCV) in present research was closer to phenotypic co-efficient of variance (PCV), suggesting the key role of genotype as compared to the environment. However, high heritability along with genetic advance (as % of mean) among studied genotypes suggests that the selection of studied traits simply on phenotypic basis can also be effective for the breeding program. Cluster analysis based on morphological traits, grouped genotypes into three clusters and cluster I, contained the maximum number of genotypes. In correlation analysis, significant positive correlation among plant fresh weight, root length, root weight, number of leaves and yield can be directly used a selection criteria. Studying of variability in qualitative traits through frequency distribution exhibited maximum variation for root shape and root base. This study showed considerable variability exists in studied genotypes that can further be used for the improvement of radish breeding.

The Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China (XUARC) harbors almost 50 ethnic groups including the Uyghur (UGR: 45.84%), Han (HAN: 40.48%), Kazakh (KZK: 6.50%), Hui (HUI: 4.51%), Kyrgyz (KGZ: 0.86%), Mongol (MGL: 0.81%), Manchu (MCH: 0.11%), and Uzbek (UZK: 0.066%), which make it one of the most colorful regions with abundant cultural and genetic diversities. In our previous study, we established allelic frequency databases for 14 autosomal short tandem repeats (STRs) for four minority populations from XUARC (MCH, KGZ, MGL, and UZK) using the AmpFlSTR® Identifiler PCR Amplification Kit. In this study, we genotyped 2,121 samples using the GoldenEye™ 20A Kit (Beijing PeopleSpot Inc., Beijing, China) amplifying 19 autosomal STR loci for four major ethnic groups (UGR, HAN, KZK, and HUI). These groups make up 97.33% of the total XUARC population. The total number of alleles for all the 19 STRs in these populations ranged from 232 (HAN) to 224 (KZK). We did not observe any departures from the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in these populations after sequential Bonferroni correction. We did find minimal departure from linkage equilibrium (LE) for a small number of pairwise combinations of loci. The match probabilities for the different populations ranged from 1 in 1.66 × 1023 (HAN) to 6.05 × 1024 (HUI), the combined power of exclusion ranged from 0.999 999 988 (HUI) to 0.999 999 993 (UGR), and the combined power of discrimination ranged from 0.999 999 999 999 999 999 999 983 (HAN) to 0.999 999 999 999 999 999 999 997 (UGR). Genetic distances, principal component analysis (PCA), STRUCTURE analysis, and the phylogenetic tree showed that genetic affinity among studied populations is consistent with linguistic, ethnic, and geographical classifications.

Biochar (BC) applications have multiple impacts on crops’ nutrient availability, growth and yield depending on the feedstock type and pyrolysis conditions. Pot and field experiments were conducted to examine the effects of biochars (BCs) prepared from three different feedstocks, Acacia modesta wood biochar (AWB), Dalbergia sissoo wood biochar (DWB) and poultry litter biochar (PLB), on soil’s nutrient availability, uptake by wheat (Triticum aestivum) and sunflower (Helianthus annuus) crops and their yield attributes. All BCs were applied at the rate of 10t ha−1 in each treatment in both experiments, and pot and field trials were designed according to a two-factor factorial completely randomized design (CRD) and two-factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD), respectively. The concentration of soil NO3-N, NH4-N, Olsen P and extractable K increased by 98.5, 296, 228 and 47%, respectively, in the pot experiment with the application of PLB+polyhalite (PH) treatments. Similarly, in field experiments, NO3-N, NH4-N and Olsen P contents increased by 91, 268 and 156% under the PLB+PH treatment, respectively. However, in both experiments, soil’s microbial biomass phosphorus (MBP) was significantly higher after AWB+PH treatment, and the increments were 127 and 109% while microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) contents were 16 and 14% higher than the control under DWB+PH and AWB+PH treatments, respectively, in the field experiment. Similarly, combined PLB+PH increased the total organic carbon (TOC) of soil by 193%. Moreover, PLB+PH co-applications with PH significantly increased sunflower grain yields by up to 58% and the harvest index by 45%. Overall, no negative impact with respect to BCs was observed on the soil’s nutrient content and plant growth. Hence, for immediate crop benefits and soil health, using nutrient biochar (PLB) alone or in combination with chemical fertilizers is recommended.

AimsTo investigate the impact of subchondral bone cysts (SBCs) in stress-induced osseous and articular variations in cystic and non-cystic knee models using finite element analysis.Materials and Methods3D knee joint models were reconstructed from computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Duplicate 3D models were also created with a 3D sphere mimicking SBCs in medial tibia. Models were divided into three groups. In group A, a non-cystic knee model was used, whereas in groups B and C, SBCs of 4 and 12 mm size were simulated, respectively. Cyst groups were further divided into three sub-groups. Each of sub-group 1 was composed of a solitary SBC in the anterior half of tibia adjacent to joint line. In sub-group 2, a solitary cyst was modeled at a lower-joint location, and in sub-group 3, two SBCs were used. All models were vertically loaded with weights representing double- and single-leg stances.ResultsDuring single-leg stance, increase in subchondral bone stress in sub-groups B-1 and B-3 were significant (p = 0.044, p = 0.026). However, in sub-group B-2, a slight increase was observed than non-cystic knee model (9.93 ± 1.94 vs. 9.35 ± 1.85; p = 0.254). All the sub-groups in group C showed significantly increased articular stress (p < 0.001). Conversely, a prominent increase in peri-cystic cancellous bone stress was produced by SBCs in groups B and C (p < 0.001). Mean cartilage shear stress in sub-groups B-1 and B-2 (0.66 ± 0.56, 0.58 ± 0.54) was non-significant (p = 0.374, p = 0.590) as compared to non-cystic model (0.47 ± 0.67). But paired cysts of the same size (B-3) produced a mean stress of 0.98 ± 0.49 in affected cartilage (p = 0.011). Models containing 12 mm SBCs experienced a significant increase in cartilage stress (p = 0.001, p = 0.006, p < 0.001) in sub-groups C-1, C-2, and C-3 (1.25 ± 0.69, 1.01 ± 0.54, and 1.26 ± 0.59), respectively.ConclusionThe presence of large-sized SBCs produced an increased focal stress effect in articular cartilage. Multiple cysts further deteriorate the condition by increased osseous stress effect and high tendency of peripheral cyst expansion in simulated cystic knee models than non-cystic knee models.

AimsIn this study we have considered the three dimensional corrective forces for correction of scoliosis by using a patient specific finite element model.Materials and MethodsAn objective function of corrective forces in three-dimensional space was defined. Computed tomography images were used to reconstruct three dimensional model of scoliotic trunk. Computer aided engineering software Abaqus was used to establish finite element model of deformed spine and its biomechanical characteristics were analyzed. By adjusting magnitude and position of corrective forces, objective function was minimized to achieve best orthopedic effect. The proposed corrective conditions were divided into three groups: (1) thoracic deformity; (2) lumbar deformity; (3) both thoracic and lumbar deformities were considered.ResultsIn all three cases, the objective function was reduced by 58, 52, and 63%, respectively. The best correction forces point was located on convex side of maximum displacement of vertebral body.ConclusionUsing minimum objective function method, spinal deformity in three-dimensional space can be sufficiently reduced. This study provides scientific basis for design of a new corrective brace for treatment of scoliosis.

Abstract Background Clinically there are different fixation methods used for fixation of the posterior malleolar fractures (PMF), but the best treatment modality is still not clear. Few studies have concentrated on this issue, least of all using a biomechanical comparison. The purpose of this study was to carry out a computational comparative biomechanics of three different commonly used fixation constructs for the fixation of PMF by finite element analysis (FEA). Methods Computed tomography (CT) images were used to reconstruct three dimensional (3D) model of the tibia. Computer aided design (CAD) software was used to design 3D models of PMF. Finally, 3D models of PMF fixed with two antero-posterior (AP) lag screws, two postero-anterior (PA) lag screws and posterior plate were simulated through computational processing. Simulated loads of 500 N, 1000 N and 1500 N were applied to the PMF and proximal ends of the models were fixed in all degrees of freedom. Output results representing the model von Mises stress, relative fracture micro-motion and vertical displacement of the fracture fragment were analyzed. Results The mean vertical displacement value in the posterior plate group (0.52 mm) was lower than AP (0.68 mm) and PA (0.69 mm) lag groups. Statistically significant low amount of the relative micro-motion (P