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Water loss is a critical concern in postharvest fruit technology, significantly impacting fruit quality, shelf life, and market value. This phenomenon involves the loss of moisture from fruit tissues, leading to physiological changes, reduced quality, and lower market value, which can contribute to food waste. Consumers perceive fruit with visible signs of water loss as lower quality. Therefore, minimizing water loss is essential through proper postharvest handling and storage practices, including temperature and humidity control, cooling, humidification, and the application of edible coatings and new modified coating techniques. Despite the importance of managing water loss, comprehensive information on its mechanisms and contributing factors in postharvest fruit technology is scarce. This paper aims to provide insights into the mechanisms, impact, influencing factors, and control strategies related to water loss in the context of postharvest fruit technology.

The study aimed to compare social isolation and psychological well-being in students with specific and normal learning disabilities. The current research was descriptive and the causal-comparative type of research. The statistical population of the present study included all students with learning disabilities and normal students of Urmia City in the academic year of 2022-2023. A sample of 34 people (17 students with Specific learning disabilities and 17 normal students) were selected for each group using targeted sampling. The group of students with learning disabilities was diagnosed by the teacher and by a specialist in the psychology and education of children with special needs. Social Isolation Assessment Questionnaire of Asher et al., (1984) and Sterling's Children's Well-Being Questionnaire were used to collect data. Analysis of covariance test was used to analyze the data. The results of the research showed that there is a significant difference between the social isolation and mental well-being of students with specific learning disabilities and normal students (P

Summary: The B cell “help” function of CD4+ T cells is critical in establishing the humoral arm of adaptive immunity. Here, we present a protocol to measure the “help” function of antigen-specific memory T cells using an autologous T-B coculture supplemented with monocytes. We describe steps for cell preparation, human cell sorting, coculture, and a flow cytometry-based assessment of B cell outputs. This protocol demonstrates enhanced sensitivity and proves useful in evaluating T-B collaboration in various contexts of health and disease.For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Ansari et al.1 : Publisher’s note: Undertaking any experimental protocol requires adherence to local institutional guidelines for laboratory safety and ethics.

Intelligent agricultural applications are gaining momentum, promising 24-hour monitoring of soil and crops, equipment productivity, storage conditions, plant and animal behaviour, energy consumption levels, etc. Combining different sensors, connected devices and agricultural facilities, IoT platform optimizes the development of intelligent agricultural systems and provides maximum flexibility, for example, for individual architectural design. This is a huge advantage for companies or farmers that plan to steadily expand their ecosystem of the IoT devices and over time introduce new intelligent agricultural solutions. Managing several solutions and upgrading them on a single IoT platform ensures rational operation and predictable results. One of such intellectual solutions is offered in this article on the example of the project "Smart greenhouse" using wireless IoT technologies.

Background and purpose: Iran is ranked among the top ten nations in the world for hosting a large number of migrants and refugees. During the COVID-19 outbreak, refugees and migrants were among the most vulnerable groups. This study aimed to investigate the extent of healthcare service utilization by refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in healthcare centers affiliated with Iran University of Medical Sciences Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2021 in Tehran. The research environment included all healthcare networks and general and specialized hospitals. Data were collected through document review and registered information in the Sina system. All provided services were categorized into four groups: primary care, outpatient, emergency, and inpatient services. Data analysis was performed using the Chow test and Interrupted Time Series model with the Wats and Sctest software packages in R version 4.3.0. Results: The decrease in utilization of outpatient, emergency, and inpatient services by refugees and migrants was significant (P-value < 0.001), whereas the decrease in primary care services was not significant. Additionally, after the onset of COVID-19, only the utilization of inpatient services showed a significant increasing trend (P-value < 0.013). Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the utilization of all healthcare services by refugees and migrants, including primary, outpatient, emergency, and inpatient care, decreased. It is recommended to provide complete insurance coverage for refugees, offer free treatment for impoverished refugees, increase awareness among refugees to encourage greater use of health services, reduce existing social and economic barriers, and facilitate interaction between healthcare providers and refugees.

Background and purpose: Assessing job satisfaction within any organization is essential due to its impact on productivity and overall effectiveness. This study aimed to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of Spector's Job Satisfaction Questionnaire among employees of emergency medical centers. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted among 270 employees of emergency medical centers in Ahvaz between February 2021 and June 2021. Data collection was performed using a census method and Spector's Job Satisfaction Questionnaire. Face validity, content validity, and translation accuracy of the questionnaire were reviewed by experts. Convergent and divergent validity and reliability were assessed using factor loadings, average variance extracted (AVE), reciprocal factor loadings, Cronbach's alpha, and composite reliability in SMART-PLS 3 software. Results: The face validity, content validity, and translation accuracy of the questionnaire were confirmed by experts to suit the Iranian context. All item factor loadings and the AVE index for all constructs exceeded 0.4. The AVE index for the entire questionnaire was 0.523. Examination of reciprocal factor loadings confirmed divergent validity. Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability indices for all constructs were above 0.7. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and composite reliability for the entire questionnaire were 0.83 and 0.88, respectively. Conclusion: The validity and reliability of this questionnaire, as adjusted for the Iranian population, were confirmed to be high. Therefore, this questionnaire can be effectively used to evaluate job satisfaction among employees in various organizations, particularly in healthcare organizations and centers.

Abstract The present study was conducted investigating the psychometric properties of the Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions - Second Edition (BRIEF-2) in students with externalizing behavior problems. The method was based on correlation research. The statistical population consisted of all male students with behavioral problems between the ages 7 and 12 in East Azarbayejan province who were studying in the academic year 2021-2022. To select the sample, first, students with externalizing behavior problems were identified. Then their parents completed the parent form of Behavioral Rating Inventory of Executive Functions - Second Edition (BRIEF-2) and Coolidge's Neuropsychological Questionnaire (2002). The data was analyzed with 599 people. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, confirmatory factor analysis, and criterion validity were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the behavioral rating inventory of executive functions - second edition (BRIEF-2) has good reliability and validity. Therefore, this scale can be used to evaluate executive functions in students with externalizing behavior problems. Keywords: psychometric properties, behavior rating inventory of executive function, externalizing behavioral problems. Extended Abstract Introduction Externalizing problems such as disruptive behavior, aggression, and breaking rules can be a significant public health issue. These symptoms can have serious consequences for individuals, including dealing with disruptive behavior, feeling insecure or victimized, and incurring economic costs for prevention, treatment, and trials (Constanty et al., 2021). When evaluating children with externalizing behavior problems, it's important to assess their executive functions. Executive functions refer to the cognitive processes that are involved in regulating behavior, such as attention, working memory, and self-control. There is a relationship between executive functions and externalizing behavior problems, which means that how well a child can regulate their behavior is linked to their cognitive abilities. By assessing executive functions, we can better understand the cognitive and behavioral factors that contribute to externalizing behavior problems in children. The Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2) is currently the most widely used tool for measuring executive functions in children (Pino Muñoz et al., 2021; Parhoon et al., 2022). While BRIEF-2 is a comprehensive tool for assessing executive functions in children, its psychometric features have not been fully examined in children with externalizing behavior problems. The current research aims to answer the question of whether the psychometric characteristics of the BRIEF-2 parent form are appropriate for use in assessing executive functions in students with externalizing behavior problems. Research Question Are the psychometric characteristics of the BRIEF-2 parent form suitable for assessing executive functions in students with externalizing behavior problems? Literature Review Anastasiadis (2023) conducted a study to examine the clinical usefulness of the BRIEF-2 and its associated scales in differentiating between pediatric ADHD presentations and comorbidity. The study used archival data from 211 children between the ages of 5 and 12 who were seen at a university-based ADHD Evaluation Clinic. Ratings from parents and teachers were analyzed separately. The results of the study were consistent with predictions, showing that the Emotional Regulation Index (ERI) was highest in the combined presentation of ADHD. Parhoon et al., (2021) conducted a study to examine the psychometric properties of the Persian version of BRIEF-2 parent-form in children between the ages of six and 12 years. The study used confirmatory factor analysis to analyze the internal structure of the BRIEF-2. The results showed that the model with three indexes (Behavioral, Emotional, and Cognitive) and nine scales (Inhibit, Shift, Self-Monitor, Emotional Control, Initiate, Working Memory, Plan/Organize, Organization of Materials, and Task-Monitor) had a good fit. Jiménez & Lucas-Molina (2019) conducted a study to examine two aspects of BRIEF-2 in a sample of primary school-aged children. The results of the study showed that the confirmatory factor analysis of BRIEF-2 revealed a good fit for the sample. The model with three indexes (Behavioral, Emotional, and Cognitive) and nine scales (Inhibit, Shift, Self-Monitor, Emotional Control, Initiate, Working Memory, Plan/Organize, Organization of Materials, and Task-Monitor) was found to be an appropriate fit for the data. Methodology The current research used a descriptive correlational-normative study method. The statistical population for this study included all male students between the ages of 7 and 12 years old who had behavioral problems and were studying in East Azarbaijan province during the academic year of 2021-2022. The final analysis of the current research included data from 599 questionnaires. The researchers used three different tools to collect data: The Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL), the Behavioral Rating Scale of Executive Functions - Second Edition (BRIEF-2), and the Coolidge Neuropsychological Questionnaire. The researchers used two different software programs, SPSS and Lisrel, to examine the psychometric properties of the BRIEF-2. Results The results of the confirmatory factor analysis of BRIEF-2 in Table 1 and Figure 2 showed that all fit indices, including the square root of the mean error of approximation (RMSEA), were within the desired range. This indicates that the model used in the questionnaire data is an appropriate fit for the data. Table 1. All fit indices of BRIEF-2 confirmatory factor analysis. Fitness indices Values RMSEA 0.098 NFI 0.96 NNFI 0.95 CFI 0.97 GFI 0.94 AGFI 0.89 Fig. 1. Estimation of standardized coefficients Discussion The results of the study showed that the BRIEF-2 has good reliability, as indicated by the examination of Cronbach's alpha coefficients and internal consistency. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the three-factor model of the scale and its nine components. This suggests that the three-factor structure of the BRIEF-2 is desirable and acceptable in the studied population of school-aged children with externalizing behavioral problems. This finding is in line with the research results of Parhoon et al. (2022), Parhoon et al. (2021), Anastasiadis (2023) and Jiménez & Lucas-Molina (2019). One limitation of this study is that the statistical population was limited to primary school-aged male students with externalizing behavioral problems. Therefore, caution should be taken when generalizing the results to other groups of children. Additionally, the data used in this study was limited to participants from East Azarbaijan province. This means that the results may not be representative of other regions or populations. Besides all limitations, it is suggested that the BRIEF-2 be used as an evaluation and diagnostic tool for assessing executive functions in primary school-aged students with externalizing behavior problems. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that children with high levels of behavioral problems may experience more difficulties with executive functions, which can negatively impact their emotional and motivational abilities. Based on the desirable psychometric properties of the BRIEF-2 and its appropriate criterion validity, it can be used as a tool to evaluate the executive functions of primary school-aged students with externalizing behavior problems. Acknowledgments The researchers express their sincere gratitude and appreciation to all the participants who contributed to the implementation of this research. Without their participation, this study would not have been possible.

Food is one of the basic necessities for human life. Nutritious food is essential for human health and helps oneself live up to our best potential as productive members of society. In spite of this, 3 billion people are estimated to have limited access to nutrient-rich food, and there are 768 million undernourished people in the globe today. There are still concerns with food systems and food security, despite the fast economic transformation of low-and middle-income nations in Maritime Southeast Asia and Oceania over the past 10 years. These issues include dwindling agricultural land, deforestation, ineffective food supply networks, environmental degradation, changing and unhealthy diets, non-communicable diseases, disappearing cultural legacy, and ineffective policies. These problems are exacerbated by climate change, natural hazards, and pandemic shocks. This review explores the perspectives of food systems that relates to all the elements and activities in transforming agri-food industry. In this paper, we discuss the challenges and solutions to transforming food systems in this region to achieve a sustainable and healthy diet for all, with the perspective of bringing the region closer toward the UN sustainable development goals. This paper is an outcome of the deliberations that took place during the Food Security in Small Islands and Developing States workshop in 2020. It also includes insights from subsequent expert group sessions that focused on the following topics: Agriculture and Food Systems; Nutrition, Health, and Culture; Innovations and Digitalization in Food Systems; as well as Policies Coordination and Future Shocks.

Abstract Background Assessing the quality of health services gives insights to managers about the status of services delivered by them, especially from the client’s perspective. Although various tools have been developed to measure the quality of primary health care (PHC), no specific tool was found in this field in Iran. Therefore, the present study was conducted to develop and validate the quality assessment tool of PHC in Iran. Methods This methodological study was conducted in 2021. In the first step, based on a literature review, an initial questionnaire was designed, and its face validity, content validity, construct validity, and reliability were evaluated. Descriptive tests, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, exploratory factor analysis, Kaiser-Myer-Olkin (KMO), and Cronbach’s alpha were performed by using SPSS 22. Results The initial questionnaire included 33 items, of which three items were removed due to inconsistency with factorization. The final questionnaire consisted of 30 items and nine dimensions: interaction, efficiency, timeliness, accuracy, consultation, tangibility, safety, accessibility, and environment. The KMO and Cronbach’s alpha index values were 0.734 and 0.82, respectively, indicating acceptable reliability and validity. The developed dimensions represented about 73% of the total variance. Conclusion The designed questionnaire has relatively good validity and reliability and can be used to measure the quality of PHC and to identify weaknesses in service delivery. However, researchers should carefully examine it to enhance its applicability as a standard tool for measuring PHC quality.

Negative consequences of musculoskeletal pain and injuries on the nurses’ health and well-being can increase job dissatisfaction and impose high costs on healthcare centers due to lost workdays and compensation claims. This study aimed to identify policies, programs, and interventions that might be effective in the prevention and reduction of sickness absence and improvement of work outcomes in nursing staff with these problems. The systematic review was conducted according to the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Electronic databases were searched up to November 9-23, 2022. The keywords “musculoskeletal disorders”, “nurse”, “return to work”, “sickness absence”, and “sick leave” and their equivalents were combined using Boolean operators OR/AND. Reference lists of eligible literatures were also screened to identify related studies. In this study, a total of 3365 records were retrieved. After two rounds of screening, 15 studies were selected for qualitative synthesis. These studies included seven randomized controlled trial, five pre-post studies, two cohort, and one cross-sectional. Six types of interventions identified including back college, early workplace-based intervention, physical activity/training, psychosocial education, multifaceted intervention, and ergonomics program. There is insufficient evidence to identify effective interventions in preventing and reducing sickness absence, and improvement of work outcomes in nursing personnel with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Numerous factors affected the occurrence of such disorders, and their consequences, therefore comprehensive strategy tailored to the injured person’s needs should be considered.

Absolutely all megacities of the world are permanently suffering from traffic crowding, which negatively affects the business environment and the economy as a whole. One of the reasons for the formation of crowding is the lack of adequate transport infrastructure or when it works at the limit of its capabilities. However, in most cases, poor (ineffective) traffic management remains the main cause. Based on this premise, the importance and relevance of the tasks of strategic planning for the development of transport infrastructure and traffic management with the widespread use of digital technologies become obvious. The intelligent transport management center has been operating in Baku for a long time, but the city’s transport system needs effective smart measures. The article analyzes the problem of practical modeling of traffic flows within the existing road infrastructure of the Baku urban agglomeration and, using the example of a pilot project of the IT-company SINAM, proposes an appropriate solution based on the integration platform of intelligent transport infrastructure.

Background: The retention of physicians' policy is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to achieve the goals of the health system and justice in access to health services. The aim of this study was policy analysis of retention of physicians in deprived areas and providing some recommendations for improvement of this plan. Methods: This was a qualitative study regarding policy which used Walt and Gilson's triangle framework and Kingdon's multiple streams. Data were collected using a deep semi-structured interview with 30 participants and a review of upstream laws and regulations. After that, all the interviews were recorded, transcribed, and reviewed. Then, data were analyzed through MAXQDA/12 and content analysis. Results: The findings of this study were categorized according to the policy context, content, and process, and actors who played a significant role in designing and implementing this policy. Conclusion: The policy of retaining physicians in rural areas requires the support of the majority of the country's political and health authorities, and providing infrastructure for health providers. This policy not only increases the quality of services, but also is effective in increasing the patients' access to healthcare services in deprived areas.

The present study is aimed to validate the occurrence of two species of Diadem or Royal snakes of Genus Spalerosophis Jan, 1865 from the Poonch District of Jammu and Kashmir, India along with the presentation of eight different colour morphs and diagnostic characteristics. The eight different colour morphs include four colour morphs of adults of S. d. diadema (Schlegel, 1837), two colour morphs of adults of S. atriceps (Fischer, 1885), one colour morph of subadults of unknown parentage and one colour morph of the adult of S. diadema (Schlegel, 1837) represented by a single individual whose identification at subspecies level (ssp. cliffordii/diadema) is the subject for further investigations for want of more specimens. This solitary specimen shares many similarities with S. d. diadema, but it has less number of sub-caudal scales which point towards the likelihood of S. d. cliffordii (Schlegel, 1837). The distribution, activity, habitat and behaviour have also been reported along with the morphological, morphometric and meristic characters. Between two identified species S. atriceps is a new report from the Poonch District. Reported specimens are mapped across the study area and are depicted here in the distribution map.

Molecular surveillance of resistance is an increasingly important part of vector borne disease control programmes that utilise insecticides. The visceral leishmaniasis (VL) elimination programme in India uses indoor residual spraying (IRS) with the pyrethroid, alpha-cypermethrin to control Phlebotomus argentipes the vector of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of VL. Prior long-term use of DDT may have selected for knockdown resistance (kdr) mutants (1014F and S) at the shared DDT and pyrethroid target site, which are common in India and can also cause pyrethroid cross-resistance. We monitored the frequency of these marker mutations over five years from 2017-2021 in sentinel sites in eight districts of north-eastern India covered by IRS. Frequencies varied markedly among the districts, though finer scale variation, among villages within districts, was limited. A pronounced and highly significant increase in resistance-associated genotypes occurred between 2017 and 2018, but with relative stability thereafter, and some reversion toward more susceptible genotypes in 2021. Analyses linked IRS with mutant frequencies suggesting an advantage to more resistant genotypes, especially when pyrethroid was under-sprayed in IRS. However, this advantage did not translate into sustained allele frequency changes over the study period, potentially because of a relatively greater net advantage under field conditions for a wild-type/mutant genotype than projected from laboratory studies and/or high costs of the most resistant genotype. Further work is required to improve calibration of each 1014 genotype with resistance, preferably using operationally relevant measures. The lack of change in resistance mechanism over the span of the study period, coupled with available bioassay data suggesting susceptibility, suggests that resistance has yet to emerge despite intensive IRS. Nevertheless, the advantage of resistance-associated genotypes with IRS and under spraying, suggest that measures to continue monitoring and improvement of spray quality are vital, and consideration of future alternatives to pyrethroids for IRS would be advisable.

The effect of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) treatment at two concentrations (1 mM or 5 mM) on papaya fruit stored at 4°C and 80%–90% relative humidity for 5 weeks was investigated. The application of GABA at 5 mM apparently inhibited chilling injury, internal browning, electrolyte leakage, malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phospholipase D (PLD), and lipoxygenase (LOX) activities of papaya fruit. Fruit treated with 5 mM GABA enhanced the activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL). In addition, GABA treatment significantly displayed higher levels of proline, endogenous GABA accumulation, phenolic contents, and total antioxidant activity than the nontreated papaya. The results suggested that GABA treatment may be a useful approach to improving the chilling tolerance of papaya fruit by reducing oxidative stress and enhancing the defense system.

Actions towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goal 3.4 typically focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) associated with premature mortality, with less emphasis on NCDs associated with disability, such as musculoskeletal conditions—the leading contributor to the global burden of disability. Can systems strengthening priorities for an underprioritised NCD be codesigned, disseminated and evaluated? A ‘roadmap’ for strengthening global health systems for improved musculoskeletal health was launched in 2021. In this practice paper, we outline dissemination efforts for this Roadmap and insights on evaluating its reach, user experience and early adoption. A global network of 22 dissemination partners was established to drive dissemination efforts, focussing on Africa, Asia and Latin America, each supported with a suite of dissemination assets. Within a 6-month evaluation window, 52 Twitter posts were distributed, 2195 visitors from 109 countries accessed the online multilingual Roadmap and 138 downloads of the Roadmap per month were recorded. Among 254 end users who answered a user-experience survey, respondents ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ the Roadmap was valuable (88.3%), credible (91.2%), useful (90.1%) and usable (85.4%). Most (77.8%) agreed or strongly agreed they would adopt the Roadmap in some way. Collection of real-world adoption case studies allowed unique insights into adoption practices in different contexts, settings and health system levels. Diversity in adoption examples suggests that the Roadmap has value and adoption potential at multiple touchpoints within health systems globally. With resourcing, harnessing an engaged global community and establishing a global network of partners, a systems strengthening tool can be cocreated, disseminated and formatively evaluated.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has gained increment in cultivation worldwide. An increase in cultivation has a direct and profound effect on date seed waste generation. This study aims to highlight the valorization potential of date seed waste by studying the fiber, sugar, and color profiles of 18 date seed varieties. The indigestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is higher among all varieties with a spectrum ranging from 37.70 ± 1.96 g to 49.22 ± 2.26 g. A similar trend was observed for the digested acid detergent fiber (ADF) analysis. However, lignin and hemicellulose values were found to be as low as 2.55 ± 1.27 g and 16.97 ± 0.53 g respectively. Color analysis was comparative alongside date paste of the same 18 varieties. The results depicted similar results with lightness (L) for both date seeds and paste. However, in comparison date seeds were more inclined towards the redness and yellowness spectrum. Sugar profile varied with each variety.

Knowledge management has an increasing role in knowledge-based organizations. Academic libraries have become an essential part of knowledge organizations, and knowledge management is vital. Therefore, this study addresses the challenges of knowledge management processes in Islamic Azad University libraries. This is applied research using the survey-analytical method. The study's statistical population included 60 managers of central libraries at Islamic Azad University. Due to the limited managerial staff, we employed the complete enumeration method. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. The study of eight factors showed that knowledge characteristics, knowledge source, communication channels, time, management, and technological factors had lower scores than the population average, which is a challenge for libraries. Both organizational and personal factors score higher than the population average, which is an opportunity for libraries. It seems that to improve the current situation, the managers of the libraries of the Islamic Azad University need to pay serious attention to the establishment of knowledge management and use the organizational ability and motivated workforce to meet the challenges and improve productivity.https://dorl.net/dor/20.1001.1.20088302.2022.20.4.18.7

The purpose of this study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the two-factor questionnaire of executive dysfunction among adolescents. The method of the research was descriptive and psychometric research. The statistical population of the research consisted of all the male students aged 12 to 18 years of East Azerbaijan province in the academic year of 1401-1401 in Iran. From this population, 1000 students were selected by multi-stage random sampling method, and their parents completed the two-factor questionnaire of adolescent executive dysfunction (TEXI) and also the behavior rating inventory of executive function, second edition. Finally, the questionnaire of 602 parents was analyzed. In order to check the reliability, the method of internal consistency, Cronbach's alpha, and the correlation coefficient between the questions and the total score were used, and to measure the validity, confirmatory factor analysis and criterion validity were used. The results of the research showed that the two-factor questionnaire of executive dysfunction has good reliability and validity. Also, the criterion validity of the questionnaire was confirmed (p

A G-quadruplex (G4) is a typical non-B DNA structure and involved in various DNA-templated events in eukaryotic genomes. PEG and PDS chemicals have been widely applied for promoting the folding of in vivo or in vitro G4s. However, how PEG and PDS preferentially affect a subset of G4 formation genome-wide is still largely unknown. We here conducted a BG4-based IP-seq in vitro under K++PEG or K++PDS conditions in the rice genome. We found that PEG-favored IP-G4s+ have distinct sequence features, distinct genomic distributions and distinct associations with TEGs, non-TEGs and subtypes of TEs compared to PDS-favored ones. Strikingly, PEG-specific IP-G4s+ are associated with euchromatin with less enrichment levels of DNA methylation but with more enriched active histone marks, while PDS-specific IP-G4s+ are associated with heterochromatin with higher enrichment levels of DNA methylation and repressive marks. Moreover, we found that genes with PEG-specific IP-G4s+ are more expressed than those with PDS-specific IP-G4s+, suggesting that PEG/PDS-specific IP-G4s+ alone or coordinating with epigenetic marks are involved in the regulation of the differential expression of related genes, therefore functioning in distinct biological processes. Thus, our study provides new insights into differential impacts of PEG and PDS on G4 formation, thereby advancing our understanding of G4 biology.

Purpose: The purpose of current is to study creative economy, entrepreneurship and income generation in Iranian public libraries from the perspective of researchers in the field of library and librarianship in order to determine the priorities of the application of creative economics in the management of public libraries in Iran. Method: The present research is a systematic study and its statistical population included all the researches conducted in the field of creative economy, entrepreneurship and income generation in public libraries that were published by researchers in Google Scholar, Lisa, Science Direct, Emerald, Elmnet, Magiran, Noormags and Islamic World Science Citation Center during the last 30 years. This study was designed and conducted in three main steps. In the first step, after posing the main questions of the research, the procedure for its implementation was specified and compiled, and the relevant databases were identified based on a specified framework. In the second step, searching for articles was on the agenda, and after finding each article and validation of data, screening and evaluation were performed. In the third step, the data were analyzed by statistical method and then it was interpreted and finally was reported. Findings: The findings showed that out of the 60 researches studied, 40 percent were Persian and 60 percent were non-Persian. 43.3 percent of the researches referred to the subject of entrepreneurship and 18.3 percent to the subject of income generation, which indicated a ratio of more than 2 times between the subject of entrepreneurship and the subject of income generation. Entrepreneurship and income generation have been mentioned in the studied researches as new opportunities to strengthen the preservation of public service values. 21.6 percent of the researches pointed to the legal obstacles and professional ethical principles as the biggest challenge of the creative economy in public libraries, which may affect the basic missions of free services of public libraries. The fact that was emphasized in the studied researches was the lack of familiarity of librarians with the skills of income generation and product marketing, which necessitates holding workshops and short-term trainings. Originality/value: Public libraries, like any other service organization, need budget and financial resources to achieve their desired goals, but today the tough sanctions and the current situation of the economy of the society have caused an excessive increase in the costs of public libraries, and the principle of free public services has been challenged. The studies show that the creative economy approach is a suitable way to get out of the current situation. Creative economy in cultural and social environments, especially in public libraries, while it can create added value, is also fully compatible with their ethical and professional principles. Therefore, the current research considers the creative economy as a great opportunity for public library managers. By benefiting from the facilities available in the libraries, managers can reduce the dependence on the organizational budget step by step by earning creative income as well as increase the quality of free public services and move in the direction of resource sustainability and budget deficit compensation.

Abstract In this numerical work, heat transfer characteristics of humid air in a rectangular channel as solar air heater equipped with V‐shaped ribs has been investigated. The impacts of geometrical parameters of proposed ribs such as height, pitch, and angle relative to air flow direction, as well as relative humidity and Reynolds number of inlet humid air on thermal performance of proposed solar air heater have been evaluated. The numerical results have been achieved using commercial Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) code, ANSYS FLUENT 18.2, which works based on finite volume method. Outcomes shows that, over a wide range of operating conditions, utilizing ribs cause thermal boundary layer to separate and reattach, and eventually enhance heat transfer rate. Increasing the rib angle produces stronger secondary flows, leading to higher local velocities and greater heat transfer rate. Moreover, increasing the relative humidity of inlet air from 0% to 50% leads to improve heat transfer by up to 6%. As Reynolds number increases from 4000 to 12,000, average Nusselt number rises by 7.3% and 31.4% for rib pitches of 6 and 16 mm, respectively. The results demonstrate how thermal performance of a solar air heater can be improved by utilizing V‐shaped ribs.

Introduction: Cerium oxide nanoparticles (CONPs) have been investigated for their therapeutic potential in Parkinson’s disease (PD) due to their potent and regenerative antioxidant activity. In the present study, CONPs were used to ameliorate the oxidative stress caused by free radicals in haloperidol-induced PD in rats following intranasal administration.Method: The antioxidant potential of the CONPs was evaluated in vitro using ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. The penetration and local toxicity of the CONPs was evaluated ex-vivo using goat nasal mucosa. The acute local toxicity of intranasal CONPs was also studied in rat. Gamma scintigraphy was used to assess the targeted brain delivery of CONPs. Acute toxicity studies were performed in rats to demonstrate safety of intranasal CONPs. Further, open field test, pole test, biochemical estimations and brain histopathology was performed to evaluate efficacy of intranasal CONPs in haloperidol-induced PD rat model.Results: The FRAP assay revealed highest antioxidant activity of prepared CONPs at a concentration of 25 μg/mL. Confocal microscopy showed deep and homogenous distribution of CONPs in the goat nasal mucus layers. No signs of irritation or injury were seen in goat nasal membrane when treated with optimized CONPs. Scintigraphy studies in rats showed targeted brain delivery of intranasal CONPs and acute toxicity study demonstrated safety. The results of open field and pole test showed highly significant (p < 0.001) improvement in locomotor activity of rats treated with intranasal CONPs compared to untreated rats. Further, brain histopathology of treatment group rats showed reduced neurodegeneration with presence of more live cells. The amount of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) was reduced significantly, whereas the levels of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and GSH were increased significantly, while amounts of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) showed significant reduction after intranasal administration of CONPs. Also, the intranasal CONPs, significantly high (p < 0.001) dopamine concentration (13.93 ± 0.85 ng/mg protein) as compared to haloperidol-induced control rats (5.76 ± 0.70 ng/mg protein).Conclusion: The overall results concluded that the intranasal CONPs could be safe and effective therapeutics for the management of PD.

Purpose: Libraries as social institutions have an indispensable role in meeting the educational and cultural needs of society. However, the economic downturn has increasingly increased the costs of library services, and consequently, limited them in implementation of the programs. Creative economics is a shortcut to making money through art, culture, and science that can partially solve the problem of library budgets. For this purpose, the present study seeks to investigate the pattern of earning income in public libraries with a creative economics approach. Method: This research is fundamental in terms of purpose and qualitative in terms of nature, which was conducted by using the grounded theory method. Participants were 19 expert experts with sufficient experience and interest in the research topic. They were selected from the fields of librarianship, entrepreneurship, and economics by purposive sampling method from a wide range of communites. Data collection was performed using semi-structured interviews and systematic open-ended questions through telephone and virtual networks. The interviews continued until sufficient information was obtained for saturation. Findings: Data analysis showed that the theoretical basis of the revenue model in libraries consisted of six core components: 1. management mechanisms with sub-components of: nurturing role of senior managers in creating change, providing facilities and equipment, contribution of librarians, and management’s attention to creative human resources; 2. financial and administrative mechanisms which include: development and stabilization of resources and optimization of expenditures, resource management, administrative support for investment, and increasing the financial strength of libraries; 3. proper mechanisms with sub-components of: amending the libraries’ establishment law, creating a legal process for obtaining revenue licenses, clarification of laws and regulations; 4. educational mechanisms which include: in-service training in and familiarity with interactive methods, training and creation, changing training methods, familiarity with new training methods, and changing the attitude of managers to training methods; 5. revenue-generating mechanisms with sub-components of: creating logical interaction with customers, designing service delivery and plans, setting a schedule of financial independence, creating a wide network of product distribution; and 6. structural mechanisms including: strong and continuous support for management programs, improving the quality of cultural services and products, improving social status, promoting specialized management, preparing a strategic document for the creative economy. The development of library services depends on the intelligent mechanisms of the creative economy of these components. Originality/value: While the economic downturn and the lack of financial resources have forced libraries to choose the extra income path for their survival, no research has been done on this subject in Iran. Creative economics and entrepreneurship allow libraries to generate revenue through art, culture, and science. Creative revenue will be a big step towards budget independence and reducing the financial burden on libraries, and consequently, reducing staff livelihood concerns, financing acquisitions and up-to-date resources, as well as maintenance of library building. Of course, it should be noted that the creative economy does not only harm the provision of standard library services but also puts public services on the path to prosperity and development due to the legitimacy of social capital and the revenue it brings to libraries.

Healthcare systems deal with disease prevention, early detection, diagnosis, investigation, and timely, affordable, and safe treatment. For the delivery of services in the health sector, communication is the key to linking the service provider and the patients. Mobile technology in the recent past has rendered various platforms of communications for the healthcare system. Thus, in health, mobile technology has greatly contributed to time management and cost reduction for healthcare at every level including hospital visits to individual appointments with doctors, hence the convenience. With advancements in mobile technologies and the growing number of mobile users, newer opportunities have opened up for the use of mobiles for patient care. Emerging information and communication technologies with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT) have been instrumental in integrating different domains of the health sector with mobile technology. Thus, the technology may have the potential to become powerful medical tools to support the health sector at all levels of care. In this review, the concept, applications, and advantages of mobile technology for health and the present pandemic have been discussed. It also discusses mobile health technology, as a support system for convenient and safer healthcare for public health, and the opportunities to improve its applications for unseen future health crises.

The enzymatic browning induced in amla juice due to the high activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) is one of the critical issues faced by the industry. The present study assessed the suitability of non-thermal, high-intensity ultrasound (US) on the inactivation of PPO and POD in fresh Indian Gooseberry juice. Ultrasonic waves, using a 6 mm titanium alloy probe were irradiated in the juice at a maximum power of 455 W and frequency of 20 kHz. The subsequent effects on biochemical attributes were studied using response surface methodology. Inactivation rates of 90.72 % and 73.18 %, respectively, for PPO and POD enzymes, were observed at the highest US intensity and exposure time. Numerical optimisation using the three-factor, three-level Box-Behnken design suggested that an optimum process at 70 % (energy density: 1610 Wcm−2) pulsed at 5 s on and 5 s off for 7 min 30 s resulted in PPO and POD inactivation of the order of 76.42 % and 64.57 % respectively. At these experimental conditions, the optimized levels of biochemical attributes i.e., ascorbic acid (738.50 mg/100 mL), total phenols (17.10 mg/mL), DPPH antioxidant activity (58.47 %), tannins (7.11 µg/mL), colour change (ΔE = 9.04) and flavonoids (6.14 mg/mL) were achieved. The overall statistical models were significant for all the responses except for reducing sugars. Furthermore, the approximation equations for individual responses indicated that the goodness of fit was adequate (R2 > 0.90). The results suggested that ultrasound is a suitable processing technique for amla juice stabilisation compared to thermal treatments that result in the loss of quality.

Introduction: Root cause analysis is one of the most important tools in disaster management that aims to identify the real causes of an issue and find ways to eliminate them. Surgery is one of the areas in which the possibility of clinical error is significant. Therefore, the study aims to explain the weaknesses and challenges of root cause analysis in surgical events and identify the experience of staff around the technology. Materials and methods: This qualitative study was conducted through interviews in 2021. Twenty members of the root cause analysis team working in teaching hospitals affiliated to Iran University of Medical Sciences were interviewed. After conducting the interviews, MAXQDA software version 10 was used to analyze the thematic content and extract concepts related to the research objectives. Results: The majority of participants were female, head nurse, aged 30 to 40, work experience of 11 to 15, and employed in Hasheminejad Hospital. The most important weaknesses identified for root cause analysis included the lack of proper implementation of the root cause analysis process and the lack of participation of individuals, hospitals and universities in this process. Conclusion: Health managers and policymakers should address the weaknesses of root cause analysis by explaining the necessity of the process, root cause analysis immediately after each clinical event, evaluating the effectiveness of root cause analysis, and providing adequate feedback from the authorities. Upstream therapy, creating a culture of root cause analysis, providing the necessary facilities to perform these analyzes, providing clear instructions to encourage and punish employees.

Introduction:Evaluating a hospital's patient safety culture (PSC) increases awareness of the various aspects of patient safety. Due to the critical role of PSC, the current study was designed and conducted to assess the level of PSC from the perspective of medical staff.Materials and Methods: A descriptive-analytical study was conducted in one of Tehran's hospitals in 2017. A total of 122 participants were selected as the research population from hospital clinical staff using stratified random sampling. The data collection method was a standard HSOPS questionnaire. The data were analyzed descriptively and analytically using SPSS19 software, including the T-test, analysis of variance, and Friedman test.Results: The most studied populations were women (80.33%), and nursing staff (54.92%), the average serving years in hospital was (45/1±42/9).The mean score for PSC was 3.41, significantly higher than the national average. Among the various aspects of PSC, the highest and lowest scores were for "managers' expectations and actions regarding patient safety" and "openness of communication channels," respectively.Conclusion:According to the findings, the PSC among hospital staff is generally positive and high, which may be a result of the hospital's efforts to establish accreditation standards in the hospital. It is recommended that the hospital management team place a premium on open communication channels, teamwork, organizational learning, information exchange and transmission, communication and error feedback for all medical staff. Additionally, for effective learning, it is recommended to clearly define the process of encouraging and punishing to motivate, continuously assess patient safety status, provide timely feedback on results.

Abstract Background Optimal, need-based, and equitable allocation of financial resources is one of the most important concerns of health systems worldwide. Fulfilling this goal requires considering various criteria when allocating resources. The present study was conducted to identify the need indicators used to allocate health resources in different countries worldwide. Methods A systematic review conducted on all published articles and reports on the need-based allocation of health financial resources in the English language from 1990 to 2020 in databases, including PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus as well as those in Persian language databases, including magiran, SID, and Google and Google scholar search engines. After performing different stages of screening, appropriate studies were identified and their information were extracted independently by two people, which were then controlled by a third person. The extracted data were finally analyzed by content analysis method using MAXQDA 10 software. Result This search yielded 823 studies, of which 29 were included for the final review. The findings indicated that many need-based resource allocation formulas attempt to deal with health care needs using some weighting methods for individuals. In this regard, the most commonly used indicators were found as follows: age, gender, socio-economic status or deprivation, ethnicity, standardized mortality ratio (SMR), the modified health indicators (disease consequences, self-assessed health, and disability), geographical area / place of residence (geographical) (rural versus urban), cross-boundary flows, cost of services, and donations. Conclusion The indicators used in allocating the health systems’ financial resources in each country should be designed in order to be simple and transparent and in accordance with the moral norms of that society. Moreover, these should be a good representative of the health needs of people in different geographical areas of that country. In addition, their related data should be available to an acceptable extent.

تُعدُّ دراسة جوانب القرآن اللغوية إحدي أهمّ مجالات البحث حول القرآن الكريم؛ والقرآن هو الذي تحدّي البشر لدي نزوله كي يأتوا بآية مِن مثله، ولكنّهم ما استطاعوا إلي ذلك سبيلا. بحثَ العلماء والخبراء في القرآن لغةً، وتفسيراً، وبلاغةً، ولساناً، ولهجاتٍ، وغيرها في شتّي المجالات، لكنّ دراسة جوانب إعجاز القرآن لم تنل حقّها من بين الدراسات الأخري حتي يومنا الراهن، ولذا قمنا باستعانة المنهج الوصفي كي نبين الإعجاز اللغوي في سورة القمر علي سبيل المثال ــــــ لا الحصر. وبعد دراسة أنواع الكلمة في هذه السورة اسماً، وفعلاً، وحرفاً توصلت الدراسة إلي أنّ للقرآن الكريم في كلّ سورة حسبَ موضوعها، هدفاً وإطاراً فكرياً يختار كلمةً تتناسب مع السياق، وتتماسك مع المضمون السائد في كلّ سورة. فقد تؤدّي الكلمة مِن حيث صياغتها الصرفيه دوراً مميزاً في هذا التناغم الشكلي والمضموني. ونجد هذه الميزة المحيرة بوضوحٍ صارخ في سورة القمر؛ بحيث قد أدّت المفردة دورَها في أداء المعني المقصود بشكل ناجح، لا يمكن أن تؤدِّي هذا المهمّ أيّةُ مفردة أخري، كما لا يمكن وضع كلمة موضعَ أخري، لتؤدي المقصود الذي أراده القرآن كي يقرعَ به أسماعَ مَن خوطبوا به.

In the emerging field of nanomedicine, nanoparticles have been widely considered as drug carriers and are now used in various clinically approved products. Therefore, in this study, we synthesized superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) via green chemistry, and the SPIONs were further coated with tamoxifen-conjugated bovine serum albumin (BSA-SPIONs-TMX). The BSA-SPIONs-TMX were within the nanometric hydrodynamic size (117 ± 4 nm), with a small poly dispersity index (0.28 ± 0.02) and zeta potential of −30.2 ± 0.09 mV. FTIR, DSC, X-RD, and elemental analysis confirmed that BSA-SPIONs-TMX were successfully prepared. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of BSA-SPIONs-TMX was found to be ~8.31 emu/g, indicating that BSA-SPIONs-TMX possess superparamagnetic properties for theragnostic applications. In addition, BSA-SPIONs-TMX were efficiently internalized into breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D) and were effective in reducing cell proliferation of breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 4.97 ± 0.42 μM and 6.29 ± 0.21 μM in MCF-7 and T47D cells, respectively. Furthermore, an acute toxicity study on rats confirmed that these BSA-SPIONs-TMX are safe for use in drug delivery systems. In conclusion, green synthesized superparamagnetic iron-oxide nanoparticles have the potential to be used as drug delivery carriers and may also have diagnostic applications.

Purpose - The study aims at investigating the impact of real earnings management (REM) on the cross-sectional stock return after considering the moderating role of market effect, size effect, value effect and momentum effect. Design/methodology/approach - The study uses weekly and monthly data of 3,085 Bombay Stock Exchange listed stocks spanning over twenty years, from January 2000 to December 2019. REM is measured through metrics developed by Roychowdhury (2006), namely, abnormal levels of operating cash flows, production costs and discretionary expenditure. The study employs univariate and bivariate portfolio-level analysis. Findings - The findings deduced from the empirical results demonstrate that investors perceive downward REM as an element of risk; hence, they discount the stock prices at a higher rate. On the contrary, results show that investors positively perceive upward REM; hence, they hold the stocks even at a lower rate of return. This anomaly is found to be robust for all kinds of considered moderations. Practical implications - The findings have important managerial implications as investors are found to assign different weights to different forms of REM, depending upon the perception regarding the magnitude of risk involved in different forms. Managers can accommodate this information during their short- and long-term corporate planning. Originality/value - First, the study is among the earlier attempts to examine the association between REM and stock returns by considering the moderating role of cross-sectional effects. Second, the study considers the direction and endogenous nature of REM while investigating the issue.

Abstract The theories of aesthetic schools of philosophical schools each have defined the concept of aesthetics and explained its perceptional process. In the aesthetic theories of the Western philosophical schools, by the epistemological analysis of the concept of beauty, have considered aesthetics as tangible and subjective. But in Islamic theology we see a distinct approach to the question of beauty and its perception. In the theological attitude, the truth and the existence of man and the world around him is regarded as the manifestation of goodness and divine glory. The unified universe is beautiful and beauty is not an epistemological and subjective matter, but an ontological and objective one. Art and beauty for the mystic poet like Rumi is an experience in which beauty is not a specific concept but a unique living truth that brings man closer to the essence of truth and a means of understanding and perceiving Rumi's truth, ideas and theories about beauty is merely a religious and Islamic; moreover, art and beauty are dominated by a divine theology.In this research, which has been accomplished via library method, by citing and quoting Masnavi and Shams Tabrizi's sonnets the mentioned feature is regarded upon and summarized. The results of the study imply that Rumi's perception of beauty is not sensual pleasure but a way to guide and connect to the source of existence, goodness, and aesthetical beauty. For him, the discussion of art and beauty is outshone by a divine theology. Also, Rumi makes it challenging for anyone with no humanity to be aware of the place of goodness and beauty in the universe, but also considers it impossible to know the true and aesthetic existence on an equal footing, which is in fact the indicator and manifestation of God in this worldly universe. Research aims: 1- The examination of Rumi's views on beauty in Masnavi and Shams' sonnets. 2- To Study the concept of beauty and its perception in Islamic theology. Research questions: 1. What are Rumi's conceptions and interpretations of the aesthetical beauty in Masnavi and Shams' sonnets? 2. How is the issue of beauty and its perception expressed in Islamic theology?

Several natural preservative techniques including plant extracts are used to minimize postharvest losses caused by pathogens. Our recent findings elucidated that the application of crude extracts of ginger, turmeric, and “dukung anak” (Phyllanthus niruri Linn.) alone causes phytotoxicity and adversely affects the postharvest quality of dragon fruit, especially at high concentrations. This study investigated the effect of a composite coating of 10% gum arabic (GA) and crude extracts of ginger, turmeric, and “dukung anak” separately at 5, 10, and 15 g L-1 on postharvest quality of dragon fruit stored at 11±2°C, 80% RH for 28 days. After 28 days of cold storage, anthracnose was significantly reduced in fruit coated with 10% GA plus 10 or 15 g L-1 of any of the crude extracts and resolved the problem of phytotoxicity while maintaining the postharvest quality of fruit for 28 days. The reduction of anthracnose was pronounced at 10% GA+10 g L-1 of turmeric extract (38.6%) which was not significantly different at 10% GA+10 g L-1 of ginger extract compared to control (41.3%). Composite coating of 10% GA+10 g L-1 of turmeric extract maintained the postharvest quality of dragon fruit as was evident with a reduction in weight loss (2.53%), delayed degradation of titratable acids (0.15%), and maintained fruit firmness (28.72 N) and the overall acceptability of the fruit after 28 days. We conclude that incorporation of 10% GA with turmeric extract at a high concentration can serve as a potential biofungicide in postharvest management of fresh produced by reducing phytotoxicity while improving the overall acceptability of fruit.

Fertilization, either in the form of organic or inorganic, always affects plant growth, yield, and nutritional quality of fruit crops. Further, the efficacy of fertilizers depends on various factors, including the area, climatic conditions, and cultivars. Rawalakot has ideal climatic conditions for growing strawberries. However, no studies related to the impact of different soil amendments on the growth habit and fruit quality of strawberries have been conducted so far. Therefore, in this study, different combinations of organic (farmyard manure (FYM) and poultry manure (PM)) and inorganic (urea) (N 150 kg/ha) fertilizers were used for comparison of growth pattern and postharvest quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. The organic and inorganic fertilizer regimes showed comparatively better results in terms of all the parameters studied. However, plants grown on soils amended with FYM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha and FYM equivalent to 50 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 50 kg N per ha + urea 50 kg N per ha showed 41% and 28% more survival percentage compared to control. Furthermore, the number of leaves, number of flowers, number of fruits, and yield were significantly high in plants grown on amended soil. Moreover, a significantly high amount of total soluble solids (10.0°Brix), titratable acidity (1.18%), ash (0.84%), fiber (3.03%), total phenols (7.61 μg gallic acid/g fresh weight), total flavonoids (7.93 mmol quercetin/100 g fresh weight), and total antioxidants (0.60 activity of FeSO4 mg/g fresh weight) was noted in comparison with control. Similarly, a combined treatment of FYM, PM, and urea also showed good results in terms of all the growth and fruit quality parameters as compared with other fertilizer regimes as well as control. However, the overall results of this study revealed that strawberries grown on soil amended with a combined dose of FYM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha + PM equivalent to 75 kg N per ha could be a potential dose for maximum yield and better quality fruits of strawberry.

Studies on biofilm-related infections are gaining prominence owing to their involvement in most clinical infections and seriously threatening global public health. A biofilm is a natural form of bacterial growth ubiquitous in ecological niches, considered to be a generic survival mechanism adopted by both pathogenic and non-pathogenic microorganisms and entailing heterogeneous cell development within the matrix. In the ecological niche, quorum sensing is a communication channel that is crucial to developing biofilms. Biofilm formation leads to increased resistance to unfavourable ecological effects, comprising resistance to antibiotics and antimicrobial agents. Biofilms are frequently combated with modern conventional medicines such as antibiotics, but at present, they are considered inadequate for the treatment of multi-drug resistance; therefore, it is vital to discover some new antimicrobial agents that can prevent the production and growth of biofilm, in addition to minimizing the side effects of such therapies. In the search for some alternative and safe therapies, natural plant-derived phytomedicines are gaining popularity among the research community. Phytomedicines are natural agents derived from natural plants. These plant-derived agents may include flavonoids, terpenoids, lectins, alkaloids, polypeptides, polyacetylenes, phenolics, and essential oils. Since they are natural agents, they cause minimal side effects, so could be administered with dose flexibility. It is vital to discover some new antimicrobial agents that can control the production and growth of biofilms. This review summarizes and analyzes the efficacy characteristics and corresponding mechanisms of natural-product-based antibiofilm agents, i.e., phytochemicals, biosurfactants, antimicrobial peptides, and their sources, along with their mechanism, quorum sensing signalling pathways, disrupting extracellular matrix adhesion. The review also provides some other strategies to inhibit biofilm-related illness. The prepared list of newly discovered natural antibiofilm agents could help in devising novel strategies for biofilm-associated infections.

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of raw material of potato for chips and french fries from various prospective varieties and shelf life in the room temperature. The research was conducted with an experimental method using a non-factorial in randomized block design with one treatment factors, each of which was repeated 3 times. The treatment was the potato variety consisting of seven new high-yielding variety candidates namely : a1 = clone 41, a2 = clone 16, a3 = clone 17, a4 = clone 09, a5 = Atlantik, a6 = Medians, a7 = AR-08 variety. These potato clones had different characteristics in specific gravity, dry matter, reducing sugar, moisture, starch, content, color, taste, crispyness and appearance of the resulting french fries. The best clones for potato chips and french fries were clone 16, atlantic, medians and AR-08. These clones can be used as raw material for the potato chips and french fries industry.

BackgroundIn 2005, Bangladesh, India and Nepal agreed to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis (VL) as a public health problem. The approach to this was through improved case detection and treatment, and controlling transmission by the sand fly vector Phlebotomus argentipes, with indoor residual spraying (IRS) of insecticide. Initially, India applied DDT with stirrup pumps for IRS, however, this did not reduce transmission. After 2015 onwards, the pyrethroid alpha-cypermethrin was applied with compression pumps, and entomological surveillance was initiated in 2016.MethodsEight sentinel sites were established in the Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. IRS coverage was monitored by household survey, quality of insecticide application was measured by HPLC, presence and abundance of the VL vector was monitored by CDC light traps, insecticide resistance was measured with WHO diagnostic assays and case incidence was determined from the VL case register KAMIS.ResultsComplete treatment of houses with IRS increased across all sites from 57% in 2016 to 70% of houses in 2019, rising to >80% if partial house IRS coverage is included (except West Bengal). The quality of insecticide application has improved compared to previous studies, average doses of insecticide on filters papers ranged from 1.52 times the target dose of 25mg/m2 alpha-cypermethrin in 2019 to 1.67 times in 2018. Resistance to DDT has continued to increase, but the vector was not resistant to carbamates, organophosphates or pyrethroids. The annual and seasonal abundance of P. argentipes declined between 2016 to 2019 with an overall infection rate of 0.03%. This was associated with a decline in VL incidence for the blocks represented by the sentinel sites from 1.16 per 10,000 population in 2016 to 0.51 per 10,000 in 2019.ConclusionThrough effective case detection and management reducing the infection reservoirs for P. argentipes in the human population combined with IRS keeping P. argentipes abundance and infectivity low has reduced VL transmission. This combination of effective case management and vector control has now brought India within reach of the VL elimination targets.

Introduction Despite the profound burden of disease, a strategic global response to optimise musculoskeletal (MSK) health and guide national-level health systems strengthening priorities remains absent. Auspiced by the Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health (G-MUSC), we aimed to empirically derive requisite priorities and components of a strategic response to guide global and national-level action on MSK health.Methods Design: mixed-methods, three-phase design.Phase 1: qualitative study with international key informants (KIs), including patient representatives and people with lived experience. KIs characterised the contemporary landscape for MSK health and priorities for a global strategic response.Phase 2: scoping review of national health policies to identify contemporary MSK policy trends and foci.Phase 3: informed by phases 1–2, was a global eDelphi where multisectoral panellists rated and iterated a framework of priorities and detailed components/actions.Results Phase 1: 31 KIs representing 25 organisations were sampled from 20 countries (40% low and middle income (LMIC)). Inductively derived themes were used to construct a logic model to underpin latter phases, consisting of five guiding principles, eight strategic priority areas and seven accelerators for action.Phase 2: of the 165 documents identified, 41 (24.8%) from 22 countries (88% high-income countries) and 2 regions met the inclusion criteria. Eight overarching policy themes, supported by 47 subthemes, were derived, aligning closely with the logic model.Phase 3: 674 panellists from 72 countries (46% LMICs) participated in round 1 and 439 (65%) in round 2 of the eDelphi. Fifty-nine components were retained with 10 (17%) identified as essential for health systems. 97.6% and 94.8% agreed or strongly agreed the framework was valuable and credible, respectively, for health systems strengthening.Conclusion An empirically derived framework, co-designed and strongly supported by multisectoral stakeholders, can now be used as a blueprint for global and country-level responses to improve MSK health and prioritise system strengthening initiatives.

To maintain the calmness of the harbor, rubble mound breakwaters are one of the practical measures to protect sailing and mooring waters. This paper investigates the effect of relocated rubble mound breakwaters on tranquillity in Busan yacht range and the impact of bridge piers at the entrance of the yacht range based on physical hydraulic modeling using multi-directional random waves. It is obtained that the sufficient tranquillity can be due to securely moored yachts, owing to newly relocated rubble mound breakwaters away from piers. The experimental results also showed the distribution of the energy difference’ dependence on various wave directions. The experimental findings are valuable for the design of Busan yacht marina, and are of reference to other port projects. Keywords: Rubble mound breakwater, Tranquility condition, Type of random wave, Energy Spectrum, Critical Significant Wave Height

Introduction: Several factors have contributed to the creation and development of knowledge sharing culture. Awareness of these factors and their impact on knowledge sharing seems to be vital for educational organizations. This study was conducted with the aim of determining the factors affecting sharing knowledge among faculty members of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. Methods: This study was conducted in 2018 by descriptive-survey method. The population consisted of all the 225 faculty members of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences who were surveyed by census of all members of the community. Data collection was done via questionnaire. Validity of the questionnaire was confirmed by the experts. AS to the reliability of the questionnaire, it was calculated through Cronbach's alpha. To analyze the data, descriptive analysis, one-sample T-test and confirmatory factor analysis were used. Results: The findings showed that individual-humanistic, organizational-institutional, cultural, leadership-management and technological infrastructures are factors that affect knowledge sharing. The highest average was of individual-humanistic factors (4.84±0.75) as well as organizational-institutional (4.07±0.66). Also, leadership-management factors (2.68±0.87), cultural (2.29±0.73) and technological infrastructures (1.11±0.99) could be ranked, in lower position respectively. Pearson correlation test (0.78) showed that there is a significant relationship among all the factors of knowledge sharing at the significance level of 0.01. The results of factor analysis confirmed the effect of the five factors studied on knowledge sharing as well. Conclusion: Individual-humanistic, organizational-institutional, cultural, leadership-management and technological infrastructures are factors affecting the sharing of knowledge among the faculty members of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. In view of these, to develop a process of sharing knowledge, taking into account all five effective factors, attention needs to be paid to individual-humanistic and organizational-institutional factors.

Introduction: Suicide attempt is a self-injurious behavior with a non-fatal outcome. An insight into psychosocial factors and methods used can be used to device effective preventive strategies. Aims: The aim is to study the psycho-social factors and to find the frequency of different methods used in attempted suicides. Materials and Methods: This study is a descriptive, cross-sectional, hospital-based analysis of attempted suicides. 44 consecutive attempted suicides admitted in the emergency ward and referred to the Psychiatry department were taken into the study. A Semi-structured intake Performa consisting of socio-demographic data, detailed history of current suicide attempt, and access to means were noted. MINI (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview), Hamilton Depression rating scale, Beck’s suicide intent scale, and Barratt’s impulsiveness scale were used to screen the patients. SPSS 20 was used for statistical analysis. Results: In the study it was found that majority of people who attempted suicide were of young age, females, married, fully employed, belonged to class IV socioeconomic status and attempts were made equally during day and night. The most common method was drug-overdose followed by poisoning with Organo-Phosphorous compounds. Mental illness was found only in 34% individuals, of which most common was depression. And one-fourth of the individuals had contact with General Practitioner within one month of the suicide attempt. Conclusion: The need for psycho-education and social skills training in adolescents and young adults is implicated in the study. Awareness among the general physicians about suicide prevention would help in bringing down the number of attempts as would strict control of, over the counter drugs and storage of organo-phosphorous compounds.

Understanding the causes of the diverse outcome of COVID-19 pandemic in different geographical locations is important for the worldwide vaccine implementation and pandemic control responses. We analyzed 42 unexposed healthy donors and 28 mild COVID-19 subjects up to 5 months from the recovery for SARS-CoV-2 specific immunological memory. Using HLA class II predicted peptide megapools, we identified SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive CD4+ T cells in around 66% of the unexposed individuals. Moreover, we found detectable immune memory in mild COVID-19 patients several months after recovery in the crucial arms of protective adaptive immunity; CD4+ T cells and B cells, with a minimal contribution from CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, the persistent immune memory in COVID-19 patients is predominantly targeted towards the Spike glycoprotein of the SARS-CoV-2. This study provides the evidence of both high magnitude pre-existing and persistent immune memory in Indian population. By providing the knowledge on cellular immune responses to SARS-CoV-2, our work has implication for the development and implementation of vaccines against COVID-19.

The fat obtained from the ripened seeds of Diploknema butyracea is widely used as a vegetable oil in rural areas of Nepal. This study was aimed for the physicochemical evaluation (acid value, iodine value, saponification value, peroxide value, ester value, pH, and liquefaction point) of the Diploknema butyracea seed extract (chyuri fat) and the formulation of 2% w/w ketoconazole ointment by using it as a base. All the physicochemical parameters were determined quantitatively by using the method of Indian Pharmacopoeia (IP), volume-I. By fusion method, 3 different formulations F-A, F-B, and F-C were prepared, in which different proportions of chyuri fat, polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG 600), Tween 80, and propylene glycol were used as an ointment base. Various quality parameters such as spreadability, extrudability, viscosity, smoothness, pH, average fill weight, assay, content uniformity, accelerated stability, and drug release profiles were determined. HPLC was used for the determination of ketoconazole content in the ointment formulations. Physicochemical evaluation of the chyuri fat ensured its suitability for industrial purpose. The active ingredient release profile of formulations F-A (87.71%), F-B (88.89%), and F-C (91.09%) after 5 hours were within acceptable range along with other parameters. Assay of the formulations F-A, F-B, and F-C were reported to be 103.01, 107.9, and 102.45%, respectively. Overall, evaluation of the formulation F-A, prepared by using chyrui fat only, gave satisfactory results and most of the parameters were statistically similar (p>0.05) to the F-B and F-C formulated by incorporating a certain proportion of synthetic base. Thus it can be concluded that chyuri fat can be the best alternative to replace the expensive synthetic base.

Quince fruit is mostly used to produce functional products. Recently, the value of this crop has increased due to demand as industrial raw material. The state of Azad Jammu and Kashmir and specifically Rawalakot, District Poonch, is blessed with climatic conditions which are very much suitable for quince production, and therefore, a huge plantation could be found in wild. In this regard, this study was designed to collect two different accessions of quince (apple-shaped quince (ASQ) and pear-shaped quince (PSQ)) from three different locations (Dhamni (elevation: 5431 ft), Shamsabad (elevation: 5374 ft), and Drake (elevation: 3378 ft)) of Rawalakot, District Poonch, and analyze their physicochemical and mineral nutrients of fruit and the soil. Correlation coefficients were established pairwise. Results showed that physicochemical nutrients were significantly (P≤0.05) higher in ASQ fruits as compared with PSQ fruits. Further, fruits collected from location at higher elevation (Dhamni) showed better results as compared with fruits collected from lower elevations. Moreover, increased amount of nitrogen contents in the soil resulted in increased fruit weight. Similarly, fruit quality indices and bioactive compounds showed a positive correlation with the increased soil nutrient contents. These prediction models for quality of quince could be useful in guiding plant nutrition status and for enhancing fruit production in this region.

Growth substrates (polyester wool, rice husk, and wheat straw), along with soil as control treatment, were compared for vegetative growth, yield, and quality of strawberry cv. Chandler. All growth substrates tested showed good results in terms of growth rate as compared with control. Strawberry plants grown in polyester wool showed the highest (89.50%) survival rate as compared to rice husk (70.50%), wheat straw (64.63%), and control (67.56%). Moreover, a significant increase was observed among number of flowers, fruits, and yield in plants grown in polyester wool. Besides, a significant high amount of total soluble solids (TSS) (12.38 ºBrix), titratable acidity (TA) (1.21%), ash (0.72%), vitamin C (37.39 mg/100 g), total carotenoids (3.90 µg/100 g), and total anthocyanins (3.47 cyanidine-3-glucoside/100 g) was recorded in fruits grown in polyester wool as compared to control. From these results, it can be concluded that the use of polyester wool as a growth substrate for strawberries can give higher yield and better fruit quality.