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Statement of the Problem: Immediate dentin sealing (IDS) was introduced to overcome the disadvantages of delayed dentin sealing like pollution of dentin tubules, microleakage, and bond strength destruction over time. The effect of IDS on the bond strength of indirect restorations is still debatable.Purpose: This study was conducted to determine the effect of IDS on the bond strength of ceramic restorations to dentin.Materials and Method: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, the study protocol was registered on the PROSPERO database under the registration number CRD420202014 27. MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Scopus, and ProQuest databases were searched until January 2021 and updated in January 2022. Worldcat.org and Opengrey.eu, ProQuest dissertation and thesis, and Google Scholar were searched to explore the grey literature. The in vitro studies evaluating the bond strength of ceramic restoration to dentin with and without IDS were included. Seven criteria were assessed to evaluate the risk of bias in the study. Statistical analyses were conducted using RevMan 5.3. The inverse variance method was used to determine the mean difference of micro-tensile bond strength (µTBS) and shear bond strength (SBS).Results: A total of 10 studies (20 datasets) were included in the meta-analysis. Regarding the µTBS analysis, IDS had a significantly higher bond strength than Delayed Dentin Sealing (DDS) (MD:1.16, 95%CI:0.28_2.03, I2=0%). However, no significant difference was found between them in the SBS analysis (MD:0.25, 95%CI: -0.56-1.06, I2=96%). All studies were categorized to have a moderate or high risk of bias.Conclusion: Most in vitro evidence showed favorable results for the effect of IDS on the bond strength and durability of indirect restorations. The adhesive system and the type of ceramic and its treatment before cementation are determining factors. Due to the heterogeneity of the outcomes and studies with a moderate/high risk of bias, the quality of the evidence was low.

Abstract Health information management is a vital and constructive component of the health system, refers to the process of producing and collecting, organising and storing, analysing, disseminating and using information. The aim of this study was to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the information management system in epidemic infectious diseases in Iran, specifically focusing on the registration, reporting, quality, confidentiality, and security of infectious disease data. This assessment was conducted from the perspective of policymakers and experts responsible for data registration and reporting. After examining the processes of registering and reporting infectious disease data and interviewing experts, a researcher-designed questionnaire was prepared to evaluate the infectious disease information management system. To assess the content validity of the Content Validity Index and Content Validity Ratio Index, a questionnaire was utilized. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed using Cronbach's alpha. By employing purposeful sampling and adhering to the inclusion criteria, 150 participants were included in the study. Questionnaires were distributed via email, WhatsApp, or Telegram to employees at various levels of Iran's health and treatment systems who were responsible for registering and reporting infectious disease data. The study encompassed 100 participants who successfully concluded the research. The results highlight that the key strength of healthcare data registration lies in its ability to "depict the epidemic curve during outbreaks of infectious diseases." Conversely, a notable weakness was the "insufficient collaboration from non-academic sectors (e.g., clinics, private laboratories) in registering and reporting infectious diseases. The present study's findings suggest that the issue lies not in the framework itself, but rather in the execution and functionality of the strategies. We can cultivate a repository of reliable and beneficial data by incorporating initiatives like training programs, enforcing regulations with consequences for inadequate data documentation, offering both material and motivational rewards, and streamlining all data collection and reporting systems.

Despite the introduction of different semiconductor photocatalysts for removing a variety of colors and contaminants, the development of novel multi-component substances with strong light-harvesting capacity remains a challenge. The purpose of this paper is to rationally design binary CeO2/MnCr2O4 heterostructure nanocomposites through the green sol-gel self-combustion route and use them as visible light-active nano-photocatalysts in wastewater treatment. Several physicochemical instruments, including powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), were used to examine the effects of banana juice volume on crystal structure, purity, and shape of as-formed specimens. Optical results demonstrate that binary CeO2/MnCr2O4 nanocomposites have high photocatalytic activity due to their 2.9 eV band gap. As a result of using 10 mL of banana juice, the best performing product removed almost 84 % and 93 % of methyl orange (MO) in 90 minutes and 120 minutes, respectively, under visible and UV light. CeO2/MnCr2O4 nanocomposite is a promising candidate for photocatalysis according to these findings.

Abstract Introduction Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine and metabolic disturbance that affects many women worldwide and is characterized by chronic anovulation, hyperandrogenism, and ovarian dysfunction. Placenta-derived mesenchymal stem cells (PDMSCs) are derived from the placenta and have advantages over other sources of MSCs in terms of availability, safety, and immunomodulation. Materials and methods In this experimental study, twenty female Wistar rats were assigned to four groups (n = 5) including control, sham, PCOS, and PCOS+PDMSCs groups. Then, PCOS was induced in the rats through administering letrozole for 21 days. PDMSCs (1 × 106 cells) were injected through the tail vein. Fourteen days after the cell infusion, evaluation was performed on the number of healthy follicles, corpus luteum, and cystic follicles as well as the levels of testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance. Moreover, the serum levels of cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were measured. Liver function was also determined by the evaluation of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. Results The number of corpus luteum and primordial, primary, secondary, and antral follicles was significantly elevated in the PCOS+PDMSCs group compared to the PCOS group. However, the number of cystic follicles significantly decreased in the PCOS+PDMSCs group. The LH and testosterone levels also decreased significantly, while FSH levels increased significantly in the PCOS+PDMSCs group. The levels of fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, and insulin resistance notably decreased in the PCOS+PDMSCs group. Moreover, the lipid profile improved in the PCOS+PDMSCs group along with a significant decrease of cholesterol, LDL, and TG and an increase in HDL. The PCOS+PDMSCs group exhibited marked decreases in the AST and ALT levels as well. Conclusion The results of this study suggest that PDMSCs are a potential treatment option for PCOS because they can effectively restore folliculogenesis and correct hormonal imbalances, lipid profiles and liver dysfunction in a rat model of PCOS. However, further research is needed to establish the safety and effectiveness of PDMSCs for treating PCOS.

This study uses critical race quantitative intersectionality to examine the impacts of gender and dis/ability type on Black students' school discipline outcomes. We use multilevel logistic regression models to analyze data from a large urban school district, considering the intersectional impact of gender and dis/ability type on school discipline outcomes among Black students (suspension, restorative justice, referral to law enforcement). We found that Black students identified as male, labeled with emotional dis/abilities, or identified as having ADHD were more likely to experience school discipline consequences than those who were not. These findings suggest that gender and dis/ability status are significant correlates of discipline outcomes, indicating that a general focus on race or special education masks important differences in discipline disparities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Solar panels are always installed at an angle in which receive the maximum amount of energy. Small and even 1-degree changes in the angle of the installed panel have a significant impact on the annual energy received. The objective of this study was to study the evaluation of change in the sun's radiant energy on the surface perpendicular to the radiation during the day.METHODS: Calculations of changes in the intensity of radiation on the surface of the panel are generally performed by assuming that the intensity of solar radiation is constant on the surface perpendicular to the radiation during the day (choosing the solar constant) and multiplying it by the cosine of the azimuth angle (which varies during the day). Since the sun's rays travel different lengths in the atmosphere at different times of the day, the intensity of the sun's radiation on the surface perpendicular to the radiation varies throughout the day. In this study, the effect of daily changes in the intensity of solar radiation on the surface perpendicular to the radiation, on the optimal angle of the solar panel has been investigated.FINDING: The results showed that the daily optimal angle difference reported in this study compared to previous studies is more than 5 degrees in some cases. Also, installing the panel under the optimal daily angle (for day number 100) and the correct yearly angle resulted in receiving 128.56 kilowatts per square meter and 2.977 megawatts per square meter more energy, respectively.CONCLUSION: According to the results of this research, the annual optimal angle for a geographic latitude of 30 degrees, taking into account the changes in solar radiation energy on the surface perpendicular to the radiation, is 26 degrees, which is 4 degrees different from the geographic latitude. Also, the results show that if the panel is installed at an angle of 30 degrees, the energy received annually is 16.122 megawatts per square meter less than if the panel is installed at an angle of 26 degrees.

In this study, the investigator sought to explore the perceptions and attitudes of Iranian English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners towards the use of Socially Mediated Testing (SMT) in their English learning process. The primary aim was to identify the factors that significantly influence their learning experience when using SMT. The research process began with in-depth interviews of 50 EFL learners, aiming to gain a qualitative understanding of their thoughts and experiences with SMT. Based on the insights obtained from these interviews, the researcher developed a questionnaire tailored to capture the nuances of these learners' experiences. This questionnaire, consisting of 25 items, was then distributed to a larger sample of 475 EFL students. In the end, the researcher was able to identify four variables after using exploratory factor analysis to identify the factors. The 25-item questionnaire was then given to 785 EFL students, who chose each item on a Likert scale. The factor structure of the instrument was verified by the researcher using structural equation modeling (SEM). To determine if the suggested model matched the data, the researcher used the measurement with the best fit. The fit indices were estimated using the original EFA structure, which contained four factors and 25 elements. As a result, the researcher created a model that can be used as a respectable foundation for SMT research that will take place in Iran in the future, where such specific insights are unavailable in this politically distinct EFL setting.

Shadow banking comprises a set of non-bank financial intermediaries such as pension funds, investment funds, insurance companies, and other non-bank financial intermediaries that function similarly to traditional banks in terms of performance but are not supervised by the central bank. Given the expansion of shadow banking activities and its impact on real sectors of the economy, this research aims to investigate the effect of shadow banking on the size of government in selected countries (including two groups of developed and developing countries).Methods: This research was conducted using the Panel Vector Autoregression (VAR) model over the period 2002-2022 in selected countries. Results: The results obtained for the group of developed countries indicate that the expansion of shadow banking assets has not led to an increase in the size of government. However, conversely, according to the research findings for the group of developing countries, there is a positive relationship between shadow banking and the size of government. That is, the expansion of shadow banking assets in the group of developing countries has resulted in an increase in the size of government.Conclusions In this study, the impact of shadow banking on the size of government in selected countries has been examined using the Panel VAR model. The results indicate that the expansion of shadow banking assets in developed countries has not led to an increase in the size of government. However, conversely, in developing countries, the expansion of shadow banking assets has led to an increase in the size of government

Cellular lattice structures encompass a class of metamaterials characterized by the arrangement of interconnected struts and/or plates, offering an adaptable microstructure that enables a broad range of property control. These structures have garnered significant attention for their distinctive properties and have found widespread application across industries such as aerospace, medical, pharmaceutical, automotive, defense and safety. This study seeks to explore the impact of geometric parameters on the natural frequency and damping coefficient of cellular lattice structures. Samples featuring BCC and OCTET architectures with varying porosities were initially produced using fused deposition modeling (FDM). Subsequently, both experimental and numerical analyses were conducted to assess the first natural frequency and damping coefficient of these materials. Comparison of the numerically obtained results with experimental data revealed a strong agreement. The findings indicate that, for both BCC and OCTET lattices, an increase in porosity is associated with a decrease in both natural frequency and damping coefficient.

IntroductionWith increasing the world's population, the demand for supply water resources is also increasing. Nevertheless, climate change has severely impacted the accessibility of fresh water resources. Consequently, researchers have been focusing on producing drinkable water from seas and oceans. Iran, with its significant levels of solar radiation and access to open water from the north and south, is an ideal country for fresh water production. Using solar water desalination systems is a reliable and cost-effective solution for producing drinking water from salt water sources. The purpose of this research is to enhance the performance of the solar water desalination system by using the latent heat storage system and a solar tracking system. In this experimental setup for fresh water production, water was used as the working fluid, while a parabolic collector functioned as the source of thermal energy.Materials and MethodsThe solar water desalination system was designed and built on a laboratory scale at the University of Kurdistan, and then the necessary experiments were carried out. The flowing fluid (water) inside the spiral tube in the tank is pumped into the absorber tube of the parabolic collector. Inside the receiver tube, there is a spiral copper tube with a 7 cm pitch, which contains paraffin. The parabolic mirror reflects the sunlight onto the receiver tube, causing the working fluid, water, to heat up. The cooling process is achieved using a specific source located in the upper section of the distillation tank. In this case, the steam droplets in the tank hit the bottom surface of this cooling tank, which has the shape of an inverted funnel, leading to condensation. The study was conducted over four consecutive days, from 10:00 to 14:00, under identical conditions from August 24th to August 27th, 2022. It took place at the Renewable Energy Laboratory, University of Kurdistan in Sanandaj, Iran, and was conducted for three different volume flow rates of fluid: 1.9, 3.1, and 4.2 l.min-1 with phase change materials (PCM) and 4.2 l.min-1 without phase change materials (WOPCM); the pump’s maximum flow rate was 4.2 l.min-1. Variations of outlet temperature, thermal efficiency, desalination efficiency, and produced water were investigated under different conditions.Results and DiscussionThe results reveal that by decreasing the pitch of the spiral tube, there is an increase in the amount of heat captured, due to the increase in the Nusselt number. At the beginning of data collection, a significant amount of the energy that enters the receiver tube is absorbed by both the phase change material and the spiral tube inside the receiver and as a result, the initial air temperature is lowered. The highest temperature of salt water occurs when the fluid is flowing at a rate of 4.2 l.min-1, while the lowest temperature is observed at a flow rate of 1.9 l.min-1. With a flow rate of 4.2 l.min-1, the absorbent tube rapidly transfers the absorbed heat to the salt water chamber through the fluid. The input energy to the tank has increased from 1.53 to 2.83, 1.14 to 2.18, and 0.73 to 1.48 MJ for fluid flow rates of 4.2, 3.1, and 1.9 l.min-1, respectively. At a flow rate of 4.2 l.min-1, the thermal efficiency of the system without phase change materials (3.51%) is lower compared to the case with phase change materials (5.02%). Moreover, using a solar tracking mechanism increased the thermal efficiency of the collector by 9.86% compared to the system using a photocell sensor. Based on the water quality values, it can be stated that the level of dissolved solids in the water sample has been significantly decreased. This indicates that the water can be used for drinking.ConclusionIn this research, the process of thermal changes in a solar water desalination system using PCM was investigated. The obtained results demonstrate that the use of PCM improved the thermal efficiency of the collector and the water obtained from the current system is safe for consumption. Furthermore, by implementing a solar panel tracking system, the efficiency of the solar collector is improved.

IntroductionSolar energy is one of the sources of renewable energy that can be used in both buildings, industry and agriculture in the form of heat or electrical energy. According to previous researches, energy consumption in the world is doubling every 20 years. However, the use of renewable energy is still less than fossil fuels, which has caused environmental problems in the world. In recent decades, the tendency to use renewable energy, especially solar energy, has increased. A significant portion of the world's energy (about 30%) is spent on agriculture, and about 3.62% is used to dry agricultural products (Iranmanesh et al., 2020). However, thermal and drying efficiency of the solar collectors are not in acceptable range. Applying different ways to improve the performance of solar dryers such as using thermal energy storage system, air recirculation mechanism and using desiccant system. In this paper, phase change materials were placed vertically in consecutive rows at different distances inside the collector and the thermal performance of the collector was investigated. Also, the drying process of Oleaster were evaluated using PCM and air recirculation system. Materials and MethodsThe indirect solar dryer used in this study includes the chassis, flat plate collector, electric fan, drying cabinet, pipes containing PCM and sensors. 25 copper tubes containing PCM are placed on the absorber plate with fixed intervals. The insulated cabinet of the dryer has three trays. A 220 volt 60 W electric fan is placed in the inlet of the collector and causes to flow air inside the system. The process of drying Oleaster in a solar dryer was carried out for 9 consecutive days in August 1401. The drying process was performed at three positions of PCM pipes at 5, 10 and 15 cm intervals with air flow rate of 0.5, 1 and 2 m/s. The drying kinetics of Oleaster was investigated using five mathematical models considering drying time and related constants. The selected model is selected based on the degree of fit (the highest R2 and the lowest RMSE) on the experimental data. Thermal efficiency was calculated according to ASHRAE standard 2003 (Eltawil et al., 2018). Moreover, to determine the drying efficiency the amount of energy required to heat the dryer and the product and extract water from the Oleaster and the total energy (electrical and thermal) input to the dryer was considered. SCE is defined as the energy required to dry one kilogram of the product. Results and DiscussionThe drying time of the product by the dryer is reduced from 2.09 to 4.16% on average by changing the position of PCM from 5 cm to 15 cm. On the other hand, with the increase of air velocity from 0.5 to 2 m/s, the drying time decreased from 8.32% to 16.64%. Henderson and Pabis model was the best model to describe and define the drying process of Oleaster with solar dryer. The curves of the drying rate against the time in different conditions illustrated that in the initial stage of drying of samples. The amount of moisture evaporation is high due to the high water content in Oleaster, and a major part of the drying process took place in this period. The value of SEC for the dryer without PCM was 4.26 MJ/kg, while for the case with PCM, it was 2.04 MJ/kg with a distance of 15 cm. By increasing the distance between the tubes, the drying efficiency increases due to the reduction of drying time and energy consumption. In this case, the consumption of electrical energy by the fan (for fluid flow in the dryer and collector) and the thermal energy input to the dryer are reduced. However, with the increase of air speed from 1 m/s to m/s2, there is a significant reduction in drying efficiency. The highest drying efficiency was 36.72% and the lowest was 25.65% for distance 15 cm, air velocity of 1 m/s and distance 5 cm, air speed 2 m/s, respectively. Drying efficiency was improved by at least 12% using PCM. ConclusionIn this research, the analysis of the thermal process in the solar dryer system in three positions of the tubes containing PCM inside the flat plate collector for the distances of 5, 10 and 15 cm between the tubes at three air velocities of 0.5, 1 and 2 m/s was investigated. Using the return flow system and the phase changing material at the same time improved the thermal efficiency of the flat plate collector by 19.12%.

The study examined how chitosan nanoparticles loaded with folic acid (FA/CNPs) and/or folic acid impact on growth performance and immune response of juvenile beluga sturgeon (Huso huso). Fish weighing an average of 15.3±0.7 g were placed in 15 fiberglass tanks with 25 fish per tank and given diets with varying levels of FA/CNPs and/or folic acid: 0 (control), treatment 1 (T1: 1 mg of FA/CNPs per kg of feed), treatment 2 (T2: 1 mg of folic acid per kg of feed), treatment 3 (T3: 1 mg of FA/CNPs + 1 mg of folic acid per kg of feed), and treatment 4 (T4: 2 mg of FA/CNPs + 1 mg of folic acid per kg of feed) for 8 weeks. The findings demonstrated notable improvements in various growth indicators, including daily growth rate, body weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), feed conversion ratio (FCR), and immune indices (total serum protein, levels of immunoglobulin M, total immunoglobulin, and complement C3). Additionally, antioxidant parameters such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase also showed significant improvements with T3 and T4 treatments that incorporated both FA/CNPs and folic acid compared to the control group (P < 0.05). Furthermore, these treatments resulted in lower serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels compared to other treatments, particularly the control group (P < 0.05). The study found that incorporating FA/CNPs and folic acid into the diet resulted in notable improvements in red and white blood cell counts, lymphocytes and neutrophils percentages, hematocrit, and haemoglobin concentration, as well as reduced levels of triglycerides, cholesterol, ALT and AST enzymes, and cortisol in the blood. It is recommended to use a combination of 1–2 mg/kg of FA/CNPs with 1 mg/kg of folic acid to improve growth and general immune status of juvenile great sturgeon.

Not available.

With the increasing number of pediatric surgeries and the transfer of caregiving roles to parents, appropriate preparation and reduction of their stress levels for proper care of children before and after surgery is essential. If parental anxiety can be reduced through various methods, not only can it improve parental performance and their comfort, but it can also prevent the impact of anxiety on the child. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of educational film presentation on the anxiety level of mothers visiting the obstetric anesthesia clinic at the Children's Medical Center in 2020. This study was a randomized double-blind controlled trial conducted as an intervention. Sampling was done randomly, and the study population consisted of two groups of 38 individuals, whose children were candidates for MRI. The intervention group watched the educational film, while the second group served as the control group. Subsequently, their anxiety levels were assessed and compared using the Beck Anxiety Inventory. The data were entered into SPSS Ver. 21 software and analyzed accordingly. The mean age of mothers in this study was 33.41 years with a standard deviation of 7 years. The mean age of children was 3.79 years with a standard deviation of 3.4 years. Among the children, 30 were girls (39.5%) and 46 were boys (60.5%). The mean age of girls was 4.35 years with a standard deviation of 4.16 years, while the mean age of boys was 3.433 years with a standard deviation of 2.787 years. Overall, 39 participants (50.6%) watched the educational film, while 38 participants (49.4%) were in the control group. The mean score of anxiety level according to the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) was 9.47 with a standard deviation of 9.77. The level of anxiety was significantly higher in the intervention group who watched the educational film compared to the control group (P=0.012). The results of the present study indicated that parental anxiety increased after watching the educational video on anesthesia methods. It is recommended that alternative strategies be considered for reducing parental anxiety in future studies.

In eukaryotes, translation is a fundamental step in the long pathway of protein synthesis within the cell. In this process, several proteins and factors have involved directly or indirectly, individually or in association with other elements to contact mRNA. For perfect translation, many essential modifications should be done, such as cis-splicing to remove introns and two main events for capping and poly A polymerization in 5’ and 3’ end of mRNA, respectively. Gene expression is then regulated at both translation and stability of the target mRNA molecule levels. Pumilio/FBFs (PUFs) are the main group of RNA-binding proteins which bind to the 3’-UTR of target RNA and thereby regulate the fate, stability and subcellular localization of mRNAs and adjust the translated protein level. PUF proteins have been found both in nucleus where that bind to precursor mRNA, for processing and maturation of rRNA, and in cytoplasm where that bind to mRNA, stall the ribosomes, suppress the translation and localization of the mRNA. They can regulate the expression of mRNAs through activation or suppression of translation. Therefore, these proteins have recently garnered much attention as new generation of therapeutic targets against diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders. In comparison to other eukaryotes, trypanosomatids have a high number of PUF proteins, which function not only as gene expression regulatory factors but also in several biological processes such as differentiation and life-cycle progression of the cells. Here, we review the molecular and biological roles of known PUF proteins in TriTryp parasites (Trypanosome brucei, T. cruzi and Leishmania) beside some other parasites.

Ensuring high-quality control in laser additive manufacturing and laser welding relies on the implementation of reliable and cost-effective real-time observation techniques. Real-time monitoring techniques play an important role in understanding critical physical phenomena, namely, melt pool dynamics and defect formation, during the manufacturing of components. This review aims to explore the integration of acoustic measurement techniques with X-ray imaging for studying these physical phenomena in laser manufacturing. A key aspect emphasized in this work is the importance of time synchronization for real-time observation using multiple sensors. X-ray imaging has proven to be a powerful tool for observing the dynamics of the melt pools and the formation of defects in real time. However, X-ray imaging has limitations in terms of accessibility which can be overcome through combination with other more-accessible measurement methods, such as acoustic emission spectroscopy. Furthermore, this combination simplifies the interpretation of acoustic data, which can be complex in its own right. This combined approach, which has evolved in recent years, presents a promising strategy for understanding acoustic emission signals during laser processing. This work provides a comprehensive review of existing research efforts in this area.

AbstractIn this study, a magnetic catalyst of phosphutangetic acid salt (ZnHPMo12O40) was prepared by substitution of protons in H3PW12O40 with zinc metal cations as a recyclable catalyst. The structural and morphology of the prepared catalysts was investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), BET surface analysis emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM). The prepared catalyst was successfully used as an efficient and recyclable catalyst for the synthesis of 4H-pyrans. The results showed that the magnetic zinc phosphotangestic acid catalyst exhibited good catalytic activity under optimum reaction conditions and the desired products were obtained in good to excellent yields. The good activity of the zinc salt of heteropoly acid catalyst was closely related to its high specific surface area, and the synergistic effects of Lewis and Brønsted acidity. The catalyst stability was good and it can be reused six times without significant loss activity in reaction.

rofessional identity is considered as one of the main components of each educational system. This study was conducted with the main aim of qualitative and quantitative modeling EFL teachers’ professional identity. In so doing, it benefited from a sequential mixed methods design. As the study sample, three groups of the participants were selected in the study. The first group consisted of 50 male and female (25 novice and 25 experienced) EFL teachers who were interviewed in the qualitative phase of the study for the purpose of model development. The second group included 100 male and female (50 novice and 50 experienced) EFL teachers who participated in the quantitative phase of the study (i.e., exploratory factor analysis). The third group included 300 male and female (150 novice and 150 experienced) EFL teachers who participated in the quantitative phase of the study (i.e., confirmatory factor analysis). All the three groups were selected through available sampling. To collect the data, a semi-structured interview and a researcher-made questionnaire were used. Data analysis was conducted through thematic analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM) (using exploratory confirmatory factor analysis), and Cronbach's alpha test. The results of data analysis led to proposition of a qualitative and a quantitative model of professional identity of Iranian EFL novice and experienced teachers. As shown by the results, the proposed qualitative and quantitative models consist of two main categories, each composed of some sub-categories. Moreover, the results showed that the proposed models enjoy an acceptable level of validity and reliability.

Introduction: The design of traffic signs should consider human cognitive abilities to enhance drivers’ understanding of the signs. Cognitive features, as one of the crucial principles of ergonomics, are among the influential factors in the design of signs. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of graphic elements of eight new sign designs based on cognitive features on conveying the message “prohibition of using mobile phones.” Material and Methods: This study was conducted in six driving schools in Tehran in 2013. One hundred seventy-four participants, with an average age of 23.5 and a standard deviation of six years, participated in this study. Participants were then presented with the designed signs through a colored questionnaire. They were instructed to evaluate the signs’ cognitive features including simplicity, concreteness, meaningfulness, and semantic closeness—using a Likert scale ranging from 0 to 100. Results: The results revealed that the average score of the cognitive features of the designed signs is higher than other traffic, industrial and pharmaceutical signs. In this study, “semantic closeness” was the best cognitive feature for predicting the message of the signs. The sign with the “hands-free” element had the best performance in transferring the message. Conclusion: This research aimed to identify the most effective of eight proposed signs for banning mobile phone use while driving. Participants rated the sign featuring a button phone with a hands-free symbol as the top choice. Although most of the mobile phones in the market are of the touch screen type and the use of button phones has decreased a lot, the symbol of these phones as the dominant symbol still effectively conveys messages.

Abstract Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is widespread and seriously threatens public health worldwide. This study aimed to investigate AFB1 in imported hazelnut samples in northwest of Iran (Eastern Azerbaijan Province) using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with a Fluorescent Detector (HPLC-FLD). In all tested samples AFB1 was detected. The mean concentration of AFB1 was 4.20 μg/kg and ranged from 3.145 to 8.13 μg/kg. All samples contained AFB1 levels within the maximum acceptable limit except for one sample. Furthermore, the human health risk assessment of AFB1 from consuming imported hazelnuts by Iranian children and adults was evaluated based on the margin of exposure (MoE) and quantitative liver cancer risk approaches. The MoE mean for children was 2529.76, while for adults, it was 8854.16, indicating a public health concern. The present study found that the risk of developing liver cancer among Iranian children was 0.11100736 per 100,000 people, and in the Iranian adult population was 0.0314496 cancers per 100,000 people. Since environmental conditions potentially affect aflatoxin levels in nuts, countries are advised to monitor aflatoxin contents in imported nuts, especially from countries with a conducive climate for mold growth.

Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is a major cause of mortality due to liver cirrhosis globally. Despite the advances in recent therapeutic strategies, there is yet a high burden of HCV-related cirrhosis worldwide concerning low coverage of newly developed antiviral therapies, insufficient validity of the current diagnostic methods for cirrhosis, and incomplete understanding of the pathogenesis in this stage of liver disease. Hence we aimed to clarify the molecular events in HCV-related cirrhosis and identify a liver-specific gene signature to potentially improve diagnosis and prognosis of the disease.Through RNA-seq transcriptome profiling of liver samples of Iranian patients with HCV-related cirrhosis, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and subjected to functional annotation including biological process (BP) and molecular function (MF) analysis and also KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Furthermore, the validation of RNA-seq data was investigated for seven candidate genes using qRT-PCR. Moreover, the diagnostic and prognostic power of validated DEGs were analyzed in both forms of individual DEG and combined biomarkers through receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Finally, we explored the pair-wise correlation of these six validated DEGs in a new approach.We identified 838 significant DEGs (padj ˂0.05) enriching 375 and 15 significant terms subjected to BP and MF, respectively (false discovery rate ˂ 0.01) and 46 significant pathways (p-value ˂ 0.05). Most of these biological processes and pathways were related to inflammation, immune responses, and cellular processes participating somewhat in the pathogenesis of liver disease. Interestingly, some neurological-associated genes and pathways were involved in HCV cirrhosis-related neuropsychiatric disorders. Out of seven candidate genes, six DEGs, including inflammation-related genes ISLR, LTB, ZAP70, KLRB1, and neuronal-related genes MOXD1 and Slitrk3 were significantly confirmed by qRT-PCR. There was a close agreement in the expression change results between RNA-seq and qRT-PCR for our candidate genes except for SAA2-SAA4 (P= 0.8). High validity and reproducibility of six novel DEGs as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers were observed. We also found several pair-wise correlations between validated DEGs.Our findings indicate that the six genes LTB, ZAP70, KLRB1, ISLR, MOXD1, and Slitrk3 could stand as promising biomarkers for diagnosing of HCV-related cirrhosis. However, further studies are recommended to validate the diagnostic potential of these biomarkers and evaluate their capability as targets for the prevention and treatment of cirrhosis disease.

Female carriers of pathogenic/likely pathogenic (P/LP) BRCA1/2 variants are at increased risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer. Currently, the only effective strategy for ovarian cancer risk reduction is risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RR-BSO), which carries adverse effects related to early menopause. There is ongoing investigation of inhibition of the RANK ligand (RANKL) with denosumab as a means of chemoprevention for breast cancer in carriers of BRCA1 P/LP variants. Through the NCI Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP) Early Phase Clinical Trials Prevention Consortia, a presurgical pilot study of denosumab was developed in premenopausal carriers of P/LP BRCA1/2 variants scheduled for RR-BSO with the goal of collecting valuable data on the biologic effects of denosumab on gynecologic tissue. The study was terminated early due to the inability to accrue participants. Challenges which impacted the conduct of this study included a study design with highly selective eligibility criteria and requirements and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to reflect on these issues to enhance the successful completion of future prevention studies in individuals with hereditary cancer syndromes.

Abstract Background Eimeria is a protozoan parasite that affects poultry, particularly chickens, causing a disease known as coccidiosis. This disease imposes substantial significant economic challenges to the poultry sector. Objectives The current study aimed to estimate the global prevalence and associated risk factors of Eimeria in domestic chickens. Methods Multiple databases (Scopus, PubMed, ProQuest, Web of Science and Google Scholar) were searched for articles published until June 2023. The pooled prevalence was estimated using a random‐effects model with a 95% confidence interval. The statistical analysis was conducted using meta packages in R version (3.6.1). Results In total, 41 articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria. The global pooled prevalence was 44.3% (36.9%–51.8%) with Eimeria tenella (38.7%, 30.1%–47.7%) as the most prevalent species. The highest pooled prevalence was related to the Western Pacific Region (80.5%, 72.6%–87.3%) and urban areas (44.4%, 36.5%–52.6%). Moreover, areas with humid subtropical climates represent the highest overall prevalence (75.8%, 46.6%–95.9%). Conclusion The necessity for robust and innovative strategies for preventing and managing this disease cannot be overstated. Addressing Eimeria impact is crucial not only for safeguarding poultry health but also for sustaining the economic viability of the poultry industry.

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine the frequency of thyroid gland involvement in chest CT scans of patients with COVID-19 admitted to university-affiliated hospitals and assess its relationship with the severity of lung involvement and patient survival in 2020.Material and methodsIn this retrospective cross-sectional study, 1000 PCR-positive patients with COVID-19 who were referred to University-affiliated Hospital in 2020 and had chest CT performed within 72 hours of admission to the hospital were examined. The data was collected by patient file information and CT findings recorded in the PACS system, including thyroid involvement, the severity of lung involvement, and findings related to the death and recovery of patients.ResultsThe mean age of the examined patients was 56 years. 525 people (52.5%) were men, and 475 (47.5%) were women. 14% had severe pulmonary involvement, and 9.3% had very severe involvement. Moreover, 15.9 percent of them had deceased. 19.7% had focal thyroid involvement, 14% had diffuse involvement, and 66.3% were healthy subjects. Male gender and older age showed a significant relationship with thyroid gland involvement. The severity of lung involvement, the death rate in patients, and hospitalization in ICU were also significantly related to thyroid gland involvement in patients with COVID.Discussion and conclusionThis study highlights the importance of considering thyroid-gland involvement in the comprehensive management of COVID-19 patients. Routine screening and monitoring of thyroid-function may facilitate earlier detection and appropriate management of thyroid-related complications, potentially improving clinical outcomes. This study suggests that in COVID-19 infection the monitoring of thyroid function is prudent, particularly in cases of more serious disease.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the complete Persian version of the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris, and San Diego Autoquestionnaire (TEMPS-A) in an Iranian population. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive study, the TEMPS-A was first translated to Persian by a bilingual expert and was then back-translated to English by another expert and compared with the original version. The face validity and content validity of the Persian version of the questionnaire were confirmed following assessment by several psychiatrists. The Persian version of the questionnaire was then administered among 30 personnel of Imam Hossein Hospital to be completed. The same questionnaire was administered again among the same personnel after a 2-week interval to assess its reliability. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to be 0.911, indicating excellent reliability of the Persian version of the TEMPS-A. None of the questions required correction or omission. Some questions did not have a good correlation with the general scale but the correlation of the majority of them with the general scale was good. A significant difference was found in the mean scores of the questions (P 0.9). Future studies are required to scrutinize the subscales of this questionnaire.