Effects of Nanofiber Scaffolds Coated with Nanoparticulate and Microparticulate Freeze Dried Bone Allograft on the Morphology,Adhesion, and Proliferation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Background:Freeze dried bone allograft nanoparticles on a nanofiber membrane may serve as an ideal scaffold for bone regeneration. This study aimed to assess the biological behavior of human MSCs in terms of proliferation and adhesion to nanoparticulate and microparticulate FDBA scaffolds on PLLA nanofiber membrane. Methods:In this experimental study, PLLA nanofiber scaffolds were synthesized by the electrospinning method. The FDBA nanoparticles were synthesized mechanically. The FDBA nanoparticles and microparticles were loaded on the surface of PLLA nanofiber membrane. A total of 64 scaffold samples in four groups of n-FDBA/PLLA, FDBA/PLLA, PLLA and control were placed in 24-well polystyrene tissue culture plates; 16 wells were allocated to each group. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and Bonferroni test. Results:The proliferation rate of MSCs was significantly higher in the nanoparticulate group compared to the microparticulate group at five days (p = 0.034). Assessment of cell morphology at 24 hours revealed spindle-shaped cells with a higher number of appendages in the nanoparticulate group compared to other groups. Conclusion:MSCs on n-FDBA/PLLA scaffold were morphologically more active and flatter with a higher number of cellular appendages, as compared to FDBA/PLLA. It seems that the nanoparticulate scaffold is superior to the microparticulate scaffold in terms of proliferation, attachment, and morphology of MSCs in vitro.Key Words: Allografts, Bone regeneration, Mesenchymal stem cells, Nanofibers     

Use of Recombinant CP2 and CP23 Antigens of Cryptosporidium parvum for Serodiagnosis of Human Cryptosporidiosis

Background: Cryptosporidium parvum is an important coccidian parasite infecting many mammals, including human. This parasite can manifest as chronic severe diarrhea in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with AIDS. The present study reports the recombinant production of rP2 and rP23 antigens of C. parvum as antigens for detecting human cryptosporidiosis using indirect ELISA tests. Methods:The coding sequences of rP2 and rP23 proteins were codon-optimized, commercially synthesized and sub-cloned in the pET28a expression vector. The expressed proteins were purified by Ni-NTA column chromatography and confirmed by Western blotting. The efficacy of rP2/rP23 proteins for serodiagnosis was evaluated by positive (n = 20) and negative (n = 20) human sera, confirmed by the Ziehl-Neelsen staining as the gold standard test. Results:In ELISA test, the sera from C. parvum-infected patients reacted strongly to rP2/rP23. The sensitivity and specificity related to the diagnostic potential of rP2/rP23 in the ELISA assay were 100%. Conclusion:Our results showed that combination of rP23 and rP2 antigens in ELISA significantly increases the performance of C. parvum serodiagnosis in human cryptosporidiosis. Key Words: Cryptosporidiosis, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Western blotting     

Nutritive value of sorghum silage for sheep

This study compared ensiled sorghum (ES) from two varieties (first and second cuts) with corn silage (CS) for chemical analysis, total-tract nutrient digestibility, ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites in sheep. Five experimental silages representing first cut ES var. Pegah (PS1), second cut ES var. Pegah (PS2), first cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS1), second cut ES var. Speedfeed (SS2) and CS were assessed for chemical analysis, silage fermentation and anti-quality compounds. Diets consisted of lucerne hay, silage and a premix (at the ratio of 53.5:46:0.5 on a dry matter [DM] basis). Feed consumption, total-tract nutrient digestibility, microbial nitrogen supply (MNS), ruminal variables and blood biochemistry metabolites were determined in a Latin square design of five periods with five male sheep. Compared to sorghum, CS had lower (p < 0.01) concentrations of ash, water-soluble carbohydrates and crude protein, but higher starch, lignin (sa), non-structural carbohydrates and apparent nutrient digestibility. The measurements of pH, lactic acid, NH₃-N and volatile fatty acids (VFA) confirmed that all silages were well-preserved. The anti-quality compound levels in the silages were below the safe limits for ruminants. No differences were observed in feed consumption (p > 0.05) and total-tract digestibility of DM and nutrients (p > 0.05). Rumen pH, NH₃-N, VFA concentrations and acetate to propionate ratio showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Sheep fed on sorghum silage showed a decrease (p < 0.01) in total protozoa, and particularly in the Entodiniae population. There were no differences in cellulolytic bacteria counts (p > 0.05) among treatments. Urinary N, MNS and blood biochemistry metabolites showed no difference among treatments (p > 0.05). Silages from both cuts of sorghum had comparable total-tract nutrient digestibility to CS, therefore, these varieties could be used as a more drought resilient silage source in the feeding of sheep.     

Consequences of ignoring variable and spatially autocorrelated detection probability in spatial capture-recapture

Landscape Ecology - Spatial capture-recapture (SCR) models are increasingly popular for analyzing wildlife monitoring data. SCR can account for spatial heterogeneity in detection that arises from...     

Investigating the reduction of sodium adsorption ratio from agricultural waste by rice husk in batch scale and physical model of drain envelop

Sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) is one of the water quality indexes that whose is important due to reuse or depletion to environment. Solutes in drain water can be controlled by adsorption, chemical or biological reaction, organic envelope of drainage. Rice husk is the common option of drainage envelops in paddy fields. In this study, the ability of reduction of SAR by rice husk was evaluated in batch scale and physical model of drain envelops. In the batch experiments, the adsorption of SAR parameters was investigated by adding 2 g of rice husk into a 100 ml of sodium chloride solution. The results indicated that rice husk absorbed calcium, magnesium and sodium, respectively. By increasing the temperature, contact time and pH, adsorption of calcium, magnesium and sodium was increased; however, the higher concentration of sodium in soil solution reduced the percentage of adsorption. In a more realistic state, physical models of subsurface drainage in the paddy fields were made. Drainage envelope treatments included of rice husk (H), combination of 20 and 60 % of husk with gravel (H₂₀G₈₀ and H₆₀G₄₀) and a pipe without envelope (NE). Due to higher drain discharge and more sodium removal (lower SAR in drain water), treatment H with the discharge of 16.2 ml/min and SAR of 1.27 (meq/l)^0.5 was better in comparison with other treatments.     

伊朗里海森林山坡上生长的欧洲鹅耳根系分布和抗张强度研究

对生长在伊朗北部丘陵地带的8株欧洲鹅耳的根面积比率和根系拉伸强度进行了测定,评估了欧洲鹅耳根系生物力学特性。应用剖面挖掘法测得土层深度为0．1米的样品根面积比率。共用了123份根样品分析根系拉伸强度。结果表明,根面积比率随土层深度增加而减小,变化规律遵从幂函数;上坡面和下坡面根面积比率无统计差别。根系可达到的最大土层深度为0．75米,但是最大根面积比率存在于土层深度0．1米内。下坡面最小和最大根面积比率分别为0．004％和6．431％;而上坡面的根面积比率分别为0．004％和3．995％。上、下坡面根数无显著差异,而且90％以上的根系深入到50-60厘米的土层中。Spearman双变量相关性分析结果表明,根面积比率与根数无显著关系。平均根拉伸强度为31．51&#177;1．05MPa,且根系直径越粗根拉伸强度越小,遵从幂函数变化。图5表1参38。     

Normal haematopoiesis,cellular components and stainable iron content in the bone marrow of camels (Camelus dromedarius)

Bone marrow samples were collected from the ribs of 20 healthy adult male Iranian camels (Camelus dromedarius). The bone marrow smears were stained using Wright's stain. Blood samples were collected at the same time for routine haematological examination. The development and morphology of the blood cells in the bone marrow of the camels were similar to those of other domestic species. The mean myeloid/erythroid ratio was 1.21, the mean erythroid percentage was 42.7% and the mean myeloid percentage was 52.0%. The mean percentage of other cells was 5.3%. The mean percentage of eosinophils in the myeloid series was higher than in other domestic species. Iron stores, estimated from Perl's stain, ranged from scant (1+) to moderate (3+) but most samples had 2+ iron content. All peripheral blood results were within reference ranges.     

Genetic diversity of Syrian pistachio (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia vera</Emphasis> L.) varieties evaluated by AFLP markers

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is a strategic nut tree species in the Middle East which holds comparative advantage over other fruit trees in view of its hardiness, income generation opportunities and benefits for the ecosystem. Yet pistachio cultivation depends on a very narrow genetic base, in spite of the existence of many varieties still marginally exploited. Syria is an important center of diversity for pistachio. A country wide ecogeographic survey in this country was carried out to determine the extent of pistachio genetic diversity and its use. As a whole, 114 accessions were collected from 37 farms to assess diversity at morphological and molecular level. Molecular evaluation was carried out using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) technique and performed using seven primer pair combinations. Results from the studies allowed the identification of 25 pistachio female varieties in Syria, some of which unique and described for the first time. Three groups of pistachio diversity were identified by cluster analysis which provides useful information about the distribution of genetic diversity in Syria for enhanced use and sustainable conservation.