Effect of feeding pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid on Arabian stallion semen quality in cooled and postthawed condition

The objective was to assess the influence of pomegranate seed oil supplementation on the quality of fresh, cooled and frozen–thawed Arabian breed stallion semen. Eight stallions (n = 4 per group) received their normal diet (control group) or normal diet top dressed with 200 ml of pomegranate seed oil (PSO group). Semen was collected every fifteen days for 90 days. Stallions were reversed across the treatments after a sixty‐day interval. In cooled and stored condition (2, 12 and 24 hr), spermatozoa motion characteristics, membrane integrity, viability, morphology and lipid peroxidation were analysed. In frozen–thawed semen, sperm dynamic characteristics were analysed by CASA, acrosome status and mitochondrial activity (evaluated by Flow cytometry) determined. The effects of treatment, time, semen type and their interactions were submitted to PROCMIX (SAS^®), and means compared by the Tukey test. Also, collected semen samples were artificially inseminated to evaluate fertility and pregnancy rate after day 60 of the experiment. The results from fresh condition showed that semen volume, sperm concentration, abnormality and live sperm were not affected by dietary treatment (p > 0.05). In cooled condition, the higher value for sperm plasma membrane integrity and viability was observed in PSO group compared to control after 24 hr cooled and stored in 5°C. In postthawed condition, the higher value for CASA total motility and acrosome status was observed in PSO group compared to control group (p < 0.05). One hundred and twenty‐six mares were artificially inseminated for fertility trial using control and PSO groups’ fresh semen. The average pregnancy rates were not significantly different between control and treated group (62.88% and 65.90%, respectively) (p > 0.05). We concluded that under the conditions of this study, dietary supplementation of 200 ml pomegranate seed oil seems to relatively improved Arabian horse sperm quality during storage in cooled and frozen condition via increasing plasma membrane integrity, viability and acrosome status, but did not improve the pregnancy rates.     

伞伐更新法对赫卡尼亚(Hyrcanian)森林系统中森林再生和林分结构的影响

研究伞伐更新法对赫卡尼亚森林系统中森林再生和林分结构的影响。在伊朗北部优势种为山毛榉（Fagus orientalisLipsky）的硬木林,采取伞伐更新法和非伞伐更新法方法设计实验区。结果表明,在山毛榉（F orientalis Lipsky）林中采用伞伐更新法处理,明显影响林下草本植物种的频度和密度。伞伐更新法处理后,林堇菜（Viola silvestris Lam.）、车叶草（Asperula odorata L.）、苔草（Carex spp.）和悬钩子（Rubushyrcanus Juz）的种频度明显增加。在对照区,树种的胸高直径（57.50&#177;2.15cm）大于被处理区（50.67&#177;1.88cm）的树种的胸高直径（50.67&#177;1.88 cm）,但对照区和处理区的树种的高度值相似。在1995-2005年间,波斯铁木（Parrotia persica）苗木数量增加到13.2%,而山毛榉（F orientalis）和欧洲鹅耳枥（Carpinus betulus）的苗木数量却明显减少。总之,应该利用其它育林方法,如,带状择伐作业,而不是伞伐更新法培育赫卡尼亚森林中山毛榉林。     

Effect of dietary Ergosan on growth performance, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology, hematological parameters and body composition of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Present study examined the effects of Ergosan on growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, hematological parameters and gastrointestinal structure of rainbow trout. Rainbow trout (mean weight 100–110 g) were fed basal diet (control) and diet treated with Aquavac Ergosan (5 g kg^?1 of diet) for 50 days. Results of this study showed that Ergosan supplementation significantly increased weight gain (94.27 g vs. 65.04 g), specific growth rate (4.09 vs. 3.10) and feed intake (136.85 g vs. 111.22 g) and decreased feed conversion ratio (1.43 vs. 2.03) compared to control (P < 0.05). Lipase activity and leukocyte and erythrocyte count also increased in juvenile fish fed Ergosan-treated diet compared to control (P < 0.05). Light microscopy demonstrated that both groups of fish displayed normal morphology of proximal intestine and pyloric caeca. In Ergosan-treated group, higher percentage of goblet cell was shown in proximal intestine and pyloric caeca. Present study suggests that Ergosan effectively promotes growth performance, lipase activity and gastrointestinal structure in rainbow trout.     

Effects of exogenous dietary enzyme on growth, body composition, and fatty acid profiles of cultured great sturgeon Huso huso fingerlings

The effects of enzyme supplementation on growth, body proximate, and fatty acid composition of great sturgeon Huso huso fingerlings were investigated. Multienzyme (Kemin^?) was added to diet in different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg). Fingerlings were randomly stocked in tanks and fed with the experimental diets three times a day at 5–10% body weight for 46 days. Fingerlings fed diets containing 250 mg/kg exogenous enzyme exhibited higher weight gain and specific growth rate. This level of enzyme in the diet significantly improved feed conversion ratio. Body protein and moisture decreased slightly when fish fed with enzyme-supplemented diets while fat increased. Fingerlings fed with 500 mg/kg enzyme in diet had higher contents of n-3 essential fatty acids and lower n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. Optimum growth performance in great sturgeon fingerlings can be obtained by 250 mg/kg multienzyme in the diet.     

The morphological changes of adult mouse testes after 60Co gamma-Radiation

BACKGROUND: Cytotoxic therapy can lead to prolonged azoospermia or even sterility. In the present study, we investigated the morphological changes of mouse testes after gamma-Radiation. METHODS: After anaesthetizing of NMRI mice, testes and their surrounding tissues were irradiated using a cobalt therapy machine. Four experimental groups were irradiated with fractionated doses of: 1.5 + 8, 1.5 + 12 and 1.5 + 16 Gy (with an interval of 24 h) and single dose of 14 Gy. Non-irradiated mice were considered as control group. Testes were removed 4, 6 and 8 weeks following irradiation, weighed and processed for light microscopic study. Diameters of seminiferous tubules and their lumens, epithelium thickness, percentage of different types of tubules and number of spermatogenic cell were measured. Moreover, sperm count motility and viability rates were evaluated in epididymis. RESULTS: Number of normal tubules, epithelium thickness, tubules diameter and lumen diameter were significantly reduced with high dose irradiation in comparison with control testes. The recovery was observed after 8 weeks. Epididymal sperm count, motility and viability rates were significantly decreased in the irradiated mice comparing non-irradiated ones. These parameters were increased after 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: According to the results, irradiation can cause temporary azoospermia in mouse and this effect is reversible after 8 weeks.     

Novel mutation in the EXT-1 gene in an Iranian family affected with hereditary multiple exostoses

Identification of casual mutations in Hereditary Multiple Exostoses (HME) is important because of similar conditions in which multiple exostoses occur. Therefore mutation analysis can help to confirm the clinical diagnosis and to improve the management of therapy. HME is an inherited disorder of bone growth. HME can be referred to by various names such as Heredity Multiple Exostoses, Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromata, Multiple Carthaginous Exostoses, etc. People who have HME grow exostoses, or bony bumps, on their bones which can vary in size, location and number depending on the individual. HME is inherited in an autosomal dominant manner with an estimated prevalence of 1/50,000 in western countries. At least three loci (EXT1, EXT2 and EXT3) thought to be involved in this skeletal disease. Approximately 90% of affected families possess mutations in the coding regions of EXT1 and EXT2 genes and the majority of these mutations cause loss of function. EXT1 and EXT2 genes encode related members of a putative tumor suppressor family. In this first report from Iran we identified a frame shift mutation (1100-1101 insA) in exon 3 of EXT1 gene in a family being suspicious of HME. This mutation leads to a premature stop codon and previously not described. Additionally, we have found an unreported silent mutation in the exon six of EXT1 gene with uncertain significance.     

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.     

Effects of wollastonite nanofibers on fluid flow in medium-density fiberboard

We studied the effect of wollastonite nanofibers on fluid flow in medium-density fiberboard(MDF).Nanowollastonite(NW) was applied in MDF at 10 %,based on the dry weight of wood fibers. We also tested chicken feathers as an additive to the matrix at 5 and 10 %by weight. The weight of feathers was reduced from the wood fibers to keep the density of the panels constant(0.66 g cm-3). Wollastonite nanofibers acted as filler in the matrix and significantly decreased gas and liquid permeability. Higher thermal conductivity of the NW-treated MDF-mats resulted in a better cure of resin, and consequently more integrity in the composite-matrix and lower permeability. The water-repellant property of wollastonite also contributed to the decrease in liquid permeability.Feathers reduced gas and liquid permeability due to the hydrophobic nature of keratin, as well as its formation as a physical barrier towards passing of fluids. Ten percent feather content proved too high and some checks and cracks occurred in the core of the panels after hot-pressing.Panels with 5 %-feather content resulted in both lower fluid flow and adequate physical integrity in the core section of the MDF-matrix.     

GIS-based forest fire susceptibility mapping in Iran: a comparison between evidential belief function and binary logistic regression models

The aim of this research was to produce forest fire susceptibility maps (FFSM) based on evidential belief function (EBF) and binary logistic regression (BLR) models in the Minudasht Forests, Golestan Province, Iran. At first, 151 forest fire locations were identified from Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectero Radiometer data, extensive field surveys, and some reports (collected in year 2010). Out of these locations, 106 (70%) were randomly selected as training data and the remaining 45 (30%) cases were used for the validation goals. In the next step, 15 effective factors such as slope degree, slope aspect, elevation, plan curvature, Topographic Position Index, Topographic Wetness Index, land use, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, distance to villages, distance to roads, distance to rivers, wind effect, soil texture, annual temperature, and rainfall were extracted from the spatial database. Subsequently, FFSM were prepared using EBF and BLR models, and the results were plotted in ArcGIS. Finally, the receiver operating characteristic curves and area under the curves (AUCs) were constructed for verification purposes. The validation of results showed that the AUC for EBF and BLR models are 0.8193 (81.93%) and 0.7430 (74.30%), respectively. In general, the mentioned results can be applied for land use planning, management and prevention of future fire hazards.     

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.