Search

Embryonic and larval development stages of yellow fin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) were studied in two average temperatures (21 and 24°C) in Marine Fish Research Center in Emam Khomeini Port. Egg diameter in initiation of fertilization was 739.35±0.0081m and during final hatching it was 792.36±0.0095m. The average egg diameter from fertilization until final hatching was 763.49±0.0016m. The average egg diameter was 751.81±0.0064m inmurola stage, 767.55±0.0074m in nurula stage, 779.97±0.0084m in appearance of heart stage and 780.84±0.0086 in the increasing of pigmentation stage. Duration of egg incubation and embryo development of yellow fin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) was 31 hours and 15 minutes at 20±1oC and 26 hours and 15 minutes at 23±1oC. In this study, 20 stages of embryo development of yellow fin seabream were identified through incubation period from fertilization to final hatching. It seems that water temperature can be an effective environmental factor in the fish embryo development, so that hatching at 20±1oC occurred in 5 hours later than when at 20±1oC. Temperature change had no effect on the number of larvae and characteristics of embryo development. The information gathered through this study is useful when planning for artificial reproduction of this commercial species and can improve the propagation process.

In this study, Fe–Al2O3 composite cladding is fabricated on the carbon steel AISI 1040 (CK40) substrates by the cost-effective process of gas tungsten arc welding. For this purpose, after milling, Fe–Al2O3 composite powders were placed on the steel surface through the sodium silicate binder. After the surface was dried, under a constant voltage and current in a range of 110 to 180 A, the melting and the fabrication of the surface composite were carried out. For non-destructive investigations, samples were analyzed by radiographic testing which showed that there are no cracks in the surface layer created and Al2O3 particles are distributed uniformly in the surface layer. Microstructural examinations by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction proved the presence of a pure Fe–Al2O3 phase in the surface layer. Microscopic images showed coaxial fine grains in the weld metal, which can be caused by a thermal gradient between the weld metal and substrates and rapid solidification. Increasing the current due to enhanced input heat leads to a reduction of the grain size and an increase of dramatic micro hardness that leads to agglomeration of Al2O3 particles and reduction of the quality of the cladding layer. The purpose of this research is to achieve optimal parameters of claddings to attain specific objectives of engineering by using steel via an inexpensive supplementary method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that reduces crop productivity in arid and semiarid soils. About 25% of the country's arable land is affected by different levels of salt. A considerable part of this land is under wheat cultivation each year as the country's most important crop. ACC deaminase producing bacteria increase plant resistance to stress condition by reducing stress ethylene in a variety of environmental stresses such as salinity. In this study, 167 halotolerant bacterial strains were isolated from the saline habitats and screened for growth at different NaCl concentrations. These halotolerant bacterial strains were then tested for 1 AminoCyclopropane-1-Carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity. Among six isolates of halotolerant bacteria containing ACC deaminase, the K78 strain produced the highest level of this enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of this bacterium indicated that this strain belonged to Bacillus mojavensis. Inoculation of Bacillus mojavensis to salt stressed wheat plants produced an increase in root and shoot weight, chlorophyll content, and nutrient uptake in comparison with the un-inoculated soils. In summary, this study indicates that the use of ACC deaminase-producing halotolerant bacteria mitigates salinity stress effects on growth of wheat plants by reducing salt-stress-induced ethylene production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Candida species are among the most important factors in development of fungal infection in human beings and animals. Noticing the daily increase of drug resistance, attempts should be made for providing anti-fungal and anti-microbial drugs. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the in-vitro effects of Scrophularia deserti ethanolic extract and amphotricin B on Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: In an experimental trial, anti-Candida effects of Scrophularia deserti ethanolic extract and amphotricin B on Candida albicans were evaluated using serial dilution method. Data analysis was done using SPSS, through paired and independent t-tests. Results: Minimum inhibition capacity (MIC) of Scrophularia deserti extract on Candida albicans in the first and second trials were OD600=1.56(59%) and OD600=1.68(59%), respectively, whereas this value for amphotricin B was 59%. The difference between minimum growth inhibition capacity of Scrophularia deserti and amphotricin B was not significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study indicated that ethanolic extract of Scrophularia deserti has anti-fungal properties comparable to amphotricin B. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cellulose acetate phthalate (CAP)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)/polyurethane (PU) nanofibers were synthesized by simple and coaxial electrospinning (ES) processes. Doxorubicin (DOX) and the CoFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were loaded into the nanofibers. The performance of the prepared nanofibers was investigated for the sustained release of DOX against A541 lung cancer cells under chemotherapy/external magnetic field (EMF) and alternating magnetic field (AMF, hyperthermia treatment) combined methods in both the in vitro and in vivo conditions. The sustained release of DOX from core-shell nanofibers containing 5 wt% cobalt ferrite was obtained within 300, 600 h, at pH of 5.5 and 7.4 without AMF and 168, 360 h, under an alternating magnetic field (AMF). More than 98.3 ± 0.2 % of A549 cancer cells were killed in the presence of core-shell nanofibers containing 100 μg DOX and 5 % cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in the presence of AMF. The flowcytometric results indicated that only 19.1 and 8.85 % cancer cells remained alive under EMF and AMF, respectively. The in vivo results revealed in stopping the growth of tumor volume and decrease in the relative tumor volume up to 0.5 were obtained using magnetic core-shell nanofibers containing 100 μg DOX and 5 % cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in the presence of EMF and AMF, respectively., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Lifestyle modifications (physical activity and diet) are among the most promising strategies in multiple sclerosis (MS) rehabilitation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of combined home-based AT and Vit D on the neurotrophins level and biomarker of inflammation in MS patients during COVID-19 outbreak., Methods: In this randomized, single-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, 38 females with MS having EDSS: 3-5 (aged 20-40 years with body mass index [BMI] of 25-30 kg/m 2 ) were randomly assigned into four groups: AT+Vit D (n = 10), AT (n = 9), Vit D (n = 9), and Control (C n = 10). The AT program consisted of 50-70% of HR Max , 25-40 min/day, three days/wk for eight weeks. Participants in the Vit D group consumed 50,000 IU of Vit D supplement capsules per week for eight weeks. The data were analyzed through paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's post hoc test at the signification level of P<0.05., Results: AT+Vit D, AT, and Vit D compared to the control, increased BDNF and NGF, and downregulated CRP, TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-1β in MS patients. Additionally, the AT+Vit D group showed significantly lower CRP, TNF-a, IL-6, and IL-1β levels and significantly higher BDNF and NGF levels compared to the AT and Vit D groups. Also, the results of this study showed significant differences between AT and Vit D groups in the variable mentioned above., Conclusions: These findings suggest that AT+Vit D improves neurotrophin and inflammatory biomarker levels in female MS patients more effectively than AT or Vit D alone., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The combinations of photothermal therapy (PTT) and chemotherapy (CHT) have attracted increasing attention for cancer therapy. In the present study, paclitaxel as an anticancer drug and graphene oxide/gold nanorods (GO/Au NRs) were simultaneously loaded into the poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol based-polyurethane (PTMG-PU) (core)/chitosan (shell) nanofibers prepared by the coaxial electrospinning method. The potential of the synthesized nanofiber as a pH/temperature dual responsive carrier was investigated for the controlled release of paclitaxel against A549 lung cancer during PTT/CHT combined method. The synthesized core-shell nanofibers were characterized using SEM, TEM and XRD analysis. The drug encapsulation efficiency, drug release and kinetic studies were carried out. The compatibility of the synthesized core-shell nanofibers was also investigated. The cell viability of the synthesized nanofibers treated with A549 lung cancer cells was investigated under alone CHT, alone PTT and PTT/CHT method. The in vivo studies indicated that the PTT/CHT method demonstrated an optimal therapeutic effect on tumor inhibition without change in body weight. The obtained results demonstrated that the synthesized core-shell nanofibers would be used for lung cancer treatment under NIR irradiation in the future., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The chitosan-grafted-poly(N-vinylcaprolactam) (chitosan-g-PNVCL) nanofibers were synthesized via electrospinning method. ZIF-8 metal-organic frameworks nanoparticles were incorporated into the nanofibers for adsorption of Cr(VI), As(V) and phenol from water. The BET, FTIR, XRD and SEM analysis were carrfried out to obtain the characteristics of nanofibers. The optimum parameters of ZIF-8 content, pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of adsorbates on the Cr(VI), As(V) and phenol removal were studied. The reusability of synthesized nanofibers for five sorption-desorption cycles was also examined. The maximum experimental adsorption capacity of the chitosan-g-PNVCL/ZIF-8 nanofibers for Cr(VI), As(V) and phenol sorption were 269.2, 258.5 and 152.3 mg g -1 , respectively under ZIF-8 concentration of 3 wt.%, adsorbent dosage of 0.5 g/L, pH of 3, equilibrium times of 30 min, and temperature of 25 °C. The kinetic, and isotherm parameters of adsorption process using chitosan-g-PNVCL/ZIF-8 nanofibers were evaluated. In ternary system, the central composite design was applied to investigate the interaction influence of initial concentrations of selected metal ions and phenol on the performance of nanofibrous adsorbent. The obtained results showed the high capability of nanofibers for the removal of heavy metals and organic pollutants from water., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In the present study, the potential of doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX)-loaded electrospun chitosan/cobalt ferrite/titanium oxide nanofibers was studied to investigate the simultaneous effect of hyperthermia and chemotherapy against melanoma cancer B16F10 cell lines. The cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were synthesized via microwave heating method. The titanium oxide nanoparticles were mixed with cobalt ferrite to control the temperature rise. The synthesized nanoparticles and nanofibers were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis. The DOX loading efficiency and in vitro drug release of DOX from nanofibers were investigated at both physiological and acidic conditions by an alternating of magnetic field and without magnetic field effect. The fastest release of DOX from prepared magnetic nanofibers was observed at acidic pH by alternating of magnetic field. The antitumor activity of synthesized nanofibers was also investigated on the melanoma cancer B16F10 cell lines. The obtained results revealed that the DOX loaded-electrospun chitosan/cobalt ferrite/titanium oxide nanofibers can be used for localized cancer therapy., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)