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Abstract Background In addition to physical problems, the COVID-19 crisis continues to impose serious psychological adverse effects on people's mental health, which plays a major role in the efficiency of every community. Students, especially medical sciences students, suffer from more stress as a result of exposure to COVID-induced stressors. It is, therefore, essential to measure mental health and its relationship with social support in medical sciences students during the COVID pandemic. The present study was conducted to determine the mental health status of students and its correlation with social support. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted using random sampling on 280 students of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in Iran in 2020. Socio-demographic profile scale, Mental Health Test (GHQ-28), and the scale of Perceived Social Support (PRQ-85) were used to collect data. Participants completed the questionnaires online. Results Considering the potential confounding variables, a general linear model (GLM) was utilized to determine the relationship between mental health and perceived social support. Mean (± standard deviation) of total mental health score 26.5 (12.5) was in the acceptable range of 0–63., and 56% of students suffered from a mental disorder. Mean (± standard deviation) of social support score 128.2 (21.0) ranged from 25 to175. According to Pearson's correlation coefficient, there was a significant inverse correlation between social support score and total mental health score and all its subscales [p

Background and Aim: One of the most common complications of brucellosis is its skeletal manifestations. This study was performed to identify the different types of skeletal manifestations in the patients with brucellosis. Materials and Methods: We reviewed records of the patients with skeletal complications of brucellosis who had been admitted to the infectious diseases ward of Razi Hospital in Qaemshahr from 2011 to 2017. Using SPSS 21 software, data were analyzed by t-test and chi-square (p≥0.001). Results: In 300 patients with brucellosis, the most frequent cause of referring to the hospital was fever (82.33%). The most, common skeletal complication was lumbar spondylosis. The mean value for hemoglobin was 11.50±1.57 gr/dl in women and 12.34± 1.54 gr/dl in men. Elevated alkaline phosphatase (97%) was the most common laboratory finding. This disease was more common in men than in women which showed a statistically significant difference (p≥0.001). The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate was 52.78±29.15 millimeters per hour in the women (p≥0.001). Conclusion: Fever and back pain were the most common causes of referring to the hospital. The most common articular bone complication was spondylosis, which was more common in the middle-aged patients. Therefore, brucellosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in the patients with long-standing fever and also in those with low back pain and arthralgia.

Introduction Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is one of the most important oilseed plants that has been ranked third in the oil production after soybeans and oil palm (Oil World, 2012). Drought stress is the most important limiting factor in the production of agricultural products in arid and semiarid regions (Debaeke and Aboudrare, 2004). Although water shortage in many developmental stages reduces the yield of rapeseed, the negative effects of stress during flowering and growth stages are much more pronounced (Sinaki et al, 2007). Materials and methods In order to study the ecophysiology of new winter varieties of rapeseed (six lines ready for introduction and Ahmadi's native species as control), the drought stress of the end of the season was observed in two latent cultivation conditions including the usual sowing date (11th of October) and the latent planting date (26th of October) and Irrigation was carried out in two levels including irrigation (control) and irrigation cut off from stepping stage to a factorial split plot design in a randomized complete block design with three replications in two years of cultivars 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 at the Research Institute for Correction And planting seedlings and seeds of Karaj. Planting dates and irrigation will be the main factor and the cultivars of the sub-cultivar. Data analysis was performed using SAS software. First, the Bartlett test is performed and then the combined analysis of the two-year data is tested. Comparison of mean of main effects by LSD method at 5% level and in the case of meaningful interactions, cutting and comparing the meanings were done using L.S.Means test. The results showed that the main effect of cultivar, and the effects of year on planting date and cultivar, were significant on planting date on seed oil. Results and discussion Results showed that in the first year and sowing date of 11th of October, the highest seed oil was obtained in the amount of 24.31%. The lowest amount was obtained in the second year and the sowing date of October 26th. In general, the seeding date of Oct. 11, in both years, had more seed oil yields. Regarding the interaction between sowing date and cultivar, results showed that the highest seed oil at the planting date of 11th of October and L72 was 54.44 percent. The lowest values were obtained on the 26th of October and the HW3 cultivar. In general, L72 had more seed oil in both dates. The results showed that the main effect of year, main effect of irrigation, main effect of cultivar, main effect of sowing date and interaction effects of planting date on cultivar on seed yield was significant. In the second year, oil yields more than the first year. In irrigation, the yield of oil was 231.2 kg/ha, which was 21% more than irrigation treatment. The results of interaction between sowing date and cultivar showed that the highest yield of seed oil (2576.6 kg/ha) was obtained on the 20th of September and L72 cultivars. The lowest values were obtained on the 5th of November and the HW3 cultivar. In general, the L72 had more seed oil yields on both dates. The results showed that the main effect of year, main effect of irrigation, main effect of cultivar, main effect of planting date and interaction effects of planting date on cultivar was significant on grain yield. In the second year, grain yield was more than the first year. In irrigation, grain yield was 4444.72 kg/ha, which was 30% more than irrigation treatment. The results of interaction between sowing date and cultivar showed that the highest grain yield was obtained at 4231.2 kg / ha in sowing date of 11th of October and L72 cultivar. The lowest values were obtained on the 26th of October and the HW3 cultivar. In general, the L72 had more seed yield on both dates.

The present study aims to assess the relationship between auditor’s narcissism, expectation gap, and audit fee in listed firms on the Tehran Stock Exchange. In other words, this study attempts to answer the question of “whether a narcissistic auditor contributes to the expectation gap and the amount of fee or not.” The multivariate regression model is used for hypothesis testing. The study's hypotheses were also tested using a sample of 768 listed year-firm on the Tehran Stock Exchange during 2012-2017 by applying the panel data approach and employing the fixed effects model. The obtained results also indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between auditor’s narcissism and expectation gap and a negative and significant relationship exists between auditor’s narcissism and audit fee, which means that the increase of narcissistic features in an auditor would increase the expectation gap between auditor and users. In contrast, the presence of such features in the auditor affects its payment. Moreover, the results of hypothesis testing show that there is a negative and significant relationship between auditor change and audit expectation gap. This study utilized an empirical model for evaluating the audit expectation gap and the variable of signature magnitude for measuring narcissism. Further, this paper is the first study to assess such a relationship. Hence, the present study contributes to developing science and knowledge in this field and helps lawmakers present more effective standards and regulations based on society's needs and the obtained results.

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic and complex respiratory disorder associated with airflow limitation and increased inflammatory response of the lungs to harmful particles. The purpose of this original study was to describe the results and profile of the Shahrekord Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN) regarding COPD in southwestern Iran. Methods This study of asthma and respiratory diseases is a subcohort of the more extensive cohort study, i.e., Shahrekord PERSIAN cohort, a population-based prospective study on people aged 35–70 years in southwestern Iran (n = 10,075). The sample size of the subcohort was 8500 people. Annual follow-ups (person-year) of the cohort were designed to be conducted up to 2036. The instruments to collect data on various exposures were derived from the questionnaires previously developed in extensive multinational studies (occupational exposures, smoking, housing status, and fuel consumption, history of respiratory and chronic diseases, comorbidity, etc.). The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) and the lower limit of normal (LLN) spirometric criteria were used to confirm COPD diagnosis. Results The response rate was 93.85%. The mean age of the participants was 49.48 ± 9.32; 47.9% were male, and 52.9% were female; nearly 16% of the population was current smokers; the fuel used by most of the participants for heating the house and cooking was gas. The most common comorbidity among participants was dyslipidemia; 30% of people have three or more comorbidities. According to GOLD and LLN criteria, the Prevalence of COPD was 3.6% and 8.4%, respectively. 4.3% of the participants had a history of chronic lung disease. The group of subjects with COPD had higher mean age, fewer years of schooling, a higher percentage of smokers with a smoking history of 10 or more pack years. 4.6% of patients had a history of chronic lung disease, 17.6% had a history of asthma in childhood, and 5.2% had a family history of respiratory and pulmonary diseases. Conclusion Epidemiological research is necessary to create an appropriate framework to fight COPD. This framework requires a better description of men and women at risk of developing COPD and describing people with early-stage illnesses.

Background and purpose: Neural circuits and neurotransmitter systems within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) play roles in forming emotional memory through communication with the hippocampus. Therefore, in this study, the role of these neural circuits on synaptic plasticity was investigated by agonist injection of beta-adrenergic receptors into the BLA. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, the electrophysiological recording from the hippocampus was investigated. Male Wistar rats (210-250 gr) were divided into two groups: control group that received saline (0.5 μl) and the treatment group that received clenbuterol (10 ng/0.5μl). Clenbuterol was also bilaterally injected into the BLA. Then, we studied the effect of clenbuterol on basal activity of the granular cells of the dentate gyrus (DG). Afterwards, a 200-Hz high-frequency stimulation protocol was applied to induce long-term potentiation (LTP). The amplitude of the population spike (PS) and the slope of the excitatory post synaptic potential (EPSP) were analyzed before and after the injection of clenbuterol. Results: Injection of clenbuterol (10 ng) did not increase PS of the LTP compared to the control group in the DG region. Also, no significant increase was seen in the slope of EPSP in treatment group compared to the control group (P>0.05). Conclusion: Clenbuterol administration into the basolateral amygdala (10 ng/0.5μl) did not affect basal electrical activity and synaptic reinforcement of the dentate granular cells in 90 minutes

Abstract Background FBLN5-related cutis laxa (CL) is a rare disorder that involves elastic fiber-enriched tissues and is characterized by lax skin and variable systemic involvement such as pulmonary emphysema, arterial involvement, inguinal hernias, hollow viscus diverticula and pyloric stenosis. This type of CL follows mostly autosomal recessive (AR) and less commonly autosomal dominant patterns of inheritance. Results In this study, we detected a novel homozygous missense variant in exon 6 of FBLN5 gene (c.G544C, p.A182P) by using whole exome sequencing in a consanguineous Iranian family with two affected members. Our twin patients showed some of the clinical manifestation of FBLN5-related CL but they did not present pulmonary complications, gastrointestinal and genitourinary abnormalities. The notable thing about this monozygotic twin sisters is that only one of them showed ventricular septal defect, suggesting that this type of CL has intrafamilial variability. Co-segregation analysis showed the patients’ parents and relatives were heterozygous for detected variation suggesting AR form of the CL. In silico prediction tools showed that this mutation is pathogenic and 3D modeling of the normal and mutant protein revealed relative structural alteration of fibulin-5 suggesting that the A182P can contribute to the CL phenotype via the combined effect of lack of protein function and partly misfolding-associated toxicity. Conclusion We underlined the probable roles and functions of the involved domain of fibulin-5 and proposed some possible mechanisms involved in AR form of FBLN5-related CL. However, further functional studies and subsequent clinical and molecular investigations are needed to confirm our findings.

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Background and Aim: Lactobacillus is the most important genus of lactic acid bacteria and the use of some species of lactobacillus with the probiotic potential can be effective for inhibition of the growth of some pathogens and control of gastrointestinal diseases and cancers. In this study, the pro-apoptotic and antimicrobial effect of Lactobacillus sakei on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line and some gastrointestinal pathogenic species was examined. Materials and Methods: In this study, the antimicrobial activity of metabolites of Lactobacillus sakei was assessed by Well Diffusion Agar (WDA) method against some gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated in 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/ml concentrations of sakei metabolites and incubated at 24 and 48 hours. Apoptosis was analyzed by Annexin V-FITC/PI kit according to the manufacturers protocol in both incubation times. For error reduction, each test was performed in triplicate Results: The results of this study indicate that sakei was able to produce antimicrobial metabolites against gastrointestinal pathogenic bacteria. Also, the results of the Annexin test showed that with increasing concentration of sakei metabolites in dose dependent manner, induction of apoptosis in this cell line increases (P

Abstract A method based on the concept of exergy-return on exergy-investment is developed to determine the energy efficiency and CO2 intensity of polymer and surfactant enhanced oil recovery techniques. Exergy is the useful work obtained from a system at a given thermodynamics state. The main exergy investment in oil recovery by water injection is related to the circulation of water required to produce oil. At water cuts (water fraction in the total liquid produced) greater than 90%, more than 70% of the total invested energy is spent on injection and lift pumps, resulting in large CO2 intensity for the produced oil. It is shown that injection of polymer with or without surfactant can considerably reduce CO2 intensity of the mature waterflood projects by decreasing the volume of produced water and the exergy investment associated with its circulation. In the field examples considered in this paper, a barrel of oil produced by injection of polymer has 2–5 times less CO2 intensity compared to the baseline waterflood oil. Due to large manufacturing exergy of the synthetic polymers and surfactants, in some cases, the unit exergy investment for production of oil could be larger than that of the waterflooding. It is asserted that polymer injection into reservoirs with large water cut can be a solution for two major challenges of the energy transition period: (1) meet the global energy demand via an increase in oil recovery and (2) reduce the CO2 intensity of oil production (more and cleaner energy).

In recent years, people have a tendency to consume ready-made foods such as sausages. Therefore, the use of quality raw materials in these products is very important because these compounds may be contaminated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Various biological and natural methods have been introduced to reduce aflatoxins in food products. The aim of the present study was to reduce AFB1 levels. So, β-glucan (βG) and Inulin (IN) were used in different ratios (1: 2%, 2: 1%, 1.5: 1.5%, 0: 3, 3: 0%) in chicken sausages. AFB1 levels were measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) in a period of 1–45 days. Then, texture and sensory properties were examined. After 45 days, AFB1 levels were decreased in all samples, and the highest level of reduction (73.7%) was observed in samples with 5 μg/kg AFB1 and 3% βG. Texture analysis showed that all the evaluated features complied with the standard. The hardness of chicken sausage with addition of IN (3%) (3.162N) was close to that of the control (2.99N). None of the products were significantly different from the control sample in terms of sensory properties. Therefore, βG and IN are effective in reducing AFB1, and the produced sausages can be acceptable for marketing and be offered for consumption.

Background: Even after surgery, as the most effective treatment for colorectal cancer, about 30-40% of cases are recurring. Since growth inhibition is an important strategy in cancer treatment, many attempts are in the program to find new agents, so in this study, the cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects of Lactobacillus sakei on colon cancer cell line (HT-29) and some pathogenic microorganisms have been evaluated. Lactobacillus sakei is a probiotic that, when consumed affects the intestinal flora, causes beneficial effects on host health. Probiotics due to their anti-cancer effects, modulation of the differentiation process in tumor cells, changes in tumor gene expression and lack of immunological responses have attracted a lot of attention as a new and effective treatment for colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods: In the present study, which was conducted experimentally from May to September 2018 in bacteriology and Cellular and Developmental Research Centers of Islamic Azad University, Shahrekord branch, the antimicrobial activity of supernatant of Lactobacillus sakei was assessed by Well Diffusion Agar (WDA) method against some pathogenic bacteria. HT-29 Colorectal adenocarcinoma cancer cells were cultured in DMEM medium with 10% bovine serum. The cells were treated in 5, 15, 10 and 20 mg/ml concentrations of sakei metabolites and incubated at 24, 48 and 72 hours. Cell growth was analyzed by celltiter 96® aqueous one solution cell proliferation assay kit to the manufacturerchr('39')s protocol in all three incubation times. Results: The results of this study indicate that sakei was able to produce antimicrobial metabolites against pathogenic bacteria. Besides, the results of the celltiter 96® aqueous one solution cell proliferation assay showed that the bioavailability of HT-29 cell lines decreased at all concentrations of sakei metabolites in a dose and time-dependent manner. Conclusion: Since lactic acid probiotic bacteria can alter the metabolic activities of the intestinal microflora, attach to carcinogens and destroy them, prevent carcinogenesis such as ammonia and secondary bile acids, producing anti-cancer substances and creating an acidic state to inhibit the growth and proliferation of carcinogenic bacteria, It seems that there is a good research field for the use of bioactive compounds produced by Lactobacillus sakei in the control of bacterial pathogens and treatment of human colorectal adenocarcinoma (HT-29).

Introduction and Objectives: Coronary artery disease is one of the major health problems worldwide. According to the World Health Organization, this disease is one of the leading causes of death in the world as well as in Iran. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity level and some risk factors for coronary heart disease in patients with heart attack. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of the analytical descriptive type in which the study population included patients with myocardial infarction referred to Dr. Heshmat Educational and Medical Center in 1994. The sampling method was available and 180 patients with myocardial infarction were studied according to the entry criteria. Data were collected using data collection tools. The collection tools were: 1) Demographic information: age, sex and marital status, family history of heart disease, 2) Clinical trials, including cholesterol, triglycerides, etc. Upon arrival at the hospital and 3) Questionnaire Back level of physical activity. Results: 66% of the studied units were men and the mean age of the patients was 62 years. The average score on the level of physical activity in the field of work and leisure time in Venice was significantly higher in men than in women (P ). Conclusion: It is recommended to include regular and correct physical activity in the treatment plan of these patients. Choosing an active lifestyle in addition to maintaining body mass index in the appropriate range and reducing excess fat, causes control and prevention of cardiovascular risk factors. By increasing the level of regular and correct physical activity for patients, it may be possible to prevent the risk of developing cardiovascular disease.

تقوم الاستثمارات في العراق بطرح الفرص لرأس المال المحليّ والأجنبيّ، وأن المناخ الاستثماري هو من العوامل المؤثرة والرئيسة على القرار الاستثماري، ومناخ الاستثمار عبارة عن مجمل الأوضاع والظروف المكونة للمحيط الذي تمَّت فيه العملية الاستثمارية، وأثر تلك الأوضاع والظروف على نجاح المشروعات الاستثمارية. والجدير بالذكر أنَّ العملية الإستثمارية قد تأثرت بالظروف السياسية الحالية والأمنية غير المستقرة، والتي جعلت المستثمرين لا يطمأنون من المستقبل. وكذلك ضعف القدرة الاستيعابية للاقتصاد العراقي وافتقار العراق إلى اسواق مالية متطورة، ومن المعوقات التكنولوجية وجود فجوة تكنولوجية كبيرة بين العراق وبقية بلدان العالم. وقانون الاستثمار الفدرالي رقم (١٣) لسنة ٢٠٠٦، ويهدف هذا القانون الى ضمان حقوق المستثمرين المحليين والأجانب وممتلكاتهم على حد سواء، وتلعب القوانين الاتحادية دورا مهما في تشجيع الاستثمار، وقد سعى المشرِّع إلى خلق فرص عمل والقضاء على البطالة، الا انَّه غير ملزم بتشغيل الايدي العاملة المحلية، وهذا ما نجده واضحا في نص المادة (١٢/اولا) والذي يقتضي بأنَّه (يحق للمستثمر توظيف واستخدام عاملين غير عراقيين في حالة عدم امكانية استخدام عراقي يملك المؤهلات اللازمة). وفيما يخصُّ اقليم كوردستان بوصفه إقليما اتحاديا، فقد جاءت في المادة (٥) أولاً: تشكل في الأقاليم والمحافظات غير المنتظمة بإقليم هيئات استثمار تتمتع بالشخصية المعنوية ويمثلها رئيسها أو من يخوله.

Background: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the second leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. In this study, the effect of citric acid on p53 and p21 genes expression of the human gastric Adenocarcinoma cell line (AGS) examined. Citric acid is a naturally organic acid that considered as a physiological inhibitor of enzymes involved in glycolysis pathway to remove cancer cells. Materials and Methods: AGS cells with different concentrations of citric acid (400, 800 and 1600 μg / ml) to examine the expression of genes P53 and p21 were incubated for 24 and 48 hours. Then, the expression of p53 and p21 genes were analyzed by Real Time PCR. Results: The results of this study indicate that treatment with citric acid increased the expression of p21 and p53 genes in the experimental groups compared to the control group. over expression of p53 gene at concentrations of 1600 and 800 μg / ml, respectively, was significant at 24 and 48 hours incubation times in dose and time independent manner . Expression of p21 gene at both incubation times was dose- and time dependent manner. Conclusion: The results indicate that citric acid can reduce the growth of gastric adenocarcinoma cells by inducing expression of genes that involved in the apoptosis pathway and preventing proliferation. Therefore, citric acid seems to be used as an anticancer agent for the treatment of gastric cancer.

Abstract The distal femur is the predominant site for benign bone tumours and a common site for fracture following tumour removal or cementation. However, the lack of conclusive assessment criterion for post-operative fracture risk and appropriate devices for cement augmentation are serious concerns. Hence, a validated biomechanical tool was developed to assess bone strength, depending on the size and location of artificially created tumorous defects in the distal femora. The mechanics of the bone–cement interface was investigated to determine the main causes of reconstruction failure. Based on quantitative-CT images, non-linear and heterogeneous finite element (FE) models of human cadaveric distal femora with simulated tumourous defects were created and validated using in vitro mechanical tests from 14 cadaveric samples. Statistical analyses demonstrated a strong linear relationship (R2 = 0.95, slope = 1.12) with no significant difference between bone strengths predicted by in silico analyses and in vitro tests (P = 0.174). FE analyses showed little reduction in bone strength until the defect was 35% or more of epiphyseal volume, and reduction in bone strength was less pronounced for laterally located defects than medial side defects. Moreover, the proximal end of the cortical window and the most interior wall of the bone–cement interface were the most vulnerable sites for reconstruction failure.

The giant prehistoric Seymareh landslide in the Zagros Mountains (Iran) is one of the largest known landslides on the Earth’s surface. The debris with an estimated volume of 44 km3 dammed two rivers, generating three lakes, that persisted for about 3 ka after the event. The post-overflow morphodynamics, characterized by an accelerated and intense stream network erosion, obliterated most of the primary landforms, such as ridges and blocks on the debris surface, making it difficult for scientists to interpret the emplacement kinematics of the landslide. In this regard, a novel spatial statistical approach is proposed here to zone the landslide debris in primary (original) and secondary (modified) regions which are, respectively, attributed to the original shape of the landslide debris and the one reshaped by fluvial erosion. The zonal computation combines the density classes of the mapped primary (ridge and blocks) and secondary (gullies) landforms, according to assumed conditions for representativeness of primary and secondary zones. For validating the model, 62 soil samples taken from the debris surface were classified according to the Unified Soil Classification System standard, and the field density measurements were performed in 28 sites. Based on the classification results, six types of soils were detected, among which 68% of them were ML. The ML samples were aggregated into five subgroups based on their relative proximity, and for each subgroup, four permeability tests were performed. The permeability results demonstrate that the high permeability values are associated with secondary zones, while low values with primary ones, thus confirming the zonation proposed by the statistical approach. The study of the spatial arrangement of the kinematic evidence on the primary landforms allowed to deduce that the landslide was a double-step single event, which infilled a paleo-valley enclosed by two anticline folds. During the emplacement, a part of the debris dissipated its energy over passing the anticlines with divergent directions, NW and NE, while the rest swept back into the Seymareh paleo-valley into the SE direction. The proposed approach represents a promising tool for the detection of primary landforms to assess the emplacement kinematics of landslides.

Recently, the research and innovation to produce raw materials from microbial processes has gained much attention due to their economic and environmental impacts. Lactic acid is a very important microbial product due to its wide application in the food, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and chemical industries. In the current study, poly (L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was produced by the ring opening polymerization (ROP) technique of L-lactic acid recovered from whey fermentation, and was used for the production of nanocomposites films reinforced with chitosan nanoparticles (CNPs) (average diameter ca. 100–200 nm). Three different CNPs concentrations, namely 1, 3, and 5% w/w, were tested, and their influence on the physical, mechanical, thermal, antibacterial and structural attributes of PLLA film was assessed. The results showed that the addition of CNPs up to 3% caused a significant improvement in water vapor permeability, appearance, tensile strength and elongation at break. The antibacterial properties of nanocomposites followed a dose-depended pattern as a result of CNPs addition. Therefore, the best inhibitory effects on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was made by the addition of 5% of CNPs and lower dosages slightly affected the growth of pathogens or didn't cause any inhibitory effects (in 1% of CNPs). It can be concluded that the incorporation of CNPs into the PLLA matrix allows to improve the structural, thermal, physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the polymer, generating promising systems for food packaging and biomedical applications.

Shared decision-making is a key component of patient-centered care. In this clinical vignette, we illustrate the value of bringing patients into the clinical thought process as part of shared decision-making.

Background: Depression and anxiety are two common mood disorders in modern societies with global expansion, which reduce the quality of life. A number of recent studies have investigated the relationship between anxiety and depression in patients with asthma. Due to the lack of studies in this area, especially in Iran, we studied this issue in Iranian population. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on 151 patients with asthma referred to lung subspecialty clinics in Isfahan and Shahrekord cities, Iran, in 2016. The participants were included using sequential sampling method. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire was used as an instrument for measuring anxiety and depression. Data were analyzed using t and Spearman correlation tests via SPSS software. Findings: 151 patients with asthma entered the study. By controlling demographic characteristics, and considering the underlying disease, the relationship of depression scores with the severity of asthma was not significant. Anxiety scores related to having the disease and gender. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the level of anxiety and depression was not related to the severity of asthma. Considering the high prevalence of asthma and the role of depression and anxiety in people's quality of life, more studies, using different tools to measure the level of anxiety and depression, shows to be needed.

In this paper, the effect of strain on the efficiency of GaAs solar cell isinvestigated. It has been shown that the applied strain during the synthesizing of carbonnanotubes (CNTs) leads to changing some of its physical properties. This means that strainscan cause numerous changes in the structures. By using a strained layer of the carbonnanotubes on the GaAs solar cell, the effect of this layer on the performance of the GaAssolar cell is evaluated. This CNT layer can be used for several purposes. The first is tocreate a transparent electrical conductor at the cell surface to increase the output current.This purpose is one of the most important applications of this layer. But the second andmore important goal is to capture more photons and reduce the emission or reflection oflight emitted onto the cell surface. It is found that the mentioned goals cannot be satisfiedsimultaneously. Accordingly, to solve this problem, two different layers were used toachieve the ideal conditions. It has been shown that the use of a 10% uniaxial strained CNTlayer leads to increase the photon absorption rate onto a non-strained CNT layer forelectrical purposes. The efficiency of the single-junction GaAs solar cell with the aboveconditions reaches about 31% which is about 2% higher than the model without strain.

Background: Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in humans. Therefore, there is a need for new cytotoxic compounds from natural sources such as native bacteria. The current study aimed at investigating the cytotoxic effects of compounds obtained from gram-positive terricolous bacteria on the apoptosis of cells in prostate cancer (PC-3). Materials & Methods: A total of 70 soil samples were obtained from various locations in Chaharmahal & Bakhtiari province (Iran, Spring 2020) and were cultured on Nutrient agar and Trypticase soy agar. After identification of gram-positive species, the best species in regards to microbial activity was identified using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Then, in order to investigate the cytotoxic activity, PC-3 cell line was treated in different concentrations of the supernatant from the selected species for different durations while viability and apoptosis were determined using MTS and Annexin tests. Results: A total of 467 gram-positive bacteria were extracted from 70 soil samples, among which 9 species had antimicrobial capabilities. Among these selected species, Bacillus licheniformis which had the best antimicrobial compounds, was selected for further investigation of its viability and apoptosis effects on PC-3 cell line. The MTS with incubation time of 24, 48 and 72 hours of the treated cells indicated that the viability is dependent on the dosage an increase in the concentration can result in significant decrease in the viability compared to the control group (P

Background: Acinetobacter baumannii is a non-fermentative gram-negative coccobacill that has high level of resistance to antimicrobial agents. Biofilm formation is an important feature of most clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp, this led to higher resistance to antibiotics. The current study aimed to assess the ability of biofilm production and to determine the frequency of bap gene in clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. Materials & Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed on 165 strains collected from hospitals of Tehran in 2019 and confirmatory tests were performed to identify the bacteria. The antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by disk diffusion method against 10 antibiotics and also the ability of biofilm production was evaluated by microtiter plate method (MPT) and tube method (TM). Subsequently Molecular assays of blaOXA-51 and bap genes identification and its frequency were investigated. Results: In this study, among 165 isolates examined, 73 isolates were confirmed as Acinetobacter baumannii. Among 73 strains studied the most antibiotic resistance was imipenem (94.52%). blaOXA-51 and bap genes were detected in 100% and 53.42% of isolates. Also, 8 isolates (10.95%) by MTP and 7 isolates (9.58%) by the TM method were able to form strong biofilm. Conclusion: The results obtained showed that in consistent with other researches, biofilm formation in Acinetobacter baumannii isolates was associated with present of bap gene.

Background Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most common mycotoxins found in cereal products. Objective The purpose of this study is to compare the DON contamination level in raw wheat flour and bread. Methods In this analytical study with cross-sectional design, a total of 44 wheat flour and bread samples (Lavash flour and bread, and Barbari flour and bread) were collected. The DON level was measured using ELISA method. Collected data were analyzed in SPSS software by using ANOVA and t-test considering a significance level of P≥0.05. Findings The Mean±SD total DON level in the flour and bread samples was 0.03±0.04 and 0.12±0.21 μg/ kg. The mean DON level in the Lavash and Barbari flour samples was 0.01±0.02 and 0.01±0.01 μg/kg, and in the Lavash and Barbari bread samples as 0.04±0.03 and 0.16±0.27 μg/kg, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the DON levels between flour and bread samples (P≥0.05). Conclusion The presence of DON in the studied samples was observed, but its contamination level was lower than the permissible limit.

Background and Aim: Antibacterial effects of Artemisia plant and algae have been confirmed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial effect of antibiotics, Spirulina blue-green algae and Artemisa aucheri leaf extracts on multidrug resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae. Materials and Methods: Disk and well diffusion method, the growth minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations (MIC and MBC) were used to evaluate antibacterial effects. Using SPPS 16 soaftware, data were analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures and Bonferroni test (p≤0.001). Results: The MIC and MBC for amikacin, colicitin, ceftazidime were 4 and for gentamicin and nalidixic acid were 2 and 1 µg/µl, respectively. In disk and well diffusion methods, the highest growth inhibition zones belonged to ethanolic extracts (0.25 mg/ml) of Artemisia and algae. The best MIC and MBC for growth were related to ethanolic extracts of A. aucheri at the concentration of 0.15 mg/ml. The diameter of growth inhibition zone around the bacterium was directly related to the concentrations of Artemisia and Algae extracts (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Considering the beneficial antibacterial effects of Spirulina blue-green algae and A. aucheri which were confirmed in this study, extraction of the active ingredients of medicinal plants is recommended for the mass production of herbal medicines.

The progressive collapse because it can be sustained the whole structure and the safety of the lives of residents threatens that has been the focus of scientific circles over the past few years. In the progressive collapse determining the key element that most potential for failure is of great importance. Four structural steel structures with two frames and dual systems are sensitivity analyzed with two structural systems in rectangular and L- shaped planes. Based on the results of the pushdown analysis in steel moment frame with rectangular and L-shaped planes and the dual system with middle braces, the corners column and the dual system (middle and corner braces) with a rectangular plan and in the dual system (corner braces) with the L- plan the internal column has the most potential for collapse. The results show that higher-heightened structures have a better performance against progressive collapse, and the increase in the height of the models in the dual system does not have much effect on reducing progressive collapse.

Abstract Although the findings of second language (L2) studies conducted to date have provided evidence for the positive effect of written corrective feedback (hereafter feedback) on improving L2 learners’ writing grammatical accuracy, there is no conclusive evidence regarding which kind of feedback is more beneficial for enhancing L2 writing. This study compares the differential effects of giving and receiving unfocused direct feedback on improving Iranian EFL learners’ writing accuracy. To this end, 61 learners of English were randomly assigned to three groups, including a feedback giver group (n = 19), a feedback receiver group (n = 22), and a control group (n = 20). The participating groups took Cambridge English Preliminary Test (PET), completed four translation tasks as the treatment, and took two tests, namely a translation test and a picture description test. The data analysis indicated the effectiveness of the feedback provided by peers. Additionally, further data analysis revealed that the participants in the feedback giver group outperformed the participants in the feedback receiver and the control groups in translation and picture description tests, underscoring the positive effect of giving feedback on learners themselves rather than learners who receive feedback. The findings and potential pedagogical implications of the study are discussed in detail.

As one of the cutting-edge technologies in advanced information science, wave-based cryptography is a prerequisite to enable a plethora of secure encrypting platforms which can be realized by smart multiplexing techniques together with suitable metasurface holograms (meta-holograms). Here, relying on the polarization multiplicity and re-writability of a computer-generated meta-hologram, a fully secure communication protocol is elaborately developed at the terahertz spectrum to host unique merits for exploring real-time metasurface-based cryptography (meta-cryptography) where highly restricted access of information is imposed. The proposed meta-cryptography exploits two dynamic near-field channels of a meta-hologram whose information can be instantaneously re-written without any polarization rotation and with high contrast and acceptable frequency bandwidth. The computer-generated meta-hologram is constructed based on the weighted Gerchberg–Saxton algorithm via a two-dimensional array of vertical graphene strips whose anisotropic reflection is merely determined by external biasing conditions. Several illustrative examples have been presented to demonstrate the perfect secrecy and polarization cross-talk of the proposed meta-cryptography. Numerical simulations corroborate well our theoretical predictions. As the first demonstration of dynamic THz meta-cryptography, the meta-hologram information channels can be deciphered into manifold customized messages which would be instrumental in data storage systems offering far higher data rates than electronic encryption can deliver.

Tooth decay has occurred due to the numerous microorganisms in the mouth such as Streptococcus and Lactobacilli bacteria that can produce acid. Commercial antiplatelet agents are predominantly antibacterial compounds, but these compounds can disrupt oral bacterial flora and induce and enhance the growth of opportunistic pathogens, including Candida albicans. Nowadays, bacterial therapy is a replacement therapy for microorganisms. One of the methods of bacterial therapy is the use of probiotic bacteria. So far, many studies have been done on the effect of probiotic-containing food products on the microbial factors of tooth decay. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of probiotics on dental caries. The search queries were from ISI, PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, magiran, SID databases. Key words were probiotic, dental caries, bacterial caries, tooth decay, laboratory and clinical studies. Finally, the selected articles were used for the review table. The results of the review of studies showed that probiotic strains are able to control bacterial agents that cause dental caries.

Background and Aim: Bacterial resistance to antibiotics has made treatment difficult. The purpose of this study was to investigate bacterial species in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis after surgery of paranasal sinuses to determine antimicrobial resistance patterns of them. Materials and Methods: The data of 70 patients after paranasal sinuses surgery in Amiralmomenin hospital in Rasht city, in 2018 were evaluated. The identification of bacteria by microbiological laboratory methods and microbial susceptibility test was performed by disk diffusion method. For data analysis, SPSS version 22 software and chi-square test were used (p ≤0.05). Results: 62 (88.57%) positive bacterial culture samples were identified. The most abundant strains was Staphylococcus epidermidis (38.70%). Staphylococcus aureus had the highest antibiotic resistance to penicillin and oxacillin (52.94%) and Staphylococcus epidermidis to penicillin (62.50%). Highest antibiotic resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa was to ceftazidime (90.90%). Escherichia coli was resistant to ceftazidime and ampicillin (100%) and Hafnia alvei was resistant to ceftazidime (100%). Klebsiella aerogenes had higher resistant to ceftazidime and cefixime (100%). With increasing of patient’s age, resistance to antibiotics increased (p ≤0.05). Conclusion: Antibiotic resistance was observed in bacterial samples isolated from patients after surgery. Given that antibiotic resistance may cause failure in the treatment. Monitoring of the antibiotic-resistant pattern is necessary to select the appropriate antibiotic.

Background: Physical activity reduces the risk of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). The precise mechanism for reducing CHD risk after physical activity has not been determined. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between physical activity and some biochemical parameters in patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients with ACS referring to Heshmat Medical Center in 2016. Convenient sampling method was used and 280 eligible patients with ACS were included in the study. For data gathering the checklist was used for demographic characteristics of patients and biochemical parameters and the Baecke Questionnaire was used to assess the patients’ physical activity. The data were analyzed in PASW Statistics for Windows, Version 18.0. Chicago: SPSS Inc. using Spearman correlation and multiple regression analyses. The significance level was set at P>0.05. Results: The results showed that 67% of the patients were male and the mean age of the patients was 62.38±12.01 years. The BUN blood urea nitrogen (r=-.121 and -.177) and blood creatinine level (r=-.259 and -.185) had a significant correlation with physical activity in general and at the work hours, (P

Abstract Background Global curricular homogenization is purported to have a multitude of benefits. However, homogenization, as typically practiced has been found to promote largely Western ideals. The purpose of this study was to explore the issue of representation in the development of global oncology curricula. Methods This systematic review of global oncology curricula involved a comprehensive search strategy of eight databases from inception to December 2018. Where available, both controlled vocabulary terms and text words were used. Two investigators independently reviewed the publications for eligibility. Full global/core oncology curricular documents were included. Data analysis included exploration of representation across a number of axes of power including sex and geographic sector, consistent with a neocolonial approach. Results 32,835 documents were identified in the search and 17 remained following application of the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Eleven of 17 papers were published from 2010 to 2018 and 13 curricula originated from Europe. The 17 curricula had 300 authors; 207 were male and most were from Europe (n = 190; 64%) or North America (n = 73; 24%). The most common curricular purposes were promoting quality patient care (n = 11), harmonization of training standards (n = 10), and facilitating physician mobility (n = 3). The methods for creation of these curricula were most commonly a committee or task force (n = 10). Over time there was an increase in the proportion of female authors and the number of countries represented in the authorship. Conclusion Existing global oncology curricula are heavily influenced by Western male authors and as a result may not incorporate relevant socio-cultural perspectives impacting care in diverse geographic settings.

Background: Autonomy is the main element of professional practice in nursing. However, despite the many studies conducted on nursing autonomy, this concept is not fully understood and a comprehensive explanation of this concept in nursing is necessary. Meta-synthesis offers a way to increase the understanding of this concept using existing research findings. Thus, the present study aimed to explain the concept of professional nursing autonomy. Materials and Methods: This qualitative meta-synthesis was conducted based on a modified version of Noblit and Hare's meta-ethnography approach and qualitative studies on the concept of nursing autonomy published in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, SID, IranMedex, Magiran, and ScienceDirect in the past 15 years (2003–2018). Results: Thirteen articles that reported the experiences of nurses regarding professional autonomy were included in the research. Based on the meta-synthesis of findings, the final interpretation of the professional autonomy of clinical nurses was presented in the three themes of professional competence, professional decision making, and professional interactions. Conclusions: According to the results, the concept of professional autonomy is a developmental achievement based on patient-based professional competence along with self-reliance to provide the best care plan for the promotion of patients' health through the professional decision making and professional interactions with other professional team members.

Background & objectives: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common causes of nosocomial infections. The polysaccharide adhesion mechanism encoded by the ica operon generates a direct role in biofilm formation and infection of the bacteria. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of icaA gene in Staphylococcus aureus isolates isolated from clinical specimens of patients admitted to some clinical centers of Rasht. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed on 100 Staphylococcus aureus isolates from some clinical centers of Rasht in 2019 and confirmatory tests were performed to identify the bacteria. icaA gene identification and its frequency were investigated using molecular methods . The antibiotic resistance pattern against 10 antibiotics and biofilm-forming ability of the isolates were determined using the disk diffusion method and Congo red method respectively. Results: In the present study, among the 100 studied isolates, the highest drug resistance was related to penicillin, and the lowest antibiotic resistance was belonged to ciprofloxacin. 81 isolates (81%) were resistant to methicillin and 37 isolates (37%) had multiple resistance. Of 37 isolates with multiple resistances, 32 isolates (86.48%) had icaA gene and 24 isolates (64.9%) ،had the ability to produce strong biofilms. Conclusion: According to the findings of this study, the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus isolates carrying icaA gene with strong biofilm forming ability and resistance to methicillin, were high. This necessitates the need for serious management of antibiotic administration.

Objective: Due to the presence of pain during nasogastric tube (NGT) insertion and related complications and lack of positive clinical response of nasopharyngeal anesthesia with lidocaine and the related side effects and limitations in ketamine and intravenous midazolam, this study aims to determine the efficacy of oral midazolam in relieving pain in the patients requiring NGT insertion. Methods: A randomized, triple-blind clinical trial was performed on the patients in the Emergency Department of Zanjan Valiasr and Mousavi Hospitals in Iran, who were nominated for NGT. In each group, 100 patients were examined. Two milligram syrups of midazolam and placebo were administered 20 min before the procedure. In two groups, the pain based on the Visual Analog Scale and satisfaction rate of patients during the NGT insertion were compared. The data were analyzed through the SPSS software version 16.0. Findings: There was no statistically significant difference in the demographic characteristics of two groups. Despite the effects of potential confounding variables, the cause of the referral and indication of NGT, as well as the use of midazolam syrup, had a significant relationship with the outcome, so that midazolam group experienced less pain. The mean and standard deviation of the examined outcomes (feeling of pain and satisfaction with NGT insertion) was statistically significantly different in the midazolam group as compared to the placebo group (P = 0.001). Conclusion: Midazolam was effective in decreasing pain and increasing the satisfaction of patients after NGT insertion. This manuscript is registered in Irct. com with code IRCT20110629006922N4.

Objective: To explore the spatial accumulation of diseases and their aggravating factors are essential in all public health. This study attempts to use geographic information system (GIS) to provide more information about the incidence and future of anthrax. Methods: Patients were diagnosed with anthrax in Kurdistan Province from 2009 to 2016. Data was then exported into ArcGIS software version 9 and the required layers for years and areas were added.Final map for each year was drawn up, pointing out the hot spots and predicting its future pattern. Results: Most cases were reported in females (57 cases, 54.80 %), and the lower body limbs were most affected (63 cases, 60.57%). The highest numbers of incidences were related to the cities of Marivan, Saqez and Divandareh, with more concentration in the central parts of the province, rather than borderline areas. The highest percentage of the probable incidence of the disease was in Sanandaj (57.74%) with a potential susceptible area of 1 729.12 km2 and then in Saqez (54.36%) with a potential area of 2 422.4 km2. Conclusions: A vast area of Kurdistan Province is high risk for new cases of anthrax. Therefore, it is important to scale up the surveillance system in the province.

There is a possibility of increasing structural damage in the sequential earthquake compared to the main earthquake according to past earthquakes. This study investigates the effects of seismic sequence on the behavior and increased response of reinforced concrete frames (RCF) with/without steel plate shear walls (SPSW). Four systems of 4, 8, 12, and 24 story, which represent low-, mid-, and high-rise structures, are designed and subjected to nonlinear time history analysis under critical single and consecutive records with real, repetitive, and randomized methods. The seismic scenarios used include sequential recorded critical earthquakes. The analysis showed that the predominant period of the after-shock significantly influences the post main-shock response. In RCF with and without SPSW, real seismic sequence increases the ratio of peak maximum interstory drift by an average of 2, 2 times the similar demand in the main shock, and increases the ratio of maximum ductility demand by 1.52 and 1.65 times in the structure, respectively. In an artificial sequence, the ratio of peak maximum interstory drift demand increase is in 100%, 150%, and 200% after-shocks, In the iteration method, it is equal to 1.2, 2.0, and 2.6 times the main shock in RCF with SPSW and 1.9, 3.2, and 4.8 times the main shock in RCF without SPSW. After-shocks may change the direction and magnitude of residual displacement in real and artificial seismic sequences. Continuation of the equation to calculate the demand for seismic sequence ductility was extracted.

Orexin neuropeptides have functional roles in hippocampal-dependent memory formation via the consolidation and retrieval of passive avoidance and spatial memories. The effects of these neuropeptides have been confirmed on the induction of long-term potentiation (LTP). The orexinergic system seems to have modulatory effects by sending projection fibers to several brain parts, such as the hippocampus and amygdala. Orexin neuropeptides activate the neural circuits of the basolateral amygdala during different arousal events with various emotional loads. Therefore, this system plays a vital role in creating appropriate behavioral reactions and responses particular to the situation. This review aimed to report new progression and advances in the hippocampus function in memory by focusing on its relationship with the amygdala through the orexinergic system.

Given that a significant fraction of buildings and architectural heritage in Europe’s historical centers are masonry structures, the selection of proper diagnosis, technological surveys, non-destructive testing, and interpretations of crack and decay patterns is paramount for a risk assessment of possible damage. Identifying the possible crack patterns, discontinuities, and associated brittle failure mechanisms within unreinforced masonry under seismic and gravity actions allows for reliable retrofitting interventions. Traditional and modern materials and strengthening techniques create a wide range of compatible, removable, and sustainable conservation strategies. Steel/timber tie-rods are mainly used to support the horizontal thrust of arches, vaults, and roofs and are particularly suitable for better connecting structural elements, e.g., masonry walls and floors. Composite reinforcing systems using carbon, glass fibers, and thin mortar layers can improve tensile resistance, ultimate strength, and displacement capacity to avoid brittle shear failures. This study overviews masonry structural diagnostics and compares traditional and advanced strengthening techniques of masonry walls, arches, vaults, and columns. Several research results in automatic surface crack detection for unreinforced masonry (URM) walls are presented considering crack detection based on machine learning and deep learning algorithms. In addition, the kinematic and static principles of Limit Analysis within the rigid no-tension model framework are presented. The manuscript sets a practical perspective, providing an inclusive list of papers describing the essential latest research in this field; thus, this paper is useful for researchers and practitioners in masonry structures.