Influence of Removal Time and Plant Density Canarygrass (Phalaris minor) on Wheat Seed Yield

Canarygrass is one of the most important weeds at wheat fields in north of Iran. Considering the effect time of removal on weed- crop interference is critical for the development of accurate crop yield loss models and weed density thresholds. Therefore, field experiments conducted at Mazandaran province, Iran, in 2005 and 2006 to determine the effect of canarygrass density and time of removal on wheat yield. Canarygrass was removed in 4 weeks intervals (mean 170 degree days) from wheat emergence until 24 weeks after that (mean 1097 degree days). Canarygrass density ranged from 0 to 320 plants m. High densities of late removal canarygrass greatly reduced wheat yield (44%). The difference in wheat yield loss between early and late removal of canarygrass was significant (mean 33%). The yield loss caused by individual canarygrass plants at low densities (parameter I) ranged from 0.30 to 0.32%. The effect of canarygrass time of removal (parameter C) varied significantly between years. The results of this study emphasize both the need for  early removal of canarygrass, as well as the importance of weed emergence time in crop yield loss predictio

INFO: An efficient optimization algorithm based on weighted mean of vectors

This study presents the analysis and principle of an innovative optimizer named weIghted meaN oF vectOrs (INFO) to optimize different problems. INFO is a modified weight mean method, whereby the weighted mean idea is employed for a solid structure and updating the vectors’ position using three core procedures: updating rule, vector combining, and a local search. The updating rule stage is based on a mean-based law and convergence acceleration to generate new vectors. The vector combining stage creates a combination of obtained vectors with the updating rule to achieve a promising solution. The updating rule and vector combining steps were improved in INFO to increase the exploration and exploitation capacities. Moreover, the local search stage helps this algorithm escape low-accuracy solutions and improve exploitation and convergence. The performance of INFO was evaluated in 48 mathematical test functions, and five constrained engineering test cases including optimal design of 10-reservoir system and 4-reservoir system. According to the literature, the results demonstrate that INFO outperforms other basic and advanced methods in terms of exploration and exploitation. In the case of engineering problems, the results indicate that the INFO can converge to 0.99% of the global optimum solution. Hence, the INFO algorithm is a promising tool for optimal designs in optimization problems, which stems from the considerable efficiency of this algorithm for optimizing constrained cases. The source codes of INFO algorithm are publicly available at https://imanahmadianfar.com. and https://aliasgharheidari.com/INFO.html

The effects of a novel combination of selenium and probiotic on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Synergistic approach of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation may improve clinical symptoms of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by improving their metabolic profiles. This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with PCOS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 women with PCOS. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive 200 µg/day selenium plus 8 � 109 CFU/day probiotic supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in weight (�0.7 ± 0.5 vs. +0.1 ± 1.1 kg), serum insulin levels (�2.8 ± 3.5 vs. +0.5 ± 3.9 µIU/mL) and homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (�0.6 ± 0.8 vs. +0.1 ± 0.9), and a significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.001 ± 0.02). In addition, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation significantly decreased serum triglycerides (�12.1 ± 29.6 vs. +3.1 ± 12.2 mg/dL), total- (�17.9 ± 28.5 vs. +0.1 ± 28.8 mg/dL), LDL- (�14.7 ± 24.9 vs. +1.5 ± 26.6 mg/dL) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (�0.3 ± 0.8 vs. +0.2 ± 0.8) compared with the placebo. Selenium and probiotic co-supplementation for 12 weeks to PCOS women had beneficial effects on weight loss and markers of cardio-metabolic risk. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

The effects of a novel combination of selenium and probiotic on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Synergistic approach of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation may improve clinical symptoms of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by improving their metabolic profiles. This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with PCOS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 women with PCOS. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive 200 µg/day selenium plus 8 � 109 CFU/day probiotic supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in weight (�0.7 ± 0.5 vs. +0.1 ± 1.1 kg), serum insulin levels (�2.8 ± 3.5 vs. +0.5 ± 3.9 µIU/mL) and homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (�0.6 ± 0.8 vs. +0.1 ± 0.9), and a significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.001 ± 0.02). In addition, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation significantly decreased serum triglycerides (�12.1 ± 29.6 vs. +3.1 ± 12.2 mg/dL), total- (�17.9 ± 28.5 vs. +0.1 ± 28.8 mg/dL), LDL- (�14.7 ± 24.9 vs. +1.5 ± 26.6 mg/dL) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (�0.3 ± 0.8 vs. +0.2 ± 0.8) compared with the placebo. Selenium and probiotic co-supplementation for 12 weeks to PCOS women had beneficial effects on weight loss and markers of cardio-metabolic risk. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

The effects of a novel combination of selenium and probiotic on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Synergistic approach of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation may improve clinical symptoms of patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) by improving their metabolic profiles. This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effects of selenium and probiotic co-supplementation on weight loss, glycemic control and markers of cardio-metabolic risk in women with PCOS. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted among 60 women with PCOS. Participants were randomly divided into two groups to receive 200 µg/day selenium plus 8 � 109 CFU/day probiotic supplements (n = 30) or placebo (n = 30) for 12 weeks. Compared with the placebo, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in weight (�0.7 ± 0.5 vs. +0.1 ± 1.1 kg), serum insulin levels (�2.8 ± 3.5 vs. +0.5 ± 3.9 µIU/mL) and homeostatic model of assessment for insulin resistance (�0.6 ± 0.8 vs. +0.1 ± 0.9), and a significant increase in the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+0.01 ± 0.02 vs. +0.001 ± 0.02). In addition, selenium and probiotic co-supplementation significantly decreased serum triglycerides (�12.1 ± 29.6 vs. +3.1 ± 12.2 mg/dL), total- (�17.9 ± 28.5 vs. +0.1 ± 28.8 mg/dL), LDL- (�14.7 ± 24.9 vs. +1.5 ± 26.6 mg/dL) and total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio (�0.3 ± 0.8 vs. +0.2 ± 0.8) compared with the placebo. Selenium and probiotic co-supplementation for 12 weeks to PCOS women had beneficial effects on weight loss and markers of cardio-metabolic risk. © 2018 Elsevier Lt