Modelling and analysis of airflow-induced rotational behaviour of sunflower seeds for directional sowing

The purpose of research: to determine the influence of different methods of sowing on the formation of seed yield and the efficiency of sunflower cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of Western Ukraine. Methods. Field research was conducted in the soil and climatic conditions of Western Ukraine. The experimental field was characterized by sod deep clayey sandy soils. Two methods of sunflower sowing were studied: traditional with a row spacing of 70 cm using a «Gaspardo Renata R MTR 8» precision seeding vacuum planter and narrow-row sowing with a row spacing of 12.5 cm – the «Gaspardo Corona 600» seeding complex. During the research, the structural elements of sunflower seed productivity and the efficiency of two methods of sowing were estimated. Results: According to the research results it was established that in the variant with traditional sowing the average number of seeds in the basket was greater. The same trend was also observed concerning basket size, seed weight, and productivity of one plant, which made it possible to form a sunflower seed yield of 1.67 t/ha, which is 0.14 t/ha (by 9.1%) more than in the plot with narrow-row sowing. Direct operational use of technical means for performing technological operations of soil preparation, fertilizer application, and seed sowing in traditional sowing amounts to UAH 2,541/ha and is higher by UAH 667/ha compared to costs in the narrow-row variant. However, due to the higher yield in the version of traditional sowing, a higher income from the sale of seed was obtained by 1890 hryvnias/ha. Therefore, the effectiveness of the applied technical and technological solutions on the plot with traditional sowing amounted to 1223 hryvnias/ha. Conclusions. The «Gaspardo Corona 600» sowing complex can perform narrow-row sowing of sunflower seeds with the specified sowing rate in the conditions of Western Ukraine. Although a slightly lower yield was obtained in the variant with narrow-row sowing, direct operating costs for pre-sowing soil cultivation and sowing are lower than for technical and technological solutions for implementing traditional wide-row sowing. The results of using the «Gaspardo Corona 600» sowing complex for sunflower sowing can be useful for farmers when deciding to buy a row drill and save the financial resources of farms. Keywords: sunflower, methods of sowing seeds, row seeder, sowing complex, productivity, efficiency.

The purpose of research: to determine the influence of different methods of sowing on the formation of seed yield and the efficiency of sunflower cultivation in the soil and climatic conditions of Western Ukraine. Methods. Field research was conducted in the soil and climatic conditions of Western Ukraine. The experimental field was characterized by sod deep clayey sandy soils. Two methods of sunflower sowing were studied: traditional with a row spacing of 70 cm using a «Gaspardo Renata R MTR 8» precision seeding vacuum planter and narrow-row sowing with a row spacing of 12.5 cm – the «Gaspardo Corona 600» seeding complex. During the research, the structural elements of sunflower seed productivity and the efficiency of two methods of sowing were estimated. Results: According to the research results it was established that in the variant with traditional sowing the average number of seeds in the basket was greater. The same trend was also observed concerning basket size, seed weight, and productivity of one plant, which made it possible to form a sunflower seed yield of 1.67 t/ha, which is 0.14 t/ha (by 9.1%) more than in the plot with narrow-row sowing. Direct operational use of technical means for performing technological operations of soil preparation, fertilizer application, and seed sowing in traditional sowing amounts to UAH 2,541/ha and is higher by UAH 667/ha compared to costs in the narrow-row variant. However, due to the higher yield in the version of traditional sowing, a higher income from the sale of seed was obtained by 1890 hryvnias/ha. Therefore, the effectiveness of the applied technical and technological solutions on the plot with traditional sowing amounted to 1223 hryvnias/ha. Conclusions. The «Gaspardo Corona 600» sowing complex can perform narrow-row sowing of sunflower seeds with the specified sowing rate in the conditions of Western Ukraine. Although a slightly lower yield was obtained in the variant with narrow-row sowing, direct operating costs for pre-sowing soil cultivation and sowing are lower than for technical and technological solutions for implementing traditional wide-row sowing. The results of using the «Gaspardo Corona 600» sowing complex for sunflower sowing can be useful for farmers when deciding to buy a row drill and save the financial resources of farms. Keywords: sunflower, methods of sowing seeds, row seeder, sowing complex, productivity, efficiency.

Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor attenuates behavioural deficits and regulates nigrostriatal dopaminergic and peptidergic markers in 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned adult rats: comparison of intraventricular and intranigral delivery

We studied the ability of the vigilance-promoting drug modafinil to modulate the anterograde and retrograde changes in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivity and in dopamine (DA) stores in the nigro-neostriatal DA neurons, following a partial hemitransection of this ascending DA system, using a combined morphometrical, biochemical and behavioural analysis. Modafinil was given daily i.p. in doses of 10-100 mg/kg, starting 15 min after the lesion, and the partially hemitransected rats were killed 2 weeks later. Changes in TH-immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and nerve terminals induced by the partial hemitransection were studied in the substantia nigra and neostriatum in combination with image analysis. The substantia nigra and neostriatum were also subjected to biochemical analysis of DA, 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid and homovanillic acid levels. Modafinil treatment dose-dependently (10-100 mg/kg) counteracted the hemitransection-induced disappearance of nigral TH-immunoreactive nerve cell body profiles and neostriatal TH-immunoreactive nerve terminal profiles. A 2-week treatment with 100 mg/kg of modafinil also counteracted the hemitransection-induced depletion of DA stores in the neostriatum and the ventral midbrain. Moreover, the repeated daily treatment with modafinil (100 mg/kg) protected against the hemitransection-induced disappearance of striatal 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and noradrenaline levels. Striatal DA function was analysed by studying apomorphine-induced (1 mg/kg, s.c.) ipsilateral rotational behaviour 4 and 11 days after the operation. A marked dose-dependent reduction of ipsilateral rotational behaviour was demonstrated after the daily modafinil treatment in the partially hemitransected rats. In another model involving unilateral nigral microinjections of 6-hydroxydopamine, acute (one single dose) modafinil (100 mg/kg) did not affect the contralateral rotational behaviour induced by apomorphine (0.05 mg/kg s.c.), when given 30 min before the apomorphine. Taken together, morphological, neurochemical and behavioural evidence has been obtained that anterograde and retrograde changes induced in the DA stores and TH immunoreactivity of the nigro-neostriatal DA neurons by a partial hemistransection are counteracted by modafinil in a dose dependent way with 100 mg/kg producing a significant protective action against impairment of DA transmission. The results of this study open up the possibility that modafinil may protect against the anterograde and retrograde degeneration of nigrostriatal DA neurons seen after mechanically induced injury.

Within-session analysis of amphetamine-elicited rotation behavior reveals differences between young adult and middle-aged F344/BN rats with partial unilateral striatal dopamine depletion

Rotational behavior was examined prior to (Exp. 1) and following unilateral lesions (Exp. 2) in the substantia nigra of young and old rats. Before lesioning no preferences for turning to the left or right were seen in either age group following graded doses of amphetamine. However, after radiofrequency lesions of the left substantia nigra both young and old rats turned predominantly to the left, and the ratio of left to right turns increased as a function of amphetamine dose. However, there were significant differences between young and old rats in the effect of amphetamine on rotational behavior, with old rats showing decided decrements in response strength. Direct dopaminergic stimulation under apomorphine or dopaminergic receptor blockade with haloperidol produced no such age related deficits. The results are discussed in terms of possible presynaptic alterations in dopaminergic functioning with aging.

A simple and efficient finite element formulation and numerical method to solve it for the rotational contact-impact behavior of a geared rotor system are given. A gear element is devised to model the contact-impact behavior between gears in which the irregularity of tooth pitch is also considered. A computer program has been developed to solve this problem. Numerical examples of an electric disk grinder are demonstrated and compared with the experimental result to show the effectiveness of the present method.

The preferential nNOS inhibitor 7-nitroindazole and the non-selective one NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester administered alone or jointly with l-DOPA differentially affect motor behavior and monoamine metabolism in sham-operated and 6-OHDA-lesioned rats

Comparative analysis of anxiety-like behaviors and sensorimotor functions in two rat mutants, ci2 and ci3, with lateralized rotational behavior

Comparative analysis of anxiety-like behaviors and sensorimotor functions in two rat mutants, ci2 and ci3, with lateralized rotational behavior

A microcomputer-based system for detailed analysis of rat behavior

A microcomputer-based system for detailed analysis of rat behavior

Crocin is considered to prevent oxidative stress-related diseases, such as ischemia and Alzheimer's. The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the effects of crocin on motor behaviour and 6-OHDA-induced oxidative/nitrosative damage to the striatum in an experimental model of Parkinson's disease. Left medial forebrain bundle was lesioned by microinjection of 6-OHDA (16μg in 0.2% ascorbate-saline). Crocin (30 and 60 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally three days before surgery until six weeks. Rotational behaviour and biochemical analysis were used to evaluate the effect of crocin in a unilateral 6-OHDA-induced model of Parkinson's disease. The contralateral rotations induced by apomorphine in 6-OHDA lesioned group were highly significant (P < 0.001) as compared to the sham group. Moreover, chronic administration of crocin at doses of 30 and 60 mg/kg over six weeks did not change the rotations. The TBARS and nitrite levels in the striatum were also significantly (P < 0.05) increased in lesioned group. Treatment with crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg significantly decreased the nitrite levels (P < 0.05) in the striatum. Crocin at a dose of 60 mg/kg could be effective in preventing the nitrosative damage in the striatum. Further investigations using higher doses of crocin is suggested to get the full neuroprotective effects of crocin in Parkinson's disease.

Bovine chromaffin cells were microencapsulated within alginate-polylysine-alginate (APA) membranes. Microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells as well as unencapsulated cells and empty microcapsules were grafted into the brain of hemiparkinsonian rats with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions. Apomorphine-induced rotational behavior of the host animals and the survival of the grafted chromaffin cells were examined after transplantation. The animals receiving microencapsulated bovine chromaffin cells showed a significant decrease (17.6--35.6%) in apomorphine-induced rotation 1 week postimplantation that remained stable for the 10 month test period. Fluorescent histochemistry further revealed that microencapsulation increased the chromaffin cell survival with only a minimum host reaction for up to 10 months posttransplantation while the survival of free, unencapsulated chromaffin cells was only modest and was accompanied by a large inflammatory response. The reduction of apomorphine-induced rotations was correlated with the survival of bovine chromaffin cells in the host brain. The data indicate that encapsulation of bovine chromaffin cells in APA membranes reduces the host immune response to the xenograft and prolongs the viability of the grafted cells.

Failure of Neuroprotection by Embryonic Striatal Grafts in a Double Lesion Rat Model of Striatonigral Degeneration (Multiple System Atrophy)