Oxidative Stability of Common Kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) Oil Supplemented with Microwave Extracted Ghure (Unripe Grape) Marc Extract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of microwave extracted Ghure (unripe grape) marc extract on common kilka (Clupeonella cultriventris caspia) oil oxidation during accelerated storage. The antioxidant activity of Ghure marc extract was compared with those of α-tocopherol and BHT. The Ghure marc extract significantly reduced the peroxide and p-anisidine value of kilka oil. Even though the effect of Ghure marc extract on reducing the oxidation of kilka oil was similar to the effect of BHT, it was functionally more effective than α-tocopherol. Generally, Ghure marc extract could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidants, with inexpensive costs, for improving the oxidative stability of kilka oil.

Abbreviations: AA, Antioxidant activity; AOP, Antioxidant power; AV, p-Anisidine value; CUPRAC, Cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity; DHA, Docosahexaenoic acid; EPA, Eicosapentaenoic acid; FIC, Ferrous ion chelating; GME, Ghure marc extract; FRAP, Ferrous ion reducing antioxidant power; KO, Kilka oil; IP, Induction period; MAE, Microwave-assisted extraction; MUFA, Monounsaturated fatty acid; PUFA, Polyunsaturated fatty acid; PV, peroxide value; PF, Protection factor; RSA, Radical scavenging activity; SFA, Saturated fatty acids; TFC, Total flavonoid content; TPC, total phenolic content TV, totox value.     

Diet composition of sturgeon fry (Acipenser persicus) reared in fertilized earthen ponds

Artificial rearing of fry has been introduced as an alternative to supply fry and juvenile sturgeon in order to restock the depleted sturgeon population in the Caspian Sea. The aim of this study is to assess the feed selection characteristics of sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) fry during the period in which they stay in earthen ponds before being released into the river. Sturgeon fry weighing around 150 mg were introduced into five almost similar‐sized earthen ponds. The ponds were enriched with fertilizer to supply natural food for the fries. A weekly sample of six specimens was collected from each pond during the 5 weeks of the experiment. All collected fish were weighed and then dissected for inspection of the stomach and the intestine content. The overall stomach content measured from 150 fish showed that around 74% of the stomach content was composed of chironomids and the rest was daphnia and cyclops. At the beginning of the study (first 2 weeks), sturgeon fry feed more on daphnia and cyclops; this trend, however, reversed in the last 2 weeks of the study. In conclusion, sturgeon fry feed on three prey groups—chironomids, daphnia and cyclops—during their lifespan in earthen pond. Feeding on chironomids larvae increased with sturgeon fry size.     

Assessment of NK cells response to hepatocyte derived chemotactic agents

This project was aimed to examine the NK92 cells response as the CXC chemokine responder cells in rat model of liver disorder and injuries. Hepatocytes were isolated from Sprague-dawly rats and cultured on collagen type 1. Migration of NK92 cells was assessed using a 48 well micro-chemotaxis technique. Transwell chambers were positioned faced up, blocked Medium supernatant (500 microL) obtained from hepatocytes cultures were placed into the lower compartment of each Transwell. The upper compartment was filled with either 500 microL of NK92 cells. After washing, Membrane-attached cells were fixed; stained and Membrane-attached cells were counted by light microscopy and/or by size gating (9-14 microm) with an automated counter system. Human NK92 cells were attracted to recombinant human IP-10 in a concentration and time-dependent manner. NK92 cells also exhibited a chemotactic response to medium harvested from primary hepatocyte cultures. Isolated and cultured hepatocytes express several different chemokines. Although we identified that medium from hepatocyte cultures contains specific chemokines by immunoblotting, there is potential that migration assays detected yet other chemokines and other factors such as complement components. In this report, we demonstrated that hepatocytes expressed factors that were chemoattractive for human NK92 cells and that the factors must interact with the repertoire of receptors responsible for recruitment of these cells.     

EFFECTS OF METHYL JASMONATE TREATMENT ON ALLEVIATION OF CADMIUM DAMAGES IN SOYBEAN

In the present study, the interactive effects of methyl jasmonate (0, 0.01, and 0.1 mM) and cadmium chloride (0 and 500 μM) on growth, biochemical, and physiological parameters of soybean plants were investigated. The plants were first treated with methyl jasmonate and then exposed to cadmium stress. Cadmium reduced shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and increased lipid peroxidation in leaves. Methyl jasmonate, especially at a lower level (0.01 mM), significantly alleviated the cadmium damage to shoot dry weight and total chlorophyll contents and also, reduced lipid peroxidation. The increase in catalase and polyphenol oxidase activities were also observed under cadmium stress. The activity of ascorbate peroxidase was enhanced by methyl jasmonate under no stress and cadmium stress. However, peroxidase activity increased under no stress conditions. Based on our results it could be concluded that the application of methyl jasmonate caused significant alleviation of cadmium damages to soybean plants.     

Contribution of Nitrogen Fixed by Mung Bean to the Following Wheat Crop

Crop rotation is a supportive management practice in which legumes greatly improve the growth and yield of subsequent cereal crops, particularly wheat. In this study, effects of mung bean (Vigna radiata)?? on the yield and quality of grains of following wheat crop were determined. An experiment was carried out with two sets of wheat (Triticum aestivum) crops: one grown following mung bean (Vigna radiata) crop and the other grown after a fallow period. Concentrations of macronutrients, sugar, protein, amino acids, and phytohormones of wheat were determined. The grain protein concentration of wheat was improved if cultivated after mung bean, and nitrogen and other macronutrients of wheat were increased significantly. In case of phytohormone contents in the wheat crop, abscisic acid concentration showed no change, but the concentrations of gibberellin increased significantly by 41% and indole acetic acid by 30% as a result of crop rotation. Sugar content in wheat cultivated after mung bean BRM-318 showed 10% increase and wheat protein content increased by 17% and 20%, respectively. The present study demonstrated that crop rotation simulated yield and improved the nutritional value of wheat grain compared to wheat which followed the fallow period.     

Amelioration of salinity on photosynthesis and some characteristics of three rapeseed (Brassica napus) cultivars under increased concentrations of carbon dioxide

This study was done to evaluate the effects of increasing concentrations of CO₂ (CC) on rapeseed. Pot experiments were done with three cultivars (Okapi, Zarfam and RGS003) of rapeseed (Brassica napus) for salinity tolerance. Four levels of salinity (0, 5, 10 and 15 dS m^?1) were tested on the three cultivars at three CC (350, 700 and 1050 mmol L^?1) at the greenhouse of Tarbiat Modares University, Iran, during the crop seasons of 2010 to 2011. Three CCs were considered as three environments and the other two treatments (salinity and cultivar) were tested within these environments in a complete block design arranged as a factorial. Results indicated that photosynthetic rates declined with increasing levels of salinity. Elevated CC significantly increased rates of photosynthesis. The highest CC reduced the impact of salinity on photosynthesis. Increased CC reduced the rate of transpiration, which had the effects of increasing rates of photosynthesis and water use efficiency (WUE); these effects increased vegetative growth and reduced the adverse effects of salinity. Increased CC and salinity reduced harvest index. WUE increased with CC increment, and decreased with salinity elevation.     

田间微集雨技术研究及应用

过去30 a,田间微集雨技术逐渐发展成为黄土高原雨养农业区的主要耕作技术。自上世纪八十年代以来,不同田间微集雨及覆盖（地膜、砂石和秸秆）栽培技术在黄土高原不断更新换代,先后经历了垄沟无覆盖技术、平地覆盖技术、垄沟半覆盖技术和垄沟全覆盖技术等发展过程,特别是沟垄地膜全覆盖技术大面积推广和应用,为西北旱区粮食单产大幅度提高提供了强大的支撑作用。本文综述了田间微集雨技术的演变历程及对农田生态系统的影响及机理,归纳了垄沟和覆盖模式及播种方式对作物产量形成、水分利用效率、作物生理生态、土壤质量、土壤微生物、杂草、病虫害、覆盖物残留和作物物候等的影响,并分析了该技术的高产高效和生态风险以及两者的互作关系。文章最后还对该技术的高效性、可持续性和发展潜力进行了讨论,旨在对雨养农业生态系统的可持续管理提供理论指导。     

Chemical Bonding of Organic Dye onto Cotton Fibers Using Silane as Coupling Agent (I)

A derivative of an optical brightening agent (organic dye), i.e., 2,6-dibromo-4-flouroaniline (synthesized and reported previously) has been chemically bonded to cotton fabrics through a coupling agent, i.e., 3-(2-aminoethylamino)- propyltrimethoxy silane. These chemically treated cotton fabrics have been characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, color observation, tear properties determination, and UV-DRS analysis. The relevant spectra of FTIR confirm chemical bonding of the silane with cotton on one end and with the dye on the other. Comparison of the various treated and untreated cotton samples before and after washing by visual observations confirms the claim of chemical bonding of the dye with the cotton. The consistent decreasing patterns observed in tear strengths of the treated cloths with increase in concentration of the respective chemical validate modification of the cotton cloths. UV-DRS analysis of the modified cotton cloths show that the reflectance decreases with the use of silane.     

Amelioration of drought stress in wheat by combined application of PGPR,compost, and mineral fertilizer

Among various abiotic stresses, global drought reduces global growth and yield of wheat. Present research has been designed to ameliorate the adverse effects of drought stress on wheat by combined application of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), compost, and mineral fertilizers. In this experiment, the role of fertilizer, compost, and PGPR inoculation to ameliorate drought stress was studied in two wheat varieties at vegetative stage. Water stress adversely affects morphology, physiology, and biochemistry of the wheat plant. Inoculated seed with compost and mineral fertilizer grown in drought condition showed 43% increase in relative water content (RWC) of 9.39% in Membrane Stability Index and 82.20% in chlorophyll as compared to control. Drought affected the accumulation of osmolytes, but PGPR in combination with compost and mineral fertilizer under drought stress triggered higher accumulation of soluble sugar and proline content, i.e., 28.96% and 73.91%, respectively. It is concluded from this research that PGPR in combination with compost and mineral fertilizer considerably reduces the effect of drought on wheat by enhancing the physiological (RWC, membrane stability, chlorophyll content, and water potential) and biochemical (proline and sugar) aspects of the plant.     

Therapeutic Potential of Hemoglobin Derived from the Marine Worm Arenicola marina (M101): A Literature Review of a Breakthrough Innovation

Oxygen (O₂) is indispensable for aerobic respiration and cellular metabolism. In case of injury, reactive oxygen species are produced, causing oxidative stress, which triggers cell damaging chemical mediators leading to ischemic reperfusion injuries (IRI). Sufficient tissue oxygenation is necessary for optimal wound healing. In this context, several hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers have been developed and tested, especially as graft preservatives for transplant procedures. However, most of the commercially available O₂ carriers increase oxidative stress and show some adverse effects. Interestingly, the hemoglobin derived from the marine lugworm Arenicola marina (M101) has been presented as an efficient therapeutic O₂ carrier with potential anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, it has demonstrated promise as a supplement to conventional organ preservatives by reducing IRI. This review summarizes the properties and various applications of M101. M101 is an innovative oxygen carrier with several beneficial therapeutic properties, and further research must be carried out to determine its efficacy in the management of different pathologies.