Lining Design for Alborz Tunnel in Iran

The paper describes the application of analytical methods if tunnel linings design under static, tectonic and seismic effects for the design of the transport tunnel Albors in Iran. The methods are based on solutions of the corresponding plane problems of the elasticity theory simulating the initial stress fields in the rock mass caused by gravitational or tectonic forces and actions of long arbitrary directed longitudinal (P) and shear (S) waves propagating in the plane of the tunnel cross-section. For the design of tunnel linings under seismic effects the original approach has been applied consisting in the determination of maximal compressive and tensile circumferential stresses wich may appear in points of the lining internal outline at any combinations and directions of P- and S- waves

Helicobacter pylori release from yeast as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium

Background: Yeast has been suggested as a potent reservoir of H. pylori that facilitates bacterial spread within human populations. What mechanism ensures effective H. pylori release from yeast? Here, H. pylori release from yeast as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium was studied. Materials and methods: Liquid culture of Candida yeast was examined by light, fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy methods to observe the released vesicles. Vesicles were isolated and examined by TEM. Immunogold labeling was used for detection of H. pylori-specific proteins in vesicles� membrane. Free bacterial cells, released from yeast, were separated by immunomagnetic separation and observed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). DNA of bead-bound bacteria was used for amplification of H. pylori-16S rDNA. Viability of bead-bound bacteria was examined by live/dead stain and cultivation on Brucella blood agar. Results: Microscopic observations showed that vesicles contained bacterium-like structures. Thin sections showed release of vesicle-encased or free bacterium from yeast. Immunogold labeling revealed occurrence of H. pylori proteins in vesicles� membrane. FESEM showed attachment of H. pylori cells to magnetic beads. Sequencing of 521 bp PCR product confirmed the identity of bead-bound H. pylori. Live/dead staining showed viability of bead-bound H. pylori but the result of culture was negative. Conclusions: Escape of intracellular H. pylori from yeast as a membrane-bound or free bacterium indicates that H. pylori uses safe exit mechanisms that do not damage the host which is the principle of symbiotic associations. In human stomach, certain conditions may stimulate yeast cells to release H. pylori as a vesicle-encased or free bacterium. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Lt

The Effect of Cardiac Rehabilitation Care Plan on Quality of Life in Patients Undergoing Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

Introduction: Today, coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) in many patients to treat complications of the disease is common. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of cardiac rehabilitation on quality of life in patients undergoing CABG was performed. Materials and Methods: In this study, a quasi-experimental (clinical trial) study of 50 patients after coronary artery bypass graft surgery procedure based on objective and applying the criteria for inclusion of patients (community access) selected. Rehabilitation program was conducted for 24 sessions. for evaluate of demographic data and quality of life, demographic and questionnaires was used. For analysis of data chi-square test and RMANOVA tests was conducted. Results: Results showed that participants in terms of demographic variables were not significantly different from each other. The results also vary between the different stages of research in physical function, role physical (physical limitations, bodily pain, general health, role emotional (emotional limitations), mental health, physical health components and quality of life were significant differences. Conclusion: The results of this research, cardiac rehabilitation intervention is indicated on life quality improvement. Therefore attentive to the issue of cardiac rehabilitation is necessary

Hypersonic impact properties of pristine and hybrid single and multi-layer C3N and BC3 nanosheets

Carbon, nitrogen, and boron nanostructures are promising ballistic protection materials due to their low density and excellent mechanical properties. In this study, the ballistic properties of C3N and BC3 nanosheets against hypersonic bullets with Mach numbers greater than 6 were studied. The critical perforation conditions, and thus, the intrinsic impact strength of these 2D materials were determined by simulating ballistic curves of C3N and BC3 monolayers. Furthermore, the energy absorption scaling law with different numbers of layers and interlayer spacing was investigated, for homogeneous or hybrid configurations (alternated stacking of C3N and the BC3). Besides, we created a hybrid sheet using van der Waals bonds between two adjacent sheets based on the hypervelocity impacts of fullerene (C60) molecules utilizing molecular dynamics simulation. As a result, since the higher bond energy between N–C compared to B-C, it was shown that C3N nanosheets have higher absorption energy than BC3. In contrast, in lower impact speeds and before penetration, single-layer sheets exhibited almost similar behavior. Our findings also reveal that in hybrid structures, the C3N layers will improve the ballistic properties of BC3. The energy absorption values with a variable number of layers and variable interlayer distance (X = 3.4 Å and 4X = 13.6 Å) are investigated, for homogeneous or hybrid configurations. These results provide a fundamental understanding of ultra-light multilayered armors' design using nanocomposites based on advanced 2D materials. The results can also be used to select and make 2D membranes and allotropes for DNA sequencing and filtration. © 2021, The Author(s).Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) structure of Anopheles superpictus populations in IRAN

Background: Malaria is still one of the main health problems in south and southeast provinces of Iran and recently on average 10,000-30,000 malaria cases were reported annually. Mosquitoes of Anopheles superpictus are one of the main malaria vectors in Iran and have been reported from all areas of the country including central plateau and plains of Alborz and Zagrous Mountains chains, and with low numbers in shore plains of the Persian Gulf and Caspian Sea. There are variations in larval and adult morphological characters and also in vectorial capacity of this species in different areas of Iran. Methods: This study has been conducted to investigate rate of mtDNA variation among various populations of this species in Iran. The sequence variation of an 1512 bp length of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) cytochrome oxidase subunits 1 and 2 (COI-COII) and an 708 bp sequences of COI gene were analyzed by PCR-RFLP and PCR-direct sequencing respectively. Results: This study showed that there are considerable variations between and within populations. Rate of variation was 12.3 % between populations and this was 2-5% for within Baluchistan population. Totally 4 haplotypes were observed between populations where 3 occur in Baluchistan and one in other places. Conclusion: This is the first report on existence of various haplotypes in An. superpictus in science, and presumably this species comprising siblings and is a species complex. Further studies need to confirm this result and to determine the relationship between mtDNA haplotypes and their role in malaria transmission in each locality

Preparative SDS-PAGE Electroelution for Rapid Purification of Alkyl Hydroperoxide Reductase from Helicobacter pylori

"nBackground: Alkyl hydroperoxide reductase (AhpC) of Helicobacter pylori is considered as a diagnostic antigen. There­fore, this antigen can be used to detect H. pylori infection by stool immunoassays such as ELISA. The aim of this study was to simplify the AhpC protein purification procedures."nMethods: For whole cell protein extraction, the bacterial cells were ruptured by octly-β-D glucopyranoside. The isolation and purification of  AhpC protein were attempted by various techniques including ammonium sulfate precipitation, dialysis, preparative sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and electroelution."nResults:A simple method was used for protein purification AhpC protein. One-dimensional preparative gel electrophoresis allows a single and short purification step; the high resolution capacity of this technique leads to a high level of purity of the protein. Moreover, it avoids contamination by other non-specific proteins which often appear during protein purification by column chromatography."nConclusion: The present method is simple, rapid and makes it possible to preparate AhpC from H. pylor

Extraction and separation of lipopolysaccharide from outer membrane of Helicobacter pylori

Background: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the major causes of peptic ulcer, gastritis and gastric cancer. This bacterium has a special lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is responsible for its pathogenesis and its high resistance against gastric acid and escape from the human immune system. This property makes it a target for further research and diagnostic goals. In this study, the extraction of the LPS and separation from the outer membrane is required. Methods: The LPS was extracted from the outer membrane, or envelope, of H. pylori obtained from patients suffering from gastritis, gastric ulcer and gastric cancer. LPS extraction was performed using the proteinase K method. SDS-PAGE and silver staining were applied to investigate the electrophoretic pattern of the LPS. This pattern was compared with that of E. coli serotype O111:B4 and Salmonella serotype ATCC 14028. Results: The extracted LPS has a ladder-shaped electrophoretic pattern and the bands are located in three groups: high, medium and low molecular weights. Conclusion: The distribution of the bands of the ladder-shaped electrophoretic pattern is caused by the different number of oligosaccharide chains associated with the LPS. The high molecular weight bands represent S-LPS and the low molecular weight bands represent the R-LPS, which lacks the O-chain

Standardization and in-house ELISA setup for helicobacter pylori serologic diagnosis

Helicobacter pylori (H.pylori) is the most prominent causative agent of gastroduodenal diseases all over the world. Other manifestations such as urticaria and coronary heart diseases, also are suspected to be induced by H.pylori. Non invasive methods are preferred for diagnosis; and ELISA, because of its reliability, speed, sensitivity and specificity is widely preferred as diagnostic tool. Previously we have used IFA, and here, we report an indirect ELISA technique for H.pylori diagnosis. First, 9 strains, of H.pylori isolated from biopsies, were cultured, and the soluble crude antigen was used to coat ELISA plates. Antigen concentration and conjugated antiserum dilution were optimised using checker board method. In this study the gold standard was: rapid urease test, culture and direct smear. Patient serum dillution and the cut-off value was determind, using 22 negative and 30 positive confirmed samples according to ROC curve and the results were compared with a commercial kit. The sensitivity and specificity of this method were 93.2 percent and 95.4 percent respectively. A commercial ELISA Kit, was used and compared simultaneously. The sensitivity and specificity were 87.8 percent and 73 percent respectively. Therefore, regarding the acceptable sensitivity and specificity, ease of work of ELISA, being economical and non-invasive, it can be employed in diagnosis of H.pylori infection and also in epidemiological studies

Ventilation prediction for an industrial cement raw ball mill by bnn—a “conscious lab” approach

In cement mills, ventilation is a critical key for maintaining temperature and material transportation. However, relationships between operational variables and ventilation factors for an industrial cement ball mill were not addressed until today. This investigation is going to fill this gap based on a newly developed concept named “conscious laboratory (CL)”. For constructing the CL, a boosted neural network (BNN), as a recently developed comprehensive artificial intelligence model, was applied through over 35 different variables, with more than 2000 records monitored for an industrial cement ball mill. BNN could assess multivariable nonlinear relationships among this vast dataset, and indicated mill outlet pressure and the ampere of the separator fan had the highest rank for the ventilation prediction. BNN could accurately model ventilation factors based on the operational variables with a root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.6. BNN showed a lower error than other traditional machine learning models (RMSE: random forest 0.71, support vector regression: 0.76). Since improving the milling efficiency has an essential role in machine development and energy utilization, these results can open a new window to the optimal designing of comminution units for the material technologies. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]