Niacin attenuates bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis in the hamster

Bleomycin (BLM)-induced lung fibrosis has been shown to be accompanied by the activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and depletion of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) in the lung. Niacin, a precursor of NAD, was used in the present study to investigate its possible ameliorating effect on BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis in hamsters. Niacin (500 mg/kg IP) or saline (IP) was injected daily for 16 or 23 days. On day 3, hamsters were treated with BLM (7.5 U/5 mL/kg) or an equivalent volume of saline intratracheally. BLM alone significantly increased lung hydroxyproline levels, bron-choalveolar lavage fluid protein concentration, and various inflammatory cell counts in the lavage in both experiments. In addition, BLM alone elevated prolyl hydroxylase and poly(adenosine-5′-diphosphate [ADP]-ribose) polymerase activities in the 3-week study. Niacin treatment significantly decreased BLM-elevated lung hydroxyproline, prolyl hydroxylase, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activities. Histopa-thology revealed that niacin treatment attenuated BLM-induced thickened alveolar septa, foci of fibrotic consolidation, and accumulations of inflammatory cells in the parenchyma and air spaces. The ability of niacin to attenuate BLM-induced lung fibrosis in hamsters suggests that it may have potential as an antifibrotic agent in humans.     

Interspecific relationships of the genus<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Cicer</Emphasis> L. (Fabaceae) based on<Emphasis Type="Italic"> trn</Emphasis>T-F sequences

The trnT-F region in chloroplasts was sequenced to elucidate interspecific phylogenetic relationships in the genus Cicer. Twenty-five species representing four sections and two outgroups were analyzed. A phylogenetic analysis revealed three major clades in the genus Cicer. Inferred phylogenetic relationships support multiple origins of annual species in the genus Cicer. Low variation within the most perennial species in the sequence regions suggests they may have originated during a period of rapid diversification after the genus arose. High levels of sequence divergence, biogeographical patterns and morphological traits between African and Eurasian groups of species suggest that Cicer may have independently diverged on each continent. Phylogenetic analysis of sequence data did not support the monophyly of the currently recognized sections and indicated the need for a revision of the infrageneric classification.Communicated by C. Möllers     

Application of zeolite and geohumus superabsorbent on establishment and some growth indices of Nitraria schoberi L.

Using Superabsorbent is one of the solutions to water shortages in arid and semi-arid regions. In order to evaluate the effect of zeolite and geohumus on the growth of Nitraria schoberi L. species, a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design was conducted with nine replications in Kashan city. The treatments consisted of various zeolite levels (0, 10 and 15 wt%) and geohumus (0, 100, 150, 250 gr for hole) and irrigation (normal irrigation, low irrigation). This study showed that superabsorbent application has a positive effect on establishment and other indices such as plant height, large and small canopy diameter and collar diameter. The highest survival percentage was observed in superabsorbent application (100%) and the lowest was measured in control treatment of low irrigation (the soil free of modifying substances) (78%). Also, the most growth indices of the plant are related to the treatment of 250 g geohumus with low irrigation treatment. Based on the results, it was found that adding superabsorbent on soil causes more establishment and improves vegetative growth traits. Also, considering the economical price of zeolite superabsorbent compared to geohumus as well as its abundance in Iran, it is recommended to use in order to increase irrigation intervals and reduce costs in desertification projects.     

Impact of the erineum strain of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Colomerus vitis</Emphasis> (Acari: Eriophyidae) on the development of plants of grapevine cultivars of Iran

The present experiment was aimed at determining the influence of the grape erineum strain of Colomerus vitis (GEM) (Acari: Eriophyidae) on responses of local grapevine cultivars. GEM was applied at five density levels to each of five cultivars, i.e. Shahani, Sahebi Uroomie, Khalili Bovanat, Rishbaba and Sezdang Ghalat (listed from early to late grape ripening). The experiment was performed in a full factorial design (12 replicates each) and effects of the mite on the relative content of leaf chlorophyll, internode and cane length, leaf area and weight, number and size of the erinea, and percentage of leaves with erinea were investigated. Also mite density on leaves and in buds was assessed. Data were analyzed with a two-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test to separate means among treatment levels and cultivars. The relative content of chlorophyll (expressed in Spad units) in infested leaves was reduced along with an increase in mite density and it was shown to be highly significant at the two higher mite density levels for Khalili Bovanat, Rishbaba and Sezdang Ghalat; Shahani and Sahebi Uroomie leaves appeared to be less affected by mite infestation. The highest mite density treatment displayed a strong correlation with weight (positive correlation) and size (negative correlation) of the leaves of four cultivars; leaves of Sahebi Uroomie appeared to be less affected. The reduced internode length was weak in infested plants. Most infested plants produced shorter canes and their lengths appeared to have a strong negative correlation with the highest mite density in four cultivars; canes of Sahebi Uroomie did not appear affected. At the highest mite density, canes of Khalili Bovanat and Sahebi Uroomie displayed the most and the least shortening effects, respectively. The percentage of leaves with erinea, as well as the number of erinea per leaves and the diameter of erinea increased along with the mite population density. The mite densities in buds (April 2014) and on leaves with erinea (in November 2013) were higher at the highest treatment level in the medium-late (Rishbaba) and late ripening (Sezdang Ghalat) cultivars, than in the early and early-medium ripening ones. Almost all data collected in the current experiment allowed the conclusion that Sahebi Uroomie and Shahani were less affected than the other cultivars (Khalili Bovanat, Rishbaba and Sezdang Ghalat).     

cFos Mediates cAMP-Dependent Generation of ROS and Rescue of Maturation Program in Retinoid-Resistant Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia Cell Line NB4-LR1

A determining role has been assigned to cAMP in the signaling pathways that relieve resistance to anti-leukemia differentiation therapy. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been elucidated yet. Here, we identify cFos as a critical cAMP effector, able to regulate the re-expression and splicing of epigenetically silenced genes associated with maturation (CD44) in retinoid-resistant NB4-LR1 leukemia cells. Furthermore, using RNA interference approach, we show that cFos mediates cAMP-induced ROS generation, a critical mediator of neutrophil maturation, and in fine differentiation. This study highlights some of the mechanisms by which cAMP acts to overcome resistance, and reveals a new alternative cFos-dependent pathway which, though nonexistent in retinoid-sensitive NB4 cells, is essential to rescue the maturation program of resistant cells.     

Jasmonic acid improved in vitro strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) resistance to PEG-induced water stress

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - To investigate the influence of jasmonic acid (JA) on morpho-physiological and biochemical characteristics of strawberry cv. Queen Elisa, under in...     

Sleep habits of Iranian pre-school children in an urban area: Late sleeping and sleep debt in children

Using BEARS (Bedtime problems, Excessive sleepiness, Awakenings during the night, Regularity of sleep, Snoring), and CSHQ (Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaires) screening tools with 224 participants revealed that Iranian children have shorter night sleep duration than expected (9.54 vs 12 h) for their age group. Earlier sleepers had longer night sleep duration (10:36 ± 1:12; 9:12 ± 1:06 h, P > 0.001), and total daily sleep time (11:36 ± 1:42; 10:36 ± 1:30 h, P = 0.005) than late sleepers. A majority (85%) of naptakers had sleep bedtime of 22:00 or later. The poor sleep quality of Iranian preschool children is probably due to cultural characteristics, climate differences, or harmful sleep habits.

     

When time and numerosity interfere: the longer the more, and the more the longer

There is strong evidence that magnitudes in different dimensions can interfere. A majority of previous studies on the interaction of temporal magnitudes on numerosity showed no interfering effect, while many studies have reported the interference of numerosity on judgement of temporal magnitudes. We speculated that this one-way interference is confounded by the magnitudes used in the studies. We used a methodology that allowed us to study this interaction reciprocally. Moreover, we selected magnitudes for two dimensions that enabled us to detect their interfering effects. Participants had to either judge which of two successive sets of items was more numerous (numerosity judgement task), or which set of items was presented longer (duration judgement task). We hypothesised that a longer presentation of a set will be judged as being more numerous, and vice versa, a more numerous set will be judged as being presented longer. Results confirmed our hypothesis. A positive correlation between duration of presentation and judged numerosity as well as a positive correlation between the number of items and judged duration of presentation was found. This observation supports the idea that duration and numerosity judgements are not completely independent and implies the existence of (partly) generalised and abstract components in the magnitude representations.     

Cross-Category Adaptation: Objects Produce Gender Adaptation in the Perception of Faces

Adaptation aftereffects have been found for low-level visual features such as colour, motion and shape perception, as well as higher-level features such as gender, race and identity in domains such as faces and biological motion. It is not yet clear if adaptation effects in humans extend beyond this set of higher order features. The aim of this study was to investigate whether objects highly associated with one gender, e.g. high heels for females or electric shavers for males can modulate gender perception of a face. In two separate experiments, we adapted subjects to a series of objects highly associated with one gender and subsequently asked participants to judge the gender of an ambiguous face. Results showed that participants are more likely to perceive an ambiguous face as male after being exposed to objects highly associated to females and vice versa. A gender adaptation aftereffect was obtained despite the adaptor and test stimuli being from different global categories (objects and faces respectively). These findings show that our perception of gender from faces is highly affected by our environment and recent experience. This suggests two possible mechanisms: (a) that perception of the gender associated with an object shares at least some brain areas with those responsible for gender perception of faces and (b) adaptation to gender, which is a high-level concept, can modulate brain areas that are involved in facial gender perception through top-down processes.     

Evaluation of Residence Time on Nitrogen Oxides Removal in Non-Thermal Plasma Reactor

Non-thermal plasma (NTP) has been introduced over the last few years as a promising after- treatment system for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter removal from diesel exhaust. NTP technology has not been commercialised as yet, due to its high rate of energy consumption. Therefore, it is important to seek out new methods to improve NTP performance. Residence time is a crucial parameter in engine exhaust emissions treatment. In this paper, different electrode shapes are analysed and the corresponding residence time and NO_x removal efficiency are studied. An axisymmetric laminar model is used for obtaining residence time distribution numerically using FLUENT software. If the mean residence time in a NTP plasma reactor increases, there will be a corresponding increase in the reaction time and consequently the pollutant removal efficiency increases. Three different screw thread electrodes and a rod electrode are examined. The results show the advantage of screw thread electrodes in comparison with the rod electrode. Furthermore, between the screw thread electrodes, the electrode with the thread width of 1 mm has the highest NO_x removal due to higher residence time and a greater number of micro-discharges. The results show that the residence time of the screw thread electrode with a thread width of 1 mm is 21% more than for the rod electrode.