Age estimation of Arabian mares by incisors morphometry and dentition changes

Veterinary Research Communications - Accurate estimation of a horse's age based on the condition of the tooth status is necessary as a scientific and artistic technique, which has not been...     

Effect of apple peel extract as natural antioxidant on lipid and protein oxidation of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) mince

International Aquatic Research - The aim of this study was to use apple peel extract (APE) as antioxidant for inhibition of lipid and protein oxidation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) mince...     

Sensitivity analysis of FAO 33 crop water production function

This paper presents the results of sensitivity analysis of FAO 33 method and its modified forms that were developed by Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988). Results show that positive error of PET and K_y and negative error of AET result in over predicting of relative yield (Y_r). Sensitivity of Doorenbos and Kassam (FAO irrigation and drainage paper No. 33. FAO, Rome, Italy, 193 pp, 1979) equation (FAO 33 method) and additive form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation is equal for positive or negative error of K_y and AET, but their sensitivities are greater for negative error of PET than positive error. However, sensitivity of multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation is greater for negative error of K_y and PET and positive error of AET. Error percentage on estimation of Y_r by multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation arising from error of PET, AET, or K_y is less than additive form. In addition, calculated Y_r by multiplicative equation is higher than additive form and the difference between two forms of this equation increases severely when water shortage increases. According to the results, it is recommended that multiplicative form of Rao et al. (Agric Water Manage 13:25–32, 1988) equation instead of additive form be used in optimization models and deficit irrigation planning.     

The role of a bilayer interfacial phase on liquid metal embrittlement

Intrinsically ductile metals are prone to catastrophic failure when exposed to certain liquid metals, but the atomic-level mechanism for this effect is not fully understood. We characterized a model system, a nickel sample infused with bismuth atoms, by using aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and observed a bilayer interfacial phase that is the underlying cause of embrittlement. This finding provides a new perspective for understanding the atomic-scale embrittlement mechanism and for developing strategies to control the practically important liquid metal embrittlement and the more general grain boundary embrittlement phenomena in alloys. This study further demonstrates that adsorption can induce a coupled grain boundary structural and chemical phase transition that causes drastic changes in properties.     

Growth performance,haematology, antioxidant status,immune response and histology of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fed biofloc grown on different carbon sources

A 10 weeks trial was performed to investigate how different carbon sources (sugar beet molasses: SBM+BFT, sugar: S+BFT, corn starch: CS+BFT) along with control affect welfare status of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) fingerlings in biofloc‐based tanks. Three hundred healthy fingerlings (22.5 ± 0.2 g) were randomly distributed in 12 tanks (70 L) at a density of 8.02 kg/m³ (25 fish/tank). The fish in BFT treatments fed only 75% feeding rate of control. At the end of the experiment no differences were seen between the groups in case of growth performance, but the fish reared in CS+BFT had a significant lower food conversion ratio compared with the others (p < .05). Different carbon sources did not affect on haematological parameters (p > .05). Total serum protein and antibody concentration differed in treatments, and the highest values were found in S+BFT and CS+BFT treatments (p < .05). No significant differences were observed in case of lysozyme, superoxide dismutase and complement activity in treatments (p > .05), whereas the fish in BFT treatments showed a significant higher total antioxidant capacity and lower glutathione peroxidase than the control (p < .05). Different carbon sources resulted in no change in goblet and kupffer cells in intestine and liver respectively. The highest relative percentage survival was obtained in the CS+BFT and S+BFT (50%) in comparison with SBM+BFT (20%) treatment. The results obtained in this experiment, suggest that corn starch improves immune response, diseases resistance and histology of digestive and respiratory systems in carp fingerlings when used as a carbon source in zero water exchange system.     

Buthionine sulfoximine inhibits cytopathic effects and apoptosis induced by infection with AIK-HDC strain of measles virus

BACKGROUND: Measles virus (MV) is a highly contagious agent which causes a major health problem in developing countries. We studied the effect of buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) on the replication of an AIK-HDC strain of MV and its induced apoptosis in Vero cell lines. METHODS: In this study, toxicity of BSO on Vero cells was investigated first, resulted in determination of sub-lethal or non-toxic concentration zone of BSO for cells. Next, anti-viral effect of BSO at various time limits was evaluated and virus titer was determined at each stage either as 50% tissue culture infective dose (TCID) 50 or by plaque assay method. Using specific anti-measles IgG, anti-viral effect of BSO on MV replication cycle was evaluated through indirect immunofluorescence assay, meanwhile presence of viral RNA was investigated by RT-PCR and gel electrophoresis. RESULTS: According to the experiments, BSO, at concentration of 50 microM, markedly inhibited the cytopathic effect (CPE) induced by MV. BSO also significantly inhibited apoptosis induced by MV. BSO either influences replication of MV genome, or may inhibit virion formation. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the inhibition of CPE and apoptosis by BSO induced by MV may be associated with the effect of BSO on viral RNA genome. Therefore, it is suggested that MV infections can induce apoptosis through the activation of a common pathway that can be inhibited by BSO.     

Effect of Thermal Microbial Inactivation and Washing on Quality Properties of Fish Sausage During Cold Storage (4°C)

The effect of microbial inactivation and washing process on physicochemical and sensory quality of pasteurized fish sausage during cold storage (4°C) was evaluated. Mince was obtained after the grinding; washed mince (WM) was obtained by single washing of mince; and surimi was obtained after three washing and dewatering cycles. Texture profile analysis results demonstrated that textural characteristics of pasteurized fish sausages remain stable during storage period (p > 0.05). Color analysis showed that Hunter L* had an increasing trend, and a* and b* had a decreasing trend over time (p < 0.05). Thus, it is possible to inactivate all microorganisms in pasteurized fish sausage without any undesirable effect on physicochemical and sensory quality.     

Manufacturing polymethyl methacrylate nanofibers as a support for enzyme immobilization

Nanofibers have a great potential for enzyme immobilization application due to their large surface area to volume ratio besides their porous structure. In this work, we produce polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) nanofibers via electrospinning method in dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent. Thereafter, we employ a chemical method on final PMMA nanofiberous web to covalently immobilize acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme on membrane surface. Morphology and tensile properties of nanofibers are studied as first steps of characterization to make sure of obtaining a properly stable membrane for enzyme carrying application. Thereafter, the stability and activity of immobilized enzymes as two main characteristic parameters are tested and reported for different applications such as biosensor manufacturing.