صبا احمدی

Aging process is associated with disruption in mitochondria and liver. The aim of this study was to was to evaluate the effect of continuous aerobic exercise with citrus aurantium L. on the expression of HM and MOTS-C genes in the mitochondria of the liver tissue of elderly rats. To conduct the present experimental research, 32 elderly female rats over 14 months of age and average weight of 270 to 320 grams were divided into 4 groups of 8 including 1- Control (CN), 2- Consumption of citrus aurantium L. (CA), 3- Training (T), 4- Training and consumption of citrus aurantium L. (T+CA). During eight weeks, groups 3 and 4 ran three sessions a week with an intensity of 65-75% of the maximum running speed on the treadmill. Also, groups 2 and 4 received 300 mg/kg of CA extract intraperitoneally. 48 hours after the research protocol, gene expression levels in liver tissue were measured by real-time PCR method. Expression of HM and MOTS-C genes in CA (p=0.032 and p=0.042), T (p=0.039 and p=0.048) and T+CA (p=0.0001 and p=0.001) groups compared to CN group had a significant increase. Eight weeks of T and CA alone improved the expression of genes involved in Liver cellular senescence markers of elderly rats. Also, the simultaneous effect of exercise and CA on HM was greater than the effect of each one alone.

In recent years, rural development has been raised as a vital area for policymakers and development organizations in different countries and nations. Some researchers believe that overcoming the inevitable rural decline and reversing the rural recession requires the direction of investment and the reform of support policies, and one of these solutions can be the development of tourism in these areas. Rural tourism activities, along with all agricultural and non-agricultural factors to promote the development of these areas, provide an opportunity for rural communities to showcase their traditions, handicrafts, local foods, and unique natural beauty, and as a result, economic development by preserving cultural and environmental assets. The government budget is often limited, especially in developing countries like Iran; therefore, encouraging the private sector to participate in the financing of businesses in rural tourism can be more effective and efficient for the survival of these businesses. Considering the importance of the participation of business angels in the development of tourism activities and the effective support of the rural tourism industry, we need to scientifically identify the factors affecting the supply of tourism and provide the necessary capital for the development and prosperity of this industry. Therefore, this research mainly aims to develop a model to identify factors affecting the participation of business angels in rural tourism development projects.

In this research, the data obtained from the exploratory interviews were analyzed using the principles of the grounded theory approach. In this research, the approach of Strauss and Corbin was used in the grounded theory approach. The current qualitative research in terms of the approach is an applied type of study according to its purpose. The studied community consisted of investors in the fields of information technology, medicinal plants, founders of ecotourism residences, and all experts in the research (including universities) and executive (including the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts, and Tourism and the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture) levels of the country. Rural tourism, entrepreneurship, and sustainable rural development had scientific and practical expertise that were selected theoretically. The reliability of the collected data was determined through continuous reviews of the data, analysis of the data at the same time as their collection, re-coding of the collected data by two other researchers participating in the qualitative research, and continuous engagement of the researcher with the data. To increase the reliability of the data, the interviewees were selected from different stakeholders with different views and interests. The use of supplementary sources was another method for increasing reliability, which added to the richness of the data and increased their reliability by referring to scientific sources about the research topic. The concepts were also discussed with the interviewees, the correctness of the perceptions was inspected, and the categories and sub-categories were confirmed through the participation of the interviewees. In this research, interviews were conducted with 17 people between September and November, and no new data were obtained from the 14th interview onwards, as it reached the level of theoretical saturation. The data were analyzed using the process of open coding, central coding, and selective coding.

The collected data were analyzed through coding, and the 13 categories obtained were placed in six categories, namely causal factors, context, phenomenon or central category, intervening factors, strategies, and consequences, followed by designing the model. The findings of the paradigm model showed these variables: appropriate teaming, training, legal and technological factors as strategies, individual factors such as interest in the subject and knowledge of the subject, and the project type factor as causal factors, resources, infrastructure, security, economic factors, and facilities as contextual factors, and political factors as intervening factors. Cultural and social factors are considered the consequences of the participation of business angels in rural tourism projects.

Cultural factors and cultures that prioritize entrepreneurship, risk-taking, and innovation may create a favorable environment for angel investors to participate in rural tourism projects. Economic factors and a strong and growing economy with purchasing power can attract angel investment by creating demand for tourism services. In terms of political stability, a supportive political environment with favorable policies, tax benefits, and efficient regulations can encourage angel investors to participate in rural tourism projects. Strong legal frameworks and a transparent legal system encourage investors' confidence and participation in tourism projects. The type and quality of business plans for rural tourism projects can affect the participation of business angels. Introducing laws and policies that facilitate the investment of business angels in rural tourism provides a favorable regulatory environment. Transparent procedures for obtaining permits and acquiring land can increase investor confidence. The level of security and safety measures and creating a safe environment with adequate measures to protect tourists and investments are very important to attract angel investors. Social factors, such as community support, cultural heritage, and social acceptance of tourism development, can shape the participation of business angels in rural tourism. Integrating technology into rural tourism and facilitating access to affordable technological infrastructure, such as Internet connectivity, can empower rural entrepreneurs and enable them to use digital tools effectively. Individual factors, such as risk tolerance, expertise, and financial ability of angel investors, can affect their participation in rural tourism. It is very important to address cultural, economic, political, resources, legal, planning, technology, security, infrastructure, team building, facilities, social, and individual factors to strengthen the participation of business angels in the development of rural tourism in Iran.

In addition to the well-studied effects in regulating calcium and phosphorus balance, vitamin D has many non-calcemic effects that include acting as an immune modulator or an antioxidant. Cows acquire vitamin D either from photosynthesis in the skin or through swallowing fungi in the forage or vitamin D supplements. Although vitamin D deficiency is rare, today we are facing an increasing number of vitamin D deficiencies in cows due to the indoor housing away from sunlight exposure. According to the NRC recommendation, to maintain the vitamin D serum concentration in the range of 20 to 50 ng/ ml, it is necessary to administer 21,000 IU/ d of vitamin D in cattle. In addition, considering the involvement of vitamin D in various calcemic and non-calcemic effects, it seems that previously recommend levels of vitamin D supplementation have not been enough for preventing many diseases and disorders in cattle. Vitamin D toxicity may also occur due to over-supplementation of vitamin D or overgrazing in plants with high amounts of vitamin D metabolites. This review article will discuss various roles of vitamin D in dairy cattle health, normal physiology, and disease prevention.

Avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 causes important economic losses in industrial poultry worldwide. Biosecurity and vaccination have not completely prevented the outbreak of avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 in poultry, and there are no appropriate medicines available. Onion is one of the plants used from the ancient times both as food and medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antiviral effects of aqueous extract of red and yellow onion against avian influenza virus subtype H9N2. First, a study was performed to evaluate the toxic effects of the extracts on the embryonated chicken eggs. For antiviral evaluation, three mixtures were prepared: mixture of the virus and the red onion extract, mixture of the virus and the yellow onion extract, and mixture of the virus and PBS, as a control group. The mixtures were separately inoculated to the chorioallantoic sac of the embryonated eggs after 2, 8 and 24 hours incubation at room temperature. Mortality rate and hemagglutination assay titers were recorded. The results indicated that the red onion extract decreases mortality of the embryos and the yellow onion extract increases the life of the embryos, and both of the extracts decrease HA titers. In conclusion, it seems that both extracts especially aqueous extract of the red onion not only destroys the avian influenza virus subtype H9N2, but also they probably decrease the propagation of the virus in the embryonated chicken eggs.

Today’s accurate diagnosis of disease requires using of different diagnostic and paraclinical methods. Diagnosis of liver disease was a serious challenge both in medicine and veterinary medicine from the past. Clinical biochemistry is one of the main parts of diagnostic methods. Liver function is evaluated by measuring the variables such as excreting and metabolic functions and enzymes. Because of large functional reserve of liver, symptoms of liver disease appear after loss of huge number of hepatocytes, therefore using of laboratory methods with high specificity and sensitivity could be helpful. None of existing laboratory methods has all characteristics mentioned above. It seems that using different laboratory methods of liver function beside other diagnostic methods such as sonography, cytology and … could be an appropriate approach for reaching a diagnosis of hepatobiliary disease. Current article reviews the perfect utility of liver function tests for general diagnosis of liver disease.

Common tests for evaluating renal function include the measurement of urea and creatinine. However, indirect markers for the determination of GFR, such as Cystatin C and Symmetrical Dimethyl Arginine, are in developing. In the next step, for diagnosis and treatment, azotomia should be classified into one of the pre-renal, renal and post-renal groups. In the next step, it is necessary of categorizing the disorder to acute or chronic failure. Diagnosis of chronic or acute illness is done based on the history of the patient and physical examination. Weight loss and non-regenerative anemia may be signs of patients with CKD.Another useful test is urine analysis. A urine test prepared valuable information about azotemia and its causes. Additional tests are also available to diagnose kidney failure such as phosphorus, calcium, potassium, acid-base status, cholesterol, urine albumin, and GGT to urine creatinine ratio. Newbiomarkers such as Cystatin C, a Kidney injury molecule, and Neutrophil gelatinase-associated Lipocalinare also being studied and commercialized for early diagnosis of kidney disease, but they have not yet been clinically available for veterinary use.

In skeletal muscle, carnitine plays an essential role in the translocation of long-chain fatty-acids into the mitochondrial matrix for subsequent beta-oxidation. Despite an abundance of literature describing the basic mechanisms of action of L-carnitine metabolism, there remains some uncertainty regarding the effects of oral L-carnitine supplementation on metabolism and exercise performance in normal subjects. This study examined the effects of chronic L-carnitine supplementation on glucose and lactate concentration, heart rate and aerobic capacity during submaximal cycling. Thirty healthy and male students cycled for 20 min at 70% VO2 max before and after 3 weeks (3g daily) L-carnitine (experimental) and placebo (control) supplementation. Blood samples were taken immediately after each exercise for the purpose of calculation plasma glucose and Lactate concentration, lactate dehydrogenase activity (LDH). A two-way repeated measure ANOVA was used to determine significant differences between the two groups (p<0.05). The finding of our study showed that L-carnitine supplementation had no influence on plasma glucose and lactate. Also rest and rest heart rate, VO2 max and LDH activity was equal in pre and posttests (p<0.05). All variables were unaffected in the control trial. Three weeks L-carnitine supplementation had no effect on substrate and carbohydrate metabolism. Also, L-carnitine supplementation would be unlikely to be associated with the enhanced exercise performance.