Honest Significant Difference Research Articles

Characterization of Post-harvest Losses along the Supply Chain of Vegetables in Punjab

Background: The loss of vegetables is immense which is accrued to its perishability and sub optimal level of post-harvest management. There is a technological gap in adoption of harvesting and post-harvesting practices by farmers. There is sparse qualitative and quantitative assessment of post-harvest losses of vegetables in Punjab. The objective of the study is to identify the operation and channel where the losses are crossing the threshold, to estimate the extent of losses and characterize them at various post-harvest operations and levels for selected vegetables in Punjab and to analyse the factors responsible for post-harvest losses. Methods: The sample in survey location consisted of all the stakeholders of supply chain network for vegetables in the state of Punjab, India. The stakeholders consisted of farmers, wholesalers and retailers. The study adopted cluster sampling technique. The clusters selected for the study were Nakodar, Malerkotla and Baba Bakala Sahib and the vegetables selected for the study were potato, pea, tomato, okra and cauliflower. Further snowball sampling technique was used to select 80 farmers from each cluster, making up a total sample of 240 farmers and one reference each for wholesaler and retailer was identified in every cluster. Then using snowball technique, 2 wholesalers and 10 retailers were selected from each cluster. Thus, making total sample of 10 wholesalers and 30 retailers were selected for the study. The instrument used for the data collection was a structured interview schedule. The one-way ANOVA and Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference test were employed to understand the significant difference in post-harvest losses between the selected vegetables and along the supply chain. Result: The results revealed that the maximum losses were observed in tomato crop at farm level (17.71%) and retailer level (30.10%) whereas at wholesaler level maximum losses were recorded in pea (8.19%). The extent of losses at farm level has been higher as compared to wholesaler level and it was highest at the retailer level. At farmer’s level it was observed that there have been significantly higher losses in tomato crop (17.7±13.35). At retailer level, significantly higher losses were observed in tomato (30.10±15.80) whereas at wholesaler level, significantly higher losses occurred in pea (12.29±3.15). There was no significant difference in losses between farmer and retailer level. Major cause of loss reported by tomato growers (88.6%) was infestation of fruits with disease and insect. Main reason of post-harvest losses in okra and cauliflower as stated by farmers were bruises/blackening and over maturity. Since the findings reveal that the major losses in the supply chain of vegetables was due to lack adoption of harvest and post-harvest practices at farmer’s level. It is suggested that field level training should be imparted to farmers regarding post-harvest management techniques.

Growth, Yield, and Stem Quality of Tectona grandis Grown with Different Spacings at Longuza Forest Plantation, Tanzania

Spacing is a silvicultural practice that affects the growth of trees in forest plantations. However, the yield depends on growth, which is determined by spacing. In addition, spacing influences the quantity of the final crop available for harvesting, specifically in forest plantations for sawlog production. Spacing is also used as a management practice to control the quality of trees, as dense stands are expected to have trees with good stem quality. However, little has been done to address the effects of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of Tectona grandis until final harvesting age. Teak plantations in Tanzania are grown at a rotation age of 20 years. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of spacing on the growth, yield, and stem quality of 24-year-old T. grandis in a Longuza Forest plantation in Muheza, Tanzania. Data were collected from a spacing trial using a randomized complete block design with three treatments: 2 m × 2 m, 3 × 3 m, and 4 m × 4 m, with three replications. The growth and yield parameters assessed were diameter at breast height (dbh) total tree height, and stem quality. Data were analyzed to obtain the basal area, volume, and mean annual increment. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), and multiple comparisons among treatment means were performed using Tukey's honest significant difference test (p-value = 0.05). The results showed that spacing did not significantly affect growth and yield parameters. The stem quality was significantly different in some treatments. The highest dbh and height growth were observed at 4 m× 4 m spacing. The highest values of basal area, volume, and mean annual increment were observed at a 3 m× 3 m spacing. Stem quality differed significantly between the 2 m× 2 m and 4 m× 4 m spacings. Because teak plantations in Tanzania are aimed at sawlog production, it is recommended to continue practising a spacing of 3 m× 3 m, which will ensure a higher mean annual increment with a higher volume at the stand level. In addition, a spacing of 3 m × 3 m ensured a higher percentage of trees with good stem quality.

Potential Antifungal of Merang Padi Extract (Oryza sativa) Against Fungal Growth

<div><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="left"><tbody><tr><td align="left" valign="top"><p><em>Merang padi is a traditional medicine that comes from natural ingredients, namely plants. However, there has not been much research on the activity of rice straw extract (Oryza sativa) being explored and researched. The aim of this research was to determine the yield of extracts and the number of antifungal isolates in inhibiting fungal growth and their potential as antifungals against Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus fungi. This research uses experimental research with a quantitative approach carried out through laboratory tests. The design used was a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) which was grouped into 6 treatment groups, namely 4 groups of rice straw extract and 2 control groups which were repeated for each treatment 4 times. The treatment group consisted of P1 with rice straw extract with a concentration of 20,000 ppm, P2 with rice straw extract with a concentration of 40,000 ppm, P3 with rice straw extract with a concentration of 60,000 ppm and P4 with rice straw extract with a concentration of 80,000 ppm. Meanwhile, the control group, namely P0 as a negative control, namely NaCl 0.9% and P5 as a positive control, namely Nystatin 100,000 IU. The research sample was rice straw from rice plants that had been identified and then weighed. Data analysis used one way ANOVA SPSS version 20. If there were differences then a further test was carried out, namely the Honest Significant Difference Test (BNJ) to see the differences between each treatment based on the coefficient of diversity (KK) value obtained at the 5% test level. The results of tests that have been carried out show that the n-hexane fraction of rice straw has no antifungal activity, while the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions have antifungal activity. The concentration of ethyl acetate in this study was greater than the other compounds.</em></p><p> </p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p><strong><em>Keywords : Candida albicus, merang padi, mushrooms, oryza sativa</em></strong></p>

High-intensity combination exercise has the highest effect on increasing serum irisin and interleukin 6 levels in women with obesity.

Lifestyle, overnutrition, socioeconomic status, environmental conditions, and genetics are factors that cause obesity. Lifestyle modification with a nonpharmacological approach based on physical exercise is the starting point inovercoming obesity. However, physical exercise with the appropriate and effective intensity for obese subjects is still debated. Therefore, this study aims to prove the effect of intensity differences with aerobic-resistance combination exercise on increasing irisin and IL-6 levels in obese women. A total of 32 obese women were selected as subjects and administered the interventions of low-intensity combination exercise (Q2), moderate-intensity combination exercise (Q3), and high-intensity combination exercise (Q4). ELISA was used to measure irisin and IL-6 levels in all samples. Statistical analysis used one-way ANOVA and Turkey's-Honest Significant Difference (HSD) post hoc test. The mean Δ IL-6 levels in the control groups (Q1), Q2, Q3, and Q4 were 0.27±2.54, 2.07±2.55, 5.99±6.25, and 7.98±2.82 pg/mL with (p=0.015). The mean Δ irisin levels were 0.06±0.81 ng/mL in Q1, 0.59±0.67 ng/mL in Q2, 1.99±1.65 ng/mL in Q3, 4.63±3.57 ng/mL in Q4 with (p=0.001). This study proved that all three types of combined exercise intensity increased myokine levels, suchas irisin and IL-6. However, high-intensity combination exercise provided the most optimal improvement in myokine levels in obese women. Future studies are needed to design long-term exercise programs specifically for obese adolescent women using the findings from this study.

Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Various Composite Resin Materials: An In Vitro Study.

Aim This study aimed to determine and comparethe cytotoxicity of light-cured composite resin (Enlight light cure composite (Ormco, Glendora, California, USA)), light-cured acrylic resin (Orthocryl LC (Dentaurum, Ispringen, Germany)), and the self-cure acrylic (DPI RR cold cure acrylic (Dental Products of India, Bombay Burmah Trading Corporation Ltd., Mumbai, India)) material and to determine which component is best to be used for the purpose of nasal stent fabrication in the nasoalveolar molding (NAM) technique for cleft therapy. Methods Circular discs made from Enlight light cure composite, Orthocryl LC, and self-cure acrylic were submerged for 24 hours in gingival fibroblast media (three discs of each material) and control medium (three discs of each material) that were both contained in plates. After analyzing the optical densities of the plates, the cytotoxicity of the products was assessed by measuring cell viability using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The compiled data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, V. 23.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY). The normality of the data was evaluated using the Shapiro-Wilk test.One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and pairwise comparison made with Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) post hoc test with a significance level (p) of 0.05 were considered. Results The percentage of cell viability was between 80% and 150%. A significantmean difference was noted in the cell viability between the three groups (p=0.009). High mean cell viability was seen in Orthocryl LC. However, there was no significant mean difference between Orthocryl LC and Enlight light cure composite material (p=0.854). Conclusion Both Orthocryl LC and Enlight light cure composite materials are less cytotoxic when compared to the self-cure acrylic resin material and can be used to fabricate the nasal stent component for infants with cleft defects, undergoing NAM procedure.

Antioxidant Activities and Potential Wound Healing Effects of Meniran (Phyllanthus niruri) Extract Gel

Highlights:1. This study analyzed the potential of Meniran extract gel for wound healing therapy, a plant-based medicine that has not been thoroughly researched in the context of promoting a healthy lifestyle.2. The analysis found that Meniran extract gel has antioxidant properties that can be used for wound treatment to improve human health. AbstractResearch on the use of medicinal plants to treat numerous diseases has been widely conducted. However, for chronic wound healing, the availability of medicinal plants for treatment remains rare. Gels containing active plant-based compounds may provide a solution. Phyllanthus niruri, known as "meniran" in Indonesian, is a medicinal plant used traditionally to cure various diseases. This study aimed to examine the antioxidant activities of Meniran extract gel, potentially for wound healing. Meniran was extracted using 70% methanol and formulated into a gel. The Meniran gel was composed of three formulations: 3%, 4%, and 5% sodium carboxymethylcellulose (CMC-Na) supplemented with 5% Meniran extract. The quality of the gel was assessed based on homogeneity, spreadability, pH, and viscosity. This study utilized 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays to evaluate the antioxidant activity of Meniran gel at seven different concentrations through its scavenging capacities. The results were calculated to determine the median inhibitory concentration (IC50). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and post-hoc Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) were used for statistical analysis (p < 0.05). The three Meniran gel formulations showed good quality with spreadability ranging from 5.37 to 5.59 cm, pH levels from 5.90 to 6.03, and viscosity from 9.080 to 9.230 cps. Higher gel concentrations led to an increase in the free radical DPPH- and ABTS-scavenging activities. The highest DPPH and ABTS assays were found at 1,000 μg/mL with IC50 values of 69.72 μg/mL and 20.15 μg/mL, respectively. In conclusion, Meniran gel formulas exhibit good standards and have antioxidant properties suitable for wound healing therapy.

Comparative Evaluation of Flexural Strength and Microhardness of Two Different Ceramic Reinforced 3-D Printed Resins with Cad-cam Milled and Conventional Tooth Coloured Heat Cured Polymethylmethacrylate Resins as Long-term Provisional Restorative Materials” – An in Vitro Study

Background: Long-term provisional restorations play a crucial role in complex clinical scenarios, Implant-supported prostheses, full-mouth rehabilitation cases & Maxillofacial Prosthodontics. Understanding the mechan-ical properties such as flexural strength and microhardness of newer commercially available provision-al restorative materials is necessary to select an optimum material for long-term provisional fixed den-tal prosthesis. This Research study was conducted to evaluate and compare the Flexural Strength and Microhardness of Two Different Ceramic-reinforced 3-D Printed Resins with CAD-CAM Milled and Conventional Tooth Coloured Heat Cured Polymethylmethacrylate Resins as Long-Term Provisional Restorative Materials. Methods: Twenty-one specimens of dimensions 25 mm × 2 mm × 2 mm (ADA-ANSI specification #27) were fabricated each using: Group A (Control group)-Conventional tooth colored heat cured polymethyl-methacrylate resin (DPI Heat cure tooth moulding powder), Group B-CAD-CAM milled resin, Group C- Ceramic reinforced polymer 3-D printed resin (Temporary CB resin) and Group D- Ceramic rein-forced polymer 3-D printed resin (Permanent CB resin). Flexural strength and microhardness were measured and the values obtained were evaluated. Results: The measured mean flexural strength values (Mega Pascals) were 39.41 (Group A), 153 (Group B), 124.91 (Group C), and 136.50 (Group D). The measured mean microhardness values (Knoop hardness number) were 37.9 (Group A), 40.5 (Group B), 34.67 (Group C), and 43.88 (Group D). The difference in flexural strength and microhardness values of the three groups was statistically significant according to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) as well as the intergroup comparison done using Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) Post Hoc test (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Flexural strength with higher values in Group B were noted and the Microhardness test showed higher values in Group D.

Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Studies of Brucein D against T24 Bladder Cancer Cells.

Brucein D (BrD), a quassinoid isolated from Brucea javanica fruit, reportedly demonstrates anti-cancer activity. This study's objective is to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Brucein D and its ability to induce apoptosis in T24 bladder cancer cells. We investigated the cytotoxic activity of BrD against the T24 cell through the induction of apoptosis in vitro. This cytotoxic activity was evaluated with ΜΤΤ assay and followed by Calcein-AM/PI viability staining. Apoptotic activity was determined with Hoechst 33342 nuclear staining and DNA fragmentation. Doxorubicin and docetaxel were used as a positive control. Evaluation of apoptotic-related gene expression, Bax, Bak, Bcl2, and p53 was also performed using semi-quantitative PCR analysis. Statistical analysis was conducted using One-way ANOVA followed by post hoc test Turkey's HSD (Honestly Significance Difference). Results show that BrD had high toxicity against T24 bladder cancer cells with an IC50 value of 7.65 ± 1.2 µg/mL but relatively less toxic to 1BR3 normal skin fibroblast cells compared to the doxorubicin and docetaxel treated cells. The viability assay shows that BrD significantly increases the percentage of dead cells relative to control in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the percentage of cells with apoptotic appearance was significantly higher in group treated with BrD IC50 (56.04±3.09%) compared to control (9.42±2.88). The result was similar to doxorubicin IC50 (58.97±12.31) but lower than docetaxel IC50 (74.42±9.79). DNA fragmentation in gel electrophoresis was also observed in T24 cells treated with BrD. Apoptosis was also verified by an alteration in the expression of apoptosis-related genes, upregulation of Bax, Bak, and p53, and downregulation of Bcl-2. BrD has shown a cytotoxic effect against T24 bladder cancer cells. Hence, it is a promising natural compound for the management of bladder cancer by induction of apoptosis through activation of the intrinsic pathway, with low toxicity to normal cells.

Team Sports and Executive Functions: A Comparative Observational Pilot Study

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the executive functional ability among participants regularly practicing and participating in four different sports, including Cricket, Volleyball, Kho-Kho, and Kabaddi, and the active control group.METHODS: This pilot study included 125 university youths aged 19-25 years. Twenty-five participants were selected for each of the four different sports disciplines, including Cricket, Volleyball, Kho-Kho, and Kabaddi, to meet the purpose of the study. Twenty-five active, healthy male participants served as the control group. Moreover, participants in the control group did not regularly engage in organized sports; however, they were all recreationally active and healthy. The Executive Functions (EFs) of all sampled participants were assessed using the Tower of London (TOL) and Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT). Mean, standard deviation, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Tukey’s honest significant difference (HSD) post-hoc tests were used for data analysis and interpretation.RESULTS: One-way ANOVA demonstrated significant differences among groups in both tests; thus, the post-hoc Tukey’s HSD test was conducted, which gave pairwise comparisons between and within groups. Pairwise comparison of the TOL test indicated significantly higher EFs in Kabaddi players than those in the Volleyball (<i>p</i><.01), Kho-kho (<i>p</i><.05), and the control (<i>p</i><.001) groups; however, there was no significant difference between the Kabaddi and Cricket groups. The Cricket group demonstrated higher EFs than the control group (<i>p</i><.05). The pairwise comparison results of the SCWT test indicated significantly higher EFs in Volleyball (<i>p</i><.001) and Khokho (<i>p</i><.05) players than those in the control group.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that people involved in regular physical and team sports activities have higher EFs than nontrainer active control individuals.

Evaluation and assessment of the wettabilty and water contact angle of modified poly methyl methacrylate denture base materials against PEEK in cast partial denture framework: an in vitro study

IntroductionThe prevalence of adults with partially dental arches is expected to be more than imagined and patients requiring replacement of missing teeth are slowly increasing in number too. Removable partial dentures are known to provide for substantial replacement for the missing teeth with also added advantages when compared to fixed or implant prosthesis, mainly in elderly patients. Denture base material performance and durability are greatly influenced by wettability and water contact angle. In the case of dentures; adequate moisture distribution is necessary to ensure excellent wettability which has an influence on comfort and oral health. The purpose of conducting this study was to find out whether the advancements made using PEEK (Polyether ether ketone) would prove to be more beneficial than the current upgrades in the current material spectrum.Materials and methodsThis study was performed under in vitro conditions. All the fabrication and processing was done only by one operator. The materials used were divided into three groups each comprising 20 samples. Group A was modified polymethylmethacrylate (Bredent Polyan), Group B was polyoxymethylene acetal resin (Biodentaplast) and Group C was PEEK. An Ossila Goniometer was used to measure the contact angle. The three types of liquids used for the testing included distilled water, natural saliva and mouth wetting solution (Wet Mouth Liquid, ICPA India). Human saliva was collected from an individual with no medical conditions and normal salivary secretion.ResultsThe data was analyzed using One-way ANOVA test and a pairwise comparison using the Post Hoc Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference. Table 1 consists of the mean water contact angles of the denture base materials and mean contact angles of various denture base materials. In saliva, mouth wetting solution and distilled water, the highest mean and least mean contact angle was seen in Polyan and Biodentaplast respectively. A signicant difference was seen between PEEK and Polyan and Biodentaplast and Polyan on further comparison.ConclusionFrom the resources and the materials at our disposal, it could be concluded that Polyan, Biodentaplast and PEEK and could be used as viable options in cast partial denture framework.

MSE FINDR: A Shiny R Application to Estimate Mean Square Error Using Treatment Means and Post Hoc Test Results.

Research synthesis methods such as meta-analysis rely primarily on appropriate summary statistics (i.e., means and variance) of a response of interest for implementation to draw general conclusions from a body of research. A commonly encountered problem arises when a measure of variability of a response across a study is not explicitly provided in the summary statistics of primary studies. Typically, these otherwise credible studies are omitted in research synthesis, leading to potential small-study effects and loss of statistical power. We present MSE FINDR, a user-friendly Shiny R application for estimating the mean square error (i.e., within-study residual variance, [Formula: see text]) for continuous outcomes from analysis of variance (ANOVA)-type studies, with specific experimental designs and treatment structures (Latin square, completely randomized, randomized complete block, two-way factorial, and split-plot designs). MSE FINDR accomplishes this by using commonly reported information on treatment means, significance level (α), number of replicates, and post hoc mean separation tests (Fisher's least significant difference [LSD], Tukey's honest significant difference [HSD], Bonferroni, Šidák, and Scheffé). Users upload a CSV file containing the relevant information reported in the study and specify the experimental design and post hoc test that was applied in the analysis of the underlying data. MSE FINDR then proceeds to recover [Formula: see text] based on user-provided study information. The recovered within-study variance can be downloaded and exported as a CSV file. Simulations of trials with a variable number of treatments and treatment effects showed that the MSE FINDR-recovered [Formula: see text] was an accurate predictor of the actual ANOVA [Formula: see text] for one-way experimental designs when summary statistics (i.e., means, variance, and post hoc results) were available for the single factor. Similarly, [Formula: see text] recovered by the application accurately predicted the actual [Formula: see text] for two-way experimental designs when summary statistics were available for both factors and the sub-plot factor in split-plot designs, irrespective of the post hoc mean separation test. The MSE FINDR Shiny application, documentation, and an accompanying tutorial are hosted at https://garnica.shinyapps.io/MSE_FindR/ and https://github.com/vcgarnica/MSE_FindR/. With this tool, researchers can now easily estimate the within-study variance absent in published reports that nonetheless provide appropriate summary statistics, thus enabling the inclusion of such studies that would have otherwise been excluded in meta-analyses involving estimates of effect sizes based on a continuous response.

Effects of Auxin and Gibberellins Hormones on Regeneration of Pineapple Propagules from Crown Leaves (with Buds) in Kilifi County Kenya

Kilifi county has a large potential of over 2,000 Ha suitable for pineapple cultivation that has not been fully exploited due to lack of adequate clean planting material. Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of auxin and gibberellin hormones on regeneration of pineapple propagules from pineapple crown leaves (with buds). The study was carried out at Pwani University Crop Science farm. A randomized complete block design with split plot arrangement replicated thrice was used. Treatments included auxin and gibberellins hormones where the cut crown leaves (with buds) were dipped and planted at a spacing of 4 cm by 6 cm in plastic containers filled with coir dust. Five plastic containers were used for each hormone treatment. In each container, three plants were tagged for data collection. The plastic containers (the plots) measured 30cm by 36cm by 15cm height. Data collected from the tagged plants included, time to shoot emergence, plant height, leaf length and breadth, number of leaves per plant, final root length and final number of roots. These were used to determine effects of auxin, gibberellins on growth of the propagules up to a height of 15-20 cm. Obtained data was subjected to ANOVA analysis using Genstat Statistical software 14th Edition and means obtained compared using Tukey’s honest significant difference test (p < 0.05). The results indicated auxin treated propagules had 50.7%, 50.6%, 64.2%, 52.6%, 24.4%, 10.4%, 39.0%, and 9.9% higher final values of plant weight, shoot weight, dry shoot weight, fresh root weight, plant height, leaf number, root number, dry root weight and root length, respectively, compared to those treated with gibberellins. The study also showed that auxin treated propagules had their initial roots originating from the base of the seedlings, while gibberellins treated propagules had their initial roots originating from the base of the cut crown leaves.

Exploring the Association Between Age Groups and Success Patterns in Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy: A Cohort Study.

Objective This study aimed to comprehensively examine the correlation between success trends in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy and the advancing age of patients undergoing fertility interventions. Methods Female participants were categorized randomly into five age groups undergoing PRP or conventional hormone replacement therapy. Procedures included controlled ovarian stimulation, escalating estrogen dosage, gonadotrophin injections, and embryo transfer post-ovulation trigger. A pivotal PRP intervention was provided to half of the age sub-groups, and endometrial thickness was assessed 24 hours prior to embryo transfer. Statistical analysis employed SPSS 26.0 for Windows Student Version (IBM Inc., Armonk, New York), incorporating descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) testto explore age-PRP success relationships (p<0.05). Results The study, involving 60 participants, revealed a balanced patient distribution across age groups, with 20-30 age groups contributing 23.33% each. Baseline characteristics showed no significant differences between PRP and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) groups. Post-intervention, PRP demonstrated consistently higher endometrial thickness (p<0.001) and clinical pregnancy rates (63.33%) compared to HRT (40%). These findings suggest a positive association between PRP therapy and improved outcomes, particularly in younger age cohorts. Conclusion The study challenges traditional perspectives on hormonal influences in fertility, highlighting a potential link between PRP therapy and favorable outcomes among younger age groups. Improved endometrial thickness and clinical pregnancy rates in the PRP group emphasize the need for further exploration of PRP's mechanisms and applications in reproductive medicine.

Utilization of the tiwai plant (Eleutherine americana merr) as a functional instant drink containing antioxidant

Utilization of the tiwai plant as a functional instant drink containing antioxidants, one of the product diversifications to increase farmers’ income. This study aims to determine the effect of the ratio of tiwai extract and palm sugar on physical properties, organoleptic, antioxidant activity, and glucose response. This study used a non-factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 6 levels of treatment and 3 replications. The data obtained were analysed using variance, if it had an effect, a further test of Honest Significant Difference (HSD) was carried out, while the glucose response data was carried out by the T-test. The results showed that the comparative treatment of tiwai extract and palm sugar had no significant effect on hedonic taste, water content, ash content, Brix degree, precipitate, and glucose response. The water content obtained ranged from 3.67%-5.17%. The antioxidant activity values obtained ranged from 60.77 ppm to 153.81 ppm (strong to weak categories). Instant tiwai drink does not increase blood glucose levels, does not interfere with systolic and diastolic responses, and does not trigger an increase in heart rate.

Pengaruh berbagai dosis pupuk organik cair urin sapi terhadap pertumbuhan semai durian (Durio zibethinus Murr) di lapangan

Cow urine is an alternative to increase the availability, adequacy, and efficiency of nutrient uptake for plants containing microorganisms so that it can reduce the use of inorganic fertilisers (N, P, and K) and increase plant yields to the maximum. The application of liquid organic fertiliser must pay attention to the concentration or dose applied to the plants. This research aims to determine the effect of various concentrations of liquid organic fertiliser made from cow urine on the growth of durian seedlings. This research was carried out for three months, from February to May 2023, at the Arboretum of the Faculty of Forestry, Tadulako University. This research used a completely randomised design (CRD) method consisting of five treatments. M0 = control, M1 = (150 ml POC: 850 ml water), M2 = (200 ml POC: 800 ml water), M3 = (250 ml POC: 750 ml water), and M4 = (300 ml POC: 700 ml water). The five treatments were repeated six times, so the total experimental units were 30. The parameters observed in this research were the increase in seedling height, the increase in the number of seedling leaves, and the increase in seedling diameter. Research data was analysed using analysis of variance. Further tests were carried out using the Honestly Significant Difference (BNJ) test at the 5% level. The results of the variance analysis showed that the application of various concentrations of liquid organic fertiliser made from cow urine had a significant effect on the increase in height, the number of leaves, and the diameter of durian seedlings. Based on the results of the BNJ test at the 5% level, it shows that the average increase in seedling height, number of leaves, and diameter of durian seedlings in the M4 treatment was significantly different from the M3, M2, M1, and M0 treatments. The average increase in height of durian seedlings is M4 = 5 cm, M3 = 4.66 cm, M2 = 4 cm, M1 = 2.91 cm, and M0 = 2.08. Average increase in number of leaves: M4 = 4 pieces, M3 = 3.33 pieces, M2 = 2.66 pieces, M1 = 2.16 cm, and M0 = 1.83. Average increase in diameter: M4 = 1.21, M3 = 1.03, M2 = 0.73, M1 = 0.45, and M0 = 0.28.

Unveiling the potential of cellulose nanofibre based nitrogen fertilizer and its transformative effect on Vigna radiata (Mung Bean): nanofibre for sustainable agriculture.

Fertilizer management is crucial to maintaining a balance between environmental health, plant health, and total crop yield. Farmers are overutilizing fertilizers with a mind set to enhance the productive capacity of the field, which adversely impacts soil fertility and causes serious environmental hazards. To mitigate the issues of over-utilization of fertilizers, controlled-release fertilizers were developed using nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium chloride) loaded on cellulose nanofibres (named CNF*N). In this study, the effects of CNF*N were compared with commercial nitrogen fertilizer (ammonium chloride) on Vigna radiata (Mung) under greenhouse conditions. The pot experiment was conducted using six treatments: first treatment was control, where the plant was cultivated (T1); second treatment was T2, where the plant was cultivated with CNF to determine the impact of CNF on the plant; third was T3 where commercial ammonium chloride (24 mg/ 2 kg soil) was added to the plant; fourth was T4, where the plant was loaded with CNF, viz. CNF*N contains 4.8 mg of nitrogen; fifth was T5 CNF*N pellet contains 12 mg of nitrogen, and the last sixth treatment (T6) where CNF*N pellet containing 24 mg of nitrogen. It indicated that the growth parameters were best achieved in T6 treatment. Plant height was at its maximum in the T6 treatment (44.4 ±0.1cm) after the second harvest, whereas the minimum plant height was observed in T1, which was 39.1 ±0.1 cm. Root-to-shoot weight ratio was also maximum in T6 (0.183± 0.02) and minimum in T1 (0.07± 0.01) after second harvesting. The significant difference among the treatments was determined with Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD). The nitrogen content (available and total) was significantly higher in the T4, T5, and T6 treatments (0.22, 0.25, and 0.28%) as compared to the control treatments (T1 (0.12%), T2 (0.13%), and T3 (0.14%) during the second harvesting stage (90 days), as nitrogen plays a crucial role in the development of vegetative growth in Vigna radiata. The rate of controlled-release nitrogen-fertilizer was found to be optimal in terms of plant growth and soil nutrients; hence, it could potentially play a crucial role in improving soil health and the yield of the crop.

Effects of stimulating single acupoint and combination acupoints on diabetic gastroparesis: A randomised controlled trial study

Background and aimThe most effective among the acupoints remains to be determined for treating diabetic gastroparesis (DGP). This study aimed to compare single and combination acupoints for their effectiveness in DGP. Experimental procedureA prospective, patient-assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial was designed to compare the efficacy of 8-week acupuncture at a single acupoint (Zhongwan, CV-12), combination acupoints (Zhongwan, CV-12 and Zusanli, ST-36), and a sham-acupoint, in 99 adults with DGP. The primary clinical outcome was measured using the Gastroparesis Cardinal Symptom Index (GCSI), while barium meal examination, fasting plasma glucose, the 2-h plasma glucose, short-form health survey (SF-36), and GCSI subscales were performed for evaluating secondary clinical outcomes. These results were analysed by two factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, Chi-Square, Fisher Exact, Kruskal–Wallis tests and Tukey's Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. ResultsAfter randomization, 97 patients completed the study. GCSI scores of all groups decreased during both post-treatment and the follow-up period, they were statistically significant compared to the baseline period (p < 0.01), but there was no significant difference among the groups (p > 0.05) during the post-treatment period. GCSI scores improved more in the combination acupoints group than in the single acupoint group which was better than the sham group after treatment. During the follow-up period, the same trend was observed. ConclusionsAmong patients with DGP, the combination acupoints were more beneficial compared with single and sham acupoints. Trial registration numberNCT02452489.

A discussion and evaluation of statistical procedures used by JIMB authors when comparing means.

The aim of this work was to review and recommend statistical procedures for Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology authors who often compare the effect of several treatments on microorganisms and their functions.

Assessment of the Performance of Drip-Irrigated Green Pepper (Capsicum annum L.) under Poly-House and Open-Field Conditions

Sweet pepper (Capsicum annum L.) is one of an important group of vegetables grown extensively, widely cultivated and used as foods in almost every country of the world. It is a high productivity crop, it has high remunerative and nutritive values. Sweet pepper consumption in Nigeria is growing recently because of increasing demand by rural and urban consumers as a result of rapid population growth and water scarcity calls for an alternative means of production system for sustenance of the human race. The experiment was carried out during the dry seasons of 2020.2021 and 2021/2022 at the Teaching and Research Field of Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria. The beds were prepared, nursery was raised, drip irrigation system was installed and fumigation was carried out before transplanting. The experimental design was a randomized complete block (RCBD) with nine replications in each environment. The same design was applied to both poly-house and open-field conditions. The factors are environment (poly-house and open-field) and irrigation intervals of 5, 6 and 7 days (I5, I6 and I7). Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and Tukey’s Honestly Significant Difference (HSD) was used for multiple comparison. Drip irrigation was applied to all plots at different irrigation intervals. Number of leaves (NL), plant height (PH), stem girth (SG) and weight of fresh fruit (WFF) were recorded. The respective results of performance of green pepper at different irrigation treatments under poly-house and open-field in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 growing seasons were: NL-I5: 180, I6: 185, I7: 171 and I5: 120, I6: 139, I7: 122 in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 157, I6: 173, I7: 160 and I5: 108.3, I6: 118.3, I7: 118 during 2021/2022 growing season. PH-I5: 128.7, I6: 139.3, I7: 125.3 and I5: 108.3, I6: 118.3, I7: 104.7 cm in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 117.7, I6: 129.7, I7: 120 and I5: 102, I6: 115, I7: 99.3 cm during 2021/2022 growing season. SG-I5: 30, I6: 29.7, I7: 29.6 and I5: 25.1, I6: 26, I7: 25 mm in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 20.3, I6: 23.3, I7: 21.3 and I5: 18.5, I6: 20, I7: 17.9 mm during 2021/2022 growing season. WFF-I5: 20.3, I6: 29.2, I7: 19.8 and I5: 13.3.1, I6: 21, I7: 14.2 kg/m2 in 2020/2021 growing season while I5: 14.6, I6: 23.5, I7: 14.7 and I5: 9.5, I6: 17.8, I7: 8.8 kg/m2 during 2021/2022 growing season. The controlled conditions provided by the poly-house resulted in best overall performance compared to the open field environment. It is recommended that the assessment of long-term sustainability and economic viability of poly-house cultivation for green pepper production be conducted.

Surface strain at the cervical area and fracture strength of flared root canals reinforced using a zirconia tube and glass-fiber post

Background/purposeRecently, an effective core build-up system for teeth with flared root canals is needed. This research aimed to evaluate the effect of foundation restorations using a composite resin core with a fiber post reinforced with a zirconia tube for the surface strain at the cervical area and the fracture load of teeth with flared root canals. Materials and methodsBovine teeth were shaped to mimic human premolars with flared root canals and restored using three types of composite resin foundation restorations with each materials described below: a fiber post (FC), a zirconia tube (ZC), a fiber post and zirconia tube (ZFC). Each specimen was restored with a zirconia crown. The surface strains of the specimens at the cervical area and fracture loads were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey's honest significant difference test. ResultsThe surface strains of Groups ZFC and ZC were significantly lower than that of Group FC in the buccal root. The fracture strengths of Groups ZFC and ZC were significantly higher than that of Group FC. The strength of Group ZFC was significantly higher than that of Group ZC. ConclusionThe use of a composite resin core with a zirconia tube for the simulated premolar with flared root canals reduced surface strain at the cervical area and provided higher fracture strength compared to using a composite resin core with a fiber post. And the zirconia tubes provided even higher fracture strength when used with a fiber post.