[Identification and isolation of rumen fungi of baluchi sheep in Sistan]

Background: based on the information no research has been done on the identification and isolation of anaerobic fungi in the Baloochi sheep's rumen in the dry climate up to now

Objectives: the purpose of this research was the separation and study of the appearance morphology of anaerobic fungi in the Baloochi sheep's rumen in Sistan region

Methods: the semi-defined medium environment was used in this research for cultivation, separation and purification of anaerobic fungi. Sampling from the solid and liquid contents of 50 Baloochi sheep was done randomly in Zabol slaughterhouse and these samples were used as the source of fungus to inoculation to culture. The roll bottle method was used for purification of rumen fungi. The antibiotic solutions [ampicillin, penicillin, streptomycin, oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol] were used for inhibiting growth of bacteria. Samples of pure fungi were transferred to culture and were observed after growth in glass slide with light microscope. The separated fungi were all monocentric and had rhizoid

Results: with regard to morphologic characteristics the genera of Neocallimastix and Piromyces and species of Piromyces communis, Piromyces minutus, Piromyces rhizinflata, Caecomyces communis was isolated in rumen of Baloochi sheep

Conclusions: with identification of these fungi species in rumen of Baloochi sheep, it is recommended to perform molecular test and enzyme extraction for further survey of characteristics in future research

[Effect of vermicompost and fungi inoculation on growth characteristics and steviosid content of stevia rebaudiana bert]

Background: According to the importance of Stevia rebaudiana that it's sweetener steviol glycosides, has been introduced in recent year as a natural alternative for saccharose, the evaluation of bio-fertilizers effects on growth and development of stevia is necessary

Objective: In this research the effect of vermicompost and mycorrhiza on growth traits and steviosid [ST] content in Stevia rebaudiana was studied

Methods: This research was conducted in faculty of agriculture of Tarbiat Modarres University, Tehran, Iran, through a factorial experiment based on randomized complete block design with 12 treatments and 3 replications. The first factor was different levels of vermicompost [0, 10% and 20%] in basal medium including garden soil + 15% by weight Cow manure and also garden soil alone as a control treatment. Second factor was mycorrhiza fungi including inoculation Glomus mosseae and Piriformospora indica and treatment of non-inoculated plants.

Results: The bio-fertilizers had significant effect [P and le;0.01] on the studied parameters. The maximum amount of growth parameters [chlorophyll content, and fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and root] was obtained treatment of 20% of vermicompost and Glomus mosseae inoculation. The highest content of steviosid was obtained in end of vegetative growth stage and control treatment

Conclusion: Application of vermicompost significantly improved the chlorophyll content and growth traits and also the highest their amounts were obtained in combination treatment of vermicompost and mycorrhizal inoculation

effect of distillation methods and plant growth stages on the essential oil content and composition of thymus daenensis

Thymus daenensis is on e of the endemic aromatic species in Iran that its essential oil is used in food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, the effects of plant growth stages and distillation methods on essential oil content and thymol percentage of this species were evaluated. The aerial parts of Th. daenensis were collected in three stages of plant growth from Tehran province of Iran. The plant materials were dried in shade and their essential oils were isolated by hydro-distillation in three replications. In addition, the essential oils of plant materials at full flowering stage were obtained by hydro-distillation, water and steam distillation and steam distillation. The essential oils were analyzed by capillary GC and GC/MS. The result showed that the different plant growth stages and distillation methods had significant effect on essential oil content. The highest essential oil content was obtained at full flowering stage [2.28% w/w]. Among distillation methods, the highest essential oil content was obtained by hydro-distillation [2.27%] that was significant difference with other distillation method. There was no significant difference between essential oil composition at different plant growth stages. Also, thymol, p-cymene and y-terpinene were the main components. The highest percentage of thymol was obtained by hydro-distillation. Generally, it can be concluded that harvesting of Th. daenensis at full flowering stage and extraction of its essential oil by hydro-distillation were more suitable for obtaining the higher oil content and thymol percentage

Changes in essential oil composition and leaf traits of basil [Ocimum basilicum L.] affected by bio-stimulators / fertilizers application

Basil [Ocimum basilicum L.], a member of the Lamiaceae family, has traditionally been used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of headaches, coughs, diarrhea, constipation, warts, worms, and kidney malfunctions. To investigate the foliar application effects of bio-stimulators and bio-fertilizers on morphological and phytochemical traits of basil [Ocimum basilicum L.]. Bio-stimulators in three commercial formulations of aminolforte, kadostim and fosnutren [with concentration of 1.5 L.ha[-1]] through foliar application, and bio-fertilizers in three commercial formulations of nitroxin, super-nitro plus and barvar 2 [with concentration of 0.5 L.ha[-1]] through seed inoculation were considered as two studied factors. The results showed that the interaction effect of bio-stimulators and bio - fertilizers was significant [p<0.01] on all of studied parameters except of chlorophyll content [SPAD value]. The highest leaf fresh weight [25.47 g/plant] and leaf dry weight [6.48 g/plant] were obtained under fosnutren and nitroxin treatment, also maximum leaf number [206.33] was recorded in aminolforte and nitroxin treatment. The highest leaf area [1302.2 mm[2]/plant] was observed in kadostim and nitroxin treatment. Also results showed that the highest content of essential oil [0.43%] was obtained in aminolforte and nitroxin, methyl chavicol [37.13%] in fosnutren and super-nitro plus, geranial [29.05%] and caryophylene [6.66%] in kadostim and nitroxin, and carvacrol [31.60%] in fosnutren and nitroxin treated plants. In general, the best treatment to improve growth and phytochemical traits of Ocimum basilicum were kaclostim x nitroxin and fosnutren x nitroxin

[Effect of the nursing staff associate model on nursing students' clinical learning]

Clinical education is one of the most important ingredients of nursing curriculum. Inadequacies in nursing skills are main concerns of nursing students. Therefore, the application of new teaching methods is essential to improve the quality of clinical education. The Clinical Education Associate Method [CEAM], using the collaboration of nursing staff is a strategy for clinical education. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the nursing staff associate model on nursing students' clinical learning. This was a quasi-experimental study. 40 nursing students were randomly and equally assigned into two groups. The students in the experiment group were trained by nursing staff during clinical education, while the students in the control group received the routine education. The clinical skills of the students were assessed using a checklist. Collected data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The students in both groups were the same in terms of demographic characteristics. The students in the experiment group received better marks in clinical skills such as medication, communication with patients, isolation methods, and dressing in comparison with the students in the control group [P<0.05]. In the nursing staff associate model, students interact with each other and will be able to communication better, and their self-esteem is improved. Moreover, the level of learning in such students is higher in comparison with students taught using the routine method. Therefore, the widespread application of this model in nursing and other healthcare disciplines are suggested

Hazel [corylus avellana L.] as a new source of taxol and taxanes

Taxol is used to treatment of variety cancers including ovarian, breast, lung, head and neck carcinomas and the AIDS-related Karposi's carcinoma, and was originally obtained from bark of taxus brevifolia. However the amount of extracted taxol from taxus is extremely low and cannot be considered as a suitable commercial source and it has led to studies for finding new sources of Taxol. In 1998, Angela Hoffman and her team reported that hazel could be as a taxol-producing species and it has been confirmed by recent studies. On the other hand, the genes and enzymes involved in taxol biosynthesis pathway in taxus sp. have been identified and characterized but because of very slow growth and difficult somatic embryogenesis, manipulation of taxus is restricted. Instead, hazel with widely contribution in the world, easy invitro culture and characterization of some genes involved in the pathways of MVA and DXP [such as HMGR, IPI and GGPP], makes possibility of manipulation of taxol biosynthesis pathway. In this paper we reviewed a summary of genetic and biotechnology studies on hazel

[Determination of seed and oil yield and yield components in two variety of milk thistle [silybum marianum gaetrn.] based on path analysis and regression]

Silybum marianum Gatrn. [Family: Asteraceae] is an annual or biennial plant, native to the Mediterranean area, which has spread in North and South of Iran. The seeds contain high amount of oil [20 - 35%] which exhibits wound-healing, anti-burn, and hepatoprotective properties. Determine the most seed yield components and oil yield in milk thistle. This research was conducted using two genotypes of milk thistle [Ahvaz wild type and Germany] in a randomized complete block design with four replications, to evaluate the most seed yield components and oil yield. Initially, oil and seed yield [dependent variable] separately determined for any variety using stepwise regression analysis. In Ahvas type, seed yield and oil percent for oil yield, and capitulum diameter for seed yield whereas, in Germany type, number of capitulum for seed yield and seed yield for oil yield justified variation related to dependent variable significantly. Regression analysis represented seed yield is affected by capitulum diameter and number, and secondary metabolites of seed [R[2]=98.16] and oil yield is justified by oil percent and seed active constituents and yield [R[2]=99.91]. The path analysis revealed that direct and positive effect number of capitulum [0.49], diameter of main capitulum [0.41] and oil percent [0.1] and direct and negative effect of active ingredient silymarin, are important components of oil yield. In general, this result showed that for increasing of seed and oil yield can be used from capitulum diameter and number and oil percent in medicinal plant breeding of milk thistle

Talents for future: report of the second national medical science Olympiad in Islamic Republic of Iran

This report describes a unique experience of Second National Medical Science Olympiad that was held in August 2010 in Shiraz, Islamic Republic of Iran. The history of medical science Olympiad in Iran and the development, process and domains in the Olympiad and the way for future will be discussed

[Allelopathic effects of harmal [peganum harmala L.] aqueous extract on seed germination and seedling growth of purslan [portulaca oleracea L.] and black weed [chenopodium album L.]]

The study of allelopathic properties of plants is one of up-to-date biological and ecological methods, which can lead to discover the bio-herbicides and growth inhibitors. In order to study the allelopathic effects of harmal [Peganum harmala L] on seed germination and seedling growth on purslan [Portulaca oleracea L.] and black weed [Chenopodium album L.], these experiments were conducted. The aqueous extracts of harmal different organs including capsule, leaf, stem and root were applied at five concentration levels [0 as control, 1, 5, 10 and 15%] through a factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that different organ extracts had different negative effects on seed germination and seedling growth of the two species in such a way that capsules extracts had the highest inhibitory effect. With increasing extract concentrations of harmal, the seed germination and seedling growth of the two species was reduced significantly. The minimum amount of seed germination and growth of the seedlings were observed at 15% extracts concentration of capsules. Also, purslan seedlings appeared to be more sensitive to harmal extracts than black weed seedlings. The aqueous extracts of harmal different organs had inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedlings growth of purslan and black weed. Also, the highest inhibitory effects were related to capsule extracts