Excess dietary tryptophan mitigates aflatoxicosis in growing quails

A biological assay was carried out to evaluate the impact of dietary tryptophan (TRP) in aflatoxin B₁‐contaminated diets (AFB₁‐D) on performance, blood parameters, immunity, meat quality and microbial populations of intestine in Japanese quails. Six experimental diets were formulated to include two levels of dietary TRP; 2.9 (moderate high: MH‐TRP) and 4.9 g/kg (excess: Ex‐TRP); and three levels of AFB₁ (0.0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/kg). Each experimental diet was fed to the one of the six groups of birds from 7 to 35 days of age in a completely randomized design with 2 × 3 factorial arrangement. Decrease in feed intake, body weight gain and gain:feed in birds fed 5.0 mg/kg AFB₁‐D was restored to the control level by 4.9 g TRP/kg of the diet. The hepatic enzymes in blood were elevated in quails fed on AFB₁‐D but attenuated by 4.9 g TRP/kg of the diet (Ex‐TRP; p ≤ .01). High serum uric acid in birds challenged with AFB₁ significantly decreased by Ex‐TRP (p ≤ .01). The skin thickness to 2,4‐dinitro‐1‐chlorobenzene challenge suppressed by AFB₁ but increased by Ex‐TRP diet (p ≤ .02). The AFB₁ increased the malondialdehyde in meat, whereas TRP efficiently diminished malondialdehyde production (p ≤ .01). The greatest drip loss and pH in meat were observed in the birds fed 5.0 mg/kg AFB₁‐D but Ex‐TRP augmented the adverse effects of AFB₁ (p ≤ .01). The Ex‐TRP reduced the total microbial and Escherichia coli counts (p ≤ .01). The adverse effect of AFB₁ on ileal Lactic acid bacteria was completely prevented by Ex‐TRP (p ≤ .03). This study showed that tryptophan supplementation could be considered as a powerful nutritional tool to ameliorate the adverse effects of AFB₁ in growing quails.     

Aphid Antixenosis Mediated by Volatiles in Cereals

Abstract

Experimental results indicate the existence of an inducible system that can temporarily help cereal plants to defend themselves against cereal aphids. The induction is released by volatiles emitted when aphids attack a neighbour plant individual. Similar effects are obtained with mildew attacked plants. The system shows moderate specificity and affects the allocation of biomass in the plant.     

A Nondestructive,Remote Sensing-Based Estimation of the Economic Value of Aboveground Temperate Forest Biomass (Case Study: Hyrcanian Forests,Nowshahr-Iran)

ABSTRACT

Background: Traditional field-based methods of measurement of biomass and carbon storage face difficulty in collecting time-consuming and expensive, suggests the use of remote sensing-based techniques. It estimates the economic value of the aboveground biomass (AGB) using satellite remote sensing across the Hyrcanian forests of Iran. Methods: The Landsat-8 OLI sensor data were combined with field-based allometric information of 186 circular sample plots. The AGB was calculated at the plot level using the collected data and specific volumetric mass for species in the studied area. It was followed by calculating the carbon storage using a 50% carbon coefficient and the photosynthesis equation at the forest parcel level. Model results using the random forest and support vector machines. The carbon sequestration value was calculated with USD 25.3 as a shadow value of carbon in 2014 and using the replacement cost approach. Results: The highest performances achieved by RF for biomass, carbon storage and the carbon storage value (Iranian Rials of 0.67% and 16%, respectively). The value was derived once at the plot level of 12.22 million IRR (370.43 USD) per ha. In addition, at the parcel level, which resulted in an estimated value of 12.87 million IRR (390.24 USD) per ha.     

Demonstration of blind quantum computing

Quantum computers, besides offering substantial computational speedups, are also expected to preserve the privacy of a computation. We present an experimental demonstration of blind quantum computing in which the input, computation, and output all remain unknown to the computer. We exploit the conceptual framework of measurement-based quantum computation that enables a client to delegate a computation to a quantum server. Various blind delegated computations, including one- and two-qubit gates and the Deutsch and Grover quantum algorithms, are demonstrated. The client only needs to be able to prepare and transmit individual photonic qubits. Our demonstration is crucial for unconditionally secure quantum cloud computing and might become a key ingredient for real-life applications, especially when considering the challenges of making powerful quantum computers widely available.     

Distal Renal Tubular Acidosis in an Iranian Patient with Hereditary Spherocytosis

Background:Hereditary spherocytosis and hereditary dRTA are associated with mutations in the SLC4A1 gene encoding the AE1. In this study, some patients with clinical evidence of congenital HS and renal symptoms were investigated. Methods:Twelve patients with congenital HS and renal symptoms were recruited from Ali-Asghar Children’s Hospital (Tehran, Iran). A patient suspected of having dRTA was examined using WES method, followed by Sanger sequencing. Results:One patient (HS03) showed severe failure to thrive, short stature, frequent urinary infection, and weakness. A homozygote (rs571376371 for c.2494C>T; p.Arg832Cys) and a heterozygote (rs377051298 for c.466C>T; p.Arg156Trp) missense variant were identified in the SLC4A1 and SPTA1 genes, respectively. The compound heterozygous mutations manifested as idRTA and severe HS in patient HS03. Conclusion:Our observations, for the first time, revealed clinical and genetic characteristics of idRTA and severe HS in an Iranian patient HS03. Key Words: Erythrocyte membrane protein, Hereditary spherocytosis, Hemolytic anemia, Whole-exome sequencing     

Determination of water requirement, single and dual crop coefficients of black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) in a semi-arid climate

Crop coefficients of some plants have been provided by the Food and Agricultural Organization albeit crop coefficients for different medicinal plants such as black cumin (Nigella sativa L.) have not been determined so far. Experiments were carried out during 2 years (2010 and 2011) to determine the water requirements, single and dual crop coefficients of black cumin using drainable lysimeter in a semi-arid region. In this study, black cumin water requirement was determined to be 724 mm by water balance method. The reference evapotranspiration was estimated by Penman–Monteith method. Finally, single and base crop coefficients for initial, development, middle and final stages of black cumin growth were determined to be as 0.59, 0.91, 1.29, 0.78 and 0.24, 0.71, 1.09 0.78, respectively. In order to estimate black cumin evapotranspiration by meteorological parameters, multiple regression models were presented. The results of the study showed that the determination of black cumin water requirements with dual crop coefficients had a less difference as compared to the results obtained from regression model. The total dry matter produced was 9.48 kg/ha per mm of irrigation water applied, seed yield was 3.10 kg/ha per mm of irrigation water applied, and oil content was 31 %.     

Effect of dietary vegetable oils on health and liver histology of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) growers

There is an increasing trend towards the replacement of fish oil (FO) by vegetable oils in feeds for farmed fish, particularly marine carnivores. Previous researches on partial or complete replacement of FO by alternate vegetable oils for young gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) were successful. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of different dietary vegetable oils on seabream growers' health and liver structure. Two dietary vegetable oil blends (Mix 1 and Mix 2), namely sunflower oil, cottonseed oil and either linseed oil (LO) or soybean oil (BO), were tested as 60% FO substitutes versus the 100% FO control (CTR) diet. Three isonitrogenous (∼47% CP) and isolipidic (18.2% L) diets were fed, twice a day, 6 days a week to apparent satiation, to triplicate groups of seabream growers (mean IW, 130.85 g) in PVC tanks. The growth trial lasted for 20 weeks at an average ambient water temperature of 27.0±1.8°C. At the end of the experiment, fish attained market size (300–400 g) and their health status was evaluated by blood analyses, head kidney prints and liver histology. Haemoglobin and haematocrit contents, erythrocyte (RBC) and leucocyte (WBC) count remained significantly unaffected by any dietary treatments. Despite the apparent relatively higher thrombocyte counts for fish fed vegetable oil diets, especially Mix 2 as compared with those of CTR fish, variations were found to be insignificant (P>0.05). However, a slight deformation in erythrocyte shape was noticed in the blood films of fish fed the vegetable oil diets. Inclusion of either dietary vegetable oil blend had also elevated the number of both developing myelocytes and phagocytes in fish head kidney prints examined compared with those of CTR fish particularly for Mix 2 group. Liver from seabream fed vegetable oils showed slightly swelled hepatocytes due to accumulation of oil droplets in the cytoplasm. In the liver sections investigated ultra‐structurally, nuclei and cytoplasmic organelles were shifted towards the cell periphery. Hepatocytes of fish fed Mix 2 diet showed relative shrinkage and picnotic nuclei, compared with those of CTR fish, suggesting an effect on lipid transport and/or metabolism in fish. The comparative hepatic features between experimental fish groups were described. Accordingly, Mix 1 diet (with LO) was considered better than Mix 2 (with BO) in terms of influence on seabream growers' health status.     

A scanner based neural network technique for color matching of dyed cotton with reactive dye

Conventional theory for color matching is Kubelka-Munk, but it fails in some situations. New intelligent procedures such as neural networks could learn the behavior of a complex system and produce accurate prediction. This paper investigates the ability of MLP (multiple layer perceptron) neural network for color matching of cotton fabric. Three reactive dyes, namely Levafix Red CA, Levafix Yellow CA and Levafix Blue CA were used for experiments. The dyed samples were scanned and L * a * b * histogram were extracted. Different neural networks were trained and tested using L * a * b * histogram of fabric’s images and also L * a * b * values (D65, 10°) of fabrics. The results were encouraging. For neural networks including the L * a * b * histogram in input vector, colorants and their concentration were predicted with a mean square error (MSE) less than 10^?5 and an average value of color difference (CMC (1:2)) less than 1.5 for approximately 80 % of testing data.     

Effect of Lavandula angustifolia essential oil against lesser mulberry pyralid Glyphodes pyloalis Walker (Lep: Pyralidae) and identification of its major derivatives

The major constituents of the oil of Lavandula angustifolia Mill were estimated as borneoll (8.57%), alpha terpinene (6.22%), linolool (4.91%) geranyl proprionate (3.76%), butanoic acid hexyl ester (2.99%) and caryophyllene oxide (2.72%). LC₁₀, LC₃₀ and LC₅₀ were estimated as 0.31%, 0.705% and 1.24% respectively. The sublethal concentration (LC₃₀) of essential oil affected the nutritional indices of 4th instar larvae of Glyphodes pyloalis. The essential oil reduced total protein, carbohydrate and lipid when compared with the control. All concentrations (0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%) of essential oil affected the major macromolecules and activities of key enzyme in G. pyloalis.     

Effect of Two Natural Carotenoid Sources in Diets for Gilthead Seabream,Sparus aurata,on Growth and Skin Coloration

To improve the unnatural fade-pigmented skin of cultivated gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, (if shown) the present study was initiated. The effects of either red bell-pepper (Capsicum annum) meal or carrot (Daucus carota) meal as a natural dietary carotenoid source, on growth and skin coloration of gilthead seabream growers were investigated. A basal/control diet (D1/CTR) was firstly formulated to contain 48% crude protein and 14% lipids, with no added-carotenoids. With this basal diet, two other test diets were similarly prepared and supplemented each with about 40mg/Kg total carotenoids from either red-pepper meal (D2) or carrot meal (D3). In a feeding trial, fish (mean IW, 94.86±0.3g) were fed one of the three diets (D1, D2, D3), in triplicates for each treatment, for 6 weeks in light-blue background PVC tanks supplied with natural seawater flow. Total carotenoids content of skin was determined spectrophotometerically at initiation and end of the experiment. Neither growth nor feed utilization were significantly (P<0.05) affected by the red pepper-added diet (D2) as compared to CTR diet. However, the carrot fed fish recorded the lowest and significant (P<0.05) weight gain (g/fish) and specific growth rate (SGR, %/d) among dietary treatments. There were no considerable (P>0.05) differences in major nutrients composition between fish fed the experimental diets. Total carotenoids content was significantly (P<0.05) increased, in the skin-opercle area, of fish fed the red pepper diet (D2) as compared to initial fish and to either carrot fed fish or CTR fish. Results have suggested that gilthead seabream can effectively bio-absorb natural carotenoid pigments (mainly capsansin and capsorbin) in red-pepper but not in carrot (mainly β-and α-carotene).