Two novel variants of hop stunt viroid associated with yellow corky vein disease of sweet orange and split bark disorder of sweet lime

Yellow corky vein was reported as a graft-transmissible disease of lime in India. It was attributed to infection by hop stunt viroid (HSVd) and citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd). Recently similar symptoms have been observed in Washington navel orange in Jahrom and Darab in the Fars province of Iran. It is characterized by yellowing and suberization of veins followed by tree decline. Sweet lime split bark is another disorder of increasing importance in the Fars province. It is characterized by cracks in the bark of the main stem which may spread to branches of the tree. Since these symptoms resembled those of certain viroids, a study was undertaken to determine possible association of viroids with the disorders. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) followed by cloning and sequencing of PCR products and dot-blot hybridization were used to identify the viroids associated with the diseases. Comparison of molecular properties (nucleotide composition, primary and secondary structures, molecular weights, phylogenetic relationships and percent nucleotide similarity and difference) of viroid variants were carried out. It was found that a novel variant of hop stunt viroid (HSVd-sycv) was associated with yellow corky vein disease of Washington navel and another new variant (HSVd-sb) with split bark disorder of sweet lime. No other viroids were constantly detected. HSVd-sycv was closely related to noncachexia variant of hop stunt viroid (HSVd-cit) but only with 93.7% homology with HSVd-lycv. It differed in a single nucleotide from HSVd-cit, in the variable domain in the so-called “cachexia expression motif”. HSVd-sb had only 94.8% homology with a noncachexia variant of hop stunt viroid (CVd-IIa-117) which causes mild bark-cracking symptoms on Pomeroy trifoliate orange rootstocks. According to the performed molecular comparisons, HSVd-sb differed from CVd-IIa-117 in “cachexia expression motif” and probably severe cracks induced by HSVd-sb occurred because of variation in this motif. Keyword: HSVd, Sweet lime split bark, Sweet orange yellow corky vein, Citrus viroids, Viroid phylogen

Airborne antenna pattern calculations

Use of calculation program START and modeling program P 3D to produce radiation patterns of antennas mounted on a space station is discussed. Basic components of two space stations in the early design stage are simulated and radiation patterns for antennas mounted on the modules are presented

Genetic relationships of Iranian coastline ship sturgeon (Acipenser nudiventris) samples and Ural population based on microsatellite DNA

Genetic relationships among 96 specimens of ship sturgeon, Acipenser nudiventris, collected from six locations along the Iranian coastline as well as 8 specimens from northern population (Ural River) were analysed by the restricted maximum likelihood method, as well as two distance analysis method (Nei's and Cavalli-Sforza's distance) of gene frequencies. We have used four SSR markers that produced three polymorphic and two monomorphic loci. Overall results showed that Iranian coastline samples form a monophyletic group (clade) which was different from the northern (Ural) samples. Iranian coastline samples are divided into two groups (clades): Anzali-Kiashahr clade and Sefidrud-Babolsar-Noushahr-Gorgan clade. Bootstrapping test showed monophyleticity of Sefidrud, Babolsar, Noushahr, Gorgan with high (Bootstrap support=93) and Anzali-Kiashahr with middle (Bootstrap support=65) confirmation. Topology of reconstructed trees was in correspondence with geographical distributions of samples

Electrophysiological Assessment of Injury to the Infra-patellar Branch(es) of the Saphenous Nerve during Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Medial Hamstring Auto-grafts: Vertical versus Oblique Harvest Site Incisions

Background: It was suggested that the direction of incision for medial hamstring tendons harvesting\n influences the incidence of injury to the infrapatellar branch of the saphenous nerve\n (IPBSN), a common complication following arthroscopically-assisted anterior cruciate\n ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Objectives: The main purpose of current study was to compare the incidence of IPBSN injury between\n vertical and oblique incisions utilizing electrophysiological evaluation. Patients and Methods: There were 60 patients underwent arthroscopically-assisted ACLR assigned to two equal\n vertical or oblique incision groups, randomly. One year postoperatively, the patients\n were electrophysiologically examined to detect whether IPBSN is injured. The Lysholm\n score was completed. The patients' satisfaction with surgical outcomes determined\n utilizing visual analogue scale (VAS). Finally, two groups were compared and the effect\n of IPBSN injury on function and satisfaction was investigated. Results: The incidence of IPBSN injury was higher in the vertical group (4 patients vs. 10\n patients), but the difference was not statistically significant. The mean of Lysholm and\n VAS scores were the same. Also, the mean of Lysholm score was the same in patients with\n and without IPBSN injury. However, patients without IPBSN injury were more satisfied\n (8.9 ± 9 vs. 7.4 ± 1.1; P < 0.001). Conclusions: IPBSN injury is a common complication following arthroscopically-assisted ACLR and, if\n not significant, oblique direction of the incision is associated with decreased\n incidence of the injury. IPBSN injury has no effect on the function but because of the\n disturbance with patients' satisfaction, authors believe the oblique incision is\n preferable to avoid the nerve injury during medial hamstring tendons harvesting

Sexual dimorphism and morphometric study of Caspian pond turtle, Mauremys caspica (Testudines : Geoemydidae) in Golestan Province, southeast of the Caspian Sea

The Caspian pond turtle, Mauremys caspica, is a terrapin belonging to family Geoemydidae. Totally, 130 specimens (67 males and 63 females) were collected manually and by net from different aquatic habitats in Golestan Province from 2016 through 2017. Morphometric characteristics such as length were measured using digital caliper and weight by electronic weighting scale. Skin of this turtle was dark olive green in color and had rows of longitudinal yellow stripes around the head and neck. Their carapace was relatively flat, the bridges between the dorsal and ventral shells were bony, and the ends of anal scutes were found to be pointed. Fingers and toes had swimming membranes. Sexes were identified using the location of vent on the tail. Sex ratios of males to females were nearly 1:1. The maximum straight carapace length (SCL2) was 80.66-230.16 (156.72 ± 42.93) and 56.96-236.84 (147.02 ± 50.76) in males and females, respectively. Ratios of SCL2 to maximum plastron length (PL2) were found to be 1.013- 1.32 (1.15 ± 0.04) in males and 1.01-1.15 (1.08 ± 0.03) in females; ratios of SCL2 to straight carapace width (SCW) were 1.24-2.60 (1.40 ± 0.16) in males and 1.20-1.47 (1.35 ± 0.07) in females; ratios of SCL2 to carapace height (CH) were 2.28-3.55 (2.79 ± 0.22) in males and 2.05-8.78 (2.87 ± 1.11) in females; ratios of SCL2 to tail length2 (TL2) were 2.33-7.59 (3.76 ± 0.91) in males and 2.34-4.78 (3.06 ± 0.62) in females. Ratios of straight width of femuro-anal suture (FASW) to anal seam length (AnSL) were 2.95–5.89 (3.78 ± 0.54) in males and 2.65-4.13 (3.23 ± 0.40) in females. The ratio of TL2 to TL1 and TL1 to RBrL are found to be the fast and simple grouping index to determine sex of the specimens

Evidence of American Martens Populating the Turtle Mountains of North Dakota

American martens (Martes americana) were native to northeastern North Dakota but were considered extirpated by the early 1800s. Although there is no historic evidence of martens occurring beyond the northeast, forested habitat potentially suitable for martens exists in the Turtle Mountains region of northcentral North Dakota and southwestern Manitoba. From 1989– 1991, the Turtle Mountain Trappers Association translocated 59 martens into the Canadian portion of the Turtle Mountains. During summer 2007, we used covered track-plates and/or remotely-triggered cameras placed at 123 survey sites distributed among 41 1-km2 grid cells (a GIS-generated layer imposed on electronic maps of the study region) to determine if martens occupied the Turtle Mountains in North Dakota. Martens were detected at 26 (21%) sites, representing 20 of the 41 sample cells (49%) widely dispersed throughout the study area. Our study provided the first evidence of martens occurring in North Dakota since the early 1800s

Analyzing utilization of biomass in combined heat and power and combined cooling, heating, and power systems

Nowadays, ever-increasing energy demands and the depletion of fossil fuels require efficient and environmentally friendly technologies for energy generation. In this context, energy systems integration makes for a very strong proposition since it results in energy saving, fuel diversification, and the supply of cleaner energy. To this end, it is of the utmost importance to realize the current developments in this field and portray the state of the art of renewable generation in integrated energy systems. This review evaluates the utilization of bioenergy in cogeneration and trigeneration systems. The statistical reports of bioenergy and combined heat and power deployments in 28 countries of the European Union are discussed. Then, the most common research objectives of biomass-fueled combined heat and power systems are classified into three primary performance analyses, namely, energy and exergy analysis, thermo-economic optimization, and environment assessment. The influencing parameters of biomass utilization on each type of assessment are discussed, and the basic principles for carrying out such analyses in energy systems are explained. It is illustrated that the properties of feedstock, selection of appropriate conversion technology, associated costs with the biomass-to-bioenergy process, and sustainability of biomass are the primary influencing factors that could significantly affect the results of each assessment