Self-consistent Green's function method for nuclei and nuclear matter

Recent results obtained by applying the method of self-consistent Green's functions to nuclei and nuclear matter are reviewed. Particular attention is given to the description of experimental data obtained from the (e,e'p) and (e,e'2N) reactions that determine one and two-nucleon removal probabilities in nuclei since the corresponding amplitudes are directly related to the imaginary parts of the single-particle and two-particle propagators. For this reason and the fact that these amplitudes can now be calculated with the inclusion of all the relevant physical processes, it is useful to explore the efficacy of the method of self-consistent Green's functions in describing these experimental data. Results for both finite nuclei and nuclear matter are discussed with particular emphasis on clarifying the role of short-range correlations in determining various experimental quantities. The important role of long-range correlations in determining the structure of low-energy correlations is also documented. For a complete understanding of nuclear phenomena it is therefore essential to include both types of physical correlations. We demonstrate that recent experimental results for these reactions combined with the reported theoretical calculations yield a very clear understanding of the properties of {\em all} protons in the nucleus. We propose that this knowledge of the properties of constituent fermions in a correlated many-body system is a unique feature of nuclear physics.Comment: 110 pages, accepted for publication on Prog. Part. Nucl. Phy

Considering the Physicochemical and Sensorial Properties of Momtaze Hamburgers Containing Lentil and Chickpea Seed Flour

Background and Objectives: The food product known as the ‘hamburger’ plays a crucial role in people’s nutrition and the diversity of the food they consume. The reasons for our study include the area under cultivation, the remarkable amount of protein in chickpeas and lentils, as well as the public interest in tending to meat products, especially hamburgers. Materials and Methods: In this study, beef burgers were combined with chickpea flour and lentil flour at 4%, 8% and 12% levels. We evaluated the properties of uncooked beef burgers, including protein, fat, moisture, ash, pH, texture profile (hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness), cooking properties, and sensory attributes. Results: Compared with the controls, the percentage of the samples’ protein and fat increased with the rise in the level of chickpea and lentil flour. At 12% level, the chickpea and lentil flour had the lowest ash content. Samples of hamburgers with lentil flour at 12% level had the highest pH value. The hardness, chewiness and gumminess value of the samples significantly increased with increase in the level of chickpea and lentil flour, compared to the controls. At the level of 12%, the lentil flour had the lowest shrinkage percentage. Scores for all sensory parameters except for appearance decreased with increase in the level of extension. Conclusions: We successfully produced a new product with significant nutritional value, cooking features and acceptable sensory-textural properties. Hamburger with 4% content of chickpea or lentil flour had sensory properties similar to the control, and was rated close to very good. Further research should be focused on the optimized use of amounts of legumes in hamburger. Keywords: Chickpea flour, Formulation, Hamburger, Lentil flour, Physico-chemical propertie

Efficacy of Setarud (IMOD^®), a novel drug with potent anti-toxic stress potential in rat inflammatory bowel disease and comparison with dexamethasone and infliximab

219-226The inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an idiopathic, immune-mediated and chronic intestinal condition. In the present study, the effect of Serarud (IMOD®), a novel natural drug with known immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties was investigated in experimental colitis in rats and compared with the dexamethasone and infliximab. Immunologic colitis was induced by intracolonic administration of a mixture of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) and absolute ethanol in male Wistar rats. Animals were divided into 6 groups of sham (normal group), control (vehicle-treated), positive control (dexamethasone 1 mg/kg/day given orally and infliximab 5 mg/kg/day given subcutaneously) and 3 Setarud-treated groups (13.3, 20, 30 mg/kg/day given intraperitoneally). The treatment continued for 14 consecutive days and then animals were decapitated on the day 15 and distal colons were removed for macroscopic, microscopic, and biochemical assays. Biochemical markers, including TNF-, IL-1, ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and thiobarbitoric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) were measured in the homogenate of colonic tissue. A remarkable reduction in macroscopic and histological damage scores was observed in the animals treated with Setarud. These findings were confirmed by decreased levels of TNF-, interleukin-1, MPO activity and TBARS, and raised levels of FRAP in the colon tissue. These observations confirmed the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Setarud in experimental colitis, which was comparable to those of dexamethasone and infliximab

Pyrosequencing analysis for rapid and accurate detection of clarithromycin resistance-associated mutations in Iranian Helicobacter pylori isolates

Abstract Background Treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has become challenging following the development of primary antibiotic resistance. A primary therapeutic regimen for H. pylori eradication includes clarithromycin; however, the presence of point mutations within the 23S rRNA sequence of H. pylori contributes to clarithromycin resistance and eradication failure. Thus, we aimed to develop a rapid and precise method to determine clarithromycin resistance-related point mutations using the pyrosequencing method. Methods and results H. pylori was isolated from 82 gastric biopsy samples and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was evaluated using the agar dilution method. Clarithromycin resistance-associated point mutations were detected by Sanger sequencing, from which 11 isolates were chosen for pyrosequencing. Our results demonstrated a 43.9% (36/82) prevalence in resistance to clarithromycin. The A2143G mutation was detected in 8.3% (4/48) of H. pylori isolates followed by A2142G (6.2%), C2195T (4.1%), T2182C (4.1%), and C2288T (2%). Although the C2195T mutation was only detected by Sanger sequencing, the overall results from pyrosequencing and Sanger sequencing platforms were comparable. Conclusions Pyrosequencing could be used as a rapid and practical platform in clinical laboratories to determine the susceptibility profile of H. pylori isolates. This might pave the way for efficient H. pylori eradication upon detection

Effects of thermodynamic properties of rice and ambient conditions on moisture migration during storage at naturally ventilated warehouses

The current study dealt with characterizing the effect of external variables on the moisture migration phenomenon in two naturally ventilated rice warehouses. Secondly, the thermodynamic properties of rice during the rehydration cycle were illustrated as numerical models to predict their behavior. Thai rice was stored at Shiraz city and Abadeh town for a total of 9 months in two identical warehouses. The effect of outside temperature and relative humidity on ambient conditions inside the warehouses as well as rice moisture content was evaluated. The dehydration rate of rice stored at Shiraz facility was higher than those stored at Abadeh warehouse by an average of 166% resulting in lower rice moister content. The 60-day latency in reaching minimum rice bulk moisture content at Abadeh warehouse was due to its cooler climate and less intense boundary area temperature gradient. The type II sigmoid-shaped sorption isotherm (fitted with the GAB model) indicated moisture content elevation above 11% sharply increased with the water activity beyond 0.7. The isosteric heat of sorption was linearly correlated with the entropy of sorption indicating adsorption was governed by compensation theory, was enthalpy driven and non-spontaneous. The most suitable conditions to store rice were determined by relating the grain’s moisture content and its thermodynamic properties during the sorption process. Therefore, storage of rice for prolonged durations was possible by maintaining the ambient temperature and relative humidity between 20.0 °C and 28.5 °C and 15.0% to 25%, respectively

Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Helicobacter pylori Isolated from the Dyspepsia Patients in Tehran, Iran

Background/Aim: Helicobacter pylori is an important pathogen for gastroduodenal diseases. Infection with H. pylori can be limited by regimens of multiple antimicrobial agents. However, antibiotic resistance is a leading cause of treatment failure. The aim of this study has been to determine the resistance patterns of H. pylori strains isolated from gastric biopsies of patients with dyspepsia by agar dilution method, in Tehran, Iran. Patients and Methods : H. pylori isolates from patients with gastrointestinal diseases were evaluated for susceptibility testing by agar dilution method. Susceptibility testing was performed to commonly used antibiotics including clarithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, metronidazole and ciprofloxacin. Results: Among 92 patients with dyspepsia, H. pylori strains were isolated from 42 patients. Seventeen (40.5%) of the isolates were resistant to metronidazole (MICs ≥ 8 μg/l), whereas one isolate (2.4%) was resistant to amoxicillin (MICs ≤ 0. 5 μg/ml) and ciprofloxacin (MICs ≤ 1μg/ml). The resistance rates to other antibiotics in H. pylori isolates are recorded as follows: clarithromycin 6 (14.3 %), tetracycline 2 (4.8%). In 5 of 42 resistant cases, combined resistance was found. Conclusions: These data suggest that metronidazole should be used among Iranian patients in first-line therapy with caution, and ciprofloxacin in association with amoxicillin and a proton pump inhibitor is more recommended