Non-Newtonian flow-induced deformation from pressurized cavities in absorbing porous tissues

We investigate the behavior of a spherical cavity in a soft biological tissue modeled as a deformable porous material during an injection of non-Newtonian fluid that follows a power law model. Fluid flows into the neighboring tissue due to high cavity pressure where it is absorbed by capillaries and lymphatics at a rate proportional to the local pressure. Power law fluid pressure and displacement of a solid in the tissue are computed as function of radial distance and time. Numerical solutions indicate that shear thickening fluids exhibit less fluid pressure and induce small solid deformation as compared to shear thinning fluids. Absorption in the biological tissue increases as a consequence of flow-induced deformation for power law fluids. In most cases non-Newtonian results are compared with the viscous fluid case to magnify the differences.     

Deciphering distinct biological control and growth promoting potential of multi-stress tolerant Bacillus subtilis PM32 for potato stem canker

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) represent a set of microorganisms that play significant role in improving plant growth and controlling the phytopathogens. Unpredictable performance after the application of PGPR has been observed when these were shifted from in-vitro to in-vivo conditions due to the prevalence of various abiotic stress conditions. During growing period, the potato crop is subjected to a combination of biotic and abiotic stresses. Rhizoctonia solani, a soil-borne plant pathogen, causes reduced vigor and yield of potato crop worldwide. In the current study, multi-stress-tolerant rhizobacterial strain, Bacillus subtilis PM32, was isolated from field-grown potato with various plant growth promoting (PGP) traits including zinc and potassium solubilization, biological nitrogen fixation, ammonia and siderophore, as well as extracellular enzyme productions (cellulase, catalase, amylase, protease, pectinase, and chitinase). The strain PM32 exhibited a distinct potential to support plant growth by demonstrating production of indole-3-acetic acid (102.6 μM/mL), ACC-deaminase activity (1.63 μM of α-ketobutyrate/h/mg protein), and exopolysaccharides (2.27 mg/mL). By retarding mycelial growth of R. solani the strain PM32 drastically reduced pathogenicity of R. solani. The strain PM32 also suppressed the pathogenic activity significantly by impeding mycelial expansion of R. solani with inhibition co-efficient of 49.87. The B. subtilis PM32 also depicted significant tolerance towards salt, heavy metal (Pb), heat and drought stress. PCR based amplification of ituC and acds genes coding for iturin and ACC-deaminase activity respectively indicated potential of strain PM32 for lipopeptides production and ACC deaminase enzyme activity. Results of both in-vitro and pot experiments under greenhouse conditions depicted the efficiency of B. subtilis PM32 as a promising bio-control agent for R. solani infection together with enhanced growth of potato plants as deciphered from biomass accumulation, chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents. Therefore, it was envisioned that application of indigenous multi-stress tolerant PGPR may serve to induce biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in crops/plants for pathogen control and sustainable global food supply.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-021-01067-2.     

Gene diversity for haptoglobin and transferrin classical markers among Hindu and Muslim populations of Aligarh city,India

The present paper reports the distribution of serum protein markers viz. haptoglobin and transferrin in two major groups of Aligarh city of North India. In present study we have undertaken a survey of 538 individuals belonging to eight different populations, four from the Hindu community i.e. Brahmin, Bania, Rajput and Jatav, and the rest four among the Muslim community i.e. Syed, Sheikh, Pathan and Ansari. The heterozygosity ranged from 0.2939 (Ansari) to 0.4873 (Brahmin) for haptoglobin and from 0.000 (Rajput) to 0.1498 (Pathan) for transferrin. The values of D _ST are 0.4122 and 0.4406, and that of G _ST are 0.5059 and 0.9726 for haptoglobin and transferrin markers respectively. Through F _ST test, it has been concluded that there is a high genetic differentiation of populations within Hindu and Muslim groups, though there is absence of any significant differences between these groups.     

A variational calculus approach to the suspension flow problem using the minimal force hypothesis

Analytic expressions for the velocity profile and distribution of neutrally buoyant particles in laminar flow were obtained as functions of the radial distance. A modified Einstein viscosity model and the hypothesis that the total force on all the particles flowing in the tube is a minimum were used. The methods of the variational calculus were used in the mathematical development. A velocity profile differing only slightly from the parabolic form of that for Hagan-Poiseuille flow was obtained. For particle distribution the equations developed predict a maximum concentration along the center-line for some flows and a maximum concentration in a ring some distance from the center line in other flows. Both of these concentration profiles have been observed experimentally. Quantitative predictions from the equations derived must await further experimental work to permit calculation of the parameters included in the equations.     

Selection for yield over five decades favored anisohydric and phenological adaptations to early-season drought in Australian wheat

Plant and Soil - Climate change in the Mediterranean-climate region of Australia is reducing growing season rainfall and delaying first autumn rain or the onset of ‘autumn break’. We...     

Whole Grain Intakes in the Diets Of Malaysian Children and Adolescents – Findings from the MyBreakfast Study

Background

Diets rich in whole grain are associated with several health benefits. Little is known however, about whole grain consumption patterns in Malaysia. The aim of this study was to assess whole grain intakes and dietary source in Malaysian children and adolescents.

Methods

This analysis is from the MyBreakfast study, a national cross sectional study investigating eating habits among primary and secondary school children throughout Malaysia, conducted in 2013. Children (n = 5,165) and adolescents (n = 2,947) who completed two days of dietary assessment using a food record or recall respectively were included. The whole grain content of foods was estimated mainly through the use of quantitative ingredient declarations on food labels. All wholegrain foods were considered irrespective of the amount of whole grain they contained.

Results

Overall, only 25% of children and 19% of adolescents were wholegrain consumers. Mean daily intakes in the total sample were 2.3g/d (SD 5.8g/d) in children and 1.7g/d (SD 4.7g/d) in adolescents and in the consumer’s only sample, mean intakes reached 9.1g/d (SD 8.6) and 9.2g/d (SD 7.1g/d) respectively. Wheat was the main grain source of whole grain while ready to eat breakfast cereals and hot cereals were the main food contributors. Less than 3% of the children and adolescents reached the US quantitative whole grain recommendation of 48g/day.

Conclusion

Whole grain is consumed by only a minority of Malaysian children and adolescents and even among consumers, intakes are well below recommendations. Efforts are needed to firstly understand the barriers to whole grain consumption among Malaysian children in order to design effective health promotion initiatives to promote an increase in whole grain consumption.     

The Interaction of Deworming,Improved Sanitation,and Household Flooring with Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infection in Rural Bangladesh

Background

The combination of deworming and improved sanitation or hygiene may result in greater reductions in soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection than any single intervention on its own. We measured STH prevalence in rural Bangladesh and assessed potential interactions among deworming, hygienic latrines, and household finished floors.

Methodology

We conducted a cross-sectional survey (n = 1,630) in 100 villages in rural Bangladesh to measure three exposures: self-reported deworming consumption in the past 6 months, access to a hygienic latrine, and household flooring material. We collected stool samples from children 1–4 years, 5–12 years, and women 15–49 years. We performed mini-FLOTAC on preserved stool samples to detect Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, hookworm, and Trichuris trichiura ova. Approximately one-third (32%) of all individuals and 40% of school-aged children had an STH infection. Less than 2% of the sample had moderate/heavy intensity infections. Deworming was associated with lower Ascaris prevalence (adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) = 0.53; 95% CI 0.40, 0.71), but there was no significant association with hookworm (PR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.60, 1.44) or Trichuris (PR = 0.90, 95% CI 0.74, 1.08). PRs for hygienic latrine access were 0.91 (95% CI 0.67,1.24), 0.73 (95% CI 0.43,1.24), and 1.03 (95% CI 0.84,1.27) for Ascaris, hookworm, and Trichuris, respectively. Finished floors were associated with lower Ascaris prevalence (PR = 0.56, 95% CI 0.32, 0.97) but not associated with hookworm (PR = 0.48 95% CI 0.16,1.45) or Trichuris (PR = 0.98, 95% CI 0.72,1.33). Across helminths and combinations of exposures, adjusted prevalence ratios for joint exposures were consistently more protective than those for individual exposures.

Conclusions

We found moderate STH prevalence in rural Bangladesh among children and women of childbearing age. This study is one of the first to examine independent and combined associations with deworming, sanitation, and hygiene. Our results suggest that coupling deworming with sanitation and flooring interventions may yield more sustained reductions in STH prevalence.