Prevalence rate of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in farmed white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) in Bushehr province

We surveyed presence of white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in farmed white leg shrimp in Bushehr province with assumed a prevalence of 2% of virus in target population. Hence, 468 samples were collected in two separate phases from May to October 2006. In the first phase, 200 samples (each sample was 150 pieces of post larvae with average age 7 days) were taken from 3 active hatcheries and in the second phase, 268 samples from 418 ponds in 5 sites were collected. Samples were tested by "Nested PCR" for detection of WSSV with 1Q2000 commercial kits. Results were negative and with respect to sampling method and sensitivity and specifity of Nested PCR we concluded that cultured shrimps were free of WSSV in 2006 in Bushehr province

An integrated approach to study the impact of fractures distribution on the Ilam-Sarvak carbonate reservoirs: a case study from the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf

Most of the Iranian hydrocarbon reservoirs in the Persian Gulf Basin and the Zagros Fold-Thrust Belt are composed of fractured carbonate rocks. In this regard, determining the spatial distribution of fractures has been a challenging issue. In this study, an integrated approach was applied for understanding the impact of fractures spatial distribution on the Ilam-Sarvak (Cenomanian to Santonian) carbonate reservoir rocks. For this purpose, seismic interpretation techniques along with geomechanical and geostatistical modeling were employed to characterize fractures at different scales. Initially, the relationship between fractures origin and the normal faults was investigated by conducting an in-situ stress analysis. Afterwards, the velocity deviation log (VDL) and fracture intensity log (FIL) were derived as fracture attributes from the interpretation of Formation Micro Imager (FMI) and conventional well logs. A 3D model of VDL and FIL was achieved by using a sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) method. In order to achieve a more realistic and accurate model of the factures distribution, variations of the shear-wave velocity and geomechanical properties (Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio) were estimated by applying the advanced seismic interpretation techniques in the normal faults domain. The results show that the intensity of fractures increases once they are introduced to the normal faults, especially in the central part of the study area around well#2. Such a fractured zone is verified by fracture density log derived from FMI logs of the mentioned well. Obviously, there is a close-knit relationship between the fracture system and the normal faults. Eventually, secondary porosity caused by features was determined though identification of Hydraulic Flow Units (HFUs). Based on the porosity and permeability data, seven HFUs were determined for the Ilam-Sarvak reservoirs. The very high values of Log FZI indicate the possible presence of fractures. Overall, the fractures contributed to enhance the secondary porosity of the reservoir rocks though increasing matrix permeability. To sum up, the fractures system plays a critical role in controlling reservoir properties especially in the hanging-wall of normal faults where the majority of the macro and micro fractures are distributed

Prey-preference of Orius albidipennis (Het.: Anthocoridae) on onion thrips and two-spotted spider mite under laboratory conditions

Prey-preference of the predatory bug, Orius albidipennis Reuter, with predation rate and prey-preference tests on the basis of completely randomized design (CRD) and without the replacement of consumed prey was examined under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1°C, 65 ± 5% RH and L16: D8 photoperiod). Results of the predation rate test indicated that the predation of the female predatory bug on the 2nd larvae of onion thrips and the female two-spotted spider mite was 14.8 ± 1.46 and 20 ± 0.7 respectively, showing a significant difference (P < 0.05) between them. In the prey-preference test, the preying of the female predatory bug on the 2nd larvae of onion thrips and the female two-spotted spider mite was 8.4 ± 0.84 and 4.4 ± 0.22 respectively. The Manly preferance index (α) of the 2nd larvae of onion thrips (prey I) and the female two-spotted spider mite (prey II) was 0.8 ± 0.09 and 0.2 ± 0.03 respectively, which demonstrated that the predatory bug more preferred the 2nd larvae of onion thrips than the two-spotted spider mite. Both tests were repeated for the male predatory bug in similar conditions. In the predation rate test, the results from the preying of the male predatory bug on the 2nd larvae of onion thrips and the female two-spotted spider mite was 11 ± 1.58 and 12 ± 1.22 respectively, showing no significant difference. In the prey-preference test, consumption of the male predatory bug from the 2nd larvae of onion thrips was 3.3 ± 0.13 and from the female two-spotted spider mite was 3.2 ± 0.17. In this experiment, the Manly preference index (α) of the 2nd larvae of onion thrips (prey I) and the female two-spotted spider mite (prey II) was 0.52 ± 0.03 and 0.48 ± 0.05 respectively. According to these data, the male predatory bug showed no preference for either prey species

A comparative survey of abundance and biomass of Caspian Sea macrobenthos in coastal waters of Mazandaran Province

Caspian Sea macrobenthos was surveyed every two months from December 2007 to October 2008, in the west, east and central parts of Mazandaran province waters. Each area was sampled with 3 replicates at 2 depths of 5 and 10m by Van Veen grab. Five different classes were recognized, including Polychaeta (52.7%), Oligochaeta (27.8%), Bivalvia (12%), Cnistacea (7.5%) and Insects (0.07%). Total mean (LSD) abundance and biomass were 2727± 1303 individual/m2 and 88.9±22.93, respectively. The Polychaeta demonstrated the highest abundance and Bivalvia had the highest biomass. The highest abundance of macrobenthos was found in eastern and the highest biomass in western coasts of Mazandaran. In August 2008, macrobenthos abundance showed higher values. In October, remarkable difference was observed between the abundance of Polychaeta and other macrobenthos organisms. According to Kniskal-Wallis test, abundance and biomass of the entire macrobenthos classes except Insects, showed a significant difference between sampling months (P<0.05). Macrobenthos biomass had no significant difference among the three areas whereas abundance demonstrated a significant difference within these areas (P< 0.05)

Enhancement of in vitro production of volatile organic compounds by shoot differentiation in Artemisia spicigera

Callus initiation, shoot formation and plant regeneration were established for Artemisia spicigera, a traditional medicinal plant growing in Armenia, Middle-Anatolia and Iran, and pro- ducing valuable volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are mostly represented by monoterpe- noids. Optimal callus initiation and shoot production were obtained by culture of hypocotyl and cotyledon explants on MS medium comprising 0.5 mg L−1 naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and 0.5 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA). Consequently, the shoots were transferred onto the MS media sup- plemented with 1 mg L−1 of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or 1 mg L−1 of NAA. Both types of auxin induced root formation on the shoots and the resulting plantlets were successfully grown in pots. The production of VOCs in callus tissues and regenerated plantlets was studied by gas chroma- tography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. Although the potential of undifferentiated callus to produce VOCs was very low, an increased content of bioactive volatile components was ob- served at the beginning of shoot primordia differentiation. Intriguingly, the volatiles obtained from in vitro plantlets showed quantitative and qualitative variation depending on the type of auxins used for the rooting process. The acquired quantities based on total ion current (TIC) showed that the regenerated plantlets using 1 mg L−1 NAA produced higher amounts of oxygenated monoter- penes such as camphor (30.29%), cis-thujone (7.07%), and 1,8-cineole (6.71%) and sesquiterpene derivatives, namely germacrene D (8.75%), bicyclogermacrene (4.0%) and spathulenol (1.49%) compared with the intact plant. According to these findings, in vitro generation of volatile organic compounds in A. spicigera depends on the developmental stages of tissues and may enhance with the formation of shoot primordia and regeneration of plantlets

Olfactory response of the predatory bug, Orius niger (Hem.: Anthocoridae) to Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae) on cucumber leaves treated or untreated by Beauveria bassiana

Olfactory experiments were performed to study the predation behavior of Orius niger Wolff (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) on the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch (Acari: Tetranychidae) in presence or absence of Beauveria bassiana (Bals.). The experiments were carried out with six day old female bugs by recording the predator direction towards each of the Y-tube olfactometer arms and through three dependent replicates consisted of 15 replicates each. The predatory bug showed a significant preference towards the odors related to infested cucumber leaves by T. urticae in the absence of fungus and when the predator received odors related to T. urticae infested leaves v.s. B.bassiana fungus treated, spider mite infested leaves (72 hours). There was no significant difference in the predator olfactory experiment when the alternative arms consisted of treated v.s. untreated spider mite infested cucumber leaves (0, 24 and 48 hours after treatment). The results showed the capacity of the predatory bug to recognize the patches infected by B.bassiana fungus and successfully avoiding it

Magnetophoretic-based microfluidic device for DNA Concentration

Abstract Nucleic acids serve as biomarkers of disease and it is highly desirable to develop approaches to extract small number of such genomic extracts from human bodily fluids. Magnetic particles-based nucleic acid extraction is widely used for concentration of small amount of samples and is followed by DNA amplification in specific assays. However, approaches to integrate such magnetic particles based capture with micro and nanofluidic based assays are still lacking. In this report, we demonstrate a magnetophoretic-based approach for target-specific DNA extraction and concentration within a microfluidic device. This device features a large chamber for reducing flow velocity and an array of μ-magnets for enhancing magnetic flux density. With this strategy, the device is able to collect up to 95 % of the magnetic particles from the fluidic flow and to concentrate these magnetic particles in a collection region. Then an enzymatic reaction is used to detach the DNA from the magnetic particles within the microfluidic device, making the DNA available for subsequent analysis. Concentrations of over 1000-fold for 90 bp dsDNA molecules is demonstrated. This strategy can bridge the gap between detection of low concentration analytes from clinical samples and a range of micro and nanofluidic sensors and devices including nanopores, nanocantilevers, and nanowires

ИСПОЛЬЗОВАНИЕ ОДНОКВАНТОВОЙ РЕГИСТРАЦИИ ДЛЯ СИСТЕМ ПЕРЕДАЧИ КОНФИДЕНЦИАЛЬНОЙ ИНФОРМАЦИИ ПО ВОЛОКОННО-ОПТИЧЕСКИМ ЛИНИЯМ СВЯЗИ

The system for transmission and reception of confidential information over fiber-optic communication line on the basis of created single-quantum registration system of optical radiation has 43 been suggested. With regard to such a communication system two types of optical wavelengths have been experimentally justified. One type of optical wavelength is used for information transfer and the second one for time synchronization of information transmission and reception, as well as for detection of unauthorized access to information, created with optical fiber macrobends. Optimal values of optical power, which allowed to provide the highest confidential information data rate and detect more effectively possible data loss channels have been established.На основе созданной системы одноквантовой регистрации оптического излучения предложена система передачи и приема конфиденциальных данных по волоконно-оптической линии связи. Применительно к такой системе связи экспериментально обоснован выбор двух длин волн излучения, одна из которых используется для передачи информации, а вторая - для синхронизации времени передачи и приема информации и обнаружения несанкционированного доступа к информации, создаваемого посредством макроизгибов оптического волокна. Установлены оптимальные значения мощностей оптического излучения, при которых удалось обеспечить наиболее высокую скорость передачи конфиденциальной информации и, вместе с тем, наиболее эффективно обнаруживать возможные каналы утечки этой информаци