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Marine structures, man-made or natural, have a recognized potential to attract and enhance fish propagation. The effectiveness of artificial reefs (AR) in increasing productivity depends on structural design of a reef and in particular, whether it meets the specific habitat requirements of the target species. The catch of lobsters (Panulirus homarus, Panulirus versicolor and Panulirus polyphagus) in the coastal area of south Iran, north of Oman Sea has reduced in quality and quantity over the past years. These commercial species which for many years have been the main catch of the local fishermen, have suffered a decline of more than 70% in the last decade. To combat the decline, we deployed thirty artificial reefs in three different forms, sizes and sea bottom depth, relevant to the bio-characteristics of lobsters, in the Chabahar area. We collected data on the existence of lobsters (P. homarus) among different reef structures. The results of one year data collection showed a significant difference between the lobsters nestling in different kind of reefs. Generally, the lobsters preferred square and pyramid shaped reefs (SPR). This study showed that the design of reefs based on biology of lobsters is an important factor in attracting lobsters to inhabit them.

The purpose of this research was to study the structural equation modeling of the relation between organizational support and readiness for establishing the suggestion system among University of Isfahan personnel. Statistical population of the study were all the personnel at University of Isfahan who were employed in 1388-89 consisting 884 personal from among which 196 employees were randomly selected as the statistical sample. Data was collected by using two questionnaires: 1) researchers made questionnaire for suggestion system consisting of 42 items for personal, managerial, structural, and cultural readiness; and 2) Eisenberg Organizational Support Questionnaire (1986). Reliabilities for both questionnaires were calculated using Chronbach coefficient and were 0.83 and 0.89 respectively. Research findings showed that organizational support has a direct effect on readiness establishing suggestion system (ß=0.96), and organizational support has indirect effects on individual readiness of personnel (ß =0.68), managerial readiness (ß =0.81), structural readiness (ß =0.80), and cultural readiness (ß= 0.78, p =0.0001). The finding from structural equation modeling revealed that there are significant effects between organizational support and readiness establishing suggestion system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Delayed anti-inflammatory responses and scar-formation are the main causes for inability of injured body parts such as phalanges to regrow in mammals. Salamanders can regenerate fully scar-free body structures, followed by the appearance of anti-inflammatory responses at the injured site immediately after amputation. This study aimed to evaluate the local regenerative effects of direct amplified anti-inflammatory signals on regeneration of amputated mice digit tips using M2c-macrophages in a co-cultured organ system for the first time., Materials and Methods: We used the amputated digits from the paws of 18.5E day old C57BL/6J mice. Monocytes were obtained from peripheral blood and co-cultured with amputated digits, which subsequently enhanced the M2c macrophage phenotype induced by IL-10. We also examined the regenerative effects of IL-10 and transcription growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)., Results: The regrowth of new tissue occurred 10 days post-amputation in all groups. This regrowth was related to enhanced Msh homeobox-1 ( Msx1 ), Msh homeobox-2 ( Msx2 ), and bone morphogenic protein-4 ( Bmp4 ) genes. Increased expression of fibroblast growth factor-8 ( Fgf-8 ) also increased the proliferation rate. Histological analyses indicated that epidermal-closure occurred at 3-dpa in all groups. We observed full digit tip regeneration in the co-cultured group. Particularly, there was new tissue regrowth observed with 40 µg/ml of IL-10 and 120 µg/ml of TGF-β. In contrast, the control group had no remarkable digit elongation., Conclusion: We propose that a direct amplified anti-inflammatory response at the digit injury site can regenerate epithelial and mesenchymal tissues, and might be useful for limb regeneration without scar formation in adult mammals., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Climate change is a natural hazard which threatens the sustainable development of human health, food security, economic well-being, and natural resources. It also affects photosynthesis, plant respiration, and decomposition of organic matter that contribute to atmospheric carbon flow. The net primary production (NPP) is one of the main components of carbon balance. This study investigated the impact of climatic change on the net production in the Hormozgan county in south Iran. To obtain NPP, MODIS NPP product (MOD17A3) was used and future temperature and precipitation values were obtained using the HadGEM2-ES model under the RCP4.5 scenario. These values were downscaled using the LARSWG 6 statistical model, and precipitation and temperature were simulated for the RCP4.5 scenario. For further analysis, NPP was simulated based on the BIOME-BGC model and compared with the NPP data obtained from the MODIS images. Comparison of the climatic parameters of the basic (2001-2015) and future (2016-2030) periods indicated an increase in precipitation, minimum temperature, and maximum temperature of the study area and subsequently an increase in the NPP value in all biomes (averagely 17.73%) in the future. The highest NPP values were observed in the central and western parts of the region in biomes 4 (mangrove forest cover), 10 (broadleaf forest vegetation), and 6, 5, and 1 (rangeland vegetation), respectively, and the lowest values were observed in the eastern parts. Results showed that the increase in future NPP could be due to the increase in precipitation.

Objective: Currently, cellular transplantation for spinal cord injuries (SCI) is the subject of numerous preclinical studies. Among the many cell types in the adult brain, there is a unique subpopulation of neural stem cells (NSC) that can self-renew and differentiate into neurons. The study aims, therefore, to explore the efficacy of adult monkey NSC (mNSC) in a primate SCI model., Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, isolated mNSCs were analyzed by flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, and RT-PCR. Next, BrdU-labeled cells were transplanted into a SCI model. The SCI animal model was confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and histological analysis. Animals were clinically observed for 6 months., Results: Analysis confirmed homing of mNSCs into the injury site. Transplanted cells expressed neuronal markers (TubIII). Hind limb performance improved in trans- planted animals based on Tarlov's scale and our established behavioral tests for monkeys., Conclusion: Our findings have indicated that mNSCs can facilitate recovery in contusion SCI models in rhesus macaque monkeys. Additional studies are necessary to determine the im- provement mechanisms after cell transplantation.

Oocyte vitrification and assisted oocyte activation have increasingly important roles in assisted reproductive technology. Yet, an important area of concern with matured oocyte cryobiology is that elements of oocytes intimately involved in metaphase-II arrest may be modified by cryopreservation. By comparing different cellular characteristics of unvitrified, vitrified-warmed, and unvitrified-activated oocytes, the present study investigated how vitrification-warming process may affect developmental competence of in vitro-matured sheep oocytes following parthenogenetic activation. Structural, ultrastructural, and molecular analyses indicated that the characteristics of vitrified-warmed oocytes vastly differed from fresh oocytes, instead resembling unvitrified-activated oocytes. For unvitrified oocytes, the highest blastocyst yield (41.8 ± 0.6%) was achieved using the maximum ionomycin concentration (5 µM), and importantly, the duration of ionomycin treatment was not of utmost importance at this concentration. In contrast, the maximum blastocyst yield of vitrified-warmed oocytes (28.4 ± 1.4%) was achieved with a minimal duration of ionomycin treatment (1 min), and further extending the duration dramatically reduced developmental potential of vitrified-warmed oocytes. These results suggested that vitrified-warmed oocytes may need an activation protocol different from unvitrified oocytes. In this respect, unvitrified oocytes were more sensitive to the concentration rather than the duration of ionomycin treatment when compared with vitrified oocytes, which were sensitive to the treatment duration. These results may provide a platform to improve the potential applications of vitrified oocytes in medicine and agriculture., (Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

In order to investigate the effects of bone marrow-derived MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) in reversing liver fibrosis and to determine their possible mechanism of action, mouse MSCs were infused into the tail vein of a CCl(4) injection mouse chronic model. MSCs caused a decrease in liver fibrosis histopathologically, 4 weeks after transplantation. The reduction in liver collagen was confirmed by quantitative analysis. Moreover, lipid peroxidation in the CCl(4)/MSC group decreased significantly. Quantitative RT (reverse transcription)-PCR analysis showed administration of MSCs has a significant antifibrotic effect as evidenced by the decrease in expression of liver collagen and increase in MMP13 (matrix metalloproteinase 13) in the CCl(4)/MSC group when compared with the CCl(4) group, 4 weeks after transplantation. The expression of alphaSMA (smooth muscle actin) and TIMP1 was also down-regulated in the CCl(4)/MSC group. Additionally, the expression of MMP9 was significantly up-regulated in the CCl(4)-treated group; however, there was no significant change after MSC injection. Few engrafted cells in the recipient liver and were able to differentiate into albumin-positive cells. In conclusion, MSCs can enhance recovery of a CCl(4)-injured mouse liver through their influence in reducing collagen deposition by possibly affecting expression of MMPs.