Electrospun nanostructures based on polyurethane/MWCNTs for strain sensing applications

Electrically conductive nanofibers were fabricated from elastic polyurethane (PU) and PU/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) nanocomposite by electrospinning method. The nanocomposites were electrospun at various MWCNTs loading. Electron microscopy was used to investigate nanofibers morphology and dispersion of MWCNTs in the electrospun nanofibers. The results showed that the presence of the MWCNTs promoted the creation of fibrous structures in comparison with the PU without MWCNTs. On the other hand, increasing the MWCNTs content resulted in a slight increase in the average fiber diameter. TEM micrographs and mechanical properties of the electrospun mats indicated that the homogeneous dispersion of MWCNTs throughout PU matrix is responsible for the considerable enhancement of mechanical properties of the nanofiber mats. Electrical behavior of the conductive mats was also studied, in view of possible sensor applications. Cyclic experiments were conducted to establish whether the electrical properties were reversible, which is an important requirement for sensor materials.     

Effects of different treatments on seed germination and breaking seed dormancy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis koelziana</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis Juliflora</Emphasis>

For improving seed germination of Prosopis koelziana and Prosopis juliflora, different treatments of seeds were conducted, including scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 10 and 15 min, sandy paper, hot water for 5 and 10 min, potasium nitrate 0.1%, gibberellic acid at 250 mg·L⁻¹ and 500 mg·L⁻¹ and combinational treatment of scarification with gibberellic acid of 250 mg·L⁻¹ and 500 mg·L⁻¹. The results show that scarifications with sandy paper and sulfuric acids 98% were the most effective treatments on breaking seed dormancy and seed germination induction. Scarification with sulfuric acid 98% for 15 min was the best treatment. According to the positive effect of scarification and lack of reaction of seeds against KNO₃ and gibberellic acid, the kind of seed dormancy was determined as exogenous.     

Carbon isotope discrimination and water use efficiency in Iranian diploid,tetraploid and hexaploid wheats grown under well-watered conditions

Carbon isotope discrimination (Δ) has been proposed as physiological criterion to select C₃ crops for yield and water use efficiency. The relationships between carbon isotope discrimination (Δ), water use efficiency for grain and biomass production (WUE_G and WUE_B, respectively) and plant and leaf traits were examined in 20 Iranian wheat genotypes including einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum L. subsp. monococcum) accessions, durum wheat (T. turgidum L. subsp. durum (Desf.) Husn.) landraces and bread wheat (T. aestivum L. subsp. aestivum) landraces and improved cultivars, grown in pots under well-watered conditions. Carbon isotope discrimination was higher in diploid than in hexaploid and tetraploid wheats and was negatively associated with grain yield across species as well as within bread wheat. It was also positively correlated to stomatal frequency. The highest WUE_G and grain yield were noted in bread wheat and the lowest in einkorn wheat. Einkorn and bread wheat had higher WUE_B and biomass than durum wheat. WUE_G and WUE_B were significantly negatively associated to Δ across species as well as within bread and durum wheat. The variation for WUE_G was mainly driven by the variation for harvest index across species and by the variation for Δ within species. The quantity of water extracted by the crop, that was closely correlated to root mass, poorly influenced WUE_G. Environmental conditions and genetic variation for water use efficiency related traits appear to highly determine the relationships between WUE_G and its different components (water consumed, transpiration efficiency and carbon partitioning).     

Development and validation of a robust KASP marker for zt2 locus in faba bean (Vicia faba)

Faba bean has the potential to become a key food and feed protein crop in many areas of the world. The presence of tannins in its seed coat has limited the deployment of this crop as feed and food. The expression of either of the two recessive genes, zt1 and zt2, causes a great reduction of tannins from the seed coat and results in a white flower phenotype. Molecular markers linked to these loci are fundamental tools for speeding up the breeding of low-tannin varieties. The main aim of this study was to develop and validate a robust molecular marker linked to the zt2 locus. We used 176 recombinant inbred lines of the Disco/2 × ILB 938/2 cross at F₆ and genotyped those using 257 SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) markers. An SNP marker associated with zt2 locus was found on faba bean chromosome 3 and was used to develop a high-throughput low-cost KASP (kompetitive allele-specific PCR) marker. The KASP marker can successfully discriminate low-tannin faba beans carrying zt2 from those carrying zt1 and wild-type alleles.     

Occurrence of Unilateral Posterior Polyneuritis in an 8-year-old Crossbred Mare

An 8-year-old Thoroughbred Turkoman crossbred mare was examined for right pelvic limb paresis and ataxia. The signs had been progressing through time. Neurological examinations revealed a gait deficit, right pelvic limb gluteal muscles atrophy, skin hypalgesia around the tail, perineum, and right pelvis. Hyperesthesia was found in the margins of anesthetic areas. Hypotonic anal sphincter and flaccid tail were also evident. Fecal and urinary retention were revealed by rectal palpation. At necropsy, the affected nerve roots in right lumbar, sacral vertebrae, as well as cauda equina were found to be significantly thickened and fibrotic with adhesions to the related vertebral bodies. Histopathological examinations confirmed the diagnosis of polyneuritis in this mare.     

Inheritance of the branching in hybrid populations among tetraploid wheat species and the new branched spike line 166-Schakheli

The new branched spike form of wheat was synthesized from a cross between a complex wheat line 171ACS {[(T. durum Desf. × Ae. tauschii Coss.) × S. cereale L. ssp. segetale Zhuk.] × T. aestivum L. ‘Chinese Spring’} (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and durum wheat variety T. durum Desf. ‘Bereketli-95’ (2n = 4x = 28, AABB). This branched spike form is distinguished significantly from the other branched spike forms known so far. Later on basis of these plants have been developed the branched spike lines. This study was aimed to generate the segregating populations from reciprocal (F₁–F₃) and backcross (BC₁F₁–BC₁F₃) crosses between one of such lines—166-Schakheli (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) and tetraploid wheat species (T. polonicum L., T. turanicum Jakubz., T. durum Desf.) for revealing the inheritance character of this branching trait and study meiotic behavior in reciprocal (F₁, F₂) and backcross (BC₁F₁) progenies. Results showed that this trait is controlled by a single recessive gene despite certain irregularity against Mendelian law in F2 generations and does not depend on gene dosage, i.e., number of chromosomes.     

The efficacy and safety of long-term Helicobacter species quadruple therapy in asymptomatic cats with naturally acquired infection

Owing to rising drug-resistant Helicobacter species infections in people and animals, currently therapies are losing their efficacy; therefore, regimens efficacious in the presence of drug resistance are needed. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of a 14-day quadruple Helicobacter species therapy in cats with naturally acquired infection. Thirteen asymptomatic adult stray cats with Helicobacter species infection (identified by analysis of gastric biopsies using polymerase chain reaction and Helicobacter-specific primers) received omeprazole 0.7mg/kg q 8h plus amoxicillin 20mg/kg q 12h, metronidazole 20mg/kg q 12h and clarithromycin 7.5mg/kg q 12h, for 14 days. Second molecular analysis of gastric biopsies revealed persistence of Helicobacter species DNA in four cats that were negative on quantitative urease testing, cytology and histopathology. Our results suggest that antibiotic regimens that are effective against Helicobacter pylori in people cannot eradicate Helicobacter species in cats with naturally acquired infection, although transient suppression may occur.     

Comparison of anti-oxidant activities and fruit quality attributes in four sweet bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) cultivars grown in two soilless media

This work was carried out to study the effects of two soilless media consisting of 80:20 [volume/volume (v/v)] mixtures of mosspeat and perlite, or cocopeat and perlite, on fruit quality and anti-oxidant activities in four cultivars of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.): ‘Traviata’ (green), ‘Inspratian’ (red), ‘Aracia’ (orange), and ‘Taranto’ (yellow). The results showed that the composition of the medium had a significant effect on the anti-oxidant composition and activities of the bell pepper fruit. Plants grown on 80:20 (v/v) mosspeat and perlite had significantly higher pericarp firmness, titratable acidity, total phenolic compound concentrations, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging ability, and the hydroxy free-radical (?OH) scavenging ability. Fruit on plants grown on 80:20 (v/v) cocopeat and perlite had significantly higher vitamin C concentrations. Among the four cultivars tested, ‘Inspratian’ (red) was superior in more factors including pericarp thickness, dry matter content, titratable acidity, total soluble solids content, total phenolic concentration, DPPH scavenging ability, and vitamin C concentration. There was a significant interaction between cultivar and soilless medium composition, indicating that the response of bell pepper cultivars varied in the different media. The results of the present study highlight the importance of comparing soilless media in terms of their effect on fruit crop quality and anti-oxidant activity.     

Efficiency of screening criteria for drought tolerance in chickpea

Crop drought tolerance improvement is one of the most challenging objectives of plant breeding programs. Developing an efficient screening technology and access to genetic variation for the traits contributing toward drought tolerance are major steps in this direction. To go in this quest, an experiment was conducted under controlled condition in a greenhouse. Nine Kabuli chickpea genotypes were grown under well-watered condition (85–90% field capacity (FC)) until start of flowering. Then, the following water treatments were imposed: well-watered, intermediate (55–60% FC), and severe (25–30% FC) drought stress. Physiological and agronomical traits were compared under different water treatments. Drought stress and genotypes interaction was significant in all measured traits, indicating that various genotypes responded differently to drought stress. Among measured traits, electrolyte leakage, stomatal conductance, yield components, and harvest index exhibited the highest variations. Yield components and stomatal conductance showed maximum reduction under drought stress and in susceptible known genotype, ILC3279, reduction reached up to 95%. Principal component analysis indicated that relative water content, photochemical efficiency of photosystem II, and stomatal conductance are the physiological traits with greater contribution toward drought tolerance. Therefore, these traits should be evaluated ahead of many other traits in making selections for drought-tolerant chickpea genotypes.