Effect of conservation agriculture on soil properties and maize grain yield in the semi-arid Laikipia county, Kenya.

Low and unreliable rainfall, along with poor soil health, is a main constraint to maize production in the semi-arid parts of Kenya that account for over 79% of the country's land area. In the vast county of Laikipia, farmers continue to plant maize despite the predominantly low quantities of precipitation. Participatory farmer experimentation with Conservation Agriculture (CA) was undertaken for six consecutive growing seasons between July 2013 and December 2016 to determine the effectiveness of CA as a method of improving soil properties and enhancing maize yields with the limited rainfall quantities received in these parts of Kenya. The main CA practices tested include chisel tine furrow opening (ripping) and live legume (Lablab purpureus) cover crop, as well as maize stover mulches, all implemented under varying inorganic fertilizer rates. The research was done across 12 administrative locations of Laikipia County where soils are mainly Phaeozems and Vertisols with a clay-loam texture. The research design used was researcher-designed and farmer-managed. In each of the 12 trial sites, participatory farmers' assessments and field days were carried out as a way of outreach to the bigger farming communities around the trial sites. The research findings obtained demonstrated that the use of CA impacts positively on soil properties and is a viable practice for enhancing maize yields in these moisture deficit-prone parts of the country. Soil chemical analysis assessment results showed that CA impacted positively on a number of soil mineral components including organic carbon, total nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and pH. Midseason chlorophyll content assessment of the maize crop showed that there was good response to fertilizer application, as well as to mulching with crop residues for soil cover. Maize grain yield data also showed that the use of a CA package comprising chisel tine ripping combined with mulching by plant residues and use of mineral fertilizer resulted in a two- to threefold increase in grain yields above the farmer practice control. Mean maize grain yield in farmer practice plots was 1067 kg ha-1 compared with the CA-treated plot with mineral fertilization that yielded 2192 kg ha-1.

Implementation Plans for Course Redesigns: An Exploration of Identified Strategies

Institutions are redesigning gateway courses—lower-division courses known to create student success bottlenecks—to influence persistence and completion goals. These initiatives, student success course redesigns (SSCR), are specialized versions of course design institutes (CDIs). This investigation into SSCRs uses content analysis to examine the implementation plans created during a SSCR. Results demonstrated that the majority of the strategies planned focused on the Learning key performance indicator (KPI), and the minority of the planned-for strategies focused on the Monitoring Student Performance KPI. A more granular analysis of the Learning strategies revealed five themes: Content, Assessment, Pedagogy, Syllabus, and Student Success. Additional results indicated the majority of planned strategies would occur out of class, and disciplinary differences between science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and non-STEM faculty for pedagogical and content design changes. Results also demonstrated a need for more faculty to utilize actionable language for course redesign strategies. Moreover, the implementation plans provided useful assessment feedback of the CDI itself.

Impact of Hello Intervals in AODV in FANET

Business and classified activity of UAV is changing various bionetwork. To perceive risky issue and investigate research zones, our precise content assessment suggests the critical issue like protection, reception and sanctuary are progressively supplanted by operational contemplations incorporating connection by and blow on other airspace clients. Ongoing episodes show that unlimited robot use can incur issues on other airspace clients like air terminals and crisis administrations. Our audit of current administrative methodologies shows a requirement for additional approach and oversight answer to both run quick and efficient ova utilization development, and work with advancement (for example intraurban bundle conveyance), with execution of the planned engineering is approved utilizing three boundaries, to be specific throughput, parcel conveyance proportion (PDR in various UAVs. The outcomes are contrasted and existing conventions show the adequacy of the work regarding throughput rate.

Chenodeoxycholic Acid Has Non-Thermogenic, Mitodynamic Anti-Obesity Effects in an In Vitro CRISPR/Cas9 Model of Bile Acid Receptor TGR5 Knockdown

Bile acids (BA) have shown promising effects in animal models of obesity. However, the said effects are thought to rely on a thermogenic effect, which is questionably present in humans. A previous work has shown that the BA chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) can revert obesity and accelerate metabolism in animal and cell culture models. Thus, the aim of this study was to understand if this obesity reduction is indeed thermogenically-dependent. A CRISPR/Cas9 model of TGR5 (BA receptor) knockdown in 3T3-L1 adipocytes was developed to diminish thermogenic effects. Various parameters were assessed, including mitochondrial bioenergetics by Seahorse flux analysis, oxidative stress and membrane potential by fluorometry, intermediary metabolism by NMR, protein content assessment by Western Blot, gene expression by qPCR, and confocal microscopy evaluation of mitophagy. CDCA was still capable, for the most part, of reversing the harmful effects of cellular obesity, elevating mitophagy and leading to the reduction of harmed mitochondria within the cells, boosting mitochondrial activity, and thus energy consumption. In summary, CDCA has a non-thermogenic, obesity reducing capacity that hinges on a healthy mitochondrial population, explaining at least some of these effects and opening avenues of human treatment for metabolic diseases.

Abdominal fat content assessment by computed tomography in toy breed dogs

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the abdominal fat distribution in toy breed dogs using computed tomography (CT) in relation to the breed, age, and sexual status. In 140 dogs (52 Maltese, 33 Poodles, 32 Shih-Tzus, and 23 Yorkshire Terriers), the total fat area (TA), visceral fat area (VA), subcutaneous fat area (SA) and body area (BA) were measured at the third and sixth lumbar vertebral level on non-contrast transverse CT images. The differences in the TA/BA and VA/SA according to the breed, age, and sexual status, and correlations with the age were analysed. The differences in the TA/BA and VA/SA among the breeds were revealed (P < 0.05). There was no difference for the TA/BA among the sexual statuses, but the VA/SA was higher in spayed females than in intact females (P = 0.001). Positive correlation of the age with the TA/BA in the Maltese, Poodles, and intact females, and the age with the VA/SA in the Maltese, Shih-Tzus, Yorkshire Terriers, neutered males, and spayed females were found. The results showed that the abdominal fat composition varied according to the breed, age, and sex, which may have implications on defining obesity-related disease risks in different populations. Careful monitoring of the VA/SA in the breed (Maltese, Shih-Tzu, and Yorkshire Terrier), age (senior dogs), and sexual status (neutered dogs) may be required.

Readability and content assessment of patient information texts on oral cancers found on Turkish websites

Aim: Oral cancer is one of the health problems that results in high mortality in the community. It is known that, when diagnosed in the later stages (3 or 4), the disease is difficult to treat. Patient education on heredity and early diagnoses are critical for the successful treatment of oral cancer. This study aimed to evaluate Turkish texts about oral cancers found online in terms of their readability and content. Methodology: The first 100 websites returned from a Google search using the keywords "Ağız kanseri" (“oral cancer,” in Turkish) were examined. The patient information texts obtained were evaluated according to the Ateşman Readability Index. Their contents were also evaluated in terms of whether or not they provided sufficient information about the disease. Results: It was understood that the texts examined in the study were of medium difficulty according to the Ateşman Readability Index (mean 61.73± 11.81). The content of the information on the websites examined in the study was deemed sufficient and useful. Most of the websites examined were those of private clinics and hospitals. Conclusion: The results of the study indicated that the patient information texts found on Turkish websites were of medium reading difficulty. Although they are sufficient in terms of content, if they are not understood by the patients, their intended effects on readers will not be seen. How to cite this article: Kaya DI. Readability and content assessment of patient information texts on oral cancers found on Turkish websites. Int Dent Res 2021;11(Suppl.1):91-5. https://doi.org/10.5577/intdentres.2021.vol11.suppl1.15 Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.

Combining K-Means Clustering and Random Forest to Evaluate the Gas Content of Coalbed Bed Methane Reservoirs

The accurate calculation of the gas content of coalbed bed methane (CBM) reservoirs is of great significance. However, due to the weak correlation between the logging response of coalbed methane reservoirs and the gas content parameters and strong nonlinear characteristics, it is difficult for conventional gas content calculation algorithms to obtain more reliable results. This paper proposes a CBM reservoir gas content assessment method combining K-means clustering and random forest. The K-means clustering is used to divide the reservoirs and distinguish the types to establish a random forest model. Judging from the evaluation effect of the research block, the prediction accuracy of the new method is significantly higher than that of the original method, and more accurate gas content prediction values can be obtained for different types of reservoirs. Studies have shown that this method can help the gas content evaluation of CBM reservoirs, improve the accuracy of gas content evaluation, and better support the exploration and development of CBM reservoirs. The results of this study show that the random forest method based on clustering can effectively distinguish the relationship between different logging responses and gas content. On this basis, the random forest algorithm modeling can effectively characterize the complex relationship between gas content and logging curve response. In the case of poor correlation between gas content and logging curve, the gas content of the reservoir can also be accurately calculated.

Morphometric and Nutritional Characterization of the Main Spanish Lentil Cultivars

Nowadays, there is a growing demand for high-quality vegetal protein food products, such as pulses and lentils in particular. However, there is no scientific evidence on the nutritional and morphometric characterization of the main lentil cultivars in the Western Mediterranean area. For this reason, the aim of this work is to carry out a morphometric and nutritional characterization of the main Spanish lentil cultivars. Nutrient content assessment was performed on dry matter. The results showed that all studied cultivars are large and heavy lentils, except for the cultivar “Pardina”. They have high protein levels, ranging from 21% to 25%, which is higher than those found in any other pulse, as well as a high carbohydrate content, greater than 59% in all cases. Fiber content was higher than expected in “Armuña” and “Rubia Castellana” cultivars, ranging from 6% to 6.6%, and exceptionally high in the case of the cultivar “Pardina”, which reached 7.8%. Conversely, very low values were found for fat content, varying between 0.5% and 0.9%. Ca, Fe and Mg levels were remarkably higher (from 550 ppm to 851 ppm, from 98 ppm to 139 ppm and from 790 ppm to 989 ppm, respectively) than those found for other lentil cultivars, especially the high Mg content in the cultivars “Jaspeada” and “Microjaspeada”, both above 955 ppm. Clear differentiation was found between the cultivars “Rubia Castellana”, “Pardina” and those included in the Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) “Lenteja de la Armuña”. Overall, lentil cultivars included in the PGI “Lenteja de la Armuña” showed better morphometric and nutritional characteristics than cultivars “Pardina” or “Rubia Castellana”.

Immersion positively effects learning in virtual reality games compared to equally interactive 2d games

Purpose This study isolates the effect of immersion on players’ learning in a virtual reality (VR)-based game about cellular biology by comparing two versions of the game with the same level of interactivityand different levels of immersion. The authors identify immersion and additional interactivity as two key affordances of VR as a learning tool. A number of research studies compare VR with two-dimensional or minimally interactive media; this study focuses on the effect of immersion as a result of the head mounted display (HMD). Design/methodology/approach In the game, players diagnose a cell by exploring a virtual cell and search for clues that indicate one of five possible types of cystic fibrosis. Fifty-one adults completed all aspects of the study. Players took pre and post assessments and drew pictures of cells and translation before and after the game. Players were randomly assigned to play the game with the HMD (stereoscopic view) or without the headset (non-stereoscopic view). Players were interviewed about their drawings and experiences at the end of the session. Findings Players in both groups improved in their knowledge of the cell environment and the process of translation. Players who experienced the immersive stereoscopic view had a more positive learning effect in the content assessment, and stronger improvement in their mental models of the process of translation between pre- and post-drawings compared to players who played the two-dimensional game. Originality/value This study suggests that immersion alone has a positive effect on conceptual understanding, especially in helping learners understand spatial environments and processes. These findings set the stage for a new wave of research on learning in immersive environments; research that moves beyond determining whether immersive media correlate with more learning, toward a focus on the types of learning outcomes that are best supported by immersive media.