Understanding the Molecular Basis of Fragile X Syndrome Using Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Abstract Objectives Fragile X syndrome (FXS) has been known as the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and autism. This disease results from the loss of fragile X mental retardation protein expression due to the expansion of CGG repeats located on the 5’ untranslated region of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. Materials & Methods In the present study, the peripheral blood-mesenchymal stem cells (PB-MSCs) of two female full mutation carriers were differentiated into neuronal cells by the suppression of bone morphogenesis pathwaysignaling. Then, the expression of genes adjacent to CGG repeats expansion, including SLIT and NTRK-like protein 2 (SLITRK2), SLIT and NTRK-like protein 4 (SLITRK4), methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2), and gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit alpha-3 (GABRA3), were evaluated in these cells using SYBR Green real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results The obtained results indicated that the expression of SLITRK2 and SLITRK4 were upregulated and downregulated in the neuron-like cells differentiated from the PB-MSCs of females with FMR1 full mutation, compared to that of the normal females, respectively. Furthermore, the expression of MECP2 and GABRA3 genes were observed to be related to the phenotypic differences observed in the female FMR1full mutation carriers Conclusion The observed association of expression of genes located upstream of the FMR1 gene with phenotypic differences in the female carriers could increase the understanding of novel therapeutic targets for patients with mild symptoms of FXS and the patients affected by other FMR1-related disorder

Could effective microorganisms improve tolerance of UCB1 pistachio to salinity?

Salinity is one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth which can reduce its undesirable effects through stress modulators. In order to investigate the effect of effective microorganisms (EM) on morphological indices and activity of some enzymes in UCB1 rootstock pistachio under salinity stress, a factorial experiment was conducted as a randomized complete blocks design. Factors included were salinity stress at four levels (0.7, 5, 10 and 13.6 dS m-1) and EM at two levels (0, 1%) with three replications. Treatments were applied for three months on plants. The results showed that increasing salinity decreased seedling height, leaf number, stem and root fresh and dry weight, but the activity of (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (AXP) enzymes increased compared to control treatment, whereas EM application showed that concentration of 1% of this fertilizer increased the measured morphological indices and decreased the activity of CAT, POD and AXP enzymes. Interaction effect between salinity and EM was significant only on morphological indices. According to the results, it can be stated that application of EM could reduce adverse effects of salinity stress on the UCB1 rootstock.Salinity is one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth which can reduce its undesirable effects through stress modulators. In order to investigate the effect of effective microorganisms (EM) on morphological indices and activity of some enzymes in UCB1 rootstock pistachio under salinity stress, a factorial experiment was conducted as a randomized complete blocks design. Factors included were salinity stress at four levels (0.7, 5, 10 and 13.6 dS m-1) and EM at two levels (0, 1%) with three replications. Treatments were applied for three months on plants. The results showed that increasing salinity decreased seedling height, leaf number, stem and root fresh and dry weight, but the activity of (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and ascorbate peroxidase (AXP) enzymes increased compared to control treatment, whereas EM application showed that concentration of 1% of this fertilizer increased the measured morphological indices and decreased the activity of CAT, POD and AXP enzymes. Interaction effect between salinity and EM was significant only on morphological indices. According to the results, it can be stated that application of EM could reduce adverse effects of salinity stress on the UCB1 rootstock

Metallic phase of disordered graphene superlattices with long-range correlations

Using the transfer matrix method, we study the conductance of the chiral particles through a monolayer graphene superlattice with long-range correlated disorder distributed on the potential of the barriers. Even though the transmission of the particles through graphene superlattice with white noise potentials is suppressed, the transmission is revived in a wide range of angles when the potential heights are long-range correlated with a power spectrum $S(k)\sim1/k^{\beta}$. As a result, the conductance increases with increasing the correlation exponent values gives rise a metallic phase. We obtain a phase transition diagram in which a critical correlation exponent depends strongly on disorder strength and slightly on the energy of the incident particles. The phase transition, on the other hand, appears in all ranges of the energy from propagating to evanescent mode regimes.Comment: 8 pages, 11 figure

Molecular Study of Gardnerella vaginalis Isolated from Vaginal Discharge of Women Referring to Gynecology Clinics in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran, in 2017

Background: vaginal infections are common among women referring to gynecological clinics worldwide, but treatment modali-ties cannot provide complete remission of the disease. Laboratory diagnosis of vaginal infections using more sensitive and specific methods is essential for the best treatment options. Objectives: In this study, diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was investigated. Methods: vaginal samples were collected from 635 symptomatic women referring to gynecology clinics in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Iran, in 2017. All samples were then diagnosed using microscopy, culture, and PCR methods. Results: Of 635 symptomatic women, 200 cases (31.4%) were diagnosed with BV according to the culture method using the PCR method. However, 3.9% of samples who were negative based on the culture method, were diagnosed to have BV based on PCR results. Conclusions: PCR is more sensitive than culture and microscopy methods for the diagnosis of BV

Genetic Characterization of blaSHV/VEB/PER Genes in ESBL-producing MDR Klebsiella Pneumonia Strains Isolated from Patients in Isfahan, Iran

This study was conducted to detect three genetical variants of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL, in which142 Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) isolates were collected from sections of a teaching hospital in Isfahan and were detected using standard IMVIC biochemical tests and urease. These were confirmed by identification of the ureD gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the standard Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar (Merck,Germany) .The performance and interpretation were based on the guidelines from the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, 2013). Screening and phenotypic identification of ESBLs isolates were performed by DDST. The presence of genes responsible for ESBL resistance, such as SHV, PER and VEB type ESBL genes was identified by PCR and indicator isolates sequencing performed by Macrogen (Seoul, Korea). The nucleotide sequences were analysed using the BLAST program (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/BLAST), the Lahey database, and CromasPro-2 and Mega-4 software to determine the subvarients of the three variants of ESBL (SHV, PER, VEB). These were compared with blaSHV-11 gene from K. pneumonia (accession.no.X98101), blaSHV-5 gene from K. pneumonia (accession no. X55640), blaPER-1 gene from P.aeruginosa transposed on Tn2345 (accession no AY866517.2) and blaVEB-1 gene from K. pneumonia (accession no. AF010416). A total of 120 isolates (84%) were recognized as MDR. The highest rate of resistance was recorded for piperacillin (80%), ceftazidime (76%), and cefotaxime (73%) and the lowest rate was for ertapenem (47.3%), meropenem (50.8%), and imipenem (58.7%) following detection of ESBL isolates of K.pneumoniae (101 isolates; 71%).The ward and the clinical specimen with the most prevalence were ICU with 55(38.7%) and urine with 61(42.9%). The lowest prevalence was related to the neurosurgery ward with 8(5.6%) samples and the clinical specimen with the lowest prevalence was cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) with 2 (1.4%) samples. PCR detection in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae showed that, of the clinical isolates, 42.2% contained blaSHV (42/101), 2.9% contained blaVEB (3/101) and2% contained blaPER (2/101). Sequencing of 10 selected PCR products of SHV genes showed that 7/10isolates were similar to the strain SHV-11 and 3/7 isolates were similar to the strain SHV-5. The sequencing of two PCR products of the PER genes showed they were similar to the strainPER-1.Sequencing of three PCR products of the VEB genes showed they were similar to the strain VEB-1. The overall prevalence of ESBL-producers was found to vary greatly in different geographical areas; this may be the result of differences in the type and amount of antibiotics consumed and differences in the time of collection of isolates. The present study reflects anincrease in the prevalence of ESBL-producers in Iran. The most common ESBL type found in this study was SHVand that VEB and PER types were rare. In addition, sequence analysis results of our study show the rate of SHV-11, PER-1 and VEB-1was maximum

Genetic study of the NOTCH3 gene in CADASIL patients

Background: Cerebral autosomal-dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) is a monogenic, hereditary, neurological syndrome characterized by small vessel disease (SVD), stroke, vascular cognitive impairment and dementia. It is caused by mutations in the NOTCH3  gene, affecting the number of cysteines in the extracellular domain of the receptor, causing protein misfolding and receptor aggregation. The pathogenic role of cysteine-sparing NOTCH3 missense mutations in patients with typical clinical CADASIL syndrome is unknown. No therapies are available for this condition.Objective: Genetic study of the NOTCH3 gene in CADASIL patients who were referred to the Fazeli-Sanati Genetics Laboratory.Subjects and methods: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 10 CADASIL patients to extract genomic DNA. DNA sequences of exons 2–8, 11–12 and 18–19, where NOTCH3 mutations are typically located; were amplified by using PCR and analyzed by direct sequencing.Results: 11 NOTCH3 exons were analyzed. Homozygous IVS7 + 15A>G mutation were found in five patients, Homozygous IVS7 + 16A>G mutation in one patient, Heterozygous for the Pro109Thr and Pro203His mutations in one patient, which were not reported previously. Heterozygous C395R and R153C mutations were found in two patients. One of the patients has no mutation in 11 analyzed NOTCH3 exons.Conclusion: We found four novel mutations (P109T, P203H, IVS7 + 15A>G and IVS7 + 16A>G) and 2 reported NOTCH3 mutations. Exon 4 and Intron 7 are hotspots in the patients we examined with the NOTCH3 mutations. These findings broaden the mutational spectrum of CADASIL.Keywords:  CADASIL, NOTCH3, Mutation, Exo

Investigation of concentration polarization in a cross-flow nanofiltration membrane: Experiment and CFD modelling

Numerous researches have been investigated on the mass transfer phenomena and hydrodynamics for the fluid in the vicinity of the membrane surface by the mathematical modelling and simulation. Due to complexities involved in solving transport phenomena within membranes, the application of CFD simulation study for determining the concentration polarization (CP) profile in the membrane channel is limited. In this study, a 2D CFD modelling and simulation of CP phenomena in nanofiltration of an aqueous solution of MgSO47H2O in a vertical spacer-filled flat sheet membrane module was presented. A response surface methodology (RSM) statistical analysis has been designed in order to fully capture effects of variations of the feed liquid flow and the transmembrane pressure (TMP) on the permeate flux and concentration. It was also shown that increasing TMP or the liquid flow rate led to enhancing the permeate flux while increasing the feed concentration decreased it. The simulated results were validated and compared with the available experimental data, showing a satisfactory agreement. Eventually, the mass transfer coefficient derived from CFD simulations and calculated from Sherwood empirical relationships were compared which showed 10% and 33% difference in lower and higher liquid flow rates, respectively

Biodegradable dual semicircular patch antenna tile for smart floors

A dual semicircular microstrip patch antenna implemented on a biodegradable substrate is presented for operation in the [863-873] MHz and [2.4-2.5] GHz frequency bands. To cover these frequency bands, two semicircular patches are compactly integrated onto a biodegradable cork tile, commonly found as support in laminate flooring, serving as a substrate. Thereby, the antenna tile may be seamlessly embedded as a sublayer of the floor structure. A higher-order mode is generated by applying via pins in the antenna topology to produce a conical radiation pattern with a null at broadside and sectoral coverage in the vertical plane. As such, the concealed floor antenna covers all azimuth angles of arrival in smart houses. The antenna performance is fully validated, also when the tile is covered by different polyvinyl chloride sheets. Owing to the supplementary design margins, the antenna impedance bandwidth remains covered. Moreover, the radiation patterns are measured in various elevation planes. Under standalone conditions, a radiation efficiency and a maximum gain of 74.3% and 5.8 dBi at 2.45 GHz and 48.1% and 2 dBi at 868 MHz are, respectively, obtained. Its omnidirectional coverage in the horizontal plane, stable performance on the inhomogeneous and biocompatible cork substrate and for various inhomogeneous superstrates, and its low-profile integration make the proposed antenna an excellent candidate for smart floors and smart houses

Exploring accuracy of statistical characterization of gravel beds using Kinect device in the laboratory scale

Mountainous river beds-generally consist of gravel particles that the precise description of such bed is not only important hydraulically, but also it has great environmental significance. The accurate estimation of bed roughness gives us valuable information to make reliable hydraulic models of flow in river with rigorous bed form. This study discuses about the accuracy of the Kinect device in determining the digital elevation model (DEM) of the gravel-bed. In this regard, the DEMs of the two beds include-hemispheres and two beds with artificial gravel beds have been -used and their statistical characteristics have been analyzed. The results show that while the error in the area among the particles is quite high, themethod can accurately conduct these in general. The comparison of the bed elevation histograms shows that although the artificial gravel beds histograms have higher accuracy compared to the histograms of the beds with hemispheres form, the gravel bed with distance elevations histogram shows the best fit among the four explored beds. Furthermore, exploring the statistical characteristics of these four beds shows that the Kinect device is able to obtain reasonable error rate in statistical parameters except the skewness quantity which has the highest rate of relative error. The variogram analysis of artificial gravel beds emphasis that the Kinect and scanner variograms reasonably close to each other and the longitudinal and transversal particles length scales are exactlythe same. According to the results of this investigation, application ofthe Kinect device in statistical analysis of the gravel beds can be suggested

The study of potassium ferrate application efficiency for advanced treatment of sewage

زمینه و هدف: طیف وسیعی از منعقد کننده‌ها، اکسیدان‌ها و گندزداها در تصفیه آب و فاضلاب استفاده می‌شوند. یون فرات به عنوان یک اکسیدان قوی بالاترین پتانسیل اکسیداسیون-احیاء را بین همه اکسیدان‌ها و گندزداها در تصفیه آب و فاضلاب داراست. یون فرات (شش ظرفیتی) در آب به یون هیدروکسید فریک احیا می‌شود و می‌تواند در یک فرآیند چند منظوره به عنوان منعقد کننده، اکسیدان و گندزدا مورد استفاده قرار گیرد. هدف از این مطالعه بررسی فرآیند تصفیه پیشرفته پساب فاضلاب شهری با استفاده از فرات پتاسیم بود. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه نیمه تجربی تصفیه پیشرفته فاضلاب شهری توسط فرات‌پتاسیم در مقیاس آزمایشگاهی روی پساب فاضلاب گندزدایی نشده با تعیین اثر متغیرهای pH و غلظت بر میزان حذف کدورت، ترکیبات ارگانی آب (COD) و فسفر مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. به منظور تعیین کارایی گندزدایی فرات پتاسیم نیز اثر سه متغیر زمان تماس، غلظت فرات و pH روی فرآیند گندزدایی با استفاده از شاخص (MPN (Most Probable Number مشخص شد. یافته‌ها: بهترین راندمان حذف ترکیبات ارگانی آب و کدورت با استفاده از فرات‌پتاسیم در شرایط بهینه (5=pH و غلظت mg/L10) به ترتیب 65 و 90 بود. pH و غلظت بهینه فرات ‌پتاسیم در حذف فسفر نیز 5=pH و غلظت mg/L 12 بود که موجب حذف 72 درصدی فسفر شد. بهترین شرایط کاربرد فرات پتاسیم به عنوان گندزدا در غلظت mg/L 4 و زمان تماس های 25 دقیقه و 6=pH بود. نتیجه گیری: فرات ‌پتاسیم به عنوان یک ماده شیمیایی مؤثر اکسید کننده، گندزدا و منعقد کننده می ‌تواند در تصفیه انواع پساب های شهری و صنعتی مورد استفاده قرار گیرد و با این کار دسترسی به چند هدف در یک فرآیند را میسر گرداند