Exploring countrywide spatial systems: Spatio-structural correlates at the regional and national scales

In this paper we take a step towards extending space syntax analysis into the countrywide scale, through the study of three very-large spatial systems in the UK, namely the top-tier road network of the entire country (170,007 nodes), the complete road network (1,208,674 nodes) of three contiguous NUTS1 regions (the East of England, South East of England and Greater London) and the complete road network of UK's mainland (2,031,971 nodes). We compare the results of our analysis with several types of functional and socio-economic data, finding clear statistical associations at the scale of the entire country between network structure, vehicular movement flows and the spatial distribution of several socio-economic variables. We conclude by arguing that space syntax models and analysis hold their value at very-large territorial scales, being highly robust and producing coherent results between datasets of different sources, themes and dimensionalities

Differentiation of definitive endoderm from human induced pluripotent stem cells on hMSCs feeder in a defined medium

Background: The Definitive Endoderm (DE) differentiation using the undefined media and non-human feeders can cause contaminations in the generated cells for therapeutic applications. Therefore, generating safer and more appropriate DE cells is needed. This study compared five different methods to establish an appropriate method for inducing an efficient DE differentiation from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) on an appropriate feeder in a more defined medium. Methods: Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (hiPSCs) were cultured on inactivated feeders. Passaged hiPSCs, without feeder, were incubated for three days with Activin-A and different endodermal differentiation media including 1-FBS, 2-B27, 3- ITS and albumin fraction-V, 4-B27 and ITS and 5-like the third medium. The feeder cells in the first four methods were Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts (MEFs) and in the fifth method were human adult bone marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs). DE markers FOXA2, SOX17 and CXCR4 and also pluripotency marker OCT4 were evaluated using qRT-PCR, as well as FOXA2 by the immunocytochemistry. Results: QRT-PCR analysis showed that after three days, the expression levels of DE and pluripotency markers in the differentiated hiPSCs among all five groups did not have any significant differences. Similarly, the immunocytochemistry analysis demonstrated that the differentiated hiPSCs expressed FOXA2, with no significant differences. Conclusion: Despite this similarity in the results, the third differentiation medium has more defined and cost effective components. Furthermore, hMSC, a human feeder, is safer than MEF. Therefore, the fifth method is preferable among other DE differentiation methods and can serve as a fundamental method helping the development of regenerative medicine. © 2016, Avicenna Journal of Medical Biotechnology. All rights reserved

Investigating the excess return of contrarian strategy in the active insurance firms in Tehran Stock Exchange

Obtaining the appropriate rate of return is the most important expectation of  investors in the investment process and different statategies have been used by investors to gain a required rate of return. Contrarian strategy is one the strategies used recently to predict the return of stock using the historical information.  Contrarian strategy suggests that an excess return can be gained by selling winners stock and buying losers stock. This study examines the excess return of contrarian strategy in the active insurance firms in Tehran Stock Exchange. For this purpose, data of five insurance firms activated from 2007 to 2011 has been collected and analyzed. The variables in this stuey are return of contrarian strategy indaily, monthly and seasonal courses. Data analysis and hypotheses testing include Philips model and AVOVA and T-test statistic has been used to examine the significance of test and the confidence level. The results of study shows that the return of contrarian stratgiey is effective in daily, monthly and seasonal courses.Keywords: Excess Return, Contrarian Strategy, Insurance Firms, Winner Stock, LoserStoc

Optimization of expression, purification and handling anti bacteria feature protein of bovine neutrophil B-defensing BNBD2

زمینه و هدف: دیفنسین‎ها یکی از بزرگ‎ترین خانواده‎ی پپتید‎های ضد میکروب می‎باشند که به واسطه‎ی فعالیت بر علیه باکتری‎ها، قارچ‎ها و بسیاری از ویروس‎ها به عنوان آنتی‎بیوتیک‎های نسل جدید منفعت بسیاری دارند. هدف از این مطالعه بهینه سازی بیان، تخلیص و بررسی خاصیت ضد میکروبی پروتئین بتا دیفنسین 2 نوتروفیل‎های گاو (BNBD2) بوده است. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه‎ی تجربی-آزمایشگاهی باکتری اشرشیاکلی B‏L21(DE3) حامل وکتور pET-32a(+) که ژن BNBD2 در آن همسانه سازی شده بود جهت مطالعات مورد استفاده قرار گرفت. بیان پروتئین BNBD2 با تغییر در پارامترهای دانسیته‎ی سلولی، دمای رشد، مدت زمان القاء با استفاده از سیستم الکتروفورز عمودی (SDS-PAGE) و تست برادفورد به صورت کمی و کیفی بررسی گردید. مراحل تخلیص پروتئین نوترکیب با کمک روش شیمیایی شکافت در جایگاه فرمیک اسید و عبور از سانتریکون و اثر ضد باکتری پروتئین تخلیص شده بر چند نمونه‎ی باکتریایی گرم مثبت و گرم منفی مورد بررسی قرار گرفت. یافته ها: با استفاده از محیط کشت Luria–Bertani، شروع القاء در جذب نوری 8/0 در طول موج 600 نانومتر، غلظت یک میلی مولار ماده‎ی القاء کننده‎ی IPTG، دمای رشد 30 درجه و مدت زمان 4 ساعت پس از القاء بیشترین میزان بیان پروتئین به دست آمد. پروتئین نوترکیب با استفاده از شکافت در جایگاه فرمیک اسید و عبور از سانتریکون تخلیص گردید. نتایج آزمایش وسترن بلاتینگ نیز نشان داد که پروتئین نوترکیب به طور اختصاصی به آنتی‎بادی mouse anti-(His)6 peroxidase متصل می‎گردد. تشکیل هاله‎ی عدم رشد در محیط‎های کشت مولر هینتون آگار حاوی کشت سطحی باکتری های مورد آزمایش خاصیت ضد باکتری این پروتئین را نشان داد. نتیجه گیری: با توجه به خاصیت ضد میکروبی پروتئین BNBD2و امکان بیان پروتئین در باکتری E. coli می توان به تولید انبوه این پروتئین نوترکیب اقدام نمود

Spin constrained orbital angular momentum control in high-harmonic generation

The interplay between spin and orbital angular momentum in the up-conversion process allows us to control the macroscopic wave front of high harmonics by manipulating the microscopic polarizations of the driving field. We demonstrate control of orbital angular momentum in high harmonic generation from both solid and gas phase targets using the selection rules of spin angular momentum. The gas phase harmonics extend the control of angular momentum to extreme-ultraviolet wavelength. We also propose a bi-color scheme to produce spectrally separated extreme-ultraviolet radiation carrying orbital angular momentum

A Comparison between Recombinant Activated Factor VII (Aryoseven) and Novoseven in Patients with Congenital Factor VII Deficiency

In order to establish the efficacy and biosimilar nature of AryoSeven to NovoSeven in the treatment of congenital factor VII (FVII) deficiency, patients received either agent at 30 1/4g/kg, intravenously per week for 4 weeks, in a randomized fashion. The primary aim was to compare FVII:coagulation activity (FVII:C), 20 minutes after recombinant activated FVII (rFVIIa) injection, in the 2 groups. A secondary measure was self-reported bleeding. The median interquartile baseline range of the plasma level of activated FVII (FVIIa) activity in the 2 groups was 1.6 (1.1-14.0) IU/dL and 5.0 (1.1-25.5) IU/dL. All patients achieved levels of FVIIa (FVII:C) >30 IU/dL, 20 minutes after the injection of rFVIIa. Bleeding was similar between the 2 groups, with a comparable decrease in severity and frequency compared to the last month prior to treatment. AryoSeven is similar to NovoSeven in increasing postinjection FVIIa activity as well as in clinical safety and efficacy. © The Author(s) 2014

A suggested prototype for assessing bone health

Background- Osteoporosis is becoming a health concern worldwide. Considering the fact that prevention plays an important role in reducing the burden of this silent disease and in view of the limited resources available, many countries have adopted certain programs to fight osteoporosis through shifting their attention towards at-risk individuals. The Iranian Multicenter Osteoporosis Study (IMOS) is one of these programs. The program aims to assess bone health and the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in different parts of Iran with various altitudes, latitudes and lifestyle habits in a way that the results could be generalized to the country. Method- The present article presents the protocol used in the third phase of the study. It was designed based on the experiences gathered in the previous phases to overcome the shortcomings particularly subject loss. The questionnaire applied in this study was developed based on a thorough literature review of the risk factors and secondary causes of osteoporosis and was approved by an expert panel. It should be added that while the majority of the existing studies aim to study a certain aspect of osteoporosis, the present protocol provides the information needed for policy makers and researchers to study different osteoporosis-related issues. Conclusion- The authors believe the protocol, to be implemented with small modifications, can help policymakers in different parts of the world, particularly developing countries, gather accurate information on different aspects of bone health at the national level. © 2015, Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved