Study of Chemical Composition and Efficacy of Different Extracts of Iranian Propolis on the Microbiological and Sensory Parameters of Minced Cyprinus carpio Meat at 4°C Storage

This study has evaluated the effects of different concentrations of the water and ethanolic extracts of Iranian propolis (WEP and EEP) on the microbiological and sensory parameters of minced common carp meat that was stored at 4°C for 9 days. The chemical compounds of the extracts were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis. The results revealed that WEP and EEP extracts were efficient against the spoilage microorganisms, including total plate counts (TPCs), psychrotrophic populations (PTCs), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), and even Staphylococcus aureus. There was a significant difference in the bacteria growth between samples treated with WEP or EEP and the control sample during storage. Inhibitory effects were, respectively, 7% EEP > 5% EEP > 3% EEP > 7% WEP > 5% WEP > 3% WEP. In all treatments, PTC counts were higher than 7 log CFU/g after 6 days as well as TPC, LAB, and S. aureus populations after 9 days. Overall, the results show that EEP and WEP have good antimicrobial activity due to high phenolic and flavonoid compounds, including caffeic acid, tectochrysin, aceacetin, chrysin, pinostrobin, pinobanksin-3-acetate, galangin-3-methyl ester, and pinocembrin chalcone. Sensory evaluation shows very slight improvement in sensory properties (color, odor, texture, and overall acceptability) of the treated samples with the different extracts of Iranian propolis.     

Composition of ovarian fluid in endangered Caspian brown trout, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmo trutta caspius</Emphasis>, and its effects on spermatozoa motility and fertilizing ability compared to freshwater and a saline medium

In this study, ovarian fluid composition and its effects on the motility and fertilizing ability of sperm were studied in endangered Caspian brown trout, Salmo trutta caspius, and were compared with a saline activation medium (125 mM NaCl, 30 mM Glycine, 20 mM Tris–HCl, pH = 9.0) and freshwater as the control. The ovarian fluid was composed of sodium 164.4 ± 4.4 mM l⁻¹, potassium 1.8 ± 0.1 mM l⁻¹, calcium 0.6 ± 0.1 mM l⁻¹, magnesium 0.4 ± 0.02 mM l⁻¹, chloride 127.4 ± 5.9 mM l⁻¹, total protein 389.5 ± 89.6 mg 100 ml⁻¹, cholesterol 9.3 ± 1.2 mg dl⁻¹, and glucose 3.3 ± 0.2 mM l⁻¹. The percentage of motile spermatozoa and the duration of sperm motility were significantly higher in ovarian fluid (62 ± 3%, 74.6 ± 0.8 s) than freshwater (35 ± 4%, 44 ± 1 s), but they did not differ significantly from saline medium (56 ± 3%, 74.3 ± 0.7 s) (P > 0.05). Higher eyeing rates were observed after the activation of sperm in ovarian fluid and saline solution than freshwater when 35,000 or 350,000 spermatozoa per egg were added into the activation media. However, no significant differences were observed at higher concentrations of spermatozoa per egg (730,000) (P > 0.05). Also, this study showed that the ovarian fluid composition can be considered as a species-specific character among salmonid fishes. As a conclusion, the results of this study recommend the use of ovarian fluid or the saline solution as an activation medium in the artificial reproduction of Caspian brown trout.     

Three geomorphological rainfall–runoff models based on the linear reservoir concept

Three geomorphological models, based on linear reservoirs cascade, are developed; two of the models are unit hydrograph (UH) models and one contains a non-linear routing approach. In the first UH model, each sub-basin is represented as a cascade of equal linear reservoirs (Nash's model) which directly discharges to the watershed outlet through a linear channel. In the second UH model each sub-basin is represented as a linear reservoir arranged in a sequence based on the drainage network. For both unit hydrograph models, parameters are explicitly derived, which make the models simple and applicable for real world problems. In the third model, output hydrographs of the sub-basins are calculated by the Nash model but with consideration of geomorphological properties of the sub-basins. Then, the obtained hydrographs are routed through the main channel using a non-linear kinematic wave model. Combination of the kinematic wave routing model (a non-linear routing model) and the Nash model (a linear lumped model) makes this third model more appropriate for runoff modeling.Two important properties of these three models are that they consider the effect of watershed geomorphology and include only one parameter which can be estimated using observed rainfall–runoff data. GIS tools are used for determining the watershed geomorphological parameters. The results of these models are compared with the Nash's black box and the geomorphological SCS models for the Amameh watershed, Iran. Although the results show that the proposed models yield good efficiency in rainfall–runoff modeling, the semi-distributed routing ability in the second and third models produces better results.     

Influence of fly ash and quicklime addition on behaviour of municipal solid wastes

Purpose

Many closed municipal solid waste landfill sites are near urban areas and there are high expectations to improve geotechnical properties of these sites for re-development. Construction on closed landfill sites is generally a challenging task due to complex behaviour of creep, settlement, high amount of moisture content and weak shear strength of waste. This study presents the experimental results for the use of fly ash and quicklime in improvement of the geotechnical properties of municipal solid wastes (MSW).

Materials and methods

The waste materials were collected from a closed landfill in the southwest of Sydney. The samples were prepared by integrating MSW with a mixture of fly ash–quicklime with a ratio of 3:1 in percentages of 5, 10, 15 and 20 of fly ash by dry weight of the MSW. An array of experimental tests has been conducted on treated and untreated MSW samples including sieve analysis, Atterberg limits, compaction and consolidated–drained triaxial tests.

Results and discussion

Results of this investigation showed a significant improvement in geotechnical properties of MSW. It has been found that by increasing fly ash–quicklime admixtures from 0 to 26.7 % (0 to 20 % fly ash), the internal friction angle increased from 29 to 39° and the cohesion intercept increased from 11 to 30 kPa. Under an effective confining pressure of 300 kPa, the peak strength, the brittleness index and the Young's modulus at failure increased from 600 to 1,150 kPa, 0.13 to 0.35 and 5.5 MPa to 28 MPa, by addition of 26.7 % fly ash–quicklime admixture, respectively. Moreover, the compression and the secondary compression indices decreased from 0.33 to 0.23 and 0.052 to 0.033, respectively.

Conclusions

It is found that the chemical stabilisation effectively increases the compressive strength, the shear strength parameters, the stiffness and the brittleness index whilst decreases the settlement of the MSW layer. It will be beneficial and effective in re-development of closed landfill sites incorporating chemical treatments. The findings of this study may facilitate the calculations of the bearing capacity and settlement as well as the slope stability analysis of chemically treated closed landfill sites.     

A basal area increment model for individual trees in mixed continuous cover forests in Iranian Caspian forests

The aim of this study was to develop and test a new basal area growth model in mixed species continuous cover forests in northern Iran.Weanalyzed 421 core samples from 6 main species in the forest area to develop our growth model.In each plot,we measured variables such as total tree height(m),diameter at breast height(DBH)(cm)and basal area of larger trees as cumulative basal areas of trees(GCUM)ofDBH[5 cm.The empirical data were analyzed using regression analysis.There was a statistically significant nonlinear function between the annual basal area increment,as the dependent variable,and the basal area of the individual trees and competition as explanatory variables.Reference area from the largest trees,was circular plot with area of 0.1 ha.GCUM was estimated for trees of DBH>5 cm.Furthermore,we investigated the dependencies of diameter growth of different species on stand density at different levels of competition,and diameter development of individual trees through time.The results indicate that competition caused by larger neighborhood trees has a negative effect on growth.In addition,the maximum diameter increment is affected by competition level.Therefore,the maximum diameter increment of species occurs when the trees are about 35–40 cm in dense-forest(40 to 0 m^2 per ha)and when the trees are about 60 to 70 cm in very dense forest(60 to 0 m^2 per ha)which is more likely to Caspian natural forests with high level density due to uneven-aged composition of stands.     

Neofusicoccum parvum associated with pomegranate branch canker in Iran

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is native to Iran and neighbouring countries and is negatively affected by a wide range of diseases. Canker and dieback diseases caused by Cytospora punicae and members of the family Botryosphaeriaceae are the main trunk diseases on pomegranate. In summer 2017, progressive dieback of branches on some young pomegranate trees was observed in orchards of the Gorgan Region (Golestan province, Northeast Iran). Fungal colonies with similar colony colour were isolated from symptomatic tissues. The identity of the causal agent was determined as Neofusicoccum parvum, based on a polyphasic taxonomic approach including morphological features of conidiomata and phylogenetic inference based on the ITS‐rDNA region and translation elongation factor 1 alpha (tef1‐α) gene. Koch's postulates were fulfilled using an excised shoot method. This study provides the first report on the occurrence of N. parvum as a cause of branch canker on pomegranate in Iran.     

Molecular Investigation of Human Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr virus in Glioblastoma Brain Tumor: A Case-Control Study in Iran

Background:Glioblastoma multiforme is the most invasive and lethal form of brain cancer with unclear etiology. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular prevalence of HCMV and EBV infections in patients with GBM. Methods:This case-control study was conducted on 42 FFPE brain tumor samples from GBM patients and 42 brain autopsies from subjects without neurological disorders. The presence of EBV and HCMV DNA was determined, using PCR and nested-PCR assays, respectively. Results:HCMV DNA was detected in 3 out of 42 (7.1%) of GBM samples and was absent from the control group (p = 0.07). Importantly, EBV DNA was detected in 9 out of 42 (21.4%) brain tissue specimens of GBM subjects, but again in none of the control group (p = 0.001). Conclusion:Our findings indicate that infection with EBV is associated with GBM. Key Words: Brain tumor, Epstein-Barr virus, Glioblastoma, Human cytomegalovirus     

The disposition of theophylline in camels after intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics of theophylline were determined after an intravenous (i.v.) dose of 2.36 mg/kg in six camels and 4.72 mg/kg body weight in three camels. The data obtained (median and range) for the low and high dose, respectively, were as follows: the distribution half-lives (t1/2 alpha) were 1.37 (0.64-3.25) and 2.66 (0.83-3.5) h, the elimination half-lives (t1/2 beta) were 11.8 (8.25-14.9) and 10.4 (10.0-13.5) h, the steady state volumes of distribution (Vss) were 0.88 (0.62-1.54) and 0.76 (0.63-0.76) L/kg, volumes of the central compartment (Vc) were 0.41 (0.35-0.63) and 0.51 (0.36-0.52) L/kg, total body clearances (Clt) were 62.3 (39.4-97.0) and 50.2 (47.7-67.4) mL/h.kg body weight and renal clearance (Vr) for the low dose was 0.6 (0.42-0.96) mL/h.kg body weight. There was no significant difference in the pharmacokinetic parameters between the two doses. Theophylline protein binding at a concentration of 5 micrograms/mL was 32.2 +/- 3.3%. Caffeine was identified as a theophylline metabolite but its concentration in serum and urine was small. Based on the pharmacokinetic values obtained in this study, a dosage of 7.5 mg/kg body weight administered by i.v. injection at 12 h intervals can be recommended. This dosing regimen should achieve an average steady state serum concentration of 10 micrograms/mL with peak serum concentration not exceeding 15 micrograms/mL.     

Effect of ovariectomy on reference memory version of Morris water maze in young adult rats

Background: The effect of ovariectomy and accompanying sudden loss of circulating gonad hormones on spatial learning performance in the young adult rats was examined. We hypothesized that spatial learning and memory in a considerable number of women who undergo a surgical menopause and estrogen deprivation before their natural menopause be impaired. Methods: In this study, we used 26 Wistar rats (approximately five months of age) and divided them into two groups: intact and ovariectomized (OVX). They were tested for spatial reference memory in Morris water maze 6 weeks after OVX. Results: The results showed that the performance of OVX group in the water maze was significantly lower than the control group. Although, mean path length decreased across blocks in both groups, OVX rats had significantly longer path length than controls across blocks 2-6 (P<0.05). OVX rats had lower percent of total time spent in target quarter than controls in probe trials (P<0.05). Body weight gain was significant only in OVX group during the experiment (P<0.05). Plasma estrogen significantly decreased after OVX (P<0.05). Conclusion: This finding provides further evidence for the role of estrogen, a gonadal steroid hormone, in the manipulation of functions related to learning and memory. It is suggested that estrogen loss following OVX impaired spatial reference memory in young adult rats. Our results suggest that it is necessary to protect women who undergo a surgical menopause before their natural menopause from cognition impairments.     

A 64 years old man with multiple myeloma and low HDL

In a 64 year old man with dyspnea and palpitation and fatigue and non angina chest pain, we found all the Para clinics prefect but only it showed low HDL and a normocytic, normochromic anemia. In searching about cause of anemia, in bone marrow biopsy showed Paraproteinemia. Therefore false low HDL because of paraproteinemia, leads to miss-diagnosis of cardiovascular disease.