215 research outputs found
The bipartite Ramsey numbers
No full textFor the given bipartite graphs , the multicolor bipartite
Ramsey number is the smallest positive integer
such that any -edge-coloring of contains a monochromatic subgraph
isomorphic to , colored with the th color for some . We
compute the exact values of the bipartite Ramsey numbers for
D-Aspartate amends reproductive performance of aged roosters by changing gene expression and testicular histology
No full textMale broiler breeders (n ≤ 32) of 55 weeks of age were administered four different doses of capsulated d-Aspartate (DA; 0, 100, 200 or 300 mg kg -1 day -1 , p.o. (DA0, DA100, DA200 and DA300 respectively)) for 12 successive weeks to assess reproductive performance, blood testosterone, testicular histology and transcript levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR), cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), androgen receptor (AR), LH receptor (LHR), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3BHSD), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 1 (GRIN1) and glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2B (GRIN2B). Blood samples and ejaculates were collected, and bodyweight was recorded weekly for 10 weeks. AI was performed weekly for the last 2 weeks to determine the number of sperm penetration holes in the perivitelline layer, fertility and hatchability. Testes histology and transcript levels were evaluated in the 12th week. Bodyweight, numbers of Leydig cells and blood vessels, testis index and levels of sperm abnormalities were not affected (P > 0.05) by the treatment. However, sperm total and forward motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality of sperm, ejaculate volume, testosterone concentration and fertility were higher (P < 0.05) in both the DA200 and DA300 groups compared with the other groups. In the DA100 and DA200 groups, sperm concentration, number of spermatogonia, thickness of the seminiferous epithelium and the diameter of tubules were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the other DA-Treated groups. The number of penetration holes, hatchability and malondialdehyde concentration were higher in the DA200, all DA-Treated and DA300 groups respectively compared with the control and other treatment groups. Except for P450scc, AR, LHR and PCNA transcript levels in the DA300 groups, the relative expression of the genes evaluated improved significantly in the other DA-Treated groups. Based on these experimental findings, it is concluded that DA improves reproductive performance of aged roosters
Oncolytic viruses: A novel treatment strategy for breast cancer
No full textBreast cancer, an unceasingly occurring neoplasm, is one of the major determinants of mortality in women. Several ineffective attempts have been pursued using with conventional therapies against breast cancer. Resistance to existing therapies and their respective debilitating adverse effects have led research toward a new era of cancer treatment using viruses. Virotherapy constitutes a developing treatment modality with multiple mechanisms of therapeutic activity in which the viruses can be directly oncolyticand can express transgenes or induce host immune response against tumor cells. Several different DNA- and RNA-containing viruses have been considered for virotherapy of breast cancer including adenovirus, herpes virus, vaccinia, reovirus, Newcastle Disease virus, measles virus and vesicular stomatitis virus.
This review aims to summarize the viro-therapeutical agents against breast malignancies.
Key Scientific Concepts of Review: In this review paper, we proposed a new strategy to virus’s
combinatorial treatments using several kinds of transgenes and drugs. These recombinant viruses have provided evidence of treatment efficacy against human breast cance
Prevalence and Resistance Pattern of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection
No full textBackground and Aim: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infectious diseases. Although UTI is mostly associated with several members of the family of Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli (E. coli) is the most common pathogen among them. This study aims to determine the prevalence and resistance pattern of ESBL producing E. coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in Sari, Iran.
Methods: From December-2016 to June-2017, a hospital-based cross-sectional work was accompanied, and a total of 200 urine samples were cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar for the identification of etiologic agents. After detection and confirmation of E. coli isolates, susceptibility testing was assessed using the following antibiotics: cefotaxime, ceftazidime, imipenem, nalidixic acid, cefixime, amikacin, ofloxacin, ceftriaxone, cefepime, gentamicin, tobramycin, meropenem, piracetam, and ciprofloxacin with Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion technique according to the CLSI guidelines. Double-disk synergy (DDS) methods were used for the detection of ESBL-producing strains.
Results: In the current study, 120 urinary isolates of E. coli were detected, which ESBL-producing phenotypes were detected in 55% (n = 66) of the isolates. ESBL producing strains of E. coli showed the highest susceptibility to meropenem (100%) and ofloxacin (96%); and showed the highest rates of resistance to ceftazidime (91%), cefepime (87%), cefotaxime, and ceftriaxone (84%).
Conclusion: Markedly high resistance to third-generation cephalosporins among E. coli strains was found in the current study. Considering the high prevalence of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins in infections caused by organisms producing ESBL, performing comprehensive tests before prescribing antibiotics is essential for the management of infections caused by these strains in community/hospital-acquired UTIs. Furthermore accompanying molecular-based works on ESBL variants will assistance to achieve better results.
*Corresponding Author: Mehrdad Gholami; Email: [email protected]
Please cite this article as: Ahanjan M, Salehian M, Gholami M. Prevalence and Resistance Pattern of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Patients with Urinary Tract Infection. Arch Med Lab Sci. 2020;6:1-7 (e13). https://doi.org/10.22037/amls.v6.3308
A study in the effectiveness of predicting default using the Merton model during financial distress
No full textBachelor thesis in financial economics
Applied financial pricing theory
Department of finance
School of Business, Economics and Law
Gothenburg University
9 June 2014.
Title: A study in the effectiveness of predicting default using the Merton model during financial distress
Author: Martin Gholami and Andreas Hjelm
Supervisor: Evert Carlsson, Ph.D.
Background: There are many approaches for calculating the default probability for a corporate bond, but none so important and widely used as the Merton model. The Merton model is a firm value model for pricing risky corporate bonds, from 1974 by Robert Merton.
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to show how well the Merton model predicts corporate default during a period of financial distress.
Motivation: We intend to give the reader a step-by-step introduction to the Merton model and how to apply the model on real corporate data.
Methodology: First, we extract all the necessary data from the balance sheet and market quotes for equity. Second, a risk-free discount rate is constructed from two generic US government bonds. Then, we discount all future cash flows of the bond to be able to solve for the volatility. Finally, default probabilities are calculated.
Conclusion and Discussion: In our study we analyzed the outcome of the results and tried to find shortcomings and advantages in the Merton model. However in a period of financial distress it is hard to say if the model predicts default better or worse than more complex models.
Further research: There are many more developed and complex firm value models. An interesting approach would be to convey a comparative study of different models to conclude each model’s advantages and limitations
Analyse probabiliste du problème de génération de l'hypergraphe transverse
No full textThe computation of minimal transversals of a hypergraph, known as the Transversal Hypergraph Generation (THG) problem, is a central challenge in theoretical computer science with unresolved complexity. This thesis analyzes the average-case complexity of Berge classical algorithm, one of the earliest methods for THG.We study two random hypergraph models: the Erdős–Rényi model and a multiparametric model. Using analytic combinatorics, we derive asymptotic probabilities for minimal transversals in the multiparametric model. For the Erdős–Rényi model, we compute the average number of minimal transversals and then prove that the average-case complexity of Berge’s algorithm is quasi-linear in this average number.Finally, we compare Berge algorithm with MTMiner, Dong–Li, and RS. On average, Berge outperforms MTMiner, and its computed average-case complexity also bounds that of Dong–Li and RS, highlighting the broader relevance of our results.Le calcul des traverses minimales d’un hypergraphe, appelé problème de génération d’hypergraphes transversaux (THG), est un problème majeur en informatique théorique, dont la complexité reste ouverte. Cette thèse étudie la complexité en moyenne de l’algorithme classique de Berge, l’une des méthodes les plus anciennes.Nous considérons deux modèles d’hypergraphes aléatoires : le modèle d’Erdős–Rényi et un modèle multiparamétrique. Par des outils de combinatoire analytique, nous obtenons des estimations asymptotiques de la probabilité qu’un ensemble soit un transversal minimal dans le modèle multiparamétrique. Pour le modèle d’Erdős–Rényi, nous calculons le nombre moyen de transversaux minimaux, puis nous démontrons que la complexité en moyenne de l’algorithme de Berge est quasi-linéaire en ce nombre moyen.Enfin, nous comparons Berge à MTMiner, Dong–Li et RS. En moyenne, Berge surpasse MTMiner, et sa complexité en moyenne fournit aussi une borne supérieure pour Dong–Li et RS, renforçant ainsi la portée de notre analyse
اختلال شخصیت دوقطبی از منظر حدود مسئولیت کیفری
No full textBipolar Personality Disorder from the Viewpoint of the Criminal Liability Seyyed Mansour Mirsaeidi[1]– Nabiollah Gholami[2] (Received: 23/ 05/ 2017 - Accepted: 8/ 11/ 2016) Abstract From the view of Iran's criminal law, a person suffering from the mental disorder, to be considered as insane, must lack the will and distinguishing power. This general principle is common in all mental disorders. However, determining how many mental disorders divest will and distinguishing power is not an easy job. A bipolar personality disorder is one of the mental disorders which is inflicted in many misconceptions and challenges from the view of determining criminal liability. In this paper, by investigating the criminal responsibility of patients suffering from the bipolar personality disorder, we conclude that this disorder cannot be a factor to eliminate criminal liability except for hududd crimes. However, in other crimes, it can be considered a factor to moderate the criminal liability. [1]. Assistant Professor in Criminal Law and Criminology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran. [2]. Ph.D. Student in Criminal Law and Criminology, Allameh Tabataba’i University, Tehran, (Corresponding Author): [email protected]
Static security assessment of power systems: A review
No full textThe security assessment, based on which determinant decisions should be made for power system design, control and operation, is a challenging issue for utility engineers and network designers, especially in large‐scale power systems. Numerous methods have been proposed and implemented for this purpose, and a variety of indices have been suggested to address the static security condition of power networks. Large‐scale datasets of measurements in continually expanding power systems necessitate advanced knowledge in big data analytics. In this review paper, numerical techniques and machine learning‐based methods are reviewed as two main categories for static security assessment in power systems based on principal features of static security status classification such as type of classifier, the static security index, and feature selection and extraction methods. This paper can be used as a useful reference for static security assessment of power systems.No Full Tex
Polynomial chaos expansion for nonlinear geophysical inverse problems
No full text There are lots of geophysical problems that include computationally expensive functions (forward models). Polynomial chaos (PC) expansion aims to approximate such an expensive equation or system with a polynomial expansion on the basis of orthogonal polynomials. Evaluation of this expansion is extremely fast because it is a polynomial function. This property of the PC expansion is of great importance for stochastic problems, in which an expensive function needs to be evaluated thousands of times. We have developed PC expansion as a novel technique to solve nonlinear geophysical problems. To better evaluate the methodology, we use PC expansion for automating the velocity analysis. For this purpose, we define the optimally picked velocity model as an optimizer of a variational integral in a semblance field. However, because computation of a variational integral with respect to a given velocity model is rather expensive, it is impossible to use stochastic methods to search for the optimal velocity model. Thus, we replace the variational integral with its PC expansion, in which computation of the new function is extremely faster than the original one. This makes it possible to perturb thousands of velocity models in a matter of seconds. We use particle swarm optimization as the stochastic optimization method to find the optimum velocity model. The methodology is tested on synthetic and field data, and in both cases, reasonable results are achieved in a rather short time. </jats:p
Effect of Anion and Alkyl Side Chain on Structural and Dynamic Features of Ester Functionalized Ionic Liquids: Confirming Nanoscale Organization
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