Direct observation and quantification of CO₂ binding within an amine-functionalized nanoporous solid

Understanding the molecular details of CO(2)-sorbent interactions is critical for the design of better carbon-capture systems. Here we report crystallographic resolution of CO(2) molecules and their binding domains in a metal-organic framework functionalized with amine groups. Accompanying computational studies that modeled the gas sorption isotherms, high heat of adsorption, and CO(2) lattice positions showed high agreement on all three fronts. The modeling apportioned specific binding interactions for each CO(2) molecule, including substantial cooperative binding effects among the guest molecules. The validation of the capacity of such simulations to accurately model molecular-scale binding bodes well for the theory-aided development of amine-based CO(2) sorbents. The analysis shows that the combination of appropriate pore size, strongly interacting amine functional groups, and the cooperative binding of CO(2) guest molecules is responsible for the low-pressure binding and large uptake of CO(2) in this sorbent material.     

The study lentil adaptations to highland winter-sown environments in Northeastern Iran

One hundred lentil genotypes accessions of Mashhad Lentil Collection (MLC) were evaluated at Chenaran, Iran with three planting dates [10 Oct., 10 Nov. (fall) and 28 Mar. (spring) during 2008/09 growing seasons]. Evaluation based on winter survival percentage showed that in 2008/09 growing season, percentage of highly tolerant, tolerant, moderately tolerant, moderately susceptible and susceptible genotypes were 22, 61, 16, 1 and 0 respectively. In the first planting date more than 50% of genotypes were ranked as highly tolerant, however it was decreased to 12% and 5% of genotypes in the second and third planting dates, respectively, in this year. According to the fall plantings data, the length of growth duration of samples in fall plantings were 2.3 times higher than spring planting, and also in the first planting that was 5, 25 and 255 percent more than 2^nd and 3^rd planting dates, respectively. The height of fall plants were more than spring plants and in the first year fall planting genotypes were about 38% taller than the same planting. The number of pod per plant in fall planting was 2 times higher than spring planting. More than 22% of accessions had 125 pods per plant in 1^st and 2^nd planting in this year. In the 2008/09 growing seasons the yield of lentil genotypes in fall planting were more than 4 and about 2 times of spring planting, respectively. In the 2008/09 growing seasons 39% of spring planting samples produced less than 50 gr/m² seed yield. It seems that the improvement of seed yield in the fall planting were due to suitable winter survival of plants fallowed by better usage of rainfall and escaping from drought and heat stress of the end of spring. Results showed that there were some cold tolerant accessions in MLC and it is possible to provide cold tolerant cultivars for fall planting in Mashhad conditions.     

Effects of short-term oral administration of propranolol on tear secretion in clinically normal dogs

This study evaluated the effects of short-term oral administration of propranolol on tear secretion in 15 clinically normal crossbreed dogs. The treatment group (n = 8) received propranolol (2 mg/kg q8h) orally for 7 days. The control group (n = 7) received placebo during the study. Schirmer I tear tests were performed on both eyes 1 d prior to drug administration (T(0)), at 1 (T(1)), 3 (T(3)), and 7 (T(7)) days of treatment. Tear production in dogs, measured by STT, was not significantly reduced in both groups.     

Effects of artemisinin in broiler chickens following chronic oral intake

Artemisinin has been used for centuries to treat malaria, intestinal tract helminthosis, diarrhea, and used as an antipyretic and sedative agent, but the usage in veterinary medicine is a new field. Recently, it has been used successfully to control experimental poultry coccidiosis. The present study aimed to determine the effects of different doses of artemisinin in broiler chickens with chronic usage. Sixty birds divided into one control and four treatment groups that fed rations mixed with artemisinin at doses of 17, 34, 68, and 136 ppm for 36 days. During the experiment, birds showed no clinical signs except anemia. In microscopic examinations, heart, lung, and spleen had no lesion, but liver, kidney, and brain showed various lesions. Degenerative lesions like intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were seen in both kidney and liver but fatty change was seen only in liver. There was no relationship between severity of the liver lesions and drug dosage. Central chromatolysis, scattered neuronal necrosis, and mild spongy changes were observed in five regions of the brain that were chosen for sectioning (motor cortex, cerebellar nuclei, midbrain nuclei, and hindbrain nuclei at two separate levels). Severity of lesions in brain was dose-dependent, and cerebral cortex was the most vulnerable area. Haematologic tests showed lower values for hematocrit and red blood cell count dose-dependently. In conclusion, artemisinin is a promising drug for prevention and control of coccidiosis in broiler chickens and its side effects are not too much serious especially at therapeutic doses.     

Prospective use of bacteriocinogenic Pediococcus pentosaceus as direct-fed microbial having methane reducing potential

Direct-fed microbials(DFM), generally regarded as safe status, are successfully used in improving rumen ecology, gastro-intestinal health, feed efficiency, milk production and growth rate in ruminants. On the other hand, methanogenesis in rumen, which accounts for a significant loss of ruminant energy and increased greenhouse gas in environment, is of great concern, therefore, use of DFM for improving productivity without compromising the animal health and ecological sustainability is encouraged. The present study was conducted to investigate the methane reducing potential of bacteriocinogenic strain Pediococcus pentosaceus-34. Since, the culture showed no hemolysis on blood agar and DNase activity, hence, it was considered to be avirulent in nature, a prerequisite for any DFM. The culture also showed tolerance to pH 5.0 for 24 h with 0.5% organic acid mixture, whereas when given a shock for 2 h at different p H and organic acids concentrations, it showed growth at pH 3.0 and 4.0 with 0.1 and 1.0% organic acids, respectively, as having good animal probiotics attributes. The total gas production was significantly(P<0.05) higher in live pedicoccal culture(LPC) and dead pedicoccal culture(DPC) both with wheat straw, when compared to the control. In sugarcane bagasse, gas production was significantly lower(P<0.05) with LPC compared to the control and DPC both. Methane was reduced by the inclusion of LPC in sugarcane bagasse(0.07 mL CH4 mg–1 dry matter digestibility) with no effect on other rumen fermentation parameters. However, with wheat straw and LPC total gas, in vitro dry matter digestibility, total volatile fatty acids increased significantly but no reduction in methane production was observed in comparison to the control. Therefore, further research is warranted in this direction, if the bacteriocinogenic strains can be used as DFM for ruminants to improve the ruminant productivity.     

Molecular and morphological investigation in Hymenocrater: species delimitation,relationship, divergence time and DNA barcoding

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Hymenocrater comprises of 11 species throught the world. The genus is an Irano-Turanian elements, which has several usages in traditional medicine. Northeast...     

Inhibitory effects of Sage extract on the growth of enteric bacteria

Antibacterial activity of Sage extract at concentrations of 0.1, 0.05, 0.025, 0.0125, 0.00625, 0.003125, 0.00156, 0.0005 and 0.00025 g dL(-1) against Salmonella typhi, Shigella sonnei, S. flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus aureus, ETEC Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was evaluated. Susceptibility testing of bacterial strains against 18 antibiotics was also performed for comparison. The results showed that P. aeruginosa and ETEC E. coli were completely resistant to Sage extract even at concentration of 0.1 g dL(-1). Its antibacterial activity (0.1 g dL(-1)) against P. vulgaris, S. flexneri and S. sonnei was the same as nitrofurantoin and ampicilline respectively. Sage extract (0.1 and 0.05 g dL(-1)) exhibited the same effects as ampicilline and streptomycin against S. typhi. Its antibacterial activity (0.1, 0.05 and 0.25 g dL(-1)) against S. aureus was the same as ceftazidim, chloramphenicol, gentamycin, neomycin and nitrofurantoin and was more significant compared to streptomycin and vancomycin. The results suggest Sage can be considered as an alternative herbal in the treatment of infections caused by the above-mentioned bacteria.     

Inotropic and chronotropic effects of 6-hydroxy-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives in isolated rat atria

Background: Selective phosphodiesterase (PDE3) inhibitors improve cardiac contractility and may use in congestive heart failure. However, their proarrhythmic potential is the most important side effect. Methods: In this research, we evaluated the potential cardiotonic activity of six new synthesized selective PDE3 inhibitors (6-hydroxy-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one derivatives) using the spontaneously beating atria model. In each experiment, atrium of reserpine-treated rat was isolated and the contractile and chronotropic effects of a synthesized compound were assessed. The 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, a non-selective PDE inhibitor, was used for comparison. Results: The results showed that, among new compounds, the best pharmacological profile was obtained with the compound 6-[4-(4-methylpiperazine-1-yl)-4-oxobutoxy]-4-methylquinolin-2(1H)-one, C6, which displayed selectivity for increasing the force of contraction (168 +/- 5% change over the control) rather than the frequency rate (138 +/- 5% change over the control) at 300 muM. However, C6 at concentrations of 10 and 100 muM produced left and upward shift in the positive inotropic concentration-response curve of isoprenaline. The -log EC50 of isoprenaline was 8.843 +/- 0.171 in the absence, 9.448 +/- 0.138 and 9.456 +/- 0.107 in the presence of 10, 100 muM of C6, respectively (P<0.001, n = 6). Also, amrinone, a selective PDE3 inhibitor, shifted the isoprenaline concentration-response curve to the left and upward. The concentration of 10 and 100 muM amrinone decreased -log EC50 of isoprenaline to 9.527 +/- 0.287 and 9.423 +/- 0.243, respectively (P<0.001, n = 6). Moreover, the positive chronotropic effect of isoprenaline was not affected by amrinone or C6. Conclusion: This study provides functional evidence for the positive inotropic effect of C6. Considering the augmentation of isoprenaline positive inotropic concentration-response with C6 and amrinone, we conclude that C6 produces its effect via potentiation of cAMP-dependent signaling system and possibly by inhibition of PDE3 activity.     

Physical and Sensory Characteristics of Extruded Products Made from Two Oat Lines with Different β‐Glucan Concentrations

The impact of extrusion on physical and sensory properties and on the in vitro bile acid (BA) binding was examined for N979 and Jim oat (Avena sativa) lines with 8.1 and 4.8% β‐glucan, respectively. Based on hardness and edibility of products made from Jim oats, moisture concentrations of 16–25% and temperatures of 165–180°C were selected for N979 extrusion. Jim‐based cereal had a significantly greater (P < 0.05) expansion ratio than did N979‐based cereal at most moistures. N979 cereal was browner, but not harder, than Jim cereal. Extruded products from N979 and Jim oats had 5.29–5.99% and 3.38–3.94% β‐glucan, respectively. Changing extrusion temperature or moisture content did not affect β‐glucan concentration in the products. N979 cereal made at 165°C and 16% moisture had greater BA binding than at other conditions, and had crunchiness comparable to cereals made at other conditions. BA binding of Cheerios brand breakfast cereal was close to that of N979 cereal made at 180°C and 18% moisture, but lower than cereals made at other conditions. Cereals made from Jim and N979 oats were browner, harder, coarser, and crunchier than Cheerios breakfast cereal. Proper processing and preparation techniques should be considered when producing extruded products from high β‐glucan oats.