Increasing of Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Expression in Human Patients Infected with Virulent Brucella in Iraq

( Hasan R. Khudhur ),( Abbas Ali Menshed ),( Ahmed Abbas Hasan ) 한국미생물생명공학회(구 한국산업미생물학회) 2020 한국미생물·생명공학회지 Vol.48 No.4

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella infections and humans usually contract this disease from close contact with infected animals or their products, usually via the ingestion of cheese or crude milk. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and Pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines play an important role in susceptibility/resistance and the immunopathogenesis of Brucella infection. These cytokines are crucial factors in the initiation and progression of protective immunity against Brucella infection but the role of MIF has not been well studied in the human response to intracellular microbes. This study was designed to investigate the effect of MIF expression on Brucella susceptibility. A total of 85 positive rose Bengal tests and 24 samples from healthy individuals were collected for this study and subjected to polymerase chain reaction assays (PCR) of the bcsp31 diagnostic gene. MIF concentrations were evaluated using Enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the results showed that 46 (54%) of the rose Bengal test samples were positive and 39 (46%) were negative for bcsp31 (p ≤ 0.05) and used as the gold standard for all of the comparisons in this study. The ELISA results indicate that the mean concentration of MIF was significantly higher in patients with positive rose Bengal tests when compared to the control groups and that its concentration increases with increasing age in both the patient and control groups (p ≤ 0.05).

Chronological Development of the Corporate Governance Guidelines in Bangladesh : A Comparative Analysis between CGG-2012 and CGC-20181

Ahmed Rizvan HASAN,Shuvo HOWLADER 한국웰빙융합학회 2020 웰빙융합연구 Vol.3 No.3

In this study, the chronological development of the Corporate Governance Guidelines (CGG) and Corporate Governance Code (CGC) examined to identify how much the Code has evolved over time. A comparative analysis between the CGG-2012 and CGC-2018 has also been conducted in the study to outline the latest changes. The study is exploratory and literature review-based in nature. Contemporary literatures were analyzed along with comparison of the CGG-2012 and CGC-2018 issued by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC). Data was collected from various secondary sources. The study points out that the BSEC has followed a six-year interval pattern in the further development and modification of the corporate governance codes in Bangladesh. Also, it has been found out that in terms of the number of conditions in the code, the CGC-2018 is about 75 percent enhanced than CGG-2012. Previously, CGG-2012 was enhanced by more than 150 percent over the first guideline in 2006. CGC-2018 has introduced some crucial governance issues that were not present in the code before but there remain some areas that are yet to be addressed in the best-practices recommendations

Development of scanning single port free space measurement setup for imaging reflection loss of microwave absorbing materials

Ahmed, Hasan,Hyun, Jongmin,Lee, Jung-Ryul Elsevier 2018 MEASUREMENT -LONDON- Vol.125 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>This paper proposes a scanning free-space measurement (SFSM) setup for the evaluation of microwave absorption properties of microwave absorbing materials<B>.</B> The system comprises of a vector network analyzer (VNA), focused horn antennas attached to the VNA for transmitting/receiving microwave signals, a dual-axis automated translation stage for raster scanning of the specimen and a standard personal computer. A graphical user interface (GUI) running on the computer manages the configuration and synchronization of the VNA and the stage system, measurement reception from VNA and compilation of results for display to the user. The GUI is created in C++ using Qt framework and Qt Widgets for Technical applications. It is designed with a minimalistic approach to promote usability and adaptability.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> A scanning measurement setup for measuring microwave reflection loss is proposed. </LI> <LI> The setup is suitable for characterization of microwave absorbing materials. </LI> <LI> The setup can perform characterization of a selected scan area of the material. </LI> <LI> The proposed setup supports automated scan in parallel with real time result update. </LI> <LI> It is useful for characteristic evaluation of stealth and radome structures. </LI> </UL> </P>

Development of rotational pulse-echo ultrasonic propagation imaging system capable of inspecting cylindrical specimens

Hasan Ahmed,Young-Jun Lee,Jung-Ryul Lee 국제구조공학회 2020 Smart Structures and Systems, An International Jou Vol.26 No.5

A rotational pulse-echo ultrasonic propagation imager that can inspect cylindrical specimens for material nondestructive evaluations is proposed herein. In this system, a laser-generated ultrasonic bulk wave is used for inspection, which enables a clear visualization of subsurface defects with a precise reproduction of the damage shape and size. The ultrasonic waves are generated by a Q-switched laser that impinges on the outer surface of the specimen walls. The generated waves travel through the walls and their echo is detected by a Laser Doppler Vibrometer (LDV) at the same point. To obtain the optimal Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) of the measured signal, the LDV requires the sensed surface to be at a right angle to the laser beam and at a predefined constant standoff distance from the laser head. For flat specimens, these constraints can be easily satisfied by performing a raster scan using a dual-axis linear stage. However, this arrangement cannot be used for cylindrical specimens owing to their curved nature. To inspect the cylindrical specimens, a circular scan technology is newly proposed for pulse-echo laser ultrasound. A rotational stage is coupled with a single-axis linear stage to inspect the desired area of the specimen. This system arrangement ensures that the standoff distance and beam incidence angle are maintained while the cylindrical specimen is being inspected. This enables the inspection of a curved specimen while maintaining the optimal SNR. The measurement result is displayed in parallel with the on-going inspection. The inspection data used in scanning are mapped from rotational coordinates to linear coordinates for visualization and post-processing of results. A graphical user interface software is implemented in C++ using a QT framework and controls all the individual blocks of the system and implements the necessary image processing, scan calculations, data acquisition, signal processing and result visualization.

The geometrical design of membraneless micro fuel cells: Failure and success

Ahmed, Dewan Hasan,Park, Hong Beom,Lee, Kyung Heon,Sung, Hyung Jin John Wiley Sons, Ltd. 2010 International journal of energy research Vol.34 No.10

<P>A comprehensive numerical study of membraneless micro fuel cells with various geometries is carried out with the aim of reducing the mixing of the anode and cathode fluids and increasing their fuel utilization. Designs with blocks or obstacles in the main channel or a main channel with a wavy shape result in very little improvement in these properties or even in their deterioration. However, some designs with other types of channel cross-section exhibit much less mixing of the two fluids in the main channel. In particular, an octagonal cross-section is found to result in better performance. However, the difficulty of the micro fabrication of fuel cells with this design encourages us to test two other geometries for the cross-section: H-shaped and trident-shaped. The H-shaped cross-section exhibits much less mixing in the main channel and much higher fuel utilization. The fuel cell with a trident-shaped cross-section has two inlets for the anode and cathode fluids and a third inlet for the proton-conducting fluid, and is found to be the best design in that the anode and cathode fluids are more restricted to their respective electrodes (reaction surfaces). Further, in this design the reactants cover only 40% of the channel width, which is much less than in the other designs, and maximum fuel utilization is obtained. The failure and success cases will guide for future geometrical design of any micro fluidic devices where mixing and non-mixing issues are the major concerns. The present numerical results are validated by comparison with literature data. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</P>

GPS/INS Integration Based on Dynamic ANFIS Network

Ahmed Mudheher Hasan,Khairulmizam Samsudin,Abdul Rahman Ramli 보안공학연구지원센터 2012 International Journal of Control and Automation Vol.5 No.3

Single and Multi-Strain Probiotics Supplementation in Commercially Prominent Finfish Aquaculture: Review of the Current Knowledge

Sumon, Md Afsar Ahmed,Sumon, Tofael Ahmed,Hussain, Md. Ashraf,Lee, Su-Jeong,Jang, Won Je,Sharifuzzaman, S.M.,Brown, Christopher L.,Lee, Eun-Woo,Hasan, Md. Tawheed The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnol 2022 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.32 No.6

The Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus, common carp Cyprinus carpio, grass carp Ctenopharyngodon idella and rohu carp Labeo rohita are farmed commercially worldwide. Production of these important finfishes is rapidly expanding, and intensive culture practices can lead to stress in fish, often reducing resistance to infectious diseases. Antibiotics and other drugs are routinely used for the treatment of diseases and sometimes applied preventatively to combat microbial pathogens. This strategy is responsible for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance, mass killing of environmental/beneficial bacteria, and residual effects in humans. As an alternative, the administration of probiotics has gained acceptance for disease control in aquaculture. Probiotics have been found to improve growth, feed utilization, immunological status, disease resistance, and to promote transcriptomic profiles and internal microbial balance of host organisms. The present review discusses the effects of single and multi-strain probiotics on growth, immunity, heamato-biochemical parameters, and disease resistance of the above-mentioned finfishes. The application and outcome of probiotics in the field or open pond system, gaps in existing knowledge, and issues worthy of further research are also highlighted.

Lack of Association of BRCA1 and BRCA2 Variants with Breast Cancer in an Ethnic Population of Saudi Arabia, an Emerging High-Risk Area

Hasan, Tarique Noorul,Shafi, Gowhar,Syed, Naveed Ahmed,Alsaif, Mohammed Abdullah,Alsaif, Abdulaziz Abdullah,Alshatwi, Ali Abdullah Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2013 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.14 No.10

Incidence of breast cancer shows geographical variation, even within areas of ethnic homogeneity. Saudi Arabia has witnessed an increase in occurrence of breast cancer in its unexplored ethnic populations over the past few years. We aimed at determining whether any association exists between single nucleotide polymorphisms in breast cancer associated gene 1 (BRCA1) and breast cancer associated gene 2 (BRCA2) and the risk of breast cancer. TaqMan based Real Time Polymerase chain reaction genotyping assays were used to determine the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms in BRCA1 (rs799917) and BRCA2 (rs144848) in a group of 100 breast cancer patients and unaffected age matched controls of Saudi Arabian origin. The present data revealed that neither BRCA1 nor the BRCA2 studied variant show any significant association with the disease. This study failed to find any role of the concerned variants in breast cancer either as risk or as prognostic factors. The small number of patients registered was one of the limitations of this study. In summary, comparison of mutation profile with other ethnic populations and regions reflected both differences and similarities indicating co-exposure to a unique set of risk factors. The differences could be due to exposure to particular environmental carcinogens; different lifestyle, reproductive pattern; dietary or cultural practices of Saudi Arabian women that need further investigations.

Recurrent malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the scalp: a case report and literature review

Ahmed Rabie,Abdulkarim Hasan,Yasein Mohammed,Ayman Abdelmaksoud,Rabaan Ali A. 대한병리학회 2022 Journal of Pathology and Translational Medicine Vol.56 No.2

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare type of mesenchymal neoplasm that first was discovered in the pleura but can also affect the peritoneum, lungs, mediastinum, and skin. Cutaneous malignant SFT is an extremely rare tumor that resembles dermatofibrosacoma protuberance (DFSP) histologically and immunohistochemically. Herein, we describe a case of malignant SFT that presented as a recurrent mass on the scalp. The first lesion was totally excised one year before recurrence and was diagnosed as a DFSP based on the histopathology and cluster of differentiation 34 immunostaining positivity. Re-examination of the previously examined specimen was considered. Activator of transcription 6 positivity was also detected in the tissue, confirming the diagnosis of a recurrent malignant SFT rather than DFSP. There was no evidence of recurrence, locoregional, or distant metastases at six months after lesion removal with a safety margin.

Beam-Column Connections Behavior of Cold-Formed Steel Members: New Experimental Configuration

Ahmed Shamel Fahmy,Sherine Mostafa Swelem,Hadi Hasan Mussttaf 대한토목학회 2020 KSCE JOURNAL OF CIVIL ENGINEERING Vol.24 No.7

The main purpose of this paper is to study the structural behavior of cold-formed steel connections. Five specimens of cold–formed beam to column connections are studied. The beams are connected to the columns by using two different shapes of gusset plates and self-drilling screws. Experimental tests on these cold–formed connections are carried out to obtain their ultimate capacities. A numerical analysis is performed on the same tested specimens and the finite element model is verified. The ultimate loads obtained from the numerical analysis as well as the load–strain curves and buckling modes are compared with those obtained from the experimental tests and are found to be in good agreement. The finite element model well predicts the stress and deflection values, as well as the buckling modes of the specimens. Some recommendations are concluded to help researchers and designers choose the optimum type of beam to column connection.