On the response of a lean-premixed hydrogen combustor to acoustic and dissipative-dispersive entropy waves

Combustion of hydrogen or hydrogen containing blends in gas turbines and industrial combustors can activate thermoacoustic combustion instabilities. Convective instabilities are an important and yet less investigated class of combustion instability that are caused by the so called “entropy waves”. As a major shortcoming, the partial decay of these convective-diffusive waves in the post-flame region of combustors is still largely unexplored. This paper, therefore, presents an investigation of the annihilating effects, due to hydrodynamics, heat transfer and flow stretch upon the nozzle response. The classical compact analysis is first extended to include the decay of entropy waves and heat transfer from the nozzle. Amplitudes and phase shifts of the responding acoustical waves are then calculated for subcritical and supercritical nozzles subject to acoustic and entropic forcing. A relation for the stretch of entropy wave in the nozzle is subsequently developed. It is shown that heat transfer and hydrodynamic decay can impart considerable effects on the entropic response of the nozzle. It is further shown that the flow stretching effects are strongly frequency dependent. The results indicate that dissipation and dispersion of entropy waves can significantly influence their conversion to sound and therefore should be included in the entropy wave models

Auditory memory function in expert chess players

Background: Chess is a game that involves many aspects of high level cognition such as memory, attention, focus and problem solving. Long term practice of chess can improve cognition performances and behavioral skills. Auditory memory, as a kind of memory, can be influenced by strengthening processes following long term chess playing like other behavioral skills because of common processing pathways in the brain. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the auditory memory function of expert chess players using the Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test. Methods: The Persian version of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test was performed for 30 expert chess players aged 20-35 years and 30 non chess players who were matched by different conditions; the participants in both groups were randomly selected. The performance of the two groups was compared by independent samples t-test using SPSS version 21. Results: The mean score of dichotic auditory-verbal memory test between the two groups, expert chess players and non-chess players, revealed a significant difference (p = 0.001). The difference between the ears scores for expert chess players (p = 0.023) and non-chess players (p = 0.013) was significant. Gender had no effect on the test results. Conclusion: Auditory memory function in expert chess players was significantly better compared to non-chess players. It seems that increased auditory memory function is related to strengthening cognitive performances due to playing chess for a long time

Pump-seed synchronization for MHz repetition rate, high-power optical parametric chirped pulse amplification

We report on an active synchronization between two independent mode-locked lasers using a combined electronic-optical feedback. With this scheme, seed pulses at MHz repetition rate were amplified in a non-collinear optical parametric chirped pulse amplifier (OPCPA). The amplifier was seeded with stretched 1.5 nJ pulses from a femtosecond Ti:Sapphire oscillator, while pumped with the 1 ps, 2.9 µJ frequency-doubled output of an Yb:YAG thin-disk oscillator. The residual timing jitter between the two oscillators was suppressed to 120 fs (RMS), allowing for an efficient and broadband amplification at 11.5 MHz to a pulse energy of 700 nJ and an average power of 8 W. First compression experiment with 240 nJ amplified pulse energy resulted in a pulse duration of ~10 fs

High expression of DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) is associated with advanced pathological features in the patients with colorectal cancer

DNA damage-inducible transcript 4 (DDIT4) is induced in various cellular stress conditions. This study was conducted to investigate expression and prognostic significance of DDIT4 protein as a biomarker in the patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). PPI network and KEGG pathway analysis were applied to identify hub genes among obtained differentially expressed genes in CRC tissues from three GEO Series. In clinical, expression of DDIT4 as one of hub genes in three subcellular locations was evaluated in 198 CRC tissues using immunohistochemistry method on tissue microarrays. The association between DDIT4 expression and clinicopathological features as well as survival outcomes were analyzed. Results of bioinformatics analysis indicated 14 hub genes enriched in significant pathways according to KEGG pathways analysis among which DDIT4 was selected to evaluate CRC tissues. Overexpression of nuclear DDIT4 protein was found in CRC tissues compared to adjacent normal tissues (P = 0.003). Furthermore, higher nuclear expression of DDIT4 was found to be significantly associated with the reduced tumor differentiation and advanced TNM stages (all, P = 0.009). No significant association was observed between survival outcomes and nuclear expression of DDIT4 in CRC cases. Our findings indicated higher nuclear expression of DDIT4 was significantly associated with more aggressive tumor behavior and more advanced stage of disease in the patients with CRC. © 2021, The Author(s)

Prevalence and genotyping identification of Cryptosporidium in adult ruminants in central Iran

Background Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium infect a wide range of animal species as well as humans. Cryptosporidium spp. can cause life threatening diarrhea especially in young animals, children, immunocompromised patients and malnourished individuals. Asymptomatic cryptosporidial infections in animals can also occur, making these animals potential reservoirs of infection. Methods In the present study, a molecular survey of Cryptosporidium spp. in ruminants that were slaughtered for human consumption in Yazd Province, located in central Iran was conducted. Faeces were collected per-rectum from 484 animals including 192 cattle, 192 sheep and 100 goats. DNA was extracted from all samples and screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. Positives were Sanger sequenced and further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) locus. Results In total, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 22 animals: C. andersoni and C. bovis in seven and two cattle faecal samples, respectively, C. ubiquitum in five sheep, and C. xiaoi in six sheep and two goat samples, respectively. To our knowledge, this study provides for the first time, molecular information concerning Cryptosporidium species infecting goats in Iran, and is also the first report of C. ubiquitum and C. xiaoi from ruminants in Iran. Conclusion The presence of potentially zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium in ruminants in this region may suggest that livestock could potentially contribute to human cryptosporidiosis, in particular among farmers and slaughterhouse workers, in the area. Further molecular studies on local human populations are required to more accurately understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium spp. in this region

Expressions of TWIST1 and CD105 markers in colorectal cancer patients and their association with metastatic potential and prognosis

Background: TWIST1 and CD105, which contribute to tumor malignancy, are overexpressed in cancers. Accordingly, TWIST1 enhances epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes the formation of cancer stem cells (CSCs). Also, CD105 is a neoangiogenesis marker in endothelial cells, which is introduced as a CSC marker in tumoral epithelial cells in several types of cancers. The present study was aimed to investigate expressions of TWIST1 and CD105 in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Methods: Expressions of TWIST1 and CD105 in 250 CRC tissue samples were evaluated using immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays (TMAs). In this regard, TWIST1 expression was investigated in the subcellular locations (cytoplasm and nucleus), while CD105 was mapped in endothelial cells and cytoplasmic tumor cells of CRC tissues. The association between the expression of these markers and clinicopathological parameters, as well as survival outcomes were analyzed. Results: Results indicate a statistically significant association between higher nuclear expression levels of TWIST1 and distant metastases in CRC (P = 0.040) patients. In addition, it was shown that the increased nuclear expression of TWIST1 had a poor prognostic value for disease-specific survival (DSS) and progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.042, P = 0.043, respectively) in patients with CRC. Moreover, analysis of CD105 expression level has revealed that there is a statistically significant association between the increased expression of CD105 in tumoral epithelial cells and more advanced TNM stage (P = 0.050). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that nuclear TWIST1 and cytoplasmic CD105 expressions in tumor cells had associations with more aggressive tumor behavior and more advanced diseases in CRC cases. © 2021, The Author(s)

Whole genome sequencing identifies a duplicated region encompassing Xq13.2q13.3 in a large Iranian family with intellectual disability

Background The X chromosome has historically been one of the most thoroughly investigated chromosomes regarding intellectual disability (ID), whose etiology is attributed to many factors including copy number variations (CNVs). Duplications of the long arm of the X chromosome have been reported in patients with ID, short stature, facial anomalies, and in many cases hypoplastic genitalia and/or behavioral abnormalities. Methods Here, we report on a large Iranian family with X‐linked ID caused by a duplication on the X chromosome identified by whole genome sequencing in combination with linkage analysis. Results Seven affected males in different branches of the family presented with ID, short stature, seizures, facial anomalies, behavioral abnormalities (aggressiveness, self‐injury, anxiety, impaired social interactions, and shyness), speech impairment, and micropenis. The duplication of the region Xq13.2q13.3, which is ~1.8 Mb in size, includes seven protein‐coding OMIM genes. Three of these genes, namely SLC16A2, RLIM, and NEXMIF, if impaired, can lead to syndromes presenting with ID. Of note, this duplicated region was located within a linkage interval with a LOD score >3. Conclusion Our report indicates that CNVs should be considered in multi‐affected families where no candidate gene defect has been identified in sequencing data analysis

Candidemia and its risk factors in neonates and children

Objectives: The present study was conducted to raise attention to the frequency of Candida spp. and evaluation of risk factors of candidemia in hospitalized neonates and children. Methods: Identification of Candida at species level was done using the PCR-RFLP method. The Candida albicans complex and Candida parapsilosis complex were differentiated using the HWP1 gene amplification and PCR-RFLP with NlaIII restriction enzyme, respectively. Results: Out of 75 blood culture specimens, 42 (84) cases were positive for Candida spp. of whom 30 (71.42) and 12 (28.57) cases were female and male, respectively. Thirty-two (76) candidemia were presented in pediatrics with 6 years up to 12 years, 10 (23.80) in neonates of one month or less. In the present study, Candida parapsilosis (n =25; 59.52) was the most prevalent isolated species followed by C. albicans (n =11; 26.19), C. tropicalis (n =4; 9.52), and Candida glabrata (n =2; 4.76). Conclusions: According to potentially dangerous complications of bloodstream infection by Candida spp. in neonates and children, it is necessary to identify and eliminate the underlying conditions and risk factors of this disease. © 2020, Author(s)

Low expression of Talin1 is associated with advanced pathological features in colorectal cancer patients

To explore the proper prognostic markers for the likelihood of metastasis in CRC patients. Seventy-seven fresh CRC samples were collected to evaluate the mRNA level of the selected marker using Real-time PCR. Moreover, 648 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded CRC tissues were gathered to evaluate protein expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) on tissue microarrays. The results of Real-Time PCR showed that low expression of Talin1 was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage (p = 0.034) as well as gender (p = 0.029) in mRNA levels. Similarly, IHC results indicated that a low level of cytoplasmic expression of Talin1 was significantly associated with advanced TNM stage (p = 0.028) as well as gender (p = 0.009) in CRC patients. Moreover, decreased expression of cytoplasmic Talin1 protein was found to be a significant predictor of worse disease-specific survival (DSS) (p = 0.011) in the univariate analysis. In addition, a significant difference was achieved (p = 0.039) in 5-year survival rates of DSS: 65 for low, 72 for moderate, and 88 for high Talin1 protein expression. Observations showed that lower expression of Talin1 at both the gene and protein level may drive the disparity of CRC patients� outcomes via worse DSS and provide new insights into the development of progression indicators because of its correlation with increased tumor aggressiveness. © 2020, The Author(s)