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Stress responsiveness and fish meal (FM) replacement are two of the most important concerns toward achieving sustainable aquaculture. The purpose of this study was to see how early mild stress (netting) and FM replacement with meat and bone meal (MBM) affected oscar (Astronotus ocellatus; 5.2 ± 0.9 g) growth, hematology, blood biochemistry, immune responses, antioxidant system, liver enzymes, and stress responses. Oscars were subjected to a 3 × 3 experimental design (three fish meal replacement levels: 250, 180 and 110 g/kg of FM in diets; three stress periods: 0-, 2- and 3-times early mild stress). After ten weeks of the experiment, FM levels in diets did not affect growth data, but the survival rate after the acute confinement (AC) stress was lower in 11FM treatments (47.7% compared to 67.7%) than others. Fish exposed to the 3Stress schedule had a lower growth (31.03 ± 6.50 g) and survival rate (55.5%) after the AC stress than the 2Stress group (38.92 ± 6.82 g and 70.0%). Lower survival and growth rate in the 3Stress and 11FM groups coincided with the lowest blood performance, total protein, lysozyme, complement C4, complement C3, immunoglobulin, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and the highest glucose, cortisol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase serum levels. Altogether, this study revealed that it is possible to replace FM with MBM up to 28% (180 g/kg of FM) without negative effects on the growth and health of juvenile oscar as dietary 110 g/kg of FM impaired fish health. While fish welfare should be considered, we can conclude that mild stress (2Stress) during the farming period, but without adding excessive alternative protein sources, can improve the stress responsiveness of oscar.

One of the ways to implement practical plans in planning and protecting them is to be aware of the ecological potential of these resources and to investigate the factors affecting their degradation. In this Hyrcanian forest study in northern Iran, a study was conducted to determine the ecological capability of the forest based on three methods: AHP, fuzzy gamma and regression based on GIS and weighting of factors with AHP model. Then, using field data and stepwise regression model, a region decline map was constructed. The validation results of the three methods using the ROC model showed that the fuzzy gamma estimates the region capability with the highest accuracy and only 27% of the region has high and very high capability. Livestock grazing, climate change, land use change and diseases have played the most important role in the decline. The decline map developed along with the capability map can be helpful to any management of oak forests in the area to reduce decline factors and prioritize areas for conservation and support programs.

This study investigated how the time interval between the last EMS (netting) and the acute confinement stress (AC stress) at the end of the experiment can influence growth, haematology, blood biochemistry, immunological response, antioxidant system, liver enzymes, and stress response of oscar (Astronotus ocellatus; 5.7 ± 0.8 g). Nine experimental treatments were tested, as follows: Control, Stress28 (EMS in weeks two and eight), Stress27 (EMS in weeks two and seven), Stress26 (EMS in weeks two and six), Stress25 (EMS in weeks two and five), Stress24 (EMS in week two and four), Stress23 (EMS in week two and three), Stress78 (EMS in week seven and eight), and Stress67 (EMS in week six and seven). After the nine-week experimental period, while it was not significant, fish exposed to Stress78 (26.78 g) and Stress67 (30.05 g) had the lowest growth rates. After AC stress, fish exposed to Stress78 (63.33%) and Control (60.00%) showed the lowest survival rate. The Stress78 fish displayed low resilience, illustrated by values of blood performance, LDL, total protein, lysozyme, ACH50, immunoglobin, complement component 4, complement component 3, cortisol, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and alanine aminotransferase. In conclusion, gathering consecutive stress and not enough recovery time in the Stress78 group negatively affected stress responsiveness and the health of oscar.

Zagros Forest region plays an important role in conserving water and soil resources in Iran. In recent decades, the destructions caused by natural and anthropogenic factors had exacerbated soil erosion in this region. Therefore, it is important to investigate the effects of restoration management on soil erosion control in the region. In this regard, it is also important using the fuzzy inference systems to convert the qualitative index of soil erodibility into a quantitative index with the possibility to analyze the results based on the principles of parametric statistics. This study was conducted in 804 ha of Zagros forests in western Iran. Soil erosion was studied in closed and unclosed forested zones by 40 randomly selected sample profiles (20 profiles per each zone) using the FAO (Boolean logic) and FAO-Fuzzy models. The fuzzy inference of research was carried out according to the Mamdani system based on the triangular membership function. Results showed that the difference between the mean soil erodibility in the closed and unclosed zones was significant (p < 0.01). The results also showed in spite of differences between FAO-Fuzzy model indices with FAO model in all sample, the direction of these differences does not show any considerable decreasing or increasing trend. Considering the prominent features of fuzzy logic that enables data analysis in quantitative and continuous form of numbers, it is suggested to use fuzzy logic capability in FAO model and other soil erosion estimation models based on Boolean classification logic. Finally, the study demonstrated the effectiveness of “closing management” to control soil erosion on steep degrading lands in the region.

The present study was conducted to understand key biochemical, physiological, and molecular changes associated with ovarian growth and with lipid transfer and/or accumulation into the ovary during oogenesis in captive beluga sturgeon. Plasma levels of triacylglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipid, and sex steroid hormones were determined and all were found to increase notably throughout development from the perinucleolar to the tertiary yolk stage. Using fast protein liquid chromatography, we recognized three major lipoprotein peaks in chromatograms from all samples. These peaks were characterized as containing very low-density lipoprotein (Vldl), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein (Ldl/Hdl), and plasma proteins. While Ldl/Hdl represented the most abundant lipoprotein fraction, the relative abundance of different lipoprotein classes did not change with the stage of oogenesis. Eluted lipoproteins were separated using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sequenced. The peptide sequence spectra for 66-kDa, 205-kDa, 29-kDa, and 70-kDa bands matched with albumin, vitellogenin (Vtg) AB2b, immunoglobulin light-chain precursor, and immunoglobulin heavy-chain, respectively. The large amount of albumin in the plasma protein peak and the confined presence of Vtg AB2b to within Ldl/Hdl reinforce the lipoprotein classification. Lastly, transcript levels of genes encoding ovarian lipoprotein lipase ( lpl), apolipoprotein E ( apoe), very low-density lipoprotein receptors ( vldlr), and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8-like ( lrp8) were estimated using quantitative RT-PCR. The high mRNA levels of lpl, apoe, and lipoprotein receptors vldlr and lrp8 in previtellogenic females suggest that sturgeon oocytes need to be prepared to accept and traffic Vtg and lipids internally, before the start of vitellogenesis.

The in vivo effect of 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) on transcript levels of the gonadotropin receptors (fshr and lhr) and sex differentiation-related genes (dmrt1 and foxl2) was examined in the ovaries of immature female beluga. For this purpose, six fish were treated with implants containing 2.5 mg 11KT and a placebo group of six females of the same age and gametogenic stage were given a blank implant. The implants were intraperitoneally inserted into 4-year-old females at the previtellogenic stage (mean body weight 5580 ± 165 g) and maintained under culture conditions for 8 weeks. Ovary samples for gene expression analysis of lhr, fshr, dmrt1 and foxl2 were collected by biopsy at 3 and 8 weeks post implantation. Diameters of oocytes increased in response to 11KT treatment, both at 3 and at 8 weeks post implantation, but no obvious changes were evident in cytology. Three weeks of 11KT treatment did not affect target gene expression, but a tendency for a time-dependent decrease of lhr and dmrt1 mRNA levels was observed in both treatment and placebo groups. By 8 weeks of treatment, however, 11KT implants provoked the upregulation of fshr and foxl2 transcript levels. Furthermore, lhr and dmrt1 transcript abundances recovered by 8 weeks of exposure in both blank- and 11KT-implanted beluga. These results suggest that 11KT, either directly or indirectly, may affect gametogenesis and regulate some key components of the reproductive axis in female beluga.

Early-life exposure to mild stressors can assist animals in coping with more stressful events in later life. This study was aimed at investigating how early stress and dietary lipid contents affect growth, hematology, blood biochemistry, immunological responses, antioxidant system, liver enzymes, and stress responses of oscar (Astronotus ocellatus) ( 6.8 ± 0.7 g). Six experimental treatments were HL0Stress (high-lipid diet and without stress), HL2Stresses (high-lipid diet and two-week stress), HL4Stresses (high-lipid diet and four-week stress), LL0Stress (low-lipid diet and without stress), LL2Stresses (low-lipid diet and two-week stress), and LL4Stresses (low-lipid diet and four-week stress). During the ten-week trial, fish fed high-lipid diets grew faster ( 46.41 ± 4.67 vs. 38.81 ± 2.81 ) and had a lower feed conversion ratio (2.21 vs. 2.60) than those fed low-lipid diets ( P < 0.05 ). After acute confinement stress (AC stress), high-lipid groups had higher survival than low-lipid treatments (81.25% vs 72.92%) ( P < 0.05 ). Fish subjected to two-time stress (2Stresses) had a higher survival rate after AC stress (90.63% vs. 62.50%), hematocrit, white blood cell, blood performance, total protein, high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol, triglyceride, alternative complement activity (ACH50), superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and alkaline phosphatase levels than those not stressed ( P < 0.05 ). Contrariwise, glucose, cortisol, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase levels were significantly lower in the 2Stresses groups compared with 0Stress fish ( P < 0.05 ). Collectively, these findings suggest stressing the signs of adaptation in 2Stresses fish. However, a higher number of early stress events (4Stresses) appears to exceed the threshold of manageable stress levels for this species. In conclusion, the HL2Stresses group outperformed the other treatments in terms of growth, health status, and stress responsiveness. Although fish welfare must be considered, these results suggest that early mild stress can result in a greater survival rate after fish are exposed to later acute stress.

Objectives: Traumatic hand injuries present to emergency departments frequently. Pain secondary to these injuries is typically managed with opioids, which may be inadequate and have side effects. Ultrasound (US)-guided forearm nerve blocks have emerged as an alternative modality for patients with acute pain from isolated extremity injuries. Methods: We performed a non-blinded, consecutive, randomized pragmatic trial of US-guided forearm nerve blocks using medium and long-acting anesthetic versus usual care for a six-day period around July 4th, 2017. Adults who sustained a traumatic or blast injury of their hands were considered. Consecutive emergency department patients were consented, enrolled and randomized into a study group (block) or control (standard care). The study group received a US-guided forearm block using a 50/50 mix of 1% lidocaine and 0.5% bupivacaine. The primary outcome was median pain scores via a 100-point visual analog scale at 15, 60, and 120 minutes after the nerve block compared to the baseline pain score. The secondary outcome was mean morphine equivalents administered. Results: Sixteen patients were screened and 12 were randomized: six to the treatment group and six to the control group. Median pain reduction from baseline at 15, 60, and 120 minutes in the forearm block group was -35 (IQR=10), -30 (IQR=50), and -20 (IQR=70, versus -5 (IQR=10), -20.5 (IQR=20), -20 (IQR=70) in the control group. At all time points, patient-reported pain scores decreased significantly over baseline in the forearm block group, whereas non-significant reductions in pain scores occurred in the control group. Conclusion: US-guided forearm blocks for acute traumatic hand injuries resulted in greater pain relief when compared to usual care.

BACKGROUND Ketamine is an emerging drug used in the management of undifferentiated, severe agitation in the prehospital setting. However, prior work has indicated that ketamine may exacerbate psychotic symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. The objective of this study was to describe psychiatric outcomes in patients who receive prehospital ketamine for severe agitation. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study, conducted at two tertiary academic medical centers, utilizing chart review of patients requiring prehospital sedation for severe agitation from January 1, 2014, to June 30, 2016. Patients received either intramuscular (IM) versus intravenous (IV) ketamine or IM versus IV benzodiazepine. The primary outcome was psychiatric inpatient admission with secondary outcomes including ED psychiatric evaluation and nonpsychiatric inpatient admission. Generalized estimating equations and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare cohorts. RESULTS During the study period, 141 patient encounters met inclusion with 59 (42%) receiving prehospital ketamine. There were no statistically significant differences between the ketamine and benzodiazepine cohorts for psychiatric inpatient admission (6.8% vs. 2.4%, difference = 4.3%, 95% CI = -2% to 12%, p = 0.23) or ED psychiatric evaluation (8.6% vs. 15%, difference = -6.8%, 95% CI = -18% to 5%, p = 0.23). Patients with schizophrenia who received ketamine did not require psychiatric inpatient admission (17% vs. 10%, difference = 6.7%, 95% CI = -46% to 79%, p = 0.63) or ED psychiatric evaluation (17% vs. 50%, difference = -33%, 95% CI = -100% to 33%, p = 0.55) significantly more than those who received benzodiazepines, although the subgroup was small (n = 16). While there was no significant difference in the nonpsychiatric admission rate between the ketamine and benzodiazepine cohorts (35% vs. 51%, p = 0.082), nonpsychiatric admissions in the benzodiazepine cohort were largely driven by intubation (63% vs. 3.8%, difference = 59%, 95% CI = 38% to 79%, p

There have been no previous studies of urinary symptoms in patients with traumatic frontal intracerebral hemorrhage. The purpose of this work was to provide first insights into the potential role of traumatic frontal intracerebral hemorrhage in the development of urinary symptoms. This condition is known to cause compression in and around the prefrontal cortex, and we wanted to examine its effect on the micturition center.Patients with voiding dysfunction (n = 176) were assessed for lower urinary tract symptoms using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). Out of 176 patients, 52 symptomatic patients with voiding difficulties underwent urodynamic testing. All patients with traumatic frontal intracerebral hemorrhage were treated at the University Medical Center Tuebingen, Germany, and the Azad University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran, between 2017 and 2020. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were documented in patients with compression of the frontal lobe due to local hemorrhage. All patients routinely performed Brain CT scans. Brain magnetic resonance (MRI) images of the patients with suspicion of diffuse axonal injuries were additionally performed. Out of 176 treated patients (median age of 49 years), 52 patients with voiding difficulties were evaluated.Urodynamic testing of 52 symptomatic patients revealed detrusor overactivity in 25 (48%), low-compliance bladder in 4 (7.7%), detrusor-sphincter dyssynergia in 20 (38%), and uninhibited sphincter relaxation in 11 patients (21%). There was no significant correlation between the volume of hemorrhage and urinary symptoms (p=0.203, Spearman q=0.726). Frontal intracerebral hemorrhage compressing the pre-frontal cortex influences the micturition center and is responsible for lower urinary tract symptoms.Hemorrhage of the right or left frontal lobe does have a direct relationship with incontinence which completely disappeared in 85% of the patients within 9 months.

Background Presence of ethanol (EtOH) may alter the relationship between blood lactate concentrations and mortality. This study compares lactate‐associated mortality risk in the presence and absence of EtOH. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study including all patients, age >17 years, presenting from January 2012–December 2018, to an urban, academic emergency department, with a clinically measured lactate. Data were electronically abstracted from the medical record. The primary outcome was 28‐day in‐hospital mortality. Patients were grouped by EtOH test results as follows: 1) present (any EtOH detected), 2) absent (EtOH concentration measured and not detected), or 3) not ordered. Marginal analysis was used to calculated probability of mortality for fixed values of lactate and model covariates. Results Of 40,956 adult emergency department patients with measured lactate, we excluded 768 (1.89%) for lactate >10.0 mmol/L, leaving 40,240 for analysis: 4,066 (10.1%) EtOH present, 10,819 (26.9%) EtOH absent, 25,355 (63%) EtOH not ordered. Of these, 1790 (4.4%) had 28‐day in‐hospital mortality. Marginal probability of mortality calculated for specific lactate values found less risk for EtOH Present patients versus EtOH absent patients at lactate 0.0 mmol/L (0.8% [95%CI: 0.5–1.2%] vs 3.2% [2.8–3.6%]), 2.0 mmol/L (1.5% [1.1–1.9%] vs 4.0% [3.7–4.3%]), 4.0 mmol/L (2.6% [2.2–3.1%] vs 5.0% [4.6–5.4%]), until 6.0 mmol/L (4.5% [3.7–5.4%] vs 6.2% [5.4–7.0%]). Conclusion EtOH presence significantly alters lactate‐associated mortality risk when lactate

The present study aimed to provide an early insight into the effect of intra-axial frontal lobe tumors on the micturition center and its potential role in producing compression in and around the prefrontal cortex.A total of 149 symptomatic patients were selected for urodynamic testing. The study sample included all patients with intra-axial frontal lobe tumors treated at two locations: the University Medical Center Tuebingen (Germany), and Azad University of Medical Sciences (Iran) between 2017 and 2020. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) were recorded in patients with frontal lobe compression due to local tumor growth. The symptomatic patients had brain magnetic resonance (MRI) images taken to examine for possible lesions.The treated patients (149 patients with a median age of 55 years) were evaluated using computer urodynamic investigation and voiding diaries. The results of urodynamic testing of 149 symptomatic patients showed detrusor over-activity in 82 (55%) patients, dyssynergia of detrusor-sphincter in 67 (45%) patients, uninhibited sphincter relaxation in 40 (27%) patients, and low-compliance bladder in 21 (14%) patients. There was no significant correlation found between tumor size and urinary symptoms (p = 0.103, Spearman q = 0.826).Frontal intra-axial tumors compressing and infiltrating the prefrontal cortex influence the micturition center and produce lower urinary tract symptoms. The tumors of the right frontal lobe were directly associated with incontinence, which was completely disappeared in 70% of the patients within 2 years.

Introduction: It is difficult to determine illness severity for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients, especially among stable-appearing emergency department (ED) patients. We evaluated patient outcomes among ED patients with a documented ambulatory oxygen saturation measurement. Methods: This was a retrospective chart review of ED patients seen at New York University Langone Health during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in New York City. We identified ED patients who had a documented ambulatory oxygen saturation. We studied the outcomes of high oxygen requirement (defined as >4 liters per minute) and mechanical ventilation among admitted patients and bounceback admissions among discharged patients. We also performed logistic regression and compared the performance of different ambulatory oxygen saturation cutoffs in predicting these outcomes. Results: Between March 15–April 14, 2020, 6194 patients presented with fever, cough, or shortness of breath at our EDs. Of these patients, 648 (11%) had a documented ambulatory oxygen saturation, of which 165 (24%) were admitted. Notably, admitted and discharged patients had similar initial vital signs. However, the average ambulatory oxygen saturation among admitted patients was significantly lower at 89% compared to 96% among discharged patients (p

The present study was conducted to understand key biochemical, physiological, and molecular changes associated with ovarian growth and with lipid transfer and/or accumulation into the ovary during oogenesis in captive beluga sturgeon. Plasma levels of triacylglycerides, cholesterol, phospholipid, and sex steroid hormones were determined and all were found to increase notably throughout development from the perinucleolar to the tertiary yolk stage. Using fast protein liquid chromatography, we recognized three major lipoprotein peaks in chromatograms from all samples. These peaks were characterized as containing very low-density lipoprotein (Vldl), low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein (Ldl/Hdl), and plasma proteins. While Ldl/Hdl represented the most abundant lipoprotein fraction, the relative abundance of different lipoprotein classes did not change with the stage of oogenesis. Eluted lipoproteins were separated using sodium dodecyl-sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and sequenced. The peptide sequence spectra for 66-kDa, 205-kDa, 29-kDa, and 70-kDa bands matched with albumin, vitellogenin (Vtg) AB2b, immunoglobulin light-chain precursor, and immunoglobulin heavy-chain, respectively. The large amount of albumin in the plasma protein peak and the confined presence of Vtg AB2b to within Ldl/Hdl reinforce the lipoprotein classification. Lastly, transcript levels of genes encoding ovarian lipoprotein lipase (

In order to consider oleo- gum resin extractionperiodicity on biometric variables of wild pistachio (Pistacia atlantica subsp. kurdica), three different forest areas in Kurdistan province, west of Iran, were selected based on difference extraction periodicities (regular, irregular and without periodicity). Then homogenous unit maps in GIS environment produced, and one unit with identical characteristic from any three different areas were selected. Sampling in the selected units was implemented on 100 randomized pistachio tress with diameter at breast height (DBH) more than 25 cm. On each tree, DBH, total height, crown diameter and number of fruit bunches were recorded. Then the measured trees were classified to three different diameter classes as: 25- 35 cm, 35-45 cm and more than 45 cm diameter at breast height. Comparison between averages of the interested variables was done using ANOVA and Duncan tests. Results showed that except to the average of number of clusters, the averages of other interested variables, at least in one diameter classes, were significantly higher in the area with regular extraction periodicity compare to the area with irregular extraction periodicity. Finally, we concluded that oleo- gum resin extraction without regular periodicity had a negative impact on biometric variables of wild pistachio, therefore, we propose to consider the periodicity in the future extraction.

Plotless or distance sampling methods, also known as k- tree sampling, are practical field sampling methods for forest inventories and ecological surveys. In this research, in order to test the efficiency of Continues Nearest Neighbor (C-nn) distance sampling method a 220 ha forest area was selected in Kheyroud forests of northern Iran. Then field sampling was performed using: 1- circular sample plots of 1000 m2 which is conventional in these forests and 2- C-nn samples with k = 15 trees, both based on a 150 m×200 m systematic grid. In total, we measured 77 circular sample plots and 77 C-nn samples in the study area. Results showed that there was no significant difference between estimation of forest stem basal area using the two methods and even among different values of k (6 to 15). However, sampling precision decreased significantly by decreasing the amount of k from 7 to 6 trees. Furthermore, time cost in the C-nn method was significantly lower than the other one. Therefore, regarding to the ease of implementation and the statistical precision of the C-nn sampling method, we concluded when sampling using plotless methods is needed to apply in these kind of forest, the C-nn sampling method can be implemented with k =7 trees based on cost and precision of inventory.

The in vivo effect of 11-ketotestosterone (11KT) on transcript levels of the gonadotropin receptors (fshr and lhr) and sex differentiation-related genes (dmrt1 and foxl2) was examined in the ovaries of immature female beluga. For this purpose, six fish were treated with implants containing 2.5 mg 11KT and a placebo group of six females of the same age and gametogenic stage were given a blank implant. The implants were intraperitoneally inserted into 4-year-old females at the previtellogenic stage (mean body weight 5580 ± 165 g) and maintained under culture conditions for 8 weeks. Ovary samples for gene expression analysis of lhr, fshr, dmrt1 and foxl2 were collected by biopsy at 3 and 8 weeks post implantation. Diameters of oocytes increased in response to 11KT treatment, both at 3 and at 8 weeks post implantation, but no obvious changes were evident in cytology. Three weeks of 11KT treatment did not affect target gene expression, but a tendency for a time-dependent decrease of lhr and dmrt1 mRNA levels was observed in both treatment and placebo groups. By 8 weeks of treatment, however, 11KT implants provoked the upregulation of fshr and foxl2 transcript levels. Furthermore, lhr and dmrt1 transcript abundances recovered by 8 weeks of exposure in both blank- and 11KT-implanted beluga. These results suggest that 11KT, either directly or indirectly, may affect gametogenesis and regulate some key components of the reproductive axis in female beluga.

An effect of 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) on growth of previtellogenic (PV) ovaries of eel, salmon and Atlantic cod has been demonstrated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 11-KT treatment (in vivo) on ovarian growth, on hormonal and biochemical changes in blood, and on ovarian mRNA levels of lipidation-related genes in captive beluga with PV oocytes. In addition, the potential involvement of lipoprotein lipase (Lpl), an important enzyme for extracellular hydrolysis of lipoprotein-associated lipids, was evaluated. Twelve beluga (4-year olds) were treated with an intraperitoneal slow-release implant of either 11-KT (2.5 mg) or a compressed matrix (control). Ovarian biopsy was done to obtain pre- (day 0: T0) and post-treatment (day 21: T21) data on histology and target gene expression. Three weeks of exposure resulted in an increase in serum 11-KT levels from 2.2 ng/mL to 83 ng/mL but did not yield significant changes in serum levels of triacylglycerides and cholesterol. Furthermore, 11-KT implantation increased oocyte diameters from 259 μm (T0) to 309 μm by T21. Regardless of the increase in oocyte size, ovaries remained in the PV stage, mostly as late perinucleolar oocytes. Meanwhile, at the molecular level, the expression of lipidation-related transcripts [lpl, apolipoprotein E (apoe), very low density lipoprotein receptors (vldlr), low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 8-like (lrp8)] was significantly up-regulated after three weeks. Immunostaining for Lpl by Western blotting indicated three immunoreactive bands (70, 58 and 37 kDa) in ovarian homogenates from beluga, but signal intensity was not affected by treatment. Altogether, the administration of 11-KT increased 11-KT serum levels, oocyte size, and the expression of genes associated with lipid uptake. However, this treatment did not advance ovarian development beyond the PV stage.

In this study, the effect of short-term starvation (0, 1 and 2 weeks) on biochemical parameters and non-specific immune response of tinfoil barb (Barbonymus schwanenfeldii) was investigated. Fish in three different groups were deprived of feed for 0 (control), 1 (S1) and 2 (S2) weeks, respectively. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected for biochemical and immunological analyses. The results indicated that plasma glucose, cholesterol and peroxidase levels and haemolytic complement activity were significantly lower in starved fish for 2 weeks than those in fed fish and in starved fish for 1 week. Plasma lysozyme activity significantly changed in different starvation periods in all treatment groups. However, no significant effect was observed on plasma antiprotease activity. There were significant differences between the control and the food-deprived groups in plasma triglyceride levels. Starvation increased plasma total protein, albumin and globulin in the deprived groups compar...

Modelling allometric equations for saplings of hybrid poplar clone produce a highly accurate estimate of pure productivity and C sequestration, leading to better sales and determination of the capacity of cellulose resources and bio-energy pools. Twenty five cuttings with 25 cm length were planted within a 1×1 m2 area in the Talookola nursery, Sari, in 2011. Ten saplings were selected from the two diameter classes (0-1, 1.1-2 cm). After separating the roots and stems, they were oven-dried at 85ºC for 48 hours. According to the diameter distribution, 24 and 6 saplings, respectively, from each diameter class were uprooted. Collar diameter and height were the twe variables used to model allometric equations. Carbon factor was obtained directly by exposing the wood samples in the oven and was estimated based on organic carbon to organic material ratio. Collar diameter and height were the variables to model allometric equations. The results of allometric modelling showed that multivariate linear model including natural logarithm of diameter, logarithm of height and diameter logarithm square with mean C factor of [C] = 0.44 is the optimal equation (R2adj = 0.732 CF = 1.056) for C sequestration of superior saplings.

Introduction Liquid nicotine exposure is becoming more common in the pediatric population. Toxicity may occur with exposure to small quantities given the high concentrations in solutions available commercially. Effects can include altered mental status, seizure, and death. Methods This simulation-based case involves the identification and management of a toddler presenting with acute liquid nicotine exposure, with emphasis on the general approach to the acutely ill pediatric patient, consideration in toxic exposures, and the presentation of nicotine exposure. Providers should assess airway, breathing, and circulation while concurrently providing supportive care for an actively seizing simulated patient, necessitating appropriate selection of medications and acute airway management. Additionally, providers must maintain a broad differential diagnosis and obtain a focused history to narrow that differential and identify toxic exposure as a cause of the patient's presentation. Preparatory and didactic material is provided to help the instructor prepare the simulation environment, guide learners through the case, and debrief with learners afterward. Results We implemented this curriculum with four pediatric emergency medicine fellows and 15 pediatric residents during two sessions. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive; participants who completed evaluations reported high levels of confidence with knowledge and skills directly related to the educational objectives after participation (mean Likert scores of 4.9 out of 5 in response to effectiveness of the case in teaching evaluation and management of nicotine toxicity). Discussion This comprehensive resource will aid in offering continuing education for providers and specifically in educating learners with regard to acute liquid nicotine exposure in a child.

Hyrcanian forests of North of Iran are of great importance in terms of various economic and environmental aspects. In this study, Spot-6 satellite images and regression models were applied to estimate above-ground biomass in these forests. This research was carried out in six compartments in three climatic (semi-arid to humid) types and two altitude classes. In the first step, ground sampling methods at the compartment level were used to estimate aboveground biomass (Mg/ha). Then, by reviewing the results of other studies, the most appropriate vegetation indices were selected. In this study, three indices of NDVI, RVI, and TVI were calculated. We investigated the relationship between the vegetation indices and aboveground biomass measured at sample-plot level. Based on the results, the relationship between aboveground biomass values and vegetation indices was a linear regression with the highest level of significance for NDVI in all compartments. Since at the compartment level the correlation coefficient between NDVI and aboveground biomass was the highest, NDVI was used for mapping aboveground biomass. According to the results of this study, biomass values were highly different in various climatic and altitudinal classes with the highest biomass value observed in humid climate and high-altitude class.

Summary This study describes the sex steroid profiles and hematological indices of 5-year-old reared female Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii, at perinucleolus and migratory stages to ascertain whether they are influenced by the maturity stage. Fish of 2923 g mean weight and 89 cm mean length were reared in rectangular concrete tanks (25 × 3 × 0.6 m, mean water temperature 16.2 ± 2.2°C, fed a diet with 38.2% crude protein and 7% crude fat in 10 kg m−2). Blood samples were taken for serum steroid levels, including 17-β estradiol (E2), testosterone (T), 17α-hydroxy progesterone (P) and hematological indices (packed cell volume, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration as well as leukocyte differential counts). Hematological indices and the leukocyte differential count showed no significant differences among fish at the perinucleolus and migratory stages. The results indicated significant differences in E2 levels among fish at the perinucleolus and migratory stage, but the T and P levels showed no significant differences between stages. This study indicates that serum sex steroid measurements and histological observations can segregate females effectively at the perinucleolus and migratory stages; however, the hematological parameters did not discriminate females at these stages. Such observations provide basic information to achieve a method to determine with high accuracy the stage of sexual maturity, for better sturgeon aquaculture management.

This study was undertaken to investigate the influence of repeated acute stress on the physiological status and non-specific immune response of goldfish, Carassius auratus. The acute stress was a succession of a 3 min-chasing period followed by a 2 min-air exposure. The goldfish in triplicate tanks were subjected 3 times daily to this stress for one (S3) or three (S9) days. A separate group of unstressed fish was used as control for each sampling time. Blood samples were collected 12, 48 and 120 h after the last stress procedure. Variations of globulin levels, plasma anti-protease and bactericidal activities were not significant in the present study. The haematological parameters and plasma total protein and albumin strongly declined in S9 fish 12 h post-stress compared to control fish. However, plasma cortisol, glucose and lactate levels in both S3 and S9 transiently increased compared to the control fish. Similarly, plasma peroxidase activity transiently increased in both stressed groups 12 h after stress. An increase in plasma lysozyme and complement activities suggested a hormesis-like effect with one-day acute stress improving the immunological response of goldfish while an extension of the stress period to three days impaired physiology and immunity for up to 5 days. This study revealed that recurrent acute stress could immunosuppress goldfish as usually expected of chronic stress.

Theaquaculture-andaquariumfishesaresensitivetostressanddiseases.Preventivemethodstoavoiddiseasesandlossoffishincludevaccination,butvaccinesarenotavailableagainstallpathogensandespeciallyagainstpar-asites.Thislackofvaccinestogetherwiththeenvironmen-talimpactofextensiveuseoftherapeuticagentssuchasantibioticsjustifytheincreasingdemandforefficientnon-specificimmunostimulantsforaquaculture(Sakai1999,BricknellandDalmo2005).Immunostimulants,whicharebiologicalandsyntheticcompounds,canmodulatetheimmune responses and disease resistance of fish byenhancingthefishnon-specificimmunity(Sakai1999).According to FAO definition, probiotics are “livemicroorganisms,whichwhenadministeredinadequateamountsconferahealthbenefitonthehost”(Anonymous2002).Deadcellsarealsoknownasprobioticwhentheimmunomodulationfeatureofprobioticsareconcerned(Adams2010);thus,probioticsarealiveordeadbenefi-cial bacteria, which can control pathogens throughimprovingtheimmuneresponsesofhosts(IriantoandAustin2002,Alyetal.2008,Qietal.2009,Adams2010

One of the most important periods in artificial breeding of sturgeon is incubation. In general, little is known about ontogeny of the stress response in early developmental stages of sturgeon. In this study, cortisol content was measured by radioimmunoassay for the first time in eggs of Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus to elicit at which times during early developmental stages, that they were particularly sensitive to stressful events. In this study, fertilized eggs of mature Persian sturgeons were placed in special boxes (as replicates) that were put in incubation units of Yushchenko. To assess pre-stress samples (resting cortisol levels), 5 eggs were selected randomly from each box in 7 important stages of incubation (2-cell division, blastula, end of blastula, mid of gastrula, neurula, eyed stage and heart beaten). In another experiment, eggs were exposed to an acute stress (10 min out of water) in 7 developmental stages. For determination of post-stress cortisol, eggs were collected 2 and 6 h after the stress. The results indicated significant difference in various stages of incubation but cortisol levels revealed no differences in whole-body levels between stressed samples (2 and 6 h post-stress) and unstressed samples (P > 0.05). The highest percentage of hatching rate for post-stressed eggs was recorded in 2-cell division stage while this percentage declined steadily in the heart beaten stage when a statistically significant difference was revealed with regard to other stages (P = 0.000). These findings suggested that sturgeon eggs were not so much sensitive in their early developmental stages and relatively resistant to stress. However, significant decrease in survival rate in heart beaten stage showed a sensitivity of this stage to stress. Lack of an increase in cortisol after acute stress indicated that hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis for cortisol synthesis was not yet functional. However, further studies seem necessary to clarify when HPI axis is activated in this species.

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of background colour on the growth performance, skin colour, haematology, physiological condition and non-specific immune responses of goldfish, Carassius auratus. Goldfish were reared in tanks with four different background colours (white, black, blue and red) for 8 weeks. Fish growth performance markedly rose in white background compared with the other treatments. There was no significant difference in haematological parameters or plasma proteins concentrations between treatments. Plasma cortisol of fish reared in red background was significantly higher than that in black and white backgrounds. Plasma antiprotease and lysozyme activities were more than doubled in white and black treatments compared with the red and blue groups. The other immune parameters tested (plasma peroxidase, complement and bactericidal activities) did not significantly change between treatments. Skin carotenoid content and the intensity of fish skin colour extremely diminished in white background. This study revealed that red and blue backgrounds are chronically stressful and immunosuppressive in goldfish. White backgrounds will preferably be used for the culture of goldfish for best fish growth. However, a way to revert the colour loss of goldfish skin reared in white backgrounds remains to be investigated.

This paper presents findings on the sliding mode controller for a nuclear reactor. One of the important operations in nuclear power plants is load following. In this paper, a sliding mode control system, which is a robust nonlinear controller, is designed to control the pressurized-water reactor power. The reactor core is simulated based on the point kinetics equations and six delayed neutron groups. Considering neutron absorber poisons and regarding the limitations of the xenon concentration measurement, a sliding mode observer is designed to estimate its value, and finally, a sliding mode control based on the sliding mode observer is presented to control the core power of reactor. The stability analysis is given by means Lyapunov approach; thus, the control system is guaranteed to be stable within a large range. The employed method is easy to implement in practical applications, and moreover, the sliding mode control exhibits the desired dynamic properties during the entire output-tracking process independent of perturbations. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed observer-based controller in terms of performance, robustness and stability.

Summary The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding rate of the great sturgeon (Huso huso) young of the year (YOY) and to investigate the effects of different feeding rates in maintaining the weight of fish during short periods of winter starvation. Six feeding rates of 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0% body weight (BW) day−1 and feeding to satiation were considered for the first experiment. Each feeding rate was randomly assigned to three replicate tanks, with continuous feeding throughout a 5-week winter period of water temperatures below 10°C. Fifteen fish were held in each of 18 tanks with an average initial body weight of 219.6 ± 6.9 g. After 5 weeks of feeding, the best performance was observed in fish fed 1% BW day−1, but negative growth was observed in fish fed 0.2% BW day−1. In the second experiment, fish were deprived of feed for 3 weeks at winter temperatures. Weights and condition factors of all fish decreased during starvation, while the differences in mean weight before and after the starvation period were not significant in fish fed a level of 0.2% BW day−1 and those fish fed to satiation. No mortality was recorded in either experiment. Results of this study indicate that a feeding rate of 1% BW day−1 would be sufficient for commercial fish farming of YOY of this species to maintain them over winter. Also, to maintain fish weights and prevent weight loss in overwintering ponds, a feeding rate of around 0.3% BW day−1 seems appropriate for hatcheries.

The dynamics of stress responses in small, juvenile pikeperch Sander lucioperca (as a representative teleostean) and small, juvenile Persian sturgeon Acipenser persicus (as a chondrostean) were determined during capture and transportation for release into rivers. Blood samples were obtained from juveniles from a pond, channel, and loading basin and at 1.5 and 24 h after loading. Samples were analyzed for cortisol, glucose, and lactate concentrations, and mortality was recorded. Plasma cortisol concentrations increased, reaching a maximum in Persian sturgeon from the channel and pikeperch from the loading basin. Significant increases in plasma glucose concentrations were observed in samples from the channel and at 1.5 h after loading for Persian sturgeon and pikeperch, respectively. Similarly, significant decreases in lactate concentrations were observed 1.5 h after loading in both species. The results of this study show the sensitivity of these species to stress during transportation. They sugges...

Despite extensive research into both synaptic and morphological changes, surprisingly little is known about dendritic function in fragile X syndrome (FXS). We found that the dendritic input resistance of CA1 neurons was significantly lower in fmr1(-/y) versus wild-type mice. Consistent with elevated dendritic I(h), voltage sag, rebound, and resonance frequency were significantly higher and temporal summation was lower in the dendrites of fmr1(-/y) mice. Dendritic expression of the h-channel subunit HCN1, but not HCN2, was higher in the CA1 region of fmr1(-/y) mice. Interestingly, whereas mGluR-mediated persistent decreases in I(h) occurred in both wildtype and fmr1(-/y) mice, persistent increases in I(h) that occurred after LTP induction in wild-type mice were absent in fmr1(-/y) mice. Thus, chronic upregulation of dendritic I(h) in conjunction with impairment of homeostatic h-channel plasticity represents a dendritic channelopathy in this model of mental retardation and may provide a mechanism for the cognitive impairment associated with FXS.