Mortality of the short-neck clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes philippinarum</Emphasis> induced by the toxic dinoflagellate <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heterocapsa circularisquama</Emphasis>

Mortality of the short-neck clam Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to the toxic dinoflagellate Heterocapsa circularisquama was studied under controlled conditions to clarify the mechanisms of recurrent mass deaths of clams occurring in western Japanese coastal areas. One-week mortality tests, involving three water temperatures, six H. circularisquama concentrations, and two clam body sizes, showed a significant increase in mortality with increasing temperature, H. circularisquama concentration, exposure duration, and body size (ANOVA, P < 0.01). Clam death was observed at concentrations as low as 50 cells/ml and temperatures as low as 15°C. Prior to death, clams showed an extreme retraction of their mantle edge and siphon, along with recurrent vomiting behavior before initiating a closure reaction followed by paralysis then death. Gills of paralyzed clams showed an important uptake of dye, implying gill damage. This study is the first laboratory evidence of bivalve mortality induced by H. circularisquama at low concentrations and low temperature, and the first report of differential effects according to the body size of bivalves.     

Drought and biostimulant impacts on mineral nutrients,ambient and reflected light-based chlorophyll index,and performance of perennial ryegrass

Water shortage is a critical issue worldwide, and it may adversely impact non-food landscape plants. Thus, the impact of two levels of evapotranspiration-based (ETc) water stresses and two biostimulants consisting of s-abscisic acid (s-ABA) and glycine betaine (GB), and their combined applications on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) under climatic and soil conditions of the Intermountain West, USA, were studied. Clippings with 50% ETc had higher percentage dry weight (DW) but lower fresh weight (FW) and chlorophyll index (CI) than those with 75% ETc. The performance rating of plots with 75% ETc was significantly higher (better) than those receiving the 50% ETc treatment. Clippings with the 75% ETc treatment had higher concentrations of nitrogen (N), nitrate, phosphorous (P), sulfur (S), potassium (K), sodium (Na), and copper (Cu) than those with the 50% ETc treatment. Considering all mineral nutrient values, CIs, and performance ratings, we conclude that the application of 75% ETc is sufficient for maintaining a healthy turfgrass with a satisfactory appearance, while we can save 25% water as compared to the application of water at 100%. The application of biostimulants had no effect on clipping or root FWs, DWs, or percentage DWs. Clippings from GB-treated turfgrass had significantly higher N than those from all other biostimulants or non-treated control. Additionally, clippings from the plots with the GB treatment had significantly higher S, K, and Cl but lower Zn. Clippings from the s-ABA-treated turfgrass also had significantly higher K than those in non-treated control. Average performance ratings in s-ABA and GB, and s-ABA and GB were significantly higher than those in non-treated control, underscoring the values of these biostimulants in the reduction of drought stress.     

Influence of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria,Compost, and Biochar of Azolla on Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis L.) Growth and Some Soil Quality Indicators in a Calcareous Soil

In order to study the effect of plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), Azolla compost and Azolla biochar on some soil quality indicators and rosemary growth, a greenhouse experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with six replications. Treatments consisted of T₁ (control), T₂ (1% Azolla compost), T₃ (1% Azolla biochar), T₄ (PGPR (P. fluorescens), T₅ (1% compost + PGPR) and T₆ (1% biochar + PGPR). Rosemary growth parameters and nutrients concentration increased in all treatments compared to control. Treatments increased soil nutrient concentrations, soil microbial respiration (SMR) and microbial biomass C (MBC) but decreased soil metabolic quotient (qCO₂) compared to control treatment. A significant enhancement in rosemary growth occurred due to the improved soil quality as a result of organic fertilizers application, particularly by co-application of P. fluorescens and compost or biochar of Azolla.     

Microcephalin, a gene regulating brain size, continues to evolve adaptively in humans

The gene Microcephalin (MCPH1) regulates brain size and has evolved under strong positive selection in the human evolutionary lineage. We show that one genetic variant of Microcephalin in modern humans, which arose approximately 37,000 years ago, increased in frequency too rapidly to be compatible with neutral drift. This indicates that it has spread under strong positive selection, although the exact nature of the selection is unknown. The finding that an important brain gene has continued to evolve adaptively in anatomically modern humans suggests the ongoing evolutionary plasticity of the human brain. It also makes Microcephalin an attractive candidate locus for studying the genetics of human variation in brain-related phenotypes.     

Effects of Peptone Supplementation in Different Culture Media on Growth,Metabolic Pathway and Productivity of CHO DG44 Cells; a New Insight into Amino Acid Profiles

Background:

The optimization of bioprocess conditions towards improved growth profile and productivity yield is considered of great importance in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Peptones as efficient sources of nutrients have been studied for their effect on media development; however, their role on metabolic pathway is not well understood.

Methods:

In the present study, the effect of different concentration of peptones on a recombinant Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell line grown in three serum-free suspension cultures was determined. Six peptones of different origins and available amino acid profiles were investigated regarding their impact on cell growth, productivity, and metabolic pathways changes.

Results:

In optimized feeding strategies, increases of 136% and 159% in volumetric productivity (for a low-nutrient culture media) and 55% (for a high-nutrient culture media) were achieved. Furthermore, particular sources of peptones with specific amino acid profile developed preferential results for each different culture medium. Two peptones, SoyA2SC and SoyE-110, were the only hydrolysates that showed production improvement in all three media. Casein Peptone plus Tryptone N1 and SoyA3SC showed different improved results based on their implemented concentration for each individual basal medium.

Conclusion:

The amino acid profile of peptones may provide clues to identify the most effective feeding strategies for recombinant CHO cells.Key Words: CHO cells, Culture media, Peptones, Recombinant proteins     

Demographics of patients with surgical and nonsurgical cystic echinococcosis in East Azerbaijan from 2001 to 2012

Echinococcosis is very frequent helminthic infection in human being. The disease is endemic in Iran and particularly in its northwestern region, East Azerbaijan. The objective of this study was to study demographics of patients with cystic echinococcosis in East Azerbaijan; as well as to repot the sites of involvements. In this cross-sectional study, 318 patients with surgical and nonsurgical cystic echinococcosis were recruited from three referral centers in Tabriz within a 10-year period of time. The patients' demographics (age and gender) and the site of infection were investigated. Among the patients, females were predominant (57.5 vs. 42.5%). The mean age of patients was 32.59 +/- 18.47 (range: < 1-87) years and the most frequently age group was 20-30 years (23.6%), followed by the age groups of 30-40 years (21.7%), 10-20 years (14.2%), 40-50 years (11.9%), 50-60 years (11.3%), < 1 year (6%), 60-70 years (4.7%), 1-10 years (4.1%) and finally, > 70 years (2.5%). The lung was the most frequently infected organ (48.1%), followed by the liver (28.9%), gallbladder (3.5%), spleen and kidney (each one in 2.2%), abdomen, intestine, pleura, bronchus and mediastinum (each one in 1.6%), chest wall and heart (each one in 1.3%), brain, pericardium, facial sinus, pancreas and esophagus (each one in 0.6%) and the ovary, uterus, axillary region, pelvis and femur (each one in 0.3%). In conclusion, this study showed that the patients with hydatid cysts in East Azerbaijan Province are mainly females in the age group of 20-40 years. The lung and liver are the major sites of infection in these patients.     

Effects of dietary microencapsulated <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cymbopogon flexuosus</Emphasis> essential oil on reproductive-related parameters in male <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhamdia quelen</Emphasis>

In aquaculture, nutrition and supplemented diets have been shown to affect broodstock reproductive performance. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil (CFEO) microcapsules on reproductive-related parameters in silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) male broodfish. Adult male broodstocks were separated into three groups according to the concentrations of supplemented CFEO (0.0?=?control; 1.0 or 3.0 mL per kg of diet). After 20 days under experimental conditions, the animals were euthanized and the gonads were harvested for gonadosomatic index, sperm analysis, oxidative stress, and histopathology; testosterone levels were measured in the plasma; gene expression of prl, smtl, pomca, and pomcb was assessed in the pituitary gland by real-time PCR. The results showed no alterations on reproductive parameters in R. quelen males treated with Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil compared to the control-diet animals. In conclusion, CFEO microcapsules supplied for 20 days in the concentrations of 1.00 or 3.00 mL per kilogram of diet did not affect the reproduction criteria evaluated in this study in male silver catfish.     

Characterization of Brauns’ lignin from fresh and vacuum-dried birch (Betula pendula) wood

Brauns’ lignins present in the methanol extracts of fresh birch (Betula pendula) xylem and of sawn birch board subjected to vacuum drying were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy (1D and 2D), IR spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and colour measurements (CIELab) in order to find out whether Brauns’ lignin could contribute to the colour change of sawn timber that occurred during vacuum drying. The two Brauns’ lignin samples contained about equal amounts of syringylpropane and guaiacylpropane units linked with β-O-4 and β–β side-chain structures. Molecular weight of the Brauns’ lignin of vacuum-dried birch board (acetylated: 5,200 g mol⁻¹) was higher than that of the Brauns’ lignin of fresh birch wood (acetylated: 4,400 g mol⁻¹). The Brauns’ lignin of vacuum-dried wood was also clearly darker and more prominently yellow and red; between the Brauns’ lignin samples was 23.59. The differences in the molecular weights and colours suggest that the Brauns’ lignin underwent a chemical change during vacuum drying of the wood and that this change may have affected the colour of the wood.     

Response of Platanus orientalis leaves to urban pollution by heavy metals

Atmospheric pollution is an important concern in urban environments.The impact of urban pollution on the physiological,biochemical and anatomical properties of leaves of oriental plane(Platanus orientalis L.)was studied.The leaves were collected from an urban site(Tehran,Iran)and a non-urban forest park(Chitgar Forest Park).Anatomical(stomata,parenchyma,and cuticle)and physiological(chlorophyll content,enzyme activities)properties were analyzed.The concentrations of Cd(cadmium),Pb(lead),Ni(nickel),and Cr(chromium)in leaves were significantly higher and Zn(zinc)lower at the urban site relative to the forest park.Chlorophyll a,total chlorophyll,and carotenoid content in leaves of the urban site were significantly less than those of the forest park,but there was no significant difference in chlorophyll b.In addition,the activities of superoxide dismutase,catalase,ascorbate peroxidase,and guaiacol peroxidase in urban leaves were significantly higher than in the leaves of the forest park.In the urban area,leaves experienced a significant decrease in leaf surface area,stomata density,stomata pore area,epidermis,and spongy mesophyll thickness,but a significant increase in cuticle and palisade thicknesses relative to forest park leaves.The increase in enzyme activities may indicate that the trees are attempting to cope with increased reactive oxygen species(ROS)because of pollution-induced stress.Our study suggests that oriental plane trees alter their physiological and anatomical properties when living in a polluted urban environment.