Search

Abstract A mesoporous silica nanoparticle (MSN) coated with polydopamine (PDA) and loaded with umbelliprenin (UMB) was prepared and evaluated for its anti-cancer properties in this study. Then UMB-MSN-PDA was characterized by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and FTIR methods. UV-visible spectrometry was employed to study the percentage of encapsulation efficiency (EE%). UMB-MSN-PDA mediated cell cytotoxicity and their ability to induce programmed cell death were evaluated by MTT, real-time qPCR, flow cytometry, and AO/PI double staining methods. The size of UMB-MSN-PDA was 196.7 with a size distribution of 0.21 and a surface charge of −41.07 mV. The EE% was 91.92%. FESEM and TEM showed the spherical morphology of the UMB-MSN-PDA. FTIR also indicated the successful interaction of the UMB and MSN and PDA coating. The release study showed an initial 20% release during the first 24 h of the study and less than 40% during 168 h. The lower cytotoxicity of the UMB-MSN-PDA against HFF normal cells compared to MCF-7 carcinoma cells suggested the safety of formulation on normal cells and tissues. The induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was indicated by the upregulation of P53, caspase 8, and caspase 9 genes, enhanced Sub-G1 phase cells, and the AO/PI fluorescent staining. As a result of these studies, it may be feasible to conduct preclinical studies shortly to evaluate the formulation for its potential use in cancer treatment.

Abstract Background MicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are highly conserved non-coding RNAs with a short length (18–24 nucleotides) that directly bind to a complementary sequence within 3′-untranslated regions of their target mRNAs and regulate gene expression, post-transcriptionally. They play crucial roles in diverse biological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. In the context of cancer, miRNAs are key regulators of growth, angiogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Main body This review primarily focuses on miR-939 and its expanding roles and target genes in cancer pathogenesis. It compiles findings from various investigations. MiRNAs, due to their dysregulated expression in tumor environments, hold potential as cancer biomarkers. Several studies have highlighted the dysregulation of miR-939 expression in human cancers. Conclusion Our study highlights the potential of miR-939 as a valuable target in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. The aberrant expression of miR-939, along with other miRNAs, underscores their significance in advancing our understanding of cancer biology and their promise in personalized cancer care.

Abstract Background Oxidative stress after ischemic stroke contribute to neuronal cell injury. Unhealthy and unbalanced dietary patterns can increase the risk of several diseases, including stroke and cardiometabolic ones. However, the association between dietary total antioxidant capacity (DTAC) of antioxidant and stroke is controversial. Our study aimed to establish a correlation between DTAC and its impact on the occurrence of stroke. Methods This nested case–control study included 79 stroke cases and 158 healthy controls. We used data from the Fasa Adults Cohort Study (FACS) comprising 10,035 individuals at baseline. To assess the nutritional status of each individual, a 125-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) has been used to evaluate their dietary habits and intakes over the past year. DTAC was calculated using the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) international databases. The stroke was confirmed by an experienced neurologist using standard imaging methods. Conditional logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between DTAC and stroke. Results The assessment of DTAC revealed that there was no statistically significant distinction between cases (mean ± SD: 5.31 ± 2.65) and controls (5.16 ± 2.80) with a p-value of 0.95. Even after adjusting for the potentially important confounding factors such as age, sex, event time, energy intake, smoking, hypertension, and diabetes, the association remains non-significant (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.94, 1.20, p-value = 0.33). Conclusions Our results did not confirm a significant link between DTAC and stroke risk. These findings emphasize the intricate interplay of factors influencing stroke risk and highlight the need for further research to unravel these relationships more comprehensively.

Abstract This paper proposes a forward layer-wise learning algorithm for CNNs in classification problems. The algorithm utilizes the Separation Index (SI) as a supervised complexity measure to evaluate and train each layer in a forward manner. The proposed method explains that gradually increasing the SI through layers reduces the input data’s uncertainties and disturbances, achieving a better feature space representation. Hence, by approximating the SI with a variant of local triplet loss at each layer, a gradient-based learning algorithm is suggested to maximize it. Inspired by the NGRAD (Neural Gradient Representation by Activity Differences) hypothesis, the proposed algorithm operates in a forward manner without explicit error information from the last layer. The algorithm’s performance is evaluated on image classification tasks using VGG16, VGG19, AlexNet, and LeNet architectures with CIFAR-10, CIFAR-100, Raabin-WBC, and Fashion-MNIST datasets. Additionally, the experiments are applied to text classification tasks using the DBPedia and AG’s News datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed layer-wise learning algorithm outperforms state-of-the-art methods in accuracy and time complexity.

Abstract Background Nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems have received much attention over the past decade. In the present study, we synthesized Methyl Urolithin A-loaded solid lipid nanoparticles decorated with the folic acid-linked chitosan layer called MuSCF-NPs and investigated their effects on cancer cells. Methods MuSCF-NPs were prepared using a high-pressure homogenization method and characterized using FTIR, FESEM, DLS, and zeta potential methods. Drug encapsulation was assessed by spectrophotometry and its cytotoxic effect on various cancer cells (MDA-MB231, MCF-7, PANC, AGS, and HepG2) by the MTT method. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the ABTS and DPPH methods, followed by expression of genes involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis by qPCR and flow cytometry. Results The results showed the formation of monodisperse and stable round nanoparticles with a size of 84.8 nm. The drug loading efficiency in MuSCF-NPs was reported to be 88.6%. MuSCF-NPs exhibited selective cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 cells (IC50 = 40 μg/mL). Molecular analysis showed a significant increase in the expression of Caspases 3, 8, and 9, indicating that apoptosis was occurring in the treated cells. Moreover, flow cytometry results showed that the treated cells were arrested in his SubG1 phase, confirming the pro-apoptotic effect of the nanoparticles. The results indicate a high antioxidant effect of the nanoparticles with IC50 values ​​of 45 μg/mL and 1500 μg/mL against ABTS and DPPH, respectively. The reduction of catalase gene expression confirmed the pro-oxidant effect of nanoparticles in cancer cells treated at concentrations of 20 and 40 μg/mL. Conclusions Therefore, our findings suggest that the MuSCF-NPs are suitable candidates, especially for breast cancer preclinical studies.

Abstract The current study aimed to evaluate Y chromosome haplotypes obtained from 1353 unrelated Iranian males using the AmpFlSTRTM YfilerTM kit; 1353 out of the 1353 identified haplotypes were unique. The haplotype diversity (HD) and discriminating capacity (DC) values were 1.00000 and 0.997, respectively. Analysis of genetic distance was performed using molecular variance (AMOVA) and multidimensional scaling plots (MDS), revealing a statistically significant difference between the study population and previous data reported for other Iranian populations and other neighboring countries. The present findings are likely to be useful for forensic casework analyses and kinship investigations.

The present study sought to investigate factors influencing Iranian EFL teachers' adoption of Web 2.0 technologies in light of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) and technological pedagogical content knowledge (TPACK) theoretical frameworks. A hypothesized structural model consisting of seven pertinent constructs based on UTAUT and TPACK was proposed. The study composed a cohort of 160 EFL teachers from private language institutes, who completed a questionnaire designed to collect data on acceptance of Web 2.0. Data analysis was performed to test the proposed model via structural equation modeling. Findings of the study indicated that performance expectancy (PE) and social influence (SI) had positive and direct influences on behavioral intention (BI) to use Web 2.0 technologies, while effort expectancy (EE) and TPACK did not affect BI significantly. Facilitating conditions (FC) and BI had positive and direct effects on use behavior (UB). Moreover, TPACK influenced PE and EE significantly. The current study moves our understanding of technology acceptance one step further by considering the factors influencing EFL teachers' adoption of Web 2.0 in Iran.

Virtual learning, in particular, has been defined as any system of education and instruction that brings together participants who are separated by geographical distances or time. Notably, in virtual learning environment interactive telecommunications systems are utilized to connect learners, resources, and instructors. Accordingly, the present study sought to investigate the significant effect of virtual teaching on improving reading comprehension of undergraduate EFL university students. To this end, from the population of students majoring in English translation, at Islamic Azad University, Isfahan, Iran, one control group, one virtual class, and one blended group were selected, each consisting of thirty participants. Subsequently, the virtual group was exposed to web-based technologies throughout the entire term while the students in the control group were taught through traditional method. Moreover, the instructor in the blended group used both traditional and innovative methods. The results of the t- test revealed that the group which was taught through web-based technologies during the term progressed substantially in comparison with the other two groups. Moreover, there appeared to be a significant difference between the pretest and posttest in the virtual group. Evidently, the results of the present study may have practical implications for EFL teachers, online instructors, distance education programmers, materials developers, and syllable designers.

Introduction: Numerous clinical trials have investigated the effects of fenugreek, a traditional herbal medicine, on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the results from these studies have been inconsistent. Therefore, we aimed to perform a meta-analysis on the effects of fenugreek supplementation on weight, body mass index (BMI), lipid profile, and glycemic indices in patients with T2DM. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases to identify clinical trial studies until October 2023. The data were analyzed using a random-effects model and presented as the weighted mean difference (WMD) along with the associated 95 % confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 19 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results indicated a significant impact of fenugreek supplementation on lowering fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (WMD: 20.32 mg/dl; 95 % CI: 26.65 to −13.99), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (WMD: 0.54 %; 95 % CI: 0.80 to −0.28), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (WMD: 0.36; 95 % CI: 0.67 to −0.05), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: 33.10 mg/dL; 95 % CI: 64.31 to −1.88), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (WMD: 29.14 mg/dL; 95 % CI: 55.45 to −2.83), BMI (WMD: 0.73 kg/m2; 95 % CI: 1.40 to −0.07), and increasing the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (WMD: 5.68 mg/dL; 95 % CI: 3.51 to 7.85). However, the effect on fasting insulin, triglycerides, and weight was not significant. Conclusions: Fenugreek supplementation has been shown to improve FPG, HbA1C, HOMA-IR, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and BMI in patients with T2DM. The overall results suggest that fenugreek may have protective and therapeutic effects on T2DM parameters.

Objective To examine the relationship between burnout and occupational fatigue exhaustion and recovery among orthopaedic nurses in Tabriz, Iran.Design Descriptive, cross-sectional survey and correlational analysis.Setting Two hospitals associated with Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Iran, from August to September 2022.Participants 92 bedside nurses in orthopaedic wards, each with >1 year of clinical experience.Outcome measures Burnout was assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory, and occupational fatigue exhaustion/recovery was measured with the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion/Recovery Scale. Pearson’s correlation, independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance and multivariable linear regression analyses determined statistical significance.Results The mean burnout score was 63.65 (±15.88) out of 100 and the recovery rate was 35.43 (±15.60) out of 100. There were significant correlations between total burnout and each of the exhaustion recovery dimensions: chronic fatigue (r=0.70), acute fatigue (r=0.65) and intershift recovery (r=0.56). Nurses exceeding 44 weekly work hours reported higher burnout (66.52±14.77, p=0.005) than those working fewer hours (56.25±16.12, p=0.005). Rotational shift status was associated with increased burnout (64.97±15.32) compared with fixed shifts (55.54±17.42, p=0.04). Chronic fatigue (B=0.39, 95% CI 0.21, 0.57; t=4.29, p

Clinical Key Message In patients receiving anti‐TNF‐α drugs for ankylosing spondylitis, monitoring purpuric and ischemic skin lesions is crucial. This case underscores the significance of identifying and addressing drug‐induced vasculitis while stressing the necessity for prompt evaluation and exploration of alternative treatment options to safeguard patient well‐being. Abstract The case discusses a 38‐year‐old female with a history of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) who presented with skin lesions, including purpuric skin lesions and ischemia of her right foot digits, after initiating treatment with adalimumab. After excluding other potential causes, such as infections and malignancies, the patient received a diagnosis of moderate‐sized vascular vasculitis associated with adalimumab use. Discontinuation of adalimumab and treatment with high dose glucocorticoids and intravenous pulse of cyclophosphamide resulted in the resolution of her ischemic lesions. This case underscores the importance of considering drug‐related side effects in patients with new skin lesions, particularly in the context of rheumatic diseases such as AS.

Background: Uncertainty is a common challenge for nurses in clinical decision-making, which can compromise patient care quality and safety. To address this issue, it is essential to understand how nurses perceive and cope with uncertainty in their practice. Aim: This study aimed to explore nurses’ perceptions of uncertainty in clinical decision-making using a qualitative approach. Methods: This study was conducted with a qualitative approach and conventional content analysis in 2020. Participants consisted of 17 nurses from different wards of teaching hospitals in Northwestern Iran, recruited using the purposive sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed simultaneously with data collection (June to December 2020). The data were analyzed using the content analysis approach suggested by Wildemuth. Data were managed with MAXQDA10 software. The analysis revealed four main themes and ten subthemes that described the nurses' experiences of uncertainty in clinical decision-making. Results: The main themes were: difficult choice, difficult situation, insufficient judgment, and emotional burden. Conclusions: The study participants defined uncertainty in clinical decision-making as a difficult choice that occurs in difficult situations, which influenced their clinical judgment and emotional well-being. These findings provide valuable insights for developing interventions to help nurses manage uncertainty and improve their decision-making skills and safety.

In this study, the simulation of the current density was carried out through COMSOL Multiphysics on surface-modified M2 high-speed tool steel. The results demonstrated that in the presence of the nitride layer on the surface of M2, the current density was increased remarkably in the nitride layer and M2 was immune, and consequently, it can be predicted that the corrosion resistance was increased. For verification, the surface modification through plasma nitriding was applied on the M2 steel corrosion resistance and was evaluated through polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the 3.5 wt% of NaCl solution. The results confirmed the simulation outcomes; therefore, optimization of the parameters was performed. The impression of the variation of the process parameter of plasma nitriding such as temperature (500, 550, and 600 °C), time (4, 6, and 8 h), and ratio of inserted gases (N2/H2: 1:3, 1:1, 3:1) on the growth of the diffusive layer was assessed by X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD). Outcomes illustrated that applying plasma nitriding causes the formation of the different nitride phases on the top surfaces of the M2 substrate and Fe3N is the dominant phase. The diffusive nitride layer has a higher current density based on simulation results. The microhardness of the surface increased remarkably and 2414 HV was reached as a maximum surface hardness. By considering the obtained results, 500 °C, 6 h, and a ratio of 1:1 of N2/H2 were chosen as optimum conditions of the plasma nitriding of M2 high-speed tool steel, and a corrosion rate of 1.62 mpy was calculated.

Background: Several randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have explored the impact of melatonin on body composition and blood pressure (BP). However, the findings from these studies remain a topic of debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs sought to evaluate the effects of melatonin consumption on body composition (body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), hip circumference (HC)) and asleep/daytime BP (systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP)) in adults. Methods: In order to identify eligible RCTs, a systematic literature search was carried out up to June 2024 in PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science without any language restrictions. The I2 statistic was used to perform heterogeneity tests on the selected studies. After evaluating random effects models based on heterogeneity tests, the weighted mean differences (WMD) with a 95 % confidence interval (CI) were calculated using pooled data. Results: Overall, 28 studies (n = 1,543 participants) met our inclusion criteria. A pooled analysis of studies demonstrated that melatonin consumption led to a significant reduction in HC (WMD: 1.21 cm; 95 % CI: 1.94 to −0.49; P = 0.001), and daytime DBP (WMD: 1.40 mmHg; 95 % CI: 2.46 to −0.34; P = 0.009) in comparison with the control group. However, no substantial effects were observed on BW, BMI, WC, and SBP compared to the control group. Conclusion: The current meta-analysis of RCTs shows that treatment with melatonin reduces HC and daytime DBP levels in adults. However, further well-designed RCTs with large sample sizes and long durations are necessary to determine the effect of this supplement on body composition and BP.

This research studies experimentally the drying of foxtail millet in a pulsation-assisted fluidized bed. The effects of temperature and pulsating flow frequency on millet drying are examined. The experiments are conducted at temperatures of 40 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C for three pulsating frequencies of 0.5, 1, and 2.5 Hz and continuous flow. The best result is obtained for drying with a frequency of 1 Hz. It shows that the pulsating flow is more effective at 50 °C as compared to other temperatures. Four reliable semi-empirical models are used for predicting the moisture reduction during drying process. Among the fitted dynamic models, the model that has the maximum correlation coefficient (R2) and minimum sum of squares of error (SSE) and root mean squared error (RMSE) and well able to predict the behavior of millet drying in the whole process was chosen.

Summary: Background: Research in healthy young adults shows that characteristic patterns of brain activity define individual “brain-fingerprints” that are unique to each person. However, variability in these brain-fingerprints increases in individuals with neurological conditions, challenging the clinical relevance and potential impact of the approach. Our study shows that brain-fingerprints derived from neurophysiological brain activity are associated with pathophysiological and clinical traits of individual patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: We created brain-fingerprints from task-free brain activity recorded through magnetoencephalography in 79 PD patients and compared them with those from two independent samples of age-matched healthy controls (N = 424 total). We decomposed brain activity into arrhythmic and rhythmic components, defining distinct brain-fingerprints for each type from recording durations of up to 4 min and as short as 30 s. Findings: The arrhythmic spectral components of cortical activity in patients with Parkinson’s disease are more variable over short periods, challenging the definition of a reliable brain-fingerprint. However, by isolating the rhythmic components of cortical activity, we derived brain-fingerprints that distinguished between patients and healthy controls with about 90% accuracy. The most prominent cortical features of the resulting Parkinson’s brain-fingerprint are mapped to polyrhythmic activity in unimodal sensorimotor regions. Leveraging these features, we also demonstrate that Parkinson’s symptom laterality can be decoded directly from cortical neurophysiological activity. Furthermore, our study reveals that the cortical topography of the Parkinson’s brain-fingerprint aligns with that of neurotransmitter systems affected by the disease’s pathophysiology. Interpretation: The increased moment-to-moment variability of arrhythmic brain-fingerprints challenges patient differentiation and explains previously published results. We outline patient-specific rhythmic brain signaling features that provide insights into both the neurophysiological signature and symptom laterality of Parkinson’s disease. Thus, the proposed definition of a rhythmic brain-fingerprint of Parkinson’s disease may contribute to novel, refined approaches to patient stratification. Symmetrically, we discuss how rhythmic brain-fingerprints may contribute to the improved identification and testing of therapeutic neurostimulation targets. Funding: Data collection and sharing for this project was provided by the Quebec Parkinson Network (QPN), the Pre-symptomatic Evaluation of Novel or Experimental Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease (PREVENT-AD; release 6.0) program, the Cambridge Centre for Aging Neuroscience (Cam-CAN), and the Open MEG Archives (OMEGA). The QPN is funded by a grant from Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé (FRQS). PREVENT-AD was launched in 2011 as a $13.5 million, 7-year public-private partnership using funds provided by McGill University, the FRQS, an unrestricted research grant from Pfizer Canada, the Levesque Foundation, the Douglas Hospital Research Centre and Foundation, the Government of Canada, and the Canada Fund for Innovation. The Brainstorm project is supported by funding to SB from the NIH (R01-EB026299-05). Further funding to SB for this study included a Discovery grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada of Canada (436355-13), and the CIHR Canada research Chair in Neural Dynamics of Brain Systems (CRC-2017-00311).

Magnetic mixed ferrites with high heating efficacy have attracted lots of attention as a complementary method for cancer treatment via magnetic hyperthermia therapy. In the present study, magnetic Cu0.5Zn0.5-xNixFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized via a sol–gel combustion method. The effects of nickel substitution (x = 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5) on the magnetic and structural properties of the produced nanoparticles were investigated. The produced magnetic nanopowders were studied via X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), simultaneous thermal analysis (STA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and vibrating-sample magnetometry (VSM) techniques. The results showed that the saturation magnetization and coercivity of ZnCuFe2O4 nanoparticles were strongly affected by nickel substitution in the structure so that saturation magnetization decreased from 55.4 emu/g to 36.0 emu/g, whereas coercivity increased from 87.9 Oe to 156.4 Oe. In addition, saturation magnetization for the Cu0.5Zn0.4Ni0.1Fe2O4 sample increases from 55 to 58.1 emu/g with a rise in calcination temperature from 400 to 700 °C, respectively. The heating efficiency of the samples was investigated under different magnetic fields for magnetic hyperthermia therapy. The Cu0.5Zn0.4Ni0.1Fe2O4 sample exhibits a temperature increase from 37 °C to 49.5 °C during 10 min in the exposure of a magnetic field of 400 Oe and frequency of 200 kHz. The specific absorption rate value calculated for the Cu0.5Zn0.5-xNixFe2O4 nanoparticles was 53.1 W/g. With the increase in the viscosity of the environment, the heating efficiency of nanoparticles is reduced. Despite this decrease, the magnetic characteristics of nanoparticles remained strong enough to envision their usage as heating agents in magnetic hyperthermia.

Because of the COVID-19 outbreak, all academic institutions all over the world swiftly shifted to reconstitute the presentation of their courses that customarily took place on campus. This study explored the kind of online professional identities that English teachers in private language institutes constructed during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Additionally, it examined possible impacts of adopting online solutions on teachers' performance and teaching skills and their perceptions of communities of practice and their effect on their PI in online classes during this period. The study was conducted on 35 English teachers, teaching English in language institutes in Yazd, Iran. The study followed a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted individually and also in groups, to gain access to their lived experiences of running online classes. Results revealed four main characteristics that (re)constructed and affected teachers' PI in online classes, namely, teachers' role, competency and self-effectiveness, appreciation and connection, and future plans. The findings also revealed that streamlined communication and communities of practice were very beneficial in (re)constructing their changing identities in online classes. Membership in communities of practice was found to be an essential action to make teachers' teaching skills and social learning better and share common experiences. The results showed that these aspects highly influence the teachers' reconstruction of PI in a positive way in language institutes.

The present study peruses EFL learners in a kind of process-product approach in writing and investigates the possible effects of teachers' direct and indirect corrective feedback in four English language institutes in Isfahan, Iran. Four groups of intermediate students participated as a case in this study. The total number of participants was 120 female EFL learners selected based on a convenient non-random sampling method but randomly divided into four experimental groups. In the first group, the product-based approach was used to teach writing, and the learners received direct corrective feedback. In the second group, again product-based approach was used to teach writing, and the learners received indirect corrective feedback. In the third group, the writing was taught using a process-based approach, and the learners received direct corrective feedback, and in the last group, the learners received indirect feedback in process-based writing. The writing performance of the students in all four groups was compared in terms of accuracy. ANOVA and Post-hoc tests revealed that the process-based approach through which direct feedback was provided was more effective than other teaching writing approaches. [Note: The page range (35-53) shown on the PDF is incorrect. The correct page range for this article is p36-53.]