A survey on hydatidosis in livestock in Northern Iran based on data collected from slaughterhouses from 2004 to 2008

Data have been collected from slaughterhouses in three provinces across the Northern Iran (Gilan, Mazandaran and Golestan) from March 2004 to March 2008. These data were collected to evaluate the prevalence of hydatidosis in slaughtered cattle, sheep and goats. During the study, 3,347,797 animals were slaughtered. These included 621,686 cattle, 1,719,725 sheep and 1,006,386 goats. The prevalence of infection in cattle, sheep and goats was 12%, 14.6% and 10.1%, respectively. The association of condemnation rates with seasons was not proven statistically.     

Effect of organic and conventional crop rotation, fertilization, and crop protection practices on metal contents in wheat (Triticum aestivum)

The effects of organic versus conventional crop management practices (crop rotation, crop protection, and fertility management strategies) on wheat yields and grain metal (Al, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) concentrations were investigated in a long-term field trial. The interactions between crop management practices and the season that the crop was grown were investigated using univariate and redundancy analysis approaches. Grain yields were highest where conventional fertility management and crop protection practices were used, but growing wheat after a previous crop of grass/clover was shown to partially compensate for yield reductions due to the use of organic fertility management. All metals except for Pb were significantly affected by crop management practices and the year that the wheat was grown. Grain Cd and Cu levels were higher on average when conventional fertility management practices were used. Al and Cu were higher on average when conventional crop protection practices were used. The results demonstrate that there is potential to manage metal concentrations in the diet by adopting specific crop management practices shown to affect crop uptake of metals.     

Analysis of genetic diversity among some Persian walnut genotypes (Juglans regia L.) using morphological traits and SSRs markers

There is a high diversity among cultivated walnut trees in Iran due to its long time of seed propagation and vast area of cultivation. In this study some morphological characters as well as Simple Sequence Repeat (SSRs) markers were used to analyze the genetic diversity and relationships among 31 Iranian walnut genotypes along with four foreign cultivars. The nut weight ranged from 7.52 to 17.73 g, kernel weight from 4.00 to 9.83 g, and kernel percentage ratio from 38.78 to 67.05% among studied genotypes. In SSRs analysis, nine primer pairs were tested that produced 39 alleles ranging from 2 to 8, with a mean value of 5.10 allele per primer. The Iranian genotypes showed relatively high diversity both for their SSRs loci and morphological traits. Although the foreign cultivars (‘Serr’, ‘Vina’, ‘Franquette’ and ‘Lara’) clustered with each other, they also laid close and within the Iranian genotype. The results of the study provided us with valuable diversity among our genotypes which could be used for breeding studies and also showed the power of genetic markers for analysis and evaluation of this diversity.     

Genetic diversity and phylogenetic analysis in Asian and European Asparagus subgenus species

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - Garden asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is a diploid (2n?=?2x?=?20), perennial and dioecious species belonging to Asparagus...     

Impact of succinic anhydride on the properties of jute fiber/polypropylene biocomposites

Chemical treatment is an often-followed route to improve the physical and mechanical properties of natural fiber reinforced polymer matrix composites. In this study, the effect of chemical treatment on physical and mechanical properties of jute fiber reinforced polypropylene (PP) biocomposites with different fiber loading (5, 10, 15, and 20 wt%) were investigated. Before being manufactured jute fiber/PP composite, raw jute fiber was chemically treated with succinic anhydride for the chemical reaction with cellulose hydroxyl group of fiber and to increase adhesion and compatibility to the polymer matrix. Jute fiber/PP composites were fabricated using high voltage hot compression technique. Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) tests were employed to evaluate the morphological properties of composite. Succinic anhydride underwent a chemical reaction with raw jute fiber which was confirmed through FTIR results. SEM micrographs of the fractured surface area were taken to study the fiber/matrix interface adhesion and compatibility. Reduced fiber agglomeration and improved interfacial bonding was observed under SEM in the case of treated jute fiber/PP composites. The mechanical properties of jute/PP composite in terms of Tensile strength and Young’s modulus was found to be increased with fiber loading up to 15 wt% and decreased at 20 wt%. Conversely, flexural strength and flexural modulus increased with fiber loading up to 10 wt% and start decreasing at 15 wt%. The treated jute/PP composite samples had higher hardness (Rockwell) and lower water absorption value compared to that of the untreated ones.     

Towards Well-aligned electrospun PAN/MWCNTs composite nanofibers: Design,fabrication, and development

A proper collector is designed and examined in electrospinning process to produce electrospun nanofibers with favored mechanical propertied. The quality of product was controlled by changing and optimizing the process variables, namely electrospinning time, gap distance, and collector rotating speed in a manner that well-aligned yarns were fabricated from polyacrylonitrile (PAN) dilute solutions. It was found that the tensile characteristics of fabricated yarns are greatly dependent on the process variables. Incorporation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) into the polymer solution revealed improvement to the yarn strength because of enhancement in alignment of the filaments. The state of fiber alignment and dispersion of MWCNTs were detected by means of scanning electron microscopy. It was illustrated that combination of nanofibers and microfibers gives PAN/MWCNTs composite nanofibers with high surface area and high porosity to satisfy sophisticated users.     

Relationship Between Grazing Intensity and Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Artemisia Sieberi Besser Essential Oil Compounds in Kashan Province of Iran

The relationship between grazing intensity and qualitative and quantitative changes in Artemisia sieberi Besser essential oil compounds in Kashan province of Iran was evaluated in this study. For this purpose, vegetation sites of Artemisia sieberi under three grazing intensities (heavy, moderate, and ungrazed) with the same ecological conditions based on the distance to the water resource were selected in Kashan-Ghamsar road rangelands and near Natural Essential Oils Institute, University of Kashan, Iran. Within each site, individual plants were sampled at random in the full flowering stage in a completely randomized (CR) design with three replications. The oils were extracted by hydrodistillation of the air-dried samples and were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents of the oils were as follows: ungrazed site; 1,8-cineol (29.9%), myrcene (14.1%), moderate grazed site; myrcene (15.9%), 1,8cineol (15.1%), Eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol (11.1%), and heavy grazed site; 4-tepinyl acetate (23.3%), davanone (21.9%), p-cymene (19%). Among the compounds from the three sites, 4 thepenyl acetat allocated the highest amount in heavy grazed site. The analysis of essential oils showed that there were significant quantitative and qualitative differences found within the natural populations under the three different grazing sites.     

A potent and broad neutralizing antibody recognizes and penetrates the HIV glycan shield

The HIV envelope (Env) protein gp120 is protected from antibody recognition by a dense glycan shield. However, several of the recently identified PGT broadly neutralizing antibodies appear to interact directly with the HIV glycan coat. Crystal structures of antigen-binding fragments (Fabs) PGT 127 and 128 with Man(9) at 1.65 and 1.29 angstrom resolution, respectively, and glycan binding data delineate a specific high mannose-binding site. Fab PGT 128 complexed with a fully glycosylated gp120 outer domain at 3.25 angstroms reveals that the antibody penetrates the glycan shield and recognizes two conserved glycans as well as a short β-strand segment of the gp120 V3 loop, accounting for its high binding affinity and broad specificity. Furthermore, our data suggest that the high neutralization potency of PGT 127 and 128 immunoglobulin Gs may be mediated by cross-linking Env trimers on the viral surface.     

Improved model for studying hydrological process in the field-to-field irrigation system

Paddy and Water Environment - One of the common irrigation systems in the paddy fields is field-to-field irrigation. The management of these irrigation systems is difficult and essential because of...     

Sonosynthesis of cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) from kenaf fiber: Effects of processing parameters

This study optimizes the isolation parameters of cellulose nanoparticles (CNP) from kenaf fiber using central composite design (CCD). The extraction of CNP was based on three stages (i.e. 3 factors). The independent variables (factors) were NaOH dosage, amount of NaClO₂, and sonication time, while the dependent variables (response) were CNP size quality and degradation temperature. Later, size quality responses were fitted with a quadratic polynomial model and degradation point responses with a 2-factor interaction model (2FI). The quadratic model and 2FI models resulted R² values of 0.95 and 0.79, respectively. In addition, the morphological, thermal analysis, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated a progressive removal of non-cellulosic constituents. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed reduction in fiber diameter from ~170 μm to ~100 nm. The optimal parameters for extraction of CNP were found to be 0.2 g of NaOH/4 g of fiber at first stage, 5 ml of NaClO₂/4 g of fiber at the second stage, and 20 min of sonication period during the third stage. Moreover, obtained cellulose nanoparticles were thermally more stable at higher temperature.