[Determination of quantitative changes, phytochemical and tolerance threshold in german chamomile medicinal plant [matricaria chamomilla L.] under salinity and ph condition]

Background: Matricaria chamomilla L. is a valuable medicine plant that determining of threshold tolerance and assessing of quantitative yield and phytochemical is necessary in different condition, especially of salinity and pH

Objective: Determination of essential oil, percent of essential oil efficiency, tolerance threshold to salinity and pH in medicinal plant of chamomile

Methods: This research was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Salinity levels was performed with EC; 2, 4, 8, 12 and 16 dSm-1 using NaCl and pH levels of 4, 5, 6.4, 8 and 9

Results: The results showed that the maximum of wet and dry weight of flower and number of flower were achieved in EC 2 and with increasing of salinity to more than 2 dSm-1, were decreased [P and le;0.01]. Percentage of oil yield efficiency was lowest in EC 2 and increased by rising of salinity. Assessing essential oil showed that, with rising of salinity stress and alpha;-Bisabolol oxide A [5.2%] and Camazulene [47.9%]were increased and reduced, respectively. The results of pH treatments showed that the maximum of number of flower and dry and wet weight of flower were achieved in pH 8, and reduced significantly [P<0.01] by down and up of optimum pH [8]. The and alpha;-Bisabolol oxide A[73.1%] increased with rising of pH and was maximum in pH 8

Conclusion: Salt tolerance threshold based on flower yield and total biomass were 2 and 4 dSm-1, respectively. The highest yield was obtained in pH 8, based on total dry weight of flower

[Prevalence and etiology of heart murmurs in 2-24-months-old infants Kerman, Iran]

Background and Aim: Congenital heart disease is one of the most common malformations at birth that require timely recognition and treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and etiology of detected heart murmurs and association between congenital heart disease and heart murmurs. Recognition of murmurs etiology would help us to manage and treat them properly

Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 2757 infants between two to 24 months in Kerman city, Iran were enrolled. The infants who had heart murmurs in physical exam were referred to pediatric cardiologist for more evaluations such as echocardiography

Results: 2757 infants were screened for the presence of heart murmurs and murmurs were heard in 145 [5.29%] including 71 girls [49%] and 74 boys [51%]. Innocent and pathologic murmurs prevalence was 49 and 51 percent, respectively. Altogether, left to right shunts [ventricular ceptal defect [VSD], atrial ceptal defect [ASD], patent ductus arteriosus [PDA], atrioventricular septal defect [AVSD]] were the most common cardiac abnormalities in this study. The most common heart lesion was ventricular septal defect [21.6%]. There was a significant correlation between younger infants, lower weights and girl sex with congenital heart disease

Conclusion: On base of our study, the incidence of pathologic heart murmurs related to congenital heart disease is more than innocent murmurs in infants; with accurate heart exam and timely screening, we can prevent irreversible heart complication in these ages

[Change in crocin, safranal and picrocrocin content and agronomical characters of saffron [crocus sativus L.] under biological and chemical of phosphorous fertilizers]

Biofertilizers are an alternative to chemical fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effects of biofertilizers on valuable medicinal plants such as saffron. To determine the effects of chemical and bio-fertilizer phosphorous on quantitative yield and major active components content of saffron [Crocus sativus L.]. This study has been conducted in Absard region, north of Tehran, Iran along 2006-2008 in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four fertilizer treatments. The treatments were p1 [Control or no applying phosphorous fertilizer], p[2] [150 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate], p[3] [100 gr/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore] and p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate]. The treatments had significant effects [p<0.01] on fresh stigma and style length, number and leaf length, saffron yield [dry weight of stigma and style], and content of safranal, crocine and picrocrocine. Although the yield of stigma and style were not different in p[2] [150 kg/ha phosphorous] and p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha phosphorous as ammonium phosphate] treatment, but the application of bio-fertilizer [p3] produced the most saffron yield, addition cause efficiency about 13.77% more than chemical treatment. However, p[3] [100 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore] was the best treatment in respect of picrocrocine content. Also, the maximum content of safranal and crocin was obtained in p[4] [a mixture of 50 g/ha bio-fertilizer as biophosphore + 75 kg/ha chemical phosphorous as ammonium phosphate]. Application of the chemical/bio- fertilizer increased qualitative and quantitative Yield of saffron. Also, the application of biophosphore can be in order to reduction in application of chemical phosphorous fertilizer in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward minimizing of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

[ effect of chemical and bio-fertilizer source of nitrogen on qualitative and quantitative yield of saffron [crocus sativus L.]]

Biofertilizers are an alternative to mineral fertilizers for increasing soil productivity and plant growth in sustainable agriculture. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the effects of biofertilizers on valuable medicinal plants such as saffron. To determine the effects of chemical and bio-fertilizer nitrogen on quantitative yield and some quality components of saffron [Crocus sativus L.]. This study has been conducted in Absard region, north of Tehran, Iran along 2006-2008 in a randomized complete block design with three replications and four fertilizer treatments. The treatments were n1 [Control or no applying nitrogen fertilizer], n2 [150 kg/ha nitrogen as urea], n3 [5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine] and n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea]. The results showed that fertilizer treatments had significant effects [p<0.01] on fresh stigma and style length, leaf length, leaf number, saffron yield [dry weight of stigma and style], and content of Safranal, Crocine and Picrocrocine. Although the maximum yield of stigma and style were obtained in n2 treatment [150 kg/ha nitrogen] and n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea], the application of bio-fertilizer [n3] increased the saffron yield about 0.83% more than control treatment. However, n3 [5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine] was the best treatment in respect of safranal and picrocrocine content. Also, the maximum content of crocine was obtained in n4 [a mixture of 2.5 kg/ha bio-fertilizer as Nitroxine + 75 kg/ha nitrogen as urea]. Application of the chemical/bio- fertilizer increased qualitative and quantitative Yield yield of saffron. Also, the application of nitroxine can be in order to reduction in application of nitrogen fertilizer in agro-ecosystem which is attitude toward the minimize of environmental pollution and sustainable agriculture

Motion of a density current head in a diverging channel.

Velocity of density current head in the diverging channel, where a river enters a dam reservoir, lake, or sea, is a key parameter when evaluating the extent to which suspended material travels, and determining the type and distribution of sediment in the reservoir. Effects of the channel degree of divergence on the density current head velocity were experimentally evaluated. Experiments were conducted in a 6.0m long and 0.72m wide flume at two slopes of 0.009 and 0.016. Head velocity was measured at three diverging degrees of 8, 12, 26, also in a uniform cross section channel 0.2m wide for various discharges. For the same slope and density current discharge, results showed that head velocity is higher in the diverging channels compared to that in the uniform cross section channel. As the channel degree of divergence was increased, the head velocity also increased. The increase of head velocity was insignificant beyond 12 degrees of divergence. In consent to the previous studies, the current head velocity increased as the bed slope increased. Using theory of dimensional analysis supported by experiments, a mathematical model was developed to calculate the head velocity for a variety of slopes and degrees of divergence.