Effect of vitamin B12 addition to extenders on some physicochemical parameters of semen in crossbred rams

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of different doses of vitamin B12 on some physicochemical parameters and antioxidtive enzyme activities in crossbreed rams semen during storage at 5°C. Semen samples were collected from eight crossbreed rams, evaluated and pooled at 33°C. Fresh semen was diluted with a Tris-based extender containing 0, 1, 2 and 3 mg/mL vitamin B12 and was cooled at 5°C. In both genetic group, the extender supplemented with vitamin B12 (1, 2 and 3 mg/mL) led to higher motility percentages than control group. While, the addition of 2 mg/mL vitamin B12 into the semen extenders led to higher viability sperm, in comparison to control group. In Ghezel × Baluchi genotype, the percentage of spermatozoa abnormality was reduced with vitamin B12 when compared with control group. Supplementation with vitamin B12 improved significantly sperm membrane integrity in both genotypes. Addition of vitamin B12 did not cause significant differences in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) when compared with the control group in both genotypes. In the current study, the addition of 2 mg/mL of vitamin B12 (as an antioxidant) to extender had higher SOD activities than the other groups in both genetic groups. In conclusion, vitamin B12 supplementation in semen extender benefit the motility and viability of crossbreed ram sperm.Key words: Antioxidant, crossbreed ram, semen parameters, sperm, crossbreed ram

Presentation of Coastal Environmental Management Plan by using SWOT/AHP methods

The provision of environment management plan and formulating the environmental strategies of coastal regions are the most essential measures required for the integrated management of coastal regions. For this purpose, this research has been conducted using two goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches in order to determine the planning perspective and problems approach in order to determine bottlenecks respectively. At first, the vision, mission, and objective of developing the environmental management of the eastern coasts of Mazandaran by SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) method have been determined. Thereafter, with using of analytic hierarchical process (AHP) method and EC (Expert chose) software have been applied to prioritize the strategies. At last, the environmental plan and projects of this region was provided based on the objectives. According to this research, the macro-strategies of SO, WO, ST, and WT have been identified in the said order as the priorities of the environmental planning of the region. The SO strategies including the protection of aquatics, integrated management of rivers and surface waters, and the development of coastal tourism as well as the most prioritized one, which is the optimal management of environment and sensitive ecosystems of coastal regions have been studied. In general, in this research 18 environmental strategies classified into four strategic classes have been defined. According to the six objectives, 10 plan, and 16 projects have been defined for the environmental management plan of the eastern coasts of Mazandaran Province

Genetic variations of Iranian and French stocks of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss is the most important cold water farmed fish as a nonindigenous species in Iran. Eyed eggs have been imported from different countries to Iran. In this study, genetic diversity of 50 fish (male and female) from Iranian generation and 24 fish from French generation were evaluated. Six microsatellite markers including OMM1019 ،OMM1036 ،OMM1307 ، OmyFGT5TU ،Omy77DU and Omy207UoG were applied. Average number of observed alleles in the Iranian and the French stocks were 6.68 and 6.83, respectively. Average number of effective alleles in the Iranian and French stocks were 3.13 and 3.45, respectively. Mean expected and observed heterozygosis was 0.68, 0.53 and 0.71, 0.61 in Iranian and French stocks, respectively. The results showed significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium at the most of loci × stock. Fixation index Fst calculated based on allelic frequency between two stocks was 0.058 with significant difference between 2 stocks. The results of this study showed insignificant genetic differentiation based on six microsatellite loci

VectorDisk: a microfluidic platform integrating diagnostic markers for evidence-based mosquito control

Effective mosquito monitoring relies on the accurate identification and characterization of the target population. Since this process requires specialist knowledge and equipment that is not widely available, automated field-deployable systems are highly desirable. We present a centrifugal microfluidic cartridge, the VectorDisk, which integrates TaqMan PCR assays in two feasibility studies, aiming to assess multiplexing capability, specificity, and reproducibility in detecting disk-integrated vector-related assays. In the first study, pools of 10 mosquitoes were used as samples. We tested 18 disks with 27 DNA and RNA assays each, using a combination of multiple microfluidic chambers and detection wavelengths (geometric and color multiplexing) to identify mosquito and malaria parasite species as well as insecticide resistance mechanisms. In the second study, purified nucleic acids served as samples to test arboviral and malaria infective mosquito assays. Nine disks were tested with 14 assays each. No false positive results were detected on any of the disks. The coe cient of variation in reproducibility tests was <10%. The modular nature of the platform, the easy adaptation of the primer/probe panels, the cold chain independence, the rapid (2-3 h) analysis, and the assay multiplexing capacity are key features, rendering the VectorDisk a potential candidate for automated vector analysis

Genetic improvement of rainbow trout in Iran

Inthisstudy, Iranian and French male and female Oncorhynchus mykiss broodstocks were invided into two groups 50 and 24 respectivelyin Research center of genetic and breeding of coldwater fishers, Yasouj,Iran and the genetic structure of them was investigated using 6 microsatellite markers. Along with broodstock maturation, fertilization 1:1(female:male) were randomly assigned and occurred in25 of12Iranian andFrench treatment respectively. Reproductive parameters were recordedfor the whole family.Average number of observed alleles in Iranian and French stocks was 6.68 and 6.83, respectively.Average number of effective alleles in Iranian and French stocks was 3.13 and 3.45 respectively.Fixation index Fstwas calculated based on allelic frequency between two stocks was 0.058 with significant difference between 2 stocks. Eyed percentage for french broodstock calaulated zero and deleted. Fertilization rate(100-0), the eyed percentage (98-0), The hatch rate(98- 0),the averagefecundity4114.708, the average eggs size 4.88 mm, Survivalinthe first three months 19-73% calculated for Iranian broodstocks. Considering the quality of eggs and larvaeat different stages and selection between the different family and the within family remained 10 treatments and are keptas future broodstocks. Therelationship between fecundity-egg size, fecundity-weight, fecundity-length, egg sizeweightwas performed using regression. The results showed that Fecundity wasinfluenced more byweight and productivelength. The research is beginning to IDthe broodstockin our country

Presentation of Coastal Environmental Management Plan by using SWOT/AHP methods

The provision of environment management plan and formulating the environmental strategies of coastal regions are the most essential measures required for the integrated management of coastal regions. For this purpose, this research has been conducted using two goal-oriented and problem-oriented approaches in order to determine the planning perspective and problems approach in order to determine bottlenecks respectively. At first, the vision, mission, and objective of developing the environmental management of the eastern coasts of Mazandaran by SWOT (Strengths-Weaknesses-Opportunities-Threats) method have been determined. Thereafter, with using of analytic hierarchical process (AHP) method and EC (Expert chose) software have been applied to prioritize the strategies. At last, the environmental plan and projects of this region was provided based on the objectives. According to this research, the macro-strategies of SO, WO, ST, and WT have been identified in the said order as the priorities of the environmental planning of the region. The SO strategies including the protection of aquatics, integrated management of rivers and surface waters, and the development of coastal tourism as well as the most prioritized one, which is the optimal management of environment and sensitive ecosystems of coastal regions have been studied. In general, in this research 18 environmental strategies classified into four strategic classes have been defined. According to the six objectives, 10 plan, and 16 projects have been defined for the environmental management plan of the eastern coasts of Mazandaran Province

Stabilization of Networked Control Systems with Variable Delays and Saturating Inputs

In this paper, improved conditions for the synthesis of static state-feedback controller are derived to stabilize networked control systems (NCSs) subject to actuator saturation. Both of the data packet latency and dropout which deteriorate the performance of the closed-loop system are considered in the NCS model via variable delays. Two different techniques are employed to incorporate actuator saturation in the system description. Utilizing Lyapunov-Krasovskii Theorem, delay-dependent conditions are obtained in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) to determine the static feedback gain. Moreover, an optimization problem is formulated in order to find the less conservative estimate for the region of attraction corresponding to different maximum allowable delays. Numerical examples are introduced to demonstrate the effectiveness and advantages of the proposed schemes

The Effects of LeukemiaInhibitory Factor onDevelopment of MousePreimplantation Embryo

Introduction and Objective: Recent studies have demonstrated that mammalian preimplantation embryos are exposed to a mixture of many different growth factors and cytokines, expressed by the follicles, oviducts and endometrium. Receptors for many of these growth factors have also been shown to be expressed by preimplantation embryos. In vitro culture of human and animal's embryos in conventional media lacking growth factors can result in suboptimal growth and a variety of short-term and long-term developmental abnormalities. One of these factors is Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of LIF on the mouse preimplantation embryo development. Materials & Methods: Six to eight weeks old NMRI mice were superovulated by injection of 10IU PMSG and 10IU HCG 48h later. The mated mice were killed 48 hours after HCG injection, oviducts were flushed and two-cell embryos were collected and divided randomly to two groups (control and treatment). Control medium was HTF and treatment medium was HTF+1000u/ml LIF. In each group the embryos were cultured in an incubator at 37°C with 5% CO2 for 72h.The state of embryo development was evaluated in 12 hours interval using inverted microscope. Results: There was not any significant difference in the rate of morolla and blastocyst formation after 36 hours. In comparing hatching rates, 60 and 72 hours after culture, there were significant difference between control and treatment groups (p< 0.008). Conclusion: LIF doesn’t provide obvious stimulation in the early mouse embryo development until morolla stage. However, it has positive effects on preimplantation blastocyst growth, differentiation and hatching

Effects of Nitric Oxide Production Inhibitor Named, NG-Nitro-L-Arginine Methyl Ester (L-NAME), on Rat Mesenchymal Stem Cells Differentiation

Introduction & Objectives: Recently, the findings of some studies have shown that, nitric oxide (NO) probably has an important role in differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of nitric oxide production inhibitor named, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), on rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiation to osteoblasts in vitro. Materials & Methods: This was an experimental study conducted at Hamedan University of Medical Sciences in 2009, in which rat bone marrow stem cells were isolated in an aseptic condition and cultured in vitro. After third passage, the cells were cultured in osteogenic differentiation medium. To study the effects of L-NAME on osteogenic differentiation, the L-NAME was added to the culture medium at a concentration of 125, 250, and 500 μM in some culture plates. During the culture procedure, the media were replaced with fresh ones, with a three days interval. After 28 days of culturing the mineralized matrix was stained using Alizarian red staining method. The gathered data were analyzed by SPSS software version 12 using one way ANOVA. Results: The findings of this study showed that in the presence of L-NAME, differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts was disordered and matrix mineralization significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: This study revealed that, inhibition of nitric oxide production using L-NAME can prevent the differentiation of rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblast. The results imply that NO is an important constituent in differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell to osteoblasts

Effects of Carnitine on Sperm Parameters of Infertile Males with Idiopathic Asthenospermia

ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Studies confirm that a number of nutritional and environmental factors may negatively affect spermatogenesis and cause male infertility. Carnitine is an important factor for sperm motility. Carnitine deficiency decreases sperm motility and may cause male infertility. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of carnitine on sperm parameters in infertile males with idiopathic asthenospermia. Materials & Methods: This study is a before and after clinical trial performed on 40 asthenospermia men who were treated with 750 mg per/day carnitine in Fatemieh infertility research center in years 2006-2007. Sperm parameters were assessed before and after treatment. The obtained data were analyzed using SPSS10 and paired T-test Results: The results showed a significant increase in sperm concentration, morphology, sperm total motility and rapid progressive motility after treatment by carnitine (p<0.05). Conclusion: Carnitine supplementation has a significant effect on sperm parameters in men with idiopathic asthenospermia