Accumulation of lead and zinc by plants colonizing a metal mining area in Central Iran

The Irankouh area, located in Central Iran, is a vast mountainous region with mineralized soils and several active zinc and lead mining and smelting sites. In this study plants and soils from 5 different sites in this area were collected and analyzed for Zn and Pb. Analysis of soils from different sites showed the expected high concentrations of Zn and Pb - up to 23,000 and 18,000 μg g-1 for total, 30 and 20 μg g-1 for exchangeable, 1 and 0.6 μg g-1 for water-soluble fractions, respectively. Plants collected from these sites total 67 species from 66 genera and 29 families. Most of these are annual herbs found also on non-metalliferous soils in this region. The concentrations of Zn and Pb in the leaf dry matter of plants were variable, with up to 4800 μg g-1 for Zn and 740 μg g-1 Pb in Matthiola chenopodiifolia and Pinus elderica, respectively. A significant positive correlation was detected between the concentrations of Zn and Pb in plant dry matter and those in soils. The concentrations of Zn and Pb in the leaves of most species collected were significantly higher than for other plants from non-metalliferous soils. Some accumulator plants found in this area could have potential for soil clean-up by phytoextraction

Anaerobic co-digestion of oil refinery wastewater and chicken manure to produce biogas, and kinetic parameters determination in batch reactors

ArticleIn order to improve the anaerobic fermentation of oil refinery wastewater (ORWW) via an appropriate nutrients pool for microbial and buffer capacity growth, a study was carried out on related anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) with a rich organic carbon source, namely chicken manure (CM). The kinetic parameters were investigated (including cumulative biogas production, bio-methane content, retention time, and soluble chemical oxygen demand stabilisation rate) of batch AcoD experiments related to six ORWW:CM-ratio treatments (5:0, 4:1, 3:2, 2:3, 1:4, and 0:5) under mesophilic conditions. The highest soluble chemical oxygen demand removal rate was obtained for the 4:1-ratio treatment. However, the highest biogas production and bio-methane contents were achieved for the 1:4-ratio treatment. When taking into consideration the highest oil refinery wastewater portion in the AcoD mixtures and the statistical test results (LSD0.05) for the kinetic parameters, it can be seen that the 4:1-ratio treatment provided the maximum biogas production levels

Time-domain numerical modeling of THz receivers based on photoconductive antennas

We present here a simulator that solves the main semiconductor charge and transport equations coupled to Maxwell equations to study receivers based on photoconductive antennas (R-PCAs). Making use of this tool we were able to correctly characterize the operation of these antennas. In doing so, we compared simulations with the results of the semi-empirical expression ITHz(t) ∝ σc(t) ∗ ETHz(t) employed to evaluate the detected photo-current by means of the convolution between the photoconductivity in the receiver and the electric field linked to the emitter antenna. We were able to accurately reproduce experimental data with our simulation tool. These kind of tools are essential to model photoconductive antennas, a fundamental step needed for the development of terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS) applications based on PCAs.The work described in this paper is partially funded by the Spanish National Projects TEC2013-48414-C3-01, CSD2008-00068, P09-TIC-5327, P12-TIC-1442, and by the GENIL excellence network

Improving the distribution of rural health houses using elicitation and GIS in Khuzestan province (The southwest of Iran)

Background: Rural health houses constitute a major provider of some primary health services in the villages of Iran. Given the challenges of providing health services in rural areas, health houses should be established based on the criteria of health network systems (HNSs). The value of these criteria and their precedence over others have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The present study was conducted to propose a model for improving the distribution of rural health houses in HNSs. Methods: The present applied study was conducted in Khuzestan province in the southwest of Iran in 2014-2016. First, the descriptive and spatial data required were collected and entered into ArcGIS after modifications, and the Geodatabase was then created. Based on the criteria of the HNS and according to experts� opinions, the main criteria and the sub-criteria for an optimal site selection were determined. To determine the criteria�s coefficient of importance (ie, their weight), the main criteria and the sub-criteria were compared in pairs according to experts� opinions. The results of the pairwise comparisons were entered into Expert Choice and the weight of the main criteria and the sub-criteria were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The application layers were then formed in geographic information system (GIS). A model was ultimately proposed in the GIS for the optimal distribution of rural health houses by overlaying the weighting layers and the other layers related to villages and rural health houses. Results: Based on the experts� opinions, six criteria were determined as the main criteria for an optimal site selection for rural health houses, including welfare infrastructures, population, dispersion, accessibility, corresponding routes, distance to the rural health center and the absence of natural barriers to accessibility. Of the main criteria proposed, the highest weight was given to �population� (0.506). The priorities suggested in the proposed model for establishing rural health houses are presented within five zoning levels �from excellent to very poor. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the proposed model can help provide a better picture of the distribution of rural health houses. The GIS is recommended to be used as a means of making the HNS more efficient. © 2018 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Improving the distribution of rural health houses using elicitation and GIS in Khuzestan province (The southwest of Iran)

Background: Rural health houses constitute a major provider of some primary health services in the villages of Iran. Given the challenges of providing health services in rural areas, health houses should be established based on the criteria of health network systems (HNSs). The value of these criteria and their precedence over others have not yet been thoroughly investigated. The present study was conducted to propose a model for improving the distribution of rural health houses in HNSs. Methods: The present applied study was conducted in Khuzestan province in the southwest of Iran in 2014-2016. First, the descriptive and spatial data required were collected and entered into ArcGIS after modifications, and the Geodatabase was then created. Based on the criteria of the HNS and according to experts� opinions, the main criteria and the sub-criteria for an optimal site selection were determined. To determine the criteria�s coefficient of importance (ie, their weight), the main criteria and the sub-criteria were compared in pairs according to experts� opinions. The results of the pairwise comparisons were entered into Expert Choice and the weight of the main criteria and the sub-criteria were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). The application layers were then formed in geographic information system (GIS). A model was ultimately proposed in the GIS for the optimal distribution of rural health houses by overlaying the weighting layers and the other layers related to villages and rural health houses. Results: Based on the experts� opinions, six criteria were determined as the main criteria for an optimal site selection for rural health houses, including welfare infrastructures, population, dispersion, accessibility, corresponding routes, distance to the rural health center and the absence of natural barriers to accessibility. Of the main criteria proposed, the highest weight was given to �population� (0.506). The priorities suggested in the proposed model for establishing rural health houses are presented within five zoning levels �from excellent to very poor. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that the proposed model can help provide a better picture of the distribution of rural health houses. The GIS is recommended to be used as a means of making the HNS more efficient. © 2018 The Author(s); Published by Kerman University of Medical Sciences

Bilateral transfer of motor performance as a function of motor imagery training: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ObjectiveThe objective of this review was to evaluate the efficacy of mental imagery training (MIT) in promoting bilateral transfer (BT) of motor performance for healthy subjects.Data sourcesWe searched 6 online-databases (Jul-Dec 2022) using terms: “mental practice,” “motor imagery training,” “motor imagery practice,” “mental training,” “movement imagery,” “cognitive training,” “bilateral transfer,” “interlimb transfer,” “cross education,” “motor learning,” “strength,” “force” and “motor performance.”Study selection and data extractionWe selected randomized-controlled studies that examined the effect of MIT on BT. Two reviewers independently determined if each study met the inclusion criteria for the review. Disagreements were resolved through discussion and, if necessary, by a third reviewer. A total of 9 articles out of 728 initially identified studies were chosen for the meta-analysis.Data synthesisThe meta-analysis included 14 studies for the comparison between MIT and no-exercise control (CTR) and 15 studies for the comparison between MIT and physical training (PT).ResultsMIT showed significant benefit in inducing BT compared to CTR (ES = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.57–0.98). The effect of MIT on BT was similar to that of PT (ES = –0.02, 95% CI = –0.15–0.17). Subgroup analyses showed that internal MIT (IMIT) was more effective (ES = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.57–2.76) than external MIT (EMIT) (ES = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.74–1.17), and mixed-task (ES = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.26–2.11) was more effective than mirror-task (ES = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.14–0.78) and normal-task (ES = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.23–0.90). No significant difference was found between transfer from dominant limb (DL) to non-dominant limb (NDL) (ES = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.37–0.97) and NDL to DL (ES = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.59–1.15).ConclusionThis review concludes that MIT can serve as a valuable alternative or supplement to PT in facilitating BT effects. Notably, IMIT is preferable to EMIT, and interventions incorporating tasks that have access to both intrinsic and extrinsic coordinates (mixed-task) are preferred over those that involve only one of the two coordinates (mirror-task or normal-task). These findings have implications for rehabilitation of patients such as stroke survivors

Phenotyping progenies for complex architectural traits: a strategy for 1-year-old apple trees (Malus x domestica Borkh.)

International audienceThe aim of this study was to define a methodology for describing architectural traits in a quantitative way on tree descendants. Our strategy was to collect traits related to both tree structural organization, resulting from growth and branching, and tree form and then to select among these traits relevant descriptors on the basis of their genetic parameters. Because the complexity of tree architecture increases with tree age, we chose to describe the trees in the early stages of development. The study was carried out on a 1-year-old apple progeny derived from two parent cultivars with contrasted architecture. A large number of variables were collected at different positions and scales within the trees. Broad-sense heritability and genetic correlations were estimated and the within tree variability was analyzed for variables measured on long sylleptic axillary shoots (LSAS). These results were combined to select heritable and not correlated variables. Finally, the selection of variables proposed combines topological with geometric traits measured on both trunks and LSAS: (1) on the trunk, mean internode length, and number of sylleptic axillary shoots; (2) on axillary shoots, conicity, bending, and number of sylleptic axillary shoots born at order 3. The trees of the progeny were partitioned on the basis of these variables. The putative agronomic interest of the selected variables with respect to the subsequent tree development is discussed

Diversity arrays technology (DArT) markers in apple for genetic linkage maps

Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) provides a high-throughput whole-genome genotyping platform for the detection and scoring of hundreds of polymorphic loci without any need for prior sequence information. The work presented here details the development and performance of a DArT genotyping array for apple. This is the first paper on DArT in horticultural trees. Genetic mapping of DArT markers in two mapping populations and their integration with other marker types showed that DArT is a powerful high-throughput method for obtaining accurate and reproducible marker data, despite the low cost per data point. This method appears to be suitable for aligning the genetic maps of different segregating populations. The standard complexity reduction method, based on the methylation-sensitive PstI restriction enzyme, resulted in a high frequency of markers, although there was 52–54% redundancy due to the repeated sampling of highly similar sequences. Sequencing of the marker clones showed that they are significantly enriched for low-copy, genic regions. The genome coverage using the standard method was 55–76%. For improved genome coverage, an alternative complexity reduction method was examined, which resulted in less redundancy and additional segregating markers. The DArT markers proved to be of high quality and were very suitable for genetic mapping at low cost for the apple, providing moderate genome coverage

Functional analysis and expression profiling of HcrVf1 and HcrVf2 for development of scab resistant cisgenic and intragenic apples

Apple scab resistance genes, HcrVf1 and HcrVf2, were isolated including their native promoter, coding and terminator sequences. Two fragment lengths (short and long) of the native gene promoters and the strong apple rubisco gene promoter (PMdRbc) were used for both HcrVf genes to test their effect on expression and phenotype. The scab susceptible cultivar ‘Gala’ was used for plant transformations and after selection of transformants, they were micrografted onto apple seedling rootstocks for scab disease tests. Apple transformants were also tested for HcrVf expression by quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). For HcrVf1 the long native promoter gave significantly higher expression that the short one; in case of HcrVf2 the difference between the two was not significant. The apple rubisco gene promoter proved to give the highest expression of both HcrVf1 and HcrVf2. The top four expanding leaves were used initially for inoculation with monoconidial isolate EU-B05 which belongs to race 1 of V. inaequalis. Later six other V. inaequalis isolates were used to study the resistance spectra of the individual HcrVf genes. The scab disease assays showed that HcrVf1 did not give resistance against any of the isolates tested regardless of the expression level. The HcrVf2 gene appeared to be the only functional gene for resistance against Vf avirulent isolates of V. inaequalis. HcrVf2 did not provide any resistance to Vf virulent strains, even not in case of overexpression. In conclusion, transformants carrying the apple-derived HcrVf2 gene in a cisgenic as well as in an intragenic configuration were able to reach scab resistance levels comparable to the Vf resistant control cultivar obtained by classical breeding, cv. ‘Santana’