Search

Background: Blood pressure increases in women after menopause. There is evidences that support the existence of the increased reactive oxygen species levels in hypertension. The glutathione has an important role in cell defense against oxidative stress.The aim of this study was comprising of serum glutathione level between hypertensive and normotensive postmenopausal women. Methods: This research was a case-control study. The samples were selected among patients who had the inclusion criteria. Samples were 39 postmenopausal women with high blood pressure as case group and the control group was chosen among 40 postmenopausal women with normal blood pressure. After filling in the testimonial and the checklist, blood samples were taken for test subjects. Then the glutathione blood levels were measured using the kit and ELISA. Data were analyzed by t- test, F-test and the non-parametric Mann-Whitney test at a significant level of 5 percent. Results: There was a significant difference between mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure (P= 0.029 & P= 0.047, respectively), serum glutathione level (P= 0.045), body mass index (P= 0.041), and weekly exercise less than 30 minutes (P= 0.049) in postmenopausal women with high blood pressure and normal blood pressure. However, no significant differences in age of onset of menopause, the number of children, employment status, and daily consumption of dairy products was observed between the two groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the serum glutathione levels in postmenopausal women with high blood pressure were lower than normal menopausal women.

The columns of frame structures are the key load-bearing components and the exterior columns are susceptible to attack in terrorist blasts. When subjected to blast loads, the columns would suffer a loss of bearing capacity to a certain extent due to the damage imparted which may lead to their collapse and even cause the progressive collapse of the whole structure . The concrete-filled steel columns have been extensively used in the world due to the existence of all suitable characteristics of concrete and steel, more ductility, increasing concrete confinement using the steel wall, the large energy-absorption capacity and the appropriate fire behavior. In the present study, the concrete-filled steel square columns have been simulated under the influence of the blast load using the ABAQUS software. These responses have been compared for scaled distances based on the distance to the source and the weight of the explosive material. As a result, it can be seen that although concrete deformation has been restricted using the steel tube, the inner layer of concrete has been seriously damaged and the column displacement has been decreased by increasing the scaled distance. We also concluded that the concrete-filled steel columns have the high ductility and the blast resistance.

Three new polymer-based deep eutectic solvents (DES), including [polyethylene glycol]:[thymol], [polyacrylic acid]:[menthol], and [polyacrylic acid]:[thymol], and were prepared and examined as extraction solvent in dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of 16 pesticides for the first time. The extracted analytes were quantitatively analyzed by the GC-µECD technique. Among these DESs, [polyethylene glycol]:[thymol] in the molar ratio of 2:1 showed the highest extraction efficiency. Another new DES, [ethylene glycol]:[thymol], was also prepared and tested. Comparison of the efficiency of polymeric ([PEG]:[Thy]) and non-polymeric ([EG]:[Thy]) DESs indicated that the extraction efficiencies obtained by [PEG]:[Thy] DES were much higher (2 to 16 times) than those of [EG]:[Thy] DES. The chemical structure of [PEG]:[Thy] DES was characterized by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy. Moreover, its hydrophobicity and effect on the pH of aqueous phase was studied. The influence of significant parameters such as extraction solvent (type and volume), disperser solvent (type and volume), pH of the sample solution, and ionic strength was investigated. Under the optimum conditions, the limits of detection and quantification were obtained in the ranges 0.001–0.02 and 0.004–0.070 µg L-1, respectively. The linear range for most pesticides was in the range of 0.004–100 µg L-1 and for aldrin and dieldrin was 0.011–50 µg L-1. The enrichment factors were between 14 and 70. The method was applied to detect pesticide residues in environmental water samples, and the relative recoveries were found between 60.5 and 105.0% with RSD%less than10.5.

Cracking is considered to be one of the most important distress of the Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) mixture, which can occur in different climatic conditions due to a lack of proper bonds between aggregate and bitumen. Since the WMA mixture consists of coarse aggregates in different parts of the asphalt layer, cracks can develop and grow at an angular position. Therefore, this study investigates the fracture behavior of WMA mixtures under vertical (Pure mode II) and angular (Pure mode I) cracking states using a semi-circular bend (SCB) sample at −18 °C and +25 °C using the fracture mechanics method. To improve the WMA mixture's performance, additives of Calcium Lignosulfonate (CL) and waste Polyester (PE) fibers, which were economically justifiable, were used separately and simultaneously in different percentages. According to numerical-experimental results, the proposed samples in both pure mode I (angular crack) and pure mode II (vertical crack) were able to model the WMA's fracture behavior and therefore can be used as suitable specimens for studying the pure mode crack deformation of WMA at intermediate and low temperatures. The results also showed that the coarse aggregate distribution in the ligament section of the specimen had a significant contribution in improving the WMA mixture's fracture performance. As a result, fracture energy (GF), fracture toughness (KI and KII), The Flexibility Index (FI), Cracking Resistance Index (CRI), and the Toughness Index (TI) depended on the type of additive used in the WMA mixture. Finally, 0.25PE-6CL, 0.25PE, and 6CL mixtures had the best results in terms of fracture mechanics.

Proanthocyanidins are polyphenol compounds that can be found in some plants and their fruits. In this study, the effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) as a dietary antioxidant supplement were evaluated on growth performance, serum biochemical properties (including glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride), fillet proximate composition (crude protein, lipid, moisture, and ash), and liver antioxidant enzyme activity in common carp fingerlings. The experimental diets including five groups with different concentrations of GSPE (200, 400, 600, 800, and 1500 mg per kilogram of diet), along with a control group (0 mg GSPE per kilogram of diet), were used during forty days of experimentation. The orthogonal regression analysis revealed a linear trend for final weight (P

Background Globally, hepatitis B and schistosomiasis (Mansoni) together affect about 300 million people; which cause hepatic disorders worldwide. Given that little is known about co-infections with hepatitis B and schistosoma mansoni, the present study investigates these two health problems alone and together and their possible correlation. Methods A search was conducted for reports published between January 1990 and October 2020 by using Embase, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science databases; Out of a total of 20 studies, 14 cross-sectional studies (6329 people) and 6 case-control studies (2138 individual) were reviewed. The pooled prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV), S.mansoni infections, and their co-infections; heterogeneity and the Odds Ratio (OR) were evaluated by Stata 11.2. Findings Among the included studies in the inclusion criteria, the pooled prevalence of hepatitis B, S. mansoni was 34% (95% CI, 0.23–0.46), 41% (95% CI, 0.24–0.59) and their co-infections was 18% (95% CI, 0.11–0.25) by regions. The hepatitis B and S. mansoni correlation was significant in populations with schistosoma compared to control group (OR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.36–3.30). Commentary Our results showed that in addition to the high global prevalence of hepatitis B- S. mansoni (co) infections in the included studies, there is a significant association between them, especially in people suffering from schistosoma. These results highlight the importance of integrated interventions measurements against coexistence of parasitic and viral diseases. We know that more research studies need to be done in this field and global monitoring should be considered for the co-infection of these two important complications.

The recent COVID-19, a viral outbreak calls for a high demand for non-conventional antiviral agents that can reduce the risk of infections and promote fast recovery. Fermented foods and their probiotics bacteria have recently received increasing interest due to the reported potential of high antiviral activity. Several probiotics strains demonstrated broad range of antiviral activities and different mechanisms of action. This article will review the diversity, health benefits, interaction with immune system and antiviral activity of fermented foods and their probiotics bacteria. In addition, the mechanisms of action will be reviewed to determine the broad range potential antiviral activity against the respiratory and alimentary tracts viruses. The probiotics bacteria and bioactive compounds in fermented foods demonstrated antiviral activities against respiratory and alimentary tracts viruses. The mechanism of action was reported to be due to the stimulation of the immune system function via enhancing natural killers cell toxicity, enhance the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and increasing the cytotoxic of T lymphocytes (CD3+, CD16+, CD56+). However, further studies are highly recommended to determine the potential antiviral activity for traditional fermented foods.

Objective To determine the relationship between xerostomia and Oral-Health Related Quality of Life in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and Methods Two hundred patients with rheumatoid arthritis were assessed using Fox and OHIP-14 questionnaires concerning xerostomia and Oral-Health Related Quality of Life respectively. The sum of decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) was determined via an intra-oral exam. In addition, intergroup comparisons were evaluated using T-test, Chi-square, regression and Tukey analysis. Results Amongst rheumatoid arthritis patients, 51% had been afflicted with xerostomia. We found a statistically significant relationship between xerostomia and Oral-Health Related Quality of Life (p-value=0.004), as xerostomia cases have significantly worse Oral-Health Related Quality of Life. Also, there was a statistically significant association between Oral-Health Related Quality of Life and gender as well as DMFT. Conclusion Because there seem to be a high prevalence of xerostomia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, screening in such population is highly recommended. therefore, educational programs and/or workshops should be encouraged among health care providers to prevent worsening of Oral-Health Related Quality of Life. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

A Sudden speed drop in the leader vehicle of vehicle platoon results in propagating the deceleration wave from downstream towards the upstream flow. Points of wave propagation of the leader vehicle towards the follower vehicle identification are done based on Newell’s theory in trajectory data. Deceleration wave propagates based on two parameters, time and space, τ- δ. A follower driver performs different behavioural reactions that they result in deviating follower driver from Newell’s trajectory. In this paper, follower driver behaviour was identified based on two theories. The asymmetric microscopic driving behaviour theory and traffic hysteresis were used during the deceleration and acceleration phases, respectively. The data trajectories were classified into different traffic phases. Driver’s parameters were identified at the microscopic level. Since the follower driver had the nonlinear behaviour, artificial neural networks were developed. They were able to analysis and identify effective parameters of dependent variable between deceleration phases leading to congestion phase, based on the behavioural patterns. Analysis results present effective parameters based on any behavioural patterns. Spacing difference of two phases, deceleration and congestion phases, was the most effective parameter of both two behavioural patterns, under reaction – timid and over reaction – timid. Increasing the spacing difference of two phases results in decreasing (increasing) time based on under reaction – timid (over reaction – timid)..

Polymer nanocomposites (PNCs) are a special class of materials which nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed in a polymer matrix resulting in novel materials having unique physical and chemical properties. Successful combination of different properties of the NPs with the existing properties of polymers matrix became the goal of scientists. Gel electrophoresis is a gold standard analysis tool used as a routine and important separation technique for proteomics and genomics characterization of proteins and DNA samples. Various strategies were proposed for improving the parent method performance including incorporation of nanomaterials. This review focuses on the latest applications and achievements of using PNCs as separation medium in gel electrophoresis. For each type of nanomaterials, we describe different examples. Also, we propose strategies for improving the efficiency and influence of NPs in host polymer hydrogel matrix. Further, we discuss potential directions and issues worth exploring for application of novel PNCs in gel electrophoresis.

Low-cost point-of-care (POC) diagnostics play several critical roles in healthcare strategies, particularly for detection, therapy, economy, health management, and surveillance. Any user can now perform rapid, efficient, inexpensive, and easy analysis anywhere at any time and various kind of hybrid biosensing devices improved the POC analyses. This review describes recent developments on the application of various types of portable biosensing devices with focus on smartphone-enabled biosensing in which analysis, diagnostics, and communications are coupled. Further, we provide an overview of recent biosensing platforms, from optical to electrochemical biosensors and consider future opportunities for POC devices for clinical analysis and infectious diseases assessment.

Objective Fibromyalgia (FM) is a debilitating chronic condition that significantly affects quality of life. A strong association has been demonstrated between FM and chronic pain in the trigeminal region in clinical studies. This study was performed to evaluate the response to acute and chronic noxious stimuli applied to the facial region. Methods Adult male Wistar rats (250-270 g, N = 10 for each group) were used in the current study. A subchronic swim stress model was used as the animal model of FM. Anxiety-like behaviors and response to acute and chronic noxious stimuli were assayed using the elevated plus maze, eye wiping test, and orofacial formalin test, respectively. Balance and motor function were evaluated using rotarod and wire grip tests. Results An increased anxiety-like behavior was observed in swim stress rats in comparison with control and sham subjects. Response to acute and chronic noxious stimuli in the trigeminal region was increased in the stressed rats. Motor and balance function were not altered following stress. Conclusions Results of the current study demonstrated a hyperalgesic state in the trigeminal region in a possible animal model of FM. This study provides a reliable animal model for further research on the possible mechanisms of orofacial pain in FM.

Carbon-based electrodes are usually used in vanadium redox flow batteries and electrochemical performance of these electrodes can be modified by electrocatalysts. In the current study, reduced graphene oxide inks with different concentrations were used to modify a carbon felt electrode. It was observed that CF which was modified in 2 mg/ml ink (CF-G-2) had the optimum combination of electrochemical properties, because no significant peak current improvement was observed at higher graphene contents and it also had the minimum value of ΔEp. The anodic and cathodic peak currents for positive redox couple reaction in CF-G-2 reached to 45.3 and 21.1 mA respectively, in comparison with 14.2 and 4.7 mA values for bare felt. Linear diffusion coefficient was also enhanced more than two times with the incorporation of graphene. Nyquist plots of CF-G in different electrolytes (VOSO4/V2O5 and VOSO4) showed different shapes and equivalent circuit data indicated much lower charge transfer resistance for modified carbon felts with graphene. The diffusion process was remarkably facilitated with the incorporation of reduced graphene oxide and graphene had desirable influence on the electrolyte absorption of carbon felt. Finally, scanning electron micrographs of electrodes demonstrated loaded graphene nanosheets on the surface of carbon felt fibers.

In the current study, a new tetrahydroingenol diterpene isolated from Euphorbia erythradenia, 7,13-diacetyl-5-angeloyl-20-nicotinyl-3-propionyl-1,2,6,7-tetrahydroingenol (DANPT), were tested for the molecular mechanism of its anti-cancer activity in two human melanoma cancer cell lines, A375 and HMCB. DANPT was found cytotoxic against A375 and HMCB cells with IC50 value of 15.37±2.6μM and 15.62±1.89μM, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis showed that DANPT halted the A375 and HMCB cells in G2/M phase and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle arrest was associated with down-regulation of cyclin B and Cdk-1 and subsequent up-regulation of p53 and p21. Moreover, DANPT induced Bax and inhibited Bcl-2 expression, which results in increasing Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase-3. Furthermore, the apoptotic effect of DANPT was also related to ROS production and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔYm). Overall, our results suggest that DANPT can inhibit proliferation of human melanoma cancer cells by promoting apoptosis and inducing cell cycle arrest and therefore, it can be a promising natural agent for the treatment of melanoma cancer.

The potential application of nanoparticles (NPs) in various fields of separation science has been recognized and significant improvements have been achieved. The properties including electronic, magnetic, thermal, optical, mechanical, and catalytic can be tuned by the size, shape, and chemical structure of NPs. These unique properties and high surface-to-volume ratio have led to application in several analytical methods especially in capillary-based separation techniques. To understand the potentials of novel NPs in electrophoretic separations, we review here advances in materials development alongside a review of the directions in application of NPs in capillary-based systems and gel electrophoresis separations. This review describes recent advances in the use of NPs in electrophoretic separation techniques with emphasis on application in slab gel electrophoresis.

As one of the arid areas of Iran, Yazd is always exposed to extreme winds with dust and shifting sands. Therefore, the architectural principles in the residential architecture of the city need be adapted to such environmental conditions in order to minimize the influence of the severe winds on the interior spaces. This study investigates the influence of storms on the interior space of the central courtyards in Yazd, constructed during the Muzaffarid, Safavid and Qajar periods using CFD simulation. Three-dimensional models were prepared via Gambit software and studied in Fluent software. The wind speed entering the computing field was equal to 26.4m/s and the Dutch wind nuisance standard NEN 8100 was applied as the comfort criterion. The results showed a relationship between the extent of the central courtyard and the impact of severe storms on it, since an increase in the area of the courtyard provides enough space for the wind flow and move around it. This feature reaches its climax if the length to height proportion increases, as the wind brings the shifting sands into large courtyards, therefore, the architects tried to provide better conditions by creating microclimates.

Context: High-fat diet (HFD) can cause deficits in learning and memory through oxidative stress and increase Alzheimer disease risk. Rosa damascena Mill. (Rosaceae) extract possesses potent antioxidant properties. Objective: This study investigated the effects of the hydroalcoholic extracts of petals of R. damascena on learning and memory in male rats consuming an HFD. Materials and methods: Forty male Wistar rats (200–250 g) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, R. damascena extract, HFD and HFD + extract. The extract (1 g/kg bw daily) was administered by oral gavage for 1 month. Animals were allowed free access to high-fat chow for 3 months. The Morris water maze and the passive avoidance learning tests were used to assess learning and memory. Results: In the passive avoidance learning test, the step-through latencies in the retention test (STLr) of the extract (147.4 ± 23.3) and HFD (150.3 ± 25.2) groups were significantly lower than those of the control group (270.4 ± 10.5) (respectively, p

Recent evolutions in mobile networks have led to increased resource demands, especially from indoor users. Although recent technologies such as LTE have an important role in providing higher capacity, indoor users are not satisfied adequately. Femtocell networks are one of the proposed solutions that support high data rates as well as better indoor coverage without imposing heavy costs to network providers. However, interference management is a challenging issue in femtocell networks, mainly due to dense and random deployment of femto access points (FAPs). Therefore, distinct radio resource management (RRM) methods are employed to ensure acceptable levels of call dropping/blocking probability and spectral efficiency. However, the mobility of mobile users is an important issue in resource management of femtocell networks that has not been considered adequately. In this paper, we propose an algorithm that predicts the resource requirements of FAPs regarding mobility of their users and allocates the resources to the FAPs based on an extended load-based RRM algorithm that prioritizes handoff calls to incoming calls. Simulation results illustrate that the proposed method has shown lower call dropping probability and higher spectral efficiency compared to the benchmark algorithms.

Despite the progress in understanding acute pain physiology during recent decade, eighty percent of patients still suffer from post-operative discomfort. Pregabalin is an anticonvulsant agent that is approved for painful neuropathies in diabetic patients and post herpetic neuralgia. The main objective of the present study was to compare the improvement in post-operative pain management and patient lifestyle in 3 groups, as first group received placebo, second who received Pregabalin for one day and the last group those who received it for 14 days.This was a prospective single center, randomized, triple-blind, 3-arm, parallel group study. In this triple-blind study, patients were randomized to 1 of 3 groups using computer-generated random number table. 1) The first group received placebo for 14 days, the second group received Pregabalin 300mg 8h preoperatively and 150mg 12 and 24h postoperatively and for the rest of 13days received placebo and the third group received Pregabalin 300mg eight hours preoperatively and 15mg every 12h postoperatively for 14 days. Name, age, gender, height, weight, education, duration of pain, past medical history, drug history,total morphine requirement at the time of discharge and MRI findings of all the patients were recorded, also they Numerical scale system (NRS) and Oswestry low back pain disability index (ODI) questionnaire were completed for them. All the patients were operated based on standard surgery techniques, bilateral foramenotomy and interlaminar discectomy.Of the 105 patients who entered the run-in period, 47 patients (44.8%) were female and 58 (55.2%) were male. The Patients radicular pain mean score based on NRS estimated before surgery was 7.22±1.95 in pregabalin14, 7.71±1.84 in pregabalin1 and 7.45±1.9 in control group. There were no statically significant differences between three groups (P-Value0.05). The Patients back pain mean score based on NRS was 5.2±2.87 in pregabalin14, 5.11±3.23 in pregabalin1 and 6.4±3.06 in control group. This means that there were no significant differences in the overall score among those three groups (P-Value0.05). In comparison to their preoperative pain, the average radicular pain in each group of patients improved significantly 4, 8, 12 and 24h after the operation (P-Value0.001), but there were no significant differences in radicular pain improvements comparing three groups.The results of this study indicate that 1day and 2 weeks post-operative 300mg pregabalin administration may not improve acute pain, morphine consumption and quality of life of patients after surgery. It seems that the diseases cause chronic pain that requires long-term treatment with higher doses.

Payment cost minimization (PCM) is an appropriate method for bid selection. Solving auctions by PCM is complex and time consuming, particularly under game theoretic analysis of electricity auctions, because it requires many computational iterations. The present study proposes a new algorithm to solve electricity auctions in a game theoretic analysis framework with a multi-player matrix game. The proposed algorithm provides two innovations for solving the auction and finding the Nash equilibria in a fast and accurate manner. This method facilitates analysis of the market behavior for changes in strategy by suppliers. Numerical studies demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.

Actinopyga lecanora, commonly known as sea cucumber, is a rich protein source. This marine protein source was hydrolyzed using six proteases to generate anti-inflammatory hydrolysates and bioactive peptides. Bromelain hydrolysates after 1 h hydrolysis exhibited the highest nitric oxide (NO) inhibitory activity reflecting anti-inflammatory activity. A sequence of two fractionation methods was employed to fractionate the peptides based on their hydrophobicity using a semi-preparative RP-HPLC and isoelectric points using isoelectric focusing technique. Based on these fractionation methods, basic peptides with relatively higher hydrophobicity provided higher NO-inhibitory activity than did acidic peptides. Furthermore, using Q-TOF mass spectrometry; 12 peptide sequences were successfully identified. The inhibitory effect of the purified peptides from A. lecanora on NO production by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. The three identified bioactive peptides, namely LRE...

Traditional data envelopment analysis (DEA) models in the performance evaluation are based on black box thought, so that inputs in the boxes (decision making units) are converted into outputs. One of the drawbacks of these models is the neglect of internal structure, intermediate products or linking activities; also the actual transforming process generally isn’t modeled explicitly. According to the multi-stage structure of the banking industry; in this research, after pointing out black box (aggregation) and separation approaches, needs for inclusion of internal process of the decision making unit (DMU) expressed and a slacks-based network data envelopment analysis model is introduced and used in performance evaluation of the banking industry. The major merit of slacks-based measure is its ability to provide suitable efficiency measures, especially for weakly efficient units. Among the findings of this research is that in the structures with linking and networking effects, using the black box and separation approaches, don’t produce actual assessment of performance and should be used network models.

Cardiac lipid metabolism is the focus of attention due to its involvement in the development of cardiac disorders. Both a reduction and an increase in fatty acid utilization make the heart more prone to the development of lipotoxic cardiac dysfunction. The ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ modulates different aspects of cardiac fatty acid metabolism, and targeting this nuclear receptor can improve heart diseases caused by altered fatty acid metabolism. In addition, PPARβ/δ regulates glucose metabolism, the cardiac levels of endogenous antioxidants, mitochondrial biogenesis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, the insulin signaling pathway and lipid-induced myocardial inflammatory responses. As a result, PPARβ/δ ligands can improve cardiac function and ameliorate the pathological progression of cardiac hypertrophy, heart failure, cardiac oxidative damage, ischemia-reperfusion injury, lipotoxic cardiac dysfunction and lipid-induced cardiac inflammation. Most of these findings have been observed in preclinical studies and it remains to be established to what extent these intriguing observations can be translated into clinical practice. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Heart Lipid Metabolism edited by G.D. Lopaschuk.

Purpose: To compare choroidal thickness (CT) and retinal thickness (RT) between eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) or PRP with intravitreal bevacizumab (PRP + IVB). Methods: Thirty-three patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy were randomized to have one eye treated with PRP and the other with PRP + IVB. Change in CT was compared with baseline using enhanced depth imaging–optical coherence tomography at baseline and Months 1, 3, 6, and 10 after treatment. Change in RT was similarly assessed using spectral domain optical coherence tomography. Changes in both CT and RT were assessed in all nine macular areas as defined by Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study subfields. Results: The PRP + IVB group had a significant decrease in subfoveal CT at 3 and 10 months (323.9 ± 62 μm at baseline vs. 320.7 ± 64.8 μm at Month 3 [P = 0.024] and 304.7 ± 65.6 μm at Month 10 [P = 0.003]). Subfoveal CT significantly decreased at 10 months compared with baseline in the PRP group (320.8 ± 57.7 at baseline to 297 ± 66.3 μm at 10 months, P = 0.01). Subfoveal CT was not significantly different between the 2 groups at 10 months. The best-corrected visual acuity did not change after treatment in the two groups, and there was no correlation between BCVA and CT changes (r = 0.222, P = 0.37 in the PRP group and r = 0.387, P = 0.12 in the PRP + IVB group). Significant increases in RT were seen in the PRP + IVB group at 6 months and in the PRP group at Months 1, 3, 6, and 10. A correlation between changes in CT and RT was only seen in the PRP group at 10 months after treatment. Conclusion: Eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy treated with PRP + IVB and PRP both had significant reduction in CT at 10 months; however, the eyes that were also treated with IVB also underwent an earlier but transient reduction at 3 months. Patients treated with IVB underwent less increase in RT.

Background. Sport financial sponsorship can offer sport marketers the opportunities to address new audiences and enhance brand equity and companies’ performance. Objectives. The purpose of the current study was to develop a model for the role of sport financial sponsorship on brand equity of Yazd ceramic and tile companies. Methods. The current study was conducted with a survey method. Standard sport financial sponsorship and brand equity questionnaires were used as measurement tools to assess the subjects. Data analysis was conducted both descriptively and inferentially. Results. The results of the data analysis revealed that sport financial sponsorship has a significant positive effect on brand equity, and brand equity, in turn, has a significant positive impact on companies’ performance. Conclusion. It seems that due to the nature of the exercise and its effectiveness in promoting the sponsor company, it has a positive influence on developing brand equity of companies. It was found that proper behavior of members of the board of directors of companies towards their brand facilitates this process.

We evaluated the acute (single-dose) and subacute (repeated-dose) oral toxicity of alcalase-hydrolyzed whey protein concentrate. Our acute study revealed no death or treatment-related complications, and the median lethal dose of whey protein concentrate hydrolysate was >2,500 mg/kg. In the subacute study, when the hydrolysate was fed at 3 different concentrations (200, 400, and 800 mg/kg), no groups showed toxicity changes compared with controls. Then, whey protein concentrate hydrolysate was orally administered to spontaneously hypertensive rats. Results revealed significant reductions in blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner, and dosing at 400 mg/kg led to significant blood pressure reduction (−47.8 mm Hg) compared with controls (blood pressure maintained) and the findings of previous work (−21 mm Hg). Eight peptides—RHPEYAVSVLLR, GGAPPAGRL, GPPLPRL, ELKPTPEGDL, VLSELPEP, DAQSAPLRVY, RDMPIQAF, and LEQVLPRD—were sequentially identified and characterized. Of the peptides, VLSELPEP and LEQVLPRD showed the most prominent in vitro angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibition with half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of 0.049 and 0.043 mM, respectively. These findings establish strong evidence for the in vitro and in vivo potential of whey protein concentrate hydrolysate to act as a safe, natural functional food ingredient that exerts antihypertensive activity.

Purpose of the study: Kaempferol (KM) is a flavonoid found in plant-derived foods and medicinal plants. Recently, it is well established that KM plays a protective role to develop Alzheimer...

Background The values that have been received from apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW-MRI) might play a vital role in evaluating tumors and their grading scale. Purpose To investigate the predictive role of this heterogeneity in brain tumor pathologies and its correlation with Ki-67. Material and Methods A total of 124 patients with brain tumors underwent brain MRI with gadolinium injection. ADC and standard deviation of each lesion have been obtained from manual localization of the region of interest on the ADC map. A receiver operating characteristic analysis was conducted to determine the minimum cut-off values of the mean ADC and mean standard deviation of ADC maps having the highest sensitivity and specificity to differentiate high-grade and low-grade tumors. Results Mean ADC values in the region of interest were significantly lower for malignant tumors (grade IV and metastasis) than grade I brain tumors, while a higher mean standard deviation was observed. In a more detailed comparison of tumor groups, the mean standard deviation of the ADC for glioblastoma multiform was significantly higher than meningioma grade I ( P −3 mm2/s for mean ADC and 45*10−3 mm2/s for mean standard deviation have the highest combination of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. Conclusion The mean value and standard deviation of the ADC could be considered for differentiating between low-grade and high-grade brain tumors, as two available non-invasive methods.

Objective: Pain is a unique and subjective experience that has a prominent function in animals’ survival. Observation of pain in others leads to alterations in pain sensation and affection, termed “Empathy for pain”. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of empathy on sensory and affective dimensions of pain and its effect on anxiety-like behaviors. Method: In this study, male Wistar rats were used. Two cage mates were selected, one of which underwent administration of a noxious stimuli for 10 days and the other observed the conspecific in pain. Hot plate, tail flick, and conditioned place aversion were used to evaluate sensory and affective dimensions of pain, respectively. Anxiety-like behavior was assayed using elevated plus maze paradigm and time spent in open and close arms and number of entrance into each arm was recorded as the anxiety indicator within a 5-minute framework. Results: Rats observing the cage mate in pain had a lower threshold to noxious stimuli in comparison to controls. They also had an increased aversion from painful stimuli, demonstrating heightened affective response to pain. Anxiety-like behavior was also enhanced in the observers. Conclusion: Results of this study demonstrate that both sensory and affective dimensions of pain are altered following observation of pain in a conspecific. Further studies evaluating the underlying mechanisms are encouraged to elucidate the role of different neurotransmitters in this phenomenon.

Several studies have investigated the role of gene therapy in the healing process. The aim of this review is to explain the gene delivery systems in wound area. Ninety-two studies were included and comprehensively overviewed. We described the importance of viral vectors such as adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, and retroviruses, and conventional non-viral vectors such as naked DNA injections, liposomes, gene gun, electroporation, and nanoparticles in achieving high-level expression of genes. Application of viral transfection, liposomal vectors, and electroporation were the main gene delivery systems. Genes encoding for growth factors or cytokines have been shown to result in a better wound closure in comparison to application of the synthetic growth factors. In addition, a combination of stem cell and gene therapy has been found an effective approach in regeneration of cutaneous wounds. This article gives an overview of the methods and investigations applied on gene therapy in wound healing. However, clinical investigations need to be undertaken to gain a better understanding of gene delivery technologies and their roles in stimulating wound repair.

Background The process of moving patients from a hospital to a home or another care setting, also called transitional care, can lead to unwanted complications and negative outcomes. The term "transitional care" involves a wide range of conditions and services to ensure the continuity of care and prevention of unwanted consequences in vulnerable individuals, who are affected by any changes in care settings or caregivers. Objectives The purpose of this concept analysis is to clarify the concept of transitional care by considering its application in different studies and its changes over time. Design A concept analysis. Data sources Literature from 2008 to 2018 were sought using Medline, PubMed, Google Scholar and Cochrane databases with terms "transitional care", "transitional care" OR "care transitions", "transitional care" AND "nursing", "transitional care" AND "discharge planning”. Review methods Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis method was used to clarify the antecedents, attributes and consequences. Results The 46 eligible articles were fully studied and findings were categorized into antecedents, attributes and consequences. Transitional care antecedents were classified into three categories: patient/family/caregivers related factors, factors related to hospital system (inpatient care), and social factors. The defining attributes include patient-oriented transitional care, transitional care with a hospital-based approach and transitional care with a community-based approach. Consequences categorized into patient-related consequences, family/caregiver-related consequences, and hospital-related consequences. Conclusion The results of the analysis of the transitional care concept have shown that this concept is not limited to care provided by nurses at discharge, and that its proper implementation requires considering many factors including the status of patients and their families, different members of the healthcare team, and environmental and social conditions and facilities. A proper understanding of transitional care not only specifies the role of care providers, but also creates a basis for designing an evidence based care program.

Entrepreneurs are known as the engine of economic growth and prosperity. Entrepreneurs have relocated resources for the aim of introducing new economic, social, or socio-economic values. Revolutionary technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) have provided opportunities for entrepreneurs. The IoT is globally known as a new paradigm that rose from the world of ICT and changed dynamics of businesses and communities. However, there has been a lack of guidelines for promoting entrepreneurial initiatives by using of the IoT in industries. By conducting a comprehensive investigation of more than 120 commercialised IoT-based cases, this chapter identified 80 opportunity areas, and categorised them into the 13 main industries/sectors. Analysing 29 Iranian corporate, social, and SME entrepreneurs with the use of Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) technique, this chapter measured the importance of each industry. Based on the results, this chapter presents recommendations to promote entrepreneurial activities.

Purpose: To evaluate the incidence and risk factors of post-intravitreal injection (IVI) endophthalmitis in a single center modified operating room (OR) setting.Methods: In a retrospective chart review study, patients who underwent IVI in a modified OR between September 2014 and November 2016 were included. Cases of post-IVI endophthalmitis were identified from the Hospital Infection Control Committee records, which tracks all post-procedure infections.Results: 51 472 IVIs (37 814 patients) including 13 658 bilateral simultaneous injections were performed during the study period. There were 17 cases of endophthalmitis (0.033%, 95% CI 0.019%-0.052%). There were no cases of bilateral endophthalmitis. Age, sex, indication for IVI, simultaneous bilateral injections, number of previous injections, and type of injected drug were not significantly associated with incidence of endophthalmitis.Conclusion: Post-IVI endophthalmitis is rare in this modified OR setting. Simultaneous bilateral IVIs and on-site preparation of injections are safe under these conditions.

Measuring the coupling of single neuron's spiking activities to the local field potentials (LFPs) is a method to investigate neuronal synchronization. The most important synchronization measures are phase locking value (PLV), spike field coherence (SFC), pairwise phase consistency (PPC), and spike-triggered correlation matrix synchronization (SCMS). Synchronization is generally quantified using the PLV and SFC. PLV and SFC methods are either biased on the spike rates or the number of trials. To resolve these problems the PPC measure has been introduced. However, there are some shortcomings associated with the PPC measure which is unbiased only for very high spike rates. However evaluating spike-LFP phase coupling (SPC) for short trials or low number of spikes is a challenge in many studies. Lastly, SCMS measures the correlation in terms of phase in regions around the spikes inclusive of the non-spiking events which is the major difference between SCMS and SPC. This study proposes a new framework for predicting a more reliable SPC by modeling and introducing appropriate machine learning algorithms namely least squares, Lasso, and neural networks algorithms where through an initial trend of the spike rates, the ideal SPC is predicted for neurons with low spike rates. Furthermore, comparing the performance of these three algorithms shows that the least squares approach provided the best performance with a correlation of 0.99214 and R2 of 0.9563 in the training phase, and correlation of 0.95969 and R2 of 0.8842 in the test phase. Hence, the results show that the proposed framework significantly enhances the accuracy and provides a bias-free basis for small number of spikes for SPC as compared to the conventional methods such as PLV method. As such, it has the general ability to correct for the bias on the number of spike rates.

Despite being inexpensive and a sustainable source of plant protein, mung bean remains underutilized due to its hard-to-cook characteristics. The aim of this study is to produce texturized mung bean protein (TMBP) with desirable physical properties, through optimization of extrusion parameters determined as follows: 49.33% feed moisture, 80.66 rpm screw speed and 144.57 °C barrel temperature. Under these conditions, all physical properties (expansion ratio, bulk density, rehydration ratio, water absorption capacity and degree of texturization) are desirably altered. Microstructure analysis reveals fibrous structure that is aligned along the shear flow direction in TMBP while SDS-PAGE shows partial protein unfoldment that is crucial for protein fibril formation during texturization. Amino acid profile shows high retention of amino acids after texturization. Current study successfully demonstrates the optimized production of TMBP from mung bean protein with strong potential as meat extender to serve as a healthier option compared to animal proteins. Industrial relevance Current work is conducted on a pilot-scale basis, from initial protein extraction up to final extrusion step. This allows food industry to readily adapt the processing parameters, as detailed in current work, for customized production of texturized mung bean protein.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), a form of chronic liver disease that occurs in individuals with no significant alcohol abuse, has become an increasing concern for global health. NAFLD is defined as the presence of lipid deposits in hepatocytes and it ranges from hepatic steatosis (fatty liver) to steatohepatitis. Emerging data from both preclinical studies and clinical trials suggest that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)β/δ plays an important role in the control of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in liver, and its activation might hinder the progression of NAFLD. Here, we review the latest information on the effects of PPARβ/δ on NAFLD, including its capacity to reduce lipogenesis, to alleviate inflammation and endoplasmic reticulum stress, to ameliorate insulin resistance, and to attenuate liver injury. Because of these effects, activation of hepatic PPARβ/δ through synthetic or natural ligands provides a promising therapeutic option for the management of NAFLD.

The utilization of various plants extracts for the green synthesis of nanoparticles is growing rapidly due to its widespread application in green chemistry. In the present study, a new green nanocomposite (Ag NPs-F-rGO) has been prepared by using Capparis spinosa fruit extract as a reducing factor. The organic groups were located on the surface of graphene oxide to increase the active sites of the nanocatalyst. The catalytic performance of the resulting nanocatalyst was examined for the reduction of 4‐nitrophenol (4‐NP), methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and rhodamin (Rh6g) in the presence of NaBH4 at room temperature. The apparent rate constants for 4-NP, MB, MO, and Rh6g reduction were calculated to be 0.020 s−1 (2 mg catalyst), 0.024 s−1 (2 mg catalyst), 0.023 s−1 (2 mg catalyst), and 0.008 s−1 (2 mg catalyst), respectively. The results show that Ag NPs-F-rGO nanocatalyst has good activity and recyclability, and can be reused several times without major loss of activity in the reduction process. The structure, morphology, and crystallinity phases of prepared nanocomposite (Ag NPs-F-rGO) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), respectively. The magnetic Ag NPs-F-rGO nanocomposite was prepared by adding Fe3O4 NPs and characterized by a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM).

Background and purpose: Kaempferol (KM), a flavonoid, has an anti-inflammatory and anticancer effect and prevents many metabolic diseases. Nonetheless, very few studies have been done on the antinociceptive effects of KM. This research aimed at assessing the involvement of opioids, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors, and inflammatory mediators in the antinociceptive effects of KM in male Wistar rats. Experimental approach: The intracerebroventricular and/or intrathecal administration of the compounds was done for examining their central impacts on the thermal and chemical pain by the tail-flick and formalin paw tests. For assessing the role of opioid and GABA receptors in the possible antinociceptive effects of KM, several antagonists were used. Also, a rotarod test was carried out for assessing motor performance. Findings/Results: The intracerebroventricular and/or intrathecal microinjections of KM (40 μg/rat) had partially antinociceptive effects in the tail-flick test in rats (P < 0.05). In the formalin paw model, the intrathecal microinjection of KM had antinociceptive effects in phase 1 (20 and 40 μg/rat; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and phase 2 (20 and 40 μg/rat; P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively). Using naloxonazine and/or bicuculline approved the involvement of opioid and GABA receptors in the central antinociceptive effects of KM, respectively. Moreover, KM reduced the expression levels of caspase 6, interleukin-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6. The antinociceptive effects of KM were not linked to variations in the locomotor activity. Conclusion and implications: It can be concluded that KM has remarkable antinociceptive effects at a spinal level, which is associated with the presence of the inflammatory state. These impacts were undetectable following injections in the lateral ventricle. The possible mechanisms of KM antinociception are possibly linked to various modulatory pathways, including opioid and GABA receptors.

Background: Lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) is a surrogate marker of systemic inflammation which is shown to be related to the patient’s survival in multiple malignancies. An important implication of this marker potentially is neoplasms in which there is no correlation between prognosis and histopathological staging and also has no reliable chemical markers associated with prognosis. Herein, this meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prognostic role of LMR in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Materials and Methods: In the current systemic review and meta-analysis, we conducted a systemic search of databases and indexing sources, including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and ProQuest up to May 2019 toinclude studies on the prognostic significance of LMR on patients with HCC. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) values were extracted from the studies and analyzed. The pooled hazard ratio with a 95% confidence interval was explored to identify the prognostic value of the LMR in the survival of the patients with HCC. Results: A total of 12 studies with a total sample size of 3750 cases were included. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies; therefore, subgroup analysis was also performed. Overall analysis regarding OS showed an insignificant relationship between LMR and patient’s prognosis, dividing to subgroups based on LMR cut-offs did not yield any significant result, subgroup analysis for RFS founded statistically significant results and LMR was significantly related to DFS. Conclusion: High LMR was associated with increased DFS and RFS, in return this association was not observed for OS. [GMJ.2020;9:e1948]

This study aimed at investigating the potential antifungal activity of low molecular weight peptides being a natural preservative generated from palm kernel cake (PKC) via solid state lacto-fermentation. Palm kernel cake was hydrolysed by L. casei generating a peptide mixture with a DH of 43.39% under predetermined optimum conditions of 5.6 days incubation, 3% glucose, and substrate/water ratio of 48/52 w/v. A total of 10 cationic peptides with molecular weight ranging from 932 to 1869 Da were identified by LC/MS-MS, in which 7 belonged to oil palm proteins and 3 de novo peptides biosynthesized by the microorganism during the fermentation process. The aqueous extract of the peptides mixture demonstrated strong antifungal activity against Aspergillus flavus (69.15%), Aspergillus niger (88.08%), Fusarium sp. (87.14%), and Penicillium sp. (71.84%). 1H-NMR spectroscopy results showed the presence of trace amounts of lactic and acetic acid, indicating that the antimicrobial activity was solely attributed by the low molecular weight peptides. The peptides mixture successfully delayed fungal growth, thus extending the shelf life of bread for up to 10 days when added to the bread at 2000 mg/kg. These findings indicated a promising application of the peptides mixture as a bio-preservative in extending the shelf life of bread.

Introduction: Health centers as one of the main urban services, and one of the key factors in assessing the feasibility of sustainable development in cities have a high sensitivity to location and choice of accommodation. Case Report: Shirvan is the largest city after the capital of the province in North Khorasan of Iran. On the southern edge of the city of Shirvan, there is a seasonal river between the city and Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Hospital. The need to build a solid bridge is essential for safe access to the hospital, which, unfortunately, has not been achieved. The constructed roundabout passes approximately one meter from the river floor. In the spring of 2019, there was heavy rainfall in most parts of the country, and the area was not poor. The rains blocked access to Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani Hospital as water flowed into the seasonal river. Conclusion: A hospital that should help itself to a crisis was itself a cause of the crisis in a short time.

A crisis is an unexpected and sometimes growing event that imposes problems on society and becomes an acute and unstable situation for individuals or society, the solution of which requires fundamental measures. In the history of Shiite Imamate, the years 203 to 260 AH (819 to 874 B. C.) are dedicated to the leadership and supervision of Ibna Al-Reza (PBUH), those Imamas who were the offsprings of Imam Reza (PBUH). Friendship with Imam Javad, Imam Hadi and Imam Askari (PBUH) was being led to consequences such as confiscation of property, dismissal from work, poverty and destitution. By taking measures and making decisions, Ibna al-Reza (PBUH) were able to improve the unfavorable economic situation of the Shiites. This article, which was organized by descriptive-analytical method, summarizes the actions of the late Shiite Imams in order to prevent and prepare confrontational and deterrent strategies in three stages: "before the crisis", "during the crisis" and "after the crisis". This article has categorized and introduced management principles that can be considered by citizens in the present era.

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of vitrectomy, membranectomy, and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling on macular thickness and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) in patients with refractory diffuse diabetic macular edema (DME) and non-tractional epiretinal membrane (NT-ERM). Methods: This prospective interventional case series included eyes with refractory DME (central subfield macular thickness [CSMT] > 300 μm) after at least two intravitreal injections of bevacizumab (IVB) and one intravitreal injection of triamcinolone (IVT), and accompanying NT-ERM. Complete ophthalmic examination, baseline spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), and fluorescein angiography (FA) were performed prior to 23 gauge pars plana vitrectomy with membranectomy and internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling. Postoperative evaluation was done with clinical examination and SD-OCT. Linear mix model analysis was used to study postoperative results. Results: Twelve eyes from 11 patients (5 males) with a mean age of 60.33 ± 9.01 (range 46–73 years) were included. The mean follow-up time was 13.5 ± 4.48 months (range 4–20 months). A significant reduction in CSMT was found (from 559 ± 89 μm to 354 ± 76 μm; P = 0.001), with a non-significant BCVA change (from 0.84 ± 0.32 logMAR to 0.72 ± 0.2 logMAR; P = 0.967). There was no significant correlation between CSMT and BCVA (partial correlation = −0.115, P = 0.445) and also between estimated mean CSMT change per month and estimated mean BCVA change per month (r = 0.337, P = 0.283). Conclusion: In this series, our results did not show that vitrectomy, membranectomy, and ILM peeling result in significant improvement of BCVA in eyes with refractory DME and non-tractional ERM in spite of central macular thickness reduction.

Electrodes for large-scale usage in vanadium redox flow battery are usually fabricated without any electrocatalyst due to the lack of good, viable options. The best performance is achieved of carbon-based materials. Recently, some researchers have been reported regarding the use of carbon nanotube as the electrocatalyst in the vanadium redox flow batteries. However, these researches have been carried out without making any comparison between the performance of the traditional method and the carbon nanotube electrocatalyst. In the present study, the loading of multi-walled carbon nanotube, the acid–heat treatment, and their combination were used to modify the carbon felt electrode to be applied in the vanadium redox flow battery. The obtained results showed better electrochemical properties for acid–heat-treated carbon felt electrode compared to the carbon nanotube-loaded one. The best electrode was obtained for using in a vanadium redox flow battery in terms of electrochemical and surface properties after applying a combination of two modification strategies. Applying this proposed method in modification of the carbon felt electrode increased its hydrophilicity more than 17 times and its capability to absorb VOSO4 solution more than eight times. Also, the charge transfer resistance of a modified electrode, by the combination of the carbon nanotube and the acid–heat treatment, significantly decreased in both positive and negative poles of vanadium redox flow battery. Consequently, the exchange current density enhanced more than 100- and 175-fold in positive and negative poles, respectively, in comparison with carbon felt electrode.