The Role of Levamisole and HIV-1 Nef-p24 Fusion Protein in IL-4 Gene Expression for Evaluating Humoral Immune Response

I Introduction: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. It is transmitted via the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV-1). So, a HIV-1 vaccine should be effective in the prevention of virus infection and induces immune responses. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the humoral immune induction through measuring the expression of interleukin4 (IL-4) in response to levamisole, as an adjuvant, with the HIV-1 Nef-p24 fusion protein as an immunogenic sequence. Materials and Methods: In this study, 56 BalB/c female mice, aged 6 to 8 weeks were divided into 4 groups. There were 14 mice in each group. Prime and Booster injections were arranged in these groups receiving PBS, levamisole, Nef-p24, and Nef-p24 along with levamisole (Nef-p24/levamisole). All injections were performed peritoneally. Results: Real-time PCR results showed that IL-4 transcripts level increased significantly (P <0.05) in boostered groups, receiving levamisole, Nef-p24, and Nef-p24/levamisole compared to primed groups. However, the results of ELISA revealed the enhancement in IL-4 expression in levamisole primed groups in comparison to Nef-p24/levamisole boostered group. Conclusion: The results of the present study showed that the HIV-1 Nef-p24 fusion protein and levamisole could be considered as effective candidates as to increase the expression of IL-4 which may stimulate the humoral immune response

Fitting soil particle-size distribution (PSD) models by PSD curve fitting software

This paper describes a particle-size distribution (PSD) curve fitting software for analyzing the soil PSD and soil physical properties. A better characterization of soil texture can be obtained by describing the soil PSD using mathematical models. The mathematical equations of soil PSD are mainly used as a basis to estimate the soil hydraulic properties. Until now, many attempts are made to represent PSD curves using mathematical models, but selecting the best PSD model requires fitting all models to the PSD data, which would be difficult and time-consuming. So far, no specific program has been developed to fit the PSD models to the experimental data. A practical user-friendly software called "PSD Curve Fitting Software" was developed and introduced to program a simultaneous fitting of all models on soil PSD data of all samples. Some of the capabilities of this software are calculating evaluation statistics for all models and soils and their statistical properties such as average, standard deviation, minimum and maximum for all models, the amount of models’ fitting parameters and their statistical properties for all soil samples, soil water retention curve by Arya and Paris (1981) and Meskini-Vishkaee et al. (2014) methods, soil hydraulic conductivity by Arya et al. (1999) method, different textural and hydraulic properties, specific surface area, and other descriptive statistics of PSD for all soil samples. All calculated parameters are presented in an output Excel file format by the software. The software runs under Windows XP/7/8/10

Optimal charge scheduling of electric vehicles in solar energy integrated power systems considering the uncertainties

Nowadays, vehicle to grid (V2G) capability of the electric vehicle (EV) is used in the smart distribution network (SDN). The main reasons for using the EVs, are improving air quality by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, peak demand shaving and applying ancillary service, and etc. So, in this chapter, a non-linear bi-level model for optimal operation of the SDN is proposed where one or more solar based-electric vehicle parking lots (PLs) with private owners exist. The SDN operator (SDNO) and the PL owners are the decision-makers of the upper-level and lower-level of this model, respectively. The objective functions at two levels are the SDNO’s profit maximization and the PL owners’ cost minimization. For transforming this model into the single-level model that is named mathematical program with equilibrium constraints (MPEC), firstly, Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) conditions are used. Furthermore, due to the complementary constraints and non-linear term in the upper-level objective function, this model is linearized by the dual theory and Fortuny-Amat and McCarl linearization method. In the following, it is assumed that the SDNO is the owner of the solar-based EV PLs. In this case, the proposed model is a single-level model. The uncertainty of the EVs and the solar system, as well as two programs, are considered for the EVs, i.e., controlled charging (CC) and charging/discharging schedule (CDS). Because of the uncertainties, a risk-based model is defined by introducing a Conditional Value-at-Risk (CVaR) index. Finally, the bi-level model and the single-level model are tested on an IEEE 33-bus distribution system in three modes; i.e., without the EVs and the solar system, with the EVs by controlled charging and with/ without the solar system, and with the EVs by charging/discharging schedule and with/without the solar system. The main results are reported and discussed.fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Probabilistic Power Distribution Planning Using Multi-Objective Harmony Search Algorithm

In this paper, power distribution planning (PDP) considering distributed generators (DGs) is investigated as a dynamic multi-objective optimization problem. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) is applied to handle the uncertainty in electricity price and load demand. In the proposed model, investment and operation costs, losses and purchased power from the main grid are incorporated in the first objective function, while pollution emission due to DGs and the grid is considered in the second objective function. One of the important advantages of the proposed objective function is a feeder and substation expansion in addition to an optimal placement of DGs. The resulted model is a mixed-integer non-linear one, which is solved using a non-dominated sorting improved harmony search algorithm (NSIHSA). As multi-objective optimization problems do not have a unique solution, to obtain the final optimum solution, fuzzy decision making analysis tagged with planner criteria is applied. To show the effectiveness of the proposed model and its solution, it is applied to a 9-node distribution system

Bi-level model for operational scheduling of a distribution company that supplies electric vehicle parking lots

Nowadays, the presence of renewable energy resources (RERs), electric vehicle (EV) penetration, and the implementation of demand response (DR) programs are the main affecting factors in the operational scheduling of a distribution company (DISCO). By the new market participants such as parking lot (PL) owners in the DISCO, a bi-level framework can be created for modeling the distribution network. Therefore, in this paper, a new bi-level model is suggested for DISCO’s operational scheduling that involves technical and environmental terms in the objective function. The maximization of the profit of the DISCO owner and the PL owner are the objective functions in each level. These purposes depend on the customers’ load, the power purchased from the upstream network, the power exchanged with the PL owner (for the upper-level) and the power exchanged with the DISCO owner, as well as the EV owners (for the lower-level). Linearization of the model is carried out by applying the Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) condition and Fortuny-Amat and McCarl linearization approach. Furthermore, EVs’ and RERs’ uncertainties, as well as DR programs are modeled. Also, three types of risk are described including risk-seeker, risk-neutral, and risk-averse (with conditional value-at-risk (CVaR) index). For evaluation of the proposed model, it is applied to the IEEE 15-bus test system. Results show that by charging/discharging schedule of EVs and critical peak pricing program, the DISCO owner gains more profit. Also, the sensitivity analysis allows determining that the EV penetration, nominal power of RERs and customer involvement in the DR program directly affect the DISCO owner’s profit.© 2019 Elsevier. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial–NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY–NC–ND 4.0) license, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/fi=vertaisarvioitu|en=peerReviewed

Systems Level Analysis of the Yeast Osmo-Stat

Adaptation is an important property of living organisms enabling them to cope with environmental stress and maintaining homeostasis. Adaptation is mediated by signaling pathways responding to different stimuli. Those signaling pathways might communicate in order to orchestrate the cellular response to multiple simultaneous stimuli, a phenomenon called crosstalk. Here, we investigate possible mechanisms of crosstalk between the High Osmolarity Glycerol (HOG) and the Cell Wall Integrity (CWI) pathways in yeast, which mediate adaptation to hyper- and hypo-osmotic challenges, respectively. We combine ensemble modeling with experimental investigations to test in quantitative terms different hypotheses about the crosstalk of the HOG and the CWI pathways. Our analyses indicate that for the conditions studied i) the CWI pathway activation employs an adaptive mechanism with a variable volume-dependent threshold, in contrast to the HOG pathway, whose activation relies on a fixed volume-dependent threshold, ii) there is no or little direct crosstalk between the HOG and CWI pathways, and iii) its mainly the HOG alone mediating adaptation of cellular osmotic pressure for both hyper- as well as hypo-osmotic stress. Thus, by iteratively combining mathematical modeling with experimentation we achieved a better understanding of regulatory mechanisms of yeast osmo-homeostasis and formulated new hypotheses about osmo-sensing

Preoperative assessment of meningioma aggressiveness by Thallium-201 brain SPECT

Introduction: Meningioma is usually a benign brain tumor, but sometimes with aggressive course. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of 201Tl Brain SPECT to differentiate the pathologic grade of meningioma preoperatively. Methods: Thirty lesions in 28 patients were evaluated in this study. Early (20 minutes) and late (3 hours) brain SPECT images were performed and early uptake ratio (EUR), late uptake ratio (LUR) and retention index (RI) were calculated. All patients were operated and pathologic grade of tumors were defined according to World Health Organization grading system. Results: SPECT results were compared in different pathologic groups. Data analysis clarified no significant difference of EUR in benign and aggressive meningioma (P=0.2). However LUR and RI were significantly higher in aggressive tumors (P=0.001 and P=0.02, respectively). Conclusion: According to our data Tl-201 Brain SPECT with early and late imaging has 80 sensitivity and specificity to differentiate malignant from benign meningioma

Natural incidence of tomato viruses in the North of Iran

A survey was conducted in Qazvin province in the North of Iran, to determine the incidence of tomato viruses including: Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV), Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV), Tomato chlorotic spot virus (TCSV), Tomato bushy stunt virus (TBSV), Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), Tomato ring spot virus (ToRSV), Tomato aspermy virus (TAV), Potato virus Y (PVY), Beet curly top virus (BCTV), and Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). A total of 742 tomato symptomatic samples were collected during the summer of 2007 in five regions of Qazvin province (Qazvin, Takestan, Boeen-Zahra, Alborz and Abiyek) and tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). TSWV was detected in Alborz (4.4 %) and Abiyek (3.57%) regions but TMV and CMV were detected in all five regions. The greatest and least incidence of tomato viruses were recorded in Alborz (40.7 %) and Takestan (11.1 %), respectively. The presence of these viruses was also evaluated in the weed hosts as natural sources of plant viruses. The greatest and least incidence of tomato viruses in weed hosts were recorded in Boeen-Zahra (25.6 %) and Qazvin (12.8 %), respectively. TSWV was not detected in weeds. Transmission tests demonstrated that Thrips tabaci acts as TSWV carrier and Myzus persicae and Aphis gossypii were CMV carriers. Seed transmission tests were positive for TMV (13 tomato seedlings from 100 seedlings), but no TSWV transmission was observed through the seeds of infected tomato fruits