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Medicinal plant powders have traditionally been used as grain protectants against stored-product insect pests. In this study, insecticidal activity of Carum copticum L. and Cuminum cyminum L. powders was assessed on adults of Sitophilus granarius L. and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Experiments were carried out on wheat at 27 ± 1 ºCand 55 ± 5% r. h. The mortality increased with increasing concentration level and time exposed to each concentration. For S. granarius, 7 days and in case of T. confusum 14 days exposure time was sufficient to obtain considerable mortality. For example, 3500 mg/kg of C. copticum 7 days after treatment caused 80% mortality in S. granarius; while for T. confusum 29% mortality was achieved and increased to 100% after 14 days. Therefore, it can be concluded that adults of S. granarius were more susceptible than T. confusum to plant powders. Also, according to the findings, C. cyminum powder had more insecticidal efficacy than C. copticum on both insects’ species. For S. granarius, 950 and 2700 mg/kg powders of C. cyminum and C. copticum was enough to cause ca. 50% mortality after 5 days, respectively. In case for T. confusum, 3200 and 4400 mg/kg of the plant powders caused the same mortality after 7 days. Findings of the present study show that the plant powders could be applied for grain protection in small-scale storage facilities.  

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Bioassays were conducted to assess the contact toxicity of two plant essential oils against adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val. Essential oils were extracted from seeds of Carum copticum L. and Cuminum cyminum L. Contact toxicity was assessed by topical application and adult mortality was counted 1, 2, 6 and 24 h after exposure. Bioassays were carried out at 27 ± 1 °Cand 65 ± 5% RH in continuous darkness. Results indicated the two essential oils tested were topically toxic to both species. The mortality increased with increase in the oils dose and time exposed to each dose. Adults of S. granarius were more sensitive to C. copticum oil (LD₅₀ = 0.009 µg/mg body wt) than C. cyminum essential oil (LD₅₀ = 0.016 µg/mg body wt). In general, T. confusum showed similar sensitivity to both essential oils. However, adults of T. confusum were more resistant than S. granarius. C. copticum and C. cyminum oils have potential for use in stored-product pest management.  

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Insecticidal efficacy of three diatomaceous earth (DE) formulations, DEBBM, DEA and F2 was evaluated on three different wheat cultivars, Chamran, Verinak and Behrang, against Tribolium confusum Jacqueline du Val. DEs were applied at the rates of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg. Bioassays were carried out on wheat at 27 ± 1 °Cand 55 ± 5% RH in continuous darkness. Mortality of adults was counted after 2, 7 and 14 days of exposure. Adults of T. confusum were the most susceptible to DEBBM in Behrang. So that DEBBM concentration of 100 mg/kg after 7 days of exposure caused 98% mortality which reached 100 after 14 days. Therefore, Behrang was the most tolerant cultivar to T. confusum infestations. Furthermore, DEBBM was more effective than the other two testedformulations.  

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In this study, the efficiency of essential oils from asafoetida, Ferula assa foetida L.,geranium, Pelargonium hortorum L.H. Bailey and walnut leaves, Juglans regia F. was investigated on nutritional indices of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) adults. Wheat grains were treated with different concentrations of the oils. The nutritional indices: relative growth rate (RGR), relative consumption rate (RCR), efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) and feeding deterrence index (FDI) were measured at 28 ± 2 °C, 65 ± 5% R. H. in continuous darkness. RGR, RCR and ECI deceased as the concentration level was increased. While, FDI percent increased significantly as the concentration level increased. Asafoetida oil had the most efficiency on nutritional indices and 28.61 ppm of the oil was enough to decrease RGR, RCR and ECI% to 0.032 mg/mg/day, 0.444 mg/mg/day and 6.994%, respectively. FDI percent of adults exposed to 6.5 ppm of asafoetida oil was 13.31% which increased upto 64.62% at the concentration of 28.61 ppm. In the second experiment, the effect of tested essential oils was evaluated on F1 progeny reduction of R. dominica. Walnut and asafoetida leaves essential oils significantly suppressed progeny production by (59.92%) and (53.2%) respectively.
 

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Microcerotermes diversus Silvestri (Isoptera: Termitidae) is an extremely destructive structural wood pest in Khuzestan province, Iran. One of the effective methods for subterranean termites control is the use of baiting systems that have recently evolved as an environmentally safe tactic to protect structures. In this research, several factors for the preparation of bait were evaluated involving the bait composition. In the no-choice test of bait composition, termites had the highest levels of feeding on bagasse + molasses + yeast, bagasse + molasses, bagasse + yeast, and bagasse, respectively. In the further experiment, termites had the highest levels of feeding on bait containing bagasse + molasses + yeast compared to control. Termites showed the highest levels of feeding on the bait in the stems of the cane, raw bait, cooked bait and pill-shaped bait, respectively. In the field phase, significant differences were not observed among the treatments but termites had the highest levels of feeding on the bait in the stems of the cane, pill-shaped bait, cooked bait and raw bait, respectively. Both field and laboratory conditions, indicate that the target termite has shown a greater tendency to baits in the cane. Findings of this study suggests that the design of the bait and its shape can also affect the bait’s attraction and its acceptance by the termite. Therefore, in addition to the ingredients of the bait, its shape, size, softness and texture quality also affect the amount of bait consumption.
 

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Background: This study aimed to compare the diagnostic efficacy of standard culture method with multiplex quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) in examining cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from patients with suspected meningitis.
Materials & Methods: A retrospective evaluation was conducted on 166 patients with suspected meningitis, who were treated in Vali-Asr hospital in Birjand, Iran between 2011 and 2020. Diagnosis of bacterial meningitis was based on CSF culture and multiplex qPCR results.
Findings: Among 166 patients, conventional methods identified causative pathogens in only 10.3% of cases, while multiplex qPCR detected pathogens in eight out of 25 culture-negative cases as well. The most common pathogens identified were enterovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Conclusion: Multiplex qPCR appears to be a more effective method than conventional culture in identifying bacterial and viral pathogens that most commonly cause meningitis. The incorporation of qPCR as a routine diagnostic method for meningitis in clinical practice could significantly enhance clinical decision-making and patient care.

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Objectives: Tissue homeostasis is the result of strict regulatory mechanisms, which control self-renewal, differentiation, prevention of premature senescence and apoptosis of stem cells. Bmi-1, a Polycomb group repressor protein, represses genes that induce cellular senescence and cell death, and can contribute to cancer when improperly expressed. Material and methods: Bladder tumoral and nontumoral samples were collected from Labbafi-Nejad hospital. RNA was extracted from each sample, reverse transcribed and amplified by RT-PCR technique, using specific primers for Bmi-1 and β2-microglobolin, as an internal control. The production and distribution of Bmi-1 protein was also examined by western blotting and immunohistochemistry technique. Results: To clarify the role of Bmi-1 in bladder tumors, we examined the expression of Bmi-1 in tumoral and nontumoral samples. RT-PCR generated a 683 bp product, corresponding to the expected size of the Bmi-1 amplified region. The identity of the amplified fragment was then confirmed by direct DNA sequencing. The mean of expression of the Bmi-1 detected in tumoral tissues was significantly higher than the non-tumoral tissues and there is also a significant correlation between the mean of gene expression with stage of malignancy (p < 0.05). The expression of Bmi-1 at protein level was further confirmed by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Conclusion: The tumor suppressor locus Cdkn2a (Ink4a/Arf locus) codes for two proteins, p16ink4a and p14arf. Ink4a and Arf are playing important roles in the retinoblastoma (pRB) and p53 pathways, respectively. Bmi-1 is a potent repressor of both pathways and hence elucidating its role in tumorigenisis is very important. Here, for the first time we are reporting the expression of Bmi-1 and its correlation with malignancy in bladder tumors.

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Objective: Inhibition of apoptosis may favor the onset and progression of cancer. Survivin is an inhibitor of apoptosis that has been considered as a potential marker for diagnostic and/or prognostic of bladder cancer. The survivin protein regulates both cell division and cell death and is overexpressed in the vast majority of human cancers. In this study, the expression pattern and potential prognostic value of survivin was assessed in Formalin-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) samples of bladder tumor. Materials and Methods:FFPE samples, from patients with a well-known five-year survival record, were assessed by semi-quantitative RT-PCR technique. 51 samples from 30 patients were analyzed on the basis of Survivin expression. Tissue distribution and subcellular localization of survivin protein in tumor tissues was also examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: The expression of survivin was detected in 66.6% of the samples, with an increase of expression in higher grades of tumor. Furthermore, survivin was overexpressed in 2nd and 3rd recurrences of the same patients. Also, with the increased malignancy and accordingly increased expression of surviving, the overall 5-year survival rate of patients was significantly declined (P=0.036). IHC results also localized a nuclear localization for Survivin protein in tumor tissues. Conclusion: In conclusion, we were able to detect the expression of survivin in FFPE samples of bladder tissues, at the level of mRNA and protein and find a correlation between the level of Survivin expression and the degree of malignancy of the tumors. Our findings introduce Survivin as a suitable prognostic marker for predicting the bladder tumors.

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Collisions between a bird and an aircraft, known as “bird strike event” is a common and dangerous phenomenon in aviation industry. In this study, three numerical methods namely Lagrange, Smoothed Particles Hydrodynamics (SPH) and Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) have been implemented in order to investigate bird strike incident. The results have been compared with each other and also with exeperimental data. In order to compare the results obtained from three methods, pressures at the center of impact and also deformation of bird models have been compared. Results indicate that all the three methods are able to predict the pressure at the center of impact almost accurately in both perpendicular and inclined impacts. In addition to that all the methods are able to predict same deformation of bird at particular time intervals. Shorter solution time, not having much parameters to deal with and low probability of numerical errors make the SPH method as a good candidate to analyze bird strike problems.

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This study was conducted to quantify the germination response of Capers Capparis spinosa L. to temperature and water potential. The seeds were germinated at seven temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 °C) and six water potentials (zero, -0.3, -0.6, -0.9, -1.2 and -1.5 MPa). Increased water potential and temperature decreased germination percentage and increased germination time. The results revealed that the dent-like function (RMSE = 0.24, R² = 0.82, and r = 0.86) is suitable for describing the response to temperature and water potential. Based on the dent-like model base, optimum and ceiling temperatures were estimated as 8.81 to 11/13, 21.30 to 24.88, and 35.22 to 37.55 °C, respectively. Biological hours for the control treatment (zero potential water) were calculated as 52.11 hours. The hydro time constant for SSG (θH), the middle value for the base water potential (Ψb(50)), the standard deviation in base water in the water potential (σyb), and the thermal time constant for SSG (θT) spanned the values of 0.63–243.48 MPa h, −0.3–2.59 bar and 343.3–1344.3 °C h, respectively. The hydrothermal time parameters were 445.12 bar °C h, −2.274 MPa, and 8.28 °C for θHT, and Ψb(50), Tb in temperatures and water potentials, respectively.

 

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Chemical insecticides have been widely employed for the control of storage grain pests. This has caused such problems as insecticide resistance along with contamination of foodstuffs with chemical residues. Thus, there is a growing interest in using pathogenic control agents as alternative. In this study, the potential of Beauveria bassiana (BbWeevil™, a commercial product containing 2×109 conidia g-1) was evaluated against adults of Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus granarius and Oryzaephilus surinamensis. The experiments were carried out at the rates of 0, 250, 500, 750 and 1,000 mg kg-1 and exposure intervals of 5, 10 and 15 days, in 24±2°C and 50±5% r.h. Fifteen 1 kg lots of grain (one lot for each exposure time-rate) were prepared and treated with the appropriate predetermined doses. Four 50 g samples of each were taken as replications and placed in glass vials. Thirty 1-7 day old adults were introduced into each glass vial. Following mortality count in each exposure time, the adults (dead and alive) were removed and the vials left in the same conditions for a further 45 days to have the progeny production assessed. Means were separated by employing Tukey´s Test (P= 0.05). All main effects (dose, exposure time and insect species) as well as associated interactions were significant (P< 0.01), with the exception of exposure time×insect, which was not significant. In all the experiments, mortality increased with increase in dose rates and exposure time with the highest mortality being observed after 15 days of exposure to 1,000 mg kg-1 concentration. These amounts were recorded 88.33±3.96, 78.31±2.15 and 64.99±4.4% for S. granarius, O. surinamensis and T. castaneum, respectively. S. granarius was more susceptible than the others, because the highest mortalities in each of the three exposure times and for all dose rates were observed in this species. The lowest LC50 value within the exposure times was determined 452.855 mg kg-1 after 15 days for S. granarius. Results achieved from progeny indicate significant differences only between rates and insect species. For all species, the highest progeny production was observed in rate 0 mg kg-1. The results obtained in this research recommend that BbWeevil™ could be used to control different grain storage pests but to find longer exposure intervals and higher rates are subject to further future research.

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The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the important ornamental plant pests in urban regions. In this study, the microemulsion system was developed using cypermethrin insecticide as the active ingredient, xylene as the solvent, and surfactants including Tensiofix 8427 + SDS, and Tensiofix 8427 + SLS, and 1-butanol (cosurfactant), as stabilizer. The optimal microemulsion formulation was determined using a pseudo-ternary phase diagram using the water titration method. The microemulsions mean droplet sizes were in the range 11.2–22.8 nm. The droplets of all three formulations were spherical and uniformly dispersed in water. The mortality percentage was 66.66, 56.66, and 55.00% 24 h after aphids exposure to C_1-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SDS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 10:20:70), C_2-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SLS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 10:20:70), and C_3-250 (cypermethrin: Tensiofix 8427 + SLS + 1-butanol: water, at the ratio of 15:30:55), which increased to 92.86, 89.29, and 83.94%, 48 h after exposure, respectively. The results revealed that the microemulsion formulation containing cypermethrin 250 g/L was more effective in controlling A. gossypii than cypermethrin technical material and 150 g/L cypermethrin-based microemulsion.

 

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          Right of reply has been made for creating a balance between two values: freedom of right information and right to access to right information. Media may intentionally or un intentionally publish distorted and misleading information and, consequently, endanger others' legitimate interests. The affected persons from the false information in media can correct the information in accordance to available legal potentials. Domestic and international laws contain mechanisms with which states and private persons can claim the responsibility of media-governmental or independent-based on right to reply. Although the Islamic Republic of Iran has not ratified the Convention on International Right of Correction, however, the present rules in Iran confer this right to nature and judicial persons like individuals and states against Press, Radio and TV. The legal system on right of reply in Iran has accepted most conditions of this right in domestic and international drafts. The law of Iran explicitly confers right of reply to legal (judicial) persons, which involve states as well.  
 

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Objectives: Controversial findings exist regarding the association between neonate gender and umbilical cord blood lipid levels. This study aims to compare the levels of lipids and lipoprotein B-100 in the umbilical cord blood of male and female newborns and assess the impact of these factors on neonatal anthropometric measurements. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 75 healthy, term (34 male and 41 female) newborns. A total of 5 ml of umbilical cord blood was obtained immediately after delivery and analyzed on the same day to estimate lipid concentrations and apolipoprotein B-100. Additionally, we measured and recorded neonatal anthropometric indicators. The independent sample t-test was used for comparison of mean values in the two groups. The relationship of cord blood lipid profile with anthropometric data was assessed by the Pearson correlation test and multiple linear regression. Results: The cord blood from female newborns had higher levels of low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) compared to male newborns, whereas levels of lipoprotein B-100 and triglyceride (TG) were higher in males compared to female newborns. These differences were not statistically significant. In female newborns there was a significant inverse correlation between TG level and head circumference (P=0.038). In males, there was no statistically significant association between lipid levels and anthropometric parameters. Conclusion: Gender did not impact lipid and apolipoprotein B-100 levels in newborns. This study showed a significant inverse correlation between TG level and head circumference in female newborns.

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              Defamation in media is a normal and probable matter in media. Special nature of media necessitates a legal system of defamation in media. Therefore, some legal systems recognized some advantages for defamations in media. Restricted immunity is one of these advantages, which the courts should consider in the process of defamation disputes. In the law of Iran, not only there is no attention to restrictive immunity but also legislature has extended defamation samples in media in compare with the defamations samples that could be happened by natural persons. However, the reason lies in the public and broadcasting characteristics of media; however, this strategy could be challenged with the principle of free speech in the international law. It is necessary that legal system on defamation in media is modified with respect to the special nature of media. Then it is possible to determine proper system of distribution of responsibility towards the media’s casts for defamations happened in media.    
    

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This article investigates energy absorption capacity and plastic deformation trend of lateral flattening of an aluminum profile with H-shaped cross section under the quasi-static lateral loading by experimental, numerical and theoretical methods. Samples were prepared with different lengths and three different filling conditions including empty, core-filled and perfectly-filled by polyurethane foam. In addition, samples with the same geometry and filling conditions were laterally compressed with loading angles of 0 and 90 degree. Effect of some parameters such as length, three different filling conditions and loading angle were experimentally investigated on lateral force and specific absorbed energy (SAE). The results show that SAE is independent of samples length. At the loading angle of 90 degree, presence of the filler causes increment of SAE by the structure. Using the perfectly-filled profile under the loading angle of 90 degree is the most optimum condition. Based on two different energy absorption mechanisms, a theoretical equation was derived to estimate total absorbed energy (TAE) by empty sample with loading angle of zero; and predicted results were compared with the experimental samples. Due to present limitations in preparing the samples with different geometrical dimensions, nonlinear ABAQUS software was employed. Some samples with different wall thicknesses were modeled and influence of thickness was investigated on TAE. TAE is directly correlated to the second power of wall thickness; and this relationship can be clearly understood from the theoretical equation and numerical results. High correlation of experimental, numerical and theoretical results indicates precision and accuracy of the performed research.

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Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a dust composed of fossilized bodies of unicellular algae used as an insecticide. In this study, the insecticidal potential of four Iranian DE deposits was assessed in adults of Oryzaephilus surinamensis (L.). Three of DE deposits were collected from Maragheh, Mamaghan, and Khorasan Jonoobi mines and Sayan^® formulation was obtained from Kimia Sabz Avar Company. The insect adults were exposed on wheat, peeled barley, and rice treated with 300, 600, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppm of the DE deposits. Experiments were conducted at 27±1°Cand 55±5% RH in continuous darkness. Mortality of the exposed individuals was counted after 2, 5, 10, and 14 days of exposure on the treated substrate. Mortality increased with increasing exposure intervals and concentration level. Satisfactory level of protection was observed on wheat grain; as 100% mortality was recorded on wheat treated with 600 ppm of all tested DE deposits after a 10-day exposure. However, for rice, even after 10 days of exposure to 2000 ppm mortality didn’t reach 100%. The lowest LC₅₀ value (39 ppm) was obtained in wheat treated with Khorasan DE sample and the highest one (908 ppm) was achieved in rice treated with Sayan^®. The present study suggests that Iranian DEs may be used as potential grain protectants in stored-product pest management programs.

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The use of controlled fermented legumes along with the aqueous extract of aromatic plants is important in terms of improving the quality characteristics of wheat bread. In the present study, after spontaneous fermentation of mung bean sourdough containing saffron petal extract, the predominant lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolate was used as a starter culture in controlled fermented sourdough, and then the characteristics of the produced wheat breads in terms of texture, surface expansion of fungi and overall acceptability were investigated. Sequencing results of PCR products led to the identification of Levilactobacillus brevis as the predominant LAB isolated from sourdough. Processing of wheat bread with mung bean sourdough containing mentioned bacteria and saffron petal extract not only improved the textural features and overall acceptability of the produced bread, but also increased their resistance towards the surface expansion of Aspergillus niger. Based on the results, wheat bread containing fermented mung bean and saffron petal extract showed the best textural features compared to other samples with crumb hardness of 10.21 N and porosity of 16.16%. Furthermore, the mentioned sample with 44.33% inhibition had the highest ability to inhibit the growth of the indicator fungus compared to other samples. Although the use of mung bean and saffron petal extract alone in the formulation of wheat bread did not show a great effect on reducing the surface expansion of fungi, but their combined application was significantly (P<0.05) effective in reducing the surface growth of fungus. Due to the appropriate techno-functional capabilities of controlled fermented mung bean sourdough containing saffron petal extract, it can be used as a natural improver in the bakery industries.

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Population growth and loss of environmental capacities for food production have rendered the realization of food security a more complicated task as compared to the previous decades. To cope with this crisis, sustainable agricultural development can play a remarkable role in improving food security. The present study aimed to explore the spatial effects of agricultural sustainability on food security of rural households in 30 provinces of Iran over the period of 2006-2016. For this purpose, first, the overall level of agricultural sustainability using a Composite Sustainable Agriculture Index (I_CSA) and weighting indicators were calculated based on Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. The Aggregate Household Food Security Index (AHFSI) was used to determine the food security of households in rural areas. Also, the effectiveness of agricultural sustainability on food security of rural families, as well as other effective factors, was examined using the mixed Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model with panel data. Results show that the spatial spillovers of the agricultural sustainability influence food security positively and significantly. In fact, 1% increase in the agricultural sustainability index of a certain province directly improves food security of the same province by 0.043%, while its food security is indirectly enhanced by 0.0131% with 1% increase in the agricultural sustainability index of other provinces. It is imperative for policymakers of the agricultural sector to invest in production infrastructure of different provinces in Iran and focus on enhancing sustainable production as a prerequisite for the establishment of sustainable food security.
 

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Diatomaceous Earths (DEs) have a long history for on-farm and commercial grain storage, hygiene, and structural treatment. Structural treatments by DEs have shown to be useful for eradication of residual insect infestations in storage facilities. In this study, the residual toxicity of different DE formulations was examined against adults of Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrychidae) and Tribolium confusum Jacquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) on different surfaces including concrete, galvanized steel, and mosaic. The surfaces were treated with 0.2 mg cm^-2 concentration of DE formulations that included SilicoSec^®, Protect-It, and an Iranian DE formulated from a Mamaghan Mine, Iran, supplemented with an amorphous silica gel product to enhance efficacy. The residual toxicity of DEs was assessed at 7, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days post-treatment. The mortality was determined after 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of insects’ exposure to each surface. According to the results, the most effective product proved to be SilicoSec^® when compared to Protect-It and the Iranian Mamaghan DE. The toxicity and persistence of DE formulations were higher on the galvanized steel compared to that achieved on the concrete and mosaic surfaces. Nevertheless, the results demonstrated that an Iranian DE containing 10% locally available amorphous silica is capable of controlling R. dominica and T. confusum in warehouses and other storage facilities. However, additional studies are needed to confirm these findings.