Search

Background and purpose: Yarrow is a member of the Asteraceae family, utilized extensively in the field of medical sciences. Among the medicinal plants, one may encounter few specimens like the aforementioned plant, which enjoys widespread distribution across various regions of the globe and boasts a diverse array of uses that contribute to its renown. The aim of the present study was the synthesis of Yarrow extract evaluation of its antibacterial effects on a group of intestinal bacteria and comparing its antibacterial properties with phenol. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, Yarrow plant extract was extracted with the hydroalcoholic method. The aerial parts of Achillea ageratum plant with herbarium number 1753 were prepared from the slopes of Ardabil mountains and after determining the identity, the extract of this plant was extracted by hydroalcoholic method. In this method, after preparing the plant and drying the aerial parts of the plant, 10 g of it was crushed in a sterile mortar, then it was poured into an Erlenmeyer flask, and 50 mL of 100% ethanol was added to it. After 24 hours of mixing in a magnetic stirrer using a Buchner funnel with Whatman filter paper and a vacuum pump, the remaining components of the plant were separated. Then, a certain amount of distilled water (20 ml) was added to the desired solution and placed again in the magnetic stirrer whose temperature was set at 80 degrees Celsius, so that the alcohol was completely removed from the reactor. The Antibacterial effect of yarrow extract was performed by disc diffusion method and micro broth dilution on standard species of Enterobacteriaceae families including the standard bacterial strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC:10031), Escherichia coli (ATCC:23591), Shigella dysentery (ATCC:25922) and Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC:13048). All experiments were performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Results: In the present study, the growth rate of bacteria decreased by increasing the concentration of yarrow extract. The MIC of Yarrow plant extract for Klebsiella pneumonia and Enterobacter aerogenes was obtained in %6.25 and for Shigella dysentery and Escherichia coli was obtained in %12.5 and %25, respectively. Also, the MBC of extract for Shigella dysentery, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria was obtained in 25%, and for Escherichia coli it was obtained in 50%. The results of MIC and MBC show that the most sensitive bacteria to yarrow extract among the studied bacteria is Enterobacter aerogenes and the most resistant is Escherichia coli. The diameter of the inhibition zone for Shigella dysentery, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria was obtained at 19, 18, 20, and 23 mm, respectively. In this experiment, Enterobacter aerogenes bacteria were the most sensitive and Escherichia coli was the most resistant among the investigated bacteria. Comparative investigation of the antibacterial properties of yarrow extract with phenol, showed that yarrow extract had a lower killing effect than phenol at 5, 10, and 15-minute contact time. In this test, the most resistant bacteria are Shigella dysentery and the most sensitive bacteria are Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. The reason that the type of resistant and sensitive bacteria was slightly different in the method of comparing the antibacterial effect of yarrow extract with phenol with the results of MIC, MBC, and non-growth halo diameter is related to the reduction of contact time of the extract with bacteria. Conclusion: The results of the present research show that the hydroalcoholic extract of the yarrow plant is very effective in the removal of gram-negative intestinal bacteria. Also, the hydroalcoholic extract of the yarrow plant is more effective in removing gram-negative bacteria than phenol

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of heavy metals in seven types of tobacco widely consumed in the east of the country through inhalation exposure. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted from April 2022 to October 2022 in the city of Bojnord, Iran on sook of seven popular tobacco brands. Metal concentrations in sook of tobacco were determined using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy. In order to analyze the data and ensure the accuracy of the results, the amount of metals in the samples was repeated three times, and their average was analyzed. Monte Carlo software was used to assess possible risks. Results: The results of this study showed heavy metal concentrations in sook tobaccos were, respectively, Fe>Zn>Mn>Ba>Pb>Ni>Cu>Mo>Cr>As>Cd. The concentration of heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium and molybdenum in Alrah brand tobacco was higher than other types of tobacco. So that the amounts of heavy metals including arsenic, cadmium and molybdenum for this brand were 14.2±0.05, 10.4±0.06 and 11.6±0.04 micrograms per gram, respectively. The hazard index (HI) values for different types of tobacco, including Al-Rah, Amordadsub, Al-Fakher, Al-Rubi, Mazaya, traditional flavorless, and Nakhle, were 2.64, 2.41, 2.05, 1.7, 1.49, 1.46, and 1.44, respectively. The lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for Amordadsub, Al-Rah, Nakhla, Mazaya, Al-Rubi, Al-Fakher, and traditional flavorless tobaccos was 2.8×10-3, 2.43×10-3, 1.72×10-3, 1.58×10-3, 1.43×10-3, 9.58×10-4, and 8.08×10-4, respectively. Lead in Alrah tobacco sook had the highest non-carcinogenic risk value with a value of 1.59. Conclusion: According to the obtained results, Alrah tobacco sook has a higher cancer and non-cancer risk than regular tobacco and can cause non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks for consumers. Thus, it is necessary to regularly monitor the quality of prevalent tobacco to reduce delete human health risks.

Abstract Among cationic dyes, malachite green (MG) is commonly used for dying purposes and also as an inhibitor in aquaculture, food, health, and chemical industries due to its cytotoxic effects. Therefore, MG removal is essential to keep the ecosystem and human health safety. Adsorption is a viable and versatile option and exploring efficient adsorbents have high priority. Herein, MOF-5 and aminated corn Stover reduced graphene oxide (ACS-RGO) of typical adsorbents of metal–organic-frameworks (MOFs) and carbon-based classes were studied for MG removal. MOF-5 and ACS-RGO had a specific surface area and total pore volume of 507.4 and 389.0 m2/g, and 0.271 cm3/g and 0.273 cm3/g, respectively. ACS-RGO was superior for MG adsorption and the kinetic rate coefficient for ACS-RGO was ~ 7.2 times compared to MOF-5. For ACS-RGO, MG removal remained high (> 94%) in a wide range of pH. However, dye removal was pH-dependent for MOF-5 and increased from ~ 32% to ~ 67% by increasing pH from 4 to 12. Increasing dye concentration from 25 mg/L to 100 mg/L decreased adsorption by MOF-5 and ACS-RGO for ~ 30% and 7%, respectively. Dye removal was evident in a few tens of seconds after adding ACS-RGO at doses above 0.5 g/L. A significant loss of 46% in adsorption was observed by decreasing MOF-5 mass from 1 to 0.1 g/L. ACS-RGO removed MG in multilayer with an exceptional adsorption capacity of 1088.27 mg/g. In conclusion, ACS-RGO, and MOF-5 showed promising kinetic rates and adsorption capacities toward MG.

This study investigated bacterial removal using TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) modified with poly-amidoamine dendrimer macromolecule (PAMAM, G3). The PAMAM G3/TiO2 (nanohybrid) was used to specify antibacterial properties via broth microdilution (MBC-Minimum Bactericidal Concentration and MIC-Minimum Inhibitory Concentration-determination), paper disc diffusion, and surface plate count methods. The nanohybrid was characterized via the different techniques. The effects of different factors including initial bacteria count, run time, solution pH, and the nanohybrid concentration were studied. The nanohybrid cytotoxicity was studied on AGS and MKN45 cells line by MTT assay. It was revealed that the nanohybrid was effective in intercepting both bacterial strains growth. The MIC value for S. aureus and E. coli were determined to be 4 and 2 μg/mL, respectively. The MBC value for both strains were calculated to be 32 μg/mL. The results showed removal efficiency of 100% for S. aureus and E. coli bacteria in optimum situation. The decrease in cell viability in the dosage of 32 μg/mL after 72 h treatment for AGS and MKN45 cells line were shown to be 6.2 and 4.6%, respectively. The nanohybrid was able to decrease the S. aureus and E. coli count in solution, which meets the drinking water criterions aligned with WHO guidelines. HIGHLIGHTS A novel poly (amidoamine) generation 3-functionalized TiO2 nanoparticle was prepared.; The antibacterial activity was displayed with particles of a nano size which exhibited a distinct homogenous morphology.; Super high removal efficiency was achevied for bacteria in aqueous solution: E. coli and S. aureus.; FE-SEM analysis revealed morphological variations and the mechanism of killing and trapping the bacteria by nanocomposite.; In the MIC and MBC values range, the cytotoxicity effect of nanocomposite on AGS cell line was relatively lower.;

The present study aimed to investigate the impact of a hybrid pedagogical model consisting of Teaching Games for Understanding (TGFU) and Teaching for Personal and Social Responsibility (TPSR) on the impulsivity, antisocial behaviors, and cognitive function of adolescent students. The study involved 60 male adolescent school students with an average age of 13.32 ± 1.65 years. The research was conducted in four stages: pre-test, teaching game and responsibility through table tennis sessions, post-test, and follow-up. The results of rANOVA indicated a significant decrease in impulsivity and antisocial behaviors from the beginning to the end of the intervention, along with an improvement in responsibility, cognitive, and motor function. Notably, the hybrid pedagogical model participants reported lower scores for impulsivity and antisocial behavior and higher scores for cognitive and motor function than their counterparts in the control group. The findings of the present study provide evidence for the effectiveness of hybrid pedagogical model in adolescent school students and physical education settings. These results suggest that hybrid pedagogical model can be a valuable addition to standard interventions such as psychotherapy, for reducing psychological problems and impulsivity in adolescent students.

Background: Mental health and quality of life have a significant impact on the lives of inactive elderly women. But the main question is which yoga and Pilates exercises have the greatest impact on the mental health and quality of life of disabled older women? Aims: To compare the effectiveness of a Pilates and yoga training course on general health and quality of life in sedentary elderly women. Method: It was a quasi-experimental type. The statistical population consisted of sedentary elderly women residing in Tehran, 36 persons were selected by Targeted and accessible and were randomly divided into three groups of 12 pilates, yoga and control. The instruments included: at the beginning and end of the intervention, Goldberg and Hiller mental health questionnaires (1978), World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale (1996) and Pilates, Vincasanders et al. (2013). Data analysis was performed using covariance analysis and follow-up test. Results: Pilates and yoga training improved mental health and quality of life in sedentary elderly women (p

Background and purpose: Phthalic acid esters (PAEs) are a group of organic compounds that are used as additives in plastic industry. Among PAEs, dimethyl phthalate (DMP), the simplest compound in phthalates, is an aromatic pollutant that disturbs endocrine function. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of zero-valent iron nanoparticles (NZVI) on the DMP degradation. Materials and methods: NZVI were prepared by reduction of ferric chloride using sodium borohydride. Physical properties of nanoparticles were determined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Vibrating Sample Magnetometer (VSM). Then, the effect of pH, DMP concentrations, the amount of NZVI, and contact time were investigated on DMP removal efficiency. Response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken was used to study the interaction between variables. Results: Maximum efficiency (99%) of DMP removal by NZVI was achieved in optimum conditions (pH=3, NZVI dosage =0.6 g/l, DMP concentration = 2 mg/l, and contact time= 65 min). The Box-Behnken analysis confirmed that pH and NZVI dosage have had the highest and lowest effect in the process of DMP removal by NZVI, respectively. Conclusion: According to findings, NZVI in small amounts have a proper efficiency in DMP removal. Also, DMP degradation efficiency did not change much, after being used in five consecutive cycles of degradation reactions. This shows a potential application prospect of the synthesized NZVI in real water treatment.

Background and Objectives: A large number of studies has been conducted on applications of Polyamidoamine dendrimers, but their antibacterial activity has not been investigated extensively. The purpose of this study was synthesis and determining the antibacterial effect of nano polyamidoamine-G7 (NPAMAM-G7) dendrimer in the removal of Clostridium Perfringens, Bacillus Subtilis, Salmonella typhi, and Shigella dysenteriae bacteria from aqueous solution. Methods: This experimental study was conducted in microbiology laboratory of Iran University of Medical Sciences (autumn and winter 2015). Initially, dilution of 103CFU/ml was prepared from each strain of bacteria. Then, different concentrations of dendrimer (0.025, 0.25, 2.5, and 25µg/ml), were added to water at laboratory temperature (23-25°C). In order to determine the efficiency of dendrimers in the removal of bacteria, sampling were performed at different times (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60min), and were cultured on specific medium for each bacterium. Results: In this study, the antibacterial property of dendrimer in aqueous solution had direct relationship with increasing concentration of dendrimer and contact time. The concentration of 25 μg/ml of dendrimer at contact times of 30, 50, and 60 min, 100% removed bacteria Salmonella typhi and Bacillus Subtilis and at contact time of 60 min, 100% and 98% removed Clostridium Perfringens and Shigella Dysenteriae bacteria, respectively, from aqueous solution. The concentration of 2.5μg/ml at 30, 50, and 60 min contact times, 100% removed Bacillus Subtilis. Conclusion: The findings of this study revealed that Polyamidoamine-G7 dendrimers possess appropriate antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

Abstract Background Nano-scale dendrimers are synthetic macromolecules that frequently used in medical and health field. Traditional anibiotics are induce bacterial resistence so there is an urgent need for novel antibacterial drug invention. In the present study seventh generation poly (amidoamine) (PAMAM-G7) dendrimer was synthesized and its antibacterial activities were evaluated against representative Gram- negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Methods PAMAM-G7 was synthesized with divergent growth method. The structural and surface of PAMAM-G7 were investigated by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope and fourier transform infrared. Pseudomonas. aeruginosa (n = 15), E. coli (n = 15), Acinetobacter baumanni (n = 15), Shigella dysenteriae (n = 15), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 10), Proteus mirabilis (n = 15), Staphylococcus aureus (n = 15) and Bacillus subtilis (n = 10) have been used for antibacterial activity assay. Additionally, representative standard strains for each bacterium were included. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined using microdilution method. Subsequently, Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) was determined by sub-culturing each of the no growth wells onto Mueller Hinton agar medium. The cytotoxicity of PAMAM-G7 dendrimer were evaluated in HCT116 and NIH 3 T3 cells by MTT assay. Results The average size of each particle was approximately 20 nm. PAMAM-G7 was potentially to inhibit both Gram positive and gram negative growth. The MIC50 and MIC90 values were determined to be 2–4 μg/ml and 4–8 μg/ml, respectively. The MBC50 and MBC90 values were found to be 64–256 μg/ml and 128–256 μg/ml, respectively. The cytotoxity effect of dendrimer on HCT116 and NIH 3 T3 cells is dependent upon exposure time to and concentration of dendrimers. The most reduction (44.63 and 43%) in cell viability for HCT116 and NIH 3 T3 cells was observed at the highest concentration, 0.85 μM after 72 h treatmentm, respectively. Conclusions This study we conclude that PAMAM-G7 dendrimer could be a potential candidate as a novel antibacterial agent.

Background: Electrolysis is an electrochemical method for the treatment of water. recently water disinfection by electrochemical methods has been increasingly carried out. The aim of this applied research was to investigate the removal of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria from drinking water by using electrolysis method with Al-Fe electrodes parallel with the monopole mode. Methods: An experimental study was conducted in the laboratory of microbiology, Iran University of Medical Science in May 2017. In this study, the contaminated water samples were prepared through adding 103, 104 and 105 E. coli and S. aureus bacteria per 1 milliliters (mL) of drinking water. Independent variables Included: different concentrations of E.coli and S. aureus bacteria (103, 104 and 105 CFU/ml), reaction time (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min), initial pH (7, 8 and 9), electrode gap (1, 2 and 3 cm), current density (0.83, 1.67 and 3.3 mA/cm2) to determine the optimum conditions were investigated. One-way ANOVA was used to analyze the results. Results: The results show that in the optimum conditions with increasing the pH from 7 to 9 removal efficiency of bacterial strains of E. coli and S. aureus were decreased significantly from 98 to 73% and 99.1 to 76%, respectively. In initial concentration of 104 CFU/ml, optimum conditions were obtained for current density, reaction time and electrodes gap, 1.67 mA/cm2, 20 min and 2 cm, respectively. With increasing current density and reaction time in both strains of bacteria, were decreased significantly. The electrodes gap do not have much impact on the efficiency of the process. The amount of electrical energy consumed in optimal conditions was calculated 0.5128 kilowatt-hour (kWh/h). Statistical analysis shows that exist significant relationship (P

Gaining insights into the germination and emergence patterns of weeds as well as the factors which have an impact on these patterns is beneficial for weeds management programs. In order to investigate the effect of temperature, waterlogging and salinity on germination and emergence of common lambsquarters, three separate experiments were conducted, adopting a completely randomized design with four replications. The results of the temperature experiment showed that the highest germination percentages, which were 87, 93 and 88%, were obtained in the temperature range of 15, 20 and 25°C, respectively. Maximum values of germination rate, radicle length, plumule length, and seedling dry weight were obtained at 20°C. In addition, optimum seed vigor index of 796.29 was observed at 20°C. The results of the Regression Model showed that germination percentage decreased with an increase in waterlogging duration and halted after 8 and 10 days of consecutive waterlogging. Mean comparisons revealed that radicle and plumule length, seedling dry weight and vigor index decreased significantly by increasing the period of waterlogging. Salinity adversely affected germination percentage, germination rate and seedling dry weight of common lambsquarters. These factors were at their highest amounts in the control and 50 mM NaCl treatments. A downward trend was observed in these factors as NaCl concentrations increased and finally the germination process stopped in concentrations ranging from 300 to 400 mM NaCl. Radicle and plumule length also decreased from 10.51 and 9.23 cm in the control treatment to 3.57 and 2.47 cm at 250 mM NaCl. Overall, the results revealed that the maximum seed vigor index of 851.84 was obtained in the control treatment and seed vigor halted when the salinity level increased to more than 250 mM NaCl. Finally, the results showed that optimum temperature for germination of common lamsquarters was 20 °C and the existence of salinity and waterlogging stress can decrease growth indices of this weed at germination and seedling stages.

Introduction: Seed germination is an important stage in the life history of plant affecting seedling development, survival, and population dynamics. Germination begins with seed, water uptake and terminates with the elongation of the embryonic axis from the seed coat. Germination and seedling emergence are the most important phonological development stages in pigweed and have a vital role in its establishment. Accordingly, predicting the phenological stages would be resulted in improvement of crop management as the number and time of pigweed emergence could be quantified. Sigmoidal curves, also known as growth models, have wide application in agricultural research and can be evaluated by means of nonlinear models, which operates through data modelling by a nonlinear combination of parameters depending on one or more independent variables. This study was conducted to evaluate various regression models to describe the response of germination rate to temperature range in two pigweed ecotypes (Alborz and Fars). Materials and Methods: A glasshouse experiment was carried out as a completely randomized design with four replicates. The seeds were sterilized by soaking in a 3% solution of hypochlorite sodium for 30 seconds. After the treatment, the seeds were washed several times with distilled water. 25 seeds were put in each Petri dish (with 9 cm diameter). The petri dish is monitored on a daily basis and afterwards germinated seeds (according to exit of radicles to the size of 2 mm) were measured and recorded daily in each Petri dish. Six regression models were applied to quantify the germination patterns of two pigweed ecotypes (Alborz and Fars) under a range of temperature between 5 to 35 °C. For both regions, during spring and summer, the range of temperatures was selected in order to simulate the temperature changes. The models were included Weibull, Lognormal, Logistic, Gompertz, Sigmoidal and Chapman. Some criteria were used to describe the goodness of fits of the models, including coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square of error (RMSE) and Akaike index (AIC). Moreover, a simple program called Germin was used to calculate D10, D50 and D90 (the time interval to maximum 10, 50 and 90% of germination, respectively). Results and Discussion: Results showed that Weibull four-parameter and logistic models were the best for describing the germination rate in Alborz and Fars ecotypes, respectively compared to the other models. The difference between ecotypes could be attributed to their base temperatures and thermal time requirements at each developmental stage. Therefore, it can be concluded weed germination during different seasons is not a random phenomenon. However, the germination and emergence of a clear pattern over time follows the pattern of different environmental conditions is subject to change. Results also indicated that the time to D90 was only 4 and 5 days in Alborz and Fars ecotypes, respectively meaning that with increasing temperature during early spring, this weed would germinate much sooner than spring crops and consequently resulted in crop damage. The results showed that the in Alborz population, with increases temperature from 10 to 30 °C, germination percentage linearly increased and with increasing temperature to the desired temperature, it decreased. However, germination in Fars ecotype showed that, in temperatures 10, 15 and 20 °C respectively, the germination was 36, 56 and 84 percent, while, with an increase in temperature from 25 to 35 °C, this component was always a constant process. Germination rate increased with increasing temperature from 10 to 35 °C which was higher in Alborz ecotype compared to Fars. At lower temperatures, the main reason for less germination rate could be decrement of water imbibition and enzyme activity in biochemical processes of germination. Conclusion: Increasing public awareness and concern about the impacts of herbicides on the environment, development of herbicide-resistant weeds, and the high economic cost of herbicides have increased the need to reduce the amount of herbicides used in agriculture. Prediction of weed emergence timing would help reduce herbicide use through the optimization of the timing of weed control. It was concluded that Weibull four-parameter and logistic models could be used as decision making tools in Alborz and Fars, respectively, to predict seed emergence of pigweed which in turn resulted in efficient management as well as reduction of herbicides usage. Future research should be addressed to determine a wider validation of the models, which could be valuable tools for farmers and practitioners for adequate timing of control in pigweed weed.

Seed priming is a method which is a quite effective method for improving germination and seedling establishment. Two separate experiments were performed to determine the best hydro and osmopriming treatments effects on canola‘s seed germination. The experiments were performed in seed technology laboratory of Islamic Azad University, Karaj, Iran, 2014. The first experiment contained three canola varieties seeds hydropriming (Okapi, Zarfam and Talayeh) using tap water over time interval 0. 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 20 and 24 hours. The second experiment included, tree canola cultivars in accompany with six concentrations of ZnS04 (0, 0.035, 0.1, 0.4, 1 and 4 gr.Lit-1) over priming time interval of 0, 6, 10 14 and 18 hours. Both experiments were conducted as a factorial experiment in the context of completely randomized design (CRD) with four replications. The results revealed that the maximum germination percentage across all cultivars e.g. Okapi (99%), Zarfam (95%) and Talayeh (80%) is achieved at 10 hours hydropriming interval. Also concerning to germination rate, the best performance was observed for Talayeh cultivar at 10 hydropriming hour’s interval. The most vigor longitudinal and vigor weighted indices (1050.55 and 4.56) were observed in the Okapi cultivar in the fourth hydropriming level. The interaction between the cultivars, the concentration of ZnS04 and osmopriming time was significant for all characters except for shoot dry weight and vigor weighted Index. The three-way interaction showed that the highest shoots dry weight (0.11, 0.057 and 0.055) and also vigor weighted index observed in Okapi, Zarfam and Talayeh cultivar in 0.035 concentration of ZnS04 (gr.lit-1) at the time was 10 hours, respectively. The results of this study showed that hydropriming and ZnS04 might improve the performance of rapeseed Cultivars seed.

Background: Poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimer derivatives have been investigated for their biological applications, especially for delivery of drugs, including antimicrobial drugs to eukaryotic cells, but their effects on bacterial cells are largely unexplored. Nanotechnology and its application is one of the rapidly developing sciences. As demand of fresh drinking water is increasing, nanotechnology can contribute noticeable development and improvement to water treatment process. This study was aimed to examine synthesis and the antibacterial effect of Nanopolyamidoamine-G7 (NPAMAM-G7) dendrimer on Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), Klebsiella Oxytoca (K. Oxytoca), Pseudomonas Aeruginosa (P. Aeruginosa), Proteus Mirabilis (P. Mirabilis) and Staphylococcus Aureus (S. Aureus) from aqueous solution. Methods: In this experimental study that has been conducted in August to December 2015 in the laboratory of microbiology of Iran University of Medical Sciences, initially dilution of 103 CFU/ml were prepared from each strain of bacteria. Then different concentrations of dendrimer (0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 µg/ml) in the laboratory temperature (23-25 °C) was added to water. In order to determine the efficiency of dendrimers in removal of bacteria, samples were taken at different times (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) and were cultured on nutrient agar medium. Samples were incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C and then number of colonies were counted. Results: Antibacterial properties of dendrimers in aqueous solution by increasing the dendrimer concentration and contact time is directly related. At a concentration of 25 μg/ml at 60 minutes all bacteria except S. Aureus, and at 30 minutes, E. Coli and K. Oxytoca bacteria for 100% excluded. The concentration of 2.5 μg/ml at 60 minutes of bacteria, E. Coli, K. Oxytoca and P. Mirabilis are 100% excluded. All concentrations of dendrimers at different times were reduced bacteria in the PAMAM- G7 dendrimer effect on gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria was better. Conclusion: The NPAMAM-G7 dendrimer with end amine groups exhibited a positive impact on the removal of standard strains, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to use these nanodendrimers as antibacterial in the future.

Background: Nano scale dendrimers are macromolecules synthetic which frequently used in medical and health field. Because traditional antibiotics inevitably induce bacterial resistance, which is responsible for many treatment failures, there is an urgent need to develop novel antibiotic drugs. This study was aimed to examine Synthesis and the antibacterial effect of NanoPolyamidoamine-G7 (NPAMAM-G7) dendrimer on Escherichia Coli, Proteus Mirabilis, Salmonella Typhi, Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus. Methods: In this experimental study that has been conducted in June 2015 in the Laboratory of Microbiology, Iran University of Medical Science, NPAMAM-G7 dendrimers was synthesized by Tomalia’s divergent growth approach. The antibacterial effects of NPAMAM-G7 dendrimer were studied by disc diffusion and micro-dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria were determined according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. Standard discs were prepared using different concentrations of dendrimer on Mueller-Hinton agar plates. Results: Zone of inhibition in concentration 25 μg/ml of NPAMAM-G7 dendrimers for Escherichia Coli, Proteus Mirabilis, Salmonella Typhi, Bacillus Subtilis and Staphylococcus Aureus were 26, 38, 36, 22 and 25 mm, respectively. Regarding the zone of inhibition in gram negative bacteria with gram positive ones was P= 0.16 and was not significant difference. The MIC for Salmonella Typhi was 0.025, for Proteus Mirabilis, Bacillus Subtilis, Staphylococcus Aureus and Escherichia Coli was 0.25 μg/ml. The MBC for Salmonella Typhi was 25μg/ml, for Proteus Mirabilis and Bacillus Subtilis was 50 μg/ml and for Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus was 100 μg/ml. The least of sensitivity against NPAMAM-G7 related to Escherichia Coli and Staphylococcus Aureus and the most of sensitivity related to Salmonella Typhi. Conclusion: The NPAMAM-G7 dendrimer with end amine groups exhibited a positive impact on the removal of standard strains, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to use these nanodendrimers as antibacterial in the future.

Three separate experiments conducted to survey the response of two populations of common purslane weed collected from Karaj and Ahvaz on germination and early growth. The first experiment was based on 4 levels of flooding, including 1, 2, 4, 8 days plus non-flooding treatment as a control. Second experiment addressed the impact of various acidity levels, such as 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and finally third experiment considered the influence of high temperatures of 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, 160, 180, 200, 220 centigrade on germination rate, germination percentage, radicle length and plumule length as well as fresh weight of the aforementioned population of common purslane (Karaj and Ahvaz). Analysis of variance revealed that in both weed populations, all germination indices were impressed by flooding periods, acidity levels and high temperatures. Extending the flooding periods resulted in reducing all measured parameters in both weed populations, so the growth of common people was completely inhibited less than 8 consecutive days of flooding. Germination rate and percentage improved gradually by increasing the acidity value from 4 up to 7. An adverse relation was observed between the measured parameters and temperature variations in both Karaj and Ahvaz weed population. Germination rate and percentage, radicle and plumule length, as well as the fresh weight of seedling, decreased significantly in response to increasing the oven temperature. Overall, it can be concluded that boosting our knowledge about both ecology and biology aspects of the common person can pave the way for introducing new ways in line with expanding long-term strategies, improving management systems and predicting the mode of germination and growth of this important weed.

Background and Purpose: Fluoride is a natural element essential for human nutrition due to its benefits for dental enamel. It is well-documented that standard amounts of fluoride in drinkingwater can decrease the rate of dental caries. This study was conducted with the aim of measuring fluoride concentration of drinking-water supplies and urban distribution system in Qom, Iran. Materials and Methods: Results were subsequently compared against national and international standards. All sources of drinking-water of rural and urban areas were examined. To measure fluoride, the standard SPADNS method and a DR/4000s spectrophotometer were used. Results: Results showed that the mean of fluoride concentration in rural areas, mainly supplied with groundwater sources, was 0.41 mg/L, that of the urban distribution system 0.82 mg/L, that of Ali-Abad station 0.11 mg/L, and that of the private water desalination system 0.24 mg/L. Due to the hot climate of Qom, fluoride concentration means of all sources were lower than the permissible standards set by Iranian Standards and the WHO guidelines (except those of some of the groundwater sources and urban distribution systems). Conclusion: It seems that in most of the drinking-water sources the average fluoride concentration is not enough to prevent dental caries or strengthen dental enamel. It is concluded that Qom’s drinkingwater would require at least 0.4 mg/L to reach the minimum desirable standard.

Abstract Background: Dendrimers are a subset of branched structures that have certain structural order. The aim of this study was to investigate the performance of Polypropylenimine-G2 (PPI-G2) dendrimers in removal of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus from aqueous solution. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, initially dilution of 103 CFU/ml was prepared from each strain of bacteria. Then, different concentrations of dendrimers (0.5, 5, 50 and 500 µg/ml) was added to water. In order to determine the efficiency of dendrimers in removal of bacteria, samples were taken at different times (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) and were cultured on nutrient agar medium. Samples were incubated for 24 hours at 37 ° C and then the number of colonies was counted. Results: By the increasment of dendrimer concentration and contact time, the number of bacteria in aqueous solution decreased. In times of 40, 50 and 60 minutes, and the concentrations of 50 and 500 µg/ml, all kinds of bacteria in aqueous solution were removed. 0.5 µg/ml of dendrimer concentration had not effect in reducing the number of Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. The effect of dendrimer on gram-negative bacteria was weaker than gram-positive bacteria. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that PPI-G2 dendrimer is able to remove Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis in aqueous solution. However, using dendrimers can be considered as a new approach for drinking water disinfection but it requires further wide range studies.

Background and Purpose:Organic dyes with a complex structure are often toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, non-biodegradation and stable in the environment and if released to the environment without treatment can endanger the environment and human health. The aim was to evaluate the performance nanoscalezero-valent iron (NZVI) in the removal of dye acid red 18 (AR18) from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods:This study was conducted at the laboratory scale. In this study, the removal efficiency of AR18 from a synthetic solution by NZVI was investigated. As well as the effect of solution pH, dye concentration, the concentration of NZVI and contact time in decolorization efficiency was investigated. Results:The results show that in pH = 3, contact time of 80 minutes, dye concentration of 25 mg/l and concentration of NZVI of 2 g/l, the removal efficiency was about 94%. Conclusion:According to the results of experiments, NZVI has high efficiency in removal of AR18 from aqueous solution.

Background and objectives: Lack of proper management, increasing waste production and non-normative disposal of waste in addition to misspend the national capital, cause loss of precious natural resources. To address this problem we need a coherent and dynamic management program. The goal of this project is to reduce environmental pollution, cost saving, promoting citizen participation, revenue and reduce land loss. Methods: In this study, check lists, interviews and field report were used to collect data at period of one year. To determine the waste components, sampling technique was used then sampling data was imported into Excel software and was analyzed. Results: At the beginning of the project, the average per capita of generated waste was 580 g/day and at the end of the project will 660 g/day. The waste materials determined as %66.8 putrescible, %4.3 paper and cardboard, %7.2 plastic, %2.3 glass, %2 textiles, %0.2 metals, %1.6 wood, and also, hospital waste was equal to 4400 Kg. According to estimates made annual cost of solid waste management services per capita in Qom is 70 Rial and the cost of collection, transportation, separation and disposal of garbage for every Kilogram per day is 280 Rial. Conclusion: Amount of waste per capita in Qom was less than of Tehran, Delijan and Mallayer cities, and more than Esfahan and Kashan cities. Hospital waste was desirable as compared to the average of Iran.

Background and purpose: Generated dye wastewater by the textile industry is usually toxic, non-biodegradable and resistant in the environment. Eggshell is one of the inexpensive material and for the reason the vesicular structures can be used as a proper adsorbent for pollutants removal. The aim of this study is to investigate the efficiency of eggshell for removal of acid orange 2 dye from aqueous solution. Materials and Methods: In the experimental study was determined the efficacy of variant variables such as contact time (15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min), pH (3, 7 and 11), adsorbent dose (10, 25, 50 and 75 g/L), and initial dye concentration (25, 50 and 100 mg/L). The concentration of dye by spectrophotometer ultraviolet/visible in the wavelength 483 nm was examined. Results: The results showed that with increasing contact time and adsorbent dose, the dye removal efficiency was increased, but with increasing pH and initial dye concentration the removal efficiency was decreased. The maximum of removal efficiency of acid orange 2 dye got in the optimum pH: 3, contact time: 90 min, adsorbent dose: 50 g/L and initial dye concentration: 25 mg/L. Adsorption of acid orange 2 dye (R2 = 0.87) follow the Freundlich isotherm. Conclusion: Eggshells can be used as an inexpensive and effective adsorbent for the removal of acid orange 2 dye.

Background and Purpose: Improper wastewater and solid waste management in rural areas could be a risk to human health and environment pollution. One percent of Iran’s rural area is connected to the wastewater collection network. Solid waste management in rural areas of Iran is mainly consisted uncontrolled dumping and open burning. The aim of this study is prioritization of wastewater and solid waste separate and combined management strategies in rural areas of Iran. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study. In this study, firstly were determined appropriate and conventional methods for wastewater and solid waste separate and combined management by using national and case studies. Then, using specified criteria and by applying a weighting system, prioritization was conducted and implementation strategies presented for wastewater and solid waste separate and combined management. Results: The first priority for the collection and treatment, wastewater in rural areas are smalldiameter gravity systems and preliminary treatment with complementary treatment by land, respectively. In order to the rural solid waste management, organic compost complementary systems were in first priority. In the wastewater and solid waste combined management, the first priority was compost and biogas production by combining anaerobic UASB reactor and Chinese biogas. Conclusion: Considering for influence of various factors in selecting an appropriate method is very important in order to wastewater and solid waste separate and the combined management of a rural. Therefore, the accordance of presenting strategy with local conditions and facilities should be taken into consideration.

Avena fatua and Descurainia sophia are two important annual weeds throughout winter rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) production systems in the semiarid region of Iran. Timely and more accurate control of both species may be developed if there is a better understanding of its emergence patterns. Non-linear regression techniques are usually unable to accurately predict field emergence under such environmental conditions. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the emergence patterns of A. fatua and D. sophia and determine if emergence could be predicted using cumulative soil thermal time in degree days (CTT). In the present work, cumulative seedling emergence from a winter rapeseed field during 3 years data set was fitted to cumulative soil CTT using Weibull and Gompertz functions. The Weibull model provided a better fit, based on coefficient of determination (R2sqr), root mean square of error (RMSE) and Akaike index (AICd), compared to the Gompertz model between 2013 and 2016 seasons for both species. Maximum emergence of A. fatua occured 70-119 days after sowing or after equals 329-426 °Cd, while in D. sophia it occurred 119-134 days after sowing rapeseed equals 373-470 °Cd. Both models can aid in the future study of A. fatua and D. sophia emergence and assist growers and agricultural professionals with planning timely and more accurate A. fatua and D. sophia control.

Background and Objectives: To implement source separation plan, awareness of viewpoints and participation of waste producers are necessary. The aim of this research is to assess the status of the source separation of municipal wastes and to offer its corrective strategies from citizens’ point of view. Methods: This descriptive crooss-sectional study was performed through filling 1400 questionnaires by in-person interview in Qom, Yazd, and East Azarbaijan in the form of a waste management master plan. In this study, awareness of population was assessed using a questionnaire consisting of 31 general and specific questions. To examine the relationship between qualitative variables and cross-tabulations, chi-square test was used at a significance level of 5%. Results: Ninety percent of citizens declared their readiness to implement the source separation of municipal wastes. Most important reasons of citizens for implementation of this plan was better recycling with appropriate quality materials (79%), environmental protection and health promotion (65%) and assistance to municipalities (43%), and the important reasons of plan’s failure from citizens point of view were: lack of or irregular implementation the programs by the municipality (45%), inadequate training of citizens (32%), and poor cooperation of people due to cultural and social problems and/or lack of economic justification (25%). Conclusion: According to the results, high percentage of citizens were aware of separation of municipal wastes plan and knew its advantages, so if reforms are made by the municipal authorities, percentage of participation and cooperation of citizens in this project will favorably increase.

Dust storms can cause certain environmental impacts such as reducing solar radiations, geochemical and biogeochemical effects, affecting marine primary producers or autotrophs, (thus reducing the disposal of carbon dioxide and global warming), affecting snow’s Albedo. One reason why dust causes such global effects is its transferability range up to 20,000 km. Dust can also negatively affect the respiratory, cardiovascular, cerebral-vascular systems; cause or intensify meningitis, fever, pain, allergies, and viral infections; damage the DNA of skin and lung cells. The Sahara and West China are known as the primary sources of dust worldwide. The most important methods of dust storm prevention and controling it can be biological, sprays (water), mechanical, chemical, and engineering. Biological methods are the best-known ways of preventing dust storms and desertification. This can be achieved by creating vegetation and ecological barriers, such as forest belts. Considering the increasing number and periods of dust storms and dust effects on the environment and human health, this review article aims to determine appropriate strategies to prevent dust occurrence and explain the effects of dust on health and the environment.

Objectives: The most common indication for abdominal surgery in elderly (65 & older) is gallstone disease.The elderly are more prone to complication of such surgery due to their other co-morbidity and thus they may benefit mostly from a safer method of surgical procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elderly compare to the conventional method. Methods & Materials: Via prospective study from June 2005 to March 2008 included all patient older than 60 years of age who underwent cholecystectomy by open (Group A) and laparoscopic (Group B) method in Milad Hospital.The demographic data (sex age), American Society of Anesthesiologists’ (ASA) score, postoperative mortality morbidity, length of stay and operative time were recorded for each patient and were compared between two methods. Data of patient’s analysis by SPSS with chi-square and t test. Results: The study included 311 elderlies (34% men and 66% women). Hundred fifty-seven patients underwent open cholecystectomy; 154 patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The mean age was 7141 years. The outcome in group B (laparoscopic) included: morality 0%, morbidity 2%, postoperative hospital stay 1 days, mean operation time was 40 minutes. In group A(open): mortality and morbidity rate were 21% and 12% respectively with postoperative hospital stay 331 days and similar operation time as group A. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the gold standard treatment and safe procedure in elderly patient and aging is not considered to be a contraindication laparoscopic surgery in such patients.

Background: Nano scale dendrimers are macromolecules synthetic which frequently used in medical and health field. This study was aimed to examine synthesis and the antibacterial effect of NanoPolyamidoamine-G7 (NPAMAM-G7) dendrimer on Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella Oxytoca, Pseudomonas Aeruginosa , Proteus Mirabilis and Staphylococcus Aureus from aqueous solution. Material and methods: In this experimental study, initially dilution of 103 CFU/ml were prepared from each strain of bacteria. Then different concentrations of dendrimer (0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 µg/ml) in the laboratory temperature (23-25 °C) was added to water. In order to determine the efficiency of dendrimers in removal of bacteria, samples were taken at different times (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 and 60 min) and were cultured on nutrient agar medium. Samples were incubated for 24 hours at 37 °C and then number of colonies were counted. Results: Antibacterial properties of dendrimers in aqueous solution by increasing the dendrimer concentration and contact time is directly related. At a concentration of 25 μg/ml at 60 minutes all bacteria except Staphylococcus Aureus, and at 30 minutes, Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Oxytoca bacteria for 100% excluded. The concentration of 2.5 μg/ml at 60 minutes of bacteria, Escherichia Coli, Klebsiella Oxytoca and Proteus Mirabilis are 100% excluded. All concentrations of dendrimers at different times were reduced bacteria in the PAMAM- G7 dendrimer effect on gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria was better. Conclusion: The NPAMAM-G7 dendrimer with end amine groups exhibited a positive impact on the removal of standard strains, gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, it is possible to use these nanodendrimers as antibacterial in the future.

In this experimental study, alum adsorbent was synthesized using an electrochemical process consisting of aluminum (anode) and iron (cathode) electrodes in a 1 L cylindrical reactor. The structure of the alum adsorbent was investigated using transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Brunauer--Emmett--Teller techniques. Adsorption process experiments were evaluated with four input parameters such as pH (4-9), alum nanoparticles dosage (0.01-0.05 g/L), initial concentration of tannic acid (10--80 mg/L), and contact time (5-50 min). The isotherm and adsorption kinetics were examined under optimal experimental conditions to evaluate the adsorption process. The results of the physicochemical analysis confirmed the accuracy of the alum structure. Under optimal conditions of the adsorption process, pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration of tannic acid, and contact time were 6, 0.05 g/L, 20 mg/L, and 50 min; Under these conditions, the removal efficiency of tannic acid was obtained to be 93.9%. The results of the adsorption isotherm and kinetics studies showed that the adsorption process follows the Langmuir isotherm (R² = 0.99) while the process kinetics corresponds to the second-order kinetics model (R² = 1). The results showed that alum can be used as a high-availability and cost-effective adsorbent to remove tannic acid from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Botulism, a syndrome caused by food poisoning, results from use of food contaminated with the botulinum toxin, which is very dangerous and deadly. Botulism is caused by the effects of bacterial toxins on the terminals of the motor nerves. Botulinum neurotoxins are among the most potent toxins. The aim of this study was to investigate expression, purification and, evaluation of the immunogenicity of the recombinant BoNT/B-HcC protein as an immunogen candidate in mice. Materials and Methods: The C-terminus of the receptor-binding domain of botulinum neurotoxin type B(BoNT/B-HcC) was selected as the antigen for bioinformatics evaluations. The pET17b-BoNT/B-HcC plasmid was transferred to E. coli BL21(DE3) by heat shock. The recombinant protein was purified and analyzed by SDS-PAGE. After verification of the recombinant protein by western blot, immunization of mice was performed. Antibody titers of recombinant proteins were evaluated by indirect ELISA and the results were compared using t-test. Results: The codon adaptation index (CAI) of the optimized gene was 0.99. The percentage of codons having high-frequency distribution was improved to 78%. Restriction analysis confirmed the 1119 bp construct gene and the recombinant protein with a molecular weight of 43.8 kDa was expressed in the prokaryotic host. The total yield of purified protein was 23 mg of protein per liter of culture. Immunization of mice induced serum antibody response. Statistical analysis showed that the antibody titer was significantly different compared to that of the control sample. Conclusion: The designed recombinant antigen showed high antigenicity that could be considered as an immunogen against botulinum type B neurotoxin in future studies.

Shigella is a major problem in developing countries. Immunoglobulin Y (IgY) can be used for prophylaxis and neutralize bacteria. The aim of this study was to produce IgY against the chimeric protein containing IpaD, StxB, and TolC antigens from Shigella, investigate its prophylactic and neutralizing effects against Stx and Shigella dysenteriae. The nucleotide sequence corresponding to the chimeric protein was cloned into pET28a plasmid and expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3). Protein expression was confirmed by SDS-PAGE and the recombinant protein was purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The 150 μg of chimeric protein was mixed with Freund's adjutant and injected into laying hens (Leghorn). IgY was purified using PEG6000 precipitation. Antibody titer in the serum and egg yolk was evaluated by ELISA. IgY challenge against 1,10 and 50 LD50 of Stx and S. dysenteriae was investigated. A 60.6 kDa recombinant protein was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. ELISA showed that the antibody titer was significantly increased. MTT assay [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide] showed that at 16 μmol/L, IgY protected HeLa cells against Stx. Treatment of mice with 1000 and 1500 μg IgY leads to complete survival of the mice against 1LD50 toxin and 4000 μg of IgY led to complete survival against 1LD50, also 70% and 30% survival against 10 and 50 LD50 S. dysenteriae. This study showed that IgY produced against Stx and Shigella virulence factors could cause high protective effects against bacteria and toxins.