Stomatal Traits and Barley ( L.) Forage Yield in Drought Conditions of Northeastern Mexico.

Infrared technology is a practical, fast, non-destructive method that helps in forecasting plant development and can be used to select physiological traits, instead of other methodologies that require more time and breeding efforts. According to the statistical analyses and the relationship between the direct and indirect effects of the variables, this technology could serve as the basis for implementing a genotype selection methodology. Awnless barley was assessed in a randomized block design with three replicates in two crop seasons at Mexico's northeastern region.

N95 respirator reuse, decontamination methods, and microbial burden: A randomized controlled trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the effectiveness and ease of N95 respirator decontamination methods in a clinic setting and to identify the extent of microbial colonization on respirators associated with reuse.

Methods: In a prospective fashion, N95 respirators (n = 15) were randomized to a decontamination process (time, dry heat, or ultraviolet C light [UVC]) in outpatient clinics. Each respirator was re-used up to 5 separate clinic sessions.

[Effects of ramipril and simvastatin on the oxidative stress of diabetic rats].

Objective: To evaluate if ramipril, with or without simultaneous use of simvastatin, would be capable of reducing oxidative stress of streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats.

Methods: The drugs were given to the diabetic rats for 2 weeks; oxidative stress was measured by dosage of total plasma antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA).

Results: Ramipril, used alone, was capable of significantly increasing the antioxidative defenses of the diabetic rat; simvastatin, given alone or combined with ramipril in separate administrations, did not produce any significant effect on the oxidative stress; concomitant administration of ramipril and simvastatin significantly reduced the antioxidative plasmatic defenses of rats with chemically induced diabetes mellitus

Conclusions: Our data corroborate the positive effect of ramipril upon plasma antioxidative defenses but did not confirm a possible beneficial effect of simvastatin in the model.