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A thorough understanding of plant behavior at different growth stages is of paramount importance for fruit quality improvement, the regulation of production periods, and reduced fruit production costs. There are as many as three waves of flowering in evergreen pomegranate cultivars – i.e., during the spring, rainy, and autumn seasons. However, for securing enhanced production of superior quality fruits as well as profit to the growers, crop regulation is required. This can be achieved by forcing the tree to rest at a particular stage and by producing abundant blossoming and quality fruits during any one of the three flushes. Observations on phenological phases would help in understanding the dates of specific stages of crop development, which in turn enable the growers to plan, organize, and carry out timely schedules of agronomic practices such as irrigation, fertilization, and crop protection. Therefore, there is a need to evaluate the response of pomegranate under different environmental conditions to identify a suitable flowering season to produce a better quality of fruits with consistent yield, and to enable standardization of management practices for optimum production based on phenological stages.

This study aims to prepare optimal feedstock for fabrication of Al/SiC nanocomposites by the low-pressure injection molding technique. For this purpose, micron-sized aluminum and nanosized SiC powders were mixed with different amounts of the binder consisting of 89 wt% paraffin wax, 9 wt% bees wax, and 2 wt% stearic acid. Rheometry analyses as well as the Weir model were utilized to determine the optimal feedstock with the desired rheological properties and high homogeneity. Considering powder to binder ratios, shear sensitivity, flow activation energy, and homogeneity within the rheometry analyses, the feedstock of 78 wt% powder loading is selected as the optimal sample for injection molding. Investigation of optimal feedstock by the scanning electron microscopy technique also verified the high homogeneity of this feedstock. In addition, it was observed that all of the feedstocks had thixotrop behavior.

Introduction: This study aimed to examine the effects of early clinical exposure to mother and child healthcare on the knowledge and attitude of Tabriz medical school basic sciences students. Methods: As a sample, 152 of the third semester students were selected, of whom 25 were randomized to the experimental group and the rest, 127 students, were considered the control group. Results: The results of the study showed that there was a significant difference between the attitudes and knowledge level of the control group who did not experience early clinical exposure and the experimental group who were given clinical exposure with regard to intervention training. Conclusion: Finally, considering the results, it could be acknowledged that training in the intervention of early clinical exposure could affect the level of students’ knowledge and attitudes.

Introduction: Medical education is constantly discussed by experts due to its close relationship with the public health from the perspectives of relevance, appropriateness and responsiveness to community needs. There is no consistent general model to evaluate the social accountability of medical schools. This study was conducted to develop indicators of social accountability in medical schools. Methods: Criteria and indicators of social accountability were developed during three stages. In the first stage, after a deep review on the Global Consensus on Social Accountability of Medical Schools (GCSA) and several papers we developed baseline areas, criteria and indicators. In the second stage, during the first round of the Delphi, the tables draft was sent to twenty medical education experts. Then, comments were collected and classified in the first meeting of the focus group discussions and necessary reforms were implemented in the tables. In the third stage and second round of Delphi, the set of revisions were sent the same selected experts. The suggested reforms were applied after collecting the instructors’ comments in the second focus group discussions. Five members of the focus group discussions were selected based on their relevant knowledge and experience in social accountability issues. Results: Ten areas, twenty-eight criteria and ninety-five indicators were developed after three stages of study with two rounds using the Delphi method and two focus group sessions. To clarify the criteria and indicators, we tried to make the developed indicators and criteria practical so that they could be used in the social accountability evaluation of medical schools. Conclusion: According to the importance and key role of social accountability in the medical schools mission, using comprehensive indicators can result in better accreditation and evaluation of medical schools .This study has prepared applicable and comprehensive indicators for evaluation of different aspects of social accountability in medical schools.

Introduction: Since the ultimate goal of medical education is to improve health, all the efforts of custodians’ and service providers’ training must meet the needs of society. The World Health Organization defines social accountability as guiding commitment toward education, research and medical services in line with the prioritizing the health requirements of the community, region and world. Methods: This cross - sectional study was conducted in two phases, including observation and documenting the activities and programs of the Tabriz University of Medical Sciences. Results: Tabriz University of Medical Sciences has taken some steps towards social accountability in medical education, including determining the priorities of health and disease in the province, presenting health and disease training programs in the local media, preparing appropriate community-based teaching fields, empowering faculty members in new teaching and assessment methods and training the students based on the community health requirements. Conclusion: Despite all of these activities, it is still necessary to evaluate social accountability indicators in this university for further achievements towards comprehensive social accountability.

Introduction: Congenital heart diseases are of immense importance and also a high prevalence. Contributing factors to developing these defects have not been abundantly studied. Therefore, the current study was conducted aiming at determining the effective factors on Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) in newborn infants of Northwest Iran. Methods: A case-control study was carried out in North-West of Iran from 2002 to 2012 and a total of 473 infants entered the study. Required data were obtained through check lists completed by the information of hospital records and interview with mothers of 267 newborn infants with CHD together with medical records of mothers as the case group, and 206 medical records of healthy infants at the same period all together with those of their mothers as the control group. The obtained data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistical methods, T-test, Spearman’s correlation coefficient, and Multi-variable Logistic Regression Model (OR with 95% CI), using SPSS.19. In the present study, P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Based on the results of univariable analyses, the number of previous cesarean sections, past medical history of diseases, gestational age (GA), fetal weight at birth, diastolic blood pressure, fetal heart rate, pulse rate, fetal hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and fetal head circumference at birth have significant relationship with incidence of congenital abnormalities (P

Abstract Background Weight-related stigmatization is a public health problem. It impairs the psychological well-being of obese individuals and hinders them from adopting weight-loss behaviors. We conducted an experimental study to investigate weight stigmatization in work settings using a sample of experienced human resource (HR) professionals from a real-life employment setting. Methods In a cross-sectional, computer-based experimental study, a volunteer sample of 127 HR professionals (age: 41.1 ± 10.9 yrs., 56% female), who regularly make career decisions about other people, evaluated individuals shown in standardized photographs regarding work-related prestige and achievements. The photographed individuals differed with respect to gender, ethnicity, and Body Mass Index (BMI). Results Participants underestimated the occupational prestige of obese individuals and overestimated it for normal-weight individuals. Obese people were more often disqualified from being hired and less often nominated for a supervisory position, while non-ethnic normal-weight individuals were favored. Stigmatization was most pronounced in obese females. Conclusions The data suggest that HR professionals are prone to pronounced weight stigmatization, especially in women. This highlights the need for interventions targeting this stigmatization as well as stigma-management strategies for obese individuals. Weight stigmatization and its consequences needs to be a topic that is more strongly addressed in clinical obesity care.

For the first time in Iran, in this study, the amount of 19 trace elements in some types of commonly consumed Iranian fruits (in their peel and pulp) was evaluated by ICP-OES (Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry) method. Based on the outcomes, the highest and lowest average detected elements in all fruits samples were related to (Al) aluminum (1842.18) and (V) vanadium (0.28) ppm, respectively. Mercury (Hg) and antimony (Sb) were not detected (ND) in any samples. Also, the maximum mean of elements in quince, lemon, grapefruit, kiwi, orange south, orange north and tangerine samples was related to(Fe) iron (2048.32 ppm), (Zn)zinc(753.45 ppm), Fe (1056.33 ppm), Al (9794.41 ppm), Zn (717.78 ppm), Fe (1334.87 ppm) and Fe (974.93 ppm), respectively. Furthermore, our outcomes revealed, the highest mean of elements in kiwi peel, kiwi pulp, orange North peel, orange North pulp, orange South peel, orange South pulp, quince peel, quince pulp, grapefruit peel, grapefruit pulp, lemon peel, lemon pulp, tangerine peel and tangerine pulp was related to Al (17967.79 ppm), Al (1621.03 ppm), Fe (1350.01 ppm), Al (1457.66 ppm), Zn (934.71 ppm), Fe (728.06 ppm), Fe (2768.11 ppm), Fe (1328.54 ppm), Zn (1008.54 ppm), Fe (1198.00 ppm), Zn (683.35 ppm), Zn (823.55 ppm), Fe (1182.59 ppm), and Fe (767.27 ppm), respectively. Based on the Monte Carlo simulation results, the THQ (target hazard quotient) and ILCR (Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk) related to exposure to heavy metals via fruits for adults and children showed that there is no significant non-carcinogenic risk (THQ < 1) and carcinogenic risk (ILCR < 1E-4) for adults and children., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.)

In recent years, the development of environmentally friendly packaging materials using biodegradable polymers has emerged as a key challenge for scientists and consumers in response to resource depletion and environmental issues caused by plastic packaging materials. Starch and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) are being recognized as excellent candidates for producing biodegradable food packaging films. Polymer blending has emerged as a practical approach to overcome the limitations of biopolymer films by developing films with unique properties and enhancing overall performance. This review briefly introduces the molecular structure and properties of starch and PVA, summarizes the common preparation methods and properties of starch/PVA blend films, and focuses on different strategies used to enhance starch/PVA blend films, including nanoparticles, plant extracts, and cross-linking agents. Additionally, this study summarizes the application of starch/PVA blend films as active and smart packaging in food preservation systems. This study demonstrates that starch and PVA blends have potential in manufacturing biodegradable food films with excellent properties due to their excellent compatibility and intermolecular interactions, and can be used as packaging films for a variety of foods to extend their shelf life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Researchers are addressing environmental concerns related to petroleum-based plastic packaging by exploring biopolymers from natural sources, chemical synthesis, and microbial fermentation. Despite the potential of individual biopolymers, they often exhibit limitations like low water resistance and poor mechanical properties. Blending polymers emerges as a promising strategy to overcome these challenges, creating films with enhanced performance. This review focuses on recent advancements in chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) blend food packaging films. It covers molecular structure, properties, strategies for performance improvement, and applications in food preservation. The blend's excellent compatibility and intermolecular interactions make it a promising candidate for biodegradable films. Future research should explore large-scale thermoplastic technologies and investigate the incorporation of additives like natural extracts and nanoparticles to enhance film properties. Chitosan/PVA blend films offer a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based plastic packaging, with potential applications in practical food preservation., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Food contamination reveals a major health risk globally and presents a significant challenge for the food industry. It can stem from biological contaminants like pathogens, parasites, and viruses, or chemical contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, drugs, and hormones. There is also the possibility of naturally occurring hazardous chemicals. Consequently, the development of sensing platforms has become crucial to accurately and rapidly identify contaminants and hazards in food products. Electrospun nanofibers (NFs) offer a promising solution due to their unique three-dimensional architecture, large specific surface area, and ease of preparation. Moreover, NFs exhibit excellent biocompatibility, degradability, and adaptability, making monitoring more convenient and environmentally friendly. These characteristics also significantly reduce the detection process of contaminants. NF-based sensors have the ability to detect a wide range of biological, chemicals, and physical hazards. Recent research on NFs-based sensors for the detection of various food contaminants/hazards, such as pathogens, pesticide/drugs residues, toxins, allergens, and heavy metals, is presented in this review., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Due to the characteristics of electrospun nanofibers (NFs), they are considered a suitable substrate for the adsorption and removal of heavy metals. Electrospun nanofibers are prepared based on optimized polycaprolactone (PCL, 12 wt%) and polyacrylic acid (PAA, 1 wt%) polymers loaded with graphene oxide nanoparticles (GO NPs, 1 wt%). The morphological, molecular interactions, crystallinity, thermal, hydrophobicity, and biocompatibility properties of NFs are characterized by spectroscopy (scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Thermogravimetric analysis), contact angle, and MTT tests. Finally, the adsorption efficacy of NFs to remove lead (Pb 2+ ) from water and apple juice samples was determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The average diameter for PCL, PCL/PAA, and PCL/PAA/GO NFs was 137, 500, and 216 nm, respectively. Additionally, the contact angle for PCL, PCL/PAA, and PCL/PAA/GO NFs was obtained at 74.32º, 91.98º, and 94.59º, respectively. The cytotoxicity test has shown non-toxicity for fabricated NFs against the HUVEC endothelial cell line by more than 80% survival during 72 h. Under optimum conditions including pH (= 6), temperature (25 °C), Pb concentration (25 to 50 mg/L), and time (15 to 30 min), the adsorption efficiency was generally between 80 and 97%. The adsorption isotherm model of PCL/PAA/GO NFs in the adsorption of lead metal follows the Langmuir model, and the reaction kinetics follow the pseudo-second-order. PCL/PA/GO NFs have shown adsorption of over 80% in four consecutive cycles. The adsorption efficacy of NFs to remove Pb in apple juice has reached 76%. It is appropriate and useful to use these nanofibers as a high-efficiency adsorbent in water and food systems based on an analysis of their adsorption properties and how well they work., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: In recent years, enzalutamide and abiraterone have been widely used as treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). However, the cost-effectiveness of these drugs in Iran is unknown. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of enzalutamide for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer resistant to castration in Iran., Methods: A 3-state Markov model was developed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enzalutamide and abiraterone from a social perspective over 10 years. The clinical inputs were obtained from the meta-analysis studies. The direct medical costs were obtained from the tariffs of the healthcare system, while the direct non-medical and indirect costs were collected from the patients. The data of utilities were derived from the literature. In addition, sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess the uncertainties., Results: Compared with Abiraterone, enzalutamide was associated with a high incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $6,260 per QALY gained. According to the one-way sensitivity analysis, ICER was most heavily influenced by the prices of enzalutamide and Abiraterone, non-medical costs, and indirect costs. Regardless of the variation, enzalutamide remained cost-effective. The budget impact analysis of enzalutamide in the health system during 5 years was estimated at $6,362,127., Conclusions: At current prices, adding enzalutamide to pharmaceutical lists represents the cost-effective use of the healthcare resources in Iran for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Increasing demand for high-quality fresh fruits and vegetables has led to the development of innovative active packaging materials that exhibit controlled release of antimicrobial/antioxidant agents. In this study, composite biopolymer films consisting of methylcellulose (MC) and chitosan nanofibers (ChNF) were fabricated, which contained lactoferrin (LAC)-loaded silver-metal organic framework (Ag-MOF) nanoparticles. The results indicated that the nanoparticles were uniformly distributed throughout the biopolymer films, which led to improvements in tensile strength (56.1 ± 3.2 MPa), thermal stability, water solubility, swelling index, water vapor barrier properties (from 2.2 ± 2.1 to 1.9 ± 1.9 × 10 -11  g. m/m 2 . s. Pa), and UV-shielding effects. The Ag-MOF-LAC2% films also exhibited strong and long-lasting antibacterial activity against E. coli (19.8 ± 5.2 mm) and S. aureus (20.1 ± 3.2 mm), which was attributed to the slow release of antimicrobial LAC from the films. The composite films were shown to maintain the fresh appearance of apples for at least seven days, which was attributed to their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Consequently, these composite films have the potential in the assembly of innovative active packaging materials for protecting fresh fruits and vegetables. However, further work is required to ensure their safety and economic viability., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Probiotics must survive in foods and passage through the human mouth, stomach, and small intestine to reach the colon in a viable state and exhibit their beneficial health effects. Probiotic viability can be improved by encapsulating them inside hydrogel-based delivery systems. These systems typically comprise a 3D network of cross-linked polymers that retain large amounts of water within their pores. This study discussed the stability of probiotics and morphology of hydrogel beads after encapsulation, encapsulation efficiency, utilization of natural polymers, and encapsulation mechanisms. Examples of the application of these hydrogel-based delivery systems are then given. These studies show that encapsulation of probiotics in hydrogels can improve their viability, provide favorable conditions in the food matrix, and control their release for efficient colonization in the large intestine. Finally, we highlight areas where future research is required, such as the large-scale production of encapsulated probiotics and the in vivo testing of their efficacy using animal and human studies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Oxymel is a functional beverage with a rich historical background of use in multiple societies. Various simple and compound oxymels are prescribed in certain complementary and traditional medical systems, including traditional Persian Medicine. In recent years, numerous clinical and preclinical studies have been conducted in the pharmacy and food industry to investigate the efficacy of various oxymel formulations. This article aims to systematically review and summarize interventional studies on oxymel in both clinical research and animal models., Methods: Relevant articles were searched in Embase, MEDLINE, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and Google Scholar from inception to July 2023 using the keyword "Oxymel" and its equivalents in other languages. Animal and human interventional studies were selected from the search results for review., Results: This review includes twenty studies, comprising twelve clinical trials, two case studies, and six animal studies. The most commonly reported actions of oxymel include positive effects on the cardiovascular system, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Furthermore, compound oxymel formulations have demonstrated additional benefits depending on the inclusion of specific medicinal herbs., Conclusion: Based on our findings, oxymel appears to be a valuable functional food for healthy individuals and a potentially effective and safe treatment option for managing certain diseases such as asthma, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. However, further clinical trials with larger sample sizes and longer durations are needed to fully elucidate the potential side effects and benefits of both simple and compound oxymels in various disease states., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Authors.)

The locus coeruleus (LC), a small subcortical structure in the brainstem, is the brain's principal source of norepinephrine. It plays a primary role in regulating stress, the sleep-wake cycle, and attention, and its degradation is associated with aging and neurodegenerative diseases associated with cognitive deficits (e.g., Parkinson's, Alzheimer's). Yet precisely how norepinephrine drives brain networks to support healthy cognitive function remains poorly understood - partly because LC's small size makes it difficult to study noninvasively in humans. Here, we characterized LC's influence on brain dynamics using a hidden Markov model fitted to functional neuroimaging data from healthy young adults across four attention-related brain networks and LC. We modulated LC activity using a behavioral paradigm and measured individual differences in LC magnetization transfer contrast. The model revealed five hidden states, including a stable state dominated by salience-network activity that occurred when subjects actively engaged with the task. LC magnetization transfer contrast correlated with this state's stability across experimental manipulations and with subjects' propensity to enter into and remain in this state. These results provide new insight into LC's role in driving spatiotemporal neural patterns associated with attention, and demonstrate that variation in LC integrity can explain individual differences in these patterns even in healthy young adults., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This paper presents the design and validation of a proof-of-concept prototype for a wearable rehabilitation device to incorporate arm swing during gait rehabilitation. Unlike current stationary exoskeletons used for rehabilitation of upper limbs' function, assisting arm swing during gait requires inducing faster arm flexion/extension movements while maintaining the users' arms unconstrained in other directions. We developed a portable and underactuated system with features such as a large workspace and backdrivability to induce arm swing. Its wide workspace allowed the wearers to easily move their arms in different directions without any constraints. A modified double parallelogram linkage (mDPL) is proposed to allow the device to mimic the natural workspace of an arm. Additionally, a pulley drive and weight compensation system were created to place the motor on the users' back reducing the hindering weight of the actuators on their arms. Our experiments demonstrated this arm-swing rehabilitator could successfully induce arm movements at different arm configurations with low (0.67 Hz) and high (1.1 Hz) frequencies corresponding to slow and fast walking.

The objective of this study was to determine (1) if a novel haptic feedback system could increase the walking speed of older adults while it is being employed during overground walking and (2) whether the frequency at which this feedback was presented would have a differential impact on the ability of users to change walking speed while it was present. Given that peak thigh extension has been found to be a biomechanical surrogate for stride length, and consequently gait speed, vibrotactile haptic feedback was provided to the participants' thighs as a cue to increase peak thigh extension while the effect on gait speed was monitored. Ten healthy community-dwelling older adults (68.4 ± 4.1 years) participated. Participants' peak thigh extension, cadence, normalized stride length and velocity, along with their coefficients of variation (COV) were compared across baseline normal and fast walking (with no feedback) and three different frequency of feedback conditions. The findings indicated that, compared to self-selected normal and fast walking speeds, peak thigh extension was significantly increased when feedback was present and after it was withdrawn in a post-test. An increase in thigh extension led to an increase in stride length and, consequently, an increase in stride velocity compared to normal speed. There were no significant differences in the gait parameters as a function of feedback frequency during its application. In conclusion, while present, the haptic feedback system increased thigh extension and walking speed in older adults regardless of the feedback frequency and when the feedback was withdrawn, participants could maintain an increase in those parameters., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

In this study, pectin (PC)/chitosan nanofiber (ChNF) films containing a novel anthocyanin from sumac extract were successfully developed for freshness monitoring and shelf-life extension of shrimp. The physical, barrier, morphological, color, and antibacterial properties of biodegradable films were evaluated. The addition of sumac anthocyanins to the films caused intramolecular interactions (such as hydrogen bonds) in the film structure, as confirmed by using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) analysis, suggesting good compatibility of film ingredients. Also, intelligent films showed significant sensitivity to ammonia vapors and changed color from reddish to olive color at the first 5 min. Moreover, the results showed that PC/ChNF and PC/ChNF/sumac films have significant antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria. In addition to the good functional characteristics of the smart film, the resulting films showed acceptable physicomechanical properties. So, PC/ChNF/sumac smart film exhibited the strength = 60 MPa with the flexibility = 23.3 %. Likewise, water vapor barrier reduced from 2.5 (×10 -11  g. m/m 2 . s. Pa) to 2.3 (×10 -11  g. m/m 2 . s. Pa) after adding anthocyanin. The results of the application of intelligent film containing anthocyanins of sumac extract for shrimp freshness monitoring showed that the color of the intelligent film changed from reddish to greenish color after 48 h of storage, which shows the high potential of the produced film for monitoring the spoilage of seafood products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest with this manuscript., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) is an innovative non-thermal decontamination technology that is considered a great alternative to conventional preservation methods. Most importantly, improving microbial safety along with maintaining the sensory and quality properties of the treated foods, especially for perishable products. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial effects of novel dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) and Jet cold plasma systems and their impact on the physicochemical, color, and sensory properties of refrigerated hamburger samples. In the current study, hamburger samples were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Molds and Yeasts microbial suspension (~10 6  CFU/mL), and then were treated with argon (Ar), helium (He), nitrogen (N), and atmosphere (Atm) gases at different times (s) (0, 30, 60, 90, 180, 360). Similarly, uninoculated samples were considered for total viable count (TVC) testing. The results exhibited that plasma system type, gas type, and treatment time had a significant antimicrobial effect with a microbial reduction ranging from 0.01 to 2 log CFU/g and 0.04-1.5 log CFU/g for DBD and Jet plasma systems, respectively. Also, a treatment time longer than 90 s for DBD and 180 s for jet resulted in a significant reduction in microbial count. The ability of atmospheric cold plasma to inactivate tested foodborne pathogenic bacteria (E. coli and S. aureus) was stronger than other gases because the concentration of O 3 and NO gases in atmospheric plasma is higher than other used plasma gases. Surface color measurements (L*, a* and b*) of samples in both methods (DBD and Jet) were not significantly affected. Moreover, samples treated with various plasma gases have indicated insignificant oxidation changes (Thiobarbituric acid assay). These outcomes can assist to reduce microbial contamination and oxidation of hamburgers as a high-consumption and perishable product using ACP technology. Owing to the non-thermal nature of ACP, samples treated with ACP have exhibited no or least effects on the physical, chemical, and sensory features of various food products. As a result, cold plasma innovative technology can be proposed and used as an efficient preservative method to increase the shelf life of food products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest to this work., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Biodegradable food packaging films (FPFs) assembled from sustainable biopolymeric materials are of increasing interest to the food industry due to pollution and health risks resulting from the use of conventional plastic packaging. However, the functional performance of these FPFs is often poorer than that of plastic films, which limits their commercial application. This problem may be partly overcome by incorporating nano-additives like zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZNPs) into the films. The incorporation of ZNPs into FPFs can improve their functional performance. The properties of these films depends on the concentration, dispersion state, and interactions of ZNPs with the biopolymeric matrix in the films. ZNPs-loaded films and coatings are highly effective at preserving a variety of fresh foods. Studies of ZNPs migration through FPFs have shown that the zinc is mainly transported in an ionic form and the amount entering foods is below safety standards. This article reviews recent developments in the design, fabrication, and application of ZNPs-loaded FPFs based on biopolymers, focusing on the impacts of ZNPs on the optical, barrier, mechanical, water sensitivity, and antimicrobial properties of the films. The potential applications of ZNPs-loaded FPFs for fresh food preservation is also discussed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Due to the neural coupling between upper and lower limbs and the importance of interlimb coordination in human gait, focusing on appropriate arm swing should be a part of gait rehabilitation in individuals with walking impairments. Despite its vital importance, there is a lack of effective methods to exploit the potential of arm swing inclusion for gait rehabilitation. In this work, we present a lightweight and wireless haptic feedback system that provides highly synchronized vibrotactile cues to the arms to manipulate arm swing and investigate the effects of this manipulation on the subjects' gait in a study with 12 participants (20-44 years). We found the developed system effectively adjusted the subjects' arm swing and stride cycle times by significantly reducing and increasing those parameters by up to 20% and 35%, respectively, compared to their baseline values during normal walking with no feedback. Particularly, the reduction of arms' and legs' cycle times translated into a substantial increase of up to 19.3% (on average) in walking speed. The response of the subjects to the feedback was also quantified in both transient and steady-state walking. The analysis of settling times from the transient responses revealed a fast and similar adaptation of both arms' and legs' movements to the feedback for reducing cycle time (i.e., increasing speed). Conversely, larger settling times and the time differences between arms' and legs' responses were observed due to feedback for increasing cycle times (i.e., reducing speed). The results clearly demonstrate the potential of the developed system to induce different arm-swing patterns as well as the ability of the proposed method to modulate key gait parameters through leveraging the interlimb neural coupling, with implications for gait training.

A class of organic chemicals known as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) consists of chlorine, hydrogen, and carbon atoms. High boiling points, chemical stability, non-flammability, and insulating properties have enabled them to be used in various industries. Because of their high toxicity, PCBs were one of the first industrial compounds to be banned from production. These compounds have high-fat solubility with bioaccumulation and biomagnification properties in the environment, food chain, and individuals. Hence, they may have an impact not only on individual organisms but ultimately on whole ecosystems. The main sources of PCB exposure are food and environmental pollutants. In the toxicology of PCBs, oxidative stress plays the most influential function. The induction of CYP1A1 due to the high affinity of PCBs for aryl hydrocarbon receptors is considered a trigger for oxidative stress. Production of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione occur due to phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolism, respectively. Thus, cellular redox balance may be disrupted in the presence of PCBs and their metabolites. Chronic and long-term exposure to these compounds can often lead to life-threatening diseases, like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and neurological diseases, cancer, and reproductive and endocrine disorders. We present the current knowledge of the routes of PCB exposure and bioaccumulation, the outlook regarding environmental and food safety, the potential role of PCBs in various diseases, the principal mechanisms responsible for PCB toxicity, and the main detection techniques used for PCBs., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Gums are biopolymers with many functional and innovative properties in the food industry. They are complex carbohydrate biomolecules capable of bonding with water, generating gel and mucilage structures. Among different gums, plant-based gums (PBGs) are one of the most important groups as they possess key characteristics such as stabilizing potential, viscosity enhancement, emulsifying and surface-active property, extensive adaptability, and affordability leading to their application in the formulation of food products. PBGs are extensively used in the confectionery, encapsulation of flavors and colors, emulsions, carrier agents, as dietary fiber, thickening/foaming agent, formulation of functional foods, and stabilizers in beverages and other food products. More importantly, researchers and food industries have been engrossed to reveal the undisclosed potential of PBGs and the impact of chemical composition and molecular structure on their techno-functional characteristics Therefore, this review study aims to explore the structure and physiochemical/functional properties of PBGs and their application as techno-functional materials in different food industries., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Today, the development of multifunctional and versatile packaging materials based on green ingredients has received a lot of attention from researchers and consumers due to their biodegradability, biocompatibility, sustainability, and renewable nature of biomaterials. These emerging packaging materials in addition to increasing the shelf life of food products (active packaging), informs the consumer about the freshness and spoilage of the product in real-time (smart packaging). The limitations reported for biopolymers-based packaging, such as hydrophilicity and poor mechanical resistance, can be modified and improved by combining biopolymers with various materials including nanomaterials, cross-linkers, bioactive compounds, and other polymers. Consequently, the use of innovative, high performance, and green bio-nanocomposites reveal a promising opportunity to replace conventional non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastics. Likewise, interest in making polymeric bio-nanocomposites for active and smart packaging purposes has been increased in response to a global request for more effective and safe food packaging systems. There are various factors affecting the quality of bio-nanocomposites, such as biomaterials type, additives like nanoparticles, foods type, storage conditions, and the approaches for their preparation. In this review paper, we aimed to discuss the main challenges of the techniques commonly employed to prepare polymeric bio-nanocomposites, including casting, melt mixing (extrusion), electrospinning, and polymerization techniques. The casting has captured scientists' interest more than other techniques, due to the easy handling. The extrusion methods showed a more industrial approach than other techniques in this field. The electrospinning process has attracted a lot of interest due to the production of fibrous membranes, able to encapsulate and stabilize bioactive molecules. The polymerization technique shows less interest amongst scientists due to its complicated conditions, its reaction-based process and the use of toxic and not green reactants and solvents. In conclusion, all techniques should be optimized based on relevant specific parameters to obtain bio-nanocomposites with notable mechanical behaviors, barrier and permeability properties, contact angle/wettability, uniform structures, low cost of production, environmental-friendly nature, migration and penetration, and biodegradability features., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Proteins are natural amphiphilic polymers that often have good emulsifying, gelling, and structure forming properties. Consequently, they can be used to assemble protein-based colloidal delivery systems for bioactive agents, such as nanoemulsions, protein nanoparticles, or microgels. However, the functional performance of some proteins is limited because of their poor water-solubility, a tendency to aggregate, and or low surface activity, which limits their application for this purpose. Therefore, physicochemical modification is often necessary to improve their technofunctional characteristics. High-intensity ultrasound (HIU) is a non-thermal processing method that has considerable potential for the modification of the structural, physicochemical, and functional properties of proteins. In this article, we review the impact of sonication on the properties of proteins, including their size, charge, surface hydrophobicity, flexibility, solubility, free sulfhydryl groups, and disulfide bond formation. In addition, the influence of sonication on the emulsifying, foaming, gelling, and encapsulation properties of proteins is reviewed. Previous studies show that high-intensity ultrasound treatments have a strong influence on the molecular characteristics of proteins (increasing their solubility, flexibility, and functionality), which improves their ability to form colloidal delivery systems., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: In addition to academic problems, children with a specific learning disability (SLD) encounter problems with participation in activities outside school., Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) with and without Four Quadrant Model of Facilitated Learning (4QM) in the mothers of children with SLD., Method: A single-blinded, parallel-group randomized clinical trial will be carried out. Mothers of children with SLD will constitute the participants and be allocated to experimental (OPC+4QM) and control (OPC alone) groups., Key Issues: Children's occupational performance and satisfaction, participation in activities outside school, goals attainment, executive function, and academic achievement along with self-efficacy of mothers will be measured in baseline, post-intervention, and one-month follow-up stages., Implications: An OPC intervention protocol may improve children's participation in activities outside school and may help clarify whether 4QM promotes maternal empowerment and better results for children with SLD., Trial Registration: Clinical Trials, IRCT20140416017301N9. (https://en.irct.ir/trial/55842)., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

The potential for utilizing plant-derived components, such as plant proteins, polysaccharides, lipids, and phospholipids, to create targeted drug delivery systems has been demonstrated in recent years. These colloidal delivery systems can encapsulate, protect, and release pharmaceuticals, vitamins, and nutraceuticals, thereby improving their bioavailability and efficacy. Moreover, they have the potential to reduce the side effects associated with some conventional drug formulations, while still achieving controlled or targeted delivery of pharmaceutical agents by various administration routes, including oral, nasal, dermal and inhalation. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of drugs can be modulated by altering the composition, dimensions, and structure of drug formulations created using plant-based colloidal delivery systems. The utilization of plant-derived ingredients may also reduce the environmental impact and improve the sustainability of drug formulations. Initially, we provide an overview of the general characteristics and requirements of drug delivery systems. The opportunities and challenges of using plant-derived components to fabricate colloidal particles for drug delivery applications is then discussed. Finally, potential clinical applications of plant-based delivery drug systems are reviewed., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Worldwide use of glyphosate is constantly increasing and its residues are detected in drinking water, agriculture, and food products. There are controversial data regarding the potential reproductive adverse effects of glyphosate herbicide. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the studies in which the alteration of at least one sexual hormone including testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and estradiol was reported as a measured outcome in rats. In November 2020, 284 articles were screened, of which eight were eligible for the meta-analysis. An overall considerable effect of glyphosate exposure was found on decreasing of testosterone (7 studies, WMD = - 1.48 ng/mL; 95% CI, - 2.34 to - 0.61; P = 0.001), LH (3 studies, WMD = - 2.03 mIu/mL; 95% CI, - 3.34 to - 0.71; P = 0.003), and FSH (3 studies, WMD = - 2.28 mIu/mL; 95% CI, - 5.12 to 0.55; P = 0.115). According to our results, glyphosate intake could have major effects on the health of reproductive system. Consequently, strict monitoring of the residual glyphosate content in the drinking water, agricultural crops, and food products is necessary., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the impact of their dietary choices on the environment, animal welfare, and health, which is causing many of them to adopt more plant-based diets. For this reason, many sectors of the food industry are reformulating their products to contain more plant-based ingredients. This article describes recent research on the formation and application of nano-enabled colloidal delivery systems formulated from plant-based ingredients, such as polysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and phospholipids. These delivery systems include nanoemulsions, solid lipid nanoparticles, nanoliposomes, nanophytosomes, and biopolymer nanoparticles. The composition, size, structure, and charge of the particles in these delivery systems can be manipulated to create novel or improved functionalities, such as improved robustness, higher optical clarity, controlled release, and increased bioavailability. There have been major advances in the design, assembly, and application of plant-based edible nanoparticles within the food industry over the past decade or so. As a result, there are now a wide range of different options available for creating delivery systems for specific applications. In the future, it will be important to establish whether these formulations can be produced using economically viable methods and provide the desired functionality in real-life applications., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Children with a specific learning disability (SLD) have deficits in everyday occupations along with executive function in addition to academic issues., Objective: The present study is aimed at investigating the effectiveness of Occupational Performance Coaching (OPC) and the Four - Quadrant Model of Facilitated Learning (4QM) interventions on the participation in occupational performance and executive function skills in children with SLD., Method: This study was a single-case experimental design (multiple baselines) in which six children with SLD were randomly assigned to three groups. In the baseline phase, three groups of children underwent repeated executive function assessments using the Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) in the multiple baselines. In the intervention phase, all six mothers of children with SLD individually received OPC and 4QM interventions once a week for 14 sessions of 60 minutes and during this period, children were evaluated six more times for executive function skills according to SCWT and WCST. In addition, The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF) at the beginning and the end of the baseline phase and the end of the intervention phase were completed by mothers of children with SLD., Results: More than 50% PND of the SCWT and WCST in the visual analysis graph's information along with significant changes in COPM scores and large effect size of BRIEF subscales (Cohen's d ≥ 0.8) in pre- and postintervention showed the effectiveness of OPC and 4QM on the participation in occupational performance and executive function skills in children with SLD., Conclusion: The results of the study support the effectiveness of OPC and 4QM interventions on children with SLD. However, research with more participants and experimental methods can provide further evidence., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Amin Ghaffari et al.)

Background: The optimal dosing strategy of four-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (4F-PCC) for vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) reversal is unknown., Methods: We conducted systematic search on the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Embase databases from inception to December 2020 for clinical studies that compared the fixed-dose versus variable-dose of 4-PCC for VKAs reversal with at least one reported clinical outcome. The treatment effects were expressed as relative ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and pooled by a random-effects model., Results: Ten studies, including 988 patients, were included. Fixed-dose 4-PCC was associated with lower rate of mortality (RR= 0.65, 95% CI 0.47 to 0.9, p= 0.009), comparable rate of thromboembolic event (TEE) (RR= 1.10, 95%CI 0.44 to 2.80, p= 0.826), and lower goal INR reached (RR= 0.87, 95%CI 0.78 to 0.96, p= 0.007). Less 4-PCC cumulative dose, shorter duration of order-to-needle time, similar hospital length of stay, the comparable time required for INR reversal, higher post-4-PCC INR, and a higher need for additional dose were observed in fixed-dose., Conclusions: The use of a fixed-dose of 4-PCC may be considered an effective and safe dosing strategy for VKAs reversal in various clinical situations. However, further well-designed, controlled studies should be conducted focusing on clinical outcomes to determine the optimal dose of 4-PCC for VKAs reversal., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Alternative medicine, has become popular in asthmatic patients. We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of SINA 1.2 therapy protocol derived from Persian medicine in an asthmatic mice model. Forty-two male BALB/c mice divided into six groups: one control (sham) and five sensitized groups (by parenteral injection of 20 μg ovalbumin in 100 μL normal saline plus 50 μL alum on days 1 and 14). Sensitized groups were as: untreated, budesonide (1 mg nebulized budesonide: 200 μg/puff every 5 min for 25 min), dry sauna (30 min, 37°C), oral oxymel (gavaged: 0.2 mL of the syrup plus 0.8 mL of water), and SINA protocol No.1.2 (oxymel followed by sauna) groups. Treatments were given for 10 days from day 23 to 33 then sacrificed. Significant gene expression reduction of interleukin(IL)-4, IL-5, and MUC5AC and increase of interferon(IFN)-γ and IFN-γ/IL-4 ratio and decreased perivascular and peribronchial inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia, and subsequent mucus hypersecretion in SINA group were seen compared to untreated group. SINA lowered IL-5 and MUC5AC gene expression levels similar to the budesonide and acted better than budesonide in increasing IFN-γ gene expression up to normal level. Compared with the asthma group, sauna alone only affected MUC5AC and IFN-γ gene expressions and oxymel alone, only reduced IL-4 gene expression, perivascular and peribronchial inflammation, and mucus hypersecretion. It seems that SINA therapy alleviates asthma via immune modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improvement of pathological changes in ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice, supporting the notion of innate healing power mentioned in Persian medicine literature.

Background: COVID-19 virus is on the rise globally, and people with the disease experience a variety of physical and mental problems. According to studies, depression can be a complication of the virus. So far, limited measures have been taken to prevent and treat emotional-psychological complications of COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of online cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on depressive symptoms in recovered patients with COVID-19., Materials and Methods: This study was conducted in a quasi-experimental design. A sample of 150 recovered patients with COVID-19 who referred to Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz city, were selected by random sampling method. The patients' emotional-psychological status was assessed by the Beck Depression Inventory, and they entered the treatment process according to the inclusion criteria. As a therapeutic intervention, a scientific and valid approach called CBT was implemented, which two occupational therapists performed in eight treatment sessions in the context of a social communication application. Paired sample t -test was used to analyze the time sequence of quantitative data due to its normality., Results: After the last session of the intervention, the effect of this therapeutic approach on reducing the depressive symptoms of patients was evaluated. According to the findings, the Beck score of the participants decreased significantly after the intervention (MD = -45/9, P < 0/001)., Conclusion: Therefore, in order to promote the recovery of patients with COVID-19 and help health authorities to develop preventive measures and effective treatment of emotional-psychological problems caused by this virus, it is recommended to use the online CBT approach., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Education and Health Promotion.)

Silk worm (Bombyx Mori) protein, have been considered as potential materials for a variety of advanced engineering and biomedical applications for decades. Recently, silkworm silk has gained significant importance in research attention mainly because of its remarkable and exceptional mechanical properties. Silk has already been shown to have unique interactions with cells in tissues through bio-recognition units. The natural silk contains fibroin and sericin and has been used in various tissues of the human body (skin, bone, nerve, and so on). Besides, silk also still has anti-cancer, anti-tyrosinase, anti-coagulant, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, and anti-diabetic properties. This article is supposed to describe the diverse biomedical capabilities of B. Mori silk as the appropriate biomaterial among the assorted natural and artificial polymers that are presently accessible, and ideal for usage in regenerative medicine fields., (© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The connection between flexible textiles and stiff electronic components has always been structurally weak and a limiting factor in the establishment of smart textiles in our everyday life. This paper focuses on the formation of reliable connections between conductive textiles and conventional litz wires using ultrasonic welding. The paper offers a promising approach to solving this problem. The electrical and mechanical performance of the samples were investigated after 15 and 30 wash-and-dry cycles in a laundry machine. Here the contact resistances and their peeling strength were measured. Furthermore, their connection properties were analysed in microsections. The resistance of the joints increased more than 300%, because the silver-coated wires suffered under the laundry cycles. Meanwhile, the mechanical strength during the peeling test decreased by only about 20% after 15 cycles and remained the same after 30 cycles. The good results obtained in this study suggest that ultrasonic welding offers a useful approach to the connection of textile electronics to conductive wires and to the manufacture of smart textiles.

Aim: Current guidelines recommend the use of vitamin K antagonist (VKA) for up to 3-6 months for treatment of left ventricular (LV) thrombus post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, based on evidence supporting non-inferiority of novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) compared to VKA for other indications such as deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism (PE), and thromboembolic prevention in atrial fibrillation, NOACs are being increasingly used off licence for the treatment of LV thrombus post-AMI. In this study, we investigated the safety and effect of NOACs compared to VKA on LV thrombus resolution in patients presenting with AMI., Methods and Results: This was an observational study of 2328 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography ± percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for AMI between May 2015 and December 2018, at a UK cardiac centre. Patients' details were collected from the hospital electronic database. The primary endpoint was rate of LV thrombus resolution with bleeding rates a secondary outcome. Left ventricular thrombus was diagnosed in 101 (4.3%) patients. Sixty patients (59.4%) were started on VKA and 41 patients (40.6%) on NOAC therapy (rivaroxaban: 58.5%, apixaban: 36.5%, and edoxaban: 5.0%). Both groups were well matched in terms of baseline characteristics including age, previous cardiac history (previous myocardial infarction, PCI, coronary artery bypass grafting), and cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia). Over the follow-up period (median 2.2 years), overall rates of LV thrombus resolution were 86.1%. There was greater and earlier LV thrombus resolution in the NOAC group compared to patients treated with warfarin (82% vs. 64.4%, P = 0.0018, at 1 year), which persisted after adjusting for baseline variables (odds ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.9). Major bleeding events during the follow-up period were lower in the NOAC group, compared with VKA group (0% vs. 6.7%, P = 0.030) with no difference in rates of systemic thromboembolism (5% vs. 2.4%, P = 0.388)., Conclusion: These data suggest improved thrombus resolution in post-acute coronary syndrome (ACS) LV thrombosis in patients treated with NOACs compared to VKAs. This improvement in thrombus resolution was accompanied with a better safety profile for NOAC patients vs. VKA-treated patients. Thus, provides data to support a randomized trial to answer this question., (Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. © The Author(s) 2020.)

Foodborne parasites in raw vegetables could cause parasitic infections in humans. An effective approach to the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms in vegetables involves identifying the main sources of contamination and the ecology of the involved microorganisms. This review aimed to evaluate the prevalence of foodborne parasites in raw vegetables in Iran. According to the reviewed studies, the prevalence rate of Ascaris spp., Giardia spp., Toxocara spp., Fasciola , Trichuris , Cryptosporidium , Dicrocoeliasis , Taenia spp., and Entamoeba histolytica was 6 % (95 % CI: 5-8 %), 6 % (95 % CI: 5-7 %), 6 % (95 % CI: 4-7 %), 2 % (95 % CI: 1-2 %), 1 % (95 % CI: 1-2 %), 10 % (95 % CI: 6-15 %), 2 % (95 % CI: 1-3 %), 5 % (95 % CI: 4-6 %), and 3 % (95 % CI: 2-4 %), respectively. According to the standard deviation map, Ilam province was one of the high-risk areas in terms of food-borne parasites in raw vegetables (3 SD < prevalence < 4 SD). Given the key role of raw vegetables in human parasitic contamination, governments must implement more stringent programs for effective wastewater treatment, preventing domestic and wild animals from entering farms, not using human and animal manure on farms, using ready-to-eat packaged vegetables, food safety training for households, implementation of GMP and HACCP in the factory vegetable packaging are required in this regard, especially in the high-risk areas of Iran, such as Ilam province., Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40201-021-00714-w., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.)

Background: Some pathophysiological effects of physical frailty and cognitive impairment might be similar; therefore, finding the associations in epidemiologic studies could guide clinicians and researchers to recognize effective strategies for each type of frailty such as frailty phenotype and frailty index, which in turn will result in a preventive approach. The study aimed to reveal which components of frailty phenotype are more associated with cognitive impairment. The findings of this study may help other researchers clarify the related pathways., Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of the results of the second phase of Bushehr Elderly Health Program; a community-based elderly prospective cohort study conducted in 2015-2016. The participants were selected through a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Frailty was assessed based on the Fried frailty phenotype criteria. Cognitive impairment was assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Mini-Cog, and the Category Fluency Test (CFT). Multiple logistic regression models were applied to determine the association between frailty and cognitive impairment. Depression trait was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). Activities of daily living were assessed using the Barthel Index and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) using Lawton's IADL., Results: The studyp conducted among people ≥ 60 years old (N = 2336) with women consisting 51.44% of the sample group. The mean age of the participants was 69.26 years old. The prevalence of pre-frailty and frailty were 42.59% and 7.66%, respectively. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratio of the association between pre-frailty and frailty with cognitive impairment was 1.239, 95% CI: 1.011 - 1.519 and 1.765, 95% CI: 1.071 - 2.908, respectively (adjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index, smoking, diabetes mellitus, PHQ- 9, Barthel Index, and IADLs). In the fully adjusted multiple logistic regression models, all of the components of Fried frailty phenotype were significantly related to cognitive impairment except weight loss., Conclusion: Cognitive impairment may be associated with frailty phenotype. Moreover, low strength and function of muscles had a stronger association with cognitive impairment. It seems that a consideration of cognitive impairment assessment in older people along with frailty and vice versa in clinical settings is reasonable., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestOn behalf of all authors, the corresponding author states that there is no conflict of interest., (© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021.)

Interest in the development of smart and active biodegradable packaging materials is increasing as food manufacturers try to improve the sustainability and environmental impact of their products, while still maintaining their quality and safety. Active packaging materials contain components that enhance their functionality, such as antimicrobials, antioxidants, light blockers, or oxygen barriers. Smart packaging materials contain sensing components that provide an indication of changes in food attributes, such as alterations in their quality, maturity, or safety. For instance, a smart sensor may give a measurable color change in response to a deterioration in food quality. This article reviews recent advances in the development of active and smart biodegradable packaging materials in the food industry. Moreover, studies on the application of these packaging materials to monitor the freshness and safety of food products are reviewed, including dairy, meat, fish, fruit and vegetable products. Finally, the potential challenges associated with the application of these eco-friendly packaging materials in the food industry are discussed, as well as potential future directions.

Background: Iranian traditional medicine, also known as Persian Medicine, is a holistic school of medicine with a long prolific history. It describes numerous concepts and the relationships between them. However, no unified language system has been proposed for the concepts of this medicine up to the present time. Considering the extensive terminology in the numerous textbooks written by the scholars over centuries, comprehending the totality of concepts is obviously a very challenging task. To resolve this issue, overcome the obstacles, and code the concepts in a reusable manner, constructing an ontology of the concepts of Iranian traditional medicine seems a necessity., Construction and Content: Makhzan al-Advieh, an encyclopedia of materia medica compiled by Mohammad Hossein Aghili Khorasani, was selected as the resource to create an ontology of the concepts used to describe medicinal substances. The steps followed to accomplish this task included (1) compiling the list of classes via examination of textbooks, and text mining the resource followed by manual review to ensure comprehensiveness of extracted terms; (2) arranging the classes in a taxonomy; (3) determining object and data properties; (4) specifying annotation properties including ID, labels (English and Persian), alternative terms, and definitions (English and Persian); (5) ontology evaluation. The ontology was created using Protégé with adherence to the principles of ontology development provided by the Open Biological and Biomedical Ontology (OBO) foundry., Utility and Discussion: The ontology was finalized with inclusion of 3521 classes, 15 properties, and 20,903 axioms in the Iranian traditional medicine General Ontology (IrGO) database, freely available at http://ir-go.net/ . An indented list and an interactive graph view using WebVOWL were used to visualize the ontology. All classes were linked to their instances in UNaProd database to create a knowledge base of ITM materia medica., Conclusion: We constructed an ontology-based knowledge base of ITM concepts in the domain of materia medica to help offer a shared and common understanding of this concept, enable reuse of the knowledge, and make the assumptions explicit. This ontology will aid Persian medicine practitioners in clinical decision-making to select drugs. Extending IrGO will bridge the gap between traditional and conventional schools of medicine, helping guide future research in the process of drug discovery.

In recent decades, environmental concerns and increasing consumer demand for healthy and nutritious food products with prolonged shelf life have made the food packaging industry pay more attention to the preparation of multifunctional biodegradable packaging films based on biopolymers containing active components such as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. In this study, bio-nanocomposite films were fabricated from gelatin (G) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), and different concentrations of zinc oxide (ZnO) and/or Selenium (Se) nanoparticles (NPs) by the casting method. The mechanical, barrier, optical, and structural (FTIR, XRD, and SEM) properties of the films were investigated along with their antibacterial and antioxidant features. The incorporation of ZnO and Se NPs improved the physicomechanical and water resistance of G/CNF films. In this regard, the maximum tensile strength value was obtained for the G/CNF containing 5% w/w ZnO NPs (G/CNF/ZnO3) and G/CNF containing 0.1% w/w Se NPs (G/CNF/Se2) films (~2.20-fold and ~2.13-fold higher than the G/CNF film, respectively). Also, G/CNF with 3% w/w ZnO NPs (G/CNF/ZnO 2 ) film had the lowest water vapor permeability and water solubility among all films. Results of the disc diffusion assay showed a stronger antibacterial effect of ZnO NPs compared with Se NPs. The bacterial susceptibility to the antibacterial films was as follows: Listeria monocytogenes > Escherichia coli > Staphylococcus aureus > Pseudomonas fluorescens. The G/CNF films incorporated with Se nanoparticles possessed the higher property of scavenging free radicals in comparison films containing ZnO nanoparticles. Also, the combination of Se NPs and ZnO NPs enhanced the antioxidant effect of the films. In conclusion, gelatin-based edible films containing CNFs, ZnO NPs, and Se NPs can be used in the development of active food packaging products., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

A novel pH-sensitive colorimetric film was prepared based on immobilizing red barberry anthocyanins (RBAs) within composite chitin nanofiber (CNF) and methylcellulose (MC) matrices. The incorporation of CNFs and RBAs improved their mechanical properties, moisture resistance, and UV-vis screening properties. Moreover, the RBAs could be used as colorimetric indicators to detect food spoilage because they are sensitive to changes in pH and ammonia gas production. The RBA-halochromic indicator changed from reddish/crimson → pink → yellow with increasing pH, and from pink → yellow with increasing ammonia vapor concentration. Furthermore, the smart films possessed good antioxidant and antimicrobial activity owing to the presence of the RBAs and CNFs. Finally, the validity of the indicator to monitor the freshness/spoilage of a model food (fish) was demonstrated. Overall, this study shows that active/smart films can be assembled from food grade ingredients that can protect and monitor the freshness of products, like meat and fish., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objective: Increased accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the process of oogenesis is one of the most well known causes of ovarian insufficiency and decreased ovarian reserve. Selenium and vitamin E as cofactors of glutathione peroxidase plays an important role in the removal of ROS in the ovary. We evaluated the effects of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) index and antral follicle count (AFC) (primary outcomes) and mean ovarian volume (MOV) and side effects of these supplements (secondary outcome) in infertile women with occult premature ovarian insufficiency (OPOI)., Methods: 70 patients were allocated into the control and treatment groups through block randomization method. 35 women in the treatment group received 200 ng selenium and 400IU vitamin E and 35 women in the control group received placebo for a total of 90 days. AMH index, AFC and mean ovarian volume (MOV) were investigated in both groups after 12 months of study., Result: There was no significant difference between groups before intervention in AMH (Mean difference: -0.08; 95% CI: -0.20 to.08; p=0.33), AFC (-0.71; 95%CI: -1.44 to -0.01; p=0.05) and MOV (-0.55; 95% CI: -0.85 to -0.24; p=0.001). There was a significant increase in AMH (mean difference: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.71; p<0.001), AFC (5.08; 95% CI: 4.36 to 5.08; p<0.001) and MOV (2.17; 95% CI: 1.87 to 2.47; p<0.001) in selenium + vitamin E group compared to placebo group 12 months after intervention. These supplements had no side effects., Conclusion: Supplementation with selenium and vitamin E can increase AMH, AFC and MOV in women with OPOI., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The N-Back, a common working memory (WM) updating task, is increasingly used in basic and applied psychological research. As such, an increasing number of electroencephalogram (EEG) studies have sought to identify the electrophysiological signatures of N-Back task performance. However, stimulus type , task structure , pre-processing methods, and differences in the laboratory environment, including the EEG recording setup employed, greatly vary across studies, which in turn may introduce inconsistencies in the obtained results. Here we address this issue by conducting nine different variations of an N-Back task manipulating stimulus type and task structure . Furthermore, we explored the effect of the pre-processing method used and differences in the laboratory environment. Results reveal significant differences in behavioral and electrophysiological signatures in response to N-Back stimulus type , task structure , pre-processing method, and laboratory environment. In conclusion, we suggest that experimental factors, analysis pipeline, and laboratory differences, which are often ignored in the literature, need to be accounted for when interpreting findings and making comparisons across studies., (Copyright © 2020 Alizadeh Shalchy, Pergher, Pahor, Van Hulle and Seitz.)

Sleep enhances memories, especially if they are related to future rewards. Although dopamine has been shown to be a key determinant during reward learning, the role of dopaminergic neurotransmission for amplifying reward-related memories during sleep remains unclear. In this study, we scrutinize the idea that dopamine is needed for the preferential consolidation of rewarded information. We impaired dopaminergic neurotransmission, thereby aiming to wipe out preferential sleep-dependent consolidation of high- over low-rewarded memories during sleep. Following a double-blind, balanced, crossover design, 17 young healthy men received the dopamine d2-like receptor blocker sulpiride (800 mg) or placebo, after learning a motivated learning task. The task required participants to memorize 80 highly and 80 lowly rewarded pictures. Half of them were presented for a short (750 msec) and a long (1500 msec) duration, respectively, which permitted dissociation of the effects of reward on sleep-associated consolidation from those of mere encoding depth. Retrieval was tested after a retention interval of approximately 22 hr that included 8 hr of nocturnal sleep. As expected, at retrieval, highly rewarded memories were remembered better than lowly rewarded memories, under placebo. However, there was no evidence for an effect of reducing dopaminergic neurotransmission with sulpiride during sleep on this differential retention of rewarded information. This result indicates that dopaminergic activation likely is not required for the preferential consolidation of reward-associated memory. Rather, it appears that dopaminergic activation only tags such memories at encoding for intensified reprocessing during sleep.

Wearable sensors enable the simultaneous recording of several electrophysiological signals from the human body in a non-invasive and continuous manner. Textile sensors are garnering substantial interest in the wearable technology because they can be knitted directly into the daily-used objects like underwear, bra, dress, etc. However, accurate processing of signals recorded by textile sensors is extremely challenging due to the very low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Systematic classification of textile sensor noise (TSN) is necessary to: (i) identify different types of noise and their statistical characteristics, (ii) explore how each type of noise influences the electrophysiological signal, (iii) develop optimal textile-specific electronics that suppress TSN, and (iv) reproduce TSN and create large dataset of textile sensors to validate various machine learning and signal processing algorithms. In this paper, we develop a novel technique to classify textile sensor artifacts in ECG signals. By simultaneously recording signals from the waist (textile sensors) and chest (gel electrode), we extract TSN by removing the chest ECG signal from the recorded textile data. We classify TSN based on its morphological and statistical features in two main categories, namely, slow and fast. Linear prediction coding (LPC) is utilized to model each class of TSN by auto-regression coefficients and residues. The residual signal can be approximated by Gaussian distribution which enables reproducing slow and fast artifacts that not only preserve the similar morphological features but also fulfill the statistical properties of TSN. By reproducing TSN and adding them to clean ECG signals, we create a textile-like ECG signal which can be used to develop and validate different signal processing algorithms.

Background and Objectives: The onset of rehabilitation interventions in children with autism spectrum disorder below 5 years old has been associated with the reduction of autism symptoms in all developmental domains. The present study aimed to illustrate the importance of early family-oriented interventions in the reduction of the problems and symptoms of children with autism spectrum disorder., Methodology: This study was a pretest-posttest clinical trial without a control group. Fifty patients were selected using a convenience sampling method, of which forty patients were male and 10 females with a mean age of 3.2 ± 1.4. The efficacy assessment was evaluated using the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) and the Autism Treatment Evaluation Checklist (ATEC) as pretest and posttest. Data were analyzed by independent T-test using SPSS software., Results: The difference between pretest and posttest was significant in all aspects of the ATEC test (communication, health, sensory and cognitive awareness, socialization) at the level of P < 0.001. Moreover, the difference between pretest and posttest was significant at P < 0.001 for the aspects of speech, social and communication, and general performance, and at P < 0.002 for the sensory processing., Conclusion: Timely interventions under 6 years old with an emphasis on family-oriented and growth aspects over one year can help autistic children in the aspects of speech, social and communication, sensory processing, and sensory and cognitive awareness., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2020 Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care.)