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Abstract There is a substantial body of literature exploring the challenges associated with exploring and exploiting these underground resources. Unconventional resources, particularly heavy oil reservoirs, are critical for meeting ever-increasing global energy demand. By injecting surfactants into heavy oil, chemically enhanced oil recovery (EOR) may enable emulsification, which may reduce the viscosity of heavy oil and facilitate extraction and transportation. In this work, a large experimental dataset, containing 2020 data points, was extracted from the literature for modeling oil-in-water (O/W) emulsion viscosity using machine learning (ML) methods. The algorithms used pressure, temperature, salinity, surfactant concentration, type of surfactant, shear rate, and crude oil density as inputs. For this purpose, five ML algorithms were selected and optimized, including adaptive boosting (AB), convolutional neural network (CNN), ensemble learning (EL), artificial neural network (ANN), and decision tree (DT). A combined simulated annealing (CSA) method was utilized to optimize all algorithms. With AARE, R2, MAE, MSE, and RMSE values of 8.982, 0.996, 0.004, 0.0002, and 0.0132, respectively, the ANN predictor exhibited higher accuracy in predicting O/W emulsion viscosity for total data (train and test subsets combined). A Monte-Carlo sensitivity analysis was also performed to determine the impact of input features on the model output. By using the proposed ML predictor, expensive and time-consuming experiments can be eliminated and emulsion viscosity predictions can be expedited without the need for costly experiment.

Abstract Background Autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (ARPKD) is a genetically inherited pediatric disorder. It is caused by a mutation in the PKHD1 gene located on chromosome 6. The predominant phenotype is characterized by early-onset bilateral enlarged kidneys, as well as fibrocystic changes in the kidney and liver. Fetuses or infants usually present with Potter syndrome, and they are more likely to develop severe renal insufficiency. Generally, patients die perinatally or in infancy. Liver involvement has been reported in adults with ARPKD who have survived the neonatal period and childhood. However, renal involvement is rarely expected in adulthood. The case is being presented for its clinical rarity, in addition to emphasize the critical role of NGS approaches in diagnosis. Case presentation We hereby describe a 33-year-old female with adult-onset proteinuria and nephromegaly. She had a rare homozygous missense mutation of the PKHD1 gene with autosomal recessive inheritance. The proband has consanguineous heterozygote parents. The mutation was identified by whole-exome sequencing, and the results were confirmed by segregation analysis. Conclusion Here, we reported a thorough literature review of late-onset autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease. Furthermore, we explored the importance of genetic work-up in families with genetic disorders and consanguineous marriages, particularly in underdeveloped countries.

Abstract The design of electrochemical sensors is crucial considering important factors such as efficiency, low cost, biocompatibility, and availability. Manganese oxides are readily available, low-cost, and biocompatible materials, but their low conductivity limits their efficiency as sensors. Today, morphology engineering of manganese oxide has been one of the most common research topics, because manganese oxides’ electrochemical properties are highly dependent on their morphologies. In this study, a method for reducing the charge transfer resistance (Rct) of MnO2-based electrodes was established by the cyclic voltammetry technique accompanied by step-by-step heat treatment to electrodeposition MnO2 nanofilm, which remarkably improved the Rct. Next, the sensing performance of MnO2/FTO for two separate measurements was examined, one for the simultaneous measurement of paracetamol (PAR) and 4-aminophenol (4-APh), and the other for the measurement of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Under the optimum conditions, the linear ranges of 4-APh, PAR, and 4-NP, were 0.8 to 22.0 µM, 2.0 to 55.0 µM, and 0.1–250 µM, with limits of detection (LOD) of 0.19 µM, 0.60 µM, and 0.01 µM, respectively. It also was unaffected by a 200-fold excess of interferences. In addition, the designed sensor was successfully applied to the analysis of real samples.

Abstract Background Few studies have investigated the potential predictive value of glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c) and clinical outcomes in diabetic patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and the results of the reports have often been inconclusive and contradictory. We have organized a study to investigate the relationship between HbA1c and the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in diabetic patients after PCI. Methods This case-cohort study was conducted on 563 diabetic patients who underwent PCI. All studied patients had an HbA1c level measured within 24 h before angioplasty. All patients were followed for six months regarding the occurrence of MACE, and the HbA1c level was measured again at the end of the sixth month of follow-up. In the case of MACE, the subjects were considered the case group, and other non-MACE patients were included in the control group. Results 505 patients remained in the study at the end of follow-up. MACE occurred in 23 (4.6%) patients during the first month and in 57 (11.3%) patients by the end of the sixth month. Baseline HbA1c was an independent predictor of MACE and mortality at the end of month-6 (P = 0.008 and 0.001, respectively). Conclusions The level of HbA1c at the time of admission has a significant predictive value for the occurrence of MACE in diabetic patients who undergo PCI. However, post-PCI glycemic control may not effectively reduce the risk of MACE in this population. Clinical trial registration Not applicable.

Abstract Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by social, behavioral, and cognitive impairments. Several comorbidities, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysregulations, are frequently reported in ASD children. Although studies in animals have shown the crucial role of the microbiota in key aspects of neurodevelopment, there is currently no consensus on how the alteration of microbial composition affects the pathogenesis of ASD. Moreover, disruption of the gut–brain axis (GBA) has been reported in ASD although with limited studies conducted on the Mediterranean population. In our study, we aimed to investigate gut microbiota composition in Lebanese ASD subjects, their unaffected siblings, and a control group from various regions in Lebanon using the 16 S-rRNA sequencing (NGS). Our study revealed a lower abundance of Turicibacter and a significant enrichment on Proteobacteria in the ASD and siblings’ groups compared to the controls, indicating that gut microbiota is probably affected by dietary habits, living conditions together with host genetic factors. The study also showed evidence of changes in the gut microbiome of ASD children compared to their siblings and the unrelated control. Bacteroidetes revealed a lower abundance in the ASD group compared to controls and siblings, conversely, Catenibacterium and Tenericutes revealed an increased abundance in the ASD group. Notably, our study identifies alterations in the abundance of Turicibacter and Catenibacterium in ASD children suggesting a possible link between these bacterial taxa and ASD and contributing to the growing body of evidence linking the microbiome to ASD.

Abstract The research aimed to evaluate the antioxidative and antibacterial characteristics of aqueous sumac extract on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus through in-vitro and in-vivo study. Sumac extract has been obtained through the soaking method, and its antioxidant properties were gauged using the DPPH free radical scavenging method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of sumac extract was determined on S. aureus obtained from hospitalized patients, as well as an assessment of biofilm-formation and the release of bacterial intracellular compounds. in vivo experimentation involved injecting bacteria (108 cfu/ml) into mice, which subsequently manifested indicators of symptoms of infection, and the number of bacteria within their bloodstream was quantified. The Sumac extract demonstrated strong antioxidant properties at concentrations of 1000 mg/ml. Furthermore, the agar tests for the gram staining, mannitol, coagulase, and DNase revealed that 190 cultured bacteria samples were identified as Staphylococcus aureus. These bacteria were resistant to clindamycin, ciprofloxacin, and methicillin antibiotics, but sensitive to erythromycin and penicillin antibiotics. Additionally, the bacteria displayed significant methicillin resistance and formed a strong biofilm (65.78%). The sumac extract showed a MIC range of 125–1000 µg/ml against Staphylococcus aureus. Treatment with concentrations above the MIC was found to prevent the formation of biofilm and increase the release of bacterial intracellular compounds. Sumac extract led to a decrease in bacterial count in the blood of mice and reduced signs of infection. Sumac extract demonstrated powerful antioxidant and antibacterial effects against resistant microorganisms, suggesting its potential as a promising compound for the treatment of resistant infections in future research.

ObjectiveThe higher the level of corruption in a society, the greater the number of justifications for immoral actions and behaviors. Therefore, companies that operate in highly corrupted environments face a weaker financial reporting system. The current research aims to explain various types of financial corruption and investigate their relationship with financial misstatements. Based on the theoretical foundations, three dimensions of administrative-operational corruption, administrative corruption, and political corruption were identified, and their components and indicators were explained.MethodsThe research employed a survey method with a cross-sectional design. The statistical population of the research included faculty members, financial managers, and members of the public accountant community. The sample size comprised 193 individuals, and the data were collected using a researcher-designed questionnaire. To check the validity of the questionnaire, content validity was used and to measure its reliability, Cronbach's alpha method was used. SPSS and AMOS software were used to test the hypotheses.ResultsThe results indicated a direct and significant relationship between the commercial and political aspects of corruption and financial misstatements. However, no significant relationship was found between the administrative-operational dimension and the financial misstatements. Moreover, the results of the regression analysis indicated the presence of positive and significant relationships between the dimensions of commercial and political corruption indicators and financial misstatements. In addition, the results of Structural Equation Modeling showed the acceptability of the collected data and the fit of the conceptual model of the research.ConclusionIt can be argued that corruption in hiring employees and managers alone is not a sufficient factor for the occurrence of corruption and, consequently, distortion in financial statements. However, corruption in the employment of managers and employees can lead to distortions in financial statements through embezzlement, receiving bribes, extortion, influencing company tenders, fraud by managers, and conflict of interests. Also, the results showed that connection with political parties and dependence on the government, connection with special customers and not dealing with new customers and ethnocentrism can lead to distortion in financial statements. This type of communication not only affects the financial resources of the companies but also motivates the managers to provide reports and financial statements under the opinions of the government. Furthermore, on one hand, bribery through management collusion with other people can lead to the concealment of facts and provide misleading financial statements by lengthening and complicating financial reports. In addition, management can distort financial statements through manipulation of financial reports and fraud for personal gain. On the other hand, purchasing goods, materials, and services needed by the company's employees from institutions or companies in which they or their relatives have interests can increase the cost of goods and services, thereby reducing profits. Embezzlement also leads to illegal changes in the company's assets and liabilities. These changes can have serious effects on the accuracy and reliability of financial reporting. Moreover, extortion by employees can lead to the removal of customers and suppliers of raw materials of the company, hence the financial statements are also subject to change. Based on the results of the structural equation model, the indicators used to measure the existing variables have appropriate factor loadings and can be used to measure the variables of administrative corruption, commercial corruption, political corruption, and distortion in financial statements. Also, the results indicate the impact of financial statements on commercial corruption and political corruption.

The implementation of the Fundamental Reform Document of Education (FRDE) has been one of the significant issues of the education system in our country in the last decade. FRDE, similar to all educational policies and reforms, is affected by the adaption process and is not necessarily implemented according to policymakers’ intentions.The aims of this study is to understand and explain the meaning made by school principals of their role during the implementation of FRDE and investigates how to implement the transformation document. This qualitative study was conducted using the phenomenology method and based on the cognitive framework of sensemaking. Data was gathered through semi-structured and in-depth interviews with 8 public high school principals in four district 3, 6, 7, and 13 of Tehran. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Data analysis method of Miles et al. (2014) led to the formation of three main theme categories “ambiguty”, “documentary”, and “individual and situational factors”. Finding illuminates, the ambiguity of FRDE’s text and how it is transitioning to practice. The requirement to act in such a situation leads principals to make another sense of their role and they perceive themselves as documenters. In light of the findings, forming this meaning was affected by individual factors including same-old and to-no-avail attempts, as well as situational factors including the extent of applying, rules and regulations, and value position. According to the findings, despite the efforts made to implement the FRDE in schools, the main purpose of the implementation of it has not been achieved. The attention of policymakers to the factors that shape sensemaking can help in designing educational policies and more effective implementation.

In law and jurisprudence (fiq’h), the basis, conditions, and duration of the option have been examined. The less discussed matter is the scope of the said option, which raises questions on its plausibility about unilateral juristic acts (Iqa’) and revocable contracts. In this research, by analyzing the basis of the option, it is proved that in principle the said option is possible in all types of contracts unless it is contrary to the contract’s quiddity. This option is not limited to irrevocable Contracts. In unilateral juristic act (Iqa’), because it is effective for two sides of the act, it is possible to use the option. Also, even though a revocable contract can be terminated at any time, its termination based on the option, due to its advantages and effects, justifies the use of the option in revocable contracts.

Recently, non-thermal technologies have emerged as a means to ensure the safety of agricultural products while also promoting plant growth and reducing pathogenic and chemical contamination of seeds. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of various treatments on the germination characteristics of alfalfa seeds. The experiment utilised a completely randomised design with five treatments and three replications, including cold plasma exposure, direct current (DC) electromagnetic field, magnetic field, and a combination of plasma exposure with magnetic and electromagnetic fields. The treated seeds were compared to the control seeds (without exposure) in terms of seedling length, germination rate index (GRI), vigor index, and seed germination. The results indicated that cold plasma treatment and a combination of plasma and magnetic field treatment significantly increased the germination rate compared to the control and other treatments. Furthermore, the combined treatment of plasma and electromagnetic fields, as well as the individual treatment with magnetic fields, resulted in a significant increase in root length and, consequently, the allometric coefficient. Non-thermal technologies are a promising approach to enhancing seed performance, particularly in terms of the rate of germination and seedling length.

Abstract Humin-sulfuric acid (Humin-SO3H) as a novel efficient biobased sulfonic acid was easily prepared by adding chlorosulfuric acid (ClSO3H) to Humin and characterized by potentiometric titration and FT-IR spectrum. Humin-SO3H is an eco-friendly, heterogeneous biobased, and efficient catalyst for Paal-Knorr and Clauson-Kaas pyrrole synthesis. The catalyst is easily recovered by simple filtration and has excellent turnover efficiency even after 4 cycles. Besides, due to the clearance of the biocatalyst away from the reaction media, the desired highly pure products can be achieved in high to excellent yields. Due to high water dispersibility, Humin-SO3H can be utilized as a highly efficient green catalyst for pyrrole synthesis.

Abstract Background: Methadone is a substance widely used in the substitution treatment of opiate addiction in pregnancy. The placental transfer of methadone influences oxidative stress processes. Melatonin is a hormone with antioxidant activity. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of melatonin on oxidative stress induced by the transfer of transplacental methadone in mice. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, 36 female mice (2 months old, 20 ± 2 gr) were divided into 6 groups (n = 6/each) of control, methadone (0.3 mg/kg intraperitoneal, single dose) and melatonin (2, 4, and 6 mg/kg/day gavage) were administered 30 min before methadone, and one group received melatonin alone (0.6 mg/kg with single injection). Administration for 10 consecutive days of the pregnancy period was done. After baby mice were born, all neonatal mice were killed by beheading or sacrificing after anesthesia. The liver tissues were extracted. The samples were then sent for studying oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, glutathione, and protein carbonyl contents. Also, we have used the immunohistochemistry method for apoptotic markers such as: BAX, Bcl2, and Caspase3 for assaying apoptosis. Results: This study has shown that methadone caused a significant decrease in glutathione concentration (p = 0.035). Also, we observed a significant increase in lipid peroxidation and protein carbonyl contents (p = 0.015, 0.025 respectively). However, melatonin treatment significantly inhibited oxidative stress markers (p = 0.025). Also, apoptosis assay has shown that melatonin could decrease BAX and Caspase 9 as apoptotic and increase Bcl2 as an antiapoptotic proteins (p = 0.015). Conclusion: Our findings have shown that melatonin has a protective effect against oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by the placental transfer of methadone via its antioxidant effects.

Abstract Introducing suitable alternatives to the existing fossil fuels can provide insightful aspects of the expected benefits. In the energy sector, the transportation system is one of the key contributors to fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas productions. To elaborate on the performance of each introduced alternative, two perspectives are considered; short-term and long-term evaluations. In the short outlook, the PROMETHEE method is used for evaluation. Six scenarios are introduced based on the technical, economic, social, and policy criteria and each scenario benefits from different weights. In this scheme, the impacts of evolutions in the battery applications in the vehicles are investigated. Based on the short-term study, CNG and gasoline are considered the best options for the fuels of vehicles in Iran by taking into consideration the current situation. By viewing the technical and economic criteria, it was concluded that the Li-Ion battery provides better performance in comparison with gasoline in the long run. By 2040, the number of EVs will reach 10% of the overall vehicle production. It is obtained that the benefits of the electrical vehicles’ presence as the alternative to the internal combustion vehicles can provide growing interest in this outlook from 2.02 × 106 US$ in 2025 to 17.55 × 108 US$ in 2040.

Payment clearing is important to ensure that the payment is transferred or the cash from one bank account moves to the other bank. The banking system in Iraq follows two sorts of clearance systems which are the IBCS (Inter Bank Clearing System) and C-ACH (Check Automated Clearing House System). Though the Central Bank of Iraq (CBI) has already modernized the payment clearing systems, the country’s banks still use the interbank clearing systems. In this background, the current study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to compare and contrast the IBCS and C-ACH systems so as to understand the benefits and disadvantages associated with these two clearance systems and identify the optimal one. For this study, the researcher used secondary data available from the CBI for the study period between 2018 and 2022. The collected data was analyzed for descriptive statistics and correlation to validate the hypotheses. The Mann Whitney U test and independent sample T-test were conducted in the study. From the study outcomes, it is clear that there exists a significant difference between the systems’ performance in terms of number of transfers in dollars and Iraqi dinars as well as the distribution of bank transfers through checks in dollars and Iraqi dinars. Between the systems (IBCS and C-ACH) under study, the C-ACH system gained prominence with the highest number of transfers and the distribution of bank transfers through checks. The study results confirm the increasing penetration of the electronic clearing system while the policy makers in the government and decision makers at the CBI must devise strategies to bring all the participant banks in the country under a unified clearing system so that the end consumer gains benefits in terms of cost, time, data security, ease and so on.

Imaging is a vital component of the diagnostic and early detection processes for many medical disorders. However, the noise in the images can sometimes interfere with the accuracy of the diagnosis. Speckle noise, Poisson noise, salt and pepper noise, and Gaussian noise are a few instances of these disturbances, which are produced by imaging techniques and reduce diagnostic accuracy as well as image quality. Noise reduction methods, such as spatial filtering and transformational domain filtering, have a lot of problems when dealing with various kinds of noise. With the growth of deep learning, especially generative adversarial networks, the capabilities of image noise reduction are even superior to those of traditional techniques. This study compares the efficacy of GAN techniques with traditional de-noising techniques and illustrates the effects of various noise sources on medical imaging. Besides that, it describes how the GAN accomplishes the noise reduction task in medical imaging by discussing its advantages, uses, and efficiency in comparison to other techniques. The study's outcomes revealed a new approach to using GAN to filter out the noise in medical images and the possibility of utilizing this technique in real-world cases to generate accurate diagnosis and analysis. But, in addition to that, it serves as a passageway to more in-depth research that focuses on medical image enhancement and patient healthcare.

Abstract Background PPHN is a common cause of neonatal respiratory failure and is still a serious condition and associated with high mortality. Objectives To compare the demographic variables, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcomes in neonates with PHHN who underwent ECMO and survived compared to neonates with PHHN who underwent ECMO and died. Methods We adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline and searched ProQuest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus and Nature for studies on the development of PPHN in neonates who underwent ECMO, published from January 1, 2010 to May 31, 2023, with English language restriction. Results Of the 5689 papers that were identified, 134 articles were included in the systematic review. Studies involving 1814 neonates with PPHN who were placed on ECMO were analyzed (1218 survived and 594 died). Neonates in the PPHN group who died had lower proportion of normal spontaneous vaginal delivery (6.4% vs 1.8%; p value > 0.05) and lower Apgar scores at 1 min and 5 min [i.e., low Apgar score: 1.5% vs 0.5%, moderately abnormal Apgar score: 10.3% vs 1.2% and reassuring Apgar score: 4% vs 2.3%; p value = 0.039] compared to those who survived. Neonates who had PPHN and died had higher proportion of medical comorbidities such as omphalocele (0.7% vs 4.7%), systemic hypotension (1% vs 2.5%), infection with Herpes simplex virus (0.4% vs 2.2%) or Bordetella pertussis (0.7% vs 2%); p = 0.042. Neonates with PPHN in the death group were more likely to present due to congenital diaphragmatic hernia (25.5% vs 47.3%), neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (4.2% vs 13.5%), meconium aspiration syndrome (8% vs 12.1%), pneumonia (1.6% vs 8.4%), sepsis (1.5% vs 8.2%) and alveolar capillary dysplasia with misalignment of pulmonary veins (0.1% vs 4.4%); p = 0.019. Neonates with PPHN who died needed a longer median time of mechanical ventilation (15 days, IQR 10 to 27 vs. 10 days, IQR 7 to 28; p = 0.024) and ECMO use (9.2 days, IQR 3.9 to 13.5 vs. 6 days, IQR 3 to 12.5; p = 0.033), and a shorter median duration of hospital stay (23 days, IQR 12.5 to 46 vs. 58.5 days, IQR 28.2 to 60.7; p = 0.000) compared to the neonates with PPHN who survived. ECMO-related complications such as chylothorax (1% vs 2.7%), intracranial bleeding (1.2% vs 1.7%) and catheter-related infections (0% vs 0.3%) were more frequent in the group of neonates with PPHN who died (p = 0.031). Conclusion ECMO in the neonates with PPHN who failed supportive cardiorespiratory care and conventional therapies has been successfully utilized with a neonatal survival rate of 67.1%. Mortality in neonates with PPHN who underwent ECMO was highest in cases born via the caesarean delivery mode or neonates who had lower Apgar scores at birth. Fatality rate in neonates with PPHN who underwent ECMO was the highest in patients with higher rate of specific medical comorbidities (omphalocele, systemic hypotension and infection with Herpes simplex virus or Bordetella pertussis) or cases who had PPHN due to higher rate of specific etiologies (congenital diaphragmatic hernia, neonatal respiratory distress syndrome and meconium aspiration syndrome). Neonates with PPHN who died may need a longer time of mechanical ventilation and ECMO use and a shorter duration of hospital stay; and may experience higher frequency of ECMO-related complications (chylothorax, intracranial bleeding and catheter-related infections) in comparison with the neonates with PPHN who survived.

Abstract Background Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal system. So far, no treatment has been identified that can completely cure IBD. Lactobacillus brevis is hypothesized to be beneficial in preventing inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the potential probiotic effects of live and pasteurized L. brevis IBRC-M10790 on the in vitro cell co-culture model of IBD. Methods An in vitro intestinal model was established using a transwell co-culture system of Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages. Inflammatory conditions were induced in RAW264.7 cells using lipopolysaccharide. The effects of live and pasteurized L. brevis IBRC-M10790 on inflammatory mediators and epithelial barrier markers were investigated. Results L. brevis IBRC-M10790 was able to significantly decrease the proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α) and increase the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the in vitro co-culture system. In addition, L. brevis increased adherens and tight junction (TJ) markers (ZO-1, E-cadherin, and Occludin) in Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Based on the results, pasteurized L. brevis showed a higher protective effect than live L. brevis. Conclusions Our findings suggest that live and pasteurized forms of L. brevis possess probiotic properties and can mitigate inflammatory conditions in IBD.

Strawberry production in California, the leading producer in the United States, relies on effective field treatments such as cutting runners (stolon) to enhance crop productivity. Manual runner cutting is laborious and costly, motivating the exploration of robotic solutions. This paper presents a deep learning-based approach for runner detection in strawberry plants using RGB images. A two-step framework is proposed, involving a segmentation network to create runner masks and an object detection network to recognize and localize runners. The methodology was evaluated on RGB images of three strawberry cultivars (Monterey, Cabrillo, and Albion), and the results demonstrated the effectiveness of the deep-learning models. The Albion cultivar showed the highest accuracy, emphasizing the influence of cultivar and imaging settings on model performance. Further research is recommended to investigate the relationship between imaging settings and model performance and explore avenues for improvement. The findings contribute to the development of an autonomous runner-cutting robot, offering potential labor-saving technology for strawberry growers.

The purpose of this research was to assess the impact of different doses of Daphnetin (DAP, a natural compound derived from coumarin) on hippocampus neuronal injury, neurobehavioral function, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, expression of claudin-5, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and inflammatory markers in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. Cerebral ischemia was induced in mice through 30 minutes of bilateral common carotid occlusion (BCCAO), followed by 48 hours of reperfusion. The viability of hippocampal neurons was assessed using Cresyl violet staining and BBB function was determined by measuring Evans blue (E.B) dye leakage. Spatial memory was tested using the Radial Arm Water Maze (RAWM) task. Claudin-5 and BDNF were measured by immunofluorescence, while SOD, interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) expression were determined through western blotting. Administering DAP significantly increased neuron survival in the hippocampus CA1, CA3, and dentate gyrus (DG) regions and improved spatial memory dose-dependently (P

Sclerosing encapsulating peritonitis (SEP), or abdominal cocoon syndrome (ACS), is an uncommon disorder marked by a thick fibrotic membrane that completely or partially envelops the small bowel. For surgeons, preoperative diagnosis is difficult and challenging. The majority of documented, diagnosis were made during a laparotomy. We present a case of SEP that was diagnosed preoperatively. The patient had a complete small bowel obstruction that necessitated urgent surgery. We review the literature and discuss the causes, clinical manifestation, and management of the condition.

Given the importance of learning collocations, this study investigated the effectiveness of three types of mind maps, namely, bubble, double-bubble and multi-flow maps, on the comprehension and production of collocations. The participants were 120 upper-intermediate level male learners of English at Qalam institute in Tehran, who ranged from 15 to 18 years of age. This study used convenience sampling based on availability. A pretest was used to ensure the participants’ unfamiliarity with the selected items. The participants belonged to four classes, each class being assigned to one treatment condition (one control and three experimental groups). All the groups had 12 treatment sessions, and in each session, eight collocations were introduced to the participants. After the treatment, two posttests of comprehension and production were given to all the participants, and the collected data were analyzed using two one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) procedures. In both comprehension and production tests, the bubble and double-bubble map groups performed significantly better than the control group. Although there was a meaningful difference between the multi-flow map and the control group in the comprehension of collocations, there was no meaningful difference in the production of collocations. These results can have important implications for language teachers, curriculum designers, and educational policy makers.

Discharge of pharmaceutical wastewater into surface and underground water has harmful effects on human health and living organisms, even in low concentrations. For this reason, pharmaceutical wastewater treatment is very important. In this research, wastewater treatment of Aria Pharmaceutical's Fluoxetine production unit was studied using γ-alumina catalysts. The catalyst was synthesized using the co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, EDX, and BET methods. In the synthesis of γ-alumina catalyst, aluminum nitrate was used as a precursor, and sodium carbonate was used as the precipitating agent. The central composite design method was used to design experiments and to model and optimize the wastewater treatment using catalytic ozonation. In addition, the effect of the operating parameters on the catalytic ozonation process of Fluoxetine-containing wastewater, including the inlet ozone concentration, the amount of the catalyst, and reaction time, were investigated. Based on the obtained results, a significant agreement was observed between the experimental data of COD removal for wastewater and the values predicted by the CCD method. The results of the Pareto analysis showed that among the studied operational parameters, the reaction time, the amount of catalyst, and the initial concentration of ozone are the most effective parameters on the COD removal with percentages of 35.58%, 34.64% and 10.87%, respectively. Finally, by optimizing the process, the maximum value of COD removal of 92.13% was obtained experimentally for pharmaceutical wastewater using catalytic ozonation process in the reaction time of 30 min, the amount of catalyst of 1 g/L and the ozone concentration of 30 mg/L as optimal conditions.

This paper presents experimental investigations on buried Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) pipes with a diameter of 1400 mm. The tested pipes were buried in dense, gravelly sand and subjected to traffic loads to study the effects of backfill cover on pipe deflection. The experimental program included tests on three GRP pipes with backfill covers of 100 cm, 75 cm, and 50 cm. The maximum traffic loads applied to the pipe–soil system corresponded to Iraqi Truck Type 3 (AASHTO H type). Vertical deflections of the pipes were monitored during the application of these loads. The experimental results showed that, as the backfill cover increased, the maximum vertical deflection of the pipe decreased. Deflection reductions were 38.0% and 33.3% when the backfill increased from 50 cm to 100 cm and from 50 cm to 75 cm, respectively. A 500 mm compacted backfill cover was found to be sufficient to resist traffic loads, with the vertical deflection percentage remaining below the allowable limit. Additionally, the behavior of the GRP pipes under different traffic load configurations was analyzed using finite element (FE) analysis with Plaxis 3D. The model was validated using field data. The study investigated numerous variables impacting the behavior of embedded pipes, including pipe material, pipe thickness, backfill properties, backfill depth, and the properties of the soil beneath the GRP pipe. The deflections of the steel pipe were lower than those of the GRP pipe when using different thicknesses.

Background: Bleeding during nose surgery is very important, because it can cause a problem in the surgeon's field of view and lead to an increase in the probability of surgical complications. The aim of this study was to compare the local effects of tranexamic acid and phenylephrine on bleeding in rhinoplasty. Methods: The present study is a double-blind clinical trial in which 98 patients who were candidates for rhinoplasty Shiraz were randomly divided into 49 groups of phenylephrine and tranexamic acid. In the first group, 1 cc of phenylephrine and in the second group, 1 cc of tranexamic acid was used locally and then the variables in the two groups were compared. The current study was approved by the Iranian Clinical Trial Registration Center with code IRCT20201205049602N1. Results: The average blood pressure and heart rate in the phenylephrine group first increased and then decreased, but in the tranexamic acid group decreased from the beginning to 30 minutes. Based on the results of the test, there was a difference between the two groups in terms of the amount of bleeding, and a statistically significant relationship was observed. The average bleeding volume was lower in the phenylephrine group (p

Background and purpose: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive and malignant brain cancer with the highest mortality and low survival rates. To discover a more specific and efficient treatment for GBM, we synthesized and examined the cytotoxic effect of arazyme-interleukin-13 (Ara-IL13) fusion protein on GBM cells. Experimental approach: At first, the araA-IL13 chimeric gene in the pET28a (+) vector was designed and synthesized. After transformation into Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), the chimeric gene was verified by colony polymerase chain reaction. Expression optimization and purification of the AraA-IL13 fusion protein was performed and subsequently evaluated by 10% SDS-PAGE. The protein was purified and concentrated using the Amicon® Ultra- 15 centrifugal filter unit. The presence of AraA-IL13 was investigated by the western blotting technique. The enzyme was evaluated for proteolytic activity after purification on skim milk agar. The cytotoxic effect of the AraA-IL13 fusion protein was evaluated by MTT assay on U251 and T98G cell lines in vitro. Findings/Results: The chimeric protein had no proteolytic activity on skim milk agar despite high expression. Furthermore, no cytotoxic effect of this fusion protein (up to 400 μg/mL) was observed on the U251 and T98G cell lines. Conclusion and implications: The lack of proteolytic activity and cytotoxic effect of AraA-IL13 may be due to the disruption of the three-dimensional structure of the protein or the large structure of the arazyme coupled with the ligand and the lack of proper folding of the arazyme to make the active site of the enzyme inaccessible.

Background and purpose: Nowadays, herbal medicine has been utilized to treat various diseases such as cancer, which showed successful therapeutic efficacy in previous studies. This study for the first time evaluated the cytotoxic potential of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) alone and in combination with doxorubicin (DOX), a well-known potent anti-tumor agent, on the proliferation of prostatic cancer cell line (PC3). Experimental approach: The cytotoxicity and apoptotic activities of CIN and DOX, either separately or together, were determined on PC3 cells by the MTT test and Annexin V/PI assay, respectively. To further investigate which apoptotic pathway participated in cell death a collection of prominent markers of apoptosis induction including caspase-3/7 activations, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and phosphatidyl serine translocation were detected. Findings/Results: The different concentrations of CIN and DOX significantly inhibited the proliferation of PC3 cells in a concentration-dependent way within a 24-h treatment. In addition, the induction of apoptosis by CIN was accompanied by an increase in the activation of caspase-3/7 in PC3 cells with IC50 concentrations of 12.5 and 10 μg/mL for CIN and DOX, respectively. Moreover, the morphological observations obtained from flow cytometry MMP and caspase-3/7 activity assays, altogether, revealed the potential effect of CIN on apoptosis induced in PC3 cells by DOX. Conclusions and implications: Taken together, the current study concluded that the combination of CIN and DOX could lead to the production of a potential therapeutic agent for prostate cancer. However, further in vivo and clinical studies are still needed to validate this combination in prostate cancer therapy.

Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM) process is considered as one of the ultimate famously process used in the components production like tools of surgical, dies, punch and aerospace. The EDM technique perform on the control of loss metal principle according to power as thermal-electric through the electrode and blank piece. Alloy steel (X210) was selected as a workpiece, whereas copper electrodes selected by in different angled electrodes (0°, 22.5°, 45°, 67.5°, and 90°). The technique of composite design (CCD) was applied in this work and accomplish (ANOVA) was concluded to consider the highly important variables. The experimental results show that the material removal rate is accelerate at highest value using Angle of Electrode (E A 67.5°) and (I 30A). Electrode Wear Rate (EWR) can be attained using (E A 22.5°) and (I 20A).Thickness of White Layer (WLT) is increased at (E A 22.5°) with enlarge current at maximum magnitude (30 A), minimize WLT is obviously at (E A 45°) and current is (15A). An optimization technique was utilize to conclude of optimal parameters at maximize MRR and consequently reduce EWR. The optimum values for the responses such as MRR and EWR with optimum value are gained with the following parameters: (E A 22.5°), (I 27), (P-on299) and (P-off 50).

In this work, the AA6063 Al alloy was processed by cooling at four different conditions. The impact of the type of cooling method on the corrosion behavior of the produced alloys after 1 and 24 h in 3.5% NaCl solutions was carried out. Various electrochemical measurements, such as cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP), chronoamperometric, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements, were employed. The CPP data revealed that the intensity of corrosion of the alloys is highly influenced by the cooling method. The change in the chronoamperometric current at −650 mV (Ag/AgCl) over time indicates the possibility of pitting corrosion, particularly after 24 h, where the recorded currents showed a continuous increase over time. The scanning electron microscopy images taken for the surfaces of the alloys after corrosion confirmed that the lowest deterioration occurring on the surface was for the AA6063 alloy that was quenched in water. The EIS plots also demonstrated that AA6063 alloy exhibits different corrosion resistances when different cooling methods are applied. All measurements indicated that the corrosion resistance increases in the following order: the quenched alloy in water > the air-cooled alloy > the furnace-cooled alloy > the as-received alloy. The exposure for 24 h decreases the corrosion damage of all alloys via the formation and thickening of a top layer of corrosion products on its surface over time.

Abstract Background Moral reasoning in nursing is crucial in delivering high-quality patient care and fostering increased job satisfaction among nurses. Adhering to professional values is vital to this profession, and nurses must modify their actions to align with these values. Objective This study aimed to examine the correlation between moral reasoning and professional values among undergraduate nursing students. Research design A descriptive correlational design was recruited. Participants and research context The research was conducted at three nursing schools located in Tehran, Iran. The sample was recruited through random stratified sampling, specifically targeting undergraduate nursing students. The data collection tool comprised a three-part questionnaire, including a demographic information form, the Nursing Dilemma Test, and the Nurses Professional Values Scale Revised Questionnaire. The distribution of questionnaires encompassed both face-to-face and electronic methods. The analysis of data was conducted using SPSS 16 software. The data was analyzed using the independent samples t-test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and linear regression analysis. The P value of 0.05 was considered significant. Ethical considerations The Ethics Research Center of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences approved the study. Findings Data analysis showed that moral reasoning was directly correlated to professional values (r = 0.528, p

Trichotillomania is a clinical psychiatric manifestation involving significant hair loss in association with recurrent hair-pulling behavior, the etiology of which is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic and environmental and behavioral contribution to trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) and to relate the findings to contemporary theories about the etiology. This was a descriptive correlational and twins study design. 672 twins (MZ=474; DZ=202) were selected from Iranian twins associations in 2018. The Massachusetts General Hospital Hair-pulling Scale(1995) and the Self-Report of Zygosity were used as research instrument. Twin modeling methods were employed to decompose the variance in the liability trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder) into additive genetic and shared and non-shared environmental factors. The data was analyzed by SPSS, STATA and M-plus. Univariate model-fitting analyses showed that genetic factors accounted for approximately 64% of the variance in TTM. The best extracted model for TTM was the DE model. The correlation coefficient results indicated that the correlation rate was 0/61 and 0/31 in MZ and DZ group respectively. It can be concluded that TTM phenotype is the results of a polygenetic. There is no intermediate despite of the dominance effect and it results from a gene-gene interaction or a dominant gene.

Objective(s): Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the main causes of infertility in women. This study was conducted to uncover the effects of lupeol as an anti-androgenic triterpene on experimentally-induced PCOS in mice. Materials and Methods: Eighty immature female mice were divided into 4 groups: Control (C), PCOS (P), Lupeol (L), and Flutamide (F). PCOS was induced in test groups by injection of Dehydroepiandrosterone (60 mg/kg/day, IP) for twenty days. Following the PCOS induction, the two groups of L and F were treated with lupeol (40 mg/kg/day) and/or flutamide (10 mg/kg/day) respectively and the two groups of C and P received sesame oil (0.1 ml/mouse/day) for 15 days. After the treatment period, ten animals in each group were selected for collecting blood and ovary samples. In vitro fertilization assessment was carried out on 10 remaining mice in each group. The hormonal assays and oxidative stress biomarker determination were performed on serum and tissue samples. Moreover, histopathological analyses were conducted on the ovaries.Results: PCOS-elevated concentration of LH and Testosterone was significantly (P

Abstract Aim To determine the effectiveness of functional stress testing and computed tomography angiography (CTA) for diagnosis of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods and results Two-thousand nine-hundred twenty symptomatic stable chest pain patients were included in the international Collaborative Meta-Analysis of Cardiac CT consortium to compare CTA with exercise electrocardiography (exercise-ECG) and single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for diagnosis of CAD defined as ≥ 50% diameter stenosis by invasive coronary angiography (ICA) as reference standard. Generalised linear mixed models were used for calculating the diagnostic accuracy of each diagnostic test including non-diagnostic results as dependent variables in a logistic regression model with random intercepts and slopes. Covariates were the reference standard ICA, the type of diagnostic method, and their interactions. CTA showed significantly better diagnostic performance (p

Abstract Vegetation density extraction is influenced by the characteristics of satellite images, vegetation type, classification algorithm, and region, but there is little information about multispectral imaging (MSI). Studying the compatibility of the information content of sensors to replace sensors in areas where there is no easy access to their data is necessary for remote sensing (RS) studies. This study aims to assess the suitability of MSI from Sentinel-2 and Spot-5 satellites for generating pasture density maps. The Middle Kashkan watershed in the Lorestan Province of Iran was the study area. Geometric correction of the images was performed using ground control points (GCP) and the area's digital elevation model, achieving an accuracy of 0.21 pixels or better. Supervised classification techniques including parallelogram, minimal distance, maximum likelihood, and artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms were applied to the primary MSI of each satellite, as well as the integrated image of Spot-5 and the resulting pasture density map. Three density categories were considered: 5–25%, 25–50%, and over 50%. To validate the accuracy of the classification, a ground truth map of the region was created by interpreting a referenced official digital orthophotomosaic image at a scale of 1:40,000. Comparative analysis of the classified images revealed that the Sentinel-2 image with PCA-2-8 band composition and ANN classification algorithm yielded superior results, with an overall accuracy of 65.72% and a kappa coefficient of 0.08, compared to the Spot-5 image with PCA-3-1 band composition and the ANN classification algorithm. Spot-5 satellite images demonstrated greater effectiveness in generating pasture cover maps across the three density categories. These findings suggest that satellite images with suitable spatial and spectral resolution can be effectively utilized for generating accurate pasture density maps and monitoring long-term pasture preservation, particularly in regions characterized by high aerial photography altitudes in pasture areas. This approach holds the potential for effective pasture management and conservation efforts on a global scale.

Acoustic levitation is the only method capable of suspending samples with different material properties and geometries, even in the liquid phase. Despite its widespread applications, droplet levitation still has a problem controlling the droplet’s position due to initial oscillations before reaching stability. This research investigates the effects of droplet physical properties, such as viscosity, radius, and density, on droplet oscillation amplitude. For this purpose, numerical simulations that apply the effect of the mentioned properties with acceptable accuracy and precision results were conducted using COMSOL Multiphysics 6.1 commercial software. The unique feature of using a simulation is the ability to study the effect of each parameter independently from the rest of the properties, which is not directly possible in experimental tests. The results emphasize the direct influence of viscosity on droplet oscillation amplitude. They also demonstrated that elevated viscosity leads to a decrease in droplet oscillation amplitude. In addition, increasing the density because of the added weight decreases the droplet amplitude. The droplet radius effect is more complicated because it is associated with two opposite effects. Increased droplet radius has the same effect as viscosity because of weight addition. On the other hand, a larger droplet's radius enlarges the cross-section and leads to a weak increase in droplet amplitude.

Introduction: The Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal (MOJ) (ISSN 1985-2533 / 2232-111X) is the official publication of the Malaysian Orthopaedic Association (MOA) and the ASEAN Orthopaedic Association (AOA). In May 2007, MOA published the first standalone issue of MOJ with the aim of disseminating new knowledge and providing updates in orthopaedics, trauma and musculoskeletal research. Since then, MOJ has grown significantly, achieving indexing in numerous databases and attaining a 2nd Quartile (Q2) rank in the Scopus database in 2022. This bibliometric analysis aims to explore the trends and distribution of articles published in MOJ. Materials and methods: Bibliometric data for MOJ was extracted from the SCOPUS database, covering the years from its indexing to 2022. Information such as authors, country, document type, author’s keywords, citations, and other parameters were extracted using the bibliometrix package in the R Studio software. The data were then presented in tables and illustrative graphs using the same software. Results: A total of 305 articles were retrieved from the Scopus database during the study period. Two-thirds of the articles were original articles and review articles. The highest number of citations received by an article is 56, and top ten articles in MOJ were authored by researchers from seven different countries, highlighting the journal’s diversity. Despite receiving submissions from various countries, there is minimal collaboration between authors of different countries. Keywords such as “covid-19” and “pandemic” dominate the authors’ keyword section due to the once-in-a-life-time COVID-19 which during the study period, resulting in numerous publications related to this issue. Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis reviews all the articles indexed in the Scopus database and provides insight into the contributors’ information and the trends in orthopaedic research. By identifying the lack of collaboration between countries, it is hoped that this analysis can inspire more orthopaedic surgeons and researchers to collaborate and produce high-quality publications.

Background and purpose: Cyclophosphamide (CP) is an alkylating anticancer drug and one of the most successful drugs with a wide range of clinical activities. This drug has toxic effects on most organs, especially kidney tissue. Piperine, as a flavonoid, has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the antioxidant effect of piperine (PIP) on nephrotoxicity following cyclophosphamide (CP) by tissue, serum, and histopathological biochemical evaluation. Materials and methods: In this experimental study, 48 adult male BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks and weighing 30-35 grams were divided into 6 groups, the control group (C), the group receiving cyclophosphamide (CP) with a dose of 200mg/kg, the group receiving piperine (Pip) with a dose of 5mg/kg, the group receiving piperine (Pip) with a dose of 10mg/kg, the group receiving cyclophosphamide and piperine at a dose of 5mg/kg (CP+Pip) and the group receiving cyclophosphamide and piperine with A dose of 10mg/kg (CP+Pip) was used. CP was administered on the third day of the study. Piperine was prescribed for 7 days in the form of pre-treatment and post-treatment. On the eighth day of the study, histochemical (GSH and MDA), histopathology, and serum biochemical evaluations were performed. Then, the data were analyzed with GraphPad Prism software one-way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests. Results: CP induced oxidative stress with a significant decrease in GSH level (P

Autism is one of the most common neuro-developmental disorders that can influence an individual’s cognitive and linguistic abilities. Since it is necessary to make use of both cognitive and language abilities in narrative discourse, autistic individuals face a challenge in narrative production and comprehension. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the space domain, as one of the inseparable components of each narrative, and in a broader context, narrative discourse in children with high-functioning autism and normal Persian-speaking children. To this end, the representation of some components of space such as predicates (including static, active, active-accomplishment, and semelfactive) and spatial grounds (including nouns and pronouns) in the narrative discourse of children with high-functioning autism and normal children was studied based on Hickman (2004) and Roberts, Barjastefc Delforooz and Jahani's classification (2009).

Abstract To identify factors associated with post-recurrence survival (PRS), we examined our institutional recurrence patterns following definitive resection for rectal cancer. We reviewed all patients with rectal cancer diagnosed at three hospitals in the east of Iran from 2011 to 2020. The optimal cut-off value was determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis to determine early recurrence. The effect of recurrence time was evaluated on PRS. 326 eligible patients with a mean ± SD age of 56 ± 12.8 years were included in this study. In a median (IQR: Inter-quartile range) follow-up time of 76 (62.2) months, 106 (32.5%) patients experienced at least any recurrence (locoregional or distant metastasis) following primary resection. The median (IQR) time from initial surgery to recurrence was 29.5 (31.2) months. Based on ROC analysis, early recurrence was specified at ≤ 29 months. However, for the patients who experienced only locoregional recurrence, 33 months was the cut-off to define early recurrence. Recurrence time and recurrence management were both significant variables on PRS. Moreover, TNM staging was significantly associated with early recurrence (P = 0.003). In this research, recurrence time, recurrence management and TNM staging were found to be correlated with PRS.

Soil samples were collected from Sangaw, Qadir Karam, and Takiat Gabbary sites of Chamchamal agricultural soil Sulaymaniya Governorate, Northeastern Iraq. The heavy metals Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Cd, Zn, Pb, As, and Mn. in Eighteen soil samples were studied and used as an indicator for pollution by using many indices such as the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), pollution ecological risk (Er), and risk index (RI). The results showed that the heavy metal concentration values were as follows: Mn> Ni> Zn> Cr> Cu> Pb> Co> As> Cd. The CF data showed that the soil in the study area has low contamination with Co, Cr, Cu, and Mn and moderate contamination with Ni, Pb, Zn, and As. Also, the soil samples are considerably contaminated by Cd and As in the Qadir Karam site. According to the results of Igeo, the soil was unpolluted for Co, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, and Mn, while being unpolluted to moderately polluted for Cd and As. The EF calculation results indicated that Co, Cr, Cu, and Mn have deficient to minimal enrichment, and have moderate enrichment for Ni, Pb, and Zn, while, for Cd and As is significant enrichment. According to the Er values, all the heavy metals in the studied sites reflect a low potential ecological risk. The risk index (RI) value is classified as moderate ecological risk for heavy metals in all sampling sites.

Abstract Background: Since thyroid hormones have an essential role in energy production, early development of the human placenta, embryo development, and implantation, abnormalities in thyroid function can significantly affect pregnancy outcomes. Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of higher thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels in the normal range in euthyroid women with unexplained infertility. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, we evaluated the data for 300 euthyroid women aged between 18 and 39 yr with normal TSH levels ( ≤ 5 mIU/L) referred to Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Yazd, Iran from December 2018-March 2021 in 2 groups: the case group (with unexplained infertility) and the control group (with male factor infertility). Finally, age, body mass index, and serum levels of TSH were extracted from participants' medical records and compared between groups. Results: The mean age and TSH level of participants were 31.52 ± 3.52 yr and 1.24 ± 2.59 mIU/L, respectively. 142 women (47.3%) had TSH < 2.5, and 158 women (52.7%) had TSH ≥ 2.5 mIU/L. The women with unexplained infertility had significantly higher TSH levels than controls in the same normal range (0.62 vs. 0.64 mIU/L, p < 0.001). Although a more significant proportion of women in the case group had TSH levels > 2.5 mIU/L, we did not find a significant association between TSH levels and age or body mass index. Conclusion: Women with unexplained infertility have a higher level of serum TSH in the normal range ( ≥ 2.5 mIU/L) than the control group. So, the effect of TSH treatment on these women should be considered.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) as a multifactorial disorder is associated with non-communicable diseases. The dietary approaches to stop hypertension (DASH) diet is a healthy dietary pattern. We investigated the effect of the DASH diet on fatty liver and cardiovascular risk factors in subjects with MetS. Methods 60 Subjects with MetS were assigned into the intervention group (DASH diet) or the control group (a healthy diet). Fatty liver index (FLI), hepatic steatosis index (HSI), waist circumference (WC), weight, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) were evaluated at the beginning and after intervention. Equations of fatty liver indices such as FLI and HSI are based on liver enzymes, anthropometric variables, sex and having diabetes. Results 30 subjects in the intervention group and 29 subjects in the control group completed the study. We found a significant reduction in the intervention group compared to the control group in FLI (-13.06 ± 10.03 vs. -2.90 ± 6.82;P

Abstract In this study, zinc oxide nanoparticles (Zn-NPs) were prepared by the green synthesis method and loaded inside niosomes as a drug release system and their physicochemical and biological properties were determined. Zn-NPs were prepared by the eco-friendly green strategy, the structure, and morphological properties were studied and loaded into niosomes. Subsequently, different formulations of niosomes containing Zn-NPs were prepared and the optimal formulation was used for biological studies. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to investigate the morphology and size of nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV–Vis were used to confirm the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS) determined the elemental analysis of the Zn-NPs synthesis solution and the crystalline structure of Zn-NPs was analysed by XRD (X-Ray diffraction). Furthermore, Zn-NPs were loaded inside the niosomes, and their structural characteristics, entrapment efficiency (EE%), the release profile of Zn-NPs, and their stability also were assessed. Moreover, its antimicrobial properties against some microbial pathogens, its effect on the expression of biofilm genes, and its anticancer activity on the breast cancer cell lines were also determined. To study the cytocompatibility, exposure of niosomes against normal HEK-293 cells was carried out. In addition, the impact of niosomes on the expression of genes involved in the apoptosis (Bcl2, Casp3, Casp9, Bax) at the mRNA level was measured. Our findings revealed that the Zn-NPs have a round shape and an average size of 27.60 nm. Meanwhile, UV–Vis, FTIR, and XRD results confirmed the synthesis of Zn-NPs. Also, the EE% and the size of the optimized niosomal formulation were 31.26% and 256.6 ± 12 nm, respectively. The release profile showed that within 24 h, 26% of Zn-NPs were released from niosomes, while in the same period, 99% of free Zn-NPs were released, which indicates the slow release of Zn-NPs from niosomes. Antimicrobial effects exhibited that niosomes containing Zn-NPs had more significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects than Zn-NPs alone, the antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects increased 2 to 4 times. Cytotoxic effects indicated that when Zn-NPs are loaded into niosomes, the anticancer activity increases compared to Zn-NPs alone and has low cytotoxicity on cancer cells. Niosomes containing ZnNPs increased the apoptosis-related gene expression level and reduced the Bcl2 genes. In general, the results show that niosomes can increase the biological effects of free Zn-NPs and therefore can be a suitable carrier for targeted delivery of Zn-NPs.

Abstract Introduction Assessing critical thinking disposition is crucial in nursing education to foster analytical skills essential for effective healthcare practice. This study aimed to evaluate the cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Persian version of the Critical Thinking Disposition Scale among Iranian nursing students. Method A total of 390 nursing students (mean age = 21.74 (2.1) years; 64% female) participated in the study. Face and content validity were established through feedback from nursing students and expert specialists, respectively. Construct validity was assessed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA was used to explore the number of factors and the items that were loading on them. The CFA was used to confirmed the fidnings of the EFA on the same sample. Convergent and discriminant validity were examined, along with reliability through internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results EFA revealed a two-factor structure, comprising “Critical Openness” and “Reflective Skepticism,” explaining 55% of the total variance. CFA confirmed the model’s fit (χ² = 117.37, df = 43, χ²/df = 2.73, p

Background: The breast, being a highly radiosensitive organ, is exposed to scattered radiation during brain computed tomography (CT) scans. This study aims to estimate the lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of female breast cancer resulting from brain CT scans. Method: 90 women participated in this cross-sectional study. The LAR of breast cancer incidence was estimated based on health risks associated with exposure to low levels of ionizing radiation, as per the BEIR VII Phase 2 guidelines. The absorbed dose to the breasts was measured using thermoluminescence dosimeters, and the effective dose was calculated from the dose length product. All brain CT scans were conducted using a 16-slice scanner (SOMATOM EMOTION). Statistical analysis involved the Mann-Whitney test to compare the means of breast dose, effective dose, and LAR at a significance level of 0.05. Results: The mean age of the participants was 40 ± 22 years, with an age range of 10 to 83 years. The average dose to the breasts without and with shielding was 0.26 ± 0.19 mGy and 0.096 ± 0.13 mGy, respectively (P < 0.05). The effective dose was 0.85 ± 0.35 mSv without shielding and 0.79 ± 0.32 mSv with shielding (P = 0.539). The maximum LAR was 5.41 cases per 100,000 persons aged 10-15 years without shielding. The average LARs were 1.16 and 0.41 breast cancer incidences per 100,000 persons with and without shielding, respectively (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The LAR of breast cancer in brain CT scans is significant and should not be overlooked. The use of breast shielding can substantially reduce this risk. Therefore, it is recommended to employ radioprotective shields to cover the breasts during this type of scan.

The ratification of treaties in Iran is the scene of confrontation between two distinct legal systems. In this conflict, any inconsistent interpretation of the foundations of these legal systems results in different legal effects. In fact, the dichotomy between Sharia law and the constitution with the principles of international law, which can be seen in treaties, imposes certain legal requirements on the executive and legislative branches, and the recognition of these requirements depends on the opinions of the guardian council in reviewing international instruments to complete the country's foreign policy in the field of international agreements. The main question of this research is to examine the legal requirements governing bilateral or multilateral agreements, which is written in a descriptive-analytical method. From the total opinions of the guardian council, two substantive and structural rules can be taken in the review of the approvals, which narrate the procedure of this council in examining the emerging issues of international law, which ultimately led to the protection of the people's rights.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, attention to patient safety is important in providing hospital services, and any failure to do so can have adverse consequences. Safety is one of the most salient rights of patients when receiving health services. The purpose of this study was to evaluate personnel perspectives on patient safety culture in Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Hamadan, Iran. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out on 101 medical personnel of Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Hamadan in operating rooms, intensive care, endocrine surgery, pulmonary, and emergency surgery in December 2019. Patient Safety Culture Survey Standard Questionnaire was used to assess patient safety culture. The first part of the questionnaire contained demographic information and the second part contained 42 questions. The results were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULTS: 27.7% of the study participants were operating room personnel. 36.6% (n = 37) of personnel were men and 63.4% (n = 64) were women. In terms of attitude toward patient safety in different parts of the hospital, the operating room received the highest score (143), and the emergency room the lowest score (124). CONCLUSION: Increasing attention to the patient safety culture will lead to the development and advancement of the country's hospitals and will lead them to a patient-friendly hospital. Moreover, the lower average dimensions in this study should be considered in order to enhance these dimensions.

Introduction Family caregivers play a crucial role in elderly care worldwide, with approximately 80% of the elderly receiving care from family members (Given et al., 1999). Historically, family members have been the primary support system for the elderly, especially during periods of physical decline. However, the growing elderly population and increasing life expectancy have placed disproportionate demands on both families and formal care infrastructures. A significant aspect of elderly care is the financial burden associated with medical expenses, which has become more pronounced in the current climate of inflation and economic instability. While extensive research on aging in Iran exists (Ahmadi et al., 2014; Parvai, 2019; Rezaie-Kahrodi, 2018; Zanjari, Sadeghi, and Delbari, 2018; Farhadi et al., 2015; Askarindooshan, Rouhani, and Abedidiznab, 2018; Mohammadi, Dabaghi, and Yadavar Nikroosh, 2016; Razghi Nasrabad, 2014), social research on elderly care issues remains relatively limited (Kososheshi, 2010; Koosheshi, et al., 2013; Modiri and Koosheshi, 2021). Consequently, the challenges faced by family caregivers require further exploration. Understanding the process of elderly care and its impact on various aspects of caregivers' personal and family life can be a complex and multifaceted issue (Charalambous, 2023). Therefore, it is imperative to scientifically investigate the dimensions of social care, socio-economic characteristics of caregivers, and expectations and challenges they face within the socio-cultural framework of Iranian society. This study focused on the experiences and challenges of family caregivers providing elderly care in Yazd, Iran. It analyzed the financial and economic pressures on caregivers and examined how Iranian families manage these constraints based on a field study conducted in Yazd. Materials & Methods This qualitative study employed a grounded theory approach to explore the experiences of 22 family caregivers in Yazd, Iran, each responsible for at least one elderly family member. In-depth interviews served as the primary data collection method. The study utilized purposeful and theoretical sampling strategies to select participants. Data analysis followed a systematic approach involving open, axial, and selective coding. The results were organized into main categories and subcategories to facilitate the identification of patterns and relationships within the data, thereby enhancing understanding of the phenomenon under study. The analytical process yielded 41 subcategories, which were further consolidated into 8 main categories. This structured approach allowed for a comprehensive examination of the caregivers' experiences and the challenges they faced in providing care for elderly family members. Discussion of Results & Conclusion This study identified "Monetization in the treatment/care system" as the central phenomenon. The analysis revealed several key components: Causal conditions: 'care economics' and 'financial constraint' Background conditions: 'financial security' Intervening conditions: 'inadequacies in the treatment system' Strategies: 'financial balance' and 'levels of access to treatment' Consequence: 'quality of access to treatment' The core category emerging from this analysis was "Care Conditional on Money." In our paradigm model, economic factors as causal conditions directly impacted families' abilities to cover care costs. Financial security, a background condition, played a crucial role in determining access to medical care. The main phenomenon, monetization in the treatment/care system, demonstrated how financial capacity influenced care and treatment decisions. Inadequacies in the treatment system served as intervening conditions, creating challenges for families caring for the elderly. The strategies of financial balance and treatment access levels reflected families' efforts to manage care costs effectively. The consequence, quality of access to treatment, illustrated the direct impact of financial security on the level and quality of medical services received. This model underscored the complex interplay between economic factors and healthcare access in elderly care, highlighting the critical role of financial resources in determining the quality and extent of care provision. The rapidly growing elderly population in Iran necessitates addressing their needs, particularly economic issues. The quality of life and health status of the elderly are inextricably linked to financial security. Family care driven by emotional bonds often proves more effective than professional care. Globally, family support is recognized as essential for elderly individuals with chronic conditions, highlighting the need for complementary formal and informal support systems. Financial resources can mitigate many challenges associated with elderly care. The high costs of hospital stays, treatments, medications, medical equipment, and consultations create significant burdens for family caregivers. This is particularly pronounced for elderly individuals requiring continuous rehabilitation therapies and lacking health insurance. Moreover, the expenses associated with nutritious meals and essential medicines are difficult to manage without economic stability. Consequently, many families rely on public health services or neglect necessary treatments. The findings of this study demonstrated that financially stable families could access better medical services, leading to improved treatment outcomes and health monitoring. Conversely, financially strained families often resorted to lower-quality government services, resulting in treatment delays. These disparities significantly impacted both the health of the elderly and the self-esteem of caregivers. The role of financial stability in ensuring quality care and caregiver well-being was evident. Therefore, policy measures to expand insurance coverage and provide financial support were crucial for improving care quality and reducing caregiver burdens. Further social research is needed to comprehend the multifaceted aspects of elderly care within the Iranian cultural context. Future studies should build upon earlier findings to inform care policies and plans for the growing elderly population. In conclusion, addressing the economic challenges of elderly care is paramount in ensuring the well-being of both the elderly and their caregivers. A comprehensive approach that combines financial support, improved healthcare access, and culturally sensitive policies is essential to meet the evolving needs of Iran's aging population.

Background: This study investigates the impact of blue light-emitting diode (LED) lighting on the physiological responses of Wistar rats. The circadian system plays a vital role in regulating physiological functions, allowing organisms to anticipate and adapt to environmental rhythms. The synchronization of endogenous circadian clocks with external cues, such as light-dark cycles, is essential for optimal performance. However, emerging technologies, like blue LED lighting, present new challenges to circadian rhythms, highlighting the need for continued research in this area. Methods: The study, approved by the Animal Ethics Committee, involved a total of 12 male Wistar rats, which were divided into two groups: a Control group and a blue light (BL) treated group, each consisting of six rats. The BL model was established by subjecting the rats to 12 h of BL exposure daily for a period of 3 months. Half of the rats were sacrificed at the end of this period, while the remaining rats were transitioned to normal light (NL) conditions for another 3 months before being euthanized. Blood and tissue samples were collected for analysis, including measurements of body weight, blood glucose, insulin, melatonin, lipid profile, as well as messenger RNA expression by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and global DNA methylation by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The study found that BL exposure led to a higher monthly increase in body weight, elevated blood glucose levels, and decreased insulin and melatonin levels compared to controls. BL also caused a decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of Period1, Cryptochrome1, and brain and muscle arnt-like protein 1 (Bmal1) in blood and hypothalamus, with significant upregulation upon returning to NL conditions. BL exposure induced hypermethylation in DNA sequences, which partially reverted after returning to NL conditions. Conclusion: Our study reveals the broad impact of BL/artificial light contributing to a higher incidence of obesity and metabolic disorders. With the rise of blue-rich LED lighting, more research is needed to understand its long-term effects on health. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between BL exposure and metabolic health, emphasizing the importance of informed decisions regarding lighting technologies to mitigate potential health risks.

This article aims to illuminate temporality in value determination and stratification of value and price in the transformation of value into price. This leads to an understanding of value-relocating through the two concepts presented in this study: current-value-relocating (CVR) and integrated-value-relocating (IVR). Based on Marx’s exploration of the labor process and social reproduction and focusing on two components of a commodity’s value and the relation between the individual and aggregate level, the article seeks to propose a non-linear conception of temporality in value determination, which justifies the application of simultaneous equations in value determination. Furthermore, through the depiction of the stratification of value and price, the study insists on retaining the relations among their components in different layers. Lastly, the research attempts to explain all price-value deviations at the aggregate and individual levels in two forms: CVR and IVR.

Background & objectives: The current investigation was carried out to evaluate the expression of MicroRNAs miR-193, miR-122 and miR-155 and lipid profile in antimony-susceptible and resistance patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis. Methods: Lesion and blood samples were collected from 27 antimony-resistance and 27 antimony-susceptible patients. mRNA was extracted and synthase to the cDNA using commercial kits according to the manufacturers’ guideline. The expression of miR-193, miR-122 and miR-155 were evaluated using Real-Time PCR technique. The serum lipid profiles were measured by enzymatic methods. Results: Our results indicated that the expression of miR-193, miR-122 and miR-155 was significantly higher in antimony-susceptible patients. The results of current study indicated that downregulation of miRNAs is coupled with low serum LDL-C and triglyceride. Interpretation & conclusion: The downregulation of miRNAs and decrease in lipid levels may be one of the mechanisms of the parasite to escape from host immune system.