• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.364-370
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• 2002

The effect of sodium n-dodecyl sulphate (SDS) on hemoglobin autoxidation was studied in the presence of a 100mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) by different methods. These included spectorphotometry, fluorescence technique, cyclic voltametry, differential scanning calorimetry, and densitometry. Spectroscopic studies showed that SDS concentrations up to 1 mM increased deoxy-, decreases oxy-, and had no significant effect on the met- conformation of hemoglobin. Therefore, a SDS concentration up to 1 mM increased the deoxy form of hemoglobin as the folded, compact state and decreases the oxy conformation. The turbidity measurements and differential scanning calorimetry techniques indicated a more stable conformation for hemoglobin in the presence of SDS up to 1mM. Electrochemical studies also confirmed a more difficult oxidation under these conditions. The induction of the deoxy form in the presence of SDS was confirmed by densitometry techniques. The compact structure of deoxyhemoglobin blocks the formation of met-conformation in low SDS concentrations.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.167-172
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• 2003

The kinetics of thermal inactivation of copper-containing amine oxidase from lentil seedlings were studied in a 100 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7, using putrescine as the substrate. The temperature range was between $47-60^{\circ}C$. The thermal inactivation curves were not linear at 52 and $57^{\circ}C$; three linear phases were shown. The first phase gave some information about the number of dimeric forms of the enzyme that were induced by the higher temperatures using the "conformational lock" pertaining theory to oligomeric enzyme. The "conformational lock" caused two additional dimeric forms of the enzyme when the temperature increased to $57^{\circ}C$. The second and third phases were interpreted according to a dissociative thermal inactivation model. These phases showed that lentil amine oxidase was reversibly-dissociated before the irreversible thermal inactivation. Although lentil amine oxidase is not a thermostable enzyme, its dimeric structure can form "conformational lock," conferring a structural tolerance to the enzyme against heat stress.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.477-488
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• 2017

In this paper, an innovative technique for finite element (FE) modeling of steel tube-confined concrete (STCC) columns with active confinement under axial compressive loading is presented. In this method, a new constitutive model for the stress-strain relationship of actively-confined concrete is proposed. In total, 14 series of experimental STCC stub columns having active confinement were modeled using the ABAQUS software. The results obtained from the 3D model including the compressive strength at the initial peak point and failure point, as well as the axial and lateral stress-strain curves were compared with the experimental results to verify the accuracy of the 3D model. It was found that there existed a good agreement between them. A parametric study was conducted to investigate the effect of the concrete compressive strength, steel tube wall thickness, and pre-stressing level on the behavior of STCC columns with active confinement. The results indicated that increasing the concrete core's compressive strength leads to an increase in the compressive strength of the active composite column as well as its earlier failure. Furthermore, a reduction in the tube external diameter-to-wall thickness ratio affects the axial stress-strain curve and the confining pressure, while increasing the pre-stressing level has a negligible effect on the two.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2012

In this study, 200 isolates of fluorescent pseudomonads were isolated from different fields of East and West Azarbaijan and Ardebil provinces of Iran. These bacterial isolates were screened on the basis of a dual culture assay, the presence of known antibiotic genes, and their ability to successfully colonize roots and to promote plant growth. Twelve isolates exhibited 30% or more inhibition of mycelia growth of $P.$ $drechsleri$. Genes encoding production of the antibiotics 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and pyoluteorin were detected in some strains but none of the strains possessed the coding gene for production of antibiotic pyrrolnitrin. In an $in$ $vitro$ test for root colonization, the population density on roots of plants treated with most of the above strains was more than 6 $\log_{10}$ CFU $g^{-1}$ roots, with a maximum of 7.99 $\log_{10}$ CFU $g^{-1}$ roots for strain 58A. Most of the strains promoted significant plant growth in comparison to non-treated controls. In green house studies, the percentage of healthy plants in pots treated with strains 58A and 8B was 90.8% and 88.7%, respectively. The difference between these treatments and treatment with the fungicide metalaxyl was not significant.

• Computers and Concrete
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.339-346
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• 2017

The main objective of this paper was to illuminate the effect of marine environmental condition on durability of reinforced concrete (RC)-corroded columns strengthened with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) layers. Small-scale columns were prepared and corroded by an accelerated corrosion process. After strengthening, compressive strength tests were carried out on control and weathered specimens. In this research, a marine simulator was designed and constructed similar to the tidal zone of marine environment in south of Iran which was selected as a case study in this research. Mechanical properties of wrapped specimens were studied after placing them inside the simulator for 3000 hours. Marine environment decreased ultimate strength by 4.5% and 26.3% in CFRP and GFRP-wrapped columns, respectively. In some corroded-columns, strengthening was carried out after replacing damaged cover by self-compacted mortar. In this method, by confining with one layer of CFRP and GFRP, 4.2% and 22.4% reduction in ultimate strength was observed, respectively, after exposure. Furthermore, the elastic-brittle behavior has been verified in this retrofit method. Also results of tension tests revealed, the ultimate tensile strength was degraded by 2% and 28.8% in CFRP and GFRP sheets, respectively, after applying marine exposure.

• Membrane and Water Treatment
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.437-448
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• 2017

A high quality Na-X zeolite membrane was synthesized on a seeded ${\alpha}-alumina$ disc by the secondary growth method. Structural characterization was done by X-ray spectroscopy, FT-IR spectroscopy, SEM and AFM imaging. The performance evaluation of the membrane was firstly tested in separation of glucose/water solutions by pervaporation process. There was obtained a separation factor $182.7{\pm}8.8$, while the flux through the membrane was $3.6{\pm}0.3kg\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$. The zeolite membrane was then used for desalination of aqueous solutions consisting of $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Cs^+$ and $Sr^{2+}$ because of the importance of these ions in water and wastewater treatments. The effects of some parameters such as temperature and solution concentration on the desalination process were studied for investigating of diffusion/adsorption mechanism in membrane separation. Finally, high water fluxes ranged from 2 up to $9kg\;m^{-2}\;h^{-1}$ were obtained and the rejection factors were resulted more than 95% for $Na^+$ and $Ca^{2+}$ and near to 99% for $Cs^+$ and $Sr^{2+}$. Based on the results, fluxes were significantly improved due to convenient passage of water molecules from large pores of NaX, while the fouling was declining dramatically. Based on the results, NaX zeolite can efficiently use for the removal of different cations from wastewaters.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.67 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

Shake table tests performed on five 1:3 reduced scale two story RC moment resisting frames having construction defects, have shown severe joint damageability in deficient RC frames, resulting in joint panels' cover spalling and core concrete crushing. Haunch retrofitting technique was adopted herein to upgrade the seismic resistance of the deficient RC frames. Additional four deficient RC frames were built and retrofitted with steel haunch; both axially stiffer and deformable with energy dissipation, fixed to the beam-column connections to reduce shear demand on joint panels. The as-built and retrofitted frames' seismic response parameters are calculated and compared to evaluate the viability of haunch retrofitting technique. The haunch retrofitting technique increased the lateral stiffness and strength of the structure, resulting in the increase of structure's overstrength. The retrofitting increased response modification factor R by 60% to 100%. Further, the input excitation PGA was correlated with the lateral roof displacement to derive structure response curve that have shown significant resistance of retrofitted models against input excitations. The technique can significantly enhance the seismic performance of deficient RC frames, particularly against the frequent and rare earthquake events, hence, promising for seismic risk mitigation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.305-309
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• 2016

PTEN protein is an important tumour suppressor factor detectable by immunohistochemistry. The goal of the present study was to investigate the prognostic role of PTEN gene expression focusing on length of survival in breast cancer patients. This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on 100 breast cancer cases referred to Sabzevar hospitals in the north east of Iran between 2010 and 2011, followed up to 2015. The PTEN gene expression of tumour tissue samples was determined using specific monoclonal antibodies. The data were analyzed using Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Patient length of survival was analyzed after 4 years of follow-up using the Cox regression model. The PTEN gene was expressed in 70 of 100 samples, while being found at a high level in all noncancerous samples. There was an inverse significant relationship between expression of PTEN and tumour stage and grade (p<0.001). In addition, expression of PTEN in invasive ductal tumours was less than in non-invasive tumours. There was also an inverse significant relationship between the likelihood of death and PTEN gene expression (p<0.01). These findings indicate that lack of PTEN gene expression can be sign for a worse prognosis and poor survival in breast cancer.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.407-413
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• 2005

Calcium and zinc binding protein, calprotectin is a multifunctional protein with broad spectrum antimicrobial and antitumoural activity. It was purified from human neutrophil, using a two-step ion exchange chromatography. Since surface hydrophobicity of calprotectin may be important in membrane anchoring, membrane penetration, subunits oligomerization and some biological roles of protein, in this study attempted to explore the effect of calcium in physiological range on the calprotectin lipophilicity. Incubation of human calprotectin ($50\;{\mu}g/ml$) with different calcium concentrations showed that 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonic acid (ANS) fluorescence intensity of the protein significantly elevates with calcium in a dose dependent manner, suggesting an increase in calprotectin surface hydrophobicity upon calcium binding. Our study also indicates that calcium at higher concentrations (6, 8 and 10 mM) induces aggregation of human calprotectin. Our finding demonstrates that the starting time and the rate constant of calprotectin aggregation depend on the calcium concentration.

• Proceedings of the Korea Information Processing Society Conference
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• 2016.10a
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• pp.510-513
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• 2016

Detecting of the object in image processing is substantial but it depends on the object itself and the environment. An object can be detected either by its shape or color. Color is an essential for pattern recognition and computer vision. It is an attractive feature because of its simplicity and its robustness to scale changes and to detect the positions of the object. Generally, color of an object depends on its characteristics of the perceiving eye and brain. Physically, objects can be said to have color because of the light leaving their surfaces. Here, we conducted experiment in the aquarium fish tank. Different color of fish robots are mimic the natural swim of fish. Unfortunately, in the underwater medium, the colors are modified by attenuation and difficult to identify the color for moving objects. We consider the fish motion as a moving object and coordinates are found at every instinct of the aquarium to detect the position of the fish robot using OpenCV color detection. In this paper, we proposed to identify the position of the fish robot by their color and use the position data to control the fish robot gathering in one point in the fish tank through serial communication using RF module. It was verified by the performance test of detecting the position of the fish robot.