Preconcentration and extraction of copper(II) on activated carbon using ethyl-2-quinolyl-β (p-carboxyphenyl hydrazone)dioxo propionate

Activated carbon modified method was used for the preconcentration and determination of copper content in real samples such as tap water, wastewater and a synthetic water sample by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The copper(II) was adsorbed quantitatively on activated carbon due to its complexation with ethyl-2-quinolyl-β(p-carboxyphenyl hydrazone)dioxo propionate (EQCPDP). The adsorbed copper(II) ion on solid phase was eluted quantitatively by using nitric acid. The important parameters such as pH, amount of carrier, flow rate, amount of activated carbon and type and concentration of eluting agent for obtaining maximum recovery were optimized. The method at optimum conditions gives linear concentration range of 0.05-1.0 μg mL-1 of copper(II) with correlation coefficient of 0.9994 and the detection limit of 0.99 ng mL-1. The preconcentration leads to enrichment factor of 175 and break through volume of 1750 mL. The method has good tolerance limit of interfering ions and selectivity and it has been successfully applied for determination of copper content in real sample such as blood, wastewater and river sample. KEY WORDS: Copper(II), Solid phase extraction, Activated carbon, Flame atomic absorption spectrometry  Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2008, 22(3), 331-338

First isolation and identification of Vibrio vulnificus (biotype 2) from cultured beluga, huso huso in Iran

By decreasing sturgeon stocks in the Caspian Sea, rearing different sturgeon species especially Huso huso was increased in Iran. Under stress conditions the sturgeon can easily be infected by several opportunistic pathogens. In June 2011, mortality happened in 25 - 28°C water temperature, in one of the most important cultured sturgeon farms in Mazandaran province, north of Iran. The mortality rate was 15%. The first clinical signs in moribund fish were lethargy and anorexia. A total of 20 moribund fish was transferred to a central laboratory for more bacteriological examination. Clinical signs including several deep ulcers on body surface, around the head, under operculum, ulcers at the base of the pectoral fins, hemorrhage around the anus, operculum, and pale gills were observed in moribund fish. The main internal signs were hepatomegaly and splenomegaly, liquid accumulation in the intestine and diffuse visceral hemorrhage. The results of morphology and microscopic characterizations and also biochemical tests indicated that Vibrio vulnificus (biotype 2) was the etiological agent of mortality in infected fish. This study was the first report of V. vulnificus in cultured H. huso in Iran

Alternations of heat shock proteins (hsp70) gene expression in liver and gill of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1987) exposed to cadmium chloride

Induction of heat shock proteins (hsps) is considered as an important protective, ecophysiologically adaptive, and genetically conserved response to environmental stress in all organisms. The effects of exposure to sublethal doses of CdCl2 (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 LC50) during 14 days on mRNA-hsp70 expression in liver and gill were investigated in juveniles of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus). First, a fragment of 726 nucleotides coding for hsp70 was cloned from the liver. The result showed that in both study tissues, gill and liver, the relative mRNA-hsp70 expression level significantly increased (p≤0.05) on all study days compared to control group. Relative mRNA-hsp70 showed a clear time-dependent response in both tissues following the exposure to CdCl2. A significant increase (p≤0.05) was observed on the second day and then decreased up to day 7 of the exposure and increase level of mRNA-hsp70 expression was observed on day 14. The same trends were observed on all the study doses (0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 LC50) in both examined tissues. Although in this study up expression of hsp70 was common to both the gill and the liver, it was significantly (p≤0.05) expressed more in the liver than the gill. At higher dose, the increase level of mRNA expression was found to be more than that of other experimental doses in all study days. The result revealed that these proteins can be used as a promising biomarker for Cd contamination in this species

Socket interface pressure and amputee reported outcomes for comfortable and uncomfortable conditions of patellar tendon bearing socket: a pilot study

The objectives of the current study were to compare intra-socket pressure differences between comfortable and uncomfortable socket conditions, and the usefulness of subject perception of satisfaction, activity limitations, and socket comfort in distinguishing between these two socket conditions. Five unilateral trans-tibial amputees took part in the study. They answered the Socket Comfort Score (SCS) and Trinity Amputation and Prosthetic Experience Scale (TAPES) questionnaires before the interface pressure (in standing and walking) was measured for the uncomfortable socket condition at five regions of the residual limb. Participants were then provided with a comfortable socket and wore it for two weeks. Participants who were satisfied with the socket fit after two weeks repeated the SCS and TAPES questionnaires and interface pressure measurements. The differences between the test results of the two conditions were not statistically significant, except for the interface pressure at the popliteal region during the early stance phase, TAPES socket fit subscale, and the SCS. Due to large variability of the data and the lack of statistical significance, no firm conclusion can be made on the possible relationship between the interface pressure values and the patient-reported outcomes of the two socket conditions. A larger sample size and longer acclimation period are required to locate significant differences.N/

National roadmap for aquatic organisms biological products

Specialists in Marine biotechnology using marine biological engineering and scientific principles to develop natural products and regarded services. One of the most important applications of this new branch is produce the natural products such as enzymes, natural colors, vaccines and drugs and etc. which produced from marine living organisms. These products are used in various industries such as pharmaceutical, food or health industry. In the current study, we try to remark the application of marine biological products in the northern (Caspian Sea), southern (Persian Gulf and Oman Sea) or internal waters of Iran into six categories, including aquaculture, pharmaceutical industry, food, healthcare and cosmetic industries. For this purpose, the required information will be collected using investigations which conducted inside and also outside of our country by reviewing and analysis of derived data by attention to our economical facilities for national self-sufficiency in production. Applied research projects will be introduced in three parts including research, technology development and pilot plant as well. Hope that using this strategic document will be effective and practical to production of biological products from marine resources until 2025

Fish gene bank of the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea

Genetic studies and gene banks preparation can identify guidelines for improving diversity and population structure and estimation, poaching and also the amount of cross breeding and provide genetic classification. In this study, sampling was performed from the important studied species habitats areas for the species such as: Dasyatis bennetti، Netuma thalassina, Netuma bilineata Carcharhinus leucas، Choerodon robustus، Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus ،Pseudorhombus arsius Thunnus tonggol ،Euthynnus affinis and Trichiurus lepturus. Total DNA extraction was performed using phenol - chloroform method which is the most common method for DNA extraction in order to achieve high quality of DNA was performed in the preparation of gene bank in this study. After relevant studies on this gene primers were designed and in use. After editing the sequences, nucleotide BLAST (Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) was performed using NCBI blast main page. The sequences obtained from each sample were aligned and corrected from any ambiguities and assembled using Bio edit program .Trees were generated using maximum parsimony (MP), a character-based algorithm and neighbor joining (NJ) a distance-based algorithm for phenetic analysis. The distance matrix option of MEGA4 was used to calculate genetic distance according to the Kimura 2-parameter model of sequence evolution. Based on the results obtained, the optical density of 260 to 280 nm in the samples was recorded between 1/8 - 2, indicating good quality DNA samples. Optimized PCR reaction to 16SrRNA gene amplification using the gradient between 48 - 60° C showed that the most suitable criteria for binding primers, 54 to 58 Celsius degrees respectively. The project objectives including the identification of the genetic structure of the species, and draw the phylogenetic trees using two genes 16SrRNA, making identification and registration of specified computer storage and regulate the structure and management of mentioned species by focus on genetic resources 10 species of majour commercial and noncommercial fishes in the Persia Gulf and Oman Sea through the creation of an integrated network of aquatic genetic resources in the region to try to identify genetic resources and aquatic gene bank. This type of analysis could be considered as an important tool to be used in broodstock selection in breeding programs. Also identify the species of fish named as Pseudorhombus pentophthalmus with a new haplotype and genetic differences 7% in compare to the samples recorded in the World gene Bank can considered as a major achievements of this research

Epidermal neural crest stem cell transplantation as a promising therapeutic strategy for ischemic stroke

Introduction: Cell-based therapy is considered as promising strategy to cure stroke. However, employing appropriate type of stem cell to fulfill many therapeutic needs of cerebral ischemia is still challenging. In this regard, the current study was designed to elucidate therapeutic potential of epidermal neural crest stem cells (EPI-NCSCs) compared to bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in rat model of ischemic stroke. Methods: Ischemic stroke was induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) for 45 minutes. Immediately after reperfusion, EPI-NCSCs or BM-MSCs were transplanted via intra-arterial or intravenous route. A test for neurological function was performed before ischemia and 1, 3, and 7 days after MCAO. Also, infarct volume ratio and relative expression of 15 selected target genes were evaluated 7 days after transplantation. Results: EPI-NCSCs transplantation (both intra-arterial and intravenous) and BM-MSCs transplantation (only intra-arterial) tended to result in a better functional outcome, compared to the MCAO group; however, this difference was not statistically significant. The infarct volume ratio significantly decreased in NCSC-intra-arterial, NCSC-intravenous and MSC-intra-arterial groups compared to the control. EPI-NCSCs interventions led to higher expression levels of Bdnf, nestin, Sox10, doublecortin, β-III tubulin, Gfap, and interleukin-6, whereas neurotrophin-3 and interleukin-10 were decreased. On the other hand, BM-MSCs therapy resulted in upregulation of Gdnf, β-III tubulin, and Gfap and down-regulation of neurotrophin-3, interleukin-1, and interleukin-10. Conclusion: These findings highlight the therapeutic effects of EPI-NCSCs transplantation, probably through simultaneous induction of neuronal and glial formation, as well as Bdnf over-expression in a rat model of ischemic strok

Mapping geographical inequalities in childhood diarrhoeal morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries, 2000–17 : analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Background Across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), one in ten deaths in children younger than 5 years is attributable to diarrhoea. The substantial between-country variation in both diarrhoea incidence and mortality is attributable to interventions that protect children, prevent infection, and treat disease. Identifying subnational regions with the highest burden and mapping associated risk factors can aid in reducing preventable childhood diarrhoea. Methods We used Bayesian model-based geostatistics and a geolocated dataset comprising 15 072 746 children younger than 5 years from 466 surveys in 94 LMICs, in combination with findings of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2017, to estimate posterior distributions of diarrhoea prevalence, incidence, and mortality from 2000 to 2017. From these data, we estimated the burden of diarrhoea at varying subnational levels (termed units) by spatially aggregating draws, and we investigated the drivers of subnational patterns by creating aggregated risk factor estimates. Findings The greatest declines in diarrhoeal mortality were seen in south and southeast Asia and South America, where 54·0% (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 38·1–65·8), 17·4% (7·7–28·4), and 59·5% (34·2–86·9) of units, respectively, recorded decreases in deaths from diarrhoea greater than 10%. Although children in much of Africa remain at high risk of death due to diarrhoea, regions with the most deaths were outside Africa, with the highest mortality units located in Pakistan. Indonesia showed the greatest within-country geographical inequality; some regions had mortality rates nearly four times the average country rate. Reductions in mortality were correlated to improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) or reductions in child growth failure (CGF). Similarly, most high-risk areas had poor WASH, high CGF, or low oral rehydration therapy coverage. Interpretation By co-analysing geospatial trends in diarrhoeal burden and its key risk factors, we could assess candidate drivers of subnational death reduction. Further, by doing a counterfactual analysis of the remaining disease burden using key risk factors, we identified potential intervention strategies for vulnerable populations. In view of the demands for limited resources in LMICs, accurately quantifying the burden of diarrhoea and its drivers is important for precision public health