Interpreting biomass and catch per unit area (CPUA) to assess the status of demersal fishes in Oman Sea

This study aimed to assess the biomass and catch per unit area (CPUA) of demersal fish resources in the northern part of the Oman Sea based on trawl survey. The study area was stratified into five stratum (I, II, III, IV and V) covering the depth layers of 10-20, 20-30, 30-50 and 50-100 m. A total number of 68 stations were monitored during the study period. The highest values of biomass were belong to stratum V and IV in the east coast of the Oman Sea and the highest species biomass was belong to batoid fishes (8054.4 tons). The lowest CPUA was recorded in the central region of the study area (stratum III, approximately 8212 kg/nm2) and the highest CPUA was on both sides of the study area (the east and west coast). Moreover, the highest CPUA (2031 kg/nm2) was observed in 20-30 m depth layer. The results showed the changes in biomass and CPUA based on different depths and the most abundant species groups were Trichiurus lepturus (50-100 meter), Sphyraena jello (30-50 meters), Caranx ignobilis (20-30 meters), and Pomadasys kaakan (10-20 meters)

An overview of VANET vehicular networks

Today, with the development of intercity and metropolitan roadways and with various cars moving in various directions, there is a greater need than ever for a network to coordinate commutes. Nowadays, people spend a lot of time in their vehicles. Smart automobiles have developed to make that time safer, more effective, more fun, pollution-free, and affordable. However, maintaining the optimum use of resources and addressing rising needs continues to be a challenge given the popularity of vehicle users and the growing diversity of requests for various services. As a result, VANET will require modernized working practices in the future. Modern intelligent transportation management and driver assistance systems are created using cutting-edge communication technology. Vehicular Ad-hoc networks promise to increase transportation effectiveness, accident prevention, and pedestrian comfort by allowing automobiles and road infrastructure to communicate entertainment and traffic information. By constructing thorough frameworks, workflow patterns, and update procedures, including block-chain, artificial intelligence, and SDN (Software Defined Networking), this paper addresses VANET-related technologies, future advances, and related challenges. An overview of the VANET upgrade solution is given in this document in order to handle potential future problems

Students and faculty viewpoint of Ilam University of Medical Sciences about the students’ evaluation system of the instruction quality

Student evaluation of the quality of instruction is considered as one of the most widely used methods for assessing faculty in universities. This study aimed to identify and compare faculty and students' views about the evaluation system of the quality of faculty teaching in 2011-2012 in Ilam University of Medical Sciences. In this descriptive – analytical study, statistical population was included faculty members (n = 92) and students (n=1,100) that their viewpoint in three fields: competence of students for evaluation, assessment tools quality and factors affecting the results of the evaluation using two designed questionnaires and descriptive and inferential statistics analyzing data, were studied. Scores of participants' viewpoint was as follows: Students  capacity to do faculty proficiency evaluation (3.62±0.91), evaluation of teaching methods(1.01±3.72) evaluation and scoring methods(3.41± 1.01) and their suitability for evaluation of designing of the course content (3.16± 0.99), the number of questionnaire questions (3.25 ± 0.9) Matching evaluations  tools to evaluation goal or validity (3 ± 0.96) how to design questions (3.20± 0.96) and the rate of bias in the questionnaire (3.16± 1.02), In addition, the effect of factors on student evaluations was as follow: factors related to the student (3.62± 1.06), factors related to the course and class (3.29 ± 1.06), factors related to the instructor (3.64 ± 1.01), and factors related to the evaluation system (3.18± 1.11). Compare the viewpoints of faculty and students also showed significant differences in two groups' viewpoints (p <% 5).Despite the current evaluation system is partially confirmed by the study subjects but due to the influence of the results of variety of factors, significant objections have been raised, particularly from faculty, when it is used as the only source, so that in order to reduce weaknesses and strengthen the evaluation system, the review of evaluation form and methods of designing in line with increasing the validity and reliability should be done.

Putative novel B-cell vaccine candidates identified by reverse vaccinology and genomics approaches to control Acinetobacter baumannii serotypes

In the last decade, Multi-drug resistance (MDR)-associated infections of Acinetobacter baumannii have grown worldwide. A cost-effective preventative strategy against this bacterium is vaccination. This study has presented five novel vaccine candidates against A. baumannii produced using the reverse vaccinology method. BLASTn was done to identify the most conserved antigens. PSORTb 3.0.2 was run to predict the subcellular localization of the proteins. The initial screening and antigenicity evaluation were performed using Vaxign. The ccSOL omics was also employed to predict protein solubility. The cross-membrane localization of the protein was predicted using PRED-TMBB. B cell epitope prediction was made for immunogenicity using the IEDB and BepiPred-2.0 database. Eventually, BLASTp was done to verify the extent of similarity to the human proteome to exclude the possibility of autoimmunity. Proteins failing to comply with the set parameters were filtered at each step. In silico, potential vaccines against 21 A. baumannii strains were identified using reverse vaccinology and subtractive genomic techniques. Based on the above criteria, out of the initial 15 A. baumannii proteins selected for screening, nine exposed/secreted/membrane proteins, i.e., Pfsr, LptE, OmpH, CarO, CsuB, CdiB, MlaA, FhuE, and were the most promising candidates. Their solubility and antigenicity were also examined and found to be more than 0.45 and 0.6, respectively. Based on the results, LptE was selected with the highest average antigenic score of 1.043 as the best protein, followed by FimF and Pfsr with scores of 1.022 and 1.014, respectively. In the end, five proteins were verified as promising candidates. Overall, the targets identified herein may be utilized in future strategies to control A. baumannii worldwide

Diversity and ecotypic variation in the antioxidant and antigenotoxic effects of Thymus kotschyanus Boiss & Hohen

Thymus species are amongst the most popular medicinal plants because of their biological effects and pharmacological properties, and they are widely used in folk medicine for many disorders. Fourteen ecotypic Thymus kotschyanus essential oils were isolated, and the biological functionalities of ecotypic oils were characterized in terms of free radical scavenging and antigenotoxic properties. The most abundant ecotypic oil constituents were thymol and carvacrol (27.2–75.6%). The oils produced scavenging capacity, bleaching inhibitory capacity, and COMET-inhibitory capacity values in a dose-dependent manner ranging from 0.15 to 4.79 mg/ml, 0.04 to 3.1 mg/ml and 0.03 to 5.00 mg/ml, respectively. The benefits of T. kotschyanus essential oils from different regions vary, and they represent an inexpensive source of natural substances that have the potential to be used as antioxidative and antigenotoxic agents. Although the impacts of the microenvironment, climate difference and agronomical condition on the medical benefits of the plant were complex and highly context dependent, some correlations among the biological effects, main essential constituents, and the geographical environment were predicted. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyrigh

New Economics of the Biopharmaceutical Industries and Job Opportunities

Background Biopharmaceutical is either protein or nucleic acid based drug that is approved for therapeutic, diagnostic, or disease prevention applications. Methods This study was conducted by a careful bibliography and search through original pharmaceutical company websites such as Web of Sciences, Springer, Scopus, Pubmed, and Google scholar. Results The annual pharmaceutical company reporting season started a few months ago and brought exciting full-year events. The global market value was estimated US$780 billion in 2016, representing an accelerating trend with more than 4.9$72 billion in 2016. Despite the growing challenges posed to the pharmaceutical companies, they are estimated to grow at an average rate of 6.3% per year, reaching $1.3 trillion by 2022. In 2016, biopharmaceutical products represented sales of$197 billion appropriated 24% of the global market. Antibodies alone had sales of $82 billion, near to half of the biopharmaceutical market. Conclusion Results from the health care world represent that the biopharmaceutical industries are spectacularly occupying the pharmaceutical market and they are expected to continue to grow up to 30$190 billion in 2022. Therefore, it is not surprising to recognize Roche as the top ranking biopharmaceutical pipeline with innovative oncology projects in the industry. Roche is expected to be the best biopharmaceutical selling company, competing Novartis for the first spot in 2022. Keywords: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Biologic agents , Economics , Protei

Radiolabeling and Bio-distribution study of ICD-85 with Technetium-99m as a cancer treatment agent in mice

     ICD-85 is a combination of three poly-peptides, ranging from 10,000 to 30,000 Dalton, derived from the venoms of an Iranian brown snake (Agkistrodon halys) and a yellow scorpion (Hemiscorpius lepturus). Labeling of this ICD-85 was successfully achieved with 99mTc, through direct method using SnF2 as reducing agent. Labeled ICD-85 was injected into mice to determine the excretion pathway. The results show that the maximum labeling yield (>75%) was obtained by using 30 μg of ICD-85 in phosphate buffer (60 μl, pH 7.1) at room temperature. Bio-distribution studies with radiolabeled ICD-85 shows moderate clearance of the complex from blood. The improvement of the immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer requires a better knowledge of the biological actions of the ICD-85 since tissue distribution studies are very important for clinical purpose

Učinci šest tjedana treninga dubinskih skokova i skokova s pripremom na pijesku na mišićni zamor i izvedbu

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of six weeks of depth jump (DJ) vs countermovement jump (CMJ) training on sand on muscle soreness, jump, sprint, agility and leg press strength. Thirty healthy men (age 20.4±1.1 years; height 177.4±5.1 cm; and mass 72.8±9.7 kg) volunteered to participate and were randomly assigned to one of three groups: DJ training group (n=10), CMJ training group (n=10) or control group (n=10). The experimental groups performed either DJ or CMJ training two days a week for six weeks. The training program included five sets of 20 repetitions DJ (from the height of a 45-cm box) or CMJ exercise onto 20 cm of dry sand. Assessments of Vertical Jump Test (VJT), Standing Long Jump Test (SLJT), 20 and 40 m sprints, T-Test (TT), Illinois Agility Test (IAT), and one-repetition maximum Leg Press (1RMLP) were performed a week before and following the 6-week training period. Muscle soreness was also measured pre, immediately post, 24 and 48 hours after the first and last training sessions. Significant increases were observed in both the DJ and CMJ groups in VJT (16.2 vs. 13.5%), and SLJT (13.9 vs. 14.4%) (p.05). These observations may have considerable practical relevance for the optimal design of plyometric training programs, given that DJ and CMJ training on sand is effective for improving muscular performance.Cilj je ovog istraživanja bio utvrditi učinke šestotjednog treninga dubinskih skokova u odnosu na skokove s pripremom na pijesku na mišićni zamor, izvedbu skokova, sprinta, agilnost i snagu nožnog potiska. Za sudjelovanje u istraživanju volontiralo je 30 ispitanika (dob: 20,4±1,1 godina; tjelesna visina: 177,4±5,1 cm; tjelesna težina: 72,8±9,7 kg) koji su slučajnim odabirom raspoređeni u jednu od tri grupe: grupu koja je trenirala dubinske skokove (n=10), grupu koja je trenirala skokove s pripremom (n=10) ili kontrolnu grupu (n=10). Ispitanici u eksperimentalnim grupama provodili su trening dubinskih skokova ili trening skokova s pripremom dva puta tjedno tijekom šest tjedana. Program treninga uključivao je pet serija po 20 ponavljanja dubinskih skokova (saskok sa sanduka visine 45 cm) ili skokova s pripremom na suhom pijesku dubine 20 cm. Tjedan dana prije treninga te nakon šest tjedana treninga provedena su mjerenja visine vertikalnog skoka, skoka udalj s mjesta, sprinta na 20 i 40 metara, razine agilnosti pomoću T-testa i Illinois Agility Testa te 1RM u testu nožni potisak. Razina mišićnog zamora također je bila mjerena prije, odmah nakon, 24 i 48 sati nakon prvog i posljednjeg treninga. Značajna povećanja u visini vertikalnog skoka (16,2 vs. 13,5%) i skoku udalj s mjesta (13,9 vs. 14,4%) (p<0,05) zabilježena su u grupi koja je trenirala dubinske skokove, odnosno skokove s pripremom. Značajna smanjenja vremena sprinta na 20 (8,5 vs. 7,4%) i 40 (6,1 vs. 3,8%) metara, T-testu (9,3 vs. 12%) i Illinos Agility Testu (9,2 vs. 10,6%) zabilježena su u obje eksperimentalne grupe. Značajno povećanje 1RM u testu nožni potisak zabilježeno je samo u grupi koja je provodila trening skokova s pripremom. Ista grupa zabilježila je i statistički značajno veći osjećaj mišićnog zamora u mišiću rectus femoris 48 sati nakon prvog treninga nego grupa koja je provodila trening dubinskih skokova i kontrolna grupa. Nisu zabilježene statistički značajne razlike u osjećaju zamora između grupa nakon posljednjeg treninga. Rezultati ovog istraživanja mogu pridonijeti dizajniranju optimalnih programa pliometrijskog treninga, s obzirom na činjenicu da su oba eksperimentalna tipa treninga na pijesku pokazala učinkovitost u poboljšanju mišićnih performansi