Feeding habits of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) in the northern region of the Persian Gulf

Feeding habits of yellowfin seabream (Acanthopagrus latus) was investigated in coastal waters of the Northern Persian Gulf. This investigation was conducted by monthly sampling of thirty fish from September 2011 through August 2012. Fish size ranged from 17.98 ± 2.07 to 32.31 ± 6.52 cm in total length and from 134.01 ± 45.62 to 720.46 ± 292.58 g in weight. The highest value of gastro-somatic index was obtained in September (5.22 ± 0.04) and the lowest in December (1.61 ± 0.03) with annual average of 2.50 ± 0.60. The result of gastro-somatic index revealed that the highest feeding activity of A. latus was during autumn. The highest level of vacuity index was observed in summer (34.95 ± 4.71) and the lowest in autumn (25.88 ± 2.71) indicating that the highest number of empty stomachs was in summer. Annual average of vacuity index was 30.14 ± 5.72 exhibiting that A. latus was comparatively gluttonous in the Northern Persian Gulf. Bivalves and shrimps were the major food items found in the stomach of A. latus showing food preference indices of 45.86% and 30.67%, respectively. Other food items included crabs (12.66%), aquatic plants (4.05%), animal derivatives (4.52%) and gastropods (2.23%). According to the results, animal derivatives, aquatic plants and gastropods were eaten accidentally and were not the food items of A. latus in coastal waters of Hormozgan. The average relative length of gut was 1.41 ± 0.15 showing that A. latus was omnivorous in this region

Broadband photonic crystal antireflection

Broadband antireflection layer have been fabricated by two dimensional (2D) photonic crystals (PCs) with tapered pillars on Si substrate. These PCs have been produced by interference lithography and reactive ion etching (RIE) techniques. The effect of depth and filling factor (FF) of the PCs on the reflectance magnitude and bandwidth has been investigated. The obtained reflectance was less than 1% in the broad spectral range from 400 to 2100 nm. Our numerically simulation shows the PC pillars slope has essential effect in the reduction of the reflection. However, our results show that the existence of RIE grasses in the PCs which are created in the RIE process have not been influenced in the performance of the antireflection layer which leads to simpler fabrication process

The Effect of Aging and Silanization on the Mechanical Properties of Fumed Silica-based Dental Composite

Statement of Problem: Mechanical strength and durability of dental composites are the main topics studied in this field of science today. This study examined fumed silica-based composite as a strong and durable restorative material through flexural and cycling test methods. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of silanization, ageing, cycling and hybridizing on mechanical properties of fumed silica-based resin composite. Materials and Methods: Composites were made of light-cured copolymer based on Bisphenol A glycolmethacrylate (Bis-GMA) and Triethylene glycoldimethacrylate (TEGDMA) at proportion of 50:50 which reinforced by fumed silica filler. For each composite sample, 5 specimen bars were made using Teflon mould (2 x 2 x 25 mm3). The samples with 12 wt% fumed silica (FS) were considered as a base line group. The samples were exposed to cyclic cold water (FS-CCW) and hot water (FS-CHW). The effect of silanization and adding more filler was studied together with samples containing 12 wt% (FS-S (12), 16 wt% (FS-S (16) and 20 wt% (FS-S (20) fumed silica filler. The filler was silanized with (γ-MPS). The degree of conversion was assessed with Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectroscopy. Flexural properties were evaluated with the Three-Point Bending test. Flexural data were analyzed with Excel software. Hardness was measured with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM). Results: The degree of conversion of the resin reached 74% within 24 hrs. Salinization allowed more filler to be wetted by resin. Addition of silanized particles from sample FS-S (12) to sample FS-S (20) improved the mechanical strength. Hybridizing fumed silica with nano-silica (FS-N) had no significant effect on the strength, but nano-hardness improved greatly. Ageing and cycling had adverse effects on the strength of the sample FS. The flexural strength of FS-CHW was 72% less than FS sample. Conclusions: Sample FS-N with low diluent and filler percentage complied with the requirements of flexural strength was established by ISO 4049/2009 and may be cost benefit to be used as a dental composite for clinical application

Investigating the Effect of Oral Consumption of Tear Assafoetida on Hepatic, Renal, Cardiac, and Blood Biochemical Parameters of Rats

Introduction: Today it has been documented that herbal medicines like synthetic drugs have side effects. The aim of his study was that whether assafoetida in doses used in most of previous studies have any effect on hepatic, renal, cardiac and blood biochemical parameters of rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats, with average weighting of 300 grams, were divided into five groups of eight in each. The first group was considered as control group and groups 2-5 as the pretreatment groups that were pre-treatmented by 12.5, 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg tear assafoetida for 30 days, respectively. Then, blood samples were collected for measurement of biochemical parameters of liver (AST, ALT, ALP), kidney (Urea, Cr), cardiac (CPK) and blood coagulation (Pt, Ptt). Blood pressures were also recorded through inserting a cannula into the carotid artery. Lead II of electrocardiogram was used to monitor electrical activity of the heart. Data was analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Results: The plasma level of AST, CPK and Ptt significantly reduced in pretreatment groups with assafoetida (P<0.05). With increasing the dose of assafoetida, plasma urea concentration reduced and plasma Cr concentration and all blood pressures increased insignificantly. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that low doses of tear assafoetida (25 mg/kg) does not probably have any side effects and even maybe useful for health, but at higher doses (100 mg/kg) it may lead to complications. Hence, there is a need for further studies to answer some questions that arose from this study

Design and fabrication of a heterodyne electrooptic modulator in lithium niobate

In this research, design and fabrication of an integrated heterodyne electrooptic modulator in lithium niobate have been presented. In this modulator, the waveguide is made by using proton exchange process; to exert two high frequency signals, deposited electrodes with Mach-Zender arms between them are used. In this method, every electrical signal is applied on one of the Mach-Zender arms, so that it can be stimulated by one specific frequency; these two signals are united optically to create frequencies equal to sum and subtraction of the input signal frequencies in the output. Also, by using finite element method, the influence of proton diffusion scale in the output light mode, electrode dimension, and configuration in the overlap integral of the light mode and electrical field, as well as electrode impedance, is estimated

Identification of helicobacter pylori in the milk of sheep and goat using incubation and PCR methods in Mashhad suburb

Background: Helicobacter pylori (HP) is identified as the most common gastrointestinal (GI) infection agent in the world. According to some findings shepherd's Helicobacterial infection is due to their contacts to sheep. Considering the controversy, the transmission of HP from the milk of small ruminates to humans and the possibility of the Zenotic nature of the disease has not proven yet. Thus, recognition of the routes of transmission of bacterium to human is vital. Materials and Methods : Using random clustering, 100 samples (81 sheep and 19 goat's samples) were taken from 20 villages of Mashhad suburb during two years. A questionnaire regarding the health status of the shepherds and their family from the point of view GI discomfort was taken. All taken samples were incubated on two specific HP media, HPSPA (Helicobacter pylori Special Peptone Agar) and Columbia Agar including antibiotics. Following centrifugation, DNA extraction was carried out on all precipitated samples. The specific Urease C gene of HP was traced through polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). Results: Considering the negative results of both PCR and isolation tests, neither culture media nor PCR could prove the existence of HP gene or the Urease C gene for the specific HP in samples. Information showed that 20 of shepherds and 25 of their families and also 10 of both are complaining of GI discomfort, without any clear relation to HP. Conclusion: The results showed that two incubation procedures could not detect HPÂ or its gene, Urease C. Probably, the reason could be due to some multifactorial agents, essential for the determination of the strategy of prevention and health. Possibility of transmission of the agent from the small ruminants and milk to humans needs further investigation

Determine the Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Insulin Resistance, Lipid Profiles and Blood Glucose in Obese People

Background: Obesity as one of the most important health problems in the world, involved in the incidence of many chronic disorders. Obese individuals have lower level of vitamins and minerals such as zinc. Zinc is one of trace elements involved in synthesis, storage, release and action of insulin and in pathway of fat and carbohydrate metabolism. This study conducted to assay the effects of zinc supplementation on the insulin resistance, lipid profiles and blood sugar in obese people. Methods: This randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was performed on 60 obese people (BMI >30 kg/m2). Duration of intervention was one month. The eligible participants divided in two equal groups: intervention and placebo, randomly. Intervention group received a 30mg/d zinc pill and placebo group received 30mg/d starch. The concentration of serum insulin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), lipid profiles and fasting blood glucose were determined in onset and at the end of study. Results: Zinc supplementation resulted in a significant reduction in serum insulin concentration, insulin resistance index and serum triglyceride at the end of intervention (p<0.05). However, these results were not significant in placebo group. In contrast, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and fasting blood, sugar (FBS) did not change significantly. Conclusion: Zinc supplement had positive effect on the reduction of insulin concentration and insulin resistance index. More studies with longer period of intervention suggested for disclose more mechanisms in this field

Metaforas de la experiencia social

Este artículo plantea la necesidad de pensar los conflictos y las crisis sociales en América Latina a partir de las múltiples maneras en que estos son experimentados por la sociedad. Crisis que, supuesto, involucra el miedo, la impotencia, la frustración y el retorno de lo reprimido mediante la búsqueda de la religión, pero que también contempla las luchas por el reconocimiento social y la vuelta a la calle, como formas de expresión pública y reconstitución de lo simbólico. El texto retoma los recientes casos de conflictividad social y crisis política en Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú y Venezuela para exhortar, mediante el uso de metáforas sociales, a que las ciencias sociales superen los dualismos y las miradas insulares del "saber especializado", de modo que puedan analizar los cruces entre lo económico, lo político y lo cultural que se manifiestan en dichas crisis