Presence of the endosymbiont Wolbachia among some fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) from Iran: A multilocus sequence typing approach

Javad Karimi,Reyhaneh Darsouei 한국응용곤충학회 2014 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.17 No.1

Wolbachia is awidespread endosymbiont of insects with a diverse range of biological effects on its hosts.Westudied the prevalence of Wolbachia in some important species of tephritids in Iran. Among different populationsof five fruit fly species, Dacus ciliatus (cucurbit fly), Rhagoletis cerasi (cherry fruit fly), Ceratitis capitata(Mediterranean fruit fly), Myiopardalis pardalina (melon fly) and Carypomya vesuviana (jujube fly), two species,R. cerasi and C. vesuviana, showed infection with separate Wolbachia strains, namely wCer6 and wVes1,respectively. C. vesuviana is introduced here as a novel host for Wolbachia. Genotyping of Wolbachia strainsin 12 populations of five fruit fly species, using multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and the wsp gene sequenceshowed the occurrence of two new strains as well as a new strain type (ST) belonging to the A supergroup. Onthe basis of the results of this study, 12 barcodes under five species of Iranian tephritids have been added tothe database of DNA barcodes. Inter- and intra-specific differences among COI sequences showed a clear gapin barcoding among most fruit flies.

Molecular characterization of Iranian Trichogrammatids (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and their Wolbachia endosymbiont

Javad Karimi,Reyhaneh Darsouei,Mojtaba Hosseini,Richard Stouthamer 한국응용곤충학회 2012 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.15 No.1

During 2009–2010, a field survey of native Trichogramma species was carried out in six provinces of Iran, including Khorasan Razavi, Tehran, Mazandaran, Guilan, Golestan, and Qom. In this study, a molecular method for identifying Trichogramma and for determining the prevalence of Wolbachia in those species was used. Based on ITS2 (internal transcribed spacer 2) sequence, 14 populations were identified as the species T. embryophagum, T. evanescens, or T. brassicae. Wolbachia infection in these Trichogrammatids was detected using wsp gene sequencing. The highest infection rates in Trichogramma were found in Mazandaran and Golestan provinces. There was no evidence of infection in Trichogramma species in Guilan and Qom provinces. Of the three infected populations, two populations of T. evanescens were infected with only one Wolbachia strain from sib subgroup and one population was superinfected. Here, we report the first data on molecular characterization of Iranian Trichogrammatids and their Wolbachia-endosymbionts.

Experimental investigation of nanofibrous poly(vinylidene fluoride) membranes for desalination through air gap membrane distillation process

Javad Karimi-Sabet,Mojtaba Shariaty-Niassar,Rasoul Moradi,Younes Amini 한국화학공학회 2016 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.33 No.10

A comparative study was conducted to evaluate the performance of two membrane types of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and commercial ploytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The optimized needleless electrospinning technique was used to prepare PVDF membranes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), wettability tests, water flux, mechanical strength and liquid entry pressure (LEP) measurements were performed to evaluate the prepared membrane. Air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) experiments were carried out to investigate the salt rejection performance and the durability of membranes. The results show that our nanofibrous PVDF membrane presents higher water permeation flux (>20 kg/m2 h) compared to commonly used PTFE. In addition, the experimental data confirms that competitive salt rejection efficiency (>99.8%) was obtained in this new membrane.

Protective Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. Aerial Parts on H_2O_2- Induced DNA Damage in Lymphocytes by Comet Assay

Javad Behravan,Fatemeh Mosafa,Negar Soudmand,Elahe Taghiabadi,Bibi Marjan Razavi,Gholamreza Karimi 사단법인약침학회 2011 Journal of Acupuncture & Meridian Studies Vol.4 No.3

The comet assay is a standard method for measuring DNA damage. In this study, the protective effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of Portulaca oleracea L. (P. oleracea)on human lymphocyte DNA lesions were evaluated with the comet assay. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy volunteers. Human lymphocytes were incubated in H_2O_2 (50,100, and 200 mM), aqueous extract (0.05, 0.1,0.5, 1, and 2.5 mg/ml), and ethanolic extracts (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2.5 mg/ml) of P. oleraceae aerial parts alone with a combination of H_2O_2 (100 mM) with either 1 or 2.5 mg/ml of both extracts at 4℃ for 30 minutes. The extent of DNA migration was measured using the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis approach assay, and DNA damage was expressed as percentage tail DNA. We found that the aqueous extract of P. oleracea significantly inhibited DNA damage, while there was no effect of the ethanolic extract. These data suggest that the aqueous extract of P. oleracea can prevent oxidative DNA damage to human lymphocytes, which is likely due to antioxidant constituents in the extract.

A Novel Scheme for Flexible NURBS-based C2 PH Spline Curve Contour Following Task using Neural Network

Mahdi Karimi,Javad Jahanpour,Shahab Ilbeigi 한국정밀공학회 2014 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol. No.

In this paper, a novel scheme for approximation of complicated CNC tool paths, designed by non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS)curves, is proposed. The idea of this approximation is based on introducing flexible NURBS-based C2 PH Spline Curves. Using thespecifications of nodal points on a NURBS curve and introducing the coefficients for the velocity and acceleration vectors on thesepoints, as well as defining flexible connection nodes, a new method is presented to design a tool path via C2 PH spline curves. Valuesof the velocity/acceleration vector coefficients corresponding to the flexible connection nodes on the original NURBS curve arecomputed by genetic algorithm and Neural Network. To this end, the normal distance between the tool path and its correspondingoriginal NURBS curve is considered as the objective function. Using combination of the time-dependent feedrate and constantfeedrate interpolations, the position commands of the designed curve are generated. Several contour following tasks wereimplemented with pseudo-derivative feedback feed forward (PDFF) controller. Experimental and simulation results confirm that thedevised interpolator is not only feasible for machining the complicated tool path represented in the improved NURBS-based C2 PHspline form but also yields satisfactory contouring performance under variable feedrate.

Preparation and characterization of a novel calcium-conducting polymer inclusion membrane: Part I

Reza Darvishi,Javad karimi Sabet,Mohsen Nasr Esfahany 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.10

The preparation and characterization of a novel type of castor oil-based polymer inclusion membrane (PIM) was investigated, focusing on its flux and selective recovery of Ca2+ over competitive ions such as K+, Na+, and Mg2+. The PIM contains a cross-linked high-molecular-weight green polyol (GPO) as a polymer base, benzene-18crown-6 as a carrier, and an ionic liquid called 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride as a plasticizer. GPO was first synthesized by a reaction between an epoxidized castor oil and a cellulose acetate, thereafter, cross-linked by isophorene isocyanate. The base polymer and the prepared PIM were characterized by gel permeation chromatography (GPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The FTIR results indicate that oxirane groups in the epoxidized castor oil molecules reacted with the primary hydroxyl groups of cellulose acetate chains. The contact angle measurement hints at the hydrophobic characteristics of the prepared membrane. Compared to the PVC-, CA-, and PVDF-based polymer inclusion membrane, the cured GPO-based PIM, showed higher selectivity and flux of calcium ions with the same composition. The greater stability and significantly higher surface roughness are further favorable features of the novel PIM.

First record of Aphelinus paramali Zehavi and Rosen 1989 (Hymenoptera, Aphelinidae), parasitoid of Aphis pomi de Geer (Hemiptera, Aphididae) in Iran, and its phylogenetic position based on sequence data of ITS2 and COI genes

Reyhane DARSOUEI,Javad Karimi,Mehdi Modarres Awal 한국곤충학회 2011 Entomological Research Vol.41 No.5

The occurrence of Aphelinus paramali (Zehavi & Rosen) (Hym., Aphelinidae) was evidenced from North east Iran, in association with Aphis pomi (de Geer). This species is reported from Iran for the first time, and A. pomi is introduced as a new host for this parasitoid. Detailed morphological characters were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photographs. Also, sequences of ribosomal internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) genes were used for determining species boundaries and comparing with other Aphelinus species. Different results were obtained in phylogenetic analysis of these two regions. Analysis of COI gene supported the closer relationship of this species with Aphelinus abdominalis. This is the first data about comprehensive characterization of a parasitic wasp using morphological characters, SEM and two-locus information from Iran.

Optimization and modification of PVDF dual-layer hollow fiber membrane for direct contact membrane distillation; application of response surface methodology and morphology study

Mehdi Bahrami,Javad karimi Sabet,Ali Hatamnejad,Abolfazl Dastbaz,Mohammad Ali Moosavian 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.11

RSM methodology was applied to present mathematical models for the fabrication of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) dual-layer hollow fibers in membrane distillation process. The design of experiments was used to investigate three main parameters in terms of polymer concentration in both outer and inner layers and the flow rate of dope solutions by the Box-Behnken method. According to obtained results, the optimization was done to present the proper membrane with desirable properties. The characteristics of the optimized membrane (named HF-O) suggested by the Box-Behnken (at the predicted point) showed that the proposed models are strongly valid. Then, a morphology study was done to modify the fiber by a combination of three types of a structure such as macro-void, sponge-like and sharp finger-like. It also improved the hydrophobicity of outer surface from 87 to 113o and the mean pore size of the inner surface from 108.12 to 560.14nm. The DCMD flux of modified fiber (named HF-M) enhanced 62% more than HF-O when it was fabricated by considering both of RSM and morphology study results. Finally, HF-M was conducted for long-term desalination process up to 100hr and showed stable flux and wetting resistance during the test. These stepwise approaches are proposed to easily predict the main properties of PVDF dual-layer hollow fibers by valid models and to effectively modify its structure.

Separation performance investigation of packed distillation columns using simple NEQ approach based on packing multicomponent efficiencies and effective mass transfer coefficients

Hadi Poortalari,Javad karimi Sabet,Farshad Varaminian 한국화학공학회 2018 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.35 No.5

A simple non-equilibrium modeling approach is proposed to simulate multicomponent distillation process in packed columns. The real behavior of the column is simply considered by the evaluation of interphase mass transfer rate based on the overall mass transfer coefficient. Two distinct methods are used to calculate this overall coefficient including the effective mass transfer coefficient method and the packing efficiency method. The modelling procedure consists of an iterative segment-wise algorithm implemented in a MATLAB home-code. For verification, the obtained composition profiles from a structured and a random packed column are compared with reported experimental data. Comparisons show that the packing efficiency-based model could acceptably predict the experimental profiles with an average relative deviation of 18% and 25% for structured and random packed columns, respectively. This confirms that our simple non-equilibrium approach is a reliable and robust model for the performance evaluation of packed columns.

Antigenotoxic Effects of Satureja hortensis L. on Rat Lymphocytes Exposed to Oxidative Stress

Fatemeh Mosaffa,Javad Behravan,Gholamreza Karimi,Mehrdad Iranshahi 대한약학회 2006 Archives of Pharmacal Research Vol.29 No.2

The protective properties of Satureja hortensis L. on the rat lymphocytes DNA lesions were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples taken from healthy rats. DNA breaks and resistance to H2O2-induced damage were measured with the comet assay. Rat lymphocytes were incubated in S. hortensis ethanolic extract (SHE) (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/ mL), essential oil (SHEO)(0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 µL/mL), H2O2 (50, 100, and 200 µM), a combination of H2O2 (200 mM) with either SHE (1.0, 2.5 mg/mL) or SHEO (1.0, 2.5 µL/mL) at 4oC for 30 min, and the extent of DNA migration was measured using a single-cell microgel electrophoresis technique under alkaline conditions. Treatment of rat lymphocytes with SHE or SHEO resulted in significant reduction of H2O2-induced DNA damage compared to controls. SHE exhibited a significant (P<0.01) inhibitory effect on oxidative DNA damage at 2.5 mg/mL. SHEO (1.0 and 2.5 µL/mL) also showed significant inhibitory effects (P <0.01) on H2O2 induced chromosomal damage. In conclusion both the ethanolic extract and the essential oil of the plant reversed the oxidative damage to rat lymphocytes induced by hydrogen peroxide.