Subacute chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes and the protective effects of catechin and quercetin

This study examined the effects of chlorpyrifos in the rat erythrocyte antioxidant system and evaluated the ameliorating effects of catechin and quercetin on the oxidative damage induced by chlorpyrifos. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given chlorpyrifos (5.4 mg/kg, 1/25 of the oral LD₅₀), catechin (20 mg/kg), quercetin (20 mg/kg), catechin plus chlorpyrifos, and quercetin plus chlorpyrifos daily via gavage for four weeks. No statistical differences were found in the catechin-only and quercetin-only groups compared with the control group. By the end of the fourth week, chlorpyrifos alone increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities compared with the control group in rat erythrocytes. In the catechin-plus-chlorpyrifos and quercetin-plus-chlorpyrifos groups, there were statistically significantly decreased MDA levels and increased SOD, CAT, and GPx activities compared with the chlorpyrifos-only group. Thus, it appears that catechin and quercetin ameliorate chlorpyrifos-induced oxidative stress in rat erythrocytes in vivo.     

Assessment of ZN Interaction with Nutrient Cations in Alkaline Soil and its Effect on Plant Growth

An experiment was conducted to assess the zinc (Zn) availability to wheat in alkaline soils during Rabi 2009–2010. Wheat seedlings in pots having 2 kg alkaline sandy soil per pot were treated with 5, 10 and 15 kg Zn ha^?1 as soil and with 0.5 and 1.0% zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) as foliar application. Results showed that Zn increasing levels in soil helped in phosphorus uptake up to boot stage but its conversion to grain portion lacked in Zn treated plants. Potassium (K) uptake also increased up to 6.24% in boot stage with treatment of 10 kg Zn ha^?1 + 1.0% ZnSO₄ foliar spray. Zinc (Zn) concentration increased in plant tissues with the increasing level of Zn application but this disturbed the phosphorus (P)-Zn interaction and, thus, both of the nutrients were found in lesser quantities in grains compared to the control. Despite of the apparent sufficient Zn level in soil (1.95 mg kg^?1), improvement in growth and yield parameters with Zn application indicate that the soil was Zn deplete in terms of plant available Zn. The above findings suggest that the figure Zn sufficiency in alkaline soil (1.0 mg kg^?1) should be revised in accordance to the nature and type of soils. Furthermore, foliar application of Zn up to 1.0% progressively increased yield but not significantly; and it was recommended that higher concentrations might be used to confirm foliar application of Zn as a successful strategy for increasing plant zinc levels.     

Evaluation of bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model

The aim of this study was to investigate bee venom and hyaluronic acid in the intra-articular treatment of osteoarthritis in an experimental rabbit model. Forty-five rabbits were used and they were randomly divided into three groups (BVI, BVII, and HA) and each group was divided to two subgroups to evaluate the radiologic, magnetic resonance imaging, histopathologic, and biochemical evaluation in post treatment second week (a) and twelfth week (b). Radiologically, a significant difference was observed in the HA group (P<0.05). The MRI evaluation of at any time in group BVI(b) was found to be different. No significant differences were seen between the groups, biochemically. Histopathologically, cellularity, and orthochromasia was evident with Safranin-O in the BVI(b) and BVII(a); adhesions were seen in the BVII(a) group and clustering of chondrocyte in the HA(b) group were found to be different. Consequently, intra-articular application of HA and BV for experimental model of osteoarthritis has no significant influence upon recovery after therapy.     

Alpha basic crystallin expression in canine mammary tumors

The aim of this study was to evaluate prognostic and/or diagnostic factors of canine mammary tumors by immunohistochemically analyzing the expression of alpha basic crystallin (αB-c). For this, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of 51 naturally-occurring canine mammary tumors (11 benign and 40 malignant) were used. Tissue from eight normal canine mammary glands were served as a control. Immunohistochemically, in the control mammary tissues, a few luminal epithelial cells were αB-c positive but myoepithelial cells were negative. In benign or simple type malignant tumors, αB-c expression was observed in luminal epithelial cells while the myoepithelial basal cells were negative. In benign or complex type malign tumors, positive staining was predominantly found in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells. Immunoreactivity of αB-c was also observed in neoplastic myoepithelial cells. Statistically, the number of cells immunolabeled with αB-c was found to be significantly different among tissues from normal canine mammary glands, benign lesions, and malignant tumors (p < 0.05). αB-c immunoreactivity was higher in malignant tumors than the control mammary tissues (p < 0.001). Data obtained in the current study revealed a strong association between high expression levels of αB-c and primary mammary gland tumors in canines.     

Interaction of Crop Load and Irrigation on Yield,Fruit Size,Color and Stem-end Splitting Ratio of Apple c.v. ‘Gala,Galaxy’

In this study, the interaction between crop load and irrigation level on yield, fruit size, skin color and stem-end splitting fruit ratio in the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ grafted on rootstock M9 were investigated. Six irrigation programs were applied during the whole growth season: deficit irrigation (rates of 0.25 kc, 0.50 kc, 0.75 kc), full irrigation (rate of 1.00 kc), excess irrigation (rate of 1.25 kc) and non-irrigation (rates of 0.00 kc of “Class A” pan evaporation coefficient). Four crop loads in each irrigation application were performed by hand thinning after the June drop as a- a low crop load (3 fruits cm^?2 TCA), b- a medium crop load (5 fruits cm^?2 TCA), c- a heavy crop load (7 fruits cm^?2 TCA), and d- an un-thinned crop load (>?7 fruits cm^?2 TCA). The total tree yield increased with crop load and irrigation levels. Fruit size was significantly increased by the low crop load. Irrigation increased the fruit size compared to non-irrigation treatment. Further 0.75 kc, 1.00 kc and 1.25 kc irrigation treatments significantly increased the fruit length. Irrigation reduced the fruit flesh firmness. While the low crop load increased the skin red color, it decreased the fruit skin brightness. The yellowness of skin decreased with increasing in the irrigation amount. Irrigation reduced the skin brightness and yellowness, but it increased red color. Crop load and irrigation significantly affected the stem-end splitting fruit ratio. While the splitting fruit ratio increased with a decrease in the crop load, it decreased with an increase in irrigation amount, relatively. Consequently, the low and medium crop load treatments would be beneficial to increase the ratio of marketable fruits without any significant losses in yield for ‘Gala’ apple, especially under 0.75 kc deficit irrigation treatment.     

Effects of Irrigation Frequency on Yield and Quality Parameters in Apple c.v. ‘Gala,Galaxy’

This study was conducted in 2007 and 2008 in order to determine the effects of irrigation frequency on the yield and quality parameters of dwarf trees of the apple cultivar ‘Gala, Galaxy’ in the first and second year of cultivation. Irrigation water was applied at 3?, 5?, 7?, and 10-day intervals as much as the amount of water consumed from the field capacity. Statistical analysis revealed that the effects of irrigation frequency on yield were significant. Since the trees used in the experiment showed mainly vegetative growth, the effects of irrigation frequency on the fruit quality characteristics varied. Irrigation water amount was applied as 355.7–446.5 mm and 359.2–538.9 mm to the experimental treatments in 2007 and 2008, respectively. The evapotranspiration measured was in the range 400.7–491.5 mm in 2007 but in the range 440.2–600.5 mm in 2008, while the yields in the same years ranged from 1.54 to 2.84 t ha^?1 and from 2.61 to 6.06 t ha^?1. Water use efficiency varied between 2.40 and 4.80 t ha^?1mm^?1 in the first year of the experiment but between 3.45 and 7.08 t ha^?1mm^?1 in the second year. The I₂ treatment, in which the highest yield and water use efficiency were recorded in both years of the experiment under the experimental conditions, was determined as the irrigation scheduling.     

Influence of different microalgal diets on gonadal development of the carpet shell clam <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ruditapes decussatus</Emphasis> broodstock

Studies considering broodstock conditioning of Ruditapes decussatus mostly used flagellates and diatoms for feeding, mainly Isochrysis galbana and Chaetoceros calcitrans, respectively. The present study evaluated the effect of different microalgal diets on gonadic maturation of R. decussatus including three microalgae species (C. calcitrans, Tetraselmis suecica, and Nannochloropsis oculata) which were used to prepare six diets: three monospecific and three bispecific mixed diets at a proportion of 1:1. Clams were daily fed at a ratio of 1% dry weight of algae/live weight of clam and unfed treatment was used as control. Results showed that clams fed C. calcitrans alone or mixed with T. suecica attained earlier full maturity with the highest response to spawning induction (after 34 conditioning days) and largest proportion in the partial spawning phase for both, followed by T. suecica alone after 48 days. In contrast, N. oculata alone or mixed diets demonstrated poor performance for gonadal maturation. Unfed treatment did not show any sign of maturation. The results indicated that T. suecica has high conditioning potential like C. calcitrans and their mixture gave the highest benefit. Therefore, T. suecica can be recommended for R. decussatus broodstock conditioning.     

Information fusion in aquaculture: a state-of the art review

Efficient fish feeding is currently one of biggest challenges in aquaculture to enhance the production of fish quality and quantity. In this review, an information fusion approach was used to integrate multi-sensor and computer vision techniques to make fish feeding more efficient and accurate. Information fusion is a well-known technology that has been used in different fields of artificial intelligence, robotics, image processing, computer vision, sensors and wireless sensor networks. Information fusion in aquaculture is a growing field of research that is used to enhance the performance of an “industrialized” ecosystem. This review study surveys different fish feeding systems using multi-sensor data fusion, computer vision technology, and different food intake models. In addition, different fish behavior monitoring techniques are discussed, and the parameters of water, pH, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, temperature etc., necessary for the fish feeding process, are examined. Moreover, the different waste management and fish disease diagnosis techniques using different technologies, expert systems and modeling are also reviewed.