A total of 720 Ross 308, male broiler chicks were used to study the effect of feed form, corn particle size, and probiotic supplementation as a completely randomized block design with 2*2*2 factorial arrangement (eight treatments and five replications). The factors included the type of feed (pellet or mash), the average size of corn particles (590 and 1220 urn), and the addition or absence of a probiotic (DIPro) to the diet. At the end of the experiment, relative weights (% of BW) of abdominal fat and gizzard were calculated as a percentage of live weight. Using pellets increased the body weight gain (BWG), feed intake (FI), and improved feed conversion ratio (FCR). Feeding coarse corn particles substantially reduced the body weight gain and increased the feed conversion from 1 -10, 25-42, and 1 -42 days of age. Feed intake reduced from 1 -42 d and 42-25 d by consuming coarse corn particles. The use of probiotics increased feed intake and body weight gain from 25-42 and 1 -42 d. The pelleted diet increased gizzard and proventriculus pH, whereas coarse corn particles reduced pH. The pelleted feed decreased the relative weight of the gizzard and increased the abdominal fat percentage. Coarsely ground corn increased the abdominal fat and gizzard percentage. Probiotic supplementation improved feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion from 1-42 d. Pelleted feed plus probiotics and a 590-um particle size produced the best performance in broilers.

Abstract Small fruits such as strawberries, are a good source of natural antioxidants. In recent decades, many efforts have been made to increase the shelf life of strawberries and maintain its nutritional value in post-harvest conditions. In the present study, the effects of spermine (Spm) and spermidine (Spd) (0, 1.0 and 1.5 mM) on the post-harvest life and quality of strawberry fruits during the 3rd, 6th, and 12th days of storage, were investigated. Applications of Spm and Spd decreased the rate of weight loss, fruit decay, soluble solids content, fruit juice pH and taste index during the storage period in compared to the control. However, titratable acids and vitamin C contents, tissue stiffness, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity increased in compared to the control. These growth regulators prevented the aging and loss of bioactive compounds of the fruit by increasing the antioxidant activity and preventing the destruction of the fruit tissue. Among the studied treatments, applications of 1.5 mM of Spm and Spd were the most effective treatments to enhance the storage life and quality characters of strawberry fruits.

RESUMO Frutas pequenas como morangos são uma boa fonte de antioxidantes naturais. Nas últimas décadas, muitos esforços têm sido feitos para aumentar sua vida útil e manter seu valor nutricional em condições de pós-colheita. No presente estudo, foram investigados os efeitos da espermina (Spm) e espermidina (Spd) (0, 1,0 e 1,5 mm) pós-colheita e na qualidade dos frutos de morango durante o 3º, 6º e 12º dias de armazenamento. Aplicações de Spm e Spd diminuíram a taxa de perda de peso, podridão dos frutos, teor de sólidos solúveis, pH do suco de frutas e índice de sabor durante o período de armazenamento em comparação com o controle. No entanto, os teores de ácidos tituláveis e vitamina C, rigidez tecidual, compostos fenólicos e atividade antioxidante aumentaram em relação ao controle. Esses reguladores de crescimento preveniram o envelhecimento e a perda de compostos bioativos da fruta, aumentando a atividade antioxidante e evitando a destruição do tecido da fruta. Entre os tratamentos estudados, as aplicações de 1,5 mm de Spm e Spd foram os tratamentos mais eficazes para aumentar a vida de armazenamento e as características de qualidade dos frutos de morango.

Abstract Preservation of historical buildings is a main challenge in civil engineering field. One of the main concerns in this regard is metro induced vibration received by historical structures. There is a need to evaluate effectiveness of vibration mitigation measures in preservation of monumental buildings. The most widely used method of reducing metro vibrations is changes in the structure of the vibration source (not sufficiently investigated in the literature). In response to this need, effectiveness of track stiffness reduction in mitigation of vibration was investigated in this research. Comprehensive field tests were conducted in the Iranian metro lines. The track stiffness as well as the induced vibrations were measured. It was shown that track stiffness has noticeable role in the track levels of vibration, and in turn in metro vibration reduction. The amounts of vibration reduction were derived as a function of track stiffness reduction.

Five species of brachyuran Crustacea from the Middle Miocene are described from the Guri Member of the Mishan Formation in southwestern Iran. The species include the leucosioids Leucosia persica; Seulosia sp. cf. S. rhomboidalis; Myra sp.; the portunoid Portunus withersi and the xanthid Demania ahramensis n. sp. The paleobiogeographic affinities of these genera reinforce previous interpretations of a wide distribution between the Persian Gulf and the Indopacific regions.

Se describen cinco especies de crustáceos braquiuros del Mioceno Medio del Miembro Guri de la Formación Mishan en el suroeste de Irán. Las especies incluyen a los leucosioideos Leucosia persica; Seulosia sp. cf. S. rhomboidalis; Myra sp.; el portunoideo Portunus withersi y el xántido Demania ahramensis n. sp. Las afinidades paleobiogeográficas de éstos géneros refuerzan las interpretaciones previas sobre una amplia distribución entre las regiones del Golfo Pérsico y el Indopacífico.