Search

The reported fatality rate of COVID-19 was significantly differ between different countries, provinces in a country, and hospitals in a province. It is important to find and analysed the source of variation in fatality rates to control future epidemics of infection disease. This study propose an approach to investigates the hospital quality of care and its impact on the in-hospital fatality rates of COVID-19 among over 30 years old patients in Iran. The study included 78,217 COVID-19 hospitalized patients over 30 years old from 34 hospitals in Razavi Khorasan province between January 20, 2020, and June 20, 2021. Attribute control charts were employed to evaluate the quality of care in hospitals during four peaks of COVID-19. To account for the impact of hospital quality on in-hospital fatality rates by adjusting on patient characteristics, two predictive models; Poisson and Binomial regression were utilized. The adjusted odds ratio of COVID-19 fatality in no quality confirmed (NQC) hospitals to the quality confirmed (QC) hospitals is 3.48 C.I.95% (2.38, 5.10) at the first peak among patients without other risk factors. The significant negative interactions with QC and peaks indicates that the provision of quality care serves to mitigate the risk of fatality in NQC hospitals during these peaks. The significant negative interaction between diabetes and QC demonstrated that the relative risk in NQC hospitals for no diabetes patient is higher than diabetic patients. There is no significant interaction between age, SaO2, and ARDS with QC; it means that the odds of fatality in NQC hospitals is not depends to these factors. The use of attribute control charts facilitated timely identification of trends and outliers, enabling proactive interventions to enhance patient care. This research underscores the critical role of hospital quality in managing patient outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic and emphasizes the necessity for continuous monitoring and quality improvement initiatives in healthcare settings. The findings advocate for collaborative efforts among healthcare providers to implement best practices, particularly during surges in cases, to optimize resource allocation and improve overall quality of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: We aimed to explore the association between peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (pRNFL), macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL), and cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Method: In this cross-sectional study, 38 (28 aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG-seropositive) NMOSD patients and 20 healthy controls (HC) underwent cognitive assessment using Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Function in Multiple Sclerosis (MACFIMS) battery. Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed for both eyes of all NMOSD patients. First, we examined the association of pRNFL and mGCIPL with cognitive function in all patients, regardless of the history of previous optic neuritis (ON). We then included only eyes without a prior history of ON, incorporating non-ON eyes in patients with unilateral ON and the average of OCT measures for both non-ON eyes in patients without a history of ON. Results: Sixteen (42.1%) NMOSD patients exhibited global CI. There was a significant decrease in pRNFL (Δ: 24.33 μm, p = 0.002) and mGCIPL (Δ: 9.20 μm, p = 0.009) in NMOSD patients with CI compared to those without. The atrophy of pRNFL showed an inverse association with CI before (OR = 1.059, 95% CI: 1.015, 1.105) and after adjustment for age, sex, and disease duration (OR = 1.072, 95%CI: 1.009, 1.139). An inverse significant association was observed between mGCIPL atrophy and CI before adjustment (OR = 1.102, 95% CI: 1.017, 1.194), but not after adjustment (OR = 1.106, 95%CI: 0.999, 1.224). After narrowing our analysis to non-ON eyes, the same results for pRNFL and CI were observed (unadjusted: OR = 1.054, 95% CI: 1.004, 1.106; adjusted: OR = 1.081, 95%CI: 1.000, 1.168). There was no significant association found between mGCIPL thickness and CI in both unadjusted and adjusted models. In sensitivity analyses, we observed no significant association between pRNFL and mGCIPL with CI in AQP-IgG-seropositive NMOSD patients. Conclusion: This study, for the first time, provide a preliminary evidence for a possible relation between pRNFL atrophy and occurrence of cognitive impairment in NMOSD patients. Further studies are required to explore the possible association of OCT parameters with cognition function in NMOSD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study employs advanced technologies, specifically remote sensing (RS) and geographic information systems (GIS), to investigate the impact of earthquakes on critical infrastructure in Kahramanmaraş. Critical infrastructure encompasses physical and digital systems crucial for national security, economic stability, and public well-being. Disruption or failure of these interdependent systems, including energy, transportation, communication, water supply, healthcare, and emergency services, can have profound impacts on regional security and societal necessities. Protecting and prioritizing critical infrastructure during disaster response is vital for minimizing damage and expediting recovery. The study employs an innovative approach by integrating building damage assessment results with Point of Interest (POI) data to swiftly assess earthquake effects on critical infrastructure in Kahramanmaraş. Real-time earthquake vulnerability of 57 critical infrastructure elements in 15 POI categories is analyzed. Results indicate financial institutions and commercial areas as the most damaged POIs, while muster points exhibit the least damage. Historical facilities, health facilities, governmental institutions, road facilities, and sports facilities also show varying degrees of damage. Overall, 34% of critical infrastructure structures experienced damage. The proposed method offers a pragmatic approach for rapidly identifying damaged critical infrastructure POIs during disaster-based assessments, addressing a research gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abortion can be a very stressful experience for women, and many social and psychological factors can influence this stress. The present study aims to investigate the impact of perceived social support on the marital satisfaction of women who have undergone an abortion. The study also explored whether resilience played a mediating role in this relationship. Data were analyzed from the cross-sectional study. The Perceived Social Support (including Social support, friend support, and other support subscales), ENRICH marital satisfaction, and Connor-Davidson Resilience questionnaire were completed by 150 women who had undergone an abortion and were referred to hospitals and clinics of Jahrom University of Medical Sciences from April 2021 to June 2021. The structural equation modeling (SEM) approach was used to obtain the direct and indirect effects of Perceived Social Support subscales and Resilience on marital satisfaction. The study found that the women who participated had high marital satisfaction and social support scores, while their resilience scores were moderate. The results indicated a positive correlation between social support dimensions and marital satisfaction and resilience. The study also revealed that family support (β = 0.41, p < 0.001), other supports (β = 0.46, p < 0.001), and resilience as a mediating variable (β = 0.15, p < 0.001) had a direct and significant positive impact on marital satisfaction. However, none of the three domains of perceived social support showed any indirect significant relationship with marital satisfaction. The study's findings demonstrate that the perception of social support from family members and other individuals can significantly impact the level of satisfaction in a marriage. Appropriate social support can increase resilience and help couples better cope with the stress associated with abortion. This study suggests that educating families, healthcare providers, and other individuals can help women experiencing this issue by providing them with counseling and support. This can ultimately help women maintain their mental and sexual health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Green chemistry" describes the development of new technologies that reduce or eliminate the need for hazardous compounds or the production of them. In order to accomplish this goal, we have developed a new magnetic recyclable biocatalyst in this study by successfully applying aspartic acid to magnetic nanoparticles. Aspartic acid's molecular makeup made it possible for it to stabilize on magnetic nanoparticles using a straightforward method. We characterized the synthesized catalyst using microscopic and spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic activity of this organocatalyst was evaluated for the synthesis of benzo[b]pyran and pyrano[3,2–c] chromene derivatives, exhibiting excellent efficiency. This protocol offers several benefits, such as using a low-cost biocatalyst, nontoxicity, high product yield, easy separation, short reaction times, catalyst reusability, and H2O/EtOH solvent. In summary, our research indicates a feasible approach towards developing a novel magnetic biocatalyst suitable for application in organic synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aimed to present a model for the competitiveness of selected Iranian knowledge-based companies in the fourth industrial revolution. Therefore, in terms of the goal, it is applied research because, in addition to the awareness and scientific aspect, it will also have a practical element for the relevant organizations. According to the purpose and nature of this research, in terms of method, it was qualitative research conducted by interviewing research experts. The statistical population of the study included Iran’s knowledge-based companies, which, according to the classification of the working group for evaluating and recognizing the competence of knowledge-based companies and institutions, the field of electricity and electronics, laser and photonics, were chosen due to their greater dependence on the components of the fourth industrial revolution. The approach of the qualitative part has been grounded in theory. The results showed that the competitiveness model of selected Iranian knowledge-based companies in the fourth industrial revolution includes internal organizational factors, Extra-organizational factors, agility, capable intellectual resources, value chain, innovative services and products, environmental factors, organizational factors, international drivers of the fourth industrial revolution, data challenges in the implementation of technology 04, governance factors in the fourth industrial revolution, industry’s relationship with University, increasing information literacy, continuous research and development, identification of technological advantage, capability building, laws appropriate to the characteristics of the fourth industrial revolution, attention to the environment, attention to the market and the needs created by the fourth industrial revolution, determining strategy, investment in technology, survival, and value creation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained considerable attention in the field of regenerative medicine due to their ability to secrete small extracellular vesicles (EVs) known as exosomes. This review delves into the various biological activities of MSCs and the cell interactions enabled by these exosomes, with a focus on their potential for neuronal regeneration and the treatment of neurological disorders. We scrutinize findings from multiple studies that underscore the neuroprotective and neuro-regenerative effects of exosomes derived from MSCs, illuminating their mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications. This review thoroughly investigates all related pathways, miRNAs, and factors to suggest potential strategies for enhancing therapy for neurological disorders using exosomes and miRNAs, and for boosting neuronal regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained considerable attention in the field of regenerative medicine due to their ability to secrete small extracellular vesicles (EVs) known as exosomes. This review delves into the various biological activities of MSCs and the cell interactions enabled by these exosomes, with a focus on their potential for neuronal regeneration and the treatment of neurological disorders. We scrutinize findings from multiple studies that underscore the neuroprotective and neuro-regenerative effects of exosomes derived from MSCs, illuminating their mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications. This review thoroughly investigates all related pathways, miRNAs, and factors to suggest potential strategies for enhancing therapy for neurological disorders using exosomes and miRNAs, and for boosting neuronal regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have gained considerable attention in the field of regenerative medicine due to their ability to secrete small extracellular vesicles (EVs) known as exosomes. This review delves into the various biological activities of MSCs and the cell interactions enabled by these exosomes, with a focus on their potential for neuronal regeneration and the treatment of neurological disorders. We scrutinize findings from multiple studies that underscore the neuroprotective and neuro-regenerative effects of exosomes derived from MSCs, illuminating their mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications. This review thoroughly investigates all related pathways, miRNAs, and factors to suggest potential strategies for enhancing therapy for neurological disorders using exosomes and miRNAs, and for boosting neuronal regeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: According to epidemiological studies, unhealthy dietary patterns and lifestyle lead to rising obesity and cardiometabolic diseases in Iran. Hybrid techniques were used to identify a dietary pattern characterized by fiber, folic acid, and carotenoid intake due to their association with cardiometabolic risk factors such as anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, lipid profile, C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor (PAI), Homeostatic Model Assessment Index (HOMA Index), cardiometabolic index (CMI), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1). So, the objective of the recent study is to compare the reduced-rank regression (RRR) and partial least–squares (PLS) approaches to principal component analysis (PCA) for estimating diet-cardiometabolic risk factor correlations in Iranian obese women. Methods: Data on dietary intake was gathered from 376 healthy overweight and obese females aged 18 to 65 years using a 147-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). In this cross-sectional study, participants were referred to health centers of Tehran. Dietary patterns were developed using PCA, PLS, and RRR, and their outputs were assessed to identify reasonable patterns connected to cardiometabolic risk factors. The response variables for PLS and RRR were fiber, folic acid, and carotenoid intake. Results: In this study, 3 dietary patterns were identified by the PCA method, 2 dietary patterns by the PLS method, and one dietary pattern by the RRR method. High adherence to the plant-based dietary pattern identified by all methods were associated with higher fat free mass index (FFMI) (P < 0.05). Women in the highest tertile of the plant-based dietary pattern identified by PLS had 0.06 mmol/L (95% CI: 0.007,0.66, P = 0.02), 0.36 mmHg (95% CI: 0.14,0.88, P = 0.02), and 0.46 mg/l (95% CI: 0.25,0.82, P < 0.001), lower FBS, DBP, and CRP respectively than women in the first tertile. Also, PLS and RRR-derived patterns explained greater variance in the outcome (PCA: 1.05%; PLS: 11.62%; RRR: 25.28%), while the PCA dietary patterns explained greater variance in the food groups (PCA: 22.81%; PLS: 14.54%; RRR: 1.59%). Conclusion: PLS was found to be more appropriate in determining dietary patterns associated with cardiometabolic-related risk factors. Nevertheless, the advantage of PLS over PCA and RRR must be confirmed in future longitudinal studies with extended follow-up in different settings, population groups, and response variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iran encompasses various climate zones, with approximately 85% of its agricultural land located in arid and semi-arid regions. To mitigate the effects of drought stress and enhance crop adaptation and yield, numerous advanced techniques, including hormone applications, have been extensively studied. This research aimed to investigate the effects of foliar application of different concentrations of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics of garden thyme under water deficit stress conditions. The study was conducted using a split-factorial design within a randomized complete block framework, with three replications at the Varamin and Absard research fields in Iran during the 2019 growing season. The primary factor was irrigation, assessed at two levels: normal and water-deficit stress. Sub-factors were the foliar application of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid at various concentrations, and the treatment groups were in factorial arrangements. Salicylic acid was applied at concentrations of 0, 25, and 50 mg L-1, while jasmonic acid was applied at 0, 1, and 2 mg L-1. The results demonstrated that water deficit stress significantly reduced plant height, dry weight yield, and chlorophyll a, b, and total chlorophyll content, while it increased proline accumulation. Under water deficit stress, the maximum levels of dityrosine and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (34.18 and 13.52 nmol mg-1 protein, respectively) were observed, which were 11% and 20% higher, respectively, than those under well-watered conditions. Furthermore, the interaction between foliar applications of different concentrations of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid mitigated the detrimental effects of water deficit stress, enhancing the tolerance of garden thyme. Overall, the findings suggest that under drought conditions, the application of salicylic acid and jasmonic acid can significantly improve the performance of garden thyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aim: Timely identification of the patients requiring intensive care unit admission (ICU) could be life‐saving. We aimed to compare different machine learning algorithms to predict the requirements for ICU admission in COVID‐19 patients. Methods: We screened all patients with COVID‐19 at six academic hospitals in Tehran comprising our study population. A total of 44,112 COVID‐19 patients (≥18 years old) were included, among which 7722 patients were hospitalized. We used a Random Forest algorithm to select significant variables. Then, prediction models were developed using the Support Vector Machine, Naıve Bayes, logistic regression, lightGBM, decision tree, and K‐Nearest Neighbor algorithms. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F1 score, and receiver operating characteristic‐Area Under the Curve (AUC) were used to compare the prediction performance of different models. Results: Based on random Forest, the following predictors were selected: age, cardiac disease, cough, hypertension, diabetes, influenza & pneumonia, malignancy, and nervous system disease. Age was found to have the strongest association with ICU admission among COVID‐19 patients. All six models achieved an AUC greater than 0.60. Naıve Bayes achieved the best predictive performance (AUC = 0.71). Conclusion: Naïve Bayes and lightGBM demonstrated promising results in predicting ICU admission needs in COVID‐19 patients. Machine learning models could help quickly identify high‐risk patients upon entry and reduce mortality and morbidity among COVID‐19 patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The prevalence of waterpipe smoking (WPS) has been increasing worldwide. This trend is alarming as WPS can negatively impact cardiovascular health. In the present study, we explored the association between WPS and the presence and severity of CAD. Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography at Tehran Heart Center between April 2021 and May 2022. Patients with a previous history of percutaneous coronary intervention and coronary surgery were excluded. Waterpipe smokers were matched with non-smokers based on age, gender, and cigarette smoking using a 1:4 propensity score matching model. Stenosis ≥ 50% in any coronary artery was considered a CAD diagnosis. Gensini score was also calculated to measure the severity of the CAD. Results: We reviewed the medical records of 8699 patients, including 380 waterpipe smokers. After matching, 1520 non-smokers with similar propensity scores to the waterpipe smokers were selected. Waterpipe smokers were more likely to have CAD than non-smokers (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.04–1.60, P = 0.021). In addition, WPS increased the natural logarithm of the Gensini score by 1.24 (95% CI: 1.04–1.48, P = 0.014) in patients with atherosclerotic coronary disease. Conclusion: WPS may increase the risk of CAD independent of age, gender, and cigarette smoking. In addition, among patients with any degree of atherosclerosis in coronary arteries (GS > 0), WPS may lead to higher average GS, suggesting more severe atherosclerosis. Highlights: Waterpipe smokers were more likely to have CAD than non-smokers. Waterpipe smoking increased the severity of CAD in patients with atherosclerotic coronary disease. The association between CAD and waterpipe smoking was independent of age, gender, and cigarette smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was an attempt to investigate the effect of choice theory-based instruction and clinical supervision for EFL teachers on their students’ autonomy and reading comprehension. To this end, a sample of 30 Iranian EFL teachers, selected based on their willingness to participate, were divided into two groups of 15: one group participated in a choice theory-based instruction program while the other underwent a clinical supervision program. In addition to the teachers, a sample of 445 intermediate EFL learners taught by the teachers participated in the study – 225 learners were taught by the teachers who underwent the choice theory-based instruction while the other 220 learners sat in the classes of the teachers undergoing clinical supervision. The Learner Autonomy Questionnaire (LAQ) was used both as a pretest and posttest to measure the autonomy of the 445 learners before and after they were taught by the 30 teachers. In addition, a sample Preliminary English Test reading paper was administered to the learners prior to their classes (i.e., a general English class instructed through a commonplace task-based procedure) as a pretest and they also took another sample reading test as the posttest. The inferential statistics run in this study comprised two ANCOVAs with the results revealing that the learners being taught by the teachers who underwent the choice theory-based instruction outperformed the learners taught by those teachers who participated in the clinical supervision program in terms of both their autonomy and reading comprehension. The pedagogical implications of these findings are discussed in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress in farrowing sows is associated with the number of piglets crushed or attacked. Sow's behaviour is variable and heritable, therefore genetic selection can be a viable approach for improving pig's welfare. In this report, we used first parity litter records of Yorkshire sows to test a genetic evaluation model for piglet crushing. The data were split into training and validation to check the prediction accuracy of piglet crushing estimated breeding values (EBVs) for young sows. We found that the estimated heritability of piglet crushing was 0.07 ± 0.03. The difference in the EBVs in the validation set was equivalent to 0.15 more piglets crushed in the top 10% group than in the bottom group of sows. These results indicate that the genetic selection may be used to reduce piglet crushing which will improve the welfare of pigs as well as production efficiency. The average reliability of the estimated EBVs across all animals in the pedigree was (0.07; 0.0 to 0.72). More research on evaluation models and the genetics underlying sow stress and behaviour is warranted to improve the reliabilities of modeling and to identify robust genetic markers for animal breeding for the implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed the predictors of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACE/MACCE) in older adults who underwent PCI. Methods: Three databases, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, were searched for observational studies considering the out-of-hospital MACE/MACCE in adults ≥ 60 years old with coronary artery disease (acute or chronic) who underwent PCI. Studies were eligible if they had determined at least two statistically significant predictors of MACE/MACCE by multivariable analysis. We used the QUIPS tool to evaluate the risk of bias in the studies. Random-effects meta-analysis was utilized to pool the hazard ratios (HRs) of the most reported predictors. Results: A total of 34 studies were included in the review. Older age (HR = 1.04, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.03–1.06, P-value < 0.001), diabetes (HR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.22–1.53, P < 0.001), history of myocardial infarction (MI) (HR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.37–2.57, P < 0.001), ST-elevation MI (STEMI) at presentation (HR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.37–2.18, P < 0.001), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) (HR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.52–2.65, P < 0.001), successful PCI (HR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.27–0.47, P < 0.001), eGFR (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.97-1.00; P-value = 0.04) and left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease (HR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.52–2.84, P < 0.001) were identified as predictors of MACE. Conclusion: We identified older age, diabetes, history of MI, STEMI presentation, lower LVEF, and LMCA disease increased the risk of MACE/MACCE after PCI in older adults. Meanwhile, higher eGFR and successful PCI predicted lower adverse events risk. Future studies should focus on a more robust methodology and a precise definition of MACE. Registration: PROSPERO (CRD42023480332). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to develop a structural model for the relationship between sexual schemas, marital adjustment, sexual self-disclosure, and sexual anxiety in female sexual pain disorder by mediating social exchange styles. The statistical population included all women referred to sexual health clinics in Tehran. Using cluster sampling 220 eligible women were selected. The results of structural equation modeling showed a relatively good fit of the model. The results also showed that marital adjustment and sexual anxiety have a positive relationship and passionate-romantic gender schema and self-disclosure have a negative relationship with sexual pain disorder. The results indicate that the passionate-romantic and the embarrassed-conservation gender schema with the mediation of fairness style has an indirect effect on sexual pain disorder, while marital adjustment and sexual anxiety are directly involved in sexual pain disorder without the mediation of social exchange styles. The findings of the present study provide a useful framework for identifying the major components of sexual pain disorder which should be considered in prevention and treatment programs. Training and intervention based on the theory of social exchange, especially the fairness style, is proposed to sexual health practitioners for reducing the sexual problems of women with sexual pain disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General and electronic health literacy are important factors engaging in healthy behaviors and maintaining good health. The present study explored demographic factors associated with general and electronic health literacy in the Iranian adult population. Via stratified cluster sampling, trained interviewers visited adult residents in Qazvin Province, Iran between January, and April 2022. The participants (N = 9775; mean age = 36.44 years; 6576 [67.3%] females) completed the Health Literacy Instrument for Adults (HELIA) assessing health literacy and the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) assessing electronic health literacy. Demographic data, including age, gender, educational level, marital status, and living location (city or rural), were collected. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to classify the participants into different health literacy/electronic health literacy levels. The relationships between health literacy/electronic health literacy levels and demographic factors were examined using χ2 or analysis of variance. The LCA used HELIA scores to suggest five classes of health literacy and eHEALS scores to suggest three classes of electronic health literacy. For general and electronic health literacy, similar relationships were with demographic factors: females as compared with males had better general/electronic health literacy; younger people as compared with older people had better general/electronic health literacy; higher educational level was associated with better general/electronic health literacy; and city residents as compared with rural residents had better general/electronic health literacy. In conclusion, Iranian governmental agencies may wish to target on males, older adults, people with low educational level, and rural residents to improve their health literacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, various studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) and mortality in hemodialysis patients, who showed contradictory results. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between ESAs and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Methods: The current study is a systematic review and meta-analysis based on observational and interventional studies published in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Science Direct, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases between 1980 and the end of 2022. Jadad scale checklist and Newcastle Ottawa scale were used to evaluate the quality of articles. The study data were analyzed using Stata 15 software. Results: In the initial search, 3933 articles were extracted, and by screening and considering the research criteria, 68 studies were finally included in the meta-analysis. According to the meta-analysis results, the risk ratio (RR) of overall mortality in hemodialysis patients receiving ESAs was equal to 1.19 (95% CI: 1.16–1.23, P ≤ 0.001). The RR of mortality in patients aged 60 years and under was equal to 1.33 (1.15–1.55, P ≤ 0.001), in the age group over 60 years was equal to 1.13 (1.10–1.16, P ≤ 0.001), in randomized clinical trial studies was equal to 1.06 (0.80–1.40, P = 0.701), in cohort studies was equal to 1.20 (1.16–1.25, P ≤ 0.001), in American countries was equal to 1.19 (1.10–1.29, P ≤ 0.001), in Asian countries was equal to 1.15 (1.10–1.19, P ≤ 0.001), and in European countries was equal to 1.18 (1.05–1.34, P = 0.007). Conclusion: The results of the study show that receiving ESAs is associated with a 19% increase in the risk of overall mortality in hemodialysis patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the expression of TP53 in lymphocytes from malignant melanoma (MM) patients with positive sentinel nodes to healthy controls (HCs) following exposure to various doses of UVA radiation. The Lymphocyte Genome Sensitivity (LGS) assay indicated significant differences in DNA damage in lymphocytes between MM patients and HCs. qPCR data demonstrated an overall 3.4-fold increase in TP53 expression in lymphocytes from MM patients compared to healthy controls, following treatment with 0.5 mW/cm2 UVA radiation. Western blotting confirmed that p53 expression was increased in MM lymphocytes following UVA exposure compared to healthy individuals. Genome transcriptome profiling data displayed differences in gene expression between UVA-treated lymphocytes from MM patients and HCs. Peripheral lymphocytes from MM patients are more susceptible to the genotoxic effects of UVA compared to healthy individuals. Our previous studies showed that UVA exposure of various intensities caused significant differences in the levels of DNA damage between lymphocytes from cancer patients compared to HCs through the LGS assay. The present study's results provide further credibility to the LGS assay as a screening test for cancer detection. Peripheral lymphocytes could be a promising blood biopsy biomarker for staging of carcinomas and prevention of carcinoma progression at early stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: The average age of the population and the number of elderly people have increased with increasing life expectancy. This study aimed to investigate the physical and mental health of the elderly in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province, which can provide important evidence for future interventions. Methods: This cross-sectional (descriptive-analytical) study was performed on 345 elderlies in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province in 2018. Census methods were used to select the samples according to the type of residence. Statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS statistic, Chicago, IL, USA, version 22). Descriptive and analytical tests were performed using Chi-square, independent t-test, and analysis of variance. Results: The mean age of participants and the mean score of their mental health were 71.13 and 55.29±11.57, respectively. Diabetes and hypertension (HTN) (27.8%), followed by skeletal problems (11.3%), were the most frequent disorders in the participants. The findings of the study demonstrated a significant difference between depressive status, as well as anxiety and sleep disorders of the elderly in the home and those kept in the nursing home (P<0.05). Conclusion: Overall, the elderly living in nursing homes had more unfavorable mental, emotional, and physical conditions than the elderly living in the home. Therefore, long-term planning to minimize the problems of elderlies is essential. Lifestyle modifications, health education, and screening for this age group are recommended to maintain independence, especially for the elderly in nursing homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Investigate the association between oral and dental health (ODH) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults aged 35–70 years. Methods: The study utilized data from the enrollment phase of Dehgolan prospective cohort study in the west of Iran. A cross‐sectional assessment was conducted on a total of 3996 participants, involving a comprehensive oral examination and the assessment of their oral hygiene behavior (ODH). MetS was defined according to the updated National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. Logistic regression used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics. Results: MetS was more prevalent among those who not daily brushing and flossing. Participants with missing teeth (MT) show higher prevalent of MetS. Being female, lower age, illiteracy, family history of diabetes, low physical activity, and salt at table were independently associated with increase odds of MetS (p < 0.05). Odds of MetS were significantly decreased with use flossing (OR = 0.75; CI = 0.60–0.93), decayed (OR = 0.83; CI = 0.72–0.97), filled (OR = 0.84; CI = 0.71–0.99), and increased with MT (OR = 1.45; CI = 1.16–1.81) as long as adjusted for ODH factors. When other potential confounder such as sociodemographic, personal and nutritional habits were adjusted, daily flossing was the only factor that still statistically decreased (OR = 0.79; CI = 0.62–0.99) the odds of MetS. Conclusion: Daily flossing was the only factor that independently associated with MetS. Relationship of other ODH factors with Mets were confounded by sociodemographic characteristics of the participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report a green and efficient method for the synthesis of 4-arylidene-1-(4-phenylselenazol-2-yl)-3-methyl-1H-pyrazole-5(4H)-ones from the condensation of phenacyl bromide, selenosemicarbazide with ethyl acetoacetate and aryl aldehyde in acetic acid using sodium acetate as a base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between dietary patterns, derived through latent class analysis (LCA), with visceral adiposity index (VAI), Triglyceride-Glucose Index (TyG), inflammation biomarkers, and body composition in overweight and obese Iranian women. For this cross-sectional study, dietary exposure was assessed using a validated 147-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Dietary patterns were derived through LCA. Binary logistic was performed to test the associations of dietary patterns with VAI, TyG, inflammation biomarkers, and body composition. Health centers in Tehran, Iran. 376 obese and overweight women, aged > 18 years. Two dietary patterns were identified using LCA modeling: healthy and unhealthy. Women in the unhealthy class were characterized by higher consumption of fast food, sweetened beverages, grains, unhealthy oils, butter and margarine, and snacks. Compared with the healthy class, the unhealthy class was associated with an increased risk of higher fasting blood sugar (FBS) (OR = 6.07; 95% CI: 1.33–27.74, P value = 0.02), c-reactive protein (CRP) (OR = 1.72; 95% CI: 1.05–2.80; P value = 0.02), and lower fat free mass index (FFMI) (OR = 0.56; 95% CI: 0.35–0.88, P value = 0.01), after adjusting for confounders. We found that adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with decreased FFMI and increased FBS and CRP using LCA, but not with the rest of the variables. Further studies should be conducted to confirm the veracity of these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a 3D porous polycalix functionalized with a dual Brønsted–Lewis acidic double-charged DABCO-based ionic liquid group (PC4RA@[SiPrDABCO@BuSO3H](FeCl4)) was synthesized using multiple steps, characterized, and then evaluated by spiro formation for catalytic activity. Initially, the polymeric support was modified using the silylation of its hydroxy groups with (3-chloropropyl)-trimethoxysilane as an organo-silane linker to develop PC4RA-SiPrCl. Then, it was post-functionalized using bi-functional acidic IL groups bearing double-charged diazoniabi-cyclo[2.2.2]octane tetrachloro-ferrate(III) with moving active sites of SO3H groups to deliver PC4RA@[SiPrDABCO@BuSO3H](FeCl4). In the next step, the characterization of the designed catalyst was directed by applying FT-IR, EDX, elemental mapping, WPXRD, LPXRD, FE-SEM, STA, and TEM techniques. The catalytic performance of the porous polymeric system was confirmed using the formation of spiro-fused[4H-pyran] as a highly recyclable and stable di-cationic polymer-supported acidic IL under mild conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: To explore the use of different machine learning models in prediction of COVID‐19 mortality in hospitalized patients. Materials and Methods: A total of 44,112 patients from six academic hospitals who were admitted for COVID‐19 between March 2020 and August 2021 were included in this study. Variables were obtained from their electronic medical records. Random forest‐recursive feature elimination was used to select key features. Decision tree, random forest, LightGBM, and XGBoost model were developed. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, F‐1 score, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC)‐AUC were used to compare the prediction performance of different models. Results: Random forest‐recursive feature elimination selected following features to include in the prediction model: Age, sex, hypertension, malignancy, pneumonia, cardiac problem, cough, dyspnea, and respiratory system disease. XGBoost and LightGBM showed the best performance with an ROC‐AUC of 0.83 [0.822−0.842] and 0.83 [0.816−0.837] and sensitivity of 0.77. Conclusion: XGBoost, LightGBM, and random forest have a relatively high predictive performance in prediction of mortality in COVID‐19 patients and can be applied in hospital settings, however, future research are needed to externally confirm the validation of these models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an event-triggered dynamic surface controller is proposed for strict-feedback nonlinear networked systems with mismatched uncertainties. Towards this aim and first of all, an event-based dynamic surface control law is designed. Then, the closed-loop error dynamics is derived and rewritten as a linear dynamics with nonlinear perturbation terms. Next, these terms are classified into vanishing and nonvanishing perturbations. Finally, by imposing some constraints on the nonvanishing terms, an event-triggering mechanism is constructed. By formulating the imposed constraints in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) and using the ultimate boundedness theory, the ultimate error boundedness and quadratic tracking objectives are addressed in the framework of convex optimisation. The absence of the Zeno behaviour, which is an important feature of any event-triggered methodology, is also proven. The validity of the theoretical results is illustrated by applying the proposed method to a remotely operated underwater vehicle in a simulation study as well as an experimental implementation on a magnetic levitation system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Trauma is one of the most important causes of death in. Therefore, proper management and treatment of these patients can be very beneficial. Therefore, the aim of this literature was to investigate the extent, scope and nature of researches on the effect of insulin therapy on the treatment efficacy of traumatic patients. Methods: This study is a scoping review of research that was conducted by searching in Scopus, PubMed, Embase and ScienceDirect databases with keywords related to insulin therapy and trauma. In this study, all reports with human and animals as well as cohort and clinical trial studies were reviewed. Results: Of the 4365 studies, 73 studies met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated, most studies examining the effect of insulin on traumatic brain injury and immune system and the fewest were in trunk trauma patients, especially chest trauma. The findings of this study showed the effect of insulin therapy on decreasing levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-α thus decreasing the inflammatory response in trauma patients. Insulin therapy can reduce the risk of infection in patients with trauma and burns thereby reducing the number of days spent in intensive care units and dependence on ventilation. Conclusion: Insulin therapy can be useful in treating trauma patients but increases the rate of hypoglycemic episodes that require careful monitoring of patients’ blood glucose which can have a negative impact on treatment outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mechanical qualities of single – and multi-layer CH3NH3XI3 (X = Pb, Sn, Mn) perovskite structures have been computed using the LAMMPS programme via the molecular dynamics' method. The LAMMPS analysis code is the keystone for computing mechanical characteristics in simulations. The stress–strain curves of the simulated atomic structures are offered for tests in the X and Y directions. The stress–strain curves were significantly computed by employing the loading technique and the deform command during the computational tests. Mechanical data was retrieved by inducing deformation in the simulated structures. The stress–strain curves for the single – (SL) and the multi-layer (ML) CH3NH3XI3 at various temperature and pressure values in the X and Y directions were also produced and compared, after applying a maximum stress (ultimate strength) using a load. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using LAMMPS software showed that layered perovskite materials possess high flexibility compared to the non-layered perovskite materials, which is essential in perovskite solar cells. The studied atomic structures thus provided the significant mechanical properties for designing proficient perovskite solar cells via the MD simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an event‐triggered dynamic surface control technique is proposed for strict‐feedback uncertain nonlinear networked systems in the presence of network‐induced time delays. First, an event‐based dynamic surface control law is designed. Then, by rewriting the control law as a communication‐delay‐distribution‐dependent model, the closed‐loop error dynamics is derived and modeled as a linear time‐delay system with perturbation terms. Next, a periodic event‐triggering condition is designed by imposing some inequality constraints on the perturbations. A theorem related to the H∞$$ {H}_{\infty } $$ ultimate boundedness and quadratic tracking of the closed‐loop system is presented. The proposed technique is utilized to design a decentralized dynamic surface control structure with event‐triggered inter‐vehicle communications for a vehicle platoon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Job satisfaction and occupational stress are two f actor s af fe ct ing employee s ' product ivit y at the workplace in developed organizations. Occupational stress causes various prevalent physical and psychological effects, which in turn leads to poor job satisfaction. Despite many studies in this field on health groups, less attention has been paid to health workers. Further research is thus needed to explore and explain how job stress and job satisfaction are related to personal work and organizational factors among health center workers. Materials and Methods: This analytic cross-sectional study was performed from winter 2018 to spring 2019 among health workers of a city in Markazi province, Iran. Data collection tools were demographic and individual characteristics questionnaire, Job Description Index (JDI) questionnaire, and Occupational Stress Questionnaire (OSQ, Davies). Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (version 20). Results: The results showed that occupational stress is generally higher in women (119/848) than in men (108/122) , and women's job sat is faction (242/450) is lower than that of men (262/682). In addition, there was a negative and significant relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction (r=0.001, P=0.783) at the significance of level P<0.05. Multivariate regression findings also revealed that occupational stress can predict job satisfaction ( β=-0.783, P=0.001). Moreover, the highest occupational stress and the lowest job satisfaction were related to healthcare workers. Conclusion: In general, stress and job satisfaction were obtained at a moderate level in this study, and there was a negative relationship between the two variables. Given that dissatisfaction is mainly seen in the discussion of promotions, salaries, and benefits, it is necessary to take measures to reduce stress, improve economic conditions, and create fair promotion conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background& Aims: For more than eight decades, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has remained the leading cause of death in the world. CVD risk factors are multifaceted, with genetics and lifestyle both playing a role. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between a genetic profile risk score for obesity GRS and cardio-metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese women.Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on 391 overweight and obese women. The genetic risk score was created by combining three single nucleotide polymorphisms [MC4R (rs17782313), CAV-1 (rs3807992), and Cry-1 (rs2287161)]. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, and some blood parameters were measured by standard protocols.Results: A significant association between the GRS and some of cardiometabolic risk factors variables such as body mass index (β = 0. 49, 95%CI = 0.22 to 0.76, p < 0.001), waist circumference (β = 0. 86, 95%CI = 0.18 to 1.54, p = 0.01), body fat mass (β = 0. 82, 95%CI = 0.25 to 1.39, p = 0.005), %body fat (β = 0. 44, 95%CI = 0.06 to 0.82, p = 0.02), and hs-CRP (β = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.78, p = 0.005) was observed in crude model. After adjustment for confounding factors (age, BMI, and physical activity), a significant positive association was observed between BMI (p = 0.004), WC (p = 0.02), body fat mass (p = 0.01), %BF (p = 0.01), hs-CRP (p = 0.009), and GRS. In addition, we discovered a significant negative association between the GRS and BMC (= -0.02, 95%CI = -0.05 to -0.001, p = 0.04). But other variables did not show any significant association with GRS among obese and overweight women.Conclusion: We found a significant positive association between GRS, including MC4R (rs17782313), CAV-1 (rs3807992), and Cry-1 (rs2287161) and cardiometabolic risk factors among overweight and obese Iranian women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcumin and nigellin-1.1's atomic interactions on brain antitumor molecule are significant in medical research. For the first time, Molecular dynamic simulations based on Newton's law were utilized to predict the destruction of brain antitumor structure by curcumin and nigellin-1.1 with structure in the current research. To depict the atomic development of curcumin, nigellin-1.1, and brain antitumor molecule, DREIDING and universal force fields are used to model C, H, N, O, and S atoms. We calculate the total energy, center of mass distance, diffusion coefficient, and volume of atomic structures to explain the atomic interaction between these structures. The calculated rates for these physical parameters reveal an attraction force between curcumin and brain antitumor structure, as well as nigellin-1.1 and brain antitumor structure, with COM distances between curcumin and brain antitumor structures varying from 1.16 Å to 1.14 Å after 2 ns, and COM distances between nigellin-1.1 structures varying from 2.01 Å to 1.93 Å after 2 ns. The volume of a brain antitumor increases structurally from 1.33×106 Å3 to 2.24×106 Å3 following atomic contact with curcumin, and increases structurally from 1.33×106 Å3 to 2.83×106 Å3 after atomic interaction with nigellin-1.1, indicating tumor eradication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different programmers code in different ways. Knowing these habits and the human factors that affect them significantly impacts teaching and task assignments in programming. This article examines the effect of cognitive style on programming habits. We used a questionnaire to obtain data on cognitive style, programming experience, programming skill, interest in programming, and programming habits from 275 student programmers. After preprocessing and feature selection, we evaluated the effectiveness of different data mining techniques in estimating programming habits. Using the Support Vector Machine, the most effective method, we predicted each programming habit once without cognitive style and the second time with cognitive style. The results showed that cognitive style affects the programming habit of ”systematic debugging” with Glass’s Delta value = 0.22. Programmers with a median score in cognitive style, both analytic and Intuitive, more often debug their codes systematically than programmers with lower or higher scores in cognitive style. Thus assigning programmers with both Intuitive and analytic talent would be more effective when projects need systematic debugging. Moreover, trainers should pay more attention to only Intuitive or only analytical students when teaching systematic debugging. We recommend teachers, trainers, and managers consider cognitive style in programming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Molecular dynamics simulation was used to investigate the structure of the H2O molecule and its dynamical behaviour near an HIV (3LPU protein). This study simulated the atomic interaction between 3LPU protein and H2O molecules using a precise atomic arrangement. The interaction between 3LPU protein and H2O molecules is influenced by temperature and pressure. According to our simulated findings, the amplitude of atomic oscillation increases as the atom's temperature rises to 400 K. As a result of this occurrence, the interatomic force of structures increases. As a result, as the temperature rises, the diffusion coefficient of H2O molecules into 3LPU protein changes from 0.421 to 0.861 µm²/ms. The dynamical behaviour of atomic structures is also influenced by pressure. The diffusion coefficient of H2O molecules into the 3LPU protein structure fell from 0.587 to 0.052 µm²/ms when the pressure of the simulated structures was increased from 0 to 4 bar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The new compounds 6-methyl-8-morpholino-2H pyrimido[5',4':5,6][1,4]thiazino[3,2e][1,2,4]triazin-3(5H)-one (3a) and 6-methyl-8-(piperidin-1-yl)-2Hpyrimido[5',4':5,6][1,4]thiazino[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazin-3(5H)-one (3b) were obtained from cyclocondensation of 6-bromo-1,2,4-triazine-3,5(2H,4H)-dione (1) with appropriate 5-amino-6methylpyrimidine-4-thiol (2a, b) in dimethylformamide and in the presence of potassium carbonate under reflux. Reaction of compounds (3a, b) with phosphorous oxychloride gave 4-(3-chloro-6-methyl-5H-pyrimido[5',4':5,6][1,4]thiazino[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazin-8-yl)morpholine (4a) and 3-chloro-6-methyl-8-(piperidin-1-yl)-5H-pyrimido[5',4':5,6][1,4]thiazino[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazine (4b). Nucleophilic substitution of chlorine atom of compounds (4a, b) with typical secondary amines in DMF and K2CO3 produced the new derivatives of the 3,8-disubstituted-5H-pyrimido[5',4':5,6][1,4]thiazino[3,2-e][1,2,4]triazine ring systems (5a–f). All the synthesized products were characterized and confirmed by their spectroscopic and microanalytical data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the percentage of reduction of lead and cadmium by chelating agents (potassium tartrate and potassium citrate) in the steps of soaking, cooking, and simultaneous soaking and cooking in some varieties of rice for the first time. Each chemical experiment was performed in ten replications. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Agilent‐7700X ICP‐MS) was used to assess the complete Cd and Pb content in rice samples acid‐digested (500 mg dry‐sample, 9 ml HNO3: 3 ml HCl). The cooking‐only treatment was more successful in terms of lead reduction than the soaking‐only treatment in chelating agent‐containing solutions (either potassium tartrate or potassium citrate), though it had the same effect on cadmium reduction. Simultaneous soaking and cooking in chelating agents such as potassium tartrate and potassium citrate significantly reduced lead (reduction rate compared to control 99.43% with potassium tartrate and 98.96% with potassium citrate) and cadmium (reduction rate compared to control 95.13% with potassium tartrate and 92.77% with potassium citrate). Potassium tartrate outperforms potassium citrate in terms of lead reduction, but potassium tartrate is equivalent to potassium citrate in terms of cadmium reduction. Up to 200 ppm applicable chelating agents, sensory analysis showed no statistically significant difference between the treatments. In general, rice cookers are advised to use levels up to 200 ppm of citrate or potassium tartrate in combination in the 3‐hr rinsing period and then in the 15‐min cooking period to reduce the percentage of dangerous heavy metals, especially lead 99%–99.4% and cadmium 92.8%–95.1%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet almond (Prunus dulcis (Mill.) D.A.Webb) is a known nut, which has long been used in several ethnomedical systems, especially in Persian medicine (PM) for its nutritional and therapeutic activities. In this study, we aimed to provide a summary on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of sweet almond. Thus, we reviewed textbooks of PM and electronic literature on traditional medicine. Moreover, the available data on the usage of sweet almond were searched in electronic databases to find articles on its pharmacological properties and phytochemistry. According to phytochemical investigations, this plant contains macronutrients, micronutrients, essential oils, various phenolic compounds, and phytosterols. Current pharmacological studies represent that Prunus dulcis has several biological activities including prebiotic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, anticancer, hepatoprotective, cardiometabolic protection, nootropic, anxiolytic, sedative–hypnotic, and nervous‐improving effects. Further clinical trials and meta‐analysis are required to draw a definitive conclusion on the efficacy and therapeutic activities of almond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Library & Information Sciences (1680-9637) is the property of Central Library of Astan Quds Razavi and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is growing interest in attached algae cultivation systems because they could provide a more cost- and energy-efficient alternative to planktonic (suspended algae) cultivation systems for many applications. However, attached growth systems have been far less studied than planktonic systems and have largely emphasized algae strains of most interest for biofuels. New algal biorefinery pathways have assessed the commercial potentials of algal biomass beyond biofuel production and placed more emphasis on value-added products from that biomass. Therefore, algal strain selection criteria and biomass cultivation methods need to be updated to include additional strains for improved efficiency. One possible way of improving attached cultivation systems is through engineering substrate surface characteristics to boost algal adhesion and enable strain selective algal colonization and growth. This review explores the effect of substrate chemical and topographical characteristics on the cultivation of attached algae. It also highlights the importance of considering algal community structure and attachment mechanisms in investigating attached algae systems using the example of filamentous algae found in algal turf scrubber (ATS™) systems. Key points: • Attached algal cultivation is a promising alternative to planktonic cultivation. • Performance increase results from tuning surface qualities of attachment substrates. • Attachment adaptation of periphytic algae has innate potential for cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective(s): The spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasia (SMED) short limbs-hand type is a rare autosomal recessive disease, which is characterized by premature calcification leading to severe disproportionate short stature and various skeletal changes. Defective function of a conserved region encoding discoidin domain receptor tyrosine kinase 2 (DDR2 protein) by the discoidin domain- containing receptor 2 (DDR2 gene) is cause of this disease. The purpose of present study was to investigate disease-causing mutations on DDR2 gene in an Iranian family with SMED, and predict the DDR2 protein molecular mechanism in development of SMED. Materials and Methods: In the present study, we evaluated a 2-year-old male with SMED. Detection of genetic changes in the studied patient was performed using Whole-Exome Sequencing (WES). PCR direct sequencing was performed for analysis of co-segregation of variants with the disease in family. Finally, in silico study was performed for further identification of molecular function of the identified genetic variant. Results: We detected a novel splice-site mutation (NM_001014796: exon9: c.855+1G>A; NM_006182: exon8: c.855+1G>A) in DDR2 gene of the studied patient using WES. This mutation was exclusively detected in patients with homozygous SMED, not in healthy people. The effects of detected mutation on functions of DDR2 protein was predicted using in silico study. Conclusion: The causative mutation in studied patient with SMED was identified using Next-generation sequencing (NGS), successfully. The identified novel mutation in DDR2 gene can be useful in prenatal diagnosis (PND) of SMED, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and genetic counseling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: 3‐Hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA (HMG‐CoA) synthase 2 gene (HMGCS2) encodes a mitochondrial enzyme catalyzing the first reaction of ketogenesis metabolic pathway which provides lipid‐derived energy for various organs during times of carbohydrate deprivation, such as fasting. Mutations in this gene are responsible for HMG‐CoA synthase deficiency (HMGCSD). The aim of present study was to investigate the association of mutation in the HMGCS2 gene with HMGCSD in a patient with atypical symptoms. Methods: The clinical and genetic features of an 8‐months‐old girl with HMGCSD were evaluated. Molecular genetic testing was conducted using whole‐exome sequencing (WES) in order to identify potential disease‐causing mutation. The WES finding was confirmed by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the target sequence carried out for the patient and her parents. The PCR products were subjected to direct sequencing using forward and reverse specific primers corresponding to the HMGCS2 gene. Results: A novel homozygous missense mutation (c.266G>A p.Gly89Asp) was detected in the HMGCS2 gene. Sanger sequencing along with co‐segregation analysis of all family members confirmed this novel pathogenic germline mutation. The mutant gene was found to be pathogenic by bioinformatics analysis. Conclusion: To our best knowledge, this is the first report of HMGCSD in Iran which would expand our knowledge about the mutational spectrum of the HMGCS2 gene and the phenotype variations of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanosphere lithography (NSL) is a bottom‐up, self‐assembly approach that enables rapid, low‐cost patterning of nanoscale features. The practical application and scalability of NSL relies on the ability to achieve defect‐free nanosphere self‐assembly over large substrate areas. Self‐assembly methods for single‐layer nanosphere templates are typically evaluated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging, with literature reports focusing on maximum area of continuous nanosphere coverage. An alternative performance metric—namely, the percentage of nanospheres exhibiting perfect hexagonal close‐packing (%HCP)—is uniquely critical to NSL precision and repeatability. To enhance current methods of evaluating nanosphere self‐assembly, this work presents an SEM image analysis approach for rapidly quantifying packing defects in single‐layer nanospheres to determine %HCP. The method uses variations in SEM edge effect brightness to distinguish spheres with perfect packing from those in defect configurations or along edges. Comparison of image analysis program results with manual counting of nanospheres indicates that the program has a high degree of accuracy, with a mean error on the %HCP metric of +8.6% (absolute error). The results suggest that the present strategy offers a promising pathway to rapid evaluation of nanosphere self‐assembly for high‐precision NSL applications such as surface‐enhanced Raman scattering, photovoltaic cells, and nanogap electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]