Distribution of O-Acetylated Sialic Acids among Target Host Tissues for Influenza Virus.

Sialic acids (Sias) are important glycans displayed on the cells and tissues of many different animals and are frequent targets for binding and modification by pathogens, including influenza viruses. Influenza virus hemagglutinins bind Sias during the infection of their normal hosts, while the encoded neuraminidases and/or esterases remove or modify the Sia to allow virion release or to prevent rebinding. Sias naturally occur in a variety of modified forms, and modified Sias can alter influenza virus host tropisms through their altered interactions with the viral glycoproteins. However, the distribution of modified Sia forms and their effects on pathogen-host interactions are still poorly understood. Here we used probes developed from viral Sia-binding proteins to detect O-acetylated (4-O-acetyl, 9-O-acetyl, and 7,9-O-acetyl) Sias displayed on the tissues of some natural or experimental hosts for influenza viruses. These modified Sias showed highly variable displays between the hosts and tissues examined. The 9-O-acetyl (and 7,9-) modified Sia forms were found on cells and tissues of many hosts, including mice, humans, ferrets, guinea pigs, pigs, horses, dogs, as well as in those of ducks and embryonated chicken egg tissues and membranes, although in variable amounts. The 4-O-acetyl Sias were found in the respiratory tissues of fewer animals, being primarily displayed in the horse and guinea pig, but were not detected in humans or pigs. The results suggest that these Sia variants may influence virus tropisms by altering and selecting their cell interactions. IMPORTANCE Sialic acids (Sias) are key glycans that control or modulate many normal cell and tissue functions while also interacting with a variety of pathogens, including many different viruses. Sias are naturally displayed in a variety of different forms, with modifications at several positions that can alter their functional interactions with pathogens. In addition, Sias are often modified or removed by enzymes such as host or pathogen esterases or sialidases (neuraminidases), and Sia modifications can alter those enzymatic activities to impact pathogen infections. Sia chemical diversity in different hosts and tissues likely alters the pathogen-host interactions and influences the outcome of infection. Here we explored the display of 4-O-acetyl, 9-O-acetyl, and 7,9-O-acetyl modified Sia forms in some target tissues for influenza virus infection in mice, humans, birds, guinea pigs, ferrets, swine, horses, and dogs, which encompass many natural and laboratory hosts of those viruses

Numerical modeling of polloution distribution in the Nayban bay

In this study COHERENS which is a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model was employed in order to model and survey dispersion of pollution in Nayband bay. In this model Navier-Stokes equation, continunity equation and transport equations of salinity and temperature in 3-D are solved. Cartesian coordinate for the horizontal and sigma coordinate with five layers was used for the vertical profile. Monthly mean atmospheric parameters and 4 major tidal components (M2, S2, O1, and K1) of the bay were used as the inputs of the model. In this model, uniform grid of 79*100 was used. Once the model was adjusted and the data inserted, the model was run for the bay. Then tidal currents were validated with field observation which resulted in prediction of horizontal dispersion of pollution in different layers. The results showed that dispersion is highly affected by tidal currents. These results can be applied to predict dispersion of pollution in Nayband bay

Determination and Diversity of Bovine Coccidia in Zabol, East of Iran

The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria spp. in Zabol, east of Iran. The samples were examined microscopically for the presence of oocysts from February 2015 to December 2016. Out of 196 cattle, 124 (63.26%) were identified to be positive for Eimeria species. Eight species of Eimeria were found as follows: E. bovis (42.54%), E. zuernii (38.67%), E. subspherica (5.52%), E. brasiliensis (4.97%), E. ellipsoidalis (4.41%), E. cylindrical (1.65%), E. pellita (1.65%), and E. wyomingensis (0.55%). Multiple infections with two or three species were identified in 56 (45.16%) and 2 (1.61%) cases, respectively. The infection rate was observed to be higher in calves (75%) as compared to adult cattle (59.02%). The prevalence of Eimeria was greater in female cattle (67.94%). The highest prevalence and mean number of oocysts were observed in winter (69%) and autumn (209.09), respectively. All the faecal samples had an oocysts per gram of feces (OPG) less than 1000. The prevalence of infection and mean OPG were directly correlated with rainfall and relative humidity and inversely correlated with temperature. Considering the high prevalence of bovine coccidiosis in Zabol, increasing awareness of farmers and veterinarians regarding the economic importance of bovine coccidiosis should be regarded as an important factor in preventing and controlling the infection. Keywords: Prevalence, Cattle, Eimeria spp., Risk factors, Ira

A Comprehensive Investigation on Common Polymorphisms in the MDR1/ABCB1 Transporter Gene and Susceptibility to Colorectal Cancer

ATP Binding Cassette B1 (ABCB1) is a transporter with a broad substrate specificity involved in the elimination of several carcinogens from the gut. Several polymorphic variants within the ABCB1 gene have been reported as modulators of ABCB1-mediated transport. We investigated the impact of ABCB1 genetic variants on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. A hybrid tagging/functional approach was performed to select 28 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were genotyped in 1,321 Czech subjects, 699 CRC cases and 622 controls. In addition, six potentially functional SNPs were genotyped in 3,662 German subjects, 1,809 cases and 1,853 controls from the DACHS study. We found that three functional SNPs (rs1202168, rs1045642 and rs868755) were associated with CRC risk in the German population. Carriers of the rs1202168_T and rs868755_T alleles had an increased risk for CRC (Ptrend = 0.016 and 0.029, respectively), while individuals bearing the rs1045642_C allele showed a decreased risk of CRC (Ptrend = 0.022). We sought to replicate the most significant results in an independent case-control study of 3,803 subjects, 2,169 cases and 1,634 controls carried out in the North of Germany. None of the SNPs tested were significantly associated with CRC risk in the replication study. In conclusion, in this study of about 8,800 individuals we show that ABCB1 gene polymorphisms play at best a minor role in the susceptibility to CRC

Effect of layer angle and ambient temperature on the mechanical and fracture characteristics of unidirectional 3D printed PLA material

This study aims to investigate the mechanical properties and crack resistance of unidirectional polylactic acid-based 3D printed components. In this regard, the effects of three printing angles (e.g., 0°, 45°, and 90°) and four ambient temperatures (e.g., −20, 0, 20, and 40 °C) on the tensile, flexural, and mode-I fracture characteristics were investigated. Additionally, utilizing theoretical theories appropriate for 3D printed samples as transversely isotropic samples, the results were assessed and expanded. Using the concepts of inlayer and interlayer failure modes in layered samples, the critical printing angle that separates the failure modes were evaluated. Also, failure patterns and the behavior of load-displacement curves were observed and assessed. The results show that an increase in temperature from − 20–40 °C caused tensile strength to decrease by 55–75%. Considering the samples isotropically, the strengths and energies were compared, then considering the anisotropy, inlayer, and interlayer tensile and shear strengths were reviewed. The results show that perpendicularly and transitively printed specimens have tensile strengths that are 4.4 and 2.5 times lower than parallel to loading direction printed specimens. Also, the critical printing angle is calculated as 23–31° based on the test temperature (respecting the load direction)

Comparison of Characteristic Property among Tehran Offensive and Non-Offensive Drivers Using Cloninger, s Treatment and Character Inventory

 Backgrounds and Aims: Characteristic property among Tehran offensive and non- offensive drivers using Cloninger, s treatment and Character Inventory questionnaire was studied. Materials and Methods: A cross- sectional study was carried out after coordinating with traffic police. 300 drivers: 150 offensive ( drivers with more than ten penalty points and 150 non- offensive drivers with less than ten penalty points in one year prior were selected randomly. Data was collected using Cloninger, s treatment and Character Inventory standard questionnaire by trained experts in three different routes of Tehran. Results: The average age was 20-34 years (82% male, 18% female). Based on Cloninger,s treatment and Character Inventory standard questionnaire, a significant differences was observed in novelty seeking, harm avoidance, reward dependence, self-directive ness, co- operation (p<0.001) and persistence (p<0.013) among offensive and non-offensive drivers. By one score increasing of novelty seeking the chance of to be offencer will be increased 4.5 times (OR= 4.520, p<0.007), in harm avoidance will be half (OR= 0.504, p<0.045) and in reward dependence will be one fourth (OR= 0.278, p<0.033). Conclusion: Novelty seeking sub scale of Cloningers treatment and Character Inventory questionnaire was higher and harm avoidance and reward dependence was lower among offensive drivers. REFERENCES World report on road traffic injury prevention 2004. World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank report; 2010; Available from: http://www.who.int/world-health-day/2004/en.Haghshenas H, Hassani M, Jamshidi M, Azizi HR. Relationship between characteristic property and driving behaviour in Shiraz city. Hakim. 2008;11:47-54Rothengather T. Psychological aspects of road user behaviours, an international review. Applied psychology. 1997; 46(3): 223-34.Lingard H, Rowlinson S. Lingard H, Rowlinson S. The Wilful Traffic Offender Profile and its implications for education and training. PhD Research Summary, School of Psychology, University of  Exeter, 2000. USA and Canada: Taylor& Francis group; 2005.Burns P C, Wilde G J S. Risk taking in male taxi drivers: relationship among personality, observational data and driver records. Personality and Individual Differences. 1995; 18(2):267-78.Parker D, Reason J T, Manstead A S R, Stradling S. Driving errors, driving violations and accident involvement. Ergonomics. 1995; 38(5): 1038-48. Sommer  M, Herle  M, Hausler  J, Risser  R, Schutzhofer  B, Chaloupka  C. Cognitive and personality determinants of fitness to drive. Transportation of Research Board (TRB) 2008; 11(5):362-75.Sujata M, Patil J T S, Trivellore E R, Raymond C B. The Role of Personality Characteristics in Young Adult Driving.Traffic Inj Prev. 2006; 7(4): 328–34. Jonah BA, Thiessen R, Au-Yeung E. Sensation seeking, risky driving and behavioral adaptation. Accident Analysis & Prevention. 2001; 33(5): 679–84.Ulleberg P, Rundmo T. Personality, attitudes and risk perception as predictors of risky driving behaviour among young drivers. Saf. Sci. 2003; 41(5):427–43.Vassallo S, Smart D, Sanson A, Harrison W, Harris A, Cockfield S and et al. Risky driving among young Australian drivers: trends, precursors and correlates. Accid Anal Prev. 2007; 39(3): 444–58.Sigve O, Torbjørn R. The effects of personality and gender on risky driving behaviour and accident involvement. Saf. Sci. 2006; 44(7): 621-8. Machin M, Anthony S, Kim S. Relationships between young drivers' personality characteristics, risk perceptions, and driving behaviour. Accid Anal Prev. 2008; 40(2): 541-7.Dahlen E R, Martin R C, Ragan K, Kuhlman M M. Driving anger, sensation seeking, impulsiveness, and boredom proneness in the prediction of unsafe driving. Accid Anal Prev. 2005; 37(2): 341-8.Galanter M. Personality and alcoholism: Issues, methods, and etiological processes, Characteristics of children of alcoholics: Putative risk factors. New York: Kluwer Academic/ Plenum; 2005

Effect of water to cement (W/C) ratio and age on mechanical behavior of tire-recycled steel fiber reinforced concrete

The annual entrance of billions of used tires into landfills has caused tremendous environmental concerns, while the recycled steel fibers from these tires can improve the mechanical characteristics of construction materials, including cement concrete. In this paper effect of the addition of recycled steel fibers on mechanical characteristics of ordinary cement concrete with different water to cement ratios are studied; to achieve that, compressive and flexural specimens are exanimated using standard test methods with four general mix designs. The range of recycled steel fibers is chosen as 0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% (per unit weight), and optimal fiber percentages based on water to cement ratios are also calculated. Results show that using recycled steel fibers positively affects all the mix designs, especially ductility, and postfracture energy absorption increases with the increase of fiber content. Fiber addition increases the compressive and flexural strength by about 25% and 58%, respectively. Depending on the water to cement ratio, the optimum percentage of recycled steel fiber for concretes with 0.6, 0.5, and 0.4 water to cement ratios are 3.0%, 2.3%, and 1.8% of unit weight, respectively

Bisphenol A adsorption using modified aloe vera leaf-wastes derived bio-sorbents from aqueous solution: kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic studies

Reactive-oxygen-species are produced more often in the body when bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting-substance, is present. In this investigation, bio-sorbents from an aqueous solution adapted from Aloe-vera were used to survey BPA removal. Aloe-vera leaf wastes were used to create activated carbon, which was then analyzed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Zeta potential, and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) techniques. It was revealed that the adsorption process adheres to the Freundlich isotherm model with R-2>0.96 and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with R-2>0.99 under ideal conditions (pH = 3, contact time = 45 min, concentration of BPA = 20 mg.L-1, and concentration of the adsorbent = 2 g.L-1). After five-cycle, the efficacy of removal was greater than 70. The removal of phenolic-chemicals from industrial-effluent can be accomplished with the assistance of this adsorbent in a cost-effective and effective-approach

Development and Evaluation of Novel Aptamers Specific for Human PD1 Using Hybrid Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment Approach

Background: Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD1; also known as CD279) is an inhibitory receptor on T lymphocytes interacting with PD1-ligand 1 and PD1-ligand 2 in the synapse of T cells and antigen presenting cells (APC) resulting in the suppression of T cell activity. Systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) is a method for generating aptamers which can bind specifically to the target of interest. PD-1 antagonistic aptamers could introduce an attractive alternative over the antibody-based treatments due to the distinguished advantages of aptamers including small size and efficient tissue penetration, low cost, lack of immunogenicity, and ease of manufacturing. Methods: Here, we developed single-stranded DNA aptamers which bind specifically to the human extracellular domain of PD-1. We performed hybrid SELEX, a combination of targeting of recombinant proteins and cell membrane expressed PD1 to select and identify specific aptamers and for the first time, homology of aptamer sequences selected from protein and cell SELEX pool have been evaluated in this study. Results: C42�aptamer, one of the selected aptamers, could specifically bind to human PD1 with dissociation constant in the nanomolar range. Although the developed aptamer inhibited binding of PD1 to PD-L1 but it was not able to restore the cell proliferation and cytokine production of the CD8+ CD279+ T cells. Conclusion: Further studies are required to assess the therapeutic potential of C42 aptamer and other aptamers developed in this study. The introduced PD1 specific aptamers can be used for specific detection of PD1 in diagnostic assay such as immunohistochemistry and targeted drug delivery to PD+ T cells. © 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC