This paper suggests a simple loading configuration for conducting the SCB (semi‐circular bend) tests on brittle materials to produce mixed mode I/III loadings. In the suggested test setup, the SCB specimen containing an inclined crack is loaded using a conventional three‐point bending fixture, but the bottom supports touches nearly half of the specimen thickness rather than the entire thickness. It is found that various mixed mode I/III loadings can be provided by rotating the crack, and especially the SCB specimen experiences pure mode III when the crack angle is set to be 90°. Different values of the crack length, span and crack angle are then considered in the numerical analyses to further study the proposed SCB test setup. Finally, several experiments are successfully conducted on the rock samples under various mixed mode I/III and pure mode III loadings to evaluate the SCB test setup in practical point of view.
Background and Purpose: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is one of the most common gynecological conditions in healthy and diabetic women, as well as antibiotic users. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between TUP1 gene expression patterns and symptomatic recurrent C. albicans infections.
Materials and Methods: This research was performed on C. albicans samples isolated from the vaginal specimens obtained from 31 individuals with RVVC in 2016. The reference strain C. albicans ATCC 10231, 10 C. albicans strains isolated from minimally symptomatic patients, and 10 isolates from asymptomatic patients were also used as control strains. The relative mRNA expression of the TUP1 gene was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR).
Results: The QRT-PCR results revealed that TUP1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased (0.001-0.930 fold) in the C. albicans isolates obtained from RVVC patients (P<0.001). However, no TUP1 expression was detectable in the isolates collected from asymptomatic patients. The results also indicated a significant correlation between TUP1 mRNA expression level and the severity of itching and discharge (P<0.001).
Conclusion: The present results were suggestive of the probable contribution of TUP1, as a part of the transcriptional repressor, to the severity of the symptoms related to C. albicans infections in the vagina. Regarding this, it is required to perform more in vivo studies using a larger sample size to characterize the regulatory or stimulatory function of TUP1 in the severity of RVVC symptoms. Furthermore, the study and identification of the genes involved in the severity of the symptomatic manifestations of C. albicans, especially in resistant strains, may lead to the recognition of an alternative antifungal target to enable the development of an effective agent.
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