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Abstract Background Self-reported substance use is more likely to be influenced by underreporting bias compared to the biological markers. Underreporting bias or validity of self-reported substance use depends on the study population and cannot be generalized to the entire population. This study aimed to compare the validity of self-reported substance use between research setting and primary health care setting from the same source population. Methods and materials The population in this study included from Rafsanjan Youth Cohort Study (RYCS) and from primary care health centers. The sample from RYCS is made up 607 participants, 113 (18.62%) women and 494 (81.38%) men and sample from PHC centers is made up 522 individuals including 252 (48.28%) women and 270 (51.72%) men. We compared two groups in respect of prevalence estimates based on self-reported substance use and urine test. Then for evaluating validity of self-reported substance use in both group, the results of reference standard, urine tests, were compared with the results of self-reported drug use using measures of concordance. Results The prevalence of substance use based on urine test was significantly higher in both settings compared to self-reported substance use over the past 72 h. The sensitivity of self-report substance use over the past 72 h in research setting was 39.4, 20, 10% and zero for opium, methadone, cannabis and amphetamine, respectively and in primary health care setting was 50, 20.7, 12.5% and zero for opium, methadone, cannabis and amphetamine, respectively. The level of agreement between self-reported substance use over the past 72 h and urine test indicated fair and moderate agreement for opium in both research and primary health care settings, respectively and also slight agreement for methadone and cannabis in both settings were reported. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of self-reported substance use. For all substances, the level of agreement increased with longer recall periods. The specificity of self-report for all substances in both groups was more than 99%. Conclusion Individuals in primary health care setting were more likely to self-reported substance use than in research setting, but setting did not have a statistically significant effect in terms of self-reported substance use. Programs that rely on self-reported substance use may not estimate the exact prevalence of substance use in both research and primary health care settings, especially for substances that have a higher social stigma. Therefore, it is recommended that self-report and biological indicators be used for more accurate evaluation in substance use studies. It is also suggested that future epidemiological studies be performed to reduce bias of social desirability and find a method providing the highest level of privacy.

One of the clearest manifestations of climate change is greater near-surface warming of the high latitudes than the low or middle latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. This so-called Arctic amplification (AA) is evident in observations over recent decades. This disproportionate temperature rise is expected to influence the large-scale circulation, perhaps with far-reaching effects. The North/South temperature gradient is an important driver of the polar jet stream, thus as rapid Arctic warming continues, one anticipated effect is a slowing of upper-level zonal winds. It has been hypothesized that these weakened winds would cause the path of the jet stream to become more meandering, leading to slower Eastward progression of ridges and troughs, which increases the likelihood of persistent weather patterns and consequently extreme events.In the present research, we have attempted to detect the impacts of change atmospheric circulations under this hypothesis on variations of temperature in Iran and develops a method to assess the estimation of these changes in the studied area.

Introdution: Ageing is associated with systemic inflammation. MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) is a critical negative regulator of inflammation and its level was found to decrease with ageing. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of regular brisk walking on blood circulating levels of miR-146a and plasma levels of Interlukine-6 (IL-6) in sedentary elderly women. Methods: In this quasi-experimental study, 20 aged women (63.5±3.9 years) were randomly allocated to the endurance training (n=10), and control groups (n=10). Training group (TG) walked at 70-75% maximum heart rate reserve (HRRmax), three times a week for twelve weeks. Control group remained untrained during the study period. Blood samples were collected before and 72 hours after the last session of endurance training for measuring concentration of miR-146a and IL-6. Independent T-test, Paired T-test, Mann Whitney, and Wilcoxon were used after the data analysis base on normalization. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software version 24 and the significant level was set at P≤0.05. Results: The results revealed that the levels of miR-146a increased (P=0.027) and the levels of IL-6 decreased (P=0.001) significantly in response to the endurance training protocol, and these changes were associated with a decrease in body mass index (BMI) (P=0.002). Conclusion: According to the result of the present study, brisk walking training may be considered as an effective training mode for helping to decrease the blood inflammatory factors. The findings also suggest that microRNAs can be improved, after regular walking, in old adult

In this study, the effects of nano zinc oxide on the physical and mechanical properties of wood-polyethylene composites were investigated. The composites containing 0, 1, 2 and 4 wt% zinc oxide nanoparticles were manufactured using an internal mixer and a laboratory press and then the flexural and tensile properties, hardness, water absorption and thickness swelling of the samples were evaluated. The obtained results showed that using 2 and 4 percent nano zinc oxide significantly reduced the flexural strength, flexural modulus and tensile strength. The results also revealed that the hardness and tensile modulus of composites were negatively affected by loading 4 percent nano zinc oxide. The evaluation of physical properties showed that incorporating nano zinc oxide (2 and 4 %) increased thickness swelling. In the case of water absorption, just 4 percent nano zinc oxide increased the values.

Voices from Iran is authored by Mahnaz Kousha, an Iranian college professor who lectures on issues relating to women in the Middle East at Macalester College in Minnesota. The 10-chapter work provides a qualitative study, featuring 15 Iranian women, that addresses the position of women in Iran. Participants ranged in age from from 38 to 55 and lived in the capital city of Tehran from 1995 to 1997. These women came from low- to high-income families, had educational backgrounds that range from high school diplomas to college/university degrees, and possessed employment experience in Iran. Even though the work can be considered a valuable piece in that it serves as a medium through which the voices of Iranian women can be heard, it does not necessarily reflect the experiences of all women due to the limitation of the research itself (region, language, religion). In addition, some of Kousha’s conclusions are far reaching and can be rendered debatable. For instance, the issue of why educated mothers still do not treat their daughters fairly and seem unable to help them question and resist their social status is not addressed. The author also fails to provide an in-depth analysis regarding the impact of family class and culture in shaping the subjectivities of their daughters. As well, the social and cultural impact of the Islamic revolution on women’s rights in Iran is not discussed. Moreover, a closing summary or assessment is not made at the end of the work. The book’s first three chapters include an introduction, a methodology chapter, and an introduction to the research participants. The analysis of the data begins from chapters 4 and 5, where the different relationships between mothers and daughters are discussed. Some of the participants’ experiences involve mothers who openly shared their problems and concerns with them such as the isolation and powerlessness that they have with their husbands or mothers-in-law. Others complained that their mothers discriminated against them while giving their brothers preferential treatment. Of interest is the fact that the author does not explore the underlying factors that may have contributed to this problematic behavior such as parental education, socioeconomic status, local culture, and religious issues. In chapter 6, Kousha analyzes the relationship between fathers and daughters. The father is seen as the first man in his daughter’s life, providing ...

Aim: The study aimed to determine in vitro pharmacological effects of modified Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs)., Background: AgNPs are considered antimicrobial agents. However, the cytotoxicity of chemically synthesized AgNPs (cAgNPs) has raised challenges that limit their use., Objective: The purpose of the study was to examine the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects of AgNPs synthesized using Cirsium congestum extract modified by chitosan/alginate AgNPS (Ch/ALG-gAgNPs)., Methods: Nanoparticles were characterized using TEM, DLS, XRD, and FTIR. Resistant strains of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) were used for the antimicrobial analysis of Ch/ALG-gAgNPs using disc diffusion and microdilution methods. The effects of NPs on cell viability and apoptosis in L929 normal cells were determined using MTT assay and annexin/PI staining, respectively., Results: Physicochemical characterizations confirmed Ch/ALG-gAgNPs to be spherical and uniformly dispersed, and their size ranged from 50 to 500 nm. Ch/ALG-gAgNPs inhibited the growth of microbial strains in a dose-dependent manner. The antibacterial effect of Ch/ALG-gAgNPs was significantly higher than cAgNPs. The Ch/ALG-gAgNPs showed little cytotoxicity against normal cells at concentrations less than 50 μg/ml. Cytotoxicity effects of Ch/ALG-gAgNP were less than cAgNPs. Flow cytometry and real-time PCR results showed a decrease in apoptosis percentage and BAX marker in the presence of Ch/ALG-gAgNPs relative to when the cell was treated with cAgNPs., Conclusion: Current findings introduce novel gAgNPs modified with chitosan/alginate for use in medicine., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)