Expanding the diversity of mycobacteriophages: insights into genome architecture and evolution.

Mycobacteriophages are viruses that infect mycobacterial hosts such as Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. All mycobacteriophages characterized to date are dsDNA tailed phages, and have either siphoviral or myoviral morphotypes. However, their genetic diversity is considerable, and although sixty-two genomes have been sequenced and comparatively analyzed, these likely represent only a small portion of the diversity of the mycobacteriophage population at large. Here we report the isolation, sequencing and comparative genomic analysis of 18 new mycobacteriophages isolated from geographically distinct locations within the United States. Although no clear correlation between location and genome type can be discerned, these genomes expand our knowledge of mycobacteriophage diversity and enhance our understanding of the roles of mobile elements in viral evolution. Expansion of the number of mycobacteriophages grouped within Cluster A provides insights into the basis of immune specificity in these temperate phages, and we also describe a novel example of apparent immunity theft. The isolation and genomic analysis of bacteriophages by freshman college students provides an example of an authentic research experience for novice scientists

Hegemonic Struggles in the City: Artist-Run Spaces and Community Art in the Anti-Gentrification Movement

Gentrification processes are one of today’s most critical social issues hitting metropolises around the globe. The role that artists play in these processes by upgrading neighborhoods and making them attractive for further commodification is undisputed. At the same time, independent artist-run project spaces in neighborhoods provide spaces for debate and initiate collective processes. Not only small independent actors and collectives interfere in the political debates, but also large public art institutions that respond to current social and political issues and public demands. Artistic interventions in urban transformation processes are also political interventions, expressing the permeability of the line between art and politics. Indeed, thinking along the political philosopher Antonio Gramsci, such a line does not exist; rather, every cultural and artistic project must be thought of politically. Drawing on theoretical approaches on hegemony, this article aims at examining the critical aspects of community art in relation to the current gentrification processes

Estimation Efficiency Hospitals of Kerman Province Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) Method, 2007-2011

Introduction: One of the most fundamental goals of most countries is improving the quality and efficiency level of healthcare systems and efficient use of their resources. In this regard, the efficient use of facilities and equipments for the hospitals, that are considered as one of the most costly health care delivery organizations, is particularly important. The goal of this survey was the efficiency estimation of hospitals in Kerman Province (2007-2011). Method: In this econometric study, performance of 10 hospitals in Kerman Province was analyzed in 5 years, using panel data for Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) method. Production factors such as number of beds, doctors, nurses, and out patient admissions were used as inputs, and numbers of outpatient admissions have been selected as outputs. Frontier version 4.1 was used to analyze data. Results: Based on SFA method, the average performance of hospitals was 0.648, so we concluded that the capacity of improving performance in these hospitals can be increased to 0.352 percentages. Conclusion: Based on findings of this study, adjusting surplus manpower, congenital planning for increasing efficiency and resourcing management should be the priority of objectives of the managers and directors so that we can increase the level of efficiency of hospitals and reduces costs to the minimum as possible. Key­words: Education Hospitals, Efficiency, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) Citation: Goudarzi R, Haghighat fard E, Vali L, Baneshi MR, Haghighat fard P, Darvishi B. Estimation Efficiency Hospitals of Kerman Province Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) Method, 2007-2011. Journal of Health Based Research 2015 1(2):­105-114

Digital Twin for Safety and Comfort: A Case Study of Sauna

This article presents a method to create a digital twin for sauna. The digital twin deploys a data analytics method based on fuzzy similarity measure for data summarization to provide real-time actionable instructions. The intended outcome of the digital twin is enhanced safety and improved sauna experience. In this research, we collected the data through experimentation with a testbed and interviews. Our implemented digital twin simplifies the readings of nineteen sensors into a single graphical form for the user that illustrates the overall sauna conditions and assists the sauna manager with condition optimization. Results illustrated the effectiveness of the digital twin in achieving an enhanced sauna condition for the users and providing the sauna manager with a decision support system. The method of creating the digital twin described in this article has potential implications for the condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, and enhancing the safety and security of complex systems.Peer reviewe

Review of the Latest Percutaneous Devices in Critical Limb Ischemia

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a terminal stage of peripheral arterial disease that, in the absence of intervention, may lead to lower extremity amputation or death. Endovascular interventions have become a first-line approach to the management of CLI and have advanced considerably within the past decade. This review summarizes the types of percutaneous devices and the techniques that are available for the management of CLI and the data supporting their use. These include devices that establish and maintain vessel patency, including percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, drug-coated balloons, bare metal stents, drug-eluting stents, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds, and atherectomy; devices that provide protection from embolization; and, cell-based therapies. Additionally, ongoing trials with important implications for the field are discussed

The effect of relaxation techniques on edema, anxiety and depression in post-mastectomy lymphedema patients undergoing comprehensive decongestive therapy: A clinical trial

<div><p>Objectives</p><p>Lymphedema is sometimes accompanied by high degrees of anxiety and depression. This study aimed to assess the effects of relaxation techniques on the level of edema, anxiety and depression in women undergoing Comprehensive Decongestive Therapy (CDT).</p><p>Design</p><p>This clinical trial compared two treatment methods in 31 women with post-mastectomy lymphedema, including 15 cases who received CDT and 16 who received RCDT (Relaxation plus CDT). The edema volume, anxiety and depression scores were compared at the first and last sessions of the first phase of the treatment and six weeks afterwards.</p><p>Results</p><p>The edema, anxiety and depression scores were 63.6%, 54.1% and 65.5% in the RCDT group and 60.7%, 31.4% and 35.2% in the CDT group. There were significant differences between the two groups in terms of the reduction in depression (p = 0.024) and anxiety (p = 0.011) scores throughout the study. This significant relationship was due to the differences in the depression score in the 3^rd and 9^th weeks of the study between the two groups. Similarly, anxiety levels differed significantly between the two groups at the 9^th week of the study (P = 0.013).</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Relaxation techniques reduced the anxiety and depression scores and the volume of edema in the patients with lymphedema. The addition of this intervention to the therapeutic package for lymphedema patients requires further studies in terms of cost-effectiveness.</p></div