INVESTIGATING THE EFFECT OF COLD TEMPERATURE STRESS ON UNOPENED MALE CATKINS AND INOCULATED FEMALE FLOWERS OF IRANIAN NATIVE HAZELNUT CULTIVARS
In many low-temperature areas, the environmental factor is an important limiting factor for the production and distribution of horticultural plants. This study aimed to investigate the cold tolerance of the male catkins and inoculated female flowers to screen the popular native hazelnut cultivars in Qazvin under low-temperature stress. A completely randomized factorial block design with three replications was used in this experiment with eight cultivars (Nakhnroud, Khandan, Mish-Pestan, South of Qarabagh, Asl-e-Qarabagh, Rasmi, and Gerdashkevar). After removing each of the treated samples at the end of the experiment, the samples were examined morphologically (appearance) and compared with the control. The changes were recorded as qualitative traits. To understand the influence of cold stress on reproductive organs, hydrogen peroxide and proline were measured. The results showed the onset of freezing in unopened male catkins at -7 and -9 °C and in inoculated female flowers at -3 °C. Damage to unopened male catkins' tissue occurred at -11 °C and in female flowers at -5 °C. The highest value observed among cultivars in the case for proline content of male catkins was in Mish-Pestan and Khandan cultivars with 0.816 and 0.660 µmol/ g FW, respectively. In inoculated female flowers, Mish-Pestan and Tabestaneh cultivars with 0.185 and 0.168 µmol/ g FW, respectively, showed the highest statistically significantincrease in proline content. Interestingly, the cultivars with the highest proline content in male catkins indicated the most increase in H2O2; Mish-Pestan and Khnadan with 0.569 and 0.541 ug/g FW, respectively. Asl-eQarabagh was observed to have the least H2O2 content (0.042 ug/g FW) among cultivars. Again, in inoculated female flowers, those with the highest concentration of proline (Mish-Pestan and Tabestaneh) were found to have the highest H2O2 content (0.335 and 0.331 ug/g FW, respectively
Read ArticleTYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS EFFECTS ON SEMEN PARAMETERS AND SEMINAL PLASMA
Background: Diabetes Type 2 is a complex disorder described by an imbalance between insulin resistance and secretion that induce liver glucose output. It has been shown that serum insulin levels are affected by a sperm plasma membrane and acrosome. Therefore, during insulin resistance spermatogenesis changes, diabetic patients detect testicular changes. Aims: This research aims to know the effect of diabetic type 2 on some aspects of fertility in men by studying the characteristics of the semen and some biochemical parameters in seminal plasma. Methods: This study was achieved at the Center for Endocrinology and Diabetes Specialists in Maysan province from February to November 2018 and included 45 men (30 diabetic and 15 healthy in the control group) aged 30 to 59 years. The patients were divided according to age into two groups, the first (30-39) and second (40-59) years, also divided by the duration of diabetes into two groups, the first (1-5) and second (6-10) year. Results: The pH of semen in the second age group (40-49 years) group and first duration (1-5 years) group were significantly decreased (P <0.05) in diabetes compared with the control group. Volume and viscosity did not have significant differences in patients compared to the control following the age and duration of diabetes. Liquefaction only in the first age (30-39 years) group significantly increased (P <0.05) compared to the control. The concentration of sperm, progressive motility, non-progressive and normal morphology decreased (P <0.05) significantly. While the sluggish, dead, and abnormal morphology significantly increased (P <0.05) in all diabetes groups compared with the control. The fructose and alkaline phosphatase values in the seminal plasma were not differing significantly in patients compared with the control. Zinc and glutathione values decreased significantly (P <0.05) compared with control in each age and duration of diabetes. Discussion: Insulin stimulates the Ledying cell function, defect insulin effect on spermatogenesis. Impaired sperm motility in a patient with D.M. might be attributed to many reasons, such as increased ROS level, altered mitochondria DNA, and decreased epididymal products. Conclusion: our measurement indicates that there is an effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on semen parameters and seminal plasma biochemical parameters.
Read ArticleFROM AIR FORCE TO HYPERSONIC FUTURE: ÉLCIO GERÔNIMO DE OLIVEIRA'S JOURNEY IN BRAZILIAN AEROSPACE DEVELOPMENT (ENGLISH VERSION)
Introdução: A entrevista com Élcio Gerônimo de Oliveira, conduzida pelo repórter Luis, apresenta a trajetória profissional de um pesquisador brasileiro com experiência na Força Aérea Brasileira e no meio acadêmico, com foco em sistemas espaciais e veículos hipersônicos. Objetivos: Documentar a carreira e contribuições de Élcio para o desenvolvimento aeroespacial brasileiro, destacando sua transição da carreira militar para a acadêmica e sua participação em projetos estratégicos, especialmente o projeto 14X. Métodos: A entrevista foi estruturada em blocos temáticos, abordando a carreira militar, a experiência acadêmica e, com maior detalhamento, o envolvimento no projeto do veículo hipersônico 14X. Foram realizadas perguntas abertas, permitindo ao entrevistado compartilhar sua experiência e conhecimento técnico. Resultados: Élcio descreveu sua progressão na Força Aérea Brasileira, desde pesquisador até vice-chefe da Diretoria de Espaço, destacando o desenvolvimento de veículos lançadores, sistemas de navegação inercial e o projeto SARA. Relatou sua transição para a carreira acadêmica, incluindo sua experiência como professor na Universidade de Luleå, na Suécia. Élcio detalhou sua coordenação no projeto 14X, um veículo hipersônico que alcançou Mach 7, com perspectivas de atingir Mach 10. Discussão: A entrevista revela a importância da cooperação internacional e da transferência de tecnologia, exemplificada pela doação do primeiro laboratório de hipersônica do Brasil. Evidencia também os desafios técnicos na construção de veículos hipersônicos e o potencial dessas tecnologias para aplicações militares e civis. Conclusão: A carreira de Élcio Gerônimo de Oliveira exemplifica a contribuição brasileira para pesquisa aeroespacial avançada, demonstrando a capacidade nacional de desenvolver tecnologias estratégicas como veículos hipersônicos, apesar das limitações de recursos, e apontando possibilidades futuras para o transporte e exploração espacial.
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