Size Control in the Nanoprecipitation Process of Stable Iodine (127I) Using Microchannel Reactor—Optimization by Artificial Neural Networks

In this study, nanosuspension of stable iodine (127I) was prepared by nanoprecipitation process in microfluidic devices. Then, size of particles was optimized using artificial neural networks (ANNs) modeling. The size of prepared particles was evaluated by dynamic light scattering. The response surfaces obtained from ANNs model illustrated the determining effect of input variables (solvent and antisolvent flow rate, surfactant concentration, and solvent temperature) on the output variable (nanoparticle size). Comparing the 3D graphs revealed that solvent and antisolvent flow rate had reverse relation with size of nanoparticles. Also, those graphs indicated that the solvent temperature at low values had an indirect relation with size of stable iodine (127I) nanoparticles, while at the high values, a direct relation was observed. In addition, it was found that the effect of surfactant concentration on particle size in the nanosuspension of stable iodine (127I) was depended on the solvent temperature. © 2015, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists

Laser-induced radial birefringence and spin-to-orbital optical angular momentum conversion in silver-doped glasses

Samples of Ag$^+$/Na$^{+}$ ion-exchanged glass that have been subject to intense laser irradiation may develop novel optical properties, as a consequence of the formation of patterns of silver nanoparticles and other structures. Here, we report the observation of a laser-induced permanent transverse birefringence, with the optical axis forming a radial pattern, as revealed by the spin-to-orbital angular momentum conversion occurring in a probe light beam. The birefringence pattern can be modeled well as resulting from thermally-induced stresses arising in the silver-doped glass during laser exposure, although the actual mechanism leading to the permanent anisotropy is probably more complex.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Tularemia and Plague Survey in Rodents in Earthquake Zones in Southeastern Iran

OBJECTIVES: Earthquakes are one the most common natural disasters that lead to increased mortality and morbidity from transmissible diseases, partially because the rodents displaced by an earthquake can lead to an increased rate of disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of plague and tularemia in rodents in the earthquake zones in southeastern Iran. METHODS: In April 2013, a research team was dispatched to explore the possible presence of diseases in rodents displaced by a recent earthquake magnitude 7.7 around the cities of Khash and Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Rodents were trapped near and in the earthquake zone, in a location where an outbreak of tularemia was reported in 2007. Rodent serums were tested for a serological survey using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In the 13 areas that were studied, nine rodents were caught over a total of 200 trap-days. Forty-eight fleas and 10 ticks were obtained from the rodents. The ticks were from the Hyalomma genus and the fleas were from the Xenopsylla genus. All the trapped rodents were Tatera indica. Serological results were negative for plague, but the serum agglutination test was positive for tularemia in one of the rodents. Tatera indica has never been previously documented to be involved in the transmission of tularemia. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence of the plague cycle was found in the rodents of the area, but evidence was found of tularemia infection in rodents, as demonstrated by a positive serological test for tularemia in one rodent

Association between lumbar modic changes and MRI finding of degenerative disc in patients with low back pain

Background: Recent studies have indicated the relation of vertebral endplate lesions (Modic changes) to low back pain (LBP). The aim of this study was to investigate the Modic changes in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of patients with low back pain, and its correlation with age, sex, type of changes, number of involved segments and location of changes. Additionally, association of degenerative disc changes and disc herniation was assessed. Methods: In this retrospective study, MRI records of 229 patients with LBP referring to Medical Center of Hazrat-e-Rasoul Hospital, Tehran, Iran, from August to February 2014, were assessed and Modic changes and degenerative and herniated disc changes were recorded. Results: Based on our observations, a significant association between Modic type and age (P= 0.003) existed in patients with LBP. The highest prevalence in Modic location were observed in anterior part of vertebral endplate (48.8, P= 0.001). Although, observation of the Modic changes in superior vertebral endplate was higher than inferior parts, but this differences was not statistically significant. The highest prevalence in degenerative disc disease was disc dehydration which was observed in 18.1 of patients (P= 0.04). The relationship between the degenerative changes and Modic type was significant (P= 0.04), while the most prevalent change of disc contour was disc bulging which occurred in 23.7 of patients (P= 0.01). The highest frequency of abnormal disc contour were observed in Modic type 2 which was statistically significant (P= 0.01). Modic surface involvement above 25 was significantly associated with disc herniation (P= 0.04). There was no significant association between Modic height involvement above 25 and disc herniation. Conclusion: Considering significant association between Modic changes and degenerative and herniated disc changes, reporting of Modic changes is necessary. © 2016, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. All rights reserved

Cloning and expression of codon-optimized recombinant darbepoetin alfa in Leishmania tarentolae T7-TR

Darbepoetin alfa is an engineered and hyperglycosylated analog of recombinant human erythropoietin (EPO) which is used as a drug in treating anemia in patients with chronic kidney failure and cancer. This study desribes the secretory expression of a codon-optimized recombinant form of darbepoetin alfa in Leishmania tarentolae T7-TR. Synthetic codon-optimized gene was amplified by PCR and cloned into the pLEXSY-I-blecherry3 vector. The resultant expression vector, pLEXSYDarbo, was purified, digested, and electroporated into the L. tarentolae. Expression of recombinant darbepoetin alfa was evaluated by ELISA, reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and biological activity. After codon optimization, codon adaptation index (CAI) of the gene raised from 0.50 to 0.99 and its GC content changed from 56 to 58. Expression analysis confirmed the presence of a protein band at 40 kDa. Furthermore, reticulocyte experiment results revealed that the activity of expressed darbepoetin alfa was similar to that of its equivalent expressed in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. These data suggested that the codon optimization and expression in L. tarentolae host provided an efficient approach for high level expression of darbepoetin alfa. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Building resilient communities over time

Community resilience entails the community’s ongoing and developing capacity to account for its vulnerabilities and function amid and recover from disturbance. A holistic and systematic approach of the community on how it uses material and energy resources or how a society educates the members’ over time is required to learn from the past and adapt to the present and future opportunities and threads. Community resilience has a long history in the local communities, which is embedded in their culture and history around shared values and local knowledge based on a dedicated and robust collaboration among diverse groups of the community and the various actors from different backgrounds. The innovative partnership between various actors such as stakeholders, research entities, local communities, and third sector parties is required to overcome the complexities of resiliency building. Using local knowledge to understand the local needs better is crucial in developing local, sustainable solutions and building community resilience over time.Global Challenges (FSW

Population genetic structure of the white sardine, Sardinella albella, in the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman by analysis of mitochondrial control region

Several studies on the white sardine: Sardinella albella, have focused on the identification of stock composition and behavior. In this study population genetic structure and historical demography of S. albella along the cost of the Persian Gulf and Sea of Oman were investigated with a 500-bp segment of mt-DNA control region. In total 40 samples were collected from 3 locations: Jask in Sea of Oman, Qeshm in Strait of Hormuz and Lengeh in the Persian Gulf during 2012-2013. 33 haplotype were obtained none of which were presented in all sampling sites. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated low genetic differentiation among regions (F_ST=0.024, p<0.05). The average pair wise differences between regional population were small but significant (0.0158-0.165). Molecular variance explained by differences among three regions was significantly different from zero but the F_ST did not show clear phylogeographic isolation. This observation can support the conclusion that S. albella has a widespread dispersal potential

Comparison of antibacterial activities of Ircinia mutans extracts in two different seasons from Kish Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

Sponges, which constitute the phylum Porifera, are the most primitive of the multicellular animals, among all marine organisms screened. Marine sponges produce the largest number of structurally diversified natural products. In this study we investigated in vitro antimicrobial activity of Ircinia mutans collected from the Kish Island in the Persian Gulf against strains of bacteria Escherichia coli (ATCC 15224), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 25619), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 1764), and Bacillus subtilis spizizenii (ATCC 6633). Diethyl etter, methanol and aqueous extracts of sponge were evaluated by using the Bacterial Broth Dilution Method. The results showed that the aqueous extracts didn’t have any antibacterial activity. Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the winter diethyl etter extract was 2 mg/ml for E.coli and 20 mg/ml for P. aeruginosa, whereas the summer diethyl etter extract and both of methanol extracts did not show any activity. The MIC and MBC (Minimum Bacterial Concentration) of summer diethyl etter extracts were 2 mg/ml and 3mg/ml against S. aureus; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when tested on B. subtilis. The MIC and MBC of winter diethyl etter extracts were measured as 1.5 mg/ml and 2mg/ml against S. aurous; and 5mg/ml and 10mg/ml when examined on B. subtilis. Summer and winter methanol and aqueous extracts of I. mutans did not show any activity against these bacteria. Therefore secondary metabolite solutions in diethyl etter contain components with antibacterial properties and can be used as antibiotics products