Search

In this study, the relationship between membership in social networks and marital satisfaction has been investigated. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between membership in social networks and marital satisfaction among married women and men in Bafgh city. The research method is descriptive correlational. The statistical population includes all members and non-members in social networks. According to the statistical population, using a single-cluster sampling method, from each neighborhood of the city, 20 individuals were randomly selected, totally 100 (n = 53 non-members, 47 non-members, 62 women and 38 men (from couples 25 to 40 years old) participated in this study. In this research, a researcher made questionnaire on virtual networks and marital satisfaction (ENRICH 1986) has been used. To test the hypothesis of the research, the correlation and t-test were used to determine the sufficiency of membership in social networks. To determine job satisfaction, a coefficient of determination was used; the results of this study indicate that the marital satisfaction of members in social networks Fewer non-members in these networks and membership in social networks will reduce marital satisfaction in the long run. Therefore, the assumptions of the research are confirmed.

Objective: The ongoing outbreak of the respiratory disease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is currently presenting a major global health threat. This pandemic is unprecedented in recent human history. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between cycle quantitation (Cq) and laboratory parameters in COVID‐19 patients, aiming to determine if Cq levels can provide valuable insights into the COVID‐19 disease. Methods: This study involved 234 participants who were divided into case and control groups. Real‐time PCR tests were used to diagnose COVID‐19 cases in the study participants. Blood tests, including complete blood count, C‐reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D‐dimer, IgG, and IgM, were also conducted. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22 software. Results: The findings showed that COVID‐19‐positive cases had significantly higher levels of the neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (PLR), D‐dimer, ESR, CRP, and LDH compared to normal cases. Additionally, the case group had significantly lower lymphocyte and platelet counts. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between Cq levels and lymphocyte count (r =.124, p =.014). Conversely, there was a statistically significant inverse correlation between Cq levels and NLR (r = −.208, p =.017). Furthermore, the evaluation of hematological, inflammatory, and biochemical indexes in COVID‐19 patients using the receiver‐operating characteristics curve demonstrated statistically appropriate sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: Our outcomes indicated a significant association between Cq levels and PLR, NLR, D‐dimer, CRP, and ESR in COVID‐19 patients. Consequently, including the report of laboratory parameters alongside Cq values offers a promising prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extramarital Infidelity (EMI) variants, such as sexual and emotional infidelities, are increasing in marriages. The literature indicates that spiritual and cognitive-behavioral techniques reduce marital conflicts, increase marital satisfaction and commitment, and improve couples’ compatibility and quality of life. To the best of our knowledge, little is known about which therapies can more effectively prevent and address this behavior. In addition, no therapeutic approach is effective for all clients. Given the limitations of each approach, various studies have shown that eclectic approaches can provide a better point of view for addressing patient-specific problems. This literature review discussed the effectiveness of spiritual counseling enhanced with cognitive-behavioral techniques in addressing EMI. The findings suggest that the spiritual realm, as an aid for coping with the desire for extramarital relationships reinforced with cognitive-behavioral techniques, maybe a suitable method to approach this complicated phenomenon. There is a need to address the direct and indirect ways in which spiritual health affects EMI in both personal and social life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reinforced concrete structures need to be strengthened and retrofitted for various reasons, including errors during design and/or construction, and in most cases reinforcement of structural elements is much more economical than rebuilding the structure. Using HPFRCC with tensile stiffening behaviour has been developed to reinforce the concrete structures over the recent few years. In this paper, the usage possibility of HPFRCC for reinforcing two-way reinforced concrete slabs has been studied. .A total of five two-way slabs were constructed and tested to reach the rupture stage , that one of not reinforced slabs as control slab, and the rest of the slabs were reinforced in various forms. The reinforcements were carried out in two ways, once by installing veneer in the tensile area and once by installing veneer in both tensile area and compression area each time with different percentages of the fibres. The behaviour of bending and cracking, yielding and rupture of the laboratory samples were evaluated. The results revealed that the installation of pre-fabricated laminates of HPFRCC significantly improved the bending performance of reinforced slabs, so that the deformability, energy absorbance value, resistance to cracking and initial hardness of the slabs was increased and the crack width decreased. Therefore, they can be used to reinforce the weak slabs.

Background: The incidence of foodborne infectious diseases has been stable and even increased in many countries. Improper use of antibiotics due to the prevalence of microbial diseases has caused drug resistance. So nanotechnology has many attractive applications in the food industry, such as food preservation and food quality control. By the reason, the absorptive and antibacterial features of copper oxide nanoparticles combining with magnesium oxide nanoparticles in killing the bacteria were investigated. Materials and Methods: The antibacterial activities of CuO NP in combination with MgO NP against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus in culture media and fruit juice (mango, pomegranate, and peach) by agar diffusion and colony count method were explored. Electron microscopy was used to characterize the morphological characteristics of the bacteria tested after treatment with CuO and MgO NPs. Results: The results of one-way ANOVA by 95% confidence showed that CuO and MgO NPs have antimicrobial activity on E. coli and S. aureus. An effect of synergism was observed when combining CuO and MgO NP. Electron microscopy photographs showed that treatment with the combination of MgO and CuO caused damage to the cell membrane. As a result, the leakage of intracellular contents kills the bacteria. Conclusion: The combination of CuO and MgO nanoparticles can successfully control the growth of E. coli and S. aureus in liquid and juice medium. So, this combination treatment can reduce the required amount of CuO and MgO nanoparticles during the pathogen control process in the food industry.

Abstract Background Apicomplexan parasites of the genus Cryptosporidium infect a wide range of animal species as well as humans. Cryptosporidium spp. can cause life threatening diarrhea especially in young animals, children, immunocompromised patients and malnourished individuals. Asymptomatic cryptosporidial infections in animals can also occur, making these animals potential reservoirs of infection. Methods In the present study, a molecular survey of Cryptosporidium spp. in ruminants that were slaughtered for human consumption in Yazd Province, located in central Iran was conducted. Faeces were collected per-rectum from 484 animals including 192 cattle, 192 sheep and 100 goats. DNA was extracted from all samples and screened for Cryptosporidium by PCR amplification of the 18S rRNA gene. Positives were Sanger sequenced and further subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) locus. Results In total, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 22 animals: C. andersoni and C. bovis in seven and two cattle faecal samples, respectively, C. ubiquitum in five sheep, and C. xiaoi in six sheep and two goat samples, respectively. To our knowledge, this study provides for the first time, molecular information concerning Cryptosporidium species infecting goats in Iran, and is also the first report of C. ubiquitum and C. xiaoi from ruminants in Iran. Conclusion The presence of potentially zoonotic species of Cryptosporidium in ruminants in this region may suggest that livestock could potentially contribute to human cryptosporidiosis, in particular among farmers and slaughterhouse workers, in the area. Further molecular studies on local human populations are required to more accurately understand the epidemiology and transmission dynamics of Cryptosporidium spp. in this region.

Purpose: The Identification of Functional Ankle Instability (IdFAI) questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool to identify ankle instability, but this questionnaire is written in English and Persian speakers have difficulties in using it. Therefore, this study aimed to translate the IdFAI questionnaire in Persian and evaluate its validity and reliability. Methods: The present study is a non-experimental, analytical, and descriptive study. After translating the IdFAI questionnaire with a standard policy, it was given to 100 individuals with a history of at least 1 ankle sprain and 45 participants who had no history of an ankle sprain. The Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) was also distributed to the participants to examine the validity of IdFAI. After 1 week, a questionnaire was distributed among several participants to determine the repeatability of the test-retest of the Persian version of the questionnaire. After collecting the data, intraclass correlation, the Standard Error of Measurement (SEM), and the Cronbach alpha coefficient of the questionnaire were calculated in SPSS version 20. Results: The correlation of the IdFAI questionnaire with the CAIT was 0.71. The Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.88 showed an acceptable level for the reliability of the questionnaire. Also, the correlation coefficient of the test-retest was 0.95, indicating a high degree of repeatability of the Persian version of the questionnaire. The SEM was 2.35, and the factor analysis showed that the questionnaire’s items could be classified into three categories, with a maximum of 72.5% variance coverage. Conclusion: The Persian version of the IdFAI questionnaire has excellent reliability and validity in identifying Persian-speaking participants with functional ankle instability. This questionnaire can be used for people with ankle sprain injuries in future studies, clinical examinations, and evaluations.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence to show that TNF-α -308G>A polymorphism may be a risk factor for celiac disease, but the results are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: Thus, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis involving published studies up to January 2019 to elucidate the association. METHODS: To assess the effect of TNF-α -308G>A polymorphism on celiac disease susceptibility, we searched PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases to identify eligible studies, without restriction. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the susceptibility to celiac disease. RESULTS: A total of 11 studies with 1147 cases and 1774 controls were selected for this meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that TNF-α -308G>A polymorphism was associated with increased risk of celiac disease (A vs G: OR=2.077, 95% CI=1.468-2.939, P=≤0.001; AA vs GG: OR=8.512, 95% CI=3.740-19.373, P=≤0.001; AA+AG vs GG: OR=1.869, 95% CI=1.161-3.008, P=0.010; and AA+AG vs GG: OR=4.773, 95% CI=3.181-7.162, P≤0.001). Subgroup analysis by ethnicity also revealed significant association in Caucasians. In addition, there was a significant association between TNF-α -308G>A polymorphism and celiac disease risk in Italy, Spain and PCR-FRLP group studies. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis suggests that the TNF-α -308G>A polymorphism plays an important role in celiac disease susceptibility. However, our results are still needed to strengthen by further studies in different ethnicities and larger sample sizes.

Background and aims: Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a major health issue in many parts of Iran. Diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in a non-endemic area is not as simple as that in endemic foci. The management and treatment of this disease are global dilemmas. The purpose of this study was to identify Leishmania species isolated from human cutaneous leishmaniasis lesions in patients referred to health centers of Golestan province, Iran. Methods: Cutaneous leishmaniasis patients with suspected lesions were clinically examined. History of journey to the endemic areas of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and/or anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis and the characteristics of their lesion(s) were recorded. Diagnosis of the lesion was done by using direct smear microscopy and conventional polymerase chain reaction. Results: Out of 360 patients, 202 (57.4 %) were male and 158 (42.8 %) were female. A total of 360 samples were selected from different cities. The number of infected samples in the cities is as follows: Azad Shahr [3 (1.5%)], Aq Qala [11 (5.7%)], Ali Abad [4 (2.1%)], Bandar Turkmen [3 (1.5%)], Bandar Gaz [2 (1%)], Ramian [3 (1.5%)], Kalaleh [23 (12.1%)], Kord koy [1 (0.5%)], Galikesh [7 (3.7 %)], Gomishan [12 (3.6 %)], Gorgan [13 (6.8 %)], Gonbad Qabus [99 (52.1 %)], Marave Tappe [7 (3.6%)] and Minoodasht [2 (1%)]. In the molecular investigations, 186 (96.8%) samples were observed to acquire rural cutaneous leishmaniasis, 4 (2.1%) to acquire urban cutaneous leishmaniasis and 170 (47.2%) to be uninfected. Conclusion: Although history of visiting endemic areas is an important factor to be considered in diagnosis, parasitological confirmation is necessary for the initiation of treatment.

Halophiles produce stable enzymes under extreme conditions. The scant information about chitinolytic haloarchaea led us to conduct the present study in order to isolate and screen native halophilic archaea with chitinolytic activity and to optimize the enzyme production conditions. Among 500 haloarchaeal strains isolated from water samples from different hypersaline lakes of Iran, five strains showed chitinolytic activity. Based on biochemical, morphological and molecular analyses, we established that all five potent strains belonged to the genus Natrinema. Besides, observing chitinase function in culture media, through an additional molecular test the presence of the chitinase gene in chitinase-producing strains was also confirmed by PCR amplification. Compared with other potent strains, Natrinema sp. strain BS5 showed significant chitinase production. The production of chitinase in strain BS5 accompanied growth, started at the logarithmic phase and increased to its maximum level at the beginning of the stationary phase. Maximum chitinase production was obtained at 37˚C, pH 7.5, 3 M NaCl and 1% colloidal chitin. The strain BS5 showed 38%, 30%, 24% and 28% decreases in enzyme production at 40˚C, pH 8, 3.5 M NaCl and 0.5% substrate, respectively. This strain was able to produce the enzyme in NaCl 4 M and in the absence of MgCl2 and MgSO4. This study revealed the strong potential of the genus Natrinema to produce chitinase at high salt concentrations without Mg2+ requirement.

In this paper, we study the degrees of freedom (DoF) of a frequency-selective K-user interference channel in the presence of an instantaneous relay (IR) with multiple receiving and transmitting antennas. We investigate two scenarios based on the IR antennas’ cooperation ability. First, we assume that the IR receiving and transmitting antennas can coordinate with each other and that the transmitted signal of each transmitting antenna can depend on the received signals of all receiving antennas, and we derive lower and upper bounds for the sum DoF of this model. In an interference alignment scheme, we divide receivers into two groups called clean and dirty receivers. We design our scheme such that a part of the messages of clean receivers can be de-multiplexed at the IR. Thus, the IR can use these message streams for an interference cancellation at the clean receivers. Next, we consider an IR, the antennas of which do not have coordination with each other and where the transmitted signal of each transmitting antenna depends only on the received signal of its corresponding receiving antenna. We also derive lower and upper bounds for the sum DoF for this model of IR. We show that the achievable sum DoF decreases considerably compared with the coordinated case. In both of these models, our schemes achieve the maximum K sum DoF if the number of transmitting and receiving antennas is more than a finite threshold.

Introduction: Despite being less invasive than open surgery, transurethral tumor resection has notable side effects, particularly electrolyte disorders resulting from systemic absorption of the irrigation fluid. Several studies have examined the effects of changes in irrigation fluid; however, the findings remain contradictory, and uncertainty surrounds the extent of changes in serum electrolytes and osmolality. Therefore, this study aimed to determine these changes. Materials and Methods: This observational cross-sectional study included patients aged 20 to 80 years who underwent transurethral resection of bladder tumors (TURBT) at Bahanr Hospital's treatment center in 2022. Patients with tumor diagnoses were registered for analysis. Following the selection of suitable patients, pertinent data, including demographic parameters (age and gender), were extracted and recorded from patient files. Changes in serum electrolytes and osmolality before and after the procedure were then analyzed. Results: The study investigated 31 patients, consisting of 27 men and 4 women, with an average age of 61.84 ± 10.12 years. The duration of surgery exhibited a significant positive correlation with pre-surgery osmolality (r = -0.357, p < 0.05) and post-surgery osmolality (r = -0.428, p < 0.05), as well as with potassium levels in the department (r = 0.371, p < 0.05). Significant changes in serum levels of sodium, potassium, blood sugar, serum creatinine, and osmolality (p < 0.01) were observed during the hospitalization period. Notably, BUN changes during hospitalization were also significant. Furthermore, the average osmolality decreased from 286.82 before surgery to 284.56 after surgery (p < 0.001) and increased from 284.56 after surgery to 286.66 during recovery (p < 0.05) and 287.08 during the postoperative period (p < 0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between preoperative osmolality and recovery (p = 1), preoperative osmolality and the postoperative period (p = 1), and recovery and the postoperative period (p = 1). Conclusion: The significant increase in potassium and blood sugar levels during hospitalization, despite their inversely related nature, underscores the importance of further investigations to determine the underlying causes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]