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Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play a vital role in plant productivity and ecosystem functions. However, their responses to abiotic factors (i.e., climate, physiography, and soil properties) are unknown, especially across climatic gradients and slope aspects in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. In this study, using 60 composite soil samples, direct and indirect effects of climate factors and slope aspects on AMF diversity, composition and spore density were studied. The findings indicate that climate has a more direct influence on soil properties ( P  < 0.001) in comparison to slope aspect ( P  = 0.449). In contrast, climate significantly affected AMF diversity and composition, with the highest diversity in dryer areas. Soil pH had the highest correlation with different facets of AMF diversity. Structural equation modeling (SEM) indicated that only a small part of the variation in AMF diversity and spore density could be explained by climate characteristics, slope aspect and soil properties. Based on SEM results, climate was the most important determinant of AMF diversity and spore density; slope aspect had a less critical role. The outputs suggest that variations in AMF diversity are derived by the direct effects of climate and the indirect effect of soil chemical properties. In addition, with increasing dryness, sporulation and AMF diversity increased. Graphical Abstract

Plantations in degraded forest areas in arid and semi-arid regions play a vital role in restoring ecosystems, controlling erosion, and supporting local livelihoods. However, little is known about how exotic and native tree species influence nutrient dynamics in soil and foliage, particularly regarding nutrient retranslocation. This study evaluated seasonal variation in leaf nutrient concentrations and nutrient retranslocation patterns over a 6-month period (early April to late September) in 30-year-old plantations of two exotic needleleaf species ( Cupressus arizonica , Pinus eldarica ) and two indigenous broadleaf species ( Amygdalus scoparia , Quercus brantii ). The findings revealed significant differences among species groups. Broadleaf species generally exhibited higher concentrations of leaf nutrients (such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) and lower C: N ratios than needleleaf species. Seasonal effects were evident, with leaf nutrient content generally higher in spring than in summer. The order of nutrient retranslocation was as follows: Ca < C < K < Mg < N < P. Further analysis using principal components highlighted the differences between broadleaf and needleleaf plantations in terms of soil and leaf nutrient status. These findings suggest that, due to its native status and greater contribution to soil fertility, Q. brantii is a suitable choice for reforestation in similarly degraded environments.

The main objective of the current assay was to evaluate the antibacterial and regenerative effects of hydrogel nanocomposite containing pure natural zeolite (clinoptilolite) integrated with alginate (Alg) as wound healing/dressing biomaterials. The zeolites were size excluded, characterized by SEM, DLS, XRD, FTIR, and XRF, and then integrated into Alg hydrogel followed by calcium chloride crosslinking. The Alg and alginate zeolite (Alg/Zeo) hydrogel was characterized by swelling and weight loss tests, also the antibacterial, hemocompatibility, and cell viability tests were performed. In animal studies, the burn wound was induced on the back of rats and treated with the following groups: control, Alg hydrogel, and Alg/Zeo hydrogel. The results showed that the hydrodynamic diameter of zeolites was 367 ± 0.2 nm. Zeolites did not show any significant antibacterial effect, however, the hydrogel nanocomposite containing zeolite had proper swelling as well as hemocompatibility and no cytotoxicity was observed. Following the creation of a third-degree burn wound on the back of rats, the results indicated that the Alg hydrogel and Alg/Zeo nanocomposite accelerated the wound healing process compared with the control group. Re-epithelialization, granulation tissue thickness, collagenization, inflammatory cell recruitment, and angiogenesis level were not significantly different between Alg and Alg/Zeo nanocomposite. These findings revealed that although the incorporation of zeolites did not induce a significant beneficial effect in comparison with Alg hydrogel, using zeolite capacity in hydrogel for loading the antibiotics or other effective compounds can be considered a promising wound dressing.

The semi-arid forest ecosystems of western Iran dominated by Quercus brantii are often disturbed by wildfires. Here, we assessed the effects of short fire intervals on the soil properties and community diversity of herbaceous plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), as well as the interactions between these ecosystem features. Plots burned once or twice within 10 years were compared to unburned plots over a long time period (control sites). Soil physical properties were not affected by the short fire interval, except bulk density, which increased. Soil geochemical and biological properties were affected by the fires. Soil organic matter and nitrogen concentrations were depleted by two fires. Short intervals impaired microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon, substrate-induced respiration, and urease enzyme activity. The successive fires affected the AMF’s Shannon diversity. The diversity of the herb community increased after one fire and dropped after two, indicating that the whole community structure was altered. Two fires had greater direct than indirect effects on plant and fungal diversity, as well as soil properties. Short-interval fires depleted soil functional properties and reduced herb diversity. With short-interval fires probably fostered by anthropogenic climate change, the functionalities of this semi-arid oak forest could collapse, necessitating fire mitigation.

The biodiversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) was surveyed in the Kolm region of Iran in three adjacent sites, a natural stand, a 10-year-old and a 15-year-old plantation of Amygdalus scoparia . To date, there have been few studies of AMF biodiversity in Iran, especially in the western forests of the country. For this study, soil and root samples were taken from A. scoparia rhizosphere soil in spring and autumn. Almost half of the root length was colonized by AMF. We identified 13 AMF species belonging to Glomeraceae, Claroideoglomeraceae or Diversisporaceae. The three plantations differed in terms of soil electrical conductivity, organic C and P. Spore density was significant correlated with P concentration. Root length colonization was correlated only with soil Ca. Species diversity and richness were significantly correlated with soil N, P, organic C and spore density. AMF diversity in 15-year-old plantations was more similar to that in the natural stand than in the 10-year-old plantation. We confirmed that a 15-year-old plantation is not similar in terms of AMF colonization to natural stands. We conclude that more than 15 years are required for AMF colonization of plantations to resemble that of natural stands.

We examine for the first time how chemically and thermally stable gold nanoparticles (NPs), prepared by a silane conjugation approach, affect both the thermal and the electro-optical properties of a nematic liquid crystal (LC), when doped at concentrations ranging from 0.25 to 7.5 wt%. We find that the octadecylsilane-conjugated gold NPs stabilize both the enantiotropic nematic and the monotropic smectic-A phases of the LC host with a maximum stabilization of 2°C for the nematic and 3.5°C for the smectic-A phases for the mixture containing 1 wt% of the silanized particles. The same mixture shows the lowest values for the Fréedericksz transition threshold voltage and the highest value for the dielectric anisotropy. Generally, all NP-containing mixtures, except mixtures with NP concentrations exceeding 5 wt%, reduce the threshold voltage, increase the dielectric anisotropy and reduce both rise and decay time; the latter particularly at temperatures at least 10°C below the isotropic-nematic phase transition on cooling.

This study was performed to investigate the uniformity of distribution of water and discharge variations in drip irrigation using magnetic water. Magnetic water was achieved by transition of water using a robust permanent magnet connected to a feed pipeline. Two main factors including magnetic and non-magnetic water and three sub-factor of salt concentration including well water, addition of 150 and 300 mg L−1 calcium carbonate to irrigation water with three replications were applied. The result of magnetic water on average dripper discharge was significant at (P ≤ 0.05). At the final irrigation, the average dripper discharge and distribution uniformity were higher for the magnetic water compared to the non-magnetic water. The magnetic water showed a significant effect (P ≤ 0.01) on distribution uniformity of drippers. At the first irrigation, the water distribution uniformity was almost the same for both the magnetic water and the non-magnetic water. The use of magnetic water for drip irrigation is recommended to achieve higher uniformity.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is a major cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and is capable of forming biofilms on inert surfaces, contributing to persistent and recurrent infections. Given the limitations of conventional antibiotics, alternative strategies are needed to control multidrug-resistant (MDR) UPEC. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of thymol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (TLCNPs) against MDR UPEC isolates urinary catheters. TLCNPs were prepared using the ionotropic gelation method and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using the broth microdilution method. Antibiofilm activity was assessed by the microtiter plate crystal violet assay. The relative expression of fimA and fimH genes was evaluated using real-time PCR. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the MTT assay on a human bladder carcinoma cell line (EJ138). The results showed that TLCNPs exhibited antibacterial activity against MDR UPEC isolates, with MIC and MBC values of 625 µg/mL. Biofilm formation was reduced by up to 76.2 ± 0.6% at ½ MIC concentration. Although a decrease in the relative expression of fimA and fimH genes was observed following treatment with TLCNPs, these changes were not statistically significant. Cytotoxicity assays indicated that more than 70% of EJ138 cells remained viable after 24 h, and over 50% after 48 h at ½ MIC. Overall, this study evaluated the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and preliminary safety profile of thymol-loaded chitosan nanoparticles against MDR UPEC, providing experimental data for their further investigation as a potential adjunct approach for biofilm-associated UTIs.

In this study, for accuracy and cost an optimal inventory method was examined and introduced to obtain information about Zagros forests, Iran. For this purpose, three distance sampling methods (compound, order distance and random-pairs) in 5 inventory networks (100 m × 100 m, 100 m × 150 m, 100 m × 200 m, 150 m × 150 m, 200 m × 200 m) were implemented in GIS environment, and the related statistical analyses were carried out. Average tree density and canopy cover in hectare with 100% inventory were compared to each other. All the studied methods were implemented in 30 inventory points, and the implementation time of each was recorded. According to the results, the best inventory methods for estimating density and canopy cover were compound 150 m × 150 m and 100 m × 100 m methods, respectively. The minimum amount of product inventory time per second (T), and ( E %) 2 square percent of inventory error of sampling for the compound 150 m × 150 m method regarding density in hectare was 691.8, and for the compound 100 m × 100 m method regarding canopy of 12,089 ha. It can be concluded that compound method is the best for estimating density and canopy features of the forests area.

Premature ovarian failure (POF) is a common cause of women's infertility. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is one of the most important gonadotoxic agents that lead to POF. This study aimed to evaluate the potential therapeutic effect of chitosan nanoparticles loaded with platelet lysate (PLCH NPs) on fertilization (IVF) outcome and early embryo development in a model of CP-induced POF. In this study, synthesized nanoparticles were developed based on the ionic gelation method and characterized by the physicochemical properties of particle size, zeta potential, FTIR, microscopic studies, drug encapsulation, and drug release. Sixty female BALB/c mice were randomly assigned into six groups: Control, sham, POF, POF-PL, POF-CH, and POF-PLCH. Finally, the PLCH NPs were examined for their therapeutic potential against CP-induced POF by evaluating Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), fertilization rate, and embryo development. The results showed that PL's release profile has a sustained release pattern. The treatment of PLCH NPs in POF mice increased AMH and TAC and decreased MDA levels compared to the control group ( <0.05). The mean number of retrieved oocytes, cleavage and fertilization rates, and blastocyst formation rates were significantly increased in the POF-PLCH group compared with the POF group ( <0.05). This study proposes a novel PLCH NP-mediated combination therapy for the clinical treatment of POF and shows that PLCH NPs are superior to free PL in terms of effectiveness.