Adding wheat and rapeseed meal to corn-soy diets affects intestinal morphology and nutrient digestibility in broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of thyme essential oil and enzyme supplementation on rations with two different energy (wheat or corn) and protein resources (soy or rapeseed meals) on gut morphology and protein digestibility of broiler chickens. Three hundred eighty-four male Ross-308 broiler chickens were used with a 23 factorial arrangement with treatments according to a completely randomized design. The morphological examinations of the intestine were carried out on 1-cm long excised segments from duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Adding wheat to the diet increased small intestine length in birds compared to other feedstuffs (P <0.05). Duodenum crypt depth and jejunum villi length were also higher in groups fed with rations containing wheat (P <0.05). Groups that received thyme essential oil and enzyme supplementation had increased length of the duodenum (P <0.05). However, the two- and three-factor interaction effects were not significant. Protein digestibility was not affected by treatment (P >0.05). Feeding wheat to broiler chickens may increase the surface area for nutrient absorption in the small intestine as compensation for the anti-nutritive activity of non-starch polysaccharides in wheat-based diets. Wheat based diets are expected to be acceptable for broilers when supplemented with appropriate enzymes or thyme essential oil

Evaluation of Carbon sequestration in pure and mixed plantations of Cupressus arizonica

The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of tree mixture on Carbon sequestration in cupressus arizonica plantations. Emission of carbon dioxide via human activities is known as the main cause of global warming. Therefore, in this study, soil carbon sequestration in mixed and pure stands was measured in order to compare the effect of tree mixture on the amount of carbon stored in the top mineral soil layer. The study site was Khargosh Valley Forest Park, located in Tehran province. This study included 4 different type of stands, the pure Cupressus arizonica, the pure Pinus eldarica, the mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica and the mixed Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods. Sampling method was done with a Systematic random network with dimensions 75 × 75 m. Samples parts were Square with dimensions of 20 x 20 m. At each plot center, forest floor was sampled from the first 10 cm of soil. To analyze the data one way analyses of variance (ANOVA) in SPSS v.20 was used to assess the Soil parameters. Tukey’s tests were used to test significant effects (p ≤ 0.05). Our results showed that the mean Carbon sequestration in the mixed plantations of Cupressus arizonica with deciduous hardwoods trees soils was greater than the other stands which in the standing mixed Cupressus arizonica and Pinus eldarica was lower than the pure stands. Our results Recommended for establishment ofconifer plantation, used mixed culture of Conifers with broadleaf Instead of pure cultures conifers.Keywords: Carbon sequestration, Cupressus arizonica, Iran, mixed, Plantations, pur

Mid-term patency in radial artery and saphenous vein after coronary artery bypass grafting in asymptomatic patients using 128-slice CT coronary angiography

Background: Patency of the revascularization conduit is an essential predictor of long-standing survival after coronary artery bypass grafting. Objectives: We have conducted this study to compare the mid-term patency rates of radial artery (RA), left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and also saphenous vein (SV) grafts in asymptomatic patients following coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) undergoing total IV anesthesia. Patients and Methods: In this study, 30 three-vessel disease patients with 104 RA, LITA, and SV grafts used concomitantly for primary isolated non-emergent CABG surgery were assessed. The primary end point was CT angiographic graft patency rate. After 53.5 (24-97) months� follow-up, graft patency was assessed using 128-slice CT coronary angiography. Logistic regression analysis was used to detect the independent predictors of graft failure. Results: A total of 104 grafts, including 30 LITA, 44 SV, and 30 RA grafts, were studied. Cumulative graft patency rates were 93.3 in LITA, 83.3 in RA, and 70.5 in SV grafts. Statistically significant difference was found between the LITA and the SV graft patency rates (P = 0.019), whereas the difference between the RA conduit patency and the LITA or SV graft patency rates did not have any statistical significance (P = 0.424 and P = 0.273, respectively). Independent predictors of RA grafts occlusion were native coronary stenosis < 70 and female gender. Conclusions: In our patients, the RA grafts had an acceptable patency rate in 2 to 5 years� follow-up. Although the SV grafts had a relatively higher patency rate than RA grafts in our asymptomatic patients, the patency rates in RA and SV grafts were close to each other. The RA graft function was poor in the patients with a higher number of risk factors and in the females. © 2015, Iranian Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ISRAPM)

Strategic Bidding in a Pool-Based Electricity Market under Load Forecast Uncertainty

This paper proposes a method for determining the price bidding strategies of market participants consisting of Generation Companies (GENCOs) and Distribution Companies (DISCOs) in a day-ahead electricity market, while taking into consideration the load forecast uncertainty and demand response programs. The proposed algorithm tries to find a Pareto optimal point for a risk neutral participant in the market. Because of the complexity of the problem a stochastic method is used. In the proposed method, two approaches are used simultaneously. First approach is Fuzzy Genetic Algorithm for finding the best bidding strategies of market players, and another one is Mont-Carlo Method that models the uncertainty of load in price determining algorithm. It is demonstrated that with considering transmission flow constraints in the problem, load uncertainty can considerably influences the profits of companies and so using the second part of the proposed algorithm will be useful in such situation. It is also illustrated when there are no transmission flow constraints, the effect of load uncertainty can be modeled without using a stochastic model. The algorithm is finally tested on an 8 bus system

Comparison of risperidone and aripiprazole in the treatment of preschool children with disruptive behavior disorder and attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder: A randomized clinical trial

Although pharmacotherapy with atypical antipsychotics is common in child psychiatry, there has been little research on this issue. To compare the efficacy and safety of risperidone and aripiprazole in the treatment of preschool children with disruptive behavior disorders comorbid with attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Randomized clinical trial conducted in a university-affiliated child psychiatry clinic in southwest Iran. Forty 3-6-year-old children, diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder comorbid with ADHD, were randomized to an 8-week trial of treatment with risperidone or aripiprazole (20 patients in each group). Assessment was performed by Conners' rating scale-revised and clinical global impressions scale, before treatment, and at weeks 2, 4, and 8 of treatment. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 16. Mean scores between the two groups were compared by analysis of variance and independent and paired t-test. Mean scores of Conners rating scales were not different between two groups in any steps of evaluation. Both groups had significantly reduced scores in week 2 of treatment (P = 0.00), with no significant change in subsequent measurements. Rates of improvement, mean increase in weight (P = 0.894), and mean change in fasting blood sugar (P = 0.671) were not significantly different between two groups. Mean serum prolactin showed a significant increase in risperidone group (P = 0.00). Both risperidone and aripiprazole were equally effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD and oppositional defiant disorder, and relatively safe, but high rates of side effects suggest the cautious use of these drugs in children. © 2016 Journal of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology & Research

The Innovation of Hafez in Religious and Social Themes

The present research is based on a descriptive-analytical method, and it tends to analyze the extent and manner of innovation of Hafez in the shared social and religious themes. The research findings also including hypocrisy and pretense as well as the realization of freedom in society, which is one of the most important issues of socio-religious beliefs that was planned in a new and modern style in Hafez's poetry

Detection of surface anomalies through fractal analysis and their relation to morphotectonics (High Zagros belt, Iran)

Fractal geometry is considered as a new method for quantitative analysis and explanation of surface complexities and roughness in self-similar or self-affine landforms. In the present study, the surface fractal dimensions were investigated by a cellular model by covering divider method and remote sensing data, in a complex morphotectonic region in terms of tectonic, geological, and geomorphological structures along the margin of the High Zagros Belt. Results of this study indicated that surface anomalies can be detected by cellular fractal model due to variations at the boundary of lithological units and structural zones, and along faults that can change the characters of the fractal dimension of landforms. Investigation of wavelet analyses on two profiles of study area shows that the amplitude and frequency of the fractal dimension is related to lithological and structural zones boundaries, and to the presence of faults. In this study, the lowest fractal dimension is associated with the integrated units of Mesozoic orbitolina limestone on the border of the two structural zones of Sanandaj-Sirjan and High Zagros belt. However, the presence of friable and erodible Quaternary formations increases the fractal dimension. There is an inverse relationship between the fractal dimension and elevation and Terrain Ruggedness Index, indicating that mountains have lower fractal dimensions than lowlands. The results of the present study show that fractal dimensional changes in topographically complex zones depend on the interaction of a set of lith-ological, tectonic, and geomorphological factors, and allow for a systematic quantitative analysis of landforms

Design of fractional order PID controller for boost converter based on Multi-Objective optimization

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