Long term effects of one or two doses of hepatitis B vaccine in adults after five years

The aim of this study is to evaluate hepatitis B vaccine protection in those adults who have taken one or two does of vaccine before. It was a retrospective cross sectional study was conducted on fifty-six military personnel in Tehran, Iran in the spring 2007. Demographic data such as age, marital status, education level, number of vaccine doses injected and, type of vaccine and date of last vaccination was collected. Their serum was tested for HBs Ab, HBc Ab and HBs Ag and finally the results were analyzed by SPSS software. All individuals were male with the mean age of 33.9+/-8.9 years. Twelve individuals who had only received one dose of injected vaccine had no antibody against HBsAg and no protection against hepatitis B virus. Of forty-four individuals that had received two doses of injected vaccine, 27 persons (61.4%) were protected and had serum HBsAb more than 10 MIU mL(-1). In conclusion one dose of HBV vaccine cannot produce immunity for five years but two doses of HBV vaccine can produce immunity for five years. However, HBsAb should be tested to make sure of immunity.     

Grazing intensity and environmental factors effects on species composition and diversity in rangelands of Iran

The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of grazing, precipitation and temperature factors on plant species dynamics (diversity and composition) in the semi-steppe of Isfahan semi-arid rangelands, Iran. The effects of Sheep grazing were studied in a controlled experiment along grazing gradient with seven intensities (from very heavily grazed to nongrazed) during six consecutive years (2006–2011). The results show that plant species dynamics varied among years, but were only slightly affected by grazing intensity. Since the experimental years were much dryer than the long term average, the abiotic constraints may have overridden any grazing effect. The differences among the years were predominantly determined by the abiotic factors of temperature and precipitation. Most of the variations in species dynamics and coexistence between the C₄ and C₃ species were explained by seasonal weather conditions, i.e., temperature and precipitation regimes during the early season (March-June). The dominant C₃ species, Poa bulbosa, was highly competitive in March-June at low and high temperature and rainfall levels, respectively. In contrast, the most common C₄ species Cynodon dactylon benefited from high and low early season temperature and rainfall levels, respectively. However, biomass of P. bulbosa was positively correlated with temperature in March, when effective mean temperature ranges from 0 to 5°C and thus promotes vernalization and vegetative sprouting. Our results suggest that, over a six-year period, it is temporal variability in temperature and precipitation rather than grazing that determines vegetation dynamics and species distributions in grazed semi-steppe ecosystems. Our results also support that the variability in the dominant species biomass, rather than diversity, determine ecosystem functioning. This study provides fundamental knowledge on the complex interaction of climate, vegetation, and grazing.     

Trypsin Enzyme from Viscera of Common Kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia): Purification,Characterization, and Its Compatibility with Oxidants and Surfactants

The purification of trypsin from the common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) viscera (pyloric caeca) resulted in a 28.3-fold increase and 12% yield by ammonium sulfate precipitation (30–60%), Sephadex G-75, and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. Trypsin showed a molecular weight of 23.2 kDa and appeared as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), native-PAGE, and zymography. The trypsin had optimal activity at pH 8.0 and 60°C for the hydrolysis of α-N-benzoyl-DL-arginine-ρ-nitroanilide hydrochloride (BAPNA) substrate. Trypsin was stable up to 50°C and at pH range of 7.0–10.0. Activity was significantly inhibited by soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) and N-ρ-tosyl-L-lysine-chloromethylketone (TLCK) inhibitors (p < 0.05). The enzyme was relatively stable toward oxidizing agents, retaining 59.7 and 98.0% of its initial activity after 1 h incubation in the presence of 15% H₂O₂ and 1% sodium perborate, respectively. Trypsin was significantly activated by surfactants and Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and Mn²⁺ and inactivated by Fe²⁺, Zn²⁺, Cu²⁺, Al³⁺, Ba²⁺, and Co²⁺ (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, Na⁺ and K⁺ had no significant effect on trypsin activity (p > 0.05). The purified trypsin showed significantly higher catalytic efficiency (k_cat/K_m) than porcine pancreatic trypsin against BAPNA and N-α-p-Tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (TAME) substrates (p < 0.05).     

Replacing rotifers with a microparticle diet from first feeding in yellowfin seabream,Acanthopagrus latus (Houttuyn), larvae

The possibility to replace or reduce rotifer use with a microparticle diet (MPD) from first feeding in yellowfin seabream larvae was investigated. The experiment consisted of five treatments, a rotifer (100%) control treatment (100R), three experimental treatments, which received a fixed ration of MPD supplemented with 75%, 50% and 25% of the amount rotifer fed in the control treatment (treatments 75R‐MPD, 50R‐MPD and 25R‐MPD respectively), and finally a treatment with the fixed MPD ration only (treatment 0R‐MPD). The results indicated that feeding regimes 100R, 75R‐MPD and 50R‐MPD did not differ significantly in the total length, final survival and stress test resistance. The highest dry weight was achieved in treatments 100R and 75R‐MPD at the end of the experiment compared with treatments 50R‐MPD, 25R‐MPD and 0R‐MPD. The 0R‐MPD treatment showed the lowest growth and survival. Yellowfin seabream larvae were able to ingest inert food directly from the moment of first feeding.     

Evaluation of genetic diversity among Iranian soft-seed pomegranate accessions by fruit characteristics and RAPD markers

Soft-seedness in pomegranate is a desirable trait for fresh consumption of this valuable fruit. At the main Iran pomegranate collection, 21 pomegranate accessions gathered from different parts of Iran are registered as soft-seed genotypes. The aim of this research was to study these soft-seed pomegranate accessions using fruit morphopomological traits and DNA markers to reveal their relatedness. Thirty-six fruit characteristics were measured in these accessions together with applying 29 random decamer primers already reported to be polymorphic on pomegranate. Factor analysis on mean values of fruit characteristics determined 10 main factors and applied for grouping of the accessions using Ward's method. Also 14 of the random primers showed good amplification and polymorphism on these samples, and a total of 43 RAPD markers were produced. Estimates of genetic similarity, using Jaccard's similarity coefficient, ranged from 0.13 to 1.0 using the RAPD data. Grouping based on the fruit traits compared with that based on RAPD data did not produce a significant correlation (r = −0.36). Morphometric measurements and sensory evaluation confirmed that some accessions are hard or semi-hard seeded. This study showed that information based on fruit characteristics and RAPD markers are complementary for genetic discrimination in soft-seed pomegranate accessions. This might be due to the high level of similarity between soft-seed pomegranate accessions.     

Protective role of selenium on cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) exposed to cadmium and lead stress during reproductive stage role of selenium on heavy metals stress

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of selenium on flowering indices, sex determination of flowers, and yield of cucumber plant under heavy metal stress conditions. Treatments consisted of selenium (0, 4, 6, 8 mgL^?1) and heavy metals of cadmium (0, 20, 25 µM) and lead (0, 60, 100 µM), which were applied in three stages during the experiment period. The results of this study showed that the stress of heavy metals with a negative effect on flowering indices resulted in delayed flowering and changing flower’s sex toward male flowers. Furthermore, delayed fruiting and significant decreases in fruit growth indices and total yield was observed in plants treated with cadmium and lead. Adding selenium to the culture medium resulted in accelerated flowering (reducing the time and number of nodes needed until the first flower emerges), the emergence of more male flowers, increased the ratio of the number of female flowers to male flowers in plants under stress, and the highest effect of this element was observed at the concentration 6?mg/L. Based on this results, the application of 4and 6mg/L selenium in stress and non-stress conditions enhanced fruiting (a significant reduction in the time required from cultivation to fertilize the first flower and the formation of fruit in lower nodes) and significantly increased the number of fruits, fruit length and diameter, single fruit weight and total yield, and the greatest effect of this element was observed in 6?mg/L concentration. The results of this study showed that selenium has a positive effect on control of stress conditions and improvement of flowering indices and total yield in cucumber plant under the stress of heavy elements of lead and cadmium.     

Millet forage yield and silage quality as affected by water and nitrogen application at different sowing dates

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of two irrigation regimes (control and water stress) and two nitrogen (N) levels (0 and 112.5 kg/ha) on forage yield and silage quality in millet. Bastan (Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv) and Pishahang (Panicum miliaceum) were sown at two different dates during 2015 and 2016. Both cultivars exhibited reduced dry-matter (DM) yields (45% and 51% in Bastan and Pishahang respectively) due to drought stress. Proline and phenolic contents increased as a result of drought and were significantly and negatively correlated with DM yield and digestibility. Moreover, Pishahang had a reduced acid detergent fibre (ADF) content but improved leaf/stem ratio, digestible dry matter (DDM), relative feed value (RFV), net energy for lactation (NE_L), digestibility and silage quality as a result of drought stress, while no significant effects on these traits were observed in Bastan. Silage quality was greatly cultivar-dependent. Both cultivars had higher levels of DDM, RFV and NE_L at early sowing dates. Nitrogen supply had greater positive effects on increasing ash, crude protein (CP) content and DM yield under normal irrigation than under water-stress conditions. In summary, given the importance of the energy received per unit of forage from an animal husbandry viewpoint and the significance of DM yield per unit area from an agricultural viewpoint, the obtained results might help farmers in choosing not only the best sowing dates but also proper irrigation and N management practices to achieve their quantitative and qualitative objectives in forage production.     

Resistance against rhizomania disease via RNA silencing in sugar beet

Rhizomania is one of the most damaging and widely spread diseases in major sugar beet growing regions of the world. The causal agent, beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), is transmitted via the fungus Polymyxa betae, which retains it in the field for years. In this study, an RNA silencing mechanism was employed to induce resistance against rhizomania using intron‐hairpin RNA (ihpRNA) constructs. These constructs were based on sequences of the BNYVV 5′‐untranslated region of RNA‐2 or the flanking sequence encoding P21 coat protein, with different lengths and orientations. Both transient and stable transformation methods produced effective resistance against rhizomania correlated with the transgene presence. Among the constructs, those generating ihpRNA structures with small intronic loops produced the highest frequencies of resistant events. The inheritance of transgenes and resistance was confirmed over generations in stably transformed plants.     

Antiemetic efficacy of promethazine on xylazine-induced emesis in cats

The prophylactic antiemetic effect of 3 dosages of promethazine injected into cats 1 h before administration of xylazine was compared with that of a saline solution. Prior treatment with 2 and 4 mg/kg of promethazine significantly reduced the frequency of emetic episodes. Promethazine may be used as a prophylactic antiemetic in cats treated with xylazine.     

Effect of vitamin and trace mineral withdrawal from finisher diets on growth performance and immunocompetence of broiler chickens

The present study was carried out to examine the effect of vitamin (V) or trace mineral (TM) mix removal from finisher diet (42-56 d of age) on performance and immunocompetence of broilers. The dietary treatments were: (1) the basal diet with no supplemental V or TM; (2) the basal diet fortified with V mix only; (3) the basal diet fortified with TM mix only; and (4) the basal diet fortified with V and TM mix. At 47 d, four birds from each replicate (20/treatment) were injected with Newcastle disease (ND) antigen and blood samples were collected just before and 9 d after immunisation. The results showed that V and TM mix withdrawal from finisher diet did not impair either weight gain or feed conversion efficiency from d 42 to 56. Feed intake was significantly increased when both mixes were omitted from the diet. Dietary treatments had no effect on carcase yield or proportion of breast and thigh meat and abdominal fat deposition. Packed cell volume (PCV) significantly decreased as a consequence of removal of V, TM and V+TM. Neither heterophil:lymphocyte ratio (H:L ratio), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) nor total antibody titre measured by ELISA were influenced by removal of V or TM supplements. In conclusion, the results from this study suggest that 14-d withdrawal of V or TM mix did not influence the immunocompetence of broilers.