r. sharifi

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a vital crop of great global importance. Common scab is one of the most destructive diseases affecting the quality and yield of potatoes. Effective disease management strategies for potatoes include crop management, crop rotation, seed certification, natural and chemical pesticides, disease prediction models, germplasm screening, and the development of resistant varieties. Sulfur fertilization improves potato resistance to common scab, possibly by decreasing the soil pH. Applying sulfur and Thiobacillus bacteria in alkaline and calcareous soils has improved nutrient solubility and reduced damage caused by common potato scab disease.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of sulfur and Thiobacillus on tuber yield and the common scab disease index under field conditions. The farm had a history of natural and uniform infection with potato scab disease. The treatments included: 1- control (no use of Thiobacillus and sulfur), 2- application of Thiobacillus, 3- granular sulfur, 4- liquid sulfur, 5- Thiobacillus+granular sulfur, and 6- Thiobacillus+granular sulfur+liquid sulfur. The experiment was conducted using a randomized complete block design with four replications.

Analysis of variance indicated that the application of sulfur and Thiobacillus significantly affected tuber yield and the common scab disease index. However, there was no significant difference in the mean number of plants among the experimental treatments. Regarding the mean number of tubers, the count increased from 104 in the control group to 135.75 in the treatment with granular sulfur+liquid sulfur+Thiobacillus treatment. This combination significantly increased tuber weight by approximately 4 kg compared to the control. Regarding the average number of tubers per plant, the treatments of granular sulfur+liquid sulfur+Thiobacillus and granular sulfur+Thiobacillus showed a significant difference compared to the control, increasing the number of tubers by 13.06% and 8.10%, respectively. Both treatments also significantly increased the mean tuber weight per plant by 19.69% and 16.21%, respectively, compared to the control. The percentage and disease index varied under the influence of the experimental treatments. The lowest disease index on potato tubers was associated with the simultaneous application of granular sulfur+liquid sulfur+Thiobacillus, followed by liquid sulfur alone. The decrease in the disease index on potato tubers can be attributed to the reduction in pH resulting from sulfur application. This study demonstrated that the simultaneous application of sulfur and Thiobacillus can effectively lower soil pH.

In conclusion, the application of sulfur and Thiobacillus bacteria enhances the yield and quality of potato tubers by improving soil conditions and plant nutrition. The forms of sulfur used played a crucial role in disease management; liquid sulfur, either alone or in combination with other treatments, significantly reduced disease severity. Liquid sulfur contains sulfate forms and has a pH of approximately one. Additionally, its liquid form allows for better penetration into soil pores and does not require soil microbial processes to alter pH. In contrast, powdered and granular forms of sulfur must be converted to sulfate forms by sulfur-oxidizing bacteria such as Thiobacillus. This conversion process is lengthy and gradually reduces soil pH over time. In the present study, various forms of sulfur, especially the liquid form, effectively reduced soil pH, although it did not lower it enough to classify the soil as acidic. It is important to note that the study's soil was calcareous, which has buffering properties that prevent drastic pH changes. Moreover, the effect of sulfur is not solely dependent on pH; even low amounts or specific forms of sulfur can significantly reduce common potato scabs without altering soil pH. This phenomenon may be due to the conversion of sulfur into toxic forms for microbes, such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S).

Bacterial leaf streak disease, or black chaff, is one of the most important and damaging diseases of wheat worldwide. The impact of the disease on wheat and cereal production is increasing due to the lack of information and proper management methods to control it. Therefore, to develop an effective approach for managing this disease, the present study assessed the capability of fourteen strains of endophytic fungi to control this disease in laboratory and greenhouse conditions. The laboratory results revealed that volatile compounds produced by endophytic fungi significantly impacted the growth of pathogenic bacteria compared to the control. Furthermore, the greenhouse results indicated that all endophytic fungi significantly reduced the disease severity. A strain of Pleosporales sp. showed the highest efficiency in reducing disease severity, with a reduction of 59.03% compared to the infected control. Additionally, Fusarium moniliforme, Trichoderma virens, Trichoderma aerugineum, Clonostachys rosea, Arthrinium arundinis, and Epicoccum nigrum species showed favorable efficiency, reducing disease severity by 50.62%, 49.69%, 48.45%, 47.71%, 41.71%, and 41.67% respectively compared to the infected control. Furthermore, analysis of variance and mean comparison revealed that the effect of endophytic fungi on wheat growth parameters were strain depended. This report is the first to investigate the impact of various endophytic fungi on the control of bacterial leaf streak in wheat. In conclusion, endophytic fungi have great potential to be incorporated into the integrated management of Black Chaff disease and enhance the growth parameters of wheat.

Operation scheduling of a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) includes several challenges for the system according to the uncertain parameters, and security requirements, which intensify the need for more efficient models for energy scheduling and power trading strategies. Making suitable decisions under uncertainties, related to Renewable Energy Resources (RES), loads, and market prices impose extra considerations for the problem to make a clearer insight for the system operators to participate in local markets. This paper proposes a new risk-based hybrid stochastic model to investigate the effects of wind turbine power fluctuations on profit function, energy scheduling, and market participating strategies. Also, an incentivized Demand Response Program (DRP) is used, to enhance the system’s efficiency. The results of the study indicate that the proposed model based on Information Gap Decision Theory (IGDT) approach makes a clearer environment for the decision-maker to be aware of the effects of risk-taking or a risk-averse strategy on financial profits. The results show that a 30% of robustness and opportunity consideration would change the profit function from -12.5% up to 14.5%, respectively. A modified IEEE 33 bus test system is used to simulate a technical VPP considering the voltage stability and thermal capacity of line requirements.

The seeds of common bean plants (Phaseolus vulgaris) are among the most important food sources worldwide. The plant pathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani causes seed rot and seedling damping-off of bean plants and is one of the most important soil-borne pathogens in most cultivation areas of this plant. R. solani plays an important role in reducing the yield and quality of this crop. Biological control is a promising, effective, and sustainable solution for managing soil-borne fungal diseases. The simultaneous use of biological control agents, especially agents with different mechanisms of action, might increases the chance of success in disease management. Indeed, two living agents can show different types of interactions based on their inherent characteristics and ecological conditions. In the current research, the potential of co-application of mycorrhizal fungi and bacterial strains from different taxonomic groups was evaluated on increasing the growth of beans and suppression of bean damping-off.

In this research, the effect of 14 different bacterial strains on the mycelial growth of R. solani was investigated by dual culture and by the volatile compound production tests in the laboratory. The list of bacterial strains included: Bacillus megaterium B15, Bacillus thuringiensis B48Pet, Bacillus subtilis BS (B.s), B. subtilis AS, Lysinibacillus boronitolerans RUPB71 (Lysin), Pseudomonas putida RUP1, Arthrobacter citreus B27Pet, Alcaligenes faecalis 1624, Bacillus pumilus INR7, Bacillus thuringiensis 32B (B.thur), Azotobacter vinelandii RUA1 (Azoto), Delftia tsuruhatensis PIIR (Delft), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia S37 and Bacillus velezensis JPS19 (B.vel). In the dual culture test, B.s, B.vel, Alca, Azoto, Lysin, and Delft strains significantly reduced the mycelial growth of the pathogen. In volatile compounds production test, three strains, Alca, Azoto, and B.thur, significantly reduced the mycelial growth of the pathogen. Four bacterial strains, including B.s, B.vel, Alca, and Azoto, were selected for greenhouse experiment. The selected bacterial strains as separate and combined application with two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), including Funneliformis mosseae (F.moss) and Glomus claroideum (G.cla) were investigated for inhibiting the disease caused by R. solani, and for their effect on the growth parameters of bean plants in the presence of the pathogen. The greenhouse experiment was conducted as a completely randomized design with 16 treatments and five replications.

Many of the greenhouse treatments that were applied in this study, significantly reduced the severity of the disease compared to the diseased control. They significantly increased the fresh and the dry weight of the shoots, root fresh weight and root dry weight. Four treatments (F.moss, B.s, Alca and Azoto) significantly enhanced the root length and four treatments (Alca, B.s, B.vel+G.cla and Alca+G.cla) increased the shoot length. In terms of the effect on the disease, the B.s strain was the best treatment, which reduced the disease severity by 36.5% and showed the greatest effect in promoting the vegetative characteristics of the plant. Although the bacterial and mycorrhizal strains showed compatibility in many combined treatments, G.cla+B.vel was the only double treatment that showed an increasing effect on the fresh weight and shoot length compared to the separate applications. The other double treatments did not have an additive or synergistic effect in reducing the disease and improving plant growth. Even in some double treatments, in terms of reducing disease and improving plant growth, a weaker effect was seen than their single treatments. Among different treatments, Alca+G.cla and Alca+F.moss showed the highest and B.s+G.cla showed the lowest mycorrhizal colonization.

The effect of bacteria on mycorrhizal colonization was increasing, decreasing, or null depending on the combination of bacterial and mycorrhizal strains used. In many cases, there was no direct relationship between the amount of mycorrhizal colonization and disease control. Overall, before the commercial use of the combination of biological agents, it is necessary to check their interactions in greenhouse and field experiments and ensure their compatibility and lack of antagonistic effect on each other. If the biological agents present in a consortium are compatible, its biocontrol effect will be more stable, efficient and reliable, and it will be possible to use it in a wider range of variable soil ecological conditions. Moreover, the interaction of individuals within a given consortium is strain-specific, and the results of an experiment on specific strains cannot be generalized to other strains of the same species.

Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is the third most important legume crop in the world. Ascochyta blight caused by Ascochyta rabiei (Pass.) Lab. is one of the most important threats for producing chickpea in most of the growing areas. The pathogen invades all aerial parts of the plant and causes severe yield and quality losses. The present study aims to evaluate the effect of some defense inducing volatile compounds in inhibiting A. rabiei, as well as the effect of these compounds on some chickpea growth traits at the presence of the pathogen.

First, six volatile compounds including methyl salicylate, 2,3-butanediol, methyl-jasmonate, acetoin, indole and 3-pentanol were prepared in sterile distilled water (100 μM) containing 0.2% Tween 20, and were used for laboratory and greenhouse studies. The in vitro antifungal activity of volatile compounds was tested on chickpea seed meal dextrose agar (CDA) medium. Then, a five-millimeter agar disk containing the mycelium of the pathogen was placed on the surface of CDA medium in 9 cm diameter Petri dishes. The Petri dishes were inverted and 100 μl of the emulsion of each volatile compound was placed inside the lid. The Petri dishes were sealed and kept at the same inverted position to avoid the dropping of volatile compounds over the culture medium. A greenhouse experiment with nine treatments (including six volatile compounds, chlorothalonil fungicide, healthy and diseased controls) was conducted in a completely randomized design. In addition, the emulsions of volatile compounds were sprayed on the leaf surfaces 12 days after sowing chickpea seeds (variety Bivanij). After 48 hours, the conidial suspension of the pathogen in water (2 x 104 conidia/mL) was sprayed to the surface of chickpea seedlings. Disease severity and plant growth indices including shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight were measured two weeks after inoculation. Statistical analyses were performed by SAS software (version 9.3). The means were compared by Duncan's test at a statistical probability level of 5%.

All volatile compounds inhibited the mycelial growth of A. rabiei on CDA with the highest (64.91%) and lowest (4.67%) inhibition obtained by 3-pentanol and methyl jasmonate, respectively. In the greenhouse test, all volatile compounds, except methyl jasmonate, reduced the incidence of blight symptoms compared to the diseased control. The highest disease reduction was obtained by chlorothalonil (86.04%) and methyl salicylate (55.81%). At the presence of the pathogen, all volatile compounds increased root fresh weight, root dry weight and shoot fresh weight, and increased shoot dry weight with the exception of 3-pentanol and methyl jasmonate. Compared to the diseased control, the effect of indole on root fresh and dry weight and shoot dry weight, as well as the effect of methyl salicylate on shoot fresh weight was more than other compounds. Methyl jasmonate had the least improving effect on growth traits compared to other volatile compounds.

The volatile compounds used in this study inhibited A. rabiei in both in vitro and greenhouse tests. They also improved chickpea growth parameters at the presence of the pathogen. The use of volatile compounds could be considered as a new and promising strategy for the integrated management of Ascochyta blight.

B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) is a potential target for tumor treatment. The inhibition of the Bcl-2 production is research target of attraction in the field of anti-cancer drug development. The present study aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel pyrazole derivatives on Bcl-2 expression in human breast cancer cell line MCF-7.

In the present in vitro experimental study, the newly synthesized substances were screened against breast Aden carcinoma (MCF-7). The Western-blot analysis was carried out to study signaling pathways of MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The levels of apoptosis-related protein (Bcl-2) were evaluated by western blot analysis and changes in it expression were confirmed. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and independent t-test.

The compounds HN1 and HN2 significantly inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer cells. The compounds HN1and HN2 inhibited the growth of MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 7.4 μg/ml and 8.68 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, compounds HN1and HN2 (22.5-50 μg/ml) significantly inhibited the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein production. The compound HN2 significantly inhibited Bcl-2 expression in a concentration-dependent manner, corresponding 24% at 37.5 μg/ml, 30% at 50 μg/ml. Also compound HN1 at the same concentrations inhibited Bcl-2 expression by 12%, 0% at 50 and 37/5 μg/ml in MCF-7 cells, respectively.

HN2 could suppress the viability of MCF-7 cells and induce apoptosis in breast cancer cells by down-regulation of anti-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2. These results revealed that the potential inhibitory effect of HN2 against growth of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells might be associated with induction of apoptosis through Bcl-2 protein dependent pathway. The present results suggest that HN2 has a promising potential to be used as a valuable chemo preventive agent.

Rail transport is one of the most important infrastructures for the development of the country due to its special advantages and adaptation to the environment. Article 24 and 25 of the economic affairs of the general policies of the Sixth Development Plan emphasizes the priority of the rail transport industry. In articles paragraphs 34 and 38 of the ICT affairs of this plan the development of communicative and intelligent systems is also referred to. The role of education in the implementation of these programs is very important, and the study, design of the model and the implementation of intelligent learning systems accelerate the development of learning in rail transport. Achieving organizational missions depends on the ability of employees to perform the assigned tasks and adapt to a changing environment. Implementing training and improving human resources allows people to effectively continue their activities and increase their efficiency in accordance with organizational and environmental changes. An Interactive Mobile Learning System (IMLS) can be designed as a tool for implementing the theory of Heutagogy. This approach is considered as a chain of andragogy and has a process look. Considering the importance of improving safety in the operation of railway, there are many facilities in the areas of infrastructure, fleet and operation of this task. The problem that the Railway Company has faced is the weakness in the safe operation of these equipment and the maintenance caused by the lack of effective training that can be identified as one of the major contributing factors to the disaster.

In this research, the size of the population was 3000 drivers of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways; 280 were selected as the sample based on clustering sampling. By studying the models and learning approaches through the use of statistical tools, an intelligent model for moving from training to learning, participatory, ubiquitous and informed, and appropriate to the railway and the existing infrastructure was validated and implemented by Smart PLS software. The impact of this system on safety and the reduction of the actual workplace environmental hazards was studied.

The results of the study indicated that the establishment of an interactive mobile learning system impacts the safety by influencing the drivers’ accountability, accessibility and performance.

The intelligent interactive learning system as a potential tool for staff training and empowerment is examined. The role of education in the implementation of these programs is vital and can speed up the study and design of the model and the implementation of this system to develop the learning of the development of the country’s railing system.   

The most effective method of collecting, storage, communication and presentation of huge amount of Information in order to obviate user needs is computer. The comprehensive hospital information system (HIS) resulted in processing of information, operational and hospital control needs in daily practice, and also accelerating and facilitating in planning, budgeting and management decision making. In this study user’s views about seven criteria of ISO9241/10 for implemented HIS was considered.

This is a descriptive cross- sectional study. Sampling was done by using simple randomized sampling that includes 95 users of Bandar Abbas children's hospital. Data collection was done through questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive and Chi-square test by SPSS software.

69 persons (%72/7) with suitability for the task criteria, 56 persons (%58/9) with self-descriptiveness criteria, 73 persons (%76/9) with controllability criteria, 70 persons (%73/7) conformity with users expectations criteria, 51 persons (%53/7) with error tolerant criteria, 63 persons (%66/3) with suitability for individualization criteria, 56 persons (%58/9) with suitability for learning criteria of hospital information system were agree or pretty agree.

The findings indicated that the criteria of hospital information system is relatively desirable. To achieve desirable condition, observance and implementation of phases that is effective in development of suitable information system must be considered. Hence, HIS should be reviewed and revised in the hospital.