---

Microencapsulation of bioactive compounds in lipid carriers, such as liposomes, in addition to improving stability during storage by increasing bioavailability and controlled release, increases the efficiency of these compounds in vivo. The studies conducted on Padina algae show the existence of a high level of phenolic and antimicrobial compounds. Also, this alga has a significant amount of polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-AChE (acetylcholinesterase) properties, which can be used as a supplement to improve neurological disorders. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to produce and investigate the structural properties of nanoliposomes containing Padina algae extract using the heating method. The particle size of nanoliposomes produced at varying levels of lecithin and loaded extract was obtained in the range between 318 and 60 nm. The resulting values ​​for the polydispersity index and zeta potential indicate the uniformity of the produced particles along with the high electrostatic repulsion between the particles. The ability to load liposome particles at the lowest level of wall substance and the highest concentration level of the extract reached 52.8±0.3% in this research. Evaluation of the morphological characteristics of the structure using a transmission electron microscope shows the formation of uniform particles with a spherical geometry. The results of this research show the ability to produce a liposome structure containing Padina algae extract with suitable structural properties. These results can improve the prospect of possible use of this extract with a therapeutic approach.

---

The presence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) Staphylococcus aureus in food raises a public health concern. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of some Lamiaceae essential oils including Melissa Officinalis, Salvia officinalis, and Mentha piperita against MRSA and for the first time on VRSA strains. For this purpose, the disk diffusion test, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC), and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) were determined. Then, M. Officinalis essential oil compounds were investigated against PBP2a, agrA, and Bap proteins using AutoDocK Vina. Finally, pharmacokinetic properties were investigated using ADMETsar and SwissADME servers. Based on the obtained results, the MIC and MBC values of M. Officinalis essential oil against MRSA strain were equal to 0.05 and 0.112 mg/ml, and against VRSA strain were equal to 1.8 and 2.5 mg/ml, respectively. The MBIC and MBEC of M. Officinalis essential oil against MRSA strain were equal to 0.03 mg/ml and 0.112 mg/ml, and against VRSA strain were equal to 0.9 mg/ml and 3.2 mg/ml, respectively. The results of molecular docking showed that β-Caryophyllene had a greater binding affinity to PBP2a protein either in the active site or in the allosteric site (-6.6kcal/mol). On the other hand, the effective compounds of this essential oil, especially citronellol, thymol, and citral, were acceptable in terms of pharmacokinetic properties. Since natural antibiotics can be an alternative to conventional antibiotics in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus food-borne diseases, the results of this study showed that Melissa Officinalis essential oil is effective on the growth and biofilm of MRSA and VRSA strains, and it can be used as a drug candidate in the prevention and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of this bacterium.

---

This study primarily aimed to identify and suggest appropriate rapeseed cultivars and their optimum sowing time. A factorial split-plot experiment was conducted in a complete randomized block design with three replications during two years (2014-2016). The study was carried out using six rapeseed cultivars, namely, Elvis, HL2012, L155, KR2, HW113 and Danob, three sowing dates (October 7, 17, and 27), and two concentrations of glycinebetaine (0 as control and 0.2%). The sowing dates and the GlycineBetaine (GB) were allotted to main plots and the six cultivars were allotted to subplots. The HL2012 cultivar had the highest seed yield (4,584 kg ha^-1), seed oil content (44.6%) and seed oil yield (2,060 kg ha^-1), which were achieved optimally in the first sowing date. Application of GB increased the average seed yield from 4,089 to 4,419 (kg ha^-1), seed oil from 44 to 44.4% and seed oil yield from 1,818 to 1,976 (kg/ha). The amounts of proline and soluble carbohydrates in the plants increased from the first to the third sowing dates. The early sowing date and the application of GB had positive effects on the quantity and quality of rapeseed oil. The results of cluster analysis showed that three of the six cultivars could be suitable for cultivation in Karaj, Iran.
 

---

---

Drought stress is one of the environmental factors influencing crops growth, development, and production. Two field experiments were performed in Karaj, Iran, to evaluate the drought tolerance indices of 17 winter rapeseed genotypes in 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 growing seasons. The factorial arrangement of treatments was set up as RCBD with three replications. To identify drought tolerant genotypes, several indices were used based on grain yield under normal and deficit irrigation conditions. Yield results showed that cultivars Artist (504.325 g m^-2) and L72 (391.525 g m^-2) were the superior treatments under normal and deficit irrigation conditions, respectively. According to correlation results, 3-D graphs were drawn based on Geometric Mean Productivity (GMP) and grain yield under normal irrigation and deficit irrigation to categorize the winter rapeseed genotypes in both years. In the first year, Zorica and Lauren were in group A, while in the second year; Mercure, SW102, L72, and HL3721 were in group A. Therefore, they had superior performance and stable grain yield under both irrigation conditions. Biplot diagram showed Lauren (first year) and Mercure (second year) were superior regardless of stress conditions. Altogether, under normal irrigation, Artist genotype, and under stress condition, Mercure, L72 and HL3721 genotypes could be used for cultivation.
 

---

Aims: Nef protein has been considered as an attractive target for the development of therapeutic HIV-1 vaccine. Furthermore, strong immunological properties of heat shock proteins (HSPs) led to their use as for subunit vaccine candidates. In the current study, the generation of Hsp20-Nef fusion protein was performed in E. , and in BALB/c mice.
Materials and Methods: At first, of Hsp20-Nef recombinant protein E. BL21 and Rosetta strains by SDS-PAGE and western blotting using anti-Nef monoclonal antibody. Then, the recombinant protein was purified by a reverse staining method. Finally, its potency was evaluated to elicit antibody response against HIV-1 Nef antigen using indirect ELISA in mice.
Findings: Our data showed a clear band of ~1230bp related to Hsp20-Nef fusion on agarose gel indicating the correct gene cloning in pET28a vector. The expression of Hsp20-Nef protein was confirmed as a clear band of ~47 SDS-PAGE and western blotting. In the immunological assay, the Hsp20-Nef protein and also the Nef protein emulsified with Freund’s adjuvant significantly enhanced the level of total compared to other groups. Moreover, of Hsp20-Nef was higher than Freund’s adjuvant/Nef in protein regimens (p<0.05).
Conclusion: The Hsp20-Nef fusion protein was effectively expressed in E. and significantly induced antibody response against HIV-1 Nef antigen.
 

---

The different aspects of using dietary supplements such as prebiotics in aquaculture and their effects on innate immune response, and especially their vertical transmission, are of a grave importance. To address such issues in both horizontal and vertical transmission of boosting immune system, the present study was designed to investigate the effect of different levels of dietary Agrimos^® on the innate immune-related gene expression [Lysozyme (Lyz) and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNFα)], DNA methylation, and three Histone MethylTransferase [HMTs (H3K4, H3K9, H3K27)] activities as well as growth performance in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Three hundred and sixty healthy 24-days-old zebrafish were randomly distributed in twelve aquaria assigned to four groups. Zebrafish were fed with either control diet or a diet supplemented by different levels (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8%) of Agrimos^® for 90 days. The offspring of each treatment was assessed to find the potential of vertical transmission of immunity by using this dietary prebiotic. At the end of the experiment, gene expression studies revealed significant up-regulation (P˂ 0.05) of TNFα and Lyz genes in 0.2 and 0.4% Agrimos^® fed fish compared with the control group. Although our findings showed that supplemented diet reduced DNA methylation (P˂ 0.05) in Agrimos^® treatments compared with the control, there was no significant change in all three HMTs’ activities among experimental groups (P> 0.05). The result shows the successful transmission of Lyz gene expression as an innate immune response to the offspring of the treated adults and supports a direct role of DNA demethylation in the regulation of these candidate gene expressions, suggesting possible role of diet on regulating the epigenetic processes.

---

---

Introduction
In order to tectonic analysis northwestern Zagros, we have used fractal geometry against classic geometry and fuzzy logic instead of Aristotelian classic logic to evaluate natural landscapes with non-integer dimension and the complex nature of tectonic processes. The fractal dimension (FD) has been applied to determine anomaly or normality of surface rupture (faults) pattern in association with drainage network that can show the maturity of structures. In other hand, uncertainty of fuzzy logic has been applied to specify the potential of tectonic activity by using morphotectonic factors. At the end, we have compared results of these two methods with surface epicenters of earthquakes.
Methodology
To calculate the FD of faults and drainage network using box-counting, the area was divided to 6 boxes that contain main fault trends horizontally and vertically. In fractal method each box is covered by several network (grid) that their side length (quantity of Size) is decreased at every grid level. Then the relation between reciprocal of side length and boxes containing linear feature (quantity of Number) was drawn Logarithmically as a linear regression that shows FD. In fuzzy model, six main effective factors were determined and 12 layers were produced base on their importance in tectonic analysis. The membership degree of these layers’ effective parts by fuzzy functions were determined and then they were overlaid by fuzzy operators like gamma with different powers.
Results and  Discussion
Calculating number-size quantity using box-counting method for faults and drainage network shows both partial and overall FD changes. As partial changes are close,  yjey indicate the existence of the self-similarity components. Based on partial FD, there are three communities: back ground with FD larger than slope of linear regression, threshold community with repeating component, and anomaly community with FD value more than three. Based on overall FD, development of faults and drainage network  have not entered to chaos phase. The comparison of mean value of fuzzy zoning with different gamma powers for each box indicates that 0.7 power of gamma has the most correlation with overall FD of boxes.
Conclusion
Areas of high value of FD for faults and low value for drainage network are more tectonically active. Here the box labeled A which represent western parts of Kermanshah in folded Zagros, has the highest FD value of faults (1.32) and lower FD value of drainage network (1.432). Epicenter evidences of earthquakes for example 7.3 magnitude earthquake of Ezgeleh, confirm the FD results; whereas, the box labeled E near Dezful Embayment shows the lowest FD value of faults (1.07) and highest FD value of drainage network (1/470). Overlaying fractal boxes (A to F) with fuzzy exports (gamma 0.7) are in line with these results and represent more potential of tectonic activity for northwestern parts of area (box A).
 
Keywords: Tectonic, Northwestern Zagros, Fractal, Fuzzy.Introduction
In order to tectonic analysis northwestern Zagros, we have used fractal geometry against classic geometry and fuzzy logic instead of Aristotelian classic logic to evaluate natural landscapes with non-integer dimension and the complex nature of tectonic processes. The fractal dimension (FD) has been applied to determine anomaly or normality of surface rupture (faults) pattern in association with drainage network that can show the maturity of structures. In other hand, uncertainty of fuzzy logic has been applied to specify the potential of tectonic activity by using morphotectonic factors. At the end, we have compared results of these two methods with surface epicenters of earthquakes.
Methodology
To calculate the FD of faults and drainage network using box-counting, the area was divided to 6 boxes that contain main fault trends horizontally and vertically. In fractal method each box is covered by several network (grid) that their side length (quantity of Size) is decreased at every grid level. Then the relation between reciprocal of side length and boxes containing linear feature (quantity of Number) was drawn Logarithmically as a linear regression that shows FD. In fuzzy model, six main effective factors were determined and 12 layers were produced base on their importance in tectonic analysis. The membership degree of these layers’ effective parts by fuzzy functions were determined and then they were overlaid by fuzzy operators like gamma with different powers.
Results and  Discussion
Calculating number-size quantity using box-counting method for faults and drainage network shows both partial and overall FD changes. As partial changes are close,  yjey indicate the existence of the self-similarity components. Based on partial FD, there are three communities: back ground with FD larger than slope of linear regression, threshold community with repeating component, and anomaly community with FD value more than three. Based on overall FD, development of faults and drainage network  have not entered to chaos phase. The comparison of mean value of fuzzy zoning with different gamma powers for each box indicates that 0.7 power of gamma has the most correlation with overall FD of boxes.
Conclusion
Areas of high value of FD for faults and low value for drainage network are more tectonically active. Here the box labeled A which represent western parts of Kermanshah in folded Zagros, has the highest FD value of faults (1.32) and lower FD value of drainage network (1.432). Epicenter evidences of earthquakes for example 7.3 magnitude earthquake of Ezgeleh, confirm the FD results; whereas, the box labeled E near Dezful Embayment shows the lowest FD value of faults (1.07) and highest FD value of drainage network (1/470). Overlaying fractal boxes (A to F) with fuzzy exports (gamma 0.7) are in line with these results and represent more potential of tectonic activity for northwestern parts of area (box A).
 
Keywords: Tectonic, Northwestern Zagros, Fractal, Fuzzy.

---

The persistence effects of Silica Nanoparticles (SNPs), namely, Nanosav and Aerosil^®, were evaluated on several pulses for controlling Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). For this purpose, one kg of each pulse was treated with four concentrations (50, 100, 200, and 300 mg kg-1) of each SNPs. The sampling was tested after 0, 2, 4, and 6 months’ storage period following the treatment. Adults were introduced to these samples and the number of dead adults was counted 1, 2, and 4 days after the exposure to the treated pulses. The percentage decrease in F1 progeny was calculated 42 days later. The mortality was 100% in black gram, cowpea, green gram, and chickpea when treated at a concentration of 300 mg.kg-1 of both SNP formulations in 0-month post-treatment four days after the exposure. No progeny was observed in lentil treated with 300 mg kg-1 of Nanosav in 0-month post-treatment. Another experiment was conducted to calculate SNPs adherence to the seeds. The highest adherence was on the black gram with 86 and 99.5%, in Nanosav and Aerosil^®, respectively. Our results indicated that two SNPs had insecticidal activity against C. maculatus and can be used effectively in integrated pest management program of C. maculatus in stored pulses.

---

Various culture media contain a variety of materials that affect plant growth and development. Finding the best media culture among the various materials is thus critical to plant productivity. This study was conducted based on a completely randomized design using eight treatments and three replications. The treatments included the ratios 30:10:60 of perlite-vermicompost-coco peat, peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat, coco peat-vermicompost-palm peat, perlite-vermicompost-palm peat, and the ratios 30:70 of peat moss-palm peat, coco peat-palm peat, perlite-palm peat, and vermicompost-palm peat. Cucumber seeds were planted in pots containing these culture media under greenhouse conditions. After the four-leaf stage, the morpho-physiological responses of the seedlings were evaluated. According to the findings, when compared to perlite-vermicompost-coco peat medium, peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat increased shoot fresh weight by 5.5-fold, root fresh weight by 4.5-fold, root dry weight by 5.8-fold, shoot dry weight by 7-fold, stem diameter by 1.7-fold, shoot length by 2.3-fold, root length by 1.3-fold, and leaf area by 3.8-fold. However, compared to seedlings grown in peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat medium, the amount of auxin and reactive oxygen species decreased while total soluble sugars and peroxidase increased in perlite-vermicompost-coco peat medium. Our findings indicate that the composition of peat moss-vermicompost-palm peat can be used as a beneficial medium to improve quality of cucumber seedling under greenhouse conditions.

---

Environmental and climatic factors have been found to play a fundamental role in the formation of ancient societies. The Godin III period or the New Bronze Age (1400-2600 BC) has actually been the most important Bronze Age stage in western Iran, which played a key role in the cultural structure and urban formation. The main goal of this research is to reveal the spatial distribution of the Godin III period in relation to climatic conditions and geography of Lorestan province’s Silakhor plain. The results of the spatial autocorrelation analysis indicate that the spatial distribution of Godin III followed a linear cluster pattern, with two climatic factors of precipitation and vegetation being the most important environmental elements. The frequently distributed ancient sites of the Godin III period have a spatial correlation of 0.75 with vegetation in Silakhor Plain showing that more than 75% of the investigated sites fall into the maximum rainfall category. The results dedicated that 90% of the investigated sites are located less than 1 km away from permanent rivers, especially the Silakhor River. Rainfall, vegetation, and surface water sources have created a linear cluster spatial distribution pattern for ancient sites of the Godin III period at the lowest elevation level. The results indicate that the lowest elevation provided the main platform for the Godin III period thus there was the absence of a major threat from the foreign enemy to the mind.