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The purpose of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying hepatoprotective effect of Chlorella vulgaris extract (CVE). The administration of both doses of CVE attenuated liver damage and decreased serum markers and oxidative stress parameters dramatically. Also, CVE treatment downregulated hepatic gene expression of collagen type1 (Col1a1), fibronectin (Fn1), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (Tgfb1), transforming growth factor-beta receptor 2 (Tgfbr2) and SMAD family member 3 (Smad3) significantly. Hepatic level of TGF-β1 protein was decreased by CVE treatment significantly. CVE supplementation restraints liver fibrosis progression through amelioration of oxidative stress status and targeting TGF-β signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV-2) was introduced as an epidemic in 2019 and had millions of deaths worldwide. Given the importance of this disease, the recommendation and design of new active compounds are crucial. 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3 CLpro) inhibitors have been identified as potent compounds for treating SARS-CoV-2 disease. So, the design of new 3 CLpro inhibitors was proposed using a quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study. In this context, a powerful adaptive least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (ALASSO) penalized variable selection method with inherent advantages coupled with a nonlinear artificial neural network (ANN) modelling method were used to provide a QSAR model with high interpretability and predictability. After evaluating the accuracy and validity of the developed ALASSO-ANN model, new compounds were proposed using effective descriptors, and the biological activity of the new compounds was predicted. Ligand-receptor (LR) interactions were also performed to confirm the interaction strength of the compounds using molecular docking (MD) study. The pharmacokinetics properties and calculated Lipinski's rule of five were applied to all proposed compounds. Due to the ease of synthesis of these suggested new compounds, it is expected that they have acceptable pharmacological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanocomposite of WO3/Fe3O4 was prepared using a facile precipitation method and characterized by several techniques. XRD patterns showed a magnetite and a monoclinic structure, respectively, for Fe3O4 and WO3 particles. Formation of WO3/Fe3O4 nanocomposite proved using EDX spectra and also EDX element maps indicated the uniform distribution of Fe, W, and O atoms in the prepared nanocomposite. The SEM image approved a spherical shape for nanocomposite particles. Band-gap energy of WO3/Fe3O4 obtained 1.2 eV using DRS spectra. The room temperature hysteresis loops showed magnetization 21.21 emu/g for WO3/Fe3O4 particles. The synthesized magnetite photocatalyst used in treatment of yellow water as one of the effluents of the production process of TNT. Central composite experimental design applied for optimization of independent variables such as pH of the sample, dose of photocatalyst and amount of pollutant. Photodegradation efficiencies were calculated by reducing the COD values of the samples. The p-values of studied variables obtained <0.05 in ANOVA (analysis of variance) results which indicates their impact on photodegradation efficiency. The F-value and p-value of proposed model for photodegradation process were 29.65 and <0.05, respectively, in 95% confidence level. Also, the p-value of "lack-of-fit" (>0.05) showed that predicted data of the proposed model fit to actual experimental response data. A 65% reduction in the COD value of a sample was achieved under optimized conditions of pH 5, dose of photocatalyst 1.0 g⋅L−1 and amount of pollutant 20 mg⋅L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in percutaneous revascularization of left-main coronary artery disease (LMCAD) warrants further exploration. We aimed to collate all available data on the merits of IVUS in LMCAD to help decision-making. The MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane databases were queried for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational cohort studies (OCS). The data were analyzed using random-effects model to calculate unadjusted odds ratio (OR) between IVUS-guided and angiography-only LMCA revascularization. A total of 14 studies (2 RCTs and 12 OCS), comprising 18944 patients, were included. The pooled odds of all-cause mortality (OR 0.57, 95%CI 0.46–0.70, p = <0.00001), cardiovascular mortality (OR 0.37, 95%CI 0.26–0.54, p = <0.00001), left-main revascularization (OR 0.63, 95%CI 0.45–0.89, p = 0.009) and myocardial infarction (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.66–0.97, p = 0.02) were significantly lower with IVUS-guidance. There was no difference observed in the odds of the stent thrombosis (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.31–1.05, p = 0.07) and stroke (OR 1.7, 95%CI 0.56–5.14, p = 0.35) between the two groups. A subgroup analysis based on the study design and follow-up duration mirrored the pooled estimates. IVUS-guided LMCA intervention is associated with overall improved cardiovascular outcomes than the angiography-only approach. This needs to be tested in a large randomized controlled trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented in this paper assesses and compares the laboratory fatigue performance of two gap-graded asphalt concrete (AC) mixture: one using crumb rubber (CR) (rubbermodified) and without using CR (conventional). The rubber-modified and conventional gapgraded mixtures were sampled from the E18 highway located in the Stockholm area of Sweden. The testing program consisted of dynamic modulus, |E*|, bending beam, and axial fatigue tests. The |E*| master curves of the respective AC mixtures and their generalised fatigue model coefficients (k1, k2, k3) from the axial fatigue tests were used to predict and compare the long-term pavement performance of each mixture using the AASHTOWare Pavement ME Design software. This analysis was performed systematically using parametric variations to assess the sensitivity of the predicted performance to individual material factors. Fatigue test results from both bending beam and axial fatigue tests showed clear evidence of improved fatigue behaviour for the rubber-modified gap-graded mixture compared to the conventional gap-graded mixture. The Pavement ME design analysis showed that the rubber-modified gapgraded mixture outperformed the conventional mixture. The parametric sensitivity analysis showed that this improved behaviour was the result of an increase in k1 and decrease in k2 of the fatigue life relationships at individual test temperatures of the rubber-modified gap-graded mixture. It was also found that the |E*| and the fatigue coefficient k3 of the rubber-modified gap-graded mixture has an adverse impact on its fatigue performance compared to that of the conventional gap-graded mixture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micromachining of alumina has gained a lot of interest due to unique combinations of electrical resistivity and good thermal conductivity, thus being a potential substrate for microsystems packaging in high-power electronics. Creating multiple through-holes simultaneously in alumina is difficult due to its hard and brittle nature. In this article, the formation of multiple through-holes in a 425 µm thick alumina substrate is demonstrated for the first time using the combined pulse-feed approach of the ECDM process with multi-tip array tool to improve productivity. Initial experiments are conducted with a single-tip electrode to understand the effect of duty factor, pulse frequency, and feed rate. A combined pulse-feed approach is adopted to create deep microholes (>600 µm). Later, multiple through-holes are formed using 3 × 3 multi-tip array tool to achieve an average etch rate of 24 µm/min using the combined pulse-feed approach. A duty factor of 70% and a pulse frequency of 20 kHz are suggested for stable electrochemical discharge. A low feed rate (<1 µm/s) is recommended to avoid physical contact between the tool and workpiece. These multiple through-holes can be filled with electroplated copper to form 3D interconnects for upcoming radio-frequency MEMS applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacillus anthracis secretes a tripartite toxin comprising protective antigen (PA), edema factor (EF), and lethal factor (LF). The human anthrax vaccine is mainly composed of the anthrax protective antigen (PA). Considerable efforts are being directed towards improving the efficacy of vaccines because the use of commercial anthrax vaccines (human/veterinary) is associated with several limitations. In this study, a triple chimeric antigen referred to as ELP (gene accession no: MT590758) comprising highly immunogenic domains of PA, LF, and EF was designed, constructed, and assessed for the immunization capacity against anthrax in a guinea pig model. Immunization was carried out considering antigen titration and immunization protocol. The immunoprotective efficacy of the ELP was evaluated in guinea pigs and compared with the potency of veterinary anthrax vaccine using a challenge test with B. anthracis 17JB strain spores. The results demonstrated that the ELP antigen induced strong humoral responses. The T-cell response of the ELP was found to be similar to PA, and showed that the ELP could protect 100%, 100%, 100%, 80% and 60% of the animals from 50, 70, 90, 100 and 120 times the minimum lethal dose (MLD, equal 5 × 105 spore/ml), respectively, which killed control animals within 48 h. It is concluded that the ELP antigen has the necessary requirement for proper immunization against anthrax and it can be used to develop an effective recombinant vaccine candidate against anthrax. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental investigation comparing the effect of tool electrode materials on the formation of microholes in glass by the pulse electrochemical discharge machining is presented. Two different materials, i.e., Molybdenum and High carbon steel (HCS), were used in the experiments carried out in 10% wt KOH electrolyte. Other parameters such as machining voltage, pulse frequency, tool feed rates were systematically varied. A lower mean discharge current was noticed when the molybdenum tool having higher electrical conductivity was used. The average reductions in the hole overcut, taper angle, and the heat-affected zone in the microholes were 30%, 55%, and 58%, respectively, when the Molybdenum tool was used compared to the HCS tool. For both tool materials, the hole overcut was measured to be minimum when a tool feed rate of 4 µm s−1 was used. The microhole diameter and heat-affected zone were increasing with the increment in the applied voltage irrespective of the tool electrode material. Due to the higher melting point, molybdenum electrodes had less tool erosion and, therefore, more suitable than the HCS tools for electrochemical discharge machining applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two hundred and eighty samples of wild and farmed Mytilus galloprovincialis, harvested along the Algerian Mediterranean coast, were processed for the occurrence of Vibrio spp. The mussels were sampled monthly in 2018, in conjunction with the Algerian cholera outbreak that occurred in August. Overall, 33 strains of V. cholerae and 18 strains of V. fluvialis were isolated from 34 wild mussels sampled between July and September. A strain of V. cholerae O1 serotype Ogawa was found in a wild sample of mussels collected after the cholera outbreak. The results confirm the role of mussels as vector for V. cholerae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the problem of comparing ageing patterns of lifetimes of k-out-of-n systems with i.i.d. components. Mathematically, this reduces to being able to decide about a stochastic ordering relationship between different order statistics. We discuss such relationships with respect to second-order stochastic dominance, obtaining characterizations through the verification of relative convexity with respect to a suitably chosen reference distribution function. We introduce a hierarchy of such reference functions leading to classes, each expressing different and increasing knowledge precision about the distribution of the components lifetimes. Such classes are wide enough to include popular families of distributions, such as, for example, the increasing failure rate distributions. We derive sufficient dominance conditions depending on the identification of the class which includes the component lifetimes. We discuss the applicability of this method and characterize a test for the relative convexity, as this notion plays a central role in the proposed approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A series of 6-acetyl-2,4-diaryl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1,2,4-triazines (2a–2f) was synthesized by double Mannich reaction of the hydrazone 1a or 1b with formaldehyde and the appropriate amine. A similar reaction of 1a with the appropriate diamine afforded the bis(tetrahydro-triazines) 3a–b, and 4a–b. Whereas, the 6-cinnamoyl derivatives 5a-c were obtained by the reaction of 2a with the appropriate aldehyde. The hydrazone 7, derived from 2a, was treated with the appropriate aldehyde or ketone to afford the mixed azines 8–12 and 13–16. The biological activity, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidants of the most newly synthesized compounds of these derivatives were screened. Compounds 2b, 3a and 7 revealed the best results against all screened biological activity [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The four articles that make up this symposium on Tariq Modood's recent collection, Essays on Secularism and Multiculturalism (2019), are based on a public conversation and research colloquium held at Utrecht University on 18 February 2020. In the first article, Modood introduces the conversation with a statement of his thinking over two decades on the subjects of secularism and multiculturalism. This is followed by responses by Pooyan Tamimi Arab and Ernst van den Hemel and, in the fourth and final article, Modood has the last word. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A national collaborative has been launched in Canada to spread and scale up the Paramedics Providing Palliative Care model. This builds on the knowledge that paramedics in the 9-1-1 (emergency/unscheduled) and scheduled models of care are both historically and currently asked by the public to provide urgent symptom relief within the context of a palliative approach, and that approximately 40% of dying people visit the emergency department in the last two weeks of life despite 70% wishing to die at home. A model of care including a palliative care clinical practice guideline or protocol, specific training, and a mechanism for sharing of goals of care, has been proven to improve the palliative and end of life experience for patients with palliative care needs and their families. It increases the comfort and confidence of paramedics and has benefits to the broader health system. Meaningful and very broad stakeholder engagement and inter-sectoral collaboration is absolutely essential to the success of this innovative approach to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, four time-saving, economic, and non-sophisticated spectrophotometric methods are used to determine resorcinol (RES) and catechol (CAT) in their binary solutions. The suggested methods, which require no separation steps, are namely the constant center (CC), ratio difference (RD), H-point standard addition method (HPSAM), and ratio H-point standard addition method (RHPSAM). For each method, the parameters affecting the resolution of the spectra are optimized and used for the quantification of RES and CAT in a blind binary mixture. The results obtained show that out of these four original mathematical techniques, the CC and RD methods have the least errors in the simultaneous determination of RES and CAT in their binary solution with a highly severe overlapping spectra. The calibration curves have a linear behavior over the concentration range of 2.5-20 μg/mL for both substances in both methods. The detection limits for RES are 0.89 μg/mL and 0.355 μg/mL for the CC and RD methods, respectively, and for CAT, they are 0.582 μg/mL and 0.292 μg/mL, respectively. The accuracy and precision of the methods are also investigated. The relative standard deviations have been found to be lower than 6.7 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To report the volumetric measures of the paralyzed vocal fold in patients undergoing injection laryngoplasty. All the medical records of patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis who had high resolution computerized tomography scan of the neck and chest prior to injection laryngoplasty between October 2015 and May 2018 were included. Volumetric evaluation of the vocal folds was performed by measuring the vocal fold height using coronal images and the vocal fold length and width using axial images. A total of 21 patients divided into 13 males and 8 females were identified. The mean age was 56.66 ± 20.94 years. The mean volume of the paralyzed vocal fold was significantly smaller than that of the non-paralyzed vocal fold (p <.05). Similarly, the mean length and height of the paralyzed vocal folds were smaller than those of the non-paralyzed vocal folds (p <.05). Volumetric measurements of the paralyzed vocal fold in comparison to the normal vocal fold in a group of 21 patients with unilateral vocal fold paralysis shows the presence of significant difference between the normal and affected site, and the presence of large inter-subject variation. Information on the volume difference between the two vocal folds may be used to better estimate the amount that needs to be injected in medialization procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Best proximity results for cyclic and noncyclic F G -contractive operators in (strictly convex) Banach spaces are obtained via the measure of noncompactness. The work extends some of recent investigations in this direction. The obtained results are applied to investigation of optimum solutions for a system of second order differential equations with two initial conditions followed by an example. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of elder abuse and neglect in Iran. Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and PsycINFO by the end of 2017. The prevalence was calculated based on the percentage or the amount reported in the studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by the I2 statistic, and the data were combined using random effects model. The results were reported as the pooled estimates and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42017070744). Results: A total of 16 studies involving 6,461 participants aged 60 years and over were included. The pooled prevalence for overall elder abuse was 45.7% (95% CI: 27.3-64.1, p < .001). Discussion: The prevalence of elder abuse and neglect is substantial in the Iranian population aged 60 years and over. More research is needed to investigate the actual prevalence of elder abuse at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peptic ulcer disease causes abdominal discomfort and pain. Helicobacter pylori bacteria, infection and long-term use of anti-inflammatory drugs are the most common causes of peptic ulcers. Untreated ulcers can lead to other more serious health complications. Gastric cancer is the second commonest cause of death from malignant disease. Speed performance is always quietly essential in detecting and treating peptic ulcer. Combining artificial intelligence with medical knowledge provides a faster and more accurate diagnosis. The main purpose of this study is to design a novel, inexpensive, reliable and quick Fuzzy Expert System for diagnosis of peptic ulcer disease. A data set of 101 Male adult Wistar rats with a weight range of 200–250 g were obtained from the Pasteur institute. Peptic ulcer induced by Indomethacin (50 mg/kg, 2 ml). A computational approach based on a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS) is suggested in this study for the evaluation of peptic ulcer. The Fuzzy Inference System was produced with Fuzzy C-Means and tuned using the Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System model (ANFIS). In order to compare the two methods, the performance of the FIS was evaluated with a ROC curve that prepares the FCM accuracy of 90% and ANFIS accuracy of 85%. In conclusion, the Fuzzy Expert System can potentially increase the accuracy and efficiency of medical practices for peptic ulcer diseases to move towards more precision medicine and treatment. This applicable Fuzzy system may impact hospitals and health systems in improving efficiency and productivity, while reducing the cost of care. It can also be considered in medicine to reduce manual tasks and human error. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since two decades ago, the concept of green chemistry has been spreading and researchers are developing greener and more sustainable methods for nanoparticles (NPs) production. The main goals are fabrication of NPs with cost-effective and straightforward methods while eliminating the use of hazardous chemicals, which are commonly used as reducing or capping agents. In this regard, many bio-sources such as fungi, yeasts, algae, bacteria, and plants have been exploited to fabricate NPs in different shape and size. In this review, authors have focused on the most recent studies for fabricating silver NPs using bio-sources with an emphasis on the role of medicinal plants. The possible applications of biosynthesized silver NPs as well as their antibacterial, cytotoxic, and antioxidant activities are also addressed and discussed. Finally, future aspects and current limitations for bio-synthesized AgNPs are mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common and debilitating disorders globally, risk factor modification is an urgent health priority. Interestingly, an increasing body of literature has suggested honey, and its by-products, can elicit a positive effect on CVD risk factors. Therefore, this systematic review aimed to summarize and discuss the outcomes of interventional studies in humans regarding the effects of bee products' consumption on CVD risk factors. The Cochrane Collaboration tool was used for quality assessment of the included studies. A total of 23 studies met our inclusion criteria. Six studies used natural honey, seven used propolis, and ten administered royal jelly as the intervention. Natural honey consumption could improve lipid profile and anthropometric parameters, and propolis supplementation could enhance lipid profile and glycemic markers. Current evidence precludes conclusions being made regarding royal jelly and CVD risk factors. It seems that honey and propolis consumption could reduce CVD risk factors. Overall, in order to confirm the association between bee products and CVD risk factors, more clinical trials with adequate sample sizes and better methodology should be conducted in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing and accepting industry 4.0 influences the industry structure and customer willingness. To a successful transition to industry 4.0, implementation strategies should be selected with a systematic and comprehensive view to responding to the changes flexibly. This research aims to identify and prioritise the strategies for implementing industry 4.0. For this purpose, at first, evaluation attributes of strategies and also strategies to put industry 4.0 in practice are recognised. Then, the attributes are weighted to the experts' opinion by using the Best Worst Method (BWM). Subsequently, the strategies for implementing industry 4.0 in Fara-Sanat Company, as a case study, have been ranked based on the Interval Valued Intuitionistic Fuzzy (IVIF) of the TODIM method. The results indicated that the attributes of 'Technology', 'Quality', and 'Operation' have respectively the highest importance. Furthermore, the strategies for "new business models development', 'Improving information systems' and 'Human resource management' received a higher rank. Eventually, some research and executive recommendations are provided. Having strategies for implementing industry 4.0 is a very important solution. Accordingly, multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods are a useful tool for adopting and selecting appropriate strategies. In this research, a novel and hybrid combination of BWM-TODIM is presented under IVIF information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is currently one of the most common liver diseases worldwide. Recent data suggest that loss of skeletal muscle mass and function (i.e. sarcopenia) is highly prevalent and frequently overlooked in NAFLD patients. Experimental and clinical data suggest that the relationship between NAFLD and sarcopenia is pathophysiologically complex and bi-directional and there is a growing interest in unveiling how sarcopenia could influence NAFLD development and progression. PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for articles related to concomitant occurrence of NAFLD and sarcopenia between January 2013 and April 2020. Areas covered in this review include: (1) updated sarcopenia diagnosis strategy, (2) discussion of current data on pathophysiological connections between NAFLD and sarcopenia, and (3) analysis of current and future therapeutic implications of this knowledge. Clinical studies describe a consistent association between NAFLD and sarcopenia, although a cause–effect relation remains to be determined. Active implementation of current diagnosis algorithms and optimized treatment can prevent sarcopenia related complications in subjects with NAFLD. Pathogenic pathways implicated in this relation are multiple and complex, a better understanding of them can provide novel biomarkers and targeted therapies that will hopefully have an important impact in NAFLD management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents managed honey bee colony loss rates over winter 2018/19 resulting from using the standardised COLOSS questionnaire in 35 countries (31 in Europe). In total, 28,629 beekeepers supplying valid loss data wintered 738,233 colonies, and reported 29,912 (4.1%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.0–4.1%) colonies with unsolvable queen problems, 79,146 (10.7%, 95% CI 10.5–10.9%) dead colonies after winter and 13,895 colonies (1.9%, 95% CI 1.8–2.0%) lost through natural disaster. This gave an overall colony winter loss rate of 16.7% (95% CI 16.4–16.9%), varying greatly between countries, from 5.8% to 32.0%. We modelled the risk of loss as a dead/empty colony or from unresolvable queen problems, and found that, overall, larger beekeeping operations with more than 150 colonies experienced significantly lower losses (p < 0.001), consistent with earlier studies. Additionally, beekeepers included in this survey who did not migrate their colonies at least once in 2018 had significantly lower losses than those migrating (p < 0.001). The percentage of new queens from 2018 in wintered colonies was also examined as a potential risk factor. The percentage of colonies going into winter with a new queen was estimated as 55.0% over all countries. Higher percentages of young queens corresponded to lower overall losses (excluding losses from natural disaster), but also lower losses from unresolvable queen problems, and lower losses from winter mortality (p < 0.001). Detailed results for each country and overall are given in a table, and a map shows relative risks of winter loss at regional level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tool electrode feed rate (TEFR) is a parameter of vital importance for velocity-feed electrochemical discharge drilling (ECDD). The tool electrode will hit the workpiece and may even cause to crack if higher TEFR is used, while a lower TEFR will curtail the material etch rate. Hence, a comprehensive experimental study into the TEFR effects on the ECDD performance is presented. The top and bottom sizes of micro-holes, eccentricity, circularity, heat-affected zone, and tool electrode wear are the important features considered in this experimental work. Cylindrical-shaped tungsten carbide tool electrodes with 70 μm and 300 μm sizes were utilized. The TEFR in the range of 1–9 μm s−1 were selected. The stable and uniform EC discharges were observed for the TEFR < 5 μm s−1. The minimal hole size and HAZ were obtained for the TEFR in the range of 3–4 μm s−1. The eccentricity and circularity of micro-holes were found to be lower for the TEFR < 5 μm s−1. Higher tool wear was noticed for the TEFR < 2 μm s−1. Based on the overall experimental evaluation, TEFR in the range of 3–4 μm s−1 is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicted work metabolism (WM) from 9 heart rate (HR)-based models were compared to measured WM obtained during work in 39 forest workers. Using measured (i.e. raw) HR in these models can overestimate actual WM since the HR increase associated with body heat accumulation is non-metabolic. Hence, accuracy of WM prediction was assessed on all possible combinations of models using raw HR and corrected HR (thermal component removed) and with five different estimates of maximum work capacity (MWC) for the models that require it as an input. The 50 model combinations produced a wide range of WM estimates. Three models using individual calibration produced the lowest RMSE and narrowest LoA with corrected HR (rRMSE ≤13%; LoA [rBias <5% ± 25%]). One of the models that requires neither determination of the thermal component nor individual calibration performed very well (rRMSE = 18%; LoA [rBias = 1% ± 36%]). Practitioner Summary: These results provide a better understanding of the accuracy of various HR-based work metabolism (WM) estimation models. This information should prove particularly useful to ergonomics professionals wishing to select a method that provides accurate estimation of WM from HR measurements during work in varied thermal environments. Abbreviations: BMI: body mass index; HR: heart rate (beats per min); HR99: HR value exceeded during 99% of the duration of the HR recording period; HRcorr: heart rate without thermal pulses; HRraw: measured heart rate; HRres: heart rate reserve; HRrest: heart rate at rest; LoA: limits of agreement; Mrest: resting metabolism; MWC: maximum work capacity; RMSE: root mean square error; VO2: oxygen consumption; VO2 max: maximum oxygen consumption; WM: work metabolism [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last few years, there have been only some mixed findings regarding the relationship between contextual factors and the adoption of Quality Management practices, mainly in developing nations. There is also very little literature looking into this relationship in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. There has been a considerable increase in the Quality Management research publication, though. To address the research gap, the present paper aims at providing a general overview of the adoption of Quality Management practices in firms belonging to a developing economy, and at asserting whether this adoption is different between smaller and larger companies. On the other hand, this study intends to investigate the effects of three contextual factors (ISO 9000 certification, the tendency to export, and competition pressure) on adopting Quality Management practices in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Seven practices are considered: customer focus, leadership, employee involvement, process approach, improvement, evidence-based decision-making, and supplier relationship. Based on a sample of 79 industrial Tunisian companies, this study shows that most of corporations surveyed have implemented Quality Management practices to a large extent. Furthermore, Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests reveal that the adoption of Quality Management practices is significantly different between groups of firms considering their size, ISO-certification and tendency to export. This adoption is not different according to competition pressure. Overall, the findings of this study will help managers and policy-makers in developing countries to consider the small size of firms as a possible impediment to adopt some Quality Management practices. This will also highlight the relevance of ISO 9000 certification and export as stimuli to this adoption in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. These results corroborate the contingency theory of contextual factors-Quality Management adoption relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of the unsaturated soils is a very complex field to which several researches in laboratory and on site are directed these last years. An experimental study aims to quantify the influence of the Skempton coefficient B characterizing the degree of saturation on the behavior of the granular sand to the liquefaction resistance of sand. The study is based on undrained triaxial tests performed on natural Chlef sand carried out at an initial relative density Dr = 50% under a confining pressure of 50, 100 and 200 kPa for Skempton coefficient B = 10 to 92%. The results of the tests show that an increase of confining pressure leads to an increase of the shear stress of the samples. For the lower value of the degree of saturation results of our findings indicate an increase of the resistance to liquefaction; our results are in good agreement with others observed in several research projects conducted with other sands. The increase of Skempton coefficient B induces an increase of pore water pressure and a decrease of the shear strength. The pore pressure (u) increases with an exponential manner with the increase of the degree of saturation; while the residual shear strength (Rs) decreases with logarithmic manner with the increase of degree of saturation (B). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers a multi-period and product inventory-routing problem. This model involves two levels, namely, a distributor and several retailers. This problem is modeled with the aim of minimizing bi-objectives, namely, the total cost of the system (including start-up, distribution, and maintenance costs) and risk-based transportation. Products are delivered to retailers by some heterogeneous vehicles with specific capacities through a direct delivery strategy, and inventory shortage is assumed to be impermissible. To validate this new bi-objective model, the ε-constraint method is used to solve problems. Because problems without distribution planning are very complex to solve optimally, the problem considered in this paper is also Non-deterministic Polynomial (NP-hard). Therefore, a nondominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) and a multi-objective imperialist competitive algorithm (MOICA) are used and developed to solve a number of test problems. Furthermore, the computational results are compared and the performance of the foregoing algorithms is analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present work, for the first time, a new carboxylate-functionalized walnut shell (CFWS) was prepared via esterification of walnut shell (WS) with isopropylidene malonate. The characterization of the CFWS by different techniques approved that carboxylic groups were introduced onto the surface of WS. The performance of the modified adsorbent was studied for the removal of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions in a batch adsorption system. The analysis data showed that the Langmuir isotherm could satisfactorily explain the equilibrium data, and the maximum adsorption capacity for Pb2+ ions was found to be 192.3 mg g−1 at 0.8 g L−1 of the adsorbent, pH 5.5, and a temprature of 298 K. Two models, namely artificial neural network (ANN) and multiple linear regression (MLR), were used to construct an empirical model for prediction of the removal percentage of Pb2+ ions under different experimental conditions. These models were validated using a test set of 20 data. A comparison between the developed models shows that the ANN model is able to predict the removal percentage of Pb2+ ions more accurately. Consequently, the ANN model could be applied for the design of an automated wastewater remediation plan. Also it has to be noted that the used CFWS was recovered using EDTA-2Na, and employed for the removal of Pb2+ ions from aqueous solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of food on physical and mental co-complications of ulcerative colitis (UC) has not been clearly defined. The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of a dietary modification program (DMP) on fatigue, mental health, quality of life, fasting blood glucose, and lipid profile of UC patients during the remission phase. To conduct this parallel, randomized controlled trial study, 80 UC patients were recruited and allocated randomly to an intervention or a control group. Participants were provided dietary guidelines in the form of an educational booklet and a dedicated diet that was recommended for use for 12 weeks. The DMP consisted of recommendations that participants eat often and little (4-6 times per day), consume foods at a balanced temperature, decrease consumption of spicy foods, decrease excess intake of fat, decrease simple carbohydrates and drink adequate fluids. Moreover, increase goodquality protein and eliminate dairy products in the presence of lactose intolerance. Furthermore, it included avoidance of margarine, limiting alcohol, caffeine, and commercially prepared foods such as fast foods, ready meals, and canned foods. Baseline and post-intervention measurements of primary and secondary outcomes were recorded for final analysis. Overall, 76 patients completed the study. The participants in the DMP group consumed higher amounts of protein, zinc, vitamin C, and D and lower amounts of dietary energy, carbohydrate, saturated fat, sodium, and lactose compared to the control group (all P values <.05). Recommendations to follow the DMP resulted in a significant improvement of fatigue and mental health (depression, anxiety, and stress) in the intervention group compared with usual recommendations and a significant increase in some aspects of quality of life, including bodily pain and general health (all P values <.05). No significant changes were found in fasting blood glucose and lipid profile (all P values >.05). The study suggests that there is likely to be a link between the provided dietary advice with physical and mental improvements. The effect of diet does not arise through the elimination or the addition of specific nutrients; rather, each food syndicate many nutrients that let for a synergistic or an antagonistic action when present in a certain composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19) infection has posed significant threats to international health and the economy. The role of nutrition in supporting the immune system is well-established. A wealth of mechanistic and clinical documents shows that vitamins, including vitamins A, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folate; trace elements, including zinc and selenium; probiotics and prebiotics; alpha lipoic acid; omega-3 fatty acids and herbal supplements including curcumin, ginger, Echinacea, garlic, green tea, cinnamon, and ginseng play important and complementary roles in supporting the immune system. Inadequate intake and status of these nutrients are widespread, leading to a decrease in resistance to infections and as a consequence an increase in disease burden. Against this background the following conclusions are made: (1) supplementation with the above micronutrients, omega-3 fatty acids, and probiotics is a safe, effective, and low-cost strategy to help support optimal immune function; (2) supplementation above the Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), but within recommended upper safety limits, for specific nutrients such as vitamins C, D, and selenium is warranted; and (3) public health officials are encouraged to include nutritional strategies in their recommendations to improve public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epidemiological studies have suggested that there is an association between dietary acid load (DAL) with complications and outcomes of pregnancy. The current study aimed to explore the impact of DAL on theses parameters through a prospective cohort of Iranian pregnant women. In this prospective cohort study, 812 singleton pregnant women without any medical condition, use of medications, and without following a specific diet were included. Dietary intake of participants was examined using a 117-item semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Net endogenous acid production (NEAP) and potential renal acid load (PRAL) parameters were used to explore potential DAL using the suggested formula. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used and odds ratio (OR) and 95% corresponding confidence interval (CI) were reported. DAL (NEAP and PRAL) was not associated with pregnancy outcomes including birth weight, birth height and birth head circumference (all P values > .05). NEAP was associated with preeclampsia (Model 3: OR = 0.48, 95%CI (0.25, 0.94); Ptrend = 0.05), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (Model 2: OR = 3.99, 95%CI (1.09, 14.53); Ptrend = 0.04), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (Model 3: OR = 2.45, 95%CI (1.05, 5.72); Ptrend = 0.03), and intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR) (Model 3: OR = 2.82, 95%CI (1.02, 7.78); Ptrend = 0.01). Moreover, PRAL was related with risk of pre-eclampsia (Model 3: OR = 0.41, 95%CI (0.19, 0.86); Ptrend = 0.003), SBP (Model 2: OR = 6.07, 95%CI (1.23, 29.94); Ptrend = 0.03), DBP (Model 3: OR = 3.62, 95% CI (1.23, 10.65); Ptrend = 0.03), and IUGR (Model 2: OR = 2.63, 95%CI (0.93, 7.44); Ptrend = 0.02). Our study focused on DAL which showed a significant association with pregnancy-related complications including higher SBP, DBP, IUGR, and pre-eclampsia. Further research with larger sample sizes in different populations might be required to evaluate the compatibility of DAL during pregnancy [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing evidence on the possible effects of probiotics on inflammatory status is inconclusive. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to clarify the effects of probiotic consumption on inflammatory markers among athletes. A systematic literature search was performed in the databases PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of science, Cochrane's library, and Google Scholar (up to July 2020). Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of probiotics on inflammatory markers in athletes were included. Jadad scale was used for quality assessment. In fixed-effects meta-analysis model, standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) demonstrated the overall effect. Any possibility of publication bias was inspected through Egger's and Begg's statistics. A total of 14 RCTs with 393 participants were included. Probiotic consumption resulted in a significant decrease in plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (SMD = -0.58; 95% CI, -0.87 to -0.28; P˂0.001) and tumor necrosis factor-α (SMD = -0.72; 95% CI, -1.11 to -0.33; P < .001), and significant increase in interferon-γ (SMD = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.76; P = .012). The effects were more pronounced when probiotics were consumed in Asian, male athletes, using a single strain capsule or when they were consumed for lower than 4 weeks. Probiotic supplements may be beneficial to improve inflammatory markers, including interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interferon-γ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existing evidence on the possible effects of saffron on glycemic indices were inconclusive. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to clarify the effects of saffron supplementation on glycemic indices, including fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI) and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) among both diabetic and nondiabetic patients. A systematic literature search of online databases PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of science and Cochrane's library was conducted up to August 2020. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of saffron supplementation on glycemic indices in adults were included. A total of 15 trials involving 1139 participants were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. Saffron supplementation resulted in a significant decrease in FBS (WMD = -5.26 mg/dL; 95% CI: -10.08 to -0.44; I² = 89.7%), HbA1c (WMD = -0.15%; 95% CI, -0.28 to -0.02; I² = 79.4%,), fasting insulin (WMD = 0.12 mIU/L; 95% CI, 0.03 to 0.20; I² = 26.6%), and an increase in QUICKI (WMD = 0.01; 95% CI, 0.001 to 0.009; I² = 78.4%) compared to control. Saffron supplementation could not reduce HOMA-IR significantly (SMD = -0.21; 95% CI, -0.45 to 0.02; I² = 0.0%). Saffron supplements may be beneficial to improve glyceamic indices. Therefore, saffron could be considered as a valuable adjuvant therapy regarding glycemic control of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current evidence about the feasible effects of probiotic consumption on the metabolic status of athletes including lipid profile, fecal zonulin, and cortisol is debatable. Therefore, the present systematic reviewed and meta-analysis was aimed to clarify this inconclusiveness. Online databases (PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane's library) were searched until May 2020. The overall effect was presented as weighted mean difference (WMD) or standard mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects meta-analysis model. Publication bias was assessed using Egger's and Begg's statistics. A p-value <0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used for quality assessment. Eleven RCTs (n = 398 participants) were considered as eligible. Probiotic consumption significantly decreased fecal zonulin (SMD = -0.63; 95% CI, -1.17 to -0.08; P = .02) with significant heterogeneity (I² = 79.4%, P = .008). Also, serum triglyceride (WMD = -32.26 mg/dL; 95% CI, -60.44 to -4.08; P = .02) was reduced with high heterogeneity across the studies (I² = 93.0%, P < .001). Subgroup analysis revealed that probiotic consumption did increase HDL-C among non-Asian studies. Also, serum triglyceride was higher when probiotics were consumed as food, among non-Asian population, and for less than 4 weeks. Probiotics may be beneficial to improve metabolic markers in athletes including fecal zonulin and serum triglyceride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the cubic and the associative equations of state are applied to model the VLE data of ternary systems containing ionic liquids. In the first section, the simultaneous solubility of CO2 and H2S in the ionic liquids [omim][Tf2N], [omim][PF6] and [bmim][PF6] is modeled and the selective absorption of CO2/H2S is investigated at the temperatures T/K = (303.15 and 343.15) and the pressures P/MPa = (0.1 and 1). According to the obtained results, the percent deviations in pressure were varying between 6.0 and 10.8 for the SRK EoS, 6.0 and 10.6 for the PR EoS, 2.6 and 9.6 for the CPA EoS and 3.4 and 6.1 for the PC-SAFT EoS. Also, percent deviations in vapor phase composition were varying between 3.1 and 4.9 for the SRK EoS, 3.3 and 4.9 for the PR EoS, 3.1 and 7.0 for the CPA EoS and 3.8 and 4.9 for the PC-SAFT EoS. In the selectivity calculations, at high ionic liquid concentrations, the cubic models predict the selectivity drop; while the associative models present increasing trend. In the second section, the CO2 solubility in ethanol and [emim][Tf2N] as well as the mixture of ethanol and [emim][Tf2N] is modeled and the experimental points were tested for thermodynamic consistency. According to the obtained results, the percent deviation in pressure of the ternary systems was 3.9 for the SRK EoS, 3.9 for the PR EoS, 3.8 and 4.0 for the CPA EoS and 3.1 and 3.2 for the PC-SAFT EoS. In the same temperature and pressure, the CO2 solubility decrease when the concentration of ethanol increases, and the proposed models can describe this phase behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In the current study, we aimed to investigate the effect of administration of resveratrol (RES) and beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) separately and together on the liver fibrosis progression via regulation of the gene expression and protein level of lysyl oxidase (LOX). Materials and methods: The six-week old Wistar rats received carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intraperitoneally and RES and BAPN were administrated orally for eight weeks. The hepatoprotective effects of RES, BAPN, and combination treatment were evaluated. Then the hepatic protein and gene expression levels of LOX were measured. Results: Both RES and BAPN showed the antifibrotic effect through the reduction of collagen fiber bundles, hepatic hydroxyproline content, and protein level of LOX. The antifibrotic effect increased when RES and BAPN up-taken together. Conclusion: The co-administration of RES and BAPN can be considered as a promising therapeutic approach via targeting LOX. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was aimed to develop an effective nanoliposomal vaccine delivery system with P435 HER2/neu-derived peptide conjugated to Maleimide-PEG2000-DSPE. The nanoliposome formulation composed of DSPC/DSPG/Chol/DOPE and monophosphoryl lipid A was used as an adjuvant. Liposomal formulations were prepared and their physical properties were characterized. Anti-tumoral efficacy of formulations was evaluated by immunization of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice and the generated immune response was studied by using ELISpot and flow cytometry analysis. The results of the study demonstrated Lip + DOPE + P535 formulation caused the lowest tumor size and the longest survival time in TUBO mice model and could make it a promising candidate in developing effective vaccines against HER2-positive breast cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The high prevalence of shoulder pain in using walkers in patients who have spinal cord injury (SCI). Also, the limited options available to economically measure grip forces in walkers, which drove the need to create one. This article describes a method to obtain upper-extremities' forces and moments in a person with SCI by designing an appropriate instrumented walker. First, since the commercial multidirectional loadcells are too expensive, custom loadcells are fabricated. Ultimately, a complete gait analysis by means of VICON motion analysis and using inverse dynamic method has been held to measure upper-extremities' efforts. The results for a person with SCI using a two-wheel walker in low and high heights and a basic walker show that there are higher shoulder and elbow flexion-extension moments and also higher shoulder forces in superior–inferior direction and higher elbow and wrist forces in anterior–posterior directions. The results are not much different in using two different types of walker. By using the proposed method, upper-extremities' forces and moments were obtained and the results were compared to each other in using two different walkers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grafting type and covering method of the graft union have significant effects on grafting success. Two experiments were conducted to determine the best method of grafting and the covering of graft union in walnuts during 2014 and 2015. In the first experiment, plants were grafted under a shade-house with 50% reduction of sunlight. Two methods of saddle and tongue grafting, and three covering methods of graft union including moist sawdust, moist mixed coverage (cocopeat + soil + manure) and plastic cover (control) were used. In the second experiment, two walnut cultivars, 'Chandler' and 'Franquette' were used as scions along with four grafting methods, including saddle, tongue, omega and V under outdoor conditions. In this experiment, graft unions were covered with moist sawdust. The results of the first experiment showed that, 4 weeks after grafting, the rate of graft-take was better in saddle grafting compared to tongue grafting (76.8 and 62%, respectively). Covering by moist sawdust was better than the other two covers. In the second experiment, the omega method caused the best quality of callus, the highest callused grafts (89.1%) and the most successful graft-take (81.6%). Meanwhile, V grafting caused the highest survival percentage (65.8%) and growth of scions (107.9 cm) after 6 months. Therefore, we recommend this method for grafting walnuts under outdoor conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this article is to establish a fixed point theorem using different class of control functions, which is a generalization of Darbo's fixed point theorem (DFPT) and its various versions obtained by several authors. Using this result we obtain existence of at least one positive solution for a quadratic integral equation of Fredholm type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is complex and bidirectional. NAFLD increases the risk of incident diabetes and is very prevalent in T2DM patients and T2DM is an aggravating factor for NAFLD. Timely T2DM diagnosis and treatment in subjects with NAFLD and diagnosis, staging and treatment of NAFLD in those with T2DM are critical issues. Areas covered: PubMed/MEDLINE was searched for articles related to concomitant occurrence of NAFLD and T2DM between January 2013 and May 2019. Areas covered included epidemiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects. Expert opinion: there is a need for increased awareness on NAFLD adding liver disease as an end-organ complication of T2DM. Emphasis on use of simple non-invasive tools to triage patients with potentially severe liver disease should be made. Management of patients with NAFLD and T2DM relies on lifestyle optimization to achieve significant weight loss. Currently, there is no drug approved for treatment of NAFLD in patients with T2DM although Vitamin E and pioglitazone might be used in selected patients. Approved diabetic medications hold promise for NAFLD treatment and several liver-specific drugs are in evaluation clinical trials. A combination approach will likely represent the future of NAFLD therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A number of studies have assessed the association between vitamin D and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in different populations, but the findings have been inconclusive. Herein, we systematically reviewed available observational and interventional evidence to elucidate the overall relationship between vitamin D and PMS. PubMed, Cochrane Library, ScienceDirect, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ISI Web of Science databases were searched for all available articles until September 2018. The Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale and Jadad scale were used to assess the quality of the observational and interventional studies, respectively. A total of 16 studies out of 196 met our inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. Although no significant association between serum 25(OH)D and PMS (weighted mean difference (WMD) = 3.35; 95% confidence interval, -7.80 to 1.11; p = 0.14) was indicated in observational studies, vitamin D supplementation was effective in ameliorating PMS symptoms based upon findings from interventional studies. These results add to the existing literature supporting the fact that nutrition, especially vitamin D, plays an important role in women's health. Additional well-designed clinical trials should be considered in future research to develop firm conclusions on the efficacy of vitamin D on PMS. KEY TEACHING POINTS 5-8% of women experience severe PMS. Nutrition especially vitamin D plays an important role in the women's health. Vitamin D could exert significant clinical effects on PMS symptoms. This is a systematic review and meta-analysis in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on the participatory design of a hybrid two-player Kinect game to encourage complex emotion recognition and collaboration between autistic people and their peers. From its inception, autistic college students have been involved in an iterative process to design, evaluate, and redesign the game. The emotion recognition game has two playing phases. In the first phase, the players independently assemble pieces in a digital puzzle. In the second phase, players communicate in-person to agree on the appropriate emotion for the context and construct the emotional face for the body they have assembled together. We also designed collaborative reward games that require the two players to cooperate and one that encourages players to look at each other. In order to assess the level of in-game cooperation, we added a face tracking component that automatically quantifies collaboration and can replace time-consuming hand-coded evaluations. We report on how this game was designed and built by a team of autistic students, their peer mentors, a psychologist, computer scientists, and a graphic artist. Preliminary observations show that modeling of emotion recognition and collaboration by peers with stronger social skills is emerging as a central aspect of the effectiveness of our game. The participatory process has led to several design changes including one that dramatically increased player collaboration. We share insights and lessons learned that can guide others working in participatory design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The purpose of this randomized controlled trial was to investigate the long-term clinical effect of dry needling with two-week and three-month follow up, on individuals with myofascial trigger points in the upper trapezius muscle. Methods: A sample of convenience (33 individuals) with a trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle, participated in this study. The individuals were randomly assigned to two groups: trigger point compression (N = 17) or dry needling (N = 16). Pain intensity, neck disability, and disability of the arm, hand, and shoulder (DASH) were assessed before treatment, after treatment sessions, and at two-week and three-month follow ups. Results: The result of repeated measures ANOVA showed significant group-measurement interaction effect for VAS (p =.02). No significant interaction was found for NPQ and DASH (p >.05). The main effect of measurements for VAS, NPQ, and DASH were statistically significant (p <.0001). The results showed a significant change in pain intensity, neck disability, and DASH after treatment sessions, after two weeks and three months when compared with before treatment scores in both groups. There was no significant difference in the tested variables after two-week or three-month as compared to after treatment sessions between the two groups. However, pain intensity after treatment sessions was significantly different between the two groups (p =.02). Discussion: Dry needling and trigger point compression in individuals with myofascial trigger point in the upper trapezius muscle can lead to three-month improvement in pain intensity and disability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are commonly used to evaluate hand function in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A decision will always need to be made about which appropriate PROMs to use. The present review therefore aims to describe the available hand function PROMs for use in people with RA by appraising their methodological quality and psychometric properties using a contemporaneous method. Methods/design: The proposed systematic review will include published studies written in English, which report evidence for psychometric properties and/or practical properties of hand function PROMs in RA. Four major databases (MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL) will be searched from inception to May 2019. A three-staged search strategy will be applied: (1) electronic bibliographic databases for published studies, (2) 'named measures' searching approach, and (3) reference lists of studies with included PROMs. The proposed systematic review will be conducted in compliance with the consensus-based standards for the selection of health measurement instruments (COSMIN) guideline for systematic review of PROMs. Accordingly, the methodological quality of the included studies will be assessed against the updated COSMIN risk of bias checklist, and each study's results will be assessed for their psychometric quality. Conclusion: The proposed systematic review seeks to provide rigour, and transparent evaluation of PROMs used to evaluate hand function in the RA population. The findings will provide clarity for healthcare professionals and researchers on the appropriate PROMs for hand function assessment. It will also provide a summary of hand function PROM recommendations for RA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental feasibility of extracting carvacrol or cymophenol from local and medicinal Oliveria decumbens by supercritical carbon dioxide through using ultrasound waves was investigated in this study. The extraction modelling was carried out in two forms: Internal and external. The internal model was adopted to simulate the concentration distribution of the phytochemicals in the plant particles. In this model, the extracted cell was assumed to be a filled substrate and two mechanisms of molecular permeability and mass transfer had the greatest effect. The comparison of the experimental data obtained from modelling revealed that both the internal and external models are compatible with the experimental data as much as 80%, indicating an acceptable accuracy. Furthermore, the empirical data is completely in line with the model at the final time (40 min), which is the time to reach the equilibrium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the effect of combination therapy of epirubicin (Epi) and melittin (Mel) to cancer cells, calcium carbonate nanoparticles (CCN), as carriers, were developed which were modified with MUC1-Dimer aptamers as targeting agents. Both Epi and Mel were delivered at the same time to cancer cells overexpressing the target of MUC1 aptamer, mucin 1 glycoproteins (MCF7 and C26 cells). CCN were prepared with a water-in-oil emulsion method. Epi and Mel were separately encapsulated in CCN and the nanoparticles were modified with MUC1-Dimer aptamers. In vitro studies, including MTT assay, flow cytometry analysis and fluorescence imaging were applied to investigate the targeting and cell proliferation inhibition capabilities of MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex in the target (MCF-7 and C26 cells) and nontarget (HepG2) cells. Also, the function of the developed complexes was analyzed using in vivo tumor growth inhibition. The release of Epi from MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex was pH-sensitive. Cellular uptake studies showed more internalization of the MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex into MCF-7 and C26 cells (target) compared to HepG2 cells (nontarget). Interestingly, the MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex indicated very low toxicity as compared to target cells. Moreover, co-delivery of Epi and Mel using the mixture of MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Mel complex and MUC1-Dimer aptamer-CCN-Epi complex exhibited strong synergistic cytotoxicity in MCF-7 and C26 cells. Furthermore, the presented complexes had a better function to control tumor growth in vivo compared to free Epi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a laboratory study of the influence of clay content and grading characteristics on the liquefaction resistance of sand–clay mixtures. The study is performed using a triaxial apparatus on reconstituted sand–clay mixtures containing a low clay content ranging from 0 to 20%. The tests were performed on samples at a relative density of 73% under an initial confining pressure of 100 kPa. The results of this study indicate that the undrained shear strength (liquefaction resistance) of sand–clay mixtures is controlled by the percentage of clay fraction and grading characteristics of sand–clay mixtures. However, the results show that the increase in the clay content up to 15% reduces the resistance to liquefaction of the sand–clay mixtures. Also, the test results indicate that the undrained shear strength at the peak and the undrained residual strength and the maximal shear strength decrease with the increase in clay content. Indeed, they decrease with an increase in the uniformity coefficient and the coefficient of gradation, also it was found that they decrease with a decrease in the effective diameter and the mean particle diameter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]