Effects of silver nanoparticle size, concentration and coating on soil quality as indicated by arylsulfatase and sulfite oxidase activities

Recently, the nanotechnology industry has seen a growing interest in integrating silver nanoparticles(AgNPs) into agricultural products, which increases soil exposure to these particles. This demands an investigation into the effect of AgNPs on soil health. Changes in soil enzyme activities upon exposure to AgNPs can serve as early indicators of any adverse effects that these particles may have on soil quality. This study aimed to determine the effects of AgNP size, concentration, coating, and e...     

Effect of zeolite on saturated hydraulic conductivity and crack behavior of silty clay paddled soil

The addition of zeolites to soil modifies soil physical and chemical properties. The objectives of this research were to study the effect of zeolite on saturated hydraulic conductivity, K _s, and crack behavior in a silty clay paddled soil. Soil samples were mixed with 0, 4, 8 and 12 g kg^?1 of zeolite for K _s determination, and 0, 2, 4, 8 and 12 g kg^?1 for soil crack measurements. Saturated hydraulic conductivity was measured using the constant head method. The results indicated that K _s was significantly increased at a zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1. Furthermore, an increase in zeolite content up to 8 g kg^?1 decreased soil crack area after paddling and first rewetting. Higher amounts of zeolite (e.g. 12 g kg^?1) increased crack density after the second rewetting. However, a 50% reduction in crack depth occurred with zeolite application rates of 8 and 12 g kg^?1 in comparison with controls. Thus, a zeolite application rate of 8 g kg^?1 is recommended for soil crack reduction in intermittent-flood irrigation. Furthermore, a relationship was obtained between crack area density (Ln), gravimetric soil water content and zeolite application rate. After the second irrigation, a relationship was also obtained between crack depth, gravimetric soil water content and zeolite application rate. Crack depth showed a positive and highly significant linear correlation with crack width.     

Effect of fertilizers, lime, and inoculation with rhizobia and mycorrhizal fungi on the growth of four leguminous tree species in a low-fertility soil

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of lime, fertilizers, mycorrhizal fungi, and selected rhizobia strains on the growth of four woody legume species, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth., Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong., Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, and Sesbania virgata (Cav.) Pers. in a low-fertility soil. The experiment was conducted under greenhouse condition in plastic pots (4 kg). Eight treatments and eight replicates per treatment were performed in a completely randomized design. The treatments were: (1) complete treatment (C) (NPK fertilization?+?micronutrients?+?liming?+?MR that is inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi and rhizobia); (2) C minus N (C???N that is as C without the addition of N); (3) C???N???M (as C???N without inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)); (4) C???N??R (as C???N without inoculation of rhizobia); (5) C???N???liming (as C???N without liming); (6) C???N???micro (as C???N without addition of micronutrients); (7) C???N???P (as C???N without addition of P); (8) control without fertilization, liming, and without inoculation with AMF and rhizobia. After 4 months of growth, we determined the yield of individual plants, nodulation, mycorrhizal colonization, and nutrient contents. Phosphorus was the most limiting nutrient for plant growth, followed by nitrogen. L. leucocephala and S. virgata had the most robust response to the addition of micronutrients and liming, showing an increase in nutrient content, plant height, and root and shoot dry matter. When compared to the single inoculation, the dual inoculation increased growth of all plants, except that of A. lebbeck, which did not respond to either rhizobia or mycorrhizal fungi inoculation.     

A case of dorso-medial luxation of the radial carpal bone in a dog

Luxation of the radial carpal bone is an uncommon injury in the dog and cat. Previous clinical cases have reported palmaro-medial luxation with injury to the short radial collateral ligament. In this study a case of dorsomedial luxation of the radial carpal bone in a 10-year-old female Gordon Setter is described. A closed reduction of the luxation was performed and a conservative treatment was carried out. Thirteen months after the reduction, the dog had a satisfactory limb function, despite the presence of degenerative joint disease of the carpus. A pathogenic hypothesis for this dorso-medial luxation of the radial carpal bone is proposed reproducing the luxation on canine cadavers.     

Differentiation between canine cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis by the detection of immunoglobulin G specific for Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi antigens using flow cytometry

Flow cytometry employing Leishmania (L.) chagasi (Lc) and L. (Viannia) braziliensis (Lb) antigen was used to establish the differential diagnosis between visceral (VL) and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in dogs. Flow cytometry permitted the detection of Leishmania-specific immunoglobulin G in sera from 19 dogs: nine with CL and 10 with VL. A significant difference in the percentage of positive staining was observed in sera from dogs with CL between the homologous antigen (69% for Lb) and the heterologous antigen (42% for Lc). However, this difference was not significant in sera from dogs with VL (61% for Lb and 73% for Lc). No significant staining was observed in control sera (0.6% for Lb and 0.4% for Lc) consisting of samples from healthy dogs, or in the group with sporotrichosis (1.8% for Lb and 1.5% for Lc), a differential diagnosis of CL. The results suggest that flow cytometry might be useful for the differentiation between CL and VL in dogs, with practical applications in areas where the two infections overlap.     

Protection by cAMP and cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors of diazinon-induced hyperglycemia and oxidative/nitrosative stress in rat Langerhans islets cells: Molecular evidence for involvement of non-cholinergic mechanisms

The objective of this study was to study the effects of acute administration of diazinon alone or in combination with two phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors with selectivity to cAMP and cGMP (theophylline and sildenafil, respectively) on oxidative/nitrosative stress biomarkers, including nitric oxide (NO), lipid peroxides (TBARS), total antioxidant power (TAP), and concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) in isolated Langerhans islets, plasma glucose and insulin levels, and the activity of plasma cholinesterase (ChE). Examination by different doses of diazinon (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg) in single administration lead us to choose diazinon (30 mg/kg) in combination therapies. Theophylline and sildenafil were used at doses of 25 and 5 mg/kg, respectively. In all diazinon-treated groups, plasma ChE activity and plasma insulin level were significantly decreased and plasma glucose concentration and Langerhans islets TNF-α, TBARS, and NO levels were significantly increased in comparison to controls. The TAP did not change in comparison to control. In combination therapy, both theophylline and sildenafil restored diazinon-induced changes in plasma glucose concentration, Langerhans islets TNF-α, NO, and TBARS concentrations but Langerhans islets TAP, plasma insulin, and ChE levels. It is concluded that diazinon stimulates oxidative/nitrosative stress in Langerhans islets that results in hyperglycemia due to insufficiency of insulin. Altered glucagons/insulin ratio, activated hepatic glucose production/release, and insulin resistance are possible mechanisms. The protective effects of cAMP and cGMP PDE inhibitors in restoration of diazinon-induced oxidative/nitrosative stress and hyperglycemia stress back to their antioxidant potentials that seem to be independent of ChE inhibition.     

Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis in an Iranian Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis

Background:Hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary dRTA are associated with mutations in the SLC4A1 gene encoding the AE1. In this study, some patients with clinical evidence of congenital HS and renal symptoms were investigated. Methods:Twelve patients with congenital HS and renal symptoms were recruited from Ali-Asghar Children’s Hospital (Tehran, Iran). A patient suspected of having dRTA was examined using WES method, followed by Sanger sequencing. Results:One patient (HS03) showed severe failure to thrive, short stature, frequent urinary infection, and weakness. A homozygote (rs571376371 for c.2494C>T; p.Arg832Cys) and a heterozygote (rs377051298 for c.466C>T; p.Arg156Trp) missense variant were identified in the SLC4A1 and SPTA1 genes, respectively. The compound heterozygous mutations manifested as idRTA and severe HS in patient HS03. Conclusion:Our observations, for the first time, revealed clinical and genetic characteristics of idRTA and severe HS in an Iranian patient HS03. Key Words: Erythrocyte membrane protein, Hereditary spherocytosis, Hemolytic anemia, Whole-exome sequencing     

Forest Road Detection Using LiDAR Data

We developed a three-step classification approach for forest road extraction utilizing LiDAR data. The first step employed the IDW method to interpolate LiDAR point data （first and last pulses） to achieve DSM, DTM and DNTM layers （at 1 m resolution）. For this interpolation RMSE was 0.19 m. In the second step, the Support Vector Machine （SVM） was employed to classify the LiDAR data into two classes, road and non-road. For this classification, SVM indicated the merged distance layer with intensity data and yielded better identification of the road position. Assessments of the obtained results showed 63% correctness, 75% completeness and 52% quality of classification. In the next step, road edges were defined in the LiDAR-extracted layers, enabling accu- rate digitizing of the centerline location. More than 95% of the Li- DAR-derived road was digitized within 1.3 m to the field surveyed nor- rnal. The proposed approach can provide thorough and accurate road inventory data to support forest management.