Sorghum seeds suffer from a low germination ratio, so a factorial experiment was carried out in the Seed Technology Laboratory, Department of Field Crops, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Baghdad during 2022 according to a Completely Randomized Design with four replications to study the effect of stimulating seeds with aqueous extract of banana peels with a concentration of (0, 15, 25 and 35%) and citric acid at concentrations (0, 50, 100 and 200 mg L-1) on viability and vigour of seed properties. Seeds that soaked with banana peel extract at a concentration of 25% outperformed in first count (79.8%), final count (85.0%), radicle length (13.2 cm), plumule length (11.6 cm), and seedling vigour index (2109), noting that they didn't differ significantly with a concentration of 35%. Concentration of 35% outperformed in seedling dry weight (0.015 mg), cold test (46.2%) and accelerated aging (65.0%). Citric acid at a concentration of 200 mg L-1 was superior at the first count (84.3%), final count (87.5%), radicle length (13.9 cm), plumule length (11.5 cm), seedling dry weight (0.014 mg), and seedling vigour index (2227). Concentration of 35% + 100 mg L-1 of banana peel extract and citric acid was significantly superior at final count (94.0%), radicle length (15.8 cm), plumule length (13.6 cm), seedling dry weight (0.017 mg), seedling vigour index (2761), accelerated ageing (75.0%), It can be concluded that banana peel extract is rich with nutrients and mineral elements that stimulate germination and seedling growth, and that citric acid provides an appropriate pH that increases the activity of the enzymes responsible for germination process, so it can be recommended that using a concentration of 35% + 100 mg L-1 of the aqueous extract of banana peels and citric acid together to enhance germination in sorghum.
The consumption of fresh fruits has increased nowadays due to the lifestyle of the consumers. Maintaining the quality and nutritional value of cut fruits during storage is difficult compared to whole fruits. Deterioration of internal and external quality usually occurs in freshly harvested fruits. It is necessary to use different techniques to maintain the quality and increase the shelf life of the freshly cut product. This research studied the effect of treating apple slices with cold plasma once and with filtered water again on quality characteristics (hardness, moisture content, sugar content, carbohydrate content, and color) after being stored for five days. The best treatment was determined using two different pressures of the plasma j
... Show MoreActivation of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) markedly attenuates development of atherosclerosis in animal models. However, the underlying mechanism is not well elucidated. Here, we show that the FXR agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA), increases fecal cholesterol excretion and macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) dependent on activation of hepatic FXR. OCA does not increase biliary cholesterol secretion, but inhibits intestinal cholesterol absorption. OCA markedly inhibits hepatic cholesterol 7α‐hydroxylase (
The research include a pulsed Nd: YAG Laser with (300µs) pulse duration in the TEM00 mode at (1.06µm) wavelength for energies between (0.5-3) J was employed to drill Brass material which is use in industrial applications. The process of drill was assisted by an electric field. This resulted in an increase in the hole aspect ratio by the value (45%) and decrease in the hole taper by the value (25%) of its value under ordinary drilling conditions using the same input energy.
n this work, the effect of gamma rays on blood thinning drugs was studied using the drug (Aspirin), where gamma rays were spread with the drug using a radioactive source (Co60), and 15,000 grams of Aspirin were placed in the device (gamma chamber 900). The drug was subjected to different irradiation doses (5 KGy, 10 KGy, 15 KGy) and the amount of absorption of the drug was observed in the gamma for different doses and the study of x-rays. After confirming the absorption of the drug to radiation, the effect of the drug on blood thinning was calculated using the rat model and compared with the same drug and the same dose but without exposing the drug to radiation and comparing all results with the control group. The way drugs absorbed radiati
... Show MoreNanoparticles are a special group of materials with unique features and extensive applications in diverse fields. The use of nanoparticles of some metals is a viable solution to stop infectious diseases due to the antimicrobial properties of these nanoparticles. The present work demonstrates the effect of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the antibacterial activity of four different antibiotics (amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, and penicillin) against eleven Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates. Disk diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of various classes of antibiotics in the absence and presence of sub-inhibitory silver nanoparticles of concentration (80 microgram/ml). A synergistic effect was o
... Show MoreCelery (Apium graveolens L. ; family : Apiaceae) was often used as a spice in daily food. However, this plant contains many antioxidant compounds useful for attenuating neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease. Planting celery in the form of microgreens harvested 15 days was expected to increase the content of bioactive compounds. In the current study, we intended to evaluate the neuromodulatory potential of methanol extract of celery microgreens on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster Meigen : family Drosophilidae ; ordo : Diptera) which were exposed to paraquat. Neuroprotective capacity was assessed by survival rate, locomotor performance, lipid peroxidation and dopamine content after being treated wi
... Show MoreFilms of silver oxide of different thickness have been prepared by the chemical spray paralysis. Transmission and absorption spectra have recorded in order to study the effect of increasing thickness on some optical parameter such as reflectance, refractive index , and dielectric constant in its two parts . This study reveals that all these paramters affect by increasing the thickness .
The present paper analyzes the signal emitting from the Reticle during changing the spot size of laser falling on the disk and shows the optimum frequency and the amount of energy window in different patterns of modulator (Reticle). All results are obtained by establishing a special program named “Disk optical modulator version 3" using the language visual basic 6 ahich contains many parameters. All models of optical modulator consist of twenty sectors, ten sectors are opaque and other ten sectors are transmitted for the laser. The number of sectors depends on several factors as chopping frequency, power transparent and modulation transfer function. It has been demonstrated by simulations, the optimal
... Show MoreThe aim of this research is to study the effect of high concentrations of salts, pressure and temperature on the performance of the RO membrane with time. Four different (Na2CO3) concentrations (5000, 15000, 25000 and 35000) ppm and various pressures such as (1, 3 and 5) bars at different temperatures of the feed solution (i.e., 25, 35 and 45) ◦C were used in this work. It was found that, as the concentration of salt and feed temperatures increase, the rejection of the salt decrease. While the salt rejection of the membranes increases with increase of transmembrane pressure.