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The evaluation of the impact of labor education has emerged as a key area for educational reform, which has improved the evaluation standards and frameworks for labor education and curriculum implementation. However, there are still issues with the current labor education implementation quality evaluation system in experimental and practical training courses, including the use of straightforward evaluation methods and single means as well as the inability to provide feedback on the evaluation results to the design and implementation of the curriculum. This paper analyzes and summarizes the implementation objectives, implementation processes, and evaluation results of the implementation of the experimental and practical training courses based on their implementation in local colleges and universities. On this foundation, the LCPI course evaluation model is investigated and developed with the goal of offering an operational course evaluation model for the implementation of quality evaluation of labor education in nearby colleges and universities. This model integrates course positioning analysis, content setting, process evaluation, and implementation feedback.

The academic early warning mechanism is an important measure for improving the quality of talent cultivation in local universities. However, the current mechanism is lacking in flexibility, systematicity, and synergy, which reduces its effectiveness and relevance. This paper examines the problems of the current academic early warning mechanism at a local university using a combination of literature review and descriptive research. Under the background of "Three All-round Education", focused optimization suggestions are offered, and an 'academic early warning mechanism for college students' is built with subject synergy, cycle development, and three-dimensional support. The study suggests optimization strategies based on the concept of "Three All-round Education". It also develops an academic early warning system for college students that includes' subject synergy,' 'cycle development,' and 'three-dimensional support.' The study found that by strengthening the synergistic efficacy of the main body of education, basing it on the whole cycle of academic development, and strengthening the three-dimensional support system, an all-member, all-process, all-around academic early warning mechanism can be effectively constructed, which will help colleges to strengthen the construction of academic atmosphere. This mechanism can assist colleges in strengthening the foundation of academic culture and improving the quality of talent development. This study applies the concept of "Three All-round Education" to explore the optimization path of college students' academic early warning mechanisms. The study enriches the theory of education management and provides important theoretical contributions and practical guidance for improving the college academic management system and optimizing teaching quality.

Infection prevention and control (IPC) standards have a unique role in controlling infection transmission. In Saudi Arabia, every healthcare facility is required to establish an IPC program to identify and reduce the risk of infection acquisition and transmission. This study aimed to estimate adherence to IPC measures after the COVID-19 pandemic among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Najran City, Saudi Arabia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs in Najran City during the period of May to August 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was given to HCWs consisting of three parts: demographic data, profile of healthcare facility and healthcare professional regarding infection control, and questionnaire to assess the adherence of HCWs regarding infection control measures. The study recruited 580 HCWs, of whom 57.6% were males, and 46.6% were aged between 31 and 40 years. The overall mean adherence score was 103.2±9.71 out of 150 points. Accordingly, 88.4% were classified as having moderate adherence, 10.2% were good, and only 1.4% were classified as having poor adherence. Some of the factors associated with increased adherence to IPC measures, include being female, being a nurse, being a practitioner, working in the hospital emergency department, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit at a healthcare facility. There was satisfactory adherence among HCWs regarding infection prevention and control measures. Being a female, a nurse, a practitioner, working in a hospital emergency department, being a staff of a non-MOH (Ministry of Health) hospital, and having a recognized antimicrobial stewardship program team/unit were identified as significant predictors of increased adherence. IPC measures can be optimized by setting up institutional IPC teams, necessary PPE, and periodic provision of IPC training.

The research was conducted tagged (the effect of the imagined image in the representation of historical facts - Iraqi painting as a model) to identify the most important historical facts and their artistic treatments in Iraqi painting, and therefore this study was built on four chapters: the first chapter (the general framework of the research): included the research problem that ended with the following question: How is the image of the scene that the artist wants to record if it is realistic or unrealistic The importance of the research and the need for it, as well as the purpose of the research and the limits of the research, and then the identification and definition of the terms contained in the title linguistically, terminologically and procedurally, as for the second chapter (theoretical framework and previous studies): it included two researchers, the first research: the concept of the imagined image, and the second research: The third chapter (research procedures): the research community and its sample, the research tool, and the analysis of the research sample included three paintings, and the fourth chapter included: the results, their discussion and conclusions, and the following are some of the results: • That the artist expresses realistic historical facts recorded with perceptions far from realistic forms as an attempt to show the depth of meaning and importance of the incident. 2. The artist succeeded in making the recipient follow from the first moment to realize the nature of the work and the nature of the subject presented to him by the artist through the painting; which means that the artist was aware of the connotations that his paintings give about the embodiment of the incident and its documentation.

This research investigates the relationships between investors’ behavioral biases and compares their relative importance. For this purpose, a survey is conducted, and analytical methods are used. The sample for this study has been 512 individual investors of the Tehran Stock Exchange who completed an online questionnaire. The respondents replied about their behavior in different situations to analyze the prevalence of asymmetric discounting, mental accounting, shifting risk preference, loss aversion, regret aversion, overconfidence, proxy decision making, ambiguity aversion bias, anchoring, and herd behavior as significant fields of behavioral biases in their investment decisions. The data is analyzed using two different analytical techniques. A model based on structural equations is designed and tested to analyze the relations between these fields. Another integrated method, the DEMATEL-based analytic network process, is also used to prioritize and rank these behavioral biases. Finally, the results are compared and confirmed by each other. Analyzing the results proves the existence of 19 positive and statistically significant relations between these fields. Thus, an increase or decrease in the intensity of a particular field of behavioral biases in one’s decisions significantly affects the intensity of other fields. The present study finds that shifting risk preference, anchoring, loss aversion, and regret aversion are the most important fields of behavioral biases based on their prevalence among investors and their correlations with other biases.

Considering the increasing demand for cosmetic surgery and the number of private cosmetic surgery clinics, it is essential to measure and manage the quality of services provided by these clinics. Obtaining sufficient knowledge about the content perceived by the clients of the quality of services provided by specialized clinics can affect identifying improvement opportunities and criteria that will cause their competitive advantage, and on the other hand, it also prevents wasting resources. For this purpose, this study aims to identify, evaluate, and prioritize the criteria for quality improvement in cosmetic surgery clinics. First, the effective criteria focus on the quality of medical services have been identified by reviewing the research background. Then, the identified criteria in the case study are customized by the Delphi method, and then the DEMATEL-based analytic network process method (DANP) is applied to reveal their causal relationships between criteria and sub-criteria to determine the direct and indirect influences, and finally, all of them are prioritized. In the end, based on the obtained results and knowledge of experienced medical experts in the case study, some managerial solutions are proposed to improve the quality of the provided medical services.

Background and aimChildhood choking is a global health concern that mainly affects children under the age of 5 years. The parent’s and caretaker’s responsibility is critical in the children’s lives and can potentially influence the result of at-home injuries such as choking. We aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, practice, and associated factors of first aid management toward choking hazards among Saudi adults from the Eastern Province.MethodsThe present analytical study was carried out among 390 Saudi adults attending different primary health centers in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. We used a standard and validated data research topic tool to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice. Spearman’s correlation was applied to determine the correlation between each section, while binomial logistic regression analysis was applied to identify the associated factors.ResultsWe observed knowledge, attitude, and practice scores in 43.3, 38.9, and 36.4% of the participants, respectively. Furthermore, positive correlations between knowledge and attitude (rho = 0.42, p = 0.001), between knowledge and practice (rho = 0.57, p = 0.001), and between attitude and practice (rho = 0.41, p = 0.001) were revealed in our survey. The knowledge of the participants was significantly higher with the age group of 30–40 years [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.67 (1.94–4.65), p = 0.001] and participants who received training in first aid management [AOR = 1.64 (1.12–2.49), p = 0.037]. This study found that males [AOR = 0.36 (0.21–0.63), p = 0.001] and those working in the private sector [AOR = 0.61 (0.31–0.87), p = 0.018] had significantly lower attitudes.ConclusionOur results underscore the importance of continuous health education initiatives and training courses at primary health care centers regarding first aid management of choking hazards to improve awareness and practices. Furthermore, we recommend prospective multicenter studies to address region-specific knowledge gaps.

Given the health benefits of carotenoids, it is crucial to evaluate their levels in patients undergoing malabsorptive procedures like one anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB). This study aimed to assess serum carotenoid levels before and 6 months following OAGB. Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent primary OAGB were analyzed. Data included anthropometrics, dietary intake assessments, and biochemical tests. Serum samples were analyzed for lipid profile and serum carotenoids, including lutein, zeaxanthin, α-carotene, β-carotene, phytofluene, ζ-carotene, and lycopene. Data from 27 patients (median age 47.0 years and 55.6% female) were available before and 6 months post-OAGB. The median pre-surgical BMI was 39.5 kg/m2, and the median excess weight loss at 6 months post-surgery was 63.9%. Significant decreases in all carotenoid levels were observed over time (p < 0.001 for all). A median relative decline of 65.1% in absolute total carotenoid levels and 12.7% in total cholesterol levels were found. No associations were observed between changes in clinical outcomes and carotenoid levels during the study period. This study reveals significant decreases in carotenoid levels within the first 6 months following OAGB. Nutritional intervention studies are needed to explore how incorporating carotenoid-rich foods affects post-surgery carotenoid levels and clinical outcomes.

Heavy hydrocarbons must be separated from natural gas for various reasons, including two-phase formation in transportation pipelines. One of the most important methods for this purpose is the adsorption method. However, there is a lack of studies on heavy hydrocarbons’ adsorption on titanosilicates as an early-developed adsorbent. In this work, titanosilicate ETS-10 was evaluated for the adsorption of heptane, as a representative of heavy hydrocarbons. To study the effect of ETS-10 treatment on its properties and consequently heavy hydrocarbon adsorption, the synthesized samples were treated by different methods such as using an organic template, changing the solvent, fluorination and ion exchanging. All samples were characterized by combined analyses and their heptane adsorption was studied by volumetric method. Results showed that ETS-10 treatment leads to an increase in the mesoporosity of ETS-10. Also, using organic directing agents and isopropanol solvents resulted in better crystallization and higher adsorption capacity for the prepared ETS-10. It was observed that in a 3-h degassing at 300 °C, the HF-ETS-10 sample had the highest heptane uptake (1.84 mmol/g) which is more than twice that of ETS-10. Further evaluation confirmed that adsorption capacity of this sample remained constant after being used for 5 cycles of adsorption-desorption. It was concluded that ETS-10 can be suggested as an attractive adsorbent for heavy hydrocarbon removal.

This research deals with the concept of Praxis in the thought of (Gramsci), in order to identify the function that is related to Praxis as a critical practical practice, represented in the human activity of a procedural nature, which is related to many aspects of life, so that it includes all practices, including the practices of the artist, With the meaning that this artistic practice bears, it is involved in the various moments of the creative activity of the artist, which stems from a deep awareness and critical understanding in dealing with issues in society. Accordingly, the structure of the research was established within four chapters - the first chapter (the methodological framework) contained the research problem, which the researcher summarized by asking him - Monitoring artistic practices, which are related to Praxis, as a human activity and a critical work aimed at change in society? The importance of the research and the need for it were also determined, and the aim of the research was to reveal the representations of Praxis in contemporary art as a critical practice that affects society. As for the second chapter (the theoretical framework) - it included two sections - dealing with the first topic: (the compatibility between theory and practice, in Gramscian Praxis). The second topic dealt with (praxis as a critical practice and its effectiveness in society). The third chapter (research procedures) included defining the research community, and (3) artworks were selected, which the researcher analyzed as a sample for the community. While the fourth chapter contained (results and conclusions), presented by the researcher. The most prominent of which are: 1- Praxis represents human activity of a procedural nature directed towards practical functions, which lie in the practical relationship with the tangible world. 2- Praxis, as a critical process, combines aesthetic practice and critical practice in some artistic achievements, in a way that makes these works of human tendency and social and critical content, according to a character opposed to the current conditions in society.

Background: Cognitive flexibility, a vital component of executive function, entails the utilization of extended brain networks. Olfactory stimulation has been shown to influence various brain functions, particularly cognitive performance. Method: To investigate aroma inhalation’s effects on brain activity dynamics associated with cognitive flexibility, 20 healthy adults were recruited to complete a set-shifting task during two experimental conditions: no aroma stimuli vs. lavender essential oil inhalation. Using Thomson’s multitaper approach, the normalized power spectral density (NPSD) was assessed for five frequency bands. Results: Findings confirm that aroma inhalation significantly affects behavioral indices (i.e., reaction time (RT) and response accuracy) and electroencephalogram (EEG) signatures, especially in the frontal lobe. Participants showed a tremendous increase in theta and alpha NPSD, associated with relaxation, along with beta NPSD, associated with clear and fast thinking after inhaling the aroma. NPSD of the delta band, an indicator of the unconscious mind, significantly decreased when stimulated with lavender essential oil. Further, participants exhibited shorter RT and more accurate responses following aroma inhalation. Conclusion: Our findings revealed significant changes in oscillatory power and behavioral performance after aroma inhalation, providing neural evidence that olfactory stimulation with lavender essential oil may facilitate cognitive flexibility.

The study aimed to find out how to develop an optimal and effective motivation model considering the preferences and requests of young researchers, in view of the fact that scientific specific of building and organising an internal work system, its scientific potential and resources, which provides a valuable fundamental insight. The task of the study was to develop and propose a mechanism that would be specially adapted for scientific institutions and universities. That was based on an in-depth analysis of the existing approaches of scientists regarding the specifics of the work of these organisations. The developed method is relevant to modern literature, where the definition of a motivational approach eliminates the dichotomy between existing studies. The data were collected by interviewing responders from Russian and Iranian universities. The study results show the subjective aspects of the perception of research activities by students and researchers and the shortcomings in constructing motivation systems. As a result of implementing the proposed optimal and effective "Model of proper motivation system", scientific institutions can strengthen their positions and establish sustainable activities to attract talented scientists and innovators to develop scientific progress and compete in the market knowledge-intensive services.

Abstract Dynamic assessment is heavily based on Vygotskian socio-cultural theory and in recent years researchers have shown interest in the theory as a way to facilitate learning. This study attempted to examine the comparative effect of group dynamic assessment (GDA) and computerized dynamic assessment (CDA) on listening development, L2 learners’ perfectionism, anxiety, and intrinsic motivation. To this end, 91 intermediate learners of English were selected based on convenience sampling and were divided into 3 groups: a GDA, a CDA, and a control group (CG). After implementing the treatment, the tests conducted and the data gathered. The results of one-way ANOVA showed that both GDA and CDA were facilitative of listening development with a large effect size (effect size = .516), and the difference between them was nonsignificant (p > 0.05). The results further showed that both GDA and CDA could ameliorate perfectionism with a moderate effect size (effect size = .332), decrease anxiety with a small effect size (.218), and increase intrinsic motivation among L2 learners with a small effect size (effect size = .228). The findings can have implications for language practitioners, and materials developers. The implications of the study are discussed.

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that physical appearance perfectionism could play an important role in social physique anxiety; however, the moderating role of body compassion has not been studied. The current study aims to explore the moderating role of body compassion in the relationship between physical appearance perfectionism and social physique anxiety in undergraduate students. Methods A sample of 418 undergraduates (n = 418; 217 female and 201 males) from three universities in Tehran, Iran completed online questionnaires measuring physical appearance perfectionism, body compassion and social physique anxiety. Results The results of structural equation modeling showed that physical appearance perfectionism (β = 0.68, p

Background: Adequacy of dialysis is a very important issue in dialysis patients, so comparing the adequacy of dialysis in different dialysis methods is very important. Therefore, due to the fact that the number of people undergoing dialysis through fistulas and catheters varies in different centers, and depending on different centers, there is a possibility of decreasing or increasing the adequacy of dialysis, so we decided to do this comparison in Arak support center. Methods: In this analytical-cross-sectional study, the dialysis patients of Hami Arak Center from April 2019 to September 2019 were divided into two groups (the first group with permanent catheter, the second group with arteriovenous fistula) based on vascular access. The both groups were matched in terms of age, sex, weight, pump speed, filter size and also the duration of dialysis. All patients were dialyzed with the same type of dialysis machine, and the duration of hemodialysis for all samples was 4 hours in each session. To confirm the reliability of the device, it was calibrated before each use and the same setting was used for all samples. The blood samples were taken from the arterial route before dialysis and starting the dilution with heparin or normal saline. Statistical models of dialysis adequacy of patients in two groups were measured using the Kt/V criterion, SPSS and AMOS data analysis was performed. Results: In the analysis of covariance of BUN before dialysis, there is a statistically significant difference in the studied groups (P

Background: Pruritus is a common problem in people with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis. Itching can greatly affect the quality of life. There is no widely used and agreed-upon treatment for pruritus associated with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Fumaria parviflora L is a medicinal plant with several medicinal properties, including outstanding anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was to compare the Effect of Fumaria Parviflora and Gabapentin in the Treatment of Uremic Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients. Methods: A total of 52 hemodialysis patients with pruritus were randomly divided into two groups receiving Fumaria Parviflora or gabapentin. One group was given 1500 mg of Fumaria Parviflora once a day for two months and the second group was given gabapentin 300 mg three times a week after dialysis for two months. Patients' pruritus scores were assessed before and after the intervention in two groups. Findings: This study showed that pruritus in the two groups before the intervention was not significantly different. Both gabapentin and Fumaria Parviflora significantly reduced pruritus in hemodialysis patients after the intervention. There was no significant difference between the two groups in the severity of pruritus after the intervention. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that both gabapentin and Fumaria Parviflora significantly reduced the rate of pruritus in hemodialysis patients. The results of this study showed that Fumaria Parviflora as a safe herbal medicine was as effective as gabapentin in reducing pruritus in uremic patients.

Abstract Due to the benefits of e-portfolio assessment and summative assessment in Ethiopia and a dearth of research, this study attempted to contrast e-portfolio assessment and summative assessment use in developing Ethiopian EFL learners’ writing complexity, accuracy, and fluency (CAF); learners’ autonomy; learning anxiety; and self-efficacy as they have not been investigated in Ethiopia. In order to accomplish these goals, 60 Ethiopian intermediate EFL students were selected according to their OQPT performance. E-portfolio served as the experimental group (EG), and summative functioned as the control group (CG). Writing CAF, self-efficacy, autonomy, and anxiety pretests were administered to both groups. Then, groups received different treatments. Writing CAF, self-efficacy, autonomy, and anxiety posttests were then given to the groups after the instruction period of 21 sessions. The collected data were examined using SPSS software. Then, independent samples t-tests and paired samples t-tests were run to assess the effects of the assessments on the learners’ writing CAF, autonomy, anxiety, and self-efficacy. The outcomes displayed that the experimental group and control group differed in performance. Actually, the e-portfolio assessment group outdid the summative assessment group. The e-portfolio assessment was found to be a more useful method for fostering learner autonomy, self-efficacy, and the writing CAF in EFL learners than summative assessment. Some recommendations, implications, and limitations were also listed at the end.

Introduction: One of the main causes of illness, mortality, and rising medical costs is antimicrobial resistance, which is a global healthcare concern. Objectives: This study explores the practice of physicians toward the effective implementation of Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in Najran city, Saudi Arabia. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among physicians working at primary care setting in Najran city, Saudi Arabia, between May and August 2023. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed among the physicians composed of three parts: socio-demographic data, a questionnaire about physicians’ practice in the efficacy of ASP, and a questionnaire about physicians’ practice regarding prescribing antibiotics. Results: Of the 128 physicians who participated in the study, 60.2% were males, and 43.8% were aged between 36 and 45 years. Among the practices in implementing the ASP effectively, controlling the source of infection domain received the highest score (mean score: 4.83). Every practice domain mean score was greater than 3, indicating that study participants possessed a moderate level of ASP practice and implementation skills. The overall mean practice score in the effective implementation of ASP was 154.9 ± 25.5 out of 185 points, with good, moderate, and poor practices constituting 67.2%, 28.1%, and 4.7%, respectively. Conclusions: The physicians showed a moderate level of practice for the effective implementation of ASPs in Najran city. The factors significantly associated with increased practice score include older age, male gender, Saudi nationality, handling five or fewer infection cases daily, and infection-initiated antibiotic prescribing treatment managed per day. These findings suggest the need for targeted interventions and educational programs to enhance physicians’ adherence to ASP guidelines and promote appropriate antibiotic prescribing practices, ultimately contributing to global efforts in combating antimicrobial resistance and improving patient outcomes.

In this report, we studied the Ba1-xSrxTi0.93Sn0.07O3 (x = 0.00, 0.10, 0.20, and 0.30) Perovskite ceramics produced by solid-state reaction (SSR) method and investigated their structural, morphological and dielectric properties by XRD, SEM, and LCR meter respectively. The Rietveld refinement of the XRD pattern confirms the samples crystallize in the Perovskite structure and transform from tetragonal for x = 0.0 to the co-existence of both cubic (Pm-3m) and tetragonal (P4mm) phases near room temperature for x ≥ 0.10. The Williamson-Hall (W–H) method has been used to determine the crystallite size and microstrains from the XRD peaks analysis, which showed the crystallite size value decreases with increased doping with Sr. The surface morphology shows the formation of ceramic grains with well-defined grain boundaries, as well as a decrease in grain size with an increase in the doping ratio. Moreover, the elemental ratio of doped ions was confirmed by EDS. The dielectric properties (έ, and tanδ) were studied as a function of temperature (20–150 °C) and a frequency (20 kHz - 3 MHz). The values of the dielectric constant έ decrease with the higher the frequency used. A diffuse phase transition was observed when doped with Sr. Where doping with Sr causes outstanding stability of έ values, which is evident by the flattening the dielectric constant curve, addition to increasing the dielectric constant values over range studied temperatures.

Green creativity is developing original and practical ideas that could result in green products and services. Moreover, as stakeholders favour environmentally responsible policies and practices, organizations are shifting towards green business models and initiatives. Though there is extensive literature on various green behaviours, there is a lack of a clear understanding of what motivates green creativity. The present study bridges this research gap by identifying employee green behaviour, green shared vision, and green value as antecedents of green creativity. The study used structural equation modeling, based on data from 384 respondents, to analyze the relationship between the variables. The findings revealed significant positive relationships between the variables, supporting the model developed for the study. The study’s findings can help organizational leaders to enhance green creativity and consequent innovations by encouraging and facilitating employee green behaviour, green shared vision, and green value.

Abstract Students are essential parts of society, and their mental health and emotional safety as well as a sense of purpose, achievement, and success are the major objectives of successful education. They need to be armed with self-aid constructs to overcome academic setbacks and challenges. Despite the attributions of academic emotion regulation (AER), the core of self-assessment (CSA) to academic buoyancy (AB), no study has ever uncovered their relationships. To this end, the current research intended to test a structural model of English as a foreign language (EFL) university learners’ AER, CSA, and AB. The academic emotion regulation questionnaire (AERQ), the core of self-assessment questionnaire (CSAQ), and the academic buoyancy scale (ABS) were administered to 395 Iranian EFL university learners. Based on the results of structural equation modeling (SEM), AER and CSA predict learners’ AB. Additionally, the contribution of CSA to AB was confirmed. The implications of the findings are to raise learners’ awareness of their personality traits and self-assessment that can foster practical learning and assessment. This study opens new doors for future academic research. The implications of the study may help learners, teachers, administrators, policymakers, and curriculum designers.

Pre-harvest prediction of a crop yield may prevent a disastrous situation and help decision-makers to apply more reliable and accurate strategies regarding food security. Remote sensing has numerous returns in the area of crop monitoring and yield prediction which are closely related to differences in soil, climate, and any biophysical and biochemical changes. Different remote techniques could be used for crop monitoring and yield prediction including multi and hyper spectral data, radar and lidar imagery.This study reviews the potentialities, advantages and disadvantages of each technique and the applicability of these techniques under different agricultural conditions. It also shows the different methods in which these techniques could be used efficiently. In addition, the study expects future scenarios of remote sensing applications in vegetation monitoring and the ways to overcome any obstacles that may face this work.It was found that using satellite data with high spthermaatial resolution are still the most powerful method to be used for crop monitoring and to monitor crop parameters. Assessment of crop spectroscopic parameters through field or laboratory devices could be used to identify and quantify many crop biochemical and biophysical parameters. They could be also used as early indicators of plant infections; however, these techniques are not efficient for crop monitoring over large areas.

Template-free ZSM-5 zeolites with the SiO2/Al2O3 ratios of 28, 50, and 80 were synthesized and compared with template preparation. The resulting zeolites were characterized by IR, XRD, XRF, SEM, and BET analyses. The template-free and SDA (synthetic directing agent, or with template) zeolites manifested similar physical and chemical characteristics. In addition, their catalytic performances were tested for methanol to hydrocarbon (MTH) as an industrial process in which methanol produced from any source can be converted to a wide range of hydrocarbons (from olefins to gasoline and aromatic hydrocarbons) in a fixed-bed reactor. The zeolites showed methanol conversions of 93.5 and 92.6% for the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio of 50 with the template HZ-50T and template-free HZ-50, respectively. Further, their product selectivity was also similar; nonetheless, eliminating the templates in the preparation of the zeolites had little effect on the conversion and selectivity of the products. The ratio of aromatic to aliphatic decreased with an increase in the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio. Furthermore, raising the SiO2/Al2O3 ratio (from 28 to 80) reduced the gaseous product from 54.1% to 52.1%.

Objective: This study aimed to explore more on contributing factors and prevention of overweight and obesity among Pacific islanders. Methods: Using Cochrane library guideline, four electronic databases, PubMed, Embase, Scopus and CINAHL, were systematically searched from 2010 to 2020. Search strategy included key concepts, free text terms, and database-controlled vocabulary terms to identify articles on determinants and preventative strategies of overweight and obesity in the Pacific countries. A data extraction sheet was developed to extract relevant information required for analysis and theme development for this study. Results: A total of 22 articles were summarized and categorized. Determinants of overweight and obesity identified two themes: environmental related factors 13.6% (3/22) and sociocultural related factors 27.3% (6/22). The preventative strategies of overweight and obesity was categorized into behavioural change 22.7% (5/22), school-related 18.2% (4/22), and policies 50% (11/22). The quality assessment of articles showed “Good” 68.2% (15/22), and “Fair” 31.8% (7/22). Conclusion: This study highlighted two contributing, non-medication factors affecting overweight and obesity are both environmental and socio-cultural issues. Overweight and obesity preventative strategies identified in the Pacific context considered behavioural change, knowledge enhancement, and policy development. Further research should aim at exploring the current preventative strategies in-depth, to appreciate the most feasible and recommended preventative approach within the Pacific society.

Purpose: Utilizing Electroencephalogram (EEG) is more than at any time in history, therefore we have introduced an open-source MATLAB function to provide simulated EEG which is as equivalent as viable to empirical EEG in a user-friendly way with ground truth that is not accessible in real EEG records. This function should be versatile due to the requirements such as the number and orientation of sources, various noises, mode of activation function, and different anatomical structures. Materials and Methods: We indicate all phases, modes, and formulas which constitute EEGg, EEG generator. This function supports selecting main sources locations and orientation, choosing SNR with white Gaussian noise, electrode numbers, and mode of activation functions. Also, users have the option to use automatic or partly automatic, or fully automatic EEG construction in EEGg. This function is ready to use at https://github.com/Avayekta/EEG. Results: EEGg is designed with several parameters that users have chosen. Hence, users can choose different variables to inspect the time and frequency aspects of synthetic EEG. Conclusion: EEGg is a multi-purpose and comprehensive function to mimic EEG but with ground-truth EEG data and adjustable parameters.

Rational and responsible self-medication (SM) is an essential core element for better health outcomes. It is influenced mainly by the level and adequacy of knowledge, attitude, and appropriateness of practice (KAP) towards SM. The present study explored the level and adequacy of KAP among residents of Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A convenient snowball sampling method was utilized to recruit the study participants. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27. Six hundred and eleven participants completed the questionnaire. Residents with good knowledge, positive attitude, and proper practice were 43.7%, 33.1%, and 90.0%, respectively. The level of KAP was significantly influenced by the participant’s occupation, age, gender, nationality, marital status, presence of chronic disease, and COVID-19 infection status. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice scores observed were 5.11 (SD = 1.27), 22.28 (SD = 2.6) and 5.20 (SD = 1.29), respectively. Pearson correlation and scattered plot matrix analysis revealed a significant positive weak correlation among KAP, indicating that residents with good knowledge possess better attitude (r = 0.142, p < 0.001) and follow the proper practice (r = 0.256, p < 0.001) towards SM. Multivariate linear regression revealed a significant (p < 0.001) negative (β = −0.059) influence of occupation, family members working in the health sector (p = 0.046, β= −0.426), Body Mass Index (p = 0.019, β = −0.049), and physical activity (p = 0.018, β = −0.292) on the overall KAP score. Understanding the residents’ level of KAP towards SM would enable the health care system to identify the gap and develop a mechanism to educate the people and make them knowledgeable about SM and self-care.

Background: One-anastomosis gastric bypass (OAGB) is an emerging metabolic bariatric surgery (MBS) type used in both primary OAGB (pOAGB) and revisional OAGB (rOAGB). We studied ≤30-day outcomes of pOAGB and rOAGB and identified predictors of early complications. Methods: Electronic medical records of all OAGBs performed between January 2017 and December 2021 at a high-volume bariatric clinic in Israel comprising four hospital centers were scanned retrospectively using specialized data software (MDClone software, version 6.1). Data gathered were patients’ characteristics, surgical procedure, and ≤30-day complications with Clavien–Dindo Classification (CDC). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors related to early complications of pOAGB and rOAGB. Results: A total of 6722 patients underwent a pOAGB (n = 5088, 75.7%) or rOAGB (n = 1634, 24.3%) procedure at our institution. Preoperative mean age and body mass index (BMI) were 40.6 ± 11.5 years and 41.2 ± 4.6 kg/m2, respectively. Early complications occurred in 258 (3.8%) patients (176 pOAGB and 82 rOAGB) and included mainly bleeding (n = 133, 2.0%), leaks (n = 31, 0.5%), and obstruction/strictures (n = 19, 0.3%). CDC complications for grades 1–2 and grades 3a-–5 were 1.5% and 1.6%, respectively. The overall mortality rate was 0.03% (n = 2). Age, operative time ≥3 h, and any additional concomitant procedure were independent predictors of early complications following pOAGB, while a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and operative time ≥3 h were independent predictors of early complications following rOAGB. Conclusions: OAGB was found to be a safe primary and revisional MBS procedure in the ≤30-postoperative day term. The most common complications were gastrointestinal bleeding, leaks, and obstruction/stricture.

As one of the strategic production inputs, energy has always drawn the attention of policymakers and economists, and humans' ever-increasing need for this input cannot be disregarded. Therefore, access to energy is one of life's essential requirements to reach higher levels of development. Petrol is one of the important energy carriers, and policymaking regarding this fuel has always been a controversial topic in Iran. In fact, petrol becoming a distinctive commodity in the eyes of Iranians has led to petrol pricing having extensive economic, political, and social aspects. In the present study, the Vector Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) method is applied in order to investigate the impacts of petrol prices on the Human Development Index (HDI). The period under study is 1980-2019. The variables used in the model include the HDI, the Gini coefficient, inflation rate, Total Factor Productivity (TFP) of production, and petrol price. The results indicate that in a long-term perspective, petrol price and the Gini coefficient are the variables with significant negative effects on the HDI, and the inflation rate and TFP of production are the variables with significant positive effects on the corresponding index. As a result, due to the negative impact of gasoline price increase on the human development index, necessary considerations should be taken into account to increase the price of gasoline in Iran's economy, and other policies such as increasing the productivity of production factors should be used to reduce the negative effects of this policy.

Abstract Background This study aimed to compare the effects of Linagliptin and Empagliflozin on renal function and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Method We conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel trial on patients aged 30 to 80 years with type 2 DM and HbA1c ≤ 9%, regardless of background medical therapy, to compare the effects of Empagliflozin and Linagliptin on albuminuria, FBS, HbA1c, and eGFR. Participants were given the mentioned drugs for 12 weeks. Statistical analysis was performed using appropriate tests in IBM™SPSS® statistics software for windows version 24. Results In total, 60 patients participated in the study, thirty patients in each group. The mean age of participants was 56.8 (SD = 8.15) in the Empagliflozin group and 60.9 (SD = 7.22) in the Linagliptin group. Before the intervention, FBS, HbA1C, and albuminuria values were significantly higher in the Empagliflozin group than those in the Linagliptin group (P 0.05), but there was more decrease in albuminuria in the Empagliflozin group compared to the Linagliptin group (P = 0.001, Cohen’s d = 0.98). Conclusions Regardless of baseline albuminuria, eGFR, or HbA1c, Empagliflozin 10 mg daily significantly reduced albuminuria at 12 weeks compared to Linagliptin 5 mg daily in patients with type 2 diabetes. Trial registration Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT20200722048176N1 . Registered 3 August 2020.

In the present work, Cu/perovskite-type structures of the general formula Cu/Ca(ZrxTi1-x)O3 (x = 1, 0.8, 0.6) were synthesized via sol-gel process and afterwards using wetness impregnation method to prepare copper-based catalysts. The physicochemical properties of the prepared catalysts were studied using XRD, SEM, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR and TGA analyses. Structural properties of the catalysts were measured through Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET). These catalytic systems were also found to be highly active, selective and sustainable. In this regard, methanol conversion, H2 selectivity and CO selectivity were investigated and monitored by gas chromatography (GC). A high methanol conversion with a good selectivity of H2, low CO selectivity and low coke formation were achieved in steam reforming of methanol. Importantly, the morphological features of the synthesized Cu/perovskite-type porous structures contribute in improvement of catalytic activity. An obvious outcome of this study is the remarkable activity of prepared Cu/Ca(Zr0.6Ti0.4)O3 catalyst in methanol steam reforming at 300 °C due to 98.5% methanol conversion and 85.5% hydrogen selectivity.

Abstract Given the increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity worldwide, the deleterious effects of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are becoming a growing challenge for public health. NAFLD is the most common chronic liver disease in the Western world. NAFLD is closely associated with metabolic disorders, including central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, hyperglycaemia and persistent abnormalities of liver function tests. In general NAFLD is a common denominer for a broad spectrum of damage to the liver, which can be due to hepatocyte injury, inflammatory processes and fibrosis. This is normally seen on liver biopsy and can range from milder forms (steatosis) to the more severe forms (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), advanced fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver failure). In these patients, advanced fibrosis is the major predictor of morbidity and liver-related mortality, and an accurate diagnosis of NASH and NAFLD is mandatory. Histologic evaluation with liver biopsy remains the gold standard to diagnose NAFLD. Diagnosis of NAFLD is defined as presence of hepatic steatosis, ballooning and lobular inflammation with or without fibrosis. Weight loss, dietary modification, and the treatment of underlying metabolic syndrome remain the mainstays of therapy once the diagnosis is established. Dietary recommendations and lifestyle interventions, weight loss, and the treatment of underlying metabolic syndrome remain the mainstays of therapy once the diagnosis is established with promising results but are difficult to maintain. Pioglitazone and vitamin E are recommended by guidelines in selected patients. This review gives an overview of NAFLD and its treatment options.

Introduction: Exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging diagnostic biomarkers for different types of cancers. We aim to detect gastric cancer (GC)-specific miRNAs in serum exosomes with diagnostic potential. Methods: A pair of 43 tumor and tumor-adjacent tissue biopsies obtained from GC patients, also 5 mL peripheral blood (following 12h fasting) were collected from the same patients and healthy controls (HCs). QIAGEN miRCURY LNA miRNA Focus PCR Panel applied to screen differentially expressed onco-miRNAs. The candidate miRNAs with the highest fold changes proceeded for validation by qRT-PCR in individuals. Results: We identified that exosomal miR-10a-5p, miR-19b-3p, miR-215-5p, and miR-18a-5p were significantly upregulated in GC patient’s exosomes in contrast to HCs exosomes, Roc curve analysis indicated area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.801, 0.721, 0.780 and 0.736 respectively. The Roc curve analysis for the combined signature of four exosomal miRNAs indicated AUC of 0.813. Also, Spearman's correlation coefficients indicated that the miRNA expression is highly correlated between tumor and exosome. Conclusion: Herein, we specifically identified four miRNAs in serum exosomes of GC patients for a diagnostic purpose which are directly associated with tumoral miRNA expression profile.

We study the analytic solutions of the generalized Heun equation, (α0 + α1 r + α2 r2 + α3 r3) y′′ + (β0 + β1 r + β2 r2) y′ + (ε0 + ε1 r) y = 0, where |α3| + |β2|≠ 0, and {αi}3i=0, {βi}2i=0, {εi}1i=0 are real parameters. The existence conditions for the polynomial solutions are given. A simple procedure based on a recurrence relation is introduced to evaluate these polynomial solutions explicitly. For α0 = 0, α1≠ 0, we prove that the polynomial solutions of the corresponding differential equation are sources of finite sequences of orthogonal polynomials. Several mathematical properties, such as the recurrence relation, Christoffel-Darboux formulas and the norms of these polynomials, are discussed. We shall also show that they exhibit a factorization property that permits the construction of other infinite sequences of orthogonal polynomials.

Abstract The alarming rise in the worldwide prevalence of obesity and associated type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have reached epidemic portions. Diabetes in its many forms and T2DM have different physiological backgrounds and are difficult to classify. Bariatric surgery (BS) is considered the most effective treatment for obesity in terms of weight loss and comorbidity resolution, improves diabetes, and has been proven superior to medical management for the treatment of diabetes. The term metabolic surgery (MS) describes bariatric surgical procedures used primarily to treat T2DM and related metabolic conditions. MS is the most effective means of obtaining substantial and durable weight loss in individuals with obesity. Originally, BS was used as an alternative weight-loss therapy for patients with severe obesity, but clinical data revealed its metabolic benefits in patients with T2DM. MS is more effective than lifestyle or medical management in achieving glycaemic control, sustained weight loss, and reducing diabetes comorbidities. New guidelines for T2DM expand the use of MS to patients with a lower body mass index. Evidence has shown that endocrine changes resulting from BS translate into metabolic benefits that improve the comorbid conditions associated with obesity, such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, and T2DM. Other changes include bacterial flora rearrangement, bile acids secretion, and adipose tissue effect. This review aims to examine the physiological mechanisms in diabetes, risks for complications, the effects of bariatric and metabolic surgery and will shed light on whether diabetes should be reclassified.

Background: Lactose intolerance is defined as “Lactose malabsorption with gastrointestinal symptoms.” Also, lactose malabsorption can be defined as “Not all ingested lactose was absorbed and that some has reached the large intestine.” The common symptoms associated with the maldigestion of lactose are bloating, diarrhoea, nausea, and abdominal pain. Aim: The current study aims to assess knowledge of people awareness of the lactose intolerance disorder and its relation to nutrition and dietary habits in Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional approach was used targeting all accessible population in Saudi Arabia aging 18 years or more and accept to participate in the study. Data were collected from participants using an online pre-structured questionnaire. The researchers constructed the survey tool after intensive literature review and expert's consultation. The questionnaire covered the following data: participants' socio-demographic data like age, gender, and monthly income. Second section covered participants' dairy products intake with associated symptoms. Third part covered personal and family history of glucose intolerance disorder among the study participants. Awareness was assessed using multiple repose and mutually exclusive questions. Results: A total of 1189 participants fulfilling the inclusion criteria completed the study questionnaire. Participants ages ranged from 18 to 58 years old with mean age of 25.1 ± 12.9 years. Exact of 692 (58.2%) participants were females. Exact of 104 (8.7%) of the study participants reported that they had lactose intolerance disorder which started at the age of 11 to 20 years among 41 (39.4%) and at the age of 21 to 30 years among 36 (34.6%). About 77% of the study participants know that lactose indolence disorder symptoms appear after eating dairy or its derivatives. A total of 45.8% reported that leaky gut syndrome (diarrhoea and bloating) is caused by symptoms that occur with lactose intolerance and 39.4% know lactose intolerance is an uncurable disease. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study revealed that nearly one out of each three persons on Saudi Arabia is knowledgeable regarding lactose intolerance disorder and its related factors and relieving factors. Dairy products use in daily basis was reported among two thirds of the study population with abdominal distention and abdominal pain was the main accompanying symptoms.

it is necessary to apply a remote sensing-based system for rice cultivation assessment parallel with the field measurements of the crop biophysical parameters. This study aims to map the rice cultivated areas and give an estimate for the expected yield (ton/ha) using Sentinel-2 satellite data. The study was carried out in an experimental site in the Kafr El-Sheikh governorate with a total area of 3240 ha. The multi-temporal Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) extracted from nine Sentinel-2 imagery cover the whole summer season. The supervised nearest neighborhood object-based classification method was employed, resulting in a classification map with an overall accuracy of 95% and a kappa coefficient of 0.93. Yield prediction was carried out by using an empirical yield prediction model using the NDVI and the Leaf Area Index (LAI). The LAI was calculated using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) model and then validated against the measured LAI. the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MPAE) was calculated to estimate the error between the measured and predicted LAI and yield. The MPAE was found to be ±6.76% (i.e. ±0.28 m2/m2) with a high correlation between the measured and the calculated LAI with a coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.94). While for the yield, the MPAE was found to be ±6.53% (i.e. ±0.66 ton/ha) and R2 of 0.95. This method is applicable to estimate area and yield of rice in the northern Nile delta in adequate time before harvest.

Background: Ocriplasmin has been developed for the induction of posterior vitreous detachment in patients with vitreomacular adhesion. At physiological pH, ocriplasmin is susceptible to autolytic and proteolytic degradation, limiting its activity duration. These undesirable properties of ocriplasmin can be reduced by site-directed mutagenesis, so that its enzymatic activities can be augmented. This study aimed to design ocriplasmin variants with improved biological/physicochemical characteristics via bioinformatics tools. Methods: This study was performed in Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, 2019. Through site-directed mutagenesis, three ocriplasmin variants were designed. Structural analysis was performed on the wild-type variant and the mutant variants using the Protein Interactions Calculator (PIC) server. The interactions between the S-2403 substrate and the ocriplasmin variants were studied by molecular docking simulations, and binding capability was evaluated by the calculation of free binding energy. The conformational features of protein-substrate complex systems for all the variants were evaluated using molecular dynamic simulations at 100 nanoseconds.Results: The structural analysis of ocriplasmin revealed that the substitution of threonine for alanine 59 significantly reduced proteolytic activity, while the substitution of glutamic acid for lysine 156 influenced autolytic function. The molecular docking simulation results indicated the appropriate binding of the substrate to the ocriplasmin variants with high-to-low affinities. The binding affinity of the wild-type variant for the substrate was higher than that between the mutant variants and the substrate. Simulation analyses, consisting of the root-mean-square deviation, the root-mean-square fluctuation, and the center-of-mass average distance showed a higher affinity of the substrate for the wild type than for the mutant variants. Conclusion: The mutational analysis of ocriplasmin revealed that A59T and K156E mutagenesis could be used for the development of a new variant with higher therapeutic efficacy.

Introduction: Psychological reasons can cause and perpetuate non-cardiac chest pain. They are of particular importance because psychological factors can cause and exacerbate non-cardiac chest pain. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of acceptance and commitment therapy on anxiety and quality of life in patients with non-cardiac chest pain. Method: This study is of a quasi-experimental type. The statistical population of this research is patients referred to Dr. Abbas Nabavi Cardiovascular Clinic, Dezful during the year 2021 with non-cardiac pain in their chest. The statistical sample of this work includes 30 patients that are chosen based on the purposive sampling method and divided into two groups, namely control and experimental. Beck Anxiety inventory and SF-36 Quality of Life inventory are used for data collection. Multivariate analysis of covariance, repeated measures of variance, and are applied in three stages of pre-test, post-test, and follow-up, using SPSS software (version 26). Results: Results indicated that the average of anxiety and life quality in pretest-posttest changed from 29.86±4.06 to 12.4 ± 4.03 and from 47.60 ± 10.06 to 79.73 ± 8.87. Based on the covariance method, in the post-test stage, 62%, and in the follow-up stage, 43% of differences in anxiety and quality of life between two groups were because of the acceptance and commitment therapy method (P≤0.05). Bonferroni test indicated an increase in anxiety level during the follow-up stage (P≤0.05). Conclusion: According to the research results, it can be concluded that with the help of acceptance and commitment therapy, psychological disorders that cause non-cardiac chest pain can be reduced.

Orientation: Digital transformation has changed the process of talent management. Traditional models embraced activities and processes that guided the right employee towards the right positions or a broad view of talent management. Research purpose: This study aimed to investigate the mediating impact of digitalised process management on relationship between talent management (TM) and organisational performance. Motivation for the study: Digitalisation in enhanced industries such as mobile telecommunications emphasises agility required to attract talent in a dynamic environment in terms of marketing, competition, et cetera. Research approach, design and method: Research data were collected through a quantitative approach. The statistical population of participants in this research included 298 managers and specialists in the field of the mobile Iranian telecommunications industry. Data were collected using a standard questionnaire, the validity of which was assessed based on the validity of content and structure and its reliability through Cronbach’s alpha. Obtained model was analysed using SPSS version 26 and Smart PLS version 3.3.3 software. Practical or managerial implications: Impact of TM on organisational performance through the mediation of digitalised process management is identified. Results show that investments are required to correlate the digitalised process into TM processes to take organisational performance into the digitalisation era. Contribution or value-add: This study extends the knowledge about future of the TM process, which is enhanced by digitalisation aspects to support company and organisational performance for achieving and adopting in the digital era. The study also extends digitalisation process by using a structural model to investigate the future of process in mobile telecommunication industry in Iran.

The Omani socio-cultural context, the mono-gender educational system in schools, and the learning environment at the higher educational institutions significantly affect learners' self-efficacy and academic achievement in the mixed-gender EFL classroom. Different studies have revealed both positive and negative implications of mixed-gender classrooms, especially for those who came from a mono-gender learning environment. The adjustment phase for the tertiary learners from school to the university is not only crucial but also significant for the continuation of higher education. The effects of socio-cultural factors on self-efficacy and academic achievement have not been studied in depth, particularly in eastern countries. So, the current study aimed at investigating the role of gender, learning background, socio-cultural circumstances, and the effect of the learning environment on EFL learners' self-efficacy and their academic achievement within the scenario of the prevailing culture and traditions in the Dhofar Region. To conduct this study, mixed research methods (qualitative and quantitative) have been adopted to investigate the perceptions of both teachers and learners. The sample of the study consists of 117 EFL learners ranging between 18–22 years of age and 25 EFL teachers ranging between 35–60 years of age. We used separate surveys for students and the teachers and interviewed students and teachers on a random basis. The results demonstrate that both genders were comfortable in segregated classes. The results also reveal that female learners were active learners and better performers than male learners in the school learning environment. The students reported that social restrictions discouraged them from mixing with the opposite gender in classroom activities and oral discussions. Most teachers believe that, compared to male learners, female learners performed better and were more engaged and responsive to different learning situations. The study found that there were statistically significant differences between both genders in terms of the effects of socio-cultural environment, self-efficacy, and the learning environment. Female learners were better than male learners in mono-gender schools, and they have higher self-efficacy than male students at the university. In conclusion, EFL teachers should consider the socio-cultural context, learners' learning background, and other challenges of learners to bring out positive outcomes in a mixed-gender classroom.

Abstract Background The structure of the Iranian health system has raised this hypothesis that a part of the Knee Replacement Surgery (KRS) services are provided due to Physician-Induced Demand (PID). Methods This paper used an unbalanced individual panel data covering the steady-state 15,729 KRSs performed by 995 surgeons provided by the Armed Forces Insurance Organization at the provincial level over the 60 months (2014–2018). We use a generalized method of moment’s system (GMM-SYS) to obtain consistent and asymptotically efficient estimates, which provide a vital instrument for our dynamic panel data. Results The outcomes show that with unequal increasing orthopedic surgeons to population ratio, both the number and size of KRS services were increased significantly at a 1 % level. Given that the positive elasticity obtained for the service size was significantly larger than the number of services, the findings give strong support for the existence of PID in the Iran system for KRS care. Also, the raw and population-adjusted number of KRS, cost, and the surgery per active physician increased significantly at the monthly province level. Conclusions This is the first time that the existence of PID in the Iranian health system is investigated using approved econometric models. The findings indicate that the health system structure has been provided the conditions for aggressive, costly, and high-risk services such as KRS to be exposed to PID.

Abstract Hahn’s difference operator D q ; w f ( x ) = ( f ( q x + w ) − f ( x ) ) / ( ( q − 1 ) x + w ) $D_{q;w}f(x) =({f(qx+w)-f(x)})/({(q-1)x+w})$ , q ∈ ( 0 , 1 ) $q\in (0,1)$ , w > 0 $w>0$ , x ≠ w / ( 1 − q ) $x\neq w/(1-q)$ is used to unify the recently established difference and q-asymptotic iteration methods (DAIM, qAIM). The technique is applied to solve the second-order linear Hahn difference equations. The necessary and sufficient conditions for polynomial solutions are derived and examined for the ( q ; w ) $(q;w)$ -hypergeometric equation.

تصنف تيتانات الباريوم كأشهر المواد الفيروكهربائية، وأكثرها استخداماً في التطبيقات العلمية والتكنولوجية نظراً لخصائصها الفريدة، وامكانية تعديلها والتحكم بها من خلال الإشابة، وطرق التحضير. فالغاية من البحث استخدام تقنية حيود الأشعة السينية XRD لدراسة تأثير الإشابة بالقصدير على خصائصها البنيوية، والمجهرية. حضرت العينات BTSx بطريقة تفاعل الحالة الصلبة عند درجة حرارة تكليس 1150°C ولمدة ساعتين. أظهرت مخططات XRD تشكل بنية البيروفسكايت للمحلول الصلب BTSx، وانتقال البنية من النظام البلوي الرباعي إلى المكعبي عند النسبة x=0.1. استخدم كل من طريقة شيرر، ووليامسون هول، ومخطط الحجم والانفعال لتحليل القمم في مخططات XRD، وحساب حجم التبلور، والانفعال الميكروي، وكثافة الانخلاعات في البنية البلورية. اختلفت الطرق المستخدمة بالنتائج، واتفقت بأن أصغر قيمة لحجم التبلور عند النسبة x=0.05، ويقابل أعلى كثافة انخلاعات. بينت طريقة مخطط الحجم والانفعال تزايد الانفعالات في البنية بتزايد نسب القصدير.

Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells (MSCs) have been applied to modulate various immune-mediated conditions. Prolonged culture of MSCs in vitro reduces their therapeutic efficacy. Pretreatment of the cells with some chemical agents during in vitro expansion could overcome this limitation. This study intended to determine whether pretreatment of adipose-derived MSCs (ASCs) with Human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG), a glycoprotein hormone, and Vitamin E, an antioxidant, will improve their immunomodulatory ability. In this regard, ASCs were harvested from human processed lipoaspirate. LPS-induced ASCs were preconditioned with 1 mg of hCG and 600 µM of vitamin E for 24h. TSG-6, COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-6 were assessed at the mRNA level in preconditioned and control groups. ASCs were also co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in vitro to determine the functionality of these cells. Results showed that hCG and vitamin E significantly downregulate the pro-inflammatory COX-2, IL-1β, and IL-6 gene expression, while they did not significantly increase TSG-6 expression. Besides, the co-culturing of pretreated ASCs with PBMCs demonstrated that the amount of PBMCs in treated groups (with hCG and vitamin E) was significantly lower than in control groups. These findings revealed that the preconditioning of ASCs with hCG and vitamin E might enhance their immunoregulatory capacity.

Background: Brain source imaging based on electroencephalogram (EEG) data aims to recover the neuron populations’ activity producing the scalp potentials. This procedure is known as the EEG inverse problem. Recently, beamformers have gained a lot of consideration in the EEG inverse problem. Objective: Beamformers lack acceptable performance in the case of correlated brain sources. These sources happen when some regions of the brain have simultaneous or correlated activities such as auditory stimulation or moving left and right extremities of the body at the same time. In this paper, we have developed a multichannel beamformer robust to correlated sources. Material and Methods: In this simulation study, we have looked at the problem of brain source imaging and beamforming from a blind source separation point of view. We focused on the spatially constraint independent component analysis (scICA) algorithm, which generally benefits from the pre-known partial information of mixing matrix, and modified the steps of the algorithm in a way that makes it more robust to correlated sources. We called the modified scICA algorithm Multichannel ICA based EEG Beamformer (MIEB). Results: We evaluated the proposed algorithm on simulated EEG data and compared its performance quantitatively with three algorithms: scICA, linearly-constrained minimum-variance (LCMV) and Dual-Core beamformers; it is considered that the latter is specially designed to reconstruct correlated sources. Conclusion: The MIEB algorithm has much better performance in terms of normalized mean squared error in recovering the correlated/uncorrelated sources both in noise free and noisy synthetic EEG signals. Therefore, it could be used as a robust beamformer in recovering correlated brain sources.

Kisspeptin (Kp) potently stimulates the reproductive hormone secretion, modulates the cellular metabolic machinery, and induces the antioxidant defense mechanism in vivo. However, the data regarding steroidogenic, metabolic and antioxidant effects of Kp on granulosa cells on the level of in vitro studies are quite rare leaving a wide gap in literature and giving a strong driving force for the present study. Thus, this study aimed to clarify the effects of human kisspeptin-10 (Kp10) on these biological features in small and large bovine granulosa cells (BGCs). Upon preparation of the monolayer-BGCs, they were allocated to eight groups; two untreated-control groups, and six Kp10-treated groups according to the follicular size; three groups for each follicle size, supplemented with Kp10 at three different doses; 10-8, 10-7 and 10-6 M [KP(I-III)S and KP(I-III)L, respectively]. Spent media and BGCs were pooled after 24 hours from addition of Kp10. Kisspeptin stimulated the glucose consumption in media by BGCs obtained from the small sized follicles for production of estradiol 17-β and progesterone. In the small-sized follicles, the TC levels were significantly decreased in response to KP(I, II)S, but not the KP(III)S compared to their control (CS). On the other hand, the KP(I-III)L significantly increased the TC levels compared to their control (CL). When Kp10 was used at the highest two doses, less glucose was consumed by BGCs collected from large sized follicles leading to low production of P4 and preservation of cellular TC content. Improvement in the metabolic efficacy of BGCs in response to Kp10-treatment was evidenced by increased glucose utilization and decreased lactate production. Increased total antioxidant capacity versus decreased lipid peroxides in Kp10-treated groups could indicate that Kp10 induces cryoprotection by restoring the favorable redox status in BGCs. Those findings suggest that Kp10 causes a size- and dose- dependent physiological changes in the BGCs.

Purpose: Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases among women worldwide. One of the effective ways to reduce the risk of death from breast cancer is early detection by breast screening methods such as thermography. Thermography is non-invasive infrared imaging that detects early symptoms of breast angiogenesis based on the temperature difference and asymmetric patterns between left and right breasts. For better visual perception, it is essential to increase the medical image quality and contrast. Materials and Methods: Histogram Equalization (HE) is a common and effective technique for contrast enhancement that uses the whole dynamic range of gray levels. In this paper, we propose to apply the equalization technique to the object part of the image rather than the background. One way is to use Otsu's method for automatic image thresholding. A more efficient approach to extract the body region is to fit a bimodal Gaussian distribution on the temperature information and restrict the equalization on gray level ranges corresponding to temperatures between the mean minus/plus three times of standard deviation. Results: We compared the performance of the proposed approach with six conventional HE methods by using objective criteria, including Absolute Mean Brightness Error (AMBE), Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity Index (SSI), and Entropy. Conclusion: Based on objective measures, as well as subjective visual inspection of the results, the proposed Gaussian model-based HE has better performance in contrast enhancement and brightness preservation among other methods.

The current study was conducted to examine the relationship between Psychological capital (PsyCap), Social capital, Workplace wellbeing, and Employee engagement in Saudi Arabia. Only limited evidence exists about the relationship between the constructs in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected from 395 gainfully employed Saudi samples, using five standardized and validated questionnaires. The data was analyzed using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). SEM was conducted using the R Program. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between PsyCap, workplace wellbeing, and employee engagement with task performance. No significant relationship was found between social capital and workplace wellbeing. By addressing a previously unexplored area, the present study has provided substantial contribution to the literature

Background and Aim: Hearing loss is a highly prevalent symptom in patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD). Comorbidities such as Diabetes Mellitus is known as the most common cause of CKD and a significant risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). The aim of this study was to compare SNHL among diabetic with non-diabetic hemodialysis patients. Methods: In this study, 33 diabetic patients on hemodialysis were selected from Hami center, Arak, Iran. Non-diabetic subjects were 31 hemodialysis patients without diabetes were matched for age, duration of CKD and hemodialysis. Data were obtained via questionnaire, patients’ files, physical examination, otoscopy and tympanometry. Hearing was analyzed using pure-tone audiometry for both groups. Results: In the study, 66.2% of diabetic patients and 52.1% of non-diabetic subjects had SNHL. Results showed that diabetic patient has 1.3 times more likely to have hearing impairment. This difference was not statistically significant. Bilateral mild SNHL was the most prevalent in both groups. No significant difference was reported in SNHL prevalence, mean thresholds of hearing and ear laterality between the groups. Gender and age had a significant effect on hearing loss after adjusting covariables. No significant association was found between diabetes and hearing loss. Conclusion: SNHL was more common in hemodialysis patients with diabetes. Patients with diabetes had poorer hearing thresholds compared to non-diabetic group, with no significant difference between groups. The periodical assessment of hearing and extending audiological care in this high-risk population is recommended due to long-term irreversible symptoms of the disease.