Comparison of physical and hydrodynamic properties of two Iranian commercial pomegranates

The aim of this study was to determine and compare several physical and hydrodynamic properties of two commercial pomegranate cultivars in Iran (Poost sefid and Malas-Yazd).  Values of geometric diameter (74.61-82.45 mm), volume (176-503 mm3), true density (970.25-1,028.30 kg/m3) and packing coefficient (0.48-0.55) showed statistically significant difference at the 1% level.  Besides, projected area and face surface area of cv. Poost sefid were 15 and 18 percent more than cv. Malas-Yazd, respectively (P0.05), respectively.  Further, buoyancy force levels of cv. Poost sefid (3.25 N) and cv. Malas-Yazd (2.41 N) had statistically significant difference at the level 5%.  The rupture force values of Iranian pomegranate varieties had significant differences at Y and Z-axes loading (

Spatio-temporal mapping of breast and prostate cancers in South Iran from 2014 to 2017

Background The most common gender-specific malignancies are cancers of the breast and the prostate. In developing countries, cancer screening of all at risk is impractical because of healthcare resource limitations. Thus, determining high-risk areas might be an important first screening step. This study explores incidence patterns of potential high-risk clusters of breast and prostate cancers in southern Iran. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted in the province of Kerman, South Iran. Patient data were aggregated at the county and district levels calculating the incidence rate per 100,000 people both for cancers of the breast and the prostate. We used the natural-break classification with five classes to produce descriptive maps. A spatial clustering analysis (Anselin Local Moran’s I) was used to identify potential clusters and outliers in the pattern of these cancers from 2014 to 2017. Results There were 1350 breast cancer patients (including, 42 male cases) and 478 prostate cancer patients in the province of Kerman, Iran during the study period. After 45 years of age, the number of men with diagnosed prostate cancer increased similarly to that of breast cancer for women after 25 years of age. The age-standardised incidence rate of breast cancer for women showed an increase from 29.93 to 32.27 cases per 100,000 people and that of prostate cancer from 13.93 to 15.47 cases per 100,000 during 2014–2017. Cluster analysis at the county level identified high-high clusters of breast cancer in the north-western part of the province for all years studied, but the analysis at the district level showed high-high clusters for only two of the years. With regard to prostate cancer, cluster analysis at the county and district levels identified high-high clusters in this area of the province for two of the study years. Conclusions North-western Kerman had a significantly higher incidence rate of both breast and prostate cancer than the average, which should help in designing tailored screening and surveillance systems. Furthermore, this study generates new hypotheses regarding the potential relationship between increased incidence of cancers in certain geographical areas and environmental risk factors.This study received funding from Kerman University of Medical Sciences (number = 97000230). The funder provided the cost of geocoding and cleaning the data

Putative RNA Ligase RtcB Affects the Switch between T6SS and T3SS in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a significant cause of infection in immunocompromised individuals, cystic fibrosis patients, and burn victims. To benefit its survival, the bacterium adapt to either a motile or sessile lifestyle when infecting the host. The motile bacterium has an often activated type III secretion system (T3SS), which is virulent to the host, whereas the sessile bacterium harbors an active T6SS and lives in biofilms. Regulatory pathways involving Gac-Rsm or secondary messengers such as c-di-GMP determine which lifestyle is favorable for P. aeruginosa. Here, we introduce the RNA binding protein RtcB as a modulator of the switch between motile and sessile bacterial lifestyles. Using the wild-type P. aeruginosa PAO1, and a retS mutant PAO1(∆retS) in which T3SS is repressed and T6SS active, we show that deleting rtcB led to simultaneous expression of T3SS and T6SS in both PAO1(∆rtcB) and PAO1(∆rtcB∆retS). The deletion of rtcB also increased biofilm formation in PAO1(∆rtcB) and restored the motility of PAO1(∆rtcB∆retS). RNA-sequencing data suggested RtcB as a global modulator affecting multiple virulence factors, including bacterial secretion systems. Competitive killing and infection assays showed that the three T6SS systems (H1, H2, and H3) in PAO1(∆rtcB) were activated into a functional syringe, and could compete with Escherichia coli and effectively infect lettuce. Western blotting and RT-PCR results showed that RtcB probably exerted its function through RsmA in PAO1(∆rtcB∆retS). Quantification of c-di-GMP showed an elevated intracellular levels in PAO1(∆rtcB), which likely drove the switch between T6SS and T3SS, and contributed to the altered phenotypes and characteristics observed. Our data demonstrate a pivotal role of RtcB in the virulence of P. aeruginosa by controlling multiple virulence determinants, such as biofilm formation, motility, pyocyanin production, T3SS, and T6SS secretion systems towards eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. These findings suggest RtcB as a potential target for controlling P. aeruginosa colonization, establishment, and pathogenicity

Degree of Conversion of Metacrylate- and Silorane-based Dental Composites at Various Depths and Using Different Matrix Bands

Introduction:To improve the quality of tooth-colored restorations, various equipment and materials are being used. In this study, we sought to determine the degree of conversion of metacrylate- and silorane-based composites using transparent blue matrix strip at different depths. Materials and Methods: In this experimental-laboratory study, 48 specimens of methacrylate- and silylane-based composites were prepared in pre-made molds in thicknesses of 1, 2 and 3 mm. half of the specimens were cured with transparent polyester strips and the other half with blue strips, and then they were hardened by using a light-curing unit. The degree of conversion was determined by FT-IR. The degree of polymerization was assessed by comparing the IR absorption spectra between monomer and polymer specimens. The data were analyzed by performing Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests in SPSS. Results: The highest degree of conversion pertained to P90 composite with using transparent strip in 1 mm thickness (45.5±1.29), while the lowest degree belonged to Z350 composite with using transparent strip in 3 mm thickness (14.7±1.70). In comparison of the four groups, the silorane-based group with blue strip (41%) had the highest conversion degree, followed by the same composite (silorane) with transparent strip (39.6%). Conversion degrees in these types of materials were much greater than those in metacrylate-based types (21%). Conclusion: In deep restorations with limited access to a light source, the use of silorane-based composites and blue polyester strips enhances the degree of conversion