Growth,yield and antioxidant capacity of strawberry under various K+:Ca++ ratios in hydroponic culture

Optimisation of the mineral composition of the nutrient solution is one of the most important factors affecting crop productivity and quality under hydroponic cultivation. Considering the role of minerals in nutrition and the lack of studies on the K⁺:Ca⁺⁺ ratio of nutrient solution on fruit quality, a study was carried out to evaluate the effects of K⁺:Ca⁺⁺ ratios on growth, yield, vitamin C content of the fruit and total carbohydrate and phenolic compounds of the ‘Paros’ strawberry under hydroponic conditions. The highest total phenolic compounds, photosynthetic capacity, including leaf area, photosynthetic pigments, stomatal conductance and yield were observed at the 1.4 ratio (K > Ca). Enzymatic (peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase) and non-enzymatic (total phenol, phenolic compounds and anthocyanin) antioxidant capacities were affected significantly by the K⁺:Ca⁺⁺ ratio. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in ratios with K > Ca in the solution. We recommend growers to maintain an appropriate K⁺:Ca⁺⁺ ratio in the nutrient solution, as this affects growth parameters, productivity and strawberry quality.     

Protein-based adhesives for particleboards—Effect of application process

The main purpose of this study was to investigate wheat gluten (WG) dispersions as adhesives for particleboard. The effect of the dispersion concentration and two application methods were studied. When application method 1 was employed all the dispersion was added to the particles in one step, the particles were dried after the gluing. When using application method 2, the dispersion was added in two steps with drying of the glued chips between the first and the second addition of the dispersion. The amount of dry wheat gluten on dry particles was kept constant for all the experiments as was the pressing conditions. The performance of the wheat gluten dispersions was evaluated based on the following board properties: internal bond (IB), thickness swelling (TS) and water absorption (ABS). It is desirable to have high IB values, however, in the case of the TS and ABS lower values are preferable. The experiments were conducted according to a factorial screening design and SIMCA-P+ was employed as a multivariate analyzing tool. The results reveal that application method 2 seems to be beneficial, with regard to the board properties. Furthermore, it appears as, regarding the IB of the boards, the preferable dispersion concentration depends on the employed application method. When application method 1 is used a higher concentration seems to be better, in contrast for application method 2 a lower concentration of the dispersion may be beneficial. The improved properties obtained using application method 2 is proposed to be due to a more optimal penetration of the dispersion into the wood particles.     

Modeling paddy field subsurface drainage using HYDRUS-2D

All of steady and non-steady subsurface drainage equations were developed mostly based on water flow pattern in an ordinary field conditions. However, subsurface drainage in a paddy field is quite different from subsurface drainage in an ordinary field. Thus, it is necessary to develop new equations and mathematical models to design subsurface drainage system in a paddy field. The objective of this study was to apply the HYDRUS-2D model, based on the Richard’s equation, to simulate water flow under subsurface drainage in a paddy field for various drain depths (0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 m) and spacings (7.5 and 15.0 m), surface soil textures (clay loam and silty clay loam) and crack conditions. Simulation results were compared with two well-known drainage equations. The maximum drainage rate was obtained under 7.5-m spacings and 1-m depth. With increasing drain spacings, the drainage rate decreased. Drain spacings had more effect on drainage rate and water pressure head as compared to drain depth. Drainage rates calculated by the Hooghoudt’s and Murashima and Ogino’s equations were much lower than those calculated by the Richard’s equation. The Hooghoudt’s equation, developed for ordinary fields, did not perform well for paddy fields. This study also proved the importance of cracks in subsurface drainage system of paddy fields. HYDRUS-2D stands as a robust tool for designing subsurface drainage in a paddy field.     

The Effect of Human Platelet-Rich Plasma on Adipose-Derived Stem Cell Proliferation and Osteogenic Differentiation

Background: The cultured mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have been used in many clinical trials; however, there are still some concerns about the cultural conditions. One concern is related to the use of FBS as a widely used xenogeneic supplement in the culture system. Human platelet-rich plasma (hPRP) is a candidate replacement for FBS. In this study, the effect of hPRP on MSC proliferation and osteogenic differentiation has been evaluated. Methods: Human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSC) were expanded. Cells from the third passage were characterized by flow cytometric analysis and used for in vitro experiments. Resazurin and alizarin red stains were used for cell proliferation and osteogenic differentiation assays, respectively. Results: Treatment with hPRP resulted in a statistically significant increase in cell proliferation compare to the negative control group (P<0.001). Cell proliferation in the 15% hPRP group was also significantly higher than that in the 10% hPRP group (P<0.05). Additionally, it caused less osteogenic differentiation of the hADSC compared to the FBS (P<0.001), but in comparison to negative control, it caused acceptable mineralization (P<0.001). Conclusion: These findings indicate that hPRP not only improves the proliferation but also it can be a suitable substitution in osteogenic differentiation for clinical purposes. However, the clinical application value of hPRP still needs more investigation. Key Words: Platelet-Rich Plasma, Adipose tissue, Stem Cells, Cell differentiation, Cell proliferation