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The purpose of this research is the value-added model of the supply chain of petrochemical industries with a sustainable development approach. According to its purpose, the research method is applicable, qualitative-quantitative in terms of implementation, and survey in nature. The statistical population of the research includes 25 managers and experts in the petrochemical industry, and the sampling was done as available judgment, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation. The tool for gathering information is an interview. To collect and analyze data, Delphi technique was used to identify components. MATLAB software was used for data analysis. In the library analysis, 16 main components were identified and entered into the Delphi technique, and finally all were confirmed. These sixteen criteria are political factors, cultural factors, legal factors, financial factors, individual factors, management factors, information sources, implementation, review, feedback analysis, performance evaluation factors, risk concepts, identification of environmental issues, identification of health issues, learning Issues of safety, and added value in the supply chain of petrochemical industries with a sustainable development approach. These components were leveled based on interpretive structural technique, and they formed a model in 7 levels. The proposed model leads to the improvement of the economic and commercial performance of companies due to optimization of processes, reduction of wastage, improvement of product quality, and reduction of costs. Considering the variety of issues such as safety, health, environment, and social standards; this value-added model of the supply chain helps to realize sustainability and continuity. Extended Abstract Introduction The supply chain value-added model is an analytical tool used to measure the value that each element or process in the supply chain adds (Fernández-González et al, 2023). This model is especially used in operations management, production planning, and supply chain performance improvement. In this model, added value is measured by the amount that each activity or step in the production or supply process adds to the final product. By focusing on adding value at each stage, this model helps companies to identify their weak points and implement the necessary improvements in the production and supply processes. The benefits of using this model include improving efficiency and reducing waste in the supply chain, improving communication and coordination between supply chain members, and increasing the competitiveness of companies (Duncan et al, 2019). Considering the importance of establishing an efficient and optimal supply chain, it is vital to use the value-added model of the supply chain to improve performance and better manage processes (Baumgartner, 2014; Alamroshan et al, 2021; Jalil et al, 2021). Its sustainability and performance have attracted the attention of the world (companies and researchers) since 1992, which coincides with the Rio de Janeiro summit (Figge et al, 2002). It has slowly but surely led to changes in global economies. It includes several aspects, including economic, social, environmental, and political, not only at the macro level, but also at the micro level (Mio et al, 2022). This issue forces companies to include sustainability in their strategies. To achieve and adapt goals related to sustainability requirements, companies usually rely on methods to formulate, implement, and monitor their systems in terms of environmental, social, and economic aspects (George et al, 2018; Bastas & Liyanage, 2018). One of the important aspects in this model is the assessment and control of environmental effects (He et al, 2021; Ghalandari et al, 2023). Considering the various processes of the petrochemical industry that may have many environmental impacts, the use of this model helps managers to reduce negative effects and identify opportunities for environmental optimization. In this approach, it is also important to pay attention to social values ​​such as establishing appropriate work standards, maintaining the health and safety of workers, and supporting local communities (Jassem et al, 2021). This model helps companies embed social values ​​in their supply chain and contribute to sustainable development through actions such as developing local skills or improving working conditions (Goli et al, 2022; Khan et al, 2022). Theoretical Framework Value added model A value-added model is an analytical model used to measure the amount of value that each step of a process or a supply chain adds to a product or service (Salari, 2021). Supply chain model Supply chain is a strategic model that includes all the activities and processes required to supply raw materials, manufacture, distribute and provide products or services to customers (Sadeghi & Ghasemi, 2021). This model represents an organization or industry as a network consisting of suppliers, producers, distributors and customers (De & Giri, 2020). Sustainable development approach Development and sustainability is one of the relatively new concepts in the world development literature, and was first used in the United Nations Summit under the title of Human Environment in Stockholm in 1372. Sustainability is an effort to achieve the best results in human and natural environment programs carried out for the present and indefinitely for the future. Sustainability is a local, conscious, collaborative and balanced process implemented in a balanced ecological environment without exporting its problems to the surrounding areas or leave it on the shoulders of future generations (Asadiyan, 2023). Mirshekar et al, (2024) investigated the design of supply chain scenarios and how it affects the relevant variables in the National Company of South Oil-bearing Regions. The results of the investigations showed that the excessive increase in the sending capacity, the increase in the volume of orders, and the decrease in the time of sending the orders will have their own positive and negative results; which the creation of a favorable and optimal situation based on the various outputs of the model will be fruitful in the context of the organization's policy adopting. Samiei et al, (2023) investigated the identification of financial benefits and costs of sustainable supply chain under conditions of uncertainty in manufacturing companies admitted to the Tehran Stock Exchange. The results showed that the number of 30 articles, 210 codes and 24 concepts were extracted from the selected articles, which include the capability of the order process management process, the capability of the customer relationship management process, the capability of the demand management process, the capacity and capability of the resource management process, time to market, buyer credit, electronic platforms, coordination and cooperation in the supply chain to improve service performance, synchronization of financial decisions, sharing of innovative information related to finance, supplier relationship management process capability, service performance management process capability, interdepartmental interaction of supply chain companies, inventory financing, product innovation, reverse factoring, cash flow incentive alignment, supply chain working capital, bank credit for supply chain financing, supplier integration, recycling management, supply chain disruption risk, supply chain transportation management, changes in estimates and their basis as sources and costs of the sustainable supply chain under conditions of uncertainty. Research methodology The research method is applicable in terms of its purpose, qualitative-quantitative in terms of implementation, and survey in nature. The statistical population of the research includes 25 managers and experts in the petrochemical industry, and the sampling was done as available judgment, and the interviews continued until theoretical saturation. The tool for gathering information is an interview. To collect and analyze data, Delphi technique was used to identify components. Research findings MATLAB software was used for data analysis. In the library analysis, 16 main components were identified and entered into the Delphi technique, and finally all were confirmed. These sixteen criteria are political factors, cultural factors, legal factors, financial factors, individual factors, management factors, information sources, implementation, review, feedback analysis, performance evaluation factors, risk concepts, identification of environmental issues, identification of health issues, learning Issues of safety, and added value in the supply chain of petrochemical industries with a sustainable development approach. These components were leveled based on interpretive structural technique, and they formed a model in 7 levels. The proposed model leads to the improvement of the economic and commercial performance of companies due to optimization of processes, reduction of wastage, improvement of product quality, and reduction of costs. Considering the variety of issues such as safety, health, environment, and social standards; this value-added model of the supply chain helps to realize sustainability and continuity. Conclusion The present research was carried out with the aim of the value-added model of the supply chain of petrochemical industries with a sustainable development approach. The results of this research corresponds with the results of Mirshekar et al, (2024), Samiei et al, (2023), Ghalandari et al, (2023), Karimi et al, (2022), Bayat et al, (2022), El-Sheikh & Lukman (2022), and Sangbor et al, (2022). Ghalandari et al, (2024), showed that continuity of improvement processes, feedback analysis and performance evaluation focusing on sustainability indicators can help to achieve the best performance in the supply chain. According to the results of the research, the following suggestions were presented: Political factors: Analyzing and predicting political-economic developments in the countries of operation, communicating with government institutions, and determining strategies to deal with political developments can be helpful. Cultural factors: Deep understanding of local culture in target countries and matching strategies and approaches with cultural values ​​and beliefs can help improve performance and interactions. Legal factors: following up and complying with local and international laws and regulations, creating solutions to adapt to legal changes, and maintaining compliance with standards and regulations can be efficient.

The building sector emits over one-third of anthropogenic global greenhouse gas emissions annually. New construction alone threatens to consume the remainder of existing carbon budgets. Therefore, immediate actions are urgently required to mitigate these emissions. The current urban planning paradigm favours densification. However, it remains unclear how densification policies have influenced the embodied carbon emissions (EC) of new residential developments. This study evaluates residential development trends and associated EC across six urban regions in Finland between 2000 and 2021. Quantitative methods are used to compare and assess comprehensive building data with state-of-the-art whole-life carbon data. Although densification in many Finnish urban environments has reduced floor area per capita, it has also increased EC intensity in residential development by 5–10%. Spatial analysis further reveals that higher average emissions intensities occur in areas of high-volume development. These higher EC intensities are attributable to changes in housing construction and a corresponding decline in timber construction. Policy relevance As a significant portion of emissions is already generated before a new building is even in use, future policies must account for the temporal impact of EC from new construction activities. Given their substantial authority over land-use governance, municipalities need policies to reduce the environmental burden of new construction. These policies include assigning carbon limits for all new buildings and mandating quotas for low-carbon construction material use in new zoning plans. Municipalities should also more actively enforce mandates for low-carbon construction before land leases or transfers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the impact of Kinesio tape (KT) on the viscoelastic properties of the lower limb, specifically stiffness and damping, before and after a fatigue protocol. KT is a commonly used therapeutic intervention believed to prevent injury, yet the available evidence on its effectiveness remains limited. Methods: In this pre-post study, fifty healthy participants underwent countermovement jumps before and after a fatigue protocol. The study assessed the body's viscoelastic behavior under two conditions: with and without Kinesio tape (KT) applied to the gastrocnemius muscle, in both fatiguing conditions. Results: The findings revealed a notable reduction in lower limb damping among male participants after fatigue in the condition without tape. Conversely, in the condition with tape, there was no significant change in damping, indicating that KT may prevent the significant decrease in lower limb damping induced by fatigue. Conclusion: The study offers evidence supporting the beneficial effects of KT in maintaining shock absorption capacity post-fatigue. These benefits may stem from KT's potential to enhance muscular activity and contraction force. Given that muscles act as primary shock absorbers, KT application could bolster their ability to dampen sudden impact forces post-exhaustion, potentially lowering the risk of impact-related injuries. These findings advocate for the use of KT as a preventive measure.

Renal cavernous hemangioma is a rare benign tumor. This case report describes a 44-year-old male who was incidentally found to have a renal mass during an abdominal and pelvic ultrasound. The patient's abdominal ultrasound revealed a mass, which was further evaluated with a CT scan. The CT findings suggested renal cell carcinoma. Suspecting malignancy, the patient underwent radical nephrectomy. Histopathological and immunohistochemical examinations ultimately diagnosed the mass as a cavernous hemangioma. Despite its benign nature, the patient was followed up with a control ultrasound three months post-surgery. This case is presented due to the significant clinical and radiological resemblance of this tumor to renal carcinomas, highlighting the importance of considering benign tumors in differential diagnoses.

Wood-based construction (WBC) has gained prominence as a sustainable alternative to traditional construction, offering significant environmental benefits such as carbon storage and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Its importance lies in its potential to contribute to climate change mitigation while supporting economic growth and innovation in the construction industry. Therefore, understanding the drivers and challenges of WBC is essential for its future development. This study, at the first stage, conducted a literature review to identify the key drivers and challenges associated with WBC, categorizing them into environmental, technical, economic, and perception and policy aspects. Then, based on these findings, we conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with WBC experts from Finland in the construction industry, public administration and academia to compare theoretical perspectives with practical insights. Results revealed that literature often focuses on matters such as life-cycle assessments, policy development, and renewable resource management. On the other hand, interviewees emphasize practical concerns like technical feasibility, economic viability, and client perceptions. Climate considerations are acknowledged by interview participants as important but are often viewed as external expectations rather than core business drivers. This study highlights the gap between academic research and industry practice.

In Europe, buildings account for 40% of the energy consumption and produce 36% of CO2 emissions. Renovation could be a great tool to decarbonize the building stock since it allows for a decrease in the operational energy required for buildings and is less material-consuming than new construction. Further benefits are brought by the usage of bio-based insulation materials that can drastically reduce embodied emissions and transform structures into factual carbon sinks. This study focuses on a particular kind of biogenic material, mycelium-wood composites, consisting of organic matter bound by the root structure of fungal organisms. This innovative insulation material was compared with traditional ones for the renovation of the building stock, with a focus on vertical components like walls in the Helsinki metropolitan area. To characterize mycelium-wood composites, density and carbon content information were gathered from the samples realized in the Politecnico di Milano MaBa.SAPERLab, while the production processes were included in a SimaPro model to obtain the GWP value. Different scenarios were then defined by two variables: the renovation rate of the building stock and the market penetration of mycelium-wood composites. For each scenario, the overall GWP and CO2 stored values were calculated. Results show the great potential of the innovative material that grants carbon storage in the building stock that could even surpass the amount stored in the 32,500 ha of forest in the area. However, this possibility is heavily influenced by factors independent of the type of insulation used that should be further investigated.

Statement of the Problem: It is stated that engine-driven instruments might cause dentinal defects during root canal preparation. These defects might spread and progress into greater fractures or vertical root fracture. Purpose: This study aimed to compare the incidence of dentinal defects that might arise all through preparation of root canals, using One Shape, RaCe, and WaveOne systems in canals with a curvature (0-20°) and (20-40°). Materials and Method: In this in vitro study, 150 mandibular first molars were enrolled. Based on the degree of curvature in the mesial roots, the samples were divided into two groups (n=75) of straight and moderately curved canals (0-20º), and severely curved canals (20-40°). Then each group was randomly divided into four sub-groups. In subgroups 1 to 3 from each group, canals were prepared using WaveOne, One Shape, and RaCe. Then all roots were sectioned at 3, 6 and 9-mm distances from the apex. The slices were evaluated using stereomicroscope at 12× magnification. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests and the level of significance was set at 0.05. Results: Fracture and other defects were not found in the control groups. In canals with curvature (0-20°), WaveOne caused the maximum dentinal defects and RaCe produced the least. Moreover, in canals with curvature (20-40°), One Shape caused the maximum dentinal defects while WaveOne and RaCe caused equal dentinal defects approximately. Conclusion: There was a statistically significant relationship between the performance of RaCe and One Shape in canals with curvature (0-20º) and (20-40º), (p Value< 0.05) while no statistically significant difference was observed in connection to the performance of WaveOne (p> 0.05).

Introduction: Hamstring injuries are one of the most common tendon injuries, especially in sports that require running and jumping. A comprehensive training program can help athletes to prevent this injury. Among suggested exercises, the Nordic eccentric training can reduce the injury rate by up to 50%; however, it is a high-load exercise that cannot be prescribed in the first stages of rehabilitation. Here, we describe a football player who used low-load resistance exercise with blood flow restriction as an alternative method to strengthen their hamstring after nine months of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction surgery. Case Description: A 19-year-old non-professional footballer with a body mass index of 22.18 kg/cm2 was invited to participate in this study. The variables examined included strength and cross-sectional area of the hamstring muscles (mean and maximum strength) and the cross-sectional area of the hamstring tendons at their origin. The treatment program included a seated hamstring curl with a load of 30% 1 RM with blood flow restriction for four weeks (thrice a week). Results: The hamstring muscle strength improved by 6.54%, and the cross-sectional area of the muscles and tendons changed as follows: Semimembranosus (tendon=0.07%, muscle=2.57%), semitendinosus (tendon=0.00%, muscle=-4.04%), and biceps-femoris (tendon=5.5%, muscle=4.34%). Conclusion: Low load resistance training with blood flow restriction in this athlete improved the strength and cross-sectional area of the hamstring muscles as well as the cross-sectional area of the tendons. The changes observed in tendon, and muscle cross-sectional areas were more prominent for biceps-femoris. This case showed that a training program with blood flow restriction may be a good alternative for people who cannot tolerate high-load exercises in the early stages of their rehabilitation. Doing more extensive studies with more cases and a control group in the future can help our knowledge in giving the best exercise prescription to our patients.

Abstract Background Components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was reported to contribute to severe and worse outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Hereby, we evaluated the association of MetS and its components with susceptibility to COVID-19. Methods Here, 1000 subjects with MetS were recruited that were diagnosed via the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criterion. Real-time PCR was exerted to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the nasopharyngeal swabs. Results Among the MetS patients, 206 (20.6%) cases were detected to have COVID-19. Smoking (OR = 5.04, 95%CI = 3.53–7.21, P

Abstract Background Rotator cuff tear (RCT) is one of the main causes of shoulder pain and dysfunction. Rotator cuff repair (RCR) is a common surgical procedure for the management of RCTs. Presence of myofascial trigger points (MTrP) as a result of surgical procedure can aggravate postoperative shoulder pain. The purpose of this protocol is to describe a randomized controlled trial design to evaluate the effect of implementing 4 sessions of myofascial trigger point dry needling (MTrP-DN) within a multimodal rehabilitation protocol following RCR surgery. Methods Forty-six participants aged 40–75 will be recruited having postoperative shoulder pain after RCR and meeting the inclusion criteria. Participants will be randomly divided into 2 groups: One group will undergo MTrP-DN, manual therapy, exercise therapy and electrotherapy and the other will receive sham dry needling (S-DN), manual therapy, exercise therapy and electrotherapy. This protocol will cover 4 weeks of intervention. The primary outcome measure will be the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) for pain. Secondary outcome measures will be Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPDI), range of motion (ROM), strength and adverse events. Discussion This is the first study to investigate the use of 4 sessions of MTrP-DN in combination with a multimodal rehabilitation protocol for postoperative shoulder pain, restriction, weakness and dysfunction following RCR. The results of this study may help to determine the effect of MTrP-DN on various outcomes after RCR surgery. Trial registration This trial was registered at the ( https://www.irct.ir ), (IRCT20211005052677N1) on 19/2/2022.

Abstract The present study tries to propose a new method which is using Central deference Kalman Filter (CDKF) as input index of deep machine learning (DML), for simulating state estimation and broken rotor bars (BRBs) diagnosis in induction motors (IMs). In addition, an advanced selective ensemble (DML) method applying the grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm to diagnose the BRBs in IMs is proposed in the following study. Here, in the initial step, in order to take sufficient datum within the usual efficiency, it is needed to train the DML network. The outcomes indicate that the offered scheme can more accurately and powerfully detect diverse forms of BRBs with an accuracy of more than 98%. And also, Filter precision is enhanced via changing the sigma points of the filter, however, the stability of the filter enhances more because of its utilization, and the CDKF is further stable and precise in comparison to the Unscented Kalman filter (UKF). The CDKF performance is assessed to estimate the speed and is used as input index of DML to diagnose the broken rotor bar in IMs. The obtained outcomes prove the performance of this combined scheme.

Objectives: Dental anxiety is a common phenomenon experienced by children in the dental setting. However, there is limited research on the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions in managing this anxiety. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of a cognitive-behavioral psychologic intervention on dental anxiety in children. Materials and Methods: A total of thirty children, aged 7-10 years, underwent prophylaxis and fluoride therapy. The baseline anxiety levels of the children were determined using the Modified Child Dental Anxiety Scale (MCDAS). The intervention group (N=15) received two 30-minute sessions of cognitive-behavioral exercises. Additionally, a short film demonstrating a cooperative child undergoing pulpotomy was created and parents were instructed to show it to their children at home. During the treatment session, the exercises were reinforced at each step, and the MCDAS questionnaire was administered again. The children’s behavior was also assessed using the Venham Clinical Cooperation Scale. Independent t-test, Mann-Whitney, chi-square, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were used for statistical analysis and P

Introduction: Ultrasonography is a common tool for assessing muscle morphology. This study aims to investigate the intra-rater reliability of ultrasonography measurements of the masseter and lateral pterygoid muscles (LPM) in subjects with and without temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and to compare the measurements between the two groups. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 individuals (15 subjects with TMD and 15 subjects without TMD) participated in the study. Imaging of the masseter muscle at rest and contraction, in addition to LPM, was performed using sonography in 2 sessions with a 2-day interval and the thickness of these muscles was measured. To assess the reliability, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(3, 3)), standard error of measurement, minimal detectable change, and limits of agreement were used. Additionally, for the between-group comparison of measurements, the independent sample t-test was used. The Cohen d was used to determine the size of the differences. Results: ICC(3, 3) for intra-rater reliability of masseter thickness in rest and clenched positions and LPM were 0.89, 0.80, and 0.86 in the asymptomatic group, and 0.88, 0.80, and 0.90 in the TMD group, respectively. The values of absolute reliability parameters, such as standard error of measurement and minimal detectable change were in a small range. Additionally, compared to the asymptomatic group, the TMD group had thicker masseter muscle in the rest position and the effect size revealed a large difference between the groups. No significant differences were found between the groups for the thickness of the masseter muscle in contraction position and LPM. Conclusion: The results of the intra-reliability study revealed that ultrasonography is a reliable method to measure the thickness of the masticatory muscles in TMD subjects and asymptomatic subjects. Additionally, TMDs can change the thickness of the masticatory muscles.

Abstract Background The etiopathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) stem partially from the abnormal activation of the innate and adaptive immune systems. Here in the current investigation, the mRNA expression levels of toll-like receptors (TLRs) were evaluated in the nasopharyngeal epithelial cells from COVID-19 patients. Methods Epithelial cells were obtained using nasopharyngeal swab samples from 90 COVID-19 patients and 50 controls. COVID-19 cases were classified into those without symptoms, with symptoms but not hospitalized, and with symptoms and hospitalized. To determine the mRNA expression levels of TLRs, first RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized, and finally Real-time PCR was exerted. Results It was seen that the transcript levels of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 were overexpressed in the COVID-19 patients with clinical symptoms needing hospitalization as well as in those with clinical symptoms without needing for hospitalization compared to controls. Upregulation of TLRs was associated with clinical presentations of the patients. Conclusions Modulation of TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9 in the epithelial cells of COVID-19 cases may estimate the disease severity and requirement for hospitalization.

Objective: To investigate the effects of orthodontic tooth movement on clinical attachment level (CAL) changes in treated periodontitis in adult patients with malocclusion. Material and Methods: Present study is based on PRISMA guidelines; all articles published in international databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Embase between 2012 to May 2022 are included. 95% confidence interval (CI) for mean difference with fixed effect modal and inverse-variance were calculated. Data analysis was performed using STATA.V16 software. Results: In the initial review, duplicate studies were eliminated, abstracts of 175 studies were reviewed, two authors reviewed the full text of 21 studies, and finally, eleven studies were selected. The mean of CAL gain was 2.29 mm (MD, 95% CI -2.47 mm, -2.12 mm; p=0.00) (I2=91.81%; p=0.00; high heterogeneity). The mean difference of PPD changes was –1.93 mm (MD, 95% CI -2.07 mm, -1.80 mm; p=0.00) (I2=98.52%; p=0.00; high heterogeneity). Conclusion: Due to the limitations of the study and based on the meta-analysis, it is observed that orthodontic treatment is performed with higher success after reconstructive surgery with periodontal improvement.

In the machine learning jargon, multi-label classification refers to a task where multiple mutually non-exclusive class labels are assigned to a single instance. Generally, the lack of sufficient labeled training data demanded by a classification task is met by an approach known as semi-supervised learning. This type of learning extracts the decision rules of classification by utilizing both labeled and unlabeled data. Regarding multi-label data, however, current semi-supervised learning methods are unable to classify them accurately. Therefore, with the goal of generalizing the state-of-the-art semi-supervised approaches to multi-label data, this paper proposes a novel two-stage method for multi-label semi-supervised classification. The first stage determines the label(s) of the unlabeled training data by means of a smooth graph constructed using the manifold regularization. In the second stage, thanks to the capability of the twin support vector machine to relax the requirement that hyperplanes should be parallel in classical SVM, we employ it to establish a multi-label classifier called LP-MLTSVM. In the experiments, this classifier is applied on benchmark datasets. The simulation results substantiate that compared to the existing multi-label classification algorithms, LP-MLTSVM shows superior performance in terms of the Hamming loss, average precision, coverage, ranking loss, and one-error metrics.

Geopolitical developments and events are always among the factors that create geopolitical opportunities and challenges for political actors, and political actors seek to make the most of geopolitical opportunities and eliminate or reduce challenges. The iraq war against iran was one of those events that, while creating geopolitical challenges for iran, also provided geopolitical opportunities for it, especially in the eastern mediterranean. As the eastern mediterranean region is considered to be iran's most important sphere of influence today, this article seeks to examine how iraq's imposed war on iran made iran's geopolitical foundations in the region meaningful and how geopolitical opportunities used it.In this article, information has been collected by library and documentary methods and analyzed descriptively-analytically. The results show that the holy defense created geopolitical opportunities for iran in the eastern mediterranean and iran was able to strengthen the foundations of expanding its strategic depth in the eastern mediterranean based on the definition of the geopolitical code of the axis of resistance by using the geopolitical foundations of the eastern mediterranean in the period of the holy defense and become its most important geostrategic region to date.

Background and Objectives: The Persian version of the forgotten joint score-12 (FJS-12) questionnaire with acceptable reliability and validity is used to measure the extent of awareness of the joint and the ability of the patient in forgetting the involved joint. This study aims to evaluate the responsiveness of the Persian version of FJS-12 among Persian-speaking subjects following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery, total knee arthroplasty (TKA), and total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Twenty-five candidates for ACL surgery, 54 subjects with TKA, and 33 subjects with THA participated in this study. They filled the FJS-12 and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities osteoarthritis index (WOMAC) questionnaires before the surgery and 7 weeks after surgery as well as after physiotherapy. For analysis, receiving operator characteristic (ROC) method and gamma correlation coefficient were used. Results: The receiving ROC area under the curve (AUC) for FJS-12 and WOMAC index was 0.77 for both, this meant acceptable value, and minimal clinically important change (MCIC) was 32.45 for FJS-12. Finally, the gamma correlation coefficient of the questionnaire was estimated at an average of 0.5. Conclusion: The FJS-12 questionnaire has acceptable responsiveness that can be used to evaluate the therapeutic effects in clinical settings.

The reduction of environmental impact in buildings and the enhancement of environmental performance in the built environment are the key objectives of sustainable development. To achieve this, the adoption of green buildings requires a comprehensive construction approach that focuses on delivering environmentally friendly solutions throughout the entire construction process. This research aims to bridge the gap between theoretical concepts and the practical realities of construction in Iran. It proposes essential criteria and assigns weights to them for creating green buildings based on the opinions of experts from different backgrounds. To understand how buildings are influenced by the environment, society and economics, relevant factors were identified using library research. Web-based surveys involving experts, including architects, engineers, and environmental specialists, were conducted to gather insights into these criteria. A total of 14 criteria were accepted and categorized into economic, environmental, and social dimensions. The Analytic Network Process (ANP) methodology was employed to assess the opinions of 45 expert participants, as provided in the questionnaire. The findings indicate that, among sustainability features, the environmental factor holds the highest significance in Iran, while the social factor is considered the least important. Looking at the sub-criteria, reducing water consumption, financial incentives, and achieving energy efficiency at a reasonable cost are given the highest priority within the environmental, economic, and social aspects of green buildings.

Purpose: Ethics is a fundamental issue in the accounting and auditing profession, and the application of IT-related approaches to the financial sciences is undeniable; therefore, the purpose of this study is to prepare a model and systematize the relationship between ethical philosophies and information technology with the moral behaviour of auditors using the ANT.Methodology: The present study is applied in terms of using the findings and qualitative in terms of the research method. It also has a developmental orientation concerning increasing knowledge and presenting a new model. The research population includes studies related to the subject with the same sample. In this regard, no sampling was done, and the sample and the population were considered the same. Then, the final model is prepared with the meta-synthesis of the sample components using the ANT approach. Finally, the importance of the model's components was confirmed by interviewing 5 experts.Findings: Results showed that human and technical actors influence auditors' ethical behaviour. Human actors generally include moral theories, and technical actors typically include information technology. Ethical theories (human actors) are also divided into two general parts: action-based theories and virtue-based theories (virtuosity). Action-based theories also include duty-based (duty-oriented), outcome-based (utilitarianism and otherism), divine-based (benevolence), and justice-based (justice-oriented). Information technology (technical actors) also includes the integrated theory of acceptance and use of advanced technology (motivation, hope for effort, and social impact). The study's overall findings showed that the components of technical and human actors have a positive and significant effect on the development of ethical behaviour in auditors.Originality/Value: Considering the importance of systematizing ethical behaviour and preparing models appropriate to the country's environment, the findings of this study, with strong theoretical and practical support, can help to understand better and accelerate the implementation of auditors' ethical behaviour and human and technical actors and shows the influential role of each one clearly.

In this study, a finite difference method is presented for longitudinal stress wave propagation analysis in functionally graded 2D plane strain media. The plane material consists of two ceramics (SiC and Al2O3) and two metals (Al 1100 and Ti-6A1-4V (TC4)) with power‐law variation for mechanical properties in terms of volume fractions of the constituents. Firstly, the governing equations of wave propagation in the functionally graded plane strain media were derived in Cartesian coordinate. It’s assumed that elastic module, density, and Poisson’s ratio are variable in all of the media. Secondly, the finite difference method was used to discretize the equations. Time step size was obtained using the von Neumann stability approach. The materials distribution effects are studied in different states and history of stress, strain, and displacement. To validate the numerical simulation, stress is compared with theoretical equations in special states. Results show that the wave propagation behavior is considerably influenced by material composition variation.

One of the main duties of political geographers is to identify and analysis geographical phenomena that affect political organization. One of the most important of these phenomena is centrifugal and centripetal forces within countries. These forces often led to the disintegration of countries or the political unification of political units. In west of Iran, Kermanshah province can play a key role in this field; because strengthening centrifugal or centripetal activities in which can have a great impact in western Iran and even neighboring provinces. Therefore, the analysis of distribution of the forces in this province has been considered as a research issue of this research.In this research, it has been used library method to collect data. Regarding data analysis, first centripetal and centrifugal forces have been identified based on a conceptual framework composed of the views of Hartshorne and Guttmann, and finally their distribution and intensity has been analyzed by qualitative method (descriptive-analytical and hermeneutic).The results show that along with the centripetal forces in Kermanshah province, factors of ethnic-linguistic, religion and ethnic symbols have theoretically provided the context of activity of centrifugal forces in this province and factors such as political thought and political-military organization has practically formed centrifugal forces in parts of the province.In general, the distribution of centripetal and centrifugal forces in the province is observed in three forms: the western part of the province with relatively high centrifugation, the central and southern regions with moderate centrifugation and the eastern region with relatively low centrifugation.

Background. The present study evaluated the antimicrobial efficacy of composite resins containing nano-silver (NAg) particles used in fixed orthodontic retainers. Methods. Nano-composite resin samples with 1%, 2%, and 5% concentrations of NAg were prepared. The antimicrobial effectiveness of NAg was assessed against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sanguis, and Lactobacillus acidophilus by the biofilm inhibition test (three-day-old biofilms), eluted components test (on days 3, 15, and 30), and disk-diffusion agar test after 48 hours. Measures of central tendency and index of dispersion were used to determine colony-forming units. Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test were also used. Results. The biofilm inhibition test showed a significant decrease in the colonies of S. mutans (87.64%, 96.47%, and 99.76% decrease), S. sanguis (98.13%, 99.47%, and 99.93% decrease), and L. acidophilus (81.59%, 90.90%, and 99.61% decrease) at 1%, 2%, and 5% concentrations of Nag, respectively, compared to the control groups. The colony-forming unit (CFU)/mL of tested microorganisms continuously decreased with increased NAg concentration. In the eluted component test, no significant differences were noted in the 3rd, 15th, and 30th days between the different concentrations of Nag-containing composite resin disks and control samples. According to the disk-diffusion agar test, there was no growth inhibition zone for the composite resin disks containing 1% and 2% concentrations of Nag. However, the growth inhibition zone was seen with a 5% concentration, with a diameter of 9.5±0.71 mm for S. mutans, 8.5±0.71 mm for S. sanguis, and 8±1.41 for L. acidophilus. Conclusion. The incorporation of NAg into composite resins has antibacterial effects, possibly preventing dental caries around fixed orthodontic retainers.

Around 40% of global energy consumption can be attributed to the construction sector. Consequently, the development of the construction industry towards more sustainable solutions and technologies plays a crucial role in the future of our planet. Various tools and methods have been developed to assess the energy consumption of buildings, one of which is life cycle energy analysis (LCEA). LCEA requires the energy consumption at each stage of the life cycle of a product to be assessed, enabling the comparison of the impact of construction materials on energy consumption. Findings from LCEAs of buildings suggest that timber framed constructions show promising results with respect to energy consumption and sustainability. In this study a critical analysis of 100 case studies from the literature of LCEAs conducted for residential buildings is presented. Based on the studied material, the embodied, operational, and demolition energies for timber, concrete and steel buildings are compared and the importance of sustainable material selection for buildings is highlighted. The results reveal that on average, the embodied energy of timber buildings is 28–47% lower than for concrete and steel buildings respectively. The mean and median values of embodied emissions are 2,92 and 2,97 for timber, 4.08 and 3,95 for concrete, and 5,55 and 5,53 GJ/m2 for steel buildings. Moreover, the data suggests that the energy supply system of residential buildings plays a larger role in the operational energy consumption that the construction material. In addition, climate conditions, insulation detail, windows and building surfaces, and building direction are the other energy use role players. Finally, it was found that the demolition energy contributes only a small amount to the total life cycle energy consumption. This study demonstrates the significance of embodied energy when comparing the life cycle energy requirements of buildings and highlights the need for the development of a more standardised approach to LCEA case studies.

Background and Aim: Conventional post-operative rehabilitation programs focus on quadriceps strengthening and knee range of motion. However, hip muscle weakness is evident in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The present trial study aimed to investigate the effects of adding early hip muscle strengthening exercises to conventional rehabilitation programs on pain, Range of Motion (RoM), Quality of Life (QoL), and physical function in patients with unilateral Total Knee Arthroplasty (TKA). Methods & Materials: The intervention was initiated from the second day after surgery and continued for 10 sessions, 3 times a week on 24 participants in the control and intervention groups. Both research groups received Transcutaneous Electrical Neural Stimulation (TENS) and Infra-Red (IR), followed by exercises. The control group performed knee extensor and flexor strengthening and RoM exercises. The intervention group conducted hip-strengthening exercises in addition. Outcome measures included pain, knee flexion, and extension RoM, and QoL using the 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, Step Test, Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and Hip and Knee Muscle Strength test. Ethical Considerations: This research was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Iran University of Medical Sciences (IR.IUMS.REC.1396.9511340012) and it was registered in the Clinical Trial Registration Center (Code: IRCT 20150314021459N6). Results: All outcome measures improved in both research groups. The improvement in the scores of pain (P=0.03), knee extension RoM (P=0.007), and TUG test (P=0.033) were significantly higher in the intervention group, compared to the control group. The strength of knee flexors (P=0.023), hip flexors (P=0.040), hip extensors (P=0.028), hip adductors (P=0.040), and hip external rotators (P=0.047) significantly improved higher in the intervention group. Conclusion: According to the present research results, both treatment approaches were effective on patients with unilateral total knee arthroplasty. Considering the better result of some of the outcome measures in the intervention group, the addition of hip strengthening exercises to knee exercises can be useful.

Background and Objectives: Patellofemoral Arthropathy (PFA) is the most common knee disorder in runners and various factors can lead to the development of its symptoms. It has been proposed that frontal plane motions of the hip and knee can raise the dynamic quadriceps angle during functional tasks. The aim of this study was to evaluate frontal plane acting hip muscle flexibility and strength differences in male sprinter runners with unilateral PFA. Methods: A total of 38 male runners complaining of peripatellar pain or showing positive unilateral patellar grind test, assigned to the normal and sound legs, and 20 matched control groups were compared in this case-control study. Participants’ hip abductor and adductor muscles strength and their flexibility were evaluated through a hand-held dynamometer and 2D motion analysis tracker software. To measure the strength, participants were positioned side-lying position, performing abduction and adduction, while a dynamometer was placed on the lateral and medial femoral epicondyle. Active and passive abduction and adduction range of motion were recorded via a camera in the supine position and the film was analyzed by the software. Results: Abductor muscle strength and abduction-to-adduction ratio on the involved side were significantly lower than the uninvolved side (P=0.029, P=0.008, d=-0.388, d=-0.459), while greater adduction and lower abduction to adduction ratio were found in the control group (P

Background: Assertiveness is one of the most important skills needed by nurses to reduce interpersonal conflict and build an effective teamwork in complex hospital environments. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an assertiveness training program on nurses’ aggressive and adaptive assertiveness. Methods: In this interventional study, participants were 64 nurses working in hospitals of Abhar city in Iran, randomly divided into two groups of intervention (n=32) and control (n=32). Assertive training program was presented as a two-day training workshop (10 hours) to the intervention group, while the control group received no training. Thompson and Burnham’s Adaptive and Aggressive Assertiveness Scale were completed by the participants in both groups at baseline, immediately, one and three months after the intervention. After collecting the data, Friedman, Mann–Whitney, Chi-squared, and Fisher tests were used for their analysis. Findings: The mean of adaptive assertiveness score was significantly different between the the two groups immediately (P=0.002) and 1 month after the intervention (P=0.025). The aggressive assertiveness scores were not significantly different immediately, 1 and 3 months after the intervention (P>0.05), but the results of Friedman test showed a statistically significant decrease in the aggressive assertiveness scores compared to its baseline score (P=0.002). Conclusion: The assertiveness training program increased adaptive assertiveness and decreased aggressive assertiveness in nurses. Relevant authorities can design continuous and useful assertiveness training programs to promot this valuable skill in nurses.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between technology use factors based on the developed unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (DUTAUT) with auditors' ethical behavior. This research is applied and descriptive-correlational and its population include various auditors of Iran, 164 of whom are selected using simple random sampling. Structural equations and Smart PLS software analysis are also used to test the hypotheses. The findings show that there is a positive and significant relationship between technology use factors based on DUTAUT, including motivational components, effort expectancy, performance expectancy, and social effects, and ethical behavior of auditors. Other findings show that there is a positive and significant relationship between motivation (64%), effort expectancy (31%), and social effects (43%) with auditors' ethical behavior at the 95% confidence level. Given that the use of technology is expanding and is in line with current social needs and increases the level of ethical behavior in auditors, it is necessary to pay more attention to it in order to increase the ethical climate in this profession.

The turbulent and dynamic environment of today's business world has become increasingly challenging for organizations operating in different business areas. In such a situation, in order to get rid of these conditions, moving forward and towards the perspective of the new horizons of prosperity and survival is the dream of many of them. In the meantime, according to the specific circumstances and requirements that govern each institution or organization, and in order to achieve their desired productivity, they use certain strategies and programs that outsourcing is one of these strategies. Today, organizations are outsourcing to boost competitive ability and profit and focus on their competitive edge. In this research, a mathematical programming approach is proposed to optimize the issue of outsourcing in the supply chain. In this approach, at first the mathematical model of the problem showed and then in order to solve the problem of the theory of Markov chains described. The objective function of the problem involves minimizing the cost of purchasing, outsourcing and lost demand. In order to solve the problem, three genetic metamorphic algorithms, gray wolves and antlion have been used. After examining the numerical expressions, Gray wolf's algorithm has the highest level of performance. In order to expand the applied dimensions of research in real-world conditions, a company (MPEICO) that manufactures insulators is considered as the case study..

Objective: Proper performance of Dachi in karate as a basic technique has a direct impact on the performance of other techniques. The aim of the present is to compare the maximum angular velocities of the hip, knee and ankle joints under different Zenkutsu-dachi movement patterns in karate athletes. Methods: Participants were 12 male karate athletes height= 175±5.5 cm; weight=75±5.5 kg, age=25±5.5 years, history=8±2.5 years). A three-dimensional motion analyzer with six synchronized infrared cameras at a video recording speed of 200 frames per second was used, and recordings were analyzed in Cortex 2.5.0 software. Zenkutsu-dachi forward movement was performed in six different patterns. The normality of the data distribution was confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk test. To test the study hypotheses, repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc test were used in SPSS V. 25 considering the significant level of P

Urban areas have experienced exponential growth since the industrial revolution and by virtue, the urban population has followed. Current projections suggest that this growth has yet to reach its peak implying that urban developments will continue to sprawl into untouched territories. This growth and subsequent sprawl will undoubtedly come at the expense of forested areas. This study presents a carbon storage factor indicator for new urban developments. It is a novel concept which integrates urban planning, land use changes and wooden construction. The factor sets a carbon storage requirement for new urban areas that are developed at the expense of forested areas. The study is conducted in four parts. First, we estimate the carbon storage potential of forest areas via existing literature and databases. Then we collect all new development and construction estimates up to the year 2050 for the whole metropolitan region in Finland. Next, we conduct scenario analyzes for different demand levels of wood in projected residential developments. Finally, we compare the carbon storage potential of the future building stock to the forest areas planned for development. The data used is provided by the regional authority. The results detail that the future residential building stock can store between 128–733 kt of carbon. The lower level implies that current construction methods can only partially preserve the carbon storage of an area in buildings. However, the higher level suggests future buildings to be able to exceed the carbon storage potential of forest areas by nearly 47 tC ha ^−1 . The study reminds that an increased use of wood is dependent on sustainable forest management practices. Furthermore, it is not our purpose to promote urban development into entirely new areas but rather encourage urban planners to consider the carbon balance when it is the only viable option.

Objective: To compare the airway changes and risks of sleep apnea after the bimaxillary orthognathic surgery and mandibular setback surgery in the growing patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion. Material and Methods: MEDLINE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, ISI, Google scholar have been utilized as the electronic databases for performing systematic literature between 2010 to August 2020. The quality of the included studies has been assessed using MINORS. Meta-analysis was performed using Stata 16 software. Results: In electronic searches, a total of 218 potentially relevant abstracts and topics have been found. Finally, 23 papers met the criteria defined for inclusion in this systematic review. The mean difference of upper airway total volume changes between before and after surgery was (MD = 1.86 cm3 95% CI 0.61 cm3-3.11 cm3; p= 0.00) among 14 studies. This result showed that after Mandibular Setback Surgery, there was a statistically significant decrease in the upper airway volume. Conclusion: Class III Patients who undergo bimaxillary surgery show no other significant difference in airways volume after surgery than patients in Class III who undergo mandibular setback alone.

Objective: To evaluate the droplets and aerosols, posing potential risks of infection transmission of COVID-19 disease in dentistry. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles between September 2019 to December 2020. Data extracted from the studies were included, study, study design, sample size, Sample collection time, Hallway Air Samples (copies/L of air), Personal Air Samples (copies/L of air). Effect size with 95% confidence interval (CI), fixed effect model, Inverse-variance methods were calculated. The Meta-analysis was evaluated with Stata/MP v.16 statistical software (The fastest version of Stata). Results: According to the purpose of the study, 64 articles were found; studies that did not meet the inclusion criteria were excluded from the study; the full text of 11 studies was reviewed. Finally, two studies were selected. The effect size of airborne COVID-19 concentrations of the hallway and personal air samples was 64% copies/L of air (ES, 0.64 95% CI=-1.45-2.73) and 100% copies/L air (ES, 1.00 95% CI=-1.77-3.76), respectively. Conclusion: Evidence of aerosol transmission of COVID-19 in observational studies of patients with COVID-19 was 64% copies/L of air and 100% copies/L of air in the hallway and personal air samples, respectively.

Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological evidence, symptoms, and transmission routes of Coronavirus Disease 19 for clinical dental care. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles until October 2020. Therefore, EndNote X9 was used to manage electronic resources. A 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, random effect model, and the REML method were evaluated. Forty-one articles were found. In the first step of selecting studies, 40 studies were selected to review the abstracts. Finally, six studies were selected. Results: The effect size of symptoms of COVID-19 was fever: 92% (ES = 0.92, 95% CI 0.79-1.06), cough: 73% (ES = 0.73, 95% CI 0.59-0.88), headache: 8% (ES = 0.8, 95% CI 0.06-0.22), myalgia 13% (ES = 0.13, 95% CI 0.01-0.27) and nasal congestion 22% (ES = 0.22, 95% CI 0.06-0.39). The following recommendations are appropriate during COVID-19 for dental emergency management: personal protective equipment and hand cleanliness practices, personal protective equipment (PPE), preprocedural mouth rinse, single-use (disposable), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and periapical (PA) radiography, Rubber dam, sodium hypochlorite for root canal irrigation, disinfect inanimate surfaces, ultrasonic scaling instruments and airborne infection isolation. Conclusion: Fever should be used as the first sign in the diagnosis; dentists should measure the fever of all patients at the time of arrival and before any procedure and then ask about other symptoms.

Objective: To determine the Dentists' practice in compliance with general and guidelines for handling Coronavirus Disease 2019. Material and Methods: PubMed, Embase, ISI, Scopus, Medicine have been used to search for articles until September 2020. EndNote X9 was used to manage electronic resources as a resource. Joanna Briggs Institute reviewer's manual (JBI) tools was used to assess the quality of studies included in the current systematic and meta-analysis review. The 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, the random effect model, and the Restricted maximum-likelihood (REML) methods have all been calculated. I2 values of more than 50% indicated moderate-to-high heterogeneity. Stata/MP v.16 (the fastest version of Stata) statistical software was used to evaluate the Meta-analysis. Results: 39 articles were found in the initial keyword search. The full text of 16 studies was reviewed, and six studies were selected in the end. 72% of participants used a face mask during the dental procedure (72%, 95% CI; 40%-100%). 63% of participants measured fever when patients arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic (63%, 95% CI; 46%-79%). Moreover, 72% of participants used a face mask during the dental procedure (72%, 95% CI; 40%-100%). According to JBI tools, all studies had a moderate risk of bias. Conclusion: The results show that the performance of dental professionals in the conditions of the COVID-19 epidemic is not favorable. Training should be under the standards of treatment guidelines and further measures so that dental professionals can show proper practice by increasing their awareness of this virus and following up on its infection.

Based on the evaluations of The Committee on the Global Financial System (CGFS), the recent crisis in the financial system has started with a sharp increase in total leverage. In this study, we are looking at the causes and means of preventing a financial crisis. We also seeks to address the impacts of different banks on the cycle of financial leverage(CFL) including accepted banks in TSE and other banks, commercial and Professionalized banks, and private and public banks. We mainly focus on GDP growth and asset volumes in CFL. First, based on the results of Granger's causality test, the causal relationships between GDP variables, asset volume and financial leverage were determined and then independent and dependent variables were determined in multivariate regression models. By using panel data (fixed and accidental effects), we examined the effect of types of banks with three main variables. Then we analyzed wealth- accumulation of 15 banks from 2009 to 2016. The findings show that GDP has a significant positive and important relationship with financial leverage, and government-owned banks have an increasingly interactive role in this regard. The results also indicate a positive and significant relationship between assets and financial leverage. Government-owned banks, banks accepted in TSE and commercial banks, have a more effective role in leverage than others when it come to the relationship between assets with a more leverage effect.By relying on these findings, we will be able to review goals of privatization, bank Professionalization and capital market development.

Background: Employee examination is one of the requirements of the occupational health care system. The present study aimed to evaluate the current health status of the staff working in an Iranian gas company to prevent, follow-up, and treat the disease. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted on the data collected from health screening of 94 service personnel in one of the gas companies in Iran. Data were collected by the 4-sheet forms of occupational examinations containing the following information: demographic data, general health status (blood pressure, smoking, allergy history, surgery, occupational accidents, body mass index), cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal, liver, kidney, gastrointestinal, clinical examination, paraclinical evaluations of the internal gland, cholesterol, triglycerides, liver enzymes, and hematopoietic system (CBC). Data were analyzed using SPSS 25. Results: All participants were male with an average (Standard Deviation) age and BMI of 42.96 ± 8.00 and26.83 ± 4.08, respectively. The participants' body mass index indicated that 45 staff (48.38%) were overweight and 15 individuals (16.12%) were in the range of obesity. The participants had history of smoking (22.3%), cholesterol above 200 (27.7%), and triglycerides above 300 (8/5%). The rate of hypermetropia, musculoskeletal disease, hypertension, high blood concentration and low blood platelets, hyperglycemia, cardiovascular disease, and kidney disease were 25.80%, 24.5%, 9.6%, 56.4%, 7.4%, 1.1%, and 12.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Although the studied company has a yearly occupational medical examination, the workers have not been provided with a comprehensive report and appropriate feedback. Therefore, it is essential to follow up the health reports and examinations and refer the patients to the related physicians.

Background: Malalignment in the pelvic and spinal column disturbs the balance and decreases the postural control ability. Malalignment is known as one of the main causes of back pain particularly the nonspecific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP). The aim of the study is to compare the effect of muscle energy technique (MET), craniosacral therapy (CST), and sensorimotor training (SMT) on postural control in patients with NSCLBP. Materials and Methods: In this randomized clinical trial study, 45 NSCLBP patients were accidentally allocated in three groups including CST (n = 15), MET (n = 15), and SMT (n = 15). Clinical interventions including CST, MET, and SMT were performed in 10 sessions in 5 weeks (2 sessions per week). The parameters of center of pressure (COP) were assessed in 8 positions such as standing position on double or single leg with open or closed eyes or half squat position on double or single leg with open or closed eyes. Results: The results of this study showed that all three methods of CST, MET, and SMT are effective in postural control in patients with NSCLBP, although it seems that CST is effective on more balance factors. CST has a greater effect on balance in standing position on a single leg with closed eye. It was also found that the effect of CST was continuous after follow-up. Conclusion: Moreover, MET and SMT methods were effective in balance control in NSCLBP patients and postural control was more affected by CST.

Background: Muscle fatigue affects the precision of the subjects' performance and limits the range of physical and sports activities. There is limited scientific evidence to support the use of soft tissue manipulation for enhancing muscle performance and its recovery. The aim of this study is to compare the effects of soft tissue manipulation and rest on the knee extensor muscle fatigue after maximal isokinetic contractions. Methods: Fifteen healthy females 20–30 years of age were selected for this research. This study implemented a semi-experimental test–retest measurement method. The subjects then either rested or received soft tissue manipulation on the knee extensors for a duration of 15 min. After intervention (soft tissue manipulation or rest), the parameters were evaluated for the third time. Results: The stability of the average of peak torque (APT), average power (AP), and visual analog scale (VAS) before performing fatigue protocol was 85%, 83%, and 31.9%, respectively. The stability after fatigue was 43%, 50%, and 93%, respectively. After maximal fatigue and a decrease in torque output to below 50% maximal torque, 15 min of soft tissue manipulation could change the APT after fatigue from a mean of 58.3 (nm) to 91.5 (nm), the AP from 39.4 to 63.6 (nm/s), and the VAS, from 90.0 to 12 (mm). But 15 min of rest could change the APT from 52.5 to 68.1 (nm), the AP from 37.6 to 48 (nm/s), and the VAS from 90.0 to 27.3 (mm). Conclusion: The study showed that soft tissue manipulation was more effective than rest as a strategy to return muscles to a normal state and caused more relief in perceived fatigue.

Background: Trabecular bone score (TBS) measures the underlying quality of bone texture using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) images. The present study aimed to investigate the correlation between lumbar spine bone mineral density (BMD) and TBS, and subsequently determine whether the association varies with the body mass index (BMI). Methods: Data from 548 patients were collected and categorized into three groups according to the relationship between BMD and age. BMD of the lumbar spine (LS) using DXA and TBS from DXA images were measured. Pearson’s correlation coefficient (SPSS software, version 24.0) was used to investigate the association between LS-BMD and TBS, as well as the effect of BMI and age on these parameters. PResults: The total mean TBS was 1.31±0.12. LS-BMD and TBS values significantly decreased with age in both sexes. A statistically significant correlation was found between TBS and LS-BMD (r=0.601). An increase in BMI was associated with a higher LS-BMD score and a lower TBS level. The correlation coefficient between LS-BMD and TBS reduced as the BMI increased. By comparing TBS with BMD, the majority of the patients with osteopenia and osteoporosis had fully degraded and partially degraded TBS, respectively.Conclusion: TBS was positively correlated with LS-BMD and decreased with age. Moreover, the extent of the correlation varied with respect to BMI.

Aim: The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of miniscrews in Class I and II Malocclusion Patients. Methods: From electronic databases, between 2010 and 2020, PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, ISI were used to conduct systematic literature. Two reviewers extracted data blindly and independently from the abstract and full text of the studies they used for data extraction. The mean differences between the two groups (miniscrews vs. conventional anchorage) with a 95 % confidence interval (CI), the Inverse-variance method, and the fixed-effect model were calculated. The Meta-analysis was evaluated using the statistical software Stata/MP v.16 (The fastest version of Stata). Results: A total of 186 potentially relevant titles and abstracts were found during the electronic and manual search. Finally, the inclusion criteria required for this systematic review were met by a total of seven publications. The mean difference of molar mesiodistal movement among seven studies and heterogeneity was -0.53 mm (MD, -0.53 95 % CI -0.69, -0.38. P= 0.00) (I2 = 96.52 %). This result showed maximum reinforcement in miniscrews with fewer mesial movements. Conclusion: The result of the current systematic review and meta-analysis shows that miniscrews in patients with class II and I malocclusion help maintain better anchorage preservation than traditional anchorage devices.

Aim: One of the main factors that play a pivotal role in the transmission of COVID-19 from human to human is saliva; according to the subject’s importance, the present study aimed to evaluate the potential of transmission via the saliva of coronavirus disease. Methods: PubMed, ISI, Embase, Scopus, Medicine have been used until September 2020 to search for articles. Therefore, EndNote X9 used to manage electronic resources. A 95% confidence interval (CI) effect size, fixed effect model, Inverse-variance methods have been calculated. The positive rate of SARS-CoV2 assessed with meta analysis. To deal with potential heterogeneity, random effects were used, and I2 showed heterogeneity. I2 values above 50% signified moderate-to-high heterogeneity. The Meta-analysis has been evaluated with Stata/MP v.16 (the fastest version of Stata) statistical software. Results: According to the study’s purpose, in the initial search with keywords, 19 articles were found, the full text of 3 studies was reviewed, and finally, three studies were selected. The positive rate of SARS-CoV2 was 86% (86%; 95% CI 67 %-100%). Conclusion: saliva can be a non-invasive specimen type for diagnosis of COVID-19. Dentists should be aware that saliva plays a major role in the transmission of COVID-19 from human to human, and failure to follow prevention protocols can contaminate them.

The main objective of this research is to investigate the Predictability of Financial Statements Fraud-Risk Using Benford’s Law on the Tehran Stock Exchange. Therefore, based on financial fraud detection criteria, a sample of 50 companies was extracted that 25 companies had fraud-risk in financial statements (experimental group) and 25 did not have fraud-risk (control group). Next, the frequency distribution of the first left digit of the numbers in the financial statements as well as the financial ratios of both groups was extracted, and their conformity with Benford’s distribution was evaluated through the chi-square test to test the research hypotheses. The comparison between the mentioned frequency distribution and Benford’s distribution showed a significant difference. The result indicates that Benford’s law cannot predict the financial statements fraud-risk of companies, in other words, Benford’s law cannot separate companies with fraud-risk from those without fraud-risk in financial statements.

Introduction: Knee joint injuries usually occur in a short time, so analyzing the mechanism and process of this short time can be helpful to prevent similar injuries. This study aimed to determine and compare the reaction time of knee muscles and investigate the effect of knee position and perturbation direction on the reaction time of knee muscles in response to horizontal rotational perturbation applied to lower leg from support surface area. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 healthy women volunteers were received ±35 degrees of horizontal rotational perturbation and speed of 120 degrees per second from the sole while standing on the right leg in four conditions (external versus internal rotation of surface while the knee was in both extension and flexion position). Electromyography of knee muscles (vastus medialis and lateralis, medial and lateral hamstring and medial and lateral gastrocnemius) was measured to study the reaction time. Results: The reaction time of knee muscles during the perturbation was relatively long in this study (124 to 151 ms). It seems that muscles are recruited simultaneously in most conditions except in external rotation perturbation, with extension knee that the internal gastrocnemius muscle had significantly less delay time than the internal hamstring (P

Background and Objectives: Archery is a static sport and requires high degrees of accuracy and stability in the glenohumeral joint. Kinesio Tape (KT) is known as a technique for increasing joint stability and Joint Position Sense (JPS), with subsequent improvement in accuracy. The present study aims to investigate the effect of KT on shoulder JPS and accuracy in female archery athletes using Olympic recurve bows. Materials and Methods: A total of 30 female archers with a mean age of 24.77±6.16 years and minimum of one year’s experience of archery, volunteered to take part in the study. The repositioning angle test was performed on the shoulder JPS (of the drawing arm) at 30 degrees and 60 degrees of external rotation. In this test, the drawing arm shoulder was at 90 degrees of abduction and the elbow was at 90 degrees of flexion. Then, each participant shot three arrows from distances of 18, 30, and 50 meters, and their scores were recorded. Next, KT was placed on the deltoid and supraspinatus muscles, and repositioning test and shooting were repeated. Results: KT positively affected archery scores (P=0.004, 0.000, and 0.004 for 18, 30, and 50 meters, respectively). The results for absolute error in repositioning angle test showed an increase in JPS at 60 degrees of external rotation (P=0.000), but no significant difference was observed at 30 degrees of external rotation (P=0.637). Conclusion: It appears that KT technique can be used to increase the shoulder joint JPS and improve archers’ shooting accuracy.

Data distribution has an important role in classification. The problem of imbalanced data has occurred when the distribution of one class, which usually attends more interest, is negligible compared with other class. Furthermore, by the existence of outliers and noise, the classification of these data confronts more challenges. Despite these challenges, doing fast classification with good performance is desired. One of the successful classifier methods for dealing with imbalanced data and outliers is weighted relaxed support vector machines (WRSVMs). In this paper, the improved twin version of this classifier, which is called twin-bounded weighted relaxed support vector machines, is introduced to confront the mentioned challenges; besides, it performs in a significant fast manner and it is more accurate in most cases. This method benefits from the fast classification manner of twin-bounded support vector machines and outlier robustness capability of WRSVM in the imbalanced problems. The experimentally, the proposed method is compared with the WRSVM and other standard SVM-based methods on the public benchmark datasets. The results confirm the efficiency of the proposed method.

Background and Objective: Owing to the high prevalence of injuries among female martial arts athletes, the effects of flexibility and muscular imbalance on lower limb injuries of female martial arts athletes during a competition season was studied. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 66 professional female martial arts athletes of country (aged 15-40), prior to the season, were evaluated for muscle isometric strength and the flexibility assessment, in the ankle joints, knees and hips. During the training and holding of the tournament, the researcher followed up the created injuries and registered them by the physician or physiotherapist of the team. Paired t-test and SPSS 17 software were used to examine the relationship between the strength of the agonist / antagonist and flexibility in case of occurring injury. Results: The only significant difference between the flexibility in the right hip abductors (P = 0.02) and the evertor / invertor strength ratio in the right ankle (P= 0.007) was obtained with lower limb injury, and no significant statistical differences were found between the other parameters. Conclusion: The insufficiency of muscle force in hip joints and muscle strength imbalance in ankle joints can be important internal factors in incidence of injuries in female martial arts athletes.

Background: Different genetic and environmental factors are associated with susceptibility to pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in different individuals of different populations. Based on previous studies role of P2X7 gene common polymorphisms in susceptibility to pulmonary TB was associated with ethnicities. Aim: We intend to perform this study on genetic reservoir (gene pool) of Lur population of western Iran. Methods: For the present case-control study, 100 unrelated pulmonary TB patients and 100 unrelated controls were enrolled through convenient sampling. TB confirmation was through smear and culture of sputum. Polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was used for molecular assay. This study has been approved in the ethic committee of Lorestan University of Medical Sciences with registration number LUMS.REC.1396.253. Results: Among the genotypes of polymorphism 1513A/C, AA genotype was associated with susceptibility to pulmonary TB (P = .0001; OR = 4.750) whereas AC genotype was a protecting factor (P = .0001; OR = 0.192). Higher genetic reservoir of A allele was associated with more susceptibility to pulmonary TB (P = .0001; OR = 2.879) whereas C allele was a protecting factor (P = .0001; OR = 0.347). No significant result was found for −762T/C polymorphism. Conclusion: In Lur population of Iran, 1513A/C polymorphism of P2X7 is associated with susceptibility to pulmonary TB. It is suggested that bio-information banks should be established and developed in countries. Keywords: Pulmonary tuberculosis, Immunogenetics, P2X7, Population genetics

The curse of dimensionality resulted from insufficient training samples and redundancy is considered as an important problem in the supervised classification of hyperspectral data. This problem can be handled by Feature Subset Selection (FSS) methods and Support Vector Machine (SVM). The FSS methods can manage the redundancy by removing redundant spectral bands. Moreover, kernel based methods, especially SVM have a high ability to classify limited-sample data sets. This paper mainly aims to assess the capability of a FSS method and the SVM in curse of dimensional circumstances and to compare results with the Artificial Neural Network (ANN), when they are used to classify alteration zones of the Hyperion hyperspectral image acquired from the greatest Iranian porphyry copper complex. The results demonstrated that by decreasing training samples, the accuracy of SVM was just decreased 1.8% while the accuracy of ANN was highly reduced i.e. 14.01%. In addition, a hybrid FSS was applied to reduce the dimension of Hyperion. Accordingly, among the 165 useable spectral bands of Hyperion, 18 bands were only selected as the most important and informative bands. Although this dimensionality reduction could not intensively improve the performance of SVM, ANN revealed a significant improvement in the computational time and a slightly enhancement in the average accuracy. Therefore, SVM as a low-sensitive method respect to the size of training data set and feature space can be applied to classify the curse of dimensional problems. Also, the FSS methods can improve the performance of non-kernel based classifiers by eliminating redundant features. Keywords: Curse of dimensionality, Feature Subset Selection, Hydrothermal alteration, Hyperspectral, SVM

Introduction In the regional prospecting of ore minerals, geologists usually utilize remote sensing images for hydrothermal alteration mineral mapping as a kind of lithological anomaly, which may be linked to mineral deposits (Carranza, 2002). Compared to the multispectral remote sensing images, composed of few spectral bands, the hyperspectral data prepare much more spectral details of the surface materials in many bands. These high spectral resolution images provide subtle spectral data for identifying similar materials of the surface (Camps-Valls et al., 2014). This ability could greatly promote the potential of hyperspectral based mineral mapping (Wang and Zheng, 2010). As in the two last decades, hyperspectral remote sensing has been an important tool for studying earth’s minerals and rocks (Zhang and Peijun, 2014). Although, the high number of spectral bands is an important advantage for hyperspectral images, many of those bands are usually irrelevant and redundant and, therefore, cause just the size and complexity of the band space to be increased. This complexity can lead to an ill-posed problem in supervised classification, namely the curse of dimensionality and the Hughes phenomenon, which negatively affect the accuracy of the classification (Camps-Valls, 2014). Feature reduction methods can be applied to overcome these problems and to eliminate those spectral bands in the classification of hyperspectral images that provide no further useful information. These methods produce an efficient subset of features (spectral bands in remote sensing field) from the original feature space. The decrease in complexity obtained as a result of the feature space reduction can increase the ability of classifiers to efficiently capture the classification rules. Consequently, the speed, generalization, and predictive classification accuracy are increased (Gheyas and Smith, 2010; Camps-Valls et al., 2014). This study is aimed at evaluation and management of the curse of dimensionality risk in hyper spectral data classification by means of a feature reduction method. The method is utilized to select more informative spectral bands of Hyperion hyperspectral data, which are more effective for the classification of hydrothermal alteration zones. The well-known study area here is the Darrehzar porphyry copper mine located 8 km from the southeast of the giant Sarcheshmeh mine. Materials and methods 1. Hyperion data The Hyperion hyperspectral image with 242 spectral bands acquired on July 26, 2004 was available and it was used in this study. 2. Train and test datasets Two datasets were utilized. The first dataset that resulted from the Mixture Tuned Matched Filtering (MTMF) method was applied to feed the feature reduction method and the second dataset containing 17 rock samples collected from the study area was used to carry out the classification by SVM. 3. The feature reduction method In this study, we applied a hybrid Feature Subset Selection (FSS) method to reduce the number of spectral bands of Hyperion data. Extensive details may be found in Moradkhani et al. (2015). Discussion and results The Feature Subset Selection (FSS) algorithm was applied to reduce the size of the spectral bands of Hyperion data. The implementation of this algorithm resulted in the selection of 9 bands among all 165 spectral bands (i.e. 5% of all useable spectral bands of Hyperion) as the more influential bands for the identification of clay minerals. These bands belong to the two spectral ranges, 2125-2250 nm and 2250-2400 nm, respectively. On the other hand, it is believed that the Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) electromagnetic range (2000-2500 nm) is an important spectral range for distinguishing clay minerals of the hydrothermal alteration systems (Hosseinjani Zadeh et al., 2014). This implies that two ranges introduced by FSS were accurately selected, because both of them coincide with the SWIR range. Clearly speaking, bands 201, 202, 204, and 205 in the range of 2125-2250 nm are used for muskovit, kaolinit and alunit enhancement. Moreover, bands 217, 220, 222, 223, and 224 in the 2250-2400 nm are appropriate for chlorite classification. A comparison between the maps of SVM based classification of the alteration zones using 9 (selected by feature selection method) and 165 (all useable bands of Hyperion data) spectral bands confirmed a significant improvement in the output results when 9 more informative bands are utilized for classification instead of all 165 bands. In fact, the classification based on 9 selected bands is comparable and even more effective than the full band classification. This is because the decrease in spectral bands makes SVM learn the rules of classification more accurately. Reference Camps-Valls, G., Tuia, D., Bruzzone, L. and Benediktsson, J., 2014. Advances in Hyperspectral Image Classification. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, 31(1): 45–54. Carranza, E.J.M., 2002. Geologically-Constrained Mineral Potential Mapping. Ph.D. Thesis, Delft University of Technology, Delft, Netherlands, 480 pp. Gheyas, A. and Smith, L.S., 2010. Feature subset selection in large dimensionality domains. Pattern Recognition, 43(1): 5-13. Hosseinjani Zadeh, M., Tangestani, M.H., Velasco Roldan, F. and Yusta. I., 2014. Spectral characteristics of minerals in alteration zones associated with porphyry copper deposits in the middle part of Kerman copper belt, SE Iran., SE Iran. Ore Geology Reviews, 62: 191-198. Moradkhani, M., Amiri, A., Javaherian, M. and Safari, H., 2015. A hybrid algorithm for feature subset selection in high-dimensional data sets using FICA and IWSSr algorithm. Applied Soft Computing, 35: 123–135. Wang, Z.H. and Zheng, C.Y., 2010. Rocks/Minerals Information Extraction from EO-1 Hyperion Data Base on SVM. International Conference on Intelligent Computation Technology and Automation, Changsha, China. Zhang, X. and Peijun, L., 2014. Lithological mapping from hyperspectral data by improved use of spectral angle mapper. International Journal of Applied Earth Observation and Geoinformation, 31: 95–109.