Semliki Forest Virus (SFV), a member of the Alphavirus genus in the Togaviridae family, is a small-enveloped, positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) virus. The virus is spread by mosquitos and can infect humans, resulting in mild febrile disease with symptoms that include fever, myalgia, arthralgia, persistent headaches and asthenia. Virulent strains of SFV in mice cause lethal encephalitis by infecting neurons in the central nervous system. In on-going experiments in the research group using a focused siRNA screen we have investigated the role of deubiquitylases (DUBs) during SFV infection (as a model alphavirus) and monitored the effect of DUB depletion on cell viability after infection. We identified a group of DUBs that have a pro-viral effect. The DUB, USP5, from this screen was validated to determine its effect upon viral replication. Here, we show that depleted USP5 in HeLa cells resulted in SFV RNA and viral yield at 8 h post-infection being significantly reduced. In the multi-step viral growth curve assay, in the absence of USP5, similar yields of SFV were determined at 2 and 4 h post-infection. However, a significant reduction in the infectious viral particles release at 6, 8, 10 and 12 h post-infection was observed and this could be reversed by direct constraining viral replication. These results raise the potential for USP5 to play a distinct role in the replication of SFV, suggesting that USP5 may be a possible anti-viral therapy for alphavirus infection.
The aim of this study is to compare the effects of three methods: problem-based learning (PBL), PBL with lecture method, and conventional teaching on the understanding of thermodynamics, group work and self-directed learning skills among physics undergraduates. The actual sample size comprises of 122 students, who were selected randomly from the Physics Department, College of Education in Iraq, for academic year 2011-2012. In this study, the pre and posttest were done and the instruments were administered to the students for data collection. Inferential statistics were employed to analyze data. The independent variables were the PBL, the PBL with lecture method, and the conventional teaching. Dependent variables of statistical analysis were
... Show MoreThe purpose of this research is to recognize the relationship between the dimensions of banking service quality and customer's satisfaction , through customer's evaluation of the level of service quality offered to them by Al – Rasheed bank. Also to determine the proportional importance of different dimensions of service quality. In addition to examine the relationship between banking service quality in its dimensions and customer's satisfaction. (150 ) samples were distributed among the bank customers , only (130 ) samples were collected and good for analysis.
The results were analyzed and examined the hypothesis through a group of statistical methods. The most important results is the positive evaluation of the ba
... Show MoreIncremental Sheet Metal Forming (ISMF) is a modern sheet metal forming technology which offers the possibility of manufacturing 3D complex parts of thin sheet metals using the CNC milling machine. The surface quality is a very important aspect in any manufacturing process. Therefore, this study focuses on the resultant residual stresses by forming parameters, namely; (tool shape, step over, feed rate, and slope angle) using Taguchi method for the products formed by single point incremental forming process (SPIF). For evaluating the surface quality, practical experiments to produce pyramid like shape have been implemented on aluminum sheets (AA1050) for thickness (0.9) mm. Three types of tool shape used in this work, the spherical tool ga
... Show MoreBackground: Colonization of soft denture liners by Candida albicans and other microorganisms continued to be a serious problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of incorporating silver nanoparticles into heat cured acrylic-based soft denture liner on the antifungal activity, and on water sorption, solubility, shear bond strength and color change of the soft lining material. Furthermore, evaluating the amount of silver released. Materials and methods: Silver nanoparticles were incorporated into soft denture liner in different percentages (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2% by weight). Four hundred and twenty specimens were prepared and divided into five groups according to the test to be performed. The antifungal activity of the soft liner
... Show MoreAbstract
The aim of the research is to demonstrate the impact of long-term investment on profitability, and in order to achieve this goal, long-term investment was chosen, represented by (the ratio of long-term investments to total investments, the ratio of long-term investment to the total (deposits) as independent variables, and studying its impact on the dependent variable, which is profitability as measured by the rate of return on investments, the rate of return on equity. In order to reach the results, the inductive approach and the analytical descriptive approach were used, and the research found a significant impac
... Show MoreIn the present work, bentonite clay was used as an adsorbent for the removal of a new prepared mono azo dye, 4-[6-bromo benzothiazolyl azo] thymol (BTAT) using batch adsorption method. The effect of many factors like adsorption time, adsorbent weight, initial BTAT concentration and temperature has been studied. The equilibrium adsorption data was described using Langmuir and frundlich adsorption isotherm. Based on kinetics study, it was found that the adsorption process follow pseudo second order kinetics. Thermodynamics data such as Gibbes Free energy ∆Gᵒ, entropy ∆Sᵒ and ∆Hᵒ were also determined using Vant Hoff plot.
In this work, spinel ferrites (NiCoFe2O4) were prepared as thin films by dc reactive dual-magnetron co-sputtering technique. Effects of some operation parameters, such as inter-electrode distance, and preparation conditions such as mixing ratio of argon and oxygen in the gas mixture, on the structural and spectroscopic characteristics of the prepared samples were studied. For samples prepared at inter-electrode distance of 5 cm, only one functional group of OH- was observed in the FTIR spectra as all bands belonging to the metal-oxygen vibration were observed. Similarly, the XRD results showed that decreasing the pressure of oxygen in the gas mixture lead to grow more crystal planes in the samples prepare
... Show More