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Purpose: The present study was conducted with the aim of examining the indicators of barriers and challenges of virtual education at macro, meso, and micro levels. Methods and Materials: The method employed in this research is a mixedmethods approach. In the qualitative section, documents from the Ministry of Education of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the "Fundamental Theoretical Foundations for Formal and Public Education Transformation," the "Fundamental Transformation Document of Education," and the "National Curriculum Document," were analyzed. In the quantitative section, two non-random sampling methods were used: non-probability sampling and snowball sampling, which is a non-probability sampling method commonly used in sociology and statistical research. The research population consisted of 150 students from Farhangian University and 10 faculty members from the same institution. Interviews were conducted based on a competency model, and the appropriate tool was developed and implemented after determining its validity and reliability using Cronbach's alpha (a = 0.92). Findings: Based on the findings, 150 digital teacher competencies were categorized into 9 sections, which were further divided into three main areas: curriculum design, barriers to virtual education, and the quality of virtual teaching. The challenges identified in the study were categorized at macro, meso, and micro levels, and the results are applicable for identifying the indicators of barriers and challenges in virtual education. Conclusion: The results of the study indicate that, at the macro level, poor policymaking is the primary issue, at the meso level, budget disruptions are prominent, and at the micro level, students, more than parents, teachers, and professors, believe that the barriers and challenges of virtual education are greater than those of inperson education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Fibrosis is a principal sign of systemic sclerosis (SSc) which can affect several organs including the lung, heart, and dermis. Dermal fibroblasts of SSc patients are characterized by persistent and activated Ras and ERK1/2 signaling which stimulates extreme collagen and extracellular matrix synthesis. Salirasib is a Ras inhibitor that competitively prevents the adherence of GTP‐bound Ras to the plasma membrane, that inhibits Ras signaling. This study intended to clarify whether salirasib can influence fibrotic mediators in SSc fibroblasts. Materials and Methods: Dermal fibroblasts from 10 SSc patients were treated with salirasib in the presence of TGF‐β1, and mRNA levels of H‐Ras and genes related to fibrosis, such as COL1A1, COL1A2, CTGF, TGF‐β1, fibronectin, ACTA2, and MMP1 was measured by real‐time PCR. The α‐SMA protein expression was analyzed by immunofluorescence staining. Results: In dermal fibroblasts of SSc patients, salirasib treatment, markedly downregulated the H‐Ras gene expression. In addition, the protein expression of α‐SMA and gene expression of ACTA2 were inhibited upon salirasib treatment. Salirasib also significantly reduced the expression of COL1A1, and COL1A2 genes and augmented the gene expression of MMP1. The mRNA levels of other genes related to fibrosis such as FN1, CTGF, and TGF‐β1 were significantly decreased upon salirasib treatment. Conclusion: Considering salirasib significantly reduced the expression of genes related to the fibrosis process and α‐SMA gene and protein expression, and given significant upregulation of MMP1 by salirasib, it can be considered as a new curative strategy for fibrotic diseases like SSc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystemic rheumatic disease with different clinical features. Disturbance in apoptosis regulation seems to be a major factor in SLE development. Objective: Survivin plays a key role in mitosis and inhibiting apoptosis. A study was conducted to examine the expression level of survivin and miRNAs that affect survivin transcript levels in patients with SLE. Methods: We isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 50 inactive SLE patients and 50 healthy controls. RNA is extracted and converted to cDNA. The quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction is conducted to assess the expression levels of survivin total and its variants with effective miRNAs in PBMCs. Results: Expression levels of miR-34a-5p (fold change = 1.5, p + + = 0.027), and 218-5p (fold change = 1.5, p + + = 0.020) were significantly increased. While miR-150-5p (fold change = 0.56, p + + = 0.003) was significantly decreased. The mRNA expression of survivin-WT (fold change = 0.63, p ++ = 0.002) was significantly downregulated in SLE patients compared to the healthy controls. Survivin total and its two major variants (survivin-2B, and survivin-ΔEx3) did not differ significantly between SLE patients and controls. Conclusion: Although survivin-TS and its two variants (survivin-2B, and survivin-ΔEx3) were not differently expressed in SLE patients, survivin-WT had altered expression. Despite aberrant miRNA expression in PBMCs from SLE patients, survivin and miRNA expression were not associated with leukopenia. The pathogenesis of SLE disorder might be linked to survivin's other roles in the immune system aside from anti-apoptotic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by synovial tissue transformation and fibroblast-like synoviocyte (FLS) proliferation. Galectin-3 is gaining attention as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for RA diagnosis. Elevated levels of Galectin-3 cause RAFLSs to stimulate and generate proinflammatory agents, contributing to cartilage degradation and osteoclast formation. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate published evidence and support future investigation of Galectin-3 as an early biomarker for RA. A systematic search was performed through four databases, including PubMed, the Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase, to find the studies examining Galectin-3 in individuals with RA compared to healthy controls. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Random-effects meta-analysis comparing serum/plasma Galectin-3 levels between individuals with RA and healthy control groups was performed to determine the standardized mean differences (SMD) along with 95% confidence intervals. Following the initial search, studies went through screening. 12 studies, involving 773 patients with RA and 411 healthy controls, were included. Meta-analysis of the included studies revealed that individuals with RA had significantly higher levels of circulatory Galectin-3 compared to healthy control groups (SMD 0.957, 95% CI 0.393 to 1.520). Univariable meta-regression showed no significant association between age, publication year, sample size, or the male percentage with effect size. According to the results, Galectin-3 might be useful as a biomarker for RA. To support these findings, further investigations of Galectin-3 as a possible early biomarker of RA is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The imperative for sustainable energy development has become increasingly evident, primarily due to the finite nature of fossil fuel reserves and the associated environmental apprehensions. In light of these concerns, biodiesel emerges as a compelling alternative. Its key attributes include renewability, reduced emissions, and the ability to be produced from a variety of sources, rendering it a promising candidate in addressing these energy and environmental challenges. Biodiesel holds significant promise as an energy source due to its lower environmental impact compared to traditional diesel fuels. This alternative fuel is non-toxic, safe, and biodegradable, primarily derived from renewable biological feedstocks like used cooking oils, making it an affordable and sustainable resource. This paper provides a comprehensive review encompassing biodiesel properties, feedstock options, diverse production techniques, catalyst variations, and the challenges associated with biodiesel production. Furthermore, this study delves into the evolution of biodiesel conversion processes and innovative approaches to enhance scalability. Detailed examinations of pivotal factors influencing transesterification, including catalyst weight percentage, temperature, alcohol-to-oil molar ratio, and reaction duration, are presented. Ultimately, this review concludes with future perspectives and suggestions. It emphasizes the importance of judiciously selecting catalysts, feedstock materials, and production methodologies to develop cost-effective, energy-efficient biodiesel solutions with reduced environmental impact and enhanced operational efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]