Surveying the relations among traits affecting seed yield in sesame (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Sesamum indicum</Emphasis> L.)

To determine the most important traits influencing seed yield of sesame, 18 lines were evaluated in a randomized block design with three replicates in two years during the 2013 and 2014 growing seasons. Following a combined analysis of variance, multivariate statistical analyses such as simple correlation coefficients, factor analysis, stepwise analysis, path analysis, and cluster analysis were administered on combined means. The correlation coefficient analysis showed a significant negative correlation between seed yield and number of capsules per plant and number of seeds per capsule. Correlation between germination period and seed yield was positive and significant at 5% probability level. Factor analysis divided the 14 measured variables into five factors. In the stepwise regression analysis for seed yield as the independent variable, four traits including number of capsules per plant, first capsule height, number of seeds per capsule, and stem length to first capsule were entered into the regression model in four steps with r² =0.72. The regression coefficient of number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, and stem length to first capsule were negative and the regression coefficient of the first capsule height was positive and significant at the 5% probability level. The path coefficient analysis based on seed yield as a dependent variable implicated that the number of seeds per capsule had the highest negative direct effect on seed yield. The highest negative indirect effect on seed yield was related to the number of capsules per plant through the number of seeds per capsule. Cluster analysis using Ward’s method divided 18 investigated lines into five clusters.     

博、精河下游河岸带土壤速效养分空间异质性分析

以新疆博尔塔拉河、精河下游河岸带土壤为研究对象,针对土壤中的有机质、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾等指标进行定量测定,运用地统计学方法分别对博尔塔拉河、精河流域土壤养分空间分布特征进行了分析.结果表明:博尔塔拉河下游河岸带土壤有机质、碱解氮变异程度大于精河下游河岸带,土壤速效磷、速效钾变异程度相近;两河土壤速效养分垂直分异规律为:土壤有机质、碱解氮含量均随土层深度的增加而递减;水平分异规律为:距离艾比湖入湖口越远,土壤中速效养分平均含量越小.总体而言,博尔塔拉河下游河岸带土壤速效养分高于精河下游河岸带土壤速效养分,精河土壤养分空间异质性较小.     

The effect of Rosa damascena essential oil on the amygdala electrical kindling seizures in rat

We investigated the effect of Rosa damascena Mill, essential oil on the development of induced amygdala kindling seizures. Male Wistar rats were implanted with one tripolar and two monopolar electrodes in right basolateral amygdala and dura surface, respectively. The control group was injected solvent of essential oil and two experimental groups were injected 750 and 1000 mg kg(-1) of essential oil (ip), 30 min before a daily kindling stimulation. The number of stimulations required for the first appearance of seizure stages was significantly larger in two experimental groups than in control group. Mean after discharge duration was significantly different and essential oil reduced the increase of after discharge duration. Mean after discharge amplitude was also shorter in the groups treated with essential oil than in control group. Duration time for 5th stage of seizure at fully-kindled rats was significantly shorter in two experimental groups than control group. These results suggest that Rosa damascena essential oil significantly retarded the development of seizure stages and possesses the ability to counteract kindling acquisition. The flavonoids of Rosa damascena may act via GABAA receptors as previous studies have proposed for flavonoids of other medicinal plants. More detailed studies are recommended to define the effective component(s) of Rosa on different types of epilepsy.     

Gastrointestinal complaints in shift-working and day-working nurses in Iran

Background

There is evidence in the scientific literature of the adverse physiological and psychological effects of shift work. The work of nurses in hospitals is connected with shift and night work. Several publications have described gastrointestinal disturbances in shift workers. The aim of this study was to compare the frequency of gastrointestinal (GI) complaints of nurses on a rotating shift with that of nurses on a regular day shift.

Methods

The study involved 160 nurses (133 working in shifts and at night and 27 working on day shifts) in the Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Kashan, Iran. These nurses answered a Gastrointestinal Symptom Questionnaire regarding the presence of gastrointestinal symptoms (including heartburn, regurgitation, constipation, diarrhea and bloating). Positive responses required frequent symptom occurrence in the past 4 weeks. Significance of group differences was assessed by chi-square and Fisher-exact tests.

Results

Prevalence of GI symptoms was significantly higher (p = 0.009) in rotating-shift nurses (81.9%) than in day-shift nurses (59.2%). Irregular meal consumption (p = 0.01) and GI medications (p = 0.002) were all significantly higher among the rotating shift nurses. In both groups, regurgitation was the most common symptom.

Conclusion

Nurses on rotating shifts in Iran experience more GI disturbances than do nurses on day shifts.     

新疆于田绿洲弃耕地浅层地下水化学特征

在于田绿洲弃耕地典型地段布设两条基本平行的地下水采样带,用GPS定位,共设置13个样点,现场采样并送实验室分析,以研究其化学特征。运用统计分析发现,地下水离子平均含量,阳离子K++Na+Mg2+Ca2+,阴离子Cl-HCO3-SO42-CO32-,就变异系数而言,CO32-和SO42-较大,其余离子均介于30%~65%;地下水埋深、溶解性总固体和电导率的变异系数较大,均大于50%,pH值的变异系数最小,为3.06%,且pH值的变化范围在8.35~9.28之间,呈弱碱性。通过主成分分析发现,影响研究区浅层地下水化学特征的主成分共有3个,第一主成分F1与K++Na+、Cl-和CO32-具有显著的相关性,第二主成分F2与埋深和SO42-具有较显著的相关关系,第三主成分F3与Mg2+相关关系显著,且这3个主成分已涵盖所有8项指标信息的83%以上。线性回归分析显示,溶解性总固体与K++Na+和Cl-的相关关系显著,且拟合方程具有显著的统计学意义。     

Distribution changes of woody plants in Western Iran as monitored by remote sensing and geographical information system: a case study of Zagros forest

The status of woody plants in dry-land systems is a fundamental determinant of key ecosystem processes. Monitoring of this status plays an important role in understanding the dynamics of woody plants in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The present study determined the dynamism of the Zagros forests in Iran using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques and statistical science. The results show that the density of trees varied from 10 to 53 % according to the physiographic and climatic conditions of semi-arid regions. The best and lowest correlation between vegetation indices and forest density were obtained for the global environmental monitoring index (GEMI; R ² = 0.94) and soil adjust vegetation index (R ² = 0.81), respectively. GEMI is used to monitor land use changes over a 10-year period. Results show that 2720 ha² of forest have been destroyed by human interference and tillage on steep slopes during this period which also resulted in the loss of the fertile soil layer. GEMI determined the areas with a biomass of trees and could normally separate border regions with low biomass density of trees from regions without canopy cover. The results revealed that assessment of forest and vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid arduous forest regions using satellite digital numbers and ordinary sampling is subject to uncertainty. A stratified grouping procedure should be established to increase the accuracy of assessment.     

Improving of seed quality of black seed (Nigella sativa L.) by increasing seed phosphorus content in a calcareous soil

Phosphorus (P) sufficiency during seed formation and development can affect the quality of seeds production. For increasing P content of black seed (Nigella sativa) in a calcareous soil, series of experiments were conducted in completely randomized factorial design with 4 replications at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, in 2012 and 2013. The combinations of vermicompost (V), sulfur (S), and Thiobacillus bacteria (T) were mixed with a calcareous soil fertilized with 0, 30 and 60 kg P ha^?1 in pots and incubated for 63 days. At the end of incubation period, black seeds were sown in the pots and plants were grown to maturity. Results showed that S+T and V treatments were significantly increased soil available P, emergence, plant P content, seed yield and vigor of the seeds production. There were positive relationship between soil and plant P concentration with the quality of seeds production.     

Root water uptake of pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) under deficit irrigation system

Root water uptake is a component of water balance that has not been clearly understood. This study was carried out in a completely randomized design with three replications under the greenhouse condition at Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran. In this study, the root water uptake (RWU) by pepper plant under various irrigation water levels was investigated. Irrigation treatments included control (full irrigation level, FI) and three deficit irrigation levels, 80%, 60% and 40% of the plant's water requirement called DI₈₀, DI₆₀ and DI₄₀, respectively. A no-plant cover treatment with three replications was also used to measure evaporation from the soil surface. Daily measurements of volumetric soil moisture (VSM) were made at 10 cm intervals of the soil column. The differences between the measured VSM and the VSM in the next day, and evaporation rate at the soil surface at the same layer of the no-plant cover treatment were calculated and, eventually, the RWU in each layer per day was estimated. The results showed that the maximum and minimum RWUs were found in the FI and DI₄₀ treatments, respectively. The averages of root water uptakes in the DI₈₀, DI₆₀, and DI₄₀ treatments were reduced by 17.08%, 48.72% and 68.25%, respectively. Furthermore, in the DI₈₀ treatment, the reduced rate of water uptake was less than the reduced rate of water applied to the plants.     

Effect of Source Manipulations on the Dynamics of Pod Set and Flower Abscission in Mungbean

Flower abscission and pod set behaviour of mungbean in relation to the degree of defoliation at the reproductive stage was studied under field conditions. In the undefoliated and partially defoliated plants flowering occurred in two successive flushes, although the second flush of flowering was less distinct in partially defoliated plants. Most of the pods a plant attained came from the second flush of flowering. Undefoliated and partially defoliated plant had 23 and 8 pods, respectively. Magnitude of flower abscission and pod set in undefoliated plants was much higher than it was in partially defoliated plants. In the completely defoliated plants none of the pods survived to mature and death of plants occurred within a week following defoliation.     

Effects of endoparasites on the growth rate of Sudanese sheep and cattle

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