Search

Introduction: Gender dysphoria (GD) could cause various mental illnesses, but its main cause is unclear. GD patients also suffer from different personality disorders that increase the risk of side effects among them. The present review study is aimed to investigate the most recent studies on comorbid personality disorders in patients with GD. Materials and Methods: Online databases were searched using related keywords for collecting any related articles. After precise reviewing the abstract of all collected articles, those with more appropriate content were included in our study. Findings: The prevalence rate of personality disorders in GD patients has been reported to be from 15% to 80% by different studies. In line with the data from previous studies, it was revealed that borderline personality disorder is one of the most prevalent disorders among GD patients. Available comorbid personality disorders cause a wide range of side effects on the normal function of patients. Conclusion: The majority of studies carried out on the comorbidity of personality disorders have revealed that the possibility of personality disorders in GD patients is high. Anyway, further studies are required to understand the exact effect of psychological care on personality disorders in these patients.

In this research, formation of aluminide/silicide diffusion coatings on γ-TiAl[Ti-48Al-2Nb–2Cr (at.%)] alloy using gasphase diffusion pack cementation process has been investigated. The application of powder mixtures with various chemical compositions in the pack cementation process performed at 1000oC for 6 hours in order to achieve simultaneous diffusion of Al and Si, showed that the composition of the powder mixture could have a significant effect on the structure and thickness of the aluminide/silicide coatings. The identification and analysis of aluminide/silicide microstructures formed as a result of simultaneous diffusion of Al and Si, which was comprehensively and qualitatively done for the first time in this study, showed that the sequential mechanism is dominant in the formation of the above-mentioned coatings. Furthermore, Kirkendall phenomenon and volumetric changes caused by the formation of Ti5Si3 and Ti5Si4, were considered as the two dominant mechanisms in the formation of porous segregated structure in these coatings. In this study, the effect of decreasing the activity of Si, through two approaches of reducing the amount of Si in the powder mixture and using Al- 20wt.%Si alloyed powder instead of pure Al and Si depositing elements, on the microstructural modification coatings was investigated. The results showed that reducing the Si activity at the surface of the coating and, consequently, reducing the flux of active silicon atoms (JSi), has a significant effect on the formation of coating with an ideal structure.

Abstract We performed integrative network analyses to identify targets that can be used for effectively treating liver diseases with minimal side effects. We first generated co‐expression networks (CNs) for 46 human tissues and liver cancer to explore the functional relationships between genes and examined the overlap between functional and physical interactions. Since increased de novo lipogenesis is a characteristic of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we investigated the liver‐specific genes co‐expressed with fatty acid synthase (FASN). CN analyses predicted that inhibition of these liver‐specific genes decreases FASN expression. Experiments in human cancer cell lines, mouse liver samples, and primary human hepatocytes validated our predictions by demonstrating functional relationships between these liver genes, and showing that their inhibition decreases cell growth and liver fat content. In conclusion, we identified liver‐specific genes linked to NAFLD pathogenesis, such as pyruvate kinase liver and red blood cell (PKLR), or to HCC pathogenesis, such as PKLR, patatin‐like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3), and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9), all of which are potential targets for drug development.

The imbalance between energy resource availability, demand, and production capacity, coupled with inherent economic and environmental uncertainties make strategic energy resources planning, management, and decision-making a challenging process. In this paper, a descriptive approach has been taken to synthesize the world’s energy portfolio and the global energy balance outlook in order to provide insights into the role of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in maintaining “stability” and “balance” of the world’s energy market. This synthesis illustrates that in the absence of stringent policies, i.e., if historical trends of the global energy production and consumption hold into the future, it is unlikely that non-conventional liquid fuels and renewable energy sources will play a dominant role in meeting global energy demand by 2030. This should be a source of major global concern as the world may be unprepared for an ultimate shift to other energy sources when the imminent peak oil production is reached. OPEC’s potential to impact the supply and price of oil could enable this organization to act as a facilitator or a barrier for energy transition policies, and to play a key role in the global energy security through cooperative or non-cooperative strategies. It is argued that, as the global energy portfolio becomes more balanced in the long run, OPEC may change its typical high oil price strategies to drive the market prices to lower equilibria, making alternative energy sources less competitive. Alternatively, OPEC can contribute to a cooperative portfolio management approach to help mitigate the gradually emerging energy crisis and global warming, facilitating a less turbulent energy transition path while there is time.

Abstract Weyl fermions of spin 1 2 $$ \frac{1}{2} $$ minimally coupled to Einstein’s gravity in 4 dimensions cannot be produced purely gravitationally in an expanding Universe at tree level. Surprisingly, as we showed in a recent letter [1], this changes at gravitational 1-loop when cosmic perturbations, like a gravitational wave background, are present. Such a background introduces a new scale, thereby breaking the fermions’ conformal invariance. This leads to a non-vanishing gravitational self-energy for Weyl fermions at 1-loop and induces their production. In this paper, we present an extended study of this new mechanism, explicitly computing this effect using the in-in formalism. We work in an expanding Universe in the radiation-dominated era as a fixed background. Gravitational wave-induced fermion production has rich phenomenological consequences. Notably, if Weyl fermions eventually acquire mass, and assuming realistic — and potentially detectable — gravitational wave backgrounds, the mechanism can explain the abundance of dark matter in the Universe. More generally, gravitational-wave induced freeze-in is a new purely gravitational mechanism for generating other feebly interacting fermions, e.g. right-handed neutrinos. We show that this loop level effect can dominate over the conventional — tree-level — gravitational production of superheavy fermions in a sizable part of the parameter space ( https://github.com/koppj/GW-freeze-in/ ).

Abstract This study deals with a piecewise ϕ 2 scalar field theory in (1 + 1) dimensions. The scalar field potential is designed with a triple-well shape, engendering kink solutions with asymmetric square-well linearized potentials. Thus, the localized and delocalized modes in this model can be obtained analytically in terms of transcendental equations. This allows us to explore kink-antikink and antikink-kink collisions with any desired number of localized and delocalized modes. We obtain new scenarios of resonance windows suppression, shedding light on the role of higher excited modes in kink scattering.

The Joftrud prospect area is located in the central Lut Block and 60 Km of Birjand city. The area comprises outcrops of pyroclastic (andesitic tuff), volcanic (hornblende andesite, pyroxene andesite, basaltic andesite), intrusive (diorite porphyry, monzodiorite, gabbro) rocks. Mineralization as vein-type with mostly northeast-southwest trend has formed in andesitic units. Main alterations are consist of silicified, argillic, carbonate and propylitic. Primary minerals include chalcopyrite, pyrite, and secondary minerals are consist of chrysocolla, chalcocite, covellite, azurite, malachite, goethite, and hematite. Maximum of geochemical anomalies in veins are for copper 6000 ppm, lead 2934 ppm, zinc 6904 ppm, and Au 144 ppb. Quartz-sulfide veins are formed of fluids with temperature of 265 to 408ºC and salinity of 11.1 to 19 NaCl wt.‌% equivalent. Decreasing temperature and fluid mixing by high-salinity fluid can cause metal deposition. According to the available evidence of structural control of mineralization, alterations and their narrow expansions, mineralogy, texture, fluid inclusion data and depth of formation, prospect area is similar to intermediate sulfidation deposit. Introduction The Joftrud prospect area is located at 60 Km Birjand city, and belongs to the central Lut Block, Eastern Iran. Extensive magmatic activity in the Lut Block, is accompanied with numerous mineralization events such as porphyry copper, IOCG, vein and skarn (Karimpour et al., 2012). The central Lut Block is significant part of this Block due to widespread Tertiary volcano–plutonic rocks (Lotfi, 1982; Salim, 2012; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2019; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2021) and many cases of Cu (e.g., Mire-e-Khash, Shikasteh Sabz, Rashidi, Ghar-eKaftar, Shurk, and Howz-e-Dagh), Pb-Zn (e.g., Chah Noghreh, Hows-e-Raise and Sechangi veins), Pb-Zn-Cu-Sb veins (e.g., Ghale-Chah, Shurab, Chupan and Kuh Shuru) in the neighboring areas (Malekzadeh Shafaroudi and Karimpour, 2013; Malekzadeh Shafaroudi and Karimpour, 2015; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2013; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2014; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2018; Mehrabi et al., 2019). Recently, Karjo (2021) has studied geochemistry of ore-veins in the area. For the first time, detailed studies of base metal mineralization and genesis of veins have been conducted. The purpose of this research is the geology, examine the geochemical and fluid inclusion data, and finally discus mineralization model of occurrence of ore veins in the Joftrud prospect area. Materials and methods In the field work, a total of 80 samples were taken mainly from igneous units and ores. 40 thin sections and polished slabs were examined by an optical microscope. The geological map of the prospect area (scale of 1:5000) was produced in Arc GIS software. Geochemical analysis were done at Zarazma laboratory of Iran (ICP-OES technique) on 15 samples selected from veins by the Kavoshgaran of Eastern Birjand Company (Karjo, 2021). Also, 9 samples were selected for Au analysis with Fire assay in the same laboratory. Microthermometric tests and salinity determination of fluid inclusions were performed on 3 wafers of quartz minerals using a heating-freezing system, model THM 600 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. The precision of this device during the heating and refrigeration stages is C ± 1◦C and the thermal range is − 190 to 600 ◦C. Result The rock units of the prospect area are divided into three categories: pyroclastic (andesitic tuff), volcanic (hornblende andesite, pyroxene andesite, basaltic andesite), intrusive (diorite porphyry, monzodiorite, and gabbro) rocks. The ore-veins are mostly formed in andesite rocks, in fault zones with trending NE–SW and subordinate NW-SE. The veins are associated with wall rock alterations of silicified, argillic, carbonate and propylitic. Petrography studies represent that the ore-veins include pyrite, chalcopyrite as hypogene minerals and malachite, azurite, chrysocolla, chalcocite, covellite, goethite, and hematite as secondary minerals. Quartz is significant gangue mineral accompanied with the ore-veins. Based on geochemical data of the ore-veins, maximum anomalies are for copper (6000 ppm), lead (2934 ppm), and zinc (6904 ppm). Based on the criteria of Roedder (1984), three types of primary fluid inclusions (two-phase liquid-rich (L+V), single-phase aqueous (L) and single-phase vapor (V) inclusions) were distinguished in the ore-veins, without evidence of daughter minerals. In the ore-veins, quartz-hosted LV inclusions have homogenization temperatures (Th) between 270˚–408˚C for stage-1 and 265 °–385˚C for stage-2. These LV inclusions show salinities between 11.1–13.4 wt.% NaCl equivalent in quartz of stage1 and 15.9–19 wt.% NaCl equivalent in quartz of satage-2. Discussion The fluid inclusion data illustrate that the ore-forming fluids had a magmatic signature and were diluted by meteoric water. Quartz of ore-veins dominated by non-boiling textures such as massive and comb textures of quartz (without coexisting liquid-rich and vapor-rich inclusions). So, boiling is not the depositional mechanism in the ore-veins. Decreasing temperature and fluid mixing by high-salinity fluid can cause metal deposition. In the pressure–temperature diagram (Fournier, 1999), the trapping pressures for the ore-forming fluids of the veins were determined to be within the range of 10–30 MPa which can be equivalent to a depth of approximately 1.2 km assuming lithostatic pressure. So, the ore-veins formed in shallow environment (e.g., Hedenquist and Henley, 1985). Based on the evidence of geology, alteration, mineralization, texture, and fluid evolution processes probably the Joftrud district is interpreted as an intermediate sulfidation deposit. Numerous ore-veins are present in the central Lut Block (e.g., Mir-e-Khash, Rashidi, Shikasteh Sabz, Howz-e-Dagh, Chah Khareh, Chah Noghreh, Hows-e-Raise, Sechangi, Shurab, Chupan and Kuh Shuru) (e.g., Malekzadeh Shafaroudi and Karimpour, 2013; Malekzadeh Shafaroudi and Karimpour, 2015; Javidi Moghaddam et al., 2018; Mehrabi et al., 2019). These veins mostly have NW-SE and subordinate NE–SW trends and are hosted by andesitic to dacitic composition (andesitic tuff breccia, andesite and dacite). These ore-veins entail copper, lead, zinc and antimony without significant gold anomaly. The similarities in structural control of mineralization, ore mineralogy, geochemistry and fluid inclusion data suggest that ore-veins can be related to part of a large-scale magmatic-hydrothermal system with economic potential. Acknowledgements The Research Foundation of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran, supported this study (Project No. 59744.3).

Background and objectives: Asarum europaeum L. belongs to the family Aristolochiaceae, known as asarum or European wild ginger. It has been traditionally used to treat various diseases such as improvement and enhancement of memory. Herein, phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of the methanol extract of A. europaeum rhizomes was conducted to identify compounds that have not been previously reported for this plant. Methods: Isolation of compounds was achieved using column chromatography of the ethyl acetate fraction eluting with appropriate solvents based on their polarity. The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated using NMR spectroscopy compared with authentic data recorded in the literature. Results: Three compounds including bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate (1), 4-(3-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)-(E)-3-buten-2-one (2), and neohesperidin (2R) (3) were isolated and identified. Conclusion: This study described the isolation and identification of the structure of secondary metabolites that have not been previously reported for A. europaeum to open new horizons to drug discovery developments.

Abstract During visual imagination, a perceptual representation is activated in the absence of sensory input. This is sometimes described as seeing with the mind’s eye. A number of physiological studies indicate that the brain uses more or less the same neural resources for visual perception of sensory information and visual imagination. The intensity of visual imagination is typically assessed with questionnaires, while more objective measures are missing. Aim of the present study was, to test a new experimental paradigm that may allow to objectively quantify imagination. For this, we used priming and adaptation effects during observation of ambiguous figures. Our perception of an ambiguous stimulus is unstable and alternates spontaneously between two possible interpretations. If we first observe an unambiguous stimulus variant (the conditioning stimulus), the subsequently presented ambiguous stimulus can either be perceived in the same way as the test stimulus (priming effect) or in the opposite way (adaptation effect) as a function of the conditioning time. We tested for these conditioning effects (priming and adaptation) using an ambiguous Necker Cube and an ambiguous Letter /Number stimulus as test stimuli and unambiguous variants thereof as conditioning stimuli. In a second experimental condition, we tested whether the previous imagination of an unambiguous conditioning stimulus variant – instead of its observation – can have similar conditioning effects on the subsequent test stimulus. We found no systematic conditioning effect on the group level, neither for the two stimulus types (Necker Cube stimuli and Letter /Number stimuli) nor for the two conditions (Real and Imaginary). However, significant correlations between effects of Real and Imaginary Condition were observed for both stimulus types. The absence of conditioning effects at the group level may be explained by using only one conditioning time, which may fit with individual priming and adaptation constants of some of our participants but not of others. Our strong correlation results indicate that observers with clear conditioning effects have about the same type (priming or adaptation) and intensity of imaginary conditioning effects. As a consequence, not only past perceptual experiences but also past imaginations can influence our current percepts. This is further confirmation that the mechanisms underlying perception and imagination are similar. Our post-hoc qualitative observations from three self-defined aphantasic observers indicate that our paradigm may be a promising objective measure to identify aphantasia.

Abstract Background Repository corticotropin injection (RCI) has been suggested to exert immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects in ocular inflammation. The index retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of subcutaneous RCI in patients with active scleritis or uveitis. Main body Medical records of patients who were diagnosed with different types of active scleritis or uveitis and received RCI for more than six months at a tertiary eye center were reviewed. Patient characteristics including age, sex, comorbidities, clinical findings, treatment details, and adverse events were recorded. A total of 17 eyes of 17 patients were included. Median age was 43 years old and 53% of patients were male. Mean treatment duration was 25.4 ± 15.5 months. Indications for RCI therapy were scleritis (7 anterior and 1 posterior) (47.8%), panuveitis (17.4%), retinal vasculitis (17.4%), chronic/recurrent anterior uveitis (13%), and posterior uveitis (4.35%). RCI was initiated at a dose of 40 to 80 units 3 times weekly. Given the adequate control of inflammation, RCI was successfully discontinued in four patients (23.5%). Prior to RCI therapy, 14 (82.3%) patients were on oral prednisone at an average of 10 mg daily (range 2.5–40 mg), and two (11.7%) patients discontinued prednisone immediately before initiating RCI due to side effects. After six months of therapy, the prednisone dose was reduced in four (23.5%) patients to an average of 3 mg daily (range 1–5 mg) and was stopped in eight (53%) patients. Concomitant immunomodulatory therapies (IMTs) included mycophenolate mofetil (23.5%) and methotrexate (23.5%), and adalimumab (23.5%). Ten patients were on IMTs prior to using RCI, and during the course of treatment, IMT was stopped in two patients and reduced in one. Side effects included insomnia (23%), hypertension (11.7%), lower extremity edema (11.7%), hyperglycemia (11.7%), weight gain (11.7%), and infection (5.8%). Conclusion RCI may be considered as a potential therapy with acceptable tolerability for patients with non-infectious scleritis or uveitis.

Abstract Background and aims Appropriate nutritional support in critical care may favorably influence outcomes by attenuating the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia associated with the critical illness. This systematic review aims to present and evaluate different nutritional interventions to balance risks and rewards for critically ill patients. Methods In this systematic review, we searched online databases for several variations of terms related to critically ill patients with stress-hyperglycemia (participants), nutrition modalities (intervention), glycemic control (outcomes), and randomized controlled trials (study design) between the inception of the databases and October 2023. Results The literature search and manual searching provided 2589 articles. After removing the duplicates and excluding studies based on their abstracts or full-text assessment, 37 studies were identified as eligible for inclusion. The heterogeneous nature of these investigations precluded us from pooling data and performing meta-analysis to draw robust conclusions based on statistical analyses. The literature review in this area reveals two general perspectives for achieving this goal: optimizing various aspects of providing macronutrient support and nutritional supplementation. Conclusions The optimal approach to feeding critically ill patients remains unresolved despite numerous randomized controlled trials. Individual patient characteristics significantly influence optimal nutritional management. However, some general recommendations convey benefits for patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Early and continuous enteral nutrition is the usual method of providing nutritional support in practice. Hypocaloric feeding and reducing carbohydrate intake are effective methods for managing SIH; however, they should be tailored to each patient’s clinical characteristics. Supplementation with certain nutrients shows promise in specific groups, but more research is needed. Overall, personalized approaches based on ongoing research are the best we have now. Future studies will hopefully refine treatments and improve outcomes for these patients.

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of board characteristics and company size on tax transparency. Tax transparency means properly measuring, presenting and disclosing the amount of tax in the financial statements. Tax transparency, in addition to the proper fulfillment of the company's social responsibility (from the perspective of identifying and paying tax obligations according to the tax law), will help the investors and tax system policymakers to make appropriate decisions. In this research, tax transparency was measured with five criteria (disclosure of tax status, absence of material distortions in tax reserve, absence of significant ambiguity regarding taxes, absence of material annual adjustments for tax, and speed in determining the final tax filing). Also, the effect of the board characteristics on two levels, including the level of the components of board characteristics (size, independence and financial knowledge of the board, the non-executive chairman and the non-duality of the role of the CEO) and the level of the combined criteria of characteristics, were tested with the correlation research method. Results showed that the combined measure of the characteristics has a direct impact on tax transparency. At the component level, the size and financial knowledge of the board have a direct impact, but independence of the board, non-duality of the CEO's role, and the non-executive chairman do not have a significant impact on tax transparency; Company size also has no significant effect on tax transparency.

Objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the frequency of potential drug–drug interactions (DDIs) and demographic correlates of moderate and major DDIs among patients with hematologic cancer at a referral hematology hospital in Iran. Methods: In this study, for 6 months, all patients suffering from hematologic cancers admitted to the tertiary oncology hospital, Omid, Isfahan, were considered. Data from all medications prescribed to patients during hospitalization were analyzed using the online Lexicomp® drug interaction checker, recording all interactions classified by risk level: C, D, or X. Findings: A total of 674 DDIs were detected in 109 patients. The prevalence of treatments with at least one clinically relevant interaction was 95%, being 57.9% for those at level C and 31.5% for levels D and X. According to the frequency, the main interaction was between aprepitant and corticosteroids, followed by the interaction between aprepitant and vincristine. The most common interaction between antineoplastic agents was between doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. In terms of mechanism, most of DDIs (54.9%) were pharmacodynamics. Only the number of administered medications was associated with DDI occurrence. Conclusion: Potential DDIs of moderate to major severity are common among patients with hematologic malignancies. This underscores the importance of implementing different strategies to mitigate this clinically significant risk.

Purpose: To compare the utility of ChatGPT-4 as an online uveitis patient education resource with existing patient education websites. Design: Evaluation of technology. Participants: Not applicable. Methods: The term “uveitis” was entered into the Google search engine, and the first 8 nonsponsored websites were selected to be enrolled in the study. Information regarding uveitis for patients was extracted from Healthline, Mayo Clinic, WebMD, National Eye Institute, Ocular Uveitis and Immunology Foundation, American Academy of Ophthalmology, Cleveland Clinic, and National Health Service websites. ChatGPT-4 was then prompted to generate responses about uveitis in both standard and simplified formats. To generate the simplified response, the following request was added to the prompt: 'Please provide a response suitable for the average American adult, at a sixth-grade comprehension level.’ Three dual fellowship-trained specialists, all masked to the sources, graded the appropriateness of the contents (extracted from the existing websites) and responses (generated responses by ChatGPT-4) in terms of personal preference, comprehensiveness, and accuracy. Additionally, 5 readability indices, including Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Gunning Fog Index, Coleman–Liau Index, and Simple Measure of Gobbledygook index were calculated using an online calculator, Readable.com, to assess the ease of comprehension of each answer. Main Outcome Measures: Personal preference, accuracy, comprehensiveness, and readability of contents and responses about uveitis. Results: A total of 497 contents and responses, including 71 contents from existing websites, 213 standard responses, and 213 simplified responses from ChatGPT-4 were recorded and graded. Standard ChatGPT-4 responses were preferred and perceived to be more comprehensive by dually trained (uveitis and retina) specialist ophthalmologists while maintaining similar accuracy level compared with existing websites. Moreover, simplified ChatGPT-4 responses matched almost all existing websites in terms of personal preference, accuracy, and comprehensiveness. Notably, almost all readability indices suggested that standard ChatGPT-4 responses demand a higher educational level for comprehension, whereas simplified responses required lower level of education compared with the existing websites. Conclusions: This study shows that ChatGPT can provide patients with an avenue to access comprehensive and accurate information about uveitis, tailored to their educational level. Financial Disclosure(s): The author(s) have no proprietary or commercial interest in any materials discussed in this article.

Introduction: Identifying the people who try to hide illegal substances in the body for smuggling is of considerable importance in forensic medicine and poisoning. This study aimed to develop a new diagnostic method using artificial intelligence to detect body packs in real-time Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, abdominal CT scan images were employed to create a machine learning-based model for detecting body packs. A single-step object detection called RetinaNet using a modified neck (Proposed Model) was performed to achieve the best results. Also, an angled Bbox (oriented bounding box) in the training dataset played an important role in improving the results. Results: A total of 888 abdominal CT scan images were studied. Our proposed Body Packs Detection (BPD) model achieved a mean average precision (mAP) value of 86.6% when the intersection over union (IoU) was 0.5, and a mAP value of 45.6% at different IoU thresholds (from 0.5 to 0.95 in steps of 0.05). It also obtained a Recall value of 58.5%, which was the best result among the standard object detection methods such as the standard RetinaNet. Conclusion: This study employed a deep learning network to identify body packs in abdominal CT scans, highlighting the importance of incorporating object shape and variability when leveraging artificial intelligence in healthcare to aid medical practitioners. Nonetheless, the development of a tailored dataset for object detection, like body packs, requires careful curation by subject matter specialists to ensure successful training.

Silk is a fibrous biopolymer with a recorded history in the textile industries for centuries. This fibre is constituted of two different proteins: fibroin and sericin, of which the latter accounting for approximately 20–30 % of the silk mass. Silk sericin (SSER) was previously considered as a waste by-product in silk fibroin extraction. SSER has recently garnered significant scientific interest due to its extensive biological and pharmacological properties. These include antioxidant effects, biocompatibility, low immunogenicity, controlled biodegradability, and the ability to induce cell proliferation. This review covers studies about various aspects of this emerging material, namely, its general morphology, specific structure, molecular weight, features of different layers, and gene sequences. The impact of different extraction methods and the application of extracted SSER based on molecular weight are discussed. Additionally, the characteristic functional groups in the amino acids of sericin facilitate its applications in regenerative medicine, wound healing, drug delivery, textile, environment, and energy, in various forms like hydrogels, films, scaffolds, and conduits. SSER-based materials offer great potentials for multi-functional applications in the upcoming decades, showcasing adaptability for various functional uses and promising future technological advancements.

Abstract Alcohol production and consumption have been prohibited in Iran for over four decades, leading to a typical underestimation of its consumption. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol consumption, its associated factors, and estimate per capita alcohol consumption among Iran’s adult population. In this population-based survey, 27,874 adults from across Iran were selected using systematic proportional-to-size cluster sampling. Alcohol consumption was evaluated through a modified Persian version of the STEPS questionnaires from previous studies, applied over different timespans. Per capita consumption was calculated using the quantity-frequency method, expressed in liters of pure alcohol. Adjusted odds ratios were reported for associates of alcohol consumption concerning metabolic risk factors, sociodemographic elements, and lifestyle variables. The prevalence of lifetime alcohol consumption was 6.9% (95% CI 6.5–7.2) in the adult population, with a notable sex difference (males: 13.7% [95% CI 13–14.4]; females: 1.4% [95% CI 1.1–1.6]). The 12 month prevalence was 3.8% (95% CI 3.6–4.1). For individuals aged 18 and older, the per capita alcohol consumption in Iran was 0.12 L. Factors such as being a lifetime smoker, younger, wealthier, and having 7–12 years of education were significantly linked to higher alcohol consumption. Significant associations were also observed between alcohol consumption and having a history of heart attacks (OR = 2.04, 95% CI 1.44–2.89), and physical injuries (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.34–2.64). The estimated lifetime and 12-month prevalence of alcohol use in our study were higher among some of the subpopulations. The findings also revealed a complex relationship between alcohol consumption, behavioral risk factors, and metabolic profiles. Consequently, immediate preventive measures tailored to each factor’s association with alcohol use are recommended.

Cohesion, particularly through sentence boundaries, makes up the principal semantic features providing the text with the required unity. Cohesive relation is both helpful in the text unity and the readers’ textual interpretation. Among the different cohesive relations, encapsulation contributes significantly to developing the text, by which textual segments, including clauses, sentences, sequences of sentences, and paragraphs, are condensed and synthesized using cohesive markers. This study aimed to identify the frequency, textual segments encapsulated, and syntactic structure of encapsulated segments by the demonstrative pronoun “this”. Hence, 20 research articles from the discipline of Civil Engineering from five top journals published by Elsevier were selected and analyzed. Results showed that a) “This” was more frequent in the sentence-initial compared to other positions; b) “This” was utilized more to serve the function of “Encapsulation” than point-to-point cohesion; and c) “This” was used to encapsulate two syntactic structures, namely one sentence and one clause structures. The results of this study could provide a practical guide for writers (especially novice writers) of research articles in Civil Engineering and disciplines close to it about how to use the pronoun “this” to serve the function of encapsulation.

Abstract Background While some evidence suggests that l-arginine may improve sexual function and alleviate depression, it has not been investigated in women with depression to assess both its effects on the depression and sexual function concurrently. Methods Patients who had received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, as determined by predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria, were enrolled in this triple-blind clinical trial. Patients were divided into two groups: group A, received L-arginine 1 gram twice daily, and group B, received a placebo for four weeks. They were evaluated at baseline, after four and eight weeks with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), and Rosen’s questionnaire or Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Results A decrease in the severity of depression was observed in all patients, which was determined due to Hamilton’s questionnaire (P-value

Background: While opiate withdrawal syndrome (OWS) typically resolves within a few weeks, the discomfort in the initial days after discontinuing opioid use is intense. In this study, we compared the effects of 2 drugs, clonidine and dexmedetomidine, for treating OWS in patients admitted to the Toxicology ICU at Loghman-e Hakim Hospital. Methods: We collected patient information for individuals diagnosed with OWS in this clinical trial study. Fifty-two patients, matched based on the type of drug use (methadone, opiate, heroin), were included and divided into 2 groups. We compared the clinical effects of 2 drugs, dexmedetomidine and clonidine, on OWS symptoms using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). The dexmedetomidine group received a dosage of 0.5 mcg/kg/h continuous IV infusion; not to exceed 24 h, while the clonidine group received 1.2 mg per day for 24 h. We completed the COWS standard checklist and compared the results after 0, 12, and 24 h. Results: At Zero hours' patients who were administered dexmedetomidine had a significantly higher average COWS score of 0.684, compared to a score of 0.053 for patients who received clonidine (p-value=.000201). At the 12-h, the distinction between the 2 treatment groups was no longer statistically significant, as evidenced by a p-value of .162829 (dexmedetomidine: 0.105 vs. clonidine: 0.000). Conclusions: The results suggest that dexmedetomidine is superior to clonidine in reducing withdrawal symptoms. The study found that both medications had a significant decrease in COWS scores over time, indicating their effectiveness in alleviating withdrawal symptoms as time passed. Resumen: Antecedentes: si bien el síndrome de abstinencia de opiáceos (SOW) generalmente se resuelve en unas pocas semanas, el malestar en los primeros días después de suspender el uso de opioides es intenso. En este estudio, comparamos los efectos de dos fármacos, clonidina y dexmedetomidina, para el tratamiento del síndrome de abstinencia de opiáceos (SOW) en pacientes ingresados en la UCI de Toxicología del Hospital Loghman-e Hakim. Métodos: En este estudio clínico aleatorizado, se recopiló información de pacientes de personas diagnosticadas con síndrome de abstinencia de opiáceos. Se incluyeron y dividieron en dos grupos cincuenta y dos pacientes, emparejados según el tipo de consumo de drogas (metadona, opiáceos, heroína). Los efectos clínicos de dos fármacos, dexmedetomidina y clonidina, sobre los síntomas del síndrome de abstinencia de opiáceos se compararon mediante la Escala Clínica de Abstinencia de Opiáceos (COWS). El grupo de dexmedetomidina recibió una dosis de 0,5 mcg/kg/h en infusión intravenosa continua; no exceder las 24 horas, mientras que el grupo de clonidina recibió 1,2 mg/día repartidos durante 24 horas. La lista de verificación estándar COWS se completó y comparó a las 0, 12 y 24 horas. Resultados: En las horas cero, los pacientes a los que se les administró dexmedetomidina tuvieron una puntuación COWS promedio significativamente mayor, de 0,684, en comparación con una puntuación de 0,053 para los pacientes que recibieron clonidina (p = 0,000201). A las 12 horas, la distinción entre los dos grupos de tratamiento ya no era estadísticamente significativa, como lo demuestra un p de 0,162,829 (dexmedetomidina: 0,105 frente a clonidina: 0,000). Conclusiones: Los resultados sugieren que la dexmedetomidina es superior a la clonidina para reducir los síntomas de abstinencia. La investigación demostró una disminución significativa en las puntuaciones COWS de ambos medicamentos con el tiempo, lo que indica su eficacia para aliviar los síntomas de abstinencia conforme avanzaba el tiempo.

The concurrent utilization of hypoglycemic agents and anesthetic techniques has been demonstrated to mitigate stress hyperglycemia in critically ill patients without diabetes, thereby contributing to enhanced patient outcomes. Stress hyperglycemia, characterized by elevated blood glucose levels as a result of acute illness or physiological stress, frequently manifests in patients experiencing critical illness. This condition has been linked to augmented morbidity, protracted hospitalization durations, and elevated mortality rates. This review aims to introduce and critically assess various hypoglycemic agents and anesthetic techniques employed to alleviate stress hyperglycemia, emphasizing the necessity for continued research to comprehensively ascertain the safety and efficacy of these approaches, which will facilitate their broader integration.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most prevalent form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that is usually treated with chemoimmunotherapy. If the disease proves refractory or recurrent, the primary treatment approach involves high-dose chemotherapy with bone marrow transplantation. The collection of peripheral blood stem cells before transplantation plays a vital role in the treatment process, necessitating the mobilization of blood stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood. Despite using standard methods such as granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), chemotherapy, and plerixafor, some patients cannot collect an optimal count of CD34+ cells for transplantation. Managing these patients with poor mobilization poses significant challenges. In this article, we present a case of a poor mobilizer patient who achieved prosperous mobilization by using recombinant human G-CSF, recombinant human growth hormone, and plerixafor.

Objective(s): The use of statistical methods to reach the clustering and ranking of health in the society can give a proper view of the state of health in Iranian provinces. The aim of the current research was to cluster and rank Iranian provinces based on some health indicators. Methods: This was a descriptive study. Clustering and ranking Iranian provinces were carried out according to several items such as the number of employees working in faculties of medical sciences, doctors, paramedics, hospitals, active beds, primary health care providers, laboratories, rehabilitation centers, nuclear medicine centers, clinics and emergency centers. The data were collected from the statistical yearbooks of the provinces. Clustering analysis and data visualizations were performed in R software and ranks were obtained using Topsis software. Results: The results showed that the provinces of Ilam, Yazd, Semnan, South Khorasan, Zanjan, Ardabil, Fars, Kohgiluyeh and Boyer Ahmad, and Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari had the highest health scores and belonged to the third cluster. Their ranks were 1 to 9 respectively. In the first cluster the following provinces were observed: Qom, Tehran, Alborz, and Hamedan with scores of 0.552, 0.540, 0.460, and 0.36 respectively indicating that these provinces had the lowest health scores and their ranks were 28 to 31. The other provinces appeared on the second cluster and ranked 10 to 27 with almost equal scores. Conclusion: In order to achieve health equity, the indicators should be improved in provinces belonged to the first cluster to in order to achieve the standard per capita.

Objective(s): Grief is a natural experience that helps bereaved people process the pain of loss and move toward healing. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the bereaved people were faced with unprecedented conditions due to the absence of mourning ceremonies. The present study was to explore the personal experience by which the bereaved ones encountered the situation. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a purposeful sample of Iranians who had lost a family member due to the virus. Data were collected using unstructured interviews until saturation was research. The study was conducted during 2021-2022 Results: We interviewed 16 bereaved people. The data analysis revealed 14 subcategories, 3 categories: failed mourning, bitter loneliness, incomplete gestalt of grief and a core theme as endless sorrow. Conclusion: The findings showed that not holding mourning ceremony during the covid-19 epidemic caused bereaved people with a large number of unfulfilled expectations. It seems that there is need to find a way through the stages of mourning for these people by addressing their expectations and wishes.

Abstract Background Premature ejaculation is one of the most common male sexual dysfunction, affecting approximately 30% of men. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy and at the same time the safety of the cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) device in treatment of premature ejaculation disorder. Methods Based on a randomized clinical trial, two groups were included in the study, so that the first group was treated with sertraline along with an ATANG (AT-9 model) CES, and the second group with sertraline and inactive the CES device (as the placebo group). The state of premature ejaculation after treatment (using the Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool (PEDT) questionnaire) was evaluated and compared for both groups. Results In the intervention and placebo groups, the average score of the PEDT questionnaire before the intervention did not differ significantly between the two groups (p-value equal to 0.93). However, the average score of the PEDT questionnaire after the intervention for CES group and placebo group was 10.28 ± 1.93 and 13.23 ± 3.05, respectively, which demonstrated a significant decrease in the intervention group (p-value equal to 0.01). Conclusion The use of CES device as a complementary treatment along with routine drug treatment (sertraline) is associated with a significant improvement in the condition of premature ejaculation of patients. Trial registration Name of the registry: IRCT Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials. Trial registration number: IRCT20210621051657N1. Date of registration: December 11, 2022. URL of trial registry record: https://en.irct.ir/trial/57201 .

Abstract Considering that interventions related to lifestyle, especially nutrition have been proposed as the first line of prevention and treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and regarding the proven relationship between PCOS and inflammation, the present study was designed to find out the possible association of Diet Inflammatory Index (DII) with the inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) and Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and compare the obtained results in PCOS and non-PCOS women. This case–control study was conducted on 45 PCOS and 40 non-PCOS women. Food intake and DII were measured using a 147-item Food Frequency Questionnaire. All participants were tested for the serum levels of IL-6 and CRP. Finally, the obtained results were compared between the two groups of PCOS and non-PCOS women. Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, menstrual status and number of pregnancies (P 0.05). The difference of DII between the case and control groups were not significant and Pearson's correlation test did not show a significant correlation between DII and IL-6 (P˃0.05). This result can be due to the influence of several factors affecting the determination of DII such as education level, health status, physical activity level, age, and calorie intake. It seems that diet, especially consumption of more carbohydrates plays a role in causing chronic inflammation, as well as the occurrence and exacerbation of PCOS.

Background and purpose: Access to primary healthcare services, considering equity and equality in the health system, is a right of the global community. To provide primary health services, the rural family physician program was implemented at the beginning of 2005 to achieve universal health coverage in rural areas and small cities (with a population of less than 20,000). The specific goals of this program included the implementation of the referral system, increasing the responsiveness of the health market, increasing people’s access to health services, reducing unnecessary costs in the health market, and increasing service coverage. After approximately 7 years of implementation of this program, the urban family physician program started in Mazandaran and Fars province as a pilot project. The urban family physician program started in the Mazandaran province in 2012 as the first level of providing health services. In line with the better implementation of this program and considering the wide range of expected programs and activities, it is essential to entrust the appropriate activities with the time of the service providers. This study was conducted to assess the expected duration of activities assigned to the family physician. Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 15 urban family physician centers (6 government and 9 private centers) in Golugah, Behshahr, Neka, Ghaemshahr, Noor, and Chalus cities of Mazandaran province. Out of 15 cities with more than 20,000 people participating in this program in Mazandaran province, the six cities mentioned above were randomly selected, and 15 urban family doctors were randomly selected from the existing list. Finally, the target groups were included in the study for convenience sampling. To collect the data, checklists compiled based on care packages corresponding to 8 groups of service recipients (elderly (11 services), middle-aged (7 services), youth (13 services), teenagers (24 services), under 5 years old (6 services), mana (15 services), mothers (3 services), and non-target visit) were used. For each service recipient group, at least three individuals were examined. Central and dispersion indices were used to describe the data. Results: The results of measuring the time of providing service to 297 people (including 90 under 5 years old, 30 people receiving Mana services, 30 people from each of the groups of mothers, teenagers, young people, middle-aged, elderly, and 27 people from non-target visit) showed that the median and mean expected time for providing daily service by an urban family physician to the covered population is 2 h and 52 min and 3 h and 23 min, respectively. The estimated time was different in the groups receiving the service, the highest time of which was related to the visit of the non-target service group with median and mean of 84.17 and 87.20 min, respectively, and the lowest time was related to Mana services with a median and mean of 3.40 and 4.34 min, respectively. Conclusion: Urban family physicians have enough time to provide daily services, and therefore it seems that the health system has not assigned them more than their daily time capacity.

Abstract We construct initial configurations for the scattering between kinks with long-range tails. For this purpose, we exploit kink solutions in the presence of Bogomol’nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS)-preserving impurities. This approach offers a highly efficient method and effortless implementation with a negligible computational cost. Our algorithm has a much smaller complexity than the usual minimization method, becoming more than a hundred times faster in some scenarios. Consequently, conducting kink-antikink simulations becomes remarkably straightforward.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is attributed to SARS-COV-2 virus rapidly spreading around the world as a global health emergency. The difference in the rate of infection and disease severity has raised doubts about the impact of genetic predisposition on the COVID-19 severity. Previous studies have proposed the relationship between blood group antigens as one of genetic risk factors involved in susceptibility to COVID-19. Herein, we aimed to delve into the association between ABO blood group and COVID-19 infection, severity, and mortality rate. Methods: In this cohort study, the patients who referred to university-based referral hospital (Hazrat Rasool) in Tehran, Iran, with the positive PCR test for COVID-19 were followed up during 2021. They were classified as: (1) mild, (2) moderate, (3) severe, and (4) death based on disease severity. The demographic information including age, gender, and underlying disease and the patient's medical record such as blood type, intubation, and severity of illness was recorded. Then, the predefined variables were recorded in each group and compared with each other. Finally, the obtained findings were analyzed by SPSS version-22 software. Results: Overall, 101 patients were included among which 51.5% (52 cases) were male and the rest were female. Their average age was 64.14±16.37 years (ranged from 20 to 94 years). The most common blood group in affected cases was O+ (37.6%) and then A+ (35.6%). Also, the most underlying disease was hypertension and diabetes with a prevalence of 45.5% and 35.6%, respectively. 66.3% of cases died and 76.2% and 22.8% of cases presented severe and moderate form of COVID19, respectively. The average hospitalization time was 19.77±18.34 days (the longest time of 150 days) compared to the 12.79±10.45 days in ICU (the longest time of 55 days). In addition, the most common blood group amongst the hospitalized cases was O+ which were significantly associated with the lower severity and mortality rate of COVID19 (p-value ≤.0001). Conclusions: The findings of current study suggest that A+ blood group might be more susceptible to COVID-19 with significantly higher severity or mortality rate of disease while O+ blood group might be less susceptible with longer survival and less severity of disease. Our results add to the growing body of evidences suggesting the blood group types may pave the way for early preventive measures and management approaches of COVID-19. Resumen: Antecedentes: La pandemia de COVID-19 se atribuye a la rápida propagación del virus SARS-COV-2 por todo el mundo como una emergencia sanitaria mundial. La diferencia en la tasa de infección y la gravedad de la enfermedad ha generado dudas sobre el impacto de la predisposición genética en la gravedad del COVID-19. Estudios anteriores han propuesto la relación entre los antígenos de los grupos sanguíneos como uno de los factores de riesgo genéticos implicados en la susceptibilidad a la COVID-19. En este documento, nuestro objetivo fue profundizar en la asociación entre el grupo sanguíneo ABO y la infección, gravedad y tasa de mortalidad por COVID-19. Métodos: En este estudio de cohorte, se realizó un seguimiento de los pacientes remitidos al hospital universitario de referencia (Hazrat Rasool) en Teherán, Irán, con una prueba de PCR positiva para COVID-19 durante 2021. Se clasificaron como (1) leves, (2) moderada, (3) grave y (4) muerte según la gravedad de la enfermedad. Se registró la información demográfica, incluida la edad, el sexo y la enfermedad subyacente, y el historial médico del paciente, como el tipo de sangre, la intubación y la gravedad de la enfermedad. Luego se registraron las variables predefinidas en cada grupo y se compararon entre sí. Finalmente, los hallazgos obtenidos fueron analizados mediante el software SPSS versión 22. Resultados: En total se incluyeron 101 pacientes de los cuales el 51,5% (52 casos) fueron hombres y el resto mujeres. Su edad promedio fue de 64,14 ± 16,37 años (osciló entre 20 y 94 años). El grupo sanguíneo más común en los casos afectados fue el O+ (37,6%) y luego el A+ (35,6%). Asimismo, la enfermedad más subyacente fue la hipertensión y la diabetes con una prevalencia del 45,5% y 35,6%, respectivamente. El 66,3% de los casos falleció y el 76,2% y 22,8% de los casos presentaron forma grave y moderada de COVID19, respectivamente. El tiempo medio de hospitalización fue de 19,77 ± 18,34 días (el tiempo más largo de 150 días) frente a los 12,79 ± 10,45 días en UCI (el tiempo más largo de 55 días). Además, el grupo sanguíneo más común entre los casos hospitalizados fue O+, que se asoció significativamente con una menor gravedad y tasa de mortalidad de COVID19 (valor de p≤0,0001). Conclusiones: Los hallazgos del estudio actual sugieren que el grupo sanguíneo A+ podría ser más susceptible al COVID-19 con una gravedad o tasa de mortalidad de la enfermedad significativamente mayor, mientras que el grupo sanguíneo O+ podría ser menos susceptible con una supervivencia más larga y una menor gravedad de la enfermedad. Nuestros resultados se suman al creciente conjunto de evidencias que sugieren que los tipos de grupos sanguíneos pueden allanar el camino para medidas preventivas tempranas y enfoques de manejo de COVID-19.

ABSTRACT Objective The variations in the single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the fat mass and obesity (FTO)‐associated gene have been linked to being overweight or obese in children. In this research a thorough examination was performed to elucidate the connection between various FTO gene SNPs and overweight or obesity in children and adolescents. Method We searched PubMed, Google scholar, Web of Science and Scopus until January 2024 to find studies that investigate the association between different SNPs of FTO gene and the risk of overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. After filtering the relevant studies, meta‐analysis was used to quantify the association of FTO gene SNPs within different genetic inheritance models. Results We have identified 32 eligible studies with 14,930 obese/overweight cases and 24,765 healthy controls. Our recessive model showed a significant association with rs9939609 (OR: 1.56, 95% CI: 1.20; 2.02, p

IntroductionPost-ovulatory aging is a time-dependent deterioration of ovulated oocytes and a major limiting factor reducing the fitness of offspring. This process may lead to the activation of cell death pathways like apoptosis in oocytes.MethodologyWe evaluated oocyte membrane integrity, egg developmental competency, and mRNA abundance of apoptosis-related genes by RT-qPCR. Oocytes from zebrafish Danio rerio were retained in vivo at 28.5°C for 24 h post-ovulation (HPO). Viability was assessed using trypan blue (TB) staining. The consequences of in vivo oocyte aging on the developmental competence of progeny were determined by the embryo survival at 24 h post fertilization, hatching, and larval malformation rates.ResultsThe fertilization, oocyte viability, and hatching rates were 91, 97, and 65% at 0 HPO and dropped to 62, 90, and 22% at 4 HPO, respectively. The fertilizing ability was reduced to 2% at 8 HPO, while 72% of oocytes had still intact plasma membranes. Among the apoptotic genes bcl-2 (b-cell lymphoma 2), bada (bcl2-associated agonist of cell death a), cathepsin D, cathepsin Z, caspase 6a, caspase 7, caspase 8, caspase 9, apaf1, tp53 (tumor protein p53), cdk1 (cyclin-dependent kinase 1) studied, mRNA abundance of anti-apoptotic bcl-2 decreased and pro-apoptotic cathepsin D increased at 24 HPO. Furthermore, tp53 and cdk1 mRNA transcripts decreased at 24 HPO compared to 0 HPO.DiscussionThus, TB staining did not detect the loss of oocyte competency if caused by aging. TB staining, however, could be used as a simple and rapid method to evaluate the quality of zebrafish oocytes before fertilization. Taken together, our results indicate the activation of cell death pathways in the advanced stages of oocyte aging in zebrafish.

Key Clinical Message Here we present a case of a 4‐year‐old girl who suffered from vulvovaginitis caused by Enterobius vermicularis. All members of her family were also infected by this helminth. Treatment with mebendazole was administered to all family members and it was found that the entire family had been cured. Abstract Vulvovaginitis, an inflammation of the vulvovaginal mucous membranes, is a common reason for pediatric gynecology consultations. One of the causes of this condition is a parasitic worm known as Enterobius vermicularis (E. vermicularis). In girls, adult worms can infiltrate the vagina and release eggs, leading to the development of vulvovaginitis. Furthermore, these worms have the ability to invade the endometrial cavity too. Here we present a case of a 4‐year‐old girl who suffered from vulvovaginitis caused by E. vermicularis. All members of her family were also infected by this parasitic helminth. In the vaginal sample, apart from the eggs, the female adult worm was observed under the microscope. Treatment with mebendazole was administered to all family members, and their progress was followed for a period of 3 weeks, during which it was found that the entire family had been cured. This patient experienced significant improvement in symptoms related to severe anxiety, nervousness, vaginal inflammation, itching, and vulvovaginitis caused by E. vermicularis. To prevent infection by E. vermicularis, it is crucial to disinfect underwear and bed sheets. In kindergartens, the spread of this parasite should not be underestimated, and asymptomatic individuals who have been exposed to infected persons should receive treatment to prevent an epidemic. Maintaining cleanliness and hygiene, especially after using the toilet, is of the most importance, particularly for girls who are more susceptible to E. vermicularis infection. Additionally, it is essential for all family members to be aware of the transmission routes of this parasite.

Chamomile or camomile (Matricaria chamomilla L. syn. Matricaria recutita L.) belongs to the family Asteraceae. It is native to Europe and West Asia and has spread to other parts of the world. The plant essential oils and extracts have been frequently used for thousands of years in traditional and folk medicines across the world, due to their valuable medicinal properties. Currently, it is widely applied in different industries such as pharmaceutical, cosmetics, and food industry. Herein, the literature was carefully reviewed via search engines such as Google Scholar, Pub Med, and Scopus using keywords including biological activity, chamomile, flavonoids, pharmacological activity, Matricaria chamomilla, and Matricaria recutita. Sesquiterpenes such as bisabolol oxide B, bisabolone oxide, and bisabolol oxide A have been identified as the major constituents of chamomile essential oil. Also, various phenolic compounds and flavonoids were mostly reported as active compounds in the plant extracts. Although there are various reports pinpointing the mechanisms of action of chamomile and its constituents, some points have remained ambiguous and further well-designed clinical trials are required. Focusing on the importance of valuable biological properties of chamomile, the present review precisely discussed the characterized chemical constituents of the plant along with their mechanisms of action.

Objective: This study investigated the demographic characteristics and factors influencing burn injuries,primarily in low socioeconomic societies where such incidents are prevalent due to factors such as illiteracyand poverty.Methods: This cross-sectional study included all burn patients admitted to Shahid Motahari Hospital inTehran, Iran. Demographic data such as age, sex, occupation, education level, and residence as well as detailedinformation about the burn incidents such as date, time, location, number of people present at the scene, andreferral place was collected. Additionally, comprehensive burn details such as cause, extent, severity, previoushistory, and need for hospitalization directly at the emergency department were documented.Results: The study included 2213 patients (mean age 34.98±19.41 years; range 1-96), with a men predominance(60.6%). The majority of burns (64.4%) occurred at home, primarily due to accidents (99.6%), with boilingwater being the most common cause (39.2%). The most frequent burns were second-degree burns (91.8%),with an average injured body area of 6.31±6.67%. There were significant correlations between burn severityand demographic factors such as age, sex, occupation, cause of burn, hospital admission, outcome, and lengthof stay. Remarkably, the extent of burns was negatively correlated with the distance to the hospital, whilepositively correlated with the length of hospital stay.Conclusion: Burn injuries were significantly influenced by demographic factors. Enhancing treatment facilitiesand reducing the time and distance to medical care could be crucial in high-risk cases.

Background & Objectives: Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) serve as molecular carriers for in vivo and in vitro delivery. Initial studies have suggested that nanotubes in drug delivery can enhance the therapeutic response to anti-cancer drugs. The present study intended to investigate the effect of CNTs carrying tamoxifen (TAM-CNTs) on the induction of apoptosis in the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Materials & Methods: The cells were treated with various concentrations of TAM and TAM-CNTs. The IC50 for these compounds was determined using a MTT assay. The cells were then treated with a lower concentration of IC50. The BAX and BCL-2 genes expression were evaluated by Real-Time PCR and Western blot. Flow cytometry was employed for evaluating apoptosis induction by TAM and TAM-CNTs. Results: The IC50 value of TAM and TAM-CNTs in a 48-hour period was 66.19 mg/mL and 36.59 mg/mL, respectively. The results demonstrated that BAX in the cells treated with TAM and TAM-CNTs was upregulated 3.64 and 7.88 times, respectively (P

Background and purpose: A bone marrow examination is necessary to diagnose some hematologic diseases. In this study, we compared the effects of acetaminophen and promethazine versus intravenous injections of midazolam and pethidine on pain reduction after bone marrow sampling. Materials and methods: In this study, 88 patients were divided into two groups. The first received one gram of acetaminophen as an infusion and 25 milligrams of promethazine syrup 30 minutes before the procedure. The second group received intravenous injections of 25 milligrams of pethidine and 5 milligrams of midazolam five minutes before the procedure. In two groups, local anesthesia with lidocaine was given before the procedure. The pain and presence of anxiety in the patients were assessed using a 10-point Likert scale. Results: We analyzed the results of 88 patients. At 30 minutes after sampling, patients in the pethidine-midazolam group reported lower pain compared to those in the promethazine-acetaminophen group (1.18±0.90 vs. 1.77±0.99) (P=0.004). This difference was particularly notable among men (0.90±0.98 vs. 0.99±1.67) (P=0.001). Among men, those older than 30 years showed a reduction in pain (1.01±0.9 vs. 0.99±1.46) (P=0.049). No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of pain immediately after sampling. The administration of promethazine and acetaminophen showed a more positive future perspective in patients older than 46 years (P=0.033). Additionally, the average incidence of anxiety 30 minutes after the procedure was 27.3% in the pethidine-midazolam group and 22.7% in the promethazine-acetaminophen group. However, there was no significant difference in the level of anxiety between the two groups (P=0.806). Conclusion: Based on our data, the combination of promethazine and acetaminophen had similar analgesic effects to the combination of pethidine and midazolam immediately after sampling. As a result, according to the various side effects of pethidine and midazolam, especially in patients with respiratory diseases and outpatients, the combination of promethazine and acetaminophen can be used. (Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT20200427047215N2)

Parasitic infections are the most common diseases worldwide, and enterobiasis is a common parasitic infection in children. Various studies have reported on the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis in different regions of the world. However, no study has gathered and analyzed this data systematically. Our systematic review and meta-analysis investigated the overall prevalence of E. vermicularis among children globally. Data were extracted from 4 available databases for studies published from January 2002 to April 2022. The quality of the included studies was scored based on the standard Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology. A random-effect model was chosen to calculate the pooled prevalence and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) according to the degree of heterogeneity in the included studies. Thus, 40 publications (42 data sets) that included 3,279 children with enterobiasis met all criteria and were included in the analysis. The meta-analysis showed that heterogeneity among the included studies was high (Q=4,399.35, I2=99.96%; df=41; p

Keyword extraction is a key step in document indexing. Keywords are semantic and content-based descriptors of a document, which can be used in document retrieval and representation. In databases containing scientific documents, such as Ganj in Irannian Research Institue for Information Science and Technology (IranDoc), it is even more critical to assign meaningful keywords for documents, since the documents are from different academic disciplines and contain technical terms.As the number of scientific documents grows exponentially, having an automatic and intelligent keyword extraction technique is getting more critical. There are various keyword extraction techniques that are either based on statistical features of the text or machine learning approaches, and sometimes a combination of both. In this research, we propose a new keyword extraction method for Persian scientific documents based on recommender systems and case-based reasoning. The proposed method is designed based on case-based reasoning in which the main assumption is that similar documents share similar keywords. There are two main steps in the proposed approach: first, similar documents to a given new document are retrieved based on TFIDF and word2vec model, second, the candidate keywords are extracted from retrieved documents and ranked based on a new scoring scheme, and a set of keyword are selected from the candidate keywords based on their score. The proposed method is tested and avaluated on a set of documents of Ganj database in three different subject areas (Art, Humanities and Engineering), based on precision, recall and expert panel

Ruchun-Mazar region is located in southern Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone, southwest of Baft city in Kerman province, Iran. Seh Chah, Chah Sorbi, Chah Nar, Zardbazi Dar, and Chah Sorbi Arjmand Pb-Zn deposits located in this region were investigated. The most outcrops of the geological units in the area include the Paleozoic metamorphic complexes of Gol Ghohar (amphibolite, gneiss and micaschist), Ruchun (schist, marble, calcschist, black chert, slate and phyllite), and Khabar (marble, calcschist). Microdioritic, monzodioritic and diabasic dykes have intruded into the metamorphic units. Dolomitic and calcitic marble of Ruchun complex is the host rock for Pb-Zn mineralization. Primary mineralization in Seh Chah, Chah Sorbi, and Chah Nar deposits includes galena, sphalerite, and pyrite ± chalcopyrite along with quartz, calcite, and dolomite ± barite. Vein-veinlet, open space filling, brecciated ± disseminated ± laminate structures and textures can be seen in these deposits. The most important alterations in these deposits are silicification and carbonitization (calcitic and dolomitic alterations). Primary sulfide ore in Zardbazi Dar and Chah Sorbi Arjmand deposits has been weathered and mining has been carried out on nonsulfide ore (supergene ore). The nonsulfide ore formed at the expense of sulfides, and mainly consists of smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, and cerussite. It seems that these deposits belong to the direct replacement and, to a lesser extent, wall rock replacement nonsulfide zinc deposits. Based on the geological, mineralogical and alteration evidence, the primary mineralization in the region can be divided into two groups of SEDEX type (Chah Sorbi deposit) and vein type (Chah Nar and Seh Chah deposits). It was concluded that under supergene conditions in some deposits, nonsulfide ore was also formed. Moreover, the deposits of this region can be categorized into primary sulfide (hydrothermal) and nonsulfide (supergene). Introduction Iran embraces extensive areas having high potential for carbonate-hosted (CH) Zn-Pb deposits due to the suitable geodynamic conditions and the occurrence of large carbonate platforms (Rajabi et al., 2012). A wide variety of Zn-Pb deposits have been reported along Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) in Iran. The development of SSZ is related to the generation of the Neo-Tethys Ocean during the Permian and its subsequent destruction due to the convergent and continental collision between the Arabian and Iran plates during Cretaceous to Tertiary periods (Mohajjel et al., 2003; Ghasemi and Talbot, 2006). Ruchun-Mazar (Rechan) region is located in the southern Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (Fig. 1). This area is located at 75 km southwest of Baft city in Kerman province, Iran. In this region, the lower paleozoic marble rocks of Ruchun complex host numerous Zn-Pb deposits (Fig. 2). Although sulfide mineralization is dominant in this region (e.g., Seh Chah, Chah Sorbi, and Chah Nar deposits), secondary non-sulfide ores are common (e.g., Zardbazi Dar and Chah Sorbi Arjmand deposits). Based on geology, mineralogy, mineralization and alteration, the similarities and differences among the Pb-Zn deposits of this region were investigated. Material and methods At the first step, a 1:50,000 integrated geological map of Ruchun-Mazar region was prepared. Then, a more detailed investigation of the deposits, including field sampling of rock units, ore veins, tunnels and other mining works was done. Field observations were supplemented by petrographic studies and X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis. From the collected samples (224 samples), 95 thin sections, 48 polished thin sections, and 41 polished sections were prepared for petrographic and mineralogical studies. Twenty-eight samples (sulfide and nonsulfide ores and gossan) were analyzed by XRD at the GSI. Nonsulfide ores, which contain Zn, were identified (stained bright red) by Zinc Zap, a solution of 3% potassium ferricyanide K3Fe(CN)6 and 0.5% diethylaniline dissolved in 3% oxalic acid. Results Ruchun-Mazar mining area is located in the southern part of Sanandaj-Sirjan zone (Fig. 1). Based on stratigraphy of the region, chronological sequences from the oldest to youngest include Paleozoic Gol Gohar, Ruchun and Khabar metamorphic complexes, Permian-Triassic metamorphosed carbonates, Jurassic-Cretaceous meta flysch, Cretaceous marbles (Koh-e-Khabar), Eocene-Oligocene flysch, and Quaternary sediments (Fig. 2). Gol Gohar complex (unit Pz2) contains gneiss, micaschist and amphibolite with a probable Cambrian age which has been intruded by mafic intrusive bodies. The Ruchun complex (unit Pz3) is the host complex for lead, zinc and iron mineralizations in the region. Sequence of stratigraphic layers from bottom to the top contains Gol Gohar complex (Camberian), Ruchun complex (Camberian-Ordovician), and Khabar complex (Middle-Upper Devonian), respectively. Metamorphosed carbonate rocks (dolomitic and calcitic marbles) of Ruchun complex (Pz3d and Pz3m) are seen in brown and light to dark gray colors and often alternate associated with metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks (Pz3sch unit) (Fig. 3A). The Ruchun complex was intruded by microdiorite, monzodiorite, microgabbro, and diabase dikes (Fig. 3B). Quartz and calcite veins have cut most of the Ruchun complex units (Fig. 3C and 3D). Calcitic and dolomitic marbles with probable Permian-Triassic age (Fig. 3E and F) can be seen on Ruchun complex (units PTm and PTd). Mafic (gabbro) to felsic (granite) intrusive bodies (gabbro to granite) were exposed in the west of DehSard village, next to Permian-Triassic dolomite (Fig. 3F). Pb-Zn mineralization in the Mazar-Ruchun region is formed in the calcitic and dolomitic marble (Pz3d and Pz3m) of the Ruchun complex (Fig. 4A, B, C and D). These metamorphosed carbonates are composed of calcite and dolomite, and minor minerals such as muscovite, quartz, and opaque minerals (Fig. 4E and F). Based on the morphology of calcite blade (Burkhard, 1993), and the presence of calcite (type I and II), the temperature of metamorphism of this marble is between 250 and 350 degrees, which corresponds with the green schist facies. Marbles alternate associate with schist (green schist, mica schist and graphite schist) and phyllite (Fig. 3A, E and G). Primary mineralization in Seh Chah, Chah Sorbi and Chah Nar deposits includes galena, sphalerite, pyrite ± chalcopyrite associated with quartz, calcite, and dolomite ± barite. Vein-veinlet, open space filling, brecciated ± disseminated ± laminated structures and textures can be seen in these deposits. The most important alterations in these deposits are silicification and carbonitization (calcitic and dolomitic alterations). Carbonate host rock and structural control can be considered as the most important factors for controlling primary ore mineralization in the Seh Chah and Chah Nar Pb-Zn deposits. Dolomitic and calcitic marble in the Seh Chah deposit are highly altered (Fig. 4B). A number of basic to intermediate intrusive bodies (often as dykes) can be seen in this area. Chah Nar and Seh Chah deposits were formed epigenetically with vein-veinlet, open space filling and brecciated structures and textures (Fig. 5B and C). Graphite schist in Chah Sorbi deposit is sometimes seen alternating with marble in the Ruchun complex sequence. In this deposit, in addition to vein-veinlet, open space filling and brecciated textures (which were also observed in the Seh Chah and Chah Nar deposits), part of the ore has a laminated and disseminated textures. It seems that the type of sulfide mineralization in Chah Sorbi deposit is different from the other two deposits (Fig. 6A to C). In Chah Sorbi deposit, galena, sphalerite, pyrite and chalcopyrite associated with quartz, calcite, organic matter, dolomite and barite were deposited in the hydrothermal mineralization stage (Fig. 6D and Table 1). The effects of metamorphism and deformation in this deposit can be traced by such evidence as microscopic and mesoscopic folds and faults in the ore and host rock (Fig. 6E and F). In contrast, Chah Nar and Seh Chah deposits were formed after the last metamorphic event (probably post Late Cretaceous) and no evidence of metamorphism can be seen in them. Primary sulfide ores in Zardbazi Dar and Chah Sorbi Arjmand deposits have been weathered and mining has been carried out on nonsulfide ore (supergene ore). The nonsulfide ore formed at the expense of sulfides, and mainly consists of smithsonite, hydrozincite, hemimorphite, and cerussite (Fig. 8A and G, and Table 1). Discussion and conclusion Sediment-hosted Pb-Zn deposits represent the world’s largest accumulations of base metals (Goodfellow and Lydon, 2007; Wilkinson, 2014). Table 2 shows a comparison of the general characteristics of these deposits with Pb-Zn deposits in Ruchun-Mazar area. The host rock of the studied deposits (calcitic and dolomitic marble) is different from the SEDEX type deposits (shale as the dominant host rock). Chah Nar and Seh Chah, deposits were formed epigenetically (within fracture and fault and as replacements) and deposited after the last metamorphic event (probably post Late Cretaceous). These deposits are classified as a group of epigenetic deposits and show a significant similarity to MVT deposits, although they also display fundamental differences with this category of ore deposit (especially host rock alteration). The presence of laminated and disseminated textures (before the metamorphism event) in Chah Sorbi deposit classified it as a syngenetic to early diagenetic Pb-Zn deposit (e.g., Irish type or SEDEX). Chah Sorbi deposit shows notable similarity to Howard’s Pass district, Selwyn Basin, of sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) Zn-Pb deposits (Gadd et al., 2017). Mineralization in Howard’s Pass district (Late Ordovician to Early Silurian) was hosted by carbonaceous, calcareous and, to a lesser extent, siliceous mudstones. Mining works in Zardbazi Dar and Chah Sorbi Arjmand deposits was carried out on nonsulfide ore (supergene ore). The supergene nonsulfide deposits are unmetamorphosed and undeformed. They consist of low-temperature and low-pressure assemblages that precipitated from meteoric fluids, replacing sulfides and carbonate groundmass to form encrustations and fill pore spaces, veins, and fractures. Some of the key controls on the formation of carbonate-hosted nonsulfide Zn-Pb deposits are the nature and availability of near-surface sulfide protore, lithology, sub-aerial exposure, tectonic uplift, climate and favorable hydrology (Hitzman et al., 2003). Hitzman et al. (2003) described two specific forms of nonsulfide ore from various nonsulfide deposits around the world: red ore and white ore. Red ore is gossanous, usually found immediately above the sulfide protore, and typically contains >20% Zn, 7% Fe and Pb, and minor silver (Simandl and Paradis, 2008). Typical red ore nonsulfide minerals include iron-oxyhydroxides, goethite, hematite, hemimorphite, smithsonite, and/or hydrozincite and cerussite (Reichert and Borg, 2008). White ore contains up to 40% Zn but less than 7% Fe and Pb. Smithsonite and hydrozincite are common minerals in white ore with only small amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxides and cerussite (Reichert and Borg, 2008). Zinc and Pb nonsulfides can be used as indirect indicator minerals in exploration for MVT, SEDEX, Irish-type, carbonate replacement, and vein-type Zn-Pb deposits. It seems that Zardbazi Dar and Chah Sorbi Arjmand deposits belong to the direct replacement and lesser extent wall rock replacement nonsulfide zinc deposits. Acknowledgments This study was done supported by a grant of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. The study is part of the Project number 41179 and also part of the first author’s doctoral thesis. We gratefully thank Dr. Mohammad Salehi Tinoni, Mohsen Jorjandipour, Ali Rashidi, Dr. Ali Amiri and Dr. Ahmad Rashidi Bosharabadi who helped us in different field works. We are grateful to the respected reviewers who played a significant role in the scientific improvement of the article.

Kalateh Pialeh prospect area is located in the Kopeh Dagh zone, approximately 15 km northeastern of Esfarayen city. The area is composed of sedimentary rocks deposited during the Jurassic, Cretaceous, and Tertiary periods, which include microconglomerate, dolomitic limestone, sandy limestone, limestone, conglomerate, and marl. Mineralization occurs as epigenetic deposits hosted by dolomitic limestone and limestone. Two mineralization stages were identified. The first stage consists of a pyrite-galena-sphalerite assemblage with replacement and breccia textures, and the second stage comprising a galena-sphalerite assemblage with vein-veinlet, open space filling, and replacement textures. Dolomite and calcite are the most abundant gangue minerals associated with lesser amount of quartz and barite. Main alterations consist of calcitization and dolomitization. Galena mineral exhibits maximum geochemical anomalies of 1843 ppm for zinc, 7 ppm for arsenic, and 11 ppm for copper. Microthermometric studies on primary fluid inclusions (LV) reveal homogenization temperatures ranging from 180°C to 265°C for stage 1, and from 167°C to 214°C for stage 2. Salinities for these stages were found to be between 7.8 wt.% to 14.5 wt.% NaCl equiv., and 11.7 wt.% to 12.2 wt.% NaCl equiv., respectively. Based on evidence such as structurally controlled mineralization, the type of alterations and their linear expansion, simple mineralogy of ore, geochemistry, and fluid inclusion data, Kalateh Pialeh prospect area is similar to lead-zinc epithermal deposits. Introduction Sediment-hosted Pb–Zn deposits are typically found in clastic-carbonate (Sedex type deposits) and carbonate (Irish type and Mississippi Valley-type (MVT) deposits) rocks (e.g., Goodfellow & Lydon, 2007). In Iran, the wide distribution of clastic and carbonate rocks has led to the formation of various types of sedimentary-hosted lead and zinc deposits.These deposits occur in Cretaceous carbonate units, including Malayer-Esfahan, Tabas- Poshte-Badam, Yazd-Anarak, and Central Alborz metallogenic belts (Rajabi et al., 2012). Kalateh Pialeh prospect area, located in Kopeh Dagh zone, about 15 km northeastern of Esfarayen city, is the first report of lead and zinc mineralization in this zone. Kopeh Dagh zone is characterized by the absence of magmatic activity, the presence of limestone formations, and abundant hydrocarbon reserves (such as Khangiran Gas Field). This study summarizes the alteration, mineralogy, geochemistry, and fluid inclusion studies, and then discuss the ore genesis of Kalateh Pialeh prospect area. Material and methods Following field work, thin sections and polished slabs from the host rocks, veins and veinlets were studied using optical microscope. Red alizarin was also used to differentiate between calcite and dolomite. Galena minerals were seperated from host rock by using standard techniques involving crushing and handpicking under a binocular microscope at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Minor and rare element metal concentrations from galena were analyzed using ICP-OES techniques on five samples at Zarazma laboratory in Iran, while XRD analysis of the samples was done at the same laboratory. Microthermometric analysis of fluid inclusions was carried out on seven samples using a Linkam THM 600 heating-freezing stage combined with an Olympus TH4–200 microscope stage at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran. Results and Discussion The area comprises sedimentary units of microconglomerate, dolomitic limestone, sandy limestone, limestone, conglomerate, and marl. Vein-type epigenetic mineralization occurs along fault zones with trending NW–SE/vertical dip in dolomitic limestone and limestone. Mineralization can be divided into two stages: Pyrite-galena-sphalerite assemblage (with replacement and breccia textures), and galena-sphalerite assemblage (with vein-veinlet, open space filling, and replacement textures). The main alterations consist of calcitization and dolomitization. The oxidation and weathering processes have resulted in the formation of hemimorphite, smithsonite, cerussite, goethite, and hematite in the ore zones. Gangue minerals consist of calcite and dolomite with lesser amounts of barite and quartz. Geochemical analyses of the galena mineral reveal maximum anomalies for zinc (1843 ppm), arsenic (7 ppm), and copper (11 ppm). Microthermometric studies on primary fluid inclusions (LV) show homogenization temperatures ranging from 180 to 265°C and from 167 to 214°C for stages 1 and 2, respectively. The fluid salinities for these stages range from 7.8 to 14.5 wt.% NaCl and from 11.7 to 12.2 wt.% NaCl, indicating a wide range of salinities.The temperature of ore-forming fluids in MVT deposits varies from 50 to 250°C, with the majority falling within the 70 to 170°C range , and their salinity is between 10 and 30 wt. % NaCl (Leach et al., 2010). In Kalateh Pialeh sam ples, primary fluid inclusions hosted in quartz crystals homogenize to the liquid phase at temperatures ranging from 167°C to 265°C, (mostly in the range of 80 to 200°C) and the average salinity of 11 wt. % NaCl. The salinity of the hydrothermal fluids at studied area varies from 7.8 to 14.5 wt. % NaCl. This wide range can be attributed to the mixing of two fluids with different salinities. These salinities can be divided into two groups with low salinity (7.8 to 10 wt. % NaCl) and high salinity (13.9 to 14.5 wt. % NaCl). The presence of two types of primary inclusions with different salinity but similar homogenization temperature is a sign of isothermal mixing of two fluids.

Abstract The Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) has two scientific objectives of cosmological focus: to probe the expansion rate of the universe, and to understand stochastic gravitational-wave backgrounds and their implications for early universe and particle physics, from the MeV to the Planck scale. However, the range of potential cosmological applications of gravitational-wave observations extends well beyond these two objectives. This publication presents a summary of the state of the art in LISA cosmology, theory and methods, and identifies new opportunities to use gravitational-wave observations by LISA to probe the universe.

Transitioning fundamental and applied science to evidence-based real-world applications is challenging yet necessary, especially in environmental sciences. In this paper, a quantitative data analysis method is presented to support decision-making by augmenting qualitative customer discover methods used for new technology adoption. This method can be used to assess: i) customer segment (CS) and value proposition (VP) validity and ii) the ability of a new technology to address the VP. Two different environmental technologies were evaluated to demonstrate this quantitative approach. CS and VP(s) that were previously qualitatively identified were statistically (in)validated using binomial testing. In each of the presented cases, the CS was statistically validated but only one of the three VPs for each case was validated. The validated performance parameters for each technologywere tested against cost and performance data using linear optimization. This testing allowed for the identification of conditions under which the technology met minimum customer performance requirements and where further data or technology modifications were still needed. These identified conditions establish the features necessary to transition the technologies to the minimum viable product (MVP) phase of commercialization. One technology was found to be ready for MVP development while the other technology needed additional data and modification. Both findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this quantitative data analysis method and guide decision-making in the early stages of technology commercialization.

Abstract Background and Aim To better guide the health policies, it is essential to clarify the socio‐demographic and clinical risk factors affecting the mortality rate of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). Objective The purpose of this project is to separate hospital mortality statistics into different groups, which will definitely help in planning to reduce the mortality rate. As well, we aimed to compare factors involved in COVID‐19 death between the period before and after its outbreak. Methods This cross‐sectional study was performed based on all death certificates of archived records in Rasool Akram Hospital during the years 2018 and the first half of 2019. A checklist was completed based on the variables, including death cases by time, gender, age, duration of hospitalization, department of place and time of death, cause of death, cases referred to forensic medicine, information of the patient, including educational and occupational level and birth certificate issuing city, neonatal death, and IUFD, classification of diseases according to the provided version of ICD 10 (international classification of diseases 10th edition). Results A number of 2632 deceased patients were included in this study, 1511 (57.4%) patients who died before the start of the COVID‐19 outbreak, and 1121 (42.6%) patients died in the hospital after the start of this pandemic. There were statistically significant differences in gender (higher prevalence of males), increased average age, lower occupational status, decreased number of infants, increased cause of death due to COVID‐19 and increased hospitalization in Royal ICU in dead patients (p

Introduction: The weight-loss drugs can induce depression. Orlistat is one of the common weight-loss drugs, but preclinical studies about its effect on mood have not been performed. The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of orlistat alone and following inducing stress on mice depressive behavior. Methods: In this fundamental-applied study, male white mice (27±2 g), in six groups having 7 animals were used. Orlistat was administered orally and imipramine (positive control) was injected intraperitonealy daily, depression was induced by the water avoidance stress (WAS) model during 14 days. The activity was evaluated by the Locomotor Activity Test, depression was assessed by measuring the immobility time during the forced swimming test (FST), food consumption in novelty suppressed feeding test (NSFT), and the sucrose preference test. Results: Orlistat (25 mg/kg) did not change the locomotor activity. Stress increased the duration of immobility in the forced swimming test compared to the stress control group (98±2.2 seconds, P0.05). The difference in the results of latency and food consumption during novelty suppressed feeding test in orlistat group compared to the control group and between orlistat-WAS group compared with the WAS alone group were insignificant. In orlistat-WAS group the sucrose preference increased (69/8 %). Imipramine reduced depressive behavior in mice. Conclusion: Orlistat administration did not induce depressive behavior in animals and it did not augment depression when administered during WAS. Evaluating the effect of chronic orlistat administration on depressive behavior is suggested.