Kerman Province Of Iran Research Articles

An investigation on Lecanicillium muscarium as a biocontrol agent of stem borer pests of Rosa damascena in Kerman Province of Iran

The Rosa damascena has organic production and this plant is the most important economic crop in Kerman province. Roses have been used since the earliest times in rituals, cosmetics, perfumes, medicines and aromatherapy. The rose stem sawfly (Hartigia trimaculata) and rose stem girdler (Agrilus aurichalceus) are new and major pests of R. damascena in the Lalehzar region of Kerman province. These pests cause severe damage to plants by feeding stems and new management strategies for their control are continually being investigated. To investigate appropriate biological control agent in the region during 2005–2007, 184 isolates of fungi were collected from these pests. Isolation of fungi was achieved using standard methods. In this study, H. trimaculata and A. aurichalceus from R. damascena for the first time were recorded in Iran. Lecnicillium muscarium from H. trimaculata, L. muscarium from A. aurichalceus, Acremonium kiliense from H. trimaculata, and A. egyptiacum from A. aurichalceus have for the first time been recorded, and L. muscarium has been introduced as a suitable biological agent for control of these pests.

Congenital tremor in an Iranian Fat-Tailed lamb: clinical, hematological, biochemical, and pathological findings

Tremor is a continuous, repetitive twitching of skeletal muscles, which is usually visible and palpable. Repeated birth of lambs with neurological disorders in a herd of the region in Northwest of Kerman province of Iran was the reason for careful examination one of the patients. The 1-day-old lamb with slowly progressive neurologic disturbances consisting of difficulties in moving and coordination was transferred to the Veterinary Clinic of Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman. The patient suffered from ataxia and severe tremor. In clinical examination, significant findings were restricted to the nervous system. The animal was normal in other respects. At necropsy the meningeal blood vessels were congested and occasional small foci of hemorrhage was seen. Microscopic findings in the brain included ischemic cell change, laminar necrosis, demyelination, diffuse and focal gliosis, microcavitation, and hemorrhage. Based on the history, clinical, hematological, biochemical, and histopathologic findings, a severe degenerative process caused the tremor. This is the first report of congenital tremor in an Iranian Fat-Tailed lamb.

Introducing Bacillus licheniformis as the causal agent of pistachio dieback in Iran

During 2004 and 2006 growing seasons some pistachio trees in Kerman province of Iran showed dieback symptoms. Initial symptoms were observed at the beginning of the growing season and they developed during two weeks after green tip stage, as shoot tips turned black and dieback occurred. During the growing season, the symptoms developed and vessel destruction was observed. If these stems were not pruned during winter, dieback developed in the spring. During the growing season affected pistachio samples were collected and surface disinfected with 0.01% mercury chloride. Pieces of affected vessels were grown on nutrient agar (NA) and incubated at 25°C for three-to-four days. Bacterial colonies with Bacillus characteristics were isolated and 15 representative strains were selected for further characterisation. The pathogenicity of selected strains was verified on 2–3 year-old pistachio seedlings using injection of bacterial suspension (107 cfu p/ml) and control plants inoculated with distilled water; vessel destruction developed after 20 days, and bacterial causal agent was isolated from seedlings. No symptoms were observed in control plants. The strains were Gram positive, motile, with central spores and caused a hypersensitivity reaction (HR) on tobacco and geranium; they were positive for anaerobic growth, nitrate reduction, utilisation of citrate, VP test, urease, catalase, growth at pH 5.7, 7% NaCl and 45°C, acid production from arabinose, xylose, glucose and mannitol, and anaerobic fermentation of glucose. They could hydrolyze starch, aesculin, Tween 80 and gelatin but indole production was negative. Based on the characteristics of the isolated strains, they were identified as Bacillus licheniformis. This is the first report of Bacillus licheniformis as a causal agent of pistachio dieback.

No detected hepatitis B virus-DNA in thalassemic patients infected by hepatitis C virus in Kerman province of Iran

No detected hepatitis B virus-DNA in thalassemic patients infected by hepatitis C virus in Kerman province of Iran

Genetic parameter estimates for birth and weaning weights in Raeini goats

The aim of the present study was to estimate variance components and genetic parameters for birth and weaning weights in Raeini goats. The data were collected from the Breeding Centre of Raeini (BCR) cashmere goats in Kerman province of Iran from 1986 to 2008. Random effects included direct and maternal additive genetic effects, maternal permanent environmental effects with direct-maternal genetic covariance and random residual effects. Variance and covariance components and genetic parameters were estimated using the DFREML program by fitting six single-trait animal models. Depending on the model, h<sub>d</sub><sup>2</sup> varied from 0.057 to 0.323 for birth weight and from 0.043 to 0.229 for weaning weight. Estimates of <I>m</I><sup>2</sup> ranged from 0.016 to 0.289 for birth weight and from 0.01 to 0.184 for weaning weight. The maternal permanent environmental effect was significant for both traits and ignoring maternal effects in the model caused the overestimation of direct heritability.

Analysis of serum and cerebrospinal fluid in clinically normal adult Iranian Cashmere (Rayeni) goats

Rayeni goat is an Iranian Cashmere goat which is raised in large numbers in Kerman province of Iran where goat production contributes significantly to the agricultural economy. Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a valuable aid in the diagnosis of neurological disease. Limited information is available for normal CSF parameters in goat and not much is known in Rayeni goats. The purpose of the present study was to establish reference intervals for serum and CSF from clinically healthy adult Iranian Cashmere (Rayeni) goats. In the present study, reference intervals for total nucleated cell count, total protein, glucose, urea nitrogen, sodium, potassium, chloride, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium concentrations of serum and CSF were determined for Rayeni goats to establish reference values.

Tuberculosis in the Afghan Immigrant in Kerman Province of Iran

Tuberculosis in the Afghan Immigrant in Kerman Province of Iran

No Detected Hepatitis B Virus-DNA in Thalassemic Patients Infected by Hepatitis C Virus in Kerman Province of Iran

This research was aimed to investigate the prevalence and clinical impact of occult HBV infection in thalassemic patients with chronic HCV infection. In this cross-sectional study we have totally examined 60 patients suffering HBV and HCV infections by PCR and RT-PCR methods, respectively, in Kerman province of Iran. ELISA technique (RADIM, Italy) was used to detect anti-HBc, anti-HBs and HBsAg. The serum level of liver enzymes (SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK) were analyzed in the HCV infected patients (MAN, IRAN). Statistical analyses performed using t-test and Chi-square. We found that 27 cases (out of 60) were infected by HCV but HBV-DNA was not seen in HCV infected patients. Present findings also showed that none of samples were HBsAg positive but 9 (33%) (out of 27) HCV-RNA positive patients were anti-HBc positive and 11 (40.7%) were positive for anti-HBs. We found that SGOT, SGPT, DB, TB and ALK are above normal in 27 (100%), 19(70.3%), 12(44.5%), 15 (55.5%) and 15 (55.5%) RNA-HCV positive patients, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis C infection is very high in thalassemic patients and based on other studies our results showed that the prevalence of HCV infection in Kerman is more than other provinces of Iran. In contrast with other studies HBV-DNA in these patients could not be detected, hence, it seems that occult HBV infection isn't frequent in Iranian thalassemic patients who suffering from chronic HCV infection.

Leaching of Sarcheshmeh copper oxide ore in sulfuric acid solution

The recovery of copper from oxide ores containing from 2% to 4.1% acid-soluble copper from the Sarcheshmeh mine in Kerman province of Iran was investigated by agitation leaching in sulfuric acid media. Quartz, as a major constituent, and malachite, as the major copper mineral, were identified in the ore by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and microscopic studies. A series of leaching experiments on the ore was performed over a concentration range of 10 to 20 g/L and temperatures from 15° to 50°C for a maximum of 3 hours. An initial high dissolution of copper was followed by a very slow reaction. By increasing acid concentration and temperature, the dissolution rate of copper was accelerated. However, by increasing acid concentration, the acid consumption of ores was also increased. Surface morphology of solid residues at various leaching times was examined with a scanning electron microscope (SEM). All SEM micrographs of the partially reacted particles displayed a needle structure. The kinetic studies showed that the malachite dissolution rate could be modeled in two stages. About 85% of the malachite dissolution occurred in Stage 1, while the remaining 15% occurred in Stage 2. The data obtained for the leaching kinetics indicate that the dissolution for Stage 1 was a diffusion-controlled reaction with an activation energy of about 20.6 kJ/mole, and the dissolution for the Stag 2 was a chemical-controlled reaction with an activation energy of about 87.6 kJ/mole.

The patterns of antihypertensive drug prescription by cardiologists in Kerman province of Iran, 2006

This study was performed to evaluate the antihypertensive prescribing pattern by cardiologists in outpatients attending private clinics in Kerman province, Iran during 1 year period, 2006. Using random sampling method, 1102 prescriptions issued by cardiologists were investigated. The prescriptions of outpatients which contain at least one antihypertensive medication were separated for further analysis. Using World Health Organization (WHO) standard drug indicators, we evaluate the quality and quantity of prescriptions. The indices were compared between different sex groups by SPSS 11.5 software. About 39% of the patients were male. The average age of the individuals was 57.3 +/- 13. The mean number of drugs per prescription was 2.84 +/- 0.7, but the average of antihypertensive drugs per prescription was 1.4 +/- 0.3, similarly in both sexes. The most prescribed drug class was beta-blockers (46.2%) followed by calcium channel blockers (CCBs) (19.2%), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (13.7%), diuretics (10.3%), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (9.2%) and other antihypertensive agents (1.5%). Most of the hypertensive patients (69.6%) were treated with a single drug while 31.4% of the patients received more than one drug. There was not a significant gender difference between the types of drug class used. Statins and acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) were prescribed as cardiovascular disease preventive drugs in 10.2 and 38% of hypertensive patients, respectively. The mean numbers of drugs per prescription by cardiologists in Kerman province of Iran were not in agreement with WHO standard drug use indicators. Lower using rate of diuretics, statins and ASA need a comprehensive reassessment of the medical management of hypertensive patients.

Technical efficiency and environmental‐technological gaps in wheat production in Kerman province of Iran

AbstractThis article reports on an analysis of technical efficiency and environment‐technology gaps in wheat farming in Iran. A random sample of 676 farmers was selected from the province of Kerman in 2004. In this study, Kerman is divided into five regions based on climatic and geographical conditions. The province is situated in the south‐eastern part of Iran and contains substantial variations in climate.The technical efficiency indices are computed using three approaches. First, a standard stochastic production frontier was employed using pooled cross‐sectional data. Secondly, regional stochastic frontier production functions were estimated. Lastly, the metafrontier approach was used because production environments and technologies are expected to differ between the five regions. Use of this method enabled technical efficiency scores to be corrected by the coefficient of the environment‐technology gap ratio (ETGR). Estimates of the frontier were obtained assuming a translog functional form.Results indicate that farms differ in technical efficiencies, ETGRs and the use they make of inputs. Mean ETGRs vary substantially between farms and across regions whereas mean technical efficiencies are reasonably similar across regions but differ in the extent of variation among farms within each region. A low ETGR for the north‐western region is attributable to a lack of water resources, restricting the ability of farmers to benefit from improved varieties, and small‐sized farms, which militate against mechanization embodying labor‐saving technologies.The results do not lead to definitive policy prescriptions. But they do provide indicators of where farm‐level research is likely to be most effective in closing the environment‐technology gap, for example by enabling farmers to take greater advantage of the productivity‐enhancing effects of improved technologies embodied in cropping machinery and irrigation facilities. The ability of farmers to alleviate the environmental constraints on wheat production is likely to vary across regions, and will depend on the nature of these constraints and the ability of researchers to design technologies suited to each region that will overcome them.

Essential Oil Compositions of Cymbopogon parkeri STAPF from Iran

Aerial parts of aromatic grass, Cymbopogon parkeri STAPF, were collected at flowering stage from Kerman province of Iran. The essential oil of air dried samples obtained by hydro-distillation method. The compositions of the essential oil were determined by the use of GC and GC-MS. Nineteen (98.7%) constituents were identified. The main constituents were piperitone (80.8%), germacrene-D (5.1%), santolinyl acetate (2.1%) and alpha-eudesmol (2.1%).

Grazing Affects Essential Oil Compositions of Artemisia sieberi Besser

This study was conducted in order to study the effect of grazing on quality and quantity of Artemisia sieberi essential oil in Kerman province of Iran. Vegetation sites of Artemisia sieberi under three grazing intensity (heavy, moderate and non-grazed) with the same ecological conditions were selected based on distance of water resource and nomad tent in Khabre National Park and near rangelands. Within each sits, two individual plants sampled at random in full flowering stage. The oils were obtained by hydrodistillation of air-dried samples and were analyzed by GC-MS. The main constituents of oils were as follows: non-grazed site; 1,8cineol (29.9%), myrcene (14.1%), moderate grazed site; myrcene (15.9%), 1,8cineol (15.1%), Eudesm-7(11)-en-4-ol (11.1%) and heavy grazed site; 4-tepinyl acetate (23.3%), davanone (21.9%), p-cymene (19%).

Bovine Subclinical Ketosis in Dairy Herds in Iran

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as elevated concentrations of ketone bodies in the absence of clinical signs of ketosis. It is an important metabolic disease in dairy cattle during early lactation and is associated with losses in milk production and several other periparturient diseases. Limited information is available regarding the prevalence of SCK in dairy herds in Iran. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the incidence of SCK in the dairy herds in Kerman province of Iran using serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations, and (ii) to investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of BHB and glucose of cows with SCK. In the present study, 90 multiparous Holstein cows (4-6 years old) from 11 commercial dairy herds were evaluated 3-4 weeks after calving. The distribution of blood BHB concentrations seemed to suggest a cut-off point of 1200 micromol/L between cows with and without SCK. At this cut-off point, 14.4% of tested cows (13/90) were classified as subclinically ketotic, with the prevalence rate within herd ranging from 10% to 20%. Cows with SCK were detected in all the investigated dairies except one. Blood glucose concentrations in cows with SCK were significantly lower (p < or = 0.05) than in cows without SCK, and serum BHB and glucose concentration were inversely correlated (r = -0.43, p < or = 0.05). The results suggest that, using a cut-off of 1200 micromol/L, BHB concentrations can be used during early lactation for diagnosis and to make management decisions for prevention and treatment.

Prevalence of Bacterial Resistance to Commonly Used Antimicrobials among Escherichia coli Isolated from Chickens in Kerman Province of Iran

Prevalence of Bacterial Resistance to Commonly Used Antimicrobials among Escherichia coli Isolated from Chickens in Kerman Province of Iran

Biological Control of Fusarium Oxysporum f. sp. Melonis, the Causal Agent of Root Rot Disease of Greenhouse Cucurbits in Kerman Province of Iran

Antagonistic activity of 178 soil actinomycete isolates was assayed against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. melonis Schlecht, Emend (Snyde and Hansen) cause of root rot and fusarium wilt of greenhouse cucurbits in Kerman Province, southeast of Iran. From tested isolates, Streptomyces olivaceus (strain 115) showed anti-fusarium activity revealed through screening and bioassays by agar disk and well-diffusion methods. The active strain was grown in submerged cultures for determination of growth curve and preparation of crude extract for further biological characterizations. Antifungal activity was fungistatic type on the pathogen mycelia. It is prominent that amending greenhouse soil mix with the S. olivaceus (strain 115) will reduce crop losses by the pathogen.

Effect of hydrogen cyanamide (dormex), volk oil and potassium nitrate on budbreak, yield and nut characteristics of pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

SummaryInadequate chilling may delay normal blooming and severely reduce yield of pistachio trees in sub-tropical regions. The present study was conducted in a commerical orchard in Shahmiran, in the south west of the Kerman province of Iran. Hydrogen cyanamide (“dormex” at 0, 1.5 and 3%), volk oil (0, 3.5 and 7%) and potassium nitrate (0, 1.5 and 3%) were applied to branch units of pistachio trees in 2002 and 2003. These treatments, plus combinations of dormex and volk oil, volk oil and potassium nitrate, and 7% volk oil were applied 4 and 8 weeks before normal budbreak (January 5 and February 4). The chemicals were sprayed on two branches of ‘Ahmad-aghaei’ trees during the two years of study. Treatments with hydrogen cyanamide (dormex), volk mineral oil and combinations of dormex and volk oil, volk oil and potassium nitrate brought forward budbreak by 15 to 20 days compared with controls, and significantly increased yield of the treated branches, dehiscence of nuts and reduced the blank percentage of pistachio nuts of cultivar Ahamd-aghai. Higher concentrations of dormex and volk oil, in the second application (February 4) and combinations of dormex and volk oil were more effective in increasing the yield per branch. The best treatment was dormex 4%, plus volk oil 7%, during the second application. Potassium nitrate (1.5 and 3%) had no significant effect on yield, dehiscence or blank percentage of pistachio nuts. The results of this study might be applicable to pistachio growing regions with a mild winter.

The Relationship between Self-Esteem and Job Satisfaction of Personnel in Government Organizations

In this article, the relationship between self-esteem and job satisfaction (satisfaction from the kind and the nature of work, satisfaction from the manager or supervisor, satisfaction from co-workers, satisfaction from promotion, satisfaction from salary and wages) are considered and examined. A random sample of 310 personnel in the Kerman province of Iran was selected. Two valid and reliable questionnaires, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the median test, were used in data analysis. The results indicated that there is a meaningful (significant) relationship between self-esteem and the following factors: The degree of job satisfaction; the degree of satisfaction from the kind and the nature of work; the degree of satisfaction from the manager or the supervisor; the degree of satisfaction from the co-workers; the degree of self-esteem and the degree of satisfaction from promotion; and the degree of satisfaction from salary and wages. There is no significant difference between the degree of job satisfaction and its five dimensions, in the different levels of each of the modifying variables: sex, age, salary, marriage, the number of family and the record of service.

Liesegang blocks from sandstone beds of the Hojedk Formation, Kerman, Iran

Three types of Liesegang blocks (sandstone blocks with Liesegang patterns) are present in sandstone beds of the Hojedk Formation near Sowlat Abad, located in the Kerman Province of Iran. The Liesegang blocks are mostly 6 to 12 cm by 4 to 8 cm in area, in beds with a mean thickness of 10 cm. The Liesegang blocks are best developed along the drainages and vanish laterally to the sides and vertically beneath. They are formed in sandstone blocks bound by the tectonically induced joints and fractures at the periphery, and the bedding plane at the bottom. Each Liesegang block is composed of a core, and alternating iron-poor shells (intermediate shells) and iron-rich shells (‘iron’ shells). The shells follow the configuration of the outer shape of the block. The most important factors involved in transformation of a sandstone bed into Liesegang blocks are: a condensed grid of joint polygons, surface water, the appropriate topographic site of exposure, and the composition and thickness of the sandstone bed. Microscopic studies, and the study of gains and losses of elements suggest two opposing diffusion direction trends in the course of Liesegang block formation. The effect of Recent tectonic movements on the Liesegang blocks manifested itself in various forms. Of interest, is partial replacement of the earlier Liesegang patterns by the later patterns along joints, and formation of compound Liesegang blocks (Liesegang blocks with more than one set of Liesegang patterns). From the study of Liesegang patterns within the compound Liesegang blocks, the configuration of the joint polygon related to each Liesegang pattern, and thereby the sense of stress field migration in the area, can be deduced.