Prolonged exposure to freezing stress reduces the ability of chickpea seedlings to effectively tolerate extremely low temperatures

The duration and intensity of freezing stress are the most critical factors determining injury in autumn chickpeas, limiting their production and development. To evaluate the effects of freezing temperature and duration on the survival rate (SU%), as well as the physiological and biochemical characteristics of autumn chickpea seedlings, a study was conducted using five different temperatures (0, -6, -8, -10, and -12°C) and five different durations (1 h, 2 h, 3 h, 4 h, and 5 h) of exposure to freezing stress. The SU% of chickpea seedlings decreased to zero after exposure to temperatures of -10°C and -12°C for 5 hours. As the temperature decreased from -8°C to -12°C and the duration of exposure to freezing stress increased from 1 to 5 hours, the leaf membrane stability index decreased by 33%, 48%, 46%, 57%, and 58%, respectively. The highest and lowest total pigment contents were observed after 1 hour at 0°C and 5 hours at -12°C, respectively. The maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv’/Fm’) was not affected by temperatures as low as -8°C in any of the time treatments during the recovery period. However, this parameter’s value decreased as the freezing stress duration increased. At -12°C, the activity of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, and peroxidase increased by 44.6%, 38.3%, and 33.0%, respectively, as the duration of stress was increased from 1 hour to 5 hours. A positive and significant correlation was observed between plant dry weight, membrane stability index, photosynthetic pigment content, and Fv’/Fm’ with SU% after exposure to freezing stress. The minimum temperature and the maximum duration of freezing stress tolerance in chickpea seedlings were observed at -12°C for two hours. Our findings confirm that prolonging the freezing duration disrupts the defense mechanisms of chickpea seedlings. Therefore, future studies on breeding chickpeas tolerant to freezing stress should concentrate on attributes strongly correlated with SU%

Una Comparación del Efecto del Uso de Anotaciones de Texto-Imagen y Audio-Imagen para Facilitar la Recordación de Vocabulario en Segunda Lengua en Estudiantes Iraníes de Inglés como Lengua Extranjera

The present study compared the effect of text-picture and audio-picture multimedia annotations in second language vocabulary recall among Iranian EFL learners. The participants were selected from two classes of 80 students who were studying advanced-level English at in a language institute in Iran. Their level of English proficiency was determined on the basis of their scores on the PET proficiency test. Sixty-two students were selected for the main procedure, and were then randomly divided into two experimental groups: the textannotation and audio-annotation group; and a control group. After answering a vocabulary pretest, participants clicked on the highlighted unknown words to access available annotations while reading. The text-picture group was able to see textual explanation and pictorial description, and the audio-picture group was able to see pictorial description explanation and hear a spoken explanation. After reading, students completed the post-tests. The results of the study demonstrate that audio-picture annotation is more effective than text-picture annotation in facilitating immediate L2 vocabulary recall. The results suggestthat providing audio or text annotation of new words can help recall of new vocabulary when reading.El presente estudio comparó el efecto del uso de anotaciones multimedia de texto-imagen y anotaciones de audio-imagen para facilitar la recordación de vocabulario en segunda lengua en estudiantes iraníes de inglés como lengua extranjera. Los participantes fueron seleccionados de dos aulas de clases de 80estudiantes de nivel avanzado de inglés de un instituto de idiomas en Irán. El nivel de inglés de los participantes se determinó a partir de sus calificaciones en la prueba de proficiencia PET. Fueron seleccionados 62 estudiantes para el estudio general y posteriormente fueron divididos aleatoriamente en dos gruposexperimentales: grupo de anotaciones de texto, grupo de anotaciones de audio y un grupo de control. Después de responder la prueba de vocabulario, los participantes hicieron clic en las palabras desconocidas para tener acceso a las anotaciones disponibles mientras realizaban la lectura. El grupo de estudiantes que utilizaron anotaciones de texto- imagen pudo visualizar la explicación textual y la descripción pictórica y el grupo que utilizó anotaciones de audioimagen pudo ver la descripción pictórica y escuchar una explicación oral. Al terminar la lectura, los estudiantes finalizaron el examen final. Los resultados del estudio demostraron que el uso de anotaciones de audio-imagen es más eficaz que el uso de anotaciones texto-imagen para la recordación inmediata de vocabulario en segunda lengua. Los resultados sugieren que el proporcionar anotaciones de texto o audio de nuevas palabras puede ayudar a recordar vocabulario nuevo al leer

A Comparison of the Effect of Text-Picture and Audio-Picture Annotations in Second Language Vocabulary Recall among Iranian EFL Learners

The present study compared the effect of text-picture and audio-picture multimedia annotations in second language vocabulary recall among Iranian EFL learners. The participants were selected from two classes of 80 students who were studying advanced-level English at in a language institute in Iran. Their level of English proficiency was determined on the basis of their scores on the PET proficiency test. Sixty-two students were selected for the main procedure, and were then randomly divided into two experimental groups: the textannotation and audio-annotation group; and a control group. After answeringa vocabulary pretest, participants clicked on the highlighted unknown words to access available annotations while reading. The text-picture group was able to see textual explanation and pictorial description, and the audio-picture group was able to see pictorial description explanation and hear a spoken explanation.After reading, students completed the post-tests. The results of the study demonstrate that audio-picture annotation is more effective than text-picture annotation in facilitating immediate L2 vocabulary recall. The results suggestthat providing audio or text annotation of new words can help recall of new vocabulary when reading

Magnetic resonance imaging of intact globe superior subluxation into the intracranium

A 67-year-old man with right-sided blunt ocular trauma is reported here. Despite having received primary medical care, the patient complained of severe headache for 14 days. Initial computed tomography (CT) indicated hematoma in the right frontal lobe. However, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) indicated that the right globe along with its optic nerve had been intactly dislocated into the intracranium and differentiated from hematoma. In this case, the significance of MRI, in blunt ocular trauma work-up, and also regaining successful ocular function are highlighted

Investigation acoustic comfort indexes in staff of open plan offices in state banks in Hamadan city

Background & Objectives: Noise is one of the most detrimental factors in working environments that alongside other physical problems have adverse effects on the mental health of employees. Open plan offices such as banks are under the influence of noise pollution sources, which can have a negative impact on health and comfort of employees. This study aimed to identify the sources of noise pollution in the banks and the level of noise annoyance among their employees . Methods: A-weighted Sound Pressure Level measured in the banks by a sound level meter. Perefferd noise curve (PNC) and speech interference index (SIL) were calculated, prevalence of noise annoyance, effects and clarity of speech were determined using a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.88 completed by 175 employees of Hamadan banks . Results: Sound Pressure Level equivalent of the banks were 64.11 dB. The average value of SIL index was calculated 54.93 dB and PNC index were calculated 58.17 dB and 48.2 dB for banks working and not-working times, respectively. According to bank staff opinions, the main source of noise pollution was commotion of clienteles that reduce concentration and increase overall effort to understand speech of colleagues. Conclusion: Noise emission in the studied banks had a low frequency band. PNC, and SIL indexes are perfect indexes for describing the acoustics condition and control plan for open office environments

Evaluation of Water Deficit Tolerance of 10 Potato Cultivars (Solanum tuberosum L.)Based on some Physiological Traits and Tuber Yield in Ardabil Region

This research was conducted to study the physiological traits affecting the yield of 10 different potato cultivars under water deficit conditions in a two-years study (2013 and 2014) in Ardabil Agricultural and Natural Resources Research Station. The study was performed in a split plot experiment based on randomized complete block design with three replications. The main-plots were three levels of irrigations (irrigation with 100%, 80% and 60% required water) and sub-plots consisted of 10 commercial potato cultivars (Khavaran, Savalan, Luca, Satina, Sante, Marfona, Caeser, Agria, Aula and Draga) released in the last 30 years. During the growing season, some physiological traits including relative water content, electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll content of the leaves were measured at their five different growth stages. Combined analysis of variance of traits showed that there were significant differences cultivars between years, and cultivars × water deficit stress interaction in all growth stages in terms of relative water content, electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll content and tuber yield. In terms of electrolyte leakage and chlorophyll content of the leaves, there were significant differences between years, different water stress levels, cultivars and cultivars × water stress level. In addition, in terms of tuber yield there were significant differences between years, water stress levels, cultivars and year × water stress level, cultivar × water stress level, cultivar × year.  There were significant differences in chlorophyll content of the leaves under different irrigation conditios in the first, second, third and fifth growth stages of the potato. According to the results, under normal irrigation condition, cultivars Khavaran and Satina had higher relative water content, lower electrolyte leakage, higher chlorophyll content of the leaves and higher tuber yield. Under mild water stress condition, cultivars Caeser, Draga and Khavaran and under severe stress condition, cultivars Agria and Draga maintained higher relative water content and higher tuber yield; whereas cultivars Savalan, Luca, Satina and Marfona showed lower electrolyte leakage and higher tuber yield; and cultivar Savalan showed the highest chlorophyll content of the leaves and higher tuber yield under severe stress condition and thus were selected as tolerant cultivars to water deficit conditions

Immunohistochemical positive stained p53 protein in bladder transitional cell carcinoma

<b>Background: </b> Molecular genetics and immunopathologic analysis of bladder cancer have shown some abnormalities in a number of genes and proteins that have been implicated in the development and progression of such tumors, mainly in the p53 pathway. <b> Aims:</b> To investigate the rate of positively stained p53 protein in patients with urothelial papillary carcinoma of the bladder (UCB) by immunohistochemistry and its relationship with tumor grade, gender and age of the patients. <b> Settings and Design:</b> During the present cross-sectional study, 100 paraffin-embedded specimens of UCB, which were provided from biopsies of the bladder by transurethral access, were immunohistochemically stained and studied for p53 protein from May 2006 to May 2007 in our referral center pathology laboratory. <b> Materials and Methods:</b> First, 4 &#x00B5;m slices of paraffin sections were provided and then stained by the avidin-biotin peroxidase method. The rate of positively stained p53 protein (defined as positive nuclear staining in over 10&#x0025; of the cells) was assessed. This rate was also estimated and compared between grades, genders and age-related groups (&#60; 70 years, &#8805;70 years). <b> Statistical Analysis: </b> The &#967;² , Fisher&#x2032;s exact test and Mann-Whitney <i> U</i> test were used for comparing. <b> Results: </b> The overall rate of positively stained specimens was 11&#x0025; for nuclear p53 protein. This rate was significantly higher in females (10/29 vs. 1/71; <i> P </i> &lt; 0.001; odds ratio [OR]: 0.23; 95&#x0025; confidence interval [CI]: 4.43-306.08), patients with 70 or older than 70 years (8/42 vs. 3/58; <i> P </i> = 0.04; OR: 0.55; 95&#x0025; CI: 1.07-17.39) and in high-grade tumors (10/58 vs. 1/42; <i> P </i> = 0.02; OR: 0.59; 95&#x0025; CI: 0.01-0.95). <b> Conclusions:</b> The rate of positively stained p53 protein for UCB was lower in our population. This rate was also higher in females, patients with 70 or older than 70 years and high grade of UCB

Effects of time and intensity of defoliation on yield and yield components of corn

In order to evaluate the effects of time (20, 40, 60 and 100 days after sowing) and intensity of defoliation (0, 33, 66 and 100%) on a corn cultivar ( three way cross 647), a complete randomized block design with split plot arrangement and three replications was conducted in Experimental Field of Faculty of Agriculture Ferdowsi University of Mashhad.The main plots were consisted of defoliation time and the sub plots were consisted of defoliation intensity. For this purpose leaves were defoliated at 33, 66, and 100% and at the end of experiment, different morphologic and physiologic criteria such as number of leaves per plent, total dry matter and plant components dry matter, seed yield and yield components and also harvest index were evaluated. Results indicated that defoliation at the early stage of crop growth (20 and 40 days) and at the end of crop growth (100 days) showed no effects on most of criteria measured. However at the middle of growth period, defoliation reduced these parameters. Intensity of defoliatin up to 66% had no effects, but 100% reduced all those parameters. Therefore, it appears that by defoliation up to more the 50% of plant leaves, plants could recover and appears as a normal plant, but with 100% defoliation this was not happened. Defoliation at early stages had no negative effects, because regrowth of leaves could have compensated for these type of damage. At the end of growing season, plant cycle was completed and so defoliation had no negative effects on growth and development, while at the middle stage (60 and 80 days) the negative effect was due to the fact that plants could not recover completely from defoliation.\ud \ud Key words: Zea mays, times of defoliation, intensity of defoliation, yield