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Hend Mamdoh,1 Khaled M Hassanein,2 Lobna Farag Eltoony,3 Walaa A Khalifa,3 Entsar Hamed,2 Taher Obaid Alshammari,4 Doaa M Abd El-Kareem,5 Mohamed A El-Mokhtar2 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Sphinx University, New Assiut, Egypt; 2Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 3Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt; 4Department of Ophthalmology, Prince Mohammed Medical City, Al Jouf, Saudi Arabia; 5Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine Assiut University, Assiut, EgyptCorrespondence: Mohamed A El-Mokhtar, Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt, Email elmokhtarma@aun.edu.egBackground: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, foot ulcers and amputations due to diabetes are very common in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to characterize the clinical presentation of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) infections, isolate the causative agent, and analyze the biofilm formation and distribution of biofilm-related genes among isolated Staphylococci.Material and Methods: The study included 100 diabetic patients suffering from DFUs attending Assiut University Hospital. Swabs were collected and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the isolates was performed. Biofilm formation was tested phenotypically among staphylococcal isolates and the frequency of different biofilm genes was analyzed by PCR. Clinical presentations of diabetic foot ulcers were correlated with bacterial genetic characteristics. Spa types were determined using DNA Gear-a software.Results: Microbiological analysis showed that 94/100 of the DFUs were positive for bacterial growth. The majority of infections were polymicrobial (54%, n=54/100). Staphylococci were the most commonly detected organisms, of which S. aureus represented 37.5% (n=24/64), S. haemolyticus 23.4% (n=15/64), S. epidermidis 34.3% (n=22/64) and other CNS 4.7% (n=3/64). Interestingly, co-infection with more than one species of Staphylococci was observed in 17.1% (n=11/64) of samples. A high level of antibiotic resistance was observed, where 78.1% (n=50/64) of Staphylococci spp were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Phenotypic detection showed that all isolated Staphylococci were biofilm-formers with different grades. Analysis of biofilm-forming genes among Staphylococci showed that the most predominant genes were icaD, spa, and bap. Isolates with a higher number of biofilm-related genes were associated with strong biofilm formation. Sequencing of the spa gene in S. aureus showed that our isolates represent a collection of 17 different spa types.Conclusion: The majority of DFUs in our hospital are polymicrobial. Staphylococci other than S.aureus are major contributors to infected DFUs. MDR and biofilm formation are marked among isolates, which is paralleled by the presence of different categories of virulence-related genes. All severely infected wounds were associated with either strong or intermediate biofilm formers. The severity of DFU is directly related to the number of biofilm genes.Keywords: diabetes mellitus, biofilm formation, Staphylococci, diabetic foot ulcers, ica genes

The yellow polyphenolic pigment known as curcumin, originating from the rhizome of the turmeric plant Curcuma longa L., has been utilized for ages in ancient medicine, as well as in cooking and food coloring. Recently, the biological activities of turmeric and curcumin have been thoroughly investigated. The studies mainly focused on their antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impacts. This review seeks to provide an in-depth, detailed discussion of curcumin usage within the food processing industries and its effect on health support and disease prevention. Curcumin’s bioavailability, bio-efficacy, and bio-safety characteristics, as well as its side effects and quality standards, are also discussed. Finally, curcumin’s multifaceted uses, food appeal enhancement, agro-industrial techniques counteracting its instability and low bioavailability, nanotechnology and focused drug delivery systems to increase its bioavailability, and prospective clinical use tactics are all discussed.

Sameh Roshdy,1 Osama Hussein,1 Ashraf Khater,1 Mohammad Zuhdy,1 Hend A El-Hadaad,2 Omar Farouk,1 Ahmad Senbel,1 Adel Fathi,1 Emadeldeen Hamed,1 Adel Denewer1 1Department of Surgical Oncology, Mansoura Oncology Center, 2Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt Background: Although therapeutic mammoplasty (TM) was introduced for treatment of localized ductal carcinoma in situ and invasive breast carcinoma (stages I and II) in females with large breast size, the suitability of medial pedicle TM for treatment of breast tumors at different locations has not been established. The objective of this study was to assess the safety and esthetic outcome of medial pedicle TM for breast tumors at different locations. Methods: The study was conducted from February 2012 to July 2014. Consecutive patients with early breast carcinoma with medium- and large-sized breasts, with or without ptosis, who were offered medial pedicle TM were included in the study. Patients who were not candidates for breast-conserving surgery or those with tumors located along the medial pedicle were excluded. All patients received immediate postoperative adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Results: Thirty patients with a mean age of 48.5 years received medial pedicle TM in the breast harboring the tumor or, additionally, the other breast (N=14). The tumors were in the upper (60.0%), lower (26.7%), and lateral (13.3%) quadrants. Minor complications occurred in five cases (5/30, 16.7%) in the ipsilateral and in two (2/14, 14.3%) contralateral breasts. No wound dehiscence or areolar necrosis was recorded. A total of 22 (73.3%) patients were scored as excellent cosmesis. After a median follow-up of 20 months, no locoregional recurrence or distant metastases were observed. Conclusion: TM using a medial pedicle is a safe and appealing technique among women with tumors at different locations. Keywords: therapeutic mammoplasty, medial pedicle, breast cancer, mastectomy

BACKGROUND: Most studies of Campylobacter infection triggering Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) are conducted in western nations were Campylobacter infection and immunity is relatively rare. In this study, we explored Campylobacter infections, Campylobacter serotypes, autoantibodies to gangliosides, and GBS in Egypt, a country where Campylobacter exposure is common. METHODS: GBS cases (n = 133) were compared to age- and hospital-matched patient controls (n = 374). A nerve conduction study was performed on cases and a clinical history, serum sample, and stool specimen obtained for all subjects. RESULTS: Most (63.3%) cases were demyelinating type; median age four years. Cases were more likely than controls to have diarrhea (29.5% vs. 22.5%, Adjusted Odds Ratio (ORa) = 1.69, P = 0.03), to have higher geometric mean IgM anti-Campylobacter antibody titers (8.18 vs. 7.25 P

Citrus aurantium L. hydrosol extracted by steam distillation from its flowers is a highly consumed herbal product in the Iranian traditional market, widely used as a food flavor and therapeutic food and drinks. This study investigated ten commercial hydrosol samples of C. aurantium flowers produced by conventional extraction methods and industrial processes, as well as a laboratory-prepared control sample. A liquid-liquid extraction method and sonication were used to extract essential oils from commercial hydrosols. Samples were then subjected to GC/MS analysis. ATR-IR spectroscopy was another efficient tool used to analyze hydrosol samples. All HPTLC chromatograms exhibited a close resemblance between samples and controls. The cluster analysis was used to compare the results of GC/MS and IR screening. In the HCA dendrograms derived from the GC/MS data, most of the oil sample profiles were found to be very similar to those of the control. Linalool was the most abundant compound in eight samples and the control. α-Terpineol in all hydrosol samples and geraniol in five samples and control were other marker compounds. Ethyl disulfide, dillapiol, and hotrienol were detected in two samples that have not been reported in previous studies and might have resulted from the addition of other herbal hydrosols. Microbial content and pH values were within permissible limits in all samples, making them safe for oral consumption.

Khosro Abad iron ore deposit is located 130 km of Kermanshah, 30 km northeast of Sonqor city close to Khosro Abad village, in the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone. Based on the field observation, exposed units in the area include; basaltic-andesite volcanic rocks and limestone of the Sonqor Volcanic-Sedimentary Complex. The quartz-monzonite body intruded the sequence and caused a contact metamorphism of up to greenschist facies, and development of hydrothermal alteration halos. Discharged iron bearing hydrothermal fluid destabilized due to physicochemical changes and deposited the iron ore in the contact of limestone, basaltic-andesite and quartz-monzonite intrusion. Control of iron ore mineralization by the contact of quartz-monzonite and volcano-sedimentary sequence and presence of skarn mineralogy is evidence of skarn mineralization in Khosrow Abad. Geophysical survey was carried out using magnetometry technique (1305 stations), covering an area of 3.6 Km2 for defining the high potential areas of iron mineralization and depth estimation. In this research, total magnetic, reduction to pole, analytical signal, and upward continuation maps were prepared, and based on the obtained results four anomaly blocks of; An(A)-An(A´)-An(B)-An(C) were identified. An(C) anomaly is shallower than the others and extend approximately down to 50 meters, while other anomalies are much deeper. The maximum magnetic anomaly in total field intensity and RTP maps is 46426.1 and 49474.6 nanotesla, respectively, along a northeast-southwest trend, aligned with the contact of meta-andesite-basalt and crystallized limestone units. Introduction The magnetometric exploration technique is one of the low-cost, widely used, and indirect methods for mineral exploration and tracking of oxidizing intrusive bodies containing Fe-Ti oxides, such as magnetite, titanomagnetite, and titanohematite, as well as some iron sulfides such as pyrrhotite (Donohue et al., 2012). The Khosrow Abad iron ore deposit is located in west Iran’s iron metallogenic zone of the Sonqor series. It is located northwest of the Sanandaj-Sirjan zone; northeast of the Sonqor town (Kermanshah province) (Ghorbani, 2007) in Sonqor-Baneh volcanic belt (Azizi and Moinevaziri, 2009). In the northeast of Sonqor, hypabyssal acidic intrusive bodies penetrated the Upper Jurassic rock units, including basaltic meta-andesite volcanic rocks and limy slates (calc-shale), causing skarn development and iron ore mineralization. Mineralization is mainly hosted in the meta basaltic andesite unit's skarn zone, differentiating it from other common carbonate-hosted skarn deposits (e.g., Ebrahimi Fard et al., 2022a; Ebrahimi Fard et al., 2022b). The main purpose of current research is to examine the magnetometric geophysical explorations' accuracy in detecting possible ore zones as well as the depth of oxidized (magnetic) intrusive bodies and current emplacement depth and possible associated mineralization. The main challenges were locating the magnetite ore zone covered by recent alluvium and ore zone has limited exposure, and skarn ore facies without classic carbonates as a host rock. Calc-silicate minerals in association with oxide and sulfide minerals formed the skarn zones in the Khosrow Abad deposit. Magnetite, pyrite, chalcopyrite, garnet, clinopyroxene, sodic plagioclase (albite), actinolite, epidote, chlorite, calcite, quartz, and iron hydroxides such as hematite, goethite, and limonite are the main constitute of the skarn zones. The main fracture system in the Khosrow Abad is a large strike-slip fault with an approximately north-south (NNW-SSE) trend and more than 80 degrees dip towards the east. Iron ore mineralization is mainly located in the eastern edge of this fault which formed a shear zone in the metamorphosed volcanic unit. Material and methods Based on the geological map, field observations, geological structures, mineralization limited exposure, and geophysical exploration were carried out perpendicular to apparent structures (probable veins and faults trend) along the northwest-southeast direction. The exploration pattern of the survey was, 25 10 m (profile distance of 25 m and 10 m reading intervals) in the ore zone and a 20 25 m pattern in surrounding rocks (1350 stations). Measurements were carried out by a Proton magnetometer model G856 manufactured by Geometrics. Magnetic surveys were mainly focused on meta basaltic andesite and quartz monzonite units. Qualitative and quantitative data processing and interpretations of data were carried out by using Geosoft Oasis Montaj and Magmap software. The highest field intensity recorded in the area is 52049 nT and the lowest recorded is 43619 nT, which according to the IGRF of 47515nT, is possibly due to the changes caused by the presence of medium-grade magnetite mineralization. Discussion In the total magnetic intensity map, magnetic anomalies were detected with the northwest-southeast trend which is related to discontinuous lenses along the main fault. In the IGRF-REM map, the maximum intensity value of anomalies is equal to 4534 nanotesla. All 4 detected anomalies; (A), (A´), (B), and (C) are high-intensity anomalies in this range. Anomaly (C) is marked on the map with moderate to relatively weak intensity. The upward continuation map indicates that the ore zone continues at least to a depth of more than 70 meters. The Euler's deconvolution method shows an estimate of the anomaly depth, An(C) anomaly is shallower than the others and has a depth of about 50 meters. Based on Spector and Grant's method, the estimated depth of Khosrow Abad iron ore mineralization is about 0.03 km, which is a reasonable estimate. The minimum depth of anomalies in most areas is about 30 meters. The model prepared by Encom Quickmag software shows that linear anomalies are located in line with the regional faults and parallel to each other with medium depth. For validation of the modeling results, based on the data interpretation (analytical signal map, pole-to-pole map, and transversal continuation), several drilling points were proposed for borehole drilling. Conclusion Based on the geophysical data processing and interpretation (analytical signal map, reduction to pole map, and upward continuation) as well as modeling results, several locations were proposed for borehole drilling. The BH-1 borehole is located in the An (A) block anomaly central point, and according to the core logging data, this anomaly is introduced as an anomaly with good intensity, and according to the continuation map with a depth of more than 30 meters is almost match the geophysical interpretation and model. After the drilling campaign, it was discovered that geophysical prediction shows a good agreement with the drilling data, which confirms the effectiveness of the proper design and implemented geophysical survey for iron ore exploration in the Khosrow Abad deposit, which could be used for other skarn iron ore deposits of the region.

This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of various corrective exercises and supportive tools in individuals with genu valgum. To ensure a comprehensive review, a search for original research, review articles, and clinical trials in both Persian and English was conducted using databases such as WOS, SID, ISC, Magiran, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar. The search covered publications during January 2008 to March 2023. A total of 76 relevant articles were selected based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, with 22 articles ultimately reviewed and analyzed regarding the effects of various corrective exercises and supportive tools on genu valgum. Findings from one study indicated that aerobic exercises had a significant impact on reducing body mass index (BMI) and the severity of genuvalgum. Other studies reported positive effects of resistance and corrective exercises on improving muscle electrical activity and knee stability. One study demonstrated that the use of orthotic insoles could significantly enhance knee joint support during stair descent. Six studies highlighted the positive effects of using orthoses, wedges, and braces in individuals with genu valgum. Conversely, one study pointed out the negative impact of these tools, citing the reduced limiting angle of the brace, increased applied forces, and, ultimately, greater injury risk. However, findings from three studies overwhelmingly supported the positive effects of using kinesiotape in individuals with genu valgum, providing optimism about the effectiveness of these interventions. In conclusion, our review underscores the promising potential of corrective exercises, particularly resistance exercises with TheraBand, and the combination of these with supportive tools such as insoles for arch support and kinesiotape. These interventions show significant promise in reducing the degree of knee valgus in individuals with genu valgum. This hopeful outlook can inspire healthcare professionals and individuals seeking evidence-based interventions for genu valgum, empowering them with the knowledge to make informed decisions about their care.

Abstract Temperature-responsive liquid chromatography (TRLC) offers a promising alternative to reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) for environmentally friendly analytical techniques by utilizing pure water as a mobile phase, eliminating the need for harmful organic solvents. TRLC columns, packed with temperature-responsive polymers coupled to silica particles, exhibit a unique retention mechanism influenced by temperature-induced polymer hydration. An investigation of the physicochemical parameters driving separation at high and low temperatures is crucial for better column manufacturing and selectivity control. Assessment of predictability using a dataset of 139 molecules analyzed at different temperatures elucidated the molecular descriptors (MDs) relevant to retention mechanisms. Linear regression, support vector regression (SVR), and tree-based ensemble models were evaluated, with no standout performer. The precision, accuracy, and robustness of models were validated through metrics, such as r and mean absolute error (MAE), and statistical analysis. At $$45\,^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ 45 ∘ C , logP predominantly influenced retention, akin to reversed-phase columns, while at $$5^{\circ }\hbox {C}$$ 5 ∘ C , complex interactions with lipophilic and negative MDs, along with specific functional groups, dictated retention. These findings provide deeper insights into TRLC mechanisms, facilitating method development and maximizing column potential.

Health care workers (HCWs) may be at a variable risk of SARS-CoV2 infection. Regardless of their involvement in providing direct clinical treatment, most of the prior research had included all HCWs. Understanding infection rates, risk factors and outcomes among different subgroups of HCWs is crucial. From February 28, 2020 to January 1, 2022, we conducted a retrospective analysis encompassing all full-time non-clinical staff (NCS) subcontracted with Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) facilities. To determine current or previous SARS-CoV2 infection, all personnel underwent RT-PCR and/or serology testing. To identify the demographic factors linked to the risk of infection, we utilized Cox-Hazard regression analysis. Herein 3158/6231 (50.7%) subcontracted NCS tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR or serology during the research period. The median age was 30 years (IQR 25,35), 69.8% of the population were males, 82.4% were from South Asia, 86.6% did not have any concomitant conditions. 6032 (96.8%) of the population lived in shared housing, while 4749 (76.2%) had low to median levels of education. While infection (PCR positive with or without seropositive results) was independently predicted by male gender, working in the catering, laundry, and security sectors and being intermediate (7–12 years of education), lower (0–6 years of education), higher (exposure to confirmed case), and having symptoms. Male gender, working in the security sectors and being intermediate (7–12 years of education) were independently associated with accidently detected cases (PCR negative and seropositive). 299 (4.8%) required hospitalization, of them 3 cases were severe pneumonia and one required ICU admission without mechanical ventilation, with no deaths reported. In conclusion Infection rates among NCS are high. The majority are asymptomatic and may contribute to ongoing illness spread in the public or in healthcare facilities. During a pandemic, routine screening of this population is crucial and may aid in containing the spread of infection.

Abstract Childhood malnutrition is a metabolic condition that affects the physical and mental well‐being of children and leads to resultant disorders in maturity. The development of childhood malnutrition is influenced by a number of physiological and environmental factors including metabolic stress, infections, diet, genetic variables, and gut microbiota. The imbalanced gut microbiota is one of the main environmental risk factors that significantly influence host physiology and childhood malnutrition progression. In this review, we have evaluated the gut microbiota association with undernutrition and overnutrition in children, and then the quantitative and qualitative significance of gut dysbiosis in order to reveal the impact of gut microbiota modification using probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and engineering biology methods as new therapeutic challenges in the management of disturbed energy homeostasis. Understanding the host–microbiota interaction and the remote regulation of other organs and pathways by gut microbiota can improve the effectiveness of new therapeutic approaches and mitigate the negative consequences of childhood malnutrition.

Abstract Zinc selenide nanoparticles (ZnSe) are semiconductor metals of zinc and selenium. ZnSe NPs are advantageous for biomedical and bio-imaging applications due to their low toxicity. ZnSe NPs can be used as a therapeutic agent by synthesizing those using biologically safe methods. As a novel facet of these NPs, plant-based ZnSe NPs were fabricated from an aqueous extract of Rosmarinus officinalis L. (RO extract). Physiochemical analyses such as UV-visible and FTIR spectroscopy, SEM-EDX and TEM Imaging, XRD and DLS-Zeta potential analyses confirmed the biological fabrication of RO-ZnSe NPs. Additionally, Ro-ZnSe NPs were investigated for their bioactivity. There was an apparent peak in the UV-visible spectrum at 398 nm to confirm the presence of ZnSe NPs. FTIR analysis confirmed RO-extract participation in ZnSe NPs synthesis by identifying putative functional groups associated with biomolecules. TEM and SEM analyses revealed that RO-ZnSe NPs have spherical shapes in the range of 90–100 nm. According to XRD and EDX analysis, RO-ZnSe NPs had a crystallite size of 42.13 nm and contain Se and Zn (1:2 ratio). These NPs demonstrated approximately 90.6% antioxidant and antibacterial activity against a range of bacterial strains at 100 µg/ml. Antibiofilm activity was greatest against Candida glabrata and Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 100 g/ml. Accordingly, the IC50 values for anticancer activity against HTB-9, SW742, and HF cell lines were 14.16, 8.03, and 35.35 g/ml, respectively. In light of the multiple applications for ZnSe NPs, our research indicates they may be an excellent option for biological and therapeutic purposes in treating cancers and infections. Therefore, additional research is required to determine their efficacy.

Introduction: Significant corneal flattening and haze are important complications that can occur after combined corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) procedures (CXL Plus). Case Presentation: We present a 24-year-old man who underwent combined standard CXL and PRK. The patient experienced satisfactory vision for approximately 4 years after the surgery. However, after this period, he began to complain of visual blurring. Subsequent examination revealed significant corneal haze, excessive flattening in both eyes, and thinning (thinnest point 227 μm in the right eye, 244 μm in the left eye) 4 years postoperatively. Upon presentation, the corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was 20/200 in the right eye and 20/400 in the left eye. The presenting refraction was +2.50 sph, −3.50 cyl *114 in the right eye and +11.5 sph, −9.75 cyl *81 in the left eye. With rigid gas permeable contact lenses, the corrected visual acuity was 20/50 in both eyes. Before the CXL Plus surgery, initial refraction and CDVA were 20/50 in the right eye (−5.50 sph, −3.00 cyl *175) and 20/30 in the left eye (−5.50 sph, −2.75 cyl *175). The patient was treated by penetrating keratoplasty. The CDVA reached 20/30 at the final follow-up. Conclusion: Our report highlights significant corneal haze and flattening that occurred 4 years after combined CXL and PRK treatment. These findings suggest that this procedure might not be safe in suspected patients of keratoconus. Further long-term follow-up research is necessary to evaluate the safety of combined CXL and PRK procedures.

Introduction: Colon cancer is considered one of the most lethal cancers globally, and various factors are thought to be associated with the survival rate of this disease. Identifying these factors is helpful in better management, efficient treatment, and increased patient survival. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of colon cancer patients and their 5-year mortality rates.Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 54 patients diagnosed with colon cancer, and their demographic data, comorbidities, clinical and laboratory data were collected. The Spearman non-parametric statistical correlation test was utilized to analyze the relationships between these variables and the 5-year mortality of colon cancer. A P-value

Foot pronation, as one of the prevalent foot abnormalities, can influence the biomechanics of the lower limbs. The use of various foot orthoses, including insoles and braces, is very common in eliminating this problem. The results obtained regarding the effect of orthoses on pain and biomechanics of individuals with foot pronation are different. The present review study was conducted to evaluate the effects of foot orthoses and shoes on the biomechanics of the lower limbs and balance in individuals with foot pronation. The articles were searched in Persian and Latin languages during 2004-22 in the databases of PubMed, Web of Science (WOS), Scopus, Islamic Science Citation (ISC), and Google Scholar search engine. Moreover, the types of the searched studies were original research, review studies, and clinical trials. Using keywords of Foot pronation, Foot orthoses, Medical soles, and Motion-control shoes, 52 relevant articles were selected, and 22 articles regarding the effects of orthoses and shoes on foot pronation were finally analyzed. Eight articles also reported that reducing forces imposed on the joints, absorbing shock, preventing pronation-related running injuries, and improving muscle activity occurred when using orthosis. Furthermore, 4 articles reported improving sports performance in athletes, reducing the ground reaction forces, and changing the frequency of muscle activity. Finally, 2 articles showed that motion-control shoes prevented intensifying the injury due to increased fatigue and subsequently increased mechanical loading during running. The results of the present study demonstrated that foot orthoses and motion-control shoes could have positive effects on balance, improving the activities of the lower limbs and reducing foot pronation and force imposed on the foot and lower limb joints.

Background:This study aimed to investigate stance phase characteristics and asymmetry in females with non-specific low back pain (LBPP) which they adopt different strategies in walking to reduce pain and enhance walking quality. The results of this research can provide new insight into gait characteristics for individuals with LBPP by examining temporal characteristics and asymmetry in their stance phase during walking. Method: In this cross-sectional study, 36 females were purposefully recruited and divided into two groups: one consisting of 18 individuals with low back pain (LBPP) and the other without LBPP. Data were collected using the Footscan system and analyzed with the Footscan Gait 7 gait generation software. Independent t-tests were employed to compare the outcomes between the two groups. Results: The results indicated that the right (p=0.001) and left (p=0.001) foot progression angles in the low back pain group were higher than those in the healthy group. Additionally, the low back pain group exhibited higher asymmetry in the timings of the initial contact phase (p=0.02) and forefoot contact phase (p=0.02), as well as in foot progression angle asymmetry (p=0.009) compared to the healthy group. Conclusion:Given the higher foot progression angle and observed asymmetries in individuals with low back pain, rehabilitative exercises need to consider these differences when evaluating and planning rehabilitation procedures.

ABSTRACTBackground There were increased claims of thrombotic events in ICU-bound patients with COVID-19. We designed this observational study to examine implementation of systemic anti-coagulation on arterial catheter failure (ACF) and to identify contributing risk factors.Methods A total of 245 COVID-19 subjects were included in this observational study, 48 patients in the non-systemic, (Non-SA), anticoagulation cohort, and 197 patients in the systemic (SA), anticoagulation group. The first arterial line inserted on ICU admission for every patient was monitored regarding its duration of patency, number and location of consecutive arterial lines inserted during stay in ICU. Demographics of patients, ICU parameters and risk factors for ACF were analyzed.Results The percentage of ACF was significantly higher in Non-SA group, 45.8 % when compared to SA group, 25.9%, P = 0.007. The patients with ACF exhibited higher D-dimer, co-morbidities, diabetic patients, received aspirin and mortality than the patent group, respectively, p = 0.002, p = 0.002, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001. This group also received higher sedation and vasopressors consumption and more prone position on mechanical ventilation, respectively, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.0001 when compared to patent group. They had prolonged length of stay in ICU and hospital, respectively, p = 0.001 and p = 0.042. The cumulative incidence of index ACF was (Log-rank test 6.95, P = 0.008) when comparing SA group versus non-SA group, respectively, P = 0.007. On Cox-proportional hazard multivariate regression analysis, independent predictors of ACF were: platelets level (per 100.000 increase), (HR 1.40; 95% CI 1.12–1.74; p = 0.003), blind technique versus ultrasound in arterial line insertion (HR 4.12; 95% CI 1.60–10.67; p = 0.003), and prone position in ICU (HR 2.07; 95% CI 1.180–3.63; p = 0.011).Conclusion We observed three independent predictors of arterial line failure including platelets level and ultrasound use during arterial catheter insertion and prone position in ICU. Systemic anticoagulation was associated with more patency of arterial catheter than prophylactic therapy group.

Abstract Natural gas stands as the most ecologically sustainable fossil fuel, constituting nearly 25% of worldwide primary energy utilization and experiencing rapid expansion. This article offers an extensive comparative analysis of nano filter elements, focusing on pressure drop and pollutant removal efficiency. The primary goal was to assess the superior performance of nano filter elements and their suitability as an alternative for Town Border Station (TBS). The research encompassed a six-month examination period, involving routine pressure assessments, structural examinations, and particle characterization of the filter elements. The results revealed that nano filters showed better performance in adsorbing aluminum than conventional filters, possibly due to their cartridge composition. Nano filters contained phosphorus, sulfur, and copper, while conventional filters lacked these elements. The disparity can be attributed to the finer mesh of the nano filter, capturing smaller pollutants. Although the nano filter had minimal silicon, the conventional filter showed some, posing concerns. Despite having 19 extra pleats, the nano filter maintained gas flow pressure while capturing more particles than the conventional filter.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate and compare clinical outcomes after femtosecond laser-assisted implantation of 325-degree versus 340-degree arc length intracorneal ring segments (ICRS) in eyes with keratoconus (KCN). Methods: In this prospective non-randomized interventional case series, 23 eyes of 21 patients diagnosed with KCN, underwent femtosecond laser-assisted implantation of two types of ICRS, which included a 325-degree ICRS (Group 325) and a 340-degree ICRS (Group 340). The primary outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), and the secondary outcome measures included corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), sphere, cylinder, mean refractive spherical equivalent (MRSE), keratometry, vectorial change in corneal astigmatism, and the location of maximum keratometry relative to the corneal apex. The study groups were compared using the primary and secondary outcome measures obtained at postoperative months six and 12. Results: Groups 325 and 340 consisted of 10 and 13 eyes, respectively. The two groups were comparable in terms of parameters measured preoperatively. On comparison to the baseline values, both study groups exhibited a significant increase in UDVA and CDVA measured at postoperative month six (Ps < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the sphere, cylinder, spherical equivalent refraction, and keratometry readings measured at postoperative months six and 12 (Ps < 0.05). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of visual, refractive, and keratometric outcomes at any time point. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed in any of the study groups. Conclusion: Both the 325-degree ICRS and the 340-degree ICRS effectively and equally improved visual, refractive, and keratometric outcomes in keratoconic eyes.

Lowland rice flooding, while consuming considerable water, has adverse environmental effects, including releasing methane into the atmosphere, aggravating climate change. Several drawbacks can be attributed to water-saving alternatives, such as aerobic rice, whereas rice drip irrigation techniques have been evaluated primarily under aerobic conditions. This study investigated drip tape irrigation technique with different lateral spacings for transplanted rice in puddled paddy soil at the Rice Research Institute of Iran in Rasht over two years (2020 and 2021), compared to intermittent irrigation. In twelve isolated concrete basins, three treatments with lateral spacings of 40 (T40), 60 (T60), and 80 cm (T80), were compared with a fixed five-day period intermittent irrigation (INT). In 2020 and 2021, the INT treatment produced the highest grain yield (3814 and 4758 kg ha−1, respectively) and among drip tape treatments, T40 demonstrated the highest grain yield (3613 and 4020 kg ha−1, respectively), comparable with INT’s yield but with the highest sterile spikelets ratio. In contrast, T80 resulted in the lowest grain weight (2892 and 3653 kg ha−1, respectively) and yield characteristics values, while producing the highest weeds population. Drip tape irrigation significantly reduced water application by 27% and 36% in 2020 and 2021, respectively and T40 achieved the highest water productivity, at 0.68 kg m−3. The economic water productivity estimation of drip tape irrigation can range from 0.11 to 0.51 US$ m−3 in various scenarios, while that of intermittent irrigation remains at 0.25 US$ m−3.

Addiction medicine is a dynamic field that encompasses clinical practice and research in the context of societal, economic, and cultural factors at the local, national, regional, and global levels. This field has evolved profoundly during the past decades in terms of scopes and activities with the contribution of addiction medicine scientists and professionals globally. The dynamic nature of drug addiction at the global level has resulted in a crucial need for developing an international collaborative network of addiction societies, treatment programs and experts to monitor emerging national, regional, and global concerns. This protocol paper presents methodological details of running longitudinal surveys at national, regional, and global levels through the Global Expert Network of the International Society of Addiction Medicine (ISAM-GEN). The initial formation of the network with a recruitment phase and a round of snowball sampling provided 354 experts from 78 countries across the globe. In addition, 43 national/regional addiction societies/associations are also included in the database. The surveys will be developed by global experts in addiction medicine on treatment services, service coverage, co-occurring disorders, treatment standards and barriers, emerging addictions and/or dynamic changes in treatment needs worldwide. Survey participants in categories of (1) addiction societies/associations, (2) addiction treatment programs, (3) addiction experts/clinicians and (4) related stakeholders will respond to these global longitudinal surveys. The results will be analyzed and cross-examined with available data and peer-reviewed for publication.

Drought stress and weed infestation are significant factors that significantly decrease cotton yield. Increasing the variety of plants within a cotton field ecosystem can strengthen its stability and protect it from susceptibility to both biotic and abiotic pressures. In this two-year experiment (2021 and 2022), the effects of intercropping systems (four growth conditions including mono- and inter-cropped cotton varieties Golestan and Hekmat with Nepeta crispa and dragon's head (Lallemantia iberica)), irrigation (three intervals of 3, 6, and 9 days), and weed competition (weed-free and weedy plots) on the agronomic performance, physiological characteristics, and seed quality of cotton in a semi-arid region of Iran were studied. In 2021, the volume of irrigation water applied was 9873, 6100, and 4650 m3 ha−1 for irrigation intervals of 3, 6, and 9 days, respectively. In 2022, the volumes were 9071, 5605, and 4272 m3 ha−1 for the corresponding irrigation intervals. Over two years, Xanthium strumarium, Amaranthus retroflexus, and Portulaca oleracea were the dominant weed species. Weeds had the most significant impact on total dry weight; weed control increased plant vigor and growth, ranging from 1.4 to 2.3 times, while weed impact on cottonseed yield ranged from 18% to 96% reduction. Increasing irrigation intervals resulted in reductions in various parameters, with decreases of 39%–80% in total dry weight, 34%–57% in cottonseed yield, and 48%–72% in lint yield. The harvest indices for seed cotton, cottonseed, and lint ranged from 35.3% to 56.5%, 18.3%–35.0%, and 15.4%–20.5%, respectively. Weeds were responsible for a 17% decrease in the 1000-seed weight. As the irrigation intervals increased from 3 days to 6 days and 9 days, the number of bolls per plant decreased by 19%–85%. Extending the irrigation interval from 3 days to 6 days and 9 days resulted in a substantial decrease in the photosynthetic rate, ranging from 42% to 92%. Mono-cropped Golestan performed well under unstressed conditions such as 3-day interval irrigation and weed-free conditions. On the other hand, intercropped Hekmat demonstrated better resilience to both moisture and weed stresses. The LER (Land equivalent ratio) indices of both intercropping systems were generally favorable, indicating higher productivity compared to sole cropping. The intercropping systems consistently showed the highest LER indices under weedy conditions, highlighting the significance of intercropping as a valuable method in integrated weed management.

Background: Curative resection with adequate margins is a treatment principle in gastroesophageal junction cancers. There is still no comprehensive agreement on the length of the negative proximal margin after total gastrectomy in Siewert II and III tumors. Extending the proximal negative margin in this anatomical region is very difficult in some cases and can cause more complications for the patients. This study aimed to investigate the influence of the negative proximal margin length on the local anastomotic recurrence in gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma in a referral cancer center in Iran.Methods: In a prospective cross-sectional study, 35 patients with GEJ Sievert II and III adenocarcinomas who underwent total radical gastrectomy from 2017 to 2020 were included. Proximal margin length was measured immediately after resection in the operation room. Then, patients were evaluated for local recurrence at the anastomosis site after two years by endoscopic examination. The relationship between negative proximal margin length, local recurrence rate, and overall survival was evaluated.Results: From 35 patients 29 (82.9%) cases had negative proximal margins, and 6 (17.1%) cases had positive proximal margins. The least negative proximal margin length was 0.1 cm, and the most were 5 cm. The mean margin was 2±1.6 cm. Based on the endoscopic and pathologic findings, the local recurrence at the anastomosis site was 20% in two years of follow-up. The incidence of local tumor recurrence was higher in patients with positive margins versus patients with negative ones (11.4% vs. 8.6%, P=0.007). There was no significant relationship between the negative proximal margin length and the incidence of local anastomotic recurrence.Conclusion: According to our findings, the length of the negative proximal margin has no effect on the rate of local recurrence at the anastomosis site, however it is suggested to reach the negative proximal margin in all tumor stages in total gastrectomy for Siewert II and III gastric cardia tumors.

Background: Gallbladder agenesis is a biliary tract related congenital malformation with an incidence of 10–65 per 100,000 and associated with other congenital abnormalities. GA is usually asymptomatic, but sometimes patients become symptomatic. The most usual symptoms are jaundice, abdominal pain in the right upper quadrant, nausea and vomiting. We reported a case of GA and choledochogastric fistula in a patient with history of cholangitis. Case Presentation: A 70-year-old man presented to Emergency Department of Modarres Hospital with jaundice, fever, right upper quadrant abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. Clinical examination and lab test demonstrated cholangitis. He underwent ultrasonography, abdominopelvic CT scan and ERCP. ERCP revealed a CBD fistula. Due to recurrent symptoms, he underwent operation and hepaticojejunostomy was done. Conclusion: In our knowledge, the case of GA and choledochogastric fistula is rare. Furthermore, this type of abnormalities rarely presented with cholangitis, so probable anatomical malformation of the biliary tract should always be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with biliary disease signs and symptoms

The current study was designed to evaluate the effect of sequential low and high dietary linseed oil (LO; as omega-3 enriched fatty acid; FA) before and post insemination, respectively, on different plasma variables of ewes. Fat-tailed Qezel ewes were assigned randomly to be fed a diet enriched with 3% LO (n = 30) or the saturated FA (SFA; n = 30) three weeks before insemination (Day 0). The lipogenic diet supplemented with 6% LO or SFA was fed after insemination until Day +21. The control ewes were fed an isocaloric and isonitrogenous diet with no additional FA during the study. Estrus was synchronized by inserting a vaginal sponge (Spongavet®) for 12 days + 500 IU equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG; Gonaser®), and ewes were inseminated via laparoscopic approach 56–59 h after eCG injection. The size of ovarian structures was assessed by transvaginal ultrasonography at −21, −14, −2, 0, and +10 days. Blood samples were collected weekly to measure the plasma’s different biochemical variables and FA profile. Treatment did not affect the amounts of glucose, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, interleukin-10, interleukin-2, and non-esterified FA (p > 0.05). Conversely, concentrations of triglyceride, cholesterol, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and insulin-like growth factor-1 were higher in SFA-fed ewes relative to control animals (p < 0.05). LO feeding resulted in greater amounts of n-3 FA isomers in plasma, while higher amounts of stearic acid were detected in SFA fed group 0 and +21 (p < 0.05). The number of ovarian follicles and corpora lutea also were not affected by treatment. Other reproductive variables were not affected by treatment except for the reproductive rate. It seems that LO or SFA feeding of fat-tailed ewes peri-insemination period was not superior to the isocaloric non-additional fat diet provided for the control group during the non-breeding season.

Abstract One of the most critical challenges in using noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques for the treatment of psychiatric and neurologic disorders is inter- and intra-individual variability in response to NIBS. Response variations in previous findings suggest that the one-size-fits-all approach does not seem the most appropriate option for enhancing stimulation outcomes. While there is a growing body of evidence for the feasibility and effectiveness of individualized NIBS approaches, the optimal way to achieve this is yet to be determined. Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is one of the NIBS techniques showing promising results in modulating treatment outcomes in several psychiatric and neurologic disorders, but it faces the same challenge for individual optimization. With new computational and methodological advances, tES can be integrated with real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging (rtfMRI) to establish closed-loop tES-fMRI for individually optimized neuromodulation. Closed-loop tES-fMRI systems aim to optimize stimulation parameters based on minimizing differences between the model of the current brain state and the desired value to maximize the expected clinical outcome. The methodological space to optimize closed-loop tES fMRI for clinical applications includes (1) stimulation vs. data acquisition timing, (2) fMRI context (task-based or resting-state), (3) inherent brain oscillations, (4) dose-response function, (5) brain target trait and state and (6) optimization algorithm. Closed-loop tES-fMRI technology has several advantages over non-individualized or open-loop systems to reshape the future of neuromodulation with objective optimization in a clinically relevant context such as drug cue reactivity for substance use disorder considering both inter and intra-individual variations. Using multi-level brain and behavior measures as input and desired outcomes to individualize stimulation parameters provides a framework for designing personalized tES protocols in precision psychiatry.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) can play essential roles in the modulation of cancer cell growth, survival, and resistance to chemotherapy. Thus, we hypothesized that restoration of miR-451a-5p (a tumor suppressor) might affect sensitivity to chemotherapeutics in breast cancer cells. Methods: For this purpose, malignant breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231) were transfected with miR-451a-5p mimic and exposed with carboplatin. Then, the apoptotic rate was evaluated by flow cytometry and DAPI staining (apoptosis), q-RT-PCR (expression levels of caspase-3, caspase-8, MMP9, ROCK, vimentin, c-Myc genes). Moreover, the proliferation and migration of cancer cells were assessed by MTT (cell viability) and wound healing assay. The western blot assay was used for protein expression of PTEN, AKT, and P-AKT. Results: Our findings demonstrated that a combination of miR-451a-5p restoration with carboplatin administration could additionally induce apoptosis, repress the proliferation and migration, and also increase PTEN protein expression with no significant alteration on the AKT/P-AKT protein expressions in the breast cancer cells. The present data was analyzed using GraphPad Prism 6 software by non-parametric one-way ANOVA and t-test. Conclusion: In conclusion, it seems that overexpression of miR-451a can enhance the chemosensitivity of breast cancer cells to carboplatin therapy. Thus, it may shed new light on miR-451a management of breast cancer chemoresistance and may be a beneficial strategy for future cancer therapy. However, further studies, particularly in other signaling pathways, should be required.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the pro-angiogenic effect of topical erythropoietin on cornea in chemical burn-injured rabbit eyes. Methods: The corneal alkali-burn injury was induced in 10 eyes of 10 rabbits using filter paper saturated with 1.0 mol sodium hydroxide. The eyes were categorized into the treatment group (n = 5) that received topical erythropoietin (3000 IU/mL) every 8 hr for one month versus the control group (n = 5) that received normal saline every 8 hr for one month. All eyes were treated with topical ciprofloxacin every 8 hr until corneal re-epithelialization was complete. Corneal epithelial defects, stromal opacity, and neovascularization were evaluated after the injury. At the conclusion of the study, the rabbits were euthanized and their corneas were submitted to histopathological examination. Results: Baseline characteristics including the rabbits' weight and the severity of corneal injury were comparable in two groups. Time to complete corneal re-epithelialization was 37 days in the treatment group and 45 days in the control group (P = 0.83). There was no significant difference between the groups in the rate of epithelial healing or corneal opacification. Clinical and microscopic corneal neovascularization was observed in one eye (20%) in the treatment group and two eyes (40%) in the control group (P = 0.49). Conclusion: Recombinant human erythropoietin administered topically did not induce vessel formation in rabbit corneas after chemical burn.

Introduction: Pronated foot, as one of the common foot abnormalities can affect the biomechanics of the lower extremity. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the scientific research related to the application of various exercise protocols on foot pronation complications, as well as to make favorable summary and provide more appropriate information from previous research. In this study, the search for articles in Persian and Latin languages in 2019-2022 was carried out on WOS, Magiran, PubMed, Springer databases, and Google Scholar. The number of 52 related articles was selected based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. After another review on these papers, 18 articles that evaluated the effects of training protocols on body mechanics in individuals with pronated feet were selected. Conclusion: It seems that performing exercise to improve balance, strengthening the quadriceps muscles, and not change the lower extremity joints angles during activity has been effective. Therefore, it is suggested that rehabilitation professionals consider reinforcement activities in the process of recovering pronated using the principles and science practice.

Introduction: Patellofemoral pain syndrome is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders of the knee area. Previous studies have pointed to the positive effects of exercise. Therefore, it is very important to check the types of exercise protocols for the treatment of this condition. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the scientific framework of research related to the application of various exercise protocols on patellofemoral pain syndrome, as well as to make a favorable summary and provide more appropriate information from previous researches. In this review study, the search for articles in Persian and English languages in 2022 (until November) was carried out on WOS, Magiran, Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Springer databases. The keywords of patellofemoral pain syndrome, knee and knee rehabilitation were used to extract articles. 100 relevant articles were selected based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. After reviewing 100 articles, the number of 53 article titles that were close to the research title met the criteria for inclusion in the present study. After re-examining the articles, 25 articles were selected with the aim of examining the exercise protocol on patellofemoral pain. Conclusion: It seems that sports exercises with the aim of strengthening the muscles around the knee joint are effective in the recovery process and reducing the pain of people suffering from patellofemoral syndrome.

Drought is one of the most significant and complex climate risks, with profound effects on reducing agricultural production and exacerbating poverty and food insecurity worldwide in the absence of effective mitigation measures. Climate assessments indicate that drought will affect the majority of world regions in the future, with agricultural-dependent communities bearing the brunt of its impacts. Therefore, managing measures to mitigate the effects of drought is crucial in this regard. This research aims to (1) examine the adoption status of adaptation strategies and (2) identify the influential factors affecting the adoption of drought mitigation measures in Iran. The study population consisted of all rural agricultural households in Kerman Province (southeastern Iran). In order to accurately select the studied samples, calculation of drought severity was done based on the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). In this research, an extended version of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), incorporating new variables including trust, self-efficacy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived risk, resistance to use, and performance expectancy, was utilized as the theoretical framework. Data analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results revealed that all adaptation strategies of farmers under drought conditions were categorized into five classes: Social activities (SA), Physical infrastructure management (PIM), Financial management (FIM), Farm management (FM), Irrigation and water management (IWM), and Crop management (CM). Furthermore, SEM results indicated that all hypothesized relationships in this context were significant, and the research variables explained 58% of the variance in the adoption of adaptive behaviors. Lastly, considering that trust had the most significant effect on the adoption of adaptation measures, policymakers in this field are recommended to increase farmers’ trust in these strategies by conducting thorough needs assessments and identifying the most effective strategies. Moreover, organizing appropriate workshops and training courses can enhance farmers’ awareness and understanding of adaptation measures for mitigating the impacts of drought.

Functionally graded materials (FGMs) are high temperature-resistant materials that can simultaneously maintain metallic tenacity and anti-corrosive properties. Nevertheless, using FGMs during a multi-year service life at ultrahigh temperatures is crucial. Hence, the time-dependent creep response of variable-thickness rotating disks made of FGM is investigated. Four different disk profiles of linear, concave, convex, and uniform are considered. The material's creep properties are defined by the Bailey-Norton creep law. Loading is a rotation-based mechanical body force and a uniform temperature throughout the disk. Simultaneous solution of equilibrium, stress-strain, and strain-displacement equations yields a non-homogenous differential equation containing variable and time-dependent coefficients. In an attempt to optimize the computation cost, Bat and Fish algorithms were used to optimize the initial strain presumptions. Semi-analytical solution of this differential equation gives radial and circumferential stress histories and displacement histories. To confirm the solution method, initial thermo-elastic radial stress, and the effective stress history are validated with the existing literature; there is a good agreement between the results. In addition, the finite element software ABAQUS was used to model the FGM disk thermo-elastic behavior, and the result was compared with the semi-analytical solution results. This study emphasizes the significance of accounting for creep effects in the design of FGM rotating disks, as remarkable changes in their displacements and stresses occur over time. This study emphasizes the significance of accounting for creep effects in the design of FGM rotating disks, as notable changes in their displacements and stresses occur over time.

So far, many studies have examined the effects of surface (FF) and drip (DF) fertigation compared to surface (FC) and drip (DC) irrigation along with fertilization at different levels of fertilizer on crop yield indices, nutrient use efficiency (NUE), and irrigation water productivity (WP); however, each of them have been conducted under different conditions. Because of the scattered results and the lack of a general conclusion from the published results, conducting a meta-analysis as a structured method for arriving at an overall conclusion regarding the effects of different fertigation methods on different indices is essential. This study was conducted to examine the effects of surface and drip fertigation methods and different fertilizer application levels on crop yield, NUE, and WP. To this end, eight global databases of publications (e.g., Scopus and Web of Science) were reviewed. A total of 5494 studies were extracted, of which 32 studies met the entry criteria for the meta-analysis. To assess the effects of fertigation, each study was used to extract the effect sizes for each index. A total of 119 effect sizes were obtained for crop yield, 85 for NUE, and 84 for WP. The meta-analysis results showed that surface and drip fertigation methods increased the average yield by 20%. NUE and WP on an average increased by 26% and 51%, respectively. Based on the reported results, the optimal fertilizer application level is 75% of the recommended dose, which can reduce fertilizer use by 25% without significantly reducing the yield. In general, fertigation can be recommended as an effective operation for improving the proposed indices examined in both surface and drip fertigation methods.

The Cenozoic magmatism is mainly concentrated in the Alborz magmatic arc, Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc, Central and Eastern Iran. The Western Alborz magmatic arc known as Alborz-Azerbaijan is hosted numerous porphyry-epithermal deposits. It is divided into Ahar-Arasbaran in the north and Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province in the south. The Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province is associated with several epithermal mineral systems (Ghasemi Siani and Lentz, 2022) related to Cenozoic magmatism. It consists mainly of intrusive, subvolcanic rocks, as well as volcanic-sedimentary complexes with acidic to intermediate composition. These rocks with calc-alkaline to shoshonitic nature, are predominantly granite, granodiorite, basalt, andesite, dacite, rhyodacite, rhyolite, and related tuffs. Th main goal of the present paper is to review the available data combined with our new data on the granitoids widespread in the area. An attempt is made to present the lithological, geochemical, and geo-structural features of the magma generated in Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province.Regional GeologyThe Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province is limited by the Tabriz-Soltaniyeh (Northwestern part), Soltanieh-Takestan (Southeastern part), and Astara faults (Western part). Volcanic-pyroclastic rocks have been widely invaded by the Upper Eocene intrusive bodies (including Zaker, Marvarid, Koh-e-Tabar, Takestan, Zanjan, Tarom, Rudbar-Ahar, Vermarziar, and Goljin bodies). The epithermal deposits are classified as low sulfidation (LS), intermediate sulfidation (IS), and high sulfidation (HS).Material and methodsWhole rock and isotopic geochemical data obtained from 176 samples of granitoid rocks related to 17 deposits (including 4 epithermal deposits of low sulfidation (LS), 5 epithermal deposits of intermediate sulfidation (IS), 4 epithermal deposits of high sulfidation) (HS) and 4 magmatic iron oxide- apatite deposits (IOA)). The data was compiled using Microsoft Excel (Appendix 1) and contains major oxides, rare earth elements and isotopic data, rock type, sources, and associated epithermal deposits. The samples of hydrothermal altered granitoid rocks with LOI greater than 2 percent by weight were excluded from the data set. Also, Sr-Nd isotopic compositions for 33 whole rock samples and Pb isotopic compositions for 24 granitoid samples are presented in Appendix 2.Whole rocks chemistryGeochemistry of major elements: The amounts of some oxides including MgO, CaO, FeO, TiO2, and Al2O3 display negative while the K2O content shows a positive correlation with increasing SiO2. The abundance of incompatible elements (i.e. Rb, Ba, Th, and Zr) increases slightly to moderately with increasing silica content. The amounts of P and Sr significantly decrease with increasing silica content. These granitoids are enriched in lithophile elements (LILE)(i.e. K, Rb, Th, U, Nd) and depleted in high field strength elements (HFSE) (i.e. Ta, Nb, Ti,) indicating the occurrence of magmatism associated with subduction and the characteristic of all magmas subjected to crustal contamination in subduction zones (Chappell and White, 1992; Wilson, 2007). Also, the investigated rocks are enriched in LREEs and depleted in HREEs (LREE/HREE = 1.14-10.34), a remarkable feature of magmas related to subduction zones (Wilson, 2007). The (La/Yb)N ratio ranges from 3.25 to 14.70 (ave.7.53).Isotope geochemistry: The studied granitoids are located in the ranges of magmas related to the subduction zone. These magmas are periodically contaminated by crustal materials. Most of the granitoid samples are placed within the depleted and enriched mantle array (Zindler and Hart, 1986).Discussion and ConclusionThe rocks under study associated with epithermal deposits in the Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province consist mainly of monzonitic, monzodioritic, quartz monzonitic, and granite belonging to high calc-alkaline to shoshonitic I type and metaluminous magmatism. They are characterized by Sr/Y (3.6 to 39.11), La/Yb (4.53 to 20.50) and high K2O values (with an average of 4.40 wt.%), consistent with calc-alkaline mantle melt contaminated by crustal materials (Chappell and White, 1992). Metaluminous and high calc-alkaline to shoshonitic igneous rocks are originated by partial melting of enriched lithospheric mantle metasomatized by fluids from the subducting slab. These granitoids also have Th values (average 15.17 g/t) higher than that of the rocks derived from primary mantle melt. Fluids and melts from the subducting oceanic crust metasomatized the mantle wedge above them causing a positive LILE and a negative HFSE anomalies. Overall, the Tarom-Hashtjin metallogenic province is part of a back-arc extensional system arc behind the main Urumieh-Dokhtar main arc. Considering this, it seems that the extensional tectonic setting in the Lower to Middle Eocene was accompanied by convergence movements and was followed until the end of the Middle Eocene and Upper Eocene. This phase of extension occurred during the Eocene associated with slab rollback. The aforementioned tectonic movements can be associated with the processes of separation of the subducting plate or convective thinning of the lithosphere, causing the uplift of the asthenosphere and temperature disturbance in the metasomatism lithospheric mantle wedge. This disturbance gave rise to partial melting of the subducting slab and the lithospheric mantle wedge producing the primary potassic magma of the granitoid rocks under study. It suggests that primary source magmas were generated by partial melting of the mantle-wedge and were subsequently affected by both fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation during their magmatic evolution during Eocene magmas (37 to 42 Ma) in a back-arc basin.

Abstract Miniaturized integrated optical devices with low power consumption have long been considered hot candidates for plasmonic applications. While 2D materials such as graphene have been proposed for this purpose, they suffer from large propagation loss and low controllability at room temperature. Here, a silicene-based optical MOSFET with excellent performance is designed to achieve integrated circuit optical technology. The designed device is comprised of a silicene optical waveguide whose switching operation is performed by a gate and has a structure similar to an enhancement MOSFET with a formed channel. Unlike graphene, the surface conductivity of silicene can be controlled by both chemical potential and an electric field perpendicular to its surface. This unique feature of silicene is used to design and simulate an optical-MOSFET with transverse electric polarization at 300 K. The salient characteristics of the optical device include its nanoscale dimensions, ultra-low insertion loss of 0.13 dB, infinite extinction ratio, and quality factor of 688, proposing it as a promising tool for optical integration.

Abstract Objective To identify the prevalence of cranial nerve (CN) palsy and its associated factors in malignant otitis externa (MOE). Methods In a retrospective study, records of MOE patients from 2011 to 2014 were reviewed. MOE and CN involvement were evaluated based on patient demographics, clinical, and paraclinical data. Results Overall, 119 MOE patients with a mean age of 65.9 ± 11.3 were included. 69.7% were male, and 63.0% had a history of diabetes. The most common symptoms and signs were otalgia (97.5%), otorrhea (44.5%), and ear canal erythema/edema (24.4%). Thirty‐three patients (27.7%) had CN involvement. The facial nerve was mostly involved (26.1%). Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) was present in 59 patients. When excluding patients younger than 30 and older than 80, age decade was correlated with CN palsy. 66.9% of patients with CN palsy and 65.6% without CN palsy were male, which was significantly different. The following factors were not significantly different between patients with and without CN palsy: Comorbidities, signs and symptoms, diagnostic delay, erythrocyte sedimentation rate level, fasting blood sugar, hemoglobin A1c level, antifungal therapy, hospitalization duration, and SBO on imaging. Tinnitus was correlated with SBO evidence on imaging (specificity: 96.7%). Conclusion CN involvement occurs in about three out of 10 MOE patients. Male gender and advanced age may be related to a higher incidence rate of CN palsy. Tinnitus can be a specific indicator of SBO. These findings could help in better decision‐making for early interventions. Level of Evidence 4.

Abstract Sustainable agriculture requires cooperative and coordinated action across multiple sectors and policy domains. However, farmer-stakeholder behaviors and action remain pivotal to sustainable food system management in many rural development contexts. We assess farmer pro-environmental behavioral intention through the development and application of a novel integrated approach combining two dominant psychological theories of behavior change: the Norm Activation Model (NAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). We apply this framework to targeted research with potato growers of Kerman Province in southeastern Iran, using survey data (sample n = 381) analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The integrated NAM-TPB model provides insight into both pro-social and self-interested motivations for farmer pro-environmental behavioral intention, with the model explaining 77% of total variance. We found that three variables, Awareness of Consequence (AC), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), and Subjective Norms (SN) were the strongest indicators of pro-environmental behavioral intention. We recommend therefore that agricultural extension and state-led farmer education should first emphasize awareness-raising of negative environmental impacts of current farming practices within training programs, and second, improve social learning amongst farmer communities through sustained farmer community engagement, thus “stabilizing” a social norm of environmental protection amongst peer networks of agricultural workers.

Abstract Purpose To compare the long-term safety and efficacy of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with Artisan phakic intraocular lens implantation to correct refractive errors after penetrating keratoplasty (PK) for keratoconus. Methods This retrospective comparative interventional case series included a total of 33 consecutive keratoconus eyes that had previous PK and received subsequent LASIK (n = 16) or Artisan lens implantation (n = 17) were included in this study. Outcome measures were uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), refractive error, and complications. Results Postoperatively, the UDVA of ≥20/40 was achieved in none of the LASIK group compared to 62.5% of eyes in the Artisan group (P

The rising severity and frequency of wildfires in recent years in the United States have raised numerous concerns regarding the improvement in wildfire emergency response management and decision-making systems, which require operational high temporal and spatial resolution monitoring capabilities. Satellites are one of the tools that can be used for wildfire monitoring. However, none of the currently available satellite systems provide both high temporal and spatial resolution. For example, GOES-17 geostationary satellite fire products have high temporal (1–5 min) but low spatial resolution (≥2 km), and VIIRS polar orbiter satellite fire products have low temporal (~12 h) but high spatial resolution (375 m). This work aims to leverage currently available satellite data sources, such as GOES and VIIRS, along with deep learning (DL) advances to achieve an operational high-resolution, both spatially and temporarily, wildfire monitoring tool. Specifically, this study considers the problem of increasing the spatial resolution of high temporal but low spatial resolution GOES-17 data products using low temporal but high spatial resolution VIIRS data products. The main idea is using an Autoencoder DL model to learn how to map GOES-17 geostationary low spatial resolution satellite images to VIIRS polar orbiter high spatial resolution satellite images. In this context, several loss functions and DL architectures are implemented and tested to predict both the fire area and the corresponding brightness temperature. These models are trained and tested on wildfire sites from 2019 to 2021 in the western U.S. The results indicate that DL models can improve the spatial resolution of GOES-17 images, leading to images that mimic the spatial resolution of VIIRS images. Combined with GOES-17 higher temporal resolution, the DL model can provide high-resolution near-real-time wildfire monitoring capability as well as semi-continuous wildfire progression maps.

Understanding the dose-response relationship is crucial in studying the effects of brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). The dose-response relationship refers to the relationship between the received stimulation dose and the resulting response, which can be described as a function of the dose at various levels, including single/multiple neurons, clusters, regions, or networks. Here, we are focused on the received stimulation dose obtained from computational head models and brain responses which are quantified by functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data. In this randomized, triple-blind, sham-controlled clinical trial, we recruited sixty participants with methamphetamine use disorders (MUDs) as a sample clinical population who were randomly assigned to receive either sham or active tDCS. Structural and functional MRI data, including high-resolution T1 and T2-weighted MRI, resting-state functional MRI, and a methamphetamine cue-reactivity task fMRI, were acquired before and after tDCS. Individual head models were generated using the T1 and T2-weighted MRI data to simulate electric fields. In a linear approach, we investigated the associations between electric fields (received dose) and changes in brain function (response) at four different levels: voxel level, regional level (using atlas-based parcellation), cluster level (identifying active clusters), and network level (task-based functional connectivity). At the voxel level, regional level, and cluster level, no FDR-corrected significant correlation was observed between changes in functional activity and electric fields. However, at the network level, a significant positive correlation was found between frontoparietal connectivity and the electric field at the frontopolar stimulation site (r = 0.42, p corrected = 0.02; medium effect size). Our proposed pipeline offers a methodological framework for analyzing tDCS effects by exploring dose-response relationships at different levels, enabling a direct link between electric field variability and the neural response to tDCS. The results indicate that network-based analysis provides valuable insights into the dependency of tDCS neuromodulatory effects on the individual's regional current dose. Integration of dose-response relationships can inform dose optimization, customization, or the extraction of predictive/treatment-response biomarkers in future brain stimulation studies.

Background: The success of Staphylococcus aureus as an important human pathogen is probably due to possession of various virulence determinants. Attachment and biofilm formation is considered the main step in any infection. The present study aimed to determine the presence of S. aureus surface (sas) genes and their association with biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance. Methods: S. aureus isolates collected were analyzed for biofilm formation using polystyrene microtitre plates. All S. aureus isolates were also examined for the determination of sas genes by PCR assays and antibiotic susceptibility assay by disk diffusion method. Results: Biofilm formation assay revealed that 29 S. aureus isolates were weak biofilm producers, 57 had moderate biofilm production, while only five isolates showed strong biofilm formation. The biofilm production was not revealed among nine isolates. The frequency of sas genes were 95 (88%), 94 (87%), 94 (87%), 92 (85.2%), 98 (90.7%), 93 (86.1%), 97 (89.8%), 87 (80.6%), and 85 (78.7%) for sasF, sasA, sasC, sasE, sasG, sasH, sasI, sasJ, and sasK genes, respectively. Conclusion: High incidence of biofilm production was noticed in S.aureus strains positive for sas genes indicating the precise role of them as virulence-associated genes. Moreover, phenotypically weak or moderate biofilm formation can be well managed by antibiotic therapeutics and allow timely elimination of planktonic cells prior biofilm production.

Abstract Background Considerable number of people still use opium worldwide and many believe in opium’s health benefits. However, several studies proved the detrimental effects of opium on the body, especially the cardiovascular system. Herein, we aimed to provide the first evidence regarding the effects of opium use on one-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the patients with ST-elevation MI (STEMI) who underwent primary PCI. Methods We performed a propensity score matching of 2:1 (controls: opium users) that yielded 518 opium users and 1036 controls. Then, we performed conventional statistical and machine learning analyses on these matched cohorts. Regarding the conventional analysis, we performed multivariate analysis for hazard ratio (HR) of different variables and MACE and plotted Kaplan Meier curves. In the machine learning section, we used two tree-based ensemble algorithms, Survival Random Forest and XGboost for survival analysis. Variable importance (VIMP), tree minimal depth, and variable hunting were used to identify the importance of opium among other variables. Results Opium users experienced more one-year MACE than their counterparts, although it did not reach statistical significance (Opium: 72/518 (13.9%), Control: 112/1036 (10.8%), HR: 1.27 (95% CI: 0.94–1.71), adjusted p-value = 0.136). Survival random forest algorithm ranked opium use as 13th, 13th, and 12th among 26 variables, in variable importance, minimal depth, and variable hunting, respectively. XGboost revealed opium use as the 12th important variable. Partial dependence plot demonstrated that opium users had more one-year MACE compared to non-opium-users. Conclusions Opium had no protective effects on one-year MACE after primary PCI on patients with STEMI. Machine learning and one-year MACE analysis revealed some evidence of its possible detrimental effects, although the evidence was not strong and significant. As we observed no strong evidence on protective or detrimental effects of opium, future STEMI guidelines may provide similar strategies for opium and non-opium users, pending the results of forthcoming studies. Governments should increase the public awareness regarding the evidence for non-beneficial or detrimental effects of opium on various diseases, including the outcomes of primary PCI, to dissuade many users from relying on false beliefs about opium’s benefits to continue its consumption.

IntroductionThe highly competitive service industry often experiences customer aggression towards frontline employees, causing stress and discomfort for service workers, and leading to decreased motivation and job satisfaction. The theory of conservation of resources suggests that retaining valuable employees is crucial for service organizations to differentiate themselves from competitors, especially as employee turnover can lead to the loss of brand equity (Wheeler et al., 2006). Ensuring employee satisfaction and mitigating the impact of customer aggression are essential to maintaining service quality in the hospitality industry, where customers have become increasingly discerning and can easily switch between service providers. Active managers in service organizations attempt to reduce emotional exhaustion among employees through effective counseling and coaching. Despite these efforts, customer aggression and negative behavior towards hotel employees continue to persist, leading to job dissatisfaction and high turnover rates. In service organizations like hotels, intense competition and customer aggression have led to a submissive organizational culture that causes stress and anxiety among employees, ultimately resulting in high turnover rates (Abbas et al., 2014). Mashhad, as a tourist-friendly city, has experienced a recent surge in hotel development, increasing the competition among service organizations. While paying attention to the role of frontline employees in providing tourism services and hospitality to customers can effectively attract and retain customers, observations indicate that frontline employees in the hotel industry face aggressiveness and inappropriate behavior from customers. The present study investigates the mediating role of emotional exhaustion, as well as the moderating roles of distributive justice and organizational pride in the context of five-star hotels in Mashhad.Materials and MethodsThe present research employed a field data collection method and the method of descriptive correlation. The statistical population of the research consisted of the staff of five-star hotels in Mashhad in 2021. Cochran’s formula and simple random sampling method were used to select a sample of 110 participants. Six standard questionnaires were used to collect the data. The validity of the questionnaires were approved by the experts, and the reliability was measured and confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. To analyze the data, the study employed both descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (skewness-elongation and structural equation method with a partial least squares approach) through Amos software.Results and DiscussionThe results showed a significant relationship between customer aggression and turnover intention. Moreover, the study found that emotional fatigue mediates the relationship between customer aggression and job satisfaction and job satisfaction and turnover intention. The first research hypothesis was confirmed as customer aggression has a positive and significant relationship with emotional fatigue. The findings also supported the second hypothesis by showing the mediating role of emotional fatigue in the relationship between customer aggression and job satisfaction. Concerning the third hypothesis, the results showed that there is a significant inverse relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention. Testing the fourth hypothesis, the study found that distributive justice moderates the relationship between customer aggression and emotional fatigue. Finally, concerning the fifth hypothesis, the results showed that organizational pride moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention.ConclusionThe present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of emotional fatigue and the moderating role of distributive justice and organizational pride in the relationship between customer aggression and turnover intention. The first hypothesis was supported as the findings showed that customer aggression has a positive and significant relationship with emotional fatigue, which is consistent with prior research conducted by Katb et al. (2009), Behzor and Yagil (2005), and Grandey et al. (2007). Hotel employees are exposed to high levels of stress in the workplace. Due to the lack of organizational support and insufficient training, they are unable to deal with the stressful situations related to customer aggression and anger management. Consequently, their emotional fatigue increases, their satisfaction decreases, and their desire to leave the job increases. The second hypothesis showed that emotional fatigue mediates the relationship between customer aggression and job satisfaction, which is consistent with the findings of Han et al. (2016) and Karatepe et al. (2009). According to this hypothesis, customer aggression reduces employee job satisfaction by increasing emotional fatigue. Low job satisfaction due to emotional fatigue caused by customer aggression leads to employee turnover intention. Employees who lack the ability to control themselves and are faced with potentially verbally aggressive customers in the workplace may experience job dissatisfaction. Emotional fatigue can have a destructive effect on job satisfaction of service employees. Concerning the third hypothesis, the findings indicated a significant inverse relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention. In this case, the results are consistent with the findings of Mortazavi and Rajabipour Meibodi (2011), Samad (2006), Rahim Nia and Hoshiar (2010), Islam et al. (2014), Saleh et al. (2012) and Shahbazi et al. (2008). This finding highlights the problem of turnover of specialized forces and managers, which is a significant issue in today’s organizations and can be the bane of the organizational movement and of the managers who seek to preserve, maintain, and improve the productivity of human resources. If employees are not satisfied with their job, the probability of leaving the organization increases. The types of employee turnover available to them are related to their job and organizational satisfaction. Thus, hotel managers can decrease turnover intention by satisfying their employees.Regarding the fourth hypothesis, the findings showed that distributive justice moderates the relationship between customer aggression and emotional fatigue. The finding suggests that employees’ emotional fatigue increases when they face customer aggression and perceive a lack of organizational justice in terms of fair allocation of rights, rewards, facilities, and work schedules. Moreover, when employees feel that decision-making procedures and methods concerning their conditions are fair and just, their understanding of distributive justice increases, and they will likely behave better towards clients. The results are also supported by Jafari (2015) and Golparvar and Nadi (2008). The results of the fifth hypothesis showed that organizational pride moderates the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention. This finding suggests that employees with high job satisfaction and organizational pride are less likely to leave their jobs. Therefore, if employees are proud of their organization, they become more emotionally and psychologically attached to their work environment. More attached to their work, such employees show increased commitment to providing services to customers and decreased desire to leave their work environment.

Introduction: The intestine, as an important part of the human gastrointestinal tract, provides a favorable milieu for the growth and development of a diverse and large population (approximately 1000 species) of bacteria. Currently, the presence of a cohesive relationship between intestinal bacteria and the host is being well studied and identified. According to the available scientific evidence, the establishment of conditions of imbalance (dysbiosis) in the number and diversity of intestinal microbiome causes the onset/progression of acute and chronic liver disorders (fatty liver, cirrhosis, and liver autoimmune disease). Therefore, modifying the balance and creating conditions of microbial eubiosis by fecal microbiota transplantation can be considered as a novel and host-compatible biological approach in the supportive treatment of liver diseases. Consequently, in the present study, while referring to investigations related to the focus of intestinal microbiome and their relation to liver diseases, the existing scientific evidence on the clinical efficacy of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of some liver diseases and recent advances are discussed. Conclusion: Both basic science research and clinical studies have proven that the fecal microbiota transplantation method can effectively strengthen and improve the gut microbiota during acute and chronic liver diseases, rebuild and restore the balance of the gut microbiome, and accelerate the patient's recovery.

Statement of the Problem: Infection control is essential for a safe clinical environment during patients’ treatment in dentistry. Transmission of the infection can occur due to contact with patients’ saliva and blood in radiology clinics. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and practice of dentists in Kerman about infection control in digital radiology. Materials and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 162 dentists who worked either in private office or clinic or both. The samples were selected through simple sampling method. Data were collected through demographic data, and valid and reliable questionnaire consisted of 7 questions about knowledge and 12 questions about practice on infection control in digital radiology. Data were analyzed in SPSS 26 software using T, ANOVA, and linear regression tests. The p value was considered at 0.05% significant level. Results: 86(53.1%) of participants were men and 76 (46.9%) were female. The mean age of participants and work experience were 36.32±8.88 and 11.03±8.53 years, respectively. The mean and standard deviation of knowledge, practice, and total were 5.20±1.26, 7.98±2.00, and 13.22±2.72, respectively. There was a positive significant correlation between knowledge with age of participants (p= 0.009). There was also a direct significant correlation between knowledge and practice with work experience (p= 0.045 and p= 0.01 respectively). Conclusion: Knowledge and practice of dentists in Kerman about infection control in digital radiology were good and medium respectively. However, there was a direct significant correlation between knowledge and practice of dentists. Knowledge and practice scores in dentists who worked in private office were significantly better than those who worked only in clinics.

Abstract Purpose: To compare the efficacy of subconjunctival injection of an anti-connective tissue growth factor antibody (anti-CTGF) versus mitomycin-C (MMC) and placebo in reducing scar formation in a rabbit model of trabeculectomy. Methods: A total of 14 rabbits were included. Nine rabbits underwent trabeculectomy with subconjunctival injections of either anti-CTGF antibody, MMC, or balanced salt solution (BSS), each administered in three eyes, before peritomy. The anti-CTGF group received a repeated dose of the antibody five days after surgery. All nine rabbits were euthanized on day 14; the globes were stained with hematoxylin & eosin, Masson's Trichrome, and immunohistochemistry for detecting alpha-smooth muscle (α-SMA) actin. RNA extraction was performed on five eyes of the remaining rabbits which included one eye without any surgery, one eye 5 hr after trabeculectomy without any injection, one eye five days after trabeculectomy without any injection, and two eyes five days after trabeculectomy with administration of MMC and BSS, respectively. Results: The mean bleb area in the anti-CTGF, MMC, and control groups was 3.8 ± 1.45, 5.9 ± 1.4, and 3.5 ± 1.9 mm2, respectively. Collagenous tissue was found to occupy the bleb area by 13.7%, 13.5%, and 18.5%, respectively. This ratio was significantly higher in the BSS group (P = 0.04). The expression of CTGF mRNA after 5 hr and five days in eyes undergoing trabeculectomy were significantly more pronounced as compared to the unoperated eye. The mean H-SCORE of α-SMA-immune reactive cells calculated as the grade of staining multiplied by the percentage of immune stained cells was 14.6, 10.22, and 140.58 in the anti-CTGF, MMC, and control groups, respectively. While the control eyes had a significantly higher score (Ps < 0.001), the anti-CTGF and MMC groups were comparable (P = 0.87). Conclusion: Based on the results of this animal study, the anti-CTGF antibody injection resulted in a significant reduction in collagenous tissue and myofibroblast cells after trabeculectomy.

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the effect of static accommodative tasks on intraocular pressure (IOP) of glaucomatous and normal eyes. Methods: Four groups of subjects categorized as primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), primary angle-closure suspects (PACS), normal age-matched controls, and normal young adults (NYA; age < 40 years) were enrolled. The baseline IOPs were measured after the subjects were looking at a distant target for 15 min. Static accommodation was obtained by execution of near vision tasks (reading at 33 cm in daylight [300 lux] for 60 min). IOPs were measured at 15, 30, 45, and 60 min intervals while accommodating and then measured again after 15 min of relaxing accommodation while looking at a distant target. Results: One-hundred and eighteen eyes of 98 subjects were recruited. The study groups consisted of the following categories: 25 POAG (46 eyes), 24 PACS (47 eyes), 25 matched controls (50 eyes), and 24 NYA (48 eyes). Within all groups, the mean IOP decreased throughout the accommodation period at all time points. Maximum IOP reduction after accommodation was detected at the 30-min time among the POAG subjects, at the 45-min time in the PACS and matched control groups, and at 15 min after the relaxation of accommodation in the NYA group. IOP reduction levels showed no statistically significant difference among POAG, PACS, and the normal matched groups in their response to accommodation. However, NYA had significantly lower IOP and greater IOP reduction after the resting period (relaxation of accommodation). Conclusion: Static accommodative tasks can significantly reduce IOP in normal, POAG, and PACS individuals. Encouraging glaucoma patients to practice periodical near vision tasks could be viewed as an adjunctive measure for glaucoma management.

Introduction:The best strategy to treat otitis media with effusion in cleft lip/palate patients is still under debate. This research aimed to evaluate the otologic outcomes in children at least five years post-repair.Materials and Methods:A retrospective study was conducted on 40 children who underwent palatoplasty between January 1, 2012, and January 1, 2014, at Children’s Medical Center (Tehran, Iran). Patients had intervelar veloplasty under magnification (Sommerlad’s Technique). Based on patients’ charts, their age, gender, cleft type, date of palatoplasty, as well as the date and the frequency of ventilation tube (VT) insertion, were recorded. Furthermore, otomicroscopy, middle ear status, and tympanometry were assessed five years postoperatively. Results:There was no significant difference in middle ear status between children with complete and incomplete cleft palates. The mean age at the time of study and the mean follow-up duration were significantly higher in the normal middle ear group, compared to the abnormal middle ear group (7.7±1.6 vs. 6.8±0.9, P=0.03 and 6±1.15 vs. 5.42±0.9, P=0.04, respectively). Middle ear status was not significantly different between early or late palatoplasty patients. In addition, the frequency and timing of VT insertion were not significantly different between the two groups.Conclusions:Middle ear status improved as patients grew older; however, the age of palatoplasty and the frequency of VT insertion were not significant prognostic factors in patients who underwent intervelar veloplasty under magnification.

Background and Objectives: The immediate emergence of resistant bacteria poses an increasingly growing problem to human society and the increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Escherichia coli strains is one of the most important health problems. This study aimed to review the molecular epidemiology of drug resistance among clinical isolates of E. coli in north-west portion of Iran Azerbaijan. Materials and Methods: A complete of 219 clinical isolates of E. coli had been collected from the various clinical samples. The disk diffusion and agar dilution assays were used to determine antimicrobial susceptibility. The presence of antibiotics resistance genes was carried out by the PCR method. Results: The highest susceptibility was shown to imipenem (3%) and fosfomycin (3%), and the most antibiotic resistance was presented to ampicillin (99%). The highest frequent ESBL gene among isolates was blaCTXM-15 in 70% followed by blaCMY-2 in 67%, and blaTEM-1 in 46%. The most common fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance genes were oqxB (34%), followed by oqxA (25%), and qnrB (18%). The frequency of tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetB, tetC, and tetD) were detected in 24.8%, 31.6%, 1.8%, and 4.2%, respectively. The highest frequent genes to fosfomycin were fosA 10%, fosA3 30%, fosC 40%, and fosX 20%. The dominant founded aminoglycosides resistant genes were armA (12.96%) and npmA (4.93%). Conclusion: The prevalence of antibiotics resistance in the tested E. coli isolates was high in Azerbaijan, Iran and these findings showed that E. coli is one of the major drug-resistant pathogens.

Spontaneous bile duct perforation (SBDP) is an infrequent condition with no choledochal cyst, bile duct stenosis, or stone. Perforation of the bile duct usually occurs when, for some unexplained cause, the common bile duct becomes obstructed, usually at its distal end at the junction of the cystic duct and common hepatic duct. In most cases, it occurs in early infancy, especially during the first 3 months of age, the occurrence in older ages is very rare. Affected patients have jaundice, failure to thrive, and abdominal protrusion due to ascites, and marked acholic creamy stool which classically leads to the development of bile-stained inguinal or umbilical hernias.Here we report a case of SBDP in late infancy. This case can be an interesting experience.

Abstract On 30 December 2021, the Marshall Fire devastated the Boulder, Colorado region. The fire initiated in fine fuels in open space just southeast of Boulder and spread rapidly due to the strong, downslope winds that penetrated into the Boulder Foothills. Despite the increasing occurrence of wildland‐urban interface (WUI) disasters, many questions remain about how fires progress through vegetation and the built environment. To help answer these questions for the Marshall Fire, we use a coupled fire‐atmosphere model and Doppler on Wheels (DOW) observations to study the fire's progression as well as examine the physical drivers of its spread. Evaluation of the model using the DOW suggests that the model is able to capture general characteristics of the flow field; however, it does not produce as robust of a hydraulic jump as the one observed. Our results highlight limitations of the model that should be addressed for successful WUI simulations.