Molecular cloning and expression of Bacillus anthracis Lethal Factor domain 1 gene in Escherichia coli

زمینه و هدف: سیاه‌زخم (آنتراکس) یک بیماری مشترک بین انسان و دام است. عامل ایجاد کننده بیماری باکتری باسیلوس آنتراسیس می‌باشد که آنتی‌ژن حفاظت‌کننده (PA) و ناحیه یک فاکتور کشنده (LFD1) ایمونوژن‌های قوی این باکتری بوده و همواره به عنوان کاندیدای واکسن علیه باسیلوس آنتراسیس در نظر گرفته شده‌اند. هدف این مطالعه تولید آنتی‌ژن ناحیه یک فاکتور کشنده(LFD1) در باکتری Escherichia coli می‌باشد. روش بررسی: در این مطالعه تجربی آزمایشگاهی ژن LFD1 از پلاسمید pXO1 شناسایی و با واکنش PCR تکثیر شد. با جایگاه‌های آنزیمی BamH I و Xho Iدر وکتور (pGEM-T easy) همسانه‌سازی شد و بعد از جداسازی به وکتور بیانی pET28a(+) زیرهمسانه‌سازی گردید. این وکتور به باکتری E. coli-BL21 (DE3) تراریخت (ترانسفورم) شد. بیان ژن LFD1 تحت القای ایزوپروپیل-β -ِD -I-گالاکتوپیرانوزید (IPTG) انجام و پروتئین مورد نظر بیان شد. یافته‌ها: ژن ناحیه یک فاکتور کشنده (LFD1) کلون شده در وکتور بیانی pET28a(+) به وسیله‌ی توالی یابی، PCR و هضم به وسیله آنزیم‌های با اثر محدود تأیید گردید. همچنین پروتئین نوترکیب تولید شده به وسیله سدیم دودسیل سولفات پلی آکریل آمید ژل (SDS-PAGE) و لکه‌گذاری وسترن تایید گردید. نتیجه‌گیری: با توجه به ایمونوژن بودن پروتئین LFD1، پروتئین نوترکیب تولید شده در این تحقیق را می‌توان به‌صورت مجزا یا ترکیبی با یاورها و یا انتقال دهنده‌ها در طراحی واکسن برای بیماری سیاه‌زخم استفاده نمود

Corporate Governance, Investment in Research and Development and Company Performance: A Data Envelopment Analysis Approach Based on Data from a Developing Country

The aim of this paper is to investigate the role of investment in research and development (R&D) in relationship between corporate governance and company performance in the Tehran Stock Exchange. In this regard, ownership concentration and debt ratio were used as the criteria for corporate governance. The statistical population included all companies listed in Tehran Stock Exchange, 161 of which were selected as the statistical sample and investigated from 2004 until 2014. The statistical regression analysis of mixed data in the Baron and Kenny model (1986) and hierarchical regression analysis were employed to test the research hypotheses. The results indicated that corporate governance was a factor influencing company performance and R&D activities. The results also indicated that investment in R&D improved company performance. Furthermore, the research evidence showed a minor role for the R&D investment variable in mediating the relationship between corporate governance and company performance, and thus could not play a moderating role in this relationship. Keywords: Ownership Concentration, Debt Ratio, Company Performance, Investment in R&D JEL Classifications: C61, G30, M4

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is not independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease event : a cohort study

There are no consistent results between previous studies for an independent association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) events. To determine if there is an independent association between NAFLD and CVD events. In the present study, valid outcome data of 4808 subjects were available for phase 2 of our cohort study. These subjects had been followed up for seven years from phase 1, beginning in 2009-2010 to phase 2 during 2016-2017. Simple and multiple Cox proportional models were used to determine the association between NAFLD in the primary phase of the cohort and subsequent fatal and non-fatal CVD events during follow-up. The incidence of non-fatal CVD events in males with NAFLD was significantly higher ( = 0.004) than in males without NAFLD. A positive association was demonstrated between NAFLD and non-fatal CVD events in males (Hazard ratio = 1.606; 95%CI: 1.166-2.212; = 0.004) by the simple Cox proportional hazard model, but no independent association was detected between these in the multiple Cox models. No independent association was detected between NAFLD and CVD. It is likely that diabetes mellitus and age may be the principle mediators in this regard. [Abstract copyright: ©The Author(s) 2020. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.

Corrigendum: Comparison of 21-Plex PCR and API 20C AUX, MALDI-TOF MS, and rDNA Sequencing for a Wide Range of Clinically Isolated Yeast Species: Improved Identification by Combining 21-Plex PCR and API 20C AUX as an Alternative Strategy for Developing Countries

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00021.]

Effect of Saliva Contamination on Microleakage Beneath Bonded Brackets: A Comparison between Two Moisture-Tolerant Bonding Systems

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of saliva contamination on the metallic bracket microleakage bonded with two moisture-tolerant bonding systems. Materials and Methods:  Ninety freshly extracted premolar teeth were randomly divided into six groups of 15 with the following treatments: G1 (control): After acid etching, Assure primer and Assure adhesive were applied to non-contaminated enamel surfaces. G2 (contaminated after etching): The etched enamel surface was exposed to saliva, then Assure primer and Assure adhesive were applied. G3 (contaminated after priming): Saliva contamination was done after application of Assure primer. The exact same procedures were applied to groups G4 to G6 except that TIMP primer and Transbond Plus adhesive system were used.   To measure the microleakage score, the teeth were stained with 2% methylene blue for 24 hours, sectioned and examined under a stereomicroscope at ×16 magnification. Data analysis was performed using Fisher’s exact test. Results: In dry conditions, Assure and TMIP were not significantly different in terms of microleakage scores.  All contaminated groups exhibited higher microleakage score at the enamel/adhesive interface compared to the bracket/adhesive interface (P< 0.01). In wet conditions, Assure groups showed higher microleakage at the enamel-adhesive interface compared to the TMIP groups (P<0.05). At the bracket-adhesive interface, the microleakage scores were not significantly different in saliva contaminated groups compared to the controls. Conclusion: Saliva contamination caused greater microleakage at the enamel-adhesive interface compared to the adhesive-bracket interface. Keywords: Orthodontic Brackets; Adhesives; Saliv

Incidence and risk factors for infantile colic in Iranian infants

AIM: To assess the incidence of infantile colic and its association with variable predictors in infants born in a community maternity hospital, Tehran, Iran. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, mothers who gave birth to live newborns between February 21 and March 20, 2003 at the hospital were invited to join to the study. For every infant-mother dyad data were collected on infant gender, type of delivery, gestational age at birth, birth weight, birth order, and mother’s reproductive history. Then mothers were given a diary to document the duration of crying/fussiness behaviors of their infants for the next 12 wk. We scheduled home visits at the time the infants were 3 mo of age to collect the completed diaries and obtain additional information on infants’ nutritional sources and identify if medications were used for colic relief. Cases of colic were identified by applying Wessel criteria to recorded data. Chi-square and Mann-whitney U tests were used to compare proportions for non-parametric and parametric variables, respectively. RESULTS: From 413 infants, follow-up was completed for 321 infants. In total, 65 infants (20.24%) satisfied the Wessel criteria for infantile colic. No statistical significance was found between colicky and non-colicky infants according to gender, gestational age at birth, birth weight, type of delivery, and, infant’s feeding pattern. However, firstborn infants had higher rate for developing colic (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Colic incidence was 20% in this population of Iranian infants. Except for birth order status, no other variable was significantly associated with infantile colic

Effect of appropriate Marketing Mix Strategies on Iranian Protein Products Export Performance

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An Estimation of Energy Consumption in Iran&apos;s Transportation Sector Using Artificial Neural Networks Compared to Multivariate Regression Method

ABSTRACT The increasing reliance of human life on energy has had this factor (energy) play a significant potential or actual role in the performance of different economic sectors in several countries. So, any country&apos;s authorities must try to control the parameters of energy supply and demand favorably through ever more precise estimation of energy consumption and accurate planning in directing it. The current research aimed to create models for and estimate the energy consumption of Iran&apos;s transportation sector using neural networks. So in this research, the annual energy consumption data of Iran&apos;s transportation sector was used as the output variable for estimation models and the annual data of the total population of Iran, GDP (Gross Domestic Production) and the number of vehicles as the input variables of the same models. In the end, the precision of estimations in the above-mentioned models was assessed using assessment indices. The results showed that compared to the multivariate regression model, the neural network model was more precise in estimating the energy consumption of Iran&apos;s transportation sector

Topical application of Dianthus essential oil improved the infected healing process of wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in an experimental model

Background & Aims:  In recent years, wound infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus have substantially grown. Lack of easy access, medications expensive, side effects, and in particular the development of drug resistance, the use of biological materials are proposed as an alternative solution. The recent study was aimed to evaluate the topical effect of Dianthus essential oil on cutaneous excisional wound healing in mice infected with S. aureus.  Materials & Maethods: This study was performed on 36 mice (weight 25±3 g). After general anesthesia, 0.5 mm circle wound was created with biopsy punch between the shoulder, and immediately 50 γ of the suspension containing 107 CFU/ml S. Aureus was applied to the wound. Then tested animals, grouping in three groups of 12 mice each (control, treated with ointment 2% and 4%). During the project, image was obtained on days 3, 6, 9 and 12 images for assessment of wound area, and in 3, 7 and 14 from wounds in order to histopathology assessment. Results: The results of the wound size showed that the wound area decreased significantly in the treated groups (p< 0.05) compared with the control group. On histological examination, a significant (p< 0.05) reduction was observed in the migration of immune cells, the migration of fibroblasts and fibrocytes into the wound, the collagen synthesis and secretion. In addition, the thickness of the epithelium thickest increased in the treatment groups compared with the control group (p< 0.05). Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, topical application of Dianthus essential oil, especially at higher therapeutic doses, can be considered a viable option for treatment of infected wounds by the bacteria S. aureus