Technology for microgravity plant growth has matured to a level which allows detailed gravitational plant biology and commercial plant biotechnology studies. Consequently, plants have been shown to adapt to the space flight environment, which validates their use in advanced life support applications. However, the volume available for plant growth inside pressurized modules is severely constrain...

The flavanone naringenin, an intermediate in flavonoid biosynthesis, was tested for its effect on root growth, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and peroxidase (POD) activities, as well as phenolic compounds and lignin contents in soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) seedlings. Three-day-old seedlings were cultivated in half-strength Hoagland nutrient solution (pH 6.0), with or without 0.1 to 0.4 m...

We tested the hypothesis that the pancreas can be safely divided laparoscopically using non-suture devices. Twelve pigs were randomized into 4 groups: 1) laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (LDP) using an ultrasonic scalpel; 2) LDP using an ultrasonic scalpel with pancreatic stump suture reinforcement; 3) LDP using a 35-mm laparoscopic linear vascular stapler; 4) LDP using a prototype 35-mm radi...

The present study was carried out to estimate genetic variability parameters for some traits such as pods per plant, cell membrane stability, one thousand kernel weight, flowering period, grain filling period, chlorophyll content, relative water content, leaf excised water content, seed per pod and pod length, in 16 winter rapeseed genotypes. Statistical analysis showed significant differences ...

A study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of three selected botanicals namely leaf extract of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Debdaru (Polyalthia longifolia) and datura (black) (Datura metel) along with Bavistin (Carbendazim) and BAU-biofungicide (Trichoderma harzianum) against leaf spot disease (tikka) of groundnut caused by Cercospora arachidicola and Cercosporidium personatum at the Fie...

(1) BACKGROUND: Assessing the quality of growth in premature infants is important in order to be able to provide them with optimal nutrition. The Pea Pod device, based on air displacement plethysmography, is able to assess body composition of infants. However, this method has not been sufficiently evaluated in premature infants; (2) METHODS: In 14 infants in an age range of 3-7 days, born after...

A crude enzyme extract from Dioscorea esculenta var. fasiculata tissue subjected to ion exchange chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 column. This procedure resolved the extract into two main protein peaks one of which eluted through the column relatively unbound while the other protein peak which remained bound to the column was eluted with 1.0 M NaCl. Both protein peaks contained polyphenol o...

We identified 44844 high-quality SNPs by sequencing 92 diverse chickpea accessions belonging to a seed and pod trait-specific association panel using reference genome- and de novo-based GBS (genotyping-by-sequencing) assays. A GWAS (genome-wide association study) in an association panel of 211, including the 92 sequenced accessions, identified 22 major genomic loci showing significant associati...

Cocoa pod is among the by-products of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) plantations. The aim of this study was to apply a number of treatments in order to improve nutritional quality of cocoa pod for feeding of ruminants. Cocoa pod was subjected to different treatments, i.e. C (cocoa pod without any treatment or control), CAm (cocoa pod+1.5% urea), CMo (cocoa pod+3% molasses), CRu (cocoa pod+3% rumen con...

BACKGROUND Podcasting is currently a popular means of delivery of information with a large number of podcasts specifically tailored for educational purposes. It can be argued that the passive nature of this teaching methodology limits the educational benefit that can be derived from podcasts. This paper describes the development and construction of interactive material for the iPod, and a surve...