Sigmoidal Pattern Research Articles

Sustainable Fruit Growing: An Analysis of Differences in Apple Productivity in the Indian State of Jammu and Kashmir

Apple is considered as an important fruit crop in temperate regions of the world including India. It is one of the major fruit crops, with a considerable area under cultivation throughout the world and a large associated population. Despite this, the productivity of this important fruit is not up to the expected standard. To gain a practical understanding of the low productivity of apple fruit and its probable causes, a study was undertaken to analyze productivity differentials and their determinants to enable sustainable cultivation. A multistage sampling procedure was adopted to select districts, horticultural zones, and villages, and data were collected from randomly selected apple growers (300). The collected data were empirically analyzed with simple descriptive statistics, logistic regression, polynomial plots, and inferential statistics such as t-tests. The results indicated that apple yields followed a sigmoidal pattern, with the average yield per hectare for the current season as 9.43 t/ha, which depends on experience, education, annual income, and the adoption rate of apple growers. This yield average was significantly lower than the yield of the previous season at a probability level of 1%. To determine the root cause of low productivity, different constraints were studied, creating yield disparities in different quarters; hence, their percentage and value contributions (socioeconomic 11.1%, credit 4.2%, pests and diseases 0.05%, technology 0.9%, extension 2.0%, and market 3.5%) were also established in the study. The study will be of great interest to the relevant authorities in the study area, and the areas globally having similar congenial agro-climatic conditions, who are seeking to address the issues raised in this study through sustainable policy decisions. The different constraints that were the fundamental reasons for low productivity and that prevented the apple growers from adopting innovative techniques/improved practices to increase their yields need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

MODELLING OF TREE DIAMETER GROWTH USING BETA FUNCTION

Diameter growth data over time of two common tree species of Delhi urban forest viz. Polyalthia longifolia L. (PL) and Pongamia pinnata L. (PP) were evaluated. Mean diameter growth was measured over a time period of 11 consecutive years and was eventually modelled applying a three parametric beta function. Results, suggested that PL performed slightly better than PP on the 2 basis of model performance. RMSE (0.551) and AIC (-10.601) values for PL were found to be low than that of PP. However, adjusted R for both data sets were same (0.998). Moreover, maximum growth rate at ti was higher for PP (4.49) as compared to PL (3.22). Diameter growth of PP was quick and inection time i.e., time at which maximum growth rate is achieved hits early than that of PL. All model parameters were stable and showed statistical signicance over time. The objective of this study was to use beta function to predict diameter growth and derive growth parameters of two tree species in question. The function was found to be suitable to indicate for the sigmoidal pattern of determinate growth.

Transcriptome analysis reveals gene associated with fruit size during fruit development in pear

Fruit size, one of the crucial traits of fruit, affects pear fruit quality. Usually, both velocity and duration of swelling determines fruit size. However, fruit enlargement studies involving gene regulation during pear fruit development are very limited. In this study, fruit weight, transverse and longitudinal diameters, fruit core, and flesh volume were measured. Cell sizes were presented by paraffin sections, and the number of cells was counted from fruitlet to mature fruit of the CG, XQ, and HS cultivars. Results revealed that pear fruit enlargement was a single sigmoid pattern and was determined by cell number and cell size during fruit development. In addition, transcriptome sequencing was conducted for the fruitlet, early enlargement, late enlargement, and ripening stages. By analyzing the Venn diagram, 156 and 186 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were selected and identified for the early and late enlargement of pear fruit, respectively. Of these genes, we performed to analysis of gene function annotation and chromosome location. Furthermore, 14 DEGs were located in the reported quantitative trait locus (QTL) regions associated with pear fruit size. Taken together, the results of this study provide information on fruit size from transcriptome analysis and the potential molecular mechanism of candidate genes regulating fruit size in pear.

P-T path from garnet zoning in pelitic schist from NE Sardinia, Italy: Further constraints on the metamorphic and tectonic evolution of the north Sardinia Variscan belt

Mylonitic micaschists in the south-eastern sector of the Posada-Asinara Shear Zone in the Axial Zone of the Sardinia Variscan chain were investigated for the reconstruction of their metamorphic evolution and P-T history. Micaschists underwent polyphase ductile deformation consisting of an old D1 deformation (~345–340 Ma) associated to shearing and folding and to a penetrative S1 axial plane foliation. The S1 foliation is progressively transposed by the D2 phase, which is associated with upright up to NE verging folds and dextral shear zones. Micaschists are characterized by abundant centimetric garnet crystals with strong compositional zoning. The garnet porphyroblasts (~15 vol%) are associated with plagioclase, quartz, biotite, staurolite, white mica, chloritoid and retrograde chlorite. Garnet presents an internal foliation identified by the isoorientation of quartz inclusions sometimes arranged into a sigmoidal pattern suggesting rotation of the garnet during growth, discordant respect to the external S2 foliation. The S2 foliation is identified by the preferred orientation of micas and chlorite and by the alternance between quartzo-feldspathic and micaceous layers. The garnet core contains several small inclusions of quartz, rutile, apatite, and minor monazite and zircon. Additional inclusions, observed in the garnet domain around the core are ilmenite, chloritoid, staurolite and white mica. EMPA analyses reveal an even more complex chemical zoning consisting of garnet core, garnet mantle, and rim. The compositional isopleths that match the composition of the garnet core intersect with isopleths for the highest Si contents in K-white mica at about T 430–490 °C, P 1.3–1.4 GPa. Garnet rim isopleths and isopleths for the lowest Si contents in K-white mica indicate P-T conditions close to 560–630 °C/0.6–1.1 GPa. The resulting P-T path is clockwise, subdivided into two separate stages. The first stage is a prograde segment suggested by the garnet core to mantle compositional variation whereas the second reflects garnet rim growth during exhumation. • Garnet crystals up to 1 cm are characterized by core, mantle, rim, and outer rim • Clockwise P-T path shows a prograde segment up to pressure peak (1.7GPa) • High – pressure conditions pre-date Barrovian metamorphism in Sardinia

Development and characterization of Spodoptera mauritia ovarian primary cell culture and evaluation of fenoxycarb toxicity.

The rice swarming caterpillar, Spodoptera mauritia (Biosduval, 1833) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), has been considered a severe pest and has caused the extreme loss of rice paddies in the nursery stages. The massive reproductive efficiency of pests results from balanced endocrine functioning. Insect treatments with exogenous either juvenile hormones (JH) or juvenile hormone analogues (JHAs) during low endogenous JH titers disrupt metamorphosis andovarian development. Hence, it was thought worthwhile to develop a primary ovarian cell culture of Spodoptera mauritia to study the biological efficiency of JHA, fenoxycarb, at the cellular level. The study envisioned the cell characteristics and growth properties and found that most cells were spherical. Spindle-shaped cells were also present during the initial stage of active cell division. The majority of the cells grew attached to the bottom of the culture plates, and a few grew in suspension. The cell doubling time was 144 ± 14h. The growth curve exhibited a sigmoid pattern of cell proliferation at first, followed by a declining phase. These properties indicate that the primary ovarian culture is a suitable candidate for developing a novel cell line of S. mauritia. The preliminary study investigated the cytotoxicity of the insect growth regulator fenoxycarb in ovarian, primary cell culture. Incubated cells showed noticeable morphological changes, including cell shrinkage and apoptotic body formation; inhibition of cellular proliferation; and apoptosis-inducing effects in ovarian, primary cell culture of S. mauritia. Evidently, from these results, it is clear that juvenile hormone mimics can react in a meaningful way to control the rice pest S. mauritia by inducing cellular apoptosis in ovarian cells, which may cause adult females to become sterile.

Nitrogen Sources Take Roles on Different Growth Balance of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris)

One aim of productivity improvement on red beet was to restrain over-reducing the betacyanin as a secondary metabolite. Different nitrogen (N) sources were projected to affect growth, yield, and both primary and secondary plant metabolites. The research was carried out to find the effect of different sources and dosages of N on the production improvement and betacyanin. The N sources consisted of 5Ca(NO 3 ) 2 NH 4 NO 310 H 2 O, NH 4 NO 3 NH 4 H 2 P0 4 KCI, NO 3 H 2 P0 4 KCI, CO(NH 2 ) 2 , and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 with the N dosages of 75, 150, 225 kg N/ha and without N treatment as a control. The results showed that the enhancement of N dosages increased higher beet root fresh weight (BRFW) for about 42-50% than control. The 5Ca(NO 3 ) 2 NH 4 NO 3 10H 2 O and CO(NH 2 ) 2 increased BRFW and were higher than other N sources. The said N sources also contributed to 36% and 25% higher total betacyanin (BT) than those of (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 and control, respectively. BRFW had the similar with BT, yet opposite patterns with betacyanin content (BC). The increase N dosages from any source diminish 20-33% BC, which was correlated with the increase of BRFW and BT following the sigmoidal pattern based on the logistics model during the growing period.

Effect of explant type (leaf, stem) and 2,4-D concentration on callus induction: influence of elicitor type (biotic, abiotic), elicitor concentration and elicitation time on biomass growth rate and costunolide biosynthesis in gazania (Gazania rigens) cell suspension cultures

Gazania rigens (L.) Gaertn. (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant with high ornamental potential and use in landscaping. The therapeutic potential of sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) as plant natural products for pharmaceutical development has gained extensive interest with costunolide (chemical name: 6E,10E,11aR-6,10-dimethyl-3-methylidene-3a,4,5,8,9,11a-hexahydrocyclodeca[b]furan-2-one) used as a popular herbal remedy due to its anti-cancer, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-allergic, and anti-diabetic activities, among others. In the present study, two explant types (leaf, stem) and four 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations (0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/L) were tested for callusing potential. The results showed that stem explants treated with 1.5 mg/L 2,4-D exhibited higher callus induction percentage (90%) followed by leaf explants (80%) with 1 mg/L 2,4-D, after a 4-week period. Cell suspension cultures were established from friable callus obtained from stem explants following a sigmoid pattern of growth curve with a maximum fresh weight at 20 days of subculture and a minimum one at 5 days of subculture. In the following stage, the effects of elicitation of cell suspension cultures with either yeast extract (YE) or methyl jasmonate (MeJA), each applied in five concentrations (0, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg/L) on cell growth (fresh and dry biomass) and costunolide accumulation were tested. After 20 days of culture, YE or MeJA suppressed cell growth as compared to the non-elicited cells, while costunolide accumulation was better enhanced under the effect of 150 mg/L MeJA followed by 200 mg/L YE, respectively. In the subsequent experiment conducted, the optimal concentration of the two elicitors (200 mg/L YE, 150 mg/L MeJA) was selected to investigate further elicitation time (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 days). The results revealed that YE biotic elicitation stimulated cell growth and costunolide production, being maximum on day 20 for fresh biomass, on day 5 for dry biomass and on day 15 for the bioactive compound. Accordingly, cell growth parameters were maximized under the effect of abiotic elicitation with MeJA for 15 days, while highest costunolide content was achieved after 10 days. Overall, MeJA served as a better elicitor type than YE for biomass and costunolide production. Irrespective of elicitor type, elicitor concentration and elicitation time, maximal response was obtained with 150 mg/L MeJA for 10 days regarding costunolide accumulation (18.47 ppm) and 15 days for cell growth (fresh weight: 954 mg and dry weight: 76.3 mg). The application of elicitors can lead the large quantity of costunolide to encounter extensive range demand through marketable production without endangering of G. rigens.Graphical

Comparative Physiology and Antioxidant Response of Grasspea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Seedlings under the Iso-osmotic Potential of Salinity and Drought Stress

Aims: This study's objective was to determine how early-stage grass pea seedlings will respond to salinity and drought stress with iso-osmotic potential, emphasising ROS-scavenging enzymes.
 Study Design: Completely randomized design.
 Place and Duration of Study: Laboratory studies on the grass pea varieties BK-14 and Pratik were carried out in the academic years 2017–2018 and 2018–2019 at the Department of Plant Physiology, Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India.
 Methodology: Sodium chloride and PEG 6000 solutions with iso-osmotic potentials of -0.2, -0.4, and -0.8 MPa were used to study salinity's effects and drought stress. The experiment was conducted in sand culture using modified Hoagland solution under diffused light, at a temperature of 22°C and an approximate relative humidity (R.H.) of 80±1%.
 Results: Results indicated that drought stress was found to produce more adverse effects on seedling dry weight and lipid peroxidation in comparison with iso-osmotic potential of salinity stress. Variety BK-14 was found to be more tolerant than Pratik for seedling dry weight at the highest intensity of drought stress. The data further indicated that drought- induced more accumulation of phenol in the leaf as well than iso-osmotic salinity stress. The activities of four ROS scavenging enzymes (viz, superoxide dismutase, guaiacol peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase) in leaves mostly showed a sigmoidal pattern of changes under varying levels of both stresses. Comparative analysis indicated that Pratik registered higher activities of two peroxidases, viz, GPOX and APX, under higher levels of drought stress while BK 14 registered higher activities under salinity stress. However, BK-14 was found to register a higher increase in SOD activity at the most intense level of salinity and drought stress as compared to Pratik.
 Conclusion: In the present experiment, it was discovered that BK-14 was generally more tolerant than Pratik for seedling growth under the utmost level of stress. This may be explained by the stronger antioxidative mechanism it exhibited in the present experiment under the conditions of the maximum stress, as generated by both enzymatic and non-enzymatic components.

Xylogenesis and phloemogenesis in the flesh of sweet cherry fruit are limited to early-stage development

Water inflows into sweet cherry fruit occur via the xylem and the phloem vasculatures of the pedicel. The rates of these inflows are subject to marked changes during fruit development. The objective was to establish if, and when, xylogenesis and phloemogenesis occur in the fruit flesh (mesocarp) during fruit development. Fruit were cut in half and the median and the lateral bundles inspected by light microscopy. Fruit mass increased with time in a double sigmoid pattern. Xylogenesis and phloemogenesis were both limited to early fruit development (stage I). There were no consistent changes in the areas of either xylem or phloem after stage I until maturity (i.e., during stages II and III). The cross-sectional areas of xylem and of phloem in a bundle were both linearly related to total bundle area. Most of the increases (stage I) in bundle area (62%, r2 = 0.99***) were accounted for by increases in phloem area and about 35% (r2 = 0.97***) by increases in xylem area. A small percentage of the xylem area increase (about 4% of the total area of the bundle; r2 = 0.48***) was contributed by the appearance of intercellular spaces within the xylem. Our results suggest, that new xylem and phloem tissues are differentiated only during early development.

Vascular and Transpiration Flows Affecting Apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.) Fruit Growth

Fruit growth is a biophysical process that depends mainly on the daily balance between vascular (xylem and phloem) and transpiration flows. This work examines the seasonal and daily behaviour of apricot fruit growth as well as their vascular and transpiration flows. Seasonal patterns of the shoot and fruit growth, as well as fruit surface conductance and dry matter accumulation, were monitored at regular times intervals during the season on “Farbela” and “Ladycot” cultivars. In addition, the daily courses of leaf and stem water potentials and leaf gas exchanges were monitored at 66 and 109 DAFB. On the cultivar “Farbela”, the daily patterns of phloem, xylem, and transpiration flow to and from the fruit were determined through precise and continuous monitoring of fruit diameter variations. Branch sap flow was also determined through the thermal balance method. Apricot fruit growth showed a double sigmoid pattern, typical of other drupaceous species. Stem and leaf water potential maintained values above the stress threshold, and in the last part of the season, the leaf photosynthetic rate increased. Leaves received higher sap flow in the morning and at midday, while a higher amount of xylem water was moved to the fruit in the late afternoon. Fruit showed high transpiration rates, which led to fruit shrinkage during the warmest hours of the day. High xylem inflows balanced the transpiratory losses, while phloem import was lower and occurred mainly during the mid-day hours. As a result, the fruit grew mostly in the late afternoon and night, and its growth was sustained mainly by xylem fluxes, which represented over 90% of the fruit’s total inflows. Later in the season, fruit transpiration and xylem flow decreased but did not stop even at harvest. Phloem import increased its importance throughout the season and, in the final stages, accounted for 36% and then 66% of the daily relative contribution to fruit growth. This knowledge represents a starting point to improving apricot orchard management in terms of irrigation and fertilisation.

Construction of Genetic Linkage Maps From a Hybrid Family of Large Yellow Croaker (Larimichthys crocea).

Consensus and sex-specific genetic linkage maps for large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) were constructed using samples from an F1 family produced by crossing a Daiqu female and a Mindong male. A total of 20,147 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) by restriction site associated DNA sequencing were assigned to 24 linkage groups (LGs). The total length of the consensus map was 1757.4 centimorgan (cM) with an average marker interval of 0.09 cM. The total length of female and male linkage map was 1533.1 cM and 1279.2 cM, respectively. The average female-to-male map length ratio was 1.2 ± 0.23. Collapsed markers in the genetic maps were re-ordered according to their relative positions in the ASM435267v1 genome assembly to produce integrated genetic linkage maps with 9885 SNPs distributed across the 24 LGs. The recombination pattern of most LGs showed sigmoidal patterns of recombination, with higher recombination in the middle and suppressed recombination at both ends, which corresponds with the presence of sub-telocentric and acrocentric chromosomes in the species. The average recombination rate in the integrated female and male maps was respectively 3.55 cM/Mb and 3.05 cM/Mb. In most LGs, higher recombination rates were found in the integrated female map, compared to the male map, except in LG12, LG16, LG21, LG22, and LG24. Recombination rate profiles within each LG differed between the male and the female, with distinct regions indicating potential recombination hotspots. Separate quantitative trait loci (QTL) and association analyses for growth related traits in 6 months fish were performed, however, no significant QTL was detected. The study indicates that there may be genetic differences between the two strains, which may have implications for the application of DNA-information in the further breeding schemes.

Anthropometric Evaluation of Volume of Maxillary Sinus and Nasal Septum Patterns as an AID in Personal Identification Using CBCT-A Retrospective Study

Aims: To determine the reliability and accuracy of maxillary sinus volume and nasal septum patterns in personal identification in forensics using CBCT (cone beam computed tomography).
 Study Design: Retrospective Study
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, Swargiya Dadasaheb Kalmegh Smruti Dental College and Hospital Nagpur, from September 2019-December 2019.
 Methodology: 110 CBCT scans of bilateral maxillary sinuses and nasal septum images were retrospectively obtained from the Oral Medicine and Radiology database (68 men and 42 females). The study was divided into two groups based on age. Group
 -I consists of 58 CBCT scans taken between the ages of 20 and 40, while Group -II consists of 52 CBCT scans taken between the ages of 41 and 80. The height, breadth, and depth of the maxillary sinus were measured linearly. The nasal septum was classed as simple deviation to the right or left, sigmoid type, reverse sigmoid type, and straight based on the septa's deviations. Each person's combined maxillary sinus and nasal septum pattern was documented.
 Results: The difference in maxillary sinus volume between two age groups was significant (P<0.5). In age group I, there was a substantial change in the left deviation pattern, and there was a significant change in the reverse sigmoid pattern in males and the straight nasal septum pattern in females. With whatever nasal septum configuration, there were no volumetric alterations(P>0.5).
 Conclusion: In future, further research will be needed with a larger number of images to compare in order to arrive at a definitive identification.

A bio-inspired robotic climbing robot to understand kinematic and morphological determinants for an optimal climbing gait

Robotic systems for complex tasks, such as search and rescue or exploration, are limited for wheeled designs, thus the study of legged locomotion for robotic applications has become increasingly important. To successfully navigate in regions with rough terrain, a robot must not only be able to negotiate obstacles, but also climb steep inclines. Following the principles of biomimetics, we developed a modular bio-inspired climbing robot, named X4, which mimics the lizard’s bauplan including an actuated spine, shoulders, and feet which interlock with the surface via claws. We included the ability to modify gait and hardware parameters and simultaneously collect data with the robot’s sensors on climbed distance, slip occurrence and efficiency. We first explored the speed-stability trade-off and its interaction with limb swing phase dynamics, finding a sigmoidal pattern of limb movement resulted in the greatest distance travelled. By modifying foot orientation, we found two optima for both speed and stability, suggesting multiple stable configurations. We varied spine and limb range of motion, again showing two possible optimum configurations, and finally varied the centre of pro- and retraction on climbing performance, showing an advantage for protracted limbs during the stride. We then stacked optimal regions of performance and show that combining optimal dynamic patterns with either foot angles or ROM configurations have the greatest performance, but further optima stacking resulted in a decrease in performance, suggesting complex interactions between kinematic parameters. The search of optimal parameter configurations might not only be beneficial to improve robotic in-field operations but may also further the study of the locomotive evolution of climbing of animals, like lizards or insects.

Comparison of a Lightweight Experimental Shaker and an Orchard Tractor Mounted Trunk Shaker for Fresh Market Citrus Harvesting

A designed lightweight experimental shaker successfully used to collect ornamental oranges has been tested to harvest fresh market citrus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the removal efficiency and operational times of this experimental device compared to an orchard trunk shaker. Three different collecting systems were studied. ‘Caracara’ citrus trees were tested. Removal efficiency, vibration parameters, fruit and tree damages, and fruit quality were measured. A high-speed camera was used to record operational times and determine cumulative removal percentage over vibration time. The canvases on the ground reduced the severe fruit damages but were not useful to protect against light damages. The experimental shaker produced a higher percentage of slightly damaged oranges. No significant differences in removal efficiency were found between the two harvesting systems. However, removal efficiency using the experimental device could be reduced by 40 percent and working time increase by more than 50 percent when access to the main branches was difficult. In agreement with previous results, the curve representing the branch cumulative removal percentage in time followed a sigmoidal pattern. A model was built showing that during the first 5 s more than 50 percent of the fruits were detached.

Unravelling the Role of Temperature and Photoperiod on Poinsettia Heat Delay

The effects of day temperature (DT), night temperature (NT), and night length (NL) were evaluated on the flowering responses of heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotzsch) cultivars Orion Red and Prestige Red, respectively. Plants were placed under 60 DT × NT × NL treatments that consisted of three DT (20, 24, 28 °C), four NT (16, 20, 24, 28 °C), and five NL (10, 11, 12, 13, 14 hours) for the first 17 days of the experiment. After 17 days, all plants were consolidated to one greenhouse with an inductive environment (14-hour NL, 24 ± 2.0 °C DT and 21.2 ± 1.4 °C NT), and the timing of first color, visible bud, and anthesis were recorded. ‘Orion Red’ reached anthesis 8 to 10 days faster than ‘Prestige Red’ across all NLs; however, in both cultivars, days to anthesis decreased in a sigmoidal pattern as NL increased. The relative rate of progress to anthesis (1/days to anthesis) under a 12-hour NL was approximately half that of plants grown at a 13- or 14-hour NL. At a 12-hour NL, the relative rate of progress to anthesis decreased linearly as DT increased for both cultivars. At 13- to 14-hour NL, DT had relatively little effect on the relative rate of progress to anthesis. Thus, high DT delayed flowering of both heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive cultivars when flower initiation occurred under NL, typical of naturally occurring NLs in September and early October (i.e., 12-hour NL), whereas high DT did not delay flowering for either cultivar under a 14-hour NL, which is typically provided under black cloth systems. In contrast, the flowering responses to NT were quite different for the two cultivars. The heat-tolerant cultivar showed relatively little change in the relative rate of progress to anthesis as NT increased from 16 to 28 °C within each NL treatment; however, the heat-sensitive cultivar displayed a large decrease in the relative rate progress to anthesis as NT increased from 20 to 28 °C within each NL treatment. Although the delayed flowering that occurred at 28 °C and 14-hour NL was significant, the relative rate of progress to anthesis at this treatment was significantly higher than the 28 °C and 12-hour NL treatment. This suggests that artificially shortening NL to 14 hours with a black cloth system does not prevent heat delay of poinsettia, but it allows for more rapid flowering than if flower initiation took place under natural NL (≈12 hours). To summarize, high DT affected flowering when flower initiation took place at 12-hour NL for heat-tolerant and heat-sensitive poinsettia cultivars, whereas high NT uniquely delayed flowering of the heat-sensitive cultivar at NL from 12 to 14 hours.

Pomegranate Fruit Growth and Skin Characteristics in Hot and Dry Climate.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruit is well known for its health-beneficial metabolites. The pomegranate peel consists of an inner thick spongy white tissue, and an outer smooth skin layer that accumulates anthocyanins in red cultivars when ripe. The skin is made up of epidermis cells covered by a cuticle, the latter being the first target of cracking and russeting. The present study focuses on the effect of Israel’s hot and dry climate on pomegranate growth, to elucidate the derived effects on fruit skin characteristics and its putative resistance to the building pressure from fruit expansion. Experiments were conducted for four years, in four orchards located in different regions of the country, each with a different typical microclimate. Fruit-growth parameters were followed using remote-sensing tools, microscopic study, and mineral analysis of the skin, followed by determination of the peel’s elastic modulus. Fruit expanded in two phases: a short rapid phase followed by a gradual phase with a sigmoidal growth-rate pattern. Extreme hot and dry climate during the period of maximal growth rate was associated with restricted growth and a high proportion of small-size fruit. Anatomical study indicated that the skin of mature pomegranate fruit is made up of epidermal cells that are relatively flat and spaced apart, and is expected to be less durable against internal pressure. In contrast, skin of early immature fruit has two layers of dense and rounded epidermis, and is expected to be more resistant to cracking. Tensile strength studies confirmed this trend—skin of mature fruit had a lower elastic modulus than young fruit. However, restrained growth due to extreme environmental cues may result in better resistance of the mature pomegranate fruit to cracking, and in better skin quality and appearance, albeit small fruits. On the other hand, temperate climate at the beginning of the growth period, which allows high growth rate and high daily shrinkage, leads to pomegranate skin disorders.

Global consistency in response of terrestrial ecosystem respiration to temperature

Many studies have been carried out to quantify the trend of terrestrial ecosystem respiration (Re) in a warming world, but a conclusive answer has not yet been confirmed because the temperature sensitivity of Re was found inconsistent under different scales or regarding different types of respiratory flux. Aiming at reconciling the relationship between temperature and Re across different scales (i.e., short-term and site-to-site), we proposed a method to reduce noises of half-hourly Re measurements and applied nine empirical models to a 1387 site-year FLUXNET datasets. Regarding the temperature sensitivity of half-hourly Re records, we found a surprisingly consistent result that the sigmoid functions outcompeted other statistical models in 82% of site-year combinations, and on average, achieved a staggering R2 value of 0.92, indicating the positive correlation between Re and temperature on fine time scale (within one site-year dataset). Even though Re of all biomes followed sigmoid functions, the parameters of the S-curve varied strongly across sites or years. This explains why measured Q10 value (an index denote temperature sensitivity) largely depends on observation season and site. Furthermore, on the interannual variation of Re, we did not find any relationship between mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual Re within any site, which implies that the small year-to-year variation of the sigmoid pattern is large enough to counteract the warming effect on Re. This study brings up a conceptual framework to integrate the relationship between temperature and Re under short-term or site-to-site scales. It also provided evidence to support the argument that the relationship between MAT and mean annual Re by using data across multiple sites should not be used to interpret the response of respiration under global warming.

PKa Determination of Carvedilol by Spectrophotometry

Proper knowledge of the pKa value of a compound is of uttermost importance for understanding the behavior of a drug inside the body. The pKa value of Nonselective alpha-1 and beta-blocker Carvedilol shows controversies in literature, whereas values between 7.7 and 8.7 have been previously reported. In this research paper, the pKa value of Carvedilol was re-evaluated using UV-vis spectroscopy. The analytical wavelength used was 241nm. The obtained sigmoid pattern was non-linear fitted using the Boltzmann sigmoidal algorithm. The determined pKa was 7.77 ± 0.09. This value is in accordance with some of the literature publications. Since extensive statistics and multiple replicate experiments were performed, it is assumed that 7.8 is the true pKa value of Carvedilol.

Progradation of a middle Eocene carbonate slope system, Assamoud Field, Sirte Basin, north central Libya – Implications on the dynamics of lateral growth of isolated carbonate platforms

This study investigates the internal configuration and stacking patterns of well-defined prograding clinothems within the middle Eocene Gialo Formation in the Assamoud Oilfield of the Sirte Basin through an integrated analysis of wire-line log and three-dimensional seismic data. The clinothem interval forms a highstand systems tract that is bounded by a downlap surface at the base and a sequence boundary at the top. The prograding clinothems occur over an area of at least 8 km wide along strike and at least 9.5 km along depositional dip. They range in height from 240 to 330 m and have a N progradation direction. Nine clinothems were identified on the basis of stacking patterns of log facies. Individual clinothems are 47–139 m thick and consist of a thin shale unit at the base overlain by thick limestone units. The clinothem interval is interpreted as a slope system and can be divided into two packages on the basis of their log facies, seismic characteristics, and position along the platform: a proximal package composed of high-angle sigmoidal clinothems and a distal package with low-angle sigmoidal pattern. The maximum slope angle of the proximal package is 24° and that of the distal package is 16°. The decrease of slope angle may be caused by an increased amount of siliciclastic mud. The progradation direction indicates that the major sediment source, which is most likely the platform top and margin, was located to the south of the study area. The sediments entered the slope from the platform margin and were redistributed downslope by surface currents driven by southerly probably Sirocco-like winds. The evolution of the platform was controlled by several factors. A pre-existing isolated platform to the south generated the topographic relief between the platform top and slope. Sea-level rise generated accommodation space, whereas sea-level fall caused subaerial exposure and terminated progradation. Subsidence caused a sea-level rise and enhanced accommodation space for platform expansion. Prevailing currents determined the direction of platform lateral growth. The results provide insights on the dynamics of carbonate platform lateral growth and may serve as an analog for future studies on carbonate slope systems.

Longitudinal Analysis of Sleep Spindle Maturation from Childhood through Late Adolescence.

Sleep spindles are intermittent bursts of 11-15 Hz EEG waves that occur during non-rapid eye movement sleep. Spindles are believed to help maintain sleep and to play a role in sleep-dependent memory consolidation. Here we applied an automated sleep spindle detection program to our large longitudinal sleep EEG dataset (98 human subjects, 6-18 years old, >2000 uninterrupted nights) to evaluate maturational trends in spindle wave frequency, density, amplitude, and duration. This large dataset enabled us to apply nonlinear as well as linear age models, thereby extending the findings of prior cross-sectional studies that used linear models. We found that spindle wave frequency increased with remarkable linearity across the age range. Central spindle density increased nonlinearly to a peak at age 15.1 years. Central spindle wave amplitude declined in a sigmoidal pattern with the age of fastest decline at 13.5 years. Spindle duration decreased linearly with age. Of the four measures, only spindle amplitude showed a sex difference in dynamics such that the age of most rapid decline in females preceded that in males by 1.4 years. This amplitude pattern, including the sex difference in timing, paralleled the maturational pattern for δ (1-4 Hz) wave power. We interpret these age-related changes in spindle characteristics as indicators of maturation of thalamocortical circuits and changes in sleep depth. These robust age-effects could facilitate the search for cognitive-behavioral correlates of spindle waveforms and might also help guide basic research on EEG mechanisms and postnatal brain maturation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The brain reorganization of adolescence produces massive changes in sleep EEG. These changes include the morphology and abundance of sleep spindles, an EEG marker of non-rapid eye movement sleep believed to reflect offline memory processes and/or protection of the sleep state. We analyzed >2000 nights of longitudinal sleep EEG from 98 subjects (age 6-18 years old) to investigate maturational changes in spindle amplitude, frequency, density, and duration. The large dataset enabled us to detect nonlinear as well as linear age changes. All measures showed robust age effects that we hypothesize reflect the maturation of thalamocortical circuits and decreasing sleep depth. These findings could guide further research into the cognitive-behavioral correlates of sleep spindles and their underlying brain mechanisms.