Restless Legs Syndrome in shift workers: A cross sectional study on male assembly workers

Background  

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder characterized by symptoms that follow a circadian pattern. Night and rotating shift work schedules exert adverse effects on functions of the human body by disturbing circadian rhythms, and they are known to cause sleep disturbances and insomnia. In this paper, we investigate the possible association between shift work and RLS.     

Growth,biochemical variables,and zinc bioaccumulation in Nile tilapia, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis> (L.) as affected by water-born zinc toxicity and exposure period

The present study was carried out to investigate the effect of sublethal zinc (Zn) concentrations on growth performance, biochemical variables, and Zn residues in various organs of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.). Fish (25 ± 0.5 g) were exposed to 0.0, 3.5, or 7.0 mg Zn L^?1 for 1 or 6 weeks. Fish growth was significantly reduced with increasing Zn concentrations. However, fish exposed to 7.0 mg Zn L^?1 grew less quickly than those of the control group. Likewise, best feed intake and feed conversion ratio were obtained at the control group. Furthermore, glucose, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), creatinine, and cortisol increased significantly with increasing Zn concentrations and exposure time, with maximal values in the 7.0 mg Zn L^?1 treatment after 6 weeks. Meanwhile, highest values of serum protein and lipids were obtained in the control fish reared for 6 week, whereas their lowest values were observed in fish exposed to 7.0 mg Zn L^?1 for 1 week. There was no significant change in whole-body moisture content of fish due to Zn exposure, although crude protein and total lipid contents decreased significantly with increasing Zn concentrations. In addition, Zn exposure increased total ash contents and Zn residues in different investigated fish organs. The Zn concentrations in all fish organs were time-dependant and the Zn residues after 1 week were found to follow the order of gills > liver > kidney > muscle, meanwhile after 6 weeks it followed the order of liver > kidney > gill > muscle. The present findings revealed that liver and kidney tissues are the prime sites of Zn bioaccumulation, while Zn load in the muscle was for low as compared to other organs.     

Short-term responses of soil nutrients and corn yield to tillage and organic amendment

Field experiments were conducted in 2010 and 2011 at the Agricultural College of Shiraz University to evaluate the effects of cattle manure and nitrogen (N) fertilizers on soil properties such as soil organic carbon (SOC), soil organic nitrogen (SON), soil electrical conductivity, soil pH and corn yield under two tillage systems. Treatments included tillage systems in two levels as conventional tillage and reduced tillage as subplots, cattle manure (0, 25 and 50 tons ha^?1) and N fertilizer (0, 125 and 250 kg N ha^?1) as sub-subplots. Results showed that SOC and SON were significantly affected by tillage system in both years of the experiment. SOC and SON were higher in reduced tillage compared to conventional tillage. Tillage system had no significant effect on grain yield, plant height and 1000 seed weight. Increased cattle manure rates at 25 and 50 tons ha^?1 increased grain yield by 27% and 38%, respectively, in 2010 and 25% and 25% in 2011. The results showed that application of cattle manure combined with N fertilizer might be an efficient management to increase soil productivity in southern Iran, in soils with poor organic content. Additionally, reduced tillage showed to be an efficient method to increase soil organic matter.     

Forest fire effects in beech dominated mountain forest of Iran

Most of world's forests of different climates have a history of fire, but with different severities. Fire regimes for broadleaf deciduous forests have return intervals that vary from many decades (or less) to centuries (or more). Iran has a total of 1.2 million ha of temperate forest in the north, where fires burn about 300–400 ha annually. This study focused on the impact of fire on forest structure, tree species quality, and regeneration composition (specially beech) in the Chelir forest of northern Iran. The results showed that forest fires changed the structure and had different effects on tree species composition between burned and control areas. Thin barked species such as oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) and coliseum maple (Acer cappadocicum Gled.) have been affected more than those with thick bark, like hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and chestnut-leaved oak (Quercus castaneifolia C.A. Mey). The density of oriental beech regeneration in the unburned area was greater than in the burned area, while the quantity of regeneration of hornbeam, coliseum maple and velvet maple (Acer velutinum Boiss) was higher in burned area. Forest fire had a greater effect on oriental beech quality, and changed regeneration composition in the burned area. Fire prevention activities should be considered as a silvicultural treatment for preserving these valuable forests.     

Adsorption of Cadmium and Zinc onto Micaceous Minerals: Effect of Siderophore Desferrioxamine B

The mobility, bioavailability, and environmental fate of heavy metals in soil are controlled by their adsorption onto soil minerals and solid organic matter. The adsorption is strongly affected by the presence of various low-molecular-weight organic acids. In this study, effect of hydroxamate siderophore desferrioxamine B (DFOB) on cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) adsorption onto two micaceous clay minerals, muscovite and phlogopite, was evaluated in batch experiments. Results showed that the presence of DFOB diminished the adsorption of Cd and Zn onto both minerals, particularly under neutral to alkaline pH conditions. For instance, at pH 8.2, the presence of DFOB caused a decrease in the adsorption of Zn onto phlogopite by nearly 50%. The equilibrium adsorption of Cd and Zn was satisfactorily described using Freundlich isotherm. The adsorption isotherms showed that the affinity of Cd and Zn onto the minerals decreased in the presence of DFOB. For example, at pH 8.0, the presence of siderophore caused a decrease in the Freundlich adsorption isotherm coefficient K_F for Zn adsorption onto muscovite and phlogopite from 4.60 to 0.07 L g^-1 and from 3.56 to 0.36 L g^-1, respectively. These findings confirm the potential influence of siderophore on the fate of Cd and Zn in arid soils containing substantial contributions of micaceous silicate minerals.     

Genetic variation analysis and comprehensive evaluation of wood property traits of 20-year-old Chinese fir clone

This work focuses on the genetic variation of Chinese fir clones in the radial direction. Four 20-year-old Chinese fir clones were selected in Kaihua Forest Farm, Zhejiang, China, and the differences and genetic characteristics were studied. Clonal repeatability, genotype coefficient of variable, and phenotypical coefficient of variable were calculated to light on the genetic variation on the radial direction. Results showed significant differences (P?<?0.05) between the clones and annual rings of the same clone. The clonal repeatability of the ten wood properties is ranged from 0.5 to 0.8, wherein the fiber length, elastic modulus, and total dry density are higher than 0.7. For all the measured traits, the phenotypic variation of clones is greater than that of the genetic variation. Overall, the measured wood traits, especially the mechanical and physical properties, are strongly controlled by heredity, which means they are potentially helpful for genetic improvement of wood properties and optimal breeding. Furthermore, the clonal repeatability of the measured traits varies between annual rings, and the physical and mechanical properties are relatively stable. The principal component analysis results reveal that the clone of Kai 13 has the highest score.

     

Population structure of Mazandaran native fowls using pedigree analysis

The objective of this study was to use pedigree analysis to evaluate the population structure and genetic variability of the Mazandaran native fowls in Iran by quantifying the pedigree completeness index, effective population size, genetic diversity, inbreeding level, and individual increase in inbreeding. The pedigree completeness analysis showed 3.31 full, 10.19 maximum, and 6.30 equivalent generations. The effective number of founders (f _e) was 131, representing 5% of the potential number of founders. The effective number of ancestors (f _a) was 81, and the genetic contribution of the 37 most influent ancestors explained 50% of the genetic variability in the population. The ratio f _e/f _a (effective number of founders/effective number of ancestors), which expresses the effect of population bottlenecks, was 1.62. The inbreeding coefficient increased over generations and the average was 1.93%. The average relatedness coefficient between individuals of the population was estimated to be 2.59%. The effective population size, based on the number of full generations, was 56. Family size analysis showed that fewer males than females were used, resulting in the observed levels of inbreeding. Average inbreeding coefficient in the Mazandaran native fowls can be regarded to be below critical levels. However, considering the relationship coefficients of individuals is recommended to aid maintaining genetic diversity of Mazandaran native fowls.     

Lemon,Citrus aurantifolia,peel and Bacillus licheniformis protected common carp,Cyprinus carpio,from Aeromonas hydrophila infection by improving the humoral and skin mucosal immunity,and antioxidative responses

The role of dietary lemon peel (LM) and/or Bacillus licheniformis (BL) on the growth, immunity, and resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila in common carp, Cyprinus carpio was investigated in this study. LM and BL were included in diets at 0% (T0), 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T1), 1.5% LM and 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T2), and 3% LM and 10⁸ CFU/g BL (T3). Fish fed with T1, T2, or T3 had higher weight gain, specific growth rate, white blood cells count, and blood total protein with lower feed conversion ratio than T0 group (p < .05). The albumin increased significantly (p < .05) in fish fed both BL and LM (T3). The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, lysozyme, and bactericidal activities were significantly increased in fish fed both BL and LM (T2 and T3), while serum glutathione peroxidase increased in fish fed BL (T2) (p < .05). Fish fed T1, T2, and T3 diets displayed higher SOD and lower malondialdehyde than fish fed T0 (p < .05). After the A. hydrophila challenge, the mortality rate was significantly lower in T1, T2, and T3 groups than the T0 group (p < .05). The obtained results revealed that LM and BL could be used to increase resistance against A. hydrophila infection in carp. However, further field studies should be performed to confirm the obtained results.     

Stimulatory effect of dietary clove,Eugenia caryophyllata,bud extract on growth performance,nutrient utilization,antioxidant capacity,and tolerance of African catfish,Clarias gariepinus (B.), to Aeromonas hydrophila infection

The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila, in farm‐raised fish requires urgent attention. Continuous and indiscriminate use of antibiotics as growth promoters and disease control agents in aquaculture have been discouraged because of the risk of development of antibiotic‐resistant bacterial strains. There is steady interest in the use of botanicals, such as clove, Eugenia caryophyllata, buds extract (ECBE), as alternatives. Hence, the present study evaluated the effect of dietary ECBE supplementation on the growth performance, physiological, antioxidant, and immunity biomarkers of African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Fish (11.7 ± 0.5 g) were fed diets containing 0.0 (control), 5.0, 10.0, or 15.0 g ECBE/kg diet up to apparent satiation twice daily for 12 weeks. After the feeding trial, fish from each treatment were challenged with A. hydrophila infection by intraperitoneal injection and kept under observation for 14 days to record any abnormal clinical signs and daily mortality. The results demonstrated that fish performance and feed intake were significantly enhanced with increasing ECBE levels, and its optimum level is 15 g/kg diet. Further, the dietary ECBE increased significantly the intestinal villi length/width and absorption area in a dose‐dependent manner. There are significant progressive increases in the values of red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, white blood cells, platelets, lymphocytes, and heterocytes, while monocytes, eosinophil, and basophils decreased significantly due to dietary ECBE in a dose‐dependent manner. Highest glucose, cholesterol, total protein, globulin, and albumin‐globulin ratios, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), urea, and creatinine values were found in fish fed 15 g ECBE/kg diets, while lowest values were recorded in fish fed the control diet. Despite the high AST and ALT values, no visible lesions or damage were observed in the liver cells of fish fed ECBE‐enriched diets. In addition, the inclusion of ECBE in fish diets enhanced the antioxidant and immunity capacity. Fish mortality after the bacterial challenge was higher in fish fed the control diet (82.3%) than those fed ECBE‐enriched diets. The lowest fish mortality was observed in fish fed the 15 ECBE/kg diet (4.7%) [Correction added on 16 November 2018: this section has been revised for clarity.].