Antibacterial activity of different parts of Peganum harmala L. growing in Iran against multi-drug resistant bacteria

Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) is one of the most famous medicinal plants used in traditional medicine of Iran. The aim of this study was to consider antibacterial effects of the methanolic extract of different parts of P. harmala including root, stem, leaf, flower and seed against some important human pathogenic bacteria. Antibacterial properties of methanolic extract of mentioned parts were assessed by disc diffusion method. Active extract was fractioned using Thin Layer Chromatography; also their synergism activity in combination with synthetic antibiotic was evaluated. Among the evaluated parts of P. harmala, the root and seed extracts presented antibacterial activity against all of tested bacteria even at the lowest concentration. Antibacterial effect of leaf part was moderate while stem and flower extracts showed relatively poor activity. Antibacterial activity of root extract against most of the tested Gram positive bacteria was better than seed extract. Tested against Gram negative bacteria the obtained results were inconsistent. MIC (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) and MBC (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) values for both extracts against MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and for seed extract against E. coli and S. typhi were equal (0.625 mg/ml). TLC (Thin Layer chromatography) results revealed that seed and root extracts were different in terms of nature and content of their constituents. Furthermore, these two extracts showed an excellent stability to temperature and pH treatment. Also, the seed and root extracts showed synergism in combination with novobiocin, colistin and carbenicillin. In conclusion, P. harmala can be assigned as a source of antibacterial compounds for treatment of infections caused by multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens

The role of MscL amphipathic N terminus indicates a blueprint for bilayer-mediated gating of mechanosensitive channels

The bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscL gates in response to membrane tension as a result of mechanical force transmitted directly to the channel from the lipid bilayer. MscL represents an excellent model system to study the basic biophysical principles of mechanosensory transduction. However, understanding of the essential structural components that transduce bilayer tension into channel gating remains incomplete. Here using multiple experimental and computational approaches, we demonstrate that the amphipathic N-terminal helix of MscL acts as a crucial structural element during tension-induced gating, both stabilizing the closed state and coupling the channel to the membrane. We propose that this may also represent a common principle in the gating cycle of unrelated mechanosensitive ion channels, allowing the coupling of channel conformation to membrane dynamics

The Effect of Using Fun Activities on Learning Vocabulary at the Elementary Level

The current study investigated the effect of using fun activity on learning vocabulary at the Elementary level in Ahvaz. The participants were 40 female students who were selected among 80 learners. They were studying English at an English institute. Their age was ranging from 8 to15. In order to have homogeneous groups, the learners were given an Oxford Quick Placement Test to determine their proficiency level. The teacher made test based on Hill's book given to them as the pre-test. Then they were divided into two equal groups of experimental and control groups. The experimental group received instruction and the control group was taught in the traditional way of teaching vocabulary including the uses of both groups 12 sessions of treatment, each 45 minutes with the same materials; and then they took a post-test at the end of the course. Data were analyzed through Independent and Paired samples test. Results showed that the experimental group outperformed the control one (p<0). Implications of the study suggest learners using fun activity on learning vocabulary to provide them with effective learning

Biophysical implications of lipid bilayer rheometry for mechanosensitive channels

The lipid bilayer plays a crucial role in gating of mechanosensitive (MS) channels. Hence it is imperative to elucidate the rheological properties of lipid membranes. Herein we introduce a framework to characterize the mechanical properties of lipid bilayers by combining micropipette aspiration (MA) with theoretical modeling. Our results reveal that excised liposome patch fluorometry is superior to traditional cell-attached MA for measuring the intrinsic mechanical properties of lipid bilayers. The computational results also indicate that unlike the uniform bilayer tension estimated by Laplace's law, bilayer tension is not uniform across the membrane patch area. Instead, the highest tension is seen at the apex of the patch and the lowest tension is encountered near the pipette wall. More importantly, there is only a negligible difference between the stress profiles of the outer and inner monolayers in the cellattached configuration, whereas a substantial difference (~30%) is observed in the excised configuration. Our results have farreaching consequences for the biophysical studies of MS channels and ion channels in general, using the patch-clamp technique, and begin to unravel the difference in activity seen between MS channels in different experimental paradigms

Pengaruh Harga, Promosi Dan Kualitas Produk Terhadap Loyalitas Konsumen Pada Pengguna Smartphone Xiaomi Di Kecamatan Garum Kabupaten Blitar

Abstract   This study aims to determine the effect of Price, Promotion and Product Quality on Consumer Loyalty on Xiaomi smartphone users in Garum District, Blitar Regency. The population used in this study is an unknown number of Xiaomi smartphone users. The sample consists of 107 samples of respondents. The method of data collection in this study used the distribution of questionnaires. The analytical method used is multiple linear regression analysis and processing using SPSS 22. The results of this study simultaneously show that Price, Promotion and Product Quality have a positive and simultaneous effect on Consumer Loyalty. Partially, Price and Promotion have no effect on Consumer Loyalty, while Product Quality has a significant effect on Consumer Loyalty. Keywords: Price, Promotion, Product Quality, Consumer Loyalty

PENGARUH PENERAPAN PSAK 115 TERHADAP KINERJA KEUANGAN PERUSAHAAN RITEL DAN PERTAMBANGAN

Salah satu cara kinerja keuangan perusahaan dipengaruhi adalah dengan bagaimana standar akuntansi diterapkan. Perubahan dalam standar akuntansi tentu akan mempengaruhi kinerja keuangan. Diyakini bahwa kinerja keuangan juga dipengaruhi oleh ukuran perusahaan. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif dengan penerapan PSAK 115 sebagai variabel eksogen, Debt to Asset Ratio, Return on Asset Ratio, dan Current Ratio sebagai variabel endogen, dan Ukuran Perusahaan sebagai variabel kontrol. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menguji dan menganalisis pengaruh penerapan PSAK 115 terhadap kinerja keuangan. Populasi penelitian adalah perusahaan yang beroperasi di sektor ritel dan pertambangan yang terdaftar di BEI pada tahun 2020-2022. Purposive sampling digunakan sebagai metode pengambilan sampel. Analisis penelitian menggunakan metode Partial Least Square dengan aplikasi SmartPLS 4.1 sebagai alat uji. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penerapan PSAK 115 memiliki pengaruh positif terhadap debt to asset ratio, tidak berpengaruh terhadap return on asset ratio, dan memiliki pengaruh negatif terhadap current ratio. Ukuran perusahaan tidak memiliki pengaruh terhadap ketiga variabel endogen tersebut. &nbsp

Mot alla odds? En studie om kulturella motsättningar i äktenskap mellan muslimska män och svenska kvinnor i det svenska samhället.

Studien syftar till att identifiera de kulturella skillnader, hinder och motsättningar som kan uppstå i ett äktenskap mellan en muslimsk man och svensk kvinna. Männen utgör studiens kärna eftersom de härstammat från ett annat land och har en muslimsk bakgrund. För övrigt avser studien även att belysa på vilket sätt man lyckas bemästra dessa motsättningar.En kvalitativ metod har använts där fyra muslimska män från Mellanöstern har intervjuats. Dessa analyser har genomförts för att belysa problematiken kring blandäktenskapen, men även för att erhålla en djupare förståelse för de etniska skillnaderna mellan partnerna. Resultat visar på att ett blandäktenskap inte bara omfattas av kulturella skillnader mellan partnerna utan även leder till ett enormt motstånd från omgivningen och samhället. För att bemöta dessa konflikter har paren skapat en överlevnadsstrategi där de kämpat för att hålla äktenskapen vid liv