Higher Mean Values Research Articles

Cell Cycle Kinetics and Sister Chromatid Exchange in Mosaic Turner Syndrome.

Turner syndrome (TS) is caused by a complete or partial absence of an X or Y chromosome, including chromosomal mosaicism, affecting 1 in 2500 female live births. Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) is used as a sensitive indicator of spontaneous chromosome instability. Cells from mosaic patients constitute useful material for SCE evaluations as they grow under the influence of the same genetic background and endogenous and exogenous factors. We evaluated the proliferation dynamics and SCE frequencies of 45,X and 46,XN cells of 17 mosaic TS patients. In two participants, the 45,X cells exhibited a proliferative disadvantage in relation to 46,XN cells after 72 h of cultivation. The analysis of the mean proliferation index (PI) showed a trend for a significant difference between the 45,X and 46,X+der(X)/der(Y) cell lineages; however, there were no intra-individual differences. On the other hand, mean SCE frequencies showed that 46,X+der(X) had the highest mean value and 46,XX the lowest, with 45,X occupying an intermediate position among the lineages found in at least three participants; moreover, there were intra-individual differences in five patients. Although 46,X+der(X)/der(Y) cell lineages, found in more than 70% of participants, were the most unstable, they had a slightly higher mean PI than the 45,X cell lineages in younger (≤17 years) mosaic TS participants. This suggests that cells with a karyotype distinct from 45,X may increase with time in mosaic TS children and adolescents.

Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography as a Diagnostic Tool in Cystoid Macular Edema

Abstract Background Cystoid macular edema (CME) represents a common pathologic sequel of the retina and occurs in a variety of pathological conditions such as intraocular inflammation, central or branch retinal vein occlusion, diabetic retinopathy and most commonly following cataract extraction. Aim of the Work To evaluate the role of optical coherence tomography angiography in the diagnosis of cystoid macular edema. Patients and Methods We applied our study on thirty eyes will be divided into two equal groups: CME group (n = 15 eyes) and Control group (n = 15 eyes), with the same inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study included thirty eyes of twenty four patients. There were 15 patients of unilateral; while the right eye was affected in 7 patients (46.7%) and the left eye in 8 (53.3% patients in CME group; while there were 6 patients of bilateral and 3 patients of unilateral; while the right eye was affected in 7 patients (46.7%) and the left eye in 8 (53.3%) patients in control group. Results This study showed that in term of Sex, there is no statistically significant difference between the groups with p-value (p = 0.134). There was a statistically significant higher mean age in CME group compared to control group with p-value (p = 0.005). Also laterality were comparable in each of CME group were 0 patients (%) and 15 patients (100%) were bilateral and unilateral, respectively compared to control group were 6 patients (66.7%) and 3 patients (33.3%) were bilateral and unilateral respectively in term of laterality, there was a statistically significant with p-value (p = 0.002). There was a statistically significant higher mean in CME group compared to control group according to unaided visual acuity and best corrected visual acuity, with p-value (p < 0.001). The mean BCVA was 0.2#0.15, 0.48÷0.23, and 1.06‡0.27 log MAR for early, advanced, and severe DME. Log MAR visual acuity was significantly different among different DME grades (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant higher ocular surgeries in in CME group compared to control group, with p-value (p < 0.001). That was a statistically significant higher OCTA findings in CME group compared to control group, with p-value (p < 0.001); as for the CFT there was a higher mean value in CME group was 484.2070.05 compared to 233.93=13.51, with p-value (p < 0.001). Conclusion In conclusion, cystoid macular edema (CME) can be identified early and OCTA can contribute to the clinical characterisation of the disease.

Organophosphate esters and their metabolites in silver pomfret (Pampus argenteus) of the Vietnamese coastal areas: Spatial-temporal distribution and exposure risk

A large number of studies on organophosphate esters (tri-OPEs) in marine organisms have not assessed the simultaneous occurrence of tri-OPEs and their metabolites (di-OPEs) in these species. This research investigated the concentration and geographical distribution of 15 tri-OPEs and 7 di-OPEs in 172 samples of Pampus argenteus that were collected annually from 2021 to 2023 at three distinct locations along the Vietnamese coast. As a result, tri-OPEs and di-OPEs were detected in numerous fish samples, indicating their widespread spatial and temporal occurrence in marine fish and pointing out the importance of monitoring their levels. The tri-OPEs and di-OPEs ranged within 2.1–38.9 ng g−1 dry weight (dw) and 3.2–263.4 ng g−1 dw, respectively. The mean concentrations of tri-OPEs ranged from 0.4 (TIPrP) to 5.4 ng g−1 dw (TBOEP), with TBOEP and TEHP having the highest mean values. In addition, the profiles of tri-OPEs in fish exhibited a descending order: Σalkyl OPEs > ΣCl-alkyl OPEs > Σaryl OPEs. The di-OPEs, namely BEHP and DMP, had the highest mean levels, measuring 33.4 ng g−1 dw and 23.8 ng g−1 dw, respectively. Furthermore, there have been significant findings of strong positive correlations between di-OPEs and tri-OPE pairs (p < 0.05). It is worth noting that there is a noticeable difference in the composition of tri-OPEs between the North and other regions. Despite these findings, the presence of OPE-contaminated fish did not pose any health risks to Vietnam's coastal population.

Organizational Factors Influencing Good Governance Application of Thai Higher Education Institutions

The purposes of this research were: (1) to study organizational factors of Thai Higher Education Institutions; (2) to study good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions; (3) to find a relationship between organizational factors and good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions; and (4) to analyze organizational factors influencing good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions. The samples used in this study were 350 employees working in Thai Higher Education Institutions in Bangkok and suburban areas. The instrument used to collect data was a research questionnaire. Statistics used in this research consisted of percentage, mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Analysis (MRA). The research results showed that: 1) The opinions of respondents towards organizational factors of Thai Higher Education Institutions, in total, were at a high level. In particular, an organizational culture was perceived at the highest level, followed by organizational leadership and organizational structure; 2) Good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions, in total, was perceived at a high level. In particular, accountability had the highest mean value, followed by participation, virtue, rule of law, economy, and transparency; 3) Organizational factors were positively related to good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions; and 4) Organizational factors had a significant influence on good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions at the .01 level of statistical significance. Organizational leadership had the highest influence on good governance application of Thai Higher Education Institutions, followed organizational culture and organizational structure respectively.

Evaluation of the Smear Layer Removal Ability of Various Rotary Files with/without Chemical Agents on Primary Teeth: An In Vitro Study.

The aim of the current study was to assess the cleaning and smear layer removal efficacy of two different rotary files with or without chemical agents on primary teeth. For the study, 90 extracted primary maxillary incisors without internal or external resorption and with at least two-thirds of complete roots were chosen. Then, based on the kind of instruments used to clean and shape the canals, they were randomly assigned to three experimental groups, each consisting of 30 teeth. Group-I: The canal was instrumented manually with K-files, Group-II: The canal was instrumented with Kedo-S files, Group-III: The canal was instrumented with Kedo-SG Blue files. After the canals were finally instrumented, 2 mL of QMixTM solution was used to irrigate 15 samples from each group. The samples were subsequently allowed to remain in the canals for 90 seconds in order to eliminate the smear layer. After that a stereomicroscope was used to assess the cleaning effectiveness. With irrigant solution, the highest mean value was found in manual K-files (2.86 ± 0.34), followed by Kedo-S files group (1.34 ± 0.26) and Kedo-SG Blue files (1.28 ± 0.18). Without irrigant solution, the highest mean value was found in manual K-files (2.92 ± 0.22) followed by Kedo-S files group (1.44 ± 0.18) and Kedo-SG Blue files (1.36 ± 0.14). There was a statistically significant difference found at all the three levels. On conclusion, the current study's findings demonstrated that irrigation solution was significantly more effective in cleaning and removing smear layers from pediatric rotary files than manual K-files. The effectiveness of endodontic therapy depends on a successful chemomechanical preparation. The canals are instrumented using either hand files or rotary instruments; there are several irrigation and instrumentation techniques. In order to completely sterilize the canals, chemical agents are utilized for irrigation during instrumentation. Due to their numerous biological, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities, many natural compounds are also utilized as irrigants. How to cite this article: Abushanan A. Evaluation of the Smear Layer Removal Ability of Various Rotary Files with/without Chemical Agents on Primary Teeth: An In Vitro Study. J Contemp Dent Pract 2024;25(4):354-357.

Characterization of Microplastics and Adsorbed/Dissolved Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Biggest River System in Saitama and Tokyo, Japan.

This study presents a comprehensive characterization of microplastics (MPs) and adsorbed/dissolved polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Arakawa River, the largest river system in Saitama and Tokyo, Japan. The MPs were sampled at various points along the river, revealing an average number density of 2.21 ± 1.48 pieces/m3, with a predominant size range of 0.5-1 mm. Polymer analysis indicated that polyethylene (PE) comprised the highest proportion of MPs (55.9%), followed by polypropylene (PP) (22.4%) and polystyrene (PS) (21.7%). Seasonal fluctuations in MPs concentration were observed, with the highest values in winter and the lowest in summer. An analysis of adsorbed PAHs revealed a median partition coefficient (Kd) value of 3.58 × 104 L/kg for MPs, indicating their affinity for PAHs. Further PAHs analysis revealed that the PAHs with the highest mean values were bicyclic naphthalene, pyrene, and fluoranthene. A comparison with coastal MPs showed differences in PAH composition, with higher proportions of high-ring PAHs observed in coastal samples. The study also investigated the distribution of PAHs in the dissolved and suspended states in the river, finding that similar PAHs were distributed in both states, with the PAHs present in MPs being about 1/10,000 of those in the dissolved and suspended states. The study underscores the importance of the continued monitoring and management of MPs and associated pollutants in river ecosystems.

The effect of outcome-based education on clinical performance and perception of pediatric care of the third-year nursing students in Mongolia.

Mongolian government has set improvement of clinical proficiency of nursing students as one of its priorities. Nursing professionals have the sentinel role in providing healthcare services in rural areas. Outcome-based education (OBE) offers a promising pedagogical approach to actively mentally engage students to strengthen their clinical proficiencies. We implemented a pilot project with the objective of comparing students' clinical performance under OBE with our traditional didactic techniques. The researchers implemented a non-equivalent two-armed quasi-experimental post-test-only' design approach study. The intervention arm (n = 34) received OBE pediatric training, while the control arm (n = 32) received the traditional pedagogical pediatric nursing training. Each arm of the study completed 16 hours of theory, 32 hours of clinical skills practice and 32 hours of seminars in pediatric nursing care. Data were collected using a five-section instrument, Demographic, Competency Inventory, Nursing Students' Satisfaction, Course Experience, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination. Performance and knowledge proficiencies were evaluated by applying the two-sided independent T-test. The distributions of categorical variables were assessed by Fisher's exact test or chi-squared test of significance. The intervention arm had higher mean score value in the competency inventory ([Formula: see text] = 238.70, SD = ± 23.07) compared to the control arm ([Formula: see text] = 222.11, SD = ± 39.94) (P = 0.04); similarly, the mean value for nursing students' satisfaction was higher for the intervention arm ([Formula: see text] = 117.87, SD = ± 15.94) compared to the control group ([Formula: see text] = 109.76, SD = ± 16.94) (P = 0.049). Additionally, the difference in the mean value for course experience questionnaire between the intervention arm ([Formula: see text] = 125.33, SD = ± 19.30) and the control arm ([Formula: see text] = 110.41, SD = ± 11.28) was statistically significant (P = 0.0001). Finally, the intervention arm had a higher mean value ([Formula: see text] = 85.40, SD = ± 6.11) for objective structural clinical examination compared to the control arm ([Formula: see text] = 81.56, SD = ± 7.01) (P = 0.023). OBE pedagogical approach offers promising benefits to improving nursing students' clinical competencies; additionally, the OBE approach seems to increase students' satisfactions with their clinical curriculum.

Benchmarking the performance and uncertainty of machine learning models in estimating scour depth at sluice outlets

ABSTRACT This study investigates the performance of six machine learning (ML) models – Random Forest (RF), Adaptive Boosting (ADA), CatBoost (CAT), Support Vector Machine (SVM), Lasso Regression (LAS), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) – against traditional empirical formulas for estimating maximum scour depth after sluice gates. Our findings indicate that ML models generally outperform empirical formulas, with correlation coefficients (CORR) ranging from 0.882 to 0.944 for ML models compared with 0.835–0.847 for empirical methods. Notably, ANN exhibited the highest performance, followed closely by CAT, with a CORR of 0.936. RF, ADA, and SVM performed competitive metrics around 0.928. Variable importance assessments highlighted the dimensionless densimetric Froude number (Fd) as significantly influential, particularly in RF, CAT, and LAS models. Furthermore, SHAP value analysis provided insights into each predictor's impact on model outputs. Uncertainty assessment through Monte Carlo (MC) and Bootstrap (BS) methods, with 1,000 iterations, indicated ML's capability to produce reliable uncertainty maps. ANN leads in performance with higher mean values and lower standard deviations, followed by CAT. MC results trend towards optimistic predictions compared with BS, as reflected in median values and interquartile ranges. This analysis underscores the efficacy of ML models in providing precise and reliable scour depth predictions.

Thermal degradation assessment, impact strength, and hardness of combination epoxy and polystyrene powder composite

The present study investigates the reactions of polystyrene and epoxy/polystyrene powder composites, exploring different weight percentages (8%, 12%, and 16%) of polystyrene during decomposition under highly elevated temperatures within a nitrogen atmosphere. The findings reveal that polystyrene content significantly influences the thermal behavior of pure epoxy, with a higher polystyrene content correlating with the increased thermal stability of the composites. This study observed a three-stage mass loss process by examining the reaction kinetics of thermal decomposition using the Coats-Redfern approach. Initially, weight reduction occurs due to moisture and volatile elimination, followed by a smooth mass loss phase attributed to weaker polymer chain linkages and, ultimately, char formation. Chemical kinetic parameters, such as activation energy and frequency factor, were successfully determined using the Coats-Redfern approach, with a first-order reaction observed across all data points, demonstrating a high R-square mean value of 99.8%. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravitational analysis (TGA) analyses revealed an increase in glass temperature from 86.95 to 92.85 °C and an elevation in activation energy from 75.38 to 92.85 kJ/mol with increasing polystyrene content (0–16 wt%). Furthermore, the study investigated the influence of thermodynamic parameters. In terms of mechanical properties, increasing polystyrene content reduced impact strength (from 8.5 to 4.23 Kj/m2). In contrast, hardness increased from 77.5 for pure epoxy to 80.4 at 12 wt% polystyrene content in the composite. These findings underscore the importance of thermal stability results in developing a comprehensive understanding of thermal decomposition processes, informing future research endeavors and industrial applications.

Effectiveness of low-viscosity resin infiltration (Icon) on color change of enamel white spot lesions: 1-year follow-up clinical study

BackgroundTo evaluate the effect of the low-viscosity Icon resin infiltrate application on the color change of white spot enamel lesions (WSLs) over 3-, 6-, and 12-m follow-up periods.MethodsNinety-six teeth diagnosis with WSLs using the ICDAS scoring system in 49 participants were assessed for their color change using the Icon resin infiltration technique. The Icon kit was applied to WSLs as instructed by the manufacturer. Icon-Etch (15% hydrofluoric acid) was applied to the lesions for 2 min, and then, it was rinsed off with copious amount of water for 30 s. Then, Icon-Dry (99% ethanol) was applied to the etched lesions for 30-s followed by the application of the Icon resin infiltrate that was light cured for 40 s. Color change assessment was performed using Vita Easyshade V spectrophotometer at baseline and immediately after Icon resin infiltration, then at 3-, 6-, and 12-m follow-up periods. Analysis of the data was performed using the test of repeated measure ANOVA and the paired sample t test.ResultsThere was a statistically significant difference in ∆E between the different follow-up periods at immediate, 3-m, 6-m, and 12-m. The highest mean value was found in the immediate follow-up period, while the lowest mean value was found in 12-m follow-up period.ConclusionsLow-viscosity Icon resin infiltration has the ability for immediate diffusion into the WSLs giving an immediate improvement in the esthetic outcome of the WSLs. However, its long-term outcomes might not be consistent for the color change of the WSLs.

Life-history evolution in the orange-tailed skink populations living in different climates.

The life-history traits of ectothermic animals can be influenced by many abiotic factors, including climate. As an ectothermic species, we questioned whether the life-history characteristics of the orange-tailed skink (Eumeces schneiderii) populations differ between two different environments/climates. Our findings showed that the average body size of lizards living in the Mediterranean climate zone was higher than those in the continental climate zone. However, although Mediterranean population had higher mean values regarding average age, there was no discernible difference between the two climate zone populations. When considering all populations collectively, it has been discovered that the species' maximum lifespan is 18 years. Body size notably increased with age in both populations. Through the utilization of the von Bertalanffy equation, the anticipated growth parameters portrayed a highly accurate connection between age and snout-vent length. In conclusion, lizards living in habitats characterized by milder Mediterranean climates were found to have larger body sizes than continental populations, but both populations were comparable in terms of mean age. This difference can be explained by several factors, including activation time, temperature, precipitation, food abundance, and the presence of predators.

Investigation of The Correlation Between Pain, Proprioception and Range of Motion in Patients With Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction

Purpose: The aim of study was to investigate the relationship between pain, proprioception and range of motion in patients with temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). Material and Methods: The study was completed with 45 participants diagnosed with TMD and 45 healthy controls. Visual analog scale and graded chronic pain scale were used to assess pain intensity, dolorimeter was used for pain pressure threshold (PPT) assessment. Evaluation of cervical proprioception by cervical joint position error test (JPET), cervical joint range of motion assessment by digital goniometer, mouth opening measurements were made with a ruler. Results: In the study, pain intensity was high and PPT was low in the TMD group. In the JPET, the right-left rotation and left lateral flexion values in the TMD group had higher mean values than the control group (p=0.028, p=0.003, p=0.004, respectively). There was a significant difference between the groups in digital goniometer measurement in right-left rotation, right-left lateral flexion movements(p=0.008, p=0.001, p=0.041, p=0.005, respectively). The TMD group had a lower mean than the control group in painless, maximum assisted and unassisted mouth opening measurements(p=0.001, p=0.001, p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion: TMD patients presented a lower PPT, less accurate head repositioning, and some impairment in cervical range of motion.

Effect of cevimeline and different concentration of gum arabic on parotid salivary gland function in methotrexate-induced xerostomia: a comparative study

ObjectiveThis study assessed the effect of cevimeline and different concentrations of gum arabic on the parotid gland of rats being given xerostomia-inducing methotrexate.MethodsOne hundred twenty-five rats were divided into five equal groups of twenty-five each. The rats in Group I received basic diets, while those in Groups II, III, IV, and V received 20 mg/kg MTX as a single intraperitoneal dose on day one. Group III received 10 mg/kg CVM dissolved in saline orally and daily, and the other two groups received a 10% W/V aqueous suspension of GA. Therefore, Group IV received 2 ml/kg suspension orally and daily, while Group V received 3 ml/kg suspension orally and daily. After 9 days, the parotid glands were dissected carefully and prepared for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining as a routine histological stain and caspase-3 and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining. Quantitative data from α-Caspase-3 staining and Ki67 staining were statistically analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparisons post hoc test.ResultsRegarding caspase-3 and Ki67 immunohistochemical staining, one-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference among the five groups. For Caspase-3, the highest mean value was for group II (54.21 ± 6.90), and the lowest mean value was for group I (15.75 ± 3.67). The other three groups had mean values of 31.09 ± 5.90, 30.76 ± 5.82, and 20.65 ± 3.47 for groups III, IV, and V, respectively. For Ki67, the highest mean value was for group I (61.70 ± 6.58), and the lowest value was for group II (18.14a ± 5.16). The other three groups had mean values of 34.4 ± 9.27, 48.03 ± 8.40, and 50.63 ± 8.27 for groups III, IV, and V, respectively.ConclusionGA, rather than the normally used drug CVM, had a desirable effect on the salivary glands of patients with xerostomia.

Evaluation of increased posterior tibial slope as a risk factor for anterior cruciate ligament injury

Individuals who sustain anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury have an increased risk of developing early onset post traumatic osteoarthritis of the knee despite treatment received [1]. An increase in the posterior tibial slope is postulated to increase the risk of ACL rupture [2]. Measurement of the posterior tibial slope in individuals would serve as a means of screening and identifying those at increased risk of developing ACL injuries to take measures towards prevention. The aim was to measure and compare the mean value of the posterior tibial slope in adult patients with or without ACL injury. This was a hospital-based case-control study comprising 80 patients divided into two matched groups. Posterior tibial slope was measured on the plain lateral radiograph of the knee using the proximal tibial anatomic axis measurement protocol in all participants. Independent sample t-test was used to compare the means of the measured posterior tibial lope between cases and controls. The difference in the measured mean posterior tibial slope between the ACL injured group and the non-ACL injured group was found to be statistically significant with those in the ACL injured group having higher mean values (12.71 ± 1.2° vs 10.25 ± 1.1°) with a P value of &lt; 0.001. Individuals with ACL injury have a significantly greater posterior tibial slope than those without ACL injury when measured on the lateral plain radiograph of the knee using the proximal tibial anatomic axis measurement protocol.

Dermatoglyphic pattern is an Indicator for Assessing the Intelligence Quotient (IQ) of Medical Undergraduates in A North Indian Medical College

Introduction: The intelligence quotient (IQ) levels and dermal ridge patterns on the volar surfaces of digits and palms of different individuals may be related because brain developed from 13th to 21st week and during same time-period the dermal groove developed. Neocortex is a higher center for learning and of intelligence, so there is association between Intelligence level and patterns of fingerprints. So, this study was conducted to find out the different dermatoglyphic patterns of fingers and palms and correlate them to the IQ levels of medical undergraduates. Materials and Methods: Fingers and palms prints of both the hands of 150 medical students of 18-24 years were collected with help of ink pad and A4 size of paper. The fingers and palms prints were studied using hand held magnifying lens and their IQ levels assessed using Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices. Results: The most common finger patterns e.g. single whorl in thumb, ulnar loop in index finger and middle finger of both sides and were found on participants having Grade I Intelligence. More males shown higher IQ and belonged to Class A IQ i.e. grade I and Grade II however in lower IQ the males and females were equally distributed and belonged to Class B i.e. Grade III, IV, V. Most common finger patterns i.e. single whorl in thumb and ulnar loop in index on both right and left side were found in the participants having Grade I &amp; II Intelligence. Conclusion: Students with Grade I and II IQ has higher incidence of whorl followed by loop whereas in participants with IQ level of Grade III onwards, loop was the most common pattern followed by whorl. Asymmetry in patterns on both the side of fingerprint was evident in lower IQ levels. Higher values of mean ‘a-b’ ridge count and mean ‘atd’ angle was higher in individuals with low IQ level. So, it can be concluded that the dermatoglyphic pattern and IQ levels are associated.

Analysis On The Survey Of E-Zakat System Among Zakat Applicants Of Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Johor

Unit Zakat, Sedekah dan Wakaf (UZSW) is known as a zakat institution under Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Johor. There are various functions of this unit including managing zakat distribution fund according to the distribution management procedures that have been set. However, as the system is newly developed, it is certain that this system needs feedback from the users, especially from the zakat applicant. The purpose of this research is to study the effectiveness of the online zakat application system (e-ZAKAT) among zakat applicants consisting of UiTM Johor students. This research uses quantitative method in the form of survey through Google Form application. The data are collected and analyzed using Statistical Packages of Social Science (SPSS). The result of the study shows that all the items have a high mean value. It means that most of the respondents choose agree and strongly agree that e-ZAKAT system is easier, beneficial and user-friendly.

EFFECT OF HUMIC ACID AND MAXIGROW (ORGANIC FERTILIZER) ON GROWTH, FLOWERING AND YIELD OF SNAKE CUCUMBER (CUCUMIS MELO. L)

ABSTRACT: A field trial was implemented at the research center field at general directorate of agriculture, Dohuk Governorate, Iraqi Kurdistan region in summer season of (2022-2023) to find out the impact of foliar application of humic acid at three levels (0, 2, and 4) ml L-1 and Maxigrow (an organic fertilizer) with three levels (0, 1, and 2) ml L-1 and their combinations on outgrowth, flowering and harvest of local snake cucumber. The experiment was organized following a randomized complete block design (RCBD) including three replicates. The data displayed that the individual dose of humic acid at (4) ml.L-1 significantly enhanced foliage traits [number of branches, stem diameter (cm), Leaf area (cm2), plant fresh weight (g), and chlorophyll content (SPAD)] as well as increased flowering characters [number of flowers after 30 days and number of flowers after 40 days] and yielded components [fruit length (cm), fruit diameter (cm), and total yield (ton.ha-1)]. The same profound effect was exhibited by the singular dose of Maxigrow at concentration (2) ml.L-1. However, the highest mean values were produced from humic acid at concentration (4) ml.L-1 in combination with Maxigrow at concentration (2) ml.L-1 in comparison with control. The increased level of humic acid and Maxigrow is advised for organic productivity of local snake cucumber.

Sunflower Growth and Grain Yield under Different Tillage Systems and Sources of Organic Manure on Contrasting Soil Types in Limpopo Province of South Africa

A field study was conducted to assess the effect of tillage systems (TSs) and manure rates (MRs) on sunflower growth and yield at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm (Syferkuil) which is on sandy loam soils and University of Venda Experimental Farm (UNIVEN) clayey soils, both located in Limpopo Province of South Africa for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons. The experimental design was a split plot with three replications. The main plot was the tillage treatments: conventional (CON) and in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH), while the subplots were the manure treatments: viz. poultry and cattle manures at rates of 20 and 35 t ha−10, plus a control (no manure application). The IRWH is a tillage technique that collects rainwater on a 2 m wide runoff strip into the 1 m wide basin where it infiltrates deep into the soil beyond the evaporation zone but is available for crop use. The results revealed that at Syferkuil IRWH had a significant increase (p &lt; 0.05) on grain yield, head diameter, head dry matter and aboveground dry matter yield in both cropping seasons, whereas at UNIVEN, the significant increase was obtained on grain yield, head diameter, aboveground dry matter, plant height and stem girth during both cropping seasons. The effect of manure rate significantly increased with the application rate, with poultry manure at the highest rate of 35 t ha−1 significantly recording high mean values of grain yield, head diameter, head dry matter, aboveground dry matter, plant height and stem girth at both sites during the two cropping seasons. The increase in leaf area index and 100 seed weight by IRWH and manure rate application varied across the growing stages and cropping seasons with no consistent trend. At Syferkuil, TS and MR interaction was significant on head diameter and on aboveground dry matter at flowering stage in the first cropping season, whereas at UNIVEN, it was significant on head diameter in the first cropping season. Therefore, these results suggest that IRWH combined with poultry manure (35 t ha−1) can be adopted to improve sunflower crop yield under similar management and environmental conditions. In the absence of poultry manure, farmers may opt to use cattle manure at a rate of 35 t ha−1 for better improved yield.

Gendered Perspectives on Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Study of Finnish SMEs

The objective of this research is to understand how gender is related to opportunities of sustainable entrepreneurship. The data was gathered from Finnish SMEs, and it has responses from 202 SME owner-managers. Of the SME owner-managers, 28 % were women and 72 % male. Most of the SMEs were small sized and employed under 50 employees. First, we developed a taxonomy of green entrepreneurship by building an instrument with 10 items (7-point Likert scale) based on the definitions of green SMEs. For building the taxonomy, we performed an exploratory factor analysis, which produced three factors. The first factor was named as “green entrepreneurs”. This factor measures the behaviour related to seeking business opportunities from green transition and reducing the negative impact of SME’s operations. The second factor was named as “green missionaries”. This factor measures behaviour related to active promotion of green transition and the SME’s vision to improve the state of the environment. The third factor was named as “no concern for environmental issues”. SMEs with high values in this factor represent SMEs who think that environmental issues do not concern their business or industry. Based on these factors, scales were created with acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s alphas over 0,70). Secondly, we performed t-tests to test mean differences between men and women in these scales. Results show that women have higher mean values in the scale “green entrepreneurs” (4,9 vs. 4,3), and lower mean values in the scale “no concern for environmental issues” (2,8 vs. 3,2). No mean differences between men and women were found in the scale “green missionaries”. The results indicate that women approach the opportunities offered by sustainable entrepreneurship differently than men. They are more proactive in seeking new business opportunities and are more inclined than men to promote sustainability principles in their own business operations. This research sheds light on how women and men engage differently in green business initiatives, providing valuable insights for fostering gender-inclusive sustainability strategies.

Identification of dental sexual dimorphism in deciduous teeth: A cross sectional study

The study of sex diagnosis is essential to reconstruct the biological profile of an unknown individual. Two approaches are often used: morphometric and scopic. This three-dimensional morphometric study aimed to assess sexual dimorphism in temporary dentition.: A total of 200 dental impressions digitized in 3D using the Revopoint® POP2 3D scanner were used for this odontometric analysis. Discriminant statistical analysis (Student's t-test) revealed that boys had higher mean values than girls for all distances measured. A highly significant sexual dimorphism was observed in the temporary second molars. The distance between the mandibular canines was slightly greater in boys, although this difference was not statistically significant. In conclusion, odontometric parameters are a simple, reliable, and inexpensive method of sex determination. The temporary canines and second molars are the most dimorphic.