Finding differential splice junctions in RNA-Seq data as transcriptional biomarkers for prostate cancer

Alternative RNA splicing is a naturally occurring phenomenon that has been associated with different types of cancer. Detecting splice junctions in the genome of an organism is the key to the study of alternative splicing. RNA-Seq as a high-throughput sequencing technology has recently opened new horizons on the studying of various fields of transcriptomics, such as gene expression, chimeric events and alternative splicing. In this research, we study prostate cancer from the viewpoint of splicing events as the second most common cancer in North America. We have proposed a method for differentially detecting splice junctions, and in a broader sense splice variants, from RNA-Seq data. We have designed a 2-D peak finding algorithm to combine and remove the dubious junctions across different samples of our population. A scoring mechanism is used to select junctions as features for prediction of cancer RNA-Seq data belonging to patients diagnosed with prostate cancer against benign samples. These junctions could be proposed as potential biomarkers for prostate cancer. We have employed support vector machines which proved to be highly successful in prediction of prostate cancer

Experimental and analytical study on the behavior of steel plate shear walls with box-shaped columns under cyclic loading

Steel plate shear walls are lateral load resisting systems consisting of vertical steel plate infills connected to the surrounding beams and columns. One of the parameters affecting the behavior of steel plate shear wall system under lateral load is characteristic of surrounding members. Since there are lots of experimental and analytical studies on steel plate shear walls with I-shaped surrounding members, this research is an experimental study carried out on a one-third scale steel plate shear wall system with box-shaped columns along with further analytical studies. The objectives were to calculate the stiffness, strength and energy dissipation capacity of the specimen and compare them with a very similar system constructed with I-shaped columns. Cyclic loading protocol of ATC-24 was used for test. Obtained experimental results showed a good conformity between box and I-shaped specimens. It is shown that the system can provide good initial stiffness and high ultimate capacity and remain intact under seismic effects. Some analytical studies on failure modes of system with box-shaped columns were also conducted using finite-element software confirming that the columns bottom connections and their flange buckling at that point are one of the most common modes of failure and a triangular reinforcing plate at that point can improve columns connection behavior effectively

Fully integrated cmos phase shifter/vco for mimo/ism application

A fully integrated CMOS 0 – 900 phase shifter in 0.18um TSMC technology is presented. With the increasing use of wireless systems in GHz range, there is high demand for integrated phase shifters in phased arrays and MIMO on chip systems. Integrated phase shifters have quite a high number of integrated inductors which consume a lot of area and introduce a huge amount of loss which make them impractical for on chip applications. Also tuning the phase shift is another concern which seems difficult with use of passive elements for integrated applications. This work is presents a new method for implementing phase shifters using only active CMOS elements which dramatically reduce the occupied area and make the tuning feasible. Also a fully integrated millimeter-wave VCO is implemented using the same technology. This VCO can be part of a 24 GHz frequency synthesizer for 24 GHz ISM band transceivers. The 24 GHz ISM band is the unlicensed band and available for commercial communication and automotive radar use, which is becoming attractive for high bandwidth data rate

Use of lipophilic and hydrophilic polymers in production of sustained release zinc sulfate tablets

Background and aims: Zinc sulfate administered to correct zinc deficiency. Its oral administration has shown serious digestive side effects and sometimes it has led to the lack of use it. The main aim of the present study was to use lipophilic and hydrophilic polymers in production of sustained release zinc sulfate tabletsover an extended period of time. Methods: Sustained release (SR) zinc sulfate tablets were prepared using either lipophilic-based matrix or hydrophilic matrix system or natural polymers by either hot-fusion (HF) granulation or direct compression (DC) method. Physical and chemical features of provided SR tablets including hardness, friability, and weight variation, disintegration time, swelling index, content uniformity and drug release behavior were evaluated. The drug concentration was assayed by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer at 213.8 nm. Results: Most of the prepared formulations showed acceptable physicochemical properties. Among 30 formulations, SR tablets with lipophilic matrix-based showed more predictable release profiles compared to tablets prepared based on hydrophilic or natural matrixes. Tablets containing carnauba wax showed slower release while tablets with hydrogenated castor oil represented faster release profile. A few lipophilic matrix tablets containing zinc sulfate (110 mg), beeswax (or carnauba wax) and Avicel (or Emcompress) were selected as the optimum formulations showing release profiles based on USP criteria for lipophilic-based SR tablets. The mean dissolution time (MDT) and dissolution efficiency (DE8%) of selected formulations were 1.69-1.95 hr and 69.3-71.8%, respectively. Tablet hardness and granule size had no effects on release rate. The drug release kinetic followed Higuchi model. Conclusion: Lipophilic based SR tablets of zinc sulfate is suggested as an alternative for capsule or syrup of the drug whichhave digestive side effects

Efficacy of Plaque Control by Tooth Brushing with and without Different Dentifrices: A Clinical Trial

Objective: Microbial plaque is among the main etiologies of periodontal disease, and tooth brushing with toothpaste is the most commonly used method of plaque control. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of tooth brushing with and without three different dentifrices.Methods: Thirty dental students were randomly selected to participate in this clinical trial and were asked to refrain from any plaque control measure for 24 hours. Candidates were then randomly assigned to one of the three groups of tooth brushing with Pooneh whitening toothpaste, Crest 3D White, Sensodyne Original and tooth brushing without toothpaste. Subjects were asked to brush their teeth for two minutes using the Bass technique. Plaque index was calculated before and after the intervention. This process was repeated until all subjects experienced all the understudy interventional protocols (tooth brushing with three different toothpastes and without toothpaste). Data were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA and paired t-test.Results: No statistically significant difference was noted in the efficacy of plaque control by tooth brushing with Crest 3D White and Sensodyne Original and tooth brushing without toothpaste; however, significant differences were noted in this respect between Pooneh toothpaste and the remaining three tooth brushing protocols (p≤0.001).Conclusion: Tooth brushing without toothpaste may have a plaque control efficacy equal or even higher than that of tooth brushing with toothpaste

Effects of Irrigation Deficit and Application of Some Growth Regulators on Defense Mechanisms of Canola

A split-plot experiment arranged in a randomized complete blocks design with three replications was carried out in Safiabad Agricultural Research Center of Dezful in order to investigate the effects of foliar applications of ascorbic acid (AsA), salicylic acid (SA) and methanol (Me), under deficit irrigation conditions, in canola; there were 3 levels of irrigation as the main factor (irrigation after 70 mm evaporation from the pan as control, cessation of irrigation at the flowering stage and cessation of irrigation at the appearance of siliques) and 10 levels of foliar applications as sub-factor (100, 200 and 300 mg.l-1AsA; 100, 200 and 300 µM SA; 10, 20 and 30% (w/v) methanol; and foliar application of distilled water as control). Foliar applications were made during both budding and initiation of flowering stages. Results indicated that antioxidant enzymes showed different responses to deficit irrigation and foliar application treatments. Maximum catalase (CAT) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activities were observed under cessation of irrigation at flowering stage and foliar application of 300 µM SA, while ascorbate peroxidase (APX) reached its maximum activity under the same irrigation conditions and foliar application of 300 mg.l-1AsA. SA had more influence to increase in CAT and PPO activity under cessation of irrigation at flowering stage. The relative water content (RWC) was also decreased due to the drought stress caused by the cessation of irrigation. Foliar application of SA (100 μM) and Me (10% w/v) had more influence to maintain RWC compared to ascorbic acid under irrigation cessation at flowering stage

HIV-Related Stigma Among Healthcare Providers in Different Healthcare Settings: A Cross-Sectional Study in Kerman, Iran

Background: Stigmatizing attitudes among healthcare providers are an important barrier to accessing services among people living with HIV (PLHIV). This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the status and correlates of HIV-related stigma among healthcare providers in Kerman, Iran.Methods: Using a validated and pilot-tested stigma scale questionnaire, we measured HIV-related stigma among 400 healthcare providers recruited from three teaching hospitals (n = 363), private sectors (n = 28), and the only voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center (n = 9) in Kerman city. Data were gathered using self-administered questionnaires at participants’ workplace during Fall 2016. To examine the correlates of stigmatizing attitudes, we constructed bivariable and multivariable linear regression models. Results: The mean ± standard deviation (SD) of stigma score was 25.95 ± 7.20 out of the possible 50, with higher scores reflecting more stigmatizing attitudes. Paramedics, nurses’ aides, and housekeeping staff had the highest, and VCT personnel had the lowest average stigma scores, respectively. Multivariable regression analyses showed that prior experience of working with PLHIV (β = -2.48; P = .03), exposure to HIV-related educational courses (β = -2.03; P = .02), and <10 years of work experience (β = -2.70; P < .001) were associated with lower stigma scores.Conclusion: Our findings highlight the need for health managers to provide training opportunities for healthcare providers, including programs that focus on improving HIV-related knowledge for healthcare providers. Enforcing policies that aim to reduce HIV-related stigma and discrimination among healthcare providers in Iran are urgently needed