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Due to its affordable cost, excellent redox capability, and relatively effective resistance to corrosion in alkaline environments, spinel Co 3 O 4 demonstrates potential as a viable alternative to noble-metal-based electrocatalysts. Nevertheless, these materials continue to exhibit drawbacks, such as limited active surface area and inadequate intrinsic conductivity. Researchers have been trying to increase the electrical conductivity of Co 3 O 4 nanostructures by integrating them with various conductive substrates due to the low conductivity of pristine Co 3 O 4 . In this study, uniform cobalt glycerate solid spheres are first synthesized as the precursor and subsequently transformed into cobalt oxide microspheres by a simple annealing procedure. Co 3 O 4 grown on the surface of Ti 3 C 2 T x -MXene nanosheets (Co 3 O 4 /MXene) was successfully synthesized through electrostatic attraction. In order to create a positively charged surface, the Co 3 O 4 microspheres were treated with aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The Co 3 O 4 /MXene exhibited a low overpotential of 118 mV at 10 mA cm -2 and a Tafel slope of 113 mV dec -1 for the hydrogen evolution reaction, which is much lower than the pristine Co 3 O 4 at 232 and 195.3 mV dec -1 .

The use of electrospinning has received much attention in the production of nanofiber webs due to its advantages such as flexibility and simplicity. The direct electrospinning of nanofibers in an aligned or twisted form and the production of nanofiber yarns can turn nanofibers into woven fabrics, which leads to an increase in the diversity of nanofiber applications and improves their end-use possibilities. In this work, a victorious nanofiber yarn spinning system was used with the help of a rotating funnel. Yarn formation was studied using a composited polyacrylonitrile (PAN)/MXene polymer solution ejected from two oppositely charged nozzles. Finaly their application for packed-in-tube solid-phase microextraction of β-blocker drugs from biofluids was demonstrated. The separation and quantification of analytes were performed by HPLC-UV instrument. The 3D-yarn PAN/MXene sorbent exhibited high flexibility, porosity, sorbent loading, mechanical stability, and a long lifetime. The characterization of the final nanofiber was carried out utilizing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, energy-dispersive X-ray mapping, transmission electron microscope and X-ray diffraction analysis. Various parameters that affect the extraction efficiency, such as extraction time, pH, ionic strength and flow rate of sample solution, and type, volume and flow rate of eluent, were investigated and optimized. Under optimized conditions, the limits of detection were obtained in the range of 1.5-3.0 μg L -1 . This method demonstrated appropriate linearity for β-blockers in the range of 5.0-1000.0 μg L -1 , with coefficients of determination greater than 0.990. The inter- and intra-assay precisions (RSDs, for n = 3) are in the range of 2.5-3.5%, and 4.5-5.2%, respectively. Finally, the validated method was put in an application for the analysis of atenolol, propranolol and betaxolol in human urine and saliva samples at different hours and acceptable relative recoveries were obtained in the range of 89.5% to 110.4%., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Mindfulness exercises can improve a wide range of the psychological and interpersonal consequences of premenstrual syndrome. Nevertheless, there is sparse information about the effect of mindfulness counselling on sexual dysfunction in women with this condition. This study aimed to determine the effect of mindfulness counselling on the sexual functioning of women with premenstrual syndrome. In this controlled randomized study, 112 women diagnosed with premenstrual syndrome referred to selected urban healthcare centers in Isfahan, Iran, were randomly allocated to two groups (intervention and control), each with 56 participants. The intervention group underwent mindfulness counselling in eight 60-minute sessions online via Google Meet. The control group did not receive any kind of intervention. The principal measure was score on the Rosen Female Sexual Functioning Index (FSFI) before, immediately, and one month after the intervention. The data were analyzed by SPSS 23, through descriptive and analytical statistical tests (chi-square, Mann-Whitney, independent t-test, ANOVA, and repeated measure) with a significance level of 0.05. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean FSFI score (or the subscores) between the intervention and control groups (p greater than 0.05) at baseline. In the intervention group, there were significant increases (relative to both baseline and in comparison with the control group) in the mean subscores for sexual desire (P < 0.0001), orgasm (P = 0.01), satisfaction (P = 0.0001), sexual pain (P = 0.003), and general sexual functioning (P < 0.0001) immediately after and one month after the intervention, but the score for sexual arousal was significantly greater only at the one-month evaluation (P < 0.0001) and there were no differences in the scores for vaginal lubrication. On the other hand. Mindfulness counselling was effective in improving the sexual functioning of women suffering from premenstrual syndrome, and should be used for this purpose in healthcare centers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The development of transition metal-based non-precious-metal electrocatalysts for energy storage and conversion systems has received a lot of interest recently. To further this subject in the proper way given the development of electrocatalysts, a fair comparison of their respective performance is necessary. This Review investigates the parameters used for the comparison of electrocatalyst activity. Significant evaluation criteria employed in electrochemical water splitting studies are the overpotential at defined current density usually at 10 mA per geometric surface area, Tafel slope, exchange current density, mass activity, specific activity and turnover frequency (TOF). This Review will discuss how to identify the specific activity and TOF by electrochemical and non-electrochemical methods to represent intrinsic activity as well as the benefits and uncertainties of each technique, ensuring that each method is applied correctly when calculating intrinsic activity metrics., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Background: Precise and on-time diagnosis of the udder's diseases is important, because of their economic importance. Udder structures like teat, parenchyma, and supramammary lymph nodes can be evaluated by ultrasonography., Aims: The study aimed to evaluate the ultrasonographic technique for imaging the supramammary lymph nodes and udder's tissue in Saanen goats and the relation between the findings of ultrasonography and subclinical mastitis., Methods: Thirty milking Saanen goats were evaluated in the study. Milk sampling from each teat was performed under standard conditions for bacteriological culture and somatic cell count (SCC). A 7.5 MHz linear transducer was used for the ultrasonography of teats with the water bath technique, and supramammary lymph nodes and udder's tissues were imaged using a 10 MHz linear transducer with direct contact. The length, height, area, and echogenicity of each lymph node and the teat canal wall diameter were measured using ImageJ 1.47v on the ultrasonography scanned images and analyzed by SPSS software., Results: There was no significant relationship between the dimension of the supramammary lymph nodes and SCC or culture. Age had a positive relationship with lymph node size. No significant relationship was seen between the size of the supramammary lymph node before and after the treatment. Supramammary lymph nodes' echogenicity of the quarter with subclinical mastitis and healthy ones represented no significant difference before and after the treatment., Conclusion: Ultrasonography of the udder, teat, mammary gland, and supramammary lymph nodes is a safe and non-invasive method for visualizing separate structures. The positive relationship between SCC and milk echogenicity as well as supramammary lymph nodes dimension, and age was described., Competing Interests: The authors declared no conflict of interest.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of auriculotherapy on reducing labor anxiety., Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 166 nulliparous pregnant women admitted to the Labor Ward of Izadi Hospital in Qom, Iran were included and assigned to two groups by randomized block design. In the intervention group (83 cases), auriculotherapy in "Shenmen, Thalamic, Zero, Brain, and Brain stem" was performed in dilatations of 4, 6 and 8 cm, between the contractions for 30 s in both ears at interval 1 h. While the control group received routine care. The Spielberger Inventory were completed pre- and post-interventions., Results: The auriculotherapy was effective to reduce anxiety state in the intervention group compared to the control group (P=0.001). The score of state anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 7.0, 8.0 and 11.0 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. The score of trait anxiety in the intervention group reduced for 3.8, 4.0 and 8.3 U in 4, 6, and 8 cm dilatations after the intervention. There was no significant difference of delivery mode and newborns' weight and Apgar score between groups (P>0.05). No adverse postpartum outcome such as hemorrhage has been observed in both groups., Conclusion: Since most women are anxious during labor, it seems that auriculotherapy can be an easy and safe method to reduce labor anxiety. (Trial registration No. irct20121230011944n4)., (© 2021. The Chinese Journal of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine Press and Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

In this study, a sensitive solid phase microextraction (SPME) coating was developed based on two kinds of plugged and non-plugged bifunctional periodic mesoporous organosilicas (BFPMO) with ionic liquid and ethyl units. The extraction efficiency of all plugged and unplugged sorbents was investigated for the extraction of chlorophenols (CPs) in water and honey samples by emphasizing the effect of different physicochemical properties. The separation and determination of the CPs was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extraction results showed that plugged BFPMO coating exhibited outstanding enrichment ability for the extraction of CPs as model analytes with different polarities. This can be attributed to a valuable hydrophobic-hydrophilic balance in the mesochanels of the plugged BFPMO, which is the result of the combination of plug technology and bridged organic groups. Low limits of detection in the range of 5-70 ng L -1 , wide linearity, and good reproducibility (RSD = 8.1-10.1 % for n = 6) under the optimized extraction conditions were achieved. Finally, the BFPMOs coated fiber was successfully used for determination of CPs in real water samples. The relative recoveries for the five CPs were in the range of 92.3-104.0 %, which proved the applicability of the method., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Most of our knowledge about the etiology, course, treatment, and outcome of schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders stems from Western countries. Data from populations living in other geographical areas and low- and middle-income countries, with different genomes (ethnicity) and exposomes (e.g., culture and social support, drugs of abuse, religion), will add to our knowledge of this complex disorder. Methods: The Azeri Acute phase/Recent onset psychosis Survey (ARAS) has been initiated to study the course of the disorder in patients with recent-onset psychosis using validated diagnostic tools and a comprehensive outcome monitoring system, aiming to reveal indicators for understanding the risk and resilience factors and for choosing the best-personalized treatment strategy. All participants will be evaluated for clinical signs and symptoms as well as risk and resilience factors and will be followed up for 1, 3, and 5 years for outcomes in several domains. A hierarchical cluster method will be applied to identify the number of clusters for each outcome. Defined models will be applied to assess the predictive value of cognition on symptomatic and functional outcomes at follow-up. Discussion: The ARAS cohort will yield significant academic- (research and education) and care-related achievements. ARAS data and experience will have value both in being a useful model for other parts of this region and in an expansion of the currently available knowledge., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Farhang, Ghaemmaghami, Shafiee-Kandjani, Noorazar, Veling, Malek, Somi, Bruggeman and Alizadeh.)

Functional communication training (FCT; Carr & Durand, 1985) is a common function-based treatment in which an alternative form of communication is taught to reduce problem behavior. FCT has been shown to result in substantial reductions of a variety of topographically and functionally different types of problem behavior in children and adults (efficacy). The extent to which these reductions maintain in relevant contexts and result in meaningful changes in the lives of those impacted (effectiveness) is the focus of this paper. This review evaluates the degree to which FCT has been established as an evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP) according to the definition set out by the American Psychological Association's 2005 Presidential Task Force on Evidence-Based Practice. Our review finds overwhelming evidence in support of FCT as an efficacious treatment but highlights significant limitations in support of its effectiveness. In order to also be recognized as an EBPP, future research on FCT will need to focus more closely on issues related to home, school, and community application, feasibility, consumer satisfaction, and more general and global changes for the individual., (© 2020 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior (SEAB).)

Schiff base network-1 (SNW-1), as a new generation of covalent organic frameworks (COFs), was synthesized and modified by fabrication of a composite with graphene oxide (GO). The fabricated nanocomposite was characterized with FT-IR spectroscopy, XRD, FE-SEM, EDX, TGA, and the nitrogen adsorption-desorption technique. Characterization results showed that SNW-1 can reduce GO during the fabrication procedure and produce an effective and stable nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was deposited on the surface of a stainless steel wire via a single phase inversion method with the help of polyethersulfone, as a porous adhesive material. This robust and stable coating was used for head space solid-phase microextraction of phthalate esters (PhEs) from water samples. Determination of the PhEs was performed with gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. SNW-1 is N-rich, and reduced-GO is full of hexagonal conjugated rings. Therefore, due to hydrogen binding and π-interaction, the coating has a high tendency to PhEs. Effective adsorption and desorption parameters were optimized. The performance of the method was evaluated in terms of linear ranges (LRs from 0.05 to 100 μg L -1 with R 2  ≥ 0.9942) and limits of detection (LODs in the range of 0.01-0.50 μg L -1 ). The average repeatability and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility were 6.8% and 9.2%, respectively. The method was employed to trace determination of PhEs in drinking water and pickled cucumber solution with good recovery (80.5-111.0%) and reliable reproducibility (5.5-9.5%). Graphical abstract Schematic representation of headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) of phthalate esters (PhEs) from pickled cucumber solution and determination with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Two dimensional accordion-like Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene, where T x represents surface termination groups such as -OH, -O-, and -F, is synthesized by selective etching of aluminum layers from Ti 3 AlC 2 . This manuscript reports on the adsorption of organic molecules from head-space and aqueous environments containing Ti 3 C 2 T x , a representative of the MXene family. Ti 3 C 2 T x coated by gluing method on a stainless steel wire was successfully utilized as a highly sensitive and stable head-space solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber. A SPME method with the MXene as the adsorbent combined with gas chromatography with MS detector was used to determine the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water samples. Low detection limits in the range of 0.2-5 ng L -1 , wide linearity and good reproducibility (RSD = 4.6 to 7.4% for n = 6) under the optimized extraction conditions was achieved. Finally, the MXene coated fiber was successfully used for the determination of PAHs in real water samples. The relative recoveries for six PAHs are from 91.3-105.0%, which proved the applicability of the method. Also, melamine was selected as a polar analyte and it has been shown that Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene has good capability in extraction of melamine (the extraction recovery for melamine = 80.1%) from aqueous media by dispersive micro solid-phase extraction. Graphical abstractTwo dimensional accordion-like Ti 3 C 2 MXene was synthesized by selective etching of aluminum layers from Ti 3 AlC 2 . Ti 3 C 2 MXene was employed as solid phase microextraction fiber coating for the extraction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from water samples.

In their review of synthesis within the functional analysis (FA) literature, Slaton and Hanley (2018) reported that most synthesized contingency analyses have included multiple topographies of problem behavior in the reinforcement contingency class. This leaves the question of whether one, some, or all forms of problem behavior are sensitive to the synthesized reinforcement contingencies in published analyses. To address this ambiguity, all topographies of problem behavior that were reported by caregivers to co-occur with the most concerning problem behavior were analyzed for 10 participants. We implemented extinction across one or more forms of problem behavior to determine whether all forms reported to co-occur were sensitive to the same synthesized reinforcement contingency. For nine of 10 participants, the most concerning topographies were sensitive to the same synthesized reinforcement contingencies as the less concerning topographies (results were inconclusive for one). Implications for inferring response class membership from single analyses are discussed., (© 2019 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

The functional analysis procedures described in the seminal Iwata et al. (1982/1994) study are prominent in the applied behavior analytic literature, having been replicated hundreds of times over the past 30 years (Beavers, Iwata, & Lerman, 2013; Hanley, McCord, Iwata, 2003). However, the extent to which particular components of this functional analysis model have become more or less prominent over time is not clear from these literature reviews. We therefore conducted a review of the functional analysis literature between the years of 1965 and 2016 to determine the trends in the usage of particular components over time and to determine if the published literature reflects a standardization of the manner in which functional analyses of problem behavior are conducted. Furthermore, we discuss whether or not this standardization of a functional analysis model is currently necessary., Competing Interests: Conflict of InterestJoshua Jessel declares that he has no conflict of interest. Gregory P. Hanley declares that he has no conflict of interest. Mahshid Ghaemmaghami declares that she has no conflict of interest., (© Association for Behavior Analysis International 2019.)

The authors describe the preparation of two kinds of periodic mesoporous organosilicas (PMOs). The first kind is monofunctional and has a bridged alkyl imidazolium framework (PMO-IL). The other is a two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal bifunctional periodic mesoporous organosilica (BFPMO) with bridged IL-phenyl or -ethyl units. The CPMOs were utilized as highly sensitive and stable sorbents for microextraction by packed sorbent. The materials were characterized by SEM, TEM, FT-IR, and N 2 adsorption-desorption analysis. The adsorption capacities of the sorbents were investigated by using phenoxy acid herbicides as model analytes. The effects of bifunctionality and type of additional surface groups (phenyl or ethyl) on the efficiency of the extraction is emphasized. Three kinds of environmental contaminants, viz. phenoxy acid herbicides (CPAs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorophenols were then studied with respect to their extraction by the sorbents. The interactions between the CPAs and the sorbents were evaluated by pH-changing processes to explore the interactions that play a major role. The selectivity of the sorbents was investigated by extraction of other types of analytes of with various polarity and charge. The BFPMOs display the typical good chemical stability of silica materials. The extraction properties are much better compared to commercial silicas. This is assumed to be due to the highly ordered mesoporous structures and the different types of probable interactions with analytes. The performance of the method was evaluated by extraction of CPAs as model analytes from aqueous samples, and quantification by GC with FID detection. Under optimized conditions, low limits of detection (0.1-0.5 μg.L -1 ) and a wide linearity (0.5-200 μg.L -1 ) were obtained. The method was applied to the trace analysis of CPAs in farm waters and rice samples. Graphical abstract Monofunctional periodic mesoporous organosilica with bridged alkyl imidazolium frameworks and bi-functional periodic mesoporous organosilica containing bridged ionic liquids and phenyl or -ethyl, have been successfully synthesized and utilized in microextractions by packed sorbent sorbents.

Response efficiency plays an important role in the initial success of functional communication training (FCT). Although low-effort functional communication responses (FCRs) have been shown to be most effective in replacing problem behavior; more developmentally advanced FCRs are favored later in the treatment process. Attempts to teach these more complex FCRs, however, often lead to the resurgence of problem behavior. In this study, we provide a detailed description of an effective shaping process applied within a changing criterion design to develop complex FCRs from simple FCRs without resurgence of problem behavior. Four children with various language and intellectual abilities participated in this study. A practical shaping procedure, suitable for typical teaching contexts, is described for two participants in Experiment 1. The necessity and efficacy of the shaping process are demonstrated with the participants in Experiment 2. Implications for practice and research are discussed., (© 2018 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

An electrophoretic deposition approach was developed to fabricate a robust ordered mesoporous carbon nitride (MCN) coating for solid-phase microextraction. The large surface area, uniform pore diameter, in-built N-rich functional groups, and electron delocalization properties of MCN make it a promising adsorbent for SPME by π-π, hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between analytes and MCN.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of acupuncture branches on postpartum low back pain severity among the primiparous subjects visiting the selected educational centers affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran. Materials and methods: This clinical trial was conducted on 150 (each group of 50 people) cases in 2012. Cupping therapy was done every other day in four 15-20 minute sessions a week. Besides, acupressure was applied according to the circular model for 20 minutes. The patients filled out the short form McGill Pain Questionnaires. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (v. 16) and repeated measurements and Chi-square tests. Results: In the cupping group, the mean difference of postpartum Low Back Pain intensity reached from 31.8 ± 10.8 before the intervention to 9.0 ± 6.7, 7.5 ± 6.6, and 4.1 ± 3.6 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively and the results of repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference between the three follow-up periods (p < 0.05). On the other hand, this measure reached from 31.1 ± 11.0 before the intervention to 22.1 ± 7.3, 16.2±6.0, and 11.7 ± 5.3 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively in the acupressure group. Conclusion: The study results showed that these modalities could sedate the pain. Therefore, they can be applied as efficient treatments for reducing the low back pain.

The speed with which a functional analysis (FA) provides a convincing demonstration of the variables that influence problem behavior may be termed efficiency. Multiple FA formats have been developed to improve analytic efficiency while the core components of the Iwata, Dorsey, Slifer, Bauman, and Richman (1982/1994) procedures are maintained. We attempted to illustrate an alternative efficient process for conducting FAs of problem behavior that relied on modifying those core components. In Study 1, we describe 30 applications of the interview-informed synthesized contingency analysis (Hanley, Jin, Vanselow, & Hanratty, 2014), which required an average of 25 min of analysis. The first sessions of these analyses were reanalyzed in Study 2 to determine if contingencies that controlled problem behavior could be identified in only 3 to 5 min. This was the case in 80% of analyses., (© 2016 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

The effectiveness of functional communication training as treatment for problem behavior depends on the extent to which treatment can be extended to typical environments that include unavoidable and unpredictable reinforcement delays. Time-based progressive delay (TBPD) often results in the loss of acquired communication responses and the resurgence of problem behavior, whereas contingency-based progressive delay (CBPD) appears to be effective for increasing tolerance for delayed reinforcement. No direct comparison of TBPD and CBPD has, however, been conducted. We used single-subject designs to compare the relative efficacy of TBPD and CBPD. Four individuals who engaged in problem behavior (e.g., aggression, vocal and motor disruptions, self-injury) participated. Results were consistent across all participants, and showed lower rates of problem behavior and collateral responses during CBPD than during TBPD. The generality of CBPD treatment effects, including optimal rates of communication and compliance with demands, was demonstrated across a small but heterogeneous group of participants, reinforcement contingencies, and contexts., (© 2016 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

Transitions with nonhuman animals are typically framed as inescapable changes in signaled reinforcement schedules that result in a pause in responding unique to switches from rich to lean schedules. Pausing is considered to be a function of the aversive qualities of the contrasting reinforcement schedules. Transitions are typically framed in applied research as physical changes in location that evoke problem behavior maintained by the escape of an aversive event or resumption of a preferred event. We attempted to extend the basic framing of transitions to behaviors and contexts of social significance and evaluate a novel treatment for the problem of dawdling by 3 boys who had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder during rich-to-lean transitions. Dawdling during physical transitions was most readily observed when transitioning to lean contexts in Experiment 1. We then shortened transition duration in Experiment 2 by programming unsignaled and probabilistic rich reinforcement in the upcoming context., (© 2016 Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior.)

Background: Perineal pain is a major morbidity in the first few days after delivery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dry cupping therapy and acupressure at BL23 point on the intensity of postpartum perineal pain based on the short-form of McGill pain questionnaire (SMPQ)., Methods: The present clinical trial was conducted on 150 subjects in 3 groups of 50 cases. After at least 4-8 hr of delivery, cupping therapy was performed for 15-20 min up to 3 times a week (once a day) and acupressure was performed for 15-20 min based on clockwise model. The short-form of McGill pain questionnaire was completed both before and after the intervention. The SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the data using repeated measures ANOVA. Besides, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant., Results: In the cupping therapy group, mean of the perineal pain intensity reduced from 37.5±6.8 before the intervention to 11.1±6.1, 6.9±4.7, and 3.8±3.6 immediately, 24 hr, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively. The results of study showed that the differences between the intervention and control groups were statistically significant (p<0.01). Mean difference of the perineal pain intensity in the acupressure group reached from 35.6±8.1 before the intervention to 10.4±5.5 two weeks after the intervention, so the variation between intervention and control groups was statistically significant., Conclusion: The study findings showed that cupping therapy and acupressure reduced perineal pain. Therefore, they may be considered as effective treatments for reducing pain intensity of allowing delivery.

A novel method based on the maximal information coefficient (MIC) is developed to assess the orthogonality of comprehensive two-dimensional separation systems. The proposed method is based on a modification of Marriott's method, which was previously reported in 2013. Marriott's method relies on the calculation of two separate parameters. The first term is Cpert which defines the peak coverage percent in separation space, and the second is Cpeaks which corresponds to 2-D distribution correlation of the peaks. Marriott's method for estimating the values of Cpeaks is based on the calculation of the coefficient of determination (R(2)) between the retention indices of the peaks. Herein, we present some examples where R(2) is an inefficient way to estimate the values of Cpeaks. The results in this work illustrate that when there are either functional or non-functional local dependencies between the distributions of the peaks, R(2) values fail to thoroughly estimate the values of Cpeaks. We proposed using the MIC instead of R(2) to estimate the values of Cpeaks for orthogonality calculations. Simulations of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatograms were performed using the Abraham solvation parameter model in order to generate examples for orthogonality assessment. The results indicate that the suggested modifications in this work correct the shortcomings of Marriott's model, and the proposed equation accurately measures the column dependencies in 2-D separation systems., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

To date, several small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal-antibodies (like ICR-62) have been used to treat tumors over-expressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). However, the limitations associated with these conventional applications accentuate the necessity of alternative approaches. Mimotopes as compelling molecular tools could rationally be employed to circumvent these drawbacks. In the present study, an M13 phage displaying ICR-62 binding peptide mimotope is exploited as a vaccine candidate. It exhibited high affinity towards ICR62 and polyclonal anti-P-BSA antibodies. Following the mice immunization, phage-based mimotope vaccine induced humoral immunity. Elicited anti-EGFR mimotope antibodies were detected using ELISA method. Moreover, the phage vaccine was tested on the Lewis lung carcinoma mice model to investigate the prophylactic and therapeutic effects. The tumor volume was measured and recorded in different animal groups to evaluate the anti-tumor effects of the vaccine. Our data indicate that the reported phage-based mimotope could potentially elicit specific antibodies resulting in low titers of EGFR-specific antibodies and reduced tumor growth. However, in vivo experiments of prophylactic or therapeutic vaccination showed no specific advantage. Furthermore, phage-mimotope vaccine might be a promising approach in the field of cancer immunotherapy.

In this article we report the application of non-Faradaic mode of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) for determination of potassium ion (K(+)) concentration using a guanine rich K(+)-selective aptasensor (K(+)-aptasensor). This is a simple, electroactive probe free, sensitive and reproducible method allowing determination of K(+) ion concentration without any disturbance from electroactive probes used in similar works based on the Faradaic EIS method. Herein, a wide linear range of K(+) ion concentrations (1 μM-0.1mM) with a 200 nM limit of detection was achieved which is better than most of the previously reported Faradaic biosensing methods. The proposed method maintains valuable applications when it is used for K(+) determination in the presence of potentially important interferences in biological media. Thus, application of the non-Faradaic EIS method for sensing the concentration of K(+) ion with the presented K(+)-aptasensor can find an important role in clinical assay., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Eighteen Mn complexes with N-donor and carboxylate ligands have been synthesized and characterized. Three Mn complexes among them are new and are reported for the first time. The reactions of oxygen evolution in the presence of oxone (2KHSO5·KHSO4·K2SO4) and cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate catalyzed by these complexes are studied and characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction spectrometry, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, membrane-inlet mass spectrometry and electrochemistry. Some of these complexes evolve oxygen in the presence of oxone as a primary oxidant. CO2 and MnO4(-) are other products of these reactions. Based on spectroscopic studies, the true catalysts for oxygen evolution in these reactions are different. We proposed that for the oxygen evolution reactions in the presence of oxone, the true catalysts are both high valent Mn complexes and Mn oxides, but for the reactions in the presence of cerium(iv) ammonium nitrate, the active catalyst is most probably a Mn oxide.

Background: Continuous low back pain is associated with the symptoms of the pregnancy period. In spite of the improvement of low back pain within 6 months after the delivery, some women may develop chronic problems. This study aimed to investigate the effect of dry cupping therapy at BL23 point on the intensity of low back pain in primiparous women. , Methods: In the present randomized clinical trial, 100 samples were randomly allocated to either the cupping therapy or the control group (each containing 50 subjects). Cupping therapy was performed for 15-20 minutes every day up to 4 consecutive times. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and short-form McGill pain questionnaire were completed by the two groups before the intervention and immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after that. Then, the data were entered into the SPSS statistical software (v. 16) and analyzed using chi-square test and repeated measures ANOVA., Results: According to VAS, the mean intensity of low back pain in the cupping therapy group decreased from 7.8±2.7 before the intervention to 3.7±1.8, 2.5±1.7, and 1.4±1.4 immediately, 24 hours, and 2 weeks after the intervention, respectively. Besides, these measures were respectively obtained as 31.8±10.8, 9.0±6.7, 7.5±6.6, and 3.6±4.1 in the short-form McGill pain questionnaire. According to repeated measures ANOVA, a significant difference was observed among the various stages of follow-up (P=0.01)., Conclusion: The study results showed cupping therapy to be effective in sedation of pain. Thus, it can be used as an effective treatment for reducing the low back pain., Trial Registration Number: 2013072611944N3.

The treatment of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has evolved significantly over the past 3 decades. Single-agent and combination chemotherapies given with radiotherapy have greatly improved response rates and median survival. Combination regimens such as cisplatin/etoposide, carboplatin/etoposide, ifosfamide/carboplatin/etoposide, cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine, and etoposide/ifosfamide/cisplatin have all achieved good response rates. Improving long-term survival, however, has remained problematic. Treatment with biological response modifiers (interferons alpha and gamma) has not shown promise in this setting. New agents showing good preliminary single-agent activity in untreated SCLC include paclitaxel, vinorelbine, gemcitabine, topotecan, and teniposide. Results obtained with single-agent docetaxel and CPT-11 are thus far inconclusive. Studies evaluating response and survival rates of these new agents in combination with agents of known activity are underway.