Copper functionalization of polypropylene fabric surface in order to use in fog collectors

Polypropylene fabrics were coated with copper particles using electroless plating, screen printing and wire arc spray coating techniques. Surface morphology of the fabrics was studied using optical and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). Furthermore, tensile strength, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, air permeability, water contact angle and fog collection efficiency of the coated fabrics were measured and the obtained results were analyzed. SEM micrographs showed that a very thin and uniform layer of copper deposited on the surface of the electroless plated polypropylene fibers. In the printed or spray coated fabrics the copper particles filled the spaces between yarns and fibers. The polypropylene electroless copper plated fabrics showed higher tensile strength, electrical conductivity, air permeability and thermal conductivity when compared with the fabrics coated with copper screen printed and copper spray coated fabrics. Finally, the obtained results showed that copper electroless plating could increase the fog collection efficiency of polypropylene fabrics considerably. As a conclusion, the surface modified copper electroless polypropylene fabrics are good candidates for fog collection in appropriate regions which need further investigations.     

Genetic analysis of resistance to tomato late blight in Solanum pimpinellifolium accession PI 163245

Late blight (LB), caused by Phytophthora infestans, is one of the most devastating diseases of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) worldwide. Due to the emergence of new and aggressive P. infestans isolates, identifying new genetic resistance to LB is a priority in tomato breeding. Recently, we reported the identification of several Solanum pimpinellifolium accessions with strong LB resistance. In this study, we investigated the utility of resistant accession PI 163245 for tomato breeding by examining heritability (h²) of resistance and the response to selection for resistance. Estimates of h² based on F₂ : F₃ and F₃ : F₄ parent : offspring correlation analyses averaged 0.79 and 0.94, respectively, suggesting the heritable nature of LB resistance in PI 163245. Analysis of response to selection for resistance from F₂ to F₄ generations indicated a realized h² of 0.63, confirming the utility of this resistance in tomato breeding. Two methods of estimating the minimum number of loci involved indicated the presence of one major resistance locus. Currently, genetic mapping and breeding efforts are underway to further confirm the viability of this accession for improving tomato LB resistance.     

Minimizing ammonia volatilization from urea,improving lowland rice (cv. MR219) seed germination,plant growth variables,nutrient uptake,and nutrient recovery using clinoptilolite zeolite

The anionic nature and high cation exchange capacity (CEC) of clinoptilolite zeolite can be exploited to reduce ammonia (NH₃) loss from urea and to improve soil chemical properties to increase nutrient utilization efficiency in lowland rice cultivation. A closed-dynamic airflow system was used to determine NH₃ loss from treatments (20, 40, and 60 g clinoptilolite zeolite pot^?1). Seed germination study was conducted to evaluate the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice seed germination. A pot study was conducted to determine the effects of clinoptilolite zeolite on rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Standard procedures were used to determine NH₃ loss, rice plant height, number of leaves, number of tillers, dry matter production, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. Application of clinoptilolite zeolite (15%) increased shoot elongation of seedlings and significantly reduced NH₃ loss (up to 26% with 60 g zeolite pot^?1), and increased number of leaves, total dry matter, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, soil pH, CEC, and exchangeable Na⁺. Amending acid soils with clinoptilolite zeolite can significantly minimize NH₃ loss and improve rice plant growth variables, nutrient uptake, nutrient recovery, and soil chemical properties. These findings are being validated in our ongoing field trials.     

Oculocardiac reflex induced by zygomatic arch fracture in a crossbreed dog

A 3-year-old crossbreed male dog was presented with a history of blunt facial trauma. Skull radiographs showed right zygomatic arch fracture. An electrocardiogram revealed bradycardia, first-degree atrioventricular block and QT prolongation. Standard biochemical profile including electrolytes was normal. Atropine response test (0.04 mg/kg intravenously) restored normal sinus rhythm at a rate of 140 bpm with normal QT and PR intervals. This observation is consistent with oculocardiac reflex secondary to zygomatic arch fracture.     

Influence of NaCl salinity on some physiological aspect of strawberry cv. Camarosa

One of the most important elements affecting the growth and development of a plant is salinity. Therefore, to evaluate the effect of salinity on some physiological aspect of Strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) plants cv. Camarosa, a greenhouse experiment was conducted at Vali-e-Asr University of Rafsanjan in 2009. This study was carried out as Factorial experiment based on RCD design with 4 replications to determine the influence of salinities (0, 30, 60 and 9 mMol.L-1) on proline, soluble sugars content, chlorophyll a (CHLa), chlorophyll b (CHLb), total chlorophyll (TC), Spad and chlorophyll florescence. Results indicated that fresh leaves tissue were used to measure proline, soluble protein and soluble sugars content, CHLa, CHLb, TC. Salinity treatment significantly increased proline content, soluble sugars while chlorophyll a (CHLa), chlorophyll b (CHLb), Spad and chlorophyll florescence significantly decreased. Nine day after NaCl exposure, Fv/Fm and Spad in 60 and 90 mM NaCl were significantly lower than control. It was concluded that this cultivar of strawberry may uses osmoregulation by increasing proline and soluble sugars level in order to tolerate salinity conditions.     

Preliminary characterization of Lactococcus garvieae bacteriophage isolated from wastewater as a potential agent for biological control of lactococcosis in aquaculture

Lactococcosis, a significant emerging disease of fish caused by Lactococcus garvieae, has become one of the devastating problems due to its serious economic damage in aquaculture. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize a lytic phage infecting L. garvieae as a potential bioagent for the treatment of lactococcosis. In this regard, one strain of L. garvieae was isolated from diseased rainbow trout, and then, following biochemical and molecular identifications, its specific phage, WWP-1, which was able to destroy L. garvieae cells through the lytic cycle, was isolated from a municipal wastewater sample. Transmission electron microscope revealed that the isolated phage possesses an icosahedral head and a non-contractile short tail, resembled to members of the family Podoviridae. Moreover, phage WWP-1 represented optimal antibacterial activity at temperatures ranging from 15 to 30 °C, suggesting that it could be very effective at rainbow trout rearing temperature. Restriction profile analysis revealed that NdeI can digest WWP-1 genome while EcoRI, EcoRV, and BamHI were incapable of cutting its DNA. According to the in vivo experiment result, WWP-1 could decrease mortality rate of infected rainbow trout in aquaculture. The results suggest that this naturally occurring bacteriophage could be considered as a promising agent to control the disease caused by L. garvieae strains in rainbow trout rearing.     

Iron and/or acid foliar spray versus soil application of Fe-EDDHA for prevention of iron deficiency in Valencia orange grown on a calcareous soil

A two-year experiment was conducted in an iron(Fe)-deficient orchard with calcareous soil to find out an alternate method for soil application of Fe ethylenediamine-N,N'-bis(2-hydroxyphenylacetic acid) (Fe-EDDHA) in orange trees. Foliar sprays of Fe-EDDHA (5 g l^?1, pH = 7.8), sulfuric acid (pH = 3), citric acid (5 g l^?1, pH = 2.4), Fe (II) sulfate solutions (250, 500, and 750 mg Fe l^?1) with their initial pH (6.5, 6.35, and 6.12) and reduced ones to pH of 3 were compared with soil applied (75 g tree^?1) Fe-EDDHA and a control test. Although optimum chlorophyll content, leaf Fe concentration, fruit quantitative and qualitative attributes were resulted from soil application of Fe-EDDHA, repeated sprays of Fe-EDDHA or acidified Fe solutions created suitable results. Acidification of Fe solutions made them more effective in alleviation of leaf Fe concentration and Fe chlorosis, probably due to remobilization of inactive Fe within the plant and prevention of Fe oxidation and precipitation in foliar solutions.     

Reducing Soil Phosphorus Fixation to Improve Yield of Maize on a Tropical Acid Soil Using Compost and Biochar Derived from Agro-Industrial Wastes

Phosphorus is an essential element required to maintain profitable crop production. Most soils of the tropics, such as Ultisols, are acidic and fix phosphorus because of their characteristically high contents of aluminium and iron. Compost and biochar could be used to mitigate phosphorus fixation by reducing the phosphorus sorption sites. This study aimed to: (i) improve soil phosphorus availability, nutrient uptake, and yield of maize using biochar and pineapple leaf residue compost; and (ii) determine if the use of biochar and compost could exert a residual effect on phosphorus nutrition in the second cycle of the field trial. Field trials were carried out using a Zea mays L. hybrid as the test crop. At harvest, the plants were harvested, partitioned into leaves and stems, and analyzed. Soil samples were also collected and analyzed. Ears were harvested to determine the yield from each treatment. The results suggest that the soil total phosphorus and available phosphorus recovered from the treatments with the organic amendments were higher compared with the non-organic amendments. The availability of soil nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sodium) in the soils and yield of maize were higher in the treatments with the organic amendments in the first and second field trials. These results further confirm that amending chemical fertilizers with organic amendments have a larger residual effect than chemical fertilizers only. Amending chemical fertilizers with organic amendments can be used to ameliorate phosphorus fixation of acid soils to improve maize production on acid soils.     

Stabilization of lead in two artificial contaminated calcareous soils using stabilized nanoscale zero-valent iron particles with/without chelating agents

Nanoscale zero-valent iron particles (nZVIs) have been used as the stabilizing materials for remediation of heavy metals (HMs). The usage of nZVIs in the presence of oxygen is a challenging task. When this material comes in contact to air, immediately oxide formation takes place. Thus, preparation of air-stable nZVIs is necessary for successful remediation process. Therefore, the present study has attempted to evaluate the effects of three kinds of synthesized nZVIs, including nZVI_EDTA (stabilized by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), nZVI_DTPA (stabilized by diethylenetriamine pentacetic acid) and nZVI (without chelating agent), to determine their ability to stabilize lead (Pb) in two Pb-spiked soils. Pb-spiked soils were separately incubated with additives at the rates of 0.5% and 2% (W/W) for 90 days. The efficacy of nZVIs was evaluated by desorption kinetic and chemical fractionation experiments. According to the results, addition of nZVI_EDTA, nZVI_DTPA and nZVI significantly decreased Pb release by 70.1–86.4%, 56.5–70.6% and 24.3–49.2%, respectively. Among the three kinds of nZVIs, nZVI_EDTA was the most effective treatment in decreasing desorption and mobility factor of Pb. In practice, all three kinds of nZVIs are effective in Pb immobilization, while application of nZVI_EDTA at the rate of 2% was the best treatment to immobilize Pb in polluted soils.