ABSTRACT Objective: Recent studies investigated the role of amino acids (AAs) in weight management. We aimed to determine the association between AAs and three-year change of anthropometric indices and incident obesity. Materials and methods: Height, weight, hip, and waist circumference (WC) were collected at baseline and follow up. Three-year changes in anthropometric indices and obesity incident according to body mass index (BMI) (overweight & obesity) and WC cutoffs (obesity-WC) were ascertained. Dietary intakes of AAs were collected at baseline, using a food frequency questionnaire. Data analyses were conducted on 4976 adult participants and two subsamples, including 1,570 and 2,918 subjects, for assessing the AAs relationship with 3-year changes on anthropometric indices and obesity incident. Results: Lysine and aspartic acid were positively associated with higher weight change, whereas acidic AAs, cysteine, and glutamic acid showed a negative correlation with weight change. Furthermore, a weak positive correlation was shown for alkaline AAs, lysine, and valine with WC; however, acidic AAs, tryptophan, cysteine, and glutamic acid were negatively associated with WC. Aromatic and acidic AAs also demonstrated a weak negative relation with changes in BAI. Phenylalanine and Aromatic AAs showed a negative association with overweight &obesity incidence adjusting for potential confounders. Each quartile increases the dietary lysine, arginine, alanine, methionine, aspartic acid, and alkaline AAs related to a greater risk of obesity-WC, while tryptophan, glutamic acid, proline, and acidic AAs associated with lower obesity-WC risk. Conclusion: Our results suggested that certain dietary AAs may potentially change anthropometric indices and risk of obesity incident.

Abstract In this study, 2-aminobenzoic acid (ABA) has been used as a complexing ligand for metal ions simultaneous determination by adsorptive cathodic stripping voltammetry (AdCSV). This selective and sensitive method was based on Cu(II), Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions + ABA adsorptive accumulation, by hanging them onto a mercury drop electrode (HMDE), followed by their reduction through differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry (DPSCV). Experimental parameters, such as pH, ABA concentration, accumulation time, potential and scan rate, were examined. Under the optimized conditions, linear calibration curves were established for Cu, Pb and Cd concentrations, in the ranges from 5 to 120, 5 to 150 and 5 to 120 ng/mL-1, respectively. Detection limits (LODs) of 2.05, 1.78 and 2.26 ng/mL-1 were obtained for Cu, Pb and Cd, respectively. The proposed method was applied for the determination of these elements in tap and industrial waste water, as real samples.

RESUMO. Diante da necessidade de administração face a face de muitos testes de triagem cognitiva, nem sempre é viável rastrear amostras em grande escala. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a validade discriminante da versão persa do Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (TICS-m) e do Miniexame do Estado Mental (MMSE) na população iraniana de meia-idade. Métodos: A versão persa do TICS-m (P-TICS-m) e do MMSE foi administrada a 210 adultos de meia-idade residentes na comunidade e selecionados aleatoriamente, que haviam sido registrados no Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Os participantes também foram submetidos a exame psicológico por dois neurologistas para serem avaliados quanto ao comprometimento cognitivo com base nos critérios do Manual de Diagnóstico e Estatística de Transtornos Mentais (DSM-V). Para avaliar a validade discriminante do P-TICS-m e do MMSE com os critérios do DSM-V, foram calculados a sensibilidade, a especificidade, os valores preditivos positivo e negativo (PPV e NPV) e a razão de verossimilhança positiva e negativa (LR+ e LR-). Resultados: A média de idade dos participantes foi de 59,6±6,8 anos. O TICS e o MMSE foram altamente correlacionados (r = 0,635, p <0,001). A sensibilidade, a especificidade, o PPV, o NPV, a LR+ e a LR- do MMSE para discriminar comprometimento cognitivo foram 83, 92, 68, 96%, 10, 0,182; e, para TICS-m, foram 100, 13, 19, 100%, 1,16 e zero, respectivamente. Os resultados da análise da curva característica de operação do receptor (ROC) não mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre P-TICS-m e MMSE. Conclusões: Nossos achados mostram que o teste TICS-m pode ser utilizado como ferramenta de triagem em vez do MEEM. Por causa da baixa especificidade e do baixo PPV do TICS-m em relação ao MMSE, o diagnóstico deve ser confirmado por meio de testes diagnósticos definitivos quando um indivíduo é classificado como portador de comprometimento cognitivo.

ABSTRACT. Due to the need for face-to-face administration of many cognitive screening tests, it is not always feasible to screen large-scale samples. Objective: This study aimed to assess the discriminant validity of the Persian version of Telephone Interview for Cognitive Status (P-TICS-m) and Mini-Mental State Examination in the middle-aged Iranian population. Methods: The P-TICS-m and MMSE were administered to 210 randomly selected middle-aged community-dwelling adults who had been registered in the Neyshabur Longitudinal Study on Ageing. Participants also underwent psychological examination by two neurologists to assess cognitive impairment based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) criteria. To evaluate the discriminant validity of P-TICS-m and MMSE with DSM-V criteria, the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV), and positive and negative likelihood ratios (LR+ and LR−) were calculated. Results: The mean age of the participants was 59.6±6.8 years. The TICS and MMSE were highly correlated (r=0.635, p<0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, LR+, and LR− to discriminate cognitive impairment were, respectively, 83%, 92%, 68%, 96%, 10, and 0.182 for MMSE and 100%, 13%, 19%, 100%, 1.16, and 0 for TICS-m. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis results showed no statistically significant differences between P-TICS-m and MMSE. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that the TICS-m test can be used as a screening tool instead of the MMSE. Due to the low specificity and low PPV of the TICS-m compared to MMSE, the diagnosis should be confirmed using definitive diagnostic tests when a subject is classified as having cognitive impairment.

Abstract Introduction: Polymyxin B has been applied as one of the last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of multidrug resistance among Gram-negative bacterial infections. Due to side effects such as renal toxicity, the use of polymyxin is associated with limitations. The present study evaluates in vitro antibacterial activity of a number of polymyxin B commercial products against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methods: This study included 63 non-duplicated P. aeruginosa isolates examined for in vitro polymyxin B susceptibility testing using the following powder disks: polymyxin B sulfate, otosporin, Poly-Mxb, and Myxacort. MIC50 and MIC90 have also been identified for polymyxin B antibiotics. Results: Myxacort had functional activity against most P. aeruginosa isolates, and only seven isolates had a relatively high MIC. The activities of Poly-MXb and Myxacort were the same as otosporin. Conclusions: Our findings revealed that the national generic polymyxin B product (Myxacort), and two external products (Otosporin, Poly-MXb) are similar in terms of microbiological activity.

Resumen Introducción: La polimixina B se ha aplicado como uno de los antibióticos de último recurso para el tratamiento de la multirresistencia entre las infecciones bacterianas Gram negativas. Debido a efectos secundarios como toxicidad renal, el uso de polimixina se asocia con limitaciones. El presente estudio evalúa la actividad antibacteriana in vitro de varios productos comerciales de polimixina B contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Métodos: Este estudio incluyó 63 aislados de P. aeruginosa no duplicados que se examinaron para la prueba de susceptibilidad in vitro a la polimixina B utilizando los siguientes discos de polvo: sulfato de polimixina B, otosporina, Poly-Mxb y Myxacort. También se han identificado las MIC50 y MIC90 para los antibióticos de polimixina B. Resultados: Myxacort tuvo una actividad funcional contra la mayoría de los aislados de P. aeruginosa, y sólo siete aislados tuvieron una CIM relativamente alta. Las actividades de Poly-MXb y Myxacort fueron las mismas que las de otosporina. Conclusiones: Nuestros resultados revelaron que el producto genérico nacional de polimixina B (Myxacort), y dos productos externos (Otosporin, Poly-MXb) son similares en términos de actividad microbiológica.

ABSTRACT ABSTRACT: Description and prediction of water flow through unsaturated soils is necessary to understand their hydraulic properties, including soil water retention curve (SWRC). Many models have been developed for estimation of SWRC and many researchers compared water retention curve derived from these models with the measured values. In this paper, in addition to comparing measured and derived SWRC, a functional evaluation of SWRC for modeling of soil water movement was carried out using van Genuchten, Brooks-Corey, Campbell and Hutson-Cass models in three sites including Loamy sand, Loam and Clay loam soils. Therefore, the functional behavior of SWRC was quantitatively compared by applying mentioned SWRC to numerical code (HydroGeoSphere) to simulate soil profile drainage under steady-state and transient conditions. The agreement between simulated and measured free drainages values was evaluated using statistical criteria including mean absolute error (MAE), modified index of agreement (d’), modified coefficient efficiency (E’), and t-test. The results demonstrated that the van Genuchten model was slightly better than the other models for estimation of SWRC (MAE 0.014 – 0.016,E’ 0.80 – 0.87 and d’ 0.90 – 0.93) while according to t-test, it was found that the measured and estimated SWRC using various models did not differ significantly. Therefore, it is expected that the simulated free drainage using mentioned SWRC models did not differ significantly with observed values. But the results demonstrated that the simulated free drainage using Brooks-Corey model for Loamy sand soil and van Genuchten and Brooks-Corey models for Loam soil differed significantly (p ≤ 0.05) with measured values.

ABSTRACT The present study was designed to examine the role of Opioidergic and Histaminergic systems on feeding behavior in 3-hour food deprived neonatal meat- type chicks. In experiment 1, chicks received intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of (A) control solution, (B) α-FMH (alpha fluoromethyl histidine; 250 nmol), (C) DAMGO (µ-opioid receptor agonist, 125 pmol) and (D) α-FMH + DAMGO. Experiments 2-4 were similar to experiment 1, except chicken ICV injected with Chlorpheniramine (histamine H1 receptors antagonist; 300 nmol), famotidine (histamine H2 receptors antagonist; 82 nmol) and Thioperamide (histamine H3 receptors antagonist; 300 nmol) instead of the α-FMH. In experiments 5-8, birds ICV injected with the same procedure as experiments 1-4, except they were injected with DPDPE (δ-opioid receptor agonist, 40 nmol) instead of DAMGO. Experiments 9-12 were similar to the experiments 1-4, except neonatal broilers ICV were injected with U-50488H (κ-opioid receptor agonist, 30 nmol) instead of DAMGO. Then the cumulative food intake was measured until 120 min post injection. According to the results, ICV injection of DAMGO, significantly decreased food intake (p<0.05) while DPDPE and U-50488H increased feeding behavior compared to the control group (p<0.05). Co-administration of the α-FMH and DAMGO significantly inhibited hypophagic effect of the DAMGO in neonatal broilers (p<0.05). Also, Chlorpheniramine significantly inhibited DAMGO- induced feeding behavior in neonatal chicks (p<0.05). In addition, co-administration of the Thioperamide + DAMGO significantly amplified the hypophagic effect of the DAMGO in neonatal chicks (p<0.05). However, famotidine had no effect on food intake induced by DAMGO (p>0.05). Also, the hyperphagic effect of DPDPE and U-50488 had no affect by α-FMH, Chlorpheniramine, famotidine and Thioperamide (p>0.05). These results suggested that an interconnection between central opioidergic and histaminergic systems on feeding behavior is mediated via µ-opioid and H1/H3 receptors in neonatal broilers.

Abstract Purpose: To determine the effect of folic acid (FA) on experimental testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in rats. Methods: Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups. The control group received physiologic saline orally. The sham-operated group received physiologic saline orally then exposed to midline laparotomy without clamping the IR. The I/R rats received oral gavage of the saline then subjected to 1h ischemia /24h reperfusion, period. In folic acid (2mg/kg+IR) rats received oral gavage of the FA (2mg/kg) then subjected to 1h I/24h R. groups 5-6 received FA (5 and 10 mg/kg), then subjected to 1 h I/24 h, respectively. At the end of the study, semen samples were collected for spermatozoa characteristics. The left testis was removed for histological analysis and superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) measurement. Results: Spermatozoa mobility, mortality (%) significantly decreased in I/R group (P<0.05). Dose dependent increase observed on spermatozoa mobility, mortality (%) using different levels of the FA (2, 5 and 10 mg/kg) treated rat (P<0.05). Tissue MDA levels significantly increased in I/R rat (P<0.05) while FA (2, 5 and 10mg/kg) in a dose dependent manner decreased I/R-induced MDA (P<0.05). Experimental I/R significantly decreased SOD and GPx activity (P<0.05). Administration of the FA (2, 5 and 10mg/kg) significantly increased tissue SOD and GPx activity in I/R rat (P<0.05). Seminiferous tubules degenerated and loss of spermatogenesis with few spermatocytes was observed in degenerated testis tubules in I/R rat. Orally administration of the FA (5 and 10 mg/kg) improved testis characteristics with few normal seminiferous tubules and spermatocyte in seminiferous tubules in experimental I/R-induced rat. Conclusion: The treatment of folic acid had a benefit effect against ischemia-reperfusion.

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To investigate the protective effect of metformin on testicular ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats. METHODS: Eighteen adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three experimental groups (n=6), as follows: Sham, I/R, and Metformin. 1-hour ischemia was induced by the left testicular artery and vein clipping followed by 7 days of reperfusion. Metformin (100 mg/kg) was administrated orally for 7 days via oral gavage after ischemic period. At the end of trial, the left testis was removed for histological analysis and oxidative stress measurement. RESULTS: I/R reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and testicular Johnsen's scores accompanied by an elevation in malondialdehyde (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels in comparison with the sham group (P < 0.05). Compared to I/R group, metformin restored testicular Johnsen's scores, SOD activity, MDA and MPO levels (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Metformin has a protective effect against I/R injury on the testis.

ABSTRACT PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of Otostegia persica (O. persica) extract on renal damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) in diabetic rats. METHODS: Forty-eight rats were subjected to right nephrectomy; then, they were allocated into six groups: Sham; Diabetic sham; I/R; Diabetic I/R; I/R+O. persica; Diabetic I/R+O. persica. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (200 mg/kg, i.p.). O. persica (300 mg/kg/day, p.o) was administered for 2 weeks. On the 15th day, ischemia was induced in left kidney for 60 min, followed by reperfusion for 24h. Renal functional and biochemical markers were estimated. RESULTS: I/R in both normal and diabetic rats, induced a significant elevation in serum levels of urea and creatinine (p<0.05). Renal I/R induced a significant increase of malondialdehyde, myeloperoxidase and nitric oxide concentrations associated with significant reduction in superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in comparison with the sham group (p<0.05). Diabetic rats that underwent renal I/R exhibited a significant increase in all the studied parameters with a reduction in the antioxidant enzymes as compared to nondiabetic rats (p<0.05). These deleterious effects associated with renal I/R were improved by the treatment with O. persica (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Otostegia persica pretreatment protected the renal injury from ischemia-reperfusion in diabetic rats.

The quantification of mineral resources and evaluation of process performance in mining operations at Gole Gohar iron ore deposit requires a precise model of the spatial variability of three variables (Fe, P, and S) which must be determined. According to statistical analysis there are complex multivariate relationships between these variables such as stoichiometric constraints, nonlinearity, and heteroskedasticity. Due to the impact of these complexities in decision-making, they should be reproduced in geostatistical models. First of all, in order to maintain the compositional and stoichiometric constraints, additive log-ratio (alr) transformation has been applied. In the next step cosimulation, using stepwise conditional transformation (SCT) and sequential Gaussian simulation (SGS) has been used to simulate multivariate data. Through statistical and geostatistical validations it is shown that the algorithms were able to reproduce complex relationships between variables, both locally and globally.

ABSTRACT An efficient regeneration system is a pre-requisite for the application of genetic transformation and functional genomics study of important plants. In this study, the effect of different factors (plant growth regulators, casein hydrolysate, aspartic acid and ascorbic acid) on in vitro embryogenesis and regeneration of Arta, Bahar and Zagros cultivars from mature and immature explants were investigated. Immature and mature embryos were dissected from disinfected seeds 20-25 days after pollination and imbedded mature seeds, respectively, and cultured on MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium supplemented with different compounds. The results showed that immature embryos expose high capacity of embryogenesis and regeneration in comparison with mature embryos. There were significant differences between cultivars in terms of the percentage of callus induction and regeneration. Plant growth regulators had significant effect on percentage of callus induction in mature explants and percentage of regeneration from both explants. In immature explants, the highest percentage of regeneration (65%) was achieved with the Arta cultivar calli derived from MS medium supplemented with 1mg/L 2,4-D, 2 mg/L Picloram and 200 mg/L casein hydrolysate, and subcultured on MS medium. Also, the highest percentage of regeneration (52.38%) from mature embryo explants was achieved in the Arta cultivar with callus induction on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 2,4-D, 2 mg/L Picloram and 200 mg/L casein hydrolysate and regeneration on MS medium containing 0.05 mg/L NAA.

Classification of scientific publications is of great importance in biomedical research evaluation. However, accurate classification of research publications is challenging and normally is performed in a rather subjective way. In the present paper, we propose to classify biomedical publications into superfamilies, by analysing their citation profiles, i.e. the location of citations in the structure of citing articles. Such a classification may help authors to find the appropriate biomedical journal for publication, may make journal comparisons more rational, and may even help planners to better track the consequences of their policies on biomedical research.

Three-component reactions of 7-hydroxy-4-methyl coumarin or 7-hydroxy-4-(trifluoromethyl) coumarin, dialkyl acetylenedicarboxylates and aromatic aldehydes in the presence of NEt3 lead to dialkyl (2E)-2-[aryl(hydroxy)methyl]-3-[(4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-chromen-7-yl)oxy]but-2-ene dioate or dialkyl (2E)-2-[aryl(hydroxy)methyl]-3-{(2-oxo-4-(trifluoromethyl)-2H-chromen-7-yl)oxy} but-2-ene dioate in good yields under mild reaction conditions.

This paper is devoted to the new classes of analytical techniques called the Iteration Perturbation Method (IPM)and Hamiltonian Approach(HA) for solving the equation of motion governing the nonlinear vibration of Euler-Bernoulli beams subjected to the axial loads. It has been found that theIPMand HAare very prolific, rapid, functional and do not demand small perturbation and are also sufficiently accurate to both linear and nonlinear problems in engineering. Comparison of the results of these methods with together and with the results of numerical solution reveals that the IPM and HA are very effective and convenient, and can be easily extended to other nonlinear systems so that can be found widely applicable in engineering and other sciences.

In the present study, samples of rhizosphere and root nodules were collected from different areas of Pakistan to isolate plant growth promoting rhizobacteria. Identification of bacterial isolates was made by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and taxonomical confirmation on EzTaxon Server. The identified bacterial strains were belonged to 5 genera i.e. Ensifer, Bacillus, Pseudomona, Leclercia and Rhizobium. Phylogenetic analysis inferred from 16S rRNA gene sequences showed the evolutionary relationship of bacterial strains with the respective genera. Based on phylogenetic analysis, some candidate novel species were also identified. The bacterial strains were also characterized for morphological, physiological, biochemical tests and glucose dehydrogenase (gdh) gene that involved in the phosphate solublization using cofactor pyrroloquinolone quinone (PQQ). Seven rhizoshperic and 3 root nodulating stains are positive for gdh gene. Furthermore, this study confirms a novel association between microbes and their hosts like field grown crops, leguminous and non-leguminous plants. It was concluded that a diverse group of bacterial population exist in the rhizosphere and root nodules that might be useful in evaluating the mechanisms behind plant microbial interactions and strains QAU-63 and QAU-68 have sequence similarity of 97 and 95% which might be declared as novel after further taxonomic characterization.