Cotton yarn engineering via fuzzy least squares regression

Modeling of yarn and fiber properties has been a popular topic in the field of textile engineering in recent decades. The common method for fitting models has been to use classical regression analysis, based on the assumptions of data crispness and deterministic relations among variables. However, in modeling practical systems such as cotton spinning, the above assumptions may not hold true. Prediction is influential and we should therefore attempt to analyze the behavior and structure of such systems more realistically. In the present research, we investigate a procedure to provide a soft regression method for modeling the relationships between fiber properties, roving properties, and yarn count as independent variables and yarn properties as dependent (response) variable. We first selected the effective variables by multivariate test (mtest) and then considered fuzzy least squares regression for evaluating relationship between cotton yarn properties such as tensile, hairiness, unevenness and fiber properties that were measured by HVI system. We also used mean of capability index (MCI) to evaluate the goodness of fit of the fuzzy regression models. The results showed that the equations were significant at very good MCI levels.     

Identification of low lectin mutants in soybean

Lectin is one of the known antinutritional factors that deteriorate the soybean protein quality and development of cultivars with low lectin content will help to improve nutritional quality of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill]. Therefore, attempts were made to induce mutations for low lectin content in the cultivar ‘MACS 450’. Soybean cultivar ‘MACS 450’ was subjected to combination treatments of γ‐rays and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS) with an objective to induce variability for low lectin content. The treatments of different combinations of γ‐rays and EMS were 50 Gy + 0.2% EMS, 50 Gy + 0.4% EMS, 100 Gy + 0.2% EMS and 100 Gy + 0.4% EMS. Of the 3200 treated M₁ seeds sown, 16 400 M₂ plants were raised. In M_2, 72 plants were identified for low lectin content [<40 × 10⁵ haemagglutination unit (HAU)/mg] and were carried up to M₅ generation. In M₅ generation, lectin content in ‘MACS 450’ was 39.23 to 50.0 × 10⁵ HAU/mg, and was compared with the nine true breeding lines identified having low lectin content, ranging from 2.3 × 10⁵ to 27.46 × 10⁵ HAU/mg. Three mutants were found to possess very low lectin content (ranging from 2.0 × 10⁵ to 3.0 × 10⁵ HAU/mg). Thus, the identified mutant lines with low lectin content will greatly improve soybean protein quality, thereby reducing financial burden on the soybean industry for processing soybean meal and also making it suitable for human consumption. All the mutants showed normal seed development, having soluble protein content similar or higher than that in the parent (32.0 mg/ml). This indicates that the change in lectin content does not have any negative impact on the plant growth and protein content.     

Alleviation of Salinity Stress by Vermicompost Extract: A Comparative Study on Five Fennel Landraces

In the present study, interaction between salinity (0, 40, 80, 120 mM NaCl) and vermicompost extract (VCE) on five fennel landraces (Urmia, Mashhad, Shiraz, Boushehr, Isfahan) was investigated in a factorial experiment as completely randomized design to find the best salt-tolerant landrace and potential alleviating role of VCE. Results showed that Boushehr and Isfahan were the most tolerant and sensitive landrace to salinity, respectively. Application of VCE improved germination and growth of salt-treated fennels. The amylase activity of fennels was not affected by salinity and not improved by VCE. While sodium (Na⁺) content of root and shoot of all salt-treated fennels increased, their potassium (K) content decreased. Under salinity stress, root K content of VCE-amended landraces was more than that of not amended ones. VCE also caused an increase in calcium (Ca) content of root of salt-treated Shiraz and Urmia landraces. In conclusion, VCE can alleviate adverse effects of salinity stress on fennel.     

A Novel Semi-bionanofibers through Introducing <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tragacanth Gum</Emphasis> into PET Attaining Rapid Wetting and Degradation

Untreated polyethylene terephthalate has limitation in some medical applications, such as wound dressing due to the hydrophobic property. Thereby, Tragacanth Gum (TG) as a natural polysaccharide utilized in polymer solution led to novel semi-bionanofibers of PET/TG blends (15:1, 15:2 and 15:3) through electrospinning method. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy results confirmed the existence of hydrophilic groups of TG such as hydroxyl groups. Moreover, twice water uptake of PET/TG comparing with PET nanofibers indicated the hydrogel properties, also PET/TG nanofibers possessed high surface wettability through reduction of contact angle from 113 to 0°. Further, differential scanning calorimetry analysis indicated the alteration in the crystalline structure of PET/TG nanofibers that led to faster degradation in various pH values. The SEM images of PET/TG nanofibers displayed the greater average diameter with increasing TG content (283 nm) comparing with PET nanofibers (193 nm). Also introducing more TG in the nanofibers exhibited lower mechanical properties.     

Effect of dietary taurine and methionine supplementation on growth performance,body composition,taurine retention and lipid status of Persian sturgeon,Acipenser persicus (Borodin, 1897), fed with plant‐based diet

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary taurine and methionine on Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) fed with plant‐based diets. To this purpose, sturgeons were fed with either of methionine + taurine‐supplemented (MT), without taurine supplementation (M) or without methionine supplementation (T) diets. Growth performance, body composition, tissue amino acids and serum glucose and lipids were studied at the end of the experiment. Results showed that the treatments T and MT had similar growth performance and feed efficiency, which were significantly higher than the treatment M. Dietary taurine and methionine significantly altered carcass and liver taurine and methionine contents. The highest serum glucose was observed in the treatment M and the lowest in treatment MT. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the treatments T and MT were similar and significantly higher than those of the treatment M. This study showed that Persian sturgeon needs taurine supplementation when fed with plant‐based diets, but the supplemented level seems to be lower than those of the other species. Taurine has hypoglycaemic and lipidogenesis effects on Persian sturgeon. However, further studies are required to illustrate taurine and methionine metabolism in Persian sturgeon.     

Wicking phenomenon in polyacrylonitrile nanofiber yarn

The aim of this paper is to investigate vertical wicking in polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospinning nanofiber yarn using image analysis. Colored liquid rising phenomenon into the yarn and the distance of liquid rise were determined as a function of time. The kinetics of capillary rise follows the Lucas-Washburn equation. The results show that capillary rise rate coefficient is being reduced with increasing yarn twist, due to the reduction of continuity and size of capillaries. Increasing heat treatment stretch from 0 % (draw ratio=1) to 50 % (draw ratio=1.5) increases the capillary rise rate coefficient, due to the more homogeneity of capillary spaces in the yarn structure and increasing heat treatment stretch from 50 to 100 % (draw ratio=2) reduces capillary rise rate coefficient, because of the low capillary length. The present study indicates that an appropriate choice in production parameters of nanofiber yarn is all important in obtaining the desired properties of capillary rise.     

Forest fire effects in beech dominated mountain forest of Iran

Most of world's forests of different climates have a history of fire, but with different severities. Fire regimes for broadleaf deciduous forests have return intervals that vary from many decades (or less) to centuries (or more). Iran has a total of 1.2 million ha of temperate forest in the north, where fires burn about 300–400 ha annually. This study focused on the impact of fire on forest structure, tree species quality, and regeneration composition (specially beech) in the Chelir forest of northern Iran. The results showed that forest fires changed the structure and had different effects on tree species composition between burned and control areas. Thin barked species such as oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and coliseum maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) have been affected more than those with thick bark, like hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey). The density of oriental beech regeneration in the unburned area was greater than in the burned area, while the quantity of regeneration of hornbeam, coliseum maple and velvet maple (Acer velutinum Boiss) was higher in burned area. Forest fire had a greater effect on oriental beech quality, and changed regeneration composition in the burned area. Fire prevention activities should be considered as a silvicultural treatment for preserving these valuable forests.     

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Putative reference genes for gene expression studies in propionate and β‐hydroxybutyrate treated bovine adipose tissue explants

Accurate gene expression normalization using a stable reference gene (RG) improves the reliability of quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR) results. Therefore, a validation of RGs should be done before their use. Only few studies on RGs have been done in cattle, and none in bovine adipose tissue (AT) explants, therefore, we characterize the effects of an in vitro treatment with propionate and β‐hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) on the mRNA content of these RGs comparing the output data from the geNorm^TM and the Normfinder^© program. geNorm^TM and Normfinder^© estimated the most stable RGs in the following sequence for subcutaneous and for retroperitoneal AT explants treated with propionate: low density lipoprotein receptor‐related protein 10 (LRP10) > hippocalcin‐like 1 (HPCAL1) > glyceraldehyde‐phosphate‐dehydrogenase (GAPDH) > ribosomal protein S9 (RPS9) > RNA polymerase II (Pol II) > beta2 actin (ACTB) > 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA). BHB treated AT explants yielded a different stability ranking for RGs using geNorm^TM: HPCAL1, GAPDH > Pol II > LRP10 > ACTB > RPS9 > 18S rRNA. Normfinder^© estimated a different stability ranking for the RGs as shown in the following sequence for subcutaneous and retroperitoneal AT explants treated with BHB: HPCAL1 > Pol II > GAPDH > ACTB > LRP10 > RPS9 > 18S rRNA. Subsequent pairwise analysis of variation of RGs using geNorm^TM suggested that LRP10, HPCAL1 and GAPDH should be used for accurate normalization of subcutaneous and retroperitoneal AT explants treated with propionate, while HPCAL1, GAPDH and Pol II should be used for BHB treatment.     

Silage fermentation profile,chemical composition and economic evaluation of millet and soya bean grown in monocultures and as intercrops

In recent years, dairy farmers in semi‐arid regions have shifted from maize (Zea mays L.) as their primary source of feed to drought‐tolerant crops, such as millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.), due to lack of water for irrigation. However, millet alone may not provide feed of sufficient quality and crude protein content for dairy cows. A field experiment was conducted in 2 years to evaluate (i) whether intercropping millet with a relatively drought‐tolerant soya bean cultivar (Glycine max Merr, cv. Williams) could improve silage quality with minimum yield penalty, and (ii) if the application of molasses could further enhance the nutritive value of silage of millet–soya bean intercrops. There were three intercropping ratios (60% millet with 40% soya bean, 50% millet with 50% soya bean, 40% millet with 60% soya bean) and monocultures of millet and soya bean. Mixed forages were treated with three levels of molasses: M₀ (without molasses), M₁, and M₂ (2·5 and 5% fresh matter respectively). Inclusion of soya bean in millet crops resulted in decreased silage yield compared with millet alone. The highest yield was obtained from the ratio of 60% millet with 40% soya bean. Molasses‐treated silage had higher lactic acid, lower pH, and lower acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF). Silage produced from millet–soya bean intercrops exhibited enhanced fermentation, indicated by lower pH (3·64) and higher lactic acid (16·63 g kg^?1 DM) than silage from monocultures. Intercropping ratios had lower water‐soluble carbohydrate, ADF and NDF than millet monoculture. Overall, an intercropping ratio of 60% millet with 40% soya bean was advantageous over other ratios in terms of higher yield, nutritive value and economic value.     

Yield and yield components of white bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars affected by boric acid rates and methods of application

To investigate the effect of boric acid on yield and yield components of three white bean cultivars consisted of Jules, G11867, and Shekoofa, a 2-year field split-plot experiment was carried out based on a randomized complete block design with three replications during 2013 and 2014. Boron treatments consisted of 1 – control (no boric acid), 2 and 3 – application of 2 and 4?kg ha^?1 of boric acid by irrigation water, respectively, 4 and 5 – foliar spray of 0.025% and 0.05% of boric acid solutions, respectively, and 6 – combination of 2?kg ha^?1 of boric acid in irrigation water?+?foliar spray by 0.025% boric acid solution. Boron application significantly increased yield and its components in respect to control. The highest grain yields of all cultivars were obtained from application of 2?kg ha^?1 boric acid mixed in irrigation water?+?foliar spray by 0.025% of boric acid solution.