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Tourism has experienced a continuous growth in recent decades. Modern tourism has become a driving force for regional development and has included an increasing number of new tourist destinations. The present article seeks to investigate the effect of tourism experience on loyalty with respect to the mediating role of satisfaction, quality of customer relationship and image of destination. This is an applied survey research and descriptive in terms of methodology. The statistical population includes individuals who have traveled at least three times for the purpose of tourism inside and outside the country during the year and since the number of these people were high; the convenience sampling was used to collect the data. After distributing 384 questionnaires among the statistical population, 373 questionnaires were collected, and the obtained data were analyzed. Results of the analyses of the data using Structural Equation Modeling and Partial Least Squares method suggested significant and positive effect of experience on satisfaction, loyalty on destination, loyalty on ecotourism and image of destination. Furthermore, results suggested a significant and positive effect of destination image on destination loyalty, loyalty to ecotourism and satisfaction, satisfaction on customer relationship quality, loyalty to destination and to ecotourism, while the effect of satisfaction on loyalty to ecotourism was not confirmed.

Toxoplasmosis is an important health concern for people and farm animals, leading to many studies on its effects on these populations. Despite this, there is a lack of research on the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among horses in Iran. This study aims to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis using the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) in northwest Iran horses. In this study, blood samples were taken from 385 horses in Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan provinces. Data regarding the age, gender, and location of each horse was documented to assess their impact on the prevalence of toxoplasmosis. The data was analyzed using the chi-square test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Of the 385 samples, 34 (8.8%) were positive for Toxoplasma gondii. Among the 271 male and 114 female horses, 24 (8.9%) and 10 (8.8%) were seropositive, respectively. Of the 116 horses under and 269 over five years old, 15 (12.9%) and 19 (7.1%) were seropositive, respectively. The prevalence rates in Ardabil, East Azerbaijan, and West Azerbaijan were 11.7% (18 out of 154), 5.1% (7 out of 136), and 9.5% (9 out of 95), respectively. According to the statistical analysis, there were no significant differences in the prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection based on age, gender, or sampling location. This study is the first extensive report on the toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among horses in northwest Iran. The results provide important information that can help control and prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease that poses both health and economic risks. It is endemic in many developing countries, such as Iran. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Brucella abortus infection in native horses in the suburbs of Tabriz, Iran, using serological methods. Blood samples were collected from 141 apparently healthy horses, 45 of which were less than five years old, and 96 were more than five years old. Additionally, 35 were female and 106 were male. The Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), Standard Tube Agglutination Test (STAT), 2-Mercaptoetanole (2-ME) test, and indirect ELISA (i-ELISA) were used to detect the presence of Brucella abortus infection in serum samples. The results showed that 4.96%, 3.54%, and 9.2% of the samples were positive for RBPT, STAT, and i-ELISA tests, respectively. The 2-ME test indicated the presence of IgG in the five serum samples. Of the thirteen positive samples in the i-ELISA test, eight cases (61.5%) were more than five years old, and the remaining five cases (38.5%) were under five years old. Out of thirteen positive cases, four cases (30.8%) were females, and nine cases (69.2%) were males. No significant relationship was found between Brucella abortus-infected cases and the age and gender of the horses. The findings suggest the presence of Brucella abortus contamination in native horses in the study area, emphasizing the importance of considering these animals in control and eradication programs for Brucellosis in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tissue engineering provides novel methods for a wide variety of skin injuries, among which, the electrospun nanofibers have attracted special attention for wound dressing fabrications. In this research, we have fabricated scaffolds based on Poly l-lactic acid (PLLA) and Polyethylene oxide (PEO) polymers and have loaded the hybrid PLLA/PEO with active substances, Argireline and Dexpanthenol. The five categories of nanofiber scaffolds were prepared by electrospinning: (1) PLLA, (2) PLLA/PEO hybrid scaffold, (3) PLLA/PEO hybrid scaffold loaded with Argireline (PLLA/PEO/A), (4) PLLA/PEO hybrid scaffold loaded with Dexpanthenol (PLLA/PEO/D), (5) PLLA/PEO hybrid scaffold loaded with Argireline and Dexpanthenol (PLLA/PEO/A/D). Our SEM analysis of the electrospun nanofibers shows that all nanofibers are bead-free and are in the range of 200–600 nm. The static water contact angle measurements via the sessile drop method have shown a transition from a hydrophobic surface for the PLLA scaffold (CA = 118.43 ± 1.6°) to a hydrophilic surface for PLLA/PEO hybrid scaffold (CA = 35.5 ± 2.8°). The addition of Argireline, Dexpanthenol, and a mixture of both has been shown to improve this wettability even further. The electrospun nanofiber scaffolds were further analyzed for their air permeability, and mechanical properties. The cytocompatibility analysis indicated superior performance for PLLA/PEO loaded with both Argireline and Dexpanthenol. The in-vivo analysis was conducted on the second-degree burn rat models in six different studied groups: 1-healthy rat, 2-negative control, and rats treated with 3-PLLA/PEO, 4-PLLA/PEO/A, 5-PLLA/PEO/D, and 6-PLLA/PEO/A/D. The wound area reduction was assessed on day 3, day 7, and day 14 in all groups along with the histology analysis based on hematoxylin/eosin. Our results show that rats treated with PLLA/PEO/A/D not only have a great reduction in the wound area, but their histology analysis demonstrates high angiogenesis and collagen formation, and epithelialization. We believe the existence of both active substances has a synergic effect on the wound healing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lidocaine toxicity is caused by unintended intravascular injection or overdose. Lidocaine is metabolized in the liver by the CYP3A4 isoenzyme. The objective was to investigate if the administration of rifampin could accelerate animal recovery and reduce the symptoms of lidocaine toxicity by induction of the CYP3A4. Thirty-six male rats were divided into control and treatment groups, each containing three subgroups. The treatment group received oral rifampin suspension daily for 1 week. In all rats, 2.00% lidocaine was injected intravenously. The first subgroup was monitored for neurological symptoms. In the second subgroup, data were recorded after the electrode was placed in the right hippocampus. Electrocardiograms were taken from the third subgroup. CYP3A4 was measured using an ELISA kit. Neurological recovery was seen after 22 and 15 min in the control and treatment groups, respectively. Rifampin also caused a significant reduction in amplitude and number of field action potentials compared to the control group. Numerous cardiac arrhythmias were observed in the control group. The mean level of CYP3A4 in the treatment group was significantly higher than in the control group. In conclusion, oral rifampin could increase the synthesis of CYP3A4, therefore, the animal recovery from lidocaine toxicity was accelerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry has seen increased efforts toward achieving dry mineral separation owing to current and projected water scarcity and environmental problems associated with conventional wet processing methods. Commercially available dry coal separation technologies such as air tables and air jigs have proven effective in cleaning only the +6.35 mm while the −6.35 mm comprised of coal and impurities is discarded or used without further cleaning. To address this issue, a new density-based dry separator named SIU Airtable was developed. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the fine coal (6.35 × 1 mm) dry cleaning performance of the developed air table. The study also sought to evaluate the dry screening performance of the Liwell flip-flow screen to achieve efficient size separations at 1 and 2 mm. Two different Illinois No. 6 coal samples were used to optimize the new air table by varying its operating variables. The analysis of separation efficiency showed similar trends for both coal samples based on the cut point density (SG50) and probable error (Ep). Additionally, separation efficiency was significantly higher for the 6.35 × 3.36 mm size fraction and reduced when the size range was broadened to 6.35 × 1 mm. Product coal ash of 13.8–14.5% and tailings ash of 52.9–59.7% were achieved from the feed ash of 31–36%. Screening experiments on the Liwell flip-flow screen showed an efficiency of 88.7% and 85.1% achieved for the 1-mm and 2-mm polyurethane panels, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Introduction: Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are suggested to have some beneficial effects on the brain. In the present study the protective effects against brain tissues oxidative damage as possible mechanism for learning and memory improving effects of captopril was investigated in scopolamine treated rats. Methods: Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups and treated: saline as a control group, Sco (scopolamine) and Sco-Capto10, 50 and 100 (captopril 10, 50 and 100mg/kg before scopolamine). Treatment was passive avoidance test and then the cortical tissues were collected to measure malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, thiol, super oxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). Results: Scopolamine decreased the latency to enter the dark in passive avoidance test compared to control group. It also increased MDA and NO metabolites while decreased thiol, SOD and CAT in comparison with control group. Captopril increased the latency to enter the dark. It also decreased MDA and NO metabolites while, increased thiol, SOD and CAT. Conclusion: Captopril protected brain tissues oxidative damage and improved learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoscaled quantum dots (QDs), with unique optical properties have been used for the development of theranostics. Here, InP/ZnS QDs were synthesised and functionalised with folate (QD-FA), D-glucosamine (QD-GA) or both (QD-FA-GA). The bi-functionalised QDs were further conjugated with doxorubicin (QD-FA-GA-DOX). Optimum Indium to fatty acid (In:MA) ratio was 1:3.5. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrographs revealed spherical morphology for the QDs (11 nm). Energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) spectrum confirmed the chemical composition of the QDs. MTT analysis in the OVCAR-3 cells treated with bare QDs, QD-FA, QD-GA, QD-FA-GA and QD-FA-GA-DOX (0.2 mg/mL of QDs) after 24 h indicated low toxicity for the bare QDs and functionalised QDs (about 80–90% cell viability). QD-FA-GA-DOX nanoparticles elicited toxicity in the cells. Cellular uptake of the engineered QDs were investigated in both folate receptor (FR)-positive OVCAR-3 cells and FR-negative A549 cells using fluorescence microscopy and FACS flow cytometry. The FA-functionalised QDs showed significantly higher uptake in the FR-positive OVCAR-3 cells, nonetheless the GA-functionalised QDs resulted in an indiscriminate uptake in both cell lines. In conclusion, our findings indicated that DOX-conjugated FA-armed QDs can be used as theranostics for simultaneous imaging and therapy of cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]