Development
Navid Dehnavi; Zohreh Moeini; Tahereh Foroutan
Abstract
Objective: Nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical properties, have emerged as promising agents for biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Among the various types of nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO) has garnered significant attention because ...
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Objective: Nanoparticles, owing to their unique physicochemical properties, have emerged as promising agents for biomedical applications, particularly in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Among the various types of nanoparticles, graphene oxide (GO) has garnered significant attention because of its biocompatibility and ability to facilitate cellular processes. This study investigated the role of graphene oxide nanoparticles in promoting neural differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), focusing on the underlying mechanisms and outcomes of such interactions.
Materials and Methods: In this study, bone marrow-derived stem cells were isolated from the femurs of mice using a flushing method. The cells were cultured in three distinct groups for 14 days. Control Group: Cells were cultured in a neural differentiation medium without additives. Group 1: Cells were cultured in a general culture medium supplemented with 1.5 µg/ml of graphene oxide. Group 2: Cells were cultured in neural differentiation medium with 1.5 µg/ml of graphene oxide. To assess the effects of graphene oxide on cell viability and differentiation, MTT assays were employed to evaluate cytotoxicity, while immunocytochemistry (ICC) techniques were used to detect the expression of neural differentiation markers, including Sox2, β-tubulin III, and MAP2.
Results: The results demonstrated that both Group 1 and Group 2 exhibited expression of all three neural differentiation markers, Sox2, β-tubulin III, and MAP2, comparable to that of the control group. This indicates that the presence of graphene oxide, even in general culture medium, can promote neural differentiation. However, it is noteworthy that the dose of graphene oxide used in this study also exhibited no cytotoxic effects on the cells, suggesting a delicate balance between promoting differentiation and maintaining cell viability. The findings of this study underscore the potential of graphene oxide nanoparticles as a tool for enhancing neural differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. The ability of GO to induce the expression of key proteins associated with neural differentiation without the need for additional nerve growth factors highlights its efficacy as a biocompatible scaffold.
Conclusion: This study provides evidence that graphene oxide nanoparticles can effectively promote the neural differentiation of mouse mesenchymal stem cells. The ability to induce the expression of critical neural markers through both direct cellular interactions and scaffold formation makes graphene oxide a valuable component in neuroregenerative strategies. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise mechanisms by which graphene oxide influences cellular pathways and optimizing its application in stem cell therapy for neurological disorders.
Fisheries
Majid Pasandideh; Reza Pasandideh
Abstract
In aquaculture, disease prevention through elimination, eradication and cultural control are inefficient, costly and unstable solutions. Breeding programs for genetic improvement of disease resistance lead to a long-term sustainable disease control. Mass selection of survivors in contaminated ponds is ...
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In aquaculture, disease prevention through elimination, eradication and cultural control are inefficient, costly and unstable solutions. Breeding programs for genetic improvement of disease resistance lead to a long-term sustainable disease control. Mass selection of survivors in contaminated ponds is a classic method for improving disease resistance. In this method, by collecting survivors from virus-infected pools and selecting after several generations, an increase in survival rate is created. Another method is to use a disease challenge test, which exposes different families to live virus and selects the best families. Modern genetic approaches for disease resistance include the use of microsatellite markers, Genome-wide association studies (GWAS), Genomic selection (GS) and CRISPR, which are reviewed in this article. Microsatellite markers are used for genotyping of breeding stock and monitor the genetic diversity of populations. GWAS to survey genotype-phenotype association lead to the identification of genomic regions affecting disease resistance. GS is the most advanced method for use in aquaculture breeding programs. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing and transgenesis by antimicrobial peptide genes (AMGs) have been found to be effective on the innate immune system of fish. Development of lines resistant to specific diseases and crossing them to produce hybrids are available solutions, and producing disease-resistant transgenic fish is a prospect for improving disease resistance in aquatic animals.
animal biosystematic
Fatemeh Khajeh hoseyni; Alireza Shayestehfar; Mahdi Khodaei-Motlagh; Alireza Pesarakloo
Abstract
Ticks are scattered all over the world as aquatic and terrestrial groups. Livestock ticks are obligate parasites that target small and large livestock. In this study, 5 stations in the Kojur region were selected and livestock were sampled. The tick samples collected in Eppendorf bottles containing 70% ...
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Ticks are scattered all over the world as aquatic and terrestrial groups. Livestock ticks are obligate parasites that target small and large livestock. In this study, 5 stations in the Kojur region were selected and livestock were sampled. The tick samples collected in Eppendorf bottles containing 70% ethanol and 5% glycerin were transferred to the laboratory of Arak University. They were identified with the help of valid identification keys of their genus and species. In this research, 173 livestock including 95 cattle and 78 sheep were studied, of which 139 were infected with ticks. A total of 572 ticks (420 ticks belonging to the hard tick family and 152 ticks belonging to the soft tick family) were collected. From the Ixodidae family, six species belonging to the three genera Hyalomma, Haemaphysalis, and Rhipicephalus, including two species Hy. anatolicum and Hy. asiaticum, two species of Ha. Punctate and Ha. sulcata, and two species R. Sanguineus and R. Turanicus were identified. In the family Argasidae 2 genera and 3 species were identified, which genera include Argas and Ornithodoros. In this family, Argas species were completely distinguished from Ornitodoros species. From the Argas genus, A. persicus and A. reflexus species and from Ornithodoros genus, O. lahorensis species have been isolated and identified.
Animal physiology
Morvarid Shafeii; Fereshteh Dadfar; Aazam Karami
Abstract
Considering the importance and undeniable impact of air pollution on human health, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of respiratory pollutants on blood parameters and general health of Hormuz Petrochemical personnel in Assalouye. In this experimental research, 60 male employees ...
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Considering the importance and undeniable impact of air pollution on human health, the purpose of this research was to investigate the effect of respiratory pollutants on blood parameters and general health of Hormuz Petrochemical personnel in Assalouye. In this experimental research, 60 male employees with at least one year of work experience were randomly divided two experimental groups of 30 people (including the personnel of Hormoz Asalouye Petrochemical Company as the group exposed to respiratory pollutants) and the control (personnel of the Social Security Department of Kazeroon as the group not exposed to pollutants). In order to investigate the effects of respiratory pollutants on changes in blood parameters, blood samples were taken from both groups.Also, to determine the general health of the employees, the standard questionnaire of the Goldberg general health scale was used. Data analysis was done using independent t-test statistical method. The results showed that the amount of white blood cells, platelets and average platelet volume in the exposed group showed a significant difference compared to the non-exposed group (P≤0.05), but the amount of red blood cells and hemoglobin did not differ significantly between the two groups(P>0.05).It was also observed that air pollution has negative effects on mental health and in the group exposed to respiratory pollutants, it led to an increase in physical symptoms, depression and anxiety (P≤0.05). In line with the results of this research, it can be concluded that exposure to air pollutants significantly causes changes in hematological parameters and increase in general health symptoms.
animal biosystematic
Hamid Darvishnia
Abstract
Pseudoscorpiones are small arthropods that inhabit enclosed environments such as caves, under tree barks, in leaf litter, in desert zones, in nests of mammals and birds. Approximately 3450 species belonging to this group have been identified so far, of which 71 are distributed in Iran. Due to a dearth ...
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Pseudoscorpiones are small arthropods that inhabit enclosed environments such as caves, under tree barks, in leaf litter, in desert zones, in nests of mammals and birds. Approximately 3450 species belonging to this group have been identified so far, of which 71 are distributed in Iran. Due to a dearth of information regarding this group, the morphological study of cave pseudoscorpions located west of Iran, has been investigated in current research. A total 213 pseudoscorpion specimens were collected by hand, brush, or fine tweezers from under rock, among animal dropping and bat guano, on the ground surface, and on the walls of 24 caves in Ilam, Lorestan and Kermanshah provinces, and then preserved in 75% ethanol. While taking photos, the geographic location, altitude and some environmental factors of the caves were measured. To study the morphological characteristics, slides were made from the specimens, and measurements were done using the ImageJ software. A total of 18 species belonging to 14 genera from eight families were identified. The Chernetidae family exhibited the greatest diversity, comprising of 5 species belonging to 4 genera. These species were predominantly found in bat guano; and in the endogenous and parahypopogen regions of the cave. The Menthidae, Cheiridiidae and Chthoniidae families had the least diversity, each with one genus and one species. In the caves of the study area, the Megachernes pavlovskyi species from the Chernetidae family had the highest distribution. Because pseudoscorpions require a habitat with suitable camouflage, stable temperature, optimal humidity, and sufficient food resources, they prefer the cave environment. They are not directly influenced by rainfall or climate changes, and they are influenced by the ambient temperature. This could possibly account for the variety and abundance of pseudoscorpions present in the cave.
animal biosystematic
Ali Gholamhosseini
Abstract
Natural history museums are one of the most important types of museums in the world, serving as an effective and engaging means for promoting science, connecting the community with universities, and providing essential infrastructure for education and research. However, they fulfill these roles best ...
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Natural history museums are one of the most important types of museums in the world, serving as an effective and engaging means for promoting science, connecting the community with universities, and providing essential infrastructure for education and research. However, they fulfill these roles best when they are up to date. Therefore, in this research, I updated the labels of bird specimens of natural history museum and technology of Shiraz University to increase the efficiency of the museum in terms of educational duties. All specimens were examined based on morphological traits and identified to the species level using valid references. Errors in species identification were corrected, taxonomic status for each species was updated, and a database was prepared. New labels for the specimens were designed, and more detailed data is now available to visitors through a QR code scan on the specimen’s label. The results showed that the bird collection contains about 350 specimens belonging to 147 species, 121 genera, 53 families, and 24 orders. The highest species diversity is found in the order Passeriformes with 32 species, followed by the order Charadriiformes with 17 species, and after that, the orders Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, and Galliformes, each with 15 species. The results indicate that the classification of 31 species has changed at the order level, eight species at the family level, and six species at the genus level. Consequently, 45 taxonomic changes were updated in this study. Finally, some suggestions were made for increasing efficiency and attracting more visitors.
Borhan Yousefi; Ali Asghar Naghipour
Abstract
Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is one of the important animal species in Fars province, where there is limited information about the effect of climate change on its habitats. In this research, the effects of climate change on the geographical distribution of striped hyenas in Fars province were investigated ...
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Striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena) is one of the important animal species in Fars province, where there is limited information about the effect of climate change on its habitats. In this research, the effects of climate change on the geographical distribution of striped hyenas in Fars province were investigated using the MaxEnt model. Considering the upcoming climate threats, this study has investigated the changes in the distribution of suitable habitats for this species in the current and future time periods (2070) and under the two climate scenarios SSP245 and SSP585 and the general circulation model MRI-ESM2-0. In this research, 4 categories of environmental variables including: climatic variables, human interactions, topography, and land use were used. The results showed that, respectively, the temperature annual range (Bio7), distance to protected areas, precipitation seasonality (Bio15) and land use (in total with 73.4%) have the largest contribution in choosing the optimal habitat for striped hyenas. Also, the results of the evaluation of the level of desirability of striped hyena habitats showed that currently 19.1% of habitats in Fars province are suitable habitats for striped hyenas, of which 21.3% overlap with the network of protected areas. However, projections show that in the future, the level of suitable habitats under the SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios will decrease by 14.27 and 15.56%, respectively. These results emphasize the necessity of developing management plans for the protection of striped hyena habitats in the face of climate change.
