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Special properties and various applications of Spirulina species have led to the growing focus of biotechnology to the cost effective cultivation. Open ponds used in the most commercial cultivation have many deficiencies such as risk of contamination, lack of light penetration, inefficient mixing and low productivity. In this study, an innovative reactor was designed and manufactured. By adding a control area, it was possible to control some environmental conditions for a limited amount of open pond volume. The conventional pumping system was replaced by a new elevator system to reduce the damage of to the fragile cells. The baffles structure and aeration from bottom, contributed to better mixing system. The effect of tree factors (Circulation Cycle (Cir. Cyc.), Control Volume (Con.Vol.) and Irradiance Intensity (Irr. Int.) in units of hours, percentage and Lux respectively) on the quantity of biomass (Specific Growth Rate (SGR, day^-1) and fifth and seventh day dry weight (g/L)) were evaluated using RSM-CCD. The maximum biomass dry weight (0.915 g/L) was achieved in longest circulation cycle (12 hours), 30% Con. Vol. and 7000 Lux light intensity. The optimal irradiance intensity to achieve the highest biomass was 8700 Lux. According to the results, due to the great influence of Con. Vol. and Cir. Cyc., it is possible to increase the productivity and enhance the culture dry weight by controlling a limited amount of ponds volume (20%), subject to economic considerations. These successful results can provide the context using a control zone for several open ponds to improve the overall efficiency.
 

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The flowering process in plants proceeds through the induction of an inflorescence meristem triggered by several pathways. Many of the genes associated with these pathways encode transcription factors of the MADS domain family. The MADS-domain transcription factor APETALA1 (AP1) is a key regulator of flower development. The first step to understand the molecular mechanisms under the function of each gene in a plant is identification, sequencing and phylogeny analysis of that gene. For this purpose, total RNA was isolated from flower bud of garden cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and was used for cDNA synthesis. The specific primers were designed based on nucleotide sequence alignment of AP1 homologus genes from plants of the same family Brassicaceae and were used in RT-PCR. After observing its electrophoretic pattern and ensuring the quality of PCR product, the amplicon was sent for sequencing. After receiving the results of sequencing, the sequence examined with BLAST, MUSCLE, Gene Runner and MEGA6 softwares. The results indicated amplification of 787 nucleotides fragment that named LsAP1 and was recorded by accession number KP070728 in NCBI database. The studies show high similarity and overlapping of gene bank sequences with LsAP1 illative protein. According to these results, LsAP1 may play a similar role as AP1 in flower induction and could act as a flower meristem identity gene in Lepidium sativum L.

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Olig1 and Olig2, two transcription factors, play regulatory function in the differentiation and specification of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). In this study the effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on total protein concentration ( TPC ) and Olig1 and Olig2 expression in the cerebral cortex of mouse was examined. Twenty-one Balb/c mice were separated into three groups: control, EMF and Sham groups (n=7 for each group). The mice were placed inside the solenoid for a daily EMF exposure of 50 Hz, 1 mT for 6 h/day, 7 days/week for 10 days. The Sham group was also located in the same coil with no exposure. Mice were anesthetized after the final exposure session and their cerebral cortex were collected. TPC and the expression of Olig 1 and Olig2 were studied by Bio-Rad protein assay and western blot, respectively. The cerebral cortex samples were removed for further analysis. There was no significant difference in TPC in the EMF treated cortical samples as compared with those from the SHAM and control groups. It was also shown that the expression of Olig1 and Olig2 was increased in the EMF treated cortical extracts as compared with those in controls and SHAM groups. Therefore, it could be concluded that EMF enhances Olig1 and Olig2 expression in the mice cerebral cortex. Moreover, as Olig1 and Olig2 plays important role in the development of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells, it can be deduced that EMF may affect OPC differentiation by increasing the expression of Olig1 and Olig2. Further studies are needed to clarify the extent of EMF impact on oligodendrocyte differentiation.
 
 

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Breast cancer is the fourth common cancer worldwide and occurs when breast cells begin to uncontrolled division and tumor formation. Angiogenesis is one of the essential factors in cell growth and maintenance of homeostasis in the natural and pathological conditions, while VEGFs are the most critical factors in angiogenesis. MiR-210 plays an important role in the angiogenesis via association with VEGF. Here, the miR-210 expression changes in response to a VEGFB antagonist peptide, called VEGB1, was studied in female BALB/c mice bearing 4T1 cell line induced breast tumor. The treated group received 1mg.kg^-1 and 10mg.kg^-1 of the peptide and the control group received PBS intraperitoneally during two weeks. Both of the animal groups underwent a resection of breast tissue 14 days after treatment and miR-210 expression level was investigated. Statistical analysis by On-way ANOVA showed that the expression level of miR-210 gene had significant differences among the groups treated with various doses of VEGB1. Also, the gene expression was significantly different between peptide-treated groups and control samples (p<0.05). MiR-210 expression level had 42% reduction in mice treated with 1mg.kg^-1 of VEGB1, while 90% was seen in mice treated with 10mg.kg^-1 of VEGB1 showing the inhibitory function of VEGB1 antagonist peptide at different doses.