Entrepreneurship development; a step towards achieving the economic and social goals of fisheries: (Explanation and ranking of effective environmental factors using fuzzy Delphi and FAHP approach)

The purpose of the present research was to identify and rank the effective environmental (background) indices on OE process in Mazandaran Fisheries Organization. In terms of data collection, the method used in this study was the descriptive-survey method and in terms of research purposes, it was an applied research. Statistical population included experts and leading experts of Mazandaran fisheries organization in 2014. After literature review, the effective environmental (background) indices on OE were identified. Data were collected using Delphi and paired comparisons questionnaires, and analyzed using fuzzy Delphi method and FAHP. The results showed that the effective environmental (background) indices on OE, in order of priority, were the economic environments, legal-political environment, social-cultural environment, technological environment, administrative environment and international environment

Cl415, a carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolate containing four AbaR4 and a new variant of AbGRI2, represents a novel global clone 2 strain.

ObjectivesTo determine the genetic context of genes conferring antibiotic resistance on the carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Cl415, recovered in 2017 at El Youssef Hospital Centre in Akkar Governorate, North Lebanon.MethodsAntibiotic resistance phenotype for 22 antibiotics was determined using disc diffusion or MIC determination. The whole-genome sequence of Cl415 was determined using a combination of the Illumina MiSeq and Oxford Nanopore (MinION) platforms. Complete genome was assembled using Unicycler and antibiotic resistance determinants and ISs were identified using ResFinder and ISFinder, respectively.ResultsCl415 is a global clone 2 (GC2) strain and belongs to the most common STs of this clone, ST2IP and ST218OX. Cl415 is resistant to several antibiotics, including aminoglycosides and carbapenems to a high level. Genomic analysis of Cl415 revealed that it carries four chromosomal AbaR4 copies. One copy was found in the comM gene replacing the AbGRI1 island. Cl415 also contains a novel variant of AbGRI2, herein called AbGRI2-15, carrying only the blaTEM and aphA1 resistance genes. Cl415 belongs to a subclade of GC2 strains that appear to have diverged recently with a wide geographical distribution.ConclusionsThe resistance gene complement of Cl415 was found in the chromosome with four oxa23 located in AbaR4 copies and the remaining genes in a novel variant of the AbGRI2 resistance island. Cl415 was isolated in Lebanon, but phylogenetic analysis suggests that Cl415 represents a new lineage with global distribution within GC2

Phylogenomics of two ST1 antibiotic-susceptible non-clinical <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i> strains reveals multiple lineages and complex evolutionary history in global clone 1.

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is difficult to treat due to its resistance to extreme conditions, including desiccation and antibiotics. Most strains causing outbreaks around the world belong to two main global lineages, namely global clones 1 and 2 (GC1 and GC2). Here, we used a combination of Illumina short read and MinION (Oxford Nanopore) long-read sequence data with a hybrid assembly approach to complete the genome sequence of two antibiotic-sensitive GC1 strains, Ex003 and Ax270, recovered in Lebanon from water and a rectal swab of a cat, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of Ax270 and Ex003 with 186 publicly available GC1 genomes revealed two major clades, including five main lineages (L1-L5), and four single-isolate lineages outside of the two clades. Ax270 and Ex003, along with AB307-0294 and MRSN7213 (both predicted antibiotic-susceptible isolates) represent these individual lineages. Antibiotic resistance islands and transposons interrupting the comM gene remain important features in L1-L5, with L1 associated with the AbaR-type resistance islands, L2 with AbaR4, L3 strains containing either AbaR4 or its variants as well as Tn6022::ISAba42, and L4 and L5 associated with Tn6022 or its variants. Analysis of the capsule (KL) and outer core (OCL) polysaccharide loci further revealed a complex evolutionary history probably involving many recombination events. As more genomes become available, more GC1 lineages continue to emerge. However, genome sequence data from more diverse geographical regions are needed to draw a more accurate population structure of this globally distributed clone

Smoothened receptor signaling regulates the developmental shift of GABA polarity in rat somatosensory cortex.

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the publisher via the DOI in this recordSonic Hedgehog (Shh) and its patched-smoothened receptor complex control a variety of functions in the developing central nervous system such as neural cell proliferation and differentiation. Recently, Shh signaling components have been found to be expressed at the synaptic level in the postnatal brain, suggesting a potential role in the regulation of synaptic transmission. Using in utero electroporation of constitutively active and negative-phenotype forms of the Shh signal transducer smoothened (Smo), we studied the role of Smo signaling in the development and maturation of GABAergic transmission in the somatosensory cortex. Our results show that enhancing Smo activity during development accelerates the shift from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA in dependence on functional expression of potassium-chloride cotransporter type 2 (KCC2). On the other hand, blocking Smo activity maintains GABA response in a depolarizing state in mature cortical neurons resulting in altered chloride homeostasis and increased seizure susceptibility. This study reveals an unexpected function of Smo signaling on the regulation of chloride homeostasis through the control of KCC2 cell surface stability and on the timing of the GABA inhibitory/excitatory shift in brain maturation

Molecular epidemiology and carbapenem resistance mechanisms in Acinetobacter baumannii strains isolated from different environments in Lebanon

International audienc

Pumping and heat transfer enhancement by wall's morphing

In a previous study, heat transfer enhancement using a deformable wall in a heat exchanger was demonstrated numerically using CFD calculations in liquid single-phase situation. This configuration allows the pumping function to be integrated within the heat exchanger itself. Based on these results, a prototype has been developed (but with different dimensions than in the numerical study) in which one of the walls constituting the channel is subjected to dynamic deformations in the form of a traveling wave. Electric heaters on the other wall heat the channel. Actuation is achieved by means of piezoelectric actuators. Experimentally, the pumping function is observed, for all frequencies of deformations and for two different fluids (water and HFE 7000). The heat transfer intensification is also shown, and this in two experimental configurations: - a pressure difference (which may be zero) between the inlet and outlet of the channel is imposed: in this configuration, the traveling wave imposes the flow-rate. The heat transfer enhancement is then due both to the increase of the flow-rate and the disruption of the thermal boundary layers generated by the wave; - a flow-rate is imposed with a mechanical pump: in this case actuation has no effect on the pumping, and the measured heat transfer enhancement is then due only to the effects of the imposed dynamic deformations. First experiments with the presence of boiling were also performed. It was found that boiling can occur even if the fluid does not reach the saturation temperature within the channel. A 100% increase in the mean heat transfer coefficient was found when actuating the channel wall.Papers presented to the 12th International Conference on Heat Transfer, Fluid Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Costa de Sol, Spain on 11-13 July 2016

Extra-human epidemiology of Acinetobacter baumannii in Lebanon

Presence of Acinetobacter baumannii outside hospitals is still a controversial issue. The objective of our study was to explore the extra hospital epidemiology of A. baumannii in Lebanon. From February 2012 to October 2013, a total of 73 water samples, 51 soil samples, 37 raw cow milk samples, 50 cow meat samples, 7 raw cheese samples and 379 animal samples were analysed by cultural methods for the presence of A. baumannii. Species identification was performed by rpoB gene sequencing. Antibiotic susceptibility was investigated and A. baumannii population was studied by two genotyping approaches: Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) and blaOXA-51 Sequence-Based Typing (blaOXA-51 SBT). A. baumannii was detected in 6.9% of water samples, 2.7% of milk samples, 8.0% of meat samples, 14.3% of cheese samples and 7.7% of animal samples. All isolates showed a susceptible phenotype against most of the antibiotics tested and lacked carbapenemase encoding genes except one that harboured a blaOXA-143 gene. MLST analysis revealed the presence of 36 sequence types (ST), among them 24 were novel ST(s), reported for the first time in this study. blaOXA-51 SBT showed the presence of 34 variants, among them 21 were novel and all isolated from animal origin. Finally, 30 isolates had new partial rpoB sequences and were considered as putative new Acinetobacter species. In conclusion, animals can be a potential reservoir for A. baumannii and the dissemination of new emerging carbapenemases. The role of novel identified animal clones in community-acquired infections should be investigated