Plant regeneration through indirect organogenesis of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.)

To establish an effective protocol for plant regeneration through indirect organogenesis, effects of explants type, culture media and plant growth regulators on callus induction and shoot regeneration of chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) were investigated. Three different explants (root, nodal and internodal segment), two different media [Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) and Gamborg's B5 (B5)] and different plant growth regulators (6-benzylaminopurine (BA), thidiazuron (TDZ), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA)) with different concentration (0.2, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mgL-1) for shoot and root induction were chosen. The results show that nodal segment was the best explant for callus induction (69.4%) when cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1 mgL-1 TDZ and MS was the best medium to induce callus formation (74.6%). The highest shoot multiplication (66.9%) was observed on MS medium with 0.2 mgL-1 TDZ. Regenerated shoots were rooted in vitro on MS containing 1.5 mgL-1 IBA. Also, plantlets with well developed root and shoot systems were acclimatized inside the green house and 80% of the plantlets survived on transfer to garden soil. This protocol provides a basis for future studies on genetic improvement.Key words: Chestnut, node, internode segment, indirect organogenesis, callus formation, shoot regeneration

Evaluation of the Therapeutic Effect of Low Level Laser in Controlling Low Back Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Low back pain is a very common musculoskeletal disorder. The big burden of disease necessitates investigating a more effective modality of treatments with more persistence and also less side effects. Low power laser has been proved as a pain reducing modality, but there are lack of studies comparing it with other treatments and also among the Iranian race and society. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of low level laser in patients with low back pain.Methods: Our study was a single blind, randomized controlled trial. 40 subjects with low back pain entered the study. Patients were aged between 20-70 and their pain severity scale was 3-10 according to visual analogue scale of pain (VAS).They were randomly assigned in two groups of case (true laser) and control (sham laser). Naproxen was prescribed with a free dose (250- 1000 mg/daily) in both groups. We evaluated patients’ subjective pain, functional status (using Roland Morris disability questionnaire), spinal ROM and spinal tenderness at the basic time, one and three months post- treatment. True laser group received 12 sessions of laser (160 mw) and control group took 12 sessions of sham laser (the same laser instrument in off status). An infrared laser GaAlAs, wave length 808 nm, power 160 mw and spot size 1 cm2, power density 0.16 J/cm2, in continuous mode was used in treatment. We applied laser to articular space of vertebral column, adjacent paravertebral points, pain radiating areas and tender points and also pain-controlling acupuncture points.Results:  From 40 subjects who included the study 6 were excluded and 34 entered the analysis. There was significant improvement in pain (p<0.001 at both groups), functional status (Case group: p<0.001, control group: p=0.004) and spinal ROM (Case group: p<0.001 and control group: p= 0.007) in both groups at the end of first month, but these gains persisted to three months only in case group (p<0.001). Regarding spinal tenderness, it was disappeared in 89.47% of patients in true laser group at the end of one month but remained unchanged in 73.33% of subjects of sham laser group.Conclusion: We concluded that laser therapy (in combination with NSAIDs) is an effective and long-lasting therapeutic strategy in relief from LBP without any significant side

Study on the electrochromic properties of polypyrrole layers doped with different dye molecules

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICThree dye molecules (Dye) of Acid Brilliant Scarlet 3R (AR18), Amido Naphthol Red G (AR1), Indigo Carmine (IC), as well as sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as dopant agents were used for electrochemical synthesis of polypyrrole (PPy) layers onto indium doped tin oxide (ITO) coated polyethylene terephthalate (PET) electrode. The morphology, electrochemical, optical, and spectroelectrochemical properties of the layers were investigated. The study of the electrochemical behavior showed that the presence of each AR18, AR1, or IC with SDS, had shown an excellent synergistic effect on the electrochemical stability of layers. The morphological characterization of the PPy/dopant(s) using atomic force microscopy (AFM) showed that the surface roughness in the PPy/IC-SDS layer was 39% and 32% less than the PPy/AR18-SDS and PPy/AR1-SDS, respectively. The absorption spectrum of PPy/dopant(s) in the UV-Vis-NIR wavelength range showed the formation of polaron and bipolaron in PPy chains. Also, the optical bandgap energy of PPy/dopant(s) decreased, and the fully doped state in all PPy films was observed. Spectroelectrochemical properties of the films showed that the simultaneous use of each dye molecule and the surfactant as dopant in PPy layers demonstrated proper electrochemical and optical stability and satisfactory electrochromic parameters. For example, the color contrast of PPy/AR18-SDS was 50%, while this parameter in control sample (PPy doped with lithium perchlorate) was 21%. Also, the cathodic and anodic coloration efficiency showed a 6-fold increase in PPy/Dye-SDS compared to PPy/ClO . In general, according to the results it is likely that by increasing the number of anion groups in the dye molecules and decreasing their dimensions as dopant agents, the electrochemical and electrochromic properties of the resultant layer would be improved

Understanding farmers’ intention towards the management and conservation of wetlands

peer reviewedThe aim of the present research was to analyze the farmers’ intention towards participation in the management and conservation of wetlands through the lens of the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB). To do this, a cross-sectional survey of Iranian farmers was carried out. To select the samples, a multi-stage random sampling process with a proportional assignment was employed. The research instrument was a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were verified using various quantitative and qualitative indicators. The results of the extended TPB using structural equation modeling showed that four variables, namely moral norms of participation in management and conservation (MNPMC), attitude towards participation in management and conservation (APMC), subjective norms towards participation in management and conservation (SNPMC), and self-concept about participation in management and conservation (SCPMC) had positive and significant impacts on intention towards participation in management and conservation (IPMC). The results also revealed that that entering MNPMC and SCPMC into TPB could increase its explanatory power. Also, the fit indicators supported the extended TPB. From a practical point of view, the present study provides justifications and insights for the use of MNPMC, APMC, SNPMC, and SCPMC in policies and programs intended to encourage farmers and local communities to participate in wetlands management and conservation

Electrochromic self-electrostabilized polypyrrole films doped with surfactant and Azo Dye

Two azo dyes, acid red 1 (AR1) and acid red 18 (AR18), were used alone or in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for the electropolymerization of a pyrrole monomer. Polypyrrole (PPy) showed higher redox capacity when SDS and AR18 were used simultaneously as dopant agents (PPy/AR18-SDS) than when the conducting polymer was produced in the presence of SDS, AR18, AR1, or an AR1/SDS mixture. Moreover, PPy/AR18-SDS is a self-stabilizing material that exhibits increasing electrochemical activity with the number of oxidation-reduction cycles. A mechanism supported by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction structural observations was proposed to explain the synergy between the SDS surfactant and the AR18 dye. On the other hand, the Bordeaux red color of PPy/AR18-SDS, which exhibits an optical band gap of 1.9 eV, rapidly changed to orange-yellow and blue colors when films were reduced and oxidized, respectively, by applying linear or step potential ramps. Overall, the results indicate that the synergistic utilization of AR18 and SDS as dopant agents in the same polymerization reaction is a very successful and advantageous strategy for the preparation of PPy films with cutting-edge electrochemical and electrochromic properties

Electrochromic self-electrostabilized polypyrrole films doped with surfactant and Azo Dye

Two azo dyes, acid red 1 (AR1) and acid red 18 (AR18), were used alone or in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for the electropolymerization of a pyrrole monomer. Polypyrrole (PPy) showed higher redox capacity when SDS and AR18 were used simultaneously as dopant agents (PPy/AR18-SDS) than when the conducting polymer was produced in the presence of SDS, AR18, AR1, or an AR1/SDS mixture. Moreover, PPy/AR18-SDS is a self-stabilizing material that exhibits increasing electrochemical activity with the number of oxidation-reduction cycles. A mechanism supported by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction structural observations was proposed to explain the synergy between the SDS surfactant and the AR18 dye. On the other hand, the Bordeaux red color of PPy/AR18-SDS, which exhibits an optical band gap of 1.9 eV, rapidly changed to orange-yellow and blue colors when films were reduced and oxidized, respectively, by applying linear or step potential ramps. Overall, the results indicate that the synergistic utilization of AR18 and SDS as dopant agents in the same polymerization reaction is a very successful and advantageous strategy for the preparation of PPy films with cutting-edge electrochemical and electrochromic properties

Electrochromic self-electrostabilized polypyrrole films doped with surfactant and azo dye

Two azo dyes, acid red 1 (AR1) and acid red 18 (AR18), were used alone or in combination with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) for the electropolymerization of a pyrrole monomer. Polypyrrole (PPy) showed higher redox capacity when SDS and AR18 were used simultaneously as dopant agents (PPy/AR18-SDS) than when the conducting polymer was produced in the presence of SDS, AR18, AR1, or an AR1/SDS mixture. Moreover, PPy/AR18-SDS is a self-stabilizing material that exhibits increasing electrochemical activity with the number of oxidation-reduction cycles. A mechanism supported by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction structural observations was proposed to explain the synergy between the SDS surfactant and the AR18 dye. On the other hand, the Bordeaux red color of PPy/AR18-SDS, which exhibits an optical band gap of 1.9 eV, rapidly changed to orange-yellow and blue colors when films were reduced and oxidized, respectively, by applying linear or step potential ramps. Overall, the results indicate that the synergistic utilization of AR18 and SDS as dopant agents in the same polymerization reaction is a very successful and advantageous strategy for the preparation of PPy films with cutting-edge electrochemical and electrochromic properties.Peer Reviewe