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Introduction: Increasing levels of free radicals in the ova reduce the quality of their fertilization. Investigations have revealed the elevated production of tissue and serum-free radicals in women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Sirtuin-3 is located in mitochondria and plays an important role in the deactivation of free radicals. This study aimed to investigate the expression of the Sirtuin-3 gene in the ova of polycystic ovary syndrome affected mice. Material & Methods: Polycystic ovary syndrome was induced by the injection of estradiol valerate (40 mg/kg) in six NMRI mice (age: six weeks old; weight: 25±5); moreover, six mice were selected as a control group. Following the induction, the structure of the ovaries was examined using the histotechnique, and the serum levels of sex hormones were determined using ELISA. The ova were collected from the ovaries, and their RNA was extracted by a special kit and converted to cDNA. Real-Time PCR was performed to analyze the expression of Sirtuin-3, and the Gapdh gene was selected as an internal control. (Ethic code: 97/6505) Findings: In the mice with polycystic ovary syndrome, hydatid cysts were formed in the ovaries. Furthermore, serum FSH hormone levels decreased in the affected mice, while LH and testosterone levels elevated, compared to those in the control mice (P

Epoxy resins are widely used as encapsulating materials in the electronic and electrical industries, transportation, coatings, adhesives, and advanced composite matrices owing to their excellent heat, moisture and chemical resistance, high tensile strength, low shrinkage on curing, and excellent dimensional stability. Epoxy resins are very flammable; this nature seriously restricts their widespread applications, especially in the areas requiring high flame retardancy. To address this challenging problem, several approaches, such as use of halogen-based flame retardant, organophosphorus compounds (e.g., ammonium polyphosphate and melamine polyphosphate), inorganic flame retardants (most widely used alumina trihydrate and magnesium hydroxide known as ATH and MDH, respectively), nitrogen-based flame retardants, silicon-based flame retardants, intumescent flame retardants, and nanomaterials have been proposed. Phosphorus-containing compounds are mostly used as substitutes for the halogenated compounds in flame-retardant epoxy resins. Various phosphorus compounds are used as additive or reactive flame retardants. Comparing the additive flame retardants, reactive organophosphorus compounds present excellent flame retardant efficiency in the case of epoxy resins and it can be chemically linked to the backbone of the network either through being part of the curing agent or through the structure of epoxy resins itself and giving intrinsic flame retardancy. In this review, classification of flame retardants (halogen-based flame retardants, organophosphorus compounds, inorganic flame retardants, nitrogen- and silicon-based flame retardants, intumescent flame retardants and nanocomposites), the combustion cycle of polymers and application of flame retardants, especially phosphorus-based flame retardants for epoxy resins are introduced and classified. Experimental test methods for evaluation of flame retardancy like UL-94, limiting oxygen index and cone calorimeter are also discussed.

Culture is the principal element in forming houses and it also plays an important role in social sustainability. In this way, it will become so important to survey in vernacular culture in order to recognize behavioral patterns of divers religions and nations. Nevertheless, the impressive factors of culture in a human made environment such as the one in city of Kerman, which has diversity in cultures and residential districts belong to Muslims, Zoroastrians, and Jewish people, have been ignored partly. So, planners have been faced with problems in codifying and organizing guidelines for designing and renovation approaches in these districts. In this paper, the matter of privacy and hospitality in Islamic culture and impacts of that on the formation of houses will be discussed through the sacred text of Quran by using the combining research method, logical reasoning and ethnography. Furthermore, it refers to the Torah and Avesta and demonstrates that the first impressive layer on the architecture of Kerman houses initiates from Islamic culture, as a predominant one there, in some principals such as privacy, neighborhood rights, and hospitality. Moreover, it shows that the second impressive layer initiates from Zoroastrian and Jewish religious beliefs and traditions formed the architecture of their houses. Therefore, their trends for security, life, needs and regarding religious rites should be considered in the future guidelines in renovation of these residential districts. Meanwhile, further studies could search for approaches & methods of converting the theoretical results of this paper into the guidelines & design principles.