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The human–animal relationship and its benefits have been a popular issue in recent decades. This study focuses on the dog as a paradigmatic example of this complex bond. The relationship between human and dog evolved over thousands of years through the domestication process. During this period, climatic, cultural, geographical and social changes have had a direct impact on this bond. Dogs have a remarkable capacity to play a variety of roles that mirror the evolution of human societies. Subsequently, questions arise regarding the important and symbolic roles that canines played in ancient cultures, religions and mythological traditions. Specifically, how have these roles changed through history? This research aimed to explore the socio‐economic aspects of the human–dog relationship, spanning from ancient civilizations to modern societies. Through a systematic search methodology, this investigation seeks to provide insights into the dynamics of the complex human–dog relationship, including historical backgrounds, socio‐cultural dynamics, economic implications and associated challenges. Additionally, the present study addresses the environmental concerns that emerge alongside rising stray dog populations. This research emphasizes the importance of strategies to balance the benefits of this coexistence that promote human and animal welfare. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motifs have critical impacts on the behavioral and structural characteristics of RNA sequences. Understanding and predicting the functionalities and interactions of an RNA sequence requires discovering and identifying its motifs. Due to the importance of motif discovery in bioinformatics, a significant corpus of techniques and algorithms have been proposed, each of which has various advantages and limitations and hence, are suitable for specific applications. To understand these techniques and algorithms, compare them, and choose the most suitable one for a particular application scenario, it is crucial to have a clear understanding of the different vital aspects that characterize these algorithms. The lack of such a framework to study these aspects is a serious existing challenge in the literature that needs further investigation. In this paper, we propose a taxonomy and a framework to address this issue. We define the concept of motif discovery process and three aspects that characterize such a process, which are motif type, discovery technique, and application. We then study the literature and classify the existing approaches along with these aspects. This will give the reader a broader view and more precise understanding of what these techniques and algorithms do, how they do it, and what is the most suitable application for each of them. We then present the possible gaps and challenges foreseen to be the future directions of the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lysozyme activity is one of the nonspecific immunity parameters measured by changing the amount of adsorption at different times. The objective of the present study was to compare five non-linear models including Gompertz, Richards, Logistic, Lopez, and Weilbull to describe the cumulative plasma lysozyme activity in quails. In total 1364 plasma samples (1004 females and 360 males) were collected and the cumulative lysozyme activity was calculated by turbidimetric method assay in Micrococcus luteus. The goodness-of-fit of models was compared according to different criteria of Maximum loglikelihood, Akaike information criterion, Mean square error, and Bayesian information criterion. The results showed that the Gompertz model was the best model for describing of decreasing cumulative pattern of lysozyme activity in female and male quails and provided satisfactory predictions of lysozyme activity at different times (30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300 seconds). The parameters of all models were higher in females than males except for the k parameter which was greater in the males. Male quails had higher values for time and lysozyme activity than females at inflection points, whereas the absolute growth rate in 30, 150, and 300 seconds was predicted higher in female quails. In conclusion, the Gompertz model can be used accurately to evaluate cumulative lysozyme activity patterns in both sexes of quails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the serviceability conditions of High Strength Concrete (HSC) beams, the total number of 6 beams (L = 2 m, b = 0.2 m, h = 0.3 m) heavily reinforced with different ratios of [RHO] and [RHO]' were cast and tested under bending load. During the test the concrete and steel strains, deflection and crack width are measured at different beam locations. Based on these experimental readings, the bending rigidities (EI) of (HSC) beams are defined and the results are compared with the different available theoretical methods. Key words: HSC beams, different ratios of [RHO] and [RHO]', serviceability conditions, (EI), INTRODUCTION Despite a large number of investigations (1-6) carried out in the past on flexural behavior of high strength concrete (HSC) beams, controversy still remains with regard to some vital [...]

The use of externally bonded composite sheets or laminates is by now a diffuse technique to strengthen existing RC structures. However, some aspects of flexural condition still need experimental and numerical analysis; furthermore, especially for serviceability checks, there is a lack of code provisions. Six reinforced high strength concrete (HSC) beams strengthened with FRP sheets were fabricated and tested, the finite element (FE) models adopted by ANSYS was performed to examine the structural behavior of tested beams was performed. A comparison between the finite element analysis results and the experimental data available on the specimens was made and by using trial and error method, the finite element model was calibrated. Six under-reinforced concrete beams were fabricated and tested to failure. With the exception of the control beam, one or four layers of CFRP were applied to the specimens. The structural response throughout the loading regime was primarily captured in terms of the load deflection behavior. The load deflection plots obtained from numerical study show good agreement with the experimental results. The serviceability characteristics of the test beams were evaluated in terms of the crack width, deflection and stress in steel and concrete. The crack patterns in the beams are also presented. Keywords: Finite Element Model, FRP, HSC, Serviceability, INTRODUCTION The high strength-to-weight ratio, resistance to electro-chemical corrosion, larger creep strain, good fatigue strength, potential for decreased installation costs and repairs due to lower weight in comparison with steel, [...]

Abstract The aim of this study was to compare the quality characteristics and mineral content of the fiber from male and female cashmere goats raised under different management systems. Male and female Raeini cashmere goats (, 20.9 ± 0.4%, 66.1 ± 1.5%, 33.8 ± 1.5% and 1.8 ± 0.2 gf/tex, respectively. The sulfur, copper and zinc content of the cashmere averaged 2.8 ± 0.1%, 0.00065 ± 0.00002% and 0.01276 ± 0.00025%, respectively. Rearing method significantly affected staple length, coefficient of variation of fiber diameter, cashmere tenacity and copper content. Males had a higher coefficient of variation of fiber diameter and cashmere tenacity than females (P

BACKGROUND: Animal breeds are often recognized through their specific characteristics, nevertheless, the breeds' anatomical and biochemical characteristics have not considered yet in many of the researches done on one-humped camels. There are some particular differences in camel breeds due to different climate conditions and rearing necessity OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to compare differences in anatomical and plasma biochemical parameters of two Iranian one-humped camels, the Jammaz (racing) and Balouchi (dual-purpose) breeds. METHODS: Anatomical parameters were body length (BL), neck length (NL), chest girth (CG), barrel girth (BG), hump circumference (HC), fore limb length (FLL), hind limb length (HLL), height at hump (HH), fore limbs interval (FLI), hind limbs interval (HLI), fore hoof circumference (FHC), hind hoof circumference (HHC), abdominal circumference (AC), shank circumference (SC) and leg circumference (LC). Moreover, concentrations of Glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, cholesterol, total bilirubin (Bili-T), direct bilirubin (Bili- D), calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) were measured as plasma biochemical parameters. Data analysis was conducted through t-test statistics. RESULTS: Results revealed significant differences between body type traits of breeds, especially in organs related to running ability, while the Jammaz breed has more height and longer limbs than the Balouchi breed. Some blood parameters (glucose, LDH, BUN, cortisol and T4) are considerably higher in Jammaz breed, too. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study suggest some anatomical (especially fore and hind limb lengths, neck length and body height at hump) and physiological characteristics (lactate dehydrogenase, blood urea nitrogen, cortisol, glucose and T4) of Iranian racing and dual purpose camels as breed markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Infectious diseases widely occur through bacteria such as Salmonella spp. in different hosts such as domestic animals and human. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to isolate Salmonella Typhimurium bacteria from poultry feces and in vitro assessment of antimicrobial effects of 9 species of Zagros native medicinal plants. METHODS: Ethanol extracts of jooshir, shallots, Iranian eremurus, artichokes, sheng, amaranth, sorrel, oregano and harmel were extracted through rotary vacuum system. Furthermore, 12 strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were isolated from poultry feces in Sistan region. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of plant extracts were determined through micro dilution method. Sensitivity of different strains to antibiotics was tested through standard Kirby-Bauer diffusion disk methods. RESULTS: Salmonella Typhimurium strains are resistant to Penicillin (100%), Ampicillin (100%), Tetracycline (16.6%), Amikacin (8.3%) and Oxacillin (75.0%). Results of the antimicrobial assay have shown that extracts of amaranth, jooshir and artichokes had the highest MIC against Salmonella Typhimurium. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the current study showed that according to the antibiotic resistance of Salmonella Typhimurium isolated from poultry, antibiotic treatment, in particular with penicillin, ampicillin and oxacillin with the bacterium resistance of 75 to 100% would not be effective. In contrast, using plant ethanol extracts especially jooshir, amaranth and artichokes could be recommended as an alternative to conventional antibiotic treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]