Interaction of foramsulfuron or nicosulfuron with 2,4-D + MCPA on important broadleaf weeds in corn (Zea mays L.)

Interaction of binary mixture of the two sulfonylurea herbicides: foramsulfuron or nicosulfuron with 2,4-D + MCPA, was evaluated in greenhouse experiments during 2010 and 2011 applying the additive dose model. Plants of redroot pigweed, common lambsquarters, common purslane and black nightshade were sprayed with seven doses of herbicides alone and in binary fixed-ratio mixtures. In total, 35 binary mixtures were studied in 7 separate experiments at ED₉₀ response level. Results indicated that mixture of foramsulfuron + 2,4-D + MCPA was synergistic on redroot pigweed compared to additive interaction between nicosulfuron and 2,4-D + MCPA. Mixture of foramsulfuron + 2,4-D + MCPA was slightly antagonistic on common lambsquarters and an additive interaction was observed with both foramsulfuron and nicosulfuron + 2,4-D + MCPA on common purslane. Finally, the mixture of foramsulfuron or nicosulfuron + 2,4-D + MCPA on black nightshade was antagonistic especially in mixtures where the ratio of sulfonylurea herbicides was more than 2,4-D + MCPA. Totally, 2,4-D + MCPA in mixture with sulfonylurea herbicides especially foramsulfuron provided better control of redroot pigweed in comparison with herbicides applied alone and other herbicide mixtures on weeds.

Abbreviations: 2,4-D + MCPA: ((2,4-Dichlorophenoxy) acetic acid plus (4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy) acetic acid); ADM: additive dose model; a.i.: active ingredient; ALS: acetolactate synthase; DAT: days after treatment; ED: effective dose; Foramsulfuron: (2-(N-((4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoyl)sulfamoyl)-4-formamido-N,N-dimethylbenzamide); Nicosulfuron: (2-[(4,6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl)carbamoylsulfamoyl]-N,N-dimethylpyridine-3-carboxamide).     

Glycoconjugates Distribution during Developing Mouse Spinal Cord Motor Organizers

Background: The aim of this research was to study the distribution and changes of glycoconjugates particularly their terminal sugars by using lectin histochemistry during mouse spinal cord development. Methods: Formalin-fixed sections of mouse embryo (10-16 fetal days) were processed for lectin histochemical method. In this study, two groups of horseradish peroxidase-labeled specific lectins were used: N-acetylgalactosamine, including Dolichos biflorus, Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA), Vicia villosa, Glycine max as well as focuse-binding lectins, including tetragonolobus, Ulex europaeus, and Orange peel fungus (OFA). All sections were counterstained with alcian blue (pH 2.5). Results: Our results showed that only WFA and OFA reacted strongly with the floor plate cells from early to late embryonic period of developing spinal cord. The strongest reactions were related to the 14, 15, and 16 days of tissue sections incubated with OFA and WFA lectins. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that cellular and molecular differentiation of the spinal cord organizers is a wholly regulated process, and α-L-fucose, α-D-GalNAc, and α/β-D-GalNAc terminal sugars play a significant role during the prenatal spinal cord development.Key Words: Development, Glycoconjugates, Spinal cord     

The effect of rotation speed on the power consumption and cutting accuracy of guided circular saw: Experimental measurement and analysis of saw critical and flutter speeds

ABSTRACT

This paper investigates the effect of rotation speed and vibration response of a circular saw on the sawing process of Douglas-fir wood. An idling test was conducted on a guided circular saw to determine its stable operation speeds and vibration behavior. Short-time Fourier transform analysis was performed on saw idling test data, and variation of excited frequencies of the blade as a function of rotation speed was obtained. The saw blade critical speeds and the rotation speeds that correspond to saw flutter instability were identified. Then experimental cutting tests were conducted at different cutting conditions and the effect of rotation speed and saw vibration response on cutting power consumption and sawing accuracy was investigated. The results showed that conducting a saw idling test and vibration response analysis can identify the saw critical and flutter speeds, which is essential for identifying the optimum rotation speed of circular saw. There was a significant increase in power consumption when cutting at super-critical and super-flutter speed. The effect of rotation speed on sawing accuracy is complex and nonlinear. This effect interacts with feed speed, which makes it difficult to generalize sawing accuracy versus rotation speed in the circular sawing process.     

Termite effects on soils and plants are generally consistent along a gradient in livestock grazing

Livestock grazing is a major driver of ecosystem functions in drylands and would be expected to influence soil biota such as termites. We examined changes in soil chemistry and plant community composition on mounds constructed by the subterranean termite Anacanthotermes ahngerianus along a gradient in grazing intensity in an arid steppe in north-eastern Iran. The grazing gradient was represented by increasing distance from an area used by resting livestock, and plant and soil attributes measured within three adjacent microsites (termite mounds, non-mound controls, intervening annular zone surrounding the mounds). Values of soil EC; pH; exchangeable Ca, Mg, and Na; and total nitrogen and organic carbon were greatest in mound soils and declined from mounds to control microsites. Mounds were completely devoid of plants. Annular zones had three-times less cover than the control sites, but there were no differences in diversity or evenness. Electrical conductivity values were ten-times greater on mounds than controls close to resting sites, but the difference diminished rapidly with distance from resting sites. For all other soil and plant variables, differences between microsites were consistent across the grazing gradient. Increased grazing intensity was associated with increasing soil pH, EC and sand content, and reduced plant cover. Overall our study shows that the effects of termites on soil chemistry and plant cover varied little across the grazing gradient. Our results suggest that termite mounds may sustain their role as sites of enhanced soil nutrients under even high levels of grazing.     

Healing potential of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on a collagen-based scaffold for skin regeneration

Background: Wound healing of burned skin remains a major goal in public health. Previous reports showed that the bone marrow stem cells were potent in keratinization and vascularization of full thickness skin wounds. Methods: In this study, mesenchymal stem cells were derived from rat adipose tissues and characterized by flowcytometry. Staining methods were used to evaluate their differentiation ability. A collagen-chitosan scaffold was prepared by freeze-drying method and crosslinked by carbodiimide-based crosslinker. Results: The results of immunecytochemistry and PCR experiments confirmed the adipose-derived stem cells (ASC) in differentiation to the keratinocytes under the treatment of keratinocyte growth factor. The isolated ASC were seeded on the scaffolds and implanted at the prepared wounds. The scaffolds without cells were considered as a control and implanted on the other side of the rat. Histopathological analyses confirmed the formation of new tissue on the scaffold-cell side after 14 days with the formation of dermis and epidermis. Conclusion: These results indicated the capacity of ASC in differentiation to keratinocytes and also wound healing in vivo. Key Words: Tissue engineering, Keratinocytes, Mesenchymal stem cells     

Vulnerability and Adaptation of Livestock Producers to Climate Variability and Change

Rangeland-based animal husbandry has been frequently exposed to the vagaries of weather. While the current rates of climate variability are unprecedented in arid and semiarid regions, climate change is expected to put further pressure on rangelands with medium- and poor-quality forages and increase the vulnerability of households who mainly depend on livestock production. Therefore, it is imperative to ensure that livestock producers increase their resilience to climate variability or change. However, few field-based studies have focused on simultaneous investigation of both vulnerability and adaptation of livestock keepers to climate-related risks. To fill this gap, a field-based research study was conducted in southwest Iran. A survey of 274 herder families, selected using a cluster sampling technique, revealed low, medium and high levels of vulnerability, which were principally distinguished by various degrees of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity. Further, this study identified the main adaptation strategies employed by the herders of this region (i.e., purchasing fodder; rotational grazing; raising a mixed-herd, on-farm occupation; and postharvest grazing). Results indicated that most herder families applied traditional adaptation strategies in response to climate variability. Findings revealed that herders had to reduce their livestock due to low adaptability. Loan term, purchasing insurance, level of exposure, income, experience, response efficacy, and knowledge were the major determinants of the herders’ adaptation decisions. To increase the resilience of livestock producers against climate change, restructuring traditional livestock production systems, producing participatory knowledge and information for sustainable management of rangelands, and designing or redesigning effective adaptation strategies are required.     

Including 793/B type avian infectious bronchitis vaccine in 1-day-old chicken increased the protection against QX genotype

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is a highly infectious pathogen, which affects the respiratory tract, reproductive system, and kidney of chickens. Many...     

Elevated Serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone in an Arabian Mare with Granulosa Cell Tumor

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), produced by granulosa cells, has been reported to be elevated in mares with granulosa cell tumor. A 13-year-old Arabian mare was referred after 3 years of infertility. Rectal and ultrasonographic examination revealed enlargement and multicystic appearance of the left ovary. The mare had substantially higher concentration of AMH (21.6 ng/mL) compared with normal cyclic mares (n = 5; 0.36 ± 0.02 ng/mL). Testosterone (50 pg/mL) concentration was also elevated, but progesterone concentration (0.4 ng/mL) was lowered. Accordingly, the mare was presumptively diagnosed with granulosa-theca cell tumor and a left ovariectomy implemented using ventral midline approach under general anesthesia. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of granulosa-theca cell tumor. Serum concentrations of AMH decreased to 2 ng/mL and 0.5 ng/mL 2 and 4 weeks after tumor removal, respectively. In conclusion, the current report presents confirmatory evidence that evaluation of serum AMH could be useful for diagnosis of granulosa cell tumor in mare.     

Genotypic Variation for Water-Deficit Tolerance in Cotton (Gossypiumhirsutum L.) Germination in Southern Iran

To determine the effect of water deficit on growth characteristics of 27 cotton cultivars (Gossypiumhirsutum L.), two separate experiments were performed in laboratory and glasshouse in Fars Province, Zarin-Dasht city (28° 36′ N, 54° 41′ E) in August 2015. In both experiments, which last for 10 days, a completely randomized block design with three replications was used. The main factor was water-deficit levels ((0, ?4, and ?12 MPa in laboratory and (0 and ?8 MPa) in glasshouse experiments), and the subsidiary factor was different cotton cultivars. The sensitivity to water deficit was compared based on factors such as germination rate, shoot and root lengths, fresh and dry weights, seed energy, and seed vigor. The results of both experiments indicated that Oltan, Opal, Pak, Armaghan, Super-Elit Golestan, Super-Elit Bakhteghan, SB-35, Super-Elit Arian, Khandagh, Tabela-18, and Sahel cultivars are more resistant and therefore are suitable candidates to increase plant density and uniformity in the farm.     

Interaction Effects of Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Fungi and Soil Applied Herbicides on Plant Growth

Interaction between mycorrhizal fungi and herbicide application and their effects on plant growth are issues around which there is little information. Therefore, to determine the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus in alleviating the effects of herbicide stress on growth of maize and barley, two pot experiments were conducted in Shahrood University of Technology in 2009 and 2010. Factorial experiments were arranged in completely randomized design with three replications. Experimental factors were a combination of two factors: (1) non-mycorrhiza (control) and Glommusmosseae, Glommusintraradices and Glommusfasciculatum as mycorrhizal inoculums; (2) herbicide treatments, which included three levels of metribuzin (0, 175 and 350 g a.i. ha^?1). In the second experiment, factors examined were inoculated soil with mycorrhiza fungi at two levels (with and without Glommusintraradices) and four rates of metribuzin (0, 175, 350 and 525 g a.i. ha^?1) and two levels of iron (0 (control) and 20 mg pot^?1). The results showed that soil inoculated with mycorrhiza had significantly increased dry weight, height and chlorophyll content of maize and barley in the low herbicide concentrations (175 g a.i. ha^?1) compared to non-inoculated treatments. Based on our results, mycorrhiza fungi can alleviate crop stress due to low doses of metribuzin injury through increase in plant growth.