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journal-basic-applied-scien

Relevance of Autonomic Arousal in the Stress Response in Psychopathology
Pages 176-18488x31
C. Pruneti, M. Saccò, C. Cosentino and D. Sgromo

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.26

Published: 25 March 2016

 

Abstract: The principal goal of this study is to describe the relevance of typical autonomic patterns of response in accordance to a number of psychopathological syndromes for an accurate multi-dimensional assessment.

A sample of 89 subjects was subdivided in five pathological groups in accordance with the clinical diagnosis following the diagnostic criteria of DSM V [1]: Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Panic Attack Disorders (PAD), Major Depressive Episodes (MDE), Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD), Anorexia Nervosa (AN) and a Healthy control group. Obtained data were compared in regard to each physiological parameters by using the mean value of the last minute of the registration at rest, and two activation indexes: “stress response” and “recovery after stress”.

Furthermore, for each of the physiological parameters (EMG, SCL/SCR, PT and HR), and diagnostic group, mean values in the three different phases (last minute of rest, first minute of stress, last minute of recovery) were compared to evaluate the four physiological parameters trends.

In GAD and PAD patients, the obtained Conductance Response mean values are much higher than MDE and OCD.

Furthermore, the HR response is also higher in GAD than in the other three groups. So, OCD and MDE patients seem to be characterized by a flat profile in all the parameters.

We confirmed that a condition of autonomic hyper activation is typically connected to a high level of tension and anxiety; vice versa, a low level of autonomic activation and the impossibility to react to the stimuli is typically connected to MDE, OCD and AN.Obtained data suggest that there might be a new tool for differential diagnosis in psychopathology, represented by specific and typical pattern in autonomic response.

Keywords: Psychophysiology, autonomic arousal, Behavioral Activation System (BAS), Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), differential diagnosis, psychopathology.
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journal-basic-applied-scien

Evaluation of Suitable Substrate for Seedling Tuber Production by True Potato Seed through Nursery Raising
Pages 170-17588x31
M.M.R. Jamro, A.N. Shah, G.M. Laghari, A.S. Chandio and M.S. Depar

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.25

Published: 22 March 2016

 

Abstract: To determine the suitable substrate, five growth substrates viz. Soil + Sand, Soil + FYM, Soil + Sand + FYM, Soil + PM (Poultry manure) and Soil + Sand + PM were used to grow the three true potato seed (TPS) genotypes viz. TPS-9802, TPS-9804 and TPS-9805. Results of the interactive effect of genotypes x substrates on plant and tuber traits concluded that maximum germination (90.5 %), plant height (46.3 cm), micro tubers (212.7), small tubers (45.7), medium tubers (28.2), large tubers (10.2) and total tubers (296.8), maximum weight of micro (1491 g), small tubers (757.6 g), medium tubers (828.9 g), large tubers (483.7 g) and total tuber weight (3561) per unit area (1m-2) and total tuber yield (35.6 t ha-1) were found in TPS-9804 grown in the substrate of soil+sand+FYM. However TPS-9805 yielded (32.5 t ha-1) and ranked 2nd with same substrate. Hence, it is recommended for raising TPS nursery.

Keywords: TPS, Substrate, Nursery, Growth and Yield.
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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

The Status and Prospects for Agriculture in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and their Potential to Contribute to Food Security
Pages 155-16388x31
Saif Al Qaydi

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.23

Published: 17 March 2016

 

Abstract: This paper focuses on the status and prospects for food production in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the government’s role in sourcing food to feed its people. Food security is an international issue even for those countries that have fertile soil, adequate water, and a skilled farm labor force. This is evident in the UAE, with its harsh environment, limited water resources, and infertile soil. In recent years, and as a result of the mega-development in its infrastructure and its economic activities, the UAE received more than eight million people from more than 200 ethnicities worldwide. They have not only been seeking better jobs and better life, but also with the intention to settle permanently. Their growth in the UAE population alerted the government to look for alternatives to increase food supplies other than from imports. Focusing on its local farms, and exploring the suitable new farming techniques, will bring more prosperity to the farming sector in the UAE.

Keywords: Food security, Farming techniques, Geography, Environment.

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Journal of Basic & Applied Sciences

Searching Ability of Pupal Parasitoid, Dirhinus giffardii (Silvestri) on Bactrocera zonata (Saunders) at Various Depths of Plant Debris
Pages 164-16988x31
S. Shahzad Ali, Irshad Ali Rattar, Syed Sohail Ahmed, Aslam Bukero, Huma Rizwana, Shahnaz Naz, Munawar Ali Shah Bukhari and Taj Muhammad Rattar

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.6000/1927-5129.2016.12.24

Published: 17 March 2016


Abstract: The present study was carried out to determine the searching ability of pupal parasitoid, Dirhinus giffardii of Bactrocera zonata in the Bio Control Research Laboratory, Department of Entomology, SAU, Tandojam, at temperature 27 ± 1ºC and 60 ± 5% relative humidity. Adults of fruit fly were fed with water, sugar and needo milk powder, whereas, Dirhinus giffardii were fed with honey and water solution. Ten days old D. giffardies were used against 20 pupae of Bactrocera zonata in the experiment and data recorded on parasitized pupae and un-parasitized pupae after 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours. The results in all treatments indicates that highest parasitized pupae were at peak level of (16.66) after 72 hours age of pupae on the depth of 0 cm in plant debris followed by 4 cm depth (16.33), whereas lowest parasitized pupae were recorded at 5cm depth (13.66) after 72 hours of age inside plant debris. Likewise, the highest un-parasitized pupae were at peak level of (14.00) after 24 hours of age of pupae on the depth of 3cm in plant debris followed by 1cm depth (13.00), whereas lowest un parasitized pupae were recorded at 4cm depth (11.66) after 24 hours of age inside plant debris. The analysis of variance indicated that there wasno significant difference among the parasitized and unparasitized pupae of flies in the different depths of plant debris and age intervals (P<0.05). It is concluded that the highest parasitized pupae were determined at plant debris of 0 cm, followed by 2cm, 5cm, 4cm, 1cm, and 3cm, respectively. In case of age intervals the highest parasitized pupae were recorded after 72 hours old pupae followed by 48 hours, 96 hours and 24 hours, respectively..

Keywords: Searching ability, Dirhinus giffardii, Parasitism potential, Guava fruit fly, artificial rearing.

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