Characterization of microplastic, metals associated and ecological risk assessment in the topsoil of shiraz metropolis, south west of Iran

This research studied the occurrence, risk assessment and metals associated with microplastic (MPs) in soil of different land-use types in the south west of Iran. One hundred samples were collected from topsoil and MPs were extracted using the floatation method. In total, 9258 MPs particles with mean of 92.85 ± 119.24 particles kg^-1 were counted. The mean MPs abundance in urban soils was 2.8 and 3.2 times higher than in industrial and agricultural soils, respectively. Fragment (43%) and small MPs (100-250 μm; 41%), were the dominant shape and size, respectively. Four main polymer types including Poly Ethylene (High Density Poly Ethylene and Low Density Poly Ethylene), Nylon (PA), Poly Propylene (PP), and Poly Styrene (PS) were identified. Nylon (29%) and PE (29%) were dominant polymer types. MPs particles in soil contained different levels of metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Y, except La and Yb. The mean concentrations of metals were higher in MPs than in soil. The indices of MPs-induced risk (H_studyarea=16.8) showed a hazard level (III) in the study area. Pollution load index (PLI_Landusetype) showed hazard level (II) for urban soils and hazard level (I) for industrial and agriculture soils, respectively. Overall, risk index indicated high to extreme danger for MPs pollution in the study area. This is the comprehensive study on the occurrence of soil MPs and associated metals, which provides basic information for a further study concerning ecosystem health in Shiraz.

Entrainment and horizontal atmospheric transport of microplastics from soil

Soils are an important source of microplastics (MPs) to the atmosphere but the fluxes and mechanisms involved in MPs entrainment are not well understood. In the present study, a series of horizontally aligned sediment traps have been deployed at different heights within 1 m above the ground for a two-month period at various locations in an arid region (Sarakhs, Iran). MPs were isolated from sediments and were quantified and characterised according to size, colour, shape and polymer composition by established techniques. Most MPs were <250 μm in length, fibres were the most important shape, black and blue-green were the dominant colours, and polymer abundance decreased in the order polyethylene > nylon > polypropylene > polystyrene > polyethylene terephthalate. The distributions of sediment mass (range <0.01-9 g) and number of MPs (range = 0 to 21) were heterogeneous, both between sites and at the different heights sampled, and yielded median, vertically-averaged horizontal fluxes for the region of about 450 g m^-2 d^-1 and 2600 MP m^-2 d^-1, respectively. However, when data were pooled, the number of MPs normalised to sediment mass exhibited a significant inverse relationship with sediment mass, an effect attributed to the presence of ambient suspended MPs and sediment that are diluted by the suspension of soil and deposited MPs at higher wind speeds. The mechanisms of MP saltation and entrainment were not ascertained but a theoretical framework for threshold shear velocity based on regularly-shaped particles and density considerations is presented. Further experimental work is required to verify this framework, and in particular for fibrous MPs with different aerodynamic properties to soil particles.

Microplastic appraisal of soil, water, ditch sediment and airborne dust: The case of agricultural systems

Although microplastic pollution jeopardizes both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the movement of plastic particles through terrestrial environments is still poorly understood. Agricultural soils exposed to different managements are important sites of storage and dispersal of microplastics. This study aimed to identify the abundance, distribution, and type of microplastics present in agricultural soils, water, airborne dust, and ditch sediments. Soil health was also assessed using soil macroinvertebrate abundance and diversity. Sixteen fields were evaluated, 6 of which had been exposed to more than 5 years of compost application, 5 were exposed to at least 5 years of plastic mulch use, and 5 were not exposed to any specific management (controls) within the last 5 years. We also evaluated the spread of microplastics from the farms into nearby water bodies and airborne dust. We found 11 types of microplastics in soil, among which Light Density Polyethylene (LDPE) and Light Density Polyethylene covered with pro-oxidant additives (PAC) were the most abundant. The highest concentrations of plastics were found in soils exposed to plastic mulch management (128.7 ± 320 MPs.g-¹ soil and 224.84 ± 488 MPs.g-¹ soil, respectively) and the particles measured from 50 to 150 μm. Nine types of microplastics were found in water, with the highest concentrations observed in systems exposed to compost. Farms applying compost had higher LDPE and PAC concentrations in ditch sediments as compared to control and mulch systems; a significant correlation between soil polypropylene (PP) microplastics with ditch sediment microplastics (r² 0.7 p < 0.05) was found. LDPE, PAC, PE (Polyethylene), and PP were the most abundant microplastics in airborne dust. Soil invertebrates were scarce in the systems using plastic mulch. A cocktail of microplastics was found in all assessed matrices.

Spatial distribution, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of elements (PTEs, REEs, and ENs) in the surface soil of shiraz city (Iran) under different land-use types

In this study, 100 samples were collected from the topsoil of different land-use types (urban, industrial and agricultural) in Shiraz. The content of 26 elements was analyzed. CF, EF, Igeo, NPI, and PLI indices were used to evaluate soil pollution. Ecological risk assessment of metals was calculated by using Er and RI indexes. PCA analysis and the PMF model were used to determine the source of metals in soil. Also, the spatial distribution of metals and risk index were plotted using inverse distance weighting (IDW) with ArcGIS software (10.3). The metal concentrations in the soil ranged from 0.2067 ± 0.0946 (Ag) to 85,673.50 ± 4689.27 (Ca) mg kg^-1. The results show that all elements' Concentration in soils was lower than the DOE level. The mean concentration of All rare earth elements (REEs) was lower than WSA and ECM values. Hotspot points pollution of some metals such as Pb, Cd, and Ni are located in high-traffic parts of the urban area. Otherwise, hot spot points of As pollution are located in industrial sample points. Results of indexes show that Sb in urban and agricultural soils have highe mean values of CF (6.75 and 6.85) and Iegeo (2.17 and 2.13), respectively. In industrial soils, S has highe mean values of CF (14.95), EF (100.26), and Igeo (2.95). The PLI index shows that REEs (PLI <1) have no pollution, but PTEs and ENs have pollution (PLI >1). The mean Er, value shows that Sb (127.33) and Cd (104) have significant risk among metals. PCA and PMF models show that The main sources of elements in shiraz soil are vehicularly emitted, fertilizer use, sewage irrigation, atmospheric deposition, and parent material. Generally, results show that Most of the study area has considerable risk, especially concerning PTEs. So, it is recommended to pay more attention to the issue of traffic in the urban environment in to improve the state of the urban area.

Association between Food Insecurity and Vision Impairment among Older Adults: A Pooled Analysis of Data from Six Low- and Middle-Income Countries

OBJECTIVES

Food insecurity has gained attention as a potential risk factor for vision impairment. However, research on this topic is limited. This objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and visual impairment among adults aged 50 years or older using data from six low-and middle-income countries (LMIC).

DESIGN AND SETTING

Data from the longitudinal Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) were analyzed in a community-based, cross-sectional, and nationally representative sample.

PARTICIPANTS

Adults aged 50 years or older from six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) including China, India, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Ghana.

MEASUREMENTS

Food insecurity was evaluated using a questionnaire comprised of two questions that addressed the frequency of eating inadequately and hunger due to a lack of food in last 12 months. Distance and/or near vision impairment was considered as a visual acuity score of less than 6/18 in the eye with better vision.

RESULTS

The analytical sample consisted of 29,804 adults (mean (SD) for age: 63.2 (9.54) years; 54.3% female). The prevalence of food insecurity, near vision and distance vision impairment in the sample was 16.4%, 36.7%, and 13.9%, respectively. Adjusted pooled analyses across countries revealed a significant association between food insecurity and distance (OR: 1.16; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.33; P=0.04, significant individually in India and South Africa) and near (OR: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22; P=0.01, significant individually in South Africa) vision impairment, and a between-country heterogeneity of 46.30% and 25.99%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Food insecurity was associated with both distance and near vision impairment in adults aged 50 years or older across six LMIC. Food policies and intervention programs targeted at decreasing food insecurity in vulnerable households are essential.

Microplastics in agricultural soils from a semi-arid region and their transport by wind erosion

Despite the importance of agricultural soils, little is known about the fate of microplastics (MPs) in this environment. In the present study, MPs have been determined in soils and wind-eroded sediments from two vegetable-growing fields in the Fars province of Iran, one using plastic mulch for water retention (Field 1) and the other using wastewater for irrigation (Field 2). MPs were heterogeneously distributed in the surface (0-5 cm) and subsurface (5-15 cm) soils of both fields, with a maximum concentration overall of about 1.1 MP g^-1 and no significant differences in concentrations between either fields or depths. Fibres represented the principal shape of MPs, but spherules, presumably from wastewater, also made a significant (∼25%) contribution to MPs in Field 2. Analysis of selected samples by Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and nylon were the most abundant polymers and that MPs exhibited varying degrees of weathering. Concentrations of MPs in this study are within the range reported previously for agricultural soils, although the absence of PET observed in earlier studies is attributed to the use of insufficiently dense solutions to isolate plastics. Deployment of a portable wind tunnel revealed threshold wind velocities for soil erosion of up to 7 and 12 m s^-1 and MP erosion rates up to about 0.4 and 1.1 MP m^-2 s^-1 for Fields 1 and 2, respectively. Erosion rates are considerably greater than published depositional rates for MPs and suggest that agricultural soils act as both a temporary sink and dynamic secondary source of MPs that should be considered in risk assessments and global transport budgets.

Microplastics captured by snowfall: A study in Northern Iran

Samples of fresh snow (n = 34) have been collected from 29 locations in various urban and remote regions of northern Iran following a period of sustained snowfall and the thawed contents examined for microplastics (MPs) according to established techniques. MP concentrations ranged from undetected to 86 MP L^-1 (mean and median concentrations ~20 MP and 12 MP L^-1, respectively) and there was no significant difference in MP concentration between sample location type or between different depths of snow (or time of deposition) sampled at selected sites. Fibres were the dominant shape of MP and μ-Raman spectroscopy of selected samples revealed a variety of polymer types, with nylon most abundant. Scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis showed that some MPs were smooth and unweathered while others were more irregular and exhibited significant photo-oxidative and mechanical weathering as well as contamination by extraneous geogenic particles. These characteristics reflect the importance of both local and distal sources to the heterogeneous pool of MPs in precipitated snow. The mean and median concentrations of MPs in the snow samples were not dissimilar to the published mean and median concentrations for MPs in rainfall collected from an elevated location in southwest Iran. However, compared with rainfall, MPs in snow appear to be larger and more diverse in their shape and composition (and include rubber particulates), possibly because of the greater size but lower terminal velocities of snowflakes relative to raindrops. Snowfall represents a significant means by which MPs are scavenged from the atmosphere and transferred to soil and surface waters that warrants further attention.

Atmospheric transport of microplastics during a dust storm

Dust storms are common events in arid and semi-arid regions that have a wide range of impacts on the environment and human health. This study addresses the presence, characteristics and potential sources of microplastics (MPs) in such events by analysing MPs deposited with dust particles in the metropolis of Shiraz, southwest Iran, following an intense storm in May 2018. At 22 locations throughout the city, MP concentrations on a number basis ranged from 0.04 to 1.06 per g of dust (median = 0.31 MP g^-1). Particles were mainly fibrous, with a mean diameter of about 20 μm and >60% under 100 μm in length, and polymer makeup was dominated by nylon, polypropylene and polyethylene terephthalate. Examination of selected MPs by scanning electron microscopy revealed varying degrees of weathering and contamination by extraneous geogenic particles amongst the samples. Using published MP concentrations in urban dusts and remote, arid soils, we estimate that between about 0.1 and 5% of MPs deposited by the dust storm are derived from local sources within the metropolis, with the remainder arising from more distant sources. HYSPLIT modelling, satellite imagery and published geochemical signatures of regional dust particles suggest that the deserts of Saudi Arabia constitute the principal distal and transboundary source. Dust storms may represent a significant means by which MPs are transported and redistributed in arid and semi-arid environments and an important source of MPs to the oceans.

Predicting wind erosion rate using portable wind tunnel combined with machine learning algorithms in calcareous soils, southern Iran

Wind erosion is a critical factor in land degradation worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions of southern Iran, which have been severely exposed to wind erosion in the recent years due to climate change and land use changes. The main objective of the present study was to predict the wind erosion rate (WER) using easily measurable soil properties combined with some data mining approaches. For this purpose, the WER was measured at 100 locations with different land uses and soil types in the Fars Province, southern Iran using a portable wind tunnel. The WER was predicted by multiple linear regression (MLR), support vector regression (SVR) and decision tree (DT) algorithms using easily measurable soil properties. Results revealed that land use and soil type had significant effect on the WER. The highest mean WER was observed in Entisols with the lowest organic matter (OM), the lowest penetration resistance (PR) and the lowest aggregate mean weight diameter (MWD). Bare lands with the lowest OM and MWD showed the highest WER compared to other land uses. R² and RMSE of the non-linear regression models developed based on the type of the relationship between the WER and easily measurable soil properties improved by 15% and 12%, respectively, compared to the linear regression model. In both train and test datasets, the SVR and DT models coupled to a genetic algorithm (GA) used for selecting the effective easily measurable soil properties had higher performance than the SVR and DT models using all easily measurable soil properties for predicting WER. With respect to statistical indices, the SVR model with R² = 0.91 and RMSE = 0.68 g m^-2 s^-1 outperformed the MLR and DT for predicting the WER. We concluded that combining the SVR with GA could be an applicable and promising method for predicting WER.

Lovastatin attenuates glyoxal-induced toxicity on rat liver mitochondria

Alpha-dicarbonyls such as glyoxal (GO) trigger mitochondrial dysfunction resulting in the development of different diabetic complications. The present study investigated the effects of lovastatin against GO-induced toxicity on rat liver mitochondria. The rat liver mitochondria (0.5 mg protein/mL) were treated with various concentrations of lovastatin (1, 5, 10 µM) at 37°C for 30 min and then exposed to GO (3 mM) at 37°C for 30 min. Oxidative stress markers including MDA, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione (GSH) and protein carbonylation (PC) level were measured. Mitochondrial complex II activity and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed for evaluating mitochondrial function. Glyoxal significantly increased the level of ROS, PC and MDA. This effect was associated with the reduction of MMP, complex II activity and GSH content. Pre-treatment with lovastatin potentially reversed GO-induced mitochondrial toxicity. These results suggest that lovastatin have a protective effect against GO-induced toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria.

Investigation of the 2018 Shiraz dust event: Potential sources of metals, rare earth elements, and radionuclides; health assessment

In the middle of May 2018, an unprecedented dust storm occurred in the Shiraz metropolis. After the storm, several samples were collected from dust that settled around the city. These dust samples were analysed for potentially toxic elements (PTEs), rare earth elements (REEs), and radionuclides. This work is the first study that considered rare earth elements (REEs) for source identification and radionuclide contamination of Shiraz dust event. Hysplit model analysis and NASA and NOAA satellite maps illustrated that the air mass affecting Shiraz was moving mainly through the Saudi Arabian deserts. In addition, REE results of the dust that settled in Shiraz showed a trend similar to shale, sandstone, and especially Saudi Arabian soils. Ti/Al (0.01), Fe/Al (0.92), and Mg/Al (0.55) ratios and the values of LaN/SmN (0.91-0.98), GdN/YbN (1.8-2), LaN/YbN (1.7-1.9), HREE/LREE (0.52-0.6), Ce/Ce∗ (1.09-1.13), Eu/Eu∗ (1.03-1.18), Pr/Pr∗ (0.85-0.87), Gd/Gd∗ (1.1-1.15), and MREEs/MREE∗ (4.3-4.5) ratios provided insights into dust sources. These values indicated that Shiraz dust was affected by Asaluyeh and Iraq soils during transport and the main source of the dust that settled in Shiraz on the May 13, 2018 was Saudi Arabian soil. The concentrations of Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, As, Cd, Ti, Al, Sc, and Fe in the settled dust were 0.24, 47.67, 67.33, 244, 70.27, 19.33, 664, 8.39, 0.65, 537.33, 40933.33, 11.54, and 37800 mg/kg, respectively. According to the enrichment factor (EF), coefficient variation, and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model the Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd mainly originated from exhaust emissions and industrial activities. The activity concentrations of the radionuclides ⁷Be, ⁴ K, ¹³⁷Cs, and ²³⁵U in the Shiraz-settled dust were 814, 421, 14, and 5.4 Bq kg^-1, respectively and the activity concentration of ⁴ K was higher than the crustal average. Health risk assessment indices for the elements considering all three pathways revealed the following trend: dermal contact (HQ_derm)< inhalation (HQ_inh)< ingestion (HQ_ing). The values of HQ_inh and HQ_ing for children were higher than adults, while the values for the skin adsorption pathway for adults were higher than for children.

Prioritization of water erosion-prone sub-watersheds using three ensemble methods in Qareaghaj catchment, southern Iran

Water-induced erosion poses severe harm to the sustainable development of land and water resources that is essential for attaining agricultural sustainability in Qareaghaj catchment of Fars Province, Iran. This study evaluates the topo-hydrological, morphometric, climatic, and environmental characteristics of Qareaghaj catchment for prioritizing the sub-watersheds that are susceptible to erosion caused by water. We tested and compared a novel ensemble multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) model, namely the weighted aggregated sum product assessment-analytical hierarchy process (WASPAS-AHP) with prevailing benchmark ensemble MCDM models including VlseKriterijumska optimizacija I Kompromisno Resenje (VIKOR)-AHP and Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)-AHP for ranking sub-watersheds and determining the most significant parameter that influences water erosion (WE) in Qareaghaj catchment. The outcome of weights using pairwise comparison matrix (PCM) of AHP reveals that normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), mean annual rainfall (MAR), slope degree (SD), and slope length and steepness factor (LS) governs the WE in Qareaghaj catchment. The prioritization rankings of sub-watersheds obtained using the VIKOR-AHP, TOPSIS-AHP, and WASPAS-AHP models demonstrate that SW31, SW63, and SW94 had the highest priority rank with a score of 0.047, 0.69, and 0.477, respectively. The comparison of rankings from the models using Spearman's correlation coefficient tests (SCCT) and Kendall's tau correlation coefficient tests (KTCCT) revealed that WASPAS-AHP had a higher correlation with TOPSIS-AHP and VIKOR-AHP ensemble models. The outcome of MCDM models was validated based on the erosion potential method (EPM), which displayed that the VIKOR-AHP model was better for mapping the erosion susceptibility than TOPSIS-AHP and WASPAS-AHP models. Thus, the erosion susceptibility mapping based on the VIKOR-AHP ensemble model can be considered for developing new strategies and land use policies in order to control WE in Qareaghaj catchment.

Effect of hatching time on time to first feed intake, organ development, enzymatic activity and growth in broiler chicks hatched on-farm

The conventional commercial hatcheries used today do not allow the newly hatched chicks to consume feed or water. Combined with natural variation in hatching time, this can lead to early hatched chicks being feed-deprived for up to 72 h before being unloaded at the rearing site. This study investigated the effects of hatching time on time to first feed intake and development of organs, digestive enzymes and productivity in terms of growth and feed conversion ratio in chicks hatched on-farm. Chicks were divided into three hatching groups (early, mid-term and late), and assessed over a full production cycle of 34 days. The results revealed that chicks remain inactive for a considerable amount of time before engaging in eating-related activities. Eating activity of 5% (i.e. when 5% of birds in each hatching group were eating or standing close to the feeder) was recorded at an average biological age (BA) of 25.4 h and a proportion of 50% birds with full crop was reached at an average BA of 30.6 h. Considering that the hatching window was 35 h in this study, the average chick probably did not benefit from access to feed and water immediately post-hatch in this case. At hatch, mid-term hatchlings had a heavier small intestine (30.1 g/kg bw) than both early (26.4 g/kg bw) and late (26.0 g/kg bw) hatchlings. Relative length of the small intestine was shorter in late hatchlings (735 cm/kg bw) than in mid-term (849 cm/kg bw) and early (831 cm/kg bw) hatchlings. However, the relative weight of the bursa fabricii was greater in mid-term (1.30 g/kg bw) than in early hatchlings (1.01 g/kg bw). At hatch, late hatchlings were heavier than early and mid-term hatchlings (P < 0.05), but by 3 days of age early hatchlings were heavier than mid-term and late hatchlings (P < 0.01). The only effect persisting throughout the study was a difference in the relative weight of the small intestine, where late hatchlings had heavier intestines than early hatchlings (P < 0.05). Thus, while there were differences between hatching groups, this study showed that the hatchlings seemed capable of compensating for these as they grew.

Demographics, laboratory parameters and outcomes of 1061 patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a report from Tehran, Iran

We aimed to determine the characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) among the Iranian population. In this study, we collected and analysed the demographics, laboratory findings and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to Masih Daneshvari Hospital in Tehran, Iran between 20 February 2020 and 2 April 2020. Among 1061 patients, 692 (65.2%) were male and the median age was 55 years (interquartile range (IQR), 44–66 years). Totally, 129 (12.2%) patients died during hospitalization in the ward or intensive care unit. From the remaining 932 individuals, 46 (5.0%) were admitted to the intensive care unit and 886 (95.0%) were hospitalized in the ward. Those patients who died were significantly older than those hospitalized in the ward (p < 0.001). The median absolute number of lymphocytes was 1.2 × 10³/μL (IQR 0.9 × 10³ to 1.6 × 10³/μL) and 708 (66.7%) patients had lymphopenia (absolute lymphocyte count <1500/μL). Among the laboratory tests, D-dimer, serum ferritin and albumin had the strongest correlations with mortality (r = 0.455, r = 0.412, r = –0.406, respectively; p < 0.001 for each one). In conclusion, laboratory findings could provide useful information with regard to the management of individuals with COVID-19.

Design Evaluation in Novel Orthoses for Patients with Medial Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the knee is a debilitating condition affecting increasing numbers of individuals each year. One option for treatment is orthotic knee braces, but a little independent reviews have taken place to date on their relative outcomes for users. This study therefore evaluates the efficacy of different types of knee orthoses (braces) with regard to key aspects of use, including gait parameters, mobility and levels of comfort and compliance in subjects presenting with osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee. The collated data is presented with relevant supporting literature and appropriate descriptions in relation to each knee orthosis type that was identified, within appropriate subsections with advantages and disadvantages appropriately allocated. An analysis of each brace as presented by the corresponding article is then described further in terms of the design and structure, user outcomes and assessment summaries. According to the study carried out in this paper, it is presented and proved that applying the use of knee braces can reduce the knee adduction moment (KAM), but the amount of reduction afforded varies between designs. All of the studies reported significant pain reduction and functional improvement with the use of a knee brace, although their effect on the knee joint range of motion vary. Knee braces long-term use depends upon high levels of comfort and patient compliance, and further studies need to be conducted on larger numbers of subjects over greater time periods to reflect the long-term outcomes accurately

Foraging behavior of Aphidius matricariae (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) on tobacco aphid, Myzus persicae nicotianae (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

The aim of this study was to investigate the foraging behavior of Aphidius matricariae (Haliday) (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a biological control agent of Myzus persicae nicotianae Blackman (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a key and cosmopolitan pest of tobacco fields. To achieve a strategy for the control of this pest and a mass-rearing program of the parasitoid, host stage preference, switching, functional response, and mutual interference of A. matricariae were investigated at 25 ± 1°C, 70 ± 5% RH and 16:8 h L:D photoperiod. The parasitoid showed a preference for third- and fourth-instar nymphs of tobacco aphid in both choice and no-choice experiments. Using the Murdach's model, switching behavior was observed in A. matricariae between different density proportions of third- and fourth-instar nymphs. Further, the parasitoid exhibited a type II functional response when it was offered to third-instar nymphs of M. persicae nicotianae at six densities (2, 4, 8, 16, 32, and 64). Based on the linear regression analysis, there was a significance difference between the logarithm of per capita searching efficiency and the logarithm of parasitoid density. As the wasp density increased, per capita searching efficiency decreased. The result of this study revealed that A. matricariae is an effective agent in the integrated management of M. persicae nicotianae. In addition, application of these results can be important in mass-rearing program of A. matricariae.

Wind erosion as a driver for transport of light density microplastics

Microplastic pollution in the environment is a growing concern in today's world. Wind-eroded sediment, as an environmental transport pathway of microplastics, can result in environmental and human exposure far beyond its sources. For the first time, this study investigates the presence of microplastics in wind-eroded sediments from different land uses in the Fars Province, Iran. Eleven test plots were selected based on land use and wind erosion risk. On each plot, wind erosion was simulated using a portable wind tunnel and the eroded sediment was collected for further analysis aimed at measuring light density microplastics (LDMP). The LDMPs were extracted in both soil and wind-eroded sediment using a floatation method and then further examined using microscopy. Annual LDMP transport by wind erosion was estimated using wind data from the study areas. LDMPs were detected in six study areas in the Fars Province which are highly prone to wind erosion. Although LDMPs were found mostly in agricultural land, it was also detected in the soils and sediments from two natural areas. The total concentrations of LDMPs in polluted areas were 6.91 and 20.27 mg kg^-1 of microplastics in soil and wind-eroded sediments, respectively. The enrichment ratio for LDMP ranged from 2.83 to 7.63 in different areas. The erosion rate of LDMP ranged from 0.08 to 1.48 mg m^-2 min^-1. The results of this study confirmed the key role of wind erosion in the spread of microplastics in terrestrial environments which could form an exposure risk to humans via direct inhalation of the particles transported with the dust.

Traumatic urethral rupture, its surgical management with temporary cystostomy and concurrent wound reconstruction in a cat

A 3-month-old male DSH cat was presented with a history of lethargy, anorexia, dysuria, urinary incontinence, dermatitis and swelling in the perineal area following a road traffic trauma. Retrograde positive-contrast urethrography revealed an intra-pelvic urethral rupture which was managed by performing transurethral catheterisation. Due to accidental removal, the case was presented for re-examination following a progressive urine scald dermatitis several days later. So, surgical placement of cystostomy tube was performed. The cat regained his ability to urinate normally a week later and the catheter was withdrawn. The extensive perineal dermatitis due to urine scald necessitated delayed primary closure. Topical and systemic antibiotics were administered for 2 weeks and second intention wound healing was completed after 5 weeks.

Total replacement of corn silage with sorghum silage improves milk fatty acid profile and antioxidant capacity of Holstein dairy cows

Total mixed rations containing corn silage (CS) or forage sorghum silage (SS) were fed to mid-lactation Holstein cows to determine the effects on feed intake, lactation performance, milk composition and fatty acid profile, nutrient digestibility, blood metabolites, rumen microbial N synthesis, and antioxidant status. The experiment was designed as a 2-period change-over (two 28-d periods) trial with 2 diets including CS diet or SS diet and 12 cows. Total replacement of CS with SS had no significant influence on dry matter intake. Substituting CS with SS had no effect on milk production, feed efficiency, and milk concentrations of fat, protein, lactose, and solids-not-fat, whereas yields of milk fat, protein, and lactose were greater for cows fed the CS diet. Blood parameters including glucose, albumin, cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, urea N, and fatty acids were not affected by the dietary treatments. Apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were not significantly influenced by the diets. Replacing CS with SS had no effect on total saturated fatty acids and total monounsaturated fatty acids, whereas total polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage was greater with the SS diet. Proportions of C20:0, C18:3n-3, and C18:3n-6 were affected by feeding SS. Cows fed CS had a greater amount of urinary purine derivatives. Feeding SS had a positive effect on total antioxidant capacity of blood and milk. In conclusion, SS can be fed to lactating Holstein cows as a total replacement for CS without undesirable effects on animal performance, but with positive effects on antioxidant capacity and polyunsaturated fatty acids of milk. This forage can be an excellent choice for dairy farms in areas where cultivation of corn is difficult due to water shortage.

Antibacterial effect of tramadol against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: an in vivo study

Some important adverse effects of local and regional anaesthesia including injection-site infection, epidural abscess and meningitis, are usually caused by bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These infections can even cause the patient's death in severe cases. In the present study, the antimicrobial activity of tramadol was investigated on S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in BALB/c-sensitive mice. This experimental multigroup research study evaluated the effect of two different concentrations of injectable tramadol (12.5 and 25 mg/mL) on local infections caused by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa in BALB/c mice within 24 and 48 hours. The results showed that tramadol injection in the specified doses did not have a significant impact on the diameter of lesions caused by local infections due to these organisms. However, the diameter of inflammation resulting from local infection with P. aeruginosa had statistically increased in the two doses after 48 hours (p 0.019). Subcutaneous injection of tramadol reduced the growth of S. aureus through enhancing phagocytes and tissue inflammation; however, it did not help eliminate P. aeruginosa, and at a dose of 25 mg/mL it also increased the growth and spread of the bacteria. It seems that the observed difference was due to the different characteristics of these two bacteria.

The in silico identification of potent anti-cancer agents by targeting the ATP binding site of the N-domain of HSP90

To identify new HSP90 inhibitors, the ATP binding site of the N-domain of HSP90 was targeted by molecular docking of a library of 23,129,083 compounds (from the ZINC database) to the ATP binding site of the N-domain of HSP90. Structure-based virtual screen (SBVS) was performed using idock software on the istar web platform. Based on idock binding energies, 40 molecules were considered as HSP90 inhibitors. In the next step, the 40 molecules and the compound AT13387 (Onalespib) were docked to the XJX binding site using AutoDock Vina software. By comparing the binding energies of the 40 molecules selected with compound AT13387, 26 molecules were selected. By applying the rule of five, eight molecules were selected as hit compounds. The interactions of these eight compounds with the XJX binding site were obtained and investigated, and two-dimensional interaction maps were provided for the others. Finally, computing the toxicity of these compounds with the ProTox-II webserver shows that three compounds, namely ZINC89453765, ZINC23918431 and ZINC12414793, can be considered as good HSP90 inhibitors. These compounds are inactive for nuclear receptor signalling and stress response pathways including heat shock response, so do not have the limitations of common HSP90 inhibitors. They are also inactive for hepatotoxicity, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, mutagenicity and cytotoxicity.

Body growth, intestinal morphology and microflora of quail on diets supplemented with micronised wheat fibre

1. Particle size reductions of fibre-rich materials alter structure, functional and digestive properties. To determine the effects of using fibre as an additive in Japanese quail rations on performance and gut physiology, a trial using micronised wheat fibre (MWF) at levels of 0.0, 5, 10 and 15 g/kg in feed was conducted. 2. Growth rate and feed efficiency were significantly improved when diets contained MWF while feed intake was not affected by levels of the fibre. As MWF content increased, the relative weight of gizzard and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) significantly increased whereas liver relative weight significantly decreased. 3. MWF inclusion significantly increased relative length of gut segments, villi height, villus thickness, the villi height to crypt depth proportion in jejunum and ileum and the number of goblet cells in different parts of intestine. 4. Tibia weight, length and ash content were increased linearly with rising MWF inclusion. Litter moisture was affected by MWF inclusions in a quadratic manner. The colony forming unit (CFU/g) of Streptococci spp. in ileal digesta was decreased with increasing MWF inclusion levels in the diet. 5. In conclusion, MWF can be used as a feed additive in quail diets and its inclusion in feed resulted in better performance, beneficial changes in intestinal microbial counts and improvements in small intestine morphology.

Comparison of Entonox and Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) in Labor Pain

One of the concerns among mothers for delivery is labor pain. There are various methods to decrease labor pain, of which epidural anesthesia is an effective one, but not all mothers agree to receive this invasive intervention. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) is an inexpensive, safe, and easily applicable method which can be used in patient control mode. To find proper non-invasive methods to pain relief during labor this study was conducted to compare TENS, Entonox and combination of them during the first phase of labor. In this RCT study, 120 pregnant women in the age range of 20-40 years, singleton pregnancy, at 37-42 weeks’ gestation, at cervical dilatation of less than 4 cm in phase one of labor were selected and randomly divided into three groups including TENS, Entonox and combination group. Pain severity was recorded based on VAS at the time of presentation to the maternity unit, cervical dilatations of 4-6cm, 6-8cm, and 8-10cm and demographic characterizations. There were no significant differences regarding to age, parity, and BMI between the three groups. Pain was less severe in combination group compared to other two groups at cervical dilations of 4-6cm and 6-8cm. At cervical dilation of 8-10cm, VAS score was higher in Entonox group than in other two groups, but no significant difference existed between TENS and combination group. Duration of the first phase of labor was longer in TENS group than the other two groups. TENS is a non-invasive, safe, easy applicable and self-administered method with low rate of complications which can be used alone or in combination with other methods in relieving labor pain.Journal of Medical and Biomedical Sciences (2017) 6(2), 11-16

Glyoxal toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria

Glyoxal is a physiological metabolite formed by lipid peroxidation, ascorbate autoxidation, oxidative degradation of glucose, and degradation of glycated proteins. Glyoxal has been linked to oxidative stress and can cause a number of cellular damages, including covalent modification of amino and thiol groups of proteins to form advanced glycation end products. However, the mechanism of glyoxal toxicity has not been fully understood. In this study, we have focused on glyoxal toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria. Isolated mitochondria (0.5 mg protein per milliliter) were prepared from the Wistar rat liver using differential centrifugation and incubated with various concentrations of glyoxal (1, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 mM) for 30 min. The activity of mitochondrial complex II was determined by measurement of MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) conversion. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lipid peroxidation (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, glutathione (GSH) content, and protein carbonylation were also assessed. After an incubation of isolated liver mitochondria with glyoxal, disrupted electron transport chain, increased mitochondrial ROS formation, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane damage, GSH oxidation, and protein carbonylation ensued as compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). Glyoxal toxicity in isolated rat liver mitochondria was dose-dependent. In conclusion, glyoxal impaired the electron transport chain, which is the cause of increased ROS and MDA production, depletion of GSH, and disruption of MMP. Mitotoxicity of glyoxal might be related to the pathomechanisms involved in diabetes and its complications.

A 110-nW in-channel sigma-delta converter for large-scale neural recording implants

Advancement in wireless and microsystems technology have ushered in new devices that can directly interface with the central nervous system for stimulating and/or monitoring neural circuitry. In this paper, we present an ultra low-power sigma-delta analog-to-digital converter (ADC) intended for utilization into large-scale multi-channel neural recording implants. This proposed design, which provides a resolution of 9 bits using a one-bit oversampled ADC, presents several desirable features that allow for an in-channel ADC scheme, where one sigma-delta converter is provided for each channel, enabling development of scalable systems that can interface with different types of high-density neural microprobes. The proposed circuit, which have been fabricated in a TSMC 180-nm CMOS process, employs a first order noise shaping topology with a passive integrator and a low-supply voltage of 0.6 V to achieve ultra low-power consumption and small size. The proposed ADC clearly outperforms other designs with a power consumption as low as 110 nW for a precision of 9 bits (11-fJ per conversion), a silicon area of only 82 μm × 84 μm and one of the best reported figure of merit among recently published data converters utilized in similar applications.

Glyphosate and AMPA distribution in wind-eroded sediment derived from loess soil

Glyphosate is one of the most used herbicides in agricultural lands worldwide. Wind-eroded sediment and dust, as an environmental transport pathway of glyphosate and of its main metabolite aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA), can result in environmental- and human exposure far beyond the agricultural areas where it has been applied. Therefore, special attention is required to the airborne transport of glyphosate and AMPA. In this study, we investigated the behavior of glyphosate and AMPA in wind-eroded sediment by measuring their content in different size fractions (median diameters between 715 and 8 μm) of a loess soil, during a period of 28 days after glyphosate application. Granulometrical extraction was done using a wind tunnel and a Soil Fine Particle Extractor. Extractions were conducted on days 0, 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 after glyphosate application. Results indicated that glyphosate and AMPA contents were significantly higher in the finest particle fractions (median diameters between 8 and 18 μm), and lowered significantly with the increase in particle size. However, their content remained constant when aggregates were present in the sample. Glyphosate and AMPA contents correlated positively with clay, organic matter, and silt content. The dissipation of glyphosate over time was very low, which was most probably due to the low soil moisture content of the sediment. Consequently, the formation of AMPA was also very low. The low dissipation of glyphosate in our study indicates that the risk of glyphosate transport in dry sediment to off-target areas by wind can be very high. The highest glyphosate and AMPA contents were found in the smallest soil fractions (PM10 and less), which are easily inhaled and, therefore, contribute to human exposure.

ERBB4 gene polymorphisms and the risk of prostate cancer in a sample of Iranian Population

Genetic polymorphisms in ERBB4 are thought to be associated with cancer susceptibility. In the present study, we aimed to assess the impact of ERBB4 rs12052398 T>C, rs13393577 A>G, rs13424871 A>T, rs16847082 A>G and rs6147150 (12-bp I/D) polymorphisms on risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in a sample of Iranian population. In a case-control study, we enrolled 169 patients with pathologically confirmed PCa and 182 subjects with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). No significant association was found among ERBB4 polymorphisms and risk of PCa. Subjects carrying TT/AA/AA/AG/ID, TC/AA/AA/AA/II, TT/AA/AT/AA/II and TT/AA/AT/AG/ID genotypes are associated with a decreased risk of PCa. Our findings suggest that haplotypes CAAAI and TAAAD (rs12052398, rs13393577, rs13424871, rs16847082 and rs6147150I) of the ERBB4 polymorphisms are associated with a significantly lower risk of PCa. Further studies with a larger sample sizes and diverse ethnicities are necessary to verify our findings.