MI Value Research Articles

Detecting play behaviour in weaned dairy calves using accelerometer data.

This research paper describes a validation study evaluating the ability of IceTag accelerometers (Peacock Technology, UK) to detect play behaviour in weaned dairy calves. Play behaviour is commonly observed in young animals and is regarded as an indicator of positive welfare states. Eight Holstein Friesian calves aged three to five months old were monitored using leg-mounted accelerometers for 48 h. Data generated by accelerometers to quantify calf activity included step count, lying times and a proprietary measure of overall activity termed 'motion index' (MI). Calf behaviour was filmed continuously over the same 48-h period using closed circuit television cameras and analysed using one-zero sampling to identify the presence (1) or absence (0) of play within each 15-min time period. A positive correlation between MI and visually recorded play was found. Visual observations were compared with accelerometer-generated data and analysed using 2 × 2 contingency tables and classification and regression tree analysis. A MI value of ≥69 was established as the optimum threshold to detect play behaviour (sensitivity = 94.4%; specificity = 93.6%; balanced accuracy = 94.0%). The results of this study suggest that accelerometer-generated MI data have the potential to detect play behaviour in weaned dairy calves in a more time efficient manner than traditional visual observations.

Comparative analysis of soil nematode biodiversity from five different fruit orchards in Osmaneli district, Bilecik, Türkiye.

Nematode population densities were determined in 60 soil and root samples collected from 6 fruit orchards in the Bilecik province (western Turkey), between April 2022 and June 2022. The total number of identified nematodes have reached up to 2418 individuals (number of female: 1036; male: 154; and juvenile: 1228). They belong to 54 species, 54 genera, 33 families and 11 orders. Plant parasitic nematodes that were detected mostly are listed as follows: Helicotylenchus (6,12 %), Pratylenchus (5,74 %), Paratylenchus (4.83 %), Xiphinema (3,06 %), Tylenchorhynchus (2,19 %), Malenchus (1.94 %) and Tylenchus (1.19 %). According to the maturity index analysis, mean values showed the highest maturity level at peach trees (MI value: 3,52), followed by; walnut trees (MI value: 2.49), cherry trees (MI value: 2.15), nectarine trees (MI value: 1.86), plum trees (MI value: 1.57), and olive trees (MI value: 1.42). Mostly the diverse group in terms of species richness was within the order Dorylaimida. The nematodes associated with peach and walnut trees here showed the most stable environments in terms of soil nematode community structure.

Petrography and Heavy Minerals as Tools for Provenance Identification of the Injana Sandstone (Upper Miocene), Al-Habbaniyah City, Anbar Governorate, Iraq

This study deals with the petrography and heavy mineral analysis of the Injana sandstone at Al-Habbaniyah City. Thirteen samples are collected from the Injana Formation. A petrographic study is achieved on ten samples while all samples are analyzed for heavy minerals. The petrographic analysis showed that the common components of the Injana sandstone are rock fragments, especially sedimentary fragments. Quartz grains (monocrystalline and polycrystalline) and feldspars (k-feldspar and plagioclase), bounded by matrix and carbonate cement. The suggested provenance for the Injana Formation is mainly sedimentary and igneous sources and the less dominant metamorphic source. These sandstones are considered to be mineralogically submature-immature and classified as litharenites. Heavy minerals analysis showed two sets of minerals including opaque and transparent minerals, the opaque minerals are significant components of the heavy mineral assemblages, then chlorite, epidotes, amphiboles, garnet, pyroxenes (ortho and clino), zircon, tourmaline, biotite, muscovite, rutile, and others. This assemblage implies that the dense minerals are typically found in basic igneous and metamorphic rocks, with less frequent occurrences in acidic igneous and reworked sediments. According to QLF and QmFLt classifications, the tectonic provenance of the Injana sandstone is described as recycled orogen. The MF-MT-GM classification showed that the sandstone of Injana is derived primarily from active continental margins. The result of maturity MI and ZTR revealed low values of maturity, the MI value ranges between 0.6 to 1.5 with an average of 0.9 and ZTR Maturity ranges between 0.7% and 9% with an average of 3.9%, these low values of maturity indicate sub-mature to immature sandstone.

Magnetoimpedance Effect in Cobalt-Based Amorphous Ribbons with an Inhomogeneous Magnetic Structure.

The results of a computer simulation and experimental study of the magnetoimpedance effect (MI) in amorphous Co68.5Fe4.0Si15.0B12.5 and Co68.6Fe3.9Mo3.0Si12.0B12.5 ribbons in the ac frequency range from 0.01 to 100 MHz are presented. It was found that the maximum MI value exceeds 200%, which may be of interest in the development of magnetic field sensors. It is also shown that practically significant characteristics of the MI response strongly depend on the ac frequency, which is due to the inhomogeneous distribution of magnetic properties over the ribbon cross section. This distribution was studied using magnetoimpedance tomography based on the analysis of the experimental dependences of the reduced impedance on the ac frequency.

Detrimental influence of industrial effluents, especially heavy metals, on limnological parameters of water and nutritional profile in addition to enzymatic activities of fish, Sperata seenghala (Sykes, 1839) from diverse Ramsar sites, India (Punjab).

The present research was designed to determine the nutritive value of the liver and intestine of fish, Sperata seenghala, the impact of effluence load on limnological parameters of water and proximate composition of fish organs, especially on fatty acids, liver enzymatic activities, seasonal variations in the nutritional profile of fish, and to check and compare the pollution status of Ramsar sites in Punjab by calculating the water quality index, heavy metal pollution index, and metal index from June 2018 to August 2020. WQI of Harike wetland was found to be 53.95, which depicts that water quality in this region is "poor". At Nangal wetland, water quality index was reported to be "excellent" quality water and fit for the whole ecological unit. Overall heavy metal pollution index for Harike wetland was reported 174.569, whereas for Nangal wetland it was 5.994, depicting massive contaminant loads in a polluted region. MI value was also recorded as being higher (6.9336) in polluted habitat than in control habitat (0.8175). In fish liver, significant (p < 0.05) higher mean total lipids (6.73%), total proteins (3.98%), moisture (77.69%), ash (3.56%), and carbohydrates (3.79%) were observed in the samples from Nangal wetland than Harike wetland. A similar trend was reported in all biochemical contents of the fish intestine. Enzyme activities such as aspartate-aminotransferase and alanine-aminotransferase were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in the specimens collected from the polluted region. The mean total n-3 (except in spring), n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (except in winter), and average monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids diminished significantly (p < 0.05) in the liver of fish from contaminated habitat than control site. In the intestine of fish collected from the polluted region, significant reductions in the mean total n-3 (except in autumn as well as summer), total n-6 PUFAs (in autumn and winter), and total SFAs were reported than control site.

Durability Performance Analysis of Mixture Asphalt Concrete - Base Course (AC-Base) Using Coal Fly Ash as A Filler Substitute

Highways are land transportation infrastructure whose needs in Indonesia continue to increase, along with the increasing number of vehicle. The top Laston or base coarse (AC-Base) is a pavement foundation consisting of a mixture of asphalt aggregates with a certain ratio mixed and compacted in a hotmix. This coarse is at under binder coarse (AC-BC), not directly related to the weather, but it needs to have stability to withstand the traffic load spread through the vehicle wheels. Base coarse (AC-Base) serves to provide support the surface coarse, reduce strain and stress, spread and continue the load of road construction to the layer below (subgrade). Filler as one of the materials forming the AC-Base layer usually obtained from stone ash whose availability is increasingly difficult to feel in the field implementation. Therefore, a substitute material or substitute material is needed for the filler. One possible substitute material is fly ash. This research will analyze the performance of AC-Base coarse that make use of filler substitution material using fly ash with variation FA-0%, FA-5%, FA-7.5%, FA-10%, FA-12.5% and FA-15%. The samples made by Marshall Method will give the Optimum Asphalt Content (OAC) value on each mix variation. While the performance of this AC-Base mixture in increasing density, durability, and stability in the pavement mixture using the Marshall Immersion method (MI). The analysis result shows that the OAC value at 0% fly ash variation is 6,82%, at 5% fly ash variation is 6,87%, at 7.5% fly ash variation is 6,85%, at 10% fly ash variation is 6,84%, at 12.5% fly ash variation is 6,82%, and at 15% fly ash variation is 6.79%. While the performance of AC-Base mixture indicated by the MI value meets the specifications, and the MI value obtained tends to increase along with the increase in the percentage of fly ash. The mixture with 15% fly ash shows the better durability performance (99,75%) compared to other variations 0%, 5%, 7,5%, 10% and 12,5% (96,44%, 97,51%, 97,71%, 98,36% and 99,54%).

Comparative Evaluation of Yield and Fruit Physico-Chemical Characteristics of Five Commercial Cultivars of Pomegranate Grown in Southeastern Italy in Two Consecutive Years

This study, conducted over two consecutive seasons (2018–2019), evaluates the yield and fruit physico-chemical traits of five commercial cultivars (‘Mollar’, ‘Dente di Cavallo’, ‘Acco’, ‘Jolly red’ and ‘Wonderful’) grown in the orchard at Foggia (Puglia region, southeastern Italy). The results show significant variations among the investigated cultivars for many measured parameters; seasons also significantly affected some data. As an average of the years, both ‘Dente di Cavallo’ and ‘Wonderful’ significantly showed the highest numbers (16.8 and 15.2, respectively) and weights (9.3 Kg, respectively) of fruit per tree. ‘Jolly red’ had the highest percentage of edible portions (58.5%), the most intense red color in juice (a* value, 11.7), a light-red skin color (despite its name) (a* value, 31.1) and the smallest fruits (26.7% of diameter ≤ 80 mm). Total soluble solids of all cultivars were considerable above the minimum value (12 °Brix) required for commercial use. ‘Wonderful’ significantly presented the highest value of juice acidity (2.5 g citric acid 100 mL−1) and the lowest MI value, and therefore it was classified as sour. Both ‘Dente di Cavallo’ and ‘Wonderful’ had significantly higher phenolic contents (591.0 and 519.1 mg 100 mL−1, respectively) than the other cultivars, while ‘Dente di Cavallo’ significantly showed the highest antioxidant activity value (6.4 mmol TE 100 L−1). The Stepwise Discriminant Analysis procedure allowed a significant differentiation among the cultivars. Correlation analysis showed a considerable relation among the different fruit traits. The present data are helpful in the selection of elite desirable pomegranate cultivars to be used for commercial production.

Calcium ion can alleviate ammonia inhibition on anaerobic digestion via balanced-strengthening dehydrogenases and reinforcing protein-binding structure: Model evaluation and microbial characterization

Experimental investigation and model simulation was combined to identify the effect of metal ions on mitigating ammonia inhibition during anaerobic digestion. Five metal ions (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn, Fe) were tested in reactors with 1 g-glucose/L/d and 5 g-N/L under fed batch operation. Ca addition was considered the optimal approach with a 25% increment in methane production via balanced-strengthening dehydrogenases and reinforcing protein-binding structure. Gene-sequencing results suggested 50% and 15% increment in acetotrophic-related and hydrogenotrophic-related dehydrogenases, respectively, after Ca addition. The Anaerobic Digestion Model No.1 was modified by introducing lactate-related reactions, syntrophic acetate oxidation process, and kinetic equation of metal ions, with satisfactory predictions of methane and intermediates (R2 > 0.80). The lowest affinity constant KI_MI value was obtained with Ca supplement, indicating the highest conversion rate of substrates to methane. The model evaluation revealed the balanced ratio on the enzyme contribution of acetotrophic to hydrogenotrophic methanogenesis.

Accounting for atmospheric carbon dioxide variations in pollen-based reconstruction of past hydroclimates

Changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentration directly influence the ratio of stomatal water loss to carbon uptake. This ratio ( e ) is a fundamental quantity for terrestrial ecosystems, as it defines the water requirement for plant growth. Statistical and analogue-based methods used to reconstruct past hydroclimate variables from fossil pollen assemblages do not take account of the effect of CO 2 variations on e . Here we present a general, globally applicable method to correct for this effect. The method involves solving an equation that relates e to a climatic moisture index (MI, the ratio of mean annual precipitation to mean annual potential evapotranspiration), mean growing-season temperature, and ambient CO 2 . The equation is based on the least-cost optimality hypothesis, which predicts how the ratio (χ) of leaf-internal to ambient CO 2 varies with vapour pressure deficit (vpd), growing-season temperature and atmospheric pressure, combined with experimental evidence on the response of χ to the CO 2 level at which plants have been grown. An empirical relationship based on global climate data is used to relate vpd to MI and growing-season temperature. The solution to the equation allows past MI to be estimated from pollen-reconstructed MI, given past CO 2 and temperature. This MI value can be used to estimate mean annual precipitation, accounting for the effects of orbital variations, temperature and cloud cover (inferred from MI) on potential evapotranspiration. A pollen record from semi-arid Spain that spans the last glacial interval is used to illustrate the method. Low CO 2 leads to estimated MI being larger than reconstructed MI during glacial times. The CO 2 effect on inferred precipitation was partly offset by increased cloud cover; nonetheless, inferred precipitation was greater than present almost throughout the glacial period. This method allows a more robust reconstruction of past hydroclimatic variations than currently available tools. • A model using the least-cost optimality hypothesis to account for physiological effects of CO 2 • The model provides a correction for statistical reconstructions of the moisture index • The model provides a new way to reconstruct mean annual precipitation • Application to glacial pollen data shows climate wetter than inferred statistically

Nematode diversity indices application to determine the soil health status of Lembo Agroecosystem in West Kutai, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia

Abstract. Suyadi, Sila S, Samuel J. 2021. Nematode diversity indices application to determine the soil health status of Lembo agroecosystem in West Kutai, East Kalimantan Province, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2861-2869. Lembo is a typical agroecosystem developed by the people of East Kalimantan, especially in the West Kutai District. Lembo agroecosystems (LA) are generally built on the former of sifting cultivation rice fields. The fertile condition of tropical rainforest land in East Kalimantan, if converted to a rice field agroecosystem, its fertility decreases drastically. However, Lembo is an agroecosystem similar to the forest, and its soil health status in this study was determined by using nematode diversity indices as the indicator. Nematode diversity indices are very useful as indicators because nematodes occupy all positions of the micro food web in the rhizosphere. They can support the increase in soil fertility or pose risks as a pest. This study was aimed to determine the health status of LA soil by using evaluation indicators: (i) nematode absolute abundance, (ii) nematode diversity indices [Shannon-Wiener index (H'), genera richness index (GR), and dominance index (?)], and (iii) nematode maturity indices (?MI, MI, MI2-5, PPI, and the PPI/MI-ratio), and using the oil palm plantation (OPP) as the comparison agroecosystem. Based on nematode maturity indices, LA soil health status was categorized as good with MI value &gt; 2.6, the community abundance of nematode genera in the colonizers' group (c-p2) ? 50%, and community abundance of nematode genera in the persisters group (c-p4) &gt; 10%. Then based on the nematode diversity indices (H', GR, and ?), the LA soil health status was higher than the OPP soil health status, in LA the values of H', GR, and ? were 30%-43%, 60%-91%, and 12%-88%, respectively higher than OPP. The pest status of plant-parasitic nematodes in both agroecosystems is relatively light because their presence is counterbalanced by predatory, carnivore, and omnivore nematodes.

Evaluation of jaw bone density and morphology in bruxers using panoramic radiography

Background/purposeBruxism affects the stomatognathic system and causes tissue damage by the excessive jaw movements. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of sleep bruxism on jaw bone density, mineralisation and morphology by comparing bruxers and non-bruxers. Materials and methods60 bruxers and 60 non-bruxers (control) patients were included in the analysis. Cortical width at the gonion (GI), at the mental foramen (MI), at the antegonion (AI), the panoramic mandibular index (PMI), the mandibular cortical index (MCI) and antegonial notch depth (AND) were measured bilaterally on 120 panoramic radiographs. The measurements were evaluated for repeatability, correlation with age, gender and correlation between the variables. ResultsA significant association was observed between cortical shape (MCI) and bruxism status (p = 0.012). The MI was significantly different between the bruxers and non-bruxers (p = 0.006). There was a significant but weak correlation between the MI value and age in bruxers and the control (p = 0.003, p = 0.04). The AI was not associated with bruxism status and did not vary by age or gender (p > 0.05). The AND was higher in bruxers than non-bruxers (p = 0.001). Male bruxers had a significantly higher AND value than female bruxers (p = 0.001). The GI was higher in male bruxers (p = 0.001). ConclusionDefects in the endosteal margin of the cortex and cortical thickening in the mental region were detected in bruxer patients. Furthermore, AND was increased in bruxers. Tiny bone peaks accompanied the cortical thickening seen in the gonial region. Male bruxer patients had higher GI and AND values than female bruxers.

A Genre and Collocational Analysis of Consequence, Result, and Outcome

This corpus-based study examines genres and collocation patterns in which the three synonyms ‘consequence’, ‘result’, and ‘outcome’ usually occur. The data on which the study is based is derived from the Corpus of Contemporary American English (COCA). Of all the eight genres currently available in COCA, the three synonyms appear with the highest frequency in academic texts, whereas frequencies are lowest in informal genres, i.e. TV and movie subtitles and fiction. Of pedagogical concern is the fact that the common verb and adjective collocates repeatedly co-occur with the synonymous nouns. Determined by the COCA frequency and the MI value (≥ 3), ‘consequence’ is often used with verbs and adjectives conveying negative senses, and the typical collocates of ‘result’ has a clear association with research-oriented contexts. The collocates of ‘outcome’ have the broadest variety of semantic properties but are not directly related to any specific contexts. It is highly recommended that EFL teachers apply this genre and collocational information to synonym development lessons. Keywords: synonym; genre; distribution across genres; collocation; adjective and verb collocates

Assessment of Genetic Diversity in Some Indian Lablab purpureus, L. Bean Genotypes Based on RAPD Marker

In the present study, ten genotypes of Lablab purpureus L. Sweet bean were screened for genetic divergence by using 5 primers, i.e., OPA 01, OPA 04, OPA 13, OPB 09, and OPB 10. Analysis of diversity such as PIC, MI, MRP, Dendrogram, and RP was done. Out of the 5 primers used, the average number of Polymorphic bands detected was 7.6 and the average level of polymorphism was 74.23%. OPA 01 showed the highest level of polymorphism (92.85%) while OPB-09 showed the least level of polymorphism, i.e., 55.55%. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.24 (OPA-04) to 0.318 (OPA-01) at an average PIC value of 0.275. The mean of resolving power per RAPD primer is 3.65. The MI value ranged from 1.32 to 2.79 with a mean of 1.79/primer. The mean of MRP per primer was 0.47. The clustering of genotype was performed following the UPGMA method. The optimal tree with the sum of length branch is 13.30325.

Whitening Efficacy Evaluation of the Multi-Herb

The multi-Herb (mH) was prepared from 4 plant extracts including <i>Phyllostachis Bambusoides, Sophora Flavescens</i> Root, <i>Lycium Barbarum</i> Fruit and <i>Pyracantha Fortuneana</i> Fruit through ethanol extraction, filtration and concentration. Focus on tyrosinase activity and melanin content, mH repressed the activity of tyrosinase from mushroom and B16F1 cells to 49.2% and 76.2% respectively, at concentration of 3%. mH reduced the cellular melanin synthesis to 98.2% in nature and 92.1% under α-MSH induced melanogenesis respectively, showed a dose-dependently inhibitory effect. The human-skin test results showed that the skin melanin content (MI value) was significantly reduced by 12.3% after 7 weeks application of a cream containing 5% mH, better than arbutin of 2% concentration. All the results indicate that mH displays a good effect for whitening.

Assessment of genetic diversity among chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes using seed storage protein profiling and rapd markers

Seed storage protein profiling and RAPD were used in present study for the analysis of genetic diversity among 15 chickpea genotypes. SDS-PAGE of seed storage protein differentiated 15 genotypes into three major clusters. RAPD analysis was done using highly polymorphic ten primers which amplified 104 bands with 2.70 average polymorphic bands. RAPD analysis reported 24.4 average per cent polymorphism and highest in OPH-03. OPH-19 reported highly informative primer based on PIC and MI value. Similarity coefficients of RAPD data were ranged from 0.55 to 0.95. Dendrogram generated three major clusters which distinguished Fusarium wilt susceptible and resistant genotypes in cluster I and cluster II, respectively, whereas cluster III included both resistant and susceptible genotypes. RAPD marker was found more informative than seed storage protein profiling for diversity analysis. Further, no specific banding was detected that could discriminate resistant from susceptible genotypes critically.

FHIT promoter methylation status, low protein and high mRNA levels in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

FHIT is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently silenced in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and also in preneoplastic lesions. Promoter hypermethylation was previously observed in NSCLC, and its epigenetic silencing, observed on mRNA or protein level, was proposed to predict NSCLC outcome. In the present study we evaluated the relationship between FHIT expression on mRNA level and promoter methylation, or immunoexpression level. The aim of this study was to analyze the usefulness of FHIT as early differentiating biomarker in NSCLC patients. Lung tissue specimens were obtained from 59 patients with diagnosed NSCLC (SCC=34, AC=20, LCC=5). FHIT promoter methylation was assessed in methylation-specific PCR. Relative expression analysis of FHIT was performed in real-time PCR (qPCR) and protein immunoexpression by ELISA assay. Significant differences in FHIT expression between NSCLC histopathological groups (SCC, AC, LCC) were observed (p=0.000009), with the lowest level in SCC. FHIT expression was significantly higher (p=0.034) in men vs. women. Methylated FHIT alleles were present both in NSCLC and control specimens. Mean MI value was higher in control tissue vs. neoplasm, and in men vs. women and it increased with patient age. Significant increase in MI level was observed in N0 group vs. N1 andN2, according to the TNM staging (p=0.0073). Differences in FHIT expression levels between AC, LCC and SCC indicated the usefulness of this gene as a diagnostic marker for NSCLC subtype differentiation. FHIT promoter hypermethylation both in cancer and control tissue indicated the presence of epigenetic alterations in early stage of NSCLC development. Differences in gene promoter methylation between cancer patients with and without node infiltration might be considered as a prognostic marker. Significantly lower FHIT protein immunoexpression was revealed in the group with long and intense history of smoking assessed as PYs (PY<40 vs. PY≥40, p=0.01). These results suggest the need of further study on FHIT as a potential biomarker.

Magnetoimpedance of FeNi-based asymmetric sensitive elements

[Ti/FeNi]5/Ti/Cu/Ti/[FeNi/Ti]x (x=0–5) multilayers were prepared by sputtering. Their magnetic properties and magnetoimpedance were studied focusing on future technological applications. Both (ΔZ/Z)max and (ΔR/R)max values showed a tendency to decrease with a decrease of the number of magnetic layers of the top multilayer. Such a parameter as an even or odd number of layers is important for the MI value. In the field interval of technological interest all [Ti/FeNi]5/Ti/Cu/Ti/[FeNi/Ti]x structures show similar sensitivities of about 70%/Oe for ΔR/R ratios but the lower the number of magnetic layers in the top multilayer, the higher the operating frequency.

The effects of porous medium and temperature on exothermic tetrahydrofuran hydrate formation

Exothermic energy affects the sustained and rapid formation of hydrates. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the thermal behaviour during hydrate formation. In this study, tetrahydrofuran (THF) was chosen as the hydrate former component due to its low hydrate equilibrium pressure. Five types of glass beads were used to form a porous medium that was saturated with 19wt% THF solution. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to monitor the distribution of the solution in the vessel. The results showed that the “induction time” of THF hydrate formation is short in the glass beads. The exothermic character of the hydrate formation process was evident in the MRI images. The temperature profile in the porous medium was determined based on the MRI mean intensity and temperature. There were obvious higher temperature regions around the hydrate formation zones. It was found that the hydrate formation rate was slowly at multiple points and aggregated in large glass beads, and that the heat release was homogeneous. The residual MI value is higher than that in the small glass beads. Then, the hydrate began to grow from the vessel wall in the small glass beads. The temperature rose significantly during the hydrate formation. The effect of initial temperature on the experimental results is small. There are two factors that cause the temperature rise that cannot be monitored: if hydrate formation is finished and the exothermic energy has been lost, or if the hydrate does not begin to form abundantly.

English

&nbsp; The present study reports the potential genotoxic effects of a widely used insecticide, endosulfan (Endoin 35% EC), on root tip cells of onion&nbsp;(Allium cepa L.). Treatment of onion root tips at a concentration of 0.156 &mu;g/L of endosulfan showed highest fluctuation of mitotic depression at various durations (0.38 to -181%) of exposure. The mitotic index decreased with the increase in the concentrations of endosulfan mostly at 48 h treatment. The maximum number of dividing cells (n) was observed to be 224 calculated as maximum MI value of 7.0 in lowest concentration (0.0078 &mu;g/L) at 72 h. The abnormalities of common occurrence were unequal cytokinesis and karyokinesis and formation of binucleolated cells in many cases. Gradual decondensation or little condensed chromosomal arms were the common observations in abnormal metaphases and anaphases. The frequencies of all the mitotic abnormalities showed a good correlation with the concentration of the insecticide. &nbsp; Key words:&nbsp;Allium cepa, endosulfan, mitotic index, aberrant cells, genotoxicity.

Mathematical modeling of microbubble cavitation at 70 kHz and the importance of the subharmonic in drug delivery from micelles

In order to gain insight into the experimental observation of ultrasound-induced release of drugs from micelles, we modeled the dynamic oscillations of a 10-μm-diameter bubble insonated at 70kHz. The Parlitz modification of the Keller–Miksis model was employed to generate bubble dynamics over a wide range of mechanical index values. The resulting Poincaré maps and bifurcation diagram show that bubble oscillations bifurcate at a MI value of 0.32, then return apparently to a single mode before displaying a sudden onset of chaotic behavior at 0.35. The experimental release of drug from micelles occurs at a MI value of 0.37 and correlates with the intensity of the subharmonic in (μW/cm2) of the acoustic spectrum. The dynamic model shows the return to single mode at a MI value of 0.43, and bifurcation leading to chaos at values above 0.5. The correlation between the chaotic behavior predicted by the model and drug release hints at insonation conditions that could facilitate drug delivery.