Cytotoxicity effects of green synthesized silver nanoparticles on human colon cancer (HT29) cells

Background: Nowadays, investigations on the role of nanoparticles for diagnosis, and treatment of cancers are being increased. This study aimed at examining the cytotoxic effect of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on human colon cancer (HT29) and normal (HEK293) cells using the Artemisa tournefortiana extract. Materials and Methods: In the current study, the green synthesis of AgNPs was conducted using the A. tournefortiana extract. Then, the characterization of fabricated AgNPs was performed by ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The HT29 and HEK293 cell lines were treated with different concentrations of synthesized AgNPs for 24 hours and the viability of cells and half-maximal inhibitory concentration) IC50( were calculated by the MTT assay. Results: The fabricated AgNPs showed the characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at around 425 nm. The crystallographic shapes from the XRD and TEM tests showed that the AgNPs were mostly spherical in shape, having an average diameter of 22 nm. The MTT results revealed that AgNPs significantly decreased the viability of cells in dose-and time-dependent manner. The IC50 values of nanoparticles for HT29 and HEK293 cell lines, during the 24 hours, were 40.71 and 61.38 mg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: According to the results of the current study, the green fabricated AgNPs can have a more cytotoxic effect on colon cancer cells compared to the normal cells. Thus, they can be considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of colon cancer

The effect of planting date and symbiotic Mycorrhiza fungi on physiological and growth characteristics of three cultivars of potato

In order to investigate the effect of planting date and Mycorrhiza fungi on the physiological, growth characteristics and yield of three cultivars of potato tuber, the treatments were planting date as the main plot at three levels (May 15th, June 1st and June 15th) and the consisted of a factorial combination of three potato cultivars (Agria, Santhe and Arinda) and two levels with and without mycorrhiza as subplots. The results showed that the highest yield of potato tuber cultivars achieved with Arinda in the early cultivating date (May 15th) (38 t ha-1). It was determined that the planting date of May 20th due to the interaction of stages of plant growth (especially flowering) with the maximum temperature of the region was affected by environmental stresses that had a negative effect on the physiological characteristics associated with the photosynthetic pigments. As a result, decreased potato tuber yield in Fereydoun Shahr area. Mycorrhiza has a positive effect on root development, improves the pigments and increases the dry weight of the roots, leaves and shoots. It seems that Agria have less tolerance to environmental stresses due to less production of non-enzymatic (carotenoid) and enzymatic (catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase) anti-oxidant, resulting in lower tuber yield in all three planting dates in presence or absence of mycorrhiza

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) re-growth ability in saline soil through enhanced nitrogen remobilization and improved nutritional balance

In current study, the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on salinity tolerance in terms of root’s reserves remobilization to shoot and its relationship with re-growth ability and ionic status of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants were investigated. In a pot experiment, a factorial experiment in base of randomized complete blocks design in three replications was carried out. Alfalfa plants (Iranian cultivar-Baghdadi) inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or retained as un-inoculated, were grown in soil and irrigated with three salt concentrations including 1.4 (control), 7 and 12 dS/m. Three harvests were carried out at 10% of flowering stage. AMF inoculation increased the size of root sugars and soluble N pools at harvest time. The shoot biomass production following harvest had a close correlation with nitrogen (N) remobilization from root (r=0.92, P≤0.01). However salinity stress significantly reduced amount and percentage of N remobilization to re-growing shoot but AMF plants exhibited greater amount and percentage of root N pools dedicated to remobilization. AMF inoculation also affected ionic relations of plants as AM+ plants contained greater K+ within both root and shoot organs while Ca2+ and Na+ were affected by AMF only within shoot tissue. AMF plants exhibited higher K+/Na+ within shoot and Ca+2/Na+ within root organs. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between K+/Na+, Ca+2/Na+ ratios and N remobilization from root (respectively, r=0.92, 0.88; P≤0.01). To sum up, ionic status within both root and shoot organs, got more balanced by AMF inoculation so that AMF reduced limitations within both source (root) and sink (re-growing shoot) organs concerning N remobilization to re-growing shoot

Cytotoxic effects of Zn oxide nanoparticles against breast cancer T47D cells and NM23 gene expression

Background: Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide among women. Nowadays, nanoparticles are interested as anti-cancer factors in studies related to cancer therapy. Therefore, the present study aimed to explore cytotoxic effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and to evaluate NM23 gene expression in T47D breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The cancerous T47D and normal HEK293 cell lines were treated with different concentration of ZnONPs for 24 hours and the cytotoxicity activity of ZnONPs was analyzed by the MTT assay. Then, the NM23 gene expression was evaluated using the real-time PCR method. Results: According to MTT results, the ZnONPs significantly decreased the viability of T47D cells in dose-dependent manner. Also, the results revealed that the mRNA level of NM23 was up-regulated (7.8-fold) in cells treated with ZnONPs. Conclusion: ZnONPs can destroy cancerous T47D cells compared to normal HEK293 cells. Furthermore, it seems that ZnONPs can modulate metastasis by enhancing the NM23 gene expression level in breast cancer T47D cells. Thus, ZnONPs can be considered as a promising strategy for the treatment of breast cancer

Investigating the impact of entrepreneurship on the psychological empowerment of rural women members of agricultural cooperative companies in Semiram County

Context and purpose. This study aimed to analyze the effect of the tendency to entrepreneurial tendencies and psychological empowerment of rural women members of agricultural cooperatives in Semirom County. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive survey in terms of research method. Methodology. This research is applied in terms of purpose and is considered a descriptive survey in terms of research method. To collect the data, a questionnaire was used based on the ordinal scale and the Likert level scale, the validity of which was confirmed by experts, and its reliability was confirmed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The study's statistical population was 239 rural women members of agricultural cooperatives in Semirom County. The sample size was calculated using the Krejcie-Morgan table of 148 people and the sample members were selected by simple random sampling. Also, in order to analyze the data, the structural equation modeling method with partial least squares approach and using Smart-pls3 software was used. Findings and conclusions. Results showed that the tendency to entrepreneurial tendencies has a positive and significant effect on lifestyle. Lifestyle has a positive and significant effect on the components of psychological empowerment (sense of competence, sense of autonomy, sense of effectiveness, sense of meaning) with path coefficients. The results also indicate the effect of entrepreneurial tendencies on the psychological empowerment of rural women members of agricultural cooperatives in Semirom city with the mediating role of a healthy lifestyle

The impact of green entrepreneurship orientation on consumer perspective and sustainable competitive advantage in agricultural production cooperatives

پژوهش حاضر با هدف بررسی تاثیر جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی سبز بر دیدگاه مصرف کننده و بهبود مزیت رقابتی پایدار انجام شد. جامعه آماری مورد مطالعه تعداد 150 شرکت تعاونی تولیدی کشاورزی استان خوزستان بود. از بین این شرکت‌ها، بر اساس روش نمونه‌گیری با استفاده از جدول مورگان، 111 شرکت به عنوان نمونه آماری انتخاب شدند. داده‌های تحقیق با استفاده از پرسشنامه شامل 30 سوال جمع‌آوری شد. به منظور تشریح رابطه بین جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی سبز، مزیت رقابتی پایدار و دیدگاه مصرف‌کننده از مدل معادلات ساختاری استفاده شد. داده‌های به دست آمده از پرسشنامه با استفاده از روش حداقل مربعات جزیی و نرم‌افزارSmart-PLS3 تحلیل شدند. پایایی پرسشنامه با استفاده از روش آلفای کرونباخ و ضریب پایایی ترکیبی اندازه‌گیری شد. مقدار هر دو ضریب برای سازه‌های تحقیق بیشتر از 9/0 بود. نتایج نشان داد جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی سبز در شرکت‌های تعاونی تولیدی کشاورزی استان خوزستان، بر دیدگاه مصرف کننده اثر مثبت و معناداری دارد. نتایج تحقیق، اثر جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی سبز بر دیدگاه مصرف کننده را با ضریب مسیر 707/0 و ضریب معناداری 43/17و نیز بر مزیت رقابتی پایدار را با ضریب مسیر 823/0 و ضریب معناداری 893/13تایید کرد. همچنین نتایج حاکی از تاثیر مثبت و معنادار دیدگاه مصرف‌کننده بر مزیت رقابتی پایدار با تاثیرپذیری از جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی سبز با ضریب معناداری 086/2 بود. با توجه به یافته‌های این پژوهش، شرکت‌های تعاونی کشاورزی می‌توانند با جهت‌گیری کارآفرینی و نوآوری سبز، علاوه بر بهبود عملکرد اقتصادی و اجتماعی شرکت، به کاهش پیامدهای مخرب زیست محیطی کمک کنند

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (Funneliformis mosseae) improves alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) re-growth ability in saline soil through enhanced nitrogen remobilization and improved nutritional balance

In current study, the influence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) on salinity tolerance in terms of root’s reserves remobilization to shoot and its relationship with re-growth ability and ionic status of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants were investigated. In a pot experiment, a factorial experiment in base of randomized complete blocks design in three replications was carried out. Alfalfa plants (Iranian cultivar-Baghdadi) inoculated with AMF (Funneliformis mosseae) or retained as un-inoculated, were grown in soil and irrigated with three salt concentrations including 1.4 (control), 7 and 12 dS/m. Three harvests were carried out at 10% of flowering stage. AMF inoculation increased the size of root sugars and soluble N pools at harvest time. The shoot biomass production following harvest had a close correlation with nitrogen (N) remobilization from root (r=0.92, P≤0.01). However salinity stress significantly reduced amount and percentage of N remobilization to re-growing shoot but AMF plants exhibited greater amount and percentage of root N pools dedicated to remobilization. AMF inoculation also affected ionic relations of plants as AM+ plants contained greater K+ within both root and shoot organs while Ca2+ and Na+ were affected by AMF only within shoot tissue. AMF plants exhibited higher K+/Na+ within shoot and Ca+2/Na+ within root organs. There was a high positive correlation coefficient between K+/Na+, Ca+2/Na+ ratios and N remobilization from root (respectively, r=0.92, 0.88; P≤0.01). To sum up, ionic status within both root and shoot organs, got more balanced by AMF inoculation so that AMF reduced limitations within both source (root) and sink (re-growing shoot) organs concerning N remobilization to re-growing shoot

Analysis of the effect of talent management processes on networking capability and organizational performance (Case study: Agricultural cooperatives of Isfahan province)

Talent management is a new approach that can revolutionize the human resource management of cooperatives and eliminate the weaknesses and problems of their traditional approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of talent management processes on networking capability and performance in cooperatives in Isfahan province. This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive-survey method. To collect the data, a 30-item questionnaire based on a sequential scale and a five-point Likert scale was used, the validity of which was confirmed by experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating the Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The statistical population of the research is 580 managers of agricultural cooperatives in Isfahan province and the sample size was calculated using Krejcie Morgan table of 230 people who were selected by simple random sampling. SmartPLS software was used to analyze the data. The results showed that talent management processes including evaluation and discovery, absorption, retention and maintenance and development of organizational talent affect organizational performance. In addition, the impact of networking on the performance of agricultural cooperatives was confirmed

An Investigation of the Effect of Tacit Knowledge Exchange on the Marketing Performance in Agricultural Production Cooperatives in Isfahan Province

In the process of supplying agricultural products to the sale market (system of production to consumption), proper marketing operations are particular importance, so that successful marketing performance was considered as a goal of rural and agricultural development. On the other hand, knowledge management as one of the most important factors influencing the performance of companies and especially the marketing performance that has always been a concern of researchers. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of tacit knowledge exchange on marketing performance in agricultural production cooperatives in Isfahan province. This research was a descriptive-survey method. The statistical population of the research was the managers of agricultural cooperatives in Isfahan Province, which is 580 people. By simple random sampling, 230 people were selected as Krejcie Morgant Table. For data analysis, WarpPLS software was used. The results of the research showed that the exchange of tacit knowledge between different sectors of cooperative companies has a positive and significant effect on marketing performance of these companies. Also, the positive and significant impact of top manager support, trust among employees, social opportunities, coordination of functional sectors and the quality of inter-institutional communication on the tacit knowledge exchange in these companies was confirmed. According to the results of the research, the support of top managers and the quality of inter-sectoral communications with the path coefficients (0.42 and 0.19) respectively had the most and the least direct effect on the exchange of tacit knowledge in cooperative companies

Wheat Grain Enrichment with Zinc Through Using Zinc Fertiliser and Preceding Plant Residues Incorporation

Micronutrients and particularly zinc (Zn) deficiency affects crops productivity and human health, therefore improving Zn concentration within plant tissues might be regarded as an aim of sustainable agriculture. In this respect, a field experiment was carried out to examine the potential influence of preceding crop residues including bean and wheat incorporation into the soil as a way to improve zinc accumulation within subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain. The experiment was initiated at autumn 2014 and in the first year, a piece of farm land in Dehaghan-Isfahan-Iran was divided into two equal parts devoted to wheat and bean cultivation. At the end of the harvest season, aboveground plant residues were incorporated to 0-30 cm layer of soil. In the next year, the entire farm devoted to wheat production. The applied treatments included: control, zinc sulfate (60 kg/ha), wheat residues, bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) residues, wheat residues + zinc sulfate and bean residue + zinc sulfate. The results of analysis of variance showed the highly significant differences between treatments in terms of grain zinc, protein, phytic acid to zinc molar ratio (PA/Zn), quantitative yield and soil electrical conductivity (EC). Soil pH and organic carbon (OC) were not affected by treatments while soil EC significantly increased by using plant residues. The highest grain yield (3.8 t/ha), grain protein (10.3 mg/kg) and zinc concentrations (36 mg/kg) were obtained by using bean residues plus ZnSO4 while the lowest quantities were related to control treatment. The treatments had no significant impact on grain acid phytic concentration but phytic acid / zinc molar ratio was affected by treatments and the lowest ratio (which is a positive attribute) was measured from plots containing bean residues plus ZnSO4 while the highest occurred in control plots