Comparison of embryo development between intracytoplasmic and Piezo-assisted sperm injection after treating mouse sperms by Ca2+ ionophore

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and Piezo-assisted sperm injection after pretreatment with calcium ionophore (CaI) on the mouse embryo development. METHODS: In this study, the conventional ICSI and Piezo-ICSI procedures were used. The efficacy of the methods was examined after mouse matured oocytes were fertilized with or without CaI-treated sperms. RESULTS: Piezo-ICSI demonstrated significantly more favorable results, with a fertilization rate of 64% (conventional ICSI: 42%, P<0.001) and a cleavage rate of 73% (conventional ICSI: 58%, P<0.05). When the Piezo-ICSI procedure was performed with CaI-pretreated sperms, the cleavage rate significantly increased (92% vs. 73%, P<0.05). However, the fertilization rate did not change significantly (64% vs. 56%). CONCLUSION: The Piezo-ICSI accompanies with CaI-treated sperms is more efficient than the conventional ICSI method for fertilizing and thus obtaining more mouse embryos.     

蛋黄抗体——抗生素的替代品

在寻找家禽生产中抗生素替代品的过程中,不应忽视鸡能够产生可预防许多疾病的抗体的能力。这些抗体(在蛋黄中的抗体)能够被其它家禽所利用吗?本文向你展示了其可能性。     

蛋黄抗体IgY在禽病预防中的应用

为了更好的理解抗生素在控制和预防疾病感染过程中的重要作用,更重要的是了解蛋黄抗体是如何有可能被用作抗生素的替代物的。以下就蛋黄抗体对数种禽病的预防效果作简单介绍。     

Ileal amino-acid digestibility of wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by-products for broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to determine true and apparent ileal amino‐acid digestibility of a native cultivar of wheat (Mahdavi), autoclaved wheat (120°C for 30 min) and spaghetti by‐products available in Iran. One hundred 21‐day‐old broiler chickens were fed a standard corn–soybean meal starter diet from day 0 to 28 post hatch. At 28 days 80 chicks were distributed according to possessing very nearly the same average bodyweight to 20 wire cages. The experimental units were allocated at random to five dietary treatments with four replicates per treatment. The basal diet contained corn and soybean meal as the major ingredients. Three test diets were formulated containing wheat, autoclaved wheat and spaghetti by‐products as the sole source of dietary protein and each test diet was combined with a basal diet 50:50 on a weight basis to form three assay diets. The apparent and true digestibility of amino acid in the test ingredients were estimated from those in the assay diets basal/test diet mixtures, using the difference method. The apparent and true amino‐acid digestibility of the test ingredients were significantly different (P < 0.01). Autoclaving of wheat increase its amino‐acid digestibility (P < 0.01). Among the test ingredients, the average ileal amino‐acid digestibility of spaghetti by‐products was higher than wheat and autoclaved wheat but it was lower than values for the basal diet (P < 0.01).     

Seasonal species diversity and abundance of phytoplankton from the southwestern Caspian Sea

International Aquatic Research - In the present investigation, we aimed to study diversity and cell abundance of phytoplankton in the southwest of the Caspian Sea. This survey included 4 transects...     

Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal symbiosis for control of Egyptian broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.) in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) cultivation

The present study assessed the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on broomrape (Orobanche aegyptiaca Pers.) control to determine its effects on tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) growth indices. This experiment was carried out using a randomized complete block design with four replications. The treatments included three strains of AMF (Glomus mosseae, Glomus intraradices and Glomuse hoe ) at three levels (100, 200 and 300 kg ha^?1). The control treatments (without mycorrhiza) were with and without broomrape (weed infest and weed free). The results showed that the use of G. intraradices and G. mosseae decreased broomrape seed germination, the number of nodules and the dry weight of the broomrape and increased root area and dry weight of the tomato plant when compared to G. hoe and the control treatments without broomrape. The tomato yield in G. intraradices 300 kg ha^?1 treatment increased by 10 and 205% than weed free and weed infest treatments, respectively. Finally, G. intraradices and G. mosseae at, respectively, 200 and 300 kg ha^?1 are recommended for land under tomato cultivation that has been contaminated with broomrape.     

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.     

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.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanocrystalline CoWO4@silk fibers with antibacterial activity under ultrasound irradiation

The present investigation reports the novel synthesis of CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk fiber under ultrasound irradiation. The effect of temperature, power of ultrasound irradiation and sequential dipping steps in growth of the CoWO₄ particles were studied. Results show a decrease in the particles size as the temperature and power of irradiation decreased. The fibers containing CoWO₄ nanoparticles were tested for their antibacterial efficacy against E. coli and S. aureus and were found to possess significant antibacterial activity. The results show the CoWO₄ nanoparticles@silk with strongest fluorescence characteristics can be obtained in this method. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and fluorescence spectroscopy.