This study aimed to explore the relationship between Soil-Plant Analysis Development(SPAD)values and key environmental factors in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)cultivation in a greenhouse.SPAD values,indicative of chlor...This study aimed to explore the relationship between Soil-Plant Analysis Development(SPAD)values and key environmental factors in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)cultivation in a greenhouse.SPAD values,indicative of chlorophyll content,reflect plant health and productivity.The analysis revealed strong positive correlations between SPADvalues and both indoor light intensity(ILI,r=0.59,p<0.001)and outdoor light intensity(OLI,r=0.62,p<0.001),suggesting that higher light intensities were associated with enhanced SPAD values.In contrast,significant negative correlations were found between SPAD values and soil temperature at 15-30 cm depth(ST1530,r=−0.47,p<0.001)and volumetric soil moisture content at the same depth(SM1530,r=−0.52,p<0.001),with higher soil temperatures(e.g.,28℃)and excessive moisture(e.g.,25%)leading to reduced SPAD values.Multiple regression analysis identified ST1530 and SM1530 as significant negative predictors of SPAD,with coefficients of−0.97(p=0.05)and−0.34(p=0.05),respectively,suggesting that increases in soil temperature and moisture result in lower SPAD values.Indoor light intensity(e.g.,600-800μmol/m^(2)/s)emerged as a significant positive contributor,with a coefficient of 0.01(p<0.001),highlighting its role in promoting chlorophyll synthesis.Additionally,relative humidity(r=0.27,p<0.01)showed a positive,although less pronounced,association with SPAD.These results underscore the importance of both direct and indirect environmental factors in influencing SPAD variability and,by extension,plant health and productivity in cucumber cultivation.展开更多
Cancer cell dormancy is the main cause of cancer recurrence and failure of therapy as dormant cells evade not only the anticancer drugs but also the host immune system. These dormant cells veil themselves from detecti...Cancer cell dormancy is the main cause of cancer recurrence and failure of therapy as dormant cells evade not only the anticancer drugs but also the host immune system. These dormant cells veil themselves from detection by imaging and/or using biomarkers, which imposes an additional problem in targeting such cells. A similar form of hibernation process known as encystation is studied in detail for pathogenic unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms. By examination using microarray gene expression profiles, immunocytochemistry tools, and siRNAs during the process of encystation, understanding the covert features of cancer cell dormancy as proposed could be possible. This knowledge can be extended to dormant cancer cells to uncover the mechanisms that underlie this ghost, yet dangerous state of human cancers. We propose a strategy to induce dormancy and exit this state by application of knowledge gained from the encystation induction and retrieval processes in pathogenic eukaryotic microorganisms. Given that early detection and characterization of dormant malignant tumor cells is important as a general strategy to monitor and prevent the development of overt metastatic disease, this homology may enable the design of therapies that could either awake the dormant cell from dormancy to make it available for therapies or prolong such a phase to make cancer appear as a chronic disease展开更多
Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 ground...Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths （60-110 ft） of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city, the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, and analyzed for the metals （Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn and Fe） concentration in 2009. Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality. Results showed that the levels of Cu, Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water. Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe. A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area. Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System （GIS） for the identification and demarcation of risk areas. The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.展开更多
The core objective of instant study was to check the effectiveness of Aloe vera edible coating on postharvest life and physicochemical characteristics of eggplants under different storage temperatures. For this purpo...The core objective of instant study was to check the effectiveness of Aloe vera edible coating on postharvest life and physicochemical characteristics of eggplants under different storage temperatures. For this purpose, different formulations of Aloe vera based coating （non-poisonous） was applied at concentration of 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%, respectively on eggplants. The coated eggplants were stored at two different temperatures [10℃ and （30±2）℃] and examined for weight loss, firmness, stem color, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, acidity, vitamin C, sugar （total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar） and N, P, K, Ca and Na for two weeks. The obtained results showed that weight loss, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, sugar （total sugar and non-reducing sugar） increased and firmness, stem color, acidity, reducing sugar, vitamin C minimized during the storage period. The 0.5% Aloe coating at 10℃ showed significant effect and delayed the changes in above parameters. Aloe vera coating remained almost ineffective in altering nutrient homeostasis （N, P, K, Ca and Na） of eggplants. The optimistic results gained in the current study could additionally investigate in larger market experiments and also could extensive to other tropical/subtropical fruits and vegetables.展开更多
Surface-wave-based optical sensing of an analyte in a fluid relies on the sensitivity of the surface wave to the electromagnetic properties of the analyte-containing fluid in the vicinity of the guiding interface. Sur...Surface-wave-based optical sensing of an analyte in a fluid relies on the sensitivity of the surface wave to the electromagnetic properties of the analyte-containing fluid in the vicinity of the guiding interface. Surfaceplasmon-polariton(SPP) waves are most commonly used for optical sensing because of the ease of the excitation of an SPP wave when the fluid is partnered with a metal. If the fluid is replaced by a porous, anisotropic, and periodically nonhomogeneous solid filled with the fluid, while the metal is replaced by an isotropic homogeneous dielectric material, the surface wave is called a Dyakonov–Tamm(DT) wave. We have theoretically determined that the incorporation of the DT-waveguiding interface in a prism-coupled configuration provides an alternative to the analogous SPP wave-based sensor, with comparable dynamic sensitivity.展开更多
文摘This study aimed to explore the relationship between Soil-Plant Analysis Development(SPAD)values and key environmental factors in cucumber(Cucumis sativus L.)cultivation in a greenhouse.SPAD values,indicative of chlorophyll content,reflect plant health and productivity.The analysis revealed strong positive correlations between SPADvalues and both indoor light intensity(ILI,r=0.59,p<0.001)and outdoor light intensity(OLI,r=0.62,p<0.001),suggesting that higher light intensities were associated with enhanced SPAD values.In contrast,significant negative correlations were found between SPAD values and soil temperature at 15-30 cm depth(ST1530,r=−0.47,p<0.001)and volumetric soil moisture content at the same depth(SM1530,r=−0.52,p<0.001),with higher soil temperatures(e.g.,28℃)and excessive moisture(e.g.,25%)leading to reduced SPAD values.Multiple regression analysis identified ST1530 and SM1530 as significant negative predictors of SPAD,with coefficients of−0.97(p=0.05)and−0.34(p=0.05),respectively,suggesting that increases in soil temperature and moisture result in lower SPAD values.Indoor light intensity(e.g.,600-800μmol/m^(2)/s)emerged as a significant positive contributor,with a coefficient of 0.01(p<0.001),highlighting its role in promoting chlorophyll synthesis.Additionally,relative humidity(r=0.27,p<0.01)showed a positive,although less pronounced,association with SPAD.These results underscore the importance of both direct and indirect environmental factors in influencing SPAD variability and,by extension,plant health and productivity in cucumber cultivation.
文摘Cancer cell dormancy is the main cause of cancer recurrence and failure of therapy as dormant cells evade not only the anticancer drugs but also the host immune system. These dormant cells veil themselves from detection by imaging and/or using biomarkers, which imposes an additional problem in targeting such cells. A similar form of hibernation process known as encystation is studied in detail for pathogenic unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms. By examination using microarray gene expression profiles, immunocytochemistry tools, and siRNAs during the process of encystation, understanding the covert features of cancer cell dormancy as proposed could be possible. This knowledge can be extended to dormant cancer cells to uncover the mechanisms that underlie this ghost, yet dangerous state of human cancers. We propose a strategy to induce dormancy and exit this state by application of knowledge gained from the encystation induction and retrieval processes in pathogenic eukaryotic microorganisms. Given that early detection and characterization of dormant malignant tumor cells is important as a general strategy to monitor and prevent the development of overt metastatic disease, this homology may enable the design of therapies that could either awake the dormant cell from dormancy to make it available for therapies or prolong such a phase to make cancer appear as a chronic disease
文摘Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths （60-110 ft） of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city, the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, and analyzed for the metals （Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn and Fe） concentration in 2009. Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality. Results showed that the levels of Cu, Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water. Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe. A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area. Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System （GIS） for the identification and demarcation of risk areas. The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.
文摘The core objective of instant study was to check the effectiveness of Aloe vera edible coating on postharvest life and physicochemical characteristics of eggplants under different storage temperatures. For this purpose, different formulations of Aloe vera based coating （non-poisonous） was applied at concentration of 0, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0%, respectively on eggplants. The coated eggplants were stored at two different temperatures [10℃ and （30±2）℃] and examined for weight loss, firmness, stem color, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, acidity, vitamin C, sugar （total sugar, reducing sugar and non-reducing sugar） and N, P, K, Ca and Na for two weeks. The obtained results showed that weight loss, shriveling, total soluble solids, pH, sugar （total sugar and non-reducing sugar） increased and firmness, stem color, acidity, reducing sugar, vitamin C minimized during the storage period. The 0.5% Aloe coating at 10℃ showed significant effect and delayed the changes in above parameters. Aloe vera coating remained almost ineffective in altering nutrient homeostasis （N, P, K, Ca and Na） of eggplants. The optimistic results gained in the current study could additionally investigate in larger market experiments and also could extensive to other tropical/subtropical fruits and vegetables.
文摘Surface-wave-based optical sensing of an analyte in a fluid relies on the sensitivity of the surface wave to the electromagnetic properties of the analyte-containing fluid in the vicinity of the guiding interface. Surfaceplasmon-polariton(SPP) waves are most commonly used for optical sensing because of the ease of the excitation of an SPP wave when the fluid is partnered with a metal. If the fluid is replaced by a porous, anisotropic, and periodically nonhomogeneous solid filled with the fluid, while the metal is replaced by an isotropic homogeneous dielectric material, the surface wave is called a Dyakonov–Tamm(DT) wave. We have theoretically determined that the incorporation of the DT-waveguiding interface in a prism-coupled configuration provides an alternative to the analogous SPP wave-based sensor, with comparable dynamic sensitivity.
