Determination of distribution of icsA gene and IcsA protein bands between Shigella flexneri isolated from 3 hospitals in Tehran

Introduction: Shigella is a facultative intracellular pathogen that uses the host actin cytoskeleton protein for intra- and intercellular spread. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of icsA gene and IcsA expressed protein bands among Shigella flexneri strains isolated from 3 clinical centers in Tehran. Material and Methods: Two hundred and seventy five isolated Shigella flexneri strains were identified by standard microbiological and biochemical methods. DNA isolation was performed using sodium perchlorate method. Hot start-PCR was done with 2 pairs of primers and the products were separated through agarose gel (0.8) in TAE buffer. DNA fragments were visualized by ethidium bromide staining under UV illumination. Whole membrane preparation was used to examine the protein profiles and identification of probable IcsA (120-kda) protein band by SDS-PAGE. Results: From 100 isolated Shigella flexneri strains, both bands of 1600 bp and 1709 bp were detected in 46 isolates (46). A 120 kDa band which seems to be related to IcsA protein was detected in 46 isolates (46). The protein bands varied between 30 and 150 kDa. Discussion: IcsA is both necessary and sufficient for actin assembly in Shigella flexneri. Since icsA gene and IcsA protein band were not found in all Shigella strains, it seems that not all strains have the same pathogenesis. On the other hand, since the demonstration of icsA gene by PCR in all Shigella strains (46) corresponded to the presence of a 120 kDa protein band by SDS-PAGE (46), it seems that both tests may confirm each other. However, the PCR may be more accurate than SDS-PAGE

Induced Nucleon Polarization and Meson-Exchange Currents in (e,e'p) Reactions

Nucleon recoil polarization observables in $(e,e'\vec{p})$ reactions are investigated using a semi-relativistic distorted-wave model which includes one- and two-body currents with relativistic corrections. Results for the induced polarization asymmetry are shown for closed-shell nuclei and a comparison with available experimental data for $^{12}$C is provided. A careful analysis of meson exchange currents shows that they may affect significantly the induced polarization for high missing momentum.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures. Revised version with small changes, new curve in Fig. 3. To be published in PR

Survival rates associated with in vitro low-temperature storage of kutum (Rutilus kutum) eggs

To study the effects of post-stripping oocyte ageing at low temperatures on the viability of kutum (Rutilus kutum) oocytes, unfertilised eggs of five females were stored in ovarian fluid at temperatures of 4 and 7 degrees centigrade for 24 hours post stripping (HPS). The stored ova of five female kutum were separately fertilised at 0 (i.e., control eggs fertilised prior to storage), 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 HPS. The eyeing and hatching rates were recorded as indices of the egg quality. The results indicated that the maximum eyeing and hatching rates of the eggs (92% and 74%, respectively) were observed at 0 HPS, whereas the storage of the eggs at 4 °C for 24 HPS decreased the eyeing and hatching rates to 36% and 28%, respectively. The use of the higher storage temperature resulted in a more rapid decrease in the egg viability: eyeing and hatching rates of 9% and 2%, respectively, were obtained after storage at 7 °C for 24 HPS. The present study demonstrated that stripped kutum eggs that are stored in ovarian fluid at 4 and 7 degrees centigrade should be fertilised within 12 and 8 HPS, respectively, to obtain viability rates higher than 50%

The determinants of new orders of non-defence capital goods and its relationship to business fixed investment expenditures : 1992 to 2010

The determinant of nonfarm nonfinancial corporation orders of nondefense capital goods (as generated by the Census Bureau) is modelled during the period of 1992 to 2010. Statistically significant relationship between investment orders and the cyclical variations in output, the interest rate spread, net cash flows, the net increase in financial liabilities, the net increase in financial assets, and the value of (nondefense) manufacturing shipments is found. During the period 1992 to 2001, the wage share is inversely related to new orders. New orders are used to explain, subject to a lag, nonfarm nonfinancial corporations fixed investment expenditures, as generated by the BEA. A statistically significant relationship is found between investment expenditures and new orders, subject to modifications by changes contemporaneous economic conditions (largely reflected in cyclical changes in output, and, to a lesser extent, changes in the interest rate spread).peer-reviewe

Map challenge: Analysis using a pair comparison method based on Fourier shell correlation

This document presents the analysis performed over the Map Challenge dataset using a new algorithm which we refer to as Pair Comparison Method. The new algorithm, which is described in detail in the text, is able to sort reconstructions based on a figure of merit and assigns a level of significance to the sorting. That is, it shows how likely the sorting is due to chance or if it reflects real differencesThe authors would like to acknowledge economical support from: The Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through Grants BIO2013-44647-R, BIO2016-76400-R(AEI/FEDER, UE) and AEI/FEDER BFU 2016 74868P, the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid through Grant: S2017/BMD-3817, European Union (EU) and Horizon 2020 through grant CORBEL (INFRADEV-1-2014-1, Proposal: 654248). This work used the EGI Infrastructure and is co-funded by the EGI-Engage project (Horizon 2020) under Grant No. 654142. European Union (EU) and Horizon 2020 through grant West-Life (EINFRA-2015-1, Proposal: 675858) European Union (EU) and Horizon 2020 through grant Elixir - EXCELERATE (INFRADEV-3-2015, Proposal: 676559) European Union (EU) and Horizon 2020 through grant iNEXT (INFRAIA-1–2014-2015, Proposal: 653706). The authors acknowledge the support and the use of resources of Instruct, a Landmark ESFRI projec