Synthesis and characterization of the nitrides of platinum and iridium

Transition metal nitrides are of great technological and fundamental importance because of their strength and durability and because of their useful optical, electronic, and magnetic properties. We have evaluated a recently synthesized platinum nitride (PtN) that was shown to have a large bulk modulus, and we propose a structure that is isostructural with pyrite and has the stoichiometry PtN2. We have also synthesized a recoverable nitride of iridium under nearly the same conditions of pressure and temperature as PtN2. Although it has the same stoichiometry, it exhibits much lower structural symmetry. Preliminary results suggest that the bulk modulus of this material is also very large.     

Phosphorus Efficiency of Winter Canola Cultivars and Rhizosphere Properties in Rhizobox Technique

Production of oilseed crops requires balanced fertilization, while environmental problems of applied fertilizers must be considered. We evaluated seven winter canola cultivars (Brassica napus L.) for their relative efficiency to use or acquire phosphorus (P) under deficient and sufficient conditions. Average root mean diameter (RMD), total root length (RL) and root surface area (RA), of plants were measured as well as rhizosphere properties in rhizobox technique. Water-soluble P (WSP) and phosphatase activity of treatments containing plant were higher than control. WSP increased by 2.86 mg kg^?1 soil in Gabriela and 2.63 mg kg^?1 soil in Elvis at P deficient condition, compared to the control soil. The Olsen extractable P of the treatments decreased compared to control. Variations in total dry weights of cultivars were mainly explained by the differences in P solubilizing bacteria (PSB) population, pH, and phosphatase activity. The responsible mechanism for the P efficient (PE) cultivars can be higher P uptake through larger root and changes in rhizosphere properties.     

Administration of hot‐water extract of Padina boergesenii via immersion route to enhance haemolymph‐immune responses of Fenneropenaeus indicus (Edwards)

Various polysaccharides extract from marine algae to increase the non‐specific immune system in crustacean. In this study, effects of hot‐water extract on total haemocyte count, total plasma protein, Phagocytic activity, bacterial clearance efficiency and bactericidal activity while the shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus (10.12±2.18 g) were immersed in seawater (40 g L^?1 and 25±0.8 °C) containing hot‐water extract of brown algae Padina boergesenii at 100, 300 and 500 mg L^?1 for 1–4 h, were investigated. These parameters increased significantly (P<0.05) when the shrimp were immersed in seawater containing hot‐water extract at 100 mg L^?1 after 3 h and 300 and 500 mg L^?1 after 2 h. Fenneropenaeus indicus that were immersed in hot‐water extract at 300 and 500 mg L^?1 had significantly increased phagocytic activity and increased clearance efficiency to Vibrio harveyi after 2 h. But bactericidal activity increased after 1 h immersed in 500 mg L^?1 concentration.     

Combining the phosphate solubilizing microorganisms with biochar types in order to improve safflower yield and soil enzyme activity

ABSTRACT

Soil amendment with biochar could increase soil microbial activity and biomass. This study contributes to an understanding of the synergistic effects of biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms on safflower yield and soil microbial activity enhancement. In the split plot experiments that repeated in two years, the main factor was biochar types included cow manure, wheat straw, wood biochar and control. The sub factors were phosphate solubilizing microorganisms included the mycorrhizal fungi (Glomus etunicatum and G. mosseae), Bacillus lentus, Pseudomonas fluorescence and control. The highest levels of dehydrogenase, urease activity and microbial biomass carbon were obtained from the cow manure biochar. The maximum activity of acid phosphatase was in the plots inoculated by P. fluorescence in all treatments, whether using or not using biochar. The grain yield of plants inoculated with B. lentus and P. fluorescence was in the same statistical group. The highest grain yield equal to 1527 kg/ha was obtained when using cow manure biochar. According to the results, the application of cow manure biochar and phosphate solubilizing microorganisms, especially mycorrhiza species, can be recommended for improving soil biological traits and safflower yield traits.     

Preharvest calcium applications improve postharvest quality of papaya fruits (Carica papaya L. cv. Eksotika II)

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of calcium chloride (CaCl₂) and calcium nitrate Ca(NO₃)₂ on nutrient concentrations and postharvest quality of papaya fruits. In the first experiment, plant stem height increased significantly after Ca(NO₃)₂ application compared to CaCl₂. The calcium content in the peel and pulp for both sources [CaCl₂ and Ca(NO₃)₂] significantly rose with increasing calcium concentrations, but there was a significantly higher content of calcium in fruit peel and pulp in the CaCl₂ treatment. Magnesium and potassium in fruits decreased with increasing calcium concentrations. A reduction in anthracnose lesion diameter in the infected fruit with increasing calcium was observed in both CaCl₂ and Ca(NO₃)₂ treatments. Ethylene production in fruits decreased with increasing calcium concentrations. In the second experiment, only CaCl₂ was used as the calcium source, and results showed that the calcium content in fruit peel and pulp significantly increased at higher CaCl₂ levels, whereas ethylene production, anthracnose lesion diameter, and magnesium content decreased compared to control.     

Evaluation of Textural and Structural Properties of Barbari Bread During Storage

This study was performed using three Barbari flours (strong, medium, and weak) with different physical, chemical, and rheological properties. Determination of texture firmness of Barbari breads (A, B, and C, made of strong, medium, and weak flours, respectively) during storage was carried out with a texture analyzer and evaluating the bread crumb properties and changes during storage with a nondestructive ultrasonic technique. The bread microstructure was assessed with scanning electron microscopy, and the general process of starch gelatinization and retrogradation was evaluated with differential scanning calorimetry. The bread sensory properties were evaluated by 10 trained panelists. Barbari A, made from strong flour, had less firmness, lower transition of ultrasonic wave velocity, lower value of elastic modulus, reduced value of enthalpy, lower average temperature, larger pore diameter and area of images, and higher point total in sensory evaluation than Barbari B and Barbari C, particularly the latter, as storage time progressed. Barbari A's desirable quality characterization and longer shelf life were owing to the qualities of the flour, which enabled the production of dough with the appropriate properties. Eventually, the results of device‐based and sensory tests were significantly correlated. Ultrasonic nondestructive testing is recommended over other methods for assessing the texture, cell structure, and elastic properties of bread after baking and during storage, because it is fast, nondestructive, and less expensive than other methods and can be used during production.     

Use of Selection Indices Based on Multivariate Analysis for Improving Grain Yield in Rice

In order to study selection indices for improving rice grain yield, a cross was made between an Iranian traditional rice (Oryza sativa L.) variety, Tarommahalli and an improved indica rice variety, Khazar in 2006. The traits of the parents (30 plants), F1 (30 plants) and F2 generations (492 individuals) were evaluated at the Rice Research institute of Iran (RRII) during 2007. Heritabilities of the number of panicles per plant, plant height, days to heading and panicle exsertion were greater than that of grain yield. The selection indices were developed using the results of multivariate analysis. To evaluate selection strategies to maximize grain yield, 14 selection indices were calculated based on two methods (optimum and base) and combinations of 12 traits with various economic weights. Results of selection indices showed that selection for grain weight, number of panicles per plant and panicle length by using their phenotypic and/or genotypic direct effects (path coefficient) as economic weights should serve as an effective selection criterion for using either the optimum or base index.     

Changes in plant growth substances,contents and flower quality of rose cv. ‘Dolce Vita’ in response to nitrogen sources under soilless culture conditions

The aim of this study was to investigate the biochemical responses and vase life of rose cut flowers under different ratios of NO₃:NH₄:urea in soilless culture. In this study, urea was used as the source of nitrogen (N) in solution cultures. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted as completely randomized design with seven ratios of N forms and three replications. The rooted cuttings of rose cv Dolce Vita were supplied with seven different ratios of NO₃^?:NH₄⁺:urea (100:0:0, 70:15:15, 50:25:25, 50:0:50, 0:0:100, 50:50:0 and 0:100:0). Results showed that with the increase in urea and ammonium concentrations, the amounts of cuttings IAA, GA₃, zeatin, ABA and polyamines contents decreased significantly. Plants fertigated with nutrient solution containing NO₃^?:NH₄⁺:urea (50:25:25) had the highest concentrations of growth regulators, the highest stalk length and flower vase life. As the ammonium ratios in the nutrient solution increased, the flower vase life decreased significantly. It was concluded that using NO₃^?:NH₄⁺:urea at the ratio of 50:25:25 had the highest effects on improving the rose cut flowers quality by affecting plants growth regulators and can be recommended for cut rose production in soilless culture systems.     

Improving the barrier and mechanical properties of corn starch-based edible films: Effect of citric acid and carboxymethyl cellulose

The films produced from pure starch are brittle and difficult to handle. Chemical modifications (e.g. cross-linking) and using a second biopolymer in the starch based composite have been studied as strategies to produce low water sensitive and relatively high strength starch based materials. A series of corn starch films with varying concentrations (0-20%, W/W) of citric acid (CA) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were produced by casting method. The effects of CA and CMC on the water vapor permeability (WVP), moisture absorption, solubility and tensile properties were investigated. The water vapor barrier property and the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) were improved significantly (p < 0.05) as the CA percentage increased from 0 to 10% (W/W). At the level of 15% (W/W) CMC, the starch films showed the lowest WVP values (2.34 × 10⁻⁷ g Pa⁻¹ h⁻¹ m⁻¹) and UTS increased from 6.57 MPa for the film without CMC to 16.11 MPa for that containing 20% CMC.