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A test system was designed to evaluate the failure behavior of a thin-wall small-diameter polyethylene tube under internal pressure. The test setup was capable of delivering constant (static) and cyclic (dynamic) pressure patterns as well as maintaining an elevated testing temperature to accelerate the failure. Desired pressure patterns were obtained by controlling the opening/closing duration of the solenoid valves accordingly. A water-sensing system was used to detect the failure time, particularly for small brittle failure. A data acquisition system based on LabView[TM] was used to control and record the applied pressures and the failure times. The constant pressure tests were performed at 65 and 75[degrees]C and the cyclic pressure tests were performed at 75[degrees]C. The test data obtained from the constant pressure tests exhibited two distinguishable linear regions in a log-log plot of hoop stress versus failure time. Slope values of -0.034 and -0.113 were obtained for ductile and brittle regions, respectively. A brittle failure curve with slope of -0.039 was obtained under the cyclic pressure testing condition. The slow crack growth (SCG) failure was considerably accelerated by the cyclic loading., Editor's Note: We present, in its entirety and with minimal editing, the following paper, chosen by the Plastic Pipes and Fittings Special Interest Group as the best paper at ANTEC [...]

Background and Objective: Anxiety and depression are experienced following addicted patients durg withdrawal. This study was done to determine the effect of methadone and valproate combination on morphine withdrawal-induced anxiety and depression in male mice. Methods: In this experimental study, ninety-eight male mice were allocated into acute and chronic categories. Animals in acute chronic categories allocated into seven groups including: saline, morphine, methadone (10 mg/kg/bw), valproate (150 mg/kg/bw), three groups of valproate+methadone, in of ratio 1:1, 2:1 and 1:2. Animals were received escalating dose of morphine for 8 consecutive days except saline group. In chronic group, drugs were injected for 30 minutes before morphine administration, while in acute group the drugs were used only at day 8. Anxiety and depression due to naloxone injection (5 mg/kg/bw) was investigated by elevated plus-maze, tail-suspension and open field tests. Results: In the chronic group, valproate + methadone (2:1) combination therapy showed a significant increase in the percentage of open arm entries (53.86±1.9) and percentage of time spent in the open arm (58.58±4.15) compared to the morphine group, with a percentage of entering (28.12±2.03) and percentage of time (17.88±1.77) (P

Ovulation rate and litter size are traits of fecundity and have a very remarkable economic value that leads to an increase in the production of meat, wool and milk. Therefore, exploring on the candidate and functional genes for these traits is very important. Growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9), bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) and bone morphogenetic protein receptor-1B (BMPR1B) are the most important of these genes containing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers that are associated with high fertility in sheeps. The aim of this study was to determine the allelic and genotypic frequencies of seven of these SNPs including; G1, G4, G7 and G8 in GDF9 gene, B2 and B4 in BMP15 gene and FecB in BMPR1B gene among 532 sheeps from eleven of Iranian native breeds using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. For each mutation region, polymerase chain reactions and digestion reactions with specific endonuclease enzymes, were performed. The results showed that G1 mutation presents among ten breeds except Zandi, G4 mutation in all breeds, and the FecB mutation in two breeds; Kalakuei and Zandi. The G7, G8, B2 and B4 mutations were not observed in any of breeds, and all sheeps were homozygote wild type for these four positions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Utilization of fecundity genes such as GDF9 and BMP15 can help improve reproductive traits in sheep breeding programme. To evaluate effects of missense mutations on protein function, the polymorphisms of GDF9 and BMP15 genes were screened in twelve mehraban sheep using DNA sequencing, followed by protein structure modeling. Six single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) known as FecG mutations (G1-G6), were detected in exons 1 and 2 of GDF9 gene. Mutations of G1 (GDF9 exon 1 g.2118 G>A), G4 (GDF9 exon 2 g.3451 T>C) and G6 (GDF9 exon 2 g.3974 G>A) have shown amino acid substitution. None polymorphism was detected in exon 1 and exon 2 of BMP15 gene. Based on identified polymorphisms, individuals were classified into three haplotypes of wild haplotype (without mutation), haplotype A (simultaneous mutations of G1, G2, G3 and G4) and haplotype B (simultaneous mutations of G5 and G6). The 3D-structure of GDF9 protein in A and B haplotypes was rotated 90° and 45° than wild haplotype, respectively. The missenses G1/p.Arg87His, G4/p.Glu241Lys and G6/p.Val332Ile variants were benign. However both the missenses of G7/p.Val371Met and G8/p.Ser315Phe were probably damaging. Phylogenetic tree of GDF9 gene revealed that individuals with A and B haplotypes were distinct from wild haplotypes with bootstrapping values of 63 and 76, respectively. In conclusion, GDF9 protein in A and B haplotypes showed a higher performance than wild haplotype due to synergism effects of simultaneous mutations. These types of mutations with effect on turn and helix of GDF9 conservative regions showed physical and functional interaction with TGFβ proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite much attention, history of sheep (Ovis aries) evolution, including its dating, demographic trajectory and geographic spread, remains controversial. To address these questions, we generated 45 complete and 875 partial mitogenomic sequences, and performed a meta-analysis of these and published ovine mitochondrial DNA sequences (n = 3,229) across Eurasia. We inferred that O. orientalis and O. musimon share the most recent female ancestor with O. aries at approximately 0.790 Ma (95% CI: 0.637-0.934 Ma) during the Middle Pleistocene, substantially predating the domestication event (~8-11 ka). By reconstructing historical variations in effective population size, we found evidence of a rapid population increase approximately 20-60 ka, immediately before the Last Glacial Maximum. Analyses of lineage expansions showed two sheep migratory waves at approximately 4.5-6.8 ka (lineages A and B: ~6.4-6.8 ka; C: ~4.5 ka) across eastern Eurasia, which could have been influenced by prehistoric West-East commercial trade and deliberate mating of domestic and wild sheep, respectively. A continent- scale examination of lineage diversity and approximate Bayesian computation analyses indicated that the Mongolian Plateau region was a secondary center of dispersal, acting as a "transportation hub" in eastern Eurasia: Sheep from the Middle Eastern domestication center were inferred to have migrated through the Caucasus and Central Asia, and arrived in North and Southwest China (lineages A, B, and C) and the Indian subcontinent (lineages B and C) through this region. Our results provide new insights into sheep domestication, particularly with respect to origins and migrations to and from eastern Eurasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of paclitaxel and cisplatin as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients with Stage IB2 to IIB cervical cancer and determine factors accountable for response. Materials and Methods: From November 2009 to January 2011, a total of 19 patients with Stage IB2 to IIB cervical cancer were treated with three ten-day courses of paclitaxel 60 mg/m2 and cisplatin 80 mg/m2 followed by type III radical hysterectomy and adjuvant therapy if indicated, or chemoradiation in non-resectable patients. Results. Clinical response occurred in 79% (15/19) of patients, including 10.5% (2/19) with complete response, and 68.5% (13/19) with partial response. Four (21%) patients were nonresponders including 16% (3/19) with stable and 5.2% (1/19) with progressive disease. Resectability rate was 68.5% (13/19). Pathological optimal response rate was 46% (6/13) including, 15% (2/13) with complete and 31% (4/13) with residual disease < three mm stromal invasion response (PRI). Suboptimal response (PR2) (residual disease with > three mm stromal invasion) was 54% (7/13). It appears that both clinical and pathological response were correlated with tumor stage and size. Clinical response was seen in 87.5% of tumors sized = < eight cm vs 33.3% of tumors sized > eight cm (p = 0.166) and optimal pathological response was seen in 66.7% of tumors sized < four cm vs 28.6% of tumors sized four to eight cm, (p = 0.286), although because of small number of patients, the difference was not statistically significant. Adjuvant therapy was necessary for 38.5% (5/13) patients. Toxicities were not life-threatening and all manageable. Conclusions: The present results suggest that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) with paclitaxel and cispaltin is a highly active and well-tolerated regimen. Best candidates are patients with stages IB2/IIA bulky and IIB non-bulky than IIB bulky groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, mechanism and kinetics of the hydrolysis of Organopalladium Complex [Pd(CNN)P(OMe)3]+ in low acidity range, has been theoretically investigated in detail. Using quantum mechanical approach, different probabilities were investigated and ultimately a model was presented in which an enol form is produced in the rate determining step and in continuation is converted into products. Considering the solvent effects, the activation energy, activation enthalpy and activation Gibbs free energy for the rate determining step were calculated, which are in good agreement with the experimental values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]