An investigation on the micropyle number in the ova of the strugeon species in Caspian Sea

The micropyle number in the ova of sturgeon species from the South Caspian Sea was investigated. The study was conducted on female broodfishes of three species of sturgeon (Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus, Stetates sturgeon A. stellatus and great sturgeon Huso huso) included 44 Persian sturgeon, 13 stellate sturgeon and 8 great sturgeon specimens. Fifty eggs were randomly collected from each broodfish and the micropyle number of totally 3250 eggs was determined. Out of 44 Persian sturgeon used, 14 specimens were collected from the south-east Caspian region (Golestan Province, Shaid Marjani Center) and 30 were from the south-west Caspian region (Guilan Province, Shahid Dr. Beheshti Center). The stellate sturgeon specimens were taken from the south-west and the great sturgeon specimens from the south-east Caspian region. The obtained result showed that the mean micropyle number in Persian sturgeon caught from the south-east Caspian region was 8 whereas in those caught from the south-west region was 9. There was no significant difference (p>0.95) in the micropyle number of Persian sturgeon collected from the south-east and south-west regions. The mean micropyle number determined for stellate and great sturgeon was 5. The outer diameter of the micropyle in the Persian, stellate, and great sturgeon were 22 μm, 17 μm and 19 μm respectively

The effect of density and stocking weight on growth rate and production of grey mullet (Mugil cephalus L.)

Around ten thousands fries of Striped grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) with average weight and length of 280 mg and 28.3 mm respectively, imported in March 2008 from Egypt. The wild fries collected from surrounding natural waters of Alexandria. They stocked in four earthen ponds (each with 2500 m2 ) located at the Gomishan shrimp educational centre at late march in 2008. At the first year of culture the densities were 5000 and 10000 individuals per hectare and each treatment with two replicates. At second year, densities changed with 2000 and 2500 individuals per hectares and each of the treatments divided fishes with average primary weights of 80 and 115 grams. They fed twice a day at 8 AM and 2 PM and the amount was 5-7 percents of the fish existent biomass in each ponds. After seven months culture period, the average weight and length of fish in treatment 5000 ind./hec. were 113.7 gr and 21.1 cm respectively and in treatment 10000 ind./hec. the average weight and length were 86.6 gr and 19.6 cm respectively. At first year the average survival rate in different treatments was 77 percent. The average FCR in treatments 5000 and 10000 ind./hec. were 3.4 and 3.9 respectively. At second years after six months culture the average weights in pond no. 9 (with primary weight 115 gr and density 2000 ind./hec) , pond no. 10 (with primary weight 80 gr and density 2000 ind./hec) , pond no. 11 (with primary weight 115 gr and density 2500 ind./hec) and pond no. 12 (with primary weight 80 gr and density 2500 ind./hec) calculated as 476.6 ,338.1, 366.5 and 440 gr respectively. The average survival rate and FCR were 93 % and 3.1 respectively

Study of -629C/A polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in statin effects on plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol level

Background and aim: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays in HDL metabolism and in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pivotal role pathway. CETP gene variants such as -629C/A that affect HDL cholesterol directly, modulates CETP gene transcriptional activity. This study was aimed to determine influence of -629C/A polymorphism of CETP in statin effects with regard to plasma HDL cholesterol levels. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 196 adult patients with LDL-C more than 120mg/dL were divided into two groups base on lovastatin and atorvastatin using. Lipid profile was measured in all subjects before and after treatment and -629C/A polymorphism of CETP promoter was studied using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Data were compared with paired t-test and ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: Cholesterol was decreased and HDL was increased in AA genotype more than other genotypes by lovastatin, but ApoA1 was increased in CC genotype. ApoA1 also was increased in CC genotype more than AA or AC genotypes by atorvastatin. Conclusion: In CC genotype, lovastatin and specially atorvastatin increased ApoA1 in HDL particles more than other genotypes. Therefore, treatment with lovastatin and atorvastatin is more effective in patients with CC genotype for raising HDL particles activity

Study of -629C/A polymorphism of cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene in statin effects on plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol level

Background and aim: Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays pivotal role in HDL metabolism and in reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) pathway. CETP gene variants such as -629C/A that affect HDL cholesterol directly modulates CETP gene tranh1ional activity. This study was aimed to determine influence of -629C/A polymorphism of CETP in statin effects with regard to plasma HDL cholesterol levels. Methods: In this deh1ive-analytical study 196 adult patients with LDL-C more than 120mg/dL were divided into two groups base on lovastatin and atorvastatin using. Lipid profile was measured in all subjects before and after treatment and -629C/A polymorphism of CETP promoter was studied using polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Data were compared with paired t-test and ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: Cholesterol was decreased and HDL was increased in AA genotype more than other genotypes by lovastatin but ApoA1 was increased in CC genotype. ApoA1 also was increased in CC genotype more than AA or AC genotypes by atorvastatin. Conclusion: In CC genotype lovastatin and specially atorvastatin increased ApoA1 in HDL particles more than other genotypes. Therefore treatment with lovastatin and atorvastatin is more effective in patients with CC genotype for raising HDL particles activity

Dynamic asymptotic dimension for actions of virtually cyclic groups

We show that the dynamic asymptotic dimension of a minimal free action of an infinite virtually cyclic group on a compact Hausdorff space is always one. This extends a well-known result of Guentner, Willett, and Yu for minimal free actions of infinite cyclic groups. Furthermore, the minimality assumption can be replaced by the marker property, and we prove the marker property for all free actions of countable groups on finite dimensional compact Hausdorff spaces, generalising a result of Szabo in the metrisable setting

Investigation of antibacterial and antifungal activities of the extract marine algae Sargassum glaucescens

In recent decades the use of algae in the food and pharmaceutical industries is of great importance. The antimicrobial activity of brown alga methanol, ethyl acetate, hexane, and chloroform extracts on bacteria gram positive, gram negative, and fungi was evaluated by using nutrient broth macrodilution test. Sargassum glaucescense was collected around the coastal waters of Chabahar (Oman Sea) in Nov and Dec 2015. Six pathogenic organisms including; Enterococcus faecium ATCC 51299, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 35668, Shigella boydii ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, Salmonella enteritidi PTCC, 1709, Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Aspergillus fumigatus PTCC 5009 were investigated by the broth dilution method. Methanolic Extract for six strains showed good activity amongst eight strains. Hexane extract, after methanolic extract has good effect on antimicrobial activity against five strains. All bacteria strain in this survey has showed resistance against ethyl acetate and chloroformic extracts. All extract of S. glaucescens has good inhibition growth against two fungal strains. S. glaucescens using four various solution extract against eight different human pathogens showed an important antimicrobial and antifungal activity. However, more investigation has to be done on separation, purification and detection of the active ingredients in order to recognize their antifungal and antibacterial activity

Quantitative phase evolution during mechano-synthesis of Ti-Ni-Cu shape memory alloys

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Ti-41Ni-9Cu shape memory alloy was synthesized by mechanical alloying of pure elemental Ti, Ni, and Cu powders using high-energy ball milling. The qualitative and quantitative phase analyses of the as-milled powders were done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) using Rietveld refinement and the alloys microstructure was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). Concerning the results, by milling evolution, the dissolution of the primary materials occurred at different rates and a considerable amount of the amorphous phase as well as B19′-martensite and B2-austenite was created. The formation of Ni solid solution was also evidenced prior to its dissolution. It was found that at sufficient milling time, the mechano-crystallization of the amorphous phase occurred and at the end of milling, the B19′-martensite is the dominant phase of the structure. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserve

NKX2-5 regulates the expression of beta-catenin and GATA4 in ventricular myocytes.

BackgroundThe molecular pathway that controls cardiogenesis is temporally and spatially regulated by master transcriptional regulators such as NKX2-5, Isl1, MEF2C, GATA4, and beta-catenin. The interplay between these factors and their downstream targets are not completely understood. Here, we studied regulation of beta-catenin and GATA4 by NKX2-5 in human fetal cardiac myocytes.Methodology/principal findingsUsing antisense inhibition we disrupted the expression of NKX2-5 and studied changes in expression of cardiac-associated genes. Down-regulation of NKX2-5 resulted in increased beta-catenin while GATA4 was decreased. We demonstrated that this regulation was conferred by binding of NKX2-5 to specific elements (NKEs) in the promoter region of the beta-catenin and GATA4 genes. Using promoter-luciferase reporter assay combined with mutational analysis of the NKEs we demonstrated that the identified NKX2-5 binding sites were essential for the suppression of beta-catenin, and upregulation of GATA4 by NKX2-5.ConclusionsThis study suggests that NKX2-5 modulates the beta-catenin and GATA4 transcriptional activities in developing human cardiac myocytes