CD73 a novel marker for the diagnosis of benign and malignant salivary gland tumors

Ecto-5?-nucleotidase (CD73) plays an important role in the development of several types of cancer; however, its prognostic significance in salivary gland tumors remains unknown. The current study was conducted to investigate the expression of CD73 in such tumors. In this retrospective study, immunohistochemical expression of CD73 was evaluated in 25 pleomorphic adenomas, 20 mucoepidermoid carcinomas and 20 adenoid cystic carcinomas using the Envision technique. Labeling indices of CD73 expression were calculated and compared between lesions. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the CD73 expression was significantly higher in salivary gland tumors than in normal salivary gland tissue (p0.05). The findings suggest that CD73 can be an independent and useful biomarker for predicting the clinical behavior of salivary gland tumors

Evidence of metabolic mechanisms playing a role in multiple insecticides resistance in Anopheles stephensi populations from Afghanistan.

Background Malaria is endemic in most parts of Afghanistan and insecticide-based vector control measures are central in controlling the disease. Insecticide resistance in the main malaria vector Anopheles stephensi from Afghanistan is increasing and attempts should be made to determine the underlying resistance mechanisms for its adequate management. Methods The contents of cytochrome P450s, esterases, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activities were measured in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations of An. stephensi from Afghanistan and the results were compared with those of the susceptible Beech strain using the World Health Organization approved biochemical assay methods for adult mosquitoes. Results The cytochrome P450s enzyme ratios were 2.23- and 2.54-fold in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations compared with the susceptible Beech strain. The enzyme ratios for esterases with alpha-naphthyl acetate were 1.45 and 2.11 and with beta-naphthyl acetate were 1.62 and 1.85 in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations respectively compared with the susceptible Beech strain. Esterase ratios with para-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA) were 1.61 and 1.75 in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations compared with the susceptible Beech strain. The GSTs enzyme ratios were 1.33 and 1.8 in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations compared with the susceptible Beech strain. The inhibition of AChE was 70.9 in the susceptible Beech strain, and 56.7 and 51.5 in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations. The differences between all values of the enzymes activities/contents and AChE inhibition rates in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations were statistically significant when compared with those of the susceptible Beech strain. Conclusions Based on the results, the reported resistance to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides, and tolerance to bendiocarb in the Kunar and Nangarhar populations of An. stephensi from Afghanistan are likely to be caused by a range of metabolic mechanisms, including esterases, P450s and GSTs combined with target site insensitivity in AChE

Global water quality changes posing threat of increasing infectious diseases, a case study on malaria vector Anopheles stephensi coping with the water pollutants using age-stage, two-sex life table method

Background: Water pollution due to uncontrolled release of chemical pollutants is an important global problem. Its effect on medically important insects, especially mosquitoes, is a critical issue in the epidemiology of mosquito-borne diseases. Methods: In order to understand the effect of water pollutants on the demography of Anopheles stephensi, colonies were reared in clean, moderately and highly polluted water for three consecutive generations at 27 °C, 75% RH, and a photoperiod of 12:12 h (L:D). The demographic data of the 4th generation of An. stephensi were collected and analysed using the age-stage, two-sex life table. Results: The intrinsic rate of increase (r), finite rate of increase (λ), mean fecundity (F) and net reproductive rate (R0) of An. stephensi in clean water were 0.2568 d−1, 1.2927 d−1, 251.72 eggs, and 109.08 offspring, respectively. These values were significantly higher than those obtained in moderately polluted water (r = 0.2302 d−1, λ = 1.2589 d−1, 196.04 eggs, and R0 = 65.35 offspring) and highly polluted water (r = 0.2282 d−1, λ = 1.2564 d−1, 182.45 eggs, and R0 = 62.03 offspring). Female adult longevity in moderately polluted (9.38 days) and highly polluted water (9.88 days) were significantly shorter than those reared in clean water (12.43 days), while no significant difference in the male adult longevity was observed among treatments. Conclusions: The results of this study showed that An. stephensi can partially adapt to water pollution and this may be sufficient to extend the range of mosquito-borne diseases

The Relationship of Corporate Governance Mechanisms with Costs of the Agencies of Iranian Companies

This study attempts to investigate the impacts of severalcorporate governance mechanisms on two alternative proxies for agencycosts, namely the ratio of total sales to total assets (asset turnover) and theratio of selling, general and administrative expenses to total sales(SG&A). Agency costs, non-executive directors on the board, andinstitutional investors are dependent variables. The analysis is conductedby a cross-sectional regression approach. Findings of the research aredifferent in regard to measuring scales of agency costs. There issignificant relationship between non-executive directors and agencycosts, in regard to asset turnover as a measuring scale, but this is not asignificant relationship for institutional investors. By using the ratio ofoperational expenses to sales as measuring scale of agency costs, there isnot also significant relationship between non-executive directors andagency costs, but this is significant relationship for institutional investors.In regard to combination of reverse ratio of asset turnover and ratio ofoperational expenses to sales as measuring scales of agency costs, there issignificant relationship between non-executive directors and institutionalinvestors with agency costs

An intelligent decision support system for warranty claims forecasting: Merits of social media and quality function deployment

This work develops a novel approach based on Machine Learning (ML)-assisted Quality Function Deployment (QFD) to sift the gold from the stone. It includes Time-Varying Filter-based Empirical Mode Decomposition (TVF-EMD), Deep Ensemble Random Vector Functional Link (DE-RVFL), and a Bayesian optimization algorithm for optimizing the shaped DE-RVFLTVF-EMD hyperparameters. This approach makes it possible for the proposed methods to be dynamic enough to deal with the data\u27s volatility, complexity, uncertainty, and ambiguity. It is demonstrated that incorporating TVF-EMD to provide time-frequency analysis along DE-RVFL, and goal-oriented social media analytics boosts the performance of out-of-sample predictions statistically and compensates for the “warranty data maturation” effect. The proposed algorithm\u27s Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) decreases by 23.37%-88.76% relative to other benchmark cutting-edge models. This study contributes significantly to the services management community. Using the proposed methodology, managers could create plans for warranty claims strategies that reduce inventory levels and waste while optimizing customer satisfaction, advocacy, and revenues. These merits provide incentives and support for policymakers to adopt advanced technologies, such as the ones developed and implemented in the current study, in warranty claims forecasting to improve accuracy and efficiency

Consumer Behavior Pattern and Internet Marketing Strategy: home appliances industry

Iran home appliances producers are challenged by the many foreign competitors. These companies can employ Information and communication technology for improvement of the competitiveness. So in this paper, the identification of internet marketing strategies and the consumer behavior have been analyzed by grounded theory. The research shows that, internet marketing strategy (IMS) can be classified into three kind of different strategies: Transactional, interactive and intelligent. And the behavior of the Iranian home appliances could be descripting in three styles: Rational Shoppers, feeling Shoppers and Intelligent Shoppers

High Resistance of Vector of West Nile Virus, Culex pipiens Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae) to Different Insecticides Recommended by WHO in Northern Iran

Background: Culex pipiens is a mosquito species distributed in different parts of Iran. It is known as vector of some diseases as well as a nuisance insect. A successful control campaign needs to study the biology, ecology and suscep­tibility status of the target pest. The aim of this study was to investigate the susceptibility status of Culex pipiens to some insecticides recommended by WHO in north of Iran. Methods: Larvae were collected from different breeding places in Sari County by standard dipping method. They were reared to adult stage in an under standard condition. World Health Organization (WHO) standard test kits and the diagnostic dose of 12 imagicides were used for adults, while two larvicides were used against larvae. Results: The least and highest mortality rates after exposure to insecticides were 4.7% (Propoxur 0.1%) and 76.4% (Etofenprox 0.5%), respectively. Larvae showed high resistance to temephos (19.19%) and malathion (54.63%). Culex pipiens was found to be resistant to all used insecticides/larvicides at diagnostic dose. Conclusion: Intensive use of pesticides against agriculture and urban pests increased the resistance level of this spe­cies to different insecticides, although currently there is no control program against it. Study on the mechanisms of resistant in this species to different insecticides is recommended

Sensing and identification of carbon monoxide using carbon films fabricated by methane arc discharge decomposition technique

Carbonaceous materials have recently received attention in electronic applications and measurement systems. In this work, we demonstrate the electrical behavior of carbon films fabricated by methane arc discharge decomposition technique. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristics of carbon films are investigated in the presence and absence of gas. The experiment reveals that the current passing through the carbon films increases when the concentration of CO2 gas is increased from 200 to 800 ppm. This phenomenon which is a result of conductance changes can be employed in sensing applications such as gas sensors

Prevalence of Bed Bug Infestation (Cimex lectularius) in Prisons in Mazandaran Province, 2015-2017

Background and purpose: Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius) are major human ectoparasites. Before planning and implementation of any control measures against bed bugs in prisons, it is essential to determine the infestation rate. Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of bed bug infestation in prisons in Mazandaran Province, 2015-2017. A standard checklist was prepared based on the health log of the prisons and was used to collect information on prevalence of bed bugs. Data were analyzed using SPSS V20. Results: The highest rate of infestation (68%) was observed in general ward and the lowest was seen in women's ward (1.23%). Highest infestations were reported at nights (88%) and the highest numbers of bed bugs were collected in metal beds (31%). During three years, there were no reports of bed bugs and their bites in prison 6. The average prevalence was constant in prison 1, while it was descending in prisons 2, 3, 5, and 9 and ascending in prisons 4 and 8. Conclusion: High prevalence of bed bugs in most of the prisons in Mazandaran province could probably be due to their entry into the prisons, re-infestation, and also difficulties in their control. Therefore, continuous monitoring of infestation, monitoring and prevention of bed bugs gaining entry into prisons, revising control measures with collaboration between experts from the Ministry of Health and prison health services are essential to plan for successful bed bug control interventions