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Probabilistic model checking is a formal method for verification of the quantitative and qualitative properties of computer systems with stochastic behaviors. Markov Decision Processes (MDPs) are well-known formalisms for modeling this class of systems. Bounded reachability probabilities are an important class of properties that are computed in probabilistic model checking. Iterative numerical computations are used for this class of properties. A significant draw-back of the standard iterative methods is the redundant computations that do not affect the final results of the computations, but increase the running time of the computations. The study proposes two new approaches to avoid redundant computations for bounded reachability analysis. The general idea of these approaches is to identify and avoid useless numerical computations in iterative methods for computing bounded reachability probabilities.

Objective(s): Toxico-histopathological studies are used to assess the toxic impacts of nanoparticles in organism exposure. The present study aimed to evaluate the prospective nano-cytotoxicity impacts of Gd(III)-anionic linear globular dendrimer second-generation G2-C595 (Gd[III] dendrimer G2-C595) contrast nanoprobe in terms of the exposure of many nude mice organs and organisms. In addition, we assessed the potential of the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 nanoprobe as a novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) nano-contrast agent for the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK-293).Materials and Methods: Gadolinium (Gd[III]) was loaded with dendrimer G2 and conjugated with the C595 monoclonal antibody to generate the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 to determine the impact on MUC1 beneficial cancer tumors. The cytotoxic effects of the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 nanoprobe on the HEK-293 cells were also investigated in-vitro and in-vivo. In addition, the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 nanoprobe was used on nude mice bearing the MCF-7 tumors to explore its specific activity against the in-vivo model of cancer.Results: The Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 contrast nanoprobes affected the cytotoxicity of MCF-7, and no in-vivo toxicity was induced in the HEK-293 cells, kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, liver tissues, and other organs.Conclusion: According to the results, the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2 and Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 induced no toxicity in the HEK-293 cells and heart, liver, and brain tissues of mice. In addition, the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 showed specific anti-action against the in-vivo tumor model. Therefore, the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 nanoprobe is highly recommended as a novel and effective MR contrast agent and antitumor carrier agent. Furthermore, the Gd(III)-dendrimer G2-C595 nano-sized probes demonstrated excellent biocompatibility and safety with no impact on normal organ functioning.

Background: Meningitis is a common life threatening infection in neonatal period. Diagnostic value of CSF-CRP level in bacterial meningitis in children and adults has been studied worldwide, but there are limited studies on CSF-CRP in neonatal meningitis. This study conducted to assess any relation between CSF-CRP and plasma CRP levels and abnormal CSF findings in neonates suspected to meningitis. Methods: Seventy five hospitalized neonates suspected to meningitis were enrolled in this cross sectional study. All infants were gone through a complete sepsis workup including blood and CSF CRP. Results: CSF-CRP level had statistically significant correlation with serum WBC (p= 0.048) and also poor correlation with CSF protein level (p= 0.054). Serum CRP level had statistically significant correlation with CSF WBC (p= 0.008). Conclusion: No correlation found between CSF and serum CRP levels of patients in this study. Although, CSF-CRP is a rapid and easy to interpret test, it can be performed alongside CSF cytology and biochemical analysis, smear and culture as a confirmatory test for definite diagnosis of neonatal meningitis.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of bedding preterm infants in nests on their motor behaviors in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Iran.Methods: In this randomized controlled trial, 44 clinically stable preterm infants, admitted to the NICU, were recruited and randomly divided into two groups of control and intervention. The routine of the unit was to take care of infants on a flat mattress. The intervention was a U-shaped cloth nest in which the intervention group was bedded for 7 days. The control group consisted of infants who were normally cared without any boundaries. All infants were videotaped before and on the last day of the intervention. The motor behaviors, as defined in the Newborn Individualized Developmental Care and Assessment Program (NIDCAP) sheet, were analyzed in each of the films.Results: To compare the number of total extensor motor behaviors between the two groups, the change score in each group was calculated and compared between the two groups. The mean change scores in the intervention and control groups were -21.36±13.5 and 2.32±7.9, respectively. Accordingly, nesting significantly reduced the occurrence of unstable behaviors in the intervention group, compared to that in the control group (PConclusion: According to the findings, supporting the preterm infant body even by accessible materials could enhance their neurodevelopmental strengths and motor behavior stabilities.

Objective: Inhibition of lipid metabolism in breast cancer has been suggested as an effective approach for cancer therapy. Saffron-derived crocetin (Crt) and crocin (Cro) with the known anticancer activity, have shown hypolipidemic effect in diabetes and atherosclerosis. Here, we investigated the effect of Crt/Cro on lipid content in breast cancer. Materials and Methods: A multi-model approach involving in vivo, in vitro and in silico studies was applied. The 4T1-induced breast cancer in mice was used to investigate the effect of Crt/Cro on cholesterol (Chl) and triglyceride (TG) levels in serum and tumor tissues. The Chl/TG levels were also assessed in the cytosol of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines 6, 12 and 24 hr after Crt/Cro treatment. The interaction between Crt/Cro and hydroxymethylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) was also computed by docking analysis. Results: Crt reduced both serum (p=0.003) and tumor (p=0.011) Chl and TG (p=0.001) levels in mice. Cro reduced TG levels in tumor (p=0.014) and serum (p=0.002) and Chl level in tumor (p=0.013) tissues. Crt reduced both Chl and TG in MDA-MB-231 (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively) and MCF-7 (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively), after 24 h. Cro reduced both Chl and TG in MDA-MB-231 (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively) and MCF-7 (p=0.014 and p=0.002, respectively), after 24 h. Crt binds to the active site of HMGCR with higher affinity (ΔG0=-6.6 kcal/mol) than simvastatin (ΔG0 =-6.0 kcal/mol). Conclusion: Crt and Cro effectively decreased Chl/TG content in the sera of tumor bearing mice, in breast tumors and breast cancer cell lines. Crt showed a higher hypolipidemic potential than Cro. In silico analysis indicated Crt binding in the HMGCR active site.

Background: Irritable Bowel Syndrome can influence the patients’ cognitive, emotional and psychological processes in addition to the physical problems that appropriate psychological therapies should be applied to decrease these damages. But can dialectic behavior therapy lead to the improvement of pain self-efficacy and decrease of experiential avoidance in the mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome? Aims: therefore the present study was conducted aiming to investigate the effectiveness of dialectic behavior therapy on pain self-efficacy and experiential avoidance in the mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Method: it was a quasi-experimental study with pretest, posttest with control group. The statistical population of the current study was the mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome referring to circulatory specialists in the city of Zanjan in the second quarter of 2019. 30 mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome were selected through available sampling method and they were randomly accommodated into experimental and control groups (each group of 15). The experimental group received dialectic behavior therapy intervention (Linhan, 2004) during two-and-a-half months in ten seventy-five-minute sessions. The applied questionnaires in this study included pain self-efficacy (Nicolas, 1989) and experiential avoidance (Bond et.al., 2011). The data from the study were analyzed through MANCOVA method. Results: the results showed that the dialectic behavior therapy has significant effect on pain self-efficacy and experiential avoidance in the mothers with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (p

“Tasnim” by Allameh Javadi Amoli and “al-Manar” by Rashid Riza are two seminal exegeses of the Qur’an in Shi’ism and Sunnism respectively. These two exegetical books originate from two different intellectual and ideological sources though they have rather common methods and styles due to considerable overlap between the above books. However, al-Manar’s interpretation of the circumstances of revelation and evidences related to the verse of al-Mubahalah are criticized by Allameh Javadi in his book, Tasnim. The authors in this study aim to analytically examine the methodological approach of the above commentators on the aforementioned verse. The results of the study show that al-Manar has adopted a biased and partial approach to the event of al-Mubahalah and has vividly distanced from Sunni commentators, narrators, historians, and even Sahiban-i Sahhah to prioritize the ideas of ibn Taymiah over those of other Sunni characters. Therefore, Allameh Javadi Amoli basically rejects the ideas and methods of Rashid Riza in this regard as well as his inappropriate tendencies and prejudice. Bayat, M.h; Muhaqqeqi, H. (2020) The Methodological Analysis of the Criticisms of Allameh Javadi Amoli to Tafsir al-Manar Regarding the interpretation of the Verse al-Mubahalah. Biannual Journal of Comparative Exegetical Researches, 6 (11) 19-42. Doi: 10.22091/ptt.2020.4457.1575

The purpose of this study was to develop a structural model of academic maladjustment based on educational injustice, burnout, academic deception and lack of self-efficacy. The research method was correlation in the form of structural equation modeling. The statistical population consisted of all students of Bu Ali Sina University in Hamadan in the academic year 1396-97. Measurement tools included Golparvar Educational Justice Questionnaire (2010), academic burnout of Bresu et al. (1998), Golparvar Academic Satisfaction Questionnaire (2010), Eun & Freeman Self-efficacy Questionnaire (2001), Baker and Seriak Academic Adaptation Questionnaire (1984). Research data were analyzed using structural equation modeling through AMOS statistical software. The results showed that the structural equation modeling of the relationships between educational injustice, inefficiency, burnout and academic deception has a good fit in explaining academic maladjustment. These findings suggest that controlling educational injustice can be an effective and useful step in reducing burnout, deception, inefficiency, and academic maladjustment.

The purpose of this study was designing and fitting an causal model of the relationship between cognitive appraisal, perceived social support, achievement emotions and achievement motivation in graduate students. The research design was descriptive- correlational by use of structural equation modeling. The target population included all postgraduate students of Shiraz University) about 3400 people) in 2019-2020 academic year. The sample size was 400 (224 girls and 176 boys), selected by multistage cluster sampling method. Data were gathered using Peacock & Long (1990) Cognitive Appraisal, Zimet, Dahlem, Zimet, & Farley (1988) Perceived Social Support, Pekrun, Goetz, and Perry (2005) Achievement Emotions, and Rashid, Zakeri, Salahshouri and Kordnoghabi (2012) Educational Motivation Questionnaires. Data was analyzed by use of Structural Equation Modeling method in Amos software. The results showed that the proposed model fit the data. Also cognitive appraisal due to negative and positive emotions, and perceived social support due to positive emotions had a significant effect on achievement motivation, but perceived social support due to negative emotions did not have a significant effect on achievement motivation. Based on the findings, it is suggested that parents and teachers train students adapted cognitive assessment and emotional management from primary education in order to face the stressful academic situations favorably Especially in postgraduate studies; Also family, friends, professors and universities by providing emotional, informational and financial support as well as providing and upgrading scientific equipment mediating to arise positive emotions, cause more achievement motivation in students.