Assessment of the occurrence of climate change and its effects on planting date and growth duration of rainfed wheat in the western and northwestern regions of Iran

In this study, the effect of climate change on planting date and growth duration of rainfed wheat in the west and northwest parts of Iran has been investigated. The occurrence of climate change in the region was first evaluated for the base period (1992–2018) using two nonparametric tests of Mann–Kendall and Sen's slope estimator. Then, the climatic parameters of maximum temperature, minimum temperature and precipitation were simulated under RCP4.5 scenario for the period 2019–2039 based on downscaled output data of the Community Climate System Model (CCSM4) using LARS WG software. The growth period was obtained using a linear multiple regression model, which was selected based on R-square and accounted for 87% of its total variation. The results predicted that the average annual temperature will increase by 2 °C, while the average annual precipitation will increase by 30% by the end of 2039. Planting dates were determined based on two indices combining temperature and precipitation for the base and future periods. The results showed that climate change effects at the 2039 horizon will shorten by 18 days the wheat growth period and the appropriate planting time for rainfed wheat will be reduced by 2–19 days.

     

Modulation of Lipopolysaccharide Stimulated Nuclear Factor kappa B Mediated iNOS/NO Production by Bromelain in Rat Primary Microglial Cells

Background:

Microglial cells act as the sentinel of the central nervous system .They are involved in neuroprotection but are highly implicated in neurodegeneration of the aging brain. When over-activated, microglia release pro-inflammatory factors, such as nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines, which are critical in eliciting neuroinflammatory responses associated with neurodegenerative diseases. This study examined whether bromelain, the pineapple-derived extract, may exert an anti-inflammatory effect in primary microglia and may be neuroprotective by regulating microglial activation.

Methods:

Following the isolation of neonatal rat primary microglial cells, the activation profile of microglia was investigated by studying the effects of bromelain (5, 10, 20, and 30 µg/ml) on the levels of NO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) in microglia treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 µg/ml). Data were analyzed using Student''s t-test. P values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant, compared with the LPS-treated group without bromelain.

Results:

Results showed that pretreatment of rat primary microglia with bromelain, decreased the production of NO induced by LPS (1 µg/ml) treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Bromelain (30 µg/ml) also significantly reduced the expression of iNOS at mRNA level and NF-κB at protein level. Moreover, the study of mitochondrial activity in microglia indicated that bromelain had no cytotoxicity at any of the applied doses, suggesting that the anti-inflammatory effects of bromelain are not due to cell death.

Conclusion:

Bromelain can be of potential use as an agent for alleviation of symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases.     

Associations between Campylobacter fetus, Haemophilus somnus, Leptospira hardjo and bovine viral diarrhea virus antibody titers in dairy cattle from a California herd

In a cross-sectional study, the associations of age, serological status against Campylobacter fetus (CF), Haemophilus somnus (HS) and Leptospira hardjo (LH) with the seroprevalence of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in dairy cattle were evaluated. Six hundred and thirty cattle from a herd in Tulare county of California were included in the study. Blood samples from the cattle were collected in December 1986. Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) was used to determine the positive or negative status of cows against CF, HS, LH and BVDV antigens. Loglinear analysis was used to describe the relationships of four categorical variables with the seroprevalence of BVDV. The final loglinear model was interpreted as a logit model and obtained by conditioning on explanatory variables in the model found to relate significantly with BVDV seropositivity. The hierarchical logit model included two two-way interactions (BVDV × HS and BVDV × LH) and a three-way interaction (BVDV × CF × age). HS-seronegative cattle had 4.7 times greater odds of being BVDV-seropositive compared with HS-seropositive cattle. In contrast, LH-seropositive cattle had 2.7 times increased odds of BVDV seropositivity compared with LH-seronegative cattle. The presence of the three-way interaction term in the model involving age, CF and BVDV seroprevalence implies that among heifers, CF-seronegative and CF-seropositive animals had about the same odds of BVDV seropositivity (e.g. adjusted odds ratios = 20.5 vs. 24.5), whereas, among cows, CF-seronegative animals had at least twice the odds of being BVDV-seropositive than those of CF-seropositive animals (e.g. adjusted odds ratios = 23.0 vs. 11.0).     

Species and Size-Related Trends in Asexual Propagation of Commercially Important Species of Tropical Sea Cucumbers (Holothuroidea)

Abstract.— Juveniles of four species of tropical sea cucumbers of moderate to high commercial value were studied to determine their potential for being propagated asexually by evaluating their survival and regeneration times after being forced to undergo transverse fission. The four species were Holothuria fuscogilva.H. nobilis, Actinopyga mauritiana , and Stichopus variegatus . Rubber bands placed midbody on the sea cucumbers provided an effective yet simple technique to induce fission. Posterior parts of animals had similar or higher survivorship and shorter regeneration times relative to the anterior parts. Combining this information with that collected earlier on adults indicated that smaller animals (both anterior and posterior parts) had higher survivorship (up to 100%) and shorter regeneration times (as fast as 41 d) relative to adult animals of the same species. Using percent weight retained after processing into beche-de-mer, a rough measure of body wall thickness, and size of the animal relative to the adult weight, a multiple regression equation was calculated to predict percent survival and regeneration times for both anterior and posterior parts. The equation illustrated that small, thin-walled species would have the highest survivorship and shortest regeneration times. As the percent weight retained increased, as would be the case with more thick-walled species, and as the animal approached the adult weight, survivorship declined and the regeneration time increased.     

Comparative Composition of Volatile Organic Compounds in the Water-Soluble Fraction of Different Crude Oils Produced in Kuwait

Kuwait's desert was inundated, in 1991, with massiveoil-spills from damaged well heads and from oil fires.Large volumes of seawater used for fire-fightingfreely mixed with oil and then seeped into the ground.The dissolved compounds not only contaminated soil butalso threaten to pollute groundwater. The compositionof the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in thewater-soluble fraction (WSF), in seawater, of tendifferent crude oils produced in Kuwait and Kuwaitcrude oil (export) was investigated. The resultsshowed that the composition of the WSFs variedconsiderably (ranging from 5970 μg L^-1 to10494 μg L^-1). On average, about 40 volatilecompounds were identified and quantified in the WSFs.Aromatics formed the bulk of the WSF of all of thecrude oils, amounting to about 90% of the total VOCs.The WSF prepared from Raudatain crude oil containedthe highest total VOCs (benzene and toluene) whilethat of Um-Ghadair contained the lowest. The WSF ofKuwait crude oil (export) was compared with that ofindividual oils and was found to contain relativelysmaller amounts of individual components and the VOCs.Relatively higher amounts of toxic VOCs in the WSF ofRaudatain crude oil has potential to impact the fonaand flora as well as potable ground water in the area.     

The economics of precision land leveling: A case study from Pakistan

This paper identifies the economic and physical benefits attributable to precision land leveling. While the work is specific to Pakistan the implications are relevant for other arid areas of the world where irrigation is practiced.Two sets of fields were selected, one set that had been precision leveled and another set that had been leveled using traditional techniques. These fields were resurveyed and then the farmers were interviewed every month during the winter crop season. Cutting samples were taken on all the fields during harvest. The average yield of the precision leveled fields was 2274.7 kg/ha and the yield for traditional leveled was 1681.1 kg/ha. This difference is significant at the 0.001 level. In addition the mean time to irrigate a hectare field was 2.79 h for precision leveled and 5.24 h for traditional leveled. Again this is significantly different at the 0.001 level. The change yield attributable solely to precision land leveling was calculated by regression analysis at 246.1 kg/ha per 3 cm change in max—min range. The remaining difference in yields was attributable to increased use of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers on the precision leveled fields over the traditional leveled fields.The economic analysis of precision and leveling, assuming a life of 10 years, is positive but not above the two or three to one return that is usually required to persuade subsistent farmers to invest in a new technology. However, the precision land leveling acts as a catalyst and increases the efficiency of the other associated inputs and hence is a more valuable investment than is indicated by simple economic analysis.     

Synergetic effects of oral administration of levamisole and Echinacea purpurea on immune response in Wistar rat

This research investigated the effects of levamisole and Echinacea purpurea (EP), separately and together on the immune response of the rat as a laboratory model. In this experiment, 40 male Wistar rats were obtained and divided into four groups (n = 10). These groups received normal saline (10 mg/kg), EP (500 mg/kg), levamisole (2 mg/kg) and EP (500 mg/kg) with levamisole (2 mg/kg) as oral gavages every day for a period of 4 weeks, respectively. After obtaining blood samples (at the end of each week), haematocrit (HCT), differential and total white blood cell (WBC) counts, phagocyte activity (number), total protein, albumin and globulins levels of samples were obtained. The results of the study showed that the gamma globulin level, WBC, neutrophil and monocyte counts and phagocyte activity increased significantly in comparison with normal saline group during the study. According to the results, each of the mentioned agents had a stimulant effect on the immune system separately and together on rats. In the group that received EP and levamisole simultaneously, these effects were synergistically increased. These compounds, by increasing the mentioned factors, will probably affect the immune system.     

Prevalence and risk factors for subclinical coccidiosis in broiler chicken farms in Mazandaran province,Iran

Coccidiosis is a disease of almost universal importance in Poultry production. The subclinical form of coccidiosis has most significant economic impact due to impaired growth rate and feed conversion. Some factors such as: age, size of flock, season, etc., may effect on severity of this disease. In this study, the relationships between some major risk factors and prevalence of subclinical coccidiosis were investigated. This study was done in 120 broiler farms in five different cities of Mazandaran province, north of Iran. Five chicks (3–8 weeks of ages) were taken randomly from every 120 farms and post-mortem and parasitological examinations were performed. Five Eimeria spp. were recognized: Eimeria tenella, Eimeria maxima, Eimeria acervulina, Eimeria brunetti, and Eimeria necatrix. The prevalence rate of subclinical coccidiosis among them is 75% (90 farms out of 120). E. acervulina was the most prevalent species (65.5%) followed by E. maxima (17.7%), E. tenella (15.5%), E. brunetti (10%), and E. necatrix (5.5%). According to what the results approve, the occurrence of subclinical coccidiosis is significantly related to the age and size of flock, whereas the other factors such as the season of year, industrial strains, chicken’s keeping system, and anticoccidial drugs do not affect this phenomenon remarkably.     

Risk assessment of the introduction of Rift Valley fever from the Horn of Africa to Yemen via legal trade of small ruminants

Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne viral zoonosis of increasing global importance. Occurring since 1930 across Africa, it was detected for the first time in Saudi Arabia and Yemen in September 2000, leading to human deaths and major losses in livestock populations. Assuming the virus has not survived in Yemen or has been circulating at a low level, authors qualitatively assessed the likelihood of “re-introduction” of RVF into Yemen through the legal importation of small ruminants from the Horn of Africa. The overall probability of introduction was assessed very low to medium, increasing during festival periods and higher when considering a direct transmission exposure as compared to a vectorial transmission exposure. The uncertainty was considered to be medium underlining important gaps in information that need to be fulfilled in the region. Options to reduce the risk are proposed and discussed, including possible improvements of the current Yemeni quarantine system.     

Time sequence studies on uptake and distribution of Na+ and Cl– in diplachne fusca (Kallar grass) grown in NaCl

Abstract

The time sequence of uptake and distribution of labelled Na and Cl^– in osmotically adjusted “Kallar”; grass was studied at low (10 mM) and moderately high salinity (100 mM) in nutrient solutions. Increasing NaCl raised the concentrations of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the tissue of tops and roots but had little or no effect on plant growth. On the leaves no toxic symptoms were obvious, not even in plants grown at salt stress of 200 mM NaCl. In all treatments, the young and the old leaves extruded 30–60% and 30–70% of their total Na⁺ and Cl^–. As the amounts of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the tissue increased with time, their extrusion also increased, however, as a proportion of the total Na⁺ and Cl^– it did not change much with time. Autoradiographs revealed that the extruded salts were distributed equally on the upper and lower surface of all leaves, parallel to veins. There seemed to be a more intense distribution of Na⁺ and Cl^– in the leaf sheaths as well as in the apical region of the roots. However, the net transfer rates, even after only 6 hours of uptake, did not indicate a strong retention mechanism in the roots.