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The growth of high-quality in vitro potato plants (Solanum stenotomum subsp. stenotomum, Solanum stenotomum subsp. goniocalyx, and Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena) is affected by multiple biological, operational, and environmental factors. Research on in vitro culture is frequently focused on the species, explant, composition of the culture medium, and incubation conditions, but only limited information is available on the effect of the gas exchange rate and volume of in vitro culture vessels under variable planting densities. In the present study, these factors were evaluated with a set of seven diverse potato landraces. The results were compared to the plants' responses in routinely used in vitro culture vessels, i.e., 13 × 100 mm and 25 × 150 mm test tubes, and GA7® magenta vessels. In vitro potato plants grown in plastic vessels equipped with a HEPA filter delivering a high gas exchange rate developed thicker stems (0.95 mm), a higher total average leaf area (2.51 cm2), increased chlorophyll content in leaves (32.2 ppm), and lower moisture content in their tissues (90.1%) compared to filter systems with lower gas exchange rates. A high planting density of 10 × 10 plants per vessel (360 and 870 mL) negatively affected the average stem width and root length but increased the plant height (3.4 cm). High fluctuations of ion-uptake of NO3−, Ca++, K+, and Na+ were observed between genotypes, with some accessions having a 4.6-times higher Ca++-ion concentration in their tissues (190–234 ppm). The in vitro plants developed more robust stems, longer roots, and larger leaves within in vitro culture vessels equipped with a HEPA filter (high gas exchange rate) compared to the control vessels, in contrast to the chlorophyll content in leaves, which was higher in plants grown in narrow test tubes. Depending on the purpose of the subculture of in vitro plants, their growth and development can be molded using different gas exchange rates, planting densities, and vessel volumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past two decades, interest in local specialty cut flower production in eastern South Dakota has grown, with several new flower farms being established across the region. However, there is currently no local, research-based information available to support growers in this new wave of interest. The purpose of this study was to assess the production and quality of four zinnia cultivars grown in eastern South Dakota to support local specialty cut flower growers in their operations. A randomized complete block design was used to evaluate four zinnia cultivars (Zinderella Peach, Oklahoma Ivory, Queen Red Lime, and Benary’s Giant Purple) grown in 2022 and 2023. Zinnias were started by seed in the greenhouse and transplanted into the field in early summer each season. Harvest began each year when flowers reached maturity (July), with one harvest event taking place each week until the first frost. Harvested flowers were rated as marketable or nonmarketable based on categories of stem length (≥18-inch-long, 13- to 17.99-inch-long, 8- to 12.99-inch-long, and

Introduction: The rate of revision TKA and thus the use of hinged implants (HI) steadily rises. Aseptic loosening lies on the top of the failure patterns. However, no evidence exists until now based on national scale high-caseloads that analyzes the impact of cemented HI stem-design on aseptic survival rates. Methods: Data on aseptic HI-revisions with full-cemented tibia-stems were conducted from the German Arthroplasty Registry. Cases were divided in primary HI (PHI) and HI used in revision operations (RHI). Endpoint was a new revision following either a PHI or an RHI. The impact of stem conicity (conical vs. cylindrical), diameter (≤ 13 mm vs. > 13 mm), length (≤ 90 mm vs. > 90 mm) and offset on the 6-Year-Cumulative-Aseptic-Revision-Rate (6Y-CARR) was estimated via Kaplan–Meier curve and compared between groups via Log-Rank-Tests. Results: 3953 PHI and 2032 RHI fulfilled inclusion-criteria. Stem conicity had no impact on 6Y-CARR (p = 0.08 and p = 0.8). Diameter > 13 mm hat an impact on PHI (p = 0.05) with lower 6Y-CARR but not on RHI (p = 0.2). Length > 90 mm showed significantly worst 6Y-CARR in PHI (p = 0.0001) but not in RHI (p = 0.3). Offset-stems showed significantly better 6Y-CARR in PHI (p = 0.04), but not in RHI (p = 0.7). Conclusion: There was no significant impact of the cemented tibia-stem conicity on 6Y-CARR, neither in PHI nor in RHI. The effect of length, diameter and offset on the 6Y-CARR observed in the PHI, was not detectable in the more complex RHI-cases reflecting its limited clinical relevance by itself in more multifactorial backgrounds. Therefore, results must be interpreted with caution due to considerable system-effects and different utilization-scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of high-quality in vitro potato plants (Solanum stenotomum subsp. stenotomum, Solanum stenotomum subsp. goniocalyx, and Solanum tuberosum subsp. andigena) is affected by multiple biological, operational, and environmental factors. Research on in vitro culture is frequently focused on the species, explant, composition of the culture medium, and incubation conditions, but only limited information is available on the effect of the gas exchange rate and volume of in vitro culture vessels under variable planting densities. In the present study, these factors were evaluated with a set of seven diverse potato landraces. The results were compared to the plants’ responses in routinely used in vitro culture vessels, i.e., 13 × 100 mm and 25 × 150 mm test tubes, and GA7® magenta vessels. In vitro potato plants grown in plastic vessels equipped with a HEPA filter delivering a high gas exchange rate developed thicker stems (0.95 mm), a higher total average leaf area (2.51 cm2), increased chlorophyll content in leaves (32.2 ppm), and lower moisture content in their tissues (90.1%) compared to filter systems with lower gas exchange rates. A high planting density of 10 × 10 plants per vessel (360 and 870 mL) negatively affected the average stem width and root length but increased the plant height (3.4 cm). High fluctuations of ion-uptake of NO3−, Ca++, K+, and Na+ were observed between genotypes, with some accessions having a 4.6-times higher Ca++-ion concentration in their tissues (190–234 ppm). The in vitro plants developed more robust stems, longer roots, and larger leaves within in vitro culture vessels equipped with a HEPA filter (high gas exchange rate) compared to the control vessels, in contrast to the chlorophyll content in leaves, which was higher in plants grown in narrow test tubes. Depending on the purpose of the subculture of in vitro plants, their growth and development can be molded using different gas exchange rates, planting densities, and vessel volumes.

Introduction and Objective: Medicinal plants are one of the rich sources of important compounds from ancient to the present; it has found a special place in the treatment of many diseases and has become an important reason for many studies on medicinal plants. On the other hand, the diversity of plants has led researchers to use morphological markers first and then cytogenetic markers to select the physiologically and genetically superior plant. Peppermint (Mentha piperita) from Lamiaceae family is one of the most important medicinal plants, used in food, sanitary and cosmetic industries and used as a spice and traditional herb in Iran. The purpose of the experiment is to investigate genetic diversity based on morphological diversity. Material and Methods: In this research, different accessions of this plant were collected from different regions of Iran. An experiment was conducted in 2021 year based on randomized complete block design to evaluate the morphological of these accessions in Meshginshahr climatic condition. The results were analyzed using spss software and univariate and multivariate statistical methods. Result: Analysis of variance showed that there were significant differences for the most studied traits among 12 accessions. The important traits such as plant height, branch number, leaf number traits, the internode length, in inflorescence length, the plant dry weight, plant fresh weight, bracket number, stem length, internode number, bract number, Plant diameter, Dry weight leaf, Dry weight flower, Leaf surface and Flower number per plant were varied among accessions. The Meshginshahr, Golestan, Ardabil and Urmia were the best in phytochemical. Maximum correlation was shown between plant height and stem length (0.97). Cluster analysis, classified the accessions into three major claddes. Factor analysis indicated that the four factors explained 91.3 of the variability among the accessions. The results of path analysis showed that the leaf number and plant dry weight content had highest direct and positive effect (0.75). Conclusion: The results suggested that there was a considerable genetic variation among M. piperita L accessions. Indicate the presence of comparable genetic potentials in genotypes of Mentha piperita L. for cultivar development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Uncemented short stems have been shown to optimize load distribution on the proximal femur, reducing stress shielding and preserving bone mass. However, they may adversely affect the initial stability of the stems. To date, most research conducted on short stems has predominantly centered on uncemented stems, leaving a notable dearth of investigations encompassing cemented stems. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the length of cemented stems on the transmission of femoral load patterns and assess the initial stability of cemented short stems.Method: A series of finite element models were created by gradient truncation on identical cemented stem. The impact of varying lengths of the cemented stem on both the peak stress of the femur and the stress distribution in the proximal femur (specifically Gruen zones 1 and 7) were assessed. In addition, an experimental biomechanical model for cemented short stem was established, and the initial stability was measured by evaluating the axial irreversible displacement of the stem relative to the cement.Result: The maximum von-Mises stress of the femur was 58.170 MPa. Spearman correlation analysis on the shortened length and von-Mises stress of all nodes in each region showed that the p-values for all regions were less than 0.0001, and the correlation coefficients (r) for each region were 0.092 (Gruen Zone 1) and 0.366 (Gruen Zone 7). The result of the biomechanical experiment showed that the irreversible axial displacement of the stem relative to cement was −870 μm (SD 430 μm).Conclusion: Reducing the length of a cemented stem can effectively enhance the proximal load of the femur without posing additional fracture risk. Moreover, the biomechanical experiment demonstrated favorable initial stabilities of cemented short stems.

Amaranth is now cultivated almost all over the World for multiple purposes, such as a vegetable, seed food, feed for animals, medicine, and for industry uses. They are highly nutritious, with vitamins and minerals. Leaf area and leaf dry biomass are key parameters linked to plant growth and production. The relationship between leaf biomass and leaf surface area, as well as stem biomass and stem length, is important to our understanding of plant scaling relationships because of their relationship to plant survival. This paper aimed to evaluate the relationship between and within the leaf and stem parameters of nine different amaranth cultivars. The fresh leaves and stems were weighed in their fresh masses; the surface area for leaves was calculated by drawing a full leaf in square quadrats and then counting the square quadrats occupied by a leaf and the stem length was measured using a ruler. Our results indicated that there was a clear relationship between leaf fresh mass and leaf dry mass but a negative correlat ion between stem fresh mass and stem dry mass due to different internal contents such as water and substances. A low significance was obtained between leaf biomass and leaf surface area, stem biomass and stem length, and leaf biomass and stems biomass as well as leaf surface area and stem length. Our results revealed that this variability of values causes the disproportional ratio of fresh mass to dry mass due to the differentiation quantity of water and solutes within the leaves and stems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: The present study intends to help and support clinicians and specialists in the decision process concerning the length and type of stems to use in case varus–valgus deformity is present in a patient. Hinged total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a valid option to treat patients during revision of an implant; however, in case of varus/valgus deformity, the force transmission from the femur to the tibia could be altered and therefore the performance of the implant could be detrimental. To be able to evaluate this, the goal of this study was to investigate, using a validated finite element analysis, the effect of varus/valgus load configurations in the bones when a hinged TKA is used. In detail, short and long stem lengths (50 mm, and 120 mm), were analyzed both under cemented or press-fit fixation under the following varus and valgus deformity: 5°, 10°, 20°, and 30°. The main outputs of the study were average bone stress in different regions of interest, together with tibio-femoral contact pressure and force. Results demonstrated that changes in the varus or valgus deformity degrees induce a change in the medio-lateral stress and force distribution, together with a change in the contact area. The effect of stem length and cement do not alter the tibio-femoral contact biomechanics but its effect is mainly localized in the distal femoral region, and it is negligible in the proximal regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have long sought to predict the mechanical behavior of polyethylene from its microstructure. In particular, the yield strength and yield kinetics have been reported to be dependent on crystallinity and crystal thickness, but the relative importance of these two microstructural attributes has not been shown. In the present work, a series of microstructures was obtained through a combination of controlled quench rates from the melt and inclusion of various amounts of hexene comonomer. The yield strength for a wide range of strain‐rates was linearly dependent on the crystallinity, and independent of crystal thickness (chain stem length), both measured by Raman spectroscopy. Similarly, yield kinetics described by a Ree‐Eyring two‐process stress activated model showed linear dependence on crystallinity and no dependence on crystal thickness. The results of the present work call into question models of yield kinetics dependent on screw dislocation nucleation, which depend on crystal thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Despite similar fracture rates, the incidence of intraoperative and post-operative fractures between standard (ST) length and short (SH) femoral stems remains unclear. Therefore, this study compared the incidence of intraoperative and early postoperative fractures between three ST and a single tapered-wedge SH femoral stem. Materials and methods: Data were retrospectively collected on 1113 patients (1306 hips) having undergone total hip arthroplasty, via the anterior approach on a fracture table, between 2014 and 2019. One surgeon completed all ST procedures (314 hips), using one of three implants without discretion. One surgeon completed all SH procedures (992 hips), using one implant design. Differences between ST and SH groups were evaluated by independent t tests (continuous variables) and Chi-square tests (categorical variables). Results: Patients in the SH group were significantly older (p < 0.001) and had a lower body mass index (p = 0.001) compared to the ST group. The total number of fractures was 12 (3.8%) and 14 (1.4%) in the ST and SH groups, respectively. The 12 ST fractures occurred intraoperatively, compared to two (0.2%) in the SH group. The remaining seven (0.7%) SH fractures occurred post-operatively. There was no difference in fracture rate between the three ST designs (p = 0.882). Interestingly, five (0.5%) insufficiency fractures were diagnosed in the SH group. Conclusion: The risk of intraoperative and post-operative fractures following anterior total hip arthroplasty may be biased toward ST and SH implants, respectively. These results, along with the presence of five insufficient fractures, identify potential fracture risks and mechanisms for specific implant designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growth and nutritional status of plant are affected adversely by heavy metals while improved by plant growth regulators. The experiment was aimed to explore the ameliorative potential of indole acetic acid (IAA) for toxicity of Pb. Methods: Two varieties i.e., M-8 and MN-92 of mung bean were grown in pots arranged under complete randomization. Fifteen days after germination, Pb was added @ 10 and 20 mg/kg soil as solutions of PbNO3. Indole acetic acid @100.0 mM was sprayed twice at 15 and 30 days of age. Stem length, root length, leaf area and nutrient ions were recorded at physiological maturity. Three replicates from each treatment were evaluated. Result: The alleviation role of IAA for stem length was recorded as 21.46 and 26.14% for low and high lead stress. The root length was compensated to 34.78 and 31.40% for the respective low and high lead toxicity. Leaf area was affected as 18.11 and 17.32% by IAA. Similarly, Nitrogen contents were nullified to the extents of 15.34 and 8.13%. Phosphorus contents were changed as 11.62 and 4.65% while potassium contents were as 10.14 and 19.36%. The rectifying potential of IAA for leaf biomasses were as 7.64 and 7.43%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf veins are the continuation of twigs, and the hydraulic system of a leaf is part of, and the continuation of, the hydraulic architecture of a tree. Previous studies have demonstrated that the vessel diameter of the widest part at the tree base is tightly related to the total stem length of a tree. Here, we demonstrate that: the vessel diameter of the narrowest part at the distal end of the tree (the terminal twigs) is closely correlated to the leaf size for an angiosperm tree. Consequently, the basic feature of the hydraulic system of an angiosperm tree may be predicted by two simple parameters: the stem length (or tree height) and the leaf size, with the tree height predicting the size of the widest vessel at the tree base and the leaf size predicting the size of the narrowest vessel at the terminal trig. Namely, there is an inherent coordination between the leaf size and the hydraulic architecture of the angiosperm tree. As leaves are replacing themselves every year, their responses to climate are direct and immediate, while the woody part of a tree is there for years and more, and thus can only respond passively to climate change. This may cause a mismatch between the woody part and leaf part of the hydraulic system, and thus endanger the hydraulic coordination between leaves and the woody part. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the evaluation of a thickness analysis on the vuts of beech wood using annual rings. The study was performed at the state enterprise Lesy SR, a branch plant in Smolenice on the territory of Forrest District Majdán. In order to perform a thickness analysis of the beech logs, it was necessary to know the number of annual rings on the butt end and the number of annual rings on the small end. Based on these two quantities, it was necessary to derive the number of annual rings in the middle of the trunk. All these characteristics were related to the length of the stem and the thickness of the stem. The data set contained 1000 logs. For a period of 3 years - i.e. from 2017 to 2019 in total for all types of intentional felling, starting with tending intentional felling up to 50 years, tendingt intentional felling over 50 years and ending with prescribed final felling, incidential felling was not included in the investigation. The aim of this publication was to determine the thickness characteristics of beech stem logs, which are characterized in the territory of branch Smolenice by a full-wood stem and to create input quantities for a model log of a beech stem. The results include the average width of annual rings depending on the length of the stem, the average number of annual rings per 1 meter of length, the average reduction in the number of annual rings depending on the length recalculated per 1 meter of length, the average height increment. The results showed interesting findings, the largest average width of annual rings was recorded in improvement intentional felling over 50 years, despite advanced age. Another interesting finding was the average height gain of 0.5 m. The average number of annual rings served to confirm the accuracy of the calculation of the stem thickness depending on the width of the annual ring. The average reduction in the number of annual rings showed the convergence of the stem in cm depending on the length of the cut.

Aims: There are concerns regarding initial stability and early periprosthetic fractures in cementless hip arthroplasty using short stems. This study aimed to investigate stress on the cortical bone around the stem and micromotions between the stem and cortical bone according to femoral stem length and positioning. Methods: In total, 12 femoral finite element models (FEMs) were constructed and tested in walking and stair-climbing. Femoral stems of three different lengths and two different positions were simulated, assuming press-fit fixation within each FEM. Stress on the cortical bone and micromotions between the stem and bone were measured in each condition. Results: Stress concentration was observed on the medial and lateral interfaces between the cortical bone and stem. With neutral stem insertion, mean stress over a region of interest was greater at the medial than lateral interface regardless of stem length, which increased as the stem shortened. Mean stress increased in the varus-inserted stems compared to the stems inserted neutrally, especially at the lateral interface in contact with the stem tip. The maximum stress was observed at the lateral interface in a varus-inserted short stem. All mean stresses were greater in stair-climbing condition than walking. Each micromotion was also greater in shorter stems and varus-inserted stems, and in stair-climbing condition. Conclusion: The stem should be inserted neutrally and stair-climbing movement should be avoided in the early postoperative period, in order to preserve early stability and reduce the possibility of thigh pain, especially when using a shorter stem.

While short stems in total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) preserve bone stock and facilitate revision surgery, they have been associated with higher rates of malalignment and loosening in some cases compared to standard length stems. The purpose of this study was to analyze the intramedullary canal in progressive increments distal to the greater tuberosity to provide anatomic information about the optimal length of press-fit short stems for alignment and stability in TSA. We hypothesized that the humeral canal diameter will remain variable for the first 50 to 75 mm distal to the greater tuberosity and will become consistent thereafter. A retrospective review of 99 consecutive patients undergoing TSA with CT scans was performed. Intramedullary anterior-posterior (AP) and medial-lateral (ML) width as well as diameter were analyzed on two-dimensional computed tomography following multiplanar reconstruction. Measurements were taken at consistent distances distal to the greater tuberosity (GT). The transition point was measured at the proximal level of the humerus where endosteal borders of the medial and lateral cortices became parallel. The mean transition point was 73 mm from the GT (range: 53 to 109 mm). ML and AP widths became consistent 80 mm distal to the GT. IM diameter became consistent after 90 mm distal to the GT and a stem length of 90 mm extended past the transition point in 91.9% of cases. In TSA, a humeral stem length of 90 mm is required to predictably reach points at which the humeral canal becomes cylindrical and consistent in diameter. This information may aid data-driven decisions on humeral stem length during press-fit fixation, assuring consistency of alignment and implant stability, while maintaining ease of revision associated with a short stem implant. Level of evidence: III [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In subtropical environments lodging occurs at all stages of the oat plant development, particularly after panicle extrusion, causing severe yield reduction. This study aimed to identify morphological, chemical, and anatomical characteristics of the stem associated with lodging resistance on oats, which may be used to identify and select resistant genotypes. A set of genotypes with diverse response to lodging were grown in nine environments, combining sowing densities, years, and growing seasons within the same year. Were carried out morphological, anatomical, and chemical evaluations for main stems. Shorter stem length and larger stem thickness in the first expanded basal internode are morphological characteristics associated with lodging resistance in Avena sativa. No differences in lignin and cellulose contents were observed, however, there were differences in the distribution pattern and in the intensity of lignin and cellulose staining. Lodging resistant genotypes showed higher number of cell layers in the subdermal parenchyma. The most practical and easily selectable feature for lodging resistance in a breeding program remains plant height together with stem wall thickness at the first basal expanded internode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted at the nursery of the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences; University of Duhok, Kurdistan Region, Iraq, during growing season (2020) to evaluate the effects of foliar sprays of three concentrations of aminoplasmal (0, 50 and 100 ml.L-1), concentrations of humic acid (0, 100 and 200 ml.L-1) and boron (0, 50 and 100 mg.L-1) on vegetative growth and nutritional status of one year old almond seedling (Prunus amygdalus). The factorial experiment within randomized complete block design was used with three replicates. Foliar spraying applied at two times. First spray was carried out on 25th of April and the other on 27th of May. Results indicated that foliar spray of aminoplasmal at 100 ml.L-1 significantly increased all vegetative growth characteristics (stem length, stem diameter, number of branches/seedling, number of leaves / seedling, chlorophyll, leaf area, leaf fresh weight, leaf dry weight), and significantly increase leave nutritional status (N, P, K and B). Humic acid at conc. (200 ml.L-1) and boric acid at conc. (100 mg.L-1) cause significant increases in all studied traits. In combination, the triple interaction between 100 ml.L-1 aminoplasmal with 200 ml.L-1 humic acid and 100 mg.L-1 boron was the most affected one which surpassed significantly on the control treatment and other treatments. In general, in this study, it was discovered that treatments with aminoplasmal, humic acid and boron significantly increased vegetative growth and nutritional status of almond seedling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a brief exposure to treatments of end-of-day (EOD) far-red (FR) light and EOD-heating on flowering and stem elongation in certain species cultivated in areas with limited sunshine from autumn to winter has been investigated. Thirteen EOD-FR treated cultivars among all 24 cultivars tested in experiment 1, showed earlier flowering than control plants. Additionally, Kanzaki No.21, F1 Winter cherry and Gypsy deep rose were earlier to flower under the all night-FR treatment than under the EOD-FR treatment. Further, 13 cultivars among all cultivars tested in experiment 1 showed greater stem length, whereas 16 cultivars of them showed greater mean internode length than controls when treated with EOD-FR. The days to flowering in 13 cultivars treated by EOD-Heating, flowering was earlier than in controls. Also, stem length and mean internode length were also promoted by the same treatment in 7 cultivars. Additionally, flowering and stem elongation of Stella rose, Arizona sun, Suzuhime and Extra carmine rose were promoted by a combination of both treatments, and productivity and quality were improved. These results suggest that the treatments tested can help the production of cut-flowers in areas with limited sunshine from autumn to winter, although the method of application of the treatments must be optimized for each species.

Hinged total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a valid option to treat patients during revision of an implant; however, in case of varus/valgus deformity, the force transmission from the femur to the tibia could be altered and therefore the performance of the implant could be detrimental. To be able to evaluate this, the goal of this study was to investigate, using a validated finite element analysis, the effect of varus/valgus load configurations in the bones when a hinged TKA is used. In detail, short and long stem lengths (50 mm, and 120 mm), were analyzed both under cemented or press-fit fixation under the following varus and valgus deformity: 5°, 10°, 20°, and 30°. The main outputs of the study were average bone stress in different regions of interest, together with tibio-femoral contact pressure and force. Results demonstrated that changes in the varus or valgus deformity degrees induce a change in the medio-lateral stress and force distribution, together with a change in the contact area. The effect of stem length and cement do not alter the tibio-femoral contact biomechanics but its effect is mainly localized in the distal femoral region, and it is negligible in the proximal regions.

Background: Acetabular reconstruction using an ice-cream cone prosthesis has been a reliable reconstruction option following pelvic tumour resection. However, it remains unknown which factor determines the success of this procedure. We aimed to determine risk factors for complications and functional loss in acetabular reconstruction using an ice-cream cone prosthesis. Patients and methods: Fifty-four patients with malignant bone tumours who underwent acetabular reconstruction using an ice-cream cone prosthesis between 2004 and 2016 were studied. The bone–stem ratio was calculated as the ratio of the inserted length into the bone per the entire stem length. Results: A total of 26 (48%) patients had at least one complication and 11 patients (20%) required surgical interventions. The complication rates were 71% and 40% with a bone–stem ratio ≤ 50% and > 50%, respectively (p = 0.026), and the bone–stem ratio significantly stratified the risk of complications (≤ 50%: OR, 4.67 versus > 50%; p = 0.048). The mean MSTS score at the final follow-up was 60% (range 23–97%): the scores were significantly lower in patients with complications/leg-length discrepancy (52%) than in those without (79%; p = 0.002). The mean score with a bone–stem ratio ≤ 50% was significantly lower than the score with a ratio > 50%, especially in patients who underwent non-navigated reconstructions (33% versus 64%; p = 0.001). Conclusion: The inserted length of the coned stem into residual bone was predictive of complications and functional outcome. Surgical indication for this procedure should be considered with the size of the remaining ilium to stabilise the prosthesis with a coned stem longer than half length. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ramie fibres are harvested from the stem bark of the plant, and thus two stem traits—the stem length (SL) and the stem diameter (SD)—are important components of fibre yield in this crop. A recently developed high-density genetic map using an F2 agamous line population derived from two parents, Qingdaye (QDY) and Zhongzhu 1 (ZZ1) laid the basis for dissection of the genetic basis of fibre yield-related traits. However, the genetic basis of the two fibre yield-related stem traits presented here is still uncharacterized in this population. In this study, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for SL and SD traits was performed using the population of QDY/ZZ1, resulting in the identification of four SL and six SD QTLs. Among these 10 QTLs, one was detected in both environments, and six demonstrated a significant environmental correlation. Three DELLA genes were identified to cluster in the region of the stem length QTL qSL11b, and their encoding proteins displayed either amino acid-substitutions or amino acid-insertion/deletion in the functional GRAS domain between two parents. Because the DELLA protein is a negative regulator of the gibberellin signalling pathway and plays a central role in regulating the stem elongation, the mutations in the GRAS domain-encoding region of these three genes potentially influence stem growth. The identification of the QTLs for two stem traits will help improve the fibre yield in ramie breeding programmes by marker-assisted selection. The three identified DELLA genes are candidate genes for cloning the qSL11b locus in future studies.

Leaf veins are the continuation of twigs, and the hydraulic system of a leaf is part of, and the continuation of, the hydraulic architecture of a tree. Previous studies have demonstrated that the vessel diameter of the widest part at the tree base is tightly related to the total stem length of a tree. Here, we demonstrate that: the vessel diameter of the narrowest part at the distal end of the tree (the terminal twigs) is closely correlated to the leaf size for an angiosperm tree. Consequently, the basic feature of the hydraulic system of an angiosperm tree may be predicted by two simple parameters: the stem length (or tree height) and the leaf size, with the tree height predicting the size of the widest vessel at the tree base and the leaf size predicting the size of the narrowest vessel at the terminal trig. Namely, there is an inherent coordination between the leaf size and the hydraulic architecture of the angiosperm tree. As leaves are replacing themselves every year, their responses to climate are direct and immediate, while the woody part of a tree is there for years and more, and thus can only respond passively to climate change. This may cause a mismatch between the woody part and leaf part of the hydraulic system, and thus endanger the hydraulic coordination between leaves and the woody part.

Purpose: Short stems have recently become popular in total hip arthroplasty. Previous studies aimed at elucidating the efficacy of short stems did not eliminate the influence of other factors aside from stem length. This study aimed to evaluate the usefulness of short stems compared with that of standard-length stems that have the same proximal morphology, surface coating, and material. Methods: This was a prospective randomized study comparing 5-year midterm outcomes in 29 patients who underwent one-stage bilateral total hip arthroplasty with short and standard-length stems inserted in each of the two femurs. Clinical, radiographical, and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry outcomes were compared. Results: No significant differences were found in perioperative and radiographic characteristics (femoral neck anteversion, flare index, operation sequence, operation side, operation time, stem anteversion, and stem alignment). The number of joints with complications, appearance of radiopaque lines around the stems, or bone mineral density changed in stem regions 5 years postoperatively. However, greater micromotion of the stem was seen on the side of the short stem. Satisfactory improvement in hip function was seen on both sides. Conclusion: Based on the 5-year midterm outcomes, both stems obtained satisfactory clinical outcomes despite the greater micromotion with short stems. Both stems attained bone ingrowth fixation. Moreover, the stems were not significantly different in terms of stress shielding; however, further long-term studies (> 5 years) are required to validate our findings related to stress shielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article deals with the evaluation of a thickness analysis on the vuts of beech wood using annual rings. The study was performed at the state enterprise Lesy SR, a branch plant in Smolenice on the territory of Forrest District Majdán. In order to perform a thickness analysis of the beech logs, it was necessary to know the number of annual rings on the butt end and the number of annual rings on the small end. Based on these two quantities, it was necessary to derive the number of annual rings in the middle of the trunk. All these characteristics were related to the length of the stem and the thickness of the stem. The data set contained 1000 logs. For a period of 3 years - i.e. from 2017 to 2019 in total for all types of intentional felling, starting with tending intentional felling up to 50 years, tendingt intentional felling over 50 years and ending with prescribed final felling, incidential felling was not included in the investigation. The aim of this publication was to determine the thickness characteristics of beech stem logs, which are characterized in the territory of branch Smolenice by a full-wood stem and to create input quantities for a model log of a beech stem. The results include the average width of annual rings depending on the length of the stem, the average number of annual rings per 1 meter of length, the average reduction in the number of annual rings depending on the length recalculated per 1 meter of length, the average height increment. The results showed interesting findings, the largest average width of annual rings was recorded in improvement intentional felling over 50 years, despite advanced age. Another interesting finding was the average height gain of 0.5 m. The average number of annual rings served to confirm the accuracy of the calculation of the stem thickness depending on the width of the annual ring. The average reduction in the number of annual rings showed the convergence of the stem in cm depending on the length of the cut. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relative contribution of the reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA) humeral stem length on initial implant fixation, which may contribute to the long-term success of uncemented shoulder implants. Three RSA humeral components were randomly divided into the following testing groups: (1) 100% Stem length (n = 7); (2) 50% Stem length (n = 7); (3) 0% Stem length (n = 7). Each humeral stem was press-fit into twenty-one 4th Generation Osteoporotic Sawbones humeri. Torque and compressive axial load were applied to the humerus for 10,000 cycles at ±2.5 Nm and −392 N, respectively. Rotational micromotion of the implant was measured. Micromotion for all 3 testing groups was below the 150 µm micromotion threshold throughout testing. The overall micromotion in Group 2 was significantly larger than Group 1 (P <.001) and Group 3 (P <.001). Overall micromotion between Group 1 and Group 3 were not significantly different (P =.686). All stem lengths studied maintained micromotion below the 150 µm threshold, suggesting that any of these treatment groups would provide adequate initial fixation to allow bony on-growth. Clinically, stemless or short-stemmed prosthesis design offer theoretical benefits such as the degree of freedom for humeral stem placement independent of diaphysis. This study concluded that the zero-length stem will allow for this and provide adequate fixation comparable to the full-length stem. Basic Science Study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water hyacinth is the most serious aquatic weed in water body causing enormous problems to the economics and the environment. The design of a particular program of water hyacinth control is not an easy task. A strategic plan has to be developed to control the growth of aquatic weed and socio economic constrains, which may prevent the practice of any particular control method. The present paper briefly describes the methodology for controlling the growth of water hyacinth in small scale. Though there are several methods to control water hyacinth which include manual pulling, mechanical harvesting and biological control (introduction of weevils that weaken the water hyacinth root system). Each method has its own economic and environment constrains for which practical advice is needed. Therefore, technically sound programme of control of weed should be rationally developed and implemented. With this background, a pilot study was carried out to use Alternanthera philoxeroides - Alligator weed, to control water hyacinth and its impact on growth and development of water hyacinth. Results revealed that the tanks treated with Alternanthera philoxeroides stems reduced the stem length of Eichhornia gradually which varied from 58.07 to 76.87 per cent when compared to the control, Eichhornea (22 %) or application of the water containing leachates of the Alternanthera philoxeroides to the Eichhornea tanks at 20 days 40 days old leachate there was significant reduction in fresh weight from 65 to 85 per cent implying there was some inhibitory effect on growth of Eichhornea due to application of leachates. Similar trend was noticed in reduction of fresh weight of Eichhornea (57 to 77%) where Alternanthera philoxeroides stems were added. In treatment where All-male genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) fish also showed reduction in fresh weight of Eichhornea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research was conducted in order to study the sensitivity of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) and lentil (Lens culinaris L.) to soil residue of three herbicides, including total, apirus, and atlantis under greenhouse conditions. The experimental design was a completely randomized design in a factorial arrangement with three replications. The stem and root length as well as stem and root dry weights were measured regarding both crop species. It was observed that the highest level of atlantis residue reduced the sesame stem length up to 91.61% compared to control. This herbicide decreased the sesame stem dry weight up to 89.93% compared to control plots, which was significantly higher than reduction caused by total and apirus. The maximum (76.67%) and minimum (53.13%) reductions were recorded in the lentil stem length compared to control plots by atlantis and total, respectively. Furthermore, the values of GR50 for sesame were significantly lower than those of lentil against the application of total, apirus, and atlantis, which were 0.5, 0.51, and 1.1 g ha-1, respectively. Generally, sesame showed a higher sensitivity than lentil versus the application of total, apirus and atlantis. Therefore, utilization of sesame could be more effective tool compared with lentil in the bioassay studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: With continued advances in treatment options, patients with endoprosthetic reconstruction are living longer and consequently relying upon their devices for a longer duration. Major causes of endoprosthesis failure include aseptic loosening and mechanical failure. In the setting of tumor resection, loss of bone stock and use of radiation therapy increase the risk for these complications. As such, considerations of remaining native bone and stem length and diameter may be increasingly important. We asked the following questions: (1) What was the overall rate of endoprosthesis failure at a minimum of 5-year follow-up? (2) Does resection length increase implant failure rates? (3) Does implant size and its ratio to cortical width of bone alter implant failure rates?, Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patient outcomes at a single institution between the years of 1999-2022 who underwent cemented endoprosthetic reconstruction at the hip or knee and identified 150 patients. Of these 150, 55 had a follow-up of greater than 5 years and were used for analysis. Radiographs of these patients at time of surgery were assessed and measured for resection length, bone diameter, stem diameter, and remaining bone length. Resection percentage, and stem to bone diameter ratios were then calculated and their relationship to endoprosthesis failure were analyzed., Results: Patients in this cohort had a mean age of 55.8, and mean follow-up of 59.96 months. There were 78 distal femoral replacements (52%), 16 proximal femoral replacements (10.7%), and 56 proximal tibial replacements (37.3%). There were five patients who experienced aseptic loosening and six patients who experienced mechanical failure. Patients with implant failure had a smaller mean stem to bone diameter (36% vs. 44%; p = 0.002). A stem to bone diameter of 40% appeared to be a breaking point between success and failure in this series, with 90% of patients with implant failure having a stem: bone ratio less than 40%. Stem to bone ratio less than 40% increased risk for failure versus stems that were at least 40% the diameter of bone (6/19 [31.6%] vs. 0/36 [0%]; odds ratio 0.68; p < 0.001). Resection length did not appear to have an impact on the rates of aseptic loosening and mechanical failure in this series., Conclusions: Data from this series suggests a benefit to using stems with a larger diameter when implanting cemented endoprostheses at the hip or knee. Stems which were less than 40% the diameter of bone were substantially more likely to undergo implant failure., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The growing demand for both fresh and dry figs worldwide is due to its richness in mineral compounds (i.e. iron and copper) and polyphenols. Considering the position of Iranian cultivars in global fig market, the present study examined the growth and photosynthetic rate of commercial fig cultivars (i.e. ‘Sabzʼ, ‘Siyahʼ, ‘Shah Anjirʼ, ‘Atabakiʼ, ‘Kashkiʼ, ‘Matiʼ and ‘Bar Anjirʼ) exposed to six salt treatments corresponding to the following electrical conductivities (EC): 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 dSm-1. The results indicated a decrease trend of stem length, stem diameter and leaf number in salt-exposed plants. The electrolyte leakage and protein content in all cultivars followed an ascending trend. The specific leaf area, relative water content, photosynthetic indices and nitrogen content followed a decreasing trend according with increasing salinity. The ‘Siyahʼ and ‘Sabzʼ, as the most salt-tolerant cultivars, had the maximum leaf abscission, the lowest transpiration rate and leaf water content under salt condition, compared to all other tested cultivars. Moreover, they had the most leaf succulence and leaf dry matter content and the lowest specific leaf area, which related to the balance between growth ratio and osmotic regulation under salt conditions. The ‘Shah Anjirʼ, as the most salt-sensitive cultivar, could not balance transpiration rate and leaf water content under salt treatment higher than 4 dSm-1.

Background: The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of different stem lengths and types including cones on primary stability in revision total knee arthroplasty with different femoral bone defects and fixation methods in order to maximize bone preservation. It is hypothesized that longer stems provide little additional mechanical stability.Methods: Thirty-five human femurs were investigated. A distal bone defect, Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute classification (s. 33) type-F2a, was created in group 1-3 and type-F3 in group 4-6. A cemented, rotating hinge femoral component was combined with different stems (100 and 160 mm total or hybrid cemented cones, or a 100-mm custom-made anatomical cone stem). The femora were loaded according to in vivo loading during gait. Relative movements were measured to investigate primary stability. Pull-out testing was used to obtain a parameter for the primary stability of the construct.Results: Relative movements were small and similar in all groups (<40 μm). For small defect, the pull-out forces of cemented long (4583 N) and short stems (4650 N) were similar and about twice as high as those of uncemented stems (2221 N). For large defects, short cemented stems with cones showed the highest pull-out forces (5500 N). Long uncemented stems (3324 N) and anatomical cone stems (3990 N) showed similar pull-out forces.Conclusion: All tested stems showed small relative movements. Long cemented stems show no advantages to short cemented stems in small bone defects. The use of cones or an anatomical cone stem with hybrid cementation seems to offer good stability even for larger bone defects. The use of a short cemented stem (with or without cone) may be a suitable choice with a high potential for bone preservation in total knee arthroplasty revision with respective bone defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Aseptic loosening is a common prosthetic failure mode. The purpose of this study was to identify dose-response relationship between length of femoral stem and aseptic loosening.Methods: We collected data of patients who underwent distal femoral prosthetic replacements at our institution from 2001 to 2017. Cox regression and two-piecewise regression model were used to analyze the associations between stem length and aseptic loosening.Results: Significant association of length of femoral stem with aseptic loosening was observed in multivariate model and a non-linear relationship could be found from the smoothed curve. In two-piecewise model, an inflection point was calculated to be 143 mm. On the left of the inflection point, every 1 mm increase in the length of stem indicated that the risk of aseptic loosening could be reduced by 6%.Conclusion: There was a significant non-linear relationship between the length of femoral stem and aseptic loosening, and the inflection point was 143 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ramie fibres are harvested from the stem bark of the plant, and thus two stem traits—the stem length (SL) and the stem diameter (SD)—are important components of fibre yield in this crop. A recently developed high-density genetic map using an F2 agamous line population derived from two parents, Qingdaye (QDY) and Zhongzhu 1 (ZZ1) laid the basis for dissection of the genetic basis of fibre yield-related traits. However, the genetic basis of the two fibre yield-related stem traits presented here is still uncharacterized in this population. In this study, quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis for SL and SD traits was performed using the population of QDY/ZZ1, resulting in the identification of four SL and six SD QTLs. Among these 10 QTLs, one was detected in both environments, and six demonstrated a significant environmental correlation. Three DELLA genes were identified to cluster in the region of the stem length QTL qSL11b, and their encoding proteins displayed either amino acid-substitutions or amino acid-insertion/deletion in the functional GRAS domain between two parents. Because the DELLA protein is a negative regulator of the gibberellin signalling pathway and plays a central role in regulating the stem elongation, the mutations in the GRAS domain-encoding region of these three genes potentially influence stem growth. The identification of the QTLs for two stem traits will help improve the fibre yield in ramie breeding programmes by marker-assisted selection. The three identified DELLA genes are candidate genes for cloning the qSL11b locus in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for both fresh and dry figs worldwide is due to its richness in mineral compounds (i.e. iron and copper) and polyphenols. Considering the position of Iranian cultivars in global fig market, the present study examined the growth and photosynthetic rate of commercial fig cultivars (i.e. 'Sabz', 'Siyah', 'Shah Anjir', 'Atabaki', 'Kashki', 'Mati' and 'Bar Anjir') exposed to six salt treatments corresponding to the following electrical conductivities (EC): 0.5, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 dS m1. The results indicated a decrease trend of stem length, stem diameter and leaf number in saltexposed plants. The electrolyte leakage and protein content in all cultivars followed an ascending trend. The specific leaf area, relative water content, photosynthetic indices and nitrogen content followed a decreasing trend according with increasing salinity. The 'Siyah' and 'Sabz', as the most salttolerant cultivars, had the maximum leaf abscission, the lowest transpiration rate and leaf water content under salt condition, compared to all other tested cultivars. Moreover, they had the most leaf succulence and leaf dry matter content and the lowest specific leaf area, which related to the balance between growth ratio and osmotic regulation under salt conditions. The 'Shah Anjir', as the most saltsensitive cultivar, could not balance transpiration rate and leaf water content under salt treatment higher than 4 dS m-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper highlights the question of the stem length variability in Fi and F2 soft spring wheat and the detection of transgressive forms in the second generation of hybrids. The complicated character of stem length determination in F1 is defined, since in this process not only genes of additive type of action are involved, but also alleles of genes with stronger specific interaction. In the hybrid combinations Struna Myronivska/Elehiia Myronivska were at parental level, in the combination Struna Myronivska/Azhurnaia treated as inferior to the parental form on 10.9%, indicating the probability of maternal organism's effect on the trait formation due to the content of short-stem genetic factors in cytoplasm. It was established that the coefficient of variation of stem length in first-generation hybrids when reciprocal crosses was in the range from 6.8% (Simkoda Myronivska/Struna Myronivska) to 9.3% (Azhurnaia/Struna Myronivska), indicating a slight variation of this index. Only in combinations of crosses Lehuan/Struna Myronivska, Heroinia/Struna Myronivska and Kolektyvna 3/Struna Myronivska variation of stem length is average and account for 15.8, 11.3 and 11.1% respectively. A significant reciprocal effect was also noted - shorter-stem hybrids F1 obtained in combinations when using low-growth varieties as a maternal form. The smallest range of stem length was found in second-generation hybrids in the combination Struna Myronivska/Kolektyvna 3 - 16.1 cm with low variance 22.1 and the largest one - in the combination Heroinia/Struna Myronivska (34.1 cm) with variance 81.0. The complex genetic nature of the stem length determination in the studied hybrids F1 and F2 was established. Starting from F2, a significant form-creating process in the stem length can be traced in hybrids. In the majority of reciprocal crosses, a significant reduction of the stem length in F2 hybrids is observed, when maternal form was a variety with shorter stem length. This indicates the influence of the maternal cytoplasm on this trait formation. High-growth transgressions were found in the second generation of a third of soft spring wheat hybrids. In F2 hybrids, the degree of transgression was in the range 2.1-6.2% with a frequency 6.0-10.0% in the hybrid combinations Struna Myronivska/Simkoda Myronivska, Simkoda Myronivska/Struna Myronivska, Elehiia Myronivska/Struna Myronivska, Kolektyvna 3/Struna Myronivska. Thus, it can be argued that the highest rates of transgressive variability based on the stem length were found in those hybrids which had heterosis in F2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stellera chamaejasme L. is one of the dominant poisonous plant species and has caused considerable damage to the stability of grassland ecosystems and changed the structure and function of the grassland community, leading to grassland degeneration. To examine the response of morphological features of S. chamaejasme L. populations to environmental variations, leaf and stem traits were investigated in alpine grassland along the northern slope of the Qilian Mountains in northwestern China. Additionally, the relationships between stem length and stem number and between stem length and leaf number were also determined. The environmental gradients included south‐facing and north‐facing slopes. The results showed that the S. chamaejasme L. population had greater leaf area, leaf number, stem number and stem length on north‐facing slopes than those in the population on south‐facing slopes. Significant allometric relationships were found between leaf number and stem length and between stem number and stem length. The two standardized major axis regression (SMA) slopes deviated significantly from 1, with the variation of the environmental gradients. The results showed that the two characters of the plant in SMA slopes were both steeper on the south‐facing slopes than those on the north‐facing slopes. The definition excluded that at a given stem length, ratios of stem number to stem length and leaf number to stem length were larger on south‐facing slopes ecologically than those on north‐facing slopes. These results demonstrated that S. chamaejasme L. responded to the slope aspect variations via changing leaf and stem architecture, most likely due to the more significant heat exchange of leaves and greater transporting requirements of stems on south‐facing slopes than those on north‐facing slopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proximal femoral replacement (PFR) is used when extensive proximal femoral bone loss is encountered during revision total hip arthroplasty. However, further data on 5-to-10–year survivorship and predictors of failure are needed. Our aim was to assess the survivorship of contemporary PFRs used for nononcologic indications and determine factors associated with failure. A single-institution retrospective observational study was conducted between June 1, 2010 and August 31, 2021 for patients undergoing PFR for non-neoplastic indications. Patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months. Demographic, operative, clinical, and radiographic data were collected. Implant survivorship was determined via Kaplan-Meier analysis of 56 consecutive cemented PFRs in 50 patients. At a mean follow-up of 4 years, the mean Oxford Hip Score was 36.2 and patient satisfaction was rated at an average of 4.7 of 5 on the Likert scale. Radiographic evidence of femoral-sided aseptic loosening was determined in 2 PFRs at a median of 9.6 years. The 5-year survivorship with all-cause reoperation and revision as end points was 83.2% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 70.1% to 91.0%) and 84.9% (95% CI: 72.0% to 92.2%), respectively. The 5-year survivorship was 92.3% (95% CI: 78.0% to 97.5%) for stem length > 90 mm compared to 68.4% (95% CI: 39.5% to 85.7%) for stem length ≤ 90 mm. A construct-to-stem length ratio (CSR) ≤ 1 was associated with a 91.7% (95% CI: 76.4% to 97.2%) survival, while a CSR > 1 was associated with a 73.6% (95% CI: 47.4% to 88.1%) survival. A PFR stem length ≤ 90 mm and CSR > 1 were associated with increased rates of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current indices of saline-alkaline (SA) tolerance are mainly based on the traditional growth and physiological indices for salinity tolerance and likely affect the accuracy of alfalfa tolerance predictions. We determined whether the inclusion of soil alkalinity-affected indices, particularly Ca2+, Mg2+, and their ratios to Na+ in plants, based on the traditional method could improve the prediction accuracy of SA tolerance in alfalfa, determine important indices for SA tolerance, and identify suitable alfalfa cultivars in alkaline salt-affected soils. Fifty alfalfa cultivars were evaluated for their SA tolerance under SA and non-SA field conditions. The SA-tolerance coefficient (SATC) for each investigated index of the alfalfa shoot was calculated as the ratio of SA to non-SA field conditions, and the contribution of SATC under different growth and physiological indices to SA tolerance was quantified based on the inclusion/exclusion of special alkalinity-affected indices. The traditional method, excluding the special alkalinity-affected indices, explained nearly all of the variation in alfalfa SA tolerance, and the most important predictor was the SATC of stem length. The new method, which included these special alkalinity-affected indices, had similar explanatory power but instead identified the SATC of shoot Ca2+/Na+ ratio, followed by that of stem length, as key markers for the field evaluation of SA tolerance. Ca2+, Mg2+, and their ratios to Na+ hold promise for enhancing the robustness of SA-tolerance predictions in alfalfa. These results encourage further investigation into the involvement of Ca2+ in such predictions in other plant species and soil types under more alkaline salt-affected conditions.

Background: Uncemented short stems have been shown to optimize load distribution on the proximal femur, reducing stress shielding and preserving bone mass. However, they may adversely affect the initial stability of the stems. To date, most research conducted on short stems has predominantly centered on uncemented stems, leaving a notable dearth of investigations encompassing cemented stems. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the length of cemented stems on the transmission of femoral load patterns and assess the initial stability of cemented short stems. Method: A series of finite element models were created by gradient truncation on identical cemented stem. The impact of varying lengths of the cemented stem on both the peak stress of the femur and the stress distribution in the proximal femur (specifically Gruen zones 1 and 7) were assessed. In addition, an experimental biomechanical model for cemented short stem was established, and the initial stability was measured by evaluating the axial irreversible displacement of the stem relative to the cement. Result: The maximum von-Mises stress of the femur was 58.170 MPa. Spearman correlation analysis on the shortened length and von-Mises stress of all nodes in each region showed that the p -values for all regions were less than 0.0001, and the correlation coefficients (r) for each region were 0.092 (Gruen Zone 1) and 0.366 (Gruen Zone 7). The result of the biomechanical experiment showed that the irreversible axial displacement of the stem relative to cement was -870 μm (SD 430 μm). Conclusion: Reducing the length of a cemented stem can effectively enhance the proximal load of the femur without posing additional fracture risk. Moreover, the biomechanical experiment demonstrated favorable initial stabilities of cemented short stems., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Li, Xiong, Lei, Wu and Mao.)

The extreme variability of climatic conditions, which is a particularly important characteristic of Romania's climate, poses difficult problems not only to agricultural production, but also to breeding programs, including wheat breeding. The alternation of dry years with rainy years, as well as the different moments in which rains occur, make it impossible to carry out a continuous selection pressure for a superior behaviour of the genetic material under water stress. Therefore, identifying indirect methods that would allow characterization of breeding material in all years, regardless of weather, could significantly contribute to accelerating genetic advancement towards future varieties with superior performance under water stress. At Simnic, an experiment was performed in the laboratory using the PEG 6000 solution at 15% and 20%. We determined: stem length at three different moments. For 13 varieties that were field tested for the period (2002-2015), the correlation between the YI-specific drought tolerance index calculated from yield data from the field and determinations under PEG-induced drought revealed a significant positive correlation between drought tolerance index and the ratio of the stem measured after treatment with 20% PEG and that measured in the control (treated with water), at the first moment of determination (15 days after sowing) and in average over all moments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]