Non-parametric measures of phenotypic stability in chickpea genotypes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cicer arietinum</Emphasis> L.)

Multi-environment trials (MET) play an important role in selecting the best cultivars and/or agronomic practices to be used in future years at different locations by assessing a cultivar's stability across environments before its commercial release. Objective of this study is to identify chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) genotypes that have high yield and stable performance across different locations. The genotypes were developed by various breeders at different research institutes/stations of Iran and the International Center for Agricultural Research in Dray Areas (ICARDA), Syria. Several statistical methods were used to evaluate phenotypic stability of these test chickpea genotypes. The 17 genotypes were tested at six different research stations for two years in Iran. Three non-parametric statistical test of significance for genotype × environment (GE) interaction and ten nonparametric measures of stability analyses were used to identify stable genotypes across the 16 environments. The non-parametric measures (Kubinger, Hildebrand and Kroon/Van der) for G × E interaction were highly significant (P < 0.01), suggesting differential responses of the genotypes to the test environments. Based on high values of nonparametric superiority measure (Fox et al. 1990) and low values of Kang's (1988) rank-sum stability parameters, Flip 94-123C was identified as the most stable genotype. These non parametric parameters were observed to be associated with high mean yield. However, the other nonparametric methods were not positively correlated with mean yield and were therefore not used in classifying the genotypes. Simple correlation coefficients using Spearman’s rank correlation, calculated using ranks was used to measure the relationship between the stability parameters. To understand the nature of relationships among the nonparametric methods, a hierarchical cluster analysis based on non weighted values of genotypes, was performed. The 10 stability parameters fell into three groups.     

Effect of bright light on shift work nurses in hospitals

The aim of this study are to assess, in a hospital setting, the effects of Bright Light (BL) on the rhythms in body temperature, plasma melatonin, plasma cortisol and subjective alertness during shift work. In our experimental design, 34 healthy shift work nurses from a university hospital were exposed to bright light (4500 lux) during two break times (21:15 to 22; 00 and 3:15 to 4:00) for four consecutive weeks. In this survey, the subjects were studied under 24 h of realistic conditions during which their plasma cortisol and plasma melatonin was measured at 3 h intervals. In addition, their body temperatures were measured during and after night shift work. Subjective alertness and fatigue were evaluated with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS) and Visual Analog Scale (VOI). It was found that bright light administration significantly suppressed nighttime melatonin levels during night shift, most strongly at 2:00 a.m. A one-way ANOVA, with repeated measurement design, revealed that Bright Light (BL) tended to increase cortisol levels and body temperature and improved alertness significantly during night shift. These results demonstrate that photic stimulation in a hospital setting can have a powerful influence on the adjustment of the circadian system.     

Effects of linalool on physiological responses of Cyprinus carpio (Linnaeus, 1758) and water physico‐chemical parameters during transportation

This study investigated the potential of linalool as an anaesthetic during transportation of common carp, Cyprinus carpio. The fish were transported at a loading density of ~103 g/L for 3 hr in 12 plastic bags (3 L water and 6 L pure oxygen) divided into four triplicated treatments: control (without linalool), L50 (50 mg linalool/L), L100 (100 mg linalool/L) and L200 (200 mg linalool/L). After 3‐hr transportation, serum physiological responses and water physico‐chemical parameters were compared among the treatments. Results showed that water total and un‐ionized ammonia increased and dissolved oxygen decreased in all treatments after transportation. Water total ammonia and dissolved oxygen levels in the linalool‐treated bags were significantly lower than the control. After transportation, the control fish showed significant elevation in serum cortisol and glucose levels; however, the levels were significantly lower than the linalool‐treated fish. All fish showed similar serum lactate levels, significantly lower than the value obtained before transportation. The control fish showed serum urea levels similar to the level obtained before transportation; however, the linalool‐treated fish had significantly higher serum urea levels compared to the control and before transportation levels. After transportation, all fish had decreased serum chloride and sodium levels compared to the before transport level. Overall, the present results showed that linalool is not beneficial for carp transportation in plastic bags, because it reacts with water oxygen, increases stress in fish, interferes with ammonia excretion and has no benefits in preventing ion loss.     

Cecal torsion in a six month old holstein-friesian steer

The clinical examination of a six month old Holstein-Friesian steer with a history of bloat and anorexia revealed a distended viscus in the right flank. At surgery, the distended viscus was found to be the cecum which was about 1.37 m (4.5 feet) long and more than 30 cm (one foot) in diameter. A counter-clockwise torsion of about 360° (viewing from the right flank) involving the proximal portion of spiral colon was detected. A cecatomy was performed and a large quantity of rapeseed was removed. The torsion was reduced and the animal appeared to make an uneventful recovery but died suddenly six weeks later.     

Mechanical and thermal properties of recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) reinforced newspaper fiber composites

This study presents the mechanical and thermal properties of environment-friendly composites made from recycled newspaper fibers reinforced recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (rPET) resin with the addition of styrene-ethylene-butylene-styrene grafted maleic anhydride (SEBS-g-MA) as compatibilizer. The effect of SEBS-g-MA addition (i.e., 10 phr) by using a twin-screw extruder to the rPET resin, followed by different fiber content (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) on the tensile, flexural and impact properties of the composites were determined. Stiffness of composites increased significantly compared to those of rPET/SEBS-g-MA blend. Fiber addition resulted in moderate increases in both tensile and flexural strength of the composites. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) photomicrographs of the impact fracture surfaces demonstrate good adhesion at 5 and 10 % fiber content. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed that the presence of newspaper fibers enhanced the nonisothermal crystallization kinetics and crystallinity. Thermal stability of the composites was improved as indicated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).     

Stability of performance in lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes in Iran

The development of genotypes, which can be adapted to a wide range of diversified environment, is the ultimate goal of plant breeders in a crop improvement program. In this study, several stability methods were used to evaluate the genotype by environment interaction (GE) in 11 lentil (Lens culinaris Medik) genotypes. The genotypes were evaluated for grain yield at 4 different locations for 3 years in semi arid areas of Iran. The testing locations have different climatic and edaphic conditions providing the conditions necessary for the assessment of stability. A combined analysis of variance, stability statistics, rank correlations among stability statistics and yield stability statistic were determined. Significant differences were detected between genotypes and their GE interactions. Different univariate stability parameters were used to determine stability of the studied genotypes. The level of association among the parameters was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation. The different stability statistics which measured the different aspects of stability was substantiated by rank correlation coefficient. Rank-correlation coefficients between yield and some stability parameters were highly significant. Genotypes mean yield (Mean) was significantly correlated to the Lin and Binns stability parameter PI (r = 0.93^{* *}í) and desirability index Di (r = 0.89^{* *}í). A principal component analysis based on rank correlation matrix was performed for grouping the different stability parameters studied. In conclusion, based on most stability parameters, the genotypes G2, G5 and G9 were found to be the most stable. Results from rank correlation and principal component analysis showed that the stability variance (σ_i ²) was strongly correlated with Wricke's ecovalance, stability parameters of Plaisted and Peterson, and Plaisted.     

Candesartan Attenuates Ischemic Brain Edema and Protects the Blood–Brain Barrier Integrity from Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Background: Angiotensin II (Ang II) has an important role on cerebral microcirculation; however, its direct roles in terms of ischemic brain edema need to be clarified. This study evaluated the role of central Ang II by using candesartan, as an AT1 receptor blocker, in the brain edema formation and blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries in rat. Methods: Rats were exposed to 60-min middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. Vehicle and non-hypotensive doses of candesartan (0.1 mg/kg) were administered one hour before ischemia. Neurological dysfunction scoring was evaluated following 24 h of reperfusion. Animals were then decapitated under deep anesthesia for the assessments of cerebral infarct size, edema formation, and BBB permeability. Results: The outcomes of 24 h reperfusion after 60-min MCA occlusion were severe neurological disability, massive BBB disruption (Evans blue extravasation = 12.5 ± 1.94 µg/g tissue), 4.02% edema, and cerebral infarction (317 ± 21 mm³). Candesartan at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg, without changing arterial blood pressure, improved neurological dysfunction scoring together with significant reductions in BBB disruption (54.9%), edema (59.2%), and cerebral infarction (54.9%). Conclusions: Inactivation of central AT1 receptors, if not accompanied with arterial hypotension, protected cerebral micro-vasculatures from damaging effects of acute stroke. Key Words: Blood–brain barrier, Brain edema, AT1 receptor, Candesartan     

Effects of electromagnetic fields on mental health of the staff employed in gas power plants, Shiraz, 2009

The aims of this study are to assess, in a power station in Shiraz, the effects of noise and electromagnetic field on psychological mood. By the great industrial and technological improvements human beings have been exposed to different types of physical and chemical factors. Some of these factors such as electromagnetism are known as the constant components of the environment. According to the studies carried out in one of the power stations in Shiraz, psychological disorders caused by jobs are among the most important problems of the workers. This study is performed to determine the presence or absence of these psychological disorders. This cross-sectional study is performed on these groups : (1) The gas power plant staff who were in contact with electromagnetic field and nose, (2) employees who were only exposed to noise and (3) a group of staff employed in the administrative parts of the Telecommunication companies who did not have any history of being exposed to electromagnetic field and sounds. The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is used in this study to recognize psychosomatic disorders. Measurements indicate that range of electromagnetic field varies from 0.087 micro Tesla in the phone homes to 30 micro Tesla in power stations. The results of this study has shown that a significant number of staff which were exposed to electromagnetic fields and noise (78.2%) were suspected to have a kind of mental disorders. The results obtained from this study which shows the prevalence of mental disorders among the suspected case is higher than the results of Noorbala and colleagues study in 2006.