Fungi isolated from the skin lesions of Ghezel and Makui sheep with suspected ringworm in Urmia, Iran

Non-dermatophytic fungi are frequently isolated on the cultures used in surveys of animals suspected of having ringworm. The present study was conducted to identify of saprophytic fungi and dermatophyte isolated from sheep with suspected ringworm in Urmia, Iran. A total of 1323 sheep from two breeds of Ghezel (n = 727) and Makui (n = 596) were examined for skin lesions. Only 4(0.035 %) lesions with hair loss and scaling were found on ears of Ghezel sheep. Samples were examined microscopically by KOH and cultured ontoSabouraud’s dextrose agar and Sabouraud’s dextrose with chloramphenicol and cycloheximide, incubated at 25 and 37 ° C and examined for 4weeks. All (100%) of the specimens yielded positive culture. Fungal isolates were Alternariaspp. (3 cases, 75 %) and Mucor spp. (2 cases, 50%). No dermatophyte fungi were cultured from suspected ringworm lesions. Saprophytic fungi isolated in the present study may not be considered as cause of skin lesions in Ghezel sheep

Parametric investigation of the mechanical behavior of expanding-folding absorbers and their implementation in sandwich panels core

Thin-walled energy absorbers are one of the common structures that are used in vehicle body for increasing the crashworthiness and consequently decreasing injuries. Investigated new type of thin-walled aluminum matrix and a thin-walled steel punch energy absorber structure has been investigated in this paper. Energy is absorbed as the matrix expansion followed by simultaneous matrix and punch folding. Present study proposes a sandwich panel based on expanding-folding absorber units to evaluate their crush mechanism. Parametric study has been done using finite element code LS-DYNA while experimental tests have been implemented to validate the FE model. The panels have been tested under three axial quasi-static loading conditions including a rigid half-cylinder and a rigid plate. Parametric study considers the punch angle, matrix thickness and punch thickness. The optimum structure based on energy absorption has then been used as a structural member in the sandwich panel until a panel with high specific energy absorption be introduced. Also it have been seen that all the curves for the expansion section can be estimated using polynomial second order functions, with a high accuracy

Relationship between job design, performance and job satisfaction among Bank employees

Introduction: Job design approach is one of the significant concepts in ergonomics Experts believe that integration of macro ergonomics and job design can lead to improved productivity in the organizations. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between job design, performance and job satisfaction. .Methods and Materials: This cross - sectional study was done in 11 branches of one of the bank in Hamadan. Job Design Questionnaire, Job Satisfaction Questionnaires and Bank Performance Indicator were used in order to collect data. spearman correlation coefficient was used for determining the correlation between each two variables. .Results: This study showed that the motivational approach was the minimum approach (3.8%), and the mechanical approach, was the dominant approach (74.7%) in the study branches and the majority of branches had an average level of job satisfaction. Moreover, there was a significant positive correlation between job design (motivational and cognitive approaches) and job satisfaction. In addition, the results showed that between job design (Motivational approach) and satisfaction were significantly correlated with performance, (p = 0.05). .Conclusion: Regarding the role of job design in job satisfaction and employees, performance, it can be stated that job redesign towards a motivational approach and considering the principles of ergonomics in the workplace, can play an important role in efficiency and productivity of an organization

Investigating the relationship between psychosocial work stressors, organizational structure and job satisfaction among bank tellers

Introduction: Studies have shown that bank clerks experience high levels of stress. Stress is known as the main cause of reduction of job satisfaction and staff commitment and overall organization performance. This study aimed to investigate the association between psychosocial stressors, organizational structure, and job satisfaction.   Methods and Materials: This cross-sectional study was performed in 11 branches of a bank in Hamadan. In order to collect data, General Nordic Questionnaire (QPS Nordic 34+), Organizational Structure and Job Satisfaction Questionnaires were used. For determining the relationship between the two variables spearman correlation coefficient was used. Moreover, chi-square test was used to investigate the association between qualitative variables.   Results: Job stress (57%) and job satisfaction (39%) of the subjects were in the average level, and structure of the majority of the branches was somewhat inflexible (69%). What is more, there was a significant positive correlation between job stress and dimensions of organizational structure (centralization, formalization). Results manifested a significant correlation between organizational structure and job satisfaction (P-value= 0.05).   Conclusion: Considering the effect of organizational structure and work-related psychosocial stressors on job satisfaction, it can be stated that organizational restructuring to achieve organic structures and paying more attention to psychosocial stressors in the workplace, can play an effective role in the efficiency and productivity of the organization

Combined effect of retinoic acid and calcium on the in vitro differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells to adipocytes

Context: It has been shown that adipogenesis can be modulated by factors such as all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and calcium. Objective: To determine, the combined effect of ATRA and calcium on the differentiation of human adipose-derived stem cells (hADSCs). Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were differentiated into the adipocytes by 0.5 and 1 µM of ATRA and 5 and 10 mM calcium separately or in combination. After MTS assay the differentiation of MSCs to adipocyte was evaluated, Oil Red O staining, GLUT4 concentration and gene expression of PPARG2, adiponectin, and GLUT4 were measured by Real-Time PCR. Results: Except 10 mM calcium treated group, other groups and more significantly combination treatments could reduce all adipocyte markers compared to the control. Conclusion: These results suggest that ATRA and calcium together have significant inhibitory effect on adipogenesis that can be helpful for finding new mechanisms to prevent or control the adipogenesis. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Selenium and its relationship with selenoprotein P and glutathione peroxidase in children and adolescents with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism

The essential trace element selenium (Se) is required for thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism. Selenoproteins contain selenocysteine and are responsible for biological functions of selenium. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is one of the major selenoproteins which protects the thyroid cells from oxidative damage. Selenoprotein P (SePP) is considered as the plasma selenium transporter to tissues. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum Se and SePP levels, and GPx activity in erythrocytes of children and adolescents with treated Hashimoto's thyroiditis, hypothyroidism, and normal subjects.Blood samples were collected from 32 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis, 20 with hypothyroidism, and 25 matched normal subjects. All the patients were under treatment with levothyroxine and at the time of analysis all of the thyroid function tests were normal. GPx enzyme activity was measured by spectrophotometry at 340 nm. Serum selenium levels were measured by high-resolution continuum source graphite furnace atomic absorption. SePP, TPOAb (anti-thyroid peroxidase antibody), and TgAb (anti-thyroglobulin antibody) were determined by ELISA kits. T4, T3, T3 uptake and TSH were also measured. Neither GPx activity nor SePP levels were significantly different in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or hypothyroidism compared to normal subjects. Although GPx and SePP were both lower in patients with hypothyroidism compared to those with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and normal subjects but the difference was not significant. Serum Se levels also did not differ significantly in patients and normal subjects. We did not find any correlation between GPx or SePP with TPOAb or TgAb but SePP was significantly correlated with Se. Results show that in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis or hypothyroidism who have been under treatment with levothyroxine and have normal thyroid function tests, the GPx, SePP and Se levels are not significantly different. © 2015 Elsevier GmbH

Salvigenin, a trimethoxylated flavone from achillea wilhelmsii c. Koch, exerts combined lipid-lowering and mitochondrial stimulatory effects

Phytochemical analysis of the Iranian plant Achillea wilhelmsii led to the isolation of 17 pure secondary metabolites belonging to the classes of sesquiterpenoids and phenolics. Two of these compounds, named wilhemsin (7) and wilhelmsolide (9), are new sesquiterpenoids, and the first shows undescribed structural features. Their structures were elucidated through extensive spectroscopic analysis, mainly based on 1D and 2D NMR, and chemical derivatization. Starting from plant traditional use and previous reports on the activity of the plant extracts, all the pure compounds were evaluated on endpoints related to the treatment of metabolic syndrome. The sesquiterpene hanphyllin (8) showed a selective cholesterol-lowering activity (−12.7% at 30 µM), santoflavone (13) stimulated glucose uptake via the GLUT transporter (+16.2% at 30 µM), while the trimethoxylated flavone salvigenin (14) showed a dual activity in decreasing lipid levels (−22.5% palmitic acid biosynthesis at 30 µM) and stimulating mitochondrial functionality (+15.4% at 30 µM). This study further confirms that, in addition to the antioxidants vitexin, isovitexin, and isoschaftoside, A. wilhelmsii extracts contain molecules that can act at different levels on the metabolic syndrome symptoms