Use of in vitro gas production technique to evaluate the effects of microwave irradiation on sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) and wheat (Triticum sp.) nutritive values and fermentation characteristics

Effects of microwave irradiation (900 W) for 3, 5 and 7 min on the nutritive value of sorghum and wheat grains were evaluated by in vitro gas production technique. Gas volume was recorded at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 96 h of incubation and kinetics of gas production were estimated using model: GP = A exp {– exp [1 + (be/A) (LAG – t)]}. Cumulative gas production at 24 h was used for estimation of metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation, short chain fatty acids, digestible organic matter and microbial protein. For sorghum grain, microwave irradiation increased cumulative gas production for most times of incubation linearly. Microwave treatments for 5 and 7 min increased the A fraction linearly in both cereal grain, whereas the maximum rate of gas production (b) decreased linearly only in wheat grain. Microwave treatments for 3, 5 and 7 min increased (P<0.05) metabolizable energy, net energy for lactation and short chain fatty acids content of sorghum grain, but not of wheat grain. It was concluded that microwave irradiation changed the gas production parameters resulting changed ruminal fermentation characteristics that can be considered in ration formulation

Application of the Extended G\u27/G-expansion Method to the Improved Eckhaus Equation

In this paper, the extended (G\u27/G)-expansion method is used to seek more general exact solutions of the improved Eckhaus equation and the (2+1)-dimensional improved Eckhaus equation. As a result, hyperbolic function solutions, trigonometric function solutions and rational function solutions with free parameters are obtained. When the parameters are taken as special values the solitary wave solutions are also derived from the traveling wave solutions. Moreover, it is shown that the proposed method is direct, effective and can be used for many other nonlinear evolution equations in mathematical physics

Vibration analysis of a small diesel engine using diesel-biodiesel fuel blends

Biodiesel as an environmentally friendly fuel has the potential to provide comparable engine performance results.  Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from vegetable and seed oils, animal fats or waste edible oils.  Sound and vibration caused by the combustion process in the engine might have direct effects on users.   One of the important characteristics of diesel fuels is high noise and vibration.  The present study was carried out to examine the vibration of different diesel-biodiesel fuel blends in power tiller engine.  The main goal was to present fuels with the minimum vibration.  So, the time domain signals were analyzed in five levels of engine speed, three axes and six fuel blends on the engine.  The signal processing and statistical approach were applied for data analysis.  The results showed that in all engine speeds, the dominant frequency is matched to the piston stroke frequency of the engine, as well as the frequency of vibration with the increase of engine speed.  The experiments indicated that the magnitude of vibration in the power tiller engine depends on the axis of measurement, engine speed and the fuel blends.  Vibration acceleration is significantly affected by engine speed and the increase in forward speed due to the increase in vibration acceleration rms.  The results of the experiments revealed that vibration acceleration is significantly affected by the axis of measurement.  The magnitude of vibration acceleration in vertical axis was more than that in the other two axes and magnitude of vibration acceleration in the longitudinal axis was more than that in the lateral axis.  Fuel blends had significant effect on the vibration.  It demonstrated that B100, B5 and B20 have the lowest vibration.  On the contrary, B15 and B10 have the highest vibration.   Keywords: vibration analysis, power tiller, time domain, frequency domain, diesel-biodiesel fuel blend

Effect of zinc sources on milk yield, milk composition and plasma concentration of metabolites in dairy cows

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different sources of zinc (Zn) on feed intake, milk yield, milk composition, and blood metabolites. Twenty-four dairy cows were randomly allocated to one of four treatments in a randomized complete block design. The treatments consisted of i) control diet (no zinc supplementation), ii) zinc oxide (ZnO), iii) zinc glycine (ZnGly), and iv) zinc nano (ZnN). The Zn sources were added to provide 60 mg of supplemental Zn per kg diet. There were no differences in dry matter intake, milk yield, bodyweight, and body condition score of the cows between treatments. Zinc supplementation in the form of ZnN and ZnGly decreased somatic cell count compared with the other treatments. The superoxide dismutase and plasma Zn concentrations in the cows provided ZnGly and ZnN were greater than those in the ZnO and control groups. No difference was detected between groups in biochemical and haematological parameters, except that blood urea nitrogen concentrations of cows supplemented with ZnGly and ZnN were less than for the ZnO supplemented and control cows. The results showed that nano and organic Zn sources in the diet of dairy cows were more suitable than inorganic Zn as supplements for dairy cows.Keywords: milk composition, milk production, metabolism, somatic cell coun

Air pollution in Iran: The current status and potential solutions

YesAir pollution has been integrated into global challenges over the last few years due to its negative impact on the health of human beings, increasing socio-economic risks and its contribution to climate change. This study attempts to evaluate the current status of Iran's air pollution with regard to the sources of emissions, control policies, as well as the health and climate consequences that have resulted through available data from monitoring stations reported in the literature, official documents and previous published papers. Many large cities in Iran surpass the permissible concentration of air pollutants, particularly particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, black carbon and ozone. Although regulations and policies are in place and enormous efforts are being made to address air pollution issues in the country, implementation and enforcement are not as effective as they could be. The significant challenges may be regarded as the inefficiency of regulation and supervision systems, the lack of air quality monitoring systems and technology, particularly in industrial cities rather than Tehran as well as the lack of continual feedback and investigations on the efficiency of regulation. Providing such an up-to-date report can bring opportunities for international collaboration, which is essential in addressing the air pollution worldwide. We suggest that a way forward could be more focused on conducting systematic reviews using scientometric methods to show an accurate picture and trend in air pollution and its association in Iran, implementing an integrated approach for both climate change and air pollution issues, collaborating with international counterparts to share knowledge, tools, and techniques

Diet and cancer prevention: Dietary compounds, dietary MicroRNAs, and dietary exosomes

Cancer is one of main health public problems worldwide. Several factors are involved in beginning and development of cancer. Genetic and internal/external environmental factors can be as important agents that effect on emerging and development of several cancers. Diet and nutrition may be as one of important factors in prevention or treatment of various cancers. A large number studies indicated that suitable dietary patterns may help to cancer prevention or could inhibit development of tumor in cancer patients. Moreover, a large numbers studies indicated that a variety of dietary compounds such as curcumin, green tea, folat, selenium, and soy isoflavones show a wide range anti-cancer properties. It has been showed that these compounds via targeting a sequence of cellular and molecular pathways could be used as suitable options for cancer chemoprevention and cancer therapy. Recently, dietary microRNAs and exosomes have been emerged as attractive players in cancer prevention and cancer therapy. These molecules could change behavior of cancer cells via targeting various cellular and molecular pathways involved in cancer pathogenesis. Hence, the utilization of dietary compounds which are associated with powerful molecules such as microRNAs and exosomes and put them in dietary patterns could contribute to prevention or treatment of various cancers. Here, we summarized various studies that assessed effect of dietary patterns on cancer prevention shortly. Moreover, we highlighted the utilization of dietary compounds, dietary microRNAs, and dietary exosomes and their cellular and molecular pathways in cancer chemoprevention. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc

Effects of conjugated fatty acid supplementation on central obesity and blood pressure in women with benign breast disease: A randomized controlled-clinical trial

Summary. Objective: Health benefits of conjugated fatty acids, particularly conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA), have recently provide substantial insights in a variety of obesity-related tumorigenesis including breast neoplasia. This study aims to investigate the effects of CLNA-contained oil (CLNAO) supplementation on central obesity indices and blood pressure in women with benign breast disease (BBD). Methods: Forty six pre-menopausal women with BBD were randomly allocated to intervention group (n=23) or placebo (n=23). Patients in the intervention group received 1000 mg/day CLNAO capsule and the placebo group received 1000 mg/day inert oil-contained capsule during 13 weeks. Measures of blood pressure and some anthropometric variables were performed at the baseline and end of study. Result: Systolic (P<0.01) and diastolic (P<0.05) blood pressures decreased within CLNAO group on subjects whom were overweight. Normal weight participants who received placebo showed significant increases in total body fat (P<0.05), waist circumference (P<0.05), and waist circumference to height ratio (P<0.05), meantime CLNAO group showed no changes on both variables. Intervention with CLNAO caused no significant increases on skinfolds of abdomen and suprailiac, whereas these measures were remarkably increased in placebo (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Findings from this study show that CLNAO can attenuate development of central fat acquisition in the BBD patients who weighted normally. Administration of CLNAO decline systolic and diastolic blood pressures of overweight subjects. © Mattioli 188

A meta-analysis of randomized control trials: The impact of vitamin c supplementation on serum crp and serum hs-crp concentrations

Objective: The present meta-analysis was designed to assess the effects of vitamin C supplementation on serum C-reactive Protein (CRP) levels. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive systematic search of the literature in Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar until May 2018. The pooled Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) and its 95 Confidence Interval (CI) in baseline and at the end of the trial were calculated to assess the net change in serum CRP by using random-effects model. The heterogeneity was assessed by I2 test. Combined and stratified analyses were used in the meta-analysis. Results: From 306 articles found and screened in our initial search, 12 studies were included with 446 participants in supplementation groups and 447 in control groups. The pooled effect size analysis showed a significant reducing effect of vitamin C supplementation on circulating CRP level (�0.23 mg/L, 95 CI, �0.44,-0.03, p=0.02), with a significant heterogeneity effect across the studies involved. Subgroup analyses showed that vitamin C supplementation significantly lowered CRP among trials. The most significant effect was found 1) on hs-CRP as the representative inflammatory marker (-0.43 mg/L, 95 CI-0.76,-0.1) 2) in subjects with a baseline CRP�3 (-1.48 mg/L, 95 CI-2.84,-0.11) 3) in subjects under <60 years old of age (-0.23 mg/L, 95 CI-0.44,-0.01) 4) or using intravenous administration of vitamin C (-0.89 mg/L, 95 CI-1.49,-0.3). Conclusion: The present meta-analysis shows that vitamin C supplementation reduces serum CRP level, particularly in younger subjects, with higher CRP baseline level, at a lower dosage and intravenous administration. © 2018, Bentham Science Publishers B.V. All rights reserved

Experimental assessment of the histopathological effects of water-soluble fraction of crude oil on gill tissue of juvenile Rutilus frisii kutum

The toxic effects of water soluble fraction (WSF) of crude oil on the gills of juvenile kutum roach, Rutilus frisii kutum, were investigated. The juvenile (1-2g) kutum roach were collected in summer 2008 from the Kolmeh Hatchery Center, Golestan province, and acclimatized to laboratory conditions through keeping them in a 300 liter tank with de- chlorinated water for a minimum of 8 days. Six different types of WSF concentrations were made to obtain LC5096h including 27, 29.25, 31.5, 33.75, 36 and 38.25ppm. Then, 10 fingerlings of R. frisii kutum were exposed to the WSF concentrations, for 96 hours. Considering mortality rate of the juveniles in 96 hours and using Probit value statistical analysis, LC5096h was obtained at 33.95ppm. Two different concentrations (0.1 LC50 and LC50) of WSF were prepared for further assessments and after 24 and 96h of exposure, 3 individual fish were collected from each aquarium for histopathological studies. The gill sections with 3 micron thickness were prepared, stained using H & E, and examined by light microscope. General damages after observation included: Epithelial lifting, congestion in filament and lamellae, clubbing, fusion, hypertrophy of epithelial cells of lamellae, different levels of hyperplasia between lamella and aneurysms. Pathological studies showed that the WSF of crude oil causes serious damage in gills of juvenile R. frisii kutum, leads to malfunction of this organ which will harm homeostasis of the fish

Research paper: Reliability and validity of persian version of performance-oriented mobility assessment (POMA) in Community-dwelling Iranian Older Adults: Psychometric Properties

Objectives: An appropriate and accurate assessment tool is needed to predict the risk of falling in older adults. This study aimed at investigating the construct validity, factor analysis, internal consistency, test-retest and inter-rater reliability, and ceiling/floor effects of the Persian version of Performance-oriented Mobility Assessment (POMA) in community-dwelling elderly. Methods: One hundred and forty-five older adults aged 65 years and older (mean age: 73.68 years) were recruited from daily care centers of Tehran by convenience sampling method. Timed Up and Go (TUG) test and Berg Balance Scale (BBS) were used to investigate the construct validity of the POMA. Test-retest (7-14 days with interval) and inter-rater reliability of the gait and balance subscales and the total score of the POMA were determined by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC2,1). Results: A moderate to very high correlation (r=0.67-0.9, P�0.05) was found between the total score of the POMA and BBS, Fullerton Advanced Balance Scale, step test (right and left), TUG, Dynamic Gait index, and walking speed, whereas the correlation between the total score of the POMA and step length was poor (r=0.39, P�0.05). The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed a poor goodness-of-fit of POMA with the two-factor model (balance and gait) in community-dwelling elderly. Internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.94), testretest reliability (ICC2,1=0.97), as well as inter-rater reliability (ICC2,1=0.92) of the POMA were excellent. The results revealed no floor effect for the total score of the POMA; however, its ceiling effect was 3.44. Discussion: The Persian version of POMA showed excellent psychometric properties for evaluating different aspects of balance in community-dwelling elderly. © 2020 University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences