Optimization of in vitro culture and transfection condition of bovine primary spermatogonial stem cells

The present study aimed to optimize the in vitro culture and transfection efficiency of bovine primary spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). To this end, SSCs were obtained from newborn Holstein bull calves by two-step enzymatic digestion. After enrichment and culture, SSCs were characterized by using alkaline phosphatase (AP) staining and expression of vasa and thy1 genes as specific bovine SSC markers. To evaluate the effect of antioxidants on vitality, colony formation, and the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic genes of bovine SSCs, various concentrations of vitamin C (5, 10, 25 and 50 μg/mL) and Trolox (a water soluble α-tocopherol analogue) (12.5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/mL) were added to the SSC culture medium. The results showed that SSCs treated with 50 μg/mL of vitamin C or 25 μg/mL of Trolox individually could increase cell viability and colony formation significantly in comparison with other concentrations and the control group. Additionally, the expressions of bax (as a pro-apoptotic gene) and bcl2 (as an anti-apoptotic gene) were significantly lower and higher than the control group, respectively. To optimize the transfection condition, the effective dosages of vitamin C or Trolox, with various concentrations of two transfection reagents (X-tremeGENE HP and Turbofect) and DNA, at day 8 of culture, were studied. Results showed that 1 μl X-tremeGENE HP or 0.5 μl Turbofect and 2 μg of DNA are the best concentrations for transfecting SSCs. However, X-tremeGENE HP expressed more potential for transfecting SSCs in comparison with Turbofect. Besides, no difference was observed between the use of defined doses of vitamin C or Trolox.Keywords: Apoptosis, gene transfer, primary cells, viability, vitamin C, Trolo

Study of factor XI deficiency in Khuzestan cattle population of Iran

The present study investigated the occurrence of autosomal recessive genetic disease, factor XI (FXI), in Khuzestan native cows and Iranian Holstein cattle. Genomic DNA was isolated from the blood of the cows (n = 330). Exon 12 of the Factor XI gene of the cows was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Additionally, all cows were confirmed by DNA sequencing to determine existence of mutant FXI allele. Normal cattle have only one DNA fragment of 244 bp while heterozygous cattle exhibited two DNA fragments of 320 and 244 bp for the FXI gene deficiency. The results of this study showed that none of the animals were carriers of FXI deficiency. Because of the economical significance of the FXI mutation and its recessive mode of inheritance, attention has to be paid to any case of a bull having in his origin any known FXI carrier. Although we did not observe any carrier, widespread screening programs for detection of genetic disorders seems necessary.Key words: Factor XI, deficiency, sequencing, cattle, Iran

Designing and implementation of green experiments on stoichiometry chemistry for green chemistry education

The purpose of this research is green chemistry education with the design and implementation of green chemistry experiments in stoichiometric subject in high school. The designing experiment was used to compare the green chemistry learning of experimental and control groups with pre-testing and post testing. The school selecting as well as the class selecting and assigning them to experimental and control groups، is random sampling. The method was done in two stages, to begin the practical in education on the basis of green chemistry (Independent variable) experiment was performed by "How glue is made?" experiment. A next step, teaching saponification by means of green chemistry dealing with tendency aspects and stoichiometric topics of the subject is considered as in experiment which covers many of green chemistry objectives by experimental group. Saponification experiment was done for control group without considering green chemistry objects. The data collected through teacher-made tests for cognitive domain of learners and check lists for tendency and painting open drawing in green chemistry for skill domain of learners. In this study, statistic population consist of experimental group (N=30) and control group (N=30) in high school girl students in Jafarabad city. The research has been done through descriptive–evaluative method. The research has been done through descriptive–evaluative method. The results clearly indicated that the principle of 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11 and 12 of green chemistry principles were learned by experimental group. Also, teaching on the basis of green chemistry objectives, play important role in educating responsible students discovering talent students, training creativity, encouraging and motivating students to study and research in the field of green chemistry and replacing green method by classical method

Livestock slaughterhouses waste management in urban environment

The current study presents an investigation on the waste management in the cattle slaughterhouse by the following objectives: a) to identify the existing waste management practices in relation to sources, quantity and characteristic of wastes; b) to identify the situation of production, collection, storage, transportation, processing and recycling, and final disposal of wastes and the problems of existing waste management practices. In order to obtain reliable information and filling the check list, site surveys were conducted when the management of the slaughter-house was interviewed in waste management practices. The total produced industrial waste in studying units' was found to be 10252 tons/year. The per capita waste generations were reported to be 54.6 kg/cattle/day and 11.1 kg/sheep/day. Also, more than 98% of the hazardous waste produced can be infectious. However, it is important to keep in mind that setting an operational program and careful monitoring of its optimal execution by the slaughterhouse manager is necessary. Consequently, findings provide useful inputs for decision making processes around construction slaughterhouses waste management.  </strong

Impact of independent and non-independent parameters on various elements’ rejection by nanofiltration employed in groundwater treatment

Nanofiltration is one of the widely used robust methods in water sweetening throughout the world. This work highlights the comparison of the impact of independent and non-independent parameters on element rejection to treat groundwater of a region located in Qazvin province, Iran. A pilot-scale FILMTEC-NF90-4040 nanofilter membrane was applied. Samples were collected from three various wells and the volume of 50 cc was tested, each of which was tested three times, and then cations and anions were measured in raw water and treated water by ion chromatography. The data collection and operation of the system was performed by the 761 compact IC version 1.1 software where statistical analyses were performed with SPSS, version 19. Results showed that the degradation efficiency of divalent ions was greater than that of monovalent cations. The content of ion rejection in the nanofilter membrane was not an independent phenomenon. For instance, the results revealed that the presence of high magnesium ion is very effective in disposing sodium ion. At the same time, the rejection rate of ions does not always follow the Van’t Hoff series. Optimal pressure was determined to be 10 bar

Simultaneous removal of phenol and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate from automotive service station wastewater: Optimization of coupled electrochemical and physical processes

This work investigates the feasibility of the coupled electrochemical (electrocoagulation/flotation) and physical processes (sedimentation, sand filtration, and activated carbon) for the treatment of automotive service wastewater (ASWW). The impacts of critical parameters, viz. pH solution, reaction time and current intensity on linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), and phenol removal efficiencies as well as energy consumption and operating cost are studied. Central composite design results reveal that at the optimum conditions, LAS and phenol removal efficiencies, energy consumption and operating cost are obtained 96.7%, 87.65%, 15.99 Wh, 0.001 US$, respectively. This process reveals a feasible technology for phenol and LAS removal from ASW

The treatment of printing and packaging wastewater by electrocoagulation– flotation: the simultaneous efficacy of critical parameters and economics

In this work, electrocoagulation–flotation (ECF) following sedimentation was applied as a printing and packaging wastewater treatment using four Al electrodes with a parallel monopolar configuration. A sedimentation process was applied after the ECF as a post-treatment phase to remove large pollutants. The simultaneous efficacy of the operating parameters initial color content (1,843.44–12,156.56 ADMI), initial pH (3.56–10.44), current density (6.02–22.18 mA/cm2), and treatment time (5.62–74.38 min) on color and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies were evaluated alongside processing costs. Response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) optimized these key parameters to achieve the highest removal efficiencies and lowest operating costs. Based on the results analyzed by RSM-CCD, using initial color content of 5,576.38 ADMI, initial pH of 7.29, the current density of 18.49 mA/cm2, and treatment time of 59.76 min as optimum operational conditions can result in 97.8% and 92.1% for color and COD removal efficiencies, respectively. At these optimum conditions, operating costs (OPCs), including electrodes material and energy consumption, were 0.07 US$/(kg color removed) and 0.4 US$/(kg COD removed). The results confirm ECF-sedimentation as a promising and costeffective tool for the treatment of printing and packaging wastewater

Simultaneous removal of phenol and linear alkylbenzene sulfonate from automotive service station wastewater: Optimization of coupled electrochemical and physical processes

This work investigates the feasibility of the coupled electrochemical (electrocoagulation/flotation) and physical processes (sedimentation, sand filtration, and activated carbon) for the treatment of automotive service wastewater (ASWW). The impacts of critical parameters, viz. pH solution, reaction time and current intensity on linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS), and phenol removal efficiencies as well as energy consumption and operating cost are studied. Central composite design results reveal that at the optimum conditions, LAS and phenol removal efficiencies, energy consumption and operating cost are obtained 96.7%, 87.65%, 15.99 Wh, 0.001 US$, respectively. This process reveals a feasible technology for phenol and LAS removal from ASWW

Wastewater based epidemiology perspective as a faster protocol for detecting coronavirus rna in human populations: A review with specific reference to sars-cov-2 virus

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has a long history of identifying a variety of viruses from poliovirus to coronaviruses, including novel Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The presence and detection of SARS-CoV-2 in human feces and its passage into the water bodies are significant public health challenges. Hence, the hot issue of WBE of SARS-CoV-2 in the coronavirus respiratory disease (COVID-19) pandemic is a matter of utmost importance (e.g., SARS-CoV-1). The present review discusses the background, state of the art, actual status, and prospects of WBE, as well as the detection and quantification protocols of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater. The SARS-CoV-2 detection studies have been performed in different water matrixes such as influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants, suburban pumping stations, hospital wastewater, and sewer networks around the globe except for Antarctica. The findings revealed that all WBE studies were in accordance with clinical and epidemiological data, which correlates the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) with the number of new daily positive cases officially reported. This last was confirmed via Reverse Transcriptase-quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) testing which unfortunately is not suitable for real-time surveillance. In addition, WBE concept may act as a faster protocol to alert the public health authorities to take administrative orders (possible re-emerging infections) due to the impracticality of testing all citizens in a short time with limited diagnostic facilities. A comprehensive and integrated review covering all steps starting from sampling to molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater has been made to guide for the development well-defined and reliable protocols