Morphometric and meristic characteristics of Vimba vimba persa in Sefidrud River

During years 1999-2001, a series of sampling was carried out in Sefidrud River to study morphometric and meristic characteristics of Caspian Vimba. 149 specimens were collected and then necessary measurements were considered and following results were obtained: T.L= 171.2±31.6mm, W= 62.9±19.7g, age= 3.49±0.9 year, average number of scales on lateral line = 50.83±1.8, branched ray of dorsal and anal fins = 7.96±0.2 and 17.58±1.0 respectively. The mean morphometric measurements with respect to body standard length (%) were: head length 24.47±1.9, eye diameter 6.10±1.07, body maximum depth 26.17±1.4, dorsal fin height and length 20.22±1.5 and 10.96±0.8, anal fin height and length 12.66±0.8 and 18.17±1.5, pectoral fin length 18.17±1.2, ventral fin length 14.97±1.1, pecto-ventral fins distance 24.18±l.7 and ventral-anal distance 20.00±1.5 and pre-dorsal distance 52.21±1.7. Adults and juveniles showed difference in 2 meristic and 15 morphometric parameters. On the other hand, the adult males and females showed difference in 16 morphometric parameters (esp. body depth, lengths of dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins). Also, adult males have a series of fine epithelial tubercles on head and body and their color is darker with more reddish anal and ventral fins

Studying natural reproduction, spawning grounds and spawning period of Vimba vimba persa population in Sefid-roud river, Guilan Province in north Iran

To evaluate spawning status of Vimba vimba ,population in Sefid-roud river, 621 breeders, 1136 larvae, fries and fingerlings were caught in the river using beach seine, cast-net and electro-choker over the years 1999-2000. We found that the fish started spawning migration in March and continued it until July with its peak occurring between mid-April to late-May. Fork length was 116 - 208 mm (153.1 ± 17.95) in male specimens and 122 - 222 mm (173.5 ± 1 6.46) in females. Total body weight ranged 21.1-116.1g (52.92 ± 19.23) in males and 23.1 - 170.0 g (77.90 ± 22.88) in females. Males aged 2-6 years (3.53±0.86) and females aged 3-7 years (4.19±0.92) participated in the spawning with their maturity age being calculated as 2 and 3 years respectively. In all, breeders were composed of 51.82% males and 48.18% females with the ratio being significantly different only in May. Gonad weight was 1.13-7.92 g (Avg. 2.89±0.29) in males and 3.21-25.47g (Avg. 10.40±1.52) in females. We found the highest gonad weight for the fish in June and that the gonad weight in female breeders increased upwards of the estuary. Gonado-somatic index was 19-21% in 85.7% of the females and 3-8% in 95.5% of the males. Spawning of the species took place during day and night from late May to late June with its peak in May in water temperature ranging 18-29 degrees centigrade on pebble and gravel pounds from 25 to 75kms away from estuary. The Disaam tributary was distinguished as the major spawning area for the species

Designing of a laboratory model for evaluation of the residual effects of deltamethrin (K-othrine WP 5%) on different surfaces against malaria vector, Anopheles stephensi (Diptera: Culicidae)

Background & objectives: Deltamethrin plays an important role in controlling malaria vectors,and is used in indoor residual spraying and manufacture of long-lasting insecticidal mosquitonets. The residual activity of deltamethrin (K-othrine WP 5%) @ 25 mg/m2 was studied in laboratoryconditions on different surfaces.Methods: The surfaces were made artificially with different building materials such as mud, plaster,cement and wood in the laboratory. The surfaces were mounted inside petri-dishes (diam: 20 cm)and wood surface was prepared separately. The prepared surfaces were attached to the walls anddeltamethrin was applied using standard Hudson pump sprayer with a discharge rate of 757 ml/min or 0.2 gal/min. The spraying was conducted at standard rhythm as recommended by WHO.After application all the sprayed surfaces were transferred into the special wooden boxes designedfor this purpose. The surfaces were maintained at laboratory conditions. The WHO’s recommendedbioassay kit and method was used during this study.Results: Bioassays on Anopheles stephensi Liston showed that the persistence of deltamethrin ondifferent surfaces (>70% mortality) was around 4 months on plaster (Mortality = 77±6.2%), 2months on mud (76.9±6.8%), 4.5 months on cement (79±3.2%), 4 months on wood (71.7±6.8%)and 4 months on filter papers (82.3±5.4%).Interpretation & conclusion: The results of this study on residual effects of deltamethrin WP 5%(25 mg/m2) are highly concordant with two field bioassays carried out in a malarious area atsouth-eastern Iran. This method can be replaced by the field bioassay tests which are time consumingand costlier

A study of emotional intelligence and the effect of educational intervention in emergency medicine residents

Introduction: This study aimed to examine emotional intelligence components and the impact of education in residents on emergency medicine wards. Materials and Methods: The study consists of two descriptive and interventional parts. The first part aimed to determine the IQ in emergency department residents and the second part - the effect of education on emotional intelligence of residents. To collect the required information, Sheering Emotional Intelligence Inventory was used. SPSS version 16 was used for data analysis. Results: Among the components of emotional intelligence in 120 residents of emergency medicine, the highest mean score was that for self-awareness (mean and standard deviation at 24.8 ± 3.7), and the lowest score was for social skill (mean 16.2, SD ± 3.4). There was no significant difference between the components of emotional intelligence in the intervention group and the control group before an educational intervention (P = 0.05), but after the intervention the difference between the groups became significant (P ? 0.05). Discussion: The descriptive findings of this study showed that among the emotional intelligence components, self-awareness and social skills of the residents had the highest and the lowest mean scores, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that teaching emotional intelligence to emergency medicine residents had a significant role in increasing their emotional intelligence

Analgesic effects of intravenous ketamine during spinal anesthesia in pregnant women undergone Caesarean section; a randomized clinical trial

Suitable analgesia after cesarean section helps mothers to be more comfortable and increases their mobility and ability to take better care of their infants. Objectives: Pain relief properties of ketamine prescription were assessed in women with elective cesarean section who underwent spinal anesthesia with low dose intravenous ketamine and midazolam and intravenous midazolam alone. Patients and Methods: Sixty pregnant women scheduled for spinal anesthesia for cesarean section were randomized into two study groups. Ketamine (30 mg) + midazolam (1 mg = 2CC) or 1mg midazolam (2CC) alone, was given immediately after spinal anesthesia. Pain scores at first, second and third hours after CS operation, analgesic requirement and drug adverse effects were recorded in all patients. Results: Ketamine group had significant pain relief properties in compare with control group in first hours after cesarean section (0.78 ± 1.09 vs. 1.72 ± 1.22, VAS score, P = 0.00). Total dose of meperidine consumption in women of ketamine group was significantly lower than women of control group (54.17 ± 12.86 vs. 74.44 ± 33.82 mg, P = 0.02). There were no significant drug side effects in participated patients. Conclusions: Intravenous low-dose ketamine combined with midazolam for sedation during spinal anesthesia for elective Caesarean section provides more effective and long lasting pain relief than control group. © 2013 Iranian Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine

Artificial spawning and fingerling culturing of European Catfish (Silurus glanis L. 1758)

The present study was conducted to survey the artificial spawning of European catfish (Silurus glanis L.) by synthetic hormones include Carp pituitary extract (CPE), Ovo fact [D-Ala6 des Gly10] GnRHa Ethyl amid in combination with domperidone diluted in propylene glycol, Human gonadotropin chryonic hormone (HCG) and LHRHa (des-Gly10, [D-Ala6] LH-RH Ethyl amide). In this research work 44 male and 72 female brood stokes that transferred to the Shaheed Dr Ansari hatchery and Sefid rod research station were studied on 2 years and injected with those stimulated maturation. Total length, total weight, gonad weight were measured to the nearest 0.1 cm, 1g and 0.01g respectively. The experiments were conducted using different doses of hormones on 4 treatments. In treatment CPE that brood stocks injected with 2.5, 3, 4 and 5 mg/kg/BW, the most responded (83.33%) was with 5mg/kg/Bw of CPE. The mean fertilization in this treatment was 92.5 4.51 and after that there are groups which were stimulated by 4 mg/kg/BW of CPE .In treatment ovafact that brood fish were injected by 10, 20, 30, 40 μg/kg/BW of this stimulation hormone showed 100 percent of fish ovulated in the group treated with 40 μg/kg/BW of ovofact. The mean fertilization rate was 86.08 6.27 in this group. 33.3 % of brood fish ovulated in the group that injected with 40 μg/kg/BW of LHRHa stimulation, but none of brood stock reached to spawning with injection of 30 μg/kg/BW of LHRHa. The brood stocks were injected by 800, 850, 900, 950 IU/kg/BW of HCG, only 33.3 percent of fish in groups that received 900 & 950 IU/kg/BW of this Stimulation hormone reached to spawning stages. According to our results and statistical analysis between trial treatments in percent of Embryo viability showed significant difference (P<0.05) between HCG treatment with Ovofact and CPE groups. This results indicates that embryo viability was better in CPE and Ovofact rate to LHRHa and HCG treatments. In the other cases include the working fecundity, fertilization percent, latency period of maturation, latency period of incubation eggs and ratio of weigh stripped egg to body weight did not show any significant difference (P<0.05) in experimental treatments for stripping the male brood stock of European catfish were injected by 3,4,5 mg/kg/BW of CPE, but not one of male brood fish didn’t reaches to stripping stage , so for eggs fertilization were used of milt from macerated Testes of dead males. So in anther experiment the male brood fish were injected by 5 mg/kg/BW CPE repeatedly at once every 5 days for Period 20 day’s period and milt were collected from of all of the males

Gravity and Electromagnetism with Y(R)F2Y(R)F^2-type Coupling and Magnetic Monopole Solutions

We investigate $Y(R) F^2$-type coupling of electromagnetic fields to gravity. After we derive field equations by a first order variational principle from the Lagrangian formulation of the non-minimally coupled theory, we look for static, spherically symmetric, magnetic monopole solutions. We point out that the solutions can provide possible geometries which may explain the flatness of the observed rotation curves of galaxies.Comment: 10 page

Chitosan-Based Nanoparticles Against Viral Infections

Viral infections, in addition to damaging host cells, can compromise the host immune system, leading to frequent relapse or long-term persistence. Viruses have the capacity to destroy the host cell while liberating their own RNA or DNA in order to replicate within additional host cells. The viral life cycle makes it challenging to develop anti-viral drugs. Nanotechnology-based approaches have been suggested to deal effectively with viral diseases, and overcome some limitations of anti-viral drugs. Nanotechnology has enabled scientists to overcome the challenges of solubility and toxicity of anti-viral drugs, and can enhance their selectivity towards viruses and virally infected cells, while preserving healthy host cells. Chitosan is a naturally occurring polymer that has been used to construct nanoparticles (NPs), which are biocompatible, biodegradable, less toxic, easy to prepare, and can function as effective drug delivery systems (DDSs). Furthermore, chitosan is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA). Chitosan NPs have been used in drug delivery by the oral, ocular, pulmonary, nasal, mucosal, buccal, or vaginal routes. They have also been studied for gene delivery, vaccine delivery, and advanced cancer therapy. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that chitosan NPs could be used as new therapeutic tools against viral infections. In this review we summarize reports concerning the therapeutic potential of chitosan NPs against various viral infections. © Copyright © 2021 Boroumand, Badie, Mazaheri, Seyedi, Nahand, Nejati, Baghi, Abbasi-Kolli, Badehnoosh, Ghandali, Hamblin and Mirzaei

Sequential dependency for affective appraisal of food images

Abstract How we perceive the world is not solely determined by our experiences at a given moment in time, but also by what we have experienced in our immediate past. Here, we investigated whether such sequential effects influence the affective appraisal of food images. Participants from 16 different countries (N = 1278) watched a randomly presented sequence of 60 different food images and reported their affective appraisal of each image in terms of valence and arousal. For both measures, we conducted an inter-trial analysis, based on whether the rating on the preceding trial(s) was low or high. The analyses showed that valence and arousal ratings for a given food image are both assimilated towards the ratings on the previous trial (i.e., a positive serial dependence). For a given trial, the arousal rating depends on the arousal ratings up to three trials back. For valence, we observed a positive dependence for the immediately preceding trial only, while a negative (repulsive) dependence was present up to four trials back. These inter-trial effects were larger for males than for females, but independent of the participants’ BMI, age, and cultural background. The results of this exploratory study may be relevant for the design of websites of food delivery services and restaurant menus

Rituximab and risk of COVID-19 infection and its severity in patients with MS and NMOSD

Background: Choosing a safe disease modifying therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic is challenging. This case series study was conducted to determine the incidence rate and the course of Covid-19 infection in MS/NMOSD patients treated with Rituximab. Methods: In this study, we designed a web-based questionnaire. Baseline information such as patient- reported walking disability, total number of Rituximab infusions received, delayed injections, occurrence of any relapse, and the use of corticosteroids during the pandemic were collected. Also, information regarding the Covid-19 pandemic such as adherence to self-isolation, any recent exposure to an infected individual and the presence of suggestive symptoms were collected. In case of positive test results, patients were grouped into 2 categories; mild to moderate and seriously ill and outcomes were evaluated as favorable (improved/ discharged) and unfavorable (expired). Results: Two hundred fifty-eight patients with Multiple Sclerosis were enrolled in this study, 9 of the subjects (3.4) were confirmed positive for Covid-19, five of which required hospitalizations (55.5), two patients required ICU admission (22.2) and 2 two patients died (22.2). None of these patients ever mentioned using corticosteroids during the pandemic. In comparison to MS patients who were not receiving disease modifying therapy (DMT), our study indicated a higher incidence of Covid-19 infection, higher ratio of serious illness and a higher fatality ratio. Conclusions: Rituximab seems not to be safe enough during the pandemic. © 2021, The Author(s)