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The severe respiratory effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have necessitated the immediate development of novel treatments. The majority of COVID-19-related fatalities are due to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Consequently, this virus causes massive and aberrant inflammatory conditions, which must be promptly managed. Severe respiratory disorders, notably ARDS and acute lung injury (ALI), may be treated safely and effectively using cell-based treatments, mostly employing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Since the high potential of these cells was identified, a great deal of research has been conducted on their use in regenerative medicine and complementary medicine. Multiple investigations have demonstrated that MSCs and their products, especially exosomes, inhibit inflammation. Exosomes serve a critical function in intercellular communication by transporting molecular cargo from donor cells to receiver cells. MSCs and their derived exosomes (MSCs/MSC-exosomes) may improve lung permeability, microbial and alveolar fluid clearance, and epithelial and endothelial repair, according to recent studies. This review focuses on COVID-19-related ARDS clinical studies involving MSCs/MSC-exosomes. We also investigated the utilization of Nano-delivery strategies for MSCs/MSC-exosomes and anti-inflammatory agents to enhance COVID-19 treatment.

Abstract Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) contributes to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Traditional metrics like body mass index (BMI) have limitations in discerning fat distribution. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of traditional and novel anthropometric indices in metabolic syndrome and its components in the south coast of Iran. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 2694 adults aged 35 to 70 were included. Comprehensive anthropometric and biochemical data were collected and analyzed. There were eight anthropometric indices evaluated in this study, including a body shape index (ABSI), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), body roundness index (BRI), abdominal volume index (AVI), weight-adjusted waist index (WWI) and waist-height ratio (WHtR). Results WHtR (AUC: 0.766 for males, 0.799 for females), BRI (AUC: 0.766 for males, 0.799 for females), and AVI (AUC: 0.769 for males, 0.793 for females) were the best predictors of MetS. ABSI had the weakest correlation with metabolic variables. Conclusions AVI, WHtR, BRI, and WHR were superior to other measures as anthropometric indexes for determining MetS and its components. The study contributes valuable insights into the utility of traditional and novel metrics in clinical practice, highlighting the need for standardized diagnostic approaches and further research in diverse populations.

Background & Aims: The thyroid gland, a small butterfly-shaped organ in the neck, regulates the body’s metabolism. Disruptions in its function can lead to various health issues, including fatigue, weight changes, and cardiovascular problems. In hemodialysis patients, thyroid function is even more crucial. Hemodialysis, a treatment for kidney failure, filters waste and excess fluid from the blood, potentially affecting various bodily systems, including the endocrine system. This study examines the effect of thyroid function on hemodialysis. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, dialysis patients were classified into three groups: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, and euthyroid. The levels of thyroid and parathyroid hormones, serum electrolytes, clinical symptoms, laboratory results, and blood pressure of the patients in these groups were compared. Results: There was no significant difference between the number of dialysis sessions and thyroid function. The serum calcium level was significantly higher in hypothyroid patients than in euthyroid and hyperthyroid patients. There were no significant differences in weight changes before and after dialysis considering the participants’ sex and age (P = 0.227 and P = 0.457). Moreover, there were no significant differences in the number of dialysis sessions (P = 0.508), systolic (P = 0.419), and diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.559), or in the serum level of parathormone in patients with different thyroid functions (P = 0.103). However, the serum level of phosphorus was significantly higher in hyperthyroid patients than in normal patients and lower than in hypothyroid patients (P = 0.049). The hemoglobin concentration was higher in hyperthyroid patients than in other groups (P = 0.021). Conclusion: The changes in calcium, hemoglobin, and parathormone levels in hemodialysis patients with different thyroid function statuses showed significant differences. These differences are believed to be caused by high bone metabolism in dialysis patients. Evaluating these parameters in dialysis patients is recommended, highlighting the need for regular thyroid function screening among these patients.

Background: Epidural hematoma (EDH) and subdural hematoma (SDH) are common complications after traumatic brain injury. Intracranial hematomas can be without complications or associated with life-threatening conditions, including midline shift, cerebral edema, intracerebral ischemia, and increased intracranial pressure. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of EDH and SDH in patients with head trauma attending the emergency department. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 146 patients with head trauma referred to the Emergency Department of Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, in 2021. Patients’ data, including age, gender, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) on admission, mechanism of trauma, type of hematoma, length of intensive care unit (ICU) stay, outcome (recovery/death), and neurosurgery requirements were extracted from their medical files. Results: The mean age of the participants was 20.97±15.05 years, of whom 114 (78.1%) were male. EDH and SDH were observed in 7.5% and 11% of patients, respectively. The most common mechanism of trauma was traffic accidents (39%), followed by falls (28.1%) and assaults (13%). Moreover, 11% of the patients needed neurosurgical intervention. Most patients recovered (95.9%), and 4.1% died. The mean GCS on admission was 13.47±2.34. Furthermore, SDH was significantly higher in the patients who died (P=0.001) and those aged≥18 years (P=0.028). Conclusion: The results of the current study showed a higher prevalence of SDH compared to that of EDH. Both hematoma types appeared to correlate with the mechanism of trauma, ICU admission, GCS on admission, and neurosurgery requirement, while SDH was associated with age and death.

Due to environmental concerns and considering the petroleum resources, the bio-based materials have recently attracted more attention both in academia and industries. In addition to environmental sustainability and renewability, the bio-based adhesives have shown some competing advantages with respect to fossil-based products. This article covers the advantages and challenges of bio-based adhesives. The main advantages of bio-based adhesives include their less greenhouse gas emission, lower volatile organic compounds (VOC), lower environmental and human toxicity. The bio-based adhesives show higher tendency to biodegradability, which may be considered as their strong aspect compared to fossil-based resources. The bio-based materials may be incorporated in adhesive formulation through direct usage of biopolymer, in the form of building blocks and/or reactive monomer, and in the form of adhesive formulation additives. In bio-based adhesives, the pioneering technologies belong to fabrication of paper and different wooden products using starch and/or protein-based adhesives. The main goal was to remove as much as possible the harmful emitting formaldehyde gases during fabrication and product service life. The modification of bio-resource materials through introduction of new functionalities in the molecular architecture may bring some specific properties. There are many reports on the effect of various vegetable oils on the improved hydrophobicity in epoxy and polyurethane adhesives. The bio-based vegetable oils and cashew nut shell liquids now have acquired reliable position in adhesive and coating market. Recent investigations on some specific bio-resource structures such as lignin and tannin with complex structures have shown promising results for the improved thermal and antibacterial activities in adhesive formulation. In order to make a strong decision on the effectiveness of the bio-based adhesives, much investigations on different biological/economical aspects of bio-based materials are needed to achieve this goal.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of disability and mortality worldwide; therefore, finding efficient alternative treatments to control the disease and improve patients’ neurological symptoms is of paramount importance. The current study aimed to investigate the efficacy of adding ozone therapy to classic treatment in improving neurological symptoms and serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) as well as high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (HS-CRP) in the rehabilitation phase of patients with ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: This interventional study was performed on 72 patients with stroke. Using Random Allocation Software, the participants were divided into two groups: control (medical treatment and physiotherapy, n=36) and intervention (ozone therapy plus medical treatment and physiotherapy, n=36). Ozone therapy was performed by major autohemotherapy using the standard protocol. Disease severity was determined by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Scale (MRS) at the beginning and end of the study. TNF-α and HS-CRP serum levels were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). This research project was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT20200202046342N1). Results: The results of the study showed a significant decrease in the NIHSS score and HS-CRP as well as TNF-ɑ serum levels in the patients receiving both classic and ozone treatments compared to those receiving only classic treatment (P

This study introduces an indirect approach to find the solutions of the fractional Bessel differential equation using fractional Bernoulli functions and Caputo’s fractional derivative. This method transforms the problem into a nonlinear system of algebraic equations. The existence and uniqueness of the solution for the problem are proved. Moreover, operational matrices for fractional derivatives and time-fractional integration are constructed. These operational matrices, together with the least square approximation technique, are used to reduce the problem to a nonlinear system of algebraic equations. Newton’s iterative method is applied to solve the nonlinear algebraic equations. The convergence analysis and the error estimate of the proposed method are also provided. This study demonstrates the effectiveness and the significance of the proposed method for obtaining approximate fractional solutions and for researchers in related fields or specific areas. Four examples are given to illustrate the accuracy and the performance of the proposed method.

Abstract Background COVID-19, an emerging disease raised as a pandemic, urgently needed treatment choices. Some options have been confirmed as lifesaving treatments, but long-term complications must be clearly illustrated. Bacterial endocarditis is a less frequent disease among patients infected with SARS_COV_2 compared to other cardiac comorbidities in these patients. This case report discusses bacterial endocarditis as a potential adverse effect after administering tocilizumab, corticosteroids, and COVID-19 infection. Case presentation In the first case, a 51-year-old Iranian female housewife was admitted to the hospital with fever, weakness, and monoarthritis symptoms. The second case is a 63-year-old Iranian woman who is a housewife admitted with weakness, shortness of breath, and extreme sweating. Both cases tested positive for Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) less than one month ago and were treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroid. Both patients were suspected of infective endocarditis. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was detected in the blood cultures of both patients. The diagnosis of endocarditis is confirmed for both cases. Cases are subjected to open-heart surgery, a mechanical valve is placed, and they are treated with medication. In subsequent visits, their condition was reported to be improving. Conclusion Adjacent to cardiovascular inclusion as COVID-19 disease complications, secondary infection taken after the organisation of immunocompromising specialists can result in basic maladies and conditions counting infective endocarditis.

Abstract Background Due to lower antioxidant capacity and higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids, ram spermatozoa are very susceptible during cooling process. Objectives The objective was to examine the effect of the trans‐ferulic acid (t‐FA) on the ram semen during liquid preservation. Methods Semen samples were collected from the Qezel rams, pooled, and extended with the Tris‐based diluent. Pooled samples enriched with different amounts of the t‐FA (0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 25 mM) and preserved at 4°C for 72 h. Spermatozoa's kinematics, membrane functionality, and viability were assessed by CASA system, hypoosmotic swelling test, and eosin‐nigrosin staining, respectively. Moreover, biochemical parameters were measured at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h. Results Results showed that 5 and 10 mM t‐FA improved forward progressive motility (FPM) and curvilinear velocity compared to the other groups at 72 h (p < 0.05). Samples treated with 25 mM t‐FA showed the lowest total motility, FPM, and viability at 24, 48, and 72 h of storage (p < 0.05). Higher total antioxidant activity levels were observed in the 10 mM t‐FA‐treated group compared to the negative control at 72 h (p < 0.05). Treatment with 25 mM t‐FA increased malondialdehyde amounts and decreased superoxide dismutase activity compared to other groups at the final time assessment (p < 0.05). Nitrate‐nitrite and lipid hydroperoxides values were not affected by treatment. Conclusions The current study indicates the positive and negative influences of different concentrations of t‐FA on the ram semen upon cold storage.

Background & Aims: SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus type that first appeared in Wuhan, China, and caused a pandemic of respiratory diseases from the end of 2019. Severe infections of this virus can cause incorrect adjustments of cytokine and chemokine responses, which ultimately causes damage to the lung tissue. Corticosteroids are a class of drugs that reduce inflammation and immune system activities in the body. For this reason, many doctors and researchers thought of using corticosteroid treatments to control the cytokine storm. Materials & Methods: In this retrospective descriptive cross-sectional study, the files of Covid-19 patients who were admitted to Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Bandar Abbas, Iran, were examined. On the basis of the severity, the patients were grouped into two groups of moderate and severe patients. Patients in each group were then sub-categorized into high dose and low dose, according to the received dose of corticosteroids. Then we investigated the effect of different doses of corticosteroids on the course of recovery of Covid-19 cases. Results: In the severe group, the patients who received high-dose of corticosteroids had a higher mortality rate as compared to the low-dose group. In both the severe and moderate groups, the LDH level of the patients who received low doses of corticosteroids at the time of discharge were significantly less compared to those who received high doses. In the moderate group, the percentage of lymphocytes in the low-dose corticosteroid group was considerably higher compared to the high-dose corticosteroid group at the time of discharge. Conclusion: According to the results, in the case of patients with moderate clinical severity, a low dose of corticosteroids improved the disease, but in the case of patients with severe clinical severity, the results were contradictory, which may be caused by interference of other factors such as underlying diseases, the severity of the illness, etc. in the severe group.

IntroductionSemiotics has provided researchers in the immediate past years with a tool for analyzing, understanding, and criticism of literary texts and discovery of hidden meanings. Semiotics has tried to unveil, decipher, and discover the deep meanings behind the structure. Amal Donqol (a contemporary Egyptian poet) and Siavash Kasraei (an Iranian poet) lived in their turbulent times. Political and social disorders intensively influenced the content and structure of their poems. The comparative semiotic study investigates meticulously and in detail the works of the Egyptian and Iranian poets considering hope and despair. It hopes to have a better and deeper understanding of the poets’ thoughts and spirits and their influence on their poems. Moreover, the study makes the ground for better presenting of the similarities and differences of their attitudes, as they live in rather similar conditions.Using the semiotics of the application of time, place, and myths, the study investigated the duality of despair and hope in some poems of the two poets regarding the structure and poetic language. It tried to answer the question that how despair and hope have been presented in the poems and in mentioned components and how their poetic and artistic manifestations are. Method This descriptive-analytic study was done within the American framework of comparative literature. DiscussionSemiology (or semiotics) is a new type of criticism that has had a great impact on literary studies and related research. This field of study interprets literary texts according to such criteria and layers as time, place, intertextuality, narration, character, etc. This study explored the place, time, and mythical characters to show the appearance of hope and despair in the selected poems. The components work as codes for the poet through which he shows his inner feelings and imposes positive or negative meaning upon them. The analysis of the signs unveils the hidden layers of meanings in a literary text and familiars readers with the world, thoughts, and feelings of its writer.Time and place as signs and their signified are various and wide in literary texts and important for reading texts. The poets have used many words showing place and time. In many cases, adverbs showing the place in Donqol and Kasraei's poems lose the characteristic of being adverb of place and become a signifier having specific signifiers. The time adverbs have also been used in this way as their poems shows the change many times. The words become positively or negatively marked as they convey the poets’ feelings. These words convey meanings different from their place and time meanings, which engages the readership with one of the dualities of despair or hope. Myth is also an important component that imposes meaning on the meaning in works of both poets. Using and recreating the myths, the poets communicate their ideals and spirits to the audience. Conclusion- The study investigated the duality of despair or hope in the poems of two poets based on the application of some components of the semiotics of time, place, and myths. The socio-political conditions that the two poets live in seem to be the same and their poems protest against their contemporary situation, but based on the mentioned examples one can say that when the poems have been composed, when death and despair were dominant in the mental space of poets, he optimistically expected a bright future, whereas death and despair are always dominant in Amal Danqol's poems.- As a result of the different views of the poets, time, place, and myth have a hopeful and liberating application in the poems. In Amal's poems, however, the place, time, and myth components become nightmares of fear and failure, as a result of his sad and desperate creations.- Finally, looking from semiotic analysis, it can be concluded that the fully optimistic and hopeful poems of Siavash Kasraei sometimes lack poetic fantasy and becomes similar to prose, making it a weakness of the poems. On the contrary, Amal Danqol's poems, though exaggerates in expressing darkness, they are totally strong and surprising sometimes regarding poetic beauties, creating new meanings, and linguistic deviations. -

Novel approaches have been implemented to fabricate wound dressings including electrospinning of hydrogels, and coating-based nonwoven hydrogels. In this study, only the coating technique was studied in order to fabricate wound dressing. For this purpose, nonwoven cotton fabrics were coated with layer-by-layer PNaA (poly sodium acrylate) and poly 2-Acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid (PAMPS). Microwave techniques were then implemented to create an antibacterial activity using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). For the characterization, the physical, mechanical and antibacterial properties of the different samples and to determine potential wound dressing candidates, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), swelling, and water vapor permeability (WVP) tests as well as contact angle measurements with water were performed. The application of microwave techniques using CTAB on the fabricated nonwoven-based wound dressings showed potential results of creating an efficient antibacterial activity with high fibroblast cell viability. The in vitro aspirin release experiment confirmed that the release amount depended on the number of hydrogel layers. The results of physical and mechanical tests showed that coated nonwoven with layers of hydrogels had the desired strength along breathability, flexibility, and wettability. These cumulative results indicate that the fabricated structures in this work are good potential candidates for wound dressing applications.

In this paper, we prove the existence of a positive solution for some equations involving multiplication of concave (possibly nonlinear) operators. Also, we provide a successively sequence to approximate the solution for such equations. This kind of the solution is necessary for quadratic differential and integral equations.

The new coronavirus was first identified in China in December 2019 and then, it created a widespread pandemic around the world. There is currently no definitive cure for it and it will not be possible to make a vaccine soon. Pathogenic mechanism of the virus includes virus entry, binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptors on the surface of host cells, proliferation, membrane fusion, assembly, subsequent infection, cytokine secretion, and the host immune response to the virus. By identifying at what stage the patient is, possible effective drugs can be used to control each stage. Therefore, identifying the mechanism of action of the virus in different stages of the disease makes it possible to use the appropriate drug for each stage of the disease and control the disease.

Background: In general, although the placenta is a good barrier to prevent infections, several cases of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) transmission have been reported during pregnancy. Moreover, considering the potential for vertical maternal-fetal transmission, there is a concern that the fetus is at risk for congenital COVID-19. The aim of the present review and systematic study was to investigate the possibility of the vertical transmission of COVID-19 during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum using available data. Methods: Studies conducted by February 12, 2021 were included in this systematic review study. Articles were searched in Medline, Magiran, SID, Civilica, Irandoc, ScienceDirect, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar using English keywords such as "Coronavirus", "COVID-19, "SARS-CoV-2", "Vertical intrauterine transmission", "Vertical transmission", "Vertical fetal infection", "Maternal infection", and "Fetal infection". The inclusion criterion included all observational studies related to vertical maternal-fetal transmission. Overall, 31 articles were completely analyzed after reviewing and deleting non-eligible and duplicate articles. Results: The results of reviewing 24 studies showed that collected samples were all negative but positive blood samples, immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG antibodies, and expression of placental factors were reported in seven studies. Conclusion: Although contradictory results were found in this study, the results of the samples revealed the lowest probability of vertical transmission. There was also no evidence confirming the effectiveness of cesarean section in reducing the rate of transmission. In general, adherence to hygienic protocols can have a significant impact on reducing neonatal incidence.

ومن الأمور التي تتطرق إليها نظرة الإمام علي (ع) الأخلاقية والمعنویة الانتباه إلى الموت، وهو ما يظهر في كثير من الأحيان في كلامه، والنقطة المهمة هي كيفية تفسير وتحليل وشرح مبدأ الموت في اتجاه التربية الأخلاقية للجميع، نظرًا لأن هذا المفهوم المعنوی وأمثلته هي مفاهيم ذهنیة، فإن الطريقة التي يفهمها بها البشر مثيرة للتفكير، ويستخدم الذهن البشري طرقًا مختلفة لفهمه والتحدث عنه، وتعتبر النظرية المعاصرة في الاستعارة هي إحدى النظريات المهمة التي يمكن أن تفسر هذه القضية بشكل جيد. نظرًا لأن نهج هذا المقال معرفي، واللغة هي المفتاح الوحيد لفتح الشفرات المعرفية، فإننا نعتمد أيضًا على البيانات اللغوية في هذا البحث ونمر عبر عدسة المعاني اللغوية لفك رموز المفاهيم الذهنیة للإمام علي (ع). يهدف هذا البحث إلى فحص جميع الخرائط المتعلقة بالمجالات المفهومیة للموت في رسالات الإمام علي (ع) بناءً على الاستعارة المفهومیة بالمنهج الوصفي- التحليلي.

Abstract Background The short- and medium-term outcomes of iStent have been extensively studied; however, only few studies have investigated its long-term outcomes. Here, we assessed the long-term efficacy and safety of two iStents with concomitant cataract surgery in glaucomatous eyes while also evaluating measures of disease stability using visual field and optical coherence tomography (OCT) of the optic nerve and the macula throughout 8 years of follow-up. Methods This longitudinal, single-center consecutive case series included glaucomatous eyes that underwent implantation of two first-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent) with concomitant cataract surgery. Eight-year efficacy outcomes included mean intraocular pressure (IOP) and medications, as well as surgical success. Eight-year safety outcomes included best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), visual field mean deviation (VF-MD), cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GC-IPL) thickness, and adverse events. Results A total of 62 eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) were included. At 8 years postoperative, IOP reduced by 26% from 19.2 ± 3.9 mmHg preoperatively to 14.2 ± 2.4 mmHg (P

While the potential of Dynamic Assessment (DA) and its variants (Computerized Dynamic Assessment (CDA) and Group Dynamic Assessment (GDA)) for EFL classrooms has been recognized, there is a lack of research on its practical implementation compared to the well-established field of Summative Assessment (SA). Thus, the objective of this qualitative study was to investigate the evolving perspectives of EFL teachers concerning the integration of DA and SA within their classrooms. To achieve this, 50 EFL teachers in Iran were recruited through convenience sampling to complete an online open-ended questionnaire. The primary purpose was to explore their familiarity with, perceptions of practicality for, and preferences regarding DA and SA. Additionally, a sub-group of volunteer participants was requested to provide narratives detailing their real-world classroom experiences using DA and SA. Content and thematic analysis of the responses revealed that the majority of participants were familiar with DA, with the most commonly employed type being GDA. While DA was predominantly viewed as a form of feedback, SA was still seen as a more formal means of classroom assessment. Consequently, it is highly recommended that EFL teachers exploit the advantages of both assessment approaches in order to ensure more equitable decisions concerning students' abilities.

Globally, it is estimated that 43 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), and there are more than 600,000 acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths in 2020. The only way to increase the life expectancy of these patients right now is to use combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) for the lifetime. Due to the integration of the HIV-1 DNA in lymphocytes, the replication of the virus can only be reduced by using antiretroviral drugs. If the drug is stopped, the virus will replicate and reduce the number of lymphocytes. In recent years, the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated endonuclease Cas9-mediated genome editing system has been considered, preventing HIV-1 replication by causing DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) or disrupting the integrated virus replication by targeting the provirus. In this study, we utilized the CRISPR/Cas9 without the nuclear localization signal sequence (w/o NLS) system to inhibit the VSV-G-pseudotyped HIV-1 replication by targeting the HIV-1 DNA as a prophylactic method. To this end, we designed a multiplex gRNA (guide RNA) cassette to target the pol, env, and nef/long terminal repeat (nef/LTR) regions of the HIV-1 genome and then cloned it in plasmid expressing no-NLS-Cas9 protein as an all-in-one CRISPR/Cas9 vector. Using HIV-1 pseudovirus transduction into HEK-293T cell lines, our results showed that the CRISPR/Cas9-no NLS system disrupts the pseudotyped HIV-1 DNA and significantly (P-value < 0.0001) decreases the p24 antigen shedding and viral RNA load in cell culture supernatants harvested 48h after virus transduction. Although these results revealed the potential of the CRISPR/Cas9-no NLS nuclease system as a prophylactic strategy against HIV-1 infections, due to inefficient impairments of HIV-1 DNA, further studies are required to enhance its effectiveness and application in clinical practice.

Hypothesis: Proper dispersion of silica nanoparticles in epoxy resin leads to promising improvements in mechanical and thermal properties of nanocomposite. A comparative s‌tudy of dispersion between GPOSS-modified silica nanoparticles and neat silica nanoparticles shows a measure of GPOSS efficiency in dispersion of silica nanoparticles.Methods: Nanoparticle dispersion was inves‌tigated through polymer cumulative behavior such as rheological parameters and viscosity measurement. Using the ultrasonic technique, a pre-dispersed compound containing 20 %wt silica nanoparticles and GPOSS was firs‌t prepared. The pre-dispersed compound was then diluted to a final percentage of silica nanoparticles of 2, 5 and 10 %wt. An atomic force microscope (AFM) was also used to further inves‌tigate the dispersion of silica nanoparticles in the pre-dispersed compound.Findings: According to the rheometry tes‌t results, all samples with pre-dispersed compound showed lower viscosity than their corresponding counterparts. It seems that the GPOSS is able to lower the composition viscosity through minimizing interfacial interactions between silica nanoparticles as well as possible interactions between epoxy chains and silica nanoparticles. In comparison with the sample prepared without pre-dispersed compound, the viscosity of the composition containing 10% (wt) silica nanoparticles was dras‌tically reduced, i.e. from 246000 cP to 39000 cP. AFM surface images of the pre-dispersed compound represent the presence of particles with a s‌tatis‌tical accuracy of 95% in the range of 12 nm to 20 nm, proving that the silica nanoparticles are well dispersed in GPOSS. The interes‌ting finding of this s‌tudy was that a pre-dispersed compound of GPOSS and silica nanoparticles not only improves the dispersion of silica nanoparticles and hence the final mechanical properties, but also improves the easy use through reducing the viscosity of the epoxy-based composition.

Hypothesis: Adhesives and sealants based on modified silane polymer (MS polymer) are increasingly gaining market share in adhesive and sealant market place due to their desirable performance in various applications. Methods: In order to find the most optimal adhesive processing parameters, different stages of aluminum surface treatment in three stages were investigated, including the surface degreasing, sanding and priming. In this manner, the performance of four different types of degreasing agents and two kinds of silane-based primers were investigated individually. The optimum bond line thickness was also determined through adhesive joint shear strength. The effect of different degreasing agents and silane-based primers were evaluated through lap-shear strength. The effect of adhesive layer thickness was studied through lap-shear strength and cleavage strength tests.Findings: Optimum bond line thickness was determined at 0.5 mm based on the results of the adhesive shear strength, whereas the results of the fracture toughness indicated 1.25 mm as the optimum adhesive layer thickness. The lower adhesive strength in thicker bond lines may well be due to the possible formation of air traps and lower constrained effect of the substrate. Therefore, the least requirements for aluminum surface treatment was surface degreasing followed by sanding which results in a transition from adhesive fracture mode to cohesive fracture. The use of two kinds of silane-based primers containing the amine group, triethoxy silylpropylamine (APS) and the other with epoxy group, glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GPS) was more efficient in improving joint durability even after 2500 h cyclic aging with the more pronounced results for the APS.

BACKGROUND: Early resumption of ovarian activity after parturition could positively influence the fertility of dairy cows. Ovulation of the first postpartum follicular wave and formation of corpus luteum that secretes progesterone can sub-stantially benefit the resumption of ovarian cyclicity in cows. In this regard, the presence of a dominant follicle in the ovary before day 10 postpartum could enhance ovulation rate in the first postpartum follicular wave. Pregnant mare serum gon-adotropin (PMSG) is one of the hormones with the potential to improve the growth of follicles. OBJECTIVES: Accordingly, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of PMSG injection six days after parturition on reproductive parameters in dairy cows. METHODS: The subjects were randomly assigned to the two groups of control (N=74) and treatment (N=79). Cows in the control group received no treatment, while animals in the treatment group received 500 IU PMSG on day six postpartum. In both experimental groups, cows were subjected to Presynch-Ovsynch protocol 30-35 days postpartum. The subjects that experienced estrus during the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol were inseminated. On the other hand, the cows that were not in estrus during this period were subjected to fixed-time insemination at the end of the Presynch-Ovsynch protocol. Pregnancy was diagnosed 45 days after artificial insemination using the rectal examination. RESULTS: In the control group, 66.22% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 33.78% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. In the intervention group, 68.35% of cows were inseminated based on estrus detection and 31.65% of cows were inseminated at fixed times. The first-service conception rate (FSCR) was 27.03% and 48.1% in the control and treatment groups, respectively (p =0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that the injection of 500 IU PMSG six days after parturition could enhance FSCR in dairy cows.

Youssef Hussein Bakkar (1942-present) is a writer, researcher, and literary critic among scholars who have attempted to criticize Arabic translations of Khayyam's quatrains through his knowledge of translation techniques. The present study aims to descriptively-analytically criticize his views on these translations based on seven features (rationalization, clarification, theological terms, qualitative ennoblement, quantitative impoverishment, idiom destruction, language system destruction), which are the deforming view of Antoine Bremen (1942-1991), the French pioneer theorist. The findings of the study indicate that Bakkar used his criticism in his reviews and his views are often humorous, devoid of reasoning, and do not follow any particular theory. Adopting a linguistic approach by Bakkar shows that his critique of the method is consistent with the components of Antoine Berman's theory, but Bakkar’s linguistic approach lacks the application of theoretical issues. He does not present his views in a coherent, solidly structured theoretical framework.

Since long, A Thousand and One Nights, as a legacy of folk literature, has inspired the works of many authors everywhere in the world. Contemporary writers in the Arab world have certainly not missed the fictional assets of this valuable masterpiece to express their intellectual concerns, sufferings, and desires. Mubarak Rabie, the writer of the novel Badr-e zamaneh, has integrated the two anecdotes into one theme. He has created a socio-educational work with artistic uses of Shahrzad and Shahriar's story. Using a descriptive-analytical method, the present research seeks to understand the author's inspiration from A Thousand and One Nights, in particular the legend of Shahrzad, and then detect the narrative elements that are often in line with those of this folk masterpiece. As it seems, the story in the work, despite characters such as Shahramush and Bayruz, takes place in a very distant, unknown, and sometimes frightening time and place. The multiplicity of the two real and mythical anecdotes, the causal relationships and the language of the narration that resembles oral narration connect Badr-e Zamaneh to A Thousand and One Nights and the myth of Shahrzad. In terms of the content, the author is interested in the sociology and psychology of Shahrzad and Shahriar's story, the issue of child rearing, the status of woman and her rationality, and the position of the community leader in providing people with happiness and failure. He has focused on the confrontation between good and evil forces.

Purpose: A sub-population of patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) responds less effectively to off-label use of Bevacizumab. Approval of Aflibercept for DME has offered Bevacizumab nonresponders an alternative therapeutic option. Herein, we investigate the anatomical and functional changes associated with Aflibercept treatment in Bevacizumab nonresponders with chronic DME in a Canadian setting. Methods: A retrospective study of eyes with persistent DME that were switched to Aflibercept due to nonresponse following ≥6 consecutive monthly Bevacizumab injections was performed. Anatomical and functional changes and the predictors of response were assessed using patients' characteristics prior to receiving their first (baseline) and seventh consecutive Aflibercept injections (follow-up). Results: Twenty-four eyes were included, with a mean age of 63.9 ± 10.7 years, an average of 16.8 ± 8.5 Bevacizumab injections prior to switching to Aflibercept, and mean follow-up duration of 11.8 ± 1.7 months following switching to Aflibercept. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) improved significantly from 0.49 ± 0.13 to 0.41 ± 0.11 logMAR (P < 0.001) and central subfield thickness (CST) decreased by 119.4 μm from 409.4 ± 85.8 μm to 290.0 ± 64.5 μm (P < 0.001), with 50% of eyes showing complete anatomical response. Worse BCVA and higher CST at baseline predicted greater vision improvements (P = 0.001 and P = 0.035, respectively) while a larger decrease in CST was associated with greater baseline CST (P = 0.001) and better glycemic control (P = 0.039). Conclusion: Our data from a real-world clinical setting highlight the efficacy of Aflibercept as an alternative therapeutic option for DME recalcitrant to Bevacizumab, with potential additional benefit to those with worse vision, greater CST, and better glycemic control at baseline.

Retroduction research strategy based on realistic philosophy is one of the four research strategies in the social sciences, which despite the necessary philosophical and methodological foundations, due to the complexity of the mechanism explanation and the lack of appropriate research tools, has put researchers in this field in serious trouble. Realistic (theory driven) interviewing is an emerging tool that has tried to compensate for existing shortcomings. Lack of sufficient methodological literature for conducting such a type of interview, especially in the scientific community of the country, motivated the researcher, in addition to explaining the theoretical foundations and enumerating the distinctive aspects of its components compared to common interviews in both quantitative and qualitative traditions, to describe its implementation methods as well. Findings reveal that the distinctive identity of the realistic interview due to the researcher's theory assignment as the subject of negotiation in the interview, embedding teaching-learning and conceptual focus functions, the dynamic and expert-centered role of the researcher in conducting the interview and different criteria in compiling, analyzing and validating the findings, takes the function of this interview beyond the typical level of regulation or mere interpretation of data.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a new pathogen which has become an uncontrollable pandemic. On the other hand, the humoral immune system, as a defensive line, protects the body by producing antibodies. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) and G (IgG) are considered as the most important antibodies that are produced by the immune system of the host. Previous evaluations on the production of IgM and IgG antibodies by patients suffering from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection specifies that IgM is an acute phase antibody and increases on the first days of infection. Then, as the chronic phase begins, the level of the IgM decreases and switches to the production of IgG. In addition, the durability of the IgG antibody shows the duration of the immunity against COVID-19. Thus, the present review article focused on the antibody production mechanism in studies conducted on COVID-19 patients, the protection role of antibodies, and their stability.

Abstract Purpose The efficacy and safety of the trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent and iStent inject) have been well documented in various open-angle glaucoma subtypes. However, their outcomes remain understudied in normal-tension glaucoma (NTG). The present study aimed to assess the 1-year outcomes related to the implantation of two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent inject) concomitant with cataract surgery (CE-TMS), exclusively in eyes with NTG. Methods This multi-center, consecutive case series included eyes with cataract and normal-tension glaucoma that underwent CE-TMS to reduce intraocular pressure or glaucoma medication use. The 12-month efficacy measures included change in average intraocular pressure (IOP) and medication burden. Safety included change in best-corrected visual acuity, cup-to-disc ratio, visual field mean-deviation and retinal nerve fiber layer thickness. Intra- or postoperative adverse events were noted. Results A total of 62 eyes with mild-to-severe NTG and average preoperative IOP of 15.82 ± 2.94 mmHg on 1.50 ± 1.28 glaucoma medications were included. Postoperatively, IOP declined by 22% from 15.82 ± 2.94 mmHg to 12.32 ± 2.58 (p

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged health care systems. We sought to comprehend the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical residents’ education and mental well-being across Canada. Methods: An online 51-question survey was distributed to surgical residents across all 17 Canadian post- graduate surgical residency programs. The questionnaire contained questions concerning demographic factors, perceived effects of COVID-19 pandemic on surgical training and residents’ mental health (categorically demonstrating whether it improved, stayed the same, or worsened). Health habits were measured as continuous variables and compared before and during the pandemic. Additionally, participants reported the performance of wellness offices’ response to their needs during this crisis. Results: A total of 122 out of 650 (19%) residents from all surgical specialities anonymously completed the survey. The majority (68%) reported a worsening in their surgical training. 94% of participants favored online teaching as a complementary method to in-person teaching. As to health habits, 38% reported a rise in their alcohol consumption and time spent seated. Only a minority (25%) felt happier and 41% reported experiencing more anxiety in comparison to surgical training pre-COVID-19. Merely 14% reported benefitting from wellness programs. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the perceived quality of surgical training, education, and resident mental health. There is an urgent need to reconsider the implemented measures in medical education and urge us to develop better agendas to face the current or future waves.

Background and Objectives: Almost all living cells secret nano-sized structures enclosed by the lipid bilayer called extracellular vesicles (EVs) into their extracellular milieu. These EVs play important roles in several physiological processes as a cargo delivery system. In probiotics, EVs are the main communication tool with the host. The present study aimed to assess the effect of EVs originated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG on the Carcinoembryonic antigen (cea) gene expression and protein (CEA) synthesis in the SW480 and HT-29 cell lines. Materials and Methods: Different concentrations of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG EVs were applied on the SW480 and HT-29 cell lines. The MTT assay, Real-Time PCR, and ELISA analysis methods were exploited to explore the cell viability and the expression level of the cea gene in comparison with the β-actin gene as the control. Results: The two concentrations of 80 and 100 μg/ml of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG EVs considerably affected the anti-proliferation and increased the amount of both CEA mRNA and protein (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our findings showed that EVs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could induce the gene expression and protein synthesis of CEA. Also, they reduced the cell proliferation of HT29 and SW480. Thus, probiotics such as EVs of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG could be useful for preventing colorectal cancer.

The autophagy pathway is the process whereby cells keep cellular homeostasis and respond to stress via recycling their damaged cellular proteins, organelles, and other cellular components. In the context of cancer, autophagy is a dual-edge sword pro- and anti-tumorigenic role depending on the oncogenic context and stage of tumorigenesis.Cancer cells have a higher dependency on autophagy compared with normal cells because of cellular damages and high demands for energy. The carbon, nitrogen, and molecular oxygen are building blocks for highly proliferative cancer cells which extremely depend on glutaminolysis and aerobic glycolysis; when a cancer cell is restricted to glucose and glutamine, it initiates to activate a stress response pathway using autophagy.Oncogenic tyrosine kinases (OncTKs) and receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) activation result in autophagy modulation through activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTORC1 and RAS/MAPK signaling pathways. Targeted inhibition of tyrosine kinases (TKs) and RTKs have recently been considered as cancer therapy but drug resistance and cancer relapse continue to be a major limitation of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Manipulation of autophagy pathway along with TKIs may be a promising strategy to circumvent unknown existing drug-resistance mechanisms that may emerge in a treated patient. In this way, clinical trials are ongoing to modulate autophagy to treat cancer. This review aims to summarize the combination therapy of autophagy affecting compounds with anticancer drugs which target cell signaling pathways, metabolism mechanisms, and epigenetics modification to improve therapeutic efficacy against cancers.

Background: Hazelnut oil has a unique structure with a high oleic acid content, tocopherol, tocotrienols, and other bioactive compounds, such as phytosterols. These biochemical compounds have been widely studied because of their potential health properties. Understanding the process of apoptosis is the basis of new therapies contributing to cancer cells' death. Recently, the potential role of the evolutionary-reserved bcl-2 protein family in tumor progression and prognosis of some malignancies has been addressed in several studies. The present study is aimed at evaluating the effect of apoptotic properties of hazelnut oil on colorectal cancer cells through the major members of this family (bax and bcl-2). Materials and Methods: MTT assay, apoptotic cell staining (using Annexin V and propidium iodide), flow cytometry, and real-time PCR were used to evaluate the toxicity, percentage of apoptotic cells, and bax and bcl-2 genes' expression after exposing HT29 cells to hazelnut oil. Results: After hazelnut treatment, significant decreases in cell viability, and the gene expression of bax and bcl-2 were observed compared to the control group (P < 0.05). In addition, the total percentage of apoptotic cells after hazelnut oil treatment showed a significant increase in comparison with the negative control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Hazelnut oil appears to cause the death of cancerous cells through an apoptotic mechanism.

Background: Candida albicans remains the main cause of candidiasis in most clinical settings. Available drugs for candidiasis treatment have many side effects. In this work, novel nitroglycerin derivatives were synthesized and their cytotoxic and antifungal effects evaluated against fluconazole susceptible and resistant clinical C. albicans isolates. Methods: This experimental study was performed in Tehran University of Medical Sciences and Baqiatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran between Feb to Dec 2019. The in vitro activities of two novel nitroglycerin derivatives (1b and 2b) against 25 clinical fluconazole-susceptible and resistant C. albicans isolates and four standard C. albicans strains were determined according to CLSI reference M27-A3 documents. The cytotoxicity of chemical compounds was investigated near the SNL76/7 cells by colorimetric assay. Real-time PCRs were performed to evaluate the alterations in the regulation of ERG11 and CDR1 genes under nitroglycerin derivatives-treated and untreated conditions. Results: The derivatives 1b and 2b exhibited potent antifungal activity against C. albicans isolates; MICs and MFCs varied from 18 μg/ml to 72 μg/ml and 36 μg/ml to 144 μg/ml, respectively. The cell viability evaluation demonstrated that both chemical compounds are safe within 24h. The nitroglycerin derivatives were able to reduce the transcription level of CDR1 and ERG11 genes in all susceptible and resistant C. albicans isolates. Conclusion: Considering the potential and efficacy of these compounds against clinical C. albicans isolates, the complementary in vivo and clinical trials should be investigated.

Abstract Purpose To assess the 1-year efficacy and safety of the implantation of two second-generation trabecular micro-bypass stents (iStent Inject®) with concomitant cataract surgery in various subtypes and severities of glaucoma. Methods This single-surgeon, consecutive case series from a Canadian academic ophthalmology center included subjects with cataract, glaucoma, and the need to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) and/or medications. The 12-month outcomes included mean IOP and medication burden as well as the proportions of eyes with IOP ≤ 18, ≤ 15, and ≤ 12 mmHg compared to baseline. Other measures included corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), visual field mean deviation (VF MD), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness, ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) thickness, and adverse events. Results In 118 eyes, mean IOP reduced from 17.00 ± 3.82 mmHg preoperatively to 13.97 ± 2.65 mmHg at the 12-month follow-up mark (17.8% reduction, p

This study considers the enhancement of socio-cultural competence of EFL students by means of extra-curricular activities. In this study, both control and experimental groups included 80 language learners (each group 40). The control group was given the questionnaires, pre- and post-tests along with the experimental group. Then, extracurricular activities were given to the experimental group which itself was divided into four mini groups. 10 participants were asked to prepare a self-video clip each week (4 clips as whole). Another group of 10 testees were asked to use social networks such as Facebook, What’s app, Telegram and the likes chatting with native speakers at least two hours a day involving themselves in English practice after taking pre-test and they were also given the subsequent post-test after a month. The third mini group, including 10 participants, had to write a letter each week to a native speaker e-pal (4 letters as whole). Finally, the fourth mini group including 10 participants participating at least once a week in ACD (American Corner Dushanbe) sessions which are related to social cultural events such as festivals, charity activities, etc. After that, research questionnaires were distributed among samples using SPSS software for data analysis. The author come to the conclusion that culture-related extra-curricular activities result in the enhancement of the level of language proficiency as well as contribute a lot to bringing up citizens, intellectually, culturally and multi-culturally developed professionals with deep awareness of intercultural values.

Background: We have previously reported the aberrant expression of Fibromodulin (FMOD) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Although FMOD has been considered as a cytoplasmic or secretory protein, we discovered the cell surface expression of FMOD in leukemic B cells via anchoring with glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI). Objective: To evaluate FMOD as a new biomarker in CLL patients in comparison with healthy individuals. Methods: A monoclonal antibody was generated against human FMOD. The cell surface expression of FMOD in 52 CLL patients and 45 healthy individuals were compared by flow cytometry. A bacterial phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) was used to determine the cell surface localization of FMOD using ELISA and flow cytometry techniques. Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) was used to detect apoptosis induction in CLL PBMCs following in vitro incubation with anti-FMOD mAb. Results: The results demonstrated the widespread cell surface expression of GPI-anchored FMOD in CLL patients (median: 79.9 %), although healthy individuals had low FMOD expression (median: 6.2 %) (p≤0.0001). The cut-off value of FMOD expression was estimated with high sensitivity and specificity at 17.9%. Furthermore, in vitro apoptosis induction of leukemic cells following incubation with anti-FMOD mAb showed a direct apoptosis of CLL cells (27.9%) with very low effect on healthy PBMCs (6%). Conclusion: The membrane-anchoring of FMOD by means of a GPI moiety in leukemic cells supports FMOD as a highly potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in CLL patients.

Background: Canadian medical school curriculums have undergone major restructuring during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study’s goal was to assess the perceived impact of COVID-19 on medical students’ education and wellbeing. Methods: An online survey was distributed to Canadian medical students. Descriptive analyses and ANOVAs were used to assess changes in mental health, health habits and quality of education during the pandemic. Results: 248 medical students from 13 schools across Canada participated in this study. 74% reported a reduction in the quality of their education since COVID-19. 58% of students found online to be inferior to in-person teaching. 65% of students had more time for wellness and leisure activities, about half of the cohort felt more depressed (48%) and lonelier (52%). Student’s overall health habits worsened after the start of the pandemic (F=37.4, p < 0.001). Alcohol drinking, time spent seated, and screen time also increased since the pandemic (p < 0.001). During the pandemic, students with a prior history of depression or anxiety expressed increased depressive symptoms (66% vs. 42%, p =0.003), increased anxiety (69% vs. 41%, p < 0001), worse sleep quality (34% vs. 18%, p = 0.031), and poorer quality of life (55% vs. 65%, p = 0.024) versus those with no prior history. Conclusion: Canadian medical student’s education and wellbeing has been negatively impacted during the pandemic.

Human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) is an enzyme that is critically involved in elongating and maintaining telomeres length to control cell life span and replicative potential. Telomerase activity is continuously expressed in human germ-line cells and most cancer cells, whereas it is suppressed in most somatic cells. In normal cells, by reducing telomerase activity and progressively shortening the telomeres, the cells progress to the senescence or apoptosis process. However, in cancer cells, telomere lengths remain constant due to telomerase's reactivation, and cells continue to proliferate and inhibit apoptosis, and ultimately lead to cancer development and human death due to metastasis. Studies demonstrated that several DNA and RNA oncoviruses could interact with telomerase by integrating their genome sequence within the host cell telomeres specifically. Through the activation of the hTERT promoter and lengthening the telomere, these cells contributes to cancer development. Since oncoviruses can activate telomerase and increase hTERT expression, there are several therapeutic strategies based on targeting the telomerase of cancer cells like telomerase-targeted peptide vaccines, hTERT-targeting dendritic cells (DCs), hTERT-targeting gene therapy, and hTERT-targeting CRISPR/Cas9 system that can overcome tumor-mediated toleration mechanisms and specifically apoptosis in cancer cells. This study reviews available data on the molecular structure of telomerase and the role of oncoviruses and telomerase interaction in cancer development and telomerase-dependent therapeutic approaches to conquest the cancer cells.

Background and Objectives: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in many populations, including military recruits receiving basic training. Therefore, this study was set out to determine the molecular epidemiology, genotype and phylogenetic features of RSVs in patients with respiratory infection as a case study. Materials and Methods: In this study, military barracks of Tehran, Iran, between January to March 2017 exposed to respiratory diseases were used for sampling. Throat swabs were taken, a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay was performed to identify RSV and then the genotyping and phylogenetic analyses of RSVs in patients with a respiratory infection. Results: Among 400 Iranian military trainees with respiratory symptoms, RSV infection was identified in 2.75% (11/400) using RT-PCR. Sequencing showed the incidence of type A (2.5%, n=10) to be much higher than type B (0.25%, n=1); Sore throat was the most common symptom among RSV patients. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of strains from the studied samples were more consistent with those from the Philippines and the US strains. Conclusion: This study is the first to document RSV as a major cause of acute respiratory illness among military trainees in Iran. The prevalence of RSV is substantial in the cold season and the prevalence of genotype A is dominant in the country, leading to take essential steps in preparing a preventive vaccine against this viral infection.

The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has altered the undergraduate learning experience for many students across Canada. Medical education is no exception; clinical programs, in-person lectures, and mandatory hands-on activities have been suspended to adhere to social distancing guidelines. As remote teaching becomes the forefront of education, medical curricula have been forced to adapt accordingly in order to fulfill the core competencies of medical training and to provide quality education to medical students. With that in mind, the COVID-19 crisis offers a unique opportunity to evaluate the current “continuity plans” in medical education as they stand. This paper provides the perspective of medical students on how medical education is changing for both pre-clerkship and clerkship students, using their experience at McGill University as an example for the Canadian medical education system. Additionally, we discuss the accommodations put forth by the undergraduate medical education (UGME) office, and reflect on the limitations and sustainable solutions in supporting quality medical education.

Sebaceous carcinoma (SebCa), is the second most frequent malignancy of the eyelid. It often presents with non-specific clinical features and is known for mimicking benign inflammatory lesions such as chalazion. The masquerading ability of this highly invasive neoplasm can delay or mislead the diagnosis, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. Here, we report a rare case of a 91-year-old man presenting with a lesion clinically apparent to a chalazion with a histopathologically proven diagnosis of SebCa adjacent to a chalazion. This report highlights the presentation of sebaceous carcinoma masquerade syndrome and supports a thorough histopathological examination of all surgically excised chalazions.

Along with the socio-economic burden the COVID-19 pandemic carried, the strain it brought upon our health care system is unparalleled. In an attempt to conserve much needed personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as to free up available hospital beds to accommodate the significant influx of COVID-19 patients, many elective surgical cases were essentially put on hold. Furthermore, to taper the spread of this highly contagious virus and to protect the medical staff, surgical clinics were limited to urgent care that could not be managed through virtual platforms. Surgical trainees, such as residents and fellows, who solemnly rely on clinical and surgical exposure to hone their operative and clinical skills, were evidently left deprived. As the pandemic rapidly progressed, medical staff in the emergency departments and what is now known as the COVID wards and COVID ICUs quickly became overwhelmed and overworked. This new reality required surgical trainees to rapidly redeploy to help meet the rising hospital needs. With no clear end to this pandemic, surgical trainees worry they will not reach the appropriate milestones and acquire the amount of surgical experience required to become competent surgeons. As a result, a rapid solution should be found and applied to remedy this newly created gap in surgical education. The measures we recommend include access to regular webinars from world-renowned experts, increased implementation of surgical simulation, selective redeployment of residents to favor level-appropriate learning opportunities and lastly, the active participation of trainees in telemedicine with an increase in surgical exposure as soon as the restrictions are lifted.

Background: In the absence of an effective vaccine, public health policies are aimed at awareness, and education of the general public in order to contain the quickly spreading COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the recommended precautionary measures are dependent on human behaviors and therefore their effectiveness largely depends on peoples' perception and attitudes toward the disease. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, risk perception, and precautionary measures taken in response to COVID-19 in North America.Methods: In this cross-sectional observational study, an online survey targeted to North Americans focused on the public's knowledge of COVID-19, risk perception, and precautionary behaviors taken in response to this pandemic. Descriptive analyses were performed for the whole population and the subgroup analyses contrasted the differences between Americans and Canadians.Results: The cohort comprised 1,264 relatively young participants with an average age of 28.6 ± 9.8 years. The vast majority (>90%) were knowledgeable about COVID-19. Regarding risk perception, about a quarter assumed to be at less risk to contract the disease, and 42.8% considered themselves to be less contagious than others. While the vast majority avoided performing risky behaviors, only a small proportion (13.2%) wore a face mask—which is in line with the public health recommendations of the two countries at the time of data collection. Overall, a larger proportion of Canadian participants (55.8%) were satisfied with the performance of their national public health in response to the current pandemic, compared to their American counterparts (12.2%).Discussion: Data regarding the public's knowledge of COVID-19, risk perception, and behaviors in response to this pandemic is limited. The results of this study highlight that this relatively young and educated sample of North Americans had a high level of knowledge about COVID-19 and a large proportion of them were taking the precautionary measures against this pandemic. However, a significant number of individuals believe to be at less risk of contracting the disease compared to the general population. Educating the public that no one is safe from this disease, could play a role in further limiting risky behaviors and ultimately facilitating disease containment.

Hypothesis: The main objective of this project was the development of a new method for converting natural polymers into hybrid hydrogels. The hybrid hydrogels are usually prepared through grafting of acrylic monomers onto pure polysaccharides, and this study was performed using rice husk to prepare semi-synthetic hybrid hydrogels. Methods: Rice husk as a source of polysaccharide was modified with acrylic latexes that were prepared through inverse emulsion polymerization with the use of acrylic monomers such as acrylic acid, acrylamide and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid. This process resulted in the conversion of low-value material into a value added semi-synthetic hydrogel product. Low absorbency under load (AUL) was the main weakness of hybrid hydrogels. The hybrid hydrogels were surface crosslinked through ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDGE) as surface crosslinker to improve AUL.Findings: The effect of latex type on the swelling capacity of hybrid hydrogels was investigated. The chemical reaction between rice husk and acrylic latex was carried out in modification process of rice husk. The obtained semi-synthetic hydrogel constituted of 51% natural part and 49% synthetic part. Among the microgel latexes with different structures, the poly (NaAA-AA-AM-AMPS) was the most suitable polymer latex for the conversion of rice husk into hydrogel. The swelling of this hybrid hydrogel was 35.8 and 12.7g/g in distilled water and saline solution, respectively, whereas the unmodified rice husk showed no water absorption capability. AUL of surface crosslinked hybrid hydrogels was increased up to 27%. The hydrogels were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These hydrogels, which were prepared directly from natural polymers, showed great potentials in agricultural systems applications.

Color coded and it,s meaning Rotate in Contemporary Literaturebased on Adaptive attitude in contemporary poetry of Iran and IraqDr.Reza kiani, lecturer of Arabic Language and Literature in Razi University and University of educators.The findings show that concepts such as happiness, sleep and dreaming, laughing, day and night, shade, fragrance, Pulse, place, or event, and such words are combined with the flexibility of different colors, structures In a new semantic field of language poems by contemporary poets of Iran and Iraq have created. Dr. Ali Salimi Assitannt professor , departmeant of Arabic Language and Literature in Razi University.And true to form joint disorganized and semantic aspects of language to create tension, what? Fundamental change in the normal application of paints and rotating the poem's meaning, language capabilities in producing creative texts with the poets. Showsabstract visual effects are lacking, give color, thereby, get famous, and transformed the traditional assumptions are challenged.

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between Somatotype with aerobic capacity and balance in males of 11-13 years. The random-volunteer sampling method was employed in this study to select 90 male students of 11 to 13 years of age. Height, weight, BMI, BF%, the thickness of subcutaneous fat in four areas of the body, the area of the body in two points, the width of the arm and thigh bones, and the aerobic capacity and balance were calculated and somatotypes were determined using Heath-Carter somatotype method. The data were then analyzed through SPSS 18 software, using Spearman correlation method. The results indicated a significant relationship between the aerobic capacity and the values of ectomorphy (r = -0.59), endomorphy (r = 0.69), and mesomorphy (r = 0.57). In other words, the greater the values of endomorphy and mesomorphy got, the greater the record of the 540-meter test got, which means the lesser the aerobic capacity got. However, the opposite was true regarding the value of ectomorphy. Inclination towards endomorph-mesomorph somatotypes is a factor that affects the cardiorespiratory system and balance. Thus, on the one hand, decreasing the amount of fat in individuals with obesity can improve their move and dynamism, and on the other, increasing the weight in thin individuals without increasing their body fat, or more accurately, increasing their muscle tissue can lead to their fitness, which in case results in an increased self-confidence and increased desire and inclination towards exercising and working out, leading to increased efficiency of their physiologic and metabolic systems.

In recent years, different color indicators have been developed and utilized in smart packaging to better visualize the fruit shelf-life and its safety consumption date as well as to minimize the loss of agricultural products. In this study, a potassium permanganate solution-containing polyethylene nanocomposite film was prepared through melt mixing process as color indicator for smart packaging. Two kinds of silica nanoparticles of different surface hydrophobicity were incorporated in the LDPE films to study the effect of hydrophilicity of nanoparticles on the film barrier properties. The morphology and dispersion of nanoparticles were studied using SEM/EDX technique. The gas permeability, dynamic scanning calorimetry, melt flow index and mechanical properties were investigated to find an optimum formulation. The results of the oxygen barrier tests showed that the increase of nanoparticles loading in the polymer matrix increased the permeability up to 95% for the sample containing 5% hydrophilic silica. The hydrophilic nanosilica was well dispersed in the matrix and generated void channels which allowed to form a permeable polymer film. The presence of nanosilica did not alter the polymer crystallinity as well as the mechanical properties of the nanocomposite films. The melt flow index data showed that the silica/polyethylene nanocomposites could be produced with appropriate processability. The color indicator was then fabricated using potassium permanganate placed on a woven fabric. The whole colored fabric was then put within a sealed permeable polyethylene bag. The efficiency of the color indicator against ethylene gas has been measured for a duration of 10 days which is suitable in kiwi fruit packaging.

Radical innovations in imagery and trying to create new images and combination in nowadays poetry, lead the language out of the monotony and revitalize it. Contemporary poets with personalizing sentiments in two axes companion and succession, rejected arbitrarily the principles and highlighted their words. In this way, poets of Iran and Iraq due to the proximity of certain intellectual and cultural issues, and influencing by various factors of life today, seeking to create fresh images, violating the rules of the meaning of language have created hesitations deliberately in the audiences’ understanding. Most of criticisms in this area are relevant and thought-provoking and can be used in the field of contemporary criticism as a topic worth discussing. In other words, poets have used language not as an opportunity to manifest their poetry, but as a tool to destroy the norms of the past, have taken advantage. In general, the use of frequent and dead images, the lack of illustrations, the use of compounds abandoned, oldness, orientation to the stereotypes and outdated themes, scare senses, due to the role of transformational language, regardless of other applications... are among the issues related to pathology in "beauty-removing" in contemporary poetry of Iran and Iraq which in continue the effects of the three aspects_ langue, mental form and imagination_ have been reviewed. In other words, the findings of this research show that "extremism in tabular arrangement of words and disruption of family practice words", "Rely on the use of stereotypical language," "intellectual solidity on archaic situations" and some of the factors considered in the scope of the meaning of language, contemporary aesthetic realm make poetry of Iran and Iraq vulnerable; This means that poets carry out in the realm of semantic, have not always been associated with success and beauty, and whenever it was lower in the creative process, it is criticized. It should be noted that anything can be a subject for poetry, but poetry does not give everything capability. So, ignoring the importance of "subject" and poor use of the structure of the text, the scope of the meaning of language, would seriously injured. It should be noted that due to the wide range of contemporary poetry of Iran and Iraq and the large number of poets of these lands, this study only analyzes the poems of poets and excelled in the second half of the twentieth century in the two countries which are: "M. Akhavan Sales", "Sepehri" and "Kaiser Aminpoor "compared with the" long-Haidari", "Abd al-Wahhab al-Bayati" and "Saadi Youssef".