The effects of endosulfan on P450 1A gene expression, antioxidant enzymes activity and histopathological alterations in liver of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1987)

The effects of 14 days exposure to sublethal concentrations of endosulfan (10 and 40 μg L−1) were investigated in mRNA- P450 1A expression, antioxidant enzymes (SOD and CAT) activity and histopathological alterations of Persian sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) fingerlings with weights of 3–5 g. The results illustrated that the relative mRNA- P450 1A expression level significantly increased (P < 0.05) compared to the control group. Highest significant increase (P < 0.05) was observed on the first day, then decreased towards day 14 of exposure. The SOD and CAT activity showed a significant increase in fish exposed to different concentrations up to day 7, then activity decreased on day 14 in fish of all treated groups. Although signs of tissue lesions were observed on day 4, they increased from day 7 and reached the highest level on day 14. The magnitude of all changed studied parameters (gene expression, enzymes and histopathological) follows a concentration-dependent manner. © 2016 Blackwell Verlag Gmb

Shadow-free multimers as extreme-performance meta-atoms

We generalize the concept of parity-time symmetric structures with the goal to create meta-atoms exhibiting extraordinary abilities to overcome the presumed limitations in the scattering of overall lossless particles, such as non-zero forward scattering and the equality of scattering and extinction powers for all lossless particles. Although the forward scattering amplitude and the extinction cross section of our proposed meta-atoms vanish, they scatter incident energy into other directions, with controllable directionality. These meta-atoms possess extreme electromagnetic properties not achievable for passive scatterers. As an example, we study meta-atoms consisting of two or three small dipole scatters. We consider possible microwave realizations in the form of short dipole antennas loaded by lumped elements. The proposed meta-atom empowers extraordinary response of a shadow-free scatterer and theoretically enables most unusual material properties when used as a building block of an artificial medium.Comment: 14 pages, 9 Figure

On Rigidity of 3d Asymptotic Symmetry Algebras

We study rigidity and stability of infinite dimensional algebras which are not subject to the Hochschild-Serre factorization theorem. In particular, we consider algebras appearing as asymptotic symmetries of three dimensional spacetimes, the BMS3, u(1) Kac-Moody and Virasoro algebras. We construct and classify the family of algebras which appear as deformations of BMS3, u(1) Kac-Moody and their central extensions by direct computations and also by cohomological analysis. The Virasoro algebra appears as a specific member in this family of rigid algebras; for this case stabilization procedure is inverse of the In\"on\"u-Wigner contraction relating Virasoro to BMS3 algebra. We comment on the physical meaning of deformation and stabilization of these algebras and relevance of the family of rigid algebras we obtainComment: 50 pages, one figure and two tables; v2: minor improvements, references adde

Multi-critical multi-field models: a CFT approach to the leading order

We present some general results for the multi-critical multi-field models in d>2 recently obtained using CFT and Schwinger-Dyson methods at perturbative level without assuming any symmetry. Results in the leading non trivial order are derived consistently for several conformal data in full agreement with functional perturbative RG methods. Mechanisms like emergent (possibly approximate) symmetries can be naturally investigated in this framework.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figure, Contribution to the Conference QFT2018, Quantum Fields From Fundamental Concepts to Phenomenological Questions, Mainz 26-28 September 201

Bone mineral density in Iranian patients: Effects of age, sex, and body mass index

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a multifactorial skeletal disease that is characterized by reduced bone mineral density (BMD). BMD values de-pend on several factors such as age, sex and age at menopause. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and changes in bone mineral density in Iranian patients. Meth-ods: Three hundred patients were selected through random sampling technique in 2009. BMD was assessed by Norland (Excell) technique at the lumbar and femoral neck. Weight and height were measured through standard methods. A thorough history was taken from each patient. The data was analyzed using SPSS software version 13.0. P-values less than 0.05 were con-sidered statistically significant. Results: From among the 300 studied patients, 86.6% were fe-male. their mean age was 52.7 years. Their av-erage body mass index (BMI) was 28.14 kg/m2. Mean T-Score at lumbar spine and femoral neck was −1.07 ± 1.19 and −1.75 ± 1.33 respectively. Mean BMD value at lumbar spine and femoral neck was 0.92 ± 0.19 and 0.77 ± 0.16 respectively. The prevalence of osteoporosis at lumbar spine and femoral neck was 33.7% and 16.7, respec-tively. There was a significant correlation be-tween age, BMI and BMD values (P-Value < 0.01). Correlation between gender and BMD value at the lumbar spine and femoral neck was not sig-nificant. Conclusion: This study shows that age- ing and low BMI are risk factors associated with bone loss. it is recommended to measure BMD and implement prevention programs for high- risk people. Keywords: Bone Mineral Density; Body Mass Index;Age; Gende

Ultrastructure of cytoplasmic fragments in human cleavage stage embryos

Purpose: The goal of this study was to evaluate the ultrastructure of cytoplasmic fragments along with the effect of cytoplasmic fragment and perivitelline space coarse granulation removal (cosmetic microsurgery) from embryos before embryo transfer on ART outcomes. Methods: One hundred and fifty intracytoplasmic sperm injection cycles with male factor infertility were included in this prospective study. Patients were divided into three groups of case (n = 50), sham (n = 50), and control (n = 50). Embryos with 10–50 % fragmentation were included in this study. Cosmetic microsurgery and zona assisted hatching were only performed in case and sham groups respectively. Extracted fragments were evaluated ultrastructurally by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Rates of clinical pregnancy, live birth, miscarriage, multiple pregnancies, and congenital anomaly in the three groups were also compared. Results: Micrographs from TEM showed that mitochondria were the most abundant structures found in the fragments along with mitochondria-vesicle complexes, Golgi apparatus, primary lysosomes, and vacuoles. There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics, laboratory and clinical data, or embryo morphological features between the groups. The rate of clinical pregnancy in control, sham, and case groups had no significant differences (24, 18, and 18 %, respectively). The rates of live birth, miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, and congenital anomaly were also similar between the different groups. Conclusions: Our data demonstrated that cosmetic microsurgery on preimplantation embryos had no beneficial effect on ART outcomes in unselected groups of patients. As mitochondria are the most abundant organelles found in cytoplasmic fragments, fragment removal should be performed with more caution in embryos with moderate fragmentation

Comparison of the digestive enzyme activities in Artemia urmiana from nauplii to adult stages using different diets

Due to the importance of adult Artemia in aquaculture, information regarding the digestive enzyme activities variation with inexpensive diets has great importance in Artemia at different life stages. In this study, the effect of different inexpensive diets on digestive enzyme activities, including trypsin, amylse and lipase of Artemia urmiana was investigated in different life stages. The experiment was carried out with 5 treatments and each with 2 replicates over 15 days using 5 diets (wheat meal, common carp diet, soy meal, a mixture of soy meal and canola meal (compound diet 1) and a mixture of soy meal and wheat meal (compound diet 2) in a completely random design. Nauplii were introduced to their cultivation environments after hatching and the digestive enzyme activities were measured in days 5, 10 and 15 of the experiment. Positive and significant correlation were observed between the crude protein content of the diets and trypsin activity (0.74), the carbohydrate content of the diets and amylase activity (0.49), and crude fat content of the diets and lipase activity (0.84). The activities of all enzymes were increased with the Artemia development in this study. During the experimental period, the trypsin, activities were increased in all treatments with the exception of wheat meal treatment, amylase activities were increased in all treatments and lipase activities were increased in all treatments with the exception of common carp diet and wheat meal treatments. Digestive enzyme activities were affected by the diets and Artemia life stages. Regarding the increasing digestive enzyme activities until adult stage in Artemia urmiana, using adult Artemia urmiana decreases pressure on resources of Artemia cyst and nauplii in natural environments. In addition, this condition may result in more economic returns and better quality of adult Artemia compared to its cyst and nauplii