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Problem Statement: The city is a complex system of social and economic interactions between a multitude of human and non-human factors that require new approaches to planning and managing it. Futures studies and foresight are new discourses with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary nature which are among collaborative approaches and can create new perspectives on urban management in combination with conventional urban planning. Objective: The main objective of this study was to provide alternative images of the future of Isfahan city in the framework of scenario method. Methodology: The present study was an applied research that, by using cross-impact analysis approach, provides scenarios of future of Isfahan. Participants in this study were 21 experts in urban planning and foresight. Conclusions: By using the library studies and referring to the upstream documents of Isfahan, 22 primary factors influencing the future of Isfahan were identified. From these 22 factors, by using the Mick-Mac software, 7 factors were selected as key factors. These seven factors were summarized in the format of three driving forces as the bases for developing scenarios facing the municipality of Isfahan: technology, urban economics, and the environment. These scenarios were named: «Garden with Wi-Fi», «Isfahan 13 to B13» and «Now we are all fine but don't believe it». The first scenario illustrates the optimistic and utopian scenario, the second scenario the cynical and destructive one, and the third scenario depicts the continuation of the current status. Innovation: Application of Scenario Planning and Participatory Approach as a new approach in Isfahan urban management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common multifactorial disease that deteriorates articular cartilage in the elderly. Recently, mesenchymal stem cells have been introduced as candidates for OA treatment but some researchers showed that implantation of stem cells into the lesion site of patients can lead to some side effects. Accordingly, many scientists switch their field of research to the application of stem cells supernatant. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether supernatant of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) can result in the expression of cartilage-specific genes in chondrocytes. Materials and Methods: Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from adipose tissue and their supernatant was collected and added to chondrocytes. After 3 days, chondrocytes were prepared for expression of collagen type II, sox9, COMP and aggrecan genes using real-time RT-PCR. Results: Data analysis showed that in the presence of ASCs conditioned medium (CM), the gene expression level of collagen II, sox9, and aggrecan did not change but that of the COMP significantly increased after 3 days. Conclusions: The obtained results may be related to the unknown factors secreted by stem cells and more investigations are necessary for understanding the exact mechanisms underlying these findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain death is associated with increased inflammatory cytokines levels and poor graft quality to transplant. We aimed to evaluate the impact of Ascorbic Acid (AA) on the inflammatory status of Brain-Dead Donors (BDDs). Forty BDDs were randomly divided into two groups. Donor treatment (n=20) consisted of 100 mg/kg AA infusion 6 hours before donor operation and subsequent infusion of 100 mg/kg/p6h until organ removal. Blood samples were taken at three times, 6 hours before donor surgery (TP1), immediately after laparotomy (TP2), and before organ removal (TP3). Gene expression level and serum concentration of IL-6 and TNF-α cytokines were assessed by real-time PCR and ELISA methods. To investigate transplanted liver function, serum values of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), and Billirubin-Total were evaluated on the 1st, 3st, and 10st postoperative days. We found a significant reduction in IL-6 mRNA expression ratio of TP3 to TP1 following AA application among BDDs. Despite the considerable decrease in treated donors regarding IL-6 mRNA expression ratio of TP2 to TP1, TP3 to TP2, and also TNF-α variations in these periods, the results were not significant. Regarding serum concentration of these cytokines, particularly IL-6, there was a decrease between TP2 and TP3 following AA application in the treated donors. Furthermore, a significant reduction was found in serum AST and ALT levels in the recipients of treated group on the 3st day compared to the 1st day after transplantation. It seems that AA beneficially affects the inflammatory status of BDDs, resulting in improved primary allograft function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of this study is the analysis of the correlation between organizational justice and quality of work life. This study also analyzes the correlation between organizational justice components as encompassed by three specific forms of justice perceptions; distributive justice, procedural justice, and interactional justice with quality of work life. Statistical population consists of all employees in Qom Province public organizations and the sample includes 264 employees. Data collection tool is questionnaire. Collected data were analyzed by Smirnof-Kolmogorov test as well as one-sample t-test and Friedman test and Pearson correlation test by SPSS software. Findings indicated significant positive relationships between organizational justice and quality of work life. Correlation analysis for the three components of organizational justice showed that three components of organizational justice had positive relations with quality of work life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]