Effect of personality traits on sensitivity, annoyance and loudness perception of low and high frequency noise

This paper presents investigations into a comparative assessment of the effects of low and high frequency noise in relation to personality traits. The high and low-frequency noises used are produced in the research laboratory using CoolEdit software. 80 candidates are exposed to equivalent continuous sound pressure level of 65 dBA of low and high frequency noise in an acoustic room with a 2 week interval. After 1 hour of exposure to noise, participants were asked to complete noise annoyance scale, Weinstein noise sensitivity questionnaire, loudness perception. The results obtained indicate that there is a significant difference between annoyance and perception of low frequency noise in comparison to annoyance and perception of high frequency noise, but no significant difference is noted between sensitivity to low and high frequency noise. The multivariate analysis of covariance test is applied, which reveals that personality traits have a significant effect on sensitivity to low and high frequency noise, annoyance due to low and high frequency noise, loudness perception of low frequency noise, but no interaction effects are found. It is further shown that personality traits are more effective on sensitivity, annoyance and loudness perception to high frequency noise than those of low frequency noise, and such effects are not only influenced by severity of noise, but also by personality traits and frequency components

Analysis of the Bq→Dq(Dq∗)PB_q\to D_q(D_q^*) P and Bq→Dq(Dq∗)VB_q\to D_q(D_q^*) V decays within the factorization approach in QCD

Using the factorization approach and considering the contributions of the current-current, QCD penguin and electroweak penguin operators at the leading approximation, the decay amplitudes and decay widths of $B_q\to D_q(D_q^*) P$ and $B_q\to D_q(D_q^*) V$ transitions, where $q=u,d,s$ and P and V are pseudoscalar and vector mesons, are calculated in terms of the transition form factors of the $B_q\to D_{q}$ and $B_q\to D^{*}_{q}$. Having computed those form factors in three-point QCD sum rules, the branching fraction for these decays are also evaluated. A comparison of our results with the predictions of the perturbative QCD as well as the existing experimental data is presented.Comment: 18 Pages and 9 Table

Characteristics of dermatophytoses among children in an area south of Tehran, Iran

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and etiological agents of dermatophytoses, and also their distribution according to age, gender, and body site among children in an area south of Tehran. A total of 382 children aged �16 years suspected to have dermatophytic lesions were examined over a period of 3 years (1999-2001). The incidence rate of dermatophytoses was 6.6 per 100 000 person-years. Trichophyton violaceum was the most frequent isolate (28.3) followed by Microsporum canis (15.1), Epidermophyton floccosum (15.1), T. rubrum (13.2), T. mentagrophytes (11.3), M. gypseum (7.5), and T. verrucosum (5.7). Tinea capitis (39.6) was the most common type of infection, followed by tinea corporis (30.2), tinea faciei (18.9), and tinea manuum (7.5)

Expression of efflux pumps and fatty acid activator one genes in azole resistant Candida glabrata isolated from immunocompromised patients

Acquired azole resistance in opportunistic fungi causes severe clinical problems in immunosuppressed individuals. This study investigated the molecular mechanisms of azole resistance in clinical isolates of Candida glabrata. Six unmatched strains were obtained from an epidemiological survey of candidiasis in immunocompromised hosts that included azole and amphotericin B susceptible and azole resistant clinical isolates. Candida glabrata CBS 138 was used as reference strain. Antifungal susceptibility testing of clinical isolates was evaluated using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) methods. Complementary DNA-Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (cDNA-AFLP) technology, semiquantitative RT-PCR, and sequencing were employed for identification of potential genes involved in azole resistance. Candida glabrata Candida drug resistance 1 (CgCDR1) and Candida glabrata Candida drug resistance 2 (CgCDR2) genes, which encode for multidrug transporters, were found to be upregulated in azole-resistant isolates (�2-fold). Fatty acid activator 1 (FAA1) gene, belonging to Acyl-CoA synthetases, showed expression in resistant isolates �2-fold that of the susceptible isolates and the reference strain. This study revealed overexpression of the CgCDR1, CgCDR2, and FAA1 genes affecting biological pathways, small hydrophobic compounds transport, and lipid metabolism in the resistant clinical C.glabrata isolates. © 2016 Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Investigation of the Ds1D_{s1} structure via BcB_c to Ds1l+l−/ννˉD_{s1} l^+l^-/\nu\bar\nu transitions in QCD

We investigate the structure of the $D_{s1}(2460,2536) (J^P=1^+)$ mesons via analyzing the semileptonic $B_{c}\to D_{s1}l^+l^-$, $l=\tau, \mu, e$ and $B_{c}\to D_{s1}\nu\bar{\nu}$ transitions in the framework of the three--point QCD sum rules. We consider the $D_{s1}$ meson in two ways, the pure $|c\bar{s}>$ state and then as a mixture of two $|^3P_1>$ and $|^1P_1>$ states. Such type rare transitions take place at loop level by electroweak penguin and weak box diagrams in the standard model via the flavor changing neutral current transition of $b \to s$. The relevant form factors are calculated taking into account the gluon condensate contributions. These form factors are numerically obtained for $|c\bar s>$ case and plotted in terms of the unknown mixing angle $\theta_s$, when the $D_{s1}$ meson are considered as mixture of two $|^3P_1>$ and $|^1P_1>$ states. The obtained results for the form factors are used to evaluate the decay rates and branching ratios. Any future experimental measurement on these form factors as well as decay rates and branching fractions and their comparison with the obtained results in the present work can give considerable information about the structure of this meson and the mixing angle $\theta_s$.Comment: 33 Pages, 11 Figures and 5 Table

Specific identification and antifungal susceptibility pattern of clinically important dermatophyte species isolated from patients with dermatophytosis in Tehran, Iran

Background: With regard to the increasing number of antifungal-resistant dermatophytes, the requirement for precise identification of causative agents of infections and antifungal susceptibility test is vital. Antifungal susceptibility testing of dermatophytes plays a pivotal role in managing dermatophytosis. The current study aimed at determining antifungal susceptibility profile of 161 important dermatophyte species isolated from Iranian patients. Methods: The current descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted on 508 clinically suspected samples of dermatophytosis collected and identified by conventional methods. All dermatophyte isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. The susceptibility of dermatophyte strains to two routine antider-matophyte agents (terbinafine and griseofulvin) was evaluated using micro-dilution method according to CLSI (the clinical and laboratory standards institute) M38-A2 guidelines. Trichophyton rubrum PTCC 5143 and Candida krusei ATCC 6258 were used as quality controls. Results: Among 161 dermatophyte isolates, T. interdigitale was reported as the most frequent species isolated from patients using PCR-RFLP and Microsporum ferruginum was the least isolated species. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of griseofulvin and terbinafine were ranged 0.0312-8 and 0.008-4 µg/mL, respectively. The most susceptible and resistant species to griseofulvin were T. interdigitale (MIC = 0.0312 µg/mL) and T. interdigitale/T. rubrum (MIC = 8 µg/mL), respectively. The results indicated that T. verrucosum (MIC = 0.008 µg/mL) was the most susceptible species to terbinafine, whereas T. interdigitale and T. rubrum were the most resistant species to it (MIC = 4 µg/mL). Conclusions: The obtained results assist clinicians to monitor the trend and be able to choose effective medications to treat patients with dermatophytosis, especially in countries such as Iran, where dermatophytosis is still a public health problem. © 2018, Archives of Clinical Infectious Diseases

Health needs assessment of workers in Kaveh industrial city

Background: Health needs assessment (HNA) is essential for allocation of limited resources to the most prioritized problems. HNA in work places has gained increasing importance. Kaveh industrial city is the largest and oldest industrial city in Iran, with a wide range of different industries, making it an exemplary industrial city in Iran. This study was done to conduct health needs assessment of workers in Kaveh industrial city. Methods: In this study, intensive HNA approach and qualitative method were used. In-depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to collect information related to health risk factors, and Delphi method was used to prioritize these risk factors. A total of 74 key informants participated in this study, which constituted more than 80 of the total related experts of Kaveh industrial city. Results: The main identified health challenge was inefficiency of the existing Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) control and monitoring system. The most important physical health risk factors were smoking and obesity and the most prioritized psychosocial risk factors were stress and lack of appropriate management and organizational culture. Ergonomic issues and noise pollution were the prioritized work environmental factors and inappropriate placement of pollutant industries in the industrial city was the most prioritized bioenvironmental risk factor. Unsafe road to industrial zone and poor safety devices used by workers were the most prioritized occupational injuries risk factors. Conclusion: Addressing the identified health needs of workers in Kaveh industrial city is of high importance. Also, redefining the HSE control and monitoring system should be prioritized. © Iran University of Medical Sciences

gDs∗DK∗(892)g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K^{\ast}(892)} and gBs∗BK∗(892)g_{B^{\ast}_{s}B K^{\ast}(892)} coupling constants in QCD sum rules

The coupling constants $g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K^{\ast}(892)}$ and $g_{B^{\ast}_{s}B K^{\ast}(892)}$ are calculated in the framework of three-point QCD sum rules. The correlation functions responsible for these coupling constants are evaluated considering contributions of both $D(B)$ and $K^*(892)$ mesons as off-shell states, but in the absence of radiative corrections. The results, $g_{D^{\ast}_{s}D K^{\ast}(892)}=(4.31\pm1.42) GeV^{-1}$ and $g_{B^{\ast}_{s}B K^{\ast}(892)}=(3.24\pm1.08) GeV^{-1}$ are obtained for the considered strong coupling constants.Comment: 13 Pages and 11 Figure

Exclusive Ds→(η,η′)lνD_{s} \to (\eta,\eta^{\prime}) l \nu decays in light cone QCD

Probing the $\bar ss$ content of the $\eta$ and $\eta'$ mesons and considering mixing between these states as well as gluonic contributions, the form factors responsible for semileptonic $D_s \to (\eta, \eta') l \nu$ transitions are calculated via light cone QCD sum rules. Corresponding branching fractions and their ratio for different mixing angles are also obtained. Our results are in a good consistency with experimental data as well as predictions of other nonperturbative approaches.Comment: 13 Pages, 2 Figure and 4 Table