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1. Poultry farming faces challenges regarding correct hygiene and nutrition. One of the challenges is gram-negative bacteria that stimulate pro-inflammatory reactions through lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cause disease and anorexia. Liquorice, a medicinal plant containing glycyrrhizin (Glz; a saponin and emulsifier compound) as its main active ingredient, was injected into broilers to investigate any beneficial effects on feed intake in LPS-injected broilers.2. The study involved three experiments using 72 male broiler chickens in each, to examine the impact of Glz on feed intake, especially when challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by intra-peritoneal (IP) injection to cause inflammation (n = 24). Experiment 1 was conducted to examine the effects of intraperitoneal injection of Glz (12.5, 25 and 50 mg) on feed intake in chickens. In experiment 2, the effects of intracerebroventricular injections of LPS (6.25, 12.5 and 25 ng) were examined. The third experiment investigated the impact of IP injection of Glz on inflammation induced by LPS.3. Injection of Glz significantly increased feed intake in a dose-dependent manner. Whereas LPS significantly reduced the feed intake in feed-deprived chickens (p < 0.05).4. In conclusion, Glz can neutralise the feed intake reduction caused by inflammation in broilers, highlighting its potential role in modulating feed intake in broilers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (2001–2021), the expected representation of Afghan women in leadership and executive roles was not achieved. This study examines factors contributing to this glass ceiling effect. Our research involved 317 participants, comprising 302 civil service professionals and 15 civil society activists. Employing a mixed-methods approach, thematic analysis was conducted for the qualitative data. For the quantitative data, descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were utilized to characterize the data, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to explore differences in responses across key demographic and professional categories. We found that several glass ceiling perceptions, specifically ‘Cultural Barrier Factors’ including entrenched patriarchal norms and familial challenges; ‘Individual Factors’ such as work-family conflict (WFC); ‘Work-Environment Factors’ like nepotism and the absence of merit-based systems; and ‘Interpersonal Relationships’ including weak support networks and the existence of ‘Queen Bee Syndrome’, impeded the advancement of Afghan women in leadership roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Labyrinth weirs are well known for their superiority in providing higher flow capacity for a given hydraulic head, especially in areas where space is limited. This study presents an experimental and numerical study to determine the hydraulic efficiency of triangular labyrinth weirs. The discharge coefficient of a weir was determined in two different ways, depending on the width of the channel (Cd) and the length of the crest of the weir (CL). Although the crest length is the most important factor in increasing the discharge coefficient per unit channel width, the discharge coefficient per unit crest length decreases with increasing the crest length for a given head. It can be said that the main reason for the reduction in weir efficiency, particularly at high headwater, is nappe interference and therefore local submergence between cycles. From the results of systematic analyses, some new highly correlated multiple regression equations calculating these two coefficients in relation to the weir geometries and the flow conditions were obtained. As a result of the literature comparison, although they were found to be generally compatible with the results of similar studies in the literature, the reasons for the differences between them were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractLitsea costalis is a well-known medicinal plant in tropical and subtropical areas. Four significant flavonoids were extracted and characterized from the plant leaf extract. One component was discovered for the first time in flavonoid chemistry, flavan-4-ol, (3′, 4′-methylenedioxy-5,7-dimethoxy chroman-4-ol). Three flavonoids were discovered for the first time in this plant. The detected products are (+)-pinostrobin, (+)-onysilin, and (+)-pinocembrin. The fourth component was characterized for the first time in this plant and introduced in flavonoid chemistry. The extracted component antioxidant activity against DPPH indicated an IC50 value of around 30 µg/mL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improved DC-Link voltage controller (IPOVR), which is built upon the perturb & observe-based voltage regulator (POVR), is proposed in this paper. The aim is to achieve the best balance between tracking time and steady-state oscillation while maintaining good tracking accuracy. This is achieved by implementing a dynamic step-size (∆D) changing strategy and operating region detection technique. Quick tracking time is produced with large initial ∆D, and low steady-state oscillation is obtained through continuous ∆D reduction. Additionally, through the operating region determination technique, the IPOVR operates over a much wider range, typically with lower PV current (IPV), which helps in reducing the losses of the system. It is found that the IPOVR has the lowest steady-state ripple and the highest tracking accuracy, which are averaged at 0.44% and 99.98%, respectively. In terms of tracking time, the IPOVR is averaged at 0.15 s, which is only 0.07 s slower compared to the POVR with high ∆D but is 0.19 s faster than the POVR with low ∆D. Furthermore, the IPOVR recorded higher efficiencies under all tested conditions compared to the POVR. The IPOVR is also demonstrated to be working decently when being connected to a multilevel inverter to generate AC power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel approach was developed based on real conditions to calculate the amount of contamination between sequential fluids in multiproduct pipelines. Besides, the fluid shift time at the source terminal and the pipeline's pressure gradient were used as new critical parameters for estimating initial-interfacial mixing. Also, a new correlation was presented using the experimental evaluation (i.e. monitoring the mixing growth along pipelines) and numerical modeling. The proposed equation showed acceptable results compared to the field data collected from the 55-km-long 10-in diameter and 136-km-long 16-in diameter pipelines. Increasing the initial mixing during the fluid change at the source terminal significantly enlarges the contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to study dual risk of MWFs and vibration according to exposure simulation of selected industry. Air samples of two types MWFs were evaluated according to NIOSH 5026. Vibration acceleration exposure was assessed based on the ISO 8041:2005 standard. Cell treatment of both MWF air samples and vibration as the same as dual exposure to MWF airborne and vibration was assessed. There is a potency of nitrosamine formation in airborne samples of ethylamine containing MWF, while heterocyclic including bore is found in airborne bore containing MWF. DNA breaks caused by boron-containing MWF were higher than nitrosamine air samples. Oxidative stress production and chronic inflammation were highlighted in the response to cell treatments. The risk of cell toxicity in machining workers was evaluated at a level lower than the occupational exposure limit for MWFs and vibration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multi wavelength lasing is desired in two-dimensional flexible plexcitonic nanostructures through surface lattice plasmon amplification. For this purpose, gold nano-rods covered by the gold dispersed Rhodamine B was used as the first gain media. Then, the spacer layer by Poly-Vinyl-Pyrrolidone polymer was implemented to enhance the total internal reflection between polydimethylsiloxane substrate and this polymer. Finally, it was coated by methylene Blue dye with three different gold concentrations as the second gain media. To achieve multi-wavelength random laser, these three layers pumped by nanosecond green laser and the lasing were collected by spectrometer due to band-edge lattice plasmons in the arrays of plasmonic nano rods in a homogeneous environment. Based on the results, narrow emission peaks were emerged with a full width at half maximum less than 2 nm for every wavelength region, and threshold lasing reduced to the minimum value, along with the maximum emission intensity of multi-wavelength region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The displacement field and governing equation completely depend on the cross-section shape in the torsion of nano-bars. Due to the torsion of structure and warping of its cross-section, axial strain is created. A review of the literature demonstrates that the effect of the normal strain in the torsional analysis of nanostructures with non-circular cross-sections is ignored for the sake of simplicity and causes a computational error. While in the torsion of short nano-bars due to the great warping of the cross-section the normal strain appears and it shouldn't be ignored. Therefore, for the first time, the effect of normal strain based on the torsion of Timoshenko-Gere theory is considered in this research. In this theory, the twist rate of non-circular sections in the axial direction is not considered constant, unlike studies in the literature. The governing equation of torsional vibration is extracted using the Hamilton principle, and the nonlocal strain gradient theory is used to show the size-dependent effects. The fundamental frequency is calculated for the arbitrary cross-section shape by using Galerkin's method. The effect of parameters such as size effects, the thickness of nano-bar, mode number, and dimensions changes of cross-section versus natural frequency of nano-bar for both the Timoshenko-Gere and typical theories are investigated. Results indicate that neglecting normal strain due to warping the cross-section causes a significant error in the short nano-bars, especially at higher mode numbers. Also, a comparison is made between the obtained natural frequencies and those of the results reported in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid and simple magnetic solid phase extraction-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method is reported to determine vancomycin in human plasma. The Fe3O4@SiO2 nanocomposite was prepared using silica nanoparticles obtained from rice husk waste and its modification using ammonia solution to obtain a Fe3O4@SiO2-NH2 nanohybrid as a new sorbent. The structure and morphology of the sorbent were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The nanosorbent was successfully used in magnetic solid phase extraction without hazardous solvents in 9 min with analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass spectrometry. Under the optimized conditions, the method provided a linear range from 10 to 1000 ng mL−1. The intra-day (n = 3) and inter-day precision (n = 3 working days) were below 10% relative standard deviation. The developed procedure was employed for determining vancomycin in human plasma with recoveries from 84.0 to 109.5% for spiked samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Old landfill leachate is normally rich in colloidal particles, has low organic compound, poor biodegradability and hard to be biologically treated. The suspended particles are generally dispersed, negatively charged and do not settle by gravity due to their instability and repulsion. This paper aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of SnCl4 as a positively charged coagulant in treating concentrated colour and suspended solids (SS) from an old leachate sampled at one of the local landfills in Malaysia (Alor Pongsu Landfill Site, Keria Perak), which may also represent other landfills with similar property. The mechanism and the effect of pH, zeta potential (ZP) and particle size of colloids on the reduction of the pollutants were evaluated through standard coagulation and flocculation experiment with ZP measurement. The standard jar test was examined at a pre-determined SnCl4 dosage and varied from pH 3 to pH 12. The raw leachate was found negatively charged throughout pH 3 to pH 12. Adding a positively charged SnCl4 increased the leachate surface charge to close to the point of zero charges (IEP) at pH 8 with −0.4 mV. Generally, as the pH value increase from acidic to basic condition, the raw leachate becomes more negatively charged as at higher pH values It was also found that the pH of the solution correlated with the size of the particles, where 221.3 d.nm was recorded from pH 4 to pH 11 and improved to the largest size 660 d.nm at pH 3. The highest colour and SS performance were observed at optimum pH 8 with reductions of 98.9% and 100%, respectively The reduction of repulsive forces at this pH promoted the collision of particles and thus made the aggregation possible. ZP measurement in is important as it provides an early estimation of the effective pH for the optimum coagulation and flocculation process of landfill leachate contributed by the colloidal particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The olive oil extraction industry is one of the most extensive industries, especially in the Mediterranean region. The wastewater produced in this industry contains high concentrations of organic pollutants, resistant and toxic compounds that, if not treated, can threaten the health of the environment. In the present study, the optimisation of the combined process of electrocoagulation and peroxone using central composite design of the response surface methodology with the help of Design-Expert V.11 The parameters of current density (0.06–0.73 A dm−2) and reaction time (5–45 min) in the process of electrocoagulation and the parameters of hydrogen peroxide concentration (4–12 ml) and reaction time (10–90 minutes) in the peroxone process were investigated on the COD removal efficiency. The design results showed that the quadratic model was significant for both processes and was determined as the selected model. The optimal conditions determined by the software in the process of electrocoagulation were 0.5 A dm−2 and 34 minutes and in the peroxone process, concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the time were obtained 12 ml and 62 minutes, respectively. In these conditions, the COD removal efficiency of the processes was determined 79.8% and 52.8%, respectively. Under optimal conditions, in peroxone process ozone consumption was reduced to 0.88 mg per mg of removed COD. Also, according to the results of Pseudo-first-order kinetics, constant rate increases with increasing of hydrogen peroxide concentration. The results obtained in this study were confirmed the application of electrocoagulation process along with advanced oxidation of proxone for effective treatment of effluents of this industry and similar industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Substance use can be the source of various disabilities. The purpose of this study is to investigate and compare the disabilities caused by substance use. Material and methods: This is a descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study. The samples studied in this study were 400 people who referred to MMT centers in Hamadan, Iran. Centers were selected by cluster sampling method and samples within the cluster were selected by convenience sampling method. The instrument was the WHODAS2 standard questionnaire designed by the World Health Organization to assess disability. The extracted data were analyzed by SPSS20 software. Result: 64.8% of the participants were opium users, 24.5% amphetamine users and 10.8% were marijuana users. The results showed that age, gender, place of residence and type of substance use were significantly associated with the degree of disability and the highest rate of disability occurred in opium users (p ≤ .01). Conclusion: Different substances differ in the amount and type of disabilities they cause and this difference should be considered in the treatment of people with substance use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effectiveness of sludge in coagulation-flocculation treatment for suspended solids (SS) removal from landfill leachate using Tin (IV) chloride and Jatropha curcas seed (JC). The properties were examined in terms of the sludge volume index, sludge setting velocity, and floc sizes. Leachate samples were collected from the Alor Pongsu Landfill Site (APLS) located in Bagan Serai, Malaysia. Results showed that almost a complete reduction of SS was obtained at 8.5 g/L of SnCl4 with the aid of 0.9 g/L of JC seed as flocculant. At this optimum condition, the sludge volume index (SVI) and the settling velocity were 56.53 and 0.78 cm/s, respectively, which are better than the sludge without a flocculant. It can be concluded that the presence of JC improved the sludge property with good morphology; the particles were in a rectangular shape and clumps are strongly agglomerated. These properties of sludge are expected to be effectively dewatered. The results proved that JC seed could help in enhancing the adsorption and bridging mechanism in the coagulation-flocculation procedure. Overall, this study confirmed that the utilisation of sludge in coagulation-flocculation treatment for stabilised landfill leachate using SnCl4 and Jatropha curcas could be a powerful option for landfill leachate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bleomycin (BL) is a widely used anticancer drug that can cause pulmonary fibrosis due to increased fibroblast proliferation and increased secretion of extracellular matrix. RASSF1A is a tumor suppressor gene that is down-regulated by DNA methylation during fibrosis. Disulfiram (DSF), a noncytosine DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, can revert epigenetic biomarkers and re-express silenced genes. We investigated anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects of DSF on regulation of epigenetic molecules and histopathology in a rat model of BL induced pulmonary fibrosis. We used six groups of rats: sesame oil (SO) control (Co) group, BL group, BL + SO group and three BL + DSF groups administered 1 mg/kg DSF (BL + DSF), 10 mg/kg DSF (BL + DSF10) or 100 mg/kg DSF (BL + DSF100), respectively. BL was administered intratracheally to induce pulmonary fibrosis. DSF and SO were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) 2 days before BL administration; these injections were continued for 3 weeks. At the end of the study, lung tissues were removed for molecular and histopathologic studies. Administration of 10 or 100 mg/kg DSF after BL induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis, and up-regulated RASSF1A and down-regulated TNF-α and IL-1 β compared to the BL and BL + SO groups. A RASSF1A unmethylated band was observed using the methylation-specific PCR technique in rats that had been administered 10 and 100 mg/kg DSF, which indicated partial DNA demethylation. Histopathologic evaluation revealed that fibrosis and all inflammatory scores were decreased significantly in the BL + DSF10 and BL + DSF100 groups compared to the BL group. Our findings indicate that DSF modified DNA methylation by up-regulating RASSF1A, which reduced inflammation and fibrosis in BL induced pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Left-behind children are one of the main issues in China's child welfare services. The change in the family environment has destroyed these children's original levels of resilience. Hence social service and support from social organizations are needed. The study examines the impact of different types of social support social organizations provide to enhance the resilience of left-behind children in rural China. Types of social support analyzed include material, mental, informational, behavioral, and social interaction support. Data was collected from 384 rural left-behind children using a pre-coded questionnaire. Respondents were randomly selected from Guangxi, China in 2022. They had an average age of 12.781 years, with 45.83% male and 54.17% female. Multiple linear regression was used to conduct an empirical analysis of the different types of social support provided by social organizations. The results found that material, mental, informational, and behavioral support provided by social organizations had significant effects on the resilience of rural left-behind children in China. Further research should be conducted on the importance of providing material, mental, informational, and behavioral support to left-behind children to better help improve their resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing understanding of the complexities of hematopoietic malignancies necessitates the existence of clinical recommendations that are sufficiently comprehensive. Although hereditary hematopoietic malignancies (HHMs) are increasingly recognized for conferring risk of myeloid malignancy, frequently utilized clinical recommendations have never been appraised for the ability to reliably guide HHM evaluation. We assessed established society-level clinical guidelines for inclusion of critical HHM genes and graded the strength of testing recommendations. We uncovered a substantial lack of consistency of recommendations guiding HHM evaluation. Such heterogeneity in guidelines likely contributes to refusal by payers to support HHM testing, leading to underdiagnoses and lost opportunities for clinical surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resiliency measurement is a great tool for evaluating system performance and proposing solutions to prevent damage and to recover from disruptive events. This study proposes an analytic approach to quantify narrow waterway systems' resiliency during disasters. First, metrics are introduced to quantify the resiliency before, during, and after a disruption. The existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Maritime Transportation Systems (MTS) are examined, and two metrics, 1) the number of inbound and outbound vessels and 2) Total Stopped Vessel-Hours, are selected to measure the resiliency of a waterway system. Second, a heuristic method is developed to derive the KPIs from the Automatic Identification System (AIS) data. Finally, the proposed methodology is performed for the Houston Ship Channel (HSC) AIS data before, during, and after Hurricane Harvey, in August 2017. The results are presented for the entire channel and highlight useful information about the performance of individual docks, terminals, and waterway zones within HSC. This study helps decision-makers identify the weaknesses and potential bottlenecks in a waterway confronting a disruption and come up with remedies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary supplements have gained widespread attention globally as they are supposed to be healthier than synthetic pharmaceutical compounds with fewer side effects. Unlike common prescription drugs, dietary supplements are readily available to the general public. However, over the past few years, all kinds of legal and illegal drugs, have been detected in dietary supplements without labeling to defraud consumers, resulting in serious public health consequences. Due to the increasing number of drug frauds in dietary supplements, their consumption will undoubtedly risk consumers. Therefore; the importance of high-tech analytical methods in their assessment for controlling food quality seems undeniable. The current review examines the analytical techniques that focus on adulterating health products with undeclared pharmaceuticals, including registered and banned drugs. The present study referred to a survey from 2004 to 2021 based on articles in the Scopus database. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In general, the process of examining industrial relations dispute cases at the District Court level must take between 8 and 10 days. One of the ways to achieve the principles of fast, simple, and low-cost civil procedure law is through Acte van Dading (conciliation decisions). The researchers is interested in studying the implementation of Acte van Dading for the settlement of industrial relations in Indonesia in relation to Indonesian positive law. The approach method used in this study is normative juridical, that is legal research that examines applicable legal provisions using primary, secondary, and tertiary data. Based on the research, the decisions made in the panel of judges must decide on the entire dispute that is being disputed by a settlement decision that has gone through several stages of industrial relations dispute settlement. The settlement agreement made by workers and employers before a panel of judges must be written and set out in an Acte van Dading. The advantage of this Act Van Dading, the panel of judges considered that it is very possible for disputes to be reconciled in addition to achieving the principles of fast, simple, and low-cost as well as reducing the accumulation of cases in court. The researchers recommendation is to increase legal awareness from both the government, employers and workers' unions to socialize the settlement of industrial relations disputes using Acte van Dading. Other recommendations require independent mediators or experienced legal experts to help achieve a just and mutually beneficial settlement for all parties involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present study aimed to determine a correlation between differential TRIM56 expression levels and severe infections of COVID-19 between the Alpha, Delta and Omicron BA.5 variants. Materials & methods: This study was performed on 330 COVID-19 patients, including 142 with severe and 188 with mild infections, as well as 160 healthy controls. The levels of TRIM56 gene expression were determined using a qPCR. Results:TRIM56 gene showed significantly lower mRNA expression in the severe and mild groups compared with healthy individuals. Our finding indicated the high and low reduction of TRIM56 mRNA expression in Delta and Omicron BA.5 variant, respectively. Conclusion: Further research is needed to characterize the impact of TRIM proteins on the severity of COVID-19. Scientists looked at a protein called TRIM that helps fight viruses to see if a specific TRIM protein, TRIM56, was linked to how poorly people became with COVID-19. The study looked at the blood samples of 330 patients and found that COVID-19 patients had less TRIM56 than healthy people, especially those who were particularly ill. #Tavakoli et al. discovered that the TRIM56 gene, which plays a crucial role in the body's immune response to viruses, is likely associated with severe COVID-19 infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, the application of hydrogel materials in sample preparation techniques has increased dramatically. This review discusses application of hydrogels in the field of sample preparation and focuses on extraction techniques practiced with hydrogel materials as sorbent and coating materials, and discusses their synthesis route. After introducing hydrogels, their applications in a variety of solid phase extraction methods (as one of the types of sample preparation techniques) are described. These methods include solid-phase microextraction (SPME), micro solid-phase extraction (µ-SPE) and magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE), in which hydrogels are used as the main adsorbent for the extraction and pre-concentration of heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, drugs and pigments. Also, the mechanism of adsorption of the above analytes by different hydrogels and the advantages of using hydrogels in the solid-phase extraction techniques are discussed. In the following, applications of pH-sensitive hydrogels as stimuli-responsive polymers, are discussed in the sample preparation field. Finally, conclusions and future perspectives are covered in the last section that will be very helpful for future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chemical treatment with cementitious materials is a common and economic solution to improving the mechanical behavior of contaminated clay soil. In this research, Portland cement and lime were used to treat kaolinite contaminated with anthracene and glycerol. The samples were cured for 7 days and their unconfined compressive strength (UCS) was determined. The results showed that the UCS of kaolinite contaminated with anthracene and glycerol was less than that of clean clay. In samples contaminated with anthracene, treatment with 3% Portland cement was roughly equivalent to that of 10% lime. In samples contaminated with glycerol, treatment with 9% Portland cement was equivalent to that of 10% lime. The results were verified by scanning electron microscopy. Triaxial unconsolidated undrained testing was carried out at different confining pressures on samples having similar UCS values. The results revealed that anthracene and glycerol contamination reduced the ultimate deviatoric stress and that the maximum deviatoric stress decreased as the amount of contamination increased. Also, the cohesion and internal friction angle decreased as the amounts of anthracene and glycerol increased. This could be attributed to the polarity, dielectric constant and viscosity of the organic material. All Portland cement–treated and lime–treated samples at the different confining pressures had higher peak shear strength values than the untreated ones. The maximum triaxial compression strength of specimens with equivalent UCS values was similar at low confining pressures, but an increase in confinement caused the Portland cement to perform better. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

En France, les débats houleux autour de la question controversée dite du « foulard islamique » ont d'une part divisé les mouvements féministes, et, d'autre part, ils ont mis en évidence les relents racistes et colonialistes des discours tenus par certain(e)s militant(e)s et intellectuel(le)s inconsciemment, ou consciemment influencés par le passé colonial de leur pays, qui oriente par ailleurs leurs idées mais aussi leur rapport aux Européennes descendantes des immigrés des anciennes colonies. C'est dans ce contexte qu'un phénomène interpelant et à contre-courant émerge en France au début des années 2000 : des collectifs de militantes musulmanes engagées dans une perspective islamique et féministe à la fois, pour ensuite laisser place à l'émergence d'un postféminisme musulman dont les mobilisations s'inscrivent au-delà de l'appartenance religieuse et dans une perspective intersectionnelle. Cet article porte sur les tenantes de cette « rhétorique féministe islamique » en actes et en dires et qui sont engagées dans un véritable travail de théorisation de la pensée féministe islamique d'une part, et de l'autre la reconstruction identitaire définissant d'une manière inédite une identité hybride qui combine le féminisme et la religiosité en contexte postcolonial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces a nonlinear adaptive controller of unknown nonlinear dynamical systems based on the approximate models using a multi-layer perceptron neural network. The proposal of this study is to employ the structure of the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) model into the NARMA-L2 structure in order to construct a hybrid neural structure that can be used as an identifier model and a nonlinear controller for the MIMO nonlinear systems. The big advantage of the proposed control system is that it doesn't require previous knowledge of the model. Our ultimate goal is to determine the control input using only the values of the input and output. The developed NARMA-L2 neural network model is tuned for its weights employing the backpropagation optimizer algorithm. Nonlinear autoregressive-moving average-L2 (NARMA-L2) neural network controller, based on the inputs and outputs from the nonlinear model, is designed to perform control action on the nonlinear for the attitude control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) model. Once the system has been modeled efficiently and accurately, the proposed controller is designed by rearranging the generalized submodels. The controller performance is evaluated by simulation conducted on a quadcopter MIMO system, which is characterized by a nonlinear and dynamic behavior. The obtained results show that the NARMA-L2-based neural network achieved good performances in modeling and control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to explore the perceptions of nurses providing care to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients about barriers to teamwork. The qualitative study was carried out using a content analysis method. Individual and semi-structured interviews were conducted with 28 nurses in Iran. Conventional content analysis was used to categorize the data. The barriers to teamwork in caring for COVID-19 patients were divided into two categories including individual problems and organizational challenges. Individual problems were subcategorized into inadequate education, lack of motivation, inexperience, and misconceptions. Organizational challenges were subdivided into lack of organizational support, poor organizational communication, and inadequate infrastructure. The results of this study highlighted barriers that led to poor teamwork in caring for these patients. These results can be employed to develop a model to eliminate or reduce barriers such as individual problems and organizational challenges of caring for patients with COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While France is often described as a representative case of colour-blindness, recent decades have seen the adoption of antidiscrimination as a public policy objective. However, its implementation remains problematic. This study attempts to make sense of this, exploring the challenges of adopting and implementing antidiscrimination policy in France; and the ways in which disagreements between stakeholders about what discrimination is and how to fight it complicate the issue. The analysis was based on qualitative interviews that examined the adoption and the implementation of antidiscrimination policies in Vaulx-en-Velin, a suburb of Lyon. While the analysis indicates that it is a good example of what can be implemented at a local level, it also demonstrates the vagueness surrounding the concept of antidiscrimination and how it weakens the fight against discrimination in France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermal degradation of water-based metalworking fluids (MWFs) produces carcinogen by-products. Since different additives have been used to eliminate hazardous material, the carcinogenic potential of two water-based MWFs was investigated in the lung epithelial cell line (A549). Two MWF types were studied in pure and on-used. The chemical content of all samples was assessed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). DNA damage of samples was evaluated in the doses range of 0.05–0.8 mg by comet assay. Comet images were analyzed with Open comet software. Amine borate and ethanolamine were found in B and C fluids respectively. Pyridazine compound by the potency of nitrosamine production was found in on-used C fluid. After using MWFs in the metal processing, a polycyclic component with bore central groups was produced in on-used B fluid. DNA damage of on-used fluid with boron component occurred at a level lower than ethyl amine-containing fluid. Moreover, the genotoxicity of air samples in B fluid was higher than C airborne samples significantly. More careful management have to be considered for the replacement of amine corrosion inhibitors with boron-containing chemical in MWFs. In conclusion design of a plan was required for the control of high-risk chemicals in the metal processing industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The specimens of contaminated clay improved with Portland cement and lime were cured for seven days and were subjected to uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) testing. The results for anthracene-contaminated specimens improved with three percent Portland cement (by weight of clay) were approximately equivalent to those improved with 10% lime. The results for glycerol-contaminated specimens improved with nine percent Portland cement was approximately equivalent to that improved with 10% lime. According to the results, both Portland cement and lime were able to improve the clay soil contaminated with anthracene and glycerol, but Portland cement had a greater effect than lime on the anthracene-contaminated specimens because of the non-polar behaviour of anthracene and the grain-like (flocculated) behaviour of the contaminated soil. These factors were the result of a decrease in the diffuse double layer thickness by anthracene, which has a lower dielectric constant relative to water. The lime had a greater effect than cement on the specimens contaminated with glycerol because of the polar behaviour of glycerol, the increase in the required moisture content for hydration, and because the dielectric constant of glycerol is close to that of water. These results were evaluated and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hospital wastewater (HWW) is one of the largest sources of pharmaceutical release. The present paper proposes the sustainable and controllable hospital wastewater treatment method based on the photo-Fenton process using MnO2 and moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) treatment followed by ozonation process. The method has satisfactory removal rates of Ibuprofen and Ofloxacin˃90%. Evaluation of the optimum operational parameters such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), ozone consumption (OC), time of ozone exposure (TOE), manganese oxide (MnO2) concentration (MOC) was carried out. It was established that the optimal performance occurred at following conditions – HRT (16–20 hours), MLSS (2500–3500 mg/L), OC (7–9 L/hrs), TOE (4–10 min) and MOC (1.9–2.7 mg/L). It is proposed for practical application to control the HWW in two stages. The first stage includes preliminary tests for evaluation of optimum MOC. The second stage is based on continuous evaluation of HRT and TOE using analytical modelling functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low levels of biomarkers and the complexity of bio sample make the analytical assay of several biomarkers a challenging issue. Suitable sample preparation run remain a vital part of the puzzle of diagnostic level. Enhancing the detection limit of bioanalytical methods start during the sample preparation procedure. A robust sample preparation method is needed to evaluate the number of biomarkers. As worldwide environmental issues attract expanding consideration, all the more harmless to the ecosystem investigations are liked. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is an appealing strategy among the sample treatment methods due to the versatility of sorbent materials, less solvent consumption, and compatibility with analytical devices. Miniaturization of the SPE gives the chance to integrate the other analytical steps in a single run, known as an easy-to-use and effective method. SPE utilizes various SPE sorbent beds such as packed beads, porous polymer monoliths, molecularly imprinted polymers, membranes, or other magnetic form microstructures to achieve high surface-to-volume ratio and appropriate chemical properties effective extraction. Also, SPE is the methodology of interest to fulfill high recovery and efficiency demands. In this review, we intend to explain more recent methods for the rational design of SPE and miniaturized SPE to determine biomarkers from biological media. The headlines are subdivided into (1) packing materials in SPE, (2) setups for sample preparation by magnetic SPE, and (3) and future perspective for the application of SPE in sample preparation for analysis of biomarkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preliminary research suggests that maternal prenatal stress may alter the development of the fetal microbiome and resulting microbial composition after birth. However, the findings of existing studies are mixed and inconclusive. The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess whether maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with the overall number and diversity of various microbial species in the infant gut microbiome or the abundance of specific bacterial taxa. Fifty-one women were recruited during their third trimester of pregnancy. The women completed a demographic questionnaire and Cohen's Perceived Stress Scale at recruitment. A stool sample was collected from their neonate at one month of age. Data on potential confounders, such as gestational age and mode of delivery, were extracted from medical records to control for their effects. 16s rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify the diversity and abundance of microbial species, along with multiple linear regression models to examine the effects of prenatal stress on microbial diversity. We employed negative binomial generalized linear models to test for differential expression of various microbial taxa among infants exposed to prenatal stress and those not exposed to prenatal stress. More severe symptoms of prenatal stress were associated with a greater diversity of microbial species in the gut microbiome of neonates (β =.30, p =.025). Certain microbial taxa, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, were enriched among infants exposed to greater maternal stress in utero, while others, such as Bacteroides and Enterobacteriaceae, were depleted in contrast to infants exposed to less stress. Findings suggest that mild to moderate stress exposure in utero could be associated with a microbial environment in early life that is more optimally prepared to thrive in a stressful postnatal environment. Adaptation of gut microbiota under conditions of stress may involve upregulation of bacterial species, including certain protective microorganisms (e.g. Bifidobacterium), as well as downregulation of potential pathogens (e.g. Bacteroides) via epigenetic or other processes within the fetal/neonatal gut-brain axis. However, further research is needed to understand the trajectory of microbial diversity and composition as infant development proceeds and the ways in which both the structure and function of the neonatal microbiome may mediate the relationship between prenatal stress and health outcomes over time. These studies may eventually yield microbial markers and gene pathways that are biosignatures of risk or resilience and inform targets for probiotics or other therapies in utero or during the postnatal period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contamination of milk and its products with heavy metals has toxic and dangerous effects on human health. This study aimed to determine the heavy metal concentration and health risk assessment resulting from them in four different brands of Pasteurized milk consumed in Gorgan city, Iran. This study was performed during three seasons (summer, autumn and winter). Sixty different samples of pasteurized milk of four common brands were selected and analysed. Samples were digested in the laboratory by using nitric acid method digestion, and the heavy metal concentration was measured by using the linear regression based on the height of the peaks of the voltammograms. Also, health risk assessment was analysed by Oracle® Crystal Ball. According to the results, the overall mean (n = 60) concentration of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in all of the analysed milk samples was 0.02, 0.023, 0.97 and 4.31 µg/g, respectively. Based on these results, about 67% had Pb content lower than the codex limits, almost 70% of all milk samples had Cd content higher than the permissible limit, and Cu concentration in all milk samples was under the mentioned permissible limits. Zn concentrations in all samples were exceeded the permissible limits. HRI values in adults and children via consumption of pasteurized milk in all of the analysed samples were within the safe limits (HRI < 1). Based on these findings, monitoring of contaminants in milk and other dairy products prevented the probably side effects of these heavy metals on human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opium has been used traditionally for lowering blood lipids, diabetes, cancer, and postpone of cardiac diseases. The coronary angiography patients were divided to opium user and control group. SYNTAX score, serum lipid profile, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were measured in the case and control groups. The SBP, LVEF, serum levels of triglycerides, creatinine and SYNTAX score in opium user group was significantly lower than non-user group (p < 0.05 to p < 0.01). Although, opium consumption reduced some risk factors, LVEF a key variable for the diagnosis and management of heart failure was also reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past few years, research has focused on design and development of natural polymers-based hydrogels owing to their inherent features as well as numerous application ranges. In this context, polysaccharide-based hydrogels have attracted significant interest mainly due to their superior physicochemical and biological characteristics. However, these types of biomaterials 'suffer' from some problems. This review aims to give an update of diverse optimization strategies used to improve the physicochemical and biological properties of hydrogels based on natural polysaccharides as biomaterials for regenerative medicine applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A magnetic Mg/Fe layered double hydroxide (magnetic LDH) nanocomposite was successfully prepared and used as a suitable adsorbent to simultaneously extract vitamins B1 and B6 from complex infant formula and food supplements. The important parameters affecting the extraction were optimized and the final parameters are as follows; the amount of adsorbent (20 mg), extraction time (6 min), elution time (8 min), and elution solvent ethanol in 750 µL. As-prepared nanoadsorbent was successfully in magnetic solid phase extraction set-up with no hazardous solvents and extraction performed in 6 min. The structure of nanoadsorbnet is lamellar, providing a wide surface to extract the analytes. The quantification of the analytes was accomplished using the liquid chromatography-tandem mass (LC/MS-MS) technique. Under optimum extraction conditions, the linearity ranged from 4 to 1000 ng/mL (vitamin B1) and 20 to 1000 ng/mL (vitamin B6), and the correlation of coefficients (R2) was obtained better than 0.99. The intra-day (n = 3) and inter-day precisions (n = 3 working days) calculated in the form of percent relative standard deviations (%RSDs) were obtained below 10.20%. The proposed method was successfully practiced for analyzing vitamins B1 and B6 in several brands of infant formulas and food supplements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the free torsional vibration of the nanorod with noncircular cross-section based on the nonlocal strain gradient theory is investigated. The rectangular cross-section has been selected. The governing partial equation of the torsional vibration of the noncircular nanorod is derived using Hamilton's principle. Using a Galerkin method, and by consideration of the rectangular shape function in series, the natural frequency of noncircular nanorod is obtained. The obtained results indicate the convergence of the nondimensional natural frequency of the nanorod by enhancement of the number of the rectangular shape function. Furthermore, the nondimensional natural frequency of the noncircular nanorod for different nondimensional nonlocal parameter and nondimensional material length scale parameter is studied. Eventually, the effects of both nonlocal parameter and material length scale parameter on the nondimensional natural frequency, which causes torsional stiffness softening and torsional stiffness hardening of the nanorod, is also illustrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concept of Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA) was developed by a German textile company in late 1980s through their projects for environmental management. The major objectives of MFCA are to increase transparency of material flow and energy usage along with their environmental and financial impacts. MFCA traces a variety of measures from material productivity metrics to crucial environmental indexes. Most of the existing researches on MFCA focus on conceptual models. A major research gap is the lack of mathematical optimization models which use the MFCA logic to support managerial decisions. This is the first known study in which a comprehensive mathematical optimization model has been developed based on MFCA cost logic, i.e., positive and negative costs. The model is named MFCABOM (MFCA-Based Optimization Model) in this paper. In addition, we have incorporated the quality cost of raw materials into the MFCABOM. The MFCABOM determines the optimal quality level of raw materials in a production system with rework. A numerical example has been solved and discussed to assess the performance and validity of the MFCABOM. The results show that the MFCABOM can strongly support production managers in selecting the optimal quality level of raw materials based on MFCA cost logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been postulated that a palliative approach in psychiatric ward has the potential to increase the quality of care for people with severe mental illness (SMI). This study aimed to explain nurses' perception about barriers to provision of palliative care for people with SMI. In this qualitative content analysis study, semi-structured interviews have been conducted with 26 Iranian nurses. Two categories and four subcategories were formed. The categories included poor organizational and professional infrastructure, and inadequate patient/family follow-up system. The first category includes lack of specialists who provide palliative care, lack of palliative wards, and lack of teamwork. The second category contained erroneous cultural beliefs and lack of attention to the role of family. The society must deal with the cultural taboos associated with mental illness through cultural-based interventions. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the role of families in palliative care. The health system should try to build relevant palliative care units to facilitate the provision of it for people with SMI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the forced axial vibration of a nanobeam by deploying the nonlocal strain gradient theory exposed to a distributed moving force, is investigated. The assumed nanobeam in this paper is under the axial constant distributed load. The governing equations of the vibration of the nanobeam are obtained via the classic beam theory and the Hamilton principle. The determined partial differential equations are converted to differential equations by applying the assumed modes method. The dynamic axial displacement of the nanobeam along its length, is obtained by solving the differential equations via the convolution integral. The effect of length scale parameter, nonlocal parameter, velocity parameter, the constant distributed load and the excitation frequency on the maximum nondimensional dynamic axial displacement of the nanobeam are analyzed. Accordingly, the effect of these two parameters on the maximum nondimensional axial displacement of the nanobeam under the harmonic moving load is of significance importance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The CS-TPP nanoparticles were synthesized and their efficiency for removal of arsenic (V) ions at the optimum conditions was investigated. The optimum conditions for CS-TPP nanoparticles were obtained with the mass ratio of tripolyphosphate to chitosan of 1: 2 and pH = 5.0. The experimental data for the adsorption of As (V) ions followed the Freundlich adsorption isotherm and the maximum adsorption capacity was 77 mg/g at pH = 6.0. All isotherm experiments were performed at room temperature (25 °C). The crosslinking of sodium tripolyphosphate with the chitosan led to a decrease in crystallinity of the formed particles which then resulted in an improvement in metal ion sorption properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study aims at presenting a model to investigate the feature selection of health services website and its effect on increasing the role of Myocardial Infarction prediction and online health marketing through the case study of the Shahid Rajaee Heart Specialized Hospital, Iran. Considering research objectives, this study is a practical research and regarding the data collection method, it is a descriptive-survey one. The statistical population of this study included all clients of Shahid Rajaee Heart Specialized Hospital. Due to the unlimited and unavailability of the sample, the Cochran formula was used to determine the sample size and 384 people were selected. A questionnaire was distributed among them in a convenient way. Finally, all research hypotheses were confirmed; results showed that visual aesthetics has the most and user friendliness least effect on participation of heart diseases, respectively. In addition, visual aesthetics is an effective and direct stimulator for health marketing on the health services website. Finally, there are some suggestions and solutions to improve and enhance the role of Myocardial Infarction prediction and health marketing in the mentioned hospital. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents modification of standard Kalman filter (KF) based on augmented input estimation (AIE) and deadbeat dissipative FIR filtering (DDFF) for maneuvering target tracking. Although KF is a well-known tool in estimation and tracking but it has two weaknesses, disability in maneuvering motions and lack of robustness against temporary model uncertainty. For the first problem, the AIE is proposed to cover both the non-maneuvering and maneuvering parts of motion and so the maneuver detection procedure is eliminated. This model with an input estimation (IE) approach is a special augmentation in the state space model which considers both the state vector and the unknown input vector as a new augmented state vector. Also, KF is based on infinite impulse response (IIR) structure and cannot be robust against temporary model uncertainty. Unlike IIR, finite impulse response (FIR) filter is robust and stable against model uncertainty. So, for the second problem, an extra type of FIR filter named DDFF is introduced in this paper that not only has the intrinsic properties of FIR but also can improve these features by tuning some weighting parameters. In the last examples of the paper, the advantages of the proposed model against other models are shown. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expanded polystyrene foams (EPS) are used as packaging materials and are often discarded by consumers after the goods are unpacked (WEPS). Most recycling centers do not accept them because their extremely low weight makes them uneconomic to transport. In the research described here, WEPS was collected from shipping containers and crushed in a blender into 2-4 mm spherical shapes that were used as a replacement for aggregates to make lightweight concretes (LWC) to build lightweight facilities. Eight types of concrete samples were prepared, with the WEPS replacing the natural aggregate at the levels of 0 to 85 percent by volume to study the effects of the WEPS on the properties of the LWC. The densities of the LWCs were less than that of those found from natural aggregate (NAG), as was expected (900–1700 kg/m3). The heat conductivity of the LWC samples was smaller than that of NAG when the composition of WEPS was below 50%. The 28-day compressive strengths of the LWC ranged from 11 MPa to 90 MPa, which satisfies the strength requirement of semi-structural LWC recommended by ASTM to be higher than 17 MPa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global increase in electrical device consumption has escalated the demand for excellent surge protectors. As a state-of-the-art technology, varistor has received considerable attention due to its outstanding versatility and wide range of applications. Hence, it is crucial to understand the development trend of varistor to expand the collaboration networks and propel its advancement. In this bibliometric article, several procedures were presented and analyzed to determine the global research trend of varistor based on the publication output each year, leading countries, most prolific authors, and co-occurrences of author keywords. After several stages of collecting and refining the textual information from the Scopus database, a total number of 2122 research articles and conference papers were retrieved between 1951 and 2021. Results show that since 1975, the annual number of publications has increased significantly, with 2020 recording the highest value of 1363 articles. China, the United States, South Korea, and Japan contributed around 60% of the total articles published. Moreover, three of the most prolific institutions associated with the research topic were ranked among the top 200 universities globally. The analysis of varistor research progress will provide a common overview of collaborative networks and potential collaborators for a better broadening of knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report efficacy, safety and biomarker data from a phase-II study evaluating atezolizumab (eight 21-day cycle as induction therapy) in combination with obinutuzumab in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL, n = 30) or Waldenström's macroglobulinemia (WM, n = 4), and in combination with rituximab in patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL, n = 21). All patients received atezolizumab monotherapy as maintenance for ≤10 cycles. Objective response rates at end of induction were 16.7% (MCL) and 42.9% (MZL), with no responses in WM. Median duration of response was 6.8 months (range 5.7–not estimable) for MCL and not reached for MZL. Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) occurred in 93.3%, 95.2% and 100% of MCL, MZL and WM patients, respectively. One fatal TEAE (pneumonia) occurred in each of the MCL and MZL groups. Biomarker analysis highlighted the importance of characterizing the immune environment to optimize efficacy of immunotherapy regimens. Trial registration details: EudraCT: 2016-003579-22 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to provide an overview of obstacles of medical tourism development in Iran. In a systematic review through searching online database including PubMed, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Persian databases using related keywords, all qualitative and mix method studies published in English and Persian were selected, and the data were analysed using content analysis. Fourteen studies were analysed, and main obstacles were categorized into three main themes and 12 sub-themes including infrastructure factors (4 sub-themes), government-related or inter-sectoral factors (5 sub-themes) and health sector related or intra-sectoral factors (3 sub-themes). Developing marketing, improving international relations, supporting the capabilities of private sectors, and developing guidelines for insurance and tariffs are suggestions that can be helpful in reducing existing problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forced torsional vibration of a nanobeam by using the nonlocal strain gradient theory and incorporating the surface effects is investigated in the current work. The aim of this paper was to analyze the surface effect on the forced torsional vibration of a nanobeam. The simulated nanobeam is under the distributed external torque and moving external harmonic torque. The governing equations are derived by employing the Hamilton principle. The extracted partial differential equation is converted to ordinary differential equation by deploying the Assumed Modes method. The dynamic torsion of clamped–clamped end supports of nanobeam is determined by using the Convolution integral. The effect of nondimensional material length scale parameter, the nondimensional nonlocal parameter, the velocity parameter and the nondimensional moment, on the maximum nondimensional dynamic torsion of nanobeam are studied. Eventually, the effect of residual surface torsion and surface shear modulus on the maximum nondimensional dynamic torsion of nanobeam, which is obtained from the nonlocal strain gradient theory under the distributed torsional and moving harmonic dynamic moments, is studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]