Growth Properties Research Articles

The Exometabolome of Xylella fastidiosa in Contact with Paraburkholderia phytofirmans Supernatant Reveals Changes in Nicotinamide, Amino Acids, Biotin, and Plant Hormones.

Microbial competition within plant tissues affects invading pathogens' fitness. Metabolomics is a great tool for studying their biochemical interactions by identifying accumulated metabolites. Xylella fastidiosa, a Gram-negative bacterium causing Pierce's disease (PD) in grapevines, secretes various virulence factors including cell wall-degrading enzymes, adhesion proteins, and quorum-sensing molecules. These factors, along with outer membrane vesicles, contribute to its pathogenicity. Previous studies demonstrated that co-inoculating X. fastidiosa with the Paraburkholderia phytofirmans strain PsJN suppressed PD symptoms. Here, we further investigated the interaction between the phytopathogen and the endophyte by analyzing the exometabolome of wild-type X. fastidiosa and a diffusible signaling factor (DSF) mutant lacking quorum sensing, cultivated with 20% P. phytofirmans spent media. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and the Method for Metabolite Annotation and Gene Integration (MAGI) were used to detect and map metabolites to genomes, revealing a total of 121 metabolites, of which 25 were further investigated. These metabolites potentially relate to host adaptation, virulence, and pathogenicity. Notably, this study presents the first comprehensive profile of X. fastidiosa in the presence of a P. phytofirmans spent media. The results highlight that P. phytofirmans and the absence of functional quorum sensing affect the ratios of glutamine to glutamate (Gln:Glu) in X. fastidiosa. Additionally, two compounds with plant metabolism and growth properties, 2-aminoisobutyric acid and gibberellic acid, were downregulated when X. fastidiosa interacted with P. phytofirmans. These findings suggest that P. phytofirmans-mediated disease suppression involves modulation of the exometabolome of X. fastidiosa, impacting plant immunity.

Crystal growth, optical, photoluminescence and magnetic properties of sol-gel GdFeO3 thin film

GdFeO3 (GFO) orthoferrite is a perovskite structured material with rich physical properties. In this work, crystal growth, electronic, optical, photoluminescence (PL) and magnetic properties of sol-gel synthesized GFO thin films onto quartz substrate were investigated. The films were annealed at various temperature 650–900 °C. XRD results showed transformation from an amorphous to nanocrystalline GFO and GdO secondary phase with rise of annealing temperature from 650 to 700 °C. Single phase GFO was observed in films annealed above 700 °C. Crystallite size of the films gradually increased from 10.5 to 89.9 nm for films annealed from 700 to 900 °C, respectively. The surface morphology changed from porous microstructure consisted of tiny particulates in film annealed at 700 °C into enlarged particles and clear polycrystalline structure in films annealed above 700 °C. From XPS spectra analysis, both Fe and Gd ions existed in a 3+ valence state. The films demonstrated optical band gap ranged between 2.8 and 3 eV. The PL spectra obtained using a 300 nm excitation wavelength consisted of four emission peaks. The near band edge emission of the films varied between 449.9 and 455.1 nm. The films showed weak ferromagnetic behavior with magnetization ranging from 24 to 49 emu/cm3.

Network pharmacology analysis and experimental evaluations of YH complex on androgenetic alopecia by regulating the androgenic‐apoptotic axis

AbstractCinnamomum cassia and Astragalus membranaceus have been used as traditional medicines as well as functional foods worldwide, but its hair growth properties have been verified yet. This study was designed that possible molecular mechanism of YH complex consisting of C. cassia and A. membranaceus on androgenetic alopecia (AGA) was predicted and investigated in mice. Target genes of C. cassia and A. membranaceus constructed the YH complex network. AGA mice were induced by injection of testosterone and 100 and 150 mg/kg of YH complex were orally administered. From result of network analysis, the possible underlying mechanism of YH complex was closely related with the “regulation of hair cycle” and “apoptosis signaling pathway.” In depilated AGA mice, YH complex markedly promoted hair regrowth. Histological recovery on size and shape of hair follicles was appeared by YH complex administration. The expressions of 5α‐reductase and TGF‐β were significantly decreased in dorsal skin tissues of YH complex‐treated mice. Antiapoptotic Bcl‐2/Bax ratio was upregulated, while caspase activation was downregulated by treatment with YH complex. In summary, YH complex regulated hair development cycle by inhibiting the androgenic‐apoptotic axis in AGA. YH complex would be a potent therapeutic agent for alopecia.

Performances of plantlets from selected cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) genotypes under Semi - Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) using different substrates

The cassava seed system faces challenges due to limited seed stock caused by a slow propagation rate and a lengthy growth period. Conventional methods lacking phytosanitary guarantees further compound these issues. To address these limitations, the Semi-Autotrophic Hydroponics (SAH) technology was adopted for the rapid mass propagation of healthy, disease-free cassava plants. This research aimed to evaluate the performance of cassava planting materials using different substrates for stem-cutting multiplication in the laboratory at the IITA Kalambo research station in DR Congo. The experiment followed a split-plot design of five replications of three consecutive sub-culture periods lasting four weeks each. Four different genotypes: IB961089A, MM060083, Nase14, and Albert28 as the main plots, with four different substrates: KlasmannTS3, Vermiculite, Local Peat, and Sawdust as the sub-plots, were laid out. Cuttings were placed in 500-ml substrate-filled boxes and watered weekly with a 100-ml Miracle-Gro solution. Data were collected on survival, height, leaf and internode numbers, and cutting numbers at the end of each subculture period. The data were analysed using ANOVA in R software. The Fisher's Least Significant Difference (LSD) test was utilised to separate means when significant differences among treatments were present (p <0.05). The results showed that survival was primarily influenced by the substrate used, with KlasmannTS3 demonstrating the highest rate, exceeding 90%. Significant differences (p < 0.05) among genotypes for survival rate and performance parameters mentioned above (p < 0.001) were observed. Similarly, there were significant differences (p < 0.001) among substrates for survival rate and performance parameters. Furthermore, the interaction between genotype and substrate significantly (p < 0.001) affected performance parameters. MM060083 performed the best across all traits. KlasmannTS3 was the superior substrate and had the highest average cutting number regardless of genotype, with a notable increase of 292% from 20 to 58.4 cuttings, representing a ratio of 1:3 within three months. Sawdust had the lowest multiplication rate, with a 5% decrease. The superior performance of KlasmannTS3 was attributed to its rapid growth and favourable properties. The interaction between MM060083 and KlasmannTS3 consistently showed the highest number of cuttings (70.4). Sawdust consistently showed poor growth performance, regardless of genotype. The study concludes that the SAH offers the potential for rapid multiplication of disease-free cassava planting materials in reduced space and time.

Light Influences the Growth, Pigment Synthesis, Photosynthesis Capacity, and Antioxidant Activities in Scenedesmus falcatus.

Light plays a significant role in microalgae cultivation, significantly influencing critical parameters, including biomass production, pigment content, and the accumulation of metabolic compounds. This study was intricately designed to optimize light intensities, explicitly targeting enhancing growth, pigmentation, and antioxidative properties in the green microalga, Scenedesmus falcatus (KU.B1). Additionally, the study delved into the photosynthetic efficiency in light responses of S. falcatus. The cultivation of S. falcatus was conducted in TRIS-acetate-phosphate medium (TAP medium) under different light intensities of 100, 500, and 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1 within a photoperiodic cycle of 12 h of light and 12 h of dark. Results indicated a gradual increase in the growth of S. falcatus under high light conditions at 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1, reaching a maximum optical density of 1.33 ± 0.03 and a total chlorophyll content of 22.67 ± 0.2 μg/ml at 120 h. Conversely, a slower growth rate was observed under low light at 100 μmol photons m-2·s-1. However, noteworthy reductions in the maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and actual quantum yield (Y(II)) were observed under 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1, reflecting a decline in algal photosynthetic efficiency. Interestingly, these changes under 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1 were concurrent with a significant accumulation of a high amount of beta-carotene (919.83 ± 26.33 mg/g sample), lutein (34.56 ± 0.19 mg/g sample), and canthaxanthin (24.00 ± 0.38 mg/g sample) within algal cells. Nevertheless, it was noted that antioxidant activities and levels of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) decreased under high light at 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1, with IC50 of DPPH assay recorded at 218.00 ± 4.24 and TPC at 230.83 ± 86.75 mg of GAE/g. The findings suggested that the elevated light intensity at 1000 μmol photons m-2·s-1 enhanced the growth and facilitated the accumulation of valuable carotenoid pigment in S. falcatus, presenting potential applications in the functional food and carotenoid industry.

Influence of Ultrahigh Dilution Treatment of the Charge on the Growth and Spectroscopic Properties of Nd:MgMoO4 Potential Laser Crystal

The influence of the charge treatment by ultrahigh dilution (UHD) technology on oxide single crystals grown by the Czochralski technique was studied for monoclinic MgMoO4 crystals doped by 1 at. % of Nd3+ ions. The series of 10 Nd:MgMoO4 crystals was grown from the charges that were subjected to UHD treatment, as well as from the charges treated with two types of control or with no special treatment at all. The grown crystals were studied by X-ray powder diffraction analysis, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, mass-spectrometry, optical absorption, emission spectroscopy and luminescence kinetic analysis. We found that: (i) wetting of MgO + MoO3 mixture by a water-ethanol solution before calcining leads to some enrichment of the mixture with MoO3, whereas the wetting of the charge after the calcining leads to some enrichment of it with MgO; (ii) congruent melting composition of MgMoO4 crystal is in the field of some MoO3 excess; (iii) the solid-phase solubility of the excess MoO3 in MgMoO4 probably does not depend on temperature, whereas the solid-phase solubility of the excess MgO in MgMoO4 crystal depends on temperature. We suggest that the corresponding solidus line passes through the range of retrograde solubility; (iv) the crystals grown within this range are characterized by the enhanced Nd3+ segregation coefficient between the crystal and the melt (approximately 0.006 versus 0.004); (v) unit cell parameters of MgMoO4 crystal with the excess of MoO3 are larger than those of the crystal of the stoichiometric composition and of the crystal with the excess of MgO; (vi) the shapes of the optical absorption and luminescence spectra of Nd:MgMoO4 crystal do not depend on the charge treatment; (vii) luminescence decay kinetics are single-exponential for all the studied crystals, the luminescence decay time being different for the crystals grown from the charges that underwent different types of treatment; (viii) the luminescence intensity of Nd:MgMoO4 crystal grown from the charge that underwent UHD treatment before calcining (solid-phase synthesis) is reduced by an order of magnitude in comparison with the other studied crystals.

Growth and characterization of epitaxial films based on semimagnetic Pb1−xEuxTe solid solutions on various substrates

This paper presents the results of a study of the growth and structure properties of Pb[Formula: see text]EuxTe, ([Formula: see text]) epitaxial films with 0.5–1[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m thickness, grown on BaF2 and SiO2 substrates oriented in the (111) direction, by the molecular beam condensation method in a vacuum of 10[Formula: see text] Pa with the use of an additional compensating source of Te vapor during the growth process. The optimal conditions for obtaining structurally perfect ([Formula: see text]–100[Formula: see text]) epitaxial films were established: [Formula: see text]–623[Formula: see text]K; [Formula: see text]K; [Formula: see text]–9 Å/s. It was determined that conductivity inversion occurs at the temperature of the compensating source 410[Formula: see text]K.

Red recombination enables a wide variety of markerless manipulation of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus genome to generate recombinant virus.

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) is a member of the genera Alphacoronavirus that has been associated with acute watery diarrhea and vomiting in swine. Unfortunately, no effective vaccines and antiviral drugs for PEDV are currently available. Reverse genetics systems are crucial tools for these researches. Here, a PEDV full-length cDNA clone was constructed. Furtherly, three PEDV reporter virus plasmids containing red fluorescent protein (RFP), Nano luciferase (Nluc), or green fluorescence protein (GFP) were generated using Red recombination with the GS1783 E. coli strain. These reporter-expressing recombinant (r) PEDVs showed similar growth properties to the rPEDV, and the foreign genes were stable to culture up to P9 in Vero cells. Using the Nluc-expressing rPEDV, the replication of PEDV was easily quantified, and a platform for rapid anti-PEDV drug screening was constructed. Among the three drugs, Bergenin, Umifenovir hydrochloride (Arbidol), and Ganoderma lucidum triterpenoids (GLTs), we found that GLTs inhibited PEDV replication mainly after the stage of virus "Entry". Overall, this study will broaden insight into the method for manipulating the PEDV genome and provide a powerful tool for screening anti-PEDV agents.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) growth properties and yield attributes are associated with potassium level in response to drought stress

Little attention is paid to the mitigating effect of different potassium (K) levels on sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) growth performance in response to drought stress (DS). A pot experiment was performed under DS conditions along with four K levels (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg ha−1, denoted as DK0, DK1, DK2 and DK3 respectively), and 120 kg ha−1 of K2O application under normal watering was set as control (CK). Results showed that the plant height, specific leaf weight, leaf water content, chlorophyll content, crop growth rate and biomass were significantly decreased by 6.9%, 15.3%, 7.3%, 17.9%, 55.6% and 34.1%, respectively, as compared to CK whereas K could alleviate the adverse effects of drought on the aforementioned parameters, and the mitigation was more prominent as K rates increased. The decrease in capsule number per plant (1.72 g) primarily accounted for yield loss (1.95 g) induced by DS. Expectedly, K supply compensated for the yield reduction to an extent and the maximum compensation was recorded under DK3, which increased by 50.0% as compared to DK0. Additionally, enhanced yield and yield components were positively correlated with K accumulation as it was further evidenced by significantly increased K uptake in plant tissues. For every extra 1 g of K absorbed by the plant, the yield per plant would increase by 16 g However, the K utilization efficiency showed a downward trend along with increased exogenous K supply under DS. In conclusion, K application at the rate of 120 kg ha−1 is an economical and effective approach for alleviating drought susceptibility in sesame crops.

Urban Dominant Trees Followed the Optimal Partitioning Theory and Increased Root Biomass Allocation and Nutrient Uptake under Elevated Nitrogen Deposition

Nitrogen (N) is one of the limiting nutrients for plant growth and metabolism in terrestrial ecosystems. Numerous studies have explored the effects of N addition on the eco-physiological traits and biomass production of plants, but the underlying mechanism of how N deposition influences biomass allocation patterns remains controversial, especially for urban greening trees. A greenhouse experiment was conducted for 7 months, using two dominant tree species of urban streets in North China, including the coniferous tree species Pinus tabuliformis and the broadleaved tree Fraxinus chinensis, under three levels of N addition: ambient, low N addition, and high N addition (0, 3.5, and 10.5 gN m−2 year−1). The plant growth, biomass distribution, functional traits, and soil nutrient properties of the two trees were determined. Overall, N addition had positive effects on the aboveground and belowground biomass of P. tabuliformis, which also shifted its functional traits to an acquisitive strategy, while F. chinensis only increased root biomass distribution and fast traits as N increased. Furthermore, N supply increased the soil N and phosphorus availability of both trees and improved their root nutrient uptake capacity, resulting in an increase in their root–shoot ratio. Optimal partitioning theory could better explain why trees would invest more resources in roots, changing root structure and nutrient uptake, thus increasing root biomass allocation to adapt to a resource-poor environment. These findings highlight the importance of plant functional traits in driving the responses of biomass allocation to environmental changes for urban greening dominant tree species and could help to come up with new tree growth strategies in silvicultural practice for urban green space.

Relationship of single crystal growth and luminescence properties of Cr-doped gadolinium gallium garnet crystals for radiation dose-rate monitoring systems

For the decommissioning of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plants, a novel real-time dose-rate monitor consisting of a scintillator, 100-m long optical fiber and CCD spectrometer has been proposed, and this scintillation material is required to have an emission wavelength of longer than approximately 650 nm. In this paper, as a candidate material for the system, we focused on Ce/Cr co-doped Gd3Ga5O12 (Ce/Cr:GGG) single crystals grown by the micro-pulling down method. Since the light output of this material was expected to depend on the Cr3+ concentration, we investigated the relationship between Cr segregation and luminescence properties in Ce/Cr:GGG crystal. Generally, a single photon counting method is not available to evaluate its light output accurately due to the long decay time, we used a novel technique “emission-intensity two-dimensional- mapping method” (2D-image method) to verify the light intensity at each point of the sample. This method realized estimation of the light intensity within the sample, though segregation of Cr3+ is observed. The results showed that Cr was concentrated in the center part along the radial direction in the grown crystals, while all parts had an emission wavelength of approximately 730 nm excited by X-ray. Using the 2D-image method, emission intensity was found to correspond to the Cr concentration, and its correlation coefficients between emission intensity and Cr concentration were over 0.8. We found that our material is available for the monitoring system when the Cr dense part of the crystal is cut and used.

Effect of steel matrix with different C content on the growth mechanism, microstructure and properties of the chromized layer

The C content of the steel matrix has significant influence on the growth mechanism, microstructure and properties of the chromized layer. However, the relevant research literature is scarce. In this paper, seven kinds of low carbon alloy steels with C content ranging from 0.08 wt% to 0.45 wt% were selected as matrix for chromizing experiments under the same parameters. The effects of matrix C content on the growth mechanism, growth rate, structure and properties of the chromized layer were discussed. The results show that the chromized layer is composed of outer porous (Cr, Fe)23C6 and (Cr, Fe)7C3 carbides layer and inner dense FeCr phase layer for matrix with C content lower than or equal to 0.2 wt%. While when the matrix C content is >0.2 wt%, the chromized layer becomes three-layer structure: the surface (Cr, Fe)23C6 phase layer, the middle (Cr, Fe)7C3 phase layer and the bottom FeCr solid solution phase layer. The structure and thickness of Cr23C6 phase layer formed in the early stage of chromizing play a decisive role in the inward diffusion of surface adsorbed Cr atoms and the growth rate of the permeated layer. With the C content of the matrix increases from low(0.08wt%C) to high(0.45wt.%C), the dense layer phases in chromized samples gradually changes from FeCr alloy phase with BCC structure to (Cr, Fe)23C6 and (Cr, Fe)7C3 carbides. And the wear resistance of the chromized layer increase. However, when the matrix C content is above 0.4 wt%, the structure and phases of the chromized layer are almost not affected by the matrix C content, so are the thickness and wear resistance. The results are helpful to the selection of steel matrix composition for chromizing and the optimization of chromizing process.

Different wavelengths of laser: are they significant for treatment of denture stomatitis?: an in-vitro study

BackgroundDenture stomatitis (DS) is an inflammatory disorder that affects the mucosal surface underneath the dentures and frequently causes oral mucosal irritation, discomfort, and altered taste perception, which prevents people from consuming enough nutrients. One of the main causes of DS is an overgrowth of the fungus Candida albicans (C. albicans). A possible alternative treatment for Candida infections is thought to be laser therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate how different wavelengths of laser would affect growth and pathogenic properties of Candida albicans.MethodsA concentration of 106 viable cells/ml of Candida albicans were used in the preparation process. Four groups were created from the specimens. Culturing of the control group was completed with no intervention. The other 3 groups received laser radiation for 60 seconds at a power of 1W. The 2nd and 3rd groups were irradiated with diode laser at a wavelength of 940 nm and 980 nm respectively. The 4th group was irradiated with Nd-YAG laser at a wavelength of 1064 nm. Turbidimetric growth was defined as variations in the optical density of fungal growth. These measures were made at three different times: baseline, 48 hours, and 72 hours.ResultsIn both groups of diode laser, the growth of Candida albicans showed no remarkable differences at baseline, after 48 and 72 hours using a power of 1 W and duration of 60 seconds. The Nd-YAG group showed significant increase in optical density after 48 hrs then significant decrease after 72 hrs. The optical density values in the control group showed no notable difference between the control and diode study groups at different time periods. However, the Nd:YAG group showed a statistically significant difference compared to the control and the 2 diode laser groups.ConclusionsDifferent laser parameters have a different effect on growth and pathogenic properties of Candida albicans. Diode laser therapy with wavelengths 940 and 980 nm used in continuous mode with power of 1 W for duration of 60 seconds can result in proliferation of Candida albicans instead of destroying them. Nd:YAG laser, used in pulsed mode, with power of 1 W for a duration of 60 seconds can be used to destroy Candida albicans and therefore, can be used as an effective treatment for denture stomatitis.

High Gastrointestinal Colonization Rate of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci among Hospitalized Patients: Potential Source for Resistant Gene.

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) is a global health problem and responsible for healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in patients with prolonged hospital stay, severe underlying disease, and previous broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy. These bacteria can cross-resist and transfer drug-resistant genes to other potentially pathogenic bacteria. Therefore; this study was aimed to determine the gastrointestinal colonization rate of VRE, its antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and associated factors among hospitalized patients. Prospective cross-sectional study was conducted using stool samples from 223 patients admitted to different wards at Hawassa University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, from April 1 to June 30, 2021. Patients admitted to the hospital for more than 48 hours for various medical conditions were included. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected using a structured questionnaire. Fecal specimens were cultured on Enterococci selective media. Enterococcus species were identified using their growth and mannitol fermentation properties. Vancomycin resistance was screened using both the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and a vancomycin E-test strip. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive and logistic regressions were used to determine the frequency and association of factors with the VRE colonization rate. A p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A total of 223 fecal specimens were collected and processed, and 141 (63.2%) them were positive for Enterococci. The predominant species was E. faecalis 65 (46.1%) followed by E. faecium 76 (53.9%). In this study, the gastrointestinal colonization rate of VRE was 15 (6.7%) and all the species belong to E. faecium. Study participants who had no formal education (AOR = 4.26, 95% CI: 1.01, 18.06), hospitalized patients for >2 weeks (AOR = 4.10, 95% CI: 1.08, 15.57), and those who had a history of treatment with vancomycin (AOR = 4.77, 95% CI: 1.26, 18.09) were more likely to be colonized with vancomycin-resistant Enterococci. More than 95% of Enterococci isolates were susceptible to linezolid, whereas 70.2%, 63.1%, 56.7%, and 53.9% were resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, penicillin, and ampicillin, respectively. Among the total Enterococci isolated, 141 (54.6%) were multidrug resistant. In our study, high proportion of vancomycin-resistant Enterococci was found. Previous exposure to antibiotics and hospital stay were significant factors for VRE gut colonization. The isolated Enterococci showed variable degrees of resistance to commonly prescribed antibiotics which leads to a worldwide problem multidrug resistance. Therefore, periodic surveillance on antimicrobial resistance pattern, adhering to rational use of antibiotics, and implementing infection prevention protocols may reduce colonization by VRE.

In Situ Crystallization, Differential Growth, and Multicolor Emission of Silver Nanoclusters.

The real-time monitoring of the stepwise growth process of the molecular crystal reveals a conclusive understanding of the morphological evolution, which otherwise remains elusive during the conventional crystallization processes. Herein, we report the in situ crystallization of silver nanoclusters (AgNCs) with special emphasis on their differential growth and multicolor emissive properties. A subtle variation of the methanol (MeOH) proportion in the reaction mixture induces the differential growth of these AgNCs, and thereby, a dramatic modulation in their optical properties was observed. Additionally, by increasing the temperature of the reaction (from a low temperature ice bath to 25 °C), an uncontrolled formation of AgNCs along with metallic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was observed, which was primarily induced by accelerating the reaction kinetics. We hope that this investigation comprehensively uncovers the serious bottlenecks of the conventional crystallization processes by showcasing systematic monitoring of structural evolution to the higher-ordered crystalline state.

Properties of Rooting, Growth and Yield of Corn (Zea mays L) at Various Watering Intervals

Limited water availability, particularly during the grain filling period, is a significant factor that affects the low production of corn. The root system plays a crucial role in adapting to water scarcity conditions. Hence, a study was conducted to investigate the impact of different watering intervals on the rooting properties, growth, and yield of corn plants. This research took place at the INSTIPER Yogyakarta experimental and research garden in Sempu Village, Wedomartani, Ngemplak District, Regency Sleman, Yogyakarta, from March 2023 to July 2023. The experimental design employed was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with a single factor, consisting of three watering treatments: once a day, once every 2 days, and once every 7 days. The parameters observed included rooting, growth, and yield. The findings revealed that the watering interval of every 7 days resulted in increased root length and a decrease in the number of leaves. Although the 7-day watering interval led to a decrease in the number of cobs, it did not affect cob length, cob diameter, cob weight with husks, cob weight without husks, and weight per 100 seeds.

Complexity growth in a holographic QCD model* *Supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFA1604900). This work is also partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (12275104, 11890711, 11890710, 11735007)

In this study, we utilize the complexity-action duality to study the evolution of complexity in a holographic QCD model at finite temperature and chemical potential. By inserting a fundamental string as a probe, we investigated the properties of complexity growth in this Einstein-Maxwell-scalar gravity system, which is affected by the string velocity, chemical potential, and temperature. Our results show that the complexity growth is maximized when the probe string is stationary, and it decreases as the velocity of the string increases. When the string approaches relativistic velocities, the complexity growth always increases monotonically with respect to the chemical potential. Furthermore, we find that the complexity growth can be used to identify phase transitions and crossovers in the model.

Measure-valued growth processes in continuous space and growth properties starting from an infinite interface

The k-parent and infinite-parent spatial Lambda-Fleming Viot processes (or SLFV), introduced in Louvet (2023), form a family of stochastic models for spatially expanding populations. These processes are akin to a continuous-space version of the classical Eden growth model (but with local backtracking of the occupied area allowed when k is finite), while being associated with a dual process encoding ancestry.In this article, we focus on the growth properties of the area occupied by individuals of type 1 (type 0 encoding units of empty space). To do so, we first define the quantities that we shall use to quantify the speed of growth of the occupied area. Using the associated dual process and a comparison with a first-passage percolation problem, we show that the growth of the occupied region in the infinite-parent SLFV is linear in time. Because of the possibility of local backtracking of the occupied area, the result we obtain for the k-parent SLFV is slightly weaker. It gives an upper bound on the probability that a given location is occupied at time t, which also shows that growth in the k-parent SLFV is linear in time. We use numerical simulations to approximate the growth speed for the infinite-parent SLFV, and we observe that the actual speed may be higher than the speed expected from simple first-moment calculations due to the characteristic front dynamics.

Growth and Temperature Properties of the Phase-Matching Angle of 23% Deuterated ADP Crystal.

Theoretical analysis indicated that partially deuterated ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (DADP) crystal with a deuterium content of 23% could realize spectral noncritical phase-matching (S-NCPM) for type-I frequency doubling of an Nd:glass laser. To explore the temperature dependence of the phase matching (PM) angle of the second harmonic generation (SHG) process and the output SHG bandwidth of DADP crystal at 1.053 μm, we used the point-seed rapid-growth method to grow targeted DADP crystal with 23% deuterium content. Experimental results indicated that the grown DADP crystal had high quality and large dimensions (7 × 6 × 6 cm3). Using a femtosecond OPO laser as a tunable light source, the temperature dependence of the PM angle of the SHG process in DADP crystal at 1.053 μm was investigated. The PM angle changed linearly with temperature, as predicted by the theoretical calculation. In addition, under the condition of higher temperature, broad bandwidths of the second harmonic of DADP crystal were still observed. These results provide excellent guidance and reference value for the application of wavelength insensitive phase-matched second harmonic generation in partially deuterated DADP.

Role of microbial inoculants for improving productivity and systemic resistance in Abelmoschus esculentus

Okra is an economic vegetable crop and widely dispersed throughout the world's tropical, subtropical zones. It is necessary for human health and an adequate supply of total vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes and other elements that are typically deficient in developing-country diets. The disease issues in this crop are root-decaying infections. Microbial inoculants are gaining a reputation in agronomic research. Pseudomonas species have the ability to boost plant immunity by inducing resistance against biotic and abiotic stress. Because of its substantial properties in growth and pathogen suppression during its complimentary relationship with host, Pseudomonas is the most preferred bio-inoculant. The association of Pseudomonas with crop stimulates the secretion of phytohormones, secondary metabolites and enzymes responsible for growth and pathogen control. The aim of the study is to figure out the consequences of competing inoculants on the nutritional content and quality of okra plants. So different strains of P. fluorescens (EFP161, EFP121, EFP43, EFP56, and EFP171) were inoculated (200 mL in soil) along with okra seeds in field trails. The experiment was completely randomized block design and run for 60 days of inoculation. After harvesting (60 days), their growth parameters with their biomass and stress resistance indicators like polyphenols (26.5 μg/mL), antioxidant (43.08%) and salicylic acid content (0.11 μg/mL) were estimated in Pseudomonas treated plants. Fruit quality parameters including total soluble solids (4.7%), pH, moisture content (93%), proteins (95 μg/mL) and carbohydrates (39 μg/mL) were tested in order to check their nutritional value. Okra plants showed some complications during field trails like death of the young seedlings, wet soil, rotting of small pods is a fairly common problem. These inoculants exhibited plant growth-stimulating properties by elevating their resistance power to stress and against phytopathogens responsible for plant growth reduction. The inoculation of these strains not only increased the plant growth parameters but also increased the nutritional quality of fruits. This research summarizes the impact of microbial inoculants as agricultural inputs.