Molecular Study of PER and VEB Genes is Multidrug Resistant Pseudomonas aeroginosa Isolated From Clinical Specimens in Isfahan/Iran and their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns

Abstract: Background & Aims: Duo to clinical use of antibiotics, pseudomonas aeruginosa strains with multiple drugs resistance have significantly increased throughout the world. Betalactamase production is one of the Mechanisms involved in resistance to pseudomonas aeruginosa resulting in many problems in the treatment of infections caused by this bacterium. The aim of this study was molecular analysis of PER and VEB genes in Pseudomonas with multiple resistance isolated from clinical samples in Isfahan/Iran. Methods: In whole, 98 isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from various clinical specimens were identified by biochemical tests and the antibiotic susceptibility of the identified strains were determined using Kirby-Bauer method. PCR was performed on the samples to evaluate the presence or absence of PER and VEB genes. Results: Among 98 strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 73 samples (73%) were multiple drugs resistant and all of them were cefotaxime, cefepime and ceftazidime resistant. Prevalence of PER and VEB genes were respectively 5 (6.84%) and 8 (10.9%). Conclusion: Considering high prevalence of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeroginosa, it is essential to reduce these pathogens in hospitals through controlling PER and VEB genes transfer. Keywords: Beta-lactamase, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, PER, VE

Exercise training and weight loss, not always a happy marriage: single blind exercise trials in females with diverse BMI

Individuals show high variability in body weight responses to exercise training. Expectations and motivation towards effects of exercise on body weight might influence eating behaviour and could conceal regulatory mechanisms. We conducted two single-blind exercise trials (4 weeks (study 1) and 8 weeks (study 2)) with concealed objectives and exclusion of individuals with weight loss intention. Circuit exercise training programs (3 times a week (45-90 min), intensity 50-90% VO2peak, for 4 and 8 weeks) were conducted. 34 females finished the 4 weeks intervention and 36 females the 8 weeks intervention. Overweight/obese (OV/OB) and lean (L) female participants´ weight/body composition responses were assessed and fasting and postprandial appetite hormone levels (PYY, insulin, amylin, leptin, ghrelin) were measured pre and post intervention for understanding potential contribution to individuals’ body weight response to exercise training (study 2). Exercise training in both studies did not lead to a significant reduction of weight/BMI in the participants’ groups, however, lean participants gained muscle mass. Appetite hormones levels were significantly (p<0.05) altered in the OV/OB group affecting fasting (-24%) and postprandial amylin (-14%) levels. Investigation of individuals’ BMI responses using multiple regression analysis revealed that levels of fasting leptin, postprandial amylin increase, and BMI were significant predictors of BMI change explaining about 43% of the variance. In conclusion, tested exercise training did not lead to weight loss in female participants, while a considerable proportion of variance in body weight response to training could be explained by individuals’ appetite hormone levels and BMI

Effects of Soil Stiffness on Seismic Response of Buildings Considering Soil-Pile-Structure Interaction

© 2017 19th ICSMGE Secretariat. All rights reserved. In this study, a fifteen-storey moment resisting building sitting on an end-bearing pile foundation in soil socketed in rock is selected in conjunction with four values of shear wave velocity. Effects of corresponding shear strength are studied through numerical modelling using finite difference software FLAC3D. Fully nonlinear dynamic analysis under the influence of Northridge earthquake is performed. The results indicate that soil plasticity should be taken into account while conducting dynamic analysis considering soil-pile-structure interaction. However, the dynamic response of the structure regarding base shear, foundation slab rotation, pile lateral deflection and structure lateral deflection is sensitive to the effect of shear strength with the increase in shear wave velocity and corresponding shear modulus. Also, the results show that the dynamic response of structures sitting on end-bearing pile foundations depends not only on base shear attracted by the superstructure but also on the foundation slab rotation. Therefore, to perform realistic seismic analysis and to conduct reasonable seismic design of mid-rise building resting on end-bearing pile foundations, the consideration of foundation slab rotation is essential

Characterization of Iranian grapevine cultivars using microsatellite markers

Sixty-two grapevine (Vitis spp.) accessions from Iran and the USA were characterized at 9 highly polymorphic microsatellite loci using fluorescent primers and a capillary electrophoresis fragment sizing system. The number of alleles observed per locus ranged from 4 to 16 and heterozygosity values ranged from 0.47 to 0.86. Genetic similarity was estimated for each pair of accessions as the proportion of shared alleles. A phenogram constructed from genetic dissimilarity values revealed three clusters, one each for table grapes, wine grapes and rootstocks. The phenogram also revealed three clonal sets (Askari, Bidane and Yaghoti) as well as some synonyms and homonyms among Iranian table grape cultivars.

Seed germination and seedling establishment of some wild almond species

Wild almond species are important genetic resources for resistance to unsuitable condition, especially drought stress. They have been used traditionally as rootstocks in some areas of Iran. So far, 21 wild almond species and 7 inter species hybrids have been identified in Iran. To study seed germination and seedling establishment of some of these species, three separate experiments were designed. In the first experiment, the application of gibberellic acid (GA3) (0, 250, 500 and 750 ppm) for 24 h was studied on germination characteristics of four wild almond accessions after stratification at 5 ± 0.5°C in Perlite media. Germination percentage, index vigor and root initiation factors were different in almond accessions, but were not affected by hormonal treatments. In the second experiment, seeds of another six wild almond accessions were stratified to compare their germination ability. Germination percentage, index vigor and root initiation were different among accessions significantly. In the last experiment, the establishment and vigor of 14 accessions from eight almond species have been evaluated in plastic bags in outdoor conditions. Two ecotypes of Prunus spp. had the highest stem diameter and length at all growing stages.Keywords: Amygdalus, germination percentage, index vigor, root initiation, stem length, stem diameter

Genetic Relationships among Pistacia Species Studied By Morphological Characteristics and RAPD Marker

Abstract: The aim of this research was to study 33 Pistachio accessions and determine their genetic relationships. Thirty-one morphological characters (17 quantitative and 14 qualitative) together with Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) marker data were used for this purpose. Factor analysis was used to determine the effective characteristics and the number of main factors which determined seven main factors. Grouping of pistachio accessions by these factors was performed by Ward&apos;s method. Among 77 random decamer primers tested, 12 showed good amplification and polymorphism, and a total of 130 markers were produced that 118 were polymorphism. Grouping by morphological characteristics was compared with the results from RAPD analysis which did not produce a significant correlation

Seismic resilience of extra-large LNG tank built on liquefiable soil deposit capturing soil-pile-structure interaction

Assessment of seismic resilience of critical infrastructure such as liquefied natural gas (LNG) storage tanks, is essential to ensure availability and security of services during and after occurrence of large earthquakes. In many projects, it is preferred to build energy storage facilities in coastal areas for the ease of sea transportation, where weak soils such as soft clay and loose sand with liquefaction potential may be present. In this study, three-dimensional finite element model is implemented to examine the seismic response of a 160,000 m3 full containment LNG tank supported by 289 reinforced concrete piles constructed on liquefiable soil overlaying the soft clay deposit. The seismic soil-structure interaction analysis was conducted through direct method in the time domain subjected to the 1999 Chi-Chi and the 1968 Hachinohe earthquakes, scaled to Safe Shutdown Earthquake hazard level for design of LNG tanks. The analyses considered different thicknesses of the liquified soil deposit varying from zero (no liquefaction) to 15 m measured from the ground surface. The key design parameters inspected for the LNG tank include the acceleration profile for both inner and outer tanks, the axial, hoop and shear forces as well as the von Mises stresses in the inner tank wall containing the LNG, in addition to the pile response in terms of lateral displacements, shear forces and bending moments. The results show that the seismic forces generated in the superstructure decreased with increasing the liquefied soil depth. In particular, the von Mises stresses in the inner steel tank exceeded the yield stress for non-liquefied soil deposit, and the elastic–plastic buckling was initiated in the upper section of the tank where plastic deformations were detected as a result of excessive von Mises stresses. However, when soil liquefaction occurred, although von Mises stresses in the inner tank shell remained below the yield limit, localised stress concentrations were observed in the lower section of the tank near the base, increasing the risk of the elephant foot buckling. The lateral displacements, shear forces and bending moments in the piles increased with increasing depth of the liquefied soil. Indeed, increasing the pile lateral displacement amplified the bending moment at the pile head, thus resulting in increases in the pile bending moments especially when the liquefied soil depth exceeded one third of the entire soil deposit. In particular, the bending moment at the pile head exceeded the yield moment capacity of the pile and subsequent plastic hinges were formed. Moreover, when the thickness of the liquefied soil was more than half of the entire soil depth, the mobilised bending moments in the piles exceed the ultimate moment capacity of the pile and thus total failure of the piles were observed. In addition, in the absence of liquefied soil layer, the inertial interaction had a dominant impact on the pile response in this study. However, with increasing the thickness of the liquefied layer, further loads were developed in the piles due to amplified kinematic interaction, while the inertial interaction-induced loads decreased

Documentary analysis of Persian papers published on rural housing in Iran in the recent decade

A careful study of the dimensions of human life in rural areas and its accurate recognition for the design and construction of suitable houses require a special look at rural housing research in terms of physical, technical, economic, cultural, social and environmental aspects. This research analyzes the records in the literature on rural housing by referring to scientific journals in the field. The findings of the study indicate that most of the research has been conducted in a descending order in the provinces of North Khorasan, Fars, Zanjan, and Sistan and Baluchestan The series of studies carried out can be classified under nine issues including rural house designing and modelling, sustainable housing, structural-functional changes in houses, native architecture of Iranian houses, planning and policy, facilities and credits, housing rehabilitation, analysis of housing indices, and geographic analysis of housing elements. The findings of this research indicate three main approaches adopted in the study of rural housing in Iran. As much as 83.58% of all the research has been conducted with quantitative methodology, 13.43% with qualitative method, and just 2.98% (two cases) with combined methodology. Also, as the results show, of all the rural housing research in the country, 34.22% is retrospective, 11.94% is prospective, and 53.73% has addressed the existing housing situation