Antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of methanol extract of Hyssopus angustifolius

This study was designed to evaluate antioxidant and antihemolytic activities of Hyssopus angustifolius flower, stem and leaf methanol extracts by employing various in vitro assays. The leaf extract showed the best activity in DPPH (63.2 ± 2.3 μg mL-1) and H2O2  (55.6 ± 2.6 μg mL-1) models compared to the other extracts. However, flower extract exhibited the highest Fe2+ chelating activity (131.4 ± 4.4 μg mL-1). The extracts exhibited good antioxidant activity in linoleic acid peroxidation and reducing power assays, but were not comparable to vitamin C. The stem (23.58 ± 0.7 μg mL-1) and leaf (26.21 ± 1 μg mL-1) extracts showed highest level of antihemolytic activity than the flower extract

Realization of peace from the perspective of the role of higher education in the field of diplomacy: experience of academic diplomacy in Iran

New diplomacy with a focus on new actors is a ground for removal of misconceptions and solution of conflicts through communication, dialogue and reach of consensus. Higher education institution, especially universities, can be referred as new actors in the field of diplomacy. They can play an important role in communicating mutually and symmetrically. According to the authors, universities can provide the ground for removal of misunderstanding which is the root of violence at the level of communication within universities, both in a form of diplomacy Track II and also, through playing role in the science and technology diplomacy framework and they can be effective in promoting the culture of peace while they present positive image and enhance the country’s position in the international arena. So, in present study, it was tried to analyze the promotion of culture of peace in terms of the effectiveness of higher education on diplomacy institution and also, the position of higher education institution in the diplomacy of the Islamic Republic of Iran by descriptive-analytical method and relying on the Habermas’s communicative action theory.  The results showed that the universities can contribute to the realization and promotion of peace through affecting diplomacy and relying on science and knowledge which are international language; also provided that there is purposeful policy-making to maximum use of the potential of higher education institutions in general, and specifically universities. Especially in Iran, despite negative beliefs, universities can provide positive images in international arena.Keywords: higher education, university, peace, science diplomacy, diplomacy Track I

Microfluidic production of multiple emulsions

Microfluidic devices are promising tools for the production of monodispersed tuneable complex emulsions. This review highlights the advantages of microfluidics for the fabrication of emulsions and presents an overview of the microfluidic emulsification methods including two-step and single-step methods for the fabrication of high-order multiple emulsions (double, triple, quadruple and quintuple) and emulsions with multiple and/or multi-distinct inner cores. The microfluidic methods for the formation of multiple emulsion drops with ultra-thin middle phase, multi-compartment jets, and Janus and ternary drops composed of two or three distinct surface regions are also presented. Different configurations of microfluidic drop makers are covered, such as co-flow, T-junctions and flow focusing (both planar and three-dimensional (3D)). Furthermore, surface modifications of microfluidic channels and different modes of droplet generation are summarized. Non-confined microfluidic geometries used for buoyancy-driven drop generation and membrane integrated microfluidics are also discussed. The review includes parallelization and drop splitting strategies for scaling up microfluidic emulsification. The productivity of a single drop maker is typically 1 L/h, which requires combining drop makers into twodimensional (2D) and 3D assemblies fed from a single set of inlet ports through a network of distribution and collection channel

The use of embolic signal detection in multicenter trials to evaluate antiplatelet efficacy: signal analysis and quality control mechanisms in the CARESS (Clopidogrel and Aspirin for Reduction of Emboli in Symptomatic carotid Stenosis) trial

<p><b>Background and Purpose:</b> The CARESS (Clopidogrel and Aspirin for Reduction of Emboli in Symptomatic carotid Stenosis) trial proved the effectiveness of the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin compared with aspirin alone in reducing presence and number of microembolic signals (MES) in patients with recently symptomatic carotid stenosis. The present study aimed at installing primary and secondary quality control measures in CARESS because MES evaluation relies on subjective judgment by human experts.</p> <p><b>Methods:</b> As primary quality control, centers participating in CARESS evaluated a reference digital audio tape (DAT) before the study containing both MES and artifacts. Interobserver agreement of classifying signals as MES was expressed as proportions of specific agreement of positive ratings (ps±values). For all DATs included in CARESS (n=300), online number of MES and off-line number of MES read by the central reader were compared using correlation coefficients. As secondary control, a sample of 16 of 300 DATs was cross-validated by another independent reader (post-trial validator).</p> <p><b>Results:</b> For the reference tape, the cumulative ps±value was 0.894 based on 12 of 14 observers. Two observers with very different results improved after a training procedure. Agreement between post-trial validator and central reader was ps+=0.805, indicating very good agreement. Correlation between online evaluation and off-line evaluation of DATs was very good overall (cumulative ρ=0.84; P<0.001).</p> <p><b>Conclusion:</b> Multicenter studies using MES as outcome parameter are feasible. However, primary and secondary quality control procedures are important.</p&gt

Effect of plant cover on presence of Black Francolin (Francolinus francolinus) in Khouzestan Province, Southwestern Iran

Three of 6 subspecies of black francolins (Francolinus francolinus), are found throughout Iran. Habitat destruction and indiscriminate hunting as well as agricultural pesticides are among the most crucial factors threatening the populations of these birds in Khouzestan Province, southwestern Iran. Using plot sampling, this study aims to investigate different vegetative factors including plant species, percentage of species presence and dominant plant cover height on francolin presence. Sampling was carried out throughout 5 presence areas of black francolin and 2 areas lacking francolins (control areas). Results showed that frequency of Camels thorn (Alhagi cameloram), Cashew (Prosopis farcta) and African Salsola (Suaeda fruticosa) were higher in presence areas compared with other plant species. Using One Way ANOVA, it was determined that there was no significant difference between plant cover percent (P = 0.279) and dominant plant cover height (P = 0.316). However, difference of these two mentioned factors were significant in 4 seasons (P = 000 for cover height and P = 0.001 for cover percent). In fact, the highest black francolin presence was recorded at 15 – 67 and 4 – 48 for cover percent and cover height classes respectively

Evaluation of Benzimidazole Resistance in Haemonchus contortus Using Comparative PCR-RFLP Methods

Background: In order to deworm the ruminants especially of sheep in Iran, consumption of benzimi­dazoles has more than 2 decades history and today farmers are using imidazothiazoles, macrocyclic lactones and mostly benzimidazole compounds (BZs) to treat infected farm animals. It has been demonstrated that the most common molecular mechanism leading to BZsresistance in Haemonchus contortus is a single mutation at amino acid 200 (phenylalanine to tyrosine) of the isotype 1 of beta tubulin gene. According to the report of such mutations in Iranian Telador­sagia circumcincta isolates with Restriction Site Created PCR-RFLP, we decided to evaluate the frequency of such mutations in H. contortus in three different geographical areas of Iran.Methodes: A total of 102 collected adult male H. contortus were evaluated with PCR-RFLP (us­ing PSP1406I as restriction enzyme). By means of a second step to compare function of different methods and to increase sensitivity of detection mechanism, a third of samples were examined by another PCR-RFLP method (using TaaI as restriction enzyme) and finally beta tubulin gene of two samples was sequenced.Results: All of samples were detected as BZss homozygote. Finally, beta tubulin gene sequenc­ing of two samples showed no point mutation at codon 200.Conclusion: It seems that BZresistance of H. contortus in Iran is not a serious problem as antici­pated before

Development of a New Kinetic Model for Methanol to Propylene Process on Mn/H-ZSM-5 Catalyst

The activity of the H-ZSM-5 was modified by the addition of Ca, Mn, Cr, Fe, Ni, Ag, Ce and P. The highest selectivity of propylene was obtained over the Mn/H-ZSM-5 catalyst. The Mn modified catalyst was selected as the optimal catalyst and the kinetic study was carried out on it. All of the experiments were carried out in an isothermal fixed bed and plug flow reactor with the mixture of methanol and water. The temperature range was 400–550 °C and the weight hourly space velocities (WHSV) of methanol were: 2.51, 5.42, and 8.17 h–1. A reaction mechanism based on the theory of hydrocarbon pool and conjugate methylation/cracking mechanisms was proposed. The behavior of the reactor was mathematically modeled and the hybrid genetic algorithm was applied to estimate kinetic parameters. Good agreement was observed between the experimental and the calculated data. Effect of temperature on propylene selectivity was also investigated. It was found that the propylene selectivity steadily increases with temperature

Effective factors on nest site location in the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in Shidvar Island

Nest site location in reptiles is an important stage of their life cycle because environmental factors influence embryo survivorship, incubation quality and sex ratio. For studying effective factors on nest site location in the hawksbill turtle, we measured temperature, moisture, beach slope, particle size of sand and vegetation related to 35 nests in Shidvar Island. In this Island, most nests were in northern beach which has a relatively steep slope. In this slope energy costs and probability of females and hatchlings predation is low. In addition hawksbills preferred to nest amongst vegetation. Of the environmental evaluated, slope appears to have the greatest influence on nest site location, because it is associated with nest elevation and hatching success is higher from nests closest to suitable elevation. It is believed that sea turtles may use multiple cues for nest site location and use a threshold that must be reached for each environmental factor before the turtle initiates nest excavation

Molecular targets of curcumin for cancer therapy: An updated review

In recent years, natural edible products have been found to be important therapeutic agents for the treatment of chronic human diseases including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegeneration. Curcumin is a well-known diarylheptanoid constituent of turmeric which possesses anticancer effects under both pre-clinical and clinical conditions. Moreover, it is well known that the anticancer effects of curcumin are primarily due to the activation of apoptotic pathways in the cancer cells as well as inhibition of tumor microenvironments like inflammation, angiogenesis, and tumor metastasis. In particular, extensive studies have demonstrated that curcumin targets numerous therapeutically important cancer signaling pathways such as p53, Ras, PI3K, AKT, Wnt-β catenin, mTOR and so on. Clinical studies also suggested that either curcumin alone or as combination with other drugs possess promising anticancer effect in cancer patients without causing any adverse effects. In this article, we critically review the available scientific evidence on the molecular targets of curcumin for the treatment of different types of cancer. In addition, we also discuss its chemistry, sources, bioavailability, and future research directions. © International Society of Oncology and BioMarkers (ISOBM) 2016