A multi-objective mathematical model of a water management problem with environmental impacts: An application in an irrigation project.

The study proposes applying an efficient but straightforward multi-objective constrained optimization model for optimal water allocation among irrigation and environmental sectors. The model has been implemented in the Muhuri Irrigation Project (MIP), Bangladesh, where the irrigation systems lead to unjustifiable use of groundwater. This study explores how water can be optimised to increase agricultural production and sustain the local environment in the MIP. Hence, the paper has two objectives-to maximise the net return and minimise the deficit in environmental flow. The study uses a Non-Dominating Sorting Genetic Algorithm, NSGA-II, to solve the research problem. Results indicate that crops more profitable to trade should be cultivated. Furthermore, the rainfall has more impact on the net return and environmental flow deficit than water inflow. The findings of this study can help plan irrigation water and cropland resources and be a reference for further studies.

A Computational Approach for Predicting Role of Human MicroRNAs in MERS-CoV Genome.

The new epidemic Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is caused by a type of human coronavirus called MERS-CoV which has global fatality rate of about 30%. We are investigating potential antiviral therapeutics against MERS-CoV by using host microRNAs (miRNAs) which may downregulate viral gene expression to quell viral replication. We computationally predicted potential 13 cellular miRNAs from 11 potential hairpin sequences of MERS-CoV genome. Our study provided an interesting hypothesis that those miRNAs, that is, hsa-miR-628-5p, hsa-miR-6804-3p, hsa-miR-4289, hsa-miR-208a-3p, hsa-miR-510-3p, hsa-miR-18a-3p, hsa-miR-329-3p, hsa-miR-548ax, hsa-miR-3934-5p, hsa-miR-4474-5p, hsa-miR-7974, hsa-miR-6865-5p, and hsa-miR-342-3p, would be antiviral therapeutics against MERS-CoV infection.

A simple sequential-binding model for calcium puffs.

Calcium puffs describe the transient release of Ca(2+) ions into the cytosol, through small clusters of 1,4,5-inositol triphosphate (IP(3)) receptors, present on internal stores such as the endoplasmic reticulum. Statistical properties of puffs, such as puff amplitudes and durations, have been well characterized experimentally. We model calcium puffs using a simple, sequential-binding model for the IP(3) receptor in conjunction with a computationally inexpensive point-source approximation. We follow two different protocols, a sequential protocol and a renewal protocol. In the sequential protocol, puffs are generated successively by the same cluster; in the renewal protocol, the system is reset after each puff. In both cases for a single set of parameters our results are in excellent agreement with experimental results for puff amplitudes and durations but indicate puff-to-puff correlations for the sequential protocol, consistent with recent experimental findings [H. J. Rose, S. Dargan, J. W. Shuai, and I. Parker, Biophys. J. 91, 4024 (2006)]. The model is then used to test the consistency of the hypothesized steep Ca(2+) gradients around single channels with the experimentally observed features of puff durations and amplitudes. A three-dimensional implementation of our point-source model suggests that a peak Ca(2+) concentration of the order of 10 muM at the cluster site (not channel) is consistent with the statistical features of observed calcium puffs.

2,2'-Anhydro-4'-thionucleosides: precursors for 2'-azido- and 2'-chloro-4'-thionucleosides and for a novel thiolane to thietane rearrangement.

2,2'-Anhydro-4'-thio-beta- and alpha-nucleosides 9 and 10 have been prepared by an in situ 4-thio-1,2-glycal addition route. They undergo ring-opening by azide or chloride ion to give, after deprotection, the 2'-substituted-4'-thionucleosides 13 and 14, whereas reactions with cyanide or fluoride sources lead to the unsaturated nucleosides 17 or 18, depending upon conditions. An unexpected and clean rearrangement to the thietane 23 occurs on treatment of uracil derivative 20 with DAST.

Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone at estrus on subsequent luteal function and fertility in lactating Holsteins during heat stress.

The experiment used lactating Holstein cows (n = 94) from three herds in Mississippi. The experiment was conducted during late summer when temperatures were hot enough to cause a measurable stress response in cows in order to determine the effect of GnRH administration during estrus on fertility and subsequent luteal function of cows under these conditions. The mean ranges for ambient temperature, relative humidity, and temperature-humidity index during the study were 21.4 to 32.8 degrees C, 67 to 95%, and 21.6 to 29.6, respectively. After injection of PGF2 alpha for synchronization of estrus, cows were alternately injected with 100 micrograms of either GnRH or saline (control) at detection of estrus, followed by AI 10 to 12 h later. From 14 treated cows and 14 control cows, blood samples were drawn by venipuncture just prior to treatment and at 5-d intervals until 30 d after treatment. Serum progesterone concentrations were determined by radioimmunoassay. Mean progesterone concentrations were higher for the cows treated with GnRH than for the controls. The pregnancy rate from first AI was 28.6% for all treated cows and 17.7% for control cows. On d 20, 42.8% of the treated cows and 57.1% of the control cows exhibited progesterone concentrations that were typical of pregnancy. When pregnancy was diagnosed in these cows after d 45, pregnancy rates had decreased significantly for controls but not for cows given GnRH at estrus, suggesting greater embryonic survival in treated cows. We concluded that GnRH treatment enhanced secretion of luteal progesterone and embryo survival.