Synthesis and Characterization of Zn(acac)2 One-dimensional Nanostructures by Novel Method

In this work we have sublimated bulk Zn(acac)2 at different temperatures and the effect of sublimation temperature on the morphology of product was investigated. Nanostructures were characterized by means of SEM, XRD and FT-IR

An investigation on the sturgeon stocks in southern Caspian Sea

We launched a summer and winter cruise using two fishing vessels to assess the stocks of the sturgeon fish in the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea in the year 2004-2005. Eighty five random stations were selected and sampled using a 9 meter trawl in waters less than 10 meters and a 24.7 meter trawl for the depths above 10 meters. We caught 170 sturgeons in the summer cruise which comprised 142 Acipenser persicus, 19 Acipenser stellatus, 4 Huso huso, 3 Acipenser nudiventris and 2 Acipenser guldenstadtti. In the winter cruise, 118 sturgeons were caught of which 75 were A. persicus, 41 were A. stellatus, 1 was A. nudiventris and 1 was A. guldenstadtti. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) was calculated as 2 fish for summer cruise with the A. persicus being the most abundant species with 1.67 individuals per trawling while for A. stellatus this was 0.22. For H. huso, the CPUE was 0.05 and for A. nudiventris it was 0.04. For winter cruise, the CPUE was calculated as 1.38 fish, again with the A. persicus as the most abundant with 0.88, while that of the A. stellatus was 0.48. The CPUE for A. guldenstadtti and A. nudiventris was 0.01 in the winter cruise

Investigation of correlation of the variations in land subsidence (detected by continuous GPS measurements) and methodological data in the surrounding areas of Lake Urmia

Lake Urmia, a salt lake in the north-west of Iran, plays a valuable role in the environment, wildlife and economy of Iran and the region, but now faces great challenges for survival. The Lake is in immediate and great danger and is rapidly going to become barren desert. As a result, the increasing demands upon groundwater resources due to expanding metropolitan and agricultural areas are a serious challenge in the surrounding regions of Lake Urmia. The continuous GPS measurements around the lake illustrate significant subsidence rate between 2005 and 2009. The objective of this study was to detect and specify the non-linear correlation of land subsidence and temperature activities in the region from 2005 to 2009. For this purpose, the cross wavelet transform (XWT) was carried out between the two types of time series, namely vertical components of GPS measurements and daily temperature time series. The significant common patterns are illustrated in the high period bands from 180–218 days band (~6–7 months) from September 2007 to February 2009. Consequently, the satellite altimetry data confirmed that the maximum rate of linear trend of water variation in the lake from 2005 to 2009, is associated with time interval from September 2007 to February 2009. This event was detected by XWT as a critical interval to be holding the strong correlation between the land subsidence phenomena and surface temperature. Eventually the analysis can be used for modeling and prediction purposes and probably stave off the damage from subsidence phenomena

Stock assessment of Acipenser persicus in the southern Caspian Sea, 2008-2009

Species composition, relative abundance, absolute abundance and biomass of sturgeon species were studied during the years 2008-2009. Eighty five stations were covered in the stratified random sampling design in depths less than 10m using 9m bottom trawl (head line) and in depths more than 10m using 24.7m bottom trawl (head line). More than 70 specimens of Acipenser persicus were caught during the effort. CPUE decreased from 0.4 to 0.24 specimens per trawl in 2009. The mean total length of the A. persicus was 47.3 ±29.1cm and 61.9 ±28.7cm in 2008 to 2009, respectively. The smallest size of A. persicus was 9cm in 2008 and 24.5cm in 2009, while the maximum size was 102.5cm in 2008 and 126.5 ±29cm in 2009. The mean total weight in 2009 in comparison with 2008 increased from 989(3-5000g) to 1569(42-7100g). Absolute abundance of A. persicus decreased from 2006000 specimens in 2008 to 1192000 specimens in 2009. The estimated biomass was 2010 and 1878 tons in 2008 and 2009, respectively. According to the results of study, the stock status of A. persicus is highly critical in the Caspian Sea and a timely decision has to be taken for conservation of the species

MicroRNA-129-1 acts as tumour suppressor and induces cell cycle arrest of GBM cancer cells through targeting IGF2BP3 and MAPK1

Background MicroRNA-129-1 (miR-129-1) seems to behave as a tumour suppressor since its decreased expression is associated with different tumours such as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM is the most common form of brain tumours originating from glial cells. The impact of miR-129-1 downregulation on GBM pathogenesis has yet to be elucidated. Methods MiR-129-1 was overexpressed in GBM cells, and its effect on proliferation was investigated by cell cycle assay. MiR-129-1 predicted targets (CDK6, IGF1, HDAC2, IGF2BP3 and MAPK1) were also evaluated by western blot and luciferase assay. Results Restoration of miR-129-1 reduced cell proliferation and induced G1 accumulation, significantly. Several functional assays confirmed IGF2BP3, MAPK1 and CDK6 as targets of miR-129-1. Despite the fact that IGF1 expression can be suppressed by miR-129-1, through 30-untranslated region complementary sequence, we could not find any association between IGF1 expression and GBM. MiR-129-1 expression inversely correlates with CDK6, IGF2BP3 and MAPK1 in primary clinical samples. Conclusion This is the first study to propose miR129-1 as a negative regulator of IGF2BP3 and MAPK1 and also a cell cycle arrest inducer in GBM cells. Our data suggests miR-129-1 as a potential tumour suppressor and presents a rationale for the use of miR-129-1 as a novel strategy to improve treatment response in GBM

The Expanded Bead Size of Corneal C-Nerve Fibers Visualized by Corneal Confocal Microscopy Is Associated with Slow Conduction Velocity of the Peripheral Nerves in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This is the final version of the article. Available from Hindawi Publishing Corporation via the DOI in this record.This study aims to establish the corneal nerve fiber (CNF) morphological alterations in a large cohort of type 2 diabetic patients and to investigate the association between the bead size, a novel parameter representing composite of accumulated mitochondria, glycogen particles, and vesicles in CNF, and the neurophysiological dysfunctions of the peripheral nerves. 162 type 2 diabetic patients and 45 healthy control subjects were studied in detail with a battery of clinical and neurological examinations and corneal confocal microscopy. Compared with controls, patients had abnormal CNF parameters. In particular the patients had reduced density and length of CNF and beading frequency and increased bead size. Alterations in CNF parameters were significant even in patients without neuropathy. The HbA1c levels were tightly associated with the bead size, which was inversely related to the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and to the distal latency period of the median nerve positively. The CNF density and length positively correlated with the NCV and amplitude. The hyperglycemia-induced expansion of beads in CNF might be a predictor of slow NCV in peripheral nerves in type 2 diabetic patients

Efficiency of gillnets with 170mm mesh size in reduction of immature Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, catch

This study was carried out in Turkmen fishing station to examine suitable mesh size of gill nets for Persian sturgeon, Acipenser persicus, to decrease possibility of catching immature specimens and increase catch likelihood for larger fish. The Holt model was used to determine suitable length for catch and selection of mature Persian sturgeon females. Following preliminary studies some 920 experimental gill nets (mesh size 170mm) similar to those generally used by Iranian Fisheries except for mesh size (150mm) were set up in the Caspian Sea. During the experimental period, 128 and 110 sturgeons were caught in control and experimental nets, respectively. Out of those caught in control nets, 63 specimens were Persian sturgeon (49.2%), 57 were Stellate sturgeon, Acipenser stellatus (44.5%) while in the experimental nets, 95 specimens (86.4%) were Persian sturgeon and 7 specimens (6.4%) were Stellate sturgeon. Regarding maturity status of fishes, 42 Persian sturgeon caught in control nets were mature females while this figure was 83 (87.4%) in experimental nets. Mean fork length of the Persian sturgeon was 152.9±13.8cm and 162.4±13.6cm in control and experimental nets, respectively. The mean caviar yield of the Persian sturgeon in control nets was 6.4±1.7 kg and in experimental nets was 7.4±1.9kg. One way ANOVA and Tukey’s test showed significant differences between factors like age, mean caviar yield and fork length of the Persian sturgeon caught in control and experimental nets. The results showed increasing mesh size of gill nets to 170mm for the Persian sturgeon may help achieving objectives of stock managements including decrease in catch of immature fish and increase in catch of mature and larger sturgeons which can secure optimum and sustainable stock yield