Isohydricity of Two Different Citrus Species under Deficit Irrigation and Reclaimed Water Conditions

Citrus species are frequently subjected to water and saline stresses worldwide. We evaluated the effects of diurnal changes in the evaporative demands and soil water contents on the plant physiology of grapefruit and mandarin crops under saline reclaimed (RW) and transfer (TW) water conditions, combined with two irrigation strategies, fully irrigated (fI) and non-irrigated (nI). The physiological responses were different depending on the species. Grapefruit showed an isohydric pattern, which restricted the use of the leaf water potential (Ψl) as a plant water status indicator. Its water status was affected by salinity (RW) and water stress (nI), mainly as the combination of both stresses (RW-nI); however, mandarin turned out to be relatively more tolerant to salinity and more sensitive to water stress, mainly because of its low hydraulic conductance (K) levels, showing a critical drop in Ψl that led to severe losses of root–stem (Kroot–stem) and canopy (Kcanopy) hydraulic conductance in TW-nI. This behavior was not observed in RW-nI because a reduction in canopy volume as an adaptive characteristic was observed; thus, mandarin exhibited more anisohydric behavior compared to grapefruit, but isohydrodynamic since its hydrodynamic water potential gradient from roots to shoots (ΔΨplant) was relatively constant across variations in stomatal conductance (gs) and soil water potential. The gs was considered a good plant water status indicator for irrigation scheduling purposes in both species, and its responses to diurnal VPD rise and soil drought were strongly correlated with Kroot–stem. ABA did not show any effect on stomatal regulation, highlighting the fundamental role of plant hydraulics in driving stomatal closure.

Low birth weight in Lebanon: a morphological parameter and a health status indicator

Thistudy is an attempt to determine the incidence of low birth weight [LBW] in Lebanon. Biometric, biomedical and sociobehavioural parameters were investigated. The incidence of LBW showed an upward trend from 1986 to 1990; a peak was observed in 1990 at the height of the war, but rates fell in 1991. Infants born with weights of 2500 to 2999 grams represented about a quarter of live births, although the mean birth weight was higher. The length of gestation was associated with birth weight. More information is needed regarding birth weights at the country level. This would require elimination of the problem of nonhospital births and improvement of the registration system for vital events and of prenatal records

What Is a Flare? The Manitoba Living With IBD Study

Background Flare is a poorly defined term used by patients and clinicians to indicate inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) status. This study aimed to evaluate the validity of a single-item 7-point flare indicator relative to other measures of disease flare. Methods The longitudinal Manitoba Living with IBD Study followed persons with IBD for 1 year; they completed biweekly online surveys and provided 3 stool samples. Disease flare on a single-item flare indicator with 7 possible responses developed for the study was defined by report of symptoms as “moderately” or “much” worse. The flare indicator was evaluated against 5 measures of disease activity: fecal calprotectin score (FCAL), a 2-point disease status indicator, a 4-point flare certainty indicator, the IBD Symptom Index short form (SIBDSI), and the short form IBD Questionnaire (SIBDQ). Participants in a flare, based on the 7-point measure, were matched to a nonflaring participant, and a stool sample was collected. Results Of the 155 IBD participants, almost half (n = 74) experienced a flare. Of those who flared, 97.0% endorsed active IBD on the 2-point indicator (controls 42.5%; P < .001); 91.9% endorsed active IBD on the 4-point certainty indicator (controls 32.9%; P < .001); 90.5% endorsed active disease on the SIBDSI (controls 34.2%; P < .001); and 48.5% had an elevated FCAL (controls 34.3%; P < .05). The mean SIBDQ was lower for the flare group compared with controls (43.9 [SD 11.1] vs 58.3 [SD 8.5]; P < .001), indicating worse disease. Conclusions The 7-point flare indicator robustly identified symptomatic flares. This patient self-report indicator reflected meaningful changes in more complex clinical indices and had only weak concordance with the presence of inflammation.

Optimization of control power sources and island driver system design for remotely operated vehicle (ROV)

Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) diving equipment system is an important device in oil and gas exploration and production, especially in the conditions of working in deep and complex waters. By design, the ROV Panther Plus 932 has no reverse steering function, limited visibility and difficult operation. To overcome that shortcoming, the authors have studied and fabricated an electronic circuit to take charge of the power reversing function on the Joystick with a function button and a Forward/Revert status indicator light. After adjusting, designing, controlling the ROV in the opposite direction, there is no need to turn the head, avoid twisting, burning cables, getting caught in obstacles or being caught up in the ROV during work, increasing cable life.

Orofacial Dental Pain and Its Management – A General Guide and Systemic Review

Pain is one of the main symptoms for which patients seek medical attention. Pain has been designated as the “Fifth vital sign” to mark its importance as health status indicator. Orofacial dental pain may be due to various conditions affecting numerous structures local to or distant to the oral cavity including the meninges, cornea, oral, nasal, sinus mucosa, dentition, musculature, salivary glands and temporomandibular joint. Evidence support the fact that the most commonly experienced orofacial pain is dental in nature. The dental reasons should be well thought of as the first step even in cases where orofacial pain is poorly localized. One of the most common reasons for seeking dental care is said to be pain and dysfunction, usually involving the teeth and surrounding tissue. Musculoskeletal, vascular and neuropathic causes of orofacial pain occur very frequently. Orofacial disorders may have pain and associated symptoms arising from a discrete cause, such as postoperative pain or pain associated with a malignancy, or may be syndromes in which pain constitutes the primary problem, such as TMJ disorder pain or headache.

Nutritional status indicator and its correlation with mental health score among adolescents in Islamic boarding schools

Background: It has been estimated that about 10–20% of adolescents worldwide had experiences of mental health problems. Malnutrition, including overweight and obese, is one of the risk factors for mental health in adolescents. There is a knowledge gap regarding the nutritional status and its correlation with mental health among adolescents who live in boarding schools. This study aimed to determine nutritional status and its correlation with mental health among adolescents in Islamic boarding schools.Methods: A cross-sectional approach was used in this study in which two schools in South Tangerang City of Banten Province were purposively selected and 302 of students aged 15–18 years were completed this study. BMI-for-age Z-scores (BAZ) was used as the nutritional status indicator, and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) was used to determine mental health of the subjects. Spearman correlation was used to determine the correlation between nutritional status indicator and mental health score.Results: Nearly 30% of the subjects were overweight and obese, and almost 20% had result of mental health score in categories “borderline” and “abnormal”. There was a significant correlation between nutritional status indicator and mental health score among adolescents in Islamic boarding schools (r=0.157, P=0.006).Conclusion: Adolescents who had higher BAZ, had higher total difficulties scores. The schools and policy makers should give attention to nutritional status of the students since it is correlated with mental health.

Study of the development trajectory of the status indicator in employment in the context of digital transformation

Changes in employment status and rising unemployment are global and driven by rapid technological progress. The coronavirus pandemic also played a huge role, increasing the unemployment rate by 2-4% in different economies. The most declining industries are arts, culture and recreation; spheres of education, law and social, communal and state services; trade. Today, the fragmentation of employment up to self-employment and the spread of various forms of precarious work are clearly visible, and there is an inverse relationship between the share of self-employed workers and the GDP of their countries: in 2018, Burundi had the highest level of self-employment in the world - almost 95%. Arab countries posted the lowest self-employment rates at 1.7%. The emergence of new professions and employment profiles opens up a number of opportunities for the unemployed and the self-employed.