Sequential sampling plan of Metopolophium dirhodum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) in wheat fields

Sequential sampling plans of rose-grain aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker) were developed in wheat fields of Jalilabad region of Varamin, Iran. The aphid population was weekly sampled during 2000-2001. Each sample included 50 wheat stems, which were chosen randomly and the number of aphids was counted. This data was used to describe spatial distribution pattern of M. dirhodum by Taylorâs power law (TPL) and Iwaoâs patchiness regression methods. The results indicated aggregated dispersion pattern of rose-grain aphid population in wheat fields, based on both methods. The TPL provided a better description of the aphidâs spatial distribution. Estimates of two mentioned models led to development of sequential sampling plans, using Green and Kuno methods at precision levels of D = 0.20 and D = 0.30 in terms of confidence interval, respectively. In both sequential sampling plans, the higher sample size obtained as population density decreased and it decreased when precision level increased from 0.30 to 0.20. The required sample size for the estimation of mean aphid density was approximately identical at 0.8 and 8 aphids per tiller in both Greenâs and Kunoâs plans. Greenâs plan was more efficient than Kunoâs model for both lower (⤠0.8 per tiller) and higher (⥠8 per tiller) aphid densities due to its small sample size required and less time needed for sampling. Kunoâs model required fewer samples at the intermediate density range (0.8-8 aphids per tiller) and is considered more effective than Greenâs plan at this aphids' density range. However, Kunoâs model is not recommended when low aphid population density exists because it requires enormous samples of aphids

Study on the growth status of mullets with viral nervous necrosis disease in the southern Caspian Sea

Mullet and mullet products have considerable economic importance at a regional level, especially around the Caspian Sea. The leaping mullet constitutes an important part of their production. This study is the first detailed work on the age and growth of the leaping mullet (Liza saliens) from September 2012 to March 2013 in the Southern coast of the Caspian Sea. Age and growth determinations were based upon the scale samples taken from 102 fish. Marginal increment analysis was used to validate age determination. The back-calculated lengths stage estimated from the scale showed no differences between in this study. The maximum age of leaping mullet in the Southern coast of the Caspian Sea was 5 years for males and 6 years for females. The von Bertalanffy growth functions were Lt=30.415(1-e-0.275(t+0.645)) for males and Lt=34.832(1-e 0.211(t+1.009)) for females. A large spread and length overlap characterized the age groups. The estimated Length Weight relationships were common for the two sexes (W=0.079L3 ). The slope (b) values of the length-weight relationship showed that weight of leaping grey mullet in Mazandaran increased associated with length in isometric. The mean condition factor for males, females and all specimens were determined as 0.908, 0.900 and 0.897, respectively. According to sex groups, the mean condition factor of males was slightlyhigher than that of females. The total length for leaping grey mullet was determined as 23.3 cm

Population-level risks of alcohol consumption by amount, geography, age, sex, and year: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2020

Background The health risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption continue to be debated. Small amounts of alcohol might lower the risk of some health outcomes but increase the risk of others, suggesting that the overall risk depends, in part, on background disease rates, which vary by region, age, sex, and year. Methods For this analysis, we constructed burden-weighted dose–response relative risk curves across 22 health outcomes to estimate the theoretical minimum risk exposure level (TMREL) and non-drinker equivalence (NDE), the consumption level at which the health risk is equivalent to that of a non-drinker, using disease rates from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2020 for 21 regions, including 204 countries and territories, by 5-year age group, sex, and year for individuals aged 15–95 years and older from 1990 to 2020. Based on the NDE, we quantified the population consuming harmful amounts of alcohol. Findings The burden-weighted relative risk curves for alcohol use varied by region and age. Among individuals aged 15–39 years in 2020, the TMREL varied between 0 (95% uncertainty interval 0–0) and 0·603 (0·400–1·00) standard drinks per day, and the NDE varied between 0·002 (0–0) and 1·75 (0·698–4·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals aged 40 years and older, the burden-weighted relative risk curve was J-shaped for all regions, with a 2020 TMREL that ranged from 0·114 (0–0·403) to 1·87 (0·500–3·30) standard drinks per day and an NDE that ranged between 0·193 (0–0·900) and 6·94 (3·40–8·30) standard drinks per day. Among individuals consuming harmful amounts of alcohol in 2020, 59·1% (54·3–65·4) were aged 15–39 years and 76·9% (73·0–81·3) were male. Interpretation There is strong evidence to support recommendations on alcohol consumption varying by age and location. Stronger interventions, particularly those tailored towards younger individuals, are needed to reduce the substantial global health loss attributable to alcohol. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Effect of Irrigation Intervals on Yield and Yield Components of Sorghum bicolor Cultivars in Miyaneh Region, Iran

In order to investigating effect of irrigation intervals on yield and yield components of sorghum cultivars, an experiment was conducted at the Research Farm of Islamic Azad University of Miyaneh on May, 2008. This experiment was implemented in the form of split-plot with randomized complete block design in three replicates. The first factor included 3 irrigation intervals (7,14,21) days, and grain sorghum cultivars including Kimya, Payam and broom sorghum called local cultivar Golbous was main and secondary plot, respectively. According to the results, the effect of irrigation intervals and cultivar on many of the studied traits such as plant height, panicle length, stem diameter, number of leaves, grain number per plant and grain yield was significant and intraction between irrigation intervals and cultivar on plant height, panicle length, grain number per plant was significant. The comparison of means indicated that plant height, panicle length, grain number per plant and grain yield decreases as the irrigation intervals increased. This comparison also suggested payam cultivar is superior to Kimya and local Golbous in terms of the grain number per plant and grain yield. Plant height had a positive and significant correlation with all of the studied characters unless seed number per plant

Prominent Adam’s apple and laryngoscopic view: a study on 535 cases

"n Normal 0 false false false EN-GB X-NONE AR-SA MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:Arial; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Background: The prediction of the probability of difficult intubation and the associated problems before Induction of anesthesia could be lifesaving. The aim of this study was the investigation of association between the stage of thyroid cartilage prominency and laryngoscopic view for predicting the difficult intubation."n"nMethods: Five hundred and thirty five patients aged 18-60 years old, with prominent thyroid cartilage, "Adam's apple", enrolled in a cross -sectional study based on the stage of "Adam's apple" and the relationship with laryngoscopic view. After induction of anesthesia, laryngoscopy performed and laryngoscopic view of larynx was recorded, and analyzed according to Modified Cormack and Lehane's Scoring. "n"nResults: No significant association between laryngoscopic view and thyroid cartilage prominency staging was observed. There was no significant relationship in females and aged under 50 y.o. The relationship in males with poor correlation coefficient was significant. The results are as follows: [male :(p=0.028, r=-0.096), Female: (p=0.821, r=0.082), <50 yrs: (p=0.87, r=0.007) no significant association for age decades and thyroid cartilage prominency stages, were observed. In ages above 50 y.o, difference was significant. Thirty patients had a laryngoscopic view in which the tracheal rings were visible just bellow the vocal cords."n"nConclusions: As the increased age was related to laryngoscopic view and thyroid cartilage prominency stage it seems that there is relationship between ages over 50 y.o and difficulty of laryngoscopic view or intubation. With the observation of a view different from the grade I Cormack and Lehane's scoring, we named it the "stage Ia" that the tracheal rings are visible bellow the vocal cords during laryngoscopy

Melatonin treatment reduces astrogliosis and apoptosis in rats with traumatic brain injury

Melatonin is known as an anti-inflammatory agent, and it has been proven to exert neuroprotection through inhibition of cell death (apoptosis) in several models of brain injury. Secondary injury following the primary traumatic brain injury (TBI) results in glial cells activation, especially astrocytes. In fact, astrocyte activation causes the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that may lead to secondary injury. Since most TBI research studies have focused on injured neurons and paid little attention to glial cells, the aim of current study was to investigate the effects of melatonin against astrocytes activation (astrogliosis), as well as inhibition of apoptosis in brain tissue of male rats after TBI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were randomly allocated into five groups: sham group, TBI+ vehicle group (1% ethanol in saline) and TBI+ melatonin groups (5 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg). All rats were intubated and then exposed to diffuse TBI, except for the sham group. Immunohistochemical methods were conducted using glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) marker and TUNEL assay to evaluate astrocyte reactivity and cell death, respectively. RESULTS: The results showed that based on the number of GFAP positive astrocytes in brain cortex, astrogliosis was reduced significantly (P<0.05) in melatonin- treated groups (no dose dependent) compared to the vehicle group. Furthermore, based on TUNEL results, melatonin treatment considerably reduced the number of apoptotic cells (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: In total, the present findings suggest that melatonin treatment following TBI diminishes astrocyte reactivity and neuronal cells apoptosis in brain cortex in the rat model