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Abstract Thymus persicus is a valuable natural source of anticancer triterpenic acids (TAs) such as betulinic acid (BA), oleanolic acid (OA), and ursolic acid (UA), which is growing wild in the northwest of Iran. In the present study, variability in morphological characteristics, phytochemical composition, and biological activity among T. persicus populations (TPPs) were investigated. The plants were phenotypically different with the highest variations in some morphological traits. In total, sixty-seven compounds representing 97.2‒99.9% of the essential oils were identified. Thymol (8.1‒43.9%), α-terpineol (1.8‒34.2%), and p-cymene (0.4‒13.4%) were the major components of the studied oils. The content of BA, OA, and UA was ranged as 530.55 ± 13.04‒856.89 ± 6.76, 419.35 ± 11.44‒584.43 ± 12.67, and 941.66 ± 11.49‒1070.82 ± 10.14 mg 100 g‒1 DW in the studied TPPs, respectively. The highest total phenol content (87.26 ± 4.35 mg GAE g–1 DW), total flavonoid content (72.34 ± 2.63 mg QE g–1 DW), and antioxidant property (IC50 = 64.28 ± 4.57 μg ml–1 and 61.68 ± 1.10 μmol Fe+2 g–1 DW) were recorded in TPP1 (Baderlu). The essential oil of the TPP3 (Angooran) showed the lowest minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against the bacteria (0.005‒0.080 mg ml–1) and fungi (0.077‒0.100 mg ml–1) among the studied TPPs. Multiple regression analysis showed an associated correlation among morphological, phytochemical characteristics, and biological activities. Canonical correspondence analysis also determined relationship between phytochemical traits and environmental factors. These findings contain valuable data for the conservation and sustainable exploitation of this valuable medicinal plant. Graphical Abstract

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) have key roles in extending the functional diversity of proteins and, as a result, regulating diverse cellular processes in prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Phosphorylation modification is a vital PTM that occurs in most proteins and plays a significant role in many biological processes. Disorders in the phosphorylation process lead to multiple diseases, including neurological disorders and cancers. The purpose of this review is to organize this body of knowledge associated with phosphorylation site (p-site) prediction to facilitate future research in this field. At first, we comprehensively review all related databases and introduce all steps regarding dataset creation, data preprocessing, and method evaluation in p-site prediction. Next, we investigate p-site prediction methods, which are divided into two computational groups: algorithmic and machine learning (ML). Additionally, it is shown that there are basically two main approaches for p-site prediction by ML: conventional and end-to-end deep learning methods, both of which are given an overview. Moreover, this review introduces the most important feature extraction techniques, which have mostly been used in p-site prediction. Finally, we create three test sets from new proteins related to the released version of the database of protein post-translational modifications (dbPTM) in 2022 based on general and human species. Evaluating online p-site prediction tools on newly added proteins introduced in the dbPTM 2022 release, distinct from those in the dbPTM 2019 release, reveals their limitations. In other words, the actual performance of these online p-site prediction tools on unseen proteins is notably lower than the results reported in their respective research papers.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare psychological well-being, hope, and health concerns in leukemia patients before and after receiving stem cells. Methods: The statistical population of the present study consisted of leukemia patients in Tehran, and the research sample was among the patients referred to the Bone Marrow Transplant Center of Shariati Hospital in Tehran, and they were placed in two experimental and control groups (15 people in each group), which were selected by purposive sampling method. Results: To collect the data for the research, three psychological well-being questionnaires were used by Riff (2002), Schneider's Hope Scale (SHS), and Schneider's (1991) Health Concern Questionnaire (HCQ). To analyze the data in this research, according to the “pre-test-post-test design with the control group,” covariance analysis was used. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, it was concluded that receiving stem cells increases hope and psychological well-being in leukemia patients and significantly reduces health concerns.

Molecular dynamics simulations have been performed in this study to predict the diffusion coefficient of benzene in hexane and vice versa by Materials Studio software. COMPASS force field has been applied to the system for optimization of the structures of benzene and hexane molecules. To model and calculate the van der Waals and electrostatic potential energies, a group-based summation method has been utilized. In order to predict the diffusion coefficient, firstly the simulation time and the force field have been optimized. In all simulations, Ewald and Atom-based summation methods were employed to calculate electrostatic and van der Waals potential energies. The optimized simulation times for the diffusion of benzene in hexane with the mole fraction of 0.2, and the diffusion coefficient of hexane in benzene with the mole fraction of 0.8, have been obtained to be 35 and 25 ps, respectively. In addition, the best force field to predict the diffusion coefficient has been identified to be “Pcff”.

Amir Akhavanrezayat,1 Wataru Matsumiya,1,2 Prapatsorn Ongpalakorn,1 Hashem H Ghoraba,1 Chris Or,1 Hassan Khojasteh Jafari,1 Gunay Uludag Kirimli,1 Cigdem Yasar,1 Ngoc Trong Tuong Than,1 Irmak Karaca,1 Moosa Zaidi,1 Azadeh Mobasserian,1 Negin Yavari,1 Vahid Bazojoo,1 Yong Un Shin,1 Albert John Bromeo,1 Quan Dong Nguyen1 1Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA; 2Department of Surgery, Division of Ophthalmology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, JapanCorrespondence: Quan Dong Nguyen, Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute at Stanford University, 2452 Watson Court, Suite 200, Palo Alto, CA, 94303, USA, Tel +1 650 723 9386, Email ndquan@stanford.eduPurpose: To report a case of neurosarcoidosis (NS) who was initially diagnosed as Coccidioidomycosis immitis (CI) infection.Observations: A 57-year-old diabetic man presented with sudden painless diminution of vision, metamorphopsia, and color vision deficits in the left eye (OS) for one month. His vision was 20/20 in the right eye (OD) and 20/40 OS. Ophthalmic examination revealed left relative afferent pupillary defect, blurred optic nerve margin, creamy chorioretinal infiltration around the optic disc, and mild macular edema. OD examination was non-revealing. Chest CT scan with contrast showed calcified mediastinal lymph nodes, but biopsy of the lymph nodes was normal. Brain and orbit MRI demonstrated soft tissue abnormality with enhancement in left orbital apex with involvement of the extraocular muscles. CSF culture was negative, but complement fixation had positive titer of 1:2 for CI. The patient was diagnosed with CI meningitis, and antifungal therapy was initiated. Slight visual and symptomatic improvement was observed, which was not completely satisfactory. Biopsy of extraocular orbital muscle five months later revealed non-caseating granulomatous inflammation, leading to initiation of prednisone trial therapy. Nine months later, the patient was referred to a tertiary center owing to persistence of optic disc edema OS. PET CT was consistent with a diagnosis of sarcoidosis. Antifungal treatment was discontinued, and oral prednisone with methotrexate was initiated. Subsequently, methotrexate was replaced by infliximab to further manage ocular inflammation and neurologic symptoms which was effective. Vision was 20/20 OD and 20/30 OS at the most recent visit.Conclusion and Importance: Signs and symptoms of neurosarcoidosis and coccidioidomycosis can be similar and deceiving. The index case underscores importance of considering appropriate differential diagnoses in patients with similar symptoms and signs who may respond to preliminary designated treatment but not to the optimal extent. Considering such possibility could assist clinicians in managing the patients timely and efficiently.Keywords: neurosarcoidosis, coccidioidomycosis, sarcoidosis, ocular involvement

Abstract Aim Evidence indicates there are still conflicts regarding CETP Taq1B polymorphism and coronary artery disease risk factors. Current findings about whether dietary patterns can change the relationship of the Taq1B on lipid profile and the severity of coronary arteries stenosis appears to be limited. The present research made an attempt to investigate this possible relationship. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 453 male and female participants with a mean age of 57 years. A validated 178-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) was used to assess dietary usual intake. Dietary patterns were extracted through principal component analysis (PCA). Taq1B variant was genotyped by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Two-way ANOVA was used to test the interaction between Taq1B polymorphism and dietary patterns. Results Two dietary patterns were detected: the western dietary pattern (WDP) and the traditional dietary pattern (TDP). The frequency of Taq1B genotypes turned out to be 10.4, 72.4, and 17.2% for B1B1, B1B2, and B2B2, respectively. A significant difference was observed in TG and TG/HDL-C levels among TaqIB genotypes in higher adherence to TDP (P = 0.01 and P = 0.03, respectively). Taq1B showed a significant interaction with TDP for modulating TG levels and TG/HDL-C ratio (P = 0.02 and P = 0.04, respectively). Greater compliance to WDP demonstrated a significant difference in TG and TG/HDL-C levels across rs708272 genotypes (P = 0.03) after adjusting for confounding factors. Other lipid components and coronary arteries stenosis scores failed to show any relationship or significant difference across Taq1B genotypes or dietary patterns. Conclusion Adherence to TDP may adjust the association between the Taq1B variant and TG and TG/HDL-C levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography. To better understand the relationships, we suggest prospective studies in different race groups with multivariate approaches.

Statement of the Problem: Bond strength of furcation repair materials is an essential factor in clinical success. Studies on the effect of adding titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles on the push-out bond strength of commonly used endodontic cements for furcation perforation repair is limited.Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of adding TiO2 nanoparticles to white Portland cement (PC), white mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA), and calcium enriched mixture cement (CEM) on their push-out bond strengths.Materials and Method: In this in vitro study, 120 endodontically treated molars were assigned to six groups (n=20) based on the material used to repair the perforation. In three groups, the cements (white PC, white MTA, and CEM) were placed in pure form, and in the three remaining groups, 1 weight % of TiO2 was added. The push-out bond strength was measured using a universal testing machine at a strain rate of 0.5 mm/min. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Games-Howell test (p< 0.05).Results: One-way ANOVA showed significant differences in the mean bond strength values between the six groups (p= 0.002). The post hoc Games-Howell test showed that the bond strengths in MTA+TiO2 and PC+TiO2 groups were significantly higher than those in MTA and PC groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the bond strength between CEM and CEM+ TiO2 groups.Conclusion: The incorporation of TiO2 into MTA and PC increased their push-out bond strength. However, it did not affect the push-out bond strength of CEM cement.

Background: For patients with morbid obesity, different cisatracurium dosage regimens are recommended. This study aimed to compare the onset of action, the sufficiency of neuromuscular blockade during infusion, and the recovery of the three distinct cisatracurium dosage scalars in patients with morbid obesity undergoing laparoscopic bariatric surgery.Methods: In this randomized clinical trial, 55 patients were scheduled for bariatric surgery at Firoozgar Hospital from March 2020 to August 2021. Using a block randomization method, they were randomly divided into three groups, based on total body weight (TBW group), fat-free mass (FFM group), or ideal body weight (IBW group), to receive a bolus of cisatracurium 0.2 mg/Kg, followed by an infusion of 2 µg/Kg, to maintain a train-of-four (TOF) count≤2. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. P

Proper management and planning of water resources in their operation, distribution, and revitalization play an important role in sustainable development. This issue is of much higher importance in countries located in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world, such as Iran. Because it is inevitable to return and use indigenous technologies and knowledge and update them alongside modern technologies to achieve sustainable development, this research utilizes an extensive study of literature from internal and external sources and exploratory factor analysis to identify and assess the most important criteria or applicable factors of indigenous knowledge relevant to water resources planning and management in Yazd Province. Due to the high importance of the issue, attempts were made to use experienced and relevant faculty members from certain universities, as well as experts and specialists from all relevant organizations in Yazd Province. The results showed that six criteria—protection and stability, integrated management, holistic (comprehensive) approach, cost-effectiveness, compatibility, and dynamism—are found to be more important than others for the area. In the second step of this research, by means of BWM and creating a linear programming model, six principal factors were weighted, and their optimal weights were obtained. The integrated management criterion has the highest weight (0.413), and the holistic approach criterion has the lowest weight (0.048). Moreover, the protection and stability criteria and the cost-effectiveness criteria jointly rank second with a weight of 0.168, and the criteria of compatibility (0.119) and dynamism (0.084), respectively, rank third and fourth.

Abstract Background Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), as a recent inflammatory index, has been reported to be a prognostic tool in different diseases. However, implication of this ratio in heart failure (HF) is less investigated. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we aimed to assess the potential impact of NLR on HF clinical outcomes. Methods Relevant English published records in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Web of Science were screened up to July 2023. Articles reporting clinical outcomes (follow-up or in-hospital mortality, readmission, HF prediction, extended hospital stay length, pulmonary vascular resistance, atrial fibrillation, renal disease and functional capacity) in HF sufferers were collected for further analysis with addition of NLR difference stratified by death/survived and HF status. Results Thirty-six articles (n = 18231) were finally selected which reported NLR in HF sufferers (mean: 4.38, 95% confidence interval (CI): 4.02–4.73). We found 25 articles reported NLR and total mortality (either follow-up death (N = 19): 4.52 (95% CI: 4.03–5.01) or in-hospital death (N = 10): 5.33 (95% CI: 4.08–6.57)) with mean NLR of 4.74 (95% CI: 4.28–5.20). NLR was higher among deceased patients compared to survived ones (standard mean difference: 0.67 (95% CI: 0.48–0.87), P

Introduction The diverse and magnificent plant kingdom of the world is widely known for its medicinal importance. Natural substances obtained from medicinal plants and their plant extracts are used for the treatment of a lot of diseases in human pathology as well as plant pathology. Therefore, it is important to understand the relationship between medicinal plant species and their environment in terms of producing optimal secondary metabolites. Salvia officinalis L., which belongs to Lamiaceae family, as the main herb in the world is cultivated in many countries. Essential oil from S. officinalis aerial parts is used as raw material in pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. It has been known that different harvest times have a great effect on both quality and quantity of essential metabolites. Furthermore, the drying process, which is one of the post-harvest processes, is very expensive, but if it is done correctly, it significantly increases the efficiency and components of the essential oil after harvesting. In large-scale agriculture, S. officinalis raw materials needs a lot of space and high cost for drying process due to the large volume of material at harvest time. In this case, if it is possible to directly extract the essential oil with the desired quantity and quality from the fresh plant, the production cost will be significantly reduced from the economic point of view. For these reasons, it is necessary to determine optimum harvesting time(s) and plant material kinds affecting essential oil quantity and quality. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the yield and quality of valuable medicinal plant essential oil of S. officinalis in different harvesting times of fresh and dried plants throughout the year in Fars province to determine the yield and quality of essential oil. Materials and Methods For these purposes, aerial parts of S. officinalis in full flowering stage were collected from selected plants from a 3-year farm located in Saadatshahr city of Fars province. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized blocks design with three replications and two factors include three different harvesting times (5th of May, 26th of July and 5th of November, 2020) and two types of plant materials (fresh and dry) was performed in the farm. The essential oils of different S. officinalis samples were extracted by hydro-distillation using Clevenger apparatus and with three replications. The yields were calculated based on dry weight and the oils were analyzed by a combination of GC-FID and GC-MS techniques, to check for chemical variability based on British Pharmacopoeia. At the end of the experiment, data analysis was performed using SAS software (version: 9.4). The means were compared by Duncan's multi-range test at a statistical level of 1%. Results and Discussion The results of the current study revealed that the essential oil content of S. officinalis aerial parts harvested at different times and plant materials ranged from 0.19% to 1.18% (w/w). It was found that the interaction effects of harvesting times and plant materials on the essential oil yield was significant at the 1% probability level, and the comparison of the average interaction effects of harvesting times and plant materials showed that the highest essential oil yield of S. officinalis was related to the second harvesting time (26th of July, 2020) and the dry plant material (1.18 % w/w). Meanwhile, the lowest yield of essential oil (0.19% w/w) was obtained in the first harvesting time (5th of May, 2020) and in fresh plant material. 34 different constituents have been identified in which 22 compounds were common. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were the main group of compounds in all studied plant samples. The key compounds of essential oil were 1,8-cineol, α-thujone, β-pinene and camphor. The comparison of the average interaction effects of harvesting times and plant materials on the main compounds of the essential oil demonstrated that the interaction effects on α-thujone and camphor constituents were significant at the 1% probability level and for β-pinene were were significant at the 5% probability level. The results of this research showed that the yield of essential oil in dry plant materials was higher than in fresh plant materials and different harvesting times had a significant effect on the quantitative and qualitative performance of essential oil. Conclusion Eventually, the results obtained from this study showed that the quantity and quality of essential oil in S. officinalis were influenced by the different harvesting times and plant materials. In order to achieve the maximum quantity and quality of essential oil in this species, the best type of plant materials was dry plant material and the best harvesting times was the summer harvesting in the full flowering stage. Due to the fact that the performance of essential oil at different harvesting times fluctuates in terms of quantity and quality during the growing season, it is necessary to have the essential oil certificated from each harvest in order to successfully enter the market.

Abstract This paper describes the synthesis of a novel Cu–Ni bimetallic system comprising of magnetic nanoparticles, as the core, and 4-amino-3,5-bis(pyridin-2-yl)-1,2,4-triazole (4-ABPT), as a conjugated bridge, between nickel and copper species. With low Cu and Ni loading (0.06 mol% Ni, 0.08 mol% Cu), the resulting Fe3O4@SiO2@4-ABPT/Cu–Ni showed to be a highly efficient catalyst for the Sonogashira and C–N cross-coupling reactions. The developed catalyst was well characterized by FT-IR, XRD, EDX-mapping, FE-SEM, TEM, ICP, VSM, TGA/DTG/DTA, LSV, and XPS techniques. Fe3O4@SiO2@4-ABPT/Cu–Ni nanocatalyst was compatible with a wide range of amines and aryl halides in the Sonogashira and C–N cross-coupling reactions and offered desired coupling products in high to excellent yields under palladium- and solvent-free conditions. Based on the XPS results, the 4-ABPT ligand can adjust electron transfer between Ni and Cu in Fe3O4@SiO2@4-ABPT/Cu–Ni, promoting the formation and stabilization of Cu+ and Ni3+ species. Electronic interactions and the synergistic effect between these metals increased the selectivity and activity of Fe3O4@SiO2@4-ABPT/Cu–Ni catalyst in the Sonogashira and C–N cross-coupling reactions compared with its monometallic counterparts. Additionally, the magnetic properties of Fe3O4@SiO2@4-ABPT/Cu–Ni facilitated its separation from the reaction mixture, promoting its reuse for several times with no significant loss in its catalytic activity or performance.

Abstract Background Medical errors, unsatisfactory outcomes, or treatment complications often prompt patient complaints about healthcare providers. In response, physicians may adopt defensive practices to mitigate objections, avoid complaints, and navigate lengthy trial processes or other potential threats. However, such defensive medicine (DM) practices can carry risks, including potential harm to patients and the imposition of unnecessary costs on both patients and the healthcare system. Moreover, these practices may run counter to accepted ethical standards in medicine. Methods This qualitative study involved conducting semi-structured interviews with 43 physicians, among whom 38 were faculty members at medical universities, 42 had administrative experience at various levels of the health system, and 23 had previously served as health system policymakers. On average, the participants had approximately 23.5 years of clinical experience. The selection of participants was based on purposive sampling. Data collection through interviews continued until data saturation was achieved. Results Based on the findings, DM manifests in both positive and negative forms, illustrated by instances like ordering unnecessary lab tests, imaging, or consultations, reluctance to admit high-risk patients, and avoiding high-risk procedures. The study participants identified a range of underlying and contextual factors contributing to DM, encompassing organizational-managerial, social, personal, and factors inherent to the nature of defensive medical practices. The results also highlight proposed strategies to address and prevent DM, which can be grouped into organizational-managerial, social, and those focused on modifying the medical complaints management system. Conclusion DM is a multifaceted and significant phenomenon that necessitates a comprehensive understanding of its various aspects, including interconnected and complex structures and underlying and contextual factors. While the results of this study offer a solid foundation for informing policy decisions within the healthcare system and include some explanatory policy suggestions, we encourage policymakers to complement the findings of this study with other available evidence to address any potential limitations and to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the policymaking process related to DM.

Skin is the largest protective tissue of the body and is at risk of damage. Hence, the design and development of wound dressing materials is key for tissue repair and regeneration. Although silk fibroin is a known biopolymer in tissue engineering, its degradation rate is not correlated with wound closure rate. To address this disadvantage, we mimicked the hierarchical structure of skin and also provided antibacterial properties; a hydrogel with globular structure consisting of silk fibroin, pluronic F127, and curcumin was developed. In this regard, the effect of pluronic and curcumin on the structural and mechanical properties of the hydrogel was studied. The results showed that curcumin affected the particle size, crystallinity, and ultimate elongation of the hydrogels. In vitro assays confirmed that the hydrogel containing curcumin is not cytotoxic while the diffused curcumin and pluronic provided a considerable bactericidal property against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Interestingly, presence of pluronic caused more than a 99% reduction in planktonic and adherent bacteria in the curcumin-free hydrogel groups. Moreover, curcumin improved this number further and inhibited bacteria adhesion to prevent biofilm formation. Overall, the developed hydrogel showed the potential to be used for skin tissue regeneration.

The present study attempted to explore the effects of employing shadowing and tracking on Iranian EFL learners' speaking fluency. From among 112 intermediate Iranian EFL learners at Jahad Danesheshgahi Language Institute in Isfahan, Iran, 60 were selected in the wake of administering the Preliminary English Test and divided into four groups: shadowing group (SG), tracking group (TG), shadowing and tracking group (STG), and control group (CG). The data elicitation techniques employed as the pre-test and post-test were semi-structured interviews in which learners answered several questions. Fluency scores were derived out of the formula suggested by Yuan and Ellis (2003). One-way between-groups ANOVA and paired samples t test were used to make between-groups and within-group comparisons and to discern whether the participants in each group could gain an advantage from their specific methods of instruction. The analysis of the obtained data via SPSS indicated that (a) the successful performance of the participants in the experimental groups was shown to be attributable to using shadowing and tracking techniques as tools for improving oral fluency, and that (b) among these experimental groups, STG was shown to be significantly better than the SG, which in turn was significantly better than TG.

Introduction: The importance of sharing economy in changing the behavior of consumers and business models and especially the emergence of platform businesses has caused new concepts such as platform economy, decentralization of platforms and its relationship with user perceptions and behaviors to be noticed by researchers. Fully centralized management of digital platforms has forced users - on both supply and demand sides – to circumvent reactions such as system resistance by circumventing the system, play the system or select alternative options– to reduce the effect of platform control and achieving their desired results. Despite the fact that the main claim of the businesses of the sharing economy has been the elimination of intermediaries on the demand side and the creation of free spaces on the supply side, we see it every day new intermediation and the comprehensive domination of platforms in the form of algorithmic management and Gig economics. It seems that using the power of users in proportion to their level of readiness to implement the affordances of the platform and their participation in decisions related to their requested service, not only can lead to increased use, but also it can be as a competitive advantage for digital age businesses. In this article, with the help of Theory of Planned Behavior, the effect of platform decentralized organizing on the performance of such businesses is investigated. Therefore, the aim of this research is to investigate the effect of decentralization of platform affordances on the willingness to use internet taxi and to identify the behavioral pattern of internet taxi passengers in decentralized conditions. Methodology: This research is applied in terms of purpose and descriptive in terms of data collection, correlation type and based on structural equation model. The target population of the research was internet taxi users and the non-random sampling method was available and A statistical sample of 481 ride-hailing users in Iran was used to test the hypotheses; Questionnaires were used to collect data The method of data analysis is structural equation modeling with partial least squares approach and using SmartPLS6/2 and SPSS software. Validity (content and structure) and reliability (factor load coefficients, Cronbach's alpha and combined reliability) of the research questionnaire were confirmed. And the general model of this research has a very strong fit and is approved. Results and Discussion: According to the research results, The findings of this research showed that mental norms, perceived behavioral control and attitude have a positive and significant effect on the intention to use a decentralized internet taxi and it was confirmed that the decentralization of affordances of an internet taxi increases the positive attitude of users and the intention to use. . In other words, the relationships among main structs (: attitud, subjective norms and perceived behavioral control) were positive and meaningful, which was anticipated according to the theory of planned behavior. It has also been shown that the intention to use decentralized internet taxi among passengers is different based on gender, occupation, number of times of use per month and duration of using internet taxi. In addition, it was found that marital status, age, income and level of education do not affect the intention to use. In addition, it was found that marital status, age, income and level of education did not affect the intention to use significantly; it means Women tend to decentralize more than men. Among different occupational groups, housewives had the highest intention and the unemployed had the lowest intention. Conclusion: Platform business owners can prevent the occurrence of sometimes destructive behaviors of users, such as resisting the system or choosing alternative platforms, by decentralizing the organization of affordances, and increase the intentions to use ride-hailing application. It is also necessary for travelers to feel more empowered to make decisions about proposed travel options based on their demographic characteristics. For example, they can design and develop applications in such a way that female employee users feel that their power of choice is higher and they can choose the desired option with the knowledge of the data required for a desirable trip. With this approach, the users' attitude towards It is developed to applications and control their perception on applications. In addition, Internet taxi application service providers, if they wish to experience an increase in Internet taxi travel, need to understand the importance of subjective norms in the preliminary stage of adoption of decentralized Internet taxi applications, and need to know how to promote positive word-of-mouth with the help of strategies. Consider effective marketing.

Antibody-based radiopharmaceuticals are of increasing interest today in cancer imaging and radiotherapy. The cetuximab monoclonal antibody binds to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and thus provides therapeutic and diagnostic protocols against this receptor. Following purification and conjugation with freshly prepared DOTA-NHS, the cetuximab antibody was labeled with lutetium 177 and samarium chloride-153. Labeling efficiency and in vitro stability were measured using thin-layer chromatography. Cellular tests were performed to determine radioimmunoactivity in cancer cells. The results showed that the labeling efficiencies of 177Lu-DOTA-cetuximab and 153Sm-DOTA-cetuximab were more than 97±1% and 96±2%, respectively. Also, the in vitro stability of the labeled products in fresh human serum after 96 hours was 83± 22% and 78%, respectively. Immunoreactivity was 91% for 177Lu-DOTA-cetuximab and 66±1% for 153Sm-DOTA-cetuximab. With different intensities based on time and beta energy, both products inhibited the growth of HT29 colon cancer cells. The results showed that the immunoconjugate complexes of 177Lu-DOTA-cetuximab and 153Sm-DOTA-cetuximab can be considered a novel radiopharmaceutical for cancer radioimmunotherapy.

Background: Considering the high prevalence of COVID-19 in Iran, it is necessary to allocate health resources in response to this pandemic. Due to limitations in the number of hospital beds, analysis of the length of hospital stay in COVID-19 patients may be helpful for decision-making.Methods: This retrospective cohort study (survival study) was conducted through a follow-up of 1465 COVID-19 patients in Yazd Province, Iran. Demographic, diagnostic, and clinical data were collected using the COVID-19 data dashboard of Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences. The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression were used to calculate the survival probability and hazard ratio; the log-rank test was applied to compare survival function according to qualitative variables.Results: The median and mean survival time was 25 days (95% CI: 19.10-30.89 days) and 28.38 days (95% CI: 25.6-31.16 days), respectively. The Survival probability for one week, two weeks, three weeks, four weeks, five weeks, six weeks, and seven weeks and more was 92%, 76%, 57%, 48%, 45%, 33%, and 20%, respectively. There was a significant relationship between survival time and age categories, CT scan results, history of chronic pulmonary disease, history of diabetes, history of cardiovascular disease, and disease severity (P

Abstract Background Beta-Thalassemia is the most common human inherited disease, directly impacting patients’ physical and psychosocial aspects. The present study evaluated oral health status, oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL), and their correlation in Thalassemia Major patients. Methods Two hundred Thalassemia Major patients aged 12–49 participated in this cross-sectional study. Subjects were selected among the patients referred to the Faculty of Dentistry of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences using simple sampling. Oral Health Impact Profile 14 (OHIP 14) was used to assess OHRQoL. The decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) index was used as an oral health index. SPSS 22 was used for analysis, using T and Pearson Correlation tests. Results 53% of participants were female, and 47% were male. The mean OHIP-14 score (± SD) was 13.20 (± 7.01). The mean DMFT score was 9.54 (± 5.72). DMFT and total OHIP 14 scores correlated significantly (p

Abstract Background Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is considered as one of the effective factors in the growth of breast cancer, and anti-leukemia inhibitory factor antibody is considered as one of the treatment options for this type of cancer. Methods Mice models of breast cancer were made with 4T1 cell line and were randomly divided into four groups. The first group included the mice that received anti-LIF (Anti LIF group). The mice in the second group received anti-LIF and doxorubicin (Anti LIF & DOX). The mice in the third group received only doxorubicin (DOX). Finally, the mice in the fourth group did not receive any intervention. 22 days after tumor induction, some of the mice were killed, and their tumor tissues, lymph nodes, and spleens were separated for evaluating P53, Caspase-3, TIM-3, LAG-3, CTLA-4, and PD-1 genes expression. The percentage of regulatory T cells and level of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) were evaluated. The rest of the mice were kept to check the tumor size and their survival rate. Results The proposed intervention did not have any significant effect on the tumor growth and the survival rate. However, the expression of P53 gene and Caspase-3 in the tumor tissue of the Anti LIF group had a significant enhancement. In tumor tissues and lymph nodes, the expression of T-bet, PD-1, TIM-3, and LAG-3 genes in the Anti LIF group showed a significant increase. There was no significant difference between groups in the percentage of regulatory T cells and level of IFN-γ and TGF-β. Conclusions The proposed interventions were able to have a direct effect on tumors, but no significant effect was observed on the immune system.

This study aimed to explore potential relationships between dietary patterns aligned with cold or hot temperaments and cardiovascular parameters among healthy individuals. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in 2020 with 65 healthy volunteers. Participants were categorized into two groups, specifically as hot or cold temperaments. In the initial phase, we measured body temperature, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and conducted the Heart Rate Variability (HRV) test. Subsequently, participants received a three-day diet plan with a similar nature to their body temperament (second phase). The same measurements were repeated after three days. Following this, participants returned to a normal daily diet for three days. In the third phase, they received a diet plan of the opposite nature to their temperament for another three days, and the same battery of tests was conducted at the study's conclusion. In both the cold temperament group during the second phase and the hot temperament group during the third phase, mean body temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower than in other phases (P < 0.05). Additionally, HRV indexes, including RMSSD, SDNNInd, and QT, were significantly higher during the second phase for the cold temperament group and the third phase for the hot temperament group compared to other phases (P < 0.05). Irrespective of individual body temperament, the consumption of a cold-natured diet led to a significant decrease in mean body temperature, heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This effect may be attributed to the activation of the parasympathetic nervous system.

Fear is a vital defense mechanism to potential threats, which is influenced by the cerebellum. While the cerebellum’s role in acquiring fear responses is well understood, limited knowledge exists about its involvement in fear extinction. In this study, we investigated the effects of cerebellar theta band transcranial alternating current stimulation (ctACS) administered during fear extinction training, based on previous evidence from animal studies suggesting a role of cerebellar theta oscillations in associative memory formation. To this end, thirty-seven healthy right-handed male participants were recruited for a two-day differential fear renewal paradigm. On day 1, they underwent acquisition training in context A followed by extinction training in context B. On day 2, recall was tested in contexts A and B. One group of participants received ctACS in the theta band (6 Hz) during extinction training. The other group received sham ctACS. Although both groups demonstrated the ability to recall previously learned fear and distinguish between low and high threat stimuli, no significant differences were observed between the ctACS and sham groups, indicating that ctACS at this theta frequency range did not impact extinction and recall of previously acquired fear in this study. Nevertheless, using ctACS could still be useful in future research, including brain imaging studies, to better understand how the cerebellum is involved in fear and extinction processes.

Background & Aim: Micronutrients deficiency is one of the most common health problems among adolescents. Theory based educational interventions which address learners' preferences are among the solutions for the matter in hand. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the Transtheoretical model (TTM) based educational package on vitamin intake in female adolescents in Tehran. Methods & Materials: A randomized community trial was applied. Study samples were consisted of 80 female students from two middle schools of Tehran, district 17th. They were selected using a cluster-random sampling method and were randomly assigned to the intervention (n=40) and control groups (n=40). The intervention group received a TTM-based educational package. Changes in vitamin intake were assessed using standard food frequency & 24-recall questionnaires. Results: Based on pre-test results, intake of vitamin B2, B6, B9, B12, and C were lower than Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) in both groups. Based on the post-test data, a significant increase occurred in the mean score of vitamin intake in the intervention group comparing with the control group; and also with the intervention group at pretest (P

Background & Aim: Diet adherence is a major issue in cardiovascular diseases control. Patient education could be a valuable strategy for promoting diet adherence. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of computer-assisted vs. face to face education on dietary adherence among patients with myocardial infarction. Methods & Materials: In this experimental study, 117 patients with the first acute myocardial infarction were selected via a convenience sampling. The participants were randomly allocated into three groups. Patients in the face to face group (n=43) received an education about diet in two two-day sessions. The computer-assisted education group (n=33) received the same educational plan provided by computer software containing audio, text, images and animations at home. The control group (n=41) received their usual care. Adherence to dietary regimen was assessed three months after the educations. Results: There were not significant association between the three groups in terms of demographic characteristics and disease history. There were no significant different in unhealthy diet adherence between the three groups. There were not significant differences in healthy diet between the computer-assisted and face to face education groups. The computer-assisted education group had significantly better adherence with the consumed amount of fats (P=0.01), useful meat substitutes (P=0.01), and other foods (P=0.012) than the control group. In addition, the face to face education group had significantly greater adherence scores with consuming meat substitutes (P=0.04), and fats (P=0.04) than the control group. Conclusion: Both computer-assisted and face to face educational strategies had positive effects on improving adherence following myocardial infarction.

Abstract Background Racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, survival and mortality are well documented; but few studies have reported on disparities in breast cancer treatment. This paper compares the treatment received by breast cancer patients in British Columbia (BC) for three ethnic groups and three time periods. Values for breast cancer treatments received in the BC general population are provided for reference. Methods Information on patients, tumour characteristics and treatment was obtained from BC Cancer Registry (BCCR) and BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) records. Treatment among ethnic groups was analyzed by stage at diagnosis and time period at diagnosis. Differences among the three ethnic groups were tested using chi-square tests, Fisher exact tests and a multivariate logistic model. Results There was no significant difference in overall surgery use for stage I and II disease between the ethnic groups, however there were significant differences when surgery with and without radiation were considered separately. These differences did not change significantly with time. Treatment with chemotherapy and hormone therapy did not differ among the minority groups. Conclusion The description of treatment differences is the first step to guiding interventions that reduce ethnic disparities. Specific studies need to examine reasons for the observed differences and the influence of culture and beliefs.

Urban open spaces have great potential for all kinds of urban activities, and one of the important functions of these spaces is leisure time, which has become more important in recent decades due to the rapid growth of urbanization and the revolution that has occurred in the lifestyle of citizens. Dealing with the issue of quality in urban open spaces for spending leisure time, and analyzing and identifying the most important indicators affecting the quality of these spaces can be especially important for managers and urban planners. Therefore, introducing a process that can provide a proper analysis and evaluation of urban open spaces and factors affecting their quality is important and is one of the goals of this research. This research has been carried out using a descriptive-analytical method with a quantitative-qualitative approach and as a case study. In this research, using theoretical foundations, 45 indicators of quality in urban open spaces were introduced (as an evaluation checklist) and then, using the exploratory walking technique, the mentioned indicators were evaluated in selected open spaces of Arak city. The necessary data has been collected. Then, by using a factor analysis structural measurement model, the influence coefficient of each indicator has been calculated as the weight of the criteria. And then, using the weight of each index and TOPSIS technique, the studied open spaces have been compared and ranked. In this way, a practical process for analyzing and evaluating the quality of urban open spaces for leisure time has been introduced. Based on the results, it was determined that the indicators "the existence of areas and facilities for games and excitement for all ages" and "the existence and conditions of cozy and secluded spaces and the facilities for creating climatic comfort" in improving the quality of urban open spaces for spending leisure time, are the most effective indexers. Also, among the studied open spaces in Arak city, the "Laaleh Amusement Park" and " Shohadaye Gomnaam Park" have won the first and second places, respectively, for spending leisure time.

In the current work, the graphene oxide was synthesized through Hummer’s method and modified with nickel hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles. The product was characterized by a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The characterization results confirm the successful synthesis of graphene oxide and the immobilization of nanoparticles on it. The obtained graphene oxide-nickel hexacyanoferrate (GO-NiHCF) was applied for the removal of Sr(II) from the aqueous media in the batch method. The influence of effective factors such as pH, time, and initial concentration of strontium on adsorption was studied. The pH study showed that Sr(II) uptake increases in the pH range of 1-7 and the uptake reduces slightly or remains constant at higher pH values. The adsorption capacity under optimum conditions was obtained at about 140 mg g-1 adsorbent. The kinetic data of Sr(II) sorption by GO-NiHCF were investigated by pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models. The results showed that the kinetic data fitted well to the pseudo-second-order rate model. The equilibrium data suggest the data are relatively fitted well to the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Therefore, it can be understood that adsorbents’ dispersion on graphene oxide sheets or interlayers is homogenous. The separation factor(RL) value extracted from the Langmuir curve was estimated as 0

Ali Ibn e- Ibrahim Alavi Javvani (died in the early 4th century) is of the Shiite historians and the author of the books of Akhbar Sahib Fakh and Yahya Ibn e- Abdullah. In his works, he tried to consider the uprising of prominent Alavi and Zaidi individuals. These books have been lost, but parts of them have been preserved through the book of Maqatil al-Talebiyyin and found their way into other historical texts. The ambiguities that existed about the personality, scientific life, historiographical method and sources cited by Javvani and his goals for writing these works made a coherent research in this field inevitable. The result of the research indicates that Javvani was one of the historians and writers of the Shia Companions, and his most important motivation in writing the death of the Abi Talib family, especially the historical news of Sahib Fakh and Yahya Ibn e- Abdullah, was introducing their spiritual, political, and social face in the political and social conditions of his era as well as the corruption of the government and reemphasizing the fight against oppression until martyrdom on the one hand, and on the other hand, the incitement of Zaidi and Alawites who had the idea of an armed uprising.

Background and Aim: Today, natural compounds such as peptides and probiotics can be mentioned as a supplement to the treatment of diseases such as cancer. These compounds may be effective in preventing the progression or treatment of cancer by affecting some molecular pathways including inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of D-peptide-B and B.bifidum probiotic lysate on the expression of TNF-α and IL-1 genes in gastric cancer cells of AGS cell line. Materials and Methods: In this study, AGS and HEK cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated with different concentrations of D-peptide-B and B.bifidum lysate and were incubated for 24 hours. The cell viability was checked by MTT. For molecular investigations, after RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis, the relative expression of TNF-α and IL-1 genes was evaluated using Real time PCR, and the data were analyzed using statistical methods One-way ANOVA. Results: The MTT results indicated that the AGS cancer cells’ survival rate decreased after treatment with dipeptide-B and lysate of B.bifidum as compared to HEK control cells. Furthermore, the study found that the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-1 genes in gastric cancer cells were significantly higher after treatment with D-Peptide-B, bacterial lysate, or both, when compared to normal HEK cells (P≤0.05). Specifically, the IL-1 gene expression increased by 300% (4 times) for peptide treatment, 100% (2 times) for bacterial treatment, and 650% (7.5 times) for combined treatment. Similarly, the TNF-α gene expression increased by 350% for peptide treatment, 100% for bacterial treatment, and 520% for combined treatment. These results suggest that these compounds may have induced cell death in cancer cells by affecting other molecular pathways. Conclusion: Considering that D-peptide-B and B.bifidum lysate had no significant toxicity on normal cells and caused a significant decrease in the survival of cancer cells and this toxicity was dose dependent, therefore, consideration might be given to these natural compounds in treatment of gastric cancer.

Banks and other credit institutions can face crises during their operations. The institution of temporary administration or conservatorship is one of the methods of restructuring banks and other credit institutions in times of crisis. The purpose of this study is to identify, legal description and explain the territory of temporary administration. Finally, while defining, legalizing and explaining the scope of this institution, we reached the following conclusions: First, in the event of several circumstances, such as the suspension of a bank or credit institution, the regulator, such as the central bank, either directly takes over the management of the bank or the credit institution or delegates it to another person. Secondly, temporary administration is basically a kind of imposed and compulsory agreement arising from the law and public order. Thirdly, not only with banks, it is possible to implement the conservatorship for other credit institutions, such as credit cooperatives, leasing companies, exchange offices, Gharz al-Hasna funds and even insurance companies, Rather, the scope of the temporary administration is not limited to the management of deposits by the guarantor bank or credit institution, and for various reasons, has a wider scope, and the comprehensive administration covers all property and all matters. This analytical view of the issue can provide approaches to the legislature and the courts in the discussion of the temporary administration of a credit institution by another credit institution and fill its gaps in the Iranian banking legal system.

Abstract Migration of Ascaris lumbricoides through the papilla of Vater in humans, and entry into the biliary tree, is well‐recognised. Ascaris suum and Toxocara vitulorum have been recovered from the liver of swine and buffalo. We necropsied a Persian Kurdish filly at age 6 months, weighing ∼100 kg. Death evidently was caused by oleander (Nerium oleander) intoxication. An 8‐cm adult male Parascaris was found at the lobar‐left hepatic bile duct junction. We suggest that the nematode entered anteriorly into the hepatic tree, via the duodenum, major duodenal papilla, bile duct, left hepatic duct and finally the lobar duct. Considering the brief 4‐h elapsed time between death and necropsy, and the 18‐cm distance from the major duodenal papilla to the location of the parasite, we conclude that entry into the biliary tree likely occurred ante‐mortem. We advise consideration of Parascaris infection in differential diagnosis of equine hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction.

The aim of this study is to model a relationship between the amount of the suspended sediment load by considering the physiographic characteristics of the Lake Urmia watershed. For this purpose, the information from different stations was used to develop the sediment estimation models. Ten physiographic characteristics were used as input parameters in the simulation process. The M5 model tree was used to select the most important features. The results showed that the four factors of annual discharge, average annual rainfall, form factor and the average elevation of the watershed were the most important parameters, and the multilinear regression models were created based on these factors. Furthermore, it was concluded that the annual discharge was the most influential parameter. Then, the stations were divided into two homogeneous classes based on the selected features. To improve the efficiency of the M5 model, the non-stationary rainfall and runoff signals were decomposed into sub-signals by the wavelet transform (WT). By this technique, the available trends of the main raw signals were eliminated. Finally, the models were developed by multilinear regressions. The model using all four factors had the best performance (DC = 0.93, RMSE = 0.03, ME = 0.05 and RE = 0.15). HIGHLIGHTS This study links the physiographic characteristics of the watershed to M5 sediment estimation.; M5 model tree selects the most important features of the watershed.; Wavelet transform decomposes the raw main signals into several sub-signals and improve the model performance.;