Foraging initiation and foraging behavior in high and low performance of Iranian honeybee, Apis mellifera meda (Hym.: Apidae), colonies

The starting of foraging is likely the most important phenomenon in the age based division of labor in honeybees. It also prepare one of the most complicated phenotypic trait in biological system since the intercourse of different external, social and personage factors. Pollination effect is related to foraging behavior and foragers' population, so this research aims to determine foraging initiation and foraging behavior of worker bees in high and low performance colonies. There is a significant correlation between foraging behavior and honey production in different colonies and in various regions. Early foraging leads to higher production of honey in a colony. Also‚ based on the results obtained, the peak of foraging initiation in high performance colony was longer (age of 16-23 day) and in low performance colony was shorter (age of 17-21day). The results indicate that the retuned bees (P < 0.05) and returned bees with pollen load (P < 0.05) in high production colonies are more than low production colonies. Results have shown differences in the age of first foraging (AFF) comparing to previous studies‚ in which represented AFF starts 21 days after birthday of worker foragers. Obtained results have shown that the number of forager bees has positive correlation with honey production in honeybee colonies and also AFF of high production colonies was started in earlier age that can due to higher production in these colonies

Evaluation of Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Apis florea Fabricius (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Honey on Helicobacter pylori

Iranian men are at risk of developing gastrointestinal cancer caused by H. pylori. It is very imperative to find effective methods to control this bacterium as there are currently no very effective treatments for it. Honey has been shown to have antimicrobial properties against various pathogens. This study analyzed 15 honey samples from A. florea bees, collected from different floral and geographical origins, for their antimicrobial efficacy against H. pylori. Using atomic absorption measurements, the honey samples were also tested for their phenolic and flavonoid content, protein concentration, and mineral content. Antioxidant activity was determined using the FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS methods. The antibacterial activity of honey samples was investigated both in-vitro and in-vivo in the gastrointestinal tract of mice. Statistical analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity. All honey samples showed antimicrobial activity in-vitro, among which jujube honey from Bushehr exhibiting the highest activity. Differences in antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were likely due to the flora of the plants and the geographic region from which the honey was harvested. Based on these results, A. florea honey may be used in the prevention and treatment of H. pylori-associated infections and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This feature can be applied to the control of Helicobacter pylori along with other available measures

Identification of Enterococcus bacteria in gastrointestinal tract of dwarf honey bee, Apis florea Fabricius, 1973 (Hymenoptera: Apidae)

Apis species that engage in symbiotic association with Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), have diverse functions on their hosts. This study was intended to isolate and identify aeoccus bacteria living in the gastrointestinal tract of Asian dwarf honey bee, Apis florea,in Iran. One hundred isolates were Gram-stained and tested for catalase reaction. By using bacterial universal primers, the 16S rDNA gene of bacterial colonies was amplified. 16S rDNA genes from thirty bacteria were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Enterococcus flora in the gastrointestinal tract of A. florea, contained five phenotypes which classified in the species E. faecium, E. faecalis and E. hirae.  Based on the specific association between bacteria and A. florea, we divided the Asian dwarf honey bee populations into four categories

Biological control of bloom algae in the southern of Caspian Sea

In recent years the incidence of algal blooms caused by Nodularia to become one of the serious problems and is threated life of aquatic organisms in the southern Caspian Sea. Nodularia is a Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria group) and due to production of nodularin toxin is importance. In this study, the first, three species of Pseudomonas including aeruginosa, putida and fluorescens were isolated from Tajan river estuary and identified using biochemical tests and compared to standard species. The trend of Nodularia spumigena biomass (log 5) and pseudomonas species (log 7 and 8) were examined in 30 treatments for 10 days in aquarium scale. Parameters such as chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen, phosphate and nitrate were tested at different time the same time. The results showed that the decline trend of nodularia in aeruginosa and mixed species treatments were better than other treatments and log 8 of bacterium was also more inhibitory effect than to log 7. Similar results were observed in double layer on agar medium and latter treatments had algaecide effect on nodularia. However, putida and fluorescens treatments had algaestatic properties. Concentration of chlorophyll a, dissolved oxygen and nitrate in all treatments, especially aeruginosa and mixed bacteria have been often decreased (p<0.05). Changes of latter factors in control treatment have been relatively consistent. Although the phosphate changes at different time of relative decline, but nevertheless significant differences were observed. The parameters examined in this study were in direct contact with the algae population and decrease or increase of these factors cause significant change in algae biomass. The conclusion showed that different strains of pseudomonas are able to reduce the population of algae N. spumigena in aquarium scale and the results observed in combination treatment were better than other treatments. The challenge examination of pseudomonas and nodularia in mesocosm scale, evaluation of bacterial metabolites, and also quality and quantity analysis of chemical and biological factors involved in the process is recommended and with achieve reasonable results can be made from this indicator bacteria during algal bloom in the larger ecosystem

Determination of sediment nutrients in the cage fish culture area (before breeding) of the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran coast-Kelarabad)

This study was conducted to determine phosphorous and nitrogen species at the surface sediment in the southern Caspian Sea (Mazandaran Coast, Kelarabad). Surface sediments samples were collected at three stations from autumn of 2011 to winter of 2012. All samples were prepared by digesting and extracting processes and then phosphorous and nitrogen species concentrations determined using spectroscopy instrument. Results of this study showed that annual mean of Loosely-P, Fe-P, Al-P, Bioava.-P, Ca-P, TIP, Rese.-P and TP was obtained as 5.06±0.33, 55.11±2.52, 42.38±3.74, 102.52±5.68, 172.91±7.12, 275±9.12, 333.30±28.52 and 608±52 µg/g.dw, respectively. The results also showed that inorganic phophorous was less than organic phophorous during different seasons, however, mean percentage of residue-P containing organic compounds and non-degradable compounds was more than 50 percent. Percentage of Ca-P was higher than 60, whereas Bioava.-P was less than 40 percent. In addition, Fe-P and Loosely-P attained the maximum and minimum values, respectively, among the bioavailable phophorous. The order of different forms of phosphorous were recorded as Org-P>Ca-P>FeP>Al-P>Loosely-P. Annual mean of NH4/N, NO2/N, NO3/N, TIN, TON and TN were observed as 4.23±0.50, 0.06±0.01, 0.74±0.12, 5.02±0.53, 2.48±0.63 and 7.53±0.51 µg/g.dw, respectively. Annual percentage of TIN was two folds than TON and concentration of NH4/N was also four times than NO3/N. As a conclusion, the results revealed that main causes of Bioava.-P adsorption and desorption were temperature, Eh and pH. Also, the form of NH4+/N was of a high percentage because of anaerobic condition in the sediments. According to the high ratios of nitrogen/phosphorous of sediments to nitrogen and phosphorous of bottom water, it finds that released of those from the sediments to water will be happened with high rates. Therefore, it is expected that the establishment of fish farming cages should be carried out with more precautionary approaches which not leads to increased algae bloom

The factor structure of the spiritual well-being scale in veterans experiencing chemical weapon exposure

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Springer Verlag via the DOI in this record.This study aimed to determine the factor structure of the spiritual well-being among a sample of the Iranian veterans. In this methodological research, 211 male veterans of Iran–Iraq warfare completed the Paloutzian and Ellison spiritual well-being scale. Maximum likelihood (ML) with oblique rotation was used to assess domain structure of the spiritual well-being. The construct validity of the scale was assessed using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent validity, and discriminant validity. Reliability was evaluated with Cronbach’s alpha, Theta (θ), and McDonald Omega (Ω) coefficients, intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), and construct reliability (CR). Results of ML and CFA suggested three factors which were labeled “relationship with God,” “belief in fate and destiny,” and “life optimism.” The ICC, coefficients of the internal consistency, and CR were >.7 for the factors of the scale. Convergent validity and discriminant validity did not fulfill the requirements. The Persian version of spiritual well-being scale demonstrated suitable validity and reliability among the veterans of Iran–Iraq warfare