Algae represent a diverse group of photosynthetic and microscopic entities that are recognized as significant contributors to biomass generation and the synthesis of valuable biological compounds. Chlorophyll, which is the principal pigment present within these organisms, is integral in the process of light absorption and its subsequent transformation into chemical energy, thereby playing a crucial role in the metabolic pathways that result in the production of oxygen and organic matter. In the present study, a neural network model was created to determine the best chlorophyll extraction method, incorporating factors like initial algae concentration (2, 4, and 6 g/L), temperature (30, 40, and 50 °C), and time. By training the model on a substantial portion of the dataset (70%) and configuring it with 8 hidden neurons, significant results were obtained correlation coefficient of 0.9942 and a minimal error of 0.0178, showcasing the model's effectiveness. Among the various factors investigated, the duration of extraction was recognized as the preeminent factor influencing the efficacy of chlorophyll extraction, as corroborated by the results of the model. Therefore, the neural network model created in this study will facilitate the discovery of more efficient techniques for extracting chlorophyll from microalgae in the future.

Background: One of the most common visceral cancers among men in the world is prostate cancer. Screening for early detection has a positive effect on patients’ survival time. Measurement of serum level of total PSA and free PSA is abundantly used for screening and diagnosis of prostate cancer. However, no study has been done to determine the relation between serum level of total PSA and free PSA/total PSA ratio with malignancy degree on biopsy samples. The aim of this study was to determine the relation of serum level of total PSA and free PSA/total PSA ratio, with malignancy degree.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study done in Alzahra Hospital during 2012-2013. We selected 85 patients with prostate cancer whose disease was detected in the pathology ward. Serum level of total PSA and free PSA were measured, and the degree of malignancy was determined by pathology ward based on the Gleason scoring system. All data was recorded in the questionnaire and entered into the computer and analyzed by SPSS software.Findings: The results of this study showed that there is 38% correlation between Gleason score and free PSA/total PSA ratio. Based on the Pearson correlation, this relation was statistically significant (P=0.037). Moreover, there is a 37% relation between serum level of total PSA and the Gleason score; this relation was statistically significant (P<0.001).Conclusion: Prostate cancer is usually detected late and biopsy is rarely accepted by patients. Moreover, serum level of total PSA and total PSA/free PSA ratio has a relation with degree of malignancy. Therefore, serum level of PSA can help patients and physicians in early detection and treatment of prostate cancer.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of supplementary irrigation and foliar spraying with salicylic acid and humic acid on the biochemical properties of dragon's head (Lallemantia iberica) under Khorramabad climatic conditions at Visian Research Station. The experiment was conducted as a split-plot-factorial based on a randomized complete block design for two years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 in Khorramabad city. Experimental treatments consisted of supplementary irrigation at four levels (including control, budding stage, flowering stage, and budding stage + flowering stage) as the main factor, foliar spraying with salicylic acid at three levels (including control, 0. 5 mM, and 1 mM) as the first subfactor, and foliar spraying with humic acid at two levels (including control and 1 mM) as the second subfactor. In this study, different characteristics such as shoot nitrogen content, shoot phosphorus content, shoot potassium content, shoot copper content, shoot iron content, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and chlorophyll total were evaluated. According to the results, various levels of supplementary irrigation and foliar spraying with humic acid and salicylic acid significantly affected the above characteristics. Mean comparison results revealed that the highest nitrogen content in the shoot (3. 74%), shoot iron content (182. 33 mg g-1), chlorophyll a (5. 18 mg g-1 fresh weight), chlorophyll b (5. 18 mg g-1 fresh weight) chlorophyll total (5. 18 mg g-1 fresh weight) were recorded in the first year under treatment with supplementary irrigation at the budding stage and foliar spraying with salicylic acid (1 mM) and humic acid (1 mM).

In this study the effects of drought stress on proline, protein, chlorophyll a/b, ascorbate and dehrydroascorbate were investigated in Akri and Mobil cultivars of tomato species. The seeds were cultured at 23oC with 15-16 hours light period and irrigation was done based on field capacity control (FC), mild drought stress (2/3FC) and severe drought stress (1/3 FC) under greenhouse conditions. After nine weeks of sowing, leaf, stem and root were isolated and studied for various indices. The results indicated that amount of proline increased significantly in mild and severe stresses in root, but in stem and leaf proline increased only under severe drought stress. Chlorophyll a and b and total protein decreased significantly in mild and severe stress in leaf, stem and root. Ascorbic acid (ASC) increased but dehydro ascorbate decreased significantly in both species. It could be concluded that in both cultivars proline and ASC content increased under severe and mild drought stress although soluble protein and chlorophyll a/b decreased under severe stress. Therefore, in tomato plants osmolyte such as proline and also ASC as an antioxidant compound increased against drought stress. Protein accumulation has protecting role under mild stress.

Background: Carotenoids are pigments with important physiological effects in the human body that are involved in strengthening the immune system and reducing the risk of many diseases, including cancer. Objective: With regard to the importance of these substances and the high content of them in carrots (Daucus carota L. ), and in order to identify the most suitable geographical area for obtaining the products with the highest levels of these compounds, the present study was carried out. Methods: Samples were collected and investigated from six major carrot cultivation regions, located in Khuzestan and Isfahan provinces. The effects of climate changes on the amount of these substances were also studied. The extracts were prepared from the samples and the experiments were performed by spectrophotometric method at 663, 645, 480 and 436 nm wavelength, repectively. Results: The highest mean of total chlorophyll content in leaves (1. 42 mg/g) and total carotenoids (54. 62 μ g/g) and beta-carotene (24. 97 μ g/g) in plant roots were related to Andimeshk in Khuzestan province, and the lowest amounts of them was related to Dastgerd in Isfahan province with average of 0. 61 mg/g, 18. 72 μ g/g and 1. 98 μ g/g, respectively. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that in Khuzestan province, parameters such as temperature (23. 5-25 ° C), relative humidity (49. 5-58 percent) and rainfall (260-570 mm/year) had better conditions for carrot metabolic activity and consequently having caused a significant increase in carotenoids and beta carotene in this plant product.

Recognition and understanding the genetic control of traits, combining ability and genetic structure are directly related to the success of breeding programs. For this purpose, a 7 × 7 one-way diallel design was conducted in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The measured traits were included plant height, height to the first capsule, number of days to 50% and 90% of flowering, number of capsules per plant, number of seeds per capsule, number of days to physiological ripening, number of branches, leaves number and length, 1000-seeds weight, capsule weight, length and width, chlorophyll a, b and total chlorophyll, biological andeconomic yields, harvest index, oil and protein percentage. Analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference between genotypes and diallel analysis showed that the additive variance of all traits and dominant variance of all traits except height to the first fruit-bearing capsule were significant. The oltan cultivar was the best and Ardestan genotype was the worst genotype in terms of general combining ability. Sabzevar×TS-3 and Sirjan×Fars were the best hybrids in most traits. The general heritability was between 0.90 to 0.96 for biologic yield and number of branches, respectively and narrow heritability was between 0.36 to 0.91 for the number of branches and harvest index, respectively. The analysis of variance by Hayman method confirmed the results of Griffing analysis.

To investigate the effects of water deficit stress and bio and non-bio fertilizers on Thymus Vulgaris, a split plot experiment was conducted based on randomized complete block design with three replications in 2017 in Asgarya agricultural field in Yazd. The treatments included water tension: W1=7 (Control), W2=12 and W3=17 days irrigation intervals as the main factor and bio and non - bio fertilizers at five levels including B1= control (without fertilizer), B2= endo mycorrhiza (Glomus), B3= Azospirillum bacteria, B4= Pseudomonas bacteria and B5= chemical fertilizer (NPK) a sub – factors. Results showed that the highest flowering branches yield, a, b, and total chlorophylls and nitrogen and phosphorus elements were observed in 17 days of irrigation (W3). 12 days of irrigation treatment (W2) showed the highest potassium element rate. The highest a, b and chlorophylls and nitrogen were observed in Azospirillum treatment (B3). The highest total chlorophyll, phosphorus element, carotenoids and flavonoids were observed in Pseudomonas treatment (B4); the highest potassium element rate were obtained in mycorrhiza treatment (B2); the highest flowering branches yield were observed in NPK treatment (B5) and control (B1) treatment resulted in the highest anthocyanin