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Selection of desirable genotypes or progenies is perhaps the most important practical method in plant and animal breeding programs. The selection index method is the most useful method to choose superior genotypes based on using simultaneous several traits. The optimum and base selection indices are the two indicators that are most used in plant and animal breeding. In this paper, a simple and practical code was developed for the analysis of optimum, base, and Pesek and Baker selection indices. Four different criteria were used to evaluate the selection index, and the phenotypic and genotypic variance–covariance matrix of traits was obtained based on statistical or genetical design. Moreover, an index that was more efficient on these coefficients was used for the breeding program. The results showed that simultaneous selection for the important traits desired by the breeder through economic values such as heritability, genetic, or phenotypic correlation is the most effective method for selecting the best genotypes. Therefore, the best progeny or genotype can be selected to use in breeding programs. This program provides detailed information on selection indices of segregation and natural populations involving any number of individuals or genotypes. These codes are much easier and simpler than other programs and provide more information than other programs. This code is easy to execute in both R and SAS programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Basil is one of the most famous herbs, which has broad usage as a fresh vegetable and therapeutic and pharmaceutical services. The main abiotic stress limiting basil production globally is drought. As a result, appropriate drought screening-which effectively separates high-yielding but drought-sensitive genotypes from drought-tolerant genotypes-is necessary for the optimal selection of high-yielding basil cultivars under drought stress conditions. So, a split plot experiment with three replications based on a completely randomized design were carried out in a pot under field conditions for this investigation. Water levels (full irrigation or control, moderate stress, and severe stress) were assigned as main plots, while 22 basil accessions were given as sub-plots. In this study, leaf yield as well as physio-biochemical traits had measured on accessions. Results: Our results revealed large variation in yield, essential oil (%), protein, proline, chlorophyll, total phenol and flavonoids traits across the 22 accessions. The percentage of leaf yield reduction in moderate drought stress than normal conditions showed that G1 (−6.5%), G17 (−7.05%), G20 (−9.01%), and G12 (−10.9%) accessions had the least changes, respectively. Although in severe drought stress than normal conditions, the G1 (−32.01%), G12 (−33.12%), G4 (−33.24%), G7 (−34.11%), and G17 (−34.93%) accessions had the least amount of change in plant leaf yield, respectively. Furthermore, the highest yield reduction occurred in moderate and severe stress conditions in G18 (−25.36%) and G8 (−42.98%) accessions, respectively. Cluster analysis based on the ward method in both conditions (moderate and severe drought conditions) placed the accessions in three groups, and accessions were identified as tolerant, whose average traits in that group were higher than the total average. The principal component analysis also showed that in moderate drought conditions, the first two components explained about 95.28% of the total variation, while in severe drought conditions, these two components explained about 96.37% of the total variation. Conclusions: The different multivariate analyses (cluster analysis, PCA, mean comparison) were used to identify tolerant and sensitive accessions based on all traits. The accessions G3, G4, G6, and G7 were found to be tolerant to stress, while G10, G15, G16, and G20 were found to be sensitive to drought. These accessions are a useful step in producing drought-tolerant, high-yielding accessions and can be utilized in breeding programs for basil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the well-known medicinal plants in the Falcaria genus is Sickleweed. Falcaria species exhibit a high degree of genetic variability, posing challenges in the examination of genetic diversity due to the significant potential for hybridization and introgression among them. Utilizing morphological traits and molecular markers may prove to be a valuable approach in evaluating and harnessing germplasm, considering the current obstacles faced in breeding this medicinal herb. In 2021, fifteen Sickleweed populations were cultivated in pots under field conditions, employing a randomized complete block design with three replications. This aimed to assess genetic diversity and conduct marker-trait association analyses utilizing morpho-physiological characteristics and SSR markers. The Sickleweed populations displayed considerable genetic diversity across all traits. Through cluster analysis of traits and the utilization of the UPGMA method based on the Gower distance matrix, the population was classified into three distinct clusters. Upon examining all genotypes, 52 polymorphic bands were detected, with an average of 8.68 bands per primer. The average expected heterozygosity across all loci was 0.864, while the average PIC was 0.855. Molecular data analysis employing the Jaccard similarity index and UPGMA method revealed the division of Sickleweed populations into two major groups. Furthermore, the results of molecular variance analysis indicated that variation within the population exceeded that between populations. Thirty-two SSR fragments were found to be significantly associated with genomic regions controlling the studied traits, determined through the application of stepwise regression. Selection based on molecular markers offers a rapid method for breeding programs, with the genetic information obtained from these markers playing a crucial role. Therefore, alongside traits, selecting superior genotypes and populations of high value in breeding programs becomes feasible. The findings highlight that certain markers are linked to multiple traits, emphasizing the critical importance of this characteristic in plant breeding for the simultaneous improvement of numerous traits. The study's insights regarding markers hold potential for application in Sickleweed breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sickleweed (Falcaria vulgaris) is the name of a species of annual, and perennial herbaceous plants of the genus Falcaria. Climate change could negatively influnces the performance of various plant species in plant kingdom. In this study, 15 different sickleweed populations from seven provinces of the country were collected based on an unbalanced nest design with 10 replications and the percentage of essential oil, types of chlorophyll, phenol, proline, protein, and carotenoids were measured on them. The results showed that there was a significant difference between populations at the level of one percent for the studied traits. The results of the mean comparison showed that populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan in terms of the evaluated traits and especially the percentage of essential oil were at the upper of the studied samples and selected as suitable populations. In addition, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla were also identified as superior populations in terms of studied traits by cluster analysis and principle component analysis (PCA). Since the high level of proline and biochemical and physiological traits in plants can play a role in plants' tolerance to stresses, therefore, populations with high values of these traits can be used in stress tolerance breeding programs. Therefore, in this study, populations Gilan-Deylaman and Kur-Gerger-e Sofla can be suitable populations for this purpose. In addition, the essential oil of this plant is used in the treatment of diseases, and therefore populations Ard-Shaban and Qaz-Ilan, which showed a high percentage of essential oil, can be used in breeding programs to increase the performance of this trait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal contamination (HMs) in water and soil is the most serious problem caused by industrial and mining processes and other human activities. Mycoremediation is a biotechnology that employs fungi to remove toxic contaminants from the environment in an efficient and cost-effective manner. Pleurotus spp. have been shown to either increase plant growth on metal-contaminated soils by providing more nutrients or by reducing metal toxicity. Pleurotus species (J. Lange), a mushroom that can be eaten, has been observed growing on plantations of wood trees in Kerman's orchards. P. sp. was the subject of this study, which examined the effects of different concentrations of various heavy metals Cobalt (Co), Copper (Cu), and Nickel (Ni) (0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 mg/L) on fungal colony diameters, mycelial dry weights, accumulation of heavy metals, and antioxidative enzymes. The findings revealed that P. sp. was more tolerant of Co than other metals, so the fungus grew more in the presence of low concentrations of Co and Cu. However, even at concentrations as low as 15 mg/L, Ni greatly inhibited the growth of biomass and colony diameter. Heavy metals increased the activity of superoxide dismutases (SOD) and catalase (CAT) up to 45 mg/L, but an increase in metal concentration above 45 mg/L resulted in a significant decrease in SOD. Metals in mycelium also increased as the concentrations of these heavy metals increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Watermelon traits such as yield and other agronomic traits are highly environmentally sensitive and regulated by multiple genes; therefore, by understanding the genetic structure, the heritability and genetic influence of different traits can improve them. Five watermelon lines were crossed in a 5 × 5 full diallel parental design to estimate the genetic effect and heritability of fruit traits. Treatments were evaluated on the farm using a random complete block design. Analysis of the results showed a significant difference between genotypes, which was observed for all the studied traits at the probability level of 1%. Hayman's graphical method showed that the contribution of the nonadditive effects was more important than that of the additive effect to control most of the traits. Fruit maturation and pericarp thickness traits were regulated by incomplete dominance gene effects, and other traits were regulated by overdominance effects. The trait heritability varied between at least 0.013 and 0.352 for the fruit weight and fruit number, respectively. Results demonstrated that some traits can be modified based on the heterozygosity and production of hybrid variety methods, while the hybrid and selection in an advanced generation method can be suggested in watermelon breeding programs to breed other traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define a new version of topological pressure, called average topological pressure, for dynamical systems. We present some of its properties and prove an Abramov-Rokhlin-like relation using the new defined quantity. It connects the topological pressure of the skew product of a random dynamical system to the topological entropy of the noise map and the average topological pressure. The topological pressure of random dynamical systems is connected to the average topological pressure via a variational principle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • REDEN is a novel integrated, cross-platform, open-source software designed to visually assist identification of NMR peaks by lineshape simulation. • REDEN provides a distinctive interactive workflow with iPick in the POKY suite. • The decomposition of peaks operates in a chosen region of an NMR spectrum by fitting multiple simulated peaks. • REDEN supports Gaussian, Lorentzian, a fast/optimized Lorentzian, and Pseudo-Voigt fitting options. We present a new program REDEN (Residual Decomposition of NMR peaks) designed to perform identification of peaks in NMR spectra. This integrated, cross-platform, open-source software visually assists with explicit peak picking through decomposition of NMR peaks on the frequency domain data. It provides a distinctive interactive workflow with iPick due to its integration with the POKY suite, providing users with a seamless and efficient experience. The decomposition of peaks operates in a chosen region of an NMR spectrum by multi-fitting simulated peaks with four lineshape fitting options as support, Gaussian, Lorentzian, a fast/optimized Lorentzian, and Pseudo-Voigt. Furthermore, REDEN provides a way to fine-tune for the users in two operating modes (Basic and Advanced). REDEN is pre-built in the POKY suite, which is available from https://poky.clas.ucdenver.edu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opioid use accelerates normal aging in adults that raises a question on whether it may trans-generationally affect aging and aging biomarkers in the offspring of users as well? In the present research, we investigated the relative telomere length in umbilical cord blood of newborns born to opioid consuming mothers compared to normal controls. Telomere length shortening is a known biomarker of aging and aging related diseases. Its measure at birth or early in life is considered as a predictor of individual health in adulthood. Here, we performed a case-control study to investigate whether maternal opioid use affects newborns relative telomere length (RTL). 57 mother-newborn dyads were included in this study, 30 neonates with opioid using mothers (OM), and 27 with not-opioid using mothers (NOM)). RTL was measured in leukocyte cells genomic DNA using real-time PCR. The correlation of maternal opioid use with neonates telomer length was assessed using logistic regression analysis. The results displayed a significant association between odds ratio of long RTL and maternal opioid use when sensitivity analysis was performed by neonate sex; where the data indicates significantly increased odds ratio of long leukocyte RTL in association with maternal opioid use in male neonates only. Further work is necessary to assess this association in larger samples and test the potential underlying mechanisms for this observation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Abiotic and biotic stresses induce oxidative processes in plant cells that this process starts with the production of ROSs which cause damage to the proteins. Therefore, plants have increased their antioxidant activity to defend against this oxidative stress to be able to handle stress better. In this research, 14 different tea accessions in a randomized complete block design with two replications were evaluated in two normal and drought stress conditions, and their antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH-free radicals' assay and gene expression analysis. Results: The results of gene expression analysis showed that the 100 and 399 accessions and Bazri cultivar had high values for most of the antioxidant enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase under drought stress conditions while the 278 and 276 accessions had the lowest amount of antioxidant enzymes in the same situation. Results showed that the IC50 of the BHT combination was 90.12 μg/ ml. Also, The IC50 of accessions ranged from 218 to 261 μg/ml and 201–264 μg/ml at normal and drought stress conditions, respectively. The 100 and 399 accessions showed the lowest IC50 under normal and drought stress conditions, while 278 and 276 accessions had the highest value for IC50. The antioxidant activity of tea accession extracts under normal conditions was ranged from 25 to 69% for accessions 278 and 100, respectively. While, the antioxidant activities of extracts under drought stress condition was 12 to 83% for accessions 276 and 100, respectively. So, according to the results, 100 and 399 accessions exhibited the least IC50 and more antioxidant activity under drought stress conditions and were identified as stress-tolerant accessions. However, 278 and 276 accessions did not show much antioxidant activity and were recognized as sensitive accessions under drought stress conditions. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that total phenol content, antioxidant activity, and the oxygen-scavenging system can be used as a descriptor for identifying drought-tolerant accessions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is the most common oral disease. The activation of the immune system by vaccines might reduce the interactions between oral mucosa and microorganisms. To evaluate the effect of the tetanus-diphtheria toxoids (Td) vaccine in management of RAS. This prospective, randomized, triple-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial study was conducted on 70 eligible patients with minor RAS at the dermatology outpatient clinic. Finally, a total of 66 participants (48 male, 18 female; mean age: 38.56 ± 10.98 years) completed the study in two groups, one in which colchicine and a single dose of vitamin B6 (placebo group) was treated and one in which colchicine and a single dose of Td vaccine (intervention group) was treated. After six months of follow-up, the patients were evaluated, which revealed significant effects of the Td vaccine on pain intensity, ulcer size, recovery time, and the interval between episodes. At the end of the six month follow-up, 27 patients (81.8%) in the intervention group and 13 patients (39.4%) in the placebo group showed partial or complete recovery, and there was statistically significant difference between the groups (p <.001). Recovery was not significantly associated with sex, education level, marital status and duration of RAS. However, occupation and positive family history of RAS had significant relations with recovery. A booster dose of Td vaccine had relatively favorable effects on pain intensity and recurrence of RAS, but further research is needed to confirm its efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The knowledge of relationship between fruit yield and its components certainly helps to improve the efficiency of a breeding program with appropriate selection criteria. In current study, interrelationships between fruit yield and its components in watermelon were investigated using sequential path coefficient analysis. The experiment containing 38 diverse genotypes of watermelon were evaluated in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications during the year 2016 and 2017. The correlation between flesh weight and fruit yield (0.854 and 0.751) was the highest, followed by fruit length-fruit yield correlation (0.463 and 0.459) in both years. Sequential stepwise multiple regression analysis was performed to organize the predictor variables into first, second and third-order paths based on their respective contributions to the total variation of yield and minimum collinearity. Based on the variance inflation factor and magnitude of direct effects, flesh weight was considered as first-order variables in both years and accounted for 72 and 49 percent of the total variation of fruit yield, respectively. The results of both year 2016 and 2017 also indicated that the plant traits i.e. number of nodes per stem, and fruit length could be considered as selection criterion to increase fruit yield in watermelon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In [Rahimi, M.: Entropy as an integral operator, Math. Slovaca 69(1) (2019), 139–146], we assigned an integral operator on a Hilbert space to any topological dynamical system of finite entropy and stated the entropy of the system in terms of the spectrum of the defined operator. Unfortunately, there is a mistake in the proof of the main theorem of the paper which makes the result incorrect. So, we can not extract the entropy of a topological dynamical system in terms of the spectrum of the introduced operator. In this note, we modify the main theorem of [11] by giving a modification to the proof of the theorem. Then, replacing the integral operator introduced in [11] by another linear operator, we will state the entropy of the system in terms of the spectrum of the new operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Man is a social being who needs to communicate with others. In this regard, the present study investigated the challenges of verbal skills among high school students in Yazd. Method: The research approach was "qualitative", and the method was "Grounded theory". The target group in the study included the teachers of Persian language, literature, psychology and educational sciences in Yazd in the academic year of 2022- 2023, who were selected by theoretical sampling. The research instrument was a "semi-structured in-depth interview". Theoretical saturation was obtained, and the interviews were conducted on up to 12 cases. Data were analyzed by coding and categorization at three levels: open, axial, and selective coding. Results: The results showed that the "Core Category" included verbal skills. "Causal conditions" included practice and activity, enrichment of the environment and psychological characteristics of the students. "Strategies" included effective communication and prevention of misunderstandings and social activities. "Environmental conditions" included socio-cultural, economic, planning and policy and technology environment, and "context" including facilities, incentives, and dialect. Consequences included personal and academic success, social success, and student career success. Discussion: The results indicated that practice and activity, enrichment of the environment, and psychological characteristics of the students affect verbal skills. In the face of these conditions, students will have more effective communication and social activities and fewer misunderstandings. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is possible to strengthen students' verbal skills by purposefully planning and providing the necessary mental climate and facilities in the school and carrying out school activities with the participation of all students. Also, we can expect consequences such as personal, academic, social and career success by overcoming the challenges of verbal skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we define a local version of Hudetz correction for the Yager entropy of dynamical systems. It is proved that the introduced function is indeed a local entropy map for the Hudetz correction of the Yager entropy, in the sense that, the Hudetz correction of the Yager entropy of a continuous map on a compact metric space is attained by integrating the introduced local entropy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the concept of entropy kernel operator for compact dynamical systems of finite Kolmogorov entropy. It is a compact positive operator on a Hilbert space. Then we state the Kolmogorov entropy in terms of the eigenvalues of the entropy kernel operator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The aim of this study was to predict depression on the basis of family communication dimensions with the mediation of cognitive flexibility. Materials and Methods: In this correlational study, 390 students (201 girls and 189 boys) constructed the sample group. They were selected from 2nd grade of high schools in Shiraz in the academic year of 2015-16 through randomized multi-stage cluster sampling style. To measure the research variables, Fitzpatrick and Ritchie's family communication patterns (RFCP), Dennis and Van der Wal's cognitive flexibility (CFI) and Beck depression-second edition (BDI-II) inventories were used. Pearson correlation coefficient and path analysis by SPSS 22 and AMOS 20 were used to analyze research data. Results: The results of path analysis indicated that the conversation orientation has direct negative effect (P=0.005) and an indirect effect through the mediation of cognitive flexibility (P=0.001) on depression. Also conformity orientation had only direct and positive effect (P=0.001) on depression. Conclusion: In overall, the results of this study showed that cognitive flexibility plays mediating role in the relationship between conversation orientation and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molecule's antibacterial and antiviral action is exclusively linked to substances that selectively eradicate bacteria and viruses or inhibit their growth without significantly damaging adjacent tissues. The purpose of this research is to evaluate quantitative and qualitative phytochemical analysis and the antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota fruit extract on some Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) bacteria in laboratory conditions. Qualitative chemical screening was used to identify different classes of active chemical compounds, and quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of the plant was used to measure the contents of flavonoid, total phenol, anthocyanin, and antioxidant activity. Antibacterial effects of Manilkara zapota ethanol extract were determined by disk diffusion methods, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Qualitative chemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, quinones, terpenoids, and glycosides while the presence of saponins was not observed. The bacterial inhibition zones against Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Bacillus cereus are 15.44 ± 0.33, 12.23 ± 0.11, 8.85 ± 0.2, 14.22 ± 0.33, 15 ± 0.44, 9.33 ± 0.13, 10.33 ± 0.36 and 14.55 ± 0.45 mm, respectively. MIC and MBC of the extract in Gram-positive bacteria were 25 and 50, and in Gram-negative bacteria were 50 and 100 mg/ml, respectively. The findings imply that Manilkara zapota extract includes a good amount of plant compounds and can be a significant source for a variety of uses, including antibacterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species of Plantago are mostly grown as weed, but some of them are used for local medicines. In order to achieve the genetic determinants of agronomic traits, a comprehensive genome-wide association mapping was performed on 39 selected ecotypes using 24 start codon targeted (SCoT) primers. To this end, two species of Plantago ( Plantago psyllium and Plantago ovata) were used. The primers produced 431 remarkable bands with an average of 88.48% polymorphism, demonstrating the ability of these markers to distinguish the studied genotypes appropriately. A cluster analysis and population structure was performed for each species separately. The structure analysis grouped the 22 Plantago ovata ecotypes into three sub-groups. Moreover, the structure analysis also grouped the Plantago psyllium into 2 sub-groups. Among the 22 Plantago ovata ecotypes, eight ecotypes were admixture, while among the 17 Plantago psyllium ecotypes, two ecotypes were admixture. In the association analysis, according to the results of MLM model using both Q and K factors, 16 markers associated with the measured traits were identified. The markers included three loci associated with spike weight, two loci associated with plant height, number of spikes, spike length, days to flowering, days to maturity, one locus associated with 1000 grain weight, number of grain/spike and grain yield. Interestingly, 4 out of 24 SCoT loci were linked with more than one agronomic trait. These markers would enhance the efficiency of allele selection in Plantago breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the relationships between agronomic traits and molecular markers in sand plantain (Plantago psyllium), a set of 17 ecotypes collected in Iran were evaluated. Twelve ISSR primers were tested through multiple regression analysis to identify the marker-trait association between ISSR data and agronomic traits. Finally, the 12 primers amplified 129 fragments (loci) among ecotypes: 91 fragments (70.54%) of the 129 fragments showed polymorphism with an average of 7.58% per primer and the rate of this polymorphism ranged from at least 57.14% for UBC824 primer up to 54.62% for UBC813 primer. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.27 (UBC814) to 0.41 (UBC813), with an average of 0.36. Stepwise regression analysis between the molecular data as independent variables and the studied traits as dependent variables was performed to identify informative markers associated with the agronomic traits. Seventy ISSR fragments were found associated with eight morphological traits. Some of ISSR markers were associated with more than one trait in multiple regression analysis that may be due to the pleiotropic effect of the linked quantitative trait locus on different traits or is linkage of different genes. However, for a better understanding of these relationships, preparation of a segregating population and linkage mapping are necessary. Also, these result could be useful in marker-assisted breeding programmes when no other genetic information is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a type of fuzzy entropy of action of a semi-group on a metric space is introduced. Then we apply this concept to specific semi-groups to state this entropy in terms of the known entropies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real time dynamic simulation provides a powerful tool to control the mineral processing plants with the minimum cost. In this study, the dynamic simulation was carried out for the thickener at coal washing plant. Therefore, the parameters of the phenomenological model for the sedimentation and thickening were determined at different conditions. Dynamic simulation was carried out for each condition and the effect of feed flow rate variations on solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow and bed height was investigated. For all conditions, it was observed that when feed flow rate increases, the solid volume fraction of discharge and bed height increase. It was also observed that, in the case of the flocculated suspension, the maximum solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow decreases and the bed height increases with pH reduction, for two size fractions. Also, the maximum solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow for d 80 = 275 μm is higher than that of d 80 = 125 μm and the height of compression zone for d 80 = 125 μm is higher than that of d 80 = 275 μm at the certain pH and flocculant dosages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a severe environmental constraint to plant productivity. In this study, gene expression of WRKY1 and EREBP1 genes and activity of two enzymes were investigated in two genotypes, G9 (as resistance) and G12 (as susceptible) of 10 days-old lemon balm seedlings. Experiments were done according to factorial design on the base of completely randomized design with three replications for expression analysis and enzyme assays. Seedlings were cultured in MS medium suspensions, including 0, 3, 6, 12 and 15% w/v PEG 6000. Leaf sampleswere subsequently collected at 0, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72 h after culture. According to the results of the enzyme assay, SOD activity in resistant genotype was more than in sensitive one. POD activity was high in G9 in severe drought condition and in G12 this activity was increased at initial times of drought stress. The survey results revealed that the expression levels of both genes, EREBP1 and WRKY1, in G9 variety were more than G12, and in this respect we can say that the G9 variety is more resistant to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drug release mechanism ofin situ-forming implants (ISIs) based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) loaded with leuprolide acetate/β-cyclodextrin (LA/β-CD) complexes via fitting with four diffusion-based semi-empirical models were studied. The release rate constants and release exponent of ISIs were calculated. The main drug release mechanism was Fickian diffusion. The LA diffusion coefficient and release constant were decreased via increasing the portion of β-CD in complexes. The release curve was parabolic, with a higher initial slope and then consistent with the exponential. All ISIs containing LA/β-CD complexes better fitted with the Korsmeyer–Peppas, Weibull and Peppas–Sahlin models rather than first-order model. Furthermore, the effect of LA/β-CD complexation on the degradation of ISIs was studied through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results showed that hydrophilic nature of β-CD facilitated the surface erosion of PLGA chains, however after 18 d, ISI-1/10 had still a proper structural strength, due to no hydrolytic degradation of β-CD in this implant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought stress is a severe environmental constraint to plant productivity. In this study, gene expression of WRKY1 and EREBP1 genes and activity of two enzymes were investigated in two genotypes, G9 (as resistance) and G12 (as susceptible) of 10 days-old lemon balm seedlings. Experiments were done according to factorial design on the base of completely randomized design with three replications for expression analysis and enzyme assays. Seedlings were cultured in MS medium suspensions, including 0, 3, 6, 12 and 15 % w/v PEG 6000. Leaf samples were subsequently collected at 0, 3, 6, 24, 48, 72 h after culture. According to the results of the enzyme assay, SOD activity in resistant genotype was more than in sensitive one. POD activity was high in G9 in severe drought condition and in G12 this activity was increased at initial times of drought stress. The survey results revealed that the expression levels of both genes, EREBP1 and WRKY1, in G9 variety were more than G12, and in this respect we can say that the G9 variety is more resistant to drought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dynamic simulation approach can be used for understanding the nonlinear behavior in mineral processing circuits. In this study, the dynamic simulation was carried out for the thickener of the Tabas coal-washing plant at different conditions and the effect of discharge rate variations on the solid volume fraction of the thickener under flow and mudline height was investigated. It was observed that for the conditions that the solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow is higher and the midline height is lower, the time to reach the steady state condition is higher. It was also observed that the maximum solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow decreases and the mudline height increases with pH reduction. Also, the maximum solid volume fraction of the thickener underflow decreases and the mudline height increases with particle size reduction at certain pH and flocculant dosage values. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The volatile oil obtained by hydro-distillation (HD) from the aerial parts ofSatureja muticaFisch. & C.A. Mey. has been analyzed by means of GC and GC-MS. The major components of the oil were found to be carvacrol (34.1%), thymol (22%), ρ-cymene (16.2%) and γ-terpinene (12.6%). Furthermore, a reliable quantitative structure-retention relationship (QSRR) model has been constructed to predict the retention indices from theoretical point of view and to compare them with experimental ones. Accordingly, a stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) was performed to build an accurate model which is only composed of three molecular descriptors with VEA1, R1e+ and DP19 acronyms. The statistical characteristics provided by the model (R2=0.963, REP %=7.816,Q2LOO=0.946,Q2LGO=0.944) confirm its satisfactory stability and substantial predictivecapability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In situforming implants (ISIs) based on poly(lactic acid-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) containing leuprolide acetate/β-cyclodextrin (LA/β-CD) complexes were prepared. Incorporation of LA or complexes did not change Tgvalues of ISIs (48.4–49.6°C). ISIs containing complexes with moreβ-CD content showed higher surface and bulk porosity. Higherβ-CD portion in complexes improved solvent release, decreased initial burst release and facilitated diffusion out of drug for corresponding ISIs. Complexation of LA withβ-CD (1/10, w/w) significantly improved its stability within PLGA matrix before release (total LA release of 91.3%). ISIs did not show any cellular cytotoxic effects against L929 fibroblast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The need for an efficient and cost-effective method is compelling in biomolecular NMR. To tackle this problem, we have developed the Poky suite, the revolutionized platform with boundless possibilities for advancing research and technology development in signal detection, resonance assignment, structure calculation and relaxation studies with the help of many automation and user interface tools. This software is extensible and scalable by scripting and batching as well as providing modern graphical user interfaces and a diverse range of modules right out of the box. Availability and implementation Poky is freely available to non-commercial users at https://poky.clas.ucdenver.edu. Supplementary information Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genetic variations are a crucial source of germplasm heterogeneity, as they contribute to the development of new traits for plant breeding by offering an allele resource. Gamma rays have been widely used as a physical agent to produce mutations in plants, and their mutagenic effect has attracted much attention. Nonetheless, few studies have examined the whole mutation spectrum in large-scale phenotypic evaluations. To comprehensively investigate the mutagenic effects of gamma irradiation on lentils, biological consequences on the M1 generation and substantial phenotypic screening on the M2 generation were undertaken. Additionally, the study followed the selected mutants into the M3 generation to evaluate the agronomic traits of interest for crop improvement. Seeds of lentil variety Moitree were irradiated with a range of acute gamma irradiation doses (0, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 Gy) to induce unique genetic variability. This research focused on determining the GR50 value while considering seedling parameters and examining the status of pollen fertility while comparing the effects of the gamma irradiation dosages. The GR50 value was determined to be 217.2 Gy using the seedling parameters. Pollens from untreated seed-grown plants were approximately 85% fertile, but those treated with the maximum dosage (350 Gy) were approximately 28% fertile. Numerous chlorophyll and morphological mutants were produced in the M2 generation, with the 300 Gy -treated seeds being the most abundant, followed by the 250 Gy -treated seeds. This demonstrated that an appropriate dosage of gamma rays was advantageous when seeking to generate elite germplasm resources for one or multiple traits. Selected mutants in the M3 generation showed improved agronomic traits, including plant height, root length, number of pods per plant, and yield per plant. These investigations will contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the mutagenic effects and actions of gamma rays, providing a basis for the selection and design of suitable mutagens. This will facilitate the development of more controlled mutagenesis protocols for plant breeding and help guide future research directions for crop improvement using radiation-induced mutation breeding techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A toolset for the solid-state NMR-based protein 3D structure determination. • We have developed multiple applications and plugins as part of this system. • Applications are easy-to-use and intuitive, yet comprehensive and extensive. • Free-to-use servers for the structure calculation are available. Proteins are the building blocks of life. The shape of the protein determines its functionality. This understanding of the 3D structure of proteins has applications in study of diseases, medicine, body functions, and other aspects of life. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) has been a powerful tool for researchers to get insight into the metabolome of cells, tissues, biofluids, secretions, and overall etiology of the disease state. Solid-state NMR (ssNMR) spectroscopy is used for samples that have low solubility in common NMR solvents. The use of ssNMR for 3D structure determination of proteins has been on the rise in the recent years especially for such samples. Still, one of the challenges that researchers face in this area is a shortage of easy and user-friendly computational aids. To address this, we are introducing our comprehensive software solution by automating every step of the process and essentially transforming the task into a few clicks of the mouse. The workflow for 3D structure determination has been simplified down to only a few procedures. Starting with selection of an ssNMR spectrum, user can receive its 3D structure along with an abundance of statistical information and validation tools using our software. We have tested this toolset to test the usefulness and user-friendliness with different data sets available on biological magnetic resonance bank (BMRB). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A common way to separate the solid from the liquid in high volumes is using thickeners. Since, the amount of water consumption in the mineral- and coal-processing plant is high, water management needs to optimize the input variables and thickener performance. In this study, the effect of particle size, pH, and flocculant dosage on the parameters (gel point and effective solid stress) of mathematical model for the sedimentation and thickening has been investigated. The gel point and effective solid stress was measured using different batch settling and batch centrifuge tests, respectively. The results showed that in the case of nonflocculated suspension, the gel point increased with lowering of pH, however, in the case of flocculated suspension the gel point decreased with lowering of pH. The gel point also increased with increasing flocculant dosage in certain pH values for the two flocculated and nonflocculated fractions. In the case of nonflocculated suspension, the gel points ford80 = 275 µm andd80 = 125 µm were equal at a certain pH value but in the case of the flocculated suspension the gel point ford80 = 275 µm was higher than that ofd80 = 125 µm at a given pH value. Likewise, the results showed that effective solid stress decreased with increasing gel point and settling rate. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To carry out metallurgical and economic calculations as well as plant control, mass balance for mineral processing circuits is a very important and fundamental issue. For this purpose, sufficient and correct data from mineral processing circuits are necessary. On the other hand, due to economic or technical reasons, measurement or sampling from all of circuits is not possible. In this paper, regarding the measurement or sampling system that has been installed in the mineral processing circuit, a basic cycle matrix method was used for the determination of observable and unobservable variables in the mineral processing circuit. Also, two new methods including linear and bilinear methods were used for calculation of observable variables. These methods have been used in the case study related to dry tailing processing of the Golegohar iron processing plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of cyclic biamperometry to viability and cytotoxicity assessments of human corneal epithelial cells has been investigated. Electrochemical measurements have been compared in PBS containing 5.0 mM glucose and minimal essential growth medium. Three different lipophilic mediators including dichlorophenol indophenol, 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (also called menadione or vitamin K) and N, N, N′, N′-tetramethyl- p-phenylenediamine have been evaluated for shuttling electrons across the cell membrane to the external medium. Transfer of these electrons to ferricyanide in the extra cellular medium results in the accumulation of ferrocyanide. The amount of ferrocyanide is then determined using cyclic biamperometry and is related to the extent of cell metabolic activity and therefore cell viability. To illustrate cytotoxicity assessment of chemicals, hydrogen peroxide, benzalkonium chloride and sodium dodecyl sulfate have been chosen as sample toxins, the cytotoxicities of which have been evaluated and compared to values reported in the literature. Similar values have been reported using colorimetric assays; however, the simplicity of this electrochemical assay can, in principle, open the way to miniaturization onto lab-on-chip devices and its incorporation into tiered-testing approaches for cytotoxicity assessment. [Figure not available: see fulltext.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we introduce the concept of entropy operator for a continuous system of finite topological entropy. It is shown that it generates the Kolmogorov entropy as a special case. If φ is invertible then the entropy operator is bounded by the topological entropy of φ as its norm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study was to investigate the probable difference in auditory perception and speech intelligibility performance amongst cochlear implanted children who experienced hyperbilirubinemia or auditory neuropathy in comparison to the cochlear implanted children with unknown etiology for hearing loss. This case–control study was carried out on 106 cochlear implanted children with mean age of 32.36 ± 11.98 months who were purposively selected and allocated into four groups. Out of the total, 30 had no specific etiology for hearing loss, while the others had experienced auditory neuropathy or hyperbilirubinemia with/without blood exchange. The auditory perception and speech intelligibility performance of all the participants who had received auditory verbal therapy were assessed after 6 and 12 months of rehabilitation. Then, the data was analyzed, using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences-version 21(SPSS-21). Results indicated poor auditory perception and speech intelligibility performance of the cochlear implanted children with hyperbilirubinemia and blood exchange (P ≤ 0.05), while the participants in the control group with no specific etiology for hearing loss, the children with hyperbilirubinemia with no blood exchange, and those who suffered from auditory neuropathy performed better, respectively. Also, a significant correlation between auditory neuropathy and hyperbilirubinemia was observed. Despite lower improvement of auditory perception and speech intelligibility of the hearing impaired children who were experiencing moderate to severe degrees of hyperbilirubinemia or auditory neuropathy, cochlear implantation is highly recommended not only for children with unknown etiology for severe hearing loss but also for this group of hearing impaired children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic biamperometry was studied as an analytical method for use with commercially available, comb-type, coplanar microinterdigitated electrodes (μIDEs), using the ferri-/ferrocyanide redox couple as a model analyte. The μIDEs studied in this work were made of gold that had been deposited onto a Ti/W adhesion layer on borosilicate glass chips and had 5 and 10 μm bands with equal gap sizes. Close proximity of the two working electrodes, and their interdigitation, resulted in signal amplification by redox cycling. Results were compared with those obtained by cyclic voltammetry, where one of the two IDE electrodes was used as the working electrode and external reference and auxiliary electrodes were used. Amplification factors of almost 20 were achieved due to redox cycling. Attempts to apply cyclic voltammetry to the μlDEs, with one of the combs as the working and the other as the auxiliary electrode, were unsuccessful due to corrosion of the auxiliary electrode comb. Results of this study, and the electrochemically unique feature of biamperometry to probe but not change the net contents of the medium under examination, suggest the applicability of scanning biamperometry at μIDEs to the very small volumes and electrochemical cell dimensions that are now of great interest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyclic biamperometry has been investigated as a method for the quantitation of one form of a reversibly electroactive redox couple in the presence of the other form, using the ferri-ferrocyanide couple in aqueous KCI. A triangular voltage waveform applied across two equal-area, planar gold electrodes yields peak currents that depend on the square root of the applied voltage scan rate, when one form of the redox couple is present in excess. Independent measurement of electrode-to-solution potential during biamperometric scans allowed estimation of the fractional impedance at each electrode-solution interface, and these values allow calculation of the effective potential scan rates at each electrode. Results show that when one form is present in a 5-fold excess or greater, the potential scan rate for the limiting reaction is nearly identical to the applied voltage scan rate. Similar values were obtained from impedance calculations, but discrepancies between the predicted and experimental values are evident when the two forms are present at near equivalent concentrations. When one form of the redox couple is present in excess, cyclic biamperometric peak currents depend linearly on the concentration of the limiting form, and these currents can be amplified by using cells with one electrode much larger than the other. Because this method does not require a reference electrode, it can, in principle, be readily incorporated into new electrochemical array or lab-on-a-chip devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Peak picking is a critical step in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy. • Peak picking with multi-dimensional spectra can be difficult and time-consuming. • iPick detects peaks with the intuitive and the easy-to-use graphical user interface. • iPick supports the basic mode for non-specialists and the advanced mode for experts. • iPick provides the means of weeding out peaks that lack expected correspondences. Peak picking is a critical step in biomolecular NMR spectroscopy. The program, iPick , presented here provides a scripting tool and a graphical user interface (GUI), which allow the user to perform interactive and intuitive peak picking and validation. The click-and-run GUI requires no computer programming skills, while the scripting tool can be used by more advanced users to customize the application. If used with a multi-core CPU, the multiprocessing feature of iPick reduces the processing time significantly by invoking parallel computing. The GUI is a plugin, compatible with the popular NMRFAM-SPARKY software package and its newly released successor, the POKY software. Features implemented in iPick include automated noise level detection and threshold setting, cross-validation against multiple spectra, and a method for quantifying peak reliability. The iPick software is cross-platform, open-source, and freely available from https://github.com/pokynmr/ipick. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to develop predictive models for rice yield by applying multivariate techniques. It utilizes stepwise multiple regression, discriminant function analysis and logistic regression techniques to forecast crop yield in specific districts of Haryana. The time series data on rice crop have been divided into two and three classes based on crop yield. The yearly time series data of rice yield from 1980–81 to 2020–21 have been taken from various issues of Statistical Abstracts of Haryana. The study also utilized fortnightly meteorological data sourced from the Agrometeorology Department of CCS HAU, India. For comparing various predictive models' performance, evaluation of measures like Root Mean Square Error, Predicted Error Sum of Squares, Mean Absolute Deviation and Mean Absolute Percentage Error have been used. Results of the study indicated that discriminant function analysis emerged as the most effective to predict the rice yield accurately as compared to logistic regression. Importantly, the research highlighted that the optimum time for forecasting the rice yield is 1 month prior to the crops harvesting, offering valuable insight for agricultural planning and decision-making. This approach demonstrates the fusion of weather data and advanced statistical techniques, showcasing the potential for more precise and informed agricultural practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing impacts of heat stress on wheat production due to climate change has entailed the development of heat-resilient crop varieties. To address this, two hundred recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between WH711/WH1021 were evaluated in a randomized block design (RBD) with two replications at CCSHAU, Hisar, during 2018-19 under heat stress and non-stress conditions. Heat stress was induced by altering the date of sowing so that the grain filling stage coincide with heat stress. Results: Heat stress adversely affects RILs performance, as illustrated by alterations in phenotypic traits. Highest coefficients of variations were recorded for TAA, CTD 1, WUE, CTD 2, Cc and A under non-stress and heat stress conditions whereas gs, WUEi and GY under non-stress and SPAD 1, SPAD 2, GY and NDVI 2 under heat-stress conditions recorded moderate estimates of coefficient of variations. CTD 2, TAA, E, WUE and A displayed a significant occurrence of both high heritability and substantial genetic advance under non-stress. Similarly, CTD 2, NDVI 2, A, WUEi, SPAD 2, gs, E, Ci, MDA and WUE exhibited high heritability with high genetic advance under heat-stress conditions. Conclusions: Complementary and duplicate types of interactions with number of controlling genes were observed for different parameters depending on the traits and environments. RILs 41, 42, 59, 74, 75, 180 and 194 were categorized as heat tolerant RILs. Selection preferably for NDVI 1, RWC, TAA, A, E and WUEi to accumulate heat tolerance favorable alleles in the selected RILs is suggested for development of heat resilient genotypes for sustainable crop improvement. The results showed that traits such as such as NDVI, RWC, TAA, A, E, and WUEi, can be effective for developing heat-resilient wheat genotypes and ensuring sustainable crop improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is a significant cereal crop belonging to Poaceae that is essential for human food and animal feeding. The production of barley grains was around 142.37 million tons in 2017/2018. However, the growth of barley was influenced by salinity which was enhanced by applying a foliar spray of salicylic acid. The current study investigated to evaluated the potential effect of SA on the barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) plants under salinity stress and its possible effects on physiological, biochemical, and growth responses. The experiment was conducted at Postgraduate Research Station (PARS), University of Agriculture; Faisalabad to assess the influence of salicylic acid on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) under highly saline conditions. The experiment was conducted in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 replicates. In plastic pots containing 8 kg of properly cleaned sand, two different types of barley (Sultan and Jau-17) were planted. The plants were then watered with a half-strength solution of Hoagland's nutritional solution. After the establishment of seedlings, two salt treatments (0 mM and 120 mM NaCl) were applied in combining three levels of exogenously applied salicylic acid (SA) (0, 0.5, and 1 mg L-1). Data about morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes was recorded using standard procedure after three weeks of treatment. The morpho-physiological fresh weight of the shoot and root (48%), the dry mass of the shoot and root (66%), the plant height (18%), the chlorophyll a (30%), the chlorophyll b (22%), and the carotenoids (22%), all showed significant decreases. Salinity also decreased yield parameters and the chl. ratio (both at 29% and 26% of the total chl. leaf area index). Compared to the control parameters, the following data was recorded under salt stress: spike length, number of spikes, number of spikelets, number of tillers, biological yield, and harvest index. Salicylic acid was used as a foliar spray to lessen the effects of salinity stress, and 1 mg L-1 of salicylic acid proved more effective than 0.5 mg L-1. Both varieties show better growth by applying salicylic acid (0 mg L-1) as a control, showing normal growth. By increasing its level to (0.5 mg L-1), it shows better growth but maximized growth occurred at a higher level (1 mg L-1). Barley sultan (Hordeum vulgare L.) is the best variety as compared to Jau-17 performs more growth to mitigate salt stress (0mM and 120mM NaCl) by improving morpho-physiological parameters by enhancing plan height, Root and shoot fresh and dry weights, as well as root and shoot lengths, photosynthetic pigments, area of the leaves and their index, and yield attributes and reduce sodium ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Aotearoa New Zealand, approximately 3000 people are enrolled in a recognized social work education programme at any one time. A collaboration between researchers at two social work education providers sought to understand the experiences of student financial hardship, and its impact on wellbeing, amongst current social work students and recent graduates. In total, 346 students and recent graduates participated in a survey that gathered information Glossary of te reo Māori terms regarding financial circumstances, caring responsibilities, mental health and social wellbeing. As social work qualifications require a significant component of unpaid field education, this study reflects growing interest in the financial impact of studying for a social work qualification. This article explores some of the findings with particular focus on the impact of financial hardship on mental and social wellbeing. In particular, the study found that nearly one in four respondents reported experiencing moderate or severe financial hardship while studying, and that this had a significant impact on their mental and social wellbeing. In addition, those with caring responsibilities, especially accumulative caring responsibilities for children and others, were more likely to experience financial hardship. These results add weight to the call for greater support for those preparing to enter the social work workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The biochemical and growth changes resulting from exposure of basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) seedlings to silver nanoparticles and silver were investigated. Over a two-week period, seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 40, and 80 ppm) of silver nanoparticles and silver. Results: Our findings revealed that at concentrations of 40 and 80 ppm, both silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate led to decreased weight, root and shoot length, as well as chlorophyll a and b content. Conversely, these treatments triggered an increase in key biochemical properties, such as total phenols, carotenoids and anthocyanins, with silver nanoparticles showing a more pronounced effect compared to silver nitrate. Moreover, the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) rose proportionally with treatment concentration, with the nanoparticle treatment exhibiting a more substantial increase. Silver content showed a significant upswing in both roots and leaves as treatment concentrations increased. Conclusions: Application of varying concentrations of silver nanoparticles and silver nitrate on basil plants resulted in reduced growth and lower chlorophyll content, while simultaneously boosting the production of antioxidant compounds. Notably, anthocyanin, carotenoid, and total phenol increased significantly. However, despite this increase in antioxidant activity, the plant remained unable to fully mitigate the oxidative stress induced by silver and silver nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For more than half of the world's population, rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the primary source of nutrition. Rice production must expand by at least 25 percent by 2030 to feed the world's ever-increasing population. As climate change and arable land loss take a tremendous toll on the world's food supply, genetic advancements in rice would be crucial for alleviating the yield gap. We must first obtain extensive information on the genetic diversity of the Oryza spp. gene pool, the association between diverse alleles and critical rice characteristics, and the systematic exploitation of the rich genetic diversity using approaches that employ expertise in rice breeding procedures. The vast genetic diversity of rice cannot be represented by a single genome. To produce variants that are more tolerant to adverse weather conditions, a multi-national rice genome sequencing project was launched on May 28, 2014. Genes associated with drought tolerance, disease resistance, and pest resistance in rice could be identified using the above mentioned genetic information. Using diverse germplasm resources and high-throughput genome sequencing projects, rice genomics has made great progress toward applying basic research advances to understanding agronomic traits. It is important to remember that many important genes are missing from the previous sequencing projects, and many useful genes are present in native and traditional populations that cannot be retrieved without gene sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Different studies on normal children and children with a sensory or intellectual disability indicate a strong correlation between the child's vocabulary domain and his cognitive abilities. Based on this, the main focus of the present study was to investigate the cognitive performance of cochlear-implanted children after a cognition-based language intervention program. METHODS: In this experimental study, 60 cochlear-implanted children were selected and randomly allocated into case and control groups. The control group received auditory verbal therapy (AVT), while the intervention group was trained by using both AVT and a language intervention protocol that was recently developed by the authors. Finally, the participants' communication abilities were assessed through the adapted version of the language subtest of Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development - Third Edition (BSID 3). Five months later, the cognitive subtest was carried out. The data gathered were then analyzed using SPSS software. RESULTS: The study was performed on 2 groups of 20- to 24-month-old cochlear implant users, and our results confirmed a high correlation between language acquisition and cognitive development (r = 0.76). In addition, the cognitive and language performance of the participants who were trained by the new and specifically designed language intervention protocol as well as AVT was significantly higher than that of the control group (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The new and specifically designed language intervention protocol that was mainly established based on cognitive factors such as attention and semantic memory enhancement in cochlear-implanted children improved not only their language acquisition but also their cognitive development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to study the interaction effects of zinc and magnesium fertilizers on wheat (cv. Sivand) yield and other characteristics, a factorial experiment was carried out based on a randomized complete block design (RCDB) using four replications. Four levels of zinc sulfate (0, 20, 40, and 60 kg ha−1) and four levels of magnesium sulfate (0, 70, 140, and 210 kg ha−1) were used in this study. The parameters studied included germination, plant height, tillering, 1000-seed weight, hectoliter weight, concentrations of zinc and magnesium in seeds, protein content, and yield. The effects of zinc sulfate and magnesium sulfate for most traits were significant (p < 0.01). The highest grain yield (7.68 Ton ha−1) was obtained by applying 60 kg ha−1 of zinc and consuming 140 kg of magnesium per hectare. The maximum magnesium amount in seed was shown in treatment with 60 kg ha−1 of zinc × 210 kg ha−1 magnesium, which was 0.352 mg kg−1. Treatments with the best economic aspects were 20 kg ha−1 of zinc sulfate × 70 kg ha−1 magnesium sulfate and 40 kg ha−1 of zinc × 140 kg ha−1 magnesium, in terms of using less zinc and magnesium fertilizers and having a favorable impact on the attributes. The application of these treatments on wheat can ultimately increase zinc and magnesium in wheat grain. Because these elements play a role in human health, the use of these treatments in wheat can increase zinc and magnesium in wheat grains, and therefore, an effective step can be taken in human health by producing these wheat. According to the test results, the application of 60 kg ha−1 of zinc sulfate along with 140 kg ha−1 of magnesium sulfate can play an important role in increasing wheat yield with reduced costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was done to evaluate the effectiveness of a Social Emotional Learning (SEL) intervention designed based on social marketing on developmental assets and the well-being of female adolescents in Yazd, Iran. This mixed-method quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2018–2019. A total of 190 female students were selected by multi-stage sampling from the female middle and high schools in Yazd, Iran. A SEL intervention designed based on social marketing principles was implemented among the parents and students of the intervention group. The control group did not receive any intervention. Quantitative data were collected in three stages: pre-test, post-test after two months, and follow-up after six months via Developmental Assets Profile and EPOCH measure of wellbeing. A qualitative evaluation was also performed after the intervention. Results of the Repeated-Measures test indicated that the intervention significantly influenced social competence (p-value =.02). However results did not show improvement in the positive identity development of the participant girls. Qualitative findings suggested the effectiveness of the intervention on social competencies and positive identity. Based on the results of the present study, the SEL program might have a significant but small positive effect on the social competencies of the participating adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]