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Showing 17 results for alikhani


Volume 8, Issue 3 (6-2019)
Abstract

Functional response is an important behavioral characteristic of prey-predator interactions that can be utilized for assessing impact of natural enemies. In this research, the functional response of Nabis pseudoferus Remane females was examined to the third-instar larvae of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) which were exposed to LC30 (2.03 × 104 conidia/ml) values of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin isolate DEMI 001. Six densities of the prey (1, 2, 4, 8, 10 and 16) were exposed to the predator (0, 24, 48 and 72 h) after inoculation. N. pseudoferus exhibited a type II functional response to prey density in all treatments, indicating that predation increases asymptotically to a satiation level. The highest and the lowest attack rates (a) were 0.1052 ± 0.0440 and 0.0509 ± 0.0133h-1 for 48h and 72h post-infection treatments, respectively. Maximum theoretical predation rate (T/Th) was estimated 10.96 in control. Our results suggest that M. anisopliae and N. pseudoferus, can be a useful combination in pest management of tomato leaf miner, although it must be confirmed in field condition.
 
 

Volume 9, Issue 3 (2-2020)
Abstract

Networked collaborations have become a critical approach to enhance providing quality service in health care systems. The use of collaboration structures and coordination mechanisms as a desirable governance model is essential for the success of network collaboration. There are different factors influencing designing good network governance models in health care networks. Considering the importance of these factors in designing the governance model, the comprehensive review of factors out of the network control has not yet been addressed. The aim of this paper is to identify the factors that are out of network control and influencing designing a good network governance model in health care systems.We apply a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the intended factors. During searching for studies associated with our research question in the WEB OF SCIENCE database as a comprehensive database, the 1500 publications resulted. Screening resulted publications basis of title fitness with inclusion and conclusion criteria led to the 150 articles. Final screening the 150 articles basis of abstract and conclusion led to the 11 final articles that the 15 pieces of evidence were extracted from them. After synthesizing the extracted evidences for achieving an integrated view of them led to the 4 classes with the 15 components. In this regard, the environmental requirements, the level of government intervention in the health system, the nature of policies and interventions in the health system, as well as the rates of referrals in health networks were identified as the most important factors outside the network control. Network governance will succeed if the influencing factors are taken into account in designing it.



Volume 9, Issue 17 (Spring & Summer 2022)
Abstract

Like any other translations, the translation of the Qur'an must be made according to the principles of translation. Despite the great efforts of the translators of the Qur'an in Persian, problems can be found in these translations. One of the terms whose translation needs to be defined precisely is the term "faith". This term and its derivatives are used in the Qur'an in two forms: one in transitive sense with the preposition "bā" in Arabic and the other one with preposition "lam". Etymologists and Shia and Sunni commentators, by examining the meaning of "faith" in its latter usage, have expressed different opinions about it. Drawing upon the descriptive-analytical method and reflecting on the Qur'anic usages of the term "faith" in its former usage and comparing it with the usages of "faith" in its latter usage in 28 Persian translations of the Qur'an, and also by referring to the lexical and explanatory books on the Qur'an, this article has shown that except for a small number of translations, the rest of them do not have the necessary accuracy and have not provided a correct translation. The findings of this research work is that the term "faith" in its former usage means "faith" as opposed to disbelief, and the term "faith" in its latter usage means confession and submission; which finds its meaning in Persian in the word trust.


Volume 10, Issue 3 (Summer 2019)
Abstract

With urbanization expansion, application of concrete and construction materials is widely increasing throughout the world. Therefore, the use of a mechanism that can effectively extend the life of concrete structures is essential. Durable reinforced concrete structures are generally affected by the crack. Cracks in concrete are caused due to various reasons such as an environmental attack, overloading or accidental damage. Surface cracks in concrete facilitate the penetration of chemicals and corrosive chlorine, so as a result of these factors steel rebars corroded and caused the destruction of concrete structures. Calcium carbonate precipitates have proved their ability as a microbial sealant to fill the cracks and the gaps in Granites and sand. In this method, urea is hydrolyzed by the urease secreting bacteria and calcium carbonate is formed in the presence of calcium ion, which improves the stability and properties of concrete in the long term. Therefore, the use of microbial precipitation in concrete restoration can be considered as a natural and environmentally friendly strategy. This paper reviews current progress and potential of this technology.


Volume 11, Issue 1 (1-2022)
Abstract

The current study assessed the effects of common herbicides produced by different companies on broadleaved and grass weed control and quantitative traits of irrigated wheat. A two-year experiment (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) was designed as an RCBD with three replications. Experimental treatments included two control treatments (weedy and weed-free) and 15 herbicides produced by three Iranian companies (Ghazal, Golsam-Gorgan, and Gyah) and three international companies (BASF, Nufarm, and Syngenta). The results showed that H13 (bromoxynil + MCPA from BASF tank-mixed with clodinafop propargyl from Golsam Gorgan) and H14 (bromoxynil + MCPA from BASF tank mixed with clodinafop propargyl from Ghazal) treatments in 2014 and H5 (tribenuron methyl from Gyah) and H9 (clodinafop propargyl tank-mixed with tribenuron methyl from Golsam Gorgan) in 2015 almost completely controlled broadleaved and grass weeds. In 2014, H4 (2,4-D + MCPA from Nufarm) and H13 treatments with the averages of 7505 and 7338 kg ha-1 ranked first and second in grain yield, while H9 and H12 (bromoxynil + MCPA from BASF tank-mixed with clodinafop propargyl from Gyah) with the averages of 7966 and 7917 kg ha-1 were known as superior treatments in 2015. Averaged by years, the grain yield was 3185 kg ha-1 at weedy treatment (H17). Although there were no significant differences between herbicides, the grain yield (averaged by years and herbicides) was boosted by 88% compared with the weedy treatment. It was concluded that more rainfall and desirable air temperature positively affected the efficacy of the herbicides.
 

Volume 12, Issue 2 (4-2023)
Abstract

Zebrafish is considered as a useful laboratory model due to its diverse characteristics, including self-renewal. The embryo of this fish has unique characteristics in the early stages of development, and its effects were observed in various studies. The differentiating factors present in stem cells isolated from zebrafish embryos are effective in improving the functional status of patients, and exposure to zebrafish embryo extracts in the early stages of development may increase the expression of multipotent stem cells and exert positive effects.  In this study, we investigated the antioxidant properties of the zebrafish embryo extract in different embryonic stages of development.The Zebrafish egg extract was prepared in different embryonic stages. Its effect in concentrations of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 mg/ml on DPPH free radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical inhibitory activity and iron reducing power (FRAP) were investigated. The studied groups included protein extracts in morula, blastula and gastrula stages. According to the obtained results, the amount of protein varied in different embryonic stages and the amount of protein increased with the progress of fetal growth and the amount of fat decreased.The protein extract in the gastrula stage showed the highest level of DPPH inhibition and iron ion reduction at a concentration of 2 mg/ml compared to the morula and blastula groups (P<0.05). Also, the protein extract in the embryonic stage of blastula had the highest inhibition of ABTS at a concentration of 2 mg/ml compared to other groups (P<0.05).

Volume 14, Issue 1 (Spring 2010)
Abstract

Boshehr is a coastal city located along the warm waters of persian gulf. It is limited to zagros mountains persian gulf, hableh river and Tangestan town from north, south, west and east, respectively. The study area is in between sea and land areas. Such especial situations make the formation of specific land forms in coastal regulation zone (CRZ). Howevre, land from studies, especially land forms in CRZ (land between low water line and 500 meters from high water line) are well sensed. Therefore, such sensetive areas should be more considered and more efforts should be made to have better knowledge about them. This would enable a better planning and management of industrial, commercial,‌ residential, environmetal and tourism problems of these areas. for better analysis and getting best knowledge for mapping land forms of this area, remote sensing, GIS and GPS technologies have been used. In this research, geology soils, climate and hydrology of the area were first studied. then, the charachteristics of the area, CRZ definition, land forms classificahion and their precise definition and also collection of tide statistics were made. First, remote sensing, preprocessing of the data was made and then, using digital and visual interpretation techniques, different land forms were identified. regulation zone was drown. Based on ground truth data comparison, the final land from map within the CRZ was generated. the CRZ land from map showed thah the coatal areas of Boshehr are plagic in type and their formation is mainly due to land erosion factors than sea erosion. Also in this area, the rules of crz are not observed and must be seriously considered. Then, using extracted tidal and shore lines from satellite data, the coastal

Volume 14, Issue 1 (FALL 2023)
Abstract

Flowering transition is one of the most important developmental processes of higher plants, which is controlled by endogenous and external environmental signals. These signaling cues are perceived in leaves and shoot apical meristem (SAM) to induce flower formation. APETALA1 (AP1) is one of floral meristem identity genes that regulate the specification and formation of floral meristems and is required for sepals and petals formation. In this study, the expression of this gene in different organs of Eruca sativa as well as the effect of brassinosteroids (BRs) on flowering and the gene expression was investigated. RNA was extracted from different organs and first-strand cDNA was synthesized. Specific primers were designed based on the sequence alignment of AP1 isoform genes from other plants. In the vegetative stage, no expression was observed in different organs. Brassinosteroid treatment from 28 days (vegetative stage) to flower buds formation caused early flowering, so that the treated plants flower about 10 days earlier than the control. In addition, plant size and its organs were larger in plants treated with brassinosteroids. Evaluation of EvsAP1 gene expression in reproductive phase showed its expression in flower buds, sepals and petals but no was seen in roots, stems, leaves, stamen and gynocium. Also, the onset of expression of this gene was observed earlier, indicating that the transition to flowering and flower bud formation occurs faster in treated plants; therefore, expression occurs earlier. However, expression levels did not affected by brassinosteroids and no significant difference was observed between treated and control samples.
 

Volume 14, Issue 5 (9-2012)
Abstract

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) is an important industrial crop and its seeds contain significant amounts of oil. The extraction of oil components using solvent at high pressure, or supercritical fluid (SCF), has received much attention. In the present study, statistical analyses showed that the average extraction yield of seed oil of five tobacco varieties using SFE was 9.33%, which was higher than Sonication (7.75%) and DGF (Deutsche Gesellschaft f_r Fettwissenschaft) standard method B-I5(87) (8.48%), but lower than Soxhlet (13.72%). Also, fatty acids profile of each extracted oil was determined by gas chromatography. Various saturated and unsaturated fatty acids such as lauric (C12:0), myristic (C14:0), palmitic (C16:0), palmitoleic (C16:1), stearic (C18:0), oleic (C18:1), linoleic (C18:2), linolenic (C18:3) and eicosanoic (C20:0) acids were observed in the extracted oils.

Volume 15, Issue 4 (2-2013)
Abstract

Objective: The aim of the this study was to investigate the prevalence of toxB, paa, lpf and iha adhesion genes in enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolates lacking in two important adhesion factors, the eaeA and bfpA genes. Methods: We examined a total of 70 serologically confirmed EPEC (eaeA-, bfpA-) isolates. DNA from the isolates was extracted by the phenol-chloroform method. toxB, paa, lpf and iha adhesion genes in the EPEC isolates were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Data were analyzed by SPSS software and statistical analysis using the chi square test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results: PCR was positive for the toxB gene in 2 (2.85%), paa in 3 (4.28%), lpf in 32 (45.71%) and iha in 15 (21.42%) of the 70 strains. Statistically, none of the toxB, paa, and lpf genes were associated with diarrhea. However, the iha gene showed a weak significant relation to diarrhea (P=0.11). Conclusion: The main mechanism of pathogenicity for EPEC is attachment and effacement. Therefore, EPEC (eaeA-, bfpA-) should have another adhesin factor, which should be investigated. EPEC strains (eaeA-, bfpA-) that possess the lpf gene are common. Further investigations of the virulence properties of these strains are necessary in order to elucidate the role of these virulence factors in diarrhea among Iranian children.

Volume 18, Issue 3 (5-2016)
Abstract

Salinity is a major abiotic stress that reduces crop productivity in arid and semiarid soils. About 25% of the country's arable land is affected by different levels of salt. A considerable part of this land is under wheat cultivation each year as the country's most important crop. ACC deaminase producing bacteria increase plant resistance to stress condition by reducing stress ethylene in a variety of environmental stresses such as salinity. In this study, 167 halotolerant bacterial strains were isolated from the saline habitats and screened for growth at different NaCl concentrations. These halotolerant bacterial strains were then tested for 1 AminoCyclopropane-1-Carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase activity. Among six isolates of halotolerant bacteria containing ACC deaminase, the K78 strain produced the highest level of this enzyme. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of this bacterium indicated that this strain belonged to Bacillus mojavensis. Inoculation of Bacillus mojavensis to salt stressed wheat plants produced an increase in root and shoot weight, chlorophyll content, and nutrient uptake in comparison with the un-inoculated soils. In summary, this study indicates that the use of ACC deaminase-producing halotolerant bacteria mitigates salinity stress effects on growth of wheat plants by reducing salt-stress-induced ethylene production.

Volume 18, Issue 4 (1-2016)
Abstract


Objective: This study attempted to generate monospecific antibodies through immunization with recombinant proteins and subsequent purification by synthetic peptides (the PrIPeP model).

Methods: The SRY gene was cloned on a pet-28a vector and the recombinant protein was expressed in the Escherichia coli (E.coli) BL21 strain. The purified antigen was emulsified in Freund’s adjuvant and injected into rabbits according to a standard time table. Then, a specific peptide was designed, synthesized, and conjugated to sepharose 4B to generate an affinity purification column. As a control, the peptide was conjugated to KLH and used for immunization, as above. Antisera against the conjugated peptide (Pep-antisera) and SRY recombinant protein (Pro-antisera) were evaluated by ELISA and subsequently subjected to the affinity purification column. Sensitivity and specificity of the purified antibodies against SRY recombinant protein as well as negative controls (recombinant HSFY, RBMY, and RPSFY) were assessed by Western blot analysis.

Results: Titration by ELISA confirmed proper immunization and specificity of both antigens. Western blot analysis validated the specificity and sensitivity of the IgG class purified antibodies.

Conclusion: By applying the PrIPeP model, it is possible to develop antibodies against the native structure of a protein whilst avoiding challenges of peptide-carrier protein conjugation.
S. alikhani, N. Ganjbakhsh, A. Behzadmehr,
Volume 19, Issue 6 (June 2019)
Abstract

Thermal and hydrodynamic behavior of a laminar flow of water within a horizontal curved Vipertex tube with mixed convection heat transfer, in the range of low Grashof numbers, has been numerically studied. The curved horizontal Vipertex tube has geometry of 180o, fixed radius of centerline curvature of 2R/D=6.62, roughness height e/D=0.1, and a constant heat flux is exerted on the walls. The three-dimensional governing equations were using a finite volume method. To solve the problem, the computational fluid dynamics of ANSYS Fluent The results reveal that not only Grashof number and the buoyancy forces arising from it, but the mutual effects of the centrifugal and the buoyancy forces affect the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics such as axial velocity contours, secondary flow vectors, temperature contours, heat transfer coefficient, and skin friction coefficient. So that, for a given Reynolds number, increasing due to more interaction between buoyancy and centrifugal forces, results in the Vipertex tube. Therefore, the buoyancy forces decrease and lead to the lower heat transfer coefficient, but in smooth curved Grashof number leads to the higher heat transfer coefficient. Nevertheless, the Vipertex curved tube in of Grashof and Reynolds, in each Grashof and Reynolds equally, has a higher heat transfer than a smooth curved pipe. The results also indicated that the skin friction coefficient in these types of tubes can be up to 3.5 times higher than that of smooth one with a Grashof increase.
 


Volume 20, Issue 7 (Supplementury Issue 2018)
Abstract

The objectives of the present study was to evaluate biological nitrogen fixation, P and K uptake ability of 31 soybean mutant lines (induced by Gamma irradiation) and their parent cultivar at greenhouse level. Initially, 10 Rhizobial isolates and strains were tested for infectiveness and symbiotic effectiveness using Leonard jars, and the strain Bradyrhizobium japonicum strain RS 152 was selected as the most efficient strain. The experiment was conducted under proper greenhouse condition with a randomized complete block design on a soil with no indigenous rhizobia and low nitrogen and phosphorus content. Thirty-one soybean mutant lines and two inoculated and un-inoculated wild cultivar blanks were replicated three times. Each pot contained 3.5 kg air-dried homogenized soil, and at the time of planting each seedling was inoculated with l mL of inoculum RS 152 containing approximately 9 × 108 cells per mL. During about 4 months of growth, the plants were irrigated to maintain the soil moisture approximately 0.8 field capacity. The plants were harvested at the plant developmental stage of pod filling (R6), and several parameters, such as dry matter of shoot, nodule and roots, number of nodules, and proportion and amount of Nitrogen derived from air (Ndfa% and N-fixed) were measured. According to the results, in most parameters, the mutant lines were significantly different with each other and also with the L17 parent soybean cultivar. The mutant line 5 showed the maximum value of %Ndfa (73.068) compared to the cultivar L17 (48.762), indicating significant increase of biological nitrogen fixation, by about fifty percent, through physical mutagenesis. In addition, the mutant lines 21 and 31 had higher phosphorus and potassium uptake than the others, however, significant differences were observed for phosphorus uptake capacity compared to the cultivar L17. Although more detailed studies are needed to evaluate effects of these mutations on nitrogen fixation, macro- and microelements absorption capacity, and also on yield and quality parameters, these findings show that gamma irradiation could be helpful to induce new nutritional properties in soybean and release new mutant cultivars.
 

Volume 21, Issue 4 (7-2019)
Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sole and interactive effect of drip irrigation regimes (50, 70, and 100% of Crop Water Requirement, CWR) and different mulches [No Mulch (NM); Mood Chip Mulch (WCM); Composted Wood Chip Mulch (CWCM), and Plastic Mulch (PM)] on some morphological and physiological traits of tomato, Water Use Efficiency (WUE), and soil properties (soil moisture and temperature) under field conditions. Results showed that yield and its components were significantly influenced by different levels of irrigation. Different mulches increased fruit yield by 12–46% over non-mulch conditions. The highest marketable yield (5.78 kg plant -1) and total yield (5.77 kg plant -1) were obtained by the plants under the highest water level (100% CWR) along with PM and WCM, respectively. The lowest percentage of cracked fruits and blossom-end rot fruits was observed in the plants under 100 and 70% CWR along with WCM. In addition, the highest WUE (18.27 kg m-3) was obtained with 70% water application under WCM. In general, the study revealed that drip irrigation with wood chip mulch had a significant role in increasing the yield of tomato and saving irrigation water under field conditions.
 

Volume 22, Issue 2 (3-2020)
Abstract

Drought stress is one of the environmental factors influencing crops growth, development, and production. Two field experiments were performed in Karaj, Iran, to evaluate the drought tolerance indices of 17 winter rapeseed genotypes in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 growing seasons. The factorial arrangement of treatments was set up as RCBD with three replications. To identify drought tolerant genotypes, several indices were used based on grain yield under normal and deficit irrigation conditions. Yield results showed that cultivars Artist (504.325 g m-2) and L72 (391.525 g m-2) were the superior treatments under normal and deficit irrigation conditions, respectively. According to correlation results, 3-D graphs were drawn based on Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) and grain yield under normal irrigation and deficit irrigation to categorize the winter rapeseed genotypes in both years. In the first year, Zorica and Lauren were in group A, while in the second year; Mercure, SW102, L72, and HL3721 were in group A. Therefore, they had superior performance and stable grain yield under both irrigation conditions. Biplot diagram showed Lauren (first year) and Mercure (second year) were superior regardless of stress conditions. Altogether, under normal irrigation, Artist genotype, and under stress condition, Mercure, L72 and HL3721 genotypes could be used for cultivation.
 

Volume 23, Issue 1 (1-2021)
Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify Professional Competencies (PCs), including General and Specific Competencies (GSCs), of Agricultural Teachers (ATs) working with Students with Special Needs (SSNs), known as exceptional students (1,013 people), in Vocational High School Education System (VHSES) in Iran, within two phases. Accordingly, the main objective of the first phase was to identify General Competencies (GCs) of these teachers. Therefore, in the first phase, the components of teachers’ GCs were taken from theoretical literature and research documents via content analysis and the findings revealed that the GCs encompassed 6 components of Instruction Design (ID), Professional Development (PD), Professional Ethics (PEs), cooperation, Perceived Student Diversity (PSD), and technology. The objective of the second phase of this study was also to find Specific Competencies (SCs) of ATs working with SSNs. This phase of the study was conducted using the classical 3-step Delphi technique. In this respect, the specialized Delphi team consisted of 22 ATs working at Iran’s Exceptional Schools (ESs), selected through purposive sampling method. Finally, the findings reduced to the identification of 24 SCs for ATs working with SSNs, which were then grouped into two categories of Agricultural Competencies (ACs) and Exceptional Competencies (ECs).

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