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Interleukin-6 (IL-6) belongs to the cytokine family and plays a vital role in regulating immune response, bone maintenance, body temperature adjustment, and cell growth. The overexpression of IL-6 can indicate various health complications, such as anastomotic leakage, cancer, and chronic diseases. Therefore, the availability of highly sensitive and specific biosensing platforms for IL-6 detection is critical. In this study, for the first time, epitope-mediated IL-6-specific magnetic molecularly imprinted core–shell structures with fluorescent properties were synthesized using a three-step protocol, namely, magnetic nanoparticle functionalization, polymerization, and template removal following thorough optimization studies. The magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIPs) were characterized using dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering (DLS and ELS), revealing a hydrodynamic size of 169.9 nm and zeta potential of +17.1 mV, while Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy techniques showed characteristic peaks of the polymer and fluorescent tag, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) investigations confirmed the successful encapsulation of the magnetic core within the ca. 5-nm-thick polymeric shell. The MMIP-based electrochemical sensing platform achieved a limit of detection of 0.38 pM within a linear detection range of 0.38–380 pM, indicating high affinity (dissociation constant KD = 1.6 pM) for IL-6 protein in 50% diluted serum samples. Moreover, comparative investigations with the non-imprinted control polymer demonstrated an imprinting factor of 4, confirming high selectivity. With multifunctional features, including fluorescence, magnetic properties, and target responsiveness, the synthesized MMIPs hold significant potential for application in various sensor techniques as well as imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compound flooding, caused by the sequence/co-occurrence of flood drivers (i.e. river discharge and elevated sea level) can lead to devastating consequences for society. Weak and insufficient progress toward sustainable development and disaster risk reduction are likely to exacerbate the catastrophic impacts of these events on vulnerable communities. For this reason, it is indispensable to develop new perspectives on evaluating compound flooding dependence and communicating the associated risks to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to climate action, sustainable cities, and sustainable coastal communities. An indispensable first step for studies examining the dependence between these bivariate extremes is plotting the data in the variable space, i.e., visualizing a scatterplot, where each axis represents a variable of interest, then computing a form of correlation between them. This paper introduces the Angles method, based on Euclidean geometry of the so-called " subject space ," for visualizing the dependence structure of compound flooding drivers. Here, we evaluate, for the first time, the utility of this geometric space in computing and visualizing the dependence structure of compound flooding drivers. To assess the effectiveness of this method as a risk communication tool, we conducted a survey with a diverse group of end-users, including academic and non-academic respondents. The survey results provide insights into the perceptions of applicability of the Angles method and highlight its potential as an intuitive alternative to scatterplots in depicting the evolution of dependence in the non-stationary environment. This study emphasizes the importance of innovative visualization techniques in bridging the gap between scientific insights and practical applications, supporting more effective compound flood hazard communication in a warming climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the present research was to provide a model for enhancing children's social skills as a prerequisite for development. Methodology: The research method was qualitative, and the target population included managers of toy manufacturing companies, experienced specialists, experts in the toy industry, policymakers, and university professors. The sample size was selected purposefully until theoretical saturation from the aforementioned statistical population. In this phase, using an exploratory semi-structured interview method among the statistical population, the factors and components of children's social skills were identified. With the help of these factors and indicators, a grounded theory-based model for enhancing children's social skills was designed. Findings: According to the results and outputs obtained from the interviews, the factors affecting the model for enhancing children's social skills include causal conditions (the existing potential of games for development, financial and human resource issues in game design and production, deficiencies in policies and laws related to skill development in children, corporate culture and management attitudes, systematic and strategic planning for capability development), contextual conditions (management issues, infrastructure, economic conditions, corporate, legal and regulatory factors, corporate systems and processes), intervening conditions (knowledge and scientific factors, governmental and political factors, environmental factors, individual factors, corporate culture), strategies (allocating appropriate budgets, employing specialized personnel, formulating and implementing training and development programs, using modern technology in processes, providing development incentives, monitoring and evaluating improvement and development), and outcomes (increased skill development and growth, improved quality of services provided, family satisfaction and enhanced participation, increased productivity and improved performance, creating play opportunities, enhancing play skill capabilities). Conclusion: Therefore, studying these movements and providing opportunities for their nurturing and growth strengthens and even repairs mental abilities. What children learn at home or kindergarten, they think about and derive many meanings from these phenomena when repeated in the form of games and physical activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 outbreak has created a situation in which most businesses now think of survival as a return. With the end of this crisis, they will not necessarily return to the pre-crisis period. The present study designs a strategy model to cope with industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses. The meta-synthesis method was used to obtain a comprehensive combination of the factors of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses. To use this research method, Sandelowski, and Barroso’s seven-step method was used. The primary question of the present study is ”What are the criteria of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses?” Also, based on the previous studies, the present study performs an in-depth analysis of these factors in the international and national spaces and presents a classification of them. The research process is implemented as follows. The tests were categorized and coded using MAXQDA software. According to the literature and the background of the study and the results obtained, the factors of the strategy model to cope with the industrial crises caused by the outbreak of common viruses include organizational environmental factors, organizational crisis management, organizational resource management, organizational marketing, and customer-related strategies, organizational business model, organizational capabilities, organization human resource management, and organizational information management. In this regard, the category of environmental factors was ranked first, the category of organizational crisis management was ranked second, and the category of marketing was ranked third. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies have been conducted worldwide to investigate the level of adherence to personal protective measures or fear of COVID-19 among healthcare providers. However, few studies have examined the relationship between adherence to personal protective measures and fear of COVID-19. There is also a need for more information on this topic from Iran. This study investigated the relationship between adherence to personal protective measures against COVID-19 and fear of COVID-19 in the healthcare providers at Pastor Hospital of Bam, Iran, in 2022. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in August and September 2022 with 199 healthcare providers of Pastor Hospital of Bam, Iran. The study included medical, nursing, and paramedical staff at Pastor Hospital at the time of the study. Incomplete responses and failure to return the questionnaire to the researcher were exclusion criteria. The fear of COVID-19 scale and a checklist of personal protective measures were used to collect data. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation coefficient were used to analyze the data. Results: Of the 199 participants, 67.3% were female, and their mean age was 31 ± 4.55 years. The mean score for adherence to personal protective measures was 14.46 ± 3.39 (out of 23), and the mean score for fear of COVID-19 was 17.04 ± 4.58 (out of 35). Adherence to personal protective measures was higher among females than males (14.96 ± 2.99 vs. 13.43 ± 3.92, p = 0.003), in individuals who had attended infection control courses than in those who had not (15.57 ± 2.88 vs. 13.30 ± 3.50, p < 0.001), and in those working in intensive care units than those in other wards (p = 0.009). A positive correlation was found between fear of COVID-19 and adherence to personal protective measures (r = 0.16, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Healthcare providers demonstrated average levels of adherence to the personal protective measures and fear of COVID-19. Fear scores were also positively correlated with adherence scores. Specific workshops are necessary to familiarize all healthcare workers with personal protective measures against COVID-19 and universal precautions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gas chimneys and gas clouds in the subsurface media are known as one of the indications of possible petroleum reservoirs. Investigations of their properties are mostly initiated by seismic attribute interpretation on reflection seismic data. However, due to the complexity of their behavior and their difficult interpretation of seismic attributes, state-of-the-art methods are mostly required to be applied on the seismic data to prevent any misinterpretation. This is mostly done through attribute integration and multi-attribute analysis. This research presents a study on seismic attributes and integration on several 2D seismic reflection lines from the Gorgan Plain. It is located in Northeast Iran, on the western border of the region's well-known Kopeh-Dagh fold and thrust belt, and southeastern border of the South Caspian Basin. Hydrocarbon systems of the Gorgan Plain are poorly known and have not been widely studied, but according to preliminary investigations, this region has the potential for hydrocarbon occurrences. The aim of this study is to investigate presence and then delaminate the affected area of possible gas chimneys that are related to possible hydrocarbon reservoirs. Gas chimneys are assumed to be created due to the routes, mostly made by faults, that provoke light hydrocarbons components to migrate toward the surface. Preliminary interpretations of seismic reflection data in this study revealed that at least two gas chimneys occurred within the Gorgan Plain. As it was mentioned, since they are mostly due to the faulting above the hydrocarbon reservoir, gas chimney and heavy faulting might exhibit the same effects on the seismic data and then on its attributes, which are amplitude reduction and high damping on energies, distortion of the waveshape and seismic velocity reduction. Thus, care should be taken in separation of these two different geologic phenomena on seismic attributes. This also was done in this study through utilized integration of the most relevant seismic attributes such as Instantaneous-phase, Chaos, Variance and Remove-bias attributes. Based on the result of interpretations and according to the evolution of the basin and its structural reconstruction on other studies, gas chimneys of the Gorgan Plain, are in relation to the operation of fault zones in Cenozoic erathem in the region. These fault zones which cut the entire Cenozoic erathem, create the pathway for vertical migration of hydrocarbons through Cheleken formation (reservoir rock) and its overburden sedimentary sequences. In other words, operation of fault zones within Cenozoic sedimentary sequence, is the main reason for gas seepage in the Gorgan Plain, which is also shown in seismic data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, in developed countries, the research and development department of knowledge-based companies has played a very important role in the production of new and advanced technologies and ultimately the growth of the knowledgebased economy. One of the important reasons for the success of these companies some of which have become the world’s technology giants), conducting research and development activities based on global standards and having a high level of technological complexity. The current research, which is applied research, was conducted with the aim of identifying and classifying the effective factors in determining the level of technological complexity of research and development activities in knowledge-based companies. This research is a type of qualitative research that was conducted using the data-based method. The statistical population of the research was 20 research and development experts and specialists of Iranian knowledge-based companies. Data collection was done through a literature review and semi-structured interviews until theoretical saturation was achieved. By analyzing the data, the first 149 variables were extracted and during the three stages of open, central and selective coding, 98 influential factors were identified in determining the level of technological complexity of research and development activities, then, while identifying the central category, Identified factors were included in the main categories (including: causal, contextual, intervening conditions, strategies and consequences) and the research paradigm model was extracted. In the current research, during the coding process, the identified factors were classified into 6 categories. Achieving advanced technology was considered as a central category, which includes the variables of the novelty of activity, the creativity of activity, uncertainty of result, systematicity, transferability of results, speed of development, added value of technology, distinctiveness from competitors, and credibility. The result of technology is the potential of learning, and the extent of the application of technology Conclusion: Identifying related factors will provide the possibility for knowledge-based companies to help improve the level of complexity of the country’s own activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperdoped germanium (Ge) has demonstrated increased sub-bandgap absorption, offering potential applications in the short-wavelength-infrared spectrum (1.0–3.0 μm). This study employs ion implantation to introduce a high concentration of selenium (Se) into Ge and investigates the effects of post-implantation annealing techniques on the recovery of implantation damage and alterations in optical properties. We identify optimal conditions for two distinct annealing techniques: rapid thermal annealing (RTA) at a temperature of 650 °C and ultrafast laser heating (ULH) at a fluence of 6 mJ/cm2. The optimized ULH process outperforms the RTA method in preserving high doping profiles and achieving a fourfold increase in sub-bandgap absorption. However, RTA leads to regrowth of single crystalline Ge, while ULH most likely leads to polycrystalline Ge. The study offers valuable insights into the hyperdoping processes in Ge for the development of advanced optoelectronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Community Mental Health Centers (CMHCs) offer affordable mental health services in a less stigmatized environment, in a domiciliary setting. This study aimed to shed light on the epidemiological factors of patients attending CMHCs of Mashhad, their referral status, and treatment. Methods: This study was conducted over the medical records of patients seen by psychiatrists between January 2014 and December 2021 in Mashhad's CMHC, the northeast of Iran. A detailed questionnaire was used to extract data from medical records about the epidemiological characteristics, diagnosed mental illnesses, referral status, and how often they visited the psychiatrist. The association between epidemiological findings and patient referral (referral system or self-referral) as well as the association between epidemiological findings and the number of psychiatric revisits were examined using the Chi-square test. Results: Out of 662 patients, 472 (71%) were female and 190 (29%) were male, with an average age of 29 years. Among the 475 adult patients, 367 (77.3%) were married, with the majority being homemakers (56.4%). Major Depression Disorder (MDD) (32%) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) (18.3%) were the most prevalent mental health conditions among patients. The majority of patients (74.9%) were referred to the CMHC of Mashhad from Primary Healthcare centers (PHCs) and psychiatric hospitals. Furthermore, female gender and patients with lower level of education were associated with more referral through from referral system. Of note, 431 patients (65.1%) did not return for a second visit, the ratio of treatment dropout was higher for patients with lower education levels. Conclusions: Referral system should be more practical in Iran to enhance health services in CMHCs. It is recommended that PHCs undergo certain modifications to enhance the referral process for patients with mental health conditions, focusing on common mental disorders and individuals with low socioeconomic level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to assess the anti-leishmanial effects of curcumin nanoemulsion (CUR-NE) against Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. CUR-NE was successfully prepared via the spontaneous emulsification method. The in vitro effect of various concentrations of CUR-NE against L. major promastigotes was assessed using the flow cytometry method. In vivo experiments were carried out in BALB/c mice inoculated subcutaneously with 2 × 106 L. major promastigotes. Mice were treated with topical CUR-NE (2.5 mg/ml), intra-lesion injection of CUR-NE (2.5 mg/ml), topical CUR suspension (CUR-S, 2.5 mg/ml), topical NE without CUR (NE-no CUR), amphotericin B as the positive control group, and infected untreated mice as the negative control group. In vitro exposure of promastigotes to CUR-NE showed a dose-dependent anti-leishmanial effect, with a 67.52 ± 0.35% mortality rate at a concentration of 1250 µg/ml and an IC50 of 643.56 µg/ml. In vivo experiments showed that topical CUR-NE and CUR-S significantly decreased the mean lesion size in mice after four weeks from 4.73 ± 1.28 to 2.78 ± 1.28 mm and 4.45 ± 0.88 to 3.23 ± 0.59 mm, respectively (p = 0.001). Furthermore, CUR-NE significantly decreased the parasite load in treated mice compared with the negative control group (p = 0.001). Results from the current study demonstrated the promising activity of CUR-NE against L. major in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Moreover, CUR-NE was more efficient than CUR-S in healing and reducing parasite burden in mouse models. Future studies should aim to identify molecular mechanisms as well as the pharmacologic and pharmacokinetic aspects of CUR-NE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of three different pulse durations (100 fs, 1, and 10 ps) on the formation of laser hyperdoped black silicon with respect to surface morphology, sub‐bandgap absorptance, the sulfur concentration profile, and the effective minority carrier lifetime after Al2O3 surface passivation is investigated. The current flow behavior is compared through the hyperdoped layer by I–V measurements after hyperdoping with different pulse durations. For conditions that give the same absolute sub‐bandgap absorptance, an increase in pulse duration from 100 fs to 10 ps results in a shallower sulfur concentration profile. Findings are explained by an increasing ablation threshold from 0.19 J cm−2 for a pulse duration of 100 fs to 0.21 J cm−2 for 1 ps and 0.34 J cm−2 for 10 ps. The formation of an equally absorbing layer with a shallower doping profile results in a reduction in contact and/or sheet resistance. Despite the higher local sulfur concentration, the samples show no decrease in carrier lifetime measured by quasi‐steady‐state photoconductance decay on Al2O3 surface‐passivated samples. The investigation shows that longer pulses of up to 10 ps during laser hyperdoping of silicon result in advanced layer properties that promise to be beneficial in a potential device application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kurdish folk dance is popular among Kurds living in north-eastern Iran and is performed in a circle. In this study, we investigate the formal structure and symbolic meaning of these dances through fieldwork and library research. After identifying, observing, and recording the formal structure of the performance form and movements of dancers in each dance, we refer to the oral information of local people, veteran dancers, and local researchers to discover the symbolic meanings hidden within these movements. The information gathered and the analysis conducted indicate that Kurdish groups and circle dances in north-eastern Iran—in terms of structure, the form of performance, and meaning—are influenced by the purpose of migration of these people from their homeland during the Safavid period to defend and protect Iran's north-eastern borders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cats in Iran are definitive hosts for several zoonotic intestinal helminths, such as Toxocara cati, Dipylidium caninum, Toxascaris leonina, Physaloptera praeputialis and Diplopylidium nolleri. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminth infection in free‐roaming cats in southeast Iran, a region with a high free‐roaming cat population. Methods: From January 2018 to December 2021, 153 cadavers of free‐roaming cats from Southeast Iran were necropsied for intestinal helminth infections. The carcasses were dissected, and the digestive systems were removed. The esophagus, stomach, small intestine, caecum and colon were tightly ligated. All adult helminths were collected, preserved and identified. Results: The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth infections was 80.39% (123/153). Of the cats from Kerman, 73% (73/100) were infected with at least one helminth, including D. caninum 70% (70/100), T. leonina 8% (8/100) and P. praeputialis 17% (17/100). Concurrent infection with two helminth species was found in 16% (16/100) and of three species infections was found in 3% (3/100) of the cats. Of the cats from Zabol, 94.33% (50/53) were infected with at least one of the helminths, including D. caninum 69.81% (37/53), T. leonina 11.32% (6/53), P. praeputialis 37.73% (20/53) and T. cati 5.66% (3/53). Concurrent infection with two helminth species was found in 28.3% (15/53), and three species were found in 1.88% (1/53) of the cats. Helminth infections were more prevalent in older cats. There was no association between sex and infection rate. Conclusion: Based on the very high prevalence of zoonotic intestinal helminth infections in free‐roaming cats in southeast Iran, the potential public health risk emphasizes the need for intersectoral collaboration, particularly the provision of health and hygiene education to high‐risk populations, such as pre‐school and school‐age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to identify and analyze the key intervening factors that influence the digital marketing strategies of successful Iranian startups. It seeks to understand how these factors contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of digital marketing efforts in the startup ecosystem of Iran. Methodology: Employing a qualitative research design, the study conducted indepth interviews with 12 digital marketing experts from various successful Iranian startups. Grounded theory methodology was used to analyze the interview data, facilitating the identification of core themes and factors affecting digital marketing strategies. Findings: The research identified several critical factors impacting digital marketing strategies, including organizational culture, technological adoption, market dynamics, and regulatory environment. It highlights the importance of adaptability, strategic alignment, and continuous learning within startups to navigate the challenges and opportunities of digital marketing. Conclusion: The study concludes that for Iranian startups, a nuanced understanding of both internal and external factors is crucial for developing and implementing effective digital marketing strategies. It underscores the need for a strategic approach that incorporates flexibility, innovation, and customer engagement to achieve sustained growth and competitive advantage in the digital marketplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Use and performance criteria of photonic devices increase in various application areas such as information and communication, lighting, and photovoltaics. In many current and future photonic devices, surfaces of a semiconductor crystal are a weak part causing significant photo-electric losses and malfunctions in applications. These surface challenges, many of which arise from material defects at semiconductor surfaces, include signal attenuation in waveguides, light absorption in light emitting diodes, non-radiative recombination of carriers in solar cells, leakage (dark) current of photodiodes, and light reflection at solar cell interfaces for instance. To reduce harmful surface effects, the optical and electrical passivation of devices has been developed for several decades, especially with the methods of semiconductor technology. Because atomic scale control and knowledge of surface-related phenomena have become relevant to increase the performance of different devices, it might be useful to enhance the bridging of surface physics to photonics. Toward that target, we review some evolving research subjects with open questions and possible solutions, which hopefully provide example connecting points between photonic device passivation and surface physics. One question is related to the properties of the wet chemically cleaned semiconductor surfaces which are typically utilized in device manufacturing processes, but which appear to be different from crystalline surfaces studied in ultrahigh vacuum by physicists. In devices, a defective semiconductor surface often lies at an embedded interface formed by a thin metal or insulator film grown on the semiconductor crystal, which makes the measurements of its atomic and electronic structures difficult. To understand these interface properties, it is essential to combine quantum mechanical simulation methods. This review also covers metal-semiconductor interfaces which are included in most photonic devices to transmit electric carriers to the semiconductor structure. Low-resistive and passivated contacts with an ultrathin tunneling barrier are an emergent solution to control electrical losses in photonic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depression is one of the most common mental disorders that leads to anxiety, sleep disturbances, and suicidal thoughts. Due to the high cost of treatment and the reluctance of many patients to seek medical help, major depressive disorder (MDD) is becoming more prevalent. Therefore, alternative methods like smartphone applications can help prevent and improve depression symptoms. The present study aimed to determine the effect of the newly developed Yara smartphone application on anxiety, sleep quality, and suicidal thoughts in patients with MDD. Methods: This randomized controlled trial with a pretest-posttest design was conducted on Iranian patients with MDD in 2022. Sixty-four patients were recruited using convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two control and intervention groups. The intervention was conducted using the Yara smartphone application for three months. Data were collected using the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation (BSSI). Data were first entered into IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 22 (IBM Corp., Armonk, N.Y., USA) and then analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in the mean score of anxiety and sleep quality between the intervention and control groups before the intervention (p ≥.05). However, this difference in the mean score of anxiety and sleep quality was statistically significant in the two groups after the intervention (p <.05). The results showed no statistically significant difference in the mean score of suicidal thoughts between the two groups before and after the intervention (p ≥.05). The use of the Yara smartphone application had a significant positive effect on anxiety and sleep quality in depressed patients (p <.001). At the same time, it had no significant effect on suicidal thoughts (p ≥.05). Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of using the Yara smartphone application on reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality in depressed patients, this application can help alleviate the problems of depressed patients alongside existing treatment methods. Thus, this application is recommended for this group of patients in psychiatric clinics and departments. The Yara application's effectiveness was not approved on suicidal thoughts in this study so that further investigation would be necessary. Trial Registration: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trial approval code (IRCT# IRCT20131112015390N7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Balantidium coli, is a protozoa that can infect humans. Balantidium coli infection is mostly asymptomatic, but can cause of diarrhea, abdominal pain and sometimes perforated colon. There are only few previous reports regarding the infant balantidiasis and there is a little information about its clinical signs and treatment. In Islamic countries pig farming and consumption is prohibited and reservoir host is unknown. Methods: 1.5 years old boy showed sever anorexia and diarrhea. The affected infant was depressed. The evaluation of fecal examination revealed a large number of B. coli trophozoites and cysts leaded us to an uncommon presentation of B. coli in the infant. Results: A few reports of human balantidiasis from Iran seems quite extraordinary. Wild boars have been proposed the responsible for transmission of human infection in Iran. Conclusion: However, this report as the first report of infant balantidiasis in Iran supports the role of other sources and domestic or wild animals as reservoir hosts for B. coli in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, is characterized by amyloid-beta (Aß) plaque accumulation, neurofibrillary tangles, neuronal death, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Aim: We investigated the effects of treadmill exercise and intranasal insulin on spatial memory, blood glucose level, and Physical growth indicators including weight, head circumference, and tail length. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two male Wistar rats, aged 8 weeks were into 9 gtoups at random (control, Sham, Aβ, Aβ + EX, Aβ +PINS, Aβ + INST, Aβ + EX + PINS, Aβ + EX + INST, and Aβ + EX + PINS + INST). We discovered that rats receiving Aβ25-35 had impaired spatial memory, which was associated with weight loss, brain growth retardation, Tail Length, and elevated blood glucose levels. Data from each trial was statistically analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 22 software, Two-way ANOVA, and post-hoc analysis Tukey test. The cut-off for statistical significance was P≤0.05. Results: Our results show that the improvement of spatial memory due to the improvement of metabolism and growth indicators can be affected by pretreatment exercise and intranasal insulin. Also, exercise training and intranasal insulin improved spatial memory and prevented brain growth retardation, increased blood glucose, weight loss, and tail length in animals treated with Aβ25-35. Conclusion: Exercise can amplify the positive benefits of intranasal insulin treatment on memory. The results of our research showed that exercise and insulin can prevent brain growth retardation and prevent spatial memory disorders by improving glucose metabolismy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The notion of a (branchwise) commutative BI-algebra is presented, and some related properties are investigated. We show that the class of commutative BH-algebras is broader than the class of commutative BI-algebras. Moreover, we prove every singular BI-algebra is a BH-algebra. Also, we define the commutative ideals in BI-algebras and characterize the commutative BI-algebras in terms of commutative ideals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation, a type of the body's defense against injury or infection, causes many chronic disorders including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Therefore, discovering natural compounds with numerous biological activities for the management of inflammation is highly recommended. Out of natural compounds, peppermint and its main component, menthol, has been suggested to possess antiinflammatory potential. Four databases including Web of Sciences, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase were searched to identify articles about peppermint and its antiinflammatory effects up to March 2023. Out of 3805 records screened, 14 articles met the study criteria. The evidence reviewed here proposed peppermint as an antiinflammatory agent. Peppermint may suppress inflammation by activating the AMP‐activated protein kinase/unc‐51 like kinase 1/nuclear factor‐E2 associated factor 2 autophagy pathway, downregulating extracellular signal‐regulated kinase‐nuclear factor kappa B and mitogen activated protein kinases pathways, attenuating oxidative stress, suppressing the production of pro‐inflammatory mediators and nitric oxide, and inducing the production of antiinflammatory prostaglandins. Due to the promising antiinflammatory effects of peppermint and the lack of human studies in this regard, future randomized clinical trials examining the effects of peppermint on inflammation and its related maladies are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The important role of technological learning in the success of enterprises, especially in developing countries, is undeniable. Besides that, the complex nature of learning requires a comprehensive framework. So, developing countries need to have a learning strategy that can help them to increase learning through collaboration. In this research, a mixed method study, after reviewing the literature and previous research, the theoretical framework of the research was extracted and the protocol for the interview was formed. Then the dimensions and factors of technological learning were derived from interviews with managers and experts who were in the Iranian oil agreement writing and document reviewing teams. To form the framework presented in this study, it is necessary for developing countries to implement a transition from the control and prescription phase to the incentive and technology support phase. Motivational regulation can also lead to better results in industry. The results of this paper show that the realization of technological learning in the oil industry of developing countries depends on increasing the absorptive capacity of domestic enterprises as well as governments creating the necessary infrastructure. The results also show the dependency of technological learning on the cultural, social, and international relations of country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Purpose: Tourism is an interdisciplinary phenomenon closely related to many market areas, and the socio-economic development of this phenomenon can play an important role in the sustainable development sector. In Iran, more attention should be paid to developing the tourism industry, and perhaps there needs to be an applicable model for it. Moreover, from a sociological point of view, effectiveness studies have not only been done on the tourism model but also on the agency of economic-social development in it. This research aims to explain the socio-economic development model of the tourism industry of Iran's free zones from a sociological point of view. Design/methodology/approach: Through targeted sampling, the information of 15 people from the Chabahar Free Trade Zone Organization, tourism activists, officials related to tourism, the local community, and tourists were collected and analyzed through semi-structured interviews and using the Grounded theory method, the socio-economic development model of tourism industry in Iran's free zones was designed from a sociological point of view. Findings: The dimensions of the socio-economic development model of the tourism industry of Iran's free zones from a sociological point of view can be categorized into 69 i main categories in the form of causal conditions, contextual conditions, intervening conditions, strategies, and consequences. Conclusion: The correct application of this model can lead to the countrys development in the shadow of the development engine (tourism), creating stable employment, prosperity of small and local businesses, development of international tourism, and better income generation of tourism institutions. Originality/value: Providing new methods for the development of tourism in the free zone i from a sociological point of view, including the level of tourists' satisfaction with social services, the level of social support of tourism institutions for tourists, and the level of social participation of tourists, can be named as the originality of this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths, emphasizing the importance of timely diagnosis for effective treatment. Machine learning models have shown promise in assisting with GC diagnosis. Objectives: This study aimed at comparing the performance of various feature selection methods in identifying influential factors related to GC based on lifestyle using machine learning models. The ultimate goal was to enhance early detection and treatment of the disease. Methods: The data of patients from Shahid Ayatollah Modarres Hospital and Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital between 2013 and 2021 were utilized. Three feature selection methods (filter, wrapper, and filter-wrapper) were employed. The k-fold method validated each model. Four classifiers k Nearest Neighbor (kNN), Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and Gradient-Boosted Decision Trees (GBDT) compared their outputs based on feature selection methods. Results: The filter-wrapper method outperformed others, achieving an area under the ROC curve and Fl score of 95.8% and 94.7%, respectively. GBDT also performed well. The wrapper and RF classifiers achieved an area under the ROC curve and Fl scores of 95.7% and 93.6%, respectively, after the filter-wrapper method. Without feature selection methods, the RF classifier had an area under the ROC curve and F1 scores of 95.6% and 91.7%, respectively, surpassing other classifiers. Conclusions: This study suggests that appropriate feature selection methods for identifying influential factors related to GC based on lifestyle can facilitate early diagnosis and treatment. The filter-wrapper method demonstrated the best performance in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Compulsory treatment has decades of history in Iran; both before and after the Islamic Revolution, but there are many debates regarding its efficacy and effectiveness. Retention Rate is one of the best indices to estimate the efficacy of treatment. This study will compare Retention Rate among people referred from compulsory treatment centers and volunteer participants. Methods: This was a retrospective (historical) cohort study that has been conducted among people who were taking methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). The study sample was selected from the MMT centers that admit both referral patients from compulsory centers and voluntary patients. All newly admitted patients from March 2017 to March 2018 were enrolled and followed up until March 2019. Results: A total of 105 participants were recruited for the study. All were males with a mean age of 36.6 ± 7.9 years. Fifty-six percent of individuals were referred from compulsory residential centers. The total one-year retention rate of participants in this study was 15.84%. The one-year retention rate for the patients referred from compulsory residential centers and the non-referred patients was 12.28 and 20.45%, respectively (value of p = 0.128). Among the other studied factors, only marital status was significantly associated with MMT retention (p = 0.023). Conclusion: Although the average treatment adherence time for non-referred patients was about 60 days higher than those referred from compulsory residential centers, this study found no significant differences in retention days and a one- year retention rate. Further studies with larger sample sizes and longer follow-ups are needed to explore the efficacy of compulsory treatment methods in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study was designed to explore the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (IMP-S). Method: This cross-sectional and psychometric study was performed on a sample of 491 parents in Iran who had at least one child in their home and were selected using the convenient sampling method. The Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (IMP-S), Mindful Attention Awareness Scale, Parental Authority Questionnaire, and the Forms of Self- Criticizing/Attacking & Self-Reassuring Scale were conducted on the sample. The validity of the IMP-S was assessed by factor analysis and Pearson correlation coefficients, while reliability was calculated by Cronbach's alpha. Results: At first, the whole data was analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis based on the original English version of the IMP-S. The proposed hypothesized factor solution was not good enough (CMIN/DF = 7.06. RSMEA = 0.081, CFI = 0.732, SRMR = 0.0860). Exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis led to a three-factor structure for the 28 items, which included mindfulness toward the child, mindfulness about oneself and emotional awareness of parenting. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that the data was more fitted with this new three-factor solution (CMIN/DF = 2.06, CFI = 0.82, NFI = 0.715, RMSEA = 0.065, SRMR = 0.0795). The IMP-S was found to have a positive correlation with trait mindfulness, reassured self, and authoritative parenting style, whereas this association for the IMP-S and hatred self, inadequate self, and authoritarian parenting style was negative. The reliability of the whole scale was 0.84 and it was 0.77, 0.83, and 0.68 for the first, second, and third subscales, respectively. Conclusion: It seems that the Persian version of the IMP-S with three factors can better evaluate mindful parenting among the Iranian population. In contrast to people from other countries, Iranian people perceive mindfulness toward themselves and their children during parenting practice as two distinct issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the relationship of the morphology and size of the sella turcica (ST) with dental anomalies and skeletal malocclusions. This cross-sectional study was conducted on records of fixed orthodontic patients treated between 2013 and 2022. Cephalometric analysis was performed to determine the anteroposterior and vertical skeletal patterns. Preoperative panoramic radiographs and lateral cephalograms, intraoral photographs, and primary dental casts of patients were used to detect dental anomalies. Gender, sagittal and vertical skeletal patterns, dental anomalies, and dimensions (length, depth, and diameter), and morphology of the ST were all recorded according to the lateral cephalograms of patients. Data were analyzed using independent t-test, one-way and two-way ANOVA, Chi-square test, and log rank test (alpha = 0.05). The depth and diameter of the ST had no significant correlation with gender (p > 0.05); however, the length of the ST was significantly longer in males than females (p < 0.05). The morphology of the ST had a significant correlation with gender (p < 0.05). The ST morphology had a significant correlation with the anteroposterior skeletal pattern, microdontia, and tooth impaction as well (p < 0.05). The present results revealed a significant correlation of the ST morphology with the anteroposterior skeletal pattern, microdontia, and tooth impaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, to enhance the searching ability, convergence velocity, computational efficiency, and global performance of the standard Teaching–Learning-Based Optimization (TLBO) algorithm, two modified TLBO algorithms designated as, TLBO-M1 and TLBO-M2, are developed. The standard and the two proposed TLBO algorithms are applied to solve inverse radiative boundary design problems in two-dimensional radiant furnaces with grey absorbing and emitting media. The goal of the inverse design problem is to find the best distribution of heat flux over the heater surface of the radiant enclosure which produces the desired temperature and heat flux distributions over the design surface. Radiation is considered the prevailing mode of heat transfer and thus the media inside the enclosure is at radiative equilibrium. Radiative heat transfer within the enclosure is modelled using the radiative transfer equation and is solved using the discrete ordinates method (DOM). To evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms, a validation problem and two inverse design problems with regular and irregular enclosures are considered. The results demonstrate that the TLBO-M1 algorithm is more effective and robust compared to the standard TLBO and TLBO-M2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The emergence of sleep disturbances in response to major stressful events has been previously documented. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an objective marker that provides insight into autonomic nervous system dynamics. The aim of the present study was to examine the preliminary effectiveness of a one-shot session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) for frontline healthcare providers with acute insomnia. Methods: This study was conducted from 2020 to 2021 on healthcare workers with insomnia. The healthcare workers were randomly allocated to receive either one-shot cognitive behavioral therapy or routine care. Insomnia severity index (ISI) and heart rate variability were assessed before and 1 month after the interventions. Results: Among 57 patients (n = 31 in the intervention group and n = 26 in the control group), mean (± SD) age of both groups were 34.6 (± 9.5) and 36.6 (± 6.9), respectively. Most participants in both groups were female (81% and 65% in the intervention and control groups, respectively; p-value = 0.10). Insomnia severity index score decreased in the intervention group from 13.3 to 6.7 (p < 0.001). The change before and after the intervention was significant between the two groups for HF-normalized unit (high-frequency power band [0.15–0.40 Hz] in the normalized unit) and LF/HF (the ratio of low frequency to high frequency). HF-normalized unit increased in the intervention group (35.8 ± 21.5 vs. 45.6 ± 19.8 before and after the intervention, respectively), and decreased in the control group (43.9 ± 16.5 vs. 39.8 ± 18.5, before and after the intervention, respectively). Conclusion: The findings suggest that a single-shot session of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is effective in managing acute insomnia symptoms in healthcare workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Acute leukemia is the most common type of malignancy in children, and no major environmental risk factors have been identified relating to its pathogenesis. This study has been conducted with the aim for identifying risk factors associated with this disease. Methods: This study was conducted in 2016–2020 among children aged <15 years residing in Isfahan Province, Iran. Children with newly diagnosed Acute lymphoblastic leukemia, including Acute myeloid leukemia (ALL and AML) were considered a case group. The control group was selected among children hospitalized in orthopedic and surgery wards in the same region. Demographic data, parental occupational exposures and educational level, maternal obstetric history, type of feeding during infancy and parental smoking habits, exposure to pesticides, and hydrocarbons besides dietary habits (using a food frequency questionnaire) were evaluated. Results: Overall, 497 children (195 cases and 302 controls) completed the survey. In the initial analysis, there was no significant difference between case and control groups about type of milk feeding (P = 0.34) or parental age (P = 0.56); however, an association between mothers’ education and increased risk for ALL was observed (P = 0.02). Conclusions: The results of this study can be helpful in better understanding the environmental risk factors involved in the incidence of acute leukemia. Future publications based on the analysis of the database created in the present study can lead to recognizing these factors. In addition, evaluating the effect of these factors on treatment outcomes is an important step in reducing the burden of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, the modeling of a distribution network problem of agricultural products with high perishability under uncertainty is discussed. The designed model has three levels of suppliers, distribution centers, and retailers, in which suppliers can directly or indirectly meet retailers' demand. Due to agricultural product distribution network unpredictability, robust possibilistic optimization (RPO) has been applied. This model is innovative and takes uncertainty into account. The findings show that uncertainty increases network demand. Supply, distribution, maintenance, and order expenses have grown. By examining the rate of perishability of agricultural products, it has been revealed that, with the growth of this rate, the costs have increased according to the ordering and spoilage of the products. The genetic algorithm (GA), whale optimization algorithm (WOA), and arithmetic optimization algorithm (AOA) have also been applied to analyze the model. The calculations on 10 sample problems in larger sizes show that the AOA has the best performance in achieving near-optimal solutions. Conversely, the WOA has the lowest computing time compared to other meta-heuristic algorithms. Additionally, the statistical test results show no significant difference between the average calculation time and the objective function among the applied algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is associated with long-term hospitalization and amputation. Antibiotic resistance has made the infection eradication more difficult. Hence, seeking alternative therapies such as phage therapy seems necessary. Bacteriophages are viruses targeting specific bacterial species. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) is among causative agents of the DFU. In this study, the therapeutic effects of single phage and phage cocktail were investigated against multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumonia isolated from DFU. Bacteriophages were isolated from animal feces and sewage samples, and were enriched and propagated using K. pneumoniae as the host. Thirty K. pneumoniae clinical isolates were collected from hospitalized patients with DFU. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern was determined using agar disk diffusion test. The phages' morphological traits were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The killing effect of isolated phages was assessed using plaque assay. Four phage types were isolated and recognized including KP1, KP2, KP3, and KP4. The bacterial rapid regrowth was observed following each single phage-host interaction, but not phage cocktail due to the evolution of mutant strains. Phage cocktail demonstrated significantly higher antibacterial activity than each single phage (p < 0.05) without any bacterial regrowth. The employment of phage cocktail was promising for the eradication of MDR-K. pneumoniae isolates. The development of phage therapy in particular, phage cocktail is promising as an efficient approach to eradicate MDR-K. pneumoniae isolated from DFU. The application of a specific phage cocktail can be investigated to try and achieve the eradication of various infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wellbore stability is an important issue in the drilling operation. Wellbore instability can interrupt the drilling and waste lots of time and money. The drilling mud is used to keep up the stability of the wellbore. Therefore, selecting the proper mud weight is an important issue in the drilling industry. The goal of this research is presenting an efficient mud weight estimator using deep learning techniques. To obtain this goal, a relatively big dataset (contained more than half-million samples) has been compiled from 116 wells of two fields in the United Kingdom and Norway. Our main contributions are assembling this large dataset, and applying the deep learning techniques to obtain efficient mud weight estimators. Our estimator is an artificial neural network with five hidden layers and 256 nodes in each layer that is able to estimate the mud weight for new wells and depths with the mean absolute error (MAE) of less than ±0.04 pound per gallon (ppg). In various experiments, the presented model has been challenged and the real-world conditions have been simulated. The results have shown that our model can be reliable and efficient in the real world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Standard information about the physical, mental, and social status of older people is needed to promote their health. The aim of this study was to determine the physical, mental and social health status of older people in Mazandaran, taking into account the specific climatic conditions and public culture, and to adapt it to the indicators of the "Aging and Health Program" of the World Health Organization (WHO) to localize and better use this index. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 390 elderly aged =65 years in Mazandaran were selected by the quota method. Their physical, mental, and social health status and demographic information were collected using a questionnaire (a 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36)) and face-to-face interviews. Physical and mental health status was classified into five levels based on the score obtained. The data were analyzed using SPSS 26. Results: The average age of the elderly was 71.48 years. In terms of physical performance, 40.7% of the elderly were below and 30.8% above the average of international standards. In terms of mental health, 18.9 and 41.5% of the elderly were below and above the average, respectively, and 17 and 51.8% of the elderly had low and high social performance, respectively. The Pearson correlation test showed a significant relationship between physical health (0.176), mental health (0.16), and social health (0.178) and quality of life at the 0.01 level. Conclusion: The physical, mental and social health status of the elderly in Mazandaran is far from the indicators of health in old age established by WHO, and their condition is unfavorable (at least in terms of physical and mental health). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the blast furnace process is the dominant ironmaking route to supply the feedstocks for steelmaking, a number of alternative ironmaking technologies such as the direct reduction process have grown rapidly in recent decades. This development is largely in response to the increasingly stringent emission control policies, rising costs of energy, and the increasing costs and environmental effects of coke usage. In direct reduction processes, iron oxides are reduced to iron at a temperature below its melting point. More than 79% of direct reduced iron is produced by Midrex and Energiron, both of which use gas‐based shaft furnaces. A proper understanding of these processes is required to improve the performance and operation of the plants based on them. Therefore, herein, it is aimed to provide a comprehensive review of research that is carried out over the last several decades to examine the effects of the important phenomena on the performance of the gas‐based shaft furnaces. The review is divided into experimental and mathematical investigations. The main features, limitations, and shortcomings of each study are discussed. Finally, the review concludes with current knowledge gaps and suggestions for further research in this thriving sector of the steel industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cephalopina titillator is one of the most important causative agents of nasal myiasis in camels. This study aimed to explore the prevalence, histopathological effects, and molecular identification of C. titillator infestation in camels of Kerman province, South-Eastern Iran, between 2019 and 2021. The larvae were placed in 10% formalin for histopathological evaluation and species identification. Pieces of larval abdominal segments of C. titillator were selected for extraction of DNA. Partial mitochondrial CO1 genes were sequenced for final analysis. Out of the 870 camels examined, 339 (38.9%) were infested with larval stages of C. titillator. There was a significant difference between age and infection rate (P = 0.001), while no association between males and females (P = 0.074) was found. The infection rate was significantly higher in the winter (P < 0.001) than in the other seasons. In this study, different lesions depending on duration, locations, and the depth of larval adhesion notably degeneration changes, necrosis, and ulceration were observed. Also, in chronic cases, granulation tissue reactions were organized. Cephalopina titillator was confirmed by PCR sequencing analysis using mitochondrial CO1 region. A 582 bp nucleotide sequence was deposited in GenBank under the MW136151 accession number. Phylogenetic analysis of CO1 produced a single uniform sister clade to MZ209004 and MW167083 records from China and Iraq, respectively. The high prevalence of C. titillator in camels in this region and other areas of Iran declares that the country is in an endemic status and displays the existence of the potential risk for camels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of acute iron poisoning among patients in a referral poison control center located in Tehran. It also studied their clinical profile, treatment, and outcome. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on acute iron poisoned patients, who were admitted to the poison center from March 21, 2015 to March 19, 2020. Some background variables such as age, gender, ingested dose, time interval between onset of poisoning to hospital admission, the need for antidote, clinical presentations, paraclinical findings and outcome of poisoning were extracted from patients' medical records. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS software. Results: A total of 74 patients with acute iron poisoning with a mean age of 16.85 ± 11.97 years included in this study. Sixty-one (82.4%) patients were female and the most affected age group was 19-30 years (35.1%). The ingestion dose median in patients under 18 years old was 2450 (IQR=5600, Min= 120, Max= 30000) mg and in the group over 18 years old it was 9000 (IQR= 11125, Min= 600, Max= 30000) mg. Vomiting (66.2%) and lethargy (24.3%) were the most common clinical presentations on admission. Metabolic acidosis was the most common abnormality in blood gas analysis (43.2%). Positive findings in abdominal radiography have been observed in 4 (5.4%) cases. The serum iron concentration in the patients were 259.54 ± 153.96 µg/dL. Moreover, mortality was reported in one case (1.3%). There was a significant difference between the age of the patients whom received deferoxamine and more patients under 18 years of age received the antidotal therapy (p=0.003). Conclusion: The present study showed a low mortality rate among the acute iron poisoning patients. From this view, it can be concluded that adults have lower mortality rates than children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Coping strategies with life changes are different depending on various situations. The individuals' quality of life (QOL) is, to some extent, influenced by the way they deal with life events. The present study aimed to determine the relationship between coping strategies and QOL of women with breast cancer. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on 35 women with recently diagnosed breast cancer in Baqiyatallah Hospital, Tehran, Iran, in 2021-2022. Data were collected using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the Coping Operations Preference Enquiry (COPE). This study used SPSS statistical software to analyze the data. A Pearson correlation coefficient test was used to examine the relationship between variables. Results: Generally, the average QOL was approximately 58 to 60 and 57 to 63 at the beginning of study and the 3-month follow-up, respectively. There was a significant and positive relationship between active coping strategies and high QOL in all areas of the QOL at the beginning of treatment and 3-month follow-up (Pearson correlation coefficient > 0.70, P < 0.01). There was a significant relationship between younger age, higher education, marital status, lower disease stage, non-use of chemotherapy, and better QOL at the beginning of treatment and 3-month follow-up (P < 0.05). Conclusion: The QOL of women suffering from breast cancer is not only related to coping strategies but also to the demographic variables, such as age, disease stage, marital status, the type of treatment, and education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To measure caring behaviors, it is necessary to have an instrument adapted based on the contextual culture. This study aimed to translate Caring Behaviors Inventory-24 (CBI-24) into Persian and determine its psychometric properties. Methods: This is a methodological study conducted to translate and then psychometrically test The CBI-24. The forward–backward translation was conducted using the World Health Organization (WHO) model and Wild et al. (2005) approach. The face, content, and construct validity of the inventory were assessed using cognitive interviews (10 nurses and 10 patients), expert panel deliberations (10 experts), and the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (300 nurses and 300 patients), respectively. The reliability was determined using the internal consistency (300 nurses and 300 patients) and test–retest method (30 nurses and 30 patients). Results: After translating the CBI-24 and combining its items, the forward translation was initially conducted and the final backward translation was then sent to the developer for confirmation. The final version of the inventory was prepared after the completion of cognitive interviews. The content validity index of all items was reported to be more than 0.8 and good. The Cohen's kappa coefficient of all items was also shown to be higher than 0.74 and excellent. The factor loading of all items except item 19 was above 0.3. Item 19 was removed since it caused the alpha value of the respectfulness dimension to be 0.32. The Cronbach's alpha and the correlation coefficient of the whole inventory were calculated to be 0.95 and 0.88, respectively. Conclusion: The Persian version of CBI-24 can be a suitable tool for measuring caring behaviors among patients and nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Research indicates that the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is high and it reduces patient's Quality of Life (QoL). Nowadays, in addition to reducing the symptoms of MDD, emphasis is on the concept of QoL as the purpose of treating these patients. However, we still do not know what these patient's attitudes and perceptions are about QoL. This study aims to clarify the Iranian patient's attitudes and perceptions of QoL's meaning through a qualitative paradigm. Results: During the data analysis, "Agitation factors", "Destructive effects", and "Gratifications" were developed as three main themes with 13 main categories, 39 sub-categories, and 879 codes. According to the findings the main priority of patients with MDD was Agitation factors, which plays a remarkable role in the concept of QoL. Conclusions: MDD leads to deterioration in the QoL of these individuals in different parts. The novelty of this study leads to the creation of a deep and realistic attitude in national and global nurses towards the QoL of majorly depressed patients in order to remove the aggravating factors of the disorder and create a pleasant life based on the adequate and specialized understanding of the consequences of this disorder according to the preferences of patients and provide a suitable quality of life for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives/Purposes. This study compared one-step and two-step impression techniques. Methods. 12 impressions were made of a resin maxillary model (second premolar and second molar) with two prepared abutment teeth using vinyl polysiloxane (VPS); the margin of the second premolar was 0.5 mm subgingivally; and the margin of the second molar tooth was at the level of the gingiva. Impressions were made using two techniques: one-step and two-step putty/light materials. A three-unit metal framework was fabricated on the master model using the computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technique. The vertical marginal misfit was evaluated in the buccal, lingual, and mesial and distal surfaces of the abutments on the gypsum casts using a light microscope. Data were analyzed using the independent t-test (α < 0.05). Results. The results showed significantly lower vertical marginal misfit in all six areas evaluated around the two abutments in the two-step impression technique compared with the corresponding values in the one-step technique. Conclusion. Vertical marginal misfit in the two-step technique with a preliminary putty impression was significantly lower than in the one-step putty/light-body technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common types of cancer in the world and has a 5‐year survival rate of ~20%. Immunotherapies have shown promising results leading to durable responses, however, they are only effective for a subset of patients. To determine the best therapeutic approach, a thorough and in‐depth profiling of the tumour microenvironment (TME) is required. The TME is a complex network of cell types that form an interconnected network, promoting tumour cell initiation, growth and dissemination. The stroma, immune cells and endothelial cells that comprise the TME generate a plethora of cytotoxic or cytoprotective signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss immunotherapeutic targets in NSCLC tumours and how the TME may influence patients' response to immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions require optimizing the structure of energy production as the main factor in the emission of pollutants in Iran's electricity industry. Over the past years, environmental scientists have proposed carbon tax (CT) and carbon emission trading (CET) as policy tools to reduce pollutant emissions in developed and developing economies. Due to poor access to environmental data and the lack of effective pollution control laws and policies in Iran, efforts to realize the effectiveness of these policies in Iran have been inadequate. The present paper establishes a system dynamics model with feedback to fill these gaps in analyzing the effects of the CT and CET schemes. The following eight scenarios were considered and examined: a baseline scenario (BAU scenario), an emission tax scenario, an emission trading mechanism scenario, an energy supply scenario (to increase electricity generation), an emission tax scenario with investment in technology research and development (to increase energy efficiency), a tax scenario on emissions along with increasing energy supply, the scenario of emission trading mechanism with investment in technology research and development, and the scenario of emission trading mechanism with increasing energy supply. The results showed that while both CT and CET policy groups can be effective in reducing carbon emissions in thermal power plants, in the long run, using price tools to maintain energy security reduces the efficiency of policies greatly. Nevertheless, the effectiveness of CT policy in reducing emissions is higher. Also, despite the allocation of revenue from the application of scenarios to the development of renewable energy, the development of this sector cannot compensate for the reduction in the supply of thermal power plants following the implementation of these policies. As a result, other supportive policies are necessary for the further and faster development of the renewable sector and optimizing the energy structure with an emission reduction approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deep learning methods use neural networks that try to discover patterns within the image without human intervention and to learn that. One of the most popular algorithms in this field is the convolutional neural network algorithm. This algorithm uses several layers to receive the input image and process it so that the class label can be found. These layers are mostly based on Neural Networks. This research aims to provide a model of neural-fuzzy, based on convolutional neural network algorithm. In this research, we use the positive advantages of deep learning methods and fuzzy inference systems and present a new model of their application to Classify authorized and unauthorized Persons. For this purpose, we designed new neural-fuzzy layers to pass the image through them and finally classify each image. The results of the implementation of the above model show the efficiency and success of this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Leishmaniasis is still a neglected tropical disease that can endanger more than 350 million people among 98 countries. Leishmania can survive in fibroblasts as latent inactive forms. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) in cell culture for tracking the labeled Leishmania major in fibroblasts. Methods. Dextran-coated SPIONs were used for labeling L. major in co-culture of fibroblasts with the parasite. To quantify and trace SPION-labeled Leishmania, Prussian blue staining was undertaken. Fibroblast characterization was undertaken by real time polymerase chain reaction. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used for confirming the entry of the labeled L. major to the cytoplasm and the nucleus of the fibroblast. Results. Fibroblasts were spindle-shaped and adherent to culture flasks. Promastigotes were with thin elongated lance-like morphology with an anterior kinetoplast and an emergent free flagellum. Prussian blue staining revealed that internalized SPIONs were localized within cytoplasm and nucleus of the fibroblasts after 24 hours of culture. Prussian blue staining successfully showed the presence of iron (stained blue) in labeled L. major within the fibroblasts. This finding was confirmed by TEM, and labeled L. major was detected in the fibroblast cytoplasm and nucleus too. Conclusion. We can conclude that SPIONs are safe, inexpensive, easy to use, and accurate, and a fast method to label Leishmania parasite in cells that the parasite can be latent, such as fibroblasts. These findings can open a new window in diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis and can be added to the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The supply chains of medical equipment and necessities in healthcare centers are highly complex, diverse, and dynamic, making optimal selection and purchase a specialized and challenging task. This research aimed to design an intelligent decision support system that could aid the expertise process of purchasing medical supplies. Methods: In this developmental-applied and descriptive-survey study, we used artificial intelligence, fuzzy sets, and neural networks as well as MATLAB software to design a model that could simulate the decision-making process of experts in the purchase of medical supplies by predicting the score of medical supplies after obtaining information. The required data was extracted from the website of the General Directorate of Medical Equipment and Knowledge of Specialists in 2022. Results: The results showed that a three-layer perceptron neural network, with a mean square error of 0.0011 and an overall correlation of 0.97, could be used as a suitable decision aid in the evaluation and selection of medical supplies. Conclusion: The use of an intelligent decision support system can greatly aid the expertise process of purchasing medical supplies, thus helping the healthcare system to preserve resources and improve the quality of healthcare services. The high speed and accuracy of processing data by using neural networks, one of the most effective methods for learning and generalizing, can assist experts in purchasing medical supplies and lead to optimal decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]