Redox metabolism and cell wall modifications as global and local targets respectively, of cyanide induced dormancy release of walnut kernels.

The HCN-induced seed dormancy release necessitates alterations in reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism and radicle cell wall loosening. Little is known about the interaction of ROS metabolism with cell wall hydrolytic enzymes during HCN-induced seed dormancy release. Thus dormant walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernels were exposed to HCN (4 h) and studied for redox metabolism and cell wall-modifying enzymes during 10 days of incubation (DI) i.e. before radicle emergence. HCN increased ROS especially in the embryonic axes (EAs) but decreased ROS-generating NADPH oxidase and ROS scavenging superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POX) with no effects on catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and cell wall-modifying enzymes activities in short term up to 2 DI. In long term roughly from 4 DI onwards, HCN-exposed EA displayed greater superoxide anions and enhanced activities of POX, APX, NADPH oxidase, cell wall peroxidase (CW-POX), ß- 1, 4-D glucanase, mannanase, polygacturonase and xylanase. Meanwhile HCN increased greater expression of POX and mannanase isoforms as revealed by in-gel activity assay. Except for higher activities of CAT, POX and APX, cotyledonary activities of CW-POX, mannanase and polygacturonase and to some extent ß- 1, 4-D glucanase remained unaffected by HCN. Thus short term ROS accumulation in HCN-treated EA is due to declined SOD and POX activities. In long term the enhanced activities of both NADPH oxidase: CW-POX couple and cell wall-modifying enzymes in EA bring about wall loosening in preparation for radicle emergence. Evidences for the simultaneous operation of both mechanisms are provided in walnut EAs during dormancy release.

Factors affecting use and nonuse of child safety car seats in Gorgan, Iran.

Objective: Motor vehicle accidents, which are among the main causes of child mortality in Iran and the Middle East, impose staggering costs for the community. Ignoring use of safety devices for children in most motor vehicle crashes will lead to death or serious injury. Because few studies have been performed on effective and predictive factors regarding use of child safety seats, the purpose of this study was to examine the factors affecting the use and nonuse of child safety seats, along with the factors that can facilitate how a child safety seat is used. Method: This study was conducted in the urban area of Gorgan using a questionnaire. Through random selection, 204 parents with at least one child, aged 8 years or younger, reported their knowledge about the benefits of using a child safety seat. Results: The results showed that 80% of parents never use a child safety seat, and 13% always use a child safety seat. More than 93% thought that it was necessary to make usage of the child safety seat obligatory. In addition, 80% of parents believed that a child safety seat prevents children from injury in crashes. In addition, 38% of parents were not aware of child safety devices and child safety, less than 20% said that they did not use a child safety seat because their spouse did not support its use, and 28% of them thought that a child safety seat does not affect the safety of the child. In general, 91% of parents reported that if child safety seat use were mandated, the frequency of use would increase. A law on the use of child safety seats is a very important variable in their use, which can enhance the chance of using a child safety seat by 6.5 times. Conclusion: Special instructions should be developed to create incentive strategies for using a child safety seat. Mandating the use of a child safety seat, equipping cars with a child safety seat, encouraging children to use it, and providing continuous education and training are important factors for increasing the use of child safety seats.

The Belief and Attitude of the Drivers Toward the Usage of Cellphone while Driving; A Population-Based Survey.

OBJECTIVE: To presents a survey investigating differences between drivers' beliefs regarding utilizing cellphone when driving. METHODS: In this population-based survey, the participants who were studied in the North of Iran, Gorgan, were categorized as main urban and rural areas. A sample of 400 drivers, 92 women and 308 men, filled out the four sections questionnaire which was based on the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) used for measuring the differences between the drivers' opinions (attitudinal beliefs, normative beliefs, and perceived control behavioral beliefs) about utilizing a cell phone when driving along with their age and driving purpose. Data were collected by distributing the 68- query questionnaire between the drivers. RESULTS: The MANOVA analysis showed that important discrepancies were found between the normative, control and behavioral beliefs of cellular phone users while driving. As expected, frequent business and younger users with sturdy intention expressed more benefits of further concentration on family members and fewer obstacles that would prevent them from utilizing cellphone when driving than older and frequently personal users. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that the benefits of utilizing cellphone while driving are greater than its dangers. To reduce cellphone utilization when driving and increase road safety, more effort is required to lower the perceived advantages of the behavior and to outstand the risks of this hazardous driving act.

Short versus long term effects of cyanide on sugar metabolism and transport in dormant walnut kernels.

Tree seed dormancy release by cold stratification accompanies with the embryo increased gluconeogenesis competence. Cyanide also breaks seed dormancy however, integrated information about its effects on carbon metabolism is lacking. Accordingly, the impacts of HCN on germination, lipid gluconeogenesis and sugar transport capacity of walnut (Juglans regia L.) kernels were investigated during 10-days period prior to radicle protrusion. HCN increased walnut kernel germination and within four days of kernel incubation, hastened the decline of starch, reducing and non-reducing sugars and led to greater activities of alkaline invertase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. From four days of kernel incubation onwards, starch and non-reducing sugars accumulated only in the HCN treated axes. Cyanide also increased the activities of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glyoxysomal succinate oxidase and led to greater acid invertase activity during the aforementioned period. The expressions of both sucrose transporter (JrSUT1) and H+-ATPase (JrAHA1) genes especially in cotyledons and H+-ATPase activity in kernels were significantly enhanced by exposure to cyanide. Thus in short-term HCN led to prevalence of carbohydrate catabolic events such as oxidative pentose phosphate pathway and possibly glycolysis in dormant walnut kernels. Long-term effects however, are increased gluconeogenesis and enhanced sugar transport capacity of kernels as a prerequisite for germination.