Radiative Peristaltic Flow of Jeffrey Nanofluid with Slip Conditions and Joule Heating

Mixed convection peristaltic flow of Jeffrey nanofluid in a channel with compliant walls is addressed here. The present investigation includes the viscous dissipation, thermal radiation and Joule heating. Whole analysis is performed for velocity, thermal and concentration slip conditions. Related problems through long wavelength and low Reynolds number are examined for stream function, temperature and concentration. Impacts of thermal radiation, Hartman number, Brownian motion parameter, thermophoresis, Joule heating and slip parameters are explored in detail. Clearly temperature is a decreasing function of Hartman number and radiation parameter.     

Nanovaccine: A novel approach in immunization

Despite great advances in the field of vaccination, there are still needs for novel and effective vaccines because still no effective vaccines have been produced for some diseases such as malaria, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and tuberculosis. Furthermore, many of the existing vaccines have disadvantages such as failure to stimulate completely the immune system, in vivo instability, high toxicity, the need for cold chain, and multiple administrations. Nanotechnology has been raised as a powerful tool for solving these problems in this regard. Generally, nanovaccines are a new generation of vaccines using nanoparticles (NPs) as carriers and/or adjuvants. Due to the similar scale (size) between the NPs and pathogens, the immune system can be stimulated well, resulting in triggered cellular and humoral immunity responses. Other benefits of the nanovaccines include their better stability in blood flow to increase the shelf life in blood, enhanced immune system stimulation, no need for booster doses, no need to maintain the cold chain, and ability to create active targeting. In addition, nanovaccines have raised the hope to treat diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, AIDS, malaria, and chronic autoimmune, and so forth.     

Thienopyrimidine-based P2Y12 platelet aggregation inhibitors

Herein we describe the design and synthesis of a novel series of potent thienopyrimidine P2Y₁₂ inhibitors and the negative impact protein binding has on the inhibition of platelet aggregation.     

On Computations for Thermal Radiation in MHD Channel Flow with Heat and Mass Transfer

This study examines the simultaneous effects of heat and mass transfer on the three-dimensional boundary layer flow of viscous fluid between two infinite parallel plates. Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) and thermal radiation effects are present. The governing problems are first modeled and then solved by homotopy analysis method (HAM). Influence of several embedded parameters on the velocity, concentration and temperature fields are described.     

Field estimates of fitness costs of the pace‐of‐life in an endangered damselfly

Theory predicts that within‐population differences in the pace‐of‐life can lead to cohort splitting and produce marked intraspecific variation in body size. Although many studies showed that body size is positively correlated with fitness, many argue that selection for the larger body is counterbalanced by opposing physiological and ecological selective mechanisms that favour smaller body. When a population split into cohorts with different paces of life (slow or fast cohort), one would expect to detect the fitness–size relationship among and within cohorts, that is, (a) slower‐developing cohort has larger body size and higher fitness than faster‐developing cohort, and (b) larger individuals within each cohort show higher fitness than smaller individuals. Here, we test these hypotheses in capture–mark–recapture field surveys that assess body size, lifespan, survival and lifetime mating success in two consecutive generations of a partially bivoltine aquatic insect, Coenagrion mercuriale, where the spring cohort is slower‐developing than the autumn cohort. As expected, body size was larger in the slow‐developing cohort, which is consistent with the temperature‐size rule and also with the duration of development. Body size seasonal variation was greater in slow‐developing cohort most likely because of the higher variation in age at maturity. Concordant with theory, survival probability, lifespan and lifetime mating success were higher in the slow‐developing cohort. Moreover, individual body size was positively correlated with survival and mating success in both cohorts. Our study confirms the fitness costs of fast pace‐of‐life and the benefits of larger body size to adult fitness.     

28-homobrassinolide improves growth and photosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cucumis sativus</Emphasis> L. through an enhanced antioxidant system in the presence of chilling stress

The ameliorative role of 28-homobrassinolide under chilling stress in various growth, photosynthesis, enzymes and biochemical parameters of cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were investigated. Cucumber seedlings were sprayed with 0 (control), 10⁻⁸, or 10⁻⁶ M of 28-homobrassinolide at the 30-day stage. 48 h after treatment plants were exposed for 18 h to chilling temperature (10/8°C, 5/3°C). The most evident effect of chilling stress was the marked reduction in plant growth, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and net photosynthetic rate, efficiency of photosystem II and activities of nitrate reductase and carbonic anhydrase. Moreover, the activities of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (E.C. 1.11.1.6), peroxidase (E.C.1.11.1.7), superoxide dismutase (E.C. 1.15.1.1) along with the proline content in leaves of the cucumber seedlings increased in proportion to chilling temperature. The stressed seedlings of cucumber pretreated with 28-homobrassinolide maintained a higher value of antioxidant enzymes and proline content over the control suggesting the protective mechanism against the ill-effect caused by chilling stress might be operative through an improved antioxidant system. Furthermore, the protective role of 28-homobrassinolide was reflected in improved growth, water relations, photosynthesis and maximum quantum yield of photosystem II both in the presence and absence of chilling stress.     

Nitrogen fertiliser and establishment method affect growth,yield and nitrogen use efficiency of rice under alternate wetting and drying irrigation

Sustainable rice production through selection of best suitable cultivar, water-efficient crop establishment method and optimum nitrogen (N) management practice is needed to feed the growing world population. Two polyhouse experiments were conducted to evaluate the response of rice to different rates and schedules of N application under different establishment methods subjected to alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation. In the first experiment, the response of two rice cultivars (Pathumthani 1, RD57) under three establishment methods (transplanting [TP], wet direct seeding [WDS], dry direct seeding [DDS]) and five N rates (0 [N₀], 30 [N₃₀], 60 [N₆₀], 90 [N₉₀], 120 [N₁₂₀] kg ha⁻¹) was evaluated. The second experiment consisted of the same cultivars and establishment methods, but with four N application schedules (T₁: 100% at basal; T₂: 75% + 25% at basal and at active tillering, respectively; T₃: 50% + 25% + 25% at basal, at active tillering and at panicle initiation, respectively; and T₄: 25% + 25% + 25% + 25% each at basal, at active tillering, at panicle initiation and at early flowering or just before heading starts) applied at the rate of N₆₀ kg ha⁻¹. Plants were maintained under AWD irrigation (soil was saturated by applying water whenever soil water potential drops to −5 kPa during the implementation period) in both experiments. RD57 performed better than Pathumthani 1 having higher shoot dry matter, panicle number, grain yield, total N uptake and apparent N recovery efficiency. TP gave better response than WDS and DDS regardless of cultivars. Application of N₁₂₀ resulted in better growth, yield and its components and total N uptake regardless of establishment methods and cultivars. Increasing N rate decreased N use efficiency (NUE). Scheduling the interval of N application to two or three times (T₂ or T₃) for RD57 and Pathumthani 1, respectively, provided overall better results, and could be recommended for the tested rice cultivars. An optimal N rate and selection of critical growth stages for N application would be very effective for maximising yield and NUE under the water-saving cultivation technique of AWD irrigation.     

Retinoic acid and/or progesterone differentiate mouse induced pluripotent stem cells into male germ cells in vitro

Numerous reagents were employed for differentiating induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into male germ cells; however, the induction procedure was ineffective. The aim of this study was to improve the in vitro differentiation of mice iPSCs (miPSCs) into male germ cells with retinoic acid (RA) and progesterone (P). miPSCs were differentiated to embryoid bodies (EBs) in suspension with RA with or without progesterone for 0, 4, and 7 days. Then, the expression of certain genes at different stages of male germ cell development including Ddx4 (pre meiosis), Stra8 (meiosis), AKAP3 (post meiosis), and Mvh protein was examined in RNA and/or protein levels by real-time polymerase chain reaction or flow cytometry, respectively. The Stra8 gene expression increased in the RA groups on all days. But, expression of this gene declined in RA + P groups. In addition, an increased expression of Ddx4 gene was observed on day 0 in the P group. Also, a significant upregulation was observed in the expression of AKAP3 gene in the RA + P group on days 0 and 4. However, gene expression decreased in P and RA groups on day 7. The expression of Mvh protein significantly increased in the RA group on day 7. The Mvh expression was also enhanced in the P group on day 4, but it decreased on day 7, while this protein upregulated on day 0 and 7 in the RA + P group. The miPSCs have the capacity for in vitro differentiation into male germ cells by RA and/or progesterone. However, the effects of these inducers depend on the type of combination and an effective time.