CO2 enrichment and increasing light intensity till a threshold level, enhance growth and water use efficiency of lettuce plants in controlled environment

Carbon dioxide (CO2) and light intensity are the two main environmental drivers known to play important roles in crop growth and yield. In the current study, lettuce seedlings were exposed to four different light intensities [(75, 150, 300 and 600 Photosynthetic Photon Flux Density (PPFD)] and four different concentrations of CO2 (400, 800, 1200 and 1600 ppm). By increasing light intensity and CO2 concentration growth parameters such as fresh weight, dry weight and leaf area were stepwise increased from 75 to 300 PPFD and from 400 ppm to 1200 ppm CO2 concentration. Maximum fresh weight was observed in 300 PPFD under both 1200 ppm and 1600 ppm CO2 concentrations. Highest dry weight was obtained in plants exposed to 300 and 600 PPFD under both 1200 and 1600 ppm CO2 concentrations. Highest leaf area was detected in 300 PPFD under both 1200 and 1600 ppm CO2 concentrations. Widest stomatal pore aperture was detected in 600 PPFD under 400 ppm and 800 ppm CO2 concentrations. Evapotranspiration increased in a light intensity and CO2 concentration-dependent manner; higher light intensity or higher CO2 concentration, more evapotranspiration. Highest water use efficiency (WUE) was achieved in plants exposed to 300 PPFD under 1200 ppm CO2 concentration. In conclusion, to achieve best growth performance and WUE, lettuce should be produced under 300 PPFD light intensity and 1200 ppm CO2

Molecular Identification and Phylogenetic Classification of Leishmania spp. Isolated from Human Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Iran: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: In Iran, both forms of cutaneous (CL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) have been reported; so the accurate species identification of the parasite(s) and the analysis of genetic diversity are necessary. Methods: The smears were collected from lesions samples of 654 patients with CL, who attended local health centers in 12 provinces of Iran during 2013-2015. The smears were checked for the presence of amastigotes by light microscopy. DNA of 648 Leishmania isolates, amplified by targeting a partial sequence of ITS (18S rRNA–ITS1–5.8S rRNA–ITS2) gene. Twenty-five of all the amplicons were sequenced and analyzed with restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using the Taq1 enzyme. Results: All the smears were positive microscopically. The PCR-RFLP analysis revealed that 176 (27%) CL patients were infected with L. tropica and, 478 (73%) with L. major. The dominant species in all over Iran is L. major. The sequencing results of all CL patients and RFLP analysis confirmed each other. Based on our phylogenetic tree, 25 ITS DNA sequences were grouped into two clusters representing L. major and L. tropica species. Phylogenetic tree derived from the ITS sequences supports a clear divergence between L. major from the other species. Conclusion: Discrimination of Iranian Leishmania isolates using ITS gene gives us this opportunity to detect, identify, and construct the phylogenetic relationship of Iranian isolates

Применение технологии набрызгбетонирования в Новоавстрийском Методе Туннелирования (NATM)

У статті проаналізовані суть і основні принципи Новоавстрійського Методу Тунелювання (NATM), що широко застосовується в зарубіжній практиці будівництва транспортних тунелів. Також розглянуто застосування технології торкретування, яка лежить в основі методу.Essence and basic principles of New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM), which widely used in foreign practice building of transport tunnels, is analysed in the article. Application of gunite technology, being the basis of method, is also considered

Modeling the Cellular Uptake of Magnetofluorescent Nanoparticles in Pancreatic Cancer Cells: A Quantitative Structure Activity Relationship Study

An artificial neural network was employed to predict the cellular uptake of 109 magnetofluorescent nanoparticles (NPs) in pancreatic cancer cells on the basis of quantitative structure activity relationship method. Six descriptors chosen by combining self-organizing map and stepwise multiple linear regression (MLR) techniques were used to correlate the nanostructure of the studied particles with their bioactivity using MLR and multilayered perceptron neural network (MLP-NN) modeling techniques. For the MLR and MLP-NN models, the correlation coefficient was 0.769 and 0.934, and the root-mean-square error was 0.364 and 0.150, respectively. The results obtained after a leave-many-out cross-validation test revealed the credibility of MLP-NN for the prediction of cellular uptake of NPs. In addition, sensitivity analysis of MLP-NN model indicated that the number of hydrogen-bond donor sites in the organic coating of a NP is the predominant factor responsible for cellular uptake

In Silico Approach To Identify Potential Thyroid Hormone Disruptors among Currently Known Dust Contaminants and Their Metabolites

Thyroid hormone disrupting chemicals (THDCs) interfere with the thyroid hormone system and may induce multiple severe physiological disorders. Indoor dust ingestion is a major route of THDCs exposure in humans, and one of the molecular targets of these chemicals is the hormone transporter transthyretin (TTR). To virtually screen indoor dust contaminants and their metabolites for THDCs targeting TTR, we developed a quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) classification model. The QSAR model was applied to an in-house database including 485 organic dust contaminants reported from literature data and their 433 in silico derived metabolites. The model predicted 37 (7.6%) dust contaminants and 230 (53.1%) metabolites as potential TTR binders. Four new THDCs were identified after testing 23 selected parent dust contaminants in a radio-ligand TTR binding assay; 2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone, perfluoroheptanesulfonic acid, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol, and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid. These chemicals competitively bind to TTR with 50% inhibition (IC50) values at or below 10 mu M. Molecular docking studies suggested that these THDCs interacted similarly with TTR via the residue Ser117A, but their binding poses were dissimilar to the endogenous ligand T4. This study identified new THDCs using an in silico approach in combination with bioassay testing and highlighted the importance of metabolic activation for TTR binding

Investigating the fishing activity in the coral habitat around Kharg and Khargo islands by using the SWARA method

Introduction: Considering the importance of corals in different dimensions of human life, their investigation and study will become more necessary. Kharg and Khargo islands are very important from the point of view of the environment, especially the unique coral covers. In the past few decades, many potential threats such as destructive human activities related to the oil industry and the resulting wastes in coastal environments, oil and hydrocarbon pollution, industrial and urban pollution, air pollution, discharge of municipal effluents and sewage, thermal stresses caused by changes Climatic and fluctuating middle and upper water levels, fishing with nets by fishermen and hunting fish by divers in coral areas, as well as carelessness of divers, have faced many challenges in coral habitats. One of the activities that is in relative conflict with the ecosystem of Khark Island and especially the location of the coral beaches, is the activities and movements related to fishing in Khark and Khargo Island. These activities date back several decades. Extreme poverty in many areas has caused a large number of people to go fishing. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the various aspects of the fishing challenge that threatens the geographical territory of coral reefs. The aim of this study is to emphasize the investigation of human-environmental challenges. Materials and Methods: In this research, for evaluate and investigate the threats created in the geographical area the first step we investigated the challenges of fishing activity of Khark Island. Then these challenges were classified and finally analyzed and investigated the contribution of each of its aspects in the fishing communities near the coral habitat of Kharg and Khargo islands. In order to investigate fishing and fishing challenges, using the statistical method of Cronbach’s alpha analysis and Likert scale. For trust final results and analyzes must the confidence percentage was calculated and confirmed. The weights of each of the criteria were finalized by the SWARA fuzzy-numerical test. In this questionnaire, there are 21 questions and Cronbach’s alpha is at an acceptable and good level of 0.72. Results: In the questionnaire of this research, there are 21 questions and the Cronbach's alpha level is at an acceptable and good level of 0.72. It was found that trust in the content of the questionnaire confirms. The effectiveness and weight of each of the criteria showed that the highest percentage of fishing is done by motor boats in the winter season and early in the morning (93%). The results showed that more than 85% of fishermen have not received any necessary training for fishing in coral areas, and this challenge is considered serious and fundamental. The results showed that more than 85% of fishermen have not received any necessary training for fishing in coral areas, and this challenge is considered serious and fundamental. Discussion: The output indicates that the fishing tool is valued as a criterion with the first rank, in other words, it explains 31% of the weight of the items. On the other hand, fishing time has the lowest weight in the criteria definition with 23%. These statistical processes show that human-environmental factors should be prioritized in examining the challenges and threats of the coral reef in Khark Island. In other words, the control and management of man-made challenges and related factors can create safe coral environments

<i>In Vitro</i> and <i>in Silico</i> Derived Relative Effect Potencies of Ah-Receptor-Mediated Effects by PCDD/Fs and PCBs in Rat, Mouse, and Guinea Pig CALUX Cell Lines

For a better understanding of species-specific relative effect potencies (REPs), responses of dioxin-like compounds (DLCs) were assessed. REPs were calculated using chemical-activated luciferase gene expression assays (CALUX) derived from guinea pig, rat, and mouse cell lines. Almost all 20 congeners tested in the rodent cell lines were partial agonists and less efficacious than 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-<i>p</i>-dioxin (TCDD). For this reason, REPs were calculated for each congener using concentrations at which 20% of the maximal TCDD response was reached (REP_20TCDD). REP_20TCDD values obtained for PCDD/Fs were comparable with their toxic equivalency factors assigned by the World Health Organization (WHO-TEF), while those for PCBs were in general lower than the WHO-TEF values. Moreover, the guinea pig cell line was the most sensitive as indicated by the 20% effect concentrations of TCDD of 1.5, 5.6, and 11.0 pM for guinea pig, rat, and mouse cells, respectively. A similar response pattern was observed using multivariate statistical analysis between the three CALUX assays and the WHO-TEFs. The mouse assay showed minor deviation due to higher relative induction potential for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran and 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran and lower for 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-heptachlorodibenzofuran and 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126). 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzofuran was more than two times more potent in the mouse assay as compared with that of rat and guinea pig cells, while measured REP_20TCDD for PCB126 was lower in mouse cells (0.05) as compared with that of the guinea pig (0.2) and rat (0.07). In order to provide REP_20TCDD values for all WHO-TEF assigned compounds, quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSAR) models were developed. The QSAR models showed that specific electronic properties and molecular surface characteristics play important roles in the AhR-mediated response. <i>In silico</i> derived REP_20TCDD values were generally consistent with the WHO-TEFs with a few exceptions. The QSAR models indicated that, e.g., 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran and 1,2,3,7,8,9-hexachlorodibenzofuran were more potent than given by their assigned WHO-TEF values, and the non-<i>ortho</i> PCB 81 was predicted, based on the guinea-pig model, to be 1 order of magnitude above its WHO-TEF value. By combining <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in silico</i> approaches, REPs were established for all WHO-TEF assigned compounds (except OCDD), which will provide future guidance in testing AhR-mediated responses of DLCs and to increase our understanding of species variation in AhR-mediated effects