Local political marketing in the context of the conservative party

Local political marketing can be defined as marketing related strategy, activities, and tactics implemented by a political party in a local geographic constituency, in order to attempt to maximise aggregate potential voter satisfaction, and therefore maximise total number of votes and electoral support in the constituency. Through 12 in-depth interviews with Local Constituency Party representatives from the Conservative Party, the study found that local political marketing was acknowledged by a majority of respondents although this was not unequivocal, and was frequently conflated with campaigning. Local political marketing was associated with: visual identity, language/messages, values, image, communication devices, awareness raising, data management and targeting, and simplification. The support from higher levels of the party in local political marketing was varied across constituencies. There was evidence of growing coordination /influence by higher levels of the party in local political marketing. However, this tended to be in seats judged as ‘winnable’

Molecular detection of vanA and vanB genes among vancomycin-resistant enterococci in ICU-hospitalized patients in Ahvaz in southwest of Iran

Mojtaba Moosavian,1,2 Hosein Ghadri,2 Zahra Samli3 1Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; 2Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran; 3School of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran Objective: Nosocomial infections due to vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are known as a source of spreading these bacteria. The aim of this prospective study was molecular detection of vanA and vanB genes among VRE isolated from patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in Ahvaz in southwest of Iran.Materials and methods: Overall, 243 non-duplicate rectal swab specimens were collected from ICU-hospitalized patients in teaching hospitals affiliated to Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Iran. The specimens were inoculated on suitable culture media, and isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests. The susceptibility and resistance of enterococci to 10 antibiotics were determined based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Resistance to vancomycin was phenotypically detected by vancomycin screening test, and the vanA and vanB genes in vancomycin-resistant isolates were amplified by multiplex PCR method.Results: Of 175 specimens containing enterococci, 129 (73.7%) isolates were detected as Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis and 46 (26.3%) isolates as Enterococcus spp. The results of susceptibility test showed high rates of resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ampicillin. Moreover, based on this test, out of 129 Enterococcus isolates, 56 (43.4%) were resistant to vancomycin and teicoplanin. Also, among 59 vancomycin-resistant or semi-susceptible isolates, vanA gene was detected in 54 (91.5%) isolates, while none of the isolates had vanB gene.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, to prevent the spread of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus strains, especially in nosocomial infections, the susceptibility of isolates should be determined before vancomycin prescription. Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, multiplex PCR, vancomyci

Influence of a combination of formic and propionic acids added to wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance and gut histomorphology of broiler chickens

Day-old male chicks were used to test the effects of a combination of formic and propionic acids (CFP) added to wheat- and barley-based diets on the performance and gut histomorphology of broilers. The CFP, containing formic and propionic acids based on an inorganic phyllo-silicate carrier, was added to starter and grower broiler diets of standard (NRC, 1994) or lower nutrient density (LND) using different levels of wheat and barley. Body weight gain (BWG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of broiler chicks were significantly (P < 0.001) improved by CFP supplementation at 21 days of age regardless of nutrient density (ND). However, at 35 days of age CFP addition significantly (P < 0.001) increased BWG and FCR. Proventriculus weight was also significantly affected by the dietary treatments. Ileal viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by ND which was associated with wheat and barley contents, whereas feed viscosity was significantly (P < 0.05) affected by CFP supplementation. Villus height was significantly (P < 0.05) increased by the CFP supplementation. In the case of villus width, an interaction effect was observed: there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the group fed the standard ND diet, but only a numerical decrease in the group fed the LND diet compared to control group. No significant effect of dietary treatment on the thickness of the lamina muscularis mucosae could be detected