Evapotranspiration and components of corn (Zea mays L.) under micro irrigation systems in a semi-arid environment

Aim of study: This work summarizes the influence of surface drip irrigation (DI) and subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) systems on corn growth indices and actual evapotranspiration (ETc-act) and its components of plant transpiration (Tp) and soil evaporation (E).Area of study: Karaj, IranMaterial and methods: The experimental soil was loamy. The corn ETc-act of each mini-lysimeter was measured based on the water balance method. The E was measured using two mini-lysimeters and Tp was estimated from the difference between ETc-act and E.Main results: The resulting data showed that the ETc-act was lower under SDI (384.8 mm) than under DI (423.4 mm). The Kcb-m for the corn increased after sowing and peaked during the mid-season stage, with an average value of 0.47, a minimum value of 0.0 and maximum value of 1.52 under DI and 0.53, 0.0 and 1.74 respectively, under SDI. For Ke-m, the average, minimum and maximum values were 0.33, 0.20 and 0.58 under DI and 0.23, 0.15 and 0.46 respectively, under SDI. The biomass yield was much higher under SDI (81.90 ton/ha) than under DI (63.21 ton/ha). Less E and more Tp occurred under SDI than under DI. SDI achived superior WUE (8.32 kg/m3) compared with DI.Research highlights: SDI was superior to DI based on biomass yield, corn height, stem diameter, and leaf area index which contributed to more favorable soil moisture conditions and low weed incidence; Thus, the SDI system is more productive and would better increase WUE than the DI system

Facial injuries in Iranian veterans during the Iraq-Iran war (1980-88): differences from recent conflicts.

peer reviewedOur aim was to identify the pattern and mechanism of facial injuries in Iranian veterans during the Iraq-Iran war and to assess the effectiveness of current protective equipment by retrospectively evaluating 100 Iranian veterans of that war. We randomly included veterans with injuries to various parts of the face, with or without injuries to other organs. None died. We recorded anatomical distribution, incidence, and mechanism of injury as well as injury scores using common references scales. Data are expressed as mean (SD) or number. Fragmentation injuries were the most common (n=40) followed by blast (n=37), shock wave (n=18), and gunshots (n=5). Thirty-five patients had mandibular fractures with a mean (SD) score of 3.7 (1.4). Fifteen patients had injuries to the upper face and 79 to the midface. Twenty-four patients had facial lacerations more than 10 cm long, with a mean facial injury score of 2.4 (2.0). Nineteen had ocular injuries with a mean (SD) ocular trauma score of 64.9 (12.9). Despite recent developments in protective equipment we have seen no significant reduction in the incidence of facial injuries in battle, which could indicate that we need better facial support equipment and more effective education in its use. However, using protective equipment such as goggles and a mandibular protector is highly recommended

Study of Temperature and Pressure Effect on Thermodynamic Properties of Thorium Phosphide Compound

In this paper, we use density functional theory and first-principles calculations to evaluate the structural, dynamic, and thermophysical properties of thorium phosphide. The structural properties including lattice constant (a0), bulk modulus (B0), and first-order derivative of bulk modulus (B0') are calculated by fitting the Brich-Murnaghan third-order equation of state and compared with other experimental data. This comparison shows a satisfactory agreement between the calculated and experimental lattice constants. The phonon dispersion diagram is calculated by the linear response approach along the high symmetry points. The results indicate the absence of negative modes in the phonon spectrum, which shows that the structure is dynamically stable. We observe a good agreement with the comparison of the obtained optical frequency with the experimental data from the inelastic neutron measurement. The analysis of the phonon density of the states diagram shows a phonon gap in the distance from 115 to 262 cm-1 for this material. Thermodynamic properties including Debye temperature, vibrational entropy, isothermal bulk modulus, isochoric heat capacity, thermal expansion, and Grüneisen parameter are evaluated by the quasi-harmonic Debye method at high pressures and temperatures. It is observed that the Debye temperature of thorium phosphide decreases with increasing temperature at a constant pressure and increases with increasing pressure at a constant temperature. The reduction of the Grüneisen parameter due to the application of pressure shows the changes in the phonon frequencies with the changes in the volume of the unit cell. Also, the increase of the Groningen parameter due to the increase in temperature can be the result of changing the dynamics of the network

Anterior Chamber Intraocular Lens Exposure through Prelimbal Sclera: a Case Report

Purpose: To report a case of spontaneous exposure of anterior chamber intraocular lens in a patient with history of congenital cataract surgery ten years prior to presentation. Report of the case: A 27-year-old man presented with a two-year history of blurred vision, photophobia, mild ocular pain and redness in his left eye, with no history of prolonged eye rubbing, ocular surface disease or any evidence of trauma. On exam there was redness and swelling of the eyelids in the involved side; however, there was no evidence of any long standing ocular surface condition. Slit-lamp biomicroscopy disclosed an injected eye with haptic exposure of an angle-supported anterior chamber lens approximately 1 mm posterior to the limbus through the sclera. Anterior chamber was mildly inflamed and pupil was peaked towards the area of the exposed haptic. Ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed edematous and thickened sclera near the exposed tip. The dislocated lens was extracted and an iris-fixated anterior chamber lens was implanted instead. According to the size of the IOL and the white to white distance of the patient, it seemed that an incorrect selection of IOL size was the reason for the haptic exposure. Conclusion: We presented a rare case of spontaneous anterior chamber lens exposure and its surgical management in a patient with an otherwise healthy ocular surface. It was concluded that an error in IOL size selection might have been the cause of spontaneous haptic exposure.Key words:  Lenses; Intraocular; Anterior chamber; Sclera

Modelling and Predicting the Breaking Strength and Mass Irregularity of Cotton Rotor-Spun Yarns Containing Cotton Fiber Recovered from Ginning Process by Using Artificial Neural Network Algorithm

One of the main methods to reduce the production costs is waste recycling which is the most important challenge for the future. Cotton wastes collected from ginning process have desirable properties which could be used during spinning process. The purpose of this study was to develop predictive models of breaking strength and mass irregularity (CV%) of cotton waste rotor-spun yarns containing cotton waste collected from ginning process by using the artificial neural network trained with backpropagation algorithm. Artificial neural network models have been developed based on rotor diameter, rotor speed, navel type, opener roller speed, ginning waste proportion and yarn linear density as input parameters. The parameters of artificial neural network model, namely, learning, and momentum rate, number of hidden layers and number of hidden processing elements (neurons) were optimized to get the best predictive models. The findings showed that the breaking strength and mass irregularity of rotor spun yarns could be predicted satisfactorily by artificial neural network. The maximum error in predicting the breaking strength and mass irregularity of testing data was 8.34% and 6.65%, respectively

Multiple Sclerosis Gene Therapy Using Recombinant Viral Vectors: Overexpression of IL-4, IL-10 and Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells in The EAE Mice Model

Objective: Immunotherapy and gene therapy play important roles in modern medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the overexpression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in Wharton's jelly stem cells (WJSCs) in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice model. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, a DNA construction containing IL-4, IL-10 and LIF was assembled to make a polycistronic vector (as the transfer vector). Transfer and control vectors were co-transfected into Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK-293T) cells with helper plasmids which produced recombinant lentiviral viruses (rLV). WJSCs were transduced with rLV to make recombinant WJSC (rWJSC). In vitro protein and mRNA overexpression of IL-4, LIF, and IL-10 were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB) analysis. EAE was induced in mice by MOG-CFA and pertussis toxin. EAE mice were injected twice with 2x10(5) rWJSCs. The in vivo level of IL-4, LIF, IL-10 cytokines and IL-17 were measured by ELISA. Brain tissues were analyzed histologically for evaluation of EAE lesions. Results: Isolated WJSCs were performed to characterize by in vitro differentiation and surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry method. Cloning of a single lentiviral vector with five genes was done successfully. Transfection of transfer and control vectors were processed based on CaPO4 method with > 90% efficiency. Recombinant viruses were produced and results of titration showed 2-3x10(7) infection-unit/ml. WJSCs were transduced using recombinant viruses. IL-4, IL-10 and LIF overexpression were confirmed by ELISA, WB and qPCR. The EAE mice treated with rWJSC showed reduction of Il-17, and brain lesions as well as brain cellular infiltration, in vivo. Weights and physical activity were improved in gene-treated group. Conclusion: These results showed that gene therapy using anti-inflammatory cytokines can be a promising approach against multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition, considering the immunomodulatory potential of WJSCs, an approach using a combination of WJSCs and gene therapy will enhance the treatment efficacy

Multiple Sclerosis Gene Therapy with Recombinant Viral Vectors: Overexpression of IL-4, Leukemia Inhibitory Factor, and IL-10 in Wharton's Jelly Stem Cells Used in EAE Mice Model.

OBJECTIVES: Immunotherapy and gene therapy play important roles in modern medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the overexpression of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in Wharton's jelly stem cells (WJSCs) in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) mice model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this experimental study, a DNA construction containing IL- 4, IL-10 and LIF was assembled to make a polycistronic vector (as the transfer vector). Transfer and control vectors were co-transfected into Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK-293T) cells with helper plasmids which produced recombinant lentiviral viruses (rLV). WJSCs were transduced with rLV to make recombinant WJSC (rWJSC). In vitro protein and mRNA overexpression of IL-4, LIF, and IL-10 were evaluated using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and western blot (WB) analysis. EAE was induced in mice by MOG-CFA and pertussis toxin. EAE mice were injected twice with 2×105 rWJSCs. The in vivo level of IL-4, LIF, IL-10 cytokines and IL-17 were measured by ELISA. Brain tissues were analyzed histologically for evaluation of EAE lesions. RESULTS: Isolated WJSCs were performed to characterize by in vitro differentiation and surface markers were analyzed by flow cytometry method. Cloning of a single lentiviral vector with five genes was done successfully. Transfection of transfer and control vectors were processed based on CaPO4 method with >90% efficiency. Recombinant viruses were produced and results of titration showed 2-3×107 infection-unit/ml. WJSCs were transduced using recombinant viruses. IL-4, IL-10 and LIF overexpression were confirmed by ELISA, WB and qPCR. The EAE mice treated with rWJSC showed reduction of Il-17, and brain lesions as well as brain cellular infiltration, in vivo. Weights and physical activity were improved in gene-treated group. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that gene therapy using anti-inflammatory cytokines can be a promising approach against multiple sclerosis (MS). In addition, considering the immunomodulatory potential of WJSCs, an approach using a combination of WJSCs and gene therapy will enhance the treatment efficacy

Comparing the effects of ketotifen fumarate eye drops and ketotifen oral pills on symptom severity and quality of life in patients with allergic rhinitis: a double-blind randomized clinical trial.

[en] BACKGROUND: Allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of nasal mucosa. Previous studies have shown the therapeutic effects of ketotifen eye drops on allergic conjunctivitis and rhinitis patients. This study was designed to compare the effects of ketotifen drops and oral ketotifen pills on symptoms and quality of life in allergic rhinitis patients. METHODS: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, patients with mild allergic rhinitis who were referred to the allergy clinic of Baqiyatallah Hospital from March to April 2014 were randomly allocated to 2 groups; the first group received ketotifen drops (1 drop every 12 hours) with placebo pills (2 pills daily), and the second group received placebo eye drops with ketotifen pills for 4 weeks. Symptoms (sneezing, runny nose, itching, and nasal obstruction) severity were examined and Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (RQLQ) scores were evaluated in the second and fourth weeks. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients were evaluated in 2 groups. The mean age was 30.33 years. There were no significant differences in demographic data between the groups (p > 0.05). Both groups showed a significant improvement in rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, nasal itching, coughing, sneezing, RQLQ, and nasal smear eosinophil percent compared to baseline amounts (p < 0.05). Improvements were significantly more in the drops group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Because of the absence of systemic complications in ketotifen eye drops in patients with allergic rhinitis and their easy availability in Iran, using this medication instead of systemic therapies is suggested. Nevertheless, more studies are required to evaluate the long-term effects of using this drug and the recurrence rate of symptoms